Integration Of A Tactical Reconnaissance System With Navy Attack Aircraft

An overall system configuration has been developed which effectively integrates the Navy Optical Reconnaissance Pod System into the single place A-7E attack aircraft. The objective of this effort was to provide a comprehensive reconnaissance capability yet minimize the change impact on the aircraft. The reconnaissance pod is wing mounted and provides the aircraft with the capability of obtaining high resolution aerial photographs over a broad range of aircraft speed and altitude conditions. Existing aircraft subsystems such as the central digital computer, the head up display, and associated cockpit controls are used to provide both manual and automatic modes of sensor operation. A TV system is used in conjunction with the head up display to provide complete viewfinder capability with display of steering commands, target anticipation cues, and sensor status to the pilot for workload reduction. Flight performance data to fulfill sensor operation and film annotation requirements is derived from the navigation system and is transmitted to the pod via serial digital data channel. System operation utilizes currently established cockpit control and display philosophy and techniques.