21 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial
STUTTGART, Germany – Airbus is pitching a new jet trainer package for the Spanish air force that industry executives hope could one day help school pilots across Europe on next-generation aircraft.
The Airbus Future Jet Trainer, or AFJT, would replace Spain's fleets of Northrop F-5M and CASA C-101 Aviojet aircraft around 2027 or 2028, Airbus officials told Defense News. While the concept has been in the works for several years, the company first revealed the official specifications late last week to Spanish media outlets.
The company envisions the project as a multi-role, integrated trainer system, with room for growth as a potential light-attack or aggressor aircraft. Among its features is a live-virtual-constructive (LVC) training environment, and compatibility with ground-based training systems.
Abel Nin, head of the AFJT program at Airbus, told Defense News the aircraft is designed with fighter characteristics of high maneuverability and speed, and the ability to emulate aircraft including the Eurofighter Typhoon and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, as well as future systems. If selected, the AFJT plane could see its first flight around 2025, Nin said.
Raúl Tena, Airbus' sales manager for combat aircraft, emphasized that the aircraft and associated training systems are being built with the Spanish air force's requirements and timeline “as the starting point.”
“From there, we believe that this aircraft should not only serve Spain, but should also serve Europe,” he said, citing France and Finland as potential future customers.
Spain's government has not yet allocated any funding toward a new trainer system, Airbus said. A budget is expected to be revealed by the end of 2020 or early 2021. The Spanish Ministry of Defense last year committed to buying 24 Pilatus PC-21 trainer jets, to begin replacing its 1980s-era C-101 aircraft.
Airbus serves as the AFJT lead contractor in charge of design, assembly and integration. Other suppliers include: Indra for flight simulations and systems; Tecnobit for communications and machine-pilot interface systems; ITP Aero — the Spanish subsidiary of Rolls-Royce — supplying the engine; GMV providing software and flight systems; and Compañía Española de Sistemas Aeronáuticos S.A. (CESA) providing the landing gear and actuators.
“We are launching [this program] with all of industry, trying to capture all of their inputs in a single contract,” Nin said. “The ambition is there” to have a fully Spanish industry team, he added.
Airbus anticipates that there are between 500 to 800 trainer aircraft around the globe to be replaced within the next decade. “We cannot deny that there is a good opportunity” to capture part of that market, Tena said.
Since Spain has signed on as a partner in the Franco-German-led Future Combat Air System program to build Europe's next-generation fighter jet, Airbus also sees an opportunity for the AFJT to be that program's trainer. However, no final decisions have been made as to which country will build the FCAS trainer yet, Nin said.
27 novembre 2023 | International, Aérospatial
France and Spain are also slated to send aircraft for training visits, putting a "European face" on the summer deployment, the German air force chief said.
15 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Terrestre
Jean-Marc Tanguy Le député de la Haute-Marne, rapporteur spécial pour la défense à la Commission des finances de l'Assemblée Nationale a, une fois de plus, transmis ses doutes sur le projet de loi de finances (PLF) 2021. Surcoûts Opex Le député (LR) de la Haute-Marne, rapporteur spécial pour la défense à la Commission des finances de l'Assemblée Nationale, a une fois de plus transmis ses doutes, ce 13 octobre, sur la fin de gestion 2020, et le projet de loi de finances (PLF) 2021, qui sera étudié en première lecture dans l'hémicycle à la fin du mois. François Cornut-Gentille estime que la « fin de gestion 2020 sera compliquée comme tous les ans, mais un peu plus en 2020 » du fait de l'augmentation des surcoûts Opex liés aux 600 personnels déployés en plus à Barkhane (mais aussi aux pertes en matériels), aux opérations Résilience et Amitié. Ainsi, le niveau pourrait atteindre 1,6 Md€, estime l'élu. Dassault Rafale pour la Grèce Auparavant, le ministère des Armées trouvait des ressources pour financer ces surcoûts : les montants non dépensés du titre 2 par exemple, mais le député estime que la totalité des fonds du T2 seront dépensés cette année. Le report de charge, qui aurait dû se réduire dans le cours de la LPM, progresse, constate François Cornut-Gentille, et pourrait atteindre 15 à 16 %. Le député se félicite aussi des annonces grecques sur le Dassault Rafale, « une bonne nouvelle pour les exportations et pour Dassault Aviation » mais il s'inquiète comme beaucoup des conséquences du prélèvement des 12 Dassault Rafale dans l'Armée de l'Air. Et du fait qu'il va falloir inscrire environ un milliard d'euros non prévus en LPM au chapitre des dépenses. Certes, la Grèce va payer pour les appareils d'occasion (sur lesquels en sus il faudra enlever des équipements/ndlr), mais moins que pour des avions neufs. Definvest pas à la hauteur ? Et la ministre des Armées, Florence Parly, elle-même reconnaissait en commission il y a peu qu'elle n'était pas sûre de récupérer le produit de cette vente même si elle entend obtenir gain de cause avec Bercy. Le niveau du reste à payer, les engagements non couverts par des paiements, atteint les 72,7 MdEUR à la fin 2019, un plus haut historique depuis 2006 au moins. François Cornut Gentille veut aussi dynamiser la logique de Definvest, qui n'a réalisé « que huit opérations » et « n'est pas à la hauteur des enjeux ». Photonis n'a pas été suffisamment protégé, constate-t-il. Enfin, il a déploré l'absence de réponses du ministère des Armées à ses 150 questions budgétaires posées en juillet en vue du PLF2021, ou des réponses trop tardives : 50 sont arrivées au courrier ce samedi. D'autres réponses, enfin, sont accompagnées d'une demande de discrétion, alors qu'elles figurent par ailleurs... en source ouverte, dans d'autres documents budgétaires. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/budgets-dfense-les-doutes-du-dput-cornut-gentille-23737
13 juin 2018 | International, Aérospatial
FORT WORTH, Texas, June 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] selected Raytheon [NYSE: RTN] to develop and deliver the next generation Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for the F-35fighter jet. The result of a Lockheed Martin-led competition, the selection will enhance capability and reduce cost. The F-35's DAS collects and sends high resolution, real-time imagery to the pilot's helmet from six infrared cameras mounted around the aircraft, allowing pilots to see the environment around them – day or night. With the ability to detect and track threats from any angle, the F-35 DAS gives pilots unprecedented situational awareness of the battlespace. "The supply chain competition for the next generation F-35 Distributed Aperture System resulted in significant cost savings, reliability and performance improvements," said Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. "We are aggressively pursuing cost reduction across the F-35 enterprise and this initiative is a clear demonstration of our unrelenting commitment to reduce costs and deliver transformational capabilities for the warfighter." Reduce Costs, Increased Performance The Raytheon-built DAS will be integrated into F-35 aircraft starting with Lot 15 aircraft, expected to begin deliveries in 2023. The next generation DAS system is estimated to generate the following results compared to the current system: More than $3 billion in life cycle cost savings Approximately 45 percent reduction in unit recurring cost Greater than 50 percent reduction in operations and sustainment cost 5 times more reliability 2 times performance capability improvement The new system will also indirectly benefit aircraft readiness and service manpower requirements "Raytheon's solution delivers next generation capability for the fifth generation F-35," said Roy Azevedo vice president of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. "Our focus is on providing pilots every tactical advantage imaginable while ensuring taxpayers receive the best value possible." With stealth technology, advanced sensors, weapons capacity and range, the F-35 is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft ever built. More than a fighter jet, the F-35's ability to collect, analyze and share data is a powerful force multiplier enhancing all airborne, surface and ground-based assets in the battlespace and enabling men and women in uniform to execute their mission and come home safe. For additional information, visit www.f35.com. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. About Raytheon Raytheon Company, with 2017 sales of $25 billion and 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter. https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2018-06-13-Lockheed-Martin-Selects-Raytheon-to-Deliver-Next-Generation-F-35-Sensor-System