As the European Union's biggest defense powers pare back military budgets, the crisis in public spending is bolstering the EU's case for taking on more responsibility in the realm of defense, space and security. The European Commission (EC) issued a long-awaited slate of broad policy proposals last month that would harmonize defense commerce in Europe, develop common standards, fund dual-use R&D and ultimately see the EU's executive arm purchase and operate its own military hardware.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has flown an improved version of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft with twice the payload and endurance of the Block 1 aircraft now flown by the U.S. Army.
How unmanned aircraft have matured over more than a decade of war is illustrated by the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven. This hand-launched UAV is often overlooked, even though it outnumbers all other U.S. unmanned systems put together—there were 5,394 in service as of November 2012 —but advances in microelectronics have given the Raven capabilities previously associated only with larger aircraft. Small size brings challenges. “Our engineers operate within a tight SWAP [size, weight and power] trade space,” says AeroVironment Vice President Steve Gitlin.
Tap on the icon in the digital edition of AW&ST for an interactive map with more on the U.S. missile defense sensor architecture, or go to AviationWeek.com/misdef
The incoming CEO of Rockwell Collins believes cuts to the U.S. defense budget are here to stay and says the managers of military programs would be well-advised to wake up to reality.
Click here to view the pdf U.S. Navy Procurement Funding Shifts:2013 Plan for Fiscal 2014 Compared To Actual 2014 Request (Winners) (Then-year dollars in millions) U.S.
LONDON — BAE Systems is pursuing deals for Eurofighter Typhoon jets for the UAE and a follow-up deal for the aircraft in Saudi Arabia. The company is keen to push production of the fourth-generation fighter out beyond 2020, CEO Ian King told analysts as the company released its half-year results on Aug. 1.
LONDON — The U.K. Defense Ministry deployed a laser weapon to the South Atlantic as it tried to re-take the Falkland Islands from invading Argentine forces, previously secret documents have recently revealed. A letter, dated January 17, 1983, written by the then-Secretary of State for Defense Michael Heseltine to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher states that the weapon was designed to dazzle Argentine pilots as they attacked British Task Force ships during operations in the waters around the Falklands.
Experts from the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, Commerce, Homeland Security and other agencies are working their way through about 100 formal comments on proposed reforms to the way the government licenses spacecraft for export, but final reforms won’t take effect until next year.
Congress will need to pass an amendment to a fiscal 2014 defense spending bill for the U.S. Navy to take advantage of a recent agreement to settle litigation of the canceled A-12 Avenger program, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) says.
LONDON — Italian aerospace and defense conglomerate Finmeccanica is continuing to negotiate the sale of non-core businesses in a bid to cut its burgeoning debt. The company is increasing its focus on its aerospace and defense businesses, which have had a relatively comfortable first half of 2013, compared to its struggling transport and energy businesses that have, according to CEO Alessandro Pansa, frustrated investors and resulted in the downgrade of the company’s credit rating.
An unnamed U.S. customer has contracted Australian engine company Orbital to develop a powerplant for a small UAV. The customer is evidently military, since the company says its engine-management, fuel and combustion technology will allow the engine to burn heavy fuels such as JP5 and JP8, “thus satisfying a U.S. Department of Defense initiative to eliminate gasoline fuels for safety and logistic reasons.”
Italian aerospace and defense conglomerate, Finmeccanica is continuing to negotiate the sale of non-core businesses in a bid to cut its burgeoning debt. The company is putting a stronger focus on its aerospace and defense businesses, which have had a relatively comfortable first half of 2013, compared to its struggling transport and energy businesses that have, according to CEO Alessandro Pansa, frustrated investors and resulted in the downgrade of the company’s credit rating.
LONDON — Eurocopter Spain has completed the first flight of a Spanish-assembled EC665 Tiger attack helicopter. The aircraft, which will be known as the Tiger HAD/E (Support and Attack Helicopter) (E for Espana) when it enters service, took to the air for the first time on July 29 at the company’s facility at Albacete. The aircraft is the second of 18 Tiger HAD/E helicopters being purchased for the Spanish army. Delivery of the aircraft to the Spanish armed forces is due to take place at the end of the year.
LONDON — Airbus Military has said that it will deliver the first A400M military airlifter in the “coming days” after the aircraft was awarded its military operating clearances by Occar.
In announcing the results of the Pentagon’s long-awaited budget review, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlined a choose-your-own-adventure challenge to the government: stick with the President’s budget request, trade force size for a high-end military or embark on a 10-year procurement holiday.
BEIJING — The Chinese air force appears to have had enough of being held responsible for the country’s notorious flight delays, or is at least trying to shift the blame. The largest cause of flight delays is poor airline management, not the air force, according to statistics issued through official media by “relevant departments.” And, contrary to common belief, civil aviation gets plenty of air space, says a report by the China News Service, a state news agency.
FRANKFURT — EADS has decided to make significant changes to its corporate structure and put the entire company under the Airbus brand. The board of directors followed a proposal put forward by CEO Tom Enders to change the company’s name to Airbus Group. Defense and space units Cassidian and Astrium will be merged and called Airbus Defense and Space. Eurocopter also will lose its current brand and be re-launched as Airbus Helicopters.
SCMR TAKEAWAY: House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) says the “single biggest take away” from the Pentagon’s Strategic Choices and Management Review (SCMR) is that “Congress, by allowing sequestration to exist, is abdicating its constitutional responsibility to responsibly fund the military and to provide for the common defense.
