L3Harris and Embraer to Develop New Agile Tanker via KC-390 to Support Air Force Operational Imperatives

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  September 17, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  AVION DE COMBAT DU FUTUR : DASSAULT AVIATION EXHORTE LA FRANCE ET L’ALLEMAGNE À S’ENTENDRE RAPIDEMENT

  Paris et Berlin doivent impérativement régler leurs différends sur l'avion de combat du futur, avertit Dassaut Aviation. Le projet européen d'avion de combat du futur tarde à prendre forme. A cet égard, le patron de Dassault Aviation a appelé Paris et Berlin à rapidement se mettre d'accord sur des règles d'exportations concernant le Système de Combat Aérien Futur (SCAF) franco-germano-espagnol, pour permettre de lancer les études menant à la conception d'un démonstrateur. "La notification (du contrat) des démonstrateurs aurait dû se faire en juin lors du salon du Bourget. Septembre devait être l'heure du lancement, on évoque aujourd'hui la fin de l'année. Attention que cela ne se décale pas trop encore", a mis en garde Eric Trappier à l'occasion de l'Université d'été de la défense sur la base aérienne d'Avord (Cher). Un démonstrateur est un premier prototype, capable de voler. "Ce n'est pas de l'impatience, c'est indispensable" pour conserver l'objectif d'une entrée en service à l'horizon 2040 avec un premier démonstrateur en 2026 comme il est prévu, a prévenu le patron de Dassault, qui assure la direction du programme côté industriels. Paris, Berlin et Madrid ont signé le 17 juin lors du salon du Bourget un accord-cadre structurant les trois pays autour du SCAF. Au coeur de ce système se trouve le futur chasseur (NGF, Next Generation Fighter), destiné à remplacer les actuels Rafale et Eurofighter. Un premier contrat d'architecture, d'un montant de 65 millions d'euros, avait été notifié en janvier à Dassault Aviation et Airbus. Mais pour Eric Trappier, "pour que ce projet prenne réellement son vol, il faut désormais dépasser le stade de la première étude qui nous a été notifié en début d'année. Il faut le poursuivre par le lancement des démonstrateurs, c'est vital". "La volonté de lancer un programme incombe toujours aux politiques et à eux seuls. Il reste encore des points délicats à trancher, notamment des points d'exportabilité", a-t-il noté. Une source gouvernementale française a toutefois confié à l'AFP : "nous sommes en train de converger" sur la question des exportations. https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/avion-de-combat-du-futur-paris-et-berlin-doivent-regler-leurs-differends-selon-dassault-1350087

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  November 20, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  British government signals support for Cobham takeover by private equity firm Advent

  By: Andrew Chuter LONDON — The British government has signaled it will give the green light to a £4 billion (U.S. $5 billion) takeover that would see local defense contractor Cobham acquired by a U.S.-based private equity company. Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom announced Nov. 19 that she was “minded to accept” the proposed takeover but would put out for public consultation assurances given by Advent International regarding British security concerns before making a final call. Advent moved to buy Cobham in July securing the approval of 93 percent of shareholders in the Wimborne, southwest England-based contractor best known for its world leading role of air-to-air refueling technology. Cobham's annual turnover of £1.86 billion took it to 57th place in the Defense News Top 100 companies listing earlier this year. Over 50 percent of its revenues were generated in the United States where the company has substantial manufacturing facilities. The British government intervened in the takeover in September following criticism led by Nadine Cobham, whose father-in-law formed the company in 1935. Members of Parliament also raised security concerns over the sale. The government has spent the last few weeks reviewing the proposed acquisition ahead of Leadsom outlining the government's current position. "Following my update to Parliament on 5. November, I have now reviewed further national security advice from the Ministry of Defence and met with both Cobham and Advent, who have offered legally binding undertakings designed to mitigate national security concerns, which I am minded to accept.” "They will now be considered by a public consultation, and I will provide a further update once that process has concluded,” said Leadsom. The consultation closes Dec. 17 – five days after the general election. The assurances include Advent giving the MoD prior notice of plans to sell off parts or all of Cobham, agreeing to honor the terms of existing contracts. In addition, the new owners would have to ensure existing security arrangements are strengthened and maintain the ability to supply key services for five years. Nadine Cobham has previously said assurances were not worth the paper they were written on. Alex Ashbourne-Walmsley, a defense consultant at ASC here in London, said she thought Leadsom had taken the right decision on the Cobham sale. “It's advisable for the government to respect the clear instructions of the Cobham shareholders. It is sensible, however, for government to build in conditions regarding any future sale of parts of the business. Private equity houses, unlike traditional industrial corporations, tend to take the shorter-term, more profit-driven view of disposal of their acquisitions, rather than considering matters such as national security of supply and the wider strategic interest,” she said. Criticism over the proposed acquisition of an important part of the British defense industry follows the controversial takeover last year of GKN by Melrose, another private equity company. Despite the furore over the Cobham sale the Financial Times said today the assurances sought by the government from Advent were weaker than those demanded to wave the GKN deal through. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/11/19/british-government-signals-support-for-cobham-takeover-by-private-equity-firm-advent

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  July 12, 2018 | International, Aerospace

  Lockheed to double Patriot missile production as orders explode

  By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin is planning to double its most advanced Patriot missile's production in the coming years to deal with exploding orders of the weapon from the U.S. Army and its allies, according to a company executive. The U.S. Army has dramatically increased its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, or PAC-3 MSE, orders to not just account for full-rate production of the missile but to increase the stockpile on hand as operations overseas continue to eat up the inventory. The MSE version has a larger, dual-pulse solid-rocket motor and larger control fins that double the missile's reach and improve performance against evolving ballistic and cruise missiles. Meanwhile, several new customers abroad have joined the ranks of Patriot air and missile defense owners to include Poland, Romania and Sweden this year. This includes the purchase of a number of the MSE missiles as part of the initial order. For example, Lockheed would build 576 PAC-3 MSEs just for the three European countries that recently signed on to buy Patriot. Romania plans to buy 168 PAC-3 MSEs for its Patriot system as part of its order. Poland wants to buy 208 of them. Sweden intends to buy 200. The reason for such an explosion in PAC-3 MSE buys is due to the proliferating threat both in the Middle East and in Europe as the U.S. and its allies remain embroiled in conflict in the Gulf region, and as European countries work to build up robust air defenses to deter Russia. By: Aaron Mehta A comparison of the U.S. Army's fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019 budget justification documents show the service drastically increased its planned buys — in some cases more than doubling — across FY18 through FY22. The Army had planned to buy roughly 95 missiles per year from FY18 through FY22, but a year later the service increased the 2018 order from 93 to 240 to include those bought with overseas contingency operations funds. In FY19, the Army asked for 240 missiles again. And the base orders for the missile in FY21 and FY22 total 160 each year. The Army's plans to dramatically increase its PAC-3 MSE production going forward has seen unanimous congressional approval, although the final FY19 defense appropriations bill has yet to become law. House and Senate appropriators are fully funding the production of 179 MSE missiles in FY19 in the base budget. Lockheed is no longer selling its original PAC-3 missiles, but it is still producing them for one customer, according to Bob Delgado, director of international business development for integrated air and missile defense at Lockheed Martin, who spoke to Defense News in a recent interview at the defense conference Eurosatory in Paris. This means Lockheed can make room for PAC-3 MSE production, which received the go-ahead to move into full-rate production by the U.S. Army in April. “There is a lot of interest in [PAC-3 MSE], so much so we are doubling our capacity,” which equates to up to 500 of the missiles per year, Delgado said. This will likely mean adding an extra production line, he added. Lockheed is currently meeting the demand, Delgado said, “however, it is getting more difficult as more orders come in, and that is why we are foreseeing, along with the U.S. government, a point where we need to increase our capacity.” https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/07/11/lockheed-to-double-patriot-missile-production-as-orders-explode/