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Boeing has offered the US Air Force an unsolicited proposal to re-engine the service's remaining 94 B-52H Stratofortress bombers. Under the Boeing offer, the B-52s' eight TF33 turbofans would be replaced with four Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4-B turbofans which would be assembled in the US by Allison. Boeing also says the engines could be leased rather than purchased outright. Over the remaining planned 25 year service life of the B-52, Boeing claims that re-engining with leased, off the shelf commercial powerplants would save the USAF $US6bn in operation and support costs. Meanwhile USAF B-52s have been participating in the RAAF's Exercise Pitch Black which began on July 15. Other participants in Pitch Black (which was due to wind up on August 2) were USAF F-15s, F-16s, E-3 AWACS Sentrys, USMC F/A-18s, two RAAF F/A-18 Hornet squadrons, RAAF F-111s, C-130s and 707s tanker/transports and Singaporean F-16s, A-4s, KC-130s and E-2C AEW Hawkeyes. (Bill Lines)
Newsdesk — Military Aviation
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Rockwell GPS For RAAF
The Department of Defence has signed a $20m contract with Rockwell Australia to supply Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment for the RAAF’s Boeing 707, HS.748 and C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. Rockwell will be responsible for the design and integration of the GPS modification with other onboard navigation systems and for spares support and flight testing. GPS will be progressively installed in the aircraft from July 1997 with completion scheduled for August 1998.
Army Looking For Aircraft
The Australian Army has sought registrations of interest for the lease of fixed wing aircraft in two categories — one STOL capable and the other able to operate above 30,000ft (9144m). Up to four STOL and four pressurised twin turbine types are required although the Army has said it would look at a single type to cover both requirements, assuming such an aircraft exists. Among the types indicated as being suitable are the Beech King Air B200/300/350 (some B200s are already leased), Cessna Conquest. It is believed the IAF would prefer a derivative of a type it already has in service. If that’s the case, only the F-16 and F-15 would be in the running.
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