Harpoon right on-line

HARPOON anti-ship missiles can now be fired more easily and accurately from the updated AP-3C Orion.

The AP-3C’s new Data Management System provides targeting data (range and bearing information) directly to the Harpoon missile’s in-built computer.

Wing Commander Dick Larking – who is responsible for No. 92 Wing’s acceptance, transition and evaluation (AT&E) process – said the updated equipment negated the requirement to extract data from the aircraft’s computer and manually input it into the missile’s control panel.

“As part of the Orion upgrade program we incorporated a United States Navy software modification which allows on-line targeting for Harpoon missiles,” said WGCDR Larking, who has been working on the AT&E process for a year.

He said the older P-3C’s data management system – the CP901 – didn’t have the ability to output data automatically to the missile.

“The new Data Management System is the heart of the AP-3C mission systems, providing an interface between the crew and all the sensors and systems. This level of integration provides a far superior tactical picture to the crew and, when coupled with an ability to directly output the firing solution to the missile, makes for a much smoother process,” he said.

The updated aircraft also has a “quick launch” facility. This so-called “quick launch” allows the aircrew to maintain a continuous targeting solution against an enemy ship.

“We can just fly around in a certain envelope and attack the target at any time,” WGCDR Larking said.

“This facility is particularly beneficial in a time of tension when there might be an enemy ship out there that is threatening one of our ships and we are waiting to receive a change to the rules of engagement that would allow us to attack it”.

The AP-3C Orion also retains the ability to determine the time a missile will reach its target.

This provides the Air Force with the ability to conduct a coordinated attack with other aircraft, ships and submarines.

“We can arrange for the Data Management System to tell us when to launch the missile to hit the target at the same time as our cooperating units. This approach allows us to destroy large, well-defended targets, by overwhelming their defences.”

 

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