November 16, 2022 | International, C4ISR
Pentagon must embrace commercial technologies to win data war
Commercial cloud providers, well entrenched in the DoD, already have the capabilities integrated into their offerings.
August 16, 2019 | International, Aerospace
USAF Takes Delivery Of A Rebuilt U.S. Army Black Hawk
Program Will Restore The Pave Hawk Operational Loss Replacement Fleet To Its Authorized Size
The first Operational Loss Replacement HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter has been delivered to the U.S. Air Force by the U.S. Army by Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Paul Rauenhorst and Capt. Seth Peterson pilots on Aug. 5, 2019, to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Defense Blog reports that the aircraft is a rebuilt low-hour U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk aircraft. “It's a much younger airframe,” Rauenhorst said. “These airframes are from 2001 to 2004 models, where ours sitting on the ramp are 1992 models. These are Army Limas rebuilt to be Golf models.”
The HH-60 is the primary SAR helicopter deployed by the Department of Defense. Multiple aircraft have been lost in nearly 18 years deployed in combat operations, and the OLR program is designed to bring the Pave Hawk fleet back to its authorized size, according to the report.
Chief Master Sgt. Eric Chester, 176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent, said that the OLRs will significantly increase the availability for the fleet, as they are lower-time aircraft that will require less maintenance.
“The impact of the OLR coming into our wing is huge,” Chester said. “It's a big opportunity for everyone here to be able to take advantage of these new aircraft and reset across the board.”
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=ee00b374-5f9e-4eeb-8664-300e8851226e
On the same subject
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February 25, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Astra Transformation Could Enable Nonpilots To Command RAF
Tony Osborne LONDON—For decades, the top role as Chief of Air Staff in Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) has been the preserve of either pilots or aircrewmen. But that tradition could be turned on its head. Senior officers are undertaking a transformation plan called Astra that aims to better harness the RAF's personnel and prepare the air arm for new technologies and multidomain warfare. This includes those in space and cyberspace as the service strives to be ready for the 2040s. And one of the most tangible changes could be a move away from pilots taking up the most senior command posts. Since 1950, only one Chief of the Air Staff has not had a background flying either fighters or bombers, said Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, who served in the role from 2013 to 2016 with a background as a helicopter pilot. The current air chief, Air Marshal Michael Wigston, previously flew the Panavia Tornado. Before 1950, some of the most famous chiefs, including Sir Hugh Trenchard—often described as the father of the RAF—and Sir Arthur Tedder served in the infantry. “In the old days, predominantly it was what the pilots said that mattered. That's because we operated in a domain that was an exclusive preserve of pilots,” said Air Vice Marshall Ian Gale, assistant chief of the air staff for strategy. He spoke to journalists here on Feb. 24 as the air arm gears up for its annual Air and Space Power conference in July. “We have quite significant amounts of untapped cognitive diversity that we are trying to break into and give a voice to.” Always selecting pilots for the top job is seen by those in other air force posts as a career-limiting glass ceiling. But Gale argues the role should in the future should go to the “best person for the job,” and that could be a “battlespace manager, a cyber specialist or a space specialist.” Selection of a nonpilot for the role of Chief of Air Staff would, Gale said, “send a zero-message outside the air force, but a huge message inside it ... knowing that they may have a role in directing the future of the organization.” Other benefits of Astra will be the introduction of greater automation into tasks, with Gale hinting at new approaches to air traffic control. This is an issue of particular relevance as the RAF is suffering personnel shortages in this area, which is impacting training operations at some bases. This may suggest the RAF is looking at remote tower operations for some of its quieter airfields. https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/astra-transformation-could-enable-nonpilots-command-raf
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February 7, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Airbus Helicopters poursuit la militarisation du H160 et du soutien associé
Airbus Helicopters et la Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) s'engagent sur des études complémentaires pour la militarisation du H160 et du soutien associé, dans le cadre du programme d'Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger (HIL). Ce marché va permettre le lancement des activités de développement préliminaires de la version militaire du H160, aussi connue sous le nom de Guépard, afin de tenir le calendrier de livraison accéléré annoncé en mai 2019 par la Ministre des armées, Florence Parly. Ces études complémentaires comporteront également un volet visant à définir le modèle optimal du soutien pour cette flotte interarmées. Airbus Helicopters, Safran Helicopter Engines et la DGA travailleront en étroite collaboration avec pour objectif de maximiser le taux de disponibilité des hélicoptères tout en optimisant les coûts de soutien de la flotte. « Le lancement dès la phase de pré-développement de ce travail collaboratif entre l'industriel et le ministère des armées pour définir le modèle de soutien du Guépard et les processus associés est essentiel. Cela permettra de garantir un taux de disponibilité élevé dès son entrée en service au sein des forces armées » a déclaré Alexandra Cros, Directrice des Affaires Gouvernementales France d'Airbus Helicopters. « Ces études s'inscrivent dans la continuité des travaux et des engagements pris récemment dans les contrats « verticalisés » pour les flottes Cougar, Caracal et Tigre des armées françaises ». Hélicoptère modulaire par conception, le Guépard permettra de couvrir avec une plateforme unique des missions allant de l'infiltration de commandos à la lutte antinavire, en passant par l'interception aérienne et l'appui-feu, répondant ainsi aux besoins de l'armée de Terre, de la Marine Nationale et de l'Armée de l'air dans le cadre du programme HIL. Le lancement du HIL anticipé en 2021 permettra de livrer les premiers hélicoptères à l'armée française dès 2026. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/airbus-helicopters-poursuit-la-militarisation-du-h160-et-du-soutien-associ-22521