Douglas Barrie/Defence Editor
EUROPE'S CLUTCH OF NEW-generation fighter-aircraft programmes had less than a vintage year in 1995. Dassault's Rafale and the Eurofighter EF2000 have struggled with both technical and political concerns, while only the Saab Gripen, it seems, had a better year.
Dassault starts 1996 still anxiously awaiting the outcome of the French Government's defence review, which could stretch, cut or delay the air force's Rafale procurement.
The four nations involved in the EF2000 - Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - appear to have put the worst of their funding battles behind them, however, having finally signed the re-orientation memorandum of understanding, albeit after 12 months of bickering.
The programme starts, the new year with the way clear for production investment, once the issue of work-share is resolved. At a technical level, the EF2000 flight-test programme is beginning to gather pace, with the results so far deemed to be favourable.
Looking east, serious question marks remain over Mikoyan's fifth-generation fighter, the Article 1.42. While both the Rafale and EF2000 are likely to survive their political and funding battles, it is possible that the Russian offering may end up only as a technology demonstrator, should it ever be flown.
USA FORGES AHEAD
Meanwhile, in the USA, Lockheed Martin is pushing ahead with the F-22 programme, with manufacture of the first development aircraft now under way. The USA's other main fighter manufacturer, McDonnell Douglas, flew the first F-18E/F in late 1995. This programme will provide a stable production run for the company over the next two decades. It also received a badly needed fillip when the US Department of Defense recommended that more C-17s, rather than a commercial airframe alternative, be purchased to meet military-lift requirements.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and McDonnell Douglas are now focusing their efforts on the Pentagon's Joint Advanced Strike Technology demonstrator project. With an eventual requirement of about 3,000 aircraft, the prize is enormous.
Two concept-demonstrator contracts are due to be let in 1996. In their wake, it will be no surprise to see the team compositions change. Lockheed Martin and Boeing, for instance, have already opened and closed talks on teaming. If one of the two is not selected to go forward, then discussions are likely to be re-opened. Effectively, those companies not selected will look to squeeze on to the teams of those, which are.
Another debutante in 1995 was Japan's FS-X, a platinum-plated derivative of the Lockheed Martin F-16.
The price of the aircraft continues to spiral, as the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force cuts production numbers. With a unit cost in the region of $100 million, the FS-X costs four times the list price of an F-16C/D.
PACIFIC RIM HOTS UP
Also in the Pacific Rim, the extent of China's covert collaboration with Israel on its future fighter programme, the Chengdu F-10, became apparent in 1995. US intelligence data have clearly betrayed the aircraft's heritage in the Israel Aircraft Industries Lavi. With a prototype already assembled, a first flight is scheduled for mid-1996.
The US Government has been less than pleased with the behaviour of its Middle East ally. Effectively, the US taxpayer has funded a Chinese fighter project to the tune of over $500 million. This was the extent of US financial support for the cancelled Lavi fighter project.
China is continuing to negotiate for licence manufacture of Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers. A second-batch order for a further 24 aircraft, to add to the previously delivered 26, has been concluded. Sukhoi will look to build on Su-27 exports to help fund its Su-27M advanced Flanker and Su-27IB strike-aircraft projects for the Russian air force.
With Mikoyan's fifth-generation-fighter effort stalled, the Russian air force may have to make do with the Su-27M (Su-35) well into, if not beyond, the first decade of the next century.
Source: Flight International
