Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

 Tornados and Harriers are to get significant equipment upgrades including secure communications and tactical data links in two separate contracts awarded to BAES.

In one of these, RSL will provide aircraft integration trials assets and systems engineering support for the integration of the Paveway IV precision guided missile onto the RAF Tornado GR4.

Raytheon’s Paveway IV was chosen by the MoD to be its all-weather, 24-hour precision guided bomb for use by the RAF and the Royal Navy. It incorporates an Mk82 500lb warhead, a UK ‘intelligent’ fuse and an electronic jamming-resistant GPS guidance kit.

RSL has managed the Paveway IV programme from Harlow supported by technology transferred from Raytheon Missile Systems in the US.

The UK’s general purpose precision weapon is therefore a joint UK-US design but is made in Britain and is a huge contributor to the nation’s export figures.

Raytheon Systems in Bedford provides CLS, ILS and in-service support.

Defence Minister for Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor, said that the new tactical data links would send operational information in text format direct to the cockpit, enhancing the crew’s awareness to the surrounding situation and reducing the possibilities of friendly fire engagements.

The improved secure communications would allow pilots to talk securely to air controllers on the ground, the AWACS surveillance and other combat aircraft on the same operation, minimising the risk of hostiles intercepting information.

Baroness Taylor said: “Tornados and Harriers are providing an outstanding job supporting our troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The planned upgrades for Harrier will take place at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland and the work for Tornado will take place at BAE Systems’ site at Warton, Lancashire but integrated into the aircraft at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

The combined cost of the programmes, including through-life support, is £548m.

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