Wednesday, 30 March 2022

Air Force wants to send Tyndall’s F-22 jets to the boneyard

Steve Cooke


Air Force wants to send Tyndall’s F-22 jets to the boneyard

By Rachel S. Cohen

Mar 29, 02:02 AM

An Air Force instructor pilot assigned to the 43rd Fighter Squadron conducts F-22 Raptor start-up procedures at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 1, 2022. The Air Force altered the photo for security purposes by blurring out identification patches. (Airman 1st Class Tiffany Price/Air Force)

The Air Force plans to retire nearly three dozen of Tyndall Air Force Base’s F-22 fighter jets in fiscal 2023, ending tentative plans to move them to Virginia that have been on hold for more than three years.

The Raptors have been flying out of nearby Eglin AFB in Florida since a hurricane destroyed Tyndall in October 2018.

Officials want to divest 33 of the service’s oldest F-22s and use that money to instead research cutting-edge combat jet designs under the “Next-Generation Air Dominance” program. If Congress approves the idea, it would send all but three Block 20 Raptors to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona, and shrink the overall fleet from 186 to 153 fighters.

It’s too expensive to upgrade the stealth jets from their usual status as training planes so they can hold up in combat, said Maj. Gen. James Peccia, the Air Force’s deputy assistant budget secretary. That investment would cost $1.8 billion over eight years, which the Air Force believes is money better spent on upgrading newer F-22s with more advanced sensors and improving the F-35A Lightning II.

“We will take operational jets and use them for training, but yet we can also take them and use them in the fight,” Peccia told reporters March 25. “It’s really using every dollar as smart as we can in our fighter portfolio when we’re trying to modernize that portfolio.”


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6 Navy 'Growler' Aircraft Headed to Germany to Support Deterrence Mission

US Air Force photo


6 Navy 'Growler' Aircraft Headed to Germany to Support Deterrence Mission > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

MARCH 28, 2022 | BY C. TODD LOPEZ, DOD NEWS

Six U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington State are on their way to Europe and are expected to arrive today in Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.

A Navy EA-18G Growler assigned to the “Garudas” Electronic Attack Squadron, VAQ 134, at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, participates in Red Flag-Nellis 22-1, Feb. 1, 2022 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Six such aircraft are expected to arrive at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, March 28, 2022 to support deterrence operations there.


"This is in order to bolster readiness, enhance NATO's collective defense posture and further increase air integration capabilities with our allied and partner nations," Kirby said. "These Growlers ... are equipped for a variety of missions. But they do specialize in flying electronic warfare missions, using a suite of jamming sensors to confuse enemy radars, greatly aiding in the ability to conduct suppression of enemy air defense operations."

The six aircraft are from VAQ 134, an electronic attack squadron also known as the "Garudas." The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18 aircraft and combines the "Super Hornet" platform with an electronic warfare suite.

According to a Navy fact sheet, the EA-18G Growler integrates the latest electronic attack technology, including the ALQ-218 receiver, ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods, ALQ-227 Communication Countermeasures Set and Joint Tactical Terminal — Receiver satellite communications.

About 240 Navy personnel, including maintainers and pilots, will accompany the aircraft to Germany, Kirby said. Those aircraft will remain based in Germany and are expected to fly missions in support of eastern flank deterrence and defense.

"They are not being deployed to be used against Russian forces in Ukraine," Kirby said. "They are being deployed completely in keeping with our efforts to bolster NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities along that eastern flank."

Kirby also said there was no specific threat or incident that drove the decision to send the aircraft to Germany.

"They are being deployed, as we have said all along, [because] the secretary wants to keep options open," he said. "He's in constant consultations with [Gen. Tod D. Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe]. And as a result of discussions with Gen. Wolters, as well as the German government, this was deemed to be an additional move that could continue to bolster and reinforce our defenses on the eastern flank."

Navy Capt. Christopher M. Bahner, who serves as commander of Electronic Attack Wing Pacific, said the team from VAQ-134 is prepared to carry out whatever mission is asked of them while in Germany.

"I am extremely proud of the men and women in VAQ-134," Bahner said. "The Garuda's have performed exceptionally well during their planned work-up cycle and stand ready to support U.S. expeditionary and allied task forces in Europe. Expeditionary EA-18G squadrons integrate with joint and coalition forces to provide our commanders capabilities to defend our forces in all potential phases of operation, while allowing our Carrier Air Wing EA-18G squadrons to remain at sea, defending freedom of navigation with our carrier strike group teams."


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Monday, 28 March 2022

GE begins testing on first T901 turboshaft engine for U.S. Army

Bernie C



March 23, 2022

LYNN, Mass. – GE has initiated testing on the first T901-GE-900 engine, GE’s next-generation rotorcraft engine that will power the U.S. Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) aircraft in the future. 

In 2019, the U.S. Army selected GE’s T901 engine for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the Improved Turbine Engine (ITE) program to re-engine its Apache and Black Hawk fleets. The Army also selected the 3,000-shaft horsepower T901 for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program.

The First Engine to Test milestone is being performed in a recently upgraded test cell at GE’s Lynn, Mass., facility. GE has upgraded three test cells in Lynn to efficiently complete the comprehensive T901 EMD engine test program. The test cell upgrades include systems to absorb the increased power and allow no-load operation of the engine, improved instrumentation capability, and upgraded test controls. T901 EMD engine testing will also be performed at GE’s Evendale, Ohio, facility, as well as government facilities.  
 

 “We’re excited to get testing started on this engine. It’s the biggest milestone to date in the ITE program and the result of the strong collaboration between the GE and U.S. Army teams,” said GE T901 Program Director Tom Champion. “The early testing data we’ve gathered indicates the engine is performing in line with our expectations and Army requirements.”

Compared to its predecessor, the GE T700, the T901’s 50% power increase restores aircraft performance, while its 25% better specific fuel consumption reduces fuel usage and carbon emissions. Increased component durability will lower life cycle costs.

GE’s use of advanced materials pioneered through GE’s commercial engine lines, including 3D-printed (additive) manufactured parts and ceramic matrix composites, are key technologies enabling the T901’s performance. The T901 also maintains the same aircraft mounting and installation envelope as the T700.
 

Testing of the first engine is the start of a multi-year test campaign to reach full Army qualification. During the remainder of testing for the first engine, the integrated test team will perform a number of simulated flight conditions to collect performance data of the highly instrumented test engine.



UH-60M: Details
Ah-64 Apache: Details
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Saturday, 26 March 2022

Greece acquires six additional new Rafale

Athanasios Ozrefanidis


Greece acquires six additional new Rafale - Press kits

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Vice-Admiral Aristidis Alexopoulos, Director General of Armaments and Investments of the Greek Ministry of Defence, signed in Athens, in the presence of Mrs. Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, and Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Greek Minister of National Defence, a contract for the acquisition of ...


(Saint-Cloud, France, March 24, 2022) – Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Vice-Admiral Aristidis Alexopoulos, Director General of Armaments and Investments of the Greek Ministry of Defence, signed in Athens, in the presence of Mrs. Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, and Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Greek Minister of National Defence, a contract for the acquisition of six additional new Rafale aircraft.

This new contract, which follows Greece’s acquisition of 18 Rafale in January 2021, will increase to 24 the number of Rafale operated by the Hellenic Air Force.

Following the arrival at Tanagra Air Base of the first six Rafale of the Hellenic Air Force on 19 January 2022, the 18 Rafale relating to the first contract will be fully deployed in Greece by the summer 2023.The six additional Rafale will then be delivered to the Hellenic Air Force shortly thereafter, starting from the summer 2024.

As a European country and NATO member, Greece is a major strategic ally of France. Dassault Aviation is honored by the Greek government’s decision to proceed with this new Rafale order, which extends nearly fifty years of uninterrupted partnership.

This additional order reflects the Greek government’s great satisfaction with the Rafale’s operational qualities, as well as its determination to strengthen the combat capabilities of the Hellenic Air Force in order to guarantee the country’s sovereignty and ensure the security of its population in an increasingly unstable geopolitical context.

“This new contract demonstrates the Greek government’s confidence in the Rafale, which is already actively contributing to guaranteeing Greece’s sovereignty and operational independence. Once again, I am honored by the Hellenic Air Force’s renewed trust in Dassault Aviation, reflecting nearly half a century of unwavering partnership. I would also like to assure the Greek authorities of our full commitment to fully meet their expectations,” said Eric Trappier after the signing ceremony.


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Thursday, 24 March 2022

Lockheed Martin Reaches Super Herculean Milestone With Delivery of 500th C-130J Airlifter

Photo by Bartosz Bera



This Historic Super Herc Operated by the West Virginia Air National Guard's 130th Airlift Wing

MARIETTA, Ga., March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hercules history is made once again, with the announcement that Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently delivered its 500th C-130J Super Hercules airlifter. This Super Hercules (Lockheed Martin aircraft #5934) is a C-130J-30 aircraft assigned to the 130th Airlift Wing located at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base in Charleston, West Virginia. The 130th Airlift Wing is a longtime C-130 operator that is currently modernizing its legacy Hercules fleet with C-130Js.



The U.S. government operates the largest C-130J Super Hercules fleet in the world. This delivery represents the U.S. government's continued transition to the C-130J as the common platform across the Air Force, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard.

"This delivery represents the thousands of people — past and present — that design, build, fly, maintain and support C-130Js around the world," said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Air Mobility & Maritime Missions (AMMM) line of business. "Like its namesake, the C-130J is a legend defined by its strength and power. Yet, it is the people who are part of the C-130J operator, production, supplier and industry partner communities who truly define the Super Hercules and helped the C-130J Program reach this monumental achievement."

The C-130J Super Hercules is the current production model of the legendary C-130 Hercules aircraft. The airlift choice of 26 operators in 22 nations, the global C-130 fleet has surpassed more than 2 million flight hours and holds more than 54 world records.

Defined by its versatility, there are 17 different mission configurations of the C-130J that includes transport (military and commercial), humanitarian aid delivery, aerial firefighting, natural disaster relief support, medevac, search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, and aerial refueling.

As the most advanced C-130 ever produced, the C-130J-30 Super Hercules (which is 15 feet/4.6 m longer than legacy C-130 models) offers these enhancements and advancements compared to legacy models:

  • 30% more passengers and cargo
  • 50% more CDS bundles
  • 44% more paratroopers
  • 30% crew reduction
  • 14% more fuel efficient
  • 20% improvement in payload/range capability
  • Integrated defensive suite and 250 knot ramp/door
  • Automated maintenance fault reporting
  • Unmatched situational awareness with digital avionics and dual HUD

To learn more about Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules, visit https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/c130.html


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Rheinmetall now providing support and maintenance for German Air Force CH-53G transport helicopters at all bases

Jarco Hage


Rheinmetall - Latest News

The Bundeswehr has contracted with Rheinmetall to look after, maintain and repair Germany’s Sikorsky CH-53G transport helicopters at two additional bases. Starting in March 2022, the company has been supporting the German Air Force at Laupheim in Baden-Württemberg and Holzdorf-Schönewalde on the border of Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, conducting pre-flight inspections and operating a total of three service bays for partial work phases at the 64th Helicopter Squadron. Worth a figure in the lower two-digit million-euro range, the contract with Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH runs for three years in two lots. Rheinmetall has been maintaining CH-53G helicopters on behalf of the German Air Force ever since November 2020. As planned, the company took over maintenance operations at Diepholz Air Base in Lower Saxony in March 2021.

The 64th Helicopter Squadron is stationed in Laupheim where, together with its air transport group at Holzdorf-Schönewalde, it operates 66 CH-53G helicopters, an aircraft which has been in the Bundeswehr inventory since 1972. In all cases, the work Rheinmetall carries out is directly embedded in the structures of the 64th Helicopter Squadron.

Overcoming rival bids in a request for tenders, the Düsseldorf-based integrated technology group’s subsidiary Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH (RAS) will now be carrying out maintenance operations at Laupheim and Holzdorf-Schönewalde.

About Rheinmetall Aviation Services

Based in Bremen, Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH was founded in 2019 for the Group’s strategic cooperation with Sikorsky in pursuit of the Heavy Transport Helicopter procurement programme, with RAS in charge of maintenance, repairs, training and documentation. Rheinmetall and Sikorsky have been actively cooperating in various procurement projects ever since 2009. Expertise acquired along the way has been profitably applied on behalf of the Bundeswehr since the start of 2021 at Diepholz Air Base, where Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH supports the German Air Force with two full-service maintenance bays. Having won the latest order, Rheinmetall will now be supporting the German Air Force wherever CH-53G helicopters are home based. Thanks to Rheinmetall’s already established local presence at these bases, the Bundeswehr stands to benefit enormously from this partnership in the medium term.

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Monday, 21 March 2022

Boeing Begins Build on New Zealand’s First P-8A Aircraft

Mark McEwan



- Laying of the keel marks a major production milestone


WICHITA, Kan., March 17, 2022 –Boeing [NYSE: BA] P-8A team members and Spirit AeroSystems employees have laid the keel beam for New Zealand’s first P-8A. This process, also called ‘keeling,’ was done at the Spirit AeroSystems facility where all Boeing 737 fuselages, nacelles and pylons are designed and built. Laying the keel is an important production milestone during the build of any ship or aircraft and represents the cornerstone of this latest P-8.

Rosemary Banks, New Zealand’s ambassador to the United States, who was on hand to witness the keeling said, “Today’s keeling ceremony is the beginning of a new era for New Zealand’s maritime patrol and response capability. Our four P-8A Poseidons will better equip our defence forces to extend their reach into the Pacific and beyond, working with our partners and friends.”

An aircraft keel runs the length of the fuselage belly. Due to the innovative in-line approach to the build of commercial derivative aircraft pioneered on the P-8A, the keel beam on a P-8 is different from the typical 737 keel beam. The P-8 keel includes unique aspects of the P-8 configuration, such as the integration of an internal weapons bay.   

“The excitement of seeing this come together was contagious,” said Brian Stuart, P-8 program manager for New Zealand.  “Not only are we kicking off the journey to the first New Zealand P-8A delivery, but we are strengthening our relationships with suppliers like Spirit as well as our U.S. Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force customers.”

The panel and other fuselage components will be completed on Spirit's existing 737 production line.  Spirit will ship the P-8A fuselage to a Boeing Commercial Airplanes facility in Renton, Washington for final assembly. After that, Boeing Defense, Space & Security employees will install mission systems and complete testing prior to delivery to New Zealand later this year.

In total, four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will eventually replace New Zealand’s current fleet of six aging P-3K2 Orion aircraft providing advanced capabilities to maintain situational awareness in neighboring waters on and below the surface of the ocean.

The New Zealand Defence Force is a P-8 foreign military sales customer and is one of eight global customers. Current P-8 operators include the U.S. Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Indian Navy, United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and Norway’s Royal Norwegian Air Force.

To date, the global operating P-8 fleet has amassed more than 400,000 mishap-free flight hours. The P-8 is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. In addition, the P-8 performs humanitarian and search and rescue missions around the globe.


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Saturday, 19 March 2022

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the first combat use of the Kinzhal hypersonic complex in Ukraine

SvetaPoln


Минобороны РФ сообщило о первом боевом применении гиперзвукового комплекса "Кинжал" на Украине -

MiG-31K at Khmeimim airbase photo of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Moscow. March 19 Interfax-AVN - The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported that during the operation in Ukraine, the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system, the Mig-31K, was used for the first time.

      "On March 18, the Kinzhal aviation missile system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a large underground warehouse of missiles and aviation ammunition of Ukrainian troops in the village of Delyatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

     "Kinzhal" - an aviation complex with a high-precision hypersonic aeroballistic missile. Created on the basis of the modernized long-range fighter-interceptor MiG-31 - MiG-31K. According to the Russian military, it is capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 2,000 km, while being guaranteed to overcome all existing and developed air and missile defense systems.

     Konashenkov said that the Russian military used the Bastion coastal anti-ship missile system to destroy Ukrainian electronic intelligence centers near Odessa.

     "The Bastion coastal missile system destroyed the centers of radio and electronic intelligence of the Ukrainian armed forces in the settlements of Veliky Dalnik and Velikodolinskoye in the Odessa region," he said.

     The Bastion complexes are deployed in all fleets of the Russian Navy. The flight range of the Onyx cruise missile of the Bastion complex is up to 500 km. "Bastion" is designed to destroy naval targets. For the first time, the Russian military used Bastion against ground targets in 2016 in Syria.

     "On the night of March 19, Russian operational-tactical, army and unmanned aircraft hit 69 military facilities in Ukraine," Konashenkov said.

     According to him, Russian planes, helicopters and drones, in particular, destroyed four command posts, including a brigade command post in the village of Zabuyanye, four anti-aircraft missile systems, incl. three S-300s and one Buk-M1, one guidance and targeting radar, three multiple rocket launchers, 12 missile and artillery weapons depots, 43 military equipment concentration areas.

     "The air defense systems of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the air," an official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry said.

     "A total of 196 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,438 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 145 multiple rocket launchers, 556 field artillery pieces and mortars, as well as 1,237 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation," Konashenkov said. .

     On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a special military operation in Ukraine.

     On March 1, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that "the grouping of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to conduct a special military operation until the set goals are achieved."

     Many countries have imposed sanctions against Russia.


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Friday, 18 March 2022

Rheinmetall ready to produce new infantry fighting vehicles in Slovakia

rheinmetall-defence.com



Rheinmetall AG of Duesseldorf, Germany, released details today of its plans for a new factory in Eastern Slovakia and a massive investment into the Slovak economy. The company is hoping to supply 152 KF41 Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicles as part of the Slovak Armed Forces’ re-equipment programme.

Rheinmetall also revealed names and roles among its nationwide network of Slovak industrial partners, all of whom, like the new factory in Eastern Slovakia, are scheduled to take part in delivering the Slovak Army’s IFV requirements as well as being integrated into the Rheinmetall Global Supply Chain for the Lynx and other military products manufactured for export.

The Slovak Ministry of Defence has budgeted €1.7 billion for the replacement of Slovakia’s ageing fleet of Soviet-era BVP-2s. Rheinmetall will re-invest more than half of this sum into the Slovak economy, with the new factory taking responsibility for delivering 80 per cent of the Slovak Armed Forces’ IFV fleet.

New manufacturing plant at Moldava nad Bodvou

The centrepiece of Rheinmetall’s announcement is a new factory at Moldava nad Bodvou, a town of 12,000 inhabitants in Eastern Slovakia.

The facility comprises 12,000 square metres of production lines plus a 15,000 square metre test area. The whole project represents an investment by Rheinmetall of €30 million.

The factory initiative has been warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Moldava nad Bodvou, Mr Slavomir Borovsky: „Moldava nad Bodvou sees this is project as a great opportunity to bring further prosperity and economic growth to the town and to contribute to the security of the Slovak Republic. We are interested in supporting Rheinmetall and providing assistance in the construction of their new plant.”

The new factory will become Rheinmetall’s principal centre in the Slovak Republic, responsible for the delivery of 80 per cent of the Ministry of Defence’s new IFVs. It will be the focus of Rheinmetall’s widespread network of Slovak industrial partners, which covers the whole country.

Significant local employment potential

Rheinmetall plans to recruit 150 local people and train them in 2023 and 2024 ready for production to begin in 2025. The jobs are mainly skilled roles in mechanical and electrical engineering.

The Moldava plant will manufacture chassis and turrets for the Lynx IFV as well as handling systems integration, testing and paintwork. It will also be equipped to provide maintenance for the Slovak Armed Forces’ IFV fleet, and is designed to be adaptable to accommodate further requirements from the Slovak army as well as export orders from abroad.

‘This is only the beginning’, said Mr Oliver Mittelsdorf, Executive Vice President Sales Tactical Vehicles. ‘The Lynx is proving a winner in world defence markets and the Moldava factory will provide many more opportunities for future job creation as orders for the Lynx and other products stream in’.

Nationwide network of Slovak industrial partners

Rheinmetall has its eyes on the future and has already established deep-rooted and long-term partnerships with Slovak companies in the defence systems engineering sector. The company has currently identified over 70 potential Slovak industrial partners.

A number of prominent organisations have already been integrated into the Rheinmetall supply chain. Among them are:

CSM Industry at Tisovec, who supplies Rheinmetall with engines, transmissions, cables, roof modules and other specialized components; EVPU at Nova Dubnica, who provide laser warning systems; Ray Service at Zilina, contributing specialized cable systems and electronic assemblies; Kinex at Velka Bytca; VRM at Trencin for Simulations; Aliter Technologies in Bratislava for communication systems; MSM Land Systems at Trencin;; and DMD Group in Dubnica nad Vahom, who are scheduled to become a Joint Venture partner with Rheinmetall in the new Moldava factory.

The joint venture of Rheinmetall with DMD Group and the integration of major partners of the Slovak Defence industry will ensure maximum economic benefit and reduced risk for the Slovak Republic.

Rheinmetall’s industrial integration track-record

Rheinmetall has a proud history of making investments and forging alliances with industrial partners in Central Europe. This began twenty years ago at Usti nad Labem in the Czech Republic, where Rheinmetall is now a major employer and has encouraged the growth of a highly-skilled local workforce. More recently Rheinmetall announced the building of a brand-new factory at Zalaegerszeg in Hungary.

Mr Paul Walf, Head of Corporate Coordination Central Europe for Rheinmetall Group, explains: ‘We have a concrete plan for the creation of a powerful Central European defence industry network, he said. ‘We have been gradually piecing together the components and partners, and it’s working: we are winning orders on world markets which bring direct economic benefits to our employees and partners here at home’.

Walf stresses the strategic nature of this programme: ‘It’s large-scale and long-term’, he says. ‘This combination of Rheinmetall ownership and industrial partnerships is forming a central European complex of interlocking specialists which is already proving capable of challenging the established majors in world defence markets’.


Lynx KF-31/KF 41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle: Details
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Thursday, 17 March 2022

'Sunken' Russian naval ship still sailing

russiadefence.net


'Gezonken' Russisch marineschip vaart nog

By: Jaime Karremann

Post Posted: 03/16/2022 | Last modified: 16-03-2022

The Russian naval vessel Vasily Bykov, which is said to have been shelled with rocket artillery and sunk last week, has been photographed and filmed near Crimea. The ship sailed into Sevastopol harbor free of visible damage.

Vasily Bykov reportedly entered the port of Sevastopol today. (Still: YouTube )

About a week and a half ago, the Vasily Bykov, a patrol ship of the same name, was allegedly shot at by the Ukrainian armed forces with a BM-21 Grad rocket launcher. The missiles are unguided, so just like grenades they fall at a predetermined position. Ideal for non-moving targets. The Ukrainian armed forces nevertheless managed to hit the ship, or so the story went .

The Bykov is said to have been lured to position by a smaller vessel during the night, after which the Grad battery opened fire. Now it is not impossible to hit a ship with unguided projectiles, after all many times more ships have been sunk by unguided projectiles than by guided weapons, but a single salvo is usually not enough.

Doubts arose mainly, as MarineShips.nl wrote earlier, because there was no evidence. The images of a plume of smoke turned out to be from the merchant ship Millennial Spirit that was on fire for days off the coast of Odessa.

But those doubts were also there because there were no images from the Russian side of a sailing Bykov.

Those images are now there (also this photo on Twitter ). Still with a small blow, but the images that have now been shared of the Vasily Bykov have not been seen before and disprove the story from the Ukrainian side. The Vasily Bykov did not sink.


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Wednesday, 16 March 2022

HII Delivers Virginia-Class Submarine Montana (SSN 794) to U.S. Navy

HII Delivers Virginia-Class Submarine Montana (SSN 794) to U.S. Navy | Huntington Ingalls Industries

Mar 14, 2022

Pictured: Virginia-class attack submarine Montana (SSN 794) successfully completed initial sea trials in February 2022. 

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., March 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII, America’s largest shipbuilder and leading provider of mission-driven defense technologies, on Saturday delivered the newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine to the U.S. Navy.  

Montana (SSN 794), which successfully completed sea trials last month, is the 10th Virginia-class submarine to be delivered by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and the 21st built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics’ Electric Boat.

“We continue to be proud of our partnership with the U.S. Navy in delivering the most advanced ships in the world to our warfighters,” said Jason Ward, Newport News Shipbuilding vice president of Virginia-class submarine construction. “The results of the Navy’s board of inspection and survey during sea trials are a testament to our priorities of safety and quality. We are proud of our team of shipbuilders for delivering these critical capabilities to the Navy and the nation.”

More than 10,000 shipbuilders from Newport News Shipbuilding and Electric Boat have participated in Montana’s construction since the work began in May 2015. The submarine was christened by the ship’s sponsor, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, during a ceremony in September 2020.

Montana is the third of the 10-ship group of Virginia-class submarines known as Block IV. Block IV submarines incorporate design changes focused on reduced total ownership cost. By making smaller-scale design changes, the Navy will increase the length of time between maintenance stops and increase the number of deployments.

A photo accompanying this news release is available at: https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/file/montana-sea-trials-3.


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