Category: Military

Zulu Pods, Inc. Announces Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Award from the Department of the Navy

Zulu Pods, Inc. (ZPI) has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the Department of the Navy. The objective of the project is to develop new and innovative lubricating fluid supply/delivery system technologies for rolling element bearings in small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) engines and/or attritable/expendable weapon systems to replace current architectures – thereby reducing overall system weight, cost, complexity and maintenance requirements/burden due to fluid leaks and lubricant shelf life during extended storage.

While numerous efforts have been made into enabling oil-free technologies and alternative bearings, rolling element bearings utilizing fluid lubrication remain prevalent within U.S. Navy platforms. Fluid-lubricated rolling element bearings provide excellent load-carrying capacity, low friction operation and damping properties when properly lubricated. Novel delivery methods for lubricants could allow for realization of the advantages of rolling element bearings without the drawbacks of the supporting hardware typically required to provide lubrication supply.

Traditional flow-through and recirculating rolling element bearing lubrication systems which utilize pressurized oil and/or fuel require parts such as supply/scavenge pumps, reservoirs, sumps, plumbing/pipes, and seals, which can account for up to 30% of overall propulsion system weight, volume, and cost in small limited-life engines. In addition, the shelf-life limitations of lubricants used in these systems (such as oil, fuel-oil mixtures, grease) can lead to corrosion or increased maintenance actions during long-term storage. Innovative technologies which enable replacement of traditional lubrication schemes for small, limited-life engines and attritable weapon systems are being sought to reduce total system ownership cost.

The Zulu Pod is the world’s first modular fluid delivery system that combines the function of a reservoir, pump, and nozzle into a single, self-contained, self-pressurized and hermetically sealed packaged oil delivery system. The Zulu Pod is lighter, placed right in the working zone of the engine bearing or gear compartment, and meters the minimum amount of lubrication required for optimal performance. Zulu Pods can be used for primary lubrication on limited life engines, backup lubrication during a loss of lubrication event, or supplemental lubrication to extend oil interruption capability.

The award will allow ZPI to continue development and subscale testing of their pod technology in tandem with small engine Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to support technology transitions and future commercialization within both the military and commercial small UAV markets.

AEVEX Aerospace VP Honored With French Medal for Us-France Military Cooperation

AEVEX Aerospace is proud to announce that Skip Arny, vice president of business development, was awarded the prestigious Medaille Aeronautique, a French state decoration recognizing outstanding contributions as an aviator to the defense of France and her partners – the United States and NATO. The award was presented on VE Day, May 8. Arny was recognized for his role in strengthening military “teaming” between the United States and France during his tenure as the U.S. Naval Attaché from 2014 to 2017.

“I am extremely honored to receive the Medaille Aeronautique,” said Arny. “It symbolizes the historical roots of combat aviation pioneered by France in World War I. This makes it incredibly meaningful to my aviation ‘family’ in both the USA and France.” Arny expressed his gratitude towards Air Major General Bertrand Jardin, France’s Defense Attaché, his family, and his friends in France who nominated him for this honor.

The Medaille Aeronautique was envisioned by France during WWI, and acknowledges both military personnel and civilians for exceptional achievements in aeronautics. Initially conceived before the Second World War, the intent was to create an aerial order of merit for individuals working in aeronautics, a parallel to the Order of Maritime Merit.

Pratt & Whitney Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Oklahoma City Facility

Pratt & Whitney held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new 845,000 square foot facility in Oklahoma City, Okla. As part of the project announced in March, Pratt & Whitney is investing $255 million in the new facility, which will act as a hub for depot support for Pratt & Whitney military engines maintained at Tinker Air Force Base and other depot locations, including those for the F-35, C-17, F-22, F-15, F-16, B-52, and E-3 AWACS.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by key local leaders, including Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04), Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Sec. John Nash, Councilman Todd Stone, and representatives from Sen. James Lankford’s, Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s, and Mayor David Holt’s offices.

“Aerospace and defense play a major role in Oklahoma’s economy and growing workforce, and I’ve been glad to see Pratt & Whitney be a key asset to the industry over the past several decades,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “It is great to see Pratt & Whitney choose to invest and expand their operations in our great state, and I look forward to continuing to make Oklahoma Top Ten for aerospace and defense.”

Pratt & Whitney has deep roots in Oklahoma City dating back to the 1940s, when the Army established a depot for the C-47 Skytrain and its R-1830 Twin Wasp engines. Today, Oklahoma City is the heart of Pratt & Whitney’s global sustainment network and plays a critical role in many of the company’s most important military engines programs, achieving record output from the F117, F119, and F135 Heavy Maintenance Centers in 2022.

“With strong demand for our newer products such as the F135 engine for the F-35 fighter – which is about to enter its first scheduled maintenance cycle – and increased operational tempo for other engine programs to help protect U.S. national security interests, we have continued to grow our presence in Oklahoma City to ensure we have the right people, processes, and infrastructure in place to keep pace,” said Jill Albertelli, president, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.

Once complete, the new facility will expand the company’s current sustainment capacity in Oklahoma City while consolidating six existing sites into two locations: the new Pratt & Whitney Oklahoma City facility and Tinker Air Force Base’s Air Logistics Complex.

“Pratt & Whitney is a trusted partner for military engine sustainment which enables wartime readiness and provides our armed services the competitive advantage needed to win,” said Congressman Tom Cole, OK-04. “Pratt & Whitney’s Oklahoma City site is the only depot capable of performing all F135 power module scope levels for the F-35, and expanding its capacities is the right decision as the military begins adopting the new F135 Engine Core Upgrade.”

Pratt & Whitney’s Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) is an upgrade for the F135 that will provide an affordable, low-risk, and agile pathway to enabling Block 4 capabilities for all F-35 customers. The ECU leverages Department of Defense investments in propulsion technology to deliver the advanced capability needed for Block 4 and beyond, while maintaining the variant-commonality and international partnership approach upon which the joint program was built.

“I am especially pleased that Pratt & Whitney is expanding their operations in the state,” said Congresswomen Stephanie Bice, OK-05. “Not only will this expansion bring more valuable jobs to Oklahoma, but more importantly, our servicemen and women will have better sustainment support that will help them complete their missions and return home safely.”  Pratt & Whitney employs more than 450 full-time employees and an additional 450 partner contractors in Oklahoma City across disciplines including engineering, operations, finance, data analytics, materials and logistics, quality, and procurement. The new facility, which will be comprised of offices, meeting and collaboration spaces, storage and procurement facilities, and engineering workspaces, is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024.

Boeing and ST Engineering Sign P-8 Sustainment MoU

Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ST Engineering to outline potential areas of collaboration in systems integration, training, local parts distribution, support and sustainment work for the P-8A Poseidon.

Boeing and ST Engineering have identified opportunities to collaborate in a number of areas and will explore these in more detail, including jointly developing a P-8 service center in Singapore with the provision of engineers and aircraft maintenance technicians to support maintenance and engineering services.

The P-8A is a long-range, multi-mission aircraft that delivers unmatched antisubmarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities.

The P-8A, a military derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800, combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the future battle space. With more than 160 aircraft in service, the P-8 has executed more than 600,000 mishap-free flight hours around the globe.

Militaries that operate or have selected the P-8 include the U.S. Navy, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Indian Navy, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Republic of Korea Navy and German Navy. 

ITP Aero to Deliver New GE CT7 SAF-Tested Engines for NH-90 Helicopters

Within Feindef, the International Defence Exhibition being held in Madrid, ITP Aero has announced that during 2023 it will deliver, from its Albacete facilities, new GE CT7 engines, which power the NH-90 helicopter of the Spanish Ministry of Defence, tested with SAF (sustainable aviation fuel). This milestone is part of ITP Aero’s commitment to the decarbonisation of aviation, and was announced during an event attended by representatives of the Spanish Ministry of Defence.  

General Coll, head of rotary wing air systems at the DGAM’s sub-directorate general for programs, said: “The fact that ITP Aero can carry out bench tests on the engines that will be installed in our NH90 helicopters using SAF fuel is undoubtedly a very important first step towards standardising the use of this type of fuel in our aircraft engines, which will have an impact on reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere and, consequently, on preserving the environment, an objective with which the Armed Forces are aligned and committed.”

General Gómez Blanco, deputy director of fighter and RPA engineering at MALOG, said: “The use of Sustainable Fuels in Aviation is the most solid option to boost the decarbonisation of the aeronautical sector in the short term. The trials announced today by ITP are a significant boost to the engineering activities that will consolidate the use of these fuels in Armed Forces helicopters. These activities are fully in line with the tests being carried out by the Spanish Air and Space Forces in collaboration with the most important Spanish companies in the sector, including ITP, of course.”.Álvaro Santodomingo, director of defence at ITP Aero, said: “This milestone is a further step in our commitment to continue advancing the use of SAF on Spanish Ministry of Defence platforms and is in line with our commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Together, we are positioning Spain as a major player in the use of SAF, and we are proud to be able to do so now hand in hand with the Ministry of Defence.

This milestone joins other projects for the use of SAF that ITP Aero is promoting in different platforms of the Spanish Ministry of Defence. In this regard, it should be noted that ITP Aero is part of the Air and Space Army’s BACSI (Connected, Sustainable and Intelligent Air Base) programme with the aim of increasing the effectiveness, productivity, efficiency and sustainability of air bases. As part of this project, the Eagle Patrol flew for the first time with SAF during the air parade of the last Columbus Day. ITP Aero designed an instrumentation system to help validate the use of SAF in the engines that power the Eagle Patrol’s C-101 aircraft. The technology developed by ITP Aero was able to automatically measure the temperature of the engine gases, helping to validate their proper operation with SAF.

Zulu Pods, Inc. Announces Letter of Intent fromAcutronic Turbines, Inc. for Flight Testing of its Lubrication Technology

Zulu Pods, Inc. (ZPI) announced a Letter of Intent from Acutronic Turbines, Inc. for the purposes of integrating ZPI’s packaged oil delivery solution into its limited-life turbo jet engine to afford system level benefits in the form of part count reduction. In this capacity, Acutronic Turbines intends to acquire and integrate the Zulu Pod system to conduct engine testing in 2024 for the purposes of validating and quantifying engine optimizations that would otherwise be absent when utilizing a traditional oil delivery system.

The Zulu Pod is the world’s first decentralized lubrication system that combines the function of a reservoir, pump, and nozzle into a single, self-contained, self-pressurized, and hermetically sealed packaged oil delivery system. The Zulu Pod is lighter, placed right in the working zone of the engine bearing or gear compartment, and meters the minimum amount of lubrication required for optimal performance. Zulu Pods can be used for primary lubrication for limited life engines or backup lubrication during a loss of lubrication event.

Zulu Pods, Inc shares common goals with Acutronic, demonstrated by its commitment to bringing affordable hardware innovations to the limited-life engine industry. ZPI’s patented packaged oil delivery system is a new, novel solution that radically simplifies short-duration engine architecture to reduce weight, cost, and complexity while improving storage life.

HEICO to Acquire Wencor

HEICO announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Wencor for $1.9 billion in cash and $150 million in HEICO Class A Common Stock.

The transaction is purported to be HEICO’s largest purchase, as well as revenues and income acquired. Reports say Wencor will become part of HEICO’s Flight Support Group.

Wencor was founded in 1955 and is a large commercial and military aircraft maker of FAA-approved aircraft replacement parts, distributor of high-use commercial and military aftermarket parts and a provider of aircraft and engine accessory component repair and overhaul services.

Wencor is based in Peachtree City, Georgia and provides its parts and services internationally, employing approximately 1,000 people in 19 facilities around the United States. HEICO currently employs approximately 9,000 Team Members at over 100 facilities worldwide. Wencor’s customers include airlines worldwide, aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul companies, military agencies and defense contractors.

Wencor’s parts and repairs are found in hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic and electro-mechanical, cockpit and galley systems throughout numerous aircraft models.

HEICO said it anticipates that Wencor will generate approximately $724 million and $153 million in revenues and EBITDA in calendar year 2023. HEICO stated that its Flight Support Group “will achieve meaningful synergies from the acquisition.”

“Our Flight Support Group has for decades provided high-quality and reliable cost-saving products and services to the commercial aircraft and defense aftermarkets,” said Laurans A. Mendelson, HEICO’s chairman and CEO, together with Eric A. Mendelson, HEICO’s co-president and CEO of its Flight Support Group. “The Wencor acquisition materially expands HEICO’s aftermarket product offerings, enabling the combined company to offer even greater savings and capabilities to its customers, while expanding our new products and services development capacity. Wencor is a perfect and highly complementary fit with HEICO. Importantly, we look forward to welcoming Wencor’s Team Members to the HEICO family and to working with Wencor’s talented leadership team led by Shawn Trogdon, who will continue to lead the business.”

Shawn Trogdon, Wencor’s CEO, added, “I am excited about the opportunity to combine HEICO and Wencor’s impressive teams who share the same culture and commitment to our customers, suppliers and employees. The unmatched combination will further accelerate growth, innovation, and development of highly reliable cost-saving solutions for our customers. I am proud of our team’s achievements to date and look forward to continuing our journey of growth with HEICO. I want to thank the Warburg Pincus team for their support and partnership that has helped enable our success.”

The parties say they anticipate transaction to be closed by the end of calendar 2023.

W. L. Gore & Associates Wins Supplier of the Year Award from BAE Systems

W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) announced it is one of 13 companies to win a “Partner 2 Win” Supplier of the Year award from BAE Systems for Gore’s high-performance cabling supporting countermeasure and electromagnetic defense solutions. In addition, Gore also received a Silver Supplier Award for best-in-class performance and contributions to supply chain success. 

“BAE Systems is one of our most important industry partners,” said Lutz Biewer, Executive VP, Transformative Systems Solutions with Gore. “These awards are a testament to the quality of work we prioritize at Gore and the degree to which BAE values our partnership.”

BAE Systems’ Partner 2 Win program is designed to achieve operational excellence and eliminate defects in its supply chain by raising the bar of performance expectations to meet the demand of current and future customers.

Gore was one of 13 suppliers recognized for their best-in-class performance achieving on-time delivery and quality standards in 2022, as well as partnering with the company to advance and deliver breakthrough technology to its customers. 

“The contributions of our top suppliers made an invaluable difference,” said Kiran Dubey, vice president of Supply Chain for BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector. “They enabled us to design, build, and deliver mission critical products and solutions for our customers around the globe.”

EMUGE-FRANKEN Launches Versatile MultiDRILL Line 

EMUGE-FRANKEN USA, a manufacturer of high-performance taps, thread mills, end mills, drills and other rotary tools, has introduced a full line of 3XD and 5XD high quality solid carbide multipurpose drills that are ideal for a wide range of materials and applications typically found in high mix – low volume job shop environments.

“Our extensive research and testing has resulted in a completely new high penetration rate drill design providing everyday use and maximum productivity,” said Marlon Blandon, product manager, drills, thread milling.

EMUGE MultiDRILL is made of a unique sub-micro grain carbide grade that is harder than conventional carbide grades for drilling, yet it retains the ability to withstand shock and chipping, the company says. MultiDRILL features advanced TIALN-T63 coating utilizing nano-layer technology with surface hardness exceeding standard TIALN-based coatings, for reduced friction at high temperatures.

Featuring concave cutting edges, MultiDRILL has higher chip shearing ability and a tightly controlled edge preparation process that provides consistent performance and long tool life. In addition, a double margin design helps stabilize the drill in the cut, allowing rounder, more accurate holes. Another unique MultiDRILL feature is a drill web construction with a wide open flute form for maximum chip evacuation. MultiDRILLs are also self-centering, eliminating pre-spot drilling applications, and all tools feature coolant-thru capability.

EMUGE MultiDRILL is available in 3XD and 5XD sizes from 0.1181 to 0.7500 inch, a total of 372 SKUs in the program.

Wencor Announces Exclusive, Multi-Year Defense Partnership with Regal Rexnord Aerospace

Regal Rexnord Aerospace has selected Wencor as its exclusive distributor supporting the global military and government aftermarkets for Regal Rexnord’s seal and bearings products. In addition to the agreement, Wencor and Regal Rexnord Aerospace recently announced the extension of their exclusive global agreement, in which, Wencor will continue to distribute Regal Rexnord Aerospace seals and bearings to the commercial aviation aftermarket through 2027.

“Regal Rexnord Aerospace has enjoyed a strategic partnership with Wencor for nearly two decades, which has proven to be value-added in servicing the growing needs of the aerospace market. We are pleased to continue our joint efforts in supporting our mutual commercial and defense customers with the highest quality of engineered solutions,” said Jamie Quilter, Regal Rexnord vice president and general manager – aerospace division.

“Regal Rexnord has been a great partner for almost twenty years, consistently offering a growing portfolio of products. We are excited to extend and expand our long-term relationship, both of which allows Wencor to continue delivering on its value proposition of providing innovative solutions that enhance reliability and availability to our commercial and defense customers through our best-in-class service levels,” adds Shawn Trogdon, Wencor CEO.