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  June 19, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Viking signs sales agreement for next generation CL-515 aerial firefighter

  Longview Aviation Press Release Longview Aviation Capital and its subsidiary Viking Air Limited announced a seven aircraft sales contract for six new-production CL-515 aircraft and one CL-415EAF. The CL-515 is a newly developed, technically advanced multi-mission aerial firefighting aircraft – the next generation of the Canadair CL-415, the aviation industry's benchmark amphibious aircraft and the backbone of firefighting missions around the globe. With enhanced firefighting capabilities, and the flexibility to support a wide range of critical mission operations, the CL-515 will be a vitally important strategic asset to fleets around the world. The Republic of Indonesia's Ministry of Defense has agreed to purchase six all-new CL-515 aircraft, four of which will be delivered in “first responder” multi-mission configuration, and two delivered in optimized aerial firefighter configuration. The purchase agreement also includes one Canadair CL-415EAF “Enhanced Aerial Firefighter” aircraft converted from a Canadair CL-215 to EAF standard by Longview Aviation Capital's subsidiary, Longview Aviation Services. The Republic of Indonesia's purchase agreement is a firm commitment that is conditional only on Longview Aviation Capital's board of directors approving the production launch program. “We are thrilled to welcome the Republic of Indonesia as the first customer for this extraordinary aircraft,” said David Curtis, chairman and chief executive officer of Longview Aviation Capital. “This contract is a major milestone in bringing the next generation Canadair to market. The confidence of a sovereign government in our program is matched by our own confidence in our ability to deliver this new aircraft platform to the world. We are very well advanced in all aspects of program planning, including our supply chain, and we are nearing a final decision on manufacturing and final assembly sites. We expect to complete the remaining program milestones in the near future, and deliver the first new CL-515 on schedule in 2024.” Since acquiring the type certificates for the Canadair amphibious aircraft program from Bombardier in 2016, Longview has had positive discussions with numerous potential customers from around the world, including both governments and private operators, who have enthusiastically encouraged a production restart. On the basis of the global interest in the unique and unrivalled capabilities of the CL-515, Longview and Viking have invested in a rigorous process ahead of full production launch decision: • Consulted extensively with current global operators to understand their future aerial firefighting resource requirements. • Conducted extensive market research and feasibility studies and developed a new all-season multi-mission platform, leveraging advanced technology not previously included in the CL program. • Consulted with key supplier partners. • Undertaken advanced supply chain and manufacturing planning, including options associated with Longview's current facilities and potential new facilities in Western Canada. CL-515 highlights: • Up to 15 per cent better aerial firefighting productivity, including increased tank capacity and ability to refill in 14 seconds. • State-of-the-art Collins Pro Line Fusion digital avionics suite for unrivaled situational awareness. • Flexible architecture to support multi-mission capabilities including aerial firefighting, maritime patrol, surveillance, medevac, environmental monitoring, insect control, oil spill detection and dispersant. • Reduced maintenance and operating costs through improved, scalable avionics and superior design. • Unmatched mission efficiency and flexibility, requiring no runway or reloading capacity during waterbombing firefighting. “Indonesia is on the front lines of increasing challenges like forest fires, and as an island nation has extensive needs for a range of amphibious capabilities,” said Yuyu Sutisna, chief of staff for Indonesia's Air Force. “We have chosen to invest in this aircraft based on the Canadair's solid track record demonstrated around the world over the last 50 years, and Viking's established capabilities as an aircraft developer and producer. The next generation CL-515 will have unmatched operational performance, particularly as a firefighter. This aircraft has the best productivity of any aerial firefighting aircraft, capable of delivering the highest quantity of foam retardant per day, while at the same time providing the flexibility to save lives and protect our coastal areas through its multi-role SAR and Maritime Surveillance functionalities. We are proud to sign the first contract for this extraordinary aircraft that will enhance our mission capability at excellent value.” Building on the pedigree of the Canadair CL-415, the CL-515 “First Responder” is the next generation of purpose-built aerial firefighter and multi-role amphibious aircraft. Through the incorporation of new technology and the integration of the state-of-the-art Collins Pro Line Fusion digital avionics suite, the 515 provides operators with world class reliability, enhanced safety, and unrivaled situational awareness. The significant global interest in the aircraft is underscored by the increasing worldwide frequency and severity of wildfires as a result of climate change. As truly amphibious aircraft, the Canadair CL-415 and the CL-515 are able to refill with water while flying, as well as mix retardant in flight. Requiring no runway to reload water, the aircraft is able to make more frequent waterbombing missions, particularly in remote or difficult to access areas. The FAR/Part 25-certified Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite is a scalable software-based system that addresses current regulatory requirements while anticipating future expansion. The core avionics configuration features flight director, flight management system (FMS) coupled with SBAS-GPS and LPV capability, terrain awareness warning system (TAWS), ADS-B out, synthetic vision, crew alerting system display indicators, and a multi-functional keyboard panel with dual cursor controls. The new-production CL-515 offers exceptional aerial firefighting capabilities offering up to a 15 per cent increase in productivity while reducing maintenance and operating costs. Its expanded tank capacity — 7,000 litres — and ability to refill in 14 seconds from water sources in close proximity to wildfires allows the CL-515 to drop enormous amounts of foam-injected fire retardant on a continuous basis. As a true multi-mission platform, the CL-515 First Responder's flexible architecture allows integration of mission equipment for a variety of roles in a single airframe, including aerial firefighting, maritime patrol, surveillance, medevac, environmental monitoring, insect control, oil spill detection and dispersant. The CL-515 is the only aerial firefighter and multi-mission amphibious aircraft built and supported by an OEM with complete full factory warranty, established world-class product support network, and factory-endorsed full motion level D flight simulator, making it the most technically advanced multi-mission aerial firefighting aircraft available on the market. “Our plans for the CL-515 build on our successful track record as an aircraft OEM. Our team conceived and developed the world-renowned Viking Series 400 Twin Otter, and to-date we have sold and delivered new aircraft to operators in 31 countries around the world,” said Curtis. “Longview and Viking have earned a reputation as the world leader in utility aircraft, and we have every confidence in our company's ability to efficiently produce a multi-role aircraft that will set a new global standard for amphibious operations.” https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/viking-signs-sales-agreement-for-next-generation-cl-515-aerial-firefighter/

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  September 25, 2018 | International, Aerospace

  Serbia looks to acquire Chinese drones and the technological know-how

  By: Jaroslaw Adamowski WARSAW, Poland — Serbia's acting assistant defense minister has announced the ministry is negotiating with a number of Chinese drone manufacturers to acquire UAVs for the Serbian military. Nenad Miloradovic said Serbia aims to buy Chinese drones for its armed forces as well as the technology that will allow the country's defense industry to produce UAVs in the long term. "This package deal, under which we plan to purchase, but also produce reconnaissance drones for the Serbian military, should be implemented shortly," Miloradovic said, as reported by local daily Blic. The official said that Serbia is positioning itself as a military-neutral country, and its government aims to procure weapons and military gear for the country's armed forces from various suppliers. "We don't have ideological prejudices in what concerns buying weapons," Miloradovic said. In a sign of strengthened military cooperation with Russia, Serbia's government earlier this year approved the purchase of six Mil Mi-17 helicopters, complementing acquisitions of other aircraft and weapons from Moscow. In contrast, Serbia signed a deal in 2016 to buy nine H145M helicopters from Dutch-French company Airbus. The value of the planned UAV deal was not disclosed by the Serbian official. https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2018/09/20/serbia-looks-to-acquire-chinese-drones-and-the-technological-know-how

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  September 19, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Air Force Announces Newest Red Tail: ‘T-7A Red Hawk’

  Official Designation For Boeing's T-X Trainer The Air Force's all-new advanced trainer aircraft, the T-X, has officially been named the T-7A Red Hawk. Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan made the announcement during his speech at the 2019 Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Sept. 16. Donovan was joined on stage by one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, Col. Charles McGee, who flew more than 400 combat missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Also seated in the audience were members of the East Coast Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen. After a short video highlighting the aircraft's lineage, Donovan said, “ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the newest Red Tail!” A drape was then lifted to reveal a quarter-scale model of a T-7A Red Hawk painted in a distinct, red-tailed color scheme. “The name Red Hawk honors the legacy of Tuskegee Airmen and pays homage to their signature red-tailed aircraft from World War II,” Donovan said. “The name is also a tribute to the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, an American fighter aircraft that first flew in 1938 and was flown by the 99th Fighter Squadron, the U.S. Army Air Forces' first African American fighter squadron.” The Tuskegee Airmen subsequently painted their Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and North American P-51 Mustangs with a red-tailed paint scheme. The T-7A Red Hawk, manufactured by Boeing, introduces capabilities that prepare pilots for fifth generation fighters, including high-G environment, information and sensor management, high angle of attack flight characteristics, night operations and transferable air-to-air and air-to-ground skills. “The T-7A will be the staple of a new generation of aircraft,” Donovan said. “The Red Hawk offers advanced capabilities for training tomorrow's pilots on data links, simulated radar, smart weapons, defensive management systems, as well as synthetic training capabilities.” Along with updated technology and performance capabilities, the T-7A will be accompanied by enhanced simulators and the ability to update system software faster and more seamlessly. The plane was also designed with maintainers in mind by utilizing easy-to-reach and open access panels. The T-7A features twin tails, slats and big leading-edge root extensions that provide deft handling at low speeds, allowing it to fly in a way that better approximates real world demands and is specifically designed to prepare pilots for fifth-generation aircraft. The aircraft's single engine generates nearly three times more thrust than the dual engines of the T-38C Talon which it is replacing. “The distance between the T-38 and an F-35 is night and day,” said Air Force Chief of Staff General David L. Goldfein. “But with the T-7A the distance is much, much smaller, and that's important because it means the pilots trained on it will be that much better, that much faster at a time when we must be able to train to the speed of the threat.” A $9.2 billion contract awarded to Boeing in September 2018 calls for 351 T-7A aircraft, 46 simulators and associated ground equipment to be delivered and installed, replacing Air Education and Training Command's 57-year-old fleet of T-38C Talons. The first T-7A aircraft and simulators are scheduled to arrive at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, in 2023. All undergraduate pilot training bases will eventually transition from the T-38C to the T-7A. Those bases include Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi; Laughlin AFB and Sheppard AFB, Texas; and Vance AFB, Oklahoma. http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=ee428ce4-f656-4eb1-9167-ae750094f54f