Wednesday, July 20, 2011

DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE NEWS: Fifth F-35 Marine Corps Variant Delivered To Navy Test Site

DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE NEWS: Fifth F-35 Marine Corps Variant Delivered To Navy Test Site
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / FORT WORTH, Texas, - July 20, 2011: The fifth Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Short Take Off/Vertical Landing (STOVL) flight test aircraft delivered to the Marine Corps arrives at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md., Saturday, July 16. Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew the short takeoff/vertical landing aircraft, designated BF-5, for the 3.5-hour flight from NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. BF-5 is the seventh F-35 to be delivered in 2011 and the third aircraft delivered to NAS Patuxent River this year
The F-35 is a 5th generation stealth multirole aircraft, capable of performing close air support, tactical bombing and achieving air superiority. It has three different configurations; one is a conventional takeoff and landing variant (CTOL) which serves the U.S.A.F, the second is a short takeoff and vertical landing variant (STOVL) made for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.K. Royal Navy/Air Force, and the third is a carrier variant (CV) for the U.S. Navy. The F-35’s designs and construction are lead by Lockheed Martin Corporations, and supported by Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and Pratt & Whitney which participate as partners. It has not entered U.S’s operational service yet, and it isn’t clear yet which nation will be the first to receive it.
The U.S’s need for the F-35 came in 1996 due to the rise in maintenance cost of existing aircraft. Many aircrafts had to be replaced, and reproducing them did not pay as well as developing a new type of aircraft. So a new project was made to replace all of United States’ lightweight fighters and attack aircraft; the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which aimed for developing an affordable, lightweight, stealth enabled fighter, with the ability to take off from short runways and land vertically. The new aircraft’s efficiency in air-to-air combat would have to be four times larger than those of legacy fighters, eight times larger in air to ground role, three times larger in reconnaissance and also have improved range. It would be good enough to replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F/A-18 Hornet, the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the AV-8B Harrier II altogether! The program cost reached 40 billion dollars, mainly paid by the United States, and also supported by UK, Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Israel and Singapore.
The contracts and money (750 million dollars for every competitor) for the development were awarded to Lockheed Martin which developed the X-35, and Boeing which developed the X-32. Lockheed martin decided to base the X-35 on their successful F-22 Raptor and make it land vertically by using the plane’s exhaust and a shaft-driven lift fan, using the main engine to gain more thrust. Unlike the X-35, Boeing’s X-32 was designed to be a delta-wing fighter and land using its fan exhaust alone.
While the competition was intense and both X-35 and X-32 met or exceeded all requirements, Boeing’s X-32 had major drawbacks that were not familiarized with the X-35:
-The X-32 could not perform short takeoffs, unlike the X-35 (in the STOVL variant), which could use its lift fan to shorten the needed runway’s length.
-Vertical landing also proved to be an obstacle for the X-32, when it was found that during the landing hot air circulated from the exhaust back to the main engine, causing it to overheat and weakening the thrust, thus risking a crash. The X-35 avoided the “engine choke” problem by a coincidence-the airflow released by the lift fan prevents the exhaust’s hot gases from reaching the inlets, thus creating an “invisible wall” that separates between the airplane’s outtakes and intakes.
-Also, the X-35’s lift fan lightens the burden put on the engine during vertical landings, and thus preserves its lifespan- unlike the X-32…
-Furthermore, the X-32’s delta wings did not fit naval service, and although Boeing came up with a new and more agile prototype design, there was no time to change it.
-Lastly, the X-32’s (ugly) design was never tested before, and could show new and unexpected problems.
On 26 October 2001 the contract and money (18.9 billion dollars) for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) were awarded to Lockheed Martin, whose X-35 proved itself better than Boeing’s X-32 by outperforming it consistently.
Naming the new airplane was not an obvious task- the main argument was whether to call it F-24, as the next aircraft entering United States’ service (after the YF-23) or F-35, which fits its earlier title “X-35”. After many discussions, it was officially named F-35. The F-35 was named “Lightning ll” in order to honor Lockheed Martin’s World War II-era twin-prop P-38 Lightning. Because the F-35 has 3 different variants, the name “Lightning ll” might not serve all F-35s. That name was dumped before, when it was given to the F-22 for the same reason, and changed later to “Raptor”.
The F-35’s shape reminds Lockheed’s earlier made F-22, although it is smaller and has only one engine. Its capabilities are second only to those of the F-22 Raptor, and as mentioned before, they include a short takeoff and vertical landing abilities thanks to its lift fan and thrust vectoring nozzle. The lift fan also grants the F-35 a larger payload capacity, which enables the F-35 to carry much more weapons-even more than the F-22! It also reduces the damage dealt by the aircraft’s hot exhaust to runways/aircraft carrier decks during vertical takeoffs/landings by cooling it with its own cold air flow. However, it often proves to be unnecessary and add extra weight during conventional takeoffs/landings, or while performing horizontal flights.
The USAF has conducted an analysis of the F-35's air-to-air performance against all 4th generation fighter aircraft currently available, and has found the F-35 to be at least four times more effective. It is expected to be mass produced with about 5000 airplanes manufactured through 2040 as a worldwide leading airplane. Future plans of creating self-flying aircraft using artificial high-intelligent computers instead of pilots suggest that the F-35 might be the last manufactured manned fighter.
Lockheed Martin - Press Releases
July 19, 2011 Lockheed Martin Team Performs First U.S. Navy Demonstration of Joint Tactical Radio Network July 19, 2011 Lockheed Martin Second Quarter 2011 Earnings Conference Call Webcast July 19, 2011 Lockheed Martin Announces Voluntary Plan To Reduce Corporate Staff In Continuing Focus On Affordability July 18, 2011 Another C-5M Super Galaxy Takes Flight July 18, 2011 Fifth F-35 Marine Corps Variant Delivered To Navy Test Site July 18, 2011 Lockheed Martin Awarded $85 Million Contract To Support U.S. Navy Antisubmarine Warfare Mission July 18, 2011 Lockheed Martin Delivers Five Millionth Part as U.S. Military Global Automotive Supply Chain Manager July 14, 2011 Lockheed Martin Completes AN/AAQ-39 Targeting System Deliveries To The U.S. Air Force July 14, 2011 Lockheed Martin Team Delivers Joint Tactical Radio to the U.S. Government for Integration into First Aircraft Platform July 14, 2011 Lockheed Martin Delivers First F-35 Production Jet For Training To Eglin AFB
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DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE NEWS: Another C-5M Super Galaxy Takes Flight

DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE NEWS: Another C-5M Super Galaxy Takes Flight
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / MARIETTA, Ga., - July 20, 2011: The third production C-5M Super Galaxy took its first flight today (July 18th) here at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta. Aircraft 0005 is stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Del. and assigned to be flown by both active duty and reserve airlift wings there.
The modernization program includes more than 70 improvements to include brand-new, fuel-efficient engines and recently flew the first U.S. polar overflight mission direct to Afghanistan.
The C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft is a game changer to the warfighter. While setting 42 world records in airlift, the C-5M established new benchmarks in carrying more cargo, faster and farther than any other airlifter. A venerable workhorse, the recognized improvements in performance, efficiency and safety validate the tremendous value to the taxpayer in modernizing proven and viable aircraft. The C-5 can carry twice the cargo of other strategic airlift systems - the only strategic airlifter with the capability of carrying 100 percent of certified air-transportable cargo.
The C-5M has been a vital element of strategic airlift in every major contingency and humanitarian relief effort since it entered service. The Super Galaxy is the only strategic airlifter capable of linking America directly to the warfighter to all theatres of combat. With more than half of its useful structural life remaining, the C-5M Super Galaxy will be a force multiplier through 2040 and beyond.
C-5 modernization provides greatly improved reliability, efficiency, maintainability and availability — reducing total ownership and operating costs - and ensures this critical national strategic airlift resource continues serving the warfighter well into the 21st century.
The C-5M Super Galaxy is the result of a two-phase modernization effort: the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) and the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP).
AMP adds a new, modern cockpit with a digital, all-weather flight control system and autopilot; a new communications suite; flat-panel displays; and enhanced navigation and safety equipment. Enhancements such as the integrated datalink capabilities, predictive flight performance cues and situational awareness displays (the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System) greatly ease crew workload and enhance situational awareness. AMP is the digital backbone to support RERP.
RERP adds new GE CF6-80C2 commercial engines (military designation F138-GE-100) plus 70 other enhancements to major components and subsystems. The RERP significantly increases fleet availability; improves reliability, maintainability, operational performance and allowable cabin loads; and dramatically reduces total ownership cost and fuel consumption. Re-engining is the centerpiece of the RERP program. The new engine produces more than 50,000 pounds of thrust - a 22 percent increase over current TF39 engines — and is Stage III noise compliant.
Once operational, the C-5M Super Galaxy will have a 58 percent greater climb rate to an initial cruise altitude that is 38 percent higher than the current C-5. This improved capability will enable the C-5M to carry significantly more cargo from more airfields, over great distances, with reduced dependency on tanker assets.

Media Contact:

Chad E. Gibson Communications Manager, C-5 Program Office: (770) 494-3847 Mobile: (678) 761-4623 www.facebook.com/supergalaxy www.lockheedmartin.com/products/c5

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DTN News - AFRICA DEFENSE NEWS: Africa Increases Imports of Ukrainian Arms

DTN News - AFRICA DEFENSE NEWS: Africa Increases Imports of Ukrainian Arms
**Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo have bought a total of 250 T-55 and T-72 tanks. The T-72, first produced in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, has been widely exported to many African, Asian and Middle Eastern nations.
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 20, 2011: Africa imported $956.7 million of Ukrainian armaments in 2010, an increase of about 20 percent over the previous year, Ukrainian government figures indicate.
"The portfolio of contracts signed by state-run arms exporter Ukrspetsexport increased in value from $799.5 million in 2009 to $956.7 million (in 2010)," said Ukraine's State Service for Export Control.
The 2009 figures represented a 14 percent increase over Ukrspetsexport's 2008 sales.
Africa's leading purchasers of Ukrainian weaponry are Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kommersant-Ukraine newspaper reported Monday.
The two countries bought a total of 250 T-55 and T-72 tanks. The T-72, first produced in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, has been widely exported to many African, Asian and Middle Eastern nations.
Oil-rich Sudan, currently fighting a number of insurgent groups along with Khartoum's campaign in Darfur, also bought Grad multiple rocket launchers, 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, 152-mm 1S3 Akatsia self-propelled howitzers, D-30 howitzers, 82-mm mortars and a masses of small arms, including 10,000 Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles.
Last month Ukrspetsexport signed a $100 million contract with the Ethiopian Defense Ministry on the delivery of more than 200 T-72 tanks, one of the largest contracts Ukrspetsexport has signed in the last 15 years. Ukrspetsexport is expecting the contract to generate additional business in the form of further orders for the repair and upkeep of the tanks.
The Ukrainian arms sales to Africa have aroused criticism as they are seen as fueling Africa's rampant civil wars. Former Ukrspetsexport Director Sergei Bondarchuk criticized the State Service for Export Control data as unrealistic.
"I don't trust these figures," Bondarchuk said. "As far as I know, we only signed an option for a previous contract with Sudan last year and the rest are ongoing deliveries under contracts signed by the previous team."
Documents released by WikiLeaks indicate the U.S. government expressed concern about Ukrainian arms exports to African nations.
One leaked document stated that during U.S.-Ukraine non-proliferation talks in Kiev in November 2009, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Vann Van Diepen claimed that Ukrspetsexport had sold tanks to South Sudan, despite assurances to the contrary and provided the Ukrainian negotiators with evidence of the sales.
Another leaked cable noted, "Van Diepen showed the Ukrainians clear satellite imagery of T-72 tanks unloaded in Kenya, transferred to rail yards for onward shipment, and finally in South Sudan. This led to a commotion on the Ukrainian side."
Ukrspetsexport not only sells the products of the Ukrainian arms industry but also the excess weaponry of the armed forces of Ukraine inherited from the Soviet army.
The T-72 Ural main battle tank was developed as a cheaper and more reliable, however less capable alternative to the T-64. It entered service with Soviet army in 1973. A total of 30 000 tanks of this type were produced in the Soviet Union, China, Czechoslovakia, India, Romania and Yugoslavia. It was exported to about 30 countries. At the end of 1990s Russia operated around 9 000 of these main battle tanks.
The T-72 is protected by composite armor. Some sources claim that front armor of the T-72 is equivalent to 500-600 mm. Side armor provides protection against IFV and helicopter cannons. Later production models were fitted with side skirts. The T-72 is completed with NBC protection system and automatic fire extinguishing equipment.
This main battle tank is completed with a 125-mm smoothbore gun, fitted with new carousel-type autoloader. Previous autoloader on the T-64 was unreliable and had a number of other drawbacks. However autoloader of the T-72 was slower than that, used on the T-64. Rate of fire is 8 rounds per minute, or 1 - 2 rounds per minute, when loaded manually. A total of 39 rounds for the main gun are carried. Effective range of fire with APFSDS round is about 2 000 - 3 000 day and 850 - 1 300 m at night. Armor penetration is about 590 - 630 mm at 2 000 m range.
Secondary armament consists of coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and 12.7-mm machine gun, mounted on top of the roof in the opened mount.
Vehicle has a crew of three, including commander, gunner and driver.
The T-72 is powered by a V-46 diesel engine, developing 780 horsepower. This main battle tank is completed with a self-entrenching blade and can dig trench during 12-40 minutes, depending on the ground type. When not in use this self-entrenching blade provides additional protection for the front of the hull. Vehicle is fitted with a deep wading kit and can ford water obstacles up to 5 meters deep.
Variants
T-72 Ural-1 with improved armor protection;
T-72 Ural-K command tank with navigation equipment and additional communication equipment;
T-72A has a number of improvements;
T-72AK command version of the T-72A;
T-72AV fitted with explosive reactive armor;
T-72M export model of the T-72A;
T-72B with thicker turret armor;
T-72BK command version of the T-72B;
T-72B1 has no capability to launch anti-tank guided missiles;
T-72S export version of the T-72B;
T-72S1 export version of the T-72B1;
T-72BM fitted with second generation explosive reactive armor;
T-90 further development of the T-72. It uses a well-proven hull of the T-72 and turret with all weapon systems of the T-80U. Also it has a number of other improvements. It was accepted to service with the Russian Army in 1993;
PT-91 Twardy improved Polish version of the T-72;
TR-125 Romanian version of the T-72;
M-84 former Yugoslavian version of the T-72;
Other variants are:
BREM-1 armored recovery vehicle;
BREM-2 armored recovery vehicle;
MTU-72 armored bridgelayer;
IMR-2 combat engineering vehicle;
BMR-3M mine clearing vehicle;
BMPT tank support combat vehicle;
BMO-T specialized heavy armored personnel carrier;
2S19 Msta-S 152-mm self-propelled howitzer.

Current operators of T-72 MBT (Wikipedia)

T-72 operators in bright red, former operators in dark red.
Hungarian T-72 tanks.

This list does not include operators of the Yugoslavian M-84.

  • Abkhazia – 40
  • Algeria – 500
  • Angola – 22 T-72M1 bought from Belarus in 1999.[1]
  • Armenia – 160[2]
  • Azerbaijan – 180 T-72A en T-72B in 2003.[2]
  • Belarus – 1,465 T-72B.[3][4]
  • Bulgaria – 160 T-72M2 and a large number (some 270) in reserve.[5]
  • Cuba – About 50 Т-72Ðœ1 [2]
  • Czech Republic – 543 inherited from former Czechoslovakia in 1993. 179 T-72 main battle tanks in service as of 1 January 2008.
  • Djibouti – 42 bought from Yemen.
  • Ethiopia – 50 bought from Yemen, 200 reportedly ordered from Ukraine in 2011.[6]
  • Georgia – 50 T-72A and T-72M1 in 2004. 140 T-72A, T-72M1 and T-72B in 2005. 170 T-72M1, T-72B and T-72Sim1 in 2007. Approximately 200 T-72B1 and T-72Sim1 in 2008, 169 Т-72B1 and T-72Sim1 as of 2009.[7]
  • Hungary – 195 T-72M and T-72M1 in 2009. To be retired after 2010.[2]
  • India – 1,900 T-72M and T-72M1 as of 2008[8]
  • Iran – 480 T-72M1 and T-72S since 2002.
  • Iraq – 1000 T-72s, T-72Ms, T-72M1s, Lion of Babylon and Saddam tanks were in service with Iraqi Army in 1990. 375 T-72s, T-72Ms, T-72M1s, Lion of Babylon and Saddam tanks were in service with Iraqi Regular Army in 2003. Only 120 T-72M1 are in service as of 2009 with the new Iraqi Army.
  • Kazakhstan - 980[9]
  • Kenya – 77 T-72AV from Ukraine in 2007. 33 delivered in Feb 2009 may bring total to 110.
  • Kyrgyzstan - 215[10]
  • Libya – 150 in 2003.[2]
  • Macedonia – 30 T-72A and 1 T-72AK from Ukraine.
  • Morocco – 200
  • Myanmar – 139 T-72S
  • North Korea – Probably a T-72S was sold to the North Koreans in the early 1990s.[11]
  • Poland – 586 T-72M1 and T-72M1D[12] (2006, 2007 - 597,[13] 2005 - 644, 2004 - 649 [14] ) and 135 T-72M1Z[12][15] (T-72M1 upgraded to PT-91 standard) (Also 98 PT-91 in service) Plans to withdraw the T-72M1 in 2018.
  • Russia – 1,200 in active service, 8000 in reserve[16]
  • Slovakia – 272 T-72M and T-72M1.
  • South Sudan – 32 T-72s from the MV Faina as well as 67 T-72s from previous arms shipments.[17]
  • South Ossetia – 10 Used during in the 2008 South Ossetia War.
  • Syria – 1,600[18]
  • Tajikistan - 44[19]
  • Turkmenistan - 702[20]
  • Ukraine – 1,180[21]
  • Uzbekistan – 70[22]
  • Venezuela – 92 T-72BM ordered
  • Vietnam – 480 T-72M1 in the 2005, supplied by Poland.
  • Yemen – 39 in 2003.[2]

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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

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