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BATTLESPACE
Schiebel completes S-100 Camcopter heavy fuel tests for RAN
Schiebel has announced it has successfully completed acceptance testing of a heavy fuel engine on its Camcopter S-100 UAS currently being tested for the Royal Australian Navy. Designed to be compatible with heavy fuels already carried at sea for marine and helicopter gas turbines, the adoption and successful testing of the heavy fuel-powered S2 engine on the S-100 will negate the requirement to carry dedicated aviation fuel in separate bunkerage. Initially JP-5 (F-44) and Jet-A1 fuels have been cleared, while other fuel types are planned to be approved in future. Significantly, Schiebel says the new S2 engine increases the operational performance and maintainability of the S-100. The S-100 was fitted with a representative payload of an L3Harris Wescam MX-10 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera, an automatic identification system (AIS), an L3Harris Bandit transceiver, and a Mode-S automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) transponder. The S-100 is being trialled by the RAN as it seeks to develop the requirements for its Project SEA 129 Phase 5 unmanned system that will be embarked aboard the new SEA 1180 Arafura class offshore patrol vessels from 2024.
Boeing retains RAAF Super Hornet and Growler sustainment
Boeing Defence Australia has been granted a four-year extension to its contract to provide maintenance services for the RAAF’s fleet of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets and 11 EA-18G Growlers.
SCHIEBEL
Located at RAAF Amberley near Brisbane, the Air Combat and Electronic Attack Sustainment (ACEAS) contract extension is valued at $280 million and supports 230 Boeing and subcontractor staff. “The contract … provides a highlyexperienced maintenance, engineering, supply, project management, and weapon system integrator workforce to Defence,” Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price said in a statement. “This partnership continues to recognise Boeing’s commitment and performance in supporting these Air Force capabilities.“
JSF program records 500th delivery
The multi-national Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program has logged its 500th delivery, with the handing over of an F-35A to the USAF. The 500th delivery is a key milestone for the once-ailing program, and is another sign of growing maturity. Of the 500 jets delivered, 354 are F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) models – including 20 for Australia – 108 are F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL),
and 38 are F-35C carrier variants (CV). Another milestone that coincided with the 500th delivery was the logging of 250,000 hours by the global F-35 fleet, including all test and developmental test flying. “The F-35 is delivering an unprecedented 5th Generation combat capability to the warfighter at the cost of a 4th Generation legacy aircraft,” Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program vice president and general manager Greg Ulmer said in a statement. Lockheed Martin says the F-35 is operated by nine nations on their home soil and from 23 bases, and that four nations have used the aircraft in combat operations. It adds that 985 pilots and nearly 9,000 maintainers have been have been trained on the jet.
Skeldar launches V-150 VTOL UAS UMS SKELDAR has announced the launch of a new V-150 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned system aimed at supporting tactical operations, surveillance, police, and homeland security operations. Smaller than the company’s larger
