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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 3218.PDF
DEFENCE TRAINERS ANDREW DOYLE/ KUALA LUMPUR Malaysia mulls MB339 purchase Aermacchi fighter trainers being offered for sale by Ernst & Young on behalf of New Zealand government Malaysia is negotiating to buy 17 ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force Aermacchi MB339CB lead-in fighter trainers, being remarketed by Ernst & Young on behalf of the New Zealand government. The consultancy has made an offer to Malaysia, but funding could be a problem because the country is prioritising the acquisi tion of an airborne early-warning capability, Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet and Sukhoi Su-30 fighters, and army and navy helicopters. A decision by Malaysia to acquire New Zealand's MB339s would be a setback for BAE Systems, which is trying to secure a follow-on Hawk purchase. Even if the MB339 deal is concluded, how ever, the UK company could still benefit from a Hawk attrition pur chase later this decade. "BAE Systems recognises the Malaysian air force's need for more trainers and is discussing the situa tion with the customer," says the manufacturer. "A Hawk solution is on the table and it is up to the customer to decide." Ernst & Young declines to com ment on discussions with Malaysia, but confirms it is talking to several potential buyers for theMB339s, which were built in 1991-4 and are available with a full spares package. Aermacchi and engine maker Rolls-Royce are assisting Ernst & Young's attempts to place the aircraft. New Zealand put them up for sale in August last year following the disbandment of the air force's air combat wing. Malaysia has eight early-model MB339A trainers, but would need to expand its support infrastructure for the type significantly if it bought the MB339CBs. BAE has been working with the Malaysian air force and local com panies Airod and Zetro Aerospace this year to improve serviceability rates for the country's 24 Hawk 100/20US, and the UK company says the availability rate is expected to exceed 90% by year-end. DELIVERY Israeli air force receives first three of 27 Grob 120 trainers The Israeli air force has received the first three of 27 Grob 120A1 trainers. The aircraft will be operated by Snunit Aviation Services, created earlier this year by Elbit Systems and its subsidiary Cyclone Aviation to provide flight screening and initial training for the air force for 10 years. To be known as the Snunit in Israeli service, the Grob 120 replaces elderly Piper PA-18-150 Super Cubs and takes over some of the tasks allocated to the Fouga Zukit (CM170 Magister). This is the first deal by the Israel air force using a concept similar to the UK's private finance initiative. RECONNAISSANCE Italy studies Mirach UAV Meteor-CAE has won an Italian defence ministry study contract for a tactical reconnaissance unmanned air vehicle derived from the turbojet-powered Mirach 100/5 target. Deliveries could start in May 2004. The company has also received money to develop automatic take-off and landing systems for the UAV and a contract to provide Mirach 100/5 drones to test the multina tional IRIS-T infrared-guided air-to-air missile. The reconnaissance UAV and the automatic take-off and landing systems will be 50% funded by Meteor, which is already developing the Mirach 100/5-derived Nibbio and the piston-engined Falco UAV UPGRADES VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW Russian acceptance trials begin for revamped Frogfoot strike aircraft The Russian air force has started acceptance trials of the upgraded Sukhoi Su-25SM Frogfoot strike air craft after a year-long manufac turer's test programme. The Su-25SM has a Pantera GPS satellite navigation-based weapons system and is compatible with laser- and TV-guided munitions. Unlike standard Su-25s, the upgraded aircraft is equipped with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system and can operate at night. Vladimir Babak, general director of the Sukhoi Attack Aircraft con sortium, says the air force test pro gramme will last a year. Only one Su-25SM has been built, although a second will be completed by year-end. Next year, the air force's maintenance centre in Kubinka is scheduled to upgrade three Su-25 single-seaters as well as modifying an Su-25UB twin-seat into a Su-25UBM. The Su-25SM fills some of the capability gap created by a lack of funds to procure the Su-25T, which is equipped with the Shkval optical sight used with the KBM 9K121 Vikhr (AT-16) supersonic laser- guided anti-armour missile. A sin gle Su-25T squadron is in Russian air force service. Meanwhile, Russian air force trials of the Mil Mi-24PN night- capable combat helicopter at the Akhtubinsk flight-test centre are set to be completed by year-end. The Mi-24PN upgrade includes a modified cockpit, Krasnogorsk Optics' Zarevo infrared sighting system, fifth-generation night vision goggles and Kolomna 9M120Ataka missiles. The Russian armed forces have ordered upgrades of 120 Mi-8s and Mi-24s to the night-attack variants, says Aleksei Samusenko, general designer of Mil's Moscow helicopter plant. Mil is offering two PN sub-vari ants: the PN-1, with the Mi-24's original rotor system and a fixed undercarriage replacing the earlier retractable gear; and the PN-2, which has a rotor system devel oped for the Mi-28N with new main rotor blades and a tail rotor with offset blades. 22 5-11 NOVEMBER 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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