Fri, Nov 13, 2009
Australian Wedgetail AEW&C Aircraft Served As Test
Platform
Boeing announced Monday that it successfully completed tests
of the Counter Measures Dispenser System (CMDS) for Project
Wedgetail, Australia's Airborne Early Warning and Control
(AEW&C) system. The tests were conducted in September and
October off the Washington coast and over Puget Sound,
Washington.
Completion of CMDS testing is a key step toward verification of
the Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft's overall Electronic Warfare
Self-Protection (EWSP) capability. EWSP is designed to warn
aircrews about and protect against missiles targeting the aircraft.
The CMDS responds to threats by releasing chaff and flares to decoy
incoming missiles away from the aircraft. Boeing and its industry
supplier, BAE Systems, developed and integrated the CMDS
system.
Testing included 19 flights that dispensed more than 500 units
of chaff and flares. The AEW&C team collected data via five
high-speed video cameras mounted on the Wedgetail aircraft and an
additional video camera attached to a T-33 chase plane.
"The testing program verified that the Boeing-installed
self-protection system will effectively counter its intended
threats reliably and safely," said Kermit Hollinger, Electronic
Warfare manager for Boeing AEW&C Programs. "This milestone is
the latest example of Boeing's ability to integrate military
systems onto commercial aircraft and provide our customers with
low-risk, cost-effective solutions to their operational
requirements."
Project Wedgetail includes six 737 AEW&C aircraft plus
ground support segments for mission crew training, mission support
and system maintenance.
The 737 AEW&C aircraft, based on the Boeing Next-Generation
737-700 commercial airplane, is designed to provide airborne
battle-management capability with an advanced multirole
electronically scanned radar and 10 state-of-the-art mission crew
consoles. Able to track airborne and maritime targets
simultaneously, the mission crew can direct offensive and defensive
forces while maintaining continuous surveillance of the operational
area.
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