Category: Military

Cementex Announces New Lift-Front Hoods for Ultralight Series Arc Flash PPE

Cementex, the safety tool specialists, announces the release of a new lift-front hood in their Ultralight Series of Arc Flash PPE. The lift-front hoods provide a larger viewing area through the updated clear gray color shield, and remain compatible with Cementex’s innovative hood ventilation system, for the greatest possible safety of personnel in environments in and around energized equipment. The ventilation system helps to reduce the risk of dehydration, especially in hot weather conditions.

The new lift-front face shield of this hood provides a larger viewing area through which users can see the energized equipment. By enhancing the area of view to see potential hazards and users’ peripheral vision, the new lift-front hood design helps to minimize accidental contact with energized, hazardous conductors. The lift-front shield must remain latched safely while operators are within the hazardous area around energized equipment, but can be lifted when safely away in order to more easily facilitate breaks.

Breaks are needed less frequently by users of Cementex PPE. All Cementex Arc Flash PPE is compatible with an innovative ventilation system that ensures greater air circulation, provides cooling, reduces the risk of dehydration, and makes long-term wear easier and safer for users. Reminder the lift front hood shall remain closed while energized work is performed inside the Arc Flash protection boundary!

Cementex PPE hoods are unique within the Arc Flash Protective Equipment landscape, as the hood completely covers the hard hat. A headlight strap with an optional LED light provides the necessary illumination for safe work in poorly lit environments. All Cementex hoods are vent ready allowing upgrades to include a ventilation system at a later time.

Collins Aerospace Helps Performance for Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye with NP2000 Propeller

Collins Aerospace announced that it has begun shipping parts following a second multi-year contract it received in November to supply Northrop Grumman with NP2000 propeller systems for 39 E-2D aircraft. Collins Aerospace says their NP2000 propeller and digital Electronic Propeller Control System, provides E-2D Advanced Hawkeye operators with reduced maintenance time and cost, and enhanced crew comfort and safety. 

NP2000 offers operators the ability to replace individual blades on-wing for reduced maintenance time and increased aircraft availability. By improving speed holding and blade synchronization, NP2000’s digital Electronic Propeller Control System also enhances crew comfort and safety by reducing vibration and noise inside the cockpit. 

“The E-2D plays a critical part in battle management command and control,” said Quinlan Lyte, senior director, Propeller Systems for Collins Aerospace. “Through the multiple benefits it provides, our intelligent, innovative NP2000 helps support the E-2D mission by increasing operational efficiency, maximizing performance and boosting readiness.” 

NP2000 has been in service with the U.S. Navy and international customers on the Northrop Grumman E-2 and C-2 since 2004, and with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force on Lockheed Martin C-130 variants since 2008. Over that time, the NP2000 has accumulated more than one million flight hours. 

Bally Ribbon Mills Introduces New Series of Advanced Textile Products for Electronic Transmission Data

Bally Ribbon Mills announced its newest line of advanced textile products to increase part functionality and utility. As companies demand higher durability and product differentiation, BRM has developed  its E-WEBBINGS and TPCM thermoplastic materials. Both products offer multiple features, including lighter weight, specific strength, durability, stability, abrasion resistance, and sustainability.

BRM’s advanced textile products are ideal for electronic transmission data, energy storage, and manufacturing automation. Working with companies that include NASA, Tier 1 Defense suppliers, as well as directly with the Department of Defense (Army, Air Force), BRM has developed advanced textiles used in parachutes, safety harnesses, personal protective equipment, and chemically resistant webbing. BRM is in accordance with safety standards, specifications and certifications, including ISO9001, AS9100, ISO13485, ISO14000, NFPA, ASTM, ANSI, *UL, and CSA.

E-WEBBINGS are narrow-fabrics that are conductive, enabling the electronic transmission of data sensations (light, noise, vibrations, heat), and power that can be stored or used to actuate/transform objects. Unique conductive fibers can be woven in conjunction with other fibers and can be used in embedded sensors in both wearable and integral technology, including the Internet of Things.

TPCM thermoplastic composite materials are 2-D or 3D-woven, thermoplastic structures for incorporation into composite parts produced within varied, continually-evolving molding processes. The woven structural shapes are used in hybrid composite structures used in numerous industries, including aerospace/aviation, automotive/transportation, defense, architecture/infrastructure, marine and sports/recreation.

BRM customizes weave designs to modify performance properties, offering expert capabilities for custom options and configurations to optimize designs. BRM’s laboratories consider application details, width, tensile strength, elongation, color, quantity, and other special requirement with customized advanced textile products.

 

U.S. Navy Selects Lockheed Martin and IFS to Deliver Intelligent Ship and Aircraft Maintenance

The U.S. Navy is working with Lockheed Martin and enterprise applications company IFS to deliver an intelligent maintenance solution that they hope will help power its digital transformation of multiple legacy systems into a single, fully modernized and responsive logistics information system. The solution will ensure personnel spend more time focused on the mission and less on aircraft and ship repairs.

The IFS solution comprises capabilities for planning and executing maintenance, repair, and overhaul of more than 3,000 assets including aircraft, ships, and land-based equipment. The Naval Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (N-MRO) solution combines artificial intelligence (AI), digital twin capabilities and predictive analytics to anticipate and react to potential equipment failures before they happen, which will contribute to the enhanced support of maintenance, supply logistics, real-time fleet management and other business functions for more than 200,000 sailors.

Following a comprehensive and competitive evaluation process, the U.S. Navy selected Lockheed Martin together with IFS’s acclaimed industry-specific functionality already used by some of the world’s largest aerospace and defense (A&D) organizations. With the added support of software developer Beast Code, the solution will initially be fielded at multiple U.S. Navy sites to help sailors and Marine Corps maintainers break down operational silos and work towards a common maintenance workflow across all ship and aircraft platforms. 

The digital transformation of the U.S. Navy’s maintenance systems will see a consolidation of assets and parts data in a central repository visualized to the users through an intuitive, mobile-friendly experience. This initiative will lead to increased data accuracy, streamlined workflows and ultimately less asset downtime and fewer unscheduled maintenance events. Enabling Total Asset Readiness through N-MRO will ensure information is always readily available to help the U.S. Navy achieve its desired materiel readiness and operational availability objectives. For instance, Navy personnel will be empowered to document faults, request parts, and report work completion at the point of maintenance, thereby reducing asset downtime while increasing data accuracy as an enabler of enhanced planning and procurement.

“Our goal is to provide capabilities that create real value across the Navy’s complex, multi-site operations and optimize its mission-critical maintenance processes,” said Reeves Valentine, Lockheed Martin vice president of Enterprise Sustainment Solutions. “We want to empower Navy personnel with tools that are easy and effective to use with intuitive interfaces, streamlined workflows and timesaving, intelligent features. IFS distinguished itself by providing all of these capabilities through a single, commercial-off-the-shelf solution.”

Scott Helmer, president, Aerospace & Defense, IFS, added, “We are proud to be part of N-MRO, which will set a new global standard for Total Asset Readiness and the way defense organizations manage asset maintenance and logistics, both ashore and afloat. A&D has been a key focus industry at IFS for decades and this landmark deal stands as testament to the success of our long-term strategy and determination. Working with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy, we are already making great strides and look forward to a long and successful collaboration.”

Cobham Mission Systems Wins $7.1 million NAVSUP Contract for Water Activated Parachute Systems

Cobham Mission Systems, the U.S.-based design and manufacturer of innovative aerospace safety and survival systems, announced it has been awarded a new $7.1 million prime contract from the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support. This contract is for production and delivery of Universal Water Activated Release System (UWARS) components to be installed on various Navy and Air Force aerial platforms through 2022. This is the fourth consecutive annual award by NAVSUP to Cobham Mission Systems for deliveries of its parachute release assembly.  

“We value the trust that our country’s military and allied nations put in our team to provide the most innovative and dependable critical lifesaving aerospace components,” said Matt Miller, vice president of business development at Cobham Mission Systems. “Our proven UWARS devices are capable of providing enduring life support to our pilots for many years to come.” 

UWARS is a battery-operated, seawater-activated electro-explosive device that automatically separates the parachute canopy from the aircrew member upon immersion in seawater.  It supports various aerial platforms including B-1, B-2, B-52, T-38, F-15, F-16, F-22, A-10 and T7-A.  Since 2015, the Cobham Mission Systems team in Davenport has delivered over 16,000 UWARS on time or ahead of plan to military customers around the world with a 100 percent Lot Acceptance Test success rate.  

ATAC Honored with 8th Consecutive FAA William “Bill” O’Brien Diamond Award of Excellence

Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), part of the Textron Systems segment of Textron Inc., announced it has been awarded the 2020 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) William “Bill” O’Brien Diamond Award of Excellence. The award recognizes exemplary dedication to the advancement of aviation safety and a commitment to continuous training across aviation safety, aircraft systems, and both aviation and FAA regulations.

“This award is a testament to our culture of professionalism and the caliber of
ATAC’s maintenance cadre,” said Scott Stacy, senior vice president and General Manager. “It’s a tremendous privilege to lead a company recognized for the excellence of its aviation maintenance technicians and leaders.” The award marks the eighth consecutive year that ATAC has been a recipient of the FAA’s William “Bill” O’Brien Diamond Award of Excellence.

Fostering a culture of continual learning and technical excellence is second nature to ATAC’s seasoned corps of maintenance professionals. Highly-decorated U.S. military veterans and civilian aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) comprise ATAC’s maintenance team.

Working together, the ATAC team enables a robust flight operations tempo across eight permanent locations and multiple deployment sites in the continental U.S., Hawaii and the Western Pacific. ATAC’s entire aircraft maintenance organization consistently achieves 100 percent compliance with initial and recurrent AMT training requirements — which garners individual bronze, silver or gold awards for each member of the team. This level of dedication to safety and continuous learning demonstrates the team’s commitment to warfighter readiness, making ATAC the recognized industry leader in tactical aviation.

“The ATAC team is honored to receive this award from the FAA,” said Greg Guilfoyle, vice president of Maintenance and Logistics. “It is a team effort. Every supervisor and every technician at ATAC play key roles in the completion of successful flight operations. All of our staff members are committed to excellence while operating from a set of diverse operating locations in support of the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.”

ATAC is the global leader of tactical airborne training, having pioneered much of what today are contracted air services industry standards. ATAC operates a fleet of over 90 aircraft, achieving over 65,000 flight hours, totaling 20 years of operating experience. ATAC has provided a wide range of contracted air support capabilities to the U.S. Department of Defense in locations world-wide, including the Continental United States, Hawaii and the Western Pacific region. ATAC has helped train crews from the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and regularly operates out of as many as 25 different air bases per year.

Pinnacle to Provide Aircraft Maintenance for CH-47F Program in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Pinnacle Solutions has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Multinational Aviation Special Project Office (MASPO) under its Worldwide Logistics Service and Support – Contractor Logistics Support (WLSS-C) program to provide contractor logistics support (CLS) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) and the acquisition of their first eight CH-47F MY II aircraft. Pinnacle will be deploying roughly 80 personnel to the KSA to support the program over the next five years.

Pinnacle will provide initial fielding and sustainment support to the RSLF as they develop their new rotary-wing heavy lift capabilities. The CH-47F maintenance augmentation ties together all aspects of aircraft maintenance, from integrated logistics and sustainment to ground equipment and training support, all to help ensure the highest possible RSLF operational readiness. 

Pinnacle’s teams will be comprised of subject matter experts with the experience to allow them to maximize their focus on fleet airworthiness while providing hands-on, on-the-job training to support the Saudi maintenance teams’ professional development. Pinnacle says they are “committed to innovation and the use of value-add cutting-edge technologies to provide the best operational and training support to our customers.” Their maintenance plan leverages the latest technology in aircraft enterprise resource management – a cloud-based Maintenance Management Information System (MMIS) to provide full-scope aircraft maintenance, logistics, and operations management capabilities, the company sasys. Additionally, Pinnacle is delivering its first CH-47F Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT) to support ongoing skills training. 

Three Cooperate to Power Europe’s Next-Generation Fighter (NGF)

MTU Aero Engines, Safran Aircraft Engines, and ITP Aero came to an overall agreement on the cooperation to provide a jointly developed, produced and supported engine to power the Next-Generation Fighter (NGF), which is a core element of FCAS (Future Combat Air System).

ITP joining the program as a main partner of MTU’s and Safran’s new joint venture EUMET will allow an equal workshare between France, Germany and Spain. EUMET will be the sole prime contractor with the nations for all engine activities related to the Next-Generation Fighter, with ITP Aero acting as main partner.

“We have set a reliable and solid framework for pragmatic and focused decisions among the partners over the entire life-cycle of the engine”, commented Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer of MTU and first Chairman of the Shareholders’ Meeting of EUMET. He continued. “Having reached this we will jointly focus on the major next steps ahead: Securing the contract for the demonstrator phase during the next few months and ramping up development activities in line with our highly ambitious timeline until 2040.”

“FCAS is a highly strategic program, enabling to maintain our fundamental competencies in military engines, while also strengthening national and European defense capabilities”, noted Jean-Paul Alary, Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aircraft Engines. “As leader of the NGF engine design and integration, Safran Aircraft Engines is looking forward to building solid foundations and strengthening the partnership with MTU and ITP Aero teams.”

“Today’s agreement marks a very relevant milestone for ITP Aero and the FCAS program. We believe this program will be instrumental for ITP Aero moving forward, showcasing the role and capabilities of the Spanish defence industry within the future of Europe’s defence. We look forward to working with our partners Safran and MTU Aero”, commented Carlos Alzola, CEO ITP Aero.

Within EUMET, Safran Aircraft Engines will lead the engine’s overall design and integration, while MTU Aero Engines will lead the engine service activities. ITP Aero will be fully integrated into the design of the engine and develop the low-pressure turbine and the nozzle amongst other items.

According to the timetable defined by the national authorities, the next Research & Technology phase (R&T 1B/2) should pass the national approval processes by the middle of this year in order to move the FCAS program to the next level.

GROB Systems Introduces New G750 5-axis Universal Machining Center for Milling Large Parts

GROB Systems announces the availability of its new G750 5-axis universal machining center, which offers industrial manufacturing milling for large parts. The G750 provides high productivity, optimized availability and flexibility. It offers a compact design that features optimized access and superior maintainability, with available round-the-clock service.

The G750’s unique machine concept includes a horizontal spindle position that permits the longest possible Z-travel path and optimum chip fall. The arrangement of the three linear axes offers maximum stability by minimizing the distance between the guides and the machining point (TCP). The G750’s tunnel concept allows the largest possible component to be swiveled and machined within the work area without collision – even with extremely long tools. Three linear and two rotary axes permit 5-sided machining, as well as 5-axis simultaneous interpolation, with a swivel range of 230 degrees in the A-axis and 360 degrees in the B-axis.

The G750 is available with a variety of powerful tilting rotary table versions with the latest torque motor technology and optimized dynamics. Users can choose between models with T-slots arranged in parallel (standard) or optional pallet clamping system.

A broad range of spindles are offered, ranging from 6,000 to 30,000(rpm) and 47 to 575 (Nm). The GROB motorized spindle with cross-feed allows complex internal and external contours to be manufactured with controllable tools. It offers convincing system rigidity, high cutting speeds for machining contours, and low tool costs. The GROB chip-in-spindle detection system (SiS) detects tool clamping faults, optimizing the machining process and avoiding damage. Additional single and double disk type tool magazines are available for the G750, providing fast chip-to-chip times, a smaller space requirement and optimized accessibility.

Available automation options include a pallet changer system and customer-specific automation solutions. GROB software solutions are available to optimize and analyze the machine kinematics of the G750 and minimize deviations down to the finest detail.

An extensive range of accessories increases the G750’s flexibility and productivity. Examples include a high-pressure fluid cutting system, decentralized work area mist collecting system, and an oil skimmer that helps keep cutting fluid as clean as possible.

King Aerospace Team Honored by the DOE and GSA/ICAP

King Aerospace was among the honorees at the FY 2020 Annual Department of Energy Aviation Awards, held March 22 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The event celebrates superior aviation programs and professional management.

The U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Secure Transportation (DOE/NNSA/OST) team – consisting of the OST Aviation Operations Division and King Aerospace – was recognized as the best aviation organization within the Department of Energy for FY 2020.

Craig Campbell, King Aerospace flight operations specialist for the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Secure Transportation (DOE /OST) Aviation Operations Division (AOD), received the Federal Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP) Aviation Professional Award for Operational Support. Earlier Campbell had won the DOE’s Operations Award, which automatically entered him into the Federal Aviation Awards.

“I share this honor with our entire team of dedicated pros, and I thank those who make these awards possible,” says Campbell. “Fostering the highest aviation standards saves lives and protects mission-critical, federally owned aircraft.”

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) joins ICAP in sponsoring the annual Federal Aviation Awards. An independent panel of aviation experts judge programs and star performers. This year’s judges include Jim Viola, HAI; Doug Carr, NBAA; and Jim Daum, FAA. They had a record-breaking number of applications for the 10 program and professional awards given.

“It means a great deal to be recognized by professionals who are so in the know,” says Jarid King, president of King Aerospace. “Craig exemplifies outstanding professionalism in the pursuit of safety, efficiency and effectiveness. We couldn’t be more proud.”

Arthur Ray, King Aerospace chief inspector and nominee, earned the DOE’s Maintainer Award.

“The urgent nature of the aircraft support services we provide as a government prime contractor makes these honors extremely meaningful and gratifying,” says Greg Mitchell, King Aerospace vice president of government services. “Our no-excuses culture and proactive problem solving uphold the DOE’s overarching mission to ensure America’s security and prosperity. It’s a role we proudly fulfill.”

In March 2019, the DOE/NNSA named King Aerospace, Inc., (KAI), prime contractor for supply chain and aircraft support services on behalf of DOE/NNSA’s Albuquerque, NM-based aircraft maintenance operations. The contract has a total estimated value of $28 million. Its one-year base includes four one-year renewal options until 2024. Contracted services include aircraft maintenance support and logistics for DOE/NNSA’s fleet of Boeing 737-400 passenger/cargo (Combi) and DC-9 Combi aircraft with work performed by a dedicated King Aerospace program team.

NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear explosive testing; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. The DOE/NNSA’s fleet transports nuclear weapons components, nuclear limited-life components and federal-agent taskforces.