J-15 SHIP-BORNE AIRCRAFT’S PERFORMANCE MODIFICATIONS
On November 6, Wang yongqing, Chief Designer of J-15, revealed that special design features have been applied to the J-15 in accordance with its deployment on aircraft carriers, in order to achieve the special requirements of ship-borne aircraft. J-15 ship-borne aircraft series No. 555 was a very important aircraft although it had attracted limited media attention. The J-15 is ChinaÕs first-generation ship-borne fighter, developed on the basis of the J-11. Particular attention has been given to the special requirements of ship-borne aircraft, in addition to the guarantee of its combat capabilities. As China’s first ship-borne fighter, the J-15 has excellent sea-air combat capability, and is equipped with a variety of air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea attack weapons. Its comprehensive combat capability has reached an internationally advanced level which reflects the extraordinary technical achievements of ChinaÕs aviation industry.
PASSING OUT PARADE AT INDIAN NAVAL ACADEMY, EZHIMALA
ern Naval Command, Vice admiral Satish Soni, and the Commandant, INa, Vice admiral Pradeep Chauhan, were also present.
DELIVERY OF THE FIRST NH90 STEP B TO ITALIAN NAVY
The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 Step B naval helicopter, which is the fully operational version of the 46 it has ordered. Five earlier aircraft delivered in the interim Step A configuration will now be upgraded. “NH90 Step B will allow its crew to fully take advantage of its tremendous mission system,Óexplains Xavier Poupardin, Delegated Managing Director of NHIndustries. The Step B configuration features a range of significant advancements in mission capability including mission systems integration for both air-to-surface missiles such as the Marte MK/2S and torpedoes, advanced satellite and encrypted communications, radar and avionics capability enhancements.
RUSSIAN SHIPBUILDER OUTLINES CONCEPT OF FUTURE ATTACK SUBMARINE
a senior designer at the rubin design bureau has said that Russia’s fifth-generation strategic and attack submarines will most likely be non-nuclear-powered, more compact and less ÒvisibleÓ.
Large nuclear-powered vessels, including russiaÕs Typhoon class strategic boats, have so far dominated past and current trends in combat submarine construction. ÒI believe future submarines will be smaller, because of the use of more advanced technologies as well as the pursuit of more costeffective production,ÓSergei Sukhanov said in an exclusive interview with rIa Novosti. “The fifth-generation boat will also be less ÔvisibleÕ compared with existing submarines. They could also feature a new power plant, including fully electric,Ó Sukhanov said, adding that changes could affect other subsystems of future submarines. The designer said the most likely substitution for a nuclear reactor on strategic and attack submarines would be an air-independent propulsion plant (aIPP), which would make them stealthier than nuclear-powered boats. The aIPP allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without the need to access atmospheric oxygen. He said the construction of fifth-generation submarines in Russia could start in the next 10-15 years. The russian Navy currently relies on third-generation submarines, with fourth-generation subs of the Project 955 Borey class of strategic boats and Project 885 yasen class of attack boats just beginning to be adopted for service. Russia is planning to build eight Borey class and eight yasen class submarines by 2020. They are expected to become the mainstay of the countryÕs nuclear-powered submarine fleet for at least two decades.
CHINESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER “LIAONING SHIP” SEA TRIALS
China’s first aircraft carrier Liaoning has been carrying out periodic sea trials to fine tune the operational readiness of the ship. During the ninth trial, it completed test flight and training. During this phase, it has completed test flight of ship-borne J-15 fighters, ship-deck test, training of commanders for ship-borne fighters’ landing, and flight training of test pilots successively. Besides, the support capability and process of all the take-off positions on Liaoning were tested for the first time, and such tests as disassembly and assembly of engines of shipborne J-15 fighters were also completed for the first time. During the training of commanders for ship-borne fighters’ landing, the Liaoning succeeded in training a group of qualified landing commanders, which is of great significance for normal take-off and landing training on the ship. It then sailed back to a naval port on November 11, 2013.
The tenth sea trial started on November 26, on a scientific and training mission. This is the first time the carrier has conducted a cross-sea training voyage since it was commissioned into the PeopleÕs Liberation army (PLa) Navy last year, according to the LiaoningÕs Captain Zhang Zheng. The aircraft carrier was escorted by two missile destroyers, the Shenyang and Shijiazhuang, and two missile frigates, the yantai and Weifang. The voyage will test the carrierÕs equipment. Long cross-sea voyages are a necessary stage of experimentation and training to test equipment and troops under continuous work and different hydrological and meteorological conditions. The Liaoning and its crew conducted a series of tests and training drills, including landing and take-off by various aircraft, including the J-15 carrier-borne fighter.
C4I SYSTEM UPGRADES AND MAINTENANCE FOR ROYAL SAUDI NAVAL FORCES (RSNF)
The Defense Security Cooperation agency has notified Congress of possible foreign military sale to Saudi arabia of C4I system upgrades and maintenance and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. The proposed sale will improve the rSNF capability to maintain and upgrade its current C4I system, increase the ability of rSNF vessels and manpower to effectively protect Saudi arabiaÕs coastal strategic assets, and keep pace with the rapid advances in C4I technology to remain a viable US coalition partner in the region. The rSNF will use the upgraded C4I system to provide situational awareness of naval activity in the Persian Gulf and the red Sea.
PENTAGON CONTRACT FOR ROCKWELL COLLINS INC.
rockwell Collins Inc., has been awarded a $4,65,82,848 modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to exercise an option for the manufacture and installation of two Block I modification aircraft kits including Internet Protocol Bandwidth Expansion Phase III and very low frequency transmit terminals (VTT) for the E-6B aircraft. In addition, this contract includes the manufacture and installation of four VTT retrofit modification kits in support of the low rate initial production E-6B aircraft, field support, differences training, software licences and agreements, and updates to an operational flight trainer. Work will be completed in May 2015.