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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2436.PDF
DEFENCE MUNITIONS STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC Laser-defence weapons enter key testing phase US 'directed energy roadmap' close to being unveiled despite mid-year budget cuts Laser weapons designed to shoot down missiles, artillery rounds and other threats are to face a series of course-setting events over the next few weeks, while a Pentagon-level team is also close to unveiling a "directed energy roadmap" to steer the development of the US mili tary's future high-power laser and microwave weapons. Having fired its chemical laser for the first time on 12 November, the 1MW Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser (ABL) is being prepared for an imminent round of flight tests of the beam control system. The Joint High Power Solid State Laser (JHPSSL) project is also set to demonstrate three different 25kW systems next month, a first step towards the development of a lOOkW solid state weapon. Finally, General Dynamics' Atomics divi sion is seeking bidders to perform systems integration studies for a lightweight, 150kW weapon called the High-Energy, Liquid Laser Area Defense System (Hellads). The ABL's successful "first light" event places it at the front of the pack, despite suffering a new round of Congressionally-mandated bud get cuts in mid-year. The US Missile Defense Agency has been forced to reshape the ABL's development plan. It is no longer pursuing a mis sile shoot-down as its next major milestone. Instead, Boeing is to demonstrate feasible designs within two years for a six-module laser - down from 14 - and a flightworthy system to direct the beam. The first light test fired a com bined beam produced by six chem ical lasers, although the experi ment was staged at less than full power amid concerns about han dling the flow of chlorine into the laser modules. Flight tests will begin soon on the beam control and fire control equipment on board a modified Boeing 747 before the laser and aiming equip ment are installed late next year. The JHPSSL programme will next month conclude a two-year demonstration using solid-state lasers proposed by the Lawrence Livermore national laboratory, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, while General Atomics is in the first phase of developing Hellads. A diode-pumped liquid laser intended to shoot down aerial threats including cruise missiles and unmanned air vehicles, Hellads will in its next two phases advance to produce a ground-based demonstrator. PROCUREMENT CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON Pakistan requests surplus Orions Pakistan's long-delayed quest to acquire an enhanced maritime patrol and border surveillance capability has moved a step closer to reality, with the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announcing the possible sale of eight ex-US Navy P-3C Orion aircraft for almost $1 billion. Announced on 16 November, the proposed foreign military sale would result in Pakistan boosting its current navy inventory of two P- 3Cs with an additional eight air craft, under an acquisition worth a potential $970 million. The deal, which remains subject to final approval from US Congress, will also include the provision of T- 56 engines, communications equipment, training, logistics sup port and spare parts. Lockheed Martin of Greenville, South Carolina has been named prime contractor for the deal. In an unusually strongly worded i?liafe-«t«rff Pakistan aims to acquire US Orions languishing in the desert notification, the DSCA says: "The command-and-control capabilities of these aircraft will improve Pakistan's ability to restrict the lit toral movement of terrorists along Pakistan's southern border and ensure Pakistan's overall ability to maintain integrity of its borders." The sale will also boost Islamabad's ability to support US forces during the "war on terror ism", it says. In a further development, Pakistan's navy has awarded OGMA of Portugal a €5 million ($6.5 million) contract to conduct repairs to its two current P-3Cs. The work will be conducted at Pakistan's Mehran naval base in Karachi by local technicians. • The Royal Norwegian Air Force has exercised an option to purchase additional Lockheed Martin Pantera targeting pods for its F-16s, following the comple tion of first lot deliveries last August. • General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is to pro duce seven more MQ-1L Predator unmanned air vehicles for the US Air Force under a $22 million contract. • Under a $29 million contract, Lockheed Martin is to modify one US Air National Guard C-130J by late 2006 to the Super J configuration in preparation for future conver sion to the EC-130J Commando Solo information-warfare configu ration. Options exist to modify a further two aircraft. • Northrop Grumman has selected Canada's Dy 4 Systems to sup ply single-board data processors and Australia's Cablex to provide semi-rigid radio-frequency cables for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's APG-81 radar • Honeywell is to produce 69 embedded global positioning/inertial navigation systems to upgrade Taiwan's Bell AH-1 Ws under a $5.3 million contract. • The UK's Vega Group has received a £2.6 mil lion ($4.8 million) contract to provide an F-16 technician train ing package for the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force. • Northrop Grumman will install satellite communications on three French navy E-2C Hawkeyes under a $6.6 million contract. • Honeywell will pro vide Astreon streamlined dual-mode anti-collision lights and retractable wingtip landing lights for the US Air Force's and UK Royal Air Force's inventory and new-build Boeing C-17 trans ports. AAI will meanwhile upgrade USAF C-17 mainte nance training devices under a $23.5 million contract. • BAE Systems will upgrade 118 ALQ- 157 omni-directional infrared countermeasures systems for US Marine Corps Boeing CH46s under a $6.6 million contract. • ThalesRaytheonSystems has received US Army contracts worth almost $80 million to pro vide 20 additional MPQ-64 Sentinel air-defence radar mod ernisation kits and spare parts for its Firefinder radars. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 23-29 NOVEMBER 2004 23
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