26 August 2022
by Ridzwan Rahmat
Japan appears set to procure another MCH-101 AMCM helicopter in 2022, according to details published in the country's defence White Paper for the year. (Leonardo)
The Japanese government is procuring another MCH-101 airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM)-capable helicopter for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
The procurement has been highlighted as one of the main projects for fiscal year (FY) 2022 in the Japanese Ministry of Defense's annual White Paper, Defense of Japan 2022. The publication has listed a projected expenditure of JPY7.3 billion (USD53.4 million) for the procurement.
The MCH-101 AMCM helicopter is derived from the Leonardo AW101 utility helicopter and fitted with Japanese-developed mine countermeasures (MCM) mission management system. The aircraft is licence-built in Japan by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).
The aircraft has an overall length of 22.8 m, an overall height of 6.7 m, and a rotor diameter of 18.6 m. Its rotors can be folded for ease of stowage in the hangar of naval vessels.
Powered by GE CT7-8E turboshaft engines, the helicopter has a maximum cruise speed of 150 kt, and its maximum rate of climb is at 1,880 ft per minute.
28 March 2024
by Yaakov Lappin & Jeremy Binnie
Oron arriving at Nevatim Air Base in April 2023. (Israeli Air Force)
The Oron intelligence-gathering aircraft is carrying out missions in support of Operation ‘Iron Swords' against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 26 March.
“The aircraft became operational quickly for use in Operation ‘Iron Swords' and has already recorded hundreds of operational flight hours and close to 100 sorties,” the MoD said in a statement.
Developed by the MoD's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and the Israeli Air Force (IAF), the Oron is a Gulfstream G550 business jet equipped with an advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar produced by IAI subsidiary Elta, as well as electro-optical and signals intelligence (SIGINT) sensors and advanced data-processing systems.
“What makes Oron unique is its ability to perform a wide range of intelligence missions in the same sortie and to transmit in real time to all relevant entities,” the MoD's statement said. It added that the aircraft can collect a larger volume of information than any other Israeli platform.
28 March 2024
by Oishee Majumdar
Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle taking off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on 21 March. The rocket carried a US satellite, which includes an experimental communications payload developed by the NZDF. (Rocket Lab)
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has launched an experimental communications payload into orbit with the help of a research satellite developed by the US Navy's (USN's) Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).
This communications payload, named ‘Korimako', will “allow defence scientists to conduct space communications research”, the NZDF said on 28 March. Korimako is the first payload to be launched into space by the NZDF.
“A team of scientists from the NZDF's Defence Science & Technology (DST) will monitor and interact with Korimako via our Whangaparaoa Ground Station, north of Auckland,” the NZDF added.
The NZDF said initial tests conducted by the DST indicate that Korimako is “operating as expected”.
“[Korimako will facilitate DST to conduct research that] aims to build practical experience in space science and technology, test processes for New Zealand government space operations, and generate knowledge to enable future NZDF and wider government space development,” David Galligan, DST director, said.
27 March 2024
by Gareth Jennings
One of four Reaper UAVs now operated by the RNLAF. As well as doubling its fleet to eight, the Netherlands plans to upgrade its Reapers with a raft of enhanced capabilities. (Royal Netherlands Air Force)
The Netherlands is to equip its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a raft of enhancements over the next three years, the manufacturer said on 27 March.
Following previously disclosed plans by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) to double its fleet size from four to eight air vehicles, GA-ASI spelled out some of the capability upgrades that the service intends to add.
“Upgrades to their aircraft [will] include capabilities such as maritime radars, a communications relay, extended range fuel tanks, electronic support measures (ESM), and weapons,” the manufacturer said.
As noted by Lieutenant Colonel Jan Ruedisueli, the commander of the RNLAF's 306 Squadron that operates the type, the Netherlands plans to use its Reapers across an increasing range of mission sets for its national and NATO needs. “With these upgrades, we will support NATO's ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] and maritime surveillance missions throughout Europe,” he was quoted as saying by GA-ASI.
The Japanese government is procuring another MCH-101 airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM)-capable he...
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