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Press Release |
5th October 1999 |
| Aerosystems provides RAF Tristar tankers and VC10 tankers with JTIDS in record time. |
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The JTIDS equipped tanker aircraft will provide a unique capability to the world’s air forces.The first test flight of the tanker aircraft were successfully completed by the RAF at Brize Norton in September and the RAF intends to release the JTIDS system for operational service in early October 1999. The Joint Tactical Information Distribution System provides tanker and combat aircraft crews with Situational Awareness (SA). This allows them to operate in a highly secure environment and enhances their abilities to co-ordinate the air to air refuelling task. Also, RAF tankers will be able to relay the JTIDS data allowing combat aircraft to operate at extended range with greater levels of SA. The Kosovo air campaign raised awareness of the requirement for JTIDS to be fitted to both Tristar and VC10 tanker aircraft. Although fitted with JTIDS provided by NATO and USAF AWACS aircraft – the current system only provides near real time data from the AWACS’ radar system. However tanker crews reported that the confined Balkans airspace and the levels of NATO air activity made it vital that the aircraft were provided with SA. This would have allowed crews to support combat aircraft conducting missions over Kosovo.The MOD raised an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) in June 1999 and this stipulated a requirement to fit up to ten VC10 and Tristar aircraft with JTIDS. A contract to fit an initial batch of three Tristars (one KC1 and two K1s) and three VC10 MK3/4s was placed with Aerosystems International on the 11 June 1999. Thanks to close co-ordination between the RAF, Marshalls, BAe and Aerosystems, the first Tanker conversion was completed within just three months. Air Vice-Marshall Steven Nicoll, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Operational Requirements (Air Systems) said: "The efforts of the team have been a benchmark for future programmes. Aerosystems International has provided the RAF with a critical capability in splendid order." Note to Editors: Aerosystems International, jointly owned by GKN Aerospace and BAE SYSTEMS, was formed in 1985 for the sole purpose of developing aerospace systems and software, combining the avionics and systems expertise of GKN Westland with the software and project management skills of BAeSEMA. For further information please contact: Emma
Taylor |
Aerosystems
International has successfully completed the fitting of Joint
Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) to two RAF
Tristar aircraft and one VC10 in just three months. 
