June 21, 2007

Elisra highlights sensors and IR protection systems

By David Donald

The Elisra Group is showcasing a wide range of specialist products, from UAV sensors and IR protection systems to a new immune satellite navigation system at its exhibition in the Israel Pavilion. Seventy-percent owned by Elbit Systems, the Elisra Group consists of three principal constituents: Elisra Electronic Systems, Tadiran Electronic Systems and Tadiran-Spectralink. The company offers an ext more

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Super Ranger UAV delivers high endurance at more affordable price

By Brian Walters

Claimed to be the first UAV system to be built in accordance with the new international UAV Systems Airworthiness Requirements, the Ruag Aerospace Super Ranger has been designed to fill an important gap. The company’s market research has shown that some existing UAV tactical systems operators want a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance UAV (MALE) capability but cannot afford it.

So the Super more

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Lockheed offers inbuilt diagnosis for its products

By David Donald

As original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for a large fleet of aircraft around the world, Lockheed Martin said it reduces ownership costs for its customers by combining its design and production expertise with low-cost sustainment services. “Noone– other than the customer–knows our aircraft better than we do,” said Marillyn Hewson, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Global Sustai more

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Northrop has GPS-aided stellar INS

By David Donald

Northrop Grumman delivered the first production LN-120G GPS-aided stellar-inertial navigation system to the U.S. Air Force last month, to begin the update of the service’s 31 RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft.

For over three decades the RC-135 has used the mechanical gyro LN-120, but the new model greatly increases accuracy. As well as GPS updates, the LN-120G’s inertial more

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P&WC eyes successor to its PT6 family

By Ian Goold

Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) continues to consider a possible new turboprop design that could provide a sufficient advance on the PT6, which through its myriad variants offers 700 to 2,000 shp. However, for the moment at least, the manufacturer sees no immediate prospect of moving on from the ubiquitous powerplant to a new-generation engine in the same power range. “If we are going to rep more

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Dubai Airshow plans another move in 2009

By Bernard Fitzsimons

It seems inconceivable that next November’s Dubai Airshow, the tenth in a series that began modestly in 1989, will be the last at the new site inaugurated just 10 years ago. But in 2009 the aerospace caravan will be pitching camp at the new Dubai World Central (JXB) Airport in Jebel Ali, 40 kilometers and another huge leap of the imagination away.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al more

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Unmanned combat aircraft making strides

By David Donald

Two of Europe’s manned combat air vehicle programs have taken significant strides in recent times. The Neuron UCAV technical demonstrator is being built by a Dassault-led team with partners in Sweden, Italy, Greece, Switzerland and Spain. From official notification in February 2006, the team has established an efficient structure for industrial cooperation, leading to a satisfactory interim review more

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Heron TP UAV goes public for the first time

By David Donald

Dominating IAI’s exhibit area here at Le Bourget is the Heron TP, a turboprop-powered medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV. It is the first public showing of this craft, whose 85-foot wingspan nearly rivals that of an ATR 72 airliner, which is five times heavier. Heron TP is the latest and largest of a long line of UAVs developed by IAI’s Malat Division.

It is displayed next to th more

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Diamond Twin Star adds MPP family

By Brian Walters

Derived from the Dimond DA42 Twin Star widely used by flying schools, the DA42 MPP is developing into a family of aircraft that are capable of carrying all manner of sensors. That accounts for the rather strange shapes on the nose or beneath the fuselage that accommodate devices that tailor the MPP for specific tasks.

The example that has a rather unusual radome on the nose is intended more

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Pilots tell of global adventures

By Ian Sheppard

The pilots who recently flew a Bell 407 around the world via the North and South Poles were at the show yesterday to retell how they accomplished the feat. Jennifer Murray, an artist whose pilot husband got her interested in flying at age 55, and Colin Bodill, a career helicopter pilot (currently freelance), arrived back in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 23, after 171 days traveling 32,206 miles over 2 more

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