Initial Delivery of Wedgetail Aircraft
AEW&C Program Manager, Air Vice Marshal Chris Deeble said the aircraft – known as ‘Wedgetail’ – is critical to Australia’s Air Combat Capability and will play a key role in achieving the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) network-enabled war fighting capability.
“The Wedgetail aircraft is a ‘first of type’ development and extremely complex, given the range of cutting-edge radar technology and sensors that will be incorporated into each aircraft.
“Development, test and evaluation are still ongoing with manyhurdles still to be overcome, particularly with respect to radar,electronic support measures and integrated system performance and stability.
“However with the initial delivery of two aircraft, Defence will now be able to conduct familiarisation training while Boeing completes the remaining test program and acceptance activities,” AVM Deeble said.
“When fully operational, Wedgetail will enhance surveillance, air defence, fleet support and force coordination operations.”
Boeing has currently scheduled initial acceptance of the first two aircraft for the first quarter 2010 when the aircraft will come into Commonwealth ownership.
The Commonwealth will eventually acquire six Wedgetail aircraft at a cost of more than (AUS) $4 billion.
South Korea Accepts the First Arthur WLR System
The ARTHUR systems delivered to the Republic of Korea Army in November will among other purposes be used to secure early detection of North Korea’s long range artillery. ARTHUR provides commanders with the capability to quickly locate firing artillery weapons and transmit the data to the Command & Control system within seconds. Delivery of the remaining systems will take place during next year.
“The procurement agency and the end user, the army, is a verycompetent and demanding customer, and we are proud to be part of thisimportant program. We are also very proud that Korea now becomes amember of the growingARTHUR family,”says Göran Gregerström, Vice President Asia Pacific, Saab Microwave Systems.
For this project Saab has cooperated with the Korean defence company LIG Nex1 for the Korean Industrial Participation.
“We are very pleased with the cooperation and quality of LIG Nex1and are now jointly looking into other areas where we can cooperatewithin the defence,” says Göran Gregerström.
In totally Saab has sold over 60 ARTHUR systems since the system originally was developed for the Swedish and Norwegian army. A number of these systemshave been proven in operation for thousands of hours proving a highreliability and low operating cost for the different customers. Thesystem is currently in service in US, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK and some undisclosed countries.
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saabhas operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops,adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
New AN/TPQ-46B Radar Delivered to US Marines
The lightweight, highly mobile and affordable AN/TPQ-46B radar is the U.S. Marine Corps' version of the U.S. ArmyAN/TPQ-36(V)10 radar. The radars are equipped with a reliable andpowerful (V)10 radar processor built by ThalesRaytheonSystems and arecurrently in high-rate production for the U.S. Army.
"There is nothing more critical than the ability to target andcounter threats on the battlefield," said Kim Kerry, chief executiveofficer of ThalesRaytheonSystems, U.S. Operations. "This technology isvital for the Marine Corps' tactical capabilities as the forcecontinues to grow."
These additional radar systems will bring the total U.S. MarineCorps' inventory to almost 50 systems, supporting the recent force sizebuild-up from 175,000 to 202,000 Marines. More than 250 AN/TPQ-36radars are currently in use by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and 14foreign countries worldwide.
The AN/TPQ-46B radar accurately, rapidly and automatically locatesshort- and medium-range enemy mortars, artillery and rocket launchers,allowing friendly forces to return fire.
Work under the Marine Corps' radar contract is being performed atRaytheon's Forest, Miss., production facility through October 2010 andincludes ten spare antenna arrays for the U.S. Army.
Formed eight years ago, ThalesRaytheonSystems is an international company specializing in air defense systems, command and controlsystems, 3D air defense radars, battlefield and counter-battery radars.The company employs 1,600 people and is equally owned by Raytheon andThales.
Northrop Highlights Global Security Capabilities at the Dubai Airshow 2009
The Dubai Airshow 2009, the foremost aerospace event in the MiddleEast, will take place at the Airport Expo Dubai adjacent to Dubai International airport, from 15-19 November.
Northrop Grumman will be exhibiting at stand E200 in the East Hall,and the company's chalets are at A49 and A50. The mini-pavilion B8 islocated in the static display area.
"As a leader in the aerospace and defence industry, Northrop Grummanremains distinct in being able to combine innovative technologies and business practicesthat address broad mission and enterprise capability requirements,"said Jim Pitts, corporate vice president and president of NorthropGrumman's Electronic Systems sector. "Our core technologies and investment strategies provide practical solutions that help assure military superiority, confront irregular warfare challenges and secure the commons."
Northrop Grumman offers many opportunities to help the UAE. Thecompany has had an active presence in the Middle East for more than adecade with its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and has wellestablished partnerships with the UAE and other countries in the regionin support of a variety of defence and civil programmes. In 2008, thecompany further expanded its industry footprint by opening an office inRiyadh, Saudi Arabia.
"Our core competencies are strongly aligned with the current and evolving global securitypriorities of our customers, including cyber security and intelligence,surveillance, and reconnaissance," said John Brooks, vice president of international business developmentfor Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector and president ofNorthrop Grumman International Inc. "Northrop Grumman providesunmatched surveillance capabilities, with clear strengths in unmannedand airborneearly warning technologies. Our customers in the MiddleEast demand the best, and it's our challenge to continue to meet andexceed their expectations."
Among the exhibits on display will be Northrop Grumman's world leading capabilities in airborne early warning and control. Featured will be the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), multi-role electronically scanned array (MESA) radar.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye programme has modernized the E-2 weaponsystem by providing new, more powerful radar and other avionics systemsto create an advanced AEW&C capability. In coordination with theU.S. Navy, an E-2C Hawkeye will be on static display, and an E-2Hawkeye multi-media exhibit that showcases the benefits of the E-2D formilitary and civil applications will also be on display in the NorthropGrumman exhibit stand.
The MESA surveillance radar is an advanced airborne surveillancesensor and provides peninsular protection enabling sophisticatedair-to-air and maritime coverage and integrated friend-or-foeidentification. A computer demonstration of MESA capabilities and scalemodel of the array will be available for viewing.
Also highlighted will be Northrop Grumman's industry leadingunmanned aircraft expertise. A full-sized model of the MQ-8B Fire Scoutcan be viewed in a mini-pavilion in the static display area. The FireScout is a Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System(VUAS) multi-role UAV that can carry various payloads, which provideunprecedented situational awareness and precision targeting support,ideal for land and navy forces.
Models of the F-16AN/APG-68(V)9 mechanically scanned fire control radar, directionalinfrared countermeasures (DIRCM) and the Longbow Apache radar andLongbow Hellfire missile systems will also be on display.
Additionally on static display will be a U.S. Air Force and U.S. ArmyE-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS).Northrop Grumman's E-8C is the most advanced targeting and battlemanagement system in the world. As an airborne battle management andcommand and control (C2) platform, the Joint STARS system conductsground surveillance, enabling commanders to develop an understanding ofthe enemy situation, and to support attack operations and targeting.
The company's Italy-based subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Italia willdisplay its state-of-the-art fibre-optic navigation systems. This willinclude the LISA-200, the Navex family of attitude heading referencesystems and LN 251 / LN 270 high accuracy inertial navigation systems.These are in service on aircraft platforms in the U.S., Europe and Asiaand are fitted to the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Tornado and BAE SystemsHawk.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security companywhose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, andsolutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuildingand technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
Raytheon Eyes International Contract Award for its F-16 AESA Radar
Both countries are looking to upgrade their F-16 fleets within the next two years in order to keep their force structure at the cutting edge of today's complex battlespace. RACR is designed for all F-16s and is approved for export.
The program is on schedule to fly production hardware on an F-16 during the first half of 2010.
"RACR continues to exceed expectations in meeting key production andintegration milestones and has just wrapped up a series of validationtests at Lockheed Martin's system integration laboratory," said Dr. Tom Kennedy, vice president of the Tactical Airborne Systems business division.
The program demonstrated various radar capabilities in bothair-to-air and air-to-ground modes as well as integration withRaytheon's F-16 center pedestal display. The new color display allowspilots to conduct simultaneous operations and provides a clearer picture of the overall battlespace.
"RACR has 90 percent software and hardware commonality with ourcombat-proven AESA radar for the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Several U.S. Navysquadrons are already operational in theater with this technologytoday, while the Royal Australian Air Force is also in flight trainingwith our AESA radar system. This active production line allows us toprovide F-16 customers with a high-performing, affordable but low-risksolution while also addressing obsolescence challenges they currentlyface with mechanical scanned radars," added Kennedy.
Within the past year Raytheon has also installed the RACR radartwice on F-16s at both Lockheed Martin and Edwards Air Force Base. Theseamless installation process demonstrated Raytheon's proven modularradar design resulting in an easy upgrade path for customers who needAESA radar capability.
"Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have worked together nearly six yearsto develop RACR for F-16s in order to meet our customer requirements,"said Brian MacDonald, RACR program manager. "The F-16 is an outstandingtactical aircraft, and we recognize the need to support our customers,keeping them relevant in the changing battlespace of today and thefuture."
RACR is a program in Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business.With 2008 revenues of $4.4 billion, 12,000 employees and headquartersin El Segundo, SAS is a leading supplier of sensor systems that provideactionable information for the network-centric battlefield.
Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technologyand innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security andother government markets throughout the world. With headquarters inWaltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
Radar Still a Lucrative Market, Despite Economic Woes
NEWTOWN, Conn: Forecast International projects that the worldwide radar market will be worth $52 billion over the 2009-2018 timeframe. Its recently published analysis "The Market for Radar Systems" further projects that more than 15,000 individual radar units will be produced over the next decade.
The global economic downturn and a renewed interest in domesticpolicies in the United States may force militaries to cut spending. Butaccording to William Ostrove, FI electronics analyst and author ofthe study, "The need for sensors will continue to drive radar salesworldwide. For example, the United States has begun a new effort to invest in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities."
Ostrove adds that as militaries increasingly use network-centrictactics, "sensor suites that include radar, electro-optical sensors,powerful computers, and datalinks will become more prevalent.” Andbecause radars form a critical part of theoverall data-fusion schemes of network-centric warfare systems, Ostrovesays that they will continue to be purchased by militaries to be fusedinto overall intelligence-gathering systems.
According to the study, which is based on a review of 127 radarproduction and funding programs, radar systems will also be purchasedas nations seek to upgrade their air defense networks. A number ofcountries have already begun to replace their air defense networks withnewer systems, including radar for air surveillance. In this regard,the U.S. has begun a program called the Three-Dimensional ExpeditionaryLong-Range Radar (3DELRR) to develop a new air surveillance radar toreplace its TPS-75s.
The increased use of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for battlefieldintelligence gathering is also driving radar sales. New technology isallowing smaller radar systems to be developed. UAV sensors havetraditionally been dominated by electro-optical and infrared systems.However, these newer, smaller radars are opening a new market for theradar industry.
One of the key advancements driving current demand for radar systems is the developmentof active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology. AESA radarsare being sold in increasingly large numbers every year. Says Ostrove,"Australia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates have already signedcontracts to purchase AESA radar from U.S. companies." He adds, "Allentries in the Brazilian F-X2 and Indian Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft(MMRCA) competitions include AESA radars." Sellers outside the U.S.,such as France, Israel, Russia, and the U.K., are also developing AESAradars.
Despite an overall projected decline in radar sales over the next 10 years, the market continues to be lucrative. In terms of market leaders, major players such as Raytheon and Northrop Grumman continue to top Forecast International's list of top five radar producers. Companies that join them in the top ranks include Lockheed Martin,Israel Aerospace Industries, and the MEADS International consortium.Consortiums such as MEADS International and Euroradar continue to playan important role in the radar industry.
Forecast International, Inc. is a leading provider of MarketIntelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, powersystems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA,Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts andmarket assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide.
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