NBC Protection Subsystem for the Sentinel Mk1 Aircraft
Richard J Holmes
The Sentinel Mk1 forms the air component of the airborne stand off radar (ASTOR) capability, and is being designed and manufactured by Raytheon Systems Ltd and L3 Communications under direction of the ASTOR integrated project team. It is based on the Bombardier Global Express aircraft.
The aircraft is required to be deployable to provide 24 hour near real time battlefield surveillance using an advanced radar sensor. On this basis, and because it is a high value asset which should be capable of conducting missions in all environments, it was determined by the customer that it should be provided with an NBC operational capability.
Embodiment of this capability is novel, and is based on Defence Standard 08-11, "NBC Protection for Air Vehicles", although this defence standard did not form part of the original requirement. The protection system is based on the introduction of role fit NBC filters into the aircraft bleed air system, upstream of the environmental conditioning system packs. These filters are designed to remove the NBC hazards of concern and so provide a protected environment within the cabin space to enable aircrew to operate free from the encumbrance of NBC individual protection equipments (IPE) and to protect the systems and subsystems located in the pressure fuselage from exposure to these hazards. In addition, the aircraft will be fitted with a real time CW agent detector and remote alarm and a hand held chemical agent monitor. The purpose of these detectors is to provide a means for the monitoring of the cabin environment during flight and for monitoring personnel / stores during boarding. Boarding will be via a purpose designed inflatable transfer collective protection liner, which will be disposed of prior to flight. A role fit stowage will be provided for the aircrew IPE, a packaged transfer Colpro and the detector for in flight cabin space monitoring. Flying personnel will be provided with transit NBC IPE which will be used in conjunction with in service IPE and the transfer Colpro (this will also be used for operating to and from ground based Collective Protection facilities).
Certain external areas and features of the aircraft are being chemically hardened to provide protection against the effects of chemical warfare agents in liquid form.
Embodiment of the components of the NBC protection system will provide an enhanced NBC operational capability in comparison with the current approach to protection, which is based around the sole use of individual protection equipments. This paper summarises and describes the Sentinel Mk1 NBC protection system.
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