Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/661228
Ä The last of the proposed variants – BAe-146MT (Military Tanker) – assumed an elaboration of an air refueling aircraft. The cargo cab and the wings were to have space for additional fuel tanks and a tanking system. The transfer of fuel was to take place thanks to two tanks (one under each wing) with standard probe and drogue. Only one out of those three variants was actually manufactured (BAe-146STA), which was built on 146-100 airframe. It was used in a two-year marketing action in the Western Europe, the South America and Australia – unfortunately, it was a total disaster for the manufacturer, since no country was interested in such a construction. Due to the failure of the program, the exemplary STA returned to its civilian standard and was sold to a civilian freight line. On that time, it was possible to assume that the military episode of transport versions of BAe-146 was a closed chapter. The analysis of logistics demands of modern military forces and the observation of tactical transport aviation during war and peacekeeping operations led to the restoration of the idea concerning the usage of BAe- 146 in military operations. Another factor that made the manufacturer take such steps was the change of the situation in the commercial transport market that the airframes were to come from. Due to the increasing fuel prices and the crisis in commercial air transport, provoked airlines to cut their costs by purchasing modern and more economic planes (mainly produced by the Brazilian Embraer and Canadian Bombardier). Along with the deliveries of those planes, there will be mass withdrawals of BAe-146 series 200 and 300 in Europe and North America. In order to make use of relatively new airframes, in 2009, the BAe Systems launched a concept for rebuilding and upgrading second-hanf aircrafts, so that they could fit the standards of military cargo planes. According to this plan, the aircraft were to take over some of the tasks of „pure" military cargo planes (i.a. Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules or Airbus C-295M) in situations in which their usage was not required (like, for example, every-day peacetime service). This would extend the durability of airframes and lower the usage costs, as well as delay the need for buying new palnes of this class. The manufacturer claims that the price of the airframe would be an asset – the cost of a used BAe-146 from series 200-300 is 2 to 5 million USD (with the 50% service life remaining) – while the cost of modifications, depending on the requirements, will be 5 to 15 million USD. As a part of modernization, BAe Systems proposed installing additional fuel tanks (in the wings), a probe for aerial refueling, modernization of the cockpit to fit the „glass cockpit" standard, installation of military communication and navigation systems, adjusting the landing gear and engines to operate from grass airfields. Moreover, as a standard, each of the rebuilt airframes would be equipped with wide loading doors (placed at the back of the hull, on the left side) and a pair of \ doors designed for paratroopers. Such modified aircrafts would be able to transport 80-109 soldiers or up to 12.5 tons of cargo (in the case of 200 series planes, the maximum AVIATION