Newsdesk – Military

F-18 Radar Exceeds Performance Goals:

The Hughes APG-65 radar which equips the F-18 has exceeded by a wide margin the performance guarantees required in the initial US Navy contract. In the latest test two radars, built in 1982, were selected at random and run under stringently monitored conditions till a fault developed. At this stage of development, the APG-65 was required to perform 85 hours of MeanTime Between Failures while the test radars operated out to 149 hours prior to being voluntarily switched off to check performance data. This represents typically about four to five months of on-line operation without failure. The present Mirage Cyrano radar averages around four to five hours of operation between failures by comparison Temperature variations from -41°C to + 70°C were duplicated to cover the operating extremes to be found in Canada and Australia.

F-111s to Carry Sidewinders:

Following the impressive performance of the all-aspect Infra Red Sidewinder AIM-9L air-to-air missile in both the Falklands and Israeli Lebanese campaigns, it has now become standard practice for USAF F-111 aircraft to be armed with pylon-mounted Sidewinders to give them a measure of self-defence in hostile airspace. In the Falklands campaign Maritime Reconnaissance Nimrods regularly patrolled with a brace of four Sidewinders for self-defence At present though there is no thought to RAAF F-111C aircraft being equipped with air-to-air missiles.

Re-Engined Phantom Programme Mooted by Pratt & Whitney:

Pratt & Whitney have launched a low-key effort to evaluate international interest in re-engining existing MDC F-4 Phantom cells with the new P&W PW1120 20,000 lb class combat turbofan. The PW1120 is a refined, smaller version of the established F100 and has been chosen by IAI to power their radical Lavi fighter aircraft. Exchanging the existing GE J79s for the PW1120 would save more than 2000 lb in weight, and allow additional room for extra fuel tanks while increasing reheated thrust by 14,000 lb while achieving significantly lower fuel burn and higher overall levels of maintainability and operational reliability. There are a large number of F-4 aircraft operated by such nations as Spain, Israel, Turkey, West Germany, South Korea and Japan that are prime candidates for the retrofit programme. In many cases, Pratt & Whitney point out, the avionics and airframe can simultaneously be upgraded to the latest F-4 specifications, providing a life extension for a highly capable aircraft with an airframe of inherent long-life capabilities.

France and Britain Fight for German Fighter Programme Participation:

Both Britain and France are fighting hard for the backing of West Germany in an effort to launch their respective advanced fighter projects for the nineteen nineties British Aerospace, with UK government backing, have decided to proceed with the development of an Agile Combat Aircraft (ACA) demonstrator while France’s Dassault will go the same route with its Avian de Combat Experimental (ACX) Both ACA and ACX will fly in 1986 in demonstrator form. Neither project can however go ahead solely on the backing of its own air force, therefore whichever company secures the endorsement of Germany will eventually triumph as it is also expected the losing nation will then join a collaborative venture that will ultimately supply fighter aircraft for all three primary services in addition to export contracts. Tornado has proved 1n concept that multinational European combat aircraft programmes can work.

US Army Buys Ultralights:

The US Army has purchased four Rotec ultralight aircraft for evaluation in the flight training and surveillance role. The general opinion is that with twenty hours or so flight time on a three-axis control, ultralight would probably reduce by a third the flight time required on a proper fixed-wing trainer to the PPL standard. US forces now largely use the Cessna 172 in this initial stage. One advantage to the ultralight community with the m1l1tary getting involved in this type of aircraft would be the effect of immediate R&D funding into problems such as engine reliability and noise Noise reduction is currently the single most pressing requirement with ultralights equating to trail bikes in terms of public acceptance of noise standards. The eventual military requirement for ultraquiet ultralights will no doubt be a major gain for the entire minimum aircraft community

Spain purchases F/A-18 Hornet:

The Government of Spain has signed at three billion dollar contract to purchase McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets Spain has ordered 72 aircraft with an option for 12 more The first Spanish F /A-18 is to be delivered in 1986.

‘We are very pleased to see the Hornet win its third consecutive international competition,’ said Sanford N. McDonnell, Chairman and Chief Executive of McDonnell Douglas Corporation. The United States Navy and Marine Corps, currently flying their first squadrons of F/A-18s, have previously announced plans to acquire 1366F/A-18s plus 11 development aircraft. Canada has ordered 138 of the aircraft, designated the CF-18, and Australia has ordered 75. McDonnell Douglas estimates that the market for the F /A-18 is about 2500 planes.

Cessna Citation Wins Us Navy Contract:

Cessna has been selected by the USN to provide 15 modified Citation II aircraft for the Undergraduate Navy Flight Officer training project The aircraft have uprated engines, wing modifications that permit continued high-speed low-level flight and are equipped with nose-mounted radar. The USN will lease the fleet from Cessna for five years with an option to renew This form of ‘purchase’ is becoming popular and frees up funds for the higher value combat aircraft programmes. Meanwhile, the USN decision has placed Cessna as the favourite in the soon-to-be-decided USAF T-39 Sabreliner replacement programme which will combine to total 120 aircraft split between turboprop and turbofan types.

Exercise K83 a Departure From Previous Kangaroo Series War Games:

Last year Australian Aviation had the pleasure of attending a seminar at the W1lhamtown-based Joint Warfare Establishment (JWE) where it became clear that efforts to involve directly each of the three forces, plus appropriate civilian organisations, in any threat or disaster scenario were getting full backing from Defence Central. One of the most likely threats facing Australia in the coming decade is the concept of nuisance raids and limited lodgements on our sparsely inhabited Northern coastline, the defence of which requires one hundred per cent coordination and cooperation of all three services. Therefore, it is no surprise that Exercise Kangaroo83 will function around this spec1f1c scenario and will involve a smaller number of personnel and hardware than previous such exercises K83 will run through October and should be one of the most valuable exercises our forces have undertaken in recent years. Australian Aviation will be in attendance and we look forward to bringing you an update in our December edition.

New Life for RAAF P-3BS?

Lockheed have made presentations to the RAAF on the possibility of converting a number, probably four to six, of our soon-to-be-replaced P-3B Orions to an Airborne Early Warning (AEW) configuration. Lockheed pointed out that the aircraft is already fully in the RAAF support system, is generally due for a major maintenance visit and that each aircraft could be stripped and fitted with sensors and radar similar to that of the Grumman E-2C and BoeingE-3A Sentry. Benefits the AEW Orion would have over the RAAF-favoured E-2C would be vastly enhanced range, commonality and better mission endurance due to an improved crew environment and higher transit speeds to the patrol zone. As Australia already owns the aircraft, it is estimated that the cost per modification would be in the region of $20 million, about half that of the E-2C. Lockheed are keen to win the order as it would open up a whole new market for the refurbishment to AEW standards of existing P-3A and B aircraft worldwide

New Designation for Tanker/ Transport Unit:

Formerly known as 33 Flight, the RAAF’s four unit 707 tanker transport flight is now known as the 33rd Strategic Transport Squadron The RAAF took delivery in late June of two additional Boeing 707-338aircraft which were formerly operated by Worldways of Canada. The two ‘new’ 707s will undergo extensive refurbishment at the Qantas JetBase and, it is expected that all four of the 707s will be converted to tankers around 1985/86. Presently only about 15% of the total 707 flying time is dedicated to exclusive governmental VIP functions while as the RAAF slowly withdraws from Butterworth additional flight hours will be able to be utilised for the inflight refuelling task.

Gulfstream Win Prestigious USAF Order:

Gulfstream Aerospace, about the only aircraft manufacturer that is on the crest of a wave nowadays, has won the prestigious USAF Special Mission contest Gulfstream will lease USAF 11 Gulfstream GIII aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Lockheed C-140 Jetstar. In what is now becoming commonplace in the US services, USAF will lease the aircraft and their support services from Gulfstream rather than purchase them outright Gulfstream won against Boeing’s 737 and a Lockheed/ Fokker proposal using the F. 28-3000.

Boeing Tacamo Order Could Take 707 Airframe Construction Into Its 40th Year:

When rolled out ol’ ‘Dash Eighty’ back in 1954 they could not have guessed that the basic airframe could well be in production some forty years later. This unique event should now come to pass with the US Navy’s selection of Boeing’s E-6A for its Tacamo mission USN has ordered 15 E-6As which will, like later variants of the E-3 AWACS, be powered by four CFM56 engines. Navy expect to take delivery of their first 1987 and the fifteenth in 1991 though follow-on orders for both AWACS and and Tacamo aircraft could well see 707 airframe production continuing through to 1994

New Zealand Evaluates Skyhawk Successor:

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is studying two options towards fulfilling its air defence/ strike requirement for the next decade. Option one is to refurbish and perhaps augment the existing nine aircraft A-4K Skyhawk fleet, while option two is examining the purchase of a Skyhawk replacement. A senior RNZAF evaluation team has recently returned from an overseas fact-finding tour in which they examined the McDonnell Douglas F-18A, the Northrop F-20, the General Dynamics F-16 and the Sepecat Jaguar. If a new type is purchased the total requirement would be only around 14 to 18 aircraft and that type would also replace the existing 15-strong SAC Strikemaster force. The cost of a new aircraft acquisition is high though, particularly as the New New Zealand dollar has depreciated against the dollar in recent years by as much as 50% and it is generally thought that the RNZAF will opt for the much cheaper option of refurbishing and augmenting the existing Skyhawk force.

F-20 Tigershark Performs With New Engine:

Northrop’s F-20Tigershark, set for formal production launch, has performed flawlessly with the latest version of General Electric’s F404 engine. The latest version of the 404 produces 17,000 lb thrust, a 1000 lb increase over the model that powers the F-18. The maiden flight took the aircraft through a comprehensive range of throttle transients, operated m both primary and backup fuel control modes, and took it out to Mach 1. 6 at 36,000 ft. As is the case aboard the F-18, the GE F404 has proved extremely reliable and has comfortably exceeded every maintenance and performance goal originally set by the US Navy. To date, the F-20 has logged more than 330 sorties while aircraft No 2, the first production example F-20A, which features additional internal fuel capacity and an integrated digital avionics system and panoramic canopy, will test fly in December 1983.

Pacific Nations to Study Australian Coastal Surveillance Methods:

Australia’s coastal surveillance methods are to be studied by representatives of three South Pacific countries. Representatives from Tonga, Fiji and the Solomon Islands would engage in a two-week familiarisation course in civil coastal surveillance sponsored by the Australian Defence Co-operation Program. The three South Pacific countries had requested the course be given after considering recommendations by a Joint Australian-New Zealand team of experts on their civil coastal surveillance requirements.

New Bases for Northern Australia?

Defence Minister Gordon Scholes has been keen to commit the government to the completion of a bare-bones base at Derby in West Australia and is actively considering an s1m1lar base for Cape York Peninsula Tindal, 200 km south of Darwin, will be used as an aF-18 base once that establishment has been completed, around 1988, while enhancement of the Learmouth strip has also been mooted The Derby base is not a small operation, covering as 11 does some 25,000 hectares and measuring roughly 26 kilometres by 15 with a primary control area of at least 4000 hectares Presently a dual-lane access road is being built to the site which will feature a main runway of 9000 ft with a parallel taxiway that doubles as a runway in emergency conditions as do a number of the associated taxiways. The base will feature high-speed taxiway exits, hardstands and a large reserve capacity fuel dump but will house no solid structures other than a small power station. While the highway to the base site is expected to be completed by this Christmas the actual base will not be fully operational till at least 1988 at a cost of $54 million in 1982 dollars Establishment of a similar base on Cape York Peninsula would give the RAAF a tactical deployment capability through an arc ranging from Townsville, Cape York, Darwin/Tindal, Derby and finally Learmouth. This would allow a flexible approach to emergency basing of F-18 and-111 strike aircraft backed up field by the C-130 and Caribou/ helo force and supported at long range 1f necessary by Australia’s civilian fleet funnelling troops and supplies via Australia’s 24 747s, 28 727s, 12 737s, five 767s and four A300 aircraft.

Enforcers Are Readied for US Air Force Evaluation

With its preliminary shakedown complete, the first two Enforcer prototypes have commenced a series of demanding flight tests that will culminate in a US Air Force evaluation later this year.

The Enforcer has a maximum design speed of 350 knots and an altitude capability of 25,000 feet Piper was awarded an Air Force contract m September 1981 to design, develop and test two lightweight, propjet-powered close-air support aircraft. The second prototype began flying in June. The Enforcer, with an average cruise speed of 250 knots, will deliver weapons at speeds between 280 and 325 knots Armament will include two 30 mm gun pods, 2. 75-inch rockets, cluster bombs and Rockeye bombs Weapons configurations can be changed to meet a wide range of mission requirements.

In October, the Enforcers will fly to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for two months to determine weapons delivery capabilities. They then go to Edwards Air Force Base in California at the end of November for the operational evaluation, during which they will fly against typical combat targets.

The US Air Force operational evaluation should be completed by May 1984 An Air Force report is expected to be submitted to Congress by the end of 1984.

Westland Win Big Indian Navy Order:

Westland, who is said by some of their competitors to be in financial difficulties, has reported a pre-tax profit of US$20 million for the first half of their current trading year, more than double the figure for the same period last year. Sales for the current six-month period have amounted to US$177 million as against $125 for last year. Westland has also won a big order with their Sea King helicopter with the sale of 20 to the Indian Navy. Equipped for both ASW and sea strike missions, the Indian Navy Sea Kings will be equipped with the new British Aerospace Sea Eagle antishipping missile in addition to the latest electronic ASW suite.

West Germany Seeks Phantom Replacement:

The West German Luftwaffe is dedicated to using the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom for the remainder of this decade to defend its territory against any Warpac intrusion. The service however has lagged behind many others in formalising a replacement for this aircraft which nowadays is both costly to support in maintenance terms but also will not be a match for the new generation of Soviet fighters due to enter service around 1986/87. The Luftwaffe has recently begun the introduction service of the Panavia Tornado effectively freeing more of the F-4E force for air defence tasks However, the selection of a dedicated air superiority fighter is now taking shape with the service examining in detail the Northrop F-20, the GD F-16, MDC F-18A, MDC F-15C and the Mirage 2000. West Germany is known to require between 200 and 300 aircraft for this task which indicates one of the biggest defence sales of the decade is at stake. Bnt1sh aerospace are also busily wooing West German industry with their ACA fighter project as is France with the ACX If either nation can get West Germany to join them in a collaboration programme, then that project will be as good as launched On the other hand both MBB and Dornier are proceeding with homegrown projects to satisfy Luftwaffe requirements. MBB are teamed with McConnell Douglas while Dornier is working with Northrop. Both companies have produced a number of fighter mock-ups in recent years aimed at the Phantom replacement requirement.

New Defence Industry Newsletter Impressive:

Max Hawkins has always been a concise and accurate defence correspondent and therefore it comes as no surprise that his specialist newsletter, Defence Industry, is a first-rate weekly update of the defence community within Australia. This editor has been receiving Defence Industry now for several months – it commenced operation in January – and finds it an invaluable source of behind-the-news information affecting the defence of Australia. If you would like to try a sample copy then write to Max Hawkins at Australian Press Services Pty Ltd, 4 Kennedy Street, Kingston, ACT 2604.

ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Hosts Important Conference:

The respected Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University at Canberra again hosts what has become a popular bi-annual event in the form of a specialist defence conference, This year’s event, which runs from November 28 through to December 2 is entitled ‘The Civil Infrastructure in the Defence of Australia. Assets and Vulnerabilities’. Coming as it does soon after the Kangaroo 83 exercise it will be interesting to learn the precise results of an exercise which is modelled precisely upon the basic thesis of the ANU Conference. The Conference examines in detail the important question of civilian assistance to the forces, the support from existing civilian assets and the geography of the Northern Australian region. For further information on this not-to-miss conference contact the Conference Secretary, SDSC, RSPacS, ANU, PO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601.

Minister for Defence Support to Visit the Netherlands And Scandinavia:

The Minister for Defence Support, Mr Brian Howe, will visit the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway from 2 to 15 to study their defence industries These countries were chosen because their defence spending levels are similar to Australia’s, and their defence industries organised in ways that could be relevant for Australia Mr Howe said he will study the integration of their defence industries into the national economies The main subjects he will examine will include the effectiveness, management, and structures of defence industries, and their relations with government, armed services and other industries. Industrial democracy and occupational health safety in defence plants will also be studied Mr Howe said he believed Australia could learn from the experience and organisation of defence industries in Holland, Sweden and Norway. This knowledge can be important in implementing Federal Government policy that Australian industries should benefit as much as possible from defence manufacturing and procurement.’

Sea Harrier to Get New Radar:

The British Ministry of Defence has awarded Ferranti a contract to develop the Blue Fox radar of the Sea Harrier. The development will provide a full look-down capability, longer range, a track while scan mode and an increased resistance to electronic countermeasures. The Sea Harrier will also get wing leading edge extensions on the wing roots and increased fuel capacity allowing enhanced endurance. The new radar will allow Sea Harriers to carry the Beyond Visual Range AMRAAM air-to-air missile; the developed radar is also able to be fitted to the AV-8B.

Pucaras to Africa:

Argentina is to supply the Central African Republic with twelve FMA IA. 58Pucaralight turboprop COIN aircraft. The contract, which includes spares, support facilities and training, is valued at only $12 million, which indicates a degree of aid in the to government contract FMA is also developing an uprated version of the base Pucara, which fared poorly in the Falklands primarily due to poor tactics, designated the IA. 66. The new model will be powered by 1000 shp Garrett TPE331-11 turboprops, will have McCauley four-blade propellers and minor airframe changes to enhance serviceability. The Argentine Air Arm has ordered an additional fifty Pucaras to make good attrition losses of the Falklands campaign.