Archive for category: Aerospace

The Philippines is looking to non-USA sources for combat aircraft to strengthen the nation’s warfighting capabilities. France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and South Korea were all prime candidates being considered.

A successful first launch of a foreign satellite is a major step forward for Japan, but the future of the program is fraught with uncertainty and burdened by a national economy that is far from healthy. The whole effort may be too little too late.

South Korea has requested buying eight MH-60R SEAHAWK Multi-Mission Helicopters through the U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS), the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified U.S. Congress Tuesday, May 16.

Friday May 18th was a busy day in the rapidly growing space-launch industry with three rockets, launched from three separate locations, placing six satellites into Earth orbit. In contrast to the global fanfare that followed the failed South Korean launch attempt, these flawless launches from Russia and Kazakhstan were hardly noticed by the world media.

The Polish Ministry of National Defense is embarking on the acquisition of a new transport helicopter for the Polish military, at an estimated budget of US$1 billion. The first phase will cover 26 aircraft: 16 new medium transport helicopters for the Army; four ASW and three for Search and Rescue SAR for the Navy and three Combat SAR for the air force.

In a much awaited announcement, the United Kingdom has decided to reverse its previous selection and will now focus its efforts on acquiring the Lockheed Martin F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft instead of the conventional F-35C naval model of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Hypoxia (oxygen depravation) conditions often affecting pilots during and after flying in F-22s remain unsolved even after comprehensive investigation launched after the 2011 loss of an Alaska based pilot. While the F-22 returned to operational flying, at least 11 new cases were reported since the Raptors resumed their flights, CBS 60 Minutes reported.

The Indian Air Force has floated a brand new requirement to support the acquisition of nine special mission aircraft for airborne Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Communications Jamming (COMJAM), ground survey and target towing.

Satellite imagery company GeoEye Inc offered to buy rival DigitalGlobe Inc today for $792 million in cash and stock as it tries to make up for a possible revenue loss from U.S. defense spending cuts.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified the United States Congress on 30 April of a potential Foreign Military Sale of Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) to Japan.  The sale includes an initial order for four F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) stealth fighters with an option for the purchase of an additional 38 F-35A CTOL aircraft.  The cost of the purchase is estimated to be $10 billion.

In an unexpected statement 3 May, Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith announced Australia’s decision to delay its purchase of 12 Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) for at least two years.

While the last of 195th F-22 Raptors was delivered to the U.S. Air Force, at its home base in Alaska, other Raptors are being Upgraded to Assume Precision Strike Missions

The global UAV market is expected to increase at a Combined Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.08% in the ten-year period between 2011 and 2012. While the demand for advanced technology UAVs is forecast to be on the rise, particularly for MALE UAVs, the global economic pressure and high R&D costs are driving JVs and consolidation in the developed markets, while low reliability and high accident rate limit the use of UAS mainly to combat roles.

Unlike the US requirements for all-aspect stealth for its future combat aircraft, other countries have other requirements and may opt for different stealth fighters mean different technological approaches for their future fighter planes. The article examines what India could be looking for in its future stealth planes.

The Indian Space Research Organization launched yesterday the second radar imagery satellite, and the first indiginously built by the country’s space research organization (ISRO). The satellite named Risat-1 successfully deployed into a polar orbit at an altitude of 480 km and orbital inclination 97.552 degrees. Risat-1 has an expected life [...]

RAFAEL has demonstrated key elements for an active defense system for helicopters, designed to protect from unguided weapons such as Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG). The ‘Fliker’ interceptor is designed to minimize debris and thereby reduce the risk that shrapnel will hit and damage the aircraft.

The classified MOD report leaked by the Daily Telegraph casts shadows on the capability of the F-35B to meet the requirements set by the military. The documents stated that in order to fulfill the entire mission requirements met by 97 F-35C, MOD will have to buy 136 F-35B STOVL ‘jump jets’, at an extra cost of £2.4 billion. Nevertheless, British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to support shifting back to the STOVL variant.

The F-35 testing program is rapidly progressing toward the weapon testing milestone, which will be significant in validating the new fighter’s combat capabilities for the first time. Among the testing were pit drops conducted at Pax River, and external carriage flights which included aerial refueling for the first time.

Part of a comprehensive four-year defense modernization bill, Norway plans to invest US$1.74 in CV90 armored vehicles modernization, to include added mine protection, improved C4ISR integration, rubber band tracks and Remote Weapon Stations for self defense.

BK-1, the United Kingdom’s first Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II production aircraft, flew its inaugural flight Friday. Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti took the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet through a series of functional flight checks during a sortie that lasted 45 minutes.

North Korea launched its long-range Unha-3 rocket today, Friday the 13th but the launch seems to have failed shortly after lift-off. No launch confirmation has been provided by North Korea yet. First reports say that an abnormally large “flare” was identified shortly after separation of the rocket’s first stage and the remaining portions of the rocket crashed somewhere in the sea.

North Korea’s new Unha-3 is now assembled on its launch platform in preparation for a highly controversial satellite launch later this week. And for the first time, the secretive North has granted a select group of international observers an extraordinary opportunity to view the rocket and witness the launch.

As North Korea continues preparations to launch a satellite into orbit with a long range missile, the Japanese government deployed three Aegis-armed destroyers and Patriot missile batteries as a defensive measure to protect Japanese property and lives. North Korea claims the southward launch trajectory will not risk its neighbors

Five months after announcing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October 2011 the Indian Mahindra & Mahindra group and U.S. radar manufacturer Telephonics Corporation are launching a Joint Venture company in India, aimed to provide radar and surveillance systems to the Indian Ministry of Defense and civil sector.

MIST, an advanced EO payload designed for mapping and wide area aerial surveillance was displayed for the first time today at the AUVSI Israel event in Tel Aviv. A military version of the camera was designed for unmanned aerial systems and has entered operational service in 2006, just in time for the Second Lebanon War. It has since proved itself in continuous operation over thousands of hours on a number of UAV systems.

in 2005, the percentage of Unmanned Systems was just 5% of the US Military Aircraft. At the beginning of 2012, that number had risen to 31%. Given that the UK has set a strategy to keep operational all new air systems for circa 40–50 years, what value can be seen in committing now to spending on a new expensive manned combat aircraft?

The satellite being launched is named Kwangmyongsong-3, translated to mean “Bright Star” and will be mounted atop an Unha-3 rocket. Such a launch would be considered in direct violation of a UN Security Council resolution prohibiting North Korean long-range ballistic rocket launches

Japan plans to upgrade 60 F-2 fighters with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation’s AAM-4B missile, a $468 million deal. This enhancement is expected to dramatically improve the lethality of the F-2 when engaging enemy aircraft.

BAE Systems, looking for new opportunities to increase revenues, has been quietly challenging Lockheed Martin’s dominance of the international market providing F-16 upgrades…

Boeing has delivered the first production P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft to the U.S. Navy. This aircraft is the first of 13 anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft Boeing will deliver as part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract awarded in 2011. The aircraft was flown [...]

The F-35A was taken yesterday on a 90 minute check flight that marked the first training sortie of the new fighter. However, the flight was aborted 15 minutes after takeoff due to ‘fuel leak’ warning.

A pilot for the Airborne Tactical Advantage Co.was killed after his F-21 Kfir fighter jet crashed at Fallon Naval Air Station in northern Nevada, USA. The aircraft built by the Israel Aerospace Industries was supporting naval aviation training at the base, where the defense contractor provided adversary simulation and target towing for U.S. Navy fighter pilots.

Russia and China are negotiating a US$4 billion arms package covering the delivery of 48 Russian Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets to the Chinese Air Force.

The Boeing Company has selected Elbit Systems to provide advanced avionics systems for its fighter aircraft. Elbit Systems’ Brazilian subsidiary AEL Sistemas S.A. of Porto Alegre is positioned to become a key member in the program, supporting Boeing’s F/A-18E/F bid for the FX-2 in Brazil

Amidst growing concern and criticism about the rising cost and delays, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program received a welcome vote of confidence last week from the United States and eight other nations during an international meeting sponsored by Canada. The attendees made it known that they fully support [...]

The U.K. decision to select the carrier based F-35C instead of the Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B variant would require major redesign of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier currently under construction. Even the increasing cost of the F-35B dwarfs, compared to the $1.9 billion cost increase required for the new carrier modification.

On Wednesday, Feb 29, 2012 Japan’s Minister of Defense announced that Japan may be compelled to cancel its $4.7 billion order for 42 Lockheed Martin F-35 fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighters unless the manufacturer and the United States government can guarantee that the proposed deadlines will be met and deliver assurances that proposed costs are confirmed. A formal contract is scheduled to be signed this summer or earlier.

Based on DefenceIQ’s successful ‘International Fighter’ event, the region-specific ‘Air Power Middle East 2012‘ will take place in Muscat Oman on the 26th – 27th of March. Similar to the International Fighter which was sponsored by Defense Update, the agenda covers a wide range of topics related to the latest trends and [...]

The US Air Force is moving to cancel the disputed $355 million Light Air Support (LAS) contract awarded in December 2011 to Sierra Nevada Corp., (SNC). This contract awarded SNC to 20 Brazilian AT-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft made by Embraer Defence. The Afghan Air Force slated these aircraft for light strike operation.

The US Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center issued a Military Flight Release (MFR) that will allow the F-35A Lightning II fighter to begin initial operations at Eglin AFB, Fla.

the French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded Thales a contract to adapt ASTAC tactical electronic reconnaissance pods for the Mirage 2000D. The process is due to complete by 2014, when the Mirage F1CR currently operating with the system is expected to phase out of active service.

The F-35 program accumulated 114 flight tests and achieved 773 test points this year, representing roughly 10 percent of the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) flight test plan for 2012

Lockheed Martin unveiled the new version of the F-16 at the Singapore Airshow. The F-16V will feature enhancements including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an upgraded mission computer, communications capabilities and improved cockpit – all capabilities identified by the U.S. Air Force and several international customers for future improvements.

Israels Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has reached a preliminary agreement with Italy for the procurement of 30 M346 military training jets, built by the Italian company Alenia Aermacchi. The value of the package is one billion US$. Pending formal government approval, the agreement marks the end of a long competition between Italy and [...]

Israel Aerospace Industries’ Bedek Aircraft Division is developing a new version of the 767 Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT), with a Boom refueling system. Moshe Scharf, Senior Director of Marketing & Business Development of Bedek Aviation Group said that Bedek Division has finalized the design and tests of certain new [...]

Recent orders for F-15 fighters from Saudi Arabia are securing the future for the Boeing F-15 production line at least until the year 2018. Beside the Saudi mega deal, South Korea has an ongoing tender for the third phase of the FX, while the US Air Force is looking into [...]

Airbus Military has signed today a firm contract with  PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) to supply nine C295 military transport aircraft for delivery to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. The contract between  PT DI and the Ministry of Defense of Indonesia was signed simultaneously, witnessed by Minister of Defense, Prof. [...]

Flight display collection singapore Airshow 15/2/2012     Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG and F-16C Combined display. Photo: Tamir Eshel, Defense-Update        

Cubic Defense Applications has received a new contract valued at more than $11 million to provide the P5 Tactical Combat Training System (P5TCTS) to the Royal Australian Air Force for use in training F/A-18F Super Hornet crews. “This new system represents a step forward for the RAAF,” said Michael Rodriguez, Senior Program [...]

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)’sELTA Systems will provide fire control radars for installation on an unspecified fighter aircraft, as part of a major upgrade of one of the Asian air forces. ELTA Systems Ltd., IAI’s group and subsidiary, will deliver the ELM-2032 under a recently signed $150 Million contract, spanning over [...]