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Aviation History
1996
1996 - 0018.PDF
KlfJB Japan shelves plan to acquire tankers PAUL LEWIS/SINGAPORE JAPAN HAS TEMPORARILY dropped plans to acquire air-to-air refuelling tankers under its KC- X requirement. It has also trimmed back on its planned purchase of new Mitsubishi FS-X support fighters, as part of the Gov ernment's newly approved five- year defence programme. The Japanese cabinet has passed a¥25.15 trillion ($250billion) mid term defence plan for 1996 to 2000. The five-year provision is ¥570 bil lion less than that originally pro posed and will limit average annual growth in spending to 2.1 %. Japan's conservative Liberal Dem ocratic Party, the largest member of the coalition Government, had been pressing for a ¥25.72 trillion budget, but has been forced to accept cuts by its left-wing and centrist partners. The Social Democratic Party, in particular, had been opposed to the inclusion of tanker and long-range transports in the mid-term plan, as they might be considered to be of fensive weapons. It had also sought cuts in the FS-X programme. The Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) had been hoping to acquire an initial four KC-X tan ker/transports. Aircraft under con sideration included Boeing's proposed 767 tanker/transport multi-mis sion aircraft, the McDonnell Douglas KDC-10 and its C-17 transport aircraft. A study into the JASDF's tanker/transport requirement will be made, and there is provision in the mid-term plan for revisions to be made in fiscal year 1998, provid ing the overall budget is not increased. The Government has set aside a ¥110 billion contingency fund for equipment procurement. The coalition Government has agreed to reduce FS-X procure ment, from 141 to the pro gramme's original number of 130 aircraft. It also wants to shave ¥200 million from the aircraft's average unit fly-away cost of ¥8 billion. Japan's Defence Agency had sought to hold down costs by boosting the number of two-seat TFS-X aircraft ordered. Plans now call for 83 single-seaters and 47 tandem-seat versions to be built. The reduction by 11 two-seaters will be made by scrapping plans to re-equip the JASDF's Blue Impulse aerobatic team and buying two fewer attrition aircraft. Production of the FS-X over the next five years will total 47 aircraft, three fewer than planned. With ap proval to begin production of the first 11 fighters in 1996 — seven single seaters and four tandem-seat trainers — the JDA has redesignat ed the aircraft the F-2. • NEWS IN BRIEF • APACHE FUNDING SECURED The US Army has awarded a $279.6 million contract to McDonnell Douglas (MDC) covering the remanufacture of the first 18 AH-64D Longbow Apache attack heli copters. The contract paves the way for first deliveries to begin in March 1997, and marks the start of negotia tions with the US Army for a five-year agreement covering "at least" 232 AH-64Ds, according to MDC. Sudan takes extra Chengdhu F-7s SUDAN HAS received an addi tional six Chengdu F-7s (MiG- 21s) from China, with Middle Eastern intelligence sources claim ing that Iran has financed the deal. The air force of Sudan is playing a considerable operational role in the offensive against the rebels in the south of the country and it already operates nine F-7s. These are being used against rebel centres. Iran so far has assisted Sudan mainly by shipping spares for Soviet-made weapon systems. • amm -••r~ jayv 4MB ~^P' •••... • wK^^^ f ^ Malaysia to use A-4s as tankers THE MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE is retaining six of its elderly McDonnell Douglas A-4PTM Skyhawks for use as tankers. The Curtiss Wright J-65-V420 powered-aircraft are fitted with an underfuselage-mounted "buddy" hose-reel pod and are used to support Malaysia's probe-equipped BAe Hawk 200s. The A-4s have been replaced in front-line service by the Hawk, but are expected to remain in service as tankers until Airod completes conversion of two Lockheed Martin KC-130Hs. RAAF lists three trainers AUSTRALIA HAS shortlisted three bidders for the air force's lead-in fighter project (Air 5367). The three are Aermacchi, British Aerospace and McDonnell Doug las (MDC). The shortlisted tenderers were announced on 15 December, 1995. Proposals for the request for tender (RFT) are due on 14 March. The three aircraft under consideration to replace the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) ageing Macchi 326H are the Aermacchi MB 339FD, the BAe Hawk 100 and the MDC T45 Goshawk. The RFT does not identify the number of aircraft to be acquired, but seeks offers based on specified use on defined tasks at two bases. Between 3 5 and 45 aircraft are like ly to be required. Aircraft already ruled out in clude the AMX International AMX-T, the Aero Vodochody L-59F and the Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet. Attributes sought include a training capability for both Army ground support and Naval fleet support, although it is probable that only a limited number would be provided with the latter. Tenderers' proposals will be based in effect on manufacturers' guarantees of a minimum level of on-line availability for various tasks at specified rates of usage, support ed by fatigue and other engineer ing data. The RFT also requires manufac turers to provide all overhaul, en gineering and maintenance other than operational turnaround main tenance over a 25-year service life. Aircraft will be fitted with train ing weapons, including cannon of unspecified calibre, and to be capa ble of being armed with bombs up to the Mk82 series, including laser- guided weapons and high- and low-drag stores. The carriage of air-to-air mis siles is also required, with full func tionality desirable. Hands-on stick and throttle controls are specified, along with head-up displays in the front cockpit, with similar equip ment in the rear cockpit, and con tinuous computed release and impact-point capability. Range and endurance specifica tions call for an unrefuelled still air- ferry range of at least 1,650km (900nm), with 15min reserve fuel. The service has a firm require ment for the first 12 aircraft to be in service in mid-1999 for instruc tor training before the type becomes fully operational. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 3 - 9 January 1996
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