Low-cost, muti-role aircraft for small militaries

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Carter guidelines for the new export fighter called for an aircraft having cost and performance characteristics which lie generally between the F-5E and F-16A fighters then in production. The aircraft was to be capable of defending recipients from projected air threats into the 1990s; have a secondary air-to-ground capability in close air support of ground forces but yet be sufficiently limited in offensive range-payload capability so as to be clearly out of the class of US advanced, fighter aircraft; and was to have lower cost and easier maintainability than current first-line US fighters. Unlike its predecessors in the export fighter arena, the F-X would receive no government funding for its development. Manufacturers were to assume all financial and marketing risks; however, the aircraft was to be sold on a strict government-to-government basis, in accordance with the provisions of the 1976 Arms Export Control Act.

On 29 July 1982, in a memorandum to the Secretaries of the Air Force and Navy, Deputy Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci observed that: "There are several friends and allies that are . . . modernizing their tactical aircraft forces. Only a few can afford first—line fighters, and because of fiscal and other restraints, it is important that the United States have alternatives to first—line aircraft available for export." This indication of policy reflected some of the change in approach to fighter sales during the Reagan Administration's first year. In 1981, for example, the government decided to sell the F—16 to both Pakistan and Venezuela.

By the late 1990s, military planners in the air forces and procurement departments in the MoDs of many countries could only select between two alternatives: either they can look into a magnitude of existing, affordable but elderly designs of combat aircraft such as the F-16, Mirage 2000, MiG-29 etc. or they could cast an eye on those fighters which were due to enter service within the next few years, like the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale or the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Seemingly there was almost nothing for them on the market fitting into their mostly tight budgets and giving them the security to buy a weapon system with a substantially long and effective service-life.

By 2000, based upon in-house surveys and assured by independent market studies, EADS was convinced that there would be a clear potential for 2.500 modern light fighters/advanced trainer aircraft between the years 2005 and 2025 within the accessible export market. By that time, fielded combat aircraft and high-end jet trainers were at the far end of their life-cycle with almost no potential for economically viable upgrades, while the modern systems may be not available for some customers for either know-how or cost constraints.

In the 21st Century, a change in the trainer segment with high-performance turbo-prop aircraft covering even more capabilities in advanced training is obvious. At the same time, next-generation fighter aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon provide for a major performance leap, leading to a training gap between contemporary jet trainers or their derivatives now under development and the future front-line fighters. New lightweight fighters may cover this gap by having excellent capabilities as a companion trainer. This would save training hours on the high-performance fighter aircraft and thus give the air forces cost reductions. In the fighter segment, the advent of the next-generation combat aircraft l shifted performance into higher dimensions. Below this high-end aircraft category there are few new dedicated fighters. The market here is characterised by used third-generation fighter aircraft, which have low unit costs at first glance, but will punish their new customers with tremendous life-cycle costs in operation. New aircraft in this class that provide air forces with a modern flying weapon system at low cost of ownership featuring modern avionics, high agility, low signatures thanks to a stealthy design, and a broad stores compendium.


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Franklin

Captain
Back in the 1980's a lot of countries a round the world like Argentina, Israel, Yugoslavia, Romania, South Africa, Sweden and Taiwan wanted to build their own fourth generation fighter often of the light weight variant. But with the exception of Sweden (Gripen) and Taiwan (F-CK-1) non of the others really came to anything. The Israeli IAI Lavi had 3 prototypes built but the others haven't gone past the concept or design phase. There are 5 modern light multi-role light fighters in service around the world today.

1. JAS-39 Gripen (Sweden)
2. F-CK-1 Ching-kuo (Taiwan)
3. JF-17 Thunder (Pakistan/China)
4. FA-50 Golden Eagle (South Korea)
5. HAL Tejas (India)

All these planes have in common that they have a empty weight of less than 7000kg, higher than mach 1.5 top speed and an engine thrust of less than 60/90 kN. They are all very capable multi-role fighters. The most interesting one for me is the FA-50 Golden Eagle of South Korea. i always thought that the Golden Eagle was just a trainer with some attacking capabilities but it appears that the FA-50 variant is quite an effective multi-role fighter. I wonder if the South Koreans are planning to build a single seat version with a better engine. Going from the F-404 to the F-414 will do this plane a lot of good.
 

janjak desalin

Junior Member
(...) And if your biggest task isn't deterring invasion but rather the suppression of your own people, (...)

you sure said a mouthful, right there!
too many developing nations use military equipment more in the service of their regime police/security apparatus than in the service of foreign policy/national security. interestingly, recent history, over the past several decades, has illustrated how poorly internally oriented militaries perform when faced with external challenges.

but, to the subject, i think the first developing nation that produces such a low-cost, multi-role aircraft for export will be the beneficiary of a great pent-up demand. conversely, i'm not sure that one platform can or will address all the contingencies that many small nations are facing. i'm thinking that two low-cost, multi-role, platforms are needed. one a turbo-jet/fan interceptor/fighter-bomber platform, and the other, a turbo-prop COIN/CAS platform.

pay no attention to this comment #; i am not the devil/anti-christ!
 
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Miragedriver

Brigadier
I know that sometimes I beat a dead horse, but this little aircraft would have made a great replacement for the F-5E and the Mig-21


PIRANHA
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Young engineers, physicist, electronics engineer, military pilot and officers of maintenance and maintenance organization of the Swiss flight weapon completed the combat aircraft study Piranha in two-year joint venture work under the direction of Dr. Ing. Georges Bridel, Zurich.

On the basis of the fact that the equipment of air forces with modern aircraft for small states becomes ever more problematic it resulted, the interesting and perhaps trailblazing project study Piranha. Current raising the price of the flight material and its armament lets the fleet sizes together-shrink in such a manner that their efficiency in the combat mission becomes questionable.

As well-known valuable aircraft - distributed on few bases - represent first-rate targets. So it might not fall a strong opponent too with difficulty to prevent the flying operation on these airfields by combined air raids and act of sabotage ions. Thereby it becomes however clear that the survival factor of a fleet with high-performance aircraft at the ground is crucial and that the question, whether the probability of survival in air reaches values around 0,95 or 0,97, can be neglected practically.

A small fleet of high-performance aircraft might be sufficient therefore only in a situation, with which yet on enemy reactions to the own bases is not to be counted, thus for pure tasks of air police, which admits neutrality protection in Switzerland for example under the term is. In this case the mission achievement of the flight weapon of the calculation is rather accessible, because these are flown with support of a very efficient early warning and fighter control system.

A small fleet of high-performance aircraft might hardly be sufficient for the reasons mentioned therefore for a longer lasting conduct of operations. In contrast to it a larger fleet of light combat aircraft - to a large extent decentralized distributed on a larger number of airfields - would be in the position to lead the defense fight with the army longer time.


In addition it comes that the entire fleet is held at combat aircraft, including crews and equipment for maintenance and repair, under rock and concrete in readiness. Vulnerably are natural the launch and runways, the rolling races and the systems due to it outside of the covering, which must be placed by made available specialists of the airfield ground troops maintained and after destruction within useful period. It is with the fact obvious that only to some extent homogeneous fleet can meet the requirements for the readiness of large a number of the existing combat aircraft as possible. That means: Type variety causes a too large expenditure for the training of the flying and ground personnel for supply, Munitions, maintenance and repair.

Concept for a new generation
The project authors see on the one hand an obligation to the standardization of the aircraft. On the other hand a new combat aircraft in as much as possible variants would have to be built. That means: The aircraft should be able to be used during continuous basic equipment for air and ground combat, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and application/mission training. The procurement of a type row would have to extend over longer periods, during which the original aircraft to be improved and different variants can be introduced. The core of the problem lies then according to opinion of the project group in the question, which tasks these aircraft are to be transferred. These basic conditions refer to the need after a small light combat aircraft available in larger number, whereby without all-weather Interception and all-weather low attack (also from cost reasons) consciously is done. The project authors explain:
A small, light combat aircraft is generally cheaper than an aircraft with larger dimensions and weights.
New, high-quality weapons increase the value of the aircraft used in the fight; the disposable load can be reduced.

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A small aircraft offers also in tactical regard large advantages.
Today's air and space technology make it possible to decrease or eliminate the disadvantages of former light fighters. New fan jets improve the range; the high conditions of the miniaturization technology reduce volume need and weight of the entire equipment.
When a theater regarded basis for the project Piranha, which is characterized by the application/mission of strong mechanized formations, which are protected by flier defense and fighter and supported by efficient ground combat aircraft. This view could be transferred in increasing dimension also to areas outside of Europe. The design of this new aerial engagement means would be limited therefore to the following ways of application:

The concept of a clear weather combat aircraft for inferior to central flight altitudes justifies the tendency toward smaller dimensions and lower combat weight. To it equipment and combat procedures became parallel more simply and procurement costs for each combat unit lower. Further it is to be placed in calculation that attack methods for all-weather operation (target location with FLIR, thus no fast approach), which expose used flying formations straight by all-weather flier defense to increased endangerment, which would require again additional electronic counter measures. For the bulk of this fleet therefore visual flight attack methods would be sufficient, with which also the equipment catalog would be to be expected reduced and a work overloading of the crews not. An adequate use of pilots (for Swiss conditions) in air and ground combat would be ensured.

Now run out however the design for the double roll - air and ground combat - inevitably on a supersonic aircraft. This configuration favors the low-altitude flight in the transonic flying range, which equals a crucial advantage regarding the threat by flier defense and fighter - an example for the fact that itself the requirements relative. Ground connection and aerial combat in substantial aspects would not contradict.

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Miragedriver

Brigadier
Part 2
High-quality armament
A high-quality armament is to be aimed at in principle and be planned in the context of the possibilities of the modern weapon technology and improved flier defense.

For the aerial combat: High-performance gun, short-distance air-to-air guided weapons as well as medium range guided weapons for attacks from as large a angle divisions as possible.


Application/mission procedure
The safety mechanism of one locally and temporally it limited air superiority can only by as large a number of weapon beams in the combat area as possible be tried with which a saturation of the enemy air defense had to be achieved. The application/mission can take place from ground or air-steered radar stations out. The small dimensions of the aircraft decrease thereby the probability of discovery like also the chance with cannon bombardment to be met.

Abb. 3 shows a comparison of conventional low attacks with the attack methods with the application/mission with modern weapons. Likewise the effective ranges of some typical flier defensive weapons are represented. Modern bombs and the new high-performance gun KCA were used with very flat attack angles, whereby the aircraft flies through expanded neutral zones of flier defense. Air-to-surface guided weapons were partly used against it outside of the effective range of flier defense.

The disposable load with such weapons is on the one hand limited by the hard points of the carrier aircraft, on the other hand one carrying of a multiplicity of precision weapons is unwanted, because their launching presupposes a too long retention time in the target area, which is conceivable without application of extensive, most modern electronic means and only under the condition of an effective fighter protection. Both measures exceeded however small national possibilities by far.

Centre of gravity of all ground combat-in-corrodes must that surprisingly and extremely fast flown low attack be. Benefit the design of the light combat aircraft suitable for the aerial combat also the low attack, because supersonic aerodynamics necessary for the aerial combat as well as the engine power favored the fast low-altitude flight.


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The system Piranha
The project authors placed themselves the task to examine a possible variant of the concept on his feasibility. Thus existing or systems in development were selected, in order to guarantee as realistic conditions as possible. From several possible propulsion variants a solution on the basis of the engine roll Royce/Turbomeca Adour was aimed at. The design of the aircraft resulted from the synthesis of different requirements, which are given to others under, by short takeoff ability, good maneuverability, favorable weapon arrangement and appropriate accommodation of the engine and the various systems.

The project Piranha is characterized by the following outstanding features:
Also fully mobile canard wing and aileron landing flaps acre main wing combined short coupled canard configuration. The canard wing is set above the main wing level, from which favorable aerodynamic interference effects (polar one) result.
Shoulder-wing monoplane arrangement, favorable accommodation of the external stores regarding aerodynamic interference effects), free space for external stores (landing gear in the fuselage) and good accessibility for Munitions and maintenance.
Engine hanging inserted, whereby the free standing part of the cardan shaft housing can bear damages by IR guided weapon hits, without aircraft command is impaired.
Fly by wire control, whereby the operating cylinders come to lie completely in the fuselage and the wing by control assemblies would remain to a large extent free. The relatively simple flight control can be adapted by programming to the flying range optimally.



Expandability: Artificial stability (CCV), application of composite materials.
In principle a light inertia system, laser rangefinder, small radar for target acquisition, and ranging, head-up display system (or display system) and general-purpose display unit would cover navigation and attack system central in the cockpit, 360-Grad-Radarwarnempfaenger and a simple, active jammer. The intended system can be used in substantial parts both for air and for ground combat; so that neither into the one nor in the other roll much ‑totes "weight would have to be built. Depending upon engine choice can be planned different types of the Piranha, so for instance an air and a ground-combat engagement version, a pure ground-combat engagement version as well as training and school versions.

The take-off weight is smaller for an equivalent mission, the dimensions is smaller than those the f-ë tiger II (20% smaller surface). The advantages of this small aircraft - higher probability of survival (smaller silhouette), good maintenance conditions in smaller shelters - are primarily also in the fact that the Piranha could profit from the increasing Miniaturization the equipment at most.

In summary the features know this project follow to be emphasized:
Smaller procurement costs,
higher fleet sizes,
the entire application/mission aircraft can be distributed on more bases with allocation of the auxiliary bases, with which vulnerability at the ground became substantially smaller.
As a result of application of a small fan jet on small temperature level a weak IR characteristic would arise; thus increase of the chances of survival opposite IR guided weapons; smaller fuel consumption as well as reduction of the costs of training and training before transition to high-performance aircraft.


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thunderchief

Senior Member
I would generally agree with the article (except clear weather concept) , but I doubt anything produced in Switzerland could be cheap . Almost the same problem as with Gripen - light fighter with price greater then Su-30 (heavy fighter) . Labor costs , cost of materials for airframe (especially composites) , cost of avionics, cost of weapons and finally cost of engines make anything produced in the West today prohibitively expensive for smaller militaries .
 

Miragedriver

Brigadier
I would generally agree with the article (except clear weather concept) , but I doubt anything produced in Switzerland could be cheap . Almost the same problem as with Gripen - light fighter with price greater then Su-30 (heavy fighter) . Labor costs , cost of materials for airframe (especially composites) , cost of avionics, cost of weapons and finally cost of engines make anything produced in the West today prohibitively expensive for smaller militaries .

Very true. Things in Switzerland are expensive, even for Western Europeans. However make believe that a nation such as Brazil adopts this aircraft as its replacement for the F-5E. Labor costs in Brazil are substantially lower than in Switzerland and use of Israeli avionics (manufactured in Brazil) and its own domestic munitions could make the aircraft in the 25 million to 30 million price range.

The advantage would be low maintenance cost, lower procurement cost (domestically made) and a greater number of aircraft could be purchased.


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