F 
R

9 
- 
9 
6

---

Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Inside | Datafiles | FR 9/96

---

ROYAL AIR FORCE IN BUYING MOOD

The British government has to save money. However, in spite of the tight budget, Britain's Defence Minister, Michael Portillo, succeeded: On July 25, just before the parliamentary summer break, the British government made decisions concerning three important procurement programs, giving a windfall to the country's defence industry. Reportedly, the government's decision was preceded by some vehement internal bickering between Portillo and Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kenneth Clarke, who wants to cut down expenses to make some leeway for tax cuts.

While the UK had favored available systems from the USA in the last years, the government seemed to play the European card this time. The chance to use the orders for making industrial politics was obviously used to reinforce the position of the country's defence industry for the inevitable international restructuring.

British Aerospace is the big winner. It not only succeeded in the cruise missile bid with its Storm Shadow, it may now also update the RAF's existing Nimrods. GEC-Marconi was awarded the contract for the Brimstone anti-tank weapon.

By choosing Storm Shadow, the last obstacle for setting up the joint company Matra BAe Dynamics was removed. The Conventionally Armed Stand-off Missile (CASOM) is based on the Apache, which is earmarked for Rafale and Tornado. The missile is 5,1 m long, has a wing span of approximately three meters, and weighs around 1300 kg. The range is supposed to be more than 250 km.

While British Aerospace succeeded against six competitors in the CASOM bid, the competition for the Replacement Maritime Patrol Aircraft (RMPA) was only a duel between BAe and Lockheed Martin. The competitor from the USA offered new P-3 Orions, as well as used aircraft. The latter offer came from Loral which was in the meantime acquired by Lockheed.

According to BAe, the Nimrod 2000 will be a new weapon system, which will use parts of the existing Nimrod MR.2P. Extensive analyses and tests have supposedly revealed that the outer wing sections, the pressurized fuselage, as well as sections of the tail should be able to be used without signs of fatigue for another 25 years.

The landing gear, weapons bay doors, and the center section of the wing will be new manufactured parts. BMW Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofans will replace the old Spey engines. They offer 20 percent less fuel consumption and one third more thrust.

The mission equipment, the heart of each maritime patrol aircraft, will be supplied by Boeing. It includes seven operator consoles with high-resolution colour displays, sophisticated software, and efficient data busses. The cockpit will be equipped with displays as well, allowing a reduction of the crew to two.

According to Defence Minister Portillo, a Racal Searchwater 2000MR is earmarked as the radar system and GEC-Marconi will contribute some key elements of the aircraft electronics. The latter is a relatively new statement, since GEC was very little mentioned in all previous BAe papers.

While the joint bid with Lockheed for the RMPA did not work out for GEC-Marconi, the company can draw comfort from the fact that it was awarded the Brimstone contract. This anti-tank weapon is based on the Rockwell Hellfire, but is equipped with a new seeker head.

From page 52 of FLUG REVUE 9/96