Friday, November 12, 2010

DTN News: Boeing Completes 1st Wedgetail AEW&C Mission Crew Training Course For Royal Australian Air Force

Defense News: DTN News: Boeing Completes 1st Wedgetail AEW&C Mission Crew Training Course For Royal Australian Air Force
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) WILLIAMTOWN, New South Wales, - November 12, 2010: Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Number 2 Squadron personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have delivered the first Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) mission crew training course at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales.

During the seven-month course, which began in March, eight instructors and three role players from Boeing Defence Australia provided eight RAAF students with more than 1,200 hours of programmed training on the airborne battle management aircraft's mission systems.

"Boeing Defence Australia is responsible for training the students in non-tactical areas across all aircraft mission systems, including data links, communications systems and the Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, to ensure they graduate with the necessary skills," said Todd Barker, Wedgetail AEW&C mission crew lead instructor and course director for Boeing Defence Australia.

Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 commercial aircraft, the Wedgetail AEW&C platform is able to track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously through the advanced MESA radar and 10 mission crew consoles.

"As a key training service provider and integrator for the Australian Defence Force, Boeing Defence Australia continues to increase its in-country and international training footprint, as shown by the successful completion of Australia’s first AEW&C mission crew training course," said John Duddy, Boeing Defence Australia vice president and managing director. "Congratulations to the RAAF and Boeing Defence Australia's training team for this excellent outcome."

Subcontracted to The Boeing Company under the Wedgetail In-Service Support contract, Boeing Defence Australia is responsible for program management, supply chain management and engineering, maintenance and training services to support the six-aircraft fleet's introduction into RAAF service. To date, three aircraft have been formally accepted in an initial operating configuration by the Commonwealth. The fourth and fifth aircraft are scheduled to be delivered later this year and the remaining aircraft will be delivered in 2011.

Boeing Defence Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company and a business unit of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, is a leading Australian aerospace enterprise. With a world-class team of more than 1,500 employees at 14 locations throughout Australia and two international sites, Boeing Defence Australia supports some of the largest and most complex defense projects in Australia.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

Contact:

Sarah Wills
Boeing Defence Australia
+61 7-3306-3132
sarah.e.wills@boeing.com

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News: Boeing Opens New P-8 Production Facility In Seattle

Defense News: DTN News: Boeing Opens New P-8 Production Facility In Seattle
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) SEATTLE, - November 12, 2010: Boeing [NYSE: BA] today (Nov 11, 2010) celebrated the opening of a new P-8 aircraft production facility near Boeing Field in Seattle. The refurbished factory gives Boeing and its P-8 teammates the space they need to install mission systems and conduct tests on aircraft for current and future customers.

"The new factory is a great fit as Boeing transitions to building production aircraft, in part because it allows us to incorporate a leaner workflow," said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager. "We’ll complete work on the P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the U.S. Navy and the P-8I aircraft for the Indian navy in this facility, and plan to use this space for future P-8 customers’ aircraft as well."

The U.S. Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8A anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to replace its existing P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is scheduled for 2013. The Indian navy signed a contract for eight P-8I aircraft in January 2009. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I within 48 months of contract signing, and the remaining seven by 2015.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes employees assemble the P-8 aircraft -- which are based on the company’s Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane -- in Renton, Wash. Following final assembly, the P-8s make a short flight to Boeing Field. Inside the new facility, Defense, Space & Security employees will complete systems installation and testing prior to customer delivery.

Boeing is using a proven in-line production process to efficiently design and build the aircraft. All aircraft modifications unique to the P-8 are made in sequence during fabrication and assembly. Implementing established best practices and common, commercial production-system tools enables the team to reduce flow time and cost while ensuring quality.

As part of the U.S. Navy System Development and Demonstration contract Boeing received in 2004, the team is building and testing six flight-test and two ground-test aircraft. The first three flight-test aircraft are completing testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

The P-8 is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, GE Aviation and BAE Systems.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

Contact:

Chick Ramey
P-8 Communications
Office: 253-657-5636
Mobile: 206-851-4147
charles.b.ramey@boeing.com

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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Thursday, November 11, 2010

DTN News: Kazakhstan Seeks Defence Deal For 45 EC145s

Defense News: DTN News: Kazakhstan Seeks Defence Deal For 45 EC145s
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Craig Hoyle - Flight International
(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG - November 11, 2010: Kazakhstan could acquire up to 45 Eurocopter EC145 medium-twin helicopters for military applications, under a new memorandum of understanding signed with the European company, its parent EADS and the nation's defence ministry.

Eurocopter says the nation should take delivery of the new aircraft within a six-year period under the proposed deal, which was signed by Kazakh president Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev during his visit to France in late October.

A related agreement calls for the establishment of a new joint venture with local company Kazakhstan Engineering, which will complete the newly designated KH145s in Astana. It should deliver the first batch of six aircraft in late 2011, Eurocopter says, with the co-production pact expected to become operational next month. "The agreement also includes the development of local maintenance and training activities," the company adds.

Eurocopter chief executive Lutz Bertling says the arrangement will create "several hundreds of highly qualified jobs" and also "foster helicopter usage in Kazakhstan". He also believes the new joint venture will be able to compete for additional business in Belarus, Russia and central Asia, with other applications including parapublic operations and supporting the oil and gas sector.

Sales of the EC145 have now topped 400 aircraft, Eurocopter says. This includes the UH-72A Lakota variant being delivered to the US Army by American Eurocopter under the service's light utility helicopter programme. The company has so far handed over its 114 of the aircraft, says Flightglobal's HeliCAS database.

Kazakhstan Engineering also recently signed a memorandum of co-operation with France's Sagem on a proposed joint venture to produce, sell and market tactical unmanned air vehicles.


*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News: Boeing, Saudi Arabian Airlines Announce Order For 12 Boeing 777-300ERs

Defense News: DTN News: Boeing, Saudi Arabian Airlines Announce Order For 12 Boeing 777-300ERs
*Airline also orders eight 787 Dreamliners
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - November 11, 2010: Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Saudi Arabian Airlines today announced an order for 12 Boeing 777-300ERs (extended range) airplanes, with an option for 10 more.

This order previously was attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing's orders and deliveries website. The order is valued at $3.3 billion at average list prices.

Saudi Arabian Airlines also announced an order for eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners for its long haul fleet. The airline completed an arrangement with Boeing and Kuwait-based leasing company ALAFCO to transfer orders for the eight Dreamliners from ALAFCO to Saudi Arabian Airlines.


“Our decision to order the 777-300ER is part of a long-term growth strategy to expand and modernize our fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient airplanes, and is based on the airplane’s proven efficiencies,” said H.E. Eng. Khaled Al-Mulhim, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines.


“We see direct benefit because of the 777-300ER’s improved fuel efficiency, seat-mile costs and the economics of operating a twin-engine airplane over long distances.”


Saudi Arabian Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 777, a 777-200ER, in December 1997 and since then has deployed the 777 on a number of short-, medium- and long-haul routes.


Pictured here is a 777-300ER in Saudi Arabian Airlines livery.


Contact:

Saffana Michael

Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Dubai, UAE

+ 9714 2134849

Saffana.michael2@boeing.com


*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News: US Navy To Keep Some P-3Cs, Despite Replacement By P-8A

Defense News: DTN News: US Navy To Keep Some P-3Cs, Despite Replacement By P-8A
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources by Stephen Trimble - Flight International
(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG - November 11, 2010: A subset of the US Navy's Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion fleet is being upgraded to remain airworthy for at least a decade beyond its scheduled replacement by the Boeing 737-based P-8A Poseidon.

In addition to fleet-wide fatigue repairs, the navy is investing to replace the outer wing assemblies on at least 29 P-3Cs. The first 17 have already been ordered, with the service currently soliciting vendors for another 12, plus options for two more.

Lockheed, the P-3C manufacturer and outer-wing replacement contractor, believes the USN will buy even more assemblies and keep substantial numbers of Orions flying beyond the type's scheduled retirement date.

"There's going to be a subset of P-3s that the new platform at this point is not scheduled to take over," says Mark Jarvis, Lockheed's director of P-3 design and production. "We still think, if you look at their special mission airplanes, there is a universe of anywhere between 40 to 60 possible re-wing candidates."

Navy officials, however, are less optimistic. "We're up to a 29 outer-wing requirement right now," says Capt Aaron Rondeau, P-3 integrated product team lead. "I think that's probably going to stay at that number."

Rondeau acknowledges that the current requirement has declined from an original figure of 54 cited in 2007. This was reduced after the navy determined that about 25 wings were repairable as their damage had been caused by corrosion and not fatigue.

The USN agrees that the re-winged subset of its P-3C fleet will be maintained beyond the bulk of the Orion fleet's 2019 retirement date to perform special missions. This includes its 16 EP-3E Aries II electronic intelligence aircraft. The navy has installed Raytheon's littoral surveillance radar system on at least seven P-3Cs, providing a capability similar to the US Air Force's Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS.

Navy officials earlier this year cancelled the service's EPX programme, which would have replaced its EP-3s. Funding and requirements for a new programme are currently being determined.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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DTN News: Boeing Delivers Malaysia Airlines' First Next-Generation 737-800 With New Livery

Defense News: DTN News: Boeing Delivers Malaysia Airlines' First Next-Generation 737-800 With New Livery
*First Asia-Pacific carrier equipped to operate with the 737 Boeing Sky Interior
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) SEATTLE - November 11, 2010: , Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Malaysia Airlines last week celebrated the delivery of the airline's first Next-Generation 737 with the new, passenger-inspired Boeing Sky Interior.

The national carrier of Malaysia is the first full-service airline to operate the 737-800 with the new Boeing Sky Interior.

The new 737 Boeing Sky Interior features sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, and new, larger stow bins that accommodate more bags while taking up less space in the cabin. Attendants can select from different LED lighting schemes from soft blue overhead sky simulation to a calm, relaxing, pallet of sunset colors. To date, 50 customers have ordered the new interior for 1,386 airplanes.

Boeing Sky Interior is the latest in a series of improvements to the airplane. The next to come will be a package of performance improvements that will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 2 percent – making the airplane a full 7 percent more efficient than the first Next-Generation 737 delivered. The performance improvements to the airframe and engine are beginning certification test soon, and will be fully in service by early 2012.

Malaysia Airlines is the second airline worldwide to take delivery of the new Boeing Sky Interior that offers an improved travel experience to passengers. Delivery of the airline's initial Next-Generation 737 with the Boeing Sky Interior took place Oct. 29.

Two flights are scheduled for Nov. 15; an inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu followed by a commercial flight from Kota Kinabalu to Haneda, Tokyo.

Contact:

Linda Lee

International Communications

+1 206-766-2905

linda.a.lee@boeing.com

SOURCE Boeing


*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
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