Photo www.kc45now.com
publié le 05/02/2011 à 18:56, Sabine Siebold (Reuters) / AEROCONTACT
Un hélicoptère Super Frelon en appontage sur le LPD Ouragan (16 septembre 2003).
Photographe Franck Dubey
04/02/2011 par Jean Guisnel / Le Point.fr
Photographer: Guillaume Rueda
4 Feb 2011 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE / DefenseNews
STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The acquisition of L-1 Identity Solutions of Connecticut by France's Safran SA has moved closer with L-1 stockholders voting approval. L-1, a provider of identity solutions and services, said about 99 percent of shareholders who voted at a special meeting voted in favor of the merger. Those who voted represented about 70 percent of the outstanding shares of L-1 common stock.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/02/04/L-1-Safran-merger-moves-closer/UPI-23061296817080/#ixzz1CzovdAMM
Published on ASDNews: Feb 2, 2011
San Diego, CA - Cubic Defense Applications (CDA), the defense systems segment of Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB), has received a $40 million contract for the expansion and modernization of the instrumentation for the British Army's Salisbury Plain ground combat training range. The contract was awarded to Cubic as part of an urgent operational requirement to enhance troop readiness and predeployment training to support ongoing operations in Afghanistan.
"The British Army is one of our largest long-term and most important customers," said Bradley H. Feldmann, President of Cubic Defense Applications. "We are fully committed to deliver these new capabilities on an accelerated basis to satisfy this urgent requirement."
The award includes Cubic's latest MILES Individual Weapon System (IWS) gear, as well as range communications and after-action review upgrades and enhancements. The new equipment enhances Mission Specific Training (MST) for British troops.
Source : Cubic Corporation
New contracts demonstrate growth potential of Bowman
Published on ASDNews: Feb 1, 2011
- Improved connectivity between Forward Operating Bases (FOB) and Patrol Bases (PB).
- Improved Tactical Situational Awareness (Tac SA)
- Improved Shared Situational Awareness (SSA)
Improved connectivity between Forward Operating Bases (FOB) and Patrol Bases (PB)
The MEADS launcher lifts a pallet of missiles, secures it, and erects it for launch within demanding
combat timelines. Reload times are significantly reduced.
CREDIT: "MEADS International Photo"
ASDNews: Feb 1, 2011
An RG-33 convoy with CROWS II remote weapons stations attached.
photo by U.S. Navy
31.01.2011 by Kongsberg
29.01.11 by David Axe / War Is Boring
“There are those that see JSF as the last manned fighter,” U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen famously said in 2009, referring to the long-delayed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. “I’m one that’s inclined to believe that.” After 2030 or so, dogfighting drones would take over from the traditional pilot-in-the-cockpit fighter, many believed. But Air Force Lieutenant General Dave Deptula, before he retired, offered a different view. “So far, technology does not allow the ’360-degree spherical situational awareness’ necessary for a [drone] pilot to sense a rapidly changing situation and take the appropriate action in a split-second battle,” Air Force magazine reported after a long talk with Deptula. True to that assessment, several countries have launched programs to buy new, manned fighters beginning around 2030. If the American F-22 and F-35, Russia’s T-50 and China’s J-20 represent the fifth generation of traditional fighters, then some of these new concepts could represent the sixth. What’s most interesting is who’s even considering new fighters, and who isn’t. Every single country weighing a new 5G or 6G fighter is in Asia or the Pacific. Traditional European powers, once responsible for essentially all combat-aircraft development, have now abandoned the field.
Read more : http://www.warisboring.com/2011/01/29/the-next-generation-of-manned-fighters/
Commentaire RP Def :
Une belle opportunité pour l'Europe de la défense, encore faut il la volonté politique de réaliser efficacement une BITD européenne.
Pour mémoire (en 2008):
Base industrielle et technologique de défense (BITD)
C-130 - Photo : Département de la défense des États-Unis
CAMBRIDGE, England, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin C-130 aircraft operated by NATO countries will continue to receive maintenance support from Britain's Marshall Aerospace. The company said it received a three-year renewal of an existing contract from the NATO Maintenance & Supply Agency for a full range of C-130 maintenance activities in support of the U.S. Air Force.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/01/28/Marshall-continues-NATO-C-130-maintenance/UPI-74601296230517/#ixzz1CNCXwMoT
photo www.aviation-report.com
27 Jan 2011 by TOM KINGTON DefenseNews
The KC-45’s refueling boom performs nighttime refueling operations
with a NATO F-16 fighter, underscoring the system’s capability to operate
in a full range of conditions. photo www.kc45now.com
publié le 28/01/2011 à 09:21, Reuters – AEROCONTACT.COM
The KC-45 is equipped with a Remote Air Refueling Operator (RARO) station,
which uses a 3-D stereoscopic enhanced vision system for day or night boom.
photo www.kc45now.com
Jan 27, 2011 By Michael Bruno AviationWeek.com
WASHINGTON
The KC-45’s all-electric, fly-by-wire Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS)
enhances controllability, and incorporates an automatic load alleviation system.
photo www.kc45now.com
By Tony Capaccio - Jan 26, 2011 Bloomberg
The Senate side of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
photo by Scrumshus
Posted by Aubrey Cohen at January 27, 2011 7:51 a.m.
Aubrey Cohen ( Aerospace reporter - Saettle) will have complete coverage later on the ongoing Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Air Force's mistaken disclosure of information about Boeing and EADS North America's aerial refueling tanker bids to the other bidders.
For now, here are the written statements submitted by both companies
photo www.kc45now.com
Validation of the KC-45’s four-point refueling system completed with tanker for the U.K. Royal Air Force
Arlington, Virginia, 26 January 2011
The fuselage-mounted hose-and-drogue aerial refueling system to be deployed on the EADS North America KC-45 tanker has successfully transferred fuel to two F/A-18 fighter aircraft – meaning all of the KC-45’s aerial refueling systems have now been proven in flight.
This latest achievement builds on more than 1,500 aerial refueling contacts already completed with the KC-45’s other refueling systems proposed for the U.S. Air Force, which include an advanced aerial refueling boom and wing-mounted hose-and-drogue refueling pods. Dry contacts with the hose-and-drogue fuselage refueling unit (FRU) began in December 2010.
Airbus Military completed the fuel transfers from the FRU on Jan. 21 using the first A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for the U.K. Royal Air Force, one of four U.S. allies that have selected the tanker over Boeing tankers in four straight competitions. The EADS North America KC-45 is the proposed U.S. Air Force configuration of the A330 MRTT, and is the only tanker offered in the Air Force competition that is flying and refueling today.
“The KC-45 is a real, proven tanker that is doing the mission today in real-world conditions, and has passed more than 1.5 million pounds of fuel using every one of its refueling systems,” said EADS North America Chairman Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. “And we have 48,000 American workers who are ready to start building the KC-45 here in the U.S.”
This week’s aerial refuelings validated the performance of the FRU in a range of flight conditions, at speeds between 250 and 325 knots. Installed in the fuselage of the KC-45, the digital FRU can connect with the full range of receiver aircraft that refuel via hose-and-drogue, including larger platforms such as probe-equipped C-130 Hercules airlifters and the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
All four of the KC-45’s refueling systems are controlled from the Remote Aerial Refueling Operator (RARO) console, located in the cockpit. This console provides high-definition, 3D imagery with laser infrared lighting for highly accurate in-flight fuel transfers day and night – even during the most challenging operations.
The KC-45’s refueling systems have transferred fuel to a range of receiver aircraft, from F-16 and F/A-18 fighters to E-3 AWACS and other tankers.
To learn more about the KC-45 and the 48,000 American jobs it will create or support, visit www.kc-45now.com.
Field artillery section sling loading an M198 howitzer for airlift by a CH-47 Chinook
DoD photo by Spc. Russell J. Good
Ridley Township, Pa., Jan. 26, 2011 -- Representatives of Boeing [NYSE: BA], its suppliers and the Netherlands Ministry of Defence marked the first flight of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) CH-47F (NL) Chinook heavy-lift helicopter in a ceremony Jan. 25 at Summit Aviation in Middletown, Del.
The aircraft made its first flight on Dec. 8 and is scheduled to complete its flight test program in August after approximately 100 flight hours. There are two aircraft in flight test.
The RNLAF has ordered six CH-47F (NL) Chinooks to enhance its current fleet of 11 CH-47D (NL) aircraft. The new Chinooks are equipped with survivability equipment, a forward-looking infrared system, and fast rope positions, which will be used to support Special Forces operations. The engines will include air particle separators for operation in harsh environments. These additions will make the RNLAF CH-47F a versatile, multi-role aircraft for worldwide operations.
Boeing expects to begin delivering the aircraft later this year, making the RNLAF the first international customer to field the new CH-47F.
The flight tests have included assessments of the advanced operational capabilities enabled by the aircraft’s Avionics Control and Management System cockpit and newly integrated Digital Automatic Flight Control System. By the conclusion of the tests, the aircraft will be certified airworthy by the Netherlands Military Aviation Authority.
“The Chinook has over the years proven itself to be a true workhorse for the Netherlands Air Force,” said Air Commodore Theo ten Haaf, Commanding Officer Defence Helicopter Command of the RNLAF. “The aircraft proved to be 'the right tool’ for a difficult and challenging job, especially in austere environments and during the combined air and ground operations in Afghanistan. Both ground troops and aircrew speak highly of it.”
He added, “The CH-47F is a major improvement over the 47D model. The arrival of these new aircraft in the RNLAF will ensure that the RNLAF continues to operate with the best in the field of tactical transport helicopter operations both now and in the future.”
“Our goal is to use available technology to provide customers with the best solutions while enabling long-term sustainability,” said Leanne Caret, H-47 Programs vice president for Boeing. “We have a long-standing relationship with the Netherlands and this new aircraft is another example of our focus on providing advanced solutions to meet our customers’ growing demands.”
The Netherlands MOD and Boeing also are evaluating a potential upgrade of the current CH-47D (NL) Chinook fleet to the new CH-47F (NL) configuration.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy Vector Aerospace / Boeing
LONDON, Jan. 24, 2011 -- Boeing and its Boeing Defence UK subsidiary today announced that the Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support team has begun flight testing the first Chinook Mk4 helicopter for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first flight took place on Dec. 9 in Hampshire, England.
"Project JULIUS, as the Mk4 program is known, will modernize the current Royal Air Force Chinook fleet – essentially giving us new aircraft," said Chris White-Horne, Mk4 project team leader for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.
Project JULIUS will modify 38 Mk2/2A Chinooks into the Mk4/4A configuration and eight Mk3 Chinooks into the Mk5 configuration. All the aircraft will be delivered to RAF Odiham in Hampshire.
A major part of the modification for both the Mk4/4A and Mk5 aircraft is the Thales TopDeck cockpit. Thales UK is under contract with Boeing to supply its Cockpit Display System/Mission Avionic System, which will provide improved situational awareness, increased safety and options for capability enhancement. The upgraded and integrated cockpit display includes four multifunction displays, two stand-by flight displays, updated communications interfaces, and two new air data computers.
"The first of the modified JULIUS Chinook helicopters is expected to be available to commanders before the end of 2011," said David Pitchforth, managing director, Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support. "The entire Mk2 fleet will be fitted with the JULIUS cockpit by early 2015, followed by Mk2A and Mk3 modifications by 2015 and 2016, respectively."
The modifications also include the addition of a third crew-member seat and an update of Airworthiness & Safety Certification and Qualification for the modernized Chinook. The aircraft are being modified at the Gosport Fleetlands facility operated by Vector Aerospace, Boeing's principal subcontractor for deep support of the RAF Chinook fleet. Vector Aerospace has established a dedicated production line at Fleetlands to support the JULIUS program, with specialist component manufacture provided from its Almondbank facility near Perth, Scotland.
"Vector Aerospace is delighted to be associated with this significant milestone. It is a testimony to the skill and dedication of our teams in Fleetlands and Almondbank, who have worked in a spirit of true partnership with our customer Boeing and the key equipment suppliers," said Tim Rice, managing director, Vector Aerospace UK.
A wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company and a business unit of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Boeing Defence UK Ltd. currently has employees at 20 locations throughout the UK supporting Ministry of Defence and U.S. military programs.
Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support, working with Boeing Global Services & Support's Rotorcraft Support business, is focused on providing increased capability to the United Kingdom’s military rotorcraft fleet. Supported by Boeing Defence UK, UK Rotorcraft Support has employees in Afghanistan, the UK, and the U.S., supporting Royal Air Force Chinooks and British Army Air Corps Apache fleets.
photo Stars and Stripes
By Kevin Dougherty
Stars and Stripes
Published: January 21, 2011
.
A KC-135R refuels an F-15 Eagle
U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Angelique Perez
De Mathieu RABECHAULT (AFP) 22.01.2011
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