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Aviation History
1998
1998 - 1210.PDF
DEFENCE JDA may focus on tanker and transport PAUL LEWIS/SINGAPORE JAPAN DEFENCE Agency (JDA) planners are weighing up options to defer development of a replacement maritime patrol air craft (MPA) to focus its increasing ly tight financial resources on acquiringa combined inflight refu elling tanker and transport jet. Local defence sources in Tokyo say that the JDA is leaning towards combining the Japan Air Self- Defence Force's (JASDF) require ments for a tanker and new C-X transport. This, along with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's (JMSDF) need to find funding for more Aegis-equipped destroyers, threatens to delay replacement of its Kawasaki-built Lockheed P-3C Orions. Japan's aerospace industry had been promoting an indigenous MPA design, which it argues could be combined with elements of the JASDF's C-X to save money. The JDA had originally planned to launch development of a P-3 suc cessor in 2000 and signed an agree ment last year to form a joint technical review committee with the US Navy (Flight International, ll-17June,1997,P26). In 1997 Kawasaki delivered the last of 101 licence-built P-3Cs and is in urgent need of a large follow- on programme to sustain fixed wing aircraft activities at its Gifu plant. In lieu of the MPA, the com pany is left to survive on a diet of future P-3C upgrades, possible tanker/transport fitting out and subcontracting. The JASDF wants priority to be given to acquiring a tanker and the replacement of its 30 year old Kawasaki C-l transports. Com pared to the JMSDF's projected requirement for 80 MPAs, a com bined tanker/C-X programme rep resents fewer aircraft numbers and favours an off-the-shelf purchase. Japan's preferred choice appears to be Boeing's proposed tanker/ transport derivative of the 767, which offers platform commonali ty with four newly delivered 767 airborne early warning aircraft. Other proposed solutions include the Airbus A310, Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-l 30J. The J DA is expected to conclude its ongoing tanker study by Octo ber and is hoping to secure an ini tial procurement budget in fiscal year 1999/2000, although this could be delayed. 3 Israel tests radar for Nautilus laser gun ISRAEL HAS completed an ini tial phase of testing on a key part of the Nautilus laser gun system. The weapon is designed to destroy rockets in mid-trajectory. The first tests were with the Elta-built search radar, a derivative of the Green Pine radar being developed by the Israelis as part of the Arrow anti-tactical ballistic missile system. All of the 55 Russian-made BM-21 rockets fired during the tests were tracked. The radar is used to detect tar gets, but a highly accurate electro- optical system will be deployed for final targeting. The Nautilus is beingdesigned as a trailer mounted mobile system. TRW of the USA is the prime contractor, with three Israeli companies acting as subcon tractors. Rafael is developing a C02 laser generator.The MET and Elta divisions of Israel Aircraft Industries are developing the sen sors and fire control elements and Tadiran is working on command and control units. The operational system is ex pected to be capable of firing a laser beam up to a range of around 6km (3.7 miles).The weapon's prime aim is to combat salvos of artillery rockets and tactical ballistic mis siles in their re-entry phase. Work isalsobeingconducted on anti-air craft applications. According to project sources, 3s of illumination by the laser beam will be sufficient for destruction of a target. • France has already bought Hawkeyes, while Northrop Grumman is targeting Greece and Turkey for more sales Northrop Grumman eyes more Hawkeye sales NORTHROP GRUMMAN rolled out the first of two E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) command and control aircraft - destined for the French navy-on 28 April, with fur ther French purchases expected. The first French E-2C flew in March and the second will be com pleted in the next few weeks. The Group IIE-2C is the same version as that to be provided to the US Navy. French navy personnel will complete E-2C training by early 1999, when the aircraft will begin operations aboard new carrier the Charles de Gaulle. France paid $560 million for two E-2Cs in 1995, and has ear marked funding for a third. Rear Adm Paul Habert, chief of French naval aviation, hopes that the let ter of intent for the third Hawk- eye will be signed in early 1999. A USN E-2C squadron consists of four aircraft, but France is not expected to decide until after the year 2000 on a fourth Hawkeye. A total of 15 Group II E-2Cs is under USN contract, and the Pentagon is seeking multi-year procurement of 21 more, which would be built to the more ad vanced Hawkeye 2000 standard, including die co-operative engage ment capability (CEC), a mission computer upgrade and new opera tor workstations. USN Group II E-2Cs will be upgraded to Hawkeye 2000 stan dard. France's third aircraft will be Hawkeye 2000 configured. France's two Group II E-2Cs would get the Hawkeye 2000 en hancements, excluding the CEC. As part of die offset deal, France's Potez, Aeronautique will build the empennage on future E-2Cs. Northrop Grumman is also pur suing export opportunities outside France. Greece plans to buy between four and six AEW aircraft soon, and the finalists are said to include the E-2C. Turkey is expected to launch an AEW competition in June or July for as many as six aircraft. The country is believed to favour the Boeing 767 Airborne Warning and Control System, mounting the Northrop Grumman APY-2 radar. The E-2C is also a contender, as is the Lockheed Martin C-l30 with Hawkeye mission suite. Industry sources say the US Navy has offered to let Greece and Turkey operate leased Group I E-2Cs should they buy the Hawkeve 2000 AEW aircraft. • 24 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 6 - 12 May 1998
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