Defence Street

Author: Defence Street Editor

  • Airbus Helicopters delivers first H135 to the Spanish Air and Space Force

    Airbus Helicopters delivers first H135 to the Spanish Air and Space Force

    Albacete, 9th May 2023. Airbus delivered the first H135 to the Spanish Air and Space Force in Albacete. This is the eighth helicopter delivered under the 36-unit contract signed at the end of 2021 to supply the Armed Forces and State Security Forces.

    This delivery is six months ahead of schedule, which will facilitate crew training and the entry into service of the H135 for the 78th Wing at the MIlitary School of Helicopters in Armilla (Granada), where it will perform advanced training tasks for military pilots. Once the planned fleet of 11 helicopters are delivered to the Air Force, the H135 will become the helicopter of reference for pilot training for the Spanish Air Force, Army, Navy, the Guardia Civil and other countries requesting such training at the Granada base.

    “We are very proud to know that all young pilots from the Ministry of Defence corps will now be trained on the H135, the world’s benchmark for military training missions. It is a versatile, reliable and efficient helicopter, ideal for the transition to more complex aircraft, with more than 400,000 flight hours of military training for 12 military customers. We are confident that the H135 will represent a leap in the quality of teaching and will reinforce the Military Helicopter School as the benchmark it is, throughout the world” said Fernando Lombo, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Spain.

    The H135 is already in service with the Spanish Army’s training unit (ACAVIET) and the Emergency Battalion (BHELEME II). In the coming months, the Navy will also receive the first of the seven H135 units foreseen in the contract. The H135 is the most popular helicopter in the Spanish fleet, thanks to its operational versatility, flying missions as diverse and demanding as military training, police surveillance and intervention, mountain rescue missions and emergency medical transport, for which it is the benchmark in Europe.

    The light twin-engine Airbus H135 is equipped with the most advanced technologies available, including Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix avionics suite. Some 1,400 H135 helicopters are operated by more than 300 operators in 65 countries. The fleet has accumulated more than 6.5 million flight hours.

  • Philippine Airlines selects A350-1000 for future long haul fleet

    Philippine Airlines selects A350-1000 for future long haul fleet

    Toulouse, 10th May 2023. Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the purchase of nine A350-1000s. Under the Philippine carrier’s Ultra Long Haul Fleet project, the A350-1000 will be operated on non-stop services from Manila to North America, including to the East Coast of the US and Canada.

    The new aircraft will join two A350-900s already in service at the airline and currently flying to destinations in North America, Asia and Australia. As with the A350-900, the PAL A350-1000s will be configured in a premium layout with separate Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins.

    Captain Stanley K. Ng, President and Chief Operating Officer of Philippine Airlines, said that the range of the A350-1000 would enable the airline to fly non-stop transpacific and transpolar routes in both directions all year. These will include some of the longest commercial flights in the world, such as those linking the Philippines with New York and Toronto. With an expanded A350 fleet, PAL will have the ability to once again provide a direct link from the Philippines to Europe.

    “The A350-1000 combines greater range capability with the higher capacity we need to serve future demand. It’s the perfect aircraft to enable PAL to meet its expansion plans in a sustainable way, while offering passengers the highest levels of onboard comfort. We are committed to offering our passengers the best possible travel experience, and these state-of-the-art aircraft will enable us to do just that as we carry out our mission to connect the world, and grow trade and tourism.”

    Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Flying passengers farther and in greater comfort, the A350 brings a step-change in fuel efficiency and an immediate significant contribution to reduced emissions. These are the attributes that have made the A350 the choice of leading airlines worldwide. We look forward to working closely with our long-standing customer Philippine Airlines as it moves forward with its long haul fleet modernisation programme.” 

    The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and has set new standards for intercontinental travel. It offers the longest range capability of any commercial airliner in production today and is capable of flying 8,700 nautical miles or 16,100 kilometres non-stop.

    At the end of April 2023, the A350 Family had won 928 firm orders from 54 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever. Some 530 aircraft are currently in the fleets of 40 airlines, flying primarily on long haul routes.

    Philippine Airlines operates various Airbus types on its full service network. In addition to the A350 on long-haul intercontinental routes, PAL flies A330-300s on services to the Middle East, Australia and various points in Asia. The Philippine flag carrier also operates a fleet of A320 and A321 single aisle aircraft on its extensive domestic and regional network out of hubs in Manila and Cebu.

  • The flight-hour producers: Airbus and German Air Force celebrate 20 years of cooperation in Manching

    The flight-hour producers: Airbus and German Air Force celebrate 20 years of cooperation in Manching

    Michael Schoellhorn, CEO Airbus Defence and Space (left), and Lieutenant General Ansgar Rieks, Deputy Chief of Staff of the German Air Force Air Force, in front of the commemorative piece: a Eurofighter fin with Airbus-German-Air-Force cooperation logo.

    Manching, 8th May, 2023. Inspections, upgrades, helpdesk: For 20 years now, Airbus and the German Air Force in Manching have been working together to ensure that German Eurofighters and Tornados are ready for action when it counts – for example, when securing NATO’s eastern flank or deploying to the other side of the world.

    “Our claim at Airbus is to always be on mission for our customers,” said Michael Schoellhorn, CEO Airbus Defence and Space, at the anniversary event at Airbus in Manching on 8th May. “Always on’ for us means doing everything necessary to ensure that our customers have the best equipment to fulfill their mission: to defend our values, freedom and democracy. The close cooperation between the German Air Force and Airbus in Manching is a shining example of how much our cooperation model has established and proven itself over the past two decades. We count on each other – also in the future.”

    Airbus employees and soldiers work side-by-side in joint departments and under cooperative management teams in the cooperative ventures in Manching. The advantages are obvious: there is no need for cost-intensive, duplicate provision of infrastructure and resources; the knowledge gained from operational activities at the German Air Force and the industrial know-how in development and production result in comprehensive system support, and the competencies required for the mission remain with the German Air Force.

    “Manching is exemplary for the efficient cooperation between the German Armed Forces and defence industry,” said Lieutenant General Dr. Ansgar Rieks, Deputy Inspector of the German Air Force. “Our cooperation is characterised by the clear understanding that we – Air Force and industry – are committed to joint success, also for our country, the Alliance and our allies and partners.”

    Mission Fleet Availability

    The collaboration kicked off in 2003 when the German Air Force and Airbus established the Eurofighter Cooperation Cell (EKZ). Since then, servicemen and women and Airbus employees there have been pursuing a common mission: to ensure that the German Air Force’s Eurofighter fleet is ready for action when and where it is needed. To date, EKZ teams have performed some 350 Eurofighter inspections and repairs and 1,000 customer service calls. Over the past two decades, they have increased the availability of the Eurofighter fleet. In addition, the EKZ team is covering the increased inspection demand that is a consequence of the increased flight-hour volume during the Ukraine war – for example, to secure NATO’s Eastern flank.

    In-Service Support and User Help Desk

    On April 1, 2003, Airbus and the German Air Force also established the Eurofighter System Support Center (SUZ EF). Here, colleagues provide technical and logistical in-service support. They support the Air Force squadrons via a user help desk and in-system analysis for technical issues arising from Eurofighter operations, 24/7 if required. In addition, the SUZ EF takes care of Eurofighter software maintenance and modifications. In this context, the SUZ EF independently performs certified modifications for the entire weapon system for the German Air Force. This also applies to software and hardware components that were not originally part of the German development share. More than 40 such national modifications have already been scaffolded into the German Eurofighter fleet in order to respond independently and directly to operational requirements.

    In September and October 2022, the SUZ EF also supported the German Air Force in the first deployment of a Eurofighter contingent (Operation Rapid Pacific) to the Indo-Pacific region. The mission was a complete success: after 40,000 kilometers per aircraft, 700 flight hours and more than 500 air refuellings, all six Eurofighters landed safely at their home base in Neuburg.

    Software upgrades and life-extending measures for the Tornado

    The Luftwaffe-Airbus team also ensures the operational readiness of the German Air Force’s Tornado fleet. In the Tornado SUZ (established November 24, 2004), Bundeswehr soldiers and Airbus employees develop and maintain the jets’ software for avionics, mission evaluation and the Electronic Combat Centre. The Tornado Cooperation Cell (established on November 28, 2014) takes care of maintenance work, extensive major overhauls and service life-extension measures, also known as Service Life Enhancements or SLEs.

    Together into the future

    Currently, about 270 servicemen and women and more than 500 Airbus employees work in the EKZ, SUZ EF, SUZ Tornado and TKZ. Together – for more operational readiness and a successful future.

  • First C295 for India completes its maiden flight

    First C295 for India completes its maiden flight

    Seville, 8th May, 2023. The first C295 for India has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a significant milestone towards its delivery by the second half of 2023. The tactical aircraft took off from Seville, Spain, on the 5 May at 11.45 local time (GMT+1) and landed at 14.45 after 3 hours of flight. 

    “This first flight represents a significant accomplishment for the first Make in India aerospace programme. With the Indian Air Force set to become the largest operator of the C295 in the world, this programme exemplifies our commitment to improve the Indian Air Force (IAF) operational capabilities,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space.

    India acquired 56 C295 aircraft in September 2021 to replace the (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet. The first 16 aircraft will be assembled in Seville, Spain, and delivered to the customer in ‘fly-away’ condition. The following 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies. 

    This programme will significantly contribute to developing the country’s military industrial ecosystem from the manufacturing to assembly, testing, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.

    The C295 programme comprises a total of 281 orders from 39 operators, making it an unmatched aircraft in its weight and mission class.

  • Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range Completes Fifth Consecutive Successful Test

    Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range Completes Fifth Consecutive Successful Test

    A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet carries the AARGM-ER. (Photo Credit: U.S. Navy)

    LOS ANGELES, 8th May, 2023. Northrop Grumman Corporation announced the fifth consecutive successful flight test of the U.S. Navy’s AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER). The missile successfully detected, identified, located and engaged an advanced, land-based, emitter target.

    • First firing overland against operationally-representative modern air defense system targets
    • AARGM-ER deliveries will begin later this year to support initial operational capability for the Navy in 2024
    • The missile is being integrated on the Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler as well as the Air Force F-35A, Marine Corps F-35B and Navy/Marine Corps F-35C.

    Experts:

    Gordon Turner, vice president, advanced weapons, Northrop Grumman: “AARGM-ER provides the Navy with a demonstrated capability to stay ahead of adversary threats. This successful live fire continues to prove the missile’s extended range, readiness and effectiveness.”

    U.S. Navy CAPT Alex Dutko, Navy program manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike (PMA-242): “AARGM-ER once again demonstrated high-speed employment of lethal effects against an air defense system target. This is another successful step in our government-industry team’s effort to deliver this critically needed capability to our warfighters.”

    Details on AARGM-ER:

    AARGM-ER development uses digital modeling and integrated advanced AARGM sensors and electronics in a new high-performance air vehicle with upgraded propulsion and an optimized warhead. The new missile will provide the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps with a vital counter-air-defense capability that can engage advanced and long-range threats while pilots remain outside of lethal engagement ranges. The AARGM-ER government-industry team recently received the William J. Perry award, recognizing their exceptional contributions to precision strike systems which strengthen national security and shapes the nation’s precision strike combat advantage

    Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.

  • Elbit Systems Awarded a Contract Worth Approximately $71 Million to Supply and Maintain Future Armoured Vehicle Training for the British Army

    Elbit Systems Awarded a Contract Worth Approximately $71 Million to Supply and Maintain Future Armoured Vehicle Training for the British Army

    Haifa, Israel. On 9th May 2023, Elbit Systems announced that its UK subsidiary Elbit Systems UK was awarded a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence worth approximately $71 million to supply, maintain and operate the Ground Manoeuvre Synthetic Trainer systems (GMST) for the Boxer armoured vehicles and Challenger 3 tanks under the British Army’s Project Vulcan. The contract will be delivered over a three-year period with an additional nine year period that will include operation and maintenance services at UK facilities.

    The initial phase of delivery of Elbit Systems UK’s systems will support the first arrivals of the British Army’s new Mechanised Infantry Vehicle – Boxer. The initial capability provided by Elbit Systems UK will include a comprehensive Platform Trainer, delivering both collective and individual training requirements.

    The programme will include high fidelity driver trainers and cabins for turret and armament variants backed up by a full digital training management system.

    Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace: “Elbit Systems is proud to provide the British Army with training capabilities that will increase the safety and combat readiness of armoured crews. The contract emphasizes our leading position as a provider of advanced mission training systems.”

  • Boeing Business Jets announce new president

    Boeing Business Jets announce new president

    • Joe Benson leads sales for Boeing’s family of premium, ultra-long-range business jets

    SEATTLE, 8th May, 2023. Boeing has named Joe Benson as president of Boeing Business Jets (BBJ), the company’s industry-leading VIP jet division that brings the best of commercial aviation into the realm of personal air travel. Benson oversees sales, support and operations for Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ portfolio of business jets operated by heads of state, VIP, corporate and charter customers.

    “I am honored to lead BBJ and continue our decades-long history of building the most capable and reliable business jets on the market,” said Benson. “As we look to the horizon, we are well-positioned to meet the strong business aviation demand by providing our customers an unrivaled travel experience and best-in-class economics.”

    Benson’s experience and industry relationships ensure strong leadership continuity for customers. Most recently, he served as BBJ’s deputy to the president and business director, leading key sales campaigns and business operations. He succeeds Erika Pearson, who was recently named vice president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Sales and Marketing in Southeast Asia & Oceania.

    Since joining Boeing in 2010, Benson has held leadership, strategic business development and sales and marketing roles across the company. He previously served for a decade as a U.S. Army officer after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

    With more than 260 jets sold since the business was founded in 1996, Boeing Business Jets offer customers private jets that redefine comfort and convenience. With a wide range of high-performance aircraft, including the BBJ 737 MAX, BBJ 787 Dreamliner and BBJ 777X, the jets can be uniquely customized for private, business or governmental use.

    BBJs are supported by Boeing’s global service network—the largest OEM-provided network of services, parts and maintenance. For more information, visit: www.boeing.com/bbj

  • Accident of Indian Air Force Mig-21 Aircraft

    Accident of Indian Air Force Mig-21 Aircraft

    File photo of a Mig-21

    New Delhi, 8th May 2023. A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on May 8 morning at about 0945 hours. The aircraft had got airborne for a routine operational training sortie from the Air Force Station at Suratgarh. Soon thereafter, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of Suratgarh base.

    The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three lives. The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident

  • Northrop Grumman Equipping More US Air Force Platforms with Infrared Countermeasure Systems

    Northrop Grumman Equipping More US Air Force Platforms with Infrared Countermeasure Systems

    Northrop Grumman has been providing infrared threat protection to the U.S. Air Force for over two decades. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

    ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. 4th May 2023. Northrop Grumman Corporation continues its work for the U.S. Air Force for additional Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) systems. Northrop Grumman received the work as part of an existing indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract.

    “With its modular, scalable architecture, LAIRCM can adapt to numerous airframes and add technologies that enhance protection capabilities,” said Bob Gough, vice president, navigation, targeting and survivability, Northrop Grumman. “This proven approach has enabled us to provide the U.S. Air Force and thousands of aircrews with unmatched protection and aircraft survivability equipment that helps them stay safe against emerging threats.”

    The LAIRCM system defends domestic and international aircrews by detecting, tracking and jamming incoming infrared threats. The system automatically counters advanced infrared missile systems by directing a high-intensity laser beam into the missile seeker.

    Under these orders, Northrop Grumman is providing LAIRCM upgrades, modifications and installations on a wide range of U.S. fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft. Additionally, this contract covers platforms operated by international customers around the globe.

    Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.

  • Raytheon Technologies to advance U.S. Air Force Common Tactical Edge Network

    Raytheon Technologies to advance U.S. Air Force Common Tactical Edge Network

    • CTEN program supports Air Force JADC2 transformation

    CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, 4th May 2023. Raytheon Technologies successfully demonstrated the Common Tactical Edge Network developed by the company’s Collins Aerospace business and will now be developing an operational architecture for the service.

    The Common Tactical Edge Network, or CTEN, will enable tactical data to be shared across disparate networks to enable faster decision making on the battlefield. The CTEN solution supports building the convergence layer to connect sensors and shooters on both existing and emerging platforms across land, air, sea and space.

    “CTEN is a JADC2 enabler, operating on a totally open architecture to connect across domains,” said Ryan Bunge, vice president and general manager for Resilient Networking and Autonomy Solutions for Collins Aerospace. “By integrating disparate networks to create an overlay network, the U.S. Joint commands are enabled to share critical, time-sensitive data in real-time.”

    The approach for CTEN leverages the company’s understanding of existing and emerging tactical datalinks and radios to create optimal networking solutions that are applicable across a broad platform base.

    Raytheon Technologies has a long history integrating platform-agnostic systems for the military. Pairing a mature DevSecOps digital engineering pipeline with a real-time battlefield emulator allowed the company to demonstrate how an adaptive convergence layer provides robust network connectivity across disparate systems across various environments.

    The company can integrate organic and third-party capability into the developing CTEN architecture and has more than 30 National Security Agency-certified Multi-level Security and End Cryptographic Unit solutions fielded today as well as multiple interoperable aerial network waveforms in use.

    About Raytheon Technologies

    Raytheon Technologies is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

    About Collins Aerospace

    Collins Aerospace is a business of Raytheon Technologies, the largest aerospace and defense company in the world. Our global team of 73,000 employees dreams, designs and delivers smarter, more connected solutions for passenger safety and comfort, mission success, space exploration, and operational efficiency and sustainability. We make the most powerful concepts in aerospace a reality.

    (SOURCE: Raytheon Technologies)