May 10 1985
From The Space Library
The Australian minister of defense, Mr. Beazley, confirmed that Australia would help test a new U.S. satellite system called "Teal Ruby" that was associated with the space defense system known as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), FBIS, Melbourne Overseas Service in English reported. Mr. Beazley stressed, however, that Australia's involvement was not directly related to SDI and would end the following year.
He said the U.S. would use Australian defense vessels and aircraft to test the satellite system using infrared rays and that the project had some benefits for Australia over the long term because of that country's surveillance problems. He pointed out that infrared sensing was a good way to maintain surveillance of countries with electronic warfare systems.
However, the Australian Democrats' spokesman, Senator Mason, condemned the decision, saying the research was an essential part of the SDI system and that the Australian government was guilty of hypocrisy in agreeing to participate in the testing. (FBIS, Melbourne Overseas Service in English, May 10/85)
Deputy Secretary of Defense William Howard Taft gave approval to the U.S. Air Force to begin development of higher thrust derivatives of the Pratt & Whitney F100 and General Electric F110 engines that powered the F15 and F-16 fighters, Defense Daily reported. The development program, expected to cost between $400 and $500 million, would boost the thrust of the 24,000-lb. thrust F100 and 27,000-lb. thrust F110 to 29,000 lb., about the maximum possible.
Air Force Assistant Secretary Thomas Cooper said durability, not thrust, was the key problem for fighter engines and that the new engines would have the same durability as current engines. He said the Air Force planned to start production of the engines in 1989 and to complete annual buys on a shared basis. The Air Force would seek warranties on the derivatives as on current engines, access to proprietary data, and pre-priced production options.
Cooper said the new engines, costing slightly more than current engines that were between $2 and $3 million apiece, would have the same dimensions as present engines, could be used in all models of the F-15 and F-16, and could be retrofitted. He pointed out the Navy could also use either derivative engine for its fighter program.
Under questioning, Cooper declined to say whether the Air Force planned to buy the Northrop F-20 fighter in FY 87, but said the Air Force was interested in the aircraft and needed more detailed cost data to make a decision. Northrop had offered to supply 396 F-20s over four years at a fixed price of $15 million per plane; however, Cooper said the Air Force required more detailed data on the "bits and pieces" of the program in order to make the cost comparison that people were asking for. (D/D, May 10/85, 57)
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