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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 1902.PDF
MJLJfARY AIRCRAFT DIRECTORY 48-aircraft multi-year procurement signed in 1999. In 2000 it was decided 40 of the navy's aircraft will be two-seaters for ground attack. The first production aircraft, a two-seater for the French air force, was handed over in December 1999. The air force should receive 234 Rafales - about 60% of them two-seaters. The Rafale is a close-coupled canard/delta aircraft. Its key sensors are the Thales RBE2 electronically scanned radar, Front Sector Optronics system and Spectra self-protection suite. The cockpit features HOTAS controls, a Thales Avionics wide-angle HUD, head-level display for tactical situational awareness, a pair of colour MFDs and a helmet-mounted sight/display. Voice recognition will feature in future versions. The aircraft is being fielded with progres sively more capability as system development continues, beginning with die mainly air-to-air Fl and leading to die fully multi-role F3. Deliveries of F2 standard Rafales are due to begin in 2003. This introduces a significant air-to-ground capability, with provision for the MBDA SCALP long-range stand-off weapon, and die shorter-range A2SM. The F2 version will also introduce Front Sector Optronics, MIDS tactical datalink and improvements to die RBE2 radar and self-defence systems. Widi the fully developed F3, the radar will be capable of terrain following at the same time as it scans for potential air threats. The Rafale has 14 hardpoints (there are 13 on the Rafale M), five of which are designed for fuel tanks and heavy ordnance. All aircraft are equipped with the Defa 30mm cannon. The principal AAM is the MBDA Mica, equipped with either an active radar or IR seeker. Naval Rafales have a strengdiened undercar riage, arrestor hook and catapult points for carrier operations, and a strengthened fuselage. The Rafale M's greater weight and the limited capability of the Charles de Gaulle catapult will leave it with less range than its air force equiva lent: around 1,850km radius of action in the air-to-air role or 1,300km on "hi-lo-lo-hi" strike missions. A fully loaded aircraft will be catapulted off the deck weighing 19.5t against 21.St for the land-based aircraft. Dassault has developed conformal tanks for the Rafale. The French Government and the Rafale industry team resolved a long-standing dispute over funding the development of an export ver sion in early 2001. The solution involves die French Government paying for development of die F2 and F3 versions for the French air force and the navy's two-seater unit. In return, Dassault, Thales and Snecma will take full responsibility for die export version, which is set to cost Fr5 billion ($700 million) to develop. Snecma is charged widi developing an 18% more powerful version of the M88 engine, bringing thrustup to 19,8501b (88.3kN). Thales will increase the RBE2 phased array radar's range and Dassault will develop more advanced integrated avionics. Dassault says the export air craft could be ready widiin five years of an order. SUPER ETENDARD ALTHOUGH APPROACHING the twilight of its service life, die Super Etendard carrier- based strike fighter continues to receive upgrades to enable the French navy to partici pate in international coalition operations. Recent improvements include a Thales self- protection system diat includes a Barem jam mer pod and Sherloc radar-warning receiver. The Super Etendard can carry die Aerospatiale ASMP nuclear stand-off missile and has been given a reconnaissance capability, allowing it to replace the Etendard IVP, the aircraft it was originally intended to replace in die late 1970s. DASSAULT/DORNIER Dassault/Dornier, 9 Rond-Point des Champs- Elysees, Marcel Dassault, Paris F 75008. France; tel: +33 (1) 53 76 93 00; fax: +33 (1) 53 76 93 20; www.dassault-aviation.fr ALPHA JET THE DASSAULT/Dornier Alpha Jet first flew in October 1973. It was designed fordie French air force, which took 176 between 1978 and 1985, and the German air force, which took 17 5 between 1979 and 1983. Egypt assembled 37 Alpha Jets between 1982 and 1985. To keep the aircraft in service, France is studying an upgrade. As no funding is available until 2002, no deliveries could take place until dien. A new HUD and MFDs would be fitted. SABCA is prime contractor for a Belgium upgrade that includes Thales Avionics' Totem INS/GPS and a wide-angle HUD. An ILS/VOR navigation system has also been added. Germany has retired its Alpha Jets and continues to look for customers for them. Thailand and the UK have signed deals for refurbished aircraft while progress on a UAE sale is delayed in the German approvals process. Six versions of the Alpha Jet have been built or offered, but only two were successful: the advanced trainer/light attack Alpha Jet E and die German air force Alpha Jet A, optimised for a single-seat light attack role, although they were also used for weapons training. EADS EADS Military Aircraft, PO Box 801160, D-81663, Munich 80, Germany; tel: +49 89 6070; fax: +49 89 607 26481; EADS Casa, Avenida de Aragon 404, PO Box 193, Madrid 28022, Spain; tel: +34 (91) 585 70 00; fax: +34 (91) 585 7666; www.eads-nv.com AT-2000 MAKO DESPITE failing to be selected by South Korea as the basis of the KTX-2, and disap pointment in Soudi Africa, EADS Germapy continues marketing efforts for its stealthy,» li Aircraft Mission Powerplant Atlantique ATL2 Mirage 2000-5MKII Mirage Fl Maritime patrol Fighter/attack Fighter/attack 2 x R-R/Snecma/lvlTU Tyne Mk21/22 1 x Snecma M53-P2 1 x Snecma Atar 9K50 Rafale Super Etendard Alpha let Fighter/attack Fighter/attack Adv trainer/light attack 2 x Snecma M88-2 1 x Snecma Atar 8K50 2 x Snecma Larzac 04-C20 Max power IkWI/Minist dry/wetllhl 4,549 14.470/21,375 11,070/15,885 11250/16,875 11,025 3,173 Wing span (m) 37.46 9.1 8.4 10.9 Wing area lm') Overall length [m) OEVVIkgl MTOW Ikgl 15,200 7,500 MLW (kg) Max payload (kg) Max weapon load (kg) 6,300 2,500 Range, max fuel (km) 1,852 1,820 Endurance (hi Hanlpoints Cruise Iktl Max landing dist, sea level ISA (m) Max take-off dist, sea level ISA (ml Max ceiling (ft) 45,000 Crew Passengers Internal fuel (kg) 3,200 3,200 Fuel, opt ext (litre! 4,200kg 1,800kg 480kg Air refuel? No Yes Yes Yes Alternate endurance, 8h on station at 1,850km from base. ATL3: 25,300kg 0EW; 5,560kg payload; 19.5h duration Endurance is for combat air patroi 58 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 29 May - 4 June 2001
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