December 23, 2024 | International, Aerospace
Under Trump, decision on Air Force’s NGAD will shape fleet for decades
The Air Force struggled for much of 2024 to figure out how — and even whether — to proceed with its planned sixth-generation fighter.
June 14, 2019 | International, Other Defence
A small Army robot could use this new networking technology
By: Cal Pringle
Defense contractor QinetiQ will rely on networking technologies from Persistent Systems as part of a contract to help the Army build a small robot that will help soldiers on the battlefield.
The Army's Common Robotic System - Individual program aims to build a small robot that soldiers can fit in a backpack and assist in reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition.
But for these robots to perform these duties effectively, they will need to have consistent communication with soldiers and other robots. In a June 12 press release, Persistent Systems announced that it will supply networking technology to QinetiQ as a subcontractor. QinetiQ has an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract worth up to $164 million on the Army program.
Persistent's networking technology is what is known as a mobile ad-hoc network, or MANET, said Leslie Hulser, director of programs at Persistent. The ad-hoc nature of the network means that each device is both a transmitter and a receiver, removing the need for fixed communications infrastructure, she said. MANET technology allows a soldier to communicate with ground and aerial robots as well as other soldiers in the field, Hulser said.
Persistent will roll out the fifth generation of its Wave Relay MANET technology for the project, which includes an on-board Android operating system, a change from single input single output (SISO) to multiple input multiple output (MIMO), the introduction of a new form factor, full duplex audio, an on-board video encoder and decoder and a reduction in size and weight.
The change from SISO to MIMO increases bandwidth and range of operation and increases the probability of sending a message successfully, Hulser said.
The Army expects to field the program in fiscal 2020.
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January 13, 2021 | International, Aerospace
BAE, Vertex announce deal to maintain Harrier II fleet
By Christen McCurdy Jan. 12 (UPI) -- BAE Systems and Vertex Aerospace announced Tuesday that they have signed a nine-year agreement to enhance availability of the U.S. Marine Corps' AV-8B Harrier II fleet. Vertex, which received a $123 million task order for maintenance of the fleet in July, chose BAE as its subcontractor for the logistics support contract. Under the contract, BAE and Vertex will "support the crucial training and combat operations conducted from U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and forward operating bases," said an announcement from BAE. "The Harrier is one of the most iconic military aircraft ever created, with its British designed short take-off and vertical landing technology," Tom Fillingham, senior vice president of US Programs for BAE Systems Air, said in a press release. "Our expertise with the aircraft goes back 40 years and this new contract with Vertex Aerospace ensures we can continue to apply our expertise to support the U.S. Marine Corps in their crucial operations," Fillingham said. In May, Boeing was awarded two contracts worth $87.5 million to upgrade the U.S. Marines' T/AV-8B Harrier II trainer aircraft. The Harrier, meanwhile, is due to be phased out in 2025 while the Marines extend the life of Boeing F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters, per an aviation plan released in 2014. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/01/12/BAE-Vertex-announce-deal-to-maintain-Harrier-II-fleet/6641610478105/
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November 22, 2021 | International, Aerospace
Boeing confirme l'intérêt de Berlin pour l'hélicoptère d'attaque AH-64 Apache... aux dépens du Tigre MK3
En Allemagne, Boeing a actuellement plusieurs fers au feu. Ainsi, l'industriel américain est en lice pour fournir à la Bundeswehr au moins 40 hélicoptères de transport lourd [HTL] dans le cadre du programme Schwerer Transporthubschrauber [STH], lequel a été relancé en janvier après avoir été an