Newsdesk – Military

Three F101 DFE engines will be delivered for the US Air Force/US Navy limited flight test program.

The 26-29,000 pounds thrust class F101 DFE was awarded a 30-month contract in March 1979 as part of a cooperative plan between the Air Force and the Navy for joint propulsion efforts to develop a potential alternate engine for advanced fighters.

The engine utilises the technology developed for the US Government in the F101 and F404 turbofan engines. The F101 was developed for the US Air Force’s 8-1 strategic aircraft, while the F404 is in development for the US Navy’s F-18 aircraft. The F101 DFE uses the core engine of the F101 and a scaled-up F404 front fan and augmentor/nozzle. More than 30,000 development and flight test hours on com­ponents applicable to the F101 DFE have been accumulated to date.

Installation of the engine for testing in the F-14 and F-16 differs slightly. An inlet exten­sion and different engine mount points are necessary on the F-14 versus the F-16. A full-scale mockup has been successfully trial­ fitted in both aircraft.

SWEPT WING GO-AHEAD: Grumman, General Dynamics and Rockwell Inter­ national have been awarded follow-on con­ tracts by the USAF DARPA agency to proceed with developing their respective forward swept-wing fighter concepts. It is expected that this will then lead to a final development contract being let to one con­ structure to actually build an evaluation prototype for flight testing. Forward sweep is not new though advances in technology over the past 20 years have meant that most of the potential problems associated with forward sweep have been eliminated. The primary advantages of a forward swept­ wing fighter is smaller wing area, overall smaller aircraft size, higher power-to-weight ratio, extremely low stalling speed and higher lift capabilities at low speeds. STOL performance without the drag limitations found with traditional STOL designs at high speeds and finally far less drag in the tran­ sonic range greatly lowering fuel consump­tion at high subsonic cruise speeds thereby enhancing mission radius of action.

USAF KEEN ON STRETCHED 111: Via the Strategic Air Command, USAF com­manders are pushing heavily for a stretch and refurbishment program for their SAC F-111 aircraft. Primary modifications would be a stretch of the airframe from the present 75ft to 88ft with a large dorsal fairing to carry additional fuel and sensors. It is also en­ visaged that the new aircraft would be powered by General Electric F-101 tur­ bofans from the 8-1 bomber, this engine delivers in the region of 30,000lb thrust with reheat. SAC is pushing for the modification of 66 FB-111A and 89 F-111D SAC aircraft. The purpose of the exercise is to greatly extend the operational life of the F-111 fleet and enhance the low-level strategic penetration capability into the coming decade. Ad­ditional fuel will allow the refurbished air­ craft to undertake missions now totally out of F-111 capability. Though the stretched 111 has already been thrown out of Congress (in the early 70s) the chance of SAC winning their case this time is relatively high due to the cancellation of the 8-1 bomber and the massive advance in Soviet strategic capability in recent years.

EGYPT GOES IT ALONE: Following the loss of financial support from its Arab neighbours, particularly Saudi Arabia, Egypt has liquidated the Arab Organisation for In­dustrialisation and formed the Egyptian Organisation for Arms Production which will feature President Anwar Sadat as Chair­ man The new organisation will concentrate on maintenance of EAF aircraft and refur­bishment of MIG-21 jets in the EAF Inven­tory.

INDONESIA LOOKS TO THE SKYHAWK: The US government has sent a letter of offer to Indonesia for the procure­ ment of 14 A-4E and two TA-4H Skyhawk jets. It is not known at this stage whether the offer will be accepted by Indonesia, however, If it Is then Indonesia will go down in history as operating one of the most diverse aviation fleets in existence In com­ parison to several aircraft in inventory. For instance, Indonesia operates or is in the process of acquiring, 12 F-5E, four F-5F, 16 CA-27 Sabres, 16 OV-10F Bronco and eight BAe Hawk aircraft. Negotiations are also still in process for 15 F-1CN Mirage fighters. Just why Indonesia should operate such small numbers of a wide variety of air­ craft makes one wonder how they manage to look after the complex maintenance func­tion for so many differing types.

CHINA MAY BUY P&W ENGINES: In what would be very good business for Pratt & Whitney and Canada, China Is evaluating a plan to refit its 600 Mi-4 helicopters with PT-6T-6 Twin Pac helicopter turbine units. China already operates a small number of Bell 212s equipped with this powerplant and a test Installation has already been under­ taken on an Ml-4 which is manu­factured in China under the designation H-5.

FUEL-EFFICIENT TANKERS: USAF has completed an evaluation of the Simmonds Precision performance advisory system flight management computer aboard a C-135 and has found the system to be capable of reducing fuel consumption by between 3. 6 and 4. 2 per cent. The system under test is the standard unit fitted to many airliners throughout the world. USAF hope that by incorporating these fuel/flight management systems, re-equipping with engines of the CFM-56 class and the addi­tion of winglets will improve KC-135 fuel economy by as much as 20 per cent and ex­tend the operational life of the 800 odd tankers well into the late 1990s.

SHALE OIL FUEL ALTERNATIVES TO AVTUR: The US Energy Department is conducting a series of tests to establish the feasibility of deriving middle-range distillate fuels from shale oil. Shale oil looks ideal as a source for developing aircraft turbine and marine-grade diesel fuels. Co-operating with the Energy Dept In the test will be the US Dept of Defense which hopes to be able to source the majority of Its aviation fuel from shale oil by 1990 If the tests are successful. Australia will be the big winner here if the project is a goer. The known reserves of shale oil in Queensland alone would be sufficient to en­sure Australia’s independence well into the next century.

SWEARINGEN MARKETING SURVEILLANCE METRO: It seems everybody marketing a twin-engined aircraft is busily adapting MR surveillance versions of their basic corporate and commuter air­ craft. The latest to Join the ranks is Swearingen with their Metro conversion which is somewhat oddly named the Merlin. Oddly, the Merlin Is the smaller Swearingen twin which lends heavily to con­ fusing the two when discussing various Swearingen types. Still, it is a well-equipped aircraft for this role, sharing as It does the joint economies of compact dimensions and relative economy of operation with a con­ considerable performance envelope. The Merlin is configured for a crew of seven and all equipment is designed for speedy removal which then allows up to 20 passengers to be carried in the freight role. Radar Is the pop­ular Litton AN/APS-504 while Swearingen claims the Merlin has an 8-1O hour mission endurance with low-level patrol speeds as low as 133kts.

HARPOON SPOT-ON: The US Navy has released information that the McDonnell Douglas Harpoon anti-ship missile has proven more than 90 per cent effective in test firings. Australia will eventually Incor­porating the 100km range Harpoon missile in the Orion aircraft, the Oberon submarines and the new FFG patrol frigates. Harpoon will also be viable when the F-111C force Is upgraded for a stand-off capability and of course, the future TFF aircraft will also be capable of launching Harpoon.

GOVERNMENT GETS MORE, DEFENCE GETS LESS: Defence commen­ tators are increasingly asking whether, In fact, Australia can afford a viable rearmament program. Defence has taken a battering in recent years despite the ever-flowing political diatribe reaffirming the government’s commitment to a strong defence force. From 3. 7 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product devoted to defence in 1969/70, we have spent only 2. 5 to 2,7 per cent for the past six years. At the same time, total Federal spending grew from 26 to 29 per cent of GDP. Main allocation Increases have gone to welfare, health and education with somewhat marginal capability Im­provements in each sector.

RAAF LOOKING AT ORION UPDATES: RAAF is looking at the options available in updating its decade-old Lockheed P-38 Orion ASW/MR aircraft to conform more with the vastly more capable P-3C. There are a number of options for refurbishment available which stem from full-scale up­ grading to C standards or simply upgrading only the surveillance suite without In­ increasing anti-submarine capability. On the other hand, the RAAF simply left the B aircraft as they were and replaced them with totally new ASW aircraft In the 1990s. Lockheed also hopes that in time the Caribou will be replaced by a third squadron of C-130H aircraft. The H model Hercules has lent itself well to rough-strip tactical operations far more so than the RAAF ever envisaged and with the Hercules now cheaper than say, the Aerltalla G-222, It could be a front runner for the eventual Tac­ tical Transport Requirement later this decade.

SOVIETS BUILDING BIG CARRIER: US Defense Agency has released information that clearly indicates the Soviet Union is constructing a large-deck nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Whether or not the new carrier will have a catapult capability to launch non-VTOL fixed-wing aircraft is not known. Russia has indicated that It is building eight of the Kiev class aircraft carriers, the third of which is currently undergoing sea trials. The Soviet Navy is forg­ing ahead with ships being built at an un­precendented rate at five submarine yards and eight surface-ship construction yards.

RAAF CHINOOK TO UPLIFT TWO CRASHED AIRCRAFT: A RAAF Chinook helicopter has assisted in the recovery of two crashed aircraft.

The first recovery, at the request of the PNG authorities, will be of a World War II Ford Tri-motor transport aircraft that crashed 6000ft up in the Owen Stanley Ranges in November 1942. This aircraft had been involved in the medical evacuation of Australian soldiers wounded In fighting on the Kokoda Trail. It was damaged when it hit a mud patch on landing and overturned.

The Tri-motor will be airlifted to Port Moresby, where it will be installed in the newly-established Aviation, Maritime and War Branch of the National Museum.

A second airlift involves a Trlslander air­ craft operated by Tai Air, which crashed recently near the airfield at Wanuma. The aircraft Is essentially intact but with a damaged undercarriage.

DELAY IN REVIEW OF AUSTRALIA’S COASTAL SURVEILLANCE: A major review of Australia’s coastal surveillance needs and resources, originally proposed for mid-1980, has been deferred for at least 12 months.

The review had been planned to begin after reasonable experience with the new surveillance program, which was an­nounced in July 1978.

“Since that announcement, two significant matters have affected the timing of a meaningful review,” Mr Nixon said.

“First is that we need practical experience in the surveillance task associated with the com­mencement of the 200 nautical mile Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ).

“As a result of this, it is expected that the Surveillance Organisation will have acquired sufficient experience with the new program to report fully on the civil coastal sur­veillance task by around mid-1981.

“The results of this exercise will provide the Government with the necessary background against which it can review arrangements appropriate to Australia’s longer-term civil surveillance needs,” Mr Nixon said.

He said the second reason was the Government’s decision last December to reserve a proportion of routine surveillance charter flying for the Australian-designed and built Nomad aircraft. Up to 10 Nomads will be used in the surveillance program.“By deferring the review the Australian Coastal Surveillance Organisation will have greater opportunity to acquire experience with Nomad operations,” Mr Nixon said.

STARFIGHTER CONTRACT TO LOCKHEED: Lockheed Aircraft Service Company has been awarded a US Air Force contract having a total value of $46 million over a 44-month period.

The contract is for continued maintenance of the German Air Force fleet of F-104 aircraft that are stationed at Luke AFB, Arizona.

Lockheed Aircraft Service Company has managed the aircraft maintenance operations of the German pilot training program since 1964, with the company hav­ing the responsibility for the complete maintenance of 47 German Air Force F-104G and TF-104G aircraft. The aircraft are operated with US markings. The Luftwaffe train at Luke AFB to avoid the operational restrictions encountered in Western Europe.

Student and instructor pilots have flown over 250,000 training hours at Luke AFB since the program started.

Lockheed Aircraft Service Company currently has operations and bases in On­tario, California; Luke AFB, Arizona; and overseas in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Greece, and the Sudan.

NAVY AIRCRAFT FITTED WITH ELECTRONIC WARFARE TRAINING SYSTEMS: A Royal Australian Navy HS 748 aircraft left Australia for the United States on October 22 to be fitted out as the Australian Defence Force’s first electronic warfare training aircraft.

After acceptance trials, the aircraft and its new electronic warfare training systems would return to Australia early next year.

A second Navy HS748 aircraft would be fitted for, but not with, the electronic warfare equipment. This work would be done in Australia.

Electronic warfare is the art of using radio and radar equipment to gain maximum information about an enemy’s activities, and at the same time denying him similar information about friendly activities.

The procurement of the training systems would provide the Australian Defence Force with the ability to realistically simulate a hostile electronic warfare environment in the training of command teams; shipboard, airborne and land-based radar operators; and communicators and operators of electronic support and countermeasure equipment. Sensing devices to be fitted to the HS 748 aircraft would allow the aircraft’s operators to detect and identify signals that could be interrupted by the use of one or more of the aircraft’s jamming systems.

The prime contractor for the project is Sanders Associates Incorporated of Nashua, New Hampshire, USA, with Hawker de Havilland Australia Pty Ltd, the major sub-contractor for all modification work on both aircraft. The total project cost would be about $11m.

The first stage began 12 months ago at the Bankstown, Sydney, factory of Hawker de Havilland Australia Ply Ltd and involved the installation in the HS748 aircraft of a console, racks and wiring for the new elec­tronic warfare equipment.

Modification of the second Navy HS748 aircraft would be carried out at the Hawker de Havilland works at Bankstown.

To coincide with the departure of the HS748 aircraft for the United States, seven technical personnel, comprising five Navy and two civilian Defence officers, began an 18-week electronic warfare training systems maintenance course at Sanders Associates facility at Nashua, New Hampshire.

Sanders also would train fiveRAN aircrew personnel in electronic warfare operating procedures before the commencement of the first trials in the United States. These personnel would then take part in the acceptance trials before ferrying the aircraft back to Australia.

RNZAF UPDATE HERCULES: Lockheed has announced the signing of a $USS million contract with New Zealand for modification of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s C-130 transport fleet. Signed in Wellington, the contract calls for the five aeroplanes to be modified one at a time during 1981. The work will consist of the replacement of the aeroplanes’ outer wings and is designed to extend the fleet’s operational life by 15 years. RNZAF operates the early model “H” version, this type being acquired in the late 60s.

CHINESE DEVELOPING NEW ICBM: US Defense Dept has revealed that the People’s Republic of China is developing a new ICBM with a range capability of 7500ml. Several test stages of the new missile have been successfully fired from the Sinkiang missile test centre and the system is expected to achieve operational status by 1985.

B-521 FOR NATO: Strategic Air Command are to base a number of B-52D bombers in Europe to support and augment NATO firepower. Each B-52D is capable of carrying between 20 and 30 tons of conventional bombs. The B-52D will also be deployed in a maritime capacity having a highly effective capability with SAAM stand­ off missiles. The 80 B-52D being transferred to NATO support will increase alliance’s conventional firepower by more than 50 per cent while greatly reducing deployment response time from bases previously located in the USA.