Defense Projects and News

The US Navy intends to pay for an upgrade to Niger’s two Diamond Aircraft DA42 surveillance aircraft. One aircraft will be outfitted with an L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical/infrared sensor with a range-finding laser, plus data transmission and encryption capabilities and new operator display screens. The second aircraft will gain satellite communications equipment and radios. The US military has been actively upgrading intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) equipment for Sahel-region governments, ostensibly to allow for operations against Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), –an active regional franchise of the terrorist network.

The Pentagon finalised a deal on 24 September to buy 71 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from Lockheed Martin. The aircraft will be part of the sixth and seventh low rate initial production (LRIP) lots for the stealth fighters. “Lockheed Martin is extremely pleased with the LRIP 6 and 7 contract signing, which represents a significant milestone for the F-35 programme and its path to enhanced affordability,” says Lorraine Martin, Lockheed’s vice-president and general manager for the F-35 programme. “With each successive production lot, unit costs have declined. That’s a trend we look forward to continuing as this programme moves toward full rate production and operational maturity.”

Beechcraft says that it is creating a more powerful King Air 350 variant for military use. The upgrade to a higher-thrust version of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engine is aimed at bolstering sales at a time when the US military is withdrawing troops – and dozens of King Air surveillance aircraft – from Afghanistan.

The 'new situation' between the USA and Iran may result in some immediate procurement decisions by Israel, including the purchase of additional Lockheed Martin F-35s. Israel is worried about a so-called smiles campaign recently initiated by Tehran, which according to Israeli sources has all but removed the option of any future US military action in response to Iran's nuclear programme.

Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) handed over the first of three maritime patrol-configured CN235s to the Indonesian navy at a ceremony in Bandung on 2 October. Indonesia’s defence ministry contracted IAe to build the three aircraft, designated as CN235 PATMAR, in 2009. They will complement the navy’s NC212s, providing long-range patrol missions across the Indonesian archipelago. The aircraft has been fitted with a search radar, forward-looking infrared camera, identification friend or foe transponder, tactical navigation systems and a bubble window to equip it for a surveillance role. In addition, IAe says the CN235 has been fitted with winglets to improve its stability.

Dassault Aviation and Thales have been awarded a deal to modernise the mission systems of the French navy's 15 Dassault-built Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, extending the type's operational life into the 2030s. Under the enhancement contract, awarded by France's DGA procurement body on 4 October, the turboprop-powered aircraft will receive a new tactical mission system and "state-of-the-art" sensor subsystems and display consoles, says Dassault.

Dassault conducted the first flight of an upgraded Mirage 2000 fighter for the Indian air force at Istres air base in France on 5 of October, 2013.

Norway is seeking to purchase six additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. That country's defense sector is allowing budget for the additional aircraft is the 2014 fiscal year.

Sad news out of Switzerland...involving an F-18 fighter that allegedly crashed while on a training mission. The pilots are yet to be found.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/report-an-fa-18-fighter-jets-crashes-in-central-switzerland/2013/10/23/1d812dd6-3be7-11e3-b0e7-716179a2c2c7_story.html

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has delivered the first Lockheed Martin C-130H to the Israeli air force, after performing an extensive refurbishment including replacing the transport's centre wingbox and wiring.

Beechcraft Corporation today announced a follow-on sale of its Beechcraft T-6C+ military trainer to the Mexican Air Force (FAM). The T-6C+, an enhanced version of the T-6 military trainer aircraft, is capable of carrying external stores and delivering practice weapons for training purposes. This order follows an initial order of six T-6C+ aircraft from the FAM in January 2012. The aircraft will be delivered to an advanced training base in Mexico’s northern region in late 2013 after required export licenses are obtained. These six T-6C+ trainers are another step in replacing the FAM’s aging PC-7 fleet.

“This follow-on order demonstrates how customers around the world are successfully utilizing and benefiting from the T-6,” said Russ Bartlett, president, Beechcraft Defense Company. “We are pleased to help the FAM grow its military training fleet and look forward to continuing to expand our relationship over the coming years.” A second contract is underway to include two years of parts support and the placement of Field Service Representatives who provide technical expertise and training to FAM maintenance personnel.

The T-6C+ features hard-point wings, Heads-Up Display, Up-Front Control Panel, an integrated glass cockpit and an advanced Esterline CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite that greatly expands advanced training opportunities. The systems are integrated with a Hands-On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS), providing the student pilot and instructor with a simpler interface to the digital cockpit. The CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite is the first in its class to incorporate a fully integrated and FAA-certified dual FMS/GPS navigation suite that meets the required navigation performance standards for current worldwide airspace equipment. The open architecture design of the Cockpit 4000 provides the flexibility to expand capabilities and continuously meet current and future training needs.

In addition to accommodating instruction in instrument flight procedures and basic aerial maneuvers, the T-6 delivers world-class training capability that is appropriate for teaching the most basic introductory flight training tasks through the more challenging and complex advanced training missions that could previously be accomplished only in far more expensive jet aircraft. Deliveries of the T-6 began in 2000 after the aircraft was initially selected to fill the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System role for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Since then, additional military programs worldwide, including NATO Flying Training in Canada, the Hellenic Air Force of Greece, the Israeli Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force and the Royal Moroccan Air Force, have chosen the T-6 and its derivatives as their primary trainers. To date, the T-6 has been used to train pilots, navigators, and weapons systems operators from approximately 20 different countries.

If this is true then, so much for American tax payer's money...

http://rt.com/usa/air-force-fleet-directly-storage-915/

More defense news...this time from Russia...

http://rt.com/news/russia-fighter-jet-flight-849/

The USA has agreed to sell six Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor aircraft to Israel. However, United States officials haven't indicated which version(s) of the aircraft Israel will receive.

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is proposing to develop a new aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions that is capable of Mach 6.0 flight, or nearly twice the top speed of the long-retired SR-71 Blackbird.

New Boeing B-52 Upgrade to Increase Smart Weapons Capacity by Half

Boeing will continue to increase the B-52 bomber’s effectiveness and versatility under a new U.S. Air Force contract that calls for the aircraft’s smart weapons capacity to expand by 50 percent. Under the $24.6 million agreement, Boeing will develop a modification to existing weapon launchers so the aircraft can carry smart weapons in the bomb bay, allowing aircrews to use the B-52’s entire weapons capacity.

“When you combine that ability with the extremely long flying time of the B-52, you have an efficient and versatile weapon system that is very valuable to warfighters on the ground,” said Scot Oathout, B-52 program director. “This weapons capacity expansion joins the CONECT program, a comprehensive communication upgrade currently being installed on the aircraft, to give the warfighter even more flexibility.”

Boeing will produce three prototype launchers for test and evaluation. Initial capability is expected in March 2016, and potential follow-on efforts could add additional weapons and allow a mixed load of different types of weapons. Following the upgrade’s first phase, the B-52s will be able to carry 24 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) or 20 2,000-pound JDAMs. Later phases will add the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and its extended range variant (JASSM-ER), as well as the Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) and its jammer variant (MALD/J).

The bomb bay upgrade will also enable the B-52 to carry weapons internally only, increasing fuel efficiency in flight. The modernization work will use parts from existing Air Force rotary launchers repurposed for conventional missions, as well as hardware and software already developed for the wing pylons.

New Boeing B-52 Upgrade to Increase Smart Weapons Capacity by Half

Boeing will continue to increase the B-52 bomber’s effectiveness and versatility under a new U.S. Air Force contract that calls for the aircraft’s smart weapons capacity to expand by 50 percent. Under the $24.6 million agreement, Boeing will develop a modification to existing weapon launchers so the aircraft can carry smart weapons in the bomb bay, allowing aircrews to use the B-52’s entire weapons capacity.

“When you combine that ability with the extremely long flying time of the B-52, you have an efficient and versatile weapon system that is very valuable to warfighters on the ground,” said Scot Oathout, B-52 program director. “This weapons capacity expansion joins the CONECT program, a comprehensive communication upgrade currently being installed on the aircraft, to give the warfighter even more flexibility.”

Boeing will produce three prototype launchers for test and evaluation. Initial capability is expected in March 2016, and potential follow-on efforts could add additional weapons and allow a mixed load of different types of weapons. Following the upgrade’s first phase, the B-52s will be able to carry 24 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) or 20 2,000-pound JDAMs. Later phases will add the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and its extended range variant (JASSM-ER), as well as the Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) and its jammer variant (MALD/J).

The bomb bay upgrade will also enable the B-52 to carry weapons internally only, increasing fuel efficiency in flight. The modernization work will use parts from existing Air Force rotary launchers repurposed for conventional missions, as well as hardware and software already developed for the wing pylons.

Beechcraft Corporation is bringing its AT-6 light attack aircraft to the Dubai Airshow for the first time, displaying the aircraft Nov. 17-21 at Dubai World Central, before launching a three-month demonstration tour of the aircraft.

US Vice President Joe Biden will seek a delicate balance between calming military tensions with China and backing ally Japan against Beijing on a trip to Asia this week that is being overshadowed by a territorial row in the East China Sea.

Is there a secret stealth reconnaisance aircraft being tested in Area 51 that is supposed to replace the SR-71 Blackbird? Reports say it is called the RQ-180. Not sure whether to believe it or not, what do you guys think?