Case Studies
Eurofighter
The Eurofighter 2000, or Typhoon is arguably the most advanced fighter aircraft ever to take to the skies.
Designed to meet the requirements of the four European partner nations - Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom - it is a single-seat, high-performance agile combat aircraft that will extend the flight performance envelope further than ever before.
The Eurofighter 2000 embodies a design which optimises its air-superiority rile in both 'beyond-visual-range' and close-combat scenarios, but which also provides a comprehensive ground-attack capability.
The aircraft's high performance is matched by sophisticated attack, identification and defence systems that include the ECR-90 long-range radar and infra red search-and-track systems, advanced medium and short-range air-to-air missiles and a comprehensive electronic warfare and countermeasures suite to increase further the weapon system effectiveness and survivability.
The project is managed through a German-based company, Eurofighter GmbH, with BAE Systems (33%), and EADS (67%)as its partners.
The first of seven prototypes made its maiden flight in March 1994, and the aircraft is currently on track to enter service in 2001. Current orders stand at approximately 600 - UK 250, Italy 130, Germany 130 and Spain 90, with outstanding potential for further export orders.
The Eurofighter 2000 mission suite.
Eurofighter is capable of air combat manoeuvres not possible in previous fighters. This is achieved by a design that is intentionally unstable to provide extremely high levels of agility, reduced drag and enhanced lift. However, this unstable design means that the aircraft cannot be flown by conventional means, and the pilot must control the aircraft by a sophisticated, computerised 'fly-by-wire' system that is quadruplexed for 100% reliability.
High mission effectiveness and survivability are realised through an integrated avionics system, comprising seven functional subsystems - all working together to give the pilot an autonomous ability to assess the tactical air situation and fight the battle.
Needless to say, such a sophisticated suite of avionics systems sets a new level of complexity in software development, and it is generally believed that the program development for the Eurofighter 2000 represents the largest multi nation software project ever undertaken.
This software development was based on both UNIX and VAX/VMS platforms. The programming language was ADA (from Digital) and XD-ADA (developed jointly by Digital and SD) as cross compiler to the Motorola 6800X processors used on board. CP HOOD was chosen as the application development tool.
Piero Occelli, from the Alenia project team, believes that CP HOOD has played a major role in the success of the project: "We have been using the VMS version of the CP HOOD toolset for the software design of the EF2000 project which has more than two million lines of ADA code. The noteworthy support provided by the tool has been one of the factors which has allowed us to meet the challenges imposed by the huge size and complexity of this project."
Organisationally, the different software suites are the responsibility of the lead contractor, with all other contractors providing supporting personnel, thus creating joint development teams. For example, BAE Systems was the lead contractor for the Avionics suite with EADS responsible for Flight Control Systems.
Such an organisation made a methods based approach essential for both development and in-service support. The establishment of a common environment (where all software, including subsystems, has been developed using a common tool) has meant that the integration of all components and subsystems has been relatively straightforward.
|
resources