Sep 11, 2013 ASDNews Source : BAE Systems PLC

We are awarding four key design contracts for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, demonstrating the momentum building behind the programme to deliver the UK Royal Navy's next generation complex warships

The Design Development Agreements with Rolls-Royce, MTU, David Brown Gear Systems and Rohde & Schwarz cover propulsion and communications equipment for the ship design.

Geoff Searle, Type 26 Global Combat Ship Programme Director at BAE Systems, said: “Confirming our first major equipment design partners is a huge step forward and reflects the maturity we have achieved in the ship's design. We are working closely with the Ministry of Defence and our suppliers, bringing expertise together from across industry and we are now at the stage of developing detailed design of systems and equipment that will go into the ships.

“Using proven products and technology, ensures we are delivering the highest level of service and capability, giving confidence to the Royal Navy and prospective customers in the global market.”

The UK's Type 26 Global Combat Ship will employ a Combined Diesel Electric or Gas Turbine propulsion system. This will enable the ships to achieve high speeds, whilst also providing an economic power to the onboard systems and will allow the ships to operate quietly in cruising mode. Rolls-Royce has been selected as the design partner for Gas Turbines, while David Brown Gear Systems Ltd will develop the Gear box and MTU the Diesel Generator Sets. Rohde & Schwarz has been selected to design the Integrated Communications System for the ships.

The Assessment Phase for the Type 26 programme began in March 2010, with a joint team of 550 engineers from BAE Systems, Ministry of Defence and wider industry working across Bristol, Portsmouth and Glasgow to develop the detailed specification for the ships. The Ministry of Defence is expected to make its Main Investment decision around the middle of the decade, with manufacturing planned to start in 2016 and the first Type 26 set to enter service as soon as possible after 2020. The planning assumption is for a Class of 13 anti-submarine warfare and general purpose ships to replace the capability of the UK Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates with enhanced, flexible modern warships.

The Global Combat Ship will be a multi-mission warship capable of undertaking a wide range of roles from high intensity warfare to humanitarian assistance, either operating independently or as part of a task group. Designed with an acoustically quiet hull, it will support anti-submarine warfare, air defence and general purpose variants. The Global Combat Ship will take full advantage of modular design and open systems architecture, ensuring it can be easily upgraded as new technology develops and can accommodate sub-systems and equipment to individual customer needs.

September 11, 2013 nosint.blogspot.fr

 

Eight countries are considering the purchase of BAE Systems Plc Type 26 Global Combat Ships, including an air-defense variant the U.K. isn’t currently planning to acquire.

While export campaigns total more than 30 ships, not all are expected to result in sales, Commodore Steve Braham, who leads U.K. export efforts for the vessel, said today. He wouldn’t name potential buyers.

The U.K. government made an effort to lure customers for the ship by opting for a modular, lower-cost design after exports of other programs faltered because of price.

Read more

10/09/2013 DCNS

DCNS vient de signer un contrat avec BAE Systems pour la fourniture de 4 échangeurs, équipements destinés aux sous-marins nucléaires n°6 et 7, derniers de série de la classe Astute pour la Royal Navy.

Partenaire privilégié de BAE sur la gamme Astute depuis 2001, DCNS se voit confier avec cette commande, la totalité des échangeurs qui équiperont la dernière génération des sous-marins nucléaires de la Grande Bretagne.  La Royal Navy a réceptionné en début d’année son second sous-marin nucléaire d’attaque du type Astute.

La conception et la réalisation des échangeurs font appel à un savoir-faire technologique très particulier. DCNS a acquis ces compétences au travers de la réalisation de différents programmes de sous-marins conventionnels ou nucléaires. Avec plus de 500 échangeurs, dont 170 équipant des sous-marins conventionnels et nucléaires de 10 marines dans le monde, DCNS a en effet développé une expertise en conception thermique et mécanique.

Les équipes du site DCNS de Nantes-Indret finalisent actuellement la fabrication des 2 échangeurs du 5è sous-marin Astute et poursuivront avec les 4 derniers échangeurs dont les clés de réception s’échelonneront jusqu’à mi 2016.

Un équipement sur mesure

DCNS apporte son expérience des équipements haute pression en proposant un système sur mesure répondant aux performances d’endurance, de rendement avec un haut degré de discrétion acoustique. Ce système, équipement stratégique assurant le refroidissement de l’ensemble du sous-marin,  a été dimensionné pour une plus grande compacité et une intégration facilitée.

Optimiser la fourniture d’équipements 

DCNS est un important fournisseur d’équipements pour la Royal Navy : groupes turbo-alternateurs frégates T45, échangeurs pour SNA, lanceurs verticaux de missiles Sylver. La force de DCNS repose sur sa capacité d’adaptation et d’innovation : dimensionner au plus juste pour répondre aux exigences des futures générations de navires armés.

Sep 9, 2013 ASDNews Source : BAE Systems PLC

A new 3D radar capable of cutting through interference equal to 10,000 mobile phone signals, has successfully commenced integration trials at a secret electromagnetic radar testing facility on the Isle of Wight.

The testing of ARTISAN 3D radar is in advance of installation on the new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers (QEC) which are being assembled in Rosyth, Scotland.

The ARTISAN trials will test a series of integrated systems which include the provision of 3D air surveillance, target identification and air traffic management services for the ships,   The ARTISAN 3D Radar will provide extensive air traffic control and medium range tactical picture capability with ground breaking features such as tracking more than 900 targets at one time and has the ability to spot objects as small as a tennis ball travelling up to three times the speed of sound.

The BAE Systems radar testing facility on the island occupies the site of the old Somerton Aerodrome which began as an airfield in 1916. As well as being equipped for the manufacture and test of aircraft components, the aerodrome operated flights between London and the Isle of Wight in the 1930s. The site was taken over by the Decca gramophone company in 1959 which had contributed to the war effort resulting in a number of ventures into marine radar and navigation. This heritage continues today through BAE Systems’ expert radar testing at the site.

ARTISAN 3D is successfully providing 'real world' tracks and radar video to the QEC Combat Management System - which is also produced by BAE Systems - whilst receiving simulated 'own-ship' data in the QEC Mission System Test Facility.  ARTISAN 3D is being successfully controlled from CMS consoles to provide operators with both a medium range tactical picture and the essential air traffic control picture the ships will rely on.

In addition to the strong integration results, the system is operating successfully with the QEC Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, which can identify aircraft as friendly and track its range from a potential threat.

The aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a unique partnering relationship between BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence. The first ship will begin sea trials in 2017.

Les Gregory, Product and Training services Director, BAE Systems said, "I am delighted that the ARTISAN 3D Radar is producing excellent results as predicted for the QEC, it is an exciting milestone not only in the development of BAE Systems radar programme but for the future of Royal Navy warships."

The medium-range radar system, which has a reach of up to 200km completed its factory testing in December 2012 and was installed at the Aircraft Carrier Alliance Electromagnetic Environment Assessment facility at BAE Systems, Cowes, earlier this year.

September 9th, 2013 defencetalk.com (AFP)

British arms maker BAE Systems said on Friday that it will close a small Pennsylvania plant that overhauls and upgrades military equipment for Bradley fighting vehicles, and blamed spending cutbacks.

“BAE Systems announced today the planned closing of its Fayette facility in Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania,” BAE said in a statement that was issued overnight.

The plant, which currently employs 113 people, deals with equipment for the US Army, Marine Corps and foreign governments, mainly the Bradley Family of Fighting Vehicles and M109 self-propelled howitzers. It will be shut by the end of 2013.

“The decision to close the Fayette facility was made in response to the planned completion of existing contracts managed at the Fayette site and no prospect of future work for the facility,” BAE said.

“It is anticipated that all of the production work at the facility will be complete by the end of November.”

It added: “This facility is a part of the Bradley Industrial Base, which is at significant risk of experiencing further cuts and impacts to jobs and communities across the country.”

The group stressed that workers would be offered opportunities on other sites.

Erwin Bieber, president of BAE Systems Land & Armaments sector, added: “The current business environment has made this difficult announcement necessary.

“The plant closure in no way reflects upon the work and dedication of the employees. We will do all we can to assist them in this difficult transition.”

The US market accounts for about 40 percent of BAE Systems’ group revenues — making it the biggest foreign supplier of military goods to the Pentagon.

An artist's rendering of a concept vehicle being developed by Obrum, part of the Polish Defence Holding group. The demonstrator will be unveiled at the upcoming MSPO exhibition in Poland next month. (Polish Defence Holding)

Aug. 28, 2013 - By ANDREW CHUTER – Defense News

LONDON — The BAE Systems-Polish Defence Holding’s team competing for an upcoming requirement from the Polish Army for a family of light tanks and infantry fighting vehicles has released a sneak preview of a concept demonstrator they plan to unveil at the upcoming MSPO defense equipment show.

The concept vehicle — developed by Obrum, part of the Polish Defence Holding group — features an unmanned turret sporting a 120mm gun mounted on a chassis, drawing heavily on CV90 mobility and protection technology provided by BAE’s Hagglunds operation in Sweden.

The vehicle will be a centerpiece of Polish Defence Holding’s stand at the MSPO exhibition, which opens in Keilce, Poland, on Sept 2.

BAE and the state-owned Polish Defence Holding, formerly known as the Bulmar Group, announced a teaming deal in late May to compete for a Polish Army requirement for hundreds of light tanks and infantry fighting vehicles using a universal tracked platform.

Formal specifications for the tracked vehicle requirement are expected to be released by the Polish Defense Ministry toward the end of the year, with a requirement for the first delivery sometime in 2018.

BAE officials said the modular design of the demonstrator is intended to be flexible and help stimulate debate as Poland heads toward issuing a formal specification.

Despite unexpected Polish government revenue shortfalls this year, which could result in some trimming of the defense budget spending on the military, funding remains robust with the portion of cash going to equipment increasing.

27.08.2013 BAE Systems

BAE Systems’ Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Hybrid Electric Drive (HED) system successfully completed 2,000 miles of testing on a fully integrated “Hotbuck” mobility platform, a significant milestone for the U.S. Army’s GCV program. The Hotbuck is a stationary, state-of-the-art test stand that simulates real-life environments and terrain and puts actual miles on the HED system. Under BAE Systems’ own rigorous timeline, the testing was completed four months ahead of schedule.

“This testing achievement is a significant advancement in the overall GCV program. With actual hardware to show, this puts the BAE Systems team ahead of schedule both now and in the next phase of the program, saving the customer development time and money,” said Mark Signorelli, vice president and general manager of Armored Combat Systems at BAE Systems. “Our primary objective was to test our hybrid electric technology over time against realistic environments, and the successful completion of the testing is a testament to the quality and maturity of the technology.”

Developing and testing actual hardware was not a program requirement for the Technology Development (TD) phase, but BAE Systems chose to take the initiative to demonstrate the fuel efficiency and performance of a hybrid system for the Army’s next infantry fighting vehicle.

The Hotbuck integrates HED components that will be used in BAE Systems’ GCV offering including the traction drive system, thermal systems, engines, generators, controllers and software. Conducted at the BAE Systems Santa Clara, California facility, the 2,000-mile advanced testing precisely replicated conditions at two well-known military test tracks. The results of the tests further validated the performance, efficiency and maturity of the HED technology applied in BAE Systems’ GCV design, marking a significant milestone for the TD phase of the program.

The HED system in BAE System’s GCV offering will contribute to: the availability of high torque at any ground speed resulting in greater agility, greater acceleration and maneuverability than a comparable mechanical system; up to 20 percent less fuel consumption than a conventionally powered GCV, reducing overall costs and the number of fuel convoys; availability of electrical power to incorporate new battlefield technology for the next 30 to 40 years; and 40 percent fewer parts than a comparable mechanical drive system, requiring less maintenance and decreasing vehicle lifetime cost.

BAE Systems was awarded a contract for the TD phase of the GCV program in August 2011. TD phase work is scheduled to be complete by June 2014.

En collaboration avec Raytheon, BAE Systems a réalisé une série d’essais aboutissant à la qualification des bombes à guidage laser de type Paveway IV sur Eurofighter Typhoon, dotant ainsi ce chasseur de capacitées améliorées dans ses missions air-sol. La mise en avant du caractère multirôle de l’avion intervient après la même démarche adoptée le Rafale de Dassault avec les AASM à guidage laser il y a quelques temps.

 
Dorénavant, les Eurofighter «Typhoon II» de type IPA6 de la Royal Air Force pourront mettre en oeuvre jusqu’à 6 bombes guidées Paveway IV d’un poids unitaire de 226 kg (500 lb) . Ce type de bombe est déjà en service sur les avions de combat Panavia Tornado GR4 de la RAF et équipera plus tard les F-35B de Lockheed-Martin qui seront en dotation au Royaume-Uni.

July 10, 2013 Source: BAE Systems

The first four pioneering pilots to train in the revolutionary Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer have graduated from RAF Valley.

The quartet is the first group to develop their skills on the new-look Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), which uses state of the art advanced avionics suite and sensor simulation software to help make the step up between trainer aircraft and Typhoon easier.

Converting training into flying

The Hawk – dubbed the T2 by the RAF – has a digital glass cockpit designed to closely resemble those of fast jets and it therefore cuts the time to convert training into flying fighter aircraft such as Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II.

Learning to fly

Fight Lieutenant, Victoria ‘Tori’ Lyle, one of the four graduates said: "The last year has been both a challenging and rewarding one.

“Learning to fly the new Hawk T2 has been fantastic, presenting us with opportunities to develop skills that are more in line with the front line aircraft we will be going to fly after Valley.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to be part of the first course, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at RAF Valley. Whilst it is always difficult to simulate all aspects of airborne flying in the simulator, the sophistication of the ground based training facilities has allowed us to develop our ‘kit manipulation’ to a high degree, having said that, nothing can quite beat the feeling of flying low level through the Welsh hills.”

In July the graduates will continue their frontline operational conversion unit training at RAF Coningsby on the Typhoon.

Proud

To mark their achievement a small ceremony was held at RAF Valley attended by Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton, the Chief of Air Staff, who said: "The pilots who graduated can be proud of what they have achieved as the pioneers of this new advanced training system, the Hawk T2, and can look forward with confidence that, following their conversion to operational aircraft, they will very soon take on their roles on Royal Air Force frontline squadrons.

"Having completed the course on the new Hawk they are some of the best trained pilots to graduate from UK fast jet training. RAF Valley delivers the most advanced fast jet training programme in the world. At the core of it, the Hawk's advanced cockpit closely resembles that of our current and future combat aircraft, which will reduce the time required to convert to flying an operational aircraft, be that Typhoon, Tornado or the Lightning II.

"The live flying at RAF Valley, on the Hawk T2, is supported by an increasing range of synthetic training on the ground. This makes every flying hour more productive and makes this entire programme even more cost effective for the United Kingdom."

Preparing for the front line

The ‘synthetic’ classroom based training using simulators is ahead of its time, preparing the fast jet pilot for the frontline and reducing the time it takes to become familiar with flying a combat aircraft once they move to their operational conversion units.

The course runs for approximately 11 months, with around 120 hours of live flying. There is no final examination. The last flight on the course involves the student evading airborne and surface-to-air threats at medium and low level. The student has to take part in a simulated Paveway IV bomb attack against a designated target whilst trying to evade a low level airborne threat and lead their wingman home in a simulated emergency.

10 July 2013 baesystems.com

The Royal Air Force has completed the biggest training mission ever undertaken by its Typhoon force.

Over the past two weeks a total of 265 sorties have been flown on six days in Exercise Android Preference.

Availability of aircraft

One of the main aims of the Typhoon Availability Service and ATTAC (Availability Transformation Tornado Aircraft Contract)TAS and ATTAC contracts is to ensure the RAF has the maximum amount of aircraft available. Working in partnership with the RAF, our colleagues on both these contracts contributed towards ensuring such a large scale training mission could take place.

Qualified Weapons Instructor Course

Exercise Android Preference, which concluded at RAF Coningsby on 5 July, forms part of the Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI) course regarded as the pinnacle qualification for RAF aircrew, as RAF Coningsby Station Commander, Gp Capt Johnny Stringer, explained:

“The QWI courses are where we fuse the physical, moral and conceptual components of air fighting power at the tactical level. We’re taking our brightest and best and making them the most capable and aware tactical operators they can be. What Android Preference allows us to do is not only to prepare them for the QWI operational phase, but also to expose them to some of the wider and higher-level considerations and consequences of their tactical appreciation, planning and subsequent execution.”

A real operational feel

The exercise designer, Flight Lieutenant Andrew Tidmarsh, said:

“For the first time we’ve executed missions involving the entire Typhoon Force which, along with other Force Elements, gives a real operational feel. The exercise challenges the whole spectrum of what Typhoon can do as a platform; not only fighting air-to-air, but also finding, fixing and prosecuting targets on the ground.

“Being fully swing role the Typhoon is able to fight its way to the target and then fight its way out again. This places a high training demand on the pilots who have to be extremely capable in the air-to-air role and the air-to-surface role and be able to make timely tactical decisions to enable them to fulfil both in a high threat environment.”

Largest training mission for Typhoon

In the first week of the Exercise the single largest training mission Typhoon has ever undertaken as one complete Force was executed. A total of 22 Typhoons from five different squadrons took part in a Combat Search and Rescue scenario that also included Tornado GR4s, USAF F-15 Eagles and Danish F16s, as well as Support and Attack Helicopters. Tactical air control and command was provided by an E-3D Sentry from RAF Waddington and 1 Air Control Centre (1 ACC), which deployed to RAF Coningsby from their home station at RAF Scampton.

Gp Capt Stringer explained: “The key involvement of 1 Air Control Centre and E-3 Sentry underlines the importance of air command and control, as well as ISTAR, to the effective employment of modern combat air power. We’re also delighted and very grateful to have had the excellent support from the Support Helicopter and Tornado GR4 Forces, 100 Squadron, the Army Air Corps and our USAF and Danish colleagues.”

Challenging roles

This variety and scope of exercise participants presented its own challenge for mission planning and execution in addition to an excellent opportunity for training large and diverse packages of aircraft. Each QWI student took it in turns to act as a Mission Commander, a challenging role which requires individual tactical prowess and wider integration in order to succeed.

Flt Lt Tidmarsh added: “At one point there was a 16 versus 20 air-to-air fight concurrent with ground serials including Air Interdiction, Close Air Support and Dynamic Targeting. I can’t remember in my career the whole force attempting one Defensive Counter Air mission that lasted an entire day.”

Jul 9, 2013 Awad Mustafa - thenational.ae

ABU DHABI // UAE Air Force chiefs are this week meeting with a European defence consortium as part of a possible deal to buy 60 of their fighter jets.

Representatives from BAE Systems, Eads, Eurojet and MBDA, the companies behind the Eurofighter Typhoon, have been locked in discussions with Air Force officials this week.

Tony Gilchrist, BAE Systems' vice president for air programmes who is leading discussions on behalf of the consortium, said: "We have been in dialogue for several months with the Air Force.

"We have also started talking with the Department of General Procurement at the Air Force and the discussions are in a good place, amicable and there is a mutual understanding between us."

The UAE has been in talks with a number of nations to procure advanced multi-role aircraft, including the French manufacturer Dassault for its Rafale fighter.

Mr Gilchrist, in Abu Dhabi to attend the Tawazun Economic Council and BAE Systems industrial workshop, said the UAE Air Force's demands for the new jets included installing sophisticated weapons systems.

"What is being discussed is the most advanced Typhoon when compared to the existing fleet or any orders that have been made," he said. "An extremely capable and very advanced fighter jet has been asked of us by the Air Force."

Alan Sparkes, the director of cooperative programmes at MBDA, the missile systems maker for the Eurofighter, said the UAE's requirements included the most advanced weapons in the world placed together in one aircraft.

"These capabilities include a beyond visual range air-to-air missile with high accuracy," Mr Sparkes said.

Although the demands put forward by the UAE are challenging, Mr Gilchrist said he was confident they could be delivered.

"The UAE Air Force's capability requirements are highly ambitious but deliverable because of the strength of the European partnership and its expertise," he said.

There are more than 700 Typhoons in air forces around the world, with 571 aircraft on order by seven nations including Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Part of ongoing discussions in the fighter deal is training, education and technology transfer with the UAE, Mr Gilchrist said.

BAE Systems Middle East and Africa and Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi already operate a programme to train students.

A major structural component of the jets will be developed by UAE company Tawazun Precision Industries.

"We are trying to get kids straight out of school into apprenticeships within our consortium," said Mr Gilchrist.

"Education and training in technology, aerospace and engineering for Emiratis is a key focus for us."

He added that the consortium is looking for Emiratis to form part of a highly capable workforce to participate in research and development.

Saif Al Hajeri, chief executive of Tawazun Economic Council, said its strategy was aligned with the UAE's vision for economic diversification and aimed to develop technology transfer from leading experts to help build national capabilities.

"Through such forums, TEC aims to provide a platform to both local industry and international partners to communicate best practices, to exchange knowledge, and to look into potential strategic initiatives and cooperation opportunities," Mr Al Hajeri said.

This year the Eurofighter lost out to Rafale over a US$10 billion (Dh36.7bn) contract in India for 126 jet fighters.

Mr Gilchrist said that despite the Rafale being given the L1 rating by the Indian ministry of defence, which means they would be first to present and offer a contract, his company was closely watching the negotiations between Dassault and the Indian government.

"If the L1, Rafale, is not able to fulfil the negotiation demands, then Eurofighter would be given the chance," he said.

"We are still optimistic in India. This is by no way a done deal for our French friends. We are ready to re-enter discussions."

Jul 1, 2013 ASDNews Source : BAE Systems PLC

BAE Systems was awarded a $34.5 million contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for the development of the Electromagnetic (EM) Railgun under Phase 2 of the Navy’s Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) program.

The focus of Phase 2 is to advance the Railgun technology by maturing the launcher and pulsed power from a single shot operation to a multi-shot capability, and incorporating auto-loading and thermal management systems.

“We’re committed to developing this innovative and game changing technology that will revolutionize naval warfare,” said Chris Hughes, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems. “The Railgun’s ability to defend against enemy threats from distances greater than ever before improves the capabilities of our armed forces.”

In 2012, during Phase 1 of the INP program, engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia successfully fired BAE Systems’ EM Railgun prototype at tactical energy levels. The recently awarded ONR contract marks the completion of Phase 1 and the selection of BAE Systems as the developer for the Phase 2 launcher prototype. Phase 2 is anticipated to begin immediately with initial prototypes to be delivered in 2014. The Railgun development will be carried out by BAE Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota and by teammates IAP Research in Dayton, Ohio and SAIC in Marietta, Georgia.

The EM Railgun is a long-range weapon technology that uses high-power electromagnetic energy instead of explosive chemical propellants to launch a projectile farther and faster than any gun before it. When fully weaponized, a Railgun will deliver hypervelocity projectiles on target, at ranges far exceeding the Navy’s current capability.