07 April 2023
by Akhil Kadidal & Prasobh Narayanan
Initial production units of China's fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the CAC J-20, are powered by the Russian-origin Saturn AL-31FN engines. However, from 2022, reports indicated that the Shenyang WS-10 Taihang turbofan engine is also being installed in the J-20s as an interim powerplant. The WS-15 is intended to replace both of these engines in the J-20. (Janes)
An official of China's Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) has said that the country's Shenyang WS-15 engine for fighter aircraft is ready for mass production.
Speaking during the Seventh China Aviation Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (CAIEC) in March, Zhang Yong, a project director of AECC's Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, said that from “a technical point of view” the institute has “tackled all bottlenecks” associated with the production of the WS-15 engine.
“The mass production of WS-10 and WS-15 [engines] delivery has been achieved. Materials screening and verifications have been finalised,” Zhang said.
The CAIEC was held from 16 to 17 March, according to China Central Television (CCTV), the Chinese state-owned broadcaster.
10 May 2024
by Gareth Jennings
A FOST Airbus AS365N2 Dauphin operated by British International Helicopters under the FHSU requirement. The MoD has put the tender out to requirement, hoping to secure a new service starting from 1 April 2026. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reopened its requirement for a Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU) provider to deliver a crewed rotary-wing service to the Royal Navy (RN), having seemingly failed to do so on previous occasions.
A notification posted on the UK government's Contract Finder website on 8 May calls for bids for a contractor-owned service to deliver military and non-military personnel for the RN and to enable the conduct of operational sea training and supporting tasks, including the transportation of freight. The MoD requires the successful bidder to be ready to deliver an initial service to specified ships from 1 April 2026, with the contract expected to run for six years.
10 May 2024
by Olivia Savage
The EDF is procuring and sustaining some of its L3Harris communications equipment. The force currently operates the Falcon III RF-7800M-MP multiband networking manpack radio (pictured). (L3Harris Technologies)
L3Harris Technologies has been contracted by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) to supply its radios to the Estonian and Moldovan defence forces.
The EUR30 million (USD32.3 million) deal involves the procurement of radios, supplies, and training for the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) as well as maintenance and support for existing equipment along with the acquisition of communication equipment for Moldova, a European Union (EU) tendering notice detailed.
For Moldova, the ECDI is procuring “different types of handheld and vehicular radios along with accessories from the Falcon product family” as part of European Peace Facility (EPF) contracts EPF22 and EPF23, a spokesperson from the ECDI informed Janes on 9 May.
Deliveries to Moldova will begin in the fourth quarter of 2024, they added.
10 May 2024
by Kapil Kajal
DEFTECH's Aludra EE UAV – pictured above displayed at the DSA 2024 exhibition – has a length of 3.28 m, a width of 4.86 m, and a maximum take-off weight of 120 kg. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)
Malaysia's DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies (DEFTECH) showcased its tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – also known as Aludra EE – at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.
A company representative from DEFTECH told Janes at the exhibition that the development of the UAV is completed.
“The company has been testing the UAV since it was first displayed in the DSA 2022 exhibition, and DEFTECH conducted its last test with the UAV in February 2024,” the representative said.
“We [DEFTECH] have written a letter to the Royal Malaysian Air Force to conduct the user trials of the UAV and we are now awaiting a response from the service,” the representative added.
According to the company specifications, the UAV has a length of 3.28 m, a width of 4.86 m, and a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 120 kg.
An official of China's Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) has said that the country's Shenyang ...
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