Military Aviation News and Discussion

[ngatimozart]

With no future heavy lift alternative to the Chinook, this article makes a good case for a block 2 Chinook. Let’s face it, Chinook is the vertical version of a Hercules.

Improve, Don’t Replace, Proven Chinook Capabilities

A commonsense lesson inherent to farmers is that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. That’s not to say we don’t upgrade tried-and-true equipment and practices as technology advan

www.realcleardefense.com

The Chook certainly is. But the US Army has got a bee in its bonnet about FVL and its heavy variant which nothing has been done about yet. So some chair warmer with a brass hat has decided not to buy anymore Chooks except for SOF and thinks that somehow the Chook replacement will just magically appear when the current Chooks fall over from old age and over use. My 7 year old grandson has a higher probability of collecting his old age pension before the US Army finally get their Chook replacement.

 

[swerve]

Flight is reporting that Brazil is to increase its Gripen order & reduce its KC-390 order. Unfortunately, the details require a subscription. Does anyone have access, & can tell us a bit more? Nobody else seems to be reporting it.

Brazilian air force to nearly double Saab Gripen order, cut KC-390 order in half: reports

 

[John Fedup]

Flight is reporting that Brazil is to increase its Gripen order & reduce its KC-390 order. Unfortunately, the details require a subscription. Does anyone have access, & can tell us a bit more? Nobody else seems to be reporting it.

Brazilian air force to nearly double Saab Gripen order, cut KC-390 order in half: reports

Apparently due to COVID, revenues for the Air Force were cut back and it was decided fighters are more important than increasing the transport fleet. Only 13-16 KC/390s will be acquired and 60-70 Gripens which will be renamed F-39E/F. KC-390 production will only be 2 per year.

 

[Redlands18]

With no future heavy lift alternative to the Chinook, this article makes a good case for a block 2 Chinook. Let’s face it, Chinook is the vertical version of a Hercules.

Improve, Don’t Replace, Proven Chinook Capabilities

A commonsense lesson inherent to farmers is that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. That’s not to say we don’t upgrade tried-and-true equipment and practices as technology advan

www.realcleardefense.com

You can put down good money on both the Hercules and Chinook making it to their Centenary celebrations of service in 2056 and 2062 respectively, not that I’m likely to be still around.

 

[John Fedup]

You can put down good money on both the Hercules and Chinook making it to their Centenary celebrations of service in 2056 and 2062 respectively, not that I’m likely to be still around.

Me neither!

 

[John Fedup]

Apparently cargo rockers may be an alternative to military cargo jets. With a 100 ton payload these rockets would be comparable to a C-17. Note the rather disappointing availability for C-5s (20%) mentioned in the link. Assuming C-17 rate is much better.

Can Rockets Deliver Supplies to War Zones? Space Force, Air Force Aim to Find Out

A research lab will see whether reusable boosters can deliver up to a C-17s’ worth of cargo to terrestrial destinations.

www.defenseone.com

 

[ngatimozart]

Apparently cargo rockers may be an alternative to military cargo jets. With a 100 ton payload these rockets would be comparable to a C-17. Note the rather disappointing availability for C-5s (20%) mentioned in the link. Assuming C-17 rate is much better.

Can Rockets Deliver Supplies to War Zones? Space Force, Air Force Aim to Find Out

A research lab will see whether reusable boosters can deliver up to a C-17s’ worth of cargo to terrestrial destinations.

www.defenseone.com

Hmm last time I looked the C-17 lift capability was 77 tons which is not 100 tons. Secondly, lifting a payload of 100 tons into orbit is not a cheap proposition using current technology. I don't think I would want to be in the vicinity when a cargo of 100 tons of ammo was being launched or landed. Mind you iit went wrong the resultant bang would be impressive. So please excuse me if I am somewhat sceptical about this.

 

[ngatimozart]

See Boeing got pinged for a 1,500% markup in a spares price of a product for the JASDF KC-46 order. They're trying to claim that they have been undercharging the USAF for the whole program. Smacks of price gouging in an attempt to recoup losses on the program.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...an-1-500-markup-on-plane-part-air-force-says?

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

See Boeing got pinged for a 1,500% markup in a spares price of a product for the JASDF KC-46 order. They're trying to claim that they have been undercharging the USAF for the whole program. Smacks of price gouging in an attempt to recoup losses on the program.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...an-1-500-markup-on-plane-part-air-force-says?

Again another reason for potential customers to choose the A330 MRTT instead of the problematic KC-46.

I am not surprised btw, to read that Boeing perform such tricks.

 

[John Fedup]

There have been many reports recently about UAPs (formerly known as UFOs). This Sandbox news article describes a USN patent that may explain many of the sightings and also why the Pentagon still considers them as unexplained. Laser induced plasma holograms might be what naval aviators are seeing. This technology might protect stealth fighters from IR guided missiles. Very impressive if it actually works!

CAN THIS NAVY PATENT EXPLAIN AWAY MANY UAP SIGHTINGS?

A Navy patent for laser induced plasma holograms offers one potential explanation for at least some modern UAP sightings.

www.sandboxx.us

 

[Redlands18]

There have been many reports recently about UAPs (formerly known as UFOs). This Sandbox news article describes a USN patent that may explain many of the sightings and also why the Pentagon still considers them as unexplained. Laser induced plasma holograms might be what naval aviators are seeing. This technology might protect stealth fighters from IR guided missiles. Very impressive if it actually works!

CAN THIS NAVY PATENT EXPLAIN AWAY MANY UAP SIGHTINGS?

A Navy patent for laser induced plasma holograms offers one potential explanation for at least some modern UAP sightings.

www.sandboxx.us

UAP?
Unidentified Air? P?

 

[John Fedup]

UAP?
Unidentified Air? P?

Sorry, should have defined UAP, unidentified aerial phenomena.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Who is the mystery buyer of Airbus C295 aircraft?

Airbus is selling its C295 tactical airlifter to a mystery Southeast Asian customer and is fulfilling a follow-on order for Thailand, the company announced.

www.defensenews.com

|" Industry sources tell Defense News that in this case, the “Asia-Pacific” region refers specifically to Southeast Asia instead of the wider geographic region. The sources added that the unnamed customer has never before operated the C295, narrowing the mystery buyer to Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. "|

It is unlikely that Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar are the unnamed customer. I also dont think Malaysia and Singapore will request such a secrecy, besides that both countries do not have an urgent requirement for this class of transport aircrafts as far as i know.

What about Papua-Nugini and Timor-Lorosae? Both countries have a very limited defence budget and Papua-Nugini is officially not an Southeast-Asian country.

So...left over is indeed Brunei, which at the moment only has one CN235.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

ISR-versions of the C295 already exist for some years, but now trials are started with an armed version.

| "The company announced on 20 June that the C295 Armed ISR, as the version is named, recently conducted flight trials with eight laser-guided missiles and two laser-guided bombs dummies, located on four underwing hardpoints." |

Thats quite a lot of firepower for a twin turboprop transport aircraft.

Airbus trials armed C295 gunship for persistent CAS

Airbus has flown an upgraded version of its armed C295 gunship that has been developed to provide persistent close air support (CAS).

www.janes.com

 

[John Fedup]

A new approach for detection called m-Widar, impressive if it can deliver. Could possibly be a big help in tracking space junk.

New Radar Method Could Reveal Space Junk, Super Fast Missiles, Objects Behind Walls

Multiple transmitters processed through a new algorithm can spot very difficult-to-track targets.

www.defenseone.com

 

[ngatimozart]

A new approach for detection called m-Widar, impressive if it can deliver. Could possibly be a big help in tracking space junk.

New Radar Method Could Reveal Space Junk, Super Fast Missiles, Objects Behind Walls

Multiple transmitters processed through a new algorithm can spot very difficult-to-track targets.

www.defenseone.com

It certainly does have a lot of potential andas said in the article mean that you could use radar without the enemy being aware of being detected. Sneaky.

We have a large space radar in Central Otago in our South Island that's used for monitoring space junk.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

| "No further details were provided by the embassy, including the contract value and number of UASs procured, but Janes understands they will be used to contribute to the protection of territorial waters as well as the country's exclusive economic zone. In this regard the country's longstanding territorial disputes in the South China Sea with neighbouring countries, including China, are among the drivers behind the recent acquisition of the system." |

So it is unclear how many Insitu RQ-21 Integrator UAVs are ordered and also the value of the acquisition, but the newer RQ-21 Integrator is much larger and heavier than the little brother ScanEagle which is in use by many of Brunei's neighbours around the Spratly Sea.

Royal Brunei Air Force acquires Insitu Integrator unmanned aerial system

The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) has acquired at least one Insitu Integrator unmanned aerial system (UAS) to enhance its maritime surveillance and reconnaissance...

www.janes.com

 

[Ananda]

Finland offered partner status in Eurofighter

Finland is being offered partner status in the Eurofighter programme as part of the consortium's bid for Finland's HX fighter procurement, BAE Systems representatives...

www.janes.com

Eurofighter consortium up the stake on Finland next fighter program with offering them same status as original partner Italy, Spain, German and UK. This is the move that will enable Finland to gain similar tech access each time there're upgrades in Eurofighter.

Something that I belive is not being offer to other large Eurofighter customer like Saudi Arabia. Interesting to shown on how far next tech on Eurofighter upgrade will be develop considering the four original partners seems will end up in different Euro Next Gen program.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Last month the Koninklijke Luchtmacht/Royal Netherlands Air Force got its own satellite. Now the Royal Thai Air Force got their second one, made by the same company which created the one from KLu/RNLAF : ISIS.

Netherlands-based company Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE), which designed and built both satellites, noted that Napa-2 is equipped with a ‘Simera Sense Multiscape Imager' featuring seven visual and near-infrared (VNIR) bands, with a ground sampling distance of 5 m to improve its Earth-observation capabilities.

its just weird that some large countries like indonesia, with all its islands, illegal fishery, natural disasters and forrest fires, do no not have a single observation satellite. In the past LAPAN created with Technische Universität Berlin the LAPAN-TUBSat / LAPAN A1, and later the LAPAN A2 and A3, but these were more experimental satellites with a short lifespan.

SpaceX launches Royal Thai Air Force's second-Earth observation satellite

The Royal Thai Air Force's (RTAF's) second Earth-observation satellite, Napa-2, was launched into space on 30 June from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida...

www.janes.com

 

[kato]

its just weird that some large countries like indonesia, with all its islands, illegal fishery, natural disasters and forrest fires, do no not have a single observation satellite. In the past LAPAN created with Technische Universität Berlin the LAPAN-TUBSat / LAPAN A1, and later the LAPAN A2 and A3, but these were more experimental satellites with a short lifespan.

LAPAN A2/A3 are to my knowledge both still active after five years now. Both have provided plenty of observation imagery and other remote sensing output, as well as providing surveillance over Indonesian waters via AIS receivers. The two satellites carry a variety of imaging systems for testing, resolution depending on system and purpose (spot imaging, pushbroom sweep, spot video...) is broadly between 5m and 18m.

LAPAN has two further satellite technology demonstration projects under development, A4 for near-infrared imaging and A5 for synthetic aperture radar (to be developed with the University of Chiba, Japan - sometimes also called LAPAN-Chiba or ChibaSat for that reason). Both are intended to be about the same size as A2/A3, or rather would use the same satellite bus (which is quite a bit bigger than the nanosats other countries and commercial enterprises test their technology on, and similar in size and scope to the ones e.g. European countries or China use for such purposes). LAPAN A4 was planned to be launched in 2020.