An-70 propfan tactical transport aircraft
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Unmanned Aircraft Market Heading for New Heights
08:44 GMT, September 26, 2012 NEWTOWN, Conn. | According to Forecast International’s senior unmanned vehicles analyst, Larry Dickerson, the world’s appetite for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) appears insatiable. “Just when you think the UAS market cannot go any higher, it does,” he said. “No matter how many systems are built, operators want more.”
The UAS market has seen unprecedented growth since 2001, with current projected value over the next 10 years estimated at $70.9 billion, according to Forecast International.
“Million-dollar UAS contracts used to be big news,” Dickerson said. “Awards are now in the billions and climbing.” He notes that sales are growing in Asia even as purchases by the United States have slowed. Still, the U.S. will spend some $13.7 billion on UAS procurement and $11.6 billion for research programs through 2021.
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Training for Consulate Attacks, in Case There’s a Next Time
Luke Sharrett for The New York Times
Fleet Antiterrorism Security
Team Marines trained for close-quarters combat this week in Virginia.
They are a rapid-reaction force capable of quickly protecting an
embassy. More Photos »
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The “riot” erupted suddenly on the Virginia-North Carolina border in a remote pocket of marshland and pine. “Go back to America!” the protesters shouted, hurling rubber rocks at a large plywood structure meant to be a United States consulate. “We don’t want you here! This is our country!”
Two dozen Marines in full riot gear marched out in formation, beat their batons against their shields and otherwise looked menacing. Within minutes they had pushed back the protesters — fellow Marines in jeans and hooded sweatshirts — in a display of crowd control skills. “It can be a long day if you’re a rioter,” said Staff Sgt. William M. Loushin, the instructor who staged the riot. “Once you actually start getting aggressive against a Marine, it never ends well.”
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NATO Official: Slow Progress on Missile Defense Cooperation with Russia
BRUSSELS — NATO’s deputy secretary general, Ambassador Alexander
Vershbow, admitted Thursday at a Security and Defence Agenda event at
the European Parliament that “not much progress” had been made in terms
of cooperating with Russia on missile defense.
He said that Russian objections to the missile defense system are not grounded on facts, but cooperation “could be a game changer in relations with Russia.”
“We will continue to seek closer cooperation with Russia,” he said. However, he warned that, “irrespective of progress, we will push ahead with missile defense capability as planned.”
Bob Bell, who is the defense adviser to the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said that as of May, the system has what he called “operationally significant capability,” meaning it is in place and can function, but is short of “initial operating capability,” which means it can actually be deployed.
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He said that Russian objections to the missile defense system are not grounded on facts, but cooperation “could be a game changer in relations with Russia.”
“We will continue to seek closer cooperation with Russia,” he said. However, he warned that, “irrespective of progress, we will push ahead with missile defense capability as planned.”
Bob Bell, who is the defense adviser to the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said that as of May, the system has what he called “operationally significant capability,” meaning it is in place and can function, but is short of “initial operating capability,” which means it can actually be deployed.
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The next wave in US robotic war: drones on their own
The US military's current fleet of drones will soon be overtaken by a
new wave of robots that will be faster, stealthier and smarter --
operating virtually without human intervention, experts say.
The Pentagon is investing heavily in "autonomy" for robotic weapons, with researchers anticipating squadrons of drones in the air, land or sea that would work in tandem with manned machines -- often with a minimum of supervision.
"Before they were blind, deaf and dumb. Now we're beginning to make them to see, hear and sense," Mark Maybury, chief scientist for the US Air Force, told AFP.
Unmanned aircraft are now overseen by "pilots" on the ground but as the drones become more sophisticated, the role of remote operators will be more hands-off.
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The Pentagon is investing heavily in "autonomy" for robotic weapons, with researchers anticipating squadrons of drones in the air, land or sea that would work in tandem with manned machines -- often with a minimum of supervision.
"Before they were blind, deaf and dumb. Now we're beginning to make them to see, hear and sense," Mark Maybury, chief scientist for the US Air Force, told AFP.
Unmanned aircraft are now overseen by "pilots" on the ground but as the drones become more sophisticated, the role of remote operators will be more hands-off.
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General Dynamics Awarded $395 Million to Begin Development for Abrams Modernization
07:56 GMT, September 28, 2012 STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. | The U.S. Army TACOM Contracting Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, an eight-year, $395 million contract for research, development and testing in preparation for the Abrams main battle tank Engineering Change Proposal 1 (ECP1) production. The contract has an initial value of $80 million over 12 months. There is no tank production work associated with this award.
The Abrams ECP1 program is an engineering-development effort focused on integrating a group of system improvements into a single upgrade program for the M1A2SEPv2 baseline tank. The objective of this research-and-development effort is to prepare the Abrams tank to accept additional Army-directed requirements in the future without impacting current vehicle performance. The Army plans to begin low rate initial production of tanks with ECP1 upgrades in 2017.
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Iran unveils the new home-made 14.5mm Sniper rifle Shaher at Research Center of Iranian Army
The
new sniper rifle Shaher 14.5mm caliber is unveiled to the Commander of
the Iranian Army's Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan
at the Research
and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the Iranian Army.The Iranian Army Ground Force on Saturday, September 29, 2012 unveiled a new sniper rifle 14.5mm caliber called Shaher during a ceremony at the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the Iranian Army.
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Army suicides down in August
WASHINGTON — Army officials saw a drop in suicide cases in August, but remain on pace for another grim record this year.
Army officials said 25 soldiers – 16 of them active-duty troops – are believed to have killed themselves last month. That’s down from July, when the figure hit an all-time high of 38 suicides among the active and reserve forces.
For the year, the Army has already seen 131 potential active-duty suicide cases and another 80 guardsmen and reservists believed to have taken their own lives. That puts the service on pace to surpass 2010 – the deadliest year for suicides in the service – when 305 servicemembers killed themselves.
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Army officials said 25 soldiers – 16 of them active-duty troops – are believed to have killed themselves last month. That’s down from July, when the figure hit an all-time high of 38 suicides among the active and reserve forces.
For the year, the Army has already seen 131 potential active-duty suicide cases and another 80 guardsmen and reservists believed to have taken their own lives. That puts the service on pace to surpass 2010 – the deadliest year for suicides in the service – when 305 servicemembers killed themselves.
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About That Red Team Report…
The report was one of many Red Team reports chartered by me, and by the U.S. ambassadors and me, to provide us alternative views and to cause the U.S. civilian and military leadership in Iraq to come to grips with the difficult issues confronting the mission. These reports were one of many inputs the ambassador and I used to build our understanding of the environment and to shape our guidance to the U.S. Mission and Multinational Force. We used this particular report to help us shape a December 2005 joint statement of our mission for 2006, and to prepare a joint campaign plan that we issued in April 2006. We also used it as the impetus to implement a joint planning and assessment process that significantly improved our ability to integrate our efforts in 2006 and beyond. The idea that it was "ignored by generals" is not true. I didn't agree with all of it, but I did not ignore it.
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Iranian Army Research Center presents the new Neinava 4x4 light tactical truck vehicle
The new Iranian-made Neinava 4x4 light tactical vehicle.
Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan unveiled the new Neinava 4x4 light tactical vehicle in a ceremony at the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the Iranian Army, Saturday, September 29, 2012.
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Colombia is Second in World for Land Mine Victims, Behind Afghanistan
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403962 01: A Colombian soldier searches for possible land mines left by the FARC, The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, after the group dynamited an energy tower owned by the state operated national energy distribution network, ISA, April 15, 2002 in Saravena, Colombia. The companys energy towers have been attacked repeatedly this year by the guerrilla group in a war against state-owned infrastructure leaving entire states without energy, sometimes for weeks. (Photo by Carlos Villalon/Getty Images)
Six children are the latest victims of Colombia’s ongoing land
mine crisis, as a 3-year old was killed and five others wounded
following an explosion in the central-western department of Tolima.
This recent incident has helped the Andean nation reach what Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzón called the "dishonorable figure" of 10,001 landmine victims, making it the second most affected country in the world
in terms of land mine incidents after war-torn Afghanistan.
"Girls, boys, teens, women, indigenous, farmers, workers, soldiers, police and heroes of the country have sacrificed their lives for the freedom and security of the Colombians. We want a Colombia without more victims of anti-personnel mines and free of these artifacts," Garzón said, according to Colombia’s Radio Caracol.
This recent incident has helped the Andean nation reach what Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzón called the "dishonorable figure" of 10,001 landmine victims, making it the second most affected country in the world
in terms of land mine incidents after war-torn Afghanistan."Girls, boys, teens, women, indigenous, farmers, workers, soldiers, police and heroes of the country have sacrificed their lives for the freedom and security of the Colombians. We want a Colombia without more victims of anti-personnel mines and free of these artifacts," Garzón said, according to Colombia’s Radio Caracol
.Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/09/26/colombia-second-in-world-for-landmine-victims-behind-afghanistan/#ixzz27xf8jZ53
U.S., Gulf countries seek to advance missile defense plan
NEW YORK |
(Reuters) - The United States and its Gulf partners are looking to deepen cooperation on missile defense as tensions rise with Iran, and announcements could come soon on new purchases, U.S. officials said on Friday.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) officials in New York as Washington seeks to boost regional defenses against perceived Iranian threats.
"Our aim is to help our Gulf partners with their defense needs ... there is a missile threat that they face, we want to help them face that threat as best they can," one senior U.S. official said, previewing the meeting for reporters.
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United States Army second Forward Operational Assessment for XM25 airburst weapon system.
XM25 Individual Semi-Automatic Airburst Weapon System at DSEI 2011 defense exhibition in London, United Kingdom.
The U.S. Army is preparing to conduct a second Forward Operational Assessment of its XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement airburst weapon system. Program managers are seeking to expedite development of the system, refine and improve the technology, and ultimately begin formal production by the fall of 2014, service officials said during a roundtable, Sept. 20, at Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Ga.
By Kris Osborn (United States Army website)
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China cyberspies suspected in new caper: what has experts worried
A China-based cyberespionage gang has been linked to the infiltration of networks belonging to Telvent Canada,
a major industrial control system company, in a case that some experts
warn could facilitate creation of a dangerous cyberweapon.
The cyberspies, thought to be from a gang that security researchers call the "Comment Group" or sometimes the "Shanghai group," slipped past a corporate firewall, installing malicious software on the network – then snatched project files related to one of Telvent's major software products, according to KrebsOnSecurity, a cybersecurity blog that first reported the breach Wednesday.
As cyberespionage hacks that become public go – Google created a furor when it said it had been hacked by Chinese cyber spies in early 2010 and at least some of its vital source code had been stolen – it's been a relatively low-key news event so far.
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The cyberspies, thought to be from a gang that security researchers call the "Comment Group" or sometimes the "Shanghai group," slipped past a corporate firewall, installing malicious software on the network – then snatched project files related to one of Telvent's major software products, according to KrebsOnSecurity, a cybersecurity blog that first reported the breach Wednesday.
As cyberespionage hacks that become public go – Google created a furor when it said it had been hacked by Chinese cyber spies in early 2010 and at least some of its vital source code had been stolen – it's been a relatively low-key news event so far.
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EXCLUSIVE: Senior al Qaeda figure 'living in Libyan capital'
Image of al-Libi from the FBI poster seeking information to help in his capture
A veteran al Qaeda operative indicted in connection with the bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa is alive and well in Libya, according to Western intelligence sources.
One Libyan official told CNN he didn't know whether al Libi was back in Tripoli but was aware that he had been in Afghanistan.
Counterterrorism analysts tell CNN that al Libi may not have been apprehended because of the delicate security situation in much of Libya, where former jihadists - especially those who once belonged to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group - hold considerable sway. He is wanted in the United States, but there is no extradition treaty between the U.S. and Libya.
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Russian Armed Forces tested new Future Soldier equipment Ratnik during Caucasus-2012
FELIN Future soldier equipment was presented at Moscow Air Show MAKS 2009.
The Russian Armed Forces were testing a high-tech equipment designed for future soldiers named Ratnik (Warrior), Russia 's Defense Ministry. A Russian "soldier of the future" would be equipped with devices to withstand unfriendly environments, weapons of mass destruction, non-lethal weapons and other items, ministry spokesman Nikolai Donyushkin said.
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Saturday, September 29, 2012
Ariane rocket launches two telecom satellites
 |
An Ariane 5
rocket carrying two satellites, ASTRA 2F and GSAT-10, successfully put
its payload into orbit late Friday, European operator Arianespace
announced.
The fifth such launch of the Ariane 5 this year, the rocket took off at 6:18 pm (2118 GMT) from Kourou, in French Guiana. Arianespace broadcast the launch online.
"We are continuing our series of records with this 51st success in a row," said Arianespace chief executive Jean-Yves Le Gall.
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The fifth such launch of the Ariane 5 this year, the rocket took off at 6:18 pm (2118 GMT) from Kourou, in French Guiana. Arianespace broadcast the launch online.
"We are continuing our series of records with this 51st success in a row," said Arianespace chief executive Jean-Yves Le Gall.
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Australian hypersonic test a success
Australian military scientists successfully completed another test
flight of an experimental hypersonic vehicle, this time at the Andoya
Rocket Range in Norway.
A test vehicle reached an apogee of nearly 218 miles and then achieved speeds of up to Mach 8 -- about 6,100 mph -- on descent.
The two-stage vehicle performed its nominal, sub-orbital space flight powered by a VS-30/Orion rocket, a Brazilian sounding, or research, rocket consisting of one Sonda stage and one U.S.-built Orion stage.
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A test vehicle reached an apogee of nearly 218 miles and then achieved speeds of up to Mach 8 -- about 6,100 mph -- on descent.
The two-stage vehicle performed its nominal, sub-orbital space flight powered by a VS-30/Orion rocket, a Brazilian sounding, or research, rocket consisting of one Sonda stage and one U.S.-built Orion stage.
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Germany Says EADS-BAE Merger Talks Need More Time
NICOSIA — Talks on a tie-up between aerospace groups EADS and BAE
Systems looked set for extra time Sept. 27, after German Defense
Minister Thomas de Maiziere and another source said negotiations had
some way to go.
“I think we need more time,” de Maiziere told journalists in Nicosia after meeting the day before with his British and French counterparts to discuss the proposal, which would create a giant to rival the U.S. group Boeing.
A source close to the talks told AFP that it looked as though British arms maker BAE Systems and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company would ask Britain’s stock market regulator to extend its Oct. 10 deadline.
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“I think we need more time,” de Maiziere told journalists in Nicosia after meeting the day before with his British and French counterparts to discuss the proposal, which would create a giant to rival the U.S. group Boeing.
A source close to the talks told AFP that it looked as though British arms maker BAE Systems and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company would ask Britain’s stock market regulator to extend its Oct. 10 deadline.
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Israel Disappointed at Argentina Talks With Iran
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Israel said on Friday it was greatly
disappointed by Argentina's decision to meet Iranian officials to
discuss the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish community center that
Argentine courts accuse Tehran of sponsoring.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez ordered her foreign minister to accept Iran's request for talks in New York this week, marking a sharp change in diplomatic policy and drawing criticism from Jewish leaders in Buenos Aires.
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Argentine President Cristina Fernandez ordered her foreign minister to accept Iran's request for talks in New York this week, marking a sharp change in diplomatic policy and drawing criticism from Jewish leaders in Buenos Aires.
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US, Egypt to begin joint naval war games
Talks are under way between senior Navy officials and their
counterparts in Cairo to begin conducting joint war games for the first
time since Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi took power earlier this
year.
While bilateral discussions on the naval drills are still being discussed, the exercises would focus on improving Egypt's ability to deal with small boat attacks and general patrol operations of its coastal waters, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert told reporters Thursday.
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While bilateral discussions on the naval drills are still being discussed, the exercises would focus on improving Egypt's ability to deal with small boat attacks and general patrol operations of its coastal waters, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert told reporters Thursday.
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Romney hopeful military action isn't needed in Iran
ABOARD THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN PLANE-- Mitt Romney said Friday
following a conversation with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that he was
hopeful that the U.S. wouldn't have to use military force to halt Iran's
progress toward nuclear weapons.
The Republican presidential nominee told reporters traveling with him that he thought a peaceful resolution in Iran was still within reach, though Romney cautioned that it was important to leave open the option to use military force.
"I do not believe that in the final analysis we will have to use military action," Romney told reporters traveling with him from Philadelphia to Boston. " I certainly hope we don’t have to."
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The Republican presidential nominee told reporters traveling with him that he thought a peaceful resolution in Iran was still within reach, though Romney cautioned that it was important to leave open the option to use military force.
"I do not believe that in the final analysis we will have to use military action," Romney told reporters traveling with him from Philadelphia to Boston. " I certainly hope we don’t have to."
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Flying From Russian Mistrals
September 29, 2012: Russia announced that they would place 30 Ka-52K and Ka-29 helicopters on each of their four Mistral amphibious ships. Two of these new ships are being bought from France while another two will be built in Russia. Each 21,500 ton Mistral normally carries 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 troops. Russia will assign 30 helicopters to each Mistral, but only 16 will be on the ship at a time. The rest will be used for training and replacements.
The Ka-52K is a navalized version of the Ka-52 that went into production this year. In addition to being equipped with coatings to resist sea water corrosion, the K model will also have a lightweight version of the high-definition Zhuk-AE AESA radar used on jet fighters. This radar currently weighs 275 kg (605 pounds), but the helicopter version will weigh only 80 kg (176 pounds) and enables the Kh-52K to use the Kh-31 anti-ship missile. This weapon has a range of 110 kilometers and travels at high speed (about one kilometer a second.) The Kh-52K can also carry the sub-sonic Kh-31 missile, which has a range of 130 kilometers. Both of these missiles weigh about 600 kg (1,300 pounds) each.
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Clearing Syrian WMDs Means 75K Troops and Massive Air Strikes
A sailor from the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, adjusts his Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear during a simulated chemical agent attack during a field training exercise in 2008. U.S. Navy Photo
In July, Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Mullalem declared that Syria’s stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons would go unused in its civil war – unless a foreign power chose to intervene . The threat constituted a rare confirmation of the regime’s unconventional arsenal . The declaration raised serious concerns about U.S. policies in the event the regime did use its chemical or biological weapons. President Obama stated this would constitute a “red line” with “enormous consequences” that would alter calculations for military actions.
Given the various risks concerned with the proliferation or use of unconventional weapons, particularly chemical weapons, understanding the scope and requirements of potential military missions is essential. The first major consideration is whether U.S. and potential allied military strikes would focus on destroying, deterring, or securing Syrian weapons stocks. While a deterrent threat can be made without any military deployment, destroying Syrian weapons of mass destruction (WMD) would require airstrikes and special operations teams. A mission to secure Syria’s WMDs would likely be the most costly and dangerous of all, as it would likely involve tens of thousands of foreign ground troops, perhaps as many as 75,000, according to at least one press report.
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Congress told IEDs will remain ‘weapon of choice’ for decades
Improvised explosive devices and the networks that use these asymmetric weapons, will remain an enduring threat to U.S. forces and the nation for decades to come, the Defense Department’s top counter-IED official told lawmakers, Sept. 20.
“The IED (improvised explosive device) is the weapon of choice for threat networks because they are cheap, made from readily available off-the-shelf components, easy to construct, lethal and accurate,” said Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero, Joint IED Defeat Organization, or JIEDDO, director, during testimony to the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on Defense Thursday
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Obama blocks Chinese wind farms purchase near Navy base
EA-18G Growlers like this one are tested at
the Navy base in Oregon near where a Chinese firm intended to buy
wind turbine farms.
WASHINGTON — Citing
national security risks, President Barack Obama on Friday blocked a
Chinese company from owning four wind farm projects in northern Oregon
near a Navy base where the U.S. military flies unmanned drones and
electronic-warfare planes on training missions.
It was the first time in 22 years that a U.S. president has blocked such a foreign business deal.Obama's decision was likely to be another irritant in the increasingly tense economic relationship between the U.S. and China. It also comes against an election-year backdrop of intense criticism from Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney, who accuses Obama of not being tough enough with China.
In his decision, Obama ordered Ralls Corp., a company owned by Chinese nationals, to divest its interest in the wind farms it purchased earlier this year near the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Ore.
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Friday, September 28, 2012
China Denies Second Aircraft Carrier Reports
China's first aircraft carrier Liaoning
China is not building a second aircraft carrier, Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said on Thursday.
Western media reports this week said China is building a second carrier in Shanghai and it will be launched late this year.
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AP IMPACT: Air Force insiders foresaw F-22 woes
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan
(AP) — Years before F-22 pilots began getting dizzy in the cockpit,
before one struggled to breathe as he tried to pull out of a fatal
crash, before two more went on television to say the plane was so unsafe
they refused to fly it, a small circle of U.S. Air Force experts knew
something was wrong with the prized stealth fighter jet.
Coughing
among pilots and fears that contaminants were leaking into their
breathing apparatus led the experts to suspect flaws in the
oxygen-supply system of the F-22 Raptor, especially in the extreme
high-altitude conditions in which the $190 million aircraft is without
equal. They formed a working group a decade ago to examine the problem,
creating an informal but unique brain trust.Read More......................
China cyberspies suspected in new caper: what has experts worried
A China-based cyberespionage gang has been linked to the infiltration of networks belonging to Telvent Canada,
a major industrial control system company, in a case that some experts
warn could facilitate creation of a dangerous cyberweapon.
The cyberspies, thought to be from a gang that security researchers call the "Comment Group" or sometimes the "Shanghai group," slipped past a corporate firewall, installing malicious software on the network – then snatched project files related to one of Telvent's major software products, according to KrebsOnSecurity, a cybersecurity blog that first reported the breach Wednesday.
Read More.....................
The cyberspies, thought to be from a gang that security researchers call the "Comment Group" or sometimes the "Shanghai group," slipped past a corporate firewall, installing malicious software on the network – then snatched project files related to one of Telvent's major software products, according to KrebsOnSecurity, a cybersecurity blog that first reported the breach Wednesday.
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An-70 Aircraft Conducts Test Flight After 2-year Delay
An upgraded Antonov An-70 propfan tactical transport aircraft carried out a test flight on Thursday after a two-year delay, the company's president Dmytro Kyva announced.
He said the 32-minute flight at Ukraine's Aviasvit-XXI international airshow had been a success, and called this "the main event of the airshow."
Test flights were suspended for two years as the An-70 underwent vital modernization work following a number of technical malfunctions in previous flights.
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Australia Likely To Buy Subs From Japan
The two could collaborate on maritime domain, particularly in terms of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). When the two countries held their first bilateral defense exercises recently they engaged in ASW exercises, something they have also done so with the US in trilateral exercises.
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Yemen To Get UAVs From The U.S.
September 26, 2012
SANAA,
Yemen — Amid a series of controversial U.S. air strikes against
high-level Al-Qaeda officials in the Arabian Peninsula, and renewed
military cooperation with Yemen, officials in Sanaa are now expecting to
get a supply of weaponry from the Pentagon, including four of their own
UAVs.An anonymous Yemeni defense official, who was not authorized to speak with the press, tells Aviation Week that Yemen is receiving four AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven UAVs. The 1.9-kg Raven is equipped with sensors for target acquisition, and infrared cameras capable of displaying persons carrying weapons.
“This type of technology would be very appropriate for Yemen’s frontline military units because it provides real-time intelligence from the battlefield to launch strikes while minimizing troops’ exposure to surprise attacks,” according to Aysh Awas, director of security and strategic studies at Sheba, a think tank here in the Yemeni capital.
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US Navy tests mine-seeking sub during Gulf drills
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The admiral in charge of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet says a prototype mine-detecting drone was put through more tests during military exercises in and around the Persian Gulf this month.
The advanced sonar-equipped Kingfish sub is being evaluated by the Pentagon. Vice Admiral John W. Miller says the sub was used for the first time internationally during the maneuvers of more than 30 nations that wrapped up this week.
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Eye On Speed, Navy Minesweepers Take Cues From NASCAR
The Navy is taking inspiration from NASCAR mechanics shaving seconds off the time their driver spends in pit stops as it searches for improvements to unmanned systems, networks, and processes. The danger driving the Navy onward comes from a new appreciation of the strategic threat.
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Yemeni leader offers conditional dialogue with al Qaeda
SANAA |
(Reuters) - Yemen's president offered dialogue to Islamist militants
including al Qaeda on Wednesday, but said they must agree first to put
down weapons and reject support from abroad.Restoring stability to Yemen has become an international priority given fears that jihadi fighters could entrench themselves in a country and threaten world No. 1 oil exporter Saudi Arabia next door and important world shipping lanes.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and other Sunni Muslim militant groups including Ansar al-Sharia gained ground last year during a popular uprising that forced out veteran autocratic president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had been seen by Washington as its best ally in containing militants.
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Liaoning – Paper Tiger or Growing Cub?
China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is seen docked at
Dalian Port, in Dalian, China, on September 23, 2012. (Courtesy Reuters /
China Daily China Daily Information Corp - CDIC)
Colonel Brian Killough is U.S. Air Force Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
On Tuesday, the People’s Republic of China(PRC) joined 9 other nations—the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, Thailand, Spain, Italy, and Brazil—that have aircraft carriers in their naval arsenal. But what does that mean for nations in the region and how should we assess the long-term implications?
For many regional observers, the announcement hardly ruffles feathers. In fact, some see it as a liability. For example, “The fact is the aircraft carrier is useless for the Chinese Navy,” You Ji, a visiting senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore, said in an interview. He continued, “If it is used against America, it has no survivability. If it is used against China’s neighbors, it’s a sign of bullying.” Chinese leaders are the first to admit the Liaoning is for training purposes only and in fact, China’s air force doesn’t even have aircraft capable of landing on the carrier. Furthermore, carriers are more vulnerable without their protective and supporting battle groups. These battle groups require technology, investment, and training over the course of a decade or more to bring them together as an effective fighting force. Meanwhile, as pointed out above, as a concentration of capabilities, resources, and manpower, a carrier quickly becomes both a high-value asset and a high-value target for adversaries.
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China's buildup raises arms race fears
China's recent commissioning of its first aircraft carrier has further heightened tension amid regional territorial rows and sparked concerns over a possible arms race.
The 67,500-ton Liaoning was put into service Tuesday as nationalist sentiment surged in China following Japan's nationalizing of the disputed islands in the East China Sea and ahead of a once-in-a-decade leadership handover slated for next month.
China's bolstered naval might apparently poses a headache for the US as it is refocusing on the Asia-Pacific, apparently to keep the Asian power in check and protect what it calls the "rule-based" order and freedom of navigation and commerce.
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Thursday, September 27, 2012
Iran unveils 'indigenous' drone with 2,000km range
There are heightened tensions between the West and Iran over its nuclear programme
Iran
has unveiled what it says is a new "indigenous" long-range unmanned
drone capable of flying over most of the Middle East, state media
report.
The Shahed (Witness) 129 had a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles)
and could be equipped with bombs and missiles, the Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps said.It is reportedly capable of carrying out reconnaissance and combat missions.
Last year, the Iranian authorities displayed a US drone which they claimed to have brought down electronically.
The US insisted that Iran neither shot down the the RQ-170 Sentinel nor used electronic warfare or cyber-technology to force it from the sky. They blamed a malfunction.
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Russian Army Test Future Soldier Tech
Russian Army
The Russian Army is testing a future high-tech soldier equipment system and plans to stage exercises with the equipment as part of state trials, Defense Ministry ground forces spokesman Lt. Col. Nikolai Donyushkin said on Wednesday.
"Soldiers have started intensive trials of elements of the equipment, including for riflemen, scouts, mechanic-drivers, as part of military trials exercises. We also intend to carry out unit trials based on these systems," he said.
The equipment, being tested by the 27th motor rifle brigade at the Alabino firing range near Moscow, contains around 40 different elements, Donyushkin said.
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Britain's military drones spending tops £2bn
An UAV is loaded at
Westdown Camp, Wiltshire: the study claims the use of drones raises
moral and ethical questions. Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images
The figures show how the Ministry of Defence has poured money into buying and researching a variety of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) as armed forces chiefs recognise their potential value in modern warfare.
However, the study by the campaign group Drone Wars UK warns that the extensive use of UAVs by the military and their likely employment in the civilian sphere raise moral and ethical questions that should be properly scrutinised and debated.
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Targeted Killing, Pro and Con: What to Make of U.S. Drone Strikes in Pakistan
Ho New/Reuters
A new report, "Living Under Drones," jointly authored by Stanford University and New York University -- and reviewed yesterday by Conor Friedersdorf here at The Atlantic -- is harshly critical of the drone campaign in Pakistan. The report argues that the U.S. narrative of drone strikes -- precise, accurate, and limited -- is false. Citing 130 interviews and a review of media reports, the authors argue that the civilian toll from drone strikes is far higher than acknowledged, that many problems with the drone campaign go unreported, and that more government transparency is essential to gaining a better understanding of the campaign and its consequences.
On that last point, the authors are absolutely right -- more transparency about targeting and effects would help everyone understand the consequences of drone strikes in Pakistan. And there are absolutely serious downsides to these strikes (some of which have been explored here already). But the report then makes some questionable claims based on incomplete data, and seems to argue that the drone campaign should be paused or radically altered. Those arguments are not well supported.
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USAF Seeks Afterlife For F-15s
September 25, 2012
The U.S. Air Force is pushing to more than double the life of its stalwart F-15 Eagles with a series of upgrades.“About two and a half years ago, the U.S. Air Force wanted fatigue tests on C models,” says Brad Jones, F-15 mission systems director for Boeing, which makes the aircraft.
As the F-15 fleet aircraft approached their life expectancies for total flight hours, the Air Force wanted see how far the service could delay fleet retirements, Jones said during a recent briefing with reporters.
The design service life for the aircraft is 8,000 flight hours and the lead-the-fleet aircraft have flown more than 10,000 actual flight hours and counting, Boeing says.
Boeing is now working on full-scale fatigue test certifications to push F-15C/D models to 18,000 equivalent flight hours (EFHs) and F-15E models to 32,000 EHFs. “Structural fatigue improvements in current-production F-15s provide longer life and reduced maintenance requirements,” Boeing says.
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Trident submarine missiles review to suggest 'stepping down nuclear ladder'
HMS Astute, first of
the class of nuclear hunter killer submarine built at Barrow in Furness,
which could carry a cheaper alternative to Trident. Photograph: Andy
Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images
The revelation was made by Sir Nick Harvey, the Liberal Democrat who was the defence minister leading the review until the government reshuffle this month. The MP for North Devon said he believed the policy could get support in Whitehall and from senior military figures and Labour.
Harvey said past policy on Trident had been dictated by the 1980s view that the only deterrent to a nuclear attack from the then Soviet Union was the belief that the UK could "flatten Moscow" in retaliation. This led to the UK building Trident and having at least one armed submarine at sea every hour of every day since.
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UN sees up to 700,000 Syrian refugees by year-end
GENEVA — The UN refugee agency warned Thursday there could be as many as 700,000 Syrian refugees fleeing the war-torn nation by the end of the year as it stepped up its call for emergency funding.
"There may be up to 700,000 Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries by the end of the year," Panos Moumtzsis, the UNHCR's chief coordinator for Syrian refugees, told reporters in Geneva.
"We are running out of time," he added.
Faced with the soaring need for aid after 18 months of brutal conflict in Syria, humanitarian agencies upped their call for funds to $487.9 million (379.2 million euros) to sustain operations until the end of the year.
In June, when the UNHCR first updated its regional response plan, it made plans for 185,000 refugees. Since then the number has tripled, the agency said, with 100,000 people fleeing Syria in August and 60,000 so far in September.
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Three hundred killed in single day in Syria, group says
BEIRUT |
(Reuters) - More than 300 people were killed in Syria
on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, in one of
the bloodiest days in the 18-month uprising against President Bashar
al-Assad.World leaders meeting at the United Nations have expressed concern at the continuing violence in Syria but are deadlocked over their response to the conflict, which the Observatory says has claimed 30,000 lives since March 2011.
The British-based organization, which monitors violence in Syria through a network of activists, said in a report released on Thursday that 55 people were killed in rural areas around Damascus. They included at least 40 who appeared to have been shot in cold blood in the town of al-Dhiyabia, southeast of the capital.
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No Sign of Progress in Japan-China Island Dispute
A bitter territorial dispute between China and Japan showed no signs of improvement Tuesday, as foreign ministers from both countries held high-level talks to ease tensions.
The official Xinhua news agency says Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi "reiterated China's position" on the disputed East China Sea islands during the talks, which were held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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U.S. Navy: 4 Missile Cruisers to Remain in Service
Four cruisers scheduled to leave service because of budget cuts will remain running -- at least for now. One of the four, the Cowpens, launched two Standard SM-2 missiles simultaneously during exercises last week in the Western Pacific. (MC3 Paul Kelly / U.S. Navy)
Four Aegis missile cruisers scheduled to end their active careers in March will instead be kept in service, the U.S. Navy said Sept. 26.
The ships — the Cowpens, Anzio, Vicksburg and Port Royal — were to be decommissioned as part of a budget drawdown.
But three of the four congressional defense committees objected to the cuts, expressing concerns about weakening the fleet.
The Navy, while acknowledging “fiscal and readiness implications” in keeping the ships in service, has agreed to keep the ships running — for now.
Read More....................
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Raw Video: Insurgents Prepare for Base Attack
Published on Sep 24, 2012 by AssociatedPress
The Taliban published a video which purportedly shows insurgents preparing for the brazen attack on Camp Bastion, a major NATO base, on September 14th. The AP can not independently verify the content. (Sept. 24)
China's First Aircraft Carrier Commissions
China's first aircraft carrier officially entered service Tuesday, amid a worsening territorial dispute with Japan and regional concerns over Beijing's rapidly modernizing navy.
The Defense Ministry’s announcement had been long expected and was not directly linked to current tensions with Japan over a disputed group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.The 300-meter ship, purchased from Ukraine in 1998, was delivered and commissioned to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) at a ceremony in the port city of Dalian, where the vessel was refitted.
“The aircraft carrier will play an important role in China's settlement of islands disputes and defense of its maritime rights and interests,” said Chinese naval expert, Li Jie, in an interview with Chinese newspaper, People’s Daily.
The carrier can reportedly hold a compliment of 30 fixed-wing fighters compared to the much larger American Nimitz class carriers than can carry around 90 aircraft.
The commissioning of the ship is a huge display of national prestige, elevating China to the nine-nation club of carrier-equipped navies.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract to Develop Navigation System for the U.S. Navy's Super Hornet and Growler Aircraft
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Sept. 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a competitive prototyping contract by The Boeing Company to develop an embedded global positioning/inertial navigation system (EGI) for the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft.
Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will produce a prototype inertial navigation system demonstrating fiber-optic gyro performance suitability for F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) needs. JPALS is a next-generation aircraft landing system that will utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) data and replace radar-based systems.
As one of two contractors selected, Northrop Grumman will focus on integration risk reduction, including meeting specific system requirements and maximizing performance toward a JPALS-compatible navigation subsystem. Boeing is expected to down-select to a single supplier for system production. The chosen company will conduct a five-year Engineering and Manufacturing Development program and provide the inertial navigation system for all Super Hornet and Growler aircraft, with an estimated 500 EGIs to be produced for the program.
"Our proprietary fiber-optic gyro technology can be scaled for varying needs and applications, including the demands of a cutting-edge inertial navigation system for the Super Hornet and Growler aircraft," said Gorik Hossepian, vice president of navigation and positioning systems for Northrop Grumman.
The all-weather F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the U.S. Navy's premier fighter/attack aircraft that is capable of performing numerous missions, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.
The EA-18G Growler, currently being delivered to the Navy, will be the cornerstone of the naval Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Derived from the F/A-18F aircraft, the EA-18G incorporates advanced AEA avionics, bringing transformational capability for suppression of enemy air defenses and nontraditional electronic attack operations.
JPALS is an all-weather, anti-jam approach and landing system based on local area differential GPS. Developed by the Navy, JPALS works with GPS to provide accurate, reliable landing guidance for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and supports fixed-base, tactical and shipboard applications. Northrop Grumman provides the inertial measurement unit for the shipboard-relative GPS set in the JPALS program.
Northrop Grumman has extensive experience in precision navigation solutions, including the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) program that is exploring autonomous refueling methods for unmanned aircraft. Northrop Grumman will leverage state-of-the-art Relative Navigation software algorithms developed for the AAR program when creating a JPALS-compliant system, ensuring that the Navy has a viable landing solution for its future advanced fighter aircraft.
Source : Northrop Grumman
Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will produce a prototype inertial navigation system demonstrating fiber-optic gyro performance suitability for F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) needs. JPALS is a next-generation aircraft landing system that will utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) data and replace radar-based systems.
As one of two contractors selected, Northrop Grumman will focus on integration risk reduction, including meeting specific system requirements and maximizing performance toward a JPALS-compatible navigation subsystem. Boeing is expected to down-select to a single supplier for system production. The chosen company will conduct a five-year Engineering and Manufacturing Development program and provide the inertial navigation system for all Super Hornet and Growler aircraft, with an estimated 500 EGIs to be produced for the program.
"Our proprietary fiber-optic gyro technology can be scaled for varying needs and applications, including the demands of a cutting-edge inertial navigation system for the Super Hornet and Growler aircraft," said Gorik Hossepian, vice president of navigation and positioning systems for Northrop Grumman.
The all-weather F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the U.S. Navy's premier fighter/attack aircraft that is capable of performing numerous missions, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.
The EA-18G Growler, currently being delivered to the Navy, will be the cornerstone of the naval Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Derived from the F/A-18F aircraft, the EA-18G incorporates advanced AEA avionics, bringing transformational capability for suppression of enemy air defenses and nontraditional electronic attack operations.
JPALS is an all-weather, anti-jam approach and landing system based on local area differential GPS. Developed by the Navy, JPALS works with GPS to provide accurate, reliable landing guidance for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and supports fixed-base, tactical and shipboard applications. Northrop Grumman provides the inertial measurement unit for the shipboard-relative GPS set in the JPALS program.
Northrop Grumman has extensive experience in precision navigation solutions, including the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) program that is exploring autonomous refueling methods for unmanned aircraft. Northrop Grumman will leverage state-of-the-art Relative Navigation software algorithms developed for the AAR program when creating a JPALS-compliant system, ensuring that the Navy has a viable landing solution for its future advanced fighter aircraft.
Source : Northrop Grumman
Boeing Receives $1.9 Billion Contract for 11 P-8A Poseidon Aircraft
SEATTLE, Sept. 24, 2012 -- The U.S. Navy on Sept. 21 awarded Boeing [NYSE: BA] a $1.9 billion contract for 11 P-8A Poseidon aircraft, which will take the total fleet to 24 and bolster the service's anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
This third low-rate initial production award follows two last year that totaled 13 aircraft. Boeing has delivered three of the production P-8As, which are based on the company's Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane, and the Navy plans to purchase 117 to replace its P-3 fleet.
"This contract is a stepping stone to full-rate production, and our focus remains on building Poseidon on cost and on schedule," said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager.
"It has been an exciting and productive year for the P-8A program," said Capt. Aaron Rondeau, P-8A deputy program manager for the Navy. "The fleet operators in Jacksonville are excited to have received their first three aircraft and look forward to the next delivery as they transition from the P-3 to the first P-8 fleet squadron."
Boeing assembles the P-8A aircraft in the same facility where it builds all its 737 aircraft. The Poseidon team uses a first-in-industry in-line production process that draws on Boeing's Next-Generation 737 production system. All P-8A-unique modifications are made in sequence during fabrication and assembly.
After assembly, the aircraft enter Boeing's mission system installation and checkout facility for final modifications.
The Boeing-led team also has built and is testing six flight-test and two ground-test aircraft under a Navy System Development and Demonstration contract awarded in 2004. The test aircraft have completed more than 600 sorties and 2,500 flight hours to date.
Source : Boeing
This third low-rate initial production award follows two last year that totaled 13 aircraft. Boeing has delivered three of the production P-8As, which are based on the company's Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane, and the Navy plans to purchase 117 to replace its P-3 fleet.
"This contract is a stepping stone to full-rate production, and our focus remains on building Poseidon on cost and on schedule," said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager.
"It has been an exciting and productive year for the P-8A program," said Capt. Aaron Rondeau, P-8A deputy program manager for the Navy. "The fleet operators in Jacksonville are excited to have received their first three aircraft and look forward to the next delivery as they transition from the P-3 to the first P-8 fleet squadron."
Boeing assembles the P-8A aircraft in the same facility where it builds all its 737 aircraft. The Poseidon team uses a first-in-industry in-line production process that draws on Boeing's Next-Generation 737 production system. All P-8A-unique modifications are made in sequence during fabrication and assembly.
After assembly, the aircraft enter Boeing's mission system installation and checkout facility for final modifications.
The Boeing-led team also has built and is testing six flight-test and two ground-test aircraft under a Navy System Development and Demonstration contract awarded in 2004. The test aircraft have completed more than 600 sorties and 2,500 flight hours to date.
Source : Boeing
USAF C-130 completes first flight with enhanced Rolls-Royce Engine
National Harbor, US – Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, and the US Air Force are conducting flight tests for an enhancement for the T56 turboprop engine, which powers the C-130H transport aircraft. The Series 3.5 Engine Enhancement is designed to deliver fuel savings and reliability improvements, resulting in improved life cycle costs.
The first C-130H test aircraft began flying recently at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The Series 3.5 Engine Enhancement has already demonstrated greater than 8 percent fuel burn improvement in ground tests, using proven technologies from other Rolls-Royce commercial and military engines, including new blade and vane materials and advanced turbine airfoil aerodynamic designs. The Series 3.5 will also improve performance in 'hot and high' conditions.
Tom Bell, Rolls-Royce, President, Customer Business – Defense, said, "We look forward to carrying out flight tests to confirm what we have already demonstrated in the test cell – significant savings in fuel costs, improved reliability and performance. Rolls-Royce has invested to help the US Air Force and other operators around the world meet their goal of reducing fuel costs, while also extending the life of the C-130 fleet and potentially saving billions of dollars."
The Series 3.5 Engine Enhancement program is expected to enable the USAF to continue to operate its C-130H fleet until 2040, and a USAF analysis estimated its long-term savings from the Series 3.5 enhancements could reach $2 Billion.
The engine improvements can be accomplished as part of a conventional engine overhaul, and do not require any aircraft or engine control system modifications. Each C-130 aircraft has four Rolls-Royce T56 engines, with approximately 220 C-130H models eligible for upgrades.
The Series 3.5 program will help the Air Force to achieve its goal of reducing consumption of aviation fuel by 10 percent by 2015.
Source : Rolls Royce
Northrop Grumman to Improve Performance of MEMS Inertial Sensors for DARPA
| WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Sept. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a subcontract from the University of California, Irvine to help address the long-term calibration of inertial sensors. Inertial sensors, which measure rotation rate and acceleration, are used in a variety of navigation, pointing and stabilization applications. Currently, micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) inertial instruments are vulnerable to long-term instabilities that cause bias and scale-factor drift, which contribute to measurement inaccuracies. Under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Primary and Secondary Calibration on Active Layer (PASCAL) effort of the Micro-Technology for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (Micro-PNT) program, Northrop Grumman and the University of California, Irvine will develop an integrated, ultra-miniaturized microsystem (gyroscope and accelerometer) with in-situ calibration capabilities co- located with the inertial sensing elements. In-situ calibration of inertial devices eliminates the need for components to be recalled from the field for recalibration by the manufacturer and then reinserted into the platform, thereby minimizing the life cycle costs of the system. Additionally, full or mini calibration can be performed just prior to a platform's launch, offering greater flexibility and an opportunity to compensate for aging effects prior to an instrument's use. "This microsystem development represents a significant step forward in the ability to continuously calibrate MEMS inertial sensors, bypassing the need for calibration after dormant periods," said Charles Volk, vice president and chief technology officer at Northrop Grumman. "Not only may this research help to advance sensor technology and accuracy, but it may also lead to increased affordability." DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office, which administers the PASCAL effort, promotes state-of-the-art technology in the component and microsystems areas. The PASCAL effort is part of the Micro-PNT program that aims to develop technology for self-contained, chip-scale inertial navigation and precision guidance. | ||
Source : Northrop Grumman |
C295
About:
The Airbus Military C295 is a new generation, very robust and reliable, highly versatile tactical airlifter able to carry up to nine tonnes of payload or up to 71 personnel, at a maximum cruise speed of 260 kt /480 km/h. Fitted with a retractable landing gear and a pressurised cabin, it can cruise at altitudes up to 25,000 ft, while retaining remarkable short take-off & landing (STOL) performance from unprepared short, soft and rough airstrips, as well as low level flight characteristics. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines, the C295 provides an excellent manoeuvrability, outstanding hot and high performance, low fuel consumption and consequently a very long endurance of up to eleven hours in the air.First delivered in 2001, the C295 is a developed version of the well-known CN235, offering greater capacity and range. Its simple systems design and robustness, its proven in service reliability, its excellent flying qualities and great versatility, as well as its remarkable transport capabilities make it the most efficient “workhorse” with the lowest fuel burn, as well as the best operating and maintenance costs in its category.. The civil and military certification of the C295 ensures compliance with the international airworthiness regulations and safety standards, including the stringent FAR 25 requirements.
Being 12.7 m / 41 ft 8 in long, the C295 has the longest unobstructed cabin in its class. It can accommodate up to 71 seats, offering a much higher personnel carrying capability than its competitors in this segment. For the same reason, it can carry much more palletised cargo (up to five 88 inch X 108 inch standard HCU-6E pallets) with direct off-loading through its rear ramp door.
The C295’s STOL capability combined with a strong landing gear enable it to operate in the most austere locations with the worst conditions for take-off and landings. The aircraft is a tactical military transport with a light footprint to enable operations from short (no longer than 670 m / 2,200 ft), soft and rough (CBR 2) unprepared airstrips. The C295 is also designed to provide outstanding low-level flight characteristics for tactical missions, flying at speeds down to 110 kt.
The C295 has an outstanding reliability track record. In service since 2001, and with some 80 aircraft in operations, it has amply demonstrated its worth as an outstanding “work-horse” for any kind of military transport or civic and humanitarian relief operations in the most varied environments, ranging from desert to mountainous areas, to hot and dry as well as humid or very cold.
The C295 is based on the earlier CN235, but with many component updgrades. Both aircraft feature a strong airframe and simple general systems with fewer components. These are key elements to ensure high reliability, and low maintenance and operating costs. The effectiveness and soundness of the CN235/C295 general systems design is backed by one million flying hours of operational experience in all types of environments.
The robustness and versatility of the C295 makes it the ideal platform for any type of military or “civic” operations for the benefit of society. The aircraft performs any type of mission: from personnel, troop and bulky/palletised cargo transportation to casualty evacuation, communication and logistic duties, search and rescue, surveillance and control, homeland security, or certified air-dropping,. It is able to perform all these missions with the lowest configuration change time, thus reducing the risk exposure when operating in hostile environments. A key to the aircraft’s unique patrol and surveillance capabilities is its Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) which integrates, controls and displays the mission sensors, enhancing the mission awareness and facilitating the decision making.
Military operations:
The C295 aircraft is combat proven and has successfully completed military missions in all types of environments. It routinely operates in the hot and humid environments of the Brazilian jungle and Colombian mountains, in the dusty and very hot deserts of Algeria and Jordan, and in the extremely cold winters and icy conditions of Poland and Finland. The C295 has been successfully used during long deployments (up to two years, flying up to 90 hours per aircraft per month) in remote areas, such as Chad, Iraq and Afghanistan.The C295 has become the most trusted airlifter in its category, being used either as single transport type, or as a versatile and efficient complement to heavy airlifters and transport helicopters. Thirty two nations operate the CN235/295 light/medium airlifters to complement their C-130-class aircraft, including Abu Dhabi, Brazil, France, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain and Turkey.
Proven in the Service of Armed Forces
In its military role the C295 is used for:
• Tactical transport of troops and the required logistic supplies (water, food, ammunition, medical supplies, spare parts) from the main operating base to the forward bases, and among forward locations. The C295 can use short aunprepared irstrips not accessible to heavier aircraft.
• Airdrop of paratroops and loads, with the use of 88in-width platforms and container delivery system (CDS) A22 bundles.
• Activities related to antiterrorism, border control and homeland security, thanks to its integrated surveillance systems, including the FITS.
• Casualty evacuation ( Casevac) / Medical evacuation (Medevac) using either basic litters or mobile intensive care units (ICU) with life support equipment.
Self-protection:
In addition to its outstanding manoeuvrability and STOL characteristics, the C295 offers optional self-protection equipment, which are already in service in hostile environments like Iraq and Afghanistan: cockpit armour, radar warning (RWR), missile warning (MAWS), laser warning (LWS), and chaff/flares dispensers. In flight refuelling capability is also optional for the C295.
Additional versions. Intelligence, surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR):
The C295 is also available in an “Anti Submarine Warfare” (ASW) version and an Airborne Early Warning (AEW&C) and Control fitted with the IAI/ELTA 4th Generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar. Other C295 special versions are: Gunship (Close Air Support to ground troops, convoys, facilities, etc), Tactical Aerial Refuelling (to increase the radius of action for combat SAR or Special Ops helicopters) and SIGINT version.
Anti Submarine Warfare
Airbus Military’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) version of the C295 Intelligence and Surveillance (ISR) is equipped with a tactical system proven during MPA/ISR missions, and under-wing stations to carry weapons and other stores. It represents a modern, risk-free and much more efficient alternative to older generation veterans such as the P-3 Orion or the Bréguet Atlantique, while its operating and maintenance costs are significantly lower. The version received certification from Spanish authority INTA in July 2010. It is also the first time in 30 years that a completely new Anti Submarine Warfare aircraft is developed and certified in Europe.The C295 ASW benefits from the experience accumulated with the CN235 since 1994 on maritime patrol missions, for which its Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) is an essential element. This important milestone further confirms Airbus Military’s capacity to integrate complex systems into its aircraft or other platforms for any kind of military and civic use.
Airborne Early Warning
Airbus Military is currently flight testing an Airborne Early Warning & Command (AEW) version of its C295. The C295 demonstrator is fitted with a six metre / 19 ft 18 in diameter rotodome. The primary sensor of the AEW&C will be the IAI/ELTA 4th Generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar with integrated IFF. This follows an agreement signed by Airbus Military and IAI/ELTA in June 2011 at the Le Bourget Airshow.The C295 AEW&C has been designed to provide high quality 360º surveillance, creating in real-time an integrated Air and Maritime Situation Picture and Electronic Order of Battle. The AEW&C Situation Picture is shared with friendly forces via Network Centric data links.A C295 fitted with a rotodome demonstrator is conducting flight trials from Airbus Military's Seville facility since 8th June 2011. The initial tests have shown that the aircraft is aerodynamically an excellent platform for this purpose. ELTA Systems and Airbus Military are now conducting engineering studies to integrate the mission suite, including AESA radar, among other sensors, with the FITS into the aircraft.
Proven in the Service of Armed Forces
In its military role the C295 is used for:
• Tactical transport of troops and the required logistic supplies (water, food, ammunition, medical supplies, spare parts) from the main operating base to the forward bases, and among forward locations. The C295 can use short aunprepared irstrips not accessible to heavier aircraft.
• Airdrop of paratroops and loads, with the use of 88in-width platforms and container delivery system (CDS) A22 bundles.
• Activities related to antiterrorism, border control and homeland security, thanks to its integrated surveillance systems, including the FITS.
• Casualty evacuation ( Casevac) / Medical evacuation (Medevac) using either basic litters or mobile intensive care units (ICU) with life support equipment.
Self-protection:
In addition to its outstanding manoeuvrability and STOL characteristics, the C295 offers optional self-protection equipment, which are already in service in hostile environments like Iraq and Afghanistan: cockpit armour, radar warning (RWR), missile warning (MAWS), laser warning (LWS), and chaff/flares dispensers. In flight refuelling capability is also optional for the C295.
Additional versions. Intelligence, surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR):
The C295 is also available in an “Anti Submarine Warfare” (ASW) version and an Airborne Early Warning (AEW&C) and Control fitted with the IAI/ELTA 4th Generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar. Other C295 special versions are: Gunship (Close Air Support to ground troops, convoys, facilities, etc), Tactical Aerial Refuelling (to increase the radius of action for combat SAR or Special Ops helicopters) and SIGINT version.
Anti Submarine Warfare
Airbus Military’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) version of the C295 Intelligence and Surveillance (ISR) is equipped with a tactical system proven during MPA/ISR missions, and under-wing stations to carry weapons and other stores. It represents a modern, risk-free and much more efficient alternative to older generation veterans such as the P-3 Orion or the Bréguet Atlantique, while its operating and maintenance costs are significantly lower. The version received certification from Spanish authority INTA in July 2010. It is also the first time in 30 years that a completely new Anti Submarine Warfare aircraft is developed and certified in Europe.The C295 ASW benefits from the experience accumulated with the CN235 since 1994 on maritime patrol missions, for which its Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) is an essential element. This important milestone further confirms Airbus Military’s capacity to integrate complex systems into its aircraft or other platforms for any kind of military and civic use.
Airborne Early Warning
Airbus Military is currently flight testing an Airborne Early Warning & Command (AEW) version of its C295. The C295 demonstrator is fitted with a six metre / 19 ft 18 in diameter rotodome. The primary sensor of the AEW&C will be the IAI/ELTA 4th Generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar with integrated IFF. This follows an agreement signed by Airbus Military and IAI/ELTA in June 2011 at the Le Bourget Airshow.The C295 AEW&C has been designed to provide high quality 360º surveillance, creating in real-time an integrated Air and Maritime Situation Picture and Electronic Order of Battle. The AEW&C Situation Picture is shared with friendly forces via Network Centric data links.A C295 fitted with a rotodome demonstrator is conducting flight trials from Airbus Military's Seville facility since 8th June 2011. The initial tests have shown that the aircraft is aerodynamically an excellent platform for this purpose. ELTA Systems and Airbus Military are now conducting engineering studies to integrate the mission suite, including AESA radar, among other sensors, with the FITS into the aircraft.
Civic / Humanitarian missions
The C295 is ideal for any kind of “civic” / humanitarian mission for the benefit of society. Robust, solid, rugged, and with outstanding low level flight and short take-off and landing characteristics from unprepared rough, soft and short airstrips, but also a flying endurance of up to eleven hours, the C295 is also fitted with Airbus Military’s unique Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) allowing any kind of surveillance and monitoring.
Humanitarian missions:
C295s from the Mexican Navy were among the first aircraft transporting emergency personnel and humanitarian aid into Haiti just after the tragic earthquake in 2010. This involved:
• Transport of medical and emergency personnel, police and security forces, peacekeeping troops, evacuation
of civil population affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
• Transport of first-aid supplies (water, food, medicines, tents…), electric generators, water-treatment
equipment.
• Airdrop of humanitarian aid• Medical evacuation (Medevac) of ill/injured patients“
Civic missions:
The C295’s “civic” activities include surveillance and control activities such as search and rescue, monitoring of illegal immigration, drug smuggling, piracy, illegal fishery, maritime pollution control and deterrance, wild deforestation, bringing supplies to people living in remote locations (isolated islands, deserts, etc). These are performed by most of the operators, such as the Portuguese Air Force to patrol the huge Portugal’s Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ), including areas around Azores and Madeira islands. Chilean Navy and Brazilian Air Force also use the C295 for search and rescue (SAR) missions.The Surveillance activities can be performed thanks to the Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS), which can be installed in both permanent or palletized solution.
Humanitarian missions:
C295s from the Mexican Navy were among the first aircraft transporting emergency personnel and humanitarian aid into Haiti just after the tragic earthquake in 2010. This involved:
• Transport of medical and emergency personnel, police and security forces, peacekeeping troops, evacuation
of civil population affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
• Transport of first-aid supplies (water, food, medicines, tents…), electric generators, water-treatment
equipment.
• Airdrop of humanitarian aid• Medical evacuation (Medevac) of ill/injured patients“
Civic missions:
The C295’s “civic” activities include surveillance and control activities such as search and rescue, monitoring of illegal immigration, drug smuggling, piracy, illegal fishery, maritime pollution control and deterrance, wild deforestation, bringing supplies to people living in remote locations (isolated islands, deserts, etc). These are performed by most of the operators, such as the Portuguese Air Force to patrol the huge Portugal’s Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ), including areas around Azores and Madeira islands. Chilean Navy and Brazilian Air Force also use the C295 for search and rescue (SAR) missions.The Surveillance activities can be performed thanks to the Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS), which can be installed in both permanent or palletized solution.
The robustness and versatility of the C295 makes it the ideal platform for any type of military or “civic” operations for the benefit of society. The aircraft performs any type of mission: from personnel, troop and bulky/palletised cargo transportation to casualty evacuation, communication and logistic duties, search and rescue, surveillance and control, homeland security, or certified air-dropping,. It is able to perform all these missions with the lowest configuration change time, thus reducing the risk exposure when operating in hostile environments. A key to the aircraft’s unique patrol and surveillance capabilities is its Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) which integrates, controls and displays the mission sensors, enhancing the mission awareness and facilitating the decision making.
The C295 is fitted with the Highly Integrated Avionics System (HIAS), an advanced integrated avionics system based on the Thales Topdeck ® Avionics suite. The flexible architecture concept and the use of dual technology civil/military equipment ensure success on demanding tactical missions, growth potential for future equipment as well as compatibility with the latest civil airspace environment.
The left engine is fitted with a propeller brake: while on the ground the engine gas generator can function in APU mode with the propeller stopped to deliver electrical power and bleed air for the aircraft systems. The propeller brake system provides the same ground-power functionalities of a conventional on-board APU at a fraction of the cost, weight and complexity.
The C295 glass cockpit with digital avionics includes four large active matrix liquid crystal displays (6’’x8’’), fully compatible with night vision goggles. The advanced integrated avionics system with multifunctional displays provides improved situational awareness and flight safety, lower pilot workload and enhanced mission effectiveness.The system functionalities support the requirements for both civil and military tactical environments: CARP/HARP computational aids (for precision airdrops), performance management, VNAV, radio management, tactical databases, etc. The autopilot and flight director System is certified under FAR-25 requirements for ILS Cat I and Cat II approaches and GPS non-precision approaches for automatic or
manual operations.
manual operations.
| Dimensions | ||
| OverallLength | 24.50 m | 80 ft 3 in |
| OverallHeight | 8.65 m | 28 ft 5 in |
| WingSpan | 25.81 m | 84 ft 8 in |
| CargoHoldLength(rampexcluded) | 12.70 m | 41 ft 8 in |
| CargoHoldHeight | 1.90 m | 6 ft 3 in |
| CargoHoldWidth | 2.70 m | 8 ft 10 in |
| CargoHoldVolume | 64 m3 | 2,260 ft3 |
| Weights | ||
| MaximumTakeOffWeight | 23 200 kg | 51 000 lb |
| MaximumLandingWeight | 23 200 kg | 51 000 lb |
| InternalFuelWeight | 6150 kg | 13 600 lb |
| MaximumPayload | 9250 kg | 20 400 lb |
| Engine(x2) | ||
| Pratt&WhitneyPW-127G | 2645 shp (up to 2920 | 1970 kW |
| shp with APR) | ||
| Performance | ||
| MaximumOperatingAltitude | 30 000 ft | 9100 m |
| MaximumCruiseSpeed(TAS) | 260 kt | 480 km/h |
| Range | ||
| RangewithMaximumPayload(9250kg-20400lb) | 700 nm | 1300 km |
| Rangewith6000kg(13200lb)Payload | 2000 nm | 3700 km |
| Rangewith3000kg(6600lb)Payload | 2500 nm | 4600 km |
| MaximumRange(Ferry) | 2900 nm | 5400 km |
Source :Airbus
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