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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 0237.PDF
DEFENCE ELECTRONIC WARFARE BAE offers defence suite BAE Systems Australia has developed a modular suite con troller for airborne electronic warfare self-protection systems (EWSP), including the company's ALR-2002 radar warning receiver. The company says the Sensor Independent Integrated Defensive Aids Suite controller is being offered for the Australian Defence Force's Project Echidna requirement for common EWSP systems for a variety of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft types. BAE says the controller has "more than 80% commonality" with the EWSP system it is developing for the Royal Australian Air Force's Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft programme. SEE FEATURE P38 UNMANNED SYSTEMS PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC Schweizer studies UAV version of sensor aircraft SA2-37B could fly covert surveillance in hostile environments without two-man crew Schweizer Aircraft is studying development of an unmanned ver sion of its SA2-37B airborne sensor aircraft for use on covert surveil lance missions over hostile terri tory considered too risky for the relatively slow-flying machine's two-man crew. The SA2-37B, with its 19.6m (64ft) wingspan, was developed from the SGM2-37 motor glider and relies on its extremely low acoustic signature for survival. "We're look ing at offering an unmanned ver sion," says company president Paul Schweizer, adding that it represents an "intriguing possibility" for oper ating in hostile environments. Compared to smaller unmanned air vehicles (UAV), the SA2-37B combines a large payload capacity with long range and endurance. A mission bay aft of the side-by-side cockpit is able to accommodate pal letised forward-looking infrared, electro-optical and electronic sen sors. Removing the weight of the new could further increase the machine's range or payload. The US Central Intelligence Agency operates at least three SA2- 37Bs and has in the past employed the aircraft as a communications relay for long-range UAVs, as well as for target identification opera tions in the Balkans. Other known operators include Columbia and the US Army, plus a number of unidentified users. An unmanned SA2-37B could draw on Schweizer's experience of the Northrop Grumman-led RQ-8A Fire Scout rotary-wing UAV pro gramme for the US Navy. The Fire Scout is based on the Schweizer Model 379 platform developed from the Schweizer 333 four-seat civil turbine helicopter. DEMONSTRATION EADS tests EuroHawk ELINT A German programme to use the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle as an electronic intelligence (ELINT) platform has moved a step closer with a demonstra tion in the USA. During trials by the US Air Force and German defence ministry in December, data was downloaded from an EADS-built ELINT sensor via the UAVs datalink. The test was a crucial step towards a planned Global Hawk demonstration in Germany later this year. EADS and Northrop Grumman are proposing the RQ-4A-based EuroHawk as a replacement for the German navy's four Dassault Atlantic ELINT plat forms, due to be replaced from 2008. PROCUREMENT Russia links with China and India for arms deals Russia has completed a series of deals with its traditional customers China and India. China is to acquire additional Sukhoi Su-30MKs while India will participate in develop ment of a fifth-generation fighter. China's $1 billion deal for another 24-28 Su-30MKs includes an option to increase the order to 50 fighters. Russian reports suggest the latest batch of Su-30s will be equipped with the Zvezda Kh-31A anti-ship missile and probably the new Raduga Kh-59MK long-range anti-ship weapon. The aircraft is also likely to have the upgraded Tikhomorov-NIIP N001 radar, although Phazotron- NIIR is also offering the Zhuk-MSE. A Sukhoi design bureau source says the AVPK Sukhoi conglomerate has been picked as the prime con tractor and the latest batch of Su-30s will be built at the KnAAPO factory in Komsomolsk-na-Amur. KnAAPO built China's earlier Su-30MKK batches, but rival 1APO has also built two-seat members of the Su-27/30 family. Meanwhile, India and Russia have agreed to develop jointly a fifth-generation fighter as one of 12 co-operative projects covered by a so-called "protocol for further devel opment of military-industrial co operation between Russia and India". The two countries are also collaborating on development of the Ilyushin/NPK Irkut/Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) 11-214. Indian defence minister George Fernandes says India wishes to par ticipate in research and develop ment and manufacturing. He also discussed the manufacturing equip ment HAL requires for Su-30MKI licence production in Bangalore. Victor Komardin, deputy general director of Russian arms sales agency Rosoboronexport, says no breakdown of each countries' responsibilities has been decided. The next stage will be negotia tions between the countries' gov ernments and the companies to establish common requirements. "The results of those talks should be the understanding whether the main variant for the Russian air force can be suitable with minor modification to satisfy the Indians, in which case a common airframe would be produced. If the require ments are too different, then a spe cial export version of the aircraft will be needed to meet the Indian requirements," says Komardin. Russian air force commander Vladimir Mikhailov says: "We con tinue to study two [fifth generation] designs, the E-21 and T-50, from Sukhoi and RSK MiG, respectively." Z2 4-10 FEBRUARY 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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