Show News - Day 1
ATK focuses on lower-cost defence solutions
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has said that it will focus on developing lower-cost defence electronics solutions because “apart from the US, few are willing to pay the price” of more expensive solutions.
The company will focus on niche technologies within the weaponry sector that are “uninteresting to the giants in the market” and are “much more suited to Europe, because [they are] less expensive”, said ATK Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Murphy, speaking to Jane's on 14 July at Farnborough International Airshow 2008.
Caption: Mantis is a new technology demonstrator UAV developed by BAE Systems and the UK MoD
(Jane’s/Patrick Allen)
BAE Systems, UK MoD exhibit Mantis UAS
BAE Systems and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) unveiled their latest armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrator programme at the Farnborough International Airshow on 14 July.
A mock-up of the large UAV, dubbed the Mantis, which could eventually rival the US General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper, is on display outside the BAE Systems exhibition area at the show site, sporting at least two types of precision-guided munitions, including Raytheon GBU-12 laser-guided bombs and Brimstone guided missiles.
EADS stays confident of winning USAF tanker deal
EADS North America, partnered with Northrop Grumman in a bid to meet the multibillion-dollar requirement to replace US Air Force (USAF) KC-135 tankers, has described the re-opening of the contest after an appeal by Boeing as a "recompete with a little 'r'" and remains confident of victory.
Speaking on 12 July, two days before the opening of the Farnborough International Airshow, EADS North America Chief Operating Officer John H Young said the company was ready to respond to the "relevant two or three" of the eight appeal points upheld, with the remainder relating to USAF issues.
Full article for Jane's Defence Weekly subscribers
Test success puts ASTOR on course for 2008 ISD
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Raytheon have completed the capabilities assurance mission (CAM) testing of the Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) airborne ground-surveillance system and will be ready to deploy it operationally by the end of the year.
The ASTOR system is designed to provide the UK armed forces with a net-enabled, near-real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability and comprises the Raytheon Sentinel R.1 aircraft, equipped with a dual-mode synthetic-aperture and ground moving-target indicator radar, and six tactical and two operational-level ground stations.
Full article for Jane's Defence Weekly subscribers
Iraq delivery marks first fleet installation of Claw software
The first Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) King Air 350ER aircraft fitted with the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) Claw integrated payload control and analysis software was delivered in June.
Installation of the system onto the fourth aircraft is expected to begin before the end of July.
Full article for Jane's Defence Weekly subscribers
Ian Godden (SBAC)
Interview: Ian Godden, SBAC Chief Executive Officer
The UK defence industry's ethical standing has been placed in the spotlight over the past three years. The focus on BAE Systems was increased with a decision by the government to cancel a Serious Fraud Office investigation into the company and leading BAE Systems executives and former executives receiving subpoenas during a visit to the United States.
Full article for Jane's Defence Weekly subscribers
Raytheon has demonstrated RACR’s physical compatibility with the F-16 via the installation of the form-fit model shown here (Raytheon)
Raytheon takes wraps off AESA radar
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (RSAS) launched a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for fighter aircraft on 14 July at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Billed by the company as providing a “fifth-generation capability for fourth-generation fighters”, the radar is designed primarily for retrofit to a range of fighter aircraft including the Lockheed Martin F-16A/B/C/D and Boeing F/A-18A/A+/B/C/D types.
Full article for Jane's Defence Weekly subscribers
IAI's CAEW aircraft is to be unveiled at the 2008 Farnborough Airshow (IAI)
IAI promises unveiling of CAEW
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has announced that it will unveil the G550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow, held on 14-20 July.
The third-generation airborne early warning and control system aircraft, dubbed Etam (or Fish Eagle) by the Israel Air Force (IAF), is about to be declared operational.
Full article for Jane's Defence Weekly subscribers
The pre-series M-346 has a larger fuel capacity than earlier prototypes
Alenia Aermacchi's first pre-production M-346 advanced jet trainer (LRIP00) made its first flight on 7 July and the improvements to the previous two prototypes provide, according to the company, a 20 per cent increase in performance.
Full article for Jane's Defence Weekly subscribers