（中央社記者姜遠珍漢城一日專電）駐韓美軍司令部今天宣佈，為參加韓美「聯合戰時增援演習」及「雛鷹演習」而增援調派至南韓的美軍F117A夜鷹隱形戰略轟炸機及F-15E戰機，將於本月四日聯合軍事演習結束後，繼續部署於南韓境內，以加強對戰爭的遏制力，進而提升韓美聯合作戰能力。

駐韓美軍司令部今天發佈的新聞資料指出，美國太平洋軍區司令部及駐韓美軍司令部經過與南韓政府的磋商後，雙方同意於本月初韓美聯合軍事演習結束後，將參加韓美「聯合戰時增援演習」及「雛鷹演習」而增援調派至南韓的美軍F117A夜鷹隱形戰略轟炸機及F-15E戰機等部份美軍戰力，繼續留駐部署於南韓境內，其目的在於「延長熟習訓練」。

駐韓美軍當局強調，在韓國戰區的任務是：提升對戰爭的遏制力，進而培養聯合作戰能力，相信前述措舉，勢將提供一個大好機會。

據悉，為了推動前述二合一的大規模韓美聯合軍事演習，美軍曾調派六架F117A夜鷹隱形戰略轟炸機及二十架F-15E戰機進駐南韓，並由美國本土及海外基地動員了數千名美軍兵力。

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM --- On March 29, for the first time in military
history, multiple B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress long-range
bombers targeted the same geographical area at the same time as part of
a single strike package.

After launching from separate bases, the bombers simultaneously struck leadership
and command and control targets of the Iraqi regime in Baghdad using precision
munitions.
-ends-

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http://www.defense-aerospace.com/afp/defense/030401123006.odkspwm6.html
Indian aircraft maker to invest nine billion rupees in modernisation

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15129/index.htm
Lockheed-Built GPS Satellite Launched

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15130/index.htm
Boeing Begins Flight Testing New JDAM On B-2

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15133/index.htm
P&W; Receives Production Contract for F119 Engines

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15123/index.htm
Rolls-Royce Ships First Blisk for Joint Strike Fighter SDD Programme

（中央社台北三日電）中國大陸運載火箭專家龍樂豪今天披露，大陸已經開始研究新一代大推力長征系列運載火箭，以滿足未來三十年發射大型衛星、月球探測裝置等太空探測設施的需要。此外，他也建議在海南增設發射場，適用新型火箭發射及運載。

新華社引述龍樂豪說，如果明年將新一代運載火箭研發項目立項，五、六年後就可以研製成功，最早可望在二○一○年進入發射市場。

他聲稱，規劃中的新一代運載火箭系列共有十四種型號，主要特點是：低軌道的運載能力為一點二噸至二十五噸，高軌道可運載一點八噸至十四噸﹔採用無毒、無污染的煤油和液氫、液氧推進劑。

(中央社記者曾志遠紐約三日專電)美國廣播電視網 (ABC)今天指出，伊拉克戰事開打以來至二日為止，美軍共動用二萬一千架次的空中突擊行動及投擲八千枚精準導向飛彈，飛彈命中率達百分之七十。

（中央社台北四日電）北韓發展核武問題，引起聯合國及國際間關切。北韓中央通訊社今天發表評論宣稱，北韓有權生產和部署飛彈進行自衛，並在「正常軍事合作和貿易」的框架內出口。

新華社報導，這篇評論說，美國政府三月二十四日宣稱北韓公司出口中程飛彈及相關技術給巴基斯坦，換取巴國的核武器開發技術，並宣布對北韓公司進行貿易制裁。評論批評美國做法不具正當性，辯稱北韓公司與巴方進行的交流「完全是正常的貿易」。

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15199/index.htm
Canada To Participate In India𠏋 Moon Mission
(Source: Indian Space Research Organisation; issued Apr. 3, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15197/index.htm
A-10 Thunderbolts Support Iraq War (Apr. 4)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15183/index.htm
USAF Ready To Launch Last Milstar Satellite

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15182/index.htm
B-52 Crews Use Smart-Guided Cluster Bomb
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr. 2, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15170/index.htm
Female B-2 Pilot Makes History
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr. 2, 2003)

(中央社記者韓乃國倫敦五日專電)英國皇家空軍的旋風戰鬥轟炸機，將使用一種不會爆炸的混凝土炸彈，攻擊伊拉克的坦克及大砲，以減少對伊拉克平民造成的傷亡。

英國廣播公司的報導引述旋風戰機科威特分遣隊指揮官道布上校的話說，這種混凝土炸彈仍然可以由衛星導引，準確擊中目標，由於沒有爆炸的威力以及四射的碎片，將可大幅減少對平民造成的傷亡。

About 20,000 feet above the kill box just north of Baghdad yesterday morning
two Air Force F-16CG fighter-bombers suddenly spotted potential prey parked
next to a railroad freight depot: Iraqi Republican Guard T-72 tanks.

But before the American warplanes unleashed their laser-guided 500-pound
bombs, the two pilots of mission Yoga Flight ticked off a mandatory checklist:
Were the targets definitely tanks? They flew by twice to check. Yes. Were there
any civilians in the vicinity? No. Would the bomb blast damage any nearby buildings
like schools, mosques or hospitals? No.

All clear. The planes went into a dive. One pilot, flying under the call
sign Snooze, lined up a tank in the cross hairs of his targeting pod. Seconds
later, a GBU-12 bomb plummeted toward earth, following an invisible laser
beam pointed by the pilot straight to the 45-ton tank.

Splash! blurted Snooze � Air Force lingo for hit! � as the tank disappeared
in an explosion of white smoke on his targeting pod screen, the same kind
of image that American military briefers in Qatar and Washington have repeatedly
shown reporters since the war in Iraq began two weeks ago.

We did a lot of identifying first, Snooze, a 27-year-old captain from
the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, said in a telephone interview
after returning safely to his base near the Iraqi border. Its a huge
responsibility, and you definitely dont want to be the guy who says, `hey,
those are tanks, and you end up hitting friendlies or a family in an Oldsmobile.

As American warplanes continued to pound away at the remnants of Republican
Guard divisions around Baghdad, the young Air Force captain with two dozen Iraqi
combat missions under his belt described his attack, one of more than 700
airstrikes across Iraq yesterday.

It was a day that started at 4 a.m. for Snooze and his flight leader, a
lieutenant colonel with the call sign Koss. They picked up their mission
materials: a packet of maps, radio frequencies, refueling plane call signs
and locations and other information they would need.

Intelligence officers updated the two pilots on where to be alert for possible
Iraqi surface-to-air missiles as well as American or British ground forces.
They checked on the weather � clear with high clouds � and air bases in the
region where they could land in an emergency.

Now it was time to climb into their G-suits � needed to prevent blacking
out during tight turns � put on a survival vest and harness, strap on a
9-millimeter pistol, grab a helmet and head to the flight line, where their
planes awaited. Before walking out, they made sure they were sanitized,
stowing their squadron and name patches in their lockers in case they were shot down.

The F-16CG is a versatile, single-seat, all-weather fighter-bomber equipped
with a special infrared targeting system to peer through darkness or bad
weather to pick out ground targets. Each plane can carry two one-ton
satellite-guided bombs or four 500-pound laser-guided ones.

Its the jack-of-all trades, Snooze said of his F-16. We can get tasked
for air-to-air, close air support, deep strike, combat search and rescue
or kill box.

Today was kill box duty. In some cases, the planes are directed to specific
targets by Awacs radar planes or spotters on the ground. But much of Iraq
has been divided into kill boxes, areas of several square miles where pilots
may fire at will once they positively identify a target.

Air planners create these grids to prevent casualties among allied forces
on the ground or accidental clashes with allied planes in the air.

Before entering Iraqi air space, the F-16s topped off their fuel from a
tanker plane. Gassed and ready to go, the jets streaked north, watching
warily for ground fire as well as allied airplanes. The American and British
forces have more than 1,600 combat and support aircraft flying in and around
Iraq. The skies get crowded.

As the F-16s approached Baghdad, an Awacs plane directed them to check
suspected targets at a specific set of coordinates. That did not pan out,
so Yoga Flight headed to its kill box just north of the city.

We looked around based on our intelligence and, sure enough, we found something:
tanks, said Snooze. They were actually parked next to a rail station.

For the next half hour, the two F-16s scouted their quarry � tanks from
the Nebuchadnezzar Republican Guard Division � and bombed away. Pilots can spot
targets for each other using their lasers, or rely on ground spotters. Today
they spotted their own targets. Snooze said he struck two tanks with two
bombs; Koss hit four, using all four of his bombs.

Soon the pilots hit bingo fuel, meaning the F-16s had just enough gas
to get home. It was time to turn around.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15229/index.htm
NASA Awards Contract For Orbital Plane (Apr. 7)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15231/index.htm
ITT Radars For Polish Air Force (Apr. 7)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15235/index.htm
Way now open for development of European Galileo satellite navigation system
(Source: German Cabinet Office; dated Apr. 3, web-posted April 7, 2003)

　記者呂亞樵／編譯

美軍證實，一架F-15E戰鬥機６日遭伊拉克擊落，機上兩名飛行員下落不明。

國防部的聲明指出，該架戰機隸屬北卡羅萊納賽摩強森空軍第四戰鬥聯隊，相關單位正在調查戰機遭到擊落的原因，國防部也沒有透露任何有關搜尋或援救失蹤駕駛的細節。不過五角大廈在聲明中特別警告伊拉克軍隊和人民，要根據日內瓦公約對待戰俘，如果違反將會面臨嚴重後果。

根據美國國防部的統計，目前有１０名美軍被列入失蹤，陣亡人數９６人，７人被俘。８日一架A-10攻擊機也在巴格達機場附近被擊落，飛行員彈射逃生，順利被聯軍地面部隊救出。

（中央社台北九日電）中國大陸在軌道的六顆地球同步定點衛星已度過地影期，目前這六顆衛星運行正常。

中新社今天引述西安衛星測控中心的太空專家說﹐每年春分前後﹐太陽､地球與位於赤道三萬六千公里上空的地球同步定點衛星排成一列。同時﹐這期間的每天午夜時分﹐地球正好位於衛星和太陽中間﹐太陽光被地球完全遮擋﹐形成地影﹐是謂地影期。

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15299/index.htm
Gripen International Creates Foundation To Support Aviation Specialists Training In Hungary

-------

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html
Two Pakistani Air Force jets crashes, one pilot killed
(Updated at 1620 PST)
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani air force A-5 training jets crashed Saturday, leaving
one pilot killed and other one severely injured, an air force spokesman
said.

The Chinese-built A-5 jet crashed at Misriyal area near Chakwal, about 60
kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Islamabad of which the pilot-Zaheer Ahmed-
managed to save his life by ejecting safely and landed by means of parachute,
Air Commodore Sarfraz Ahmad.

Another PAF Mushtaq Jet crashed down at Charsda area of NWFP, killing its
pilot killed and other one severely injured

Aerospace America April, 2003 Pg. 4
A crucial time for Eurofighter
Philip Butterworth-Hayes
歐洲戰機進入決定性時期
This month the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) is
due to start the final type acceptance tests for the production version
of the Eurofighter Typhoon. NETMA represents the four nations -- Germany,
Italy, Spain, and the U.K. -- that have ordered 620 of the type, along with
90 options. If all goes well in the 12-week trials, the defense ministries
of the four countries will then undertake their own national type acceptance
testing. If these succeed, deliveries of the aircraft will begin in mid
to late summer.

It has been, even in combat aircraft terms, a difficult gestation process.
The initial feasibility study was started back in 1984. Since then, France
has withdrawn from the project, Germany postponed major production decisions,
and in December 2002 one of the test aircraft crashed following a surge
and then flame-out of its EJ200 engines. Both crewmembers parachuted safely
-- but as a result of the crash, the delivery was pushed back from 2002
to this summer.

Slowly, however, events are turning the consortiums way. Since the aircraft
first took to the sky in March 1994, the organization has gathered a wealth
of data that should ease the type certification process. The NETMA certification
test is the key final obstacle to delivery; national authorities are unlikely
to find major fault with the aircraft if the main customer base is satisfied
with it.

Among all the key aircraft systems on which the plane will be assessed --
avionics, weapon systems, engines, and so on -- it is the engines that have
had the least technical trouble, until now. Furthermore, program officials
say the powerplants used in the DA6 aircraft that crashed in Spain were
very early development models of the EJ200; later models for production aircraft
are more robust and should not be susceptible to the surges that caused
the crash. But these are critical weeks and months for the program, which
will be judged a success only if it fulfills two targets: meeting or exceeding
the original requirement capabilities, and scoring export orders. It will
face some tough opposition in the Lockheed Martin F-16 and F-35 Joint Strike
Fighter, the Sukhoi SU-35, and the Dassault Rafale.

A complex export picture

Passing the rigorous type-acceptance test should open the door to export
successes, initially in Europe and longer term in the Far East. Austria,
Belgium, Greece, Denmark, and the Netherlands are all in various stages
of fighter acquisition programs. But nothing in Europe is simple at the moment,
and even a confirmed order for a new aircraft can quickly evaporate if governments
change or geopolitical events emerge that require new directions of government
spending.

For example, Austria has already agreed in principle to buy 24 Typhoons
at a cost of $ 1.7 billion. But the final decision has been delayed following
a spate of severe floods -- which cost the country nearly $ 6 billion --
and a general election. The new government was due to be installed by the
end of March; most likely, it will continue with the purchase, though scaling
down the numbers.

In March 2000 the Greek government said it would buy at least 60 and possibly
90 Typhoons -- along with 50 F-16 Block-50 Plus fighters. But the government
postponed the purchase of Typhoons in favor of spending more money on the
2004 Olympic Games.

Greeces recent rapprochement with its neighbor Turkey was also a factor
in the governments reducing its $ 17-billion 10-year defense modernization
program. In the short term, Greece has had to cut acquisition plans by $
4.74 billion between 2001 and 2006. According to the Eurofighter company,
In May 2001 the KYSEA -- the Greek governments Defense and Foreign Affairs
Committee -- confirmed that procurement of the Eurofighter would proceed
in 2004 and that the government were still committed to this selection.

But these sudden changes in what appeared to be cast-iron commitments can
also work in Eurofighters favor. Norway has a long-standing industrial
partnership agreement on the Lockheed Martin JSF program. But in January
of this year the Norwegian government agreed to invest $ 10.8 million to
join the Eurofighter industrial team. Eurofighter officials tell Aerospace
America that the aerospace industry in Norway was unhappy at the amount
of industrial participation that might accrue from JSF work -- hence the
renewed interest in Eurofighter. Under the new agreement, industrial participation
in the Eurofighter program will be jointly funded by the Royal Norwegian
Ministry of Defense and Norwegian industry, with a particular emphasis on
weapon systems integration, sensors -- including radar -- and flight controls.

After undergoing the traumas and dramas of an 18-year pan-European development
program, Eurofighter is becoming used to coping with surprises. In 2001
the company underwent a radical reorganization in an effort to drive down
aircraft acquisition and life-cycle costs.

Growth and adaptation

One major development from this has been the launch of a program of continuous
improvements across the range. (This is in contrast to the Tornado approach,
which ended up with each partner nation developing its own national upgrade
programs.) A common approach to upgrades will certainly add to the export
potential of the aircraft by, in theory at least, cutting the cost of new
systems.

According to Eurofighter, after the planes reach full operational capability
in 2005, there will still be room for 15% growth potential in engine thrust,
25% growth in electrical power and the environmental control system, and
100% growth in databus load, computer memory, and avionics applications.

Eurofighter has both considerable strengths and weakness as an export fighter.
As a weapon system, it is generally recognized to be more capable than
any other contender -- apart from the Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor, which
is not available (yet) in export form -- but also more expensive. Cost comparisons
can never be totally accurate, but Eurofighter retails for around $ 58 million
-- or $ 117 million with a full weapons capability -- at 1997 prices. In
contrast, the cost in 1999 for 48 Rafales was given at Ffr 17.2 billion
-- or around $ 54 million each. Unit costs of the Lockheed-Martin F-35 JSF
should range between $ 40 million and $ 50 million, depending on version.

Unlike Rafale, Eurofighter has yet to prove itself in an operational environment
and does not (yet) have a naval capability. And after a decade of missed
deadlines, the four core customer air forces will have an overriding demand
for early deliveries -- which means new customers might have to wait some
years before unscheduled production aircraft become available.

Complicating factors

For Europes smaller nations, looking for a single multirole combat aircraft,
the Eurofighter/JSF conundrum is particularly difficult. The JSF industrial
team comprises the U.K., Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Turkey,
though the U.K. is the only country that has directly committed to buying
the aircraft. The U.K., Italy, and now Norway are industrial partners on
the Typhoon.

To complicate matters further, air forces of five smaller European countries
who all fly F-16s -- Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal
-- have all recently committed themselves to a joint expeditionary capability
to plan and support overseas deployments. This is a further step in developing
unified upgrade and operational programs among these five European F-16
nations, collectively known as the European Participating Air Forces, or
EPAF, within the framework of the U.S.-led F-16 Multinational Fighter Program.
The series of highly successful cooperative ventures -- including common
midlife upgrade programs -- would have to be rethought if different types
of fighters were ordered by participating countries.

04/12/03 - OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN) --
For the first time in combat history, a B-52 Stratofortress used a Litening
II targeting pod to strike targets at an airfield in northern Iraq on April
11, according to officials at the U.S. Central Commands combined air operations
center.

Using the Litening II system,a crew of reservists from the 93rd Bomb Squadron
at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and active-duty airmen from the 23rd BS
at Minot AFB, N.D., flew the bomber from a forward-deployed location and
dropped one laser-guided GBU-12 Paveway II munition on a radar complex and
another on a command complex at the airfield, officials said.

(Source: see each item below; web-posted April 14, 2003)
EDITOR㷧 NOTE: We have posted below links to two additional items in the ongoing debate about the cost and affordability of the US Air Force𠏋 F/A-22 Raptor program.

Additional testimonies, notably by US Air Force and Pentagon officials, are not currently available as they have not been posted on the House subcommittee website.

Two recent reports on the issue by the General Accounting Office are available in our Official Reports section.

Better Acquisition Outcomes are Possible if DoD Can Apply Lessons from F/A-22 Program
Testimony by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, House Committee on Government Reform.
Ref: GAO-03-645T, April 11.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-03-645T

CDI: Testimony on the F/A-22
Prepared testimony of CDI Senior Analyst Christopher Hellman for his April 11, 2003, appearance before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations of the House Government Reform Committee.
Hellman holds that a silver bullet buy of the F/A-22 fielding one air wing (with training and attrition replacement) would permit the Air Force to learn about producing such technically complex aircraft; permit the development of suitable operational tactics; and provide a sufficient force to perform any future missions requiring the F/A-22s stealth characteristics and other improved performance capabilities. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that limiting the F/A-22 program to such a force while replacing the remaining proposed F/A-22s with new F-15s would save $10 billion over 10 years.
http://www.cdi.org/mrp/fa22.cfm
-ends-

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http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15389/index.htm
F/A-22 Provides Technological Leap Forward
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr. 14, 2003)
Pentagon Backs F-22 To The Hilt (Apr. 15)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15345/index.htm
U-2 Leads In ISR Missions (Apr. 14)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15354/index.htm
New Milstar Launches From Cape
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr. 11, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15371/index.htm
Commander Recounts Historic Iraq C-17 Airdrop
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr. 14, 2003)

The value of the acquisition has not been disclosed, although Boeing Integrated
Defense Systems spokesman Paul Guse told Janes Defence Weekly that the
design has a unit cost of between $150 million and $220 million, depending
on its production configuration.

Guse said the Japanese Air Self-Defence Forces (JASDFs) aircraft are of
a more basic configuration than that selected by launch customer Italy in
mid-2001.

Japans 767s will not be produced in the combi configuration, limiting
them to operating with either an all-passenger or all-freight load, he said.
The aircraft - a derivative of the 767-200ER airliner - will be equipped
with a tail boom only for in-flight refuelling.

　　IDF經國號戰機飛行時數滿1000小時人員授證典禮，18日下午在漢翔公司翔園生活區舉行，共有陳佳駿等18名空軍優秀飛行員獲頒證書，典禮過程簡單隆重。授證典禮由漢翔公司董事長黃榮德主持，空軍總部督察長蕭金澤中將亦率空軍443、427聯隊及測戰中心等國軍將校數十餘人到場觀禮，

漢翔公司董事長黃榮德致詞時表示，經國號戰機全案含原型機4架，量產型130架總共生產134架，除了供空軍部隊作戰飛行訓練外，現在都已正式服役成軍，對我國國防安全，空中防衛與空軍教育訓練，提供了有力的保證，漢翔公司要讓IDF經國號品質不斷提昇，讓顧客完全滿意。

空軍總部督察長蕭金澤中將亦率空軍443、427聯隊及測戰中心等國軍將校數十餘人到場觀禮。蕭金澤並在典禮中表示，經國號戰機在443、427聯隊相繼完成換裝後，仍與原廠（漢翔公司）定期召開飛安審查會，作飛行戰術的交流，學習歐、美不同機種協同聯合作戰的觀念和戰術、戰法，使經國號戰機保持高度戰力狀態。

黃榮德也感謝空軍過去提供航發中心、漢翔公司許多研發及生產計劃與服務的機會，使得漢翔得以成長茁壯，有機會進軍國際民用航太市場，而配合未來公司民營化，國防、航太仍然是漢翔主要的核心業務，漢翔需要空軍長官袍澤繼續給予支持與協助。

黃榮德強調，經國號戰機雖然已量產結束，完成階段性任務，但政府對經國號戰機的期許不僅止於此，漢翔公司除持續進行經國號戰機性能提昇、返廠修改項目，目前正經由翔昇計畫進行座艙、雷達、航電系統等各項性能精進，並藉由每季的飛安審查會，切磋經國號戰機的戰術訓練及戰術運用，以保持高度戰力狀態。

(中央社記者韓乃國倫敦十九日專電)根據「每日電訊報」發自卡達的報導，英國軍方一位高級官員承認，英國庫存的衛星導向精靈炸彈，幾乎已經全部在對伊拉克的戰爭中耗盡。

此一英軍消息來源表示，皇家空軍的衛星導引精準炸彈，在戰爭的前三個星期幾乎已全部用盡；皇家海軍也耗掉許多戰斧巡弋飛彈。英國政府現在必須以大筆經費補充這些先進武器。

這位英國軍方高級官員說：「櫥架已經空了，但是估計十年之內大概不會再需要面對像這樣的威脅」。

http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEH20030418131020&Title;=Top+Stories&rLink;=0
Vajpayee to christen home-grown jet fighter

http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEH20030418145343&Title;=Top+Stories&rLink;=0
As crashes continue, IAF plans change in MiG-27 engine

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/17spec.htm
What ails the MiG?

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15404/index.htm
Eurofighter Announce Inauguration of the ASTA Joint Integration Facility (ASTA JIF)
(Source: Eurofighter GmbH; issued Apr. 15, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15410/index.htm
Alenia Aeronautica: Simultaneous Flight of Four Eurofighters Manufactured in Italy

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15408/index.htm
Northrop Supports LITENING Integration on Reserve B-52H

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/afp/defense/030417065707.4q3d1msc.html
Fighter jets to be based near Indian capital: report

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15438/index.htm
Team Reduces Civilian Casualties With Exact Targeting
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr. 17, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15443/index.htm
CC-130 Hercules Aircraft Inspected For Cracks
(Source: Canadian Department of National Defence; issued Apr. 17, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15445/index.htm
U-2 Reconnaissance Plane Helps Bring POWs Home
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr. 17, 2003)

（中央社台北十九日電）上海航太局專家日前透露，中國大陸將在三年後發射探月衛星。上海航太局一個參與探月方案研究的專家對解放日報指出，如何讓探測衛星進入月球軌道，是探月計劃第一階段需要解決的最關鍵問題。

報導說，以往中國大陸發射的衛星距地面三萬五千八百公里左右，而月球與地球的距離為三十八萬四千四百公里。同時在送衛星到月球的過程中，受到行星引力等各方面因素干擾，確保成功不容易。

據指出，上海航太局在進行了探月方案研究後，提出的探測衛星飛行軌跡方案可行性較大，得到多方肯定並且被採納。這項方案採取多級推進的方式，把探測衛星送入月球軌道。

按照方案，衛星先被送入一個地球同步橢圓軌道，這一軌道離地面最近距離為五百公里，最遠為七萬公里，探月衛星將用二十六小時環繞此軌道一圈後，透過加速再進入一個更大的橢圓軌道，距離地面最近距離為五百公里，最遠為十二萬公里，需要四十八小時環繞一圈。

Report by Mile Franicevic: First Upgraded MiGs Due To Arrive From Romania by 15 April

Within the next 10 days, the first two of a total of 12 Croatian MiG-21 fighters will take off from the Romanian city of Bacau bound for Croatia. The MiGs are being upgraded for the Croatian Air Force (HRZ) by a group of specialists from the local aviation company Aerostar S.A. According to reports from the Ministry of Defense [MORH], besides eight Croatian MiG-21 bis (single-seater) aircraft, four secondhand two-seaters (MiG-21 UM) have also been bought on the open market, and it is in fact two of those aircraft, upgraded and modernized, that will enter the Croatian airspace by 15 April at the latest.

The moment at which the wheels of the upgraded airplanes touch the runway will signify the definitive end of media doubts about the capabilities of the Croatian Air Force and its future. The announced arrival of the two MiGs from Romania also clearly shows that Croatia not only has no intention of doing away with its own air force, but is in fact endeavoring to improve its capabilities and capacities.

Croatian Military Budget -- Never Smaller

Despite the money crunch, by conducting the overhauls and limited modernization and purchasing four additional two-seater supersonic fighters, the MORH is coming very close to fully realizing its precisely mapped-out short-term goal, which is the upgrading and limited modernization of the HRZ and the PZO [Air Defense].

Although there has never been less money in the military budget, it clearly remains the most expensive and most demanding branch within the HV [Croatian Army]. There is ever-greater room for the purchase of more modern equipment in air defense, but also in other arms, such as the navy and the ground forces. Unfortunately, at a time when the bulk of the military budget goes to personnel expenses, it is clear to everyone that modernization directly depends on the speed at which reforms are carried out.

The math is very simple: The military budget is limited by the NATO framework, which means that it is only through size reductions that more money can be freed up to purchase new military equipment. On the other hand, even military analysts who have a hard time accepting the fact that reality most often does not keep pace with desires must admit that the purchase and modernization of four additional MiG two-seaters is a clear sign that the minister of defense is making the training of young military pilots a top priority. For now there is not enough money to buy expensive Western jet fighters, but the purchase of four used MiGs and the upgrading of eight more of them opens up certain new possibilities.

Besides enlarging Croatias fleet of MiGs from 24 to 28, the availability of 12 upgraded and partly modernized supersonic aircraft of that type gives present-day pilots much greater opportunities (in a relatively inexpensive way) to pass the experience gained in the Homeland War on to the next generation.

Thanks to the modernization of the MiGs in Romania, the interval between repairs of those planes has been lengthened to at least 10 years. In this way, Croatia gains a great deal of time to think about what sort of air force and air defense system it wants. In the meantime, by modernizing the MiGs, the HRZ is improving the capabilities and operability of its own aircraft and bringing them in line with NATO standards.

$8.2 Million Overhaul Contract

Specifically, the contract that the MORH has signed with Romanias Aerostar -- worth $8.23 million -- relates to the overhaul, but also to the modernization of a total of 12 MiGs. Given the fact that in present-day terms experts consider the MiG-21 an outdated supersonic aircraft in the aerodynamic sense that is also no match for modern
Western fighter-assault craft in terms of maneuvering capabilities, the Romanian experts are installing modern avionics systems in our MiGs.

After all components and systems of the Croatian MiGs are thoroughly checked out and the faulty ones are replaced, the Romanian experts will also install new communication equipment in them.

Industry sources in Taiwan have provided more details of the Chung-Shan
Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) Antelope air-defence system,
which recently entered service with the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force
(ROCAF) (Janes Defence Weekly 18 July 2001).

Development of the Antelope began in 1995. The US-supplied AM 4 x 4 General
High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle chassis was used for trials.
Taiwan uses the vehicle in large numbers for a wide range of roles, especially
as a weapons carrier.

However, production systems for the ROCAF are installed on a larger six-tonne
forward-control 4 x 4 truck. On the trucks rear is a pedestal-type mount
with four TCI (Tien Chien I, or Sky Sword 1) missiles in the ready- to-launch
position. These are similar to those used in the air-to-air role but have
been modified for the surface-to-air missile (SAM) role. Modifications include
different fins and only one mechanical gyro is fitted.

The missile features a low-smoke solid-propellant rocket motor and a high-explosive
warhead that is activated by a contact and active laser proximity fuze system.

The target-acquisition system on the Antelope includes a radar system mounted
on top of the pedestal that is retracted for travelling. The forward-looking
infra-red optical device is mounted on the left of the pedestal between
the upper and lower missiles. This tracks the target before missiles are
launched. An integral generator supplies power to the entire system, which
allows the main vehicle engine to be switched off.

The Antelope can also be operated remotely up to 70m away. This considerably
enhances operator survivability against direct attack. A two-person crew
- a gunner and an observer - normally operates the Antelope although the
system can be operated by one person if required.

The vehicle can also receive target information from a mission-control system,
which would confirm that a target is hostile. The Antelope would then start
searching for, and locking on to, targets. The fire-control computer automatically
slaves the turret and missiles on to the target.

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/2003/04/13/international/cdn/3929366.html
美全球之鷹偵查北韓

【編譯王麗娟／綜合十八日報導】

美籍華裔太空人盧傑與俄羅斯太空人馬林成科定廿六日升空前往國際太空站，接替站上另三人工作。由於美國太空梭「哥倫比亞號」二月一日返回地球時失事，美國宣布無限期暫停太空梭升空，此次上太空，盧傑將乘坐俄國太空船前往。

美國航空暨太空總署（ＮＡＳＡ）說，雖然只有盧傑與馬林成科兩人前往換手，人力少了三分之一，他們相信仍能順利執行大量研究工作。國際太空站上的三人去年十月進站，盧傑與馬林成科將在廿六日升空，於站內居住六個月。

國際太空站由十六國共同建造，其中又以美俄為首。上月美俄決定在美國太空梭復航與太空站恢復建造前，只由兩名太空人維持太空站的運作。

盧傑特別感激在美國停飛太空梭之際俄國仍維持太空計畫不變。他在俄羅斯的星城太空人訓練中心說

：「計畫維持不輟，全賴俄國有能力發射『進步號』與『聯合號』太空船，而向全球展示兩國能合作，至關重要。」

俄國政府本月改弦易轍，宣布將增加經費建造更多太空船，以替代停飛的太空梭。早先俄國表示，該國並無財力建造更多太空船。

盧傑與馬林成科將乘坐聯合號，從哈薩克的貝康諾太空中心升空。二月一日太空梭失事後，俄國火箭成為國際太空站唯一飛行工具。盧傑是物理學家，馬林成科是機師與工程師，兩人原定上月乘坐「亞特蘭提斯號」太空梭升空。

盧傑說：「這次飛行別具意義。我們的好友兩個月前失事，但這並不代表我們應停止一切，一遇挫折即喊停是不對的。」

美俄各只送一人上太空，旨在將補給需求降至最低。沒有較大的太空梭載具，兩國只能利用俄國進步號無人戴貨太空船，將有限的補給送至太空站。

目前在站上的三人將在下月乘坐另一艘較為老舊的聯合號太空船返回地球，這架太空船現在充當站上的救生船。星城太空人訓練中心發言人說，太空站的組裝工作已暫停，盧傑與馬林成科的主要任務是維修與執行生物實驗，包括在太空無重力環境下防止骨質流失的實驗。盧傑說：「我們將做很多運動。」

有人擔心因少了一人，盧傑與馬林成科將無法執行太多科學實驗，但美國太空總署認為情況應不致如此。盧傑與馬林成科兩人在二○○○年也曾聯袂上太空站，還利用太空漫步，連結起站外的電纜。
【2003/04/20 聯合報】

　記者周永旭／編譯

爲取代美軍現有老舊的空中加油機隊，美國國防部長倫斯斐即將決定是否同意空軍提出的租借波音公司767空中加油機方案。如果倫斯斐點頭，這項租借100架空中加油機的方案可望爲波音公司帶來價值300億美元的軍事合同。不過批評者指出，這項罕見的租借軍事硬體方案，不僅是轟動世界的恩隆案企業醜聞的「創意會計」的翻版，更具體展現了華府利益分贓體制的醜惡。

波音公司與美國空軍強調，租借空中加油機可爲軍事供應鍊提供具成本效益的解決方案，因為美軍的空中加油機隊機齡過老，有些自艾森豪總統時代就開始服勤至今。空軍部助理部長桑布爾說，空軍亟需新加油機隊，該方案能讓空軍在總預算中進行槓桿操作，「這是筆超級划算租借交易」。

但美國政府的總會計辦公室以及國會的預算辦公室等單位卻發現，租借飛機遠比直接購買來得昂貴，甚至也比翻修老舊加油機隊貴上許多。堅持反對本案的參議員麥肯誓言，他將竭盡所能反對本案，不讓軍事－工業這一複合體浪費美國納稅人的錢。

目前還不清楚倫斯斐對本案的立場。倫斯斐曾說，他贊成「以市場為基礎的創新方式」。

這項租借方案其它遭人詬病之處是因為其帶有「創意會計」色彩。創意會計已在恩隆案後惡名昭彰，令人聞之色變。根據方案，波音公司將在華爾街公司「花旗全球市場」的協助下成立一特定目的事業體，也就是成立一家新公司專門負責租借軍機事宜，租借期間為六年。這個新事業體則以軍方交付的租借款發行債券來支付加油機費用。

把租借軍機事宜全交由爲此特地成立的新事業體負責，對波音的最大好處是，可以使得因租借而產生的債務不列入波音公司的資產損益表，因此公司信用評等不會遭到調降。此外，這一百架加油機的訂單將使波音可以維持767型機種的生產線，目前767型機種銷售情形並不理想，若無美國空軍這筆訂單，可能就會關閉生產線。波音估計，全球767型機種市場約1000億美元，日本、英國與義大利都已對該機種表示興趣。

而租借方案對美國空軍的好處則是不會排擠已經吃緊的採購預算。由767型客機改裝的空中加油機單價1億2000萬美元，若以租借方式就無須列入採購預算，這使得空軍可以把採購預算用在更想要的F/A-22戰機及C-17運輸機，把加油機預算改列在運作及維持費用當中。

波音及美國空軍都聲稱，租借加油機就像租車一樣，與其一次付二萬美元買台新車，為何不每期付200美元就能擁有一台新車﹖雖然批評者質疑，如果加油機可以租用，為什麼戰機不可以﹖但波音擁有龐大的遊說勢力在華府運作，高達2萬2000人的波音員工工會也成為爭取國會支持的重要後盾。

但在另一方面，許多政府預算監督單位對這項方案均抱持不以為然的態度。這些單位估計，租借的總花費高達260億到300億美元，遠比直接購買昂貴；此外，雖然目前545架KC-135型空中加油機機齡偏高，但許多架的飛行時數卻很短，許多加油機甚至一年飛行不到200或300小時。監督單位估計，最省錢的方法就是花費32億美元翻修這些加油機；他們也強調，向波音租借的加油機期限只有六年，屆時軍方又會面臨加油機不足的窘境。

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15469/index.htm
F-35 Team Looks to Next Milestones Following Preliminary Design Review
(Source : Lockheed Martin ; issued April 18, 2003)
F-35 Review Highlights Problems (Apr. 22)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15470/index.htm
Air Force Pilots Help Japanese Go The Distance
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr.23, 2003)
Japanese F-15 Pilots Train For Refueling (Apr. 24)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15471/index.htm
Air Force, Army Coordinate FireRole (Apr. 24)
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr.23, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15472/index.htm
Kuwaiti Hornets Experience Marine Corps Hot Refueling Pits
(Source: US Marine Corps; issued Apr. 22, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15493/index.htm
Bomber Group Heads Home
(Source: US Air Force; issued Apr. 24, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15497/index.htm
Upgraded GPS Satellite Ready For July Launch
(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued Apr. 24, 2003)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15499/index.htm
Contract for the 48 F-16 delivery for Polish Military was signed
(Source : Polish Ministry of Defence ; issued April 24, 2003)

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http://www.defense-aerospace.com/afp/defense/030424162950.ijatnrh8.html
Russia buries Soviet-era military cargo plane project

MOSCOW, April 24 (AFP) - 16:29 GMT - Russias airforce announced Thursday that it was burying the An-70 military propeller cargo plane project, nearly three decades after first launching development on the jumbo military jet.
We have reached a dead end with the An-70, Russias airforce chief Dmitry Morozov was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS while on a visit to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.

The An-70 program has absolutely no future, he said, adding that the military will not be ordering any of the planes even if the government decides to continue financing the project.

The An-70 project was launched by the Soviet Union in 1975 but virtually ground to a halt with communisms collapse in 1991.

The first flight of the plane took place on December 16, 1994, but the prototype was destroyed on February 10, 1995 in a midair collision, according to the Federation of American Scientists defense research center.

------
從各方面的消息來看，印尼 Su-27/30 的軍購屬實。
印尼似乎已簽下四架的初步合約，頗有試買的意味，
跟當年印度先同時採購少量 MiG-29 及 Mirage2000 作為測試
的做法相同。

INDON AIR FORCE WANTS TO HAVE 48 SUKHOIS, MILY CHIEF SAYS
Antara - April 23, 2003

Moscow, April 23 (ANTARA) - Indonesian military commander, Gen Endriartono
Sutarto, has disclosed that the Indonesian Air Force wants to have 48 Russian-
made Sukhoi fighter planes, to enable it to secure the country and maintain
its sovereignty.

Ideally, we should have four squadrons or 48 Sukhoi fighter planes and
we hope to achieve the number in the next four years, Endriartono told
newsmen here Tuesday night.

He said the Air Force has for the moment decided to buy two Sukhoi-27s,
two Sukhoi-30s, and two MI-35 helicopters for a total value of US$197 million.

Of the amount, he noted, some 12.5 percent will be paid in cash, and the
rest will be paid through a countertrade scheme.

Indonesias state Bank Bukopin has been tasked to loan the government US$21
million as bail-out fund to cover the cash payment, he said.

Asked about the possible negative reaction of western countries and the
US over Indonesias purchase of Russian fighter planes, he said this is
understandable.

I could understand the concern for the possible negative reaction of western
countries, he said.

The US has imposed a military embargo on Indonesia in 1999 due to the latter
s alleged support for militia violence in East Timor.

Meanwhile, chief of the Indonesian militarys Operational Command II, Rear
Marshall Teddy Sumarno, who accompanied Endriartono, expressed hope that
the fighter planes would arrive in Jakarta by September at the latest. 

A number of pilots and technical officers will be sent to Russia in June
to study the operation of the airplanes, he said.

Industry and Trade Minister Rini Soewandi meanwhile confirmed that the negotiations
for the purchase of the fighter planes began during her visit to Russia
in September last year. During that time, she offered 31 commodities for
the countertrade scheme.

Russia has agreed to buy several commodities from Indonesia, among them
rubber, palm oil, tea, coffee, cocoa, textile and bauxite, she said.

She pointed out that the countertrade agreement was supposed to be signed
on Tuesday night here, but it will be signed only on Wednesday as it has
to be checked by lawyers.

The Indonesian government has tasked the State Logistics Agency (Bulog)
to sign the trade contract, while Russia will be represented by one of its
state companies.

Rini further said that Bank Bukopin has been chosen to provide the loan
for the cash payment as it has completed the governments recapitalization
program.

--------
無網址

Copyright 2003 InvestNews S.A.
Gazeta Mercatil Online (Brasil)
April 23, 2003 Wednesday
Government to resume fighter aircraft competition
Rio de Janeiro, 04/23/2003 The government decided to resume the process
of chosing the companies that will dispute the F-X fighter jet competition,
conducted by the Aeronautic Command. Evaluated at US$700 million, the program
foresees the substitution of the current fleet of Mirage jets flown by the
Brazilian Air Force (FAB) with the purchase of 12 to 24 new generation supersonic
fighters. Five consortiums are disputing the selection: Mirage 200BR, led
by Embraer; the Anglo-Swedish Gripen; the American Lockheed Martin;and two
Russian engries, Rosoboronexport/Avibras and Rac-Mig. According to Defense
Minister Jose Viegas Filho, in the second half of the year the government
will present the competing companes the new calendar for defining the final
selection early in 2004. Presentations already made remain valid, although
the companies can incorporate into their proposals complementary data like
technological inovations. The minister participated yesterday in the opening
of the fourth edition of the International Fair and Conference on Technology
and Defense - LAD 2003, which continues through Friday in Rio de Janeiro.
(Gazeta Mercantil - Translated by James Bruce)

-----
London Daily Telegraph
April 19, 2003
BAE-Boeing Link Up For Refuel Battle
By Alistair Osborne, Associate City Editor
An alliance between BAE Systems and US aircraft maker Boeing will go head-to-
head with a European-led consortium at the end of this month, with final
bids to win Britains biggest-ever private finance initiative contract.

The battle is for a ?3 billion, 27-year contract to supply the Royal Air
Force with new air-to-air refuelling planes, replacing the current VC10
and TriStar fleet.

The bidding for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme pitches the
Tanker & Transport Service Company, featuring BAE, Boeing, Serco and Spectrum
Capital, against Air Tanker, a consortium led by the European Aeronautic,
Defence and Space Company (EADS), which includes Rolls-Royce and Cobham.

The bid battle, coming against the background of the Iraq war, is highly
political and some industry sources believe the Anglo-American consortium
now has the edge over its European rival, whose governments did not back
the war.

However, analysts reckon the outcome will turn on the radically different
technical solutions used by the two consortiums.

Tanker & Transport will use second-hand planes, taking an option over British
Airways 21 Boeing 767s, which it plans to convert. By contrast, the EADS-led
consortium plans to use new Airbus A330 planes.

Ben Fidler, a Deutsche Bank analyst, said: The 767s are cheaper but it
could be a false economy if you have skyrocketing maintenance costs.

Analysts said converting planes is fraught with technical problems, as the
BAEs troubled Nimrod reconaissance plane conversions have proved, while
the fuel capacity of the 767s would be at least 20pc less than the A330s.

The hostilities in Afghanistan, where planes flew several hours to reach
the combat zone, emphasised the benefits of larger tanker aircraft.

Keith Archer-Jones, Tanker & Transports bid director, is undeterred. He
said the 767s were the most cost-effective way of delivering the capability.
He added that, in Boeing, we have the organisation best placed to manage
the planes, while the US, Japan and Italy were opting for tanker aircraft
based on converted 767s.

Robin Southwell, the former WS Atkins chief executive who heads Air Tanker,
disagrees. He said new A330s offered higher quality and are low risk because
you dont have to make structural changes to the aircraft. He said: The
question is do you degrade or upgrade the RAFs capability?

編譯董更生／綜合莫斯科二十八日外電報導

華裔美國太空人盧傑和俄羅斯太空人馬林成科今天駕駛俄羅斯聯合ＴＭＡ二號太空船與國際太空站接合，並與在國際太空站上的三名太空人相擁問安。

聯合號太空船與國際太空站是於台北時間廿八日下午一時五十六分在距地表四百一十公里的太空中接合。因為美國的哥倫比亞號太空梭失事而在國際太空站多出了兩個月勤務的三名太空人打開艙蓋，讓盧傑和馬林成科進入太空站。

聯合號太空船於昨天在哈薩克的貝康諾太空中心發射升空，是哥倫比亞號太空梭於二月一日失事後頭一艘升空的載人太空船。

哥倫比亞號太空梭失事不但使太空梭上七名太空人死於非命，使在國際太空站中的兩名美國和一名俄羅斯太空人多待了兩個月，而且使聯合ＴＭＡ二號太空船成為唯一可以載人往返國際太空站的太空船。

聯合號太空船這次任務是在空前短的時間內完成準備的。美國國家航空暨太空總署副署長葛雷葛利說，太空人今天完成了「漂亮的結合」。他說：「國際太空站受到嚴重的挑戰。我們接受了這個挑戰，並且證明我們能克服在未來之路上的任何障礙。」

盧傑的媽媽在莫斯科郊外的任務管制中心觀看接合，她說：「我看到所有的一切都很圓滿，感到很高興也很驕傲。」

原來在太空站上的美籍太空人皮提特廿日過生日，原來在太空站上的俄籍太空人布達林明天過生日，盧傑和馬林成科特地帶了兩份生日禮物給他們。

　　(中央社記者陳亦偉台北二十九日電)空軍總部今天證實，一架編號「一六一七」隸屬台中清泉崗空軍基地四二七聯隊的IDF經國號戰機，上午進行訓練時發生失事，兩名飛行員宋岳敦、王祖祥跳傘獲救；空軍將組專案小組調查原因，並將稍晚發布新聞稿詳細說明事件經過。

　　空總相關官員表示，這架IDF戰機是在上午十一時二十九分起飛進行訓練任務，十一時四十九分在南投縣魚池鄉一帶發生故障，飛行員跳傘逃生，並被空軍S-70C救出送醫，人員平安。

空軍一架IDF經國號戰機今天中午疑似機件故障，墜毀在南投魚池鄉附近山頭，根據空軍總部指出，兩位飛官宋月（日敦）上尉及王祖祥少校，在飛機墜毀當時跳傘逃生，空軍總部在中午十二點半左右聯絡上二人，初步確定兩人都是輕傷，並由當地居民送往埔里醫院救治，這也是經國號戰機在成軍之後，首度出現的墜機事件。

空軍總部指出，空軍清泉崗基地一架編號四六一七號的雙座經國號戰機，由宋月（日敦﹍上尉及王祖祥少校駕駛，在上午十一點二十九分自基地起飛執行例行訓練任務，但在十一點四十九分飛至南投魚池鄉附近山頭時，疑似機件故障而墜毀，兩位飛行員立即跳傘逃生，空軍總部也隨即出動海鷗直昇機搜救。

根據指出，空軍總部在中午十二點左右與兩位飛官聯繫上，兩人都是輕傷，隨後並被當地人士送往埔里醫院救治。此外，飛機墜毀當時曾經引發小型火災，隨後也被當地居民撲滅，初步確定並未造成嚴重災情。

（中央社記者陳正杰華盛頓二十九日專電）美國國防部長倫斯斐今天在與沙烏地阿拉伯國防部長蘇爾坦會面後，美方宣布將結束在沙國蘇爾坦基地聯合空軍行動中心的業務，部署在這個基地的美國軍機將在八月底以前撤離。

從一九九零年第一次波灣戰爭結束後，蘇爾坦基地逐漸發展成為美國在波灣地區最大的空軍基地，主要任務是執行在伊拉克南部的禁航令。在第二次波灣戰爭的高峰，部署在這個基地的美國軍機達兩百架。

據美國官員說，美軍在區域的聯合空軍行動中心任務，已改由駐在卡達艾烏戴德基地的美國空軍單位執行。

美軍在回教聖地麥加所在的沙烏地阿拉伯駐軍，是蓋達恐怖組織首腦賓拉登號召回教激進份子攻擊美國的理由之一。

青年日報
軍事發言人室：經國號戰機失事 兩飛行員獲救
李天羽代表部長慰問 失事原因空總將進一步查證
記者曹開明台北報導

　　國防部軍事發言人室昨日表示，空軍清泉崗基地一架編號一六一七的經國號雙座戰機，昨日上午十一時四十九分執行儀器訓練科目時，在南投縣東光山失事。兩位飛行員宋岳敦上尉、王祖祥少校均跳傘獲救。有關戰機失事原因，將由空軍總部作進一步查證。

　　軍事發言人室指出，編號一六一七的經國號戰機上午十一時廿九分起飛進行訓練任務，於十一時四十九分失聯，空軍立即派出海鷗直升機前往南投縣東光山區搜救。兩名飛行員在跳傘後，於十二時廿分先後獲救。

　　空軍總司令李天羽上將昨日下午也代表國防部湯曜明部長前往國軍台中醫院，慰問四二七聯隊失事戰機的兩位飛行員；同時，李總司令也致贈兩位飛行員各壹萬元的慰問金，以表彰他們順利將戰機開往空曠地區，避免造成更大傷亡。

　　空軍總部也表示，機上二位飛行員於獲救後先行送往埔里基督教醫院診療，現於國軍台中醫院接受詳細檢查。至於相關失事原由，目前空軍總部正深入調查中。

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S. Korea Exports Trainer Aircraft To Indonesia
(Source: Korea Information Service; Apr. 25, 2003)

South Korea has become one of the worlds few aircraft exporters by providing trainer airplanes to Indonesia, the Korea Aerospace Industry (KAI) said Friday.

KAI said an official ceremony for the first export of the KT-1B plane was held Friday morning. Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Chappi Hakim and Korean officials from the Defense Ministry attended the ceremony.

It is the first time for the country to export airplanes.

The KT-1B, a modified version of the KT-1, enables air force pilots to prepare for supersonic fighter jets and can be equipped with light arms for combat.

By the end of this year, according to the KAI, it would deliver seven jets plus spare parts as well as provide Indonesian pilots and maintenance staff with flight and maintenance education under a lump-sum $60 million contract with the Indonesian Air Force. It is also negotiating the export of 13 additional KT-1Bs to Indonesia.

(清泉岡空軍基地)今天抽派近百名士兵及六部軍用卡車前往南投魚池山區，搬運昨天墜毀的IDF戰機殘骸，搬運人員先將小型殘骸帶下山，不過，大型殘骸因為坡度太斜，無法用直昇機吊掛，必要時，將架設繩索協助搬運。

在南投九族文化村後方山頭失事墜毀的經國號戰機，失事現場機體破碎，部分燒焦，軍方上午八點出動近百名士兵及六部軍用卡車集結在魚池東光村，上山搬運殘骸，並尋找重要零件，不過，由於坡度太陡，搬運困難度較高，小型殘骸清理後由士兵帶下山，但是，大型殘骸仍須進一步克服，前往支援的魚池消防隊分隊長楊華傑指出，墜毀地點坡度大，直昇機搬運危險性高，如果軍方有必要，將協助架設繩索，以利搬運。

軍方也擴大尋找殘骸的範圍，希望將殘骸全部運下山，以利失事原因鑑定，對於數百顆子彈的處理也特別小心。

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http://tw.news.yahoo.com/2003/04/29/society/bcc/3960610.html
中廣新聞網
2003年04月29日
清泉崗：IDF墜毀可能是機械故障
（馮國秀報導）
墜毀在南投縣魚池鄉的IDF經國號戰機，跳傘獲救的正駕駛宋岳暾唸吞上尉，飛IDF的時數只有八點四個小時，因為他還是學員身份，因此，由少校教官王祖祥指導飛行；空軍清泉崗基地方面研判，飛機可能是機件故障，詳細的失事原因，正由軍方進一步調查。

在南投縣魚池鄉山區墜毀的IDF經國號戰機，隸屬於空軍清泉崗基地的四二七聯隊，部隊方面表示：正駕駛是二十七歲的飛行員宋岳暾，他的總飛行時數是四百五十七個小時，不過，飛IDF的時數只有八點四個小時，目前還是IDF的學員，因此，由三十五歲的少校教官王祖祥指導飛行技術。空軍清泉崗基地政戰主任陳慶國表示：初步研判是機件故障造成飛機墜毀，詳細的失事原因，軍方已經展開調查。

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/afp/defense/030429152927.y1prtv2h.html
Austria confirms it is buying 18 Eurofighters

VIENNA, April 29 (AFP) - 15:29 GMT - The Austrian government confirmed Tuesday that it would be buying 18 Eurofighter airforce jets to replace a fleet of nearly 20-year-old Swedish fighter jets.
The cabinet put this purchase on its schedule, confirming a decision made in July 2002.

The Eurofighters will replace by 2005 the 24 JAS-35 Draken and Saab-105 fighter jets Austria had bought from the Swedish Saab manufacturer in 1985.

Vienna had originally planned to buy 24 Eurofighters but reduced the order due to budgetary constraints.

The 24 Eurofighter Typhoon would have cost 1.79 billion eurosbillion dollars).

No cost figure has been given for the current order of 18 of the warplanes.

An IDC Report and Analysis
New Delhi, 19 February 2003

The IAF conducted its first ever exercise with a foreign air force on Indian soil and the lid was off all security � though the draconian Indian Security Act of 1927 is still in force. The French now know more about the IAF at Gwalior than Indians, but then that is the way of Indians and our 𪃡hite skin complex�. We compliment the IAF for having gone ahead and carried out many sorties (media reported 200 sorties) with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and Within Visual Range (WVR) tactics � with Indian pilots flying in French Mirages, which have better Radars than the Indian RDYs.

Media reported Indian pilots also learnt about mid-air refuelling from the French KC 135s (converted Boeing 707s). The IAF is soon to acquire the IL 78s (refueller aircraft), with Israeli or Russian pumping pods and fuelling systems. This INTEROPERABILITY is to be complemented and it may be mentioned that the Indian Navy had been doing so for years with foreign Navies � it was mainly the Indian Foreign Service mandarins who dissuaded contacts, citing Non Alignment as a reason. In any case NAM is slowly dying. It is hoped the IAF invited some Navy pilots also to learn from the exercises.

All personnel involved with the exercise, from the Mirage expert Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani SASO Central Command, to the lowest ranked must have put their best foot forward and gained operationally.

We have had some experience in controlling IAF pilots and seen foreign Air Forces and we can vouch for the outstanding ability of young Indian pilots who are equal to the best in the world. The French pilots have been showering well-deserved praise on them for their 鬴og fight� capability. Now the three Services should look at closer inter-service cooperation and interoperability. There is so much that can be gained � interoperability, budget and procurement policies, etc., to ensure that Indias defence from South Block is the very best.

We post below comments from our expert Sayan Mazumdar:

孏he recent air exercise between the IAF and the French Armee de lAir at Gwalior, involving Mirage 2000 fighters of both nations is a significant step in te context of interoperability and modernisation plans of the IAF � both in terms of projected procurements and air combat tactics.

For several good reasons air-to-air combat is moving towards BVR (Beyond Visual Range) engagements on a significant scale. The fighters of USAF (United States Air Force), Israeli Heyl Ha Avir and French Armee de lAir, have profound experience on flexible ground-controlled independent BVR engagements during peace and wartime, on the basis of their on-board systems, which are adequately fed by AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) platforms. These aspects are bound to enlighten the IAF on recent trends. However WVR (Within Visual Range) combat still enjoys a firm footing in the modern combat scenario and holds the key under certain circumstances.

Perhaps the single factor that is pushing air-to-air combat towards BVR engagements is the arrival of deadly WVR AAMs (Air-to-Air Missiles) like Russian R-73RDM2 (AA-11 Archer) or Israeli Python 4, with high off-bore sight engagement capability. Mated to HMS (Helmet Mounted Sight) they create a no escape envelope projecting destruction of a good percentage of fighters � of both sides in case of a multi-bogey engagement situation.

To make matters worse the United States Raytheon developed AIM-9X Sidewinder has arrived with a revolutionary 鷔taring focal plane array technology�, that has inherently better IRCCM (Infra-Red Counter Counter Measures) and is readily programmable for new IRCCM techniques in future. This particular staring focal plane array technology, also passed to the European ASRAAM (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile) project, provides greater ability to reject flares and other countermeasures.

Thus the present trend seems to be the preferred armament of a fair number of active-radar homing launch and leave BVR missiles like Russian R-77 RVV-AE (AA-12 Adder), American AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile) or French MICA, along with a low minimum range, so that they can be used both in BVR and WVR engagements. In AMRAAMs case in particular, vector scan and other modes along with advanced combat tactics actually denigrate the performance of a dedicated WVR weapon.

With the arrival of high performance AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Arrays) fighter radar and formidable AWACS platforms, BVR combat has become the preferred choice. In future, development of GaAe (Gallium Arsenide) microchips, which have faster processing speeds than silicon, require less power to operate and more resistant to radiation, will enhance the capability of radar even further. Whereas IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) remains a problem because of incorrect and absent returns and spoofing, AWACS platforms are presently deployed for reconfirmation of enemy airborne targets at extended ranges. In the long term, development of Electro-optical seeker technology coupled with on-board threat database will let the missiles themselves determine the legitimacy of the target.

BVR combat however faces challenges with the arrival of stealth technology which makes detection of fighters at extreme ranges difficult. Possibly for this reason ultra-long-range AAM projects like Russian Novator Ks-172 and western equivalents stand suspended or cancelled. Presently long-range AAM projects like Russian K-77M, or American ERAAM (Extended Ranged Air to Air Missile) are designed to intercept manoeuvring targets beyond 160 km. Energy is conserved to perform hard manoeuvre at long ranges rather than to increase the range even further.

It was satisfying to note that the IAF was quick enough to absorb the French BVR tactics. Before the end of the year the IAF Sukhoi-30s will engage USAF F-15s and hopefully will secure an edge.

More importantly, the IAF should conduct joint-exercises with the Israeli Air Force. There are several good reasons. The USAF takes great pride over the combat record of their F-15s and F-16s. The Americans claim that these two types of fighters secured around 150 air-to-air kills during wartime without conceding a single loss. They also concede that Israeli pilots secured the majority of these kills against their Arab neighbours. Israeli pilot Amir Nahumi is regarded as the lone F-16 ace having opened his account in 1981, and followed it up with six more victories in Bekaa Valley in 1982. More recently, USMC (United States Marine Corps) F/A-18 Hornets from Balkans theatre armed with standard models of AIM-9 Sidewinder engaged in mock air combats with Israeli Air Force fighters armed with Python 3 and Python 4 missiles in conjunction with DASH helmet mounted sight. The Israelis prevailed in 220 out of 240 engagements.

MADRID, April 30 (AFP) - 11:16 GMT - A military pilot died as his F5 single-seater crashed Wednesday near Talavera, southwest of Madrid, for unknown reasons, according to the Spanish air force.
The F5, used for training at Talavera air base, came down at 11:00 am. It was the second fatal accident at the base in less than three months.

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http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Apr15571/index.htm
Saudi Base To Close, Ops Center Moves To Qatar
(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Apr. 29, 2003)

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蠻恐怖的。想想﹕
印度單過去三年的戰機損失就超過台灣近十五年的戰機失事數目。
這十年來印度摔的米格機竟然有兩百多架，比世界上許多國家擁有
的戰機還要多出十幾倍。

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/afp/defense/030430124530.xzoteke0.html
48 Indian air force MiGs crashed in last three years

NEW DELHI, April 30 (AFP) - 12:45 GMT - Forty-eight Indian Air Force MiG fighter jets have crashed in the last three years, Defence Minister George Fernandes told the upper house of parliament Wednesday.
He said the government was giving priority to buying jet trainers for the air force as well as improving training methods in order to reduce the casualties.

The Indian Air Force, the worlds fourth largest, has been plagued by crashes, particularly in its ageing fleet of its Russian-built MiG aircraft.

Previous official figures showed that at least 221 MiGs, worth tens of millions of dollars, were lost in crashes between 1991 and 2000.

　　(中央社記者陳亦偉台北二十九日電)空軍總部今天就四二七聯隊一架IDF經國號
戰機失事展開調查，空總表示，兩名飛行員的傷勢並不嚴重，已由埔里基督教醫院
轉送到國軍台中醫院休養，相關失事原因正由空總深入調查，空軍正循標準程序進
行檢查，空防任務不會受到任何影響。

　　空總發布新聞稿指出，隸屬台中清泉崗基地四二七聯隊第三大隊第七中隊，機
號一六一七的雙座IDF經國號戰機，今天上午十一點二十九分從基地起飛，進行TR/IN飛
行儀器訓練科目，卻在十一點四十九分從空軍的雷達螢幕消失，事後發現飛機墜落
在南投縣魚池鄉東光山，鄰近九族文化村附近。

　　前座的上尉飛行員宋岳暾和後座的少校飛安官王祖祥跳傘獲救，宋岳暾右小腿
擦傷，王祖祥沒有大礙，兩人被送往埔里基督教醫院後已轉送國軍台中醫院。

　　空總將領表示，依照標準作業程序，四二七聯隊下午就已停止訓練活動，接受
總部調查，必須等調查人員尋獲相關殘骸，判定究竟是天候、機件或人為因素導致
失事後，再決定何時恢復正常任務，由於空軍還有F-16、F-5E及幻象兩千等戰機，
因此空防任務不會受到影響。