WW-JanFeb 2022 issue.qxp_Pages-12-40-JanFeb WPD 06/01/2022 12:17 Page 10
AVIATION
Patrick Boniface
Copyright US Navy/Lt j.g Michael Pahissa
P-8A Poseidon upgrades The US Navy has received most of the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft it has on order, but is eager to keep the earliest models in the fleet relevant and operationally effective. To this end a $13.54million contract has been awarded to Boeing to performed Increment Three Block One retrofit modifications on 24 airframes. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has also ordered an additional 25 retrofit kits for future batches of aircraft retrofits. The work on the initial 24 aircraft will be undertaken at Boeing’s main production plant at Seattle with the work expected to be completed by December 2023. Increment Three comprises four Engineering Change Proposals (ECP); according to the DoD, the final ECP is ‘on track’ to be fielded in FY2025, to provide ‘critical ASW Signals Intelligence (ASW SIGINT), Higher than Secret (HTS) processing, enhanced track management (Minotaur) and an Enhanced Multi-static Active Coherent (MAC-E) ASW capability’.
Crown Copyright /MoD
Wildcat with extra teeth A Royal Navy AW159 Wildcat HMA Mk2 from 815 Naval Air Squadron successfully fired a test Martlet missile on frontline operations for the first time. The aircraft was part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 21 and was used in a scenario where the helicopter had been called in to defend HMS Queen Elizabeth from a simulated attack by a swarm of small surface vessels. The lightweight Martlet missile, of which each Wildcat can carry up to twenty, successfully engaged a small inflatable target having flown at a speed of one and a half times the speed of sound.
Copyright US Navy/1st Lt Zachary Bodner
China’s future carrier aircraft make maiden flights Chinese aircraft manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation saw their latest product, the twin seat WS13E engine powered FC-31/35 stealth fighter, successfully take to the air for the first time. Images seen in the West show the aircraft, painted in turquoise-green primer, fly on 29 October 2021.The progress made by the Chinese aircraft industry is astounding as this aircraft is only the second stealthy carrier-based aircraft in the world, other than the Lockheed Martin F-35C. The photo shows the aircraft fitted with a launch bar for catapult launches, folding wing mechanism and a chin-mounted EO infrared search and tracking sensor. Also visible in the image were twin canted tailfins, wider wingspan, a bulkier fuselage and redesigned cockpit area for the pilot. It has been surmised that the aircraft, in order to keep its stealthy characteristics intact, has a large internal weapons bay similar to the F-35C. The Chinese Navy is also continuing to develop the J-15T aircraft which is expected to enter service in early 2022 but will probably be known as the J-15B, whilst another ‘D’ variant may be developed to serve in the role of electronic attack aircraft. China is also developing the KJ-600 Airborne Early Warning and reconnaissance platform for operation from the aircraft carriers. Xain Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) is a virtual copy of the Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye and has been seen flying from Xian-Yanliang Air Base in recent months conducting flight trials.
10 Warship World January/February 2022
