Boeing lands the first order of the F-15EX

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  2 août 2019 | International, Aérospatial

  Northrop and Raytheon to compete to build laser weapon for short-range air defense

  By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has awarded a contract each to Northrop Grumman and Raytheon to build a 50-kilowatt-class laser weapon for Stryker combat vehicles for the Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) mission, according to an Aug. 1 statement from the service's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. The two companies will build their respective directed-energy weapons as subcontractors to Kord Technologies. The Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, or RCCTO, entered into a $203 million agreement with Kord under the OTA, or other transaction authority, contracting mechanism that is used to rapidly fund the production of prototypes. The contract could increase to $490 million for the delivery of four prototypes. One of the laser weapon systems developed through the OTA could be integrated onto a platoon of four Stryker vehicles in fiscal 2022. But the Army is leaving competition open to any vendors that did not receive an OTA contract to compete using their own internal research and development dollars. The Army is rapidly developing and fielding Manuever-SHORAD vehicles in response to an urgent need in Europe. A year ago, the Army chose Leonardo DRS to integrate a mission equipment package that will include Raytheon's Stinger vehicle missile launcher onto a Stryker as its M-SHORAD capability. General Dynamics Land Systems — which produces the Stryker — will be the platform integrator for the system. The final prototypes will be delivered to the service by the first quarter of FY20. The directed-energy M-SHORAD capability will protect brigade combat teams from unmanned aircraft, helicopters, rockets, artillery and mortars. “The time is now to get directed energy weapons to the battlefield,” Lt. Gen. L. Neil Thurgood, director of hypersonics, directed energy, space and rapid acquisition, said in a statement. “The Army recognizes the need for directed energy lasers as part of the Army's modernization plan. This is no longer a research effort or a demonstration effort. It is a strategic combat capability, and we are on the right path to get it in soldiers' hands.” The award marks progress toward the Army's new strategy for accelerating and fielding directed-energy weapons. The M-SHORAD laser weapon prototypes are part of a technology maturation effort — the Multi-Mission High Energy Laser. The Army is also building a High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator. While the laser for the demonstrator will be a 100-kilowatt-class laser on a Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles platform — developed by Dynetics and Lockheed Martin — the service aims to develop 250- to 300-kilowatt-class directed-energy weapons. More powerful laser weapon systems will allow the services to protect against rockets, artillery, mortars and drones “as well as more stressing threats,” according to the release. The Army plans to deliver prototypes of approximately that power onto tactical vehicles for the High Energy Laser Indirect Fire Protection Capability to a platoon by FY24. “By teaming with the other services and our industry partners, we will not only save resources, but exponentially increase the power level and get a better system to soldiers faster,” Thurgood said. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/08/01/northrop-and-raytheon-to-compete-to-build-laser-weapon-for-short-range-air-defense/

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  17 septembre 2018 | International, Aérospatial

  Indonesia plans to buy C-130J Super Hercules, CH-47 Chinooks

  By: Mike Yeo MELBOURNE, Australia — Indonesia's defense minister has said the country intends to acquire new tactical airlifters and heavy-lift helicopters from the United States, as it continues its gradual drive to modernize its military. Speaking in the capital Jakarta earlier this week, Ryamizard Ryacudu said Indonesia is looking to acquire five Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft and the Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, according to the country's state-owned Antara News Agency. He did not specify the number of helicopters Indonesia is seeking, but Defense News understands from an Indonesian source the number of Chinooks will be between three and five. This expected procurement is likely to be just the first step in the southeast Asian archipelago nation's effort to recapitalize its airlift inventory. Earlier this year, the Indonesian Air Force's chief of staff, Air Marshal Yuyu Sutisna, was reported by Antara as saying that the service plans for all six of its airlift squadrons to have new aircraft by 2024, which currently operates a mix of light and medium transports alongside older variants of the C-130. Indonesia's current Hercules fleet consists of about a dozen "B" and "H" variants of the C-130 aircraft, the oldest of which date back to the early 1960s. The inventory has also been bolstered in recent years by the ongoing transfer of nine C-130Hs from Australia, which has retired the type from service in favor of the C-130J. However, this has been offset by the loss of five C-130s since 2000, including one of the former Australian aircraft, which crashed while landing in bad weather at one of Indonesia's remote eastern islands in December 2016, while the older aircraft have suffered from ongoing serviceability issues. This is not the first time Ryacudu has said Indonesia was seeking the C-130J. He first flagged the intention to do so back in May, following a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in Hawaii. There have also been earlier reports that Indonesia was interested in acquiring Chinooks; however, this is the first time the defense minister has confirmed that it will go ahead with the acquisition. Antara also quoted him as saying Indonesia had evaluated the Russian Mi-26T2 heavy-lift helicopter, but found it unsuitable for the country's requirements. The Indonesian military currently does not operate any heavy-lift helicopters, and alongside its relatively small airlift fleet represents a key capability gap for a country made up of more than 17,000 islands that are also prone to natural disasters. Any Indonesian acquisition of the C-130J and CH-47 will likely be done through Foreign Military Sales channels. It is unclear if Indonesia has formally submitted a request to acquire the types, which must first be approved by the U.S. State Department. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/09/14/indonesia-plans-to-buy-c-130j-super-hercules-ch-47-chinooks

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  16 septembre 2021 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

  Contracts for September 15, 2021

  Today