In September 2005, DID wrote an article pointing out that the need for data transfer speed was taking military avionics in two directions – one that depended on the old reliable MIL-STD-1553 data bus standard, and another that looked to faster protocols like IEEE 1394 (Firewire) et. al. Now an industry team of Boeing Phantom works, Honeywell Aerospace, and Data Device Corp. has demonstrated a third approach, one familiar to computer users with USB or Ethernet: speed up the old protocol.
The new data “bus” technology, which uses existing aircraft wiring, has proven it can transfer electronic data at least 40 times faster than current data bus technology. Data Device Corp.’s HyPer-1553(TM) is similar to Digital Subscriber Line technology that’s used to expand the data-carrying capability of ordinary telephone lines – without replacing the wiring. In a December 17, 2005 test using an F-15E1 ATD test aircraft, HyPer-1553 transferred data at 40 megabits per second in parallel with MIL-STD-1553 data being transferred at 1 megabit per second. The team also transferred data at 40, 80 and 120 megabits per second on a second bus dedicated to the higher speed data. Given the relative cheapness of HyPer1553(TM) upgrades compared to just about any other approach, this team may have a winner. Read the Boeing release.
Data Link Solutions (DLS), a BAE Systems/ Rockwell Collins company, was selected by the Canadian Forces to provide Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminals (LVT) as part of their Fleet Modernization Program to add Link 16 capability to Canada’s CF-18 Hornet aircraft fleet. The approximate value of the contract is in excess of USD $22.7 million. DID covered the initial request to the US Congress.
DID has covered the V/STOL(Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing) AV-8B Harrier II’s improvement of its flying record, and the discovery of its niche among the rough airfields of Afghanistan and the urban warfare scenarios of Iraq. A pair of ongoing maintenance and avionics and weapons upgrade initiatives provide a window into the efforts that are making the modernized Harrier an effective weapon on the Global War on Terror’s battlefields.
In a December 11, 2005 article, DID noted that South Korea was looking to award its E-X airborne early warning aircraft contract and get on with the program. Their $1.1 billion choice was the G550 platform offered by an American-Israeli consortium of General Dynamics Gulfstream, L-3 Communications, and Israel Aircraft Industries.
Unfortunately, DID also noted that snags with tech transfer of basic equipment like Link 16 avionics risked holding up the program. While the $1.3 billion deal with Eurocopter that DID also mentioned in that article went through smoothly yesterday, The Chosun Ibo reports that the E-X program does indeed face a delay over US technology transfers until some time in 2006. Read DID’s earlier report for the full briefing re: the two contending E-X bids, and the list of “banned” items.
Lockheed Martin Corp. in Owego, NY received a $28.1 million firm-fixed price contract modification for the B-52 Avionics Midlife Improvement (AMI) Program. That’s a somewhat jaw-dropping term, given that the very last B-52 Stratofortress produced was delivered to the USAF in October 1962 – but the USAF presently intends to upgrade the BUFFs and keep them in service until at least 2030. Work on this contract will be complete by July 2008. The Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, OK issued the contract (FA8107-04-C-0010/P00007).
L-3 Communications has announced that an international team led by its Display Systems (L-3 Display Systems) division has been awarded a System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to provide the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) subsystem for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft.
The U.S. military already operates at least 1,500 UAVs, and that number is expected to quadruple by the end of this decade, according to the U.S. Navy League. Agencies like the US Department of Homeland Security are ordering their own UAVs, and the difficulty of coordinating UAVs and manned traffic is already causing a factor in Iraq, where at least one collision with a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter may have occurred. Meanwhile, Israeli researchers have figured out ways to incorporate flocking behavior and decision making into UAVs that improves upon individual UAV performance, and the US is investing in this area as well. In other words, not only will there be more UAVs, but more group/swarm UAV employment is also likely.
Can all this UAV traffic mingle safely with manned aircraft traffic, which is also expected to grow on the civilian side over the next decade?
C-5 Refuels from KC-135 Note KC-135 = 707 airliner!
Lockheed Martin Co. in Marietta, GA is being awarded a $98 million firm fixed price, time and material and cost reimbursable contract. It will provide supply support, engineering and technical support, and software maintenance services to C-5 Galaxys modified under the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), plus replenishment spares and non-warranty repair.
EADS is to equip the Eurofighter combat aircraft of Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Austria (see all Eurofighter program firms) as well as the Tornado combat aircraft of the German Armed Forces with a total of 364 Digital Map Generator systems (DMG). Orders worth a total of approximately EUR 50 million ($59 million) have been placed with EADS Defence Electronics. The contract involves the same DMG system that will be used in all Airbus A400M transport aircraft. To date, EADS has supplied 160 digital map generators for combat aircraft, including its DKG and EuroGrid families.
Digital map generators create raster and vector maps of the relevant operational area for the pilot in the cockpit, with the display appearing in real time from the pilot’s point of view. In addition, the generators allow the overlay of relevant information, the current deployment situation, and radar images generated by the airborne radar system. The delivery period for the DMGs ordered under this procurement ranges between 2006-2012.
