Kicking it Up a Notch: Poseidon’s Unmanned BAMS Companion
Feb 21, 2011 15:56 EST
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Radar testing begins. (April 25/11)
The world’s P-3 Orion fleets have served for a long time, and many are reaching the end of their lifespans. In the USA, and possibly beyond, the new P-8 Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft will take up the P-3’s role. While the P-8’s base 737-based airframe offers strong service & maintenance arguments in its favor, the airframe is expensive enough that the P-3s cannot be replaced on a 1:1 basis.
In order to extend the P-8 fleet’s reach, and provide additional capabilities, the Poseidon was expected to work with at least one companion UAV platform. This DID FOCUS Article explains the winning BAMS (Broad Area Maritime Surveillance) concept, the program’s key requirements, and its international angle. We’ll also cover ongoing contracts and key events related to the program, which chose Northrop Grumman’s navalized RQ-4N (now MQ-4C) Global Hawk.
- Next-Gen Maritime Patrol Systems: Issues and Options
- BAMS: Requirements and Missions
- BAMS: The MQ-4C Maritime Hawk
- BAMS: The International Angle
- BAMS: The Program [updated]
- BAMS: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings & Sources
Stay on top of the Navy's investment into the BAMS aircraft development, when you subscribe to DII. Our cross-linked article network and reference materials include:
- Timeline of the contract tender with a comparison of UAVs from General Atomics, Northrop Grumman and Boeing
- 9 photos and illustrations
- Tracking of the project selection process and the April 2008 award to Northrop Grumman
- The system, piece-by-piece, who is contributing? (Northrop Grumman with Aurora Flight Sciences, L-3 Communications, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, Vought and Sierra Nevada).
- The mission basics: BAMS with the P-8 Poseidon and the Navy's planned "EP-X"
- Assessment of BAMS capabilities including a 3,000-nm mission radius, sustaining flights of 10 hours and autonomous flight with icing or turbulence
- Potential international customers, including India, Australia, and Canada
- More DID coverage including: "P-8 Poseidon MMA: Long-Range Maritime Patrol, and More," "Follow-Up: Rear Adm. Michael L. Holmes on The USA's P-3C Force," "Global Hawk UAV Prepares for Maritime Role"
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