[JLRC]

CCS Gives Go Ahead for Revival of 1800 Crore AWACS Project
 
 
(Source: Press Trust of India; issued Sept. 9, 2004)
 
 
 NEW DELHI --- Five years after a setback to its indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) program, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today gave the go ahead for the revival of the project setting a timeframe of seven years for its development at a cost of Rs 1800 crore.  
 
Apparently buoyed by the recent breakthroughs in radar technology by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the CCS cleared the project for an indigenous AWACS at an hour-long meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.  
 
“The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Air Force will jointly cooperate in the development of the system,” Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.  
 
He also said the CCS accorded an ex-post facto approval to a wide-ranging defense agreement between India and Brazil.  
 
The revival of the AWACS project comes after five years DRDO’s HS-748 technology demonstrator aircraft crashed, killing some DRDO scientists and technicians in Tamil Nadu in 1999.  
 
Though the Minister did not spell out the aircraft on which the new AWACS would be mounted, his announcement of ratification of a defense agreement with Brazil assumes significance as Brazilian aviation company Embraer is one of the few countries to have the AWACS technology.  
 
India recently concluded an agreement with a company for the purchase of five Embraer executive jets, four for the VVIP squadron of the IAF and one for the Union Home Ministry.  
 
-ends-

[JLRC]

French Defence Procurement Agency Launches AASM Precision-Guided Weapon
 
 
(Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued Sept. 10, 2004)

(Issued in French; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)
 
 
 PARIS --- The French defence procurement agency, Delegation Generale pour l’Armement (DGA), has carried out the first test launch of the AASM laser-guided bomb.  
 
On Monday September 6, 2004, the first Armement Air-Sol Modulaire was launched from a Mirage 2000 combat during a trial. The weapon was tracked during all of its flight trajectory by the DGA’s test centers: Centre d’Essais des Landes (CEL) at Biscarosse and Centre d’Essais de la Mediterranee.  
 
Developed by Sagem, the AASM will allow the guidance of a 250-kilo conventional bomb from the launch aircraft. The weapon has a range of several dozen kilometers, and it has an accuracy of 1 meter or 10 meters. The latter version is also fitted with GPS guidance, and will be delivered to the forces beginning in 2006.  
 
It will give the standard attack (F2 version) of the Rafale combat aircraft an all-weather capability.  
 
The former version, with an accuracy of 1 meter, will in addition be fitted with a thermal imaging sight which further improves terminal accuracy. Its delivery to the forces is planned to begin in 2008.  
 
The AASM confers an increased range, and an all-weather capability, to “iron” bombs in the inventory. It is the first weapon of its category to be developed in Europe.  
 
-ends-

[JLRC]

First Denel Agusta A109 Helicopter Takes Off
 
 
(Source: Denel; issued Sept. 10, 2004)
 
 
 History was made yesterday (9 September 2004) when the first locally assembled Agusta A109 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) took to the skies. The helicopter, with tail number 4006, successfully completed a series of acceptance test flights at Denel's Kempton Park facilities adjacent to Johannesburg International Airport.  
 
"We are contracted by Agusta to manufacture 25 of the 30 helicopters for the South African Air Force," says Mr Victor Moche, Denel chief executive officer. "I am very proud of this milestone we achieved, given that several members of the Denel team working on this first flight are historically disadvantaged individuals trained at the Agusta facilities in Italy as part of the skills development programme."  
 
Yesterday's flights conclude a week of preparatory testing of all the helicopter's sophisticated systems by a joint Denel-Agusta team. The flight crew consisted of Pietro Venanzi (test pilot) and flight engineers Renato Iulita and Ben van den Berg.  
 
After the flights lasting a total of two and a half hours, the pilot praised Denel's work on the helicopter: "The aircraft systems were all operational at first start of the engines. After the very first start we hovered to assess the vibration levels that appeared extremely good," Pietro Venanzi explained. "A quick trimming of the track and balance of the rotors enabled us to take off in forward flight to complete the necessary system checks."  
 
According to him the exceptional work done on the first helicopter would lead to a successful service of the A109 LUH in the South African Air Force (SAAF). This helicopter will be on display at the Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD 2004) exhibition, taking place in Pretoria from 21 to 25 September 2004.  
 
The local Agusta programme at Denel is a consequence of South Africa's Strategic Defence Acquisition Programme. Denel signed a Product Supply Agreement in 1999 with Agusta SpA, an AgustaWestland Company for the A109 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) programme. The agreement provides for a phased multi-year programme for the manufacturing of the complete A109 LUH airframe and systems installation in South Africa. Denel is involved in the integration of subsystems, manufacture, final assembly, customization engineering and flight-testing, as well as maintenance support of the South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopters.  
 
Denel's production of the rest of the 25 Agusta A109 LUH helicopters is scheduled to run over the next three years. Once in service, the helicopters will initially be based at Bloemfontein to be used in various roles, including humanitarian operations and disaster relief.  
 
The Agusta A109 Military (of which the LUH is a derivative specifically for the SAAF), is a multirole light twin-engined helicopter able to satisfy several basic military requirements, including transport of men and material, patrol and reconnaissance, liaison and command, casualty evacuation and escort / area suppression roles.  
 
-ends-

[Spectral]

French Defence Procurement Agency Launches AASM Precision-Guided Weapon


(Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued Sept. 10, 2004)

(Issued in French; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)


PARIS --- The French defence procurement agency, Delegation Generale pour l’Armement (DGA), has carried out the first test launch of the AASM laser-guided bomb.rench defence procurement agency, Delegation Generale pour l’Armement (DGA), has carried out the first test launch of the AASM laser-guided bomb.


Developed by Sagem, the AASM will allow the guidance of a 250-kilo conventional bomb from the launch aircraft. The weapon has a range of several dozen kilometers, and it has an accuracy of 1 meter or 10 meters. The latter version is also fitted with GPS guidance, and will be delivered to the forces beginning in 2006.

[...]

The former version, with an accuracy of 1 meter, will in addition be fitted with a thermal imaging sight which further improves terminal accuracy. Its delivery to the forces is planned to begin in 2008.

Desde quando é que o AASM em guiamento por laser ? Tudo o que tinha visto era GPS e visor térmico ( infravermelhos).

[JLRC]

RSAF Fighter Jets Deploy to France for Bilateral Air Exercise
 
 
(Source: Singapore Ministry of Defence; issued Sept. 13, 2004)
 
 
 Six Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C/D Fighting Falcon jets departed Singapore today for an exercise in France. This is the first time that the RSAF is conducting a long-range deployment to France. The bilateral exercise with the French Air Force (FAF), codenamed Exercise Western Arc, is also the first in its series.  
 
The F-16s will transit through India, United Arab Emirates and Greece en route to France. Two KC-135R tankers will provide air-to-air refuelling support for the 10,250 km journey. The exercise with the FAF will take place at Dijon Air Base in eastern France from 20 September to 4 October 2004, and will see both air forces engaging in air combat and air-to-air flying manoeuvres.  
 
Exercise Western Arc provides the RSAF a valuable opportunity to conduct a long-range deployment and air operations in realistic and challenging conditions. It enhances inter-operability and mutual understanding between the FAF and RSAF, which also has a training detachment in Cazaux in southern France. The bilateral exercise underscores the good defence relations between France and Singapore.  
 
-ends-

[JLRC]

Mariner Demonstrator UAV Achieves Industry Milestones during Canadian Deployment
 
 
(Source: General Atomics; dated Sept. 7, web-posted Sept. 10, 2004)
 
 
 SAN DIEGO, CA --- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft surveillance systems, announced today that its ALTAIR unmanned aircraft, dubbed the Mariner Demonstrator due to its configuration and mission objective, successfully concluded its deployment to Canada on 30 August where it supported the Atlantic Littoral Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Experiment (ALIX).  
 
Deployed to Goose Bay, Canada in early August, Mariner participated in three long endurance mission scenarios in order to evaluate the use and integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into the Canadian Force architecture for enhanced situational awareness and increased dissemination of intelligence. The result was historic in that the Mariner was the first beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) UAV to fly to 66.5 degrees north altitude in the Canadian Artic and the first to be integrated and operated in Canadian national airspace. Equipped with a surface search radar and as well as other payloads, radar and video imagery was disseminated to remote locations throughout Canada.  
 
Launched from a main operating base at Goose Bay, Newfoundland and flown on an instrument flight plan, control of the aircraft and payload was passed via BLOS satellite communications to a remote operations center in downtown Ottawa. Icing conditions, cloud cover, and severe winds did not impact the aircraft’s ability to perform surveillance in support of three operational scenarios: a domestic contingency, peace-keeping and domestic defense/national security over Baffin Island in the Artic Circle and the Canada’s Atlantic Economic Exclusion Zone in which the aircraft was flown at altitudes ranging from 16,000 to 43,000 ft.  
 
During the first mission to the Artic Circle, Mariner flew a landmark total range of over 2,800 nautical miles. Throughout the deployment, Mariner passed surface search radar and video imagery to two separately-located remote video terminals (RVT) where data collection and fusing of intelligence products from maritime, air and ground forces were conducted for situational awareness evaluation. The deployment concluded on 30 August 2004.  
 
For over ten years, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. has been delivering proven and reliable unmanned aircraft systems to customers throughout the world. In 1995, the U.S. Air Force began operating Predator in combat areas over the Balkans and then Afghanistan and Iraq. Predator acquires surveillance and targeting information and immediately transmits it via satellite to various end users including command centers in-theater, RVTs in the field, receive-only terminals in the Pentagon and other locations throughout the world. With this type of data collection and dissemination, a reliable and immediate picture of the battlefield can be evaluated by officials for quick decision-making.  
 
In July of this year, the Mariner Demonstrator deployed to Alaska in support of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Concept of Operations Development tests. The aircraft, equipped with maritime surface surveillance radar, a USCG-developed Automatic Identification System and television and infrared cameras provided real-time surveillance of the coastal waters surrounding southern Alaska.  
 
The U.S. Coast Guard also conducted a Predator deployment in late 2003 to Alaska where the aircraft operations were conducted in harsh and severe weather conditions. In both cases, real-time video was provided to various customers throughout the world. The U.S. government has also used the IGNAT, Predator and Predator B aircraft systems for patrol of the U.S.-Mexico border.  
 
Founded in 1993, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. has spearheaded acceptance and set industry reliability standards for unmanned aircraft systems for military and commercial customers such as the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, NASA, Department of Energy and several overseas governments. Leading the industry to new levels of performance and interoperability for network centric operations, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. uses proven design philosophies and the experience gained by the combat-proven Predator to develop aircraft systems which meet the performance requirements of customers worldwide. Mr. Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr. is President and Chief Executive Officer.  
 
-ends-

[JLRC]

Desde quando é que o AASM em guiamento por laser ? Tudo o que tinha visto era GPS e visor térmico ( infravermelhos).

MILITARY Combat Aircraft
Introducing the Rafale
By Henri-Pierre Grolleau

Air-to-ground weapons

.........To supplement the Scalp, the French MoD decided in 1995 that a cheaper weapon had to be designed, leading to the AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire, Modular air-to-ground armament) concept of modular all-weather attack weapons using global positioning/inertial navigation and terminal-phase seeker to enhance precision in some variants. The AASM kit will initially be adapted to 250 kg bombs (or American Mk82s), but several versions of different weights and powers will join the French inventory, including rocket powered versions. The AASM has a long range - up to 60 km for the boosted variant when launched at 45,000 feet -, and is able to hit pinpoint targets (precision of about 3 feet). The first of 3,000 weapons will enter service in 2005, and six AASMs on two triple ejector racks will normally be carried by a Rafale.

A series of tests was recently conducted by Dassault to validate GBU-12 laser-guided bomb deliveries from the Rafale. This weapon is widely used by air forces around the world, and the type is already in service in France onboard Mirage F1CTs, Jaguars, Mirage 2000Ds, and Super Etendard Modernisés. Separation tests were carried out using two-seat prototype B01, with a typical configuration featuring four wing-mounted GBU-12s together with four MICAs, two Magic 2s, and three 2,000 litre drop tanks. In this configuration, combat radius is said to be 800 nautical miles, and the Rafale boasts significant self-escort capability.

To use in conjunction with the GBU-12, the Thales Damoclès laser designation pod will be adopted. Already selected by the United Arab Emirates for their Dassault Mirage 2000-9s, this new-generation system features extended range and greatly improved resolution thanks to new infrared sensor technology, permitting laser-guided munitions to be delivered at very long-range from very high-altitude, and reducing the aircraft's vulnerability.

For the F3 standard, a full range of air-to-surface ordnance will become available, including anti-ship missiles and the future ASMP-A (Air-Sol Moyenne Portée-Amélioré, Improved Medium Range Air-to-Ground) stand-off pre-strategic nuclear missile which will supersede the current ASMP in service

Cumptos

[Spectral]

WHAT'S NEW  Friday, 17 Sep 04   Washington, DC

1. MISSILE DEFENSE: YOU ARE TWICE AS SAFE AS YOU WERE LAST MONTH.
A second interceptor missile has been lowered into its silo in
Fort Greely, AK.  Meanwhile, the  flight test scheduled for late
September has been postponed another two months.  It will then be
two years since the last flight test.  It will also be after the
election.  I called on General Persiflage at the Missile Defense
Agency.  "Shouldn't we wait to see if the system will work?" I
asked.  "It's already working," the general shrugged.  "Our goal
is to keep America safe.  We put the first interceptor in its
silo in July, and there hasn't been a missile attack since."  He
had me there.  I still felt a little uneasy, but before I could
ask another question, workmen came in carrying a huge banner.
"Where do you want us to hang this, General?"  They unfurled the
banner, which read simply "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED."


-Robert L. Park , American Physical Society
http://www.aps.org/WN

 :roll:  :roll:

[Ricardo Nunes]

Sikorsky Pitch for chopper contract

Irish Independent, 16th September 2004

AMERICAN helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky has told the (Irish) government that it can deliver new Blackhawk helicopters to Ireland within a year of a contract worth more than 50 Million euros being signed.

The company, which has supplied more than 3,000 of the legendary helicopter to 26 countries, has told the Department of Defence that it can deliver four of it's S-70A Blackhawk model to the Irish Air Corps within a short timeframe.

The Department wants four armed utility helicopters able to carry eight soldiers, with an option on two more. It also wants two light utility helicopters mainly for training, and Sikorsky is offering it's S-76 (H-76?) model for this role.

Also in this competition is Agusta Westland with it's successful A109 and new AB139, and Eurocopter with the EC 135 and EC 145.

But the four utility helicopters will be primarily tasked with transporting special forces, the Army's Ranger Wing, and Sikorsky is emphasising the Blackhawk's use worldwide in this role.

The helicopter is used by America's special forces, including US Army Rangers, Green Berets and SEALs; while the Australian SAS also use it.

Ireland's Rangers have used the Blackhawk while operating with the Australian and New Zealand SAS in East Timor. But the highly paid force have no suitable helicopters available to transport their soldiers to an incident within Ireland.

Irish Rangers on operations in Liberia have had to borrow Ukrainian Army helicopters to insert their patrols and armed jeeps deep into the bush.

Incredibly, the 2000 Defence White Paper dismissed the need to move large numbers of troops by air within Ireland, citing the small size of the Country and the "greatly improved roads infrastructure".

Meanwhile the embassies of the various countries competing for the order are gearing up for a lobbying campign for the different companies.

If Sikorsky wins the deal, the sale may have to be approved by the US Congress.

[Ricardo Nunes]

US offers to sell F-16s to Pakistan

By Joshua Kucera JDW Staff Reporter
Karachi, Pakistan
Additional reporting by Michael Sirak JDW Staff Reporter
Washington, DC

The US is offering to sell 18 F-16 fighter aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pending Congressional approval: one of several such deals in the works after years of US-led defence sanctions against Pakistan, the PAF Chief of Staff has disclosed.

"[The Americans] have indicated that they are ready to give us F-16s," said Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Kaleem Saadat. "This is not a rumour; it is from the American government."

Pakistan said it hopes the deal is the beginning of greater US co-operation. "Eighteen I consider to be the first instalment of what would follow," ACM Saadat told JDW. Approval from Congress, however, is not likely to come until after the US elections in November, he said.

Pakistan is asking that the F-16s be equipped with Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). Along with additional fighter aircraft, Pakistan has also outlined a requirement for a beyond-visual-range missile, which the AMRAAM would meet.

In 1988-89, Pakistan arranged to supplement its stock of 40 F-16A/Bs - about 32 of which remained in service as of 2003 - by ordering an additional 71 aircraft. Lockheed Martin began producing them, but then the US Congress imposed sanctions in 1995 that barred military sales to the country unless the US president could certify that Pakistan was not pursuing nuclear weapons.

As a result, only 28 of the 71 were ever built and none of them were delivered to Pakistan. Instead they were kept in storage in the US until the Bush administration reimbursed the Pakistanis financially and assigned 14 aircraft each to the US Air Force and Navy in June 2002 for training and testing purposes.

The episode still rankles in Pakistan and the renewed possibility of acquiring F-16s is seen partly as making amends in thanks for Pakistan's efforts as an ally of the US in the wake of 9/11.

"Right from day one, we have been impressing upon the US government what symbolic value the F-16 has for the Pakistani people and the Pakistani nation," ACM Saadat said. "So it's not as if 10, 15, 20 aircraft would make a world of difference in our operational capability, but it's a symbol in the sense that the people of Pakistan think that if they give us this then they are really sincere in helping us."

382 of 1,045 words


[End of non-subscriber extract.]

  http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces ... _1_n.shtml

[JLRC]

Chief of Staff Outlines Plans for Fewer Combat Aircraft
 
 
(Source: US Air Force; issued Sept. 13, 2004)
 
 
 WASHINGTON --- The Air Force will have fewer fighters and strike aircraft, but the lethality of those that remain will increase, the service’s top general said Sept. 13 at the 2004 Air Force Association’s Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.  
 
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said the service plans to reduce its number of combat aircraft. By reinvesting the potential savings from operating and maintaining those “surplus” aircraft, the Air Force can significantly improve the capability of those that remain, he said.  
 
“I don’t think that even reduced numbers … will produce any less killing capacity,” General Jumper said. “As a matter of fact, the lethality of even a reduced number of weapons systems will be extraordinarily increased over what we have right now.”  
 
To illustrate his point, the chief of staff reminded people of the successful test of a multi-unit bomb rack aboard the B-2 Spirit bomber that released 80 Global Positioning System-guided bombs.  
 
“Eighty targets now are the potential for one airplane,” he said. “So it’s neither right nor proper for us to argue that the same force structure and size is required when the killing capacity of each of these systems goes dramatically up.  
 
“It’s already a matter of record that we plan on replacing an F-15 (Eagle), F-15E (Strike Eagle) and F-117 (Nighthawk) fleet that was numbered above 750 with F/A-22 (Raptors) in numbers around 400,” General Jumper said.  
 
Money saved from reducing the number of operational aircraft will then be used to improve the remaining fleet.  
 
“We need to recapitalize the fleet, so we look at things like the A-10 (Thunderbolt II),” General Jumper said. “We can do that... by taking savings from that reduction, as we did with the B-1, and make (the A-10) digitally capable.”  
 
While the number of F-15s may get smaller, the general promised gainful employment to those who fly and work with them.  
 
“There is no need for anxiety on the part of anyone in the F-15 community -- their jobs will not go away,” he said. “We intend to make the airplanes we have more versatile.”  
 
Specifically, the chief of staff said the traditional air-to-air version of the F-15 (the C model) will pick up air-to-ground capability. General Jumper said the remaining F-15Es will have their capabilities expanded.  
 
“With the advent of bombs we can release just based on a cross on a display that says where a target is, it makes it much easier for F-15Cs to play in the whole execution phase after air superiority has been attained, and be active in all phases of combat rather than just be in the air superiority phase,” the general said.  
 
“To me, it’s good sense; it’s good finance; it’s good decision-making,” he said.  
 
-ends-

[JLRC]

With Weight Issues Resolved, F-35 Focus Turns to Production
 
 
(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued Sept. 14, 2004)
 
 
 FORT WORTH, Texas --- Engineers have removed more than 2,700 pounds (1,225 kilograms) of unwanted estimated weight from the short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, while increasing propulsion efficiency and reducing drag. The result is an F-35 JSF design recommendation that is expected to meet or exceed all of its performance requirements.  
 
"The F-35 is now tracking ahead of its Key Performance Parameters, and past concerns about the aircraft's aerodynamic performance have diminished," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 JSF program integration. "Because of the design similarities among the three F-35 variants, many of the STOVL-version refinements will translate to the conventional and carrier versions, which already met their performance requirements even before the STOVL improvements were instituted."  
 
The F-35 team anticipates final approval of the STOVL revisions when the U.S. Defense Acquisition Board meets on Oct. 14.  
 
"We have addressed every known aspect affecting STOVL aerodynamic performance and shipboard compatibility," said Rear Adm. Steven Enewold, F-35 JSF program executive director. "We feel our proposed configuration is operationally viable. The next step is to get the trade-study results implemented into the detailed STOVL design package."  
 
With first flight expected in August 2006, production becomes the program's central focus. All four of the first test aircraft's major subassemblies are now in work. Last month BAE Systems began assembling the aft fuselage and tails in Samlesbury, England, and Lockheed Martin started wing assembly at the company's Fort Worth plant. In May, Northrop Grumman kicked off F-35 assembly when it began making the center fuselage in Palmdale, Calif. Forward-fuselage assembly started the following month in Fort Worth. Production of control surfaces and edges will soon be under way at Lockheed Martin's Palmdale site.  
 
Final assembly of the F-35 is planned to start next spring in Fort Worth, with completion of the first aircraft anticipated in late 2005.  
 
The program already is preparing for the challenge of operating, supporting and sustaining thousands of F-35s worldwide. Nine countries currently are engaged in the aircraft's development and are expected to begin adding F-35s to their fleets early in the next decade. Many other nations have expressed interest in the aircraft, and the roster of international F-35 customers is likely to grow. The task of sustaining such a large number of aircraft over a geographically dispersed area for more than 40 years will be made possible by the F-35's exceptional reliability, its next-generation onboard diagnostics, its standardized and simplified maintenance processes, streamlined supply-chain management and many other advances over current fighters.  
 
The F-35 is a next-generation, supersonic, multi-role stealth aircraft designed to replace the AV-8B Harrier, A-10, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet and the United Kingdom's Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier.  
 
Lockheed Martin and its principal industrial partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems are employing an array of advanced and highly accurate manufacturing machines to help the F-35 achieve its goals of affordability, quality and assembly speed.  
 
Three F-35 variants -- a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), a short- takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) and a carrier variant (CV) -- each derived from a common design will ensure that the F-35 meets the performance needs of the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and allied defense forces worldwide, while staying within strict affordability targets.  
 
Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 in conjunction with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Companies worldwide are participating in the F-35's development. Two propulsion teams, led by Pratt & Whitney and General Electric, are developing separate interchangeable engines for the F-35.  
 
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin, is a leader in the design, research and development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world.  
 
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8 billion.  
 
-ends-

[JLRC]

Maiden Flight of First Finnish NH90
 
 
(Source: Eurocopter; issued Sept. 17, 2004)
 
 
 MARIGNANE, France --- The first NH90 destined for the Finnish Armed Forces took off for a successful maiden flight on September 15th at Eurocopter’s production site and headquarter in Marignane.  
 
The aircraft is the first series-produced NH90 in France  
 
The flight was conducted by one test pilot and two flight engineers over more than one hour around the area of Marignane and Marseille under full fly-by-wire conditions, during which high speed levels were reached and the flight envelope of the basic aircraft was tested. The success of the campaign was observed by an official Finnish representative.  
 
The maiden flight of the Finnish NH90 follows the first flight of the first production aircraft for the German Armed Forces on May 4th of this year in Germany, and is a further important milestone in the ambitious multi-national helicopters programme, which will commence deliveries to customers from 2005 on.  
 
NH90 is the biggest helicopter programme ever launched in Europe. In addition, it just recently booked international and overseas export successes with an order for 20 NH90 by the Sultanate of Oman and 12 by Australia. To date, eleven countries have ordered a total of 357 units, with options for a further 86 helicopters. This makes the NH90 a worldwide and unrivalled success.  
 
The NH90 has been designed from the outset as a multi-role weapons system. The tactical transport (TTH) and naval (NFH) variants of the helicopter share a common basic helicopter in a modular design. Dedicated, specialized mission equipment packages allow for maximum flexibility in operations. Special emphasis has been given to features such as safety, reliability, availability, maintainability, testability, and supportability. The diamond shape of the all-composite, corrosion-free airframe combines optimal aerodynamics with low detectability. Optimized man-machine interface significantly reduces pilot and crew workload.  
 
The NH90's superior handling qualities are enhanced by a fly-by-wire flight control system, making it the first production helicopter in the world to feature this advanced technology.  
 
Due to its inherent multi-mission capability, the NH90 will greatly enhance interoperability of the European armed forces in NATO and United Nations missions, contribute to the standardization of equipment and to the rationalization of costs, training and logistics.  
 
Eurocopter is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003 EADS generated revenues of 30.1 billion euros and employed a workforce of more than 109,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world’s largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the second-largest missile producer in the global market. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium and is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher. EADS is also developing the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.  
 
-ends-

[Spectral]

Os indianos querem comprar mais 126 caças ( o LCA aparece cada vez mais um fracasso).

IAF gets bids for replacing MiGs

The Ministry of Defence is against the IAF’s idea of going for the French Mirage as it may lead to a single vendor situation.

BY BIDANDA M CHENGAPPA

DH NEWS SERVICE BANGALORE:


The Indian Air Force (IAF) is evaluating bids for a mega purchase of 126 aircraft from four foreign aeronautical majors to replace seven squadrons of its obsolete MiG 21, 23 and 27 fighter aircraft.

The contenders are the Swedish Saab Viggen, the Russian Moscow Aircraft Production Organisation, the French Marcel Dassault and the US Lockheed Martin. Delays in induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft into squadron service and the intermittent MiG 21 crashes necessitate this purchase.

The various aircraft for sale include the Swedish Saab, the Russian MiG 29M, the French Mirage 2000-5 and the US F-16 Block 50. The IAF is said to be keen on the French Mirage 2000-5 since it already has three Mirage squadrons on its inventory. However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has insisted against the IAF getting into a single vendor situation, as in the case of the advanced jet trainer aircraft, with only the British Aerospace’s Hawk aircraft eventually being available for purchase.
The Russians have evolved a new MiG-29M that is an improved version of the 1970s vintage aircraft that continue in IAF squadron service. This plane comes without problems of poor fuel combustion, weak avionics, air-to-ground strike. The IAF’s ‘air staff requirements’ or product specifications demand a multi-role fighter capable of an air superiority/ air defence role, and an anti-surface forces role against land/sea targets.

Besides, these new aircraft should be compatible with the IAF’s newly acquired air-to-air refuelling capabilities and use as a ‘force multiplier’ to conduct counter-air operations against enemy airfields, radars etc; also strike roles against targets deep within enemy territory.

These companies have responded to a global tender floated by the MoD and includes license production at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The French company Dassault’s executives have already inspected HAL facilities that is supposed to produce 12 aircraft per year.

The expenditure covers acquiring the license, setting up infrastructure like production lines, civil construction work, associated facilities that is estimated to be in the region of Rs 30,000 crore. The IAF would ideally like to maintain a 37 fighter squadron strength on its ‘order of battle’ to cope with a two-front threat that pertains to hostile actions either from Pakistan or China. The remainder of the aircraft on its inventory comprise transport and helicopter squadrons.

Como é óbvio, no texto acima "Viggen" é uma gralha. Estariam a referir-se ao Grippen. Entretanto parece que o Eurfighter entrou na corrida mas tem poucas hipóteses.

E o grande favorito é o Mirage 2000-5...

[Ricardo Nunes]

Dutch and Belgian F-16s intercept airliners
Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 07:55 AM  
 
 
Two Dutch F-16 fighters from Leeuwarden AB, the Netherlands have escorted British Airways flight BA 983. Earlier this week two F-16s from the Belgian Air Force intercepted a Russian airliner over French airspace.

The British Airways Airbus (BA 983) was on a non-stop flight from Berlin to London when it had to make a precautionary landing thursday afternoon at Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands.

The pilots of the airliner requested this because there had been a bomb alert. Someone recieved a call that there was a bomb on board of that specific airplane. Details as whom made that call and where exactly it came from are yet unknown.

The two Dutch F-16 Fighting Falcons escorted the plane from it's entry in the Dutch airspace all the way to it's unforeseen landing. The Dutch military police searched the airplane without finding any explosive device.

Earlier this week two Belgian F-16s intercepted an airliner over French airspace.

On September 27th, 2004, at around 18:30h, two F-16s on quick reaction alert (QRA) took off from Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium, to intercept an airliner originating from Moscou and on its way to a French airport. Air traffic control had lost radio contact for quite a while.

De F-16s took off from Kleine Brogel air base and went supersonic for two minutes to get to the Russian airliner. At 18:40h the airliner was within visual reach. Six minutes later, the civilain aircraft re-established radio contact.

Since September 1st, the Belgian F-16s have been brought to highest state of alert already 10 times. Only three times they actually had to take off.