[Avionics Today April 18, 2014] Boeing has selected the T3CAS Integrated Surveillance System and the FA2100 Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) system as standard avionics for its KC-46A Military Tanker program, according to a new announcement from L-3.
L-3’s T3CAS is an advanced integrated surveillance system featuring a Traffic Alert & Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), Mode S Transponder with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out transmission, and Military Airborne Surveillance System (MASS) to provide enhanced situational awareness for military pilots. Boeing is under contract to deliver up to 179 KC-46 air tankers to the Air Force to replace its aging fleet of KC-135s.
The KC-46A is a military variant of the commercial Boeing 767 airframe, and is scheduled to complete its first flight later this year, according to Boeing.
L-3’s TCAS module within the T3CAS includes the Change 7.1 software, which is mandated for aircraft operating in Europe by December 2015. The TCAS module was also upgraded with a hybrid surveillance capability that is in compliance with the FAA Technical Standard Order.
“By leveraging T3CAS, Boeing is moving aviation forward to NextGen flight. Our versatile T3CAS system has a core set of functions that includes ADS-B In and Out capabilities, enabling Boeing to offer the U.S. Air Force and other military operators a unique set of surveillance capabilities – all coupled with our widely fielded flight recorder system," said Ralph DeMarco, vice president of sales and marketing for L-3.