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Aviation History
1998
1998 - 2959.PDF
New Zealand launches P-3 Sinus PETER LA FRANCHI/CANBERRA THE NEW ZEALAND Min istry of Defence has released an invitation to register (ITR) for the Project Sirius tactical sensor suite upgrade for its six Lockheed P-3K maritime patrol aircraft, aimed at extending the P-3's lite by at least 20 years. The ITR is expect ed to be followed by a restricted request for tender next year. Raytheon officials have confirmed that the company will be bidding for the upgrade project, with other contenders expected to include Israel Aircraft Industries and Lockheed Martin. Air New Zealand and Marconi Electronic Systems are also likely to pursue the project as part of a recently concluded teaming arrangement to contest military aircraft integration requirements throughout Asia Pacific. The ITR calls for the replace ment of existing data management systems, the APS-134 radar, ULA- 2 and ALD-2B electronic support measures equipment, surveillance sensors, new navigation and com munications suites and improved armament support capability. Also required are a replacement for die existing ASQ-10 magnetic anomaly detector system, and a new electro-optical suite to replace the existing AAS-36 equipment. A New Zealand's P-3s could be on patrol until 2018 new acoustic processor is sought to replace the existing AQA-5 suite. A replacement communications suite is required to support encrypted and unencrypted Link 11, HE, V/UHF and satellite com munications capabilities and there will be a new mission support facil ity for the upgraded aircraft. Emphasis is placed on the use of commercial off-the-shelf equip ment, and the preferred prime con tractor is to undertake full system design and integration. The contract calls for an initial prototype installation and quali fication, followed by the upgrade of the remaining five aircraft. The six Royal New Zealand Air Force Orions are already undergo ing airframe life extensions, incor porating replacement wings and tailplanes, under the SNZ109 mil lion ($55 million) Project Kestrel. The wing refit is also believed to include pylons for an anti-ship mis sile, which has yet to be chosen. Project Sirius is seen as having close parallels with the Royal Australian Air Force's AP-3C Sea Sentinel upgrade being undertak en by Raytheon Systems in con junction with Boeing Australia. 3 See feature, P42. Comanche radar decision due soon from US Army RAMON LOPEZ/WASHINGTON DC worth as much as $250 million, bidders. The final decision on the N DC THE US ARMY will decide within two months whether to pursue alternative fire control radar solutions for the Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche armed reconnaissance/attack heli copter, says programme manager Brig Gen Joe Bergantz. It had been assumed that a small er version of the Northrop Grumman/Lockheed Martin Longbow millimetre-wave radar used on the Boeing AH-46D Apache would be installed on the Comanche. A senior US De partment of Defense official, how ever, decided earlier this year that Boeing Sikorsky should hold a competition for radar work wort , Bergantz says. "The radar represents a big chunk of the programme. It was justified to open it up for competi tion. We asked Boeing Sikorsky, the prime integrator, to figure out how to put a radar on Comanche. We are interested in any and all ideas," says Bergantz. The radar frequency was not specified, but it must be compati ble with the in-service RE Hellfire anti-tank missile. Confirming that there were multiple responses to the request for information (RFI), Bergantz says only that the Longbow radar was proposed. It is also known that Raytheon has put in a proposal. Bergantz says there are no foreign bidders. final e feasibility of an alternative radar is expected to be made by the end of November. Schedule, cost and performance are expected to be the critical factors. "Northrop Grumman should not assume a wTin, and I don't think they are," he adds. Some internal company work has been accomplished towards developing a Longbow radar below the current 231kg (470 lb). The firms are working on a smaller radar for the planned Future Scout and Cavalry System (FSCS) and Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement (TRACER) combat vehiclse for the US Army and British Army, respectively .• Japan starts SAR amphibian design THE JAPAN Defence Agency (JDA) is to begin detailed design work on an updated search- and-rescue (SAR) amphibian, hav ing finally selected the Allison AE2100J turboprop engine for its planned improved development of the ShinMaywa US-1A. JDA's Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI), tasked with overseeing the pro gramme, is expected to order two AE2100 shipsets by year-end. The engines will be used for static test ing before installation on the first US-1 A Kai "modified" prototype. The TRDI is seeking funding to order this in fiscal year 1999/00. The selected engine is a 3,350kW(4,500shp) hybrid of the AE2100A powering the Saab 2000 and the D3 variant fitted to the Lockheed Martin C-130J. The AE2100J will feature a Lucas full authority digital engine control with modified software, a rein forced gearbox and machined cast ing and the C-130J's composite six-blade Dovvty R414 propeller adopted for maritime operations. Performance enhancing changes include replacing the US-1 As four General Electric T64-10J turbo- props, adding a Kawasaki-devel oped fly-by-wire flight control system, new flat panel screen cock pit displays, a search radar, pres surised upper hull and composite wing structure. The US-1 Modification En gineering Team is due to complete the first phase of detailed design and static testing by the end of 1999. A first flight is planned for 2002/3 but is dependent on JDA funding. The US-1 A Kai faces a battle for funding, as Japan's three self-defence services jostle to include new programmes in the 2000-05 five-year defence plan. The Japan Maritime Self- Defence Force wants to develop a new maritime patrol aircraft to replace the Kawasaki-built Lockheed P-3J, in addition to the US-1 A. The Air Self-Defence Force is asking for a new C-X transport to replace the Kawasaki C-l, while the Ground Self- Defence Force is looking for a new AH-X attack helicopter. D FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 28 October - 3 November 1998 23
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