Newsdesk-Military

Specialist paints which reduce thermal infrared signatures have also been produced, as have fire retardant paints which are particularly useful when applied to ships. The DSTO points out that a major reason for the loss of HMS Sheffield in the Falklands War in 1982 was the result of its paint igniting after the ship had been hit by an Exocet missile which did not explode.

 Swiss Hornets Approved:

The purchase of 34 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets has now been approved by both houses of the Swiss parliament following a lengthy evaluation period and a fly-off between the American fighter and the Dassault Mirage 2000-5.

In other fighter sales efforts currently taking place, MDC has offered the Hornet as a night attack fighter to replace Israel’s Phantoms, Skyhawks and Kirs (the F-16 Fighting Falcon is the main competition) and both American aircraft are competing with the Mirage 2000-5 and Saab Gripen to replace Finland’s Saab Drakens and MiG-21s. The Finnish requirement is for 67 aircraft and the winner is expected to be announced this by July.

Tomcat Upgrades:

The US Navy and Grumman are studying various modernisation programmes for the F-14 Tomcat fighter, partly because of the great cost associated with the F-14’s preferred successor, the McDonnell Douglas F-18E Hornet.

The USN’s programme, dubbed the F-14A++, involves mainly avionics upgrades with the fitting of new equipment including an inertial navigation system. Grumman’s F-14A/B+ study also includes re-engining as well as upgrading the avionics and both programmes are based on the conversion of about 250 aircraft.

Grumman is scheduled to deliver its last new build F-14D Tomcat to the USN this year.

Centrespread

Currently, the RAAF’s frontline combat aircraft are arguably the most potent and capable the Air Force has had in its inventory.

Ordered as far back as October 1963, the F-111 is second to none in the strike and interdiction roles, while the F/A-18 reigns supreme in air to air and tactical air to ground missions.

While the ordering of and the subsequent delay in delivery of the F-111 was the source of much controversy, ever since their delivery in June 1973, the pig. as its affectionately known, has provided the RAAF with a premier weapons platform. Combining excellent range and payload with a terrain following radar capability, the F-111 gives Australia real projection of airpower.

A total of 26 airframes have been delivered, two examples to cover attrition arriving in the early ’80s. The 18 F-111Cs and 4RF-111Cs which remain in service are about to undergo an avionics refit, introducing modern digital technology which will further enhance the type’s capability.

The F/A-18 was selected as the RAAF’s new tactical fighter in 1981, 75 being delivered during the mid to late 1980s, 72 now serve in three squadrons and one training unit.

The RAAF’s exceptionally high standards of pilot training combined with the lethality of the F/A-18 and updated F-111 certainly gives Australia a world class strike/fighter force. • HS 748 AVIONICS UPDATE PRO- JECT: An RFT is expected to be released by December 1992 for the upgrade of the avionics/training systems in the RAAF’s HS 748 navtrainer aircraft including replacement of the Bendix King RDS 86 weather radar with a ground mapping radar, reports Tom Muir in the Australian Defence Intelligencer.

It is understood that functional specifications will be released in August and that a decision on contract award will be made in April 1993 with a contract signed that June. The project is slated for funding approval in the context of the 1992/93 Budget and because of the low cost involved ($20m) and the savings expected from using the HS 748 in an enhanced training role, no delay is anticipated.

The major equipment item is the new ground mapping radar to provide more relevant navigational training than previously available, including a better presentation for trainees converting to F/RF-111C aircraft and possibly some training for P-3C navigators.

It is not clear at this stage whether all aircraft in the fleet of eight operated by 32 Squadron at East Sale will be modified or whether the upgrade will be limited to six flying classrooms, the other two being retained for VIP and other duties. Initial FSPPC approval is for a six aircraft upgrade.

South Africa Looks for Trainers:

The South African Air Force is expected to shortly issue a request for proposals for a trainer to replace its fleet of over 100 North American Harvards.

A turboprop trainer capable of covering the flying curriculum from basic to advanced stages is needed and leading contenders include the Aerospatiale Omega, Embraer Tucano, PZL Orlik, Pilatus PC-7 and a new indigenous design, the Aerotek NGT The tandem two seat NGT is of Kevlar/fibreglass construction and powered by a PWAC PT6A-25A tur- boprop. Performance is expected to be similar to the Tucano and PC-7.

In the meantime, the expected release onto the world market of a large number of Harvards in the not too distant future is indeed a mouthwatering prospect for the warbirds community!

Patriot Claims Reduced:

The US Army has reduced the claimed success rate of the Patriot surface-to-air missile system against Iraqi Scud missiles in the Gulf War.

Previously, 50% of Scud engagements over Israel and 80% over Saudi Arabia were claimed successful but these have now been revised to 40% and 70%, respectively. Two methods of judging a “kill’ are used-a’warhead kill’ in which the Scud’s warhead is destroyed, and a ‘mission kill’, in which the warhead is made to miss its intended target.

Of the 86 Scuds fired at Saudi Arabia and Israel, the US Army claims 10 warhead kills and 14 more instances where the war-heads were knocked out but not completely destroyed. Patriots engaged 45 of the 47 Scuds which came within range and of these, 31 ‘mission kills’ of some type are claimed.

 Remembering Those Over There’:

A special memorial will be unveiled in Scotland next month, commemorating the British and Commonwealth airmen who flew with four RAF Coastal Command Strike Wing squadrons during World War II.

The squadrons Nos 144 RAF, 404 RCAF, 455 RAAF and 489 RNZAF – operated from Dallachy on the north east coast of Scotland. The RAAF squadron flew Hampdens initially and then Beaufighters, and working in conjunction with the similarly equipped Kiwi squadron, achieved substantial success against German shipping.

The stone obelisk memorial will be unveiled on 30 July and anyone interested in visiting the site or contributing to the memorial’s cost should contact Dr Peter Ilbury (a former 455 Sqn pilot) at 93 Hawkesbury Cres, Farrer, ACT 2607.

Qantas Helps the Adf:

Qantas’s involvement in the recent Kangaroo ’92 military exercises in Northern Australia emphasised the importance of having a strong civil airlift capability which can be utilised in times of conflict or national emergency.

Before the exercises began, Qantas transported about 1,000 members of the Australian Defence Force from Sydney to Tindal and Darwin in two Boeing 747s and a 767. When it was all over, some 2,000 troops were moved from the top end back to Sydney. For this job, five 747s were used.