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Aviation History
1995
1995 - 0126.PDF
DEFENCE Kawasaki presses JDA for transport-launch cash PAUL LEWIS/TOKYO KAWASAKI HEAVY Indus tries (KHI) is pressing the Japan Defence Agency ODA) to fund the development of the proposed indigenous C-X trans port aircraft as a replacement for its C-1A. The Japan Air Self-Defence Force 0ASDF) has a requirement for a new, long-range, medium- size, military transport to support United Nations overseas peace keeping operations which involve Japanese personnel. The existing C-1A twinjet, with a maximum range of 2,850km (I,530nm), has proved too small for military deployments to Asia and Africa. The requirement is also attract ing the attention of US and European manufacturers. The JDA has recently been briefed on the European Future Large Aircraft, while Boeing is offering a cargo variant of the 747 and McDonnell Douglas is pushing the C-17 Globemaster III. Kill's proposed C-X transport would be powered by four turbofan engines and offer a range of up to 6,000km. The aircraft, measuring McDonnell Douglas is offering the C-17 as a C-X alternative 40m long and with a wing span of 41m, would have a designed maxi mum take-off weight of 100,000kg and be capable of carrying a 25,OOOkg payload. Kawasaki recently appointed retired Lt Gen Matsumiya, for mer commander of JASDF Air Materials Command, as an adviser to add its weight to Government lobbying. Development of die C- X is crucial to the company's future, as it faces a shortfall in work from the winding down of Lockheed P-3C licence produc tion. To power the aircraft, interest is understood to centre on the International Aero Engines V2500 turbofan, in which the Japanese Aero Engines (JAEC) consortium has a 23% interest. Japan's Min istry of International Trade and In dustry, having bankrolled JAEC's stake, is pushing for wider applica tions of the V2 500. The V2500 is also being consid ered for Japan's planned YS-X 90- to 110-seat regional jet. Officials have suggested selecting a common engine for botii aircraft. Other YS- X engine contenders include Rolls- Royce, with the BR.710; General Electric/Snecma, with die planned CFM56 Lite; and Pratt & Whitney/MTU, offering the New Small Engine. 3 NEWS IN BRIEF • LCA FIRST FLIGHT India's long-running Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) pro ject is now scheduled to have its first flight in June 1996, according to Abdul Kalam, scientific advisor to the defence minister. The pro gramme has been under way since the early 1980s. • ALLIEDSIGNAL A-4 SUCCESS Lockheed Aircraft Services has selected AHiedSignal Aerospace to supply avionics for Argentina's McDonnell Douglas A-4M Skyhawk upgrade, including a liquid- crystal multi-function dis play, weapons-management system, hands-on-throttle- and-stick controls, air-data computer and electrical gen erator. The contract for 36 shipsets and spares is worth more than $30 million. • JAYHAWK FLIES ON The US Air Force has ordered its sixth batch of Raytheon Aircraft Beech T- 1A Jayhawk trainers. The $127 million order for 32 air craft, for delivery between July 1996 and May 1997, takes the total to 180 aircraft worth $755 million. The USAF has also ordered a T-l simulator from Loral Quintron. RAF hits 5,000h mark in Turkish operation THE RAF HAS SURPASSED 5,000 flight hours in Operation Warden, which is intended to provide a safe haven for the Kurds in northern Iraq. Following an initial deployment of Sepecat Jaguars, British Aerospace Harrier GR.7s were deployed to Incirlik air base in April 1993. The 5,000h mark was passed shortly before the end of Decemberl994. The GR.7s are being flown principally in the photo-reconnais sance role. Mikoyan conducts 1.42 fast- taxi tests at Zhukovsky MIKOYAN HAS carried out fast-taxi trials of its proto type 1.42 next-generation counter- air fighter at the Zhukovsky flight-test research instimte. According to Russian sources, the trials were undertaken at the end of 1994, hut the aircraft has yet to have its debut flight.There are indications that the taxi trials may have shown that the aircraft's flight-control system needed minor modifications. The 1.42 is believed to be an aircraft in the 35t class and is described by Mikoyan as " a fifth- generation fighter". The pro gramme has been delayed by funding and technical problems. • Sukhoi has flown the second pre-series prototype Su-34 tacti cal bomber from the Novosibirsk site. The aircraft is earmarked to replace the Frontal Aviation Commands Su-24 Fencer strike aircraft. The second prototype is believed to be fitted with a multi function high-resolution ground- mapping radar. Development of the Su-34 has also been slowed by funding shortages, although the Russian air force badly needs an Su-24 replacement. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 18 - 24 January 1995 15
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