August 15, 2018 | International, Aerospace
By: Valerie Insinna
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin will design a second hypersonic weapon prototype for the U.S. Air Force, the service announced Monday.
Although final terms have not been established, the contract could be worth up to $480 million for the critical design review, testing and production readiness support of the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW.
Lockheed is already working on a separate hypersonic weapon for the Air Force under the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon program, or HCSW, and this newest award sets it up to become a hypersonics-manufacturing powerhouse at a time when the Defense Department is deeply interested in the technology — and is investing funds to match that interest.
“We are going to go fast and leverage the best technology available to get hypersonic capability to the warfighter as soon as possible,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said in a statement announcing the contract.
The Air Force wants to move both ARRW and the HCSW to a flying prototype as soon as possible, with 2021 cited as the goal date. By signing off on an undefinitized contract action, Lockheed and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center will be able to begin working on the program as the parties settle the final terms and price of the contract.
Full Article: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/08/14/lockheed-nabs-another-big-hypersonic-weapons-contract/
June 29, 2021 | International, Aerospace
Thermal management for military aircraft Raytheon Technologies is working to take the heat off a new generation of fighters June 22, 2021 The U.S.... | June 29, 2021
July 6, 2020 | International, Aerospace
By: Nigel Pittaway MELBOURNE, Australia — Airbus will offer its H145M helicopter on July 11 for Australia's special operations support helicopter program, the company's Australia Pacific managing director confirmed Thursday. “We're excited to have the opportunity to present the H145M as part of [Project] Land 2097 Phase 4,” Andrew Mathewson said. “We have a fantastic opportunity to offer an aircraft which has a family heritage of over 5 million flight hours of operations.” Mathewson noted that the helicopter is currently used by the German Army's special forces. With its bid, Airbus will become the second contender in the competition, behind an industry team of Bell and Babcock Australia, which is proposing a militarized version of the Bell 429 commercial helicopter. The team announced its intention to bid on May 28. Bell is also partnering with Hawker Pacific for Land 2097 Phase 4 and has independent teams working on each bid. Other contenders are likely to include Boeing's AH-6i Little Bird; MD Helicopters' MD530G; and Leonardo Helicopters, but neither company has publicly declared its intent to participate. The Australian Defence Force is seeking an off-the-shelf helicopter in the 4-ton class to support the Army's special forces, primarily in their domestic counterterrorism role. Australia plans to buy up to 16 aircraft to provide an air assault capability for small teams within the special forces, and a fast-roping system to rapidly deliver troops while hovering. Secondary roles include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, fire support, and general utility. A weapons capability is optional. Four helicopters are required to fit in a single C-17A airlifter and be capable of rapid deployment from the Australian Army's 6th Aviation Regiment base at Holsworthy, outside Sydney. The regiment currently operates the NHIndustries-made MRH-90 Taipan in a special forces support role, and the new helicopter is to complement that capability. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2022. For its planned bid, Airbus Australia Pacific has teamed with 15 local suppliers to meet the Australian Industry Capability policy, which calls for defense suppliers to include local industry in their efforts. Those domestic companies include Safran Australia, Qinetiq Australia, HeliMods, Toll Helicopters, Helicopter Logistics, Sigma Bravo and Thales. The company has also entered a strategic partnership with Deakin University, near Melbourne, to develop innovative solutions and modifications throughout the H145Ms' proposed 25-year life span. Mathewson says Airbus Australia Pacific has also offered seven H145Ms to the commonwealth, which, together with a series of technology inserts to the Australian Army's Tiger helicopters, is an independent bid to meet the requirements of Land 4503 (for armed reconnaissance helicopters). https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2020/07/02/airbus-reveals-h145m-bid-plan-for-australian-special-forces-helo-competition
September 14, 2024 | International, Aerospace
Boeing's CFO said the strike will affect a facility working on the KC-46 and increase the program's cost pressures.