The A-10 is a single-seat ground-attack aircraft powered by a pair of General Electric TF34-100 turbofans rated at 9,065-lb.-thrust each. First flight occurred in 1972, and production ended in 1984 after a total of 713 A-10As had been built for the U.S. Air Force. Conversion of a portion of the A-10 fleet for use in forward air control resulted in the OA-10 configuration. More than 300 A/OA-10s have been upgraded to the A-10C standard through the Precision Engagement program, for which Lockheed Martin was the prime contractor.
The MD 500 series is a family of 4-6-seat, single-engine military and commercial utility helicopters. Past militarized models have included the multirole 500MD Defender, armed Scout Defender, anti-tank TOW Defender, anti-submarine ASW Defender, multimission Defender II with optional four-blade quiet tail rotor; and the 500MG Defender with a derated, 420-shp, Rolls-Royce 250 engine and MD 500E rotor system. The 520N, with the Notar (no-tail-rotor) anti-torque system, is used in reconnaissance and multirole purposes. MDHI is now developing the more powerful MD 540F.
The PC-21 is a two-seat trainer powered by a 1,600-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop. Pilatus achieved certification of the PC-21 in December 2004. Customers include the Swiss air force, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Pilatus produced 47 PC-21s through 2011 and is projected to deliver an additional 164 from 2012 through 2021.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is an indigenously developed single-seat, single-engine multirole fighter for the Indian military; land-based air force, carrier-capable navy and two-seat trainer versions are being developed. Initial production aircraft are powered by a GE F404-IN20 augmented turbofan rated at 18,700-lb.-thrust.
The K-8 is a tandem-seat jet trainer produced by Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, with approximately 18% of components produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). First flight occurred in 1990. The K-8 is powered by either a 3,600-lb.-thrust Honeywell TFE731-2-2A turbofan or a 3,792-lb.-thrust ZMKB Progress AI-25TL turbofan. At least 390 K-8 aircraft were produced through 2011, with 171 forecast for production from 2012 through 2021.
The Changhe Z-8 (and commercial) AC313 are three-engine rotorcraft with capacity for up to 39 passengers or 27 fully equipped troops. In Peoples Liberation Army service, the helicopters are used in tactical transport, search-and-rescue and naval combat. The Z-8 prototype first flew in 1985, powered by three Changzhou WZ6 turboshafts producing 1,190 shp each. Subsequent models use other engines: the Z-8A uses Turbomeca Makila 2A turboshafts (1,870 shp) and the Z-8F and AC313 use Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-67As (1,850 shp).
The Typhoon is a delta-wing, single- and two-seat, supersonic multi-role fighter produced by Eurofighter, a consortium comprising Alenia Aermacchi, BAE Systems and EADS and developed for the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. The aircraft is powered by two Eurojet EJ200 augmented turbofans rated at approximately 20,250-lb.-thrust each. The initial prototype flew in 1994, with deliveries beginning in 2002. Approximately 300 Typhoons had been built through 2011, while an estimated 302 are forecast for production from 2012 through 2021.
Nobody is under any illusions about whether an attack on Iran's advanced weapons complex will end that country's advanced weapons threat or intimidate Tehran's government into inaction. “You have the day after, which some people say [will produce] a regional war, while others expect a calculated, limited Iranian action,” says Amos Yadlin, a former Israeli air force fighter pilot who bombed the nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981 and later became Israel's military intelligence chief. He expects the latter.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) was originally powered by two Turbomeca TM333-2B2 turboshafts rated at 1,000 shp each. Deliveries of an upgraded variant with the new Turbomeca/HAL Ardiden 1H1 turboshaft began in 2011. The Ardiden 1H1 is produced in India as the Shakti. The Dhruv's first flight with twin Ardiden 1H1s, each rated at 1,200 shp, took place in January 2009. An attack variant, the LCH (Light Combat Helicopter), is being developed; it will be powered by two Shakti turboshafts.
Kawasaki is developing the C-2 to replace for the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force's C-1As and C-130Hs. The C-2 is a twin-engine tactical transport aircraft powered by General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofans rated at approximately 52,500-lb.-thrust each. Maximum payload is 82,892 lb. First flight occurred in January 2010, and 21 C-1s are forecast to be produced from 2012 through 2021.
The New York-based Society of Satellite Professionals has selected the winners of its 2012 Promise and Mentor awards. The Promise Award, which recognizes the potential of a young satellite professional to play a leadership role in the industry, was given to Brian Mengwasser, an innovation projects engineer at SES; Nicole Robinson, Vice president-marketing and corporate communications, SES Government Solutions; and Karen Yasumura, government affairs manager at the Intelsat General Corp.
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is an anti-submarine warfare/maritime-patrol aircraft produced through 1997. Lockheed won a U.S. Navy ASW competition in 1958 and began deliveries of the P-3A in 1962; the improved P-3C first flew in 1968. Lockheed produced a total of 647 P-3s, while Kawasaki produced 101 under license. Although production has ended, numerous upgrade programs continue. Power for the P-3C is provided by four 4,910-shp Rolls-Royce T56-14 turboprops.
Apache Twin-engine, tandem-seat attack helicopter. The current production model is the AH-64D, available both as a new-build aircraft and as an upgrade of existing AH-64As. Most AH-64Ds are fitted with GE T700 engines, although the U.K.-assembled AgustaWestland/Boeing WAH-64D has a pair of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322s. Apache armament includes a 30-mm chain gun with 1,200 rounds and four underwing hardpoints that can accommodate up to 16 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, or up to 76 air-to-ground rockets, or a combination.
Chengdu is working on a stealthy fighter known as the J-20, but it is unclear what role it will play in the Chinese air force's structure. The J-20 is likely to be optimized more as a strike fighter than the J-10, and will likely to be more difficult for Chengdu to produce in volume. Two prototypes of the J-20 are now in testing, with full operating capability not expected until at least 2018. The aircraft are reportedly powered by Russian-made AL-31F turbofans instead of Chinese-developed WS-10 powerplants.
In 1995, Russia sold a 15-year license for producing Su-27s to China for more than $2 billion. Up to 200 aircraft (designated J-11 by the Chinese) were to be built by Shenyang Aircraft Corp. The first two were assembled in December 1998 from Knaapo-supplied kits. A total of 105 kits had been delivered to Shenyang by 2004, when the program was halted. All of the kits had been assembled by the end of 2006. Shenyang also produces the J-11B.
The Mi-24 series is a family of twin-turboshaft attack helicopters. The new Mi-35M features 2,400-shp Klimov VK-2500 engines, as well as various improvements to the rotors and airframe. The Mi-35M is available as a new-build helicopter as well as a retrofit package. Over 2,370 helicopters in the Mi-24/25/35 series were produced through 2011. A further 68 are forecast to be produced from 2012 through 2021.
The MH/SH-60 (also S-70B) series are medium-lift, anti-submarine warfare, and special-purpose shipborne helicopters. Current production models, the MH-60R and MH-60S, are powered by two GE T700-401C turboshaft engines rated at 1,690 shp each. The MH-60R configuration combines systems and capabilities from the earlier SH-60B and F variants, plus further upgrades. The MH-60S is a hybrid model incorporating the airframe, landing gear, fuel cells and several subsystems of the UH-60, mated with the SH-60's main rotor and tail fold, dynamic systems, engines and rescue hoist.
First flown as a prototype in 1982, the Ka-50 Black Shark is a single-seat, twin-engine, contra-rotating coaxial-rotor attack helicopter. The Ka-52 Alligator is a side-by-side, twin-seat variant of the Ka-50. Power for the Ka-50 initially came from 2,200-shp Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshafts. Though production ceased in 2009, the Ka-50 is still offered for sale, but now with the 2,400-shp Klimov VK-2500 engines used on the Ka-52. The Ka-52 remains in production and a naval variant, the Ka-52K, is under development for Russia's French-supplied helicopter carriers.
Brinkmanship in the Middle East could lead to joint U.S.-Israeli air attacks to stop or delay Iran's apparent march toward a nuclear capability. A key role would likely be played by U.S. Air Force and Israel Defense Forces Boeing F-15E and F-15I fighters armed with high-precision hard-target-defeat weapons. USAF Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Rissmiller's photo shows 4th Fighter Wing F-15Es in an exercise at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., earlier this year.
The E-3/E-6/E-8 series is a family of special-purpose military aircraft based on the Boeing 707. All three are out of production. A total of 76 E-3s, 17 E-6s and 20 E-8s were built. The Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System made its first flight in February 1972. Production E-3s were powered by either four Pratt & Whitney TF33s or CFM56-2 engines. First flight of the Boeing E-6A Mercury Tacamo II communications platform, with four F108-100 (CFM56) turbofans, took place in 1987. The Northrop Grumman E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System.
The Mil Mi-8/17 series of helicopters is a family of twin-engine, multirole transports. The initial Mi-8 prototype first flew in 1961. Later models in the series have been powered by Klimov VK-2500 turboshaft engines rated at 2,367 shp each. Through 2011, more than 11,900 Mi-8/17s of all types had been built. In the 2012-21 period, production of 1,796 additional aircraft is forecast.
The B-1B is a four-engine strategic bomber produced by Rockwell International (now Boeing) for the U.S. Air Force. The initial prototype made its first flight in 1974. The B-1B is powered by four GE F101-102 augmented turbofans rated at more than 30,000-lb.-thrust each. In addition to four B-1A prototypes, 100 B-1Bs were built before production ended in 1988. The Conventional Mission Upgrade Program (CMUP) began in 1995 with Block B and proceeded through to Block E, adding precision strike capabilities.
Medium, twin-engine multirole helicopter. Since the W-3 Sokol's first flight in 1979, a wide variety of variants have been produced, including the search-and-rescue W-3RM Anakona and armed combat W-3PL Gluszec. Development of a W-3PL/N naval multirole version is now under way. The W-3 is powered by two PZL-Rzeszow PZL-10W turboshafts rated at 900 shp each. Through 2011, approximately 155 W-3s had been produced. From 2012 through 2021, 53 W-3s are forecast to be built.
