Flight International – 11 June 2019

DEFENCE

fiightglobal.com 11-17 June 2019 | Flight International | 17

Viking to promote

improved Guardian

Defence P

B

oeing is working on potential

international deals related to

its KC-46A tanker and 737-based

E-7 airborne early warning and

control (AEW&C) system aircraft.

Speaking in Singapore late last

month, Boeing vice-president Jeff

Shockey said the company has de-

livered 11 KC-46As to the US Air

Force (USAF), and aims to have

increased this to 18 by the end of

the second quarter and “between

36 and 40” by year-end.

“We are moving along and

working closely with the custom-

er on deliveries,” he says. “Feed-

back is positive from operators.”

Referring to foreign object de-

bris issues that twice prompted

the USAF to temporarily halt its

acceptance of Pegasus tankers ear-

lier this year, Shockey says:

“That’s something that embarrass-

es us and makes us want to go all

in to figure out what we need to

do to execute better for our cus-

tomers. It’s very humbling when

we stumble like that on a really

key programme.”

Shockey also detailed Boeing’s

current international sales oppor-

tunities with the 767-based type,

which the company believes

could total up to 20 examples.

Japan has already ordered two

of a planned three KC-46As, and

Boeing identifies Indonesia, Isra-

el, Qatar, the United Arab Emir-

ates and NATO nations as other

prospective buyers.

The inclusion of the UAE –

which operates the rival Airbus

Defence & Space A330 multi-role

tanker/transport – is a surprise,

but Shockey indicates that the

Gulf state could obtain three Boe-

ing tankers to bolster its inventory.

Boeing also sees the potential

to sell a further 10 E-7 surveil-

lance platforms internationally.

“We have interest from a num-

ber of countries,” Shockey says,

without naming potential buyers.

“There seems to be a resurgence

in the E-7,” he adds. The UK

earlier this year ordered five of

the type to replace its 707-based

E-3D Sentry platforms from the

early 2020s.

South Korea has also stated

interest in adding another pair of

the AEW&C assets to its four-

strong fleet.

Other previous E-7 campaigns

have included promoting the

type to Qatar, which lacks an air-

borne early warning capability.

India also continues to explore its

options for such equipment. ■

I

srael Aerospace Industries (IAI)

has unveiled a smaller version of

its Heron unmanned air vehicle

(UAV), designed for operations in

support of land forces.

Named the Tactical Heron – or

T-Heron – and 30% smaller than

IAI’s standard version, the UAV

can be transported on two trucks,

and deployed from “very short”

paved surfaces, says Avi Blesser,

vice-president marketing at IAI’s

military aircraft group.

Powered by a 100hp (75kW)

Rotax engine, the T-Heron can fly

at up to 120kt (222km/h), with a

service ceiling of 24,000ft and en-

durance of 24h. Wingspan is

10.6m (34.8ft), and maximum

take-off weight 600kg (1.320lb),

including a 180kg payload. This

can include surveillance sensors

on four hardpoints and within a

“widebody” bay.

IAI is currently conducting

ground tests, and plans first flight

for December. Blesser expects se-

rial production to begin after a

“very short” flight-test period.

Discussions are under way

with multiple potential custom-

ers, Blesser says. ■

S

aab will later this year con-

duct a first test flight of a Grip-

en C/D carrying a pod-housed

electronic attack jammer.

Part of Saab’s Arexis family of

electronic warfare equipment, the

low-band jammer is contained

within a 4m (13.1ft)-long demon-

strator pod and weighs 350kg

(770lb). Wing-like surfaces will be

used to contain the payload’s low-

frequency antennae.

Development and ground test-

ing has been conducted at Saab’s

Stockholm facilities, and a trial

installation made with a Gripen.

“Our focus is the escort jammer

• a pod to go on a few aircraft to
  accompany a strike package,” says
  Petter Bedoire, Saab’s head of
  electronic warfare marketing and
  sales. A deployable stand-in jam-
  mer is also in development.
  The Arexis range adapts equip-
  ment installed on Saab’s develop-
  mental Gripen E, which has a
  “spotlight jammer” capability.
  Saab is also promoting Arexis for
  other types, potentially including
  the Eurofighter for Germany,
  which has a Lubis requirement
  for new jammer systems. ■

JAMMER

CRAIG HOYLE LINKOPING

Saab scrambles

Arexis electronic

attack capability

UNMANNED SYSTEMS MICHAEL GUBISCH LONDON

Tactical focus drives interest in downsized Heron

SALES GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE

Boeing pursues international

tanker, AEW sales prospects

Airframer identifies potential customers for KC-46A and 737-based surveillance asset

US Air Force Pegasus fleet

could reach 40 by year-end

Boeing

Israel Aerospace Industries

Smaller version of UAV is designed to support land force operations