Newsdesk – Military Aviation

The only other Sabre in Australia that is earmarked for flight is the aircraft belonging to Sqdn. Ldr. Jeff Trappett of Melbourne. Jeff reports though that his project is years away from completion and much time is spent just maintaining the existing fleet which comprises a P-51D Mustang. Ryan STM, Boeing Stearman and a CAC Winjeel.

New Command and Control Arrangements for Joint Maritime Operations:

A new Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) to command joint maritime operations and activities has been established in Sydney. The new MHQ would be formed from the existing Fleet Headquarters at Garden Island and would ensure maximum cooperation between naval and air force units engaged in maritime activities.

The need to establish such an MHQ had come about as a result of a detailed review during 1984 of command and control arrangements by the Chief of the Defence Force, General Sir Phillip Bennett, and the three Service Chiefs of Staff.

Present arrangements for joint maritime activities had been of concern within the Australian Defence Force for some time, given that a maritime contingency requiring a joint force response could arise with relatively short notice. There was an obvious need for continuous coordination of Defence Force maritime assets at the command and control level for specified joint operations and activities.

US to Arm Its Helicopters With Air-To-Air Missiles:

The US Army is planning to equip its helicopter force with air– to-air missiles in order to combat the threat posed by Soviet Hind and Sukhoi Frogfoot aircraft. The most likely missile candidate would be an air-launched version of the small Stinger, which is a man-portable infrared missile usually deployed from the ground by infantry. Stinger has already successfully been tried in this role and may be fitted as standard to the primary front line attack helos of the US Army. Eventually, the Army hopes to be able to equip all battlefield helos with their own self-defence missiles.

The large Mi-24 Hind assault gunship has proven to have a number of operational flaws as evidenced by its tactical use in the Afghanistan conflict. Informed sources have quoted that it lacks specific excess power for tight combat manoeuvering, has little or no power reserve in a hot and high environment and is particularly susceptible to small arms fire about the cockpit region. Additionally, the tail boom is weak and has been seen to break up with only a few direct hits by 50-calibre ammunition in the Afghanistan campaign.

The other Soviet threat is the Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot, a slow, manoeuvrable and heavily armed fixed-wing ground support aircraft similar to the UASF Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II. Frogfoot, like the A-10, should provide a considerable opponent for allied attack helos in addition to being lethal against ground forces. It is hoped that the deployment of a mature air-to-air capability for US helos will destabilise the Soviet operational environment sufficiently to reduce their overall effect on allied ground forces.

Office of Defence Production Launched:

Government factories and dockyards which were part of the former Department of Defence Support are to be incorporated in the Department of Defence in an Office of Defence Production.

Announcing this, the Minister for Defence, Mr. Kim Beazley, said as an interim measure the chief of Capital Procurement in the Department of Defence, Mr. F. N. Bennett, would take up the position of the Head of the Office of Defence Production.

Mr. Bennett would oversee the integration of the two departments, and make recommendations on the ultimate location within the Department of Defence Support other than the factories and dockyards.

Mysteries to Be Updated While Trackers Sold as Firefighters:

The RAAF is planning to call for tenders to equip its 3 Dassault Mystere VIP aircraft with VHF Omega on-board navigation systems. Use of Omega aboard the small jets of 34 Sqdn. will ease the navigation workload of the crews and allow direct tracking on some sectors which will have both time and fuel-saving benefits. The RAAF plan to fit Omega to the Mysteries indicates that these aircraft will remain in RAAF service longer than previously anticipated and puts an end to speculation that they would soon be replaced by new and more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Meanwhile, four of the former RAN Grum-man S-2 Tracker ASW aircraft have been sold to a French company for conversion to water bombers. Devoid of their extensive electronics and weapon systems the Trackers will join a fleet of Canadair CL-158 in combatting forest fires in the south of France.

Barra Production Exceeds 100,000 Units:

A milestone has been reached in one of Australia’s most successful Defence Production ventures.

Working under contract with the Department of Defence, Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited has completed the assembly of the 100,000th hydrophone arm for the Barra Sonobuoy.

The Barra Sonobuoy is used by both Australia and the United Kingdom and has gained recognition as the most advanced of its type in the world. It is an expendable device that is dropped into the sea from RAAF Orion and RAF Nimrod aircraft to detect and locate submarines from the noise they emit. The sonobuoy is an example of what can be achieved by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and Australian industry. The Barra concept is a product of research by scientists of the Weapons Systems Research Laboratory. Advanced Engineering Laboratory collaborated with WSRL in experimental development and with Australian industry contractors in development for manufacture.

AWA has been awarded three production contracts since 1978 and by 1986 Australian industry will have gained more than $120 million in production orders for Barra sonobuoys.

Pilot Groups Finally Agree on Who Flies the Hornet:

In an industrial dispute that had all the romance of a railways demarcation fracas, Australia’s various pilot groups have finally come to an agreement on who is going to fly the F-18A Hornet fighters produced by the GAF. With the support now of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots and the Department of Defence, McAir (MDC) pilots will do the initial production flying, the RAAF will do the acceptance flying while the AFAP will share the task of flying Macchi chase planes and SAR flights.

The first Australian-produced Hornet was due to fly before the end of 1984 but this plus the fitment of a tail strengthening kit delayed its reported first flight till late February this year. The first Australian-built Hornet is due to be handed over officially to the RAAF in early April though the programme is also running marginally behind schedule in the US owing to the need to retrofit tail strengthening kits and a surge in training obligations at Lemorre in Southern California to satisfy a demand for accelerated USNUSMC carrier deployments.

Interested in Spitfires?

Of all the aircraft man has ever built, the Supermarine Spitfire was probably produced in more versions than any other. Following the pedigree of the Spit has always been fraught with mystery so it is refreshing to come across a book which at last sets out in basic form the technical differences between each marque. Simply titled, The Spitfire Book, this excellent ready reference work is available for a mere $5. 95 from Norgam Enterprises, 4 Waters Road, Neutral Bay, 2009. As an easy-to-use reference work it is essential to any combat aircraft reference library.

JVX Is Designated:

The Bell/Boeing Vertol JVX Tilt Rotor has been officially designated the V-22 Osprey. Development of the V-22 has been slowed owing to the recent decision by the US DoD to bypass flying the prototypes with an interim engine in favour of waiting a year for the first examples of the eventual new technology powerplants the V-22 will use in service. While the first flight did not now take place till early 1988, production remained on schedule with first examples being delivered to the US military during 1991.

The V-22 will usher in an entirely new era of vertical lift aviation and will be powered by engines considerably more advanced, in terms of reliability, durability and fuel efficiency, than those in service in large helicopters currently. Pratt & Whitney and General Electric are offering entirely new engines in the 5,000shp class while Allison is proposing a derivative of its present T56 engine which in turboshaft form powers the C-130, P-3 and the E-2 Hawkeye. Bell/Boeing Vertol are planning to commence full-scale development this. June while an engine choice is expected to be made during late 1986.

Eventual V-22 production could exceed several thousand as the aircraft is being acquired by all four US services and will no doubt have a wide export appeal in both military and civil derivatives in later years. The US Navy initially requires 50 for combat rescue, US Marine Corps needs 552 for battlefield support, US Army is looking at around 230 for logistics support missions and the USAF requires at least 80 for combat rescue and long-range covert missions.

Bell Helicopter Australia have offered the V-22 as an eventual UH-1 Iroquois replacement. In RAAF livery the J-22 could ultimately re-place both the ageing Caribou and by 1995 the existing CH-47C Chinook force which by that time will be requiring replacement.

A.20 Back in the Trainer Race:

Following backbench uproar in the House of Commons, the British Ministry of Defence has reinstated the Westland/AAC A. 20 Wamira and Hunting Firecracker aircraft back into the RAF Jet Provost trainer replacement programme.

This will in effect allow more time for both companies to revise their tenders and refine certain performance specifications that will be of benefit to their submissions.

Primary contenders though are still the Pilatus PC-9 and the Embraer Tucano. Pilatus have teamed with British Aerospace and Embraer with Shorts as industry partners. Observers feel that with a large amount of military hardware Switzerland will be buying over the next ten years, it will be difficult for Britain not to select the Swiss aircraft. Switzer- land has by tradition been a big purchaser from the UK, something which the Swiss now recognise as very much a one-way street activity. Switzerland has only recently purchased a large number of Land Rovers and is a favourite for a large Hawk trainer and Model 200 single-seat ground attack purchase to replace their 150 Hawker Hunters later this decade.

Embraer meanwhile feel that their teaming with Shorts will see them through. The Northern Ireland region is of special social significance to the UK government and any project that further boosts Northern Ireland’s largest single company is worthy of support in London. Hunting’s only asset is its excellent aircraft and the fact that from the outset it is the only British aircraft entered in the competition. On the other hand Westland and our own AAC offer little in a trade buy-back deal, particularly after the RAN ordered Sikorsky helicopters for their FFGs and the Blackhawk remains the favourite for the RAAF Iroquois replacement. Another factor not in our favour is that the A. 10/ A. 20 is still basically a paper plane and without a flying example in many respects is at a disadvantage to its competitors. Final decision, which was to have been made last January has now been put back till April or May.

Powered Gbu-15 Glide Bomb Under Development:

Rockwell International have been awarded the first part of a $US63m contract for the development of a rocket-powered version of the GBU-15 glide bomb which is on order by the RAAF for the F-111C force. The powered version of the GBU-15, which is based on a standard 2,000lb Mk84 iron bomb, will have a range of up to 15nm from a low-level launch, about three times that of the unpowered version. Additionally, the system is being designed to carry a number of role-specific payloads such as a fuel-air warhead or runway submunitions for use against airfields and large dispersal areas. Designated AGM-130, it is not presently known if the RAAF will acquire the weapon should it pass its 34-month development phase successfully though RAAF sources tell us that it would certainly provide a viable complement to the standard GBU-15.

Sea Harriers to Get Full Beyond Visual Range Capability:

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded contracts in excess of $300m for the half-life refit of its 57 BAe Sea Harrier jets. Foremost in the upgrade will be the addition of the Ferranti Blue Vixen radar which is significantly more powerful than the standard Blue Fox unit employed at this time. Blue Vixen will have much greater range which for the first time will allow a member of the Harrier family to be armed with radar-guided BVR missiles of the AMRAAM class. In its new form the Sea Harrier will be able to carry up to four AMRAAMs and two ASRAAM or Sidewinder AIM-9L air-to-air missiles in addition to two 190gl tanks and internal cannon. Additionally, Blue Vixen has improved ECM capabilities, a full look-down shoot-down capability and improved air-to-ground performance using anti-ship missiles such as the BAe Sea Eagle. The upgraded Sea Harrier will be designated as FRS. 2 models and conversion is expected to commence during 1987.

US Navy Sign for F-16s for Their Aggressor Squadrons:

The US Navy has signed with General Dynamics for the supply of 14, and eventually 28, F-16N aircraft. The F-16N will ultimately replace Northrop F-5E and McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft currently used in the aggressor air combat manoeuvering role. Due to the high aircraft utilisation of the Navy Top Gun ACM squadrons the F-5 and A-4 aircraft are rapidly running out of airframe hours. To augment the existing types, the USN recently leased 12 Israeli IAI Kfir fighters to maintain flight hours till the first of the F-16Ns are available in 1987. The F-16N is basically an F-16A without the internal cannon, ECM fit or radar warning receiver, basic flyaway cost of the first batch of 14 aircraft is $US11m per aircraft.

Northrop were hoping for a win with their as-yet un-launched F-20 Tigershark, which apparently was offered at $US12m a copy flyaway (flyaway is a basic unit cost and excludes the cost of spares, support facilities and training. figures which can usually double the unit cost when expressed in programme terms as we do in Australia). Selection of the Tigershark would have enabled a launch of the project in addition to Northrop having secured a US DoD operator, something that has emerged as a requirement amongst interested potential overseas purchasers.

Many defence observers were surprised by the Navy decision in that originally the service showed a preference for the GDF-16/79, an F- 16A airframe with the 18,000lb thrust GE J79 turbojet. Navy logic ran that the service already had a substantial inventory of J79 engines and thus only required to finance the airframes and systems. Northrop contests that their aircraft would have been cheaper to operate over a period and that the engine that powers the F-20, the GE F404, is in the Navy inventory via the F-18A. Meanwhile, the USAF has decided to upgrade its fleet of F-SE aggressor aircraft and has delayed issuing an RFP for replacement aircraft for at least four years.

Helicopter Recovery System Chosen for FFGS:

The Minister for Defence has announced the selection of a helicopter recovery system for the RAN’s guided missile frigates (FFGs).

Subject to the negotiation of satisfactory terms and conditions, including the nature and extent of Australian industry participation, it was intended to purchase the RAST system manufactured by DAF Indal Ltd. of Ontario, Canada, for HMA Ships Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Darwin and for the two FFGs to be built at Williamstown, Victoria.

RAST stands for ‘recovery assist, secure and traverse’. The system uses a cable to guide the helicopter down to its deck landing and secures it before moving it into its hangar. The system will enable Seahawk helicopters to operate from the small moving deck of the FFGs in all but the worst weather conditions and sea states. The previously announced FFG modification programme, estimated to cost about $51m, included the purchase and installation of RAST systems.

The installation in HMAS Darwin was planned to be undertaken in the USA before the ship arrived in Australia in late 1985. HMA Ships Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney would have their RAST systems installed in Australian dockyards. The work involved strengthening the hull, extending the existing flight deck, installing tracks into the flight deck for transferring helicopters to and from the hangars, fitting machinery below deck and adding a control cabin on the flight deck.

New Variants of C-130 Hercules Proposed:

Lockheed, Hamilton Standard and General Electric have teamed to promote two new variants of the C-130 Hercules designed to meet the future requirement for a C-130 replacement. Two variants are proposed, one, designated Assault C-130, encompasses the basic C-130H fuselage while the other, designated C-130 WBS (Wide Body Section) features a significantly enlarged fuselage. Both variants feature new uprated engines, revised and strengthened wings and control surfaces, a larger tail and rudder along with Leading Edge Extensions (LEX) forward of the horizontal tailplane.

The Assault C-130 would be optimised for operation into the FEBA (Forward Edge of the Battle Area) in direct support of ground forces operating into 500m strips in temperatures of up to 40°C. Using General Electric GE34 turboshafts (derived from the CF34 and TF34) of 8,800shp against the standard Allison T56 of 4,910shp the Assault C-130 is designed to operate out of strips half the length of that usually associated with the present Hercules. Additionally, the aircraft would be able to carry a 20-tonne payload over a 500nm radius and have a bevelled-up undercarriage in addition to extra protection against small arms fire and a greater ability to perform low-level, low speed evasive manoeuvres than the existing C- 130H.

The WBS C-130 features an internal cabin width of 140in as against the standard, and the Assault version with 120in, cabin height has also been increased from 108 in to 136in allow- ing large items of mobile equipment to be carried that normally would be too large for a C-130. The WBS can carry 7 internal cargo pallets as against 5 in the standard aircraft in addition to a 30-tonne payload over a range of 1000nm in the resupply role.

Both versions would offer state-of-the-art EFIS flight decks, aluminium lithium and composite structures, Hamilton Standard 8- 8-bladed propellers and the GE GE34 turboshafts which could eventually be rated out to 11,000shp. The USAF and USN/USMC presently operate nearly 1000 Hercules transports, the majority of which are older than 15 years and which will need replacing during the 1990s. USAF has the option of either replacing the present Hercules fleet with a vastly improved model Hercules such as this proposal suggests or opting for an all-new aircraft in the AMST mould such as the YC-15 and YC-14.

Austria Fighter Buy Not the Sale of the Century:

In a world regularly stunned by the sheer enormity of aerospace contracts a study of the diminutive requirements of Austria bears investigation. The Austrian Air Force has a requirement for an interceptor aircraft in order to be able to intercept and initiate appropriate action against any possible intruder to its neutral airspace. The present air arm is made up of primarily light training and transport aircraft while the national defence budget puts Australia in the super-power league. The Austrian government has now voted the equivalent of around $A100 million to acquire 24 such interceptors. Northrop have bid with the F-5E Dassault with Mirage ills, IAI with the Kfir while Saab has offered ex-Swedish Air force Drakens and BAe ex-Saudi Lightnings in addition to Hawk single-seaters. As the programme has been running now for several years we cannot report on who has won nor when a decision will be made, so next time you weep about our own protracted defence procurement procedures spare a thought for Austria!