DTN News - AIR SHOW: Melbourne Air & Space Show Rocks Florida'

DTN News - AIR SHOW: Melbourne Air & Space Show Rocks Florida's Space Coast 

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Spaceflight Insider
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 24, 2015 (MELBOURNE, Fla):  The skies above the Melbourne International Airport roared with the sounds of jet and propeller-driven aircraft this weekend. The show was held from March 21-22 and included the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the F-22 Raptor demonstration team, U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team – and an array of other government and civilian organizations.

From our perspective in the control tower, the show comes across as an exercise in logistics. In particular, we were able to witness first-hand the interaction between the air-traffic control tower, the “show boss” who controls the airspace during the rehearsals, and the show and the Blue Angels administrative officer they send to the tower. The coordination involved – is nothing short of amazing.

Melbourne Air and Space Show - Friday Dress Rehearsals F-16 Viper Demonstration Team photo credit Michael Seeley SpaceFlight Insider
An F-16 leaves its wake in the sky. Photo Credit: Michael Seeley / SpaceFlight Insider

Another aspect that was particularly notable is that the show’s producers value partnerships with schools and universities. The reason behind these efforts is to inspire youth to pursue education and fields that relate to Science Technology Engineering and Math, more commonly known as “STEM”. Brevard Schools sent students out to see the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels arrive, and the Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics students and faculty were on hand at a “hangar party”.

SpaceFlight Insider was surprised to find how maneuverable the C-130 – called “Fat Albert” – that the Blue Angels utilizes is.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angel Demonstration Team in their F/A-18 Hornets fly in a tight formation during rehearsals caried out on March 19, 2015. Photo Credit: Michael Seeley / SpaceFlight Insider

Major Dusty Cook (USMC) is one of the aircraft’s pilots. He spoke about how his performance (steep climbs, tight turns and a fast landing with a very short stop) serves to demonstrate the capabilities of the C-130. Cook detailed that he has a special sense of responsibility toward the iconic aircraft and its vital role in allowing the Blue Angels to perform.

Fat Albert carries pallets of repair supplies and equipment to maintain the Blue Angels fleet, and 40-60 mechanical/maintenance staff. Cook noted that he and the team he works with strive to maintain the craft within operational specs.


“I’m leaving it for someone else to fly, so I feel a duty and obligation to turn it over in perfect condition,” Cook said.

*Related Images of Melbourne Air & Space Show;

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources Spaceflight Insider
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Boeing Related To F/A-18E/F And EA-18G Aircraft

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Boeing Related To F/A-18E/F And EA-18G Aircraft

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth +  U.S. DoD issued No. 773-13 November 5, 2013

(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - November 6, 2013:  The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $13,740,115 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0019) for the procurement of aircraft armament equipment for F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. 

This effort will procure 270 station control units, 13 aerial refueling stores (ARS) air probes, 13 ARS fuel probes, 26 ARS suspension lugs, 168 chaff dispenser cover, 26 ALE-50 dispenser, 26 ALE-50 protector, 26 ALE-50 chassis, 26 ALE-67 mounting bases, 26 mounting retainers, and 12 centerline feed-thru plates. 

Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed in August 2015. 

Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $13,740,115 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

The EA-18G, currently being delivered to the U.S. Navy, is the cornerstone of the naval Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Derived from the combat proven F/A-18F aircraft, the EA-18G incorporates advanced AEA avionics bringing transformational capability for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and non-traditional electronic attack operations.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth +  U.S. DoD issued No. 773-13 November 5, 2013
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: New Super Hornet Solicitation Could Threaten Navy’s Joint Strike Fighter Buy

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: New Super Hornet Solicitation Could Threaten Navy’s Joint Strike Fighter Buy

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By: Dave Majumdar USNI News

(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 31, 2013: The U.S Navy has released a pre-solicitation notice for 36 additional Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters, which could potentially threaten the production ramp-up for the service’s Lockheed Martin F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) variant.

But Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) officials say that there is no current requirement for additional Super Hornets in fiscal year 2015. However, the service hopes to gain approval to negotiate a deal should the need arise for more jets.

“Currently, there is no fiscal 2015 or subsequent requirements for additional F/A-18E/Fs or EA-18Gs,” wrote NAVAIR spokeswoman Marcia Hart-Wise in an email to USNI News.

“Naval Air Systems Command released FY15 (Lot 39) F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G (Solicitation Number: N00019-13-R-0102) with the intent to secure justification and approval needed to negotiate a potential option for any prospective requirements that may emerge in fiscal 2015, USN or FMS [Foreign Military Sales].”

According to the Oct. 17 notice, NAVAIR intends to negotiate a fixed price deal with Boeing for the procurement of up to 36 F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft in fiscal year 2015. The procurement would also include all of the jets’ ancillary equipment and technical data.

In addition to the posting for the Super Hornet airframes, NAVAIR also released a similar notification for the jet’s General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofans on Oct. 28. According to that posting, NAVAIR intends to seek a fixed-price deal for up to 84 engines in fiscal year 2015 of which 12 would be spares.

Though Navy officials insist that they are committed to the F-35C, many in Washington suspect that the service is positioning itself to purchase additional F/A-18E/Fs while slowing down the F-35C procurement ramp up.

Such a strategy would allow the Navy to replace some of its increasingly decrepit early-model Boeing F/A-18A/B/C/D aircraft with newer Super Hornets. It would also allow the Navy to reduce the number of early production F-35Cs the service buys that would require various upgrades.

Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with the Teal Group, told USNI News that the Navy is likely paving the way for negotiation in case the U.S. Congress comes up with additional funding to keep the Super Hornet line open past 2016. The Navy was supposed to stop further Super Hornet procurement in the fiscal year 2014 budget.

“They’re not going to ask for them [new Super Hornets] because the budget environment is very difficult,” Aboulafia said. “Other than that, it’s very much in their interest to keep the line open.”

Mark Gunzinger, a noted air power analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, told USNI News that preserving a second fighter production line in the U.S. is a good thing. “I think it’s in our nation’s interest to maintain a healthy fighter aircraft industrial base,” he said.

But some of the additional aircraft may not be destined for the U.S. Navy, Aboulafia noted. The Super Hornet is a contender for Brazil’s continually delayed F-X2 program, which calls for the acquisition of 36 fighters. However, that is a very remote possibility because the F-X2 effort has been delayed until after Brazil’s next election, he noted. Further, Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff is extremely unhappy about the National Security Agency spy scandal.

When contacted by USNI News, Boeing referred all questions on the solicitation to the U.S. Navy.

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By: Dave Majumdar USNI News
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Fighter Aircraft Pricing Themselves Out of the Export Market

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. Fighter Aircraft Pricing Themselves Out of the Export Market

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By Sandra I. Erwin
(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 29, 2013: At a time when U.S. arms manufacturers are turning to overseas markets to help make up for declining sales to Pentagon, analysts warn that the high prices of American fighter jets could place U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage.

The arrival of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter gives manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. an opportunity to sell the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft. But its price tag, in excess of $100 million per airplane, will make it unattainable for most non-U.S. buyers, according to new analysis by The Teal Group, a market research firm. Other perennial contenders in international competitions, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15 Eagle, also are becoming out of reach for many nations.

“We've jacked up the price of fighters,” says Teal Group Vice President Richard Aboulafia. “The export market’s reaction? ‘No, thank you,’” he tells industry executives at a meeting hosted by the Air Force Association, in Arlington, Va.

Although the average unit price of fighters sold internationally today is $65 million — about the cost of a Super hornet — the bulk of the export market increasingly wants F-16 prices, which is about one-third less, says Aboulafia.

Of 52 countries that buy fighters worldwide, 30 are in the $35 million to $50 million price range, he says. 

American firms face a “ real issue” trying to sell higher end machines, Aboulafia says. There are currently just five F-15 users after 40 years of trying to sell it internationally, and one non-U.S. user of the Super Hornet after 15 years of competitions, he says. “That's not good.”

As the manufacturer of the F-16, Lockheed effectively owns the keys to the kingdom of export fighters, says Aboulafia. The problem is that the company is focusing its marketing efforts on the F-35 as it courts international buyers, and only a handful of countries can afford it.

“It's very telling when you go to [Lockheed’s plant in] Fort Worth, Texas, that the F-16 line is treated like the red-headed stepchild,” he says. “I don't think it's necessarily in their interest to keep it going. … But it is concerning because, in terms of the export market, the F-16 line is extremely relevant and necessary.”

The majority of buyers over the coming decades will shop for fighters in the price range of the F-16 or the Mirage 2000, made by France’s Dassault Aviation, Aboulafia says. “And that is the market that we're in danger of abandoning.”

It is estimated that only seven countries could afford the Super Hornet and another seven might be candidates for the F-35, including Singapore, Japan, Israel and South Korea. 

That is a very small pool of buyers, says Aboulafia. For most countries, “a buck and a quarter isn't going to cut it,” he says, referring to the current price of the F-35. “If prices don't go down, the U.S. risks losing a considerable chunk of the world export fighter market which isn't only important from an economic standpoint, but also for strategic relations and keeping allies happy.”

The United States already riled key allies when the Air Force decided to end production of Lockheed’s F-22 air-superiority fighter at 187 airplanes, before it could be sold internationally. “It is bad enough we killed the F-22 before satisfying Japan and Australia," Aboulafia says. The F-35 is now the only high-end fighter in a position to compete for a small number of wealthy nations’ business, he adds. “Having a one-size-fits-all $100 million fighter is just as dangerous in a lot of ways. The market might not grow to pay that price.”

A shrinking pool of buyers is simply the result of global economic trends. 

A group of countries that used to buy lower end fighters bifurcated into haves and have nots. The haves, such as South Korea, moved up into the F-15 or F-35 market. The majority of the have-not countries — including Kenya, Bolivia and Argentina — no longer buy anything except used planes, says Aboulafia. “The market either migrated up or down.”

This puts the United States in a tough spot trying to compete in the developing world as U.S. manufacturers struggle to keep their production lines going. “The last F-15 gets delivered in 2018 or 2019 to Saudi Arabia. … The last F/A-18 E/F exports deliver in 2015 or 2016 unless we win Brazil or Kuwait,” says Aboulafia. Current orders for F-16s would extend production until 2017. “This is worrying.”

The biggest pot of future fighter business, which he calls the "undetermined" sector of the market, is in developing countries that demand lower prices and more technology transfer. “If you want to survive in the fighter market and you're not Lockheed or [Russian manufacturer] Sukhoi, this is what you have to access before the next decade.”

The United States blew a major opportunity in India last year, where Lockheed and Boeing lost to Dassault’s Rafale, he says. “It's pretty clear we did a bad job of promoting U.S. products and make sure that everybody in Treasury, State and Defense were on the same page in terms of technology transfer and offset issues.”

U.S. firms should worry about Sukhoi’s T-50 fighter, he says. “Russia fell from grace, but they've done a good job reinventing their industries,” Aboulafia says. “The T-50 looks real to me, although it's going to happen slower than expected.”

There are only four remaining fighter competitions — in Brazil, Malaysia, Kuwait and Qatar — where the F-35 is not participating and the stakes are huge for the F/A-18, F-15 and F-16, he says. For U.S. industry, winning these deals could be a matter of survival, he says. “If you want more than one fighter line, you have to start accessing the undetermined market. ... That is why it was such a disaster when the F/A-18 lost India.”

That Lockheed has kept the F-16 line going on exports alone is "extraordinary,” he says. Nearly 4,600 have been sold since 1970. “The F/A-18 is not going to have this future if the U.S. Navy stops buying them. It doesn't enjoy a decade thriving on exports.” The Super Hornet is “good value for money, but it's not in a sweet spot. It's not really high end, and not really 'great' value like the F-16 is.”

Lockheed Martin spokesman Ken Ross says the company does not see the F-35 limiting its opportunities in the international market. The F-35 and the F-16 are “complementary” products, he says. The F-35 is for those countries that are looking ahead to the “next level of capability,” Ross says. “We provide options.”

Chart Credit: Lockheed Martin

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources By Sandra I. Erwin
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News - F-18 Super Hornet (VIDEO)

DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News - F-18 Super Hornet  (VIDEO)

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth - DTN  News
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 25, 2013:  Boeing F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets (F/A designation for Fighter/Attack). Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations. The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels has used the Hornet since 1986.
The F/A-18 has a top speed of Mach 1.8. It can carry a wide variety of bombs and missiles, including air-to-air and air-to-ground, supplemented by the 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon. It is powered by two General Electric F404 turbofan engines, which give the aircraft a high thrust-to-weight ratio. The F/A-18 has excellent aerodynamic characteristics, primarily attributed to its leading edge extensions (LEX). The fighter's primary missions are fighter escort, fleet air defense, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), air interdiction, close air support and aerial reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, though it has been criticized for its lack of range and payload compared to its earlier contemporaries, such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in the fighter and strike fighter role, and the Grumman A-6 Intruder and LTV A-7 Corsair II in the attack role.

The F/A-18 Hornet provided the baseline design for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, a larger, evolutionary redesign of the F/A-18. Compared to the Hornet, the Super Hornet is larger, heavier and has improved range and payload. The F/A-18E/F was originally proposed as an alternative to an all-new aircraft to replace existing dedicated attack aircraft such as the A-6. The larger variant was also directed to replace the aging F-14 Tomcat, thus serving a complementary role with Hornets in the U.S. Navy, and serving a wider range of roles including refueling tanker. The Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic jamming platform was also developed from the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.


*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth - DTN  News
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: India-Built Sub-Assembly On US Navy's Combat Planes

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: India-Built Sub-Assembly On US Navy's Combat Planes
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Military & Aerospace
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 1, 2012:  An India-built electronic sub-assembly will be part of the US Navy's combat planes, a statement said Wednesday as Indian companies step up efforts to be part of the global defence supply chain.

The sub-assembly provides the cockpit flood lighting compatible with the aircraft's night vision imaging system (NVIS).

American aerospace major Boeing has delivered the first EA-18G Growler aircraft fitted with a cockpit sub-assembly produced by Indian public sector defence electronics major Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to the US Navy on May 3, a statement from the firm said.

Boeing has also extended a contract signed with BEL for another year for supplying the sub-assembly for Boeing military planes.

Boeing had awarded BEL an initial contract in March 2011 for work on F/A-18 Super Hornet combat plane cockpit sub-assemblies.

That contract included options to renew annually for up to four years. "As a result of BEL's demonstrated performance, Boeing recently exercised an option to renew the contract for another year," it said.

August 2009, EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) and Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132) completed their first at-sea carrier-arrested landing aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). The first deployable EA-18G squadron is to be VAQ-132 "Scorpions", which reached operational status in October 2009. The first Growler operational deployment was announced on 17 February 2011.

In service, the EA-18's radio name during flight operations will be "Grizzly". The "Growler" nickname sounded too much like the EA-6B's "Prowler" name, so "Grizzly" will be used to avoid confusion. With the termination of the EB-52H standoff jammer, the Growler will become the sole remaining manned tactical jammer and Air Staff requirements director Maj. Gen. David Scott has indicated that the USAF will seek to provide electronic warfare officers to fly on US Navy Growlers, without providing funding to purchase additional aircraft. By May 2011, 48 Growlers had been delivered to the U.S. Navy.


The EA-18G was first used in combat during Operation Odyssey Dawn, enforcing the UN no-fly zone over Libya. The five EA-18Gs of VAQ-132 were redeployed from Iraq to Italy to support Libya operations.

Australia: In 2008 the Australian Government requested export approval from the US government to purchase up to six EA-18Gs, which would be part of the order for 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets. On 27 February 2009, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon announced that 12 of the 24 Super Hornets on order would be wired on the production line for future fit-out as EA-18Gs. The additional wiring would cost A$35 million. The final decision on conversion to EA-18Gs, at a cost of A$300 million, will be announced in March 2012.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Military & Aerospace
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Two Lockheed Martin F-35Bs Ferried To Eglin, Marking 25th DOD Delivery

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Two Lockheed Martin F-35Bs Ferried To Eglin, Marking 25th DOD Delivery
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 11, 2012: Two Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) production aircraft were ferried to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., today, marking the 24th and 25th F-35 deliveries to the Department of Defense. 

The 5th Generation multirole fighter jets were delivered to the United States Marine Corps and are now assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 501 residing with the host 33d Fighter Wing.

U.S. Marine Corps pilots Maj. Joseph Bachmann and Lt. Col. Matt Kelly piloted the aircraft, known as BF-9 and BF-10 respectively, which departed Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas at 1:26 p.m. and 1:42 p.m. CDT for an approximate 90-minute flight to Florida’s Emerald Coast. The jets became the 10th and 11th F-35s to join Eglin’s fleet. Both jets will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the F-35 Integrated Training Center there.  

One additional STOVL production jet, BF-11, will join the fleet at Eglin in the coming days. All three jets were formally accepted by the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) on behalf of the Marine Corps with the signing of Department of Defense Form 250 (DD-250). 


BF-9 and BF-10 were accepted May 4 while BF-11 was accepted May 5. Prior to acceptance, the three F-35Bs underwent a series of company and government checkout flights at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least nine other countries.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Raytheon For Radar & Electronic Systems Related To U.S. Navy F/A-18

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Raytheon For Radar & Electronic Systems Related To U.S. Navy F/A-18

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN News & U.S. DoD issued No. 142-12 February 29, 2012

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada – March 2, 2012: Raytheon Co., Space and Airborne Systems, Goleta, Calif., is being awarded a $77,267,880 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0052) to exercise an option for 89 full rate production Lot 14 AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receivers, and nine countermeasure signal processor weapons replacement assemblies. 

 The AN/ALR-67(V)3 enhances pilot situational awareness by providing accurate identification, lethality, and azimuth displays of hostile and friendly emitters.  It also controls the electronic warfare data bus and interfaces with electronic warfare systems, the onboard radar, airborne mission computer, and the F/A-18 weapon systems. 

Work will be performed in Forest, Miss. (34 percent); Lansdale, Pa. (18 percent); Goleta, Calif. (17 percent); Chatsworth, Calif. (11 percent); San Diego, Calif. (10 percent); Sydney, Australia (4 percent); Milwaukie, Ore. (3 percent); and McKinney, Texas (3 percent). 

Work is expected to be completed in December 2014.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN News & U.S. DoD issued No. 142-12 February 29, 2012
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Royal Australian Air Force Super Hornets To Receive New Air Combat Training System

DTN News -  AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Royal Australian Air Force Super Hornets To Receive New Air Combat Training System
>Cubic to deliver latest-generation training technology as part of a Foreign Military Sale
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Cubic Corporation
 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 15, 2012: Cubic Defense Applications, Inc., a defense systems business of Cubic Corporation CUB -0.12%, has received a new contract valued at more than $11 million. Cubic and its principal subcontractor, DRS Training and Control Systems LLC, a unit of DRS Defense Solutions LLC, will provide the P5 Tactical Combat Training System (P5TCTS) to the Royal Australian Air Force for use in training F/A-18F Super Hornet crews.

"This new system represents a step forward for the RAAF," said Michael Rodriguez, Senior Program Manager, Air Ranges. "Australia currently operates a fourth generation Cubic air combat training system at RAAF Base Williamtown for training on its F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. The RAAF decided to purchase the fifth generation P5TCTS for use on its newest F/A-18F aircraft operating at RAAF Base Amberley. This new system will allow for interoperability with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft that the RAAF is planning to purchase in the near future. All F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for Australia will be delivered with an on-board, internal P5 airborne subsystem."

P5TCTS for the Super Hornet will be delivered in late 2012 to RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland. Amberley was previously home to the RAAF's F-111 aircraft, which were recently retired from service and were replaced with two squadrons of F/A-18F Super Hornets. The RAAF's new P5TCTS will be very similar to the current U.S. Navy TCTS system and will include airborne instrumentation pods built by principal subcontractor DRS, transportable ground systems with live monitor, and portable ground subsystems, which includes Cubic's Individual Combat Aircrew Display System (ICADS) software for debriefing. For this effort Cubic, has also been contracted to provide software and hardware to ensure that the legacy Cubic-developed Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) system operating at Williamtown will be able to "merge data" to allow for postmission debriefing between the Classic Hornet and Super Hornet aircrews.

Amberley squadrons will also receive live monitoring (LM) capability. The LM enables real-time monitor and uplink control of P5TCTS-podded aircraft via Cubic's ground stations.

Cubic delivered Australia's first rangeless, instrumented air combat training system to RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, in 2007. Cubic Defence Australia employees maintain the ACMI pods and ground stations there.

The contracting authority for the Foreign Military Sale is the Air Armament Command/EBYK (Range Instrumentation Systems Branch), Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Cubic has a number of previous international sales of P5CTS/TCTS. Additional sales are expected in the near future.

Cubic Corporation is the parent company of three major business segments: Defense Systems, Mission Support Services, and Transportation Systems. Cubic Defense Systems is a leading provider of realistic combat training systems, cyber technologies, asset tracking solutions, and defense electronics. Mission Support Services is a leading provider of training, operations, maintenance, technical, and other support services for U.S. and allied military and security forces. Cubic Transportation Systems is the world's leading provider of automated fare collection systems and services for public transit authorities. For more information about Cubic, see the company's website at www.cubic.com .

DRS Defense Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRS Technologies, is a best-in-class provider of advanced products, services and systems integration to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors. The company is part of Finmeccanica Group (FNC.MI), which ranks among the top 10 global players in aerospace, defense and security, employing approximately 71,000 people. To learn more go to www.drs-ds.com .

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Cubic Corporation
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - BRAZIL DEFENSE NEWS: Brazil "Very Likely" To Choose French Fighter - Sources

DTN News - BRAZIL DEFENSE NEWS: Brazil "Very Likely" To Choose French Fighter - Sources
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Brian Winter - Reuters
 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 15, 2012: Brazil is "very likely" to choose France's Rafale fighter jet to refurbish its air force, government sources say, a decision that would award one of the emerging-market world's most coveted defense contracts to a jet whose future was in doubt only two weeks ago.

President Dilma Rousseff and her top advisers believe that Dassault Aviation's (AVMD.PA) bid to sell at least 36 Rafales offers the best terms among the three finalists, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The other two bidders in the competition are U.S.-based Boeing (BA.N) with its F-18 Super Hornet and Sweden's Saab (SAABb.ST) with its Gripen.

Rousseff has cast the deal as a watershed decision that will help mold Brazil's military and strategic alliances for the next few decades as it establishes itself as a leading economic power. The contract will have an initial value of about $4 billion, but will likely be worth considerably more over time once maintenance and follow-on orders are included.

Rousseff previously had concerns about the Rafale because the jet had not found any buyers outside France. That raised doubts about whether Dassault would have the scale necessary to build the jets at a reasonable cost and maintain them over time.

The sources said Rousseff's concerns were assuaged when India announced on January 31 that it had entered exclusive talks to buy 126 Rafales. Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim traveled to New Delhi last week to discuss the deal with Indian officials and examine documents related to Dassault's bid.

"The India deal changed everything," one of the Brazilian sources said. "With India's decision, it's now very likely the Rafale will be the winner here."

Shares in Dassault Aviation were up about 4.5 percent, at 706.5 euros, in Paris following the news. A spokesman for the company declined comment.

Jeff Kohler, a vice president of Boeing's business development division, said on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow he believed the Brazil bid was still "up in the air."

The Brazilian sources said Dassault offered the best combination of a high-quality aircraft and the sharing of proprietary technology that Rousseff has said is most critical to the deal. Brazil hopes to use the technology to expand its own budding defense industry, led by aircraft maker Embraer (EMBR3.SA).

Boeing's offer of technology has yet to be finalized, but the sources said they believe it cannot compete with Dassault's bid because the United States has previously placed tight restrictions on the sale of military technology abroad, including one incident involving Embraer in 2006.

Dassault touts the Rafale as an agile, medium-sized aircraft with low operating costs that can be more quickly deployed than its bulkier competitors. Those attributes may appeal to Brazil, which has no significant problems with its neighbors and plans to use the aircraft mainly for defensive purposes such as patrolling its recently discovered offshore oil fields.

POTENTIAL WIN FOR SARKOZY

If confirmed, the deals would enhance France's partnerships with Brazil and India, two of the world's biggest up-and-coming economic powers. They could also provide a boost to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has cast himself as a champion of French industry and an energetic salesman of the Rafale in particular as he faces a tough re-election fight this year.

The sources said that unexpected developments, especially a breakdown in India's talks with Dassault, could still cause Rousseff to change her mind.

They also said her decision would probably not be announced until after France's April-May election, in an attempt to keep the deal from becoming overly politicized.

Brazil's air force contract is one of several deals in developing countries that have been highly contested by European and U.S. defense companies as their home markets suffer due to budget cuts. Companies are also competing for jet contracts in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and South Korea.

Brazil's bidding process has been open for more than a decade, spanning three presidents and several dramatic ups and downs. Rousseff's predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said in 2009 that Brazil would choose the Rafale but then left office without finalizing the deal.

Rousseff was extremely close to Lula as his chief of staff, but upon becoming president in January 2011 she surprised her cabinet ministers by asking them to re-evaluate the bids from scratch. A month later, Rousseff told visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that Boeing's F-18 was the best jet among the three finalists, but she still wanted better terms on the technology transfers.

Ultimately, Rousseff grew frustrated by what she perceived as Boeing's inability to improve the guarantees on the transfers, the officials said. Rousseff is a moderate leftist who has built her presidency around policies she believes will help expand Brazilian industries in areas from oil exploration to auto production.

The officials said that Rousseff remained especially wary of a 2006 incident in which the United States blocked the sale of Embraer's Super Tucano military aircraft to Venezuela's leftist government. Washington had the power to veto the deal because Embraer's planes contained U.S. technology.

In a separate incident in 2009, Embraer said it was temporarily blocked from selling commercial jets to Venezuela because they contained U.S. communications systems.

The episodes raised doubts about whether Brazil would face similar restrictions in the future with the technology it received from Boeing as part of the F-18 bid.

"Nobody's ever forgotten what happened with Venezuela," a second official said.

In a twist that may have influenced Rousseff's decision, Brazil's most vocal point-man in the confrontation with the United States in both Embraer incidents was Amorim. He was Lula's foreign minister at the time and Rousseff appointed him as her defense minister in August.

AMORIM GETS INDIAN DOCUMENTS

Boeing has responded to those doubts by trying to compete as the more cost-effective option. The F-18 is widely believed to be cheaper than the Rafale, and Boeing recently confirmed that it will offer the jet to Brazil at the same per-unit price as during the last round of bidding in 2009.

Despite her misgivings on Boeing, Rousseff also did not want to choose a jet that might not even be in production a decade into the future. In December, French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet warned that Dassault would stop production of the Rafale in 2021 if it did not win any export orders.

Within days of India's announcement regarding talks for the Rafale, Amorim traveled to New Delhi to gauge the bid's terms and its likelihood of proceeding as planned.

Amorim told the Times of India on Wednesday that Indian officials "promised to give us some documents...such as basic rules on the tender process that we could compare to ours."

Brazil is not the only country that appears to be suddenly following India's lead. French newspaper La Tribune reported on February 2 that Dassault could soon seal a sale of at least 60 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, turning around a deal that also appeared to be a lost cause.

(Additional reporting by Raju Gopalakrishnan in Singapore and Cyril Altmeyer in Paris; Editing by Kieran Murray and Vicki Allen)

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Brian Winter - Reuters
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS