ASAP Aerospace Blog - By Page 17

Following the completion of successful on-orbit testing, the U.S. Navy accepted the fourth Lockheed Martin-built Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite for Secure Communications Network. Launched September 2, the MUOS-4 is the latest addition to a network of orbiting satellites and relay ground stations that is revolutionizing secure communications for mobile military forces.

Although unmanned aircraft are typically not used to combat fires, Lockheed has just proved any doubters otherwise. This past week, Lockheed used its Stalker XE UAS drone to provide data and a precise location to an unmanned K-MAX cargo helicopter. By using an innovative dual-capability electro-optical infrared camera, the drone was able to work in tandem with the K-MAX helicopter to pinpoint fires and determine their intensity.

The United States Navy has recently made the decision to upgrade the Boeing EA-18G Growler with an updated datalink as well as various other systems which would enable the aircraft to locate vessels at a long distance without the use of a radar.

Thales Alenia Space announced that it has signed a contract with ARSAT Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales SA to supply the payload for its third geostationary telecom satellite manufactured in Argentina, ARSAT-3, as well as options for two additional payloads. The ARSAT-3 is slated to enter service in 2019, and will be positioned at 81 degrees west as a baseline. It will provide high speed data, Internet and television transmission services for South America while weighing about 3 tons at launch.

Kaman Aerospace Group, a United States aerospace company, has recently announced that its MRO and Air Vehicles division has completed an agreement with Lectern Aviation Supplies Co., Ltd. (Lectern) of China. Kaman Aerospace has agreed to provide two manned K-MAX^® heavy-lift utility helicopters in 2017. This order marks the introduction of the K-MAX^® into China’s large and expanding aviation market, and represents the first order to be received from a Chinese customer. The initial two helicopters will be used by the China Department of Forestry in order to begin operations fighting fires.

The United States Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial system (UAS), which was developed by Northrop Grumman, has recently begun operational assessment (OA) in Maryland at the NAS Patuxent River. This operational assessment is being held in preparation for the milestone C review and entry into low-rate initial production. Over the span of the next two months, the Triton will undergo six flights and will execute various operational test scenarios in order to evaluate the system’s operational performance.

Italian defense contractor Alenia Aermacchi is pitching their new MC-27J multi-mission airlifter-gunship hybrid aircraft to various Gulf nations.

Honeywell has just announced that Satcom1 is now partners with Honeywell Global Data Center (GDC) to provide customers with a solution for the Cockpit that will offer cockpit communication and management, such as text messaging, Pre-Departure Clearances (PDC), Oceanic Clearances, Transcribed Weather Information for Pilots (TWIP) and Controller Pilot Datalink Communication (CPDLC) and comply with FANS-1A. For more than 25 years, the Honeywell Global Data Center (GDC) has provided VHF and satellite datalink communications to datalink equipped aircraft worldwide.

A General Dynamics-led team has just completed the next step in the implementation, integration and testing of NASA’s Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment (SGSS) Command and Control Infrastructure. Dubbed Increment A4, this project includes the ground antenna and associated control systems that are housed in a Space Network Operations Center. This same General-Dynamics led team also completed a full demonstration of the Increment A4 capability to maneuver a simulated tracking and data relay system satellite.

Lockheed Martin was awarded a $4.6 million contract for the continued development of a maritime canister-launched small Unmanned Aircraft System.