Saturday, June 18, 2011

DTN News - EADS DEFENSE NEWS: First Airbus Military C295 With AEW&C Rotodome Completes Maiden Flight

Defense News: DTN News - EADS DEFENSE NEWS: First Airbus Military C295 With AEW&C Rotodome Completes Maiden Flight
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 18, 2011: The first Airbus Military C295 development aircraft fitted with an Airbone Early Warning sand Command (AEW&C) rotodome has successfully completed its first flight on 7th June 2011 at Airbus Military’s site in Seville (Spain).

The flight follows extensive research and development work, including wind tunnel testing, leading to the conversion of a C295 to be fitted with the in-house developed rotodome The aircraft took off at 17h16 local time (15h16 UTC) and landed at 20h04 local time (18h04 UTC), after a flight lasting 2h48 (wheels off – wheels down). The experimental test pilot Alejandro Madurga captained the flight together with co-pilot Alfonso de Castro, the Flight Test Engineer Juan José Baeza, and the Test Flight Engineer Antonio Ojeda.

The objective of the trials is to verify the aerodynamic and structural impact of the rotodome on the aircraft’s overall structure, handling qualities and performance. The six metre diameter rotodome fitted for the initial trials is a fixed dummy structure. On production aircraft the rotodome would be a fast-rotating device housing a state-of-the-art radar providing full 360 degree and continuous coverage of a selected area. “This first flight confirmed to us that the C295 is an excellent platform to support such a rotodome”, said Alejandro Maurga after the flight.

The behavior of the aircraft and its flying characteristics were very satisfactory and as expected”. Flight testing will continue during the next three months to complete the feasibility study and fully validate the concept.

Airbus Military’s C295 is an ideal platform for Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) missions. The C295 is currently used for other Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance applications such as maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare or environmental protection missions, to list just a few.

The C295 is a simple but robust platform with proven reliability, used in conflict operations for defence and homeland security missions. It is adaptable to the AEW&C role thanks to its versatility and the largest cabin in its class. The in-house developed Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) enables the integration of on-board sensors, including operation and monitoring of the future radar system and display of the aerial picture. The current AEW&C trials are to demonstrate the C295’s capability in this sector and thereby expand its range of applications. With the C295, Airbus Military has the tool to open up a new market segment for affordable high-performance AEW&C systems

About the C295

The new generation C295 is the ideal aircraft for military transport and civic missions such as humanitarian aid, homeland security, maritime patrol, and environmental surveillance. Thanks to its robustness and reliability, and with simple systems, this medium sized tactical airlifter provides the wide versatility and flexibility required for personnel, troop and bulky/palletized cargo transportation, casualty evacuation, communication and logistic duties, or certified air-dropping capabilities. It is fitted with both civil and military technology equipment which ensures success on demanding tactical missions, as well as growth potential for future equipment installation, and compatibility with the latest civil airspace environment. The 295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also includes the smaller C212 and CN235 platforms.

Contacts for the media:
Jaime PEREZ-GUERRA
Head of Communications Airbus Military
Airbus Military
Tel.:+34 91 5 85 59 00
Fax:+34 91 5 85 72 64

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DTN News - AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Australia Selects U.S. Navy’s MH-60R SEAHAWK® Helicopter For AIR 9000 Phase 8 Program

Defense News: DTN News - AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Australia Selects U.S. Navy’s MH-60R SEAHAWK® Helicopter For AIR 9000 Phase 8 Program
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 18, 2011: The U.S. Navy today announced the Commonwealth of Australia has selected the MH-60R SEAHAWK® helicopter to fulfill the Australian Defence Force’s AIR 9000 Phase 8 requirement for a fleet of 24 new-generation, multi-role naval combat aircraft.

The Commonwealth will acquire the helicopters with associated training and logistical support via the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program.

“The companies that comprise Team Romeo are honored by the Commonwealth’s choice of the MH-60R Romeo helicopter to protect Australia’s maritime interests,” said Mick Maurer, president of Sikorsky Military Systems. “We look forward to collaborating with the Royal Australian Navy and local industry across Australia as we build and integrate these proven SEAHAWK aircraft.”

Team Romeo principals Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) have co-developed and delivered maritime helicopters for the U.S. Navy for more than 35 years. They are teamed with engine manufacturer GE Aviation, sonar and sensor provider Raytheon Company, and training and simulator provider CAE for the Phase 8 competition. In addition to delivering Romeo helicopters, the team plans to bring long-term jobs and work opportunities to Australian industry valued at $1.5 billion over 10 years.

“The MH-60R helicopter is a sophisticated sensor platform that has proven its ability to protect the U.S. fleet from submarines, ships and fast attack boats,” said Dan Spoor, Lockheed Martin Aviation Systems vice president. “We are committed to providing the Australian fleet with the same advanced capabilities, as the U.S. Navy continues its investment in the aircraft.”

The Commonwealth of Australia this week signed the Letter of Acceptance, a formal agreement with the U.S. Navy. The Letter of Acceptance marks the first-ever purchase of the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R helicopter outside the United States. The Royal Australian Navy is expected to take delivery of the first two MH-60R helicopters in 2014.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. Its parent company, United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning potential production and sale of helicopters. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices, budget plans or availability of funding or in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.



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DTN News - ASIA DEFENSE NEWS: Asia Muscles Up To Protect Its Patch

Defense News: DTN News - ASIA DEFENSE NEWS: Asia Muscles Up To Protect Its Patch
**Terrorism Is Main Factor For Asia Arms BuildUp, Second Factor - China (Forthcoming Article): DTN News
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 18, 2011: The proverbial ''pet-shop galah" can recite facts about how Australia is benefiting from Asia's economic transformation, the Reserve Bank governor, Glenn Stevens, declared this week.

That's how deeply the once-in-a-century bonanza accruing to us from the rise of China, India and other Asian nations is now etched into Australian folklore.

But we hear much less about another important spin-off of Asia's growth miracle: the regional arms build-up. Just as the global economic balance has shifted towards Asia, so has the military balance.

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And in the same way the global economic transformation is taking place faster than anticipated, the military balance is shifting more quickly than many expected.

Figures published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute show that military expenditure in the Asia-Pacific region grew steadily during the 1990s but then picked up sharply in the past decade. Between 2000 and 2010 expenditure surged from about $US161 billion to just under $US290 billion, an increase of nearly 80 per cent.

India is now the world's biggest arms importer, the institute says. It received 9 per cent of the volume of international arms transfers between 2006 and 2010. The next three largest importers of conventional weapons in that period were also from Asia: China 6 per cent, South Korea 6 per cent and Pakistan 5 per cent.

Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are all investing in air and naval capabilities. Despite its lingering economic woes, Japan has also announced a significant improvement in its military capability.

Global economic trends are behind the shift in the relative military balance away from Western powers towards Asia. The damage to government finances in Europe and North America caused by the global financial crisis has eroded their military spending capacity. Defence spending in Europe and North America has stagnated. Meanwhile, Asia's economic vitality - coupled with the distrust that exists between countries in the region - is driving a sustained military modernisation and expansion. Countries in Asia have not significantly changed the proportion of gross domestic product being devoted to defence. But rapid and sustained economic expansion has delivered the additional government revenue needed.

A study of the global military balance, by the International Institute of Strategic Studies said it's "already clear that as a result of shifts in the global distribution of economic power and consequently the resources available for military spending, the United States and other Western powers are losing their monopoly in key areas of defence technology".

Asia's hasty military build-up was a key topic at this month's Shangri-La Dialogue, a meeting involving some of Asia's top military leaders convened by the institute each year in Singapore. In his opening remarks, the institute's director-general, John Chipman, asked: "Can there be smart procurement and the avoidance of arms races?"

In a sign of Australia's concern about regional military trends, the Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, told the Shangri-La Dialogue that the Asia-Pacific was a "region in strategic flux" and urged countries to build institutions that can help manage regional security challenges.

Economic success has not only provided the resources for Asia's military build-up. It has also added to the incentive.

As countries get wealthier they have new economic interests they need to protect.

Many Asian states are ramping up their military capacity in order to do just this.

A driving factor is protecting energy supply lines, especially the sea routes used to transport oil and other raw materials.

Asian powers also have a growing motivation, and capacity, to protect their citizens under threat in other parts of the world. India and China both launched operations to rescue their citizens stranded in Middle East nations recently troubled by unrest. New Delhi will purchase 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from Boeing in a deal worth $4.1 billion.

Once these planes are delivered, India will possess the largest fleet of the huge Globemaster III aircraft after the United States. These heavy-lift, long-range military transport aircraft can lift soldiers and military cargo, or be used during humanitarian evacuations.

We are used to seeing Western powers deploy military hardware to protect their citizens when they are in trouble and now major Asian powers are getting the military capabilities to do the same.

Given the large Chinese and Indian diaspora in developing countries, armed evacuations by Beijing and New Delhi to rescue their nationals are likely to become more common. It's possible the Chinese and the Indians could eventually use their military assets to rescue nationals of other countries.

There are many legitimate reasons for Asia's military expansion, but it comes with the potential for suspicion and mistrust.

The growing power and assertiveness of China, which accounts for nearly half of Asia's defence spending, has given its neighbours added motivation to beef up their arsenals.

Nuclear-armed India, for example, is raising new army divisions on its border with China. Arun Kumar Singh, a retired Indian vice-admiral turned security analyst, says New Delhi's strategy is to make the potential cost of both conventional and nuclear conflict with China too high.

"We need to have the nuclear and conventional capacity to deter a war," he told the Herald. "The whole idea is that the military is an insurance against war.

''I suspect India will continue to invest fairly heavily, especially in its conventional capability, to prevent one from ever starting."

Military analysts say the simultaneous build-up of advanced weaponry in the Asia-Pacific region is on a scale and pace not seen since the Cold War arms race between America and the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, trade and investment between countries in Asia is booming.

The question is: will Asia's growing economic independence be enough to prevent the weaponry from being used?


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