The US aerospace industry and military are studying the success of the Boeing AV-8B Open System Core Avionic Requirement (OSCAR), with a mind to the wider application of commercial computer software in other fighter aircraft programmes.
The adoption of commercial software is set to expand with future enhancements to the Boeing F-18E/F and development of the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 60 fighter. "This is a whole new approach-it sets the stage for significantly reducing life-cycle costs and providing for growth," says Vince Higbee, AV-8B programme manager, new product development.
A six-stage series of AV-8B trials of the new open architecture software at China Lake has now passed the halfway mark and is due to be completed by the end of 2000. The demonstrations will be followed by 12 months of development and operational testing, the production decision one year later and the release of new software for operational training in 2003.
The principal changes focus on the AV-8B's CDC AYK-14 mission computer and Smith Industries' AYK-13 stores management computer. Software is being rewritten to a higher order language and a new processing chip added. The two computers are "both maxed out, using old technology and old software," says Higbee.
For the USMC, the main benefits of OSCAR, along with fitting a new MIL STD 1760 wiring system, will be the integration of new smart weaponry and sub-systems. The Marines plan to arm the AV-8B with the Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition, to install the Lockheed Martin Sanders common missile warning system and add new self-defence measures for the aircraft's ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser.
Spain and Italy are sharing the cost of the OSCAR programme as part of a separate weapons upgrade of their 24 radar-equipped AV-8B Harrier II Plus aircraft. The two European navies have jointly awarded Boeing a separate $85.5 million contract to integrate the Raytheon AIM-120B AMRAAM air-to-air missile.
The USMC also plans to upgrade computer software on 53 of its AV-8B Night Attack variants, all 24 of its new-build AV-8B Plus aircraft and 73 day attack jets scheduled to be remanufactured as -8B Plus by May 2003.
Source: Flight International
