Finmeccanica In The News

Europe Asks Thales Alenia Space For The Price Of A Mars Robotic Rover Price check

United Press International
by Staff Writers

Cannes, France (UPI)

The European Space Agency has asked Cannes, France, satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space to quote a price on the construction of a Mars rover. The French-Italian satellite company announced it will convene a meeting of its major contractors next week to discuss the rover, which the ESA is planning to send to Mars in 2013, the BBC reported Thursday.

ESA delegations approved the general outline of the ExoMars rover concept in June and industrial workers are now facing a period of refinement and testing for the details of the concept. The vehicle, which is designed to travel over the surface of the red planet in search of past or present life, will be outfitted with a series of scientific instruments.

“We now have a deadline of 8 October for delivery of the full committing proposal from industry,” said Vincenzo Giorgio at Thales Alenia Space, the lead industrial partner on the ExoMars project.

“This is a challenge not only because there is August — normally a holiday all over Europe — but also because two months is a major challenge anyway to make a full blown proposal,” he said.

ALENIA BOOSTS C-27J OUTPUT

ALENIA BOOSTS C-27J OUTPUTMonday, July 30, 2007Aviation WeekBy: Andy Nativi Alenia Aeronautica is ramping up C-27J production as demand for the tactical airlifter continues to grow among NATO members and export customers. The company expects to produce 18 aircraft by year-end for its four customers—Italy, Greece, Lithuania and Bulgaria. The need for airlift is such that Alenia tried to get the Italian air force to defer some deliveries to allow aircraft to be diverted to other customers. However, Italy said it could not allow further postponements.

On July 25, Alenia handed over a third Italian aircraft. The air force will receive a fourth unit in September, another in November and two more in December. With two of the 12 aircraft on order already in service, the air force has established an operational squadron within its Pisa-based 46th Aero Brigade and is eager to start operational deployment of the aircraft in Afghanistan to support the NATO-led mission there. (C-130Js have proved to be too big for intertheater transport roles.) Greece has so far received eight of the 12 aircraft it has on order and is to get a ninth in September. Lithuania has taken delivery of just one aircraft, and Bulgaria is to get its first unit in October.

Alenia is also preparing to start work on the U.S. Joint Cargo Aircraft, even though the program is frozen while the Government Accountability Office reviews a protest filed by the losing Raytheon/EADS team. The plan is to build at least the first five aircraft at Alenia’s Caselle plant near Turin while a new assembly line in Jacksonville, Fla., is being installed. Meanwhile, the C-27J fleet is building up flying time. The 12 aircraft delivered to date have made around 1,800 flights, including operational missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and increased average operational availability to more than 80%.

Next Generation Presidential Helo Takes First Test Fligh

NAVAIR Patuxent River is Responsible for Delivering the Next Generation Presidential Helicopter

By CAPT Dean Peters, USN, VH-71 Government Flight Test Director

YEOVIL, UNITED KINGDOM (July 30, 2007) – Completing its first official test flight, the next presidential helicopter, the VH-71, creates another memorable experience for yet another Marine pilot as the journey begins for this aircraft’s future operational employment by the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

Maj. Rich Marigliano, USMC, recently joined AgustaWestland test pilot Dick Trueman and Flight Test Engineers Clive Bowditch and Richard Parkes in performing the initial trials on the first true VH-71 test vehicle, TV-2, to come out of AgustaWestland’s Yeovil, England production facility, seven days after its maiden flight.

I have been with this program for over two years and it was great to see the efforts of so many different organizations coming together to start the official testing on TV-2. The aircraft flew great and the test team was able to collect a large set of data,” said Maj. Rich Marigliano, USMC, VH-71 test pilot and ITT Operations Officer. “I look forward to continuing to work with such a wide spectrum of professional pilots, engineers and managers from all the contributing organizations.”

With the completion of the acceptance test procedure the week prior, the test program for TV-2 began with approximately 40 flights and 800 test points. These initial test flights will establish the aircraft’s un-instrumented flight clearance and baseline avionics checkout.

The first phase of flight testing is complete and the aircraft is currently in a modification and instrumentation retrofit period that will last until mid-September.

Upon completion of the retrofit period, flight testing will continue for approximately four weeks prior to final preparations and shipment to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Patuxent River, Md. in the late fall timeframe.

The VH-71 Integrated Test Team, formed to support the Presidential Helicopters Program Office, consists of government and industry personnel from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO ONE, HX-21, Marine Helicopter Squadron One, HMX-1, Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego, Bell Helicopter, and AgustaWestland.

Alenia Aermacchi Delivers to the Italian Air Force Its Final SF-260EA Primary

Alenia Aeronautic

VENEGONO, Italy — On 27 July Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, delivered to the Italian Air Force (ITAF) the last two SF-260 primary trainers in the latest EA variant, developed specifically for the ITAF.

The aircraft were delivered at Venegono in the presence of Lt. Gen. Giampiero Gargini,  Commander of the ITAF Schools, of Col. Francesco Tinagli, Commander of the 70th Wing,  and of senior Alenia Aermacchi executives. 

The delivery marks the completion of the contract signed in 2005 with the Ministry of Defence for the supply of thirty SF-260EA aircraft. 

In addition to the development and certification of the new EA variant, the contract also included the provision of training and logistic support services directly at Latina, where the 70th Wing is based. 

The fleet support contract called for the setting up of a Logistics Support Centre within the Latina Air Force Base, in order to assist the military personnel tasked with maintaining the SF-260 fleet. In accordance with the philosophy of providing Customers with a complete support service, the Logistics Centre manages the supply of materials, spare parts and equipment required to support the fleet in service. 

The SF-260EA at Latina 

The SF-260EA are used by the 70th Wing of the Italian Air Force, which is based at Latina. The latest version of the classic SF-260 has allowed the ITAF basic flying school to take advantage of the new avionics suite to expand its training programme. Today its student pilots can acquire additional IFR navigation training previously flown with jets, allowing the ITAF to reduce its costs significantly with undiminished quality. 

The new training programmes introduced in Summer 2006 allow pilot candidates from all Services and Government Agencies that receive their basic training at the 70th Wing to achieve a high level of proficiency in all basic aspects of flight. In addition to achieving greater theoretical and practical knowledge of IFR navigation than in the past, the new syllabus also includes low-level navigation and night flying. Whereas in the past the 70th Wing flew prevalently in areas in the vicinity of Latina, today its aircraft also deploy to other airfields and areas for training purposes. 

Background information 

The SF-260 is the most successful primary trainer on the worldwide market. 

It is a two-seat, piston-engine acrobatic aircraft, capable of accommodating a third seat on non-acrobatic missions for greater flexibility.With its performance and handling, the SF-260 can be used throughout the student pilot screening phase and provide effective training in the entire first phase of the syllabus. 

In addition, the EA variant sports a modern avionics suite, improved cockpit ergonomics and improved ease of maintenance. The avionics suite includes new navigation and communications systems. The navigation system includes VOR/ILS, ADF, DME, GPS, ADI and HSI, placed in the classic “T” configuration for both pilots. This improves the possibilities for guided navigation and allows fully instrumental landings, improving flight safety and training effectiveness for both navigation and acrobatics. 

The communications suite includes two VHF/AM and UHF/AM transmitters/receivers and intercom, based on state of the art components that optimise communications with ground-based control networks and between pilots. 

The reprofiled canopy makes the cockpit more spacious compared to the AM variant previously used by the ITAF. The integrally-lit instruments and control panels are easier to read. Cabin ventilation has been improved with redesigned air vents and a new cabin air conditioning system.

The EA is easier to operate thanks to improvements such as the new access door on the
rear fuselage for battery inspection and maintenance. 

The SF-260 fleet worldwide has accumulated over 1.8 million flying hours since its inception.

The Ministry of Defense Still Sides With Italy’s Alenia

Source: Jurnanul National

The leadership of Romania’s Ministry of Defense, mainly minister Teodor Melescanu, look like continuing to favor Italy’s Alenia over Spain’s EADS-CASA for the procurement of military troops transport planes for which 300 million euros were earmarked.

In an interview broadcast by Antena 3 television channel, Melescanu said the public servants in his ministry were working to complete the contract with Alenia, which would be signed, however, only after the Court of Appeal would issue the grounds of its ruling on the case opposing the two bidders.

Still, the argument is not valid, as the court could not have ruled on technical grounds as no it requested no independent technical expertise.
It looks more like an attempt of the ministry to dodge responsibility and throw it on somebody else’s.

Melescanu also said the Court of Appeal decision cannot be appealed.
But this is not true.

Jurnalul national is following this topic for the past several months.
It discovered in the process of covering it that high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Defense favored the Alenia offer in the bidding, though it was the more expensive one, and rejected the EADS-CASA offer on technical grounds.

This decision EADS-CASA challenged in court, and the court was clear so far about one thing: that it ruled out Alennia’s request to make it mandatory for the Romanian state to sign the contract with it.

The criteria listed on the ministry web page said publid procurement bid for the seven medium courrier planes would be won by the company providing:
    the lowest price;
    safety in exploittion;
    long life span for the major components;
    the best cost per hour of flight.

So far, the ministry went the Spartan plane, Alenia’s more expensive offer.

• Translated by ANCA PADURARU

Finmeccanica’s Ansaldo Energia wins 160 mln eur contract in Algeria

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Finmeccanica SpA said its unit Ansaldo Energia, which supplies components and services for energy generating plants, has won a 160 mln eur order in Algeria.

Algeria’s Sonelgaz has awarded the contract as part of an expansion of the Larbaa electric generating plant near, Algiers, it said, noting another contract at the site last month.

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‘The expansion of the Larbaa plant involves the supply of two other gas turbines… in addition to two planned under the base contract, taking the overall power to 600 MW, from 300,’ it said.

‘The amount of the base contract will therefore be increased by about 160 mln eur, with a consequent doubling in service activities,’ it said. nigel.tutt@thomson.com nt/dca

Turkey goes ahead with $2.7 bln Italian attack helicopters

Today's Zaman
Ankara 

Tuşaş Aersopace Industries (TAI) and Italy's Agusta Westland signed a local content agreement last week for the production of Italian Mangusta A-129 attack helicopters in Turkey.

For the project to become effective the Undersecratariat of the Defense Industry (SSM) and Agusta Westland are expected to sign a procurement agreement most possibly later this week, said TAI sources.

The local content agreement signed between TAI and Agusta Westland envisages TAI becoming the main contractor in a project for the local production of software source codes and their integration, while Agusta Westland and local firm Aselsan will be the prime subcontractors, with the latter to produce avionics of the first batch of 51 attack helicopters.

The first locally developed attack helicopter is scheduled to be delivered in 60 months' time following the signing of the procurement agreement with SSM, while the remaining delivery of all the helicopters are planned to be completed in 114 months to meet the requirements of the Turkish Land Forces Command.

TAI and Agusta will jointly have the copyright of the attack helicopters to be configured at TAI facilities near Ankara, while TAI will become the sole source in the production and sale of helicopter fuselages. Thus, final assembly, delivery and acceptance of the aircraft is scheduled to take place in Turkey. Turkey decided on March 30 this year to start contract negotiations with Italy's AgustaWestland for its Mangusta A 129 model in its long-standing attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter project: ATAK Project. The project, estimated to cost around $2.7 billion, is code-named T-129, marking a Turco-Italian joint partnership in developing the helicopters. South Africa's Denel was competing with Rooivalk in the tender.

TAI signs deal with South Korean KAI

Meanwhile, TAI and South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) also signed a contract on July 18 in Ankara that completed details for the purchase and joint production of KT-1 basic trainer aircraft (BTA).  The SSM and KAI are also expected to sign a procurement contract for the aircraft today or tomorrow.  Brazil's Embraer was also competing for the contract with its Super Tucano.

A TAI statement said: "Under the program, the manufacturing, assembly, flight test and delivery of a total of 40 firm (plus an option for 15) basic trainer aircraft will be realized by TAI. These aircraft are planned to replace the existing T-37s that are in the inventory of Turkish Air Force Command." The project is estimated to cost around $330 million. The first five BTAs will be built in South Korea, while the remaining 35 will be manufactured at TAI facilities. Additionally, TAI will build KT-1 forward fuselages for both the Turkish requirement and for possible export to other countries. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2009, and deliveries will be completed within two years of the first delivery.

Finmeccanica: the Board of Directors appoints the Lead Independent Director

Rome, Italy - Guido Venturioni, already member of the Strategy Committee

(WAPA) - “In accordance with the recommendations of the new Code of Conduct, Finmeccanica’s Board of Directors in the meeting of the 26 of July appointed, with the abstention of the Chairman and CEO, director Guido Venturioni as Lead Independent Director. Mr Venturoni is already a member of the Strategy Committee.

Specifically, the Lead Independent Director’s duties are to work with the Chairman and CEO to ensure that directors receive complete and timely information; to convene, independently or at the request of other directors, special meetings of the independent directors only (on at least an annual basis) to discuss topics of interest regarding the workings of the Board of Directors or corporate management; to facilitate the assessment process of the Board of Directors, to assist the Chairman in preparing the Board’s annual calendar of meetings and to inform the Chairman and CEO of any issues to be examined and assessed by the Board of Directors.

The Lead Independent Director will remain in post for the remaining period of the Board of Directors’ mandate, i.e. until the shareholders’ meeting to approve the 2007 annual results.

The appointment of the Lead Independent Director is part of the company’s commitment to good corporate governance and is in line with the provisions of the Code of Conduct, which stipulates that there should be mostly independent directors in the following committees: Internal Control Committee: composed entirely of independent directors (Piergiorgio Alberti – Chairman; Franco Bonferroni; Maurizio de Tilla, Gian Luigi Lombardi-Cerri); Remuneration Committee: composed of four non-executive directors (Riccardo Varaldo – Chairman; Piergiorgio Alberti; Franco Bonferroni; Dario Scannapieco), three of whom are independent.

Purchase of own shares

Subsequent to the extension voted by the Board on 30 May authorising own shares to be bought back and used for the share incentive scheme for 2005-2007, Finmeccanica’s Board of Directors gave the go-ahead to the purchase, in several tranches, of a maximum of 4,067,880 company shares, authorising the Chairman and CEO to acquire said shares under the conditions of the above mentioned resolution.

The company currently holds 600,601 own shares, equivalent to 0.1413% of the share capital, of which 433,786 are already used for the incentive scheme.

The shares covered by today’s resolution will be purchased, as indicated, on the market at the market price recorded on the day before the purchase plus 5% (maximum) or at the market price recorded on the day before the purchase price minus 5% (minimum)”.

BAE EIS Sending Its CREW to the Front Lines –Selex Guardian IED Jammer

Defense Industry Daily

BAE Systems’ Information & Electronic Warfare Systems group in Nashua, NH produces electronic IED jammers that disrupt the remote signals (often cell phones) used to set off land mines in Iraq, Afghanistan, et. al. They’re referred to as “Dismounted Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems” and what’s different is that they’re “dismounted,” i.e. not placed in vehicles but described as wearable.

This contracts cover urgent procurement and support of CREW systems, to be used by forces in each of the military services of the Central Command Area of Responsibility (AOR). So, just what do we know about the CREW system? A bit more, now…

The Dismounted CREW

The equipment is based on Finmeccanica subsidiary SELEX’s Guardian family, and the latest version is Guardian W, a low-power, low-band manpack that can be installed in vehicles using a quick clip-in adaptor set with appropriate shock mounts and antenna installation.

Jane’s relays SELEX’s unsurprising disclosure that these are barrage/ pre-emptive jamming devices that actively interfere with radio frequency transmissions in their coverage area. They are listed as being “compatible with coalition communications systems,” though that phrasing could mean many things.

The Navy manages the joint CREW program for Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). As part of an earlier $10.2 million contract, BAE and Finmeccanica subsidiary Selex had provided 120 Remote Control Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) countermeasures systems to the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force at Fort Belvoir, VA back in March 2006.\

Dismounted CREW Contracts

Unless otherwise noted, all of the contracts below are issued by The US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC to BAE Systems’ Information & Electronic Warfare Systems group in Nashua, NH.

July 25/07: A $6.3 million time and material, firm-fixed-price modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-06-C-6353), exercising options for Field Service Representatives, Depot-Level repair services, and spares for the Dismounted Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems, to meet urgent Department of Defense (DoD) requirements in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Work will be performed in Christchurch, Dorset, UK (69%); and in the USA in Lansdale, PA (28%); and Nashua, NH (3%) and is expected to be complete by July 2008. This contract was competitively procured and advertised via the Internet, with 5 offers received. All contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

Sept 22/06: A $79.5 million firm-fixed-price, incentive fee contract for production and support of up to 3,874 “Dismounted Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems.” Work on this follow-on contract will be performed in Christchurch, Dorset, United Kingdom (69%); Lansdale, PA (28%); and Nashua, NH (3%); and is expected to be complete by October 2008. This contract was competitively procured and based upon a limited competition from 5 offerors under Unusual and Compelling urgency provisions (N00024-06-C-6353).

Alenia Aeronautica delivers third C-27J to the Italian Air Force

ROME-(Business Wire)-July 25, 2007 - Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, has delivered the third C-27J tactical transport aircraft to the Italian Air Force. The ItAF have ordered 12 of the twin-engine aircraft, seven of which will be in service by the year end.

Currently, there are 12 C-27Js operational with three air forces: eight in Greece, three in Italy and one in Lithuania.

As of today, the C-27J fleet in service with the three armed forces has performed a total of about 1800 flights, has achieved an excellent level of operational availability with an operational readiness rate above 80%. In March 2007 the C-27J fleet in service with the Italian Air Force and Lithuanian Air Force achieved an operational readiness rate of 100%. In addition, the aircraft has been used in complex operational scenarios in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The C-27J production program envisages the delivery of two aircraft in September, one for Greece and one for Italy; one for Bulgaria in October; one for Italy in November; and, two aircraft for Italy in December for a total of 18 airplanes in service by the year end.

110 C-27Js have been ordered so far by six different air forces (Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Lithuania, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force). In addition, the aircraft was selected by Romania, which is expected to sign an order for 7 aircraft within the next few weeks.

The aircraft is under evaluation by many of the world’s air forces. In Canada, for instance, it fully meets the requirement for the replacement of the current twin-engine Buffalos and of the four-engine C-130s used for search & rescue missions. Among other countries interested in the aircraft, the C-27J has been formally evaluated by the air forces of Australia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica Company, is the largest Italian aeronautic player which operates world-wide in the commercial and military aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles and aerostructures. Alenia Aeronautica also coordinates the activities of Alenia Aermacchi and Alenia Aeronavali - wholly owned companies - respectively active in the design and manufacturing of military trainer aircraft and in the overhaul, maintenance and modification of military and civil aircraft. With its joint venture ATR, Alenia Aeronautica is the world leader in the regional turboprop market. Over 2006 Alenia Aeronautica reported revenues of 1,908 millions Euro, backlog for 7,538 millions Euro and orders for 2,634. The total workforce is 12,135.