F-35A reaches ‘huge milestone’ in program development

Air Force officials begin their F-35A Lightning II Operational Utility Evaluation Sept. 10, an instrumental step in beginning Joint Strike Fighter pilot and maintenance training for the service. Two 33rd Fighter Wing pilots at Eglin AFB, Fla., along with two Air Force test pilots, will conduct the review expected to last approximately 65 days. lear more

A400M makes flying return to show circuit

Airbus Military's A400M arrived at ILA in spectacular style, with the European manufacturer back in air display mode after restricting the type to a static-only appearance at July's Farnborough air show. "Grizzly" development aircraft MSN4 is on show this week, with Airbus test pilot Karl-Heinz Mai having completed an impressive validation routine shortly after its arrival. Including the A400M's signature display manoeuvre, where a bank angle of up to 120˚ is demonstrated following a high-speed pass and climb. The sequence showcases the type's agility and the responsiveness of its Europrop International TP400-D6 engines. learn more

Denel Aerostructures hopes A400M will finally establish it in first tier of global manufacturers

The aerostructures arm of South Africa's state-owned aerospace and defence group Denel is emerging from turbulent times to establish itself as a tier one player in the global supply chain. Three years ago the Johannesburg-based business hit rock bottom. Having been appointed one of a handful of non-European partners for the Airbus Military A400M in an offset deal, Denel Aerostructures was struck first by a two-year programme delay and then by Pretoria's unexpected axeing of its order for eight of the transport aircraft. With the government wavering on whether to continue supporting the heavily loss-making aerostructures business and Airbus bruised by the decision, Denel's ambitions of moving up the value chain as a first tier supplier to major airframers looked in tatters. Coupled with that, the business was saddled with a cost base it could not support. "It was a period of great uncertainty for us," admits chief executive Ismail Dockrat, who took over in early 2010 after a spell at sister unit Denel Aviation. "The company was in dire financial straits." learn more

Luftwaffe advances Eurofighter experience

German air force experience of operating its Eurofighters has moved on significantly since the last ILA, with one notable recent highlight being a month-long deployment of eight combat aircraft to Alaska. Drawn from the Neuburg-based Fighter Wing 74, the aircraft participated in a US Air Force-led Red Flag Alaska exercise intended to prove the service's readiness to meet NATO air defence responsibilities with the type. It also offered a separate opportunity for the Luftwaffe's pilots to train with their counterparts in the USAF's Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor community. Two of the Luftwaffe's Eurofighters are at ILA, visiting from its JG-31 unit in Nörvenich. Cassidian test pilot Geri Krähenbühl will be putting one through its paces during the flying display, with the other to be on view in the static park. "Germany plays a crucial role in the Eurofighter programme on the political and industrial level, as well as being a core customer," says Eurofighter chief executive Enzo Casolini. "Around 3,000 employees work directly on the Eurofighter with Cassidian in Germany, plus 22,000 indirect jobs in the country. So out of 100,000 jobs connected with the Eurofighter programme all over Europe, 25,000 are in Germany." Casolini adds that in addition, "a high percentage of the costs for Eurofighter flow back to the German government as tax revenues". learn more

AHRLAC: South Africa's first aircraft since apartheid could be platform for revitalised aero industry

South Africa's first domestically-designed aircraft since the ill-fated Denel Rooivalk attack helicopter - conceived during apartheid to fight insurgents, but a subsequent flop in the export market - will take to the air early next year. The AHRLAC, which stands for advanced high-performance reconnaissance light aircraft, is a two-seat, single-engine pusher, and the programme has attracted much market interest throughout the world, according to the company behind it, Paramount. Privately-owned Paramount is not your typical defence firm, and its founder and chairman Ivor Ichikowitz not your typical defence executive. With a background in theatre, Ichikowitz was a supporter of the African National Congress during the apartheid era, and founded Paramount in 1994 when he saw an opportunity to create a "solutions company" to exploit the country's niche expertise in security and defence technology once export markets opened to the rest of Africa. Now one of South Africa's most successful entrepreneurs, his interests include a game resort, mining companies and property. learn more

Indonesia could take additional RAAF C-130Hs

Australia is open to providing Indonesia more Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transports, following its gift of four examples announced in July. "I've indicated to [Indonesia's defence minister] that if Indonesia is interested in acquiring more C-130s, then we have some which we will be able to sell," minister for defence Stephen Smith said in a media briefing. He was responding to a journalist's query regarding unsourced news reports that Australia is on the verge of selling six C-130H aircraft to Indonesia for $15 million each. Smith said that six was the number of aircraft Australia could "probably" offer. In early August, the Jakarta Post quoted an Indonesian defence ministry spokesman as saying that a deal was in the works for six Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130Hs that will be retired at the end of 2012. learn more

Eurocopter presents EC145 T2 mock-up

While the first two prototypes of the Eurocopter EC145 T2 are employed in the flight-test programme, the manufacturer is showing a mock-up of the upgraded medium-twin in special forces configuration as part of its static display between halls 2 and 3. The aircraft had its first flight in June 2010 and Eurocopter is aiming for certification around the end of this year. The most distinctive feature that differentiates the T2 from the standard EC145 is the shrouded "Fenestron" tail rotor, which required a completely redesigned empennage and tail boom - all of which is now made out of carbon composite. learn more

MBDA waits on German Meteor contract

MBDA is firing up its efforts to supply Germany with Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, with the nation being the only one of six programme partners yet to sign a production contract. To arm Eurofighter combat aircraft for Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, plus the Dassault Rafale for France and Sweden's Saab Gripen from later this decade, Meteor is intended to be a European successor to Raytheon's AIM-120 AMRAAM. Earlier this year, MBDA announced completion of development work on the new air superiority weapon, with first production deliveries to be made to the UK late this year. With a contract signature with Berlin expected before year-end, MBDA will be talking up the design's performance during a successful development and test campaign led by the UK. A key element of the Meteor is its scramjet engine, which was developed by Germany's Bayern-Chemie. MBDA's outside exhibit is dominated by a launcher for the MEADS air defence system, for which development activities will conclude in 2014. learn more

Axed Talarion reborn as 'European UAS'

Development activities on Cassidian's Talarion unmanned air system project might have been formally shelved earlier this year, but the EADS company has clearly not given up hope of seeing the design become a production reality one day. On show as part of the EADS external exhibit, Cassidian's proposed "European unmanned aerial system" is an unbranded full-scale model of its Talarion, which was axed after failing to secure funding commitments from the governments of France, Germany and Spain. lear more

Embraer completes preliminary design review for KC-390

The Brazilian air force and Embraer completed a preliminary design review of the KC-390 tanker in August, the company says. "We checked all the main aspects of the aircraft's project and the KC-390 meets the Brazilian air force's expectations," says Col Sergio Carneiro, the Brazilian air force's KC-390 programme manager. The review was undertaken at Embraer's facilities in Eugênio de Melo from 20 August to 29 August. The next major step is the critical design review, which will clear the way to build the first flying prototype, Embraer says. The KC-390 will be the largest aircraft ever built by the Brazilian aerospace industry. Embraer says "it will establish a new standard for mid-sized military transport aircraft, in terms of performance and load capacity." learn more

Ejército colombiano estudia modelos de aviones no tripulados

Pese a las negociaciones de paz con la guerrilla, las Fuerzas Armadas analizan un helicóptero no tripulado conocido como Centauro, y que produce la firma Tekplus.

Dennis Kloske, ex secretario de Estado Adjunto de Exportaciones de Estados Unidos y ejecutivo de la compañía española, señaló que el Centauro destaca por su diseño modular, versatilidad y costo eficiente, características que Kloske estima como fundamentales ante el escenario internacional que se ha conformando.



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La Fuerza Aérea Rusa incorporará nuevo misil táctico en 2012

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuzR6TOMEAYCqxFbv4KN7ifIITn-OLUknPn8XixlFNV9q3md75egrKejMlkw8t2lqWVzEo5mtTdbBRV-srvJOTY29bvBD4FDozwwN2f0VQcGMn_gFfUK8V01OImwMphBgen78Pqlap7M/s1600/Kh-31PD.jpg La Fuerza Aérea Rusa incorporará un nuevo mísil táctico antes de final de año, declaró el director general de la empresa rusa KTRV (acrónimo ruso de Korporatsia Takticheskogo Raketnogo Vooruzheniya), Boris Obnosov leer mas

Navy Seal gives interview on Bin Laden book No Easy Day

The first interview has been aired with a former US special forces member who wrote a first-hand account of the May 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden. The Navy Seal, who uses the pseudonym Mark Owen, was interviewed by the US television network CBS. Mr Owen repeated his claim that Bin Laden was shot as soon as he looked out of his bedroom, contrary to the official version of events. The Pentagon has said it may sue Mr Owen for divulging military secrets. learn more

Committed To Delivering Submarines To Egypt, Israel: Germany

The German Government reaffirmed its commitment to Israel and Egypt over the supply of two submarines. The statement comes following speculation of a rift between the two countries. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said, "There has been no change in the German government's position towards Israel, in the commitment the German government feels towards Israel's security".

Australia Commits to New Fleet of 12 Submarines, Announces Future Submarine Systems Centre

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, Minister for Finance and Deregulation Senator Penny Wong and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced Australia’s Future Submarine Systems Centre will be based in Adelaide continuing the strong relationship that has been formed between South Australia and the Commonwealth in support of Australia’s maritime sector.
The Systems Centre will be the home of the Future Submarine program.
It will be formally established this year and over the next few years will expand to include hundreds of Defence personnel from Navy, the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the Australian and international Defence Industry.


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New AEW Testbed Revealed in China

Photographs have recently appeared on Chinese Internet sites showing a Xian Y-7 transport aircraft that has been heavily modified to serve as a testbed for a carrier-borne airborne early warning and control (AEW) aircraft. These recent photos follow one that appeared in May 2011, which provided the first grainy visual evidence of development of a “Chinese Hawkeye” by Xian.


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New Russian ICBM Can Carry Bigger Warhead

Russia’s new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile will have a 5-ton warhead, which is four times that of its predecessors

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Raytheon successfully tests HARM upgrades

Raytheon Company  completed testing of High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) upgrades, which make the combat-proven missile more precise and accurate, while reducing collateral damage.

HARM suppresses or destroys surface-to-air missile radars, early warning radars and radar-directed air defense artillery systems. The upgrade, called the HARM Control Section Modification (HCSM), adds a GPS receiver and an improved inertial measurement unit (IMU) for precision navigation. HCSM also features a digital flight computer that merges targeting solutions from navigation and seeker systems. The enhancements improve the probability of hit, while controlling where the missile can and cannot fly.

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Russia probes hit video of low-flying jet over highway

Russian military prosecutors said Wednesday they would probe flight records and safety measures after a video showing a fighter jet zooming low over a highway became an Internet hit.

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First Keel Laying for Royal Australian Navy Hobart Class Destroyer

September 6, 2012 marked the start of the consolidation phase of the Royal Australian Navy Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project with the laying of the first keel at Techport Australia in Adelaide.

AWD Alliance CEO Rod Equid said the first keel laying is a significant milestone in the AWD project as it marks the start of the next phase in the delivery of three world-class warships to the Royal Australian Navy.

“It’s an exciting time with work on the AWD project progressing well. From today we will see steady progress on consolidation of the first ship with its hull due for completion on the hardstand within 15 months.”

“BAE Systems has delivered all seven blocks to AWD Shipbuilder ASC in Adelaide for Ship 1. Forgacs is expected to deliver seven blocks for Ship 1 before the end of the year.”

“Block fabrication work is now underway on all three ships at ASC Shipyard in Adelaide, Forgacs shipyards in Newcastle, BAE Systems shipyard in Melbourne and Navantia’s shipyard in Spain.”

HMS Ark Royal sold for scrap by Ministry of Defence

Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal is being sold for £3m for scrap metal by the Ministry of Defence to help tackle a multi-billion pound defence deficit.
The removal of the Royal Navy's former flagship from service in 2011, five years early, was a "difficult but necessary decision", the MoD has said.
Its sale follows bids to turn the ship into a London heliport, a dive site off Devon or other overseas facilities.

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How Cuba is trying to stop the flow of drugs (USA-Cuba cooperation?)

Cuba has a long-established zero tolerance policy on drugs, and now Havana is helping US officials stop the flow of narcotics from South America.

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Royal Marines ready for Afghanistan deployment

40 Cdo will be based in Nahr-e Saraj, one of the biggest districts in central Helmand, supporting and mentoring the Afghan National Security Forces in preparation for transition in 2014 rather than fighting insurgents.

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Royal Navy minehunters return from the Gulf

Portsmouth gave a heartwarming welcome home to HMS Middleton who has returned from maritime security operations in the Gulf.
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31 Squadron Tornados head to Gulf for Ex Shaheen Star

Tornado GR4s from 31 Squadron, based at the Norfolk station, will conduct intensive training over a number of weeks, working alongside air forces from partner nations in the region.

As part of the preparations for the exercise, a massive Antonov heavy-lift transport aircraft landed at the Norfolk base to collect some of the equipment required to support the exercise; it will depart on Sunday.

The base's Tornado GR4s and personnel have been heavily involved in many exercises and operations over the last 12 months, including flying missions over Libya, as well as being currently deployed in Afghanistan.

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Final Type 45 destroyer begins trials

The last of the Royal Navy's Type 45 air defence destroyers has put to sea to begin an extensive period of sea trials, it has been announced.
The future HMS Duncan left BAE's Scotstoun shipyard on 31 August and will be put through her paces by personnel from the Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems before eventually being commissioned into the fleet.
Duncan is set to spend the next four weeks trialling power and propulsion systems, while combat systems and sensors will be tested during a second set of sea trials later this year.
Sister ships HMS Daring, HMS Dauntless, HMS Diamond and HMS Dragon have already been commissioned into the Royal Navy fleet, while Duncan and Defender are expected to be commissioned in 2013.

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PZL-Swidnik reveals optionally-piloted 'Solo' rotorcraft

Polish manufacturer PZL-Świdnik has announced plans to fly an unmanned/optionally-piloted version of its single-engined SW-4 helicopter, revealing the development during the 3-6 September MSPO exhibition in Kielce, Poland.

"The maiden flight of the Solo prototype, in a piloted configuration, is expected not later than June 2013," said Nicola Bianco, managing director of the AgustaWestland-owned company. "But we want to fly it earlier."

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Sudan’s Dictator Wants Satellites to Stop Spying on His Crimes

MirageC14 reports:
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has issues with satellites. It’s not that he would mind some of his own, if Sudan suddenly developed a working space program. It’s rather those pesky foreign satellites snooping on Bashir’s war crimes and state-orchestrated genocide that he wants to get rid of.

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Australian Air Warfare Destroyer Update

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, Minister for Finance and Deregulation Senator Penny Wong and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today attended the laying of the keel of the first Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) in Adelaide and provided an update on the $8 billion project.

Australia is constructing three AWDs based on a proven design from the Spanish Navy. When complete, the destroyers will be amongst the world’s most capable warships

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Final Four Gripens Heading for South Africa

The final four Gripens purchased by South Africa would be delivered in mid-September, says a news report in SAAF, the unofficial website on the South African Air Force.

South Africa had purchased nine dual seat and seventeen single-seat aircraft from Sweden in 2008 out of which all the dual seat Gripens and 13 single seat Gripens have already been delivered.

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