Farnborough Airshow News 07-17-14

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THURSDAY 7.17.14 Farnborough

Farnborough Airshow News

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Boeing Shows ‘Lite’ Patroller

Rafael Reorganizes

Bell Looks to Europe as Major Market L-3 Here to Help with NextGen

Patriot Draws a Bead on Europe

With its P-8 Poseiden platform in service, Boeing has developed a more affordable maritime patroller. Based on the Bombardier Challenger 604 airframe, the MSA demonstrator is here. Page 6

Israeli defense electronics giant Rafael has reorganized into three dedicated business groups. The company is also refocusing its attention to enhance customer service. Page 10

With four helicopters on display here at Farnborough, Bell Helicopter is committed to the European region. Company CEO and president John Garrison said Europe is the second largest market for Bell. Page 12

Raytheon’s Patriot missile defense system is seeing a resurgence of interest, and several European countries are potential customers for the American weaponry.

Page 18

For operators in a quandry on how to strategize for re-equipping for NextGen mandates, manufacturer L-3 Aviation Products is poised to provide guidance and products for the transition. Page 16

BUILDING GOOD TIMES

DAVID McINTOSH

The aviation industry has weathered its storms. But participation in shows like Farnborough feeds confidence that the hard work is bearing fruit, at last.

Airline order avalanche bests previous records

by Charles Alcock The 2014 edition of the Farnborough International Air­show has beaten its own record for aircraft and engine orders, with organizers announcing a $130 billion running tally after the first three of the five trade days. Factoring in all

provisional orders, AIN’s own analysis puts the estimate at just above $155 billion.

Qatar Airways dominated commercial proceedings at the Farnborough International Air­show yesterday, signing contracts with Boeing for its 777Xs

that could be worth up to $37.7 billion, plus another $2.4 billion deal for four 777 freighters.

Boeing also announced that it is close to finalizing a purchase agreement for China’s Hainan Airlines to buy fifty 737 Max 8 aircraft, powered by the CFM International CFM Leap1B engines. Assuming the provisional deal gets the blessing of the Chinese government, it would be worth approximately $5.1 billion for the aircraft and $3.7 billion for the engines.

F-35 Won’t Show Up Despite hopes that the Lockheed Martin F-35 would ultimately come to the 2014 Farnborough Airshow–at least for the public days at the weekend–the engine fire on June 23 and subsequent ongoing investigation means that it will not make the show at all.

The U.S. Department of Defense issued a statement late Tuesday confirming that “…in concert with our partners in the UK” it has “decided not to send the Marine Corps and UK F-35B aircraft across the Atlantic to participate in the Farnborough Air Show.”

It concluded: “Safety–as always–remains our top priority.” –C.P.

Continued on next page u

Training is our World CAE is located in the Canadian Pavilion in Hall 4, Booth C18-D at the Farnborough Airshow

www.cae.com/civil-aviation

Farnborough

Thundering success for UK’s Taranis UCAV

Airshow News

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FOUNDED IN 1972 James Holahan, Founding Editor Wilson S. Leach, Managing Director R. RANDALL PADFIELD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

by Chris Pocock

Editor-in-chief – Charles Alcock

The all-British Taranis UCAV demonstrator has flown in fully stealth mode during a second phase of flight testing, BAE Systems revealed at the Farnborough Airshow this week. The flights took place last winter from Woomera, South Australia. Officials declined to elaborate further. “The overall achievements and objectives of the Taranis program remain highly classified,” Chris Garside, engineering director BAE Systems told a media briefing.

By contrast, officials re­ sponsible for the pan-European Neuron UCAV demonstrator have been much more forthcoming. The Neuron has flown 50 times, Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation,

told AIN here Tuesday. It is due to drop a weapon in the next flight test phase, to take place in Sweden, he confirmed.

However, Garside did say the £185 million Taranis had been “a triumph” and “the most complex air system ever built in the UK.” It was designed and built by BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, the systems division of GE A ­ viation, and QinetiQ, working with MoD scientists and staffers.

Modified R-R Adour

Conrad Banks, chief engineer for R&T, Rolls-Royce, declared that all objectives relating to the powerplant integration had been met.

These included fully embedding and insulating the modified Adour Mk951 turbofan

EDITOR – Ian Sheppard Press room managing Editor – R. Randall Padfield PRODUCTION DIRECTOR – Mary E. Mahoney

In this screen grab from a video posted by BAE Systems, the Taranis unmanned combat aerial vehicle touches down on a test flight in southern Australia.

inside the unmanned aerial vehicle–the engine’s standard application is on the BAe Hawk jet trainer.

The second-phase trials included a demonstration of “a realistic operational scenario,” according to Garside, who added that the Taranis system could create its own flight path to the target (It “seeks approval” according to MITL considerations, despite the high levels of autonomy, he said).

The air vehicle is now back

in the UK, Garside confirmed.

“We are currently discussing options for more flight trials with the MoD.” Dassault’s Eric Trappier paid a flying visit to the show earlier this week, for the signing of the Anglo-French Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) agreement. This will take forward the work done on the Neuron and Taranis demonstrators and could lead to a common configuration for the UK and France, he confirmed. o

Bombardier converts two Q400s, gets two more cseries customers

DAVID McINTOSH

Bombardier Aerospace (Chalet C1-3) announced here at the Farnborough International Airshow yesterday that it received purchase orders and conditional commitments, which push it past the 500-order milestone for both its Q400 and CSeries programs.

Toasting the milestone order for Bombardier’s Q400 and CSeries aircraft are, left to right: Simon Roberts, v-p and general manager, turboprop programs; Rob Dewar, v-p and general manager, CSeries program; Mike Arcamone, president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft; Guy Hachey, president and COO, Bombardier Aerospace; and Ray Jones, senior v-p sales and marketing and asset management, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

Airline orders best old records uContinued from preceding page

CFM reported that it has logged $21.4 billion in engine sales at this week’s show.

Leasing group MG Aviation placed a $499 million order for two additional 787-9 Dreamliners. The company previously ordered two other -9s in 2006.

Air Algerie was announced as the client for a $152 million order placed in May for a pair of Next Generation 737-300C

aircraft. The narrowbodies can be converted between freight and passenger use. The airline previously ordered eight 737800s in January.

Airbus won more support for its A350XWB program with the news that Air Mauritius has signed a memorandum of understanding for four -900 models. The carrier is going to lease two more of the widebody.

ATR signed a contract with Myanma Airways for up to 12 ATR72-600s. The deal, provisionally worth up to around $240 million, includes six firm

Thai carrier Nok Air converted two of four previously announced Q400 NextGen purchase rights to firm orders, while an African airline and existing Bombardier customer (that has asked to remain anonymous) signed a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire five CSeries airliners, pushing the total firm orders and commitments for the single-aisle airliner past the 500 mark. This is the first CSeries sale to an African operator.

“The Q400 NextGen airliner will play a major role in our domestic development, but also in our international expansion as we look at new destinations, such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia,” said Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin.

The CSeries order from the African operator comprises both CS100s and CS300s, the mix and delivery dates remaining undisclosed as the customer studies potential routes and deployment plans.

Bombardier also announced that an existing customer, also unnamed, has placed a conditional order, based on board approval, for seven CS300 airliners, and purchase rights for an additional six of the aircraft. This order, if approved, would bring the CSeries order book to firm commitments for 203 aircraft and not-yet-firm commit–J.W. ments for 310 more, from a combined 20 customers.

orders and six options.

GE Aviation announced that the GE9X engines to power the 50 Qatar Airways 777-9Xs will represent a $3.8 billion deal. Rolls-Royce signed an agreement with CIT to provide Trent 7000 engines for 15 new Airbus A330-900neos.

Trans States Holdings contracted with Pratt & Whitney to provide PW1000Gs for the 50 Embraer E-Jets E2 the U.S. airline group ordered this week. The engine maker will also be providing PW1200G powerplants for

2 Farnborough Airshow News • July 17, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

the six Mitsubishi Regional Jets ordered by Air Mandalay.

Separately, it signed a letter of intent with Philippine Airlines for PurePower engines on the 10 A320neos it has on order.

Finally, International Aero Engines is to provide V2500 turbofans for four A320ceo ordered by SaudiGulf Airlines.

By the end of Wednesday, the number of trade visitors received stood at 65,000. This year’s “Meet the Buyer” program doubled in scale from the 2012 show, with more than 1,200 meetings involving 300 companies set up so far. o

the editorial team Rick Adams Roger Boudreau Angus Batey Bill Carey David Donald Thierry Dubois Curt Epstein Miroslav Gyurosi Ian Goold

Guillaume Lecompte-Boinet Reuben Johnson Vladimir Karnazov Nick Klenske Neelam Mathews Jennifer Meszaros David Oliver Mark Phelps Chris Pocock

Gregory Polek Isabella Stifani Matt Thurber Aimée Turner David Underwood Paulo Valpolini Alan Warnes James Wynbrandt

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Airbus A350 flight test nearing the finish tape

by Ian Goold actual aircraft weight.” An earlier high-energy, rejected takeoff (not necessarily at maximum weight) was performed to clear the A350 for initial long-flight demonstrations.

Route Proving

Project test pilot Frank Chapman is organizing the routeproving campaign that will be conducted on A350 MSN 005.

In early July, this aircraft had accumulated almost 36 flight hours in its first six flights since taking to the air on June 20.

The aircraft will undertake some 26 flights that will total some 200 hours flying that is representative of actual airline operations, including a series of Hong Kong-Singapore return flights separated by 90-minute turnarounds. MSN 005 is expected to visit Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.S. and points in Asia and Europe.

Following EASA airworthiness approval, Airbus expects to retain A350 MSN 001 and 002 and to refurbish the remaining three test airframes for customers. Post type certification work includes testing related to the aircraft configuration for launch customer Qatar Airways. o

DAVID McINTOSH

Airbus is working hard to complete the A350 flight-test campaign, which it hopes to close by the end of August in preparation for formal European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) airworthiness approval in September. By early last week, the five A350 test aircraft had logged 2,189 hours during 516 flights that involved more than 1,360 take-off/landing cycles.

Principal remaining elements include the maximumenergy rejected take-off (Merto) demonstration and long-range, route-proving flights, according to Fernando Alonso, Airbus senior vice-president of flight and integration tests. Typically, Merto testing requires aircraft at maximum take-off weight to come to a complete halt from maximum V1 speed using 90-percent worn wheel brakes, no reverse thrust and no damage to the aircraft from any landinggear fires that might break out. “[Merto] involves a combination of weight and speed,” said Alonso, who expects the A350 test will be done at about 275 tons and at a speed of 160 to 170 kt. “We will set the [demonstration] speed just before brake release [when we know] the

All eyes are on the A350 flight-test regime, which Airbus hopes to complete by the end of next month for September EASA approval.

MBDA to assemble its Brimstone 2 this week

by Bill Carey MBDA Missile Systems (Outdoor Exhibit 10, Chalet D1) said yesterday that it would assemble the first copy this week of the Brimstone 2 missile, which is now in series production. The missile incorporates a dual-mode, millimeterwave radar and semi-active laser seeker, an “insensitive munition” (IM) rocket motor and warhead and a new, stronger airframe.

Next-gen Missile To serve On agustawestland AW159 Wildcat

MARK WAGNER

AgustaWestland (exhibiting here at the Farnborough Airshow with parent Finmeccanica, Outdoor Exhibit 1) gained a contract worth £90 million (around $150 million) here yesterday to integrate Europe’s next-generation maritime missile on the AW159 Wildcat helicopter.

British defense procurement minister Philip

Dunne (pictured right) signed the deal with Finmeccanica CEO Mauro Moretti to add both heavy and light versions of the MBDA Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) to the Wildcat. The work will be done in the UK at AW’s Yeovil facility, with firing trials on ranges in northern Scotland and West Wales in 2018-19.

The FASGW development is one of a number of Anglo-French defense cooperation initiatives, since the French will also acquire it. The two countries are spending an initial £500 million on what Dunne described as “an innovative, game-changing capability.” The light version of the FASGW is designed to counter fast-attack craft in littoral waters, while the heavy version is a longer-range anti-ship missile.

The UK is buying 62 Wildcats, of which 28 are naval versions. AgustaWestland (also exhibiting in Hall 1 Stand C9) has already delivered 34. The company is displaying other potential weaponry on the AW159 on its outdoor display here, including the Israeli Spike missile.

“There are various options,” said a company spokesman.

–C.P.

At a briefing on Wednesday here at the airshow, MBDA executives said the company received its first production batch of rocket motors from Roxel on June 10 and warheads from TDW on June 30. Cliff Kimpton, MBDA market development executive, said Brimstone 2 would provide a “step change” improvement in the missile’s performance.

Brimstone 2 will enter service next year on British Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s. In June MBDA signed a contract with BAE Systems to support the evaluation of the missile on the Eurofighter Typhoon.

MBDA plans to deliver “many

hundreds” of the missile, said Adrian Monks, head of shortrange surface attack.

In December and January, the RAF and the U.S. Air Force sponsored trials of the dualmode Brimstone fitted on the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft at U.S. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. MBDA executives declined to provide further information about Brimstone testing on the Reaper, or whether the U.S. will be involved in testing Brimstone 2.

Douglas Denneny, vice president for business development with the group in Arlington, Virginia, said the U.S. military is “very aware” of progress with the Brimstone 2. The U.S. Navy has allocated $4 million in its Fiscal Year 2014 budget to explore integrating some model of Brimstone on the F/A-18 Super Hornet. o

2015 Dubai Airshow builds on MidEast growth The Dubai Airshow will take place next year from November 8 to 12 at its purpose-built venue, Dubai World Central.

Billing itself as the center of the aerospace industry, the show will celebrate its 28th year since its inception in the late 1980s.

Over the years the Dubai show has grown in prominence as manufacturers and suppliers increasingly recognize the importance of the Middle East market to their long-term futures.

The show provides opportunities for industry experts to meet and interact with a multitude of

representatives from commercial aviation, business aviation and, of course, the defense business.

Show organizer F&E Aerospace has released the floor plan here in Farnborough and revealed some of its plans for the event. “We will be expanding the press center facilities,” said F&E managing director Michele van Akelijen. “And we are looking forward to the return of the show’s associated GATE [Gulf Aviation Training Event] and to inspiring the new generation of aviators through our Futures Day feature.” –G.P.

www.ainonline.com • July 17, 2014 • Farnborough Airshow News 3

Qatar’s 777-9X deal could top $37.7 billion

L-39 trainer gets major makeover

by Gregory Polek

IAI Continues Its Expansion in Brazil IAI subsidiary European Advanced Technology (EAT) has acquired a 40-percent stake in Brazilian company Avionics Services. The acquisition is another step in IAI’s strategic move into the Brazilian marketplace, which it sees as offering considerable opportunities in the years to come, particularly in the defense and public security sectors.

EAT and Avionics Services also signed an agreement to market and manufacture aircraft systems, UAVs, sensors and platform upgrades.

Having established a marketing office in Brasilia, IAI (Chalet A29) has also invested in Brazilian radar company IACIT. –D.D.

BAE Systems reveals a new combat helmet

by Chris Pocock BAE Systems launched a new version of the Striker integrated display helmet for combat aircraft pilots here at the Farnborough Airshow this week. Mark Bowman, the company’s chief test pilot, demonstrated how BAE has leveraged its work on an alternative helmet-mounted display (HMD) for the Lockheed Martin F-35 to produce Striker 2. The company was tapped to provide the alternative, using night-vision goggles, after serious development problems with the Elbit Systems/Rockwell Collins HMD that is integral to the F-35 cockpit. The F-35 program office now says that the problems have been overcome.

The current Striker provides a high accuracy, low latency head-tracker system that can slave sensors or weapons.

The fully overlapped 40-percent binocular display overlays flight parameters, sensor data, weapon status and night vision. It weighs only 1.9 kg (2.3 kg with night vision) including twin visors and the oxygen mask. The assembly provides positive pressure breathing to overcome potential g-loc (loss of consciousness in high-g maneuvers).

BAE’s Long Heritage

This helmet is currently used by pilots of the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Saab Gripen, but the Striker 2 version will provide a single solution that is also applicable to the piloting of attack helicopters, said Chris Colson, who is business development director for the Electronic Systems business of BAE Systems, based at Rochester in the UK. This site has a long heritage in avionics, and is currently pioneering “active

by Chris Pocock MARK WAGNER

investment from $18.9 billion to $37.7 billion at list prices. Finally, Al Baker also announced his intention to order four 777 Freighters and place options on another four.

The Qatar Airways boss said he would use the new 777-9Xs to replace many of his company’s existing current-generation 777s, in line with a policy of maintaining an average fleet age of

Flanked by Qatar Airways flight attendants, airline CEO Akbar Al Baker, left, has endorsed Boeing’s 777-9X program, to the pleasure of Boeing CEO Ray Conner.

no older than five years. Meanwhile, plans call for Qatar’s new leasing arm to supply many of the airplanes represented by purchase rights to other operators.

“I know that people always say at air shows that aircraft manufacturers always like to make big orders,” Al Baker said. “But with Qatar Airways Boeing knows we are serious, that every single purchase right we had done in the past we exercised. So we are committed to the numbers of airplanes that we signed for.”

Boeing expects to deliver the airplanes in 2020, making

Qatar (Chalet C27-28) one of the type’s first operators.

On the subject of Qatar’s fleet mix, Al Baker laid to rest any idea that the 777X commitment might signal a retreat from the airline’s commitment for Airbus’s A350-1000.

“Once we sign for something we don’t walk away, unless of course the manufacturers screw up with the performance of the airplane,” he said in a not-so-veiled reference to his recent refusal to accept three A380s due to Airbus’s failure to meet some of Qatar’s specifications. o

inceptors,” meaning intelligent aircraft control sticks; clip-on, see-through displays; and advanced head-up displays (HUDs) that use current digitallight engine (DLE) technology.

The Striker consists of a lightweight inner shell and an outer casing that includes 64 light-emitting diodes. These are tracked in real time by

a significant advantage.

The helmet “is a real force multiplier at the platform level,” said Colson. He noted that recent combat experience has included Typhoon pilots spotting IED placements and providing their co-ordinates to ground forces, thanks to the helmet.

The Electronic Systems business is also displaying a DLE-upgraded HUD for the F-16 in the BAE Systems pavilion here (Outdoor Exhibit 11/ FIVE) and a “Lite HUD” that uses waveguide technology, which is more compatible with the large displays found in the latest combat aircraft. The F-35 cockpit is one such aircraft, but the fifth-generation stealth fighter has dispensed with a HUD altogether.

Colson said that this was “a brave step” and has not been followed by other new starts, such as the Textron AirLand Scorpion attack jet or the forthcoming indigenous Turkish fighter. Textron has chosen this BAE Systems product for the Scorpion, which can be seen in the static park here at Farnborough .

“In a waveguide display, you don’t have to be square-on to the optics to see the symbology.

It’s just like viewing a modern television,” Colson added. o

MARK WAGNER

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker officially endorsed the Boeing 777-9X yesterday here in Farnborough by converting the 50-airplane memorandum of understanding announced at the Dubai Air Show last year to a firm order.

A separate agreement to take purchase rights for another fifty 777-9Xs could increase the value Qatar’s

From its experience with the F-35 test program, BAE Systems developed this new Striker 2 helmet-mounted display.

three cameras mounted in the cockpit, so that the pilot’s head movements can be integrated with the aircraft’s display and sensor systems. He or she can therefore maintain an “eyes out” view during combat situations, rather than lose situational awareness while consulting the cockpit displays. The pilot can also use the helmet to aim and cue weapons “off boresight,”

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Aero Vodochody launched a new version of the popular L-39 jet trainer in Farnborough yesterday. The L-39NG will be powered by a Williams FJ444M turbofan.

Other changes from the original version include a new wet wing, lighter structure, single-piece canopy, and modern cockpit. Company officials told AIN that they hoped to finish the prototype by the end of 2016, certify the L-39NG in 2017 and begin deliveries in 2018.

An official from the Czech Ministry of Defence expressed enthusiasm about the project, but said the country had not yet placed an order. He said the Czech air force was also considering re-engining its existing L-39s with the FJ44 turbofan, an interim stage towards the L-39NG that Aero Vodochody supports.

In fact, the Czech airframer said it had a civilian launch customer for the re-engined L-39, which would make its first appearance at the Reno Air races next year. Demilitarized L-39s are flying in 15 countries. The prototype of the original L-39 made its first flight in 1969 and serial production of the model began in 1971.

The company gave no details on a ground training system, or synthetic training, to accompany the L-39NG, and was vague about this when queried

by AIN. o

CHARITY CYCLISTS ARRIVE IN FARNBOROUGH More than 60 cyclists representing TAG Aviation, Gulfstream, Cessna, Jetex and the Resource Group completed a 250-mile ride from Paris Le Bourget Airport to Farnborough Airport on Monday.

The riders raised approximately $85,000 for aviation charity Fly2help, which gives people living with disability, serious illness, bereavement or isolation the chance to experience a flight. –C.A.

Boeing has ‘lite’ version of a maritime patroller

by Bill Carey Apple’s product strategy serves to describe the similarities between the high-end P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft the U.S. Navy uses and the new, smaller maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) being developed for international customers, according to Boeing Defense. Both aircraft are on display here at the Farnborough International Airshow this week.

“Think iPad–iPhone, where one has more capability at a different price point that’s focused on the United States Navy mission,” said Chris Chadwick, Boeing Defense president and CEO. “And one takes the benefit of that capability and ports it into a different platform,” the MSA, minus the P-8’s weapons and antisubmarine warfare capabilities.

Boeing (Chalet B1-6) revealed the MSA project at the 2012 Farnborough show and this past November introduced the Bombardier Challenger 605 super mid-size business jet as its host platform for P-8-derived mission systems. A Boeing-owned Challenger 604, modified by Field Aviation as an MSA demonstrator, made its first flight from Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada, on February 28. Boeing installed mission systems in Seattle and late last

month readied the aircraft for its Farnborough debut.

The demonstrator will be available for viewing on the ground, with some of its sensors activated and others simulated to illustrate its capabilities.

Stiff Competition

The Boeing offering enters a crowded field of jets and turboprops developed for maritime surveillance and search-andrescue missions at lower cost than the high-end P-8, a Boeing 737-800 derivative.

Boeing sees the MSA competing against missionized Dassault Falcon 900/2000 and Gulfstream G450/550 business jets and ATR 72 and Airbus Military C-295 turboprops. “We did extensive research as to what airplane we thought best fit this need, and the Challenger 604/605 series really stood out in terms of payload, speed, the endurance that it has, its versatility and its competitive advantage pricewise, both in acquisition and in operating it,” said Bob Schoeffling, Boeing Defense senior manager of business development for mobility, surveillance and engagement.

Beyond the platform itself, what differentiates the MSA is the P-8 mission system architecture, under development since that program’s inception

Boeing’s Maritime Surveillance Aircraft demonstrator, a modified Bombardier Challenger 604, is shown on its first flight on February 28.

Boeing Designates FLIR’s Star Safire Turret Boeing has selected the FLIR Systems’ Star Safire 380-HD electro-optical/infrared sensor turret as the baseline EO/ IR system to equip its new Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) for mission packages including search and rescue and coastal and border security, FLIR (Chalet C4) announced this week.

The Star Safire 380-HD system is a gyro-stabilized, multi-spectral, high-definition, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR) system. It can be deployed on fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aircraft and ships. Star SAFIRE 380HD integration and testing on the MSA platform began in August 2012.

“This selection highlights FLIR’s position as a leading supplier of thermal, HD-imaging, sensor systems,” said Andy Teich, FLIR Systems president and CEO. “We are pleased to partner with Boeing in providing situational awareness and real-time surveillance to help protect allied nations worldwide.” –B.C.

in 2004 and beneficiary of more than $1 billion in technology investment by the U.S. Department of Defense, according to Schoeffling. “Within that class, for what we bring in performance, platform, mission systems and sensors, we feel we are

Field Aviation Highlights Surveillance Expertise Canada’s Field Aviation has amassed considerable expertise in the special-mission aircraft design and modification sector. Two examples of its work are on display here at Farnborough (Hall 4 Stand C17-C19), in the form of the Boeing MSA (maritime surveillance aircraft) and a modified nose section for the Viking Twin Otter MRSA. When Boeing launched the MSA, which is based on the Bombardier Challenger 604 airframe, as a lowercost alternative to the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, Field Aviation was contracted to undertake the modification.

Modification of the Challenger to civil certification standards was undertaken at Toronto’s Pearson International airport, from where Field has also conducted extensive flight tests.

Field Aviation also designed and built a nose section for the Viking Twin Otter Guardian 400, a multi-role surveillance aircraft. A full-scale model of the nose is on display at Viking’s outdoor exhibit (OE26), and features a 360-degree search radar and a retractable EO/IR turret. Also displayed is the mission management system and workstation, which is located in the aircraft’s cabin. –D.D. Field’s nose section for the Guardian 400 MRSA is shown alongside the associated work-station and display.

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very well positioned,” he added.

The MSA can be fitted with different radars for overwater or overland surveillance, electro- optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, electronic support measures (ESM), communica­ tions intelligence (Comint) and the automatic identification system (AIS). Boeing equipped the demonstrator with a Selex ES SeaSpray 7300 maritime surveillance radar, FLIR Systems Star Safire 380HD EO/IR sensor turret, Shine Micro AIS and Boeing-supplied ESM and Comint sensors. The data from sensors is displayed at three mission crew workstations–expandable to five workstations–with two 24-inch monitors in clamshell, foldable configuration that can be stowed at the sidewall.

The workstation displays are interoperable and interchangeable among the operators.

Boeing has an agreement with Bombardier Aerospace to procure Challengers and have them modified by Field Aviation, which has previously modified the business jets into military configurations. It has big plans for the MSA. “Before we started this process, we took an exhaustive

look at the market itself,” related Schoeffling.

“We looked at countries that were going to need to replace maritime assets in the ‘mid’ market, and we projected that over a 10-year period it’s about a $10 billion market for 125 to 150 aircraft.” o

AT THE STANDS Textron Aviation’s TRU Sim­ulation+Training has announced an agreement with sister company Bell Helicopter to develop the first level-D, full flight simulator for the Bell 525 Relentless medium helicopter.

TRU will take care of all the steps from design to installation at Bell’s Fort Worth, Texas headquarters.

The simulator will be FAAand EASA-certified and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2016. The sophisticated trainer will be based on TRU’s Odyssey H platform, which features a 240 x 80-degree field of view.

TRU president and CEO Jim Takats said the request for proposals was issued in 2013, before Textron took over his company (Opinicus Corp.).

The first Bell 525 should fly by the end of this year. v

by Matt Thurber Rockwell Collins is demonstrating a host of new technology solutions at Farnborough 2014, from its MultiScan weather radar to NextGen communications and navigation systems.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowabased avionics manufacturer recently achieved the first demonstration of advanced arrival and departure flight operations under the EU’s FILGAPP project. FILGAPP “aims at ‘filling the gap’ in the state of the art of GNSS-based procedures and operations,” according to the project. Rockwell Collins explained the goal as creating “new, more efficient methods of navigating airspace using satellite-based navigation and advanced FMS functions.”

The flight demonstration took place in Germany using a Hawker 750 equipped with a Rockwell Collins FMS and GNSS receiver.

The tests involved the first performance of a high-precision and

high-integrity missed approach/ departure procedure in Europe.

Earlier tests in an Air Nostrum Bombardier CRJ-1000, also equipped with Rockwell Collins avionics, assessed performance using radius-to-fix functionality connected to EGNOS-enabled LPV approaches.

Rockwell Collins (Hall 4 Stand F9) also announced that Air Algérie chose a suite of avionics from the company for its order for 10 Boeing 737s and three Airbus A330s. The A330 will be equipped with the Rockwell Collins MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar, which in addition to hail and lightning prediction within a storm also warns pilots of threats adjacent to the thunderstorm cell. Pilots can also receive warnings of cells that are projected to be in the aircraft’s flight path using ThreatTrack’s Predictive Overflight feature. MultiScan was recently

Engine Alliance OK’d for new thrust ratings

by Matt Thurber

MATT THURBER

The Engine Alliance, a 50-50 A380s at the maximum thrust ratjoint venture of GE and Pratt ing in high-ambient-temperature & Whitney, has received EASA conditions. “The E-rating is possiapproval for two new thrust ble because the GP7200 engine was ratings for the GP7200 tur- designed with a large margin to its bofan engine, one of the two EGT limits,” said Dean Athans, engines available to power the president of the Engine Alliance.

The Engine Alliance also anAirbus A380. The new ratings nounced GP7200 bring the GP7200 enhancements that to four thrust rating will improve time configurations. on wing by as much One of the new ratas 50 percent in hot ings is for the GP7272, and sandy enviwhich allows operaronments. The imtion to 72,000 pounds provements priof thrust. The second marily affect the is for the GP7272E, high-pressure turwhich allows the bine (HPT) stage 2 72,000-pound-thrust rating to be used Dean Athens, Engine Alliance nozzle module and involve a total of 25 at ambient temperatures of greater than 30 deg C components, including shrouds, (86 deg F). The GP7200 fam- seals and hangars; the design ily thus now has four thrust rat- changes were frozen in October ings, two at 70,000 pounds (the 2013. Hardware improvements GP7270 and GP7270E) and two were introduced to the proat 72,000 pounds (the GP7272 duction line this summer, and these can be retrofitted during and GP7272E).

The “E” stands for E-rating, quick-turn repairs or during which is the “extended corner normal shop visits, according o point” that lets airlines operate their to Engine Alliance.

Rockwell Collins MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar, ordered by Air Algérie, can not only predict lightning and hail, but also identify threats that lie adjacent to cells.

RC’s Ortberg Bullish on Stable End Markets “I enter this airshow period feeling much more confident,” said Rockwell Collins CEO and president Kelly Ortberg about this year’s Farnborough International Airshow. Military budgets are stabilizing, he added, “and this provides much more certainly about what programs are going to be funded going forward.”

In the business aviation market, he said, “we’re seeing stabilization in the end markets. We’re not seeing a snapback, but I believe we’re at the bottom of the cycle.” In the air transport sector, “the up-cycle continues to be in full swing.

Last year was very important in new product entries with the 737 Max and A320neo receiving a number of orders, and this gives us confidence that we’re in the early to mid phase of that up-cycle. There’s a lot of runway up ahead.”

A major focus for Rockwell Collins (Hall 4 Stand F9 Kelly Ortberg Chalet B13) is its situational awareness products, which also extend to helicopters. The Helisure product line integrates helicopter synthetic vision and helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS).

This year is the Farnborough Airshow debut for the Rockwell Collins Information Management Services business, which resulted from the company’s acquisition of Arinc in 2013. “These are pretty exciting times,” Ortberg said, n “and we feel much more upbeat about end market outlooks.”

F-35 test pilots to with Fly Improved HMDs F-35 test pilots with the U.S. Air Force’s 461st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California, will begin using a third-generation helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) in the next few weeks. The updated HMDS incorporates fixes to the current generation system, which pilots found inadequate and the Pentagon labeled as a technical risk to the F-35 program.

Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow on Tuesday, Raanan Horowitz, Elbit Systems of America president and CEO, said his company will soon begin delivering the new “Gen 3” helmet to F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin, which plans to introduce the new HMDS in low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot 7 of the jet, the next production lot.

The joint venture of Elbit and Rockwell Collins, called Rockwell Collins ESA Vision Systems LLC, supplies the HMDS for the F-35.

In 2011, the Pentagon identified the HMDS–critical for a fighter with no head-up display–as one of several F-35 program risks. It found that the Gen 2 system was deficient in the areas of night-vision acuity, display jitter during aircraft buffeting and image latency from the F-35’s electro-optical distributed aperture system (DAS).

Horowitz said the Gen 3 HMDS comes with improved night vision from a new Intevac Photonics sensor based on electron-bombarded activated pixel sensor (EBAPS) technology, an integrated inertial measurement unit to track head movement and automated software alignment. Intevac delivers sensors to Elbit Systems of America, which builds the sensor into the nightvision camera.

Rockwell Collins is exhibiting the F-35 helmet

8 Farnborough Airshow News • July 17, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

for the first time at the Farnborough Airshow (Hall 4 Stand F9) and providing demonstrations to emphasize its situational-awareness products. The helmet on display is a Gen 2 HMDS. Alan Norman, F-35 chief test pilot, said other test pilots have flown the current-generation helmet with Gen 3 fixes. Issues such as display jitter from aircraft buffeting have been “smoothed out to the satisfaction of the pilots and from our test-pilot point of view, we’re happy with it,” he said.

The first Gen 3 helmet will be deployed on the AF-3 test jet, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jet, which has the same software configuration of LRIP 7 jets. “That will be our first good look at how the Gen 3 helmet is doing,” Norman said.

–M.T.

DAVID McINTOSH

Newest tech now on tap from Rockwell Collins

certified for the Boeing 777, and EVA Air was the first to take delivery of a new 777 equipped with the radar.

For its 737s, Air Algérie has chosen a set of products to provide a Link 2000+ solution to meet Eurocontrol’s controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) airspace requirement. The equipment includes the VHF-2100 VHF transceiver CMU-900 communications management unit, APM-900 aircraft personality module and CPDLC-enabling software. Air Algérie also selected the Rockwell Collins GLU-925 multi-mode receiver, which is the first to combine a GPS landing system receiver, ADF, DME and VOR. VivaAerobus has an order for 52 new A320s and chose the Rockwell Collins GLU-925, MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar, ADF-900, DME-2100, VHF-2100 and VOR-900.

Rockwell Collins also serves the unmanned aircraft market, and FT Sistemas selected the company’s Micro INS (inertial navigation sensor) for the Horus 100 hand-launched UAV. The Micro INS combines an integrated air data system, magnetometer and WAAS-enabled GPS receiver. o

Elbit Systems of America’s Generation 3 helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) will go into service in a few weeks.

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Rafael recast in three groups, placing focus on customers

by Charles Alcock the latest Recce-2 electro-optical tactical reconnaissance pod for real-time imagery collection and data transfer. This is capable of scanning speeds that are around 10 times faster than the original Recce-1 unit, and it also has a new ground control unit.

Rafael has also developed the lighter Recce-U pod for deployment on UAVs that are restricted to payload of less than 100 kg (220 pounds). This can fly on MALE class UAVs, such as the IAI Heron.

“It has the same basic design as the [220kg payload] RecceLite pod and none of the capabilities have been lost,” explained Miller. “The only difference is that it is not airworthy to fly on jets. We took the cooling system out because it’s not needed due to the lower speeds of UAVs and we also took out some of the skin.”

More Spice

Separately, two new, larger versions of its Spice missiles (1,000 pounds and 2,000 pounds) have been introduced by Rafael, which is also now working on a new 250pound Spice 250 standoff gliding, precision guided missile.

“If you compare Spice 250 with the bigger versions, the main difference is that aircraft can increase their [weapons] load significantly, carrying four Spice 250s on a smart rack,” said Miller. “It will have standoff capability for over 100 km and can engage a variety of targets. It’s good for scenarios where you want to have a total shock-and-awe effect but can also engage moving and time-critical targets.”

The new weapon is due to begin flight tests later this year. o

DAVID McINTOSH

Israeli defense group Rafael believes it will be more responsive to the markets it serves following the reorganization that took effect at the beginning of this year.

The company is now split into three divisions: air superiority, land and naval systems, and air and C4ISR. “We’re more focused on the customer now, and not just focused on technology,” air and C4ISR systems general manager Yuval Miller told AIN. The reorganization is also intended to take account of the strong growth Rafael has achieved since it was first established as a government-owned company that was part of Israel’s defense ministry.

One of Rafael’s priorities here at the show this week is to promote the new Litening 4 version of its established air targeting and navigation pod. This features an improved sensor package and optimized electronics with a better mean time between failure rate and maintainability. The latest pod also includes new image-processing capability that can be used in a greater variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground modes.

“It’s not just a designation pod for LGBs [laser-guided bombs], it’s a very necessary tool for the pilot and can provide better close air support,” said Miller.

Rafael is introducing its new Toplite MHD (multi-sensory, high definition) electro-optical and surveillance, observation and targeting system, which is a derivative of Litening. According to the company, it is very versatile and features new sensors operating in different wavelengths and with datalink capability.

Also on show here in Farnborough is

beauty is in the heart of the beholder Colorful paint catches the eye, but the beauty of thIs Spanish AV8B Harrier runs deep beneath the dull gray skin, especially among those who have been privileged to fly her.

Rockford area has its stamp on every aircraft flying at F’boro

DAVID McINTOSH

by James Wynbrandt

leap of faith José Luis Garza Alvarez, left foreground, Interjet CEO, enthusiastically shakes hands with Chaker Chahrour, v-p of sales for GE, parent company of CFM International. Surrounded by their ebullient teams, the executives celebrate Interjet’s choice of CFM’s LEAP-1A engine for its new fleet of 40 Airbus A320neo aircraft. The engine order is valued at U.S. $2.9 billion.

10 Farnborough Airshow News • July 17, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

Though not often mentioned among aerospace centers of excellence, Rockford, Illinois, home to five major tier 1 aerospace suppliers, deserves a top spot on the list, according to the Rockford Area Aerospace Network (RAAN). The organization is making that case here at the Farnborough Airshow and points out that every single airplane flying today contains at least one part manufactured in Rockford, according to RAAN (Hall 2 Stand 23).

One of the leading aerospace employment centers in the U.S., the Rockford area has more than 200 diverse suppliers at all levels of the logistics chain, including assembly, inspection, testing, repair and software. More than 80 percent of Illinois’ aerospace workforce

is found in Rockford’s area, and it has twice the U.S. average of manufacturing workers.

The city was on Boeing’s shortlist of sites under consideration for building its new 777X, while more recently Woodward, which provides products and services to the aerospace and energy sectors, broke ground on a $300 million second campus in the area for its aircraft turbine systems business, adding 1,400 jobs to the Rockford region’s economy.

Here at the airshow, RAAN and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are eager to meet Farnborough attendees and explain the opportunities and capabilities the Rockford region offers. o

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Bell counts on Europe as a major market area one-switch activation, which provides automatic attitude leveling and transition to climb.

During heavy turbulence or in extreme attitudes, the autopilot will automatically disconnect, and it is also night-vision-system-compatible. Cost of the autopilot is “slightly more than $100,000,” and it is said to be less expensive than the currently approved 407GX HeliSAS autopilot offered by Cobham. The integrated autopilot was designed by Bell and was derived from the 429’s digital automatic flight control system.

Sales of the 407GX have tripled in Europe, and Bell’s commercial sales have grown 37 percent in Europe since 2012, according to Garrison. Bell 429 sales have increased from two operating in Europe two years ago to more than 40 now.

New Bells

Letters of intent for the new light 505 cover more than 200 helicopters, of which 40 are European orders. The 505 is Bell’s first helicopter powered by a Turbomeca engine, the Arrius 2R controlled by a dual-channel Fadec. Avionics are Garmin’s G1000H. A highinertia rotor system “delivers superior autorotation capabilities,” according to Bell.

The new 525 is the first commercial helicopter with flyby-wire flight controls. Also equipped with Garmin avionics, the 525 features Bell’s fourdisplay Arc Horizon flight deck, which uses the G5000H system with touchscreen controls. Bell’s lift-assist tail boom promises to improve the 525’s hover performance. “The 525 enables Bell to break into the offshore market in Europe,” Garrison said.

Recent water-tank tests of scale-model 525s indicated that the 525 will have no problem meeting sea state 6 standards for emergency water landings and that there are no hurdles that should prevent the 525 from meeting the new uneven waveform requirements. The 525 cabin is designed so that no occupant is more than one passenger away from an emergency exit. “Our design was generated by customer [requirements],” said Garrison. o

Bell’s developmental, fly-by-wire 525 Relentless model is represented on the Bell display in mockup form. Configured in search-and-rescue mode, the mockup also features Bell’s four-screen Arc Horizon flight deck (inset), based on the Garmin G5000H architecture with touchscreen control.

USAF releases an RFP for a new big bomber

by Bill Carey The U.S. Air Force announced that it released a request for proposals (RFP) to industry on July 9 for its new Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program to develop the next generation heavy bomber. The service said it expects to make a contract award next spring.

Detailed requirements for the bomber are classified and in a press release the Air Force described the platform in generalities. It nevertheless designated the LRS-B as a top priority, along with the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and KC-46A tanker.

“The new bomber will be a long-range, air-refuelable, highly survivable aircraft with significant nuclear and conventional stand-off and direct-attack weapons payload,” the service said.

“The LRS-B will provide operational flexibility across a wide range of military operations.”

The Air Force plans to purchase 80 to 100 LRS-B aircraft, with a targeted average procurement cost of $550 million per unit.

It aims to declare initial capability of the bomber in the mid-2020s.

The new platform would replace the service’s 75 B-52 Stratofortress and 63 B-1B Lancer bombers. (The USAF

12 Farnborough Airshow News • July 17, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

fleet of 20 B-2 stealth bombers has a service life goal to 2058.)

Northrop Grumman and the team of Boeing and Lockheed Martin have made known their intentions to seek the LRS-B contract.

In a report earlier this month, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said the Air Force may have already spent a substantial amount on developing the LRS-B, which would help explain service’s expectation of reaching initial operational capability of the bomber in the next decade.

The projected LRS-B budget in the Pentagon’s Future Years Defense Program rises from $258.7 million in FY2013 to $3.4 billion in FY2019, a spending level that suggests a production rather than a development program. The funding stream “may indicate that significant LRS-B development has already been completed, presumably in classified budgets,” the CRS said.

Last September, a former deputy assistant of the Air Force for acquisition revealed that the service had issued contracts for risk-reduction work.

Assuming there has been considerable prior development, “the Air Force will be

MARK WAGNER

Textron’s Bell Helicopter brought four helicopters to its Farnborough Airshow display (Exhibit Area L2), including a mockup of the Bell 525 Relentless outfitted in search-and-rescue configuration and a mockup of the 505 Jet Ranger X, which just concluded a three-month European tour.

A 407GX is also on the Bell static display, as is a 429 in emergency-medical service configuration. The 429 also just finished a three-month demonstration tour. During FIA14, a corporate-configured Bell 429 is flying demonstration flights.

“Europe is our second-largest helicopter market,” said Bell president and CEO John Garrison, “and it will still be [the second-largest] in 20 years.” Although Bell has had helicopters flying in Europe for more than 50 years, he added, “We don’t enjoy the same level of market participation [as North America].”

“In the past few years, we have had great success in Europe and see additional opportunities for further growth,” said Danny Maldonado, Bell executive v-p of commercial sales and marketing. “We have invested in developing our local facilities and aftermarket capabilities to better serve our European customers, and Farnborough gives us an opportunity to connect our team with these customers and learn more about their future needs.”

Bell’s strategy is focused around products, people and facilities, Garrison explained.

And one of the productrelated announcements at Farnborough is a new kit for an integrated autopilot for the Garmin G1000H-equipped 407GX. The two-axis autopilot system is available as an option on new 407GXs and as a retrofit on existing models equipped with the G1000H suite.

Certified under a supplemental type certificate for VFR operations by the FAA and Transport Canada, the Garmin autopilot offers cyclic force trim and a stability and command augmentation system that is available at all speeds, with altitude and heading preselects, according to Bell. A goaround mode is available, with

DAVID McINTOSH

by Matt Thurber

challenged to construct a truly competitive RFP,” the CRS said. In a statement announcing the RFP’s release, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said, “We have established an achievable and stable set of requirements that should make this capability a hallmark for the future. We’ve set a realistic target cost for the system and have a procurement strategy which allows us to affordably field a new bomber fleet.” o

AT THE STANDS UTC Aerospace Systems and Selex ES announced they will jointly develop the TacSAR (tactical synthetic aperture radar) reconnaissance system, a long-range SAR system designed for overland and maritime reconnaissance and surveillance. TacSAR uses Selex active electronically scanned array radar technology.

More than a dozen countries employ UTC Aerospace Systems’ DB-110 EO/IR reconnaissance pod, which can be fitted on tactical jets, maritime patrol aircraft and business jets. Current DB-110 EO/IR users will be able to integrate the TacSAR pod using the same aircraft interfaces, real-time data links and intelligence exploitation systems, UTC said.

UTC Aerospace Systems (Hall 3 Stand AS6-17) is part of United Technologies Corp.

Selex ES (Outdoor Exhibit 1) is a Finmeccanica company. v

CHRIS POCOCK

Sentinel fleet looking seaward

by David Donald that a maritime-capable Sentinel is not a maritime patroller, it could be used as a gap-filler in certain scenarios, and has considerable applications in littoral operations, such as amphibious landings or humanitarian missions.

An embryonic maritime capability for the Sentinel radar first came to the fore during Operation Ellamy in 2011. RAF

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14 Farnborough Airshow News • July 17, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

Having seen some success tracking surface vessels during Operation Ellamy in Libya in 2011, the newly reinvigorated RAF Sentinel R1 program is turning its attention to expanding its maritime capability.

Sentinels working along the Libyan coast noted that the moving target indicator mode of the dual-mode radar could track vessels entering and leaving Libyan harbors, resulting in intelligence that was swiftly acted upon.

Now the question of adding further maritime modes to the system is on the table for inclusion in an updated Sentinel. Raytheon has developed technologies across its sensor range that could be applied to the Sentinel’s Astor radar, and maritime modes could be adapted from those developed for the APY-10 radar that is operational in the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.

Canoe Sensor

Other new functions that the Sentinel could gain include a signals intelligence-gathering capability and a standoff electro-optical/infrared sensor. Changes to the way the aircraft communicates via satellite have made some original communications systems redundant, with the result that enough SWAP (size, weight and power) capacity could be freed up in the canoe fairing to install a system in the class of the UTAS DB-110 or Raytheon’s sensor for the Global Hawk. The Global Express business jet platform, upon which the Sentinel is based, can easily accommodate any rapid changes in altitude that the different sensors might require, unlike an airliner-type platform.

Adding a long-range EO/IR system

would not only allow the Sentinel to provide high-quality imagery to complement that from the synthetic aperture mode of the radar, but also give it a visual positive identification capability, something that is not possible under UK rules of engagement when using radar imagery alone.

With a number of options available and funds now becoming available, the RAF is now in a position to prioritize which capabilities and upgrades it adopts, and in which order. This process should take about six to seven months.

One element that is currently under development by Raytheon is the Overseer enhanced airborne mission management system, which would facilitate the integration of these additional capabilities, as well as providing an improved and “decluttered” human-machine interface. One of the five aircraft will be assigned as a testbed for new systems when they are added.

In the meantime, the RAF Sentinel fleet has been undertaking some important missions away from the principal operational theater in Afghanistan (Operation Herrick). In Operation Newcombe the Sentinel flew 58 missions in support of French forces during the Mali intervention, while an aircraft was deployed on Operation Turus in the hunt for the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram. Closer to home, the Sentinel mapped flooded areas of southern England during Operation Pitchpole. o

Kongsberg And Raytheon Join Forces On JSM Kongsberg and Raytheon announced a teaming agreement this week to develop and market the Norwegian company’s JSM (joint strike missile) for the air-launched OASuW (offensive anti-surface warfare) mission.

For Raytheon (Chalet C7-9) this represents an opportunity to add a state-of-the-art, air-launched, anti-ship weapon to its offering without the burden of development costs, while Kongsberg (Chalet K6) not only gains better access to certain markets, but can also draw on some of Raytheon’s technologies for adding features and for future versions. The two companies have not defined detailed workshare, but would treat campaign leads for export on a case-by-case basis.

Development of the missile has been funded by the Norwegian government, with the final phase currently undergoing parliamentary review, but Raytheon and Kongsberg see considerable opportunities for the JSM elsewhere. The two companies have a good history of co-operation, notably through the Nasams surfacelaunched Amraam program.

Derived from the Kongsberg NSM (naval strike missile), the JSM has been sized to fit in the internal bay of the Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF. Although Norway is currently the only nation with a stated requirement for the JSM, it could prove attractive to other partners in the program. The weapon is schedKongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile is sized to fit the internal bays uled to be included in the Block 4 of the JSF, but can be carried externally on most fighter types. iteration of JSF, but that is not due until around 2022. JSM’s development should be complete by 2017.

Given this gap, a market could be found for JSM outside of the JSF world. To that end Kongsberg has already performed fit-checks on a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet and a Lockheed Martin F-16. Captive-carry flights are likely to be undertaken on an F-16 next year, and Norway might move ahead with integration of JSM on the type for its own air force to cater for the delay in F-35 integration.

–D.D.

MARK WAGNER

Monday’s announcement by British Prime Minister David Cameron that the RAF’s Raytheon Sentinel R1 fleet will be extended in service until at least 2018 has breathed new life into the program, and sparked real interest in further development.

One of the key features that could be added is greater maritime capability. While the RAF is quick to stress

Aegis comes ashore in Romania

by David Donald Next year the U.S. Navy is scheduled to start operations of an Aegis missile defense system at a land base at Deveselu in Romania, representing the second phase of a four-pronged program known as EPAA (European phased adaptive approach). This is being undertaken to provide defense against ballistic missiles, with Iran considered the primary threat.

The first phase of EPAA has already been implemented, comprising the Lockheed Martin Aegis air defense system and SPY-1 radar paired with Raytheon’s SM-3 missile on ships of the U.S. Navy in the Mediterranean theater. Phase 2 of EPAA is the first element to be landbased in the Aegis Ashore configuration.

To minimize risk it has been created by simply lifting the in-service elements of the Aegis system from the ship and placing them in a land-based scenario.

The first such system, comprising Aegis command and control, SPY-1D radar and Mk 41 vertical launch system, has been constructed at the Pacific Missile Test Range at Barking Sands, Hawaii.

This installation conducted the first test of the Aegis Ashore with a firing in May of an SM-3 Block IB control test vehicle. The trial interceptor lacked

a warhead and was fired against a target simulated in the system to prove the basic elements of the system.

A second Aegis Ashore system has been completed at the Missile Defense Agency’s facility in Moorestown, New Jersey. This system is now ready for transfer to the Romanian site later this summer, and is scheduled to become operational with 24 SM-3 missiles next year. A second test of the Hawaii-based Aegis Ashore is planned for next year, involving a live intercept.

The Romanian Aegis system will initially employ the Block IB version of the SM-3 missile, which is in low-rate initial production. Block IB achieved operational capability at sea earlier this year.

This version has numerous improvements over the IA, including a variable-throttle attitude control system and a two-color imaging infrared seeker. The Aegis system for Romania employs the current BMD 5.0 software standard, and will be integrated into a wider defense network that includes forward-based Raytheon TPY-2 radars, including one located in Turkey. The TPY-2 will initially detect and track targets before handing over the track to the Aegis system.

For Phase 3 of EPAA a second land-based Aegis Ashore battery is to be installed at Redzikowo in Poland, scheduled to become operational in 2018. This will fire the Block IIA version of SM-3 with Aegis BMD 5.1 software. This upgrade can be applied to other Aegis systems so that they can fire the new version of the missile.

Co-developed with Japan, the Block IIA confers greater velocity and more range on the SM-3 system, offering a greater capability against IRBM (intermediate range ballistic missile) threats. It employs a larger body but can still be fired from the Mk 41 vertical launcher, as demonstrated in launches of propulsion test vehicles last year.

During 2015 the tests of Block IIB will involve launches of test vehicles with greater functionality, leading to guided tests against live targets in 2016.

Beyond the Poland deployment the EPAA roadmap calls for a system using the Block IIB interceptor some time after 2020, but the fourth phase remains a research and development program only. In the meantime, Raytheon sees a number of opportunities for its SM-3 missile, including the application of the Aegis Ashore concept to other parts of the world such as Japan and Korea.

This SM-3 Block IIA test was undertaken at White Sands last October to prove that the larger version of the missile could be fired from a Mk 41 vertical launcher.

The missile is also being offered to the Royal Netherlands Navy, whose four De Zeven Provinciën-class air defense frigates have compatible Mk 41 launchers and a system based on the Thales SMART-L and APAR radars that can track ballistic missiles. o

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Innovative Solutions. Proven Performance®. www.ainonline.com • July 17, 2014 • Farnborough Airshow News 15

by Matt Thurber 2013 at an awards ceremony held on July 15. “This is a testament to the dedication of the ACSS and Thales avionics teams in supporting our products worldwide,” said Terry Flaishans, president of ACSS. Airbus’ supplier ranking was based on input from 111 airline operators.

Cornerstone of SESAR

“ADS-B is a cornerstone of NextGen and SESAR [single European sky air traffic management research],” said DeMarco.

ADS-B-equipped aircraft transmit position, speed and intent information to air traffic controllers and other aircraft. If an aircraft is equipped with ADS-B in as well, it can view traffic information from other nearby targets. The advantage of ADS-B over existing radar surveillance systems is that ADS-B information is sent once per second versus the update rate of every four seconds or more of typical secondary surveillance radar systems. Also ADS-B can work anywhere that an aircraft can datalink its position information to ATC, including in non-radar areas over oceans and remote land areas (generally via satcom where VHF is not available).

ACSS doesn’t just concentrate on the ADS-B out market, however, and has developed a suite of ADS-B in applications called “SafeRoute.” These applications are hosted on ACSS’s 3000SP TCAS or its T3CAS, which combines TCAS, TAWS, transponder and ADS-B all in one LRU. SafeRoute ADS-B in features can be delivered on a variety of cockpit displays.

The U.S. Navy selected the TCAS 3000SP coupled to the P-3 cockpit’s primary flight displays, as part of a P-3C, EP-3E and P-3 SPA upgrade program that is the first application of SafeRoute in a military flight operations platform. The P-3 application is also the first time that SafeRoute has been displayed in the pilot’s forward

JAMES WYNBRANDT

As mandates for NextGen equipment push operators to upgrade their avionics, the five divisions making up L-3 Aviation Products are positioned to meet those needs.

The key new mandate is for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADSB) out equipment, with some countries in Southeast Asia plus Canada and Australia already implementing ADS-B operations at certain altitudes. The European mandate begins in January 2015 for new aircraft and December 2017 for in-service aircraft, followed by U.S. airspace on Jan. 1, 2020.

This year, L-3 Aviation (Chalet A1015) should generate more than $500 million in sales, according to Ralph DeMarco, v-p of marketing and sales. The five divisions include Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems (ACSS) in Phoenix, Arizona, which is an L-3 and Thales joint venture; L-3 Aviation Recorders in Sarasota, Florida; L-3 Avionics Systems in Grand Rapids, Michigan; L-3 Display Systems in Alpharetta, Georgia; and L-3 Electronics Systems Services in Canada.

Helping meet the NextGen mandate are ACSS’s ADS-B out NXT series transponders, which recently received FAA TSO approval. The NXT-600 is DO260B- and DO181E-compliant, which meets FAA and Eurocontrol ADS-B out requirements. The NXT-600 was selected as standard equipment for Bombardier’s Q400 and ATR’s 42/72-600 models and will begin flying on these aircraft in the first quarter of 2015.

L-3 certified the first ADS-B out transponder in 2012 and is working with a number of airlines on upgrade programs, including JetBlue (35 A320s), US Airways (20 A330s) and UPS (747, 757, 767, A300 and MD11).

Here at Farnborough, Airbus recognized ACSS as one of its top five suppliers and also the most improved supplier for

fly or drive? take your pick Gilo Industries’ (Hall 4 C20) SkyRunner is at home on a highway, or traversing rough terrain.

But for the ultimate in off-road travel, just switch to paraglider mode and rise above it all says Charlie Nicoll, Gilo head of group operations.

16 Farnborough Airshow News • July 17, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

L3 Aviation’s SafeRoute-ITP application can be delivered to the cockpit in a number of ways, shown here running on a tablet electronic flight bag (EFB).

(automated flight information and reporting system) is an Iridium satcom that delivers cockpit voice and data services, including for air traffic control, aeronautical operational control and air-to-air communication as well as ACARS-overIridium messaging. The A320 program was done in partnership with FLYHT Aerospace Solutions. “We’re hoping to expand this beyond the single-aisle Airbus family,” said DeMarco. o

MARK WAGNER

L-3 helping operators make NextGen avionics upgrades

field of view. All previous SafeRoute implementations have been displayed on electronic flight bags, according to ACSS. While there is no mandate for ADS-B in applications like SafeRoute, DeMarco sees benefits from widespread adoption of ADS-B out. “ADS-B in becomes more robust with more ADS-B out in the field,” he explained. “This will happen in the next three to five years, and that’s one of the key points of getting more broad implementation of ADS-B.” SafeRoute applications include interval management, in-trail procedures (ITP), cockpit display of traffic information assisted visual separation (CAVS) and surface area movement management (SAMM). Airlines have already certified and have been flying with these SafeRoute applications on Airbus A330s and Boeing 757s and 767s. Delta Air Lines 767s use ITP on three 767s, while US Airways is flying CAVS into Philadelphia International Airport in 20 A330s.

The P-3s are using another SafeRoute application, enhanced visual acquisition (EVAcq), which “provides the crew traffic passive surveillance ranges beyond 100 nm,” according to ACSS. L-3 Aviation Recorders announced that Airbus received certification of the L-3 AFIRS 228S for the A320 family. AFIRS

Talios is packaged into a pod similar to that of the Damoclès that it will replace.

Thales reveals Talios PDL-NG, a next-generation targeting pod

by David Donald Thales Optronique (Hall 4 Innovation Zone A1) unveiled its successor to the Damoclès targeting pod on the eve of the Farnborough show. The new sensor system, called “Talios,” should be ready in time for deployment on a major new operational standard of the Dassault Rafale multi-role fighter that is due to enter service in 2018.

A new-generation targeting pod, known as PDL-NG, has been one of the key elements associated with the Rafale’s F3R upgrade standard. Development of PDLNG started in 2009, with approval to proceed affirmed in January 2013. Funding has been approved for at least 19 pods for the French air force and navy.

The Rafale currently uses the Damoclès targeting pod, the performance specifications of which have fallen behind those of competing systems; it also lacks a daytime function. Talios addresses these deficiencies by introducing a higher resolution sensor for greater targeting accuracy, as well as a number of other features that allow it to be

used for non-traditional ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) tasks.

Drawing heavily on operational feedback, Talios has been developed to cover what Thales calls “the entire critical decision chain from intelligence-gathering to weapon delivery.” Various air-to-ground functionalities allow it to conduct attacks in co-operative and autonomous modes, as well as to provide real-time reconnaissance capability through a data link. It can operate by day and night, and also provide air-to-air target identification and forward-looking navigation imagery.

Thales has created a user-friendly interface for the Talios, including picture-in-picture capability and intuitive symbology. It also has an advanced 3-D geo-location and tracking capability.

Talios is an open-architecture system that allows new features to be implemented, and is a “plug-and-play” system that can be easily integrated with a wide range of modern aircraft. o

Barco, GE sign MoU for helicopter avionics

by Matt Thurber Barco’s Defense & Aerospace division signed a memorandum of agreement with GE Aviation to collaborate on a new family of cockpit displays for helicopters. The new family will feature an open system design, which facilitates development of thirdparty applications for display system functionality.

“We are a tier 3 supplier,” said Steven Luys, v-p of strategic marketing, defense and aerospace for the Kortrijk, Belgiumbased technology company, “and we offer our products to systems integrators. We offer the best display to fit the application.”

On exhibit here at Farn­ borough (Hall 1 Stand A13) are a variety of Barco products, including the 15.4-inch LED-backlit LCD that Barco is supplying to the Chinese Aeronautical Radio Electronics Research Institute (CARERI) for the Comac C919 program. The C919 cockpit features five of the

big DHA-3138 Barco display head units (i.e., the glass without electronics), which feature WSXGA+ (1680 by 1050 pixel) resolution and high brightness and excellent contrast when viewed from any angle. The contract with CARERI covers 7,500 DHA-3138 displays for 1,500 airplanes from 2014 through 2030.

Barco displays are found on a variety of aircraft and with different levels of integration.

The DHA-3138 is the display head only, and the integrator– CARERI–will supply the electronics that run the display.

In the Pilatus PC-12, by contrast, Barco supplies its 10-inch smart displays incorporating electronics, knobs and buttons directly to Honeywell, which is the system integrator for the PC-12’s Honeywell Primus Apex flight deck. The new Pilatus PC-24, which rolls out August 1 in Stans, Switzerland,

will feature four 12-inch Barco smart displays.

“We don’t try to compete with customers,” Luys said, referring to the system integrators that Barco supplies. “We’re offering the best displays, very lightweight display heads, high quality front ends and fully integrated smart displays. [We build] at the level that they want, and we try to be as reliable as possible.”

Better Backlights

Other Barco technological advantages include the capability to build its own LED backlighting systems, which adjust brightness as the LEDs age, and also integrated night-vision imaging system compatibility (NVIS). Including NVIS capability into the displays avoids having to install a filter over the display, which makes the normal day mode more appear yellowish. “We have a separate LED backlight for day and night,” Luys explained. “This makes us independent of filters.”

Meanwhile, Barco is working on projected-capacitance touchscreen displays. This type of display is the same that is used by Apple for its mobile

Paris Air Show ’15 getting crowded

by Thierry Dubois Organizers of the International Paris Air Show 2015 (here in Hall 1 Stand A15) opened reservations for exhibit space in April and have already seen 40 percent of the available space booked. This is an increase over the same time for the previous edition, CEO Emeric d’Arcimoles told AIN. Rates remain the same as the 2013 event, he said.

Except for the weather, which was quite stormy, the 2013 show

was deemed a great success. The number of exhibitors increased by 5 percent to 2,200, 140,000 trade visitors passed through the gates, and exhibitors announced some $150 billion worth of orders.

Nevertheless, the organizers promise they will continue to invest in improving the service for exhibitors and visitors. “Given the limited space we have, our priority is improving the quality of the facilities and ensuring the show runs

smoothly,” d’Arcimoles emphasized. Over the past 10 years, a $68 million investment plan has further improved the Le Bourget exhibition center, as its promoters want it to be one of the best equipped in France.

The Paris Air Show is certified under the new ISO 20121 standard for sustainable events.

The standard offers guidance and best practices to help event organizers control its social, economic and environmental

DAVID McINTOSH

Bookings are up for next year’s Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, compared with early reservations for the last running in 2013.

Barco’s cockpit of the future brings touchscreen controls to cockpit displays and eliminates the need for a bulky control display unit.

devices and thus will be a familiar interface for pilots. While projected-capacitance displays are prone to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues, he said, “We made the displays so there is no interference.” Barco also adds an additional sensor in the touchscreen so that the user must positively push against the glass to elicit an input. This will allow pilots to wear ordinary gloves while using the display. The amount of pressure needed to force the input is adjustable impact. This can go from relying on tap water instead of plastic bottles to encouraging use of public transport.

French Industry

Meanwhile, the French aerospace industry seems to be in excellent shape, with its combined order book representing five to six years of production, D’Arcimoles said. All the players are grouped under the Gifas lobbying association, from prime contractors to small- and medium-sized enterprises, with all the systems and parts manufacturers in between.

“There is permanent dialogue between all those involved and they are all united,” d’Arcimoles claimed. “The French aerospace industry is dual–both civil and military–and therefore all-encompassing.”

Referring to the nine percent revenue growth in 2013 and the hiring of 10,000 people this year, d’Arcimoles concluded these “fantastic numbers” make the French aerospace industry a technology and economic center of excellence. The trade balance was positive by $30 million last year and is expected to be in the black again for 2014.

The next International Paris Air Show will take place June 15 to 21, 2015. o

by the system integrator.

The move to install more touchscreens in cockpits is likely going to mean the disappearance of the ordinary and bulky control display unit (CDU) with its many alphanumeric characters, buttons and knobs. “This is the virtualization of CDU real estate,” said Luys.

The virtual display still offers pilots a keyboard, albeit virtual, but nonetheless somewhat familiar. “Touch will trickle into cockpits,” Luys concluded, “and it is here to stay. It’s an unstoppable trend.”` o

AT THE STANDS Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic) has chosen Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW150C engine to power the new MA700 regional turboprop, P&WC (Outdoor Exhibit 3/4) announced at Farnborough 2014. The PW150C will provide increased performance over the PW150A turboprop designed for the Bombardier Q400, the manufacturer said.

Thales has developed a 13-pound, unpowered, glide weapon that is especially suitable for application to unmanned combat aircraft and light attack aircraft.

Known as FFLMM (freefall light multi-role missile), the weapon draws on many of the components developed for the powered LMM weapon that Thales is producing for the Royal Navy’s FASGW(L) requirement, but is much shorter (just 28 inches in length), as it lacks a rocket motor, and has fixed instead of folding wings.

The FFLMM is being displayed here at the Thales exhibition, as well as under the wings of the Britten Norman Defender and Beechcraft AT-6. Thales has partnered with Textron for the U.S. market, where FFLMM will be branded as the Fury. v

www.ainonline.com • July 17, 2014 • Farnborough Airshow News 17

Breeze Eastern Redesigning Rescue Hoist Operations

Seeing a worldwide resurgence, Raytheon’s Patriot air defense system is under consideration by several European countries.

by David Donald Operational with 12 nations, of which five are NATO members, Raytheon’s Patriot air defense system is pursuing three key campaigns in Europe as part of a global resurgence in interest in the system. That trend has already resulted in Qatar signing a letter of acceptance for Patriot this week. With the U.S. Army committed to Patriot through 2048, Raytheon is working on a new-generation Patriot and other developments to maintain the system’s viability in the face of emerging and future threats.

In Europe, Patriot is being targeted at requirements in Germany, Poland and Turkey. Earlier this month the system was down-selected from a field of four to answer Poland’s Wisła medium-range air defense requirement. With the Rafael David’s Sling and Lockheed Martin/MBDA Meads now out of the picture, Patriot is competing with the Eurosam SAMP/T for the requirement.

A decision is expected in the coming weeks, perhaps around the end of August.

Among the avenues that Raytheon is exploring is a “composable” command and control (C2) system, and this has particular relevance to countries that are looking for common C2 for various missile types, such as Poland. Industrial participation is invited in the development of such systems, providing Poland or other nations with an avenue for a stake in the workshare. As it is, Patriot development costs are shared on a pro-rated

Raytheon’s Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor represents a big upgrade for the system.

basis among the user nations, with each nation receiving software upgrades as they become available.

German Need

Germany is another country that has a requirement for medium-range air defense. The nation already operates the Patriot, and Raytheon is proposing the upgrade of the system with modern digital systems and new interceptors. Competition comes in the form of the Meads, which is currently a development-only program in which Germany has a stake through MBDA Deutschland.

Selection of Patriot would allow Germany to leverage some of the development work already performed on Meads, such as the Lockheed Martin PAC-3 MSE missile that can also be fired by Patriot fire units.

Germany was also working on integrating vertical launch Iris-T missiles with Meads, and much of that work is also applicable to a Patriot solution. A review of German requirements is currently under way, with a conclusion expected to be reached around the end of the year.

Raytheon’s proposal to supply Patriot to Turkey remains an active bid, despite Turkey having made a surprise announcement regarding the selection of a Chinese system for its missile requirements. However, there has been growing pressure from allies that Turkey should acquire a NATO-interoperable system, and increasing anxiety within Turkey about this decision. The other bidders have been asked to extend their proposals until August 30. The Patriot is again facing the Eurosam SAMP/T in this contest.

Patriot is already operational in Turkey, but not with the local armed forces. Following a request from Ankara, six NATO-controlled batteries were deployed to provide air defense in response

to the outbreak of fighting in neighboring Syria. Pairs of batteries were deployed by Dutch, German and U.S. forces.

With the PAC-3 MSE interceptor soon to be fielded on Patriot units, the overall system is undergoing a period of significant development. As well as the composable C2 system mentioned above, Raytheon is developing a new-generation Patriot with 360-degree air defense capability through the use of e-scan radar antennas using the latest GaN (gallium nitride) technology. This would address one of the system’s shortfalls compared with the MEADS program. o

MARK WAGNER

Patriot draws a bead on European markets

Hoist and winch manufacturer Breeze Eastern is taking rescue hoist technology for helicopters to the next level with enhancements and sensor integration concepts that will help mission crews improve their situational awareness.

The heart of the situational awareness improvement program is Breeze Eastern’s MissionView Situational Awareness System, working in tandem with the company’s DC-power rescue hoists. MissionView incorporates aerospace-grade sensors that gather and record key mission information for display on tablet computers. The parameters include cable load, hook height above ground, aircraft altitude above ground and other information, all of which can be overlaid on day or night video images.

“This will not only improve mission effectiveness but also may be saved and used as a valuable training tool,” according to Breeze Eastern, which is also evaluating the possible addition of an interactive flight crew checklist. Adding LED lights to the enhanced hook improves visibility during hoist operations.

Breeze Eastern is showing video demonstrations of the MissionView system in operation here in the U.S. Pavilion (Hall 3 Stand B23c). Private demos were done earlier this year for helicopter manufacturers, military and government operators, airborne law enforcement crews and emergency medical providers.

“Rescue hoist systems are critical components, but they have changed very little since helicopters first started performing search and rescue missions,” said Brad Pedersen, president and CEO. “We are looking at the rescue hoists as an integrated system that can provide data and information to the flight crew for improved safety.”

–M.T.

Clean Sky looks to Laminar Flow technology Clean Sky (Hall 4 Stand B10), a European aerospace research venture, is exhibiting a model of a modified Airbus A340 with so-called “laminar flow” on an outboard section of the wings. The technology, if applied to the entire wing, could bring a 5-10 percent improvement in fuel burn. The A340 testbed is scheduled to fly next year.

“Laminar flow is well known in laboratories but very complex on a real aircraft so if we succeed in measuring it on the A340, it will be a big step forward,” project officer Helmut Schwarze told AIN. A conventional wing profile sees essentially turbulent air. Schwarze targets a laminar flow of air on about 30 percent of the wing chord. This means that, flowing from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the air will run along constant streamlines.

To achieve this, the wing should be thinner. It should be perfectly clean–splattered insects can ruin the profile’s effectiveness. A special coating is in

18 Farnborough Airshow News • July 17, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

development to prevent dirt and insects from sticking to the surface. However, it will not be ready for the upcoming flight tests, Schwarze said.

Both outboard sections are being built in carbon fiber but with different techniques. Saab is responsible for an integrated design on the right one. GKN uses a more conventional method, with more parts, on the left wing.

To evaluate the actual laminar flow in flight, an infrared camera will be installed at the top of the vertical tail plane. It will measure surface temperatures on the wings. The level of turbulence, if any, can be deducted from these, Schwarze explained. Before the 150-200 flight hour campaign starts next fall, the old, modified A340-300 will have to apply for a flight permit–not the smallest challenge in the project, Schwarze said.

Airbus is a stakeholder in Clean Sky and owns the test A340 aircraft.

–T.D.

news clips z Firth Rixson to Supply UTC for 10 More Years Firth Rixson (Hall 5 Stand G20) has signed a 10-year agreement with United Technologies (UTC) to supply engine and system components. The components will be part of Pratt & Whitney PurePower engines as well as systems, such as landing gear, on the Airbus A320 and Boeing 787. The agreement is valued at $1 billion.

z Myanma Airways Orders Six ATR 72-600s Myanmar’s state-owned national airline, Myanma Airways (to be renamed Myanmar National Airlines in the near future), ordered six ATR 72-600 regional turboprops and placed options for another six on Wednesday here at the Farnborough Airshow.

The new aircraft are scheduled for delivery from 2015 to 2017 and will be used for both increasing and replacing Myanma’s existing ATR fleet.

The Toulouse-based manufacturer will also assist Myanma Airways in establishing a modern maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Yangon.

MARK WAGNER

z EASA Approves EC175 Simulator

Diamonds Are Forever, With New Noses, And now a Radar Diamond Aircraft is showing a maritime-surveillance version of the popular DA42 MPP Guardian, equipped with the company’s own radar, in the static park here at the Farnborough Airshow. Founder of the Austrian company, Christian Dries, told AIN that Diamond developed the spinning AESA radar in the past 12 months, because conventional radar houses could offer only a two-year lead time. Diamond’s radar weighs less than 20 kg (44 pounds), offers a range of 120 km (75 miles), and also includes AIS, the maritime equivalent of IFF. Endurance of the aircraft is 12 hours.

Diamond (Outdoor Exhibit 18) has built 130 special mission DA42s, and three are on display here. They include the Centaur optionally-piloted aircraft (OPA) version sponsored by Aurora Flight Sciences; a DA42 MPP shown by DO Systems, the British surveillance specialist and Diamond distributor; and another one outside the Thales pavilion equipped with that company’s sensors.

–C.P.

UK aerospace alliance celebrates its 20th year

by Ian Sheppard

DAVID McINTOSH

The UK’s North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), with more than 220 members and a combined turnover in excess of £7 billion, represents and supports about 25 percent of the UK aerospace industry.

Many of its members have booths at the Farnborough Airshow in the NWAA area in Hall 1.

Adrian Moore, chairman of

Adrian Moore, chairman of the Isle of Man Cluster of the NWAA.

the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster, one of the NWAA exhibitors, told AIN that Isle of Man’s contingent has two main objectives here at Farnborough. “First, we’re looking for suppliers, as there are certain gaps in our supply chain, for example those specializing in stock control, surface treatments and specialist, highvalue metals. And second, we’re looking for new aerospace businesses that want [to base themselves in] the Isle of Man.” Areas such as space and additive manufacturing are of particular interest, with the emphasis being more on companies that need nurturing to help them to start up and/or grow. Richard Slee, a marketing manager with the Isle of Man Department of Economic Development, said that education and training are also a major focus.

“We want to dispel the myths about engineering…[for example

engineers] actually have bigger average salaries than bankers.”

The Isle of Man has a new center of excellence for engineering opening in September.

An NWAA spokesperson told AIN that the Alliance has developed considerable technical expertise to support aerospace companies through the delivery of more than £20 million of supply chain improvement programs, such as Aerospace Supply Chain Excellence, GAMMA and the National Aerospace Technology Programme. o

Correction In its latest 20-year market forecast published on Tuesday, Bombardier predicted 13,100 twenty- to 149-seat commercial aircraft worth more than $658 billion in the period 2014-2032. These figures were approximately two percent up on the airframer’s June 2013 forecast. In Wednesday’s edition of Farnborough Airshow News we incorrectly reported this forecast as representing a decrease. AIN apologizes for the error. n

20 Farnborough Airshow News • July 17, 2014 • www.ainonline.com

The first level D flight simulator for the Airbus Helicopters EC175 medium twin has just received EASA certification, thus allowing the manufacturer to use it to train customer pilots.

Designed by Spain-based Indra and located at the Helisim training center adjacent to the Airbus factory in Marignane, France, it features a 210- by 80-degree continuous field of view. Another EC175 full-flight simulator will be installed in the U.S. Airbus Helicopters is here at Outdoor Exhibit OE13.

z Storm Shadow Go-ahead for Typhoon The contract to begin full integration of the MBDA Storm Shadow long-range precision attack missile with the Eurofighter Typhoon is expected to be signed today. Philip Dunne, UK Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, announced the signing while speaking at Farnborough yesterday.

The contract is between Eurofighter and NETMA, the fournation Eurofighter management agency, and is worth €150 million ($205 million).

Storm Shadow has already begun captive-carry tests on an Italian development aircraft, but this contract initiates the full integration effort. UK aircraft will certainly be involved in flight tests, and the use of test aircraft from other nations has not been excluded.

Fielding of Storm Shadow on the RAF Typhoon fleet is expected to begin in mid-2016.

z IAI Continues Its Expansion in Brazil IAI subsidiary European Advanced Technology (EAT) has acquired a 40-percent stake in Brazilian company Avionics Services. The acquisition is another step in IAI’s strategic move into the Brazilian marketplace, which it sees as offering considerable opportunities in the years to come, particularly in the defense and public security sectors.

EAT and Avionics Services also signed an agreement to market and manufacture aircraft systems, UAVs, sensors and platform upgrades.

Having established a marketing office in Brasilia, IAI (Chalet A29) has also invested in Brazilian radar company IACIT.

z Aviator 300 Broadband Satcom Approved Cobham Satcom’s Aviator 300, a SwiftBroadband voice and data system, has been approved under an FAA supplementary type certificate (STC) for installation on the Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. The company is planning to seek the same approval from European and Chinese authorities.

The Aviator 300 allows airline operations departments to stay connected with their aircraft at all times. It can be used to relay aircraft tracking data, as well as provide Ethernet ports for connecting aircraft-interface devices and electronic flight bags. The system has sufficient bandwidth to send real-time data from aircraft health monitoring systems.

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