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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 0013.PDF
DEFENCE FIGHTER PROCUREMENT PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC Kuwait targets Super Hornet Short-term plans include phased avionics and structural upgrades to F/A-18C/Ds Kuwait is looking to acquire up to 20 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters around 2005 and beyond, while embarking on a near-term two-phase structural and avionics enhancement of its air force's fleet of 40 F-18C/D Hornets. The Kuwait minister of defence, Jaber Mubarak al Sabah, has report edly said that the state intends to acquire more F/A-18s and Boeing AH-64D Longbow Apaches. Kuwaiti sources say the air force prefers to wait until the Block 2 Super Hornet version is available in 2005, equipped with the Raytheon APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar, and in the meantime proceed with the pur chase of 16 attack helicopters (Flight International, 4-10 December 2001). Tentative plans revolve around re-equipping half of the current Hornet fleet with F/A-18E/Fs and trading in the replaced aircraft. Potential buyers have been identi fied, including Switzerland, which wants eight to 12 additional air craft for reconnaissance to supple ment its 34 F/A-18C/DS. Malaysia meanwhile is looking at possibly swapping its eight two- seat F/A-18Ds, having just requested price and availability data for new Super Hornets from the US government. Kuwait has embarked on an upgrade of its 32 F/A-18Cs and eight tandem-seat fighters, which were delivered in 1991-3 to a Lot 14/15 standard. The air force wants to upgrade the aircraft to the same Lot 19/20 configuration as the last US Navy Hornets built before the produc tion line closed. It has awarded a contract covering 13 airframe upgrades, relating mainly to age, such as cracked inlet-duct skin, and bulkhead and keel fasteners. A package of avionics and sensor improvements is under discussion. This includes replacing the cur rent Raytheon APG-65 with the APG-73 multi-mode radar, instal ling an upgraded mission com puter, Northrop Grumman/ITT ALQ-165 ASPJ internal jammer, Raytheon ALR-67(V) radar warning receiver, BAE ALE-47 self-defence dispenser, Harris TAMMAC digital moving map and a global position ing system. FUNDING Congress OKs $318bn budget The US Congress has passed a $318 billion fiscal year 2002 defence budgetThe defence appropriations, which Presi dent Bush is expected to sign into law, fully funds 48 Boeing F/A-18E/FS for the US Navy costing $3 billion, another $2.7 billion second low rate initial production batch of 13 Lock heed Martin Boeing F-22s for the USAF and $1.5 billion for development of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Boeing's lobbying also paid off with approval of plans to lease 100 767 tankers for 10 years at a cost of $20 billion to replace USAF KC-135Es. The bill continues multi-year pro curement of another 15 Boeing C-17s for $2.8 billion. Congress agreed $7.8 billion for ballistic missile defence, $441 million less than request ed. While the Boeing 747 based Airborne Laser secured increased funds of $483 million, $120 million was cut from the space based laser and $478 mil lion from the Space Based Infrared System -High and -Low. Australian army Tiger acquisition has not been plain sailing ATTACK HELICOPTERS Australians complete Tiger deal amid slack-contract allegations Eurocopter Pacific has finalised a A$1.3 billion ($700 million) con tract with the Australian govern ment to supply Tiger armed recon naissance helicopters for the Australian army. The deal, signed on 21 Decem ber, follows a fast-track contract negotiation process after a threat of project deferral if no deal was struck before the New Year. Australian defence projects not yet at contract are to undergo a review over the next three months as part of a new strategic review ordered by the Australian government. The contract comes three and half years after the Australian defence department launched a competition for reconnaissance helicopters. It also comes amid department claims that the fast- track negotiations have resulted in slack contract arrangements. The first operational aircraft are to enter service at the end of 2004. NEW TURBOSHAFT French powerplant maker Turbomeca has launched a new light helicopter turboshaft engine, dubbed the Ardiden. The 895kW (1,200shp) turboshaft has already been chosen to power the new Hindustan Aero nautics Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The manufac turer - part of the Snecma group - already provides an engine for the ALH. The unit consists of two centrifugal compressor stages driven by a single high- pressure turbine, and a two- stage turbine powering the driveshaft, and features a dual- channel full-authority digital engine control. Certification is set for 2005. Its predecessors, lower down the power band, include the Arriel and Arrius. MISSILE MERGER European missile builder MBDA has finally become a legal entity merging Matra BAe Dynamics, Aerospatiale Matra Missiles and the Missile division of Alenia Marconi Systems. The company is owned by BAE Systems and EADS (each with 37.5%), and Finmeccanica (25%). The merger has been approved by the national governments involved, although there remains a questionmark over whether the European Commission may seek to open its own investiga tions - although intervening in a merger of defence activities would be unprecedented. SOSTAR AWARD Europe's ambitions to develop a ground surveillance radar sys tem to NATO Ground Surveil lance programme requirements have taken a step forward with the award of a €85 million ($75 million) contract to develop a demonstrator. EADS, Dornier, FIAR, Fokker Space, Indra and Thales are partners in the Sostar-X (Stand-Off Surveil lance and Target Acquisition Radar) project. EADS is working with Northrop Grumman on ground architecture for AGS, and the Europeans may join the US company to create a com mon airborne mission system. www.fliqhtinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 1-7 JANUARY 2002 11
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