Sponsored by American Panel Corporation
http:// http://american-panel.com/
————————————————————————-
EUROPE
02 Mar 20. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), announced that it will host Blue Magic Belgium (BMB) again this year. Initiated in 2019, BMB is a GA-ASI industrial collaboration event held to identify Belgian technology companies interested in supporting the development of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian® RPA. This year’s BMB event will be held on April 21-22, 2020 at DronePort’s facilities in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. The Government of Belgium has approved Belgian Defense to negotiate for the acquisition of MQ-9B to meet the nation’s RPA requirements.
“GA-ASI’s commitment to providing the best available RPA technology to Belgian Defense means identifying and establishing relationships with companies across Belgium that can assist us with that effort,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “Our inaugural BMB event last year introduced us to 19 great companies. Four of those companies are now part of Team SkyGuardian.”
The BMB event strives to increase the number of small and medium size Belgian companies that can provide research and development (R&D) and innovation to support GA-ASI. GA-ASI hopes to partner and potentially invest in Belgian companies with aerospace and defense technology capability that can provide support in these areas:
- State-of-the-art innovative manufacturing developments related to Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Airframe and Aircraft Systems
- Sensor data processing, automation, utilization & distribution technology developments
- Air Space Integration technologies and related developments to MALE Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Companies wishing to meet with GA-ASI representatives during the April 21-22 event should visit http://theomxevents.com/BlueMagicBelgium for additional information and event registration.
As part of last year’s BMB, AeroSimulators Group (ASG), AIRobot, ALX Systems and Hexagon joined Team SkyGuardian, which already included these five Belgium companies: SABCA, Thales Belgium, ScioTeq, ST Engineering and DronePort.
USA
04 Mar 20. US Marine Corps seeking new medium, long-range tactical UAS platforms. The US Marine Corps is seeking industry proposals to develop new medium- and long-range unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, specifically designed to be fielded and deployed at the small unit level, according to technical specifications in the programme solicitation. Officials from the Navy and Marine Corps Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-263), under the Program Executive Officer, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO U/W) at Patuxent River, Maryland, issued a pair of requests for information (RFIs) on 27 February: one for a medium-range and medium-endurance (MR/ME) tactical UAS, and a long-range, long-endurance (LR/LE) version of the proposed platform. (Source: Jane’s)
03 Mar 20. Boeing [NYSE: BA] is offering the U.S. Army an agile, fully integrated, purpose-built system for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) prototype competition. Boeing FARA is designed to meet the Army’s current mission needs while evolving as technologies and missions change. The thrust compounded single-main rotor helicopter boasts a six-bladed rotor system, a single engine, tandem seating and a modular, state-of-the-art cockpit with a reconfigurable large area display and autonomous capabilities.
“We’re offering more than a helicopter – we’re offering an affordable and fully integrated system for the Army, the mission and the future. We’ve blended innovation, ingenuity and proven rotorcraft experience with extensive testing and advanced analysis to offer a very compelling solution,” said Mark Cherry, vice president and general manager of Boeing’s Phantom Works.
The fly-by-wire design leverages more than 65 years of rotorcraft experience, proven advanced and additive manufacturing technology, and product commonality driving down risk and costs. The system will provide seamless capability within the Army ecosystem to include Long-Range Precision Fires and air-launched effects.
“We listened to the Army, assessed all alternatives, and optimized our design to provide the right aircraft to meet the requirements,” said Shane Openshaw, Boeing FARA program manager. “We are offering a very reliable, sustainable and flexible aircraft with a focus on safety and the future fight.”
FARA will fill a critical gap in Army aviation for an advanced light attack and reconnaissance capability, previously held by the now-retired Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.
28 Feb 20. The US Navy’s FFG(X) could be awarded sooner than expected. The U.S. Navy’s next-generation frigate could be awarded within the next few months, earlier than expected, the service’s top civilian said Friday. Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly told conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt that he had tasked Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition James Geurts to look at accelerating the award of the first ship, which was slated for this fall.
“The plan was to try and do it in the latter part of this year,” Modly told Hewitt. “I’ve asked [Geurts] to try and accelerate that earlier, and he’s looking into the possibilities for doing that.
“But obviously, you know, we have acquisition rules, and we want to make sure that we do this in the proper way.”
The competition has narrowed to bids from Huntington Ingalls Industries; a team of Navantia and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works; Fincantieri; and Austal USA.
Navantia is offering a version of its F-100 design, which is in use by the Spanish Navy; Austal is submitting a version of its trimaran littoral combat ship; Fincantieri is offering its FREMM design; and Huntington Ingalls is believed to be offering an up-gunned version of its national security cutter.
Lockheed Martin’s version of the FFG(X), an up-gunned, twin-screw variant of its Freedom-class LCS, was pulled from the competition in May.
The FFG(X) is supposed to be a small, multimission ship with a modified version of Raytheon’s SPY-6 radar destined for the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Combat System, as well as some point defense systems and 32 vertical launch cells for about half the cost of a destroyer.
The first ship ordered in 2020 is expected to cost $1.28bn, according to budget documents, with the next ship in 2021 dropping to $1.05bn.
The Navy expects it to take six years to complete design and construction of the first ship, which should be finished in 2026. Once construction begins, planners anticipate it will take 48 months to build.
The second frigate is expected to be ordered in April 2021, and from there it should be delivered about five and a half years after the award date. That means that the first ship should be delivered to the fleet in July of 2026, and the second about three months later. (Source: Defense News)
REST OF THE WORLD
04 Mar 20. thyssenkrupp, Embraer and Atech sign a contract to build Brazilian Navy’s Tamandaré Class Ships. On March 5th, in Rio de Janeiro, Emgepron, an independent state company, linked to the Ministry of Defense through the Brazilian Navy Command, and Águas Azuis, a company created by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security and Atech, signed the contract for building four state-of-the-art Tamandaré Class Ships, with deliveries scheduled between 2025 and 2028. The construction will take place 100% in Brazil, in Itajaí, Santa Catarina State, and is expected to have local content rates above 30% for the first vessel and 40% for the others. thyssenkrupp will supply the naval technology of its proven MEKO® Class shipbuilding platform of defence vessels that is already in operation in 15 countries. Embraer will integrate sensors and weaponry into the combat system, bringing also to the program its 50 years’ experience in systems technology solutions and in-service support.
Atech, an Embraer Group company, will be the supplier of the CMS (Combat Management System) and IPMS (Integrated Platform Management System, from L3 MAPPS), and the recipient of technology transfer in cooperation with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, a thyssenkrupp Marine Systems subsidiary that produces the CMS and sonar systems.
04 Mar 20. No agreement yet on Italian frigate sale to Egypt. Italian shipyard Fincantieri has yet to submit the necessary export request to sell two Bergamini-class frigates to Egypt, Alberto Cutillo, the director of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Military Material Authorisation Unit (UAMA), said on 3 March. Cutillo told the commission investigating the death of Giulio Regeni, an Italian who was tortured and killed in Egypt in 2016, that the foreign and defence ministries had no differing opinions when they approved Fincantieri’s request to negotiate the sale. He added that the absence of an export request from the company indicated that talks are continuing. The Italian press has identified the frigates that would be sold as Spartaco Schergat and Emilio Bianchi, both of which are being completed for the Italian Navy but have yet to be commissioned. (Source: Jane’s)
02 Mar 20. Australia announces tenders are open for Navy’s new OPVs. Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has announced the opening of tenders for Australian industry to provide an innovative sustainment model for the Royal Australian Navy’s new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), the Arafura Class. The Capability Life Cycle Manager will provide specialist asset management services to support and sustain the Arafura Class. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the request for tender was the first part of a tailored sustainment plan. “This will be a modern, innovative and highly skilled sustainment plan to deliver a complex naval capability which is reliable, fit-for-purpose, and represents a new generation of naval operations,” Minister Price explained. Construction is well underway on two of the 12 Arafura Class OPVs, which are a key part of the Morrison government’s $90 bn continuous Naval Shipbuilding Program. An Industry Briefing will be held in Perth on 16 March 2020 about the Capability Life Cycle Management services model. SEA 1180 Phase 1 OPVs will replace and improve upon the capability delivered by the 13 Armidale Class patrol boats by acquiring 12 new vessels, which will be known as the Arafura Class when they enter service from 2022. The primary role of the OPV will be to undertake constabulary missions, and the OPV will be the primary ADF asset for maritime patrol and response duties. A competitive evaluation process (CEP) commenced in late 2015 and concluded with the signing of a contract with Lürssen Australia on 31 January 2018. Lead ship HMAS Arafura, named after the Arafura Sea in northern Australia, is currently under construction at the ASC Shipyard in Osborne, South Australia. The project will move to Henderson in Western Australia in 2020 where 10 OPVs will be built by Civmec in partnership with Lürssen Australia. It is estimated the $3.6bn SEA 1180 project will create around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Lürssen is a global leader in designing and building ships of the highest quality for demanding customers all over the world.
The German company beat out bids from Dutch company Damen, which was also partnered with ASC and Civmec, as well as German company Fassmer, which was in a joint venture with Austal, for the SEA 1180 project.
Civmec is an integrated, multi-disciplinary construction and engineering services provider to the oil and gas, metals and minerals, infrastructure, and marine and defence sectors.
Headquartered in Henderson, WA, Civmec has regional offices in Broome (WA), Darwin (Northern Territory), Newcastle and Sydney (NSW), and Gladstone (Queensland). (Source: Defence Connect)
28 Feb 20. Jordan requests artillery C3 equipment from US. The Government of Jordan has requested to purchase up to 700 Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) software licence copies from the US.
Approved by the US State Department through a foreign military sale programme, the software licence copies and related equipment are valued at approximately $300m. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of the deal, which is designed to help Jordan modernise its military. The AFATDS software licence copies will be customised with international ballistic kernel for Jordan. The requested deal includes the delivery of approximately 200 laptops and table computers with battery kits and other hardware systems, including prints, scanners, network routers and modems, and communication hardware.
Other equipment requested includes 250 5kW auxiliary power units (APUs), 100 electrical generators, 50 7800-HF 150W high-frequency radios, 500 7850-MB 50W multiband (UHF&VHF) radios and 550 7850-MB IO-Watt multiband (UHF&VHF) radios. In addition, the contract will include the required cables and components, as well as other installation services. Support will be extended for operations, integration and maintenance and contractor furnished support services. (Source: army-technology.com)
02 Mar 20. Saab Announces ‘Gripen for Canada Team.’ Saab is bidding for Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) and today announced that leading Canadian aerospace companies IMP Aerospace & Defence, CAE, Peraton Canada and GE Aviation are the ‘Gripen for Canada Team’.
Saab is offering Gripen E, with the support of the Swedish government, for Canada’s future fighter requirement of 88 new aircraft to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s existing CF-18 Hornet fighter fleet. The Canadian Request for Proposal requires companies to deliver high-quality industrial and technological benefits, such as Saab has demonstrated with Gripen for Brazil and is offering for Finland and India’s fighter requirements.
Saab’s bid to the Government of Canada will include a comprehensive proposal to deliver those benefits, with high quality jobs and technology, adding greater economic value and knowledge across Canadian industry coast to coast. Today’s announcement is the first step toward achieving this offer with IMP Aerospace & Defence, CAE, Peraton Canada and GE Aviation as the ‘Gripen for Canada Team’.
“Over the past two years, Saab and the Swedish Government have been encouraged by Canada’s open and transparent competition to replace its fighter fleet. Today, we are delighted to announce the ‘Gripen for Canada Team’. We have assembled a dynamic roster of innovative leaders within Canada’s aerospace industry, across multiple regions to offer the best solution for Canada’s future fighter,” said Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice President and head of Business Area Aeronautics. He further stated that, “Saab is committed to securing long-term relationships in Canada that will create a significant number of highly-skilled, sustainable jobs for Canadians within domestic and international supply chains.”
IMP Aerospace & Defence will contribute with in-country production and in-service support for the life of the Canadian Gripen fleet. CAE will provide training and mission systems solutions, while Peraton Canada will provide avionic and test equipment component maintenance, repair and overhaul, and material management. GE Aviation will provide and sustain the fighter’s engines in Canada.
The ‘Gripen for Canada Team’ presents a genuine ‘Made in Canada’ solution and looks forward to demonstrating how Gripen is the best value for Canada’s aerospace industry and taxpayers in terms of life-cycle costs and sustainment throughout the FFCP competition. Saab’s Gripen fighter meets all of Canada’s specific defence requirements, offering exceptional performance, advanced technical capabilities, future-proof upgradeability and NATO interoperability.
————————————————————————-
American Panel Corporation
American Panel Corporation (APC) since 1998, specializes in display products installed in defence land systems, as well as military and commercial aerospace platforms, having delivered well over 100,000 displays worldwide. Military aviators worldwide operate their aircraft and perform their missions using APC displays, including F-22, F-18, F-16, F-15, Euro-fighter Typhoon, Mirage 2000, C-130, C-17, P-3, S-3, U-2, AH-64 Apache Helicopter, V-22 tilt-rotor, as well as numerous other military and commercial aviation aircraft including Boeing 717 – 787 aircraft and several Airbus aircraft. APC panels are found in nearly every tactical aircraft in the US and around the world.
APC manufactures the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Large Area Display (LAD) display (20 inch by 8 inch) with dual pixel fields, power and video interfaces to provide complete display redundancy. At DSEI 2017 we are exhibiting the LAD with a more advanced design, dual display on single substrate with redundant characteristics and a bespoke purpose 8 inch by 6 inch armoured vehicle display.
In order to fully meet the demanding environmental and optical requirements without sacrificing critical tradeoffs in performance, APC designs, develops and manufactures these highly specialized displays in multiple sizes and configurations, controlling all AMLCD optical panel, mechanical and electrical design aspects. APC provides both ITAR and non-ITAR displays across the globe to OEM Prime and tiered vetronics and avionics integrators.
————————————————————————-