© EADS

New unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Sharc

Manching/Munich, 15 June 2007

With the successful first flight of the new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Sharc, EADS Defence & Security (DS) has launched the flight test campaign for this innovative unmanned helicopter. During the first flight, the unmanned coaxial dual-rotor 200 kg class helicopter - which is being tested by the Military Air Systems unit of DS - demonstrated stability and impressive flight characteristics.

Through this UAV demonstrator - roughly 250 cm long, 70 cm wide and 120 cm high - EADS has extended its range of high-performance UAVs. With a maximum take-off weight of 190 kg, the system can accommodate 60 kg of mission equipment in its payload compartments. Sharc is equipped with a redundant flight control unit, a laser altimeter and also control and data links. Sharc has been designed as an unmanned aerial vehicle without hydraulic components, the rotors being controlled by means of electrical actuators.

"The innovativeness of this demonstrator in all its details provides emphatic evidence of the leading position that EADS Defence & Security occupies in the field of high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles within Europe," stated Stefan Zoller, member of the EADS Executive Committee for Defence & Security, in reaction to the successful first flight.

The modular design of the avionics facilitates the integration of a whole range of different mission equipment. Tests on electro-optical and infrared sensors are part of the overall flight campaign. In addition, Sharc can also accommodate a compact synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system.

"The Sharc demonstrator is a step on the way to a product that is precisely tailored to our customers’ needs. With its ability to land autonomously on deck, large payload capacity and excellent, stable flight characteristics, Sharc not only meets the navies’ military requirements for unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance as well as aerial target designation and damage control missions, but is also suitable for industrial monitoring," explained Johann Heitzmann, CEO of Military Air Systems.

Thanks to its flight characteristics and the planned sensor equipment, Sharc already meets all the basic requirements in its pre-development stage before series production. The unmanned helicopter will be capable of autonomous take-off and landing - despite heavy seas - from a ship’s landing.

Its unique design makes Sharc especially suitable for ship-based missions. The dual rotor configuration provides thirty percent more lift at equal weight when compared to conventional helicopter with tail boom designs. This allows for a heavier sensor payload with comparable flight performance. The dual-rotor design provides greater attitude stability. This makes it easier to compensate for the rolling movement of the ship - a prerequisite for autonomous deck landings. The mutually torque-compensating counterrotating rotors make a compensating tail rotor superfluous. This, in turn, has a favourable effect on the overall dimensions of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The innovative overall design of the vehicle allows for the first time a number of technical possibilities - for example the integration of antennas in the outer skin.

Picture RAF

An RAF BAe Harrier GR.7

10 Oct 07 Harriers have been operating out of Kandahar as a coalition asset since 2004, but their potential as ground-attack aircraft was rarely exploited until last year, when the responsibility for taming the Taliban in Helmand passed to British control.

Although the Joint Force Harrier’s based at Kandahar support all coalition operations in Afghanistan, as many as 80 per cent of offensive missions undertaken by them are in support of British troops, or British-led foreign troops.

The Harriers main job is to provide air cover to troops on the ground - both Coalition and Afghan - and 4 Squadron takes its orders from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

"A lot of people don’t realise we’re here as a theatre asset," said Squadron Leader Damian Killeen, Executive Officer of 4 Squadron. "So we’re tasked according to the various nations’ requirements and priorities. "Up to 80 per cent of our business happens to be over in Helmand at the moment, but we don’t have the freedom to choose when we get airborne. Sometimes the troops get frustrated: ’Where are the Harriers?’ But if it was our choice, we’d be there all the time."

Harrier sorties can be pre-planned or urgent scrambles to assist troops in firefights. Pre-planned missions require that pilots make most of the operational decisions but emergency calls may mean that men on the ground direct attacks. Reporter Roy Bacon visited Kandahar in August, when the Harriers were operated by the RAF’s 4 Squadron.

Squadron Leader Killeen explained:

"A qualified air controller on the ground involved in a major situation - perhaps under heavy machine gun fire - can request that a laser-guided bomb is dropped straight on a target. He will be trained to estimate the likely collateral damage and asess risk to his guys."

Sometimes a presence at altitude is enough to drive off the enemy. If that fails, a show of force can do the trick.

"That’s 100 feet at about 500 mph," continued Squadron Leader Killeen. "They don’t know it’s coming, and when it does, it’s bloody loud."

With their ability to operate in rugged conditions with a short take off capability, Joint Force Harrier was the obvious choice for Op Herrick.

"No other fast jet could have operated from here," Squadron Leader Killeen concluded. "This is what the Harrier was designed for: expeditionary operations, close air support and the full mix of weapons."

Picture: SAC Alex Scott © Crown Copyright/MOD 2007

The new paint scheme in close-up

The Red Arrows aerobatic display team has today, Wednesday 31 October 2007, unveiled a new paint scheme for its Hawk aircraft, the first change to the world-famous design since the Red Arrows took delivery of the aircraft in 1979.

The Red Arrows leave the UK on Sunday 4 November 2007 for a six-week goodwill tour of the Middle and Far East, returning to the UK on 18 December 2007. They are set to visit 13 countries, including Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Malaysia, India and Pakistan. During their 15,000 mile trip they will perform their famous air display a total of 18 times:

"The Red Arrows’ Hawk aircraft are known and loved by millions of people around the world," said Wing Commander Jas Hawker, ’Red 1’. "We needed to keep a careful balance between making our famous aircraft unrecognisable and reminding people that we are proud to represent the Royal Air Force. "This is especially important when many Royal Air Force personnel are away from home, serving overseas in front line operations such as Afghanistan and Iraq. We are a visible way of reminding people of our colleagues’ hard work and professionalism in the line of duty. The change to our aircraft paint scheme will help us to do this more effectively."

Wing Commander Hawker continued:

"We are proud to represent the UK overseas. We hope to demonstrate the very best of British to millions of people in the countries we will visit, both in terms of the skill of our people and of the quality of the Hawk aircraft that we fly."

Flying the BAE Systems Hawk, all nine display pilots are operational fast jet pilots from front line Royal Air Force squadrons. They will be supported during the six-week tour by a support team of 30 Royal Air Force personnel. The aircraft play a key role within the Royal Air Force and other air forces worldwide. With a top speed exceeding Mach 1.2, the Hawk is powered by a Rolls Royce Adour engine producing 5,200lbs of thrust. During the Red Arrows’ 23-minute displays, pilots pull up to eight times the force of gravity showing off the aircraft’s power and manoeuvrability.

2007 is the Red Arrows’ 43rd display season. Since the team’s creation in 1965, the Red Arrows have performed over 4,000 displays in 53 countries.

Boeing Photo - Ed Turner

A newly painted Peace Eagle Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft is shown in Turkish Air Force colors outside a Boeing [NYSE: BA] hangar in Seattle, Wash.

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 08, 2007

A newly painted Peace Eagle Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft is shown in Turkish Air Force colors outside a Boeing [NYSE: BA] hangar in Seattle, Wash.

The aircraft will make its first international flight this month when it travels to the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates, where it will be on static display Nov. 11-15.

Boeing is building the first of four AEW&C aircraft for Turkey’s Peace Eagle program in Seattle while Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara, Turkey, is building the remaining three aircraft with significant participation from various Turkish industry suppliers. Functional checkout of the mission systems is under way with development flight testing beginning next year.

Copyright © 2007 BAE Systems

Indian Hawk Takes Off

The first two Hawk advanced jet trainers destined to train the next generation of Indian Air Force (IAF) fast jet pilots have departed from the UK to their new home at AFS Bidar in India.

The two jets are the first of 66 Hawk aircraft to be delivered to the IAF as of part of a total training package required to meet their fast jet pilot training needs. The programme includes 24 aircraft being built in the UK by BAE Systems and 42 aircraft being manufactured under licence in India by Bangalore’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

A senior Indian Air Force official said: "The induction of the Hawk aircraft marks the fulfilment of a long pending requirement in the Indian Air Force for an Advanced Jet Trainer. The Hawk aircraft, with a proven design and advanced avionics, will bridge the gap between the performance spectrum of the Intermediate trainer and front line fighter aircraft which trainee pilots will finally fly in operational squadrons. As a dedicated trainer, the aircraft will greatly enhance flight safety and have a beneficial impact on the quality of training being imparted to fighter pilots."

Mark Parkinson, Managing Director Training Solutions at BAE Systems said: "This is a proud day for everyone involved on the Indian Hawk programme. Delivering the first Indian Hawks, on time and budget, marks a significant milestone on the project. We are also particularly pleased to be delivering these exciting new aircraft to the IAF in their 75th Anniversary Year."

Since the contract was signed in March 2004, the Indian Hawk programme has moved at a tremendous pace. Over the past three years, in addition to manufacturing the IAF Hawks, BAE Systems, in partnership with the RAF, has delivered a training programme that will see on its completion, over 75 IAF pilots trained on the current RAF Hawk fleet at RAF Valley. Many of those who have completed the course have returned to India and gone directly onto the IAF’s most sophisticated frontline aircraft - a testament to the skill of the pilots and the training they received during their time at RAF Valley.

In addition, a number of the Hawks that will be supplied to the IAF have also been used to train around 100 IAF engineering officers and technicians in BAE Systems’ Technical Training Academy at Warton who will support the aircraft when it enters service.

Mark Parkinson continued: "We have also completed conversion training of experienced IAF Flying Instructors to become instructor pilots on the Indian Hawk - these instructors are returning to India to train the Indian Air Force’s next generation of frontline pilots.

"The delivery of these first aircraft is a major milestone on this contract which sees BAE Systems deliver a total training solution geared to the specific requirements of the Indian Air Force. The successful delivery of this programme, on schedule, is a prime example of BAE Systems’ capabilities in developing and managing complex major programmes to meet the needs of our global customer base."

The two IAF Hawks will arrive in India after a number of days and refuelling stops. The process of ferrying the aircraft will continue over the coming months until all UK built aircraft are delivered.

© Crown Copyright/MOD 2007

The Royal Air Force’s new Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle takes to the skies at Kandahar airfield

The RAF's first Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Britain's most sophisticated unmanned surveillance system, has taken to the air in Afghanistan.

The Reaper UAVs were purchased as an MOD urgent operational requirement to provide an all-weather, persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability 24 hours a day over a wide geographical spread.

Reaper will give troops on all operations a better picture of activity on the ground. The first British Reaper arrived in Afghanistan in early October, just 15 months after the initial requirement was received.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff, said:

"The introduction into service of Reaper is a major milestone for the RAF, which will significantly enhance the UK’s surveillance and reconnaissance capability in Afghanistan."

Reaper was formerly known as Predator B. The RAF’s participation in the joint US/UK Combined Predator Task Force gave them a unique insight into the USAF (US Air Force) Predator A operations, which allowed a seamless transition to the RAF’s use of Reaper, the UK variant of Predator B, which has been manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

United States Air Force Chief of Staff, General Michael T Moseley, said:

"We’re pleased to be able to deliver these aircraft so quickly because they’re vital to the coalition’s war effort in Afghanistan. They’re also yet another demonstration of the need for interoperability in our equipment. By partnering on the Reaper, our air forces can operate more seamlessly and field more aircraft faster and more economically."

Reaper will be operated by personnel from the RAF’s 39 Squadron Personnel, which in addition to the RAF personnel also has Army and Navy personnel working in a number of functional areas.

Training for Reaper pilots and sensor operators will be provided by the USAF, building on the experience of No 1115 Flight who operate Predator A. No 1115 Flight will continue to operate Predator A but they will become part of 39 Squadron for administrative functions.

The Reaper capability is still being developed. Training will continue alongside operational missions and there will be a steady build up to a full UK capability. The Reaper UAV is currently unarmed. It is capable of being armed and the MOD is investigating arming options.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 12, 2007

Boeing and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) today signed a proposal acceptance at the Dubai Air Show for 100 airplanes that includes four of Boeing’s production models (70 737s and a mix of 787s, 777s and 747s). This agreement follows a memorandum of understanding to forge a strategic partnership signed by Boeing and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) in Paris on June 18, 2007. Avro Vulcan Boeing is honored by DAE’s decision and looks forward to concluding contract negotiations in the near future. Once finalized, the order will be added to Boeing Orders & Deliveries Web site.

The Litening III laser designator pod (LDP)The trials aircraft

12 November 2007 - BAE Systems News:

The Eurofighter Typhoon Combined Test Team (CTT), comprising staff from BAE Systems and the Royal Air Force, has successfully completed the first mission to drop a laser guided bomb, scoring a direct hit at the Aberporth range in the UK.

The Litening III laser designator pod (LDP)The trials aircraft, BT005, flown by Flt Lt Dave Bowlzer from 17 Squadron and BAE Systems test pilot Paul Stone, completed the first fully laser guided weapon release using the Litening III laser designator pod (LDP). The weapon dropped was an Enhanced Paveway II which was successfully guided onto the target to achieve the direct hit. This live weapon release follows a series of trial sorties with the LDP and dummy weapons to prove the mission and avionics systems.

This significant achievement means that the team is some way ahead of the planned schedule to deliver a full precision guided air to surface capability in advance of Eurofighter Typhoon’s expected Operational Employment date in mid 2008.

Commenting on the achievement of this significant milestone, BAE Systems Eurofighter Typhoon Project Pilot Mark Bowman said: "The successful proving of this important capability, reaffirms the significant progress we are making in meeting the multi-role requirements expected of this cutting-edge aircraft. The planning and execution of the trial has set new standards for future co-operative trials activities in the UK. BAE Systems fully identifies with the value of combined trials and looks forward to supporting increasing levels of activity in this expanding area of flight test activity".

Following analysis of the results, further operational tests and evaluations will take place in early 2008.

Toulouse, 14 November 2007

C Jet Limited of Hong Kong has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the first VIP Airbus A350XWB, becoming a new customer for the type.

Called the Airbus A350XWB Prestige the aircraft will feature a VIP cabin customised to C Jet Limited’s needs.

"With the range to go almost anywhere in the world, plus the widest and most spacious cabin of any Airbus widebody apart from the A380, the A350XWB Prestige is going to be a tremendous aircraft for us," says C Jet Chairman Tony Chan. "And with a more modern design than any other civil aircraft in service today or planned, it will be the VIP widebody of the future," he adds.

C Jet Limited has just become a customer for the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), so the Airbus A350XWB Prestige will be its second corporate aircraft from Airbus.

"With orders for the Airbus A350XWB already flooding in from airlines, the addition of our first VIP version is welcome news, rounding out a line of modern Airbus corporate jetliners that already stretches from the A318 to the A380," says Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers John Leahy.

A350XWB is the latest member of the modern Airbus product line, featuring even more of the passenger pleasing innovations that have become its hallmark. It features a fuel-saving advanced aerodynamic design, a weight-saving airframe with more than 50 per cent advanced materials, and the latest cost-saving centralised maintenance computer.

Firm orders for the Airbus A350XWB airliner now stand at 276 from 11 customers.

BAE Systems can today, 15 November 2007, confirm the identity of the navigator, Mike Harland, who died in an incident during a test flight of a Tornado aircraft from RAF Marham yesterday.

Confirming that the next of kin have been informed, Nigel Whitehead, Group Managing Director for the Military Air Solutions business within BAE Systems said: "It is with great regret and sadness that I can confirm that Mike died in an incident during a test flight of a Tornado aircraft from RAF Marham yesterday.

"Mike worked for BAE Systems for 4 years and was a well-known and much respected member of the team. He will be deeply missed by all of his colleagues and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

"It would be wrong to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident at this time and it would be inappropriate of us to do so at present as there will be a MoD Board of Inquiry. We will give our full support to this Inquiry and we will do everything we can to support Mike’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time."