Italy's Alenia keen for involvement in Franco-British UCAV programme

Alenia Aermacchi is keen to become involved in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) demonstrator programme being jointly developed by the UK and France via their aerospace champions BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation.

Giueseppe Giordo, chief executive of Alenia Aermacchi, believes the Franco-British alliance created by the Lancaster House treaty of November 2010 "is not a closed one" and the nations would be willing to "consider other partners to enter it".

However, Giordo cautions that Alenia would only be willing to join if it was given an equal billing with the two other manufacturers. "Clearly we will not enter with a secondary role. If the French and British can understand that another party can enter at the same level [as BAE Systems and Dassault] this will be a sound approach."

He says the Italian authorities are talking to their British and French counterparts, as well as other governments across Europe, to identify "which is the best alliance" for its involvement.

Giordo was speaking at an event to mark the second flight of the Dassault Neuron on 19 December in Istres in the south of France. Produced by six European nations and their aerospace representatives, including Alenia, the Neuron is a stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), designed as a technology demonstrator.

The possibility has also been raised that BAE Systems could become involved in the Neuron, bringing with it technology developed for its Taranis UCAV demonstrator programme.

However, Charles Edelstenne, chief executive of Dassault, plays down this possibility. He says: "The Neuron programme has a certain number of partners and we have to go to the end of it. It is out of the question to bring in another partner."

BAE and Dassault, he says, will draw on their experiences from Neuron and Taranis to "inform" the design of FCAS.

Nonetheless, he remains open to the potential of other countries becoming involved. "Others will join or not join in the future," he says.

Italian air force stands up new Eurofighter unit

The Eurofighter combat aircraft has entered service with the Italian air force's 18 Sqn at Trapani-Birgi air base in Sicily, with the unit having been reformed following the phasing-out of its last Lockheed Martin F-16s in May.

Part of the air force's 37th Wing, 18 Sqn will be responsible for defending Italy's national airspace, alongside the service's 4th Wing at Grosseto and 36th Wing at Gioia del Colle.

The service says the unit was stood up on 18 October, with other sources saying that it has received at least eight aircraft, including four from each of its previously established Eurofighter wings.

Pilots from the reformed squadron have already participated with the other units crews during training activities, including at a German electronic warfare range during September.

Pak-Italian Top Generals Discuss ‘Afghanistan Situation’

A high powered delegation lead by General Biagio ABRATE, Chief of Defence Staff, Italian Armed Forces, Republic of Italy, today visited Joint Staff Headquarters Chaklala. General Biagio ABRATE called on General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
During the meeting the matters related to Professional interests and mutual cooperation came under discussion. Over all situation of Afghanistan was of particular focus during the discussions.
CJCSC emphasized that stability in Pakistan is directly linked with the security situation in Afghanistan and that Pakistan is fully supportive of an Afghan led and Afghan owned reconciliation process.
General Biagio ABRATE appreciated the role played by the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan specially the efforts in fighting terrorism and thereby stabilizing the Geo-Strategic situation of the region.

On his arrival at Joint Staff Headquarters General Biagio ABRATE was presented a guard of honour by a smartly turned out tri service contingent.

Rosoboronexport, Leading Italian Industries Set to Establish Cooperation in Airborne Surveillance Domain

JSC "Rosoboronexport" and Italian company "OMA SUD S.p.A.", i.e. the affiliate of "ATR Group" and designer and manufacturer of certified multimission general-purpose aircraft – twin-engine SKYCAR and single-engine REDBIRD, signed Memorandum of Understanding during the 9th International Exhibition "Gydroaviasalon-2012" which traditionally takes place on the Russian coast of Black Sea in Gelendzhik.

The main purpose of the cooperation is joint production of light amphibian aircraft, on basis of the one, developed by JSC "Beriev", capable to perform special patrolling as well as humanitarian and double-purpose missions.

The Agreement between JSC "Rosoboronexport" and "SELEX Galileo Ltd" was signed within the frames of work set out in July in Farnborough on development of cooperation mechanism on project "Integrated diagnostic centers" for operation and maintenance of Russian and Western origin fix and rotary wing aircraft, earlier delivered to third countries.

As well JSC "Rosoboronexport" and "MBDA Italia S.p.A" signed a corresponding Agreement, specifying the order of interaction of the Russian and the Italian Sides, on purpose of implementation of joint projects in field of special purpose aviation in the interests of third countries.

ST Aerospace & Alenia Aermacchi Roll Out First M-346 for the RSAF

 enegono Superiore (Varese), Italy  – The first M-346 advanced trainer for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was rolled out in a ceremony held at Alenia Aermacchi’s plant in Venegono Superiore, Italy.

In September 2010, ST Aerospace, as the prime contractor, teaming with Alenia Aermacchi (a Finmeccanica company) and The Boeing Company, was awarded a contract to supply 12 M-346 aircraft and ground based training system for the RSAF’s Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) programme.

The roll-out ceremony was attended by officials from the RSAF, key representatives from ST Aerospace, The Boeing Company and Alenia Aermacchi, as well as staff representatives involved in the programme. 

                       Alenia Aermacchi will supply 12 M-346 to the RSAF

“We signed the contract less than two years ago and today we have rolled out the first of twelve M-346 aircraft for the RSAF’s Advanced Jet Trainer programme. This is a particularly important moment for our company, a great team job has been achieved in strict collaboration with our industrial counterpart, ST Aerospace, and we are proud to celebrate together with them”. Said Giuseppe GIORDO, Alenia Aermacchi’s CEO.

“The successful rollout of the first M-346 illustrates the firm commitment by ST Aerospace and Alenia Aermacchi, in support of the RSAF’s next generation training needs. Together with our partners we will continue to marry the strengths of one another to deliver an outstanding solution to our customer.” said CHANG Cheow Teck, President, ST Aerospace.

The rollout follows the obtaining of the type certificate and the first flight made by this aircraft in July 2012. The delivery of the first M-346 is scheduled for the end of 2012.

Asian Defence News

Last Cold War Russian Nuclear Sub Scrap Contract

Russia contracts with Italy for decommissioning the last remaining Northern Fleet nuclear submarine no longer in operation
But 'Barents Observer' notes there are still more than 70 reactor compartments to be taken safely onshore from storage in Saida Bay, west of Murmansk near the border with Norway.
Rosatom, Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation has for years been looking for a funder to cover the costs of scrapping the last of the 120 retired nuclear powered submarines that sailed in the Northern fleet during the Cold War. Now, Italy agrees to pay €7 million to cut out the reactor-compartment from the submarine, currently laid up at Nerpa naval yard on the Kola Peninsula, according to 'AtomInfo'.

The United States will grant €1 million to cover the cost of transportation of the spent nuclear fuel from the submarines two reactors to Russia’s reprocessing plant in Mayak in the South Urals.
The deal is a part of the funding provided via the Global Partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction, initiated by the G8 countries in 2002.
Although the submarines are cut up and the metal is sent to recycling, the reactor compartments are still highly radioactive and must be stored safely onshore for decades. For that purpose, a huge onshore storage pad is built in the Saida Bay, west of Murmansk towards the border to Norway.
The Russian Northern fleet still has more than 20 nuclear powered submarines in operation and several more are under testing and construction.

€11 Million Contract to Supply LOAM Systems to the Italian Ministry of Defense

At Farnborough 2012 SELEX Elsag announced a 11 million euro contract to supply LOAM (Laser Obstacle Avoidance & Monitoring) systems to equip naval and tactical NH-90 helicopters operated by the Italian Ministry of Defense. Delivery of the equipment is expected to begin in 2013.

The NH90 is produced by NHI, a consortium between the Franco-German company Eurocopter, the Anglo-Italian Agusta Westland and the Dutch Stork Fokker Aerospace.

SELEX Elsag’s LOAM is an auxiliary system for navigation, designed for rotary wing platforms. Its operating system is based on an eye-safe laser radar. This can detect any kind of dangerous obstacle along the flight path, such as power lines, ropeway wires and pillars, allowing the crew to adopt appropriate, timely and effective countermeasures. This significantly increases the pilot’s situational awareness and guarantees a higher level of safety in low altitude flight during operational missions.

Italy Presents The AC-27J

The Italian manufacturer of the C-27J transport recently announced a gunship version. This would equip the twin-engine aircraft with an automatic cannon (probably 30mm), night vision sensors, laser designators, and guided missiles (like Hellfire and even smaller ones like Griffin).

Four years ago the air force portion of U.S. SOCOM (AFSOC, Air Force Special Operations Command) looked into using light (two engine) transports for "light gunships." SOCOM selected the C-27J (a joint U.S./Italian upgrade of the Italian G-222) for the experiment. This is a 28 ton aircraft that can carry nine tons for up to 2,500 kilometers and land on smaller airfields than the four engine transports can handle. SOCOM planned to take a C-27J and mount a pair of 30mm automatic cannon on it, along with the AC-130 gunship sensors and communications gear as well as Hellfire missiles. Called the "AC-XX", this C-27J experiment didn't work out (mainly for political reasons) and SOCON stuck with the AC-130.

The Italians apparently sensed an international market for a twin engine gunship. The Italian plan is for the sensors and communications gear, and some of the weapons, to be mounted on pallets, which would be placed in the aircraft via the rear cargo ramp and hooked up to aircraft power and communications systems. Some weapons (missiles) would be mounted on external racks. The Italians are looking for customers before they actually build the AC-27J, and given the American experience with "instant gunships" (Harvest Hawk), there is no doubt that it works and that the Italians can create an AC-27J version.

Cargo aircraft serving as gunships first appeared, using twin-engine World War II era C-47 transports, in the 1960s over Vietnam. The troops called the gunships, which liked to operate at night, "Spooky." The gunships quickly moved to four engine C-130 transports but the nickname stuck.