iscover
The first Fokker 60 Utility had its maiden flight on November 2 1995. The flight lasted four hours during which the Fokker 60's general handling characteristics and major systems were tested. Fokker expects to spend about 400 hours on the aircraft's flight test programme, with civil certification planned for May. Military qualification will follow. The Royal Netherlands Air Force is the lead and thus far only customer for the stretched Fokker 50. The Fokker 60 Utility features a forward freight door and a convertible interior which can be configured for freight, paratroop dropping and medevac. The first two of the four Fokker 60s the RNeAF has on order will be delivered in May, with the last two in June. (Fokker)
Newsdesk – Military Aviation
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More Eurofighter Delays
Britain’s Royal Air Force is now not expected to put the oft delayed Eurofighter 2000 into frontline squadron service until 2005 at the earliest, causing the service to rethink upgrade programmes on its existing aircraft. Continued delays within the multinational programme are to blame, the programme’s production investment phase is still not settled. Even if the Eurofighter does enter squadron service in 2005 (an extraordinary 11 years after the prototype’s first flight, incidentally), it will be as an interceptor only, ground attack capability not becoming available until some time later. The aircraft was scheduled to replace the Jaguar in the ground attack role from 2001 but it is possible that the older aircraft will now have to remain in service until 2010.
Budget Cuts Hit French Industry
Attempts by the French Government to reduce the country’s national debt through various budget cuts will result in problems for the defence industry. Defence minister Charles Millon has imposed a moratorium on some programmes in 1996, explaining that the move is unavoidable and admitting that the industry is possibly facing a “critical situation” because of it. A fundamental review of the entire defence industry is being carried out with the result that spending is likely to be cut by more than $A40bn over what was previously planned for the 1995-2000 period. There have been calls for a dramatic restructuring of both the private and state owned defence industries so as to concentrate resources and better integrate with European manufacturers. Aerospace programmes likely to be affected by reductions and/or slowdowns include the Tiger anti-tank helicopter and Rafale fighter while major international programmes such as the NH 90 helicopter and FLA transport are becoming subject to increasing uncertainty. The launch of FLA’s pre-development phase has already been put back by six months to mid-1996 at the earliest.
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