THE US AIR Force has issued a request for information (RFI) on precision-approach systems. The Air Force, Navy and Army have formed a Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) team which will analyse alternatives for both land- and sea-based operations.
Key JPALS objectives include interoperability within the NATO alliance and with the international civil-aviation community.
The services are interested in systems with potential for international co-operative development and standardisation, but the emphasis is on commercial off-the-shelf and non-developmental systems which will be available more cheaply and quickly.
Responses to the RFI are due by 16 August. The JPALS is potentially a major programme, because some 15,000 US aircraft would need to be equipped. The 12-month study will result in a recommendation on which system or systems to pursue.
Two or more companies are likely to receive development contracts, leading to deployment in three to five years' time.
Source: Flight International