Royal Air Force Tornados to integrate Pawevay bombs

RAF Tornados lock on latest guided munition

Reference: UK MoD

Image: Raytheon

The latest in a series of Paveway guided bombs is ready to see service with the RAF's Tornado fleet following six successful months with the Harrier GR9 on operations in Afghanistan.

Defence Equipment and Support staff have been working on integration of Paveway IV to the Tornado GR4. Paveway IV went into service in November 2008 and has become the freefall weapon of choice among pilots flying missions from Kandahar. The weapon is to continue its success story with the RAF's Tornado GR4 aircraft which have taken over from the Harrier GR9s in the fight against insurgents:

"A number of front line pilots have said they have been very impressed with the weapon and it was the envy of the coalition air forces operating out of Kandahar," said Squadron Leader Ian McKeown, the weapon's requirements manager with Defence Equipment and Support's [DE&S] Freefall Team. "Harriers have dropped a significant number of weapons in support of ground operations against all manner of ground targets and in all modes of operation. Accuracy has been highly impressive and the weapon has not failed to find its target. It does what it needs to do."

Raytheon Systems Ltd (RSL), a UK subsidiary of the American company, won the competition to design the bomb in 2003. Technology for the Enhanced Computer Control Group (ECCG) is provided by Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson and Thales Missile Electronics in Basingstoke supplied the all electronic in line fuze. The warhead case is made by General Dynamics in the US, with the explosive fill added by SEI in Sardinia.

First C-17 Globemaster III delivered to NATO SAC

Boeing Delivers 12-Nation Strategic Airlift Capability’s 1st C-17 Globemaster III

Reference: Boeing

Image: Globemaster.de

The Boeing Company delivered the first Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) C-17 Globemaster III during a ceremony at its final assembly facility in Long Beach, paving the way for the advanced airlifter’s historic arrival at Pápa Air Base, Hungary, later this month. The SAC’s approach to shared use of the strategic airlifter is regarded as a model for the pooled acquisition and management of defense capabilities.

“I salute the 12 nations that have joined together to form the Strategic Airlift Capability,” said U.S. Air Force Col. John Zazworsky, the first commander of Pápa Air Base’s Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW). “This aircraft, along with the two that will follow, is a direct result of their commitment to giving SAC advanced airlift capabilities that will save lives around the world. We look forward to our first mission.” The HAW is the operational unit responsible for conducting airlift missions in support of national requirements.

“We’ve dreamed about this day for many years, and now it’s here,” said Gunnar Borch, who serves as General Manager of the NATO Airlift Management Agency (NAMA). “This historic partnership shows how much can be accomplished when nations work together to achieve a common goal.” NAMA is responsible for the acquisition, day-to-day management, and support of the C-17 fleet on behalf of NATO and all participating SAC nations.

“What you are doing is being watched and admired around the world,” said Jean Chamberlin, Boeing vice president and general manager of Global Mobility Systems. “It is truly remarkable to see 12 great nations working together to secure the world’s most advanced airlifter to support military, humanitarian, disaster-relief and peacekeeping missions. We thank you for choosing the C-17 and its unequaled readiness for any mission, anywhere, any time.”

The SAC group includes 10 NATO nations -- Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, United States -- and Partnership for Peace members Sweden and Finland. They will share acquisition and operating costs for the eventual fleet of three C-17s over the nearly 30-year agreement.

The first SAC C-17 will arrive at Pápa Air Base just prior to the activation of the HAW on July 27. Boeing will deliver the two remaining C-17s in September and October.

The SAC’s first C-17 bears the number 01 on its nose, symbolizing the first aircraft delivered to the SAC group. Because Hungary is the host nation for the HAW, the airlifter's tail is marked with red, white and green stripes. The air base’s name, "PAPA," is painted on a blue background that runs across the vertical stabilizer. The HAW will be operated by multinational crews from the 12 participating nations.

A Boeing team will provide support for the SAC C-17s, including material management and depot maintenance support, under Global Services & Support’s C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership program.

Further reading: C-17A Globemaster III Walkaround (b-domke.de)

Royal Australian Air Force receives the first of 24 new Super Hornets

Boeing Debuts 1st Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet

Reference: Boeing

Image: ABC News

Boeing unveiled the first of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during a ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' production facilities in St. Louis. The aircraft will be delivered later this month, three months ahead of schedule. The remaining 23 Super Hornets, each equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, will be delivered to the RAAF throughout 2010 and 2011.

The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 395 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy.

Operational Assessment for the Eurofighter Typhoon

The Italian Eurofighters are the first to successfully accomplish NATO’s operations assessment

Reference: Alenia Aeronautica

Image: Freewebs/Aviation

The Italian Eurofighters are the first to successfully pass NATO’s operational assessment and they are now ready to be deployed abroad for peace-keeping and peace-making operations. This is and excellent result for the Eurofighter Typhoon, the aircraft designed, developed and produced by a four-nation consortium whose members are UK, Germany, Spain and Italy with Alenia Aeronautica’s participation with a 21% industrial share.

The exercise has involved many activities carried out at Grosseto Base: rescue and telecommunication services, self-defence and survival capabilities, but above all logistic support, maintenance and flight operations. In this very field the operations of the Grosseto Base’s Typhoons have been positively evaluated, having demonstrated excellent operational availability and full compliance with Italian Air Force and NATO’s operational requirements.