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.

 

 

MiG-31 Foxhounds

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

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

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.

The longest cabin, optimised for daily missions

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.

Short Take-Off & Landing (STOL) Capability

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.

Reliability: Better Reliability, Lower Operating Costs

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 Response to today's and tomorrow's needs:Any mission, every day, for years to come

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.

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.

Advanced Technology

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.

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