Category: Military

First US NAVY P-8A Poseidon Rolls Out

Boeing and the U.S. Navy on Thursday formally unveiled the newest maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon.

A derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800, the P-8A is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations.

“The P-8A Poseidon will equip the U.S. Navy with the most advanced multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft in the world,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

Boeing P-8A Poseidon Rolls Out (737-800)

As the replacement for the Navy’s P-3C Orion aircraft, the P-8A will provide greater payload capacity, significant growth potential, unprecedented flexibility and interoperability, and advanced mission systems, software and communications.

The P-8A is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aviation. The team currently is assembling and testing the first five P-8As as part of the program’s System Development and Demonstration contract, awarded in 2004.

The integrated Navy/Boeing team will begin formal flight testing of the P-8A later this year. The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8As, and initial operational capability is planned for 2013.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Saudi Arabia Orders Additional A330 MRTT

Saudi Arabia has ordered three additional A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft (on which the Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker is based).

This second acquisition by the Saudi Ministry of Defense and Aviation brings to six the total A330 MRTTs ordered for the Royal Saudi Air Force, with delivery of the service’s first aircraft scheduled in 2011. The contract also includes an in-service support package.

Saudi Arabia Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT)

The Saudi Arabian A330 MRTTs will incorporate EADS’ next-generation fly-by-wire Advanced Refueling Boom System on the fuselage centerline, plus two all-digital Cobham 905E hose-and-drogue refueling pods under the wings.

Aerial refueling operations are controlled from a state-of-the-art Remote Aerial Refueling Operator station in the cockpit behind the pilots, incorporating an enhanced vision system with laser infrared lighting and high-definition digital stereoscopic viewing.

Airbus Military, an EADS company, is responsible for the design and production of the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, the air forces of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates have chosen the A330 MRTT.

Source/Image: EADS

First F-35C Lightning II Carrier Variant Unveiled

Lockheed Martin today celebrated the rollout of the U.S. Navy’s first-ever stealth fighter, the F-35C Lightning II. The aircraft will enable the Navy to possess 5th generation fighter capabilities at sea, extending America’s reach and reducing the timeline from threat to response.

US Navy F-35C Lightning II Carrier Variant

Tom Burbage, a former Navy test pilot and the vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration for Lockheed Martin, thanked Navy leadership for being fully engaged in the F-35’s development and “actively working to define joint and coalition tactics that will exploit this platform in ways we’ve never envisioned. We at Lockheed Martin are both proud and humbled by the trust the U.S. Navy has placed with us to lead the development and introduction of the Navy’s newest stealthy, supersonic strike fighter.”

The first F-35C, known as CF-1, will undergo a wide-ranging series of ground tests before its first flight, scheduled for late 2009. CF-1 is the ninth F-35 test aircraft to be rolled out, and joins a fleet of F-35A (conventional takeoff and landing) and F-35B (short takeoff/vertical landing) variants that have logged more than 100 flights.

The F-35C is on schedule to meet the Navy’s Initial Operational Capability in 2015, and represents a leap in technology and capability over existing fighters, combining stealth with supersonic speed and high agility. The Lightning II employs the most powerful and comprehensive sensor package ever incorporated into a fighter.

The F-35C possesses uncompromised carrier suitability and low-maintenance stealth materials designed for long-term durability in the carrier environment. The Lightning II’s operational and support costs are forecast to be lower than those of the fighters it will replace.

The F-35 and F-22 are the world’s only 5th generation fighters, uniquely characterized by a combination of advanced stealth with supersonic speed and high agility, sensor fusion, network-enabled capabilities and advanced sustainment. The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation strike fighter. Three F-35 variants derived from a common design, developed together and using the same sustainment infrastructure worldwide, will replace at least 13 types of aircraft for 11 nations initially, making the Lightning II the most cost-effective fighter program in history.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

Photo: Lockheed Martin
Source: Lockheed Martin

Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet Makes First Flight (Photo)

Boeing today announced that the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet successfully completed its first flight on Monday.

Boeing unveiled the aircraft July 8 at the company’s Integrated Defense Systems facility in St. Louis.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has orderd 24 F/A-18Fs. Delivery of the first one will be completed later this month, three months ahead of schedule. The remaining 23 Super Hornets will be delivered to the RAAF throughout 2010 and 2011.

Photo: Boeing
Source: Boeing

First Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet Unveiled

Boeing today announced the unveiling of the first F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The aircraft will be delivered later this month.

Back in March 2007, the Australian government placed the order of 24 F/A-18F multirole fighters, making that country the first international Super Hornet customer. The remaining 23 Super Hornets, each equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, will be delivered to the RAAF throughout 2010 and 2011.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet

The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 395 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Boeing P-8A Poseidon Completes 1st Flight

The Boeing P-8A Poseidon test aircraft T-1 successfully completed its first flight April 25, taking off from Renton Field at 10:43 a.m. and touching down at Boeing Field in Seattle at 2:14 p.m. The P-8A performed a series of flight checks, reached a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet, and landed after three hours, 31 minutes in the air.

Prior to takeoff, the P-8A team completed a limited series of flight checks, including engine starts and shutdowns. During the flight, test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations, autopilot flight modes, and auxiliary power unit shutdowns and starts.
Boeing P-8A Poseidon First Flight
The integrated Navy/Boeing team will begin formal flight testing of the P-8A during the third quarter of this year. Before that, Boeing will paint the aircraft, install additional flight test instrumentation and conduct a series of ground tests.
The P-8A, a derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800, is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aviation. The team currently is assembling and testing the first five P-8As.

The Navy plans to purchase 108 P-8As to replace its fleet of P-3C aircraft. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.

The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is intended to conduct anti-submarine warfare, shipping interdiction, and to engage in an electronic intelligence (ELINT) role. This will involve carrying torpedoes, depth charges, Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, and other weapons. It will also be able to drop and monitor sonobuoys. It is designed to operate in conjunction with the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Embraer Launches KC-390 Program

Yesterday, Embraer signed a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for the KC-390 military transport aircraft program.

The existence of a study regarding this military transport aircraft was presented two years ago, at LAAD 2007. The jet will have a cargo bay equipped with an aft ramp, to transport a wide variety of types of cargo, including armored vehicles, and will be outfitted with the most modern systems for handling and launching cargos.

Embraer KC-390 Military Transport Jet

The new jet can be refueled in flight and can be used for in-flight or on-ground refueling of other aircraft. The cargo bay will allow configurations for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions. The technical advances of the KC-390 include fly-by-wire technology and the capability for operating on short and rustic runways.

Source: Embraer
Image: Embraer

Boeing Unveils New F-15SE

Boeing today unveiled the F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE), a new F-15 configuration designed to meet the future needs of international customers.

F-15 Silent Eagle Logo Nose Art
F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE)
F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE)

“The F-15 Silent Eagle is designed to meet our international customers’ anticipated need for cost-effective stealth technologies, as well as for large and diverse weapons payloads,” said Mark Bass, F-15 Program vice president for Boeing. “The innovative Silent Eagle is a balanced, affordable approach designed to meet future survivability needs.”
Improvements in stealth include coatings and treatments on the aircraft. With the added advantage of redesigned conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) that allow for internal weapons carriage, the Silent Eagle becomes a very attractive fighter for Boeing’s international customers.

Depending on the specific mission, the customer can use the CFTs that are designed for internal carriage or change back to the traditional CFTs for optimum fuel capacity and external weapons carriage. The Silent Eagle will be able to internally carry air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 and AIM-120 and air-to-ground weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). The standard weapons load used on current versions of the F-15 is available with the traditional CFTs installed.

The aircraft’s canted vertical tails improve aerodynamic efficiency, provide lift, and reduce airframe weight. Another aerodynamic improvement is the Digital Flight Control System, which improves the aircraft’s reliability and reduces airframe weight.
Survivability improvements include a BAES Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS) working in concert with the Raytheon Advanced Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) radar.

Boeing has completed a conceptual prototype of the CFT internal-carriage concept, and plans to flight-test a prototype by the first quarter of 2010, including a live missile launch.

Source: Boeing
Photos: Boeing