09.11.2012 Sergyi Way - army-guide.com

London, United Kingdom – Specialist Vehicle (SV) is already pulling more than its weight as the core of the British Army’s future Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) programme. The Mobile Test Rig (MTR) for the SV programme, which was rolled out by General Dynamics in June, has towed a total of 92 tonnes train weight over 300km providing early confidence in SV’s ability to deliver the full-load power-pack performance required to meet the vehicle’s anticipated growth path over the next 30 years.

The MTR’s Gross Vehicle Weight was 30 tonnes for the test. The additional 62-tonne load was provided by three towed vehicles, including two military AFVs – an ULAN PT5 at 28 tonnes and a SK105 Light tank with 105mm cannon at 18 tonnes – and a truck ballasted to 16 tonnes. This test, one of several, used the three vehicles as a rolling dynamometer with the brake retarders energised on the towed vehicles, to provide the drawbar load on the MTR required to achieve maximum power and torque.

Conducted at the General Dynamics European Land Systems facility in Austria, this testing demonstrated two key characteristics of the SV design: that the automotive systems – tracks, wheels, suspension, engine, gearbox and cooling group – can deliver the performance to support the programme’s growth path over the next 30 years; and that this SV platform, in its Recovery variant, will be capable of towing all other current British Army vehicles – a key role in the programme’s Recce Block 1.

This stress testing also provides early evidence of the SV’s ability to cope with environmental operating extremes. This is of particular importance for assured operation in high ambient temperatures, the ability to climb steep gradients and the ability to operate in a combined condition of high ambient temperatures at high altitude.

The MTR will also undertake an extensive series of operational and tactical (O&T) mobility trials to demonstrate the ability of the vehicle’s automotive systems to meet the demanding mobility requirements of the SV programme. O&T trials will be conducted at a series of increasing gross vehicle weights to show the platform’s inherent growth capability up to the mandated maximum GVW of 42 tonnes, providing early confidence in the programme of SV’s capability to deliver through-life growth.

Once the O&T trials phase is concluded at the end of 2012, the MTR will be shipped to test facilities in Seville, Spain, where the vehicle will be put through a gruelling Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) schedule designed to replicate pre-defined battlefield missions. On completion of the ALT activities, MTR will have covered a total of 10,000km and will have provided crucial reliability and performance data to inform the design and manufacture of the six prototype SV platforms.

The MTR programme of trials has been designed to provide proof-of-design and de-risking in advance of the main trials programme, which will feature the six Recce Block 1 prototype vehicles (3 Scout, PMRS, Repair and Recovery). This rigorous and demanding trials-and-acceptance programme will ensure that users will benefit from the key advantages of the SV’s common base-platform approach, including a lower cost of ownership and smaller logistics footprint thanks to the commonality of its components across the fleet and the reliability that will allow the Army to use SV far from its base for extended periods of time.

5 novembre Aerobuzz

Thales vient d’annoncer la signature d’un accord définitif portant sur le rachat des activités de systèmes de visualisation sur casques pour pilotes de l’entreprise Gentex Corporation, activités regroupées sous le nom de « Visionix ». Visionix conçoit, développe et fournit sur le marché mondial des systèmes de visualisation sur casque (HMD, Helmet Mounted Display) et des technologies associées de détection de posture et de mouvement de pilote, également applicables dans de nombreux autres domaines. Visionix est implanté à Aurora dans l’Illinois et à Billerica dans le Massachussets.

Thales affirme que l’acquisition de Visionix lui permettra de " proposer une technologie HMD alliant performances et faible coût : un atout à l’heure où le marché connaît de fortes contraintes budgétaires. L’association de la technologie de détection de posture de Visionix (commercialisée sous la marque InterSense) avec le système viseur de casque ScorpionTM donnera naissance à une solution idéale pour les pilotes. Les intégrateurs bénéficieront ainsi d’un système rapidement déployable et économique à l’achat et en exploitation ".

Oct 31, 2012 ASDNews Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation

    Royal Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile Launched in Test in the Atlantic

The U.S. Navy supported the Oct. 23 launch of a U.K. Royal Navy Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT). The unarmed missile was launched from the submerged Royal Navy submarine HMS Vigilant in the Atlantic Ocean.

The test marked the 143rd successful test flight of the Trident II D5 missile since design completion in 1989 – a reliability record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle.

“The Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy continue to demonstrate the readiness and reliability of this highly capable system, whose mission is to discourage aggression,” said Melanie A. Sloane, vice president of Fleet Ballistic Missile programs, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, the Trident missile prime contractor. “The cooperation of both governments, supported by industry, provides a credible submarine-based strategic deterrent.”

The test, which was part of a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation that verified the integrity of the strategic weapon system following an overhaul of the submarine, was the 10th consecutive successful Trident II D5 missile test flight by the U.K. since 1994. The missile was converted into a test configuration using a test missile kit produced by Lockheed Martin that contains range safety devices, tracking systems and flight telemetry instrumentation.

First deployed in 1990, the D5 missile is currently aboard U.S. Navy OHIO-class and Royal Navy VANGUARD-class submarines. The three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile can travel a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles and carries multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems has been the U.S. Navy’s prime strategic missile contractor since the inception of the Fleet Ballistic Missile program more than 50 years ago. Since 1968, Lockheed Martin has provided program support to the Royal Navy under the terms of the 1963 U.S.-U.K. Polaris Sales Agreement, which was modified in 1982 to provide for the Trident II D5 ballistic missile system. Lockheed Martin provides program management and engineering services for the United Kingdom’s Trident missile system through an annual contract funded by the U.K. Royal Navy, with work performed at facilities in the U.S. and the U.K.

Lockheed Martin leads the industry in performance and domain expertise in strategic missile and missile defense systems. Lockheed Martin designs and produces ballistic missiles, interceptors, target missiles and reentry systems with unmatched reliability. Lockheed Martin’s focus on operational excellence yields affordable high-quality systems and services.

Oct 30 2012 trdefence.com

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is well known for showing a wide array of designs at naval expositions, and a huge model of the Italian Navy’s sail training ship Amerigo Vespucci dominates their display at the Euronaval exposition just outside Paris. But tucked in among more than two dozen ship models is a frigate design featuring something quite different for the company — four Aegis SPY1-D radar panels on the forward superstructure, along with a Mark 41 vertical launch system.

It appears to be the first time a shipbuilder is showing the Aegis system on a ship other than a U.S. design and its Japanese and South Korean derivatives, or on frigates built or designed by Spanish shipyard Navantia for the Spanish, Norwegian and Australian navies.

Fincantieri’s “theater ballistic missile defense surface combatant” is a concept design, intended to show that the Aegis system, currently the only shipborne ballistic missile defense (BMD) system, can be installed on a ship with a hull similar to the FREMM multimission frigates built by Italy and France.

No European government has announced a current requirement to build a BMD ship, but an industry source said the design is meant to show that Fincantieri already is thinking along those lines and has a design readily adapted to the BMD role.

No formal relationship with Lockheed Martin is behind the design, the industry source said.

A Lockheed Martin spokesman at Euronaval declined comment on Fincantieri’s design, other than to say there was no formal agreement between Lockheed and Fincantieri to develop an Aegis frigate.

“They are clearly linked with Navantia on their Aegis frigates,” the industry source said of Lockheed. “But this could be a winning solution too,” referring to the Fincantieri design.

The 6,500-ton Fincantieri Aegis frigate uses the 144-meter hull of a FREMM variant designed for Brazil, powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine arrangement.

Fincantieri, however, has a strong relationship with Lockheed on a non-Aegis program. The firm owns Fincantieri Marinette Marine, which builds Lockheed’s littoral combat ship in Marinette, Wis.

And while Lockheed has produced several potential export designs of its LCS fitted with an Aegis system, there are no active plans to build such ships.

October 30, 2012 defpro.com

EADS North America has concluded a national demonstration tour that allowed Army aviators to experience the capabilities of the company’s AAS-72X+ Armed Aerial Scout helicopter offering. The AAS-72X+, an armed derivative of the Army’s highly successful UH-72A Lakota, is on display this week at the Association of the U.S. Army annual exposition in Washington, D.C.

The AAS-72X+ will be manufactured by the company’s American Eurocopter business unit in Columbus, Miss., on the same hot production line that has delivered 240 Lakotas on time and on budget. Lockheed Martin provides the mission computer and integrates the mission equipment.

From Oct. 9 to 19, company officials provided flight time in a representative aircraft to pilots from the Army’s Armed Aerial Scout community at Fort Riley, Kan., Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Campbell, Ky., and Fort Bragg, N.C.

"We want the warfighters who know first-hand how demanding the Armed Aerial Scout mission is to experience the difference in performance that the AAS-72X+ offers," said Sean O’Keefe, EADS North America Chairman and CEO.

The national demo tour followed on the heels of a highly successful Voluntary Flight Demonstration (VFD) EADS North America conducted for Army evaluators in the mountains of Colorado in late September and early October. The VFD was part of the service’s effort to assess potential replacements for the OH-58 Kiowa, which was first fielded more than four decades ago.

"It’s time for a competition," O’Keefe said. "We’ve proven that we have an affordable, low-risk solution that can close the operational gap between the demands of the Armed Aerial Scout mission and the limited capabilities of the current single-engine, Vietnam-era aircraft."

EADS North America chose to fly its VFD in the mountains to showcase the exceptional performance of the AAS-72X+ offering at the higher altitudes that are most demanding for helicopters. Routinely flying missions between 10,000 and 14,000 feet, pilots met or exceeded Army helicopter performance and handling standards normally assessed at sea level.

The AAS-72X+, which is cost-competitive with the upgrades planned for the OH-58, could be fielded with Army units as early as 2016.

Learn more at www.aas72x.com.

HMS Vigilant preparing to fire an unarmed Trident II

ballistic missile, during a test launch in the Atlantic

Ocean last week - photo UK MoD 2012

Oct 29, 2012 ASDNews Source : BAE Systems PLC

The UK Ministry of Defence will today announce it has awarded BAE Systems a further £315M for ongoing design work for the replacement to the Royal Navy's Vanguard class submarines.

The announcement will follow the one made in May this year, when it revealed it had placed an initial £328M design phase contract with BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines.

The Vanguard class, which carries the UK’s nuclear deterrent, will be replaced from 2028. BAE Systems already has more than 1,000 employees working on the replacement programme, the majority of which are focused on developing the new submarine’s complex design.

"Recruiting many more professional design engineers"

BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines Managing Director John Hudson said: “The design of a nuclear-powered submarine is one of the most complex and technically demanding engineering programmes undertaken by the maritime industry. This further work underlines the MoD’s confidence in our ability to deliver a design that will meet the future needs of the nation’s nuclear deterrent.

“The design phase is gathering momentum, and behind the scenes we are working hard to maintain this by ensuring we have the correct skills and resources in place. While more than 1,000 people are involved in the programme, we continue to recruit many more professional design engineers.”  

Earlier this year BAE Systems announced plans to add a further 280 positions onto the programme, and there remains a requirement for mechanical, electrical power, propulsion, quality and safety engineers, as well as naval architects.

HMS Vigilant fires an unarmed Trident II ballistic missile,

during a test launch in the Atlantic Ocean last week

Picture Lockheed Martin

29 Oct 12 UK MoD - An Equipment and Logistics news article

The Defence Secretary has today announced an additional £350m worth of funding for the next stage of design work for Successor, the future generation of UK nuclear-armed submarines.

The investment will sustain 1,200 UK jobs and makes clear the Government's firm commitment to maintaining continuous at sea deterrence for future decades. The funding follows the initial £350m of design work announced earlier this year.

This announcement comes as Philip Hammond visited the home of the UK's nuclear deterrent at Faslane on the Clyde and follows the successful firing of an unarmed Trident ballistic missile by HMS Vigilant during a test launch in the Atlantic Ocean last week.

HMS Vigilant is one of four Vanguard Class submarines which maintain the UK's nuclear deterrent and this firing, the first in three years, confirms the credibility of the deterrent.

The Vanguard submarines will be replaced from 2028 by the Successor which is currently being designed by British companies. As a result of today's announcement, BAE Systems will proceed with an additional £315m worth of work, with a further £38m at Babcock.

A Royal Navy officer checks the target range from HMS Vigilant's deck – Picture MOD 2012

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

    "Our continuous submarine-based nuclear deterrent is the ultimate safeguard of our national security and the Government is committed to maintaining it, both now and in the future. The test firing and further investment in replacing the deterrent demonstrates that commitment. This latest expenditure for the next generation of nuclear-armed submarines is an investment in UK security and the British economy, sustaining high-quality jobs and vital skills."

Commenting on the ongoing debate over Scottish independence, Mr Hammond said:

    "We are confident that the Scottish people will choose to remain part of the United Kingdom. The Faslane complex is the largest employment site in Scotland with over 6,500 jobs underpinning the local economy. We have no plans to move the nuclear deterrent from the Clyde. On the contrary, we intend to move the Astute and Trafalgar Class attack submarines to Faslane, creating a further 1,500 jobs. The Scottish Government needs to explain how their policy would benefit Scotland's economy and safeguard Scottish jobs."

HMS Vigilant preparing to fire an unarmed Trident II ballistic missile, during a test launch in the Atlantic Ocean

last week – Picture MOD 2012

The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said:

    "The Royal Navy has for over 43 years continuously operated the UK's nuclear deterrent to stringent safety standards and HMS Vigilant's latest test firing before she returns to the patrol cycle reflects that successful deterrence is based upon strong determination.

    "One of the core roles of the Royal Navy, the Continuous At Sea Deterrent remains an enduring strategic capability, underpinning our nation's commitment to the preservation of peace in our uncertain world."

All Royal Navy submarines will be based at Faslane by 2017, including the Astute and Trafalgar class attack submarines, which - along with the Sandown Class mine countermeasure vessels - will increase the workforce at the site to over 8,000 by 2022.

28 octobre 2012 par Daniel Favre / Info-Aviation

La Grande-Bretagne a repoussé les requêtes des États-Unis pour utiliser ses bases militaires. Celles-ci permettraient aux USA de soutenir une éventuelle attaque aérienne préventive contre l’Iran.

D’après le quotidien britannique The Guardian, les diplomates américains ont fait pression pour utiliser les bases aériennes britanniques à Chypre, à l’île d’Ascension¹ dans l’Atlantique, et celle de Diego Garcia² dans l’océan Indien (photo), qui sont toutes des territoires britanniques.

Cette pression américaine s’inscrit dans un plan militaire en réaction à la crise nucléaire avec Téhéran. Mais les ministres britanniques ont jusqu’à présent réagi froidement aux sollicitations américaines.

Le ministère de la justice, le ministère de la Défense et le ministère des affaires étrangère du Royaume-Uni s’accordent à dire que l’Iran, qui a toujours nié avoir l’intention de développer une bombe atomique³, ne représente pas actuellement « une menace claire ». Selon eux, fournir une assistance aux forces américaines reviendrait à être complices d’une attaque préventive contre l’Iran et serait une violation flagrante du droit international.

Les sites nucléaires en Iran.

Le Royaume-Uni ne veut pas se laisser entraîner dans un nouveau conflit au Moyen-Orient, bien que la Royal Navy soit très présente dans le Golfe au cas où les efforts diplomatiques en cours échouent avec Téhéran. La marine britannique dispose de 10 navires dans la région, y compris un sous-marin à propulsion nucléaire. Ses navires de déminage sont en rotation permanente afin de s’assurer que les routes maritimes d’importance stratégique dans le détroit d’Ormuz reste ouvertes.

Freiner Israël

« Israël a une capacité de frappe moins développée que celle des États-Unis contre l’Iran », a expliqué un autre responsable britannique. « La clé pour freiner Israël est sa confiance dans la détermination des États-Unis face à l’Iran. » En clair, Israël  ne pourra attaquer l’Iran qu’avec un soutien sans faille des Américains.

Un porte-parole du Foreign Office (ministère des affaires étrangères) a déclaré: « Le gouvernement ne croit pas qu’une action militaire contre l’Iran est la meilleure méthode, même si aucune option n’est exclue. Nous croyons que l’approche à double voie par les pressions et les sanctions ont un impact plus efficace, et que le dialogue avec l’Iran est la meilleure façon de résoudre le problème nucléaire. Nous n’allons pas spéculer sur les scénarios dans lesquels une action militaire serait légal. Cela dépendra des circonstances de l’époque. »

¹ L’île de l’Ascension est située entre l’Afrique et l’Amérique du Sud, juste sous l’équateur. Elle possède un aérodrome militaire construit par les Américains durant la seconde guerre mondiale et qui a joué un rôle majeur durant la guerre des Malouines en 1982 contre l’Argentine.

² Diego Garcia est un atoll de l’archipel des Chagos qui accueille une base militaire britannique louée à l’armée américaine. Les installations comprennent un aéroport, des hangars, des locaux techniques, des habitations et autres infrastructures civiles ainsi qu’un port en eaux profondes aménagé dans le lagon.

³ Israël s’inquiète de la présence d’une usine souterraine d’enrichissement d’uranium et d’une usine d’eau lourde en Iran. Ces deux matières permettent de fabriquer une bombe atomique. L’Iran a ratifié le TNP (Traité sur la non-prolifération des armes nucléaires) en 1970, ce qui l’engage à ne pas fabriquer d’armes nucléaires et à ne pas essayer de s’en procurer. De son côté, Israël n’a pas ratifié ce traité bien qu’il possède l’arme nucléaire avec au moins 80 missiles équipés d’ogives (source: SIPRI).

Oct 26, 2012 ASDNews Source : SABCA

    F-16 Aircraft Depot-Level MRO : S.A.B.C.A. (Charleroi Belgium) delivers its 1200th F-16.

Last Monday, like several times a month, the S.A.B.C.A. flight line crew succesfully delivered an F16 aircraft to one of its customer Air Forces :  this time the Belgian Air Component  received back a single-seater F-16, freshly upgraded by the highly skilled technicians of the company to the latest M5 Avionics standards.

"Business as usual" for these people who already proceeded with 29 similar deliveries since the beginning of the year... with the noticeable difference that this A/C was exactly the 1200th F-16 to roll out S.A.B.C.A.'s flight Line since 26 january 1979, when the very first production F-16 was delivered to the Belgian Air Force.

S.A.B.C.A. started its common history with the F-16 more than 30 years ago, by the assembly and in-flight delivery of 222 new F-16 A/C, on behalf of three different end-users.

Since then, S.A.B.C.A. Charleroi became a global key-player for the Depot-level maintenance and upgrade of F-16 aircraft, serving nine different F-16 customers around the world.

Beside the continuous support to Belgium's and other European’s  F-16 fleets, S.A.B.C.A. ensures the Depot-Level MRO of the USAF F-16 operated in the European theater. The choice made last year by the US Government to extend for another 5 years its co-operation with SABCA demonstrates S.A.B.C.A.'s abilities to provide accurate, on-time, competitive answers to the most demanding requirements.

S.A.B.C.A.'s undisputed leadership in F-16 Depot-Level Support in Europe is strengthened by a State-of-the Art F-16 wings repair shop, relying on in-house detailed wing parts manufacturing capability.

26.10.2012 Pearson Engineering - army-guide.com

Pearson Engineering unveiled the Pearson Engineering Route Opening and Clearing Capability (PEROCC) at the 2012 AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition.

Managing Director John Crompton, said "Pearson Engineering has long espoused the concept of a single vehicle solution for tactical counter IED solutions. PEROCC is the result of this belief, providing a single platform solution to the requirements of counter IED activity through the application of a suite of tools to a chassis, with the capability to detect explosive threats and proof routes at tempo whilst maintaining a high level of self-protection."

Route proofing is provided by the full width, heavy effect, counter-mine and counter-IED rollers. Frangible joints allow the roller banks to readily detach from the chassis in the event of a blast. Hydraulically operated pins allow the front and rear equipment to be jettisoned quickly in an emergency and enable rapid replacement. This feature also allows the ability to integrate existing or emerging electronic detection capabilities on the same platform as the full width roller.

A powerful articulated arm, based on a commercial system, provides interrogation and manipulation capabilities for the inspection of suspicious objects and areas. It reduces and potentially removes the need for soldiers to dismount to inspect suspect areas and enables faster, more effective and safer electronic detection. A variety of tools interchangeable from under armour are available including a ripper claw, bucket, grapple and ground penetrating radar array.

The 3 seat crew compartment for Driver, Gunner and Commander is protected from beneath by an armoured double V-shaped hull for blast deflection. The upper hull is protected by applique composite armour panels which provide blast and ballistic protection. Protection is to STANAG 3 level and above.

PEROCC includes Blast-Off Wheels. In the event of a blast under one of the vehicle wheels it will readily detach from the axle, thus reducing the transfer of blast energy into the vehicle, reducing harmful acceleration effects on the crew and enabling rapid replacement/repair.

Whilst on operations all systems- rollers, interrogation arm and weapon station- can be controlled from within the armoured crew compartment. Storage space on the vehicle can be configured to carry spare roller sets and blast-off wheels allowing for rapid repair/replacement in stride.

Oct. 25, 2012 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Dutch News; published Oct. 24, 2012)

 Withdrawing from JSF Project Will Cost the Netherlands Billions

If the Netherlands withdraws from the JSF jet fighter project, it will cost the country at least €405m, the national auditor said in a report on Wednesday.

The short-term gain of pulling out of the project will be €265m, but the total cost remains unknown, the audit office said.

In July, a majority of MPs voted in favour of pulling out of the jet fighter project. The audit office said this will have a ‘far-reaching impact’ on the armed forces because it will have to continue using the aging F-16 jets.

Jobs

Labour leader Diederik Samsom said the report is a ‘weighty’ one and that its contents will play a role in the ongoing cabinet formation process. Labour and the VVD are currently in talks on forming a new administration.

The VVD wants to keep the JSF while Labour is keen on pulling out.

A second report on Wednesday said Dutch companies which are part of the project will generate turnover of up to €38bn from their involvement. The report was carried out by the SEO research group on behalf of the economic affairs ministry.

Economic affairs minister Maxime Verhagen said Dutch firms will benefit from the JSF. ‘The project is delivering jobs for people who would otherwise be unemployed,’ he is quoted as saying.

Zumwalt-class destroyer

23 October 2012 naval-technology.com

BAE Systems has successfully completed a series of gun fire trials of its 155mm long-range land attack projectiles (LRLAP) at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, US, with a critical design review phase scheduled to start in December.

During the latest round of flight tests, which met all relevent requirements, the rocket-assisted, gun-launched, and global positioning system (GPS) guided projectile demonstrated its ability to achieve accurate reliable and affordable long-range hits on target.

The tests also validated the LRLAP tactical rocket motor's performance under various conditions such as ambient, cold and hot temperatures, as well as live-fire performance of the tactical warhead.

BAE Systems Vehicle Systems acting vice president and general manager Steven Schultz said: "This is a critical step forward for the US Navy's 155-mm LRLAP programme.

"BAE Systems continues to progress on track for our qualification to support deployment of the advanced gun system onboard the DDG 1000."

The LRLAP rocket-assisted guided projectile will support land-attack operations onboard the US Navy's DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers.

Capable of striking against variety of targets in multiple mission areas, LRLAP can serve as an affordable, ship-launched alternative to currently used missiles for expeditionary forces.

Designed to support land-attack operations, each of the DDG 1000's two advanced gun systems (AGS) will be capable of firing more than ten LRLAP rounds in a minute.

Featuring a GPS-based guidance system and a unitary warhead with an adjustable height-of-burst or point-detonation fuse, the weapon can be launched using a unique propelling charge.

After demonstrating its performance and reliability in various conditions, the projectile is expected to achieve initial operational capability in 2016.