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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2299.PDF
^. FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER Lockheed Martin studies microwave weapons Unmanned F-35 variant and other UCAVs could be armed with high-power systems & Lockheed Martin is exploring a dir ected high-power microwave (HPM) weapon for a proposed unmanned variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and as the main armament for other unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV). Lockheed Martin is also examin ing the potential for equipping cruise missiles with HPM weapons as a "door opener" for strikes against heavily defended targets. The HPM weapon is being stud ied in parallel to high-energy lasers for the JSF. Lockheed Martin says it does not expect HPM weapons to be fitted to manned platforms because of electromagnetic interfer ence (EMI) problems. Neil Kacena, deputy head of Lockheed Martin advanced devel opment programmes, says studies are under way into "new capabili ties being brought on by high power microwaves and its delivery to the environment". The cruise-missile HPM would disable air defence radars and crip ple electronic systems in ground- based air defence and command and control systems, and disable systems such as the electronic igni tion systems in ground vehicles. The concept has parallels to long-standing development work on conventionally powered elec tromagnetic pulse bombs, but uses onboard arrays to direct energy against a target. Kacena says an unmanned JSF variant could cost 80% of the manned version. "The focus is on commonality to the existing air craft," he says. He adds that HPM weapons may require a substantial rethink of the aircraft design as there are known difficulties with HPM and EMI. BUSINESS JETS Embraer170 looks ahead Embraer is looking at launching an executive jet version of the 170 as early as 2004 now that development work on the 70- 110-seat regional jet is winding down. The Brazilian manufac turer is already marketing a 40-seat corporate shuttle version of the 170. "By 2004 we'll have the capacity to do another pro gramme. By that time we'll have delivered the 170 and 175 and be certifying the 195. If the con ditions are right we could move ahead," says Mauricio Botelho, Embraer chairman. Embraer had done preliminary study work on what was desig nated the ECJ-170 before putting the concept on hold to focus on the passenger aircraft. Changes would focus on installing additional fuel tanks in the 170's hold to extend its range up to 9,250km (5,000nm), strengthening the structure for increased take-off weight and designing a new cabin interior. Botelho adds that the company is looking at developing its own interior customisation capability. The advertisement campaign has kicked off fresh furore over engines MARKETING Airbus campaign offends in USA Airbus's new "4 engines 4 long haul" promotional campaign for the A340 has met with a hostile reaction from US airframe and engine suppliers. In what Virgin Atlantic's chair man Sir Richard Branson describes as a $5 million campaign, Airbus chose Farnborough for the debut of its new slogan, displaying it on a huge billboard on the flightline and on the engine nacelle of the Virgin A340-600. Advertisements have also been placed in the press. The move marks a revival of an earlier controversial campaign, which Airbus undertook in 1999 to emphasise the four-engined A340's safety on Pacific routes compared to its twin-engined rival, the Boeing 777, which has to comply with extended range twin-engined operations regulations. Boeing has ridiculed Airbus's lat est effort, with vice-president mar keting Randy Baseler claiming that the A340 has "twice as many turn backs and diversions" as the 777. "The A340 also burns 20% more fuel per passenger, so it should be: 'four engines for the oil compa nies'," he adds. US engine manufacturer sources say that the campaign raises serious questions about the use of safety as a marketing tool. • FedEx Express has con firmed its long-expected order for General Electric/Pratt & Whitney GP7000 engines to power the five Airbus A380-800Fs it has on order and its five options. The air craft will be delivered over four years, beginning in June 2008, and will be operated on key routes from its Memphis hub to Hong Kong, Osaka, Paris and Singapore. • KLM has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for six A330-200s and purchase rights on a further 18 of the type. The latter would come from International Lease Finance. Deliveries of the 250- seaters will start in early 2005. An engine selection has yet to be made. • ATR has secured three new deals for its ATR 72-500 and one for its ATR 42-500. Bangkok Airways ordered three 66-seat ATR 72-500s, adding to the eight new-generation -500s already ordered, while Alitalia subsidiary Alitalia Express also added three to its seven-strong ATR 72 fleet. Air New Zealand signed a deal for a single aircraft of the type. Polish flag carrier LOT Polish Airlines ordered one new ATR 42-500 and four second hand examples. • Delta Connection carriers Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair have firmed up options on two Bombardier CRJ200 and one CRJ700 regional jets. The carri ers will operate one CRJ200 each, while Atlantic Southeast will operate the 70-seat CRJ700. The aircraft will be delivered by September next year. Meanwhile, Malev Hungarian Airlines has ordered two CRJ200Es with options on two more. • German regional airline OLT has leased an ex-Crossair Saab 2000 from the manufacturer, which will enter service in September on shuttle flights for Airbus between Bremen and Toulouse, replacing a Fairchild Dornier 328. • Bom bardier has a launch customer for its new Learjet 40 light busi ness jet, which was launched at the show (Flight International, 23- 29 July). Eurojet Italia has placed one firm order, plus one option, for the shortened version of the Learjet 45. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 30 JULY - 5 AUGUST 2002 15
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