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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 0380.PDF
DEFENCE NAVY LEAGUE STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC Lockheed Martin reworks MM A payload configuration New design would give US Navy opportunity to revive signals intelligence capability Lockheed Martin has prepared a payload configuration for the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) that would give the US Navy the option to re-insert a sig nals intelligence (SIGINT) capabil ity into the programme. The ser vice last September carved a requirement to replace its Lockheed Martin EP-3E Aries II fleet out of the MMA programme and attached the 14-19-aircraft order to a new maritime variant of the US Army's Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) programme. The navy is seeking a roughly 100-aircraft MMA fleet to replace about 270 Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions used for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare duties. These will be assisted by an extended-range unmanned air vehicle purchased through its Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, a request for information on which was issued late last month. The USN will issue a request for proposals for the BAMS system in mid-year, with a contractor down- select anticipated in early 2005. Initial operating capability is planned around 2010. Lockheed Martin's Orion 21 air frame, which is competing against Boeing's 737-800 with -900 wings, is based on the P-3C with new wings, engines, mission systems and propellers. Lockheed Martin revealed new details of its payload design, including a plan to provide universal workstations with at least Level 2 UAV control, during last week's Navy League-sponsored Sea- Air-Space 2004 Exposition in Washington, DC. The company's baseline configu ration includes five workstations, but has room to grow to eight consoles, says MMA business development director Jack Crisler. The provisions for extra consoles are included as a back-up measure in case the navy abandons its part in the ACS effort. The company announced last December that its aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150 engines with Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 eight-bladed propellers. Commer cial regional jet operators using the PW150 reported a 99.96% on- time dispatch rate last month, says Crisler. A decision in the $3.2 billion MMA competition is expected shortly after a review by the Defense Acquisition Board on 22 April. SEE FEATURE P40 CO-OPERATION BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE Japan extends talks with USA Japan and the USA have extended the discussion period for possible co operation on their respective P-X and Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) programmes until mid-year, in a move which will enable Japan to receive information that cannot be provided until the US Navy has selected Boeing or Lockheed Martin to meet its maritime patrol requirements. With Japan's budget being drained by the Kawasaki C-X military transport aircraft and new ballistic missile defence programmes, US manufacturers are hoping that the Kawasaki-led P-X project will be axed in preference for the purchase or licence-build of the MMA system. However, Japanese com panies argue that the P-X programme has passed the point of no return and that Tokyo could reduce programme costs by importing some equipment developed for MMA. CONTRACTS • Elbit Systems/Rockwell Collins joint venture Vision Systems International is to produce over 400 Joint Helmet- Mounted Cueing Systems under a $62.6 million deal with Boeing. The award covers the delivery of low-rate initial pro duction systems for Australia, Chile, Finland, Poland, South Korea and the USA. • Boeing is to produce electronics equip ment and other systems for Israel Aircraft Industries' Arrow 2 anti-ballistic missile sys tem under an initial deal worth $78 million. Options could increase the total contract value to $225 million by 2008. • Lockheed Martin has received a $130 million contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to supply compo nents for a further six F-2 multirole fighters. Japan has so far ordered 71 of the aircraft, a development of Lockheed Martin's F-16 design. • Aviois to provide integrated logistics support to the Eurofighter Typhoon's Eurojet-produced EJ200 engines for Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK under ini tial business worth €40 million ($49 million). • Parker Aerospace will supply spare parts for the General Electric T700 engine under a $28.8 mil lion deal. The work will support operations of the US Army's Bell OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, Boeing AH-64 Apache and CH^»7 Chinook and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. PEACEKEEPING Dutch Apaches on Afghanistan tour of duty The Apaches were flown to Kabul on Antonov Airlines An-124 transports The Netherlands has sent six Boeing NAH-64D Apache attack helicopters to the Afghan capital Kabul for a six- month deployment in support of the International Security Assistance Force. The Dutch government last January decided to deploy the 1st Dutch Helicopter Detachment to Afghanistan with 135 support personnel. 2 The first three helicopters left I Gilze-Rijen airbase on 29 March | aboard an Antonov Airlines An-124 o transport, with the support element < travelling on a Boeing 757 of the Dutch charter airline Dutchbird. After a stopover in Termez, Uzbekistan, personnel completed their journey to Kabul on a Dutch air force Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules. A second An-124 left the Netherlands two days later with the three remaining Apaches. Two aircraft will be held on quick reaction alert to provide air support for ground units. A fur ther two will conduct aerial recon naissance and provide protection for convoys and transport heli copters. The remaining two aircraft will be held as operational and technical reserves. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 13-19 APR IL 2004 17
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