Oct 13, 2008

Germany's Ministry of Defence is to select a contractor for its medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle in December with the winning manufacturer being awarded an initial $95 million contract. The two final contenders are the Israel Aerospace Industries

(IAI) Heron-TP and the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Predator B. The selected system will be operated by German units in Afghanistan. The planned December selection is needed to achieve an initial operating capability of the selected system in 2010. The German request for proposal is based on the supply of five MALE UAVs. The selected MALE UAV will be operated in parallel with five Northrop Grumman/EADS EuroHawk high altitude long endurance vehicles that have already been ordered. Oct 6, 2008

Boeing

Boeing has secured a new order for two C-17s to an international consortium comprised of 10 NATO members and Finland and Sweden. The long-awaited deal was confirmed by the signing of the strategic airlift capability memorandum of understanding, creating a Heavy Airlift Wing for conducting operational and humanitarian flights for members of the consortium. The wing, based in Hungary, will consist of three C-17s, of which two will be purchased by the 12-nation consortium and one will be donated by the US Air Force. All three aircraft will be delivered before the fourth quarter of 2009. Boeing now has six customers that have ordered 208 C-17s, including 190 by the USAF. The company expects Congress to approve funding for the USAF to buy 15 more C-17s by the end of October, potentially raising overall orders to 223 and extending production at least a year to 2010. Oct 6, 2008

Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems is planning the first flight of its Hermes-900 unmanned air vehicle before the end of the year. The Hermes-900, Elbit's largest UAV, is an all weather system that has an automatic take-off and landing capabilty able to operate with runways that are not instrumented. With its 15m (49ft) wingspan and a 970kg (2,100lb) maximum take-off weight the 115hp (84.5kW) Rotax 914 engine that powers it provides for a 300Kg payload capability and endurance of 40h. For communication it uses a secured redundant line of sight datalink and a satellite communication system for beyond line of sight. The UAV is operated by Elbit's own Universal Ground Control Station, which according to the company can control two UAVs at any given time. Elbit has teamed with Thales and L-3 MAS Canada and is offering the Hermes-900 to the Canadian army. In mid 2006 Elbit's Skylark UAV was procured by Canada and is mainly used by its forces deployed overseas. Oct 6, 2008

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