The U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Techniques Command introduced on 9 April that an Air Check and Analysis Squadron (VX) 20 P-8A Poseidon efficiently accomplished an airworthiness take a look at of a pod-mounted radio frequency countermeasure (RFCM) prototype on the Naval Air Warfare Middle Plane Division (NAWCAD) Atlantic Check Ranges.
In line with a press launch issued Friday by NAVAIR, the first-of-its-kind radio frequency protection decoy may permit the P-8A to thwart enemy radio frequency missile assaults.
“This has the potential to be a game-changer for safeguarding the warfighter,” mentioned Capt. Eric Gardner, program supervisor for the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Plane Program Workplace (PMA-290). “We proceed to search for methods to boost capabilities that permit the fleet to achieve success.”
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Getting the pod into testing, in simply over a 12 months, took an entire group effort.
Continually on the lookout for upgrades to the P-8A, PMA-290 got down to discover a resolution to a possible risk from surface-to-air radio frequency missiles.
Outlining their wants and working lead on the undertaking, PMA-290 introduced within the Superior Tactical Plane Safety Techniques Program Workplace (PMA-272), the Fast Prototyping, Experimentation & Demonstration (RPED) group, and the NAWCAD Plane Prototype Techniques Division (APSD) to get the ball rolling.
The RPED group supported APSD in designing the RFCM pod, which built-in the confirmed AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy from PMA-272 right into a shell. The group developed the shell design based mostly on the licensed AGM-84 Harpoon missile, after which included distinctive tracks and housing to suit and deploy the decoy.
By using the assistant secretary of the Navy for analysis, growth and acquisition’s delegation of different transactions authority (OTA) for prototype initiatives, PMA-290 and NAWCAD have been in a position to full a one-of-a-kind contract with BAE Techniques to develop the RFCM pod’s further inside tools suite. The OTA, a non-Federal Acquisition Regulation contracting method, may doubtlessly permit this essential self-protection expertise to transition from prototype to fleet functionality in a lot much less time than a standard effort.
APSD and BAE leveraged the established AN/ALE-55 electrical design to accommodate the suite’s set up.
“Plenty of the problem and energy went into designing, to our greatest estimates, for what BAE was anticipated to place within the pod,” mentioned Michael Hansell, the main APSD engineer for the undertaking. “We needed to adapt and redesign quickly. We labored as quick as doable to help PMA-290 and RPED to ensure we may pivot and modify to satisfy established timelines.”
Fixed tweaks have been wanted because the groups continued to hone in on a succesful design.
“Michael Hansell and his group’s flexibility and willingness to go above and past, to work by means of points and put together for BAE, was key in getting [the pod design and build] finished in a well timed method,” mentioned James Sherman, the APSD undertaking lead.
The Naval Revolutionary Science & Engineering (NISE) program funded the undertaking, which supplied the means to conceptualize, prototype, construct, and take a look at this new functionality for the Navy.
This funding accelerated the design and manufacturing cycle for the prototype to simply underneath six months. The expedited developmental course of helps the fast prototyping of recent and growing applied sciences and offers the assets to search out options and incorporate enhancements to fill functionality gaps within the fleet quicker.
The groups have been additionally in a position to make the most of PMA-272’s F/A-18 lab tools to hurry up the timeline.
All this teamwork culminated within the profitable airworthiness take a look at with VX-20.
“This reveals that once we determine a necessity and work quickly as a group we are able to deliver a viable resolution to check that has the flexibility to drastically affect the warfighter,” mentioned Lt. Cmdr. Mike Marschall, PMA-290 weapons and fast capabilities co-team lead.
Following the take a look at, the pod went to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California the place it efficiently accomplished effectiveness testing, March 21-26. It would now proceed to be examined at a system degree resulting in platform integration by means of deliberate functionality fielding phases.