By Derrill Thompson

DRS Data and Imaging Systems recently delivered the first AN/AQH-13A acoustic data recorder/reproducer digital variant to the NAVAIR Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Program Office. The recorder, a cost-wise readiness initiative, will be installed and tested onboard a P-3C Update III Antisubmarine Warfare Improvement Program aircraft here at VX-20.

After successful completion of developmental and operational test, the AQH-13A will replace the two AN/AQH-4 recorder/reproducer sets currently installed onboard P-3C AIP aircraft. The change will decrease the aircraft zero fuel weight by about 80 pounds, the aircraft parts count and the number of obsolete and out of production items that are part of the aircraft inventory.

According to Tim Naugle, P-3C Update III systems engineer, “replacing the two AQH-4 recorders eliminates another of the “high degraders” currently impacting P-3 AIP mission readiness. The AQH-13A was developed in response to the need to record the digital uplink data from the AN/SSQ-101 Air Deployed Active Receiver (ADAR) sonobuoy.”

The ADAR sonobuoy is part of the Improved Extended Echo Ranging system developed by the Air ASW Systems Program Office as part of the Navy’s effort to improve large area ASW search capabilities.

Lt. Jim Bolin, VX-20 project officer for both systems indicated that they are slated for transition to operational testing later this year. According to Bolin, “this combination, AQH/13A and IEER, has the potential to provide a marked improvement in user system interface, crew resource management, and on-station effectiveness when compared to current fleet capabilities”.

The AQH-13A is also easier to maintain and operate. “The VHS size cassette tapes and automatic head cleaner will decrease the workload both literally and figuratively,” said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class Rob Hunt, VX-20 IEER test team acoustic systems operator. The number of tapes required is one quarter of those required for the AQH-4, and the weight of the tapes is reduced by nearly 90%. “That will please the fleet operators using the new system who are required to carry the tapes to and from the aircraft for each mission,” according to Hunt.

Other benefits include decreased life cycle costs. Tape costs will be reduced by 75%, while the cost per tape is roughly the same, $100 each; the AQH-13A requires only one cassette for four hours of data versus four rolls for the AQH-4. The use of a cleaning tape that automatically completes a cleaning cycle when inserted into the tape transport will not only simplify a vital maintenance task, it eliminates the need to use denatured alcohol, a hazardous material, as a cleaning agent.

The AQH-13A is Standing NATO Agreement 4283 compliant enabling P-3C AIP aircraft to record digital uplink data from up to 16 digital sonobuoys for post-mission analysis while maintaining all the functions currently available with the AQH-13 and AQH-4 systems. NATO STANAG compliance permits the potential use of allied digital sonobuoys, such as Australian, SSQ-981/BARRA and British, SSQ-955/High Instantaneous Dynamic Range, in addition to SSQ-101/ADAR.

A local flight clearance was used to install the initial system. “This permitted the test team to expedite developmental test operations,” said P-3C Block Modification Upgrade installation IPT lead Jim Neugent, “while the BMUP finalized the proposed engineering change procedures and the final flight clearance request.” This combined effort will result in cost and schedule savings for subsequent installations of the AQH-13A onboard fleet aircraft.

A planned system upgrade promises to further reduce the life cycle costs of the AQH-13A. The program intends to continue the goals of Naval Aviation Readiness Integrated Improvement Program in providing cost-wise readiness to the warfighter.

The upgrade will replace the tape drive in the current configuration with a removable disk drive - further improving reliability. The disk will be a “form, fit, and function” replacement that will also reduce data recovery time by providing random access to data from any location on the disk.

The MSA Program expects to complete the initial integration of the AQH-13A into 25 P-3C AIP aircraft by early 2005. Future efforts will integrate the AQH-13A into the remaining Update III and AIP P-3C aircraft.

For more information about this release, call Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Program Public Affairs at 301-342-0207, or email [email protected].

Cutline: Photo by Derrill Thompson
BMUP Installation IPT Lead Jim Neugent, right, discusses AQH-13A system features with VX-20 In-Flight Technician, Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Jeff Pennington during initial system installation.