Mon, Dec 04, 2006
Over 100 Cockpit Steam Gauges Replaced By Six Screens
Last week, Boeing delivered the 16th and final upgraded E6-B
Mercury to the U.S. Navy during a ceremony at Cecil Field in
Jacksonville, FL.
The upgrades include a new, modernized cockpit similar to the
glass cockpit installed in the Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft
and an advanced communications package that provides faster data
processing, communications capabilities and better situational
awareness for the crew.
The E6-B is a communications relay for the Navy's fleet of
submarines and a strategic airborne command post aircraft. The 16
airplanes are commercial-derivative Boeing 707s originally
delivered from 1989 to 1992.
"This modification program is a good example of taking an
in-service aircraft fleet and using modern and established
technology to improve its effectiveness at a reasonable cost," said
John Fraser, Boeing E-6 program manager. "I'm proud of the work our
Boeing team has done to upgrade the Mercury fleet in support of
this critical national security asset."
Boeing replaced more than 100
analog cockpit instruments with six state-of-the-art flat-panel
digital displays and dual flight management systems. The cockpit
improvements were taken from the more modern Boeing 777 and 737
commercial airliners. Boeing also integrated new battle management
command and control communications equipment that link the aircraft
to the Navy's airborne strategic command and control system.
The upgrades, covered by two contracts totaling more than $180
million, reduce the aircraft's overall weight, improve its
maintainability and make it compliant with Global Air Traffic
Management requirements that allow the aircraft to fly in preferred
airspace around the world.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses.
Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
is a $30.8 billion business.
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