It was claimed that such an aircraft could be converted back to stock fighter configuration in only a few hours. Ultimately, this proved easier said than done, for it was tedious, time-consuming and largely unnecessary. To date, it has probably never been implemented operationally for these reasons. The scheme was eventually abandoned and any subsequent reconnaissance equipment will be externally installed. An external configuration was tested in 1992 with the same F/A-18D as above. The pod was a modified 330-gallon tank suspended from a BRU-32 pylon on the centerline. This may or may not represent a model for future ATARS integration, slated for Fleet Marine Force F/A-18Ds some time around 2003-2005.
