Smiths Aerospace announced an agreement with Kanto Aircraft Instruments
of Japan for the supply Advanced Electrical Power management Systems
(AEPMS) for Japan's new AH-64D Longbow Apaches. The cost of the
systems, to be supplied for more than 60 helicopters procured by
the Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces, is estimated at $30 Million.
Kanto will assemble and test the kits at its facility in Fujisawa,
Japan.
With 15 Airbus A320s on firm order and options for an additional
20, Air New Zealand has selected Rockwell Collins to provide a new
avionics system for the aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery
from September. The avionics package includes communication, navigation,
surveillance sensors, GLU-920 multimode receiver (MMR) and WXR-2100
multiscan weather radar. The MMR offers an instrument landing system
and satellite-based positioning for navigation, while allowing for
growth to support a microwave landing system. The multiscan radar
reduces the need for manual intervention, using multiple tilt angles,
and advanced data processing. It also optimizes short- and long-range
weather detection automatically, reducing pilot workload.
A joint working group from EADS, Rolls-Royce Deutschland and the
Irkut Corporation has completed an international market study for
the Be 200 jet-powered amphibian firebomber, to define the best
ways for the Russian aircraft to break into the international market.
The team behind the aircraft has long had high hopes for export
sales but various technical, certification and support issues have
so far prevented this. The results of the study will be announced
here at Le Bourget. To date, two prototype Be 200s (designed by
Beriev and built by Irkut) have flown and the type has been certified
in Russia as a firefighting aircraft. Production has been launched
on the back of an order for seven Be 200s from the Russian Ministry
for Emergency Situations. The first of these is due for delivery
this month.
Rolls-Royce Germany recently celebrated the delivery of its 1,000th
BR715 engine from the production line at Dahlewitz near Berlin.
BR715s have achieved 1,000,000 flight hours and more than 900,000
takeoffs and landings. The BR715 is in the 18,500-21,000 pounds
thrust class, and is the only engine on the Boeing 717-200, which
is designed specifically for the high-cycle, short-haul market.
100 of the 153 aircraft ordered are currently in service, with AirTran
Airways, Midwest Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines in the USA, Olympic
Airlines in Greece, Turkmenistan Airlines, QantasLink in Australia,
Bangkok Airways in Thailand, and AeBal from Spain.
Eleven new Boeing 737-700s being built for Aero Mexico are to
use a Rockwell Collins avionics package that features datalink communications,
navigation and surveillance sensors. Among main items in the package,
the datalink communications system supports current and future digital
CNS/ATM environments, while the WXR-2100 multiscan weather radar
enhances safety by reducing the need for manual intervention. Collins'
Aero Mexico avionics package also includes the integrated GLU-920
multimode receiver that provides the aircraft's primary position,
velocity and time reference, while facilitating precision landing
capability. A further item is Rockwell Collins' Programmable Audio
Video System (PAVS) in-flight entertainment system, providing overhead
video on 10.4-in retractable monitors.
Signal Technology Corporation, an $87-million annual sales maker
of power supplies, radio and microwave frequency gear, and related
systems, has been acquired by Crane Aerospace & Electronics.
The acquisition is part of a strategic move by Crane to leverage
its product line and venture forth into defense electronics market,
according to Ray Boushie, Crane A & E president. It was accomplished
by means of an all-cash tender offer at $13.25 per share for the
remaining outstanding shares of Signal Technology by STC Merger
Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Crane Company, A & E's
parent. Other firms owned by Crane A & E include ELDEC, Hydro-Aire,
Lear Romec and Resistoflex, along with Interpoint and General Techonology.
General Electric announced that the U.S. Coast Guard's selection
of the EADS CASA CN235-300M represents a potential $70 million order
for the 1,870 shp GE CT7-9C3 engines that power the airplane. The
Coast Guard's purchase is part of its multi-year Integrated Deepwater
System modernization program that will comprise both medium- and
long-range aircraft. The exact number of CN235s acquired will be
dependent on the mix of the two types.
Derco Aerospace, a unit of UTC's Sikorsky Aircraft, has been 3
Hercules transports with avionics equipment and sensors that will
enable the aircraft to meet European CNS air traffic management
system requirements. The upgrades will be accomplished at RNLAF
facilities, thereby minimizing out of service time, and will incorporate
a module design that will make possible future upgrades, according
to Max Dermond, Derco's president. RNLAF also tapped Derco to provide
complete CNS/ATM flight crew training, maintenance training, technical
publications and spare parts.
Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Raytheon have joined forces and been
awarded a contract to begin development of the E-10A, the U.S. Air
Force's next-generation ground and air surveillance aircraft. After
months of negotiations, the companies inked the teaming arrangement
last month. Northrop Grumman will lead the initial effort to develop
a ground-surveillance aircraft based on a Boeing 767-400 airframe.
The aircraft will be equipped with the Multiplatform Radar Technology
Insertion Program being developed by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.
The Air Force initially plans to buy five of the ground moving target
tracking systems. Boeing will lead the second major phase-development
of the air surveillance version-that should follow a few years later.
All three companies are on competing teams that are vying for the
battle management and command and control portion of the system.
Egypt Air has selected Rockwell Collins to provide avionics for
seven new Airbus A330s to be delivered between June 2004 and February
2006. Rockwell Collins previously provides avionics for the airline's
five A320-200s. The Egypt Air avionics package mirrors that of Air
New Zealand, supporting a datalink communications system, navigation
and surveillance sensors, GLU920 multimode receiver and WXR-2100
multiscan weather radar. Rockwell Collins' datalink communication
system supports current and future digital CNS/ATM environments,
including ACARS, future air navigation systems (FANS), VHF datalink
Mode 2 and Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN)
Honeywell Aerospace will supply selected avionics components,
the 131-9A APU bundled with a maintenance program and wing anti-ice
valves for 120 Airbus A319 jetliners ordered by easyJet, with options
for another 120 aircraft in years to come. The contract could be
worth as much as 500-million euros during the next ten years, if
easyJet exercises all of its options. The avionics package includes
an ARINC 708 weather radar, a full line of Quantum brand CNS radios,
FMS hosted inside the aircraft's flight management and guidance
computer, solid-state FDR and CVR, ACAS II, Enhanced GPWS terrain
awareness and warning system, and air data inertial reference units.
easyJet's A319s will be powered by CFM-56 turbofans which also are
fitted with various Honeywell accessories. If easyJet buys all the
firm and optioned A319s aircraft, sales of related Honeywell engine
accessories could amount to as much as 87 million euros.-Fred George
Honeywell's latest contracts for aircraft pneumatic systems have
it playing with the big boys. The company has been freshly selected
as a systems supplier for some of the world's largest aircraft.
Honeywell will provide pneumatic products for the Airbus A380's
Alliance GP7200 engines, along with valves and accessories for the
USAF's C-5 Galaxies. Honeywell says the two contracts are valued
at $290 million over the life of the agreement. The package for
the GP7200 comprises an air turbine starter (ATS) and six pneumatic
system valves for use across the whole propulsion system. The Galaxy's
CF6-80C2 engines will receive an ATS retrofit package, to include
a new starter, air turbine start valve, core compartment cooling
valve and integrated drive generator valve
Northrop Grumman has delivered the final of 15 upgraded HU-25
Falcon airborne surveillance aircraft to the U.S. Coast Guard, concluding
work done under a $44 million contract awarded three years ago.
The latest aircraft was one of six built to HU-25D standard, equipped
with Telephonics AN/APS-143 inverse synthetic aperture radar. Earlier
versions, designated HU-25C+, were fitted with the Northrop Grumman's
APG-66(V)2 radar. All aircraft received Wescam MX-15 forward-looking
infrared sensors and Raytheon tactical workstations. "The fully
integrated mission system markedly improves the crew's ability to
detect, classify and identify targets of opportunity and prosecute
the myriad of Coast Guard missions," according to program manager
Commander Bill Hucke
Raytheon has unseated Northrop Grumman to develop and build the
U.S. Air Force's Miniature Air Launched Decoy, the service's attempt
to develop a new tool to spoof enemy air defenses. The Air Force
re-competed MALD after determining that the Northrop Grumman version,
developed under a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Agency,
didn't have enough endurance. The Raytheon system, to be developed
under an $88 million contract, will be larger than the original
decoy to give it greater range. The price will also increase to
about $125,000 per unit. MALD is intended to be launched by a fighter
or bomber, fly into a surface-to-air missile engagement area where
it would broadcast a radio frequency signal that makes the small
device look like a much larger aircraft to air defense operators.
The hope is MALD will cause air defenders to use their radars, exposing
them to attack from anti-radiation missiles or other weapons. Another
Raytheon division is developing the signature-mimicking payload.
The decoy will be powered by a Hamilton Sundstrand TJ120, a modification
of the TJ50 that powered the Darpa decoy. The Air Force eventually
plans to develop a jammer version of MALD, although its funding
hasn't been identified, yet. The decoy version is being designed
to provide the space and power for the jammer payload.
Smiths Aerospace has been selected to provide Modular Mission
Support Systems (MMSS) for Egyptian Air Force AH-64D Apache helicopters.
Deliveries are planned for 2004-2005 in time for the activation
of the EAF attack helicopter units, which will fly 35 new Longbow
Apaches. The MMSS is part of a comprehensive EAF integrated mission
support system for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for which
Smiths is providing the mission planning segment.
Russia's renowned TsAGI, the Central Aero and Hydrodynamics Institute,
has been at the forefront of aerospace development in Russia for
decades and is showing some of its current activities in Hall 5.
Almost as a throwaway, these include a photograph of a hitherto
unseen wind-tunnel model of a no-tail-rotor helicopter. Under the
registered technology design name of NOTAR, such rotorcraft are
now in production in the U.S. by MD Helicopters in the form of the
MD 520N and 600N, although the concept can be traced back half a
century to the Cierva W9 built and flown in the UK in 1944. Russian
interest is logical, but no design bureau is known to have picked
up TsAGI's basic research for commercial development.
