US Carrier Pilots’ T-45 Training System

Do you feel lucky…?

The T-45 Training System includes T-45 Goshawk aircraft, advanced flight simulators, computer-assisted instructional programs, a computerized training integration system, and a contractor logistics support package. The integration of all 5 elements is designed to produce a superior pilot in less time and at lower cost than previous training systems.

The US Navy uses the Hawk-based T-45TS system to train its pilots for the transition from T-6A Texan II/ JPATS aircraft to modern jet fighters – and carrier landings. This is not a risk-free assignment, by any means. Nevertheless, it is a critical link in the naval aviation chain. This DID FOCUS article covers the T-45TS, and associated contracts to buy and maintain these systems:

India & Israel’s Barak SAM Development Project(s)

Barak launch

Over a development timeline measured in decades, India’s indigenous “Akash” and “Trishul” programs for surface to air missiles have failed to inspire full confidence. Trishul was eventually canceled entirely. Akash had a a long, difficult development period, but seems to have found customer acceptance and a solid niche in the rugged terrain of the northeast. India still needed longer-range advanced SAMs to equip its navy and army, however, and decided to try to duplicate the success of the partnership model that had fielded the excellent Indo-Russian PJ-10 BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

In February 2006, therefore, Israel and India signed a joint development agreement to create a new Barak-NG medium shipborne air defense missile, as an evolution of the Barak-1 system in service with both navies. In July 2007 the counterpart MR-SAM project began moving forward, aiming to develop a medium range SAM for use with India’s land forces. Both missiles would now be called Barak-8. In between, “India to Buy Israeli “SPYDER” Mobile Air Defense System” covered India’s move to begin buying mobile, short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems for its army, based on the Python and Derby air-to-air missiles in service with its air force and naval aircraft. These projects offer India a way forward to address its critical air defense weaknesses, and upgrade “protection of vital and strategic ground assets and area air defence.” This DID FOCUS article will cover the Barak-8 and closely related programs in India, Israel, and beyond.

C-17s for India

IAF’s 1st C-17

In November 2009, reports surfaced that India was negotiating to buy 10 C-17A Globemaster III heavy transports for its air force. A Defense News article added that:

“The C-17′s advantages include its easier handling (compared with the IL-76) and ability to operate from short and rough airstrips, added the sources… The Indian military needs to do three things: augment its ability to quickly lift larger numbers of troops as it views possible threats on its border with China; strengthen its presence on the Pakistani border; and fight terrorism and low-intensity warfare, said a senior Defence Ministry official. India needs to triple its lift capacity, said the official.”

New jets with 77.5 tonnes of lift capacity, instead of the IL-76′s 50 tonnes, will help India get there. The government was serious enough to file a formal DSCA request in April 2010, worth up to $5.8 billion. Now, that has taken the next steps, and become the largest-ever foreign sale of C-17s – with the potential to grow further.

Rapid Fire Jan. 24, 2013: Aerospace Continues to Outperform IT

• In 2012 Lockheed Martin increased its yearly sales by 1.5% to $47.2B. Growth in aeronautics compensated lost ground in information system, confirming a pattern seen for the last two years and across contractors. Total backlog reached a record $82.3B (+$1.6B from a year earlier).

• General Dynamics reported its Q4 and full 2012 results. Revenue for the quarter dropped Y/Y by 11.7% to $8.08B, leading to a $2.1B loss. Revenue for the whole year reached $31.5B, down 3.6% from 2011, at a $332M loss. Combat and Information systems lost about 10% in Y/Y sales, while Aerospace grew by 15%, putting this segment ahead of a slightly decreasing Marine division. In 2011 aerospace was similarly pulling ahead of the company’s other lines of business. Total backlog (i.e. including unfunded IDIQ contracts and options) is at $78.1B, 57% of which is funded. That’s a drop of 8.5% of the total backlog, though its funded part barely budged.

• United Technologies grew its topline by 4% to $57.7B in 2012 thanks to its acquisitions of Goodrich and IAE. Their military aerospace activities have been holding rather well [PDF].

• The GAO notes that the Pentagon’s Militarily Critical Technologies List (MCTL), which is meant to inform export decisions, is still left unattended. Move along, there’s nothing to see here.

• DID finally heard back from the US Air Force’s Public Affairs on the Light Air Support (LAS) recompete. Major Maureen Schumann tells us: