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UPDATE
Week ending 20 June 2004
+++ EADS, Dassault and Thales agree on UAVs +++ Czech Republic signs for Gripen +++ Boeing wins MMA development +++ Virgin America orders A320s +++ US Commission reports on NASA exploration +++ Finmeccanica and Alcatel to form the Space Alliance +++ News in brief +++
EADS, Dassault and Thales agree on UAVs
Zusammenarbeit bei Drohnen vereinbart
Michele Alliot-Marie, the French Minister of Defence, spoke at the opening of the Eurosatory air show and expressed her pleasure with the major agreement signed between EADS, Dassault Aviation, and Thales. This founding agreement, in the framework of the demonstrators launched by the Ministry of Defence, covers all future activity in combat and strategic reconnaissance aeronautics.
In combat aviation, Dassault Aviation was made prime contractor for the demonstrator of the unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV), as announced at the last Le Bourget air show. EADS will be a partner in the research and development of this technological demonstrator, to which SAAB (Sweden) and HAI (Greece) are already associated.
In reconnaissance aviation, EADS has been chosen as prime contractor for the EUROMALE demonstrator project, and will be a partner with THALES which will handle jointly with EADS the development of the ground segment and related systems.
The development of the flight segment and its system architecture is entrusted to Dassault Aviation and the manufacturing will be handled by teams from Dassault Aviation, EADS and Thales. Close contacts have been made with other European industrial firms, including SAAB (Sweden) in particular. Thus, all these cooperation agreements, which cover the essential reconnaissance and combat aviation segments, will make it possible to develop a powerful European industrial network in sensitive and strategic areas of the military aeronautics of the future.
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Czech Republic signs for Gripen
Leasingvertrag für neuen Fighter unterschrieben
FMV (The Swedish Defence Material Administration), representing the Swedish Government, signed an agreement with its equivalent department at the Czech Ministry of Defense, at a ceremony in Prague. The Czech Republic will lease 14 Gripen fighter aircraft (12 single-seat and 2 two-seat) of the latest version JAS 39 C/D Gripen for a period of ten years (2005-2015) according to the agreement. The agreement follows the offer submitted by FMV in October 2003, which resulted in the Czech Governments decision to start negotiations with the Swedish government in December 2003. The negotiations have been ongoing since January 2004 and have now been successfully concluded by today's agreement.
The Czech Republic will be the first NATO-country to operate the fourth generation Gripen, to meet the country's national and NATO defense needs. The Czech Republic will receive the latest C and D versions of the Gripen aircraft. These aircraft are the latest standard of the Gripen and are equipped with full color cockpits, air-to-air refueling probes, and are fully NATO-interoperable. The Gripen aircraft will be delivered to the Czech Republic during April-August 2005. Sweden will provide extensive operational and tactical training of both Czech pilots and technicians as a part of the agreement. The training will be done in Sweden with the Swedish Air Force who is responsible for the training program. Saab AB will be responsible for certain adaptations of the Gripen aircraft to meet the Czech requirements. Saab AB will also provide technical support during the whole duration of the leasing period. The total value of the contract is 19.650 billion CZK
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Boeing wins MMA development
Neuer Seeaufklärer von Boeing
The U.S. Navy has awarded the Boeing-led industry team a $3.89 billion contract to build the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA). The total program estimated value is approximately $15 billion over a 10-year production run. The Boeing-led team, which includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Smiths Aerospace will produce seven test aircraft during the program's System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. Plans call for up to 109 aircraft to be purchased by the Navy to replace its aging fleet of 223 P-3 aircraft. “The Navy looks forward to starting the MMA development effort,” said James Lackey, MMA Deputy Program Manager. “Working as a seamless government and industry team, we are eager to successfully design and develop the MMA on schedule and on cost.”
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Virgin America orders A320s
Neue Billiglinie in den USA gegründet
On June 15, Virgin America has announced a firm order for 18 Airbus aircraft, including 11 A319s and seven A320s. In addition, Virgin America will lease 15 A320 Family aircraft from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). All 33 aircraft will be used to launch and sustain service of Virgin America, a US-based, low-fare airline. First deliveries are scheduled for early 2005. All the aircraft, purchased and leased, will be powered by engines from CFM International, a GE company based in Ohio. “This is the type of economic boost the U.S economy needs,” said Fred Reid, who is leading the formation of the future carrier. Reid joined Virgin in April from Delta Air Lines where he was President and Chief Operating Officer. “The wider bodies of the A320 Family, their modern design, lighting and climate control features will help us deliver that unique Virgin flair and outstanding customer experience travelers have come to expect from the Virgin brand.”
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US Commission reports on NASA exploration
Studie über die NASA-Pläne fertiggestellt
On June 16, the President's Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond delivered its report to the White House. The report, titled "A Journey to Inspire, Innovate and Discover" was later released to the public at a press conference, held at the George Washington University Jack Morton Auditorium in Washington D.C. The Commission, chaired by Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge, Jr., supports the President's new vision for space and the report contains eight findings and fourteen recommendations on how to implement that vision. The Commission believes that this new space agenda will significantly help the nation protect its technological leadership, economic vitality, and physical, economic and military security. Three "imperatives for success" were also identified: sustainability, affordability, and credibility.
In keeping with the long-term sustainability of the space vision, Chairman Aldridge called the report "far-reaching" and said: "We concentrated on five major themes and the idea that this proposed vision for space constitutes a journey – not a race; that the process of getting there is just as important as reaching the goal." The Findings and Recommendations cover the following subjects: Space exploration managed as national priority; larger role for private sector; a "go as you can pay" approach for funding; transformation of NASA organization and management processes; NASA centers operated as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers; Special project teams to develop "enabling technologies"; increased incentives and prizes for private sector investment; scientific achievements that lead to further scientific knowledge; stimulation of science, math and engineering education for students and teachers.
Chairman Aldridge said: "This is a great opportunity to inspire our youth and our teachers in the areas of math, science and engineering, to technologically innovate to build a space industry and a strong and skilled industrial base, and to discover new opportunities to gain knowledge of ourselves and our future. Thus the title of our report."
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Finmeccanica and Alcatel to form the Space Alliance
Wichtige Fusion in der Europäischen Raumfahrtbranche
On June 18, Finmeccanica and Alcatel announced the signature of a memorandum of understanding to merge their space activities and form alliances in the space sector through the creation of two sister companies, to which both partners will contribute their respective satellite industrial and service activities. The first company, Alcatel Alenia Space, of which Alcatel will hold approximately 67% and Finmeccanica approximately 33%, will combine Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio's industrial activities. It will concentrate on the design, development, and manufacturing of space systems, satellites, equipment, instruments, payloads and associated ground systems. The management team of Alcatel Alenia Space will be located in France. The company will operate through five business divisions (Telecommunications, Optical Observation and Science, Observation Systems and Radar, Navigation, Infrastructure and Transportation). With estimated 2004 sales of 1.8 billion euros and around 7,200 people, it will create the undisputed European leader within the global satellite industry.
The second company, of which Finmeccanica will hold approximately 67% and Alcatel approximately 33%, will combine Telespazio with Alcatel Space's operations and services activities. It will concentrate on operations and services for satellite solutions, which includes control and exploitation of space systems as well as networking, value-added services, multimedia and earth observation. Its management team will be located in Italy. With estimated 2004 sales of 350 millions euros and around 1,400 people, it will be a key player in the space services market.
The two groups have decided to combine their respective strengths in the space industry to better serve this growing market and to benefit from the expansion of their customer base as well as to leverage the strong complementary nature of the technologies and know-how contributed by both parties. The two groups have identified significant operational synergies and economies of scale, in particular in R&D, product development, procurement policy and increased industrial efficiency. These synergies will improve operating profitability by several points and will be realized progressively, in line with business cycles.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
A Russian-built Proton rocket successfully carried the Intelsat 10-02 satellite into orbit, marking the sixth mission of the year for International Launch Services (ILS). The Proton M vehicle lifted off from Baikonur's Pad 39 at 4:27 a.m. local time (22:27 Wednesday GMT, 6:27 p.m. Wednesday EDT). The rocket's Breeze M upper stage injected the spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit about 9 hours and 10 minutes later. The Intelsat 10-02 satellite will be positioned at 359 degrees East longitude (1 degree West), and will provide video, corporate networking, internet and voice services across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America and portions of Asia and North America. “This was another outstanding mission for Proton,” said ILS President Mark Albrecht. “The Intelsat 10-02 satellite is not only the largest Eurostar E3000 model spacecraft ever built by EADS Astrium, it also is the largest commercial satellite carried by a Proton vehicle. Clearly, Proton's accuracy and reliability are the reasons it is a vehicle of choice for customers around the world.”
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Throughout the world, Lufthansa stands for progress and innovations "Made in Germany". But Lufthansa is more than just a business enterprise. "Lufthansa is a prestige brand noted for quality and performance, and it plays an ambassadorial role," Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, told shareholders at the company's Annual General Meeting in Cologne. "For this to remain so in future, political decision-makers at both a federal and state level must ensure planning security and dependability for air transport," Mayrhuber urged. "The double burden of additional taxes and charges that are envisaged will be lethal for Germany as an aviation location," he stressed. "The very fact that we rank among the few growth industries in Germany that are doing more than their share of creating jobs should make it easy for the government to affirm its commitment to the aviation sector and to Lufthansa," Mayrhuber added. Thanks to the "Air Traffic for Germany" initiative it had been possible, for the first time, to get industry partners and government representatives to sit down at the negotiating table and seek joint solutions to ensure Germany remains competitive. Although this was a positive sign, Mayrhuber warned strongly against damaging the location. "Something must be amiss when the air transport industry, which not only plays its route costs in full but also helps suppliers who are often state-controlled to earn healthy profits, is forced to pay taxes in addition to infrastructural charges," the Lufthansa CEO said. Security checks in airport departure terminals were the duty of the state, Mayrhuber argued. Why should Lufthansa and its passengers be expected to pay for them? Steps should be taken to ensure that all the other transport providers were measured by the same yardstick. All those involved needed to strike a fair balance on this issue, he said. Germany as an economic aviation base was being undermined by politicians' constant obsession with charges and fees, Mayrhuber said. "Charging value-added tax on international flights would totally distort competition with foreign airlines and would be tantamount to exporting jobs. The introduction of an aviation fuel tax only in Germany would drastically erode Lufthansa's competitive clout. The competition in Paris and London would have a field day." Taxes on kerosene or other emissions would do nothing more to protect the environment. Building the long-overdue extra take-off runway at Frankfurt would be a far more effective contribution to active environmental care, in which Lufthansa leads the world, the Lufthansa chairman said. Each year, Lufthansa wastes 33,000 tonnes of jet fuel circling over the airport in holding patterns because of radical infrastructural deficiencies. At his first annual general meeting as Lufthansa Chairman and CEO, Mayrhuber presented a strategically and financially well-positioned company that can offer its shareholders excellent future prospects. Despite a record loss in the first quarter of 2003, Lufthansa was still able to post an operating profit of 36 million euros for 2003. "We were successful where most of our competitors have failed. We righted the ship and withstood market pressures," Mayrhuber stressed. "We demonstrated stability at a turbulent time and simultaneously took important steps to shape the Group's direction in the future." Mayrhuber is optimistic about the current financial year. Passenger volume, capacity utilisation and average yields have improved noticeably. The market for business travellers has bottomed out and is now recovering. "Let me reassure you that we will do our utmost to be in a position to pay a dividend again in 2004. Provided the present trend takes root and strengthens, we should be able to turn in a significantly better operating profit and a positive net result at the close of 2004 - despite Germany's still ailing economy."
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Northrop Grumman has successfully conducted the first flight test of a new, fourth-generation variant of the AN/APG-77 active electronically scanned array radar for the U.S. Air Force's F/A-22 Raptor air dominance fighter aircraft. The new design is intended to reduce the production and maintenance costs of the Raptor's third-generation radar by adapting the design that was implemented successfully in the AN/APG-81 radar for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the AN/APG-80 for the Block 60 F-16 fighter. This newest variant requires significantly fewer parts than the third-generation, and the production line relies on a greater degree of automation. In addition, Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector is developing software for the new radar that will enable it to perform high-resolution mapping of ground targets. This will permit true all-weather, precision strike capability that will transform the air dominance fighter into a multi-mission asset.
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At their meeting in Seoul, the SkyTeam Governing Board officially welcomed applications for membership from Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines, fulfilling the original request for membership made by KLM in September 2003 when its merger with Air France was announced. The Governing Board members discussed the benefits the nine-member alliance will bring to passengers traveling to and from Asia. Together, the three pending members will add more than 120 new global destinations, more than 110 new lounges and more than 5,500 new daily departures for customers traveling throughout the world. In Asia, the alliance will expand its network in the region to nine new destinations. Yang-Ho Cho, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Korean Air, congratulated Continental, KLM and Northwest on their decision to join the alliance. “The three pending members, Continental, KLM and Northwest, each have had a strong presence in Asia and we look forward to their official entry into membership in September. The alliance is poised to take advantage of growth opportunities in the Asian market and provide more options and greater convenience for SkyTeam passengers.”
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The official signing of the contract for the assembly in China of the EC 120 light helicopter - baptized the HC 120 for the Chinese market - took place in the presence of Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin, the French Prime Minister, and Mr. Zeng Peiyan, the Chinese Vice Premier in Paris. This signifies a decisive step forward in the development of co-operation between Eurocopter, CATIC and Hafei Aviation Industry Co. Ltd. The contract was signed by Mr. Fabrice Brégier, the Eurocopter President, Mr. Wang Bin, Chairman of the Board of Hafei Aviation Industry Co. Ltd (Harbin – China), and Mr. Yang Xueling, the Helicopter Department Director of CATIC (Peking – China). This official signing follows the Memorandum of Agreement that was signed in November 2003 in Peking, following the visit to China of the French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, and the negotiations conducted between Philippe Camus, the EADS President, and Zhang Yanzhong, the AVIC II President, with the aim of strengthening relations between the Chinese and French and German aeronautical industries. The EC 120 is a genuine commercial success with 400 aircraft already delivered to date, representing 75% of the five-seat helicopter market. China is currently the largest potential market in the world for the helicopter industry and the EC 120 (HC 120 in China) is the 'ad hoc' aircraft for meeting the requirements of military, civil and parapublic customers.
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Over one million revenue passengers have now passed through the turnstiles at Howard Beach and Jamaica, as JFK International Airport's state-of-the-art rail system celebrates six months of passenger service. The important milestone tells only part of the story: More than 3.6 million passengers overall have used AirTrain JFK since it opened on 17 December 2003, with more than 2.6 million on the free, on-airport portion of the system within JFK's Central Terminal Area and to stations in the rental-car and long-term parking areas. The single-day record for revenue passengers is 9,211, set on 28 May. Ridership has grown steadily since the system opened. With an average daily ridership in May of nearly 26,500 - including nearly 6,800 at the off-airport terminals in Howard Beach and Jamaica, Queens, combined - the system is well on its way to meeting the year-one projection of 34,000 daily passengers, especially with the traditionally heavy summer and year-end holiday travel seasons yet to come.
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The Thales TopOwl helmet-mounted sight/display successfully passed operational tests on the Tiger and Cobra AH-1Z helicopters. It was tested in May and June on the French army's Tigers and on the American Cobra AH-1Z in the United States of America. Attack and transport helicopter crews use TopOwl as their main flight control instrument. It provides all relevant information right in front of pilots' eyes (symbologies, warnings, images, etc.) without having to look down at the instrument panel, which is a key element to ensuring to flight safety during tactical missions. TopOwl is a binocular helmet-mounted display and sight, featuring visor projection of flight control symbology, plus images from image intensifier tubes (IIT) and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors. A number of demanding customers have chosen TopOwl because of its excellent ergonomics, low weight and optimized center of gravity, and visor projection with wide 40° field-of-view. These selections show that TopOwl perfectly meets the demanding requirements of today's helicopter pilots.
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At Eurosatory 2004, Thales was demonstrating the COFEUX system, following its operational evaluation by the French army. The effective management of air-to-ground fire from helicopters depends on real-time precise knowledge of the tactical situation for each machine. The flight plan should be modifiable at any given moment to perfectly follow mission developments. With digital battlefields and the huge data streams that have to be managed by crews, a powerful control and display system is essential. COFEUX also helps to develop and approve operational concepts and procedures for helicopter air-to-ground fire control. Thales has developed the COFEUX tactical situation management system to meet these objectives. It comprises the following: A digital mapping module that displays maps using various display modes and tools. It features an “inter-visibility” function showing 2 or 3- dimensional views of zones where the helicopter is exposed to enemy detection. The system generates and displays, superimposed over a map background, a number of symbols comprising the tactical situation, including flight plans for the helicopter and helicopter units. A communications system to exchange tactical and command information A man-machine interface, based on a powerful graphical user interface using a joystick and voice command.
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MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., a provider of essential information solutions, announced that the Company has signed a contract valued at approximately $170 million CDN to supply a complete small satellite mission to RapidEye AG of Germany. The RapidEye mission includes a constellation of five Earth Observation satellites and the related ground infrastructure. RapidEye is planning to operate the mission to deliver agricultural land information products and services such as crop monitoring and mapping, yield prediction, and natural disaster assessment. Insurance and food companies, farmers, government and other agencies and institutions throughout the world will regularly receive up-to-date products and services of the highest quality. In addition RapidEye will offer unique and highly competitive products to cartography customers. The mission will permit daily information updates of RapidEye's target market areas. MDA will be the prime contractor on the RapidEye project, and will also participate in marketing and product development efforts.
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Northrop Grumman successfully demonstrated a shipboard mission control system that will allow unmanned combat aerial vehicles to participate safely and autonomously in conventional manned, aircraft-carrier flight operations. The mission control system allows an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to change the mission plan of the vehicle in flight in response to new air traffic control requirements, system failures or changes in enemy activity. The demonstration occurred Feb. 23-29 on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier stationed off the East Coast of the United States. It was conducted as part of Northrop Grumman's work on the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) program. The J-UCAS program is an effort by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy to develop a new fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles that can perform combat missions for both services. Northrop Grumman is currently producing two X-47B demonstrator UAVs for the J-UCAS program.
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On June 16, Boeing and Japan Airlines (JAL) celebrated delivery of the airline's first Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplane, the newest member of the market-leading 777 commercial airplane family. The airplane is the 28th 777 delivered to JAL and the first of eight 777-300ERs that the airline, a launch customer for the model, will receive through 2008. The 777-300ER is the first of two new Longer-Range 777 models. It and the 777-200LR (Longer Range) were launched in February 2000 at the request of airlines seeking additional flexibility to serve non-stop routes that passengers demand.
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Sikorsky Aircraft's first production S-92 helicopter took to the Connecticut skies on June 14, accomplishing a successful first flight and ushering in a new era in civil rotorcraft. Pilots Ron Doeppner and Andy Evans guided S-92 #6 into a standard 30-minute hover over Sikorsky's Stratford plant, performing all routine controllability maneuvers and completing engine and avionics checks. "The aircraft is spectacular," said Doeppner. "The engines have more power margin than anything I've ever flown before, and the vibrations were incredibly smooth for a first flight." Aircraft #6 is scheduled for a mid-summer production delivery to Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., and a total of 12 aircraft will be delivered this year. Customers include VIP transport as well as both domestic and international offshore oil operators.
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Rolls-Royce has delivered its first fan module for the most powerful combat engine in which the company has ever been involved. The fan module, which has been designed and assembled at the Bristol plant, is part of the 40,000lb thrust class F136 engine which will power the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The fan module forms part of the company's 40 per cent involvement in the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team in which it partners US engine company General Electric. The module has now been shipped to GE's plant in Evendale, Ohio where it will be assembled with the core engine, which is due to be tested for the first time in July. A team of over 400 Rolls-Royce employees has been involved in the design and manufacture of the fan module for the last two years, working closely with a network of suppliers in the UK and in JSF industrial partner countries.
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Boeing is expanding Smiths Aerospace's work on the all-new 7E7 Dreamliner, selecting the United Kingdom-based company to supply the passenger airplane's landing gear actuation including control systems and the high lift actuation system. Smiths joined the 7E7 team in February when Boeing named it supplier of the airplane's common core system, an integrated avionics platform that's key to the 7E7's open-systems architecture. "We're making great progress bringing our team together," said Boeing 7E7 Senior Vice President Mike Bair. "The selection process has been very robust, making us confident that we're selecting the companies that will help us deliver an outstanding product to our customers." Smiths landing-gear work complements the landing-gear structure work that will be done by Messier-Dowty.
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DIEHL Munitionssysteme GmbH (DMS), Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH (RDE) and RAFAEL Ltd. signed an agreement establishing a new company, EuroSpike GmbH, which will serve as the prime contractor for the EuroSpike Family of missiles for European customers. The EuroSpike Family, the most advanced anti-armor/ multi-purpose missile systems available today, covers ranges between 200m and 8000m in three types of missiles (SPIKE-MR, LR and ER) with high technical commonality. These systems have several unique features which the Israeli Defence Forces, Singapore Armed Forces, Finnish Army, Dutch Army, Polish Army and others, have found to be the most suitable system for the modern battlefield and military operations in urban terrain (MOUT). As part of the effort to market and to establish the logistic infrastructure in Europe, RAFAEL, DMS and RDE established the EuroSpike Consortium in 1997. The cooperation between the above mentioned parties had significant success in terms of receiving and managing several contracts in the last few years. "Due to the intensive business activity, it became clear that a Joint Venture between the parties was necessary," said Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, VP Marketing and Business Development at RAFAEL. "The result has been the establishment of EuroSpike GmbH."
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A significant milestone in the development of ESA's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission was reached last week when the contract to build the payload was signed between ESA and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company)-CASA from Spain. The contract, worth 62 million euros, was signed in Madrid, Spain on 11 June 2004 at the premises of the CDTI (Centre for Development of Industrial Technology). EADS-CASA now heads an industrial consortium of more than 20 companies from all over Europe, and is committed to construct the innovative MIRAS (Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis) instrument that will form the core of the SMOS mission. Scheduled for launch in early 2007, SMOS is the second Earth Explorer Opportunity mission to be implemented as part of ESA's Living Planet Programme. The main aim of the mission is to further the development of climatological, meteorological and hydrological models by observing soil moisture over the Earth's landmasses and sea-surface salinity over the oceans for a period of at least 3 years. At the signing ceremony, Prof. José Achache, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, stated that, “SMOS will provide a major advancement in our ability to model and understand the global hydrological cycle.”
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Goodrich, in conjunction with JET Engineering Ltd, has advanced the technology of the MD-80 aircraft engine exhaust nozzles it introduced in 2003. The technology reduces MD-80 noise levels to meet current airport standards. The new JET nozzle enables an even wider range of in-service MD-80 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 series engines to comply with Stage 4/Chapter 4 international noise standards. By improving fuel burn and lowering engine temperatures, the nozzle will also save airlines significant operating and maintenance costs. "This improved JET nozzle offers MD-80 operators a cost-effective method for complying with the new noise regulations, while also improving the useful lives and residual asset values of their aircraft," stated Goodrich Aerostructures Aftermarket Services Vice President/General Manager Bob Gustafson. To gain enhanced noise reduction capabilities, the nozzle has been further optimized to meet engine performance parameters. The FAA certified the new nozzle configuration in June 2004, amending the original Supplemental Type Certificate it issued for the JET nozzle last year.
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General Dynamics' Gulfstream Aerospace, Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta Systems Ltd.and L3 Communications have formed a team to compete for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Airborne Early Warning (AEW) System E-X Program. The three companies will submit a combined offer. All three companies have proven capabilities and products that will be integrated into a highly competitive AEW system to meet the exact requirements of the ROKAF E-X Request for Proposal (RFP). In addition, the offer will include opportunities for South Korean industry to participate in the in-country modification, installation of equipment, and maintenance of the aircraft systems.
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An aircraft consortium, led by Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau and America's Boeing Corporation, has asked India to join its project to build a family of regional jet transport aircraft for civilian use. “They are very keen that we (India) become a risk-sharing partner,” Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Chairman N R Mohanty told reporters on the sidelines of SCALE 2004 conference on supply chain and logistics management. He said the Russian government has committed to buy about 60 civil aircraft and added that the manufacturers will also explore the global market for these airplanes. The Seattle-based Boeing and Sukhoi Design Bureau will produce the air-frame and the engine will be jointly built by European aero engine manufacturer Snecma and Russia's Lyulka Saturn for the family of 60, 75 and 95 seater aircraft, with the first plane expected to take off by 2007-08. Mohanty said India has not finalized plans to join the consortium, but added HAL could provide crucial parts of engines and aircraft structure for the venture.
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At a General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 14 June, EU foreign ministers gave the green light for the creation of a European Defence Agency (EDA) to coordinate the bloc's fragmented defence industry. The task of the EDA will be to coordinate hardware purchases, promote European defence research and end Europe's long tradition of duplication in armaments research, development and procurement. 'The Council reached political agreement on a Joint Action establishing the European Defence Agency. This timely agreement should enable the Agency to begin functioning by the end of the year. The Agency is ascribed four functions, relating to: defence capabilities development; armaments co-operation; the European defence technological and industrial base and defence equipment market; research and technology,' reads a Council statement. The creation of the agency is part of an ambitious six-year plan to sharpen the EU's military edge in the face of rapidly expanding US defence budgets.
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Northrop Grumman will help the U.S. Air Force define the most cost-effective way to integrate and conduct ground tests on key structural elements of a reusable, quick-turnaround space vehicle. The service hopes to use the demonstration to identify and mitigate technical and financial risks associated with developing and deploying a military space plane, an operationally responsive space vehicle that could launch payloads into orbit within hours of identifying a new mission requirement. Under a six-month contract, Northrop Grumman will analyze and identify the technologies and costs required to construct and test a structural section of a reusable, winged space vehicle. The section would include a composite propellant tank, representative wingbox and vertical tail pieces, intertank structural members, structural health monitoring sensors, and demonstration zones of thermal protection system tiles. "Over the past three years, Northrop Grumman has successfully developed and demonstrated key structural and vehicle health-management technologies required to build, launch and operate an affordable and reusable military space plane," said Doug Young, director of space programs for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "An integrated ground demonstration system would help identify and remove technical and financial barriers to producing, integrating and deploying this critical space asset."
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Austrian air force pilots have begun training on Swiss F-5E Tiger combat aircraft, marking initial implementation of the four-year, 12-aircraft leasing agreement concluded earlier this year. The first four Tigers will be handed over to Austria in July. In late April, Switzerland and Austria signed a framework agreement for the lease of 12 F-5E combat aircraft belonging to the Swiss Air Force. Yesterday (Monday, June 14) their transfer to Austria was approved by the United States Government. This was a necessary condition for the lease as the aircraft were originally supplied to Switzerland by the United States.
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The Spanish carrier Binter Canarias took delivery of an ATR 72-500 on June 18, in Toulouse. This aircraft has a 72-seat configuration and is the first of the 6 ATR 72-500s ordered in January 2004. It is equipped with the new “Elegance” cabin, a concept which has been developed to further enhance the level of comfort for the passengers on the ATR family of aircraft. This ATR 72-500 aircraft is also the first to have been painted in the new Binter Canarias' livery.
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As in the previous months, Frankfurt Airport's (FRA) passenger figures rose noticeable again in May 2004. Fraport AG, the airport's owner and manager, recorded more than 4.4 million passengers at continental Europe's largest airport in the reporting month, some 11.9 percent more than in May 2003. Those regions most affected a year ago by the impact of the Iraq war and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) experienced above average growth. Thus, FRA's traffic to destinations in North Africa, North America, the Middle East, and Asia rose by as much as 62.3 percent in May 2004. European traffic also grew again, due ultimately to the European Union's (EU) recent eastward expansion. This has benefited FRA with its 491 scheduled passenger connections per week to some 39 destinations in the new EU countries. Offering more than 62,000 seats per week, Frankfurt Airport accounts for more than 44 percent of Germany's total capacity to Eastern Europe.
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