AV-8B HARRIER - II
The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is a second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL)ground-attack
aircraft.
The AV-8B is primarily used for light attack or multi-role missions, and is
typically operated from small aircraft carriers large amphibious assault ships and simple forward operating
bases.
The AV-8B Harrier is a single-seat, light attack aircraft that provides
offensive air support to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). By virtue of
its Vertical/Short Take-Off or Landing (V/STOL) capability, the AV-8B can
operate from a variety of amphibious ships, rapidly constructed expeditionary
airfields, forward sites (e.g., roads), and damaged conventional airfields.
This makes the aircraft particularly well-suited for providing dedicated close
air support.
AVIONICS DESIGN COCKPIT
COCKPIT FEATURES
MULTI FUNCTION DISPLAY
The cockpit features two MFDs that displays the information to the pilot in numerous configurable ways.THROTTLE
The engine throttle on the pilot’s left and the side stick on the pilot’s right are positioned to be compatible with the widest possible range of pilot shapes and sizes. The throttle is designed to give pilots the capability to vary the detents. It is also an active throttle, which means it provides feedback to the pilot as a function of flight envelope and flight mode. The side stick is also an active controller.
VOICE ACTIVATION FEATURE
Among the other cockpit features is voice activation of certain aircraft functions. A next-generation voice-command system allows the pilot to manage systems without manual input.
SHORT TAKEOFF/VERTICAL LANDING CONTROL
The cockpit also includes a simplified control system for the short takeoff/vertical landing variant and the ability to accommodate a spectrum of pilot physiques ranging from the light and short.
VIRTUAL HEADS UP DISPLAY
The cockpit is also the first in a production fighter to use a virtual head-up display that projects information onto the pilot’s helmet visor. The new system, called a helmet-mounted display, or HMD. The HMD provides HUD information as though pilots are looking through an actual HUD no matter in what direction they turn their heads.
FLIGHT PATH MARKER
(FPM)
is a small circle with three spokes that projects the direction of the airplane .
is
a “W” shape along a horizontal line. It shows you where your airplane’s nose is pointed
PITCH LADDER
Displays the aircraft's
pitch relating to the
grounds level/horizontal in degree. It's used as an artificial horizon
AIRSPEED TAPE
is
a tape on the right side of the HUD indicating your current airspeed.
VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR
(VSI),
which indicates a climb or descent
GEAR POSITION INDICATOR
The
word GEAR will appear in the
bottom-right of the HUD if your landing
gear is extended
FLAP POSITION INDICATOR
The
word FLAPS will appear if you have at least one notch of flaps (multiple flap positions) selected.
GUN CROSSES that let you estimate where your weapons will be delivered,
Ø
The General Dynamics GAU-12/U Equalizer is a five-barrel 25 mm Gatling-type rotary cannon
Below the HUD there is a single radio for communication purpose
which the pilot can tune
Then there is the Upfront Control Panel (UFC), which can be used to
enter in data for various operations. Below the Upfront Control Panel (UFC)
just under the HUD are the controls that allow the pilot to change the
contrast, brightness, altimeter source and information display. The contrast
works, letting the pilot to set Day/Auto/Night to color the HUD to make it
easier to see, and the pilot can also change his altimeter source to either a
radar altimeter or a barometric pressure reading.
Then to the left and right are the (MFDs) that can give the pilot information on his navigation, radar, engine, and more.
Then to the left and right are the (MFDs) that can give the pilot information on his navigation, radar, engine, and more.
RIGHT CONSOLE
MODIFICATION
IN THE DESIGN (AM HARRIER)
COLOR
DISPLAY
Rockwell Collins's 8"x20" Multi-Function Display
System (MFDS) will be the panoramic projection display for the ‘AM HARRIER
‘that will provide tactical information as well as aircraft system data.
MFDS employs leading
edge technology in projection engine architecture, video,
compression, illumination module controls and processing memory – all of which
will make the MFDS the most advanced tactical display. One-gigabyte-per-second
data interfaces will enable the MFDS to display six full motion images
simultaneously. The adaptable layout will be easily reconfigurable for
different missions or mission segments. Projection display technology will
provide a high-luminance, high-contrast, and high-resolution picture with no
viewing angle effect.
Changing
the displays will only be a matter of pressing a finger on different parts of
the screen of the multi-function display, to reconfigure or prioritize
information or activate systems. The forest of toggle switches in previous
cockpit has been wiped clean from the AM HARRIER’s interior, with most of their
functions moved to the touch screen. A few switches still sprout here and
there, but the overall cockpit setting is simple.
VIRTUAL RETINAL DISPLAY (VRD)
Virtual
Retinal Display will also be used in AM
HARRIER that will
project an image directly onto the pilot’s retina with low-energy lasers or
LCDs. VRDs can give the user the illusion of viewing a typical screen-sized
display hovering in the air several feet away. The virtual retinal display is
highly efficient with respect to power consumption, requiring far less power
than the postage-stamp LCD A VRD display uses about a microwatt of power. Since
VRD displays project images directly onto the retina, they provide a sharp,
clear image regardless of external lighting conditions
ARCHITECTURE
Integrated
modular architecture
has been selected for the AM HARRIER
Integrated modular architecture has been selected because the
fundamental advantage offered by an integrated modular avionics (IMA) approach
is that, the system is conceived using standard building blocks that may be
used throughout the aircraft level system. Therefore, common processor modules,
common memory modules and, where possible, common input/output modules offer
the means of rapidly conceiving and constructing quite extensive system
architectures. This approach reduces risk during the development phase, as well
as offering significant supportability advantages. The IMA philosophy readily
adapts to redundancy implementation in a most cost-effective manner so that
economies of scale are easily achieved.
RADAR
AN/APQ-174
Multimode RADAR (MMR)
Ø
AN/APQ-174
modes include normal, power management and weather, terrain following, terrain
avoidance, ground ranging, beacon and weather. Set clearances are 100,150, 200,
300 and 500 ft. Weather performance is enhanced by the use of selectable
circular polarization and operation in 10mm/h of rain is claimed
Ø
The
AN/APQ-174 allows operations at low altitudes, down to 100 ft above the ground
by day or night.
EL/M-2160
MAWS (MISSILE APPROCH WARNING SYSTEM)
The
EL/M-2160 is an airborne Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) that provides
reliable warning of missile attack for timely activation of the chaff/flare
dispense(counter measure), to protect the airborne platform by diverting the
missile and to increase the platform's survivability.
The
EL/M-2160 is a fully solid state Pulse Doppler Radar. It provides accurate time
to impact and direction information to enable effective response. It has
following features:
• Detection of any approaching missile
type in boost, sustain and post burnout
• All-weather capability
• Performance - over the whole flight
envelope
• 360 degree coverage
• Very low false alarm rate
• Accurate time to impact indication
and optimal timing of chaff/flare release for effective missile deception.
• Short
reaction time
• Extensive BIT and fault isolation
capability
System
configuration:
• Transceiver Processing Unit (TPU)
& RF Front-End
• Control panel (option)
• 4
to 6 antennas (according to platform and coverage requirements).
Variety of antennas available
The medium-range EO/IR
(MREO)
(MREO) sensor suite is a networked
sensor within the Future Combat Systems (FCS).Brigade Combat Team (BCT) connected
through a common interface to the FCS C4ISR computer and communications network.
Information derived from the MREO supports both the host platform system performance
and the FCS System of Systems performance with the generation of a common operating
picture (COP). The MREO sensor provides day/night imaging capability that
supports the lethality and survivability overmatch requirements of the manned combat
system (MCS), infantry carrier vehicles (ICVs), and armed robotic
vehicle-assault light (ARV-A-L)
NAVIGATION
SYSTEMS
The
system selected for AM HARRIER is LN 251.
Description
Ø
LN-251
Integrated inertial/global positioning system (GPS) navigation system has been
selected as primary INS/GPS and KN-4072 as Backup INS/GPS.
Ø
The LN-251 is a completely integrated navigation system with an
embedded 12-channel, all-in-view, Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module
(SAASM), P(Y) code GPS. The fully integrated, tightly coupled GPS inertial
design provides superior positioning performance relative to other embedded
Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) systems. Modular
open system architecture provides for easy adaptation to other applications and
evolving requirements. Options The LN-251 is available with an integrated high anti-jam GPS
subsystem.
Ø Applications : The LN-251 is an integrated, tightly coupled, embedded INS/GPS
system that provides improved performance for mission equipment and flight
control systems.
Ø Advantages
• Proven lightweight,
low-cost fiber optic gyro
(FOG) technology
• Lowest weight and
volume in performance class
• Three independent
navigation solutions:
- Blended INS/GPS
- INS-only
- GPS-only
• Independent and
programmable I/O for flight
controls and
avionics
• Extremely high
reliability
• Available in
performance ranges of 0.8 nmi/hr.,
1.0
nmi/hr., and 2.0 nmi/hr
