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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 1289.PDF
Directory: military aircraft M601 turboprop. An export version is offered with the PT6A. The aircraft has six hardpoints under the wing for stores carriage. Machine-gun pods and small bombs can be carried, either for weapons training or counter-insurgency operations. 1-22 Iskra: PZL-Mielec resumed flying the 1-22 Iryda jet trainer in July 2002. The type had been grounded five years previously following a fatal crash. Renamed the Iskra 2, the aircraft is expected eventually to replace the Polish air force's TS-11 Iskras. The aircraft on offer to the Polish armed forces has the basic wing without the leading-edge root extensions and high-lift Fowler flaps added to the M-96 version of the aircraft in an effort to improve handling. The Isrka 2 has a Thales avionics suite. The engines are new PZL K-ISs, replacing the OS-3W-22s installed in initial I-22s. Structural modifications include underwing hardpoints. The Iskra 2 has been displayed with the Saab RBS15 anti-ship missile and a Raytheon Sidewinder-class short-range air-to-air missile, but the aircraft lacks the radar needed to make effective use of the proposed weaponry. The missiles were shown mounted on the inner hardpoints, while 650 litre external fuel tanks were carried on the outer pylons. A chaff/flare dispenser was mounted under the fuselage. The original 1-22 flew in 1985 and was fol lowed by two upgrade attempts. The K-15-pow- ered M-93 combat trainer was first flown in 1992, but production was terminated in 1996 after an accident. The extensively modified M-96 first flew in late 1996, but the Polish air force cancelled the contract in 1997. RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT Raytheon Aircraft, 10511 E Central, PO Box 85, Wichita, Kansas 67201-0085, USA. Tel +1 316 676 8674; fax +1 316 676 5687; www.raytheon.com/rac/ A Raytheon was selected to provide the UK's Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) system in 1999. The SAR/MTI radar will be mounted in a Bombardier Global Express long-range business jet. Raytheon will supply five aircraft, the first delivered to Raytheon for conversion in 2002 and service entry in 2005. Based on the U-2's ASARS-2, ASTOR's sensor incorporates technologies developed for Raytheon's HiSAR radar, the SAR integrated with the Global Hawk UAV and in the ASARS-2 RIP. ASTOR's radar antenna will be 4.6m long and is electronically scanned in azimuth with mechanical elevation scan. At an operating altitude of 51,000ft and a 2° grazing angle, ASTOR will have a stand-off range of more than 300km. ASTOR has three mission stations. Raytheon is also marketing an international companies offer MiG-29 upgrades version, the Ground Surveillance Airborne Radar System (GSARS). Raytheon won the USAF/USN Joint Primary Aircraft Training System competition in 1995 with a development of the Pilatus PC-9, now named the T-6A Texan. The aircraft differs from its Swiss forebear by having a strengthened fuse lage, pressurised cockpit, digital avionics, GPS navigation, TCAS and provision for a HUD. The USAF and USN will operate 454 and 328 T-6s, respectively. The type is in operation at the NATO Flying Training in Canada programme - as the T-6A-7 Harvard - and in Greece. The first T-6A was handed to the USAF's Air Education and Training Command at Randolph AFB, Texas, in March 2000. The USN is due to start T-6 operations in 2003. Greece's first 25 air craft are essentially the same as US aircraft, but a second batch of 20 will have a fixed sight and hardpoints. Weapons trials began in early 2002. RSK MiG, 71st Botkinsky Drive, Moscow 125040, Russia. Tel +7 (095) 252 8283; fax +7 (095) 250 0770 MiG-21 Fishbed The MiG-21 was built in greater numbers than any other jet fighter and many remain in service worldwide. Romanian MiGs are being upgraded by Aerostar (see entry) and Israel's Elbit, while IAI also offers modernisation programmes. The largest upgrade programme is a $300 mil lion deal covering 125 Indian air force MiG-21s, which were upgraded by RSK and the Sokol fac tory in Nizhny Novgorod. The first flight of the so-called MiG-21-93 was from the Sokol plant in October 1998. During tri als, Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) IR short-range and R-77 (AA-12 Adder) active-radar medium- range AAMs were fired. The trials were concluded after around 600 flights in November 2000. Shortly after HAL at Nasik began the series upgrade of 24 MiG-21bis. Upgrade of 28 aircraft a year is planned, using kits supplied by Russia. HAL will modify 123 fighters. The MiG-21-93 has a Phazotron Kopyo light weight multimode radar, a Russian helmet- mounted sight, an Elta electronic warfare sys tem, a Thales Avionics Totem INS/GPS naviga tion system and Indian-sourced RWR, radio altimeter, radio compass and IFF. As well as an improved air-to-air capability, the radar gives enhanced attack capability with Russian KAB500 precision-guided munitions. MiG-23/27 Flogger Hindustan Aeronautics completed production of MiG-27Ms for the Indian air force in 1997, bringing to a close manufacture of the variable geometry, single-engined Flogger. Despite the retirement of most MiG-23s, some companies, including IAI and RSK, offer upgrades, princi pally aimed at India. RSK's package includes a structural life extension, new cockpit, in-flight refuelling capability, integration of precision- guided munitions and replacement of the air craft's Tumansky R29B, probably with the Saturn AL-3 IF. RSK's MiG-23 option 1 adds the Vympel R-73 IR AAM and helmet-mounted sight. Option 2 integrates Vympel's radar-guided, medium- range RVV-AE, an upgraded Saphir-23 or new radar, revised cockpit and navigation systems. Missioi Powerplant Max thrust dry/wet (lb) Wing span (m) Wing area (m2) Length (m) OEW (kg) MTOW (kg) Max load (kg) Range (km) Endurance (h) Hardpoints Cruise (kt) Ceiling (ft) Crew/passengers Internal fuel Fuel, opt ext (litre) Air refuel? Comments Gripen Fighter/attack/recce 1 x Volvo RM12 12,150/18.113 8.40 30.00 14,10 1 3,300 litres 3,300 Yes JAS39B is 14.76m long www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 MAY - 2 JUNE 2003 63
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