NOVEMBER 2021 news

Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry


 

Affinity awarded $88 Million contract for operating additional training aircraft for the Royal Air Force

Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that Affinity Flying Training Services Ltd., its UK joint venture with Kellog, Brown and Root Ltd., was awarded an approximately $88 million (approximately £65 million) contract from the UK Ministry of Defence for the operation of four additional Texan T-6C aircraft for the UK Military Flying Training System (“UKMFTS”) program.

DARPA Gremlins Program demonstrates airborne recovery

An unmanned air vehicle demonstrated successful airborne recovery during the DARPA Gremlins program’s latest flight test deployment last month. During the deployment, two X-61 Gremlin Air Vehicles (GAV) successfully validated all autonomous formation flying positions and safety features before one GAV ultimately demonstrated airborne recovery to a C-130.

100th deployment worldwide of Thales Ground Master family of radar for protection of national airspace

Thales delivered its 100th radar from the Ground Master family - a Ground Master 400 (GM400) to Morocco end July 2021, under a contract signed in 2019 with the Royal Moroccan Air Force (in addition to a previous order placed in 2013).

Russia to develop Termit helicopter drone by yearend

Work to develop a reconnaissance/strike helicopter drone designated as Termit will be completed by the end of 2021, head of the special design bureau of the Strela Research and Production Enterprise (part of the Kronstadt Group) Boris Trunov told RT.

US Army Yuma Proving Ground supports advanced aviation testing during PC 21

Project Convergence, the Army’s campaign of learning, has returned to U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) to test a vast and astonishing array of new technology.

Australian Army aviation capability bolstered with leased Leonardo AW139 helicopters

Australian Army’s aviation capability has been enhanced with two Leonardo AW139 helicopters joining the 5th Aviation Regiment in Townsville.

Collins Aerospace leads multi-domain operation demonstration of open systems for US military

Collins Aerospace – in collaboration with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Parry Labs, Tektonux and Palantir Technologies – successfully conducted a multi-domain operation (MDO) demonstration at the recent Open Group FACE and SOSA Consortia Technical Interchange Meeting to highlight the benefits of an open systems architecture.

Northrop Grumman receives $109M contract modification to continue South Korea RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS support

The US Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $108.8 million contract modification to continue logistics support of RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems for South Korea.

US approves possible foreign military sale of AIM-120C AMRAAM to Saudi Arabia

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $650 million. 

IAI signs agreement of cooperation on UAVs with Romanian defense company IAR-Brasov

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed an agreement of cooperation with Romanian defense company IAR-Brasov on UAVs. The cooperation agreement, will enable the two companies to offer advanced UAVs solutions, based on IAI’s Tactical Heron, in Romania. Based on the agreement the UAV systems will be manufactured in Brasov, Romania. Furthermore, IAI will establish in Romania an academy to train the system operators and technicians for the UAV systems.

Korea Aerospace Industries signs MoU with Slovakia for FA-50 Fighting Eagle

The Korean State procurement agency the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), announced that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) had been signed between KAI and the State-Owned Slovak aircraft maintenance firm, LOTN.  The Slovak-South Korea agreement was signed in Budapest, Hungary by South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Kang Eun-ho.

UK: £110 million upgrade for Royal Air Force Shadow fleet

Following a boost of £110 million, the Royal Air Force (RAF)’s Shadow surveillance aircraft fleet will be increased and upgraded with the latest defensive technology, supporting 150 highly-skilled jobs in Wales.

Boeing Loyal Wingman advances flight testing

Boeing Australia has expanded its flight-test program of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System, with two aircraft successfully completing separate flight missions at the Woomera Range Complex recently.

Ascent AeroSystems and Autonodyne partner to deliver next-generation UAV autonomy

Ascent AeroSystems and Autonodyne have collaborated to create the next generation of comprehensive autonomous drone solutions. Both industry leaders were recently announced as finalists for the AUVSI 2021 XCELLENCE Awards - Ascent AeroSystems for Hardware and Systems Design and Autonodyne for Software Design and Coding. The partnership will usher in a new era of autonomous functionality for mission-critical UAVs.

AeroVironment demonstrates first-ever Switchblade loitering missile integration for air launched effects from JUMP 20 Medium UAS

AeroVironment, Inc. announced the successful demonstration of integrating Switchblade 300 loitering missiles and JUMP 20 medium unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for increased mission autonomy and efficacy. This Air Launched Effects (ALE) proof-of-concept demonstration took place in August 2021 with the goal of launching an inert Switchblade 300 from the JUMP 20 and successfully recovering both air vehicles.

Russian Helicopters overhauled six Mi-17-1Vs of the Peruvian Air Force

The Russian Helicopters holding of the Rostec State Corporation has over two years carried out a major overhaul of six Mi-17-1V military transport helicopters at the Peruvian Air Force SEMAN base in Lima.

US Air Force Hurricane Hunters testing new SATCOM capabilities

For the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters, stationed at Keesler Air Force Base, the ability to transmit data in flight is tantamount to mission success.

Russia uses Technodinamika unmanned helicopters to simulate air targets during Slavic Shield-2021

Unmanned helicopters of the Technodinamika holding, which have no analogues in Russia, were used for the first time to simulate an air raid of a simulated enemy during the Russian-Serbian exercises Slavic Shield-2021. The drones served as targets for the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and gun systems.

Sierra Nevada Corporation delivers two additional fully integrated EMARSS aircraft to US Army

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the global aerospace and national security company owned by Eren and Fatih Ozmen, recently delivered two more fully integrated Mission Enhancement Kit (MEK) aircraft in support of the U.S. Army’s surveillance operation. SNC’s MEK adds enhanced mission capabilities to the Army’s Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) fleet.

Area-I unveils the ALTIUS 700 Air Launched Effects

On November 2, Area-I and Anduril announced a significant advancement in Air Launched Effects (ALE) technology with the launch of the ALTIUS 700.

Page 5 of 6