Mar 11, 2015 ASDNews Source : AgustaWestland

Finmeccanica – AgustaWestland and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) are pleased to announce the delivery of the first Airborne Mine Counter Measures (AMCM) equipped MCH-101 helicopter to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. The KHI MCH-101, a licence built version of the AgustaWestland AW101 helicopter, is equipped with the Northrop Grumman AN/AQS-24A airborne mine hunting system and the Northrop Grumman AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). Together these systems provide a complete surface-to-bottom mine detection capability. The AW101/MCH-101 is one of only two helicopter types capable of towing the AN/AQS-24A and the only modern helicopter type.

The development of the AMCM variant of the AW101/MCH-101 has been led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, as prime contractor, with AgustaWestland providing technical support. KHI  has  responsibility for system integration and design of the AN/AQS-24A carriage, deploy, tow and recovery system that is installed in the cabin. AgustaWestland in addition to providing technical support also modified the aircraft’s Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) to be able to perform coupled towing patterns with the AN/AQS-24A.

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9 March 2015 Pacific Sentinel
 

A recently unveiled satellite photo showing China testing an aircraft carrier launch system has led experts to believe China has made a breakthrough in the design of its catapult system.

China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the catapult being tested to help planes take off quickly is more efficient than the "ski-jump" ramp used to launch aircraft on China's first carrier, the Liaoning.

The report said the catapult enables aircraft to be launched quickly, upgrading their combat efficiency.

Li Li, a military expert in China, said catapult takeoff device technology is currently dominated by the United States, but if the satellite photo is true, it means that China has "made a groundbreaking and strategic breakthrough" in aircraft carrier technology.

Li said both steam and electromagnetic catapults are used to launch aircraft, with the United States the first country to use the electromagnetic launch system.

Read the full story at Want China Times

12 March 2015 Airbus DS

Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s second largest space company, has been selected by the DGA (Direction générale de l’armement) to build the three CERES satellites, which will provide France with its first operational SIGINT capability.

“The fact that the DGA has entrusted Airbus Defence and Space with the construction of the CERES satellites demonstrates the quality of our expertise and technology, acquired through our successful development of the ESSAIM and ELISA demonstrators,” said François Auque, Head of Space Systems. “Signals intelligence is flagged as a top priority in the French Defence and National Security white paper. Airbus Defence and Space, which started working with Thales through CERES, is proud to provide France with its industrial and technological expertise, thus confirming its position as the prime contractor for all French space-based intelligence systems.”

The CERES (Capacité de Renseignement Electromagnétique Spatiale or Space Signal Intelligence Capacity) system comprises three closely positioned satellites that are designed to detect and locate ground signals, along with ground control and user ground segments. CERES is due to enter service in 2020.

Airbus Defence and Space has been entrusted with the space segment comprising the three satellites, while Thales is responsible for the payload and the user ground segment. The two manufacturers are the joint prime contractors for the entire system. In addition, Thales Alenia Space acts as a subcontractor to Airbus Defence and Space in supplying the platform.

Intelligence is one of four priorities identified by the white paper. The 2014-2019 Military Planning Law has translated this priority into programmes and funding, which include signals intelligence and one of its operational uses, the CERES programme.

This satellite system will give France a capability that few countries possess. In designing and building CERES, Airbus Defence and Space and Thales will draw on the experience they acquired jointly from the ESSAIM and ELISA demonstrators.

Airbus Defence and Space

Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe’s number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs more than 38,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €13 billion per year.

11 Mar 2015 By Ben Farmer, Defence Correspondent - TheTelegraph

Britain is joining the Star Wars arms race with a new Ministry of Defence project to build and test a prototype laser weapon

The Ministry of Defence will begin building an experimental laser weapon later this year as a prototype for Star Wars-type armaments that could one day be used by British forces. The project costing up to £100 million aims to create a high-energy laser that can track and hit moving targets in any weather. Britain is joining the laser arms race as America has already developed a series of drone-killing and ship-burning lasers and already has one weapon on board a warship in the Gulf. The MOD is looking for defence firms to help build prototype machines “to enhance the UK’s understanding of the capability of a laser based weapon system”. “The potential of laser based weapons systems has been identified as an opportunity and offers significant advantages in terms of running costs as well as providing a more appropriate response to the threats currently faced by UK armed forces,” according to the MoD.

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11 mars, 2015 Pierre Brassart (FOB)

Le salon IDEX (International Defence Exhibition & Conference) est le plus grand salon d’armement du Moyen-Orient et probablement un des plus grands (si ce n’est LE plus grand) hors d’Europe. Par ce fait et par le partenariat stratégique qui unit la France et les Émirats Arabes Unis, la présence française était, on peut le dire, considérable. Le pavillon français était le deuxième plus grand pavillon européen (juste derrière l’Allemagne mais devant l’Italie et le Royaume-Uni).

La France a mis les petits plats dans les grands lors de cette édition. En présentation statique, on pouvait observer un Leclerc, deux VBCI (tourelle T-40 et VPC), un Caesar, un VAB Mk III, un Titus, un ARAVIS, un PVP, etc…  Dans les allées des différents halls, ainsi que sur le stand de l’armée française, des légionnaires du 2ème REP présentaient leur équipement Félin et connaissaient un certain succès auprès des visiteurs. Dans la zone navale du salon, le chasseur de mine Andromède ouvrait ses écoutilles aux intéressés. Le Ministre de la Défense Jean-Yves Le Drian a bien évidemment fait le déplacement (le 9ème aux Émirats !) et en a profité  pour rencontrer le Prince héritier Cheikh Mohamed bin Zayed et d’autres homologues étrangers.

Jusqu’ici, peu de succès ont été obtenu pour les industriels français, si ce n’est Thales qui a signé un accord avec Abu Dhabi Ship Building pour assurer la maintenance de plusieurs forces navales de la région. Un officiel émirien a également annoncé que les EAU seraient toujours en discussion, entre autres avec Dassault en vue de l’achat d’avions de combat.

11 mars 2015. Portail des Sous-Marins

La frégate lance-missiles General Soublette de la marine vénézuélienne va subir d’importantes réparations dans un chantier naval militaire à Cuba.

La frégate sera réparé au chantier naval Granma, des Forces Armées Révolutionnaires de Cuba. Le montant des travaux s’élève à 104,6 millions $.

Le contrat entre Cuba et le Venezuela prévoit une « maintenance préventive importante de la structure de la coque et des systèmes annexes ».

La frégate fait parti d’un groupe de 6 unités de la classe Mariscal Sucre, construit en Italie entre 1980 et 1982.

Référence : Cuba Headlines

March 11th, 2015 By Diehl BGT Defence - defencetalk.com

Diehl Defence signed an exclusive teaming agreement with the US company Orbital ATK on marketing and manufacturing the Advanced Anti-Radar Guided Missile (AARGM) in Germany.

AARGM is the most advanced anti-radar missile available. It is based on tactically significant improvements to the High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). AARGM provides the legacy HARMs with a new guidance unit featuring GPS as well as an upgraded anti-radiation homing (ARH) antenna and digital signal processor. AARGM is also equipped with a millimeter wave end game terminal seeker providing substantially improved guidance solutions in the GPS-denied environments.

AARGM, with the international designation AGM-88E, is currently being integrated and qualified in the Italian TORNADO weapon system. This creates favourable prerequisites for economical operation in Germany. Apart from Italy, the missile, having been in production since 2012, is currently being procured by the United States Navy and the Royal Australia Air Force.

In case the AAGRM is procured by the Bundeswehr, the agreement between Diehl and Orbital ATK provides for the transfer of essential workshares to Germany covering production and service during operative use.

Diehl already participated in the production of the HARM guided missile currently in the German Air Force´s inventory. Moreover, Diehl took part in studies and development programs aimed at improving the guidance section.

By cooperating with Orbital ATK, Diehl is supporting the procurement of modern equipment, available on the market, for the Bundeswehr.

11 March 2015 by Guy Martin - defenceWeb

Specialist searchlight company Megaray is offering an integrated recognition system that can identify people at 1.8 km or vehicle number plates at 1.2 km using an upgraded searchlight in conjunction with a low light camera and lens system.

Grant Cornish, International Sales Manager at Megaray, said the original MR2175 has been upgraded to a 300 watt unit to become the MR2300 and is capable of projecting a beam of light in infra-red onto a distant target in order to allow long range lenses and low light cameras the ability to covertly identify targets at night over long distances.

The MR2300 was specifically designed for vehicle, vessel and weapon mounted platforms as was its smaller predecessor the MR2175. The MR2300 also incorporates the strobe feature of the earlier version.

The MR2175/MR2300 can be mounted on weapons, including .50 calibre guns and mini-guns and carry MIL-STD-810G certification, while the MR4300 can be remote controlled in conjunction with CCTV surveillance up to 5 km from the operator.

Megaray recently launched the MR3300, which caters for the marine environment and is remotely operated. It joins the company’s main products which include the 5 km range MR2300, MR3300 and MR4300 searchlights, the smaller MR2175, and the familiar MR175MK2 series compact handheld or tripod mounted 3 km range unit. Infrared lenses are also incorporated with the units for covert or semi-covert use.

Cornish told defenceWeb that mining companies are now also showing interest in the MR2300/Lens Low-light Camera configuration for security use, and have taken several of the units for testing. He anticipates that more orders will follow.

Cornish said the company’s search lights fall under the “non-lethal technologies” category and as an all-rounder are used for detection, search and rescue, crowd control, counter-piracy and sniper suppression applications, for example.

Megaray specialises in the manufacture of high powered military grade searchlights aimed at defence forces, police services and security companies.

11 March 2015 army-technology.com

Orbital ATK has been awarded a contract to supply additional precision guidance kits (PGKs) to the US Army for 155mm artillery systems.

Under the terms of the $120m agreement, the company will be responsible for the production, lot acceptance testing and delivery of guidance fuses for the US and select allied forces.

PGK is a guidance fuse designed to fit within the fuse well of 155mm high-explosive artillery projectiles and can transform existing, conventional artillery projectiles into precision weapons that significantly reduce dispersion to 30m or less, enabling accurate targeting.

Orbital ATK Defense Systems Group Armament Systems division vice-president and general manager Dan Olson said: "This contract signing marks another significant milestone for the PGK programme.

"Fielding PGK for use with existing artillery projectiles provides soldiers with a distinct battlefield advantage, by greatly reducing the inherent dispersion associated with conventional artillery.

"As a proven and qualified technology, the next step is growing PGK into future precision applications for either existing or new direct and indirect-fire weapons systems."

The kit features a fixed-canard guidance and control approach with gun-hardened electronics and a self-generated power supply, and also incorporates a fail safe option, which prevents PGK-equipped artillery from detonating if it fails to get close enough to the target.

The kit was supplied to the US military for training and tactical operations in Afghanistan through an urgent release in March 2013.

PGK programme management, systems integration and production is overseen by Orbital ATK Defense Systems Group's Armament Systems division in Plymouth, Minnesota, US.

Deliveries are scheduled to start next year, without a production break from low-rate initial production, which started in January.

9 March 2015 baesystems.com

BAE Systems Hägglunds and the Netherlands MoD have signed a contract for a mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the Dutch fleet of 95 Bv206 vehicles.

The upgrade includes replacement of the engine, transmission, tracks, electrical systems and the renovation of other sub-systems.

The contract with the Netherlands includes the delivery of one prototype, as well as six pre-series vehicles, with an option for a further 88 vehicles. The first seven vehicles will be upgraded at the BAE Systems Hägglunds facility in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The following 88 vehicles will be upgraded in the Netherlands in close cooperation with the customer.

“We believe we will provide our Dutch customer with critical capabilities through the upgrade work which will ensure their Bv206s continue to serve as some of the most capable and reliable all terrain vehicles in the world.” said Peter Nygren, Director Business Development at BAE Systems Hägglunds. “This contract is key for us, as it will serve as a valuable basis and reference in our ambitions to provide further Bv206 upgrades to other customers around the world.”

BAE Systems Hägglunds has delivered more than 11 000 Bv206 to 40 different countries around the world.

11.03.15 par Lyes Malki - elwatan.com

Après avoir réussi la fabrication de son premier modèle de camion militaire Mercedes Benz en avril 2014, la SAPPL-MB a lancé, hier, un autre camion de type Mercedes Zetros 6X6, dans sa version transport de troupes. Le produit, dont les modèles algériens vont être livrés essentiellement au ministère de la Défense nationale (MDN), est le fruit d’un investissement algéro-germano-émirati.

Créée en 2012 avec un capital de 103 millions d’euros, la SAPPL-MB, implantée au siège de la SNVI, est détenue à 51% par la partie algérienne à travers la SNVI (34%) et le ministère de la Défense nationale (17%), et à 49% par l’émirati Aabar, tandis que l’allemand Daimler/Mercedes Benz en est le partenaire technologique. «La sortie de ce camion militaire est le couronnement d’un processus devant aboutir à la satisfaction de l’essentiel des besoins nationaux en moyens de transport routier, selon un assortiment et une qualité strictement identique à celle prévalant au niveau du groupe Daimler», a-t-on fait savoir.  Une première commande de 35 véhicules de ce type a été passée, a indiqué à l’APS le président du conseil d’administration de cette société mixte, Hamoud Tazrouti.

L’usine de Rouiba, dont la production sera destinée au marché national, notamment les institutions militaires, les entreprises publiques ainsi que le secteur privé, atteindra en 2018 et 2019 quelque 15 000 camions, cars et bus par an. Deux autres sociétés à capitaux mixtes ont été créées dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre de protocoles d’accord algéro-émirati-allemands pour le développement de l’industrie mécanique nationale.

Il s’agit de la Société de fabrication de véhicules de marque Mercedes Benz/SPA/Tiaret et de celle de fabrication de moteurs de marque allemande (Mercedes Benz, Deutz et MTU) SPA/Oued Hmimine (Constantine). Inaugurée en octobre 2014, la capacité productive annuelle de l’usine de Aïn Bouchekif (Tiaret) est de 6000 véhicules de type Sprinter, destinés à différents usages, et de 2000 4X4 «classe C» tout-terrain de la catégorie G, destinés à des fins militaires et paramilitaires. Quant à l’usine de Constantine (Oued Hmimine), elle devrait atteindre une capacité annuelle de production de 25 000 moteurs de car.

March 11, 2015 by Donaldson Company - army-technology.com

Donaldson Aerospace & Defense has completed delivering system development versions of its engine air particle protection system (EAPPS) to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's CH-53K program that will provide the next-generation heavy-lift helicopter for the US Marine Corps.

The 12 Engineering Development Models delivered by Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc, support the system development and demonstration phase of the CH-53K programme.

This phase is scheduled to achieve a key milestone this month when the CH-53K ground test vehicle 'lights off' to test its three turbine engines, main and tail rotors and transmissions at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach, Florida facility.

The first flight is scheduled for 2014, with initial operating capability of the first CH-53K squadrons targeted for the Fiscal Year 2019.

The Marine Corps plan to acquire 196 CH-53Ks, which are designed to have twice the payload and combat radius capability of the current heavy-lift CH-53E, and perform better in 'high and hot' operating conditions, all while maintaining the same footprint as the CH-53E when deployed on ships.

In addition to flying at high altitudes in hot temperatures, the CH-53K will carry troops and cargo to remote, unimproved landing sites in dusty and dirty conditions.

Its three, 6,000-shaft-horsepower-class engines are key to achieving these goals and Donaldson's EAPPS are necessary to ensure the engines perform safely and reliably in such challenging conditions.

Donaldson Aerospace & Defense general manager Mark Rigby said: "The CH-53K will provide critical heavy-lift capabilities for the most urgent missions the Marines perform, including combat deployment and support, troop positioning, and resupply and humanitarian relief after natural disasters.

"Donaldson is honored that our advanced filtration technology will play an essential role in this impressive helicopter's success on those missions."

Using its patented Strata™ Tube technology, Donaldson developed the lightweight, high-efficiency EAPPS to protect the CH-53K's engines from the damaging effects of dirt, dust, sand, and other contaminants.

Strata technology offers low airflow restriction, high filtration efficiencies and minimal maintenance. Strata panels are used successfully in many military applications, including the D and E versions of the CH-53.

To learn more about the Donaldson Aerospace & Defense group, visit www.DonaldsonAerospace-Defense.com.

11 mars 2015 12:36 par Jacques Marouani - electroniques.biz

Emmanuel Macron, ministre de l’Economie, de l’Industrie et du Numérique, et Alain Vidalies, secrétaire d'Etat chargé des Transports, ont réuni lundi 9 mars, les chefs de projet des trois plans de la Nouvelle France Industrielle du secteur aéronautique et spatial : « Dirigeables & Drones », « Avion électrique » et « Satellite à propulsion électrique ».

Après la table-ronde « Usine du futur » organisée le 14 novembre dernier sur le site d’Aerolia à Méaulte dans la Somme et la réunion du 19 décembre sur six plans de la transition énergétique et écologique, la troisième réunion de travail portant les "34 plans de la Nouvelle France Industrielle, a porté sur les trois thématiques dédiées au secteur aéronautique et spatial : « Dirigeables & Drones », « Avion électrique » et « Satellite à propulsion électrique ».

A l’occasion de cette réunion, Emmanuel Macron, ministre de l’Economie, de l’Industrie et du Numérique, et Alain Vidalies, secrétaire d'Etat chargé des Transports, ont salué le travail réalisé par les chefs de projet présents.

A propos des drones, il est nécesaire de structurer cette filière en pleine expansion (multiplication par 13 du nombre d’opérateurs en 2 ans et déjà 2 500 emplois). Un conseil pour les drones civils a été mis en place en début d’année. Des travaux sont engagés sur le volet réglementaire, la feuille de route technologique et le développement export de la filière française. Un projet technologique fédérateur pourrait être lancé avant la fin de l’année 2015.

Concernant les dirigeables , deux projets ont été labellisés à ce stade, le projet de dirigeable stratosphérique « Stratobus » porté par Thales Alenia Space et le projet de dirigeable charges lourdes « DCL » de Flying Whales. L’année 2015 sera décisive pour boucler le tour de table financier de ces deux projets.

Dans le domaine de l'avion électrique, la version 1.1 de l’e-Fan devrait effectuer la traversée de la Manche quelques jours avant le salon du Bourget, qui verra la présentation de la maquette à l’échelle 1 de la v2 de l’e-Fan. L’Etat a décidé, fin 2014, d’apporter son soutien à la conception préliminaire de l’e-Fan à hauteur de 5,1 M€ sur 18 mois.

Enfin, pour ce qui est du satellite à propulsion électrique, les champions français de la filière spatiale, qui doivent faire face à la concurrence américaine, obtiendront un soutien de l’Etatà hauteur de 73M€. Le lancement du satellite E172B, qui viendra valider la nouvelle plateforme Eurostar d’Airbus D&S et le moteur à propulsion électrique de Snecma (groupe Safran) est planifié pour avril 2017 au plus tard.