MODELLING UPGRADE DESIGN OF MARITIME HELICOPTERS FOR ANTI-SUBMARINE MISSIONS – PROJECT FRAMEWORK

The role of maritime helicopters is now complex due to the global warfare that has shifted maritime missions from blue sea to littoral waters. Future global crisis and conflicts in littorals will require aerial platforms, including helicopters, to possess enhanced anti-submarine capabilities in order to counter the increased submarine threat (Morgan, 1998). The design and manufacture of new aircraft with advanced mission systems is a costly venture. The mid-life upgrade of in-service aircraft with new on-board systems that enhance the mission capability is the preferred option (Mulholland, 2000). The pre-upgrade design analysis process is complex, iterative and requires the development of software tools for speed and accuracy. In this paper, the project framework for the development and automation of an upgrade design analysis model for maritime helicopters conducting anti-submarine operations is presented.