First Wedgetail Aircraft Performs Well in Tests

Boeing successfully completed the aircraft performance and flight handling test program with the first 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for Australia’s Project Wedgetail.

The aircraft exceeded all specification requirements for altitude, speed and endurance. It logged more than 245 flights and more than 500 flight hours. Takeoff performance, flight handling and simulated air to air refueling testing were conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Engine nacelle and engine component cooling were tested in Mesa, Ariz. Additional tests included icing and crosswinds.

“The plane performed superbly in terms of its avionics, structure, systems, flight handling characteristics and performance,” said Patrick Gill, Boeing vice president of 737 AEW&C programs. “This milestone validates the aircraft’s digital design, and wind tunnel and simulator analyses. It is a major step forward in providing this powerful, new capability to Australia.”

Flight testing of the airborne early warning and control mission system, including the MESA radar, is scheduled for later this year.

Australia has purchased six aircraft for its Wedgetail fleet. Delivery of the first two aircraft currently being modified in Seattle, Wash., is scheduled for 2006, with the other four aircraft delivered by 2008. Turkey has purchased four of the aircraft for its Peace Eagle program.

2 Small Diameter Bombs Have Big Hits

Two Boeing Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) were dropped recently from the same aircraft, scoring direct hits on two separate targets.

The test on July 26 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., was from an altitude of 15,000 feet. Released from a U.S. Air Force F-15E at Mach 0.95, each weapon performed a planned one hundred degree heading change, traveled approximately 18 miles across the range from the release point and attacked independent targets spaced 30 feet apart.

“These were our 25th and 26th successful weapon flights and two of the more significant tests we’ve accomplished to date,” said SDB Program Manager Dan Jaspering. “They go to the core of the weapon’s capabilities, which is getting to more targets with fewer flights, with incredible accuracy.”

The first SDB hit within four feet of its target, while the second hit within 10 inches of its target. The two weapons were released from the same carriage, but each bomb had its own set of target coordinates.

The all-weather SDB weapon system can hold four SDBs and is compatible with every U.S. fighter and bomber aircraft. It has a standoff range of 60 nautical miles. At 71 inches long, this 250-pound weapon quadruples the weapons load on each aircraft. The SDB will first be deployed on the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle in 2006.

Super Hornet Takes Aim at Moving Targets

Integrated Defense Systems successfully demonstrated the capability of a single F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to engage moving land targets during a test at Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif.

“This is just another step in our efforts to develop an all-weather multiple moving target engagement capability for the Super Hornet,” said Chris Chadwick, Boeing vice president for F/A-18 programs. “We plan to expand on this effort, to meet the goals of precision multiple moving target engagement envisioned in Sea Power 21.”

Real-time targeting updates were accomplished using the aircraft’s existing Digital Communications System to communicate over a standard military link to a 2,000-lb. Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) equipped with a UHF weapon data link module, designed by the Harris Corporation. The weapon data link module included a miniature radio transceiver that transmitted link status back to the aircraft during weapon free-fall.

In the guided release demonstration, the position of the moving target, a radio-controlled panel-side truck, was continuously tracked by the Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared sensor onboard the Super Hornet. Periodic target updates were provided to the JDAM throughout the weapon’s flight to the target. As a result, the F/A-18 weapon system successfully guided the inert bomb to within two meters of the moving target—close enough to destroy most moving targets. During a previous flight, two-way UHF link connectivity was verified to 40 miles between a ground-mounted JDAM and aircraft in flight. The UHF weapon data link exceeded expectations in maintaining communications between the F/A-18 aircraft and the JDAM during weapon deployment.

Further demonstrations of the Super Hornet’s future precision engagement capabilities are planned for later this year and 2006.

Major Upgrade for U.S. AWACS Fleet Under Way

Boeing has started installing satellite communications and air traffic management upgrades on the first of 32 U.S. Air Force AWACS aircraft.

“Enhanced satellite communications will boost the fleet’s capability by providing crews with multiple channels for voice and data,” said Ed Froese, vice president of Boeing Airborne Warning Systems. “This improves the AWACS system’s ability to communicate with other AWACS aircraft, platforms and ground stations.”

The Global Air Traffic Management upgrade permits AWACS to efficiently operate in congested airspace worldwide, especially in Europe and the East coast corridor of the U.S., by allowing the AWACS to fly in closer proximity to other aircraft. Additional enhancements include a traffic collision avoidance system, which sounds an alert and provides a message—climb or descend—to the AWACS flight crew in order to prevent a collision.

Retrofit of the first AWACS is scheduled to be completed in January 2006. The entire fleet will be completed by the end of 2010.