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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 0020.PDF
DEFENCE CONTRACTS ++ Sikorsky has received two con tracts totalling $221.5 million to build 30 UH-60L/S-70A Black Hawk helicopters for Colombia. Two will be configured for the Colombian police, seven forthe air force and 21 forthe army. The air craft, for counter-narcotics mis sions, will be delivered this year. ++ Raytheon is to begin low-rate ini tial production of the Standard SM- 2 Block IVA surface-to-air missile forthe US Navy's area theatre bal listic-missile defence system under a $64.3 million contract. The Block IVA has a dual-mode radio- frequency/infra-red seeker. ++ Sweden's SaabTech Electronics has won an international competi tion to supply radar warning receivers for German air force Panavia Tornados. ++ The US Army has awarded a $13 million contract to Lockheed Martin and Marvin Engineering to refurbish 250 M272 launchers into M299 Longbow Hellfire launchers. The contract includes options for follow-on production of 1,041 launchers for the US Army and for foreign military sales. The M299 launcher carries four Hellfire II or Longbow Hellfire anti-tank mis siles. ++ Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $29 million contract by the US Air Force to supply additional C-130J training systems. One Weapon System Management Trainer will be deliv ered to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, in November 2003, followed by a Weapon System Trainer in February 2004. The contract also includes activating a training site at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. ++ Hill Aerospace and Defense has won a contract from the US Army Aviation and Missile Command forthe repair and overhaul of main rotor blade flutter dampeners on UH-60 Black Hawks. Congress orders research into ejection seat upgrade BFGOODRICH and Martin-Baker are to identify potential improvements to their current products under the US Air Force/Navy Joint Ejection Seat Programme (JESP). Last month, both companies received contracts for Phase I of JESP, which involves trade studies and limited risk-reduction testing to be completed by November. JESP, mandated by Congress, could lead to the qualification of next-generation ejection seats by 2 004-5. The new seats are expected to be candidates for installation in the Joint Strike Fighter 0SF). To create the specification, the joint US Air Force/Navy pro gramme office has taken "the strengths and weaknesses of all the seats and extended the require ments in each area", such as high speed and low-speed ejection performance, says Jeff Yaker, pres ident of BFGoodrich Aircraft Seating & Propulsion Products. In Phase 1, the two companies will identify improvements and the cost of incorporating them into designs. The JESP specification is performance-, not cost-driven, says Eurofighter's seat forms the basis for proposals Yaker. "Butthecostforanadvanced seat may be only incrementally more than the current seat." The programme is intended to lead to qualification of a "generic" seat - designed to fit multiple plat forms - by 2004-5, says Yaker. The highest profile application eyed by Congress is the JSF, although both teams have selected a version of Martin- Baker's Eurofighter seat for their proposals. "The JSF specifica tion does not require an advanced seat, but the availability of an afford able one could change that," says Yaker. BFGoodrich will study improvements to all three ejection seats in its product line, such as the former Boeing/ Douglas ACES II and former UPCO/Stencel S-111S, but Yaker bel ieves die Russian Zvezda K-36 seat is likely to prove the best choice for its superior high-speed ejection performance. Having acquired US K-36 licensee IBP Aerospace, BFGood rich is continuing to "Americanise" the Russian K-36 seat. Work on integrating US pyrotechnic and electrical systems into the seat is close to completion, and JESP is likely to become die main funding vehicle for qualifying a K-36. • US Army tests advanced guided rocket system THE US Army has successfully flown a new guided version of the Lockheed Martin Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The Guided MLRS rocket, equipped widi a mass simulator in lieu of a guidance package, flew a ballistic trajectory and achieved all test objectives, says Lockheed Martin. The test was designed to evaluate components of the rocket in flight, including the motor. Guided MLRS is a collaboration between the USA, the UK, France, Germany and Italy. It integrates a global positioning system-aided inertial guidance package with an extended-range rocket body. Small canards on the rocket nose enable basic manoeuvrability, enhancing accuracy. The Guided MLRS is designed to engage targets at ranges up to 60km. Initial fielding of the system is expected in 2004. In early 2000, development of MSTAR (MLRS Smart Tactical Rocket) was shelved because of funding constraints. • IAI poised for deal with Boeing on Arrow missile co-production ISRAEL AIRCRAFT Industries (IAI) and Boeing are expected to finalise a deal this month on co- production of the Arrow anti-tacti cal ballistic missile. "We want to finalise the agreement to go ahead with the programme," says IAI. Negotiations with Boeing began in November after Raytheon chose not to compete and IAI eliminated Lockheed Martin from the compe tition. IAI is seeking a US partner to allow the Israeli air force to buy more Arrow batteries using US foreign military sales funds and to cut manufacturing costs to allow it to be exported. Turkey and Japan have expressed interest in the Israeli system, which recendy gained ini tial operational capability. • 18 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 2 - 8 January 2001
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