Apr 11, 2011 By Tony Capaccio –  Bloomberg

The U.S. Defense Department expects fiscal year 2011 arms exports to exceed $46 billion, driven by demand for aircraft and air-defense systems, a defense official said today. “This fiscal year is forecast to be higher than ever -- higher than $46 billion,” said Richard Genaille, deputy director of the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency, at the annual conference of the Navy League at National Harbor, Maryland. Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)’s C-130J and Boeing Co. (BA)’s C-17 transport planes were “hot” items in demand by arms-buying nations, he said. The C-17s, C-130Js, aerial drones, F-35 fighter jets and missile defense systems typify “new areas where we can expect to see growth over time” that keeps sales at as much as $40 billion over the next several years, he said. Saudi Arabia’s $60 billion purchase of Chicago-based Boeing’s F-15 jets, helicopters, munitions and infrastructure improvements and the purchase by the United Arab Emirates of Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed’s proposed $6 billion Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system have been approved and are proceeding without delay, Genaille said.

13 April 2011 ST. PETERSBURG, Florida - Cobham press release

Cobham has received a Release for Flight certificate from the US Air Force for the Mobile Aircrew Restraint System (MARS), meaning the restraint system is now flight-worthy and approved for use by the service’s HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. “The MARS is a great system which I think will provide real value to air crews by preventing an inadvertent ejection from the aircraft during sudden unexpected aircraft maneuvers or hard landing," said Kelly Coffield, president of Cobham Life Support. “This certificate also allows Cobham to pursue MARS opportunities with other operators of the H-60 family of helicopters, so I hope we can broaden use of this system to prevent avoidable injuries or deaths, in both military and commercial applications.” MARS is a derivative of Cobham’s MA-16 family of inertia reels featuring dual-mode locking capability, and is used by helicopter aircrew who must operate throughout the helicopter – especially near open doors and hatches -- during flight.

SAN DIEGO, April 12, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle marked a new single-day flight record of 18 hours.

U.S. Navy operators achieved the record using a single aircraft in a series of endurance flights Feb. 25 from the USS Halyburton (FFG 40). Fire Scout is providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data to support anti-piracy missions while deployed on the ship for the Navy's 5th Fleet.

"We've continually worked with the Navy to enhance Fire Scout since its last deployment to meet these types of operational needs," said George Vardoulakis, vice president for tactical unmanned systems for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "These flights not only demonstrated Fire Scout's maturity, it showed how the system provides a much-needed extension for gathering crucial information during peacekeeping or wartime missions."

In April 2010, Fire Scout concluded a military utility assessment on board the USS McInerney (FFG 8), a frigate similar to the USS Halyburton. Fire Scout has flown twice as much in the first two months on board the USS Halyburton than the entire USS McInerney deployment. The system also completed initial flight tests on board the USS Freedom (LCS 1) in November.

Fire Scout features a modular architecture that accommodates a variety of electro-optical/infrared and communications payloads. These payloads provide ground and ship-based commanders with high levels of situational awareness and precision targeting support.

Fire Scout's ability to operate at low ground speeds makes it particularly well suited for supporting littoral missions such as drug interdiction, search and rescue, reconnaissance and port security.

In late January, operators from the Halyburton located a disabled boat using Fire Scout's Brite Star II sensor payload that provides full-motion video capability. This allowed the ship's crew to get to the boat and help make repairs.

April 12, 2011 SHEPARD GROUP

Lockheed Martin completed delivery of the second production C-5M Super Galaxy at a ceremony here Monday with a crew from Dover Air Force Base, Del. The fifth C-5M overall to be delivered to the Air Force, this aircraft will undergo internal paint restoration at Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., before traveling to its home base at Dover. Maj. Gen. James T. Rubeor, commander of the 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve, said in a statement: "Though it's still early, the operational accomplishments of the C-5M in such a short amount of time are extraordinary. Obviously, this is a tremendous investment for the Air Force. With this fifth Super Galaxy, we're adding a new level of capability to the equation for determining how strategic airlift is used in both present and future contingency operations."

April 11th, 2011 MDAA

Northrop Grumman Corp. has lost a bid to compete in a winner-take-all contest for initial development and production of a new interceptor missile intended to let U.S. forces hit long-range Iranian missiles. Lockheed Martin Corp., of Bethesda, Maryland, Waltham, Massachusetts-based Raytheon Co., Chicago-based Boeing Co., and Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman were competing for three Missile Defense Agency early concept contracts. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing were selected yesterday to continue in the program, receiving contracts of $43.3 million, $42.7 million and $41.1 million respectively. They are proceeding through December 2013 with work to “define and assess viable and affordable missile” designs, according to the U.S. Defense Department. Northrop Grumman spokesman Randy Belote said the company “declines to comment on this matter at this time.” Northrop’s Huntsville, Alabama-based Strike Surveillance Systems unit in November announced it was entering the competition.

11/04/11 By Zach Rosenberg Flightglobal.com

Northrop Grumman has detailed flight test plans for the X-47B, the experimental aircraft intended to demonstrate unmanned carrier approaches.

US Navy Capt Jaime Engdahl, speaking at the Navy League’s annual Sea Air Space Exposition on 11 April, revealed that the first carrier landing is expected in 2013, and that the necessary planned modifications have already been installed on the aircraft carrier the USS Eisenhower.The first X-47B aircraft is currently grounded for modifications to its navigation system in preparation for a second round of test flights. AV1, which first flew in February at Edwards AFB, California, is scheduled to be in the air again by the summer.

During ‘late fall’ the aircraft will be brought to the navy’s flight test centre at Patuxent River, Maryland, where it will begin carrier suitability testing in early 2012. The aircraft is scheduled to make its first carrier landing in early- to mid-2013 as part of the USN's unmanned combat air system demonstration (UCAS-D) programme. Equipment will be installed in a Boeing F/A-18 and a Beechcraft King Air to simulate the X-47. In the aircraft itself, human intervention will be limited to “a click of the mouse [that] says go, a click of the mouse [that] says come home,” says Northrop programme director Janis Palminjans. “We have a multi-blocked flight test programme established, developed back in 2007,” he says. “We haven’t deviated from it; we’ve added one more block, called Block 6, for the air-to-air refuelling.”

AV1 has conducted three flights to test its handling and aerodynamics. AV2 is slated to begin taxi tests in the fall of this year. Once finished demonstrating compatibility with the aircraft carrier, both aircraft will be re-modified for Block 6, including precision software already tested on manned aircraft. They will be tested using both hose-and-drogue and boom refuelling capability. Although the aircraft are equipped with weapons bays, they are currently used to carry test instrumentation pods, with no plans in place to carry weaponry.

TEWKSBURY, Mass., April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire - Raytheon Company

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has delivered critical mission systems early for the U.S. Navy's DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer. The ship's first Total Ship Computing Environment (TSCE) data center and AN/SQS-60 mid-frequency sonar array were delivered two and eight months ahead of schedule, respectively.

"The early delivery of these ship systems continues our history of stellar performance on this complex program as we effectively manage the transition from development to production while remaining on cost and on schedule," said Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' (IDS) Kevin Peppe, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems.

"We are committed to the ongoing development and delivery of these highly capable and effective mission systems that will, without a doubt, make DDG 1000 the most advanced surface combatant in the world," he said.

The TSCE data center comprises two ruggedized Electronic Modular Enclosures that house and protect the open architecture computing environment for DDG 1000's combat and ship control systems. When integrated onboard the ship, the TSCE data center will provide DDG 1000 with more data processing and storage capacity than existing U.S. Navy destroyers. TSCE will manage the ship's advanced systems, including the AN/SQS-60 mid-frequency sonar array.

AN/SQS-60 is part of DDG 1000's AN/SQQ-90 advanced undersea warfare combat system and is scheduled to be installed on the Zumwalt in August 2011. The SQQ-90 tactical sonar suite represents a major advancement in undersea warfare capability and will provide broad warfighting coverage for the DDG 1000 class. Raytheon IDS is the SQQ-90 systems integrator, bringing together the full functionality of the suite's sonar elements. The SQQ-90 comprises the AN/SQS-60 hull-mounted mid-frequency sonar; the AN/SQS-61 hull-mounted high-frequency sonar; and the AN/SQR-20 multifunction towed-array sonar and handling system.

Under the Navy's DDG 1000 Detail Design and Integration contract awarded in 2005, Raytheon IDS serves as the prime mission systems equipment integrator for all electronic and combat systems for the DDG 1000 program. Working with the Navy and a team of industry leaders, Raytheon is leading the effort to transform the Navy's ship requirements to reality. Work on the DDG 1000 program is performed by more than 800 Raytheon employees as well as by approximately 1,800 subcontractors and supplier partners in 43 states across the country.

photo USAF

Apr 12, 2011 US Air Force / ASDNews

Dyess AFB, Texas - Airmen from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron began their first phase of demonstrations of a multiple ejector rack on a B-1B Lancer here March 22. If fielded, 16-carry modified rotary launchers will increase the number of 500-pound joint direct attack munitions and laser-guided JDAMs carried by the B-1B from 15 to 48, a 320 percent increase in capability. "Currently a B-1 can deliver twice the payload of a B-52 (Stratofortress), meaning, theoretically, with the MER upgrade, one B-1 will be able to deliver the same amount of payload as four B-52s," said Col. Gerald Goodfellow, the 7th Operations Group commander. Also, the MER has a mixed-load capability, meaning each bomb bay can hold an assortment of joint air-to-surface stand-off missiles, and both 2,000-pound and 500-pound JDAMs, giving the aircrew much greater flexibility during combat missions.

April 12, 2011 SHEPARD GROUP

The US Navy (USN) has revealed plans to deploy Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout MQ-8B with the US Army in northern Afghanistan as well as moves to weaponise the platform. Speaking to Shephard at the Navy League Sea Air Space exposition in Washington, DC, USN Capt Tim Dunigan, programme manager for PMA-266 said funding had been secured for a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. He said the 'ISR Task Force' mission would comprise three aircraft and two ground control stations which would also support coalition operations in the North of the country. He expected the systems to become operational this year. In addition, Dunigan said the navy was also waiting to hear back from Congress regarding funding for its Weapons Rapid Deployment Capability, which he said, was in the process of being validated. 'This is an incremental step towards a Program of Record for weaponisation,' he stated while describing how the navy had already selected BAE Systems' APKWS and Raytheon's Griffin munitions. He added that Hellfire and Viper Strike munitions had also been considered although Dunigan said the navy was still 'curious' about various weapon systems still in development. The USN said it expected to hear back from Congress by the end of May. Other upgrades include a radar capability, which Dunigan said the navy would be 'pursuing shortly' as well as various software changes designed to improve tracking management. Currently, two Fire Scout systems are conducting counter-piracy operations as part of a NATO battlegroup in the Gulf of Aden. Dunigan said the airframes, operating on board the USS Halyburton until August, had flown a total of 193 hours over 26 days fly days. 'We are seeing a lot of firsts. They are being used to identify ships on a regular basis as well as NATO taskings over water, over land and in the littoral environment,' he said. The aircraft are also being used for joint operations with SH-60 Seahawks helicopters.

A revised map of the combatant commanders' areas of responsibilities

April 8, 2011 US Department of Defense - defense-aerospace.com

 The Department of Defense released today the updated the Unified Command Plan (UCP), a key strategic document that establishes the missions, responsibilities, and geographic areas of responsibility for commanders of combatant commands. Unified Command Plan 2011, signed by the President on April 6, assigns several new missions to the combatant commanders. Every two years, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is required to review the missions, responsibilities, and geographical boundaries of each combatant command and recommend to the President, through the Secretary of Defense, any changes that may be necessary. As in past years, the 2011 review process included the combatant commanders, service chiefs and DoD leadership.

Significant changes made by UCP 2011 include:

--Shifting areas of responsibilities boundaries in the Arctic region to leverage long-standing relationships and improve unity of effort. As a result of this realignment, responsibility for the Arctic region is now shared between USEUCOM and USNORTHCOM rather than USEUCOM, USNORTHCOM and USPACOM as directed in previous UCPs.

--Giving USNORTHCOM responsibility to advocate for Arctic capabilities.

--Codifying the President's approval to disestablish U.S. Joint Forces Command.

--Expanding U.S. Strategic Command’s responsibility for combating weapons of mass destruction and developing Global Missile Defense Concept of Operations.

-- Giving U.S. Transportation Command responsibility for synchronizing planning of global distribution operations.

-- UCP 2011 continues to support U.S. defense security commitments around the world while improving military responsiveness to emerging crises

photo USAF

April 11, 2011 SHEPARD GROUP

Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that Elbit Systems of America's recently acquired subsidiary, M7 Aerospace LP (M7), has been awarded a $15.6 million contract by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, Maryland to perform Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) and maintenance for a mixed fleet of seven RC/EC/C-26D and 12 UC-35C/D utility aircraft. The five-year contract is for a base year with four one-year renewal options.¨Under the terms of the contract, M7 will provide overall program management and CLS for the RC/EC/C-26D aircraft. This will include site phase-in at numerous global locations where the aircraft are based, base-site operations, flight operations material requirements, scheduled depot level maintenance, rental engines, unscheduled maintenance, and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) engineering and technical services, as well as technical publications. Elbit Systems of America President and CEO, Raanan Horowitz stated: "We are pleased to be selected as a partner with the United States Navy on this important aircraft platform support contract. M7 has an extensive legacy in providing outstanding logistics support to the US Army and US Air Force, and we look forward to demonstrating our expertise and professionalism to our US Navy customer."

source Defense talk

April 11, 2011 defpro.com

SUNNYVALE, Calif. | Lockheed Martin announced on Friday that the U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded it a $43.3 million contract for concept definition and program planning for the Standard Missile-3 Block IIB (SM-3 IIB). The new missile, formerly known as the Next Generation Aegis Missile, will provide early intercept capability against intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile threats. It will be a key element of the fourth phase of the Phased Adaptive Approach, which will provide enhanced capabilities against threats on a global basis. The missile will be integrated into the Aegis Weapon System, with the Aegis BMD 5.1 Fire Control and the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, as part of the land-based Aegis Ashore capability. “This represents a unique opportunity to develop and field a critical addition to our nation’s missile defense capability, one that complements existing systems,” said Doug Graham, vice president of advanced programs, Strategic and Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. “Working in partnership with the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin will leverage extensive missile defense interceptor and weapon system integration expertise to deliver a new interceptor that addresses emerging ballistic missile threats, with the flexibility to operate across the globe.” The 32-month concept definition and program planning phase will focus on defining design objectives, conducting trade studies to establish a technical baseline, reducing technology risk and developing an executable program plan. Lockheed Martin will perform work in Sunnyvale, Calif., Huntsville, Ala., Moorestown, N.J., and Grand Prairie, Texas.

Apr 11, 2011 Schriever AFB CO (SPX)

The 50th Space Wing has a new mission. No not a new satellite this time, but a new mission statement along with a new vision statement. Col. Wayne Monteith, 50 SW commander, unveiled the new statements along with updated priorities during his commander's call here March 28. "The new mission and vision statements better reflect our role in today's fight and future operations," he said. The wing's senior leadership worked the revision for about two months, focusing efforts on the role the wing has in the Air Force and the joint fight. "We are clearly on the cutting edge in both space and cyberspace operations and we support the air domain through our communications, navigation and intelligence capabilities," said Colonel Monteith. Airmen are likely to find the new mission, vision and priorities as a call to action.

"The new mission, vision and priorities make it easier for Airmen to identify and act on them. They become appealing to them on a more personal level," said Chief Master Sgt. Randy LaCombe, 50 SW command chief. The revised priorities are more inclusive than their predecessors, particularly the "Advance operations to dominate in a contested environment" priority. "This priority makes it clear that we cannot rest on our laurels; we have to push forward," said Colonel Monteith. "Our domain is increasingly contested and congested. We must perform flawless operations today but we have to keep focused on tomorrow to maintain our space and cyberspace supremacy."

Senior leaders looked beyond their impact on the battlefield when they included "deliver decisive global combat effects in support of national security objectives" in the new mission statement. "Through [the Global Positioning System] we support not only our national economy but also the world's economy," said Colonel Monteith. "GPS is intertwined into our everyday lives from banking transactions to the more traditional navigational role. This wasn't reflected in our previous mission statement. Without GPS the world economy would come to a screeching halt." The wing's previous mission statement was established 18 months ago, early in Colonel Monteith's tenure as wing commander. Armed with a better understanding of the wing's impact, he worked with senior leaders to develop the new mission, vision and priorities he introduced this week.