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Aviation History
1994
1994 - 2590.PDF
DEFENCE Hughes suggests dual-thrust motor for RAM RICHARD SCOTT/LONDON HUGHES IS proposing the development of a dual-thrust rocket motor for extended-range engagements on the US/German RIM-116A rolling airframe mis sile (RAM). The partners are already work ing on a series of upgrades, including the fitting of an imaging infra-red (IR) seeker. The US company is looking at the motor to increase missile range and velocity, and allow higher g ter minal manoeuvres. The work is outside die scope of the present memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the USA and Germany, which covers Hughes Missile Systems and RAM-System's development of the weapon. Ram System is a German consortium of Diehl, BGT and Deutsche Aerospace Under a privately funded initia tive with rocket-motor builder Hercules, Hughes fired a blast-test vehicle from a standard launch tube in 1993. A controlled test-vehicle demonstration using the new motor is planned for 1995. Hughes is also studying the introduction of a datalink to pro vide updated targeting information to the missile in flight. This optional operational mode would provide for the long-range engage ment of non-emitting targets in poor weather. Under the MoU, Hughes and RAM-System are working on a series of evolutionary improve ments to enable the ship-defence missile system to meet anti-ship uhreats in the next century. The RAM is being fitted on a large number of US and German warships to provide close-in ship self-defence. Many RIM-116A components have been adapted from existing systems, including the Sidewinder rocket motor, warhead and fuze, and the Stinger IR seeker. A new laser-proximity fuze, being developed by Santa Barbara Research and the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, California, is in the engineering and manufac turing development phase. The upgrade will be fielded in 1996. The next major performance improvement will be made to the IR Mode Upgrade (IRMU), due to enter service by 1999. Existing Block O missiles are fitted with passive radio-frequency (RF)/IR dual-mode guidance, but the Stinger narrow-field IR seeker is capable only of terminal-target acquisition. The RAM target is required to radiate to allow pas sive RF acquisition for initial guidance to be achieved. The IRMU, which takes missile rounds to Block 1 standard, intro duces an imaging IR seeker which will add a wide-angle IR search mode for all-the-way guidance against non-emitting targets. • NEWS IN BRIEF • B-1B UPGRADE Rockwell Aerospace has awarded the ECI division of E-Systems a $63,000 con tract to develop, support and test the Controlled Re ception Pattern Antenna as part of the B-1B Con ventional Mission Upgrade Programme. The first ver sion of the antenna, which picks up satellite-navigation signals, is due for delivery in January 1995. Anew dimension for your information. Jeppesen & Co GmbH Walter-Kolb-StraGs 13 60594 Frankfurt Germany Tel:+49 69 961240 Fax:+49 69 96124898/99 Jeppesen UK Ltd. Kingston House, Stephenson Way Three Bridges, Crawley West Sussex RH101TH, England Tel:+44 293 547781 Fax:+44 293 552546 Jeppesen Sanderson 55 Inverness Drive East Englewood CO 80112-5498 USA Tel: 1303) 799-9090 Fax:13031792-3128 JEPPESEN is spearheading the use of electronic media in modern aviation, adding a new dimension to all aspects of the information you have come to rely on. Setting the standard for the future, our next generation flight planning system will provide the information you need, faster, more conveniently and more reliably than ever before. Also, JEPPESEN is announcing a new computer-based maintenance documen tation service that greatly improves and simplifies the selection and distribution of relevant maintenance information. Want to know more about these and other JEPPESEN advances? Then write or call us or come to see us at Farnborough. We look forward to it. 5JJEPPE5EN PI A TIMES MIRROR COMPANY FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 26 October - 1 November 1994 23
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