March 14, 1983

View Full Issue Table of Contents

Status of Programs

Status of Major U. S., European Defense, Aerospace Programs

General Dynamics F-16 fighter—USAF requests $1.962 billion for 120 aircraft, $160.7 million for initial spares, $107.4 million for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) and $48.5 million for military construction. ■ McDonnell Douglas F-18 fighter—Navy seeks $2.533 billion for 84 aircraft, $192.6 million for initial spares, $27.2 million for RDT&E and $9.4 million for military construction.

208

Avionics

Software Update Aids Defense Program

Projected availability this year and next of a growing number of approved software tools designed to support the use of Ada, the Defense Dept.’s new high-order programing language for embedded computers, will set the stage for a major assault on the department’s burgeoning software costs during the rest of the century.

By Benjamin M. Elson16 min

128

Specifications

International Aircraft

Country & manufacturer ARGENTINA Aero Boero Cordoba FMA Cordoba AUSTRALIA Government Aircraft Factories Melbourne Transavia Div., Transfield (NSW) Pty., Ltd. Seven Hills, NSW BRAZIL Industria Aeronautica Neiva S.A. São Jose dos Campos S.P.

154

Specifications

U.s. Gas Turbine Engines

Manufacturer and address Avco Corp. Lycoming Div. Stratford, Conn. Williamsport Div. Williamsport, Pa. Garrett Corp. Garrett Turbine Engine Co. Phoenix, Ariz. General Electric Co. Aircraft Engine Business Group Evendale, Ohio Lynn, Mass.

Military

Technology Key to Strategic Advances

Washington—Technological advances in materials to absorb radar beams, breakthroughs in propulsion system technology and radical departures in aerodynamic shapes will be applied to strategic nuclear weapons systems by the Defense Dept. to enhance survivability, improve accuracy and increase warhead-yield to volume/ weight ratio.

By Clarence A. Robinson13 min

158

Specifications

International Gas Turbine Engines

*With maximum afterburner. ‡Includes tailpipe. Notes: 1First, or first two letters designate compressor: 2Licensed production. 3Developed version of General Electric F404-GE-400. A = axial, C = centrifugal. Next letter, F, stands for flow.

120

Specifications

U. S. Military Aircraft

Primary mission Attack Bombers Electronic Warfare Fighters Reconnaissance Observation Patrol ASW Antisubmarine Early-Warning Cargo/transport Training Utility DOD designation A-4F A-4M A-6E A-7D A-7E A-7K AV-8A AV-8B A-37B A-10A A-10B

Space Technology

Space Station Pivotal in Nasa Future

Washington—National Aeronautics and Space Administration space station studies have matured to a point where findings and decisions made over the next eight months could affect the character of the agency for the next 10-20 years. NASA managers forecast station development would substantially change the character of U. S. space operations and the structure of NASA itself.

By Craig Covault12 min

Military

Navy Pushes Maritime Superiority Goal

Washington—The U. S. Navy intends to achieve global maritime superiority by the end of the decade by relying on state-of-the-art technological advances to improve the offensive and defensive capabilities of ships and aircraft. Navy officers are continuing to emphasize the need to reach a 600-ship fleet with 15 battle groups—the nucleus of which will continue to be the aircraft carrier.

By J. Michael Hoeferlin11 min

Military

Advanced Military Needs Shaping Rotorcraft Gains

Los Angeles—New generation of lightand medium-lift military scout and utility helicopters being defined within the U. S. military services are likely to provide the foundation for advanced rotorcraft technology efforts in the U. S. helicopter industry for the next 5-10 years.

March 71983

March 211983

March 14, 1983

March 14, 1983