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Aviation History
1993
1993 - 0070.PDF
DEFENCE LANTIRN changes to be tested by USAF Improvements to the Martin Marietta LANTIRN targeting pod to reduce pilot workload are to be flight tested by the US Air Force. A General Dynamics F-16 will be used to test an enhanced forward-looking infra-red (FLIR) sensor at Eglin AFB, Florida. Two LANTIRN targeting pods have been fitted with a second- generation FLIR developed by Martin Marietta, and are being tested by the USAF in the FRACT1L programme (for FLIR and automatic-cuer technology insertion into the LANTIRN). The improved sensor has higher resolution, greater target-detec tion range and improved cock pit-display image quality. Martin Marietta has also de veloped an automatic target cuer, which can be installed in existing card slots in the LANTIRN targeting pod. This device is being evaluated as part of the FRACTIL programme. The expected benefits include higher probability of target re cognition and reduced pilot workload through computer- assisted target characterisation and identification. The company says that it is NEWS IN BRIEF SUPPORTING TAIWAN Litton Applied Technology is to open a centre later this year, near Taipei, Taiwan, to provide logistic support for electronic-warfare equipment, including threat-warning and electronic support-measures systems, sold to Taiwan's armed forces. HUNGARIAN AWACS NATO Boeing E-3 Airborne Warning and Control Sysem (AWACS) aircraft have been operating secretly in Hungar ian airspace since 31 October, 1992 to monitor compliance with the United Nations air exclusion zone over Bosnia Hercegovinia. working with the USAF on the potential insertion of other new technologies into the LANTIRN, including a laser spot-tracker function and an improved laser receiver for the targeting pod. They are also co-operating on an enhanced terrain-following/ terrain-avoidance capability. • FMA Pucaras delivered to Sri Lanka Sri Lanka received the first of four FMA IA.58A Pucara ground-attack aircraft purchased from Argentina at the beginning of January. The aircraft will be used for operations against Tamil separatist guerillas. The first of the $2.8 million two-seat, twin-turboprop Pucaras was to be assembled and test flown after arriving from Argentina in a transport aircraft. China supplied Sri Lanka with four Chengdu F-7M Airguard (MiG-21) fighter/attack aircraft in 1992 and two Shenyang FT-5 (MiG-17U) trainer/attack aircraft in 1991. Sri Lanka's other com bat aircraft are about a dozen armed Agusta SF.260 trainers and Bell 212/412 helicopters. Sri Lanka is only the third export customer for the Pucara, the production of which ended in 1986. Uruguay operates six and three were donated by Argentina to Colombia for counter-narcot ics operations. Since 1983 the Sri Lankan air force has been enhancing its light-combat capa bility against Tamil forces. • EDS Scicon wins Harrier AMPA contract EDS Scicon has been selected by the UK Ministry of De fence (MoD) to develop and supply up to 50 Advanced Mis sion Planning Aids (AMPA) for Royal Air Force British Aero space Harrier GR.7s. The deal is worth up to £15 million. The first of the computer-based units are scheduled to be in service by January 1995. The AMPA, which can be installed at bases or transported to field sites, takes a basic air- tasking message, which gives target type, loca tion, number of weapons needed and time on target (TOT). It then generates a route to the target for each aircraft se lected for the raid, avoiding known enemy-threat po sitions and using terrain masking if appropriate. The system will pro vide a first proof, on screen, of the selected route, showing way- points and the initial point se lected for the lead aircraft to achieve the desired TOT. Fuel remaining on the return to base is also shown. The formation leader can amend the route, while the sys tem is designed to change the take-off time needed to meet the TOT automatically, as the route is lengthened or shortened. The system is also designed to adjust the return fuel state accordingly. The information-technology company's system can then be used to work out precise indi vidual routes for other aircraft in the formation, allowing separa tion over target to avoid damage from the previous aircraft's ord nance. Pilots will also be able to call up on screen any aerial- reconnaissance imagery of the target, and call up an AMPA- generated three-dimensional image of the target from the run-in viewpoint, at the selected height and on attack heading. This view, from a digital ter rain-elevation database, is shaded according to the target's position and the position of the Sun or the Moon at the TOT. Another option is to show areas where, because of terrain masking, the aircraft will not be visible to defences at the height flown for the mission. On Har rier sites, the system will be networked to individual hides and the AMPA data is then transferred to the aircraft- navigation system by cartridge. EDS Scicon says that it will offer a similar system for a mission- planning system for the updated Panavia Tornado GR.4. • The US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Sanders a $7.6 million contract to qualify two initial production units of its next-generation Automated Mission Planning System. If the six-month qualification period is successful, the USAF will order up to 1,190 units. • AMPA tracks for a two-ship attach on a resevoir (triangle) and (right) a three- dimensional view of the target 16 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 20 - 26 January, 1993
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