Wednesday 28 September 2022

Reception of the 1st H160 of the Interim Fleet 22 Sept 2022 1 St H160 French Navy - YouTube

© French Navy


Réception du 1er H160 de la Flotte intérimaire 22 Sept 2022 1 St H160 French Navy - YouTube

Premiered Sep 25, 2022  Ce jeudi 22 septembre, le 1er H160 a été officiellement réceptionné sur la BAN de Hyères. Cet appareil crée par Airbus Helicopters, a été modifié par la Société Babcock France. Il fait partie d'une flotte intérimaire en attendant le futur Guépard (dérivé du H160 et version militaire pour nos armées). Cet appareil faisant partie d'une future flotte de 6 hélicoptères loués auprès des industriels. Les H160 auront la mission de remplacer les Dauphin N3 et les NH 90 dans les missions SAR (Secours et Sauvetage en Mer). La Flottille 32F sera alors réactivée et les différents appareils seront basés à Lanvéoc Poulmic, et détachés sur différents sites tels Cherbourg et Hyères. Dans cette vidéo vous verrez une partie de la cérémonie officielle avec des prises de vues au sol accompagnées de prises en vol faites par la Marine Nationale que je remercie. Un grand merci à la BAN de Hyères pour son accueil et la disponibilité de tous pour nous faciliter les prises de vues et interview. Place au H160 et longue vie a ce nouvel hélicoptère très attendu et précurseur du Guépard.

Crédits Photo couverture et plans en vol Marine Nationale



Monday 26 September 2022

Air National Guard director wants boost to F-15EX buy

Wes B


“Some people are still looking at this as a 1970s-technology aircraft. It is not,” Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, head of the Air National Guard, said of the F-15EX.

By   VALERIE INSINNA

on September 22, 2022 at 10:15 AM


An F-15EX fighter jet taxis to its parking spot at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Nov. 8, 2021. The jet visited Wright-Patt to give the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s F-15EX program office the opportunity to see the aircraft up close. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jaima Fogg)


AFA 2022 — The head of the Air National Guard is signaling he will push to increase the Air Force’s F-15EX buy, which was cut from 144 to 80 jets as part of the fiscal 2023 budget.

During a roundtable with reporters Wednesday at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air Space and Cyber conference, ANG commander Lt. Gen. Michael Loh repeatedly raised concerns about the Guard’s aging inventory of F-15C/Ds, saying that all need to be replaced by the Boeing F-15EX or Lockheed Martin F-35A.

When asked specifically whether he believed the F-15EX buy was currently too low and whether he would advocate for it to be increased, Loh smiled and gave a thumbs up.

“Some people are still looking at this as a 1970s-technology aircraft. It is not,” he said, pointing to the F-15EX’s advanced capabilities, including open mission system architecture, Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System electronic warfare suite and the AN/APG-82 radar.

However, he expressed his belief that more jets could be added to the program of record in the short term,  as the Air Force begins to field the aircraft and see its performance.

“We have not done a great job of saying, ‘Hey, here’s how this fits in better, let’s say, than an F-15E,” he said. “And that will be our challenge over the next couple of years. That will then drive different conversations.”

Currently, the Air Force plans to buy 24 F-15EX aircraft in FY23 and wrap up procurement in FY24 with a final 24-jet buy. But Congress could intercede — as it did over the last decade, when lawmakers continually forced the Navy to buy additional F/A-18E/F Super Hornets at a time the service planned to curtail Super Hornet production.

Loh’s support for the F-15EX could find eager support on Capitol Hill, specifically for lawmakers who represent St. Louis, Mo., where the F-15 is produced.

With a total of 80 F-15EXs, the Air Force would be able to replace the F-15C/Ds for about three existing squadrons — active or Guard — leaving five legacy F-15C/D squadrons without EX models to replace them. It’s possible the Air Force could transition those squadrons to the F-35 instead, though Loh noted that to do so, the Air Force should prioritize increasing F-35 procurement to 72 aircraft per year.

Portland Air National Guard Base in Oregon is set to be the first operational base to receive the F-15EX in 2023. Three bases where the Guard operates the F-15C/D — Barnes Airport in Massachusetts, Fresno Yosemite Airport in California, and Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in Louisiana — are still waiting to hear whether pilots will transition to the F-15EX or F-35, as is Kadena Air Base in Japan, which is home to two active-duty F-15C/D squadrons.


Chemezov announced the increase in the production of Su-57 fighters

Andreas B


Чемезов сообщил о наращивании выпуска истребителей Су-57 -

Moscow. September 22nd. INTERFAX-AVN - Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ) named after Yu.A. Gagarin will increase the production of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters, said the head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov.

      "This year, the Russian Aerospace Forces will receive new Su-57 fighters, they are in a high degree of readiness, and in the future the production rate of these fighters will be increased. We understand how important this work is, therefore, in order to increase the production of Su-57, the plant is actively expanding and modernizing At the moment, KnAAZ is loaded with orders until 2028," Chemezov said during a visit to the enterprise, whose words were quoted in the press service of the state corporation.

     According to the report, a new batch of fighters will be delivered to the troops in the near future.

     "They plan to increase the production of fifth-generation fighters at KnAAZ through the introduction of modern production methods, the construction of new facilities and the purchase of modern equipment. The enterprise has created a production line in the final assembly shops," the state corporation said.

     They noted that in August, new facilities were laid at the enterprise for testing fighter systems and equipment.

     "In order to ensure a growing production program, we need to additionally attract personnel. We create conditions for specialists and workers to come to our enterprises and raise wages. KnAAZ carried out a phased indexation of tariffs and salaries by a total of 24 percent. Today, the average wage the company's production workers is 84 thousand rubles," said UAC General Director Yuri Slyusar, whose words are given in the message.


Sunday 25 September 2022

Turkey may buy Russia's Su-35s if F-16 deal fails - top defence industry official

Fred Peursem


Turkey may buy Russia's Su-35s if F-16 deal fails - top defence industry official | Ahval

Sep 24 2022 06:28 Gmt+3

Last Updated On: Sep 24 2022 06:29 Gmt+3

Turkey may purchase Russian Su-35 fighter jets in the event that the deal on the acquisition of U.S.-made F-16s fails, the country’s Defense Industry Agency President Ismail Demir said on Saturday.

NATO member Turkey has applied to purchase 40 Blok 70 Viper F-16s and as many as 80 modernisation kits for its existing F-16 fleet after purchasing Russian S-400 air defence missiles. The acquisition of the Russian weapons in 2019 prompted the United States to bar it from a programme to develop and purchase the F-35 stealth fighter jet. Last year, Turkey announced that the United States suggested that Ankara procure the fourth generation of the F-16 fighter jets instead of the fifth generation F-35s.

Turkey is not without alternatives to the F-16s, Demir told CNN Türk, adding that "one of the variants could be the Su-35," Demir told CNN Türk, should the F-16 deal fall through.

In July, the U.S. House of Representatives also passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act constraining the impending transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. The amendment calls for assurances on behalf of the U.S. president that the aircraft will not be used for unauthorized territorial overflights in Greece, a demand Ankara has rejected.

Any potential deal between the NATO allies on fighter jets would require congressional approval.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday said that he may  have a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, to discuss the purchase of F-16 fighter jets by Ankara, Daily Sabah newspaper reported.



Friday 23 September 2022

Saab to provide support services for SAAF’s Gripen C/D jets

Robert Atkinson


Work involves the provision of minor updates, maintenance and repair support to the aircraft.

The SAAF has been using Saab’s Gripen C/D multirole fighter aircraft since 2008. Credit: Saab.

Saab has secured a contract to provide service, maintenance and repair support for Gripen C/D fighter aircraft operated by the South African Air Force (SAAF).

The estimated value of this contract is approximately $30.70m (Skr333m). It is valid from 2022 to 2025.

Under this contract, the company will provide maintenance, repairs and some minor updates to the support and training systems of the SAAF’s Gripen C/D fighter jets.

Saab Gripen Sustainment business unit head Åsa Schöllin said: “I am very happy and satisfied that we have now reached an agreement for a new support contract, so that we in the very best way can support our customers with their operational needs.”

Saab ’s Gripen C/D aircraft has been operational with the SAAF, which is the first export customer of the aircraft, since 2008.

In 2017, Saab secured a similar contract to provide support services for the SAAF Gripen fleet.

This contract was valid until 2020 and covered several services, including maintenance, repair and overhaul, engineering support, airworthiness management, spares replenishment and technical publication updates.

Saab ’s Gripen C-series is a swing-role combat aircraft. The C-series jets have also participated in several NATO -led exercises and air policing missions worldwide.

The multi-role aircraft fleet can be deployed to operate in air-to-surface, air-to-air and reconnaissance combat roles.

Apart from the SAAF, Saab ’s Gripen C/D jets are in service with Swedish and Thai military forces, as well as two NATO member nations, namely Hungary and the Czech Republic.

This April, Saab also received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV ) to provide maintenance services for JAS 39 Gripen C/D jets.


Source airforce-technology.com

L3Harris to provide mission management processor for USAF T-7A trainers

Saab


L3Harris to provide mission management processor for USAF T-7A trainers

The processors will increase pilot readiness by connecting various data feeds to the cockpit’s displays.

 

The T-7A Red Tail aircraft is the USAF’s first jet trainer in 60 years. Credit: ©Boeing/L3Harris Technologies.


Boeing has awarded a contract to L3Harris Technologies to deliver mission-management processors for the US Air Force’s (USAF) T-7A Red Hawk trainer aircraft.

The estimated value of this contract is approximately $91.5m.

According to L3Harris, the mission-management processors have been developed specifically for T-7A Red Hawk trainer jets.

The system will combine a set of data streams that will help the aircraft’s pilots easily decode and process mission-critical information in flight.

The processors’ communication and sensors capabilities connect internal and external data networks and link video feeds to the cockpit’s displays for providing optimal battlespace awareness.

The new processors can also provide the required simulation for the trainee pilots.

Designed to increase operational reliability, the processor technology is part of the company’s digital and open-system approach to decrease the overall maintenance and lifecycle cost of the aircraft.

The modular system is also capable of expanding mission capabilities by using extra payload slots.

L3Harris’ mission management processors are also in use with the US Navy’s new MQ-25 uncrewed aircraft, the F/A-18 aircraft and the F-35 fighter jet.

L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems president Ed Zoiss said: “L3Harris mission management processors are key to the T-7A Red Hawk’s mission of training the next generation of Air Force pilots.

“The processors deliver technology the Air Force can rely upon to bolster pilot readiness.”

Unveiled by Boeing in April, the T-7A Red Hawk trainer jets are being developed to train the USAF’s pilots to fly fourth and fifth-generation aircraft.

The new T-7A trainer fleet is expected to start operating in 2024.

Once in service, the new jets will replace the Air Education and Training Command’s (AETC) T-38C Talon fleet.


Source airforce-technology.com

Thursday 22 September 2022

Embraer and L3 Harris to Develop New Agile Tanker via KC-390 to Support Air Force Operational Imperatives

Força Aérea Brasileira FAB Comando da Aeronáutica (Brazilian Air Force)


Embraer: news - Embraer and L3 Harris to Develop New Agile Tanker via KC-390 to Support Air Force Operational Imperatives



             New tactical tanking solution focused on contested logistics and agile combat employment

             Includes advanced boom and resilient, open mission system to support JADC2 requirements

             Focused on cost-effective, distributed tactical refueling for greater mission area coverage

 

Arlington, Va., September 19, 2022 — Embraer S.A. (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3) and L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) today announced a partnership to develop an “Agile Tanker,” a tactical aerial refueling option to address the U.S. Air Force’s operational imperatives and joint force refueling requirements especially for contested logistics environments.

The companies signed an agreement to expand the capabilities of Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium tactical tanker aircraft. Enhancements include the addition of advanced boom operations and mission systems to support agile basing and sustainment for operations in contested areas, and resilient communications supporting JADC2 requirements.

“U.S. Air Force strategic planners have stated agile combat employment will require refueling platforms optimized to support a disaggregated approach to air dominance in contested logistics environments,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, L3Harris. “Collaborating with Embraer to develop and integrate new capabilities to the multi-mission KC-390 provides a cost-effective, fast-to-field solution that embodies our trusted disruptor approach.”

Aircraft enhancements will complement the tanker’s existing capabilities, which already include the ability to refuel aircraft with a variable speed drogue, receive fuel, and to take off and land from short and improvised runways, allowing for greater mission area coverage.

“We continue seeking meaningful and strategic partnerships that generate new developments and expand the KC-390 Millennium’s market reach,” said Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer. “Our aircraft is capturing the attention of Air Forces around the world, and we’re thrilled by this opportunity to combine Embraer’s state-of-the-art platform and systems with L3Harris’ mission-driven solutions to deliver on the U.S. Air Force’s operational imperatives.”

The Air Force operational imperatives are a roadmap for successfully bringing about the new technologies, thinking, and cultures the Air and Space Forces must have to deter and, if necessary, defeat modern day adversaries.

The speedy, versatile, customizable KC-390 Millennium can support a range of missions and possesses a high reliability rate.  By combining L3Harris’ experience as an aircraft missionization prime with Embraer’s state-of-the-art jet-powered KC-390 Millennium platform, both companies are ready to provide the next generation of tanker solutions for the Department of Defense and the US Air Force. 

To support the Buy American Act requirements, the parties are studying the Agile Tanker program production with final assembly in the U.S., followed by aircraft modernization and missionization at the L3Harris’ Waco, Texas, aircraft modification center.


Tuesday 20 September 2022

Russia reacted to the words of the American general about the transfer of F-16 fighters to Ukraine

Paul Varner


В России отреагировали на слова американского генерала о передаче Украине истребителей F-16 »

Today, 13:44 

Photos from open sources

The issue of transferring American F-16 fighters to Ukraine is another tool that Washington uses to put pressure on Moscow. In fact, this will not happen quickly, since it will take from one year (for experienced pilots) to three years (for graduates and cadets of military schools) to train pilots to fly these combat aircraft. About this in an interview with the Vzglyad resource, assessing the statements of American General James Hecker that the issue of transferring modern fighter jets to Kyiv is being resolved, said Russian military expert Alexander Bartosh.

According to him, everything rests not only on the timing of the training of pilots. American fighters would seriously strengthen Ukraine, but there may be problems with their transfer also because the planes are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

“The return to the discussion of this problem right now is an attempt to create another lever of influence on the Russian Federation,” Bartosz concluded.

 

Text author: Oksana Pronina

Information agency "Shraibikus News",

registered by Roskomnadzor IA No. FS 77-80701



F-16C/D: Detail

Monday 19 September 2022

Algeria buys Russian T-14 tanks, S-500 air defense systems and Su-34M bombers

Vladislav Perminov


Military Watch: Алжир покупает российские танки Т-14, ЗРК С-500 и бомбардировщики Су-34М | Военное дело

© Bai Xueqi / XinHua / Global Look Press


Author: SERGEY KOMARIN, Editor

18.09.2022 11:23

It is known that the army of Algeria is considered the most combat-ready in Africa.

Observers of the publication Military Watch said that Algeria has signed a contract with Russia for the supply of new weapons. It is noted that the amount of the transaction is 7 billion dollars. At the same time, none of the parties officially announced the acquisition of Russian weapons.

It is known that the army of Algeria is considered the most combat-ready in Africa. The new contract will upgrade existing equipment and strengthen the country's position in the region. However, what kind of weapon was acquired at the moment cannot be said. The authors of the publication suggested that Algeria could sign a preliminary contract for the supply of Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighters. Another acquisition could be the S-500 anti-aircraft system, modernized T-90AS, T-14 Armata tanks, as well as Su-34M front-line bombers.

Earlier it was reported that the union of military personnel of the German Armed Forces warned the German authorities against the supply of weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.



Su-34 (Su-32) Fullback: Details
Sukhoi Su-57: Details
T-90S MBT: Details
T-14 Armata: Details
S-500 Prometheus 55R6M Triumfator-M: Details

Sunday 18 September 2022

Navy Soliciting F-16 Aircraft Maintenance, Logistics Support Services

Philip Taylor


Navy Soliciting F-16 Aircraft Maintenance, Logistics Support Services - GovCon Wire

CHRISTINE THROPP

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022


The Naval Air Systems Command is seeking proposals from defense contractors looking to provide aircraft maintenance and logistics support for the U.S. Navy’s F-16A/B/C/D multi‐role fighter jet fleet over a potential eight-year period.

In a SAM.gov solicitation notice, NAVAIR said it will award a $152.3 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to a single vendor that will be tasked to perform organizational, selected intermediate and limited depot level maintenance and logistics services in support of the naval aircraft fleet.

Services include in‐service repairs, aircraft modifications, corrosion treatment as well as system and component operation, removal, reinstallation, test and check out. Maintenance tasks and F-16 flight operations are also covered by the future IDIQ.

The vehicle is planned to be a firm-fixed-price, single-award contract that will have a five-year base period and a three-year option period.

Responses to the solicitation are due Oct. 24.


Wednesday 14 September 2022

Air101: Garmin G3000 selected by US Department of Defense contract to modernize fleet of F-5 aircraft

14-52


Air101: Garmin G3000 selected by US Department of Defense contract to modernize fleet of F-5 aircraft


Garmin International, announced this week that a selection of the Garmin G3000® integrated flight deck by Tactical Air Support, Inc. (Tactical Air) as part of a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) F-5N+/F+ Avionics Reconfiguration and Tactical Enhancement/Modernization for Inventory Standardization (ARTEMIS) program.

Tactical Air first selected the Garmin G3000 for their F-5 adversary aircraft training fleet in 2018. This recent award builds upon Tactical Air and Garmin’s strategic relationship now serving the DOD fleet of F-5 adversary aircraft. Garmin’s commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) G3000 open architecture supports integration with a wide range of mission equipment including military sensors, helmet-mounted displays, and advanced electrically scanned radar systems.

“It is an honour to team with Tactical Air and have our versatile G3000 integrated flight deck chosen for the ARTEMIS contract with the Department of Defense,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Garmin is proud to see our integrated flight deck technologies, deployed now on over 25,000 aircraft, also being adopted by the U.S. military and enhancing the mission and safety capabilities of our nation’s warfighters.”

The F-5 is a supersonic, multi-role tactical fighter and attack aircraft that in this role will provide air-to-air combat training, close-air support training, tactical development and evaluation support. The upgraded F-5 Advanced Tiger (AT) will be used in an aggressor training role, and the G3000 will transform the cockpit with one large area display and two touchscreen controllers. These upgrades bring modern safety systems and new tactical capabilities to the older airframes while also solving parts obsolescence and reliability issues within the existing avionics system.

“Tactical Air is thrilled to have Garmin’s cutting edge G3000 in the F-5 AT cockpit,” said RC Thompson, Tactical Air CEO. “The Garmin integrated flight deck gave us an outstanding COTS solution to the Navy and Marine Corps’ recently purchased fleet of F-5 aircraft to make them an even more capable adversary fighter for our aviators to train against.”

The G3000 boasts a large and vibrant high-resolution flight display that seamlessly interfaces to the F-5’s existing mission computer, enabling advanced mapping, tactical radio capabilities, radar display and more. The non-proprietary interface, software-based Human Machine Interface (HMI), and mission integration will enable the DOD to rapidly deploy new technologies in the future, while providing access to the latest in commercial Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) capabilities. Tactical Air has integrated the L3Harris ForceX mission computer along with a wide range of military sensors, communications equipment, and weapons systems into the G3000 touchscreen HMI.

In addition to night vision goggle (NVG) compatibility, the G3000 contains modern, state-of-the-art synthetic vision technology (SVT™) that blends an “out-the-window” view of surroundings on the large area, primary flight displays, which is particularly helpful during nighttime operations and during close air support missions. Additional features within the G3000 integrated flight deck on the F-5 include Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B IN) traffic.


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