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Aviation History
1996
1996 - 0639.PDF
DEFENCE Turning the AV-8B into a night-attack fighter is not cost-effective, says GAO USMC told to scrap its AV-8B upgrade plans RAMON LOPEZ/WASHINGTON DC THE US MARINE CORPS should scrap its $2.2 billion programme to remanufacture 73 day-attack McDonnell Douglas (MDC) AV-8B Harrier II very- short-take-off-and-landing aircraft to the night-attack radar-equipped version, and instead buy new AV- 8Bs, says the US General Ac counting Office (GAO). The investigative arm of the US Congress says that it would be cheaper to buy new aircraft from MDC under a multi-year pro curement scheme than to continue with the ten-year aircraft-modern isation project. The USMC received its first remanufactured Harrier II Plus in late January, and the second air craft is expected to be delivered ahead of schedule in April, says the US Navy. Under the programme, day- attack Harriers receive new fuse lages, APG-65 multi-mode radars and higher-thrust Rolls-Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408 engines. Night-vision goggles, an upgrad ed cockpit and provision for advanced weapons such as the JDAM/JSOW are also part of the programme effort. Conversion of the first aircraft began in August 1994. The 18- month remanufacturing timespan is expected to be shortened to about 15 months for subsequent aircraft rebuilds. MDC says that the aircraft- remanufacturing programme yields significant cost savings over production of new aircraft, but the GAO estimates that it would be more cost-effective to procure newAV-8Bs. The USN estimates that it costs $23-30 million to remanu facture an AV-8B, against $30 million to produce a new Harrier II Plus. The GAO calculates that a new aircraft would cost only $24 million. The GAO questions whether the Naval Aviation Depot in Cherry Point, North Carolina, can meet production schedules and cost targets. Delays have resulted from the inability of MDC and vendors to provide components in time, the GAO adds. • Pakistan interest focuses on CN-235MPA PAKISTAN IS INTERESTED in acquiring up to four IPTN- produced CN-235MPA maritime- patrol aircraft, and also in up grading its Eurocopter SA.330J Puma transport helicopters. Indonesian aerospace company IPTN, which builds the NAS.330 and the improved NAS.332 Super Puma under licence, is understood to be discussing re-engineing the Pakistani helicopters with the General Electric T700 turboshaft. A similar upgrade has been pro posed to United Arab Emirates for its Romanian-built IAR.330s, for improved and hot-and-heavy work. Pakistan has signed a barter- trade memorandum of under standing with Indonesia, to cover the supply of up 15 IPTN N-2 50 turboprop passenger-aircraft. The counter-trade agreement is reportedly worth a potential $400 million. In exchange for the N-2 50s, Pakistan would supply In donesia with an undisclosed num ber of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex-built Mushshak trainers and submarine parts. In the absence of export credit from Indonesia's finance ministry, IPTN is increasingly turning to barter trade to compete and sell its aircraft on the international market. The company has signed a deal under which it will supply Malaysia with six CN-235-220 transports, in return for 20 SME- built MD3 trainer aircraft and Proton cars. It has also recently offered to provide South Korea with 14 CN-235s, in part-ex change for Daewoo armoured per sonnel-carriers. • Rafale set back by French decision FRENCH INDUSTRY hopes of scoring an early export suc cess for the Dassault Rafale have been dealt a heavy blow by the French Government's rejection of pleas tliat it order at least one squadron for die air force for entry into service by around 2000. Dassault has been pressurising the Government to support its export effort in places such as die United Arab Emirates by placing an order for the Rafale for the air force in the draft 1997-2002 plan. The Government says that it cannot afford any new appropria tions for the Rafale widiin this timeframe. Under its revised plans, the aircraft will not enter French air force service before 2004-5. Defence minister Charles Millon told the Senate defence and for eign-affairs committee mat such an order would be "too costly". The priority in the 1997-2002 plan is to replace the navy's obsolescent Vought F-8E Crusaders. The decision is a setback for Dassault, which hoped to use an earlier air force order as a competi tive lever against the Eurofighter EF2000. Both aircraft will now enter front-line service at around die same time. J Raytheon clinches US missile-seeker deal THE US ARMY HAS awarded Raytheon a $9.4 million con tract to initiate development for the Patriot air-defence missile of a seeker which is capable of counter ing cruise missiles. The Pentagon has earmarked $35 million in research-and-devel- opment (R&D)funding for the project in fiscal year 1996 as the first phase of a $75 million effort. The Patriot Anti-Cruise Mssile Seeker programme calls for devel opment and flight test of an improved seeker which can be retrofitted into fielded Patriots. The sole-source contract was awarded to Raytheon Electronic Systems by US Army Missile Command. The R&D work is scheduled to be completed by 28 February, 1998. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 20 - 26 March 1996 19
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