Showing results 1 - 10 of 66 for the search terms: p-3c.
Results for "p-3c"
Dead Aim, Or Dead End? The USA’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class Program
15-Nov-2009 15:31 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, Boeing, Budgets, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Awards, Design Innovations, Electronics - General, FOCUS Articles, General Dynamics, Issues - Political, Lobbying, Lockheed Martin, New Systems Tech, Surface Ships - Combat, T&C - IBM, Transformation
67% of the fleet
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The prime missions of the new DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class destroyer are to provide naval gunfire support and next-generation air defense in near-shore areas where other large ships hesitate to tread, possibly even as the anchor for an action group of stealthy Littoral Combat Ships and submarines. The estimated 14,500t (cruiser sized) Zumwalt Class will be fully multi-role, however, with undersea warfare, anti-ship, and long-range surface attack roles.
That makes the DDG-1000 suitable or another role – as a “hidden ace card,” using its overall stealth to create uncertainty for enemy forces. At over $3 billion per ship for construction alone, however, the program faced significant obstacles if it wanted to avoid fulfilling former Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter’s fears for the fleet.
True, or False?
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DID’s FOCUS Article for the DDG-1000 program covers the new ships’ capabilities and technologies, key controversies, associated contracts and costs, and related background resources. From the outset, DID has noted that the Zumwalt Class might face the same fate as the ultra-sophisticated, ultra-expensive SSN-21 Seawolf Class submarines. That appears to have come true, with news of the program’s cancellation at 3 ships. Or will it be 2?
The latest news involves more funds to finish the ship’s computing backbone, which has been identified as a concern in recent GAO reports…
The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks
09-Nov-2009 08:01 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Australia & S. Pacific, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Contracts - Modifications, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Finmeccanica, Force Structure, Forces - Marines, Forces - Special Ops, Issues - Political, Lobbying, Lockheed Martin, New Systems Tech, Official Reports, Partnerships & Consortia, Policy - Procurement, Procurement Innovations, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other, Transport & Utility
RAAF C-130J-30, flares
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The C-130 Hercules remains one of the longest-running aerospace manufacturing programs of all time. Since 1956, over 40 models and variants have served as the tactical airlift backbone for over 50 nations. The C-130J looks similar, but the number of changes almost make it a new aircraft. Those changes also created issues; the program has been the focus of a great deal of controversy in America – and even of a full program restructuring in 2006. Some early concerns from critics were put to rest when the C-130J demonstrated in-theater performance on the front lines that represented a major improvement over its C-130E/H predecessors. A valid follow-on question might be: does it break the bottleneck limitations that have hobbled a number of multi-billion dollar US Army vehicle development programs?
C-130J customers now include Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, India, Iraq, Italy, Norway, Oman, Qatar, and the United States. American C-130J purchases are taking place under both annual budgets and supplemental wartime funding, in order to replace tactical transport and special forces fleets that are flying old aircraft and in dire need of major repairs.
This DID FOCUS Article describes the C-130J, examines the bottleneck issue, covers global developments for the C-130J program, and looks at present and emerging competitors. The latest update includes a USAF order for Rolls-Royce to supply AE 2100D3 spare engine parts to power the C-130J…
Global Hawk UAV Prepares for Maritime Role (updated)
26-Oct-2009 10:40 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Coastal & Littoral, Delivery & Task Orders, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Sensors - Aquatic, Testing & Evaluation, UAVs
RQ-4A Global Hawk
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Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV has established a dominant position in the High Altitude/ Long Endurance UAV market. While they aren’t cheap, they are uniquely capable. During Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the system flew only 5% of the US Air Force’s high altitude reconnaissance sorties, but accounted for more than 55% of the time-sensitive targeting imagery generated to support strike missions. The RQ-4 Global Hawk was also a leading contender in the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAV competition, and eventually won.
The Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program aims to use the proven RQ-4 Global Hawk airframe as a test bed for operational concepts and technologies that will eventually find their way into BAMS, and contribute valuable operational concepts regarding UAVs in a maritime surveillance role.
Some of that testing took on a decidedly operational bent recently…
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P-8 Poseidon MMA: Long-Range Maritime Patrol, and More
25-Oct-2009 13:21 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Asia - India, Australia & S. Pacific, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Delivery & Task Orders, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, GE, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Project Failures, Raytheon, Specialty Aircraft
P-8A Poseidon
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The P-8A emerged from the ashes of the P-7 Long Range Air ASW Capable Aircraft program that was begun in 1988. That program originally envisaged an improved P-3 Orion design, but cost overruns, slow progress, and interest in opening the competition to commercial designs led to cancellation for default in 1990. The successor MMA program was begun in March 2000, and Boeing beat Lockheed’s “Orion 21” for the contract with a design based on the ubiquitous 737 passenger jet.
This is DID’s FOCUS Article concerning the P-8A Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft, and it will be updated as events and contracts are announced. Filling the P-3 Orion’s shoes is certainly no easy task. What missions will the new P-8A Poseidon face? What do we know about the platform, the project team, and ongoing developments? Will the P-3’s level of global customer coverage give its successor a comparable level of export opportunities? Australia and India have already signed on, but has the larger market shifted in the interim?
In the latest news, Saudi Arabia is looking to add itself as an export customer…
P-3 Orion’s SMIP Program Keeps on Rolling
25-Oct-2009 12:24 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Electronics - General, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Specialty Aircraft, Spotlight articles, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other
P-3 Orion, armed -
note Sidewinder
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The P-3 Orion remains the USA’s main maritime patrol aircraft, and is also finding use in overland surveillance roles despite the fleet’s age. Earlier DID articles have noted the extra effort required to preserve the USA’s P-3C Orion maritime surveillance & patrol aircraft, along with radar and weapons upgrades. Lockheed has even opened a new production line, to cover wings that have to be replaced.
The SMIP program is intensive depot-level inspection and repair process that includes P-3 airframe and component inspection, identification of problems, and corrective maintenance. The idea is to ensure safe and reliable operation, while trying to get more hours out of each airframe in order to sustain dwindling global fleets. More intensive “MIP” efforts may be launched once inspection results become clear, such as the USA’s P-3 recovery plan and full “ASLEP” re-winging efforts in Norway and Canada.
SMIP work is performed on all types, models and series of P-3 aircraft in the 164-aircraft U.S. Navy fleet, as well as P-3 aircraft supported through U.S. Navy-administered foreign military sales programs. This work includes 2 types of activities…
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Taiwan’s (Un?)Stalled Force Modernization
18-Oct-2009 14:49 EDT |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, Asia - Other, Avionics, Budgets, C4ISR, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Intent, Force Structure, Issues - International, Issues - Political, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Other Corporation, Policy - Procurement, Radars, Raytheon, Rumours, Signals Radio & Wireless, Specialty Aircraft, Support & Maintenance
In November 2005, “Taiwan Orders F-16 Training in USA, But Larger Defense Buys Remain in Limbo” described the gridlock that had hampered key weapons sales of P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, Patriot PAC-3 missiles, and diesel-electric submarines to Taiwan – in some cases, since 1997. The opposition KMT party’s flip-flops and determined stalling tactics eventually created a crisis in US-Taiwan relations, which finally soured to the point that the USA refused a Taiwanese request for F-16C/D aircraft.
That seems to have brought things to a head. Most of the budget and political issues were eventually sorted out, and after a long delay, some major elements of Taiwan’s requested modernization program appear to be moving forward: P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, Patriot missile upgrades; and requests for AH-64D attack helicopters, E-2 AWACS planes, and missiles for defense against aircraft, ships, and tanks. These are must-have capabilities when facing a Chinese government that has vowed to take the country by force, and is building an extensive submarine fleet, a large array of ballistic missiles, an upgraded fighter fleet, and a number of amphibious-capable divisions.
Chinese pressure continues to stall some of Taiwan’s important upgrades, including diesel-electric submarines and American fighter jets. Meanwhile, upgrades to its Patriot air and missile defense systems continue…
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P-3 Recovery Plan Tries to Keep the Fleet in the Air
15-Oct-2009 12:41 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Other, BAE, Contracts - Awards, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Specialty Aircraft
P-3C drops sonobuoy
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The USA’s aging aircraft problem spans a number of fleets, from aerial tankers, to fighters, to tactical transports. One may argue, however, that its most severe problem lies with its fleet of Lockheed Martin P-3 maritime patrol aircraft. Not only was the global P-3 fleet produced between 1962-1990, the aircraft have often been flown at low altitudes in a salt-spray environment. This is not a recipe for aircraft health.
Rear Adm. Holmes’ 2005 interview confirms the seriousness of the situation. The US Navy keeps retiring aircraft, and is trying to hang on until its P-8A Poseidon/ BAMS UAV successors are fielded. That is proving to be difficult, to the point that Boeing is reportedly being asked to speed up P-8 production and fielding. Meanwhile, the P-3 Recovery Plan is part of a range of efforts designed to keep the P-3s in the air. Contracts continue, including outer wing replacements and other deep structural maintenance efforts…
- The Program and Process
- Contracts and Key Events
- Additional Readings
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MH-60R/S: The USA’s New Naval Workhorse Helicopters
06-Oct-2009 12:40 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Avionics, Budgets, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, FOCUS Articles, Force Structure, Helicopters & Rotary, IT - Software & Integration, Lockheed Martin, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, United Technologies
USN Heli Plan
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The US Army’s UH-60 Black Hawks have always had a naval counterpart. SH-60B/F Seahawk/ LAMPS helicopters were outfitted with maritime radar, sonobuoys, and other specialized equipment that let them perform a wide variety of roles, from supply and transport, to anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and even surface attack with their Penguin missiles. Like their land-based counterparts, however, the Seahawks are getting older. The Reagan defense build-up is receding into history, and its products are wearing out.
European countries chose to build new designs like the medium-heavy EH101 and the smaller NH90: larger helicopters built with corrosion-proof composites, and new features like rear ramps. The USA, in contrast, decided to upgrade existing H-60 designs for the Army and Navy. Hence the MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter (aka. “Romeo”) and MH-60S (aka. “Sierra”) Seahawks. MH-60Rs and MH-60Ss will eventually replace all SH-60B/F & HH-60H Seahawks, HH-1N Hueys, UH-3H Sea Kings, and CH-46D Sea Knight helicopters currently in the US Navy’s inventory.
Both programs are underway, and will be covered in this DID FOCUS Article. The latest additions include a number of minor contracts for associated equipment, and reports of growing export interest in the MH-60R…
$45.4M to IAP-Hill for Base Operations Support at Jacksonville Naval Facilities
06-Oct-2009 10:17 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Bases & Infrastructure, Contracts - Modifications, Other Corporation, Support Functions - Other
Jacksonville Naval Air Station
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IAP–Hill, a joint venture of IAP and CH2M Hill, in Cape Canaveral, FL received a $45.4 million modification to a previously awarded combination firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62467-00-D-2451) for regional base operations support services at US Navy facilities in Jacksonville, Florida. The modification brings the total contract amount to $480.7 million.
“A Month In The Life: Oct 2006 US Base Operating Support Contracts” covers a number of task orders issued under the contract.
Under this recent contract modification, IAP-Hill will perform scheduled maintenance of base facilities, utilities, environmental, transportation, and fire alarm systems located at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, and the surrounding region…
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Ships Ahoy! The Harpoon Missile Family
22-Sep-2009 09:21 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Asia - Japan, Asia - Other, Boeing, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Modifications, FOCUS Articles, Middle East - Israel, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, New Systems Tech, Sensors & Guidance
Harpoon in flight
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The sub-sonic, wave-skimming *GM-84 Harpoon is the US Navy’s sole anti-shipping missile, with the minor exception of small AGM-119B Penguin missiles and anti-tank Hellfires carried on some H-60 helicopters. The Harpoon has been adapted into several variants, and exported to a wide variety of world navies. Its best known competitor is the French/MBDA *M39/40 Exocet, but recent years have witnessed a growing competitive roster at both the subsonic (Israel’s Gabriel family, Russia’s SS-N-27 Klub family, Saab’s RBS15, Kongsberg’s stealthy NSM, China’s YJ-82/C-802 used recently in Lebanon) and supersonic (Russia’s SS-N-22 Sunburn/Moskit and some SS-N-27 Klub variants, India’s PJ-10 BrahMos derived from Russia’s SS-N-26) levels.
At present, the Harpoon family includes air, sea/land, and submarine-launched versions of the GM-84 missile. Variants such as the land attack SLAM variant and the modern AGM-84K Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) will also be covered in this DID FOCUS Article, which describes the missiles themselves and covers global contracts involving this family since Oct 1/06.
The most recent additions involve the reported cancellation of the US Navy’s Harpoon Block III program, and land target tests for SLAM-ER and Harpoon Block II…
