Broad Area Maritime Surveillance
Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) is a UAV system, which will provide continuous maritime surveillance for the US Navy and complement the 737 based Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA), the P-8A Poseidon.[1]
The system is expected to enter service around the end of the decade. Around 40 UAVs will be based at five sites - Hawaii; Diego Garcia; NAS Jacksonville, Florida; NAS Kadena, Japan; and Sigonella, Italy.
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[edit] Contract competition
The competitors for the contract included:[2]
- Boeing, with an unmanned version of the Gulfstream 550 business jet. By using a commercially-available aircraft, "Boeing is seeking to raise awareness of its entry — an optionally manned Gulfstream 550 business jet[3] — by stressing its commonality with other Boeing-built naval aircraft."[4]
- Northrop Grumman, with a marinized RQ-4 Global Hawk. In order to begin testing the surveillance package early, Northrop Grumman contracted with Flight Test Associates of the Mojave Spaceport to modify a Grumman Gulfstream II as a flying testbed.
- Lockheed Martin, with a General Atomics Mariner
The awarding of the contract was expected in the fall of 2007, but in October, 2007, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) pushed back the contract award date until early 2008.[5]
On 22 April 2008, Northrop Grumman received the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance contract worth $1.16 billion.[6] Lockheed Martin filed a formal protest with the GAO two weeks later.[7] On August 11, 2008 the GAO ruled to uphold the Navy’s selection of Northrop Grumman.[8] In September 2010, the BAMS aircraft was designated the MQ-4C.[9]
[edit] Specificiations
Data from [10]
General characteristics
- Crew: Unmanned
- Length: 47.6 ft in (14.5 m)
- Wingspan: 130.9 ft in (39.9 m)
- Height: 15.3 ft in (4.7 m)
- Gross weight: 32,250 lb (14,628.4 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbofan, 6,495-8,917 lbf (28.9-39.7 kN)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 357 mph (575 km/h)
- Endurance: 30 hours
- Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m)
[edit] References
- ^ "US Navy Fact File for P-8A Poseidon"
- ^ Defence Systems – Daily October 1, 2007
- ^ Boeing / Gulfstream 550 BAMS
- ^ “Boeing envisions ‘maritime ISR triad’ (C4ISR Journal, September 12, 2007)
- ^ (Jane's Defense News)
- ^ Navy Awards Northrop Grumman Unmanned Aircraft System Contract
- ^ Lockheed protests USN BAMS award
- ^ NAV Air News Release - BAMS UAS program resumes
- ^ BAMS given MQ-4C designation
[edit] External links
- Northrop Grumman BAMS contender web site
- Boeing / Gulfstream BAMS contender presentation This link is not working 29 Oct 10
- Lockheed Martin BAMS product web site
- Flight Test Associates web site
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