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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 0422.PDF
Military aircraft GROWS Despite the wider defence issues sparked by 11 September, military budgets throughout the world are set to fall still further behind the USA's STEWART PENNEY/LONDON he second Military Aircraft Census from Flight International underlines the strength of the US armed forces and its industrial base. It also raises questions about the true market for the advanced trainers and light attack airaaft which are in development today. The census shows that the world's mili tary operates over 89,200 aircraft of all types (excluding recreational or historic types), slightly down on last year's 89,600. Of these, the USA accounts for the largest number. Apart from the Australasia, North and East Asia region - which includes China and its 10,000 airaaft - the USA operates more aircraft than any of the regions. Planned increases in US defence expenditure, along with sluggish procure ment spending in almost every other country, means this gap is set to grow. Force-size dominance is reflected in the largest combat aircraft fleets. Five of the 10 largest fleets are US manufactured, and the TheF-16is the world's most widely used combat aircraft twelfth is the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, in sales terms one of the most successful jet fighters of all time. The pic ture is similar in the transport/tanker, trainer and helicopter markets. Soviet- designed aircraft comprise the other five of the top 10, and are the biggest rivals to the USA's supremacy. But, of course, the Soviet Union no longer exists, and, as a conse quence, poses no threat. And while the RSK MiG-29 Fulcrum and Sukhoi Su- 27/30/33 Flanker family are seventh and nineth in the list, sales of both are flagging, and replacement programmes appear a long way off, despite Moscow's moves to push forward with the LFI, Russia's next- generation multirole fighter. Age concerns Lockheed Martin's F-16 has climbed to the top of the list, having secured a number of deals in 2001, while the Mikoyan MiG-19/Shenyang F-6 family, is becoming inaeasingly decrepit, a problem for any type that is long out of production. Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbed/Chengdu F-7 numbers have also slipped back as age has taken its toll, although upgrade pro grammes ensure that many will remain in service for at least the next 10 years. Soviet-era helicopters lead the two rotor- craft lists - but there is no replacement for either the Mil Mi-8/17 or Mi-24/25/35 in 38 12-18 FEBRUARY 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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