FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1998
1998 - 1440.PDF
OMFMNCm JSF community remains undecided on gun GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC US AIR FORCE commanders have endorsed the require ment for a gun in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), but the issue of whether it will be integrated into the airframe is still open. That question is expected to be resolved when the latest iteration of the joint initial requirement document (JIRD) is released later this year. The four services involved in drawing up the requirements for the JSF have differing views on the need for a gun. While USAF com manders meeting in May "...all agreed a gun is required", accord ing to Harry Disbrow, deputy director, operations requirements, the other services are concerned about the cost and weight. Trade studies are under way to determine the cost and weight implications of an integrated gun. "A good way to tell how much you love something is to see the cost," notes Rear Adm Dennis McGinn, US Navy director, air warfare. The Navy does not have a requirement for a gun and is concerned about the "scar weight" associated with the structural and other provisions which are required for an integrat ed weapon. The US Marine Corps, con cerned about adding weight to its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the JSF, has expressed interest in a strap-on gun for some missions. "We have talked about the need for a gun...but it comes down to trades," says deputy chief of staff for aviation Lt Gen Terrence Dake, adding: "We're interested - if it gives us the oppor tunity to configure the aircraft." The twoJSF teams say their cur rent designs provide space for an internal gun, but none of the st ruc- tural, power and other provisions required. One unresolved issue is the calibre of gun required, with the air force accepting that its cur rent 20mm gun is not adequate, while the A-10's 30mm gun would be too large. Development of an advanced 2 5mm gun has been pro posed, but would be expensive. Speaking at the American Helicopter Society's Joint Strike Fighter '98 conference in Wash ington DC on 21 May, the service chiefs acknowledged that the issue of theJSF's design bombload has yet to be resolved. McGinn said that the Navy "...has not backed off on its requirement to carry two 900kg weapons internally, while the other US services would prefer to have smaller, higher yield munitions. J NEWS IN BRIEF • ASRAAM HIT Matra BAe Dynamics has carried out a test engage ment with its Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) using the imag ing infrared seeker's aim point selection capability for the first time. The test result ed in the missile, fired from a Lockheed Martin F-16, suc cessfully hitting the QF-4 target drone. The missile fir ing was carried out at the US Air Force's Eglin AFB, Florida, test range. The ASRAAM's intended in-ser vice date with the UK Royal Air Force is December 1998. This, however, is now almost certain to slip into 1999, in part because of delays in the test firing programme. • IAR 330 UPGRADE FLIES The upgraded variant of Romania's IAR 330 flew for the first time on 26 May. The upgrade programme is being implemented by Israel's Elbit in collaboration with IAR Brasov. The upgrade covers fitting the aircraft with improved avionics, sensor and targeting systems. The programme is valued at $ 100 million, with Romania's fleet of IAR 330 due to be upgrad ed by 2001. BAeA offers Rooivalk for Australian project BRITISH Aerospace Australia (BAeA) has teamed with South Africa's Denel Aviation to offer the CSH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter for the Australian Army's Project Air 87. Formal agreement was reached between the two compa nies at the end of last month. The Army is looking for an armed helicopter to replace its two squadrons of Bell 206 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters. BAeA is pursuing a host of defence aerospace projects with the South African armed forces. With industrial participation and devel opment a key element in the selec tion process, the BAe tie-up with Denel is viewed as a signal of the company's willingness to address these issues. The Rooivalk is being offered with the Kentron Mokopa semi- active laser-guided air-to-surface missile to meet the requirement within the request for proposals for a precision-guided weapon. The Matra BAe Dynamics Mistral infrared short range air-to-air mis sile is being proposed as a self- defence weapon. The CSH-2 is in competition with the Agusta A129 Mangusta, the Boeing AH-64 Apache and the Kurocopter Tiger. Sikorsky and Kaman have also considered bid ding for the contract with a modified UH-60 Black Hawk and SH-2G Super Seasprite, respec tively. Tenders for the competition close on 6 August. While the Australian Army has not specified a tandem cockpit air craft, there is an acknowledged reluctance within the Australian Defence community to adopt a widebodied helicopter. Other teaming arrangements known to be under discussion include Agusta with Tenix Defence Systems. Tenix has recently acquired the remaining Australian assets of BTR Aerospace, including Hawker de I Iavilland Victoria. 3 Venezuela receives first C212s PICTURED ABOVE ARE the first three CASAC212 Series 400 Aviocar transport aircraft en route on 22 May to the launch customer, the Venezuelan navy. The navy was the launch customer for this version of the C-212, which is fitted with AlliedSignal TPE331-12JR turboprops instead of TPE33 l-10Rs. The aircraft is also fitted with an electronic flight instrumentation system. 22 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL June 3 - 9 1998
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
