After much deliberation, the US Air Force has finally decided to move forward with Lockheed Martin’s innovative space debris surveillance system, otherwise known as the Space Fence. The billion-dollar project will see Lockheed create an S-band phased-array radar system on that will vastly improve the space debris detection capabilities of the US Air Force for the foreseeable future. The completed Space Fence project will be capable of automatically detecting baseball-sized objects as far as 1,900 kilometers away from the Earth’s surface. This will give the US Air Force a much greater understanding of the near space environment moving forward.
Learn MoreNASA has decided to extend a contract with Boeing to continue providing key engineering support services, resources, and personnel to its space program for the next five years. The contract, valued at $1.18 billion, will help keep the space station flying through 2020 while also assessing the feasibility of extending the service life of the station’s primary structural elements another 13 years.
Learn MoreAirbus Defense and Space has recently developed a new Counter-UAV systems capable of detecting and hijacking intruding Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The Counter UAV combines sensor data with signal analysis and jamming technologies to provide electronic countermeasures over ranges of up to 10 km. Using infrared cameras and direction finders, the Counter-UAV system detects intruding UAVs and can even locate the user to arrest them. Airbus has included a new jamming system within the Counter-UAV, which allows jamming signals to only intercept the relevant frequencies. Via Smart Response Jamming Technology developed by Airbus Defence and Space, the relevant frequencies are jammed while other frequencies within the range remain operational.
Learn MoreBAE Systems successfully fired their new Meteor missiles from a Eurofighter Typhoon in a test conducted this week at the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides range.
Learn MoreLockheed Martin and Roketsan signed a contract Wednesday at the Turkish missile company’s booth at DSEI, minting a cooperation agreement to develop the SOM-J missile intended for integration into the US Air Force and Navy versions of the F-35 fighter jet. The 100nm (185km)-range air-to-surface standoff cruise missile has been adapted from Roketsan’s larger Stand Off Missile (SOM), and will be carried internally in the F-35. It is in a similar class to Norway’s Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile.
Learn MoreThe A330-200, the shorter-fuselage variant of Airbus’ A330 twin-engine wide body family, has won EASA certification, some five months after the larger A330-300 earned certification from European authorities, Airbus announced on Tuesday. The company has expressed confidence that approval from the U.S. authorities would follow. Launched in 2012, the increased-takeoff-weight A330-200 and A330-300 incorporate a new aerodynamic package, engine improvements and, in the -300 version, an optional center fuel tank which not only furthers the distance at which it can travel but also cut down precious refueling time. The range of the new A330-200 is increased by up to 350 nautical miles/650 kilometers compared to today’s 238 ton model, allowing customers to fly missions up to 7,250 nm/ 13,400 km. Thanks to aerodynamic refinements and engine enhancements, the A330-200 will reduce its fuel consumption by nearly two percent.
Learn MoreRight on schedule, Turbomeca delivered its first production model Arrius 2R engine to Bell Helicopters this week. The Arrius 2R is a highly innovative helicopter engine in that it is the only turbine within the 500 shp range to feature a dual channel Full Authority Engine Control (FADEC). With more than 7 million flight hours logged for other Arrius engine variants, the 2R will come equipped with an unparalleled level of maturity at entry-into-service. Also, the FADEC system aboard the Arrius 2R will deliver power and performance while at the same time improving safety and lowering pilot workload.
Learn MoreThe European Space Agency’s gravitational-wave detection technology demonstrator, known as the LISA Pathfinder, has recently completed a series of tests in Germany. Now, it is preparing to leave Germany for Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. In November, the Lisa Pathfinder is scheduled for lift-off aboard a European Vega rocket, where it will travel 1.5 million kilometers away from the earth and towards the sun. The spacecraft will be used to test instrumentation and technologies that will help to observe and accurately measure gravitational waves.
Learn MoreAerojet Rocketdyne has delivered their 100th throttling divert and attitude control system (TDACS) to Raytheon.
Learn MoreAirbus has begun production of the first wing for their wide-body A350-1000 aircraft at their North Wales, UK facility.
Learn MoreThe United States Army has recently awarded a Lot 4 follow-on contract to Lockheed Martin in order to continue the production of the Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) kits for the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. The contract awarded by the United States Army is valued at $21.6 million. Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will be expected to produce and deliver 786 Modernized Laser Rangefinder Designator (M-LRFD) kits. To date, Lockheed Martin has already delivered more than 200 kits to the United States Army. The total value of this contract is not to exceed $50.9 million.
Learn MoreTextron-owned Beechcraft Defense announced that they have delivered their 900th T-6 military training aircraft to the United States Navy's Training Air Wing 5 based at Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. This most recent delivery marks the 224th T-6B military trainer delivered to the Navy as part of the joint primary aircraft training system (JPATS) program.
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