SAN DIEGO – March 19, 2014 – Northrop Grumman Corporation

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered a Global Hawk Block 40 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to the U.S. Air Force at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., ahead of schedule, Feb. 14.

This is the second aircraft delivered as part of Global Hawk's Lot 10 contract, joining a Block 30 system delivered four months early in November of last year. Two additional aircraft, a final Block 30 and Block 40, will arrive later this year, completing Global Hawk's Lot 10 contract.

"Global Hawk program performance excellence is a core focus of our efforts. Delivering Global Hawk to our Air Force partners early is a good indicator of our solid performance," said Mick Jaggers, director, Global Hawk, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "We look forward to continuing the reduction of Global Hawk's total mission costs while providing unparalleled capabilities."

A total of 42 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft are currently in use around the world with 32 in the Air Force inventory. A contract for three more aircraft (Lot 11) is expected this summer.

These additional aircraft will support increased operational flight hours without adding to the fixed support costs. As our fixed support costs remain constant and flying hours increase, Global Hawk's cost per flight hour will continue to decrease. The operationally proven Global Hawk program has exceeded 109,000 flight hours; and the cost per flight hour has declined significantly as the system has matured. The Air Force reports that the total cost per flight hour was $23,800 in fiscal year 2013, a decrease of almost 30 percent since 2012.

The Global Hawk performs vital intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The Global Hawk Block 40 is equipped with a multiplatform radar technology insertion program (MP-RTIP) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with air-to-surface capability that provides wide-area surveillance of stationary and moving targets.

The Global Hawk's MP-RTIP sensor allows military commanders to gather near real-time imagery and detections of moving targets. The system completed an early operational capability demonstration in April 2013 for the Air Force to verify its ability to support antiterrorism operations, battlefield surveillance, and support of command and control operations.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Mar 13, 2014 ASDNews Source : Naval Air Systems Command

An MQ-8C Fire Scout on runway after a test flight at Point Mugu, Calif., March 10. The unmanned helicopter surpassed 100 flight hours during this event and will continue to undergo testing at Point Mugu this year.  In July, the Navy will conduct dynamic interface testing with the MQ-8C aboard USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) to test the vehicle's take-off and landing procedures. Initial deployment for MQ-8C is planned for 2015.

Mar 12, 2014 ASDNews By  Justin Eimers, CECOM US Army

The Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have named Tobyhanna Army Depot as the Depot Source of Repair for the Gray Eagle (MQ-1C) Unmanned Aircraft System Ground Control Stations.

The decision by the four services' Maintenance Inter-service Support Management Offices recognizes the depot as the installation best suited for these repairs.

"Through the acquisition process, there is a lot of assessment that takes place, including core logistics analyses that look at our capabilities," said Nick Caprioli, chief of the Business Development Division. "Tobyhanna was selected based on infrastructure, training and technical expertise for this type of work."

Repairs for the new workload will begin in fiscal year 2016, with 19 Ground Control Stations, or GCSs, scheduled per year, totaling more than 75 systems through fiscal year 2018.

The Gray Eagle system is a long-range, high-altitude Unmanned Aircraft System, or UAS, that provides the capability to perform wide-area reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. It is also capable of relaying communications and can be equipped for attack missions. The system consists of the aircraft, GCS, data terminals and data links. Each GCS controls one Gray Eagle aircraft and is used by the operator to perform command and control, payload control and weapon launch operations.

Due to their complexity, Gray Eagle systems and components are currently replaced rather than repaired, exhausting money and resources. Depot personnel are developing cost-effective solutions to repair GCSs and increase capability. Tobyhanna recognizes that the assignment of this Depot Source of Repair, or DSOR, will enable the depot to be selected for additional DSORs for UAS equipment.

Katlin Edmunds, business development specialist, noted that revamping the DSOR decision process will also help substantially reduce costs and bring more UAS work to the depot.

"DSOR selection helps ensure effective use of commercial and organic depot maintenance resources," she said. "We have been aggressively trying to streamline processes, find inefficiencies and figure out the best way to accommodate new UAS workloads."

Based on trends in the market, business management analysts anticipate that UAS will be the depot's largest commodity in the future. As the only Army depot involved in the Integrated Product Team, or IPT, for Air Force and Army UAS, Tobyhanna is well positioned to receive workloads for additional UAS component repairs. The IPT is working with Tobyhanna to identify the need for any new test equipment, facilitation or training necessary for additional UAS work.

"Part of the planning process to bring in this workload is to have our engineers work with the program offices to make sure our capabilities are sufficient to provide the best solution for everybody involved," said Caprioli. "The depot's all-hands-on-deck approach to secure this DSOR selection has helped increase our marketability and should open doors for future UAS workloads."

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, also known as C4ISR, Systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners. Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, technology insertion, modification, and global field support to warfighters.

About 3,500 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.

A Chinese CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicle

11 March 2014 bhttp://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33927:algeria-evaluating-chinese-ch-4-uav&catid=35:Aerospace&Itemid=107y defenceWeb

Algerian is evaluating the Chinese CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and is reportedly very interested in acquiring the type, which can be armed with guided weapons.

The CH-4, developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA), has been undergoing testing with the Algerian military for some months, according to Air Forces Daily. One is reported to have crashed during testing at the Algerian Air Force’s base at Tindouf several months ago while a second one crashed on Sunday at the Ain Oussera Air Base. The UAV came down 100 metres short of the runway whilst preparing to land.

In spite of the crashes, Algeria is apparently still very interested in acquiring the CH-4 (Cai Hong 4 or Rainbow 4), which appears to have been inspired by the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. The UAV, with a takeoff weight of 1.3 tons and a payload of 350 kg, has a wingspan of 18 metres and a length of 8.5 metres. Top speed is 235 km/h and operational altitude is 3000-3500 metres, according to officially released data, while combat radius is 2000 km and endurance is 36 hours.

CAAA technical staff claim the CH-4 has four hard points capable of carrying two AR-1 laser-guided missiles and two FT-5 small guided bombs.

The CH-4 was first seen at the Zuhai airshow in 2012 and in the absence of Chinese military interest it seems the aircraft is aimed at the export market.

Algeria has reportedly also been in discussions with China over the purchase of Xianglong unmanned aerial vehicles. Echorouk quoted an unnamed Algerian defence ministry colonel as saying that the UAV was successfully tested in Tamanrasset, southern Algeria, last year.

The Xianglong (Soar Dragon) is a jet-powered High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft designed by the Guizhou Aircraft Corporation of China, initially for use by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. The Xianglong has a length of 14 metres, a height of 5 metres and a wingspan of 25 metres. It has a top speed of 750 km/h, endurance of up to 10 hours, and a maximum range of 7 000 km.

Tactical Weekly earlier this year reported that the Algerian Defence Ministry is said to have decided to go ahead with a programme to buy 90 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including attack UAVs.

Last year, Algeria expressed interest in the Adcom Systems Yabhon United 40 Block 5 UAV from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to meet its Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) requirement. According to Algerian daily El Watan, Algeria is negotiating with Russia to purchase 30 E95 unmanned aerial vehicles/target drones from Russia.

Algeria is looking for aerial reconnaissance platforms to track down various Maghreb-based terrorist groups, drug and arms traffickers and militants who have taken advantage of post-war chaos in Mali and Libya to destabilise the Sahel-Maghreb region.

Algeria currently flies Denel Seeker II UAVs and is believed to have ordered one new Seeker 400 system with three aircraft. The Seeker 400 is currently undergoing flight testing.

The North African country has previously expressed interest in General Atomics Predator/Reaper UAVs. It also has six King Air 350ER surveillance aircraft fitted with Gabbiano T-200 radars, Wescam Mx15i infrared cameras and other features for maritime and ground surveillance.

Since war clouds started gathering over northern Mali in November 2012, the Algerian army has deployed more than 12 000 personnel to secure the borders with Mali, Libya and Niger.

Algeria has increased its defence budget for 2014 and is actively seeking new tankers, transports, helicopters and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. Last year Algeria evaluated the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport and Airbus A330 MRTT tanker with an eye to replacing ageing Il-78 Midas tankers and acquiring a new transport aircraft. Algeria asked the two respective companies to conduct demonstrations, indicating the seriousness of these potential contracts.

Algeria is growing its defence spending by 6% through 2017, according to some estimates, as it modernises and re-equips to meet the challenge of insecurity and terrorism in the region.

Brussels - 10 March, 2014 European Defence Agency

The programme of the workshop “Exploring Safe Design and Operations for European for European Unmanned Maritime Systems is now available. 

This workshop is organised by the European Defence Agency in cooperation with the working group on Safety and Regulations for European Unmanned Maritime Systems (SARUMS) 27 March 2014 in the EDA premises in Brussels. 

The workshop will be a major forum focusing on the discussion of latest developments and on the exchange of recent experiences in the field of safety of Unmanned Maritime Systems. It will bring together end users and various stakeholders from industry, research institutes and governmental organisations.

The workshop is supported by European Defence Agency and SARUMS working group whose aim is to provide European navies with a best practice framework for the handling, operations, design and regulations of Unmanned Maritime Systems. 

More information on how to register and the draft programme can be found here. 

More information:

• Workshop event entry

• News "Call for Papers: Safety & Regulations for European Unmanned Maritime Systems" (10 January 2014)

07/03/2014 Actualité DGA

La Direction Générale de l’Armement et la société Dassault Aviation ont reçu la nuit dernière le 1er prix dans la catégorie défense des Laureate Awards, décerné par le magazine Aviation Week. Cette distinction récompense l’excellence technologique et de la capacité d’innovation tant étatique qu’industrielles sur le démonstrateur Neuron.

Depuis son premier vol du 1er décembre 2012, Neuron n’a cessé de démontrer ses qualités que ce soit en essais au sol ou en vol. La DGA assure la maîtrise d’ouvrage d’ensemble de ce projet notifié en 2006. Il est le fruit d’une coopération européenne qui rassemble outre la France avec Dassault Aviation comme maître d’œuvre, cinq pays partenaires et leurs industriels : l’Italie, la Suède, l’Espagne, la Grèce et la Suisse.

Ce succès illustre la déclaration de Laurent Collet-Billon lors de la conférence de presse du 18 février 2041 : «Plus que jamais nous devons savoir investir, savoir innover, savoir-faire pour gagner la bataille sur le terrain, la bataille de l’économie, de l’export et rester sur le podium international ».

Financé sur le budget des études amont du ministère de la défense, Neuron marque un effort de recherche et technologie majeur pour préparer l’avenir et maintenir des compétences industrielles essentielles. Il inaugure la prochaine génération d’aéronefs de combat, qu’ils soient pilotés ou non, avec l’ambition de préserver l’autonomie européenne dans ce domaine. C’est un défi majeur tant sur le plan technologique qu’industriel.

The Airbus DS Atlante long-endurance tactical UAV seen during its first flight on Feb 28, 2013 in Spain. Airbus says it is so far the only UAV designed to fly both military and civilian missions.(Airbus photo)

March 07, 2014 defense-unmanned.com

(Source: Defense-Aerospace.com; published March 07, 2014)

Airbus Plots Return to UAV Market, Enhances Medium Transports

MADRID --- Airbus Defense and Space is preparing to return to the UAV market, three years after it was forced out by the reluctance of the French and German governments to financially support any of the unmanned aircraft projects which it had developed.

“We are revisiting our strategy on unmanned aerial vehicles with a vision to leadership,” Antonio Rodríguez Barberán, Head of Military Aircraft sales at Airbus Defence and Space, told Defense-Aerospace.com. “We are planning to be there, even if it takes some years.”

This is a major shift in company policy, as Airbus Group decided in 2011 to freeze its UAV activities after having invested over 500 million euros in several programs without having convinced its domestic customers that they were worth supporting. Corporate strategy, at the time, was to sit out until European governments decided which programs, and which companies, they would support.

This approach was not very successful, however, as Airbus was frozen out of two major market segments: Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE), where France preferred buying Reaper unmanned aircraft from the United States, with Germany and the Netherlands to follow shortly, and the High Altitude Lone Endurance (HALE) segment, where its EuroHawk program was abruptly cancelled by the Germen government because of cost and regulatory failings. The company was left with only smaller UAVs, a segment where competition is rife and margins small.

Airbus has now changed tack because “it’s time for a proper aircraft manufacturer to get involved, to certify UAVs to civilian standards – and I mean FAR 23 and FAR 25 – so they can be used in unsegregated airspace,” Rodriguez said. At present, UAVs can only be used in segregated airspace, under military air regulations, and so are severely limited in their operational usefulness.

While it has no immediate plans to resume large-scale investments in the UAV sector, Airbus DS does not see financing as a major obstacle. “We know there is a market, and if there is a market there is money,” Rodriguez said. He adds that for Airbus this is a decade-long project, which will eventually bring it a leading role: “Airbus is not here to be a subcontractor,” he says, making clear that the company is not aiming for a subordinate role in ongoing European UAV programs.

While waiting for the MALE market to mature, and for the dust to settle in the combat UAV (UCAV) segment, Airbus is finalizing development of its own tactical UAV, Atlante, which is significantly smaller than the MALE and HALE segments it previously pursued.

Weighing about 550 kg, Atlante has been developed in Spain, and from the outset the goal has been to fly in segregated civilian airspace, i.e. over populated areas, and it is intended to be certified for that operational environment. “The key word here is ‘certification’,” Rodriguez says, adding that, of course, “it has to offer value for money.”

Atlante first flew in February 2013,


Light Transport Aircraft Sector Gliding Along

While its UAV strategy matures, Airbus DS continues to improve its transport aircraft product line. It recently agreed with Indonesian partner IPT Nurtanio, also known as Indonesian Aerospace, to develop a modernized version of the C-212 light twin turboprop transport, and it also is refining the performance of the C-295, its very successful medium twin. Most of the effort is on refining the airframe design, for example by adding wingtip extensions, and on increasing engine power ratings, which together add 1,000 ft. to the aircraft’s ceiling in One Engine Inoperative (OEI) conditions.

The C295’s Pratt & Whitney engines are already at their power limit, so they have no more growth potential, so these refinements, together with a major upgrade of the aircraft’s avionics, will suffice to keep them competitive for years to come, says Rodriguez. The avionics upgrade will make it easier for the aircraft to operate in a civil environment.

A new design may well be necessary in 10 or 15 years, he adds, but for now it is still very premature.

The current line-up is quite profitable for the company, and currently accounts for average sales of about 20 aircraft per year, worth about 700-800 million euros including 100-150 million euros for related services.

Over the past 10 years, Airbus has sold 157 of the 306 light/medium turboprops sold world-wide, and so has a market share of over 50%, and this should increase as additional orders will be announced this year, one of them “by Easter.”

Compared to the Alenia C-27J Spartan, its direct competitor, the C-295 is simple, offers substantially lower fuel costs and “can be maintained with a hammer and a screwdriver,” Rodriguez says. Specifically, he says that maintenance costs are 35% lower, fuel consumption is 50% lower and, in terms of life-cycle costs, “it can save one million euros per plane, per year.”

07/03/2014 Michel Cabirol, à Ankara – LaTribune.fr

Dans le cadre de la célébration du centième anniversaire de la République turque en 2023, la Turquie s'est fixé des objectifs ambitieux avec notamment le développement d'un avion de combat de 5e génération, un avion commercial régional...

Wed, 05/03/2014 Thales

Watchkeeper, the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) developed by Thales for the British Army, has been given a Release To Service by the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD).

Watchkeeper is the first UAS to be awarded a full Release To Service (RTS), and is the only UAS of its type allowed to fly in UK airspace. The RTS follows rigorous safety and airworthiness reviews to ensure the system can be operated safely by the British Army.  It will support British Army operations by allowing training on the system in the UK.

Watchkeeper is a high-performance, multi-sensor, all-weather UAS that can remain airborne for more than 16 hours in a single mission. The tactical UAS will be deployed by the British Army for life-saving surveillance and intelligence capabilities in support of military operations and is unarmed.

Crucially, Watchkeeper is certified to the same safety standard as manned aircraft.

5 mars, 2014 Guillaume Belan (FOB)

Enfin! Attendu depuis longtemps, le ministère britannique de la Défense (MoD) et l’Autorité de l’aviation militaire (MAA) du Royaume-Uni viennent finalement d’autoriser la mise en service du Watchkeeper de Thales pour l’armée britannique.

« Premier drone à obtenir une autorisation de mise en service, Watchkeeper est également le seul de sa catégorie à avoir la permission de voler dans l’espace aérien britannique. Il remplit les critères de sécurité et de navigabilité très stricts du MoD requis pour l’exploitation du système par l’armée britannique. Il appuiera les opérations militaires du Royaume-Uni à l’étranger, en étant habilité à effectuer des vols d’entraînement dans l’espace aérien britannique, » indique le communiqué de Thales.

Avec une autonomie de 16 heures, multi-capteurs tout-temps mais non-armé, le drone tactique Watchkeeper pourra dorénavant être déployé par l’armée britannique. Le Watchkeeper achève donc sa phase d’essais et d’évaluation menée depuis le centre d’essais de Parc Aberporth, à l’ouest du Pays de Galles. Il va entamer sa phase d’entraînement au vol, destinée cette fois aux opérateurs de l’armée britannique à Boscombe Down (Wiltshire).

Rappelons enfin, que le Watchkeeper intéresse l’armée de terre, qui aurait lié une commande française à un contrat VBCI pour l’armée de terre anglaise.

25/02/2014 Par Julien Bergounhoux - industrie-techno.com

Les drones de surveillance et de combat de la famille "Predator", développés par General Atomics, sont parmi les plus utilisés au monde. Principalement par les différentes branches de l'armée américaine, mais aussi entre autres par la France, le Royaume-Uni, l'Italie ou les Pays Bas. Le dernier modèle en date, le Predator C Avenger, est opérationnel après avoir complété une nouvelle phase de test, et son déploiement pourrait commencer cette année.

Le premier Predator était une évolution du GNAT, un drone de reconnaissance développé pendant les années 1980. Originellement destiné lui aussi à la surveillance et appelé RQ-1 Predator par l'armée de l'air américaine (R pour reconnaissance, le Q faisant référence à son statut de drone), il a officiellement changé de nom en 2002 après son adaptation à des missions de frappes militaires à l'aide de missiles Hellfire, devenant le MQ-1 Predator (le M signifiant multi-rôles). Il devint alors le principal drone d'attaque utilisé lors des missions en Afghanistan et au Pakistan.

UNE MONTÉE EN PUISSANCE

Anticipant les besoins de l'armée, General Atomics commenca rapidement le développement du Predator B, que l'armée renomma MQ-9 Reaper lors de son entrée en service en 2007. Equipé d'un turbopropulseur Honeywell en remplacement du moteur Rotax 914F de son précécesseur, il est plus grand (20 m d'envergure), quatre fois plus lourd (2 220 kg à vide), peut emporter beaucoup plus de munitions, et sa vitesse maximale et son plafond de vol sont doublés, atteignant respectivement 480 km/h et plus de 15 000 m.

Fort de son succès lors de multiples opérations (Irak, Lybie, Mali, etc.) et conscient de la demande croissante en matière de drones, General Atomics mit directement en branle le développement du modèle suivant : le Predator C Avenger. Il utilise les mêmes matériaux et la même avionique que le Reaper et est compatible avec son infrastructure au sol (GCS), mais emploie un turboréacteur Pratt and Whitney qui lui confère une vitesse maximale de 740 km/h.

FURTIF ET LONGUE PORTÉE

L'accent a de plus été mis sur la furtivité, avec notamment des baies internes pour les munitions et un échappement en forme de S pour réduire les signatures radar et thermiques. Il est aussi équipé du même système de visée que le F-35 Lightning II, baptisé Alert (Advanced Low-observable Embedded Reconnaissance Targeting), et est prévu pour être capable à terme de voler et d'attaquer en essaim.

Sa capacité de charge est à nouveau doublée (8 255 kg en charge maximale, incluant 2 948 kg de munitions dont 1 588 kg en interne), et si son temps de vol se voit réduit (passant de 27 à 18 heures), son rayon d'action, lui, augmente considérablement. Là où le Reaper ne pouvait parcourir que 1 850 km, l'Avenger peut en faire 2 900.

Un atout qui ne laisse certainement pas l'état major américain de marbre, à l'heure où ses bases en Afghanistan risquent d'être démantelées lors du retrait complet des troupes, prévu pour cette année. D'autres bases plus éloignées devront alors être utilisées pour les opérations visant les bastions d'Al Qaïda au Pakistan. Son autre avantage décisif est son coût : entre 12 et 15 millions de dollars estimés par appareil, soit beaucoup moins cher qu'un avion de chasse (un F-22 coûtant 150 millions), pour des capacités qui s'en rapprochent peu à peu à chaque nouveau modèle (voir la fiche technique de l'Avenger).

Russia will test the Yabhon United 40 UAV, manufactured by Adcom Systems of the United Arab Emirates. (Adcom Systems)

Feb. 19, 2014 - By JAROSLAW ADAMOWSKI – Defense News

Russia will test the Yabhon United 40 UAV, manufactured by Adcom Systems of the United Arab Emirates.

WARSAW — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has announced a program to spend about 320 billion rubles (US $9 billion) by 2020 on military UAVs, according to local news agency ITAR-TASS.

Under the plan, the new drones will boost the reconnaissance, communications and combat capacities of the Russian armed forces, according to the minister. Shoigu did not disclose the number of UAVs to be acquired. Presently, the Russian military operates a fleet of nearly 500 drones, the minister said.

The latest move follows last year’s announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that UAVs are a vital area of development in modern aviation, and that Russia needs to develop a wide range of drones, including combat and reconnaissance variants.

The Russian military is set to test the Yabhon United 40 medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV built by the United Arab Emirates’ Adcom Systems.

Other foreign-based companies to supply drones to Russia include Israel Aerospace Industries, which delivered 12 UAVs to the military under a deal inked in 2009.