CHINESE COMBAT JET SAID TO EMULATE U.S., ISRAELI DESIGNS, AVIATION WEEK REPORTS.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1995--Aviation Week & Space Technology reports in its March 13th edition that Pentagon insiders are circulating drawings of China's next generation fighter aircraft, the F-10, which is described as a cross between America's F-16 fighter and Israel's cancelled Lavi. Officials say the Chinese design is a single-engine jet with an advanced cockpit. Israeli and U.S. defense officials confirm that the Israeli company Israel Aircraft Industries is offering help with the Chinese fighter's cockpit electronics. Israeli officials strongly deny any classified U.S. information or technology has migrated to China as a result of the collaboration. But one U.S. official says the Pentagon is not in a position to confirm that. The Chinese F-10 is reported ready to enter prototype production and is considered a key element of Beijing's long-term military modernization program. But the Chinese economy is suffering from a 22% inflation rate, which is eating up increases in the defense budget. (page 26)

The current issue also details the following:

Canada Probes Role of Freezing Drizzle: Canadian researchers are conducting a unique series of flights on how the formation of freezing drizzle affects aircraft behavior. The effort is said to be the first attempt to measure the microphysics of freezing drizzle. The goal is to improve forecasting to help pilots avoid dangerous areas of drizzle. Freezing rain and drizzle are suspected as key factors in the crash of an American Eagle ATR72 aircraft near Roselawn, Ind. last October. (page 32)

NASA Speeds Selection: Moving with unusual speed, NASA has selected three industry proposals as a first step towards developing designs for a large reuseable launch vehicle called the X-33 and a smaller vehicle called the X-34. The programs are part of an ambitious effort to dramatically cut the costs of space travel.

NASA's selection sets in motion the development of designs for the large X-33 reuseable launch vehicle (RLV) demonstrator and names an Orbital Sciences/Rockwell team to build the smaller X-34.

Teams headed by Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas and Rockwell were chosen by the space agency to begin negotiations this week at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Industry officials said NASA planned the X-33 Phase One go-ahead within 30 days of the Feb. 24th proposal due date. Selections were announced March 8. (page 107)

Aviation Week & Space Technology, published by McGraw-Hill, is the worldUs leading journal for technology, business and operations in the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: The March 13th edition also contains the annual Five Year Outlook special report, canvassing the aerospace industry's financial and market prospects through the turn of the century.

CONTACT: Aviation Week & Space Technology

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