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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 0250.PDF
DEFENCE MISSILE DEFENCE GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES 'Schedule revisbrf for ABL aircraft Changes in US defence priorities together with several technical setbacks have delayed airborne laser programme The first Boeing Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft, a converted Boeing 747-400F, has received major mod ifications at Wichita, Kansas, but now faces delays while the newly designated Missile Defense Agency (MDA) works on a "schedule revi sion" to take account of shifting US defence priorities and several tech nical issues with the ABL itself. Under the original timetable, the YAL-IA prototype was expected to fly from Wichita next month, before arriving at the US Air Force's test centre at Edwards AFB, California in May for equipping with optical and laser systems, and airworthiness testing. Full systems laser tests were then due to begin in May next year with critical The YAL-1 has received its turret and active laser ranger (atop fuselage) shoot-down tests on airborne targets. "Residual" operational cap ability with one aircraft was expected as early as the third quar ter of next year. Initial operational capability is provisionally set for 2007 with three aircraft. Although the MDA (previously the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization) will not comment on the potential length of the delay, Boeing says the challenges do not represent "any danger to the programme". The company acknowledges that "there almost certainly will be a shift to the right" in the programme timescale which is now expected to be issued by MDA in early February. The MDA recently took over ABL manage ment from the USAF as part of a re organisation of national missile defence programmes. Signs of potential trouble for the ambitious ABL effort surfaced ear lier last year when the Boeing-led team revealed it was spending more than 30% of the $98 million extra funding received for the programme to tackle technical problems. The three major contrac tors, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and TRW, each added $20 million to the USAF's additional $38 million. Problem areas included greater than expected structural changes to the 747 airframe, cavitation problems with the turbopump impeller on the TRW chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL), and the mounting of the conformal window in the nose-mounted laser turret (Flight International, 6-12 Feb 2001). In December, Congress voted for further programme funding when it provided $483.5 million, $73.5 million above the original request. Extra ABL funding, in this case, was available after the cancellation of the US Navy Area Theatre ballistic missile defence system. JSF GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC Hopes fade for Boeing stake Lockheed Martin has told Boeing there is no substantial stake available in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme. The two companies have only met once since Lockheed Martin was awarded the $19 billion contract to develop the F-35 JSF in October last year. "We have explained the situation to them," says Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice-president and JSF programme general manager. "Lockheed Martin only retains around 19% of the programme. We have teaming agreements with investing partners for a significant portion of the programme and we have expectations for international par ticipation on the part of our government. What's left is what's available, and there's not a lot left." Burbage says the US government is asking Lockheed Martin to integrate international partners, but is not forcing the company to give work to Boeing.The Department of Defense "will not give us any cost or schedule relief for any change to the industry team", he says. 'That does n't mean they can't participate. We have sent several requests for proposals to Boeing to bid on." Lockheed Martin has already identified work packages for the first international participants beyond the UK, which is already part of the JSF programme with an 8% stake. Canada has agreed to become a minority partner and will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Level 3 (1-2%) participation next month, committing $250 million to the $25 billion development effort. It will also offer use of its test facilities. If given parliamentary approval this month, the Netherlands plans to sign an MoU on Level 2 (up to 5%) participation in March. Burbage says Lockheed Martin has already identified a work package for Dutch industry. The Italians are also planning Level 2 participation, and a Lockheed Martin team visited Italy last week to discuss the proposed work package. UNMANNED SYSTEMS Heron 2 grows to meet ballistic missile challenge Details of the Malat Heron 2 unmanned air vehicle, which will be the launch platform for Israel's Boost Phase Launcher Interceptor (BPLI) programme, have started to emerge. BPLI is intended to be a system capable of destroying ballistic missiles on their launchers. As well as sensors to detect missile launches and the transporter-erec tor-launcher vehicles, the BPLI UAV will be equipped with heat- seeking missiles and potentially other weapons. Malat, the UAV division of Israel Aircraft Industries, is also developing other new UAVs for a variety of combat missions, according to Menachem Shmul, general manager of IAI's military aircraft division. He says that Heron 2 "will be one of the most advanced UAV systems ever designed", and will be equipped with third and fourth generation sensors, including radar systems. Israeli government officials have stated recently that developing a BPLI prototype will cost $400 million. Shmul says all the UAVs under development at Malat will be elements within a "system of systems", integrating with other battlefield systems through high- bandwidth, high-speed datalinks. They will also have larger ground stations containing some of the computing capacity required to conduct the missions. Shmul reveals that the Heron 2 will have a 26m (85.3ft) span and will be 15m long. The take-off weight will be more than 3t. Today's Heron has a 16.6m span and a 50h endurance with a 250kg payload. 20 29 JANUARY - 4 FEBRUARY 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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