The U.S. Navy could seek congressional approval to purchase 25 Australian Seabird Seeker surveillance aircraft for Yemen’s transitional government, a U.S. official tells Aviation Week. The manned surveillance planes would supplement four RQ-11 Raven UAVs that Washington procured last year for Yemen, a key ally in the ongoing battle against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and a local affiliate that overtook large swaths of territory during Yemen’s Arab Spring-inspired uprisings in 2011.
BEIJING — China estimates it will account for about 30% of the world’s space launches for the rest of the decade, more than doubling its recent launch pace, according to national space group CASC.
FIRST OF TEN: Boeing has delivered the first of 10 C-17 Globemaster III airlifters destined for the Indian air force (IAF). India’s first C-17 will now enter a U.S. Air Force flight test program at Edwards AFB in Palmdale, Calif., a senior Boeing official said Jan. 23. India signed a $4.1 billion contract with the U.S. in 2011 to acquire the aircraft, making the country the largest C-17 export customer. The two governments finalized the Foreign Military Sales contract for the aircraft last June.
LONDON — The U.K. Royal Air Force has stood up an Expeditionary Air Wing in the United Arab Emirates, as the air arm plans a greater presence in the country. Based at Al Minhad Air Base, just south of Dubai, the 906 Expeditionary Air Wing will support the air bridge between the U.K. and Afghanistan as well as deployments of RAF aircraft taking part in regional exercises. But the creation of the air wing hints at a more permanent presence in the country.
LONDON — The Spanish air force plans to retire three aircraft fleets this year in a bid to reduce costs in the face of Spain’s ongoing economic crisis. The air arm is also planning significant cuts in its flying hours, from around 100,000 per year down to 65,000 during 2013.
Do not expect a major public policy battle over the use of UAVs in foreign airstrikes and reconnaissance in President Barack Obama’s second term, according to the sentiment expressed by his former director of national intelligence (DNI).
LONDON — AgustaWestland and Embraer are examining the potential of helicopter production in Brazil. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) looking at establishing a joint venture that could lead to the production of AgustaWestland’s helicopters in Brazil for both military and civil use.
TROOP CUT: The U.K. Ministry of Defense has announced a third round of reductions following the 2010 Strategic Defense and Security Review. A total of 5,300 army personnel will be cut as part of plans to reduce the size of the British army to 82,000 personnel by 2015. Defense Secretary Philip Hammond says, “The army is actively managing recruitment to reach the target numbers, but unfortunately redundancies are unavoidable due to the size of the defense deficit that this government inherited and the consequent scale of downsizing required in the army.”
LONDON — The U.K. Ministry of Defense is considering an upgrade of its AgustaWestland Merlin Mk3 tactical transport helicopter fleet. The Merlin Mk3s and the Mk3A models purchased from Denmark are currently operated by the U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF). But with the retirement of the Sea King from the RAF and the Royal Navy, the entire RAF Merlin fleet is to be transferred to the Navy to form the backbone of the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF), which provides support to U.K. amphibious operations.
The U.S. F-35 Joint Program Office has grounded its young fleet of F-35Bs after the failure of a propulsion fueldraulic line during a takeoff attempt last week at Eglin AFB, Fla.
PARIS — Ankara is planning development of a national satellite launch system capable of delivering military and civil spacecraft to orbit, according to Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz. Following a Jan. 3 meeting of Turkey’s Defense Industry Executive Committee, Yilmaz said the government will enter negotiations with Turkish weapons builder Roketsan Inc. for the early concept design phase of a new launch system “to ensure that military and civilian satellites can be sent into space,” according to a Jan. 3 statement.
AIR FORCE Battlespace Flight Services L.L.C., Arlington, Va., (FA4890-07-C-0006, P00124) is being awarded a $13,740,356 contract modification for MQ-1 O-level operation and maintenance services. The location of the performance is Creech AFB, Nev., and Whiteman AFB, Mo., and deployed sites worldwide. The work is expected to be completed by March 31, 2013. The contracting activity is Air Combat Command AMIC/PKC, Langley AFB, Va.
NEW DELHI — Russian Helicopters will showcase its light multipurpose Ka-226T helo, which is a contender to fulfill the Indian defense ministry’s requirement for surveillance and reconnaissance helicopters, at the ninth edition of Aero India, which begins Feb. 6 at Bengaluru in southern India. India wants to purchase 197 light helicopters — 133 for the Army and 64 for the Indian air force.
AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth (FA8611-08-C-2897) is being awarded a $73,709,042 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification for calendar year 2013 services for the F-22 depot partnering activation support for management and integration tasks. The location of the performance is Hill AFB, Utah. The work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2013. The contracting activity is Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WWUV, Hill AFB. NAVY
The Pentagon plans to conduct a return-to-flight demonstration of the Boeing-led Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system on Jan. 26, according to officials at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., after the missile defense shield has been grounded for two years.
LONDON — The Netherlands has become the first country to deploy its NHindustries NH90 helicopter on anti-piracy operations. The aircraft is now en route to the Indian Ocean onboard the Royal Netherlands Navy vessel, HNLMS De Ruyter, a De Zeven Provinciën class frigate. The Netherlands Defense Helicopter Command, which operates the aircraft, says that while the aircraft is not in its full operational capability, it will provide an “important contribution to the EU anti-piracy mission.”
Embraer and Finmeccanica’s AgustaWestland division are examining the potential of helicopter production in Brazil. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) looking at establishing a joint venture that could lead to the production of AgustaWestland’s helicopters in Brazil for both military and civil use. Such a project would give the company a foothold in the Latin American market, which is currently dominated by Eurocopter and Bell, while Sikorsky has entered the fold with sales of its military and civil products.
Negotiators for Boeing’s 15,500 unionized engineers and 7,400 technical workers are expected to seek authority to strike after recommending a “no” vote on the “best and final” contract offer late last week from Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA). The current contract for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (Speea), which covers BCA workers in Washington, Utah, Oregon and California, expired Dec. 25.
The Pentagon’s recent preparations for potential across-the-board budget cuts are already facing scrutiny from a union representing the defense arm’s 270,000 civilian employees. On Jan. 10, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter issued a memo outlining steps to curtail spending in case sequestration takes place in March. The measures include a freeze on civilian hiring, not replacing retirees and preparing for thousands of furloughs.
Boeing has teamed with Sikorsky to pursue the U.S. Army’s next-generation rotorcraft plans, leaving Bell Helicopter to propose a tiltrotor solution on its own. Boeing and Sikorsky have teamed for the long haul, says Samir Mehta, president of Sikorsky Military Systems. “This is a long-term commitment.”
