August 14, 2020 | International, Aerospace
The U.S. Air Force has commissioned a flying testbed aircraft to test the avionics system and software for the Northrop Grumman B-21 bomber, a senior official said on Aug. 13.
The first B-21 test aircraft is still being assembled in Palmdale, California, but the flying testbed allows the stealth bomber program to “buydown risk,” said Randall Walden, director of the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office, which is managing the program.
“We have a flight test aircraft that we've been hosting some of these subsystems on,” Walden said. “We're doing it kind of in a parallel approach, working out some of the bugs with the software as well as the subsystems.”
Walden, speaking to the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute, did not identify the flying testbed, but his remarks come two months after the appearance of a green Boeing 737 owned by the Air Force with registration N712JM.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 program also used a 737 to check out avionics and mission systems before test flights of the stealth fighter started in 2006.
“When you can buydown risk with subsystems on even another platform, no matter what it is like you get into the air and use some of the software and work those bugs out it goes a long way,” Walden said.
The Air Force expects to field the B-21 in the mid-2020s, about a decade after awarding the engineering and manufacturing development contract to Northrop in 2015.
The development program remains on track, but Walden is eager to begin testing as soon as possible.
“All of the tough critical designs, all of the hard engineering, is behind us,” Walden said. “I know we're not going to be immune from design flaws. We're going to have to work through those, and we're doing some of that today. I want to find out what those design deficiencies are as fast as I can to get on with the solution.”
March 18, 2022 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
L'Italie a décidé d'augmenter ses dépenses militaires, afin d'accorder 2% du PIB à sa défense, comme prévu par l'OTAN. Mercredi 16 mars, la Chambre des députés a approuvé un ordre du jour qui engage le gouvernement à poursuivre l'effort destiné à moderniser et à mieux équiper les armées, autorisant une hausse des dépenses d'environ 15 Mds€ par an. L'Opinion du 18 mars
July 22, 2020 | International, Aerospace
July 20, 2020 - The companies involved include Bombardier Belfast, Collins Aerospace in the UK, GE Aviation UK, GKN Aerospace, Martin-Baker, QinetiQ, and Thales UK. This is the first phase of organisations to sign such agreements, with more to be announced. The announcement represents a significant step forward by bringing additional expertise into the Team Tempest project. Team Tempest is a collaboration between BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA UK, Rolls-Royce and the UK Ministry of Defence, working together to develop game-changing technologies at pace and in an affordable manner. Dave Holmes, Manufacturing Director for BAE Systems' Air sector, said: “We are delighted to have signed the first phase of these new agreements, which are transforming our traditional relationships with partners. We are seeking opportunities to widen the Team Tempest project and bring in the very best of UK capability and expertise, from both inside and outside of defence. They will work alongside us as we seek to develop the generation-defining combat air capability which will help safeguard the security of our nation and our allies to the end of this century. “In addition, by developing the wider industry team, we will help contribute to the retention, growth and investment in a wider world-class UK skills base. Collaborations, with some of the brightest and best across the country, show that Tempest is becoming a truly national endeavour and we are delivering on our promise to take new approaches to drive significant pace and efficiency into the programme.” The companies will now seek opportunities to join forces on established projects and developments with the core Team Tempest partners, bringing the best of British expertise and ingenuity to optimally designing, manufacturing and operating combat air systems through life. Jeremy Quin, the UK Minister for Defence Procurement, said: “Today's announcement demonstrates further progress in delivering the UK's combat air strategy, with more companies collaborating on the future of the UK's Air Defence. This is a highly innovative project based around cutting-edge technology and drawing on a skills base where the UK excels. I am delighted that the success and strengths of Team Tempest are being enhanced through drawing on UK expertise; working with industrial partners and highly capable international team we are configured for future success.” Collectively, the companies will look to support more than 60 technology demonstration activities which are currently underway, which will demonstrate and de-risk world-leading processes and technology in half the time and at significantly lower cost than previous complex combat air programmes. Krisstie Kondrotis, President Defence GKN Aerospace said: “We are very proud to join forces with BAE Systems, key industry partners and the UK MOD to explore collaboration on the Team Tempest programme. This puts GKN Aerospace at the heart of the technology developments needed for the next generation of fighter jet and clearly shows our commitment to the defence market that is a key market for GKN Aerospace.“ View source version on GKN Aerospace: https://www.gknaerospace.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/2020/future-combat-air-continues-to-drive-economic-advance-across-the-uk/
June 16, 2024 | International, Security
Smishing Triad expands to Pakistan, while Google uncovers Brazilian threat actors PINEAPPLE, UNC5176, and FLUXROOT.