Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix

• [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 350 knots (648 km/h)
  
• [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 4,000 miles (7,400 km)
  
• [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 40,000 ft (12,200 m)
  
• [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 123.5 lb/ft² (603 kg/m²)
  
• [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 0.21
  

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SEATTLE — Boeing sees a potential market for more than 150
special-mission 737 military aircraft derived from either the P-8
maritime patrol aircraft or Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft.


The focus is largely on missions currently using C-130,
P-3 or 707-based aircraft, which “are getting old,” says Bob Feldmann,
Boeing vice president and general manager for surveillance and
engagement.


One part of the effort is expanding the customer base for
existing products, with the United Arab Emirates, India and Japan seen
as potential buyers of a Wedgetail-type aircraft on top of the sales of
six of the type to Australia, and four each to South Korea and Turkey.
Boeing sees a market for more than 15 of such aircraft. South Korea is
to receive its first aircraft this year and Turkey next year.


For the P-8, where the U.S. Navy is committed to 117
aircraft and India eight, Feldmann says Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia,
Norway and Italy could lead to sales of more than 75 units.
Furthermore, Feldmann says “we know that U.S. Navy and [U.K.] are having
some discussions.” The talks right now are government to government.


Another thrust is taking on new missions. Among those is
serving as a replacement of the EC-130 Compass Call communications
jammer, the WC-135 Constant Phoenix atmospheric sampling aircraft, or
the open skies aircraft.


Although the Compass Call mission as currently performed
seems an ill fit for a 737, Feldmann argues that “Compass Call of
yesterday may not be Compass Call of tomorrow,” suggesting the mission
could evolve.


Replacing Navy special-mission P-3s and the U.S. Air
Force RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft are also on the
drawing board. The company projects a market for more than 50 such
aircraft. “None of those are in a proposal stage,” Feldmann concedes.


Perhaps the nearest-term opportunity is the Airborne
Ground Surveillance application, where Boeing wants the 737 to replace
the 707-based Joint Stars. The U.S. Air Force is conducting an analysis
of alternatives into the mission area. Feldmann argues that the 737 path
would provide big savings in terms of logistics support and fuel burn.
The market is projected at more than 15 aircraft.