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X-Craft Hits the Waves
The US Navy’s new high-speed catamaran,
the X-Craft, was christened early February in Freeland,
Washington. Designed by Nigel Gee & Associates,
the ship is powered by an integrated propulsion
system that includes two General Electric LM2500
aero-derivative marine gas turbines and two MTU
16V 595 TE90 diesels in a Codog configuration,
and includes a specially-built combining gearbox.
This system propels the ship with four waterjets
to speeds of more than 50 knots. The X-Craft’s
monitoring and control system are MTU’s MCS5
Type 2 and RCS 5 systems, and the ship’s
power supply is generated by four diesel generator
sets with MTU Series 60 diesel engines. The aluminium
X-Craft displaces almost 1000 tonnes and boasts
two helicopter landing spots that are capable of
accommodating a wide variety of aircraft up to
H-60 size.
Hi-end, Lo-end – the
Forecast is Split
Forecast International has recently predicted that,
despite the abundance of available tanks the international
main battle tank market will remain a highly-competitive
environment that continues to be populated by the
established industry leaders, but will see an influx
of new companies vying for position. The Forecast
publication The World Market for Tanks projects
that the MBT marketplace will produce over 8100
units, worth in excess of $ 33 billion, through
2014. This prediction is in sharp contrast to common
thought trends that lead most to believe that wheeled
vehicles had finally passed the tracked monsters
in both requirement and utility.
Forecast sees the high-end tanks – notably
the AMX Leclerc, Ariete 2, Challenger 2, karan,
Leopard 2, M1A1 Abrams, Merkava Mk 4 and Japan’s
Type 90 – accounting for only 14 per cent
of production through the forecast period. The
company also notes that, in terms of sheer numbers,
Pakistan’s
Al-Khalid, the Type-98 from China and the Russian
T-90 represent the most significant new production
tanks on the international market and expects these
to account for nearly 43 per cent of all new system
roll outs.
Sotm for the Movers
The successful demonstration
of the General Dynamics C4 Systems' Satcom-On-The-Move
(Sotm) terminal was completed during recent US
Army field trials. The Sotm is a ruggedised vehicle-mounted
satellite terminal that uses the Ku-band to provide
high bandwidth voice and data communications. The
system was developed under the General Dynamics
VertexRSI brand and provides data rates of 1.54
Mbps, which is 24 times that of current L-band
terminals. The system also provides full-duplex
communication while the vehicle is moving over
obstacles and/or through off-road terrain.
ERGMs fly at White Sands
February 2005 saw successful
test firings of Raytheon’s 5-inch Extended
Range Guided Munition rounds at White Sands Missile
Range in New Mexico. After the crushing G-effect
of gun launch, the two rounds deployed their cruciform
fins and their rocket motors ignited. Both rounds
achieved stable flight and acquired and tracked
GPS satellites. They then developed in-flight navigational
solutions and were guided to the target area over
40 knots distant. David Martin, Raytheon Projectiles
product line vice president commented, «With
the performance we saw today, we’ve completed
the final engineering flight test, gained valuable
total system performance data, and demonstrated
a revolutionary capability that will fill the gap
in naval surface fires as soon as possible with
one of the first precision guided munitions to
be fired from a gun». Both missiles were
equipped with the Interstate Electronics (L-3 Communications
subsidiary) Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing
Module (Sassm)-based GPS TruTrak receiver, which
provides precise measurement to the onboard computer,
even in a hostile jamming environment. The TruTrak
receiver features a twelve-channel architecture
that provides rapid Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) logic
parameters.
Barco Glass A PC-21 Hit
§
Pilatus Aircraft has
responded very positive to the performance of Barco’s
avionics displays during the Pilatus PC-21’s
maiden flight and throughout the aircraft’s
test flight campaign. Six 6 3 8-inch monitors were
used as primary flight and navigation displays
for the tests, along with Barco’s proprietary
software that allows the displays to be adaptable
to many different aircraft configurations through
data files and program pins. The single-engine,
low wing PC-21 training aircraft was designed for
basic, advanced and fighter lead-in training. It
features a stepped tandem cockpit that is optimised
for aircraft handling, tactical navigation training
and mission and system management.
New Tigers with Longer Fangs
By the time these
lines are printed, deliveries of the first production
F-5BRs to the Brazilian Air Force should have commenced.
Although this has not been publicised, the first ‘production’ aircraft
seen here had its maiden flight last December,
during which it stayed aloft for 2.4 hours.
The rebuild of 47 F-5s by Embraer widely leaps
beyond a mere upgrade or jazz-up project. This
major undertaking was made necessary by the lack
of funding for the development of the new FX fighter
aircraft that was supposed to replace the AMX on
the production line – and because the Brazilian
Mirage IIIs are so old that they are almost beyond
redemption.
The work is being carried out at Embraer's new,
and quite spectacular, facilities in Gaviao Peixoto
340 km west of Sao Paulo, which also include a
5000-metre-long runway (this must put it in the
league of the world's longest). Quite apart from
a total strip-down to bare ribbing, the rebuild
includes a major shifting operation around the
nose bulkhead to accommodate the new Fiar Grifo
radar. Indeed the nose cone of the F-5 is so sharply
tapered, fitting the larger diameter antenna would
have either commanded a total redesign of the cone
or moving the bulkhead backward inside the cone.
The former option would have required aerodynamic
wing tunnel tests so the latter solution was retained.
This also entailed the deletion of one of the guns
for space reasons which, according to Embraer,
does not impair the aircraft's attack performance,
the loss being amply compensated by the increased
accuracy afforded by the new radar. The latter
offers a angle of view of +/- 60° compared
with a total of 45° with the older radar. Elbit
is in charge of all the avionics integration at
Giaviao Peixoto and
the other modifications are expected to turn
the aircraft into the most capable fighter in Latin
America. These modifications and additions include
an obogs, inflight refuelling, Elisra self-defence
suite, Elop head-up display, Elta Dash 4 helmet-mounted
sight, a Honeywell inertial navigation system and
new missiles. The choice for the short-range air-to-air
wingtip missile went to the MAAI Piranha, while
the outer under-wing pylons will be occupied by
Rafael Pythons. The Amraam was rejected because
the United States' policy on these, as explained
by an Embraer official, «is that while we
can buy them, they keep the missiles in America
and would Fedex them to us if they deem it justified».
The F-5BR will also be the first of this breed
to be able to launch a beyond-visual range missile,
but the type has not yet been selected.
Embraer has definitely become an aircraft manufacturer
to be reckoned with. Quite apart from the company's
immense leap in the civilian aircraft market (its
latest 195 can seat up to 118), its RJ145-based
surveillance (maritime patrol, sigint and early
warning) aircraft are now biting hard in the under-707/767
size niche worldwide. Embraer has also set up a
very successful aviation engineering facility at
Sao Paulo.
Spyder Does Double Tag
The Rafael Surface-to-air
PYthon & DERby
air defence system (Spyder) successfully fired
two missiles over Rafael’s test range in
February 2005 and scored two direct hard-body target
drone kills. Under the same tests the Spyder radar
and command and control unit engaged the drones
at both long and short-range scenarios and then
effectively launched the Python 5 and Derby missiles.
The Spyder, a product of a Rafael/IAI joint venture,
is a quick-reaction, low-level, surface-to-air
missile system for protection against aircraft,
helicopters, drones and precision guided missiles.
Spy on Aegis In Norway
The Fridtjof Nansen berthed
at Izar Shipyards in Spain was the launch platform
for the initial activation of the first Aegis Weapon
System equipped with Lockheed Martin's new Spy-1F
radar. This phase marked the initialisation of
the Integrated Weapon System (IWS) testing for
the first of Norway's five Aegis-equipped frigates.
The Spy-1F provides the frigates with upgraded
performance of Evolved Sea Sparrow and Standard
Missile-2 capabilities. Lockheed Martin is responsible
for system integration of all IWS elements for
the Fridtjof Nansen class frigates; work which
includes sensors, communications and weapons. Since
this launch and following yet another major Spanish
shipyard restructuring, Izar has been renamed Navantia.
New Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec
As of mid-March
2005, Zurich-based Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec – a
company of the Rheinmetall DeTec group – has
been trading under its new name: RWM Schweiz. This
move follows on the heels of the restructuring
of Rheinmetall’s
Weapon and Munitions division in 2004. RWM Schweiz,
together with Rheinmetall Waffe Munition (Mauser
Oberndorf plant) forms the medium-calibre product
unit of the Weapon and Munitions division. Oerlikon
Contraves’ air defence branch of the Rheinmetall
DeTec family remains unaffected by this new remaning
development.
Royal Army Kits Canadian
The British Army has
recently provided a selection of its troops in
Afghanistan with goggles and glasses from Canadian
manufacturer Revision Eyewear – a
company that was founded only in 2002. Following
the British Ministry of Defence’s stipulation
that protective eyewear systems must be fully compatible
with existing military helmets, night vision equipment
and personal weapons the British Army, in February
2005, selected both Revision’s Sawfly military
eyewear system and the newly available Bullet Ant
goggles (see Armada’s Complete Guide issue
6/2004, pg 30). Canada’s military has been
using Revision eye protection for some time, following
consecutive orders in 2003 and 2004 totalling over
$ four million. The Sawfly system (shotgun tested – see
photo) has also recently been approved by US Forscom.
Rafael Displays New Trophy
The Trophy active
protection system for armoured fighting vehicles,
unveiled by Rafael and Elta Systems on 8 March
2005, offers a unique concept in protection against
anti-tank missile threats. The system detects and
tracks an incoming threat, classifies it and estimates
the optimal interception point; upon which it sends
a projectile (as yet still classified) to impact
and destroy the missile, rendering it harmless
to the vehicle. Rafael says the Trophy is available
for integration onto heavy, medium and light platforms,
thereby providing protection against all types
of high-explosive, anti-tank threats – including
all known types of anti-tank guided missiles and
anti-tank rockets (see Armada issue 1/2005, pg
29).
On the Armada Bookshelf
 Naval
Shiphandler’s
Guide
Capt James A. Barber Jr. USN (ret.)
US Naval Institute
Press
The story line of this
publication – the
first new book on naval shiphandling in nearly
a generation – is quite simple: learn the
handling techniques required for manoeuvring a
naval ship. The author, who served nearly thirty
years as a surface warfare officer in the US Navy,
describes in exacting detail what midshipmen and
ensigns alike must learn long before becoming eligible
to command a ship – everything
one must know concerning the forces acting on a
ship and how to make them work in one’s favour.
From getting underway to making a landing, from
transiting a channel and underway replenishment
to standard commands for ships and tugs, voyage
planning, tactical manoeuvring… this book
is the consummate departure point for learning
US naval ship handling. Sample conversations between
the ship’s crew, usually preceding critical
information, are interspersed throughout the chapters
and help to illustrate the more important points
of the lesson, these dialogues also serve as examples
of standard commands and shipboard jargon. Charts,
tables, photographs and line drawings function
as a complement to the text; furthermore, this
is the first comprehensive ledger of its kind to
include a section on shiphandling simulators. The
Naval Shiphandlers Guide can be viewed as both
a reference tool and a novel, in that either one
uninitiated in shipboard life or the seasoned seafarer
can browse its pages to find specific information
or read it from cover to cover as a unique and
interesting oeuvre on the discipline of naval shiphandling.
First Korean F-15K Rolls
In March
2005 Boeing revealed the first of 40 F-15K Strike
Eagle fighters being built for the Royal Korean
Air Force. Under a $ 4.2 billion contract Boeing
will begin delivering the aircraft sometime in
2005 and complete the order by August 2008. The
F-15K can carry almost 10,500-kg of weapons payload,
reach Mach 2.3 and perform day/night, air-to-ground,
air-to-air and air-to-sea missions in any weather
condition.
Harris Brings New Hand-held
During
the recent Idex exhibition in Abu Dhabi Harris
unveiled yet another new model of its Falcon II
RF-5800M-HH multiband radio, this for the international
market. The new radio features certain options
normally found only on manpack models; such as
including embedded Internet Protocol (IP) networking,
embedded text messaging, GPS automatic position
reporting and radio-telephony capabilities. The
RF-5800M-HH is a combination of three radios in
one convenient hand-held unit that provides low-band,
very high frequency (VHF) capabilities for combat
net radio, high-band VHF for public safety usage
and UHF capabilities for military ground-to-air
communications. The unit is switchable between
line-of-sight, ground-to-ground and UHF ground-to-air
communications. It also shares a common user interface
with other Falcon II members, provides continuous
coverage from 30 to 512 MHz, features embedded
Citadel encryption for both voice and data and
offers the user five Watts of transmitting power.
Corrigendum
A
recent article on aircraft self-protection systems
(Armada 6/2004, page10) stated that BAE Systems
North America was amongst the prime producers of
chaff and flares. But in fact, this business was
acquired by Armtec in 2003.
Grabbing by the Wrist
The
Elisra Group has developed a powerful wrist-wearable
personal tactical video receiver and integrated
monitor, the V-Rambo, which allows data display
for individual soldiers in the field (including
drone imagery). Unveiled at the Australian Aerospace
exhibition in March 2005, the unit is a lightweight
solution that consists of a receiver, rechargeable
battery and antenna in a relatively small case,
and a wrist display unit. The system can also integrate
received video and telemetry data with the soldier’s
PDA.
Kaman Makes Penguins
Fly
An AGM-114 Penguin anti-ship missile
completed a successful safe separation jettison
testing from an SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopter – which
is to be the first rotary-wing aircraft to carry
two Penguins per sortie. The US Navy test team
reported that the two Penguin drops went as planned,
with the missiles maintaining optimum pitch, roll
and yaw attitude as the rear stabilisation fins
deployed. The drops were the latest in a series
of tests designed to certify the weapon on the
new SH-2G(A).
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