Saturday, 23 July 2022

AESA Radar Confirmed for UK Typhoons

Lee Wilson


AESA Radar Confirmed for UK Typhoons | Defense News: Aviation International News: 

by Chris Pocock - July 17, 2022, 4:01 AM


The European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) features prominently in upgrades to the RAF's Eurofighter Typhoons.


Last week, Jeremy Quinn, UK defence procurement minister, confirmed a £2.35 billion ($2.8 billion) upgrade for the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoons. The work involves fitting the new European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) active-array radar, which includes electronic attack functions. The aircraft will also receive Phase 4 software that will provide task-based management to the pilot and other enhancements such as protection against electronic interference.

“This is the single biggest capability boost since the introduction of the Typhoon,” said Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff. He said that one of the lessons already learned from the war in Ukraine is that electronic attack and defense is a fundamental requirement. Wigston confirmed that the first radar trial set will fly next year, with conversion of the RAF’s entire fleet of Tranche 3 Typhoons by the end of the decade. The Tranche 2 aircraft might follow, but will in any case receive the software update.

The RAF plans to retire its Tranche 1 Typhoons by the end of the decade, leaving a fleet of 107 Tranche 2 and 3 jets. Wigston said that those aircraft will continue in service to beyond 2040.


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The U.S. Air Force and Raytheon Missiles & Defense successfully conducted the first AMRAAM® F3R, an AIM-120D3 missile, live-fire test against a target

(Photo: 1st Lt. Lindsey Heflin, U.S. Air Force)


The Form, Fit, Function Refresh is AMRAAM’s latest upgrade

July 18, 2022


An F-15E Strike Eagle equipped with an AIM-120 D3 taxies at Eglin Air Force Base, FL for the first live-fire test of an AMRAAM F3R missile against a target. (Photo: 1st Lt. Lindsey Heflin, U.S. Air Force)


TUCSON, Ariz., (July 18, 2022) — The U.S. Air Force and Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, successfully conducted the first AMRAAM® F3R, an AIM-120D3 missile, live-fire test against a target. The test used production missile hardware developed under the AMRAAM Form, Fit, Function Refresh program, which updates both the missile’s hardware and software.

The AIM-120D3 combines System Improvement Program 3F software updates with F3R hardware, putting tremendous capability against advanced threats into the warfighter’s arsenal.

During the June 30, 2022 test, the missile was fired from an F-15E Strike Eagle and guided toward an aerial target at long range. The primary objective was to prove out sub-system integration to support all phases of guided flight. The test also demonstrated full system integration and performance.

“Our warfighters deserve to have the most advanced technology in the air when they need it,” said Paul Ferraro, president of Air Power at Raytheon Missiles & Defense. “F3R upgrades multiple circuit cards to address obsolescence, enhances the weapon’s capabilities, and extends the production line for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, and our Allied partners.”

The live fire was the first of five planned missile shots in an integrated test series for the AIM-120D3 to qualify the new configuration for production and fielding. These tests incorporate various scenarios and targets to prove out the weapon’s advanced functionality and capabilities. An additional live fire for the Foreign Military Sales AIM-120C8 variant will occur in the near future. These live-fire tests are the culmination of captive flight tests, workup flights, and simulations.

Under the F3R program, engineers used model-based systems engineering initiatives and other digital technologies to upgrade multiple circuit cards and hardware into the guidance section of the missile and to re-host legacy software in the AIM-120D3 and AIM-120C8 AMRAAMs. Over the past year, F3R software was merged with SIP 3F advanced software capabilities to accelerate the fielding of this combined upgrade to the warfighter.



F-15E / F-15X: Details
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In a Deal Valued at Over $200 Million USD: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Signs Contract to Provide Special Mission Aircraft to a European Country

Savvas Savvaidis


Jul 21, 2022

The Special Mission Aircraft, which are developed by IAI and will be supplied to a NATO member country, are used to detect, alert, and collect strategic intelligence information



Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed a contract valued at over $200 million USD to provide Special Mission Aircraft to a country in Europe, which is a NATO member country. The Special Mission Aircraft will be developed by IAI’s Group and subsidiary ELTA Systems Ltd., home to Israel’s radar and intelligence technology and considered a global leader in the field. IAI’s special mission aircraft are active in Israel and in many countries around the world, and provide an important strategic edge.

IAI is one of the few countries in the world that has the ability to develop such unique technologies. The company’s breakthrough in the field of special mission aircraft is made possible due to miniaturized sensor technologies alongside developing algorithms and software applications based on Artificial Intelligence (AI & ML), on the basis of which the highly advanced intelligence systems are integrated on business jets. Prior to this, most special mission aircraft utilized large cargo or commercial aircraft.

Boaz Levy, IAI's President and CEO, said: “Time and time again, IAI continues to prove its ground-breaking capabilities, which have high global demand and worldwide appreciation. This contract, at the center of which are advanced special mission aircraft, is another testament to our unique technologies which are a crucial strategic component to every military utilizing them.”

Yoav Tourgeman, IAI VP and ELTA CEO, said: “The special mission aircraft developed by IAI-ELTA provide our customers with significant advantage and constitute a strategic asset. We are thrilled to win this contract to provide a NATO member country with our advanced technologies. IAI-ELTA continues to achieve major breakthroughs in Special Mission Aircraft capabilities due to ongoing investments in advanced AESA radar technology coupled with Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms. Our ongoing commitment to provide cutting-edge technologies to our customers, with advanced detection and classification capabilities, will enable success even in the most complicated missions.”


IAI-ELTA offers four lines of Special-Mission Aircraft:

  • AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) Aircraft utilizing AESA radar and IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe), SIGINT and Communication systems to generate and disseminate an Air and Maritime Situational Picture. It also contains an Air Battle Management and Strike Aircraft Guidance System. ELTA’s CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) aircraft is fitted with a dual band AESA radar providing complete uncompromised 360° azimuthal coverage and is an example of a leading in the class system based on a business jet. IAI has entered into cooperation agreements with Embraer to develop and market additional AEW&C aircraft variants.
  • AGS (Air to Ground Surveillance) aircraft using advanced AESA SAR/GMTI radar, SIGINT and EO/IR sensors and an Intelligence Management System to cover large areas, providing real- time detection, identification, tracking and distribution of surface targets from standoff range in all weather and visibility conditions. A leading product in this category is the IAI-ELTA MARS2 Multi Mission Aircraft that includes a breakthrough Digital AESA SAR/GMTI radar and latest generation SIGINT integrated with an advanced Multi-INT system, carried by a high performance business jet.
  • MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) equipped with high performance AESA radar, SIGINT and EO/IR sensors to create an up-to-date maritime picture during search-and-rescue missions, maritime patroling, environmental monitoring, Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) in support of Naval and Coast Guard operations. IAI-ELTA’s MPAs are based on business jets and turboprop platforms featuring the IAI-ELTA mission systems that include the world leader combat proven ELM-2022 radar family, serving in many countries on all continents.
  • SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) aircraft monitor the electromagnetic spectrum to detect and accurately locate emitter arrays and communication networks, creating a complete Electromagnetic  Order of Battle over the entire large arena of interest. IAI-ELTA has developed and provided the most advanced SIGINT aircraft to the IDF on business jet platforms and supplied airborne SIGINT systems to many Special Mission Aircraft worldwide. 


CAEW Conformal Airborne Early Warning Aircraft – G550 airframe: Details
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Friday, 22 July 2022

Lockheed Martin Offering Defiant, Raider to NATO Countries

Lockheed Martin



by Chris Pocock - July 20, 2022, 5:21 AM

Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky unit plans to offer to NATO countries the SB>1 Defiant and S-97 Raider helicopters it has developed for the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program, the company said at the Farnborough Airshow.

The company has branded its advances for the FVL as X2 Technology. The design includes compound co-axial main rotors, power shift between the main rotor and the propeller, and reverse thrust on the latter. The propeller can also be switched on and off, and both it and the main rotor can reduce speed into a quieter "whisper mode" for greater tactical surprise.

Sikorsky describes the features as “fifth-generation helicopter technology.” When flying against a near-peer threat from an Integrated Air Defense System (IADS), combat helicopters must fly low, fast, and quiet, according to Sikorsky. They must also be survivable if damaged. The Sikorsky offerings can increase speed without changing attitude; the power shift enables higher speeds and hover nose-down capability to aim sensors and weapons without changing position.

The Defiant is aimed at the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft requirement. The Raider is designed for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft requirement.



S-97 Raider: Details

#us #nato #sb1defiant #s97raider #helicopter
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Thursday, 21 July 2022

Russia is working to build a successor for the Antonov An-124 Ruslan

Гарик Шишкин


Russia is working to build a successor for the Antonov An-124 Ruslan

Wind tunnel testing is expected later in 2022.

By  Ameya Paleja

Jul 15, 2022  


The An-124 in flight - MD Shaifuzzaman Ayon/Wikimedia Commons


Researchers at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute in Russia (TsAGI) are working to improve the aerodynamic layout of a successor to the An-124 cargo plane, an organizational press release said. The heavy transport aircraft has been dubbed the Elephant.

The Antonov An-124 is the world’s second-largest cargo airplane beaten only by the Ukrainian An-225 that was recently destroyed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The An-225 and the An-124 share the same lead designer, while the An-225 used six engines to generate greater lift, as against the four on the An-124.

With an estimated 55 aircraft produced so far, the An-124 is the largest military transport aircraft that is currently in service. Prior to 2014, Russia and Ukraine had plans to work on developing the aircraft together. However, Russian actions in Crimea resulted in the collaboration breaking off and now the country’s aerospace institute is working to develop the successor to an aircraft that was introduced in 1986.

How Russia plans to improve the aircraft

According to the press release, Russia has previously conducted two cycles of research to improve the aerodynamics of the aircraft at different flight speeds with the aim of identifying areas for optimization.

Based on the test results, the researchers have now modified the design to include a fuselage with a larger cross-section enabling the hauling of large cargo, a reduction in the fairings at the wing junction as well as different designs of wing tips.

Another important modification is the improvement of the profile of the nacelles to allow them to accommodate the PD-35 engines, the high bypass turbofan design that also powers the Ilyushin aircraft models.

The researchers aim to make an improved version of the An-124 that is capable of carrying a bulkier load of up to 180 tons as against the 120 tons the current models can carry. Additionally, the improved An-124 is expected to have a range of over 4,300 miles (7,000 km) with a top speed of 528 mph (85 kph).

When will we see it in action?

For now, the researchers are still working on the improvements in the design. The special focus of this project is the wingtips, which can be removed to suit the various configurations of the aircraft being planned. This is being done to study the impact on “aerodynamic quality” during flight, following which the researchers will pick the best option, the press release said.

"The Elephant aircraft is optimized primarily for civilian applications,” said Alexander Krutov, a researcher at the TsAGI. “Thanks to the enlarged fuselage, we will be able to offer customers the transportation of large volumes of cargo over the estimated flight range, and the wing with modified tips will provide high aerodynamic quality."

The aircraft models being developed currently will undergo wind tunnel testing later in 2022.

So, the final aircraft is still some distance away. Do you reckon, we will see the An-225 Mriya flying again before that?

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Wednesday, 20 July 2022

Rafale’s Safran M88 engine passes milestone of one million operating hours

Martyn William's Aircraft


Rafale’s Safran M88 engine passes milestone of one million operating hours | Safran

JULY 13, 2022

July 13, 2022, Evry-Corbeil, France – The M88 engine that powers Dassault Aviation’s multirole fighter has clocked up more than one million operating hours[1]. This major milestone is a testament to the operational excellence of the engine, which has been in service for more than two decades. More than 600 engines have been delivered since it was rolled out. The M88 entered service with the French armed forces in 2004 to power the Rafales used by the French Army and Navy.

Designed, developed and produced entirely by Safran Aircraft Engines, the M88 engine has delivered the highest standards of performance and reliability, especially within the scope of external operations conducted by the French Army. Its outstanding capabilities have contributed to the large number of orders for the Rafale, France’s military aircraft flagship and an emblem of our national sovereignty. To date, 284 aircraft have been sold to seven export customers: Egypt, Qatar, India, Greece, Croatia, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Safran Aircraft Engines CEO Jean-Paul Alary said, “Thanks to world-class performance, reliability and maintainability, the M88 is today Europe’s most successful fighter engine.  However, our mission doesn’t stop here. We must continue to expand our production capacity to meet export demand, and at the same time work on upgrades to bring customers the benefits of the latest operational standards.”

To keep pace with orders, Safran Aircraft Engines will increase production rates three-fold in the next few years. This is an unprecedented industrial challenge, with more than 150 suppliers contributing to the military engine program, most of which are based in France. It will help safeguard thousands of jobs, as well as French expertise and technology.

“The M88 program is highly strategic in terms of maintaining skills not just for us but for the entire French aerospace industry,” added Jean-Paul Alary. “It's partly thanks to our experience in military engines, for which we develop the hot section, among other things, that we’ve earned global recognition as a complete engine-maker.”

Safran Aircraft Engines is currently working on the F4 Standard of the M88, which will power the Rafale fleet deployed by France and the United Arab Emirates. This upgrade, slated to be rolled out in 2025, will provide even more onboard electronics for storing the growing volume of data required for integrated predictive maintenance.

[1] M88 flight hours, including time spent taxiing and performing pre-flight checks.

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France will not replace used Rafales sold to Greece, Croatia

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The livery of our new Wedgetail AEW Mk1 (E-7) aircraft has been revealed

David Cook


RAF ISTAR on Twitter: "The livery of our new Wedgetail AEW Mk1 (E-7) aircraft has been revealed @airtattoo. It includes the 8 Sqn badge on the tail fin and a NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (@NATOAWACS) shield on the nose #securingtheskies #WeAreNATO #RIAT2022 https://t.co/e33qn0EZGT" / Twitter: 



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