AFGHAN DECISION
The Dutch government will decide later this year whether to extend its support for NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan beyond August 2008. The Royal Netherlands Air Force will meanwhile replace its detachment of five Eurocopter AS332 Cougar transport helicopters at Kandahar airfield with three Boeing CH-47D Chinooks later this month, but withdraw two of its six Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters. Two Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters will also be held on three-week alert and could boost the number deployed to Kabul airport to six.
CRUISE CONTROL
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is testing submunitions ejection from its developmental low-cost miniature cruise missile and says the weapon could be near production-ready in around two years. Rail tests at Eglin AFB in Florida involve a developmental rotary dispenser fitted into a representative airframe and ejecting six 0.6m (2ft)-long submunitions at speed. The missile is expected to have a range of 1,850km (1,000nm).
EH101 Delivery
Kawasaki Heavy Industries delivered its first licence-built example of the AgustaWestland EH101 helicopter to the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force late last month. The service will eventually operate 11 MCH101s in the airborne mine countermeasures role, including a first example delivered early last year. The remaining aircraft, plus three CH101 utilities, will be assembled at Kawasaki's Gifu works.
ARROW FLIES
Israel test fired an advanced version of its Arrow 2 anti-tactical ballistic missile from Palmachim airbase on 26 March. The missile flew over the Mediterranean Sea for 90s before being destroyed. The ongoing Israeli/US-funded Arrow system improvement programme has incorporated hardware and software changes.
Source: Flight International
