Visita del Embajador de Alemania a las instalaciones de Eurocopter en Albacete

"El consejero delegado de Eurocopter en España, Francisco Vergé, y el embajador de la República Federal de Alemania en  España, Reinhard Silberberg (tercero y cuarto por la izquierda) en las instalaciones de Eurocopter en Albacete."



Albacete, 9 de mayo de 2011



En presencia del consejero delegado de Eurocopter en España, Francisco Vergé, el embajador de la República Federal de Alemania en España, Sr. Reinhard Silberberg, acompañado de los agregados de Armamento y de la Fuerza Aérea, realizaron una visita a las instalaciones de Eurocopter en Albacete.

Durante la visita tuvo lugar un recorrido por la fábrica, una presentación de la actividad que se lleva a cabo en la empresa, así como los planes de futuro y expansión, que sorprendieron gratamente al embajador, quien puso un especial interés en las líneas de montaje del helicóptero EC135 y del NH90. Asimismo mostró interés por el modelo de Eurocopter España en el apoyo a la operación de las Fuerzas Armadas desde el punto de vista de proximidad y de compromiso tanto en territorio nacional como en los despliegues en misiones de mantenimiento de la paz. La visita culminó con la firma en el Libro de Honor de la compañía.

Acerca de Eurocopter

Creado en 1992, el grupo franco-germano-español Eurocopter es una división de EADS, un líder mundial en el sector aeroespacial, de defensa y servicios conexos. El grupo emplea a aproximadamente 17.500 personas. En 2010, Eurocopter confirmó su posición de nº 1 mundial en la fabricación de helicópteros para los mercados civil y parapúblico, con un volumen de ventas de 4.800 millones de euros, con pedidos por 346 nuevos helicópteros y una cuota de mercado del 49% en los sectores civil y parapúblico. Los productos del grupo representan actualmente el 33% de la flota mundial de helicópteros. Su fuerte presencia mundial está asegurada por 30 filiales y participaciones situadas en los cinco continentes y una extensa red de distribuidores, agentes autorizados y centros de mantenimiento. Actualmente hay en funcionamiento 11.200 helicópteros de Eurocopter en 147 países, por cuenta de unos 2.900 clientes. Eurocopter ofrece la más amplia gama de helicópteros civiles y militares del mundo.

Northrop Grumman Unveils Newest Intel Gathering Aircraft System

SAN DIEGO, May 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Military users will be able to get real-time high-definition video, view infrared imagery, use radar and even listen in on communications signals – all at the same time – using a new intelligence-gathering aircraft system unveiled today by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC).

Firebird offers a large internal payload bay and an ability to operate multiple intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and communications payloads simultaneously through a universal interface. The system is designed to be flown as a manned or unmanned aircraft.

As lead for the Firebird program, Northrop Grumman developed the unmanned systems architecture, control and mission systems. The company chose Scaled Composites to design, build and test the aircraft – with first flight occurring just 12 months after the initial concept discussions.

"We've harnessed the innovative techniques of Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites to deliver an unprecedented information-gathering capability," said Paul Meyer, vice president and general manager of advanced programs and technology for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "Firebird addresses future budgetary constraints by combining the best of our piloted and unmanned ISR systems into a single solution ready for a variety of ISR missions."

Firebird's universal interface is similar to plugging a memory stick into a personal computer that is automatically recognized without needing to load additional software.

"Not only have we increased the number of ISR sensors working simultaneously in an aircraft of this size, but we can also incorporate various sensors that complement each other – greatly enhancing Firebird's information-gathering value for warfighters," said Rick Crooks, Northrop Grumman's Firebird program manager. "Firebird is an adaptable system that makes it highly affordable because of the number of different missions it can accomplish during a single flight. It's a real game changer."

From inception, Firebird was designed to be flown as a manned or unmanned aircraft and can be quickly modified for either option.

"Military users will also find it much easier to exploit intelligence data from Firebird because the information is put into a single tool that allows them to easily make decisions," said Crooks. "The internal payload bay also does away with the need to carry external pods to house sensor payloads that can cause drag and affect how long the aircraft can stay in the air."

Firebird is set for an operational demonstration in an optionally-piloted configuration from May 23 – June 3, 2011, during Empire Challenge 2011, a military exercise run by U.S. Joint Forces Command.

Scaled Composites, LLC is an aerospace and specialty composites development company located in Mojave, Calif. Founded in 1982 by Burt Rutan, Scaled has broad experience in air vehicle design, analysis and fabrication, and developmental flight tests of air and space vehicles. Please go to www.scaled.com for more information.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Lockheed Martin Delivers First USAF Production F-35 Lightning II

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 9th, 2011 -- The U.S. Air Force has accepted into its fleet the first of a planned 1,763 production-model Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters.

The signing of formal acceptance documents for the jet, known as AF-7, took place at Lockheed Martin's F-35 final assembly plant in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 5. The jet flew to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Friday to begin its flight testing program.

"This first aircraft is the beginning of the modernization of U.S. Air Force, Marine and Naval Air power and for our coalition partners around the world," said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager. "The F-35 family of aircraft will bring an incredible increase in capability that our men and women defending us deserve. Today we begin to fulfill the vision of our government and international customers." F-35s have completed more than 865 flights since flight-testing began in late 2006. In addition to AF-7, eight more production-model F-35s have rolled out and are being prepared for delivery.

The F-35 Lightning II is the most advanced multirole fighter in the world, combining Very Low Observable stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and reduced sustainment costs. The Lightning II's sensor suite is the most powerful and comprehensive of any fighter in history, and will merge with an unprecedented networking capability to give unmatched situational awareness. Supersonic launch of internal weapons, including maximum-speed (Mach 1.6) launch of internal air-to-air missiles, is a feature of all F-35s.

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

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