BAE SYSTEMS DELIVERS LATEST HARRIER FOR UK SERVICE
10 Oct 2006
A BAE Systems-led team has delivered the latest version of the Harrier to the UK front line on time, to cost and to the required capability. The Harrier GR9/T12 was formally accepted into service at the “Capability B2+” standard by the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Chris Moran at the end of September.
As prime contractor for the GR9/ T12 contract, BAE Systems’ Customer Solutions & Support (CS&S) manages a diverse and complex set of activities carried out by many international vendors and over 600 BAE Systems people across various company and customer sites including on-base activities at RAF Cottesmore.
Back in 1999 a challenging programme of upgrades was put in place for the Harrier GR7/T10 aircraft. These programmes were subsequently combined in 2001 to deliver a series of optimised capability packages which would change the mark to GR9/T12. The in-service date (ISD) for the GR9 single-seater and its T12 two-seat trainer was set at September 2006 and ISD was defined as 24 operationally-capable GR9s and one T12.
A partnered approach on installing the modifications while aircraft are stripped for maintenance at the Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Programme (JUMP) line at RAF Cottesmore has delivered major benefits. These include £44 million pounds savings to the UK MoD, reduced logistics footprint and cutting aircraft downtime during upgrade from 52 to 35 weeks over the course of the programme so far. The last of the 24 GR9s was delivered ahead of contract and 5 weeks ahead of ISD from the JUMP line.
CS&S’S air programmes managing director Kevin Taylor commented: “GR9 is an excellent example of the sort of partnered approach to through-life capability management that the UK Defence Industrial Strategy calls for.”
According to programme head Andy Lavin, GR9 has delivered real military effectiveness through a development programme which, by necessity, has been flexible to the changing operational environment.
Lavin said that success was the result of a number factors: “Delivering the capability at the necessary level of integrity on the required number of aircraft has required significant innovation across both capability development and embodiment programmes.
“The team spirit apparent between the MOD’s Harrier team, the RAF and Royal Navy, suppliers and BAE Systems has helped us share common goals and continually assist each other in meeting them. Also, constant attention to, and improvement of, the management and engineering processes mean that we have been able to responding to changing operational requirements while maintaining configuration control.”
The Harrier upgrade programme has pioneered an incremental approach to technology insertion. In March 2005 Capability A delivered an in-service training package for GR9, with further enhancements at B1 in February 2006. Capability B2+ takes the programme to ISD, with two more contracted drops of capability, and two further capabilities currently in the bid phase.
The capability delivered under B2+ provides the RAF with a much-improved navigation solution, a ground proximity warning system, improved communication suite, optimised Maverick missile delivery and design authority clearance for new weapon and sensor configurations.
The upgrade has built-in capacity for future expansion with BAE Systems to deliver Design Authority clearances for Capability C in December 2006, which includes precision guided bomb (PGB) SIFF (Successor Identification Friend or Foe) and improved RAIDs (Rangeless Airborne Instrumentation Debriefing System).
At capability D, to be delivered in 2008, GR9’s effectiveness will be further enhanced with the introduction of the Brimstone missile, a digital reconnaissance pod and on-aircraft simulated PGB training. With Capability E (which includes Link 16 communications) under development, the GR9 team will continue to enhance Harrier’s military effectiveness far into the future.
Notes to editors
Scope
The scope of the Harrier GR9 upgrade covers:
baseline recovery, re-design and re-implementation for significant aspects of the avionic system, together with associated sub-system design, procurement, integration and test
a complete recovery and rewrite of the software for the central computer controlling the avionic and weapon systems (some 250,000 lines of code)
a major airframe change and the rewiring of the aircraft (over five miles of wiring per aircraft was removed or replaced)
the selection and integrated management of major international vendors through competitive tender
providing structural and aerodynamic clearances
the management of five instrumented development Harriers to provide test clearance and certification of each capability
the manufacturing of parts/equipment and their embodiment to upgrade the GR7 to GR9 standard across the Harrier fleet.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is the premier trans-Atlantic defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. BAE Systems, with more than 100,000 employees worldwide, had 2005 sales that exceeded $28 billion.
For further information please contact:
Jon Bonnick, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0)1772 856 436
Mob: + 44 (0)780 171 4753
jon.bonnick2@baesystems.com
Lisa Hillary-Tee, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384934
Mob: +44 (0) 7801 718994
Lisa.hillary-tee@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710
Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
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