Saturday, 31 July 2021

US Marine F-35Bs to operate flights from Japanese carrier

sixfeeetunder (flickr)


US Marine F-35Bs to operate flights from Japanese carrier | News | Flight Global: 

By Greg Waldron
28 July 2021

The Japanese Maritime Self Defense-Force plans to have US Marine Corps F-35B fighters conduct drills from the JS Izumo, a so-called ‘helicopter destroyer’, that has been updated to allow the operation of short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.

The drills will be conducted before the end of 2021, according to a report by the Yomiuri Shimbun, quoting sources.

Source Twitter user @alsace_class


The report adds that the Izumo, which displaces 27,000t fully loaded, is still undergoing modification work. The Izumo’s sister ship, JS Kaga, is also undergoing modifications to accommodate F-35B operations.

In late June, Japanese Twitter user @Alsace_class tweeted an image of the updated Izumo. The vessel’s flight deck is understood to have received a new deck coating to accommodate jet exhaust.

A thick yellow line that runs nearly the full length of the flight deck has also been added. On US Navy amphibious assault ships, which operate the STOVL-capable F-35B and Boeing AV-8B Harrier II, this line serves as the centreline for short, rolling take-offs. It is also a visual guide for vertical landings.

As with American amphibious assault ships, the Izumo does not have a ski-ramp to assist launches.

The Yomiuri story indicates that operations with US F-35Bs will help access the new flight deck. When Japan commences F-35B operations, Japanese crews will also train to operate from US vessels.

Tokyo has plans to operate 42 F-35Bs. Reports suggest that the Izumo and Kaga will embark 10 fighters. Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Bell Boeing MV-22 Ospreys, of which Japan will obtain 19, will also operate from the vessels.

The ships feature two large elevators leading to a spacious hangar deck. Tokyo’s pacifist constitution precludes the acquisition of aircraft carriers, however, resulting in the linguistic gymnastics required for the “helicopter destroyer” designation.

Separately, the international naval task force led by the UK Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth transited the Singapore Strait on 26 July and passed into the South China Sea.

During her deployment to the region, the task force will operate alongside the vessels of allied nations, including Japan.


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Thursday, 29 July 2021

China's 99-A main battle tank in 90 seconds - YouTube

chinamil.com.cn





ZTZ99/ZTZ99A2 MBT: Details
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PLA Z-10 Fierce Thunderboltis

Photo by XieYufei




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Logos Technologies Successfully Flight Tests SPRITE Multi-Sensor Pod for Office of Naval Research

Logos Technologies Successfully Flight Tests SPRITE Multi-Sensor Pod for Office of Naval Research

Pod houses wide-area sensor, high-definition spotter, hyperspectral camera, and data processor


Logos Technologies LLC, a leading developer of wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) systems, announced today that, with the successful test flight of the Spectral and Reconnaissance Imaging for Tactical Exploitation (SPRITE) POD earlier this year, has met all the goals of its five-year contract with the Office of Naval Research.

A U.S. military version of the company’s platform-agnostic Multi-Modal Sensor Pod (MMSP), SPRITE was flown on a manned Cessna 337 Super Skymaster.

"Operator Viewing Imagery During Flight TestingWe had SPRITE flying between four and five hours a day for a whole week," said Chris Stellman, lead principal scientist and program manager for Logos Technologies. "We were able to use SPRITE’s sensor modalities to detect signatures of interest, process that data on the fly, and stream it down in real time to users on the ground."

The SPRITE pod houses an ultra-light Logos Technologies RedKite WAMI sensor, a high-definition spotter camera, and commercial shortwave infrared hyperspectral sensor. In addition, SPRITE contained a palm-sized Multi-Modal Edge Processor (MMEP), also developed by Logos Technologies, to process the deluge of raw data being produced by all three sensors, in real time, and cross cue between the sensors.

"The MMEP is the brains of the SPRITE pod," Stellman said. "It’s what makes data actionable to the warfighter and searchable to the analyst."

Though the Office of Naval Research contract required a specific set of sensors, the MMSP is very flexible regarding the payloads it can house. For example, instead of a hyperspectral sensor, it could include LIDAR or a signals intelligence package, depending on customer need. And at the upcoming Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition, in Washington, D.C., Logos Technologies will be showcasing the now-proven SPRITE pod and talking to interested parties about the MMSP.

Source: Logos Technologies LLC
Date: Jul 28, 2021

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Wednesday, 28 July 2021

Russia’s latest Il-112V to replace Soviet-time military transport aircraft

Vladimir Syrykh



Tuesday July 27, 2021 16:58 MSK

© United Aircraft Corporation

Russia’s latest military transport plane, Il-112V, will help to upgrade Russia’s fleet of military transport aircraft, currently dominated by Soviet-made An-26, said Sergei Ganin, the chief designer of the Ilyushin aircraft maker (part of the United Aircraft Corporation).

"Il-112V is a light military transport plane that can replace turboprop aircraft, such as An-24 and An-26. But, in this regard, it is important to note that Antonov aircraft were created back in Soviet times, in accordance with tasks and requirements of that era. Il-112V is an aircraft of the present day, which fully corresponds to requirements for its equipment, engine, environmental norms and noise level," Ganin said.

In his words, all of the plane’s spare parts, systems and equipment are fully Russian-made.

"We are working only with domestic supplies, and this gives us <…> an important commercial advantage," Ganin said.

According to the chief designer, ongoing trials show that the prototype corresponds to technical specifications of the project.

"We are now confirming characteristics stipulated by the technical assignmenet," he said. "Those requirements include further development with regard to future modifications.".


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Volga-Dnepr Group is ready to review MC-21 freighter version

Petr Štefl



Tuesday July 27, 2021 18:12 MSK

© Volga-Dnepr

Last week during MAKS 2021, International Aviation and Space Salon held in Zhukovsky (Russia), Volga-Dnepr Group delegation headed by Chairman of the Board, Alexey Isaykin, visited MC-21-300 – the new generation Russian passenger plane which is going to be manufactured in several modifications from 150 up to 211 seats.

Volga-Dnepr Group representatives have marked the extended fuselage of the new place, advanced airframe systems which were developed by the leading Russian and foreign manufacturers and up-to-date technologies enabling reduction of operational costs.

During the visit, the companies discussed the possibility of the production of a freighter version. Amid the capacity constraints, emerging demand for freighters and increase of cargo volumes worldwide Irkut Corporation is in favourable position to commence the freighter program. Volga-Dnepr Group might become the possible launch customer of the MC-21-200 freighter version.

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Two-seat Su-57 fighter jet to be designed for control of Okhotnik drones

NickJ 1972


Two-seat Su-57 fighter jet to be designed for control of Okhotnik drones — source - Military & Defense - TASS

The fighter jet, already in development, is presumed to control about four Okhtonik drones

Su-57 fighter jet with Okhotnik drone
© Russian Defense Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, July 27. /TASS/. A fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet will be designed in a two-seat modification to control a swarm of heavy Okhotnik combat drones, a defense industry source told TASS.

"In order to control advanced Okhotnik drones, a two-seat command variant of Su-57 will be created. The fighter jet, already in development, is presumed to control about four Okhtonik drones," the source said.

TASS could not obtain an official confirmation of the report at the time of the publication.

As the press office of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) earlier told TASS, the latest Okhotnik drone will strike aerial and ground targets in network centric interaction with a Su-57 fighter. In their joint employment with the fifth-generation fighter, Okhotnik drones will deal with a full range of tasks, striking aerial and ground targets under the command of a Su-57’s pilot.

The Sukhoi Su-57 is a Russian-made fifth-generation multirole fighter designated to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets. The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage. The Russian Armed Forces received the first Su-57 fighter in 2020.

The Okhotnik heavy attack drone performed its debut flight on August 3, 2019. The flight lasted over 20 minutes under an operator’s control. On September 27, 2019, the Okhotnik performed a flight together with a Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet. The drone maneuvered in the air in the automated mode at an altitude of around 1,600 meters and its flight lasted over 30 minutes. The serial deliveries of Okhotnik heavy strike drones to the Russian troops are scheduled to begin from 2024.


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Next-generation stealth missile seekers improve capability and affordability

lockheedmartin



Jul 26 2021



BAE Systems has received a $117 million contract to produce next-generation missile seekers for the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).

BAE Systems has received a $117 million contract from Lockheed Martin to produce next-generation missile seekers for the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). The seeker technology enables LRASM to detect and engage specific maritime targets in contested environments with less dependence on traditional navigation systems. The next-generation seeker design reduces overall missile costs.

“We’re committed to providing affordable systems that deliver unmatched capabilities to the U.S. and its allies,” said Bruce Konigsberg, Radio Frequency Sensors product area director at BAE Systems. “We’ve designed efficient seeker systems that are easier to build and test without compromising on performance.”

Following design improvements conducted under a Diminishing Sources/Affordability contract, BAE Systems is producing next-generation seekers for Lots 4 and 5 that are more capable and easier to produce, with less-complicated manufacturing processes. The next-generation seekers have replaced obsolescent and limited-availability parts, dramatically reducing the system cost.

The LRASM contract will support missiles for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. allies through Foreign Military Sales, as well as research, development, test, and evaluation services.

BAE Systems’ work on the LRASM seeker is conducted at the company’s facilities in Wayne, N.J.; Greenlawn, N.Y.; and Nashua, N.H. For additional information, visit: www.baesystems.com/lrasm.


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Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Rheinmetall’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle concept down-selected for U.S. Army’s program

rheinmetall-defence.com


Rheinmetall’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle concept down-selected for U.S. Army’s program

26 Jul 2021

Team of industry-leading experts to digitally design advanced OMFV

The U.S. Army has awarded American Rheinmetall Vehicles – a Sterling Heights, MI, U.S. subsidiary of leading defense industry giant Rheinmetall – a developmental contract for the Phase 2 Digital Design of the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program. American Rheinmetall Vehicles will execute Phase 2 with its teammates, a group of unsurpassed defense industry companies, including Raytheon Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, Textron Systems and Allison Transmission.

The U.S. Army’s OMFV program is a ground-modernization effort to replace nearly 3,800 Bradley Fighting Vehicles among the U.S. Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams.

“This is a great win for American Rheinmetall Vehicles and Team Lynx as a whole,” said Matt Warnick, Managing Director of American Rheinmetall Vehicles. “With this contract award, we take another important step forward in bringing the kind of next-generation technology solution, partnership and industrial capability the U.S. Army deserves and that Team Lynx is so well prepared to deliver for the OMFV program.”

Team Lynx will work with the U.S. Army on the digitally engineered design and development of the team’s OMFV concept using Rheinmetall’s proven Lynx KF41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) as the point of departure for the design. The team’s solution will provide the U.S. Army with a next-generation infantry fighting vehicle featuring a game-changing platform with a modular open systems architecture. This will enable rapid insertion of new capabilities as they become available, guaranteeing overmatch today and overmatch tomorrow.

Variants of American Rheinmetall Vehicle’s Lynx KF41 IFV are advancing in multiple countries around the world. The Hungarian Army became the launch customer in 2020 with an order for 218 locally produced vehicles. In Australia, for the Land 400 Phase 3 program, Rheinmetall was down selected along with one other combat vehicle manufacturer for a risk reduction test phase that involves extensive vehicle testing comprised of field trials, survivability and mobility testing. The KF41 performed to a high standard.

The Concept Design Phase kicks off the OMFV program and continues through early 2023, laying the foundation for future development and production phases. Team Lynx is developing industrialization plans to fully deliver the OMFV as a Made in the USA, next-generation vehicle. The team will grow U.S. Defense manufacturing capacity and introduce advanced manufacturing capabilities. Competition for Phase 3 (Detailed Design) is anticipated to start in 2023, followed by Phase 4 (Prototype Build and Test), which results in government testing in early 2026.

“We are incredibly proud at American Rheinmetall of the commitment we are making to the US Army, to Soldiers and to advanced American technology, design and production,” said Stephen Hedger, CEO at American Rheinmetall Defense, the U.S. parent headquarters for Rheinmetall.

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Monday, 26 July 2021

Russia starts developing new fifth-generation carrier-based fighter

Alexander Bondarenko



Monday July 26, 2021 10:07 MSK

 Russian Aircraft Corporation "MiG" has started to develop a fifth-generation carrier-based fighter and plans to create a prototype aircraft in the next few years, a source in the military-industrial complex told Sputnik.

"The company is working on a promising 5th generation carrier-based fighter, which will be made using stealth technologies. The stage of computer modeling is now underway, the first prototypes are planned to be released in the next few years," the source said.

He added that developers are considering the possibility of creating a version of the fighter with vertical take-off and landing. It is expected that the new aircraft will be made in the dimensions of the MiG-35. It will also include a companion drone that will perform the functions of either refueling or joint strikes.

This comes as Russia has just presented the prototype of new single-engine fighter Checkmate, developed by Sukhoi designer bureau (part of Rostec). 

According to the Rostec head, the aircraft has low visibility, high flight performance and is equipped with advanced avionics. The Checkmate also boasts the most spacious internal weapon bays in its class and is highly customizable. The fighter can carry up to five air-to-air missiles of various ranges and other aviation weapons in an inconspicuous configuration. It can further be used as base for an unmanned aerial vehicle with similar characteristics.

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Image: min.news
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Russia’s upgraded Ka-52 gunship to enter state trials soon

Ivan Vukadinov


Russia’s upgraded Ka-52 gunship to enter state trials soon - News - Russian Aviation - RUAVIATION.COM

Thursday July 22, 2021 17:12 MSK

The upgraded Ka-52M ‘Alligator’ reconnaissance/assault helicopter will enter state trials soon, CEO of the Russian Helicopters Group (part of the state tech corporation Rostec) Andrei Boginsky told TASS on Thursday.

"Now two helicopter prototypes have been made, and their trials have already been completed. We are now presenting this helicopter to the Defense Ministry for joint state trials," the chief executive said on the sidelines of the MAKS-2021 international air show.

The head of the Russian Helicopters Group earlier said that the upgraded helicopter could be featured at the Army-2021 International Military-Technical Forum.

The rotorcraft manufacturer launched the experimental design work on the upgrade of the Ka-52 helicopter by instruction of the Russian defense chief in 2019, taking into account the experience of its combat employment.

As the gunship’s designers say, the Ka-52M missile armament has been standardized with the weapons suite of the Mi-28NM helicopter, another state-of-the-art Russian attack chopper, which has helped increase the target destruction range considerably.


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Military Watch: "Checkmate was created with the money of Arab sheikhs"

© Roman Azanov / TASS





The premiere of the Russian single-engine fighter Checkmate at the MAKS-2021 air show continues to be widely discussed in the press.

The statement of the UAC leaders about financing the project "on an initiative basis, without attracting public funds" seems highly doubtful. Design work of this level, in such a short time, requires multibillion-dollar investments. For example, you can look at the F-35 development program. From 2001 to 2011 alone, Lockheed Martin spent $ 56 billion. It is impossible to imagine anything like that in real Russian reality.

Meanwhile, the prototype of the aircraft is ready. And as reported, not a mock-up, but a valid copy, which will make its first flight in 2023.

The American magazine Military Watch expressed its point of view regarding the funding of the Checkmate project. The arguments of the popular publication look pretty convincing.

The author of the publication claims that the Russian single-engine fighter was developed with the money of the United Arab Emirates.

It all started in 2017, at the IDEX International Arms Show in Abu Dhabi. It was there that a memorandum was signed between Russia and the UAE on the joint development of a new fifth generation fighter. The head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, spoke about this in an interview with Defense News magazine:

Russia is negotiating with the UAE on the creation of a fifth generation light fighter. The work will take seven to eight years.

Quite a lot of memorandums of intent are signed. It is not a fact that each of them will come true. The further fate of the project was classified, but surprisingly, the timing of the appearance of Checkmate coincides with those voiced by Chemezov in Abu Dhabi. Serial production of the aircraft should begin in 2025.

Another statement of the author of the publication in Military Watch, with which it is difficult to disagree:

The development of a new class of aircraft with a predominantly export orientation, without a confirmed client, is very risky. Which once again confirms that Checkmate is the result of a joint project with the UAE. Emirates is the most interested country and has the ability to finance the development.
The UAE has six squadrons with aging single-engine fighters. Attempts to negotiate with the United States on the purchase of the F-35 run into opposition from Israel. Negotiations continue, but with the advent of an alternative, cheaper and more technically advanced Checkmate, they lose all meaning.

And one more argument in favor of the Military Watch version. During the presentation of the fighter, the responsible persons have repeatedly mentioned that there is already a guaranteed buyer for a large batch of Checkmate. Is this the mysterious client who funded the development of the new fighter?


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Sunday, 25 July 2021

Russian Armed Forces to receive in November first batch of newest helicopters Mi-8AMTSh-VN

Oleg Podkladov



The next batch is scheduled to be commissioned in 2022

ZHUKOVSKY /Moscow Region/, July 25. /TASS/. The first batch of Mil Mi-8AMTSh-VN new helicopters for Special Operations Forces will be commissioned with the country’s Armed Forces in early November, CEO of Russian Helicopters Group (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) Andrei Boginsky told TASS.

"The first batch of the rotorcraft is scheduled to be commissioned this year, before November 10," Boginsky said speaking on the sidelines of the MAKS-2021 international air show. "The next batch is scheduled to be commissioned in 2022."

"We are signed up with orders regarding this issue for the current year as well as for the next year," he added.

This year, the MAKS international air show is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The MAKS-2021, one of the world’s top three air shows, is running in the suburban town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow on July 20-25 with the observance of all anti-coronavirus measures.

Mil Mi-8AMTSh-VN

The new helicopter has been developed in its special modification, considering the experience of combat operations in Syria. As its main specific feature, a Mi-8AMTSh-VN helicopter employs two side-mounted 12.7mm forward-firing machine-guns. The helicopter is outfitted with new flight control and navigation equipment, a gyro-stabilized opto-electronic system, a searchlight with an infrared emitter, dual-band lighting equipment and is adapted for using night vision goggles.

In order to increase its combat survivability, the Mi-8AMTSh-VN is outfitted with a digital autopilot system and a defensive aids suite that automatically detects missile launches against the helicopter, jams missile homing warheads and releases heat flares.

The crew’s cabin and the helicopter’s main systems are protected by the new armor made of titanium alloy. The floor of the cargo compartment and the helicopter’s sides are shielded up to the windows with the removable lightweight Kevlar armor to protect the crew.


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The first test launch of "Zircon" from the submarine "Severodvinsk" may take place in August

Severodvinsk / Korabel.ru


Первый испытательный пуск "Циркона" с подлодки "Северодвинск" может состояться в августе - Армия и ОПК - ТАСС

The Ministry of Defense previously reported on the successful execution of the Zircon firing from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate at a ground target

ZHUKOVSKY / Moscow region /, July 25. / TASS /. The first test launch of the Zircon hypersonic missile from a submarine carrier - the Project 885 Severodvinsk nuclear submarine of the Northern Fleet - may be completed approximately in August 2021. This was reported to TASS on the sidelines of the MAKS-2021 air show by a source in the military-industrial complex.

"The first test launch of Zircon from a submarine carrier - the nuclear submarine Severodvinsk - within the framework of flight design tests (LKI) can be carried out approximately in August," he said.

NPO Mashinostroyenia (part of the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation JSC), where the Zircons were developed and produced, did not comment on this information.

Earlier it was reported that at present LKI of the Zircon missile is being passed from the surface carrier - the frigate of project 22350 "Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Gorshkov" of the Northern Fleet.

On July 21, at the MAKS-2021 air show, the general director of the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation Boris Obnosov told reporters that the development of the Zircon missile was proceeding according to schedule. "This is a very complex weapon. I have personally attended several tests. An amazing effect," he said.

On July 19, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the successful firing of the Zircon from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov at a ground target, the flight speed was Mach 7 (Mach 1 = 1 198.801 km / h), the range was over 350 km. According to the ministry, the shooting was carried out from the waters of the White Sea, the ground target was located on the coast of the Barents Sea.



3M22 Zircon: Details
Yasen / Graney Class Submarine (Project 885/885M): Details
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