Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 15, 2008 - (Page 52) FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 UK Typhoon Declared Fully Multi-Role The RAF has declared its Typhoon operational in its air-to-ground role, and therefore fully multi-role capable in British service. Tuesday, July 1 was the official Multi-Role Operational Employment Date (OED), with the announcement made by the Commander-inChief RAF Air Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader, during a special ceremony at RAF Coningsby. A critical event in the run-up to the OED was the deployment of seven jets from No. 11 Sqn to Exercise Green Flag West 08-07, at Nellis AFB, during May/June. The joint Air Force and Army close air support exercise saw the Typhoons dropping laser-guided bombs (LGBs) to prove the integration of the weapons with the Litening III laser-designation pods. The pods are fitted with the Rover video data link. The Typhoon has demonstrated the ability to selfdesignate targets and to designate for a second aircraft. The jets also strafed ground targets with their 27 mm cannons. During the two-week exercise period, the Typhoons dropped 43 Paveway 2 LGBs, eight dual-mode Enhanced Paveway 2s and 16 1,000 lb freefall bombs. The RAF accelerated the implementation of an “austere” air-to-ground capability as part of its Block 5 Typhoon standard. Aircraft of No. 11 Sqn are now able to drop Paveway 2, Enhanced Paveway 2 and 1,000 lb general purpose “dumb” bombs. However, an RAF Typhoon has yet to deliver a live bomb—all the training done to date has been conducted with dummy weapons. Also, only a handful of Block 5 aircraft have been delivered so the available multi-role force remains very modest. The RAF notes that “multi-role capability means that Typhoons can now carry out precision ground attack or air defence tasks as required before take-off, but before long will become ‘swing-role’, which means they will be able to alternate between roles within the same mission once airborne.” In 2007, when the Typhoon entered RAF service in the air defence role, senior RAF figures spoke confidently of the intention to see the Typhoon deployed on operational missions in Afghanistan by 2008. This proved to be highly optimistic and earlier this year the Ministry of Defence had to officially state that there were now no plans to deploy in theater. The Tornado GR4 force is expected to replace the RAF Harriers currently operating in Afghanistan next year, pointing to a Typhoon deployment in 2010 at the earliest. The RAF notes that mainland UK air defense is being conducted from RAF Coningsby (the Southern QRA) with Typhoons. Tornado F3s from RAF Leuchars, Scotland, maintain the Northern QRA, and they will be replaced by Typhoons “within a few years.” The RAF also provides QRA over the Falkland Islands with Tornado F3s, but Typhoons will take over there in 2009. —Robert Hewson Exercise Green Flag West took place at Nellis AFB in the U.S. in May and June. Embraer C-390 Program Nod Is Expected This Year Embraer is currently setting up the partnership and funding structure for its C-390 program go-ahead, which is expected to happen in the second half of 2008, says Fernando Ikedo, Embraer’s market intelligence vp for defense and government. First deliveries of the $50 million aircraft are planned to start four to five years after go-ahead, he added. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has a requirement for at least 22 of the 19-ton capacity twin turbofan transports over the next 15 years. “The FAB has a budget for this aircraft,” said Ikedo. The program, which is at the preliminary design phase, is supported by the Brazilian Government, but Embraer requires more orders and risk-sharing partners before launch. “Plenty of Latin American countries are interested in the C-390 but we will not disclose them yet,” said Ikedo. The Brazilian Post Office has expressed an interest in acquiring between five and 25 aircraft, but Embraer’s military C-390 jet could be the basis for a civil freighter line too. Ikedo insists this is just a study. The platform could also be of interest to overnight package carriers, he believes, but this would be a development after the C-390 military version, and only if there was sufficient interest. The aircraft would have a similar payload to that of the Boeing 737-700. The C-390 is designed primarily as a military troop and medevac transport, and will have in inflight refueling capability and aft ramp loading. “It will reuse some technologies from the E-190 jet,” hinted Ikedo. “There is a requirement for some 700 of these (types of) aircraft in 77 countries and we’re looking for a slice of the market.” —Mike Vines 52 July 15, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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