ASIA SPOTLIGHT: The U.S. House of Representative’s Armed Services Committee is beginning a four-month campaign to spotlight and discuss the Obama administration’s strategy pivot to the Asia Pacific, especially in light of so-called sequestration. Pushed by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), the campaign will include hearings, an “Asian ambassador roundtable” and other events like a kickoff discussion Oct. 29 at the American Enterprise Institute.
LONDON — The designer of the distinctive Edgley EA-7 Optica is looking for new investment to restart production of the lightweight observation aircraft. John Edgley, who designed the EA-7 in the 1970s, believes there is now a wider market for observation aircraft for security and utility operations, and claims that the Optica, with its unique, helicopter-like visibility around the cabin, could find a niche in operations for which helicopters would be too expensive.
LONDON — The Turkish government has signed a production deal with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the next version of the Anka medium altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV. According to a statement from Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) on Oct. 28, the SSM and TAI signed a deal for 10 platforms on Oct. 25. Ankara says the aircraft will be used for airborne intelligence, surveillance and target detection and the Turkish government will maximize use of domestic companies to support the program.
SEOUL and BEIJING — Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is pushing for South Korea to cut the technical challenges of its proposed KF-X fighter program, offering a single-engine concept that probably has a distant connection with the Lockheed Martin F-16. KAI’s KFX-E design should be cheaper to develop and build than the larger proposals put forward by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the chief proponent of the KF-X.
The U.S. Navy, one of the most traditional organizations in the world, is leading a revolution in the way it is acquiring its ships and apparently undergoing a metamorphosis in the fleet mix it wants to build. By relying more on multiyear, block-buy contracts, the Navy is changing the way it — and other services — look at contracting for larger defense programs.
NEW DELHI — As India moves to cancel its scandal-tainted contract with AgustaWestland to supply AW101 helicopters, the company’s former rival in the tender, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., is advancing an alternative. “If we are called upon as a sequel to the process, we will be more than willing to come forward and address the requirements,” says Arvind Jeet Singh Walia, Sikorsky’s regional executive for India and South Asia. India signed the 35.46 billion rupee ($720 million) contract with AgustaWestland in February 2010 to buy 12 AW101 helicopters.
MOSCOW — The fifth prototype of the T-50 fifth-generation fighter made its first, 1-hr. flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on Oct. 28, manufacturer Sukhoi reports. After the factory trials, the aircraft T-50-5 will join the other four prototypes in a flight-test program in Zhukovsky, near Moscow, according to Sukhoi. Two more aircraft are involved in the ground test — one is used as a ground rig, and another for static tests.
Raytheon has completed flight tests of a low-cost missile that was developed rapidly to shoot down mortars, rockets and unmanned aircraft, but has yet to find a home for the weapon.
The Center for New American Security (CNAS) recently released a report entitled “Game Changers: Disruptive Technology and U.S. Defense Strategy.” That study considered additive manufacturing (3-D printers), autonomous vehicles, directed energy, cyber capabilities, human performance modification and other emerging technologies that the center believes need to be factored into U.S. security policy and planning.
Digital imaging was more than just a replacement for photographic film. It enabled a revolution in how images are captured, stored, shared and manipulated. Night vision is beginning a similar metamorphosis, with digital devices emerging to replace the analog goggles now in use.
The Textron AirLand Scorpion light attack aircraft, which is scheduled to make its first flight in the next few weeks, continues to capture—and hold—the attention of Europeans. Although its developers carefully avoid calling it a “low-cost” fighter proposal, it is obvious that their ultimate goal is to offer a two-seat twinjet costing a fraction of more conventional aircraft. This is an attractive proposition, of course, in an environment of increasingly restricted and uncertain defense budgets.
MEXICAN TRAINERS: The Mexican air force has placed a follow-on order for a second batch of six Beechcraft T-6C+ turboprop trainers to continue replacing its Pilatus PC-7s. An initial six aircraft ordered in Januarry 2012 are to be delivered late this year after required export licenses are received. The T-4C+ has a glass cockpit, head-up display, and wing hardpoints for external stores and practice weapons.
The Defense Department has set the stage for low-rate initial production of an upgraded version of the Paladin self-propelled cannon system. The Defense Acquisition Executive approved Milestone C for the Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program, the U.S. Army and PIM contractor BAE Systems announced this week at the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army. Milestone C is a key incremental step in the Pentagon’s acquisition process, allowing entry into the production and deployment phase.
Even as the government gets ready to sort out Lockheed Martin’s protest of the U.S. Navy’s recent Air & Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) contract with Raytheon, investments continue to build for maritime missile defense.
