The U.S. Navy took a major step toward getting one of its aircraft carriers back into the fleet earlier this month when the CVN-71 USS Theodore Roosevelt completed an overnight habitability fast cruise. The Nimitz-class carrier is now in the final stages of finishing its refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding unit, and the fast cruise is a significant step toward finishing the refueling, repairs and renovations.
ZHUHAI, China — Avic is promoting export sales of a fighter, unofficially known as the J-31, that has been shown in three apparently staged events over the past few months, including what may have been its first flight last month.
ASHDOD, Israel — A recent bombing attack on an arms factory in Sudan may point to an Israeli electronic warfare capability that allows non-stealthy aircraft to avoid being targeted by radar.
NaVAL RADIO: The U.S. Navy has ordered an additional 53 AN/USC-61(C) four-channel Digital Modular Radios (DMR) from General Dynamics for use aboard new U.S. Navy ships, submarines and inshore sites. In addition to the new radios, existing DMR hardware will be modified to accommodate networking waveforms owned by the government, according to a company statement. The order, which has a total potential value of $35 million, exercises an option on a contract awarded in 2010. General Dynamics has delivered more than 500 DMR radios to the Navy, according to the company.
AIR FORCE Harris Corp. Government Communications Systems, Palm Bay, Fla., (FA8819-08-C-0001, P00119) is being awarded a $36,329,490.00 cost plus award fee, cost plus fixed fee and firm fixed price contract to provide upgrades for the five Counter Communication Systems (CCS) Block 10 systems to the CCS B10.1 baseline and critical and depot system spares to meet operational reliability requirements. The location of the performance is Palm Bay, Fla. The work is expected to be completed by Feb. 7, 2014. The contracting activity is SMC/SY, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
AIR FORCE General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Poway, Calif., (FA8620-10-G-3038, DO 0052) is being awarded a $125,487,106 contract for 10 MQ-9 modified Block 1 aircraft. The location of the performance is Poway. The work is expected to be completed by Nov. 28, 2014. The contracting activity is AFLCMC/WIIK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Saudi Arabia is close to signing a deal worth more than $6.5 billion with Lockheed Martin as it seeks to modernise its airlift and inflight refuelling capabilities.
News of a Nov. 1 Iranian attack on a U.S. UAV is adding fuel to congressional efforts to undo potential federal budget cuts due to take place in January.
UAS FOCUS: Twenty aviation associations are cautioning FAA acting Administrator Michael Huerta to protect airspace access and guard against manned-aircraft fleet modifications as unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations are introduced into the national airspace system (NAS). “For FAA to succeed, the agency must remain focused on safety rather than privacy issues, where FAA has no statutory standing or technical expertise,” say the associations, representing business and general aviation, airports, airlines, repair stations, and air traffic controllers, among others.
Lockheed Martin has fired CEO-elect Christopher E. Kubasik for having “a close personal relationship with a subordinate employee.” Marillyn A. Hewson, who was to succeed Kubasik as president and COO on Jan. 1, 2013, has been named to be the new CEO. Lockheed asked for Kubasik’s resignation “effective immediately” after completing an ethics investigation sparked when an employee came forward at the end of October “with an expression of concern,” says Chairman and current CEO Robert Stevens.
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s defense minister says the purchase of a long-range ground-based radar for the country’s air force remains a high priority, but he will not say when a winning contractor will be selected. “I have told my staff if they are ready to select a supplier for the ground-based radar, I am ready,” Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro told Aviation Week Nov. 6 on the eve of the IndoDefense exhibition in Jakarta.
NEW DELHI — The Indian air force (IAF) is likely to start taking delivery of 512 CBU-105 sensor fuzed weapons (SFW) made by Textron Defense Systems in the first half of 2013, a defense ministry official says. Under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales deal, Textron will deliver the SFWs to the U.S. Air Force, which in turn will give them to the IAF, the official says. The SFW will be mounted on the IAF’s Jaguar fighters, and Textron will work closely with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to integrate the weapons, the official says.
Airbus Military and partner Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) have launched a new version of the C212, which is to be called the NC212. The NC212 will have a new avionics and autopilot system, says Ignacio Alonso, Airbus Military’s senior VP for commercial, strategy and industrial relations (Asia). The airframe and engines will remain unchanged from the current model, the C212-400. But thanks to a more efficient use of space—with a new interior cabin and seats—the passenger seat capacity will increase to 28 from 25, he says.
NEW DELHI — The Indian government plans to sell a 10% stake in state-owned defense aerospace firm Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), according to a senior minister. “The government is aiming to sell HAL’s shares through an initial public offering,” Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said Nov. 8. The sale is expected to take place in the next fiscal year, which begins April 1. The government hopes to earn 25 billion rupees ($460 million) from the sale.
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Airbus Military and partner Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) have launched a new version of the C212, which is to be called the NC212. The NC212 will have a new avionics and autopilot system, says Ignacio Alonso, Airbus Military’s senior VP for commercial, strategy and industrial relations (Asia). The airframe and engines will remain unchanged from the current model, the C212-400. But thanks to a more efficient use of space — with a new interior cabin and seats — the passenger seat capacity will increase to 28 from 25, he says.
Even as the U.S. Marine Corps whittles away at personnel, acquisition and modernization efforts, the service still needs to beef up its cyber ability and retain its reacquired expertise in counterinsurgency (COIN) operations, says Gen. James Amos, Marine commandant. Amos cites cyber as the Marines’ one major capability gap, saying, “There is a lot we don’t know.”
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s defense minister is adamant that the country will be getting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters. Purnomo Yusgiantoro says the country’s defense budget, passed by parliament, includes money allocated for the purchase of ASW naval helicopters. The aircraft are to be stationed on the navy’s Sigma-class corvettes. The navy has four corvettes, and a fifth was recently ordered.
