FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
2003
2003 - 1154.PDF
DEFENCE UPGRADES C-130 deal delayed by dispute A dispute has broken out between the Turkish air force and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) over the content of an upgrade package for the former's Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transports. The $14 million, seven air craft, deal was signed last year but in recent months the Turkish air force has demanded changes to the upgrade pack age. IAI sources say they include systems that are not an integral part of the package. The upgrade consists of a mission computer, multifunction displays and associated soft ware developed using experience gained from Israeli air force C-130 operations. IAI claims that the avionics package is more advanced than that in the C-130J and that it has growth potential to allow integra tion with future datalinks aimed at allowing the military transport to make use of civil free-flight regulations. SURVEILLANCE PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC Raytheon aims to oust TIPS from NATO AGS... ASTOR variant could offer NATO cheaper solution two years ahead of 2010 deadline Raytheon is teaming with BAE Systems to offer a variant of the Bombardier Global Express-based Airborne Stand-off Radar System (ASTOR) for NATO's Airborne Ground Surveillance (AGS) require ment. The proposal is a competitor to the Northrop Grumman, EADS and Galilieo Avionica Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution (TIPS) on an Airbus A320 platform. The Co-operative Transatlantic AGS System (CTAS) would leverage off the development and invest ment in ASTOR in order to offer NATO a cheaper solution two years ahead of the current 2010 entry into service deadline. "We have talked to a lot of European defence ministries and they favour a smaller aircraft that is more cost-effective and fits NATO's command and control needs," says Dr Richard Anderson, Raytheon Integrated Airborne Systems vice- president. Other prospective Euro pean partners are in talks with Raytheon that could overlap with the TIPS team, he adds. Raytheon recently briefed NATO on its proposal in a move to fore stall what many had considered would be a sole source award to the TIPS partnership. The UK has said it is willing to make available to NATO its ASTOR design, for which aerodynamic development is com plete. The first system is due to enter service in 2005. For Raytheon, AGS could provide pro gramme continuity after the final RAF aircraft is delivered in 2008. "The long pole in the tent is the radar," says Anderson. The main difference from the UK system would the incorporation of the proposed new Transatlantic Co operative Advanced Radar (TCAR) in place of ASTOR's Raytheon active array. TCAR would meld the Northrop Grumman/Raytheon Multi Platform-Radar Technology Insertion Programme (MP-RTIP), now in development for the USAF's E-10A Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft, and the Stand-off Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (SOSTAR) demonstrator sys tem being pursued by EADS, Fokker Space, Galileo, Indra and Thales. The final work split between European and US industry is still being negotiated, but due to the sensitivity of MP-RTIP technology transfer, it is likely to entail local development of the TCAR's trans mit/receive modules, say sources. Different-sized versions of the TCAR antenna would be the basis of the CTAS and the competing TIPS proposals. The teams are expecting the award of NATO study contracts later this year, leading to a downselect and contract award by late 2004. SURVEILLANCE .as E-10A absorbs cruise missile defence role The US Air Force's future E-10A Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A) will be capable of tracking cruise missiles in addition to performing ground surveillance and battle manage ment. However, a decision on co- hosting an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system on the same Boeing 767-400 platform is on hold pending further studies. The Increment 1 E-10A successor to the Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS, will include a "focused cruise missile defence" mission. The MC2A's new active electronically scanned array, being developed by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon under the Multi Platform-Radar Technology Insertion Programme, will be able to track cruise missiles within its 30° scan, while simulta neously providing ground moving target indication (GMTI). Increment 2 adds an airborne moving target indicator (AMTI) with a full 360° scan, but a decision to put this on the same 767, as originally intended, or a dedicated AEW&C platform, will wait until an analysis of alternatives is made next year, says Billy Smart, USAF deputy direc tor information dominance, acquisi tion. A single platform raises ques tions about the concept of oper ations and concerns over GMTI/ Decision on whether to put AEW&C system on same Boeing 767-400 platform is on hold until next year AMTI electromagnetic interference. The USAF plans to award a $250 million contract to a Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems (IS)- led team newly formed with Boeing and Raytheon to begin development of the overarching weapons system integration for the initial E-10A. Boeing will take the lead for Increment 2. Next month the USAF will release a draft request for proposals for the battle manage ment command and control (BMC2) system. Three teams are expected to bid for BMC2, with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon having already announced their teaming. Boeing is expected to unveil its teaming with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, which will be firewalled from a Northrop Grumman IS-led team that will include Veridian and L3. 20 20-26 MAY 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
