Wednesday, 30 September 2020

Germany walks away from Lockheed, Boeing cargo helicopter offers

helipress.net


Germany walks away from Lockheed, Boeing cargo helicopter offers

By: Sebastian Sprenger
 
A Sikorsky CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter is unloaded from the cargo bay of a C-17 Globemaster, which touched down in Holzdorf, Germany, on March 28, 2018, ahead of its international debut at the ILA Berlin Air Show in April. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company. (PRNewsfoto/Lockheed Martin)


COLOGNE, Germany – The German defense ministry wants to start fresh on a new heavy transport helicopter after finding that offers from Boeing and Lockheed for the Chinook and the King Stallion, respectively, were too expensive, officials announced today.

The surprise decision halts an acquisition race that was scheduled to a see a contract awarded in 2021. The two companies had delivered their initial proposals for the program, aimed at replacing Germany’s aging CH-53G helicopters, in January 2020. A request for a second proposal had been expected by the end of this year.

The move comes as the budget implications of the coronavirus crisis are starting to materialize despite leaders' pledges to keep military spending high. Given that context, other programs are also expected to be on shaky ground, according to sources in Berlin.

Officials canceled the helicopter race, known here as Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH), because the government deemed offers by the U.S. defense giants as “uneconomical,” a defense ministry statement reads. The chance of meeting all requirements while adhering to the envisioned multibillion-dollar budget would be “unlikely,” officials wrote.

The STH program was initially planned to be a poster child for a no-frills, off-the-shelf purchase that’s easy on the defense budget. But acquisition officials kept piling on requirements to such a degree that it surprised some industry executives with the bidders, as Defense News reported earlier this year. Also included in the government’s requirements was a decades-long maintenance scheme under which contractors had to guarantee certain availability rates.

Tobias Lindner, the Green Party’s point man in the Bundestag for defense issues, called the helicopter program’s a “bitter sign” for Germany’s soldiers. He argued the defense ministry had been naive in its approach to the much-needed acquisition. “A new competition alone won’t solve that problem.”



CH-53K Super Stallion: Details

Rostec begins serial production of Mi-28NM

Nils Mosberg


Rostec begins serial production of Mi-28NM - Military & Defense - TASS

The company plans to provide 98 helicopters by 2027, according to the CEO


Mi-28NM helicopter
© Gavriil Grigorov/TASS

MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/. The holding company Helicopters of Russia has launched serial production of upgraded attack helicopters Mi-28NM, the company's CEO, Andrei Boginsky, told TASS.

"Serial production has begun. Under the current defense order we will provide 98 helicopters by 2027. The first two have been delivered for testing already. One is involved in government certification tests, while the other is being used for experiments with new rotor blades that increase speed," he said.

Mi-28NM is an upgraded version of the Mi-28N Night Hunter. Research into upgrading it began in 2009. It is expected that the Mi-28NM will be equipped with a fundamentally new 360-degree vision radar and control system and will carry smart weapons.


Engineering and development work for Ka-52M helicopter to be over in 2022

RealHokum


Engineering and development work for Ka-52M helicopter to be over in 2022 - Military & Defense - TASS

Within the framework of the project for upgrading the Ka-52 helicopter the Syrian experience was taken into account, according to the CEO of the holding company Helicopters of Russia

Ka-52 helicopter
© Igor Onuchin/TASS

MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/. Engineering and development work for an upgraded configuration of the combat helicopter Ka-52M will be completed in 2022, the CEO of the holding company Helicopters of Russia, (an affiliate of Rostec), Andrei Boginsky, told TASS.

"Currently, research and development is in progress in accordance with the terms of reference. The project will be finalized in 2022," he said.

Within the framework of the project for upgrading the Ka-52 helicopter the Syrian experience was taken into account. It will be equipped with new electric power supply and target identification systems and better protection against enemy fire. The range of spotting and identifying both surface and air targets will be increased. So will the effective range of its weapons.

The reconnaissance and attack helicopter K-52 Alligator is meant for eliminating tanks, other armored and non-armored vehicles, manpower, enemy helicopters and other aircraft on the frontline and in the rear in any weather round the clock. It boasts advanced avionics and powerful weapons. The coaxial rotors and enhanced longitudinal control enables it to perform complicated aerobatic maneuvers.


Royal Thai Air Force purchases 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft, training, spares and support services

Airwolfhound


Royal Thai Air Force purchases 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft, training, spares and support services - Aviation24.be

ByAndré Orban -29 September 2020087

Royal Thai Air Force equips pilot cadre with advanced training programme, awards Textron Aviation Defense with a $162M contract for 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft, training, spares and support services
 
Textron Aviation Defense LLC announced a $162 million contract with the Royal Thai Air Force for an Integrated Training System in support of operations at the Royal Thai Air Force Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen airbase. The contract is for 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission planning and debrief system, spare parts and ground support equipment. The work in support of this contract will take place at the company’s Wichita, Kansas facilities. Textron Aviation Defense LLC is a Textron Inc. company.

“The Royal Thai Air Force operates one of the most advanced air forces in the Asia Pacific and is a key U.S. security ally,” said Thomas Webster, regional director of Textron Aviation Defense Asia Pacific Sales. “Their acquisition of the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Integrated Training System empowers their cadre of student pilots with a technological advantage throughout their flight training and prepares them for a successful transition to advanced fighter and attack aircraft.”

The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II acquisition is in accordance with the 10-year Royal Thai Air Force Purchase and Development (P&D) Plan published in the RTAF White Paper 2020. The plan focuses on the modernisation of key capabilities and promoting the development of the Thai defence industry.

“This programme is a leap towards the new perspective of the Thai government to support the local defence industry, not only to procure a new trainer,” said ACM Maanat Wongwat, Commander in Chief, The Royal Thai Air Force. “This programme seeks the involvement between diverse partners, primarily between foreign and Thai local companies, which has been driven by the government’s current strategy “S-Curve 11.”

Textron Aviation Defense training of Royal Thai Air Force pilots and maintenance professionals is set to begin in Wichita in 2022 while the 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft — christened the T-6TH in Thailand — are expected to join the Royal Thai fleet between late 2022 and early 2023. Textron Aviation Defense plans to ferry two of the 12 aircraft to Thailand, crating and transporting the remaining 10 aircraft to Kamphaeng Saen airbase.

“We’re proud to equip the Royal Thai Air Force with the world’s most proven off-the-shelf training capability in the industry,” noted Brett Pierson, vice president of Textron Aviation Defense Strategy & Sales. “The Royal Thai Air Force will now have an affordable, low-risk next-generation military trainer designed for all levels of instruction, enabling a steady tempo of flight students transitioning from Pilot-In-Training to Pilot-In-Command. I know the legendary T-6 will support the Royal Thai Air Force with long-term reliability, cost-effective operations and a fully integrated array of simulators, computer-based academics and sustainable logistics.”

To date, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II has logged more than 4.1 million flight hours across a global fleet of nearly 1,000 aircraft. Each year more than 300 pilots from 42 countries graduate from T-6 training via the NATO Flight Training programme in Canada, the Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB in Texas and the U.S. Air Force Aviation Leadership Program. Another 2,000-plus pilots graduate from T-6 programmes across the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard while more than 2,700 pilots graduate from T-6 programmes across the Hellenic Air Force, the Argentine Air Force, the Israeli Air Force, the U.K. Royal Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, Mexican Navy, the Mexican Air Force, the Royal Moroccan Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 28, 2020

#####

Bernie C


AT-6B Light Attack Aircraft / Trainer: Details

Tuesday, 29 September 2020

Three New F-35s to Norway

Alan Wilson


Three New F-35s to Norway

(Source: Norwegian Ministry of Defence; issued Sept. 27, 2020)

(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)

Norway’s three latest F-35 fighters arrived at Orland Air Base on Sept. 27, bringing its fleet to 28 aircraft; 21 of which are in Norway and 7 at Luke AFB, in the United States, where they are used for training. (RNoAF photo)

Tonight, September 27, three new F-35 fighter jets landed in Norway. In total, the Air Force has now received 28 aircraft.

The planes took off from Fort Worth, Texas, yesterday afternoon Norwegian time, and landed late at night Norwegian time 18:40.

The Air Force has so far received 21 aircraft in Norway and 7 aircraft in the United States used for training. The Air Force is well underway with testing and training at Ørland Airport and training of personnel at Luke Air Force base.

The new commander of 332 Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Tron Strand, received the planes, together with Air Wing Commander Colonel Øivind Gunnerud.

“It is always great to receive new aircraft. That we get more planes means that we get the opportunity to fly more in Norway and that we can continue the necessary increase in the number of people working with the weapons system - pilots, operational support personnel and technical personnel. We are already focusing on training towards full operational capability in 2025, and on the way there we have a number of sub-goals that require the supply of new aircraft to go as planned,” Strand said.

The F-35 will carry out operations with Norwegian and allied forces both on land, at sea and in the air. With its capabilities, the F-35 will help to carry out military operations faster, more efficiently and with greater security for its own forces. In the period up to 2025, the F-35 will focus on joint training and integration with both its own and allied forces. Last week, the F-35 deployed to Rygge airport, together with both air defense, F-16 and other forces on the ground. Such training scenarios are absolutely necessary to further develop the weapon system.

More milestones ahead

The F-35 is today part of the national emergency preparedness. In 2020, the F-35 completed its first operational mission in Iceland, Iceland Air Policing, as an integral part of NATO's airspace control. A similar assignment will be carried out in 2021. As early as 2022, the F-35 will take over the QRA contingency from Evenes when the F-16 aircraft are phased out.

The Air Force will continue the preparations and training towards full operational capability (FOC) in 2025.

-ends-

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Monday, 28 September 2020

B-1B Fleet Finishes Integrated Battle Station Upgrade

USAF photo


B-1B Fleet Finishes Integrated Battle Station Upgrade - Air Force Magazine

During preflight, B-1B Functional Check Flight Pilot Maj. Michael Griffin, with the 10th Flight Test Squadron, evaluates critical defensive and offensive aircraft systems, such as upgraded navigation procedures, radar systems, and aircraft terrain following. Air Force photo by Kelly White.


Sept. 24, 2020 | By Brian W. Everstine

Eight years, 62 aircraft, and about $1.25 billion later, the Air Force’s entire B-1B Lancer fleet has completed the Integrated Battle Station upgrade to modernize the jet’s datalinks, cockpit displays, and test system.

The IBS program, the largest and most complicated update ever for the Lancer, included 1,050,000 hours of planned work at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Each aircraft needed 17,000 individual parts, and 13 miles of new wiring. The program began in 2012 when Boeing upgraded two aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The next 60 were all upgraded at Tinker and the last aircraft is finishing up this week.

“I think everybody’s heard of how complex this upgrade is, and how complicated it’s been,” said Lt. Col. James Couch, commander of the 10th Flight Test Squadron, which handled test flights in the program. “But through teamwork, through maintenance and the (System Program Office), and through engineering, ops, we all came together as a team and we did something that’s never been done before in the B-1 enterprise. This is the most comprehensive upgrade in the history of the B-1 bomber.”

The program first began with the individual Center Integrated Test System—a display in the cockpit replacing the outdated computer that monitors the jet’s systems to help troubleshoot issues. Shortly after, the upgrade folded in the Link 16-supporting Fully Integrated Data Link and the Vertical Situational Display Unit. The individual mods are funded individually, with Boeing serving as the prime contractor. But, since they all focused on the same area of the aircraft, the Tinker line was able to integrate them so work could be done concurrently, said William Barnes, the B-1B systems program manager with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

Under original requirements it would take about 218 days to complete each bomber, but Tinker was able to set an internal goal of about 170 days with the fastest turnaround being 154 days.

In recent years, the B-1 fleet has faced serious structural issues, dropping the jet’s mission capable rate into the single digits. Tinker in 2019 stood up a separate line to address structural issues, which was independent of the cockpit modernization work, but USAF managed the fleet to limit downtime, said Rodney Shepard, director of the 567th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. For example, when Global Strike issued time-compliant technical orders on specific issues, that work was added to the aircraft in the IBS program.

When the upgrade began, the B-1 had not yet transitioned from Air Combat Command to Air Force Global Strike Command. The service is now looking to retire some of the recently modernized aircraft, according to its fiscal 2021 budget requests, which calls for cutting 17 of the aircraft because of the ongoing structural issues.

Going forward, Air Force leaders have said they look forward to integrating new systems onto the B-1, especially hypersonic weapons. The new systems installed as part of the IBS will make that “much easier,” Barnes said. The Link 16 data and other displays bring “situational awareness that is just beyond reproach,” Couch said. 


US B-1 bomber drills aim at China, Russia
B-1B Bomber Brandishes A Belly Full Of Stealth Cruise Missiles While Deployed To Guam

New action to deter Taiwan: J-20 stationed at Quzhou Airport

Cui Meng


慑台新动作:歼-20进驻衢州机场,专家:去哪不重要,能力摆在那_战机

Translated by google

New action to deter Taiwan: J-20 stationed at Quzhou Airport, expert: it doesn’t matter where to go, where is the ability 

2020-09-27 11:23

Recently, people in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province took pictures of the People’s Liberation Army’s most advanced fifth-generation stealth fighter J-20 landing at the “Quzhou Airport”, an important air force base along the coast of Zhejiang. The airport is only 500 kilometers away from Taipei. When the J-20 flies in the direction of Taiwan from the airport for 7 to 8 minutes, the Taiwan military cruise fighter will enter the effective range of the J-20 long-range missile. The J-20 can fly over Taiwan in 15 to 20 minutes.

The analysis pointed out that the J-20 may belong to the "Wang Hai Brigade" of Wuhu Air Force Base in Anhui, and it has been deployed to Quzhou Air Force Base recently. The "Wang Hai Brigade" is the heroic brigade on the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea. The predecessor of the Wang Hai Brigade was the 9th Regiment of the 3rd Division of the Volunteer Air Force. It was formed in October 1950. During the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, it entered the Korean War twice and shot down or damaged 29 enemy aircraft. Wang Hai, Sun Shenglu and Jiao Jingwen appeared successively. After waiting for the fighting hero, he was named "Wang Hai Brigade" by the Air Force.

Since the 1990s, in the face of changes in the internal and external environment, the Wang Hai Brigade has become a “fist force for safeguarding territorial integrity and inviolability of national interests” in Mainland China. The Ministry accepted the first batch of Russian-made Soviet -27SK fighters in 1992 and became the main force to deter Taiwan in the 1990s. After 2000, facing the urgent combat readiness node, the Ministry gave priority to the replacement of the Su-30MKK, becoming the first three-generation aircraft unit of the People's Liberation Army to master the ability of air combat beyond visual range. After the J-20 entered service, the brigade became the first front-line combat unit of the People's Liberation Army to deploy the J-20.

Quzhou Airport is one of the PLA’s major air force bases facing the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. It is only 500 kilometers away from Taiwan. It has stationed a large number of Su-30, Su-27 and J-10 fighters for many years. The airport has an underground hangar to prevent the enemy. The bombing by aircraft and missiles is located just at the limit of effective range for Taiwan military cruise missiles and aircraft. The J-20 took off from the airport and flew towards Taiwan for 7-8 minutes at a speed of nearly 2,000 kilometers per hour. The northern Taiwan military aircraft entered the effective range of its long-range air-to-air missile.

The mainland officials did not release any news related to this. Taiwan media analyzed the PLA's F-20's move into Quzhou from online videos. It can be seen that the mainland's powerful deterrence has strained nerves on the island. An anonymous military expert said on September 26 that there is a generation gap between Taiwan’s F-16 and other types of fighters and the J-20. This means that once the J-20 is put into battle, it will have an absolute advantage. In combat, the J-20 can not only target enemy fighters, but also attack key facilities in the enemy's command post to seize air superiority.

Quzhou Airport is an important frontline airport. It played an important role in the War of Resistance Against Japan.

In June 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and launched the Pacific War. When Americans with air power participated in the war, U.S. warplanes had stopped at Quzhou Airport many times, and its strategic position can be imagined. In April 1942, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Dolittle flew and bombed Tokyo. The fleet took off from an aircraft carrier over a thousand kilometers east of Japan. After bombing Tokyo, it had to fly directly to China's Quzhou Airport to replenish fuel due to insufficient fuel.

However, after Japan was bombed, the roaring anger vented to the Chinese. An order was given to destroy the airport in eastern China, and the battle of Zhejiang and Jiangxi began.

"Where to go is not important, the ability lies there." Chinese Air Force expert Fu Qianshao said on September 26 that the J-20 is a long-range, heavy-duty, fourth-generation stealth fighter with a very large combat radius. The transition range is quite long. There are also more long-distance flight transitions during training. After the J-20 is installed, we have prepared the battlefield for its combat use in the corresponding theater. Fu Qianshao said that in fact, whether it is J-20, J-11, J-16, Su-30, Su-27, they can quickly reach the sky over Taiwan.

The analysis pointed out that the PLA Air Force’s public announcement of the J-20 is of great significance, showing that the PLA’s 5th-generation aircraft has gotten rid of the “experimental” nature and embarked on the front-line unit to perform duties. The J-20 was stationed at Quzhou Airport during the day. If you don’t want to make it public, you can station at night. This shows that you want to warn the “Taiwan independence” forces not to step on the bottom line of the mainland. (Teng Chao).

#####


Chengdu J-20: Details

SCORPION: Notification of the 2020 Order from JAGUAR and GRIFFON

Armée de Terre


SCORPION: Notification of the 2020 Order from JAGUAR and GRIFFON

Nexter, Arquus and Thales, members of the temporary grouping of companies EBMR (Engins Blindés Multi-Rôles), were notified on 15 September by the French defense procurement agency (DGA) of the second production phase of the contract to build the GRIFFON and JAGUAR engines for the SCORPION program. The DGA thus confirms the delivery of 42 JAGUAR and 271 GRIFFON engines for the years 2022 and 2023, as scheduled in the 2019-2025 military programming law. Among the new features, this tranche includes the delivery of the first GRIFFON Artillery Observation Vehicles (VOA) and GRIFFON Sanitary (SAN), which will join the Troop Transport Vehicle (TTV) and Command Post Vehicle (CPV) versions.


These new deliveries will contribute to the Army's ramp-up of the SCORPION program. The arrival of this new equipment, with the highest levels of protection and mobility, will provide users with new operational capabilities. Collaborative combat, for example, consists in connecting all the SCORPION program's info-enhanced vehicles in real time. The firing start detectors, telemetry tools and the many sensors integrated on the GRIFFON and JAGUAR communicate together to contribute to the decision making of the vehicle commander. The JAGUAR's highly integrated and digitized turret and its innovative weapons, such as the CTA40 40 mm telescopic gun, the MMP medium-range missile and the Hornet remotely-operated turrets, considerably broaden their field of action. In short, these latest-generation vehicles benefit from the latest technologies and innovations in the land-based field.

The notification of this order comes in the third quarter of a year 2020 marked by the health crisis. Despite the events and constraints, the three companies have met their commitments, with 51 GRIFFON already delivered this year, joining the 92 GRIFFON delivered in 2019. Nexter, Arquus and Thales have made the necessary investments in the development and industrial qualification of the vehicles, and in parallel are continuing to recruit, notably engineers specialized in digital technologies.

As Stéphane Mayer points out, on behalf of the three companies, Arquus, Thales and Nexter (of which he is CEO), "the program partners are very satisfied that this order, which is included in the last military programming law, is being strictly respected. We are fully engaged to meet our commitments to the French Ministry of Defence by developing, delivering and supporting the high-performance equipment that is expected”.

By placing this order, the DGA also guarantees the continuity of production for many of the program's suppliers. The production of the GRIFFON and JAGUAR will generate nearly 2,000 highly qualified jobs each year, spread over 5 employment pools, for 3 years. Thus, the defense industry confirms its driving role in the economic recovery and contributes to the sustainability of industrial activity in France.

Source: Thales
Date: Sep 25, 2020


Jaguar EBRC 6×6: Details
Griffon VBMR: Details

Sunday, 27 September 2020

Transcript of Su-30MK2 and Su-35 talks published before crash near Tver

Su-30SM - Pavel Myth YB


Transcript of Su-30MK2 and Su-35 talks published before crash near Tver

Translated by google

24 September 2020

The details of the negotiations between the pilots of the Su-30MK2 and Su-35 before the crash near Tver, when one fighter accidentally shot down another aircraft with fire from a 30-millimeter cannon, became known, the sources say.

The command "Fire" sounds, after which the pilot of the Su-35 was supposed to make a photo shot, but instead of the camera, a cannon shot was fired, reports Telegram channel "112" .

"Report what happened?" - the question sounds.

“At 348 the cannon went off,” they explain in response.

After that, the Su-30MK2 voice informant reports a failure of the aircraft's hydraulic systems and a loss of control. The crew decides to eject.

The Su-30SM fighter, which  crashed  in the Tver region, crashed as a result of an error by the pilots of another Su-35S fighter during an exercise, a source on the Military Observer Telegram channel said earlier. Unconfirmed claims are circulating on the Web that the Su-35 knocked out the Su-30 with an aircraft cannon. As the portal Avia.pro writes  , the incident occurred during a training battle. It is reported that the crew of the Su-35S fighter did not make sure that the aircraft gun had no ammunition or that it was disabled, as a result of which it accidentally shot down the Su-30S. 

The pilots of the downed fighter managed to escape: they managed to eject shortly before the plane with the demolished console fell in the Tver region. The Ministry of Defense has not yet provided official comments on the reasons for the incident. 

Honored Military Pilot of Russia Vladimir Popov explained to the VZGLYAD newspaper how the Su-35 could be in a training battle with a loaded ammunition load.

The VZGLYAD newspaper was trying to figure out who made the Su-35 shoot at its own people.

#####

Su-35 - Vyacheslav Grushnikov



Su-30SM/Su-30SM1: Details

The expert compared the American Javelin ATGM and the Russian Kornet

wikipedia.org


The expert compared the American Javelin ATGM and the Russian Kornet | News | Izvestia | 09/24/2020

Translated by google

24 September 2020, 
 
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Director of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis, Alexander Mikhailov, in an interview with Izvestia on September 24, compared the combat capabilities of the American anti-tank missile system Javelin and its Russian counterpart Kornet.

The day before, on September 23, the Javelin ATGM did not work during the United Efforts 2020 strategic exercise in the Nikolaev region of Ukraine, which was attended by the country's President Vladimir Zelensky.

Javelin is a complex of the third generation, and the Russian analogue is of the second, said Alexander Mikhailov. However, the "Cornet" compensates for this with its universal design and unpretentiousness, the military political scientist emphasized.

"The main difference between the Kornet is in the laser-guided missile guidance system, which the military themselves consider to be more practical," said the director of the Bureau of Political-Military Analysis.

The American complex has the ability to "fire and forget", that is, the missile independently finds the target and hits it.

At the same time, Kornet operates at a distance of up to 10 kilometers, which is approximately 2-3 times higher than the effective capabilities of the Javelin ATGM, the expert said. "Cornet" also hits both armored vehicles and low-flying targets.

Another advantage of Russian weapons is the price. Javelin costs more than $ 1 million, while Kornet costs many times less for customers, Mikhailov concluded.

In June, the Ukrainian embassy in the United States announced that Kiev would receive military equipment from Washington: walkie-talkies, ammunition, Javelin anti-tank missiles worth more than $ 60 million to counter "Russian aggression."

In addition, on June 17 it became known that the United States is going to supply Ukraine with about 16 Mark VI patrol boats, weapons and military equipment. The total amount of the contract is about $ 600 million . The supplies of other military goods in accordance with the agreements between the parties are envisaged in 2021-2022, RNS reports .

On June 12, the US Department of Defense announced its intention to provide Ukraine with military assistance in the current fiscal year in the amount of $ 250 million for reforms.


Kornet E / EM Anti-Tank Missile: Details
Javelin Weapon System: Details

India’s Dynamatic Technologies to Provide Tools to Build USAF T-7A Jets

Boeing


India’s Dynamatic Technologies to Provide Tools to Build USAF T-7A Jets

T-7A Red Hawk (image: Boeing)

India’s Dynamatic Technologies Ltd has announced it bagged a Boeing-Saab contract to provide tools for T-7A Red Hawk program.

“Dynamatics Technologies has been awarded a contract for the delivery of tools for Static and Fatigue Testing of the control surfaces of the Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk Program. The T-7A Red Hawk is Next Generation pilot training system designed for the U.S. Air Force,” the company tweeted September 24.

T-7A Red Hawk

The T-7A Red Hawk introduces capabilities that prepare pilots for fifth generation fighters, including high-G environment, information and sensor management, high angle of attack flight characteristics, night operations and transferable air-to-air and air-to-ground skills.


“The Red Hawk offers advanced capabilities for training tomorrow’s pilots on data links, simulated radar, smart weapons, defensive management systems, as well as synthetic training capabilities,” Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan had said in September 2019.

The T-7A’s design includes provisions for growth as requirements evolve for additional missions such as an aggressor, light attack / fighter variant.

The jet will include stadium seating, an advanced cockpit and digital fly-by-wire flight controls. It employs a General Electric F404 engine and has a wingspan of 30.60 feet, a length of 46.93 feet and a height of 13.55 feet.


The T-7A features twin tails, slats and big leading-edge root extensions that provide deft handling at low speeds, allowing it to fly in a way that better approximates real world demands and is specifically designed to prepare pilots for fifth-generation aircraft. The aircraft’s single engine generates nearly three times more thrust than the dual engines of the T-38C Talon which it is replacing.


Why Boeing’s T-7 Red Hawk Trainer Is Shaping Up To Be A Breakthrough Success For The U.S. Air Force
America's New Trainer: The Boeing T-X Completes EMD Test Flight Over St. Louis

Argentine Navy's second French-built OPV taking shape

ARA Bouchard - Soumcouy @shipspotting.com


Argentine Navy's second French-built OPV taking shape - Defense Brief

By Defense Brief Editorial - September 26, 2020

Photo: Argentine Navy

Future ARA Piedrabuena, the second of four offshore patrol vessels French shipbuilder Naval Group is delivering to the Argentine Navy, is taking shape at the Kership shipyard in Brittany, France.

The Argentine Navy shared first photos of the vessel on social media, with its hull and superstructures completed 19 months after construction works started.

According to the shipbuilder, Piedrabuena is expected to be delivered to the South American country by April 2021, with the final two units following suit in six-month intervals.

The lead ship in the class, ARA Bouchard, was delivered in December 2019, just a year after Argentina and France signed the four-vessel deal in 2018.

This was possible because the Bouchard is the former Gowind-class corvette L’Adroit that was built by Naval Group and leased to the French Navy between 2012 and 2018. Following the contract signing, Naval Group carried out a major technical shutdown on the ship to adapt it to Argentine Navy needs.

As disclosed by the shipbuilder the OPV 90 vessels measure 87 meters in length and have a range of 8,000 nautical miles. They have a top speed of 21 knots and can remain underway for three weeks. Thanks to a landing pad, they can accommodate smaller helicopters and unmanned aerial systems.

Naval Group says the ships being delivered to Argentina feature modified combat and propulsion systems, and increased autonomy through improved freshwater production capacity. They are also receiving a 30 mm gun.

Photo: Argentine Navy