A UAE Air Force's F-16 Block 60 aircraft taking off from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in the US. Photo David Raykovitz

28 January 2014 airforce-technology.com

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of equipment in support of a direct commercial sale of F-16 Block 61 Fighting Falcon aircraft and associated equipment to UAE.

Under the estimated $270m sale, the UAE has requested for the supply of equipment in support of its commercial purchase of 30 F-16 Block 61 aircraft and also the upgrade of its existing F-16 Block 60 fleet.

Major defence equipment includes 40 20mm M61A guns, 40 embedded GPS inertial navigation systems, alongside identification friend-or-foe (IFF) equipment, joint mission planning system, night vision devices, cartridge activated device/propellant activated devices and weapons integration.

The package also includes spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, international engine management programme-component improvement programme, repair and return, aerial refuelling support, technical and logistics support services, as well as other related elements of logistics and programme support.

Expected to improve the UAE's capability to meet existing and future regional threats, the potential sale also contributes to the foreign policy and national security of the US by improving the security of a friendly country that continues to serve as an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The UAE continues host-nation support of vital US forces stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base, and has proven to be a valued partner and an active participant in overseas contingency missions.

The sale of additional F-16 fighters to the UAE is consistent with US foreign policy and national security objectives.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics will serve as prime contractor for the FMS programme.

Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F-100-GE-129 turbofan engine, the F-16 was initially designed as an air superiority day fighter, but later evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft for accurate delivery of ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions.

Jan 8, 2014 ASDNews Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation

Under a recent contract order for the production of Aegis weapons systems, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the U.S. Navy championed an affordability approach that will drive cost savings into all phases of the program, including production, integration and test.

The $574 million contract includes the production of seven destroyers (DDGs 117-123) and an option for one Aegis Ashore assembly, which together will contribute to the United States Navy and Missile Defense Agency's layered defense system. The systems will operate the next generation integrated air and missile defense capability, Aegis Baseline 9, at their core.

"Four decades ago, the Aegis program was born at our facility in Moorestown - and today it has evolved into a national asset, both at sea and on shore," said Dale P. Bennett, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Training business. "This contract represents the partnership and innovation of our joint government/industry team who are bringing the future of Aegis to the warfighter in an affordable and sustainable way."

The central component of the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis weapons system is the SPY-1 radar, the most widely fielded naval phased array radar in the world. The team recently completed the 400th SPY-1 antenna at its Moorestown facility. The Aegis weapon system and SPY-1 radar are deployed on more than 100 ships worldwide.

The additional Aegis Ashore assembly will be built as part of the administration's European Phased Adaptive approach and deployed to Poland, the second Host Nation participating in the missile defense strategy. Aegis Ashore is an evolution of proven sea-based Aegis BMD capabilities and utilizes innovative adaptations for a land-based environment. The Aegis Ashore system to be deployed to Romania, the first Host Nation, recently entered its operational readiness stage in Moorestown, N.J., while the Aegis Ashore system at the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii is preparing for its first live test next year.

Jan 8, 2014 ASDNews Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) received an $84.5 million contract on Dec. 23 from the U.S. Navy to produce paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds (ELGTR).

Under the four-year indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, Lockheed Martin will deliver ELGTRs, shipping containers, logistics and product support to the U.S. Navy.

"Lockheed Martin remains committed to providing U.S. Navy aircrews with the most innovative, advanced and cost-effective training solutions," said Joe Serra, precision guided systems manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We are nearing completion of multi-carriage ELGTR development, which will further increase training efficiency, proficiency and flexibility."

This contract extends delivery of ELGTRs to the U.S. Navy through 2018. Lockheed Martin has produced advanced training solutions for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and international customers since Laser Guided Training Round production began in 1992, and has delivered more than 130,000 training rounds to date.

ELGTR emulates cockpit indications, release and terminal characteristics of the paveway II laser guided weapon systems to provide affordable, high-performance aircrew training without depleting paveway II laser guided bomb (LGB) tactical inventory. Recognized worldwide as the only live-fire training solution for warfighters, the ELGTR is compatible with F/A-18, AV-8B, F-16 and various international aircraft.

In addition to paveway II ELGTR, Lockheed Martin's 350,000-square-foot production facility in Archbald, Pa., designs and manufactures combat-proven paveway II Plus LGB kits. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 70,000 LGB kits and 7,000 Dual Mode LGB kits to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and international customers.

The 100th F-35 joint strike fighter rolls off the assembly line at Fort Worth, Texas, last week. (Alexander H. Groves/Courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

Dec. 18, 2013 - By AARON MEHTA – Defense News

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — The cost of a fully equipped F-35A joint strike fighter will drop to $85 million by 2019, according to a top Lockheed official, as long as the program continues to increase quantities.

That figure, calculated at $75 million in 2013 dollars, includes engines and all weapon systems for the conventional-takeoff-and-landing fifth-generation fighter, said Lorraine Martin, the head of Lockheed’s F-35 program, during a Dec. 13 press briefing.

The briefing was held at Lockheed’s F-35 production facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of a ceremony celebrating the rollout of the 100th joint strike fighter. Travel and accommodations were paid for by the company.

In the most recently negotiated batch of aircraft, low-rate initial production lot 7 (LRIP-7), an engine-less F-35A came in around $98 million. If Lockheed can meet this cost goal, it would make the fifth-generation fighter competitively priced with fourth-generation aircraft such as the F-16 and F/A-18, a major boost for a program that has been criticized for being cost-prohibitive.

Costs for the jump-jet F-35B and aircraft carrier F-35C variants are less clear, due in part to the small number produced so far. The F-35A is by far the most popular model and has higher quantities, giving company officials a clearer sense of per-unit costs.

Achieving those cost reductions will require an increase in quantities, and while Martin expects orders to increase, she emphasized that quantity is quickly becoming the key price driver for the program.

“Quantity matters. Quantity absolutely matters right now on this program,” Martin said. “The [production] learning curve is still important, and it’s still enabling us to get work content off the line that’s not as efficient as it could be, but you start to learn that stuff. The silly stuff you learn fast and, as you go forward, you start to really refine how you produce the aircraft. Then the big driver to bring cost out is quantity.

“We’re at the point where we need both of them, and soon, quantity will be the biggest driver for us,” Martin continued. “If you buy more, they will be cheaper. There just is no doubt.

“We have been flat for four years, around 30 [to] 36 aircraft. If it doesn’t increase, it will dampen out our ability to get costs out.”

Whether there is an increase in the number of planes ordered for LRIP-8 will depend on the US budget situation. That lot is being negotiated with the Pentagon, and Martin said her company submitted pricing options for “variable quantities” of planes to give the Defense Department flexibility based on the budget situation.

Rising quantities and lowering costs don’t just benefit DoD and its partner nations. As Lockheed gets costs under control, Martin said the company hopes profit margins will increase.

“You would expect, for any aircraft program, you know how to do it better [as time goes on] and you’re hoping you’re able to do that in a predictable way, both for the government and for your own profit margins,” Martin said. “The program at the beginning was very challenged, so our margins have not been what you would want them to be going forward.

“My job is to ensure I know what it costs to build the aircraft, that what it costs to build an aircraft is reasonable and attractive to our customers, and that I can get a reasonable profit on top of that. And as I get that equation put together, I think the margins will come up.”

Looking forward to 2014, Martin expects to see increased international orders for the plane, including the rollout of the first F-35 from Italy’s final assembly and check-out (FACO) facility toward the end of 2014.

There are no plans to open FACOs outside of the two planned locations in Italy and Japan, according to Martin, who added that the Japanese FACO should be completed on schedule. She confirmed that a FACO component is not part of the F-35 deal being negotiated between the US and South Korea.

ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 12 (UPI)

The first Turkish-made center fuselage for the F-35 Lightning II has been delivered to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman by Turkish Aerospace Industries.

TAI said the center fuselage was delivered Wednesday at a ceremony at its manufacturing facility in Ankara and will be installed onto the aircraft by Lockheed in Texas.

"Delivery of the first F-35 center fuselage is a major step by TAI to demonstrate its commitment to adding value to the (F-35) program," said Muharrem Dortkasli, president and chief executive officer of TAI. "TAI invested in brand new, state-of-the-art facilities, machinery, equipment and tooling to manufacture the most advanced and complex assembly of the F-35, fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

"It is now time to begin delivering world-class TAI center fuselages to the final production line at an increasing rate every year."

TAI is producing center fuselages for the F-35 as a sub-contractor to Northrop Grumman. It also produces center fuselage metallic assemblies for the F-35A, selected composite components for all F-35 variants, composite air inlet ducts for F-35A, and air-to-ground alternate mission pylons for all F-35 variants.

It said once the F-35 program reaches full rate production, it will ship three center fuselages a month to assembly lines in the United States and Italy.

"This is a great achievement for the Northrop Grumman-TAI team," said Brian Chappel, vice president of the F-35 program at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "We worked hand-in-hand to manufacture the first center fuselage, following established processes implemented by Northrop Grumman on our own assembly line in California. Together, we are driving down costs and raising efficiencies to help the F-35 program meet its affordability goals."

SEOUL, 11 déc. (Yonhap)

La société européenne European Aeronautic Defense and Space (EADS) a annoncé ce mercredi être ouverte à une proposition de Séoul pour un achat combiné de Lockheed Martin F-35 et de son avion de chasse Eurofighter, en acceptant de revoir ses attentes à la baisse dans le but de rester en lice pour le projet F-X coréen, soit l’achat de 60 jets pour renouveler sa flotte vieillissante.

Le 22 novembre dernier, Séoul s’était engagé à acheter 40 chasseurs furtifs F-35A du constructeur Lockheed Martin à partir de 2018, avec la possibilité d’acquérir 20 autres chasseurs plus tard selon le budget et la situation sécuritaire, avait indiqué le Comité des chefs d’état-major interarmées (JCS).

Cet achat est de moindre envergure qu’initialement projeté par l'Administration du programme d'acquisition de défense (DAPA). Le Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle était le seul avion satisfaisant au budget du précédent projet d’achat de 60 chasseurs, de 8.300 milliards de dollars, mais avait finalement été écarté à cause de ses faibles capacités de furtivité.

«Bien que nous croyions que l’achat de 60 Eurofighters apporterait à la Corée du Sud une meilleure capacité de dissuasion et de meilleurs performances, nous voyons également l’intérêt d’une division du projet d’acquisition avec le Lockheed Martin F-35», a déclaré Peter Maute, vice-président du programme de vente des Eurofighters au sein de la division EADS Cassadian, qui produit des systèmes de sécurité et de défense.

Afin de vanter la supériorité de l’Eurofighter, Maute a rappelé que les Etats-Unis ont développé un jet F-22 en tant qu’avion de chasse dominant et n’utiliseront leurs Lockheed F-35 que pour des missions d’attaques ciblées, tout comme l’Italie ou le Royaume-Uni, qui n’en appelleront à leur F-35 que pour des tâches spécifiques.

Le représentant d’EADS explique que «le programme des Eurofighter Typhoons étant stabilisé, il ne sera pas sujet à des hausses de prix ou des retards et offrira plus de flexibilité à l’armée sud-coréenne», contrairement aux F-35, toujours en cours de développement.

L’EADS a également mis l’accent sur sa promesse d’investissement de 2 milliards de dollars en Corée du Sud dans des programmes de développement aéronautique, en promettant de collaborer avec des contractuels locaux afin d’engendrer de nouveaux projets et créer des emplois dans le secteur de l’aérospatiale et de la défense.

Selon Maute, un plan intergouvernemental pourrait être envisagé pour l’acquisition des Eurofighter si cette solution est préférée par le gouvernement sud-coréen, les quatre premiers ministres des quatre nations partenaires de l’EADS - l’Allemagne, l’Italie, l’Espagne et le Royaume Uni - s'étant dits prêts à défendre le projet.

Dec. 10, 2013 - By AWAD MUSTAFA  - Defense News

DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates’ military in 2014 will complete the rollout of a streamlined joint logistics model and communications system to improve information sharing, procurement and training between its Navy, Army and Air Force.

The model was introduced in 2012 to transform procurement into a new joint approach to logistics to better support operations and training, said Matthew Hedges, an analyst with the Institute of Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.

According to the director of the program at UAE Armed Forces General Headquarters, Navy Col. Yahya Al Hammadi, until 2012 the three branches separately handled processes such as procurement, inventory and human resources.

“We’d like the commanders to have time to concentrate on strategy and policy planning,” Al Hammadi said last year as the system was being launched. “So we are involved in this plan for the armed forces to communicate effectively and quickly through an integrated IT and logistics system.”

The UAE understands that any operation at home or overseas is a joint effort and part of a larger coalition, Hedges said, and thus “the provision of logistics needs to be both joint and coordinated. It should also be highlighted that the UAE joins a larger list of nations who are subscribing to a joint logistics model.”

Al Hammadi said the system would be fully introduced across UAE forces by next year.

Public-private partnerships are a big part of this program. In November, the Armed Forces Gener-al Headquarters appointed the Abu Dhabi-based Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Center (AMMROC) to ensure the operational readiness of the forces’ fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

The $5.8 billion two-year deal has been in the works for five years, AMMROC CEO Fahed Al Shamesi said.

“This includes the Air Force, Navy, special forces, presidential guards and the Army,” he said.

The agreement will enable the UAE Armed Forces to remain focused on aircraft operations while AMMROC provides maintenance and repair services, he added.

Another public-private partnership is with the Emirates Classification Society (TASNEEF), which classifies ships and offshore platforms for the UAE. TASNEEF’s primary mission is to promote the security and safety of life and property, and protect and pre-serve the natural maritime environment.

Rashid Al Hebsi, CEO of TASNEEF, said the joint logistics model would increase military readiness and reduce costs.

“This is part of the government’s vision to build capabilities in the country so we can sustain it ourselves and maintain technical competence,” Al Hebsi said.

The concept is new in the region, he said.

“Once the system is set up, the UAE believes its [Gulf Cooperation Council] neighbors will follow its lead,” Al Hebsi said.

The model includes the adoption of various centers of excellence (CoEs), Hedges said.

These “will manage relationships between the UAE General Headquarters and industry, both local and foreign,” he said. “The aim of the CoEs is to move away from numerous traditional transactional relationships to adopting more strategic partnerships.”

Contracts for industrial partners will be more sophisticated and will move to output- or outcome-based, i.e. payment based on performance.

Another key November agreement was a contract with Abu Dhabi-based Tawazun for the procure­ment, delivery and integration of laser-guided Talon missiles. The Talon missile systems are produced in the UAE under a joint development, production and mar­keting program between the UAE armed forces and Raytheon Missile Systems.

The contract states Tawazun will manage the integration of Talon systems into the UAE’s existing rocket systems, and deliver a training program on the Talon for the armed forces’ personnel. The integration program also will include UAE-built Nimr armored vehicles.

The key contractual components that the Armed Forces are looking to adopt or further investigate include continuous improvement through a transparent gain share mechanism and key performance indicators, Hedges said.

“They also want to define data and information that is required by either party to enable them to fulfill their contractual obligations, but also enhance working operation efficiency,” he said.

26 November 2013 by Kim Helfrich - defenceWeb

Lockheed Martin’s point man for Africa has hit South Africa with the declared mission of trying to establish exactly what the SA Air Force’s (SAAF) airlift requirements are.

Dennys Plessas, Vice President Business development Initiatives at the American aerospace company, told defenceWeb his three day visit would also allow him to put forward suggestions on the boosting of airlift capacity for the hard-pressed SAAF.

“I’m here to find out exactly what the SAAF’s needs and requirements are as far as airlift, whether it be tactical or strategic, is concerned. Both myself and Lockheed Martin are concerned a hastily taken decision in this regard can lead to problems down the line with aircraft maintenance and utilisation,” he said, regarding reports of feasibility and or project studies apparently currently underway for possible acquisition of Ilyushin Il-76s.

An indicator of the importance Lockheed Martin attaches to South Africa can be gathered from Plessas’ statement that the company is ready to engage with its single largest customer – the US Air Force – to accommodate any South African requirement for the C-130J Super Hercules.

“If needs be speedy procurement can be negotiated with the USAF.”

Earlier this year the SAAF marked the 50th year of service of the C-130BZ with AFB Waterkloof-based 28 Squadron. It was also the squadron’s 70th anniversary.

An indication of the respect the C-130J has earned among the world’s air forces was that the Indian Air Force had disposed of its Il-76s in favour of the new generation Hercules, he said. The sub-continent’s air force currently has 12 C-130Js in its fleet inventory.

“It is a true multi-role aircraft handling missions such as airlift, maritime patrol and reconnaissance, border protection as well as air-to-air refuelling and others,” Plessas said adding discussions with the current and immediate past SAAF chiefs had led him to believe aerial refuelling was high on the priority list.

“This appears to have changed and that is why I’m here – to find out what the priorities are and how the C-130J can fit those needs.”

He would not elaborate on exactly who he would be seeing during his short stay in South Africa but said the local United States Embassy was also ready to offer “every assistance” if there was a decision to go the C-130J route by the SAAF.

The SAAF’s C-130 fleet will be retired in 2020, leaving only a few years to decide on a replacement. The Air Force also needs to urgently replace its Turbo Dakota maritime surveillance aircraft, under Project Saucepan. Lockheed Martin has previously suggested its Sea Hercules and C-130XJ Expandable Super Hercules could meet this requirement, and fulfil the SAAF’s airlift needs. The C-130XJ would have a substantial amount of local content fitted to meet South African requirements.

The US Air Force brought a Super Hercules to the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in Pretoria in September last year.

During a briefing last year Plessas noted that the C-130J could provide 90% of the SAAF’s airlift capability (including cargo transport, peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, medevac, search and rescue etc). It could also meet 100% of the SAAF’s maritime/border patrol requirements and 100% of its tanking needs, as the KC-130J has successfully refuelled Gripen fighters.

The SAAF’s eight C-130BZs are projected to keep flying until 2020, up from the earlier date of 2015, but the Air Force has yet to issue a request for information (RFI) or request for proposals (RFP) for replacements. Lockheed Martin pointed out that the SAAF’s Boeing 707 tankers had been retired in 2007 and that its C-47TP aircraft are 1940s vintage.

Until the cancellation of the Airbus Military A400M in 2009, the SAAF envisaged a transport trinity with the A400M as the heavy/strategic transport, a C130-type aircraft as a medium airlifter and a third type as a light utility aircraft.

2013-11-22 xinhua

La Corée du Sud a décidé d'acheter 40 avions de chasse F-35A du groupe américain Lockheed Martin pour un déploiement de quatre ans à partir de 2018 pour mieux répondre à d'éventuelles attaques nucléaires de la République populaire démocratique de Corée (RPDC), a indiqué vendredi le Comité des chefs d'état-major (JCS).

Le président du JCS, Choi Yun-hee, s'est entretenu avec les hauts commandants de l'armée de terre, de la marine et de l'armée de l'air pour décider du nombre et des caractéristiques techniques requises pour les nouveaux chasseurs dans le cadre du programme d'acquisition de chasseurs nouvelle génération.

"Les capacités opérationnelles nécessaires (COR) pour des avions de chasse de la prochaine génération ont été révisées pour se préparer à l'éventuelle concrétisation des menaces nucléaires et balistiques émanant de la RPDC. Le système de frappe 'Kill Chain' requiert un avion pouvant s'infiltrer discrètement pour frapper la cible", a indiqué aux journalistes le porte-parole du JCS, le colonel Eom Hyo-sik, lors d'un point de presse.

Il a également déclaré que des avions de chasse avec des fonctions furtives de pointe et des capacités avioniques poussées pour les offensives aériennes seraient nécessaires pour dissuader de futures provocations de la RPDC.

Nov. 19, 2013 by Greg Waldron – FG

Dubai - Lockheed Martin believes that its status as the original manufacturer of the world’s F-16 fleet gives it an edge in the competitive market to upgrade the venerable type.

In an interview with Flight Daily News in the Lockheed chalet, F-16 business development executive William McHenry said that his company has a unique insight into the design of the aircraft, which allows it to better assess the possible ramifcations of decisions involved in major upgrading.

“Lockheed has delivered over 1,000 F-16 upgrade kits,” he says. “F-16s are our heritage.”

McHenry says that the typical upgrade candidate has 3,000 hours on its airframe. All customer requirements are different, with some air forces wishing merely to keep their aircraft serviceable, while others wish to conduct a major upgrade to the F-16V configuration Lockheed unveiled at the Singapore air show in 2012.

The F-16V upgrade adds an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, new mission computer, a new electronic warfare suite, and other improvements to the venerable type.

One trend McHenry has observed is that many countries wish to add the Link-16 datalink to the aircraft. Link-16 allows for better sharing of information among a nation’s military assets, and also improves interoperability with US forces.

As for USAF F-16s, of which about 300 are likely to be upgraded, McHenry said there is no word when the programme will move forward owing to the prevailing tight budget environment. Other major F-16 avionics upgrades in the world include South Korea, where BAE Systems beat Lockheed in competition to upgrade 134 examples, and Taiwan, where Lockheed will upgrade 144 examples.

16.11.13 humanoides.fr

Lockheed Martin a dévoilé début novembre le SR-72, un projet de drone militaire hypersonique. Capable d’atteindre la vitesse vertigineuse de Mach 6, ce nouvel appareil est secrètement préparé par le bureau d’études Skunk Works.

Après le drone UCAV Sea Ghost présenté en avril dernier, Lockheed Martin a l’intention de relever un défi technologique inédit : concevoir un drone de reconnaissance qui volera tellement vite, qu’aucun système radar n’aura le temps de le détecter. La furtivité par la vitesse…

Six fois la vitesse du son

Le système de propulsion sera le principal défi de ce projet. Lockheed Martin en collaboration avec Aerojet Rocketdyne a prévu d’équiper le SR-72 d’un turboréacteur pour monter de 0 à 3000 km/h, associé à un statoréacteur qui prendra le relais jusqu’à Mach 6, soit 7350 km/h. Ce système de cycle combiné atteignant cette vitesse n’existe pas encore, mais la DARPA, la NASA et l’US Air Force ont déjà mené des recherches similaires pour l’avion supersonique des années 70 à 90, le mythique Blackbird SR-71.

Lockheed Martin envisage le calendrier suivant : construire un démonstrateur de taille réduite, une vingtaine de mètres, d’ici 2018, avant d’envisager la construction du véritable appareil qui aurait une longueur d’environ 30 mètres. Lockheed Martin table sur une mise en service du SR-72 pas avant 2030.

L’engin sans pilote pourra être armé et embarquer des missiles de croisière dits High Speed Strike Weapon (HSSW), pour frapper n’importe quel point du globe en moins d’une heure.