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Aviation History
1994
1994 - 0067.PDF
DEFENCE New buyers might salvage Alpha Jets BY ANDRZEJ JEZIORSKI IN MUNICH Two potential buyers have emerged for some of the German air force's ageing Das- sault/Dornier Alpha Jet ground- attack aircraft, due to be retired by 1995. According to the German defence ministry, Greece has expressed an interest in "40 to 50" aircraft, while Morocco is bidding for a further 24. While the Greek purchase bid is likely to succeed, it is understood that Germany's strict regulations, which con trol arms exports to non-NATO countries, throw the viability of the Moroccan bid into doubt. No contracts have yet been signed and no figures have been released on the value of the bids. The German defence minis try had previously said that 90 of the air force's original 175 Alpha Jets were destined for the scrap heap after the col lapse of a planned purchase by the French air force (Flight International, 15-21 December, 1993). A further 50 aircraft were handed over to Portugal in 1993 as payment for Ger many's use of Beja air base as a tactical training centre. • Brazilian Lynx deal finally concluded Brazil has ordered nine Westland Super Lynx naval helicopters in a deal worth over £150 million. It also includes re-building five existing Brazil ian navy Lynx Mk.21s to the new standard. The long-expected deal had been held up because of Brazil ian funding problems. The UK Government's re-scheduling of Brazilian debts in January 1993, however, is thought to have paved the way for a fi nancing package with the Banco de Brazil. The first new- build Lynx is expected to be delivered in 1996. • Forward fuselage lengthened by 1.62m c Reed Business Publishing Fokker 60 FOKKER 60 DELIVERY DATE SET Delivery of the first Fokker 60 Utility transport to the Royal Netherlands Air Force is scheduled for March/April 1996. The Netherlands defence ministry approved the purchase of four aircraft in the closing days of 1993 (Flight International, 5-11 January). The aircraft is stretched by 1.6m oxer the Fokker 50 and features a large cargo door, measuring 3.05 x 1.78m and capable, says Fokker, of taking a fully built-up Pratt & Whitney F100 engine. A dedicated electronics package for the Royal Netherlands Air Force will be developed and integrated by Fokker and will include infra-red and radar self-defence equipment. To cover the cost of development, Fokker has agreed to pay the Netherlands defence ministry a royalty of NLG250,000 ($129,000) for each of the first 12 aircraft sold to export customers, which have the same systems package filled. Gulfstream's GIV rolls into US Navy service Quick-change GIV is rolled out Gulfstream Aerospace has rolled out the first of five quick-change passenger/cargo Gulfstream IVs for the US Navy and Marine Corps. The aircraft, designated the C-20G, is certif icated to carry up to 26 passen gers, three cargo pallets, or various combinations of pas sengers and pallets. The basic GIV is certificated to carry a maximum of 19 passengers, although the nor mal business-jet interior seats eight. The C-20G is equipped with three new emergency exits and a large cargo door. Deliveries of the C-20Gs will begin in February, and they will be added to the fleet of three standard GIVs which are already in US Government service, one each with the US Air Force, Army, and the Fed eral Aviation Administration. • Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered a GIV flight-inspec tion aircraft to the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau. The aircraft is equipped with a navigation-aid checking system produced by Parker Hannifin subsidiary Gull. The system can be oper ated in automatic, semi-auto matic or manual modes, Gulfstream says. • India to train Malay MiG-29 crews India has agreed to train Malaysian air force pilots and ground crews to operate the Mikoyan MiG-29. Malay sian defence minister Najib Abdul Razak announced the agreement following a visit to Kuala Lumpur by Indian air force chief S K Raul. An Indian air force team will go to Malaysia to help set up a MiG-29 maintenance centre. India, which builds MiG-29s under licence, is also prepared to sell Malaysia spare parts for the aircraft, Najib says. Malaysia announced in June 1993 that it would purchase 18 MiG-29s. An order has yet to be signed, but Najib says that the aircraft "...will be coming soon". About 100 Malaysian pilots and ground crew will undergo up to six months training in India later this year, according to Najib. Indian assistance with spares and support could help Russia to meet the strict requirements on aircraft reliability and availability stipulated by Malaysia as a condition of the MiG-29 order. Malaysia has al ready signed an agreement to acquire eight McDonnell Douglas F-18Ds. • NEWS IN BRIEF UAV LINK-UP A General Atomics Gnat-750 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been used to relay sensor video-data and tele metry to a ground-control sta tion via a satellite. The US Army-sponsored test demon strated how advanced tech nologies can be used for real time surveillance, target acquisition, mission/strike planning, weapon delivery and battle-damage assess ment. Real-time sensor video- data and telemetry was relayed from the UAV to two sites via satellite link. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 12 - 18 January, 1994 17
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