435:
the initially-selected single engine format in favour of the twin-engine approach reportedly threw the project into chaos for some time. The change resulted in a delay of at least two years, the adoption of a twin-engine layout necessitated a larger and heavier airframe to be used along with more complex systems; essentially, the design team had to return to the drawing board. During 1988, the SAAF, having recognised that the project could no longer be ready within the original schedule, decided to approved a further interim programme, known as
Project Tunny, to satisfy the nation's immediate air defence needs into the 2008–2012 period; this resulted in an improved version of the Atlas Cheetah, the Cheetah C, being produced from 1993 to 1994.
498:
512:
486:, and the gradual normalisation of international relationships. Recognising that new aircraft were still required, the South African government set about examining options for the procurement of an off-the-shelf fighter aircraft (which had been made possible due to the embargo having been lifted) in order to replace the SAAF's inventory of Dassault Mirage F1s and Atlas Cheetahs.
200:, who stated that the programme's research and development costs were too great to justify during peacetime. In its place, the government preferred acquisition of foreign aircraft which had become possible again after the lifting of the international arms embargo against South Africa; ultimately, the
481:
formally announced the programme's cancellation. The principal official reason given at the time for the cancellation was that the expense of developing an indigenous fighter aircraft could not be justified in the light of the decreased threat in the newfound peacetime, changes in politics including
434:
During early development, it became clear to the designers that the desired range and load-carrying capacities would be unachievable if the aircraft was powered by a single Atar engine. Consequently, they decided to adopt a twin-engine layout for the proposed fighter instead; the decision to abandon
319:
and the
National Research Laboratory. The objective of the programme was the replacement of all multirole fighters then in service with the SAAF from the mid-1990s onwards. The associated development costs were high, partially as a result of the effects of the arms embargo, which necessitated the
343:
Headed by ex-Dassault
Aviation designer David Fabish, work commenced on the initial design phase, during which various concepts were explored for the aircraft. By 1986, Atlas had selected a design for a lightweight single-engined aircraft, being 16 metres (52 ft) in length and possessing a
339:
domestic fighter programme. Reportedly, various incentives were offered by Atlas to
Israeli engineers, including starting salaries of US$ 7,000 per month paid in any currency, free accommodation and regular free or heavily discounted flights to Israel, to encourage them to join Project Carver.
298:, the means of acquiring such combat aircraft were limited; any new aircraft, along with its associated systems and support equipment, would either have to be sourced domestically or assembled using components that had been imported or licensed prior to the enactment of the embargo.
423:), but such efforts were ultimately fruitless. At the same time, efforts were made to improve the engine via several domestically developed modifications aiming to increase its performance and reliability, such as the turbine being refitted with single-crystal blades and the
281:
fighter aircraft, equipping them with a range of new armaments, equipment, and avionics which were designed to allow the aircraft to operate while being less vulnerable to both Soviet-designed missiles and radar. However, these modified
Mirages, which were known as
404:; along with other design requirements, such as the need to equal the Buccaneer in terms of both range and load-carrying capability. Recognising the age of the Atar engine, South Africa made several covert attempts to acquire more modern jet engines, such as the
443:
reported that the in-development fighter aircraft was intended to be inducted into SAAF service within the latter half of the 1990s, and would be used to replace various types then in use, such as the French-built Mirage III fighters, British-built
276:
In response to the changing situation in Angola, South Africa sought to regain air superiority in the theatre by enacting several improvements of its own. As a short-term measure, it was decided to upgrade the majority of the SAAF's existing
183:
engine components which were produced under licence in South Africa. While being a heavily indigenous effort, partially due to the embargo, South Africa was able to acquire substantial assistance on
Project Carver from both France and
306:
Accordingly, South Africa embarked on a comprehensive development programme to design and eventually manufacture an envisioned modern-generation fighter aircraft to meet its requirement; this programme soon received the codename of
460:
layout; reportedly, the design had been externally influenced by
Dassault's family of delta-winged Mirage fighters; specifically, the aircraft bore a large number of similarities to its Atlas Cheetah predecessor as well as to the
438:
During 1988, Atlas commenced the construction of a single Carver prototype; according to reports, this aircraft was never fully completed and no test flights were known to have taken place. During mid-1989, aerospace publication
320:
development of all the new technology within South Africa. At that point in time, the country's aerospace industry lacked any prior experience with the production of anything more intricate than various models of helicopters and
324:; thus, it was decided to recruit large numbers of foreign aircraft engineers from around the world, including some French nationals who had previously spearheaded design work on France's then-new fighter aircraft, the
399:
The Carver programme was beset by numerous delays, often resulting from changes to the aircraft's tactical requirements, as well as the necessity to design the aircraft around a preexisting engine type, namely the
163:, French-built Mirage IIIs, and the Atlas Cheetahs. A key objective for the new fighter was to achieve performance levels that were either equal to or in excess of the capabilities of late-generation
340:
Overall, it was estimated that the programme would require in excess of 4,000 engineers at the peak of the development phase, which was scheduled to run for roughly six years.
365:
1020:
273:
over southern Angola to be seized from South Africa's expeditionary forces, rendering offensive operations more risky to conduct and increasingly the likelihood of losses.
159:
As envisioned, Carver was intended to be a modern and capable successor aircraft to replace multiple, ageing types then in service with the SAAF, such as the
British-built
364:
of the aircraft. Additionally, it was planned to able to utilise all of the weapons then in SAAF's arsenal or in development at that time; these munitions included the
140:. The South African government decided to launch a pair of domestically-conducted programmes, a short-term upgrade programme of the existing fleet of French-built
253:(SWAPO). As South African forces came to frequently launch raids into neighbouring Angola, these attacks often provoked armed clashes with the members of the
132:(SAAF), with in the face of increasingly capable opposition. Additionally, South Africa was incapable of importing such aircraft due to a long-standing
638:
254:
896:
295:
137:
1025:
1010:
250:
1030:
335:. This assistance was provided in various forms, such as technical assistance and hundreds of skilled experts from Israel's cancelled
477:
and the end of the South
African Border War represented a major loss of impetus for Project Carver. During February 1991, President
188:; many aerospace engineers and designers were hired from these nations, while technical information related to Israel's aborted
128:
played a considerable role in stimulating the demand for the production of a modern fighter aircraft within which to equip the
369:
686:
353:
148:, while a long-term and more extensive effort to design and manufacture a virtually-clean sheet fighter aircraft, known as
221:
Throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, the development of South Africa's military equipment, including the assets of the
889:
862:
810:
782:
1015:
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257:(FAPLA), which was at that time bolstered by the provision of Soviet armaments alongside a sizeable contingent of
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counterpart, which reportedly boosted the engine's performance by 10 per cent and improved throttle management.
882:
118:
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258:
642:
834:
730:
905:
855:
Industry on the Move: Causes and
Consequences of International Relocation in the Manufacturing Industry
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316:
261:
dispatched to intervene in the theatre. During November 1985, FAPLA began acquiring more sophisticated
153:
52:
714:. Collected Issues 1–16. Vol. 20. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. 1990. p. 1818.
233:
campaign, it progressively escalated into a larger conflict that was being waged across areas of both
449:
287:
225:(SAAF), became increasingly influenced by the changes in fortune and demands imposed by the lengthy
196:. During February 1991, the cancellation of Project Carver was announced by South African President
121:. In development during the 1980s and early 1990s, the Carver was ultimately cancelled during 1991.
226:
125:
222:
129:
70:
678:
312:
391:; the total payload capacity was intended to have been comparable to that of the Mirage 2000.
167:
fighters, which were increasingly likely to be deployed to neighbouring states, specifically
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356:(LERX) set above side-mounted curved air intakes for the engine. The concept called for
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fighter could be deployed. As a consequence of the imposing of a mandatory
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to be used throughout the airframe, for reducing both the weight and the
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installations; gradually, the addition of these improved assets enabled
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The Defence of White Power: South African Foreign Policy under Pressure
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fleet as well. In terms of its basic configuration, Carver resembled a
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417:
405:
349:
115:
331:
Project Carver also received extensive support from the government of
926:
483:
246:
179:'s Mirage family, including the decision to incorporate a number of
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381:
336:
189:
311:. The programme was organised as a joint-effort between the SAAF,
286:, were considered only an interim solution until an entirely new
238:
111:
530:
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332:
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180:
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bombers, before eventually replacing the comparatively newer
424:
266:
107:(sometimes erroneously referred to as "CAVA") was a proposed
136:
having been placed upon the nation's government bodies by
777:. Montgomery: Air University Press. pp. 223–236.
171:. Externally, the Carver bore some resemblance to the
853:
Todd, Daniel (June 1992). Van Liemt, Gijsbert (ed.).
208:
fighter was procured to equip the SAAF with instead.
1021:
Abandoned military aircraft projects of South Africa
904:
857:. Geneva: International Labour Office. p. 135.
805:. Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan. pp. 99–100.
493:
344:
wingspan of roughly 9 metres (30 ft), a single
229:. Having originally been started as a limited-scale
175:
prototype; the design drew upon several elements of
152:. Both programmes were headed by South African firm
704:
702:
700:
698:
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641:. Randburg: African Defence Review. Archived from
677:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p.
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412:) and Snecma M88s (as used by the then-upcoming
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775:Responding to Low-Intensity Conflict Challenges
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296:United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
138:United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
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255:People's Armed Forces of Liberation of Angola
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835:South Africa plans new twin-engined Fighter
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731:"South Africa drops fighter development"
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251:South-West African People's Organisation
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673:Isolated States: A Comparative Analysis
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192:programme was also acquired under the
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294:upon the South African government by
1026:1980s South African fighter aircraft
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637:Olivier, Darren (14 November 2016).
144:fighters, which became known as the
1011:Atlas Aircraft Corporation aircraft
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13:
119:fourth-generation fighter aircraft
14:
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301:
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737:. 19 February 1991. p. 11.
427:compressor being replaced by a
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211:
1:
1031:Israel–South Africa relations
801:Jaster, Robert Scott (1997).
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194:Israel–South Africa Agreement
85:None; 1 prototype unfinished
354:leading-edge root extensions
7:
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10:
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317:Atlas Aircraft Corporation
154:Atlas Aircraft Corporation
53:Atlas Aircraft Corporation
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917:
749:"Coping without a threat"
669:Geldenhuys, Deon (1990).
475:Angolan Tripartite Accord
450:English Electric Canberra
245:against militants of the
20:
1016:Secret military programs
843:. 6 May 1989, p. 2.
395:Delays and design switch
227:South African Border War
126:South African Border War
773:Blank, Stephen (1991).
482:the movement away from
223:South African Air Force
130:South African Air Force
71:South African Air Force
322:light trainer aircraft
753:Jane's Defence Weekly
380:and the then-planned
840:Flight International
735:Flight International
568:Dassault Mirage 4000
563:Dassault Mirage 2000
463:Dassault Mirage 4000
441:Flight International
410:Dassault Mirage 2000
326:Dassault Mirage 2000
173:Dassault Mirage 4000
1036:Delta-wing aircraft
919:Fixed-wing aircraft
645:on 12 December 2016
558:Dassault Mirage III
547:Related development
504:South Africa portal
465:prototype fighter.
446:Blackburn Buccaneer
408:(which powered the
385:beyond visual range
362:radar cross-section
358:composite materials
346:vertical stabiliser
279:Dassault Mirage III
161:Blackburn Buccaneer
142:Dassault Mirage III
454:Dassault Mirage F1
389:air-to-air missile
348:and a mid-mounted
231:counter-insurgency
206:Saab JAS 39 Gripen
67:Primary user
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910:Denel Aeronautics
402:Snecma Atar 09K50
235:South-West Africa
177:Dassault Aviation
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241:) and southern
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759:: 115. 1991.
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643:the original
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259:Cuban troops
237:(modern-day
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134:arms embargo
123:
105:Atlas Carver
104:
102:
81:Number built
15:
967:Helicopters
526:FMA SAIA 90
469:Termination
418:Yugoslavian
315:subsidiary
212:Development
112:twin-engine
1005:Categories
990:XTP-1 Beta
985:XH-1 Alpha
649:25 January
581:References
536:Novi Avion
458:delta wing
421:Novi Avion
406:Snecma M53
350:delta wing
217:Background
116:delta wing
74:(proposed)
62:Cancelled
484:apartheid
288:multirole
249:-leaning
247:Communist
1041:Twinjets
980:Rooivalk
912:aircraft
573:IAI Lavi
490:See also
382:R-Darter
374:U-Darter
337:IAI Lavi
190:IAI Lavi
942:Cheetah
425:riveted
313:Armscor
239:Namibia
204:-built
202:Swedish
59:Status
947:Impala
937:Carver
932:Bosbok
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531:IAR 95
429:welded
387:(BVR)
333:Israel
243:Angola
186:Israel
181:Snecma
169:Angola
165:Soviet
906:Atlas
267:radar
26:Role
975:Oryx
957:SARA
952:Kudu
859:ISBN
807:ISBN
779:ISBN
683:ISBN
651:2017
473:The
448:and
372:and
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