Aerospace World

Aerospace World By Peter Grier F-22 Readied for Production The Air Force on Dec. 28 awarded $668 million in contracts as payment for AP photo the first two production F-22 fighters, six engines, and F-22 program support for 1999. The move is important because it marks the official transition out of research and development for the Air Force’s premier next-generation fighter “and gets us into the next phase of the program,” said Thomas Burbage, F-22 program manager at prime contractor Lockheed Martin. The award came after the F-22 program completed a Congressionally mandated flight-hour requirement four days before Thanksgiving. The two existing flight-test aircraft soared past the 183-flight-hour mark more than a month ahead of schedule, Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen Under wraps since its development began in the 1980s, a MiG multifunctional fighter, certified to lawmakers. Furthermore, or MFI, was rolled out in January at the Russian air force test center in Zhu kovski, they have performed well during this Russia. However the aircraft shown was not an MFI with stealth features but the effort, which represents 4 percent of the airplane that tests its engines. (See news item below left.) planned test program, reported Cohen. The full contract for the next set of six Raptors is due to be awarded in about a was built for testing 1.42 engines. It was set Feb. 24, 1979, by a Czech pilot year. While DoD can still cancel the F-22 had no stealthy features, according to flying a Yakovlev 40. Zwick surpassed program if officials feel major problems Russian aerospace experts. that mark just 12 minutes into his 1 have developed, such a drastic action Whether Moscow can afford such hour, 55 minute flight. would cost several hundred million dol- a new aircraft, with its estimated $70 Verification by a National Aeronautic lars in cancellation fees. million per copy price tag, is open to Association inspector made the record The F-22 is scheduled to enter service question. The program has long had official. Yet for the U-2, reaching such in 2004. It will replace the aging F-15 as money problems. Only taxi tests have heights is not exactly unheard-of. America’s frontline air superiority fighter. been held so far. Zwick said U-2s fly at such altitude Russian media described the aircraft several times a day almost every day Russia’s Fighter: Stealthy or Not? as a single-seat fighter with mid-fuse- of the week. On Jan. 12, Russia rolled out its lage delta wings, all-moving canards, The unit went for a record now newest fighter, the MFI. Also known as and twin vertical tails in a V configuration. because “we just wanted to make it Project 1.42, the MiG–designed aircraft It has some radar-avoidance features, official, ... let the world know we can,” has been in development since 1984. It and its engine is purported to be capable said Maj. Doug Dillard, a 1st RS U-2 is meant to be the Russian equivalent of supersonic cruise without afterburner, instructor pilot. to the stealthy USAF F-22. a key F-22 attribute. The MFI heralds “a revolution in the Troops Leave Tents, Move Indoors Russian air force,” said Defense Min- U-2 Shatters World Record Life at Prince Sultan AB in Saudi ister Igor Sergeyev, according to the On Dec. 12, a U-2 from the 1st Re- Arabia took a big step forward recently Itar–Tass news agency. First flight is connaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, when commanders officially accepted expected sometime in the first quarter Calif., shattered a 19-year-old payload- the new Friendly Forces Housing Com- of 1999, added Sergeyev. to-altitude world record. The aircraft, plex. The first forces to live in the new However, the fighter on the runway flown by instructor pilot Maj. Alan Zwick, 4,257-bed facility—the 363d Air Expe- was not the fighter in question. That carried a weight of 4,400 pounds to just ditionary Wing—will move in during the fighter does not exist. The Russian over 66,800 feet—more than 12 miles first quarter of 1999. designers substituted a more ordinary above the Earth’s surface. The housing facility has been in jet fighter, which has never flown and The previous record of 28,513 feet the works since 1996, when a bomb AIR FORCE Magazine / March 1999 11 Aerospace World destroyed the Khobar Towers living Peters Outlines Air Force Priorities According to Peters, the Air Force quarters at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, The top priority for the Air Force in is already recruiting EAF trainers with and US and Allied troops living in 1999 will be moving the Expeditionary teams to be established in early 1999. Saudi Arabia in support of Opera- Aerospace Force concept into a reality, To prepare for the beginning of EAF tion Southern Watch were moved said acting Secretary of the Air Force operations at the turn of the year 2000, to Prince Sultan AB for their own F. Whitten Peters during a New Year’s 5,500 positions have been moved from protection. trip to Southwest Asia and southern career fields that don’t deploy, to career Until now, housing at the base has Europe. fields that do. meant tents, with airmen living up “I think this is going to be an exciting “We came up with 5,500 because to eight in a tent. Showers, meals, year where we can make huge progress that’s roughly what it will take to per- and toilets were all at least a stroll and really make the Air Force what all of manently man all the temporary bases away. In the new facility, person- us would like it to be,” he said during a we have all over the world,” said Peters. nel will live one or two to a room, Jan. 2 stop at Lajes Field in the Azores, “Our view is if we have those 5,500 depending on rank, and share full Portugal. “In 1999, basically the priority people somewhere, then we will cut the bathrooms. is to get into EAF, to get the schedule amount of work back home.” The facility is similar to a college out, to get the units allocated, and to dormitory, with shared television and begin the training cycle.” Expansion of Vet Benefits living areas in each apartment. There The EAF will be made up of 10 Air Proposed are three dining halls, a gym, recreation Expeditionary Forces. These AEF air- A commission set up by Congress center, library, and pool. craft packages will respond to missions to study the state of veterans benefits Saudi Arabia paid for the $112 mil- whenever needed. The plan calls for proposed a number of new—and expen- lion construction cost. The buildings two to be on alert or deployed for a 90- sive—ways of aiding those who have will remain Saudi property but will be day cycle, while two others are getting worn the nation’s uniform. primarily run, guarded, and maintained ready to deploy, and six are training and Most notable among the ideas of the by US forces. otherwise remaining prepared. Congressional Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition As- sistance is a recommendation that the government pay the full cost of send- ing a vet to any US college that he or DoD Gears Up for Missile Defense she wishes. The panel also urged that the US The threat of a missile attack on the United States is growing and is now so serious pay health care costs for those who that it warrants the building of national missile defenses, said Secretary of Defense have recently separated from the William S. Cohen on Jan. 20. military, and their families, for up to Pentagon officials say that if technical problems can be overcome they will deploy such a system in 2005. That date represents a two-year slip from the previously an- 18 months. nounced date of 2003 for a working system. Such proposals are a starting point for “We are affirming that there is a threat, and the threat is growing, and that we making good on old promises to military expect it will pose a danger not only to our troops overseas but also to Americans personnel, said commission members. here at home,” said Cohen at a Pentagon news conference. “The system is broken and the com- The announcement—coupled with a $6.6 billion, six-year budget for missile defense mission took a ‘no holds barred’ ap- programs—represents a shift in the Administration’s position, but how large a shift is open to question. Skeptics noted that the Administration did not actually commit proach to fixing it,” said Anthony J. for fielding a system. Principi, panel chairman and a deputy In the past, Clinton officials have sounded less than enthusiastic about missile secretary of veterans affairs in the Bush defense programs that are the legacy of Ronald Reagan’s ambitious Strategic Defense Administration. Initiative. Technical problems were insurmountable, some grumbled. Current Montgomery GI bill ben- The political calculus changed in recent months as Third World nations forged efits cover a maximum $528 a month ahead with missile programs. Last August, officials were shocked when North Korea in education costs. This relatively launched a three-stage rocket, the Taepo Dong 1. The third stage misfired, but if the communist nation develops a successor weapon it would be able to reach Alaska small stipend is one reason only 38 and Hawaii, not to mention US forces in Japan and South Korea.

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