Harris to Deliver Carriage & Release Systems for KAI KF-X

18 November 2017

BRU-57 smart rack (photo : Harris)

Harris was selected by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to provide carriage and release systems (proven, reliable single- and twin-store carriers) for the next-generation Korea Fighter-Experimental (KF-X) programme.

The KAI KF-X jet is a programme to develop an advanced multirole fighter for the Republic of Korea Air Force. "The KF-X aircraft represents a new strategic customer and fighter development platform for Harris in the Asian market," Ed Zoiss, President, Harris Electronic Systems, explained. "This selection reaffirms Harris’ position as the supplier of choice worldwide for proven, leading edge carriage and release solutions."

The BRU-47 single store carrier, known for its reliability and ease of maintenance, also reduces the time needed for loading stores using Harris’ patented sway-brace technology – which minimizes rack sway due to aircraft maneuvers and munition release. The BRU-46/A and BRU-47/A offer users significant benefits, including shorter store loading times and greatly reduced maintenance. As a result, users are able to rapidly rearm aircraft while reducing dependency on the logistics infrastructure. This is especially significant during high sortie rate missions. Harris patented swaybrace technology facilitates the loading of stores in blind or difficult access situations while eliminating the need to tighten individual screw jacks to precise torque values. Another patented feature is the hot gas filtration system that permits dozens of dirty pyrotechnic cartridge firings without having to clean any bomb rack components.The BRU-46/A and BRU-47/A are used on the United States Air Force (USAF) F-15E EAGLE and the F/A-22 RAPTOR. Additionally, the BRU-46/A (as part of the BRU-57 Smart Rack, see below) is employed on the F-16 FALCON. The BRU-46/A and BRU-47/A have earned an excellent reputation among operators and maintainers as a reliable, easily maintained state-of-the-art bomb rack unit.

BRU-47 single store carrier (photo : Harris)

The BRU-57 is a smart-weapon-enabled, twin store carrier that doubles the payload capacity of aircraft without modifying any hardware – providing for a wide array of payload configurations. The BRU-55/A smart rack doubles the number of MIL-STD-1760 smart weapons that can be carried on tactical strike aircraft, such as the F/A-18 C-F. This is accomplished with no modification to aircraft wiring. The electronic control assembly installed within the nose and tail fairings of the F/A-18’s Canted Vertical Ejector Rack (CVER) provides a class II 1760 interface to the aircraft and one 1760 class II interface to each of the two weapons carried on the CVER. Digital communications to the weapons on the BRU-55/A are passively coupled to the aircraft MIL-STD-1553 data bus thereby minimising updates to the aircraft Operational Flight Program (OFP).

(Mpnch)