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Background
— Aurora Alternatives — Bombardier Global Express |
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Global Express Maritime Patrol – Another Multi-Mission Derivative from
Bombardier
Reports have emerged that some Air Force brass favour a plan to fit both sensors and mission
systems controls from the curtailed Aurora modernization
to Bombardier’s mid-sized Global Express biz jet airframe. In engineering terms, this is easier
than it sounds. The new sensors and computers are already integrated as part of AIMP Block III. This would be
repeating the Aurora model of putting already-integrated systems into a proven airframe. While a Global
Express maritime patrol derivative does not yet exist, a military variant does – the Raytheon R1 Sentinel.
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R1 Sentinels, like civilian Global Express jets, will operate at high altitudes – a
dramatically different environment from the Aurora. Questions arose as to whether Global
Express airframes could handle patrols down-in-the-weather. There’s a precedent. The Brazilian rival of
Global Express, the Embraer ERJ 145 has a maritime patrol derivative – the P-99 (right) –
which has been flown (and exported). [1]
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Bombardier Global Express
Maritime Patrol – Specifications
| Dimensions: |
span: 28.6m, length: 30.3m, height: 7.57m [2] |
| Powerplant: |
2 x 65.5kN (14,750 lbst) RR BR710 turbofans |
Performance:
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max speed: 950 km/h, max cruise: 904 km/h,
operating altitude: 15,000m (50,000 feet) |
| Weights: |
empty weight: 22,817kg, MTOW: 43,094kg |
| Maximum range: |
12,000km (6500 nm), endurance: 14+ hours |
| Crew: |
2 x flightcrew, systems operators (unknown) |
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It may sound like Bombardier is moving into an established market where a rival, in the form of the P-99,
has the jump on Global Express. And that is partly true. But Global Express is rather larger than
Embraer’s ERJ 145 series, [3] providing Bombardier with a potential competitive edge when trying to fit
mission systems into the comparatively small fuselages.
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The P-99 may provide a conceptual analogy but not a model for a Global Express maritime patrol derivative.
Bombardier must demonstrate that a Global Express airframe can accommodate search radar
radomes and the other excrescences of a dedicated maritime patrol without an excessive cost
in drag. A similar approach was taken in developing the Sentinel when the proto- type Global
Express flight-tested the layout (right). If the maritime patrol derivative goes as smoothly as the
Sentinel surveillance type, combining the proven Global Express airframe with the integrated
CP-140 sensors should be a simple task.
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[1] The Embraer P-99 launch customer was Mexico which ordered two of the maritime patrol aircraft, taking
advantage of commonality with its R-99A Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft. Brazil and Greece also operate the
ERJ 145-based Embraer R-99A/B AEW&C aircraft.
[2] By comparison, the P-99’s cabin measures 16.49m long, 2.10m wide, and 1.83m high in an already-stretched
airframe (with two ‘plugs’).
[3] Overall measurements are above. Cabin volumes should also be considered – 27.4m3
for the P-99 vs 60.6m3 for the Global Express.
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