Flight International - January 19, 2016

DEFENCE

16 | Flight International | 19-25 January 2016 flightglobal.com

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T

he US Navy has completed in-
flight load testing of the
Lockheed Martin-built long-range
anti-ship missile (LRASM) on the
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet,
and will now move on to conduct-
ing noise and vibration trials.
A final flight carrying an inert
“mass simulant vehicle” oc-
curred on 6 January over the na-
vy’s NAS Patuxent River test site
in Maryland, says the US Naval
Air Systems Command.
An anti-ship derivative of Lock-
heed’s AGM-158B JASSM-ER ex-
tended-range air-to-surface cruise
missile, the subsonic LRASM is
being certificated for carriage by
the Super Hornet and the US Air
Force’s Boeing B-1B bomber.
LRASM programme manager
Capt Timothy Hill says the next

Finmeccanica and Saab have

signed a memorandum of under-

standing (MoU) to provide elec-

tronic warfare systems support,

initially targeted at customers of

the latter’s Gripen fighter.

The companies will look to

support Gripen customers in

their use and exploitation of elec-

tronic warfare (EW) systems, says

Mark Hewer, vice-president of

EW Operational Support (EWOS)

for Finmeccanica’s Airborne and

Space Systems division.

“EWOS is capable of support-

ing Finmeccanica and non-Fin-

meccanica electronic warfare

equipment,” he tells Flight Inter-

national. However, he adds: “the

initial co-operation with Saab is

more likely to focus on Gripen-

related programmes”.

The Gripen E/NG is on order

for the Swedish and Brazilian air

forces, and the companies are in

discussions with a launch cus-

tomer for the EW support service,

Hewer says. Their MoU will ini-

tially target the South American

and Middle East markets, he adds.

All new-generation Gripens

ordered will carry the Raven

ES-05 active electronically

scanned array radar, Skyward-G

infrared search and track sensor,

plus identification friend or foe

systems – all made by Finmec-

canica. Saab is also offering the

company’s BriteCloud expenda-

ble active decoy as an option for

platform protection.

“With the success of the vari-

ous Gripen variants internation-

ally, we’re seeing real interest [in

BriteCloud],” Hewer says. “We

look forward to working with

Saab and our customers to turn

electronic warfare solutions into

an operational advantage.”

Sweden currently operates the

C/D-model Gripen, along with

export customers the Czech Re-

public, Hungary, South Africa

and Thailand. ■

Helibras delivers improved Pantera

uPgrade

The Brazilian army has received its first Airbus Helicopters AS

to have been upgraded to the enhanced K2 standard entirely at the

Itajuba site of the manufacturer’s Helibras subsidiary. First flight of

the modernised Pantera took place in October 2015, with improve-

ments including uprated Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 engines, a new

glass cockpit, four-axis autopilot, modified engine fairings and an

enhanced tail rotor. The next four airframes to be modernised have

already been inducted into the Itajuba facility, says Helibras. Two

previously-completed aircraft – delivered in early 2014 – had re-

ceived elements of the upgrade outside Brazil. These were used for

operational evaluation of the enhancements, prior to a contract

signing in October that year covering the army’s remaining

32-strong AS565 fleet.

Guilherme Wiltgen/Helibras

systems beTh sTevenson lOndOn

Saab, Finmeccanica set

to collaborate on Gripen

ordnance james drew WASHInGTOn dC

super Hornet extends anti-ship trials

US navy wraps up load testing of adjusted lockheed Martin JASSM-ER, with weapon also on target for USAF’s B-1B

stage of flight certification will

begin in late January, with the

noise and vibration tests to

employ the same test missile, in

tandem with another “instru-

mented measurement vehicle” to

collect data.

The first weapons release will

occur in “early 2017”, Hill adds,

with initial jettison tests to be

followed by live trials. “Live-fire

tests are planned in 2017 with the

B-1B, and continue through

F/A-18E/F early operational ca-

pability in 2019,” says Hill. The

latter schedule is also confirmed

by Mike Fleming, Lockheed’s air-

launched LRASM director.

Jointly supported by the USAF

and the US Defense Advanced

Reseach Projects Agency, the

LRASM programme aims to have

the anti-ship weapon integrated

with an initial tranche of B-1Bs

during 2018. The type has al-

ready released several test rounds

during early prototype testing,

performed against a target ship in

2013. In a maritime conflict, the
      strategic bomber would be capa-
      ble of carrying 24 of the long-
      range weapons, the USAF says.
      Once deployed, LRASM will
      become the USN’s most sophisti-
      cated air-launched and data-
      linked anti-ship missile, with the
      JASSM derivative designed to
      find targets among flotillas and
      also survive attempted electro-
      magnetic disruption. ■

Initial capability for

the Usn is planned

during 2019

US

navy