19 Jul 04. EDO MBM Technology Ltd, a unit of EDO Corporation (NYSE: EDO), has introduced a new twin-store, “smart weapon” carrier at the Farnborough International Air Show. Known as “GEMINI”, the aircraft-armament carrier is designed to be a universal fit to a wide range of platforms such as Tornado GR4, Harrier GR9 and Eurofighter Typhoon as well as other future platforms. By doubling the smart-weapon payload that an aircraft is able to deliver on a single mission, it will provide enhanced operational capability through increased weapon load-out and improved store mix, or increased range through additional fuel tankage. The GEMINI intelligent twin-store carrier is Military-Standard-1760 compliant and capable of carrying two stores of up to 1000 pounds each, with individual targeting and release of each weapon. EDO MBM continues to invest in the development of weapon-interfacing solutions and has recently introduced a new “jam free” Field Replaceable Connector System (FRCS) which has resolved electrical separation problems experienced with smart weapon releases. Earlier this year, the company also won the contract to supply the complete weapon-to-pylon interface for the UK RAF Paveway IV.
19 Jul 04. Roke Manor Research, the electronics research and development business owned by Siemens, will be supplying its Miniature Radar Altimeter (MRA) Mark IVa, flight control avionics and target control software to
Flight Refuelling Limited the aerospace and defence supplier, to enable accurate height positioning of its Blackjack, an airborne threat simulation system. Roke Manor Research’s MRA Mark IVa will be incorporated into the design of the Blackjack to provide accurate, low level height positioning at a distance of just 25 feet from sea level. Flight Refuelling will be supplying the Blackjack to Flight Refuelling Aviation for the special mission aircraft it operates for the UK Ministry of Defence. The Blackjack simulates a sea-skimming missile attacking a ship, and is used by the Ministry of Defence for air defence training against a wide variety of missile and gun systems. The Blackjack is launched from an aircraft and towed from a cable up to nine kilometres in length ensuring that the target is a safe distance away from the aircraft.
19 Jul 04. Rear Admiral Steven L. Enewold, US Navy –Program Executive Officer Joint Strike Fighter Program Office – today unveiled the F136 engine, the interchangeable engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The F136 has been designed and manufactured by the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team and is about to begin on a series of full F136 development engine tests, capping a successful Phase III pre-System and Development Demonstration (SDD) for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team comprises: GE Aircraft Engines in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Rolls-Royce plc in Bristol, England; and Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
19 Jul 04. EADS Astrium has just signed with the Thailand Space Agency (GISTDA) of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) a contract for the delivery of
THEOS, the THailand Earth Observation System. THEOS will be fully owned and operated by GISTDA and will provide Thailand with worldwide geo-referenced image products and with image processing capabilities for applications in Cartography, Land Use, Agriculture Monitoring, Forestry Management, Coastal Zone Monitoring and Flood Risks Management. THEOS will offer access to any part of Thailand in less than 2 days. The THEOS contract includes the production and launch of one optical satellite as well as the development of the ground segment necessary to operate and control the satellite from Thailand and state of the art facilities for Image Archiving and Processing. The Theos satellite is based on the new generation of EADS Astrium Optical Earth Observation high performance satellites, the AstroSat product line and benefits from the long experience of EADS Astrium in this field, begi