Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets

Sur le même sujet

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  7 septembre 2018 | International, Aérospatial

  Northrop Grumman secures $164M contract for Hawkeye aircraft for Japan

  By: Mike Yeo MELBOURNE, Australia — The contract for the last of four Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft ordered by Japan has been awarded, as the country announces plans to reorganize its airborne early warning aircraft command. According to a Sept. 5 contract award announcement by the U.S. Department of Defense, Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $164 million firm-fixed-price modification to an existing contract for a new-build E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft . This follows similar contract awards in November 2015, July 2016 and June 2018, and brings the total procurement cost for Japan for the four E-2Ds to $633 million, not inclusive of engineering and other related costs. The first Japanese E-2D is currently undergoing flight tests, having made its first flight from Northrop Grumman's Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in St. Augustine, Florida, in October 2017, with delivery expected in late 2019. The E-2D is the latest variant of the E-2 Hawkeye carrierborne, airborne early warning aircraft, which is already being operated by the U.S. Navy. It features a new Lockheed Martin AN/APY-9 ultrahigh-frequency-band radar, which is able to detect and track cruise missiles and low-observable aircraft. However, the Japanese aircraft are not fitted with the Cooperative Engagement Capability, or CEC, like U.S. Navy E-2Ds. CEC is a sensor network with integrated fire control capability that combines data from multiple battle-force air-search sensors on CEC-equipped units into a single, real-time, composite track picture. Japanese media has also previously reported that the Defense Ministry is looking to equip its E-2Ds and Aegis-equipped destroyers with CEC, allowing the former to guide missiles fired by the latter. Full article: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/09/06/northrop-grumman-secures-164m-contract-to-modify-hawkeye-aircraft-for-japan

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  9 mars 2021 | International, Aérospatial

  Premier vol opérationnel d’un Rafale F3-R équipé de 2 missiles Meteor

  L'armée de l'Air et de l'Espace a effectué le 4 mars son premier vol opérationnel avec un Rafale équipé de 2 missiles Meteor. L'intégration du missile Meteor entre dans le cadre de la montée en puissance du Rafale F3-R de Dassault Aviation. Le missile Meteor, développé par MBDA, est propulsé par un statoréacteur pilotable qui lui apporte vitesse, portée et manoeuvrabilité terminale. Son intégration « apporte une allonge considérable dans le combat air-air, avec une portée estimée à une centaine de kilomètres », précise Aerobuzz. Son emploi se conjugue à celui du radar RBE2 AESA à antenne active, capable de détecter et désigner des cibles à cette distance. La prochaine étape pour le Rafale en matière de missile concerne l'intégration du MICA de nouvelle génération avec le standard F4, dans les années 2023-2024. Air & Cosmos et Aerobuzz du 9 mars

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  21 décembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial

  Boeing Super Hornet demonstrates ski-jump launch capability

  Boeing and the U.S. Navy proved recently that the F/A-18 Super Hornet can operate from a “ski jump” ramp, demonstrating the aircraft's suitability for India's aircraft carriers. The demonstrations, held at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, showed that the Super Hornet would do well with the Indian Navy's Short Takeoff but Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system and validated earlier simulation studies by Boeing. “The first successful and safe launch of the F/A-18 Super Hornet from a ski jump begins the validation process to operate effectively from Indian Navy aircraft carriers,” said Ankur Kanaglekar, India Fighter Sales lead for Boeing. “The F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will not only provide superior war fighting capability to the Indian Navy but also create opportunities for cooperation in naval aviation between the United States and India.” The Indian Navy is evaluating its fighter options. If it selects the Super Hornet, it would benefit from billions of dollars invested in new technologies by the U.S. Navy and others. Those technologies include advanced networking, longer range through conformal fuel tanks, infrared search and track, and a new advanced cockpit system. “This milestone further positions the Block III Super Hornet as a versatile next-generation frontline fighter for decades to come,” said Thom Breckenridge, vice-president of international sales for strike, surveillance and mobility with Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “With its proven capabilities, affordable acquisition price, known low documented life-cycle costs and guaranteed delivery schedule, the Block III Super Hornet is ideally suited to meet fighter aircraft requirements of customers in India, North America and Europe.” The ski jump demonstrations follow the delivery of two Block III flight-test aircraft to the U.S. Navy in June. Boeing is on contract to deliver next-generation Block III capabilities to the U.S. Navy beginning in 2021. The Super Hornet provides the most weapons at range in the U.S. Navy's fighter inventory, including five times more air-to-ground and twice the air-to-air weapons capacity. Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth. https://skiesmag.com/press-releases/boeing-super-hornet-demonstrates-ski-jump-launch-capability/