Page 8 - World Airnews Magazine February 2020 Edition
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UAS AEROSPACE
STEALTHY UAS UNVEILED MULTI-BILLION CONTRACT
FOR LOCKHEED
small start-up company in Califor- ockheed Martin will deliver 50 C-130J
Ania has unveiled a proposal for a LSuper Hercules to the US government
stealthy unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to through a C-130J Multiyear III award, which
offer the US air force as a ‘fifth-generation’ was finalised by the US government last year.
target drone or a low-cost attritable aircraft. The award comes as a delivery order un-
Tehachapi, California-based Sierra Technical der an existing Indefinite Delivery Indefinite
Services, a company founded by previously re- Quantity contract awarded in August 2016.
tired Lockheed Martin Skunk Works engineers,
The department of defence awarded
unveiled the first photos of the completed Fifth more than (US) $1.5 billion in funding for
Generation Aerial Target (5GAT) prototype after the first 21 C-130J aircraft on the multiyear
completing engine tests on the ground. and metallic components from the Northrop that can replicate fifth-generation fighter award. The overall award, worth more than
A first flight of the 5GAT is scheduled in T-38 trainer and F-5 fighter, as well as aileron attributes, such as a stealthy airframe with (US) $3 billion, provides Super Hercules air-
early 2020. actuators from the Boeing F/A-18, Hayes said. canted tails and serpentine inlet ducts. craft to the US Air Force (24 HC/MC-130Js),
The name of the aircraft is derived from its Sierra Technical Services supplemented its The air force also is developing a concept Marine Corps (20 KC-130Js) and Coast
origins as a prototype funded by the Defence revenue as assembly continued by working to pair manned fighters such as the F-22 Guard (options for six HC-130Js).
department’s director of operational test and on other programmes, including supplying and F-35 with an unmanned partner, Aircraft purchased through the C-130J
evaluation (DOT&E), said Roger Hayes, presi- components for the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie. known sometimes as a loyal wingman. Multiyear III award will deliver between "Our partnership with the US govern- worldwide fleet has more than two
dent and CEO of Sierra Technical Services. As development continued, the air force The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) 2021-2025 and will be built at Lockheed ment provides significant savings through million flight hours and is the airlifter of
Several years ago, DOT&E recognised an started to develop interest in a fifth-gen- funded Kratos’ XQ-58A, which completed a Martin's Marietta, Georgia, facility. multiyear procurement as compared to choice for 20 nations.
emerging gap for a new target drone that eration target. The service has awarded first flight in March. "The C-130J Multiyear III award rep- annual buys, and provides the best tactical Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland,
could fly as a surrogate for fifth-generation Lockheed Martin a contract to develop the AFRL also plans to demonstrate a UAS con- resents a joint commitment between airlifter to crews who fly and support the Lockheed Martin is a global security and
fighters emerging in Russia and China such AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, trolled by a ‘software brain’ using artificial in- Lockheed Martin and the US government world's largest Super Hercules fleet." aerospace company that employs approx-
as the Sukhoi Su-57 and AVIC Chengdu J-20. which is being designed to counter the PL- telligence. This Skijor programme is sometimes in delivering proven capability that meets The C-130J Super Hercules is the global imately 105,000 people worldwide and is
In 2017, DOT&E awarded Sierra Technical 15 missile fielded on China’s J-20 fighter. considered follow-on for the XQ-58A program, our operators' mission and affordability standard in tactical airlift, providing a principally engaged in the research, design,
Services a (US) $15.9 million contract to The air force needs to test the AIM-260 but Hayes said Sierra Technical Services could requirements," said Rod McLean, vice pres- unique mix of versatility and perfor- development, manufacture, integration
develop the 5GAT prototype, Hayes said. and other missiles against a representative offer the 5GAT for the Skijor contract. Q ident and general manager, air mobility and mance to complete any mission - any- and sustainment of advanced technology
The pace of assembly has been dictated threat. Last May, the air force released a maritime missions at Lockheed Martin. time, anywhere. The Super Hercules systems, products and services. Q
by the availability of parts cannibalised from request for information for the Next Gener- Article courtesy: https://aviationweek.
other military aircraft, such as the engines ation Aerial Target, which included a version com/defense-space/
NEW SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
DEFENCE
SYSTEM FOR F-35
ROLLS-ROYCE BREAKS GROUND of a bid for the follow-on program in and twice the performance capability.
2018, as company executives said that
Raytheon has also been moving to in-
ockheed Martin is to integrate the pay-off would be higher for other stall the Stormbreaker smart bomb, pre-
business opportunities.
viously known as Small Diametre Bomb
(MRO) servicing to its portfolio of world- Tom Bell, Rolls-Royce plc President, Lthe Raytheon Next-Generati on Lockheed Martin is to perform the II, on the F-35. Stormbreaker has a tri-
Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture
class capabilities. defence and Rolls-Royce North America integration work on the new Raytheon mode seeker that uses imaging infrared,
olls-Royce has invested (US) Rolls-Royce expects demand for spare chairman and CEO said, “We’re excited System (DAS) into all F-35 variants over DAS in Fort Worth and finish the work millimetre wave and a semi-active laser
R$7.7 million to create new man- equipment and MRO services associated to announce this important investment the next two years under a nearly (US) by July 2022 for delivery to the F-35 fleet to destroy moving targets in adverse
ufacturing, repair and test capability in with the US navy’s Littoral Combat Ship in our naval business. Rolls-Royce is $99 million contract announced by the beginning in 2023 with production Lot weather from up to 45 miles away.
support of US navy programme with the (LCS) programme to ramp up in 2020. bringing critical new capabilities to the Pentagon last year. 15 aircraft. Raytheon said that it completed inte-
region, reaffirming our strong com-
expected completion of a new facility Each Freedom class variant of the LCS is mitment to the US - our largest global The system is to provide ‘360-de- As Pentagon officials follow con- gration of the Stormbreaker on the US air
late this year. equipped with four Rolls-Royce waterjets. defence customer - the US department gree situational and environmental gressional direction to reduce F-35 force F-15E Strike Eagle by Boeing in April,
Rolls-Royce officially launched con- Rolls-Royce provides products and ser- of defence. awareness day or night’ according to sustainment costs and improve aircraft 2018. Integration of the Stormbreaker on
struction with a ground breaking event vices to the US navy and is the sole sup- “The new facility in Walpole is just Raytheon, for navigation, missile and performance, Lockheed Martin has said US Navy F/A-18 E/F aircraft by Boeing and
last year for the 24,000 ft ² facility that plier of shock-rated propeller systems, one of many significant US investments aircraft detection and tracking. The that the Raytheon DAS will lead to more the Lockheed Martin F-35 has begun.
will enhance and modernise the compa- which have demonstrated extraordinary Rolls-Royce defence will highlight in pilot's helmet is to receive high-resolu- than (US) $3 billion in life cycle cost All F-35 variants are to carry Storm-
ny’s naval operations in Walpole. levels of reliability and robustness in 2020, as we continue to provide world- tion, real time imagery from six external savings, a 45 percent reduction in unit breaker by 2023, according to Raytheon,
infrared cameras.
Upon completion, Rolls-Royce’s flag- service. Rolls-Royce Propulsion equip- class American made products and ser- recurring costs, a more than 50 percent which said that the F-35 can carry eight
ship naval defence facility will add water ment can be found on more than 95% of vices to support the US military around Northrop Grumman developed the reduction in operations and sustain- Stormbreaker weapons internally and
jet maintenance, repair and overhaul the US navy surface warfare fleet. the world.” Q current AN/AAQ-37 DAS, but bowed out ment costs, five times more reliability eight on the wings. Q
World Airnews | February 2020 World Airnews | February 2020
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