For the first time ever, South African industry has developed a complete aircraft avionics system software suite to the highest international standards. This has been achieved by Midrand-based medium-sized private-sector com- pany Advanced Technologies & Engineering (ATE) as part of the programme to acquire BAE Systems Hawk lead-in fighter-trainers for the South African Air Force (SAAF).

“ATE has been responsible for the development of the navigation and weapons system for the SAAF Hawks,” explains company director Lorris Duncker. “A major part thereof has been the development of the airborne software, and it is the first time in South Africa that such a sophisti- cated and highly complex piece of software has been part of a major system such as the Hawk.” The software is level A and level B flight critical. Level A is safety critical, while level B is mission critical, software. The hardware operated with this software includes the avionics, mission computer, audio management unit, multifunction display, smart head-up display, and the weapons store management unit.

The Hawk airborne software package comprises more than one-million lines of code, and has been proposed for certification by both Armscor and BAE Systems. “They have both performed safety and conformity reviews, and the software has adhered to the highest level of assurance in terms of international standard RTCA DO-178/B,” he reports. “It is now ready for certification.”

The project is notable in other respects as well. “It is the largest single responsibility that BAE Systems has contracted outside the UK on a Hawk aircraft programme. “The success of this programme is underlined by the fact that, for the first time, BAE Systems is awarding design authority for the navigation and weapons systems to an overseas company, ATE, which allows South Africa – ATE and its industrial partners – to upgrade Hawks internationally, mandated by BAE Systems,” highlights Duncker. “This is a major step, and the first opportunity for such an upgrade programme is anticipated.”

Winning international Hawk upgrade programmes will benefit all those involved in the South African programme – BAE Systems would earn offset credits, while the SAAF and Armscor would see the long-term logistics support for the Hawk guaranteed. “Obviously, ATE, as a systems house, will benefit, [bearing in mind] that a contract for ATE from an international customer is a contract for the local defence industry,” he points out. “Thus, Saab Avitronics will also benefit, because its electronic warfare suite is incorporated in the avionics system.” Likewise, Tellumat and Reutech supply elements of the South African Hawk avionics system. Tellumat is responsible for the identification friend-or-foe system, data links, and secure communications system, while Reutech is respon- sible for the aircraft radios.

The Hawk airborne software was developed in a phased manner, with the initial release allowing basic flight functions and designated Operational Capability 1, in 2006. Operational Capability 2, with operational functions, was released last year. Now, Operational Capability 3, which concludes full-scale development and certification, has been delivered to BAE Systems.

The purpose of the programme has been to ‘Gripenise’ the Hawk, to make the systems of the Hawk, and the experience of flying it, as similar to those of the Gripen as possible, thus achieving a seamless transition between the two aircraft. Among other things, this will reduce flying costs.

ATE’s experience with avionics and associated software dates back to 1992, when the company was involved in Project Neckwar, a “glass cockpit” avionics demonstration project involving the South African aeronautical industry and using a Mirage F1 fighter as the platform. (A glass cockpit, now the modern standard, uses digital video screens to display information to the pilot, and not analogue mechanically operated dials.) In 1994, the company was selected to develop the glass cockpit avionics system for the SAAF’s then new Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra trainers. As a result of this experience, ATE was able to partner with Thomson-CSF, now Thales, and be selected by Spain to upgrade the navigation and weapons systems for that country’s Mirage F1s. The company has also finished an initial stage in a possible programme to upgrade a foreign air force’s C-130 Hercules transport aircraft fleet.

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