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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2543.PDF
DEFENCE FIGHTER PROCUREMENT CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS & LUBOMIR SEDLAK / PRAGUE Czechs ponder Gripen alternatives Fighter budgets at risk as flood-devastated central European countries switch attention to cleaning up the mess The Czech Republic is looking at buying or leasing used fighters, expanding its anti-aircraft systems or seeking support from allies in the wake of a review of its planned purchase of 24 Saab/BAE Systems Gripen fighters. The country needs to use the CKr60 billion ($1.9 billion) that it had earmarked for the Gripen purchase to help pay for the massive clean-up operation after floods across Central Europe earlier this month. The Czech Republic's delibera tions come as Austria, which also suffered from floods, discusses reducing its Eurofighter Typhoon order. However, fellow flood victim Hungary is maintaining its com mitment to lease 14 Gripens. General Electric is stepping up development of an innovative combustor concept for future mili tary engines which could solve the problem of reducing emissions without sacrificing performance. The US Navy has awarded GE a $7.5 million contract to evaluate the trapped vortex combustor (TVC) by August 2005. The work is part of ongoing studies aimed at running an F414-sized engine demonstration test in 2005-06, and parallel plans by the US Air Force to demonstrate a TVC combustor sys tem in an advanced engine around early 2005. The latter test is expected to be part of the last phases of the integrated high per formance turbine engine technol ogy (IHPTET) programme. The TVC differs from a conven tional combustor by stabilising the flame within a vortex that is trapped in cavities in the walls of the combustor itself. In current combustors, air swirlers around fuel injectors generate a primary recir culation zone. This zone transports some of the hot combustion prod ucts back towards the combustor The Czech government has not formally cancelled the purchase, but has said that it cannot buy 24 aircraft. Saab says: "The way it was phrased means they may just buy fewer of them," adding: "We are anxious to go back to our Czech partner and see how we can work this out." The Czech parliament was due to take a formal vote to ratify the contract, but this decision has been postponed until November while the government examines its options. Czech defence minister Jaroslav Tvrdik, says 12-14 used aircraft could be sought for lease or pur chase instead, with one possibility being Lockheed Martin F-16s. Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla is face and ignites incoming fuel and air as it is mixed in the chamber. The vortex of the TVC, created by strategically placed air and fuel injection points, allows staged combustion to take place within the cavity while operating in pilot mode. In previous tests at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate at Wright- Patterson AFB, a TVC "concept sec tor" demonstrated up to a 50% improvement in ignition, blowout and altitude relight characteristics. It also showed 40% lower nitrous oxide emissions compared to cur rent military engines, and main tained a combustor efficiency level at or above 99%. • Pratt & Whitney has won-an $18.5 million contract Phase III IHPTET contract to design and modify the advanced engine XTC/E67/2, the core of which formed the basis for the Joint Strike Fighter's F135 turbofan. The work, which focuses on modifying the core with advanced components, builds on current tests of the core engine XTC67/1, and the high-per formance fan on the XTE67/1. warning that, if the country does not have multirole fighters by 2005 when its Russian MiG-21s are decommissioned, then it must expand its anti-aircraft systems, which could be costlier than the Gripen purchase. Deputy defence minister Stefan Fiille says this move would be unre alistic because anti-aircraft systems could cover only 30% of Czech air space and, at a cost of CKr40 bil lion, would be two-thirds the cost of the Gripens. Meanwhile, Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schiissel is rethinking the €1.8 billion ($1.7 billion) purchase of 24 Typhoons, renegoti ating for 18 instead. Industry sources, however, suggest that "this is primarily a political thing and was the situation even before the flooding. Payments for the Eurofighters would only start in 2005, so there is no money today for this procurement." A petition signed by 650,000 people asking for a referendum to be held on the Eurofighter procure ment was discussed by Austria's parliament on 19 August, but was defeated by the majority coalition. Defence minister Herbert Scheibner has told local media that he wants to conclude contract negotiations by next month. An Austrian ministry of defence offi cial says: "We are aware of the legal problems this change in numbers may lead to, so our legal experts are currently looking at the situation." Nimrod MRA4 rolled out ready for first flight by year-end The first BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 was rolled out on 16 August at BAE Systems' Woodford site in preparation for its first flight, which is planned by year-end (Flight International, 23-29 July). The aircraft is the first of three in the delayed development pro gramme. The aircraft is one of 18 which will be delivered to the UK's Royal Air Force between 2004 and 2007 as it rebuilds the current Nimrod MR2s. The MRA4 retains the fuselage pressure shell and empennage of the MR2 but features Rolls-Royce BR710 engines, replacing the MR2's R-R Speys, in addition to new wings and mission system. Four Nimrods are in final assembly at Woodford. The MRA4s are being procured to meet the UK's maritime patrol, reconnaissance, intelligence and strike requirements. The programme has been hit by a number of setbacks, including running two years behind schedule and the RAF earlier this year cutting its commitment from 21 to 18 aircraft. PROPULSION GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES GE wins US Navy contract for more combustor concept tests www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 AUGUST - 2 SEPTEMBER 2002 15
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