Boeing has taken delivery of the first enhanced software from Rockwell Collins for the US Army's enhanced medium altitude reconnaissance and surveillance system (EMARSS) programme on schedule.
Delivered at the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow in the UK this week, the software has been designed to offer additional EMARSS mission-specific functionality for its Pro Line 21 flight deck integrated display system (IDS).
The display had already been selected by Boeing for integration into its EMARSS offering, the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350ER.
Rockwell Collins Airborne Solutions vice president and general manager Dave Nieuwsma said that the EMARSS flight deck would provide army pilots with improved mission capabilities and situational awareness.
"The civil certification will allow the aircraft unrestricted access to commercial airspace, providing additional operational flexibility for training and peacetime missions," Nieuwsma added.
According to the company, the new software enhancements include military mission specific equipment, such as communication systems and military global positioning system (GPS), as well as modified display interfaces.
Without altering civil certification of the avionics system, the company has also designed the displays for presenting critical mission information.
Boeing had been awarded a two-year EMARSS engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract in December 2010 for the production of four aircraft, with options for an additional two, as well as six low-rate initial production aircraft and logistical support services.
As part of the 18-month contract, the company is equipping the aircraft with an electro-optic and infrared full-motion video sensor, communications intelligence collection system, aerial precision guidance system, line-of-sight tactical and beyond line-of-sight communications suites, a self-protection suite and two operator workstations.
The EMARSS is a multi-intelligence airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (AISR) system, designed to provide brigade combat teams with the ability to accurately detect and track surface targets day or night, in all weather conditions.
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