Monday 31 July 2017

KAI has signed an export contract with the Thai government for 8 units of T-50


KAI exports 8 units of T-50 to Thailand

Posted July. 31, 2017 07:38,   Updated July. 31, 2017 08:15

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) sells eight units of its military jet T-50 to Thailand. The contract size amounts to some 260 million U.S. dollars.
 
According to the KAI on Sunday, it has signed an export contract on Saturday with the Thai government to sell the military jet at JW Marriott Hotel in Seoul. This contract is made following Thailand’s air force purchased four units of T-50 in 2015. KAI plans to deliver all of T-50 units to Thailand by May 2020. 

This contract makes the total sales of the KAI’s T-50 64 (worth approx. 2.93 billion dollars): 16 to Indonesia, 24 to Iraq, 12 to the Philippines and 12 to Thailand. “We are planning to export T-50 to Botswana, Argentina and the U.S.," the KAI said. "The sales to Thailand will give momentum to the export of T-50."

Do-Young Kwak now@donga.com


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KAI T-50 and FA-50: Details

Indian Navy carries out simulation trials for new aircraft worth over Rs 75,000 crore mega deal for INS Vikramaditya, Aircraft Carrier

INS Vikramaditya


Rs 75,000 cr deal: Navy carries out simulation trials of new aircraft for INS Vikramaditya, Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

The 57 new planes would be used for operations from the INS Vikramaditya and the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.

Ajit Kumar Dubey | Posted by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar

New Delhi, July 29, 2017 | UPDATED 12:39 IST

Looking to buy 57 fighter aircraft to augment its fleet, the Indian Navy recently invited foreign vendors to carry out trials to see if the planes could operate off the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

French Rafale, Swedish Saab Sea Gripen, Russian MiG-29K and American F-18 are the contenders for the over Rs 75,000 crore mega deal of the maritime force.

"The foreign vendors were asked to prove that their aircraft would be able to operate off our Russian-origin aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya," a senior Navy source told MAIL TODAY.

Aircraft manufacturers, including the French Rafale and American F-18, had taken part in the trials and were asked to provide more inputs on their respective plane's capabilities to be able to take off and land at the Vikramaditya, the sources said.

The trials were held at INS Vikramaditya's home-base in Karwar in Karnataka. The 57 new planes would be used for operations from the INS Vikramaditya and the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi along with the 45 MiG29Ks already imported from Russia.

DIFFERENCE IN TAKE-OFF SYSTEMS
There is a huge difference in take off systems on board the aircraft carriers of Russian and Western origin. While the aircraft on Western carriers are launched using a steam-powered catapult while on the Russian platforms, they take off from an angled ski-jump - the launch mechanism on both the Vikramaditya and the under construction IAC.

The need for buying new super expensive aircraft came up after the Navy rejected the naval version of the indigenous light combat aircraft as it wanted a twin-engine fighter with a stronger airframe and landing gear to operate from a flight deck with high-tempo flying cycles.

As per the requirement projected by the Navy, it wants to manufacture these planes in India as the Request for Information had asked the original equipment manufacturers to respond to it.

It also sought to know at what level of Transfer of Technology (ToT) and deep repair expertise the company is willing to share with India.

It also asked the vendor to specify critical technologies required and comment on its ability to absorb the aircraft manufacturing technology at the levels of sub vendor/supply chain elements in India through ToT from OEM and its partners.

DELIVERY
As regards the delivery schedule, the first lot of jets have to be delivered in three years after inking of the contract and all the 57 have to be delivered in the next three years.

The existing fleet of the MiG-29K planes has been creating a number of problems for the maritime force as they are not yet ruggedised enough for aircraft carrier operations as was reported by MAIL TODAY recently.

The planes have also been facing engine problems and the Navy had taken up the issue with Russia whose engineers and technicians are working to address the issues as the planes are still in warranty period.

With two aircraft carriers and over five squadrons of maritime strike aircraft, the Indian Navy would be emerging as a very strong force to reckon with.


750,000,000,000 INR is equal to 11,698,825,438 USD @ 64.11 Indian rupees to 1 US dollar..........Wow the price went up quick last time it was quoted at $7.8 billion........

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Dassault Rafale: Details


F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: Details


Saab Gripen E: Details


MiG-29K: Details

Portugal approves acquisition of five Embraer KC-390


BY ERICK CERQUEIRA · JULY 29, 2017

The Portuguese government authorized the Ministry of Defense to begin the process of acquiring five Embraer KC-390 aircraft with purchase option for an aircraft, in addition to its logistical support and flight simulator in a 500 million dollar agreement. In addition to military activities, aircraft will be deployed in firefighting.

From now on, the ministry will have three months to produce a report of the whole purchase and preparation process so that the aircraft is operational until 2021. In addition, the Portuguese government requested a revision in the program of modernization of the fleet of Lockheed C -130H of the Portuguese Air Force, which may be suspended.

Through a document, the Portuguese ministry stresses that such a purchase corresponds to the essential security interests of Portugal, and that the respective aircraft will ensure strategic and tactical air transport for the country's armed forces, including in missions.

The purchase was already expected, once Portugal invested about 59.1 million euros in the project through the development and construction of components, in addition to modernizing the Embraer facilities in Évora.


Related post:


Embraer KC-390: Details

Sunday 30 July 2017

Russian Navy may receive new Project 22800 'Uragan' corvette armed with Kalibr missiles before 2018

Military Intelligence Service

Russian Navy May Receive Next-Gen Corvette With Kalibr Missiles Before 2018

20:01 29.07.2017(updated 01:24 30.07.2017)

The Russian Defense Ministry may receive new next-generation Project 22800 'Uragan' corvette armed with Kalibr cruise missiles before 2018, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said Saturday.

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) — The first two Project 22800 corvettes, dubbed the Uragan and the Taifun, were laid down on December 24. The warships will have a displacement of 800 metric tons and a maximum speed of over 30 knots.

"Tests of Uragan should be carried out in the next six months, it is practically equipped with all devices. After floating, the mooring trials, adjustment, alignment of all the main units will begin and I think it is quite possible to transfer the ship to the Navy before year-end, we will hope," Borisov said.

He noted that the Uragan has solid weapons.......Read rest of article: HERE

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Karakurt-class corvette (Project 22800): Details

Russia celebrates Navy Day - Video


Russia's Navy Day: History of Glory and Heroism

10:14 30.07.2017(updated 10:25 30.07.2017)

Russia celebrates the Navy Day every last Sunday of July, including July 30, 2017.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The country's Navy has been evolving since the late 17th century. Then Russia needed a regular navy because it had to overcome territorial, political and cultural isolation, which had been one of the main obstacles to its socioeconomic development in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The Azov Fleet comprising warships and other vessels built in the winter of 1695-1696 became the first regular task force of the Russian Navy that helped the Russian Army seize then Turkish fortress of Azov........Read rest of article: HERE


Production of VT-4 (MBT-3000) for the Royal Thai Army


It is claimed that the video depicts the production of VT-4 (MBT-3000) for the Royal Thai Army.


Source


The main tank VT4 has a combat mass of up to 52 tons. Used 1300-horsepower engine provides maximum speed on the highway to 67 km / h. The capacity of fuel tanks is sufficient for a 500 km long march. Specific power of about 25 hp. Per ton allows the VT4 tank to have mobility at the level of the best modern samples of foreign production.

In the tower of the VT4 tank, a 125-mm smoothbore gun is installed, which is a Chinese version of the development of the Soviet / Russian gun 2A46. Such weapons allow the tank to use ammunition of several types and for different purposes. In addition, the tank is equipped with a set of guided weapons, allowing the use of guided missiles with a range of up to 5 km. The gun is connected with the automatic loading device, accelerating the process of preparation for the shot. The use of such automation allows you to save the crew of three people. The general ammunition of the tank is 38 shots. 22 shots are placed in the cells of the automatic loader, the rest - in the stowage of the fighting compartment.

Auxiliary armament of the VT4 tank is standard for Chinese armored vehicles of this class. In the tower, a 7.62 mm machine gun coupled with a cannon is installed, and the tower has a remotely controlled combat module.

Saturday 29 July 2017

Lockheed Martin given $3.7 bln interim payment for 50 F-35s - Pentagon


JULY 29, 2017 / 4:27 AM

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp was awarded a $3.7 billion interim payment for a batch of 50 F-35 fighter jets earmarked for non-U.S. customers, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The contract provides funds for the procurement of 50 aircraft, comprised of one F-35B aircraft for Great Britain, one F-35A for Italy, eight F-35A aircraft for Australia, eight F-35A for the Netherlands, four F-35A for Turkey, six F-35A for Norway, and 22 F-35A aircraft for other foreign military sales customers, the Pentagon said in a statement. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by David Gregorio)

Source

Friday 28 July 2017

Amur Shipyard Launched Russian Navy's 6th Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class Corvette the Gromky

komcity.ru



The first ship was designated Project 2038.0 (or 20380) by the Russian Government; subsequent vessels were built to an improved design, Project 20381. 

Project 20381 Soobrazitel’niy Corvette: Details

Saudi Arabia considering Scorpion deal: Textron chief


20 JULY, 2017 SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM BY: DOMINIC PERRY LONDON

Saudi Arabia is considering acquiring the Textron AirLand Scorpion light attack aircraft, with initial discussions under way.

Scott Donnelly, chief executive of parent company Textron, says Riyadh is one of a number of customers it is in talks with over the developmental aircraft.

The recent arms deal between the USA and Saudi Arabia includes $2 billion for “light close air support” aircraft. However, no details on the type or delivery dates have been disclosed.

Cautioning that its talks with Riyadh are at an "early" stage, Donnelly, speaking on a second-quarter results call, added: "There are certainly a number of things that we are looking at, but we think that now the performance envelope, the capability of what Scorpion can do makes it a very viable product for their requirements. But it’s still in its formative stages, I would say."

Scorpion, along with the Beechcraft AT-6 and Embraer/Sierra Nevada A-29, will participate in a test campaign for the US Air Force in August as the service evaluates the potential purchase of a light attack aircraft under its OA-X initiative.

Although there is no programme of record for the requirement, Donnelly believes there is sufficient support from senior USAF leaders to merit the experimentation phase.

"I think the air force is being pragmatic about the fact that they need to execute the experimentation programme, understand what the capability is of the platforms that they are looking at and then take their next step, whatever that might be."

Textron displayed a prototype of the Scorpion, powered by twin Honeywell TFE731 engines, at the recent Paris air show and Royal International Air Tattoo in the UK.

Donnelly says talks with prospective customers continue, but acknowledges that some will be waiting for the outcome of the OA-X effort.


Related post:


Scorpion Attack Aircraft: Details

U.S. Navy and Air Force Award Lockheed Martin First Production Lot for Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles


$86.5 million contract marks first order of tactical missiles

ORLANDO, Fla., July 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) received an $86.5 million contract from the U.S. Navy and Air Force for Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) production.

The contract marks the first production award for the air-launched variant of LRASM, and includes 23 missiles and engineering support. Low-rate initial production Lot 1 is the first of several expected annual production lots that will deliver next-generation anti-ship missiles to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.

"This first production lot of LRASM brings a new level of capability to both the U.S. Air Force and the Navy," said Mike Fleming, LRASM director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "LRASM enables our warfighters to prosecute even the most advanced enemy ships."

LRASM is designed to detect and destroy specific targets within groups of ships by employing advanced technologies that reduce dependence on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, network links and GPS navigation in electronic warfare environments. LRASM will play a significant role in ensuring military access to operate in open ocean/blue waters, owing to its enhanced ability to discriminate and conduct tactical engagements from extended ranges.

LRASM is a precision-guided, anti-ship standoff missile based on the successful Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile - Extended Range (JASSM-ER). It is designed to meet the needs of U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force Warfighters in contested environments. The air-launched variant provides an early operational capability for the U.S. Navy's offensive anti-surface warfare Increment I requirement to be integrated onboard the U.S. Air Force's B-1B in 2018 and on the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in 2019.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin


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AGM-158C LRASM


After the Cold War ended, the U.S. Navy dropped the ball with respect to anti-ship weaponry as the prospect of a major sea battle faded from view.

China took a different tack by spending big on naval modernization with new ships and submarines and an increasingly sophisticated array of anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles or “carrier killers” fired from land, sea and undersea. China’s road-mobile DF-21D missile, for instance, can target military vessels about 810 nm (1,500 km) off the coast and its YJ-18 subsonic cruise missile fielded in 2015 can reach out 290 nm, creating a threat ring of approximately 264,200 nm2. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to rely on the sea-skimming Boeing Harpoon Block 1C missile introduced in the mid-1980s, with an unclassified range of 67 nm. 


Seeing the Navy increasingly forced into a defensive crouch and responding to the White House’s “Pacific Pivot,” DARPA and the Office of Naval Research began tinkering with the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), derived from Lockheed Martin’s extended-range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, which boasts a range or more than 500 nm. Sharing 88% common components including the airframe, engine, anti-jam GPS receiver and 1,000-lb. penetrating warhead, the weapon has been upgraded with a multi-mode seeker designed by BAE Systems for semi-autonomous strikes against specific naval vessels, even when mixed among noncombatants. 

The program was launched in 2009 and achieved its first successful strike against a maritime target on Aug. 27, 2013, fired from the B-1B bomber. The weapon’s design has been validated two other times in flight testing in 2013 and 2015 and was adopted by the Navy in 2014 to meet an urgent requirement for an air-launched anti-ship weapon, a requirement called Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) Increment 1. Moving at roughly twice the speed of a normal acquisition program, LRASM received clearance from the Pentagon to enter low-rate initial production in late 2016 to support fielding on the Air Force B-1B next year and the Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in 2019. Built in Troy, Alabama, Lockheed will turn out 110 missiles to meet the immediate need and then compete for the follow-on requirement known as OASuW Increment 2. It is also pitching surface-launched versions fired from the Mark 41 vertical launch tube and a customized deck-mounted launcher for the Littoral Combat Ship. Source: aviationweek.com

LRASM Surface Launch flight test from the USN Self Defense Test Ship


On July 21, 2016, the third successful surface-launched LRASM test was conducted from the USN SDTS at Pt. Mugu Sea Range, CA. This test proved the missile’s ability to load mission data using the modified Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System (TTWCS+), and align mission data with the moving ship and launch from the MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). During the test, LRASM exited the VLS launcher, cleanly separated from its Mk-114 booster and transitioned to the cruise phase. The missile successfully flew a pre-planned low-altitude profile collecting aerodynamics agility data while enroute to its pre-determined endpoint.  Source: lockheedmartin.com



Specification


Source: navyrecognition.com


F/A-18E/F & Block III Super Hornet: Details