Noticias Aeronáuticas del Mundo (archivo)

[shaderyt]

A este paso algunos diran ``el f35 es una mierda porque con lo que cuestan te puedes comprar 2 f22´´

[norlingen]

Saludos CyA:

Por si interesa...

EE.UU prueba con éxito un cañon laser para derribar aviones

http://www.abc.es/20091120/ciencia-tecn ... 01037.html

Un abrazo

[Iris]

Saludos CyA:

Por si interesa...

EE.UU prueba con éxito un cañon laser para derribar aviones

http://www.abc.es/20091120/ciencia-tecn ... 01037.html

Un abrazo

.- Sí, tienes el post completo sobre ello, cuatro anteriores a éste, jejeje.

.- Antes de postear conviene leer lo posteado un poco anteriormente.

.- Saludos.

[Iris]

Thales Alenia suministra el segundo instrumento óptico del satélite Pleiades



Madrid - Thales Alenia Space ha suministrado el segundo modelo de vuelo del instrumento óptico de imágenes de alta resolución (HR) para su integración, pruebas y validación en el satélite Pleiades de observación de la tierra, en el que participa España y en construcción por parte de EADS Astrium.

Como contratista principal del Sistema Pleiades - en particular el Segmento Terreno - el CNES seleccionó a Astrium como contratista principal del satélite y a Thales Alenia Space para los instrumentos ópticos. El programa de tecnología dual, está dirigido a cubrir las necesidades de usuarios europeos, tanto militares como civiles, entre ellas la cartografía, la vigilancia volcánica, geofísica y estudios de hidrología, la planificación urbana, etc.

El proyecto Pleiades es parte del programa Observación Federada de la Tierra Óptica y Radar (ORFEO), una iniciativa conjunta franco-italiano de los organismos nacionales respectivos del espacio CNES y ASI, que marcan un importante avance tecnológico de los sistemas ópticos de observación de la tierra.

España y Pleiades

España participa en el programa Pleiades en virtud de un acuerdo alcanzado en 2003 entre la agencia espacial francesa CNES y el Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA). Posteriormente, en abril de 2005, se firmó otro acuerdo de cooperación entre ambas instituciones mediante el que se formalizó una participación de España en el segmento espacial del programa del tres por ciento.

En la actualidad participan en el programa diversas empresas españolas entre las que destacan Thales Alenia Space spaña, EADS, Crisa, Rimas, Sener, Indra Espacio, GMV y GTD.

En noviembre de 2007, el Consejo de Ministros autorizó al Ministerio de Defensa a la suscripción de un acuerdo con el Centro de Estudios Espaciales de Francia para implementación al segmento terreno español del programa con una inversión máxima de 25 millones de euros entre los ejercicios 2007-2011.

Asimismo, Defensa adjudicó a Indra el desarrollo, integración e instalación del segmento terreno del programa por un importe de 13,7 millones de euros y un plazo de ejecución de tres años, lo que permitirá al Ejército español explotar la información que le brindarán los satélites de uso dual; civil y militar de este programa espacial.

La información que proporcionan estos satélites permitirá contar con imágenes que alcanzan un nivel de detalle de escala submétrica.

Una vez que los dos satélites de la constelación estén operativos, las imágenes tomadas permitirán además realizar levantamientos 3D de las imágenes de forma más eficaz a la que se está utilizando en la actualidad, también contarán con más calidad, lo que supondrá un salto cualitativo para el Ejército español, que mejorará sensiblemente su capacidad de observación de cualquier punto del planeta y de elaboración de cartografía, pudiendo realizar mediciones sobre la misma, con fines tácticos y de inteligencia.

Instrumentos ópticos

Los instrumentos ópticos de imágenes de alta resolución de Pleiades ofrecen una resolución mejorada de (70 cm) en una amplia franja de (20 Km.) en ambas bandas, la visible y la infrarroja. Además de la gran resolución del instrumento, también se han introducido innovaciones importantes, como los sub-ensamblajes de detección (SEDHI) altamente integrados, y la importante reducción de hasta un tercio del volumen del mismo en comparación con generaciones anteriores.

El instrumento, asimismo, ofrece una gran estabilidad dimensional gracias a una combinación de carbono y estructura de carbono (material insensible a la humedad y con un muy bajo coeficiente de expansión térmica) y espejos ‘Zerodur'.

Primer modelo

El primer modelo de vuelo del instrumento fue suministrado en julio de 2008 y ya ha sido integrado en el satélite. Ahora es el segundo modelo de vuelo del instrumento el que inicia la campaña de integración en las instalaciones de Astrium en Toulouse.

Los dos satélites de observación Pleiades han sido diseñados para una vida útil de cinco años y ofrecen un alto grado de flexibilidad en órbita gracias a su capacidad de maniobra. Además, serán capaces de adquirir series de imágenes, tanto a lo largo como a lo ancho de la franja, para crear un verdadero mosaico del terreno. La explotación de las imágenes estará a cargo de Spot Image, subsidiaria de Astrium.

Se espera que los dos satélites estén en órbita en 2010 y 2011, respectivamente.

.- Saludos.

[Iris]

Arias firma acuerdo con la israelí Goldtec de distribución de su tecnología en UAV





Madrid - La empresa Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas ha firmado un acuerdo con la compañía israelí Goldtec Technologies Ltd para distribuir su tecnología de Sistemas Aéreos No Tripulados (UAS, por sus siglas en inglés) en Israel, uno de los mercados punteros en el desarrollo de estos sistemas de vigilancia sin piloto.

Con este acuerdo, Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas consolida su actividad comercial para su división de Defensa y Seguridad/UAS en Israel y demuestra, afirma, su liderazgo en esta tecnología en uno de los mercados más competitivos del mundo.

En la actualidad, la compañía española participa en todos los programas de UAS tácticos españoles: SIVA, PASI y ATLANTE.

Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas también se ha especializado en la provisión de servicios UAS y en el diseño y suministro de diversos sistemas de apoyo en tierra, parte fundamental de estos sistemas: terminales de video remoto, mantenimiento y control de los dispositivos, suministro de UAS completos, sistemas de ensayo para UAS, lanzadores de UAV y blancos aéreos (neumáticos, elásticos, alta energía), entrenamiento y simulación ISR/UAS, y supervisión y soporte en zona de operaciones.

Los ingenieros de Aries han participado en la formación de los militares españoles destacados en Afganistán para el mantenimiento y la operación de estos sistemas de vigilancia no tripulados, así como en el apoyo logístico y el mantenimiento de los sistemas en la base española de Herat (Afganistán).

La compañía ofrece además otros sistemas de apoyo en tierra, como las celdas de ensayos universales para turbinas y motores alternativos, cuya aplicación directa permite el ensayo de la nueva generación de turbinas que impulsan los UAV. También suministra bancos de ensayos funcionales para la simulación de sistemas fluido-dinámicos, el diseño de detalle de los componentes hidro-neumáticos especiales, imágenes de vídeo de alta velocidad, vibración, termoestructurales, acústicos, balísticos y aquellos que requieren el diseño y construcción de bancos automáticos de ensayo.

Además, la compañía ofrece soluciones llave en mano para medir magnitudes con gran precisión en todo tipo de eventos, tanto en I+D como en procesos de producción. Aries dispone de una amplia gama de sensores, sistemas de adquisición de datos digitales, software de tratamiento de datos y un experto equipo de programadores para diseñar aplicaciones a medida adaptadas a las distintas necesidades.

Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas

Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas es una compañía de ingeniería, independiente, global y diversificada que desarrolla soluciones eficientes de alto valor añadido, que integran el equipo de profesionales mejor cualificado junto con la tecnología más avanzada. La compañía, con presencia en más de 20 países, desarrolla una estrategia dirigida a mercados especializados que permiten crecer de forma rentable, fuerte y estable.

En la actualidad, la compañía se encuentra en fase de expansión internacional en varios continentes, con especial atención a las regiones de Europa, EE.UU., Norte de África, Oriente Medio, India y China. Como consecuencia del crecimiento en el exterior, la compañía opera una oficina en San Francisco (EEUU), uno de los mercados más prometedores para el desarrollo de energías renovables. Además, abrirá en China en los próximos meses una nueva oficina.

.- Saludos.

[Iris]

Primer arranque simultáneo de los cuatro motores del avión A400M




Madrid - Airbus Military ha alcanzado un nuevo hito dentro del programa del avión de transporte militar A400M el pasado 18 de noviembre al llevar a cabo el primer arranque y de forma simultánea de los cuatro motores turbohélice TP400 de Europrop International (EPI) en sus instalaciones en Sevilla. El primer vuelo del avión podría producirse en la primera semana de diciembre.

Ha sido la culminación de una serie de pruebas realizadas en las 72 horas anteriores.

Mediante un procedimiento conocido como 'dry-crank' (arranque en seco), los motores y las hélices giraron por primera vez sin utilizar carburante, impulsadas por energía externa. A continuación, se repitió este procedimiento con combustible, pero cortando el proceso antes de que se iniciara la ignición. Esta otra actuación recibe el nombre de 'wet-crank' (arranque en húmedo), informó la compañía en un comunicado.

Los cuatro motores instalados en el aparato MSN 01 (el primero ensamblado en la línea de producción de San Pablo) permanecieron en funcionamiento con éxito durante cuatro horas al principio de la tarde en una operación que tuvo una duración de seis horas y media, incluyendo los preparativos.

Estuvieron en marcha con una configuración de baja energía en los modos 'ground-idle' (encendidos, pero sin aceleración) y 'flight-idle' (mínimo de energía que sería necesaria durante el vuelo). Próximamente, se realizarán arranques que llevarán los motores al máximo de la potencia necesaria para el despegue.

Estas actuaciones en las instalaciones de Airbus Military en Sevilla forman parte del procedimiento conocido como 'destorage' y que sigue a la entrega del aparato al equipo de pruebas de vuelo por parte de la línea de producción que tuvo lugar a finales de la pasada semana.

Tras el primer arranque completo, los ingenieros verificaron que no se habían producido ningún tipo de fugas de aire ni de fluidos antes de proceder a nuevos encendidos. En pruebas posteriores, supervisarán el comportamiento de los motores, así como el del resto de sistemas del aparato a los que suministran energía.

Durante las últimas horas también se ha comprobado el correcto funcionamiento de la unidad auxiliar de energía (APU, por las siglas en inglés de 'auxiliary power unit'). La APU es un pequeño motor adicional, separado del resto, y que sirve para proporcionar energía eléctrica a diferentes sistemas del aparato. Se utiliza, asimismo, para el arranque de los motores principales.

Presencia del consejero delegado

El consejero delegado de Airbus, Tom Enders, que presenció personalmente el primer arranque y encendido completo de los motores, dijo al respecto: "Quiero felicitar y dar las gracias a los equipos que han trabajado tanto para alcanzar este hito que deja expedito el camino para el Primer Vuelo del A400M en las próximas semanas".

"Ha sido la primera vez que hemos puesto totalmente en marcha el avión utilizando la energía de los motores. Se trata de una prueba muy importante, como también lo son todas las que necesitamos hacer a continuación", dijo el jefe del equipo de operaciones de vuelo, Fernando Alonso.

Airbus Military es el único fabricante de aviones de transporte militar y humanitario que desarrolla, fabrica, comercializa y presta asistencia a una familia completa de aviones de transporte con cargas útiles que van desde las tres a las 37 toneladas. Denominado anteriormente EADS-CASA, es el responsable del programa A400M, y del avión multifunción de reabastecimiento en vuelo (MRTT) derivado del A330, que puede equiparse con un sistema de reabastecimiento mediante pértiga (ARBS) de última generación, único en su género. También es el encargado de desarrollar todas las plataformas derivadas de los aviones Airbus.

Con sus modelos C-295, CN-235 y C-212, Airbus Military es líder mundial en los segmentos de mercado de los aviones de transporte militar medios y ligeros con cerca de 650 unidades en servicio y más de 100 operadores en todo el mundo. Los modelos C-295, CN-235 y C-212 cuentan con sus respectivas versiones de patrulla marítima.

.- Saludos.

[moises]

India, Iran Weigh Troop Training, Sat Launch

By vivek raghuvanshi
Published: 18 Nov 2009 15:16

NEW DELHI - Officials from Iran and India discussed cooperative training of troops and the possible Indian launch of an Iranian commercial satellite during Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki's visit here Nov. 16-17, sources in the Iranian Embassy here said.

Mottaki called on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Foreign Minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna during his visit.

Details of the Iranian satellite to be launched from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) vehicle have been under consideration since July, but no decision has been taken, an Indian External Affairs Ministry official said.

India and Iran are also negotiating a joint patrol exercise in the Arabian Gulf. India and Iran have a defense cooperation framework in the Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation, which has been dormant since 2005.

New Delhi is also pressing Iran to share information with India on the movement of terrorist groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, sources in the Home Ministry here said, but there has been no major breakthrough on this issue

slds,

moises

[moises]

Boeing Supporters: WTO Ruling Must Be Considered

By ANTONIE BOESSENKOOL
Published: 18 Nov 2009 18:57

With the final request for proposals for the next U.S. Air Force refueling tanker expected next month, more than a dozen senators and congressmen on Nov. 18 reiterated their position that DoD must consider a preliminary ruling by the World Trade Organization (wto) that EADS subsidiary Airbus received illegal subsidies.

"These subsidies are not only illegal, they are deeply unfair and anti-competitive," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., one of the most outspoken opponents of the subsidies to Airbus, standing in front of a banner that read "Illegal Subsidies Hurt American Workers."

EADS has teamed with Northrop Grumman to bid for the next refueling tanker and stands against Boeing, which has significant manufacturing operations in Murray's state. Boeing successfully protested the Air Force's award last year to Northrop Grumman-EADS team for the tanker.

"I know our workers will win in a fair and transparent competition, and I urge the Department of Defense to do the right thing and consider illegal subsidies in the final tanker [request for proposals]," Murray said. "Unfortunately, Airbus and the European Union have refused to allow fair competition. They use the aerospace industry as a jobs program, and they use billions of dollars in illegal launch aid to fund it."

The Air Force restarted the tanker competition by issuing a draft request for proposals in September. That came shortly after the WTO had issued a preliminary finding that Airbus had received billions of dollars in illegal subsidies from European governments. The WTO has yet to rule on a counterclaim by European countries alleging Boeing received illegal subsidies from the U.S. government.

Rep. Norman Dicks, D-Wash., told the audience at the press conference on Capitol Hill that some estimates show the subsidies Airbus has received for the A330 model allow EADS to offer a cheaper plane than it would have without subsidies.

"This subsidy has enabled Airbus to finance the development of this aircraft at a significantly lower cost, some have estimated as much as $5 million per plane," Dicks said. "It has enabled Airbus to unfairly compete in the global commercial market at the cost of American companies and American jobs.

"In order to be fair to our workers, our companies and our taxpayers, the tanker RfP must be modified to neutralize the advantage that illegal government subsidies give to one bidder," he added. "The Department of Defense must work with the U.S. Trade [Representative] and the Commerce Department to establish a quantifiable mechanism … that accounts for the improper subsidies that give Airbus an unfair advantage."

"Those illegal subsidies must be considered in the request for proposal," said Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. "We need a fair competition, with fair rules. Department of Defense should not favor Airbus more than the WTO does."

Boeing, were it to win a tanker contract, would do some of the work in Kansas.

Brownback and others added that if the Pentagon doesn't consider the WTO's decision, as it has said it won't, it will be ignoring the U.S. Trade Representative's position that the subsidies harm U.S. industry.

"If the WTO agrees with arguments made by the USTR, why should the Department of Defense be allowed to object to those?" Brownback said. "DoD's tanker competition should not enable Airbus to continue to be dishonest about the cost of its aircraft and fund its expansion of market share in aircraft production. … Defense procurement must be consistent with our trade policies."

EADS North America spokesman Guy Hicks referred questions regarding the implications of the WTO decision for the tanker contract to Northrop.

"Northrop Grumman fully supports the Defense Department's position that the commercial aircraft subsidies dispute being addressed by the WTO has no place in the procurement of U.S. defense systems," Northrop spokesman Randy Belote said in an e-mailed statement. "To pre-emptively force a trade dispute into the tanker procurement process before all outstanding complaints have been fully resolved is a violation of international agreements as well as fundamental WTO rules."

"Boeing appreciates the bipartisan efforts for a fair tanker competition from Congressional members representing Washington, Kansas, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois and New York," Boeing spokesman Bill Barksdale said in an e-mail after the press conference.

"We've long held the position that government subsidies to Airbus are market-distorting and a violation of WTO rules. For [the tanker], we seek what anyone else in the industry would seek - a fair competition on a level playing field where everyone is held to the same standards and transparency."

In the meantime, two local government officials from Mobile, Ala., where EADS has proposed building the tankers if its team wins, were in Washington to meet with lawmakers.

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones and County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood plan to hold their own press conference Nov. 19 on their talks with lawmakers this week. The two will discuss the RfP and "their strong positions on a fair, efficient and equitable resolution of the Tanker program," a Mobile city government spokeswoman said in an e-mail.

slds,

moises

[moises]

Germany To Cut Eurofighter Order, Seek Exports

By THOMAS NEWDICK
Published: 19 Nov 2009 12:45

BERLIN - Germany's coalition government has confirmed that the Luftwaffe will not receive its final batch of Eurofighters. To date, Germany has firmly committed to 143 aircraft; now Tranche 3B, covering the final 37 jets originally planned for the Luftwaffe, will instead be made available for export.

Two Eurofighter Typhoons from Fighter Wing 73 of the German Air Force take off from Rostock-Laage Airbase, Germany. (EUROFIGHTER PHOTO)

Faced with penalties for non-acceptance of the 37 remaining aircraft, the German government has decided to put these Eurofighters up for sale, under an agreement issued by the new coalition government. The decision may appease Eurofighter officials, since there will be no reduction in the original 180-aircraft German order.

Industry, however, will not be able to benefit from any additional work that would have been created by a new export order. The Luftwaffe, long committed to its planned 180 Eurofighters, is yet to comment.

Finding a customer for the Tranche 3B aircraft may not be easy. EADS is competing to sell Eurofighters in India's Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft competition. Switzerland is also examining the Eurofighter to meet its requirement for an F-5E Tiger II replacement.

Greece, which has already selected the Eurofighter once before, prior to canceling its options, may be seen as an outside chance when it reopens its fighter competition.

The 15 Eurofighters already diverted from the Luftwaffe to Austria could also be factored into total numbers, meaning that Germany would need to offload just 22 Tranche 3B jets. A similar offset arrangement was adopted by the United Kingdom when it diverted 24 RAF Typhoons to Saudi Arabia, and later took these aircraft out of its full 232-aircraft commitment.

The implications for the Luftwaffe are unclear. Plans called for the establishment of five Eurofighter wings, two of which (including a training unit) are now flying the jet. With Tranche 3A deliveries yet to begin, the air arm has some time to decide whether to ax one of the planned wings, as some politicians have campaigned for.

slds,

moises

[moises]

Israel Readies for Ofeq-8 Launch
Follow-on Ofeq-9 Depends on Funding Partner

By barbara opall-rome
Published: 19 Nov 2009 18:20

Tel Aviv - Israel is readying its newest spy satellite, Ofeq-8, for launch by the middle of next year, but production orders for a next-generation Ofeq-9 are stalled pending a cost-sharing and technical agreement with a prospective partner country.

The Ofeq-8, now in final construction at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), will be launched into low-Earth orbit by Israel's indigenous Shavit launcher, also built by IAI. It will house a high-resolution panchromatic payload, built by Elbit Systems Elop, similar to Israel's operational in-orbit Ofeq-5 and Ofeq-7 satellites, launched in 2002 and 2007 respectively.

Israel lost its Ofeq-6 in September 2004, when it crashed into the Mediterranean Sea due to an electrical malfunction that failed to ignite the Shavit's third-stage motor.

"Ofeq-8 belongs to the same generation of our two earlier electro-optical satellites," an Israeli expert said. "Like [Ofeq-5 and Ofeq-7], it will be launched by our national launcher. Beyond that, details guiding the next generation of electro-optical satellites remain to be determined."

Leaders of the Israeli space industry bemoan funding, technical and political uncertainties that are obscuring a clear picture of the Ministry of Defense's future military space plans. At the beginning of the decade, MoD's road map included plans for a dedicated military communications satellite. It was dropped about five years ago in favor of enhanced downlinks and ground stations to support services from Israel's Amos and other commercial satellites.

Aside from the fully funded and soon-to-be-completed Ofeq-8, Israel plans a second synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, dubbed TecSAR-2, for launch in late 2011 or 2012. But beyond those two programs, government and industry sources say, not even MoD knows at this point how many satellites it can expect to deploy, what specific capabilities they will possess and which launchers will be used to insert them into orbit.

Officials attribute the uncertainty to funding shortfalls, which have forced MoD to seek foreign investment to supplement its approximately $80 million annual budget for military space.

Government and industry sources here said MoD has begun negotiations with a prospective Asian partner for the follow-on Ofeq-9, also known here as OPSAT3000. Israel's military censor prohibits identification of the prospective partner.

The next-generation satellite will feature an advanced panchromatic camera and possibly a multispectral imaging payload. But until Israel and its potential partner can harmonize respective capability requirements and agree on a final configuration, the project remains in various stages of development.

Similarly, the choice of a launch vehicle to insert Ofeq-9 into orbit will depend on the conclusion of a government-to-government agreement. If the foreign partner joins the program, it most likely will demand deployment into polar orbit, which cannot be done from Israel due to geographical limitations.

Israel faced the same situation with the 2008 launch of TecSAR, which used an Indian PSLV rocket to deploy the radar satellite into the polar orbit demanded by its Indian partner.

"Every Israeli remote sensing satellite, whether civilian or military, is designed to be launched with Israeli launch vehicles," said Tal Inbar, head of the Space Research Center at Israel's Fisher Institute for Strategic Air and Space Studies. "But whether this happens depends on multiple factors, one of them being needs of our partners.

"TecSAR was an exception, again for several reasons," he said. "One very important reason was the need to insure this very sophisticated and expensive satellite, which could not be obtained for a Shavit launch."

Chaim Eshed, director of space programs for Israel's MoD, declined to comment on military space plans or on discussions with prospective satellite partners. "I believe we're on the path to realizing our goals," he said.

At a Nov. 3 Tel Aviv University symposium, "Israeli Space: Crisis or Opportunity," Eshed said MoD is actively supporting efforts by the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and leading Israeli aerospace companies to secure significant, multiyear government funding for commercial space initiatives that would ultimately benefit national security needs.


Underfunded Space Budget

Retired Maj. Gen. Itzhik Ben-Israel, chairman of the Israel Space Agency, said government investment in space is woefully less per capita or as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) than for any other developed nation and most developing nations in the world. "The minimum that Israel should invest is $120 million to $150 million per year - some 0.1 percent of GDP - not including MoD spending," he said.

According to Ben-Israel, a former lawmaker who served for many years as MoD's director of defense research and development, Israeli defense industries sell more than $5 billion in defense technologies per year, which accounts for some 10 percent of global arms exports.

"There's no reason in the world why we shouldn't invest in the space market, where there are much less suppliers and our unique capabilities offer the added value needed to reap tremendous returns," he said.

The ISA chairman cited Israel's selection by the French space agency, the Centre National d'Études Spatiales, to build the satellite bus and payload for Project Venus, a multispectral mission to monitor water quality that is due for launch in mid-2012. The Israeli government committed $30 million of non-MoD funds for the project, which is viewed here as a springboard to future business.

A much larger program, in cooperation with the Italian Space Agency, now awaits government funding approval before an Israeli-Italian agreement, initialed in June, can be concluded. The prospective two-satellite program, dubbed Leonardo, envisions a 250-color hyperspectral payload for civilian imaging purposes. Israel needs to come up with half of the 160 million euros ($239.4 million) estimated for the program, he said.

"As an industry, we can't maintain our current status unless we increase sales," said Yossi Weiss, IAI corporate vice president and general manager of the company's Missiles and Space group.

To preserve Israel's space industrial base, significant government funding is required over the long term, Weiss said. He added that government and industrial efforts until now to attract private equity investment, with few exceptions, have not been successful.

Industry executives here noted that in 20 years, 13 Israeli satellites of various types have been launched into space. Weiss and other executives acknowledged that Israeli industry must do its part to become more efficient and competitive.

A wake-up call for IAI was SpaceCom's 2008 decision to hire a Russian company to build its newest Amos5 spacecraft, despite IAI's 17 percent holding in the military communications satellites' owner and operator.

"I'm not saying that there's a single point of blame," Weiss said. "But it's enormously frustrating that after 20 years in space, there's no national space policy and no central body for multiyear planning."

Gabby Sarusi, Elbit Elop vice president for imagery intelligence, told Nov. 3 conference participants that new orders for his firm's specialty electro-optical payloads are drying up, and it remains uncertain how much longer Israel can remain a player in the world's remote sensing market.

"Usually I'm optimistic, but now we're at the hour of truth," Sarusi said. "I feel the link connecting the previous generation to the next generation is unraveling, and we might have to suffice with the impressive legacy we've built up over the past 25 years."

slds,

moises

[moises]

Thales To Supply Indian AF Transportable Radars

By pierre tran
Published: 20 Nov 2009 09:15

Dubai - Thales has won a contract to supply the Indian Air Force 19 low-level transportable radar systems based on the Ground Smarter (GS) 100 sensor, the defense company announced at the air show here.

Thales will build six of the 19 radars at its Limours facility, southwest of Paris. Under a technology transfer agreement, its local partner Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) will build the remaining 13 units in India, the French defense company said. No financial details were given.

Each low-level transportable radar system comprises the GS 100 radar, operational and communications shelters, an energy subsystem, mobility subsystem and quarters for personnel.

"This contract reinforces our position in the Indian region as a major supplier of air defense radars," said Richard Deakin, Thales senior vice president and head of the air systems division. "BEL is a leading supplier of defense electronics systems and subsystems and plays a leading role in a number of major Indian defense programs."

The GS 100, based on the SR3D radar platform, is a mobile, modular and multifunctional sensor designed to track complex target maneuvers at very low altitudes, Thales said.

The sensor can detect and track targets up to a range of 180 kilometers. The SR3D platform is also used in the Ground Master 400 long-range radar, launched into the market in 2007.

The international competition for the radar began in 2

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moises

[moises]

Italian AF Doubts AESA Prospects for Latest Typhoon

By tom kington and andrew chuter
Published: 20 Nov 2009 13:59

ROME - As the industrial consortium behind the Eurofighter Typhoon presses customers to commit to an electronically scanned radar, the Italian Air Force has confirmed its doubts that the radar can be ready in time for the next tranche of the combat jet.

"The physical insertion of an AESA radar in Tranche 3A is not feasible timewise," said Gen. Giuseppe Bernardis, the Air Force deputy chief of staff.

"Another thing could be an interest in studying the option of retrofitting the fleet one day, money and circumstances permitting," he added.

Speaking at the Dubai Airshow this week, Eurofighter CEO Enzo Casolini said proposals could be submitted by year's end to the four lead Eurofighter nations for a new AESA (advanced electronically scanned array) radar to replace the twin-engine jet's mechanically scanned Captor radar. Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain may then make a joint decision by February on how to proceed, he said.

Officials from companies in the Eurofighter consortium have previously said the deadline was needed in order to mount a new radar on board the first batch of the third tranche of Typhoons that the four nations signed up to buy in July.

Italy has signed to buy 21 Tranche 3A aircraft. It originally envisioned buying 46, but when the tranche was split it said budget limitations may rule out taking the full quota.

Britain and Germany are reportedly interested in switching to an AESA radar, but the doubts raised by Bernardis, which he first voiced last summer, suggest finding a consensus will not be easy.

The Italian Air Force's less-than-enthusiastic support for e-scan is due in part to its desire to focus on the air superiority role of the Typhoon, leaving air-to-ground missions to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which Italy has ordered.

"We believe the mechanically scanned radar is fulfilling all our operational needs for an air superiority fighter," Bernardis said. "This, however, doesn't rule out a more up-to-date radar in the future, given that we will be possibly flying Eurofighters until 2040."

Eurofighter officials are, however, keen to get started on developing an e-scan radar to boost the aircraft's chances in competitions such as in India, where e-scan is a prerequisite.

In Dubai, Casolini said e-scan technology being developed by Selex Galileo - which is teamed with EADS and Indra in the Euroradar consortium - would be a likely candidate for use on the Typhoon.

Selex officials have said that after a deal is struck on the warplane's AESA radar, about five years will be required to develop a production-standard version.

Unlike fixed-panel AESA radars being built by U.S. companies, which face in the direction of the aircraft, the Selex panel sits at an angle and can revolve, meaning its angle of coverage can be increased in any given direction by moving the panel.

The "swashplate" concept has been taken up by Saab, which chose Selex to supply the Swedish company with its AESA Vixen radar for the Gripen NG fighter jet that Saab is offering to Brazil.

A smaller version of the Vixen, using a fixed plate, has been sold for use on U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft.

Bob Mason, vice president of marketing and sales at Selex Galileo, part of Italy's Finmeccanica group, said a rapid pace is called for to develop an e-scan radar for Typhoon partners.

"We will need to work fast and be innovative to get an e-scan ready for Eurofighter," he said.

Mason said the new e-scan with a swashplate would put the Typhoon ahead of U.S. competitors. "We believe the Captor now on the Eurofighter outperforms the first generation of e-scan radars, while the respositionable e-scan radar we are now developing takes us beyond the first generation F-16, F-15 and F-18 arrays."

The angle of the revolving plate to the direction of the aircraft could range from 5 to 45 degrees, depending on the wish of the customer, he added.

Some of work being undertaken with Saab on the Gripen e-scan radar would be of benefit to future work, Mason said.

Looking ahead, he said Selex is eyeing the e-scan radar's capabilities in broadband communications and electronic warfare.

"E-scan has the ability to do these things, and we are looking at the possibilities in case there is a request from a customer," Mason said.

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U.S. Congress Wants More Arms Sold to Taiwan

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 21 Nov 2009 10:18

WASHINGTON - Supporters of Taiwan in the U.S. Congress pushed Nov. 20 for President Barack Obama to move toward selling arms to the island, a step that would almost certainly anger China.

Obama sought warmer relations with China on his maiden visit this week and is widely seen as reluctant to act soon on Taiwan's request to buy F-16 fighter-jets, which the island says it needs to modernize its aging fleet.

A bill sponsored by eight supporters of Taiwan in the House of Representatives would require the Obama administration to explain to Congress its plans on defense cooperation with Taiwan.

If approved, the bill would require Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to provide "detailed briefings" to Congress on the issue within 90 days.

The measure was led by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She was joined by four Republicans and three lawmakers from Obama's Democratic Party.

A Republican congressman, Joe Barton, introduced a separate bill that would call on the United States to make a decision "based solely" on Taiwan's defense needs.

Beijing considers Taiwan, where nationalists fled in 1949 after losing the mainland's civil war to the communists, to be a province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

The United States in 1979 switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing. Obama reiterated on his visit that the United States believed there was only one China.

Congress, long Washington's hotbed of support for Taiwan, responded to the switch 30 years ago by approving the Taiwan Relations Act that requires the United States to provide the island with weapons of a defensive nature.

China angrily denounces such arms sales. It cut off military exchanges with the United States for months after the Bush administration in October 2008 unveiled a $6.5 billion arms package for Taiwan, which included Patriot missile defenses and Apache attack helicopters but not F-16s.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, despite a conciliatory stance toward Beijing, has appealed to the United States for weapons, saying the island must stay on guard in light of the mainland's sharp rise in military spending.

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Iranian Air Defense Exercises to Start Nov. 22

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 21 Nov 2009 10:22

TEHRAN - Iranian air defense forces will conduct five days of maneuvers involving simulated attacks on the country's nuclear sites, a senior air defense commander said Nov. 21.

"From [Nov. 22] we will start a big aerial defense maneuver that will last for five days ... covering an area of some 600,000 square kilometers in north, southwestern Iran and parts of south and central Iran," Brig. Gen. Ahmad Mighani, the Army Air Defense chief, was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.

The aim of the exercises is to thwart the aerial threat posed by an imaginary enemy on Iran's nuclear facilities - from reconnaissance to actual assault - and also to improve cooperation among different units.

"Due to the threats against our nuclear facilities, it is our duty to defend out nation's vital facilities and thus this maneuver covers Bushehr, Fars, Isfahan, Tehran and western provinces," he added.

"Our unit will be in charge of the maneuver but there will be units from Revolutionary Guards and the Basij (militia)," he added.

Iran's still-not-operational nuclear plant is in the southern Bushehr province. Its other nuclear sites, namely uranium enrichment plants, are in Isfahan and near Tehran.

Iran's enrichment work is at the center of fears about its atomic ambition, as the process which makes nuclear fuel can also be used to make atomic bombs. Tehran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful.

Washington and Israel have not ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

Tehran has often held defense war games and has boasted advances in military capabilities in a bid to show its readiness to counter any military threats over its nuclear program.

Tehran, which says its nuclear program is a peaceful drive to generate electricity, has threatened to hit back at Israel and U.S. interests in the region if it is attacked.

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Lockheed Martin F-35B Flies To Maryland Test Site, Prepares For Vertical Landings

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md., November 16th, 2009 -- The first Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter arrived Sunday at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., where it will conduct its first hovers and vertical landings. The ferry flight initiates a sequence of F-35 arrivals at Patuxent River this year and next.

Piloted by Lockheed Martin F-35 Chief Test Pilot Jon Beesley, the F-35B flew from Fort Worth, Texas, to Patuxent River by way of Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia. Beesley landed on the Patuxent runway Sunday at 12:46 p.m. EST.

"We have high confidence in the capabilities of this aircraft, and we fully expect that it will meet or exceed the expectations of our customers," said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager. "At Patuxent River, this aircraft will continue the process of validating our revolutionary STOVL propulsion system through a series of short takeoffs, hovers and vertical landings."

The aircraft will be supported at Patuxent River by the F-35 Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) and will be monitored by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Sustainment Operations Center in Fort Worth. Known as BF-1, the aircraft is the first F-35 to be sustained by ALIS – the worldwide support system that will monitor the prognostics and health of F-35s around the globe to ensure mission readiness.

The F-35B will replace U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B STOVL fighters, F/A-18 strike fighters and EA-6B electronic attack aircraft. The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and the Italian Air Force and Navy will also employ the F-35B.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

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