Newsdesk-Military Aviation

 Price of War:

It’s official, we now know the cost of war – $US54bn in the case of the recent Gulf altercation. Most of that – about $US48. 2bn – will be covered by contributions pledged by the allies.

The USA received $US5. 8bn in fuel and other non-cash support from the allies and it wrote off $US1. 2bn worth of military equipment which war lost and will not be replaced.

Raaf 707 Crash Raises Concerns:

Although nothing has yet been officially released on the cause of the 707 crash, nor is likely to be for some time, conjecture is that a demonstration of Vmca (minimum control speed with both engines out on one side) with rudder boost off, was being given to as part of an endorsement on type at the time of the accident.

Boeing apparently does not recommend this demonstration on the actual aircraft due to the loss of an aircraft during the 707’s initial flight test programme in the fifties.

It is difficult to understand how such a manoeuvre could be permitted in the light of the Boeing experience, particularly as it could have been fully demonstrated in the simulator. Real engine out approaches were scrapped years ago as they were really like practicing to die; this accident having the same ring to it.

The real question that needs to be answered is, was the demonstration an approved sequence in the conversion syllabus and why is it practiced anyway, let alone at low altitude in a real aircraft when it could be performed (obviously safer) in a simulator?

Thanks, Comrade:

The man mainly responsible for the development of the Lock-heed F-117 stealth fighter, Alan Brown, has credited a Soviet scientific paper with providing a substantial boost to Lockheed’s attempts to analyse radar signatures mathematically.

The 1962 paper by Pyotr Ufimtsev was called “Method of Edge Waves in the Physical Theory of Diffraction” and contained practical methods of calculating radar returns. The information it contained made a 30-40% contribution to the computer programmes used many years later to design the F-117. Ufimtsev is now a visiting professor at the UCLA and says that senior Soviet scientists and designers ironically showed no interest in his paper when he first presented it.

 PNG Buys From Indonesia:

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force has ordered two examples of the Spanish/Indonesian CASA/TPN 235 twin turboprop transport to replace five ex-RAAF Dakotas which were supplied from the mid 1970s.

PNG has decided to no longer rely on Australia for all its defence equipment, understandable when the restrictions placed on its use by Australia are taken into account. The controversy surrounding the use of former RAAF Iroquois helicopters by the PNGDF on Bougainville in recent times illustrates this.

 Saudis Drop F-15 Request:

Saudi Arabia has withdrawn its request for the sup- ply of 72 McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles, partly as a result of pressure from the strong pro-Israel lobby in the US-Congress. An earlier Saudi request for 24 F-158 still stands.

For McDonnell Douglas, the decision means that F-15 production will end in late 1993 unless new orders are received. Apart from Saudi Arabia, Japan and ironically-Israel, are candidates for new F-158.

Earlier attempts to stretch production by slowing down the delivery rate to the USAF and placing new small orders have been only partially successful. RESTRUCTURE

 Usaf Underway:

The process which will eventually see the US Air Force restructured into two major commands instead of the present three has begun, the result of a planned 25% cutback of the service over the next few years and the realisation that the division between strategic and tactical missions has become blurred.

The current Tactical Air, Strategic Air and Military Airlift Commands will be restructured into Air Combat and Air Mobility Commands (ACC and AMC), each containing a number of composite wings combining a mixture of aircraft role types. Two kinds of composite wings are envisaged, one providing an air intervention capability using air superiority, long range interdiction, multirole fighter, airborne warning and control, aerial refuelling and other types of aircraft. The second style of composite wing would provide close air support, battlefield interdiction, ground attack (possibly including helicopter gunships), and a transport capability.

The USAF will also be joining the navy and army in the formation of the unified US Strategic Command which will be responsible for the peacetime nuclear alert force including land based ICBMs, the navy’s SSBNs and the USAF’s bombers.

707 Dropped:

The RAAF has suffered another casualty to its Boeing 707 fleet, this time while the aircraft was in the relative safety of a Qantas hangar at Sydney Airport.

The aircraft, one of the tankers, was under-going scheduled maintenance at the Qantas Jet Base in January when a large supporting hydraulic jack was prematurely removed. The remaining jacks pierced the skin of the aircraft in several places as it fell to the floor. The 707- a former Qantas aircraft-received Category 4 damage which means it needs major repair work. On the RAAF’s damage scale, Category 4 is just one short of Category 5, which means a write-off.

A decision on whether to attempt repairs or to purchase another aircraft from over-seas is still to be made. Repairs would take a considerable amount of time to complete.

Long Range Maverick:

Hughes is planning a longer range version of its successful and battle proven AGM-65 Maverick air to ground missile, tripling its range to up to 75km.

Called the Longhorn, the new missile will have an air breathing turbofan engine (in place of the standard solid fuel rocket), the choice of either the existing infrared seeker or a new radar seeker and an inertial navigation/global positioning system. At 3. 4 metres, the Longhorn will be one metre longer than the original.

Arl Developing Ew Displays in Tactical Aircraft:

The Aircraft Systems Division of the Aeronautical Research Laboratory is using rapid virtual prototyping. software for the evaluation of different display configurations for electronic warfare information in tactical aircraft. The software application facilitates the development of interactive visual displays using a touch screen. As a consequence it is possible to represent display formats and behaviour as they might appear in cockpit configurations.

Centrespread

Riding high, a BAe Hawk Mk63 in service with the air force of the United Arab Emirates.

One of the most capable advanced jet trainers to be put into service, the Hawk family has been in production since 1975. An export success, the Hawk is operated by a number of nations including Finland, Kenya, Indonesia and Kuwait as well as the RAF whilst Malaysia and South Korea have the type on order.

Depicted is a Mk60 series example which is capable of carrying up to 6,800b (3,900kg) of ordnance, as well as a 30mm cannon pod on the centreline station. Also currently available is the more advanced Hawk 100 light attack aircraft and the Hawk 200 single seat lightweight multi-role fighter, both having advanced avionics and a new wing.

Across the Atlantic the Hawk derived McDonnell Douglas/BAe T-45 Goshawk carrier capable trainer is also coming on line, with an initial operational capability due during the latter half of this year.

Caribou Scrappings Ahead?:

The RAAF is considering scrapping up to seven of its remaining fleet of 21 Caribou tactical transports as they become due for their next major overhaul, or Depot Level Maintenance.

The aircraft most likely to be scrapped if the plan goes ahead include Vietnam veterans A4-152, 159, 179 and 210 plus A4-164. In addition, A4-235 (which was damaged in Tasmania late last year) is a possible

candidate.

The RAAF’s Caribou force will be reorganised later this year when No 38 Squadron moves from Richmond to Amberley. Equipped with four aircraft, 38 Squadron will act as the Caribou training unit, supporting No 35 Squadron, the operational unit based at Townsville. One aircraft will remain at Richmond for paratroop training.

The RAAF took delivery of 29 Caribous between 1964 and 1971, of which 12 saw active service in Vietnam. Of those, three were written off and two others had to be shipped back to Australia for major repairs.

767 Awacs:

With production of the Boeing 707 basic airframe now definitely ended, Boeing is offering its 767 widebody twinjet airliner as a platform for future Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) requirements.

Boeing considered both the 767 and 757 for the role but the latter is thought to be too small. The 767 AWACS would be very expensive to develop, so Boeing is looking for potential customers before committing itself to the programme. The USAF is not a prospect at the moment, but South Korea and Italy have shown some interest. Japan offers the best prospects but it requires only four aircraft. Boeing manufactured 68 E-3 AWACS aircraft based on the 707 airframe, the last seven of which (for the RAF) are now in the process of delivery.

Kfirs for Philippines:

After deciding that the General Dynamics F-16 would be too expensive, the Phillippines Air Force has decided to replace its fleet of 14 Northrop F-58 with 18 secondhand Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Kirs.

At about $US5m each, the Kfirs will cost only about one quarter as much as the F-16. The Philippines also needs at least 18 jet trainers and is looking at the Czech L-39 to augment their Siai Marchetti S. 2118.

Atc Tower Visual Simulator Into Service:

The Aeronautical Research Laboratory’s novel visual simulation technology has been transferred to Ferranti Computer Systems (Australia) Pty Ltd who have produced the first AUSTOWER simulator for the RAAF which is located at the School of Air Traffic Control at East Sale.

Following acceptance testing in late 1991, the simulator is now being used for the initial training of Tower and Surface Movement controllers.

Soviets May Scrap Carriers:

It has been reported in the Russian press that the Soviet Navy is likely to abandon construction of two new aircraft carriers and a large cruiser.

The news follows the nationalisation of the Nikolayev shipbuilding yards by the Ukrainian government and is driven by economics. The second Kuznetsov class carrier, the 67,500 ton Varyag (launched in November 1988) and 75,000 ton Ulyanovsk (due to be launched this year) are almost certain to be cancelled and scrapped. The first large Soviet carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov is now just concluding its sea trials in the Black Sea.

In addition, it is likely that the two helicopter carriers Moskva and Leningrad, which were commissioned in 1967-68, will also be decommissioned in the near term. Many Soviet submarines are known to be lying idle also.

 Future Aerial Target System Developed by Dsto:

Based on a comprehensive series of experimental tests, DSTO’s Aeronautical Research Laboratory has developed a range of auxiliary intakes to improve the air flow to the engine in the advanced version of the Jindivik aircraft being developed for the ADF’s new Future Aerial Target System.

The optimised auxiliary intake configuration, defined in collaboration with ASTA, will provide improved aircraft takeoff performance. Meanwhile, the Aircraft Systems Division of the Aeronautical Research Laboratory has completed a feasibility study into a small portable unmanned aircraft suitable for ADF applications.

Other studies have been addressed on the potential use of such aircraft launched from the proposed offshore patrol vessels which are to eventually replace the Fremantle class patrol boats, and the use of unmanned aircraft for surveillance in support of Army operations.

Mig-21 Updates:

The Hungarian Air Force will update 20 of its MiG-21 fighters with western radar and identification friend or foe (IFF) systems in place of the original Soviet equipment.

The programme will be the first known western update of former Soviet Bloc countries’ aircraft. Several types of radar are under consideration including the British GEC Ferranti Skyranger system which is tailor made for the MiG-21’s nose intake centrebody housing. Skyranger was developed for the Chinese F-7 derivative of the MIG-21. Other radars which will fit in the MiG’s intake cone include the American ESCO APQ-159 as used in USAF Northrop F-5E aggressor aircraft which simulate MiG-21s. Hungary has another 40 odd MiG-21s and will consider upgrading them at a later date.

India is also considering an extensive upgrade to a proportion of its nearly 500 strong MiG-21 fleet, revolving around not only installing western avionics, but also upgrading the airframe (including fitting a reshaped wing for improved manoeuvrability) and fitting a new engine. The Klimov RD-33 which powers the MiG-29 (also in IAF service) and the Turbo Union RB199 (as in the Tornado) are among the engines being con- sidered for the latter upgrade.

 Australian Hawk Involvement?:

British Aerospace is considering involving Australian industry in the production of the Hawk advanced jet trainer, with or without an order from the RAAF.

BAe already has a marketing agreement with ASTA for the Hawk 100 covering the possible sale of the aircraft to the RAAF, but even without this some local participation in the programme could be organised, particularly if potential sales in the Asia region are realised. If Australia did order the Hawk, there would be substantial local involvement in the manufacture of the aircraft.