STOL Aircraft [Archive] - The Fifth Column

buglerbilly

27-03-10, 02:07 AM

DATE:26/03/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Cessna Caravan leads race for Afghan airlift contract

By Stephen Trimble

A US Air Force contract for a fixed-wing light mobility aircraft (LiMA) has attracted interest from companies based in Australia, New Zealand and Spain, but each faces a tough challenge to overcome a homegrown favourite.

The Cessna 208 Grand Caravan is widely considered the USAF's first choice for the contract to supply up to 60 aircraft to the Afghan National Army Air Corps.

The USAF officially notified industry about the LiMA requirement in July, with entry into service beginning in Fiscal 2012.

Meanwhile, Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has already delivered at least 11 Cessna 208s for delivery to the Iraq Air Force under a separate contract awarded by the USAF. As of November, ATK's deliveries included five trainers, three reconnaissance aircraft equipped with the L-3 Wescam MX-15 sensor and three strike aircraft each loaded with two Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

For the Afghan contract, it's not clear if the USAF wants more than a cargo aircraft. The capability request for information issued on 27 July says the selected aircraft would perform a variety of missions, including carrying cargo and personnel, airdrop and casualty evacuation.

Cessna confirms that it has responded to the USAF's request for information, but declines to offer details about its bid.

L-3 Communications has teamed with New Zealand-based Pacific Aerospace Ltd to offer the P-750 extremely short takeoff and landing (XSTOL), a low-wing aircraft with a 244m (800ft) takeoff roll.

"The P-750 stacks up pretty well" against the Caravan, a L-3 spokesman said, adding, "in terms of its short takeoff and landing capability, as well as its cost". L-3 declined to identify the P-750's actual cost.

Another acknowledged competitor is the EADS CASA 212, a twin-engine turboprop. Although the CASA 212 is a much larger aircraft than the Caravan, the company believes it can persuade the USAF that it needs a more capable aircraft.

More companies, such as Sikorsky and Hawker Beechcraft, have also registered as interested bidders with the USAF.

The opportunity to sell aircraft to the Afghans also has attracted interest from companies that have not yet entered production on new designs. These include Stavatti Heavy Industries and Explorer Aircraft.

buglerbilly

13-04-10, 04:49 AM

Alenia Aeronautica: the first two C-27J Spartan aircraft for the Romanian Air Forces land in Bucharest

4/12/2010

Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, has performed the Ferry Flight to the Romanian Air Forces of the first two of seven C-27J tactical transport aircraft ordered in December 2007.The C-27Js, which will replace the existing Antonov aircraft, landed today at the 90th Transport Air Base at Bucharest-Otopeni Airport, where the handing over ceremony took place. The event was attended by Major General Ion-Aurel Stanciu, Chief of the Romanian Air Forces, and Giuseppe Giordo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alenia North America Inc. and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Alenia Aeronautica.

The C-27J aircraft will be brought into service immediately and a complex process of advanced training of the Romanian crews and technical staff will start, accompanied by the integration, customization and testing of the specific military systems.

Alenia Aeronautica will offer full assistance and logistic support to the customer, providing spare parts, aircraft maintenance equipment, advanced pilot training (including loadmasters and maintenance staff) and technical documentation.

The new C-27Js will be operated by the Romanian Air Force for transporting troops, goods and medicines, medical evacuations (MEDEVAC), dropping paratroopers, search and rescue, logistic re-supply and humanitarian assistance.

The C-27J is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft with state-of-the-art technology in avionics, as well as in its propulsion system and other onboard systems. The aircraft boasts excellent operational flexibility and unique characteristics of interoperability with the superior class transport aircraft deployed by the air forces of several NATO countries, thanks to its large cargo cabin NATO standard cross-section.

The aircraft has been ordered by Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Morocco (the first non-NATO customer) and the US. It has also been selected by Slovakia.

The C-27J predecessor is the G.222 that is still operational within many Air Forces among which: Nigerian Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Ejercito Argentino, US Department of State, Italian Air Force (in the electronic warfare VS version), also thanks to the efficiency of the logistic support provided by Alenia Aeronautica. Alenia Aeronautica has also signed in September 2008 a contract with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for 18 refurbished G.222 tactical transport aircraft, which will equip the re-constituted Afghan Air Force (Afghanistan National Army Air Corps - ANAAC).

buglerbilly

13-05-10, 03:52 PM

DATE:13/05/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Embraer reveals KC-390 schedule, design changes

By Stephen Trimble

A new document posted online illuminates Embraer's master schedule for the KC-390 military transport and tanker aircraft and reveals changes compared with a previous version of the design.

The schedule, dated March 2010, reveals a fast-paced programme nearing the end of the preliminary design phase in mid-year, with initial operational capability promised five years later.

The preliminary design phase will be followed by a year-long initial definition phase, during which windtunnel testing will complete. Loads and structures calculation efforts are also launched during this phase.

A one-year, joint definition phase is scheduled to start in mid-2011, with a preliminary design review set for early 2012. With a supply chain established by mid-2011, Embraer to start developing tooling early during this phase, and begin releasing engineering drawings.

Starting in mid-2012, the KC-390 project will enter a four-year detailed design and certification phase. A critical design review is scheduled for early 2013, allowing Embraer to freeze the configuration. The first prototype aircraft is scheduled for delivery in late 2014, with a second prototype delivered shortly afterward.

The KC-390 project formally was launched in April 2007. Two years later, the Brazilian air force signed a contract to launch the programme, which will replace the service's 30 ageing Lockheed Martin C-130s.

So far, Embraer has developed a mock-up of the KC-390 cargo compartment to make volumetric checks, the Embraer briefing says.

The aircraft is being designed to carry a 19t cargo load up to 2,685km (1,450nm).

A three-view slide included in the briefing shows how the configuration has evolved. A previous three-view drawing distributed at trade shows a slightly smaller aircraft. The wingspan has grown in the new design from just over 33.9m (110ft) to just over 35m and length has increased from 33.4m to 33.9m. The height at the top of a T-tail has declined from 11.4m to just under 10.7m (previous design pictured below). The cargo box size is not listed in the new briefing, but was previously described as 3.35m wide by 2.9m tall.

© Embraer

Embraer projects the C-130 replacement market for the KC-390 includes up to 700 aircraft worth more than $50 billion. At the same time, the aircraft introduces new design skills for Embraer, including a rear cargo ramp, military transport certification and aerial refuelling capability.

The Embraer presentation describes the programme as "running on schedule, geared-up for full-scale development and also for selection of the main partners".

buglerbilly

26-05-10, 11:35 PM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

NZ's P-750 XSTOL Shows Light Lift Paces in US

Posted by Graham Warwick at 5/26/2010 10:18 AM CDT

"What's that airplane?" is the most common reaction when L-3 Communications and Pacific Aerospace bring the P-750 XSTOL to a US airfield. The New Zealand-built aircraft is an unusual sight, although there are 12 used as skydiving platforms in the US.

It is also a pretty unusual aircraft with its big, thick wing turning upwards at the tips; the powerful PT6A turboprop that looks grafted on; and the surprisingly sporty cockpit with its center-stick controls and gull-wing doors.

Photos: Pacific Aerospace

Team-mates L-3 and PAC have brought the P-750 to the US to introduce potential customers to the little-known, but highly capable utility aircraft. Potential customers include the US Air Force, which has released a draft RFP for "basic trainer/light lift" aircraft to be supplied to the Afghan National Army Air Corps.

The New Zealand-registered P-750 was at Tipton Airport, near Ft Meade, Md., yesterday (May 24) between visiting Air Mobility Command at Scott AFB, Ill., and Naval Air Systems Command at NAS Patuxent River, Md. XSTOL means "extreme short take-off and landing" and was clearly demonstrated in flights at Tipton.

I did not fly (my excuse - recovering from back surgery), but watched as the aircraft took off within a couple of hundred feet, climbed like an elevator, circled round to make a steep approach to an equally short landing, backed up the runway on reverse propeller pitch and did it all again.

The P-750 competes with the much better known Cessna Caravan, but is lighter, faster, has a more powerful engine, and carries a heavier payload from a shorter runway, PAC says. The aircraft is designed to take off and land within 800ft with a 4,000lb payload.

Acting as US prime, L-3 says it is working to promote the P-750 "by word of mouth" through showing the aircraft to potential customers. Beyond the USAF, the company believes several US agencies could have niche requirements for small numbers of aircraft.

The P-750 design has it roots in an agricultural aircraft that makes hundreds of take-offs and landings a day, spreading fertilizer on New Zealand hillsides. If the US wants a robust utility machine for Afghanistan and other partner nations - it's well worth looking at.

A bit of history and where it comes from....................

Locum wrote:

The P-750 is a development of the Fletcher Cresco, which in turn is developed out of the Fletcher FD-25 Defender. A STOL COIN aircraft from 1951!

Very rugged and reliable, easy to fly, maintain & repair. These aircraft have proved they can operate in mountainous area from grass strips or narrow dirt roads. In Afghanistan; the P-750 can act as light attack / recon / medivac and transport plane and costs less than USD 1000 per flight hour.

A cheap solution for the helicopter shortage.

5/26/2010 2:27 PM CDT

jetcal1 wrote:

Designed by Thorp who also did Piper Cherokee with Fred Weick of Ercoupe fame.

5/26/2010 3:36 PM CDT

buglerbilly

03-06-10, 02:32 PM

DATE:03/06/10

SOURCE:Flight International

C-212 assembly set for Indonesian shift

By Craig Hoyle

Future assembly of the C-212 light transport is likely to move to Indonesia as part of an Airbus Military initiative to reduce the type's unit cost and allow its Spanish facilities to be dedicated to producing the larger CN-235 and C-295 models.

"The question is: can we find an industrial arrangement on which we can continue to produce this aircraft in a very competitive way," says Airbus Military managing director Domingo Ureña.

"We are working with our colleagues in Indonesia to see how we can jointly offer this product to the market," he reveals. Airbus Military has a long-standing partnership with Indonesian Aerospace on the CN-235, and Ureña says "an agreement has been reached" to extend this to also include assembly of the C-212.

Ureña believes the C-212 can continue to meet requirements for operators in regions such as Asia Pacific, but says: "We need to be able to offer a cheap price. I hope in the short- to medium-term to go back to the market and say that we have the solution."

© Airbus Military
Future assembly of the C-212 light transport is likely to move to Indonesia

Airbus Military is close to concluding a deal with Thailand for an undisclosed number of C-212s configured for fisheries protection duties. The company has also been selected to provide Vietnam with five, although a contract has yet to be signed.

Developed initially for the Spanish air force and first flown in 1971, more than 480 C-212s have been ordered. It is now offered in its -400 production standard, a configuration that is less than 10 years old.

Meanwhile, senior vice-president commercial Antonio Rodriguez-Barberán says Airbus Military is also "starting to consider not a replacement for the C-212, but a re-engineering of the aircraft to make it more modern".

Airbus Military delivers around 24 CN-235s and C-295s a year from its San Pablo site near Seville, Spain, but has not yet produced the C-212 on its new assembly line.

The company is believed to have initiated early studies on the development of a larger successor for both the CN-235 and C-295, but officially says that it is in no rush to replace the types.

buglerbilly

08-06-10, 02:49 PM

U.S. Air Force orders 8 C-27J aircraft from Finmeccanica

By TOM KINGTON

Published: 7 Jun 2010 19:19

Alenia North America, a unit of Italy's Finmeccanica, has received a $319 million order from the U.S. Air Force for eight C-27J tactical transport aircraft, bringing to 21 to total number now ordered by the U.S. Air Force and Army.

The aircraft will be delivered during 2012 to L-3, Finmeccanica's partner on the program, Finmeccanica said in a statement. The 21 aircraft now ordered by the U.S. are worth $812 million, the firm added.

Finmeccanica said the U.S. military's 2011 budget, now in Congress, also contains $351 million for a further eight C-27J orders.

Separately, Finmeccanica-owned U.S defense electronics firm DRS Technologies has signed a teaming agreement with Boeing to work on Boeing's U.S. tanker offering, the firm said June 7.

DRS will work with Boeing on console design and manufacture the Aerial Refueling Operating Station for the aircraft, should Boeing win the contest.

buglerbilly

11-06-10, 02:27 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Antonov Unveils New Military Transport

Posted by M Pyadushkin at 6/10/2010 9:34 AM CDT

Ukraine’s Anotnov aircraft designer plans to introduce a military transport version of its brand-new An-158 regional jet that made its first flight at the end of April. The new transport, dubbed An-178, will have a payload of 15 tons and is intended to replace the aging fleet of An-12 transports, said Dmitry Kiva, president and general designer of Antonov Group, at ILA 2010.

The new aircraft is expected to have a range of 1,200 km with full load and 3,200 km with a 10 tons load. According to Kiva, An-178 can be a cheap solution as it will use many components -- wing, tail fins and cockpit -- from An-158 aircraft, but will add a large cargo compartment with a ramp door.

An-178 will differ from An-158 (on the picture) with large fuselage and a ramp cargo door (Credit: Antonov)

The first prototype can be ready in two years. The new Antonov aircraft can rival Russia’s MTA transport aircraft program in India. This transport aircraft with an 18 ton payload has been in development for almost 10 years, but the program still faces serious delays. Kiva mentioned that Antonov is already in talks with the Indian side on its possible involvement in the An-178 program.

buglerbilly

15-06-10, 06:32 AM

Slipping Through the Net

SOCOM Seeks New Airlifter To Penetrate Advanced Defenses

By JOHN REED

Published: 14 June 2010

Despite U.S. Special Operations Command's push to replace its decades-old aircraft fleet with new versions of old designs, clandestine operations likely will require a new airframe to perform covert infiltrations in the face of 21st century air defenses.

To this end, top special operations officials are starting to flesh out what such a craft will look like. While the current fleet of special ops airframes is derived from venerable troop transport planes and helicopters designed in the mid- to late 20th century, such as the C-130 Hercules and CH-47 Chinook, a custom-designed aircraft built for delivering troops on clandestine missions may become necessary, said Michael Vickers, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for special operations, said earlier this year.

The reason, he said, is the rise in advanced air defense systems being developed and sold by Russia and China to nations throughout the world. These systems are capable of defeating all but the latest in stealth technology.

The Pentagon's 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) emphasized expanding the number of special operations ground troops, and the 2010 QDR called for a corresponding buildup in special ops airlifters. However, the 2006 document only focused on replacing the decades-old MC-130E and P fleet of airlifters with the new J-model MC-130 to fly under enemy radar and deliver special operations troops to clandestine location.

While these planes feature terrain-following radar and advanced countermeasures, they have a fundamentally unstealthy design dating to the 1950s. The Pentagon will likely look "pretty hard" at this issue in the 2014 QDR, according to Vickers, who acknowledged that such an aircraft would be expensive.

One expert, however, said the command will have a difficult time securing the massive funding needed to develop a special ops-specific stealth airlifter.

SOCOM "is purchasing smaller aircraft to fly low and stealthy, and unless they get a whole lot of development cash for an all-new airplane, that's probably the way to go," said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with Teal Group, Fairfax, Va. "In terms of actually buying some super-secret, penetrating, stealth transport, that's where the budget just runs out."

The command historically has relied on existing technology, both military and civilian, and investing in high-tech modifications to customize it for demanding missions, rather than pouring millions or billions of dollars into developing special ops-specific aircraft.

SOCOM has "never been able to fund their own SOCOM-specific airplane," Aboulafia said. "The idea of starting with something that would be extremely expensive to develop, that's unlikely."

Aboulafia pointed out that in the past few years, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the U.S. Air Force's contribution to SOCOM, has begun investing heavily in small single- and twin-engine planes, sometimes painted in civilian livery such as the Pilatus PC-12. These aircraft are being purchased to deliver special operations troops around the world without drawing the attention that the four-engine C-130 would garner.

In many cases, these aircraft, some of which are based on old Soviet designs such as the Polish-built M28 Skytruck, can be parked on foreign airport ramps without giving away the U.S. presence, according to AFSOC officials. The command has even contemplated buying twin-engine deHavilland Canada Dash-8 turboprops to haul troops around the world.

The Dash-8 style aircraft could be used to transport special ops troops and gear to a main staging area in far-off regions, while the smaller planes could fly the troops on missions into primitive airstrips or through sensitive airspace under what AFSOC officials have described as a hub-and-spoke system.

Using such small aircraft while developing more advanced tactics to evade radars will likely be the key to overcoming enemy defenses while slipping special operations troops into unfriendly countries.

"In the littoral area, that's why we have SEAL delivery systems; inland, well, you'll just have to find ways to fly below the radar or between gaps in coverage," the analyst said.

One possible alternative would be for the command to partner with the Air Force to develop a new generation of stealthy transport aircraft, similar to the way it did with the V-22 Osprey, used by the U.S. Marine Corps and AFSOC, Aboulafia suggested.

Still, "I'm not so sure why the Air Force would pay for that," he added. ■

E-mail: jreed@defensenews.com.

buglerbilly

18-06-10, 03:46 PM

KC-390 Engine Choice Proves Complicated

Jun 18, 2010

By Robert Wall

PARIS — The upheaval in the narrowbody commercial engine market currently playing out is having ripple effects in the military domain and complicating Embraer’s efforts to pick a powerplant for its KC-390 tanker/transport.

Embraer is looking for an engine in the 29,000-lb.-thrust class to power the 33.92 meter-long, 35.05 meter-wingspan military aircraft now in its early design phase. The Brazilian aircraft maker was looking at the CFM International CFM56 and the International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500, but Orlando Neto, the company’s executive vice president for the defense market, says the issue is no longer so straightforward.

With CFM International now focused on the Leap-X design for the Comac C919 and other applications, and the long-term future of the V2500 production line potentially in doubt because of differences on the road ahead between IAE consortium members Pratt &amp; Whitney and Rolls-Royce, Embraer is reassessing what it wants to do. As part of that, Embraer is exploring whether it needs to shift its focus on the Leap-X offering and the Pratt &amp; Whitney geared turbofan.

The concern is not so much about the near-term KC-390 development phase. However, Neto says the Embraer aircraft is supposed to be in production for a long time, and the company does not want to pick an engine that will be out of production for commercial purposes 10 years from now.

The decision is also key because the selected engine maker would be one of the main risk-sharing partners on the development endeavor.

The reassessment comes as Embraer is shifting from the preliminary design to the initial definition phase under the $1.3 billion development program signed with the Brazilian government in April 2009. This is where major risk-sharing partners are slated to be brought onboard. Embraer already has held exploratory discussions with potential partners. Most of that activity is due to wrap up by May 2011.

Afterward, the focus will shift to birthing the aircraft. The KC-390’s preliminary design review is due in the second half of 2011, followed by critical design review in 2012-2013. Production would begin in 2013.

Embraer already has delivered a cargo compartment mockup to the Brazilian defense ministry, as well as an engineering simulator.

Neto notes the door remains open to foreign partners, although that would have to come with a commitment to acquire the aircraft too. So far there are no production customers for the KC-390. The contract with Brazil, to date, only covers building two prototypes; an actual series production contract remains to be worked out. The number of aircraft Brazil would buy also remains unclear, but Neto expects the total to be in the high 20s or low 30s.

France has indicated it would take a dozen KC-390s as part of the country’s effort to convince Brazil to pick the Dassault Rafale in the F-X2 fighter competition, for which the Boeing F/A-18E/F and Saab Gripen also are vying.

Deks

18-06-10, 06:37 PM

France has indicated it would take a dozen KC-390s as part of the country’s effort to convince Brazil to pick the Dassault Rafale in the F-X2 fighter competition, for which the Boeing F/A-18E/F and Saab Gripen also are vying.

Interesting. Could tip the field into the Rafale's favor in spite of it's lesser capability and greater cost. That being said, the French are probably more open to technology transfer than the US ever will be.

buglerbilly

21-06-10, 01:55 PM

Scott Agencies Join to Test New Airframe

(Source: U.S Air Force; issued June 18, 2010)

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --- More than 20 Airmen from Scott Air Force Base continued production qualification testing on the C-27J Spartan here June 8 and 9.

The C-27J was originally an Army development program until April 2009 when Defense Secretary Robert Gates shifted the program to the Air Force. As such, Air Force-specific procedures for how to operate the aircraft must be created, which is where these tests came in.

The C-27J boasts shorter landing and takeoff capabilities which allow the airframe to fly into austere areas that do not have the necessary infrastructure to handle the Air Force's larger aircraft. The airframe will significantly enhance the Air Force's capabilities to evacuate wounded servicemembers out of dangerous environments.

It was these aeromedical evacuation capabilities that were tested at Scott AFB last week - namely the capability to quickly and safely evacuate ambulatory and littered patients in the event of an emergency.

During the tests, aeromedical evacuation members performed timed evacuations of all patients and aircrew through all doors, including one of the emergency escape hatches on the top of the airframe.

The tests were a precursor to the Multi-Service Operational Test and Evaluation which will take place later this summer. The MOT&E determines the capabilities of the airframe in an operational environment.

"We gathered data so aeromedical evacuation training regulations and operating instructions for the aircraft can be written," said Master Sgt. Michael Baker, a test director from the Air Mobility Command Test and Evaluation Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

Once the results of the observation have been recorded, "those publications will be standardized for use by aeromedical evacuation crews Air Force wide, when they evacuate patients on the C-27J," he said.

An electromagnetic interference evaluation of the aeromedical evacuation equipment was also performed to ensure its operation does not interfere with any aircraft equipment, said John Rehkop, a member of the AMC Test and Evaluation office.

"At the conclusion of this effort, the Army will determine if the system is airworthy in preparation for the MOT&E," he said.

During the MOT&E, operational aeromedical evacuation aircrew will configure the aircraft for an aeromedical evacuation mission and fly it in an operationally realistic environment.

Though this testing went late into the night June 8, the long day was well worth it, said Capt. John Camacho, a 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse instructor and test participant.

"It was a lot of work, but at the end of the day, it's an important effort to help make sure that our wounded warriors get the help they need when they need it and bring them back home," he said.

This is the second time Scott AFB members have assisted in tests for the C-27J.

In late February, aeromedical evacuation technicians went through several patient-carrying configurations on the aircraft to optimize patient-carrying capabilities.

Four configurations of passenger seating and litters were developed as a result of these tests.

The airframe's shorter landing and takeoff capabilities will also enable supplies to be delivered closer to their destination point, saving lives of warfighters by reducing the need for ground convoys in dangerous areas.

-ends-

buglerbilly

22-06-10, 12:31 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Boeing Eyes Narrower C-17

Posted by Robert Wall at 6/21/2010 10:58 AM CDT

I don't understand the need to narrow the body when ALL indicators are that we need WIDER fuselages.................

Boeing plans to provide more detail on its C-17FE concept at Farnborough.

The “FE,” for fuel efficient, would have a narrower fuselage by several feet than the aircraft now in production. It also would involve lightening of the structure through use of composites, says Tommy Dunehew, Boeing’s C-17 business development representative.

The goal is to meet the nominal Joint Future Theater Lift program. The concept "is fairly advanced," with the same engines, tails, and wing, Dunehew says.

The Army and Air Force would impact the design as requirements would evolve. But the goal is to meet 99% of the JFTL requirement with the C-17FE.

The concept effectively supplants the C-17B concept.

Gubler, A.

22-06-10, 02:24 AM

I don't understand the need to narrow the body when ALL indicators are that we need WIDER fuselages.................

Wider fuselages for C-103s, A400Ms, etc but the C-17 is pretty wide. Most cargo loads can be loaded dual track. A narrow fuselage is all about drastic reduction in drag and fuel burn meaning cheaper to fly and longer ranged.

buglerbilly

22-06-10, 08:44 AM

Wider fuselages for C-103s, A400Ms, etc but the C-17 is pretty wide. Most cargo loads can be loaded dual track. A narrow fuselage is all about drastic reduction in drag and fuel burn meaning cheaper to fly and longer ranged.

Understood BUT replacing the engines with more modern types would achieve the same at lower fuel burn, higher cruise, better longevity and ease of maintenance through a more modern approach..............narrowing the fuselage is one route but I'd challenge not necessarily the most effective.

Chunder

23-06-10, 09:55 AM

Most of the C-17's inefficiencies arise from it's designed requirements. Strip the need to fly MBT's around and or alter the comparative short field capabilities and you get a different looking aircraft. It's a short bus with comparative no streamlining to speak of. There have been some papers lurking about, that whilst the US uses them for strategic lift, in Afghanistan they prefer them to shuttle from Manas, or ship to the Persian Gulf (then c-17 them out to the ghan), with C-5's & 747's the go (despite costs) for stateside to manas. There are of course quite a few exceptions, like emergency supplies needed at short notice. There are 2 c-17 flight lines at Bagram, and a shit load of fuel that needs to be bought in.

buglerbilly

02-07-10, 05:46 PM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Patent Lifts Veil on Boeing's Speed Agile

Posted by Graham Warwick at 7/2/2010 9:02 AM CDT

I am researching something on future airlifters and wanted artwork on the stealthy super-STOL tactical transport Boeing windtunnel tested under the US Air Force Research Laboratory's Speed Agile program. I asked Boeing if they had a releasable image. No, they said. I asked AFRL. No, said they. So there I was passing the time browsing the US Patent and Trademark Office website and what do I find but this:

Source: USPTO

The patent is here and it's Speed Agile, or close to it based on the one image of a 2008 windtunnel model that I do have, from a presentation by the Boeing program manager at an AIAA conference.

Photo: Boeing

Speed Agile involved low- and high-speed windtunnel tests of a stealthy airlifter concept that could take off in 1,500ft and cruise at Mach 0.8. Usually STOL aircraft aren't that fast. Boeing's design achieves this "speed agility" using a "propulsive wing" - engines embedded in the wing exhaust throught slots at the trailing edge to provide lift as well as thrust.

Source: USPTO

Speed Agile is part of studies into a potential C-130 replacement once called AMC-X, then the Advanced Joint Air Combat System (AJACS), but now morphed into the Air Force/Army Joint Future Heavy Lift. AFRL says Lockheed Martin is now building models of its design for low- and high-speed windtunnel testing. Lockheed has previously shown what could be their Speed Agile concept.

Source: AFRL

Unicorn

03-07-10, 08:25 AM

Looks like a modernised version of some of the Russian erakoplan designs.

Different application of course, but similar principles.

Unicorn

Gubler, A.

03-07-10, 09:48 AM

Looks like a modernised version of some of the Russian erakoplan designs.

Different application of course, but similar principles.

Not in the slightest mate.

Ekranoplans or ground effect vehicles (GEV) have very conventional wings which are used to trap pockets of air between them and a surface which combined with the lift thrust of the wing enables flight with much less propulsive thrust than outside ground effect. Of course the downside being most Ekranoplans are limited to in ground effect (IGE) flight only. Many Ekranoplans have engines located in front of the wing directing thrust below the wing to help generate a ground effect bubble at the slower speeds of takeoff and landing. These engines are then turned off for IGE cruise.

The Speed Agile concept has been around for a while and utilizes exhaust from a turbine that provides thrust to also reenergize the airflow over the wing to provide enhanced lift by the wing. In this case positioning the engine above the wing and the exhausts onto the trailing edge of the wing. This is application is perhaps best known in the An-72/74 Cheburashka (NATO: COALER) STOL aircraft.

Deks

03-07-10, 06:27 PM

Personally I thought it looked like a B2 with a tail to support the lengthened (or added?) fuselage. :)

buglerbilly

09-07-10, 12:20 AM

U.S. Senators Back Purchase Of More C-27s

By KATE BRANNEN

Published: 8 Jul 2010 17:47

The Joint Cargo Aircraft C-27J program was restructured more than a year ago, but Congress is still raising questions about the Pentagon's plans to reduce the number of aircraft and transfer the Army program and the mission it supports to the Air Force.

In a July 7 letter to the secretaries of the Army and the Air Force, Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Christopher Bond, R-Mo., recommend the Pentagon buy more C-27Js in coming years. The senators serve as co-chairmen of the Senate National Guard Caucus.

In last year's budget, the Pentagon reduced the total planned C-27J purchase from 78 aircraft to 38. It also took the "joint" out of Joint Cargo Aircraft by making the program solely Air Force, rather than Army-Air Force. The mission for which the aircraft was intended - time-sensitive cargo delivery - also shifted to the Air Force.

"The reduction in the total C-27 program presents challenges both for the future of Defense Department air mobility as well as personnel in the Army who have been trained to fly the airplanes," the senators write.

In the Army, the C-27J was intended to replace the service's fleet of C-23 Sherpa aircraft. The planes still fly missions in Iraq, but are unable to fly in Afghanistan because they are not pressurized. The Army is still determining its schedule for divesting its fleet of C-23s now that it is not getting the C-27J.

Bond and Leahy ask what the Pentagon plans to do with the C-23s.

"Will the C-27 and C-23 serve side-by-side?" the senators ask. "If the latter, what analysis led the Department to conclude that the C-23, once judged obsolete, is an airframe worthy of retaining in the force in lieu of purchasing new C-27s?"

The two senators also want to know what the Pentagon plans to do with the Army personnel who have been trained to support the C-27J mission.

Following approval of the 2010 budget, the Air Force was required by law to submit a report outlining its plans for the C-27J program. In that report, the Air Force said a specific plan of action regarding the personnel issue had not yet been developed.

"The [Air National Guard] welcomes any Army personnel to apply for transition to [Air National Guard] positions, and we do anticipate that [Army National Guard] will non-concur on any transfer action," the Air Force report said.

Bond and Leahy want more information on the Air Force's plan.

buglerbilly

13-07-10, 05:05 PM

DATE:13/07/10

SOURCE:Flight International

FARNBOROUGH: Embraer confident of success with KC-390 airlifter

By Andrew Doyle

Embraer comes to the 2010 Farnborough air show with development work well under way on its biggest and most ambitious project to date - the KC-390 tactical transport. The Brazilian manufacturer is using the show to step up its hunt for new customers, as well as strategic industrial partners and suppliers.

Currently in the initial definition phase, the aircraft is being developed under a Brazilian air force contract worth $1.3 billion, signed in April 2009. Embraer has its work cut out to convince sceptics that it can develop the aircraft to specification for such a relatively paltry sum, while avoiding engineering problems of the kind which beset Airbus Military's A400M.

The Brazilian air force contract calls for the construction and certification of two KC-390 prototypes, plus associated production tooling.

"With that amount of money, we will be conceiving, developing, designing and producing two prototypes, and having the tooling to certify those two prototypes to Part 25 and having all the tooling and assembly jigs ready for production," says Orlando Neto, Embraer executive vice-president defence market. He adds that series production is not included in the contract.

© Embraer
Embraer believes its KC-390 offers capacity and cost advantages over rival tankers

The air force is expected to eventually order around 30 production KC-390s, designed to support a multitude of roles including humanitarian missions, rapid mobilisation, special forces operations, air dropping of paratroops, air-to-air refuelling, airborne cargo delivery, medical evacuation, search and rescue and even firefighting.

Conceived as a jet-powered replacement for the Lockheed Martin C-130, the KC-390 is designed to be operated from semi-prepared airstrips with holes up to 40cm (15.7in) deep, and will also be used to support the Brazilian air force's operations in Antarctica.

"Antarctica was one of the critical tasks that dimensioned the aircraft in the end," says Neto.

The KC-390 is configured to carry a payload of 19t, cruising at Mach 0.8 at an altitude of 36,000ft (11,000m). It will accommodate 23.4t of fuel in its wing tanks and carry an additional 14t of fuel in the air-to-air refuelling role. The fuselage will withstand a pressure differential of 0.52bar (7.6lb/in2), which Neto says will provide a "very comfortable environment for soldiers, for this type of aircraft". He adds that the KC-390 will carry "in excess" of 64 parachutists or 80 soldiers.

"It is designed to be superior to the C-130," says Neto. "The Brazilian air force could have purchased the C-130J, but this aircraft will do more for less, so that's the challenge we have ahead of us. It's as simple as that. We have a contract to produce a product that will do that job."

The KC-390's cargo deck will be 17.8m long, 3.45m wide and 2.9m high (uninterrupted by the wing box). On a ferry flight the aircraft is designed to fly 3,350nm (6,200km), or 1,450nm with its maximum 19t payload. Maximum fuel and an 11t payload gives a range of 2,800nm.

Neto says the KC-390 has to be jet powered because, given the size of the country that the Brazilian air force is charged with defending, "it has to be fast". However the air force also insists that the aircraft be able to take off or land wherever a C-130 can.

"It will land and take off from airfields that are two classes below the C-130J and [Airbus Military] C-295," says Neto.

Despite having a huge amount of airspace to patrol, the Brazilian air force constantly grapples with a tight procurement budget, and Neto says this could work in Embraer's favour when it comes to addressing export markets.

© Embraer

"If there is one thing that Embraer Defense is blessed with, it's to have the Brazilian air force as a customer," says Neto. "They are very creative people with a small pocket and a big mission. That means that you have to be creative.

"Look at the Bandeirante, the Tucano, the Super Tucano, look at all the products we have developed for them. The ERJ-145 ISR was initially invented for surveillance of the Amazon. They were made to be affordable. With this in hand, you have a good chance of having export success."

Neto sees a conservative potential market for the KC-390 of 700 units (a figure which discounts the possibility, for example, of making a sale to the US Air Force), out of a global C-130 replacement market of 2,800 aircraft.

"This is a product that puts us in a new league," says Neto. "Geopolitics can play a big part pro and against us of course, but we are pretty comfortable that this is a highly addressable market for this type of product."

The fly-by-wire KC-390 has 52% more wing area than Embraer's current largest product - the 190/195 airliner. Its maximum take-off weight of 72t is 40% higher than that of the E-195.

"We are just finalising the preliminary design phase as we speak," says Neto. "Then will come the initial definition phase, the joint definition phase, the detailed design, and building and certification of the prototypes.

"The initial definition phase is where suppliers and strategic partners will be defined and put on board, because they need to be here for the joint definition phase. Now is the time up until May next in which we'll be seeing movement in terms of suppliers and strategic partners being announced."

Neto says Embraer is open to a foreign government - and that country's local industry - participating in the programme, with the agreement of Brasilia.

"They will be more than welcome to come, provided that the non-recurring costs that are embedded into this $1.3 billion contract are taken from Brazil and taken to them for them to spend.

"We want as many strategic partners as possible, because to be on board you have to take the non-recurring costs and you have to commit to buy the KC-390 in the future.

© Embraer

"If there is a decision for an air force and a local industry to participate, that is a government-to-government decision. Purchase of the KC-390 is at the air force level and participation of the local industry in doing part of the job is at the industrial level. A handful of countries would be fine."

Metal for the first KC-390 is due to be cut by mid-2013. The initial prototype is scheduled to emerge in mid-2014, with the certification campaign getting under way in the third quarter of that year.

The requirement for the as-yet unselected engine is "more than 25,000lb [110kN] and less than 30,000lb thrust", says Neto. "We're in discussions with the engine manufacturers. The idea is to have as much proven technology as possible. We're not reinventing the wheel here."

The French government has indicated its willingness to purchase 12 KC-390s if Brazil selects the Dassault Rafale for its F-X2 fighter contest.

"We do see opportunities for the C-390 in France, period," says Neto. "If somebody wants to tie those things together, we'll I'm not tying anything together. You don't buy something you don't need."

Sweden has also made a similar pledge, linked to its offer of the Gripen NG.

The Brazilian air force is looking for "high 20s or low 30s" in terms of number of aircraft, including air-to-air refuelling variants.

"We have completed the final subsonic test of the preliminary design phase, in Holland," says Neto. "We finished the preliminary design phase with a product that we are pretty much confident is robust, complies with the mission it is being designed for, and will be very simple in terms of systems, and to operate."

Three workshops with air forces (similar in format to the airline advisory boards formed by Embraer for its new airliner programmes) have been held, one for general configuration, one focused on the cargo compartment, and one for the maintenance of the aircraft.

The KC-390 has been designed to offer a high level of survivability. "The distribution of systems through the aircraft has to be designed in such a way to ensure the aircraft has the level of survivability necessary for it to do the mission," he says.

Neto is confident that the KC-390 programme will not suffer similar difficulties to those encountered in Europe with the larger A400M.

"This is one product to be developed to fulfil a certain specified mission for one customer," says Neto. "That keeps things very, very straightforward.

"To develop this programme we will have to overcome technical difficulties, learn a few things that we don't know for sure, but that's part of the challenge. We don't want to develop technology out of this, we want to get the aircraft serving the requirements of the Brazilian air force at the end of the development phase.

"Mitigating the risk means having a customer, a contract to get the plane, which will come with its challenges, but no extra technology. We want to be safe because the application and the requirements are there."

buglerbilly

22-07-10, 06:24 AM

Brazilian Air Force Commits To 28 KC-390s

Jul 21, 2010

By Robert Wall wall@aviationweek.com
FARNBOROUGH

The Brazilian air force has made an initial purchase commitment to the Embraer KC-390 military airlifter, with the goal of fielding the aircraft starting in 2016.

The Brazilian government had previously only agreed to fund the development of the KC-390 and build two prototypes. The service plans to replace its entire fleet of C-130s with KC-390s eventually, says Brazilian air force chief of staff Lt. Gen. Juniti Saito, without saying what the total inventory objective is.

The formal contract is to be signed in the next two years, Embraer CEO Frederico Curado says. Getting the agreement in principle with the Brazilian air force now helps Embraer in its discussions to bring other countries and potential partners onboard the program.

The tanker/transports, which also would be used for other roles such as search and rescue, will be based at Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, and a third, to-be-determined location in the central-western part of the country.

Meanwhile, Embraer’s vice president for military activities, Orlando Netto, says the design studies so far undertaken indicate the maximum payload capability has increased to 23 metric tons from 19 metric tons, with a range of 1,400 naut. mi.

Embraer eyes a production rate of 18-20 KC-390s per year.

Credit: Embraer

Deks

22-07-10, 07:15 AM

Good to hear about the payload, though I'm surprised the range is so low; the C-130 is capable of going much further.

Are turboprops inherently more efficient than turbofans?

edit: That must be with the payload, Embraer says the ferry range is something like 3300nmi.

buglerbilly

22-07-10, 07:53 AM

DATE:21/07/10

SOURCE:Flight Daily News

FARNBOROUGH: Lockheed prepares for KC-390 competition

By Siva Govindasamy

Lockheed Martin sees the Embraer KC-390 as a potentially serious competitor to its C-130J, but it adds that there are still many questions to be answered about the Brazilian aircraft.

Embraer, which aims to deliver the first prototype to the Brazilian air force in 2014, wants to get into the lucrative military transport market with the type. That would put it in contention against the C-130J, which it is most similar to in terms of payload and operational capability, as well as the Airbus Military A400M and Boeing C-17.

"We have to remember that the C-130J is a proven aircraft. It is capable, with its new powerplant and avionics, to meet the strategic needs and tactical needs around the world," says Ross Reynolds, Lockheed's vice-president for C-130 programmes.

© Embraer

"Of course, we see the KC-390 as a competitor. But the key question that Embraer has to answer is how capable really is the aircraft? We still don't know. The C-130J can go into dirt, for example. It is still to be determined if the KC-390 can do that, and it is capabilities like that which make the C-130J stand out."

Looking ahead, Reynolds says that Lockheed anticipates "good demand" for the C-130J in the coming years. The current backlog stands at 99 aircraft, but he says that there is likely to be additional orders from existing and new customers.

"We believe that there will be another 150 orders within the USA and another 100 internationally over the next 10 years," he adds. "The US Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard and Forest Service are all potential customers, while internationally we are looking at interest in the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia.

Part of the C-130J's appeal, he adds, is that Lockheed has been upgrading and modifying the aircraft since its inception several decades ago. This has kept it relevant to current market requirements and that effort will continue, he adds.

"We are constantly looking at ways to improve the aircraft. One thing we are looking at is roll-on, roll-off capability. The flexibility of the platform allows us to transit to different missions and that is something we are looking at," says Reynolds.

buglerbilly

28-07-10, 11:06 AM

Business Aviation Now

Civil Air Patrol Shows ISR-fitted Airvan at Oshkosh

Posted by John Morris at 7/28/2010 2:43 AM CDT

While the crowds walk past the Civil Air Patrol’s Gippsland Aerospace GA-8 Airvan, few would notice anything remarkable except that the company now is owned by the Mahindra Group of India.

But if one lays flat on one’s back and looks at the underside, there is a clear panel shielding a hyperspectral camera for its Space Computer Corp ARCHER software system that turns the dumpy-looking Airvan into a most useful search and surveillance aircraft.

ARCHER stands for Airborne Real Time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance, and the manufacturer says this software platform is the world’s first fully operational large-scale deployment of hyperspectral imaging technology. It is also, it says, the first hyperspectral imaging system to incorporate real-time geo-registration of HSI data, meaning it can precisely locate what it is looking at. Hyperspectral imaging works by analyzing an object’s reflected light.

ARCHER in turn allows CAP flight crews to program an object’s spectral signature into the onboard computer.

Although primarily intended for enhanced search and rescue capabilities, CAP has found many additional uses for ARCHER, including missions for homeland security, disaster assessment, and drug interdiction.

With its real-time imagery processing, ARCHER plots the ground area swept by the sensors on to a handheld tablet PC. The tablet PC is designated ARCHER Total Recon Awareness Control, or ARCHER TRAC, and it is a mission navigation and tracking tool that helps the pilot and crew ensure that imagery data has been collected from the entire mission search area. Key waypoints and search grids are easily programmed into ARCHER TRAC. The ground area that has been swept by the ARCHER sensors is then superimposed on a standard aviation sectional map. So the system ensures that none of the search area is missed.

The data can be utilized in the aircraft, or streamed live to a ground station.

The CAP will eventually take delivery of 25 Airvans as equipment becomes available.

buglerbilly

18-08-10, 02:52 AM

179th Airlift Wing Holds Conversion Ceremony For New C-27J

originally posted on: 8/16/2010 10:16:41 AM

U.S. Senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown were among many dignitaries at the Ohio National Guard base at Mansfield Lahm Airport over the weekend to celebrate the 179th Airlift Wing's new mission.

A conversion ceremony was held for the guard changing from the C-130 Hercules to the C-27J Spartan aircraft.

The 179th Airlift Wing is the first unit to convert to C-27J operations.

The C-27J was developed by Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems in Marietta, Georgia.

C-27J

The primary roles of the C-27J are cargo transport, troop transport and material and paratroop air drop. Other missions include maritime patrol, tactical operations, medical evacuation, ground refuelling, fire-fighting and aerial spraying. It is made by Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS), a joint venture between L-3 Communications and Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS), which is a joint venture company set up by Lockheed Martin and Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aeronautica.

Extremely maneuverable and versatile, the rugged C-27J boasts highest in its class power-to-weight ratio, and the ability to perform fighter aircraft-like, 3.0g force maneuvers - enabling it to make tight turns, and climb and descend quickly.

The C-27J has been purchased by NATO and coalition countries Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. In addition, Canada is slated to buy 15 C-27Js, Greece 12, Portugal 10, and the Czech Republic 4. Other countries are also reportedly evaluating the aircraft.

The Spartan is the only aircraft in its class that is capable of carrying standard NATO 463L pallets (3.5), up to two uparmoured HMMWVs and heavy, dense loads such as aircraft engines and ammunition. The C-27J can carry over 5,000 lbs more cargo than its competition, has a max cruise speed of 325 ktas, and has significantly better landing and take-off characteristics in any environment than its competition, making it the most capable, low risk, aircraft available to support the warfighter.

Unlike other twin engine cargo aircraft in this class, the C-27J boasts interoperability with both CH/MH-47s and larger, intratheatre lift aircraft such as the C-130s. This interoperability means the C-27J can play an effective and flexible role in supporting the soldiers the last tactical mile. Whether that is flying pre-configured pallets for the Chinooks from one fire base to another, or taking larger, critical loads directly off C-130s directly to the warfighter, the C-27J has the capability to get the job done.

Cargo Capacity

The C-27J offers significantly more capability than any other aircraft in its class. Equipped with floor strength greater than that of a C-130 Hercules, the C-27J has capacity for 3.5 463L standard stateside-configured pallets or 25,000 lbs of bulk cargo equipment.

The C-27J can also carry vehicles comfortably in the rear of the aircraft:

2 up-armored, combat ready HMMWVs

BV-206S Armored All-Terrain Vehicle

M119A1-105 mm Towed Howitzer

OH-58 helicopter, or a LAV-V100.

All vehicles can be driven or winched on and off the aircraft via a hydraulically operated rear-loading ramp and the aircraft can offload vehicles quickly while taking fire.

Material Airdrop:
the C-27J Spartan can airdrop up to19,842 lbs of material (CDS bundles, single, two and three platforms (HCU-6/E), LAPES)

Logistics Resupply:
Palletized loads, up-armoured HMMWVs, wheeled equipment, aircraft engines, and small helicopters can be transported by the C-27J. The C-27J Spartan features the unique capability to vary cargo floor height and continuously adjust altitude ensuring easy loading and unloading of large volume, high density payloads without ground support equipment and easy drive in/out of vehicles, enabling immediate operability.

Troop Movement:
The C-27J can transport up to 68 soldiers (military standard seats), plus a load master.

Paratroop Airdropping:
46 paratroops can jump simultaneously out of both side jump doors or use the rear cargo door.

Medevac:
Its capability to operate from extremely short, unprepared runways, and its capacity for up to 36 standard NATO liters and 6 attendants make the C-27J a deployable complement to existing medevac assets.

Humanitarian Assistance and Homeland Security Missions:
With mission modules for maritime and electronic surveillance, search and rescue, firefighting and VIP transport, the C-27J is a truly versatile and capable intra-theater airlifter.

Courtesy www.air-attack.com

JimWH

18-08-10, 08:12 AM

When's the First and Second pass for the 'bou replacement? Is it next year, or am I imagining that?

buglerbilly

18-08-10, 08:27 AM

Didn't the first pass happen when I was a young man still and before my two marriages/relationships?

It bloody feels that long.............half a lifetime ago! :razz :razz

buglerbilly

25-08-10, 02:54 PM

Chile Declares Its Intention of Participating Jointly with Brazil in the Development of a Transport Aircraft

(Source: Chilean Ministry of Defence; issued Aug. 24, 2010)

(Issued in Spanish only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

Chile will buy six Embraer KC-390s and will join Brazil in developing the aircraft, hoping to be assigned the production of a major component. (Embraer illustration)

The defense ministers of Chile and Brazil, Jaime Ravinet and Nelson Jobim, respectively, today signed a Declaration of Intent for the participation of our country in the development of the KC-390 military transport aircraft, which is carried out by the Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer.

Bilateral negotiations will define the terms and conditions of this participation, which will be implemented through the national aeronautics company, ENAER (Empresa Nacional de Aeronáutica), as stated in the declaration.

The document was signed by ministers during a visit to the facilities of the Chilean aerospace company this morning.

Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said the project is relevant to both countries and that "there will be an integration for the construction of an aircraft that will be of major significance for the future,” as it will have a very large market when it becomes available just as the American C-130 Hercules reaches the end of its life."

The Brazilian state secretary added that ENAER was selected because "Chile has the capacity, expertise and know-how of other EMBRAER aircraft, like the Legacy, the Phenom, and the EMB-145. You will have a lot of work on that, "he said.

"We would like the project to develop, because it will bring a very important flow of technology to ENAER," stated Minister Jaime Ravinet.

The Chilean defense minister said that, along with providing job opportunities to our industry, participation in this project will "make us full partners with EMBRAER in the manufacture of aircraft for the world market."

"EMBRAER has achieved high levels of excellence and have been very large contractors and parts and these words will take on greater significance as we will make a substantial component, such as the fuselage and the ramp of the aircraft, and that's a huge challenge for ENAER that we hope to successfully meet, "he added.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the ministers is part of the good trade relations between the governments of Chile and Brazil, and of the sustained, long-term relationship between ENAER and EMBRAER since the beginning of the 90s.

Chile's participation in this program would increase Chilean capabilities in engineering and production of parts as well as contribute to the growth of the aviation industry in our country.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: In an earlier statement, the Chilean minister said that his country could participate in the training of Brazilian crews and support personnel of the future Scorpene submarines, similar to the boats already operated by the Chilean Navy.

(ends)

Embraer Reveals Discussions on A Partnership with Chilean Aeronautics Industry for the KC-390

(Source: Embraer; issued Aug. 24, 2010)

Chile’s Air Force declares its intention to acquire six of the military transport jets

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil --- Embraer took part in a ceremony, today, in Santiago, Chile, where the Brazilian and Chilean Defense Ministers signed a Declaration of Intention for that country’s participation in the program of the KC-390 military transport jet.

Based on this agreement, Chile’s National Aeronautical Enterprise (Empresa Nacional de Aeronáutica – ENAER) becomes engaged in the discussions about the development of the airplane and in supplying part of its structure. The declaration also marks the beginning of negotiations regarding the future acquisition of six KC-390 aircraft to equip the Chilean Air Force (FACH).

“We recently received an unmistakable show of support for the KC-390 from the Brazilian government, with the declaration of intention for an initial acquisition of 28 of the aircraft by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). We are very pleased to have Chile join is in this program,” said Orlando José Ferreira Neto, Embraer Executive Vice President, Defense Market. “We have an excellent relationship with ENAER, and we hope to see it grow even more via this partnership that not only reveals the high regard of the Chilean government for the KC-390, which we consider to be a winning product, but also shows our mutual interest in integrating the defense industrial bases of both countries.”

The successful partnership between Brazil and Chile dates back to the ‘90s, when ENAER began to stand out as a supplier of structures for the 50-seat ERJ 145 regional jet, manufactured by Embraer. In 2008, the FACH ordered 12 Super Tucano airplanes by Embraer for pilot tactical training missions, all of which have been delivered and are in operation.

“We are very pleased and proud to see that the quality of the work done by our personnel is being recognized, thus allowing use to participate in this new and relevant program for producing an aircraft like the KC-390,” stated ENAER’s CEO, General Pedro Bascuñan.

“Participating in the project brings benefits not only to Embraer and ENAER, but also to both nations, by generating jobs and boosting industrial development. The possibility of working together on the KC-390 program comes as an important alternative for stimulating the manufacture of aeronautical structures in our facilities. We are grateful for the interest shown by Embraer in working with us, every time they begin developing new aircraft, whether civilian, commercial, or military.”

Last July, at the Farnborough International Air Show, in England, Embraer and the FAB announced the intent of the Brazilian government to make an initial purchase of 28 KC-390 jets to renew the Air Force fleet. The agreement released today marks a new phase in the relationship between the two nations and between Embraer and ENAER.

Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A.) is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jets up to 120 seats, and one of Brazil’s leading exporters. Embraer’s headquarters are located in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, and it has offices, industrial operations and customer service facilities in Brazil, China, France, Portugal, Singapore, and the United States. On June 30, 2010, Embraer had a workforce of 16,781 employees – not counting the employees of its partly owned subsidiaries – and its firm order backlog totaled US$ 15.2 billion.

-ends-

buglerbilly

01-09-10, 07:42 PM

DATE:01/09/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Chile enters talks on joining Embraer KC-390 programme

By Stephen Trimble

Chile has become the first country other than Brazil to formally launch negotiations over acquiring and helping to build the Embraer KC-390 tanker/transport.

A declaration of intent signed by the Brazilian and Chilean defence ministers on 24 August launches negotiations over industrial participation and a future order of six aircraft, Embraer says.

The announcement in Santiago comes a month after the Brazilian air force signed a letter of intent to buy at least 28 KC-390s, with deliveries starting in 2016.

Although falling short of a formal order, Embraer credited Chile's agreement as an "unmistakable show of support" in the jet-powered airlifter.

© Embraer
Chile has expressed interest in acquiring six KC-390s

Discussions will now begin between Embraer and Chile's state-owned Enaer aerospace company over industrial participation. Enaer is already a structural supplier for the Embraer ERJ-145, which is nearing the end of production.

Embraer is continuing to evaluate potential partners and suppliers for the KC-390 programme. For example, the company still has not identified an engine supplier. Images of design concepts have shown both a CFM International CFM56 and International Aero Engines V2500.

In the past, Brazilian government officials have identified Chile, Colombia, Portugal and South Africa as prospective partners on the KC-390.

As the launch customer, the Brazilian air force plans to buy KC-390s to replace its Lockheed Martin C-130s.

Chile previously signalled its intent to acquire three Airbus Military A400Ms by signing a memorandum of understanding in 2005, but subsequently withdrew from the programme.

buglerbilly

02-09-10, 03:34 AM

DATE:01/09/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Colombia formalises Embraer KC-390 interest

By John Croft

Colombian officials have signed a declaration of intent with Brazil to take part in the development and production of the Embraer KC-390 military tanker/transport as well as to purchase 12 aircraft.

Along with similar arrangements in Chile, which could purchase six aircraft for the Chilean Air Force, and internal interest in Brazil for 28 aircraft with deliveries starting in 2016, Embraer's potential order count is up to 46 of the twin-jets. The airframer is discussing the program with other potential partners, including Portugal and South Africa, while continuing to evaluate suppliers.

©EMBRAER

"This is the first step toward bilateral negotiations that will establish the terms and conditions of Colombia's participation in the program," says Embraer in the 1 September announcement. Colombia's contribution to the program could also include a factory there for machined parts, Embraer adds.

buglerbilly

03-09-10, 04:46 PM

Embraer’s Growing Tactical Airlifter Programme

Chile and Colombia to Become Partners in Embraer’s KC-390 Programme

defpro.com | While US and European aerospace companies, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus Military and Antonov, are intensely competing in the global tactical airlift market, a unexpected competitor has quietly positioned itself in the key players’ backyard and, in the future, may be reaching out beyond its ancestral geographic and business environment. So far, Embraer’s KC-390 tactical airlift programme has not made large waves in the international market. However, the South American company, which has already had significant international success with its Tucano and Super Tucano light attack and training aircraft, is now seeking to measure up to earlier achievements with a new heavyweight (when compared to the Tucanos).

Recent news about possible new partners and future customers have shown that the programme has good chances not to remain confined to continental borders. However, a long way still lies ahead of the KC-390 programme before it may join the international competition. The first flight of the airplane is scheduled for 2014 and entry into service with the Brazilian Air Force for the end of 2015.

Indeed, Embraer is very confident about the further progress of its military airlift programme. In May, Acir Padilha, Vice-President, Marketing and Sales at Embraer Defense Systems, told defpro.com: “The EMBRAER KC-390 sets a new standard in medium-lift military transport. With a twin turbofan engine and outstanding operational productivity, the KC-390 will have the lowest total life cycle cost and the highest availability in its class” (see http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/563/).

Embraer’s growing number of partners for this programme – in addition to its key national partner, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) –, may prove Padilha right. After the FAB’s announcement during the Farnborough air show in July to purchase 28 KC-390 aircraft, two new partners have been recently announced. In late August, the Brazilian and Chilean Defence Ministers signed a declaration of intent in Santiago de Chile by which Chile becomes partner in the KC-390 programme and which provides a basis for negotiations on the purchase of six aircraft. Furthermore, as DefenseNews reports, that Brazil and Colombia have signed a similar document on 1 September. In addition to the prospect of industrial participation, the Colombian Air Force (FAC) intends to purchase a fleet of twelve KC-390s.

Chile’s industry may also benefit of a participation in the programme. Based the bilateral agreement, Chile’s National Aeronautical Enterprise (Empresa Nacional de Aeronáutica, ENAER) will be offered to contribute to the development of the aircraft and to supply part of its structure. The two South American companies collaborate in different aerospace programmes since the 1990s. Orlando José Ferreira Neto, Embraer Executive Vice President, Defence Market, said on the occasion of the signing ceremony: “We have an excellent relationship with ENAER, and we hope to see it grow even more via this partnership that not only reveals the high regard of the Chilean government for the KC-390, which we consider to be a winning product, but also shows our mutual interest in integrating the defence industrial bases of both countries.” ENAER’s CEO, General Pedro Bascuñan stated: “Participating in the project brings benefits not only to Embraer and ENAER, but also to both nations, by generating jobs and boosting industrial development. The possibility of working together on the KC-390 program comes as an important alternative for stimulating the manufacture of aeronautical structures in our facilities.”

Earlier this week, Chile was joined by Colombia as the second international partner in Brazil’s ambitious military airlift programme. According to DefenseNews, Air Marshal Flavio Ulloa, the FAC chief of logistical operations, said during the signing ceremony that by “being part of the programme, we are taking big steps to significantly speed up the development of the country's aeronautics industry through the Colombian Aeronautics Industry Corporation.” The Colombian Air Force already operates the Tucano, Super Tucano and EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft. The news of Embraer’s latest international partner was also noticed on the stock market with company shares rising by 6.1% on Wednesday.

The programme may further grow, as Argentina has, reportedly, indicated it may join. Furthermore, Dassault and Saab, both currently competing in the Brazilian FX-2 fighter tender, have indicated they could participate in the KC-390 programme if they are selected for the combat aircraft deal. Upon submitting an update proposal to the Brazilian Air Force, Saab emphasised its offer for a “unique competitive partnership”, also including Sweden’s intention to evaluate the KC-390 transport aircraft for long-term tactical air transport needs and Saab’s ambition to join the transport aircraft KC-390 development programme as a strategic partner, including support in international marketing. On the other hand, France is unlikely to buy the KC-390, as is already deeply involved in the multi-national European A400M programme.

The KC-390 may become a serious competitor to comparable transport aircraft. Capable of being refuelled in flight and also quickly configured as a tanker, the KC-390 uses state-of-the-art avionics, with dual HUD and a full-featured mission system including an accurate computed air release point (CARP). As Padilha explained in the interview, the aircraft will feature a complete self-protection system and will be fully Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible. He added: “The KC-390 will present an extraordinary field performance and be capable of operating from short and semi-prepared runaways. A full fly-by-wire flight control system with optimised functions will assure best mission performance and safe flying with reduced crew workloads.”

----
By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor

buglerbilly

13-09-10, 04:24 AM

Brazilian KC-390 Program Gathers Steam

September 10, 2010 at 9:33 pm

tamir_eshel

Still on the drawing board, Embraer's KC-390 has won customer commitments for the acquisition of 52 aircraft. The first unit will be operational by 2015. Photo: Embraer

In the recent month Embraer has strengthened its KC-390 tanker transport program, transforming from a domestic program into an international venture. Following the announced Brazilian government commitment to acquire 28 of the military transport jets for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Embraer announced three additional customers – Chile, Columbia and most recently, Portugal.

Embarking on three simultaneous cooperation programs underline the growing international interest and support for the program. Columbia intends to buy 12 aircraft, with Chile and Portugal buying six aircraft each.

According to Orlando José Ferreira Neto, Embraer Executive Vice President – Defense Markets, the KC-390 project is moving ahead according to plan. The first flight of the airplane is expected for 2014 and entry into service for the end of 2015. “The most relevant wind tunnel tests campaigns have been concluded, allowing aerodynamic, structural and system configurations freezing.” Said Neto. Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO added that following the completion of the preliminary studies of the new jet transport, the company is now establishing the final configuration of the aircraft and the primary suppliers. The intended Portuguese buy places the prospective future sales of the KC-390 as of September 2010 at a total 52 airplanes.

Prospective Buyers Lineup

As early adaptors of the new transport plane, each of the countries is seeking industrial cooperation which Embraer is eager to share, leveraging part of the development and infrastructure costs involved with the new program. Following the declarative announcements the Embraer and its counterparts in Chile, Columbia and Portugal are expected to discuss the work share of each country in the future program. In addition, Argentina is also interested in joining the program as a supplier and customer.

Chile and Columbia are the largest operators of medium transport aircraft in Latin America. France and Sweden have also expressed support as part of offset buy supporting their respective offerings for Brazil’s F-X2 fighter program. Other prospects in the continent include Argentina and Bolivia (operating five C-130s each), Ecuador (2xC-130s) and Peru, operating seven Russian made An-32s.

KC-390 is configured as an aerial refueling aircraft from the baseline, equipped with two refueling pods carried underwing. Image: Embraer

Significant Wins

While these two countries represent two of Embraer’s existing customers, an order from Portugal means a major win for Brazil, introducing its new transporter with a NATO member for the first time. Portugal is currently operating six C-130H Hercules transport planes, Portugal also operates 10 EADS C-295 used for maritime patrol. Columbia is operating 7 C-130B/H transports and Chile operates three C-130B/H models. Columbia has been a loyal customer for Embraer in the past two decades.

For Columbia, the KC-390 deal means an opportunity to develop its local industry. “We are taking big steps to significantly speed up the development of the country’s aeronautics industry, through the Colombian Aeronautics Industry Corporation (CIAC)” Air Marshal Flavio Ulloa, Colombian Air Force Chief of Logistical Operations commented. Columbia will follow the Chilean company ENAER, which has been supplying structures for the 50 seat ERJ145 since the mid 90s.

KC-390 is designed for operation in extreme environments, from the polar zone to the tropics. Image: Embraer

A Tough Competitor

The mission portfolio of the KC-390 includes troops and cargo transportation in diverse and challenging environments such as the Antarctica and Amazon regions, in-flight refueling, search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). The jet transport is designed to be faster than its turbo-prop powered competitors, yet it will be capable of operating from short and semi prepared runways.

According to preliminary assessment, the KC 390 cargo capacity should exceed the initial Brazilian requirement and achieve 23 tons. A full size model of the cargo hold was built to assess the aircraft internal space and typical cargo operations. The results of these evaluations have confirmed the aircraft’s versatility.

The KC-390 will feature Computed Air Release Point (CARP) technology integrated with the fly-by-wire system, which will bring greater accuracy to air dropping while lowering crew workload. The airplane will incorporate a modern avionics system, including two Head-Up Displays (HUD) and a complete self-defense system. To support night operations the KC-390 cockpit will be compatible with Night Vision Goggles (NVG) technology.

buglerbilly

13-09-10, 04:30 AM

And now for the direct competitor for the KC-390.............

Russia, India set JV for the Multirole Transport Aircraft

September 11, 2010 at 7:45 pm

tamir_eshel

Multirole Transport Aircraft - the Indo-Russian program based on the Ilyushin Il-214 design.

India and Russia are setting up a Joint Venture Company (JVC) to design and develop the IL-214 Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA). The partners in the JVC will be Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Russian United Aircraft Corporation and Russian defense export agency Rosoboronexport. The operating site of the new JVC will be in Bangalore, India – adjacent to HAL headquarters.

The two countries are expected to equally share the development cost of around $600 million. Russia and India will also win equal work share of the planned production of 205 aircraft – the expected orders from Russia, India and a number of countries that have already expressed interest in a future replacement of aging Russian made transport planes. In India and Russia the MTA is slated to replace the aging fleet of An-32 transports. First flight of the IL-214 based MTA is expected in 2014 and the new transport could be operational by late 2015.

An Antonov An-32B of the Croatian Air Force releases flare countermeasures during a low-level pass. Photo: Goran Maravic

Unlike the Brazilian KC-390 program that dramatically took off in 2009, after two years of planning, the Indo-Russian MTA has been in the making since 1999, with the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between HAL and the Russian companies Ilyusihin and Irkut in 2001. It took six years for the parties to agree on common requirements and specifications for the plane. In 2008 Irkut bailed out from the program, to focus on its Superjet-100 (MC-21) civil transport plane. Ilyushin, now an operating unit in the UAC consortium, was hoping to spinoff the MTA into a similar 100 seat aircraft, continued the cooperation. Only after, which will be upgraded now from a loose bilateral inter-governmental operation into a commercial JV. The inclusion of the Russian defense export agency is expected to streamline export activities to countries where Russia has extensive defense exports, particularly in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East where MTA will run head to head with the Brazilian KC-390.

The twin-jet powered MTA will have a Maximum Take-Off Weight of 65 tons and payload capacity of 15-20 tons. Its length will be 33.2 meters, with a wingspan of 30.1 m’ and height of 10m’. Powered by two Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofan engines, MTA will be able to cruise at a speed of 800 km/h, to a range of 2,500-2,700 km with full payload. Service ceiling will be 12 km. meeting the requirement of both Indian and Russian Air Forces. The aircraft will feature fly-by-wire system, full authority digital engine control, and avionics suite configured as a modern ‘glass cockpit’. The MTA will be capable of takeoff and landing from a runway of 1200 meters.

buglerbilly

14-09-10, 02:24 PM

More for the KC-390..............

DATE:14/09/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Czech Republic outlines need for two KC-390s

By Craig Hoyle

Embraer's recent steady flow of teaming announcements on the KC-390 tanker/transport programme has continued apace, with the Czech Republic becoming the latest nation to signal its intention to participate in production of the twinjet.

Brazilian and Czech defence ministers Nelson Jobim and Alexandr Vondra on 13 September signed a declaration of intent linked to the project, opening the way for negotiations on possible Czech industrial involvement. The Czech air force could also acquire two KC-390s under the pact.

Czech firm Aero Vodochody could manufacture the Brazilian-designed aircraft's rear fuselage, doors and wing leading edges, the nation's defence ministry says.

"We are very pleased with the interest shown by the Czech government in participating in the KC-390 programme," says Orlando José Ferreira Neto, Embraer's executive vice-president, defence market. Co-operation on the military transport "can be the beginning of a solid, long-term relationship", he believes.

Vondra agrees, noting: "We see a promising co-operation in the modernisation of older equipment."

Embraer's latest sign of support for the KC-390 came during what was the first senior-level meeting to have taken place between the Brazilian and Czech defence ministries. The nations also agreed to pursue co-operation in the training of army personnel, with Czech soldiers to visit Brazil for jungle training.

The first prototype KC-390 should be ready in late 2014 or 2015, with the transport to have a maximum cargo capacity of around 19t.

Support for the programme now stands at five nations, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Portugal, and its potential orderbook is 54 aircraft.

The Czech air force's current transport inventory comprises five Antonov An-26s and eight Let L-410s, as listed by Flightglobal's MiliCAS database. The service has also recently taken delivery of its first of four C-295s from Airbus Military.

buglerbilly

16-09-10, 12:36 PM

And another one........?

UPDATE 2-Argentina in talks with Embraer over military plane

Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:34pm EDT

* Argentina could soon sign letter of intent, paper says

* Firm orders for KC-390 jumped to 52 in recent days

* Shares of Embraer gain in Sao Paulo, New York (Adds comment from Argentina Defense Ministry paragraphs 4-5, Embraer's statement, previous SAO PAULO)

SAO PAULO/BUENOS AIRES, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Argentina could soon join with other countries in the region to help develop a military transport plane built by Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer, a defense ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Brazilian daily newspaper Valor Economico reported on Monday that Brazilian and Argentine governments were working out details of the accord.

Citing an unnamed Brazilian defense official with knowledge of the situation, Valor said a letter of intent for a preliminary order would likely be signed soon, but the Argentine spokesman declined to comment on a purchase.

"I can confirm that we've been working hard to advance Argentina's participation in this plane," Jorge Bernetti, a defense ministry spokesman, told Reuters.

"Work is continuing on this and the estimatation is that the deal will be concluded by the end of September or early October," he added, referring to a possible deal on Argentine involvement in the plane's construction.

The deal could be the sixth in about two months for Embraer's defense unit, after Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Portugal entered contract talks. The plane, known as KC-390 and which is expected to operate as early as 2015, has a cargo capacity of 23.6 tonnes.

The government of South Africa could join the KC-390 program, the source told Valor, without elaborating.

Orders for the plane rose to 52 after the Portuguese government expressed interest in buying up to six aircraft last week. Embraer (EMBR3.SA)(ERJ.N) will produce up to 180 cargo planes in the first 10 years of operation of the program, and has said potential demand could reach up to 700 units in the same period.

Embraer said in a statement on Monday it signed an agreement with the Czech Republic that could lead to the purchase of two KC-390s and would open the way for companies in the European country to help develop and design the aircraft.

The Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil-based company derived about 13 percent of its revenue in the second quarter from the defense segment and 61 percent from commercial planes.

An Embraer spokesman did not have an immediate comment on the Valor report.

Shares of Embraer were up 0.7 percent at 11.57 reais on Monday afternoon trading in Sao Paulo. American depositary receipts of the company were up 1.7 percent at $27.37 on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal in Sao Paulo and Luis Andres Henao in Buenos Aires, Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Leslie Gevirtz)

tiddles

16-09-10, 01:15 PM

Well I certainly hope this plan works out for Embraer & there seems to be a bit of interest already from other potential customers albeit no big ones at this stage. As we know getting a new design off the drawing board and up and working is not always easy, as is seen by the A400 which initially drew a lot of interest and may yet prove to be very successful "eventually'. The main thing that Embraer have going for it IMO is that they will at this stage have the only say in what motors they will have and what avionic and other equipment will go in it which is a bit different to the A400.If it gets up and running in reasonable time I think they will attract plenty of buyers who want a Herc type calability but do not really want to buy off the U.S.as they worry a bit about U.S. sanctions.Embraer certainly know how to build successful aircraft but have never attempted any transport plane of this size let alone a military aircraft of these dimensions, I guess time will tell the story.
Tiddles

buglerbilly

16-09-10, 02:36 PM

BAE Systems Promotes BAe 146M at Africa Aerospace and Defence Show

(Source: BAE Systems; issued Sept. 15, 2010)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa....BAE Systems is marketing the BAe 146M as a cost-effective military transporter to air forces worldwide and is promoting the aircraft to African air forces by exhibiting at the African Aerospace and Defence Show (AAD) 2010 at Ysterplaat Air Force Base, Cape Town, South Africa (21-25 September).

AAD is the premier aerospace and defence exhibition in Africa and attracts visitors from a large number of African countries, allowing BAE Systems to showcase the BAe 146M to a wide potential market base.

BAE Systems believes that a market is developing on the African Continent for a capable jet transport aircraft such as the BAe 146M. Many air forces in Africa are using ageing air transport aircraft that need replacing. It is estimated that there are currently around 500 such aircraft in service on the African Continent of which around 40 percent are in excess of 30 years old.

The BAe 146M could also be used by Air Forces to complement existing fleets of tactical air transports such as C130 Hercules, by taking on a wide variety of non tactical air transport roles, thereby prolonging the fatigue life of their valuable tactical assets. The BAe 146M, however, has a performance capability that allows it to undertake some of the more challenging air transport support roles, including operations from short and unpaved runways.

Within Africa the BAe 146/Avro RJ airliner is proving increasingly attractive and nearly 20 aircraft have been delivered to seven customers across six countries. In South Africa itself four customers now operate the aircraft. BAE Systems offers an extensive range of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) support and engineering capability from its Prestwick, Scotland facility.

The Asset Management business of BAE Systems has a number of BAe 146 and Avro RJ series aircraft that are due back off lease from European airline customers over the next few years, which could be made available to military air transport operators.

The BAe 146/Avro RJ is a reliable, robust and affordable aircraft and many of those being offered have yet to reach half life. Given typical military utilisations, these could offer reliable service for many years. BAE Systems believes the BAe 146M offers cost-effective replacement or additional airlift capability for interim or long-term requirements and is available at a time when defence budgets increasingly are under review.

The BAe 146M will be sold to military air arms in either passenger or freighter configuration. As pure passenger aircraft these aircraft will seat between 80-109 passengers; as freighters they will carry between 11-12.5 tonnes of freight. Availability of passenger variants is such that aircraft can be put into service relatively quickly to meet current airlift shortfalls. Freighter aircraft would be converted and delivered to order only.

A range of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) modifications can be made available such as additional fuel tanks, LCD Flight deck displays, steep approach and unpaved runway capability.

The BAe 146M also has potential as a platform for specialist multi-role concepts such as combined passenger and freight (Combi), as a paratroop transport, for medical evacuation, as a forward air refuelling, border security and search and rescue.

The BAe 146M is one of five distinct market segments that is being addressed by BAE Systems for placement of its used jet airliner portfolio. In addition to the military market, aircraft are also being offered to the airliner market, as a freighter (the BAe 146QT), or converted for business aircraft use (the Avro Business Jet) or converted as airtankers for the waterbombing role (BAe 146AT).

-ends-

buglerbilly

24-09-10, 04:20 AM

Embraer trying to get more on board................

UAE, Brazil in talks for Embraer KC-390

By Stephen Trimble

The United Arab Emirates is the latest nation targeted by Brazil to join Embraer's KC-390 tanker/transport programme as a supplier and customer.

Brazilian defence minister Nelson Jobim on 19 September met with Gen H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces.

Jobim says a possible agreement on military co-operation in negotiation between the countries could include Abu Dhabi's participation in the KC-390 programme. Such a deal also would involve UAE interest in the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, he says.

An agreement on the KC-390 could take several months to reach fruition, but would likely follow along the lines of Embraer's international participation strategy for the project.

The existing five-nation partnership for the KC-390 is based on adapting Embraer's risk-sharing development model to the military market, says Jairo Sotério, the company's marketing and business development manager for defence programmes.

Each partnership requires three separate agreements - government-to-government, air force-to-air force and industry-to-industry, he says. The goal is to ensure that each member of a nation's military-industrial complex is vested in the programme's success.

So far, Embraer has signed agreements to produce a possible 54 aircraft for Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic and Portugal.

The company has identified a potential market for nearly 700 aircraft, the first of which should enter service after 2015. The KC-390 will carry a maximum cargo of 23.6t, Embraer announced in July, with this marking a nearly 20% increase over previous estimates.

Embraer still has not identified an engine supplier for the KC-390. Marketing materials have depicted the aircraft powered by engines resembling the CFM International CFM56 and International Aero Engines V2500.

buglerbilly

24-09-10, 04:23 PM

Do 228NG Well Under Way – Handover of the First Aircraft to Japanese Customer and Order for the German Navy

(Source: RUAG; issued September 23, 2010)

The first RUAG aircraft, the Do 228NG (New Generation) S/N 8300, was handed over today in Oberpfaffenhofen to the Japanese customer New Central Airservice (NCA).

At the same time, RUAG announced to build a Do 228NG Special Mission aircraft. Customer is the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) which on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development has ordered a Do 228NG. The specially equipped aircraft is planned to be used for oil pollution control above the German North and Baltic Seas.

On August 18, 2010 EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) granted to RUAG Aviation the extended type certification for the new, enhanced version of the Do 228. Today in Oberpfaffenhofen, the first Do 228NG was handed over to the Japanese customer New Central Airservice. In his address, Dr. Peter Guggenbach, CEO RUAG Aviation, underlined the advantages of the aircraft.

“The Do 228NG is a rugged and versatile multi-purpose aircraft. High payload, high cruising speed and its capability to also take off from and land on very short runways, are characteristic of the aircraft. A substantial advantage of the Do 228NG is its flexibility. Depending on customer’s requirements, the aircraft can be configured for both passenger and cargo transport and search and surveillance tasks.“

As from October 2010 the Do 228NG S/N 8300 will start regional transport services in Japan, ensuring air connection between the city of Tokyo and offshore islands with short runways. New Central Airservice has been operating three Do 228-212 aircraft for more than ten years and ordered the new aircraft for relaunch. “We are very satisfied with the Do 228. It is an excellent aircraft and ideal for the demanding geographic conditions on site“, said Tetsuro Mori, owner of the airline.

Do 228NG special mission aircraft for surveillance tasks in Germany

On the occasion of the aircraft handover in Oberpfaffenhofen RUAG Aviation also announced the receipt of an order to build a Do 228NG Special Mission version for the German Navy. Due to state-of-the-art sensor systems, the Do 228NG aircraft will be capable of detecting environmental pollutions in the North and Baltic Seas even more effectively and making it easier to identify their causers.

The aircraft equipment includes an advanced glass cockpit with 4-panel display to provide flight, navigation, engine and surveillance data. New digital navigation and communication systems, an airborne collision avoidance system ACAS II, a terrain awareness and warning system TAWS, digital flight data recorders CVR and FDR as well as an advanced emergency locator transmitter ELT are standard equipment. A HF and a SATCOM system complete the configuration. For special mission operations customized navigation and communication instruments as well as additional sensors such as SAR capable weather radar are used. Also, the 5-blade composite propellers enhance fuel economy and reduce aircraft noise.

To enhance detection of oil slicks, the Do 228NG Special Mission version gets new efficient sensors, among others a side-looking airborne radar SLAR, colour line and IR/UV line scanners as well as an electro-optical sensor. The mission equipment is completed by an advanced operator workstation enabling ergonomic control of the sensors, with editing and display of all collected data. The SATCOM system allows in-flight transmittal of these data to other mission forces.

With this equipment, the Do 228NG Special Mission aircraft sets new standards in its class thus ensuring the continuation of a successful history of efficient and reliable pollution control above the North and Baltic Seas.

The Do 228NG is a versatile multi-purpose turboprop aircraft. Beside the transport of up to 19 passengers the aircraft can be configured for various special mission tasks like maritime surveillance, border and fishery patrol, control of marine pollution as well as environmental research.

The Do 228NG is a completely modernized and enhanced version of the Do 228-212 which was built until 1999. Fuselage, wings and tail unit are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Kanpur (India) and transported to Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich where RUAG Aviation carries out aircraft final assembly, integration of customized equipment, product conformity inspection and aircraft delivery.

-ends-

buglerbilly

04-10-10, 04:32 AM

Ukraine, Russia plan to build 13 modernized An-70 military transport planes

03.10.2010, 01.23

Don't hold your breath for this to happen, this programme ha been staggering along for what, 20-25 years now...........?

KIEV, October 3 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukraine and Russia plan to build 13 upgraded An-70 short take-off and landing tactical military transport aircraft, the president and chief designer of Ukraine’s Antonov state enterprise told Itar-Tass on Saturday.

According to Dmitry Kiva, An-70 flight tests will soon be over, static tests are underway, and the enterprise is getting ready to launch mass production in Kiev. The new version of the plane has been profoundly modernized to be equipped with an upgraded power unit, a new generation secondary power unit, an electronic display system, an electronic environment control system, new aircraft instrumentation, a new radar complex and a fly-by-wire system. All these modifications, Kiva said, will help the An-70 retain its competitive advantages, since in every aspects it is superior to the European A-400M military transport plane.

According to Antonov experts, the An-70 market capacity is estimated at 700 planes.

Currently, the enterprise is building first two modernized An-70 planes to the order from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. The first plane is expected to be turned out in 2011, the second one – in 2012.

It is planned to build two more An-70 aircraft in 2013, fourt – in 2014, and five – in 2015.

The Antonov-70 is a new propfan powered medium-size wide-body short take-off and landing transport aircraft designed as a replacement for the An-12 ‘Cub.’ The aircraft is capable of delivering 20-35 tons of cargo over the range of 5,000-6,600 kilometers at cruising speed of 750 kilometers per hour.

buglerbilly

16-10-10, 04:01 AM

Concept time again! Love-rly piccies! Pity they don't have the money to either design or build it..............

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Fast STOL - Lockheed's Speed Agile

Posted by Graham Warwick at 10/15/2010 8:55 AM CDT

Lockheed Martin is heading towards windtunnel tests next spring of a cruise-efficient STOL transport designed under the US Air Force Research Laboratory's Speed Agile concept demonstration. Boeing completed tunnel tests of its design in late 2009 and is preparing for piloted simulations in spring 2011.

Concept: Lockheed Martin

Lockheed's concept will be familar to those who have tracked the Air Force's long-running efforts to define a C-130 replacement, from AMC-X to AJACS to JFTL. But the latest design incorporates a number of refinements, as revealed in a presentation given by AFRL Air Vehicles Directorate engineer Cale Zeune at last week's International Powered Lift Conference in Philadelphia

The goal of Speed Agile is to demonstrate, well, "speed agility" - the ability to fly efficiently at the slow speeds required for short take-off and landing (around 70kt) and the transonic cruise speeds (Mach 0.8-plus) needed to share airspace with commercial airliners. The target field length is less than 2,000ft.

Traditional STOL aircraft cannot fly that fast, and the Speed Agile concepts use integrated lift systems to reduce drag. Boeing's design uses upper-surface blowing from embedded engines on the inboard wing and blown flaps for circulation control on the outboard wing. Lockheed's design also uses blown flaps outboard, but inboard uses patented reversing ejector nozzles.

Graphics: AFRL

As the illustration above shows, this nozzle can allow the engine exhaust to go either straight aft to produce thrust (Fig 4a); vector it downwards in an ejector/augmenter arrangement that boosts low-speed lift and thrust (Fig 4b); or turn it around to provide reverse thrust for short landings and ground maneuvering (Fig 4c). Vectoring the engine exhaust also provides pitch control, which avoids the oversized tail typical of other STOL designs, says Zeune.

Concept: Boeing

In a separate presentation at IPLC, Zeune briefed on progress with Boeing's Speed Agile design (above), which has completed more than 2,000h of low- and high-speed windtunnel testing. Initial tests used a 5%-scale model of a "narrowbody" design with 289,000lb take-off gross weight and 128in-wide cargo box.

AFRL then increased the STOL payload requirement to 65,000lb from 55,000lb to reflect the increasing size and weight of Army armoured vehicles like Stryker. Later tunnel tests used a 5% model of a "widebody" design with 303,000lb gross weight and "A400M-size" 158in-wide cargo box. Power comes from four IAE V2533 turbofans.

Zeune says early tests showed upper-surface blowing was not providing the additional lift required because the flow over the wing and flap was not turning through the required angle. A redesign of the nozzle and flaps doubled the turning angle to 60deg, with the flaps deflected 90deg, and achieved the lift goal, he says. Boeing is now preparing for pilot-in-the-loop flight simulations in NASA Ames' Vertical Motion Simulator to evaluate the handling qualities of its Speed Agile design.

Concept: Lockheed Martin

Lockheed's design (above), meanwhile, will undergo low-speed testing in the National Full-scale Aerodynamics Facility at Ames and high-speed testing in the National Transonic Facility at NASA Langley. The low-speed model will include reversing ejector nozzles and circulation-control wing; high-speed tests will investigate the use of blown flaps for transonic drag reduction.

What happens next? Well Zeune says AFRL's research into cruise-efficient STOL transports will end next year, with some $20 million having been spent since 2005 to bring technologies to a readiness level of around TRL 5/6. It will then be up to the customer - likely the USAF's Air Mobility Command - to decide whether to fund a flight demonstrator program.

With the budget pressures on DoD and the uncertainty surrounding the Air Force/Army Joint Future Theater Lift effort to begin work on a C-130 replacement, a demonstrator does not look likely in the near term.

Concept: Northrop Grumman

buglerbilly

30-10-10, 05:58 AM

DATE:29/10/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Embraer adds Argentina to KC-390 discussion partners

By Stephen Trimble

Embraer has announced that Argentina is the sixth government to enter negotiations on joining the development phase of the KC-390 transport programme.

A declaration of intent revealed on 29 October proposes to involve Argentina's FAdeA aerospace company in the development project, while the Ministry of Defense is negotiating a purchase of six KC-390s, Embraer says.

The order reinforces "the technological integration of South America's defence segment," Embraer executive vice president for the defence market Orlando José Ferreira Neto says in a statement.

FAdeA, formerly Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina, is the state-owned manufacturer currently developing the IA-73 jet trainer.

The KC-390 has signed similar agreements in Brazil, Chile and Colombia, with the Czech Republic and Portugal also launching discussions.

Brazil also is in early talks with the United Arab Emirates on joining the KC-390 programme.

The six combined letters of intent call for sales of up to 60 KC-390s.

Embraer is currently in the partner and supply chain definition phase after freezing the KC-390 design earlier this year. The company plans to finalise its partners and supply chains by early 2011.

The KC-390 is being developed to replace aging C-130 turboprops around the world. Embraer projects a market of up to 700 aircraft for a jet-powered military transport with a maximum payload of 23.6t.

buglerbilly

29-11-10, 02:08 AM

Venezuela Buying 10-12 Chinese Medium-Range Transport Aircraft

The Y-8F400 is the modernised freighter featuring upgraded avionics and a three-man flight crew replacing the original five-man crew. The original 'glass-in' nose was replaced by a solid nose. The cargo compartment of the Y-8F400 is equipped with a 1,000kg payload overhead cargo system, where the cargo can be suspended from an electrically powered rail. Rollers in the floor of the cargo compartment enable quick and easy handling of cargo pallets and can be removed to leave a flat surface if needed. The compartment is fully pressurised.

CARACAS – Venezuela will purchase from China between 10 and 12 medium-range Shaanxi Y-8 transport aircraft, after taking delivery in recent weeks of 18 K-8 training aircraft previously acquired in the Asian country, a senior military official said.

“These Y-8s will provide support for the operations of our C-130 Hercules transport planes...that have a range covering South America and to the north of Spain,” Maj. Gen. Jorge Oropeza said Friday.

He said that negotiations for the purchase of the Y-8s are in the hands of the Defense Ministry and it is hoped that these aircraft will be delivered to Venezuela sometime next year.

The Y-8 is a medium-size, mid-range transport aircraft with a capacity for carrying 88 passengers and 20 tons of cargo during 7.3 hours of autonomous, uninterrupted flight, Oropeza told the state-run ABN news agency.

Oropeza said that the 18 K-8s “will be on view tomorrow at the main ceremony of the 90th anniversary of the (Venezuelan military aviation),” along with the JL11 radars that were also purchased from the Asian giant earlier in 2010.

The defense minister, Gen. Carlos Mata, also told ABN that since President Hugo Chavez came to power in February 1999, Venezuelan military aviation “has made technological progress in terms of the defense of air space, being equipped with new aircraft and the modernization of this branch of the military.”

“Notable among the achievements of this military branch is its technological development and the acquisition of new aircraft and equipment,” he said.

About the cost of recent military purchases, the socialist head of state said at midyear that he had approved the spending of $82 million “to make a partial payment” for the 18 K-8 aircraft.

“This is an aircraft for basic training able to employ armament including light bombs, rockets and machine guns, while fulfilling all the requirements for training pilots,” air force commander Gen. Luis Berroteran said in October 2008.

The Venezuelan government recently purchased from Russia 24 Sukoi fighters, 50 MI helicopters and 100,000 AK-103 rifles, for some $3 billion, according to Russian sources.

buglerbilly

29-11-10, 02:43 PM

China Air Show Confirmed Mutual Interest of Ukrainian and Chinese Aircraft Industries to Continue Cooperation

(Source: Antonov; issued November 22, 2010)

On November 21, 2010 the Eighth Air show China 2010 completed its work. ANTONOV Company took part in this exhibition. It presented the AN-148-100 regional jet of a new generation. Specialists, representatives of airlines and guests of the exhibition could familiarize with it at the static display.

In the first day of the exhibition AN-148-100 performed a demo flight and showed its outstanding flight characteristics. It was appreciated by both Chinese aircraft industry and aircraft operators from countries of South-East Asia.

Besides AN-148 intended to carry 68-85 passengers, ANTONOV presented projects developed on its basis including: 99-seat Ан-158 passenger airplane and high-comfortable AN-168 with increased flight range. ANTONOV’s specialists acquainted participants and guests of the exhibition with new aircraft of the AN-74 family including program of modernized transport and maritime patrol versions. Models of the basic transport STOL AN-74 aircraft, its maritime patrol version, the military transport AN-70 were installed at ANTONOV’s stand. They were interested for the visitors.

At the exhibition, Dmytro Kiva, President and General Designer of ANTONOV Company, conducted negotiations with leaders of Chinese aviation corporations. Questions on the cooperation within the program of Y8F600 freighter were discussed at the meeting with leaders of AVIC. Possible collaboration on modernization of the Y-5 biplane with piston engine, which is produced by AVIC Shijiazhuang Aircraft Industry Corp (SAIC), has been considered at the meeting with AVIC and SAIC.

The modernization to be conducted by replacement of the piston engine with turboprop one, like AN-3-300 program realized at ANTONOV. Further cooperation on development of the ARJ21, which had been designed with participation of ANTONOV, was discussed at the meeting with COMAC Corporation of commercial aircraft.

Besides, it was the meeting with representatives of Lingyun Science & Technology Group Co. This company is engaged in the aircraft repair. It is a repair base for seven types of aircraft including AN-26 (AN-30) operated in China.

According to Dmytro Kiva, President and General Designer of ANTONOV Company, “participation in China Air Show 2010 was useful for our company. ANTONOV demonstrated its achievements, abilities and offered new directions of the cooperation. On the other hand, we saw interest of Chinese party to develop collaboration with ANTONOV.”

-ends-

buglerbilly

02-12-10, 10:18 PM

DATE:02/12/10

SOURCE:Flight International

Peruvian air force to get 12 Twin Otters

The Peruvian defence ministry has disclosed that it has signed a deal with Viking Air for 12 DHC-6-600 Twin Otters for the nation's air force.

Valued at around $67 million, the contract calls for the Canadian firm to hand over the first aircraft in July 2011 and to complete deliveries in 2014.

Flightglobal's MiliCAS database says the Peruvian air force operates six earlier DHC-6-300s, with these having been delivered to the service between 1969 and 1973.

Viking Air also earlier this year received an order to supply the Vietnamese navy with six 400-series Twin Otter floatplanes between 2012 and 2014.

buglerbilly

02-12-10, 10:20 PM

DATE:02/12/10

SOURCE:Flight International

South Korea buys four new C-130Js

By Craig Hoyle

South Korea has signed a production order for four C-130J-30 tactical transports, with Lockheed Martin to deliver the fleet from 2014.

"Because it is a legacy C-130 operator, the Republic of Korea Air Force is able to take advantage of common spares and support equipment and reach full operational capability as soon as possible," says Jim Grant, Lockheed's vice president for air mobility and special operations forces programmes.

Seoul already flies 12 H-model Hercules transports, as listed in Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.

Lockheed says the new sale takes its total orders to date for the C-130J to 300 aircraft with 15 nations. It has delivered 206 of these so far.

buglerbilly

11-12-10, 02:42 AM

Leading Edge

AW&ST On Technology

Boeing's JCALS: A Common Answer to Joint Airlift

Posted by Graham Warwick at 12/10/2010 9:11 AM CST

The future of the U.S. Air Force/Army Joint Future Theater Lift (JFTL) concept is pretty murky, but some interesting insight into the design work done so far has surfaced. JFTL is the merger of the Army's Joint Heavy Lift (JHL) and Air Force's Advanced Joint Air Combat System (AJACS) concepts, and is a potential replacement for the C-130 - if funding can ever be found.

The Army favors VTOL and JHL concept development work focused on large tiltrotors. The Air Force wants a high-subsonic. ultra-STOL aircraft, as evidenced by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Speed Agile concept demonstration work. The JHL work is complete and AFRL finishes up next year, What happens then is an open question.

More on this later...

A JFTL analysis of alternatives is planned, but stalled for lack of funding. Even if it goes ahead, finding a solution that satisifies both the Air Force and the Army looks pretty difficult. Boeing thinks it could be possible, though, and Technical Fellow Bob Derham detailed some of the company's design work at October's International Powered Lift Confernce in Philadelphia.

Under JHL, V-22 partners Bell and Boeing began by studing the Quad TiltRotor (QTR). This started out using four sets of V-22 proprotors, but grew as the Army's combat vehicles got heavier, as this graphic shows.

Graphics: Bell/Boeing

Then, in the latter part of the JHL study, the Bell/Boeing team switched to a conventional tiltrotor (CTR) because of the higher efficiency of the twin-proprotor configuration. This involved a pretty huge scale-up from the V-22, however, as the graphic below shows.

"Scale-up is the big challenge for JHL," says Derham. "Systems scale with the scale factor, weight and lift by the square factor and power by the cubed factor." So where a 60,000lb gross-weight MV-22B has just over 12,000shp of installed power, and a 175,000lb C-130J-30 more than 24,000shp, the 225,000lb JHL CTR needs 48,000-60,000shp from four engines (cross-shafted for safety).

The JHL CTR has a larger cargo box than the C-130J, to accommodate the Army's uparmored Stryker. It's a pressurized aircraft, able to cruise at Mach 0.44 compared with 0.46 for the C-130J and 0.76 for the C-17. And the ability to tilt the nacelles forward 20deg gives the CTR a "unique" STOL capability, he says.

While interesting, it's not enough to bring together the Army's demand for VTOL capability with the Air Force's dream of an efficient airlifter flying at jet speeds in civil airspace. So while the funded JHL concept work has ended, Boeing has continued to study what it thinks is a solution - the Joint Common Air Lift System (JCALS).

JCALS has a common fuselage, systems and engine cores for STOVL tiltrotor and turbofan CTOL versions. "The pressurized airframe on a tiltrotor is a key enabler of JCALS," says Derham. Between them, the two versions provide VTOL capability for mounted vertial maneuver and seabasing, STOL for special operations and medevac, and CTOL for long-range airlift through civil airspace.

JCALS concepts: Boeing

The key design trade is making the STOVL version as light as possible and the CTOL version as low-drag as possible. "We've come up with an airframe," Derham says, with a common mounting location for the wing on both the tiltrotor and turbofan versions. Boeing has tested a low-speed windtunnel model.

"The business case is driven by the numbers," he says. "If you want 600 of each it doesn't make sense. But if it's 100-150 of either one, it starts to make sense." The next step will depend on what happens with JFTL.

buglerbilly

24-12-10, 01:12 AM

Leading Edge

AW&ST On Technology

On Fans and Wings - Switzerland's VTOL Ray

Posted by Graham Warwick at 12/23/2010 12:40 PM CST

Switzerland is not somewhere I normally associate with advanced, entrepreneurial aircraft design, but Ray Research is a small outfit working on a civil VTOL fan-in-wing concept it believes could be cheaper to operate than helicopters or tiltrotors.

Graphics: Ray Research

The Ray has four low disc-loading fans that are mounted in a low aspect-ratio wing to generate lift in vertical flight, and two tilting ducted fans on the tail that provide vertical thrust and pitch control in hover mode and propulsion in forward flight. Longitudinal vanes under the fans provide sideways thrust vectoring. These vanes and roll shutters on top close off the wing fans in forward flight.

CEO David Posva says the Ray is an improvement over previous fan-in-wing designs like the Vanguard Omniplane and GE-Ryan XV-5A. These had two smaller, more highly loaded fans in the wing and needed more power. The XV-5A also had an additional fan in the nose for control.

Posva says the Ray's bigger. more lightly loaded fans are more efficient and, mounted one behind the other in the wing, provide better control. The lower disc loading of the fans reduces the engine power required, which in turn reduces cost, he says.

The tail-mounted tilt ducts, meanwhile, provide a small amount of vertical lift but are used prinicipally to vector thrust for pitch control during transition between vertical and forward flight, and for propulsion in the cruise.

Wing fans lose efficiency as speed increases, and cause the aircraft to pitch up in forward flight, Posva says, so the Ray shifts power the rear wing fans and vectors the tilt ducts to provide additional nose-down pitch control during the transition to forward flight.

To accommodate the big fans, the wing has a deep section and large area, but a low lift coefficient and low aspect ratio. While a longer wing with higher aspect ratio usually gives lower drag, Posva says for the Ray a lower aspect ratio reduces cruise drag.

The company's initial design is a small three/four-passenger, unpressurized aircraft to compete with light twin-turbine helicopters like the Eurocopter EC135. It estimates the Ray's speed and range at 195kt and 980nm versus 121kt and 370km for the EC135, with operating costs less than half those of the helicopter.

The key driver of cost is engine size and fuel consumption, says Posva in a presentation to October's International Powered Lift Conference in Philadelphia. The Ray would require around 1,000kW (1,340shp) compared with 800kW for the EC135 and 2,500kW for the faster but more expensive Bell Agusta BA609 tiltrotor, he says.

The Ray is a long way for becoming reality, but the company recently completed transition flight tests using a small radio-control model (see video below). Transition tests used a simplified model called the M3b, with open fan ducts. A separate model has flown in cruise mode with closed and partially closed ducts (bottom video). Posva says another model, M4, is planned to demonstrate the final part of the transition - stopping the rotors and closing the wing.

buglerbilly

23-02-11, 03:43 AM

Govt to sell military parts to U.S. forces

The Yomiuri Shimbun

In response to a secret U.S. request, the government has decided to sell propellers from Maritime Self-Defense Force rescue planes to the U.S. forces so they can be used in transport planes to be given to the Afghan air force, sources said.

The U.S. government had asked the government for assistance in reconstruction in Afghanistan, they said, and the government hopes the decision will deepen the Japan-U.S. relationship, the sources said.

The propellers to be sold are those used in US1A rescue flying boats.

Prior to its decision, the government consulted with the Defense Ministry and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry to determine if selling the propellers would infringe on Japan's three rules on arms exports, which effectively ban sales of defense equipment and technology.

Following the consultations, the government concluded the propellers are a multipurpose item that are not subject to the embargo, the sources said.

A total of 20 used propellers are currently stored at the MSDF's Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture and at its Air Supply Depot in Chiba Prefecture.

They are expected to be handed over to the U.S. forces as early as March, according to the sources.

The United States plans to provide 20 C-27 transport planes to the Afghan Air Force, and the 20 propellers could be used to outfit 10 transport planes.

The secret request was initially received in August last year from Michael Schiffer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia,, the sources said.

(Feb. 23, 2011)

buglerbilly

23-02-11, 11:31 AM

NOT STOL but the sometime-cargo they drop...........

IDEX 2011: UK MoD moves for JPADS

February 23, 2011

The UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) has moved a step closer to receiving its first Guided Precision Aerial Delivery System (GPADS) as part of an urgent operational requirement (UOR) for missions in Afghanistan, according to defence sources.

Military Logistics International has been informed that the UK government's Treasury department has 'endorsed funding and a procurement case' for Airborne Systems' FireFly 2K system, which is currently operational with US forces under the Joint Precision Aerial Delivery System (JPADS) programme.

As it stands, the RAF uses either low level drop capabilities by C-130 airframes or helicopter assets in Afghanistan.

Expected to go through under a Foreign Military Sales agreement, the UK government is understood to have approached the US Army for a quote for between 100 and 200 systems, each of which can be used up to 20 times a piece. Sources could not confirm when the equipment would be ready for deployment into theatre.

Designed to safely and accurately drop up to 2,200lb, FireFly comprises a RamAir parachute canopy and autonomous guidance unit (AGU) comprising a set of actuators to drop the cargo to within metres of a designated target.

The FireFly system is designed to protect airframes from ground-based weapons by dropping loads from altitudes up to 25,000ft. It can deliver packages – normally food, water, ammunition and specialist equipment – to within less than 150m of a target with an offset of up to 20km.

Elsewhere, Airborne Systems has unveiled a single-use GPADS system based on the FireFly. Dubbed the '2K1T' or '2,200lb One Time' system, it costs as little as 70% compared to its predecessor, according to senior vice president Ric Allison, although he would not comment on specific prices.

'[GPADS] parachutes are not always being retrieved due to legitimate reasons. AGUs come back but some parachutes are lost,' he told MLI. 'It comes pre-packed and rigged onto a load prior to the drop before they're cut and left on a dropzone,' he added.

Boasting the same performance as the JPADS FireFly, 2K1T can be dropped at altitudes up to 25,000ft and is currently being delivered to an undisclosed customer for an 'operational requirement'.

By Andrew White, Abu Dhabi

buglerbilly

26-02-11, 01:26 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Inside Embraer's KC-390 Tanker/Transport

Posted by Graham Warwick at 2/25/2011 1:50 PM CST

Embraer has frozen the configuration of its KC-390 tanker/transport and plans to begin the joint definition phase in May, after the Brazilian air force - which is paying for development - has made the final decisions on the major suppliers.

Photos and graphics: Embraer

Myself, Steve Trimble of Flightglobal and John Reed of military.com got a chance on Feb. 22 to look over the full-scale cabin mockup in Hangar X-30 at the air force's CTA (Comando-Geral de Technologia Aerospacial), adjacent to Embraer's plant in Sao Jose do Campos.

The KC-390 is a big aircraft; the biggest Embaer has designed and bigger than the aircraft it is being developed to compete against - Lockheed Martin's C-130J. The cargo compartment is 17.75m long, compared with 16.9m for the stretched C-130J-30; 3.45m wide (vs 3.12m); 2.9m high forward of the wing (vs 2.74m) and 3.2m aft of the wing to make it easier to load/unload vehicles via the ramp.

One unusual feature of the mockup which we could not understand and for which I don't yet have a full explanation - a movable pressure bulkhead that retracts garage door-style into the roof and descends to seal the cargo cabin. When down, this sloping bulkhead reduces compartment length to 12.78m at the ceiling. We couldn't think of another airlifter with this feature.

The KC-390's design has changed significantly since 2007, when Embraer first revealed its studies of a military airlifter, then called the C-390, based heavily on its Embraer 190 regional airliner. At that point, using the wings, tail, engines and avionics of the E-190, the aircraft had a design payload of 19 tonnes.

C-390 (left) vs KC-390

Today, the KC-390 is an all-new aircraft with a design maximum payload of 23t, comfortably exceeding the C-130J's 21.8t. Range is 2,600nm with a 14.7t payload, 2,000nm with the 19t required by the Brazilian air force, and 1,400nm with the full 23t. Maximum cruise is Mach 0.8 and altitude 36,000ft.

Recent changes to the design have included increasing wing span in response to customer requests that the KC-390 be able to refuel helicopters, as well as fighters. This requires the ability to refuel at speeds down to 120kt and altitudes below 10,000ft. Wing span is now 35.06m.

As a tanker, the KC-390 has two underwing hose-and-drogue pods and a refueling probe (or receptacle). Some potential customers want to equip the aircraft with a refueling boom. Embraer is looking at a removable boom that could be mounted on the ramp, but hasn't settled on a workable design yet.

The KC-390 is scheduled to fly in mid-2014 and enter service with the Brazilian air force in 2016, and Embraer says the program is on track. It's hard not to walk around the mockup and think about the challenge Embraer has taken on developing an aircraft of this size and capability - but the company says it's aware where the risks are and has taken steps to invest early in reducing them.

buglerbilly

26-02-11, 01:41 AM

More on the KC-390...............a candidate for our Light Lifter requirement? Just a thought.............

DATE:25/02/11

SOURCE:Flight International

Embraer submits KC-390 supplier recommendations to Brazilian air force

By Stephen Trimble

Embraer has submitted to the Brazilian air force a list of recommendations for suppliers of the engines, avionics, structural components and other systems for the KC-390 tanker/transport.

As the launch customer and owner of the KC-390, the service will make the final decisions soon on the partners who will comprise the supply chain for the jet-powered aircraft that is aimed at replacing the venerable Lockheed Martin C-130.

The Brazilian airframer says the air force's decisions could be made in either late February or during March. Finalising the KC-390's key suppliers is necessary before the company launches the joint development phase that will freeze the aircraft's design.

© Embraer

Recommendations on suppliers are based on the company's internal evaluation, says Fernando Ikedo, Embraer's director of defence market intelligence.

The Brazilian air force is also conducting its own evaluation, and could make supply chain decisions independently of Embraer's recommendations.

"This is the way we've worked for more than 40 years with our Brazilian air force," says Ikedo, noting successful examples of previous programmes including the A-29 Super Tucano and three military versions of the EMB-145 regional jet.

"Everything [with KC-390] is the same way," Ikedo says. "We know each other very, very well."

Key parts of the supply chain, such as the KC-390 engine supplier, remain the programme's biggest unknown only three years before a scheduled first flight in 2014. With a requirement to deliver a 23t payload up to 1,400nm (2,590km), Embraer wants an off-the-shelf engine in the 30,000lb thrust (130kN) category, which includes the CFM International CFM56 and International Aero Engines V2500.

Meanwhile, the air force's Center for Aerospace Technology has begun evaluating a full-scale wooden mock-up of the KC-390 cargo compartment. With a 3.45m (11.6ft)-diameter cross-section, the aircraft is designed to carry up to 80 passengers or up to three high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles.

Embraer also reveals the company is considering the installation of an aerial refuelling boom, although officials have declined to provide details. For the tanker role, the KC-390 has previously been advertised as a hose-and-drogue refueller only.

In the last 10 months, six countries have signed up to eventually order up to 60 KC-390s. That amounts to about half of Embraer's business case to justify launching the aircraft, which was based on orders for 120.

Deks

26-02-11, 07:20 AM

More on the KC-390...............a candidate for our Light Lifter requirement? Just a thought.............

Bit big for that, no?

buglerbilly

26-02-11, 02:44 PM

No!

Milne Bay

26-02-11, 09:58 PM

No!

If this aircraft is not too big, then presumably the C-130J is also not too big. Why not just buy some more of those?
Puzzled
MB

buglerbilly

27-02-11, 01:54 AM

6-7 Tonne greater payload, 30-40% greater speed (Mach 0.8 quoted), distance?

C-130J is quoted as 2,835NMi (empty or full?) whilst KC-390 is quoted as 1,320 NMi however ferry range for the latter is quoted as 3,370NMi.......................I would suggest that range is equivalent if not equal between the two types.

buglerbilly

28-02-11, 12:17 PM

DATE:28/02/11

SOURCE:Flight International

Comment: Embraer deserves to steer its own tanker

Nearly two years have passed since Embraer and the Brazilian air force formally launched the KC-390 tanker-transport. Six governments have committed to buy as many as 60 aircraft in total, and Embraer is nearing the end of the supplier-selection phase.

But time marches quickly on the KC-390 schedule. First flight is scheduled in 2014, first delivery in 2016.

The KC-390 is the latest project aimed at challenging the virtual monopoly enjoyed for decades by the Lockheed Martin C-130, which Embraer labels a heavy airlifter and the US Air Force calls a tactical transport.

Therein lies the challenge. Not only must Embraer overcome a historically entrenched competitor, it also has to transcend the legacy of many similar attempts that have suffered huge cost overruns or simply failed.

© Embraer

The right model for managing the KC-390 programme is essential to producing competitive aircraft.

However, Embraer has disclosed that the Brazilian air force will make final decisions on major suppliers. This does not bode well for a development programme, unless the service follows Embraer's recommendations.

Of course, Embraer officials say they are content with the air force's current role.

After using the same model to field the Super Tucano and military versions of the ERJ-145, Embraer has earned the right to be confident. That's a good thing, because the KC-390's future may depend on it.

McDethWivFries

09-03-11, 06:10 PM

More on the KC-390...............a candidate for our Light Lifter requirement? Just a thought.............

interesting, if they did get that boom option going as well, could potentially be used as a 'backup' tanker for the RAAF leaving the MRTTs for the more heavy stuff?

Unicorn

10-03-11, 07:48 AM

Not really, all of our tanking requirements are 'heavy stuff' by most air forces standards.

For example a fighter drag to the US via Hawaii or even across the Nullabor to Pierce is a lot longer than most non-US air forces would normally ever do with no diverts.

For example a long UK deployment is to Canada or to Cyprus for training. In the fist they go via Iceland and in the second they pass over Europe with an airfield every 100 km.

.

Gubler, A.

10-03-11, 10:50 AM

Yeah the real advantage of sticking IFR kit on a plane like this one is that it is your sole tanking asset or because of its low speed capability so you can refuel helicopters. You aren't going to be sticking A400Ms (also plumbed as a tanker) or the KC-390 in a tanking orbit for air combat ops if you have something else on hand.

If the RAAF was ever to buy some IFR gear for transports (C-130, A400M, C-27 or Emb 390s) the best use for them in any war situation would be to stick them on the wings of compulsory acquisition QANTAS A330s... Probably not a bad idea for the break glass in time of war stores depot: 5-10 plane sets of IFR pods/control gear for use on commercial wide bodies taken up from trade.

buglerbilly

05-04-11, 11:51 AM

DATE:05/04/11

SOURCE:Flight International

Market, technology for KC-390 coming into clearer focus

By Stephen Trimble

Special permission is not typically required to walk inside a wooden mock-up of an aircraft, especially when the model lacks wings, engines and even a cockpit.

But the fuselage section behind a small partition inside a normally off-limits hangar belonging to the Brazilian air force's general-command for aerospace technology is not typical. It is the first tangible artefact of Embraer's five-year-old plan to develop a jet-powered rival to the venerable Lockheed Martin C-130 airlifter, which has enjoyed a monopoly on Western demand for a tactical cargo aircraft virtually since it entered production in 1954.

Embraer and the Brazilian air force are gambling billions of dollars that it can carve at least a dent in the C-130's industrial hegemony, and the mock-up is the first glimpse of this concept in three dimensions.

© Embraer
Embraer's KC-390 originated as a jet-powered rival to the Lockheed Martin C-130

Embraer officials have outlined a business case based on a break-even point of 120 orders for the KC-390 in discussions with potential suppliers. According to the company's projections, that represents about 17% of the addressable market for C-130-sized transports, excluding reasonably locked-out markets in China, Russia, Ukraine and the USA.

"I think it's a good idea for them," says Doug Royce, aviation analyst for Forecast International. "They need to find a sector to expand into the military market, and just below the C-130 was a good choice. That's something that Lockheed Martin has been owning and could use a competitor."

The mock-up is a full-scale surrogate representing the KC-390's fuselage section aft of the bulkhead dividing the cargo compartment and the cockpit section. It will help guide Embraer's designers to refine their drawings three years ahead of first flight, and allow the hangar's owner - and the company's launch customer - to start experimenting with how to operate the future workhorse of its airlift fleet.

At the same time, the wooden outlines of the KC-390 reveal how far Embraer's concept has come since it emerged into public view five years ago. Although key elements, including the tail, nose and wing, are missing from the mock-up, one key difference immediately stands out. Beginning slightly aft of the wing box, the top of the rear fuselage rises upward into a bulbous curve.

This is a common feature of modern, jet-powered airlifters, including the Airbus Military A400M and Boeing C-17, because such shaping optimises the rear fuselage for aerodynamic drag in the transonic speed regime. Although not relevant to a turboprop-powered airlifter like the C-130, transonic drag is a key design point for cargo jets.

But this key design feature was absent from the first visuals released in 2007 of what was then called the C-390 - the "K", denoting a tanker mission, was not added until a year later. Accordingly, the C-390 was originally planned to be a fairly straightforward military freighter spin-off of Embraer's successful E-190 regional jet. The goal was not to directly challenge Lockheed's C-130, but offer a low-risk alternative in a slightly smaller size class.

The difference is evident in the evolution of the KC-390's propulsion requirement. Embraer originally studied options in the 17,000-22,000lb-thrust (75-98kN) range, including engines such as the Pratt & Whitney PW6000 and Rolls-Royce BR715.

That was five years ago. Now Embraer is considering two engines for the KC-390 - the CFM International CFM56 and International Aero Engines V2500, with the thrust requirement growing to between 27,000lb and 30,000lb.

All of that extra power is needed after Embraer radically changed the original scope of the programme. As late as 2007, the launch customer for the C-390 was widely expected to be Brazil's Empresa de Correios e Telègrafos - the national postal service. At the time, Correios officials were considering launching a cargo carrier to meet domestic transport markets.

It was also around that time that Embraer's top leadership changed, with Frederico Curado succeeding Mauricio Botelho as chief executive. Whether by coincidence or design, the concept for the C-390 started changing rapidly.

T-TAIL

Within a year, the original conventional E-190 tail on the C-390 morphed into a T-tail. It also became clear that the launch customer would not be Brazil's postal service, but the air force.

The KC-390 tanker-transport was formally launched two years ago with a $1.3 billion, five-year development contract from the Brazilian air force. To replace the multitude of functions performed by the air force's C-130 fleet firmly established, the design of the new airlifter grew bigger and more sophisticated than anything Embraer had attempted.

By July 2010, Brazil displayed a full set of performance specifications that offered no doubt about the KC-390's place in the market. While Lockheed offers the C-130J with a maximum payload of 21,770kg (47,330lb), the KC-390 was initially listed with a lifting capacity of 21,410kg. That figure has since been revised downward to 20,865kg, allowing the company's engineers slightly greater margin for overall weight increases. But it is obvious the re-envisaged KC-390 is intended to compete against the C-130J for orders on the world market.

© Embraer
The cargo compartment can support 80 troops

The cargo compartment in some ways offers more flexibility than its rival. Whereas the C-130J's cargo volume is just under 11m (36ft) long by 2.74m wide and 2.74m high, the KC-390 is slightly larger in each dimension. Embraer's payload bay measures just under 12.8m long in front of the cargo ramp by 3.35m wide and 2.9m high, with the height rising to 3.2m aft of the wingbox.

The KC-390's cargo compartment is sized to support a wide variety of potential payloads, including either 80 troops, two M113 fighting vehicles, one Stryker or a modular airborne firefighting system.

Beneath the skin of the KC-390, Embraer is breaking from its original concept to leverage the E-190's technology as much as possible. Instead, the aircraft's size and avionics suite appear poised to allow the company to leverage the KC-390 for its next generation of civil airliners.

New images showing Embraer's cockpit lay-out for the KC-390, for example, show a different system than the one on the E-190. Embraer has embraced the recent trend in avionics displays embodied in the cockpit lay-outs for the Airbus A350 XWB and Boeing 787. The KC-390 will feature five widescreen displays, including one on the centre pedestal, which appears to include a cursor control unit along with sidesticks.

As the KC-390 is designed to take on the full range of missions flown by the C-130, Embraer is building the cockpit to accommodate an additional crew station for monitoring in-flight refuelling and the cargo handling system. There is also a loadmaster station in the bulkhead at the front of the cargo compartment, with a lavatory in the opposite side of the payload bay.

buglerbilly

13-04-11, 10:41 AM

DATE:13/04/11

SOURCE:Flight International

PICTURES: Poland accepts glass cockpit-equipped M-28 transport

By Bartosz Glowacki

PZL Mielec has delivered the Polish air force's first of eight M-28B/PT Bryza short take-off and landing transports to have been built with glass cockpit avionics.

© PZL Mielec

Supplied by Rockwell Collins, the new equipment includes multifunction cockpit displays, replacement navigation systems and a weather radar, plus a data computer and standby displays.

Accepted from the Sikorsky-owned company on 30 March, the first aircraft will remain at PZL Mielec's facilities for several weeks to support familiarisation training by Polish air force flightcrews. It will then be flown to the service's 36th special regiment of aviation transport at Warsaw-Okecie air base, with two more to follow this year.

© PZL Mielec

Poland's defence ministry signed a 399 million zlotys ($145 million) order for the eight M-28B/PTs in 2009. Deliveries will conclude in 2013 under the deal, which also includes a new flight simulator and training for 36 pilots.

© PZL Mielec

Additional reporting by Grzegorz Sobczak

buglerbilly

14-04-11, 02:07 PM

Embraer Announces New Partnerships for KC-390

(Source: Brazilian Air Force; issued April 13, 2011)

(Issued in Portuguese only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

Embraer announced today during the LAAD Defense & Security 2011 exhibition that it had signed two contracts for the design of the KC-390 military transport aircraft. Created to meet an operational requirement of the Brazilian Air Force, the development program for the KC-390 will now be extended by the participation of Aero Vodochody, of the Czech Republic, and Argentina’s Fábrica Argentina de Aviones Brig. San Martín (FAdeA).

Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim commented partnerships with South American countries. "Brazil has decided, through its National Defense Strategy, to have a cooperation," he said. The president of Embraer Defense and Security, Luiz Carlos Aguiar, also emphasized the importance of the contracts. "The participation of FAdeA to the KC-390 Program strengthens cooperation between the industrial and technological bases of defense of both countries," he said.

Earlier, regarding Aero Vodochody, Jobim said that other countries with interests in similar projects, such as the Czech Republic, can become partners in the Brazilian initiative.

Luiz Carlos Aguiar noted that political activity is important for this type of cooperation. "This partnership is an important event for the KC-390 program, and is the consequence of a well coordinated effort by our businesses and our government," he said.

Today’s announcements are a result of the Declaration of Intent signed last year by the Ministry of Defence. Foreign companies will supply parts for the KC-390, and the agreement also guarantees the purchase of at least six planes by Argentina and at least two by the Czech Republic.

The development program for the KC-390 was initiated in 2009 with the commissioning of two prototypes for the FAB. According to Minister Nelson Jobim, Brazil will receive 28 KC-390s to meet their operational requirements. (ends)

Embraer Defense and Security and FAdeA Sign Partnership Contract for KC-390 Program

(Source: Embraer; issued April 13, 2011)

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil --- Embraer Defense and Security and the Argentine company FAdeA signed a partnership contract, today, for the KC-390 program. The announcement was made during a press conference held at LAAD Defense and Security 2011, taking place in Rio de Janeiro. The agreement states that FAdeA will manufacture the spoilers (plates on the top surface of a wing for controlling wing lift), doors for the nose landing gear, ramp door, flap fairings, tail cone, and electronic cabinet.

“FAdeA’s participation in the KC-390 program strengthens the cooperation between the defense technological and industrial bases of both countries, strictly in line with Brazil’s National Defense Strategy (Estratégia Nacional de Defesa – END),” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President of Embraer Defense and Security.

This agreement arises from the Declaration of Intent signed by the Brazilian and Argentine Ministries of Defense in October 2010, whose scope reinforces the commitment of the Argentine government to acquire six KC-390 aircraft. The development program of the aircraft is moving ahead as planned. Production of the first prototype should begin in 2013 and the first flight take place in 2014.

“This contract brings the aeronautical industries of both countries together and opens excellent possibilities for our recently recuperated company and for boosting trade relations between the two largest countries in the region,” said Jaime Saiegh, President of FAdeA.

Heir to the traditional Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA), the Fábrica Argentina de Aviões (FAdeA) “Brigadier San Martín” designs, manufactures, modernizes and performs maintenance on civilian and military aircraft, produces airplane parts, and executes a number of engineering services.

FAdeA’s industrial center is located in the vicinity of the city of Cordoba, which has a long industrial tradition and is home to renowned universities and technical training institutions, especially in the area of aeronautics, meaning the company can count on a highly qualified work force. FAdeA has over 80 years of experience in aviation development, and throughout its history it has manufactured more than 1,500 aircraft in its facilities, including its own projects, as well as others under license agreements.

The company currently is a state-owned corporation, which was founded at the end of 2009 on the initiative of the Argentine government, for the purpose of taking back the management of this important industrial center that had been previously ceded to a private company under concession. (ends)

Embraer Defesa & Seguranca and Vodochody

(Source: Embraer; issued April 13, 2011)

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil --- Embraer Defense and Security announced the signature of a contract, today, with Aero Vodochody to supply aerostructures for the KC-390 program, at LAAD Defense and Security 2011, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Czech company will join the ongoing KC-390 military airlifter program by participating on its Joint Definition Phase (JDP) to supply the rear fuselage II section, crew and parachutist doors, emergency door and hatches, cargo ramp and fixed leading edge for the prototypes and the future serial production aircraft.

“This partnership is established at an important moment of the KC-390 program, and is a consequence of a very well coordinated effort of our companies and our Governments. We welcome Aero Vodochody as an airframe structure partner for the KC-390 program,” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President of Embraer Defense and Security.

The deal began taking final shape after the signature of the Declaration of Intent by the Czech and the Brazilian Ministries of Defense, as announced in September 2010. Today’s agreement reinforces the commitment of the Czech Republic to buy two KC-390 aircraft in the future. The program is running on schedule. Production of the first prototype is expected to start in 2013, followed by the first flight in 2014.

Aero Vodochody is the largest aerospace manufacturer in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1919, it focuses on the development, production, sale and support of civilian and military aerospace programs. The company’s quality management system is AS 9100 and ISO 9001 certified. Throughout the years, Aero Vodochody has cooperated with the leading aerospace manufacturers, among which is the production of subassemblies for the EMBRAER 170/190 family of commercial jets.

-ends-

buglerbilly

18-04-11, 03:59 PM

DATE:18/04/11

SOURCE:Flight International

Decision on KC-390 engines still pending

By Stephen Trimble

Embraer Defence and Security is sticking to its plan to select all critical suppliers for the KC-390 by June, but this is not a hard deadline, a top company executive says.

Decisions on suppliers for such critical pieces as the engines, avionics and most of the structure still have not been made only two months before Embraer is scheduled to enter a joint definition phase.

The engines, in particular, are a sensitive topic and have required "a higher degree of discussion with the Brazilian air force", says Orlando Neto, executive vice-president at Embraer Defence and Security.

In the running are two companies with 27,000-30,000lb thrust (120-133kN) turbofans - the CFM International CFM-56 and International Aero Engines V2500.

Although Embraer still wants to complete discussions by the end of June, the overall schedule can accommodate a brief delay for some of the supplier decisions, Neto says.

"There is room for some accommodation," he says, referencing a one-month slip. "That's do-able."

So far, Embraer has selected four partners - for the aircraft's cargo handling system, landing gear, doors, spoilers and a section of the rear fuselage.

The twinjet was launched in 2009 with a $1.3 billion, five-year development contract to replace the Brazilian air force's Lockheed Martin C-130s.

buglerbilly

05-05-11, 03:28 AM

DATE:04/05/11

SOURCE:Flight International

Embraer selects Pro Line Fusion for KC-390 cockpit

By Stephen Trimble

Embraer has announced selecting the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system for the KC-390 cockpit, clarifying the latest piece of the military transport's emerging supply chain.

The selection adds the first military customer for Rockwell's latest avionics product and provides Embraer with a familiar cockpit system already in development for Legacy 450 and 500 business jets.

"The already solid commercial and technical relationship between Embraer and Rockwell Collins will be further strengthened by this new partnership in the defence and security area," says Eduardo Pinto, chief operating officer of Embraer Defense and Security.

©Embraer

Embraer's decision means Pro Line Fusion beat at least one rival bid. In January, Israel Aerospace Industries publicly offered to supply an unspecified cockpit system for the KC-390 through the EAE joint venture between IAI and Brazilian-owned Synergy.

Rockwell's avionics system will integrate into five high-resolution 38.1cm displays that will be a standard feature on the Brazilian air force's future tanker-transport.

Image courtesy Embraer presentation to journalists on 22 February.

By selecting a commercial-based avionics system, Embraer also avoids technology transfer restrictions imposed on military-derived systems under the US international traffic in arms regulations (ITAR).

The Pro Line Fusion system can be delivered for the KC-390 as an "ITAR-free" package, Rockwell said.

Embraer still has to make several key decisions for the KC-390 supply chain, including the engines and refuelling systems. The engine order has attracted interest from the CFM International CFM56 and the International Aero Engines V2500.

The Brazilian air force officially launched the KC-390 in April 2009, then committed to buy 28 aircraft in July 2010. Five other countries - Argentina, Chile, Czech Republic, Colombia and Portugal -- have committed to purchase another 32 KC-390s.

buglerbilly

11-05-11, 04:23 AM

US approves Saudi cargo plane sale to Turkey

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

ÜMİT ENGİNSOY

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey inked a deal last summer with Saudi Arabia to purchase the six C-130E cargo planes.

The United States has approved the sale to Turkey by Saudi Arabia of six U.S.-made C-130E military cargo planes, senior Turkish and U.S. officials said late Monday.

Turkey struck a deal last summer with Saudi Arabia to purchase the six older cargo planes.

The U.S. approval in late April comes at a time when two transport aircraft programs Turkey is involved in are faltering or facing major delays.

One procurement official told the Hürriyet Daily News that the planes were being purchased at a very reasonable price, but declined to specify a figure. An industry source suggested the unit price was less than $10 million.

The permission of the United States, the original manufacturer of the planes, was needed. “We weren’t expecting any major problems on this, and everything worked out well. We’re happy about this,” the procurement official said.

The planes are expected to arrive in Turkey later this year. The Turkish Air Force already is flying the older C-130B and C-130E models of the C-130 family, acquired from the United States decades ago.

As a member of the pan-European Airbus A400 consortium, Turkey has been planning to buy 10 A400M cargo planes, but the program has been facing major delays.

On the local C-130 upgrade front, Turkey’s efforts to achieve the avionic modernization of the Air Force’s 13 planes also have faced delays.

Currently, the Turkish Air Force also has 19 older European-made C-160s, which originally were planned to eventually be replaced by the A400.

In addition, the Turkish military is operating about 50 CN-235 light transport aircraft Turkish Aerospace Industry, or TAI, had co-produced with Spain’s CASA in the 1980s and 1990s.

buglerbilly

12-05-11, 08:13 AM

Boeing Looks To Plug Gaps In C-17 Production

May 11, 2011

By Guy Norris

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Boeing remains confident of bolstering its C-17 backlog with additional international sales on top of the expected order from India, despite the challenges of maintaining unit cost in the face of reduced production rates, possible gaps in the delivery stream and no new U.S. Air Force orders.

Although the company is in the midst of a planned drawdown of production from 15 to 10 per year, “the goal is to maintain the same price,” says Tommy Dunehew, C-17 business development vice president. Despite this being a challenging target, additional international business should help to balance the books and fill potential gaps as the company looks to stabilize at the reduced rate in 2012, Dunehew adds.

Boeing says the Indian government is “going through the final steps” toward confirming its order for 10 aircraft, with the first expected to be delivered at the end of 2012. Part of the issue with the order has always been how to maintain the Long Beach assembly line while meeting the Indian air force’s stretched-out delivery requirements of five aircraft per year, with deliveries at roughly two-month intervals. “We’re out there looking for customers to fill those gaps, and we have another couple of them out there,” Dunehew says. “It’s looking pretty good.”

Based on the existing production profile, and depending on the outcome of talks over other customer deliveries planned for next year, the U.S. Air Force is set to receive its final C-17 in September 2012. Overall, Boeing is under contract to deliver 223 to the Air Force, of which 210 have so far been handed over. The initial availability of slots on the production line for new orders means Boeing could release aircraft for delivery “in about a year or so from now for an existing customer,” or in 2013 if it’s a “brand new” customer, Dunehew says.

Aside from India, additional international C-17 orders are in the cards from Kuwait, which has a letter of request for a single aircraft announced last September, plus an additional two held as options by Qatar. “Interest in Southeast Asia is growing, and there’s more in the Middle East,” says Mark Kronenberg, Boeing vice president of international business development. Based on the supplementary purchases by Australia and the U.K., two of the three original “ABC” international customers along with Canada, he adds, “I’d not rule out any more of the ABCs acquiring extra aircraft.”

Boeing commented on future prospects for additional sales as the United Arab Emirates took delivery of the first of six C-17s on May 10. The UAE will receive three more C-17s during 2011, and two in 2012. The latest aircraft will become the 232nd C-17 in service and the 22nd to be delivered to an international customer. Other overseas deliveries set for this year include a fifth C-17 to Australia.

Excluding pending orders from India, Kuwait and others, the remaining backlog now stands at 21. This represents around two year’s worth of production at the new rate.

Guy Norris

buglerbilly

19-05-11, 01:48 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

CN-235 and C-295 Stick Around

Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 5/18/2011 9:24 AM CDT

The C-235 and C-295 which are Airbus Military's bread and butter will remain on the market for the next decade at least, says Domingo Urena, the company's CEO. “We don't see any market needs” for a new platform of this size, he says “and I don't see our competitors moving in this area either.”

Wrapping up a 2-day trade media briefing in Seville and Madrid, Urena added that his R&D department always had something on the table, but these are obviously no more than doodles for the moment.

The market for these medium and light aircraft is buoyant and the company is targeting to sell 20 to 25 per year including to several US government departments “with whom we are working to offer small and medium aircraft in the short term,” he says.

In the more immediate future – the next 12 months – he says the company aims to have the A400M certified and to ramp up the A400M services sector. Overall Airbus Military aims to increase the current 10-15% of income from services to 40%. And despite losing the tanker competition to Boeing in the United States, the tanker area remains “very active.” He says “we hope to win one campaign a year.”

“And of course, make decent and reasonable money!”

buglerbilly

17-06-11, 03:31 AM

Liebherr Joins KC-390 Airlifter Program

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 16 Jun 2011 13:20

LONDON - Embraer Defense and Security has added Liebherr-Aerospace to the growing list of system suppliers signed up to work on the KC-390 tactical airlifter program. The deal is likely to be the first of a number of airlifter supplier agreements revealed by the Brazilian company during the Paris Air Show, which starts June 20.

Liebherr has secured a deal to provide the environmental and cabin pressure control systems on the twin-jet military transport now in the design and development phase at the Brazilian aerospace company.

Other major suppliers onboard the program include avionics provider Rockwell Collins, landing gear maker ELEB, Aero Vodochody and Fabrica Argentina de Aviones for structures, and DRS Defense for the cargo handling and aerial delivery system.

The largest equipment announcement outstanding is the name of the supplier of the twin-jet aircraft engines. That omission is likely to be rectified during the air show.

First flight of the aircraft is scheduled for 2014 with an in-service date of late 2015.

Embraer has agreements with six potential customers for 60 aircraft. The Brazilian Air Force is the biggest customer to date, with an order for 28 machines. Other countries that have agreed to buy the KC-390 are Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic and Portugal.

buglerbilly

21-06-11, 12:38 AM

EADS Says U.S. Interest in C-212 Rising

Jun 20, 2011

By Robert Wall wall@aviationweek.com
PARIS

After a lull period, EADS North America is seeing increased interest from the Pentagon about a potential purchase of Airbus Military C-212 light transports.

There is “intensifying interest” in the last month for the C-212 to potentially serve as a new light mobility aircraft, says Sean O’Keefe, CEO of EADS N.A. The program outline is still emerging, but O’Keefe says it could entail the purchase of 50-100 aircraft.

One of the drivers of twin-engine C-212 interest is a recognition that doing the mission with a single-engine aircraft is not suitable.

O’Keefe says EADS N.A. also is eyeing a special operations command requirement for transport aircraft. The C-212 is one of the aircraft the special operations community will be evaluating, he says.

Still unclear is what the commercial strategy would be for the U.S. program, including whether the aircraft would be assembled in the U.S.

buglerbilly

22-06-11, 03:19 AM

USAF Prepares To Deploy C-27s To Afghanistan

Jun 21, 2011

By Robert Wall wall@aviationweek.com, Amy Butler abutler@aviationweek.com
LE BOURGET,

The U.S. Air Force is getting ready to deploy its C-27J tactical transport to Afghanistan for the first time, in July, according to Alenia Aeronautica CEO Giuseppe Giordo.

Two aircraft are due to deploy. Alenia argues the deployment will convince USAF that the C-27J deserves its niche in the transport fleet; but some service officials have indicated the role could be just as well met by Lockheed Martin C-130s.

Lithuania and Italy already are operating the small transport inAfghanistan, with Italy achieving 98% reliability rates, Giordo says.

Meanwhile, Alenia Aeronautica is negotiating a logistics support contract for the G.222, the predecessor of the C-27, which is being delivered to the Afghan national army. Alenia has delivered 11 of the expected 20 transports, of which eight are already operational with the military.

Alenia also has its eye on a possible Afghan requirement for light-attack combat aircraft, marketing its M-346 trainer. The Afghan government has indicated a preference for a more capable fighter force, but Washington believes the country’s young air force would have difficulty absorbing such an asset and argues a lower-end system would be a better fit for the current counterinsurgency fight.

Photo: C-27J Team

buglerbilly

22-06-11, 01:02 PM

Meet the MRTA

By Stephen Trimble on June 21, 2011 6:26 AM

Shiv Aroor at LiveFist has new details showing actual dimensions of the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft, the joint Ilyushin-Hindustan cargo project. It is yet another twin-jet powered tactical airlifter, joining an increasingly crowded field already including the Mitsubishi C-2 and the Embraer KC-390. The MRTA, singled-out during the Paris Air Show press conference of Mikhail Pogosyan (president of Ilyushin parent United Aircraft Corporation) as a key long-term project, appears to be slightly smaller than the KC-390 based on these dimensions.

buglerbilly

22-06-11, 01:04 PM

Embraer looks to stretch KC-390

By Stephen Trimble on June 21, 2011 2:36 PM

Embraer has confirmed plans to launch a stretch version of the KC-390 for the civil cargo market that company officials predict will generate between 200-250 orders over a 10-year period starting in 2018.

The Brazilian manufacturer revealed the plan at the Paris Air Show only a day after Kawasaki announced ongoing studies to convert a baseline C-2 military transport into a commercial freighter.

The KC-390 is being developed for $1.3 billion by the Brazilian Air Force to receive military certification in 2016. A stretched model could be available as early as 2018 for the commercial transport market, which includes Brazil's Correios postal service - the original launch customer for an earlier version of the KC-390.

The civil version would have to be modified with two plugs added to the 33.91m (111.3ft) length of the KC-390's fuselage, Orlando Neto, vice president of sales for Embraer Defence and Security, said in an interview.

One plug would be added forward of the wing to accommodate a side door for cargo. Another plug would be inserted into the fuselage aft of the wing to create more internal space, Neto said.

The existing wings and engines of the KC-390 are sized to accommodate the stretched version for the cargo market, he added. The KC-390 also features an avionics system - the Rockwell Collins ProLine Fusion - design to receive Part 25 civil certification in 2015.

Embraer's commercial plans for the KC-390 over-shadowed the lack of further announcements about the airlifter's supply chain.

Despite recently entering a year-long joint definition phase, Embraer has yet to finalise agreements with the engine supplier for the KC-390. Both the CFM International CFM56 and the International Aero Engines V2500 have been considered for the order.

Neto confirmed that discussions are concluded between the company and the Brazilian air force over the engine supplier. The discussions are now between the company and the suppliers, although declined to clarify if one of the companies had already been ruled out.

But the discussions are also not expected to drag on indefinitely. Neto added that Embraer has a firm schedule for completing the negotiations, and a contract award is possible within a few weeks.

buglerbilly

06-07-11, 02:45 PM

Alenia Aeronautica: Contract from Mexico for Four C-27J Aircraft

(Source: Alenia Aeronautica; issued July 6, 2011)

ROME --- New success on the international markets for the tactical transport aircraft C-27J, designed and built by Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company. Mexico has in fact ordered four C-27Js for a total value of about 200 million dollars.

The contract has been signed today at the headquarters of SEDENA (Secreteria della Defensa Nacional) in Mexico City, at the presence of General Augusto Moisés Garcìa Ochoa, Director General de Administracion de SEDENA and General Leonardo Gonzàlez Garcìa, Comandante de la Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, and Mr. Giuseppe Giordo, Alenia Aeronautica’s CEO and Responsible of Finmeccanica’s Aeronautics Sector.

The first aircraft will be in Mexico City before the military parade on September 16th 2011 and the whole supply will be completed by the end of 2012. The contract envisages also the logistics support of the whole fleet for several years.

“We are very pleased with the Mexican choice” Giuseppe Giordo has commented: “Thanks to this order, considering it is the first in Latin America and premise of further orders by other countries of the same area, the number of airplanes ordered to date goes up to 83, confirming the C-27J as best seller among the aircraft of its category”.

The C-27J greatly enlarges the current operational capability of the Mexican Air Force thanks to its load capability and to the suitability to carry out many mission types such as transport of troops, goods and medicines, logistical re-supply, MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation), airdrop operations, paratroopers’ launches, search and rescue (SAR), fire-fighting, humanitarian assistance, release of liquids dispersing hydrocarbons in the sea in the event of accidents on oil platforms, and missions in support of homeland security.

The C-27J is a twin-engine turboprop tactical transport aircraft with state-of-the-art technology in avionics, propulsion and systems. It provides high performances, high cost effectiveness, extreme operating flexibility and it is the only aircraft of its class offering interoperability with heavier airlifters.

The C-27J is capable of taking off from and landing on unprepared strips, less-than-500 m. long, with maximum take-off weight of 30,500 kg; it may carry up to 60 equipped soldiers or up to 46 paratroopers and, in the air ambulance version, 36 stretchers and 6 medical assistants.

The large cross section (2.60 meters high, 3.33 meters wide) and high floor strength (4,900 kg/m load capability) allow heavy and large complete military equipment to be loaded. The C-27J can, for example, transport Hammer, engines of fighter and transport aircraft, such as C-130, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 and Mirage 2000, directly on their normal engine dollies without further special equipment.

The C-27J has already been ordered by the air forces of Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Morocco and by the US. Air Force. The aircraft has also been selected by Slovakia’s air force.

-ends-

buglerbilly

08-07-11, 05:59 AM

DATE:07/07/11

SOURCE:Flight International

Antonov details plans for An-178 airlifter

By Stephen Trimble

Stephen Trimble/Washington DC

Antonov has confirmed plans to launch flight tests in 2013 of its new An-178 airlifter, a potential rival to turboprop designs such as the Alenia Aeronautica C-27J and Lockheed Martin C-130J.

The twinjet derivative of the An-158 airliner and business jet still remains in the design stages, with the concept having been revealed less than two years ago.

The An-178 adds a rear cargo door and ramp, but retains most of the features of the high-wing An-158, which is itself a stretched version of the 70-85-seat An-148 regional jet.

Antonov has released conflicting information about the payload capacity of the military development. In a recent interview, a company official described the maximum payload of the aircraft as being 18,000kg (36,700lb). But marketing documents distributed at the Paris air show list the same statistic as 15,000kg.

Launched as a replacement for the An-12, the An-178 is one of several new light airlifters expected to enter the market during this decade. Embraer's KC-390 and the Hindustan Aeronautics/United Aircraft multi-role transport aircraft are the closest competitors.

Antonov recently restarted production of its An-70 strategic transport, and also has revealed that preliminary design activities are being performed on a weaponised maritime patrol aircraft based on the An-168.

tiddles

22-07-11, 08:02 AM

Was not sure where to put this but as it is for the Osprey !!

Posted by Graham Warwick at 7/20/2011 10:10 AM CDT

Fancy your chances at designing a stealthy, robotic vehicle that can fit in a CV-22 Osprey and carry a special-operations team to the target and back through the night without being detected? Then the Air Force Research Laboratory's Spec Ops Transport Challenge is for you.

According to the RFI issued today, the lab plans to award up to five teams $20,000 each to develop design concepts, with an opportunity to compete for a $2 million contract to build a prototype. AFRL says it is "interested in new ideas from hobbyists, enthusiasts, teams and organizations that have not typically done business with the government in the past."

An RFP is expected in 3-4 months, but the RFI says the Air Force is looking for a vehicle that can carry two people and their equipment over rugged terrain without being detected visually or audibly. The air-deliverable vehicle must operate autonomously with only minimal inputs from the occupants. AFRL is looking for an insertion and extraction range of at least 30km.

If you need me, I am in the garage, modifying my Bond Bug...

buglerbilly

02-08-11, 07:25 AM

Czechs threaten canceling deal to buy 4 EADS military transport planes amid malfunctions

By Associated Press, Tuesday, August 2, 12:55 AM

PRAGUE — The Czech defense ministry is threatening to cancel a $200 million deal to buy four EADS military transport aircraft because they could not be deployed to Afghanistan as a result of technical problems.

It said Monday planemaker EADS CASA, a Spanish unit of Europe’s Airbus holding company EADS NV, must quickly fix a malfunctioning missile protection system on the 295M planes.

Deputy Defense Minister Rudolf Blazek says the military wants to put the planes in use but it would be legitimate to consider revoking the contract if the technical problems won’t be fixed in the coming months.

The Czech military received the planes in 2010 but handed them back this year as the malfunction made their deployment impossible.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

buglerbilly

17-08-11, 05:33 PM

DATE:17/08/11

SOURCE:Flight International

PICTURE: Brazilian air force receives final Caravan

By Craig Hoyle

Cessna has delivered its last aircraft from a new batch of nine 208B Caravan light transports to the Brazilian air force, taking the service's total inventory of the type to 32.

Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-114 turboprop engine, Brazil's aircraft will be employed for a variety of tasks, including passenger and cargo transport and special-mission applications, Cessna said in a press statement.

Flightglobal's MiliCAS database lists the Brazilian air force as operating the world's largest fleet of military 208/208Bs.

© Cessna

Other current major operators include Colombia, Iraq, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Cessna delivered its first Caravan aircraft to Brazil in 1987.

buglerbilly

23-08-11, 10:27 PM

Strange concept! I'll stick it in here as being the most applicable thread.................

Leading Edge

AW&ST On Technology

Six Engines Mean Survivable VTOL

Posted by Graham Warwick at 8/23/2011 8:38 AM CDT

Six engines seem a bit extreme, especially on an aircraft of a size that would normally only have a couple of turboprops. But for retired aeronautical engineer Richard Oliver, six engines is the solution to designing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft that can lose any one of its propulsion units, remain stable, and compete its mission, even at maximum weight.

All concept art: Oliver VTOL

Atlanta-based Oliver VTOL is now trying to get the Hexplane idea off the drawing board, filing a patent application and working to raise $12 million to build a prototype that would be based on a Piaggio P.180 Avanti airframe to save money. Oliver believes the aircraft could fly in about two years.

Oliver says he first conceived the idea 20 years, when he set out to design a two-seat VTOL aircraft that would allow downed aircrew to rescue themselves. The idea was to use inexpensive, lightweight two-stroke engines. "But four props are not enough - if you lose one, you lose the aircraft," he says. So he came up with the idea of adding an extra wing, and another pair of props, across the middle.

"It's a little odd looking," he admits. "But it has the unusual ability to survive the complete failure of any propulsion unit and remain statically stable. If you remove any one unit and wing in flight it will still fly safely, even a maximum gross weight and HOGE [hover out of ground effect]." The six engines are completely independent, with none of the cross-shafting you would see in a two- or four-prop tiltrotor.

The Hexplane design is all about survivability, he says, and about being able to continue the mission and not having to return and land after a failure. "I don't see it as complex. There are not six throttles, just a single go lever and six-channel fly-by-wire," Oliver says.

Oliver says he has had the Hexplane design validated by aerospace engineering consultancy DAR and Penn State University, and is now negotiating with an investment house for the funds to build a prototype. As a starting point, Oliver says he has taken on the challenge set by DARPA for the now-cancelled Groen Heliplane high-speed VTOL - to carry a 1,000lb payload 1,000nm at 400mph.

"I want to build a 12,500lb gross-weight technology demonstrator that has the capability to transition to saleable hardware," he says. Powered by six 800shp turboprops, this aircraft would have a maximum speed of 447mph and a sea-level climb rate of more than 9,000ft/min.

The initial target market would be a VTOL unmanned aircraft (above), potentially as a cargo resupply vehicle or as a contender for the Navy/Army MRMUAS/MRPM medium VTOL UAV requirement. Oliver claims to have "interest from a DoD customer."

Six engines still seem a bit over the top, but Oliver says power required for hover and for high-speed cruise are well-matched. The vehicle is designed to be capable of full gross-weight vertical operation at the HOGE limit with a failed propulsion unit, "even at 6k/95 conditions [6,000ft and 95F]," he says. "The design power is driven by that necessity."

Conventional props are used, not the gimballed prop-rotors of a tiltrorotor, and Oliver says the Hexplane's efficiency lies somewhere between the V-22 and conventional fixed-wing aircraft. The Hexplane would fly further, faster than a V-22 on the same fuel, with the same payload "and do it safer," he claims.

buglerbilly

27-08-11, 03:09 AM

Video: Japan’s New Airlifter

Check out this pretty rare footage of the prototype for Japan’s new twin-engine cargo hauler, the Kawasaki XC-2.

The jet is meant to replace Japan’s fleet of C-130 Hercules and Kawasaki C-1s first flew in early 2010 and is currently undergoing flight testing. Designed to operate from 7,000-foot runways while carrying 37-tons of cargo, the jet aesthetically resembles a mini-Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and is powered by the GE CF6 turbofan, the same engine found on Boeing 747s and the re-engined Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy.

Uploaded by Tonkatsu298 on Aug 25, 2011
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~O298/base2.html

Read more: http://defensetech.org/2011/08/26/video-japans-new-airlifter/#ixzz1WBf4ULtv
Defense.org

geof

27-08-11, 10:04 AM

.. Wow .. OK that looks very nice indeed, the tri undercarage gives it an A400 look about it as well. Any other Countries interested ... I am ... :-p

buglerbilly

27-08-11, 10:20 AM

.. Wow .. OK that looks very nice indeed, the tri undercarage gives it an A400 look about it as well. Any other Countries interested ... I am ... :-p

Nah, Japan's weird export rules for Military equipment precludes any Overseas Sales and well, they'll probably be too expensive due to being built in low numbers over a long time............this sort of aircraft needs volume sales to be cheaper, or cheap enough to overcome the likes of A400 which is probably the nearest competitor.

The Embraer 390 and the Russo/Indian JV plane are more like competitors for the C-130J Hercules, i.e. smaller than the Japanese C-2.

Jezza

27-08-11, 02:31 PM

If they were to produce a commercial version it could be sold.?
It would be something to watch as it goes along

buglerbilly

09-09-11, 03:01 PM

Embraer Defense and Security Selects Mission Radar by Selex Galileo for the KC-390

(Source: Embraer; issued September 8, 2011)

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil --- Embraer Defense and Security has chosen another world-class company – SELEX Galileo, from Italy – to supply the mission radar system for the military airlifter and tanker jet KC-390.

“As we move forward with the challenging phase of selecting suppliers for key systems of the KC-390, we are proud of the results achieved,” said Eduardo Bonini Santos Pinto, Sr. Vice President Operations & COO, Embraer Defense and Security. “We believe that SELEX Galileo has the expertise, background and global reach to be a solid partner in Embraer’s KC-390 program.”

The Gabbiano Tactical Radar, model T-20, from SELEX Galileo, uses state-of-the-art technology to complete all KC-390 missions. Employing a transmitter that uses the new SSA (Solid State Amplifier) technology, this radar has the advantage of higher MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), while presenting reduced energy consumption, weight, volume, and maintenance costs.

“We are working with Embraer on a number of airborne programs, and are particularly proud of the selection of this advanced radar sensor as a baseline for Embraer’s new airlifter aircraft. The KC-390 is poised to play a key role in the tactical airlift market, worldwide, and we are pleased to be part of it,” said Fabrizio Giulianini, CEO of SELEX Galileo, adding: “We are also confident that becoming a partner in this program will open up the opportunity to further expand our collaboration with Embraer and our footprint in the country.”

SELEX Galileo, a Finmeccanica company, is a leader in the defense electronics market, with a distinctive strength in airborne mission critical systems and a wide range of capabilities for the battlefield and for homeland security applications. Its 7,000-strong international workforce is able to build close relationships with customers across five continents, allowing SELEX Galileo to respond to the specific needs of those on the front line.

(ends)

EMBRAER Defense and Security Chooses Cobham Wing-Mounted Aerial Refueling Pods for KC-390

(Source: Embraer; issued September 8, 2011)

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil --- Embraer Defense and Security has chosen Cobham, with headquarters in Dorset, England, to supply the wing-mounted aerial refueling pods for the KC-390 military airlifter and tanker jet.

“Embraer’s innovative KC-390 airlifter and tanker jet requires stringent criteria to be met by its suppliers,” said Eduardo Bonini Santos Pinto, Sr. Vice President Operations & COO, Embraer Defense and Security. “Cobham’s vast aerospace experience and more than 75-year history bring proven expertise and products for the quality Embraer pursues.”

The aerial refueling pods are sophisticated devices installed underneath the wings and allow fuel transfer from the KC-390 to the receiver aircraft during the air-to-air refueling operations. Fuel transfer is accomplished via a retractable hose, at the end of which is fitted a drogue and fuel coupling which provides the connection to the probe of the receiver aircraft. After refueling, the hose and drogue is rewound and stored in the pod. The whole operation is controlled and monitored by the tanker crew via control panels and video cameras.

Following the announcement, Iain Gibson, Vice President of Cobham Mission Equipment said: “Cobham Mission Equipment is delighted with the news of its selection by Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force to provide the wing-mounted air refueling pod solution for the KC-390. This represents a significant program to Cobham Mission Equipment, following a rigorous competitive tendering process serving to underline the company’s position as the world leader in providing such systems. We are proud to be a supply partner to Embraer and are confident that our pods will provide an excellent air-to-air refueling capability for the KC-390.”

Cobham specializes in meeting the insatiable demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth in defense, security and commercial environments. Offering a technically diverse and innovative range of technologies and services, the group protects lives and livelihoods, responding to customer needs with agility that differentiates it. The most important thing built by the company is trust. Employing more than 11,000 people on five continents, the group has customers and partners in over 100 countries, with annual revenue of some GPB 1.9 billion (USD 3 billion).

(ends)

Embraer Defense and Security Selects AEL Sistemas for KC-390 Mission Computer

(Source: Embraer; issued September 8, 2011)

SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil --- Embraer Defense and Security has selected AEL Sistemas S.A., of Porto Alegre, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to supply the mission computer for the KC-390 military airlifter and tanker jet, which is advancing well, as it moves through its development stages.

“The complexity of Embraer’s innovative, hi-tech KC-390 requires world-class suppliers,” said Eduardo Bonini Santos Pinto, Sr. Vice President Operations & COO, Embraer Defense and Security. “In light of that need, our long-standing partner, AEL, again meets the Company’s stringent criteria, which are based on perceived market needs.”

The mission computer to be provided by AEL for the KC-390 aircraft will consolidate a successful partnership in providing mission computers for other Embraer programs, such as the Super Tucano, A-1M, and F-5BR. The computer will provide the required computational power to host the software responsible for integrating important mission systems, like tactical radar, self-protection system, data-link, and the airdrop release point calculation. Such additional features as robustness, flexibility and scalability were fundamental for choosing AEL to supply the mission computer for the KC-390 Program.

“We are very pleased to have been selected by Embraer to supply the mission processor for the KC-390,” commented Vitor Neves, AEL Vice President, Operations. “This is yet another milestone in the long and fruitful relationship between AEL and Embraer, and we believe that this new selection will further strengthen the cooperation between both companies.”

AEL Sistemas S.A. is a Brazilian company with headquarters in Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul, and a 28-year history. With 250 employees, it is a leader in manufacturing aviation hardware and software in Brazil. The company produces equipment for defense (armed forces), space, automotive sector, and homeland security. It is also involved in logistical support and invests to increase its participation in developing and manufacturing technology.

-ends-

buglerbilly

14-09-11, 11:38 AM

IMAGES: Lockheed's stealth C-130 successor revealed

By Stephen Trimble

on September 13, 2011 11:41 PM

Forty years ago, the US Air Force tried to replace the Lockheed Martin C-130 with a super short take-off and landing (STOL) airlifter, with the Boeing YC-14 and McDonnell YC-15 as the candidates. Then, things got weird. Budgets grew, funding shrank and eventually the requirement transformed into something much larger. Thus, the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III was borne to replace the Lockheed C-141B Starlifter and the Lockheed C-130 continues into its seventh decade of active production.

What goes around always seems to come around in this business, and so it is with the YC-14 and YC-15.

Meet the Speed Agile. If the USAF is allowed to spend big money on a super-STOL C-130 replacement after 2020, this is Lockheed's idea for what it should look like. Boeing is also working on an alternative concept. The Air Force Research Laboratory has been funding both Lockheed and Boeing to work on wind tunnel models. Last month, the AFRL released these front and rear images of a 23%-scale model of the four-engine Lockheed Speed Agile concept. The wind tunnel model includes two Williams FJ44 engines. The Secret Projects forum found the images earlier today on AFRL's web site.

buglerbilly

20-09-11, 10:55 AM

C-27J’s operational debut in the Mexican skies

September 20, 2011

Mexico City has hosted in the last days the traditional parade for the celebration of the Mexican Independence's anniversary at the presence of the Country's top ranking personalities.

The C-27J with the Mexican colours was the guest of honour, and together with Alenia Aeronautica's C-27J 4033, has performed in a series of flights, in formation with the whole fleet of the Mexican Air Force.

Last 6th of July Alenia Aeronautica had announced the selection of its C-27J by Mexico: 4 aircraft ordered for a value of about 200 million dollars.

"We are very pleased with the Mexican choice" Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica, had commented: "Thanks to this order, considering it is the first in Latin America and premise of further orders by other countries of the same area, the number of airplanes ordered to date goes up to 83, confirming the C-27J as best seller among the aircraft of its category".

The commercial relationship with Mexico dates back to over ten years ago with the acquisition of Alenia Aermacchi's SF-260 trainer airplanes. This further acquisition strengthens even more the collaboration and trust between the two countries.

The Mexican Air Force greatly enlarges, through the C-27J, its operational capability thanks to the load capability and to the suitability of the aircraft to carry out many mission types such as transport of troops, goods and medicines, logistical re-supply, MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation), airdrop operations, paratroopers' launches, search and rescue (SAR), fire fighting, humanitarian assistance, release of liquids dispersing hydrocarbons in the sea in the event of accidents on oil platforms, and missions in support of homeland security.

The C-27J is a twin-engine turboprop tactical transport aircraft with state-of-the-art technology in avionics, propulsion and systems. It provides high performances, high cost effectiveness, extreme operating flexibility and it is the only aircraft of its class offering interoperability with heavier airlifters.

The C-27J is capable of taking off from and landing on unprepared strips, less-than-500 m. long, with maximum take-off weight of 30,500 kg; it may carry up to 60 equipped soldiers or up to 46 paratroopers and, in the air ambulance version, 36 stretchers and 6 medical assistants.

The large cross section (2,60 meters high, 3,33 metres wide) and high floor strength (4,900 kg/m load capability) allow heavy and large complete military equipment to be loaded. The C-27J can, for example, transport Hummer, engines of fighter and transport aircraft, such as C-130, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 and Mirage 2000, directly on their normal engine dollies without further special equipment.

The C-27J has already been ordered by the air forces of Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Morocco, Mexico and by the US. Air Force. The aircraft has also been selected by Slovakia's air force.

Source: Alenia

buglerbilly

21-09-11, 02:51 AM

DATE:20/09/11

SOURCE:Flight International

KC-390 pod deal to value $60m, says Cobham

By Craig Hoyle

Cobham Mission Equipment has valued its initial involvement in Embraer's KC-390 transport/tanker programme at more than $60 million, and provided the first details of the refuelling system it will supply for the developmental type.

The Brazilian manufacturer confirmed the supplier's selection to deliver the aircraft's wing aerial refuelling pods on 8 September.

"Cobham will supply Embraer with one of its state-of-the-art air refuelling pods, specially modified to fit the KC-390," the UK company said in a 15 September announcement. "The system architecture will be tailored to meet the aircraft's air-to-air refuelling capability requirements, and enable refuelling of a range of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft."

© Embraer

The selected equipment "has been designed and qualified to the latest and most stringent military requirements", Cobham Mission Equipment vice president Iain Gibson said.

The company, which is also currently supplying hose-and-drogue refuelling systems for the Airbus Military A330-based multi-role tanker transport, said its selection for the Brazilian twin-jet followed "a comprehensive competitive process".

It was also contracted earlier this year to provide similar equipment for the US Air Force's future fleet of 179 Boeing 767-derived KC-46A tankers.

Brazil is the launch customer for the KC-390, having identified an initial requirement for 28 of the aircraft.

buglerbilly

21-09-11, 04:50 AM

Clearer pic of the Mexican Spartan............

buglerbilly

06-10-11, 03:09 AM

Ukraine Air Force to get three An-70 cargo planes

An-70 military transport aircraft
© RIA Novosti. Alexandr Polyakov14:22 05/10/2011KIEV, October 5 (RIA Novosti)

The Ukrainian Air Force will take delivery of three An-70 military transport aircraft, Defense Minister Mikhaylo Yezhel said on Wednesday.

The first plane will be delivered "in the very near future," he said.

Asked whether Ukraine would be able to make An-70s without Russia, the minister said: "It's already making them."

He stressed, however, that he did not mean series production and this was a question not for the Defense Ministry, but for the Antonov design bureau.

The An-70 is a medium-range turboprop military transport plane developed by Ukraine's Antonov design bureau. The Antonov company first tested a prototype of the An-70 in 1994, but a lack of funding, and political disputes between Moscow and Kiev have prevented series production.

Antonov decided to proceed with self-funding.

The first plane was lost during its fourth flight in February 1995 in a mid-air collision that killed the seven crewmembers.

In 2002, Russia and Ukraine agreed on a 50-50 risk-sharing production deal, but in April 2006 Russia announced its complete withdrawal from the project.

buglerbilly

11-10-11, 02:28 PM

Pilatus Showcases PC-12 Spectre Multi-Mission Aircraft at NBAA

(Source: Pilatus; issued October 10, 2011)

LAS VEGAS (NV) --- In addition to Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd’s traditional display of an actual PC-12 NG on the main show floor, the Swiss company will also feature a special mission PC-12 Spectre aircraft at the 64th annual meeting and convention of the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) new static display located just outside the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Spectre is a version of the best-selling PC-12 NG single-engine turboprop which is designed exclusively to support multiple government, military, law enforcement and medevac roles. Variants of the PC-12 Spectre are currently in operation with the U.S. and several foreign militaries, as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Leonard Luke, Vice President of Government Sales for Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd stated, “We are very pleased to be able to showcase the PC-12 Spectre in such a great location at NBAA this year. In this environment of tightening government budgets, the PC-12 Spectre’s multi-mission capability, ruggedness and cost efficiency make it an ideal platform for agencies tasked with doing more with less financial resources.”

The basic PC-12 Spectre features a standard a retractable sensor platform, and a 9-passenger utility interior with a sensor operator’s console. Most Spectre aircraft are highly modified to tailor to the customer’s specific mission requirements. Customization can include communications and surveillance equipment, external pods, medevac interiors and a paratrooper jump door.

“The PC-12 Spectre is a highly capable and field-proven aircraft for challenging environments around the globe,” Luke continued. “While over 1,000 PC-12s are in the field today, it is still a new and innovative concept for many of the agencies we speak to. It has tremendous ability to adapt to and accomplish multiple missions, making it a great investment for governments in a tough budget climate.”

The Pilatus PC-12 Spectre can be viewed in Silver Lot #3 outside the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Established in 1939, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is the world's leading manufacturer of single-engine turboprop aircraft. Headquartered in Stans, Switzerland, Pilatus is a privately held company employing almost 1500 people worldwide. Pilatus provides aircraft and aviation services worldwide for the general aviation, commercial, training, utility, and special mission markets.

-ends-

buglerbilly

28-10-11, 02:45 AM

First C-27 Combat Air Drop

Uploaded by DODvClips on Oct 17, 2011
Two years in the making, the first ever C27J combat air drop was performed by a joint service flight crew from the Ohio National Guard. Produced by Spc. Crystal Madriz. Includes soundbites from Maj. Jeff "Krusty" Capretto of 702 EAS. Also available in high definition.

buglerbilly

14-11-11, 02:26 PM

DUBAI: Finmeccanica eyes Oman transport/maritime requirements

By: Luca Peruzzi Dubai

1 hours ago

Source:

Finmeccanica is at the show promoting its C-27J Spartan tactical transport as a contender for the Omani air force's requirement for eight multi-mission aircraft.

"We believe we are well placed for this tender, which is expected to be assigned by year-end", said Massimo Ghione, senior vice president marketing and sales for Finmeccanica's aeronautics sector. Ghione also sees interest in the C-27J from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and potentially the United Arab Emirates.

The Spartan is already in service with six customers, including Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Romania and the USA, while aircraft were recently delivered to Morocco and Mexico. The type has also been selected by Slovakia.

© Billypix

At the Paris air show earlier this year, Alenia Aeronautica announced the launch of a feasibility study by the Italian ministry of defence into a special version of the C-27J Spartan, which would be used for "typical commando missions", with the added capability of performing "weaponised type missions". Dubbed "Preatorian" and developed by an integrated MoD and company team with the aim of satisfying both domestic and export requirements, the new version is based on a Selex Sistemi Integrati (Selex-SI) "FlexMis" roll-on/roll-off air transportable command, control, communication and intelligence module, a weapon system and associated electro-optical/IR payload, said Alenia.

Finmeccanica is meanwhile proposing to Oman a maritime patrol version of the glass cockpit-equipped Alenia/EADS ATR 72-600 turboprop to meet the country's requirement for four aircraft to perform a range of missions, including exclusive economic zone patrol and resources protection, search and rescue and anti-pollution, both in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.

Equipped with Selex Galileo's new maritime long-range airborne tactical observation system, together with a sensor suite including Selex Galileo's surface-search active electronically-scanned array radar, the ATR 72 MP has a maximum endurance of 10h (plus reserves) with an eight-person mission crew. Being conducted in parallel with the tactical transport aircraft evaluation, Oman's maritime patrol aircraft tender is expected to be awarded in early 2012.

buglerbilly

05-12-11, 02:57 PM

DGA Takes Delivery of the First of Eight CASA Cargo Aircraft

(Source: French Armaments Directorate, DGA; issued Dec. 2, 2011)

(Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

PARIS --- The French General Directorate of Armaments, DGA, on Nov. 17 took delivery of the first of eight light cargo aircraft ordered from Airbus Military in 2010. The delivery is two months early compared to the contractual deadline.

The order, worth 225 million euros, calls for delivery to be completed by April 2013.

The eight aircraft will reinforce the French air force’s current fleet of 19 CASA CN235, and will allow a more cost-effective management of transport missions between the C-160 Transall, C-130 Hercules and CN-235s transport aircraft as the air force build up its fleet of A400Ms, the first of which is due to enter service in 2013.

The CN-235 has been in French air force service since 1993. It is used for cargo and personnel transport and for parachute training. It can carry up to 6 tonnes of cargo or 40 passengers.

-ends-

ADMk2

05-12-11, 03:52 PM

That's what the UK should be buying for MPA duties. A handful of C-295 Persuaders to supplement those already used by the Irish Air Corps around the UK Isles. It wouldn't be a Nimrod M4A but it would be a thousand times better than using Merlin's and bog-stock C-130J's...

Drop 3x A400m from the order book and they'd have the budget right there for 5-6 Persuaders, equipped with the palletised MPA systems and bang, RN is back in the MPA business and hasn't lost any cargo hauling ability...

buglerbilly

09-12-11, 01:05 AM

Lockheed unveils new, cheaper variant of C-130

By: Stephen Trimble Washington DC

11 hours ago

Source:

Lockheed Martin will develop a cheaper variant of the C-130J Super Hercules that removes several features from the tactical airlifter's basic design.

The C-130XJ will be offered to foreign and US customers that do not need certain advanced features of the standard J-model, including its enhanced cargo handling system, said Jim Grant, Lockheed's vice president of business development for mobility and special operations.

Grant cited the US Forest Service and South Africa as potential domestic and foreign buyers of the C-130XJ.

Lockheed could also propose the new variant to the US Air Force. Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, has warned that the USAF is considering the cancellation of the L-3 Communications/Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartan.

Asked if the C-130XJ could be proposed as a substitute for the C-27J's direct support mission, Grant referred the question to the customer.

"There, the air force would have to do obviously the trade [studies] on commonality," Grant said. "There's no question the XJ will be an enormously capable airplane - maybe not as capable as the C-130J, but very close."

The C-130XJ will keep the same Rolls-Royce AE2100 turboprop engines and Honeywell-based avionics suite of the standard model, so its performance will be nearly identical. The new variant will also have the same outer-mould line as the J model, Grant said.

Lockheed did not provide details of the internal changes, except for the removal of the C-130J's automated cargo handling system. Instead, the XJ's crews will have to manually load and lock cargo to the floor of the aircraft.

The C-130XJ represents the latest iteration of the 57-year-old Hercules design. Lockheed hopes the refresh will allow the C-130 model to remain in production for the next 15-20 years.

It has also unveiled a notional design concept for a C-130NG, which features a new nose, tail and the addition of winglets to a familiar-looking Hercules fuselage.

The C-130NG design represents changes Lockheed believes are feasible for a replacement aircraft that would emerge after 2030. But some of the new design features, including the winglets, could be added as incremental improvements to the C-130J in the short-term.

"Any of the energy efficiency initiatives that are currently being worked could easily buy their way on the current programmes," Grant said.

buglerbilly

14-01-12, 05:29 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

U.S. Army, Air Force: The Small Cargo Aircraft Saga Continues

Posted by Amy Butler at 1/13/2012 9:16 AM CST

The U.S. Army and Air Force chiefs of staff are hashing out the details of an MOU on the light cargo lift mission.

If this all sounds familiar, it is. Recall that USAF Gen. T. Michael Moseley's coming-out speech as the top Air Force officer at the AFA symposium in the fall of 2005. He took that opportunity to announce that the Air Force was pursuing a new light cargo aircraft procurement.

This proclamation was made oddly as the Army was in the midst of setting up its future cargo aircraft program, which was crafted to replace old Sherpas and provide more immediate access to commanders for cargo support.

Moseley’s push, along with his similar move to take over the Army’s burgeoning UAV force at the time, was seen as an abrupt roles-and-missions grab by the Air Force in the midst of two major wars. In the case of the cargo aircraft role, the Air Force won.

The service eventually took over authority for the buy of the C-27J and sliced it to 38; service officials said they would combine the use of C-27Js and C-130s to provide cargo lift for the Army (though Army officials had long complained that C-130 support was inefficient owing to underloading of these larger aircraft).

But some Army advocates have grumbled that the service got the short end of the stick. Its Sherpas are still flying, supporting operational missions.

So, the question today as the Army and Air Force both attempt to normalize their fleets after surging for war support for a decade is: What is the right number of small cargo lifters for the direct support role? And, who should lead this role?

Army officials have long argued that an Army officer must lead this mission to ensure that Army commanders’ needs are the priority; they fear that the Air Force will de-emphasize Army unit requirements against the more strategic priorities of regional cargo movements of larger amounts of goods. The Air Force, however, has long countered that it best knows how to provide airborne logistics support across a fleet of aircraft, including C-27J, C-130 and the C-17.

Though the Army-led cargo aircraft program was projected to produce as many as 125 aircraft, the project that was taken over and restructured by the Air Force settled on a buy of 38 aircraft.

Alenia North America has delivered 13 of 21 C-27Js on contract. The sharp reduction in procurement numbers prompted the company to scrap its plans to open a final assembly facility in Florida; the aircraft are being delivered from a plant in Italy.

And the kicker for the Army is that the Air Force is said to be considering an early termination of the C-27J program to funnel money to other urgent service priorities.