Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced the launch of the first of its aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (AISR) jet platform, RAPCON-X, recently. Built with a current production, commercial derivative aircraft (CDA), RAPCON-X offers range, endurance and an operational envelope that enhances survivability and the ability to operate in peer-to-peer and near-peer environments.
“The ISR landscape is changing aggressively throughout the battlespace for our soldiers in the field and the defense industry’s response is going to be limited without effective peer-near-peer quick reaction capabilities in theater,” said Tim Owings, executive vice president of SNC’s Mission Solutions and Technologies business area. “We designed RAPCON-X with the future in mind so it’s a modular, rapidly configurable platform with open architecture systems that eliminate OEM and vendor lock.”
SNC designed the platform using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), significantly reducing the time required to integrate new systems and add capabilities, eliminating OEM and vendor lock. RAPCON-X is easily reconfigurable based on specific mission needs without a complete aircraft redesign. This also allows customers to utilize a variety of mission equipment, including some of SNC’s most innovative products including SNC TRAX® software, the Next-Generation Mission System and signal intelligence (SIGINT) products for multi-domain operations.
SNC will also offer its turnkey, contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) services for RAPCON-X, including aircraft, flight operations, maintenance operations and logistics support. SNC is home to 20+ aircraft hangars across the country, with the ability to host large and small aircraft equipped with certified, award-winning, FAA repair stations and technicians. With more than 50 years of experience optimizing ISR operations worldwide, SNC designs, develops and delivers rugged hardware, open architecture systems and modular mission solutions for 200+ types of aircraft.