It is growing more likely that July 1, 2015, will not mark the initial operational capability (IOC) declaration for the F-35B desired by the U.S. Marine Corps, according to Pentagon procurement chief Frank Kendall. Also in jeopardy is the U.S. Air Force’s ability to declare its F-35A operational by Aug. 1, 2016, due to an impending shortfall in maintainers to repair the single-engine, stealthy jet.
Mending Fences If Republicans win control of the Senate in the Nov. 4 congressional elections, the outspoken Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is likely to head the Senate Armed Services Committee. While he is generally well-respected in national security circles, the defense industry remembers his aggressive pursuit of Boeing’s Air Force refueling tanker missteps and his criticism of the Joint Strike Fighter and Littoral Combat Ship.
The Pentagon’s latest pact for 48 F135s from Pratt & Whitney for the single-engine F-35 program will cost $1.05 billion, according to U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, program executive officer for the F-35. This is 4.5% lower than for the previous lot, he says. The Pentagon announced the deal on Oct. 30 as a $793 million modification to an earlier contract. “Pratt & Whitney has shown a commitment to getting back on the ‘war on cost’ curve,” Bogdan said.
Bell Helicopter is to carry out live-fire trials of guided rockets from the V-22 Osprey later this month. The self-funded program, will see the company’s Osprey testbed launch guided. rockets from a single pod mounted on the starboard forward fuselage of the tiltrotor, at the Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona. Forward-firing weapon capabilities for the V-22 are of particular interest to Air Force Special Operations Command.
The Slovakian government has ordered a pair of AleniaAermacchi C-27J Spartan airlifters as part of the modernization of the country’s air force. The type will replace aging Antonov An-26s. The first Slovak C-27 is scheduled to be delivered in 2016, and the second in 2017.
Robots In The Cockpit For the last several issues, Aviation Week has devoted substantial space on the Viewpoint and Feedback pages to pilot pay. Perhaps the long-term answer is unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Robots don’t need pensions, bathroom breaks or sleep, nor do they need to adjust their income for inflation. Robotic control systems can be placed nearly anywhere on a large aircraft, allowing more seats to be squeezed in and a much better view from first class (surely increasing the ticket price and bottom line).
Aquila, a consortium of Thales and air navigation service provider National Air Traffic Services has secured a 22-year £1.5 billion ($2.4 billion) contract to modernize air traffic management services at military airfields operated by the U.K. Defense Ministry. The project will fit new workstations and equipment into air traffic control towers, as well as new airfield radar systems and navigation aids with work beginning in April 2015, prioritizing on new radio systems. £400 million will be spent on new equipment.
The Russian navy plans to enhance its antisubmarine warfare (ASW) capability by upgrading about 50 of its Kamov Ka-27PL (Helix-A) antisubmarine rotorcraft fleet after the trials of the modernized Ka-27M version are completed this fall. The major advantage of the upgraded variant is that it is equipped with the new Kopye-AA radar designed by Moscow-based Phazottron-NIIR. It will replace the aging Osminog search-and-sighting system. With the Kopye-AA, the Ka-27M can operate 100-150 km (62-94 mi.) from its ship at an altitude of 4-5 km. The new radar also provides a 360-deg.
Airbus A318 The A318 is a twin-engine, 107-132-passenger narrowbody jetliner. Initial flight occurred in January 2002. The European Joint Aviation Authorities certified the A318 (with CFM56 engines) in May 2003, followed by FAA certification a month later. A318 deliveries began in July 2003; 79 aircraft were produced through 2013. A318s are powered by two 21,600-23,800-lb.-thrust turbofan engines, either the Pratt & Whitney PW6000 or CFM56-5B.
In nearly identical affirmations last week, both Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service assigned “A” and “A2” ratings, respectively, to Boeing’s upcoming $850 million debt issuance. The rating agencies gave high-ranking credit scores to Boeing’s unsecured notes despite a newly forecast softening in so-called free cash flow, which could pinch near-term returns to shareholders and investors. A revised cash-flow forecast came as part of Boeing latest quarterly report Oct.
India’s next national communication satellite, GSAT-16, is scheduled to be launched in December to augment its communications capability and boost existing services. The 3,150-kg (3.5-ton) satellite will be dual-manifested on a European Ariane 5 rocket along with another satellite, DirecTV-14, says a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization. The liftoff of GSAT-16, initially slated for next year, has been advanced by six months to meet the rapidly growing demand for GSAT services.
Cobham’s new 12-year, $563 million contract to provide an airborne search-and-rescue capability for Australia should add 1% to the British-based company’s top line, RBC Capital Markets analysts said Oct. 24 after the deal was unveiled.
Engility and Tasc announced Oct. 28 that they will merge in a $1.1 billion stock-and-debt deal, creating an expanded and diversified engineering services company for U.S. government customers. After the deal closes, which is expected in January, Engility’s overall defense market concentration will fall to 48% from 64%, with 28% of total business stemming from intelligence agencies and the last 24% from the Homeland Security Department, FAA and NASA combined.
In a recent Up Front column (Oct. 13, p. 16), Richard Aboulafia misattributed a quote to Boeing Senior Vice President Tim Keating. The comment was made by Ray Goforth, executive director of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace.
This twin-engine turboprop aircraft family initially was known as the Dash 8 series. The original Q100 made its first flight in June 1983; first deliveries followed in October 1984. The Q100 carried 37-39 passengers, and was equipped with 2,150-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120/121 engines. Other models out of production are: the 37-39-passenger Q200 (with 2,150-shp PW123C/D engines) and 50-56-seat Q300 (with 2,500-shp PW123Bs). The 68-78 seat Q400 (with 5,071-shp PW150As) remains in production.
Initially, the new ARJ21 regional jet from Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac) is to be available as the ARJ21-700 78-90-seater, while later introduction of the 98-105-seat ARJ21-900 is a possibility. Power is provided by two GE CF34-10A turbofans producing 18,500 lb. thrust each. Rollout of the first ARJ21-700 occurred in December 2007, followed by first flight in November 2008. Six ARJ21s were built through 2013, and 86 additional examples are forecast for production through 2023. The ARJ21 faces competition from Bombardier and Embraer.
This single-turboprop-powered utility/passenger aircraft first flew in December 1982. Through 2013, Cessna produced 2,319 Caravans of all types. Designed with the small-package delivery segment in mind, Caravan models in production include the Caravan 675 and 208B Grand Caravan. Both are powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop engine rated at 675 shp. Also in production is the upgraded Grand Caravan EX model, featuring a more powerful PT6A-140 turboprop engine. The EX achieved certification in January 2013. Cessna is forecast to deliver 988 Caravans in 2014-23.
A twin-turbofan, commercial passenger transport aircraft, the C919 targets the international duopoly in narrowbody airliner sales currently enjoyed by Airbus and Boeing. Variants include the baseline C919-200, which seats up to 168 passengers; the C919-100, a 130-seat model that will compete against the Airbus A319; and the C919-300, a larger 190-seat model designed to compete with Airbus’s A321 and Boeing’s 737-800/900. Comac has selected the CFM International Leap-1C engine, with 30,000 lb. thrust, to power the C919. Service entry is planned for 2016.
The TBM 850 is a single-engine, 4-6-passenger, turboprop-powered aircraft that replaced the earlier TBM 700 in 2006. Power is provided by an 850-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D engine. The aircraft has a range of 1,585 nm. Through 2013, production totaled 339 aircraft. Production of 13 units is forecast for 2014-23. The TBM 900 is an upgraded TBM 850 model introduced in March 2014. It features a new five-blade propeller, winglets and tailcone. Daher-Socata also added a banana-shaped air intake, new exhaust stacks and carbon-fiber cowlings to increase engine airflow circulation.
This is Embraer’s E-Jet family of twin-engine, 70-132-seat regional jetliners. The 70-80 passenger 170 made its first flight in February 2002, followed by the larger 78-88-seat 175 in June 2003. The 170 and the 175 share a common engine in the 14,200-lb.-thrust GE CF34-8E. The 94-114-seat 190 made its initial flight in March 2004, while the 106-122-passenger 195 first flew in December 2004. GE CF34-10E engines, rated 20,000 lb. thrust each, power these models. Additionally, Embraer developed the Lineage 1000, a business jet version of the 190; deliveries began in 2009.
The Australian company GippsAero, which is a subsidiary of India’s Mahindra Aerospace, is developing a 10-seat, single-engine turboprop aircraft dubbed the GA10. The new aircraft is powered by a 450-shp Rolls-Royce 250-B17F engine. The GA10 has a maximum takeoff weight of 4,750 lb. First flight occurred in May 2012. Australian type certification and initial deliveries are planned for 2014. GippsAero is also developing an 18-seat twin-turboprop aircraft called the GA18. This aircraft is a reengineered version of the GAF N24 Nomad, production of which ended in the mid-1980s.
Two major sections of the first C919 fuselage have been connected, and the nose is in position to join them. “Final assembly is proceeding steadily,” says Comac, adding that it is trying to complete joining the structure by year-end, after which it will integrate the on-board systems. The roll-out is due in the third quarter of 2015.
The Y-12 series is a family of twin-turboprop aircraft. The Y-12-II is equipped with Western avionics and Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines flat-rated to 620 shp each. The Y-12-IV has winglets, a strengthened undercarriage and redesigned seating for 18-19 passengers. Another version is the Y-12E, which is powered by 750-shp PT6A-135 engines. A total of 58 Y-12-II/-IV and Y-12E aircraft are forecast to be produced for the civil market in the coming 10 years. Harbin is developing the Y-12F, which is substantially different from the earlier designs.
