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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 0457.PDF
HEADLINES TECHNOLOGY STEWART PENNEY / EDINBURGH Radar breakthrough for BAE Avionics Process involves commercial-off-the-shelf computing BAE Systems Avionics has devel oped a way of improving the reso lution of mechanically scanned radars that uses commercial-off- the-shelf (COTS) computing and will allow continued improvement as microprocessor performance advances. This is the first time that radar resolution has been linked to the rapid improvement in com mercial computing speeds, accord ing to BAE Avionics technical direc tor Professor John Roulston. The system allows lm (3ft) or better resolution to be achieved with an X-band coherent-pulse radar operating in synthetic aper ture radar (SAR) imaging mode. This can be offered as a technology insertion into in-service radars, says Roulston. The system provides a "higher resolution capability in conventional equipment", he adds. Although some minor changes to the radar's analogue path would be made, "this technique removes most of the need", he says. Improved resolution increases a radar's utility particularly in air-to- surface modes, but also air-to-air. BAE has demonstrated the system on a Blue Vixen radar, but it could be retrofitted to "any coherent radar of Western origin", says Roulston. As well as fighter radars such as Blue Vixen, the technology can also be incorporated in mar itime systems such as the com pany's Blue Kestrel. He says a sys tem could be operational within a year of an order - enough work has been done that "the risk is not the technology but just that of chang ing the equipment". Roulston says by combining tra ditional gallium arsenide (GaAs) chips with silicon-based COTS processors, it is possible to boost a radar's resolution relatively simply. The GaAs MIMIC (microwave monolithic integrated circuit) on the transmit side of the radar and the COTS-based system on the receive side "have to be tightly con nected as they work in combina tion; the signals are a matched pair", he says, adding that, if the "signal out [transmitted] is altered then the signal in is altered". He adds: "The performance of this system grows at the rate of per formance growth of silicon-based chips. With microwave systems that doesn't necessarily happen." Roulston says the technology will advance with computing improvemerits until resolution is improved to the practical maxi mum. For a typical X-band radar 3cm wavelength, in a damp atmos phere (radar propagation is affected by water droplets), Roulston believes resolution can be increased to 0.3m at 50km range. The deter mining factor will be "physical lim its, not processing limits", he says. BUSINESS AA/BA back 'common market' The European Commission's (EC) campaign to agree a "transatlantic common aviation market" with the USA has won early airline back ing, with American Airlines and British Airways stating that their future is dependent on it. The endorsement follows the European Court of Justice's ruling that member states contravene EU competition law by concluding exclusive bilateral treaties with the USA Flight International, 5-11 February). Instead, the EC wants a multilateral negotiating approach. In a 13 February letter formally withdrawing their application to the US Department of Trans portation for anti-trust immunity, American and BA state they believe their best hope for a level playing field lies with meeting the EC's objective. This, they say, should mean that "all issues should be on the table, from operating freedoms to ownership and control". Briefing Gripen passes first parliamentary hurdle PROCUREMENT The Czech parliament has passed the first of three readings of the funding bill for the country's acquisition of 24 Saab/BAE Systems Gripen multirole fighters. The bill was passed by 90 votes to 73 and approves the next stage of the process, a standing committee report. The parliamentarians also voted to accelerate the approval process. The Czech Republic decided to buy the Gripen in December last year after a long search for modern NATO-standard fighters to replace Soviet-era equipment. The first aircraft are due for delivery in 2004. Alenia joins Boeing on Sonic Cruiser AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT Finmeccanica's Alenia Aeronauticahas joined Boeing's development team for the planned Sonic Cruiser. Alenia, which becomes Boeing's second partner after Japan Aircraft Industries, will carry out structural materials technology development work. Meanwhile, Alenia's Aeronavali division has signed an €83 million ($72 million) five-year contract with Boeing Airplane Services for the installation of the Honeywell two-crew Advanced Common Flightdeck into 52 McDonnell Douglas DC-10Fs for FedEx Express. The contract had originally been held by Swissair Technics, but was cancelled. MH-60S joins US Navy fleet DELIVERY Sikorsky has handed over the first of a planned 237 MH-60S utility helicopters to the US Navy. The first machine is to be operated by Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 3 (HC-3) at NAS Long Island, California. HC-3 will train aircrews and maintenance personnel for the MH-60S, initial fleet service will be with HC-5 based on Guam later this year. Meanwhile, Sikorsky has been awarded a $29.4 million USN contract to support development of the MH-60R maritime helicopter. The MH-60R and S will be the mainstay of the USN's helicopter fleet, and, as well as being based on the same airframe, share a common glass cockpit designed by Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego. JetBlue aims for IPO FINANCE New York-based JetBlue Airways has retabled plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO), after delaying the move in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks. JetBlue hopes to raise $125 million for working capital and aircraft purchases. The privately held carrier recorded a $38.5 million net profit for 2001 on revenues of $320 million after moving into the black in August 2000. To date, the company has raised $175 million of equity capital, which has helped it acquire new Airbus A320s. JetBlue is scheduled to add 60 more A320s by the end of 2007. The carrier started operations from New York Kennedy in February 2000 and by year-end was operating 102 daily flights to 18 US cities. MoD seeks partners for research centres TECHNOLOGY The UK Ministry of Defence is seeking declarations of interest from academic institutions and companies in creating Defence Technology Centres (DTCs). The MoD intends DTCs to be virtual centres of excellence conducting innovative research aimed at improving the UK's defence capabilities. The centres will comprise academia and industry working together to exploit new technologies quickly. The MoD plans to create six DTCs, each with a bespoke structure and funding arrangement. The ministry will supply up to £5 million ($7 million) for each DTC with the research consortia providing up to 50% of the remaining funding. FCC buys former Sabena subsidiaries SALE Spanish group FCC has purchased for an undisclosed amount former Sabena subsidiaries Sabena Ground Handling and Sabena Cargo from the bankrupt carrier's receiver. FCC operates two airports in Spain and Miami airport, Florida. Meanwhile, Sabena's successor, Delta Air Transport, has been renamed SN Brussels Airlines. www.fliqhtinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 19-25 FEBRUARY 2002 5
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