Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008 - (Page 16)

UAVS FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 New Order for Elbit’s Hermes 450 UAVs Elbit Systems Ltd. announced a new contract valued at approximately $20 million to supply Hermes 450 UAV systems to an unnamed European country. The systems, including both air vehicles and complementing ground systems, will be delivered through 2009. Hermes 450 has become a popular unmanned system among many of the world’s air forces; it is currently operated by several countries, including the Israeli, British, Singaporean and Georgian air forces. So far the Hermes 450 has accumulated over 100,000 operational flight hours, flying recce missions over conflict areas including Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, Lebanon and Gaza. A derivative of the system is in development for the British Watchkeeper program. Elbit is at Hall 1, Stand C17. Gallois: EADS Will Not Concede USAF Tanker Competition Even though the Pentagon decided last week to recompete the U.S. Air Force KC-X tanker program, EADS CEO Louis Gallois will not entertain the notion of the A330-based offering not prevailing. “We are not losing the tanker deal,” he insists. “We have the best airplane and I am sure the U.S. Air Force will buy the best airplane.” In fact, he continues to site the U.S. program among the five tanker wins for the A330 along with Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the UK. Why? Gallois notes that EADS is testing its refueling boom daily at its facility in Spain. However “we have no news of the Louis Gallois. boom of our competitor,” he says in a jab at rival Boeing. Would EADS consider using its Mobile, Alabama, facility for A330 final assembly without a tanker program? Gallois will only say “we will see.” —Robert Wall Reaper in Afghanistan Combat With RAF The RAF used the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAV to fire a weapon during combat operations in Afghanistan for the first time at the beginning of June. The Reaper can carry the GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb and AGM-114P Hellfire laser-guided missile. The UK ordered three MQ-9s to meet an urgent operational requirement. One has already been destroyed. General Atomics is at Hall 2, Stand A9. MSV Delivers Second GCS to BAE for HERTI Marshall Specialist Vehicles has delivered a second specialist ground control station to BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies for the HERTI (High Endurance Rapid Technology Insertion) Unmanned Air System Program. MSV was responsible for the manufacture of the 14-ft shelter and assisted in the building and assembly of the mechanical elements of the internal fit. The electronic and electrical elements of the shelter were designed by BAE Systems and fitted by BAE Systems at Marshall’s site in Cambridge, UK. First Sky Warrior UAS Deployed in Iraq General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (Hall 2, Stand A9) says that two of its Sky Warrior Block 0 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are now operational in Iraq, supporting U.S. Army ground forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The first mission took place on April 18 and lasted 10.5 hours. A second Sky Warrior was deployed at the end of April. “We are confident that this early fielding will not only showcase the maturity of the technology being incorporated into this new aircraft line, but also its ability to be a true force multiplier to soldiers in the field,” said Thomas J. Cassidy Jr., general Atomics president, Aircraft Systems Group. More Airspace for UK UAV Trials The British Defense Ministry hopes to extend available airspace for unmanned aerial vehicle trials and training at its Salisbury Plain exercise area in Wiltshire. A public consultation process began last month. The Thales Watchkeeper system now in development will likely be the first to use the expanded range space. Coming Back for the Backpack DRAC Having accepted the last of an initial order for 25 units, the French defence procurement agency (DGA) has ordered 35 additional DRAC mini-UAV close-range reconnaissance systems for the French Armed Forces from EADS Defence & Security (Hall 4, Stand G15). Operator training, which was completed at the end of June, will enable the French Armed Forces to deploy the 25 operational DRAC systems in a very short term. The DRAC system consists of two UAVs equipped with payload, a compact two-unit ground station and an automatic tracking antenna. It can be packed into two personal rucksacks. 16 July 14, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008

Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008 Contents Thirty More Years CFM Reveals New Engine Boeing Reduces Forecast UAVs’ Quiet Revolution Finmeccanica: U.S. Success A Plethora of AESAs BAE North America Plus L-3 Becomes a Prime Better Late Than Never A Peek Behind the Curtain China’s J-10 Revealed Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Breaking LM’s Hegemony

Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008

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