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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 0823.PDF
Directory: military aircraft The US Air Force has launched operational test and evaluation of the F/A-22 Raptor. Grumman APG-68(V)9 radar, colour MFDs and modular mission computers. Poland ordered 48 Block 52 aircraft and Chile bought 10 Block 50 aircraft during 2003. D The USAF's F-16C/D production version is an improved Block 50, which includes some equip ment developed for the European F-16A/B Mid Life Update (MLU) programme, including colour displays, modular mission computer and digital terrain system. The USAF has launched a $1 billion pro gramme to upgrade 700 in-service Block 40 and 50 F-16C/Ds to a common hardware and soft ware configuration, with elements common with the F-16A/B MLU. Flight tests started in 2001; upgrading of the aircraft is due to be com pleted in 2005. The USAF will also buy Lockheed martin Sniper XR targeting pods to replace the LANTIRN pods already in use on the aircraft. Four European operators - Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway - began upgrading 343 F-16A/Bs in 1996 under the MLU programme, which includes the Block 50 cockpit and an improved Northrop Grumman APG-66 radar compatible with AMRAAM. Italy started to take delivery of upgraded F-16A/B air craft during 2003. The first Block 52 Plus aircraft arrived in Greece and Italy during last year. Various companies, including IAI and STAero/BAE, are working on upgrades for the F- 16A/B and early F-16C/Ds. The F-117A was first flown in June 1981 and 59 were built. An upgrade programme is under way to give the world's first operational low observable or stealth aircraft the capability to drop satellite guided weapons, including the EGBU-27 and JDAM, as well as the WCMD. Weapons trials for the Block II upgrade took place in early 2004 with full operating capabil ity due to be achieved by 2006. Further upgrades are planned under the Combat Capability Sustainment Programme, but the size of the fleet could be reduced by 10 aircraft under the Pentagon 2005 budget proposal. P-3 Ori Production of the US Navy's primary shore- based maritime patrol aircraft, the P-3 Orion, halted in 1995 after delivery of eight P-3Cs to South Korea. Lockheed Martin has offered a ver sion of the P-3, dubbed the Orion 21, to meet the US Navy's Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) requirement to replace its P-3s. The new-build Orion 21 would be powered by P&WC PW150 turboprops. A two-crew cockpit would include electronic displays. The US Navy found late last year that its 288 strong P-3 fleet had an air frame fatigue problem and 130 aircraft would have to be retired over the next 18 months despite a series of efforts during the 1990s to resolve the problems. Heavy operational use during the Afghan and Iraq wars has only added to the problem. L-3 was awarded a contract in 2003 to refurbish 16 USN P-3s. Australia upgraded the mis sion systems of 18 AP-3Cs under the Sea Sentinel pro gramme. L-3 Communications (previously Raytheon) deliv ered the first upgraded aircraft in September 1998. New Zealand is re-winging six P-3Ks to extend their life and has launched the P-3 System Update project to improve the aircraft's mission systems. Norway, the Netherlands and Spain are upgrading the mission systems in their P-3s. The Netherlands announced in 2003 that it was to retire its fleet of P-3s. Germany and Portugal have offered to buy the surplus aircraft but the Dutch government has since deferred its decision. The P-3 was first flown in 1958. A total of 649 aircraft were built, including 345 P-3Cs. Kawasaki continues to build the P-3 under licence in Japan. Lockheed Martin delivered the first U-2 upgraded under the Reconnaissance Avionics Maintainability Programme (RAMP) in April 2002. This updates the 1960s-era cockpit with three 150 x 200mm multifunction displays, an upfront control and display unit and an inde pendent secondary flight display. The whole fleet of 31 aircraft is to be modified by 2008. The USAF's fleet of 31 U-2Ss and four two-seat U-2STs will be retrofitted by 2007. The U-2s have already been re-engined with the GE F118 turbofan, which replaces the P&W J 75 and extends service life to 2020. The re-engined U-2S has increased range, alti tude and payload, and improved reliability and maintainability. The U-2's Raytheon ASARS-2 SAR sensor has been upgraded under the radar improvement programme (RIP), which entered service in 2000. This uses off-the-shelf software to give better real-time precision targeting, broad area coverage, imagery for intelligence applications and ground moving target indication. LOCKHEED MARTIN AIRCRAFT ARGENTINA Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina, Avenida Fuerza Aerea Argentina 5500, Cordoba 5010, Argentina. Tel +54 351 4668713; fax +54 351 4654486 LOCKHEED MARTIN AIRCRAFT ARGENTINA Aircraft Mission Powerplant Max thrust (lb) Wing span (m) Wing area (m2) Length (m) OEW (kg) MTOW (kg) Max load (kg) Range (km) Endurance Hardpoints Cruise (kt) MMO _^__ Ceiling (ft) Crew/passengers Internal fuel (kg) Fuel, opt ext (litre) Air refuel? IA63 Pampa Advanced trainer/light attack 1 x Honeywell TFE731-2N 3.500 9.69 5,000 2,100 4h 20min 5 M0.80 62 25-31 MAY 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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