TERRAIN-FOLLOWING RADAR DEVELOPMENT AND QUALIFICATION IN THE CV-22 OSPREY

The USAF CV-22 Osprey completed the Engineering Manufacturing and Design (EMD) phase of flight tests in October 2007. The largest part of the test effort was focused on integration and testing of the AN/APQ-186 Multi Mode Radar (MMR) for terrain-following (TF) operations. This paper provides a broad overview of the MMR test program, covering the many technical multidisciplinary challenges and the innovations that were required to overcome them. Technical design considerations especially unique to the tiltrotor included software changes in the MMR TF processor and aircraft mission computers, to adapt the system to the unique flight characteristics of the aircraft. Additionally, the air vehicle was modified with a retractable refuel boom, revised SINK warning system, and changes to the Advanced Flight Control System to better accommodate TF operations. Some of the programmatic planning and execution that contributed to this very successful development included the use of a multidisciplinary test approach, structuring of test plans for the unknown development challenges, and incorporation of a full-up IMC demonstration at the end of testing.