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Aviation History
2000
2000-1 - 1127.PDF
DEFENCE UK seeks jet defence proposals STEWART PENNEY/LONDON THE UK Defence Procure ment Agency (DPA) has invited seven firms to submit pro posals for a fast jet directed infra red counter-measures (DIRCM) technology demonstration pro gramme (TDP). BAE Systems, Litton, Northrop Grumman, Sagem, Sanders, Shorts Missile Systems and Thomson- CSF Optrosys have been issued with the requirements. Formal invitations to tender should be issued at the end of next Japan's F-2 is ready for deployment AJAPAN Defence Agency (JDA) advisory panel has declared die new Mitsubishi F-2 support fighter ready for deploy ment, widi die first aircraft due to enter operational service by the end of this month. According to the JDA, the deci sion requires approval from the JDA director-general Kazuo Torashima, but the intention is to deploy one F-2 at the Japan Air Self Defence Force'sMisawa air base on 26 September. The agency still plans to deploy 19 F-2s at Misawa in the fiscal year ending in March, despite repeated delays to the entry-into-service date. According to the JDA, Torashima is expected to grant final approval for the deployment on 2 5 September. • TESTS of an armed General Atomics RQ-1A Predator unmanned air vehicle (UAV) are to take place within the next two months. The US Air Force will equip the UAV with the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire anti tank missile for the tests. The trials in October or November will determine whether the Predator - which is equipped for intelligence, surveillance and month, with responses due at the year-end. The work is scheduled to finish in June 2003. The contrac tor is expected to provide around 50% of the programme cost. DIRCM systems are designed to protect aircraft from infrared (IR) guided missiles, but in-service sys tems are too big for fast jets while weight and power requirements are also issues. The DPA requires bidders to develop an acquisition, pointing and tracking (APT) sys tem "with dimensions in the region of 100-150mm (4-6in) diameter" and a total volume of 2 litres reconnaissance operations - can be used for attack missions (Flight International 25-31 July). Operational RQ-ls are being fitted with designators to allow die UAV to direct laser guided bombs as well as self-designate the laser- guided Hellfire. Although the RQ-1 was designed with two wing pylons for sensor payloads, these are being moved outboard to carrv Hellfire (122in'). The TDP will include a missile warning system, a transmit ter containing the APT and a laser aperture and IR laser source. The TDP will be housed in a pod to cut aircraft integration risks. DPA plans ground trials but the winningsystem will require certifi cation for potential flight trials. • The DPA has signed study con tracts for the Watchkeeper unmanned air vehicle - the combi nation of Sender and Spectator projects that started as part of the UK/US Tracer future combat vehicle requirement. BAE, Lock heed Martin UK Government Systems, Northrop Grumman and Thomson Racal Defence have each received £3.5 million ($4.9 million) for initial competitive assessment phases. Watchkeeper will provide intel ligence, surveillance, target acqui sition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities. The studies will look at platform capabilities; the balance of investments between air and land systems; and consider what role could be played by the British Army's single UAV system - the GEC-Marconi Phoenix. 3 USAF plans to test-fly RQ-1A Predator armed with Hellfire missile F-22 on track but only one of 10 tests completed WITH THREE MONTHS to go, and only one of 10 cri teria ticked off, the US Air Force and Lockheed Martin/Boeing remain confident of meeting the milestones required for approval of low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the F-22 Raptor. Of the Congressionally mand ated criteria scheduled for approval by the US Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) at a meeting on 21 December, the only one completed is initial high angle-of-attack test ing with weapons bay doors open. Despite this, F-22 programme general manager Bob Rearden says the programme is "on track" and ready for low-rate production. Testing, of the critical Block 3.0 avionics software began on 1 September in the Boeing 757 fly ing testbed, one month ahead of . . >- . 1'in'na—\ . • Three more F-22s have to fly before the year end to meet approval criteria schedule, and flight tests in the F-22 are still anticipated before the DAB meeting. Three more F-22s must fly before the year-end to meet die criteria. Aircraft 4004 and 4005 are being prepared at Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Georgia, plant and 4006 is expected to fly in December. They will be flown uncoated. Still to be completed are: mating of air craft 4008; static testing (14 of 19 tests completed); missile separa tion demonstrations (AIM-9 accomplished, AIM-120 down for November); air vehicle final pro duction readiness review and Block 3.1 software critical design review. The F-22 team must also achieve milestones in engine qualification, fatigue testing and radar cross-section flight trials. J i dator armed with Hellfire missile launchers so that the missile firing has minimal affect on the UAVs fuselage mounted powerplant. The flight testing first phase will include two low-altitude Hellfire launches with the missile targeted by a ground-based laser in the first firing and the Predator self-desig-. nating die second. If the tests validate the armed Predator concept, a second round .of trials next year will include Hellfire launches from 15,000- 20,000ft (4,600-6,000m), the UAVs normal operating altitude. This second round would be fol lowed by the USAF drafting a concept of operations and Operational Requirements Docu ment for the armed Predator. One issue diat remains to be resolved is whether Predator will have to jetti son unexpended weapons, before landing, to minimise risk. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 26 September - 2 October 2000 21
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