Newsdesk — Military Aviation

Northrop Grumman Jobs Go

It is not often that when two corporations merge their workforces remain intact, and the Northrop Grumman Corporation is proving to be no exception. The company has announced 8,650 of its current 47,500 workers will be retrenched between now and the end of next year as part of ongoing efforts to streamline operations and cut costs ahead of projected sales reductions. To help implement the cuts, Northrop Grumman will offer a voluntary early retirement programme to 5,000 eligible employees. The redundancies affect most of Northrop Grumman’s facilities, and about half of the people involved are from the company’s California operations.

Russians Short Of Fuel And Money

A severe lack of fuel is badly hampering the Russian Air Force, and a shortage of funds is affecting new programmes, according to its commander, General Piotr Deinekin, speaking to Jane’s Defence Weekly. General Deinekin says the air force’s training programme is available only for the best pilots and that others have had their flying time reduced or cut completely.

A lack of money is also delaying the first flight of Russia’s next-generation air superiority fighter, the Mikoyan 1-42, although it is expected to fly soon and be in service in three to five years. Mikoyan’s chief designer, Rostislav Belyakov, also says the 1-42’s first flight is imminent and that it will be of similar or greater capability than the Usa’s Lockheed F-22 advanced tactical fighter.

C-5 Upgrade Planned

The Usaf’s fleet of Lockheed C-5 Galaxy heavy transports will be subject to a three-stage repair and upgrade programme to enable it to remain in service until 2021. Starting in 1996, the programme will include the installation of glass cockpits and Gps, modifying engine components, and incorporating engine power management control systems. The programme will cost in the vicinity of $Us 850 million depending on how many of the Usaf’s 76 C-5As and 50 C-5Bs are modified.

Meanwhile, Lockheed is promoting its C-5D new production Galaxy for the Non-Developmental Airlift Aircraft (Ndaa) programme, which is a backup if the McDonnell Douglas C-17 production is terminated. Lockheed says new C-5s would cost about $Us 200 million each based on a production run of 50 aircraft.

F-16 Delta Offered To Uae

Lockheed is proposing to supply a longer-range, delta-winged version of its F-16 fighter bomber to fill a United Arab Emirates (Uae) requirement for 80 strike aircraft. Dubbed the F-16U, data on the new version is being prepared, and a decision by the Uae is expected in about March next year. Also contesting the order are the F-15E Eagle and Sukhoi Su-30Mk. Compared with the standard F-16, the new version will be a two-seater with a stretched fuselage and delta wing.

Amraam For Gripen

Sweden’s new Saab Jas 39 Gripen multirole fighter will be armed with the Hughes Aim-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (Amraam) following a Swedish government decision to order 100 examples of the weapon. Sweden has so far ordered 140 production standard Gripens. The Swedish Air Force ultimately plans to acquire 280 Gripens to equip 16 squadrons. Modified flight control software for the Gripen is due to be test-flown at the end of this year to improve low-altitude and low-speed handling.

Raaf Hs.748 Upgrade

The Raaf has released the draft requirements for an upgrade of six of its eight Hawker Siddeley Hs.748 navigation trainers/transports. The aim is to update the navigation training avionics to reflect changes in technology. The current equipment is not representative of current standards, meaning students are trained on outdated systems. The requirement also covers upgrading the Synthetic Navigation Trainer at East Sale.

Big Wing Eagle

McDonnell Douglas is proposing a new, enlarged wing for its F-15E fighter bomber designed to increase the aircraft’s radius of action by nearly 50%. The new wing incorporates a reprofiled leading edge with sweep increased to 50 degrees and a redesigned rear section which substantially increases wing area. This would extend the mission radius from 650 nm (1,200 km) to 900 nm (1,670 km). Mdc sees the United Arab Emirates as a prime potential customer for the aircraft.

Sydney Aviation Art Exhibition

The Australian Society of Aviation Artists is holding an exhibition in Sydney from the 17th to the 25th of November at the Geo Styles Gallery, 50 Hunter St (corner of Bligh St) in the city.