AEW aircraft design.

Abstract

The aging E-2C fleet is expected to be retired by the year 2015. In order to provide Airborne Early Warning (AEW) for the battle group during the transitional years and beyond, the design of a replacement aircraft must begin soon. In order to conform with present day economic realities, one possible configuration is a new airframe using the radar system and rotodome which currently operates on the E-2C. Other likely requirements for a new AEW aircraft includes a high-speed dash (M=0. 7-0.85) capability, an extended mission time (up to 7.5 hours), turbofan engines, and an aircrew ejection system. The results of this design effort includes an investigation of a possible configuration and the aerodynamics involved. Performance and Stability & Control characteristics are also discussed briefly. Finally, a qualitative analysis of the use of the E-2C's radar system on a new airframe will be presented.