Newsdesk- Military Aviation

Us Power for Albatross:

The Czechoslovakian L-39 Albatross tandem two seat jet trainer is to receive American power in its attempt to win the forthcoming USAF/USN joint primary aircrew training system contest.

The aircraft’s usual 3,792lb thrust Mvchenko Al-25 turbofan will be replaced by a Garrett TFE731-4 turbofan and the installation will be designed and performed by the engine manufacturer. In addition, Bendix/King will install Western avionics.

In its new guise the Albatross will be known as the L-59 and a major Western partner is being sought. The Albatross first flew in 1968 and has been in full scale production since 1972 as the standard jet trainer for the Czech, Soviet and East German air forces as well as ten other Soviet aligned countries.

Aero also recently signed with Israeli electronics specialist, Élbit, to perform avionics updates on existing new and used L-398 for the export market. About 2,900 have been manufactured so far.

Us Army Looks Ahead:

After a lengthy investigation, the US Army has revealed its Army Aviation Modernisation Plan (AAMP 91), outlining the basics of a “modern, versatile, cost effective, lethal, warfighting fleet. ” The primary thrust of the overall philosophy shows a change in the main perceived threat from being the Soviet Union (although its expanded and improved tactical air defences figure strongly) to various scenarios involving developing countries, par-

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particularly in the Middle East (due to its chronic instabilities), the Far East (a likely scene for low intensity conflicts) and Latin America, where anti drug operations will be centred. Other areas of concern include improved helicopter air to air capabilities, the increased effectiveness of anti helicopter weapons and the increased use of electronic counter measures employed by armour.

Equipment plans include the upgrading of 580 Apache attack helicopters to AH-64B standard with air to air versions of the Stinger missile and associated electronics as well as a laser warning receiver. Another 227 are earmarked for upgrade to AH-64C Longbow Apache standard with millimetre wave radar and Hellfire ‘fire and forget’ missiles.

For reconnaissance duties, the decision to delay the new Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche light attack and scout helicopter will result in a mixed fleet of old and new helicopters. Between 1,292 and 1,681 Coman- ches will be built eventually, primarily repla- cing Bell OH-588 which will be upgraded until the new helicopter enters service.

For its utility fleet the US Army will acquire a total of 1,427 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks up to 1996, while another utility helicopter, the UH-X is in the final stages of its design study phase. If this is not taken up, options include further Black Hawks or off the shelf purchases of another type or possibly a Bell UH-1 Iroquois life extension program. The Army’s cargo fleet modernisation program will be completed by the purchase of 472 improved CH-47D Chinooks.

 Usaf Fighter Options:

Faced with several alternatives as to what form its next multirole fighter will take, the USAF plans to decide late next year which option it will proceed with.

The main alternatives are the development of a new aircraft or the purchase of a General Dynamics F-16 derivative (F-16XL?), while McDonnell Douglas is expected to offer an F/A-18 Hornet derivative. One option which is unlikely to be considered on cost grounds is a development of the F-15 Eagle.

If a derivative design is chosen, production could begin in 1997 and the aircraft enter service three years later. A new design would not enter service until 2005. Up to 2,000 of these aircraft could be procured.

Grumman and Lockheed Get Together:

In what some have seen as an obvious move for some years, Lockheed and Grumman have joined forces to market early warning and control (AEW&C) versions of the P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules.

The aircraft will use the electronics suite and fuselage mounted rotating radome from the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye. Two of these Randtron APA-171 ‘rotodomes’ are already flying on Orions of the US Customs Service, with two more on order. Lockheed first proposed an AEW&C Orion in the early 1980s and flew a prototype (based on an ex-RAAF P-3B) in 1984, while Grumman has needed to find more suitable airframes in which to mount the Hawkeye’s electronics.

The Pacific Rim is regarded as a prime potential market (particularly Australia and Japan) while the US Marine Corps also has a requirement for such a type, using the Hercules as the basis.

 Lockheed Targets Europe for Hercules Sales:

Lockheed is now actively targeting major European air forces as customers for new C-130 Hercules variants.

With the European Community entering a new era of co-operation and the prospect of joint sales of military equipment to satisfy the requirements of several European nations, Lockheed and the fledgling aerospace con- sortium Euroflag with partners Alenia, Aerospatiale, BAe, Deutsche Airbus and CASA- are now competing head on to sup- ply Europe with a new tactical transport air- craft. Lockheed already has in the Hercules an aircraft which can be readily updated to provide a transport to fulfil future require- ments, however it has received a knock back with the US Air Force’s apparent disinterest (due primarily to post Gulf war policy changes) in the improved C-130J Hercules variant; the USAF is continuing to purchase the C-130H model with updated avionics.

Lockheed therefore is studying the possibility of offering an updated, “Europeanised” Hercules to Europe. European firms – most likely in Germany, France or the UK-would be offered the chance to participate in the project, with joint production contracts and probably the European production of avionics and associated equipment. Ultimately the new variant would feature a forward fuselage section built in Europe and mated to airframes rolling off Lockheed’s Georgia production line.

 Mig-31 Radar Old Hat:

The Soviet MIG-31 fighter, displayed in the West for the first time at this year’s Paris Air Show (refer p. 25 Aug 91 AA), has old technology late 1960s vintage radar, according to a US radar expert.

The aircraft’s ‘Flashdance’ low X-band (9. 0-9. 5GHz) radar was identified some years ago and although it operates in a frequency range considered good for fire control, it can be effectively used only for head on engagements and can track only 10 targets at once, an insignificant number by current standards. A later, more capable radar system is installed in the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter.

Bae Close to Indonesian Hawk Sale:

British Aerospace has signed a collaborative agreement with IPTN of Indonesia for licence production of the highly successful BAe Hawk 100/200.

Although no formal requirement for the Hawk has been made by Indonesia, it is understood that the country needs at least 69 aircraft. Interest in the Hawk has been expressed (Indonesia already operates . . . early model Hawk T. 538), and the co-produc- tion agreement with IPTN is expected to take BAe one step closer to achieving a firm sale of Hawk 100/200 series aircraft in the near future.

Yakovlev Develops New Vistol Fighter:

The Yakovlev design bureau has developed the Yak-141 vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) fighter, and is now offering the aircraft for military service.

The Yak-141, which is the world’s only supersonic V/STOL aircraft, has been developed for the Soviet Navy as an all weather fighter for operations from both ships and land based facilities. Missions include air intercept, aerial combat, ground attack and

Beauforts Return!

Great news! Just as we were running out of stock we have been able to acquire a fresh source of supply for most of the earlier books in our popular Australian Airpower Collection series. Consequently our fourth book, on the Beaufort, Beaufighter & Mosquito in Australian Service is now available once more in soft cover form. Unfortunately hard cover editions are extinct.

Also extinct are both soft and hard cover editions of our third book in the series- The Lincoln, Canberra & F-111 in Australian Service. No new source of supply has been found for this title nor will a reprint be undertaken due to the very high cost involved.

Our next book in this highly acclaimed series will be released in October and will feature the exploits of the three WW2 CAC aircraft, The Wirraway, Boomerang and CA-15. Don’t miss it! anti-shipping strikes. The aircraft is powered by a Tumansky R-79 used for lift during vertical takeoff and for cruise during horizontal flight, with two Rybinsk RD engines used as liftjets during V/STOL flight.

The basic single seat Yak-141 has an overall length of 18. 3m, height 5m, wingspan 10. 1m (5. 9m when wings folded). Max takeoff weight with a short takeoff run is 19,500kg (43,000lb), top speed in level flight is 972kt (1,800km/h), service ceiling over 49,000ft (15,000m), range 1. 135nm (2. 100km). An external weapons load of 2,600kg (5,730lb) can be carried; the aircraft carries a 30mm cannon and can carry an assortment of missiles and unguided rockets externally.

Now that the aircraft’s development pro- gram is closer to completion, Yakovlev have renewed efforts to sell the Yak-141 to India, which already operates two aircraft carriers and a fleet of 16 V/STOL BAe Sea Harrier FRS. 51s and two Harrier T. 60 trainers. India expressed interest in the Yak-141 early in the program, and may still be attracted by the aircraft’s supersonic capabilities. Yakovlev hopes that a sale to India may offset to a degree the expected cutbacks in orders from the now budget conscious Soviet Defence Ministry.

F-22 Is Maintenance Friendly:

The new Lockheed/Boeing/GD F-22 fighter, despite its complexity, will require at least a third less maintenance time than any previous equivalent aircraft, according to the USAF Combat turnaround time will be just 15 minutes and transporting all the material necessary to deploy a full squadron of aircraft for 30 days will require no more than eight Lockheed C-141 loads, about half the number needed for current fighters.

The F-22 suffered some access problems during its evaluation by the USAF but these have been solved by using wheel well and weapons bays to provide access to the avionics racks. In addition, fibre optics are used in place of much of the normal copper wiring resulting in less wiring and a lower maintenance burden.

The F-22’s avionics will also require minimal maintenance due to the use of the latest solid state technology and large scale integrated circuits. They are cooled by a liquid system which will keep the components cooler, while the use of common avionics modules-four or five instead of the normal 25 or more-results in a much lower level of stock needing to be kept in store.

The reliability expectations are so high it is probable that some electronics components will never need to be removed from the aircraft during its service life.

 Tornado Considered for Wild Weasel Role:

Germany and the United States have held discussions over the pos- sibility of using the electronic combat recon- naissance (ECR) Tornado variant to meet the US Air Force’s Wild Weasel requirements.

The Wild Weasel surface-to-air missile suppression aircraft role, currently undertaken by the ageing F-4G Phantom, gained renewed importance during the Gulf war, prior to which the USAF had intended to disband its Wild Weasel capability. German authorities are keen to sell the Tornado ECR variant to foreign customers because pres- ent production schedules will result in Tor- nado production ending late next year. Besides the recent talks with the US, Pan- avia is offering the Wild Weasel Tornado to both Saudi Arabia and South Korea, with a minimum order of 15 aircraft being required from each nation to sustain production (South Korea at least has a requirement for 25-50 aircraft, though licence production or final assembly is being discussed).

A US deal would form part of an offset deal, in which the US would buy the Tornado in exchange for Germany buying a US maritime patrol aircraft and various US missiles systems. But whilst the Tornado could be readily modified to fulfil the Wild Weasel role, any such deal would attract strong opposition from the struggling US aerospace industry and possibly even the USAF itself, if the Tornado was not seen as the best aircraft for the role.

Raaf VIP Aircraft Ground Handling Contract:

The Melbourne Jet Base has been awarded a one year ground handling contract for the RAAF’s VIP aircraft.

This contract is to provide turnaround services at Melbourne Airport for the RAAF fleet of Falcon 900 and Boeing 707 aircraft. The tender was won in competition with other organisations. The RAAF’s 34 Squadron had been using Melbourne Jet Base on a regular basis since last November.

The privacy and security offered by Melbourne Jet Base was particularly useful during the Gulf War and is considered an asset of considerable value at times when high levels of security are necessary.

 We Should Have Known!:

Writers should know that making ‘definitive’ statements like we did in the July issue can be fraught with danger.

Describing the destruction of an Iraqi hell- copter by a laser guided bomb as “. . . believed to be the first time an airborne aircraft. . . has been intentionally destroyed by a bomb” has resulted in one or two letters pointing out earlier such encounters, particularly by the Luftwaffe against formations of American bombers in 1943. The first success was achieved on 22 March 1943 when a 500lb bomb was dropped from Lt Heinz Knoke’s aircraft onto a formation of B-17s, with immediate results.

Even before this date however an Australian pilot, Fit Sgt Keith Kildey, reportedly also scored a victory with a bomb. Whilst flying a Kittyhawk in an attack against a North African airfield on 12 July 1942, he sighted a German Fieseler Fi 156 Storch flying low and dropped his bomb from 500ft. The aircraft was destroyed by the blast.

But at least the Gulf war victory was the first with a laser-guided bomb!