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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 1727.PDF
DEFENCE HELICOPTERS Mil expects revenue boost from upgrade order The Mil design bureau is hopeful that Russian defence ministry orders for Mi-8 Hip and Mi-24 Hind helicopter upgrades will push revenues this year above the 1 bil lion rouble ($32 million) achieved in 2001. The company operated under bankruptcy protection in 1998-2000. Also known as MVZ, the Mil Moscow helicopter plant "cleared most debts in the first half of last year and has been functioning normally since April last year", says general designer Aleksei Samusenko. "The state order pro vides strong fundamentals - it is FIGHTER CONTEST Dassault slams South Korean 'favouritism' Dassault says it will boycott future South Korean defence competitions in protest at what it claims is Seoul's predisposition towards buying US equipment. Calling the South Korean market a "private hunting ground" for US defence contrac tors, the French manufacturer says it will not compete for future fighter purchases in the country. Last month it launched a legal action to block the signing of a contract for 40 Boeing F-15K fighters, claiming the selection process was unfairly biased in favour of the US contractor on political grounds. Dassault's Rafale was shortlisted alongside the F-15 and is believed to have defeated its rival in a technical evaluation. The French com pany also claims its bid was cheaper and contained more generous industrial offset proposals. The Seoul district court threw out Dassault's application for an injunction after finding the gov ernment and defence ministry had no case to answer. Dassault claims its legal case would have been stronger if the ministry had been required to supply classi fied documents to the court. It is now considering an appeal. something we lacked in the previ ous 10 years," he adds. The Russian defence ministry order in 2000 covers incremental block upgrades of Mi-8s and Mi-24s to extend service lives to 35 years. Five blocks are in development and it will be possible to imple ment each independently, without the need to incorporate other mod ifications. This allows flexibility, step-by-step upgrades of the ageing fleet and optimum use of available financing, says Samusenko. "We use technologies and hard ware developed for the Mi-28, with focus on extended lifetime and the Australia is unlikely to exercise its Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules options, with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) revealing that the US company has rejected efforts to extend the deadline for extending the 24 options. RAAF officials also reveal that they are now looking favourably at the Airbus Military A400M as an alternative to the C-130J to replace its C-130Hs, although the European aircraft is not expected to meet Australia's timescales. RAAF Airlift Group commander Air Cdre Roger Harrison says Australia expects a major strategic lift increase with the planned pur chase in the next two years of five in-flight refuelling tankers with transport capability. While the RAAF is still far from deciding about the future of its C-130Hs, he says emerging require ments point to a need to "look at something between the tanker's capability and the C-130 capability and I think A400M fits that mould, if it comes to fruition". But he adds: "I don't think that the A400M timeline suits the C-130H replacement at this stage performance of navigation and targeting systems," he adds. The upgraded machines will have improved day and night- operating capabilities and the Mi- 24 combat helicopter will have the option of a "built-in cargo system" that includes a sling for external loads. Another option is the use of the Mi-28's dynamic system. The simplest option is a new weapons system, while the next step is a navigation system enabling night operations. It includes the Urals Optic Mechanical Plant gyro- stabilised sensor platform and night vision goggles. "We tried this on a unless you extend the H's [life]." Australia is seeking to replace or upgrade its 12 C-130Hs between 2004 and 2008. The first A400Ms are not planned to be delivered until 2008-09. The RAAF has 24 C-130J options as part of its 1996 deal for 12 air craft. Planning at the time proposed replacing the RAAF's C-130Hs with Js, but a revised 10-year capability plan released in June last year slipped a decision by 12 months to the first half of next year and pro vided forward funding of only A$500 million ($276 million). Mi-8 upgraded in 1998 that under went testing in Chechnya," says Samusenko. Russia's arms export agency Rosoboronexport has also aided Mil's turnaround by making Kazan Helicopters and the UUAZ factory in Ulan-Ude, both building Mi- 8/17s, and Rostov-based Rostvertol, producing the Mi-24/35, Mi-26 and Mi-28, pay royalty payments on exports to the design bureau. Rostvertol has just delivered 12 new-build Mi-24VK-2s to Cyprus and Samusenko says "a large con tract" for Mi-17s is being finalised with a country in South-East Asia. A new Australian Defence Force airlift study was launched earlier this year to examine the C-130H's future. It will also make recommen dations on the RAAF's stalled light tactical airlifter project and heavy- lift rotary wing requirements. According to the head of Australia's C-130J acquisition pro ject office, Wg Cdr Bruce Skipworth, the C-130J options expire on 1 January next year. "We haven't abandoned it. We've asked for an extension, but Lockheed didn't want to do that, so we have six months left." The RAAF's C-130Js may be supplemented by another type TRANSPORT PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA RAAF looks at A400M as C-130J options near expiry Airbus military airlifter catches Australia's eye, but is unlikely to meet deadline www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 11-17 JUNE 2002 17
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