Yesterday, EADS-Space Transportation and EUROPROPULSION (50% Avio and 50% Safran) signed a contract for the production of 30 pairs of boosters for the European Ariane 5 Launcher.
The contract has a total value of about EUR 900 million, of which EUR 400 million is part of a subcontract with Avio for the production of components of cutting-edge technology for the boosters, such as the solid-fuel propellant, thermal protection and igniters. Avio has the complete responsibility for the performance of the boosters, which guarantee 90% of the thrust at launching and for over two minutes until their release, which takes place at a height of 65 km and a speed of Mach 3.
“This, for Avio, is the most important contract regarding the space activities, during the last few years,” said Pier Giuliano Lasagni, Head of Avio’s Space Division. “This signing ensures the Ariane production over the next five years, starting from the January launch, and an important confirmation of the confidence in the commercial success of Ariane 5.”
This success represents a certainty and an assurance for those who build the future of the European launcher. A closer future thanks to the decision of the Member Countries of the ESA who approved important financing for the new launchers during the recent interministerial conference.
An important year-end for the launchers sector: last night the Ariane 5 was successfully launched from the Kourou base in French Guyana. It was the fifth Ariane 5 mission this year, third of the G (Generic) version. With this launch, the company commercialising the Ariane flights, Arianespace, has regained leadership worldwide in the market of commercial satellites (over 50%).
Avio is present in Italy and abroad with 14 plants and 4800 employees. It works in four sectors of activities: modules and components for aircraft engines, civil and military engine overhauling services, space and aircraft-derived turbines for marine applications. It is a world leader in power transmissions and Italy’s leading operator where both aircraft engines and solid propellant space propulsion systems are concerned. In 2004 company turnover totalled 1,220 million euros.
RESTON, VA 20 December 2005 AgustaWestland reported today that their US139 aircraft, recently offered to fulfill the US Army¹s requirement for a new Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), has been completely fitted in LUH configuration and completed its initial series of flights in preparation for the Source Selection Performance Demonstration. Flying out of AgustaWestland facilities in Philadelphia, PA on December 8, 2005, the US139 flew LUH mission profiles, including disaster relief and recovery simulations.
³We are extremely pleased and excited by the US139¹s performance in its first flight in full-up LUH configuration,² said Stephen C. Moss, chief executive officer of AgustaWestland North America. ³We see it as a demonstration of what we already knew the US139 is ready to meet the demands of the mission and represents the clear best choice for the Army¹s LUH requirement.²
The US139 is a customized, non-developmental version of the modern, FAA-certified AB139 helicopter in service worldwide. Conceived out of a 1991 NATO Industrial Advisory Group study on a Future Light Battlefield Helicopter, the aircraft was designed from its inception to replace the UH-1 ³Huey² and fulfill the Army¹s LUH requirement. The US139 is ³fully compliant plus² in that it meets all the requirements listed in the Army¹s request for proposal and, in many cases, exceeds them. Containing significant inherent growth potential, the US139 has the flexibility to meet the demands of present and future LUH missions.
³The US139 offers modern, state-of-the-art technology, high reliability, best-in-class speed, large cabin volume, substantial performance margin for mission growth and a hot and increasing production line that can provide the Army with US139 deliveries promptly and risk-free,² added Mr. Moss. ³At the end the day, the US139's technical superiority and ability to meet today's mission and grow with it into the future, make it the best value and most cost-effective solution for the LUH requirement.²
³Pairing the technically superior platform with L-3 Integrated Systems¹ team that already provides second-to-none logistics support for the U.S. Army aviation fleet produces a winning combination,² said Ed Boyington, Vice President of Federal Programs for L-3/IS. ³The US139 is the clear choice for the LUH mission.²
Team US139 brings together the unrivalled design and innovation of AgustaWestland and the mission integration and logistical support expertise of L-3. Both companies have a proven track record in the United States with L-3 possessing a superb record of supplying systems and services to the US Army. Prime contractor and helicopter designer AgustaWestland has over 50 years of experience in the U.S., including production and maintenance of U.S. Army helicopters, and is known worldwide for its superior aircraft design, performance, reliability and quality. Principal partner L-3 Communications Integrated Systems will perform final assembly of the US139 and provide contractor logistics support to the fleet. L-3 already provides contractor logistics support for approximately 40% of the U.S. Army aircraft as well as a majority of training platforms used across the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Honeywell provides its modular, state-of-the-art Primus Epic Avionics and Pratt & Whitney the twin PT6C-67C engines.
The Army¹s new LUH helicopters will be used to perform and support a variety of missions, including: transportation of personnel and supplies, Generating Force Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), homeland security and civilian agency responses to natural disasters.
Stan Yackel, Deputy General Manager and Program Manager for Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) discusses the U.S. Army need for a modern tactical transport aircraft. The robust, proven C-27J more than fulfills the Army's requirement and will help revolutionize tactical operations in far flung places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The predecessor aircraft, the C-27A is in the U.S. inventory and has served the Air Force admirably for more than 15 years. Today the C-27A is used for special operations and has been used for diverse missions including hurricane relief where it was the only aircraft, fixed or rotary wing, that could land supplies and take out survivors in a difficult jungle environment.
GMAS is a joint venture between Alenia North America Inc., a Finmeccanica company, and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems in Greenville, Texas.
Alenia North America Inc. is headquartered in Washington D.C. with offices in Seattle, Long Beach, and Fort Worth Alenia North America - Canada, Co., a subsidiary wholly owned by Alenia North America, Inc., also has an office in Ottawa, Canada. A wholly owned subsidiary of Alenia Aeronautica employing a workforce of over 300, Alenia North America's mission is to consolidate and expand the industrial and commercial presence of the Alenia Group in North America. It is the company utilized for major aeronautical programs and collaborative Joint Ventures with top-level U.S. companies. Headquartered in Rome, Alenia Aeronautica is a company of the Finmeccanica Group. Alenia Aeronautica has revenues in excess of 1.2 billion Euros and a total work force of more than 8,600 employees. Its main activities comprise design and production of commercial and military aircraft; design and production of aerostructures for military and civil aircraft through Aeronavali, a wholly owned subsidiary; and the overall maintenance and modification of military and civil aircraft. Alenia Aeronautica is a partner of the major global aerospace groups, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, EADS, Dassault, BAE Systems and Vought.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATED SYSTEMS
L-3/IS is an internationally recognized system integration organization specializing in the modernization and maintenance of aircraft of all sizes, as well as the study , design, development, and integration of special mission systems for military and commercial applications. The company has modified more than 15,000 different aircraft of more than 125 types. Headquartered in Greenville, Texas, L-3/IS operates from multiple sites in Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Virginia, Maryland, Alabama and Australia. Based in New York City, L-3 Communications is a leading provider of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, secure communications systems, aircraft modernization, training and government services and is a merchant supplier of a broad range of high technology products. Clients include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, selected U.S. Government intelligence agencies and aerospace prime contractors.
On 16th December 2005 in Rome, MBDA France and AVIO signed a production contract for the Aster 30 missile booster and the tail fins for the Aster 15 and Aster 30 missile. This contract fulfils a requirement of the Aster Phase 3 contract signed with OCCAR in 2003. The contract, worth an approximate EUR 180 million, was signed between MBDA France and AVIO as the responsibility for Aster's booster and tail fin rests with MBDA France in line with agreed Franco-Italian programme sharing responsibilities.
This collaboration, initiated some ten years ago between MBDA and AVIO with contracts first for Aster Phase 2 and then for Aster PAAMS, has been reinforced by this latest agreement between the two companies.
Aster 15 and Aster 30 are destined for the SAAM(employing Aster 15 for the navies of France and Italy ), PAAMS (employing Aster 15 and 30 for the navies of France, Italy and the UK ) and SAMP-T (employing Aster 30 for the armed forces of France and Italy ) naval and ground-based air defence programmes.
Franco Lucidi, Group Purchasing Director, said: "This contract signing represents a new step forward in fulfilling the requirements of the Aster Phase 3 programme and new evidence of efficient European collaboration".
Pier Giuliano Lasagni, Director of AVIO's Space Division, under whose responsibility the launch systems and fins are produced, said "this programme confirms AVIO's European technological leadership in the field of missile propulsion systems as well as that of space launchers".
In June 2005, MBDA signed a production contract with Thales Air Systems for the Aster seeker at the Paris Air show. This contract was also in furtherance of the Aster Phase 3 programme.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
--OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coop?ration en mati?re d'ARmement) awarded the EUR 3 billion FSAF (Future Surface to Air Family of missiles) Phase 3 contract on 12 November 2003.
--The contract covers the series production of 18 Land-based Medium Range Ground-to-Air (SAMP/T) systems and associated Aster 30 missiles for the French and Italian armed forces. The contract also covers the supply of Aster missiles for the SAAM Fr, SAAM It and PAAMS systems for the (French navy) aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the (Italian navy's) future aircraft carrier Andrea Doria and the future (two navies') Horizon-class frigates.
--In addition, the contract also covers the production and supply of Aster 15 and 30 missiles required for the Royal Navy's PAAMS systems on the new Daring class of Type 45 destroyers.
With an annual turnover exceeding EUR 3 billion, a forward order book of over EUR 13 billion and over 70 customers world wide, MBDA is a world leading, global missile systems company. MBDA currently has 45 missile system and countermeasure programmes in operational service and has proven its ability as prime contractor to head major multi-national projects. MBDA is jointly owned by BAE Systems (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and Finmeccanica (25%).
Avio is present in Italy and abroad with 14 industrial and office locations, and 4,800 employees. It operates in four sectors of activity: modules and components for aero engines, civil and military engine MRO, space and aero-derivative turbines for marine applications. In 2004, it had a turnover of 1,220 million euros. The AVIO group is controlled by private equity fund Carlyle (USA) (70%) and Finmeccanica (30%).
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announces that the first Italian Navy serial production NH90 took to the air on Thursday the 15th of December at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility in Italy. The flight started at 16.00, lasting 35 minutes.
In the frame of the NH90 Programme work-share, AgustaWestland is responsible of the overall integration of the NH90 naval mission system for all NH90 NFH variants.
The NH90 NFH variant is primarily designed for autonomous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW) missions. Additional applications include vertical replenishment, maritime patrol, SAR and troop transport. The helicopter is designed for day & night/adverse weather/severe ship motion environment operations. Due to its weight and dimensions and particularly to the automatic blade and tail folding system, it can operate from/to small frigates.
The Italian Navy has ordered a total of 56 NH90s, ten of which will be configured for tactical transport and 46 for naval operations. Assembly of 150 NH90s is underway at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility including naval NFH variant for Italian, the Netherlands and Norwegian Navies and TTH variant for Italian Army.
The NH90 is managed through NHIndustries, that is the prime contractor for the NH90 Helicopter Programme, launched by France, Italy, Germany and The Netherlands and joined by Portugal.
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is one of the largest helicopter companies in the world. The company offers an unrivalled range of helicopters and rotorcraft capabilities, training and support solutions to satisfy the requirements of civil and military customers.AgustaWestland has its primary operations in Italy, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Brussels, 6 December 2005 – The future Galileo Concessionaire has agreed the locations of the various facilities under its responsibility that are required for the successful deployment of the Galileo Programme.
According to this Agreement the Headquarters of the Galileo Concessionaire will be located in Toulouse, France. The Operations Company will be located in London, United Kingdom. The two Control Centres (Constellation and Mission) will be located in Germany and Italy as well as the two Performance Evaluation Centres supporting the concessionaire headquarters. Spain will host facilities that include redundancy for the Control Centres, and are related to Galileo safety critical applications.
Furthermore, a new consortium of German companies will join the team, adding core competencies to the Concessionaire.
Following the budgetary consensus reached last month, this land mark agreement, achieved with the assistance of Mr. Van Miert, the EC appointed mediator, clears the way for the efficient implementation of the Galileo Programme supporting a commercial and best value for money approach to the Galileo Public Private Partnership.
The agreement truly reflects the European dimension of the Galileo program and signifies a major step forward. It paves the way for the creation of all the benefits expected from this truly European initiative: the generation of employment opportunities and innovation in the high technology industry segment across Europe.
The concession partners will now pursue the necessary steps to finalise concession contract with the GJU.
WASHINGTON,Dec. 13, 2005–U.S. servicemembers are doing their jobs credibly and honorably and are the reason America has the greatest military in the world, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said upon receiving an award here Dec. 12.
Marine Gen. Peter Pace received the 23rd Annual Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award for service throughout his career from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.
In presenting the award, Stephen Bryen, president of Finmeccania, an aerospace firm and JINSA's major corporate sponsor, said that Pace's job is a hard one that requires clarity, acuity and decisiveness, and that Pace's service is not unrecognized.
Dr. Stephen Bryen presenting the award to Gen. Peter Pace Photograph by Sarah Bryen
"Taking the burden is not easy, but such leadership is readily recognized by the men and women of our armed forces, who are justly proud of Gen. Pace," Bryen said. "From beginning to end, his career in the Marines has been exemplary and magnificent."
Accepting the award, Pace said that early in his career he promised himself never to accept an award he hadn't earned. But he learned over time, he said, that the military is a team, and no matter what his accomplishments have been, they always add up to much more when coupled with the exceptional service of every servicemember.
"There are 2.4 million Americans -- active, Guard and Reserve -- who serve this nation tonight," Pace said. "They have earned this award, and it is my great honor on their behalf to accept it for them."
The U.S. has the greatest military the world has ever seen, Pace said, and that is primarily because of the quality of people in the military. "Our troops are simply incredible," he said. "I don't know where we find men and women like this, but it gives my mornings and my afternoons focus and purpose."
Hearing about the sacrifices of servicemembers such as the six honored earlier in the evening gives him the motivation to do everything he can to ensure they are properly supported and led, Pace said. Those servicemembers received the Grateful Nation Award, which JINSA established three years ago to express appreciation for the men and women of the armed forces. They represented each service branch, including the Coast Guard, and the Special Operations Command.
Proof that troops are currently getting the support and leadership they need is in re-enlistment statistics. "The folks in Afghanistan and Iraq are re-enlisting in greater numbers than any other part of the armed forces," he said. "And our armed forces are re-enlisting in greater numbers than historically we have needed to sustain the force."Those who stay in the military are doing so because they understand and believe in the mission, Pace said.
He asked the audience for help in making Americans see the true value of service to the nation, whether it be in uniform or not. "If all of our youth were led to believe and understand the great honor that it is to serve for a part of your life a country that has given you all you have, it would be a wonderful gift that we would give to them," he said.
The U.S. military could not enjoy such success without the help of partners in industry and coalition partners, many of whom were represented at the dinner, Pace said. He thanked them for their service and all they've done for America.
"As good as we are, there is no nation in the world that is so big or so powerful that it can do anything all on its own," he said. "And in this long, cruel war on terrorism, we all need as many friends as we can find."
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs is a non-profit, non-partisan and non-sectarian educational organization committed to explaining the need for a prudent national security policy for the U.S., addressing the security requirements of both the U.S. and Israel, and strengthening the strategic cooperation relationship between the two countries.
The Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) fleet of four AB139 helicopters have been extensively used in earthquake relief operations in Pakistan’s northern regions.
Delivered between late 2004 and spring 2005, the four AB139s were acquired by AKDN to operate in the remote and mountains regions of South and Central Asia to ferry personnel and material for the construction of the three University of Central Asia (UCA) campuses. Initially based in Islamabad and Dushanbe Tajikistan), in the aftermath of the earthquake all four were brought together at Islamabad base.
Flown in support of FOCUS (Focus Humanitarian Assistance), a humanitarian assistance agency affiliated with ADKN, the four helicopters have carried relief items including staple foods such as oil, lentils ad rice, as well as tents, blankets and medical supplies that were distributed to thousands in need. On their return journeys to Islamabad, the helicopters carried survivors requiring urgent medical assistance.
In the first month of relief operations, the four aircraft logged 636 sorties and 457 flying hours, transporting 1,050 injured people, 3,300 passengers and 462 tons of vital material, medicine and foods. They performed missions lasting eight hours, dawn-to-sunset, in support of affected populations in remote and urban areas, including Muzaffarabad, Bagh Dupatta, Batgram and Balakot. According to ADKN, AB139s worked in many difficult conditions including high altitude, extreme temperatures and load conditions, carrying a maximum of 15 passengers. Operating at normal altitudes of over 4,200 meters with ISA + 20°c conditions, the helicopters were able to fly routinely at 150+ knots, with fuel consumption less than 350kg per hour with 60% torque, at maximum weight.
The AB139s were selected by ADKN for their hot-and-high capabilities in the medium-twin class to support the University of Central Asia (UCA) project, founded by the Presidents of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan and the Aga Khan himself in order to foster economic and social development throughout the vast and impoverished mountain zones of Central Asia.
After launching a wide range of partnerships with Malaysian companies in the last few years and with a series of new programmes under way, Italian group Finmeccanica, a European leader in aerospace, defence and security, [attended] the LIMA 2005 International Air Show in Langkawi, Malaysia, from 6 to 11 December, with its companies AgustaWestland, Alenia Aeronautica, SELEX Communications, SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems Ltd, Galileo Avionica, SELEX Sistemi Integrati and Aermacchi.
Over the years, Italy and Malaysia have developed a solid industrial and political partnership that extends to the aerospace, defence and security sectors. Malaysian and Italian companies have worked together for many years in successful programmes in many different fields, including training aircraft, helicopters, radar, (both air traffic control and defence), avionics, communications systems, naval systems and technical support and maintenance services for platforms and systems.
For Finmeccanica companies in particular, Malaysia is not just a market, but above all a partner with which the group would like to launch a common growth strategy, as the joint ventures already launched in the country show:
-- Helicopters - partnership between AgustaWestland and DRB-Hicom Deftech to produce components and technical support for AgustaWestland helicopters in Malaysia
-- Naval: Comlenia, a joint venture between SELEX Sistemi Integrati and Comintel, which provides naval logistics support and technical support for systems on board the Laksamana-class vessels of the Royal Malaysian Navy;
-- ATC: Advanced Air Traffic Systems, a joint venture between SELEX Sistemi Integrati, Tirai Variasi and Tahap Harmoni, for technical support and maintenance of ATC/ATM radar systems;
-- Avionics – partnership between Galileo Avionica and Khassim Maon for the manufacture and installation of PAR radar systems;
-- Space – partnership between Telespazio (a Finmeccanica and Alcatel joint venture) and Akriz for the creation of the first space centre in South East Asia.
In the near future, a series of new programmes could extend co-operation between Finmeccanica subsidiaries and Malaysian companies. These include upgrading Malaysia’s monitoring system of Economic Exclusive Zones with maritime patrol aircraft, and surveillance and sea rescue helicopters; the integrated system for land border control, and the project to create an integrated training centre for the country’s military pilots (which may also be open to pilots of allied countries in the region) based on the fleet of Aermacchi MB.339 jets in service with the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
With revenues of more than EUR 10 billion in the core businesses of aerospace, defence and security, Finmeccanica is Italy’s number one high-tech group and leader in research and development, and owns most of the country’s aerospace and defence industry.
Scott Rettig, CEO of Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems talks about Selex technologies including the Hostile Artillery Locating System, Targeting systems for the Joint Strike fighter, and protection systems against the MANPAD threat.
