MRCA — one year to go before prototype flight

SECURITY is so much more complex when it concerns a number of countries that even to date, information released about the Multi Role Combat Aircraft is severely limited. The main areas where collaboration is well advanced comprises the development and manufacture of the integrated drive generators which is a joint undertaking by Lucas Aerospace and Siemens AG, the auxiliary power unit, again by Lucas Aerospace but this time in conjunction with Microtecnica and Kloeckner‐Humboldt‐Deutz. A joint team of Nord Micro, Hawker Siddeley Dynamics and Microtecnica are designing, developing and manufacturing the air intake control system. The spoiler actuator is by Oleodinamica Magnaghi in association with Fairey Hydraulics; the oxygen system involves Normalair‐Garrett, Draegerwerk AG of Germany and OMI of Italy. The landing gear and associated hydraulics development is headed by the Dowty Group with a large share of development and production phase work being undertaken by notably Oleodinamica Magnaghi and Nardi of Italy and Liebherr of Germany will also participate. Companies undertaking detail manufacture and subassembly of selected portions of the wing section are the Italian companies Rinaldo Piaggio, Aeronautica Macchi, Siai Marchetti, Saca, Aerfer and Aeronavali Venezia.