New AGE for New Defense Doctrines

Heightened mobility.  Enhanced agility.  A shorter logistics tail.  These are a few of the objectives highlighted by the U.S. DoD and other militaries as they implement a shift in basic defense doctrines.  For companies supplying flightline aircraft ground equipment (AGE), like JBT AeroTech, this doctrinal shift presents many challenges and affords many opportunities.  Flightline service capabilities must align with the emerging “Base in a Box” concept.  In August 2022 at the SE&V Modernization and Innovation Summit held at Warner Robins, the overarching objectives were stated as follows,

“The US Military is pursuing systems that support and enhance capabilities needed to achieve agile combat objectives including agile combat employment (ACE), electrification, flightline of the future (FLoF), aerial port of the future (APoF), Digital Engineering, autonomy, and additional innovative initiatives.”

JBT AeroTech is involved in a number of enhancements to its defense flightline ground support equipment product offerings, with a significant research and development effort going towards the development of JBT’s AgileAGE product family.  Currently, three new products are now in production and ready for deployment – the AgileAir,  AgilePower, and Shipboard Mobile Electric Power Plant (SMEPP) multi-purpose, multi-capable towable carts.

Air Force Applications

AgileAir is a single cart with the capability of supplying conditioned air, bleed (ECS) high-pressure air, and electrical power.  Ideal for supporting fighter aircraft, such as the F15, F16, F18, and others, JBT’s AgileAir is designed to replace two legacy pieces of equipment – the 1970s-era Dash 60 and C10 flightline carts. 

The new design meets many of the DoD’s stated objectives for enhanced agility.  AgileAir replaces two carts with a single, air-transportable unit. Footprint and weight requirements for conditioned air, bleed air, and electrical power are reduced. 

Power is provided by a Cummins QSL6.7 Tier III diesel engine. This replaces the jet turbine traditionally used in air carts.  Using diesel power has many benefits. Maintenance requirements are significantly reduced with the high reliability of diesel power. The unit is quieter than the legacy equipment it replaces.  And, of real importance to reducing the logistics tail, the AgileAir can run a full 8 hours on a single tank of fuel.  The fuel efficiency of the diesel powerplant is 5 to 7 times greater than units using jet turbines.

AgileAir is a truly capable bit of agile, mobile AGE. Conditioned air is supplied at 100 ppm airflow, at up to 6 psig static pressure with discharge temperatures of 40⁰F to 60⁰F. ECS air is produced at 100 ppm at 50 to 65 psig. Output electrical power is 75kVA with options for 28VDC.

Army Applications

Like the Air Force, the Army has similar needs for agility and mobility in the ground support equipment servicing its large fleet of rotary and other aircraft types.  Following the success of AgileAir, JBT developed the AgilePower multi-purpose, multi-capable towable cart. 

AgilePower is a modernized ground support cart (AGPU 1.1) that uses proven technologies, configured uniquely, to provide pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical power flightline support capabilities.  The unit is a single, compact, fuel-efficient, air-transportable cart designed to support rotary aircraft such as the AH 64, CH 47, UH 60, and UH 72.  The unit is air transportable on CH 47, C 130, and other aircraft. 

"Agile, multi-purpose, multi-capable aircraft ground equipment is the focus for next-generation flightline support AGE."

AgilePower supplies 400 Hz, 28 VDC, and 60 Hz electrical power. Additionally, it supplies hydraulic power at 0 to 20 gpm @500 to 3500 psi as well as pneumatic support at 30 – 40 lb/minute at 30 to 50 psig.  Powered by a Cummins QSB6.7 Tier III diesel engine, AgilePower delivers exceptional capability with great fuel efficiency and reliability.

Navy Applications

Another recent mobile, multi-capable aircraft support product from JBT is the Shipboard Mobile Electric Power Plant (SMEPP) developed for use on US Navy aircraft carriers.

SMEPP is a self-propelled cart supplying 400 Hz, 270 VDC, and 28VDC electrical power for all the aircraft used by the US Navy.

The mobile power plant is drivable and highly compact for carrier use.  Its tight, 13-foot turn radius is ideal for operations in tight spaces and its electric drive makes it ideal for hangar applications.  The unit is air-transportable and comes with space-saving integral cable storage areas.  Electric power is available as 115 VAC / 75 kVA, 270 VDC / 72 kW, and 28 VDC / 14 kW.  Power and overload capabilities make the SMEPP fully compatible with the F-35 fighter.

Summary

Agile, multi-purpose, multi-capable aircraft ground equipment is the focus for next-generation flightline support AGE.  Compact, robust, flexible ground support equipment is essential to help the US Military meet its new doctrinal objectives. Fortunately, new AGE products are entering the market ready to meet the challenge.