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    Design Reviews on Joint Air-To-Ground Missile
    Erik
    By Erik,
    Lockheed Martin Team Completes Major Component Design Reviews on Joint Air-To-Ground Missile Program   ORLANDO, FL, August 16th, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [LMT: NYSE] and teammates Marvin Engineering and Aerojet have completed successful component and system Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) on the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) Technology Development (TD) program, further demonstrating the missile’s technological maturity level.   The Lockheed Martin-led JAGM team has completed PDRs on the JAGM rocket motor, with test data supporting the single-motor solution, and on the U.S. Navy’s rotary- and fixed-wing launchers, with data supporting successful AH-1Z Viper (Cobra), MH-60R Seahawk and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet platform integration efforts.   “These successful PDRs are major milestones in the development of the JAGM missile and provide a high degree of confidence that JAGM will provide greater capabilities than existing weapons and will do so more affordably,” said Frank St. John, director of Close Combat Systems for Tactical Missiles/Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The PDRs confirmed the benefits of rigorous testing and the successful development path the team is taking to deliver this much needed precision, adverse weather, low-collateral-damage weapon.”   JAGM Rocket Motor PDR Aerojet, a GenCorp [NYSE: GY] company, and Lockheed Martin have reported major strides in achieving the single-motor solution for JAGM through numerous tests and demonstrations.   “The Aerojet propulsion team has confirmed our JAGM single-motor solution,” said Aerojet’s vice president for Tactical Programs, John Myers. “Key to the outstanding propulsion characteristics of our design is Roxel UK’s minimum-smoke propellant grain technology solution, already well proven with other missiles in service.”   In addition to the successful PDR completion, two pre-flight readiness tests verified that the JAGM motor is certified for missile flight testing. The team continues to increase the severity of environmental testing to gain valuable reliability data for the current design in preparation for engineering manufacturing development.   JAGM Platform Integration PDR Marvin Engineering and Lockheed Martin confirmed the successful development of prototype launcher hardware that meets Super Hornet, Viper and Seahawk platform integration requirements. The quad-rail Navy rotary-wing launcher will carry JAGM on the Viper and the Seahawk, and the triple-rail Navy fixed-wing launcher will carry JAGM on the Super Hornet.   “We are very pleased with the results of the PDR on the JAGM launchers,” said Jerry Friedman, CEO at Marvin Engineering. “We have extensive experience in the aircraft interface of launchers like those we are building for Lockheed Martin’s JAGM. This includes U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, as well as the aircraft of many international customers. We have worked with and understand all the platforms that will be carrying JAGM.”   Threshold aviation platforms for JAGM include the U.S. Army’s AH-64D Apache attack helicopter and Extended Range Multi-Purpose Sky Warrior unmanned aerial system, the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter, and the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk armed reconnaissance helicopter and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jet fighter.   “During the JAGM TD program, we have enjoyed the opportunity to work cooperatively with NAVAIR and Boeing in the wind tunnel test program, integrating JAGM on the Super Hornet,” St. John added. “The same holds true for our longstanding working relationship with Boeing on the Apache and in our proven teamwork with Bell on the Kiowa and Viper, and with Sikorsky on the Seahawk. We are confident in our ability to integrate JAGM on all required platforms.”               Lockheed Martin

    Gulf weapons sales reach $60b.
    Erik
    By Erik,
      Gulf weapons sales reach $60b.   By YAAKOV KATZ   The United States has approved a long list of arms sales to friendly Arab countries in the Persian Gulf aimed at countering Iran’s growing influence in the region.   The unprecedented sales could reach over $60 billion in pending deals with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.   The largest deal is the possible sale of 82 F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for $30 billion.   The deal has caused some concern within Israel which is reportedly in a dialogue with the Obama administration regarding its commitment to retain the IDF’s qualitative military edge in the region.   For another $30 billion, the Saudis are also interested in purchasing as many as 60 Apache attack helicopters.   Another deal, announced over the past week, is the possible sale of the latest Patriot missile defense system to Kuwait for $900 million. The proposed deal would include the sale of 209 missiles.   Kuwait is interested in the Patriot system in face of Iran’s growing influence in the region. In its statement to Congress regarding the deal, the Pentagon said: “Kuwait needs these missiles to meet current and future threats of enemy air-to-ground weapons. Kuwait will use the increased capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.”   Israel is also looking to upgrade its Patriot systems and has held talks with the US about the possible sale of the latest version called the PAC-3.   The PAC-3 is believed to be capable of intercepting most of Syria’s missiles. It is an improved version of the PAC- 2 in terms of coverage and lethality. The PAC-3 has an interceptor missile that uses a hit-to-kill system rather than an exploding warhead used by the PAC-2.   The PAC-3 missile is also smaller and its launchers can fire 16 instead of just four missiles like the PAC-2.   The Pentagon also notified Congress earlier this month about the possible sale of 18 F- 16 fighter jets to Oman for an estimated $3.5 billion. Oman is one of the few countries in the Gulf which maintains strong ties with both Iran and the US. The Pentagon’s approval of the deal is seen as an effort to bolster American influence in the country.   Kuwait is also looking to improve its air force and has reportedly expressed interest in purchasing Boeing’s new stealthy F-15 Silent Eagle version. At the same time, Kuwait is also augmenting its mid-air refueling capability and is seeking around 10 new tanker aircraft from the US.   In his recent visit to Washington DC, Defense Minister Ehud Barak discussed the pending sale of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to Israel as the first foreign customer.   Under the pending deal, which has yet to be finalized, Israel will receive approximately 20 of the stealth fighter jets starting in 2015 as a first batch based on the American configuration of the aircraft. Later sales will already include the integration of Israeli indigenous systems.       The Jerusalem Post

    Ohio Guard unit is first to switch to C-27J
    Erik
    By Erik,
    The 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield, Ohio, an Ohio National Guard unit, will be the first unit to convert to C-27J Spartan operations. Image: United States AirForce   Ohio Guard unit is first to switch to C-27J   By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer   The Air Force’s adoption of the C-27J Spartan cargo plane reaches a milestone Saturday when the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield, Ohio, becomes the first unit to convert to C-27J operations.   The 179th, part of the Ohio National Guard, had flown the C-130H Hercules. In anticipation of the switch, crews traveled to the C-27J school house at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., for qualification training.   The Air Force is buying 37 C-27Js whose crews will focus on flying airlift missions for Army units and state Guard units.               Air Force Times

    More U.S. Helicopters Arrive in Pakistan to Support Flood Relief
    Erik
    By Erik,
      More U.S. Helicopters Arrive in Pakistan to Support Flood Relief   Two U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters arrived in Pakistan today as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods. The two aircraft are part of the contingent of 19 helicopters urgently ordered to Pakistan on Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The incoming aircraft flew into Pakistan today from aboard the USS Peleliu, which is positioned in international waters in the Arabian Sea. They will join the four U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters and one other MH-53E helicopters which arrived earlier this week at Ghazi Air Base, bringing to seven the total number of aircraft in Pakistan from the USS Peleliu.   The remaining aircraft will arrive over the next few days and will include 12 U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. The U.S. helicopters will operate in partnership with the Pakistan military throughout the country's flood-affected areas.   Since August 5, the U.S. military helicopters have rescued more than 3,500 people and transported more than 412,000 lbs. of emergency relief supplies in spite of bad weather.   For more information please visit www.state.gov/pakistanflooding   Source: U.S. Department of State

    French warships for Russia to be armed with Ka-52 helicopters
    Erik
    By Erik,
      French warships for Russia to be armed with Ka-52 helicopters   14/08/2010 RIA Novosti Anton Denisov   Mistral-class helicopter carriers, which Russia plans to buy from France, will be armed with Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopters, Air Force Commander Colonel General Alexander Zelin told the Ekho Moskvy FM station on Saturday.   He emphasized that the Ka-52 Alligator helicopters are very advanced and are equal to best foreign models.   The Ka-52 is armed with 30-mm cannon, Vikhr (Whirlwind) laser guided missiles, rockets, including S-24s, as well as bombs.   The Ka-52 is a modification of the basic Ka-50 Hokum model. The development of the Ka-52 started in 1994 in Russia, but its serial production began only in 2008.   The helicopter is also equipped with two radars, one for ground and one for aerial targets and a Samshite nighttime-daytime thermal sighting system.   Russia is negotiating the purchase of at least one French-built Mistral-class amphibious assault ship and plans to build three more vessels of the same class in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS.   A Mistral-class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 armored vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 personnel.   The Russian military has said it plans to use Mistral ships in its Northern and Pacific fleets.   Many Russian military and industry experts have questioned the financial and military sense of the purchase, and some believe that Russia simply wants to gain access to advanced naval technology that could be used in the future in potential conflicts with NATO and its allies.   In April, the head of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, Mikhail Dmitriev, said the Mistral deal would be concluded by the end of the year.   MOSCOW, August 14       RIA Novosti

    Government to use drones to study how hurricanes intensify
    Erik
    By Erik,
    New to the data collection effort this year is the Global Hawk, a high-altitude, jet-powered unmanned surveillance drone about the size of a corporate jet. AP FILE   Government to use drones to study how hurricanes intensify By TONY WINTON Associated Press   The U.S. government is preparing to launch a study to solve one of the most vexing questions about hurricanes: Why do some storm systems rapidly intensify into destructive cyclones, while most remain weak?   Starting this week, a squadron of manned and unmanned aircraft is poised to investigate an intriguing theory that one leading researcher has likened to a kangaroo's pouch -- the pocket where the animal's offspring develop.   Michael Montgomery, the lead investigator and a meteorology professor at the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School, said researchers believe there are pockets or ``pouches'' within a storm system that somehow nurture a hurricane's development.   If it exists, the pouch, or column of air, would be hidden from space-based weather satellites, which take visual and heat readings, but cannot see deep inside a storm.   Where nine out of 10 thunderstorm systems never coalesce into a hurricane, those pockets may help answer why the 10th storm becomes a monster.   ``We basically invoke an analogy from biology,'' Montgomery said as he flashed an image of a kangaroo on a screen Wednesday at NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.   The theory suggests that such regions, or pouches, can be detected by sampling areas that otherwise wouldn't ever be scanned by hurricane hunter planes, or by technology that weather satellites lack, Montgomery said.   The combined fleet of manned aircraft and unmanned high-altitude surveillance drones, able to drop probes deep into the clouds, will be able to send back a real-time, wide-ranging image of an entire storm system, not just observations from a single plane or distant satellite.   ``The reason we're sampling the whole domain with this many aircraft is that we can get a better idea of what these embryonic systems look like, said Frank Marks, the director of NOAA's Hurricane Research Division.   The research is being driven by forecasters' inability to make good predictions about when storms will rapidly strengthen.   ``Ninety percent of the time, we simply don't catch the rapid intensification,'' said Bill Read, director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center. ``You miss the fact that it goes up 40 or 50 miles per hour in a 24-hour time frame.''   Forecasters have made steady progress on predicting where a storm will go, but it's critical for the public and emergency managers to know how likely a storm is to intensify, Read said.   New to the data collection effort this year is the Global Hawk, a high-altitude, jet-powered unmanned surveillance drone about the size of a corporate jet. It's used by the military to do reconnaissance in Afghanistan and Iraq. The aircraft -- given to NASA by the Air Force -- will launch missions from Dryden, Calif., fly over the U.S.-Mexico border, and then into the Gulf of Mexico. Unlike a piloted craft, which must return to land so the crew can rest, it can spend 24 hours on station, Marks said.   While forecasters are hoping to catch a storm in formation, they know that most won't.   ``We're going to sample a lot of duds,'' he said.   Still, researchers believe that even knowing what weather systems are ``duds'' is worthwhile, if it leads to more accurate forecasts.       Miami Herald

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