Boeing plans to militarise about a fifth of the Next Generation 737 airframe to satisfy US Navy requirements for the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA).
Boeing's 737 MMA team - which includes Northrop Grumman and Raytheon - and Lockheed Martin's Orion 21 team must submit final bids to the USN for the MMA contract by 29 December, with a system development and demonstration award expected in May 2004.
Export controls mean Boeing cannot fully assemble the MMA's militarised parts at the 737 plant in Renton, Washington.
"We're looking at exactly how we're going to operate that modification facility, how we're going to take that green 737 off the production line in Renton, and whether we're going to run a different production line," says Boeing. Its MMA design shares around 80% commonality with the civil 737. Key differences include a strengthened wing with hard points for external stores and an internal bomb bay in the aft cargo hold.
Source: Flight International