VOLUME 2 international AIR POWER REVIEWinternational AIR POWER REVIEW AIRtime Publishing United States of America * United Kingdominternational AIR POWER REVIEW Published quarterly by AlRtime Publishing inc. 120 East Avenite, Norwalk, CT 06851, USA (Our UK office wit be established shorty ana the adress will appear tn IAPR Vol. 2) © 2001 AlRcime Publishing Ine Breguet Br:1001-01 Ton cutaway copyright Mike Badrocke Photos and other illustrations are the copyright ‘of their respective owners Softhound Ealtion ISSN 1475.9917 / ISBN 88058834 Hancover Deluxe Casehound Edition ISBN 1880588:558 Publisher ‘Mel Williams Editor David Donald Assistant Editor Daniel J. March Sub Rditor Karen Leverington Us Desk Tom Kaminski Russia/CIS Desk Piotr Butowskl, Zaur Eylanbekov Europe and Rest of World Desk John Fricker, Jon Lake Correspondents Argentina: Jorge Felix Nusher Padin “Australia: Nigel Pitaway ‘Belgium: Dik Lamargue Canada Jef Rankin owe France: HentiPierre Grolleay Israel: Shlomo Aloni Italy: Luigino Caliaeo Japan Yoshitomo Aoki Netberlande:Tieme Festner Spain: Salvador Mafé Huerias USA: Rick Burgess, Robert F Dorr, Brad ward, Peter Mes, Bill Sweetman Artists Piotr Butowski, Chris Davey; Keith Fretwell, Grant Race, John Wea, Vasily Zolotov Designer Zaut Eylanbekov Controller Linda DeAngelis Origination by Chroma Graphics, Singapore Printed in Singapore by KHL Printing All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, repro- ‘duced, stored electronically transmitted in any manner or fa any’ form whatsoever without the written permission ofthe publishers and copy- right holders. 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For Selivery rates by air please contact the publisher.Volume Two Autumn/Fall 2001 CONTENTS AIR PoWER INTELLIGENCE, Programme Update 4 Project Development 4 Upgrades and Modifications 8 Procurement and Deliveries 10 Air Arm Review 13 Operations and Deployments 5 Jobn Fricker and Tom Kaminski: additional material David Donald and Daniel J March DEBRIEF BAE Systems Hawk Mk 127 16 Nigel Pittaway Lockheed ARIES IL 18 Jon Lake Aviacién Naval Uruguaya 2 Dick Lobuis TECHNICAL BRIEFING Eurofighter EF2000: Programme Round-up 24 David Donald SPECIAL FEATURE an Air Power P: US Army, US Coast Guard, National Guard 34 Mark Farmer Focus AIRCRAFT ‘Tupolev Tu-160 “Blackjack” 44 By some margin the world’s most powerful combat airerafi, the Tu-160 has been built in only small numbers due 10 the paslous state of the Russian economy in post-Cold War times. However, the type remains in service, and is the spearhead of the Russian airborne nuclear deterrent. It is also being modified to perform the conventional role Piotr Butowskt Puoro FEATURE Bulgarska Voenno-Morska Aviatzia 74 Senior Lieutenant Valentin Georgiev and ‘Alexander Mladenov Ain PowER ANALYSIS United States Marine Corps 78 Marine Corps Aircraft 80 USMC Aviation organisation 88. US Marine Corps Reserve 94 Rick Burgess VARIANT FILE, Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma 96 Jon take SPECIAL FEATURE Meteorological Research Flight 108 Dantet J March ‘WARPLANE CLassic Convair B-58 Hustler 116 Bat Yenne Aik ComBat Luftwaffe in Normandy 150 Jobn Weal ‘Tyre ANALysIS Supermarine Scimitar 158 Tony Buttler Compar Conours USAAF Spitfires: Part 1 UK operations 174 Paul Ludwig INDEX 182 Major FEATURES PLANNED FOR VOLUME THREE Focus Aireraft: Northrop Grumman ‘Technical Briefing: IAR-93 Orso, Variant File 14 Tomcat, Warplane Classie: Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Air Power Analysis: Belgium, Super Puma/Cougar, Special Feature: Senior Bowl ~ the Lockheed D-21, Pioneers and Prototypes: Myasishichev M-50 ‘Bounder’LW Old Joint Strike Fighter (On 29 March 2001 Boeing flew its X-320 STOVL JSF demonstrator for the firs ime. Final hover ‘pit tests had been completed on 23 March, with high-speed taxi tials accom- plished over the next couple of days. X-320 Chief test pilot Dennis O'Donoghue was at the Controls throughout, and he made the aircraft's maiden flight, a 50-minute tip from Palmdale to Edwards AFB. Initial handling trials in the conventional mode were undertaken during the Sortie, also occupying. the aitera’s second fight, which was flown by Major Jeff Karnes of the US Marine Comps, ‘During the X-32B's third fight on 16 Apsil, on what ODonoghue described as “the best day of ny fying career, the Boeing test pilot achieved the fist flow-switch between CTOI. (wing bore) Aight and jetbome (STOVL) flight, in which engine thrusts redirected from the main cruise nozzle 10 two lift nozzles ia the lower fuselage, This fist transition was made at 180 kt (@07 mph; 333 km/h) and 9,500 fe (2896 m), The Might lasted 58 minutes, ater that day, on the aircraft's fourth Might, Donoghue performed another seven flow- switches during the 52-minute sortie. These were made at 140 to 185 kt 161 mph 259 kra/h to 213 mph 342 kh) and as low as 6,000 f (1829 m)- Around 40 minutes ofthe flight were ‘condhicted in STOVL mode, which included throtle transients, lft nozle thrust vectoring and testing of semi-etborne handling ‘ODonoglhue reported thatthe tansitons were ‘extremely smooth and took approximately three seconds to accomplish. He highlighted the low pilot workload in switching between CTOL and STOVL modes, and the similaty between actual nd simulated performance. Fourteen fights were ‘mace at Edwards for 1.1 hours, during which the aircraft was flown by five plots The X-328 then flew to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, amiving on (n36 Api X-28 che st pilot Dennis O'Donoghue ‘performed the atcrats fist vansivon fom wingborne to Ietbore fight As well sth obvious addition othe ect lit nozles, th X58 dle trom the X35 in having a redesigned wing of shorter span and lacks any leading-edge hight devices. 11 May with Kames atthe helm, The majory of STOVL testing will be performed atthe Naval test centre, including further hover pit testing. The overall X328 programme was scheckiled. 10 Include 55 flights ane! around 40 hours Meanwhile, the Lockheed Main team was Project DEVELOPMENT aircraft until after 2004 in onder to group, comprising industrial save money for social enhance- members from France, Germany, ment programs and the upcoming Italy, Holland and, now, Spain, International amount of work allocated. Nine Olympic Games neadiquarcered at the European European countries" have jeronautic Defence & Space’s ‘Trouble for A400M? announced plans to equip their air SOSTAR radar bid Dornier subsidiary in Friedrich The German Defence Ministry has aims with the AA00M Launched in 1993, NATO's long. shafen. Main. shareholders in announced that budget constaints term Alliance Ground Surveillance SOSTAR Gmbil, formed” in will force t to cut a planned order Eurofighter News (AGS) programme is aimed at February 2001, are EADS and for new Airbus A400M military According to recent reports, the prochicing a NATO equivalent to Thales (formerly Thomson-CSF), ranspons to about 55 planes from Eurofighter project is running the US Boeing 707-based Joint each with 28 per cent, plus Indra the 75 that t had planned to buy. behind schedule and the cost of Surveillance Target Attack Radar with 11 per cent and Fokker Space This move will reduce Germany's developing the aircraft is set to System (J-STARS). NATO AGS. with 5 per cent, SOSTAR-X project share of the work from 33 10 25% rise to neasly $5.43 billion from a requirements are for up to six costs will tolal about Euross Just days earlier, Turkey reduced budgeted $4.09 billion. In a further -STARS-interoperable aircraft and million (SUS78.6 million) for its requirement for the turboprop blow, Greece has sid itis post- 24 ground stations costing an intial demonstrator definition, develop: anifier from 26 to 20 aircraft and poning the purchase of 60 $US2 billion, for service from 2006, ment and construction. The test will suffer a reduction in the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter Led by Nonbrop Grumman and installation core, fitted ina = - Raytheon, with support from Fokker 100, will be a SOSTAR-X zi Belgium, Canada, Denmark and _electronie-scanning £3 Norway, the NATO Transatlantic Advanced Radar (NATAR) consor railing EADS arsenide active-array technology tum is now one of two major in a ventral forward fairing. proposals for the AGS require- Mission avionics will include three ment. Its J-STARS' Radar console workstations, and Technology Insertion Program — datalinks for information transfers GRTIP) upgrade would be installed from aircraft to ground stations in a Buropean aircraft platform such as the Airbus A321, and full ‘Ukraine STARS interoperability is claimed, INATAR has been opposed since An-70 crash aftermath May 1999 by the European Stanc- On 27 January the prototype Off Surveillance Target Antonov’ An-70 heavy-life military Acquisition Radar (SOSTAR) transport was forced to make an EADS’ hopes of securing a 75sterat order fram Germany far the AADOM look ‘increasingly Bleak. Wit th purchase deemed ‘economic by the German Federal ‘Budget Cour. oter alternatives are beng sought including a r-ivestigation ito ‘acquiring the Antonov AnX or reduced AAODM order of #055.moving more cautiously to a mid-summer X-35B fist take-off which, unlike the Boeing approach, will be made verically. With BAE SYSTEMS’ Simon Hargreaves, lead pilot for the STOVL demonstrations, at the controls, the X-35B underwent a series of mission rehearsal tests on the hover pit at Palmelale. By 23 March 2001 the aireraft had performed 26 lift-fan ‘lutch engagements to test the transition from TOL to STOVE mode, and had been nun at full power in STOVL mode for over 90 seconds. During these tials the hover pit was reconfigured 10 represent a variety of ground effect conditions from full to none, At Pratt & Whitney's West Palm Beach faciiy, the X-35B, propulsion team put atest engine/fan arrange- ‘ment through 132 simulated missions, involv- fing 171 dynamic clutch engagements. A fight- fated fan was fitted by 12 May, and the fist hhover pit operations in full first light configu ration began on 24 May. Dassault Rafale Development was announced by Dassault and its industry partners in January 2001 of a Rafale Mk 2 version of France's advanced combat aireraft, specifically for export markets. A prototype Mk 2 is planned to fly by late 2003, for deliveries stating from late 2005, Thales is supplying new electronicaly-scanned acive radar and avionics, and SNECMA an uprated (to 193842 lb/88.26 KN thrust) MS8-3. turbofan Dassault will develop the Rafale Mk 2 from a jointly-funded FF19 billion (SUS1.21 billion) industry programme. No state finance will be directly involved, but Dassault and its partners ‘wll be relieved of their former commitment 10 provide some 25 per cent of the SUS19 billion Costs of developing French navy and air force Rafales to F2 and F3 standards Initial deliveries have begun of 10 single seat Rafale M versions to the Aéronavale, and The colourful: marked X.35Bis seen onthe hover pit at Lockheeds Palmdale plant in Jane Undergoing engin tats ‘rir tts rst Might To ‘allow STOVL operations the areratis ited with 2 ‘one Rafale C and two two-seat Rafale Bs are planned for delivery to the Armée de [ir from 200; all airraft will be Fs, equipped and armed solely for air defence and superiority roles. From late 2004, production will switch and retrofit upgrades will be made to Rafale F2 limited-mult-role versions, covering. air-to- ground radar modes. Improvements will include Thales/SAGEM OSF (Optronique Secteur Frontal) sensors incorporating inl red search and tracking (IRST), FLIR, SAGEM Armament AirSol Modulaire (AASM) IR- ‘guidance targeting system, and laser-ranging, plus associated software, for compatibility with ‘new weapons. These will include MBD MICA Me-guided shon- and medium-range AAMs, and MBD APACHE dispenser and SCALP-EG ‘cruise missiles, Funding has been allocated for Dassault Rafale F3 production from about 2006, adding further weapons capabilities including EADS rocket/ramjet-powered supersonic “ASMP-A fnuclear cruise missiles, MBD ANF supersonic AShMs, and the Thales Topsight -helmet- ‘mounted sight/display system. These improve- ments will progressively be incorporated into the Aéronavale’s remaining 50 Rafale Ms, Which now include up t0 40 two-seat BM ‘combat versions, from 60 on order, and into the air force's requirement for 234. Ralales including 139 tworseaters. A Rafile F4 version is also in the pipeline, and will add Matra BAE Dynamics Meteor BVRAAM to its weapons capabilities by about 2010. emergency wheels-up landing immediately after taking off from (Omsk in Siberia launch, The cause has since been attributed to “cata- milion owed for the joint develop- personnel Sttophic failure” of a hydraulic line ment programme. A-contract for "In addition to in the hub of the No. 3 ZMKIS Ukraine's first five An-70s has been BAE/Boeing FSTA consortium, on Progress/Zaporozhye D-27 prop- fan, causing the rear blades to signed, andthe aireraft will be built 9 by the Aviant factory near Kiev and pending contractor ownership, management and maintenance of the aircraft, plus training facilities and some the proposed Group (EAG) in February. Prom its original mid-1995 establishment by Britain and France, the EAG has ‘expanded to include Belgium, Italy and! Spain, followed in February by Germany and the Netherlands 7 March Boeing established a 5767 Tanker Programmes Office within ASRAAM performance into reverse pitch; opening up the in Samara, Russ its Military Aerospace Sector, to In April, UK Defence Procurement ‘ther propfans to compensite for _—____ market an airrefuelling version of Minister Baroness Symons the resultint loss of power ied to United Kingdom: this twin-tarbofan transpor. demanded that MATRA/BAc the automatic shutdown of No.1. Of the remaining two FSTA Dynamics (MBD) rectify deficien fengine from an overspeed indici- Boeing/BAE FSTA bid contendlers, the recently-formed cies in the UK's new Advanced tion, As one of three international AirTanker group comprising the Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile In late March, senior Antonov contenders short-listed for the European Aeronautic, Defence & (ASRAAM, in order to achieve the official Valery Panyech claimed that MoD's Future Strategic Tanker Space (EADS) company, Rolls- capability needed by the RAF. The repairs to the An-70 at Omsk would Aircraft CFSTA) project, BAE Royce, Cobham’s FR Aviation, MoD maintains that the contrac be completed within 12 weeks, and SYSTEMS has teamed with Boeing Brown & Root Services and Thales tors have not yet delivered the the aireralt duly retumed to the ai in early June. While Russia had confirmed its requirements for 164 An-70s, and Ukrtine for 65, nego ations still continuing fr the potential 45-7 billion Private Finance Initiative programme involves provision over 25 years of 2 complete (AAR) service to the RAF, incl This air-to-air refuelling ing for ts AAR platform. ‘MBT seoker Defence is expected 10 base its AAR proposals on an Airbus, The final entrant, Serco-led SSM has not yet specified a preference RAF partnership in pooled ai refuelling exchange of services is now planned through the following agreement feached with six other NATO members of the European Air performance standards specified when ASRAAM was ordered ia yup, 1992, anel as indicated that it will take delivery of the new missile only when it is evident that an acceptable standard can be met. In addition to planned UK use by uprated RAF Harrier GRMK 9s and Tornado F.Mk 3s, RN Sea Harrier FA.MK 25 and, eventually, urofighter, the ASRAAM has been ‘ordered by the Australian govern ATARES ‘Alter years of persist rumours, sraols Rate! finaly unveiled its Derby art-sir ‘missiles by displaying four examples on this IDF/AF F16D Barak. This new beyond visual range (BVA) missile has a range of some 375 mils (60 kn) and employs an Al 2d with progranmable electronic counter countonmeasires(ECCM) capably. The missile can engage targets at both shor ra {nun (OBL) mode and a medium range, In lock-on ater launch (LOAL) mod. The ‘missile can use the same launcher asthe short-range Pion & and at 20 (18k, using is fck-on boreAir Power Intelligence RQ4A Global Hawk toro, ur phase of the Global Hawk high-nade, long USAF hes given contactor epprova to begin the END phase. The move also authorises delivery othe fiat two production aia in flcal fe The fereed wll besla wovkiog! teweedl rl Operational Test and Evaluation and a Milestone Tl decision in fiscal year 2004, The UAV rcerly Couapleed a fighe eons the ecu tat st word records foraltude and endurance By an UAV took ‘mately 1:17 National "Aeronautic ‘modifications that ‘Australia looks likly 1 proceed withthe acquistion ofthe RO-4A Global Hawk following the Successtldoployment ofthe fith development sicra named Southern Cross Io Australia i ‘May fetow) Same 11 missions were conducted over varios regions of Austalia collecting inogos ‘ram its various sensors, Including this lecirooptica image of Broken il ight. tunmanned_ jet-powered of 65,191 fe (19870 om Edwards AFB, California, at Approximately 6:52 pm local time on 19 March and flew along the Pacifie Ocean coast lines of Mexico, Central Americt and portions of South Americ’ before returning to Cali air vehicle landed at Edwards at approx am local time on 21 March. The Association currently evaluating the flight data to confirm the world records, Prior wo the flight the air vehi cles environmental control system allow the that reached The RQ-4A (NAA). is based received UAV to fly in extremely cold temperatures at high alts in latitudes, The precursor for a deployment Hawk system to Australia, The deployment sav the UAV cross the Paci where international joint-forces operation During the maritime cises Global Hawk demonstrated is military uti ity operating alongside other and ocean-going forces deployment i lew 7,500 miles (12 Stop and unrefieled flight end Edinburgh in Adelaide on 23 April 2001 Right ‘served as a the entire Global Ocean for the frst it participated in the six-week, Tandem, and littoral exer airborne, land As part of the 770 ken) non ind the 23-hour, 20-minute at Royal Australian "Air Force ment for the RAAFS upgraded F/A- series carried out by 8 Homels. MBD has been actively in support working to improve the ASRAAM, Air Force (RAAF the US Navy Australian as evidenced from further live approximately 60 F/A-18 fighters launch tests of the weapon in the with the advanced missile. Further United States, Originally, the RAF live firing tests and the technical was expecting deliveries of an esti- and operational evaluation tests mated 1,000-1,500 ASRAAMs from wil also be performed using RAAF o achieve their required BAe Dynamics the 192 1 NAWS China. Lake y Mate 7k) Baroness Symons said that the range (BVR). It MoD was determined to draw on by the aircraft's on-board radar, the ne lessons from the ASRAAM sight on the pilots helmet and programme when signing an an autonomous infrared (IR) MBD for search and trick mock the new Meteor beyond-visual- Meanwhile, live tests of the new range AAM (BVRAAMD. “The software version of the AMRAAM, Meteor contract will include a claimed to remedy the concerns series of key technological stones which must be met,” stated mile- outlined in the UK MoD’s extcism, nthe USA. The missile USAF F-16¢ ensuring that any perfor- fired from a ed a QF under a set of conditions that were the LK MoD's principal concer. mance shortfalls are identified dest ASRAAM tests The Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron at NAS at Patuxent River in Maryland © United States Texan II at NAWCAD. The Raytheon T-6A Texan Il trainer recently underwent cently began a series of fting tests validating the integration of the ASRAAM airto air missile with the F "unguided fring tests were week of antenna pattern testing ABA. The at the Naval Air Warfare art ofa Aircraft Division's antenns laboratory automate ATLAS) lab at NAS P River, Maryland. The tests ultra high frequency (UHE were designed tJ blems dis stional manoeuvres t0 define the null in the UHP antenna pattern NAWCAD and Raytheon eng neers agree that the problem i well identified and can easily be ved t tion for the UHF new location has been identified the T-6A will likely return to Pax Boeing tankers Boeing has formed a new busi ress unit that will market aerial refuelling or tanker aircraft to Fire Scout for production Northrop Grumman's Ryan Aeronautical Center has received 1 S142 million modification to an ‘option for one Fire Scout Vertical Take-off and landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) System, including associated support equipment, data, and initial tain ing. ‘The low-rate initial produc jon (LRIP). VTUAV system includes three Model 379 ait vel Jes, two ground control stations, a data link suite, remote data ferminals, and modular mission payloads. Designed to operate carrying ship, the VTUAV will provide reconnaissance and precision targeting support for sea and ashore. The Torps Forces at air vehicle has an endurance greater than six hours and coverage of 110 nm (204 km) while carrying tical/infrated sensors and a set designator, The fist of three planned LRIPs will be depl with the USMC by April 2002.Air Power Intelligence AH-1Z begins Phase I Zulu 1, the first Bell AH-1Z, arrived at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland recently aboard a C-5A operated by the Air Force Reserve Command's 439th Airlift Wing. Before leaving Bell Helicopter Textron’s Flight Research and Test facility in Arlington, Texas, AH-IZ BuNo 162549 completed Phase I of its development testing and accumulated 59.9 flight hours. The attack helicopter also success: fully completed harmonic vibra tion testing with 80 (72 Priority 1 and 8 Prionty 2) different configu ions of ordnance loaded on is ‘weapon's stations. Phase Il devel ‘opment testing will be carried out at Patuxent River, where thee government and three company test pilots all assigned to the H-1 Upgrade integrated flight test team (IP), will continue expand ing the Zulu's flight envelope. This ITT system offers a stream lined approach to testing but still captures the data required during dedicated contractor, DT, and OT testing. It will aso take advantage the #5 percent commonality shared between AH-IZ. and UH-IY mechanical and avionics components that will eliminate fedunclant test flights between the two types of aircraft and allow a reduction in test time. In addition to thiee AH-IZs and two UH-1Ys being built for the flight test programme, wo non-flying test articles (one AH-1Z and one UH-1Y) are being constructed, Zulu 2 and 3 and Yankee 1 and 2 are scheduled be delivered to Pax later this year. The engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) flight test programme will be complete by t 2003 with operational evaluation (OPEVAL) following in the autumn of 2005. ‘Super Hornet helmet The Naval Air Warfare Center ‘Weapon Division at NAWS China Lake, California recently began flight testing an F/A-18E equipped with the Boeing-developed joint helmet-mounted cueing system GHMCS). Once deployed, the system will allow aircrew t0 aim Weapons and sensors simply. by Tooking at targets. JHMCS allows users to trace and attack targets by synchronising aireraft sensors with the user's head movements so they automatically point where the pilot Lo: On 18 Apri the F22 reached 1,00 hours offi Tho RAFs Tornado Mk 3 Operational Evaluation Unit (F3 OEUis currently caring out ‘ASRAAM ras as seen under the port wing of 26731 March 2001 On 22 May MED ‘suecesshly red anew sofoware-standar missle ram a USAF F16C,oporating hom {alin AFB, Frida. The new software ls claimed to meet the standards outlined nthe public ericism by the UK goverment ear inthe yea So forthe MoD has spent ‘ome £00 milion offs £825 milin procurement budget on development looks, and displaying Aight infor- 10,000. A separate contract cover: mation on the inside of the helmet ing field installation of the til kis visor. In addition to the Super willbe issued late in 2001 Hornet, the system will equip the USA's F-15, F-16 and F-22. and JDAM approval the system will fy aboard an F-16 The joint direct attack munition later this year. The system also (DAM) has been approved for full allows a crew to attack airborne production, clearing the way for targets at extreme angles using neatly 99,000 guidance kis (0 b high off-boresight weapons like built by 2008. Boeing had prev he AIM-OX missile, without the ously received orders for 15,000 need to manoeuvre their aircraft kits from the US Navy and Air into line with the tang. Force and a $235.6 million contract covering a further 1,054 Production for WCMD Units. The tal kit is currently only Lockheed Martin has received used in conjunction with the authorisation to begin full-rate 2,000-Ib (907-kg) Mk 84 and BLL production CFRP) of the wind 109 warheads, however 1,000- and corrected munitions dispenser 500-b (454- and 227-kg) versions WCMD). WCMD enhances the are currently undergoing develop. accuracy of existing cluster muni- ment testing. Those kits covered tions, including the CBU-87, by the latest order include 2,110 CBU-98, and CBU97, by providing BLU-109s and 8,272 Mk Bis for the corrections for launch transients, USAF, along with 239 BLU-1095 hullistic errs, and winds aloft andl and 433 Mk 84s for the Navy. The provides strike aircraft with an weapon entered service in 1999) accurate pattern lay-down capabil- during the Kosovo campaign ity for cluster munitions. The S83 when 1-2A bombers dropped 652 million contract covers 5,959 tail_of the weapons in combat, JDAM's kits over the next 23 months. The global positioning systemy/inertial USAF plans to order 40,000 navigation to guidance system WCMDs, and this contrac increases provides the weapon with an existing orders for the weapon 0 accuriey of 26-46 f (8-14 m testing, the ‘irerat involved being Raptr S003 Over 80 per cont ofthe ‘evelopment is now complet. Th third of six avionics Hight test ‘reat Raptor #00, hs begun it fst programme at the FZ2 ombined Tost Force, Edwards APB, California, with the renainder foto arrive bore tho end ofthe year ihe The ist engineering and manutactring development EMD) Bell AH-12 has begun its nex phase of developmental testing at ova Air Station Patent River, Maryland, folowing its arial on ‘31 March 201 The aircraft was transported trom Forth Worth Texas Inthe hod of» Ai Force Resorve Command CA the ist tine the ‘reat had been loaded on a Galaxy. The AN-12 was reassembled fore delivery othe rodent H-1Uprades Program.Air Power Intelligence UPGRADES AND MODIFICATIONS Australia Homet AMRAAM tests A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/ACIS Hornet successfully fired two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Ait Missiles (AMRAAM) “on the | Woomera Insirumented Range during May 2001. The missile is being integra fed into the Hornet weapons sys ems as part of ano Caribou life extension The RAAF has announced plans to extend the life of the de Haviland Canada DHC-4 Cartbou transpor aircraft for another 10 years and ‘will consider looking for a replace ment Light Tactical Airlift Capability (TAC) at the end of this decade. The RAAF currently has “14 piston-engined Caribou transports. that are “capable of operiting from shor airfields with the supply of combat’ forces in locations where larger aircraft a unable to operate. The 35-year-old Caribous were originally to have been repliced by a new type quisition in 2003 h or soft surfaces, allowing Canada Mods for Hercules Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) has awarded Spar Aerospace C85 million contract to modify & CC-130 Hercules air craft, incorporating reliability maintainability and fight safe improvements (0 the. aircraft's The contractor will carry Out the work at its Lockheed Martin- approved Hercules Service Center n Edmonton, Alberta and expects to complete the programme bj France Boeing to update E-3s Boeing has received a USS25.5 mil lion contract t0 equip the Armée de U'Air's (French air force's) leet of four E-3F airborne warning and ‘nol system (AWACS) alirraft with @ global. positioning inertial navigation system (GINS) an update aircrafts altitude measure ment system, Although system design, manufacturing, procure testing will be carried out by Boeing, Air France Industries will modify the aireraft at its facility in le Bourget, France under contrac to Boeing. The up improve the aircrafs. positioning accuracy and reliability allow the AWACS fo meet near term require ments of the European Global Ait raffic Management (GATM) sys tem for reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM). The moaiifica be ‘ions wil begin in July 2001 ‘completed in October 2002 Harrier GR.Mk 9a United Kingdom Recent MoD references to Harrier GRMk 9s for the RAF have ind cated the existence of an unan: nounced upgrade programme undertaken by BAE Systems for current GRMK 7 versions of these V/STOL ground-atack Fight fers. BAE prefers to desenbe the Harrier GRMK 98 upgrade as “a series. of incremental improve ments", starting with the installa tion of the uprated 23,800-lb This modified Indian Air Force MiG-21bi, 75) has been yng in support ofthe ADA ght Combat reat LCA) programme. Th LCA curently undergoing envelope ‘expansion Might, loading tothe fire upersonc fight lter tis yar 105.85-KN) thrust Pegasus Mk turbofan, for which Rolls-Royce 350 million contract for the first 40 engines in December 1999. The contract included options for another 86 Mk 107 powerplants, for the RAP's first-line inventory of 64 Harrier GRMk 7s, plus reserves, Harrier GR.Mk 9 improvements to. include advanced avionics, with require ments for active-mateix colour cockpit displays and INS/GPS probably Honeywell's H installed in the Tornado GRMk 4). A new night/all-weather attack rating low-light Sensors, digital tracker and Mil Std 1760 digital databus, mission com: puter and stores management ss tem, would allow the use of advanced weapons. They are like Iy to include MBD's Storm Shadow Tong-range cruise missile and close-combatASRAAM, plus Alenia Marconi Systems’ Brimstone amt-tank and ack missile Following the late 2000 delivery are also planne The Ira! Defence ForceMir Force has a from Rolls-Royce of the first Pegasus 107, with full-authority digital engine control (FADEC), Service flight tals in a modified Harrier GRMk 7 are. being supported by additional develop: ment engine deliveries. Full-scale production examples are to follow berween 2002 and 2004 United State: Hornet landing system Naval Aviation entered a new era aboard USS. Theodore Roosevelt (VN 71) on 23 April 2001 when an F/ASA, assigned to the Naval strike Aircraft Test Squadron at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, per formed the frst fully automated landing at sea using. global. posi tioning system (GPS) data, The equipment, known as joint prec: sion approach and landing system ‘QPALS), uses GPS data supplied by satellites rather than radar to per form automated landings at. Sea, JPALS provides constant three dimensional coverage for up to 100 ced the Improved Baz (Buzrard) enhance the mult-mission capably of ts F154/B/C/0 fleet. Mejor 5 conputes displays and guideweapon compatibiliy. FSA 678 ‘sone ofthe fis aera to bave been converted. Note the wo ll markings andthe ‘ew ype of weepons pylon which ean accommodate two tae Python 3 missiles.Air Power Intelligence steaftat ranges up to 200 nm (370 km). JPAIS is scheduled to enter produiction in 2007 and fleet service by 2009.1 wall ntaly be installed in seven USMC AV-Siis and on an LA oF LHD amphibious ship. Blackhawk upgrade The Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) has approved the develop: ment of an upgrade programme for the US Arms UH-60 tity heli copter Meet and issued a $219. contract to Sikorsky Aircraft cover ing research, development, test and evaluation (RDTS&E). The pro ‘gramme is designed to extend the operating life of the Blackhawk flcet for a further 25-30 years and result in the remanufacture of txisting UHHGOM/Ls to a new c figuration, known as the UH-60N The new model will feature wide chord composite spar main rotor blades, a digital avionics suite, an advanced fight control. computer Stengthened fuselage and advanced. infrared suppression. The UH-60M will also standardise he fleet with the General Electric TOO-GE-T0IC engine and the improved durability: main gearbox currently installed in the UH-60L As part of the RDTSE contract Sikorsky will modify three existn Blackhawks to the UH-60M config tuition and build one new UH. 60M. The company expects 10 receive a low-rate inital produc tion (LRIP) contract covering 12 UHE-GOMs in 2004. U-28 digital display On 5 December 2000 Lockheed Martin began’ testing aU equipped with new digital displays Reconnaissance Avionics Maintainabilty Program GRAMP). The cockpit: moderisa tion replaces much of 1960 vintage instrument three 6 x Bin (152 x 203-me) mul tifunction displays, an up-front ns par of the U control and display unit, and an independent secondary fight dis play system, The system will offer improved reliability and improved ‘ight The E20 NPamMO Howey testbed ‘condcted its maiden fight ‘wth ew altcomposo igh bladed propellers on 19 Api 2001 om NAS. Pans River Manfand. ‘The propels are dve tbe integrated in the caren E2t and C2 Greyhound fet and sirerotcamer stability toss ood ammence in August 20 Loft The CFT (contormal el tank F-16 anderwont high-speed and heavy load test ‘ying 2 Eglin AFB, Frid in dune following successul low-speed lighoweight als ‘at Edwards APB in March Forming part o the upper surace ofthe fselae, the CFT ‘lowes the aircraft carry an addtional 300 1b (136 ka) of fe, eradicating the heed tor drop tanks and therfore teeing up underwing pylon for weapons situational awareness, and the HU-25A will replace the aircraf’s manoeuvring. AFSOC plans to tntire fleet of 31.U-28 and four U-ANVAPS-127 radar with the install the system on 58 AC-130H/ 381) trainers will be modified by Telephonies AN/APS-143V(3) and MC-130E/H aircraft and plans a 2007, inverse synthetic aperture radar laser-based follow-on version SAR). The aircraft will also. be USCG Falcon sensors equipped with the Wescam 16D First updated P-3C The US Coast Guard is upgrading and the TWS. Once modified, Lockheed Martin recently deliv the sensor equipment installed in these aircraft will be referred to as ered the first P-3C Update 1/115 is Neet of nine HU-25Cs and six of | HU-25Ds, aircraft equipped with Block its HU-25As, The HU-25C air inter Modification “Upgrade Program ceptors AN/APG-66 radar will DIRCM for Hercules (BMUP) components to the US receive upgrades that will increase Air Force Special Operations Navy at its facility in Greenville detection range, provide a sharper Command has accepted the first South Carolina, Developed as part Image and reductions in the sys-_MC-130H Combat” Talon Il, of an ongoing P-3C modernisation tems size, weight and failure rates. equipped with the AN/AAQ-24 effort, the BMUP converts older Teil also receive a new FLIR sys. directional infrared countermea-P-3C Update IVILS aircraft to an tem with improved range and a sures (DIRCM) system, from Update ll functional mission sys Sharper picture, and a new capa- Lockheed Martin at its Crestview, tem configuration and will mieror bility in'the form of an electro Florkla facility. Developed by the capability of the Update Il air optical (EO) device, The modifiet- Northrop Grumman and BAE SYS- craft. The upgrade provides a sig tions will be rounded out with a TEMS, DIRCM transmits both mis- nificantly improved data process fnew tactical work station (IWS) sil threat location and direction to ing system with colour high-reso- that will enable the surveillance a turret assembly mounted on the lution flat panel displays at each sensor operator (SSO) to control, aircraft. The turret contains a gim- operator station, a new acoustic view and process the sensor data baled fouraxis target designator subsystem with improved acoustic and view splays of land, targets, system that acquires and tracks the receiver and data recorder Search patterns and the aircraft's missile through post burnout, and weapon system upgrades for the jocition. The moxlfied aircraft will maintains’ a focused beam of Mk 50 torpedo and AGMS4 subsequently be designated infrared (IR) energy on the target Harpoon and anew electronic HU-25C+. Modifications to the throughout its full range of support measures (ESM) system, USMC in Australia ‘US Marine Corps participation i the ‘recent Tandem Thrust exerts held ‘ring May 2001 included VMFALAW- ‘5s HA-1BDs, which deployed ‘Rockhampton, Qi. This coloutlly ‘marked squadron commanders aircraft (below) is san undergoing aot ‘efte! The Homets were supported by [KC-1305Rs from VNGR-152 (ighAir Power Intelligence PROCUREMENT AND DELIVERIES ‘Angola “Fencers’ for FAPA? Angola could be the third African country t0 receive Sukhoi Su-24 encer variable-geometry ground anack alncrat, following earlier reports of the acquisition by Algerit of more of these ddeep-penetration fighters from Russia, and earlier deliveries to Libya." Portuguese media reports (quote Angolan air force (FAPA) Commanderin-Chiet General Pedro Neto as confirming Su-24 deliveries from unspecified CIS sources, and operation from Catumbeta ait base In September 1999, Russian press repons claimed that Angolan UNITA rebel personnel were undergoing Su-24 taining at Air Base 115 in. Belarus. However, there have been no” subsequent reports of Su-24 deliveries to UNITA, whose infrastructure suppot facilites seem unlikely to extend 10. combat aircraft” as plex as the Su-24 Australia Chinooks delivered Formal acceptance took place on 77 March of two new Boeing GH-47D Chinook meclum-lift hel copter, delivered to C Squadron fof Australian Army Aviation’s Sth Regiment, based "at Townsville QLD. Officially “delivered 10 Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation in February, the new CChinooks underwent final modifi cations in_Ausialin before joining four CH-A7Ds operated by the Sth Aviation Regiment since 1995, Bangladesh More MiG-29s planned? Reports from Moscow in March, of a planned order Irom Bangladesh Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed for 16 MiG-29s, could treble the current Fulcrum’ establishment of the ait force (BAP). Fight MiG-29s were delivered to Bangladesh from late 1999 from a SUSII5 milion contract dated 25 June, which also included training 10 BAF pilots and 70 ground crew, A Russian Aireraft Building Corporation “(RSK) MiG spokesman stid that MiG-29 deliv cries to Bangladesh could resume before the end of 2001, subject to ‘contract finalisation Brazil More C-130s and upgrades Expansion of the current Brazilian air force (Forga Aérea Brasileirs) Hercules fleet of five C-130Es, five (C-130Hs and two KC-130H tankers is planned by procurement from Lockheed Martin of 10. used C-130Hs, from an estimated SUS76 nillion “contract, Formerly oper: ated by the Malian aie force (AMD from 1972, the C-130Hs and. two ‘thers on option were traded back to Lockheed Martin as. part of Italian procurement worth SUSL5 billion consisting of 12 new C130} and 10 stretched — C-130)-30 Hercules tls, now being delivered. Egypt _ Egyptian Apache upgrades The US Army has. authorised Boeing to begin procuring long: lead items associated with an upgrade programme that wi ‘convert 35 Egyptian Army AH-G4A Apaches 10 AH-64D Longhow configuration. The total value of the programme is anticipated to be approximately $400 million and deliveries are scheduled 10 begin France France orders third Hawkeye Northrop Grumman has been awarded $50.2 million contrct modification covering the delivery (of one E-2C aircraft to the French Navy. The aircraft will be built to the Hawkeye 2000 configuration und be delivered in 2003, Greece Greek Heres The Elliniki Aeroporia (Greek Air ‘Seon demonstrating its famous whoclbarow’ manoeuvre i an Australian DHCA Canbou. The ype hasbeen reprieved asthe progranme a find replacement has ‘eon postponed. The (NZ35 and C27J were lead contenders Force) will reportedly obtain two C-130Hs formerly operated by the Aeronautica Militaire Kaliana ualian Air Force). ‘The aircraft include MM61999 (c/n 4495) and MM62001 (e/a 4498), India Ka-31 order increased Indian naval aviation acquisition of the Kamow Kac31 Heli AEW helicopter will be more than doubled with a follow-on SUSIO8 tmillion contract signed in February with Rosoboronexport, for nother five examples. Hight development was expected to startin March of the frst of an saiial batch of four Ka-3Is ordered hy the Indian Navy from a SUS92 million contract in 1989, following its completion at the ‘Kumertau Aircraft Plant in Russia, for delivery before the end of 2001 Originally designated — the Ka-252RLD or Ka-29RLD, the Ka-31 features an NNIIRT E801 Oko 6x I-m (19-1 Bin x 2 3.) rola ing planar radar array, which folds flush below the fuselage for take off and landing. It can detect surface vessels up to ranges of 250 km (135 nm), and track up to 20 air targets at ranges of 100 10 150 km (34 to 81 nm), Further Hawk trainer delays TAF hopes of finalising its long. asvated order from BAE SYSTEMS for 66 Hawk 15 advanced jet trainers (AJTS), delayed late last Recent IDFAF acquisitions include a fith year because of India’s require ment to replace components of US origin, were again frustrated in cerly March by the sudden resigns tion of Defence Minister Geonge Femandes, and other senior ‘government and service officials, Indonesia Korean trainers Indonesia's Air Force will purchase seven KT-1 turboprop trainers from Korea Aerospace. Industries (KAD at a cost of $60 milion, In uddition to serving as a basic trainer, the aircraft is equipped with, four underwinghardpoints capable of carrying auxiliary fuel tanks, machine-guns, and rocket faunchers, Besides operating as. a trainer, the aireaft can be used in the forward air control role and in support of COIN missions, Israel Interest in Israeli AWACS An AWACS version of the IAPS fourturbofan Ilyushin 1L76 tra por, equipped with Elta’s EL/M.2075 Phaleon_ phased-aray radar, was reponedly among the main’ procurement interests of an Indian delegation, led by. Vice Chief of Air Sta Air Marshal V Patney, which visited Israel in early April. Possible aieeefuelling tanker adaptations by Israel of the I-76 were also on the agenda, in which prospects of expanded bilateral nnilitiry co-operation were further ing 707 Reem tanker conversion let which was delivered on 21 February 200), anda second batch of Raythoon (Booch) ‘2200777 King irs local name Zui The arcratt wears tl Camel uation badge of The Flingexplored in discussions with Israeli defence and IDF/AF officials Ex IDF/AF Skyhawks sold The US Advanced Training Systems International company has bought eXIDF/AF Skyhawks Yor is domestic operations. Ten Douglas A-IN. Skyhawk fighter-bombers and three two-seat TA-4} combat trainer versions, withdrawn from long-term desert storage since thet retirement from IDF/AP service, are being locally refurbished and fined with Prat & Whitney J52 engines by Air New Zealand’ Sate Air Lid MRO subsidiary, under a sismonth — SNZ15 million (08590690) contract, Macedonia Mi-8s supplied from Ukraine Six Mil M1? “Hip-H? military trans: Wt helicopters, operated by the Air Force of the Macedonian Army Since ils 1994 establishment, were Supplemented in March by our armed Mi8MTVs and the fist two of four Mil Mi-24V “Hind” attack helicopters. They were transfered from Ukraine, where the Ministry f Defence said that the Miss would remain in Macedonia for possible sale or lease. ‘The hel Copters were supplied for counter terrorist operations in the Tetovo reglon, although the Macedonian armed forces grounded their five remaining Mi-17s following a fatal crash of one on 19. March, Macedonia is also reported to have received wo ex-Greek army Bell Uneltts Malaysia Fennees for Malaysia Malaysia has approved the $2 milion purchase of six Eurocopter 8555 Fennec helicopters for the Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia LDM) (Royal Malaysian Navy hopes to have the aircraft in sevice by mic-2002. The aircraft wil replace four elderly Westland Wasps that will be grounded in May 2001. Akhough designed as an antisubmarine helicopter, the Wasps, which were purchased rom the UK just four years ago, have primarily served in. surveil Tance ‘and. reconnaissance roles Malaysia also has four Westland Super Lynx helicopters on order with delivery scheduled for 208 Mexico US drug interdiction aircraft Continued airraft procurement by the Mexican government, with US sistance, in onder 10 extend its rug traffic interdiction ‘campaign ss now planned to include an Air Power Intelligence (0n 23 May 200 at Brize Norton the Royal Ar Force received the fist of {oar €-1s for service with he nowy. formed No. 89 Squadron. Tho alert {is soen touching down on Britsh soll forthe fist tne (above. and unloading ater its ight trom ‘harlston AFB, South Caroling right Ericsson ERIEYE_radar-equipped EMBRAER EMB-145 twin-turbofan airborne earl.warning and control aireraft. Costing up to. SUS250 milion, twill carry a Raytheon Sea Vue maritime surveillance radar and act as key component in co- ‘ordinating operations of other Mexican aif, naval and. ground elements. ing, were reflected in 38 per cent procurement of four ex-RAF These wil inclucle eight MD military budget increase t0 OR926 C-130Ks. This follows. original Helicopters 902 NOTAR Explorers mallion (SUS2.4 billion) by Oman procurement of one Lockheed ordered for the Mexican navy, to in January. This was followed in C-130A, eight C-130Bs, five fequip an Acapuleo- and frigate: March by an Omani government 1-100-20s and three C-130H turbo based coastal” patrol squadron. announcement for plans to aequite prop tactical transports, of which Four MD. 9025 began openiting Lockheed Martin F-16s and only about seven tn all remain in early in 2001 in the Gull of Mexico, AgustaWestland Super Lynx ASW service with the 222nd Heavy While others were involved in six helicopters, for futher implemen-Aisift Squadron. A recent contract {day US weapons trials at For Bliss tation of these polices. With Lockheed Marin for the RAF for qualification clearance of a Additional Omani police aireraft, taken in partexchange for 05-in GAU-19/A mult-burrelled requitements were reponed for up new RAF C-130Js, includes. their ‘machine-gun, an M2 gun pod of to six AgustaWestland A 109 and refurbishment, plus provision of similar calibre, and a pod for AB 139 light helicopters. palle-mounted surveillance and launching seven 70-mm rockets ere Sensor systems for two aircraft 10 “Peru be used for maritime patrol and Nigeria —_ — SAR roles. —— __ More US aid sought Mil helicopters delivered The Penivian National Police has Thailand New procurement by the cash- been secking 15 upgnded Bell ——~— strapped Nigerian armed forces Huey Ils to. replace a similar Thai Army orders $-70s has reporedly inchided deliveries number of Bell UH-IHs. This is in The Royal Thai Army has placed a of the fst of six Mil M35 ‘ind’ addition to recent orders for five $20 million order with Sikorsky attack helicopters and three Mil Kaman K-Max single-seat heavy-it Aircraft for two S-70 Blackhawk M348 light piston-engined heli- uliity helicopters, funded through helicopters. Although the Royal copters shipped into Port Harcourt a SUS30. million American aid ‘Thai Navy already operates S-70Bs, from Russia in early Apri. Both programme for drug interdiction these will be the fist aircraft types are new t0 Ni Bell Textron 412EPs ered to the army NS Css he Race aricept Uae Arab Ranlrates Oman —________ surveillance aircraft dates back to Philippines 1991, from Indonesian claims of an F-16 and Lynx procurement = ————PP** —— Abu Dhabi order for eight IPT Gulf Co-operation Council plans RAF Hercules transfer built CN.235MPAs. A” SUSIS0 for enhanced mutual defence, Philippine air force Hercules million contract was repd agreed at a late December meet strength is being reinforced from placed! in the late 1990s for four of nThe Alaska Ary National Guards 1-207 Aviation Btiation bas fakon delivery ofthe rt search and rescue ‘ited Sikorsky UW-6L(SAR\s a their ‘ome base (ant Army Guard Heliport ‘at For Richardson near Anchorage) The SARUM-OL is equipped with « Satie FUR and a2 Breeze Easter electric hoist system. Sikorsy is producing five ‘ew UM SOLISARIs and is converting ‘another six used 197 model UK Ls {the some stmdard The 1-270 ll forward base sx UH-SOL(SARIs athe ‘Army Aviation Operating Facilities in ‘luneau, Bethel and Nome. The oter fie ‘wil romain at ort Richardson for Imaintonance and taining. At present the ‘Alaska-based machines are the only US ‘Army UH-5s tobe given the SAR it these aircraft, to be fited with the AAR Aircraft Services will provide had previously delivered five updated programmable armament Thomson-CSF Airbome Martime and suppor the 737 aircraft under ARI-M aircraft and the latex adi- control sct (PACS) that will enable Situation Control System (AMAS. a subcontract from Link. ‘The tion was included in the FYD0 it to deliver the Joint Direct attack COS), but a UAE maritime patrol contract covers an initial period defense appropriations and will Munition QDAND, Joint Standoff aircraft order was officially from May to September 2001 but teplace a.-similar aircraft that Weapon SOW) and Wind Confirmed only in March this year. includes three annual options that crished in Colombia during 1999. Corrected “Munition Dispenser UAE preference has now run through September 20 The RC-TB/ARI-M manned CWCMD). In addition, dhree new changed to the stretched) C295 airborne collection platform. is active-matrix liquid crystal displays with uprated Pratt & Whitney Blackhawks ordered equipped with imagery, radar, will replace the Fl Canada turboprops, of which four Sikorsky Aircraft has been awarded communications intelligence, data cathode-ray tube displays and EADS/CASA-built Persuader MPA $47.6 million covering the links and communications systems provide enhanced night-vision versions are to be purchased in a conversion of five UH-6OL aircraft that provi SUSI14 million ‘contract, for info the HH-601 configuration on gence information 10 tactical delivered to the USAF in eaely 2002 ear realtime intel Capablity, The first aireraft will be ‘maritime patrol and surveillance. the production lin commanders and, when the inal aircraft is deliv cred in 2004, the service will have United States Harrier updates ATELIR production wecepted 236 F-ISES, McDonnell Douglas Northrop Grumman has received More Texan Is ordered will deliver two further $69.4 million contract for the Army trainers Raytheon Aircraft recently received jctured AV-SB+ aircraft procurement of 15 low rate intl Bell Helicopter has been awarded ‘contract covering the purchase of under terms of a contract valued at production (LRIP) Advanced a $225. million contract for 59 T-6A Texan Il trainers for the US $33.6 millon. The aircraft will be Targeting FLIR CATFLIR) units, four TH-67 helicopters by the US Army Navy and Air Force. The contract, delivered hy September 2003, spare pods, and various weapons The aircraft will be builtin Canad worth $1483 million, includes 24 Feplaceable associated with the and the first aircraft will be deliv craft for the navy andl 35 for the Target drones ordered F/ACIBE/ fred in September 2001 air force. To date the company has Northrop Grumman received a received orders for 167 production $23.6 million contract to build 78 Tanker mods aircraft with 30 slated for the Navy BQM-7AE subsonic aerial target Boeing and the USAF have Boeing has been awarded a $387 and remainder for the USAF. drones for the US Navy. The fist finalised the terms of a million contract covering the Ukimately when production ends drone will be delivered in February million contract covering the manufacture and installation of in 2017 the company expects 1 2002 with the final delivery sched production of ten F-ISE Stike CFM-56/FI08 re-engine kits. The build 328 aircraft for the Navy and led for January 2003. The contract Eagles. The aircraft funded by the contract includes the production of 454 for the USAF. The trainer will includes options for three subse- fiscal year 2000 and 2001 budgets three kits associated with the achieve initial operating capability quent proxluction lots will have several upgrades that will | RC-135 and the installation of three OC) ‘with 15 aircraft at Moody make them the most capable previously funded kits in RC-135s AFB, Georgia in June 2001 and the Airborne Reconnaissance Low F-15Es delivered to date. ‘The and two in KC-135s. By June Wo first T-6As destined for the 479th Northrop. Grumman's California aircraft will be equipped with an RC-135s were fying with FOB. Flying Training Group (FTG) Microwave unit has received a $10, 5 arrived on 7 May 2001. The Navy, million increment as part of $27.4 is scheduled t0 begin training in million US Army contract to begin 2003, Deliveries for this option will work on a sixth RC-7B aisborne begin in May 2005, reconnaissance low-multfunction (ARL-M) aircraft. "The contract VQ-7 to use 737 flight trainer covers the purchase, conversion The Link Simulation and Training integration “and test of a de division of 3. Communications Havilland Canada DHC-7 aitcraft has been awarded a $644 million and prime mission equipment. The ‘contract for the lease and mainte- aircraft will be modified at the nance of a Boeing 737 aircraft that company’s faciliy’ at Washington will serve as an inflight tainer for County Airport in Hagerstown, US Navy E-6V/B flight crews with Maryland and will to be completed VQ-7 at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. within 24 months. The company ‘Agusta andthe US Coast Gurd ar inalising development ofthe MH-SEA Mato. asedon the civil A-0BE Power, the helicopter wil serve asthe principal ac eset forthe service's arbor use of force (AUP programme and wil be used by the service's Helicopter Iterdieton Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Ten inthe US war on frags. The ist hwo MH-OUA sirerat were delivered in November 200 and they will ‘rentaly be joined by sx farther examples. 2Canada CAF tobe virtually halved From mid-2000 strength of some 500 aircraft, the Canadian air Force is to lose almost half Rs inventory by late 2002, when only operation, Drastic inventory re tons are’ being. implemented t0 release funding forthe recent inunched $0872.35 billion. Bocing Gr18 Homer programme, SCL billion ‘Lockheed CP-140"(P3) andthe. newly-approved. C28 Bion Martie Helicopter Project Under which te 30 Co become 28) Sikorsky CH-12A7B Sea Kings wl be replaced on a ne-forcne basis th fsline unis, only 80 ofthe cent 122 cise. wil be Spaded by Bovin of the remaining 42 is now under consideration. Only 16 of 18 CP-140s will be modernised, and he three CP-140A. Arcturus maritime surveillance/training versions will be withdrawn from service by 2004 The ar force i also disposing of almost its entire combat support and” ECM training clement, comprising 27 recently-upgraded Canadair“ CT/CE-133. (I-33A/N) Silver Stars that are due for retie- ment by March 2002, and ight similarly upgraded. win-turbofan Canadair CC/CE-1448. Challengers that were sold (without their specialised electronics) for $US30 million in the US in January. Eight CC-144B Challengers remain in service with 412 Squadron as VIP and personnel transports, but all seven DHT Canada CC-115 Bull STOL transport are to be replaced by EIL101 CH-149 Cormorant hel coplers from 2002, Twenty-four of 99 Bell CH-146 Grif will aso be withdrawn, Colombia US anti-narcotic aid continues Further details have emerged of fongoing US counternarcotic ad programmes. Plan Colombia Comprises $US860 million, from a foul of SUS13 billion, and includes nilitary aircraft, mostly helicopters. They are operated by all three branches of the Colombian armed forces, as well as by the National Police air wing, The main types involved in recent aid programmes have been upgraded Bell Huey is and Sikorsky UH-60. Black Hawks, although transfers have also been made through the State Department of 33 Bell UH-INS. The police received the first eight of 25. Huey Is from mid. 1999. They followed initial receipt by the Colombian airforce (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana) from 1997 of eight Bell UN-IILI Huey Ils, with 2 1,800-shp (1341-KW) Honeywell T531-703 turbashaft engine, rans mission, gearbox, rotor blades and tuilboom, to start upgrading fs 73 returned UH-IHs. A total of 42 more Huey Ils has been sought by gescale provision of Colombia since late 1999, for deliv ery by 2002. ‘Original 1992 deliveries of 10 Sikorsky UH-60As and four UUHLOOLS to the aie force, seven 10 the army in 1998, and six UH-GOLS to the police from May 1999, were supplemented by deliveries by late 1999 of another three forthe police and five army UH-60Ls originally built for Venezuela. FMS contracts totalling $US221 million had also been approved for seven armed UUH-GOLS forthe airforce and seven for the army, plus funding prov son for another 30. Among fixed-wing aireraft_ in Colombia's US aid package, wo FAC twin-turboprop Fairchild C-26 Merlins are being’ equipped with Northrop Grumman APG-66 arto vir radar, FLIR systems and communications equipment 10 detect and track drug-smugaling nirraft. Surveillance will” be assisted further by recent US tra fers off special-mission ‘Schweizer SA 237A aircraft, A Dou FAC aircraft is being converted (0 AC-A7 gunship standard with FLIR, nighevision and fire-control systems, plus armament. Italy ‘Tomado unit disbanded Italy's 21° Gruppo CIO, part of the 36" Stormo at Gioia det Cole Air Base, was deactivated on 1 March 20011 The move leaves only the 21° ‘Gruppo ClO. flying the Tornado E./Air Defence Variant Tho Koninkjko Luchtmacht (Royal ‘Netherlands Ar Frco) revealed its 2001 Aiple erat on 2 May. The MLU E:16AM is flown by 312 Squadron at Volkl Ai Bose. Loft Having been grounded since February 2000 duet ack of sorvcenble engines, the Bulgarian air Iorce’s MiG29 let resumed fying ‘operations on 18 Api 200. Six MIG-2%8 ‘ave beon relocated trom Ravets to Graf ‘native, where thy equip 23 AE. ‘Below: Large numbers of Shenyang 6 {ightors rman in PLAAF service, most in ‘the day fightor version This line-up, ‘seen a Kanming, shows radar-equpped ‘icra most probably 64s. Nts the extended upper intake ip, which houses radar equipment New Zealand Air Combat Force dropped New Zealand's. Prime «Minister announced that as part of a wide ranging $840 million defense plan ft will disband the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Air Combat Force and withdraw its fleet of 17 A-GK/TA-SK Skyhawks and 17 MB.339 trainers. saving $NZ840 million over the next 10 years Currently. operated by No. 14 Squadron, the MB.339CBs, which entered service in 1991, will likely be maintained for sale in fying condition, The government will ‘upgrade or replace the air force's fleet of six C-130H transpons and provide “the five P-3K” maritime patrol aircraft with a limited Upgrade, A squadron of 14 UHH. helicopters will be upgraded or replaced United Kingdom Merlin enters RAF inventory. The Westland Agusta EH.10L Merlin HCMk 3 entered service with the Royal Air Force's No, 28 Squadron at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire, when the first four aircraft were finally handed over during “a small “ceremony on 8 March 2001 United States Squadron activations The 3nd Flying Training Squadron (FTS) was. activated “under the 479th Fiying Training Group (FTG: at Moody AFB, Georgia on 3 April 2001. The squadron will eventually provide Specialized Undergraduate Pilot ‘Training (SUPT) with the BAir Power Intelligence Raytheon 1-64 Texan H. On 1 Apai 2001 the Air Force vated the 3%th squadron will op TS at Moody. The ate unit and provide instnictors fo both the T-3A and AT-38B/-38¢ he 340th Texas. In The squadron is part FIG at Randolph AFB, her news from Moody four T fon 1 March 2001 The 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS) was activated under the 552d Air Control Wing ACW) at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma on 8 March 2001. The Viking Wi will provide the USAF with another unit to support is 10 uerospace expeditionary and allow each of AWACS squadrons to be assigned to Wo AEFs while the remaining two AEFS will be supported. by crews from Pacific Air Forces PACAF Squadron deactivations Although it has already held Operations ac Osan Ait Base will he 30 June 2001. The squadron, which ies the MI-53] Pave Low Ill he Squacicon Reps copter, is assigned to the 353d Special Operation Group at Kadena. Air Base, Okinawa. The init will however, be reactivated to ny the CV-228' variant of th Osprey tiltrotor once that aicralt enters service. Until the arval of the Osprey however, the US Army will provide rotary-wing support for special operations and. SAR missions in South Korea Argus retired G-155E_ serial 60-0375, which served Detachment 2 ofthe 452nd Might Test. Squadron (FLIS) at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico as ying laboratory, was retired 10 the Aerospace Maintenance Regeneration on 18 Apn Known as ‘Angus’, the alrraft was the only C-135E capable of fying extended missions above 50,000 ft (5240 m) and had supported the Air Force Research Laborator CAPRL New rescue wing, Following the inactivation of the oath Fighn i Moody AFB, Georgia on 30 April 2001, the 347th Wing was redesignated the ‘Wing on I May 547th Rescue Aircraft transitions The New York Air National Guard's 17th Fighter Wing (FW) at Syracuse Hancock IAP will once with Block again be equippe F-16C alreraft. The erates the Block “4 ne 8 and a Romanian anniversary Top: Comradletng reports tht Romania's Fogger were grounded Grapul 23 Vinstoare (Sod Fighter Groep demonstrated this MIG-23U8, ‘Above: For sovera decades the lance tirbase hosted various MIG-15 units, Although now oired rom Romanian ‘service, this MI-15has received 2 contemporary camouflage schame. Left: The Grup 49 Vandtow Bombardarnent 48h Fighter Bomber Groupie based alan operting the 1AR-98 (left and IAR-9 (right. had previously operated the later irerafe until they were transferred to other units in’ 199, The Montana Air National Guare’s 120th Fighter Wing has completed transition to (Block 30) F-16C alreraft. After receiving six Cannon AFB, New Mexico, further 11 fighters were transferred from the 35th Fighter Squadron (FS) at_Kunsin AB, Republic of Korea. The last of these departed Although the 120th transferred six Block “15 F-IGA(ADF)s to. the Minnesota ANG'S 148th FW, the majority of its aircraft were flown to Davis Monthan AFB, Arizon The District of Columbia Air National Guard's 200st Airlift Squadron (AS) at Andrews. AFB, Maryland will replace its aging C-228s (Boeing | 727-100) with Boeing C-A0A Clippers an the first Rico Regional (On 2 Maya Tavis-based (5, crowed by the s0tst Airit Squadron, made a0 ‘emergency landing on Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB ‘er discovering that the rosowheet would not extend ‘41739 scted as chaseplane ‘he aircraft setaied Title damage, and the eight crow Imembere and ine passengers were unhurt, he C-12D to the Cessna UG-35A Gitation Ura and now operates ‘0 of the aircraft in support of US. Southern Command Clipper delivered The first of four C-40A. Clippers arrived at NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on 21 April 2001 where it was accepted by the ‘Lone Star Express’ of VR-59. The HH-60Ls enter service The US Army's SO7th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) at For Hood, Texas has received the is of 15 advanced HH-60L medical helicopters. The aircraft based on the UHL60L, airframe incorporates the systems developed for’ the Army National Guard's UH-60Q air ambulance. The UH-60Q is based n the UIL60A airframeOPERATIONS AND DEPLC USMC deployments “The ‘Green Knights’ of VMFACAW) 121 concluded a six-month deploy ment to MCAS Iwaki, Japan on 9 March 2001 when they’ retumned to their home station at MCAS Miramar, near San Diego, California. The unit was replaced within Marine Aie Group (MAG)-12. at Iwakunt by the ‘Bats’ of VMEACAW)-202 The “Hawks” of VMEACAW)-533, deployed to MCAS Iwakuni as part of MAG-12 during January, and most recently were forward deployed to Kadena Air Base Okinawa where the squadron was cemified 10 operate as a compo nent of the 3ist~ Marine Expeditionary Unit’ (Special Operations Capable). The squadron later travelled 10 Astlia as the fixed-wing strike ‘component of the 3Ist MEL(GOC) whichis currently deployed aboard the ships of the USS £sex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The ‘Vikings’ of VMEACAW)2: deployed 12 F/A-I8D Hornets from Miramar to Al Jaber Air in Kuwait on 3 March 2001 and the remainder of the squadron followed via commercial tansport on 5 March, The squadron will spend three months operating on Operation Southern Watch, Updated Hornets in service The ‘Silver Eagles’ of VMEA-115 at MCAS. Beaufor, South Carolina have begun transitioning to. the updated I/A-ISA+ variant of the Homet, Moclified as part of the Reserve Upgrade programme the atest Hornet variant duplicates the avionics capabilities of the later F/ACISC, The initial Four upgrades were carried out by the Naval Weapons Test Squadron at NAWS China Lake, California, but all subsequent modifications will be carried out by Boeing MENTS Inchon Deploys ‘The ‘Black Hawks’ of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures. Squadron (HIM)-15 deployed from their home station at NAS Corpus. Christ, ‘Texas for a four and a half month deployment to the Western Pacific ‘Ocean aboard USS Inchon (MCS 12), Joining the seven-airerait detachment of MH-53E Sea Dragons are two CH-46D Sea Knights operated by the ‘Chargers ‘of Helicopter Combat Suppor Squadron (HC)-6 Detachment 3, a Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia Inchon's last deployed to. the Mediterranean and Adriatic in 1999 and participated in Operation Shining Hope, by providing humanitarian assistance 1 Kosova refugees, Constellation and Boxer sail ‘The USS Consellaion (CV 61) CVBG depaned San Diego on 16 March 2001. CVW-2 is embarked aboard the carier and the CVBG is ‘composed af USS Chosin (CG 65), USS. Benfold DDG. 65), USS Kinkaid (DD 965), USS Thach (FFG 43), the Canadian frigate HMCS Winnipeg CFFHL 338), USS Rainier (AOE 7), and the attack submarines USS) Santa Fe (SSN 763) and USS Columbia (SSN 772) ‘Connie’ subsequently relieved the USS Ham 5. Truman (CVN 75) i the Persian Gulf on 30 April 2001 the USS. Boxer (LHD 4) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), departed San Diego, California on 13" March 2001 for a. six-month cruise to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf Besides Baxer, the ARG. is composed of | USS Cleveland (PD. 7), and USS Harpers Fey (SD ¥9) and the Lith Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable) is embarked aboard the ships, HMM 268 (Reinforced) is assigned as the ‘aviation combat element (ACE) Jn May 2000 the Cope Thunder exercise in Alaska dew pariciption trom the Armée 40 TA, which son Mirage FICTS (above), Mirage 2000Ns, Tanall 16s. Mirage ‘210-5 (righ) anda single EF The Dash 5s were given the opporunty to pit ther ‘ROY radars against the ABSA radar equipped FT ofthe resident rd Wing, Air Power Intelligence PLANAF J. fighters approach close toa US Navy EP-3E days bore the colision ‘which eaused an EP limp damoged to Hainan llend nda 1-80 crash ato the ‘ea with the oss. the pilot. The 85 ae carrying PLB (Python 3) missiles. Big“E’ deploys ‘The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) CVG and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the 2ith Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked departed Norfolk, Virginia on 26 April 2001 Besides the Kearsarge the ARG is composed of the USS Ponce (LPD- 15) and USS Garter Hall (SD-50) In addition to CVN 65 the CVBG is comprised of Cartier Air. Wing (CVW)8, the guided missile crus fers USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS. Getysburg (CG 64; guided missile destroyer USS Stow! (DDG 55), and USS Gonzalez (DDG. 66), destroyers and USS Thorn (DD 88), guided missile frigate USS cholas (FFG 47), logistics ship USS Arctic (AOE 8); and. attack submarines USS. Providence (SSN 719) and. USS Jacksoncille (SSN 699), "Although they will not deploy until June, USS McKaul (DDG 74) and USS Nicholson (DD 982) ate ako assigned to the CVG. Chinese intercept Orion Afier being intercepted by wo Chinese People’s Liberation Army fighters in international aie space ‘over the South China Sea, the crew fof US Navy EP-3E Aries TP was Torced to make an emergency landing at a maltary airfield in Lingshui on the island of Hainan fon | April 2001. The aircraft, BuNo 156511/PR-32, was damaged by a mid-air collision with one of the Chinese Shenyang J-8 ‘Finback fighters. The collision, which ‘occurred at approximately 9:07 am local time some 70 am (130 km) southeast of Hainan, caused the J-8 to crash and the EP-3E to drop 5,000-8,000 ft (1524-2438 m) before the crew regained contol The crew of the ARIES Il appar ently destroyed much of the class fied equipment and material abourd the aircraft’ before. they were taken’ into custody by Chinese authorities and detained for 11 days. Although the crew was released on 12 April the Chinese refused fo rerum the aircraft until 29 May 2001. A team of American technicians was allowed to inspect the aiecraft and determined that it ‘could be repaired and flown out of Hainan, however, China insisted that the aircraft be disassembled. Once taken apart, the Orion will flown back to the US aboard a leased Antonov An-124, Although China claims the US aircraft violated its air space and caused the }8 to crash through aggressive ‘maneuvering, the US Deparment fof Defense charges that Chinese fighters have intercepted American reconnaissance flight on 44 occa sions since mid-December 2000. (On cight of these occasions the Chinese jets manoeuvred within 10-30 ft (3-9 m) of the EP-3ES, The EP-3E and its 24-man crew were assigned to VQ-I at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington and had been detached, as par of a normal rota. tion, to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Following the incident the US suspended all surveillance missions around China “however, the fights resumed on 7 May when USAF RC-135 flew a mission that originated at Kadena,es alian jet has been Now replaced by the BAE the Macchi (alfectionately known as a ‘constant-speed variab 1967, intially 2s a trainer, later, it acted as 2 de facto lead-in fighter. The last two operational ‘units to operate the aitcraft, No, 76 Squadron at Williamtown, New South Wales and No. 79 Squadron at Pearce, Western Ausra, have now completed conversion to the Hawk. The remain: ing Macchis will be used by either the RAAF ‘ofa Hawk Mi 127 with an MB.I26H trom No. 78 Squadron, Based at Witmown, the unit performs the fighter lead-in taining roe, and ‘also has a naval support role which it will assume fom RNZAF ‘Skyhawks when they cease operations from RANAS Nowa. fechnical Training (RSIT) at Wag Inthe last years ofits Australian service career, with the Macchi that suffcent aircraft numbers the dwindling Macchi fleet was the subject of could be generated tothe end, ‘much shulfing in order to provide the wo The fst Hawk aircraft were handed over at squadrons with sufficient airframes to complete Williamtown in October 2000, allowing No 76 their leachin fighter taining and fleet support Squadron to pass all ofits serviceable Macchis tasks, This shulfling was the result of the high to No, 79 Squadron for the final three months fatigue index of all RAAF Macchi, despite a Life of operations. The re-equipment timetable was Of Type Extension (LOTE) programme carried so tight (No, 79 Squadron received its first four cout between 1978 and 1984, and a further Hawks in December of the stme year) that ni rewinging undertaken in the 1990s, Aireraft that attempe was made to apply No. 79's markings previously had been retied to the RSTT were to the newcomers, and at a ceremony to mark wethauled and returned 10 service as the fleet the ‘official retirement at Pearce in March 2001, index surpassed them, more aircraft wore No, 76 Squadron colours A great deal of part-swapping (particulary of than No. 79, wings) was performed by No, 76 Squadron at ‘Twenty-two of the surviving Macchis. are RAAF Williamiown and by the prime civiln enjoying a funher (ground) cireer with the ontractor, Hawker Pacific in Perth, in an attempt RST, four have been passed back to the Royal to provide the lowes fatigue-indexed ‘package’ Australian Navy (the RAN operated 10 in its own for the squadrons, Fortunately, this situation was right before the aircraft were transfered to the somewhat by the fac that No, 79 Squacron RAAF upon the demise of the FAA fixed-win kd not require aieraft with the lowest fatigue leet in 1984) and another seven will be retained index, as theie usks were more of the stmight- for display purposes by the RAAE. The remai and-level nature than those of their counterparts il either be gifted or tendered for sale ‘No. 79 Squadron is based a RAAF Poaee, and was the as operator ofthe Macohi {below With the ariva ofthe Hewk left No. 75 primary tasks wil be inal ‘conversion training. nsructr traning and fs et navigator traning forthe 111 force. The squadron wil iso undertake let co-operation missions ~ jest nit id withthe MB. 32620 wil No, 76 SquadronThe RAAF has adopted 2 lw-iz,two-tone grey scheme forts Hawks. The arrat often operate over water in the secondary let sopprt roe, In which they mimic ‘ntshiparerat and missiles companies Cand products) were Acro Voxochody (L-59 Aermace/ EMBRAER (AMX-1, S9FD), Brith Aerospac signed June 1997, The SAUSS0 milion ontract was unique in that it combined the justion of 34 airframes (3 operation and a static test specimen) with mainte nance support throughout the projected 25-year ie of the aircraft. Twelve of the operation erat, and the test atcle, were assembled at Warton, UK, with the remainder undenoin fs and simulators are the responsibilty of BAl he RAP Hawk Mk 127, though structurally similar to the baseline Havek 100, cifers substan inctional characteristics similar to those of the AIBA Hornet fleet, and the systems, in sted by MIL-STD-1553 databus, include three nultrfunction displays, F/A-18A-compatile UD and HOTAS, FLIR, and radar simulation 1 RW systems, Tn onder to meet the strict inservice ent lute, an incremental capability was negotiate DAO) and BAe to ensure that the fist Hawk: ‘would be online to assume the inital pilot rain ing duties of the Macchi, Even so, systems int gation problems have meant that this target has Slipped: by five to six months, resulting. in frenetic activity to keep the Macchis flying pas Flown by BAE Systems’ Phil Dye and John Aircraft Research ancl Development Unit ARDU) fon development and weapons clearance tials fore delivery to-a squadron, While the aircraft were undergoing, construc ion, the init 1p of RAAF pills, including No. 76 Squadron OO Wa Cdr Dave Willeox, an 1 number of aireraft technicians, travelled in the Above: The RAAF Hawk Mk 127s a potent emergency fighter/atacker nts vn right with wing launch falls for Siewindor missles anda variety ofa ‘round weapon options. The nose contain forward {coking infeed andthe cockpit is among th most ‘modern fod oa ainer The Hawk designed to provide valid loadin training not nly or today’ Hornet force, but als for whatever ighter the RAAF may ‘choose toils oustanding Hornet replacement ‘requirement Loft: Like most RAAF sree, Hawks oporat from underneath inp shelter, necessary protect ews from the etrong sin and oecestonal sub-opical rainfall which affects tho ons coast in particularDebrief $$ ____ ‘No only asthe Hawk introduced @ much moe capable training sitet tthe RAE its also more reliable and ‘more economic to operate This ol led by on aircraft ‘ith No. 78 Squadron marks, have followed in quick order, By April 2001 26 aircraft had been accepted by the RAAE, with the delivery of the 33rd and last expected in October As delivered, the aircraft are 10a basic Operational Capabily One (OC-1) standard as part of the incremental approach to the aircraft entering fll operational “service. This initial ‘apabily allowed pilot taining and conversion to begin, with the fist UF student course ‘commencing at Williamtown on 2. April. The fleets to be brought progressively to OC-2 stan- dard, which will encompass such things as clear ance of Weapons management and mission planning systems, integration of the inenial navi= sation system, and dey carriage tials of a bolton Infightrefueling probe. The move to OC2 is ddue to be completed by the end of 2001, and will be followed immediately by an upgrade to the definiive OC-3 status, This final step will begin in 2003/04, and will see all system ine grited and operational, weapons trials finalised and the wet transfer of fuel from the RAAF's 707 fleet. OC-3 is currently due to be completed by the end of 2004, As the LIF tag suggests, the Hawks’ primary role will be to provide a stepping stone for fast jet crews who are coming off the PC-9/A and are destined for F-I1ls of Homets. Pilots initaly will spend three months Teaming to fly the aircraft with No, 79 Sqn at Pearce, before moving across the country t© No. %6 Sqn at Willamown to undertake the Inioduetory Fighter Course, Following graduation, they will then be posted cither to No. 6 Sqn at Amberley if they are destined for F-Ills, or No. 2 OCU at Willamtown to begin Homet conversion ‘As components of the recently formed No. 78 Wing, Nos 76 and 79 Squadrons are onganised along similar lines. No, 79 is divided into two flights A’ Fight primarily concerned withthe conduct ofthe LIF Conversion Course, refresher fying and QFI courses; "B’ Flight provides the Introductory Strike Navigators Course, and is also responsible for operational Met’ support tasks. The main focus of "A' Hight, Now 76 Squadron is the conduct of the Introductory Fighter Course, while "B’Flight will openite the Hawk on operational missions, such as Army oF naval fleet suppor. he secondary role for the Hawk is one of suppor for the army and navy, so these requite ments were taken into account during the iil project definition studies. Naval support tasks are currently undertaken by the A-4 Skyhawks of No, 2 Sqn RNZAF, and the successful LF cand date was required to have sulfcient perfor mance to assume these duties Some weapons trials have been carried out in the UK, bat the bulk will be performed in Australia by ARDU. The first weapons to be eared for use will be the standard ADEN 30-mm cannon, AIM-9M Sidewinders (on ‘wingtip-mounted LAU-7 rails), BDU-33 10-kg (221b) practice bomb dispensers, and the Mk 82 and GBU-12 bombs. All ofthese weapons offer a hange ‘over the capability of the Macchi, which could only camy gun pods and 5-kg (IID) practice bombs ‘Crews who have completed conversion to the aircraft age very impressed by is performance aun, paniculaely in comparison to the Macchi — and look forward 10 the completion of the final incremental capability phase. Once this is complete, the Hak Mk 127 will not only be the ‘deal interim step between PC.9 al Hoenet, but will bea potent weapons platform its own right ‘Nig Pittaway Inside the ARIES II Ter ‘The collision between a Chinese Navy Shenyang J-8II interceptor and a US Navy reconnaissance aircraft ‘on a routine irveillance mission over the South China Sea’, about 70 miles (113 km) off the island of Hainan, focused international ‘media attention on what had hitherto been a litle-known type, the Lockheed EPE Aries Il Sigint aircraft ARIES II deployment ‘The ARIES I Orion entered service during 1991, VQ-1 receiving the first conversion (156507) during the spring, and VQ2 receiving the second, 157320, on 29 June 1991 Replacement of the original ARIES was a rela tively slow process. VQ-1 retired the oldest remaining EP-3E Aries I (and actully the oldest US Navy Orion), 148887, in July 1994, this also ‘marking the completion ofthe squadron's tran sition {0 the ARIES Il, VQ-2 followed suit parading t0 an all ARIES I eet by April 1997, Delivery of the last of the original batch of EP3E ARIES TT aireraft. was delayed by a Congressional investigation into US Sigint capa: bilities. This had been prompted by concerns tht the EP-3E and) USAF RC-135 might repre sent unnecessary duplication, and led to a freeze in the conversion programme. A study was launched which aimed to select one type for retention and further development, with the loser’ being phased out. In the event, the sty showed that the two fypes were complemen tary, and that there was no over-capacity, and. the decision was taken to retain both types, The loss of one VQ-2 ARIES I in an accident led to a 13th machine, and this aircraft, now tundempoing the P-3C’ to EP-3E conversion process, will be delivered in 2002. ARIES ls are split between two units, one serving the needs of the Pacific Feet and one serving the Aantic Fleet. VQ-1 (Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One, o FAIRECON RON ONE) is home-based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, following the 1994 closure of its home since 1971 — NAS Agana, G VQ-I provides electronic reconnaissance from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the United States, and operates a permanent (2) detachment i Japan. Until 1991 this was at Atsugi, Dut since then it has been at Misawa, VQ-1 has also maintained continuous pres fence in the Arabian Gulf since July 1992, The Allatic unit has been based in the Mediterranean since its inception, long before the Orion ent, VQ-2 (Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two, or FAIRECONKON TWO) has been based at Naval Station Rota, Spain, since 1960, Today the squadron flies four EP-3E ARIES Ils and two standard P-3C Onions from its home-base at Rota, and parents a two- aircraft detachment at Naval Suppor Activity Souda Bay, Crete The intense nature of EP-3E operations can bbe gauged by the fact that VQ-1 and VQ-2 tend to fly more operations, with fewer aircraft, than any other naval squadron, and this is illustrated by VQ2%s recent record, In the summer of 1990, ‘the squalron provided lint support during Operation Sharp Edge (the evacuation ‘of 2,000 personnel from wartom Liberia), From August 1990 to April 1991, VQ-2_ provided combat reconnaissance during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Proven Force, and Provide Comfort. Since July 1992, VQ-2 has flown more than 10,008 hours in’ suppor of [NATO and United Nations forces in the former Yugoslavia, participating in Operations Deny Flight, Provide Promise, Sharp Guard, Joint Endeavour, Decisive Enleavour, and Deliberate Guard, sometimes maintaining a detachment at Sigonella in Italy Bul. PR-32 was the sreratt which survived the ‘collision with a PLANAF 18 ove the South China Se ‘and is seon hore on Hainan srt sory eter nding. Apart trom tho obvious damage tthe ‘osecone, the aircraft was also hit ithe no. 1 ‘bropelec under tho wings andthe port aileron.Antenna configuration Externally, the Aries Il retains the distinctive ventral ‘M&M radome and dorsal and ventral fainoe’ antenna airings. which characterised the earlier EP-3B and original ARIES aircrat The ventral radome sil houses the system's F-319 Big Look antenna, while the OF-320 group of direction finding antennas is housed in the upper and lower canoes The OF-319 surveillance antenna is associ- ated with the AN/ALQ-I10 Big, Look radar analysis system, and reportedly consists of a Sittin x 12-f 2in (8m x 37 m) mechani cally scanned antenna which receives signals in the 0.3 to 18 GHz Frequency range Cand which may be able to transmit between 0.3-10 GH2). The antenna may be derived from that of the AN/APS-20 search/AEW radar, andl is believed to be able to accurately Jocalive emitters when ‘operating in its active The antenna is believed to be capable of operating ina full 460" scan pattern, oF {o operate in nartower ‘cake-slice’ sector scans, and can be ‘aimed? in levation, The array may’ also host the antenna for the AN/ALQ-108 IFF jammer The OF-320 antenna group inthe long dorsal canoe and the shorter ventral canoe is believed to consist of single foresandaft rows of 2t (Gocend dliameter circular DP antennas that can scan it speeds of up t0 200 mpm and which ‘cover the 0.5-2 GHz and 2-18 GH». frequency huis, The description of the spinners as being, ‘oF equal size is pethaps surprising, groups of antennas of different sizes being more usual for wide-band DF. The system can be directed 10 taner 15°, 30°, 60° oF 120? sectors relative to the host airraf’s centrelin, and antennas can be automatically or manually directed onto a Signal of interest The ARIES. il has slender, low-profile antenna pods for the AN/ALR-76 Hlint system fon both ‘wingtips. AN/ALR76 is designed t0 detect, identity, classify, locate and wack radar femitter: and 10 provide any necessary audio threat warnings and automatically actuate on- board countermeasures systems, Each wingtip pos! contains a single reception assembly, and these in turn house four cavity-backed planar spiral -antennas. AN/ALR-76 output cin be fused with other acquired data to create a fused situational awareness display. The EP-3E AN/ALRICV) microwave ELINT receiver system, believed 10 cover the 0.5-10 GHz frequency range. Other lint equipment carried includes the AN/ULQ-U(V}2 pulse analyser, which can V0. supports th Pacific Fleer activites rom its home ‘aso at Whidbey Islnd. Most operational sorties, ‘however, are launched from Misa In Jopan where 8 ‘pemanont detachment is maintained. The aircraft re flo highly active inthe Persian Gul jing mostly from Batra provide pulse repetition Frequency and iotervl pulse width, pulse amplitude, scan time and fate, lamination time and bandwidth informa tion of hostile emiters. Details of the EP-3E's Comint systems are less widely Known, though itis believed that they include an AN/ALD-9XV) communications band ditection-finder system. This is « dual-channel, interferometric communications band direction finder, which utilises bit slice processing and is served by the array of blade antennas under the ‘outer wing panels al rear fuselage The ARIES Iris believed to be capable of ‘listening in’ wo rilitary and civilian radio traffic in all wave bands” intercepting, locating. and recording signals) and cin also do the same (0 other forms of communications, including faxes and telephone conversations. Speculation that the EP-3E can read e-mails, and “break info’ enemy computer networks is believed to be incorrect. This capability is std to exist, but only on one (USAF? platform. The EP-3E has a vital Link 1 High Ulta High Frequency (HF/UHP) datalink system (0 allow it to download data in near real time. This is also known as TADIL-A. (Tactical Digital Intelligence Link) and isa NATO-standard encrypted, digital datalink that fitted to a var ety of other ships and aircraft. Is antenna may flower pot radome below the rear fuselage Aircrew and their stations Aitcrew for the wo EP-3E squadrons come from a variety of sources. Pilot and Flight Engineer training is provided by Patrol Squadron Thirty (VP-30), while Naval Flight Officers receive Inter Service Navigation train ing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Basie and Advanced Electronic Warfare Officer train ing and ARIFS Il-specific aircraft operator tray ing is undertaken by the Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training — Group Detachment (FASOTRAGRU DET) at Whidbey Island, Washington. The normal crew complement of the ARIES IL is 24, and there are 24 numbered seating pos Lockheed EP-3E ARIES II are the nl US Naw ros retain the tity sche, a on some oe fe hase ome Lockheed) wr hor pated Tove ara Somertd by NADEPsJocksonite an Alamos arin ‘te stndord lover ray TS scheme tions, of which 15 ate mission crew stations, five are fight crew and four are described a itching stations, but which are believed f0 accommodate extra, supernumerary or rei Grow members during tike-off and binding. By comparison, the baste P-3 ASW craft has crew of only 11, wt four igh crew truly includes seven officers and 17 enlisted nrrew Cor eight offker and 16- enlisted The High crew usualy consists of plo, 4 co pil # single fight engineer and one Or 90 Teese tall oflcer except for the fight the navigator sis jus ouside the Tight deck, facing to starboard, occupying crew Stlion 6, next 1 what may now be a relief Grew station, but which was hither the na guor/commanistor ston, On the por sie tin sation 1D is the {© Flee or theatre commanders, an! even t0 defence ‘offs at the, Pentagon, andthe hational command authorities. The data is ines tbl transmits in enerype form the crew. consist of equipment persion, some of ‘whom are Aviation Hectonics Technicims (ATS) who serve dal foles, as both Operators and sit Technicians othe mission ‘crew are Usually officer, these being rom front to rear the occupants of sitions 12-14 in the centre of the cabin the ESM superior Cr ‘evalistor in tical parlance), the EW Combat Coordinator and the, Speci’ Systems. (Comin) evaluator the Electric Warare (EW) co-ordinator i the Mission Grew commande, and i responsible for tgeting the sensor and forthe integration ff acquired Hine and Comint data and for ss to. olfboard flint “and Comint supervisors, placing him que erally atthe centre ofall Not all members ofthe crew are intligence specialist, To confuse things further, iis iow that VQ2 uses alkernative terms for tome of its crew-members, including Hecwonie Warfare Mission.” Commander GEWMG), Electronic Warfare irra Gommanter EWAO, Senior Hectonic Warfare Tactealfvaluator(SEVAL, and. Electronic Warfare Operitor (EWOP) ‘Working at Irom the bulkhead which sep rates the main pan of the cabin from the fight dlck and’ rav/comms ares, the Bist positon Three dissemination users. He sits(on the starboard side) is station 7, described as the record operator/Mlght technician. Stations 8-14 are behind this, on the por side, and from front to back accommodate the Manual ESM (or Manual Elin} operator at station 8, the Brigand ‘operator at station 9, the Lab operator at station 10, and the Radar/ESM (Big Look) operator at station 11. The duties of the commissioned personnel at stations 12-14 have already been Sescribed, The manual ESM operator is tasked with signals analysis and ‘with fine-tuning Flint receivers, The exact responsibilities “of the Brigand and Lab operators. is unknown. although stations 9 and 10 have previously been described a8 the low-band and high-band signal collection stations, respectively respons ble for long-tange early wagning, beight-finding and meteorological radars and for high-band radars such as those earried by enemy fighters. The Big Look operator at sation 11 manages the EP-3's long-range Elint receivers, and is thought to be responsible for the evaluation of newly acquired signals, and operation of the nose-mounted AN APS-134 search radar Te rearmost of the three stations crewed by ‘commissioned officers is station 14, the Comit special task supervisor/collection director Station. It was once believed that, prior to the Deepwell programme, EP-3Bs and EP-3Es were effectively ‘empty’ aft of the Eline-related stations on the pot sie. This is now in doubt, since official crew position drawings show crew stations 15 dough 19 on the starboard side on all EP-3ES. On aircraft 148888, 149668, and 15049, ‘marked as’ special ations, whereas the other EP-3Es are shown as having Deepwell (Comint) stations in this location. On ARIES If, these positions all acco modate Special Systems (eg Comint) openstors, They are primarily linguiss who listen to and and may include ‘other civilian experts, or linguists from branches of the’ US Forces. Finally, at crew station 20, facing alt on the por’ ‘side, just behind the entrance door and its powered folding ladder, is the S&T (Scientie/Tech) 2» operator, sometimes described asa ‘sixth CComint operator, and sometimes as the main tenance station, The sation isin the same posi- tion as the ‘in-flight tech’ on standard maritime Pics, SSIP upgrade Even before the EP-3E ARIES I conversion programme was complete, a follow on upgrade was launched. Known as the Sensor System Improvement Program (SSIP), this aimed to increase frequency and direction-finding cover age, and to improve interoperability and data exchange with other platforms and assets, The programme was split into two phases, with the prionty systems being adlressed! under the frst The firs aircraft to receive the SSIP were the last two ARIES TI conversions, which received the upgrade while sill on the ARIES It modi cation line at NADEP Jacksonville, “The new SSIP subsystems were not intended to counter any specific threat, but aimed to improve the aircraft's ability to cope with the complex. signal environment in which the EP-3E now routinely operates. The SSIP also enhances ‘connectivity’ between the EP-3E and other allied systems, using a broad range of command-and-control, communications and intelligence (C'D links, and, as such, forms part of the Joint SIGINT Avionics. Architecture Family. In addition, software improvements allow the EP-3E (0 create an integrated, fused tactical picture by linking inputs from on- and ‘off board (onganie and non-organic) sensors The SSIP modification was achieved through a ‘Story-series” of system improvements, The Story Teller, Story” Book and Story. Classic subsystems, as well as a new modification of the AN/ULQ.16 system, were networked on an Bihernet Local Area Network (LAN), als inter: facing with the existing Electronic Support Measures (ESM) Mission Avionics System, Story Teller consis of three ruggedised TAC-3 work with high-resolution colour monitors, together with various interface Units and RT-1273AG Satellite Communication From Roa in Spain VO-2 covers the Atatic and ‘Mediterranean The squadrons main area of ati fs ‘nthe Med, with a permanent dotachmen at Souds In (rte and rogue sorte flown trom Sigonella {imontarng former Yogostavial. VO-2 was heavily ‘involved in Operation Aid Force. capable radios. The Story Teller operators use the system to manage and manipulate selected organic and non-organic data and to view a ‘composite tactical situation display, comelating multiple puis from onboard sensors and from selected external datalinks. The operator cin then transmit "value-added information over various communications nets and datalinks Story Teller is installed at crew stations 12, 13, and 14 The Naval Aviation Officer at station 14, was ‘no longer‘? branch capable, becoming simply 8 Story Teller Operator. To compensate for this, the Scientific and Technology Operator, at station 20, became ‘’ branch capable, taking over the Comint supervisor function Story Book is installed at station 9 and is an integrated special signal acquisition, data processing, and data fusion. system, built around! a single ruggedised TAC-$ work station ‘ith its associated high-resolution monitor. The Story Book operator can assess the tactical picture and quickly add SIGINT data to Communications datalinks. Story Book includes hardware and. software interfaces tothe aircrafts GPS and INS systems The Story Classic system is installed at stations 15 through 20 and provides an upgraded search and acquisition system for Three of the stations have ruggedised TAC-3 work stations, while two have xterminal work stations, all with ruggedised high-resolution colour monitors Story Classic includes signal acquisition, distbution, and exploitation system which Incorporates general search and directed search capabilities through a pool of 24 W] 8607 receivers, and a set of SI-202 Spectrum Processors, together with a WJ-8700 Dual High Frequency (HP) receiver, ‘The AN/ULQ-16 Signal Data Processor was already installed at stations 8, 10, 11, 12, and 20 bt has been modified sith upgraded electro ‘magnetic pulse processing capabilities, using dual channel realtime video inputs and nev displays and processor software, The EP.3E ARIES I! SSIP also incorporated an advanced System Maintenance Diagnostics (SMD) system, which caries out extensive functional, troubleshooting and status checks preflight, inflight and postflight. The system makes maximum use of existing ARIES IT diag- nostic software, integrating it into the SIP subsystem software It was originally planned that the fist phase ‘of the SSIP would be completed by catly FY 2001, and four aircraft had been modified by early 2000, Software and hardware problems delayed the completion of SSIP openitional testing, however, slowing the modification schedule, and delaying SSIP's operatio employment, Under the EP-3E ARIES I SSIP Test and Evaluation Master Plan, Developmental Testing was completed in December 1999 with 10 major discrepancies, and Operational Test £P-3Es rom VO-2 (foreground) and V01 share the ramp ‘at Rota Each squadron has 9 coupe of regula’ Orion ‘bounce birds assigned fo assist with deployment support and crew waning. low-band signals,This EP3E isin standard configuration. One VO-1 Liveratt has been seen with large antenna po, with fae sided outeart-facing panel, under the outer wing and Evaluation (OTSE), was conducted in July 00, The EP-3E ARIES TI SSIP then underwent 1 Verification of Correction of Discrepancies process, completing this during FYOI. Because the installation of SSIP and follow-on upgrades continued to take invaluable aicraft out of the front line, placing great pressure on the remain ing assets, the Navy established 2 requirement to procure four additional EP-3E pipeline aircraft to allow the frontline fect to be main tained at a viable level The second phase of the SSIP will include futher upgrades, including an Eline upgrade led Story Finder, an emitter location system Lockheed EP-3E ARIES II upgrade called Story Maker collection and processing upgrade called Story Scanner, These later systems are reportedly sil undergoing R&D. JMOD upgrade A fanher major modemisation effort for the EP-3 is now underway. This is known as the Joint Signals Intelligence Avionics Family JSAP) Block Modernization Program MOD). ‘The IMOD programme builds on the enhanced ‘connectivity provided by the SSIP upgrade to EP-3E with’ fully state-of-the-art 3 collection and dissemi the Joint Airborne Signal Intelligence Architecture JASA) require platforms, The open architecture will expedite the incorporation of new and improved sensors as they become available, and has made it include commercial-ofFthe-shell hardware and This is (cors) expected {0 enable the EP-3E to remain viable beyond the year 2020, The JMOD upgrade is divided into three block modifications, JMOD Block 1 provides improved on-board data handling and process ing. JMOD Block 2 will add a new low band subsystem and the new Common Dati Link, which ronnectivity for hetwork-centric warfare, and which improves data fusion capabilities. JMOD Block 3 will add precision targeting. system. JMOD is fully funded, and_ limited. production FY 2001, One aircraft will be produ through FY 2002, began in xl per year and thereafter the rate will > aireraft- per year until the programme is completed during FY 200 Tt now seems likely that the EP-3E. ARIES I 1) which had t0 force land at Lingshul on Hainan Island following its collision with a IL fighter, will be retuned to the USA, and wil probably be restored to flying status. AS one of nly four or five EP-3Es so far Teller, is return will doubuless be eagerly antic ipated in a community already overstretched and working hard in a vital frontline role Salre Comms Operstor 2irz2 Diching sasons Sie Story Secker, an onboard sensor fusion ment levied on all-altborne. reconnaissance Jon tate i 15 Za st Cow statin 6s ocuped by Cabin arrangement key 8 : I icnecome operr stations (red) 3 eer 8 3 ole Sao 15-18 athe i Spec Stora Oper “petal stom consoles, EW Conoat Co 23/24 icing savons Electronics racks AXK ( ae Fave MeELe Record Recording eovmen low) ional electronics (green) Forward Sect Load Center Ma Electra! Lod Comer Lot Secure (crow station 4 communications are Ihaniod from this console igh: Stations 8 10 14 ‘accommodate the main ‘lin operators, and also the ‘lint Supervisor, Comint ‘uporszor and overall Imission co-ordinator Sy Qe bad Gs dz stovege I Hi 2122 Galley J1/s2 Aight the roar of the mission ‘compartment screw ‘tation 20 forthe Sclenifcrochnical Operator In Story Teller equipped ‘icra the occupant this station acts 08 the Comiat special systems) supervisor | \Debrief Aviacién Naval Uruguaya ees Aeronautical Service) was created on 7 Februaey 1925. Five years later ts fist ltalan built CANT 18 seaplane trainer and CANT 2 connaissance Aying-boat arrived, based at Libertad island in the bay of Montevideo. This site was chosen as the service's first base formally commissioned in 1934 In exchange for the use of Uruguayan bases, the United States. granted credits under the Act of 1941, and six Vought OS2L 3 Kingfishers and three Fairchild PT-234 train re purchased, followed by a single Grumman ]HF-2 Widgeon. ‘The navy under Sat was fo become fs principal ail Base Aéronaval No. 2 Capitan de Corbet. Carl Garbelo was established. near the, tow Laguna del Sauce AS BAL was ony suitable fo svaterboene arc t was closed tn 1950, At the end of the 1940s 2 mid expansion took place with the delivery of 16 Grumman TBNLIC Avengers an three North American SN/4 Texan thine ‘They were followed in April 1952 by 12 Grumman FORS Hellas to form the navy’ fist combat unt. By this tine Two TACs ar the backbone of th training efor having served i the role for 20 years. Additonal aircraft ae require if finds canbe found. Until ‘recently, the Tarbo-Mentors were partnered by TBs ced the name of Aviacién, Naval Uruguay first helicopters PBM-S Mariners took over SAR duties from the sets were boosted by tree Heech bats were delivered by US transport alrcrat Jontevideo's Carrasco Aiport. However, on Novernber of the same year both helicopters psiration. ‘The extlS Army CH-34) Choctaws, which arrived in 1972, Tw rated until 1988 While the other nwo Were used For spares, The feal was made possible because the ANU had old its last Kingfisher t/a museum in the United States, he A-model Tracke y three ex MASDC dlitoning at Grumman's St A the early 1980s Ground atack capabily came in. 1979 with the delivery of nine French-built ex-Argentine Navy Sud T-28F Fennecs. Four were solely for spares and the list two were withdrawn from use in 1994. Also, on 25 July 1979, from Argentina came three Beech C-45 Expediters for transport work, All the C-45s were stuck off cchagge in the early 1960s, next Sikorskys delivered were fi Training Training has always been undertaken in house. A. single Beech T-34B Mentor was received on 13 October 1966, and was supple August 1970. To expand! and modemnise th fleet three Beech T-34C Turbo-Mentors ave in April 1981, though unfortunately on The EAE has tee aircraft assigned two Jetstream TEM 2s (below) which were formerly sed fr observer traning by the Royal Novy and a singe par configured King Air 207 (oth Th King ir bas an lndertseloge search radar. necessitating the liment of Yeatal inst restore directions stably.crashed on 22 March 1982. In 1985 the service traded an SN} for a T-H4B of the Fuerza Aérea Uruguay, and all of the surviving (of 10 deliv ered) SNJs were disposed of in the mid-1980s. Since the early 1990s advanced training, has been conducted using two Piper PA-34-200T Senecas, The Senecas were also used! for liaison duties, as were the three Cessna 182s delivered in enly 1990. Budgetary cuts led to the sale of the Senecas and C.182s, while the Beech T-34B, Mentors were withdrawn From use and put into storage in the late 1990s The Escuela de Aviaci6n Naval, responsible for training, was thus left with oniy two T-34C Turbo-Mentors and anew training programme had to be devised, ‘Total training. for each student is approximately 150 hours, consisting of 30 hours solo, 16 hours aerobatic, 12 hours visual navigation, 13 hours basic instrument, 25, hours radio instrument, 14 hours of night flying 15 houts of gunnery practice and 25 hours of formation flying. Once this phase bas been successfully passed there follows 50 hours Advanced training on the twin-engined aircraft oF Wessex helicopter ASWISAR Alter retirement of the $-2G Tracker, the sole ASW capability of the Escuadrén ”Antsub- marino y Fxploracién was provided by a single Beech 200T Super King Ait, which was handed ‘over to the ANU on 15 November 1980. For The EdH rocived a total of eight Wessexes, of which tn has been lost nd two withdrawn. Fur ofthe Sporatinal irra are HCA 2s right, which retain ‘her RAF camouflage and serials, while the lat tuning radarequlpped Wessex Mk 0 (ex-Bristows) gh visibility colours (below) ‘ iesrsiats Veteran ofthe ANUS helicopter let isthe Bell 76, which wes not tired unl 200 ater a year career The ANU's helicopter operations ave been dominated by the Sikorsky $58 adits derivatives. SAR tasks this airraft is capable of dropping sea survival equipment and i fited with an APS-128 search radar. ASW capacity was augmented on 14 January 1999 with the deliv tery of two exRoyal Navy British Aerospace Jetstream TMK 2s. All year around there is one aircraft and helicopter on stand-by for SAR ‘dies Helicopters The longest serving helicopter with the sscuadron de Helicopteros was the Bell 47. total of seven aircraft was in service from February 1955 until early 2000, when the last was withdrawn from use due to corrosion in the rotor head, An unusual type was the Bell Aviacion Naval Uruguaya ‘unt 1992, when ie was sold in Argentina as part of cost-cutting measures. Replacement fme in the Form of two (ex-Ghana, via Brows) Westland Wessex Mle 60 logistic suppor hel copiers in August 1991, followed by one more in Apri 1994, With the delivery of five ex-Royal Air Force Wessex HCMk 2s in February 1998, ‘Mk 60s (serial 063) was put-on naval No ‘one of the Grumman S-2A Trackers, 064) was put into storage Unfortunately one of the Wessex HCMK 2 183) was lost in an accident while On a rescue mission on 2 March 2 fone of the display near the gate of Base Aé ‘while another (serial Future plans In order t0 make some money, the ANU has hatched an ambitious plan to aque exUS Navy, Rockwell T taining uni in which Argentinian and Brazilian tava plots willbe tained. At the tine of wat mnder way 10. purchase 2 Buckeyes to establish a these aircraft. Another item on the shopping list is two more Beech T-4C Tutbo-Mentors, some light aircraft for shore patrol and. another Jetsiream, Dick Lobuis ORDER OF BATTLE comand dea Aviacsa Nol 'BA2 Capitan Carel, Laguna dl Sauce Grupo de Ecadrones ‘Die arate y Expcrcin [Bound engae [Boel ce den Na 22m, Jestaom 2Eurofighter Typhoon Programme round-up With production of the first batch of Eurofighters well under way, and the first flight of a production aircraft due before the end of 2001, the four-nation Eurofighter programme is moving rapidly towards service entry in 2002 and NATO declaration in 2006, while major enhancements to the basic aircraft are under active discussion between the four core nations and prospective buyers. A neration European fighter dates the Supplement 2 production ondetwassipned, Soe peli, aa Cok hone soon aten so! pet, 2 < [Development Aircraft batch Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency’ one ‘@ sires a? er tlh Bee 1998, shortly afte DarLote Visually the most stoning ofthe Development Above: The allan DAS leads the two German aire DA7isthe lead weapons ils arerat and Avra is O42 which fe pointed black to coverup the (DA and DAS) ina formation of thee Euralghers while conducted al the AIM and AIM120 figs 0 for The blac patches liberally appliod tothe arcat manly on on als at Decimomannu. By 2001 DAZ had been the clearance ol these missiles is of most importance, as the starboard side fr ar prescure trials. busiest inthe foot with over 300g {hey are the baseline ar defence weapons fer OC.Initial deliveries and IPAs Batch 1 deliveries comprise 55 for the RAF 44 for the Luftwaffe, 29 for the AMI and 20 fo fhe FAA, One of the airframes will be used f atic testing. The fist five aircraft from th production tine will be designate Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) andl the will join the sever-aireraft DA trials feet. IPA Fepresent the Interim Operating Capability TOC) configuration, anc are being built on the production lines, unlike the largely hand-built Development Aircraft, However, they also include adaltional test equipment. The first of the IPAs were, a the time of writing, to have flown by the end of 200 batch breaks down as follows Company configuration PR *. Smart production DAS was the est oly with £1200 engines, nd has been used for various stores trials. In 199 it undertook pitdrop tests of ee fall weapons, ands due to tindertke gunnery tials. Amid pret controversy, the Roya Ar Force deleted the 27-mm Mauser BK 27 connon trom its Euroighes. he frst production components began arriving atthe assembly lines Each assembly line is a state-of the-ant fall ity, Warton’sHangir 302 (former Tornado assembly line), for example, has a sophistcate automated laser alignment facility, (as. does EADS-CASA'S assem he three mai fuselage sections are mounted on thre ‘computer-controlled jacks each, A laser tracks jptical marks on each component and supple jacks to manoeuvre the components into th perfect marry-up position for attachment Following marry-up of the major con nents, the aircraft moves toa second team nich ins sms and equipment. A third team handles customer acceptance, painting and attending to any problems which surface uring the three-light ( aeceptan Warton’s facility can handle 15 aircraft at a time and, while the fist airraft through (PAL also known as BIDOD) will spend around 12 months in final assembly while working pric ti tablished, by 20 the’ line hopes to be turning an aircraft from com rents into finished product in 16 weeks. Output from Warton is expected to peak at 435.3 jonth, with some excess capability builtin handle any export work While prociiction gears up, over 90 per cent of the Interim Operating Capability Right trials Lott: Spins singe prototype, DAG has bee involved ia fwo-sont handing tals, Including ‘carer banding. [thas also boon azed fr bat climate test (a Mors) ‘and trials ofthe enironmontl control system lor ‘which EADS-CASA i the lead company. Below: Arrangod onthe Manching Highline is» Exrfightr (DAT and the tv aircraft yps itis replacing In Lftwate service (MiG: Tarnade IDS and 41 The Phontom here is actualy on ofthe Gres ‘reat being upgraded by EADS: Deutschland‘Above: DAI streams its bake chute while the nose leg high for serodynamic braking Euroighters FCS ‘ns evolved through a numbor of erations th ates of which is Phase 3100). Phase 4 wil allow the use of {irto-ground stores. The aircraft i inherently stable in am moral in rl nd unstable i pith Aight 044 foreground) and DA7 climb out ona test ‘satin aly DAT has a frward-acing camera ‘mounted inating atthe top of the fi had accumulated 1,298 ights. The total development p chediled to encompass 4,000 hours in the ai DASS At the time of writing the two-seater DAA was in lay-up prior to rejoining the test programme for ground-based DASS (Defensive Aids, Sub Sjstem) trials. DASS is a fully automated (with ‘optional pil missile warning and laser SMVESM (in the port wingtip. pod Towed Radar Decoys (two in the starboard’ wingti pod), chaff (in the rear of the permanently tmacks). Germany and Spain initially stayed out of the EuroDASS c oped the suite, although both have subse quently joined. ‘There are some diferences between the cusiomers; Germany and Tay in the form of the Cross Eye electronic coun Cockpit (One of the most impressive Features of the Burofghter is its-cockpit, No first-generation dhta is presented to the pilot: all has been processed and fused by the system to present an overall ‘big picture’ based on input from ‘arious sensors, including those offboard (via the MIDS system), The system can. be controlled with minimum pilot workload thanks to the VIAS (Voice Throttle and Stick system, which combines HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) inputs with DVI/O (Direct jutpud. The DV ndlle 6 words, but initial cap bility has been capped at 80 t0 avoid any potential phonetic difficulties. When combined with the MIDS (Multiple Information Distribution System) datalink, DVI/O. allows angets and allocate them to other the formation by voice alone, For ‘obvious reasons, safety-critical ac Dr undercariage actions. AS well a8 p aural warnings, the airral’ system can also be mterrogated by voice, and provide voice change the display set-up, Weapons progress taken by ive firing of an’ AIMS Sidewinder on 15 December 1997. Two days later an AIM. AMRAAM was jettisor the primary BUR weapon of th AMRAAM als have < weapons for 1OC. Due to th associated with sukled. we focused on these (Wo Taly’s DAT, which undertook the fist tinued ager lead times reapons, with several subsequent launchings. Testing of ai-to-ground ‘weaponry has, by mid-2001, been restricted to air tests as. 1OC approaches, For the IOC aircraft only free-fall ‘weapons such as iron, cluster and laser-guided bombs will be cleared, ‘On 16 May 2000 Geoffrey Hoon ann purchase the beyond-visual-ange aietorair missle, ending a long and hotly fought contest with Raytheon, he Meteor uses UK Defence Minister punced the UK's decision t European consortium Meteor imjet power to achieve long range, yet retains maximum end-ga uivring energy. The seeker head and guidance system builds on work performed for the MBD MICA missile used by the Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale. Following the decision to release an RAF Eurofighter for test and integration work, the sixcnation Meteor BVRAAM group hopes t rd the missles in-service date tc primary Beyond Visual Range armament forthe Eurofighter, Meteor is also planned for Gripen and Rafale’ Development of Meteor continis, using a BAe 125 aireraft equipped to represent the missile HAC One-Eleven fted withCaptor radar. To cover the gap. betwe Eurofighter and Meteor service entry, the MoD is procuring up to 400 AIM-120B AMRAAMS commerc pich will form the initial missle ASRAAMs, Germany will employ the IRIS shortrange weapon, but will initially use AIM5I.Sidewinders, as will the other nations in late December 2000 MATRA Ac Dynamics conducted the fist full flight testo the Storm Shadow SCALP EG long-range stand: off missle Mirage 2000. Two of these apons 1 carried by Eurofighter in the Sandoff precision strike role. Both the RAF aircraft, while Greece has ordered the for its Mirage 2000-5 Mle 2 fighters, and would probably fit it on Furofighter if the Greek b fruition, Germany’ has opted For the KEPD-350 Taunus stand-off missile = ‘The Eurfightor can cary a maximum ofthroe fue! tanks, carried onthe cenrotine (100-Iive ony) and two wing tanks (1000 oF 1500-fie). Tho 150i tanks are ‘stited to subsont ight Both tanks have been {ested by to Nalianaieraty DAS and DA The laters Shown above carrying a thee-tank it The starboard {ank is covered wih photacallraton mark, and is seen lf during thet jetison tial on 17 Jane 1988. In the view below DAs se0n carrying two of the larger tanks, which were fis tested in Fabruay 1888. Two eaters have ls itera oo although to los ofthe forward anstr tank soot bythe addition of small tank inthe extonded spine. Fuel and powerplant trials urofighter is designed to operate with 1oo0-itre (220-Imp gal) and 1500 lite (330-Lmp gal) drop tanks. The small tanks were first tried by DAS in December 1997, and in June 1998 DA? successfully jettisoned a tank, In February. 1999 DAS (primary external stores tals airframe) flew with the big tanks, fully velled, and in March it exceeded Mach 1 with the 1000itre tanks. By the end of the month it had taken two of them to Mach 1.6, The sam speed was reached in December 1999 with three tanks install Production-standard EJ200-032 engines began flight tests in. October 1999, fitted t0 Ialy’s DA3 protorype at Casele. By that tim development 1200 engines had already accu mulated more than 3,600 hours in the seven prototypes, of which 1,170 had been in the ait Tn December the fist inflight relight was accomplished. In late March 2001 NETMA awarded the Eufojet consortium a technical cerificate for the production standard EJ200 032 engine, signifying the end of long-runnin flight trals and bench tests of the engine. BAE SYSTEMS" DA2 returned to flight test in June 2001 fited with 032 engines in place of the Final development engine - the 03Y Captor radar In February 2001 the fist two. production standard Captor (previously ECR90) radars were delivered to Eurofighter - one 10 BAE SYSTEMS and one to Alenia, Eurofighter had received 16 pre-production radars, dubbed th ‘C model, which were tested in DAA, DAS and DA6, Another CAPTOR radar is lying in a test BAC One-Hleven, which by” mid-2001. had amassed some 400 hours of inflight testing i he course of ove radar fist flew in the On in the Purofight lent into plenty keep th atleast the irs 1997 (DAS). utset the radar has shown excel: ‘while retaining ntal modification to of projected air thre f the Eurofighter ff head.on and tail-chase engagements were andertaken, in a ¢ Operatin node, the radar performed excellently. A tot of 147 Captors is currently on order to equip the 148 airerat in Tranche 1 production (one State test airframe) {AE SYSTEMS! the capacity ti ike the Batch 1 airerft, the initial Captor production sets are optimised for airto-ar work, although they possess considera tossurface capability, in c and sea search modes, This capabilit pected to be enhanced with a. serie ‘upgrades planned for the first two years of Eurofighter operations. Simulator Dn 1 May 2001 Eurofighter GmbH announced that it had been awarded a. $949 million cont spply the combat simula 15 for the four nations developing the aircraft Under the overall. programme name ASTA Aircrew Synthetic Training Aid), Eurofighte will produce 18 FMS (Full Mission Simulators and hine CT/PS-E (Cockpit Trainer/Interactive Pilor Stations = Enhanced) systems. The princ pal contractors on ASTA are BAE SYSTEMS and Thales. The FMS offers a full mission simul tion, including dogfighting, weapons and elec Enhanced Eurofighter Programme all four e being delfred) to TOC standard, with AIM-9L and AIM-1208 missiles, and a limited air-to-ground ‘apabilty. Full Operating Capability is slated for March 2005, followed by a declaration to NATO intended for January 2006, Beyond that, the Batch 2 production configuration has yet to be defined, but will be essentially similar 10 FOC with additonal software/avionies changes. More radical are the improvements which are being studied for the Tranche 3 production sirenit under the Eurofighter Enhancement Programme, driven currently by the UK and ‘Germany, although Haly and Spain may join the programme later. AS well as. integration of new “smart weapons, and the adoption of Storm Shadow. Taurus and Meteor, Tranche 3 Typhoons may ako feature CFTs (Conformal Pucl Tanks) and TRN (Terrain-Referenced Navigation), It is planned that advances in helmet displays can allow the removal of the HUD (head.up display). TTP, the Spanish engine partner, has studied thrust-vectoring for the EJ200 engine, and the engine itself has a 30 per cent thrust rowth potential in its current form. Already Under review (but not yet funded) are staged thrust increases to. 103 KN (23,135 Ib) thrust (as the E}230), and 117 KN (26,300 Ib. By around 2010, Tranche 3 Typhoons could be equipped with electronically-scanned (escan) active array radars. The AMSAR (Aiborne Multi-role- multi-function. Solid-state Aativeaeray Radar) programme is a technology demonstration being conducted by | BAE SYSTEMS (UK), Thales (France) and EADS (Germany) to produce a radar with a fixed, elecronicaly-stered antenna array, using simi lar technology to the AESA radar being fielded on USAF F-15s and planned for F/A-ISE/F, F-22 and JSF. An AMSAR prototype scanner is txpected to fly in the BAC One-Eleven in ‘ound 2003, but its first application is expected to be the Dassault Rafal, primarily to enhance the French fighters exponabilty. AMSAR is not expected to be integrated into the Captor uni the Tranche 3 Eurofighters in 2010. However, that schedule could be brought forward, Further technologies, such as those forming put of the FOAS (Future Offensive Aircraft System) study, may be injected into Eurofighter 4s they become available. The Eurofighter Is itself @ central part of the FOAS studies, and ould potentially form the basis of the new aireafl. However, FOAS has a wide-ranging brief, which includes UCAVS Uninhabited Comat Air Vehicles) and other aircraft types, present or planned. BAE SYSTEMS also conducted a Sea Typhoon’ study for a carrier boene version. This Was mooted as a potential tircaft to be caried by the UK's two planned aircraf-cariers, although the MoD Is now Avanced weapons such asthe Stor Shadow and ‘Meteor shown hereon DAY, wil not be avaliable wail ‘meh later in th decade. The ASRAAM forms part of te FOC armament fe ‘Above: Th Captor (originally ECRSO)radr fist lew in ‘A’ model orm n this BAC One-Eeven In January 1883. ‘In Jay 199 the model was installed, which rst ‘ew in DAS in February 187. DA4ilastrate) flew with -ECRGO rom the outset. The One-Eloven has played. linportamt part inthe radar development programme, ‘and wil be ited inthe fare wit the AMSAR san’ ‘antenna, which may be fed wo Tancho 3 aircraft. ‘igh: Mounted on the port forward fuselage isthe Eurolist (consortium led by FAR) PIRATE (Passive Infra-Red Airborno Tracking Eulpmont which funtions a8 FUR for lon-level ght and target ‘acquision, and a5 an IRST in the aro role commited 10 the Joint Suike Fighter Gf the progrumme survives) to be its FICA. Future Joint Combat Aira) Deployment plans UK: The Royal Air Force will eceive 232 Burofighters in total (plus 65 options), of which 55 are inchuded inthe first production hatch G7 single-seat, 18 two-seat). Single-seater will smumber 195 and two-seaters 37, most of which will serve in & training function. An option exists fora futher 65 aircraft. Priory has been given to replace the 80 or 0 Tomado Fk 35 ‘hich currently undertake the air defence mmission. Although training should begin at Warton in March 2002, fist deliveries to the RAF are expected in June, but these aireraft will remain at BAE SYSTEMS’ Warton facility where fn Operational Evaluation Unit (EL) will be established, This is to be No. 17 Squadron, ‘hich was the unlucky unit when a decision was made to reduce the number of Tornado GRMK 1 squadrons in 1995. Up to 12 aireraft will be based at Warton An. Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), scheduled to be No, 29. Squadron, will be formed at Coningsby in 2004, andl the OEU will in to the Lincolnshire base, The fst frontline unit will form there in January 2005 ‘The Tomado F3 OCU, currently at Coningsby will move to Leuchars to make room for the incoming OCU, Leeming is. scheduled. to receive Furofighters from 2005/6, and Leuchars from 2008, at which point the Tornado FMK 3 is expected to retire. Further Eurofighters, with expanded multrole capabilities, will replace the Jaguar force at Colshall, although no base has yet been specie. Germany: The Luftwaffe currently bas 3 requitement for 180 Eurofighters, with no ‘options, split between 147 single-seaters and 33, tworseaters. The type will enter service first with JG 73 Steinhott at Liage in January 2003, which currently operates one squadron of F-ARs land one squadron of MIG-29s. Displaced F-4F ICE aircraft will be distibuted 10 the other Phantom wings, as they await conversion to the Burofighter in the order JG 74 Cate 2005 at euler), JG 71 (early 2007 at Wittmund) and JG 72 (mid-2010 at Wittmund), Deliveries ofthe 140 air defence-optimised aircraft should be complete around 2010. The remaining 40 will be from the third production batch, swith full mult-role capability, to replace the oldest of the Luftwaffe’ Tornados w= Italy: The AMI is receiving 121 aircraft (105, single-seat and 16 two-seab, of which the first (a two-seater) should be delivered in July 2002 Options are held on a further nine. The AMI plans to equip five fighter groups and an oper- ational conversion unit, within three wings Each of the six Gruppi is expected to be alloTechnical Briefing cated 15 aircraft, with the remainder being held in reserve. At the time of writing the AME had yet to release offical confirmation of the ‘which will operate the type tipped that the first «nit to form (from Fe 2004) will be a” squadron (Gruppo) expected to gain Stommo at Trapani Spain: The EXrcito del Aire, in whose uirerft will be designated C16 fon (CE.16 for the two-seaters), fs receiving aircraft, Sixteen futher aircraft are held on option, EADS.CASA’s prototype, DAG, is desig hated XCE.16 and o but it was widely in the The other two wings vrofighters are th del Colle and the 37 ‘DA7is sen fring an AIM-SL on 15 December 1857 (atovel and during the fist AIM-120jonison ial 00 17 Decomber left Missle tials ae conducted over the Decimomanna rage in Sardinia CLAEX. Cent Experiment-acion Logisico de Armamento. y lace 2002 the frst series production aircraft will ne delivered to begin the formation of a train ing. unit at EADS-CASA. factory ulrfield near Madrid, which will provide a cadre Of six instructors for the OCU, First-bateh deliv tries will be made in 2002 (two), 2003 (four 2004 (eight for total From the second production batch Spain will receive seven aircraft per year from 2006 to 2008, and five in 2010 (33). The thied batch will be delivered from 2010 to 201 ‘up the Spanish total t First Spanish unit to form will be the OCU at on of Ala 11 004, This unit will ron - nominated as 113 Escuad a January have a strength of seven two-seaters and eight The first front-line unit will be 5s 111 Escuadron, which is expect perational in 2007 with 18 acral. single-seaters Ala | be declared In 2010 Ala 11s third squadron, 112 Escuadron, will be declared operational, also with 18 nicraft. Alt 11 (uot recently a Mirage FL oper ator) will thus have 5: assigned. The remaining 36 aircraft will be equally berween 141 and 142 Escuadrones of Ala 14 (currently flying the Mime PL at anos), which start forming in 2008, nplete their re-equipment process in 2015 c.16/cE.A Overseas marketing Although the pped with the und the UK uppermost, th fexport potential t acquire a highly capable aithough it competition from Rafale and ‘of the F-15, F-6, F-18 and 'u-35. For nations secking to acquire new fight 2010 the JSF, if the urvives, becomes a major rival, as. could export versions of the Lockheed Martin F-2 Initial marketing four partner nations rellectt previous sales anrangements between the slitional ties and HAE SYSTEMS is Pursuing Australia, Singapore Middle East, while EADS-Deutschland leads the sale effort in Europe to Greece, Netherlands and Nonway. BADS-CASA'S main responsibilities He in’ South South America and Turkey while Alenia works in Biz Tn November 1999 Eurofighter International ceri undertake all Typhoon sales, the four partners holding similar stakes in the new company to their overall shares in the rogramme (UK 37.5 per cent, Germany 30 per cent, Italy’ 19.5 per cent, Spain 13 per cent While the individual partners pursue sal 0” Request For level jghtee International takes over for the Request For Proposil and subsequent transac tions, EFL Purposes. "In effect, the Partner provides a channel for contractual riginal EPC Following is brief run-down of the principal Eucofighter sales efforts © Australia: Faced with a considerable rise i the technological capabilities of nations to the nom, Australis has outlined plans for a new fighter to replace the F/A-18 Homets cursentl in service (and currently being upgrided with ASRAAM and AMRAAM missiles). A Request Fe Information was issued in. 1998, December 2000 Project Ai 2012) with which to defend the nation and its northern approaches, plus another 25 strike aircraft to replace the F111 fleet from 2020. A single type would be procured for both requirements. The Typhoon 1& Brazil: Alenia, due to its connection ith EMBRAER through the AMX progrumme a sales attempt in Brazil as the All informations presented onthe HUD, helmet and {tree MUDD (Mutt tneton Head-Down Displays) although the euront Eurfghtr cockpit retains hidden ‘andby instrament. In Bato 3 Eorfightors the HUD i expected to diseppearia favour fa fal elma visor isp as also envisaged forthe SE[ene en ee In its initial guise, the Eurofighter will be equipped for alr defence only, with a traditional AIM-OL Sidewinder/AIM-1208 AMRAAM combination. Alternatives to AIM-9L, to be fielded by FOC aircraft, will be the ASRAAM and IRIS-T. AMRAAM will give way to the Meteor in the lato 2000s. Air-to-surface stores are initially Testricted to free-fall weapons, but the repertoire will grow to include the Brimstone antiermour weapon (RAF), ALARM, Storm Shadow and Taurus. Ant ship missiles such as the Kongsberg Penguin may also be integrated. Above: Lutate aircraft wil carry the IRIS shor | range AAM (onthe outboard pons and wil have the | KEP0.350 Taree stand-of ste nstoad of Storm Shadow. This aircraft eso caries two ALARMS, Below: Peveway lser-guided bombs wil be included in the Intl batch of arto ground weapons Note the AMRAAM cariage onthe wig. ‘Above: This configuration represent the RAF lene ar dominance lonaout wit our Meteors, ‘ovo ASRAAMs and three T00-ire supersonic tanks. Left The Meteor consortium pools the missle expertice ‘of France, Germany, aly, Spain Sweden and the UK The ramjetpowered weapon has 2 very fast yout to ‘extrme range Its designed ti the AMBAAM Aight: iro option forthe Euofighte isthe BLISS ‘luster bomb, of which six canbe carried incleding ‘vin racks 0 the inboard pylons). This arcrat also ‘are 1800-tre fel tanks Above: Brinstone isan ant-armour weapon based on the AGM-118 Hellfire Up to 18 canbe carried on tripe launchers, although this srra is loaded with 12.Ithas a maximum-range tank cotiguration of one {000i and two 1500-ftre tanks. Below: This aircraft has al 13 harpoints occupied by 23 mixed loadout of two Storm Shadows, two ALARMs, four Meteors two Paveway LGB, to ASRAAMs and 2 single 100i tank‘The intensity ofthe ht rks programme hee meant tha the DA irra have not been able to stray too from thoirtst comtres.DAS was spared to visit Norway as part of EADS:Deuschlands concerted effort a secure & purchase from the Lftorsvaret Here itis seen over Olathe capa In 198. © Chile: EADS.CASA Jed Burofighter’s bid provide a new fighter to the Fuerza Aérea de Chile. This effor foundered when the FACh selected the Lockheed Martin F-16 aech Republic issued Request For Information to Burofighter, along with other manufacturers, For a notional fighter force. EADS. Deutschland led the Czech proposal intative Due to the Czech government insisting that proposils be made in Czech currency, manufacturers, Dassault and EADS Deutschlind ithdrew from the competition in May 2001, ing the SAAI/BAE SYSTEMS Gripen as the nly effective competitor. Inthe light ofthis, i is likely that the requirement will be restruc tured and reissued = Czech Republic: In junc 7 1 Greece: Representing Eurofighter’s first sales success, the sment announced in February 1999 that it would purchase atleast 0 Typhoons in a deal Worth a reported. $10.2 billion, with option Under the initial‘ annual payments from 2001. t livery 2006-2010, ‘The confirmed on 8 March 2000 but 2001, hich headed the pestpon of the deal in January Greece began ith, EADS, Burolighter sales effort, and the original timescale increasingly shaky. On 29 March the Prime Minister Costas Simitis ‘announced that the deal would be postponed ‘until after 2004, to allow the fund social programmes, including the hosting ofthe Olympi aye ames in ‘due Spite the steek deal, atthe time of committed to an sage a general postponement of th ting the nation eventual Typhoon purchase = Republic of Korea: In June 2000 South a sent out Requests For Proposal for its fighter requirement invited to bid were Eurofighter (ia EADS-CASA), Dassault, Bocing (for the F-15K) and Sukhoi (Su-35), FX identified an immedi ate need for 40 “heavy fighters’ for delivery in 2004-05, with as many as 80 more required. In April 2001 NETMA extended an invitation to South Korea to join the Eurofighter programme including final assembly of some ‘aircraft and around 30 per cent manufacture of FX. next-generation Contender nen chose this ould have a sa Reeation, allowing itt ‘weapons which are ak Furthermore agree to the early delivery of {o allow time to fully integrate Korean require ments, However, slippage in the F-X prognimme was expected hectuse of a down: turn in the Korean I Sout Korea hose this option fin the final Tranche 2 spect integrate anti-ship part of the F-X NETMA. would Eurofighter = Netherlands: has identified a replace iis F-IGAM The Koninklike Luchtmacht 1o0+-airerat requirement Fighter force at around the end of the decade. A Request For Information was sent to Eurofighter in June 1999, and in April 2000 the Klu Chief of toa flight in DA4. In early 2001 Eurofighter and. Tornad Management Agency) sent an invitation to the Dutch to become a participant in the Iter programme in an attemp ay from the JSF. The Dutch sibility of joining the JSF programme with a decision expected! in lat wOi/early 202, Dutch participation in the Typhoon programme would involve the Tranche 3 Enhanced Eurofighter production machines expected to enter service in around 010, Even if the KLu did not purchase Typhoons, Dutch companies such as Philip Signaal and Stork could become part of the Eurofighter production team NETMA them acliament Norway: Norway was one of the nat being actively courted by Eurofighter, led EADSDeutschland. Faced with the need rephice is F-5 and F-16A/B fleet, the R Norwegian Air Force looked at the Typhoon, Rafale and an updated version of the F (Block 50N), with service entry planned for “nolater than 2006", Rafale was later drop the competition. The initial plan was 2) aircraft to replace Noxthrop another 10 as a follow-on o ation of the from acquire 55, with, Typhoon included a visit by DAS to Rygge air base in June 1998, during which compatibility with local hardene ters was validated to NETMA in October, and. flights by a Nonvegian pilot in December 1998 and August 1999. In May 2000 a decision was imminent, but the incoming Labour government then announced that the competition shelved because the money earmarked for fighter acquisition e Tn February 2001 a major round of cuts was reducing the air force's combat force to 48 F-16s, against protests from the ai force that a minimum of 62. fighters was assignment of a liaison off smnounced, required, At the same time, Defence Minister jor ‘Tore Godal said that the fighter replace ment programme would be rei would not provide aircraft in time deadline set by the ae force, By March choice appeared to be between industrial participation (in either the JSF or Typhoon Tranche 2/3 programmes), or an_offthe approach which would allow F-16, Rafal, Gripen and others to be re-evaluated, as well 8 JSF and Typhoon. The revised for 48 aircraft for delivery from 2008, ts, this spread ld possibly be divided between aircraft batches, one in 2008-2010 and the second in 2015-18. 4 further batch of 12, ‘which would bring the overall buy much eloser to the air force's requirement, is discussed, providing that funding can b Available. If Eurofighter is selected, Norwegian being male ‘ovng been aid up trom December 2000 June 200, ‘DAZ has resumed envelope expansion wark with production standerd E1200-22 engines. The aircraft ‘achieved Mach 2 on 23 December 1887, and in April 1888 topped 80000115240) Industry can expect to participate strongly as a ‘member of the manufacturing team. Kongsberg, Defence and Aerospace (KDA) already builds composite rudders and Maperons for the utofighter, ander contract to BAE SYST f= Poland: Poland issued an RFI for a long GO-fighter purchase in June 195 responded to by EADS-Deutschland. The competition was still active in. mid-2001, with the less expensive Gripen, Mirage 20005 and F-16 seen as principal contenders ‘= Saudi Arabia: BAE SYSTEMS leads uro- fighters efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arab No specific requirement of timescale regarding a new ait superiority fighter has been officially Stated, but the Saudis are being kept informed as part of an “awareness campaige’ = Singapore: Lurofighter was on ‘number of companies which respo juest For Information issued by the Republic © Air Force in late 1999, covering orty fighters, BAE ‘SYSTEMS s effort, Detailed evaluations of the competing types was expected by RSAF in the sum with @ view to proceeding to a Request For Proposal David Donald Seon hor on DAZ, the starboard wing pylon houses two TADS owed radar decoys forthe DASS. Each trailed ‘ona cable lure radar-quided missles away from the ‘reat Another key element ofthe DASS ~ the chaff ‘dispenser can be Seon I the oar ofthe outboard pylon Flares are housed inthe undersides of the lap vacks. 2