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Aviation History
2000
2000-1 - 0515.PDF
Turkish selection boosts Bell GRAHAM WARWICK/FARNBOROUGH TURKEY'S choice of Bell's KingCobra attack helicopter is expected to boost the US compa ny's chances in contests in Australia, Poland, Japan and South Korea. The Turkish Government chose the KingCobra, a version of the upgraded AH-1Z SuperCobra with wheeled landing gear, over die Agusta A129 Mangusta Internat ional and Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow. Negotiations will now begin on the first phase of die programme, which calls for 50 aircraft valued at Si.5 billion. Deliveries will begin 36 months after the contract sign ing and will continue at a rate of one a month. The Turkish attack helicopter programme is for a total of 145 air craft to be produced in three phas es over the next decade. Despite the selection of the KingCobra for the first tranche, later phases could be reopened to competition. Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI) will be prime contractor for the programme, with Bell as pri mary subcontractor. Turkish com pany Aselsan will provide radios and sighting systems. Other local suppliers will be named by TAI. Turkey's requirement is for 50% of the contract value to be offset. The assembly breakdown has not been decided, but much of the work will be done in Turkey, says KingCobra is an upgraded AH- 1Z with a new four-blade composite rotor Poland discusses Seasprite acquisition POLAND is negotiating to acquire a small number of Kiman SH-2G Seasprite naval helicopters, along with spare General Electric T700 turboshaft engines, to equip the first of two recently acquired ex-US Navy guided missile frigates. The US Department of Defense has notified Congress of the pro posed sale, though according to industry sources a finalised deal is some way off. It is discussing pur chasing up to four of the^econd- hand anti-submarine helicopters following the delivery of an FFG- 7-class frigate, which is expected to be supplemented by a second ship. Poland's interest is understood to focus on some of the 12 SH-2G helicopters in service with die US Navy Reserve rather than acquir ing - and upgrading SH-2F machines stored in the desert. The US Navy is planning to disband its last Seasprite squadron in2001. • India seeks Phalcon and buys Green Pine INDIA HAS begun talks with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) about the purchase of two Elta Phalcon airborne early warning systems. In a separate deal, India has bought the Green Pine phased array detection radar made by IAI subsidiary Elta. The Phalcon talks are part of India's efforts to bolster its early- warning system, but any deal could face US opposition. India is among 27 countries that die USA consid ers "sensitive and worrying" in connection with any sale of advanced defence systems. Sources in the Israeli Ministry of Defence say that so far, Washing ton has not objected to the Green Pine contract, but opposition to the Phalcon deal may arise in the future, as happened with a similar deal involving China. The Green Pine radar was developed as an integral part of the Arrow, Israel's anti-tactical ballistic missile system. India has bought the radar as a standalone detection sensor. Meanwhile, IAI is awaiting clari fication from Beijing about the way forward after the collapse of China's Phalcon deal, which was cancelled after fierce pressure from the USA. Installation of Phalcon had started on an Ilyushin 11-76, which is parked at IAI facilities. It is understood that the main components of the Phalcon system manufactured for the Chinese deal could be installed on a different platform if the system is selected by another client, such as India. It is unclear what the Chinese plan to do with the 11-76, however. The fixed dome that was installed on the aircraft in the Beriev plant in Russia has been disassembled. J Bell. Offset and workshare agree ments are still being negotiated. The KingCobra is a version of the upgraded AH-1Z underdevel opment for the US Marine Corps. The twin General Electric T700- 70lC-powered helicopter has a new- four-blade composite rotor and uprated transmission for improved hot-and-high perfor mance and a new Litton integrated weapon system. Turkey operates nine AH-1W SuperCobras. Deliveries of addi tional helicopters were blocked by the US Government because of concerns about Turkish action against Kurdish rebels. Bell says the KingCobra deal requires clear ance by the US State Department and Congress, but it expects approval. "The State Department has been fully aware of this pro gramme," says the company. Bell recently succeeded in get ting the AH-1Z reinstated in the shortlist for Australia's Air 67 attack helicopter programme. • NEWS IN BRIEF • KUWAIT INVESTIGATION The US Air Force is moving forward with an Article 32 investigation into the fatal crash of one of its Lockheed Martin C-130Es in Kuwait last December. The probe will determine whether Capt Darron Haughn, the pilot- in-command, will face a general court martial for dereliction of duty and negli gent homicide. • THAI ALPHA JET Fairchild Dornier has rolled out the first refurbished Dassault Dornier Alpha Jets for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). The Alpha Jet is one of 20 taken from the German air force's stored fleet. Delivery of the first five air craft is due in September. The RTAF will use the air craft for close support, replacing its ageing Rockwell OV-10 Broncos. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 1 - 7 August 2000 39
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