Defense Projects and News

Northrop Grumman X-47B makes first arrested landing

The Northrop Grumman X-47B test bed craft has successfully completed its first landing using an arrestor cable on 4 May, 2013. The same method used to land on an aircraft on a Navy carrier. This achievement brings the aircraft a step closer to an actual carrier landing. The landing was conducted at the US Navy's flight test airfield at Patuxent River, Maryland. Called a 'trap' in Navy parlance, the manoeuvre is one of the most challenging tasks Navy pilots regularly conduct. In contrast, the X-47Bs' trap was conducted completely by computer guidance, with human oversight from a landing officer beside the runway.

BAE resuming Eurofighter Typhoon deliveries to Royal Saudi Air Force

BAE Systems has resumed Eurofighter Typhoon deliveries to Saudi Arabia to their Air Force. The company had yet been able to conclude long-running price negotiations with Riyadh for part of the 72-aircraft acquisition.

"Discussions continue with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relating to the formalisation of price escalation on the Salam Typhoon programme," BAE says in an interim management statement issued on 8 May. However, it reveals "aircraft deliveries on the programme re-commenced in April".

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The US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has released a request for proposal (RFP) for a new VXX presidential helicopter to replace the service's ageing Sikorsky VH-3D and VH-60N fleet. The document also states that the contractor will have responsibility for furnishing the cabin interior and the overall performance of the VXX system. AgustaWestland is expected to offer the AW101, while Sikorsky will likely bid the S-92. Bell-Boeing may offer a variant of the V-22 Osprey. The winning airframer would be expected to deliver six developmental helicopters, nine low rate initial production aircraft and eight full rate production aircraft over a total of about eight years.

Yes agreed but...that is one of the platforms they are offering, there are others that will be on contention.

United States Air Force (USAF) maintenance members working on the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter at Eglin AFB (Airforce Base) in Florida say that the stealth coatings on the new fifth-generation type aircraft are proving alot easier to maintain and work with compared to other types of low-observable (LO) coatings on earlier platforms.

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News is that test pilots at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, performed the first Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter vertical take-off on 10 May. This would be the variant for the United States Marine Corps. If you are reading and not sure what the F-35B will be used for...

Basically the USMC has the aircraft set out to perform short rolling take-offs carrying a full load of ordnance and fuel, and then carry out vertical landing once the aircraft returns to the amphibious assault ship or expeditionary airfield.

The Beechcraft Defense Company Secures $210M Air Force Contract for 35 T-6 Military Training Aircraft.

Photo of new Chinese Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) dubbed the 'Lijian' or 'Sharp Sword'.

The Indian Navy has recieved their first Boeing P-8I maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. If it looks familiar in construction, it is essentially the naval version of the Boeing 737. Deliveries of more of the type are expected to come later this year to the Indian Navy.

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Rafale to expand Meteor missile testing

Trials with the Dassault Rafale and MBDA's Meteor beyond visual-range air-to-air missile are due to be performed in late May, as the type edges closer towards eventual service introduction with the French armed forces.

Lights out for Euro-UAV project

Germany has cancelled its planned Euro 1 billion -approx $1.3-billion- procurement of five Northrop Grumman Euro Hawk unmanned air vehicles -UAVs-. The 'problem' apparently has been significant barriers to having the type certified for flights in civil airspace. So it looks like a no-go or even a go-around on this project.

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A Royal Air Force crew has done their first air-to-air refuelling (AAR) training flight with their new Airbus A330 Voyager tanker/transport aircraft. It's just four months before its last Vickers VC10s are due to be retired.

France remains in limbo about which type of UAV they should use. So far they are in talks with both the United States and Israel over the purchase of large unmanned air vehicles (UAV).

Embraer is offering a new military transport called the KC-390 that will compete with planes like the C130 transport.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kcGA5qqJwA

Bombardier Among Canada's Big Defence and Security Players at CANSEC 2013

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it will once again be exhibiting at CANSEC, Canada’s largest defense technology showcase. The show will be held at the Ernst & Young Centre in Ottawa on May 29 and May 30, 2013. Bombardier is a key sponsor of this event, which fosters engagement between industry and government agencies.

“Canada is a growing market for specialized and military aviation and remains a strong focus for us. We are proud to be exhibiting again at CANSEC this year, among Canada's leading edge defense and security companies,” said Benjamin Boehm, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Bombardier Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft. “This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our array of products. Bombardier has the longest track record and the widest product offering of any other special mission aircraft provider. Today, nearly 300 repurposed Learjet, Challenger, and Global business jets, Q-Series turboprops and CRJ Series regional jets provide a full spectrum of special mission capabilities to over 35 governments worldwide. We look forward to laying down the foundation for future partnerships with key government, military and industry stakeholders at this show,” he continued.

Canada operates 81* Bombardier special mission aircraft across the country. Canadian operators, including federal-government operators, have long trusted the flexibility, endurance, range and payload of Bombardier aircraft to carry out various missions. Canada is also home to nearly 60* Bombardier amphibious firefighting aircraft, the largest national fleet of its kind in the world. The Bombardier 415 aircraft and its predecessors, the CL-215 and CL-215T aircraft, are the only purpose-built firefighting aircraft in the world with over 40 years of combined experience and more than 160 aircraft in-service worldwide*.

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Boeing ready to build first KC-46 tanker

Boeing is expecting to start construction on the first KC-46 tanker for the US Air Force in June 2013, a company official says. "Starting in one month, we will begin final assembly of the wing structure," says Jake Howitt, Boeing's deputy KC-46 programme manager. "On 26 June we load the first tanker parts into the wing final assembly jig up at Everett [Washington]."

Photo of the second Airbus A400M for the French Air Force...

L-3 Mission Integration has entered a contract with Korean Air to upgrade eight Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion aircraft operated by the South Korean navy. "The mission system that we're putting on these aircraft will be completely compatible and interoperable with South Korea's existing P-3 fleet and will add significant capability," says Brent Billingslea, senior director of surveillance systems at L-3 Mission Integration.

Northrop Grumman has started flight testing on the Triton aerial vehicle, the cousin to the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. The first flight happened on the 22nd of May, 2013. After launching from Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, Calif., facility the 80-min. flight took place in restricted airspace near Edwards AFB, Calif. It was the first of up to nine envelope-expansion missions that will pave the way for more extensive systems flight trials at NAS Patuxent River, Md. The flight, though five months later than planned at the MQ-4C's unveiling last June, marks progress toward the Navy's maritime patrol modernization goal.

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