Tuesday, 28 April 2020

Taiwan test fires land attack cruise missile

ncsist.org.tw

 Taiwan test fires land attack cruise missile ... | Taiwan News: 

 The Yun Feng land attack cruise missile has range of 1,500 km, able to reach inner China
  
By Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

 2020/04/27 12:06

 TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has reportedly test-fired a new missile capable of striking targets within inner China, which will soon enter mass production.

 The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is said to have fired a slew of mid-range missiles and rockets earlier this month at the Jiupeng (九鵬) military base in Pingtung, the southernmost county of Taiwan, wrote UDN.

 The tests are believed to have included the Yun Feng (雲峰) missile, a supersonic land-attack cruise missile that has a range of 1,500 kilometers, according to the UDN article. The missile, fitted with a ramjet engine, can carry a semi-armor piercing high explosive and fragmentation warhead.

 Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a senior analyst at the Institute of National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), said the surface-to-surface missile could be deployed to weaken China’s combat capability. The weapon is believed to be able to attack strategic targets including airports, harbors, and command bases located in central China, CNA quoted Su as saying.

 Land-based missile systems including Yun Feng and other cruise missiles are a vital asset of Taiwan’s arsenal when engaging in asymmetric warfare against China, Su stated. As the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) poses the greatest threat to Taiwan in the event of a military conflict, the island country would be able to better defend itself if it could launch attacks on China’s air bases.

 NCSIST has declined to comment on reports of the missile tests, citing the sensitivity of the matter, wrote CNA.
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Sunday, 26 April 2020

Air Force and Honeywell make transition to full-scale development for GPS modernization in military aircraft

Graham Paul Spicer (flickr)

 GPS modernization military aircraft | Military & Aerospace Electronics: 

 The EGI-M GPS modernization program seeks to enable military aircraft to operate accurately in GPS-denied environments.

 John Keller

 Apr 22nd, 2020

 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – U.S. Air Force satellite navigation experts are moving to full-scale development of a system that blends the Global Position System (GPS) navigation and guidance system with inertial navigation system (INS) technology.

 Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., announced a $99.1 million contract to the Honeywell Inc. Aerospace segment in Clearwater, Fla., on Monday for engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) of the Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System Modernization (EGI-M) system.

 Based on a modular open-systems architecture, the EGI-M system supports the rapid insertion of new capabilities into military aircraft like the F-22 jet fighter and E-2D carrier-based radar aircraft to operate in GPS-denied environments.

 EMD describes where a system is developed and designed before going into production after the formal start of any program. The goal is to complete system development, develop affordable manufacturing processes, and test the system before proceeding to production and deployment.

 EGI-M technology is designed for compatibility with legacy aircraft, and adds Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen air traffic control requirements.

 ADS-B Out transmits information about an aircraft’s altitude, speed, and location to ground stations and to other equipped aircraft in the vicinity.

 The EGI-M is an upgraded version of the Embedded Global Positioning System Inertial Navigation System (EGI) from Honeywell and the Northrop Grumman Corp. Mission Systems segment in Woodland Hills, Calif., which combines GPS and inertial technologies for use in GPS-denied environments.

 The EGI, manufactured by Honeywell and Northrop Grumman, is a navigation system that combines a GPS receiver card with an INS in one 20-pound unit that measures 7 by 11 by 12 inches.

 Related: Raytheon moves ahead to low-rate initial production phase of JPALS GPS landing system for aircraft carriers

 The navigation systems are for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft as upgrades to existing systems or as replacements for older and less capable systems.

 The EGI is an Army/Navy/Air Force program that developed a small, reliable, lightweight navigation and guidance unit that contains precise position service GPS on one standard electronic module, plus a ring laser gyro inertial navigation system.

 EGI provides three navigation solutions: GPS only, inertial navigation only, or a blended GPS/INS navigation solution. The EGI system has been in production since the late 1990s.

 On this contract Honeywell will do the work in Clearwater, Fla., and should be finished by April 2024. For more information contact Honeywell Aerospace online at https://aerospace.honeywell.com, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems at www.northropgrumman.com, or the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center-Robins at www.robins.af.mil/Units/AFLCMC.
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Army asks industry for open-systems avionics technologies for future attack and reconnaissance helicopters

Lockheed Martin

 open-systems avionics helicopters | Military & Aerospace Electronics: 

 Avionics technologies may be for integration into the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).

 John Keller

 Apr 20th, 2020

 FORT EUSTIS, Va. – U.S. Army combat helicopter experts are reaching out to industry for ways to develop open-systems enabling technologies to manage aircraft crew member cognitive workload. Suggested technologies must conform to the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) industry standards.

 Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Fort Eustis, Va., issued a request for information on Thursday (W911W620RFI0002) for the Revolutionary Technology and Strategies for the Holistic Situational Awareness—Decision Making (HSA-DM) program.

 The technologies developed from this program potentially are for integration into avionics for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).

 Other potential candidate projects for HSA-DM-developed technologies include:

 -- Degraded Visual Environments-Mitigation (DVE-M);
-- Integrated Mission Equipment (IME) for Vertical Lift Systems;
-- Joint Common Architecture (JCA);
-- Route Optimization for Survivability Against Sensors (ROSAS);
-- Survivability Against Integrated and Networked Threats (SAINT);
-- Synergistic Unmanned Manned Intelligent Teaming (SUMIT);
-- Project Management Office - Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR);
-- Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Mission Systems Architecture Demonstration (MSAD); and
-- Advanced Teaming Demonstration (A-Team).

 This request for information for integrated avionics aboard future Army helicopters avionics has four separate efforts: information management; data and sensor fusion; autonomous decision aiding and information distillation; and human-machine interfaces. The goal is to eventually create a family of systems that operates in a variety of domestic and combat Army helicopter missions.

 Information management seeks to identify information management technologies to receive, process, store, and transmit terabytes of data and knowledge products from several sources simultaneously.

 Data and sensor fusion seeks to identify technologies to accept data from several sensors, databases, and networks, and fuse the data into a comprehensive “own-ship” world model or information manager.

 Autonomous decision aiding and information distillation seeks to identify technologies capable of distilling data and information into knowledge products for crew member adjudication and/or autonomous decision making.

 Human machine interfaces seeks to identify technologies that facilitate intuitive communication of operational knowledge to and from aircraft crew members.

 As aviation technology continues to grow, the number of separate avionics systems and large quantities of data lead to flight crew cognitive overload, Army researchers explain. The crew must search, sort, and synthesize large amounts of information across several systems. This mental load can lead to loss of situational awareness, and reduced mission effectiveness.

 To address this problem, the HSA-DM program seeks to define systems that receive several data streams, and present information to the crew members in a timely and effective way. The HSA-DM program should run from 2021 to 2026.

 The types of avionics systems that could be part of this program include communications; aircraft status; navigation; augmented flight control; weapons; crew systems; and fused sensor data. Proposed technologies meet standards for cyber security and information assurance.

 Companies interested should email white papers no longer than 20 pages to the Army's Matthew Shivers no later than 3 June 2020 at matthew.p.shivers2.civ@mail.mil. Email questions or concerns to Shivers at matthew.p.shivers2.civ@mail.mil.

 More information is online at 
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/661e06e28c6149e9a3eaba0708fbc792/view.
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Sikorsky makes preparations to build seven new CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters and avionics for U.S. Marines

Sikorsky

 helicopters avionics Marines | Military & Aerospace Electronics: 

 CH-53K King Stallion is a large heavy-lift cargo helicopter designed to replace the Marine Corps CH-53E to move Marines from ships to attack beaches.

 John Keller

 Apr 15th, 2020
   
PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – Engineers at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, Conn., are preparing to build seven new CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters and integrated avionics systems for the U.S. Marine Corps under terms of a $125.4 million order announced in late March.

 Officials of the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, to procure long-lead items for seven CH-53K low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot 5 helicopters.

 Long-lead items either are difficult and time-consuming to obtain, and are funded early in the aircraft design process to keep overall production on schedule. Contracts to build the actual helicopters will come later.

 The CH-53K King Stallion is a large heavy-lift cargo helicopter designed to replace the Marine Corps fleet of CH-53E heavy-lift helicopters to help move Marines and their equipment from ships offshore onto attack beaches. The CH-53K is a general redesign of the CH-53E.

 The CH-53K sea-based, long range, helicopter is designed to provide three times the lift capability of its predecessor. The CH-53K will conduct expeditionary heavy-lift transport of armored vehicles, equipment, and personnel to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of operations, Sikorsky officials say. It can lift more than 18 tons.

 The CH-53K will have new engines and cockpit avionics layout, and will have more than twice the lift capacity and combat radius of the CH-53E. A wider cargo hold to enable the new aircraft to carry a light combat vehicle internally, and will have new composite rotor blades. It will use the General Electric GE38-1B engine.

 It can operate at high altitudes, hot temperatures, and in degraded visual conditions; sling load 36,000 pounds; can fly faster than 200 knots; can make 60-degree-angle bank turns; can climb to 18,500 feet above sea level; conduct 12-degree slope landings and takeoffs; and can auto-jettison external loads, and survive gunfire.

 The CH-53K first flew in late 2015, and the helicopter was introduced to Marine Corps squadrons in 2018. The Marines plan to buy 227 CH-53K helicopters for about $23.3 billion.

 Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is providing the CH-53K's avionics management system; Sanmina-SCI Corp. in San Jose, Calif., is providing the new helicopter's intercommunications System; and Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kan., is providing the CH-53 cockpit and cabin. Other major subcontractors are GKN Aerospace in Redditch, England; and Onboard Systems International in Vancouver, Wash.

 Collins Aerospace is providing the company's Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) for the CH-53K. The CAAS integrates several communications, navigation and mission subsystems through its Flight2 system. It uses common reusable processing elements in an open-systems architecture based on commercial standards.

 The Collins Aerospace CAAS avionics initially was developed for the Special Operations Forces' MH-47 and MH-60 helicopter fleets. In addition to the CH-53K, CAAS avionics also has been selected for the CH-47F, MH-60T, MH-65E, and VH-60N aircraft.

 The Sanmina-SCI FireComm Intercommunications Control System for the CH-53K uses digital processing techniques and controls. Its system architecture uses the MIL-STD-1553 avionics data bus; the IEEE 1394b data bus; 10/100 Base-T Ethernet; and TIA/EIA-485 interface ports.

 On this order Sikorsky will do the work in Stratford, Conn., and should be finished by August 2021. For more information contact Sikorsky Aircraft online at www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/sikorsky.html, or Naval Air Systems Command at www.navair.navy.mil.


Replacing US Marine’s CH-53K helos with CH-47F choppers is a poor idea
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Transfer of updated White Swans of the Russian Aerospace Forces

cavok.com.br

 Transfer of updated White Swans of the Russian Aerospace Forces: shots from Kazan: 

 Translated by google
Andrey Arkadiev 18:59 04/23/2020

 Before being sent to the troops, two updated Tu-160s successfully passed ground and flight tests.

 The Kazan Aviation Plant handed over to the representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense two modernized strategic missile carriers Tu-160 : Ivan Yarygin and Vasily Reshetnikov. This was reported on April 23 by the press service of the Russian military department.

 Before being sent to the troops, two updated Tu-160s successfully passed ground and flight tests.

 The upgraded strategic missile carrier Tu-160M ​​made its first flight under the control of a test pilot at the Kazan Aviation Plant named after S.P. Gorbunov Henri Naskidyantsa in February of this year.

 Earlier it was reported that by 2027 the Russian Air Force will receive ten new strategic Tu-160M2 missile carriers , the resumption of production of which is underway in Kazan. The first flight of the renewed White Swan is scheduled for next year, and its delivery to the troops can begin in three years.

 Tu-160 ("White Swan") - a supersonic strategic bomber-bomber with a variable sweep of the wing. Designed for the defeat of nuclear and conventional weapons of the most important targets in remote military-geographical areas and deep rear.

 This strategic bomber is capable of carrying up to 12 missiles with a nuclear warhead. The range of these missiles is up to 3,500 km, which means that he does not need to enter the missile defense area to strike.

 But if necessary, he is able to break through it: the variable geometry of the wings allows him to fly to a range of 13,950 km and reach speeds of up to 2,200 km / h. Together with a working ceiling of 21,765 m, this makes the Tu-160 an extremely difficult target. 

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Saab Flies New GaN Fighter Radar

Gripen D - Defense News

 Saab Flies New GaN Fighter Radar | Defense News: Aviation International News: 

 The new radar is available as an upgrade for Gripen fighters, and can also be tailored to other types and for other missions.

 by David Donald - April 24, 2020, 11:08 AM
Saab’s new AESA array, seen here installed in JAS 39D “800”, has just under 1,000 gallium nitride transmit/receive modules. (Photo: Saab)
Saab has flown its active electronically scanned array (AESA) X-band radar in a Gripen fighter for the first time, the company announced on April 24. The flight took place at Saab’s Linköping airfield on April 8. During the 90-minute sortie undertaken by a JAS 39D trials aircraft (serial 800), the radar was successfully tested against aerial targets of opportunity and a range of ground targets. Speaking to AIN, Anders Carp, senior vice president and head of Saab's Surveillance business area, noted that the radar demonstrated good capability and stability throughout the test mission.

 “This is an important step in the development of our new fighter AESA radar,” said Carp in a company statement. “We see great possibilities for the radar, and its modular, adaptable and scalable design means it can also be used for a range of other applications.”

 Under current plans, Saab expects to continue initial radar trials for around three to four months, with Gripen 800 due to fly around 15 times with the new sensor. As part of the evaluation, the radar will be employed against fighter targets.

 Saab has been at the forefront of AESA radar design employing gallium nitride (GaN) technology, having pioneered the technology with its latest iterations of the Giraffe ground- and sea-based radars, electronic warfare equipment, and with the Erieye ER S-band radar employed in the GlobalEye surveillance aircraft.

 The new AESA array is made up of hundreds of transmit/receive modules (TRMs), each one essentially a mini-electronically scanned radar. Radars made with GaN semiconductors have better performance—notably in terms of electronic counter-countermeasures, small target detection and wider bandwidth—than most current AESA sensors that employ gallium arsenide (GaAs) TRMs, while consuming less power and generating less heat.

 What is currently known simply as the “Saab AESA fighter radar” comprises the GaN array married to the back end of the PS-05/A Mk 4 mechanically-scanned radar that is the current option for the Gripen C/D. Saab has built virtually all of the elements of the radar itself, including the TRMs that are manufactured in a foundry at the company’s primary radar design and production facility, the former Ericsson plant in Gothenburg. The company began ground-testing of the array well over a year ago.

 In the Gripen installation, the array is fixed with Saab opting for this configuration due to its simplicity and reliability. The concept of using a repositioner was initially discarded as advanced digital processing can overcome most of the problems associated with radar performance at the outer edges of the scanning volume without adding the internal space required to accommodate a repositioning system. However, Carp commented that a repositioning system could be employed if trials showed that it was necessary.

 The array is essentially the same as that which was ordered in late September 2018 for what Saab describes as an "undisclosed U.S. government customer". At the same time, however, the Pentagon announced the award of an $8.2 million contract to Saab USA for the research and development of an "active aperture array". The contracting agency was Naval Air Systems Command, with the array being intended for the Office of Naval Research and Office of the Secretary of Defense Foreign Comparative Testing Program. Saab has already flight-tested this array on another testbed in support of the U.S. program and delivered it to the customer earlier this year.

 Saab claims that its new ITAR-free array is ready to go to market, and would take between 12 and 18 months to deliver given the need to complete development and testing, and to establish production. The radar has an obvious application as a retrofit for Gripen C/Ds, and could also be included as an option instead of the PS-05/A Mk 4 for new C/D sales, with the potential of revitalizing that aircraft’s sales prospects. Other opportunities include other fighter types, particularly as an upgrade option.

 The company sees opportunities for the X-band radar beyond fighters, including installation in advanced trainer and aggressor aircraft. Moreover, the radar has been designed in a modular fashion, and is scalable. This opens up a wide range of applications, including scaled-up radars of almost Erieye ER size for X-band surveillance. Ship- and UAV-based opportunities are also being studied.

 For now there are no plans to equip the new-generation Gripen E/F with the GaN radar as the GaAs-based Leonardo ES-05 Raven is fully integrated for that requirement, but it could be substituted if a customer specified it. Saab also points out that the work being performed by the company on an AESA radar for the KF-X fighter in collaboration with South Korean industry is a separate project.
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Saturday, 25 April 2020

Navy accepts delivery of USS Zumwalt

orange27 (flickr)

 Navy accepts delivery of USS Zumwalt - UPI.com: 

 By Christen McCurdy

 April 24 (UPI) -- The Navy announced Friday that it has accepted delivery of the multi-mission surface combatant USS Zumwalt.

 According to the service, the Zumwalt will now join the U.S. Pacific Fleet battle force and remain assigned to Surface Development Squadron One for at-sea testing.

 "Delivery is an important milestone for the Navy, as DDG 1000 continues more advanced at-sea testing of the Zumwalt combat system," said Capt. Kevin Smith, DDG 1000 program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships.

 "The combat test team, consisting of the DDG 1000 sailors, Raytheon engineers, and Navy field activity teams, have worked diligently to get USS Zumwalt ready for more complex, multi-mission at-sea testing. I am excited to begin demonstrating the performance of this incredible ship," Smith said.

 The 610-foot Zumwalt, which was commissioned in 2013 and left port for its first operational deployment in 2019, is the first ship of the Zumwalt-class destroyers. Just three of the vessels were commissioned before the Zumwalt program was canceled in 2018.

 The USS Michael Monsoor is homeported in San Diego and undergoing combat systems activation, and the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson is under construction at General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine.
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