August 25, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
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October 29, 2018 | International, Aerospace
US Air Force explores space-based cargo operations, confirms talks with SpaceX
By: Jeff Martin
GRAPEVINE, Texas — The U.S. Air Force is exploring the logistics of space-based cargo operations under the purview of Air Mobility Command, even as the impact of a new Space Force on the mobility community remains to be seen.
“I don't know how it will affect mobility, but most of you know space affects mobility every day,” Gen. Paul Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday at the 2018 Airlift/Tanker Symposium outside Dallas, Texas.
“Whatever the Space Force is or does, it has to protect our national interest in space,” he said, adding that GPS is critical to the air mobility community.
As for what space cargo operations could look like, the previous head of Air Mobility Command, Gen. Carlton Everhart, espoused the possibility of moving cargo using rocketsduring a Defense Writers Group breakfast in August.
“Think about this. Thirty minutes, 150 metric tons [and] less than the cost of a C-5,” he said at the time.
Apart from cargo operations, such a focuses space presence could help with pre-positioning equipment and supplies in orbit, ready to be dropped to Earth.
But in a roundtable with reporters Friday, the new commander of AMC, Gen. Maryanne Miller, said while the command continues to study the possibility, space cargo operations remain at the conceptual stage.
“We're continuing, our [planning] community is going to continue to have discussions with the space companies, and we have agreed to just sit with them and just stay up to date with where they're going with their future plans, to just be at the table with them” she said. “We won't commit any resources, but we've committed to work with them to see how quickly they progress through that."
One potential would be SpaceX's next-generation reusable BFR rocket, currently under development. During the roundtable, Miller confirmed that the Air Force had spoken to SpaceX about the idea.
“They have talked about moving cargo in space, and we've sat down with SpaceX and had that discussion. But it's really just discussion at this point," she said. “Our connection with space is really just going to be at the table with them, to look at how much progress they're making.”
As for what type of cargo could possibly be moved, that's still being discussed. But in August, Everhart said he'd be willing to stick “anything” in space.
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November 17, 2021 | International, C4ISR
Thales dévoile un radar de surveillance aérienne aux capacités de traitement cinq fois plus élevées
Thales a dévoilé un nouveau radar aux performances significativement accrues par rapport à celles affichées par ses précédents modèles de la gamme GM400. Le radar Ground Master 400 Alpha dispose d'une puissance de traitement cinq fois plus élevée et d'algorithmes d'intelligence artificielles « avancés ». Radar 3D à longue portée, le GM400 Alpha pourra constituer pour les forces armées un « outil précieux pour obtenir un avantage tactique, en détectant tous les types de menaces de manière précoce, offrant ainsi de précieuses minutes pour la prise de décision et l'action », assure l'industriel. Le fonctionnement de ce GM400 Alpha repose sur la technologie numérique à faisceaux superposés, ce qui lui permet de détecter des cibles « allant des jets et missiles rapides aux hélicoptères et drones en vol stationnaire ». Surtout, Thales insiste sur sa capacité à détecter et à poursuive la menace des « drones tactiques volant près du sol », tout en faisant de même, simultanément, pour les chasseurs-bombardiers évoluant à plus haute altitude. Opex360 du 15 novembre
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December 2, 2020 | International, Land
Oshkosh nabs $911M for JLTVs for U.S., Lithuania, Brazil, Macedonia
By Christen McCurdy Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Oshkosh Defense inked two deals $911 million this week to deliver Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to the U.S. and overseas partners. On Tuesday, the defense contractor announced that U.S. Army Contracting Command had placed an order for 2,738 JLTVs for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, "along with a select group of NATO and non-NATO allies." The Pentagon also announced the domestic sale on Monday night. Under the deal, valued at $888.4 million, Oshkosh is contracted to deliver 2,679 JLTVs, 1,001 trailers and 6,725 kits to the four branches of the U.S. military, with a completion date of Oct. 31, 2022. Oshkosh also inked a $23 million deal this week to provide 59 vehicles to Brazil, Lithuania and North Macedonia. "The men and women of Oshkosh Defense take great pride in what they do," said George Mansfield, Vice President and General Manager of Joint Programs for Oshkosh Defense. "Designing, building, and delivering the world's most capable light tactical vehicle, the Oshkosh JLTV, is one of our greatest accomplishments. And we plan to continue building the Oshkosh JLTV for many years to come," Mansfield said. This week's deals follow several lucrative awards for the vehicles -- which were developed by the Marines and the Army as a replacement for Humvee -- in the past calendar year. This week's deals come nearly a year after Oshkosh was awarded an $803.9 million contract to provide JLTVs to the U.S. military and military of Montenegro. In July, the U.S. Army Contracting Command ordered the construction of 248 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles by Oshkosh, a deal worth $127.7 million, and in February Oshkosh was awarded a $407.3 million contract modification to procure joint light tactical vehicles for the Army. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/12/01/Oshkosh-nabs-911M-for-JLTVs-for-US-Lithuania-Brazil-Macedonia/5731606846235