06/08/2014 Par Véronique Guillermard

Ce classement est toujours dominé par les Américains, avec en leader l'indéboulonnable Lockheed Martin.

C'est la surprise de l'édition 2013 du classement des 100 plus importantes entreprises d'armement dans le monde, publié par le magazine américain Defence News. Pour la première fois depuis 2007, le français Thales, y fait son grand retour. Avec un chiffre d'affaires de 10,96 milliards de dollars réalisés en 2013 dans la défense, le groupe dirigé par Jean-Bernard Lévy se classe au neuvième rang, juste devant l'italien Finmeccanica (10,89 milliards de dollars, en recul de 13 %). «Thales qui a vu ses ventes progresser de 13 % dans la défense en 2013, dépasse l'américain L-3 qui sort du top 10 pour la première fois depuis 2006», commentent les auteurs de l'étude. Malgré la baisse des budgets militaires en Europe ainsi que la réorientation - certes progressive - de Thales vers le civil, le groupe reste un poids lourd de l'armement.

Suite de l’article

29 Jul 2014 By: Beth Stevenson - FG

A contract for leased unmanned air vehicle (UAV) services in support of the security mission in Ukraine is expected to be awarded imminently, an industry source reveals.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) recently issued a solicitation for bids which closed on Friday, 25 July. It stipulates the requirement for a turnkey UAV solution for deployment in the conflicted east of the country.

No further details were provided, although it has now been revealed that OSCE is seeking a vertical take-off and landing platform, preferably for round-the-clock monitoring operations, to be operational within weeks.

Vienna-based Schiebel confirms it has responded to the tender with its Camcopter S-100. However, it is unclear whether any other systems have been offered. Saab’s Skeldar UAV would fulfil the requirement, although the company declines to comment on any bid.

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28 Jul 2014 By: Beth Stevenson - FG

Flight Tech has received its first export contract for the Horus FT-100 unmanned air vehicle from an undisclosed African military customer.

The Brazil-based manufacturer will deliver the three aircraft on order in the second half of 2014. The contract also includes options for further deliveries the following year, as well as covering logistical support.

The company’s UAVs were designed in conjunction with the Brazilian armed forces, and this deal marks the first military model to be exported by Brazil.

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Sandia National Laboratories' highly modified miniature synthetic aperture radar system is being transferred to the U.S. Army to support combat military personnel by uncovering improvised explosive devices. (Photo courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories)

04 August 2014 techbriefs.com

Detecting improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan requires constant, intensive monitoring using rugged equipment. When Sandia researchers first demonstrated a modified miniature synthetic aperture radar (MiniSAR) system to do just that, some experts didn't believe it. But those early doubts are long gone. Sandia's Copperhead — a highly modified MiniSAR system mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — has been uncovering IEDs in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2009. Now, according to senior manager Jim Hudgens, Sandia is transferring the technology to the U.S. Army to support combat military personnel.

The new technology was developed with the Defense Department's Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO); the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center/Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL); the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR); Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory; the Naval Research Laboratory; and Florida-based force protection company AIRSCAN.

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04/08 Jean-Philippe Lacour / Correspondant à Francfort - lesechos.fr

Un contrat militaire de 100 millions d’euros a été stoppé ce lundi par Berlin. Le recul des exportations allemandes vers la Russie semble s’amplifier.

Cette année, le groupe de défense allemand Rheinmetall entendait livrer un simulateur de tir au laser à un centre de formation militaire, en construction à Moulino, dans le centre de la Russie. Le contrat, signé en juin 2011, était estimé à 100 millions d’euros. Il s’est envolé ce lundi après que le gouvernement allemand ait décidé de le torpiller, en application aux sanctions contre Moscou décidées à l’échelle européenne la semaine dernière sur fond de crise en Ukraine.

La Russie a réagi, en déclarant avoir l’intention d’attaquer l’entreprise de Düsseldorf pour « violation de contrat ». Rheinmetall dit quant à elle poursuivre la discussion avec Berlin. Une chose est sûre, cette affaire ne sera pas le seul exemple des tensions affectant les relations commerciales germano-russes.

Suite de l’article

Recently there was a guest article published on CIMSEC – which is worth a read – written by R. Adm. Thomas S. Rowden, United States (US) Navy, who discussed the future of surface warfare from a US perspective. Not only is it thought provoking, it serves to highlight the fact that while the US Navy may not be as strong at surface warfare as it once was, at least it is having the conversation about how to change that – which the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) European nations do not seem to be doing.

This presents a problem because most of the anti-surface capability that Western nations are now fielding is theoretical; the capability they field is not only untested in real combat, but for most nations it is singular capability fielded from often a single platform type. There are of course exceptions to this, but even they are sometimes exceptions only on paper. Britain, for example, has the Harpoon Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSM) on some of its surface ships (entered service 1977), Spearfish torpedoes on its submarines (entered service 1988) and, whilst at the moment having no fixed wing aircraft (the HMS Queen Elizabeth may be launching this year, but it will take time for her to work up, and currently there are no fixed wing fighters to fly from it) from which to fire Anti-Surface Missiles (ASuM), it does have Lynx helicopters armed with the Sea Skua (entered service 1975); the replacement for which is a joint British-French programme started in 2014. The others have been upgraded over time, but they are fundamentally still the same systems conceived in a very different time to take on a threat that has evolved, whilst it was assumed to be stationary.

With the fall of Soviet Russia the world was supposed to be safer. There were going to be no more threats at sea; navies could concentrate on maritime security and supporting land operations. Unfortunately for the NATO allies the rest of the world, including Russian (formerly the Soviet Union), did not agree with that idea. This has meant that while great strides have been made by Western nations in missile technology (and unmanned aviation, an area which seems to both fuel, and draw from, the developments of missiles) this has largely not been applied by them to ASuMs and SSMs. In comparison Russia, India, China and nations close to them have started to field a whole new generation of these weapons. For example, India and Russia combined to produce, what is believed to be, the world’s fastest cruise missile (Mach 3) – the BrahMos SSM. It only entered service in 2006, and yet Russia and India are already working on its successor – the hypersonic (Mach 7) BrahMos-II.

As well as this, the Chinese have a smörgåsbord collection of weapons, and are developing a habit of surprising the world with new systems on a regular basis – possibly to try to prove themselves a major power in a technological way, but also just as likely so as to emphasise their capabilities in this area as a combined coercion/deterrence strategy. Unfortunately, the theoretically equivalent Western programmes are either at the earliest stages of development or distant pipe dreams at the moment; a situation made worse by the rate the surface threat is evolving.

As stated above, it is no longer the Cold War – when it was just the Soviet Union that was the threat (although Russia is re-arming and its navy is benefiting from this) – so nations can no longer afford to just look at other nations as the threat. Although nations certainly cannot be discounted as threats because flash points are still there, and leaderships can change so quickly. Whilst warships are becoming stronger and stealthier – something which goes for weapon systems as well – there are increasing numbers of systems that enable cruise missiles to be launched from containers on merchant ships. This means that a quicker and more flexible response will most likely be needed to deal with future threats; unfortunately the available responses are still very much rooted in past requirements.

Thales announced today at Farnborough International Airshow 2014 that its I-Master radar is now available with a Maritime Moving Target Indication (MMTI) mode. The new maritime capability, enabled through a software package, can be used simultaneously with the existing Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) modes.

• Maritime Moving Target Indication (MMTI) mode tracks small, fast-moving craft to larger, slower vessels, in all weather conditions, day and night.
• MMTI mode adds to the already best-in-class Ground Movement Target Indication (GMTI) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) modes.
• I-Master is an easy to use, 360º radar, in a 15-inch gimbal unit weighing less than 30kg.

The choice of modes in a single sensor, together with its small form factor and high-performance capability, makes I-Master ideally suited for a wide range of manned and unmanned platforms.

MMTI allows users to detect and track targets on water: from small, fast-moving craft such as jet-skis; to larger, slower vessels such as ships and tankers, in all weather conditions, day and night. Algorithms designed specifically by Thales allow users to perform a range of tasks that include detecting unusual vessel movements, perform “pattern of life” analysis, and conduct persistent tracking of targeted vessels.

With MMTI mode, I-Master can now see the widest range of man-made movement, from an individual walking on the land to a ship sailing on the sea, and everything in between, using a single sensor.

The new maritime mode is designed for customers seeking to monitor maritime borders and exclusive economic zones, protect strategic maritime assets, and track the movement of vessels not using the Marine Automatic Identification System.

I-Master is a world-leading 360º radar sensor, easily installed in an existing 15 inch EO turret mounting point weighing less than 30kg. It is ideally suited for a range of manned and unmanned aircraft, both fixed and rotary winged. It is a high performance sensor designed within the demanding size, weight and power (SWaP) constraints imposed by smaller air platforms.

“We have taken our best-in-class I-Master radar and made it even better by adding a maritime mode through the addition of a software package. This allows our customers to monitor wide areas of land and sea simultaneously through a single sensor, making I-Master an ideal solution for airborne surveillance requirements.”
Eddie Awang, Thales VP in charge of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance business

17 July 2014 Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and Philip Dunne MP

Storm Shadow missiles are to be fitted to RAF Typhoon fast jets following a £120 million agreement signed today.

Jul 17, 2014 ASDNews Source : Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A

Embraer Defense & Security this month celebrates the historic milestone of 30 years‘ operations of the EMB-121A Xingu with the French Air Force (Armée de l’Air) and French Navy (Marine Nationale). The Xingu, operated by the French  Ecole de l’Aviation de Transport (EAT) from Airforce Base 702 in Avord, France, has, to date, been used to train more than 1,900 cadets from France but also pilots from Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Luxembourg, and Madagascar.

The EMB-121 Xingu first landed at Air Force Base 702 on March 29th, 1983 as a training aircraft replacement for the Dassault 312 Flamant. In 1984, the first batch of newly qualified pilots concluded their training. Since that time, over 330.000 flight hours have been flown by the 43 Xingus of EAT and today, a total of 33 aircraft remain in operation.

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FARNBOROUGH, UK, 17th July 2014:  eurofighter.com

Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH today (July 17th) confirmed that  NETMA, the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, has placed an order with it to integrate the Storm Shadow long range attack missile onto the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Representatives from NETMA, Eurofighter, and the four core nations of the Eurofighter Programme (the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Germany) convened for the Contract Signing Ceremony in the Eurofighter Pavilion at the Farnborough Air Show on Thursday.

Under the terms of what is known as a ‘Contract 4’ order from NETMA,  Eurofighter will work with the three Eurofighter Partner Companies (BAE Systems, Airbus Space & Defence, and Alenia Aermacchi) and their supply base – including MBDA, the makers of the Storm Shadow missile - to integrate the weapon on the aircraft. The Contract will form part of what is known as the P2E enhancement package. Flight trials with Storm Shadow on Typhoon have been progressing since late 2013 and, working with Eurofighter operators, we expect to deliver an operational capability in line with their requirements.

Storm Shadow is a long range, all-weather, high precision, stand-off weapon already in service on Royal Air Force Tornados. It has been proven in operations to great effect in Iraq and Libya neutralising hardened command bunkers and other high value targets. The stealthy weapon design allows it to penetrate layered air defences whilst the long range of Storm Shadow allows it to be launched outside those defences increasing the launch aircraft survivability.   

In the deep attack role Eurofighter Typhoon will carry two Storm Shadow missiles whilst maintaining the ability to carry 8 air-air missiles. This will enable Eurofighter Typhoon to fight its way in and out of the combat area. 

Graham Farnell, General Manager of NETMA said: “We are delighted to be able to place this Contract with Eurofighter and we look forward to still further enhancements as the Programme progresses.”

Alberto Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer of Eurofighter, said: “This is yet further evidence of a solid roll-out of capability from Eurofighter and also demonstrates the value of forward investment by industry to ensure a progressive and pro-active approach to weapons systems enhancement.”
 

Background information:

Eurofighter Typhoon is the most advanced new generation multi-role/swing-role combat aircraft currently available on the world market. Seven nations (Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Austria, Saudi Arabia and Oman) have already ordered the Eurofighter Typhoon. Eurofighter Typhoon is currently the largest military procurement programme in Europe. 

Its high technology strengthens the position of European aerospace industry in the international market. The programme secures more than 100,000 jobs in 400 companies. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH manages the programme on behalf of the Eurofighter Partner Companies Alenia Aermacchi, BAE Systems and Airbus Defence and Space in Germany and Spain, which are the most important aviation and aerospace companies in Europe.

Since delivery of the first Eurofighter Typhoon to the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom end of 2003, a total of 412 aircraft have been delivered to six nations. The 100th Eurofighter was delivered to the Royal Air Force in September 2006. The 200th aircraft was handed over in November 2009 to the German Air Force. The 300th aircraft was delivered to the Spanish Air Force in November 2011 and the German Air Force received the 400th Eurofighter in December 2013.

In the past 10 years the Eurofighter fleet has demonstrated its high operational effectiveness in international missions and training exercises and has accumulated more than 250,000 flying hours.

17.07.2014 Safran

Développé dans le cadre du programme « Nouvelle France Industrielle », le propulseur PPS®5000 de Snecma (Safran) est destiné à équiper les futures générations de satellites à propulsion « tout électrique ». Thales Alenia Space France et Airbus Defense & Space l’ont déjà retenu pour leurs plates-formes de satellites de nouvelle génération.

Moteur PPS® 5000 | © Eric Forterre / Snecma / Safran

Petite révolution dans le secteur spatial : début 2013, le groupe d’aéronautique Boeing recevait pour la première fois une commande de satellites à propulsion électrique. Ces derniers utilisent uniquement de l’énergie électrique pour assurer leur mise en orbite puis leur maintien en position géostationnaire, contrairement aux satellites « classiques » à propulsion chimique. « Suite à cette commande, tous les maîtres d’œuvre se sont attelés à la conception de ce nouveau type de satellites, se souvient Nicolas de Chanaud, responsable adjoint chez Snecma du Programme propulsion plasmique. Parmi eux, Thales Alenia Space France et Airbus Defence and Space, dont nous étions déjà fournisseur en propulsion plasmique. » Cette collaboration a été renforcée par la signature, en mars et mai 2014, de deux accords de coopération faisant du propulseur plasmique PPS®5000 de Snecma le moteur de référence de leurs plates-formes de satellites « tout électrique » de nouvelle génération, baptisées respectivement Spacebus et Eurostar. « Nous bénéficions également d’un fort soutien du CNES^* et de l’ESA^** pour le développement de ce propulseur », précise Nicolas de Chanaud.

Faible poussée et hautes performances
Les propulseurs électriques utilisent l’énergie produite par les panneaux solaires du satellite pour éjecter un gaz, en général du xénon, produisant ainsi la poussée. « A charge utile égale, l’utilisation de la propulsion électrique permet de réduire de 40 % la masse d’un satellite de télécommunications, explique Nicolas de Chanaud. En effet, quelques kilogrammes de gaz suffisent pour propulser un satellite, alors qu’un moteur chimique nécessite plusieurs tonnes de carburant. Les opérateurs qui choisissent ce type de propulsion vont donc pouvoir utiliser un lanceur moins puissant et donc moins cher. Dans le contexte économique actuel, réduire les coûts de lancement est devenu un critère déterminant pour certains clients. »

La puissance électrique disponible à bord étant limitée, ces propulseurs génèrent une poussée globale faible. Dans ces conditions, il faut compter trois à six mois pour atteindre l’orbite géostationnaire, contre une dizaine de jours avec la propulsion chimique, plus puissante mais très consommatrice de carburant. « La solution électrique répond toutefois aux besoins des opérateurs qui gèrent plusieurs satellites en orbite et peuvent ainsi prévoir longtemps à l’avance leur remplacement », estime Nicolas de Chanaud. Cette technologie s’adapte aussi bien à l’exploration spatiale. Le premier propulseur plasmique de Snecma, le PPS®1350, a assuré la propulsion principale de la sonde lunaire ESA SMART-1, lancée en 2003 avec seulement 80 kg de gaz xénon. Sa mission s’est achevée en 2006 après avoir fonctionné près de 5 000 heures !

Une large gamme de puissance
« Il existe différents types de propulseurs électriques, rappelle Nicolas de Chanaud. Chez Snecma, nous avons choisi la propulsion plasmique, avec l’ambition de devenir le leader de la propulsion électrique des satellites. » (Voir encadré). Actuellement en cours de développement, les futurs propulseurs plasmiques de Snecma couvriront une large gamme de puissance, allant de 500 W à 20 kW. « Outre les propulseurs, nous disposons d’une expertise système, incluant la gestion et la distribution de la puissance électrique à bord, ainsi que la gestion du gaz. Cela nous permet de proposer des solutions modulaires à nos clients. »