U.S. Air National Guard recommend fielding Leonardo’s BriteCloud 218 decoy after successfully completing an extensive US Defense Department test programme

Duncan Monk

U.S. Air National Guard recommend fielding Leonardo’s BriteCloud 218 decoy after successfully completing an extensive US Defense Department test programme | Leonardo

Rome  24 November 2022 12:59

BriteCloud’s world-first miniaturised jamming technology delivers a major upgrade in aircraft protection compared to traditional expendable countermeasures

The decoy will be designated AN/ALQ-260(V)1 in U.S. Armed Forces service

The U.S. Air National Guard (ANG) has issued a ‘fielding recommendation’ for Leonardo’s BriteCloud 218 expendable active decoy, tested on US F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. This means that the service, which has conducted an extensive testing and live trials campaign with BriteCloud since 2019, is confident that the decoy meets and, in some instances, even exceeds operational requirements, delivering an increased platform protection capability to 4th generation fighter aircraft like the F-16.

The U.S. Air Force has subsequently designated BriteCloud 218 as AN/ALQ-260(V)1, identifying it as an airborne electronic warfare countermeasure. BriteCloud is unique in the combat air countermeasure market, packing latest-generation DRFM jamming technology into a compact expendable that can be launched from standard countermeasure dispensers. Unlike traditional chaff and flares, BriteCloud employs a sophisticated on-board electronic warfare capability designed to counter radar-guided threats.

Designed and manufactured by Leonardo in the UK, BriteCloud has already entered service with the UK’s Royal Air Force. As a world-first technology, BriteCloud has been undergoing evaluation for potential service with U.S. Armed Forces under the Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) programme. The fielding recommendation by the ANG is one of the final stages of the programme and gives the green light to BriteCloud 218 as proven effective and fit for operations.

The BriteCloud 218-variant rounds evaluated under the FCT are standard-sized rectangular countermeasures measuring just two by one by eight inches. This means they are compatible with common dispensers including the AN/ALE-47 and are ready to equip other 4th generation fighters such as the F-15, F/A-18, F-16 and A-10 fighters. BriteCloud 218 is also an effective protection capability for smaller uncrewed platforms, with the German Armed Forces successfully trialing the system with target drone aircraft last year.

Leonardo’s original BriteCloud 55 decoy (a slightly larger variant, compatible with round 55mm flare dispensers such as those on the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen C/D), is used by the UK’s Royal Air Force. BriteCloud’s unique combination of latest-generation threat protection with extremely low integration costs continues to generate significant international interest and Leonardo is in talks with a number of Air Forces about the capability.

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Submarine "Ufa" became part of the Russian Navy

Stary Oskol / photo by A. Brichevsky

Подлодка "Уфа" вошла в состав ВМФ РФ -

Submarine "Ufa"             photo of JSC "Admiralty Shipyards"

Moscow. November 16th. INTERFAX-AVN Diesel-electric submarine of project 636.3 "Ufa", built for the Pacific Fleet (Pacific Fleet), on Wednesday, November 16, became part of the Russian Navy, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

      "Today, under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, a solemn ceremony was held to raise the Andreevsky naval flag on the diesel-electric submarine of project 636.3 Ufa," the message says.

     In accordance with the announced order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy "Ufa" It became the fourth in a series of six Project 636.3 submarines being built for the Pacific Fleet

     Evmenov noted at the ceremony that "submarines of this project are equipped with the most modern weapons, and their high combat qualities are confirmed by the successful completion of the assigned tasks in Cherny and the Mediterranean Seas, as well as in the Arctic," the press release says.

     The ceremony took place in St. Petersburg on the territory of the enterprise of the United Shipbuilding Corporation "Admiralty Shipyards".

     Evmenov previously reported that "until 2024, the Russian Navy plans to receive the entire series of six Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines being built at the Admiralty Shipyards purposefully to equip the submarine forces of the Pacific Fleet."

     "These submarines have excellent stealth characteristics and are equipped with high-precision weapons, which allows them to effectively carry out tasks for their intended purpose," the Navy Commander-in-Chief said.

     Submarines of project 636.3 are equipped with Caliber cruise missiles (developed by OKB Novator, JSC Concern VKO Almaz-Antey).

Submarine "Ufa" will enter the fleet in November - Commander-in-Chief of the Navy (version 2)

Made to take on Russia, Swedish Gripen fighter jets should go to Ukraine: Report

Andreas

Made to take on Russia, Swedish Gripen fighter jets should go to Ukraine: Report - Breaking Defense

The recommendation from RUSI reopens debate around Western fighter jets being sent to Ukraine, with the Swedish aircraft being tipped to provide exceptional operation value, especially against Russian long-range missile strikes.

By   TIM MARTIN on November 08, 2022 at 10:28 AM

DUBLIN – A leading defense think tank has called on international policymakers to consider supplying the Ukrainian Air Force with Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighter jets.

Authors from the UK-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said in a report Monday that after looking at the Russian air war and requirements for Ukrainian air defense, the Swedish aircraft was “by far the most suitable candidate” of Western-manufactured combat jets that could meet operational needs.

Transfer of Gripens would advance Ukrainian short- to medium-term planning by minimizing the risk of sustaining Russian long-range missile strikes, according to the report.

The authors also warned that delivery of the aircraft, alongside SAM launchers, missile ammunition and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns are all critical to preventing a new Russian strike campaign, which, if not contested, could lead to a dramatic shift in the current momentum of the war.

“Conceptually, the Swedish Air Force has always emphasised low-level air superiority tactics from dispersed bases, in a similar manner to how the Ukrainian Air Force currently operates, and so the Gripen was designed with ground support equipment and maintenance requirements compatible with that approach,” stated the publication. “The electronic warfare suite on the Gripen C/D is also optimised specifically for countering Russian fighter and SAM radars.”

Additionally, the authors cite Gripen’s anti-ship capability and integration of MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) and ramjet propulsion design being “less adversely affected” by counterthreats, compared to weapons with rocket-powered propulsion. Air launched weapons relying on rocket powered technology are widely considered to be more exposed to ground based threats because of their “low and slow” capability profiles.

“Since April, VKS [Russian Air Force] pilots have been extremely reluctant to aggressively fight their way into Ukrainian airspace due to the losses taken during early attempts,” note the RUSI authors. “The threat of Ukrainian SAM and MANPADS engagements has shaped the behaviour and constrained the effectiveness of Russian pilots significantly.

“Therefore, even a few modern Western fighters with long-range missiles able to meet the Russians on technically equal or even superior terms would likely have a disproportionate deterrent effect.”

Despite such analysis reopening debate over whether or not European or US decision makers should approve Western-made fighter jets being sent to Ukraine, tensions around the matter, often linked to fears of conflict escalation, permissions for sorties being flown from NATO territory and training difficulties, continue to hold up progress.

If the Gripen C/D variant was to be approved for transfer however, current European operators — Sweden, Hungary and the Czech Republic — would all be in line to execute deliveries to Ukraine.

“The [RUSI] report identified many of the excellent qualities of Gripen that make it a suitable candidate fighter for a country’s defences,” said a Saab spokesperson. “Ultimately the export of Gripen, including to Ukraine, is strictly regulated and needs approvals from the appropriate authorities. So any such decision will rest with them and further questions as to the feasibility are therefore best raised with them.”

Past requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to NATO members for Western fighter jets have been denied even though some US officials, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, have publicly supported the idea.

In March, Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia — the only European countries capable of supplying aircraft common with Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-25 fighter fleets — all ruled out any such transfers, after previously hinting otherwise. At the time, the Pentagon said the transfer of Polish jets to Ukraine, specifically, through US bases in Germany was “not tenable.”

Source breakingdefense.com

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HENSOLDT mission system for reconnaissance flights put into operation

diamondaircraft.com

News | HENSOLDT

Pre-integration of the mission system facilitates installation in aircraft

HENSOLDTs is equipping DA62MPP aircraft with its "MissionGrid" mission system (EO/IR pod under the nose of the aircraft) on behalf of QinetiQ. Photo: Diamond Aircraft

Immenstaad/Germany, 11 October 2022 - Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has successfully passed acceptance by the customer, aviation specialist QinetiQ GmbH, Mönchengladbach, with the first of two complete systems for electro-optical reconnaissance. The reconnaissance system consisting of the electro-optical system ARGOS-II HD (EO/IR) and the control and evaluation software EuroNAV was successfully put into operation only six months after the order. The reconnaissance system was pre-integrated by HENSOLDT in the company's own Airborne Systems Integration Lab and scaffolded by QinetiQ into DA62MPP aircraft from Diamond Aircraft Industries, Austria, for reconnaissance services and training of national and international customers.

"The successful milestone in the project has validated our approach to accelerate functional testing of the system as well as certification through in-house pre-integration," says project manager Theresa Leopold. "This allows us to offer the customer a complete solution that reduces the customer's project risk and effort and is available in the shortest possible time."

The mission system, with the product name "MissionGrid", can be used on fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. It is used by air and naval forces for reconnaissance and target acquisition missions (ISR/ISTAR), but also for border protection, search and rescue missions, maritime patrols, law enforcement and object protection. The German Federal Police uses it to combat smuggling, illegal trade and for border security.

The reconnaissance system has a range of up to 40 km and can detect ships as well as small inflatable boats or individual swimmers by day and night as well as in bad weather. A thermal imaging camera records the images and transmits video and data in real time to base stations on the ground. The "MissionGrid" mission system can also be easily and modularly supplemented with other HENSOLDT systems, such as the PrecISR reconnaissance radar, the Kalaetron ESM/SIGINT system and the AMPS self-protection system, as well as a number of other sensor types and data links. A virtual training facility will also allow users to be trained "remotely" on the mission system at the facility via a secure internet connection.

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Defense News: China has at least 200 fifth-generation J-20 fighters

Air Force Online

Полковник запаса Кошкин: гибель Стремоусова не повлияет на фронтовую ситуацию

Anastasia Korolkova

When quoting information, an active hyperlink to SOLENKA.INFO is required

According to the American publication Defense News, the PRC has at least 200 fifth-generation J-20 fighters in service. More than 240 J-16 multipurpose strike aircraft are also reported. This conclusion was made by a local military expert, who decided to examine in detail the numbers on combat aircraft that visited the Airshow China 2022 international air show. The event is held in Zhuhai from November 8-13, solenka.info reports.

As the author notes, photographs of the surface of the hulls of China's combat aircraft showed that the Chinese aircraft industry has made significant progress.

Earlier it was reported that as part of Airshow China 2022, China demonstrated engines with thrust vector control.

Source SOLENKA.INFO

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J-20 Canopy & its Forward EODAS/EOPDS Sensor Aperture

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David Wang on Twitter: "J-20 Canopy & its Forward EODAS/EOPDS Sensor Aperture https://t.co/splTqoEAO9" / Twitter: 

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BAE Systems Australia to expand F-35 precinct

airforce.gov.au / SGT David Gibbs

BAE Systems Australia to expand F-35 precinct | BAE Systems | Australia

4 Nov 2022

BAE Systems Australia today welcomed an announcement by the Federal Government for the approval of a Facility Services Deed that underpins the expansion of the Company’s F-35 sustainment operations at Williamtown in the Hunter Valley.

The Deed, valued at more than $100 million, will enable BAE Systems to meet projected service and maintenance demand for the Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II fleet.

The construction of the additional bays in BAE Systems’ existing South Hangar facility at Williamtown will provide opportunities for local jobs, local suppliers and subcontractors.

All 72 F-35 jets will be sustained and upgraded at Williamtown over the next three decades, supporting 750 jobs directly and indirectly across Australia by 2025. Fifty six F-35A Lightning II jets have been accepted by Australia to date with the full fleet on track to be delivered by the end of 2023.

BAE Systems Australia Managing Director Defence Delivery, Andrew Gresham, said:

“We welcome the Commonwealth’s announcement and look forward to working alongside the Royal Australian Air Force and our industry partners to deliver this vital capability.

“Our established team has deep knowledge of the F-35 and will deliver a proven and collaborative approach that focuses on dependable delivery today and innovative ways of sustaining the F-35 fleet into the future.

“This is another example of how BAE Systems is helping to deliver the next generation of air capability and building local industry to help keep Australia secure.”

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