US AgentAirmen Begin Structural Analysis of C-5A
(Source: US Air Force; issued July 28, 2004)
WARNER ROBINS AIR LOGISTICS CENTER — Rolling up their sleeves, people from the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron set about cutting through the skin and muscle of a C-5A Galaxy this week to remove the giant wings and lend a hand to those evaluating the aircraft’s viability for the future.
Inspections began last year on a Galaxy, tail No. 69004, but the actual tear down process is now under way, said Buc McRory, structures engineer for the strategic airlift directorate and lead engineer for the project.
“This is an engineering structural analysis project, and we’ve employed the 653rd CLSS to help us cut the plane apart,” he said.
A 10-member team of aircraft battle-damage specialists began work in November on the aircraft, one of 14 C-5As selected for retirement by the Air Force.
Master Sgt. John Manna, 653rd CLSS project team chief, said they began by removing “save-list” items, or items needed in the Air Force inventory to produce spares for the supply system. They are now working to remove the larger components from the aircraft such as the wings.
“We’re helping to support the C-5 system program office with any parts they need to get their airframes out on time with the save-list items we removed, and we’re helping the Air Force with the study,” he said.
Sergeant Manna said this is the first study of this kind ever done on the C-5A models.
There are structural technicians, crew chiefs, electricians, fuels specialists, guidance and control technicians and hydraulics specialists working on the aircraft, he said.
Although their primary mission is aircraft battle-damage repair and doing drop-in maintenance, this new mission is one they are taking on with confidence.
“This is totally different from what we usually see on a day-to-day basis,” said Sergeant Manna.
He said this job is a little harder because they have worked on C-130 Hercules and other aircraft, but this is their first C-5.
“The team is doing a great job,” he said. “So far everything is going as scheduled and on time.”
“This is really tough, dirty work in the best of conditions and working in the heat and humidity makes it ever tougher,” said Mr. McRory. “But these men are professionals. They display teamwork at its finest.”
Sergeant Manna said their goal is to get all of the major components cut and shipped by the end of the year.
According to Mr. McRory, the study came at the request of Gen. John W. Handy, Air Mobility Command commander, to determine if the aircraft’s structure is living up to predictions made in its original design.
US AgentGoa Shipyard Lays Keel of Advanced OPV
(Source: Goa Shipyard; web-posted July 28, 2004)
The keel of the Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel to be built by GSL for Indian Coast Guard was laid by the Director General of Coast Guard Vice Admiral Suresh Mehta, AVSM on July 17 at GSL premises.
This is the first vessel of its class which will be built by GSL and will be the biggest vessel for the Coast Guard.
The vessel has been indigenously designed by GSL. GSL has also bagged an order for constructing another five EFPV for the Coast Guard for which construction is progressing rapidly.
This 105 m. AOPV is the biggest vessel in the series designed for the Coast Guard suitable for patrolling and policing maritime zone, search and rescue operation. This vessel has ALH helicopter staging facility for long range all-time search, rescue and surveillance operation.
The vessel has a deep displacement of 2250 tons powered by two pilestick-20PA6B STC engines developing 7710 KW each at 1050 RPM and having a speed of 24 Knots. It is centrally air-conditioned and can accommodate 126 persons on board.
The keel laying ceremony was also attended among others by the GSL CMD RADM Sampath Pillai, AVSM, Commander of Coast Guard (Western Region) and Commodore S. Padeep VSM.
US AgentUS Air Force Defends C-130J
(Source: US Air Force; issued July 28, 2004)
Air Force Leaders Support C-130J Program
WASHINGTON — Air Force officials are standing by the C-130J Hercules as the aircraft prepares to join the fight, despite a recent Department of Defense inspector general report criticizing the program.
The Air Force fully endorses the C-130J, senior Air Force acquisitions officials said. The program is one of Air Mobility Command’s top priorities and the aircraft is currently planned to be ready for combat deployment by the end of 2004.
In fact, the C-130J already is supporting combat missions in Iraq as part of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, said Col. Paul Stipe, the deputy director of global reach programs for the Air Force.
“This aircraft was developed by Lockheed Martin at its own expense, and the company contributed more than a billion dollars of its own money to develop (the C-130J) for the commercial market,” Colonel Stipe said. “And they were successful. They sold it to the United Kingdom, to Italy, Australia and Denmark. In fact, the United Kingdom purchased it before the United States.
“There are two basic ways to buy an aircraft,” said Colonel Stipe. “One way is to pay a company to develop an aircraft that meets your needs from scratch. This way, the Air Force pays for all the research and development and all the modifications. The other way is to buy an aircraft commercially developed and then adapt it to Air Force needs. With the C-130J, the commercial route was more advantageous.
“With the commercial route, the Lockheed Martin development investment of over $1 billion is shared by the myriad of users and not just by the DOD. Another advantage was that they could deliver the first planes faster,” he said.
The first aircraft were delivered in 1999. The Air Force then took the next step, testing the aircraft and integrating the military capabilities onto the commercial aircraft.
“Through testing, we’ve really been able to wring out the aircraft for its diverse missions,” said Colonel Stipe. “As part of this process Lockheed has invested at least another $100 million in upgrades and fixes. Through all this, we are confident that we will deploy the C-130J to combat areas by the end of this year.”
While the outside of the aircraft looks no different than previous models, the inside is a whole new animal, according to Lt. Col. James Dendis, acquisitions deputy chief of tactical airlift, special operations forces and trainer division.
“This looks like the older C-130s, but only on the outside,” he said. “The avionics have been updated throughout, and the aircraft is arguably more complex now than our C-17 Globemaster III large cargo aircraft. It is a phenomenally complex, computer-driven, high-tech airplane.”
When all of the bugs are worked out, it will be a lot easier to maintain than the older versions, said Colonel Dendis, because the computer test equipment makes troubleshooting and repairs simpler.
“The pilots love it, and the maintainers love it,” Colonel Stipe said. “It’s designed to be very easy to work on.”
Leaders are confident the aircraft will rapidly become a valuable asset to the 21st century Air Force, despite early challenges.
“Initial rounds of operational tests showed more work was needed to bring the plane up to our very demanding standards,” said Gen. John Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and AMC. “The work to convert this aircraft for military use is scheduled or already completed.
“The Air Force … is confident that the C-130J will more than prove itself in global mobility operations,” he added.
US AgentChinese produce new type of sub
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published July 16, 2004
————————————————————————————-
China’s naval buildup has produced a new type of attack submarine that U.S. intelligence did not know was under construction, according to U.S. defense and intelligence officials.
The submarine was spotted several weeks ago for the first time and has been designated by the Pentagon as the first Yuan-class of submarine.
A photograph of the completed submarine in the water at China’s Wuhan shipyard was posted on a Chinese Internet site this week and confirmed by a defense official as the new submarine. Wuhan is located inland, some 420 miles west of Shanghai.
One official said the new submarine was a “technical surprise” to U.S. intelligence, which was unaware that Beijing was building a new non-nuclear powered attack submarine. U.S. intelligence agencies have few details about the new submarine but believe it is diesel-powered rather than nuclear-powered, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The new boat, which appears to be a combination of indigenous Chinese hardware and Russian weapons, suggests that China is building up its submarine forces in preparation for a conflict over Taiwan, defense analysts say.
“China has decided submarines are its first-line warships now, their best shot at beating carriers,” said Sid Trevethan, an Alaska-based specialist on the Chinese military. “And China is right.”
“One has to marvel at the enormity of the investment by the People’s Liberation Army in submarines,” said Richard Fisher, a specialist on the Chinese military.
China also is building two nuclear-powered submarines — one Type 093, believed to be based on the Russian Victor-III class and armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles, and a Type 094 attack submarine, which the Pentagon believes has a finished hull and will be ready for deployment next year.
According to Mr. Trevethan, China currently has a force of 57 deployed submarines, including one Xia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine, five Han submarines, four Kilos, seven Songs, 18 Mings and 22 Soviet-designed Romeos. Beijing also has eight more Kilos on order with Russia.
Disclosure of the new submarine comes as the United States is trying to sell eight diesel submarines to Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province. Taiwan currently has just two World War II-era Guppy-class submarines and two 1980s Dutch submarines.
Mr. Fisher, an analyst with the International Assessment and Strategy Center, said that despite the imbalance of power on the Taiwan Strait in favor of Beijing, the Bush administration has been slow to sell the submarines it offered Taiwan in April 2001.
“It is simply appalling that the United States cannot get its act together to organize the production of eight new submarines for Taiwan,” Mr. Fisher said.
U.S. defense officials have said delays with the Taiwan submarine deal are the result of the Taipei government’s budget problems.
Chinese leaders told National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice last week that China would “not sit idly by” as Taiwan moved toward formal independence, and President Hu Jintao denounced U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan.
But Miss Rice said the United States will go ahead with its Taiwan arms sales plan because of China’s missile buildup opposite the island.
A Pentagon report made public in May stated that China is changing its warship forces from a coastal defense force to one employing “active offshore defense.”
“This change in operations requires newer, more modern warships and submarines capable of operating at greater distances from China’s coast for longer periods,” the report said, noting that submarine construction is a top priority.
Mr. Fisher said the Chinese submarine buildup should prompt the Pentagon to step up U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities, which he said are “at an historic low” because of cutbacks in specialized ships and aircraft.
The Navy should consider building its own diesel attack submarine to be able to “effectively duke it out with the new tidal wave of Chinese subs, that if left unchecked, may soon dominate the Asian littoral regions,” Mr. Fisher said.
The Pentagon is also building up U.S. naval forces in the Pacific, with the addition of up to six attack submarines in Guam and the possible deployment of an aircraft carrier battle group to Hawaii in the coming months.
US AgentUS AgentThe US knew what was coming and they ignored it then. They were just looking to get involved with the war in Europe. When the US embargoed Japan for certain raw materials, the stage was set and inevitable.
You probably believe the US knew that the 9/11 attack was coming too. 😡
Tell that to General George Dubya “Custer” Bush. Sounds like his preemptive doctrine.
What’s “Custer” got to do it? He lost…America (and GW) are gonna WIN!!! :p
US Agenti find that most people here has preconceived ideas
And you don’t? :rolleyes:
US AgentI didn’t know about Russia’s participation (or possible participation) in the ABM program! 😮
I doubt that will happen, especially since China will be left out…while Taiwan is probably going to be let in.
Both Russia and China oppose Taiwan’s participation…
Russia, China Oppose Extending Any ABM Shield to Taiwan
Associated Press Writer
posted: 09:33 am ET
30 March 2000
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) — Russia backs China’s opposition to any international missile defense system that would cover Taiwan, according to a statement released Thursday by the countries’ defense ministers.
The defense ministers of China, Russia, and the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan met in the Kazakh capital Astana to discuss military cooperation within an alliance the five countries formed in Shanghai, China in 1996.
A communique adopted at the conference stated the five nations back China’s opposition to any “plans for drawing Taiwan into [a] regional antiballistic missile system” (ABM) of any form, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
The United States is researching a theater missile defense system (TMD) with Japan. China fears TMD technology could be passed to Taiwan, allowing the island to defend itself against Chinese missiles. Although the two sides have been ruled separately for decades, Beijing views Taiwan as a province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.
“The deployment of a regional ABM system in the Asian-Pacific region can result in the upsetting of stability and security in the region,” the communique said, according to ITAR-Tass.
US Agent😎 The choice is obvious…
AH-1Z
UH-1Y
US AgentThey seem to be a preparing their national defense for something big…(whether its from North Korea or China is anyone’s guess)…
Japan plans US ABM tie
Flight International
2-8 Dec 2003
Japan wants to manufacture elements of an advanced anti-ballistic missile (ABM) in an un-named joint US-Japanese team. The missile has been studied since 1999 and would replace the Raytheon Standard SM-3 ABM due for initial purchase in 2004. Service entry would not be for several years, writes Brendan Sobie.
Earlier this year, Japan unveiled a plan to begin purchasing ballistic missile defence systems as part of a defence strategy likely to result in reduced spending for military aircraft.
The Japan Defence Agency (JDA) says it is seeking ¥142 billion ($1.3 billion) in the 2004 budget to acquire US-manufactured missiles and another ¥81 billion for development of the joint navy theatre-wide defence system. This is expected to be approved in the next few weeks.
The JDA has already spent around ¥156 billion on the missile research programme over the past five years and would like production to involve Japanese aerospace companies. A US manufacturer would probably retain prime contractorship, with Japanese companies supplying components. Japan may exempt the missile from its weapons exports ban to enable US deployment.
Japan is preparing to purchase SM-3 ship-based and Lockheed Martin Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) ground-based anti-ballistic missiles over the next two to three years, for deployment in three to five years.
US AgentSweden Not to Sell Gripen Fighter Planes to Pakistan
(Source: Press Trust of India; issued July 7, 2004)
ISLAMABAD — In a setback to Pakistan’s efforts to get new generation Swedish-made Gripen fighter planes, Stockholm has said that it will not sell any weapons or weapon-related equipment to Islamabad.
“There is no question of selling them weapons or anything directly related to weapons,” Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds said after her talks with visiting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Stockholm yesterday.
Before his talks with Freivalds, Musharraf, who is currently on a tour of Scandinavian countries, said that Pakistan might be interested in purchasing JAS Gripen fighter planes from Sweden. “Pakistan is looking for a high-tech aircraft. Gripen is one of several alternatives,” he was quoted as saying by Swedish newswire TT.
Freivalds, however, said Sweden would not be considering the sale of any weapons or weapon-related equipment to Pakistan, media reports here said.
She also said the Swedish government has yet to decide whether to sell Erieye radars, which was sought to be purchased by Pakistan for its Air Force. She said a decision has to be made whether the radar came under the category of weapon. “We have yet to reach that stage,” she said.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been looking for alternatives to acquire new generation aircraft to modernize its ageing fleet after US declined to sell old as well as new F-16 fighter planes.
Musharraf concluded his Sweden visit yesterday and went to Finland on a two-day trip.
US AgentBoeing Names First 7E7 Dreamliner Customers in Europe
(Source: Boeing Co.; issued July 7, 2004)
SEATTLE — The Boeing Company today confirmed announcements that Blue Panorama of Italy and First Choice Airways of the United Kingdom have selected the 7E7 Dreamliner to replace and expand their existing airplane fleets. These two carriers are the first in Europe to choose the 7E7, the world’s newest, most advanced commercial jetliner.
In separate press conferences in Rome and London, the carriers announced plans to acquire a total of 10 7E7s, valued at $1.2 billion at list prices. Blue Panorama will add four 7E7s to its fleet at a value of $500 million and First Choice will receive six 7E7s. Contract negotiations are expected to conclude later this year. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2009.
“Today’s announcements are ringing endorsements of the 7E7’s broad appeal across a spectrum of airlines,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales for Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 7E7 has the versatility and flexibility that allows airlines that offer scheduled or leisure service, or a mix of both, to adapt to their own evolving business models and to the dynamic demands of the market.”
Both carriers have selected the 7E7-8 model, with a range of 15,700 kilometers. This is 4,000 kilometers farther than today’s similar-sized airplanes, which will allow 7E7 operators to economically connect hundreds of new destinations for world travelers.
Blue Panorama and First Choice are in the process of evaluating their engine options, which include the General Electric GENX (GE Next Generation) and Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000.
As these airlines join the launch team, they will be the first in Europe to benefit from the advanced economics, improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise of the 7E7. They will be the first to offer passengers a new, more comfortable flying experience, in cabins with larger windows, wider seats and wider aisles.
“Blue Panorama and First Choice will have a clear, competitive advantage over carriers operating more conventional aircraft,” Dailey said
The Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner is being designed with airlines, passengers, investors and the environment in mind. The technologically advanced airplane will use 20 percent less fuel than today’s airplanes of comparable size, provide customers with up to 60 percent more cargo revenue capacity, and present passengers with innovations including a new interior environment with higher humidity.
Boeing launched the 7E7 Dreamliner last April when it announced an order for 50 7E7s from Japanese carrier ANA, followed by an announcement by Air New Zealand for two 7E7s. Boeing has proposal acceptances out to more than two dozen airlines around the world and expects additional orders in the coming months.
Blue Panorama, headquartered in Rome started operations in 1998. This privately-owned, all-Boeing operator currently flies five 737-400s and three 767-300ERs and will take delivery of a fourth 767-300ER in December. This year Blue Panorama expects to carry nearly 900,000 passengers on its charter and scheduled network extending across the Mediterranean, the Middle and Far East, Central America and the Caribbean. Over 70 percent of its long-haul operations are scheduled flights.
First Choice Airways, based in the UK and previously known as Air 2000, is part of the Mainstream Holidays division of First Choice Holidays PLC, incorporating some of the largest brands in the UK travel industry. Other companies in the division include tour-operating brands such as First Choice Holidays, Unijet, 2wentys, Eclipse Direct, Falcon and JWT. In April 2004, the company, which focuses on offering its passengers a differentiated product, redefined the standards of long-haul charter flights by becoming the first European carrier to install the Boeing Enhanced 777 Interior in its 767 fleet.
The 7E7 is a family of airplanes in the 200- to 300-seat class that will carry passengers on routes between 6,500 to 16,000 kilometers (3,500 and 8,500 nautical miles). The 7E7 will allow airlines to offer passengers more of what they want: affordable, comfortable, non-stop, point-to-point travel to more destinations around the world.
In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to mid-size airplanes, the 7E7 will fly at Mach 0.85, as fast as today’s fastest commercial airplanes, while using much less fuel. Also, for the first time in commercial jet history, the 7E7 family will offer a standard engine interface for the two types of engines to be offered on the airplane, the General Electric GENX (GE Next Generation) or Rolls Royce’s Trent 1000, allowing the 7E7 to be fitted with either manufacturer’s engines at any point in time. Production of the Dreamliner will begin in 2006. First flight is expected in 2007, with certification, delivery and entry into service in 2008.
US Agent…. thats too so as not to get into the hands of the once American brothers – taliban
You are an idiot! 😡
US AgentMaybe Pakistan should buy the Tejas.
:p
US AgentI like Boeing’s CRW (manned version) concept. 😎
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