Official MDS database listing — current official DoD aircraft designations

Andreas Parsch said:
C-40D
Date: 22 July 2024
Service: Air Force
Manufacturer: Boeing
Engine(s): 2x High-bupass turbofan CFM LEAP-1B

Comment: A planned C-40 variant as VIP transport
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First 737 MAX procurement for the military, given the engine type. Which does make sense as the P-8 and E-7 are orphan programs now compared to civil production.
 
Scott Kenny said:
Maybe it was supposed to be the FARA program that got canceled?
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But then a designation for FARA, had it been allocated, should still be in the list.

Canceling a program does not "cancel" an MDS designation, if one has already been assigned to the forthcoming aircraft or missile. As I said above in another posting, removing an MDS is paperwork, which probably nobody wants to do.
 
Andreas Parsch said:
ME-11B
Date: 25 April 2024
Service: Air Force
Manufacturer: Bombardier
Engine(s): 2x Rolls-Royce BR700-710D5-21

Comment: I vaguely remember to have read about an E-11 variation, but I can't pin it down. Can someone help here?
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A slightly more thorough attempt at identifying the ME-11B ...

The engine model (BR700-710D5-21) is marketed as "Pearl" (or "Pearl 15"), and powers the Bombardier Global 5500 and 6500 aircraft (but not the 6000). The 6500 is the airframe for the Army's ATHENA (mentioned above) / HADES program, but that wouldn't match the "Service" entry of the MDS record. There are also two web sources, saying that the latest (since 2022) USAF E-11 BACN aircraft are based on the 6500:

https://www.scramble.nl/military-ne...ield-airborne-communications-node-handed-over
https://www.key.aero/article/usaf-receives-seventh-e-11-bacn-bombardier

If these sources are correct, then I think the Global 6500-based BACN is a better candidate for ME-11B than ATHENA/HADES.
 
Am I nuts, or are there two very different configurations of BACM E-11s?

This clean-looking airframe:

1740001429922.png

And this version, with two very large antenna fairings

1740001477090.png

Is it possible they decided to differentiate these two? Or am I just missing something basic about the BACN aircraft?
 
Andreas Parsch said:
YRQ-10A
Date: 27 December 2024
Service: Army
Manufacturer: Textron Systems
Engine(s): 1x Lycoming EO-101

Comment: Q-series numbering is apparently out of control ;). Also, I have no immediate idea to which UAS this refers. Google doesn't even find an "EO-101" engine. Ideas, anyone?


YRQ-11A
Date: 27 December 2024
Service: Army
Manufacturer: Griffon
Engine(s): 1x HFE DA-215 EFI Hybrid Generator

Comment: Same as for YRQ-10A - except, that at least a "DA-215" engine seems to exist. OTOH, the Q-number duplication is even weirder, because the RQ-11 Raven is still in use. Also, the Griffon website doesn't seem to list an UAV with a DAI-215 engine.
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I tried to dig down into these two mystery designations, and came up with an interesting lead:

Army Awards FTUAS Options 3 and 4
The Army’s Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft System Program Achieves Two Major Milestones

So the two "finalists" in the Army's ongoing FTUAS program are the Griffon Valiant and Textron Aerosonde 4.8 HQ. Given that the YRQ-10A and YRQ-11A are closely related (the two MDS records have the same date, so were assigned in one go), this can't be a coincidence. Unfortunately, neither Griffon nor Textron are open about the engines used in the UAVs. Griffon doesn't say anything, and Textron only says "Heavy Fuel Engine" - but because there is no info on a "Lycoming EO-101", this doesn't help a lot. However, the Valiant has a hybrid-electric system (where a combustion engine provides the power for electric motors, which drive the propellers), which would fit the "Hybrid Generator" part of the engine descriptor very well.

So for the time being, I think the Textron Aerosonde 4.8 HQ and Griffon Valiant are by far the most likely candidates for the YRQ-10A and YRQ-11A designations, respectively.
 
Stargazer said:
These do not look doctored, but the first one did (especially the serial and markings on the fuselage, which incidentally DON'T appear on your other photos.
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11-9001 is well known as a BACN airframe.

I figured it out -- apparently the ex-RAF airframes have those radomes left over from their surveillance role and they are not required for the BACN function. (See the end of the article below)

theaviationist.com

U.S. E-11A 'Flying Gateway' Takes Part In Counter-Drone And Integrated Missile Defense Exercise In Middle East

U.S. Air Force E-11A aircraft equipped with the BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node) payload took part in a C-UAS and IAMD exercise in the
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com
 
TomS said:
11-9001 is well known as a BACN airframe.

I figured it out -- apparently the ex-RAF airframes have those radomes left over from their surveillance role and they are not required for the BACN function. (See the end of the article below)

theaviationist.com

U.S. E-11A 'Flying Gateway' Takes Part In Counter-Drone And Integrated Missile Defense Exercise In Middle East

U.S. Air Force E-11A aircraft equipped with the BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node) payload took part in a C-UAS and IAMD exercise in the
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com
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11-9001 is, I think, the "prototype" aircraft, which has been retired.

The first 4 E-11As were based on the Global 6000. The newer aircraft are based on the Global 6500. It's possible that the 6500-based aircraft could be designated E-11B but at least one has been delivered and has been referred to as an E-11A.

Originally there were 4 E-11As and 24 EQ-4B Global Hawk (Block 20) BACN aircraft. The 24 Global Hawks were retired and the E-11A force was to expand to...... 7. This was now many years ago, but they are still not at that number. 1 E-11A was lost, the "prototype" was retired, and 1 new aircraft was added.
 
quellish said:
11-9001 is, I think, the "prototype" aircraft, which has been retired.

The first 4 E-11As were based on the Global 6000. The newer aircraft are based on the Global 6500. It's possible that the 6500-based aircraft could be designated E-11B but at least one has been delivered and has been referred to as an E-11A.

Originally there were 4 E-11As and 24 EQ-4B Global Hawk (Block 20) BACN aircraft. The 24 Global Hawks were retired and the E-11A force was to expand to...... 7. This was now many years ago, but they are still not at that number. 1 E-11A was lost, the "prototype" was retired, and 1 new aircraft was added.
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E-11 #8 was delivered last year and #9 slated for this year. That will bring the inventory to 7. (Edit: including the lost aircraft and the retirement of 11-9001.)

I was under the impression that there were only 5 EQ-4B BACN aircraft. Not all of the Block 20 Global Hawks were for BACN.

www.key.aero

USAF retires BACN EQ-4B Global Hawks

USAF Northrop Grumman EQ-4B Block 20 Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) Global Hawk - serial 04-2018 ‘GF’ - made the type’s final landing back at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, on July
www.key.aero www.key.aero
 
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