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Aviation History
1996
1996 - 1656.PDF
E^l 1 SflTORY 96 NEWS IN BRIEF • KHRIZANTEMA UNVEILED The Russian KBM design bureau has shown its Khriz- antema anti-tank guided mis- sile for the first time. Guidance is by efther a radar or by laser. The system is claimed to be capable of two target engagement, using both the autonomous radar channel and die semi- autonomous laser-guidance channel. It can also be used against helicopter targets. The missile was shown in a dual-mount configuration fitted to a BMP-3 armoured fightingvehicle. Accordingto KBM, the missile is now undergoing final state accep tance trials, with series pro duction scheduled to begin in 1998. A maximum range of 6km (3nm) has been quoted. • EPHAG TESTS Bodenseewerk Gerate- technik is to carry out a fur- dier set of target firings of its EPHAG gun-launched anti-helicopter guided pro jectile. The infra-red-guided weapon will be fired against 0.5 x 0.5m targets in a series of German Government- funded tests over die next two years. The projectile has a range of 5-6km (3-3.5nm). Although testing is continu ing, full-scale development of the programme has not been approved, and its long-term future remains in doubt. • CRECERELLE VARIANT Unmanned-air-vehicle (UAV) specialist Sagem has unveiled a considerably redesigned variant of its Crecerelle UAV for the Dutch army, called the Sperwer. The vehicle has twin vertical stabilisers and larger air intakes, required for the improved powerplant. Test flights of die Sperwer begin in the diird quarter of this year. The UAV will be fitted with an electro-optic/infra-red sensorpackage. Thirty-six air vehicles and four ground sta tions have been ordered by the Netherlands. Brevel in payload trials THE FRANCO/GERMAN Eurodrone Brevel unmanned air vehicle has undergone its first test flight with a fully equipped pay- load, in preparation for the begin ning of system trials in July. Eurodrone says that the Brevel is still on target for its planned 1998 in-service date. Only three systems have been funded to date for development and testing, although Eurodrone, a 50/50 alliance between France's Matra Defense and Germany's STN Atlas Elektronik, says that it "...fully expects" funding for production vehicles to be forth coming. Brevel development began after contract award in November 1992, to satisfy a requirement of the armies of both countries for real time surveillance. Five to seven vehicles are supplied with each ground-control station, along with datalink and launch and recovery vehicles. The stabilized three-axis infra-red camera carried aboard the aircraft, says Eurodrone, has ".. .exceeded expectations" in early field testing. Advantages claimed for the Bre- An in-service date of 1998 is targeted for the Brevel vel are its small size, and hence low observability, easy handling, and high image quality. The frequency- agile datalink is jam-resistant, and allows the image to be maintained at a distance of 130km (70nm) and elevation of 2°. The wings are foldable, and heated to prevent icing. Launch is by booster, with propulsion sup plied by a twin-cylinder two-stroke engine. An endurance of up to 6h is claimed. The Brevel is derived from the Tucan UAV originally devel oped by STN Adas, Matra being responsible for development of the ground-control station and associ ated software. Eurodrone also offers the low- cost Tucan '95 UAV, with a less sophisticated datalink and non- folding, non-heated, wings. • Eurosam courts UK as BMD partner EUROSAM HAS proposed to the UK that it join the Franco-Italian Aster missile pro gramme to meet its emerging requirement for a tactical ballistic- missile defence (TBMD) system. The UK Ministry of Defence is funding a British Aerospace-led study into the TBMD following the indefinite delay in its own medium-range surface-to-air mis sile programme. Eurosam managing director Etienne Lefort says: "Why not consider Aster as a candidate for ballistic-missile defence, and join France and Italy... Proposals have been made to the UK industry and Government." He qualifies the talks as "informal discussions". The Eurosam partners, Aero spatiale, Alenia, and Thomson- CSF, are now finalising the industrialisation phase of the pro gramme. The aim is to complete the $1 billion phase 2 contract by the end of July and to have it in place by the end of the year. The first of the Aster 15 and Aster 30 naval surface-to-air mis sile (SAM) systems are scheduled to be deployed after the turn of the century on the French navy's Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier and the Italian navy's planned sec ond carrier. Operational testing of the ground-launched Aster is due to begin in 2003. The Aster will also be fitted to the Horizon air-defence frigate for the French, Italian and UK navies. Although a purchase of up to 24 of these ships is planned, Lefort expects that this number could fall significandy, perhaps to as few as 12 ships. Lefort appears relatively san guine about France's decision to withdraw from the US-led Medium Extended Air-Defence System (MEADS) programme in which Germany and Italy are par ticipating. Some US participants in the MEADS warn that, unless Germany and Italy commit long- term financial support for the pro ject relatively quickly, then the US Department of Defense will push ahead independendy. The ground-launched Aster system is being aimed at the Raytheon Hawk SAM-replace- ment market. Countries such as South Korea are viewed as poten tial purchasers. In this area, Eurosam will be being competing against Hughes and Raytheon, offering the Hughes AIM-120 modified to fit the present Hawk launcher. The missiles could possibly be, says Hughes, modified ex-US Air Force-inventory AIM-120As, which could be freed for sale. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 3 - 9 July 1996
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