EADS wins MoD MASC contract for study

Citation

(2006), "EADS wins MoD MASC contract for study", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778fab.041

EADS wins MoD MASC contract for study

EADS wins MoD MASC contract for study

Keywords: Aircraft components, Contracts

EADS Defence and Security Systems (DS) UK announced at the recent Farnborough airshow that it had been awarded a £250,000 study contract by the UK's Ministry of Defence to study and define a MASC enhanced manned rotary-wing solution for use on the two future aircraft carriers (CVF). EADS DS UK will be required to detail the latest technology developments and capabilities for use in airborne surveillance support to these vessels. The contract forms part of the MoD's Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (MASC) programme.

The MASC programme is undertaking several studies commissioned by the MoD to industry to assess current equipment and capabilities and to identify potential new technology offerings for MASC. The MASC programme aims to deliver optimum network enabled capabilities to provide airborne surveillance and control for carrier strike.

EADS DS UK has been selected to complete the study given its Eurocopter capability and its expertise in the communications link between the sensors, the crew and command and control. This study will examine the helicopter platform and the sensor suite including radar technology.

Based on the findings of the study, EADS will be required to submit a report as a conclusive assessment of the current offering and a recommendation of new alternative technologies. Given that the selected technology will remain in service for many years, the EADS report will focus on “through life capability” forecasting requirements and technologies of the future.

The requirements associated with CVF are evolving. For example, deep water surveillance on its own is insufficient in terms of intelligence gathering and as a result close in-shore surveillance is growing in importance.

The MASC study will be handled by the Mission Systems and Solutions (MSS) UK Business Unit of EADS DS UK. Mission Systems and Solutions UK offers comprehensive military mission capabilities in the area of air dominance, battlespace systems, intelligence solutions and naval systems as well as overall systems support. Mission Systems and Solutions UK acts as a prime contractor for Systems Integration with the full systems design authority as well as architecture and systems integration responsibility for military land, sea, air and space-based systems.

Chris Spooner, Business Operations Manager, EADS DS UK, explains: “Drawing on the combined expertise from within the Eurocopter team and the EADS DS surveillance and reconnaissance team we have the opportunity to provide a thorough assessment of the current state of play and recommendations as to the direction of future leading edge technology development.”