Royal Navy’s new Type 45 class launched
Friday, November 30th, 2007Diamond, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 class of anti-air warfare destroyers, was successfully launched from the BAE Systems’ shipyard at Govan, on the Clyde, yesterday.
Archive for November, 2007
The Royal Navy’s PAAMS arrive for firing trials
Friday, November 30th, 2007The Royal Navy’s PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) has moved closer to service entry as prime contractor MBDA prepares the new advanced naval air defence system for firing trials.
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First Delivery Of Taurus Kepd 350 To Spain
Friday, November 30th, 2007The first two TAURUS KEPD 350 have been delivered to the Spanish Air Force to equip its EF-18 fighter aircraft. The missiles have been delivered ahead of schedule by TAURUS Systems GmbH, a subsidiary of LFK GmbH, now part of MBDA Deutschland, and Saab Bofors Dynamics of Sweden.
The missiles are undergoing captive flight testing for integration on the EF-18, with the integration activities due for completion in the first quarter of 2008. Spain has ordered a total of 43 missiles.
Germany and Spain have, moreover, declared their intent to integrate Taurus KEPD 350 onto Eurofighter/Typhoon.
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Teseo MK2/A test launched from the Italian Navy ship Luigi Durand De La Penne
Friday, November 30th, 2007On 19th November 2007, the final qualification launch of Teseo MK2/A was successfully carried out, representing a major milestone in this anti-ship missile’s development programme.
Teseo MK2/A was launched from the Italian Navy ship Luigi Durand De La Penne. In simulating a scenario confined to a limited area with four-way points and four turns (two of which were virtually 180°), the launch characteristics were particularly complex and demanding. The test parameters also called for the re-vectoring of the target and the subsequent updating of the missile seeker’s search logic. The timing and area parameters of the re-vectoring were calculated automatically by the launch system’s mission planning.
Teseo MK2/A flew a distance of approximately 120km which was covered in 415 seconds. The missile followed its planned sea-skimming trajectory with the maximum of precision, arriving at its approach phase to the target at an angle of only 3°. A direct hit was registered against the target, with impact occurring at the lowest planned altitude at the end of the homing phase.
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Indian Navy has new chiefs for materials and warship production
Friday, November 30th, 2007Vice Admiral Dilip Deshpande, AVSM, VSM has assumed the appointment of Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition(CWPA) in the Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) on 01 Dec 07. Vice Admiral Dilip Deshpande was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 19 Sep 1969. He underwent Marine Engineering conversion course at INS Shivaji, Lonavla and the Air Engineering conversion course at Air Force Technical Collage, Bangalore. The admiral was awarded Gold medal for best thesis on the subject of Management of Technologies while undergoing Naval Higher Command Course at National Defence Collage. The admiral has had number of important assignment as Air Engineering and Marine Engineer which included the appointment of Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard at Visakhapatnam. He was Assistant Chief of Material (Dockyard & Refits) prior to taking up the present appointment.
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Franco-Italian cooperation to underwater weapon systems
Friday, November 30th, 2007DCNS, Finmeccanica and Thales today announced their intention to merge their underwater weapon system activities. This cooperation will strengthen the European defence industry, creating a leading world player in this domain.
To this end, at the Franco-Italian summit in Nice, the three partners have signed the Heads of Agreement (HoA), setting forth the creation of three joint-ventures:
1. the “Torpedo Program JV”, which will be in charge of the torpedo system engineering, design and development, marketing & sales and program management activities. It will be owned at 51% by Finmeccanica and 49% by DCNS. This JV will act as the overall Design Authority and Customer Interface for torpedoes (both heavy and light weight) and torpedo defence systems;
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€660 Million SKIOS Phase II Contract awarded
Friday, November 30th, 2007AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that Phase II of the Sea King Integrated Operational Support (SKIOS) contract has now been launched following the signing of the contract by AgustaWestland and the UK Ministry of Defence on 29th November 2007. SKIOS Phase II introduces payment by the flying hour arrangements, emulating the successful IMOS contract for the UK MoD’s fleet of Merlin helicopters signed in early 2006. SKIOS Phase II also includes an aircraft availability output responsibility for UK military SAR aircraft that provide around the clock SAR cover for the UK and Falkland Islands. The value of the contract for the first five years is € 660 million (£470 million), with the potential of rising to €1.12 Billion (£800 Million) over 10 years. The contract is expected to run for the remaining service life of the Sea King fleet.
Under the contract the UK MoD will transfer responsibility to AgustaWestland for Sea King Depth Maintenance located at DARA Fleetlands and the Second Line Workshops activities located at RNAS Yeovilton. AgustaWestland will also be responsible for providing 1st Line Maintenance Services for the SAR Sea Kings at eight bases comprising Wattisham Airfield, RAF Lossiemouth, DST Leconfield, RMB Chivenor, RAF Boulmer, RAF Valley, HMS Gannet and Mount Pleasant Airfield, Falkland Islands. Transfer of responsibility for the above activities will take place over the next six months as part of the SKIOS Phase II transition plan. AgustaWestland will continue to provide technical and spares support services introduced under Phase I of SKIOS. Graham Cole, Managing Director – Business at AgustaWestland said “SKIOS Phase II is another example of Strategic Partnering between AgustaWestland and the UK Ministry of Defence delivering a contract that will bring significant benefits to the front line squadrons and at the same time significant cost savings. The success of the SKIOS Phase I and the IMOS programme show that AgustaWestland is leading the field in delivering through life support services to the Ministry of Defence.”
Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said “The contract represents another deliverable of the Helicopter plans set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, strengthens the partnered relationship with industry, and maintains aircraft availability levels but with reduced through life costs. Overall it provides better value for money for the taxpayer.” The UK MoD’s fleet of Sea King helicopters totals almost 100 aircraft comprising the Royal Air Force’s Mk.3 and Mk.3A SAR aircraft and the Royal Navy’s Mk.4 and Mk.6CR amphibious support aircraft, Mk.5 SAR aircraft and Mk.7 Maritime Surveillance and Control aircraft. The SKIOS Phase II contract will sustain at least 270 jobs at the SAR bases and create 40 new posts with AgustaWestland throughout the UK. AgustaWestland has also partnered with a number of key aerospace and defence companies to deliver SKIOS Phase II including VT Aerospace, Serco, Thales UK and SELEX S&AS.
US National Security Agency Certifies New ‘Sectéra vIPer’ Phone
Friday, November 30th, 2007General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, announced today that the Sectéra vIPer Phone has been certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) to protect classified communications via voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks at the Top Secret level and below.
Compliant with the U.S. government sponsored Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol (SCIP), the vIPer Phone is also interoperable with existing SCIP secure communication devices, including Secure Terminal Equipment (STE), Sectéra phones and terminals. The Sectéra vIPer Phone must be used in conjunction with the appropriate VoIP network gateway to achieve interoperability with existing SCIP devices.
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BERP IV AW101 main rotor blades tested
Friday, November 30th, 2007AgustaWestland has successfully completed the qualification flight testing of the new generation BERP IV AW101 main rotor blades. The new technology blades will enter operational service in early 2008 on the UK’s Royal Air Force fleet of AW101 Merlin Mk.3A helicopters. The BERP IV program commenced in 2000 with a technology selection and integration phase leading to the design and manufacturing phase in 2002. The blades first flew in September 2006 and have now completed a 13 month flight test programme during which the AW101 was flown at speeds up to 198 knots and at altitudes of 13,000 ft. Aircraft fitted with BERP IV blades have also been flown at weights up to 16,500 kg - 1,900 kg over the normal Merlin gross weight and 900 kg over the current AW101 maximum gross weight.
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AUCRT trials of Arjun Tank from December 2007
Friday, November 30th, 2007The much awaited accelerated usage cum reliability trial (AUCRT) of Main Battle Tank Arjun will begin in December 2007. AUCRT is an internal test procedure for army after induction of a armored vehicle for engineering and logistical performance.
AUCRT will determine the role and quantity of Arjun Tank in Indian Amy. With sheer firepower, reliability and mobility, the Arjun Tank is expected to play primary offensive roles.
Meanwhile Arjun Mark 2 addons are ready. However, the addon’s will be offered only with next lot order. Currently the focus is to deliver the Arjun Tank as per Army’s qualitative requirements. A list of ten addons for Arjun mark 2 includes Laser warning system to detect incoming projectiles, ERA armor which was originally developed for T-72 Abhay, Network centric warfare equipments etc.
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Air Marshal Keshava Murthy Rama Sundara is new boss of maintenance
Friday, November 30th, 2007Air Marshal KM Sundara AVSM VSM will take over as Air Officer-in-charge Maintenance at Air Headquarters, New Delhi, responsible for Maintenance Management of all Weapon Systems and Equipment of IAF, on 01 Dec 07.
Air Marshal Rama Sundara is an Electrical Engineering graduate from MC Hassan, Karnataka. He holds a Masters Degree in Defence Studies from the prestigious “Defence Services Staff College”. Wellington. He has undergone the Senior International Defence Management Course at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterery, USA besides being trained abroad on the MiG-23 & Mig-29 fighter aircraft systems. He is a fellow of Institution of Engineers and Institution of Electrical & Tele Communication Engineers and active member of the Aeronautical Society of India.
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