FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1997
1997 - 0013.PDF
Hughes wins AIM-9X HUGHES HAS WON its bat tle with Raytheon to provide the US Navy and US Air Force with replacement short- range air- to-air dogfight missiles. The US Naval Air Systems Command, which led the AIM- 9X, selected the Hughes Evolved Sidewinder bid, a decision which provoked confusion and conster nation among the competition. Both Hughes and Raytheon offered two bids, one based around the 127mm Sidewinder body, the others around larger diameter rocket motors for increased kine matic performance. Usingthe 127mm-diameterair- frame will allow Hughes to use existing AIM-9 solid rocket motors. Hughes had teamed with British Aerospace in offering a modified Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile, while Raytheon was offer ing a version of its AIM-9X design with the 162mm Rafael Python Four motor. Sources close to the competition are surprised atthe decision. Given the perceived kinematic-perfor- And the winner: Evolved Sidewinder mance limitations of the Evolved Sidewinder, some have speculated that the choice reflected an "inter im solution", pending the emer gence of an unrevealed "black programme". One source suggests that the US Navy is working on a 160mm-plus motor design. BAe had been hoping that the US Department of Defense would overcome its "not invented here" phobia on major programmes in deciding to purchase the ASRAAM P3I. One official greeted the out come by saying "... it appears polit ically impossible for the USA to purchase outside the country". Other sources suggest that the US Navy is concerned about the ASRAAM motor's thrust profile. Hughes had also been hoping to use an ASRAAM P3I selection as leverage in the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) competition for a future medium-range air-to-air missile (FMRAAM), holding out the olive branch of transatlantic collaboration on an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile derivative. UK MoD sources have expressed disappointmentwith the US decision, and admit that it will not further dispose the MoD to a US solution for the FMRAAM. The Evolved Sidewinder uses the existing Sidewinder motor, coupled with thrust-vector control to achieved the desired manoeu vrability for high off-boresight engagements. Some missile specialists, howev er, harbour doubts as to whether the missile will have enough resid ual energy "once it has got round the corner" to engage a manoeu vring target in the more demand ing combat scenarios. • Chinese Rankers PICTURED ABOVE ARE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION Army Air Force (PLAAF) Sukhoi Su-2 7 Flanker fighter aircraft sta tioned at Wuhu, Anhui, in central China. The aircraft have been supplied with Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) infra-red dogfight air-to-air missiles (AAMs) and the Vympel R-27R (AA10 Alamo ) semi-active-radar-guided beyond-visual-range AAMs. Also visible is a wingtip electronic- countermeasures pod, which appears to be the Sorbtsiya. These pods have been seen on the single-seat and Su-27UB trainer Flankers in Chinese service. Also supplied as part of the initial package was the B-8 rocket pod and a variety of iron bombs. Two more llyushin II- 76MFs will be tested AFURTHER TWO Ilyushin Il-76MFs (upgrades of the basic 11-76 Candid military trans port) are expected to join the flight- test programme in die first quarter of this year, with the manufacturer hopeful that the Russian air force will place an early order for at least another ten aircraft. The I1-76MF is a stretched, re- engined variant of the basic Candid. It is fitted with Perm PS- 90A turbofans rather dian die orig inal Aviadvigatel D-30KP II engines. The first modified aircraft was flown in 1995. The Russian air force's transport arm has a growing need to replace its ageing Il-76s. Originally, the Antonov An-70 was earmarked to take over some of its roles, with the proposed Ilyushin-106 being used for the heavier end of operations. Q u-rENCK NEWS IN BRIEF • SAAF C-130 UPGRADE Denel and Marshall Aero space of the UK are teaming to upgrade South African Air Force (SAAF) Lockheed C- 130 Hercules airlifters, including five aircraft being provided to the SAAF by the US Department of Defense. The first two US aircraft are ex-US Navy C-130Fs; the other three are ex-USAF C- 130Bs. The SAAF already operates seven C-130Bs. The "mid-life update" will be carried out on the 12 Hercules between 1997 and 2002. The aim of the update is to extend their lives by 20 years. The air force has, how ever, scrapped plans to rein troduce nine C-160Z Transalls into service. • PHILLIPINEF-18 TESTS Phillipine air force pilots have completed a four-day evaluation of the McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet at the US Navy Naval Air Warfare Center-China Lake. The Phillipine air force is consid ering the F-18 as a candidate for its future fighter require ment alongside several other aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin F-16 and MAPO MiG-29 Fulcrum. The air force evaluation team flew a total of seven flights, three for familiarisation and handling, three for air-to-air, and one for sea surveillance and night attack. A team from the Czech Republic air force also concluded an evaluation of the F-18 in December 1996. • SIDEWINDER WOUND-IN The Royal Navy has with drawn some of its AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red short range air-to-air missiles fol lowing the discovery of cracking in missile warheads. The cracks were discovered during routine X-ray inspec tion. The affected missiles were purchased in 1979 and 1981. The affected warheads are being withdrawn. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 1 - 7 January 1997 11
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
