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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2768.PDF
DEFENCE PROCUREMENT CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS France approves budget increase Shopping list includes second aircraft carrier, helicopter upgrades, A400M transports, radar and air-to-air missiles France's recently elected conserva tive government has responded to president Jacques Chirac's call for increased defence procurement and approved a new six-year pro curement budget of €98.9 billion (S97.4 billion), including funding for a second aircraft carrier. The budget is €5.5 billion, or around 6%, higher than that approved by the previous administration. Defence minister Michele Alliot- Marie says once parliament has approved the 2003-08 procure ment budget a working group will be created to examine three pro posals for the carrier, before a selec tion "probably around June 2003". AIR DEFENCE Tetraedrto offer range of upgrades The Tetraedr Scientific Industrial Unitary Enterprise has unveiled a number of upgrades for surface-to-air missile systems. The Minsk, Belarus-based company is offering radar and missile upgrades, concentrating on the Almaz S-125 (SA-3 Goa), and Antey Osa-1 (SA-8 Gecko), although it is also offering modifi cations for the Fakel S-75 Dvnia (SA-2 Guideline), Antey Krug (SA-4 Ganef), Antey Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet) and Tula KBM Pantsir S1 (SA-19). The upgrade uses new guid ance, sights, and command and control systems but retains exist ing missile bodies and propul sion systems. The company says the changes cut reaction times by 50% and improve minimum and maximum engagement ranges while allowing low-flying cruise missiles to be targeted. Tetraedr says its new guid ance system reduces dynamic errors by 90% and increases the hit probability by 50-80% while changes to the radar increase detection range by 100-200%. 20 17-23 SEPTEMBER 2002 FUG The proposals are to share devel opment costs with the UK, with each nation building its own ships (two for the UK, one for Frances- developing their own convention ally powered design; and an adapted and updated version of the nuclear- powered Charles de Gaulle design. Although industry observers have previously said French/UK collaboration would be impossible if the Royal Navy chooses a carrier to operate vertical take-off and landing aircraft, French navy chief of staff Adm Jean-Louis Battet says collaboration is possible "even if the aircraft are not the same". The only difference would be the deck, which could be easily modi fied, he adds. Other new funding includes money to upgrade 24 Eurocopter Cougars and 45 Eurocopter Pumas to "haul them up to modern mili tary helicopter standards", while awaiting delivery of the 27 NH Industries NH90 helicopters, the first of which will be delivered to the navy in 2005 and to the army in 2011. Funds are also earmarked for the first three Airbus Military A400M transports, although the project is still awaiting final go-ahead from Germany; two new range surveil lance aircraft to replace the French air force's McDonnell Douglas DC-8s, and four twin-seat Dassault Rafales to be included in the 19 to be delivered to the navy by 2008. Funding for two Ericcson Giraffe radars for very low altitude air defence is included, as is money for another 360 MBDA Mica air-to-air missiles. No programmes have been scrapped but some minor changes have been made, mainly to deliv ery times. Delivery of 500 MBDA Scalp EG/Storm Shadow stand-off missiles will still begin in 2003 for the Dassault Mirage 2000D, but have been postponed a year until 2006 for the Rafale. FIGHTER ACQUISITION PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC Malaysian Super Hornet buy is no closer despite US FMS notification Malaysia remains some way off from finalising a deal for Boeing F/A- 18F Super Hornets and has yet to submit a letter of request to the US government. This is despite recent Department of Defense (DoD) noti fication to the US Congress of the possible foreign military sale (FMS). Kuala Lumpur confirms that one condition of a deal will be the trade- in of its eight F/A-18D Hornets. The DoD's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a proposed $1.5 billion arms deal for Malaysia packaged around 18 two-seat F/A-18Fs (Flight International, 10-16 February). Malaysian defence min ister Najib Tun Razak says the country is looking "very seriously" at acquiring the Super Hornet, as well as the Sukhoi Su-30MKM, but it is still in negotiations with the US Navy and Boeing. Najib adds that details on the number of fighters and configura tion have to be finalised. The DSCA notification covers 18 F/A-18Fs, whereas industry sources suggest the purchase could involve only 12 Malaysia intends to trade in its eight F/A-18D Hornets as part of any deal aircraft. "We tend to err on the high side in terms of quantity and dollar value to ensure we don't end up having to go back to Congress," says the DSCA. It is planned to equip the aircraft with the same Raytheon APG-73 radar as on Malaysia's F/A-18DS, although the APG-79 active elec tronically scanned array (AESA) radar will be available from 2005, around the time deliveries to Malaysia are due to start. The DSCA says the APG-73 is the only radar now available and any future switch to the AESA-design would require it being cleared for release to Malaysia. Najib adds that the Malaysian air force will trade-in its F/A-18Ds as part of any Super Hornet deal. It is understood that at least four of the five-year-old Hornets are being offered to Switzerland, which is looking for additional F/A-18C/Ds for the reconnaissance role and to bolster its existing fleet. The remaining fighters may be offered to the US Marine Corps, although it is unclear where funding for such a purchase would come from. HT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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