Project Julius
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Devon, England
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Project Julius
Efforts to bring the UK Royal Air Force's fleet of Boeing CH-47 transport
helicopters to a common configuration have been launched, with funding
secured to start modernisation work on eight of its 40 Chinook HC2/2As.
Dubbed Project Julius, the work includes the integration of digital avionics
and an engine upgrade to Honeywell's T55-714 standard, and builds on
existing efforts to provide Bowman battlefield communications connectivity
and successor identification friend-or-foe equipment.
Meanwhile, so-called reversion work on the RAF's eight previously stored
Chinook HC3s is on track, with the first extended-range aircraft to soon
arrive at RAF Odiham in Hampshire for trials of its replacement analogue
cockpit, integrated by Qinetiq.
Originally intended to support special forces operations, the aircraft will
be formally delivered for squadron service between May 2009 and February
2010, and will be operated for up to five years before also undergoing
modernisation under Project Julius.
The RAF plans to perform a further life enhancement modification to its
48-aircraft fleet after 2015, says Chinook force commander Gp Capt Andy
Turner.
Twelve crews from the RAF's Odiham-based 18 and 27 squadrons are
participating in the three-week Exercise Jebel Sahara near Marrakesh,
Morocco until 28 October. Focused on tasks including rapid reaction
deployment and environmental training in hot and high conditions, the
manoeuvres represent the first occasion since 2005 that the Chinook force
has trained alongside the RAF's AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin-equipped 28 and 78 squadrons.
Three Chinook HC2/2As and two Merlin HC3s have been committed to the
exercise, operating as Joint Helicopter Force (Morocco). The aircraft are
also providing support to training activities involving the British Army's
Royal Gibraltar Regiment and Moroccan ground forces.
The RAF expects to next year increase its overseas training activities with
the Chinook to also include arctic operations in Norway and amphibious work
in the Mediterranean. Turner says this work will "build a broader capability
base and give more balanced crews" than the current training emphasis on
supporting combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
helicopters to a common configuration have been launched, with funding
secured to start modernisation work on eight of its 40 Chinook HC2/2As.
Dubbed Project Julius, the work includes the integration of digital avionics
and an engine upgrade to Honeywell's T55-714 standard, and builds on
existing efforts to provide Bowman battlefield communications connectivity
and successor identification friend-or-foe equipment.
Meanwhile, so-called reversion work on the RAF's eight previously stored
Chinook HC3s is on track, with the first extended-range aircraft to soon
arrive at RAF Odiham in Hampshire for trials of its replacement analogue
cockpit, integrated by Qinetiq.
Originally intended to support special forces operations, the aircraft will
be formally delivered for squadron service between May 2009 and February
2010, and will be operated for up to five years before also undergoing
modernisation under Project Julius.
The RAF plans to perform a further life enhancement modification to its
48-aircraft fleet after 2015, says Chinook force commander Gp Capt Andy
Turner.
Twelve crews from the RAF's Odiham-based 18 and 27 squadrons are
participating in the three-week Exercise Jebel Sahara near Marrakesh,
Morocco until 28 October. Focused on tasks including rapid reaction
deployment and environmental training in hot and high conditions, the
manoeuvres represent the first occasion since 2005 that the Chinook force
has trained alongside the RAF's AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin-equipped 28 and 78 squadrons.
Three Chinook HC2/2As and two Merlin HC3s have been committed to the
exercise, operating as Joint Helicopter Force (Morocco). The aircraft are
also providing support to training activities involving the British Army's
Royal Gibraltar Regiment and Moroccan ground forces.
The RAF expects to next year increase its overseas training activities with
the Chinook to also include arctic operations in Norway and amphibious work
in the Mediterranean. Turner says this work will "build a broader capability
base and give more balanced crews" than the current training emphasis on
supporting combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,761
Received 2,742 Likes
on
1,168 Posts
Project Julius
Interesting Project name, Perchance was it named after that well known figure Julius Caesar, whom met his end whilst being stabbed in the back by the many?............
If so, what an apt name for a Government run RAF Project, perhaps the next one could be named Project Titanic...
Interesting Project name, Perchance was it named after that well known figure Julius Caesar, whom met his end whilst being stabbed in the back by the many?............
If so, what an apt name for a Government run RAF Project, perhaps the next one could be named Project Titanic...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Makes you wonder who makes up these names, do they sit around a table and have a vote?
I also dislike the smug tw@ts you bump into who love to tell you they're on 'project made-up-name' - as opposed to telling you in simple terms what they're doing - knowing you won't know what it is unless you're one of the six people who read UNeed2Know.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: england
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is this news? I can't see anything in this I didn't already know was (sort of) going to happen anyway....
