FRENCH ENGINE manufacturer Snecma has signed a co-operation agreement with Denel of South Africa and Spain's ITP covering modifications to the Atar 8K50 and 9K50 military turbojets.
The team is to perform improvements to the core and controls, "taking into account the threat of new-generation infra-red missiles".
Denel is to take partial responsibility for work, aiming to cut the acceleration time from idle to full afterburner by 3-5s. This capability is to be available by mid-1997.
The South African Company is also responsible for work to increase time between periodic inspections from 300h to 400h, and for replacement of the high-pressure inlet-guide-vane assembly. ITP is to be responsible for work to increase time between overhauls from about 1,000h to 1,200h.
Source: Flight International
