November 24, 2020 | International, Aerospace
BY OLIVER JOHNSON | NOVEMBER 23, 2020
Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even says the OEM “should play a key role” in a recently-announced program to develop Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities signed by five NATO member countries.
France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom announced the launch of the program on Nov. 19.
One of NATO's “high visibility projects,” it seeks to develop a replacement for medium multirole helicopters currently in operation that are expected to reach the end of their lifecycle around 2035 to 2040.
“I'm convinced that there should be a European answer,” Even told journalists during a recent conference call. “I'm convinced that we have the competencies, the capability in Europe, to answer to the requirement and the need of our European customers.”
The program echoes the origin of the NHIndustries NH90, which was developed collaboratively by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters, and Fokker Aerostructures in response to a NATO requirement for a medium multi-role helicopter.
“We like to come at open level, which means that as we did with NH90, Airbus Helicopters should play a key role, but should also be ready to partner, and to cooperate for such a future European program,” said Even.
“I think it's fair to consider that there should be a European answer, not only because we have the competence and the capability . . . but it's also a question of [the] strategic autonomy of Europe.”
Over 420 NH90s have been delivered to 18 customers in 13 countries — including France, Germany, Greece and Italy.
However, Even said he did not see the newly-announced program necessarily providing a replacement to the NH90 itself.
“The need could be also to complement some of the [customer fleets'] existing capability — the NH90, Tiger and so on — which will continue to fly through 2040/2050,” he said. “The need could be to complement these platforms/programs with a new type of architecture in order to bring a new capability, either in terms of autonomy, connectivity, speed, [or] range.”
Experts from the five participant nations are to meet to define a statements of requirements and a multi-phase cooperation plan, beginning a multi-year program of work.
“I think it's good to see that reflection not only for short- or medium-, but also for long-term requirements,” said Even.
“As an industry, you need this long-term view on the evolution of the requirement in order to have time not only to mature technologies, but also to mature [the] architecture, and to be in position to launch the program when the need will be there.”
January 7, 2022 | International, Naval
The submarine-industrial base is facing an increased workload even as it's already behind in deliveries, making it all the more important to get new processes and well-trained new recruits in place quickly.
April 6, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Par Michel Cabirol Lockheed Martin a signé avec Sofia un contrat évalué à 512 millions de dollars pour la vente de huit F-16 Block 70. Et la Bulgarie volera américain... comme beaucoup de pays européens. Le ministère de la Défense américain (DoD) a annoncé jeudi que Lockheed Martin avait signé avec Sofia un contrat FMS (Foreign military sales) évalué à 512 millions de dollars pour la vente de huit F-16 Block 70. Fabriqués dans la nouvelle ligne de production de F-16 à Greenville (Caroline du Sud), les avions de combat américains, qui devraient être livrés en 2027, vont remplacer une flotte de 15 MiG-29 bulgares (sur 19) encore en service jusqu'en 2029. Membre de l'OTAN, la Bulgarie compte également dans sa flotte huit Sukhoi, dont deux d'entrainement. La Bulgarie assurera la défense de son espace aérien Sofia avait opté en décembre 2018 pour les F-16 parmi trois autres appareils en compétition : le F/A-18 Super Hornet de Boeing, l'Eurofighter Tranche 1 d'occasion (Italie) et le JAS-39 Gripen C/D (Suède). Puis, le Département d'État américain avait approuvé cette vente en juin 2019. Il avait évalué la vente ainsi que le soutien des appareils à 1,67 milliard de dollars. Cette vente avait alors estimé le DoD contribuera à améliorer la sécurité d'un allié de l'OTAN et d'un partenaire clé des États-Unis pour assurer la paix et la stabilité dans cette région. Elle permettra également à la Bulgarie d'assurer la défense de son espace aérien et d'être interopérable avec les États-Unis et l'OTAN. Selon le DoD, la Bulgarie s'appuie actuellement sur les États-Unis et le Royaume-Uni pour opérer des missions de police aérienne bulgares. "En acquérant ces F-16, la Bulgarie sera en mesure d'assurer la défense de son propre espace aérien et de ses frontières", avait expliqué le DoD. https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/la-bulgarie-va-voler-americain-et-achete-8-f-16-block-70-a-lockheed-martin-844265.html
October 2, 2019 | International, Naval
September 30, 2019 - Serco Inc., a provider of professional, technology and management services, announced today that the Company has been awarded a contract to continue its support to the U.S. Navy's Amphibious Warfare Program Office (PMS 377) with a full range of professional support services including Test & Evaluation Program Support, Technical Management Support, Acquisition & Life Cycle Management, and Integrated Logistics Support. This is the first contract award announcement for the Naval Systems business that Serco acquired from Alion Science & Technology Corporation. The recompete contract has a one-year base period plus four one-year option periods and is valued at $162 million, if all options are exercised. The business began providing direct program support to PMS 377 in 2009, and since then the program has grown from 8 personnel to approximately 220 today. Under the contract award, Serco will continue providing services that support the new construction and delivery of Navy amphibious ships and crafts, as well as the entire program lifecycle of four classes of craft, including multi-purpose (LHAR Class) ships, Landing Craft Utility (LCU 1610 and LCU 1700), Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) and Ship Shore Connector (SSC). Services provided range from concept design and engineering; to program management for production and ship/craft delivery; to fleet support including Ship Life Extension Program (SLEP), regular overhauls and vessel retirement. Work will be performed at both CONUS and OCONUS locations. “This was a critical recompete win for Serco, as it reinforces our ability to deliver the Design, Integrate, Support lifecycle for the U.S. Navy,” said Dave Dacquino, Chairman and CEO of Serco Inc. “Serco is now one of the largest providers of naval modernization services in the U.S. and winning programs like PMS 377 will continue to be a strategic priority for the Company going forward.” The Company's services under this contract enable these vessels to be deployed on amphibious missions including airborne/and seaborne assaults on hostile shores, as well as a very important humanitarian support role for natural disasters as demonstrated during the critical recovery responses to hurricanes Katrina and Dorian. https://www.serco.com/news/media-releases/2019/serco-awarded-162-million-contract-to-support-us-navys-amphibious-warfare-program-office