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November 19, 2024 | International, Land

Notre Dame unveils first-ever hypersonic Mach 10 wind tunnel

A first-of-its-kind test facility unveiled earlier this month at the University of Notre Dame could improve the Pentagon’s hypersonic research.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/pentagon/2024/11/18/notre-dame-unveils-first-ever-hypersonic-mach-10-wind-tunnel/

On the same subject

  • IM-SHORAD delayed by pandemic, but first unit equip date remains in place

    May 29, 2020 | International, Land

    IM-SHORAD delayed by pandemic, but first unit equip date remains in place

    By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army's newest short-range air defense system is one of several projects that are facing delays due to COVID-19, but top officials insist that all major acquisition programs remain on track for their planned delivery dates to the field. For programs in the two largest categories of acquisition programs, “we remain on track for first unit equipped for all the programs,” Bruce Jette, the Army acquisition head, said Wednesday. However, “that doesn't mean that some of the programs aren't having adjustments to delivery schedules or adjustments to milestone. We're making adjustments as necessary, and then working with the companies to try and catch up.” One of the programs to fall behind is the Interim Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) system, which had been scheduled to wrap up developmental testing by June. Last week, Janes reported that there were software issues with integrating the weapons package onto the Stryker combat vehicle-based system used for the IM-SHORAD design. The Army plans to procure 144 of the systems, which would be deployed in Europe. “I think we flipped a few months to the right, based upon some software issues,” said Gen. Mike Murray, the head of Army Futures Command. “And matter of fact, I was just talking to the CEO today on the software issues, and we're jumping on that and they got an update yesterday and we're making great progress, but we did slide that a little bit to the right.” In addition to the software challenge, Murray said the need for COVID-19 safety measures was causing a delay in testing, as well. “When you're working tests like that, the run up like that for the test, it's almost impossible to maintain the 6 feet of social distancing. So it was getting the right [personal protective equipment] in place, and then the software issues we had,” Murray said. The general declined to say which CEO he had discussions with on the program. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is the lead integrator for the program, with a mission equipment package designed by Leonardo DRS. That mission equipment package includes Raytheon's Stinger vehicle missile launcher. The two officials appeared on a call hosted by the Defense Writers' Group. Jette said there is only one program that has had to make a “significant” change to its schedule, but described that program as an ACAT 3 level effort — the smallest acquisition category — with the delay a direct result of the small size of the company. “The greatest sensitivities tend to be down in those programs which have connectivity to small companies, as their major source of technology, delivery services, etc. Because if one person gets sick in the company, you often end up with the entire company being in quarantine for 14 days. And then if they do it again, it gets worse,” Jette said. “So with only one program having a major slip, and that being a small one, I think that's a pretty good success and tells you a little bit about how hard industry is working to try and stay on track,” he added. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/05/27/im-shorad-delayed-by-pandemic-but-first-unit-equip-date-remains-in-place/

  • Indonesia turns to France’s Naval Group for submarines

    April 3, 2024 | International, Naval

    Indonesia turns to France’s Naval Group for submarines

    Indonesia has signed a contract with local firm PT PAL and France’s Naval Group for two Scorpene-class submarines.

  • Indian MoD approves procurements worth USD1.17 billion

    August 13, 2020 | International, Aerospace

    Indian MoD approves procurements worth USD1.17 billion

    by Rahul Bedi India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the procurement of indigenously developed platforms and weapon systems worth INR87.22 billion (USD1.17 billion) for the country's three military services, including basic trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Indian government's Press Information Bureau (PIB) announced on 11 August that the MoD's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is headed by Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh, agreed to acquire an initial 70 Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) aircraft from public-sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) following their certification. An additional 36 tandem-seat HTT-40s are expected to be acquired thereafter, once the IAF has operationalised the first lot of trainers. A HTT-40 prototype powered by a Honeywell TPE331-12B turboprop engine made its maiden test flight in June 2016, following a six-year delay, but the aircraft has yet to enter series production. The HTT-40 was developed to replace the HAL-designed HPT-32 Deepak, which was grounded in July 2009 following recurring accidents. Once inducted, the HTT-40 is meant to supplement 75 Pilatus PC-7 Mk II basic trainers that have been in IAF service since 2013. The DAC also cleared the procurement of an unspecified number of upgraded 127 mm/64 cal ‘super rapid' guns from state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for fitment onto Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessels. Industry sources told Janes that the IN plans to arm an initial 13 frontline warships – including the indigenously designed and built Shivalik-class frigates and Delhi-class destroyers – with these guns. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indian-mod-approves-procurements-worth-usd117-billion

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