The UK Ministry of Defence has launched the assessment phase of its Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (MASC) programme, which will select a command and control aircraft to operate from the Royal Navy’s two future aircraft carriers (CVF). The long-delayed project received initial gate approval in August to enter its assessment phase, with the UK’s Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) yet to disclose a target date for contract award.
To replace the RN’s Westland-supplied Sea King ASaC7 airborne surveillance and control system helicopters, MASC will be required to provide airborne early-warning (AEW) and surface surveillance and have the potential to conduct battle management tasks while acting as a command platform. The aircraft will compose a key element of the UK’s future maritime air power on the navy’s CVFs, along with its planned fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
In an invitation to potential MASC system suppliers to attend an industry day on 12 October, the DPA says: “The programme is examining options for providing the continuation of the capability provided by the Sea King ASaC7; the ability of other ship-optimised rotary-wing platforms to provide the capability; and the potential applicability of alternate solutions.” Unmanned air vehicles are listed among possible alternatives, although the DPA says “these only form a peripheral component of the MASC programme activities”.
An earlier iteration of the MASC, dubbed the Future Organic AEW requirement, generated interest from suppliers offering aircraft including AgustaWestland’s EH101 Merlin, Bell Boeing’s V-22 Osprey tiltrotor and Northrop Grumman’s E-2C Hawkeye. Thales continues to promote the Sea King ASaC7’s Searchwater 2000 mission system.
Source: Flight International
