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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 0066.PDF
DEFENCE DEFENSIVE AIDS GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC BAETs US arm wins laser contract The company will demonstrate a DIRCM system capable of detecting and tracking infrared-guided missile threats BAE Systems' US arm has been selected to conduct the UK's Fast Jet Directed Infrared Counter- measures (DIRCM) technology demonstration. Under a two-year, £3.9 million ($5.6 million) UK Ministry of Defence contract, BAE will develop a system capable of acquiring and tracking infrared- guided missile threats and pointing a high-power laser jammer. The Nashua, New Hampshire- based Information & Electronic Warfare Systems division of BAE is MODERNISATION Venezuela approves F16 update Venezuela has allocated around $218 million for the long-sought modernisation of its Lockheed Martin F-16s, with the air force due to issue requests for infor mation by April. The Venezuelan air force plans to sign a deal by the end of this year for airframe overhauls and system upgrades for 15 F-16A/Bs at an expected cost of $138 million. Six more airframes will be covered by a second con tract to be signed either next year or in 2004. Plans include replacing the APG-66 radar with a synthetic aperture radar-capable system. The South American nation is also seeking a cockpit avionics upgrade and the installation of an advanced radar warning receiver, improved fire control and stores management com puters, and a precision-guided munitions capability. Upgrading of the Pratt & Whitney F100-220 to -220E standard is under way, and the Rafael Litening targeting pod is being integrated. Likely competitors for the con tract include Fokker, Israel Aircraft Industries, Lockheed Martin, SABCA and Singapore Technologies Aerospace. developing a similar system under the US Navy's Tactical Aircraft Directed Infrared Countermeasures (TADIRCM) technology demon stration. This culminated in a live- fire test in November in which a US Navy QF-4 drone equipped with the company's Agile Eye laser jam ming head defeated a shoulder- launched surface-to-air missile. Under the UK's Fast Jet DIRCM programme, BAE's Defensive Avionics Receiver Transmitter (DART) system will be moved on to Italy's defence ministry is to publish a new defence report by the end of this month which will review the status of the country's armed forces and the progress on their transformation aimed at eliminating compulsory service by the end of 2006. The report, known as a 'white development-ready status. The DART is a miniaturised laser-capable acquisition, pointing and tracking system that can be integrated with laser and missile warning systems. The technology demonstration is intended to pave the way for pro curement of a DIRCM for Royal Air Force fast jets. Laboratory and field trials over the next two years will include a demonstration of the system's compatibility with multi ple laser systems and could lead to flight trials, BAE says. book', will contain the first indications of Italy's future security policy, which is expected to re-establish homeland defence and security as key priorities. The air force is likely to be promised long-requested assets, including air borne early warning and control aircraft, new surface-to-air missile e The US Navy, meanwhile, plans e to begin a TADIRCM procurement g programme this year (Flight h International, 6-12 November 2001). The November live-fire test in- n volved a QF-4 equipped with a two- )- colour missile warning system and ir Agile Eye laser jam head. The air- d craft was flying at Mach 0.55 and 11 low altitude when the man-portable e missile was fired. The system acquir- i- ed and jammed the missile "quickly o and accurately...causing a very large miss distance", says the company. batteries and possibly more fighters. Defence minister Antonio Martino says that with 10,000 Italians serving in international operations worldwide there is a need for more spending to accelerate the transformation process and for weapons modernisation across the air force, army and navy. FORCE RESTRUCTURING HERMAN DE WULF/ BRUSSELS Belgian air force loses independence Belgium's air force ceased to be an independent service on 2 January, becoming the army air component or COMOPSAIR (Command Opera tions Air). The air force has been shrunk progressively over the past decade with its combat fleet reduced to six squadrons operating 72 Lockheed Martin F-16s. The single command structure for the air force, army and navy is the latest restructuring by defence minster Andre Flahaut, who says "the armed forces will specialise in humanitarian activities". The defence budget has been kept at its 1991 level and the latest changes have been described as a "restruc turing to fit the budget". Most of Belgium's defence bud get - 75% - covers salaries, while 20% is spent on training, leaving 5% for equipment procurement. As a result, the army will lose its armour and artillery, becoming "specialised in direct fire" as its three remaining armoured brigades will be reduced to two mechanised rifle brigades. Belgium has opted out of the Joint Strike Fighter programme, meaning its F-16s will have to soldier on until at least 2015. The country has, however, joined the pan-European Airbus Military Company A400M programme, committing to seven of the transport aircraft for "human itarian operations". These will replace 11 ageing Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules. In a farewell speech in mid- December, retiring chief of the air staff Lt Gen Michel Mandl warned the "armed forces can be reduced to the point where they cease to be the instrument of foreign policy they are meant to be". Belgian F-16s get tug towards humanitarian operations DEFENCE STUDY Italian report to reveal future security policy 12 8-14 JANUARY 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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