Noticias Aeronáuticas del Mundo (archivo)

[moises]

France Soars With Israeli Wings



January 15, 2010: France has adapted the Israeli Heron TP UAVs to serve as a Predator substitute, until a new design can be developed in France.

Equipped with a powerful (1,200 horsepower) turbo prop engine, the 4.6 ton Heron TP can operate at 45,000 feet. That is, above commercial air traffic, and all the air-traffic-control regulations that discourage, and often forbid, UAV use at the same altitude as commercial aircraft. The Heron TP has a one ton payload, enabling it to carry sensors that can give a detailed view of what's on the ground, even from that high up. The endurance of 36 hours makes the Heron TP a competitor for the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper (or Predator B), which is the same size as Heron. The big difference between the two is that Reaper is designed to be a combat aircraft, operating at a lower altitude, with less endurance, and able to carry a ton of smart bombs or missiles.

The French variant of the Heron TP is called Harfang ("Eagle"), and three were purchased a year ago, and sent to Afghanistan last Summer. Since then, the three UAVs have spent 1,400 hours in the air. That's actually quite low, coming out to about one sortie a week per aircraft. There have been technical problems with the Harfang, and much of the time, only one of the three were available for service. The Harfang usually flies missions of less than 24 hours.

To help fill the UAV gap, France has been sending smaller Sperwer UAVs. These have served in Afghanistan before, but have since been replaced by their users. The Sperwer LE (Long Endurance) weighs 772 pounds, carries a 110 pound payload, is 12 feet long and has an endurance of 12 hours. Sperwer can operate up to 200 kilometers from its ground control unit. But the Sperwer uses a noisy engine (think lawnmower) and flies low enough to be heard. This did not turn out to be a problem, as the people below, if they were Taliban, either started shooting at the UAV, or tried to run away. The Sperwer suffered from the heat, dust and wind that is so abundant in Afghanistan. But the Canadians, who used them for several years, figured out how to make them work. Canada has since replaced its Sperwers with Israeli Herons.

Despite the technical problems with the Harfangs in Afghanistan, France has ordered a fourth one. France has tried to buy Predators, but the waiting list is long, and French troops need UAV support now. European aircraft manufacturers have yet to come up with a world class UAV design (like the American Predator and Reaper, or the Israeli Heron, etc.).

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[moises]

Lockheed Martin Inducts Second C-5 Galaxy For RERP Modernization Program



MARIETTA, Ga., January 15th, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently inducted its second C-5 Galaxy strategic transport into the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) production line at its Marietta, Ga., facility. The RERP modifications consist of more than 70 improvements and upgrades to the C-5 airframe and aircraft systems, and include the installation of new higher-thrust, more reliable turbofan engines.

"Each RERP aircraft induction is a major milestone for our program. We are making great strides with our first RERP induction and expect to keep up the same productive pace with this aircraft," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin C-5 vice president. "Every C-5M we produce gives added strength to the U.S. Air Force fleet and the warfighters who protect our country."

The C-5M is the product of a two-phase modernization effort. The first, the ongoing Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), provides the aircraft a state-of-the-art glass cockpit with modern avionics and flight instruments. Nearly half of the C-5 fleet has already undergone the AMP modifications. RERP is the second phase of the C-5 modernization effort.

The second aircraft to enter the RERP production line is a C-5B based at Dover AFB, Del. This aircraft, U.S. Air Force serial number 85-0002, was first delivered to Travis AFB, Calif., on Sept. 30, 1986, and was stationed there for much of its career, until it moved to Dover. This C-5 Galaxy currently has more than 19,000 flight hours.

Current Air Force plans call for Lockheed Martin to deliver 52 C-5Ms (modification of 49 C-5Bs, two C-5Cs, and one C-5A) by 2016. Three C-5Ms, the former Super Galaxy test fleet, have been redelivered to the U.S. Air Force at Dover AFB.

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[moises]

Wreckage of Su-27 fighter found in Russia's Far East



KHABAROVSK, January 15 (RIA Novosti) - Rescue teams discovered on Friday the crash site of a Su-27 Flanker fighter jet which has been missing in the Khabarovsk Territory since Thursday, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The fighter had been performing a scheduled flight and was about 30 km away from the Dzemga airbase when it disappeared off the radar screens.

"The crash site has been discovered by military rescue teams near the town of Galichny, about 20 km [12.5 miles] north of Komsomolsk-on-Amur," the official said.

Rescuers continue the search for the pilot, he added.

The Su-27 is a Mach-2 class air-superiority aircraft designed as a direct competitor for the heavy fourth generation Western fighters, such as the F-15 Eagle.

About 450 Su-27 aircraft have been built for the Russian Air Force since 1984, and over 200 jets have been exported to other countries, including China, Indonesia, Angola and some ex-Soviet states.

Russia used Su-27s to gain airspace control over Tskhinvali, the capital city of South Ossetia, during a brief war with Georgia in August 2008.

Last year there were at least two fatal crashes involving Su-27 fighter jets.

On August 30, 2009, a Belarusian Air Force Su-27 fighter crashed while performing aerobatic maneuvers at an airshow in Poland, killing two pilots.

Two Su-27 fighter planes collided in midair when the Russian Knights aerial display team was rehearsing for the MAKS 2009 air show outside Moscow. The group's commander, Col. Igor Tkachenko, was killed while two other pilots were injured in the collision.

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[moises]

The likely intents from two fronts war



The statement of Indian Army Chief for fighting a ‘two front war’ against Pakistan and China in chorus has been under discussion since the end of December 2009. It is envisaged that Indo-US connection has propelled India to flex its military muscles and subsequently use the threatening tone for its nuclear-armed neighbours. Indeed, Indian strategic partnership with US and attainment of nuclear technology and latest weaponry has shored up its defence capability during the ongoing decade of 21st century. As per Stephen Cohen, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, since there already exists a trust deficit between India and Pakistan after Mumbai attacks, therefore, such provocative statements could have been avoided at this critical juncture in the South Asia. These hind-sighted statements would give way to terrorists and non-state actors to exploit and ignite the situation for a military confrontation in the region. Indeed, Indian Army Chief has taken a lead from the ‘Quadrennial Defence Review’ (QDR), which Pentagon carries out after every four years to assess and select future areas of interest for its influence, keeping in view its power potential, being the sole super power. Having the status of US strategic partner, India might have thought on similar lines in South Asia. Otherwise, it had to justify the enhanced US military aid and nuclear assistance it received through Indo-US Nuclear Deal and other defence pacts. The pronounced strategy of ‘two fronts war’, apparently aims at containment of China. This containment could be visualized in the backdrop of Indian appeasement of US, as justification of the huge sum of US military consignments. Nevertheless, US should not forget that India is not loyal with it and is in the process of acquisition from all sides’ on economical as well as military fronts. While maintaining allegiance with its cold war ally, India is still a partner of Russia and has many economic stakes with China too. If today China stops bilateral trade with India, Indian economy would suffer badly. There are a number of theories about the real motives of the statement of Indian Army Chief. One hypothesis is that; the statement is for the public consumption. As over the years, Indian masses have started questioning the heavy defence spending by Indian military. The statement would satisfy the people that India indeed is in a state of war against two enemies simultaneously, therefore, the ever-increasing defence budget stand justified. In the same context, India is planning to increase the strength of its Army from the current 1.13 million to 2 million in next few years. Another reason could be that there is a ubiquitous inter-services rivalry between Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The very basis of the jealousy is that over last few years, India is spending major portion of its defence budget for the modernisation and up gradation of its naval power under the concept of blue water navy. Apart from a number of ships and submarines commissioned in Indian Navy in last two decades, it has added a nuclear submarine to its naval fleet in the mid of 2009. Besides, a parallel modernization of Indian Air Force is also going on through the procurement and adding of latest version aircraft from United States as well as Russian Federation. Indian Air Force has aircraft like; MiG-29, Mirage-2000H and Sukhoi-30 MKI. India is in the process of getting F-16 and F-18 aircraft from United States and Israel. In fact, the procurement of naval ships and aircraft costs huge sums of finances. In the process, the 1.13 million strong Indian Army felt diminished. Through this new concept of the two fronts war, Indian Army Chief wanted to have the Government’s as well as people’s attention for the added share out of defence budget. Indeed the Sino-India border consists of hilly terrain, where the pre-dominant role would be of Indian Army for which it has already placed a mountain division for undertaking a likely offensive. A forward air base has also been prepared in Arunachal Pradesh, eastern Indian state, bordering China on war footings to support the army operation against China. However, Indian Navy would have no direct role to play against China. Through this revised and offensive doctrine, Indian Army would be able to justify the demand of a lion’s share out of defence budget. Another aspect linked with the new military strategy is a diversionary manoeuvre by Indian Army Chief. A military court of inquiry has found some top military brass involved in the Sukna Land Scam of West Bengal. The main character of the swindle is Lt Gen. Avadhesh Prakash, the Military Secretary, and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of Indian Army Chief. Since the inquiry demanded stern disciplinary action against Lt General Prakash, therefore, Commander of Eastern Command, Lt General V.K. Singh, who indeed ordered the inquiry, recommended to General Kapoor to sack his Military Secretary. General Kapoor, however, decided to rescue his Military Secretary contrary to the recommendations of Lt General V.K. Singh. It is worth mentioning that Lt Gen Singh, being the senior most is a strong candidate for the post of next Indian Army Chief upon retirement of General Kapoor on March 31, 2010. In this connection, General Kapoor had an in-depth meeting with Indian Defence Minister, A.K. Antony on December 24, 2009. He tried to convince the minister that Lt. General Singh is taking unnecessary interest in the scam against Lt General Prakash. The Indian COAS indeed desires that General V.K Singh should not replace him as the new head of Indian Army. Trumpeting of the ‘two fronts war’ is being considered as a strategy to divert the attention from this biggest scam of military land in the history of Indian Army. Through this bogus idea, Indian Army Chief perhaps desired to attain two objectives: one; to cover up the corruption cases of senior Army officers closely associated with him. And two; to be remembered as an idiosyncratic Indian Army Chief, through introduction of a new military strategy, unlikely to achieve its objectives like ‘two fronts war’. Another hidden aspect is that Indian Army may be sweating for a political influence. This is evident from the fact that in 2006/7, the political leadership of India and Pakistan had almost reached to political solution on Siachin Glacier, but Indian Military prevailed and the issue is still un-resolved. Linked with it, Indian nuclear programme is totally under civilian control, whereas armed forces have no say and therefore, less know-how of its use. This move might be a bid from the Indian military hierarchy to have an excess of the strategic assets. The time bracket as spelt out in the new strategy for achieving the target in initial 96 hours on two fronts is only possible once India make a decision for the first use of nuclear weapons or at least by incapacitating the combat soldiers of the adversaries in an NBC environment. Politically, the change in the military strategy might be aiming to gain the status of major power by India. Together with NATO, and US India is whistling to be recognised as such. Already, it is playing the role of a major partner in Afghanistan and having a lot of influence on Iran. Through flexing the military muscles, India is indeed enhancing its strategic reach out of the region. It is planning to combine the littoral states of the region under it for any future action. Defence analysts consider that the new strategy of confronting Pakistan and China simultaneously and achieving the target in 96 hours is indeed a manifestation of an extremely unrealistic assessment by General Kapoor. Being the strategic partner of US, India might have thought to justify the enhanced US military aid and nuclear assistance it received in the last two decades, especially after 9/11. Indeed, India has neither the capability nor the will to fight a war with China mainly owing to two vital aspects; the lack of a compatible militarily power and a strong economy essentially required for the sustenance of war. However, threat to Pakistan has to be visualized in the true perspectives, either directly or indirectly. In all eventualities, it is important that for the peace and stability in South Asia, US should stop its unremitting military cooperation with India. Acumen in US feels that India is an opportunist country and US is increasing its trust deficit with the Government and people of Pakistan by rendering extra concessions to India. This group of US think tanks feel that America should be “aware of the very strong Indian lobby in our Congress but our National security should be our prime concern and not the money that the Indian lobby spend on our congress”.

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[moises]

Lockheed Martin Delivers First Two Upgraded P-3C Maritime Surveillance Aircraft for Pakistan



EAGAN, MINN., January 14th, 2010 - Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently delivered two of seven upgraded P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan under the U.S. Government's Foreign Military Sales program.

The most recent aircraft delivery occurred on Jan. 7 to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., for subsequent transfer to Pakistan. Lockheed Martin delivered the first plane in October 2009.

Lockheed Martin is upgrading the P-3Cs' aircraft and mission systems and providing maintenance under a 2006 contract from the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command. The aircraft support anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare missions and will enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct maritime surveillance in littoral and deep-water environments. The aircraft are designed to have a single integrated tactical picture of the battle space, drawing upon data from aircraft sensors and information from other platforms.

“These aircraft incorporate a variety of enhanced features including communications, electro-optic and infrared systems, data management, controls and displays, mission computers and acoustic processing,” said Mike Fralen, director for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors' maritime surveillance programs.

The P-3 is the primary maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft operated by the U.S. Navy and 16 allied countries. Its roles include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance, search and rescue, drug interdiction, economic zone patrol, airborne early warning and electronic warfare.

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[moises]

Chinese Chengdu J-10 Emerges



Wrapped in secrecy for most of the decade following its 1998 test flight, Chengdu Aircraft Corp.’s J-10 multirole fighter is set to enter the global market. Following a development history that extends to the 1960s, and five years in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the J-10 may emerge in the market soon after 2010, offering capabilities approaching Lockheed Martin’s F-16C Block 60, at half the price.

About 150 J-10s may be in PLAAF units. This could exceed 300 based on Russian disclosures that China purchased 300-400 12.7-ton-thrust Salyut AL-31FN engines for the fighter. Pakistan, which received Chinese nuclear weapons technology and generations of conventional weapons, will be the debut J-10 customer.

Reports from Pakistan say a deal has been reached to sell 36 J-10s to Islamabad for $1.4 billion, about $40 million per unit. F-16C Block 60 fighters with AN/APG-80 active phased array radar were sold to the United Arab Emirates for about $80 million each. It is not known whether the price of Pakistan’s J-10 includes spares, support and training.

Pakistan could buy 70-150 J-10s. The country has been an F-16 operator since 1982, and is taking delivery of 18 F-16C/D Block 52 fighters, half of an expected sale of 36. Pakistani sources tell DTI that the J-10 is not expected to become a coproduction project with Pakistan. There have also been reports of interest in the J-10 by Iran, Myanmar and the Philippines.

China has not released data about the J-10. Recent Chinese media reports, however, offer the following: length, 16.43 meters (53.9 ft.); wingspan, 8.78 or 9.75 meters; maximum takeoff weight, 19,227 kg. (42,300 lb.); maximum weapons load, 7,000 kg.; combat radius, 1,100 km. (683 mi.); maximum speed, Mach 2; maneuverability, 9g.

Despite a history of Israeli and Russian design assistance, and its dependence on the Salyut engine, China touts the J-10 as a domestic product. November festivities marking the PLAAF’s 60th anniversary featured a J-10 aerobatic display and the showing of a prototype and full-scale, twin-seat mockup at the national aviation museum.

Besides price, what makes the J-10 attractive is competitive electronic and weapon systems. The latest version, sometimes called the J-10B (or FC-20 when slated for Pakistan) emerged in Internet photos in January 2009. It features a diverterless supersonic inlet similar in principle to that of the Joint Strike ­Fighter. The nose is redesigned, with an infrared search-and-track system in front of the windscreen and what appears to be a canted radar bulkhead consistent with a fixed electronically scanned array radar. If true, this would be a major advance for China’s radar technology, and may make the J-10 competitive with upgraded Western and Russian fourth-generation-plus fighters. The cockpit is dominated by three multifunction displays and a head-up display.

The J-10 has 11 hardpoints, including five on the fuselage. Its principal counter-air weapon is the Luoyang PL-12 active radar-guided air-to-air missile (AAM) with 70-km. range. With a twin-AAM pylon on the inner wing mount, plus two on forward fuselage mounts, the J-10 could carry eight PL-12s. Short-range AAMs include the PL-8, a copy of the Israeli Python-3, and an improved version of this missile, the PL-9, both helmet-sighted. The J-10 may soon feature a more capable helmet-mounted display and a new fifth-generation AAM from Luoyang.

The fighter’s market success will depend on China’s ability to produce reliable advanced turbofan engines. Rival fighter maker Shenyang has been developing its WS-10A Taihang turbofan since the mid-1980s, which could offer 13.2 tons of thrust. Russian sources believe it is beset by developmental difficulties.

Chengdu may have a competing Huashan advanced turbofan engine program, which some Chinese sources note is based on its late-1990s acquisition of the engineering data and sales rights to the Tumansky R-79 turbofan developed for the defunct Yakovlev Yak-141 supersonic vertical/short-takeoff-and-landing fighter. Nevertheless, Russian sources say China remains interested in more powerful versions of the Salyut AL-31FN, which could come in 13.5- and, eventually, 15-ton-thrust versions.

Chengdu remains ready to develop a carrier-based version of the J-10. During the PLAAF anniversary, a test pilot was reported noting that ground-test simulations prove the J-10 can operate from a carrier.

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moises

[Ali Al Saachez]

Turkey's military will accept a delivery of Israeli drones in March



Turkey: Diplomatic spat with Israel won't scupper $190 million drone deal

By Haaretz Service Last Update: 14/01/2010 13:15

Turkey's military will accept a delivery of Israeli drones in March - despite a diplomatic row that has brought the relations between the countries close to breaking point, Turkish officials said on Thursday.

Israel will send four Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Turkey, the first part of a consignment of 10 drones purchased by the Turkish government, with the remainder to be shipped by the year's end, officials told the Turkish daily, Zaman.


Turkey awarded a contract for the drones to two Israeli companies, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), in 2005. In December, Ankara announced its intention to speed up the deal, worth about $190 million - before a diplomatic storm over Israel's treatment of Turkey's ambassador cast doubt on the agreement.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/S...itemNo=1142659

[HAALEJK]

Moises y ali al saachez,esto es un foro español,si poneis noticias en ingles pasarlas por lo menos por el traductor google.

[nestor vargas]

Moises y ali al saachez,esto es un foro español,si poneis noticias en ingles pasarlas por lo menos por el traductor google.

Wenas,100% de acuerdo.
Saludos.

[Ali Al Saachez]

India, Russia . $1.2 negocio por 29 , MiG-29Ks.



Russia prepara una venta de MiG-29Ks a India.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 460879.cms

negocios pasados de Russia e India .


• Admiral Gorshkov for about $2.3 billion. Induction in 2013.
• 45 Mig-29Ks for about $1.7 billion
• 230 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters for about $8.5 billion. Over 105 already inducted. India likely to order another 50 jets
• Six Talwar-class stealth frigates for Rs 8,514 crore. Talwar, Trishul and Tabar inducted. Deliveries of Teg, Tarkash and Trikand from 2012
• 657 T-90S main-battle tanks for Rs 8,525 crore. Over 310 already inducted. Another 1,000 T-90S tanks to be manufactured in India

[Ali Al Saachez]

India segundo AWACS arrivara en Marzo .


articulo completo:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 455419.cms

[Frank Sinatra]

SOBRECOSTES Y RETRASOS
El fiasco del A400M pone en peligro a Airbus
7.500 millones de euros de coste adicional y tres años de retraso son las credenciales del último programa de Airbus: el A400M, un moderno avión de transporte militar que ha terminado atragantándose por las interferencias políticas.
Galería de fotos
Así es el A400M
Ver el vídeo
Vuelo inaugural del A400M


Viajes: hoteles | coches | vuelos
fines de semana | ofertas último minuto
Fotos: Así es el A400M
Vídeo: Vuelo inaugural del A400M
2010-01-18
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FERNANDO DÍAZ VILLANUEVA

Nadie está a gusto en Airbus. Los números no funcionan desde hace cuatro años, cuando el euro empezó a revaluarse con respecto al dólar haciendo que la producción de la compañía europea perdiese competitividad. Los problemas de la empresa, englobada dentro del grupo aeronáutico EADS, se reflejan en su cotización en Bolsa. La acción ha pasado de los 35 euros del primer cuarto de 2006 a los 14,5 que se pagaba esta mañana en los parqués europeos, muy lejos de los 61 dólares de Lockheed Martin o los 76 de Boeing.

Los aviones que fabrica Airbus han conseguido plantar cara con éxito a la industria aeronáutica norteamericana, hasta hace dos décadas hegemónica. Gracias a los modelos A320, de medio alcance y entregado en tres versiones; y A340, de largo alcance y con dos versiones principales, una bimotor y otra cuatrimotor que ha jubilado la flota de Jumbos en muchas aerolíneas.

El problema de Airbus es que fabricaba en Europa y se vio muy afectada por el encarecimiento de euro, su divisa de referencia para exportar. Por ello abrió una fábrica en la ciudad china de Tainjin. En junio pasado entregó su primer A320 enteramente fabricado en Asia, un mercado emergente que, según se estima, va a necesitar 3.000 aviones comerciales en los próximos años para atender a la creciente demanda de vuelos, especialmente interiores, para los que la gama A320 está especialmente indicada.

La entrada en China, el lanzamiento del A380, un auténtico gigante del aire del que ya se han entregado 24 unidades a cuatro aerolíneas, y el proyecto del A400M, el primer avión de Airbus concebido en origen para uso militar han sido los tres grandes proyectos de la década de termina. Una década en la que Airbus se ha consolidado como líder del mercado aeronáutico mundial. Entre 2000 y 2009 los europeos han vendido 6.173 aeronaves frente a las 5.927 de los norteamericanos.

El desastre del Airbus 400

Con lo que no contaban los ejecutivos de Airbus, consorcio paneuropeo radicado en la ciudad francesa de Toulouse, es con el fiasco de su primera incursión en serio dentro del campo de la aviación militar. El A400M es un programa estatal que nació en 2003 de un acuerdo entre los Gobiernos de España, Italia, Francia, Alemania, Bélgica, Luxemburgo y Turquía para dotar a sus ejércitos de un avión de transporte moderno, y, ya de paso, lanzar un torpedo en la línea de flotación de la norteamericanas Lockheed Martin, fabricante de los Hercules y los Galaxy.

El acuerdo fijaba que, entre todos, comprarían a Airbus 212 unidades. Dos años después se quedarían en 180, el primer vuelo tendría lugar en 2008 y la primera entrega un año después.

Los ingenieros de Airbus se pusieron manos a la obra y diseñaron un avión militar de última generación. Una elegante aeronave movida por cuatro turbohélices y preparada para transportar 37 toneladas de carga o 116 soldados totalmente equipados a 780 km/h. Sobre el papel muy competitivo. La mejor versión del Hercules sólo admite 19 toneladas de carga, 64 soldados y viaja a un máximo de 670 km/h.

A partir de ahí el proyecto se torció. Italia abandonó el compromiso y el resto de países insistieron en que el programa se desarrollase en tan sólo seis años y medio, cuando lo normal en un avión de estas características es que su desarrollo se demore unos doce.

Por interferencias políticas se designó Sevilla como lugar para ensamblar el avión, donde hubo de levantarse una planta completa, ya que las instalaciones de la española CASA no eran lo suficientemente grandes para un proyecto de semejante magnitud. Y por interferencias políticas se escogió el motor Europrop TP400 y no un Pratt & Whitney, que era la elección de Airbus Military.

Europrop es una compañía creada por varias empresas europeas para fabricar los motores del A400M. La forman la alemana MTU Aero Engines, la británica Rolls Royce, la francesa Snecma, la española Sener y la turca TEI. Cada una de ellas tiene un peso en la compañía proporcional al que sus respectivos países tienen en la compra del A400M una vez esté terminado.

Las prisas y los compromisos políticos se tradujeron en retrasos. La compleja maquinaria logística de Airbus funcionó, pero no todas las partes llegaron a tiempo. El vuelo inaugural, previsto para principios de 2008 se canceló porque hasta febrero no llegaron los motores Europrop y no fueron completamente integrados en el avión hasta el mes de junio.

En marzo se hizo la primera prueba estructural y se anunció el vuelo inaugural para julio, pero también se canceló. Para entonces las presiones financieras y políticas empezaban a ser considerables. El 26 de junio de 2008 el avión fue presentado a la prensa en Sevilla, salió del hangar y volvió a entrar. Le faltaba aún año y medio para volar. Finalmente el vuelo inaugural se produjo, también en Sevilla, hace poco más de un mes, el 11 de diciembre de 2009, con casi dos años de retraso.

Airbus, entretanto lleva un año advirtiendo que, conforme al calendario, la primera unidad no sería entregada hasta 2012. La prensa le hincó el diente al caso. El Financial Times se enteró de que al avión tenía algo de sobrepeso, 12 toneladas le sobraban para poder volar con la carga que prometía. El jefe de Estado Mayor de la Luftwaffe habló de “desarrollo desastroso” y aplazó la incorporación del A400M en la Fuerza Aérea alemana hasta 2017.

Entretanto, los mismos Gobiernos que habían creado la necesidad de un avión militar de carga, empezaron a buscar alternativas ante el retraso. Lockheed Martin ha reconocido que Francia y el Reino Unido andan buscando alternativas en el C-130J “Super Hercules”, la última generación de los Hercules.

Un avión que podría provocar la quiebra

EADS, por su parte, solicita dinero a los Estados comprometidos con el programa para continuar. El coste que el Airbus A400M le supone a EADS cada mes oscila entre los 100 y los 150 millones de euros. Si no llegan las ayudas públicas el consejero delegado de EADS, Louis Gallois, ya ha advertido que cancelará el programa este mismo año. “Cometimos un error en el pasado cuando aceptados un proyecto con un presupuesto fijo, al menos podríamos compartir las cargas de estos errores” ha asegurado este mes.

Por de pronto, la empresa ya ha puesto 2.600 millones de euros sobre la mesa y lleva, hasta la fecha, gastados otros 7.500 millones a causa de los retrasos y un incremento de los costes del 25% según avanzaba el programa. El consejero delegado de Airbus, Tom Enders, ve un serio peligro para Airbus que, según sus propias palabras “no piensa consentir”. El A400M puede llevarse por delante al primer fabricante de aviones del mundo, un conglomerado industrial que da trabajo a más de 50.000 personas en ocho países. Sólo en España tiene operativas tres factorías: en Madrid, en Sevilla y en Cádiz.

Este año se despejará el futuro del Airbus A400M, la mayor aeronave jamás fabricada en suelo español. Si los Gobiernos ceden y provisionan el proyecto en 2012 podrían comenzar las entregas. El Ejército español ha pedido 27, el alemán 60, el francés 50, el británico 25, el turco 10, el belga 7 y Luxemburgo 1. Lo que EADS no parece dispuesta es a inmolarse en nombre de un capricho de los políticos que no termina de levantar el vuelo.
http://www.libertaddigital.com/economia ... 276381597/

[Ali Al Saachez]

FRANCIA CONFIRMA LA COMPRA DE UNA NUEVA SERIE DE RAFALE.



La DGA francesa ha encargado a Dassault Aviation 60 Rafale F3, con entregas a partir de 2015. Estos aviones dispondrán de un radar de barrido electrónico instalado de serie y un equipo de autoprotección mejorado.
Esta nueva orden incluye 50 aviones para la Fuerza aérea y diez para la Armada, además de la modernización de varios Rafale F1 a F3.
Esto hace un total de 180 Rafale pedidos oficialmente, de los 286 que se preveía adquirir: 58 para la Armada y 228 para la Fuerza Aérea.
Hasta ahora se han entregado 82 Rafale ( 54 para la Fuerza Aérea y 28 para la Armada ), y 11 mas lo serán este año 2010.

http://www.defenseworld.net/go/defensen ... 20&id=4026

http://eltiradorsolitario.blogspot.com/ ... nueva.html

[Ali Al Saachez]

Rafael Renuncia al Congestionado mercado de UAV de Israel's .




http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... arket.html

UAV Skylite .

http://images.google.com.co/imgres?imgu ... N%26um%3D1

[Ali Al Saachez]

India planea comprar otros nueve A-50EI Aviones de alerta temprana.



http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/sh ... -aircrafts