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Northrop Grumman E-10A

Type (Muster)
Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft (Gefechtsfeldüberwachungsflugzeug)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Northrop Grumman (Integrated Systems Sector)
2000 West NASA Boulevard
Melbourne, Florida 32902
USA

Phone: 001-321/726-7526
Internet: www.northropgrumman.com

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2 in the cockpit plus at least a dozen operators in the cabin

Power plant (Antrieb): The 767-400ER is available with General Electric CF6-80C2B7F1 or CF6-80C2B8F engines. The Pratt and Whitney PW4062 is an option
Thrust (Schub): Boeing quotes thrust figures of 62100 lbs (276 kN) to 63300 lbs (282 kN)for the General Electric powerplants.

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 61,37 m
Height (Höhe): 15,85 m
Span (Spannweite): 51,99 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 290,7 sq m

Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 4,72 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 2,87 m

Weights (Massen)
Operating weight empty (Einsatz-Leermasse): over 110000 kg
Max. fuel (Max. Kraftstoff): 91377 l (24140 US gal).
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 181440 kg or 204120 kg as an option.

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Normal cruise speed (Reisegeschwindigkeit): Mach 0.8
Approach speed (Anfluggeschwindigkeit): 149 kts (275 km/h)
Take-off field length (Startstrecke): 2525 m for the normal take-off weight, 3444 m or 3383 m (GE engine) at optional take-off weight, sea level at 30 deg C.
Landing field length (Landestrecke): 1768 m at max. landing weight
Range (Reichweite): around 10000 km with optional maximum take-off weight
* performance and weight data refer to the 767-400ER in its civil version

Costs (Kosten)
The pre-systems development and demonstration contract from May 2003 to September 2004 was worth 215 million US-Dollars. A 767-400ER will be procured separately from Boeing.
In November 2002, the Air Force said that it had funding of 4,5 billion US-Dollars for "Spiral One”, to field one test aircraft in 2008 and four operational aircraft by 2012.

Customers (Kunden)
The US Air Force wants a new MC2A aircraft (Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft). Numbers are not yet decided, but it seems that five aircraft will be built by 2013.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
None. The E-10A will be a successor to the E-8C and maybe later to the E-3.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The E-10A is projected as a complement and later a successor to the fleet of E-8C JointSTARs. In a later version, it could also fill the role of the E-3 AWACS.
Elements of the so called Increment 1 of the E-10A are:

the Boeing 767-400ER as the aircraft platform
the MP-RTIP radar from Northrop Grumman /Raytheon as the main sensor. This has an active electronically scanned array. It should be capable to track cruise missiles and ground targets simultaneously
an advanced Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) subsystem

Increment 2 development will add an airborne target function, but it is not yet clear whether this will be fitted to the same aircraft or just use the 767-400ER as the basis for a different variant.

History (Geschichte)
In August 2002, the Pentagon asked for offers regarding first development studies on the E-10A weapons system, at that time referred to as MC2A (Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft).
On 28 February 2003, the Air Force announced that it had named the MC2A as the E-10A.
A Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Raytheon team received a pre-systems development and demonstration contract for the Weapon System Integration portion of the E-10A on 14 May 2003. The three companies had announced their teaming agreement just days before, on 12 May. Under the agrement

Northrop Grumman is responsible for overall program management ans systems engineering, mission system design, airframe modification, system integratin and operational flight testing
Boeing will perform major structural modification design, air-vehicle analysis and performance assesments and airworthiness testing
Raytheon will be responsible for radar and radome installation, support to system engineering, system integration and test for the cruise missile defense functionality.

Work under this order will run until September 2004.
The Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) subsystem will be competed later in 2003, with a draft RFP expected in June. Three teams were expected to bid: Lockheed Martin/Raytheon, Boeing/Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems/L-3/Veridian.
According to USAF statements in November 2002, one test aircraft will be fielded in 2008 and four operational aircraft by 2012.

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Last updated 6 June 2003

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