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In Detail ——  IMP – the CF18 Incremental Modernization Program ——

by Allan Ng M.Eng., P.Eng.

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Canadian Defence Procurement  –  December 2003 The CF18 Incremental Modernization Program  –  In Detail Allan Ng reviews DND’s CF18 fighter aircraft modernization plan  (Part 4) Engineering Change Proposal 583,  Continued AN/AYQ-9  Stores Management System CF18s have nine different mounting points on their wings and fuselage to carry fuel or ordnance. Any thing hung on one of these mounting points is called a store. A Stores Management System  (SMS)  does exactly what its name describes providing the pilot with information identifying the stores and information on the status of each item. The SMS also integrates all of the controls and logic to launch and fire (or jettison) any of the stores. The SMS also relays pre-launch sensor and navigation system data to air-to- air missiles and precision-guided munitions. Modern missiles and PGMs rely heavily upon the onboard sensors prior to their launching (the connection between such stores and the SMS is likely through a MIL-STD-1760 electrical and digital weapon interface).  A modern SMS – like the AN/AYQ-9 – is an important element of the ECP 583 upgrade because it will make the CF18s compatible with a wide array of weapon and reconnaissance systems. For example:  the new AIM-120 AMRAAM requires a MIL-STD-1760 interface to receive its pre-launch targeting data from the APG-73 radar. Finding its Way in the World  —  GPS Navigation The CF18’s navigational capabilities will be upgraded with new inertial navigation systems (INS) together with embedded global positioning systems (GPS). Inertial navigation systems tend to drift with the movement of the earth. By embedding a global positioning system, an update source for the INS is provided. At the same time, the new GPS also provides secondary navigation system in its own right. A Mid-Term Report Card for the Engineering Change Proposal 583 As far as upgrade programs are concerned, Boeing’s ECP 583 seems to be going quite well. (Certainly Boeing née McDonnell Douglas gained much experience in implementing ECP 583 through the previous upgrades to US Navy/Marine Corps F/A-18s and RAAF AF-18s.) The first upgraded CF18 Hornet was re-delivered to the CF in the summer of 2003, apparently on time.  One can usually tell how well things are going on upgrades by the projects’ ability to meet target dates. So far, so good. The remainder of the CF’s updated CF18s should be complete by 2006.