16 September 2021
by Marc Selinger
In-Space Missions is now a wholly owned subsidiary of BAE Systems. (BAE Systems)
BAE Systems has expanded its space capabilities by acquiring fellow UK company In-Space Missions, which manufactures small satellites, BAE announced on 14 September.
BAE said that combining its experience in providing secure satellite communications with In-Space Missions' ability to build and operate satellites will help the United Kingdom to compete globally in the growing low Earth orbit market, while meeting its defence and commercial needs.
“This acquisition will allow us to combine a range of space capabilities that help deliver information advantage, multidomain operations, and networking for our customers,” said Ben Hudson, BAE's chief technology officer.
BAE is initially paying about GBP13 million (USD18 million) for In-Space Missions. It will make additional payments if certain growth goals are met in the coming years.
Founded in 2015, In-Space Missions is based in Hampshire, England, and has more than 30 employees. Now a wholly owned subsidiary of BAE, In-Space Missions recently received a GBP9.5 million contract from the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to provide a satellite for a high-speed optical communications demonstration.
25 April 2024
by Victor Barreira
A Brazilian Air Force Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano light attack/counter-insurgency aircraft. The details of Brazil's fleet upgrade are as yet undisclosed. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
Embraer Defense and Security is to carry out the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of 68 of the EMB 314 (locally designated A-29) Super Tucano training and light attack aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force, the service's commander Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno said on 17 April during a presentation to the Brazilian Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defense.
The MLU is intended to extend the lifespan of the aircraft by up to 25 years, Lt Brig Damasceno said, and follows a June 2023 agreement between Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force to study a technological refresh of the Super Tucanos, although details were not disclosed.
Brazil purchased 25 A-29A and 51 A-29B aircraft in 2001, adding eight A-29As and 15 A-29Bs in 2005. The fleet was received between 2003 and 2012.
For more information, please seeEmbraer sees market for 490 Super Tucanos .
25 April 2024
by Victor Barreira
A Brazilian Air Force UH-60L Black Hawk. The Brazilian Army is set to replace its HM-2 Black Hawk fleet with newer examples. (Leandro Maldonado)
The Brazilian Army is to acquire 12 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters to replace its eight HM-3 Cougar and four HM-2 Black Hawk helicopters, said Army Commander General Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva during a 17 April presentation to the Brazilian Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defense.
Gen Tomás noted that the fleet is to be purchased through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and entails purchasing surplus helicopters, which will be refurbished before transfer to the Brazilian Army Aviation Command (CAvEx).
The acquisition is being carried out as part of the Army Strategic Program Army Aviation (Prg EE Av Ex). The phasing out of the Cougar and Black Hawk helicopters was approved in December 2023.
The HM-3 is fielded by the 2nd Army Aviation Battalion and the 3rd Army Aviation Battalion, and the HM-2 is deployed by the 4th Army Aviation Battalion.
25 April 2024
by Gareth Jennings
An artist's impression of a demonstration announced on 25 April, in which QinetiQ for the first time in the UK demonstrated MUM-T between jet aircraft. (QinetiQ)
QinetiQ has for the first time in the UK demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) between jet aircraft.
Announced by the company on 25 April, the demonstration at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Boscombe Down site in southern England saw a manned BAe 146 testbed aircraft provide inflight tasking to a modified unmanned Banshee Jet 80 target drone.
“The success of this trial demonstrates that the combination of [MUM-T] between current front-line combat aircraft and next-generation drones can be potentially achieved successfully with the existing combat air fleet, while offering the potential to increase combat capability in an affordable manner,” QinetiQ said, adding that the mission was completed not only by the live Banshee but also a number of digital Banshees within a live-virtual swarm.
For the demonstration, the Banshee was equipped with QinetiQ's Airborne Command and Control for Swarm Interoperable Missions (ACCSIOM) technology, which, the company said, enabled the drone to communicate with the manned aircraft using the same messaging format as the standard NATO Link 16 datalink.
BAE Systems has expanded its space capabilities by acquiring fellow UK company In-Space Missions, wh...
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