19 décembre 2023 | International, Aérospatial
Replicator is meant to shepherd ideas across the valley of death, but faces bureaucratic and cultural barriers.
18 juillet 2023 | International, Autre défense
The United States will announce a new pledge to buy $1.3 billion worth of military aid for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia in the coming days, two U.S. officials said.
14 juillet 2020 | International, Aérospatial
By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — The Air Force has officially placed an order for its first batch of F-15EXs, awarding Boeing a contract on Monday that puts a ceiling value for the entire program close to $23 billion. The first delivery order, which has a not-to-exceed value of about $1.2 billion, covers the first lot of eight F-15EX fighter jets, as well as support and one-time, upfront engineering costs. The contract award is a massive win for Boeing and gives a second life for the F-15 production line in St. Louis, Mo. After years of urging the Air Force to consider an advanced version of the F-15 as a complementary capability to Lockheed Martin's F-35, Boeing found an ally in the Defense Department's Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office, which in 2019 forced the service to purchase F-15EX planes in order to build capacity. Although Air Force leaders at the time said that the service would have preferred funds to buy additional fifth generation planes like the F-35, officials now say that buying new F-15s is the quickest path for replacing aging Air National Guard F-15C/Ds that are reaching the end of their service lives. “The F-15EX is the most affordable and immediate way to refresh the capacity and update the capabilities provided by our aging F-15C/D fleets,” Gen. Mike Holmes, Air Combat Command commander, said in a statement. “The F-15EX is ready to fight as soon as it comes off the line.” The first two F-15EX aircraft are already being manufactured and will roll off the production line early next year, the company said in a news release. They will initially be based at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., for testing, with the remaining six aircraft set to be delivered to the base in fiscal year 2023, the Air Force said. Along with the first eight F-15EXs, which were approved in the fiscal year 2020 budget, the Air Force has requested 12 F-15EXs in FY21 and plans to ask for 64 jets from FY22 to FY25. The service could buy as many as 144 aircraft, according to Boeing. The Air Force has not decided which bases will be the first to receive F-15EX jets, with the service adding in its news release that “the Strategic Basing Process is in work to determine the fielding locations for subsequent aircraft lots.” The F-15EX will be a two-seat jet with fly-by-wire controls, the new Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System electronic warfare system, an advanced cockpit, and new mission systems. But according to the Air Force, the most significant upgrade comes in the form of an open mission systems architecture that will allow the service to more rapidly update the F-15′s software. Another major advantage of purchasing additional F-15s is the aircraft's payload capacity, which will allow it to carry and launch hypersonic missiles at standoff distances. “The F-15EX is the most advanced version of the F-15 ever built, due in large part to its digital backbone,” said Lori Schneider, Boeing F-15EX program manager. “Its unmatched range, price and best-in-class payload capacity make the F-15EX an attractive choice for the U.S. Air Force.” Monday's announcement follows a firm, fixed-price contract worth up to $101 million that was awarded to General Electric in late June for the first lot of F-15EX engines. Under the contract, GE will provide “F110-GE-129 engines, including installs and spares, and modernized engine monitoring system computers,” the department stated. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/07/13/heres-how-much-money-boeing-is-getting-to-build-the-new-f-15ex/
11 janvier 2019 | International, Aérospatial
Jean-Dominique Merchet Le démonstrateur du futur avion de combat franco-allemand devrait « voler autour de 2025 », nous a indiqué ce matin Eric Trappier, président du Gifas et PDG de Dassault-Aviation. « Notre ambition, c'est que le SCAF soit opérationnel en 2040. Il faut donc s'y mettre cette année », a-t-il ajouté. Dix-huit mois après l'annonce politique, le 13 juillet 2017, «une étude sera lancée dès janvier » 2019 et la décision de se doter d'un démonstrateur pour « valider les choix techniques et opérationnels » doit avoir lieu lors du salon du Bourget en juin prochain. Le président du Gifas a confirmé « la volonté affichée d'un leadership français » sur ce projet, qui sera un « système complet intégrant l'avion de combat ». Après le « partenariat historique entre Dassault et Airbus », Eric Trappier a assuré qu'il y aurait de la place pour « tous les autres » acteurs du secteur. Au-delà du SCAF, Eric Trappier a appelé la DGA à avoir une « politique ambitieuse » en matière de démonstrateurs. « On a besoin d'en faire voler un certain nombre afin de valider les choix techniques et opérationnels » Le président du Gifas a jugé que 2018 avait été « une bonne année » pour l'aéronautique et le spatial français et que 2019 devrait l'être également, malgré l'environnement international « complexe ». Il a notamment insisté sur le « dynamisme » des Etats-Unis et de la Chine, ainsi que sur la nécessité de l'Europe de poursuivre ses efforts en vue de son « autonomie stratégique ». Le 53e salon du Bourget se tiendra du 17 au 23 juin prochain, cette année étant marquée par un triple cinquantenaire : la création d'Airbus, le premier vol du Concorde et le premier pas d'un homme sur la Lune. https://www.lopinion.fr/blog/secret-defense/scaf-demonstrateur-devrait-voler-autour-2025-174189