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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 1990.PDF
DEFENCE TRAINING PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA Canberra to open training competition Air 9000 winner and EADS unit Australian Aerospace not guaranteed to scoop helicopter flying instruction deal The Australian Army's long- delayed rotary wing flying training (RWFTR) requirement is to proceed as an open contest, rather than be assigned to the winner of its con troversial Air 9000 project. EADS subsidiary Australian Aerospace was last month announ ced as the winner of the initial Air 9000 troop-lift requirement, offer ing the MRH90. However, plans to rationalise the Australian Defence Force's helicopter fleet were placed under review. The army says: "While the Air 9000 solicitation process explored options for other phases of the programme, the intended approach is that the army RWFTR project proceeds to open tender." A draft tender for the requirement will be released during the second half of 2005, with a for mal request to be released by mid- 2006 ahead of a source selection and contract signature in late 2006 or early 2007. The RWFTR project calls for the supply of "civil-like non-military rotary wing flying and maintenance training", potentially including loadmaster training and crash res cue support roles. The project also requires training courseware sup port and maintenance. Official confirmation of the sepa ration comes as Australian Aerospace and Eurocopter prepare to launch contract negotiations with Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation from 18 October. These will examine how the MRH90 bid, which was based on the supply of 40 aircraft, can be renegotiated for just 12 helicopters. Losing con tender Sikorsky made its proposal on the supply of 48 aircraft, as man dated by the Australian govern ment's national security committee. Sikorsky was picked as preferred supplier for the full Air 9000 pro gramme, but defence minister Robert Hill overturned the decision. UCAVS MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / PARIS Dassault opens door to more Neuron partners Dassault says the Neuron pan- European unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator pro gramme will move forward to its next development stage with at least six partner countries, and that future additions are expected. The current project phase looks set to close out with six partners, with Greece and Sweden already signed, and Italy, Spain and Switzerland set to follow through Alenia, EADS Casa and Ruag. Belgium and Germany are seen as future candidates to join the French-led project, which aims to fly a UCAV demonstrator in 2009. Greece's Hellenic Aerospace Industries will take the lead in designing the UCAV's signature management and stealth technol ogy, says Benoit Dussaugey, Dassault's vice-president military sales for Europe. Lockheed Martin F-35 Pushes Ahead on All Fronts F135 Engine Tests Achieve Program Milestone. The F-3S JSF Program reached a milestone in September when the Pratt & Whitney-led propulsion team completed its 1,000th test hour on the F135 engine that will power all versions of the new fighter. The milestone, accomplished only 15 months after Critical Design Review, included tests on both the conventional takeoff and landing engine as well as the revolutionary short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) engine. The system will enable the F-35 to be the first ST0VL aircraft to operate routinely at supersonic speeds. The second STOVL engine is now undergoing endurance testing at Pratt & Whitney's facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., U.S.A. F-35 Pilot Safety Is Focus of Testing in England. There is a focus on pilot safety in Middlesex, England, as ejection-seat-supplier Martin-Baker begins testing the pilot-escape system for the F-35 conventional takeoff and landing and carrier versions. The testing involves propelling a replica of the F-35 forward fuselage along a high-speed test track at speeds up to 608 knots (700 mph) to generate the airflow characteristics the fighter will experience in flight. Advanced Technologies, Inc., of Newport News, Va., U.S.A., manufactured the fuselage replica. "Nerve Center" for F-35 Delivered Ahead of Schedule. BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Warfare Systems achieved an early delivery of its low-cost, lightweight Electronic Warfare (EW) suite to Lockheed Martin for F-35 development. The EW suite serves as the nerve center for F-35 pilots, enhancing their situational awareness and self-protection through next-generation threat identification, monitoring, analysis and countermeasures. F-3S JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER TEAM NORTHROP GRUMMAN • BAE SYSTEMS • PRATT & WHITNEY GE ROLLS-ROYCE FIGHTER ENGINE TEAM LOCKHEED MARTIN Pratt & Whitney's second F13S STOVL propulsion system at West Palm Beach. Fla., U.S.A. F-3S forward-fuselage replica will test pilot-escape system. www.fliqhtinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 12-18 OCTOBER 2004 23
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