AV-8B Aircraft - Engine Dev

This program provides for AV-8B Design, Development, Integration and Test of the following improvements: Engine Life Management Program (ELMP), Operational Flight Programs (OFPs) and Avionics/Weapons Integration, Escape System, readiness and obsolescence management. The ELMP is a comprehensive plan to increase safety of flight and operational readiness of the AV-8B F402-RR-408 Engine and Gas Turbine Starter (GTS), as well as other critical engine components. The Program Office will accomplish this mission through the Component Improvement Program (CIP), which entails Engineering Project Description investigations to derive safety and reliability improvements to the engine and engine components. H7.2, H7.3, and H7.4 will continue to build upon the evolutionary acquisition strategy for OFPs and will improve pilot situational awareness, make pilot interface and weapon selection, and Link16 functionality improvements via OFP and Mission Planning updates, and will integrate required Display Computer processing improvements to enable these functionalities. OFP and integration improvements, to include continued use of current weapons as they are upgraded to modernized GPS capability, and use of components with modern crypto is vital to the Harrier's continued combat relevance to the Marine Expeditionary Unit and Global Response Force Combatant Commanders. Other efforts include compliance with crypto modernization requirements, testing compatibility with GPS-modernized weapons, peculiar integration and flight test requirements such as weapons and countermeasures OFP updates, weapons integration and testing, sensors, and countermeasures integration and stores expansion to include APKWS, radio/communication systems upgrades, AIM-9X, ALE-43, standoff weapons such as JSOW, and unique flight test, study and component redesign efforts of other avionics, sensors, structural components, aircraft subsystems, weapons systems, or emergent tactical requirements as they arise. Efforts also include engineering activities for development, design and test to support aircraft safety, flight clearance and concept exploration for resolution of emergent safety, service life, escape systems, compatibility, obsolescence, and readiness issues as well as response to fleet urgent operational requirements.