Newsdesk — Military Aviation

Us Defence Cuts Hit MDC Hard:

McDonnell Douglas Corporation will be cutting jobs and reorganising as part of a plan tocut overall costs by SUS700m per year. As a result of military cutbacks and program cost overruns, MDC must slash operating costs. Up to 11% of its workforce (or 17,000 employees) will be laid off by year end. The company has been struggling to cope with cutbacks and costs but could only really do so by reducing its work force. Jobs lost will include 4,500 at St Louis, 8,000 at Douglas’ Long Beach facilities and 800 at Mesa, Arizona. Meanwhile, the C-17, A-12and T-45 projects are continuing to drain the company’s funds, while Douglas is gearing up to get deliveries of the MD-11 underway by next year.

Japan Seeking Carrier Advice:

The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) is seeking assistance to build its first aircraft carrier.

The JMSDF is expected to order its first carrier within the next 3-4 years to be operational by the year 2000, though political approval for its acquisition is still needed. Already the Force has held meetings with US, British and French shipbuilding companies to obtain help with a carrier design while foreign armed forces have been approached for advice on carrier operations. The specific type of carrier is not yet decided, though a design of about 20,000 tonnes with ability to operate vertical/short takeoff landing (VSTOL) aircraft and anti submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters is most likely. An air group of 10 fixed wing and ten rotary wing aircraft for the carrier is most likely.

Meanwhile, the JMSDF is known to be con- sidering the acquisition of the MDC/BAe AV-8B Harrier II Pius. The Japanese have not confirmed whether it is planned to operate at least some Harriers onboard a carrier, pre- ferring instead to forecast the need for 50 such aircraft to protect their four destroyer groups by operating from destroyer helicopter flight decks.

 China Wants Soviet Fighters:

The Chinese Government is reportedly seeking to acquire the latest in Soviet military aircraft.

In recent talks with the Soviet Union aimed at improving relations, Chinese negotiators broached the subject of acquiring modern Soviet combat aircraft, discussions centring on the Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter and Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer ground attack aircraft. The talks underline the Chinese need to find a replacement for the now cancelled F-8 upgrade program, and with the Soviet need for hard currency (which the Chinese Government may be able to supply) and the desire for better Sino-Soviet relations, even at the cost of transferring Soviet military technology.

Saudis Reconsidering Tornado Deal:

Yet another nation – this time Saudi Arabia- looks set to cancel Tornado orders in favour of other aircraft.

The Royal Saudi Air Force, which already operates some 72 Tornados, appears certain to cancel its second batch order of 48 interdictor strike (IDS) and air defence variant (ADV) Tornados, valued at over £1bn. The 48 Tornados were part of the 1988 UK-Saudi ‘Al Yamamah 2’ agreement which would also see the acquisition of 60 Hawks, 88 West- land-built Black Hawks and 15 transport aircraft, supplementing a 1985 order of 72 Tornados, 30 Hawks and 30 Pilatus PC-98.

The Saudis have instead expressed interest in acquiring more Hawks and possibly even the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA). Cancellation of the second Saudi Tornado batch will, however, further exacerbate for BAe the situation caused by the recent cancellation of the Malaysian Tornado deal and the last batch of RAF attrition aircraft, both of which acted to bring the Tornado production line to a premature close and place in doubt further foreign orders.

B-1B To Test Jindalee:

The USAF B-1B Lancer is to be pitted against the Australian Jindalee Over the Horizon-Backscat- ter radar.

The B-1B/Jindalee encounter is to be a part of upcoming ‘Pitch Black’ exercise, which will be centred on Darwin. The exercise will be the first time the B-1B will have been to Australia, though chances to view the mighty beast will naturally be quite limited. Jindalee, with a range of 485-1,890nm (900-3,500km) will form a vital part of the exercise, which will provide the most extensive radar coverage of the Australian north since the Second World War.

More Agile Missiles for Stealth Being Tested:

Ford Aerospace is developing what could be the forerunners of a new generation of highly manoeuvrable, unconventionally shaped air-to-air missiles.

The new missiles are designed specifically for Stealth aircraft, though will not replace conventional advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) for per haps another 20 years. Present AMRAAM payload is restricted by the small internal capacity of the stealth aircraft, so the new missiles will be developed to ‘blend in’ with the aircraft’s skin, so as not to interfere with drag. Like AMRAAM, the missile will operate beyond visual range (hitting targets at least 50nm away). Currently, three graphite-poly- mide composite skinned Have Dash 2 missiles are being constructed by Ford Aerospace. Flight testing of these missiles must prove that the all composite structures can withstand the high temperatures generated by Mach 4 plus speeds and that the missiles will operate with great agility.

Northrop Accidentally Reveals Yf-23 Payload Details:

Classified drawings of the Northrop/MDC YF-23 Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) which revealed details of the aircraft’s payload were mistakenly released after the type’s rollout ceremony.

The drawings which were very hastily retrieved by embarrassed Northrop officials – clearly revealed a single ventral weapons bay beneath and sightly aft of the cockpit, with stowage points for four air-to-air missiles. These missiles appeared to be two AIM-9 Sidewinders mounted forward of two AIM-120 AMRAAMs, though even with the aircraft’s 20mm cannon (to be mounted in the starboard fuselage) this seems to be a remarkably small payload for a long range air superiority fighter. Given the fact that the aircraft is only in its initial development stage, additions to payload are possible should the YF-23 be chosen over the Lockheed/Boeing/ General Dynamics YF-22 for the ATF project.

Other areas stressed as important for the next generation ATF fighter are stealth, range, manoeuvrability and supersonic cruise without afterburner.

Peace Cuts Hitting UK Forces:

The onset of more peaceable East-West relations, already hitting US forces hard, is now having its effect on British air arms.

Purportedly in the name of better relations, though with budget restraints undoubtedly also a consideration, the UK Government has released plans for major cutbacks in its military air arms. The most immediate changes will be made in West Germany where the number of RAF air bases will to be halved to just two by the mid 1990s, while the number of Tornado fighter bomber squad-rons in both Germany and Britain will be cut from eleven to just six. Other cutbacks are expected across the forces, though the Royal Navy carrier fleet will retain its fleet of three carriers.

X-29A Slated to Perform Cobra Manoeuvres:

The USAF in a move to counter the ‘cobra’ manoeuvre capabilities of the Soviet MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, is evaluating the use of the Grumman X-29A research aircraft to perform similar high angle of attack (AOA) manoeuvres.

USAF analysts have been somewhat shocked by the cobra manoeuvres performed publicly by the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27, and see a similar capability for US fighters as critical to counter the Soviet aircraft. The X-29A, with its radical forward swept wings, is considered to have “excellent potential for exploiting high AOA manoeuvrability as a viable combat tactic”, though it is doubted that the X-29A will actually be able to surpass Soviet aircraft capabilities; a goal of 70 degrees ADA has been set.

The aircraft reportedly displays good handling control up to 40 deg AOA but there-after experiences increasing wing vibration. Work will commence to rectify this problem, though the USAF claims to have already taken the aircraft to 66 deg AOA despite the inherent instability.

Sr-71 Receives No Reprieve:

The US Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney, has ordered the USAF to abandon plans to keep six SR-718 at 90 days’ standby for operations. The aircraft were to be stored with six electronic surveillance systems so the aircraft could be ready for operations within 90 days of notification of need. This plan has now been abandoned and three of the six aircraft the trainer and two standard operational SR-718-have now been handed over to NASA together with the flight simulator. The reason for this final act of SR-71 forced retirement was reportedly the cost and inconvenience of keeping the six aircraft, their pilots, groundcrew and mission planners “idling somewhere” on readiness to fly operational missions after 90 days’ notice of need. Pentagon spokesman Mike Williams stated that the three NASA SR-718 would only be returned to the USAF in an absolute emergency and summed up the situation by saying: “We no longer have an SR-71 flight capability. ”

Soviets Forming Aerobatic Team:

Soviet authorities have decided that by far the best way to display potent military hardware while improving East-West relations is to form a Red Arrows style acrobatic team.

The as yet unnamed team, to be based near Moscow, will initially fly six MiG-29 Fulcrums, though later four Sukhoi Su-278 will be added to the demonstration flights. The Soviets have apparently been inspired by the recent RAF Red Arrows tour of Eastern Europe and have already obtained advice from the team. It is likely that a small Soviet team will soon visit RAF Scampton to study Red Arrows pilot selection, training and display techniques so an efficient selection and training program can be implemented. It is aimed to have the Soviet display team demonstrating to the public by late 1991 and a UK tour is already being mooted.

Swiss F-18 Deal Being Re-Evaluated:

Switzerland, apparently reacting to the changing political climate in Europe, is re-evaluating its decision to purchase 34 MDC F-18 Hornets.

The move was apparently sparked by the lessening of East-West tensions and a Swiss review of their long-range military requirements, though US analysts claim it is the result of EC pressure for Switzerland to “buy European’. The review has brought into question the need to spend some $US2bn on F-18 Hornets to replace the current fleet of Northrop F-58, so Swiss military authorities have responded by seeking instead a more cost effective, though still very capable alter native. This has proven to be the Dassault Breguet Mirage 2000-5 which, at some 15% less cost to the Hornet, is hoped to be more acceptable to the Swiss Government.

This is despite the fact that the Mirage 2000 (of which the 2000-5 is an export version) was eliminated from the original Swiss fighter competition in 1987 because it did not fulfil Swiss requirements.

 Usaf Facing Funding Problems for Atf:

The US Air Force advanced tactical fighter (ATF) funding plans are being threatened by US Government budget restrictions.

The USAF has requested $US763. 9m in Fiscal 1991 to complete the demonstration and validation phase of the ATF project, plus a further $US238m to commence full-scale development. The USAF, however, facing at budget conscious Congress whose members are well aware of the reduced Soviet threat, is not expected to receive what it wants. Some Congress officials have even questioned the need for the ATF, which was originally designed to provide air superiority over Central Europe, where the Warsaw Pact has now effectively ceased to function and the Soviet threat has substantially decreased.

With the ATF program cost now estimated at $US70bn, the program cost per aircraft has been placed at SUS93m in then year dollars, this being based on a total buy of 750 aircraft. With this number expected to be substantially lowered when the USAF reduces its number of fighter wings, the unit cost of each ATF will be pushed up even further.

German Mig-29s May Return to Ussr:

The MIG-29s due for delivery to East Germany may be returned to the Soviet Union.

The new united German forces will not be using the Soviet produced equipment of the East German armed forces, the high cost and the “logistical nightmare” of operating West German, US and Soviet equipment in the one organisation being a prime reason. for this. Soviet negotiators at the two plus four’ talks between the two Germanys and the four Second World War victorious powers (USA, USSR, UK and France) have insisted that all East German contracts be honoured, a condition of German unification which appears to have been accepted.

The Germans, therefore, with no use for the Soviet produced equipment and not wanting to face the political implications of selling the latest Soviet technology MiG-29s to the US, are said to be seriously consider- ing just handing back the equipment. A senior West German source told Jane’s Defence Weekly: “We have no use for Soviet equipment in our armed forces. We are not going. to fly the MIGS. . . They can have [them] back and we may even pay them for it. ”

Farnborough ‘90 to Be a Big One:

The aviation industry and enthusiasts alike are geared up for the Farnborough International ’90 airshow.

The airshow will be running 2-9 September (Press Day on the 2nd, Trade days from the 3rd to the 6th with the public admitted on the final three days). The exhibition halls at the airshow have been extended to some 58,500sq metres, though demand for display space still exceeded space available. As always, a tightly scheduled, high quality air display is planned to include the newest and most interesting aircraft at the show. These will include, amongst others, the BAe 1000, the Embraer CBA-123, Socata Omega and TBM 700, and again a strong Soviet presence with the Antonov An-225, Ilyushin II-114, Mikoyan MiG-29 and -29UB, Sukhoi Su-27 and -27UB. Meanwhile, from the US is the possibility of the B-2 or F-117 stealth aircraft.

A full colour coverage of what is without doubt the world’s major aerospace exhibition will be in October AA. Don’t miss it!

China Considering Carrier Plans:

According to US intelligence reports, China is considering converting roll-on roll-off (RORO) ships to helicopter carriers.

The reports suggest that although China is currently studying the development of a 48,000 tonne fixed wing carrier, a RORO conversion is likely because it is less costly. RORO conversion is believed attractive to the Chinese Navy because it could still utilise the ships’ amphibious capabilities. Also of interest to the Chinese, however, is the 1984 conversion by the British company, Harland and Wolff, of the RORO container ship Argus into an aviation training ship. It is possible that the Argus conversion could be used as a blueprint for a similar Chinese conversion.

The fixed wing carrier concept for the Chinese Navy is still being decided. It is not known, for instance, just which aircraft types will operate from the proposed carrier, or whether the ship will utilise catapults or a ski ramp deck, though US sources believe cata- pults are the more likely.

As a sideline, the Chinese are known to be studying drawings and data gathered from the HMAS Melbourne after it was sold to China for scrap. Of most interest to their designers are data on the ship’s catapults and aircraft elevators, though it has been pointed out that the BS-4 catapult system utilised by the Melbourne is now nearly 50 years old technology.

Bae Seeking More Civil Work:

BAe is negotiating with several US aerospace companies in a bid to gain commercial subcontract work to enable the company to make up for the UK Government’s cancellation of an order for 33 RAF Tornados.

Cancellation of the 33 attrition aircraft making up Tornado order Batch 8-consist- ing of 26 ground attack GR. 1s and seven F. 3 air defence variants- is the first step in British short term defence cuts to the tune of £600m this financial year. It reflects also the fact that Tornado accident losses have not been as high as the RAF had anticipated.

The cancellation of Batch 8 mainly affects BAe’s Warton production line though the fact that Tornado production is programmed to end in 1992 means that the company must, in any case, ensure that the Warton facilities do not suffer a dramatic loss in production capacity. Failure to find adequate work – either in the form of subcontract work or work transferred from within BAe – will not have a great effect on the company as a whole, but closure of the Warton lines could result in the loss of some 4,000 jobs. BAe im therefore seeking £30-40m worth of commercial business.

Human Factors Concern Caf Hornet Crash Review:

The Canadians Armed Forces (CAF), in its review of CF-18 Hornet operations (refer p. 12 July 90 AA), has raised concerns about human factors in their spate of CF-18 crashes.

The review highlights such issues as pilot disorientation and cockpit instrument. layout, there being “widespread concern. that the rate and volume of information presented on modern cockpit displays can sat- urate the pilot’s ability to absorb and prioritise information”.

Though no single or predominant cause for the spate of CF-18 Hornet crashes was identified, feedback from CAF pilots suggests that because the single head up display is so concentrated, it is not difficult to become confused about the aircraft’s attitude. The review has therefore recommended that the standby electronic attitude indicator be moved from its present location of near the pilot’s right knee to a position closer to the HUD.

The Canadian Air Command has already taken several measures to halt the above average Hornet accident rate. The low level flight limit was raised some months ago, while all CAF Hornet squadrons have now completed a disorientation refresher course. The CAF is also examining the US Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory spatial and visual disorientation training system, as well as an Environmental Tectonics Corporation system which trains pilots to safely fly out of a disorientation situation.

The spate of Hornet crashes has primarily been a Canadian phenomenon with low level CAF operations, recognised as amongst the world’s most demanding, having contributed to the high crash rate.

Lockheed Leasing Out Norton Afb Hangar Space:

Lockheed has leased a Norton AFB hangar complex for immediate civilian operations with joint occupancy with the USAF The Norton AFB lease comes at a time when US military cutbacks are seeing the closure of many US military establishments while the growing world airline fleet is putting pressure on aircraft maintenance facilities.

Norton base of the US 63rd Military Airlift Wing is just one of 86 military facilities scheduled for closure in 1994 and Lockheed has grasped the opportunity to take over the excellent heavy jet maintenance facilities that will be left behind. A newly formed subsidiary of Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed Commercial Aircraft Center, will begin operations at Norton in December 1990 when, as Phase of the move, the company will occupy two of the four 4,465sq metre bays made available.

In Phase II, due for completion in 1994, the company will occupy the remaining two bays when USAF operations at the base cease. Lockheed Commercial Aircraft Center will use the facilities to perform maintenance and modifications on 747s. By 1994 it will employ some 970 personnel at Norton in what is emerging as a rapidly growing sector of the airline environment.

Hawker Pacific Awarded AS1821 Accreditation:

Hawker Pacific has been accredited by the Australian Department of Defence as meeting the quality system requirements of Australian Standard AS1821.

The accreditation recognises that Hawker Pacific meets the defined quality standards as a supplier of engineering and design support for aircraft and maintenance of air frames, piston engines and associated equipment. Hawker Pacific’’s Managing Director, Mr Chris Ryland, said that the company had designed its new quality system to meet the internationally recognised standard 1SO9001 which is scheduled to progressively replace AS1821 in Australia with the local designation AS3901. Hawker Pacific will therefore qualify for the new designation.

Hawker Pacific i already a major support organisation for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with contracts including major airframe overhauls of UH-1H helicopters atCairns and Bankstown. At RAAF Fairbairn, Canberra, the company provides full on site spares support for the RAAF Falcon 900 fleet with some intermediate level maintenance and depot level maintenance (DLM) being undertaken at the company’s Mascot facility. At Oakey, Queensland, the HQ of the Army Aviation Corps, Hawker Pacific has over 40 civilian employees working under the direction of the 5th Base Workshop Battalion in support of Bell 206 Kiowas, Pilatus Porters and GAF Nomads. Under a separate contract, the company is undertaking a DLM for the Army’s Nomads at Archerfield.

With the new AS1821 accreditation, Hawker Pacific will be pursuing further related business opportunities in Australia and overseas.