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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 1286.PDF
HEADLINES BUSINESS TRW opens books as new bidder steps into ring Both sides are claiming vic tory after TRW shareholders voted to allow Northrop Grumman access to non public information on the company in the hope of an improved takeover bid. Northrop Grumman believes the vote at TRW's 24 April annual meeting "sends a strong message" that the company should begin nego tiations, while TRW points out that two proposals intended to remove obstacles to Northrop Grumman's hostile takeover were voted down. TRW, meanwhile, has agreed to provide access to another unidentified potential buyer which has signed a confidentiality agreement. Northrop Grumman has refused to sign a confidential ity agreement because it includes an "inappropriate" three-year standstill provision which would hamstring its pending share exchange offer. Although the standstill agreement would allow the offer to continue, it would pre vent Northrop Grumman informing shareholders of any improvement to its offer that could result from gaining access to TRW's books. Speculation has swirled around whether Lockheed Martin is the unidentified potential buyer, and whether the US Department of Defense (DoD) is preparing to block such a bid. Lockheed Martin confirms it has discussed Northrop Grumman's proposed takeover of TRW with the DoD, but declines to say whether it plans a rival bid. The company has reportedly objected to Northrop Grumman's pro posed takeover of TRW on the grounds that it would reduce competition for satellite payloads. DEFENCE Taiwan clear for AH-64D Request for price and availability data finally gets green light from US government The US government has cleared Taiwan to receive price and avail ability data for the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, raising the prospect of the country finally being allowed to acquire the attack helicopter. Washington has blocked the sale of Apaches to Taiwan for more than 10 years, with the last request refused only a year ago (Flight Inter national, 3-9 April 2001). Taiwan instead was given the green light to acquire Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and diesel-powered submarines, but was told to resubmit the AH-64D request this year. US government sources confirm that a fresh request has been received. Flight International under stands that a licence has received initial approval from the US departments of defence and state, but final clearance is still subject to US Congressional notification. Taiwan would still need to request a letter of offer and acceptance. The Taiwanese army is under stood to be interested in acquiring up to 75 attack helicopters to supplement its fleet of Bell AH-1W Cobras, but an initial purchase would more likely be in the range of 30 machines. Bell has been offering Taiwan the improved four-blade AH-1Z equip ped with a scaled-down version of Apache's Lockheed Martin/North rop Grumman APG-78 Longbow fire control radar in the absence of competition from the AH-64. Taiwan is said to be interested in the radar-equipped Apache for repelling an amphibious assault by China. Among the weaponry being considered is integration of the Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick as an anti-ship missile, in addition to the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile. DEFENCE PAUL LEWIS / TUCSON Raytheon considers turbojet as part of Maverick missile upgrade package Raytheon is studying an extended range (ER) version of the AGM-65 Maverick powered by a strap-on turbojet, as part of a wider ranging package of future enhancements. Meanwhile, the US Air Force has taken delivery of the first improved electro-optically guided AGM- 65H/K, while the US Navy is requesting information about restarting production of the laser- guided AGM-65E. The proposed Maverick ER would offer a "significant increase in range" over the weapon's 25km (13nm) capability, says Ron Shields, Raytheon Maverick pro gramme director. Possible applications include replacing the Kongsberg AGM- 119B Penguin Mk2 missile on the US Navy's Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. Raytheon is looking at a modu lar attachment incorporating a forward fuel cell that would par tially mask the engine inlet. The powerplant is said to be a scaled- up 165mm (6.5in)-diameter development of the Hamilton Sundstrand TJ50, with sister company Pratt & Whitney providing technical assistance, EXTENDED RANGE AGM-65 MAVERICK including compressor technology. Maverick ER would build on improvements in progress, includ ing a lock-on-after-launch capabil ity that adds GPS navigation and a datalink for man-in-the-loop target discrimination. The system is retro- fittable to in-service Mavericks, and would be used with the AGM- 65 H/J/K's charge-coupled device (CCD) TV sensor or the -65F/G's imaging infrared (IIR) seeker for terminal guidance. "We've done a quite a bit of test ing, including the Affordable Moving Surface Target and Engagement trials and we're talking to the [USAF Fairchild] A-10 and [Lockheed Martin] F-16 communi ties," says Bob Carter, Raytheon business development manager. The USAF is upgrading its inven tory of older AGM-65A/B missiles with the new CCD head, which gives the AGM-65H/K a seeker with three times the range of the first- generation TV-sensor. Raytheon has also been given a licence to brief the UK, which is looking at the CCD sensor to complement its IIR-guided AGM-65G2s. Raytheon also wants to offer for export an improved AGM-65E incorporating the Enhanced Paveway 111 bomb's laser seeker if production of the variant restarts. 6 30 APRIL - 6 MAY 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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