Raytheon To Repair H-60 Turret And Sensor-Sight | IAI Unveiled Scorpius EW Systems | Spain To Convert A330 Into MRTT

Americas

The Brazilian Air Force wants to move forward with its plan to cut its order for the Embraer KC-390 tactical transport from 28 to 15 airframes. According to Embraer, the move was done unilaterally and the aerospace firm is considering taking legal actions. The company’s shares fell by more than 8 percent on November 12.

Raytheon won an $8.8 million delivery order for the repair of the turret and sensor-sight in support of the H-60 aircraft. Just recently the H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopters Program Office met its mission capable goal entirely within its own organic lifelines. The H-60 Black Hawk is a light transport helicopter used for air assault, air cavalry, and aeromedical evacuation units. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion is in December 2021.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled the Scorpius family of Electronic Warfare systems. According to the company, Scorpius is the first electronic warfare system in the world capable of simultaneously targeting multiple threats, across frequencies and in different directions. It is based on the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, which provides a breakthrough in EW performance and enables a new generation of electronic warfare capabilities. The Scorpius family consists of five systems: the Scorpius G (ground), N (naval), SP (air – self-protection), SJ (air – standoff jammer) and the Scorpius T (training).

Europe

Spain inked a deal with Airbus to convert three A330 airliners that will be acquired from Iberia airline into hose & drogue-equipped Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft (MRTT). The aircraft will also get a specific Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) kit during the conversion at Airbus’ Spanish headquarters in Getafe, Spain. The Spanish Air Force’s 45 Wing will operate those the type when the first MRTT is delivered in 2023.

Hungary and Embraer representatives attended a ceremony at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility to mark the start of production of the first KC-390 Millennium for Hungary. Structural panels and frames will be assembled to make the main components of the fuselage and semi-wings.

Asia-Pacific

India wants to accept, deploy and start operation of the S-400 Air Defense System. The system will be supplied by Almaz-Antey of Russia, according to Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, the company’s deputy General director. According to an interview with Interfax, one batch of Indian technicians completed training in July this year while another was in the process of wrapping up its training.

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Embraer’s Multinational KC-390 Tactical Air Transport Program

Global competition in the 20-ton air transport segment continues to intensify, with Brazil’s launch of its KC-390 program. Embraer figures reportedly place the global C-130 replacement market at around 700 aircraft. In response, it will develop a jet-powered rival to compete with Lockheed Martin’s C-130J, the larger Airbus A400M, Russia’s AN-12 and its Chinese copy the Yun-8/9, and the bi-national Irkut/HAL MRTA project. Smaller aircraft like the EADS-CASA C-295M, and Alenia’s C-27J, represent indirect competition.

Embraer is extending its efforts and markets by crafting a jet-powered medium transport with a cargo capacity of around 23 tons, that can be refueled in the air, and can provide refueling services to other aircraft by adding dedicated pods. The KC-390 has now become a multinational program, and may be shaping up as the C-130’s most formidable future competitor. A tie-up with Boeing underscores the seriousness of Embraer’s effort, which is now a production program…