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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 2201.PDF
Further Fighting Falcons may emerge as the result of Koreas F-X fighter faltering South Korea considers plan to extend production of F-16s PAUL LEWIS/SINGAPORE APROPOSAL TO extend licence-production of the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Kor ean Fighter Programme (KFP) appears to be gaining support, as budgetary pressure grows for the follow-on F-X fighter project to be delayed. A squeeze on South Korean defence expenditure is forcing die ministry of national defence and Korean air force to consider the purchase of a further batch of Samsung-built F-16C/Ds as a less- expensive alternative to ordering a new fighter type in the short term. The air force had been planning to select a new aircraft to fulfil its F-X requirement in 1998 and take delivery of the first of an initial batch of 60 fighters in 2002. A sec ond follow-on purchase of 60 F-Xs is provisionally set for 2008, but budgetary restrictions resulting from South Korea's financial diffi culties threaten a delay. There is also some concern in Seoul that few of the new fighters being proposed by competing manufacturers meet the F-X's ini tial deliver)' deadline as it now stands, other than the Boeing F-15EandSukhoiSu-37.TheUS Government has still not approved a foreign-military-sales version of the Boeing/Lockheed Martin F-22, while the Eurofighter EF2000 and Dassault Rafale face first-delivery delays. Samsung's purpose-built Sa- chon plant rolled out the first of 72 licence-built Block 52 F-16C/Ds in July. Extending the KFP production line with a further 50-60 fighters would also bridge an expected shortfall of work at Sachon in be tween completion of die last F-16 now on order, and the delivery of the first Samsung/Lockheed Mar tin KTX-II advanced trainer/light strike aircraft in 2005. • Aerospatiale to help Norway's NSM programme JULIAN MOXON/PARIS AEROSPATIALE IS to take a stake of around 10% in the development of Norway's New Ship Missile programme as part of a potentially wider anti-ship mis siles co-operation between the two manufacturers. Norwegian prime contractor Kongsberg Defence and Aero space selected Aerospatiale follow ing negotiations with European missile manufacturers, including Matra BAe Dynamics. The Norwegian Government required the NSM prime contractor to find an international partner to share in the work. Under the agreement, Aero spatiale will self-finance its stake in die medium-range NSM, which is expected to cost around NKrl.2 billion ($170 million) to develop. Although final details of the work- share have still to be agreed, it has been decided that the French com pany will be responsible for the propulsion module and reduction of die radar signature. It has also agreed to integrate the missile on die naval version of the four-nation NH Industries NH- 90 transport helicopter, if die NSM is chosen for the medium-range anti-ship missile requirement. Development of the NSM will be completed in 2003, with deliv ery of die first examples to the Norwegian navy in 2004. The mis sile will have a range of more dian 100km (55nm), the same as Aerospatiale's Exocet, but accord ing to Kongsberg, it will weigh only half as much, at 800kg. It will be powered by a turbojet supplied by French manufacturer A'licroturbo under subcontract to Aerospatiale, and will have a Norwegian-developed infra-red seeker. The French and Norwegian navies are now dis cussing future anti-ship missile requirements, which could lead to Norwegian involvement in the Aerospatiale-developed Anti- Navire Future (ANF) long-range supersonic anti-ship missile. French Government go-ahead for the ANF is expected in 1998, allowing the missile to be available for export in 2005 - the same time as the NSM. According to Aerospatiale, the two could be offered as potential replacements for the current Aerospatiale Exocet, of which more than 2,000 examples have been sold in 32 countries. • DZP2NCE NEWS IN BRIEF • SIVAM RADAR DEAL Lockheed Martin has recei ved a contract from Raytheon for six TPS-B34 mobile, solid-state, long-range ra dars for use in Brazil's $1.4 billion SIVAM Amazon-sur veillance system. • CANADA TO BOSNIA Six Canadian Forces Boeing (formerly McDonnell Dou glas) CF-18 Hornets have been deployed to Aviano AB, Italy, on a three-month mis sion - Canada's first - in sup port of the NATO stab ilisation force in Bosnia. • PRESIDENTIAL UPGRADE Smiths Industries Aerospace is to supply flight-manage ment systems to upgrade the US Air Force's fleet of Boeing VC-25 (737) Presidential aircraft with FANS-1 satellite-based navi gation capability. • ECUADOR'S PYTHON The Israeli ministry of defence has allowed Rafael to offer its Python-3 air-to-air missiles to die Ecuadorian air force, in a move which could lead to a S10 million acquisi tion. Rafael has also briefed the air force on the new Python-4, altnough the ini tial deal is expected to include only the Python-3. Ecuador already operates a squadron of Israeli-made Kfir fighters, but die recent sale of a limit ed number of additional air craft caused fierce reactions from neighbouring Peru. • BROADBAND AWARD Litton Systems, a unit of Litton Industries located in College Park, Maryland, has won an $18 million contract to develop the Next Generation Broadband Digital Receiver for the US Air Force. The receiver would support multiple mis sion applications including electronic intelligence and the suppression of enemy air defences. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 3 - 9 September 1997 17
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