24 août 2023 | International, C4ISR, Sécurité
US research interests closely tied to microelectronics industrial base
The Biden administration recently issued its research and development priorities for the fiscal 2025 budget.
17 juillet 2018 | International, Aérospatial
The military is building a space plane. Now it looks to have an engine up to the task
By SAMANTHA MASUNAGA
A decade after the U.S. Air Force commissioned the next generation of GPS satellites, the first of these spacecraft is finally set to launch into orbit later this year.
As with other national security missions, a roughly 200-foot-tall rocket will blast the massive satellite to space, fulfilling a contract worth more than $80 million.
But as nations develop technology to disable or shoot down satellites — as China did to one of its own satellites with a ground-based ballistic missile in 2007 — the U.S. military has started to look at options for rapidly and cheaply launching smaller crafts into space.
An experimental program spearheaded by a Pentagon research agency could eventually be part of that solution.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, along with aerospace giant Boeing Co., is developing a reusable spaceplane expected to launch small satellites 10 times in 10 days.
The vehicle's first test flight is set for 2021, which hints at the Defense Department's growing interest in reusable rocket technology, particularly its potential to drive down launch costs and speed up turnaround time.
In recent weeks, the spaceplane's rocket engine, known as the AR-22, completed 10 test fires in 240 hours without need for refurbishments or major repairs, said Jeff Haynes, program manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne. The test firing took place at NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi from June 26 to July 6.
The engine test is “really good progress,” said Claire Leon, director of Loyola Marymount University's graduate program in systems engineering and former director of the launch enterprise directorate at the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center.
“SpaceX has had its success,” she said. “I think this engine test also demonstrates that other companies are doing the technology development and having success that will enable reusability.”
The title of first reusable system belongs to NASA's Space Shuttle, though more recently, several commercial space firms, including Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Stratolaunch and British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit, have developed systems that would reuse aircraft to launch satellites from the belly of a plane.
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2 août 2022 | International, Naval, C4ISR
Coast Guard Wants Better Internet on Its Ships, and More Recruits
Commandant Fagan ties increased connectivity to operational needs and improving Coasties’ quality of life.
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3 février 2021 | International, C4ISR
HENSOLDT South Africa launches new radar business
Pretoria, South Africa, February 1, 2021 – HENSOLDT South Africa has launched its new radar business after acquiring the Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Defence & Security business units of Tellumat at the end of 2020. Together with the company's existing radar and other capabilities, these business lines are integrated to form the Radar Business Unit of HENSOLDT South Africa. The acquired activities represent an extensive portfolio, more than 50 years of expertise in the defence electronics landscape and a workforce of over 100 employees. “With the integration of the Tellumat Defence & Security and ATM business units into HENSOLDT South Africa, we are now representing the three major sensor solution business lines of the HENSOLDT Group here in South Africa,” says Rynier van der Watt, Managing Director of HENSOLDT South Africa. “Expanding from Optronics and Spectrum Dominance to now also include radar, identification friend or foe (IFF) and datalinks therefore creating a complete sensor solutions offering,” says Van der Watt. Through this acquisition, HENSOLDT South Africa's capabilities are expanded with a new portfolio area, centring around radar, IFF and datalinks. The radar offering focuses on naval and land radar, which will include leading-edge new development in this product range. Identification friend or foe (IFF) and datalinks will also be offered, where HENSOLDT is inheriting a world-class product range that it aims to enhance even further. Finally, air traffic management (ATM) and radar services become part of the overall portfolio, with the aim of expanding the ATM services and developing existing radar support services into full-blown maintenance, repair and operations (MRO). Heading up these activities is Bennie Langenhoven, Chief Executive of the Radar Business Unit, previously the head of Tellumat's ATM business unit. “Launching the Radar Business Unit of HENSOLDT South Africa is a strategic expansion of HENSOLDT's radar business with the goal to become the leading manufacturer and exporter of air-surveillance and defence radars on the African continent,” says Langenhoven. The South African radar capability will integrate with and expand on the Group's existing radar products. “Our long track record in the maintenance, repair and operation of radar systems puts us in a very good position to not only support the Group's radar portfolio, but also those of our partners and OEMs, including legacy systems,” says Langenhoven. In addition to providing the latest radar technology, HENSOLDT South Africa also offers midlife upgrades to extend the life of existing radar systems, especially in cases where budget constraints limit or prevent the acquisition of new radars. The acquisition also gives rise to strong synergies between HENSOLDT South Africa's Radar, Optronics and GEW business units, with collaboration envisioned on various fronts. The ASTUS tactical surveillance unmanned aerial system (UAS), previously part of the Defence & Security business unit in Tellumat, is being integrated into HENSOLDT South Africa's Optronics portfolio as part of the company's strong airborne capability. The ASTUS' exceptional product offering, combined with HENSOLDT's design, manufacturing and certification competency, gives ASTUS the opportunity to become a world-class product and game changer in the market. Through its Optronics and GEW business units, HENSOLDT South Africa has already achieved significant success as a sensor solutions house in the world market, delivering more than 55 products into 40 export countries, with a combined heritage of 70 years. HENSOLDT South Africa now increases its portfolio to more than 60 products, exported to over 43 countries. HENSOLDT South Africa aims to be a leader in driving innovation and fostering local capability and expertise. To further expand its technical capability in South Africa, “the Radar business unit will also become the custodian of the HENSOLDT South Africa engineering hub, where we will be incubating new radar products to support the HENSOLDT Group,” says Van der Watt. The HENSOLDT Group is expanding its radar product portfolio through the development of a next generation air defence radar product range in HENSOLDT South Africa. “This development marks the first time that a new HENSOLDT tactical air defence radar for land and sea is developed outside Germany,” says Erwin Paulus, head of HENSOLDT's Radar Division. “The opening of the HENSOLDT Radar Business Unit in South Africa is of high strategic importance to continue our efforts to further internationalise the HENSOLDT Radar Business,” says Paulus. The company is pleased that this development will also contribute to the country's wider technical and defence industry, as well as the growth of the economy. “Partnerships with local industry players are currently one of our focus areas,” says Langenhoven. “These partnerships aligns well with HENSOLDT South Africa's strategy to maintain strong relationships with suppliers and local OEMs,” continues Langenhoven. With an extensive portfolio representing all HENSOLDT's major business lines, five sites in South Africa and now employing a workforce of more than 700 employees, HENSOLDT South Africa is the Group's biggest industrial footprint outside Europe. Therefore, this expansion strategy is central to HENSOLDT's vision to become the leading, platform-independent provider of defence and security sensor solutions worldwide. About HENSOLDT South Africa HENSOLDT South Africa is a global pioneer of technology and innovation in defence and security electronics. With its combined experience, creativity and innovation, HENSOLDT South Africa brings together a comprehensive range of products, systems and services across defence and civil markets, from electronic warfare and optronics, spectrum monitoring and security solutions, as well as radar, IFF and datalink. With more than 700 local employees and combined revenues in excess of R1.7 billion, HENSOLDT South Africa is one of the largest defence and security electronics companies in South Africa. About HENSOLDT HENSOLDT is a pioneer of technology and innovation in the field of defence and security electronics, with more than 150 years of heritage through predecessor companies such as Carl Zeiss, Airbus, Dornier, Messerschmitt and Telefunken. Based in Taufkirchen near Munich, Germany, the company is a leading strategic player in the field of sensor solutions for defence and non-defence applications. HENSOLDT develops new products to combat a wide range of threats based on innovative approaches to data management, robotics and cybersecurity. With more than 5,500 employees, HENSOLDT generated revenues of 1.11 billion euros in 2019. Since September 2020, HENSOLDT has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the SDAX stock market index there. www.hensoldt.net Press contact Ferri Erasmus Tel.: +27 (12) 421 6290 ferri.erasmus@hensoldt.net View source version on HENSOLDT: https://www.hensoldt.net/news/hensoldt-south-africa-launches-new-radar-business/