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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2815.PDF
Directory: world air forces mental updates, culminating in an engine upgrade. In July 2003 the UK government decided to buy 20 Hawk 128s to fulfil the lead-in trainer requirement for pilots destined to fly glass-cockpit equipped fighters, with an option for a further 24. The first aircraft are due to deliv ered by 2008. A major upgrade of the Harrier fleet to the new GR9/A standard was launched in January 2003, which features weapon software and fuselage modification work and 20-30 aircraft will have more powerful Mk107 engines. The ASTOR airborne stand off radar selection was made in 1999, with Raytheon supplying five systems based on the Global Express airframe. First deliveries of the ASTOR Sentinel R1s are set for 2005. In August 1998 Lockheed Martin delivered the first of 25 C-130J Hercules to Boscombe Down, two years behind schedule. To supplement the C-130Js, C-17s have been leased, with all four deliv ered in 2001. The lease runs for seven years with two one-year options to tide the RAF over until the first of 25 A400Ms ordered is delivered in 2010. The RAF also requires new tanker transports and it is expected to need 20-25 A330/767-sized aircraft. AirTanker and the Tanker Transport Support Company are also competing for the contest, which has slipped a year towards the end of 2003 with service entry set for 2005. Tornado F3s and GR1s are both receiving upgrades. The F3 upgrade is relatively modest, equipping it for ASRAAM and AMRAAM, while the GR1 to GR4 upgrade pro gramme is more extensive and several years late. The last GR4 was handed over in June 2003. Around 30 GR4s were at the forefront of the service's contribution to the US-led invasion of Iraq employing the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile and Goodrich Raptor reconnaissance pod for the first time in combat. Enhanced Paveway IV GPS-guided weapons were selected in June 2003. BAE won the RAF's maritime patrol aircraft competition and is rebuilding 18, down from an original 21, of the Nimrod fleet with new wings, Rolls-Royce BR710 engines and other structural improvements. This is a troubled programme and the Nimrod MRA4 in-service date has slipped to 2009. The $163 million Project Extract upgrade to the Nimrod R.1 ELINT aircraft was completed in 2003. Other purchases include 14 new Chinooks, which are being delivered, and 22 Merlin transport heli copters, the first of which was delivered to a squadron in late 2000. Older Chinooks are receiving new cockpit avionics, a programme that could also be applied to the Puma fleet. Nine Chinook HC2s were modified for night operations during the Iraq war using equipment cana- balised from new HC3s under test. These later air frames may be returned to the USA as part of swop in return for more capable aircraft being supplied at a later date. Forty Harriers are to receive an uprated Pegasus engine and the fleet will be upgraded to a GR9 standard to provide improved weapons capability and to standardise the avionics and systems fits across the fleet. These aircraft will also be used by the RN fol lowing withdrawal of the Sea Harrier in 2004-6. The Lockheed Martin JSF will replace Harriers, along with the RN's Sea Harriers, Hawk trainers are receiving new fuselages. Under the UK Military Flight Training System a contractor will be selected to provide the aircraft, some instructors and facilities for all fixed-wing aircrew training after screening and before operational conver sion. The Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) will eventually replace the Tornado GR4s. Types operated by the Qinetiq (formerly the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) - including Alpha Jets purchased in 1999, the Empire Test Pilots School fleet and the UK's Open Skies Treaty aircraft - are not listed. Type No Role Typhoon Tornado GR4/4A Tornado F3 Harrier GR7/9YT10 Jaquar GR3/T4 Canberra PR9/T4 Sentry AEW1 232* 140 94 60 52 7 7 Nimrod MR2P/R1P/MRA4 251/3/18 Chinook HC2/HC2A/HC3 Merlin HC3 Hercules C1/C1P/C3/C3P Hercules C4/C5 C-17 Globemaster HffililXH HS125 CC3 Puma HC1/SA330 Puma Islander CC2/CC2A Sea Kino HAR3/A TriStar K1/KC1/K2 Twin Sauirrel HCC1 BAe 146 CC2 HawkT1/T1A 30/14* 22 26 10/15 4 25* 6 35/6' 2 19/6 9 2± 3 97 int/strike strike/recce int attack attack/rec/trno PR/trnq AEW MR/ASW/ELINT trans/trans trans trans trans/trans trans trans trans trans/trans co mms/s u rv SAR/SAR tanker/trans VIP trans VIP trans trnq Hawk 128 Tucano T1 Dominie T1 FBfiRfflTOBH Jetstream T1 Sauirrel HT1/HT2 T67M-2 Firefly VC10C1K/K3/K4 Grob 115 Tutor Global Express ASTOR 20* 73 10 m/4 11 38± 18 11/4/5 99t 5* trq trna tmg trng/SAR/utilitv trng trna trnq trnq surv f18 to be modified contractor owned ROYAL NAVY - FLEET AIR ARM (FAA) The July 1998 defence review brought the Fleet Air Arm the prospect of two new, larger aircraft carriers to replace today's three Invincible-class ships. Thales and BAE Systems build the two ships, which will enter ser vice in 2012 and 2015. Air wings today typically consist of eight Sea Harrier FA2s and 12 Sea Kings, three for AEW and nine for ASW. The Sea Harrier, however, will disappear from the decks in 2004-6 as the decision has been taken to replace it with the strike/attack dedicated Harrier GR9. The Merlin, the first of which was received in late 1998, has now supplanted the ASW Sea King in RN air groups. The Merlin will receive regular capability sustainment programmes through its service life, with Lockheed Martin receiving a $50 million assessment contract in 2003. The navy also keep control of its rotary ASW/AEW assets, which have not become part of the Joint Helicopter Command. Sea King HC4 trans ports are being augmented by six converted HAS6 machines. The Royal Navy participates in the JSF pro gramme. The aircraft will replace the Harrier GR9 from 2012. The UK signed up to the SDD phase in March 2001. Lynx HAS3s are being rebuilt to HMA8 standard, similar to the Super Lynx with 360° radar, FLIR, and avionics upgrades. These machines could be replaced by the Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft, a major Lynx upgrade. Type No Role Sea Harrier FA2 Harrier T8 Sea Kinq HAS6/HU5 •II urn Fill — Sea King AEW7A Sea Kino HC4/MK6C Lynx HAS3/HMA8 Lynx AH 7 Gazelle AH1 Jetstream T2/T3 Hawk Grob 115 Heron 28 7 13/15 43 13 33/6 40/36 6 g 9/3 12 5 int/recce/strikfi trna ASW/SAR ASW AEW assault ASuW/ASW Royal Marine Ops trna/comms FRADU .trng ARMY AIR CORPS (AAC) The AAC continues to develop 16 Air Assault Brigade, which is part of the Joint Helicopter Command. The 67 Apache AH1s, which make up the AAC's biggest pro curement programme are to be delivered by 2005 and the first squadron is undergoing conversion to type training and is due to be declared operational in mid- 2004. Once in service, the current anti-tank/attack heli copter, the Lynx AH7, will be adapted for a combat scout role and may receive a mast-mounted sight and new engines. Lynx AH9s are tactical transports. Later these could be replaced by the Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter, a major development of the Lynx. Thales and Northrop Grumman competiting to provide an enhanced UAV capability, with a downselect due in 2004 onwards. Type No Role Lynx AH7/Lynx AH9 Apache AH1 Gazelle AH1 Islander AL1 A109A Bell 212 97/24 67 117 5 4 3 anti-tank/ recce/utilitv attack recce/comms comms spfor utility/comms The Royal Air Force will not receive its upgraded Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft until 2009 UN TED STATES OF AMER CA UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (USAF) The USAF deployed 863 aircraft and helicopters of all types to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom in www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 25 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER 2003 67
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