October 7, 2022 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
Seven questions with the US Army's counter-drone boss
Maj. Gen. Sean Gainey spoke with C4ISRNET about what it takes to protect American interests against drone warfare.
May 20, 2022 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Pour monter en cadence, le secteur français de la Défense a besoin de visibilité
DÉFENSE
Pour monter en cadence, le secteur français de la Défense a besoin de visibilité
La France a admis, le 22 avril dernier, qu'elle livrait 6 à 12 canons Caesar à l'Ukraine. Ces pièces seront, en effet, prélevées sur les 76 Caesar en service dans l'armée de Terre, qui prévoit d'en avoir 109 dans dix ans (neufs ou modernisés). Le secteur français de la Défense, s'il n'y a pas de hausse de production liée à la guerre pour le moment, s'inquiète sur la contrainte qui pèse sur son industrie. Pour le PDG de MBDA, Eric Béranger, « L'industrie s'adaptera en fonction de ce qu'on lui demandera » et les délais de mobilisation de l'outil industriel « dépendront des moyens qu'on y met ». Les industriels pourront certainement monter en cadence, mais ils auront besoin de prévisibilité, prévient le GICAT (le Groupement des industries de l'armement terrestre). Depuis la parution d'un rapport parlementaire en février 2022, la France prévoit de consentir un effort financier considérable, de plusieurs milliards d'euros, qui s'ajouteraient à la Loi de Programmation Militaire 2019-2025. « Nous percevons une volonté d'investir dans la Défense et c'est une énorme opportunité de renforcer la souveraineté de l'Europe », se félicite Eric Béranger, dont le groupe affiche un chiffre d'affaires en hausse de 16% en 2021 et un carnet de commandes de 17,8 Md€. A condition que ces crédits profitent à des industriels européens.
Le Monde du 20 mai
On the same subject
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October 12, 2023 | International, Aerospace
Congressional commission calls for more nuclear arsenal expansion
The U.S. should expand its capabilities beyond current modernization plans despite industrial constraints, it said in a report.
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April 14, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Boeing to reopen the KC-46 and P-8 production lines
By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — Boeing will restart production of the P-8 and KC-46 on Monday after a three-week pause in operations spurred by the spread of the novel coronavirus in Washington state. The company temporarily shut down operations in the Puget Sound region on March 25. Boeing's sites in Washington focus primarily on the development and production of commercial airliners and militarized variants of those aircraft, such as the KC-46 tanker made in Everett and the P-8 submarine hunting plane made in Renton. While the resumption of operations will focus on defense programs, the company will also reopen the facilities necessary for 737 MAX storage as well as other laboratories and functions deemed as essential. “Boeing's work supporting the Department of Defense as a part of the defense industrial base is a matter of national security and has been deemed critical. The work we do directly supports the servicemen and women protecting the nation around the clock – and they are counting on us to get it done,” the company said in a statement. The phased re-opening of Boeing facilities will help support its supply base and will ensure the company has enough protective equipment available for the 2,500 employees who will return to work, the company said. Boeing will also enact additional health checks at the Puget Sound sites, including wellness checks at the start of every shift, staggered shift times, additional handwashing stations and cleaning supplies, and a requirement that employees wear a mask at work to comply with state guidance. The company's Ridley Park, Penn.-facility remains closed. That site produces military helicopters including the H-47 Chinook cargo helicopter, the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft as well as the MH-139A Grey Wolf, which will be used by the Air Force to defend missile fields. Monday's reopening is especially good news for the KC-46 program, as the production line is already making tankers at full rate. Boeing has delivered 33 tankers to the Air Force so far, with the production of a total 179 KC-46s expected to be produced in the program of record. Will Roper, the Air Force's acquisition executive, said in March that the pause in KC-46 production wouldn't become a problem unless it extended past a month. “We've tried to make it very clear to our industry partners that we expect them to do whatever is necessary to keep our critical defense-industrial base workforce and their families healthy,” Roper said then. “The standing back up will be important too, because that sends a message to our adversaries that a domestic crisis is not a time of opportunity nor does it create a readiness bathtub in the future.” https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/04/13/boeing-to-reopen-the-kc-46-and-p-8-production-lines/