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Aviation History
1992
1992 - 1049.PDF
AAM REPORT WARRIOR'S QUANTUM LEAP Bell is offering a radically upgraded version of its OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, with improved pilotage and targeting systems and a limited utility capability. The new variant retains the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) mast-mounted sight, and also has an MDC forward-looking infra-red system together with Honeywell-supplied helmet-mounted display, colour digital map, ring laser gyro and global positioning system. By transferring much of the mission equipment package into a new, enlarged nose, Bell has opened up the rear of the aircraft for two additional seats. GE proposes T700 power for NH.90 General Electric (GE) is to respond to the request is sued in early April for engine proposals for the Eurocopter/ Agusta/Fokker NH.90 heli copter, offering a growth version of its T700/CT7 turboshaft. The l,800kW-class (2,400shp) T700- 401X will also be offered on the military version of Sikorsky's proposed S-92 helicopter (Flight International, 25-31 March). The -40IX is a growth version of the l,500kW-class CT7-6 tur boshaft which powers the triple- turbine EH Industries EH. 101. GE is proposing to re-rate this engine to l,650kW for the civil S-92 and to uprate the resulting CT7-6(X) to l,800kW for the military S-92 and the NH.90. The growth involves increasing airflow by 10-20% by "flaring" the compressor, says Louis Bevilacqua, GE's general man ager, turboshafts/turboprops. "We have taken the strategic decision to grow the compres sor," says Belvilacqua. GE is running the improved centrifu gal compressor and will run the increased-flow axial compressor in 1993. Temperatures are un changed, giving GE the opportu nity to increase T700/CT7 power to an "economic limit" of around l,860kW by raising tem peratures, he says. The T700-401X is being pro posed jointly with Italy's Alfa Romeo Avio, co-developer of the CT7-6. Deliveries of CT7-6s to power Italian Navy EH. 101s are expected to begin in 1995. An engine to power the twin- turbine NH.90 will probably be chosen in 1993. Competition will come from the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 selected for UK Agusta/Westland EH. 101s, and in which Italy's Piaggio and Germany's MTU are involved. • NEWS IN BRIEF HELLFIRE SIGHTS Rockwell and SFIM are to de velop and market helicopter sighting systems compatible with the Hellfire laser-guided missile. SFIM's APX roof sight will be adapted to designate targets for the Rockwell mis sile. A modified day sight will be tested in the USA this year, and a Hellfire-compatible day/ night sight is being developed. HUGHES DELIVERS Hughes Aircraft is to deliver two prototype airborne electro- optical special operations pay- load (AESOP) systems for flight-testing by the US Army this year. The AESOP is an enhanced AAQ-16 helicopter night-vision system, incorpo rating a laser rangefinder/ designator and a three-magni fication infra-red telescope. Textron unveils new helicopter missile Textron Defense Systems has unveiled a new helicopter- launched missile using smart submunitions developed for the US Air Force's sensor-fuzed weapon (SFW). The airborne multi-purpose attack weapon (AMPAW) is a Hellfire-sized missile carrying five sensor- fuzed submunitions, each of which can detect, identify and attack a vehicle or helicopter, says SFW developer Textron. The 50kg unguided weapon can be fired from a Hellfire launcher at targets up to 12km (6.5nm) away. After a time delay programmed into the missile be fore launch, the rocket motor is jettisoned and the submunitions ejected. Each spinning submuni- tion is, in effect, a single-blade helicopter, says Textron, and its combined laser rangefinder and infra-red sensor can spiral-scan a 150m-diameter area while de scending at 0.5m/s (lOOft/min). When the sensor detects an air or ground target the submuni- tion explodes, forming multiple molten-metal fragments which strike the target at speeds ex ceeding l,800m/s. The AMPAW submunition is a development of the Skeet war head which proved devastatingly effective during operational test ing of the SFW, the only major new weapon to be approved for production so far this year, Tex tron notes. In 1991 the US Congress cut $23 million allo cated to development of the AMPAW under the Balanced Technology Initiative, but Tex tron has a contract to simulate the weapon's effectiveness and is seeking funds for a demonstra tion programme. Textron argues that the AMPAW is an effective adjunct to the Hellfire for use against targets other than heavily ar moured main battle tanks. The $15,000 weapon requires only target bearing and distance, which can be supplied remotely by a scout helicopter, allowing the launch aircraft to remain hidden, the company says. • E&S to sell Dassault DAV radar in USA Electronics & Space (E&S) has agreed to market Das sault Electronique's DAV heli copter air-to-air radar in the USA. Dassault has a French Gov ernment contract to build two prototype mast-mounted radars, one of which will fly on an Aerospatiale Puma modified to test Eurocopter Tiger avionics, while the other "...may fly on a US helicopter", the French com pany says. The DAV is being developed privately by Dassault for use on France's Gerfault anti-helicopter version of the Eurocopter Tiger. The radar detects fixed- and rotary-wing targets and identi fies rotor signatures, providing target designation for infra-red- guided air-to-air missiles. ' Detection range is now 7km (3.8nm), with growth to 9-10km "possible", says Dassault. The radar can detect both hovering and moving targets, automati cally comparing returns with a library of rotor signatures and measuring target range, azimuth, elevation and radial velocity. The entire 40kg solid-state radar is mounted above the main rotor head, although later designs may be integrated with the hub. The radar has been under development since 1984 and a pre-prototype has been flight- tested on a Puma. Operational evaluation of the DAV-equipped helicopter by the French army in late 1991 was successful, Das sault says, and resulted in the order for two prototype DAVs to be delivered by mid-1994. US Army applications targeted by St Louis-based E&S include AH-64s not upgraded to Long bow Apache configuration and OH-58s not upgraded to Kiowa Warrior configuration — both of which could accept the radar. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22 - 28 April, 1992 17
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