Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 15, 2008 - (Page 10) MILITARY FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 Telephonics Radar to Detect Very Small Targets EADS North America COO: 767-200LRF Is ‘Cobbled Together’ John Young, chief operating officer of EADS North America, took a jab at its rival, Boeing, during the company’s annual pre-Farnborough briefing day for reporters July 12. The 767-200LRF is “cobbled together,” he says, noting that Australia’s Multi-Role Tanker Transport, which is very similar to the USAF design, will resume its second batch of flight trials in the fall. One area of concern for the Northrop Grumman/ EADS North America team in moving forward with the forthcoming recompetition is how much John Young. cost data Boeing lawyers accessed during the protest earlier this year. Northrop Grumman CEO Ron Sugar is said to have written to Defense Secretary Robert Gates raising the issue and asking for assurances that the cost data would not fall into the hands of Boeing’s proposal team. —Amy Butler Telephonics Corp. (Chalet B22) has received a $71.5 million order from Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego to develop a next-generation multi-mode radar to detect very small, low visibility targets such as periscopes. The enhanced AN/APS-147 will have “unprecedented performance against these most difficult contacts,” says Joseph J. Battaglia, president of Telephonics. The program, called Automatic Radar Periscope Detection and Discrimination, is for the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R maritime strike aircraft. Extending Harrier’s Reign in Spain EADS Defence & Security (Hall 4, Stand G15) has been awarded an 11.5 million euro contract to modernize four Boeing AV8B Harrier “Day Attack” aircraft of the Spanish Navy. Executed through the next three years the contract will provide a homogenized fleet by upgrading surviving Harrier AV-8Bs to the later Harrier II PLUS standard also in current service, including Rolls-Royce Pegasus 408A engines, widefield-of-view HUD, Automatic Target Handoff System and other advanced avionics, structural and component modifications, and increased armament and electronic warfare capabilities. Navy Demonstrates Fire Scout on a Destroyer An MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing unmanned air vehicle was demonstrated for the first time by the USS Stethem at a naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, by the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman. Members of the Stethem’s crew maneuvered the air vehicle on the deck of the destroyer after it was lifted aboard the ship. The Navy plans an operational evaluation of the Fire Scout aboard an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in 2009. Ecuadorian Air Force Buys Indian Helos India has agreed to sell seven Hindustan Aeronautics Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters to the Ecuadorian Air Force for $50.7 million. The Dhruvs will be supplied to Ecuador in knock-down kit form. The Indian defense ministry expects delivery to begin within six months and be completed over 15 months to two years. Hindustan Aeronautics is at Chalet R1. Bombardier CSeries Team Won’t be Fazed by Rivals: ‘We Have the Best Product’ Bombardier will not be fazed by any competitive response to its CSeries by its manufacturing rivals, according to Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Gary Scott. “Our business case assumes very tough competition,” he says. The company had to prove to itself and its board that it “has the product to carry the day” given further moves into the 100-149 seat market Gary Scott made by other manufacturers. “We have the best product in this [market] space, and we will take on anyone,” Scott says. THAAD Intercepts Target Representing ICBM A recent intercept performed by the Lockheed Martin Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system marked the seventh successful intercept the system performed under the Missile Defense Agency funded program. The test represented the most challenging target so far, a warhead separated from the booster, realistically depicting an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) target. THAAD is expected to become operational in 2009 with two batteries based at Fort Bliss, Texas. Up to eight additional units could follow; some could deploy to forward locations in Guam and Israel, protecting against North Korean and Iranian threats, respectively. The THAAD system’s primary sensor, the Ground-Based Radar (GBR), is made by Raytheon. The interceptor’s main booster is provided by Aerojet, with Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyn providing the missile and kill-vehicle propulsion system. The kill vehicle and its sensors are produced by Lockheed Martin. Navy, Boeing Mulling Faster Fielding of P-8As The U.S. Navy and Boeing (Chalet B1-6) are discussing whether production of P-8A Poseidons can be accelerated beyond the planned 13 aircraft per year peak production rate. The program size of 108 aircraft is not changing. Boeing says annual production could be increased to 18-24 aircraft, although the exact number is still being studied. Grounding of some Lockheed P-3 Orions last year has added urgency to faster fielding P-8As. 10 July 15, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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