Attempting to jump on the homeland-defense bandwagon, Aviation Technology Group at Denver Centennial Airport proposed earlier this year that its twin-engine, tandem two-seat “personal jet” could indeed perform military service as a subsonic (Mach 0.92) interceptor. For this duty, the Homeland Defense Interceptor (HDI) Javelin would have an avionics/weapons suite that could include small wingtip-mounted missiles; a minigun with tracer ammunition; air-to-air tracking radar; Flir; a high-power spotlight; satellite or ground datalink; and military radios. Although its main mission would be surveillance, intercept and warning, it could also, said ATG, be used to destroy “terrorist-controlled airborne threats.”
At a fully equipped price of about $4.5 million and direct operating cost of only $700 per hour, the HDI would compare favorably with the $26.9 million price tag and $3,600 DOC of an F-16, ATG claimed. Price of the civil Javelin, on the other hand, is slated for a more modest $1.88 million (for the first 26 aircraft) and the company is accepting $25,000 refundable deposits. Certification to FAR Part 23 is penciled in for late 2004 and first customer deliveries in early 2005.
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