Web Page sponsor Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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24 Aug 17. Oxley Wins Development Contract for KF-X Fighter from Korea Aerospace Industries. Oxley Group has secured its position as leading the global market in aerospace LED lighting after being selected by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to develop the full external lighting system on the new KF-X and IF-X Fighter Aircraft program.
The KF-X / IF-X is a South Korean and Indonesian program to develop a single or twin seat advanced multirole fighter for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU).
As part of the development contract Oxley will be supplying a ground-breaking external LED lighting system which includes the following; Landing light, Taxi light, Refuelling lights, Formation lights, Wing tip lights and an intelligent lighting controller. The system provides complete integration into the pilot’s multi-functional display. The suite will be designed specifically for the new jets and the lights will outperform existing technology to deliver high performance and reliability.
Oxley Technical Director, Darren Cavan explained, ‘The comprehensive technical development process will cover design, prototyping, testing and manufacture, this will be completed by a dedicated Oxley project team of mechanical, optical, electronics and software engineers at the Priory Park site in Cumbria. As part of the development, smart technology will be integrated into the lights.’
Martin Blakstad, Oxley Group CEO commented, ‘The Oxley team has been working closely with the team at KAI and this has created a strong relationship between the two companies, the Oxley team is enthusiastic about working on this ground breaking programme. To be part of a prestigious advanced technological platform such as this is confirmation of our world leading position in the provision of high performance lighting for military aircraft and we look forward to deepening our relationship with such a major manufacturer as KAI.’
24 Aug 17. The Royal Navy has unveiled a series of futuristic submarine concepts which mimic real marine lifeforms and radically change the way underwater warfare could look in 50 years.
With a crewed mothership shaped like a manta ray, unmanned eel-like vessels equipped with sensor pods which dissolve on demand to avoid enemy detection, and fish-shaped torpedoes sent to swarm against enemy targets, these concepts aim to inspire the world’s future underwater combat environment.
The UK’s brightest and most talented young engineers and scientists came up with the designs after being challenged by the Royal Navy to imagine what a future submarine would look like and how it would be used to keep Britain safe in decades to come.
The whale shark/manta ray-shaped mothership would be built from super-strong alloys and acrylics, with surfaces which can morph in shape. With hybrid algae-electric cruising power and propulsion technologies including tunnel drives which work similarly to a Dyson bladeless fan, the submarine could travel at unprecedented speeds of up to 150 knots.
Commander Peter Pipkin, the Royal Navy’s Fleet Robotics Officer, said: “With more than 70 per cent of the planet’s surface covered by water, the oceans remain one of the world’s great mysteries and untapped resources.
“It’s predicted that in 50 years’ time there will be more competition between nations to live and work at sea or under it. So it’s with this in mind that the Royal Navy is looking at its future role, and how it will be best equipped to protect Britain’s interests around the globe.
“Today’s Royal Navy is one of the most technologically advanced forces in the world, and that’s because we have always sought to think differently and come up with ideas that challenge traditional thinking. If only 10 per cent of these ideas become reality, it will put us at the cutting edge of future warfare