SEPTEMBER 2019 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Aviation Defense Industry


Successful test flight for Tellumat ASTUS UAV

South African provider of defence and security technology provider Tellumat successfully completed flight trials with its ASTUS unmanned aerial system (UAS).

General Atomics to demonstrate Agile Condor capability for US Air Force

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to demonstrate the Air Force Research Lab’s “Agile Condor” capability using a MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) owned by GA-ASI. Agile Condor is a high-performance computing architecture that will be used to demonstrate artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.

New secure communication system tested for Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet

The newest version of Russia’s combined system of communications, data exchange, navigation and identification (OSNOD) with enhanced encryption protection and anti-jamming features is now being tested for Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation multirole fighter jet.

HENSOLDT develops mission computer for Airbus Helicopters

HENSOLDT has been commissioned by Airbus Helicopters to provide the EuroGrid Tactical Mission Computer (ETMC) for helicopters with new functions. The two-year further development contract includes a guarantee for the acquisition of 200 production units in the subsequent years.

Be-12 amphibian to lay self-learning minefields

Upgraded Be-12 amphibious aircraft will carry self-learning minefields. The flying boat can drop them in any part of the sea and artificial intellect will set up a minefield. The high-tech munitions can identify warships, submarines and even low-flying helicopters by the sound, magnetic field and acoustic portrait. The new weapon considerably increases the capabilities of the Russian Navy, the Izvestia daily writes.

Raytheon's F-35 precision landing system can be set up anywhere in less than 1.5 hours

 A Raytheon Company team recently conducted a rapid set up demonstration of a land-based expeditionary version of its Joint Precision Approach and Landing System to a group of global military officials at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD. JPALS is a GPS-based precision landing system that guides aircraft to precision landings in all weather and surfaces conditions. 

MBDA offers insight into ongoing results of Team Tempest work

At DSEI 2019 MBDA showed an insight into some of its ongoing work as the coordinator of effects within Team Tempest, further highlighting the benefits of this new approach to designing a future combat air system.

MDHI awarded CLS & training contract to support Kenyan MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Fleet

D Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) is proud to announce it has been awarded a Firm Fixed-Price contract for the provision of Contractor Logistics Support (CLS), Contractor Field Service Representatives (CFSR), and both CONUS and OCONUS training. The contract – issued through Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal on behalf of the Multinational Aviation Special Project Office (MASPO) – will provide support for the six (6) MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters ordered for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) via MD Helicopters’ 5-year $1.4B IDIQ Contract.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Project Riot demonstrates multi-domain operations

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Air Force successfully connected an F-35, U-2 and a multi-domain ground station in a ground-breaking test demonstrating multi-domain operations and the secure distribution of sensitive information across multiple platforms.

Elbit Systems to supply mission critical products, Vital Training Systems to Boeing’s T-X Aircraft

Elbit Systems of America will supply a number of products – including cockpit displays, datalinks and embedded training capabilities – to Boeing’s T-X advanced pilot training aircraft for the United States Air Force.

Schiebel Camcopter S-100 completes succesful flight trials in Finland

After chosen for one of the companies for test trials by the Border and Coast Guard Division of the Finnish Border Guard, Schiebel’s proven CAMCOPTER S-100 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Air System (UAS) performed a five-day maritime surveillance demonstration aboard Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Turva.

Raytheon unveils Peregrine advanced air-to-air missile

Raytheon Company is developing a new medium-range, air-launched weapon called the Peregrine missile that is half the size and cost of today's air-to-air missiles, yet delivers greater range and effect.

B-21 bomber manufacturing and testing locations

Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan announced Sept. 16 that the B-21 Raider is being produced in Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California, facility - the same location as the B-2 Spirit. In addition, the 420th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California, will be reactivated to support testing of the B-21 Raider, as it did for the B-2.

US Air Force announces newest trainer aircraft: T-7A Red Hawk

The US Air Force’s all-new advanced trainer aircraft, the T-X, has officially been named the T-7A Red Hawk.

UK: £100m boost for cutting-edge Protector aircraft

The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth approximately £100 million to test the performance of the UK’s ground-breaking Protector aircraft.

Yates Electrospace Corporation unveils Silent Arrow 1-Ton Cargo UAV

Yates Electrospace Corporation (YEC), world leaders in heavy payload, unmanned cargo delivery solutions, announced the unveiling of the Silent Arrow GD-2000 cargo delivery drone at the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) show in London.

BAE Systems to collaborate with Prismatic

BAE Systems have reached an agreement to acquire British SME, Prismatic Ltd, as the companies work to further develop the UAV technology.

Royal Air Force selects Leonardo for counter-drone research programme

At the DSEI 2019 exhibition, Leonardo has announced that it has been selected by the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) to support the next stage of their research and development programme. The study will explore the current threat posed by hostile drones and how this is likely to evolve in future, as well as evaluating a range of technologies that could form a future RAF counter-drone capability. The programme is expected to last three years and will commence in early 2020.

UK and Italian industry to partner on Tempest

At DSEI, leading UK defence companies (BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, Rolls Royce and MBDA UK), together with key Italian Industry players (Leonardo Italy, Elettronica, Avio Aero and MBDA Italy) announced their intent to partner on the Tempest programme by signing a Statement of Intent (“SOI”). This will see the parties work together to define an innovative concept and partnership model which will include knowledge sharing, product definition and technology development for the joint development of future combat air systems.

AERALIS signs Memorandum of Understanding with KBR

AERALIS, the British company developing a new class of military and aerobatic jet trainer aircraft, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KBR, Inc.

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