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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 1634.PDF
Directory: military aircraft duction line open until 2006. Deliveries will begin in October 2001 at a rate of four a year. The Hawkeye 2000 incorporates an open architecture mission computer, advanced con troller workstations with enlarged displays, co operative engagement capability (CEC) data dis tribution system, satcom and improved cooling. It is planned to upgrade 54 earlier Group 2 air craft to Hawkeye 2000 standard, starting in 2003-4. Five earlier aircraft have been equipped with computer and workstation components for testing. CEC trials started in April 1998. The system provides a link between the E-2, other airborne sensors, satellites and shipboard radars. Reliability and maintainability improve ments bring the E-2's subsystems into line with the Hawkeye 2000's AEW systems improve ments. These include satcom, Hamilton Sundstrand eight-blade propellers, a power dis tribution box with 80% fewer parts and a repackaged fault reporting module replacing a system dating from the early 1970s. Lockheed Martin's ALQ-217 ESM will be introduced. A further upgrade - Advanced Hawkeye - would include an advanced UHF radar, with electronic scanning, new mission computers, long-range infrared search and track and a glass cockpit, with the provision for the co-pilot to act as an extra radar operator. This provides a passive ballistic missile tracking capability and improves the E-2's capabilities against low-flying targets in the littoral environment. A radar modernisation programme (RMP) could be launched in 2003, with two antenna options being considered - either a hybrid rotating elec tronically scanned array or a more advanced fixed UHF electronically steerable array (UESA). The former antenna comprises 18 elements mounted in the E-2C's 7.3m-diameter rotodome. UESA is more advanced but less defined: it would be housed in the same dome, but would be non-rotating. E-8 Joint STA Northrop Grumman delivered the thirteenth E-8C to the USAF in April 2002. This was the third Block 20 standard aircraft, which uses integrated commercial-off-the-shelf processors. This is designed to provide increased reliability, advanced technologies and increased processing power at a lower cost per aircraft. Northrop Grumman has also started upgrading the first 10 aircraft delivered to Block 20 configuration, the first of was redelivered in February 2000. Joint STARS achieved initial operational capa bility with the USAF in December 1997, follow ing delivery of the third E-8C. Two E-8A proto types have also been built. Equipped with a Northrop Grumman APY-3 battlefield-surveillance radar, the E-8 was first flown in December 1988. The radar is essentially an MTI system, capable of producing SAR images. Following Operation Allied Force in 1999, a series of "quick reaction" modifications were made for better co-operation with other electronic assets. Six flat-screen displays were Mission Powerpiant Max thrust dry/wet (lb) Wing span (m) Wing area (m2) Length (m) OEW (kg) MTOW (kg) Max load (kg) Range (km) Endurance (h) Hardpoints Cruise (kt) Mmo Ceiling (ft) Crew/passengers Internal fuel (kg) Fuel, opt ext (litre) Air refuel? added to the crew rest area, allowing extra operators to be carried. The USAF plans to replace the E-8's age ing powerplants with newer leased engines that will be cheaper to operate and allow the aircraft to operate significantly higher, at 42,000ft. Candi date 21,0001b-thrust powerplants include the CFM56, R-R BR700 and P&W JT8D-200. Under the $1.3 bil lion Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program me, the Joint STARS could be upgraded to simultaneous SAR/MT1 capability. MP-RTIP includes the APY-X two-dimensional electroni cally scanned active-array radar. The first five RTIP E-8Cs will not be operational until 2012. Work on the modular, scalable radar will be shared 50:50 by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon under a restructured contract. The revised MP-RTIP will develop common, modular hardware and software that will be scalable to fit three applications: the Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk UAV; a yet-to- be-selected Wide Area Surveillance platform; and a technology element of the NATO Trans atlantic Advanced Radar (NATAR), linking with European NATO technology. Plans call for 3.05m and 7.3m antennas to be flight tested on a Joint STARS aircraft, acting as a universal test- bed for the MP-RTIP. A 5.5m antenna will be ground tested. The USAF is analysing alternatives for the manned Wide Area Surveillance platform, with a decision expected in 2003. If the current Boeing 707-based Joint STARS is selected as a platform, Northrop Grumman will lead the integration. But if a new aircraft is selected, the USAF is expected to complete the integration. EA-6B Prowler Although EA-6B production ceased in 1991, the aircraft has received continual upgrades as it is the US armed force's only dedicated EW aircraft capable of penetrating hostile airspace with strike packages. Proposals to re-open production have been considered to bolster the surviving fleet of 123 aircraft, of which around 105 are active at any one time. Most production tooling is intact at the plant in St Augustine, Florida, where new wings are being produced for 20 aircraft removed from storage. Northrop Grumman started modifying the first EA-6B Improved Capability Programme III (ICAPIII) test aircraft in November 2000. The Air superiorit 2 x TurboUnion RB199-104 9,110/16,425 13.91/8.6 26.6 18.62 14,500 27,986 8,500 3h@555km Attack 2 x TurboUnion RB199-103 9,100/16.020 13.91/8.6 26.6 16.72 14.000 28,000 9.000 3,885 6 - M2.2 50,000 2 7,270 litre 7,500 Yes 7 - M2.2 50,000 2 5,090 5,850kg Yes •HI •• ••• aircraft made its maiden flight in November 2001. The $200 million ICAP III development for the first time allows selection and switching between jamming frequencies according to the threat, rather than diluting power and range by pre-emptively targeting a broad spectrum. The system not only locks on to a frequency, but mimics frequency hopping patterns. In addition to reactive jammers, the ICAP III package will include new displays for the EA-6B's three EW operators, additional processors and a tactical display interface. Future enhancements are under considera tion, including the addition of a wide-band datalink to provide a distributed EW jammer network. ICAP III initial operational capability is due in 2005. The USN is now bringing all of its ICAP II- equipped Block 82 and 86 Prowlers to a com mon Block 89A standard, which will serve as a foundation for ICAP III from 2004. New systems now being fitted to the aircraft include the USQ- 113 communication jammer, an embedded GPS/INS and AYK-14 processor. F-5 Tiger II Production of the F-5E/F ended in 1987, but sev eral upgrade programmes are under way. Northrop Grumman began flight tests of a Tiger IV in April 1995, marketing the upgraded F-5E as a lead-in trainer for the Lockheed Martin F-16, but it has yet to secure a customer. Other companies, including AIDC, Bristol Aerospace, Elbit, Israel Aircraft Industries, Lockheed Martin, Singapore Technologies Aerospace, offer F-5 upgrades with various avionics manufacturers. Northrop Grumman, meanwhile, has agreed to support Tiger Century Aircraft's (TCA) plan to remanufacture surplus F-5E fighters into two- seat advanced trainers. TCA will be prime con tractor for the TF-5 programme, with the F-5's original manufacturer acting as principal sub contractor. 60 28 MAY - 3 JUNE 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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