영국의 F-35 JSF 무장계획, The RAF SPEAR Capability 3 Program...

 

AW&ST (2010. 3. 1자) 에 소개된 영국이 향후 도입하게 될 F-35 JSF 의 독자적이고 unique 한 무장계획 소식입니다.

 

MBDA 와 함께 Spear Capability 3 라는 계획하에 영국 공군이 원하는 공대지, 공대공 미사일의 장착을 F-35 JSF 에 적용할

것이라는 내용입니다. 특히 전장 3.65 m 에 이르는 Ram-jet 기반 초음속 장거리 공대공미사일 (BVRAAM) Meteor 의 경우,

후방에 위치한 날개의 설계 조정을 통해 F-35 내부무장창에 장착 가능성을 확인했다고 합니다.

 

 

  ⓒ MBDA

 

U.K. weighs options for moving forward with national weapons development for the F-35

Aviation Week &Space Technology    03/01/2010

Author : Douglas Barrie

 

London is trying to push ahead with key air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities for its F-35 aircraft, including a medium-range air-to-surface strike weapon.

 

The Defense Ministry’s key procurement decision-making body — the Investment Approvals Board (IAB) — is considering the next stage of the air force’s Selective Precision Effects At Range (Spear) program. This could include initial development funding for the assessment phase of the so-called Spear Capability 3, which is, in effect, a small cruise missile.

 

European missile manufacturer MBDA is working on a design to meet the Spear Capability 3 requirement and the IAB go-ahead for the assessment phase would provide funding to support this effort.

 

The Royal Air Force is understood to be looking at the ability to carry three of whatever weapon is selected to meet the Spear Capability 3 internally on the F-35, as well as at least one air-to-air missile.

 

The ministry is also looking at integration of the MBDA Meteor rocket-ramjet-powered air-to-air missile on the F-35, and is funding a Lockheed Martin-led study into the integration of the weapon on the aircraft. In the case of the Meteor, up to four weapons could be carried internally, suggests an industry executive. The U.K. wants the MBDA Meteor ramjet-powered air-to-air missile integrated in all F-35 versions.

 

“The U.K. is continuing to investigate capability options regarding the Joint Combat Aircraft (F-35), including weapons integration,” says a ministry official. “Meteor, along with other air-to-air missiles, is being investigated as a potential solution to the U.K.’s beyond-visual-range requirement for JCA.”

 

The study does not just cover the F-35B model — which the U.K. is on track to acquire — but also the A and C.

 

“It is prudent that in doing so, all variants of JSF are considered for integration, particularly considering that no potential future export markets for Meteor are ruled out,” the official adds.

 

Such a move would also be useful should the U.K. decide to shift from the B- to the C-model.

 

MBDA has modified the shape of the rear control surfaces on the Meteor, cropping the fin tips to provide better clearance in bay, as a result of initial fit trial findings.

 

The Spear family of weapons is intended to provide systems not only for the F-35, but also for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Given the comparatively limited production run of a new-build weapon for the F-35 requirement, amortizing the development costs across more than one platform will be required.

 

The Defense Ministry is also increasingly keen to ensure that the elected system can also be readily exported, again to offset initial costs. This is likely to be a factor in Spear Capability 3 deliberations, and may also have an impact on system selection .

 

 

The ministry is carrying out its own Spear weapons options work — with industry support — within what is known as the “Green Box” concept studies project.

 

The Capability 3 element of the program would provide a weapon to fulfil the top end of the range originally intended to be covered by Spear — that of around 100 nm. The RAF began Spear study work approximately 10 years ago, and the project has undergone a number of changes and delays in that time. The target set for the weapon family includes enemy air defenses and mobile and hardened targets.

 

Part of the Spear program covers upgrades to the air force’s Storm Shadow cruise missile. This is also intended for carriage on the U.K.’s F-35s — though which block standard will cover the integration has yet to be decided. The weapon, however, will, given its size, be external carriage only. The internal carriage Spear Capability 3 would retain the F-35’s radar signature, while providing a considerable stand-off range, almost certainly at significantly less cost than Storm Shadow.

 

The ministry is already funding work to develop a tunable warhead for mobile and relocatable target defeat, and elements of this effort may be considered for Spear Block 3. An imaging seeker — perhaps uncooled — may also the preferred guidance option.

 

The overall Spear project has so far remained out of bounds of the government / industry Team Complex Weapons effort, though some elements fall within Team CW pilot projects.

 

The Capability 3 requirement also continues to attract the interest of U.S. guided-weapons manufacturers. Depending on the procurement route chosen beyond the pending assessment phase, Raytheon could offer versions of the AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapon or a development of the Modular Air-Launched Decoy. Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, has previously briefed the ministry on its Multiple Advanced Strike Extended Range concept (AW&ST Dec. 24, 2007, p. 20).

 

  ⓒ MBDA

 

  ⓒ MBDA