National Defense Magazine’s Post

France Becomes First Foreign Customer of RTX Mobile Air Traffic Control System France has selected Collins Aerospace’s vehicle-mounted Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, and Coordination System (ATNAVICS) for its army, marking a significant milestone as the system’s first foreign customer. 🔍 Key Highlights: ◾ Advanced Capabilities: ATNAVICS offers on-demand surveillance, precision landing, and identification friend-or-foe capabilities. ◾ Rapid Deployment: The system can be deployed in less than an hour using a single military transport aircraft. ◾ Strategic Importance: Enhances French forces' ability to rapidly open theaters of operation and support humanitarian missions in harsh environments. Discover more about this groundbreaking acquisition and its implications: https://buff.ly/45v3hO8 🔖 #CollinsAerospace #AirTrafficControl #ATNAVICS #France #MilitaryTechnology #Defense #Aviation #RapidDeployment #Innovation #somrasvc #thedefensepost

This is a well written article...unfortunately it is not good news for the future of combat helicopters. The battlefield has evolved so much...and like all other technology the change curve is increasingly steeper. How can you start a multi-billion dollar weapons design program when you don't have a clue what the battle environment will be like when the system finally enters the fray? Of course this has always been an issue, but the changes happen a lot faster now. Unmanned vehicles...aerial, naval and land-based...are inevitable. As in the past, the art of war has much to teach civilian industry. It is less and less feasible to invest in huge, costly development projects with long lead times. Yet, sometimes they do pay off...like ChatGPT and its ilk. At the same time, Sam Altman is reportedly looking for an incredible 7 trillion dollars in capital investment to create AI infrastructure. Brilliance or hubris? #ai #openai #samaltman

The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag has approved significant funding for upgrades to the Bundeswehr’s military assets, including comprehensive software updates for NH90 NATO helicopters and development enhancements for Eurofighter jets. The NH90, a multipurpose helicopter developed collaboratively by France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany, is slated to receive an extensive software overhaul. The upgrade will incorporate new Multi Functional Displays (MFDs) to enhance flight orientation and mission-critical data visualization. The frigate version of the NH90, equipped with more advanced sensors and communication devices, will benefit from additional improvements. This upgrade, costing nearly EUR 217 million, is primarily funded by the Bundeswehr’s special assets. In parallel, the Budget Committee has also greenlighted EUR 97 million for the next phase of enhancements to the Eurofighter jets, focusing on interoperability, capability enhancement, and hardware and software updates. The forthcoming Eurofighter Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) aims to integrate advanced weaponry and surveillance systems involving multiple nations, including Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d7x7Hpwe #Germany #NH90 #helicopter #Eurofighter #airforce #defence #aerospace #industry #military #technology

Neither fossil fuels nor helicopters is the problem when it comes to the need for change. Much like the U.S. military's decision to shift funding from some manned helicopter missions due to survivability and safety concerns, energy infrastructure faces the need for critical change. Continued overuse of a fossil fuel-centric energy infrastructure risks depleting resources and relies on precarious geopolitical alliances to maintain. Investing in sustainable aviation infrastructure is a relief effort, not a replacement effort. The use of fossil fuels, like manned army helicopters, is not the crux of the problem. The concept of how and when these resources are employed is the problem. The task of implementing change cannot be taken lightly. Many a livelihood is tied to the existing infrastructure. How would you pace the implementation of necessary change within your organization? #sustainableaviation #energyresilience #keepcliming

🇯🇵🚁👀 Teledyne FLIR will deliver airborne surveillance cameras for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Mitsubishi SH-60L helicopters. The $20.8-million deal will provide 10 of the company’s proprietary Star SAFIRE 380-HLD multi-spectral imaging systems over three years. “Growing threats in the region have moved Japan to improve its defense and security capabilities, especially those designed to safeguard its territorial waters and outlying territories,” Teledyne FLIR Asia Pacific Business Development Senior Director Robert B. Moss said. “Our unmatched thermal, optical, and radar-based surveillance solutions bring the most advanced technology to the Japan Self Defense Forces, enabling them to act swiftly and decisively when needed.” #military #army #defense #defence #defenseindustry #defenceindustry #defensetech #defencetech #militarytech #technology #innovation #japan #teledyneflir #helicopter #helicopters

Austria has entered into a €715 million ($766 million) contract for the acquisition of twelve Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The contract, approved under the USA’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process in May, includes not only the helicopters but also comprehensive logistics and program support, bringing the total estimated cost to $1.05 billion. The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky, located in Stratford, CT. Austria’s request covers a range of essential components and systems, including twenty-six T700-GE-701D engines, fifteen AN/AAR-57 Counter Missile Warning Systems (CMWS), and thirty H-764U Embedded Global Positioning Systems with Inertial Navigation (EGI) equipped with selective availability anti-spoofing modules or the future M-Code replacement. Additionally, the package encompasses logistics services, mission equipment, and training to ensure seamless integration and operation. This modernization initiative also includes an upgrade program for the existing fleet of nine S-70A Black Hawks, in collaboration with Alabama-based Ace Aerospace. Furthermore, three former US Army UH-60Ls will be upgraded to the new standard and delivered to Austria. The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, renowned for its versatility and reliability, is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter. Initially developed for the U.S. Army’s Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition in 1972, the UH-60A entered service in 1979, replacing the Bell UH-1 Iroquois as the Army’s tactical transport helicopter. Over the decades, the Black Hawk has seen numerous variants, including electronic warfare and special operations versions, and has been widely exported and utilized in various global conflicts. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gpnNkCwN

Helicopter with Drone Swarm launchers is your short answer.

The first Swedish Air Force GlobalEye aircraft has touched down on home soil. The acquisition is part of an agreement signed in June 2022 between the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and Saab for the purchase of two surveillance and command aircraft. Designated as S 106 in the Swedish military inventory, these aircraft represent an evolution of Saab’s GlobalEye, tailored to meet the specific needs of Sweden’s defense operations and international collaboration. The initial aircraft to arrive is a Bombardier Global 6000 business jet, slated for transformation into a surveillance and command aircraft equipped with the distinctive radar on its roof. The existing surveillance and command aircraft, denoted as S 100/ASC890, have served various versions within the Swedish Armed Forces since the late 1990s, primarily tasked with monitoring airspace. As these planes are phased out in the coming years, the new S 106 aircraft will take their place. On 30 June 2022, SAAB and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed a contract for the acquisition of 2 GlobalEye aircraft, to be designated S 106 in Swedish service. The deal is valued at 7.3 billion SEK (US$710 million) and deliveries are scheduled for 2027. The contract also includes the option to procure up to 2 additional GlobalEye aircraft. GlobalEye will provide Sweden with world-class airborne early warning and control capability. Saab’s most important mission is to keep people and societies safe, and I am proud that GlobalEye will further strengthen the Swedish Armed Forces’ capability. The Swedish Air Force GlobalEye aircraft can also be used for tasks supporting civilian society, for example by leading and coordinating rescue missions during natural disasters or larger accidents at sea or on land. The capabilities of the S 106, emphasizing its extended range and altitude capabilities compared to its predecessors. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gbYBgX5t

The U.S. Navy recently put in a rush order for new counter-drone systems that use laser-guided 70mm rockets as their effectors to help defend American forces in the Middle East. The Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System (EAGLS) is very similar in form and function to U.S.-supplied VAMPIREs that Ukrainians are now using in combat. The purchase of the EAGLS came just days ahead of Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone strikes on Israel, which have only added to long-standing concerns about uncrewed aerial and other threats to U.S. forces in the region. (High “Capture” priority for Russian & Iranian forces in the region.)

Air Force and air defenses Russian air defenses destroyed 77 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and downed six HIMARS rockets in the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. "Air defenses downed six HIMARS rockets and destroyed 77 Ukrainian drones in the past day, particularly near Novokrasnyanka, Raigorodka, Troitskoye and Golikovo in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Sladkaya Balka in the Zaporozhye Region and Chernomorovka in the Kherson Region," the statement reads. Destroyed equipment tally According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a total of 574 planes, 267 helicopters, 13,392 unmanned aerial vehicles, 473 missile systems, 15,220 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,225 multiple rocket launchers, 8,161 field artillery systems and mortars, as well as 19,055 special military motor vehicles, have been wiped out since the start of Moscow’s special military operation. (Part Three, The End) #business #finance #financialservices