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Aviation History
2000
2000-1 - 1762.PDF
DEFENCE F-22 Raptor flight tests rejigged GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC LOCKHEED MARTIN and Boeing are rejigging the F-22 Raptor flight test programme in a bid to achieve the milestones that must be completed for low-rate initial production (LRIP) to be approved next month, as planned. As of early November, the team had completed only six of 15 crite ria for LRIP approval, but several others were almost achieved. The CONTRACTS ++ DRS Technologies has been awarded a 30-month, $3.9 million contract by the US Army Communications-Electronics Command to supply leading edge infrared focal plane arrays for the army's new Boeing Sikorsky RAH- 66A Comanche Armed Reconnais sance and Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow multi-mission combat helicopters. DRS's Standard Adv anced Dewar Assemblies Type I technology will allow pilots to iden tify targets at longer ranges. ++ TEAC America has received a $10 million contractto upgrade the cockpit video recording systems (CVRS) on the US Navy's Boeing F/A-18A Hornets. TEAC will supply its single-deck V-80AB-F9 Hi-8mm airborne video tape recorders for 600 F/A-18 C/Ds, and new CVRS for the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets. ++ The US Air Force and US Army have placed $4.4 million contracts with Pacific Aerospace & Electronics for titanium/compos ite electronic packaging compo nents and connectors for Boeing/ Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors and the Javelin anti-armour missile. latest milestone to be accom plished is 2,150 cycles of endurance testing on the F-22's Pratt & Whitney Fl 19, half the engine's full hot-section life. Boeing, meanwhile, has deliv ered an engineering version of Block 3.0 avionics software to Lockheed Martin for the fifth flight-test aircraft, Raptor 4005. In a change to the original plan, the team now intends to accomplish the most challenging milestone, flying Block 3.0 in the F-22 itself, using the Raptor 4005 and not 4004 - the first test aircraft. The change was made to save time and because of delays in flying 4004. Raptor 4005 is expected to fly later this month and, if 4006 flies as scheduled in December, the team will have met the require ment to fly four aircraft this year. Lockheed Martin is waiting for confirmation that it has accom plished another of the milestones, mating of the major airframe sec tions of aircraft 4008. The compa ny is also close to completing static tests and beginning fatigue tests, both criteria for LRIP approval. As required, the team has com pleted the critical design review on the next block of software, 3.1, and is preparing for the final air vehicle production readiness review. The final milestone, which has yet to be accomplished, is to initiate radar cross-section testing. • Saab looks to Austria as next Gripen customer JULIAN MOXON/STOCKHOLM AUSTRIA IS being lined up by Saab Aerospace to become the second export customer for its Gripen multi-role fighter. Sources close to the Austrian ministry of defence say that while it has yet to issue a request for infor mation for fighters to replace its ageing Saab Drakens, the Gripen decision is "virtually a done deal". Saab's principal rival is Lockheed Martin, which confirms it would offer Austria used F-16 A/Bs. The company concedes, however, that Sweden "is very strong there". Saab Aerospace senior vice- president and general manager Ake Svensson says the urgent Austrian requirement for 24 aircraft to replace its Drakens by 2003 cannot be met with new production Gripens. "So we're talking about a transition programme in which Viggens would be used." The move would give time for Austria to take delivery of the latest Batch 3 Gripens. With improved cockpit situation awareness and mission equipment, these are due Viggens could be an interim replacement for Austria's Drakens to enter service with the Swedish air force in the second half of 2003. Svensson says that the Nether lands has joined the list of potential customers for the Gripen as a long- term F-16 replacement. Although it has already signed up to the US Joint Strike Fighter programme, he says Dutch defence circles are debating the need for an advanced, expensive capability "when the Gripen is as good a systems platform as anything available". The Gripen formed the core of a demonstration to the NATO air defence committee on 9 Novem ber, undertaken at Satenas air base in southern Sweden. Air-to-air and air-to-ground missions were car ried out using the aircraft's Tactical Information Datalink System. All mission details including target acquisition and weapons firing data were broadcast to other aircraft and to ground-based controllers, but with no voice communication between pilots. The demonstra tion showed how the Swedish air force could contribute to future NATO operations. • Wind-corrected munition kit goes operational on F-16 and B-52 THE LOCKHEED Martin Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) is now opera tional on the Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter and the Boeing B-52 bomber and is destined for the range of US Air Force tactical air craft. The Boeing F-15E and Rockwell B-1 will be next to get the inertial guidance bomb kit. The Lockheed Martin F-117 and Northrop Grumman B-2 will later also be armed with WCMDs. The WCMD is mated to tactical munitions dispensers. Using global positioning system data, it eliminates the effects of wind drift. The USAF plans to buy 40,000 of the tail kits worth about $500 million. A full rate production decision is due in March. • Lockheed Martin has won a $12 million USAF contract for long lead items for production of kits for the Modular Mission Computer and the Colour Multi-Function Display Set which gives the F-16 Block 50 capabilities. • 24 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 14 - 20 November 2000
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