（法新社新德里一日電） 印度報紙今天說，印度將在未來幾個月內試射長程「火神」彈道飛彈。印度國防研究暨發展組織主席艾特瑞昨天在新德里告訴媒體說：「火神｜一一一型飛彈確實將在未來幾個月內進行試射。」

印度時報說，飛行測試可能在四個月內進行，不過官方未立即証實這項報導。

印度國防研究暨發展組織人員說，具備攜帶核子彈頭能力的「火神」飛彈，最新的改良型最大射程可達四千公里，使得這種飛彈具有深入中國內部攻擊戰略目標的能力。

分析家說，火神｜一一一型飛彈原訂二００三年進行試射，不過因為印度和巴基斯坦最近採取行動，試圖化解數十年來的敵視而告延緩進行試射。

印度已開始生產射程七百公里的火神｜一型飛彈和射程二千五百公里的火神｜一一型飛彈，這兩型彈道飛彈自一九九三年以來曾數度進行飛行測試。

一九九八年進行核子武器試爆的印度，已研發出一系列的核子與傳統飛彈系統，這是自一九八三年展開的國防研究暨發展組織整合飛彈發展計劃的一部分。

北美防空指揮部（Norad）發言人賈沙今天說，自從兩年前美國世界貿易中心與五角大廈遭到九一一攻擊以來，這個指揮部派機擔任緊急起飛攔截任務或護送民航機的行動，已經超過一千六百次。

國土安全部說，最近一次是在除夕，為安全顧慮，一架擔任空中巡防的噴射戰鬥機護送一架英航班機安全飛抵華盛頓。

賈沙說：「攔截的原因有時因為飛機闖入禁航區，有時因為飛機的緊急頻道呼叫，我們必須上去察看究竟，另外有些情況我們不能談。」

Reuters
Pentagon sees F-35 jet cost up $5 billion -sources
Monday January 5, 8:10 pm ET

WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The Pentagon is preparing budget documents that show a $5 billion increase in the projected costs of the Joint Strike Fighter, or F-35, being developed by Lockheed Martin Corp.(NYSE:LMT - News), sources said.

The increase stems mostly from rising technology costs and the addition of new capabilities for the plane, which is designed to become the U.S. militarys main fighter jet in coming years, according to industry and defense sources.

Work began on the $200 billion F-35 program two years ago, with eight foreign partners contributing money to help research and develop the plane.

Lockheed officials had no comment on the expected cost increase, or a reported one-year delay in the launch of low-rate initial production, which had been slated for 2006.

Spokesman John Smith said the program had met all its program milestones to date, and details of the emerging budget plan for fiscal year 2005 were not yet available.

The Department of Defense is in the process of completing development of the presidents fiscal year 2005 budget submission for defense programs and that is due to Congress in February 2004, Smith said.

The process includes the evaluation of a variety of alternatives, he said, noting the administration officials were still finalizing the budget plan.

Smith said the company had stayed within its initial budget of $18.9 billion, which covered the period through 2012.

The Pentagons overall development budget for the F-35, including the cost of having two companies develop engines for the plane, was slated to be around $33 billion, but that figure may now rise to over $38 billion, the sources said.

Defense experts said the original budget plan for the plane had been based only on projected U.S. and British purchases, but other foreign sales to JSF partners would help cut unit costs in the long run, a potential offset to higher-than-expected budget costs.

They said a reported cut in the number of planes to be built by 2009 to 90 from 160 would help cut costs as well.

Russia delivers 12 more Sukhoi fighters to India
Press Trust of India
Moscow, December 26

Russia has delivered another 12 Sukhoi 30 MKI fighters to India, bringing to 22 the total number of the multi-role combat planes in Indian Air Force, a senior official of Russias Irkut Aircraft Corporation, which manufactures the jets, said on Friday.

In October, while visiting Irkut Corporation in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, had flagged off the new batch of Su-30MKI multi-role jets on their voyage to India to join the Indian Air Force.

Under an agreement signed in November 1996 India has received 22 multi-mission fighter jets, including 8 Su-30K jets of the older configuration.

Irkut corporation is to supply another 10 jets next year after which earlier supplied 8 Su-30K would be upgraded to MKI version by fitting thrust vectoring engines.

Embraer Delivers First ALX Super Tucano to Brazil

(Source: Embraer; issued Dec. 18, 2003)

GAVIAO PEIXOTO, Brazil --- Embraer today delivered the first ALX Super Tucano multi-purpose military turboprop to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The ceremony, which took place at the Gaviao Peixoto facility in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, was attended by high-ranking military and civilian authorities, Embraer executives, employees and technical personnel, as well as partners and suppliers that participated in the project.

Today, with the ALX, we are realizing one more dream, which is the result of a historical and successful partnership between FAB and Embraer,said Mauricio Botelho, Embraer President and CEO. With differentiated levels of technology, versatility, performance and cost-efficiency, the plane symbolizes an important step to ensure the efficiency of Brazilian strategic defense systems.

The Embraer President also noted: The ALX Super Tucano embodies the concept of communality of systems, equipment, symbols and next-generation interface involving the F-5BR and the AMX, soon to be modernized -- which helps set FAB apart in the global arena. Embraers role in this effort is to design and develop the means to promote the communality concept. Embraer, which feels challenged, is committed to invest more and more resources in its own technical and industrial development in a manner that will allow it to contribute to the evolution of our Air Force.

One of the most notable products manufactured by Embraer, the ALX Super Tucano is a combination of a next-generation, light military airplane that can serve as an advanced training tool for pilots. The newest military turboprop produced by Embraer has just what it takes to surpass the success of its older brother,namely the extraordinary Tucano, which has won over the admiration of many and is now in service with more than 15 Air Forces around the world.

The ALX will become part of the Amazon Surveillance Systems (SIVAM) air fleet, together with Embraers EMB 145 SA and the EMB 145 RS surveillance aircraft. Additionally, it will be used in basic and advanced training missions for FAB pilots.

The ALX Super Tucano, Embraers renowned multi-purpose military turboprop trainer/light attack/weapons familiarization aircraft soon to be in service with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is available in either single or two-seat versions. This aircraft is the perfect combination of turboprop power with fourth-generation avionics and armament systems, which makes it the next- generation aircraft suitable for air forces around the world to increase their operational and training capabilities.

Tailored to operate in the most hostile environment (high temperatures, moisture, and dust), it will perform operational missions as part of the latest and most sophisticated surveillance system in the world, the SIVAM (Amazon Surveillance Program). It will be also deployed by the Brazilian Air Force on basic/advanced training missions, including weapons familiarization, increasing efficiency and dramatically reducing training costs by replacing more expensive, older jet trainers.

The aircraft is being scheduled to fly day/night border surveillance missions, pursuing and intercepting aerial targets engaged in illegal activities. It is capable of receiving and transmitting data through its embedded, state-of-the-art data-linksystems. Sensor images, including target data, are readily received or relayed to Command and Control Stations, both on the ground or airborne, and to other combat aircraft in the operational theater.

Embraer spared no efforts to provide the ALX Super Tucano with a weapons system that reflects state-of-the-art technology for the area. 1,500 kg (3,307 lb.) of external loads distributed within five underwing and fuselage hard points (without penalizing its outstanding performance) means carrying capability of a wide array of fighters typical weapons -- either smart or conventional.

CODEVELOPED BY KOREAN INDUSTRY AND LOCKHEED MARTIN

FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 23, 2003) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has received a production contract for 25 T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic advanced jet trainers.

The T-50 is being developed by KAI with the assistance of Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] as its principal subcontractor.

The contract was awarded by the Republic of Korea Defense Procurement Agency on Dec. 19, for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The contract covers the aircraft, alternate mission equipment, integrated logistics support elements and production start-up costs.

The aircraft will be built at KAIs modern aircraft production facilities at Sacheon, South Korea. The first production T-50 will be delivered in late 2005.

We are thrilled with this decision to go into production on the T-50, said Kil, Hyoung-Bo, president of KAI. We have been looking forward to this milestone since we started Full-Scale Development in 1997. Our entire team - composed of the Republic of Korea Air Force, KAI, the rest of the Korean aerospace industry, Lockheed Martin and our international industry partners - has worked in close cooperation and very diligently in meeting or exceeding all program requirements on schedule. The T-50 is a critical program in Koreas national goal of developing a world-class aerospace industry this decade.

Kil said, The T-50 now will transition from the only supersonic trainer in development to the only one in production. It is the best available trainer in preparing pilots for both current high-performance fighters like the F-16, F-15, Eurofighter and Rafale, as well as the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This highly capable trainer can serve the advanced trainer needs not only of the ROKAF, but also other modern air forces
around the world.

The Korean government had earlier approved plans to purchase about 100 aircraft, half in the basic T-50 configuration and half in the T-50 Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) version. The T-50 LIFT version is designated the A-50 by the ROKAF and includes a multimode radar, an internal 20 mm cannon and a weapons delivery capability.

The 25 aircraft in the initial contract to KAI are all in the basic T-50 configuration. The remaining aircraft in the approved plan will be purchased in a follow-on contract.

We are looking forward to integrating this great trainer into our air force, said Maj. Gen. Namgung, Hyuk, Aerospace Projects Group Commander, ROKAF. Like the other top air forces in the world, we are committed to providing the best equipment and training for our personnel, and the T-50 contributes enormously to both objectives. The T-50 represents the most modern, highest-performance, advanced jet trainer for all our student pilots. And the A-50 will be a cost-effective lead-in fighter trainer for
those selected for the fighter branch.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The T-50 Golden Eagle is being developed by KAI for the Republic of Korea Air Force. Lockheed Martin, as principal subcontractor to KAI, is providing technical expertise for the program and is responsible for developing the T-50 avionics system, flight control system and wings. The two companies are cooperatively marketing the T-50 internationally.

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. is the Republic of Koreas national aerospace company, established in 1999 with the consolidation of Samsung Aerospace, Daewoo Heavy Industries and Hyundai Space and Aircraft Co. KAI lines of business include fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter aircraft and satellites. Its major products are the KF-16, KT-1 basic trainer, T-50, SB427 helicopters, UAVs, aerostructures and KOMPSAT satellite program.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin, is a leader in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, T-50, C-5, C-27J, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin Corp. employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.

# # #

A high resolution photo and caption is available at this Web address:
http://www.lmaeronautics.com/news/programnews/combat_air/t50/t50pr031223.html

Media Contacts:
Liz Brannan, 817-935-4833 or 817-762-1441,
e-mail: [email protected] or Sam Grizzle, 770-494-3211, e-mail: [email protected]

（法新社華盛頓八日電） 美國高級國防官員說，美國空軍一架C5銀河式運輸機今天由伊拉克首都巴格達的國際機場起飛時，顯然遭一枚地對空飛彈擊中，但仍勉力安全降落，機上六十三名乘員安然無恙。

這位官員說：「看來這架飛機的第四號引擎似乎被地對空彈擊中，但它仍得以掉頭回機場降落。」

美軍已就這次事件展開調查。

美國空軍稍早發布聲明說，這架C5運輸機報告在飛行中發生緊急狀況，「原因是第四號引擎的震動過於激烈」。

聲明又說：「這架飛機剛由機場起飛就發生問題。機組人員仍得以安全降落。飛機上有六十三名乘客和機組人員，未聞有人受傷。」

這是美國五月一日宣布在伊拉克的主要作戰行動結束以來，第三次有飛機在飛離巴格達國際機場時遭地對空飛彈擊中。

去年十二月十日，華盛頓的國防部官員表示，美國空軍一架C17型貨物與兵員運輸機由巴格達起飛後遭地對空飛彈擊中，機上有十三名乘客和三名機員。

與美國國防部生意往來密切的波音去年底爆發治理醜聞，有多位高層主管因違反職業倫理，聘用曾在國防部任職的官員而遭到革職。現今此一醜聞已促使美國防部展開大規模調查，主要調查對象就是過去幾年，曾被國防部包商高薪禮聘的高階軍事將官。

據華爾街日報報導，國防部的調查剛開始只單純瞄準波音在去年爆發的人事醜聞。之後很快擴展到曾被其他軍事供應商重金招攬的軍事人員，其中幾個較受關注的包括洛克希德馬丁與Carlyle集團，這兩家包商都曾經以高薪攬用五角大廈的高層主管。

儘管美國政府目前還在研擬調查的策略。不過這項行動卻也顯示美國政府有意在國防業存在已久的慣例，就是離職官員前往具有利益衝突的民間機構擔任高職，建立一套審查標準。

美國國防部有許多官員在離開後，都轉戰民間企業。而受波音案影響，此一情形已引起美國朝野高度質疑，至少有兩名國會議員已經準備針對此一問題召開公聽會。

其中首當其衝的波音，因為前財務長席爾斯聘用當初還在五角大廈擔任採購主管的魯揚為波音高層主管，藉此而獲取軍方合約。兩人最後不但被迫雙雙去職，至於波音與空軍部門原本簽訂的二一○億美元的軍機租賃合約也無限期遭到擱置。

（中央社記者郭傳信安卡拉十三日專電）土耳其空軍總部新聞室今天表示，空軍一架經過以色列專案改良的Ｆ四幻象型雙座戰機，昨天在例行飛行訓練時突然不明原因墜毀，機上兩名飛行員喪生，飛機殘骸散布在土耳其西南部愛琴海城市馬尼沙近郊。

新聞室在一項簡短聲明中表示，當局正調查失事原因。

這是土耳其空軍最近一年裡墜毀的第五架主力戰機。上月二十二日，土耳其空軍一架夜間作戰用途的「蝙蝠中隊」Ｆ十六Ｃ型戰機，起飛後不久因一具發動機突然起火燃燒墜毀，飛行員跳傘獲救，但後頸部斷裂。

[路透華盛頓電]一名美國空軍高級指揮官周二說，五角大廈正考慮永久將戰機安置在關島，一旦朝鮮半島或台海兩岸發生戰事，它將成為關鍵的軍事基地。

自從冷戰結束後，美國戰機便不再以這太平洋的島嶼領土為基地。

美國太平洋空軍指揮官畢格特(WilliamBegert)將軍在一項簡報中告訴記者：「關島有許多進展。」

安德森空軍基地是美國在關島的主要航空設施。

畢格特在這項簡報中說：「關島的地理位置在太平洋具有十分、十分重要的戰略地位。」他同時指出，該島距朝鮮半島與台灣海峽大約都是2,414公里，而至東南亞其他地區也伸手可及。

五角大廈正在重新評估美國在全球的軍事狀況，恢復在關島部署戰機，將是那過程的一部分。

畢格特說，儘管並未做成最後決定，但有關人士都相當坦率地討論如此做的重要性。

美國國防部長倫斯斐德(拉姆斯菲爾德)11月曾視察關島的軍事設施，自從撤除菲律賓的海軍與空軍基地後，當地的軍事設施近年便益形重要。

美國海軍最近將兩艘攻擊型潛艦移防關島，第三艘也預定將以該島為基地。儘管美國戰機並未派駐當地，但當去年對伊拉克戰爭展開時，為了嚇阻北韓「貿然行動」，五角大廈曾短暫派24架B-52與B-1轟炸機至安德森空軍基地。(完)

【林佳妮╱綜合外電報導】美國國防部委託三家民間公司研發二十一世紀未來飛機，國防部先進研究計畫局(DARPA)負責人泰瑞韋斯哈接受《新科學人》(New Scientist)期刊的專訪指出，他們研發的未來軍機指的是在飛行時，機翼可以因應不同任務需求縮短或折疊的飛機。

「我們的目的是要讓軍機有能力在每次飛行時，執行截然不同的任務角色。」泰瑞說：「軍機出任務有時必須要在空中慢速盤旋一段時間，有時則需要快速飛行。不同任務的機翼設計都不同，最大差異就是慢速飛行時，機翼跨度與表面積都大，快速飛行則相反。我們的目標是機翼能轉換表面積與形狀，最大與最小表面積相差超過百分之一百五十。」
DARPA委託三家公司研發這種伸縮自如的機翼，NextGen公司的機翼變形構想是「滑動外殼」(sliding skins)，所謂「滑動外殼」原理與有後傾機翼的飛機機翼可以前後滑動一樣。第二家公司則是雷神(Raytheon)提出的「縮短機翼」(telescoping wing)，與「滑動外殼」類似。最後一種則是洛克希德馬丁公司(Lockheed Martin)正在研究的「折疊機翼」(folding wings)。

機翼可折似海鷗
「折疊機翼簡單來說就像海鷗一樣，將部分機翼移入機身。」泰瑞說：「洛克希德馬丁公司相信這是較為有效率、也較簡單的方式，但是他們必須解決如何在氣流中打開機翼接合的問題。」也就是說，關鍵在於如何在高空中遭遇空氣阻力時，還能順利將折疊的機翼展開，而不至於被撕裂。DARPA表示，目前一切都還在研發階段，將等三家公司完成之後才能決定哪一個是最適合的。
除了機翼外，DARPA同時也在發展一種可以縮減飛機體積與重量的壓電驅動器(CHAP)，泰瑞說：「CHAP真的是天賜的儀器，因為當改變機翼形狀時的幾秒或幾分鐘，CHAP能夠以低頻率運轉自如，但是他們也能高頻率運轉以提供控制力。」

（中央社記者郭傳信安卡拉十六日專電）土耳其空軍總部新聞室證實，空軍一架Ｆ十六戰機於今天中午十二時三十分起飛進行飛行訓練時，突然發生不明原因爆炸，墜毀在機場附近，飛行員一人喪生，當局已就失事原因展開調查。

這是土耳其空軍不到一週內墜毀的第二架主力戰機，也是最近一年內墜毀的第六架主力戰機。

本月十三日，土耳其一架經過以色列專案改良的Ｆ四幻象型雙座戰機，在例行飛行訓練時因機械故障墜毀，機上兩名飛行員喪生。

上（十二）月二十三日，土耳其空軍一架專屬夜間作戰用途的「蝙蝠中隊」Ｆ十六Ｃ型戰機，也在夜間起飛後不久，一具發動機突然起火燃燒墜毀，飛行員跳傘受傷獲救。

（中央社記者謝震南東京二十一日專電）日本航空自衛隊第一批主力部隊約百名官兵，明天下午搭乘政府專機起程前往科威特。預定二十三日下午抵達科國的航自官兵，將和去年十二月二十六日出發，目前駐紮在科國西部阿爾薩雷姆空軍基地的四十名先遣小組會合。

至於航自第二批主力部隊的三架C130運輸機，預定本月二十六日從愛知縣的小牧基地出發，經過短暫的現地訓練之後，預定從二月起展開運補物資作業。

根據「伊拉克復興支援特別措置法」，日本內閣決定派兵海外從事國際人道支援的第一批先遣隊，去年十二月二十六日，由一等空佐（相當空軍上校）宮川正一率領的四十餘名航空自衛隊官兵，自東京成田機場起程打頭陣，正式揭開自衛隊首次赴國際交戰地執行和平任務的序幕。

日本防衛廳長官石破茂指出，航空自衛隊第一批先遣部隊官兵的動身，象徵日本邁向支援國際新階段實際行動的第一步。