Description
It is proposed that a Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) be prepared to combine some or all the functions of the aging AWACS, JSTARS, RIVET JOINT, COMPASS CALL, and ABCCC fleet. Three different thesis studies have been developed by three Air Force Institute of Technology GSE students to show the feasibility of replacing the current aging fleet with one or more MMA platforms. This is the thesis in which the payload issues have been examined. Within this thesis, two different alternative architectures, which are One Tail Number and Different Tail Numbers including nine different configurations, have been considered. Estimated payload characteristics of these alternatives have been compared to those of Boeing 767-400ER, which is the aircraft selected as the baseline for MMA platform. Reduced life cycle cost, increased measure of aircraft specifications, and minimum risk are the main objectives pursued by means of several systems engineering and aircraft design methodologies.
