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Aviation History
1992
1992 - 0232.PDF
DEFENCE Upgrade may follow last MBB Tornado MBB has delivered its last Panavia Tornado to the German air force, and now is examining ways of improving the performance of the Tornado to meet the air force's newly assigned role as part of the air element of NATO's rapid- reaction force. According to MBB, the Ger man partner in Panavia, it is carrying out a study examining an "extended operational enve lope" for the Tornado. The com pany is understood to be considering ways of increasing the air force's Tornado inter- dictor strike payload/range performance. In meeting the role change, it is thought that an improved navigation suite, including a global positioning system (GPS), improved engine perform ance and increased maximum take-off weight may be under consideration. The GPS was part of a mid-life improvement (ML1) Tornado ECR — still : 1 -~. ' """ HRI i "•••••'* to overcome problems "* -J8IW .JL'jJL put together by Panavia for the air force. Budgetary cuts to the proposed MLI by defence minis ter Gerhard Stoltenberg, how ever, saw the service drop the GPS from the package. Germany's emerging role within an air element of a NATO rapid-reaction force is likely to see this upgrade re-introduced, at least on those Tornados as signed to NATO's mobile forces. The aircraft will also be cleared to carry the Apache modular stand-off weapon, al though it is unclear whether this will be done through the aus pices of the planned MLI pro gramme or as a result of the MBB study. The potential for further Tor nado work will come as a wel come fillip for MBB, following the delivery of its last Tornado for the air force. The aircraft, an electronic combat and recon naissance (ECR) variant, was handed over on 28 January at proposal MBB's Manching factory. The air force has „ 35 ECR Tornados, | not yet fully opera- tional. Problems with the Texas Instruments emit ter locator system (ELS) have hin dered the pro gramme's progress, although produc tion-standard ELS are now being flight tested at the Manching site. • Israel close to Black Hawk decision The Israeli air force is close to a decision on whether to purchase the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. A move in favour of the UH-60 could affect the number of additional McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to be bought by the service. The pressure to buy the Black Hawk comes mainly from the Israeli army, which wants the air force to upgrade its troop trans portation capabilities by re placing the Bell 212. The Black Hawk was evalu ated originally as an alternative to the Apache. The idea was to use an armed Black Hawk in attack and transportation roles, equipping the UH-60 with Is raeli-developed anti-tank-missile and targeting systems. That plan was dropped when the air force insisted on acquir ing the Apache first. The service now operates 18 Apaches and another seven are expected to be purchased soon. There is a requirement for an other Apache squadron, but the ground forces' pressure may re sult in a decision to buy the Black Hawk and delay a decision on the second Apache squadron until later. • 1-22 — looking for a new powerplant PZL looks westward for new powerplants BY DOUGLAS BARRIE IN WARSAW Polish state manufacturer PZL is considering re-engining its 1-22 Iryda advanced two-seat trainer with a western power- plant. Several options are being looked at. The aircraft, which also has a close-support role, is in the final stages of a prolonged develop ment with two PZL Rzeszow SO-3W22 turbojets, each pro ducing 10.8kN (2,4001b)-thrust. Wojciech Staszek, the deputy manager of the aviation office at the Polish foreign trade enter prise, Pezetel, has confirmed that "...PZL Mielec is looking at a foreign-made powerplant for the aircraft". He says: "Snecma, Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney Canada have all been talked to. We're looking at the Larzac, the JT- 15D and Viper." "Although we've talked to all three, no decision has been made. There are three different groups involved in the decision making process: the air force, the engine manufacturer and the airframe manufacturer." A decision on the choice of engine is further compounded because an upgraded power- plant, designated the K-15, is also being developed indi genously at PZL Rzeszow. The engine remains "in the test and development phase", according to Staszek. Rolls-Royce confirms that it is holding discussions with Poland over providing the engine for the 1-22, saying that it is offering the 15kN Viper 535. Senior members of the Polish air force visited Rolls-Royce in the UK late in 1991 and the company is now looking at ways in which it can make the engines available for a flight-test pro gramme on the 1-22. The emergence of a western engine order for the aircraft is likely to depend on how PZL fares in gaining an order from its own air force for the 1-22. Although the 1-22 first flew in 1985, no order for the advanced two-seat trainer has yet been placed by the air force, although it badly needs to replace its PZL I-11 Iskra aircraft. The air force is also thought to be interested in acquiring a western advanced trainer, al though severe budgetary prob lems will make this difficult. D NEWS IN BRIEF KUWAIT HORNETS The Kuwait air force has taken delivery of its first three McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornets. Kuwait ordered 40 F-18s in 1988 and deliveries will continue through Sep tember 1993. The Kuwaiti Hornets are the first to be powered by the General Elec tric F404-GE-402 Enhanced Performance Engine, which produces 80kN (17,7001b) of thrust — some 20% more than earlier versions. 14 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 5-11 February, 1992
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