Thursday, January 6, 2011

Asian Defense News: Chengdu J-20 J-XX Fifth Generation Stealth Fighter Jet Prototype

Asian Defense News: Chengdu J-20 J-XX Fifth Generation Stealth Fighter Jet Prototype
Jan 6, 2011 - In late December, photos of a new Chinese jet fighter, that looked a lot like the American F-35, began appearing on Chinese web sites. Most of these pictures appeared to be taken with cell phone cameras, from a distance. Chinese Internet censors quickly ordered the photos removed. But it was too late, the pix had gone viral and were all over the place. The long rumored Chinese "J-XX" (or J-20) stealth fighter program was now out in the open.








Work on this new aircraft began in the late 1990s, and it appears that two prototypes have been built. The pictures were taken at an airfield near the Chengdu Aircraft Company (CAC), which builds the J-10 and JF-17. Located in central China, CAC was known to be working on the J-20. The similarity to the U.S. F-35 makes sense, given Chinese efforts to obtain details (via Internet espionage, and more conventional spying) about the F-35. The recent pictures showed the J-20 undergoing taxiing tests, which usually precedes flight tests by weeks or months.

The F-35A is a 31 ton, single engine fighter that is 15.7 meters (51.4 feet) long and with a 10.7 meter (35 foot) wingspan. The engine generates 12.7 ton (28,000 pounds) of thrust, or 19.5 (43,000) with afterburner. In contrast, the J-20 has two engines and appears to be 24 meters (75 feet) long and with a wingspan of 15 meters (46 feet). The engine for the J-20, the WS-15 is still in development. The prototype had afterburner thrust of 16.5 tons, although this was expected to hit 18.3 tons when development was complete. It is believed that the J-20 prototypes are powered by Russia AL31FU/117S engines, each with 14.5 tons of afterburner thrust. Two of these engines would give the 36-40 ton J-20 more power per ton than the F-35A.

China is also developing other F-35 technologies, like the AESA radar, highly efficient cockpit, stealth and software to tie everything together. Developing, or even copying, this tech is not easy. But the Chinese already know that, having decades of adapting stolen technology to their needs. Thus it appears that China is planning on having the J-20 ready for service by the end of the decade. The key factor is their ability to develop or steal the needed technology by then. The J-20 appears to be less than an F-35 clone, and more of an F-35 type aircraft with pretensions to being an F-22. In any event, the J-20 is an attempt to develop some kind of 5th generation aircraft, complete with stealth.

Speaking of generations. The "first generation" jet fighters were those produced during World War II and through the late 1940s. The best examples of these are the U.S. F-86 and the Russian MiG-15. The second generation got going in the early 1950s, and produced aircraft like the U.S. F-104 and the Russian MiG-21. The third generation followed within a decade, producing the U.S. F-4 and the Russian MiG-23. The fourth generation arrived in the 1970s and 80s with the F-15, F-16, F-18, Russian MiG-29, Su-27 and French Mirage-2000. The fifth generation includes the F-22, F-35, and whatever the Russians and Chinese come up with. The Eurofighter and Rafale are often called Generation 4.5.

Russian fifth generation fighter developments were halted when the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991. Actually, all development work on new fighters, by everyone, slowed down in the 1990s. But work on the F-22, F-35, Eurofighter and Rafale continued, and those aircraft became, in roughly that order, the most advanced fighter aircraft available today. This fifth generation may come to be called the "last generation," after they are replaced by the second generation of pilotless combat aircraft (counting armed Predators and the like as the first).

**Source: Images - Asian Defence News & Strategy Pages

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated January 5, 2011

Asian Defense News: DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated January 5, 2011
Source: U.S. DoD issued No. 006-11 January 5, 2011
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - January 5, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued January 5, 2011 are undermentioned;

CONTRACTS

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $72,618,815 advance acquisition contract for long lead materials and support associated with the manufacture and delivery of 24 mission avionics systems and common cockpits for the Lot 10 MH-60R helicopters and 18 common cockpits for the Lot 14 MH-60S helicopters. In addition, this contract provides for the procurement of end-of-life components for the MH-60R and MH-60S. Work will be performed in Farmingdale, N.Y. (48 percent); Owego, N.Y. (26 percent); Woodland Hills, Calif. (13 percent); Ciudad Real, Spain (6 percent); Horseheads, N.Y. (2 percent); Lewisville, Texas (2 percent); Bennington, Vt. (1 percent); Windsor Locks, Conn. (1 percent); and various locations throughout the United States (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed in December 2011. Funding is provided by fiscal 2011 Aviation Procurement Navy funds. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-11-C-0020).

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., was awarded a $40,600,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee with performance incentives letter contract for combat systems engineering and installation and test aboard KDX-III Ship 3 to support the Republic of Korea Foreign Military Sales case KS-P-LPN. This contract involves foreign military sales to the Republic of Korea (100 percent). Requirements include the necessary combat systems engineering, computer program development, and ship integration and test support to deliver a variant of the U.S. Navy Aegis weapon system baseline seven, phase one computer program and equipment to support the construction of the third Korean ship in the KDX-III class. In addition, this contract funds an integrated test team to assist the Korean shipyard in performing installation and testing of the Aegis Combat System. Work will be performed in Ulsan, Korea (48 percent); Moorestown, N.J. (44 percent); Kongsberg, Norway (7 percent); and Dijon, France (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-11-C-5103).

Environmental Design & Construction, LLC*, Washington, D.C., is being awarded a $30,000,000 maximum amount indefinite-quantity contract for new paving, paving repair and replacement of various types of pavement within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington’s area of responsibility to include the metropolitan District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The minimum guarantee being awarded is $5,000. Contract funds do not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of January 2016. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-11-D-0495).

InSynergy Engineering, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a maximum amount $7,500,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineer services contract for architect-engineering services for fire protection, electronic security systems, intrusion detection systems, physical security and related services at various locations under the cognizance of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Pacific area including, but not limited to, Hawaii (55 percent), Guam (30 percent), and the Far East (15 percent). The term of contract is not to exceed 36 months, with an expected completion date of January 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website, with six proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-11-D-0005).

ARMY

CND, LLC, Stilwell, Okla., was awarded on Dec. 30 an $11,738,146 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for standard and non-standard material and services. Work will be performed in Tulsa, Okla.; Huntsville, Ala.; and New Boston, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, AMCOM, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-09-C-0610).

CACI, Inc., Federal, Chantilly, Va., was awarded on Dec. 30 an $8,229,565 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide simulation-supported battle command staff training exercises for pre- and post-mobilizing soldiers. Work will be performed in Fort Dix, N.J.; Dublin, Calif.; Birmingham, Ala.; Arlington Heights, Ill.; and Houston, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., is the contracting activity (W91247-11-C-0004).

General Dynamics Land System, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Dec. 30 a $6,852,114 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for repairs and upgrades to fire direction control components used combat vehicles. Work will be performed in Killeen, Texas, with an estimated completion date of the Dec. 31, 2016. One bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-11-C-0031).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Randolph Engineering, Inc.*, Randolph, Mass., is being awarded a maximum $9,000,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for optical frames and accessories. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There was originally a Federal Business Opportunities proposal solicited with four responses. The date of performance completion is Jan. 20, 2012. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2DE-10-D-7544).

FedMedical, Inc.*, Summerville, S.C., is being awarded a maximum $42,690,450 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for pulse oximeter items, accessories and surgical lights. Other location of performance is Plymouth, Minn. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 99 proposals solicited with 68 responses. The date of performance completion is Jan. 5, 2016. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-11-D-8203).

*Small business


*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

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  • DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russian Air Force To Receive Ka-52 Helicopters

    Asian Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Russian Air Force To Receive Ka-52 Helicopters
    Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Ria Novosti
    (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - January 5, 2011: Russia's Defense Ministry plans to start procuring Ka-52 Alligator helicopters for the national Air Force in 2011, ministry's official spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Sunday.

    The Ka-52 is a modification of the basic Ka-50 Hokum model, it is armed with 30-mm cannon, Vikhr (Whirlwind) laser guided missiles, rockets, including S-24s, as well as bombs. The helicopter is also equipped with two radars, one for ground and one for aerial targets and a Samshite nighttime-daytime thermal sighting system.

    The development of the Ka-52 started in 1994 in Russia, but its serial production began only in 2008.

    Earlier in the day Drik said that the Russian Air Force would receive up to 100 Sukhoi fighter jets by 2015 as well as twenty-five new Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers in the next few years.

    Deputy Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Igor Sadofyev pledged in late 2010 that the Russian Air Force will procure over 1,500 new aircraft and significantly increase the number of high-precision weapons in its arsenal by 2020.

    *This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com