Venezuelan Y-8s
December 27, 2012
The latest aircraft for the Aviación Militar Bolivariana Venezolana (Venezuelan air force) is the Y-8 tactical transport. The Chinese-built Shaanxi Y-8 will operate alongside the nation’s existing C-130 Hercules force. So far, five have been delivered; the final three aircraft are expected to be delivered in January 2013. The aircraft will serve with Grupo Aéreo de Transporte 6.
The “Iron Dome” radar, developed and manufactured by ELTA protects Israel’s citizens
November 21, 2012
“The “Iron Dome” radar, developed and manufactured by ELTA Systems Ltd., an Israel Aerospace Industries’ Group and subsidiary, is a dependable protector of Israel’s citizens. The radar scans a designated sector around the clock, in all visibility and weather conditions, detecting any threat launched towards Israel. Outstanding success rates have been achieved so far in intercepting enemy rockets. The radar has unique characteristics compared with other radars throughout the world.” So says Avi Leshem, Deputy Manager of IAI/ELTA’s Detection & Interception Directorate, in his session at the International Aerospace Conference & Exhibition, which opens this week at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem
Upon initially detecting a threat (whether rocket or mortar round.) the radar estimates the location of the impact area, so as to be able to warn the relevant population in that area in good time, and provide the necessary data to the system to support decision-taking regarding the launching of an interceptor (for example, an interceptor is not launched if the impact area is defined by the system as uninhabited.)
Israel Aerospace Industries’ Heron UAS Has Flown Across the Andes in a Demonstration Held for a South American Customer
October 23, 2012
Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Heron Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has marked a new achievement last month when crossing the Andes during an operational flight demonstration held in a South American country.
The system successfully demonstrated its advanced abilities for long range missions using Satellite communication for control and activation. The UAS was carrying a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electro Optical payload for day and night use, and a communication intelligence system. The Heron reliably performed various day and night flights during several days of activity, at ranges extending over 500 km and at altitudes of more than 25,000 ft. The system successfully demonstrated its performance under the extreme weather conditions which are typical to the Andes, including strong winds, very heavy cloudiness and icing conditions.
Colombia orders another Airbus Military C295
September 18, 2012
Colombia has signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of an additional C295 aircraft in a tactical transport configuration. Delivery is scheduled for February 2013.
The aircraft will be operated by the Colombian Air Force on military transport and humanitarian aid missions.
This new C295 will strengthen the capability of the Colombian Air Force by joining the four-strong C295 fleet that the CAF has been operating since 2008. The CAF also operates three Airbus Military CN235-200 transport aircraft.
“We are very proud of this repeat contract with Colombia which clearly demonstrates the satisfaction of our customer with our aircraft”, said Antonio Rodríguez-Barberán, Senior Vice President Commercial. “This latest order underlines Airbus Military´s leadership in this segment after achieving more than 100 orders worldwide”, he added.
This new deal means that 114 C295s have now been ordered, with 86 currently in operation in 14 countries.
Sikorsky Delivers 500th ‘M’ Model BLACK HAWK Helicopter
July 18, 2012
Sikorsky Delivers 500th ‘M’ Model BLACK HAWK Helicopter
July 18, 2012
Stratford, Connecticut – Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), and the U.S. Army today celebrated the delivery of the 500th H-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter. The deliveries to date comprise 400 UH-60M utility and 100 HH-60M MEDEVAC aircraft, the latter used exclusively as an air ambulance by the U.S. Army to rush wounded soldiers to field hospitals. Also included in the 500 are 73 UH-60M aircraft sold by the Army to six foreign militaries via the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program.
“I speak for more than 17,000 Sikorsky employees — many of us service veterans — when I say we are truly honored to build a modern combat-proven helicopter that men and women in uniform around the world can count on to perform their critical multi-role missions,” said Sikorsky President Mick Maurer during remarks spoken a short distance from the BLACK HAWK helicopter production line.
The need for an all-new ‘M’ BLACK HAWK platform emerged during the late 1990s with the requirement to upgrade the analog UH-60A and UH-60L aircraft with a integrated digital cockpit, dual digital flight controls, wide-chord rotor blades, more powerful engines and structural enhancements. The resulting ‘M’ model saw measurable improvements to aircraft control, survivability, lift, range, navigation and situational awareness, engine durability and maintenance costs.
Sikorsky delivered the first production UH-60M, affectionately called the Mike model, helicopter in December 2007, preceded by 31 low rate initial production aircraft from 2005-2007. The first production HH-60M MEDEVAC, outfitted with a dedicated clinical cabin followed in August 2008. The aircraft have accumulated a combined 200,000 flight hours to date.
According to Colonel Thomas Todd, the U.S. Army’s Utility Helicopters Project Manager: “The UH-60M and HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters are performing extremely well in theater, and I receive positive comments from our combat commanders frequently. The platform receives very high marks for the situational awareness the system provides the crew. These comments are also common from the other services, agencies and countries that have purchased H-60M aircraft. Accordingly, this 500th roll out of the H-60M underscores that the U.S. Army’s Utility Helicopters Project Office and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation continue to provide our Soldiers with quality equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner.”
The 500 H-60M aircraft are part of a planned production run of 1,375 ‘M’ models (956 UH-60M and 419 HH-60M aircraft) the Army plans to order through 2026. By then, the Army’s total BLACK HAWK fleet, including upgraded UH-60A and UH-60L aircraft, is expected to reach more than 2,100 aircraft.
The Army purchased the majority of the 500 H-60M helicopters as part of a five-year agreement that ended this month. Sikorsky will continue to build Mike models as part of a new five-year contract (Multi-Year 8) valued at $8.5 billion, which Sikorsky and the U.S. Army and Navy signed on July 6, 2012. Actual production quantities will be determined year-by-year over the life of the program based on funding allocations set by Congress and Pentagon acquisition priorities.
To meet Multi-Year 8 requirements, Sikorsky will deliver a baseline quantity of 234 UH-60M and 120 HH-60M BLACK HAWK aircraft for U.S. Army use and additional aircraft for Foreign Military Sales. The contract also includes 193 MH-60 SEAHAWK® helicopters for the U.S. Navy, as well as MH-60R SEAHAWK® aircraft for the Foreign Military Sales program.
Bell Helicopter Delivers a Bell 412 to NYPD for Counter-Terrorism Missions
July 3, 2012
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (July 3, 2012) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the delivery of a Bell 412 helicopter to the New York Police Department. The NYPD currently has three Bell 412s in service for a variety of missions ranging from search and rescue at sea to gathering intelligence and more recently, combating terrorism.
“The mission has changed rapidly. Now aviation is being used more as a force multiplier for patrol, gathering intelligence, counter-terrorism and the detective bureau,” remarked Captain James Coan of the NYPD Commanding Office. “We have a 64 year relationship with Bell Helicopter and we are very happy with them,” added Capt. Coan.
The NYPD began utilizing the Bell 412 for air-sea rescues and has now expanded their usage of the versatile aircraft to include counter-terrorism and other law enforcement missions to protect the city. The NYPD dedicated many hours to tailoring and designing the specifications of their third Bell 412 in order to meet the demanding and diverse needs of the largest police department in the United States. One of the counter-terrorism additions to the Bell 412 is a radiation detection system that can identify radiation signatures from an altitude of 200 feet in an effort to protect the city from nuclear bomb threats.
“The NYPD is one of the most recognized police aviation units in the world. They are a symbol of America and we are very proud they choose Bell helicopters for their heroic missions,” said Danny Maldonado, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Bell Helicopter. “We give our most sincere thanks to the NYPD for selecting Bell Helicopter to be a part of their future,” Maldonado added.
Bell Helicopter has been a part of the NYPD since 1948 when it delivered a Bell 47, the first Bell helicopter to be used as part of an airborne law enforcement team. Since then, Bell Helicopter has strived to provide innovative product solutions and the best customer support and service to maintain its valued, long-standing relationship with New York’s finest.
The Bell 412 is not only the best in class product for the NYPD’s missions; it is backed by Bell Helicopter’s industry-leading customer support and service, ranking #1 in Professional Pilot magazine for 18 consecutive years as well as #1 in Aviation International News for six consecutive years.
Boeing and Embraer sign agreement to collaborate on KC-390 program
June 26, 2012
São Paulo, Brazil, June 26, 2012 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Embraer [NYSE: ERJ; BOVESPA: EMBR3] today announced an agreement to collaborate on the KC-390 aircraft program. Under this agreement, Boeing and Embraer will share some specific technical knowledge and evaluate markets where they may join their sales efforts for medium-lift military transport opportunities.
“Boeing has extensive experience in military transport and air refueling aircraft, as well as deep knowledge of potential markets for the KC-390, especially those which were not considered in our original marketing plan” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, president and CEO of Embraer Defesa e Segurança. “This agreement will strengthen the KC-390’s prominent position in the global military transport market.”
The KC-390 collaboration is part of a broader agreement that Boeing and Embraer signed in April. The companies previously announced that they are exploring ways to cooperate in commercial airplane efficiency and safety, research and technology, and sustainable aviation biofuels. Boeing and Embraer will conduct a joint market assessment for the medium-lift military transport market and analyze business collaboration models. The market assessment includes potential customers that had not been considered in the initial market prospects for the KC-390.
“Embraer is a leading global innovator and we both understand the value of working in partnership to provide high-quality, affordable customer solutions,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This collaboration matches Boeing’s proven excellence in military transport with Embraer’s KC-390 accomplishments to further advance this highly capable and efficient medium-lift aircraft.”
The KC-390 is a Brazilian Air Force project for which Embraer signed the development contract in April 2009. It is the biggest aircraft to be manufactured by the Brazilian aerospace industry and will set new standards in the medium-lift market in terms of performance, cargo capacity, flexibility, and life cycle costs.
Boeing has had a strong and enduring partnership with Brazil for 80 years, delivering the first F4B-4 fighters to the Brazilian government in 1932 and providing commercial airplanes to Brazilian airlines since 1960. Boeing opened its office in São Paulo in October 2011.
Airbus Military A400M receives initial type certificate from EASA
May 3, 2012
Airbus Military has received the initial type certification for the A400M new generation airlifter, marking a key milestone on the road to first delivery around the turn of the year. This first approval, known as a Restricted Type Certificate (RTC), was presented by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Executive Director Patrick Goudou at an internal ceremony today in Toulouse, France.
The RTC is a critical step towards the award of full civil type certification which is expected in mid-2012 following the completion of 300 hours of function and reliability (F&R) flight tests, and towards military Initial Operating Clearance later in the year.
As part of the flight-test activity the A400M has recently visited countries in Latin America and South East Asia, and in the upcoming period will travel to the “home” nations that ordered the aircraft and the Middle East in the frame of the F&R tests.
The fleet of five A400M development aircraft continues to make good progress in the intense flight-test campaign in order to ensure delivery of a reliable aircraft to our customer and has now completed more than 3,100 hours in the air, despite continued engine challenges.
Cedric Gautier, Airbus Military Head of A400M programme, said: “Achieving civil and military certification of the A400M as foreseen in the programme is an immensely challenging task, but the process of working on both simultaneously provides important benefits for our customers in the future. It is deeply satisfying to receive this initial certification, confirming the good progress that has been made towards the delivery of the first aircraft.”
King Juan Carlos I of Spain becomes first head of state to fly in Airbus Military A400M
March 1, 2012
King Juan Carlos I of Spain has today become the first head of state to fly in the Airbus Military A400M new-generation military airlifter which is assembled in Seville. With Airbus Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, and Experimental Test Pilot, Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, the King of Spain made a local flight of some 40 minutes from the Torrejón base near Madrid.
During the flight the King, who qualified as a military pilot, took control of the aircraft for 20 minutes at around 10,000 feet altitude and performed a series of manoeuvres including turns and a simulated delivery of humanitarian supplies.
The King was accompanied by the Spanish Industry Minister, José Manuel Soria, the president and CEO of Airbus, Tom Enders, the president and CEO of Airbus Military, Domingo Ureña and the Head of Flight and Integration tests of Airbus, Fernando Alonso.
The picture shows His Majesty with the Head of Flight and Integration tests of Airbus, Fernando Alonso, inside the cockpit of the A400M.
KAMAN HELICOPTERS SUPPORTS K-MAX PROGRAM WHILE EXPANDING MANUFACTURING AND ROTOR BLADE WORK
February 9, 2012
BLOOMFIELD, CT, February 08, 2012 – The Kaman Helicopters Division of Kaman Aerospace Corporation, a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation (NASDAQ-GS: KAMN), continues to develop new chapters in its storied history with the unmanned K-MAX®; successes and opportunities in subcontract manufacturing; and rotor blade development and production.
Kaman will showcase its products and services in Booth 5222, Hall C, at the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2012 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 12-14. Company executives and technical experts will be available for discussions with visitors throughout the event during exhibit hours.
K-MAX®
Two unmanned K-MAX aircraft, with three ground control stations, are currently performing cargo resupply missions for the USMC in Afghanistan. Kaman and teammate, Lockheed Martin have developed plans to produce additional K-MAX aircraft for the U.S. military if called upon to do so. The K-MAX Unmanned Aerial Truck (UAT) is supporting the requirements of the U.S. Marine Corps Cargo Resupply Program. TIME Magazine named the K-MAX UAT one of its “50 Best Inventions” of 2011.
Salvatore S. Bordonaro, Kaman Helicopters Division president, noted, “Unmanned or optionally piloted technologies for military and civil missions are going to drive our industry and Kaman Helicopters’ growth for many years to come. The challenging environment in Afghanistan is the ideal opportunity to showcase the tremendous capabilities of our UAT,” Bordonaro added, “and gives testament to Charlie Kaman’s vision and innovative development of unmanned systems originating in the early 1950s. Today we are ensuring that our unmanned heritage influences the next generation of military rotorcraft.”
Commercial versions of the K-MAX began flying in the early 1990s and have accumulated more than 260,000 flight hours over the last 20 years. Mark Tattershall, Director of Marketing and Business Development for the Helicopters Division stated, “The commercial K-MAX is a perfect aircraft for missions from firefighting to offshore oil duties. Why put people in harm’s way when it’s not absolutely necessary for dull and dangerous operations.”
Manufacturing and Rotor Blade Focus
Rotorcraft component fabrication and subcontracting has become a major line of business for Kaman. Company capabilities include integration, composite and metallic bonding and final assembly. Backed by Kaman’s OEM infrastructure and expertise, Kaman is the only rotorcraft industry subcontractor that can replicate OEM capabilities such as design/analysis, development, test, large system integration and manufacturing as well as repairs, upgrades and modifications. Among Kaman’s specialized facilities are rotor blade whirl towers and environmental testing such as sand erosion and full flight test capabilities.
The Helicopters Division Blade Center of Excellence (BCE) and Subcontracting Product Group offer a full-service development and manufacturing capability that will enable Kaman to respond to vigorous future market growth.
Kaman is executing flight tests and initial production for the Special Operations Forces AH-6 “Little Bird” small composite rotor blades (SCRB). The company is also building helicopter blade assemblies for Bell helicopters and the MD 900 rotor system. In the future, it may offer the SCRB for the MD 500 and MD 600 commercial helicopter series. The innovative new small composite rotor blade in development will eliminate the need for troublesome metallic erosion strips by incorporating the Hontek erosion coating system. The SCRB is being presented for the first time at Heli-Expo.
Complementing rotor blade production is Kaman’s partnership with Hontek that has successfully introduced a three-layer, color-specific for easy visual inspection, sprayable erosion coating. Erosion control has extended the lifespan and reduced the life cycle costs of U.S. Army Black Hawk utility helicopter main rotor blades. Kaman is completing coatings for the rotor blades of all Black Hawk helicopters flying in harsh environments with significant airborne particulates, such as Middle East deserts. To date, Kaman has protected over 2,500 rotor blades. In addition, the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and several international military customers are evaluating the coating for possible applications on other platforms. Kaman is the only certified facility authorized to apply the Hontek coating and is installing a robotic spray facility at its Bloomfield, Conn. site.
Seasprites Continue to Serve
Kaman markets and supports the SH-2 Seasprite and SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite multi-mission maritime helicopter. The latest versions remain in service with the navies of Egypt and Poland and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. “Beyond our unmanned opportunities, we see demand growing for small ship maritime helicopters that provide nations with a cost-effective capability,” Bordonaro explained. “This requirement is driven primarily by territorial disputes, anti-piracy operations, submarine concerns, and drug and other smuggling operations.” The SH-2G(I) clearly is ideal for these missions and could generate further modifications of available existing SH-2’s into state-of-the-art anti-surface (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants.
About Kaman
Kaman Helicopters is a division of Kaman Aerospace Corporation, a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation (NASDAQ-GS: KAMN). Founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut conducts business in the aerospace and industrial distribution markets. The company produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; safing and arming solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; and support for the company’s SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters and K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. The company is also a leading distributor of industrial parts, and operates nearly 200 customer service centers and five distribution centers across North America.
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