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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 3504.PDF
Directory: world air forces Hawk. Work on the next generation CVNX-1 starts in 2007. CVNX is a next-generation large-deck, nuclear- powered carrier, which will carry 75 tactical aircraft and incorporate a new design nuclear propulsion plant and electric power system. The USN is proceeding with procurement of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Compared with the F/A- 18C/D, the single-seat F/A-18E and two-seat F/A-18F models have greater range and payload, more-powerful engines and provisions for advanced avionics and weapons systems. The F/A-18E/F made its first flight in November 1995 and initial operational capability was reached in 2001; the first cruise began in mid-2002, by which time 100 Super Hornets had been delivered. The USN has also negotiated a 222-aircraft multi-year order rather than progressing along the more traditional buy- every-year route. The navy plans to buy 460 aircraft, of which 244 will be Fs. Boeing is keen to develop the air craft to replace other types, including the EA-6B, while the two-seat F/A-18F will replace the F-14 in 2007-09, although this could be brought forward to 2006-07. Each carrier air group will comprise one squadron of 14 F/A-18Fs, one of 12 F/A-18ES, and two 12 aircraft squadrons of F/A-18C/DS. Meanwhile, the Tomcat has received an air-to-ground capability to replace retired A-6 Intruders. The USN is a participant in the JSF pro gramme, planning to buy 480. Initial operational capa bility is set for 2012. The USN is modernising EA-6Bs to keep them in- service until 2015 and upgrading and procuring new E-2 Hawkeyes, to enable them to extend their capability and service life until a replacement aircraft is developed in the next century. In the meantime, the USN is plan ning to buy 75 "Advanced Hawkeyes" for service entry in 2010 with an advanced electronically scanned array radar and other improvements. The EA-6B is a busy asset and additional aircraft have been brought into the fleet to ensure availability. MCM RH-53Ds are being replaced by the MH-53E. All H-60s, be they SH-60Bs, SH-60Fs or HH-60s, will be replaced in the medium term; 243 SH-60s were to be upgraded to a common SH-60R standard, combin ing and upgrading the capabilities of today's platforms, while CH-46s will be replaced by 237 MH-60S utility machines, which entered fleet service in February 2002. All aircraft will now, however, be new-build MH-60R/S rather than rebuilds. An MH-60R full-rate production decision is due in 2005. The MH-60S reached this milestone in August 2002. Plans to retire the MH-53E from MCM and heavylift transport from 2009 could be scrapped as the MH-60S can carry only 25% of the giant tri-engined helicopter's payload. Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft studies are under way to replace the P-3, with second-stage study contracts in September 2002 awarded to Boeing, proposing a 737-based MMA, and Lockheed Martin, offering new P-3s. BAE declined to bid Nimrod MRA4. The USN is procuring the T-6A Texan trainer and T-45CA deliveries continue for fast-jet training. The first of 328 T-6s are to be delivered in November 2002, with training beginning in 2003. The USN Reserve operates a large fleet of fixed and rotary- wing types. US MARINE CORPS (USMC) The F/A-18A/B/C/D is used for CAS and anti-air war fare missions. The two-seat F/A-18D also provides for ward air control and reconnaissance support to the ground combat element. The USMC is fielding the lat est night-attack-capable Harrier variant, which is equipped with the APG-65 radar, and has plans to mod ify 72 of its day-attack AV-8Bs into the new radar con figuration. Harriers and F/A-18s are to be replaced by 609 STOVL versions of the JSF between 2010 and 2025. KC-130F/R Hercules are being supplemented and then replaced by KC-130Js, seven of which were delivered in 2001. The USMC is negotiating a 24 air craft, five-year KC-130J deal while KC-130Ts may undergo the USAF's Hercules AMR The corps' medium lift helicopters, the CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53D, will be replaced by the MV-22 Osprey, if the tiltrotor's problems can be resolved. The V-22 programme is intended to provide 360 MV-22Bs for the USMC and 48 HV-22BS for the US Navy. First production V-22s were delivered in 1999, but a revised test programme means the type will not enter USMC service until 2004. The USMC plans to start work on the CH-53X upgrade of the larger CH-53E from 2004, although new builds are also being considered. The X programme will include new engines, avionics and structure. USMC utility and attack helicopters have been formed into six composite squadrons of UH-1Ns and AH-1Ws. Bell is upgrading 180 AH-1W gunships and 100 UH-1Ns with four-bladed main rotors and new sys tems to ease maintenance and boost performance. The UH-INs will also get the AH-1W's GE T700-401 engines. The modernised rotorcraft are being designat ed the AH-1Z and UH-1Y The programme, however, has suffered delays and cost overruns and will not now reach IOC until 2007. Figures include USN. USN Reserve, USMC and those being rebuilt. Type F/A-18A/B Hornet F/A-18C/D Hornet No 287/33 Role int/attack/trnc 340/137 tnt/attack/trru F/A-18E/F Super Hornet 216V244* int/attack/trng • I I I ••— I I I •• F-14A/B/D Tomcat 63/71/49 int/attack/rec AV-8B/B+/TAV-8B AH-1W SuperCobra SH-60B/F Seahawk F-?C Hawkpve 197/18 attack/trnc 154 attack 157/76 ASVW AFW 1/1/50 utilitv/ASW/SAR 243'.'237- ASW/utili P-3A 3 C Orion EP-3E/EP-3J UP-3A/UP-3BA/P-3A 293 MR/ASW RP-3A/TP-3A Orion 1/11 survev trn E-6A Mercury VH 60N VH-3A/D Sea Kinc 8/2 7/2/5 16 4/11 VIP ELINT VIP TACAMi VIP 17/118 ASW/tanker CT-39E/G Sabreliner 1/7 comms/VIP C-26A Metro comms C-20D (GIIIVC-20G (GIV) 2/5 comms UH/HH-1N Iroquois CH-53D/E HH-60H Black Hawk RH-53D/MH-53E 19/44 MCM/utilit 147 SAR/utility utility trans 24 CSAR TC-18F RC-12F/RC-12M 2/2 t to be upgraded $ requirement utility/utility US ARMY The US Army's focus on future development is the Objective Force (previously Joint Vision 2010/Army After Next) and the 2000 Army Aviation Modernisation Plan which aim to shape the service for the first quarter of the next century. Key to this is the purchase of 650 RAH-66 Comanches by 2024. However, before 2002, the plan had been to acquire 1.213 RAH-66s, and the army says it needs a minimum 819. The RAH-66 was to have replaced the Apache by 2027, but now the army is considering Block 3 enhancements for the AH-64. Meanwhile, the RAH-66's development is ham strung by funding shortfalls and technical issues. In the meantime, the remaining AH-1 Cobras, OH-58AS, OH- 58Cs and UH-1s are to be retired by FY04, leaving only four types - the AH-64, CH-47, OH-58D and UH-60 - in service. This will reduce the number of active Army machines by 400 and the reserve forces' inventory by more than 600. To make good some of the shortfall in the Army Reserve and the National Guard, 240 machines will be handed over by the frontline army. Over 1,200 UH-60As will be upgraded to UH-60Ms from FY03, with further examples acquired at the rate of 26 a year to FY05. If a suitable powerplant can be identified by the Common Engine Programme (CEP), 255 UH-60Ls will be further upgraded to UH-60X from 2014-15 - although the initial CEP stages have already slipped - while 501 Apaches will be modified to AH-64D standard, the majority of which will be fitted with the Longbow radar. Planning had called for 741 Apache rebuilds and the type's place in the Objective Force means longer-term changes are required. Nearer-term improvements will include extended- range Longbow radar, the Arrowhead piloting and tar geting FLIR and digitised avionics. In the longer term, Boeing has suggested a new five-bladed main rotor, CEP and other new elements to the dynamic train as well as composite structures. The Improved Cargo Helicopter/CH-47F-standard Chinook has new T55-714 engines, airframe strengthening and a partial glass cockpit. First delivery of a CH-47F prototype was in May 2002. The plan is to modify 26 CH-47Ds a year through 2013, although a proposal to upgrade all 430 machines is being considered. These should be replaced by the Future Transport Rotorcraft from 2020. Special forces' AH-6J/MH-6Js are to be further upgraded by Boeing under the Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB) programme. They will be used for clandes tine missions until replaced by the RW-X rotorcraft in the 2015-18 timeframe. The MELB combines the six- bladed rotor system of the MD600 with a four-bladed tail rotor. Replacement of many of the fixed-wing types is included in the Aerial Common Sensor Platform pro gramme. Up to 80 aircraft are required to replace RC-12s and RC-7s from 2009. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman lead teams were downselected by the army in April 2002. ACTIVE ARMY Type AH-64A/AH-64D No Role 495/246 attack/attack CH-58A C Kiowa 253 sCOUt/FAC OH-58D Kiowa AH-6J MH*J 332 scout UH-60A/L Black Hawk MH-60K/MH-60L MH-47D7MH-47E 23/37 sp ops/sp UH-1H/V Iroquois TH 67 Creek 286 137 utility trna 418 medium lift C-?3 Shf RC-12 Guardrail RC-7 (Da<;h 7\ C-31 (F27 Friendship 47 comms trans Intellii UC-35B (Citation Encore) 5 trans/trnc •MIHi1 i mmmmmsssm C-26 Metro 11 trans UV-20 Chiricahua 1 tran NATIONAL GUARD & ARMY RESERVE C-12 Huron 67 comms C-20 (Gulfstream ll/lll/IV) 2 comms CH-47 Chinook 182 76 26 NOVEMBER - 2 DECEMBER 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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