Factsheet - The RSAF E-2C
Hawkeye
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) E-2C Hawkeye is a
sophisticated Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)
platform employed to enhance air defence. It is capable of
providing air and surface surveillance, as well as tactical control
of air assets.
The E-2C aircraft was acquired from the US in the mid 1980s.
Together with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), the
RSAF upgraded the entire computer and software systems of the E-2C.
State-of-the-art equipment was adapted to the harsh military
environment and millions of codes were rewritten. The RSAF and DSTA
also designed and enhanced the interfaces between the various E-2C
subsystems.
E-2C Sub-Systems
The E-2C is equipped with several sub-systems that enable the
aircraft to detect, track and identify both air and surface
targets:
a. APS 138 Radar. The dish-shaped surveillance
radar is the back-bone of the E-2C target detection capability. The
radar provides automatic detection and tracking of targets over
water and over land up to 200 nautical miles (nm).
b. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) System. The
IFF system integrates the information collected from the APS 138
Radar to allow the Weapon System Officers (WSOs) to identify
targets, and to distinguish between friendly and unknown aircraft
up to 250 nm.
c. Passive Detection System (PDS) The E-2C is also
equipped with a PDS, capable of detecting electronic signals and
correlating these signals with key signal parameters of known
electronic emitters. This allows the WSOs to identify and classify
possible aircraft types encountered.
d. Communications.The communications suite onboard the E-2C
comprises three UHF/VHF, three UHF and two HF radios. The radios
facilitate communications with other aircraft.
e. Upgraded Mission Control System (MCS). The RSAF
and DSTA replaced the E-2Cs aged Command and Control (C2) system
with modern computers and displays, and developed a new real-time
command and control software. The E-2C MCS comprises a Mission
Computer, which processes all information from the APS 138 radar,
IFF System and PDS. The computer tracks and fuses the relevant
information to maintain a correlated situation picture. The
information is presented to the E-2C WSOs via the console displays.
The upgraded MCS includes the following features:
Upgraded Computer.The new computer comprises multiple
commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) processors (the "brains" of
computers) that give the E-2C the capability to crunch more numbers
in a shorter time. The new system is also designed to be rugged to
withstand the stringent E-2C operating environment. Due to
extensive use of COTS components, the new system is more
power-efficient, lighter and dissipates less heat. The new system
is also more reliable and easier to maintain and upgrade.
Upgraded Operator Consoles. The old monochrome display (10 in
diameter) is replaced by a 19 high-resolution colour monitor. The
modern larger colour battle display helps operators analyse
information more quickly and accurately. The use of standard
keyboard and trackball reduces the workload but increases the
operational effectiveness of the WSOs as they are familiar with the
use of these devices. The old system used non-standard input
devices.
New C2 Software. The real-time C2 software was designed to handle
the high volume of raw sensor data from all the existing avionics
systems and the global positioning system. With more processing
power and storage available, the software is now able to carry out
split-second calculations in real-time. The new software is also
easier to maintain compared to the old system that was built using
an older generation of programming language.
Upgraded cockpit. The addition of a Global Positioning System (GPS)
and a Cockpit Display Unit (CDU) was part of the avionics upgrade
in the cockpit. The GPS further enhances the navigation accuracy of
the E-2C while the CDU allows the E-2C pilots to better appreciate
the surrounding air situation.
Technical Specifications
a. Length : 57 ft 7 in
b. Wingspan : 80 ft 7 in, 29 ft 4 in (Folded)
c. Height : 18 ft 4 in
d. Maximum Cruise Speed : 280 knots
e. Service Ceiling : 35,000 ft
f. Maximum Endurance : 6 hours
g. Radar Detection Range : 200 nm
h. Crew : 2 pilots & 3 WSOs.
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2001/apr/23apr01_nr/23apr01_fs.html
