IAI and Airbus Mega-Deal
A memorandum of understanding was signed between IAI and Airbus to produce the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system. The commercial potential is estimated in hundreds of millions of dollars
Amir Rapaport | 21/06/2011
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The AEW C295 airplane in flight (Photo: IAI)
In a special ceremony in the Paris Air Show at noon today, an agreement was signed between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus Military for the production of a new early warning aircraft. All that can be revealed is that the plane is designated for markets in several countries - apparently in South America.
Experts attending the biannual air expo estimate that the transaction is estimated in hundreds of millions of dollars. Airbus Military is a subsidiary of the European aerospace giant "Airbus" which is based in Spain. According to the terms of the agreement, a joint multitask C295 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft will be produced.
A prototype of the plane is on display at the air show. The aircraft integrates warning and control systems made by Elbit Systems, a subsidiary of IAI, that are installed on a cargo place produced by the European company. The main system in the suite is the fourth-generation AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) which is integrated with Friend or Foe Identification (IFF). The system supplies an Electronic Order of Battle (EOB) picture in real time for both air and sea theaters. The aircraft's communication is adapted to operations in a network environment (NCO – Network Centric Operations) and guarantees joint action with friendly forces in every operational scenario.
After the signing, Nissim Hadas, deputy CEO of IAI and CEO of Elta, said that "The emerging conflicts across the globe emphasize the importance of special mission fleets. We're convinced that by joining forces we'll be able to offer the right solution with the right technology. Airbus Military and IAI/ELTA's outstanding capabilities in special mission aircraft, advanced sensors, and system integration enable us to provide an effective and proven solution to these growing needs."
Domingo Ureña, CEO of Airbus Military noted that "there is a growing demand for medium size early warning systems and platforms at an affordable price for both air defense and homeland security. The cooperation between Elta Systems and Airbus Military combines superb engineering skills with each company's experience in its respective fields, and will provide the market with a highly efficient and affordable solution, the first in this market segment”.
The first prototype, including a sample of the rotodome (a slowly rotating, discus-shaped housing for radar antennas mounted on the top of an airborne warning and control system aircraft), recently carried out test flights, taking off from Airbus Military facilities in Seville, Spain. According to IAI, the first checks proved the efficacy of the new aircraft's aerodynamic configuration and its ability to serve as an excellent platform for special assignments. Test flights are still in progress.
Elta and Airbus Military are also making engineering analyses to integrate other mission gear, including AESA radar and other sensors.
Elta's airborne warning and control systems are currently in wide use. These include the CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) system on the American company Gulfstream Aerospace G550 business jet and the AWACS on Russian Ilyushin Il-76 cargo planes. These planes are in successful operational service for customers in Israel and abroad.
http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/iai-and-airbus-mega-deal
Airbus Defence and Space is currently flight testing an Airborne Early Warning & Command (AEW) version of its C295. The C295 demonstrator is fitted with a six metre / 19 ft 18 in diameter rotodome. The primary sensor of the AEW&C will be the IAI/ELTA 4th Generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar with integrated IFF. This follows an agreement signed by Airbus Defence and Space and IAI/ELTA in June 2011 at the Le Bourget Airshow.The C295 AEW&C has been designed to provide high quality 360º surveillance, creating in real-time an integrated Air and Maritime Situation Picture and Electronic Order of Battle. The AEW&C Situation Picture is shared with friendly forces via Network Centric data links.A C295 fitted with a rotodome demonstrator is conducting flight trials from Airbus Defence and Space’s Seville facility since 8th June 2011. The initial tests have shown that the aircraft is aerodynamically an excellent platform for this purpose. ELTA Systems and Airbus Defence and Space are now conducting engineering studies to integrate the mission suite, including AESA radar, among other sensors, with the FITS into the aircraft.
