12 mars 2019 | International, Aérospatial
By: Burak Ege Bekdil
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's procurement authorities have officially launched the country's first indigenous program to build a heavy helicopter gunship in the 8- to 10-ton category.
A contract was signed between the procurement authority, Presidency of Defence Industries, and the country's top aerospace company, the government-controlled Turkish Aerospace Industries, or TAI. Officials from both entities said they expect the new chopper will take its maiden flight within five years.
They officials also said the new attack platform will feature an advanced target-tracking system, imagery technology, electronic warfare suites, a cruise system, and communications and weapons systems. Other features include a high-caliber gun system, new-generation 2.75-inch rockets with different guidance systems, long-range anti-tank missiles and air-to-air rockets.
The attack helicopter is expected to perform all-weather missions at high altitude and have twin turboshaft engines as well as a 1,200-kilogram payload.
TAI already makes the T129, a 5-ton attack helicopter based on its predecessor, the A129 Mangusta. The T129 is a twin-engine multirole attack helicopter produced under license from the Italian-British AgustaWestland.
The T129 is powered by two LHTEC T800-4A turboshaft engines. Each engine can produce 1,014 kilowatts of output power. The T800-4A is an export version of the CTS800 engine. LHTEC, the maker of the engine, is a joint venture between the American firm Honeywell and the British company Rolls-Royce.
In 2018, TAI signed a $1.5 billion to sell a batch of 30 T129 helicopter gunships to Pakistan. TAI officials say they also want to export the heavy attack platform, specifically to the Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern markets.
However, as is the case with the T129, TAI will have to win U.S. export licenses for any export deal with a third country.
5 octobre 2023 | International, Naval
Thales has signed a contract with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa to deliver the TACTICOS integrated combat management system, sonars, air-surveillance and fire-control radars and 360° infrared sensor to the MIECZNIK1 Frigate...
19 novembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — Despite increasing coronavirus cases in the U.S., the Pentagon's top weapons buyer on Wednesday sounded a note of confidence that defense companies would remain open throughout the winter and keep weapons production on track. “I am concerned about that — as we see within [the Defense Department] — the number of [COVID-19 positive] individuals still are increasing in industry,” Ellen Lord, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said during the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' Ascend conference. However, she added she doesn't anticipate another wave of facility closures. “We're very hopeful that all of the steps that industry took during the pandemic — to space out [production] lines, to do telework, to find ways to comply with all the CDC regulations — that those have really prevented severe cases and the need to shut down,” she said, using an acronym for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “So I'm optimistic that although cases are going up, industry is going to continue to be very resilient. And we will continue at pretty impressive productivity rates,” she added. At the height of the pandemic earlier this year, almost 700 defense companies shut down operations in the hopes of quelling the spread of the virus. By June, that number had decreased to 33 businesses, according to data from the Defense Logistics Agency and the Defense Contracts Management Agency Currently, only one of those companies remains closed, Lord said. However, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has been trending upward in the country since the end of September, with a high of almost 195,000 new cases reported Nov. 12, according to CDC data. But there is cause for hope: On Wednesday morning, Pfizer announced that phase 3 trials of its vaccine showed it was 95 percent effective in preventing the virus, and the company could seek emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration within days, CNN reported. During the conference, Lord was asked whether defense contractors would get priority access to COVID-19 vaccines, given the defense industry's status as an “essential” business sector during the pandemic. “I don't have the answer to that,” she said. “That's being sorted out right now in the White House.” https://www.defensenews.com/2020/11/18/the-pentagon-is-bullish-on-health-of-defense-industrial-base-even-as-covid-19-cases-mount/
12 août 2020 | International, Aérospatial
Arlington, VA, August 10, 2020 - Leonardo DRS, Inc. announced today that it was awarded a $62 million contract to provide critical electronics for missile launch capabilities for the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) used by the United States Navy and international allies. Under the contract, the Leonardo DRS Airborne & Intelligence Systems business unit will produce and provide support for 118 motor control panels, a critical component on the VLS launch module. The panels control the opening and closing of the launch tube hatches, plenum drain valve and deluge while interfacing with the Launch Sequencer. “We have supplied motor control panels and other electronic control systems to the MK 41 VLS program for more than 30 years in support of this important mission,” said Dave Hammond, Senior Director of Mission Support for the Leonardo DRS's Airborne and Intelligence Systems line of business. “This contract exemplifies our commitment to supply quality electronics to support the US Navy and allied navies,” said Hammond. The MK 41 VLS is a flexible shipborne missile launching system designed to accept any missile into any cell while providing rapid-fire launch capability against hostile threats. There are 1,500 MK 41 VLSs deployed on surface ships in the United States Navy and more than 11 allied navies. The system requires minimal staffing and training compared to other ship-based missile launch systems, a revolutionary development in naval surface warfare. The MK 41 is capable of launching a variety of missiles in support of various warfighting missions, including, anti-air, anti-submarine, surface-to-surface and strike missions. Each cell in a launch module has options for different missiles to meet a variety of missions. The Motor Control Panel, Status Panel, Power Distribution Panels, Junction Boxes and Spares will be built at the company's Fort Walton Beach, Florida facility. About Leonardo DRS Leonardo DRS is a prime contractor, leading technology innovator and supplier of integrated products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and defense contractors worldwide. Its Airborne & Intelligence Systems business unit is a global leader and strategic partner committed to delivering world-class, full life-cycle defense and intelligence products that protect the security of our nation and our allies. From air combat training to state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems, our technology is deployed by virtually all U.S. military and government agencies around the world. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Leonardo DRS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A. See the full range of capabilities at www.LeonardoDRS.com and on Twitter @LeonardoDRSnews. For additional information please contact: Michael Mount Vice President, Public Affairs +1 571 447 4624 mmount@drs.com View source version on Leonardo DRS: https://www.leonardodrs.com/news/press-releases/62m-contract-received-for-ship-based-vertical-launch-system-electronics/