China may be a leading reason behind the U.S.'s long-term force structure planning, but recent think-tank analysis is suggesting that traditional Pentagon weapons, particularly many U.S. Navy ships now sailing, likely would be less useful in a confrontation with the Asian giant. Instead, the Rand Corp. says, the U.S. should look to offensive long-range strike and intelligence weapons that would hold Beijing at risk.
Italy has notched another European first in the adoption of unmanned aircraft systems by simultaneously operating three different UAS in civilian airspace and over ground. The Sept. 30 demonstration culminated the first phase of an R&D program by Piedmont regional authorities, with the medium-term goal of fielding a UAS-based monitoring system that could prove crucial for responding to natural disasters, as well as tracking pollution, road traffic, crops and urban development, along with supporting security forces and border control.
The three U.S. agencies responsible for purchasing launches of government payloads into space are agreeing on long-awaited criteria that for the first time pave the way for new rocket companies to penetrate a national security launch sector now dominated by the United Launch Alliance, a Lockheed Martin and Boeing joint venture.
India's launch of a new satellite, Megha-Tropiques, to study climatic and atmospheric changes in tropical regions has boosted the country into an elite club of global space-partnering, but the Asian giant has far to go to prove its space capabilities more generally.
Although he's been on the job for just four months, Scott Ernest, CEO and president of Cessna Aircraft, is pushing the throttles at the beleaguered airframer and accelerating the introduction of two new Citation models to counter new competitors in the light jet market, which Cessna has dominated for decades.
At one time viewed by corporate aviation as fashionable accessories with minor performance benefits, winglets will take center stage as business aircraft operators increasingly look to new shapes and structural concepts for fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions.
While the FAA insists that it will make major strides with a vital air traffic control upgrade by year-end, serious questions are being asked in Washington about whether revised timetable and cost estimates can be met. The En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) program was rebaselined mid-year, but the agency has already missed an important near-term milestone in September. The FAA says this delay will only be a matter of months, and if that is true it would help ease the skepticism of lawmakers and government watchdog agencies.
EADS Astrium entered uncharted territory this month in accepting financial backing from the European Space Agency (ESA) to build a new high-speed data relay service for Europe while simultaneously creating a market for it. Astrium has taken privatization of satellite communications and remote-sensing services further than anyone else in the business, showing a willingness to spend hundreds of millions of its own euros with little or no government backing.
A new U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J outfitted with a precision-guided weapon and deployed in Afghanistan seems to be proving its worth, scoring multiple Taliban kills. Only days into its deployment last year, the so-called Harvest Hawk system detected three improvised explosive devices (IED) and scored five enemy kills, with no civilian casualties. Its growing track record of intelligence collection and close air support could bolster Lockheed Martin's efforts to sell similar strap-on capabilities to Hercules users abroad.
How far is China's military reach? The answer depends on what it wants to do. A Chinese warship deployed to the Mediterranean this year, so, by that yardstick, global reach is at hand. But the isolated ship only supported civilian evacuations from Libya, and had no real military potential.
There is growing interest in a U.S. aviation force—perhaps based primarily on existing aircraft in the effort to save shrinking defense dollars—that could carry out precision surveillance and strike missions thousands of miles away.
Washington and Beijing continue to eye each other warily as they try to assess if the other is a friend and potential ally or a politically unpredictable and culturally confusing foe. Distrust is generated by two factors—the uncertainly of world politics and the speed with which technology is changing.
If programs are the lifeblood of the Western military world, then the sector is showing signs of anemia. How else could one describe the existential debates going on among officials and executives in and between Washington, London, Berlin, Paris and other allies?
The L-39 family includes two-seat trainers and single-seat light attack aircraft; all single-engine. The most recent version is the L-159, and, although the plane is still available for order, no new aircraft have been produced since 2003. Power for the L-159 is provided by a 6,300-lb.-thrust ITEC (Honeywell/AIDC) F124-GA-100 turbofan engine. The maiden flight of the L-39 occurred in 1968, with the L-159 following with its first flight in 1997 and first delivery in 1999. Nearly 3,000 aircraft in the series have been produced.
A three-engine, medium-lift, multirole helicopter, the AW101 (formerly known as the EH101) has been produced in naval, military utility and civil versions. The various versions have been equipped with a number of engines, such as the General Electric CT7 and T700 and Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322. Through 2010, 168 AW101s were produced. Some 77 more are forecast to be built in the 2011-20 period.
The current military model of this twin-engine, eight-seat, single-main-rotor multipurpose helicopter is the AW109LUH, which is powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2K2 turboshaft engines, rated at 670 shp each. Armament capability includes 7.62-mm and 12.7-mm machine guns, rocket launchers, anti-tank missiles (TOW, HOT or Hellfire) and/or air-to-air missiles (Stinger or Mistral). Through 2010, 1,250 AW109s were produced, including 70 LUHs. In the 2011-20 time period, more than 800 AW109s are forecast, including 94 LUHs.
First flight of the AW129 attack helicopter occurred in 1983. Agusta delivered 66 of the aircraft, including prototypes, through 2010. The Turkish army selected the AW129 in 2007 for a requirement for 51 attack helicopters, plus 41 options. The Turkish version is known as the T129 and is powered by CTS800 engines. An estimated 96 T129s are forecast to be produced in the 2011-20 period, most by Turkish Aerospace Industries.
This twin-engine, multirole military and commercial helicopter has been produced for anti-submarine warfare, training, utility and transport roles. The Super Lynx 300 series aircraft is powered by a pair of LHTEC CTS800 turboshaft engines rated at 1,384 shp each. The upgraded AW159 Lynx Wildcat, designed for the U.K. military, features a new airframe, digital communications, CTS800-4N engines rated at 1,361 shp each and a new glass cockpit. First flight of the AW159 occurred in November 2009.
The F-CK-1 (also called the Indigenous Defense Fighter) is a light fighter aircraft developed by the Taiwan state-owned aerospace company in the 1980s. Powered by two Honeywell/ITEC F125-GA-100 turbofan engines, the aircraft entered service in 1994. In all, 134 aircraft were completed before production stopped in 1999.
The A400M is a four-engine, turboprop-powered military transport aircraft currently under development. Seven European nations are participating in the A400M program: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the U.K. The seven nations intend to acquire a total of 170 A400Ms. Malaysia joined its European counterparts in the development effort in 2005 and plans to acquire four A400Ms. First flight occurred in December 2009, with initial deliveries planned by early 2013.
The C212 is an unpressurized, twin-turboprop-powered military transport with room for up to 25 fully equipped troops or a payload of up to 6,504 lb. Along with transport duties, the aircraft has seen popularity in a maritime patrol role. Developed by Spain's CASA, and once known as the Aviocar, the C212 made its first flight in March 1971 and deliveries began in May 1974. Some 474 C212s of all versions were built through 2010. The C212-200 is powered by two Honeywell TPE331-10R-511C or -512C turboprop engines rated at 900 shp each.
The 340 series is a family of twin-turboprop commuter aircraft designed and initially produced jointly by Saab and Fairchild Aircraft. The Saab 340 has been used in the military market as a platform for the airborne early warning mission. The 340A is powered by two GE CT7-5A2s rated at 1,735 shp each, and the 340B by GE CT7-9Bs rated at 1,870 shp each. Operators of 340Bs modified for AEW use include Sweden, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, although the aircraft also finds use as a military transport.
The Sikorsky S-300C is a piston-powered, 2-3-seat light utility and training helicopter acquired by Sikorsky when it bought Schweizer Aircraft in 2004. The S-300C has its roots in the Hughes Helicopter Model 269/300 family. Schweizer produced its first 300C in 1984 after signing a deal with Hughes in 1983. Specially configured models of the S-300C are offered for a variety of dedicated military missions, including introductory pilot training and scout/observation.
Schweizer Aircraft developed the Model 330 and 333 prior to the company's acquisition by Sikorsky in 2004. The 330 was developed from the company's piston-powered Model 300. The 330 and the improved 330SP models were both powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C20W turboshaft engine derated to 232 shp. The uprated Model 333 (redesignated the S-333 in 2009) featured the same engine as the Model 330, but offered a 100-lb. increase in useful load, redesigned rotor system and larger-diameter blades. Production of the Model 330 ended in 2008.
