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Aviation History
1995
1995 - 0019.PDF
U-FENCE Japan considers Israeli tie-up JAPAN IS CONSIDERING a co-operative deal with Israel on anti-ballistic-missiles tech nology after a visit to Tokyo by Israel's prime minister Yizhak Rabin on 12 December. Rabin was accompanied on the excursion by several defence industry leaders. His visit was the first by an Israeli prime min ister to Japan. Senior Japanese defence officials were among those met by Rabin. Japan is said to be particularly interested in technologies devel oped by Israel as part of the Arrow anti-tactical ballistic-mis sile programme. Tokyo is becoming increas ingly concerned over North Korean efforts to develop long- range ballistic missiles and for years has been looking for tech nologies which may serve as the basis for an efficient anti-ballis tic-missiles system. Israeli sources say that the prime minister's visit has only "...opened a small door" to the Japanese defence establish ment, but they express opti mism about future contacts and co-operation. • S Africa offers to extend Singapore link PAUL LEWIS/SINGAPORE SOUTH AFRICA has offered Singapore the use of its train ing and test sites, as part of a move to strengthen defence ties and industrial co-operation between the two countries. The offer was made during a five-day visit to South Africa in 1994 by Singapore defence minis ter Lee Boon Yang. The two nations have agreed to increase joint training, exchange informa tion and to explore areas of defence-research co-operation. Lee says: "Our bilateral defence ties with South Africa will be broad-based, reflecting the com mitment of both countries to expanding the scope of defence co-operation at all levels." The Singapore Ministry of Defence says that talks on the use of South African sites are still at an early stage and it would be "pre mature" to give any further details. Interest, however, is likely to include air force access to South African firing ranges and air-combat manoeuvring areas. Singapore operates a large fleet of Lockheed F-16A/Bs, Northrop F-5E/Fs and McDonnell Douglas A-4s, but suffers from a lack of available air space. Its armed forces already make extensive use of training areas in Australia, Taiwan and the USA. 3 Russia launches SS-25 variant RUSSIA HAS TEST-launched a new, modernised variant of the 10,500km (5,700nm)-range SS-25 Sickle (Topol-M) inter continental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk test range. The missile will form the backbone of the Russian land- based nuclear deterrent. The new variant of the SS-25 was developed after die break-up of the former Soviet Union, as many of the original components were manufactured in Ukraine and other CIS nations. A decision to build the missile with homogenous Russia systems was followed by the move to carry out a technology update at the same time. Col Igor Sergeyev, comman der-in-chief of the Russia's Missile Strategic Forces, says that the new SS-25 will "...allow Russia to have a simple, flexible and rational missile inventory of a single uni versal ICBM". • Lockheed delivers South Korean P-3C THE FIRST OF EIGHT Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime- patrol aircraft for South Korea had its maiden flight on 12 December. The aircraft, to be delivered to South Korea in March, is the first P-3 to be completed on Lockheed's new assembly line at Marietta, Georgia. Mielec chooses powerplants for Vector UAV ANDRZEJ JEZIORSKI/WARSAW WSK PZL-MIELEC has selected German piston- engine manufacturer Gobler- Hirthmotoren and French gas-turbine company Micro- turbo to supply the powerplants for its Vector unmanned air vehi cle (UAV). According to the Polish manu facturer's UAV department man ager Andrzej Podsadowski, the company proposes to power the piston-prop variant of the UAV with a Hirth F 30 four-cylinder engine, rated at 48.5kW (65hp), driving a six-blade propeller. The Microturbo variant is to have a TRS 18 single-shaft turbo jet powerplant. Current performance estimates for the vehicle are based on these powerplants, says Podsadowski, although alternatives powerplants are not ruled out, should cus tomers require them. The piston-engined version is expected to fly at over 160kt (300km/h), with a mission dura tion of 8-9h. The turbojet variant should be capable of Mach 0.75, with an endurance of up to l'^h. Both versions are expected to carry payloads of up to 50kg. Podsadowski says that the com pany is on the point of launching the programme and will not wait for orders or funding from the Polish armed forces to proceed with a prototype, as it expects the Vector's appeal to be broader than the domestic market. He adds that there is potential for such a device in France, which could provide reconnaissance equipment and avionics for the programme. Mielec does not specify which French companies would be involved, but talks are known to have been held with SAGEM, which is already supplying an avionics package for Mielec's 1-22 Iryda jet trainer. The Polish army has expressed a requirement for such a device, which would be met by the pis ton-engined version of the Vector, says Podsadowski. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 4 - 10 January 1995 17
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