BAE SYSTEMS Harrier GR7A makes first flight
23 Sep 2002
A more powerful version of the GR7 Harrier has made its first flight. The development GR7A took off from Warton in Lancashire at 16.32 on Friday September 20 and landed after a 45-minute flight.
Test pilot Mark Bowman said: 'During today's flight the new Pegasus 107 engine behaved fully as expected across the flight envelope, which included a close look at the much improved hover performance. This additional performance represents a significant increase in the overall operational capability of the Harrier and forms a cornerstone element of the advanced Harrier GR9A programme.'
The GR7A is development of the GR7 currently in service with the RAF and selected for Joint Force Harrier. It features an uprated, lower-maintenance Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine which develops an extra 3,000 lbs thrust above 30 degrees centigrade. The extra power allows the all-up weight of the aircraft to be increased from 32,000 to 34,000lbs, improves performance (including weapons 'bring back'), particularly under hot conditions such as the Gulf where there can be a marked decline in the aircraft's hovering performance.
The MOD initiated the engine upgrade in December 1999, contracting Rolls-Royce to remanufacture 40 Pegasus Mk 105 engines to the Mk107 standard. BAE Systems Customer Solutions & Support business will supply modification kits to enable 40 aircraft to take the new engines. (The running fleet of operational aircraft is expected to be 30 aircraft in three squadrons.) The combined activity is worth 150m and the first 20 aircraft will be completed by April 2004. The balance will be completed through the GR9 programme.
In significant related programmes, Customer Solutions & Support will carry out a major avionics and weapons upgrade to bring the aircraft to GR9/A standard and several airframe modifications including a composite rear fuselage. See 'Notes to Editors' for details.
Notes to editors:
Joint Force Harrier currently operates two aircraft types: the air defence Sea Harrier FA2 operated by the Royal Navy and the ground attack/ reconnaissance Harrier GR7 flown by the RAF.
The UK MOD announced in February 2002 that Joint Force Harrier will move to an all Harrier GR force by 2007 to maximise investment in one aircraft type and assist in streamlining support. The Harrier GR squadrons will be operated by both the RN & RAF under the control of AOC 3 group.
Harrier GR7 will undergo a major capability upgrade to GR9, enhancing aircraft systems and providing the aircraft with a smart weapon capability. (Those aircraft with the bigger engines will designated GR9A.)
BAE Systems' Customer Solutions & Support business signed an 'interim' contract on 19 April 2002 to continue work on the Harrier GR9 upgrade programme while precise requirements are defined and contracted for with the MOD.
The goal is to integrate all Harrier upgrades with a streamlined support programme known as FIST (Future Integrated Support Team). This will use lean principles and co-location of support processes to improve aircraft availability while cutting support costs as part of the Defence Logistics Organisation's 20 per cent savings target.
The GR9 programme confirmed by the UK MOD will consist of systems and software upgrade and integration of new 'smart' weapons. This includes the integration of High Order Language (ADA) software with a new open architecture mission computer, a MIL-STD-1760 Stores Management System, new inertial navigation/global positioning system, ground proximity warning system, upgraded displays and secure communications.
Weapon integration includes Brimstone, Sidewinder AIM-9L/BOL, Maverick and precision guided bombs. The programme also includes an upgrade of the two-seater TMk10 aircraft to the equivalent GR9 standard known as the Harrier TMk12.
The GR7/A fleet will be fitted with a new, stronger composite rear fuselage similar to that on the Harrier II-Plus fleet operated by the US Marines.
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