Thunderbirds fly the Blue Angels

 

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds hosted three members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels team at the Thunderbird Hangar at Nellis Air Force Base, Feb 23 as part of the two demonstration units’ traditional exchange program.

Blue Angel No. 2, Lt. Cmdr. Jim Tomaszeski, right wing, and Blue Angel No. 4, Lt. Rob Kurrle, slot, had the chance to fly in the back seat of a Thunderbird F-16D model with Thunderbird No. 3, Maj. John Gallemore, right wing. Blue Angel No. 5, Lt. Ben Walborn, lead solo, flew with Thunderbird No. 5 Maj. Aaron Jelinek, lead solo.

The exchange program allows for both demonstration units with similar missions to have the opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other, said Major Jelinek.

“I can’t tell you how many times on the road we get asked if we’re better than the Blue Angels. To me, this (exchange program) is more camaraderie between the two teams, rather than a chance to compete with one another other,” said Major Jelinek.

“Bringing their jet here to Nellis and flying with us is awesome because we learn from them. We can see firsthand the good things they’re doing with their operation and implement them into our own Thunderbirds mission. And hopefully they can do the same, so both teams become better.”

“It’s always exciting to fly someone in the back seat and showcase what you’re doing during the various maneuvers,” said Major Jelinek. “The opportunity to fly the Blue Angels makes things a little more special, being that they’re out accomplishing the same mission on a daily basis.”

Both demonstration units are currently scheduled to begin their 2011 show seasons next month. The Thunderbirds will travel to perform at 39 show sites in the U.S. and Europe and the Blue Angels will travel to 37 show sites in the U.S.

- air-attack

GE CEO: To keep up fight for F-35 engine

General Electric Co. Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt sent a letter Wednesday morning to company employees promising to continue the fight to fund an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Last week’s vote in the House of Representatives to kill the engine project “is not the end of the process,” Mr. Immelt wrote in the letter to GE Aviation employees. He said the company “will continue to press our case in the U.S. Senate and elsewhere” for the engine, which is being developed by GE Aviation at an Ohio facility.

The primary engine supplier is Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp. GE has been developing a second engine with Rolls Royce PLC at a facility in a suburb of Cincinnati; it has argued that a second engine would lower the long-term costs of the Joint Strike Fighter program by putting competitive pressure on Pratt & Whitney.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had tried repeatedly to stop Congress from funding the F35 engine, which he has described as emblematic of wasteful government spending. Last week’s vote was a major setback for GE, as Republican budget hawks teamed up with Democrats to back a White House call to end the program.

- Wall Street Journal

Read related story:

Gates increases scrutiny of costly F-35 program

Revised F-35 plan calls for 6 more years of testing

Fan Problem Leads GE-Rolls To Examine F136

GE/Rolls-Royce has 15 percent more thrust than JSF’s Pratt and Whitney engine

First Batch of Gripen Fighters Received by Thailand

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has now taken delivery of six Gripen C/D fighters. These aircraft belong to the first batch ordered in 2008. In total, Thailand has ordered 12 Gripen.

The Gripen fighters were flown from Sweden to Thailand and arrived to their new home base at Wing 7 in Surat Thani in southern Thailand on February 22.

The six Gripen fighters are part of an intergovernmental business transaction where FMV, the Swedish Defense Material Administration, representing the Government of Sweden, supplies an integrated air-defense system based on products manufactured by Saab. The new air-defense system consists of Gripen, the Airborne Early Warning system Saab 340 Erieye AEW and a command & control system.

In preparation for the delivery of the Gripen fighters, pilots and ground crew from the Royal Thai Air Force have been trained in Sweden during 2010.

Manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab, the Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight single engine multirole fighter aircraft. Gripen International acts as a prime contracting organization and is responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter around the world.

 

- asdnews.com

-wikipedia.org

 

Lockheed awarded $726.6M contract for F-22 Raptor sustainment

Lockheed Martin Corp. has received a $726.6 million contract modification from the U.S. Air Force for sustainment of the F-22 Raptor fleet.

This modification is for the 2011 Follow-On Agile Sustainment for the Raptor (FASTeR) sustainment contract, which was awarded initially in 2008, with an option for2009 that was exercised. A follow-on modification was issued for 2010.

FASTeR is a Performance-Based Logistics contract providing weapon systems sustainment of the F-22 fleet at all operational bases for the 2011 calendar year, including training systems, customer support, integrated support planning, supply chain management, aircraft modifications and heavy maintenance, sustained engineering, support products and systems engineering.

In 2010, the U.S. Air Force deployed the Raptor around the world, including to Guam, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. In January, F-22s from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, flew 100 percent of scheduled sorties during a deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan.

“The Raptor is one of the U.S. Air Force’s most highly deployed aircraft by fleet percentage, and ensures that the United States and its allies can control the skies and access heavily defended theaters,” said Scott Gray, vice president of sustainment for Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Program.

F-22 Raptors are assigned to seven U.S. bases. Flight testing takes place at Edwards AFB, Calif. Operational tactics development is ongoing at Nellis AFB, Nev. Pilot training occurs at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Operational F-22 aircraft are assigned to Langley AFB, Va.; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Holloman AFB, N.M.; and Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

- air-attack

NASA Discovery Shuttle Ready for final flight

Countdown to the final mission for the US space shuttle Discovery has begun, with NASA confident that fuel tank cracks are fixed and the shuttle is ready for its 39th and last launch on Thursday, Feb. 24.

The aging shuttle is “in good shape,” NASA test director Jeff Spaulding said last Monday, Feb. 21, and the weather forecast was 80 percent favorable for pleasant conditions at launch time, 4:50 pm (2150 GMT).

NASA experts have repeatedly voiced confidence in repairs that shored up the brackets on the external fuel tank, after cracks emerged upon fueling just ahead of the planned November launch, postponing the mission until now.

Another mishap befell the mission in January, when astronaut Tim Kopra was injured in a bicycle accident. He has been replaced by another veteran astronaut, Steve Bowen.

This mission is due to last 11 days and the six-member crew will deliver and install a new module to the International Space Station.

The Permanent Multipurpose Module will provide room for extra storage and space for experiments.

Discovery will also bring Robonaut 2, “the first dexterous humanoid robot in space,” said NASA.

Astronauts will first test how it works in microgravity before figuring out how upgrades could graduate the robot to a full-fledged space assistant.

Discovery, which first flew in 1984, will be the first shuttle to enter retirement when it concludes this mission. The other two remaining in the fleet, Atlantis and Endeavour, are slated for their final flights later this year.

The shuttle has been a “workhorse, ambassador, scientist and equal opportunity emissary,” NASA said on its website, noting that Discovery has flown more missions than any other spacecraft and made 5,600 trips around the Earth.

Discovery was the first shuttle to be piloted by a woman in 1995 and carried the first female shuttle commander into space in 1999 — both times the same pioneer, Eileen Collins.

Other historic firsts to come aboard Discovery were the first African American spacewalker, Bernard Harris in 1995, and the first sitting member of Congress to fly in space, Senator Jake Garn in 1985.

In addition to the 180 people Discovery will have carried into space by the end of this mission, the shuttle sent the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit and launched the Ulysses robotic probe on its journey toward the Sun.

Discovery was also the first “to rendezvous with the Russian Mir Space Station, and it delivered the Japanese Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station,” NASA noted.

The three remaining US shuttles are due to become museum pieces once the final shuttle mission takes place, leaving the Russian space program’s Soyuz capsule as the sole method to bring astronauts to and from the ISS.

Endeavour is set for takeoff on April 19 and Atlantis is scheduled for June 28, though funding for Atlantis remains in question.

There were initially five space shuttles in the fleet — Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff in 1986 and Columbia disintegrated on its way back to Earth in 2003.

The sixth shuttle, Enterprise, did test flights in the atmosphere but was never flown into space. It is already on display at a museum outside Washington.

Earlier this year, the US company SpaceX succeeded in sending its Dragon space capsule into orbit and back, but it will likely be several years before a private US spaceflight can carry crew and cargo to the ISS.

- asdnews.com

-wikipedia.org

RAAF Hercules crew gear up for Red Flag

 

Air Force Hercules crews have been honing their skills ahead of the world’s most realistic airborne exercise. From February 21 to March 15, they’ll participate at Exercise Red Flag 11-3 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, facing the world’s most comprehensive airborne warfighting simulation.

An 88-strong Australian contingent from RAAF Base Richmond’s No. 37 Squadron will operate a pair of C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. The Hercules has left RAAF Base Richmond, and was supported in the transit by a C-17A Globemaster.

Red Flag 11-3 is coordinated by the United States Air Force and features an exercise space over 24,000 square kilometers of desert north of Las Vegas.

C-130Hs are each powered by four-turboprop engines and can lift up to 20-tonnes of cargo, or 92 passengers. Flying alongside fighters, surveillance aircraft and tankers, they will face the world’s most realistic simulated warzone.

Wing Commander Mark McCallum, Commanding Officer No. 37 Squadron, said the C-130s would fly tactical airlift missions at Red Flag.

“Despite our Squadron having a busy start to 2011 with civil aid tasking, we’ve managed to balance some intense practice for the missions we’ll face at Red Flag,” Wing Commander McCallum said.

“No other exercise in the world has the same level of complexity in its exercise area, and no other exercise delivers the same experience.

“The Hercules will be flying day-time and night-time missions, and could drop paratroops by static-line or freefall, or land on a desert airstrip to pick up personnel.

Air Force is also sending a team of eight from RAAF Base Williamtown’s No. 4 Squadron, providing close air support and tactical landing zone reconnaissance. They’ll also operate alongside a 20-strong team from Army’s 2 Commando Regiment.

- air-attack

 

Naval Version of Eurofighter Typhoon Makes Debut at Aero India 2011

At Aero India 2011, Eurofighter and partner company BAE Systems unveiled for the first time more details about the studies carried out for the initial definition of the navalized version of the Typhoon.

These studies have included the assessment of required design changes, piloted simulations to refine the aircraft’s handling qualities and discussions with key suppliers. The studies indicate that these changes are feasible, and would lead to the development of a world-beating, carrier-based fighter aircraft.

The most important element of the navalized Typhoon is that its exceptional thrust-to-weight ratio allows the aircraft to take off from a carrier without using a catapult but with a simple and much cheaper “ski-jump”. Detailed simulations have shown that the aircraft will be able to take off and land in this way with a full weapon and fuel load – providing a truly potent and flexible naval aviation capability.

The basic design of Typhoon helps to minimize the modifications needed to allow a Typhoon to conduct naval operations from a carrier. The aircraft’s structure is exceptionally strong, having been designed from the outset for the high dynamic loads associated with extreme air combat maneuvering. The modifications required are limited and include a new, stronger landing gear, a modified arrestor hook and localized strengthening on some fuselage sections near the landing gear, as well as updates the EJ200 engines.

To reduce the aircraft’s approach speed and the resulting landing loads the study envisages the introduction of a thrust-vectored variant of the Eurojet EJ200 engine. Thrust vectoring (Engines with TVN have already undergone factory testing in the Eurojet facility) could be fully integrated into Typhoon’s advanced Flight Control System (FCS), allowing the pilot to focus on flying the approach path while the FCS manages the engine nozzle position. The ability to change the angle of the engines’ thrust will allow for a further enhancement in Typhoon’s already outstanding maneuverability, supercruise performance, fuel consumption and the handling of asymmetric weapon configurations.

A key design driver for navalized Typhoon is the commonality at 95 per cent with the land variant. Design changes are minimized, allowing for most of the spare parts and test equipment to be shared across a customer’s air force and navy fleets. The sensors, systems and weapons available to both variants will be common, allowing for a reduction in the aircrew training requirements. And in addition, the two variants will benefit from a common upgrade path – new capabilities will be available to both the air force and navy in similar timescales.

 

- asdnews.com

 

Sikorsky to modify UAE Black Hawks into gunships

 

UH-60 BLACKHAWK

The United Arab Emirates is set to turn a number of its Sikorsky Black Hawks into gunships in a deal with the U.S. helicopter maker worth nearly 1 billion Arab Emirate dirhams ($272 ).

The announcement of a plan to buy “weaponization” kits for 23 of its Black Hawk UH-60M helicopters was the pick of a 4 billion Arab Emirate dirham order bonanza unveiled by the UAE armed forces at the IDEX show Feb. 21 in Abu Dhabi.

Included in the list of 21 orders was a second deal with Sikorsky, this time a program to train Black Hawk pilots and technicians in a contract valued at 65 million Arab Emirate dirham.

The scheme to turn the UH-60M into an air assault machine gives the U.S. helicopter maker a launch customer for the Battle Hawk weaponization package it has been working on for some time now.

Information previously released by the company shows the weaponization package will give the UAE military a helicopter able to fire rockets, heavy-caliber machine guns and missiles from four weapon stations.

The bulk of the work will be undertaken by AMMROC, the maintenance, overhaul and repair center set up here last year in a joint venture between Sikorsky and a local company, Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.

With further development work still needed on the weaponization package, sources said it was likely the first modified helicopters would be handed over to the UAE around 2014. The deal could be expanded later to cover further weaponization kits, the sources said.

UAE has long been tipped as a launch customer for the Battle Hawk package, but Sikorsky wasn’t the only helicopter manufacturer to benefit from new orders here.

AgustaWestland secured a 336 million Arab Emirate dirham order for the delivery of four AW139 rotorcraft for VIP duties.

Included in the list of contracts this time around is South Korean company Hanwha, which is supplying arms and ammunition; engines for unmanned air systems from Denel of South Africa; fire control systems for naval guns from Selex of Italy; munitions from Diehl BGT Defence of Germany; and bulletproof vests from local company Al Naboodah Protection.

- defensenews

Jordan Receives Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAS

Following contract award in July 2010, Schiebel is pleased to announce delivery of two CAMCOPTER S-100 Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) to the King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) of Jordan.

The UAS will form a key part of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) Reconnaissance Squadron, as KADDB is an independent Governmental military-civilian agency existing within the JAF tasked with operating to best commercial practices with predetermined performance targets.

The CAMCOPTER S-100 was chosen following a comprehensive evaluation process by KADDB on behalf of the Jordan Armed Forces and the Royal Jordanian Air Force to ensure it could meet all of their demanding mission requirements. The unrivalled helicopter UAS will be primarily used for surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance missions, as all will be equipped with L-3 Wescam MX-10 EO/IR payloads, offering a new dimension in capability for the Jordanian Armed Forces. Under the terms of the contract, Schiebel will also provide in-country technical support, maintenance and operator and maintainer training.

According to Schiebel, they are extremely proud that their system was selected by KADDB and are looking forward to supporting this new customer as they begin to utilize this unique and proven UAS capability. The CAMCOPTER S-100 is an ideal solution for the Jordanian requirements, delivering real-time information 24/7, said Company owner and Chairman, Mr. Hans Georg Schiebel. He also says that in a world where the need for maximum security is paramount, he believes the Schiebel UAS can combat the many diverse challenges and dangers existing, by delivering immediate information of a very high resolution to those that need it most, the decision makers on the ground.

KADDB s Chairman and CEO, Mr. Shadi Ramzi Majali, added that KADDB has lead the coordination between the Jordan Armed Forces and the Royal Jordanian Air Force with Schiebel to translate the operational requirements into technical specifications and evaluate the different systems capabilities to meet the Jordanian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements .

 

- asdnews.com

 

US Navy Deployed Boeing EA-18G Growlers

Last Feb. 18, Boeing announced that EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have been deployed for the first time by the U.S. Navy.

Kory Mathews, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs for Boeing, said, “The men and women of Boeing are honored to see this new capability directly benefit the nation’s brave service members around the world.” Mathews also said, “The airborne electronic attack capability that the EA-18G brings to the fight is in high demand, so we are committed to continuing to deliver these aircraft to the Navy on budget and on schedule, just as we have with every F/A-18E/F.”

The EA-18G is the only air combat platform that delivers full-spectrum airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability along with the targeting and self-defense capabilities derived from the Navy’s frontline fighter, the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet. A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Block II, the EA-18G’s highly flexible design enables war fighters to operate either from the deck of an aircraft carrier or from land-based airfields. It is replacing the Navy’s current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. The EA-18G joined the Navy’s aircraft fleet in 2008, when it was introduced to fleet training squadron VAQ-129.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team, which also includes Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and General Electric Aircraft Engines.

 

- asdnews.com