F/A-18 Improvement

Abstract

F/A-18 Improvement (1662): The F/A-18 is a multi-mission strike fighter aircraft that is used in Air-to-Air, strike, surveillance, reconnaissance and tanking roles through selected use of external equipment (fuel tanks, tactical and reconnaissance pods, and various ordnance launching racks). Additional capabilities are required for interoperability in a network-centric tactical environment. In order to respond effectively to emerging future threats, F/A-18 aircraft capabilities are being expanded and upgraded to incorporate new/enhanced weapons systems and avionics including Dual Mode Weapons, a Counter-Electronic Attack, Infra-red Search and Track integrated with the Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar to provide Narrow Band High Gain Electronic Attack, Distributed Targeting precision strike capability through a Distributed Targeting System, and Sensor Integration through Multi-Sensor Integration Phase I/II/III capability which is renamed beginning in FY15 as Multi-System Integration. Continued advanced development engineering and analysis of hardware/software is required to successfully optimize fleet F/A-18 weapon systems for interoperability in a network centric tactical environment (such as Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air), to include: enhanced software capabilities, potential new hardware development, enhanced existing hardware, and enhanced network centric capabilities. Additionally, continued effort is needed to perform technical evaluations, modeling and simulations, investigative flight testing, enhanced software modifications based on reported fleet deficiencies and beginning in FY14 the development and testing of design modifications to address obsolescence issues with the F/A-18 weapon system and ancillary equipment. Funding has been added starting in FY 2012 for the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System/Automated Terrain Avoidance and Warning System which will integrate currently implemented manual methodologies to provide not only aural and visual cues/advisories but also automatic initiation of aircraft recovery and subsequent return of control to the pilot following recovery. This funding line continues F/A-18E/F "Flight Plan" spiral capability development, to include Multi-Sensor Integration Phase II and Phase III capability (programmatic name change began in FY15 to Multi-System Integration) and further Flight Plan Engineering and System Configuration Set development and integration. This budget continues funding for F/A-18A-F Test Wing Maintenance support, funds development efforts needed for integration of air launched laser guided rockets on F/A-18 A+/C/D and the development and testing required for the integration of the Small Diameter Bomb II and Joint Miniature Munitions-Bomb Rack Unit on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Source ID
1662_0204136N_7_1319_PB_2016

Tags

Readers

  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems

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