International Aerospace Discussion - Jan 2018

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 13 Jul 2022 05:34

NASA released some more images from the James Webb telescope today. The resolution and fidelity is startling:

NASA’s Webb Sheds Light on Galaxy Evolution, Black Holes

Five galaxies in close proximity to each other, 290 million light years away. They are known as Stephan's Quintet

The Carina nebula located 7600 light years away

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 13 Jul 2022 21:32

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_ ... ters_AW249

The aircraft is intended to enter service by 2025.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 15 Jul 2022 09:33

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/raf ... n-partner/

A land attack evolution of the sea breaker missile unveiled last year. The Israelis are seeking a US manufacturing partner in order for it to be eligible for US funding.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 15 Jul 2022 09:42

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 63.article

The machine is nearly complete and will be equipped with Israeli developed fire control system and missiles.

kit · Post by **kit** » 16 Jul 2022 00:20

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerosp ... 022-07-14/

Britain and Japan are close to an agreement to merge their next-generation Tempest and F-X fighter jet programmes, with the two countries aiming for a deal on a new joint project by year-end, three sources told Reuters.

It would be the first time Japan has sought a non-U.S. partner for a large military programme and the first major collaboration between Tokyo and London, going beyond what had been expected when industrial talks began five years ago.

kit · Post by **kit** » 17 Jul 2022 17:12

S Korean KF-X Jet’s AESA Radar to Match Performance of F-35 Radar

A prototype of the Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) radar locally developed in South Korea for the country’s upcoming KF-X fighter jet is due to be unveiled later this month.

Wang Jung-hong, chief of South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), revealed in an interview with Korea Herald yesterday.

He also said “the prototype (of the aircraft) is coming out next year, and a year later in 2022 we will see its first test flight.”

The radar development is being undertaken mainly by Hanwha Systems and the government’s Agency for Defence Development (ADD).

Earlier, Hong Yoon-seong, the lead Hanwha Systems developer in charge of the AESA radar being developed for the KF-X project had said that the prototype KF-X AESA radar had around 1,088 Transmitter-Receiver Module (TRM). By 2023, the number is expected to increase by 20% to have around 1,200-1,300 modules. (F-22's radar has 2,000 and F-35's radar has 1,200).

The KF-X AESA radar is expected to perform better than AN/APG-83 being installed on KF-16V, which is similar to the F-16V, the most recent version of the F-16 jet.

According to information posted on the Facebook page of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces quoting fromHong Yoon-seong’s interview to Defense journalist Yu Young-won, the KF-X AESA radar's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode provides high-quality image up to an object smaller than 1 meter.

The KF-X AESA radar can detect and track hundreds of ground targets, and this capability can be applied to hunting down North Korea's transporter erector launchers (TEL). The radar has air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea modes, which can be used simultaneously with maximum detection range of around 200 km.

Hanwha Systems developed the radar’s antenna and power supply, which were then integrated and tested with ELTA Systems (Israel) signal processor. By November 2019, 10 overseas and 6 domestic aerial testing sorties had been carried out. These tests proved that the HW works as intended and that development can continue to the next stage.

For the KF-X project, Hanwha Systems is also developing the Electro-Optical Targeting Pod and the Infrared Searcher and Tracker (IRST) which searches and tracks antiaircraft target and provides the azimuth, high angle, and infrared image information of the enemy airplane or antiaircraft missile.

la.khan · Post by **la.khan** » 17 Jul 2022 19:26

ldev wrote:NASA released some more images from the James Webb telescope today. The resolution and fidelity is startling:

ldevji: thanks for posting the URLs that compare the pictures taken by HST & JWST. Each of them was amazing, whether it was by HST or JWST

Scouring the web, I found this posted on reddit. On JWST. The James Webb Telescope discovered something terrifying in deep space

Note: I hope I don't get banned from BRF for posting a click bait

bharathp · Post by **bharathp** » 18 Jul 2022 09:01

whats with the multple indigo flights having a echnical glitch and doing a forced landing in TSP? anything cooking?

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 18 Jul 2022 09:10

bharathp wrote:whats with the multple indigo flights having a echnical glitch and doing a forced landing in TSP? anything cooking?

It's both Indigo and Spice. Once is an accident. Twice is deliberate action. Especially when it comes to TSP and Hyderabad in India.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 18 Jul 2022 22:55

Boeing’s Fighter Jet Business Is Not Dead Yet, New Defense Boss Says
https://www.defenseone.com/business/202 ... ys/374564/
17 July 2022

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 19 Jul 2022 21:35

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... rst-flight

Congratulations to south korea for first flight of KF21.

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 20 Jul 2022 05:18

Pratyush wrote:https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... rst-flight

Congratulations to south korea for first flight of KF21.

Impressive pace at which they developed this plane. Block 1 is supposed to have only air to air capability with Meteor and Iris-T missiles integrated. Semi recessed weapons carriage, GE-414 engines and a Korean AESA radar. 40 fighters to be produced upto 2028 for the Republic of Korea Air Force, and a total of 120 by 2032. Another 50 fighters for Indonesia which has funded 20% of the development. It looks like India's AMCA.

Notwithstanding this development, South Korea is expanding it's F-35 fleet from 40 currently in service to 60 by 2028.

First test flight where the KF-21 carried 4 inert Meteor missiles in it's semi recessed weapons bay:

Zynda · Post by **Zynda** » 20 Jul 2022 06:43

IIRC, LM was a consultant in KF-21. The program took off once LM officially started consulting...CDR was in 2019 and first flight in 2022...quite remarkable and huge congrats. Of course a well established manufacturing facilities in S Korea helped in faster pace of the program. Clear establishment of capabilities, deliverables are signs of mature program management (by all stake holders involved)...like Block.1 having onlee Air-air capabilities.

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 21 Jul 2022 18:56

As I had stated in the MRFA thread, the dispute between France and Germany on the FCAS 6th generation fighter is serious and unresolved. If I remember correctly the estimated development total cost of the project is ~100 billion Euros. If Germany reduces it's financial commitment because of workshare and IP disagreements, it will be a steep financial hill for France alone to contribute the bulk of the funding. Spain is nominally in but a minority stake holder. Dassault's Trappier does not mince any words in this article.

Dassault chief confirms fighter prototype delay amid workshare dispute

Jul 21, 08:26 AM STUTTGART, Germany – The Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program remains in a monthslong standoff that risks pushing back the first flight of its signature fighter, a senior industry official said Wednesday.

The program was supposed to enter its next phase late last year, but has been held up as prime contractors Dassault Aviation and Airbus Defence and Space have been unable to agree on the division of work for the next-generation fighter (NGF) aircraft element, Dassault Chairman Eric Trappier said in a mid-year earnings press conference.

“On the next-generation fighter, Dassault must be the uncontested leader,” Trappier asserted, adding that there has been some “issues of interpretation” between the two companies on what it means to be the prime contractor.

When the FCAS program was announced by France and Germany in 2017, the goal was to have a fighter demonstrator flying by 2025. By last year, that date had slipped to 2027, and now the schedule has shifted to 2028, Trappier said.

“We have already lost three years in two years,” he said, adding that if these workshare disputes reemerge between the two companies every two years, it will eventually become impossible to complete the program.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 21 Jul 2022 21:06

So no boom operator?

https://twitter.com/ReviewVayu/status/1 ... fuFhf3DPcw ---> The Airbus A330 MRTT has become the world’s first tanker to be certified for automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) boom operations in daylight following a successful campaign in collaboration with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

V_Raman · Post by **V_Raman** » 21 Jul 2022 21:09

This is getting to the point of that Executive Decision movie where they will dock a F117 to Boing 747

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 21 Jul 2022 21:10

V_Raman wrote:This is getting to the point of that Executive Decision movie where they will dock a F117 to Boing 747

I loved that movie. A nice Hollyowood fantasy script.

kit · Post by **kit** » 21 Jul 2022 22:26

Flight Global World Airforces Directory 2022

https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/wo ... 95.article

Tejas listed in two rows , have a look at the numbers !

arvin · Post by **arvin** » 22 Jul 2022 13:30

^^^ From above flight global directory 2022 page 20:

IAF_____Active
Jaguar: 130
MiG-21: 128

Tejas: 19

Truly face palm moment.

Both the older types should have been converted to QF-16 type unmanned crafts by now.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 24 Jul 2022 01:11

https://twitter.com/MIL_STD/status/1550 ... dF1uECKNZw ---> Two major enhancements coming to the EA-18G #Growler in the coming months.

* AN/ALQ249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer-Mid Band (NGJ-MB)
* AGM-88G Extended Range AARGM

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 24 Jul 2022 01:21

https://twitter.com/ReviewVayu/status/1 ... dF1uECKNZw ---> Rolls-Royce and Safran partner to develop propulsion for next generation cruise missile.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 27 Jul 2022 19:44

A must read article. India too has a couple of underground air bases.

Extremely Rare Photos Inside Taiwan’s Underground Fighter Jet Caves
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/e ... -jet-caves
26 July 2022

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 29 Jul 2022 08:49

NASA's plan for Mars soil sample retrieval

An amazing mission to Mars by NASA. In 2027 NASA will send an Orbiter spacecraft to Mars followed in 2028 by a lander cum ascent module. This lander will contain 2 helicopters, pretty much like the present helicopter they have on Mars. After the lander is on the Martian surface, these helicopters will fly over and retrieve Mars soil samples being collected and stored by the rover Perseverance which is currently on Mars, then the helicopters will fly back to the lander/ascent module which will take off from the Martian Surface, rendezvous with the Orbiter, which will leave Mars orbit and return to Earth with the samples in 2033

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 30 Jul 2022 21:32

UBanerjee · Post by **UBanerjee** » 03 Aug 2022 11:47

Speaking of the F-35...

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 08 Aug 2022 18:08

https://twitter.com/Jupiter4590/status/ ... NVCfY9mzCw ---> Russia today delivered Su-35 aircraft to Iran. In return, Iran has given more than 50 armed drones to Russia. These warplanes were made for Egypt but due to the US embargo, Egypt could not get these warplanes.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 08 Aug 2022 20:36

Here’s what we know about F-35 ejection seat woes so far
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your ... es-so-far/
05 Aug 2022

Barath · Post by **Barath** » 08 Aug 2022 21:01

The issues are common to a defective cartridge in in a limited range of lots impacting multiple types of Martin Baker seats. Multiple types of aircraft are impacted including USAF, USN, US Marine, RAF, and Germany (which has fixed its typhoons already)

F-35s, Many Other Types, Grounded Over Ejection Seat Issues (Updated)
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/f ... eat-issues
JUL 29, 2022

The issues affected F/A-18B/C/D Hornets; F/A-18E/F Super Hornets; E/A-18G Growlers; and T-45 Goshawks and F-5 Tiger II training aircraft. On July 23, the British Red Arrows aerial demonstration team had to cancel an air display on the final day of the Farnborough Air Show, the Daily Express reported. While the team’s flights resumed, Royal Air Force Typhoons were also grounded.

“At this time, we suspect that approximately 203 T-38 and 76 T-6 aircraft may be affected by this issue,” the Air Force said in a statement. “This number represents approximately 40% of our T-38 fleet and 15% of our T-6 fleet

kit · Post by **kit** » 09 Aug 2022 02:10

https://eurasiantimes.com/b2-spirit-rus ... es-online/

Russia has reportedly started the construction of its long-in-development stealth bomber to replace the current fleet. A patent drawing for an engine uptake duct recently emerged, which is believed to be the preliminary design of Russia’s first-ever stealth bomber, the Tupolev PAK DA.

The flying-wing design is vaguely similar to the B-2 Spirit used by the United States Air Force. A flying wing is a tailless fixed-wing aircraft with crew, payload, fuel, and equipment incorporated inside the primary wing structure and no distinct fuselage.

The patent drawing indicates that the Russian bomber has the same pointed “beak,” forward-set cockpit, and engine intakes on either side of the upper portions of the wing/body

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 13 Aug 2022 00:59

F-22 Raptor Being Readied For AIM-260 Missile By ‘Green Bats’ Testers
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/f ... ts-testers
11 Aug 2022

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 22 Aug 2022 00:50

Starlink tracker

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 23 Aug 2022 21:59

Senior US official says Washington would consider supplying B-21 bombers to Australia
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/senio ... australia/
23 Aug 2022

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 25 Aug 2022 15:45

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 49.article

AW249 attack helicopter accelerates into flight-test campaign

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 08 Sep 2022 13:14

https://zeenews.india.com/aviation/worl ... 07280.html

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 21 Sep 2022 19:46

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1572563987258290177

Late next month maybe, but November seems highly likely. We will have two boosters & ships ready for orbital flight by then, with full stack production at roughly one every two months.

* two boosters + ships by November
* Potential orbital flights in November
* Produce one booster + ship every two months. Six sets per year

#Trampoline

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 31 Oct 2022 03:51

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 14 Nov 2022 12:55

Sonic boom rips across Florida as Space Force plane X-37B returns

The X-37B was developed by NASA as a test-bed for future spacecraft. Today, it is jointly operated by the Space Force and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The U.S. Space Force is thought to own two X-37B vehicles, which measure 29 feet from nose to tail, falling somewhere between a pickup truck and a school bus in length.

The X-37B launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on May 17, 2020, when Donald Trump was president — about two months after the World Heath Organization had declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 16 Nov 2022 19:06

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story ... 2022-11-16

Artimis -1 Mission successfully launched. On the way to the moon.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 23 Nov 2022 20:37

First F-16 Block 70 Emerges From Lockheed Martin’s New Factory — 128 More on Order
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/first ... -on-order/
22 Nov 2022

Barath · Post by **Barath** » 25 Nov 2022 20:42

https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/te ... china.html

Technical Problems Ground Myanmar’s JF-17 Fighter Jets Bought From China