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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2576.PDF
DEFENCE • L-3 Integrated Systems has received US Special Operations Command con tracts totalling $63.2 million to repair and refurbish 33 A/MH- 6M Little Bird helicopters and provide bare base sets to sup port special-operations missions. • CAE USA is to pro vide reconfigurable MH-47G/ MH-60K desktop and part-task trainers to US Army Special Operations Forces under a $5 million contract, and is negotiat ing to build MH-47G and MH-60K combat mission simula tors worth $85 million. • Boeing has received $7 mil lion to cover restructuring the US Air Force's Common Low Observable Verification System programme to measure stealth aircraft radar cross-section on the flightline, after funding cuts forced extension of develop ment. • Quantum3D is to supply Independence image generators, visual databases, moving models and a database generation system for Lockheed Martin's F/A-22 air combat simulators. • Boeing is to provide 15 additional ballistic- missile interceptors, four modified launch silos at Vandenberg AFB, California, and an upgraded early-warning radar under a $823 million US Missile Defense Agency con tract for the Ground-based Midcourse Defence Block 2004 capability enhancement pro gramme. • Rockwell Collins is to supply dual head-up displays for 60 US Air Force and Marine Corps C-130Js under a $20 mil lion contract from Lockheed Martin. • International Launch Services is to launch the US Air Force's WGS-3 wideband gapfiller satellite in early 2006 on a Lockheed Martin Atlas V SURVEILLANCE PETER LA FRANCHI / BUSAN IAI lifts lid on Gulfstream Phalcon AEW&C details Israeli manufacturer goes head-to-head with Boeing "Wedgetail" in South Korean contest Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has unveiled details of its Gulfstream G550-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, now on order for the Israeli air force, with a large-scale model on display for the first time at the Korea Air Show in Busan last week. The "pocket" AEW&C aircraft will carry four fixed active phased arrays for the Elta Phalcon radar, to provide 360° coverage, necessitating extensive fuselage modifications. The model confirms two main arrays will be fitted on the sides of the forward fuselage in an arrange ment similar to the Phalcon instal lation on a Boeing 707 undertaken by IAI for the Chilean air force (Flight International, 10-16 June). Downward sloping nose and tail-mounted radomes, similar to those on the unsuccessful BAe/Marconi Nimrod AEW&C aircraft, would house forward- and rear-facing radar arrays. A satellite communications antenna would be installed inside a large blister at the top of the fin. The existing G550 roof spine has been increased in height. This change may be intended to assfst with the treatment of interference between six mid-fuselage mounted communications antennas. A fur ther six antennas are located on the roof of the forward fuselage, ahead of the spine, while three oth ers are located on the forward air craft underbelly. The nose radome supports a large electronic support measures (ESM) blister. Additional ESM sen sors will be fitted to small wingtip pods and beneath the tail radar blister. IAI says the overall elec tronic-warfare self-protection sys tem is derived from Elta subsys tems being fitted to the Royal Australian Air Force's Boeing 737 IGW Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft. The Gulfstream Phalcon AEW&C aircraft will have six oper ator stations in the rear section of the cabin, with the majority of the forward cabin being used to sup port radar electronics. IAI says that the aircraft is likely to incorporate new generators to power the four radar arrays but will retain existing aircraft engines. The increased weight of the G550 and the drag induced by the fuselage modifications will reduce maximum ceiling to 41,000ft (12,500m), while endurance will be around lOh, the company says. The aircraft could be modified to support in-flight refuelling to extend mission time. IAI is pitching the aircraft at the South Korean air force's planned relaunch of its E-X AEW&C pro ject. However Boeing's Wedgetail is widely seen as favourite. E EARLY WARNING AND CONTROL AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATION FLIGHT UAVS STEPHEN TRIMBLE / FORT WORTH, TEXAS Bell plans full-scale Eagle Eye by late next year Bell aims to manufacture and fly the first full-scale HV-911 Eagle Eye within a year, building on a 7/8-scale version of the tiltrotor unmanned air vehicle. The internally funded effort is expected to give Bell a 4.63m (15.2ft) wingspan demonstrator in late 2004, two years before flight tests are sched uled for the first aircraft produced under the US Coast Guard Deepwater con tract. The USCG plans to order 69 H V-911 s over a 13-year period. Bell plans a marketing push in tan dem with full-scale Eagle Eye production. The UAV is viewed as a candidate for US and foreign naval programmes, as well as emerging homeland security needs. The full- scale Eagle Eye is 5.45m long and rotor diameter is 3.04m, says Robert Dompka, Bell's director of UAV pro grammes. Bell is expected to enter a programme design review this month. SEE KOREA AIR SHOW P17 12 11-17 NOVEMBER 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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