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Sea-Air-Space 2017: New and Legacy Aviation Programmes

Marty Kauchak reports from US Navy League Sea-Air-Space Expo at Gaylord National Convention Center, National Harbor, MA, USA.

The E-2D Advanced HAWKEYE is the newest variant of the venerable E-2 aircraft platform. The US Navy’s (USN) programme of record (PoR) is 75 aircraft with 52 under contract with original equipment manufacturer Northrop Grumman (Booth 2105). Judy Quinlan, Programme Communications Manager for E-2 Hawkeye/C-2 GREYHOUND and F-35 LIGHTNING II at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, reported, “there have been 28 E-2D deliveries to date.”

Of significance, the international E-2D programme is concurrently evolving, with the first two Japan E-2Ds scheduled for delivery in 2018. While new E-2Ds continue to enter service with the fleet, the Navy has in place a development programme that will continue periodic upgrades to the Advanced HAWKEYE. Quinlan continued: “This includes the introduction of aerial refuelling capability, which is currently in flight test. The first flight of an aerial refuelling-equipped E-2D was on December 15, 2016. Planned manufacturing cut-in is planned for 2018 and USN initial operational capability of aerial refuelling in 2020. E-2Ds in the fleet will eventually be retrofitted. This capability will allow for extended mission times of more than seven hours.”

Further, Delta System and Software Configurations (DSSCs) are planned periodic software/hardware upgrades. “Currently there are six DSSCs planned over the production phase of the E-2D programme. They are released to the fleet approximately every two years, and the content of these upgrades is classified. DSSC-1 and DSSC-2 have been delivered to the USN, and DSSC-3 is in development,” the industry media expert added.

And finally the Wet Outer Wing Panel was developed by Northrop Grumman, to allow fuel to be carried in the outer wings, enabling longer missions. This will be an option for land-based operators.

 

 

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is funding the development of the XV-24A Lightning Strike Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) X-Plane. The subscale vehicle demonstrator (SVD) XV-24A aircraft completed its planned flight test program this March. The SVD successfully demonstrated key technical features the full scale XV-24A (12,000lbs [5,443kg], 61ft [19m] wingspan) will perform, including outbound and inbound transition flight. An Aurora Flight Sciences (Booth 1127)-led industry team will prepare the full-scale XV-24A for flight in 2018.

 

DARPA is funding the development of the XV-24A Lightning Strike Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) X-Plane (artist’s rendering above). The subscale vehicle demonstrator XV-24A aircraft completed its planned flight test program this March. (Graphic: Aurora Flight Sciences)

 

The XV-24A is a tilt-wing UAV powered by an electrical distributed propulsion system. 24 variable-pitch ducted fans driven by electric motors provide thrust for hover and cruise. Rolls Royce (Booth 1639) provides a single AE1107C turboshaft engine (used on the V-22 OSPREY) to drive three Honeywell (Booth 1613) generators which provide power to the wing and canard electric motors. While this vehicle is not expected to enter the air inventories with any of the US military services, the project is expected to yield important technology spin- offs including uses of advanced materiel and other capabilities. Ashish Bagai, PhD, the DARPA programme manager for XV-24A and the concept’s creator, provided a high-level project overview emphasizing it will, “focus on new design spaces for aircraft and helicopters so that they can not only fly fast but to hybridize them, bring them together, so the XV-24A can do what a helicopter and a high-speed, fixed wing transport can do. The intent is to advance technology, to increase the industrial base, exploit new design tools and materiel, and configurations, so that in the future the spin-off opportunity to make a match to meet mission requirements. And what we have here is the most remarkable configuration one could ever conceive of.”

The XV-24A project also has a number of quantitative objectives: improve power efficiency; improve overflight efficiency; reduce drag in cruise flight and achieve a top sustained flight speed of 300-400 knots.

 

 

The USN intends to fulfil the Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) mission requirement by funding a Navy variant of the Bell Boeing V-22, now officially designated the CMV-22B. Billy Ray “B.R.” Brown, Public Affairs Officer for V-22 OSPREY & H-1at Naval Air Systems Command, said: “A total of 44 CMV-22B’s will be procured to meet the COD requirement.”

 

When compared to its older sibling the V22 (above), the Navy’s new CMV-22B will have enlarged and added fuel tanks to allow for the extended range to meet the COD requirement of 1,150nm [2,315km]. (Photo: US Marine Corps)

 

When compared to its older sibling the V22, the CMV-22B will have enlarged and added fuel tanks to allow for the extended range to meet the COD requirement of 1,150nm (2,315 kilometres). Brown added: “Additionally, the CMV-22B will have an HF radio to allow for beyond line of sight communications, a public address system to allow for communications with passengers, and an improved cargo lighting system in the cabin.”

No CMV-22B aircraft have been procured to date. Production will begin in FY (fiscal year) 18 with the first aircraft to be delivered in FY20. The USN intends to declare initial operational capability for this programme in FY21. “Aircrew and maintainers have begun training with USMC at Marine Corps Air Station, New River, North Carolina,” Brown concluded.

 

 

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Publish date

04/05/2017

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