A new enthusiasm for aircraft survivability equipment in the USA, sparked by the Iraq conflict, is expanding further to cover most of two of the US Air Force's most unprotected fleet types - airlifters and tankers.
The air force's limited strategy had called for the upgrade of 137 aircraft, including 71 Boeing C-17s, 32 Lockheed Martin C-130s, 22 Boeing KC-135s and 12 McDonnell Douglas KC-10s. Approved in November 2002, this work would support a requirement for airlift and tanker resources for two small-scale contingencies simultaneously.
The USAF also plans to equip its 50 Lockheed Martin C-5B Galaxy transports with Northrop Grumman's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system, and to expand integration of the system with its previously selected platform types (Flight International, 12-18 October).
LAIRCM squadron commander Col Steve Gray says the 137-aircraft requirement remains in place, but the C-5B's addition will render that strategy irrelevant. Industry sources say the USAF is proposing to equip all 180 C-17s delivered or on order, plus about 150 C-130s.
Gray says the air force is studying ways to accelerate LAIRCM installation for the C-17. Boeing installed 12 systems on the fleet in fiscal year 2004 at Long Beach, California, but could increase this rate if a second modification line is opened at its San Antonio plant in Texas, says Gray.
The air force is now studying the best configuration for its C-5B installation. It hopes to limit the number of infrared jammers to its C-17 configuration of three turrets, because the larger, less-agile aircraft is unlikely to expose the top of its fuselage to ground fire
STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
