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to Reckon with Israel Counters Iran’s Surge in Ballistic Missile Arsenal
ISRAEL COUNTERS IRAN’S SURGE IN BALLISTIC MISSILE ARSENAL
Israel has begun its counter-efforts of anti-missile defense system and introduced Arrow-3, the most advanced version of the Arrow ballistic missile interceptor, into the service in response to Iranian efforts towards ballistic missiles arsenal upgrade
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By ARIE EGOZI
T
EL AVIV. Iran has stepped up efforts to upgrade its ballistic missiles arsenal – this is to achieve greater range, accuracy and lethality. The latest development forced Israel to make an effort to improve the efficiency of its multi layered rocket and ballistic missile defence system. The Israeli Arrow-3, the most advanced version of the Arrow ballistic missile interceptor, is now being introduced into service.
Arrow-3 fly out test
This was inducted into the service after this missile successfully completed a 10-day series of tests in Alaska, in which it intercepted by hard kill, three targets simulating ballistic missiles in different trajectory scenarios.
The very complex series of tests was performed jointly by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), in the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD), together with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
The Arrow-3 weapon system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is designed to intercept expo-atmospheric ballistic missiles.
For Israel protection against ballistic threats is not just a theoretical issue. Notably, at 2.40 AM on March 17, 2017, the officer in front of the radar display of an Israeli Air Force (IAF) Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile battery saw suspicious blips on the screen in front of him.
There was no time for further consideration and a second later, an Arrow-2 missile was launched from its canister. Seconds later loud explosions were heard in Eastern Israel near the border with Jordan.
Minutes before the sequence of events began, IAF fighter jets attacked a convoy that carried advanced weapons made in Iran, and was in Syrian territory on its way to the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon.
When the fighter aircraft were on their way back to base, a Syrian unit launched a Russian made SA-5 surface to air missile that missed the Israeli aircraft.
But the big heavy missile continued its trajectory with a projected hit point inside Israeli territory. The Arrow-2 operator had a few seconds. The Israeli interceptor hit the Syrian missile armed with a 200 kg warhead. It exploded over Jordan. This was the first operational intercept by an Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile.
The Arrow batteries are interconnected to one command centre which can decide what battery or rather what launcher will achieve the best results after an incoming missile is detected by the “Green Pine” phased array radar and its advanced versions like the “Super Green Pine” (SGP).
Detection is also performed by the Americans, who have one
missile detection X band radar system in the south of Israel and share with Israel data collected by their spy satellites.
The decision on what battery will launch can be made also using the communications network between the batteries with the no need to go through the central command center. This sequence was tested successfully in the recent intercept. The decision was made and the incoming surface - air missile that assumed a ballistic trajectory, was destroyed.
Israel has a four layered rocket and missile protection system that is operational and being upgraded continuously. The Arrow 2 and 3 are the upper layers of a system that is designed to defend Israel from rockets and missile. The Rafael “Iron Dome” has intercepted hundreds of short and medium range rockets during the “Protective Edge” operation in Gaza in 2014.
One layer above is the RafaelRaytheon “David Sling” designed to intercept longer range rockets and cruise missiles. All these system are either fully operational or one step from it.
Syria is equipped with old Scud B/C/D ballistic missiles and the Iranian effort is to upgrade them and manufacture newer versions in Syria to protect them from night attacks by Israel.
But the major ballistic threat is from Iran. This country has a big arsenal of long range missiles. While some report in the Iranian press about new versions of existing missiles are considered false, the experts say that this country can launch a massive ballistic missile attack on Israel.
The Shihab-3 was the first intermediate range ballistic missile that was built by Iran’s military, a local clone of the No Dong from North Korea. Its first version has a range of 1,300 km. Soon after, Iran came with two new models, which has a range of 1,650 and 1,950 km respectively. Another long range ballistic missile is the Sajil. The Iranians claim that it has a 2,000 km range.
Israeli experts say that the Iranians sometimes use different names for the same missile, but they agree that with foreign help mostly from North Korea, the Iranians have “made a big leap forward.” Aries Herzog, who headed the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD), says that the Arrow-3 is the most advanced interceptor in the Israeli arsenal.
While the Arrow-2 has a proximity fuse that detonates the warhead, the Arrow-3 is designed as a ‘hit to kill’ interceptor. A kill vehicle is ejected from the main missile and maneuvers itself until it achieves a kinetic kill with the incoming enemy missile.
The Arrow-3 will intercept outside the atmosphere. It is much smaller and lighter than the Arrow-2 and has super maneuverability.
Herzog emphasized that the “End Game” when the kill vehicle goes for the final impact, is not dependent of any sensors on the ground. “This is made by the missile itself.”
So the Israeli four tiered rocket and missile protection system is in place and being upgraded continuously, according to the developing threat. And recently, the laser as a weapon against rockets is on the table again.
After it was pushed aside, in favor of the Iron Dome rocket interceptor, the Laser Beam that can do the same mission and probably better, and with lower costs, is on its way back. In recent months, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael are working hard to accelerate the development of a laser system that can shoot down rockets and mortar shells.
According to IAI, a prototype of laser cannon for intercepting mortar shells and similar short-range threats is in a very advanced stage of development, and successful experiments have already been carried out. In recent years, the defence industries in Israel and the United States have been working to develop a laserbased defence system, which is considered to be the one that will change the battlefield.
An Israeli Iron Dome missile
EITAN IS ISRAEL’S LATE ENTRY INTO THE WHEELED APC TYPE OF COMBAT VEHICLES. THE WHEELED TYPE HAS BECOME A FAVORITE IN MANY ARMED FORCES. THIS IS DUE TO SPEED AND FLEXIBILITY
David’s Sling weapons system Stunner missile launch during final milestone test
A few years ago, Rafael presented the first model of a laser gun called an “iron beam” designed to respond to shells fired from a range of up to five miles from the border, and Iron Dome has difficulty coping because of the short time that passes from the moment the launch is detected until it hits. According to IAI, the main advantage of the laser is a fast reaction time, and therefore such a system is good for dealing with short-range munitions such as mortars.
The US army and the IDF understand that this system has additional advantages over missilebased defence systems, since its arsenal of ammunition never ends, and the cost of launching a laser beam is very low compared with an Iron Dome interception missile that is estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars.
The issue became very urgent after a few months ago, the Hamas terror organization in Gaza, launched 460 rockets into Israel, some in big salvos of 30- 40 rockets.
Israeli projects for developing these systems, partly in conjunction with US partners, were shut down in 2007, when it was decided to focus on the home-made Iron Dome. Then, too, some senior figures continued to criticize the Iron Dome.
But after the last Gaza operation in 2014, Iron Dome became a “star”, mainly because its high kill rate.
With recent developments – the capability to launch salvos of rockets from Gaza and the more dangerous threat – the 1,40,000 rockets accumulated by the Hezbollah in Lebanon, the laser gained again its place of honor. It became obvious, that the laser solution is on the table again, very seriously. The Iron Dome and the David’s Sling systems are now deployed on both borders to protect against the rockets, but sources say that in case of massive rocket attacks, and in many cases the need to launch more than one interceptor, the situation will be stretched to a critical point.
According to some estimates, in order to intercept such a large number of rockets, the IDF will have to fire a huge number of more than 30,000 interceptors from the Iron Dome system, and the astronomical price of these could reach billions of dollars. That is the basis for the new interest in a laser system that can kill rockets, with a few dollars price tag, attached to each laser pulse.
In the past, Israel and the US cooperated for the development of the Nautilus, a laser “cannon” that could kill rockets.
The Nautilus was a Tactical HighEnergy Laser, or THEL. In 1996, the United States and Israel agreed to cooperate on the development and production of the Nautilus. The demonstrator in 2000 managed to shoot down 28 Katyusha artillery rockets and five artillery shells.
On November 4, 2002, THEL shot down an incoming artillery shell. The prototype weapon was very big and heavy, and could not get smaller mainly because of the specifications of the Laser generator. The program was discontinued in 2005. The opposition to the laser weapon in Israel brought to the development of the Iron Dome and David’s Sling.
An Israeli very senior source said that it was a mistake to stop the development of a laser based rocket interceptor “now there is a growing number of experts that understand the mistake that was made and ready to re start the development , with the more advanced building blocks available today.”
One indication to the renewed effort to develop laser systems to knock out rockets of the sky, is the Rafael “Drone Dome” system.
According to the Israeli company “Drone Dome” has 360° circular coverage and is capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralizing drones using a low-intensity laser beam.
A spokesperson for Rafael said that the company is developing defense systems based on lasers. “The Drone Dome is an example.” He did not give any more details about other systems in this category.
There are many indications that laser as a rocket killer is high on the Israeli agenda again, and that the opposition that was very strong in the past exists, but is weaker, much weaker. It can be assumed that next year the first tests with an electrical laser will be conducted in Israel, with US officials following the process and results.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist.
ith the civil aviation sector W having taken a major hit due to the pandemic COVID 19, Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri is confident that the steps taken by his Ministry will put the sector back on rails in the coming days.
In an interview to Sri Krishna, Consulting Editor, Raksha Anirveda, he spoke on a wide variety of issues ranging from a calibrated recommencement of domestic air operations to establishing exclusive air links or “Air Bubbles” with several countries, though these are temporary arrangements aimed at restarting passenger services while regular flights remain suspended.
Edited excerpts:
What steps are being taken to revive the civil aviation sector in the post-lockdown period?
All efforts have been made to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the aviation sector. Some of the measures taken to support the aviation sector include: • Resumption of domestic operations in a calibrated manner. Initially only one third (33 per cent) of the summer schedule 2020 was allowed, which was subsequently increased to 45 per cent on
June 26 and then to 60 per cent on September 2. • Detailed guidelines and
Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) for all major stakeholders, i.e. airlines, airports, ground handling agencies are issued to ensure safe air travel. • Adequatecaretakentoensure that cargo terminals at all major airports were operational, whenever required. • GST rate reduced to five per cent for domestic Maintenance,
Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services with effect from
April 1. • Encouraging Indian carriers to increase their share in internationalaircargotraffic. • Route rationalisation in the
Indian airspace in coordination with Indian Air Force (IAF) for efficientairspacemanagement, shorter routes and reduced fuel burn. • Withthegainingofexperience, certain amendments / updation in guidelines carried out to facilitate passengers. • The undertaking from the travellers about not having tested COVID positive during last two months has been reduced to last three weeks. • International arriving
passengers permitted to take the connecting flight to their final destination, when exemption from institutional quarantine is granted on the basis of a negative RT-PCR test report. • Pre-packed snacks / meals/ pre-packed beverages allowed to serve on domestic flights depending on the durationofflight. • In-flight entertainment, wherever available allowed to be switched on during travel. • RT-PCR testing at the entry airports for the arriving international transfer passengers permitted on a pilot basis. • Air Suvidha portal launched for filling of Self Reporting
Form by all International
Arriving Passengers to India and also for processing exemption requests from institutional quarantine requirement from passengers fulfilling prescribed conditions. • Air Bubble- Exclusive airEXCLUSIVE AIR-LINKS OR AIR BUBBLES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH COUNTRIES WHICH INCLUDE AFGHANISTAN, BAHRAIN, CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY, IRAQ, QATAR, MALDIVES, NIGERIA, UAE, UK AND US
links or Air Bubbles have been established with countries which include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Qatar, Maldives, Nigeria, UAE, UK and US. These are temporary arrangements aimed at restarting international passenger services while regular international flights remain suspended due to COVID-19.
RECOMMENCEMENT OF RCS-UDAN FLIGHTS
• RCS operations also resumed from May 25. Operation of
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) flights were allowed without the restrictions.
AIR INDIA IS UNDER FINANCIAL DISTRESS AND THE DEBT OF THE COMPANY IS NEAR TO RS 60,000 CRORE. THE DEBT BURDEN IS UNSUSTAINABLE. THE PROCESS OF DISINVESTMENT OF AIR INDIA IS ON AND THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO DISINVEST AIR INDIA
• General instructions issued to ensurethecontinuedbenefitof air connectivity to small cities/ towns. As per the guidelines, all the operational RCS routes in Priority Areas (North
East Region, Hilly States and
Islands), Helicopter Routes, routes with Zero VGF, routes up to 500 km Stage Length were permitted to resume operations. • Bank Guarantee requirement of SAOs reduced to 20 per cent. • UDAN4.0launchedand78new routesidentifiedandapproved underfirstphaseofUDAN4.0, focusing on North Eastern
States, Hilly areas and Islands.
What is the status of Air
India?
IAir India is under financial distress and the debt of the company is near to Rs 60,000 crore. The debt burden is unsustainable. The process of disinvestment of Air India is on and the government is committed to disinvest Air India. After the issue of Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) in January 2020 for inviting Expression of Interest (EoI) from the interested bidders, the deadline has been extended up to October 30.
What is the status of
International flights to and from India?
For international travel, exclusive air links or “Air Bubbles” have been established with Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Qatar, Maldives, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US). These are temporary arrangements aimed at restarting passenger services while regular flightsremainsuspended.
What role do you foresee for private carriers in India in the post COVID-19 periods?
Aviation sector including airlines is badly affected due to COVID-19. With suspension of domestic air operations, the liquidity of the airlines was hit adversely. With the calibrated recommencement of domestic air operations, the load factor has increased and it is expected to reach pre-COVID levels close to the end of the year. Ministry is reviewing periodically recommencement of air operations in consultation with airlines and airport operators and initiating necessary steps wherever required. With steady increase in passenger traffic, revenues of airlines are bound to improve.
Private carriers have substantial domestic market share and carry about 85 per cent of the total domestic traffic. The government aims to operationalise 100 additional airports by 2024 taking total operational airports beyond 200. With such huge infrastructure, it is expected that demand for air services will increase. So the role of private carriers to cope with the expected rise in demand becomes critical. The number of aircraft in Indian sky is also expected to double in next few years. So the private carriers are going to have a major role in the Indian aviation scene and they are going to be the prime movers in the foreseeable future. They will have to deal with the challenges posed by the pandemic.
What would be the benefits of privatisation of airports?
Delhi and Mumbai airports were leased out under Public Private Partnership (PPP) in 2006. AAI has earned revenue to the tune of Rs 29,000 crore from Delhi and Mumbai airports during the period 2006-07 to 2019-20. The experience indicates that PPP brings out operational and professional efficiency in managing airports. This has also resulted in increased revenue for
the AAI and in turn it is able to make investment for development of airport infrastructure in Tier-II and TierIII cities. Privatisation reduces the need for public sector investment and channelises the scarce resources of the government in social sectors.
What impact the pandemic has had on aviation sector?
Aviation sector including airlines is badly affected due to COVID-19. Based on the information received from the stakeholders, the impact of COVID-19 on aviation sector and losses accrued on account of nonoperation of flights are as under: i. There have been regulatory restrictionsonflightoperations leading to severe curtailment in operations and sub-optimal aircraft utilisation. ii. The international traffic has reduced from 93,45,469 during March-July in 2019 to 11,55,590 during March-July 2020. iii. The revenue of Indian carriers has reduced from Rs 25,517 crore during April-June 2019 to Rs 3,651 crore during April-
June 2020. iv. The revenue of airport operators has reduced from Rs 5,745 crore during April-June 2019 to Rs 894 crore during
April-June 2020.
Any measures to make
North East Region more attractive for private airlines?
RCS-UDAN: Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on October 21, 2016,whichaimsatmakingflying affordable for masses. • RCS - UDANis a marketdriven scheme. • Under RCS-UDAN, NER comes under Priority Area. • Higher VGF (Viability Gap
Funding) have been offered for
Priority Areas in RCS-UDAN. • Till third round of bidding under RCS - UDAN, nine airports, 11 heliports and two water aerodromes have been identified and are being developed in NER. • 42 new routes identified and approved under first phase of UDAN 4.0 in NER. RCS Cell is in the process of awarding the routes to Selected Airline
Operators (SAOs). • Proposals for use of Dornier 228 sent to DoNER for funding for expenditure related to air connectivity and development/ upgradation of infrastructure. • As per Route Dispersal
Guidelines, airlines to allocate 10 per cent of trunk routes (Category-I routes) to the routes connecting NER. Also, airlines to operate one per cent of the trunk routes to the routes connecting airports within NER.
Effect of Atmanirbhar
Bharat on aircraft industry?
Rationalisation of air space is one of the major components of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. Unveiling of the fourth tranche of the COVID-19 economic measures as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (‘Self-reliant India Mission’) would reduce travel time and save on fuel and thereby benefitting airlines.
Reducing GST on Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services in India from 18 per cent to five per cent is another major step taken by the government. This would facilitate setting up of MRO facilities in India and greatly benefit Indian carriers. This is effective from April 1.
Allowing AAI airports on PPP basis is also expected to bring in much needed investment in airport infrastructure. This will help in creating airport infrastructure in the Tier-II and Tier-III cities helping in increasing air connectivity in the regions. DELHI AND MUMBAI AIRPORTS WERE LEASED OUT UNDER PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) IN 2006. AAI HAS EARNED REVENUE TO THE TUNE OF RS 29,000 CRORE FROM DELHI AND MUMBAI AIRPORTS DURING THE PERIOD 2006-07 TO 2019-20. THE EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT PPP BRINGS OUT OPERATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EFFICIENCY IN MANAGING AIRPORTS
CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY ISSUES GUIDELINES ON DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL, SAYS AIRLINES CAN DECIDE BAGGAGE LIMITATION
New Delhi. In a move aimed at increasing passenger comfort, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has issued revised guidelines for domestic air travel, giving airlines permission to decide baggage limitation as per their respective policies.
“The matter with regard to check-in baggage has been reviewed based on the feedback/inputs received from concerned stakeholders. Considering the convenience of the passengers, it has been decided to amend the existing provisions in this regard and baggage limitation would be as per the airlines’ policies,” the ministry noted in an official order. When domestic flight resumed operations from May 25 after a gap of two months due to the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, the ministry had allowed only one check-in baggage and one hand baggage per passenger.
Currently, airlines have been allowed to operate not more than 60 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic flights. International flights, meanwhile, have been under suspension since March 22. Only flights under the Vande Bharat mission and air transport bubbles are operating.
ROLLS-ROYCE COMPLETES GROUND-TESTING OF TECHNOLOGY SET TO POWER THE WORLD’S FASTEST ALL-ELECTRIC PLANE
ew Delhi. Rolls-Royce
Nhas completed testing of the ground-breaking technology that will power the world’s fastest all-electric plane. All the technology has been tested on a full-scale replica of the plane’s core, called an ‘ionBird’, including a 500hp electric powertrain powerful enough to set world speed records and a battery with enough energy to supply 250 homes.
The plane is part of a Rolls-Royce initiative called ACCEL, short for ‘Accelerating the Electrification of Flight’. Our ACCEL project team includes key partners YASA, the electric motor and controller manufacturer, and aviation start-up Electroflight. The team has been developing the technology while adhering to the UK Government’s social distancing and other health guidelines and the systems will soon be integrated into our ‘Spirit of Innovation’ plane. There is a long history of iron-birds in aviation for testing propulsion systems ahead of flight, but in this case we have named the test airframe ‘ionBird’, after the zero-emission energy source propelling the aircraft.
UK Business and Industry Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “From trains to planes, our transport of the future will be powered by clean, electric sources – with companies like Rolls-Royce developing the tech to help meet our net zero ambitions. The completion of ground-testing for the governmentbacked ACCEL project is not only a step towards an exciting world record attempt, but a leap towards developing all-electric and hybrid-electric planes that one day could ferry large numbers of passengers around the world.”
The dedicated team have tested each and every component of the system including: • Running the propeller up to full speed (approximately 2,400 rpm) using the most power-dense battery pack ever assembled for aircraft propulsion. When at full power during the flight-testing phase, it will propel the aircraft to more than 300mph setting a new world speed record for electric flight. Over 6,000 cells are packaged in the battery for maximum safety, minimum weight and full thermal protection. • Since January, our engineering and test pilots have spent many hours optimising the system and developing operating procedures for electric flight. • Generating GBs of data every hour of operation which the team have
analysed to improve performance wherever possible.
Rob Watson, Director – RollsRoyce Electrical, said: “Rolls-Royce is committed to playing a leading role in reaching net zero carbon by 2050. The completion of groundtesting for the ACCEL project is a great achievement for the team and is another important step towards a world record attempt. This project is also helping to develop RollsRoyce’s capabilities and ensure that we remain a leader in delivering the electrification of flight, an important part of our sustainability strategy.”
Bremont, will be the official timing partner for the all-electric speed record attempt. The British luxury watch maker has also helped develop the design of the plane’s cockpit which will feature a stopwatch, while the company has machined canopy release parts at its Henley-on-Thames manufacturing facility. The first flight is planned for later this year and we are aiming to beat the current allelectric flight world record early next year. Half of the project’s funding is provided by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Innovate UK.
Mark Scully, Head of Technology for Advanced Systems & Propulsion at the Aerospace Technology Institute, said: “The significance of reaching this milestone should not be underestimated. The ACCEL team is pioneering the integration of highperformance batteries, motors and drives to deliver an electric propulsion system in an ambitious flight test programme. These technologies and the systems integration needed to utilise them hold great potential for future sustainable aviation, which is why the ATI is proud to support the project.” The ACCEL project is a series of firsts for Rolls-Royce as we journey towards net zero carbon by 2050. It is the first Rolls-Royce project to use offsetting to make the whole programme carbon neutral.
BOEING WINS MORE 737-800BCF ORDERS, LAUNCHES NEW FREIGHTER CONVERSION LINES S
EATTLE. Boeing announced a firm order from an unidentified customer for two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF), as well as agreements to open additional conversion lines in Guangzhou, China, and Singapore to meet strong market demand. Based on the popular Next-Generation 737, the 737-800BCF offers operators newer technology, lower fuel consumption and higher reliability than other standard-body freighters.
Primarily used to carry express cargo on domestic or short-haul routes, the airplane is capable of carrying up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 pounds) and flying up to 2,000 nautical miles (3,750 kilometers). The 737-800BCF now has 134 orders and commitments.
“The freighter conversion program is an excellent way to double the life of an airplane and provide operators with an economical way to replace less efficient freighters,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Boeing. “By working with our partners to add freighter conversion capacity, we look forward to meeting the strong demand in this market segment and helping our customers scale their operations.”
The new 737-800BCF line at Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO) is scheduled to open in early 2021, marking the MRO’s second conversion line for the marketleading 737-800BCF. To date, Boeing has delivered 36 737-800BCF to more than 10 operators across four continents.
“The addition of the new production line demonstrates our ability to quickly respond to market trends and requirements and is a testament to the skill and professionalism of the entire GAMECO-Boeing team,” said GAMECO General Manager Norbert Marx. Boeing will also add a second conversion line for its widebody converted freighter, the 767-300BCF, at ST Engineering’s facility in Singapore. The second line is scheduled to open later this year.
The world’s most efficient freighter in its class, the Boeing 767 freighter family offers the lowest operating costs per trip and allows airlines to develop new opportunities in the long-haul, regional and feeder markets. The 767-300BCF has virtually the same cargo capability as the 767-300F production freighter with up to 56.5 tonnes (124,600 pounds) of payload and flying up to 3,350 nautical miles (6,190 kilometers). The Boeing freighter family, which includes production and converted freighters, provides more than 90 percent of the world’s freighter capacity, offering an unmatched selection of capacity and capability with superior economics in every freighter size.
New Delhi. Airbus’ 2020 gross orders by August 31 totalled 370 aircraft with net orders of 303 after excluding the year’s cancellation. The company has also registered one new order for an ACJ320neo. However, there is no cancellation for ACJ320neo in August. In the month of August itself, Airbus delivered a total of 39 aircraft spread out among 35 A320 Family aircraft including the first A321neo to Gulf Air, two A330 including the first A330-900 to Portuguese carrier Orbest and two A350. Airbus’ backlog of aircraft remaining to be delivered as of August 31 stood at 7,501 comprising 524 A220s, 6,091 A320 Family aircraft (including 6,034 A320neo Family), 319 A330s (including 285 A330neo Family), 558 A350 XWBs and nine A380s.
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS, HTM-HELICOPTERS TO BECOME FIRST OPERATOR TO USE NEW H145 FOR OFFSHORE WIND OPERATIONS
onauwörth, Germany.
DAirbus Helicopters and HTM-Helicopters have signed a contract for the purchase of two additional H145 helicopters. HTM will be the first operator to use the new five-bladed H145 in the Offshore Wind segment.
The delivery of the first helicopter, a four-bladed H145, is scheduled for the fourth quarter this year, while the second aircraft, a fivebladed H145 will be delivered mid next year. The four-bladed H145 will also later be upgraded with the new five-bladed rotor system by HTM’s maintenance organization.
The two new aircraft will be operated from HTM’s bases at Norden-Norddeich, Emden, Borkum and Helgoland. For their missions, which include passenger transport to and from wind farms and hoisting technicians to the wind-turbines, the two helicopters will be equipped with a powerful hoist, floatation equipment, and a cargo hook.
Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.
The new upgrade of the H145 boasts several new features that will allow customers to enhance their operations: The innovative five-blade bearingless rotor increases the useful load by 150 kg, further enhancing the mission capabilities of the aircraft.
TO SUPPORT WIDE-RANGING ACTIVITIES IN JAPAN NAKANIHON AIR REINFORCES UTILITY CAPABILITIES WITH NEW H215 ORDER
Tokyo. Nakanihon Air, one of Japan’s largest helicopter operators, has ordered one H215 heavy helicopter to shore up its capabilities for utility and aerial work. Currently operating 45 Airbus helicopters, Nakanihon Air specialises in activities covering emergency medical services, electronic news gathering, as well as passenger and goods transportation in Japan. The air services company also runs an Airbus-approved maintenance centre for H135 helicopters, while major inspections of the operator’s existing Super Puma fleet are performed at the manufacturer’s Kobe maintenance facility. The twin-engine, heavy-lift H215 is a member of the Super Puma helicopter family, known for its high availability rate, performance, and competitive operating cost. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, the rotorcraft consists of two versions — one tailored for multirole operations and the other for aerial work and utility missions. There are currently 28 helicopters of the Super Puma family in Japan flown by civil operators, parapublic operators, and the Ministry of Defense for various search and rescue missions, coastguard operations, fire-fighting, as well as Private and Business Aviation and commercial air transport missions.
BAE SYSTEMS SELECTED TO PROVIDE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR NEW AERION SUPERSONIC AS2 BUSINESS JET
ew Delhi. BAE Systems
Nhas received a contract from Aerion Supersonic to supply the flight control system for its new AS2 supersonic business jet. BAE Systems will design, develop, and integrate a fly-by-wire flight control system, including active inceptors, for the new aircraft.
“We are leveraging decades of expertise and advanced technologies to architect a flight control system that will enable the future of flight,” said Ehtisham Siddiqui, vice president and general manager of Controls and Avionics Solutions for BAE Systems. “We are proud to be collaborating with Aerion Supersonic on this nextgeneration flight control system for the AS2 aircraft.”
The new flight control system adds to BAE Systems’ more than 40 years of experience developing and integrating fly-by-wire systems. The system builds on the company’s proven core technology, but uses smaller and lighter components to allow for integration on the AS2 aircraft. The system will comprise active inceptors, primary flight control computers, actuator control units, and remote electronics units.
“We are delighted to expand our long-standing relationship with BAE Systems and for them to join our growing team of globally-renowned technical partners who will support bringing the AS2 to production.”
BAE Systems’ active inceptors will provide AS2 pilots with static and dynamic tactile force feedback in the palm of their hand. Unlike a passive system, the active inceptor includes electronic controlled actuators that send tactile feedback to the pilot through the flight stick. The feedback warns pilots of structural or aerodynamic operating limits – giving them improved situational awareness to maintain a safer, more stable flight.
Aerion’s AS2 private jet is the first supersonic aircraft to use only synthetic fuel and reach supersonic speeds without the need for an afterburner. The business jet will enhance pointto-point travel with a maximum speed of Mach 1.4 – approx. 1,000 miles per hour – at 57,000 feet. The AS2 will commence production from the company’s new global headquarters and manufacturing and research campus – Aerion Park – in Melbourne, Florida, in 2023. The flight control system development will be conducted at BAE Systems facilities in Endicott, New York, and Rochester, UK.
ISRAEL’s ISRAIR AIRLINES PLANS TO BEGIN DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM TEL AVIV TO ABU DHABI
By ARIE EGOZI
Tel Aviv. Israeli airlines are expecting good business on the new routes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Israeli aerospace companies also expect maintenance work of passenger airlines operated by some Gulf States. Israeli airline Israir Airlines, commonly known as Israir plans to begin offering direct flights from Ben Gurion Airport to Abu Dhabi next month.
The airline said it would begin operating the flights immediately, pending final approval from Israeli and Emirati authorities. No exact date for launching the route was given, though several reports have speculated that the direct line would start next month.Israir will operate the flight with the airline’s Airbus 320 for flight duration of just three and a half hours. The development came after Saudi Arabia and Bahrain approved the flight to use their airspace.
One-way tickets will go on sale for US$299 and a four-day vacation package including lodging at a five-star hotel will cost just US$699, the airline said.
“There is no doubt we can expect great demand for Abu Dhabi flights,” said Israir President Uri Sirkis. Israeli companies that offer maintenance work for aircraft like Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) also expect work as a result of the normalisation agreements with the UAE and Bahrain.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist
