Apertures & Hardpoints

Apertures and hardpoints are both interfaces used by scientific equipment on the aircraft. Apertures, also known as viewports, are openings that allow instruments to access the outside environment from inside the aircraft. An example use is a LIDAR, which emits light pulses in order to scan the external environment for data such as aerosol or wind-profiles. Hardpoints are reinforced mounting locations with access to the cabin that are more versatile as multiple instruments can use the same hardpoint for different applications, for example an inlet. The upgrade of these interfaces focuses on improving and creating larger apertures and hardpoints to allow more instruments to be fitted to the aircraft now and in the future.