Defense Technology International - April 2008 - (Page 10) AROUND THE WORLD NEWS BRIEFS NH90 JOINS FINNISH FLEET NH Industries announced in March that it delivered the first NH90 TTT (tactical troop transport) helicopter to the Finnish army. Finland is replacing its aging fleet of Russian-made Mi-8 helicopters with 20 NH90s. Nineteen are being assembled by the Patria Group in Finland. The first of the locally-built aircraft will be delivered this month. Patria is also responsible for the final assembly of most of the NH90 helicopters ordered by Sweden, following an industrial cooperation agreement that is part of the Nordic Standard Helicopter Program. Under the agreement, Patria produces most of the NH90 structural components, is involved in assembly of NH90 engines and will be responsible for maintenance, repair and overhaul of the Finnish NH90 fleet. The delivery NH INDUSTRIES of the NH90 TTT took place at the Eurocopter plant in Marignane, France. NH Industries is a consortium of Eurocopter, AgustaWestland and Stork Aerospace. I IMAGER MEETS MULTIPLE NEEDS Elbit Systems Electro-Optics (El-Op) Ltd. has developed an advanced compact thermal imaging camera called Mars. Part of the company’s Flir product line, the handheld device has uncooled microbolometer sensor technology, which contributes to its low weight (2 kg. or 4.4 lb.) and compact size. Combined with low power consumption, a rechargeable battery and operating time of more than 8 hr., Mars can be used in a range of applications—security and perimeter defense, operations by infantry, scout and special units, and for target acquisition by infantry commanders. Haim Russo, El-Op’s general manager, says the unit has an eye-safe integral laser rangefinder, digital magnetic compass and GPS. Mars builds on El-Op’s Coral dual-field-of-view thermal imaging cameras, which are in use by the IDF, NATO, U.S. forces and other militaries. I MAXIM PYADUSHKIN/DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL ELBIT SYSTEMS BRAHMOS MISSILE TO GO HYPERSONIC India has confirmed plans for a hypersonic variant of the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missile, now manufactured in land- and ship-launched versions (DTI December 2007, p. 17). Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace, told DTI at the Singapore Airshow in February that the Russian-Indian design team will use a scramjet engine and lighter, more compact airframe to reach Mach 5. Pillai, who leads the BrahMos joint venture between Russia’s NPO Mash missile manufacturer and India’s Defense Research & Development Organization, says the scramjet engine should be ready in four years. The BrahMos II seems intended for air-launched missions. At 3,000 kg. (6,600 lb.), the BrahMos missile is too heavy for the Indian air force to carry more than one on its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters, under the fuselage (see photo). The air force wants to carry two more missiles, but this requires wing reinforcements, a costly project since Sukhoi wants the work to be part of a broader modernization package. I DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2008 AviationWeek.com/dti 10 http://AviationWeek.com/dti
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