Aircraft store integration
The CSIR has the capability to integrate a client’s store with any aircraft. This includes functional integration, as well as compatibility evaluation for airworthiness certification. A systems engineering approach is followed that complies with all aspects of military airworthiness standards such as MIL-HDBK-1763. The CSIR has expertise in these aspects of store integration and also provides store integration training.
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Highlights
CSIR supports optimal integration of electronic warfare pod
The CSIR supported the integration and testing of the ACEpod for manufacturer Sysdel on the SAAFs Hawk Mk 120 aircraft. The ACEpod, short for Airborne Countermeasure and Electronic Intelligence Pod, is used in evaluation and training in electronic warfare capabilities. The CSIR’s expertise in aircraft integration was required in areas such as aerodynamics, physical constraints and flight requirements caused by the pod's size and weight. The ACEpod technology development was funded by the SAAF and acquisition agency Armscor.
Our capabilities
Store-aircraft integration specification and integration management
The CSIR has extensive experience with store integration with fast-jets and other aircraft and can assist with developing full specifications for store integration, defining the interfaces and environments for the configurations and providing a basis for airworthiness assessment. The CSIR assists clients with preparing the data pack justifying the airworthiness of the aircraft store configurations.
Store separation analysis
Stores that are individually stable can behave differently in the flow field of an aircraft. This can result in unexpected dynamics, with the store possibly colliding with the aircraft. It is essential to verify that stores can be released safely over the specified release and jettison envelopes. Store separation analyses are complex and require advanced computational and experimental tools. The CSIR has developed store separation analysis tools in-house and leads the field in South Africa. These tools include computational fluid dynamics codes, the ARUV panel code tailored for store separation analyses, a captive trajectory system fitted in our medium-speed wind tunnel and other extensively validated analysis tools.
Carriage loads analysis
Stores exert loads on the aircraft structure while being carried and affect aerodynamics, manoeuvrability, landing and ejection. It is important to ensure that aircraft structures are not overstressed at any point. The CSIR performs analyses in compliance with the required regulations using a range of aerodynamic, simulation and dynamics tools.
Performance and handling analysis
Carrying a store affects the performance and handling of the aircraft. It is important to compare the actual drag and performance envelopes against the specifications for the configurations with the store. It is also necessary to ensure that the aircraft is controllable and has acceptable handling in all phases of flight. The CSIR performs analyses in compliance with regulations.
Flight test specification, execution and analysis
The CSIR prepares flight test specifications for store integration programmes, arranges and oversees flight tests and processes flight test data.