International Aerospace Discussion

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NRao
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by NRao »

sudeepj wrote:
NRao wrote:Not a topic for this thread, yet one that shows how disjointed our logic has become because we have been burying our heads in the sand.

Plan for $10 Billion Chip Plant Shows China’s Growing Pull
Sanjay Jha, the chief executive of GlobalFoundries. The company will build an advanced semiconductor factory in Chengdu, China. Credit Arno Burgi/European Pressphoto Agency

That is a CEO, of one of the largest chip manufacturers, a NRI, making an announcement that his American company will invest in China, AFTER Intel announcened they would invest $7 billion in AZ and Trump's threats.
.
If GloFo goes to China, Ill be really surprised. They will be stopped.
Not if the work is for internal use to China. Or am I missing something?

Trump, seems to, be opposed to stuff being made elsewhere and then sold in the US. I do not think he opposes stuff being made elsewhere and sold outside the US.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

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Dubai announces passenger drone plans
A drone that can carry people will begin "regular operations" in Dubai from July, the head of the city's Roads and Transportation Agency has announced at the World Government Summit.

The Chinese model eHang 184 has already had test flights, said Matt al-Tayer.

The drone can carry one passenger weighing up to 100 kg (220 pounds) and has a 30 minute flight time.

The passenger uses a touch screen to select a destination. There are no other controls inside the craft.

It is "auto-piloted" by a command centre, according to a video released by the government agency.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Kartik »

Qatari Rafale. Love the scheme, so much more interesting than the boring all grey.

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

Very Interesting/refreshing scheme. Wonder if they'll choose something similar or their F-15 QA's.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) 2016, Year in Review. Some really good test footage.

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

KAI KF-X

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wig
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by wig »

UK based Cobham is facing financially tough times
excerpts
As well as the profits bombshell, Mr Lockwood - who took on the job two months ago - also revealed £179m of cash charges and a whopping £574m of writedowns
and
The company also took writedowns of £196m on its wireless division, £186m against integrated electric solutions and £192m against semiconductors.

Much of these writedowns were on the 2013 and 2014 acquisitions of antenna business Axell for £85m and US communications group Aeroflex for £870m, which includes the debt attached - and was seen by many as paying hugely over the odds.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... ng-cobham/
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

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From aviation week
http://aviationweek.com/defense/how-oft ... 8ab954bfda
An often overlooked piece of the air logistics puzzle is tanker refueling, a critical enabler for operations around the world. Fighters are thirsty aircraft, and the F-35 is no exception, said Air Force spokesman Col. Chris Karns. During the Jan. 18-25 crossing to Iwakuni, nine tankers flew with the 10 F-35Bs, transferring a total of 766,000 lb. of fuel over 250 aerial refuelings, or 25 per F-35, according to Karns.

The Marine Corps does have tankers—the legacy KC-130s—but only Air Force tankers support fighter ocean crossings.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

The Marines have been wanting a larger tanker fleet for some time for this and other reasons (probably one reason to come out and publicly complain about the USAF's rules). The USAF will not take risk and reduce their peacetime requirement on safety grounds. It is the same for the F-22, or F-15 as it is for the F-16 or F-35 or even the Harriers and Hornets. On this program just imagine the hipsters reporters going bat $hit crazy if an aircraft had to divert during transit..Folks would be lining up 10 x 1 Trillion dollar cost in media headlines ;). The only time they tune down their requirements are during a security package deployment (that mandates a pre set logistical footprint) or combat operations. The Marines did a scheduled transit to MCAS Iwakuni so it doesn't fit in any other category.

The USAF required the F-35B's to fly with their fuel probe retracted (same for all such transitions) and mandated that they refuel every 30-35 minutes. Needless to say the Marine Aviation boss, Lt. Gen. Dog Davis wasn't amused.
“The airplane has got longer legs than an F-18 with drop tanks, so why are we going with the tanker so often? We don’t need to do that,” said Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, Marine Corps commandant for aviation. “We are tanking a lot more than we should, maybe double [what we should.] We could be a lot more efficient than that.”

While Davis says the tanking model for refueling the Joint Strike Fighter is “off in an overly conservative manner,” it is ultimately up to the Air Force to set the rules—and the air arm is not budging.

It comes as no surprise to Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus that the Marine Corps jets needed to refuel so many times during the crossing to Iwakuni. The Air Force sets up ocean crossings assuming the worst-case scenario, so that if any aircraft is not able to get fuel at any given time during the journey—whether due to weather or a technical malfunction—the entire group has enough gas to land safely, Pleus explained. For instance, the F-35Bs flew with their refueling probes out during the entire voyage, which significantly increases drag on the aircraft, to simulate a scenario in which the operator is not able to retract the probe.

“So when we plan these things we take the worst winds, we take the worst configuration of the airplane, and we say: at the worst time, what would happen?” said Pleus, a former F-16 pilot who now heads the Air Force’s F-35 integration office. “It is very conservative, and the reason why we’re so conservative is because it’s a life or death decision.”

Traditionally the Air Force refuels “almost continuously” when crossing a large body of water, as often as every 30 or 40 min., Pleus said. An F-35B, which carries 5,000 lb. less fuel than the Air Force F-35A, likely needs to hit the tanker even more often than that, he noted.

Pleus pushed back on Davis’ criticism, stressing that extending time between refuelings during an ocean crossing would mean more risk to pilots.

During a combat scenario, however, the Air Force would have a different calculus. Typically on a 6-hr. mission, a pilot would tank just two or three times, according to one Air Force official. It is important to top up before the mission because tankers are too vulnerable to fly alongside fighters during combat.

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by TSJones »

in a trans pac drag the worst scenarios must be planed for; anything can happen......and sometimes does.

the public thinks its like flying in a civilian air liner..........its not.

the pilots must wear additional safety gear, etc, everything is planned to the nth degree.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

I don't think anyone is really worried about the public's opinion on matters of military logistics. The article here came out of a public call by the Commandant for Aviation for the USMC wanting the USAF requirements to be made less conservative so that it eases his mission planning when it comes to deploying squadrons of jets in the Pacific. The USAF's response was " My court, my rules". ;) Story filed by AvWeek, matter closed. Somewhere down the road amidst a future fleet planning document the USMC could introduce larger tanker footprint for the future..using this as a justification.
Last edited by brar_w on 17 Feb 2017 21:29, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by NRao »

NRao
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by NRao »

Subscription.

HAL To Service Saab EW Systems In India
BENGALURU—Saab Grintek Defense (SGD) will transfer its technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) for in-country maintenance of Saab’s Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) system in ...
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by NRao »

TSJones
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by TSJones »

back before days of gps we had pilots who would get lost and land at small airfields, stray into mexico and canada, etc.

they learned to identify and follow major highways believe it or not!

there were tacan towers all over the US but sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn't.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by deejay »

TSJones wrote:back before days of gps we had pilots who would get lost and land at small airfields, stray into mexico and canada, etc.

they learned to identify and follow major highways believe it or not!

there were tacan towers all over the US but sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn't.
Yup, this happens. I would see it as an advantage of helicopters that one could do this. Bad weather, poor viz and remote area helipads can cause problems. Follow the railway line if lost in India.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

Noticeable EW/EA warts for the digital AESA based ALQ-239, and also the MAWS inserts. Interesting that the pilot chose to wear a smart watch..wouldn't wan't to eject during combat and have the battery run out.

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by NRao »

TSJones wrote:back before days of gps we had pilots who would get lost and land at small airfields, stray into mexico and canada, etc.

they learned to identify and follow major highways believe it or not!

there were tacan towers all over the US but sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn't.
How many times on a video? : )

That too in a blizzard?
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by shiv »

SAAB Viggen enters spin and recovers with spin parachute (video)
https://twitter.com/GripenNews/status/8 ... 0253665280
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Manish_P »

Here is another wart

F 15 C with Talon Hate on top of right engine

(Admin - apologies, i don't know how to resize images)

Image
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Manish_P »

Another attempt after an earlier rejection

The Machete: The Super Plane That Could Replace the A-10 Warthog (Or Not)?

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Indranil wrote:
shiv wrote:Stop Disrespecting the Turboprop

Turboprop powered A-10? :D
Image
This, I absolutely love.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Neshant »

The propeller at the back looks like it could be easily destroyed if it were hit by shrapnel from AAA or a SAM.
The good thing about the A-10 is it has twin engines on either side of the plane.
Even if one engine is totally destroyed by a SAM/AAA, it can be shut down and the plane can return to base on the other engine alone.
Same for the Su-25.
Titanium plates separate both engine compartments.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Neshant »

You don't develop an indigenous defense industry by buying a load of crap from overseas and doing screw driver assembly work - which is all it really amounts to. That destroys opportunities locally and creates them overseas for foreign aerospace R&D companies.

You develop an indigenous defense industry by pursuing indigenous projects and if need be, involving foreign players in some sub-system development.

Babuz making decisions to buy foreign planes and blabbing about "transfer of technology" do not understand this.

In the end they will cost the country tens of billions of dollars with near zero gains domestically.

----

India’s biggest sky hunt begins
NEW DELHI: India has launched the world’s biggest hunt for fighter jets in recent years. From single-engine to twin-engine, global players have been invited to build nearly 300 fighter jets here on the basis of foreign technology under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India campaign.

Though all eyes are on Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to announce its much-awaited strategic partnership model, the main focus will be towards developing an indigenous defence industry. :roll:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesund ... 72138.html
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Austin »

deejay wrote:up, this happens. I would see it as an advantage of helicopters that one could do this. Bad weather, poor viz and remote area helipads can cause problems. Follow the railway line if lost in India.
Kazak Chopper Pilot lands on Road in bad weather to ask direction from Truck Driver :lol:

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

David Axe, National Interest and Stavatti makes a deadly combination.

Anyhow, SX landed one back again today.

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by NRao »

CRS-10 launch + landing, very short version:




The long version:

brar_w
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

Manish_P wrote:Here is another wart

F 15 C with Talon Hate on top of right engine

(Admin - apologies, i don't know how to resize images)

IMG

Thanks for the picture. I hadn't come across this one. Talon hate will give them interoperability through a supersonic platform that can share and receive data both discretely and in high volume. They can do it now, but the gateway rests on the Global Hawk BACN which is not going to be able to keep up with a strike fighter force and is obviously not as survivable as an F-15C or E that can defend itself.

Northrop Grumman, recently also put their BACN - MADL (F-35 LPI data link) payload on a Eurofighter Typhoon to demonstrate to the Royal Air Force the concept as they refine requirements to get secure , LPI/LPD comms in contested environments between the F-35 and Eurofigther, and perhaps later with their UCAV as well (FCAS). The RAF Tyhoons at Red Flag 17-1 demonstrated this new feature. I'm pretty sure that a similar gateway would also rest on the B-21 allowing all penetrating aircraft to optimize their data-link spectrum depending upon how contested the EMS is.

Once the USAF F-15C's and E's are finally upgraded with AESA, EPAWSS, and IRST they will be fairly capable in their mission of complementing the F-22 and F-35. Here's another pic of the talon hate OT aircraft --

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

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How private companies with retired fighters help western air forces with realistic aggressor training
http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/2017/02 ... for-asdot/
DA Defence operates the world’s largest privately-owned operational fleet of aggressor aircraft for air support, and provides tactical airborne training and adversary training for various armed forces around the world. The DA Defence fleet currently includes A-4N/ TA-4J Skyhawks and ex-Luftwaffe Alpha Jets.

DA Defence is thought to be planning to acquire F-16 Fighting Falcons from an undisclosed source in order to aid fourth- and fifth-generation fighter pilot training. It is understood to be aiming for four single-seat Block 10 F-16A models and two F-16B models, with plans for 10 in total, with the jets in question being described as having a ‘decent, low level of flying hours’.

Inzpire currently provide an exercise management team for the RAF’s Air Battlespace Training Centre, as well as supplying expertise within the RAF’s Air Warfare Centre through the management of large-scale live training exercises. Inzpire’d Qualified Helicopter Flying Instructors instruct the British Army Apache attack helicopter and Wildcat helicopter conversion-to-type and conversion-to-role courses.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Singha »

Tor firing on move

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Kartik »

Oh oh...

From AW&ST

The head of the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) says the outer wings of 32 carrier-based C-models need to be replaced to carry the Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder, the aircraft’s primary dogfighting weapon.

The U.S. Navy variant experienced an undisclosed amount of oscillation or turbulence during flight trials with the AIM-9X in December 2015, and Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan says aircraft already delivered need to be retrofitted with strengthened wings.

“It was discovered the outer, folding portion of the wing has inadequate structural strength to support the loads induced by pylons with AIM-9X missiles during maneuvers that cause buffet,” Bogdan says in written testimony to Congress on Feb. 16.


Engineers have already produced an enhanced outer wing design, which is now undergoing flight testing. The issue has impacted the timeline for fielding AIM-9X, which is being rolled out for the Navy in Block 3F. “Once the new design is verified to provide the require strength, the fix will be implemented in production and retrofitted to existing aircraft by swapping existing outer wings with the redesigned ones,” Bogdan writes.

..
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

This was reported last year.. the redesigned outer wing is flying right now. Although Chris Bogdan has to schedule for the entire Charlie fleet to be retrofitted, I doubt they'll (It is a USN decision) retrofit the non operational aircraft. Out of the 32 Charlies only about a 1/4 are destined to operational units, the rest are for the test force and the training squadrons. I think it is quite likely that they'll only apply the changes to around half, i.e. the ones meant for operational squadrons and the ones required to support the OT&E starting next year. The rest will just get it during their schedule overhaul in a few years time.

From earlier this year courtest Lee Hudson -



F-35C design fix to support AIM-9X missile weight will cost $8.8M


A design fix for the F-35C that strengthens the wing to support the weight of the AIM-9X air-to-air missile will cost about $8.8 million, Inside Defense has learned.

The initial cost estimate assumes that flight testing the design fix this month will be successful, according to a Dec. 28 Navy information paper viewed by Inside Defense.

Thirty-two F-35C jets will require the modification and the Pentagon anticipates the retrofits will be completed by the end of 2018, the paper reads.

"The aircraft required for the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation will be completed by Spring 2018 and the Initial Operating Capability aircraft will be completed by Fall 2018," according to the information paper.

F-35 Program Executive Officer Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan told reporters Dec. 19 during a media roundtable at his office in Arlington, VA, his team had an "inkling" during the program's modeling and simulation phase there was going to be a problem with the F-35C wing supporting the missile.

If the design fix to strengthen the jet's outer wing is a success during flight testing, it would be a simple modification for C models, according to Bogdan.

"The reason is because the outer wing on the C model comes off like a piece of Lego, it just comes off and you pop it back on," he said.

Inside Defense previously reported flight testing the design fix would begin in November 2016 instead of January 2017. The flight tests will last for about six weeks at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD, according to F-35 spokesman Joe DellaVedova.

https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/f- ... l-cost-88m
The US Navy's IOC window is late 2018 to early 2019 so it is not going to be impacted.
Navy IOC is capability based and will be declared when the above conditions are
met. If the F-35 IMS Version 7 executes according to plan, Navy F-35C IOC criteria could
be met between August 2018 (Objective) and February 2019 (Threshold).
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Nick_S »

DEX 2017: The UAE and Russia plan to co-develop a next-gen fighter
http://quwa.org/2017/02/20/idex-2017-ua ... n-fighter/
The United Arab Emirates and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have agreed to collaborate on the development of a lightweight next-generation fighter.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

So we can count three new fifth generation fighters from Russia. One is the PAKFA, the other a brand new stealth light fighter for/with UAE and a completely new one in the FGFA ;).
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Austin »

Nick_S wrote:DEX 2017: The UAE and Russia plan to co-develop a next-gen fighter
http://quwa.org/2017/02/20/idex-2017-ua ... n-fighter/
The United Arab Emirates and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have agreed to collaborate on the development of a lightweight next-generation fighter.
Air Cosmos latest issue has picture of Mig light fighter , UAE is also opting for Su-35

Image

Estimated views promising light multipurpose front-line aircraft (LMFS) development of JSC "RAC" MiG "(c) Peter Butovo / Air & Cosmos
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by brar_w »

A new fighter development project is a good 15-20 year undertaking these days given the level of design and system integration. I don't think this UAE co-development and manufacturing thing is going much beyond a few announcements and a study or two, but lets see how this is going to play out. So far they have M2K's, Block 60 F-16's and will probably order the Rafale in the short-medium term. While the F-35 is not an option for them now it would be one when their Block 60 F-16's get old enough to warrant replacement (which for them will probably be before they reach their EOL).
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by JayS »

brar_w wrote:A new fighter development project is a good 15-20 year undertaking these days given the level of design and system integration. I don't think this UAE co-development and manufacturing thing is going much beyond a few announcements and a study or two, but lets see how this is going to play out.
+1. I as well, would be rather surprized to see any serious development on this on.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Austin »

Testing New Types of Weapons by the Russian Armed Forces in Syria

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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by NRao »

JayS wrote:
brar_w wrote:A new fighter development project is a good 15-20 year undertaking these days given the level of design and system integration. I don't think this UAE co-development and manufacturing thing is going much beyond a few announcements and a study or two, but lets see how this is going to play out.
+1. I as well, would be rather surprized to see any serious development on this on.
Russia needs a source for funding her MIC. This development seems to indicate that both India and China have dried up. The plane itself is an afterthought.

A great move on the part of Russia, frankly.
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Singha »

Abu dhabi has a tieup with italian co for producing large drones. Pix in web. For cash strapped arms cos arab $$ is welcome. The big markets are locked up by the p5
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Re: International Aerospace Discussion

Post by Austin »

Operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria

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