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Aviation History
2004
2004-03 - 0017.PDF
DEFENCE CONTRACTS VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW India spends $1.5bn on carrier deal Agreement with Russia's Rosoboronexport agency includes acquisition of associated air wing of more than 20 aircraft Indian defence minister George Fernandes has signed contracts worth $1.5 billion with Russia's Rosoboronexport state armaments agency to acquire the surplus air craft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and an associated air wing of more than 20 aircraft. Worth around $700 million, the largest element of the deal will lead to the delivery from late 2008 of an initial batch of 12 MiG-29K single- seat fighters and four MiG-29KUB combat-capable two-seat trainers. The air wing will include an undis closed number of Kamov Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare and Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters. The deal - negotiations on which started in 1995 - was finalised in New Delhi on 20 January, during an official visit to India by Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov. The MiG-29K contract also covers the delivery of flight simulators and other training systems, the instruc tion of flight and ground crews, and includes an option for a further 30 aircraft to equip the Indian navy's three indigenous air-defence ships planned by 2015. The aircraft will be built at RSK MiG's new produc tion facility in Lukhovitsy near Moscow, and benefit from manufac turing enhancements introduced since the company constructed two MiG-29K prototypes in 1988. Detailed technical specifications for the Indian aircraft will be agreed later, although RSK MiG says the aircraft will be equipped with Phazotron-NIIR's Zhuk-ME X-band multimode radar with a slotted antenna and mechanical beam scanning. This provides tracking of 10-12 targets and simultaneous engagement of up to four of these from a distance of 110-120km (60- 65nm). It also provides ground The deal will lead to the delivery of an initial batch of 12 MiG-29Ks from 2008 mapping with a resolution of better than 30m (110ft). The aircraft's avionics suite will be integrated by OKB Elektroavtomatika or Ramenskoye-based RPKB, and include some non-Russian parts to be requested by the Indian navy. To be renamed the INS Vikramaditya, the 44,500t ex- Russian navy aircraft carrier will be modernised to enable deck operations of the MiG-29K/UB fighters. Acquired for around $650 million, the carrier will be comm issioned into Indian navy service in mid-2007. Other topics discussed during Ivanov's visit to India included: a potential lease deal for four Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range naval strike aircraft; the Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighter; and the BrahMos cruise missile. Russia and India are also discussing how to extend an interstate agreement to develop the multirole transport aircraft to possi bly include Israeli participation. STRIKE CAPABILITY STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC US Air Force set to revolutionise bomber modernisation strategy The US Air Force is questioning the logic of a bomber modernisation strategy focused on preserving the service's existing fleet until an unspecified replacement is deliv ered in 2037. Air force leaders have debated alternatives for several years, but are expected within the next month to unveil a roadmap for steadily improving the air force's long-range strike capability, says Brig Gen Stephen Goldfein, the air force's director of operational capa bility requirements. "Maybe we've studied this to death," he says. The initiative could finally cod ify operational requirements for near-term connectivity and target ing upgrades for existing bombers, and formally call for the develop ment of a variety of new platforms. These could range from hypersonic weapons to massive arsenal ships, says the USAF. Moreover, the 2037 fleet replacement strategy for the Boeing B-52, Rockwell B-1B and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit faces a new round of questioning. "Is that path that we're on a logical path, or not?" asks Goldfein. The effort is partially aimed at countering a renewed push by some lawmakers to launch a next- generation bomber programme. Congress provided the air force $45 million in the fiscal year 2004 bud get to begin development of a new bomber. There is also pressure to reacti vate at least some of the roughly 30 B-lBs that secretary of defence Donald Rumsfeld ordered to be retired in 2001. The air force would prefer to craft a wide-ranging long-range strike capability that is not linked exclusively to a handful of plat forms. In describing the platform that may emerge as the air force's eventual replacement for today's bomber fleet, says Goldfein, the term "bomber might not be the right word". A requirements summit held on 12 December, led by air force vice chief of staff Gen Michael Moseley, endorsed the initiative. The long-range strike plan is expected to be condensed into rec ommendations and sent for review to the air force's general staff within a few weeks. The plan will be used to guide the air force's long-term budget strategy and define its current proposals during the next round of budget negotia tions inside the Pentagon and in Congress. HELICOPTERS NH90 trainer team selected NH Industries (NHI) has picked a CAE-Thales team as the pre ferred bidder to provide training systems to operators of the NH90 utility helicopter. NHI is managing the procure ment of NH90 training systems for Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. CAE and Thales Training & Simulation plan to form a joint venture and team with subcon tractors in the customer nations to manage the €400 million ($495 million) programme. France plans two NH90 train ing locations, Germany three, Italy two and the Netherlands one. The Nordic operators could share one main training location. Germany is still studying the possibility of acquiring its NH90 training systems under a private finance initiative deal. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 JANUARY - 2 FEBRUARY 2004 15
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