February 1, 2024 | International, Aerospace
Guardian’s NASA mission lands a first for Space Force
The Crew-9 mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, designed to shuttle workers to and from the International Space Station.
September 10, 2018 | International, Aerospace
‘We are not dupes’: France takes step away from US with fighter program
By: Pierre Tran
PARIS — France has linked its search for independence from U.S. export rules with the Franco-German project for a future fighter jet, in a bid to boost foreign sales of the aircraft, the French armed forces minister said.
France's effort to become less dependent on U.S. components and promote exports were written into the same letter of intent signed in June with Germany for the FCAS project, Florence Parly told AJPAE, the aeronautics and space journalists association, on Sept. 6.
“The exportability of the (Future Combat Air System) is a key element to ensure the economic viability of the program,” she said. “We have to think as upstream as possible to secure this exportability.”
The minister previously told parliamentarians the French government aims to cut its reliance on U.S. components in the wake of an American refusal to authorize the sale of parts for a French Scalp cruise missile requested by Egypt. French attempts to persuade Washington to lift restrictions under U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations have failed.
Parly declined to give examples, but she said the problems Paris has encountered in the pursuit of foreign arms sales “stemmed in appearance from strategic factors and in reality from commercial competition."
“We are not dupes,” she said.
France needs to gradually cut its reliance on certain American components, although it is impossible to be completely independent, she admitted, adding that there is a plan to reduce that dependence.
“Experience has led us to undertake this action,” she said.
Companies should take the responsibility for greater independence, as they faced the consequences of failed export efforts, she said.
“They are in the front line,” she said, noting that the government is in dialog with industry and that some companies already understand the situation and are fully committed.
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April 3, 2020 | International, C4ISR
Pentagon announces final 5G prototype proposal
Andrew Eversden The Department of Defense released its fourth and final request for prototype proposals for 5G technology development on April 1, according to a news release from the National Spectrum Consortium. In the request for the next-generation network, the DoD asks for industry input on a three-pronged 5G prototype project at Hill Air Force Base and Utah Test and Training Range, both in Utah. Like previous solicitations, the request is divided into three categories: the 5G network itself, enhancements to the network, and applications for a deployable spectrum-coexistence and -sharing system. Here are the projects that the DoD wants, as described by the consortium: 5G prototype test bed to design, construct and operate a localized, private, full-scale 5G mobile cellular network to evaluate the impact of the 5G network on airborne radio systems. 5G prototype enhancements specifically to improve dynamic spectrum-sharing and spectrum coexistence capabilities. 5G prototype applications to design, construct and deploy a spectrum coexistence and sharing (SCS) system to identify and demonstrate deployable SCS. “This effort will demonstrate mid-band spectrum sharing critical to our national 5G plan. Sharing technology can bring spectrum to market while protecting and enhancing future military capabilities,” said Joseph Dyer, the National Spectrum Consortium's chief strategy officer and a retired vice admiral. “We strongly encourage our members to collaborate and respond to these important RPPs to support innovation and make sure that the United States remains a global technology leader on 5G.” The release follows a March 12 RPP for development of smart warehouses using 5G technology at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/5g/2020/04/02/pentagon-announces-final-5g-prototype-proposal/
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September 29, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Airbus’s First Wide-Body Deal Since March Is for Sole Tanker-Jet
Charlotte Ryan Airbus SE announced its first wide-body order in almost six months -- for a single aerial refueling and transport aircraft based on an old model of its A330 jet. The A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport or MRTT was ordered by Europe's multinational procurement body on behalf of NATO and will be available to the air forces of six nations, Airbus said in a statement Monday. The military purchase highlights the collapse in sales to airlines and leasing firms that traditionally dominate orders as the coronavirus crisis shatters travel demand. In normal times, Airbus and Boeing Co. would expect to have racked up dozens of orders for hundreds of planes over the summer. Airbus's last twin-aisle deal, for 10 A350-900 jets, was secured on March 31. Since then, the pandemic has compelled the Toulouse, France-based company to focus more on protecting existing orders by allowing its struggling customers to defer deliveries rather than targeting up new business. The tanker purchase comes after Luxembourg agreed to maximize participation in the shared program and means all three options for additional MRTT planes have been exercised, taking the total fleet to nine. In addition to air-to-air refueling, the jets can carry troops, cargo and be used for medical evacuation. Airbus will announce full order and delivery figures for September next week. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-28/airbus-s-first-wide-body-deal-since-march-is-for-sole-tanker-jet