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Aviation History
2000
2000 - 1635.PDF
MILITARY AIRCRAFT DIRECTORY Mitsubishi T-2/2A trainers. Fuji and Kawasaki are airframe subcontractors. Northrop Grumman, 1840 Century Park East,Los Angeles. California 90067-2199, USA: tel: +1 (310) 553 6262; fax: +1 (310) 2013023; www.northgrum.com A-10 THUNDERBOLT II NORTHROP took over responsibility for sup port of the former Fairchild A-10 in 1987. The USAF has requested information on re-engin- ing the aircraft as part of a wider structural and avionics upgrade to extend die A-10's service life by 30 years. The GE CF34-8, a commercial engine, is considered favourite. It would be der ated to 1 l,0001b-thrust and replace the 8,0001b- thrustTF34. Around 400 aircraft are in service. B-2 SPIRIT THE B-2 STEALTH bomber was declared operational in April 1997 with delivery of die thirteenth aircraft to the USAF. It was used for the first time during the Kosovo crisis, when raids were launched from the home base of Whiteman AFB, Missouri. The six B-2s that took part dropped more than 454,000kg of GPS-guided munitions, mostly JDAMs. All 21 B-2s are due to be upgraded to Block 30 standard by July this year. Two new and some modified Block 30 aircraft have been delivered, with the rest undergoing modification at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, California, plant. The upgrade takes 18 months to two years, depending on die aircraft's standard. The DoD says full operational capability will be achieved wiriiin die $44.3 billion programme cost estimate, but extra funding will be required to improve maintainability of the B-2's LO fea tures and to buy portable shelters to protect the aircraft during deployments. EA-6B PROWLER ALTHOUGH EA-6B production ceased in 1991, the aircraft has received continual upgrades as it is the US armed force's only dedicated EW aircraft capable of penetrating hostile airspace with strike packages. Proposals to re-open production have been considered to bolster die surviving fleet of 123 aircraft, of which around 105 are active at any one time. Most production tooling is intact at the St Augustine, Florida, plant, where new wings are being produced for 20 aircraft removed from storage. Prowlers are being upgraded to Improved Capability (ICAP) III standard - adding reactive jamming capability and installing new controls and displays - to be completed in 2004. EA-6Bs are also receiving improved computers, communications, naviga tion and electronic flight instruments. F-5 TIGER II PRODUCTION oftheF-5E/Fended in 1987, but several upgrade programmes are under way. Northrop Grumman began flight tests of a Tiger IV in April 1995, marketing the upgrad ed F-5E as a lead-in trainer for die Lockheed Martin F-16, but has yet to secure a customer. Numerous other companies, including AIDC, Bristol Aerospace, Elbit, Israel Aircraft Industries, Lockheed Martin, Singapore Tech nologies Aerospace, offer F-5 upgrades with various avionics manufacturers. F-14 TOMCAT THE F-14 remains die mainstay of the USN's air superiority fleet, but in recent years the air craft has been given an increasing air-to-ground role. Improved LANTIRN targeting and nav igation pods are being acquired to increase die capabilities. Otiier recent changes include die retrofitting of a BAE digital flight-control system to improve handling. A recent USN study has extended the 90 F- 14As' fatigue life so it will reach retirement in 2003 without further structural modification. The USN's 80 GE Fl 10-powered F-14Bs and 50 F-14Ds will have an estimated two years of life remaining after the two versions are retired in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The F-14 was first flown in January 1969 and 557 F-14As were built by Grumman, including 79 for Iran; F-14As re-engined with General Electric Fl 10s were redesignated F-14Bs while the F-14Ds has Fl 10s and digital avionics. T-38 TALON THE USAF has launched a series of initiatives to keep die T-38 trainer in service until 2025, with the option of extending service to 2040, by which time the aircraft will be 81 years old. Upgrades include a Boeing-led avionics pro gramme (AUP) to install a HUD, MFDs, GPS/INS and TCAS. The first aircraft with the AUP systems flew in July last year. The USAF has also awarded Northrop Grumman a con tract to design a new wingbox, with a view to rewinging the entire fleet. In the meantime, production of an earlier standard wing has restarted. The USAF has issued a draft RFP for a propulsion upgrade, with testing due to start next year. Changes include an compressor upgrade, a new ejector nozzle, redesigning die intake and reinforcing die structure. • JJiWMllri.lrMi. Panavia Aircraft, Airport Business Centre, Am Soldermoos 17, Hallbergmoos, D-85399, Germany; tel: +49 (811) 801238/9; fax: +49 (811) 801386 TORNADO PRODUCTION of the Tornado ended in October 1998, with the delivery of the 992nd aircraft. The three partner nations, Germany, Italy and die UK, continue to upgrade die air craft for service use to at least 2015. Upgrade of 142 RAF GRl/lA/lBs to Tornado GR4 standard continues at BAE's Warton factory. Changes include a large MFD for the pilot, a BAE FLIR installed beneath die forward fuselage, which displays an image on the new HUD, INS/GPS navigation system, Terprom terrain reference navigation, along widi changes to die EW and weapons capabili ties. Later HOTAS controls will introduced. RAF Tornado F3s are undergoing the Capability Sustainment Programme, which equips the aircraft for the ASRAAM and AMRAAM missilesJTIDS and Successor IFF. German and Italian aircraft - both IDS inte- dictor strike and ECR electronic warfare/ reconnaissance variants - are receiving broadly similar upgrades as part of their mid-life improvement programmes. Included in the updates are changes to die computer and data- bus, compatibility widi Rafael Litening target ing pod and improved EW equipment. PILATUS Pilatus Aircraft, Flugzeugwerke Stans, CH-6371, Switzerland; tel: +41 (41) 619 6111; fax: +41( 41) 619 6224; www.pilatus-aircraft.com. PC-7/PC-7Mkll/PC-9 PILATUS continues to offer its family of turbo prop trainers, which, since 1997, have been built using modular fuselages. The major difference is engine power, die PC-7 being die lower-pow ered aircraft. PC-7s and PC-9s now have a common fuselage. Israel's Radom has given Slovenian PC-9s a new mission and weapons system, as well as a Lockheed xVlartin F-16-like cockpit that includes a FlightVisions HUD. The aircraft first flew in May 1999. The changes add 5 0kg to die empty weight. PAKISTAN AERONAUTICAL COMPLEX (PAC) Kamara, District Attock, Pakistan; tel: +92 (51) 584 212; fax:+92 (51) 583 837 MUSHSHAK and SUPER MUSHSHAK PAC TOOK over production of the MFI-17 Supporter from Saab, starting with construc tion from Swedish-supplied kits. The current offering is the Super Mushshak, powered by a more powerful, 195kW, Textron Lycoming IO-540, replacing die earlier 150kVV IO-360 of die Mushshak. PZL, 39-300 Mielec ul. Wojska Polskiego 3, Mielec. Rzeszow PL-39-300, Poland; tel: +48 (17) 7887819; fax: +48(17)7887226 M-93/M-96 IRYDA THE M-93 and M-96 are developments of the 1-22, an aircraft which ran into serious problems. Changes included new airbrakes, Sextant-sup plied avionics, modified systems and equipment, and new engines - initially, as the M-93 K, Polish K-15 engines rated at 3,3001b dirust. A similar aircraft intended for export, die M- 93 V, was fitted with the R-R Viper 545 with the same rating. The K-15-powered M-°6 introduced further aerodynamic improvements: leading- edge slats, Fowler flaps, leading-edge root extensions, and a revised taller fin. Single- and two-seat reconnaissance and close air support 60 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 23 - 29 May 2000
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