QinetiQ, in conjunction with BAE Systems, has successfully tested the Airborne Technology Demonstrator (ATD) fitted with a combat aircraft nose system, commonly referred to as a fast jet radome.
This test, which took place under the Long Term Partnering Agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), marks a significant leap in radar and sensor integration capabilities.
“QinetiQ’s Airborne Technology Demonstrator (ATD) in partnership with BAE Systems, underpinned by the Long Term Partnering Agreement with the MOD, has conducted a flight test with the combat aircraft nose system (fast jet radome) installed onto the RJ100, paving the way to future radar and sensor integration capability. This will enable the ATD to support a breadth of future programmes, as the aircraft expands its offering as the most capable flying testbed available in the UK today to support a variety of technology developments in the sector, and will now become a core T3E capability offering under the LTPA.
The flight also represents the first major Ministry of Defence (MOD) trial conducted under Category 1 Flight Test and is the first trial of its kind in the UK for 30 years. The addition of the radome is an exciting development in UK flight test capability and builds on QinetiQ’s Aviation Engineering Centre (AEC) exceptional track-record in aircraft design and modification, a key T3E offering under the LTPA.
Using an RJ100 airframe, the addition of the radome is just the latest in a series of modifications to this platform. Transformed into a flying laboratory and classroom, the ATD provides power and data backbones and multiple flexible workstations to enable research and development projects to be quickly and easily integrated. A bespoke, modular multi-role capability that meets the requirements of both military and civil customers, the ATD supports cost-effective specialist training, experimentation, air carriage, and test and evaluation (T&E) activities. The aircraft is purpose built to simplify the route of getting technology under development into airborne environment.”
Nic Anderson, Chief Executive UK Defence at QinetiQ, remarked, “Building on QinetiQ’s Aviation Engineering Centre’s exceptional track record in aircraft design and modification, the ATD represents an exciting development in UK flight test capability. Working with BAE Systems in collaboration to support the development of future sensors and technology is a great demonstration of our expertise in aviation engineering, airworthiness, and test and evaluation.”
Similarly, Steve Wynd, Engineering Director – Air Sector at BAE Systems, stated, “Using a flying test bed in this way allows us to much more rapidly test, develop and prove new digital technologies, with particular focus on Model Based Systems Engineering. We’re really excited about the potential this provides and look forward to our continued collaboration with QinetiQ.”
Now all it needs is bomb bay with rotary launcher fill it up with missiles 🙂
Some hard points for AA missiles, plumbed for receiving Refuelling and it’s a winner.
There were some great concepts for the aircraft over the years.
The carrier on board delivery would of been great to see.
Carrier-capable version
based on 146-100 STA with large freight door
extendable nose wheel (to increase AOA on takeoff, and to help stow the aircraft in the hangar)
Folding wings, with the fold just outboard of the engines.
Landing tests were done at USN Patuxent River in 1986 using a 146-100
BAe 146 must be one of the the most adaptable airframes ever flown :
Commercial jet
Private jet
Rough/unpaved strips
Firebomber
Commercial Cargo
Military transport
Military test aircraft.
Electric flight prototype.
Shame the tanker ‘BAe 146STA’ didn’t get any orders.
It’s definitely a shame that BAE sold the commercial aircraft side of the business.
4 engines made it a great aircraft for its time. The whisper jet or something like that it was known as.
Shame the RAF got rid.
There were plans to develop a twin engine version with a revised wing, would have improve the efficiency of the airframe, BAe lacked the vision they pulled out of civil aviation which then boomed with short hall jet sales going through the roof. BAe realising its mistake tried to merge with Airbus but that was blocked.
Ukraine’s Antonov built a similar aircraft the An148. But 2 engines
https://d1a2ot8agkqe8w.cloudfront.net/web/2006/12/146_15927.jpg
Hopefully when the Ukraine mess is over some help can be given to getting the countries industry’s up and running. Ukraine can build nice planes.
There is such an opportunity, like what the USA did for countries after WW2. That would be a great use of the U.K. aid budget aswell.
BAEs biggest mistake was exiting commercial AC. Closing Hatfield was a loss this country could ill afford. Never too late to say you are sorry and restart UK commercial/transport with their now massive profits from Ukraine war.