3 février 2021 | International, Aérospatial

Israel touts upgraded Iron Dome capabilities against land, maritime threats

JERUSALEM — An upgraded version of the Iron Dome air defense system has reached a “significant milestone” after contending with advanced threats in a test, Israel's Ministry of Defense announced Feb. 1.

The Iron Dome is part of Israel's multilayered air defense and has been in service for a decade with more than 2,400 interceptions, mostly of projectiles launched from the Gaza Strip by militants. Two Iron Dome batteries were delivered to the U.S. Army in the last six months.

“The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), in the Directorate for Defense R&D of the Israel Ministry of Defense, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have completed a successful series of flight tests of the Iron Dome weapon system,” Israel's Ministry of Defense said. “The Israeli Air Force (IAF) and Navy also participated in the test, which was conducted in a base in central Israel. The test campaign was held in a number of scenarios simulating advanced threats with which the Iron Dome is expected to contend during times of conflict — whether on land or in the sea.”

The new system is expected to be delivered to the Israel Air Force for operational use — though it's unclear when — and then later installed on Israel's new Sa'ar 6 corvette, which arrived last year from Germany. It is expected to equip this new class of warships, which will be equipped with a variety of advanced Israeli systems in the coming years.

The new ships are supposed to defend Israel's exclusive economic zone off the country's coast. Israel has expanded its infrastructure off the coast in the last several years due to natural gas discoveries in its exclusive economic zone, and the country signed a deal to build an Eastern Mediterranean pipeline to Greece via Cyprus last year. In the 2006 Lebanon war, the militant group Hezbollah fired a C-802 missile at a Sa'ar 5 ship. Egyptian and Saudi Arabian ships have also contended with anti-ship missile threats in recent years from Sinai and Yemen, respectively.

Israel's Rafael would not elaborate on specifics of the test or the new capabilities. The ministry also would not provide further details beyond its statement.

Video released by the ministry showed the logos of the companies involved, including the prime contractor Rafael; IAI, whose subsidiary Elta Systems is the maker of the multimission radar; and mPrest, which produces the BMC command-and-control system.

The video also showed target drones launched over the water before Iron Dome intercepted them. It also showed several other quadcopter-style drones prior to takeoff, but it's unclear if they were targets in the drill.

In mid-December, Israel launched an unprecedented integration test of its air defense systems, including Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow. During the test, Iron Dome was used to intercept cruise missiles — a new capability for the system. Drones and cruise missiles were used by Iran in September 2019 in an attack on Saudi Arabia, which led to concerns at the time over whether air defense systems were ready to confront drone swarm attacks or contend with slow and low-flying, maneuverable missiles.

Iron Dome has received U.S. funding that tops about $500 million annually for joint air defense projects with Israel. In August 2020, Rafael and American firm Raytheon Technologies agreed to a joint venture to build Iron Dome in the United States. The facility builds the system and its Tamir interceptor, which is called SkyHunter, in the U.S. At the time, the system was said to be capable of intercepting cruise missiles, unmanned aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars.

When Israel completed the delivery of its second battery to the U.S. on Jan. 3, 2021, Israeli Defense Ministry Benny Gantz said he was “confident the system would assist the US Army in protecting American troops from ballistic and airborne threats as well as from developing threats in the areas where US troops are deployed on various missions.”

Subsequent reports in Israeli media hinted that the U.S. might deploy the system to the Gulf where it has bases. Israel's MoD did not comment on the reports. The U.S. previously sent Patriot batteries as well as counter-rocket, artillery and mortar systems to defend against threats in the Gulf region.

https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2021/02/02/israel-touts-upgraded-iron-dome-capabilities-against-land-maritime-threats

Sur le même sujet

6 mai 2020 | International, Aérospatial

GE Aviation Awarded $707 Million for F110 engine production
Cincinnati, April 30, 2020 - GE Aviation's F110 engine continues to remain the engine of choice of advanced F-15 and F-16 aircraft around the world. This month, the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) awarded GE Aviation four contract actions valued at around $707 million for F110-GE-129 engine production. These contracts which fall under an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, will provide F110 engines, installs, spares and modernized engine management system computers for Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft, as well as the Boeing F-15QA Advanced Eagle. The contracts involve Foreign Military Sales to Bulgaria, Slovakia, Qatar and Taiwan. “GE Aviation is honored to support the U.S. Air Force and foreign military sale customers,” said Shawn Warren, GE Aviation's vice president and general manager of large combat and mobility engines. “We say GE's F110 engine remains the engine of choice of modern F-15 and F-16 fleets around the world because we continue to support the F110 with a continuous infusion of new technology, including our Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).” GE's F110 engine powers 86 percent of F-15s delivered globally over the last 15 years and 70 percent of today's most advanced USAF F-16C/D fleet. GE Aviation also powers two-thirds of U.S. military fighters and helicopters. Over the last two months, GE Aviation has been awarded more than $1.2 billion in contracts to produce engines and hardware to support the U.S. military and international customers. Beyond the F110 deal, GE was awarded: • A $62 million contract modification to manufacture T700 engines for 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for the U.S. Army and international customers • A $215 million contract modification to produce 48 F414 engines and modules • A $138.2 million contract to provide TF34 engine supplies to the U.S. Air Force • A $72.5 million modification contract with the Navy to procure 140 generator converter units, 140 wiring harnesses and other components in support of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler aircraft electrical systems • A $51.5 million contract modification for eight F414 spare engines, 11 afterburner modules and 12 low pressure turbine modules for the Navy F/A-18 • A $9.7 million contract modification to re-start T64 engine core production in support of the H-53E Engine Reliability Improvement Program for the Navy The work involved in these contracts will be executed at GE Aviation's facilities which include Lynn, MA; Evendale, OH; Madisonville, KY; Rutland, VT; Hooksett, NH; Asheville, NC; Wilmington, NC; Muskegon, MI and other U.S. supply chain locations. “These new contracts underscore the essential role we play as the leading provider of fighter and helicopter engines for our military customers,” said Al DiLibero, GE Aviation's vice president and general manager of medium combat & trainer engines. “We are honored by these opportunities, which will add to GE's current installed base of more than 27,000 military engines.” While GE Aviation continues to produce engines and components, hundreds of military aircraft around the world are in the air daily to assist in critical areas needed to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. military alone is handling a variety of coronavirus responses, including building and converting facilities into temporary care centers, distributing food, providing security and transporting critical medical supplies. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, more than 28,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen in every state and territory have been activated to support COVID-19 response efforts. Hundreds of military aircraft are in the air daily to assist in these measures. Each day, GE continues to see these aircraft performing a variety of missions—from GE T700-powered Black Hawk helicopters operating daily missions to deliver critical supplies to communities to CF6-powered C5M Super Galaxy's used to mobilize medical personnel. “The efforts of our dedicated military servicemen, servicewomen, and civilians that are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak is heroic,” DiLibero said. “We are focused on doing our part to support the Warfighter.” About GE Aviation GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation . View source version on GE Aviation: https://www.geaviation.com/press-release/military-engines/ge-aviation-awarded-707-million-f110-engine-production
4 novembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

NATO International Concept Development & Experimentation (ICD&E) Conference
In NATO, much of concept development and experimentation (CD&E) activity begins with the identification of a concept that will contribute to capability development. Since a concept represents the first step to developing a capability, the starting point for the concept's development will often result from emerging technologies impacting on traditional methods of carrying out military operations. As acknowledged by Rear Admiral John Tammen in his welcome address to the International Concept Development & Experimentation (ICD&E) Conference, organised by NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT), “the Science and Technology Organization had already done a significant amount of study into EDTs”, and thus, as the world's largest collaborative research forum in the field of defence and security, the STO can help inform concept developers on scientific research and technology innovations to help NATO develop concepts and capabilities to face current and future security challenges. Besides its virtual booth, the STO contributed to the ICD&E Conference with experts from the System Analysis and Studies (SAS) Panel, who ran a virtual wargame based on Intermediate Force Capability, and Exercise MADness, a CD&E exercise for countering civil unrest with emerging non-munitions technologies. Finally, the CMRE Deputy Director, Dr. Giovanni Sembenini, addressed the conference's main stage to reflect upon “Experimenting at the Frontier: S&T Challenges at CMRE in support of Naval Operations”. For further insight on the STO's work on CD&E, check out this video on Non-lethal Weapons and Intermediate Force Capabilities (IFC), which has helped to support the NATO Protection of Civilians Concept and is currently helping support NATO and National NLW/IFC concepts. https://www.sto.nato.int/Lists/STONewsArchive/displaynewsitem.aspx?ID=578
9 septembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial

Turkey develops AI-based simulator for light fighter jet
Burak Ege Bekdil ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish Aerospace Industries says it has developed Turkey's first artificial intelligence-based simulator, which will be used in the design and development phases of Hurjet, a locally designed light assault aircraft. TAI said the engineering simulator, Hurjet 270, is designed to collect feedback from test pilots to make the design of Hurjet “better, more solid and more efficient.” The simulator is also meant to detect design faults at the development stage. Company officials said the simulator will feature “human eye-level resolution.” Atilla Dogan, TAI's deputy general manager for aircraft design, told the state news agency Anadolu that Hurjet 270 will help engineers improve designing flight control algorithms and avionics software based on feedback from test pilots. The armed trainer Hurjet is a jet engine version of the turboprop Hurkus, Turkey's first indigenous basic trainer aircraft. TAI launched the Hurjet program in 2018, with a target of having the aircraft's maiden flight in 2022. The Hurjet will have a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 and can fly at a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet. The aircraft will have a maximum payload of 3,000 kilograms, including ammunition, radar and camera. Hurkus-C, the armed version of the base variant of Hurkus, features locally developed ammunition including CIRIT, TEBER, HGK and LGK. It can also use INS/GPS-guided bombs, conventional bombs, non-guided rockets and machine guns. Hurkus-C also features armored body parts, a self-protection system, a data link, laser tacking, an electro-optical and infrared pod, an external fuel tank, and advanced avionics. With a 1,500-kilogram payload that can be used through seven external hardpoints, the Hurkus-C can perform light-attack and armed reconnaissance missions. https://www.c4isrnet.com/artificial-intelligence/2020/09/08/turkey-develops-ai-based-simulator-for-light-fighter-jet/

Toutes les nouvelles