BUFF

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MOSCOW, February 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's MiG aircraft manufacturer will transfer on Friday 12 MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters, modernized in line with NATO standards, to the Slovak Air Force, a company spokesperson said. The 12 MiG-29AS/MiG-29UBS fighters have been upgraded in Slovakia by the MiG company and Western firms for NATO compatibility under a 2004 contract. The Slovak Air Force has a total of 21 MiG-29 aircraft in service. The official transfer ceremony will be held at the Sliac airbase in central Slovakia. The MiG-29 is a 4th generation fighter aircraft designed for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service in 1983 and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other nations. The upgraded version features Rockwell Collins navigation and communications systems and BAE Systems IFF (Interrogation Friend or Foe) system. The Russian company supplied a new glass cockpit with multi-function LCD displays and digital processors, and ensured integration of the Russian and the Western equipment, the MiG official said. However, he said, the armaments for the fighter remained unchanged. The MiG-29 has seven external weapon hardpoints and can carry a 30mm built-in aircraft gun, two medium-range air-to-air missiles, up to six short-range air-to-air missiles, unguided rockets and air bombs. According to the MiG company, the service life of the upgraded version has been extended until 2030-2035.

& the USAF has announced that it's buying Northrop/Airbus ... Wait for the howls & the inevitable appeal from Boeing.

NAVAIR PATUXENT RIVER, MD -- Test Vehicle 3, the third helicopter built for the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program, made its initial flight Feb. 27 in Yeovil, England marking the fourth helicopter to enter flight test. TV-3 is due to arrive at the Presidential Helicopter Support Facility here on Mar. 17 and will then travel to Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, N.Y. for final assembly and mission systems integration. TV-3 will be the first vehicle tested that is outfitted with mission systems. Once missionized TV-3 will join the other three test vehicles, TV-1, TV-2 and TV-5 already in flight testing that have accumulated more than 650 total hours of flight test. As a missionized aircraft, TV-3 will be able to validate in-flight data, which has previously only been evaluated in laboratories. One additional test vehicle is scheduled for flight testing and missionization after TV-3 before the initial lot of production aircraft are delivered to Patuxent River. With fuel system testing already complete, VH-71 flight test officials are currently concentrating on satellite communications and high-powered FM Radio testing with tail rotor and flight load survey testing on the horizon. In addition to forward movement on flight testing of Increment 1 test vehicles, which currently meet or exceed all key performance parameters, a parallel and concurrent effort supporting the flight test program is the Systems Integration Lab currently operational at the Presidential Helicopter Support Facility. The SIL consists of test benches used to evaluate individual subsystems currently in development. A larger SIL facility at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY includes a master systems bench -- a full-scale functional mockup of the VH-71 cockpit and cabin. The systems integration laboratories allow VH-71 program engineers to test VH-71 avionics and mission systems prior to installation aboard the aircraft.

By: TEMA A/S Airborne Systems Airbase Skrydstrup, Denmark / Fort Worth, 29 February 2008 - The Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) has successfully completed the first flight tests and F-16 MLU M5 System Integration Laboratory Tests of the ESTER (Enhanced Smart Triple Ejector Rack) <http://www.terma.com/page.dsp?page=988> on an F-16. The Triple Ejector Rack (TER) is a weapon-suspension unit which is attached to the aircraft's weapon pylons, enabling each pylon to carry three weapons. The TER-9 version is suitable for under-wing F-16 laser-guided and ballistic weapons, with the ability to release weapons individually. The ITT/Terma ESTER program upgrades the TER-9 racks by adding the capability to carry modern ¿smart¿ weapons which operate on the military standard 1760 interface. These include the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and Enhanced Paveway II (EGBU-12/BRU-49). Provisions for future Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) are also part of the ESTER, and initial tests on the SDB compatibility will be performed this spring under an ITT/Terma internally funded program. The initial RDAF flight tests were aimed at verifying the functionality and reliability of the cable retention unit. The bombs were successfully released from the ESTER with the new retention unit which has been installed in lieu of the existing MIL-STD-1760 umbilical cable retention system, and the new Terma/ITT developed units performed flawlessly. The ESTER also passed the F-16 MLU M5 System Integration Laboratory (SIL) testing in Fort Worth, as part of the EPAF MLU M5 test program. The tests were conducted without problems, and the ESTER test units are now ready for the F-16 MLU M5 flight tests in the U.S. this year. The RDAF representative Klavs Andersen, Chief of the Business Unit Fighter Aircraft including the ESTER program, said: "I am satisfied with the performance of the ESTER, the physical release and retention system worked well, and we are now ready to continue flight testing in the U.S. as part of the M5 program."

DATE:29/02/08 SOURCE:Flightglobal.com South Korea attack helicopter to wait for Korea Helicopter Programme By Siva Govindasamy South Korea could decide on an attack helicopter requirement after assessing progress with an indigenous military utility helicopter programme. Korea Aerospace Industries and Eurocopter are jointly working on the Korea Helicopter Programme (KHP), with a first flight scheduled for 2010 and production to begin in 2012. Seoul also has a requirement for about 270 attack helicopters. Eurocopter is interested in offering its Tiger, but could help develop an attack variant under KHP. "We need attack helicopters and an option is to get it via the KHP," says Lee Sun Hi, commissioner of Korea's defence procurements agency. "But we must assess the utility helicopter's performance when it starts flying, and see if it can be adapted for our attack helicopter requirement. Otherwise, we can look elsewhere." KHP is developing an 8t military utility helicopter. Korea could eventually order 500 for all of its services to replace an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1Hs and McDonnell Douglas MD500s. A $1.3 billion development contract was signed in June 2006, and the programme is expected to cost about $5.4 billion by 2011. Another indigenous Korean programme - KF-X, to develop a fifth-generation fighter - has suffered a blow after a government think-tank said it may not be economically viable. Seoul has invited feedback from manufacturers including Boeing, Dassault and Lockheed Martin. Observers say it would too expensive to design an aircraft from scratch, and it may be better to buy the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, in which South Korea has expressed an interest. Lee says a final decision has not been made. "The report says that the cost-benefit effect is not viable, but that does not mean we don't proceed. We have to discuss it with the defence ministry and the air force to find viable methods to proceed on this matter," he adds.

DATE:29/02/08 SOURCE:Flightglobal.com Saudi Arabia's Boeing F-15C/D fighters pass safety inspection By Craig Hoyle The Royal Saudi Air Force has resumed flight operations with its fleet of about 80 Boeing F-15C/Ds, after removing a grounding order imposed after the November 2007 crash of a US Air National Guard aircraft. Forward-fuselage longeron inspections conducted by Alsalam Aircraft have been completed and "there were no defects with the fleet", the company says. Alsalam, meanwhile, is conducting flight testing on the last two C/D-model aircraft to have undergone programmed depot maintenance at its Riyadh facility, and work has begun on the first eight RSAF F-15S strike aircraft to enter maintenance and upgrade at the site under a separate contract.

Feb 29, 2008 Michael Bruno/Aerospace Daily & Defense Report The U.S. Navy’s “deficit” in its P-3 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft community has risen to a “significant” level after at least 39 P-3s, roughly a fourth of the service’s family, have been grounded, according to Navy officials. Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, told the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Feb. 28 that some aircraft were grounded due to wing cracks. In his remarks and prepared testimony, Roughead said the airborne ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) fleet’s importance and high-operations tempo in Iraq operations, as well as traditional submarine-hunting missions, have stressed the aircraft and boosted the need to replace them more quickly. “The recent groundings of high-demand P-3 aircraft highlight the need to bring the next generation of aircraft in service and retire our aging aircraft,” Roughead said. To that effect, the Navy has highlighted more than $548 million eyed for “critical maritime patrol improvements” as its top concern under the service’s so-called unfunded fiscal 2009 programs list as recently delivered to Capitol Hill. If provided by Congress, $384.1 million of that amount would go toward P-3 kit installations this fiscal year, which ends in September, along with another $312.2 in FY ’09. Another $100 million would go toward accelerating P-8A Multimission Aircraft (MMA) research and development (R&D), minus an unidentified amount of funds already being transferred to MMA R&D via an existing Defense Department reprogramming effort. Poseidon The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is designed to replace legacy P-3C Orions and upgrade maritime patrol anti-submarine (ASW) and antisurface warfare, as well as armed ISR capabilities that reside in P-3 squadrons, for combat and theater security operations and homeland defense. According to the Navy, initial operational capability is expected in FY ’13, while $1.1 billion is included in the regular FY ’09 budget request announced Feb. 4. According to the sea service’s unfunded list, any additional funds for MMA R&D specifically would go to speed up testing ASW capabilities, leading to an accelerated low-rate-initial-production (LRIP) contract in the first quarter of FY ’10. “Funding P-3 wing crack kits in FY ’08 and ’09 while accelerating MMA LRIP helps bridge capability gaps in both the near and long term,” the Navy said. In testimony, the Navy stressed that despite “several” successes in delivering aircraft, such as the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the high demand for air assets in Afghanistan and Iraq expended a “significant” portion of the “limited” service life remaining on EA-6B electronic attack aircraft, MH-60 multimission helicopters, F/A-18 C/D strike-fighter aircraft and P-3s. “The accelerated depletion of service life could translate into aircraft shortfalls if the expended aircraft are not replaced,” the service said.

By K.K. Chadha February 21, 2008 Aircraft Kawasaki Heavy Industries aims to deliver the first XP-1 fixed-wing maritime patroller to Japan’s defense ministry by the end of this year. The aircraft, rolled out as P-X, completed a successful hour-long first flight on September 28 from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Gifu Base. The XP-1 features the world’s first fly-by-light system with high electromagnetic interference tolerance and new acoustic and radar systems with enhanced detection capabilities. Test pilot Akihiro Sekido, who headed the 11-member crew said, “Both the flight system and the engine worked fine. It was a perfect flight and went as planned.” The defense ministry began concurrent development of the XP-1 and C-X transport aircraft in 2001 to replace the P-3C and C-1 models. Kawasaki is conducting test flights of the XP-1 at Gifu Works, while the C-X is yet to fly. Funds for the first four P-1 production aircraft were included in the annual defense budget revealed earlier this month

PRESS RELEASE -- Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Public Affairs Release No. 040208 February 29,2008 Air Force Announces Tanker Contract WASHINGTON - Secretary of the Air Force, Michael W. Wynne, and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Duncan J. McNab, announced the selection of Northrop Grumman Corporation, headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., as the winner of the KC-X competition for development and procurement of up to 179 tanker aircraft for approximately $35 billion. The initial contract for the newly-named KC-45 is for the system design and development of four test aircraft for $1.5B. This contract also includes five production options targeted for 64 aircraft at $10.6B. "The tanker is our number one procurement priority right now. Buying the new KC-45A is a major step forward and another demonstration of our commitment to recapitalizing our Eisenhower-era inventory of these critical national assets. Today is not just important for the Air Force, however. It's important for the entire Joint military team, and important for our coalition partners as well. The KC-45A will revolutionize our ability to employ tankers and will ensure the Air Force's future ability to provide our nation with truly Global Vigilance, Reach, and Power," said General McNab. "The tanker is the number one procurement priority for us right now. It is the first step in our critical commitment to recapitalize our aging fleet to move, supply, and position assets anywhere. In this global Air Force business, the critical element for air bridge, global Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and global strike is the tanker," said General McNab. The KC-45A will provide significantly greater air refueling capabilities than the current fleet of Eisenhower-era KC-135s it will begin replacing. For example, it will be able to refuel Air Force and Navy aircraft on every flight. These aircraft have different systems for receiving fuel and today the KC-135s must be set up for one or the other before takeoff. The KC-45A will be equipped for both systems on every flight and will also have connections for wing pods. When wing pods are installed, it can refuel two probe-equipped aircraft, such as Navy and many allied aircraft, at the same time. It can even be refueled in flight by other tankers. The KC-45A will also have defensive systems that allow it to go into dangerous environments that we currently have to avoid. It will also supplement our airlift fleet by carrying cargo, passengers, and medical patients in a secondary role. The KC-X source selection used a "best value" determination to select a winner based on five factors: Mission Capability, Proposal Risk, Past Performance, Cost/Price, and an Integrated Fleet Air Refueling Assessment (performance in a simulated war scenario). These five factors were developed after consulting with industry and were finalized prior to starting the competition. Considered together, these grading criteria ensured the Air Force maximized the capability delivered to the warfighter while optimizing the taxpayers' investment. The Air Force followed a carefully structured process, designed to provide transparency, maintain integrity and promote fair competition. The Air Force met with offerors on numerous occasions to gain a thorough understanding of their proposals and provide feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. The Air Force also provided insight into government cost estimates throughout the process instead of waiting until the post-decision debrief. The competitors indicated they've been very pleased with the degree of communication. The evaluation team was comprised of experts covering a broad spectrum of specialties from acquisition to operations and was hand-picked from across the USAF and other government agencies. As part of the process, the Air Force will now provide a written notice to both the selected and not-selected and offer to provide a de-brief on their bid proposals. To maintain the integrity of that process, the Air Force will be unable to provide additional information about the proposals and contract. "Today's announcement is the culmination of years of tireless work and attention to detail by our Acquisition professionals and source selection team, who have been committed to maintaining integrity, providing transparency, and promoting a fair competition for this critical aircraft program," said Secretary Wynne. "Through these efforts we believe we will provide a higher-value resource to the warfighter and the taxpayer."

By Rebecca Christie 27 February 2008 Half a century after the introduction of steam-driven catapults, the US Navy (USN) aircraft carrier community is entering an era that trades steam and hydraulics for advanced electronic circuitry. Construction of the first in a new line of carriers, Gerald R Ford (CVN 78), is due to begin in 2008 and the USD10.5 billion ship will use electricity instead of steam for launching combat aircraft, cooking meals and heating sailors' living quarters. Its nuclear reactors will produce more electricity than any other warship, powering a maintenance revolution as well as one of the navy's 'floating cities'. The CVN 78-class carriers - the fruit of the CVN 21 design and development programme - will have powerful new radar, upgraded landing systems and larger flight decks than their Nimitz-class predecessors. The ship's company plus air wing will number a relatively meagre 4,660 personnel, between 1,000 and 1,200 fewer than the total required in the older carriers. Many technological advances contribute to the manpower efficiency gain. For example, radars in the new ship will not need to rotate, dramatically reducing wear and tear; and the USN says its new electromagnetic launch system can be operated by about 90 sailors, compared to the 120 needed for steam-driven catapults. Pilots on take-off may reap the most noticeable benefits as the new catapult will push them smoothly aloft, in contrast to the steam-driven jolt of the existing carriers. "Going through a catapult launch is akin to getting launched on a roller coaster," says Louis Uffer, manager of the USN's Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) programme. "You wouldn't want to be jerked right out of your seat. You want to get nice and gently thrown on your roller-coaster ride. EMALS is going to do the same thing for the naval aviators who get to launch off aircraft carriers. This is going to be the start of whatever their thrill ride is, whatever mission they go on." Thrill rides are an everyday occurrence for the carrier fleet, the centrepiece of the USN's fighting force. Each flat-top can accommodate more than 75 aircraft, with a lineup that typically includes four F/A-18 strike interdictor squadrons, a squadron of S-3B reconnaissance aircraft, a squadron of E-2C command-and-control aircraft and a helicopter squadron. Future plans will see the embarkation of unmanned aerial vehicles; in August 2007 it was announced that Northrop Grumman had won a USD635.9 million Unmanned Combat Air System-Demonstrator (UCAS-D) contract from US Naval Air Systems Command, after the company's X-47B drone was selected (ahead of Boeing's X-45) as the developmental testbed for the navy's first carrier-launched unmanned strike aircraft. Also, the F/A-18s will be joined by a carrier version of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which will bring stealth and state-of-the-art electronics to maritime aviators. The USN plans a mix of the two supersonic combat aircraft, so that it can take advantage of the F-35's new capabilities without replacing its entire inventory and sucking funds from other programmes. All these aircraft give the carriers their enormous combat power, including the potential to deliver nuclear weapons if needed. They also represent a shift in the navy's use of carriers and sea-based aircraft since their introduction in the early 20th century. "At the end of World War II we had 99 carriers," says Vice Admiral David Architzel, one of the USN's senior acquisition officials. "Today's carriers are tremendously more capable. We measure things today not by number of aircraft per target but number of targets per aircraft."

By Steve Stone The Virginian-Pilot © February 28, 2008 NORFOLK A Navy E-2C “Hawkeye” aircraft, which was making an emergency landing on a single engine, came down just off a runway this evening. No one was reported hurt in the aircraft or on the ground. The aircraft, based at the Norfolk Naval Station, attempted its landing about 6 p.m. at Chambers Field, the Navy said. It "was making a single-engine, emergency landing when it landed short of the runway, collapsing the nose gear," said Lt. Cmdr. Dave Nunnally, an Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force spokesman. Damage to the aircraft, which is assigned to the Tigertails of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125, is being assessed. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

26-02-2008 FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - EADS unit Airbus plans to change fixed-price contracts for its new military transport plane A400M to curb losses, Financial Times Deutschland reported, without saying where it got the information. The aircraft maker aims to change the price increase clause in its contracts and add a one-year suspension of contractual penalties for delayed delivery, FT Deutschland said. EADS booked a 1.37 bln eur charge for delays to the A400M programme in the third quarter, leading a net loss of 776 mln eur, widening from a loss of 189 mln a year earlier. EADS also wants to shorten the amount of time during which its customers can cancel their orders for the military planes, the newspaper said. Germany, France and the UK have already been informed of the planned changes to supply contracts, it said. The first A400Ms were due to be delivered to the French Air Force in Oct 2009.

Latest technology extends usefulness of three-decade-old attack jet By Aaron Mackey Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.26.2008 advertisement Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's already lethal fleet of Warthog attack jets has a new set of teeth. Comprehensive upgrades to the A-10 Thunderbolt attack jets' weapons systems, cockpits and sensors completed recently have brought the aircraft into the digital age, allowing more precise targeting and quicker communication with units on the ground. The upgrades, which cost $450 million, are part of a national effort to add new technology to the A-10 and lengthen the life of an aircraft that's more than three decades old. Already a mainstay in providing close-air support in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the A-10's effectiveness in close-air-support missions is greatly enhanced by the new technology, said Col. Kent Laughbaum, D-M's wing commander. "This has taken an airplane that was nearing retirement and given it a new lease on life," he said. "It has made the weapons system viable until 2028 and possibly beyond." "Into digital and information age" While the A-10 has seen gradual upgrades throughout its more than 30 years of service, the latest enhancements bring the jet into the 21st century, said Maj. Jerry Cook, a weapons chief for the first D-M fighter squadron to receive the latest model, a process that began more than a year ago and was completed recently. "It's really taking the A-10 into the digital and information age," Cook said. Before the upgrades, pilots still were working with hand-held maps and using air controllers embedded with ground troops to direct them to enemy positions. Relaying the information, including providing a description of what a target looked like and where it was relative to friendly positions, could take several minutes, Laughbaum said. But with the upgrades, all of that information is transmitted via a data network that can be accessed by ground forces and pilots. Instead of taking minutes to describe a target, a ground controller can simply identify coordinates on a digital map of where enemy units are. The A-10 pilot, using state-of-the-art weapons sensors, can get a close-up view of enemy positions, allowing the jet to target them in seconds. "It's precise, and it's as fast as it needs to be," Laughbaum said. To get that information to pilots, two color display screens were added to the A-10's instrument panel. The displays allow pilots to pull up information from the network, access data from their sensors, and communicate with friendly forces in real time. Besides adding a networking component and better battle sensors, the upgraded A-10s also feature improvements to the throttle stick and the ability to use the latest precision-guided weapons. That includes the Joint Direct Attack Munition, a satellite-guided weapon that works in bad weather. All of the technology available combines to make the latest version of the jet, known as the A-10C, more efficient and lethal when it provides close-air support to ground troops. "When our soldiers and Marines are in close contact with the enemy, we're going to bring the firepower to ensure that we win that fight," Laughbaum said. "We've always been good at that, but the A-10C makes us significantly better." Wings to be strengthened The technology isn't the only upgrade scheduled for the A-10, as an effort is under way to strengthen the attack jets' wings. By strengthening the wings, the A-10 will have a longer life span than was expected, Laughbaum said. Eventually, the Air Force plans to replace the wings on every A-10 as part of an effort to keep the jet operational until 2028. To keep the A-10 flying, as well as to pay for the production of new jets to replace other aging aircraft in the Air Force's fleet, Pentagon commanders are asking for a dramatic increase in funding. Air Force planners figure they'll need an additional $20 billion during the next five years on top of normal budget requests, such as the $137 billion the military branch requested for 2009. Years of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq have worn down a fleet of aircraft that already was nearing the end of its service life, Pentagon officials have said. Additionally, maintenance on the aircraft becomes expensive as the jets are repaired more frequently. But it's not clear if the Air Force will get the funding to put newer fighters, such as the F-22 and F-35, into the fleet. Several factors could limit funding, including a rising federal deficit and the prospect of a recession, though some critics contend the Air Force's predicament is partially its own fault. The newer jets have drastically higher price tags than the F-15s and F-16s they're replacing, meaning they take up more defense-budget money, said Steve Kosiak of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, D.C. "It's like replacing a Toyota with a Mercedes," he said. 3 D-M squadrons to get A-10C While funding for long-term maintenance of the A-10 hasn't been identified, D-M has become the epicenter for the latest technological upgrades. The Tucson base features the first active-duty squadron with the upgraded jet, and eventually all three fighter squadrons at D-M will fly the A-10C. Other active-duty fighter wings in Georgia, as well as a handful of National Guard units, also have begun to use the upgraded jet. D-M is responsible for training both new and old pilots on the A-10C, graduating the first class earlier this month, Laughbaum said. So far, the 357th Fighter Squadron, which flies the latest version of the A-10, has trained roughly 100 pilots, he said. The latest A-10C was deployed to Afghanistan last August, flying close to 1,000 combat sorties, Air Force figures show. Given the increased mission of D-M and the latest technology upgrades, it's clear that the A-10 will continue to be a central component of the Air Force's arsenal. "It is a primary component in the war on terror," Laughbaum said. "We know that it is going to be an aircraft that is going to fly for a long time."

25-02-2008 The AgustaWestland and Lockheed Martin HH-71 Team successfully conducted aerial refuelling tests between a RAF AW101 Merlin Mk3 helicopter and an Italian Air Force C-130J tanker, further demonstrating the aircraft’s superior capabilities and low-risk approach for the U.S. Air Force’s Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR-X) requirement. The successful fuel transfer occurred over the south of England on February 13, marking the first time a British helicopter demonstrated air-to-air refuelling capability. The AW101 and RAF test pilots plugged the helicopter’s refuelling probe to each of the tanker’s two wing station drogues -- the fact that the fuel transfer occurred on the first attempts makes the demonstration even more impressive. The sorties were flown at 4,000 ft altitude, with both aircraft travelling at 127 knots. All trial objectives were completed with multiple in-flight refuelling events successfully achieved up to the maximum Merlin Mk3 flying weight of 34,400lb. “To support our win strategy of providing the Air Force the lowest risk offer, we completed the aerial refuelling tests prior to contract award" said Dan Spoor, Lockheed Martin’s CSAR-X vice president. “With this proven aerial refuelling capability, the aircraft has demonstrated all critical capabilities required for the CSAR mission. The aircraft exceeds the technical readiness level required by the CSAR-X RFP.” All Merlin Mk3 helicopters have air refuelling capability and this trial is the latest step in providing an Operational Release for in-service Merlin Mk3 helicopters fitted with the advanced design BERP III and BERP IV rotor blades. "The robust NDI air refuelling technology employed on the HH-71 combined with its excellent cockpit visibility, significant probe to blade clearance, precise handling qualities and high power margins result in the most capable, low risk aerial refuelling helicopter for the CSAR-X mission,” said Stephen C. Moss, chief executive officer of AgustaWestland North America. “The fact that the sorties were flown with both the BERP III and the BERP IV advanced rotor systems, makes the successful trials all the more significant.” The tests were performed through the collaboration of the HH-71 Team, Britain’s Ministry of Defence, the Aircraft Test & Evaluation Centre (QinetiQ Boscombe Down), the Italian Air Force, the Department of Experimental Flight Pratica di Mare (Rome), and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency.

DATE:25/02/08 SOURCE:Flight International UK prepares for multirole deployment of Eurofighter Typhoon By Craig Hoyle The UK Royal Air Force appears to be on track to meet its target of being able to deploy the multirole Eurofighter Typhoon internationally from July, with the UK Ministry of Defence having announced a deal to acquire temporary shelters to house the aircraft while on overseas operations. The RAF's 11 Sqn last year began preparing for a possible deployment to support NATO forces in Afghanistan from mid-2008, but sources now indicate that the UK's BAE Systems Harrier GR9s currently operating from the nation's Kandahar airfield could instead be replaced by a detachment of RAF Panavia Tornado GR4s. The MoD says the contract to support international operations of the Typhoon will cover the procurment of between eight and 10 climate-controlled, rapid deployment shelters to be supplied by Rubb Building Systems under an award worth up to £685,000 ($1.3 million). Deliveries should be completed by late April, it adds, with the structures required to "provide an environmental seal in all climatic zones for the protection of personnel, IT and other equipment, for a minimum period of six months, or until more permanent infrastructure is made available". Raytheon Systems has, meanwhile, been awarded an £8.5 million contract to support the integratation and flight trial of its Paveway IV precision-guided bomb with the GR4 airframe by 2010. The work will form part of a more than £200 million package of enhancements recently awarded to BAE to ensure the long-term combat utility of the GR4, also including the adition of new datalink equipment (Flight International, 12-17 February).

United Arab Emirates orders the A330 MRTT air to air refuelling aircraft from EADS Madrid, 25 February 2008 United Arab Emirates has announced today the purchase from EADS, through its Military Transport Aircraft Division, of the A330 MRTT (Multi Role Transport Tanker) as the new air to air refuelling aircraft for the UAE Air Force & Air Defense. The A330 MRTT shall be fitted with under wings pods and EADS CASA Boom system. Following the contracts signed with the Royal Australian Air Force, Saudi Arabia and after being selected as preferred bidder for the Future Stategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) in the UK, the UAE decision consolidates further the A330 MRTT position as the most advanced and capable air-to-air refuelling aircraft available in the market. The Military Transport Aircraft Division of EADS, responsible for the design and production of the MRTTs, is positioned as the key worldwide supplier in the field of tanking and transport aircraft. “Nothing speaks louder than success. The fourth selection in a row of the A330 MRTT in international competitive processes underscores its exceptional value and capability for the full range of tanker and transport requirements,” said Carlos Suarez, Head of EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division and Chairman of EADS Casa. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of € 39.4 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division.

DATE:26/02/08 SOURCE:Flight International Afghanistan offered surplus G222 transports By Pino Modola Italian media reports which suggest that the Afghan National Air Corps is to acquire secondhand Alenia G222/C-27A tactical transports appear to have received indirect confirmation from the US Air Force and Pentagon statements. USAF Gen Jay Lindell, commander of the Combined Air Power Transition Command Afghanistan, says the country’s military strongly needs a new fixed-wing tactical transport component to replace four Antonov An-32s, and that the preferred solution should be Western-produced aircraft. Pentagon sources have gone further, however, relvealing that the US administration has bought 22 used transports to be sent to Afghanistan, where they will equip the local air force on their delivery between 2009 and 2011. Alenia Aeronautica declines to comment on the reports, but with the G222 having left Italian air force service and US-operated C-27As having been retired in 1999, the twin-turboprop design seems to be the sole medium transport aircraft available in the world market in suitable numbers: the services had combined fleets of more than 60 of the aircraft. The company is already under contract to modernise G222s for the Nigerian air force. Any aircraft transferred to Afghanistan are likely to undergo limited upgrade and refurbishment, but details of the whole operation - including logistics support, maintenance and crew training - have not been disclosed.

DATE:26/02/08 SOURCE:Flight International Australia re-examines Super Seasprite deal By Emma Kelly Australian defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon has met with senior officials from Kaman Aerospace and its parent company to discuss the country’s troubled SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite shipborne helicopter programme, but no decision has been made on the programme’s future. Confirmation of the meeting comes after local media reports suggested that Australia’s new Labor government has decided to axe the delayed programme and replace the aircraft with additional NH Industries MRH90s. This has been denied by the defence ministry, which says no timescale has been set for a decision. “We have not been informed of any decision, but we are aware that the new government is assessing our programme,” says Kaman senior vice-president Russell Jones. “We are confident that we are performing our obligations under the programme, and we continue to execute on our responsibilities.” Australia ordered 11 Super Seasprites – upgraded former US Navy SH-2Fs – in 1997, with deliveries planned from 2001. But the programme has suffered ongoing problems with the helicopter’s Integrated Tactical Avionics System, which is not expected to deliver fleet-wide functionality until 2010-11, while an issue with its automatic flight control system has resulted in lengthy delays and grounding. Australia’s former Coalition government reviewed the Super Seasprite programme last year, but opted to continue with it amid concerns over possible legal action by Kaman, a lack of suitable replacement types and programme costs of A$1 billion ($920 million).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7266853.stm

By Roxana Tiron Posted: 02/27/08 07:14 PM [ET] Top Air Force leaders are pressing to extend the production of Lockheed Martin’s C-130J aircraft beyond an expected closure in 2010. The appeal comes as Air Force acquisition officials are still negotiating an offer the defense contractor made last October to sell the military an additional 120 C-130Js under a suggested multi-year contract worth more than $6 billion. “We must maintain and extend the existing production lines,” Gen. Michael Moseley, the Air Force chief of staff, and Michael Wynne, the secretary of the Air Force said in a prepared statement to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. “This aircraft represents America’s best technology and capability.” Separately, Wynne told reporters at the hearing that the Air Force is “trying to make sure we have a need” for the number of C-130Js proposed by Lockheed Martin. The request was part of a broader budget justification presented by the Air Force that was met with some skepticism from lawmakers, who say the top officials are asking for items that are beyond the Pentagon’s initial budget request. Lawmakers focused most of the hearing on other high-priced requests, such as the C-17 cargo aircraft, the F-22 Raptor fighter jet and personnel costs. The C-130J is not the only program that the Air Force and supporters in Congress want to see extended beyond its imminent closure, setting up an increased lobbying push this year to secure money for all the programs. Among other aircraft on the Air Force’s wish list are Boeing’s C-17 cargo aircraft and Lockheed’s F-22 Raptor fighter jet. But the Air Force faced criticism from House lawmakers on Wednesday for submitting almost $19 billion in unfunded requests to Congress, above the 2009 budget. Every year, military services submit a list of priorities to Congress that did not receive the appropriate funding through the president’s budget. The Air Force’s unfunded requests are double the size of the rest of the military. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), a senior member of the Armed Services panel and a strong supporter of the C-17, criticized the administration for not funding the program in fiscal 2009 but leaving the Air Force to ask for more aircraft in the unfunded requirements list, knowing that strong congressional support would allocate funding for more C-17s. More C-17s are also likely to be included in the upcoming supplemental spending bills. She called the practice “a nasty little habit the administration has gotten into.” Tauscher said that if Congress is able to fund just a few C-17s in the defense bills, there aren’t the same cost savings as with a larger quantity. No C-17s are funded as part of the fiscal 2009 budget request. The Air Force is asking for 15 C-17s in its unfunded requirements list, with a $3.9 billion price tag. By the same token, the Air Force is asking for $576 million to buy eight C-130Js. The Air Force, which also buys the C-130 aircraft for the Marine Corps, requested funding for six Air Force planes and two Marine Corps versions as well as procurement money to buy parts in advance for 14 Air Force planes and two Marine Corps planes. As The Hill first reported in October, Lockheed’s offer assumes the Air Force and Marine Corps would buy 24 airplanes a year for five years. International customers would purchase an additional six airplanes a year, under Lockheed’s plan. Lockheed currently builds about 12 C-130Js a year at a cost close to $60 million per plane for Air Force and Marine Corps versions. Adjusted for inflation and prior to contract negotiations, Lockheed’s proposal would cost $58.9 million to $63.7 million for three versions of the plane between 2011 and 2015. Moseley considered the offer “an attractive opportunity.” But the Air Force and Lockheed Martin have also been pushing for more F-22 Raptors, whose production is slated to end after 2011. The Pentagon has only green-lighted funding for a total of 183 fighters, but the Air Force maintains it needs 381. Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense, said that four F-22s would be included in the 2009 war supplemental request. In its unfunded wish list, the Air Force requested $600 million for four Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jets. While the Air Force’s fight to receive more money for its multibillion-dollar weapons system is well-known among lawmakers, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), the committee’s chairman, criticized the Air Force for playing with its personnel funding requests. The Air Force has been undergoing some serious cuts in the number of its personnel. In the 2009 budget request, the service asked for funding for 316,000 personnel. Currently the Air Force has about 328,000. But in its unfunded request list the Air Force decided to ask for funding for another 18,000 people, which would bring the number of Air Force personnel to 334,000. Skelton, visibly irked by the Air Force’s request, asked Wynne whether he wanted to stick by the actual budget request or the unfunded list, which would add about 6,000 people over the current number. “You can’t have it both ways,” Skelton said. “Tell us what you want right now.” Wynne replied that his personal opinion was that the Air Force would prefer to “hedge our bets” at 330,000 personnel. He explained that some of the missions the Air Force thought it would reduce in fact have increased over the years, such as joint tactical air controllers and joint logistics liaisons, for example.

A Japan Ground Self Defense Force CH-47J Chinook is loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane Feb. 23 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The demonstration was conducted the during the Pacific Global Air Mobility Seminar held Feb. 22 and 23. The CH-47J is assigned to the 1st Helicopter Brigade at JGSDF Camp Kisarazu in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, and the C-17 is assigned to the 535th Airlift Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo) http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/pho...F-0938O-106.jpg by Master Sgt. Julie Briggs 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs 2/27/2008 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) -- American Airmen and Japan Ground Self Defense Force members loaded a Japanese CH-47J Chinook onto a C-17 Globemaster III Feb. 23 at Yokota Air Base The demonstration took place the last morning of the Pacific Global Air Mobility Seminar held Feb. 22 and 23 and attended by representatives from Japan, Australia and the United States. "We thought it very significant," said Kiyoshi Serizawa, the director of the Defense Policy Bureau's Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation Division of the Japan Ministry of Defense. "It confirmed the option to lift our CH-47 not only by sealift but with airlift." Moving CH-47Js via strategic airlift expands Japan's capability to move the helicopters quickly during humanitarian relief operations. "The key to any disaster relief or humanitarian aid operations is to get the assets on the ground in the shortest possible time," said Royal Australian Air Force Group Capt. Tim Innes, the officer commanding No. 84 Wing and director of the Air Mobility Control Center. The ability to load a CH-47J on a C-17 gives an overall improvement for the three nations -- Australia, Japan and the U.S. -- to respond to any disaster, Group Captain Innes said. "We each have our strengths and capabilities and we're hoping to balance those off," Group Captain Innes said. "For instance, the Japanese are limited in their transportation options and Australia is limited in rotary wing assets. Both of those are vital in natural disasters. By coming together and cooperating, we can provide a better service for response to those national disasters." During tsunami relief efforts a couple of years ago, Japan looked into moving the CH-47s by strategic airlift, said Lt. Col. Leonard Kosinski, who is assigned to the U.S. Joint Staff's Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate as a political-military planner and the country director for Japan. "There wasn't enough time to coordinate and we really didn't have the capability, so eventually Japan had to move them by ship, which took approximately 10 days," Colonel Kosinski said. "That's not enough response time for those kinds of disasters." By using strategic airlift, the helicopters can arrive within 12 hours and be operational within 18 to 24 hours, said David Meyer of the U.S. Transportation Command's en route infrastructure branch. "For search and rescue, where time is of the essence, this is critical." Once in place, the CH-47J is used to transport goods to remote areas, said Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Capt. Tatsuhiko Takashima, head of the Joint Staff's Defense and International Policy Planning Division, Japan Ministry of Defense. The size of the CH-47J and communicating with the Japan ground self defense force members who helped load the helicopter proved challenging, but they got through it, said Staff Sgt. Ryan Boehm, assigned to the 535th Airlift Squadron from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. "It definitely brings us a lot closer doing joint operations like this with the Japanese and the Australians," Sergeant Boehm said. Sergeant Boehm and two other C-17 loadmasters oversaw the 35-minute loading process under the watchful eyes of about 65 Japan Ground Self Defense Force members from the 1st Helicopter Brigade at JGSDF Camp Kisarazu in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture. Earlier in the week they had prepared their unit's helicopter for loading, which included removing the wings and rotors. The CH-47J is larger than an American Chinook by about 6 to 8 inches on each side and about 5 to 6 inches on the top, Sergeant Boehm said. Once loaded, moving around the CH-47J meant turning sideways to squeeze by the Chinook's fuel tanks. "We're getting to work with different countries and what we're doing has global impact," said Capt. Brian Moritz, a 535th ALS C-17 pilot. "It's a great thing to be a part of."

the argument of course then goes that you need fewer to do the same job (& it's a shrinking AF anyway) ... The UAE just officially ordered Airbus tankers this week, not that that will have any influenc on the USAF decision.

welcome :yes: You need to PM an admin as we mere Mods don't have the power (of Greyskull).

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