Boeing Receives Contract for 1st Major Upgrades to Malaysian F/A-18D Hornets

LANGKAWI, Malaysia – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] on Nov. 28 received a U.S. Navy contract under the Foreign Military Sales Program to provide the first major upgrades for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fleet of eight F/A-18D Hornet fighter aircraft.

The contract covers design, development and installation of retrofit kits that will provide enhanced navigation, targeting and situational awareness. The upgrade program includes:
-GPS improvements
-A color, moving-map cockpit display
-Identification Friend or Foe Interrogation capabilities
-Addition of the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System
-Maintenance and air crew training for these systems.

“These upgrades will deliver enhanced capability for the RMAF fleet to remain effective, interoperable with allies and operationally relevant for years to come,” said Julie Praiss, Boeing Global Services & Support director of Tactical Aircraft & Weapons Support. “Boeing looks forward to our continued partnership with the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the U.S. Navy to ensure that these F/A-18Ds continue to serve Malaysia’s strike and interdiction mission needs.”

The upgrades also make the RMAF’s F/A-18Ds more compatible with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which Boeing is offering to meet Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft needs.

The government of Malaysia ordered eight F/A-18D Hornets in 1993. Since delivering all aircraft on schedule in 1997, Boeing has been providing sustainment support for the fleet at the RMAF base in Butterworth, Malaysia. These support programs include engineering and logistics support, pilot training and technical publications.

Boeing provides life-cycle support solutions, services and upgrades for F/A-18 Hornet fleets worldwide, including for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Finnish Air Force, the Kuwait Air Force, the Spanish Air Force, the Swiss Air Force and the RMAF.

The combat-proven F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, multi-mission, tactical aircraft. It converts between air-to-air fighter missions and air-to-ground strike missions while on the same sortie with the flick of a switch. Currently serving the armed services of eight nations, the Hornet can be used for fighter escort, suppression of enemy air defenses, reconnaissance, forward air control, close air support, and day and night strike missions.

Bell Helicopter Receives Orders from Indonesia

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today it has received five firm orders with two potential follow-on orders for Bell 412s from PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for delivery to government agencies in Indonesia.

"Bell Helicopter has had a long partnership with PTDI in Indonesia," said Larry D. Roberts, senior vice president, Bell Helicopter’s Commercial Business.

“The sale of these helicopters is part of the framework of an ongoing industrial collaboration between our two companies," Roberts said. "We believe our partnership will continue to grow and possibly expand in the future."

The five Bell 412s are expected to be delivered to PTDI by the end of the year. PTDI will then transport them to Bandung, Indonesia, where local content and customer specific mission equipment will be added prior to PTDI making final delivery to end-users.

In 2010, Bell Helicopter announced plans to extend the capability and performance of the Bell 412EP through a series of upgrades which are expected to be available to customers in 2012.

"The Bell 412 has had tremendous success in the region. It is well-known throughout the world for its reliability and multi-mission capabilities. We are committed to continuing to invest in the Bell 412 and will evolve it based on customer feedback and mission requirements," Roberts said.

The upgrade program entails a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) project that is intended to extend the wide range of missions that can be performed by the Bell 412EP consisting of an engine and flight deck upgrade, which will be available in 3-axis and 4-axis options.

The engine upgrade, in partnership with Pratt & Whitney Inc., is designed to provide a 15 percent engine SHP increase, improved OEI and hot/high performance and introduction of electronic engine control. The upgrade will yield a 10-12 percent increase in CAT A/PC1 & PC2 performance, increased hot/high capability and provides a path for a future upgrade for increased range and payload.

The flight deck upgrade will provide a modern glass flight deck – leveraging the well-received glass flight deck in the new Bell 429 – by utilizing hardware common to that aircraft, specifically display units. This will provide commonality in the cockpits of Bell Helicopter’s light twin and medium twin aircraft, simplifying pilot familiarity and maintenance training.

The planned engine and flight deck upgrades are in addition to an earlier Bell 412EP STC for the BLR FastFin™ System. The FastFin™ upgrade, certified by Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration and available today, increases HOGE and HIGE performance limits and expands the lifting capacity of the Bell 412EP, providing more tail rotor reserve authority, improving hover stability, high/hot performance, crosswind capabilities, and payload, while reducing pilot workload and lowering operating costs through fuel savings.

Earlier this year, Bell Helicopter broke ground on a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Singapore's Seletar Aerospace Park dedicated to customer support and service for the Asia-Pacific region. The new facility, which Bell Helicopter will operate in partnership with Cessna, will replace and augment the existing Bell Helicopter Supply Center and strengthen the company's sales presence in the Asia Pacific region, as well as add parts distribution and maintenance capabilities for Cessna operators in the region.

"Bell Helicopter is focused on continually improving the customer experience and remains committed to transforming the model for commercial aviation aircraft support – finding innovative ways of supporting our customers around the world and leading the way in new and emerging markets," said R. Danny Maldonado, senior vice president, Bell Helicopter's Customer Support and Chief Services Officer.

"With more than 6,000 helicopters flying in more than 12 countries, Asia Pacific has the second largest fleet of aircraft in the world. Adding this new service center is one way we are demonstrating that commitment to our customers throughout the Asia Pacific region," Maldonado said.

The Bell 412 is backed by Bell Helicopter's industry-leading customer support and service that has earned it – voted by our customers – the #1 ranking in Professional Pilot magazine for 17 consecutive years as well as #1 in Aviation International News for a sixth consecutive time.

Moscow sees ‘no military component’ in Iran’s nuclear program

There is no military component in Iran’s nuclear program, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday. Western powers and Israel suspect Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its program is civilian in nature. Speculation has been building that Israel is considering a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

“We have verified data showing that there is no reliable evidence for the existence of a military component,” Ryabkov said.

“There is no proof of a military component in Iran’s nuclear program.”

It is essential to “clear all the remaining doubts through negotiations,” he said, adding that it was important for Iran to closely cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The IAEA said in a report released in early November that Iran continued nuclear weapons research and technology development after 2003, at a time when it declared a halt in its nuclear program. The report said that Iran had temporarily frozen nuclear activities, but that there was evidence the program continued to be carried out at a more modest pace.

Iranian officials slammed the report as a distortion of facts aimed at satisfying U.S. political interests. IAEA chief Yukiya Amano has urged Iran to provide the requested clarifications regarding possible military dimensions to its nuclear program.

(http://en.rian.ru/world/20111209/169515956.html)

Russia Reached an Agreement with Indonesia on a New Contract for Six Fighter Aircraft

On the first day of the Malaysia International Exhibition LIMA-2011, according to "Kommersant", the delegation of "Rosoboronexport" unable to agree on the delivery of six Su-30MK2 with Indonesia. The last remains only to determine the final set of weapons to these aircraft, and then to the end of this year, will sign the final contract.

On the arrangements for signing the contract for the Su-30MK2 said a source who participated in the negotiations on Russia's part. "We have already met with Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro of Indonesia and Air Force Commander Air Marshal of the country Imam Sufaat detail verbalize questions about cooperation, but now we have reached a new level - the source says," and "Even before the new year we expect to sign the final contract to supply Indonesia six Sukhoi Su-30MK2. " He noted that they will meet for two aircraft plants - in Irkutsk and KNAAPO (for a uniform load of enterprises).

Disclose the contract value interviewee refused, citing the fact that Indonesia is still not fully decided on the types of weapons that must be installed on the fighters. However, the source, who participated in the negotiations on the part of Indonesia, said that the amount of the contract is "in no case less than $ 500 million." Will the new Su-30MK2 purchased for cash or on credit, the parties did not specify. Note that the previous delivery (for example, a contract for the delivery of Su-27SKM worth about $ 300 million) in Indonesia is carried out at the expense of Russia issued the loan.

"Regardless of what form will be paid for the six Su-30MK2, this is a big success for Russia - the director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Ruslan Pukhov .- Given the increased interest of America, Indonesia, offering to buy for the money used F- 16 aircraft, Indonesia would this deal with Russia to slow down. However, it did not, that is good news."

Earlier, Indonesia has received from Russia ten fighter brand "Sukhoi." Under the contract signed in September 2003, the Air Force Indonesia received two Su-30MK and two Su-27SKM. And in 2007, purchased six aircraft - three Su-27SKM and Su-30MK2 (their delivery was completed in September 2010). All in all, as stated in late September, Mr. Yusgiantoro, by 2024, "in order to protect the country's sovereignty Indonesia is going to buy 180 fighter jets, staffed by ten squadrons of aircraft."

Rosoboronexport yesterday from the official declined to comment.

Russia deploys new missile system in Chechnya

A new missile system has been deployed in Russia’s Northern Caucasus republic of Chechnya, a senior military official said on Wednesday.

The Barnaul-T system will be hooked up to Russia’s Glonass sat-nav system.

“The new system makes for better coordination of the actions of missile defenses on all levels, and also increases their mobility and durability during battle,” Lt. Col. Oleg Kochetkov told reporters.

The new system will track and coordinate information on airborne targets, Kochetkov added.

(http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20111214/170234201.html)