Citation :

Lockheed Martin Delivers AH-1Z Cobra Targeting Systems to the U.S. Marine Corps Ahead of Schedule





ORLANDO, Fl, May 25th, 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently began early delivery of Target Sight System (TSS) follow-on
production units for the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. The TSS units feature upgraded software to provide additional targeting capabilities.
TSS is the multi-sensor fire control system for the AH-1Z, integrating state-of-the-art sensors to provide pilots with enhanced capabilities to acquire, track and designate targets. The highly stabilized sensor suite includes a laser designator, color video display and a third-generation, mid-wave, forward-looking infrared sensor with advanced image processing.
“The TSS team has been working diligently to assure the AH-1Z Cobra is one of the most effective attack helicopters to counter today’s battlefield threats,” said Joseph Butera, TSS senior program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The team ensured that the squadron had the hardware they needed when they needed it, and the sensors performed flawlessly during testing.”
The integration of the TSS with the AH-1Z Cobra fire control system gives pilots the capability to detect and identify targets before they fly into the range of the threat, ensuring increased standoff range and precise target engagements in every climate and location.
Lockheed Martin delivered the first follow-on production unit two months ahead of schedule. Early integration of upgraded system software provides enhancements based on flight test results and user feedback. Additional targeting capabilities include a new target sizing function, refined geo-location accuracy and superior weapon alignment. The Cobra attack helicopter achieved initial operating capability in February 2011.
The Naval Surface Warfare Center awarded the initial TSS production contract in March 2008 and a follow-on production contract in June 2010. The system is produced at Lockheed Martin facilities in Florida. Production is expected to continue through 2018.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

Citation :

Bell Helicopter to Provide Long-Lead Material for USMC H-1 Upgrade



Bell Helicopter has been awarded a modification contract for the purchase of lot 9 long-lead items in support of the H-1 upgrade programme for the US Marine Corps (USMC).
The contract is a modification of a previous advance acquisition contract awarded by the US Naval Air Warfare Center.
The H-1 upgrade programme is to develop the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters to replace the USMC's aging fleets of AH-1W SuperCobras and UH-1N Twin Hueys.
Work will be carried out at the company's facility in Texas, US, and is expected to be complete in September 2012.

Citation :

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System Aces Helicopter Testing

Published November 9, 2011 | By Rob Vogelaar

NASHUA, New Hampshire —The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps recently successfully fired the first shots of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS) from a UH-1Y helicopter, in preparation for fielding in 2012.

The successful shots, which took place at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, California, Sept. 9-13, mark the start of APKWS testing on the UH-1Y, and are part of the program’s low-rate initial production phase.

Developed by BAE Systems in partnership with the U.S. government, the APKWS semi-active laser guidance section integrates with existing 2.75-inch rocket motors and warheads, giving aviators a highly precise weapon that is effective against soft and lightly armored targets while minimizing collateral damage. BAE Systems designed the system’s laser guidance and control section.

During the tests, Marine pilots fired a total of six shots from a UH-1Y against stationary targets with ranges varying from 1.5 to 5 kilometers. The initial shots from UH-1Y mark the first time a MK152 warhead has been fired from any aircraft, allowing safer operation aboard ships than the previous M151 warhead.

“I am very excited to bring this new capability to our Marines in combat,” said Captain Brian Corey, Program Manager, PMA-242. “This highly effective weapon will allow aviators to complete their missions while minimizing the risk of harm to allies and non-combatants.”

APKWS brings three essential operational benefits to those in combat. First, the BAE Systems guidance section is designed for compatibility with current 2.75-inch rocket motors, warheads, and fuzes, enhancing the capability of the existing 100,000-unit inventory of unguided rockets. Second, the system provides the lowest collateral damage for precision engagement, while at the same time giving the military greater flexibility to engage the enemy. Finally, the unit cost is on track to meet the Navy’s objective against lower value targets.

“BAE Systems is focused on getting APKWS to the warfighter next year,” said John Watkins, director of Missile & Munitions Solutions in Nashua, where the system’s laser guidance and control section is built. “APKWS will provide an evolutionary step in the lethality and utility of the UH-1Y. For the first time, the UH-1Y will have the ability to autonomously provide precision guided munitions, dramatically increasing its effectiveness against armored and reinforced targets while decreasing collateral damage.”

The Navy assumed acquisition oversight of the APKWS program in 2008. In addition to its planned use on rotary-wing platforms, the Navy has entered into a Joint Concept Technology Demonstration program with the U.S. Air Force to evaluate the suitability of APKWS for fixed-wing platforms.

APKWS entered the first phase of production testing at China Lake’s facility last month. A launcher successfully fired two laser-guided rockets and hit a stationary target. The test firings initiated a sequence of tests that allow the Navy to accept the guidance sections for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, the final test phase prior to fielding the system.

Initial Operating Capability of APKWS on the Marine Corps AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters is scheduled for the spring of year 2012.

Source and photo: BAE Systems

Citation :

First Joint Strike Fighter hangar under way at MCAS Yuma





November 23, 2011 11:38 AM

BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER


The final steel beam for the world's first operational Joint Strike Fighter hangar has been hoisted into place during a traditional topping-off ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.

The beam, bearing the signatures of base leaders and several key members of the construction team, was lifted high into the air by a crane and then carefully lowered and guided into place. Once done, it marked the completion of the frame structure of the aircraft hangar.

“It was a big milestone,” said Lt. Commander Angelique McBee, resident officer in charge of construction at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. “There is a lot of construction going on currently at the air station.”

Base leaders and key personnel to the construction project said the Monday ceremony symbolized the dedication of both the government and contractors as they continue to work to finish this project. Just one month ago, there was nothing but footings sticking out of the ground.

The hangar, which costs $36 million and would normally take about 18 months to build, is expected to be completed in 10 months, and in use by March. McBee said that the air station is on a tight timeline to coincide with the first arrival of the first F-35s in Yuma.

As the future home of the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in the country, MCAS Yuma will get five squadrons each with 16 aircraft, and one operational test and evaluation squadron of eight aircraft. The 88 aircraft will replace Yuma's four existing squadrons of 56 AV-8B Harriers.

McBee said Pittsburgh-based DCK Worldwide is the general contractor for the project and has hired about 120 to 135 local workers for the projects.

Ground was symbolically broken for the hangar in June as part of $150 million worth of construction projects that will be taking place at the air station in the coming years.

In addition to the F-35 hangar that is currently being built, other projects slated to be built during this first round of construction include a JSF simulator building, upgrades to communications and utilities infrastructure and a second hangar.

The F-35 will also eventually replace the AV-8B aircraft based in North Carolina and the F-18 Hornets based in California, South Carolina and Japan, becoming the Marine Corps' sole fixed-wing attack aircraft.

The Joint Strike Fighter will also allow the Marine Corps the capability to turn every one of its amphibious big deck ships into aircraft carriers, which essentially doubles the number of carriers the nation currently has scattered throughout the oceans of the world.

The first F-35 pilots were scheduled to begin arriving at MCAS Yuma this month, while the first F-35 JSF aircraft is on track for September 2012.

Citation :

Unmanned helicopter makes first delivery for Marines in Afghanistan







A detachment of Marines from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 in Afghanistan completed their first unmanned aerial system cargo delivery in a combat zone, Dec. 17. The unmanned helicopter moved about 3,500 pounds of food and supplies from Camp Dwyer to troops at Combat Outpost Payne. The helicopter, an unmanned variant of the K-MAX, completed the delivery in about an hour and a half

Citation :

Four Marine Corps trainers declared ready for training




Four cockpit procedures trainers (CPTs), located at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) and the Marine Aviation Training Systems Site (MATSS) Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton, Calif., were declared ready for training Sept. 22.

The trainers, two UH-1Y Huey and two AH-1Z Cobra devices, provide pilots and maintainers general skills and basic operations training prior to being introduced to the full mission simulator or the composite maintenance trainers.

New AH-1Z and UH-1Y

helicopters are arriving on Marine Corps flightlines on a regular schedule. The CPTs assist seasoned aircrew and maintainers with “differences” training. Users familiarize themselves with the differences between the old and new airframes, allowing them to get acquainted with the new aircraft while maintaining flight schedules.

“The CPTs are a valuable training option for the fleet. They provide pilots and maintainers with a readily available device to obtain basic qualifications and familiarization training without tying up fleet assets,” said Capt. John Feeney, Naval Aviation Training Systems (PMA-205) program manager. “The CPTs can be used to offload some of the training tasks from the full mission simulator, thereby lowering costs and maximizing training efficiency.”

According to Mark Elliott, PMA-205 H-1 training integrated product team (IPT) lead, the delivery of these trainers is the culmination of three years’ work for a capability that did not previously exist in the Marine Corps H-1 community.

“The CPT’s role is to support AH-1Z and UH-1Y training. Having a device, or a suite of devices, at each step along the continuum ensures we maximize the efficiency of training received by the Marine Corps H-1 community as we transition to the new aircraft configurations,” Elliott said.

In addition to “differences” training, aircrew and maintainers can receive initial aircraft exposure to give hands-on experience and training, aiding in faster assimilation later in the learning process.

“It seems like a natural progression, step one is the classroom environment with instruction; pilots and maintainers then get acquainted with the cockpit in the CPT and finally they move on to actual aircraft,” said Staff Sgt. Blake Minckler, CNATT, maintenance control chief,

Individual pilots and maintainers requiring basic qualifications can also schedule time in the CPT. This on-the-job training caters to individual needs without interrupting daily flight schedules, Minkler said.

NAVAIR press release

Citation :

High res.


F-35B production aircraft BF-8 flies over the city of Fort Worth during a company acceptance test flight on Dec. 8, 2011. BF-8 is a short takeoff/vertical landing (STVOL) variant aircraft that will be delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps.

Citation :

Iconic Harriers go to US for spares

Iconic planes ... Harriers ready to be broken down for spare parts






THEY stand poignantly framed against the setting sun — the skeletal remains of Harrier jets that were once the pride of the RAF.


The tarpaulin-shrouded planes were pictured in Southampton, in what was the final glimpse of them before they were shipped to America to be broken up for spare parts.

The Harriers were famously featured in an iconic report from the 1982 Falklands War.

As the planes landed on an aircraft carrier, BBC man Brian Hanrahan said: "I counted them all out and I counted them all back."

The jets were controversially scrapped in last year's defence cuts despite being in pristine condition.

The US Marines bought the 72-strong fleet in a cut-price £110million deal.

They will use them as spare parts to keep their own fleet of Harriers in the air for another 15 years.

v.wheeler@the-sun.co.uk

Let's wrap it up ... cockpit of Harrier

Citation :

Lockheed Martin Delivers First Two Marine Corps F-35s To Eglin





FORT WORTH, January 11th, 2012 -- The first two Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps today. The two jets are now assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 residing with the host 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla.

The aircraft, known as BF-6 and BF-8, flew separately arriving at 3:13 p.m. and 4:39 p.m. CST respectively after their approximate 90-minute ferry flights from Fort Worth, Texas. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Joseph Bachmann piloted BF-6 while U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt Taylor flew BF-8. Both 5th Generation fighters will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the new F-35 Integrated Training Center.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era of advanced capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps,” said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program executive vice president and general manager. “The F-35B’s versatility, as demonstrated onboard the USS WASP (LHD-1) last fall, will revolutionize our nation’s expeditionary combat power in all threat environments by allowing operations from major bases, damaged airstrips, remote locations and a wide range of air-capable ships. This aircraft will give our warfighters the ability to accomplish their mission, wherever and whenever duty calls.”

F-35 STOVLs met many critical milestones in 2011. In October, F-35Bs conducted their first set of ship trials, known as Developmental Test 1, 20 miles off the coast of Wallops Island, Va. During the 19-day testing period, BF-2 and BF-4 conducted 72 vertical landings and short takeoffs, accomplishing all test milestones during the mission. For the year, F-35Bs accomplished 333 System Development and Demonstration test flights and 268 vertical landings.

BF-6 and BF-8 are the first two F-35 deliveries to the Department of Defense in 2012 and the seventh and eighth F-35 aircraft delivered to Eglin AFB since July 2011. Previously, six U.S. Air Force F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jets were delivered to the base.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least nine other countries.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

The first F-35B production aircraft, known as BF-6, takes off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base for delivery on Jan. 11, 2012.

Spoiler: