The Aerospace Industries Association voices its concerns about cuts to national security space programs outlined in the 2012 House Defense Appropriations Bill.
L-3 Communications’ Chief Executive believes the company is well placed to cope with the downturn in defense spending, sees the Middle East and India as its growth markets.
Harris Corporation receives a $23 million contract to supply the Department of Defense with RF310M-HH handheld tactical radios.
The Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, tells Parliament that the cost of UK military operations in Libya could reach £260 million ($416 million). Net estimate costs of military operations for six months is in the region of £120 million ($192 million), with an additional £140 million ($224 million) to replenish munitions.
Italy gives its new M-346/T-346A lead-in fighter trainer jets military type certification, a long but critical step in customer acceptance of a new type.
DoD Buzz posts its final report from the Paris Air Show. Its verdict is that while the civil and commercial aerospace sector enjoyed the show, their defense counterparts were largely in “survival mode”.
Danger Room reports on the latest development in “active protection” technology. Artis’ Iron Curtain system fires its countermeasure at the last moment before the munition hits its target.
Airbus Military and IAI Elta are developing a C-295 AEW turboprop, using an Elta AESA radar. Its likely price point, and C-295M/MPA commonality will make it a serious competitor to turboprops like the E-2D Hawkeye and Saab 340/2000 Erieye - as well as mid-tier jet options like Brazil’s EMB-145 AEW&C, or IAI’s own Gulfstream G550 CAEW.
BAE Systems announces the creation of a new Electronics Systems Sector. The reorganization sees the consolidation of BAE’s Systems Electronic Solutions and Systems Platform Solutions sectors. BAE hope the reorganization will better serve its military electronics and information technologies and homeland security customers.
EADS signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkish Aerospace Industries to boost collaborative opportunities for the UAV market.
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) also uses the Paris Air Show to unveil a prototype unmanned helicopter. The R-IHA is expected to achieve first-flight in 2012. TAI is also confident that the R-IHA will prove attractive to Arab and Southeast European markets.
MBDA’s PARS 3 LR guided missile system has been shortlisted for the Indian Army’s helicopter future air-to-ground requirement. The announcement comes two months after three successful PARS 3 LR firings were conducted at Sweden’s Vidsel test range.
South Korea’s President meets with members of the National Assembly’s defense committee and asks for cooperation in gaining parliamentary approval for defense reforms. Plans focus upon making the military command’s structure more efficient and increased powers for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff over the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The International Business Times outlines 9 ways the military is curbing its thirst for energy.
Goodrich’s Actuation Systems has been selected by Boeing to work on the US Air Force Research Laboratory’s (ARFL) Integrated Vehicle Energy Technology program (INVENT). The company will design and test energy, power and thermal management technologies for the next generation of tactical fighters and mobility transport systems.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) signs an agreement with Rheinmetall to provide logistics and training support to the German Armed Forces should their government select the MH148 Cyclone multi-mission helicopter. The MH148 Cyclone is the marine derivative of the S-92 helicopter.
At Le Bourget 2011, Dassault’s executive chairman underlines why Rafale fighter exports are so critical for France. Still looking for their 1st, though…
Flight International reports from the Paris Air Show on the growing interest in Moog’s Air Truck AT-802u single-engined civil/COIN turboprop.
There’s also potential interest in a commercial cargo version of Northrop Grumman’s LEMV ISR airship. Boeing has its own Skyhook effort, and then there’s Lockheed Martin’s Skytug.
Research and Markets publishes the United Arab Emirates Defense and Security Report Q3 2011.
Danger Room analyzes an officer’s assertion that the US Navy should look to reducing its small number of large aircraft carriers for more smaller flattops.
EADS Astrium Space Technologies’ Chief Executive touts its Spirale satellites as the backbone for a future French, European or NATO missile defense capability. Speaking at the Paris Air Show, Alain Charmeau also announced the company hopes to test a ballistic missile interceptor by 2016.
The Chief Executive of ThalesRaytheonSystems also sees the company playing a major role in missile defense for Europe. Jack Harrington also confirmed that security against unconventional threats – particularly in the missile defense and cyber-security domains – will remain the partnership’s focus for the foreseeable future.
Rafael’s President and CEO offers his perspective on the company’s success and the importance of acquiring foreign companies and developing partnerships to its global business strategy.
Northrop Grumman continues to test its Fire-X unmanned helicopter, confirms that the US Navy’s adoption is ‘not a done deal’, and claims that there has been foreign interest.
New Zealand-based LanzaTech announces that it has been awarded funds from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to undertake research on low cost production of jet fuel from carbon monoxide-rich sources.
Australia’s Minister of Defence announces that the Government is to undertake a Force Posture Review. Issues to be considered include the increasing strategic importance of the Asia-Pacific region and the security implications of Australia’s expanding offshore resource exploitation. The Review will also build upon the White Paper Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 [PDF] and consider force posture and requirements.
UAS Vision reports on the impact that the Indian firm Serial Innovations has upon US unmanned aircraft’s ability to send live video feeds smoothly.
MBDA unveils the CVS401 Perseus concept missile system. Cast as MBDA’s “vision of a multi-role strike weapon system for 2030 and beyond”, Perseus is designed to be operated through advanced Operations and Mission Planning Systems across all platforms.
Centurum wins a performance-based contract to provide command and control systems support for new Department of Defense (DoD) integrated systems and networks. The potential cumulative value of this contract is an estimated $77 million.
Speaking to a media roundtable at the Paris Air Show, the President and Chief Executive of Boeing reflected on the company’s recent fortunes within Asia’s defense markets.
US KC-46A 767 tankers will carry Raytheon’s AN/ALR-69 radar warning receivers, and their anti-jam GPS receivers.
Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary ELTA Systems announces that it has sold compact intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to an unnamed Latin American customer. The ELI-3120 is used for a number of homeland security tasks including the deterring of arms and narcotics trafficking.
Research and Markets publishes the Syria Defense and Security Report Q3 2011.
Three days after the completion of Operation Sea Breeze 2011, an unidentified diplomat tells RIA Novosti that Russia should not be surprised by talks between Ukraine and NATO that discussed “everything but membership”.
Defense Legislation outlines the options to address Members of Congress’ concerns about the United States’ ability to acquire rare earth elements used in various defense weapons systems.
Honeywell Aerospace’s President follows comments made by Boeing 24 hours earlier by also declaring that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will provide growth opportunities despite cuts to US defense expenditure. Beyond UAS, Mike Madsen also sees potential in retrofit and modernization programs.
France’s Safran and China’s AVIC sign two memorandums of understanding (MoU) at the Paris Air Show. The first MoU focuses upon the development of new-generation turboshaft engines for heavy helicopters; the other concerns collaboration on avionics equipment for all types of aircraft.
The Chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries sees opportunities for business development in the United States and Brazil, re-emphasizes the importance of defense ties with Turkey and has mixed feelings about joint ventures.
Buoyed by recent contract wins in Sweden and Australia, Sikorsky looks to India as the next opportunity for export growth.
M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS systems can carry more than just 227mm rockets. With thousands of North Korean artillery tubes pointed at Seoul, South Korea’s M270s are deployed near the border now, carrying ATACMS missiles that can hit Pyongyang.
United Aircraft Corporation’s chief says that Russia’s Sukhoi PAK-FA fifth generation fighter is showing progress in its test flight program, before branding China’s J-20 as more for effect than substance.
Carpenter Technology Corporation announces the acquisition of Latrobe Speciality Metals for approximately $338 million. Latrobe manufactures materials for aerospace and defense in the United States and United Kingdom.
Defense Tech says that European fighters dominated the skies at the first day of the Paris Air Show.
WikiLeaks cables reveal that elements in Japan are thinking about their own nuclear deterrence, as confidence in the USA’s alliance and nuclear guarantee weakens.
“What Gates’ [NATO] speech shows more than anything is the strategic weakness of cooperative strategy… The value of burden sharing only exists when there are mutually shared threats to stability and security, not when there are mutually shared benefits of stability and security.” If so, what does that mean for the US Navy’s Seapower strategy?
Deputy Defense Secretary William J Lynn tells the Aerospace Industry Association that it is important to preserve the manufacturing facilities, financial strength and durability of the defense industrial base in the face of spending cuts.
In a news briefing on the eve of the Paris Air Show, the head of strategy and business development for Boeing’s Defense Space and Security Unit sees cyber-security and new unmanned aircraft programs as growth opportunities despite impending cuts to US defense expenditure. Sales to Asia, the Middle East and Latin America are also under consideration.
Raytheon receives a contract from the US Air Force to produce the first airborne tactical hyperspectral sensor system. The Airborne Cueing and Exploitation System Hyperspectral (ACES HY) is an infrared sensor system developed to identify targets based on their spectral characteristics.
As the US Department of Defense seeks greater energy efficiency across its operations, Honeywell and Safran sign a memorandum of understanding to create a joint venture to deliver a new electric green taxiing system for aircraft.
Australia’s Ministry of Defence announces that the tender for a $300 million five-year contract for the repair and maintenance of the Navy’s eight Anzac Class frigates has been released.
Research and Markets publishes its Iran Defense and Security Report Q3 2011.
Following last week’s pledge to improve defense ties between Israel and China, Xinhua reports on the social, economic and political factors driving the Israeli defense industry.
House Armed Services Committee releases full committee markup of the FY 2012 defense authorization bill, which revives the F136 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Peru’s $1 billion SIVAM Amazon basin surveillance program attracts IAI interest, centered on its Gulfstream G550 CAEW platform. Neighboring Chile uses the same Phalcon radar technology, mounted on a 707. In Peru, IAI can be expected to compete with Embraer’s ERJ-145 based R-99A/B surveillance aircraft, which handle SIVAM duties for Brazil.
Defense industry needs to improve cost, weight, and energy efficiencies in new weapons systems, US defense officials tell US Navy League conference.
Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace says DoD should be in charge of US cybersecurity, not the Department of Homeland Security.
Microsemi and Anaren are competing to acquire AML Communications, a Camarillo, CA-based defense electronics supplier (e.g., for Raytheon’s MALD decoys). With a bid of $28 million, Microsemi is the front runner.
Meanwhile, Forbes is predicting a wave of consolidation in the defense electronics market.
