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Aviation History
2000
2000 - 0007.PDF
F-22 team sets crucial funding targets GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC THE LOCKHEED Martin/ Boeing/Pratt& WhitneyF-22 team has signed to milestones which must be met if production of the US Air Force fighter is to be approved at the end of 2000. The most challenging mile stone, says programme general manager Bob Rearden, is to begin flight testing the Block 3.0 software in the F-22 before a US Defense Acquisition Board meeting set for next December to decide whether to approve low-rate initial produc tion (LRIP). The software milestone is part of a revised contract signed by the team after Congress blocked the LRIP decision set for this month. The $1.08 billion agreement covers manufacture of six more production-representative test vehicles (PRTVs) and long-lead funding for 10 LRIP Lot 1 aircraft. Rearden says the milestones agreed for next year include: • completing the final air vehicle production readiness review - described as "low risk"; • flying development aircraft 4003, 4004, 4005 and 4006 - expected between March and October; I completing fuselage, wing and empennage mate of aircraft 4008 - described as "doable"; • completing static testing - expected by September; • initiating fatigue testing and complete 40% of the first life - also expected by September. Two software milestones have been agreed. The most challeng ing, Rearden says, is the Congres- sionally mandated requirement to begin testing the "unique function ality" of the Block 3.0 software release in the F-22. The Block 3.0 avionics software introduces sensor fusion capabili ty. A reduced-scope release, Block 3S,will fly in theF-22 in the middle of next year. Rearden says the full Block 3.0 release is due for deliver ' by the end of October, allowing it to fly in the F-22 in November. This represents an acceleration of Crucial F-22 milestones include first flights of four aircraft and new software USAF to fit F-15Cs with secret active-array radar THE US AIR FORCE is to equip a squadron of Boeing F-15Cs with a secretly developed active-array radar to gain opera tional experience with the technol ogy before the Lockheed Martin/ Boeing F-22 Raptor enters service. "The number of aircraft to have the radar is limited by funding," says USAF F-15 system pro gramme office director Col Scott Britten. "It's enough to prove the concept, generate tactics and build confidence in the technology." The Raytheon APG-63(V)2 radar is a, development of the upgraded APG-63(V)1 now in operational testing and being retrofitted to USAF F-15Cs. While the (V)l upgrade replaces the APCi-63's processor, receiv er/exciter and other electronics to improve supportability, the (V)2 replaces trie original mechanically scanned antenna with an active electronic scanned array (AESA). Advantages of the active array include longer detection range and multi-target tracking capability, says Britten. I Ie plays down reports that the modified F-15s will be used for cruise missile defence, adding: "We will look at the benefits in all domains, against targets of all classes." The F-15 will be the first fighter to enter service with an AESA when 18 aircraft at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, are fitted with the new radar at the end of 2000. So far, one aircraft has been modified for development and operational utility testing, accu mulating 3 2 Oh of failure-free use - 165h in the air. More testing in January will include development of tactics exploiting the radar's unique capabilities, says Britten. Development and production of the (V)2 radars will be relatively inexpensive at $277 million, he says, because it builds on die (V)l programme. More F-15s may be upgraded, depending on a retire ment plan being drawn up. Procurement cuts mean the USAF will have to keep some in service to complement F-22s. Although the availability of an AESA is expected to stimulate export interest in the F-15, "the radar is not releasable yet", adds Britten. • 60 days over the previous schedule. Block 3.0 also requires upgrades to die F-22's head-down displays. The software and hardware "is on track, but tiiere is not a lot of mar gin", Rearden says. To meet the Congressional requirement to begin unique functionality testing by year-end, the team plans to start radar testing early. The second software milestone agreed for 2000 is to complete the critical design review on the Block 3.1 software, set to fly in mid-2001. Three other milestones have been agreed, Rearden says: initiat ing radar cross-section flight test ing; starting high-angle-of-attack tests with weapon-bay doors open; and beginning air-to-air missile separation testing. The latter will involve an unguided AIM-9 launch from a side bay and an inert AIM- 120 ejection from a main bay. The new agreement means the team is now under contract to pro duce 17 F-22s-nine development aircraft and eight PRTVs. The six PRTVs added to the programme will be used for follow-on testing, Rearden says. • NEWS IN BRIEF • KLM ALLIANCE KLM and Continental Air lines have agreed to form an alliance, advancing plans for establishing the "Wings" global grouping with part ners Alitalia and Northwest Airlines. The latter's bid for a controlling stake in Continental is the main log jam facing the alliance. • HIGH SPIRITS Australian low-cost start-up Spirit Airlines aims to start operations by June on the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane triangle with two Boeing 737-400s and plans to add Perth, Darwin, Townsville and Cairns services later. STOP PRESS From 20 December. 1999, until 12 January, 2000, YOU can catch up with the latest news from the world ot aerospace. FREE on www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22 December 1999 - 3 January 2000 5
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