Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
MLF 2010 Volume: 4 Issue: 10 (December)
Maintenance Data Collection and Analysis
As military aircraft grow more complex, components are increasingly more interdependent making it more difficult to isolate causes for system faults. “Component and system reliability continue to reduce individual failure frequencies, and fewer failures mean fewer opportunities to learn troubleshooting techniques and relate symptoms to failed components,” according to StandardAero “Troubleshooting has given way to a philosophy of changing parts until the problem goes away leading to many serviceable components being removed for no good reason.”
StandardAero has developed the Maintenance Insight system to collect and analyze data, thereby improving the maintenance of aviation engine accessories and airframe components through time cycle and history tracking, reliability-based workscoping and optimized maintenance practices. The result is increased aircraft availability and reduced operating costs.
“Aircraft operators are literally throwing away hundreds of thousands of dollars of serviceable components annually, dollars they could be saving in maintenance costs,” said Dan Gonzales, vice president, government and military sector for StandardAero. “The Maintenance Insight system can significantly reduce life cycle costs through analysis of data and reliability workscoping.”
StandardAero engine reliability studies indicate that between 25 and 100 percent of engine accessories that are removed show no fault found at test. Consequently, engine accessories account for 10 to 25 percent of engine maintenance cost. The Maintenance Insight solution reduces component life cycle cost through on-wing usage tracking and the application of reliability centered maintenance. The system uses small vibration activated monitors with energy harvester technology that convert vibration into power and tracks usage and cycles.
Lightweight Modular Container
Navy weapons packaging engineers at the Earle, N.J., detachment of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Indian Head Division, have delivered the first lightweight Joint Modular Intermodal Container (JMIC) prototype to the U.S. Marine Corps.
The new lightweight version of JMIC is specifically designed to secure, store and deliver up to 1,500 pounds of supplies as well as other non-ordnance loads, which can also be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
“The cost savings and environmental efficiencies of the JMIC will allow U.S. forces to more cost-effectively deliver crucial supplies to people in need around the world,” said Captain Andrew Buduo, NSWC Indian Head Division commanding officer. “NSWC Indian Head Division is proud of this work and all the work going on in our Earle Detachment.”
Developed under the Operational Logistics Program, the first JMIC prototype was delivered in 2006, greatly improving logistics movement through reduced handling manpower requirements. With increased cargo management capabilities, JMIC also reduces the shipboard solid waste stream by using an internal securing system, eliminating the need for steel strapping and wood spacers on ammunition loads as well as cardboard and plastics used on general cargo loads.
Additionally, JMIC greatly reduces the need for wood securing structures in trucks, shipping containers and in shipboard cargo holds as well as reduces the need for waste material processing machinery and related manpower. In 2009, Military Standard-3028 was approved, standardizing the JMIC interfaces and specifications for DoD in order to promote interoperability between the services.
Rapid Deployment Air Traffic Control System
Lockheed Martin and ARINC Incorporated have teamed to provide the U.S. Air Force with a new deployable radar system designed to rapidly establish airfield operations anywhere in the world for both military and disaster relief efforts.
The system, designed for the Air Force’s Deployable Radar Approach Control program (DRAPCON) will provide regional coverage and aircraft separation, similar to a typical civilian airport, on-demand through a transportable surveillance radar and air traffic control operations shelter.
Lockheed Martin will serve as the prime contractor and will provide a version of its field-proven TPS-79 tactical surveillance radar, as well as Federal Aviation Administration-certified air traffic management software.
“As long-term leaders in the aviation industry, Lockheed Martin and ARINC specifically bring more than 50 years of tactical radar and air traffic control innovation to this project,” said Paul Goulette, director of Lockheed Martin air traffic control radar systems. “And every day across the globe, 60 percent of the world’s commercial air traffic and more than 80 percent of oceanic air space is monitored and controlled by Lockheed Martin air traffic control systems.”
ARINC will provide the transportable operations shelter. “ARINC’s strength is the delivery of robust communications solutions, underpinned by the right combination of people, processes and technology,” said Rivers Cleveland, director, ARINC C2 systems and services. “From the earliest air-ground networks to today’s deployable military systems, ARINC solutions have consistently advanced the safety and effectiveness of air traffic control.”
FOB Power
The Marines are currently testing environmentally friendly systems that reduce the amount of logistical support to deployed forces while maintaining their ability to conduct combat operations. The ReGenerator is a self-contained power system that runs on an integrated 1.2 kilowatt solar array and wind power, which can provide continuous energyefficient power in support of a Marine forward operating base.
The ReGenerator, a ZeroBase Energy LLC commercial product, is tailored for military applications in collaboration with Raytheon. This product is also used to supplement the Tactical Quiet Generator to improve efficiency of fossil fuel usage.
“Our solution provides a renewable energy system that can be advantageous to tactical deployments,” said David Gulla, vice president, national and theater security programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. “Reducing the requirement for fuel delivery by truck convoy to deployed units keeps our warfighters out of potentially dangerous situations.”
The systems were tested in three phases: The first phase focused on testing renewable energy generation and was conducted at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. Testing during the second phase, focused on an extended user evaluation (EUE), was completed during Exercise African Lion in Morocco and Enhanced Mojave Viper at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. EUE will continue in Afghanistan throughout the remainder of 2010 and 2011. Phase three testing, focused on improving generator efficiency, occurred at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.
Drinking Water
Water-Gen (Israel) has a new device that pulls humidity from the air and turns it into chilled drinking water. The Water-Gen Generator— compact system resembling a standard, window air-conditioner unit—can brew up to 25 gallons of fresh water in 24 hours as long as it’s hooked up to a 24-volt power source on any tactical vehicle.
“For one vehicle with four, five, six soldiers it’s enough and it’s cold water,” said Arye Kohavi, chairman and co-CEO of Water-Gen. Kohavi, an Israeli special forces officer, began working on the system in 2008 after observing the challenges Israeli forces had during the Israeli- Lebanon conflict two years earlier.
“After several days, most of the convoys were shot up, so the soldier on the front line was out of water,” he said.
The water generator is based on civilian technology, but is much smaller and more robust to deal with the extreme conditions on the battlefield, Water-Gen officials said.
The 120-pound system extracts water from ambient air and is capable of creating 12.6 gallons in 24 hours at 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 55 percent humidity.
“We are the only company in the world to do this,” Kohavi said. “It’s quite amazing.”
Israeli military forces are evaluating the system and Water-Gen has partnered with Mistral Group to market it in North America.
Defense Solution for Fast Boats and Logistics Ships
Building on more than 40 years of experience in C2 Command and Control systems for anti-air and anti-ship missile systems MBDA has unveiled its new CWSP (Compact Warfare System Package).
CWSP is intended as a response to the growing need for securing very sensitive coastal zones and for the self defence of support ships called upon to operate in these zones. With this new proposition, MBDA is offering its military customers and international shipyards a turnkey solution for a light weapon combat system that nonetheless provides the high fire power of missiles.
From an industrial standpoint, MBDA is offering to carry out the complete weapons’ integration on low tonnage as well as logistics vessels in response to the growing demand from a number of countries in the world for a more direct control of their naval construction projects. In response to this growing market interest, MBDA has settled on a CWSP range that comprises two versions: CSWP-PB (Patrol Boat) to arm fast patrol boats and CWSP-SD (Self Defence) for the self defence of logistics ships.
To provide the core of these weapon combat systems, MBDA will integrate the latest naval missiles. CWSP-SD, optimised for the self-defence of logistics ships, could comprise up to four, automatic SIMBAD-RC turrets each capable of deploying two, ready-to-fire Mistral anti-air missiles. The development of SIMBAD-RC has been launched this year. ♦