DIA announces winners in massive intelligence technology contract

On the same subject

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  October 8, 2021 | International, Aerospace

  Thales dévoile un nouveau type de radar pour la détection précoce des drones hostiles

  Dans le cadre de l'effort mis sur la lutte anti-drone souligné dans la Loi de programmation militaire (LPM) pour la période 2019-2025, Thales dévoile un nouveau radar, le Ground Observer 20 Multi-Mission (GO20 MM), qui sera en mesure d'assurer la « surveillance simultanée des objectifs au sol et des menaces évoluant à basse altitude, avec des capacités exceptionnelles de détection avancée des drones, notamment les microdrones ». Le GO20 MM sera ainsi capable de détecter, poursuivre et classer automatiquement le « spectre complet des menaces ». Un tel radar doit donc permettre de mieux protéger les camps militaires et les convois, notamment gr'ce à sa rapidité de détection et à la classification automatique des drones à long rayon d'action. « Avec des scénarios complexes tels que les conflits asymétriques ou les combats à haute intensité, la capacité de classifier automatiquement et rapidement la menace pour obtenir un tableau précis de la situation constitue un avantage tactique non négligeable », souligne-t-on à Thales. Équipé d'une batterie 6 éléments, ce radar « offre aux forces armées et aux forces spéciales de nombreuses heures de surveillance, dans une totale transparence, et un haut niveau de protection », assure le groupe. Opex360 du 7 octobre

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  March 8, 2021 | International, Aerospace

  Powerful lawmaker calls F-35 fighter jet a 'rathole,' suggests Pentagon should cut its losses

  House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wa.) said the U.S. military look for ways to reduce its dependence on the F-35 fighter jet, a notoriously expensive weapons platform.

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  August 14, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  B-21 bomber program survives pandemic disruptions

  By: Valerie Insinna   WASHINGTON — Despite impacts from the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider program remains on track as Northrop Grumman continues production of the first B-21 bomber, the head of the service's Rapid Capabilities Office said Thursday. Speaking at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event, RCO Director Randall Walden acknowledged that some B-21 suppliers had been adversely affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. For instance, Spirit AeroSystems — which builds large composite aerostructures for the bomber — has run into challenges not only on its defense side, but also for its commercial division due to the halt in Boeing 737 Max production, Walden said. Spirit received $80 million in Defense Production Act funds meant to help stimulate struggling businesses, and Walden noted that the company also funneled employees who normally work on the 737 Max line into augmenting B-21 production efforts. “The folks that are not manufacturing 737s and those components came over to our production line and really kind of beefed up — where people had some COVID issues — they beefed up that portion of our production,” he said. “Right now, the components that we're building are really for the test fleet, but the good news: All of what we're doing today is really insightful for what we're doing for production in the future.” After completing a critical design review in 2018, B-21 prime contractor Northrop Grumman is currently building the first B-21 test aircraft in Palmdale, California. The Air Force plans to buy at least 100 Raiders. On Aug. 3, Walden traveled with Defense Secretary Mark Esper to Northrop's B-21 design and development office in Melbourne, Florida, to receive a program update. “I think overall his takeaway was he's happy with the progress we're making,” Walden said. “The good news is all of the tough critical designs, all of the hard engineering is kind of behind us, and now it's a matter of actually producing the airplane and actually rolling it out and getting on with the developmental flight test activities.” Walden said his office has flight tested some B-21 mission systems and avionics on a surrogate aircraft to work though software bugs and design problems before installation on the actual B-21 test aircraft. “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. From my perspective, I want to find out what those design deficiencies were as fast as I can, get on with a solution, get that into the program in the development phase, and get on with production.” In July 2019, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Wilson said the Raider could take to the skies in about “863 days,” which would pinpoint an inaugural flight in December 2021. Walden has since said that would be the earliest possible date for first flight. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/08/13/b-21-still-on-track-despite-complications-from-pandemic/