EADS finished IOC Flight Testing for HAF-F-4 Upgrade Programme
Munich/Athens, 14 February 2001
EADS Military Aircraft has now finished flight testing for the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) of the Hellenic Air Force F-4 upgrade programme in Manching. The formal IOC which has been requested from the German Air Force Airworthiness Authority is expected during February 2001. The IOC provides certification for the following operational use by HAF
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Air to Air Capability, incl. AMRAAM firing (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile)
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Air to Ground Capability for all conventional weapons for Training Purpose (Simulation Mode)
The flight test programme so far contained 102 flights with different software versions. The latest software version tested covers the full contractual functionality and has proven that the complete new Avionics system including radar and IFF (Identification Friend Foe) is working satisfactory.
The Hellenic Air Force expressed their confidence in the quality of the product and all pilots who flew the prototype (EADS, German Air Force pilots and HAF pilots) assessed the product extremely positive.
As in every newly developed complex avionics software there are still some non-compliancies to the original specifications. Those problems are known by the Hellenic Air Force and will be corrected according to the priorities agreed with the customer.
The programme will now continue with a final test phase to demonstrate the air-to-ground bombing accuracy by real bomb releases. EADS is planning to start these tests (originally intended to be conducted in Greece) at a certified test range of the German Armed Forces in Meppen (Germany). This was proposed by EADS since HAF cannot provide a similiar equipped test range in Greece.
After finalization of these tests in Meppen the prototype will be transferred back to Greece in May 2001.
Between May 1999 and December 1999 a total of 15 aircraft were provided by HAF to Hellenic Aircraft Industry (HAI) in Tanagra for the production modification programme. All 15 aircraft have been modified and five of them completely tested. These modified aircraft are ready to be handed back to HAF for operational use after receipt of the formal IOC from the German authorities. The rest of the 15 aircraft will be ready for handover to HAF within the next four months.
After provision of the remainder of the unmodified aircraft to HAI for retrofit the total production phase can be finished within 2001.
Your contact:
Military Aircraft
Wolfdietrich Hoeveler
Phone: +49-89-607 32822
Fax: +49-89-607 22455
Börsenkurse
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