Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 15, 2008 - (Page 80) FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 New Push for Russia’s Long Range AAM Russia’s air-to-air missile community is once again showcasing the capability of its new long-range air-to-air missile at Farnborough, part of which can be seen at the stand for Moscow’s Scientific Research Institute AGAT. The design bureau has long been responsible for the development of all radarhoming seekers for all Russian AAMs and SAMs, but the product they are showing again this year is unique. The missile itself, developed at the Novator design bureau in Ekaterinburg, is known most recently by its designator of K-100-1 or just “AAM,” and has been shown most recently at the MAKS show in Moscow. This missile, previously known as KS-172, is part of the package of weapons offered with the new Sukhoi Su-35. This seeker was originally designated as simply the “Extended Range Active Radar Seeker,” or ARGS-PD, and the general designer of AGAT, Dr. Josef Akopyan, has stated that “this seeker is unique in its capabilities and performance over previous generation models. It is also unique in that no other firm in the U.S., Europe or anywhere else has ever designed such a system.” Akopyan states that the new seeker is capable of locking on to targets at over 44 miles, which is between two and two and one-half times the range of other active radar homing seekers, and—depending on the speed and altitude of the target—the missile has an effective range of 125 to188 miles. “Any weapon that is fitted with this seeker becomes the longest range active homing missile in the world,” he said. Some have dubbed it “an AWACS killer.” AGAT has since designated this seeker with the nickname “shayba” (Russian for “hockey puck”), because it is much shorter and so much wider in diameter than any of the other AGAT designs. It weighs approximately 77 lbs. A major increase in battery power—and the significant extra size and weight that would accompany such a battery—has been a problem in developing this type of seeker, but several years ago Akopyan stated that this had been resolved through the development of “new principles in the processing of radio location signals.” This keeps the power requirements for this seeker as roughly the same as they would be for the R-77 or another medium range air-to-air missile. If utilized on a long-range missile air frame, the ARGS-PD could give an opposing air force the ability to take out strategic targets at distances out- The AAM will be part of Su-35 arms package. side the normal interception envelopes of U.S. or other NATO fighters. Boeing E-3 AWACS or E-8 JSTARS aircraft—platforms that U.S. forces depend on heavily in time of conflict—would be vulnerable as never before. —Reuben F. Johnson Comparison of AGAT Active-Radar Homing Seeker Models 9B-1348 9B-1103M (R-77/AA-12) (R-27A/AA-10) Parameters 9B-1103M Upgrade 2 variants Air-to-Air Surface-to Air Variant (8 inch Variant (14 inch diameter antenna) diameter antenna) Inertial + RadioCorrection And Active Homing 10 miles Inertial + RadioCorrection And Active Homing 12.5 miles 1.5 sec/2 min Inertial Guidance + Active Homing Inertial Guidance+ Active Homing Extended Range Active RH Seeker Guidance System Lock-On Range 16+ miles 1.0sec/10sec 25+ miles 1.0sec/10sec 44+ miles 1.0sec/10sec Readiness/ 1.0 sec/2 min Preliminary Warm-up Time Weight 35.2 lb 32 lb 22 lb 29 lb 77 lb Embraer Is Still a Believer in 75-Seat Regional Market Embraer delivered its 400th E-JET (in June), just a little over seven months after the 300th was delivered, in October 2007. The latest milestone aircraft is an E-175 operated by U.S. carrier Republic Airlines. Republic is the largest E-Jets operator in the world. with 111 aircraft: 76 E-170s and 35 E-175s that are operated in the colors of U.S. Airways Express, United Express and Delta Connection. Embraer says that the 75-seat airliner market will continue to grow, 80 mainly in the U.S., with Continental and American Airlines revising their scope clause agreements. Despite high fuel prices and the pre- carious state of the U.S. airline market in general, carriers will be forced into retiring old narrow-bodies. Right-sizing the aircraft, instead of Embraer’s 400th E-JET was delivered in June—the backlog is 466 units. using uneconomic and low load factor narrow-bodies, will make additional opportunities for the E-Jets. Embraer notes that the E-190 will get London City Airport 5.5° approach certification this year. The E-170 has already been cleared for LCY. As of early July, the Brazilian airframer had a firm order backlog for 466 E-Jets, with the E-190 being the most popular model at 291 on firm order. —Mike Vines July 15, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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