QUICK ROUNDUP

backlog. Deliveries will take place in 2019 between March and November.

GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has announced that it will conduct maritime surveillance flight demonstrations in May 2018 using their MQ-9 Guardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The Guardian will collect data and conduct scientific research while operating from the island of Iki, in Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture. This will be the first demonstration of a long endurance RPA by a private company in Japan.

INDIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (MOD)

A delegation from the Indian MoD is to visit Kamov Design Bureau of Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec) in order to participate in the demonstration flight of a light utility Ka-226T rotorcraft and to familiarise themselves with its ship-based version.

INDIAN AIR FORCE

A defence deal valued at over $300 million for the provision of 20 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer’s to the Indian Air Force could fall through as the negotiations for it have been stuck for almost three years now, mostly due to a steep price hike by the vendors.

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION (ISRO)

Due to additional technical checks to be carried by ISRO on GSAT-11 satellite, the Ariane-5 VA243 launch initially planned for May 25, 2018, has been postponed to July with VA244.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

It is reported that Lockheed Martin plans to offer Japan a stealth fighter design based on its export-banned F-22 Raptor and advanced F-35 Lightning II aircraft. It has discussed the idea with Japanese defence ministry officials and will make a formal proposal in response to a Japanese request for information after it receives permission from the US government.

RUSSIA

The ground frequency tests of Russia’s IL-78M-90A tanker have been successfully completed in Ulyanovsk. The results will be the basis for analysing possible deviations from the operating standards during the whole life of the aircraft.

Russian news agency Interfax has reported that India is on course to sign a deal with Russia later this year for the purchase of the S-400 Triumf air defence system and corresponding missiles. Quoting Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, the report said that all the technical aspects of the contract had been agreed and a price just needed to be decided. would be part of a package with heavylift helicopters. Israel is considering both the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion and the Boeing CH-47F Chinook, adding that European countries such as Italy, Norway, Spain and the UK have also been targeted as potential foreign buyers for the Osprey.

LOCKHEED MARTIN’S AGM-158C LONG RANGE ANTI-SHIP MISSILE (LRASM)

The first range test of Lockheed Martin’s AGM-158C LRASM from an F/A-18 Super Hornet will take place later this year. Speaking to Military.com, Lockheed’s Vice President of Strike Systems, Alan Jackson said captive-carry testing is currently underway following a successful jettison release test last year. The munition has already been tested and dropped from the B-1B bomber and will be operationally fielded on the platform this September following two more flights this summer. Based on the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, the LRASM hosts the same capabilities; but can also detect, identify and attack moving maritime targets. In addition to the Super Hornet, Lancer and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the LRASM can also be deck-launched from a vertical launch system on a Navy destroyer.

ADVANCED PRECISION KILL WEAPON SYSTEM (APKWS)

Marine Corps’ F/A-18 Super Hornet squadrons have fired the APKWS during recent training. The low-cost 2.75 rocket utilises a laser guidance kit that gives it a precision-kill capability and allows the Super Hornet pilots to maintain a forward-firing, moving-target capability while increasing available ordnance per aircraft and provides a more efficient weapons match versus target sets currently seen in theater. The F/A-18 is the second Navy fixed-wing platform to carry APKWS. It is also employed from the AV8B as well as rotary-wing platforms including the UH-1Y, AH-1Z and MH-60S/R. The Navy and USMC have fired thousands of combined fixed- and rotary-wing shots and hundreds in combat scenarios.

CONTRACT FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN FOR THAAD

Lockheed Martin received on April 17, 2018, a $200 million modification for continued Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) and Patriot system integration work. According to the Pentagon statement, the order covers “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (PATRIOT), Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missile segment enhancement integration and PATRIOT launch on remote development.” Work is to be completed by February 28, 2022.

US AIR FORCE OPENS SPACE TRAINING TO ALLIES

During her keynote speech at the 34th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, on April 17, 2018, citing the National Defense Strategy, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced that beginning in 2019, the Air Force is opening its space training to allies. Wilson said. “We will strengthen our alliances and attract new partners not just by sharing data from monitoring, but by training and working closely with each other in space operations.” The Air Force will add two new courses to its National Security Space Institute, including one on space situational awareness for US partners and allies to learn more about collision avoidance, de-orbits and reentries. The service will also open more of its advanced courses on national security space to military members of allied countries.

ARMS TRANSFER AND UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS)

On April 19, 2018, President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum approving a new Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) policy. He has also established a new Administration policy on the export of American-manufactured UAS. The new CAT policy reflects the priorities set out in the President’s National Security Strategy and provides a framework under which all US Government agencies will review and evaluate proposed arms transfers and approve commercial defence sales by US companies. The Trump Administration’s new UAS export policy replaces an overly restrictive policy established in 2015 that hindered American companies from

delivering a crucial military capability to our allies and partners. These updated policies reflect the President’s commitment to peace through strength by building up its allies and partners, expanding opportunities for American industry, creating American jobs and advancing the national security interests of the US.

INDUSTRY ASIA PACIFIC OXYGEN SYSTEMS FOR SOUTH KOREA’S KF-X9

British aerospace equipment manufacturer Cobham has been selected by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to provide oxygen systems for South Korea’s indigenous fighter KF-X. The agreement covers the aircraft’s development phase and tasks Cobham with designing an onboard oxygen generating system that includes technologies such as the Next Generation Oxygen Concentrator which creates breathable oxygen from engine bleed air and the Electronic Seat Mounted Regulator that allows pilots to control the flow of oxygen. This will be the fourth contract given to Cobham for various systems on the KF-X.

AMERICAS SUCCESSFUL TEST OF A PARTIALLY-3D PRINTED WARHEAD

Orbital ATK announced the successful test of a partially-3D printed warhead designed for hypersonic weapons on March 29, 2018. The testing comes just sixty days after conception, with three out of five of the warhead’s major components made using additive manufacturing. Speaking to Defence News, Orbital said the aim of the test was to examine effects the fragmentation will have on various targets. Orbital decided to try additive manufacturing on a warhead design for hypersonic applications because the Defense Department is moving full speed ahead with hypersonic technology development in the coming years as it decides how it will employ such weapons.

EUROPE ILA 2018 AIR SHOW TAKES OFF IN BERLIN

ILA Berlin opened on April 25, 2018 and will close on April 29. Now in its 109th year, the bi-annual event held South of Berlin, presents modern aircraft, new air and space technology and features a programme of displays and conferences that target both experts and the general public. Claiming to be the longest-running air show in the world, this year’s event hosts 1,100 exhibitors from over 40 countries, which showcase their latest innovations including conceptual designs for flying taxis, zero emissions aircraft and 3D-printed drones.