Northrop Grumman E-10 MC2A
| E-10 MC2A | |
|---|---|
| Role | Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)
|
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Developed from | Boeing 767 |
The Northrop Grumman E-10 MC2A was planned as a multi-role military aircraft to replace the
Development
In 2003, the Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Raytheon MC2A team was awarded a $215 million contract for pre-SDD (System Development and Demonstration) development of the aircraft. MC2A is an acronym for Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft. The MC2A was intended to be the ultimate theater-wide combat control center.
While the Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS aircraft was a recent development, it is the last such type based on the 707. Installing the high technology systems envisaged for the MC2A on an increasingly obsolete airframe would not provide the capability required. The availability of powerful and reliable turbofans allowed a twinjet to be considered.
In August 2003,
The capability of the MC2A was to be raised incrementally, with each phase known as a "spiral".
- Spiral 1
- Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP): This version would have provided substantial Joint Cruise Missile Defense (CMD) capability with focused AMTI modes and augment the E-8 Joint STARS in the ground surveillance role.
- Spiral 2
- AWACS Capability: This version would have replaced the E-3. It was expected that the Spiral 2 version would use a variant of the Boeing Wedgetail's Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array.
- Spiral 3
- SIGINT Platform: This version was intended to replace a wide range of SIGINT/ELINT aircraft. Beyond conceptual studies and preliminary research, this version was not being actively designed.
Scale-back and cancellation
In January 2006, the Air Force FY07 budget request revealed a reshaping of the E-10 program with the cancellation of the SDD program. Funding was maintained for the development and testing of a single demonstration aircraft, now known as the E-10A Technology Development Program (TDP).
The E-10 finally disappeared at the end of FY2007 as budget pressures and competing priorities pushed it completely out of the budget. The USAF maintained funding for the MP-RTIP radar and may eventually put the radar on the E-8, or on a new aircraft, possibly the same airframe as the next aerial tanker.
Specifications (767-400ER with PW4000 engines)
Data from Boeing 767-400ER[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 + mission crew
- Length: 201 ft 1 in (61.3 m)
- Wingspan: 170 ft 3 in (51.9 m)
- Height: 55 ft 1 in (16.8 m)
- Empty weight: 228,999 lb (103,872 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 449,999 lb (204,116 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney PW4000-94high bypass turbofan, 63,300 lbf (282 kN) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 493 kn (567 mph, 913 km/h)
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.86
- Cruise speed: 460 kn (529 mph, 851 km/h) Mach 0.80
- Range: 5,600 nmi (6,440 mi, 10,370 km)
- Service ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,200 m)
See also
Related development
- Boeing 767
- Boeing KC-767
- Boeing E-767
- Boeing 737 AEW&C
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ "Boeing Polishes 737 Design For EP-3 Replacement : Mixed Signals." Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine Fulghum, D. A. and Wall, R. Aviation Week & Space Technology. January 29, 2006.
- Air Force Magazine. October 2007.
- ^ Sarsfield, Kate. "Bahrain acquires 767-400ER testbed for VIP use". Flight International, 27 January 2009.
- ^ Boeing 767-400ER Technical Characteristics