Unprecedented demand for Airbus' best-selling long range aircraft family
3 February 2011 Press Release
Airbus has decided to raise the production rate for its A330 Family to ten aircraft a month from the second quarter of 2013.
Currently Airbus turns out eight A330 Family aircraft each month. This monthly rate will increase to nine in early 2012, before reaching rate ten in the second quarter of 2013.
"We are increasing the production rate for the A330 Family due to the strong market demand for the aircraft," said Tom Williams, Airbus' Executive Vice President Programmes. "In the long-range, mid-size category, the A330 is the right aircraft for airlines worldwide".
The A330 is not only a bestseller as a passenger airliner but also as a Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, as a VIP aircraft and also as a freighter.
The A330 MRTT achieved civil and military certification in 2010. Currently five are flying with a further four undergoing conversion. Delivery of the first two aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is in the final stages. It is planned to deliver five A330 MRTTs to three customers in the course of this year.
2010 has also seen five deliveries of the brand new freighter variant to three customers as a first step towards satisfying a market of some 400 new build mid-size freighters over the next 20 years.
The reliable and efficient A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today, with one taking off each minute every day. To date, Airbus has won over 1,100 orders for the different models of the aircraft. Some 750 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with 90 operators worldwide in 50 countries.
PR
viernes, 4 de febrero de 2011
Rise of the “Blimps”: Northrop Grumman's LEMV Program Completes Critical Design Review
Press Release Below_
Fourth Major Milestone Completed; Next Major Milestone is Hull Inflation
MELBOURNE, Fla., BETHPAGE, N.Y., and LONDON – Feb. 1, 2011 – Six months after signing the Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) agreement with the U.S. Army to build three airships with 21-day persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability, Northrop Grumman's (NYSE:NOC) LEMV program team has completed its Critical Design Review (CDR). This is the fourth major milestone achieved by the program since contract award.
"The entire U.S. Army/Northrop Grumman LEMV industry team has done an outstanding job working through a very aggressive development schedule to achieve all of these important milestones. The CDR provided an in-depth review of the complete system design of the program giving us the opportunity to assess where we are in our development and air vehicle production. It went very well," said Alan Metzger, Northrop Grumman vice president and integrated program team leader of LEMV and airship programs. "The entire team has been collaborating and remains very focused on meeting our objective of delivering this powerful capability into the hands of our combat commanders as soon as possible."
"There are three upcoming major milestones in the next 10 months," Metzger said, "We'll have hull inflation in the spring and first flight of the airship test article by mid-to-late summer. Upon completion of the development ground and flight testing phase, we expect to transition to a government facility and conduct our final acceptance long endurance flight just before year's end. In early 2012, LEMV will participate in an Army Joint Military Utility Assessment in an operational environment," he added. "As you can imagine, it's a very aggressive schedule to deliver from concept-to-combat in this time period."
Under the June 2010 agreement, awarded by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, Northrop Grumman will design, develop and test a long-duration hybrid airship system all within an 18-month time period.
"The power of the LEMV system is that its persistent surveillance capability is built around Northrop Grumman's open architecture design, which provides plug-and-play payload capability to the warfighter and room for mission growth," Metzger said. "The system rapidly accommodates next-generation sensors as emerging field requirements dictate and will provide increased operational utility to battlefield commanders. Today, our system readily integrates into the Army's existing Universal Ground Control Station and Deployable Common Ground System command centers and ground troops in forward operating bases.
"Beyond the value of seamless interoperability, the LEMV system provides a high level of fuel efficiency to the user community—a crucial part of life cycle logistics and support in theatre. While LEMV is longer than a football field and taller than a seven-story building, it utilizes approximately 3,500 gallons of fuel for the air vehicle to remain aloft for a 21-day period of service, that's approximately $11,000 at commercial prices," Metzger added.
Northrop Grumman's industry team includes Hybrid Air Vehicles, Ltd. of the United Kingdom, Warwick Mills, ILC Dover, AAI Corporation, SAIC and a team of technology leaders from 18 U.S. states and three countries. In addition to leading the program, Northrop Grumman leads the system integration, and flight and ground control operations for the unmanned vehicle to safely take off and land in worldwide operations.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com
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New HawkEye! Northrop Grumman's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Completes First Carrier Landing Aboard USS Truman
Defense Industru Daily Analysis: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/e-2d-hawkeye-the-navys-new-awacs-03443/
NorthropGrumman's Press Release below
BETHPAGE, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) -built E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the U.S. Navy's newest airborne early warning and command and control aircraft, has landed on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and begun carrier suitability testing.
With 99 percent of radar testing complete, the purpose of this phase of testing is to assess the aircraft's effectiveness in an operational environment. While onboard the Truman, all aspects of aviation/ship integration will be addressed, including logistics, manpower and interoperability, as well as catapult and arrested landing structural tests.
"This first landing of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye on a carrier deck is a very proud moment for the entire Hawkeye team," said Jim Culmo, vice president, Airborne Early Warning & Battle Management Command and Control Programs, Northrop Grumman. "We're one step closer to delivering this revolutionary weapon system to the warfighter, a milestone the team has been working towards since Delta One took to the skies for the first time in August 2007. As the Navy kicks off its Centennial of Naval Aviation next week, Northrop Grumman continues to be committed to providing this critical first line of defense well into the 21st century."
Led by U.S. Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 (VX-20), testing is being conducted by an integrated test team consisting of Northrop Grumman and Navy pilots and maintainers. The aircraft that made the first carrier landing is "Delta One," the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to roll off Northrop Grumman's manufacturing line in St. Augustine, Fla.
The new aircraft will be able to scan a larger area, detect smaller objects and process information more quickly than its predecessor. The aircrews will be able to accomplish these tasks through improved all-glass cockpits and tactical operator stations.
"This new platform features state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems," said U.S. Navy Capt. Shane Gahagan, Hawkeye, Advanced Hawkeye and Greyhound Program Office. "The E-2D continues the Navy's integrated war fighting legacy by providing broad area coverage resulting in increased range capabilities. With the E-2D's enhanced ability to work in the littoral areas and over land, the platform provides a critical capability to protect our nation's interests."
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
PR
NorthropGrumman's Press Release below
BETHPAGE, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) -built E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the U.S. Navy's newest airborne early warning and command and control aircraft, has landed on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and begun carrier suitability testing.
With 99 percent of radar testing complete, the purpose of this phase of testing is to assess the aircraft's effectiveness in an operational environment. While onboard the Truman, all aspects of aviation/ship integration will be addressed, including logistics, manpower and interoperability, as well as catapult and arrested landing structural tests.
"This first landing of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye on a carrier deck is a very proud moment for the entire Hawkeye team," said Jim Culmo, vice president, Airborne Early Warning & Battle Management Command and Control Programs, Northrop Grumman. "We're one step closer to delivering this revolutionary weapon system to the warfighter, a milestone the team has been working towards since Delta One took to the skies for the first time in August 2007. As the Navy kicks off its Centennial of Naval Aviation next week, Northrop Grumman continues to be committed to providing this critical first line of defense well into the 21st century."
Led by U.S. Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 (VX-20), testing is being conducted by an integrated test team consisting of Northrop Grumman and Navy pilots and maintainers. The aircraft that made the first carrier landing is "Delta One," the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to roll off Northrop Grumman's manufacturing line in St. Augustine, Fla.
The new aircraft will be able to scan a larger area, detect smaller objects and process information more quickly than its predecessor. The aircrews will be able to accomplish these tasks through improved all-glass cockpits and tactical operator stations.
"This new platform features state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems," said U.S. Navy Capt. Shane Gahagan, Hawkeye, Advanced Hawkeye and Greyhound Program Office. "The E-2D continues the Navy's integrated war fighting legacy by providing broad area coverage resulting in increased range capabilities. With the E-2D's enhanced ability to work in the littoral areas and over land, the platform provides a critical capability to protect our nation's interests."
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
PR