Category: Military

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.

FDH Aero Appoints Ken Aso to Chief Operating Officer

FDH Aero (FDH), a global supply chain solutions provider for aerospace and defense OEMs and aftermarket segments, recently announced the appointment of industry veteran Ken Aso as chief operating officer.

Prior to joining FDH, Aso served as partner and senior advisor at Oliver Wyman, where he supported many leading OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and distribution service providers in the global aerospace and defense market. Prior to Oliver Wyman, he served in various roles at Boeing Global Services including managing director of global services engineering, maintenance and mods product management and managing director of commercial spares category management. He also served as senior VP corporate strategy & customer development at StandardAero.  

“Operational leadership is critical for our strategic initiatives,” said Scott Tucker, president and CEO of FDH Aero. “Ken’s proven ability to combine his deep industry experience with his focus on execution will help us to advance our key initiatives further and faster.” 

Aso earned an MBA from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He also graduated from Walla Walla University with a BA in Business Administration. 

Keeping Mission-Critical Equipment Connected

Applications that offer limited space for hardware, for example in a military aircraft, pose unique challenges when it comes to finding the right connector solution. Applications like military and aerospace require smaller, more compact electrical connectors that are still capable of withstanding harsh environments. Here, Sean Fitall, European product manager at interconnect solutions supplier PEI-Genesis, explores how micro-miniature circular connectors can provide significant savings in both space and weight requirements while ensuring a reliable connection.

Future Market Insights predicts that the micro-miniature coaxial adaptor market will increase from $3.7 million USD in 2018 to $5.8 million by 2028. Likely drivers of this growth are the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the expectation that global air traffic will increase at a rate of 4.4 per cent per year over the next 20 years.

This is because microminiature connectors offer significant savings in both weight and space, owing to their small size and the level of performance equal to their larger, circular counterparts. In industries where extra ounces of equipment cuts payload capacity and uses more fuel, saving weight is important. In fact, Virgin Atlantic has estimated that losing a pound in weight from every plane in its fleet could save 53,000 litres of fuel a year, amounting to tens of thousands of US dollars in savings. 

With this in mind, let’s discuss how aircraft manufacturers can tackle the challenge of space and weight restrictions at no sacrifice to connector performance.

Meeting the needs of the application

For manufacturers of military and aerospace devices, all electrical components must be able to operate in demanding conditions. For example, tactical equipment in a military aircraft is regularly exposed to vibrational forces, which can interrupt connections, loosen fastenings or, in a worse case scenario, damage the internal contacts. It is crucial, therefore, that micro-miniature connectors comply to MIL-DTL-38999 specifications for vibration and shielding.

The Amphenol 2M series of micro-miniature connectors are fully compliant to MIL-DTL specifications, meaning they have undergone rigorous testing to ensure they remain sealed in harsh environments and rated for temperatures of -65 to 175 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, on average this series offers 71 per cent weight savings compared to the MIL-DTL-38999 standard and are 52 per cent smaller.

Saving space and weight doesn’t mean you sacrifice performance, however. Most micro-miniature connectors are manufactured with a higher contact density than most other connectors in the same class, ensuring a strong and reliable signal transmission in small spaces. This is ideal for mission-critical applications like airframes, avionics boxes, tactical equipment and headsets, where a whole operation relies on the efficient transmission of information.

Design flexibility is also important when choosing a military or aerospace connector, particularly when an accidental disconnect could be detrimental to operations. Some applications, like communications systems in a military ground vehicle, will require bayonet coupling for faster mating and disconnect. 

Therefore, choosing a connector that can be assembled with many coupling options, such as bayonet, threaded or breakaway, will offer this design flexibility. With this, customers are guaranteed a customised interconnect solution suitable for satellites, industrial equipment, military support technology, like hand-held radios, GPS devices and missile systems.

PEI-Genesis’ selection of connectors for the military and aerospace markets includes Amphenol’s MIL-DTL-38999 2M connectors and ITT Cannon MKJ series. This variety will ensure you get the best connectors to simplify your assembly process and improve the quality and reliability of your military and aerospace designs.

Northrop Grumman Australia Opens State of the Art Facility

Queensland Deputy Premier Hon. Steven Miles, officially opened Northrop Grumman Australia’s newly-modernized Brisbane Maintenance and Modification Center (BMMC), a facility for the sustainment of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) aviation capability. In attendance were key RAAF stakeholders and Kathy Warden, chair, chief executive officer and president, Northrop Grumman and Christine Zeitz, general manager, Asia Pacific region, Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman’s $20 million investment in the BMMC modernization project created 300 local jobs, and directly involved over 500 people. The facility conducts continuous through life support to key RAAF fleets and will engage an ongoing Northrop Grumman Australia workforce of around 100 employees, with the new infrastructure capacity now allowing for a significant expansion.

“Queensland has cemented itself as a powerhouse for Australia’s Defence industry and our capabilities are quickly growing. Two thirds of the Australian Army operates out of Queensland and this is just another feather in our cap,” said Deputy Premier Miles. “Northrop Grumman Australia’s facility here in Brisbane is just another great example of the close collaboration between Defence and Australian Industry, supporting an important ADF capability, as well as providing significant investment and generating good, skilled jobs for the Queensland workforce”.

“It’s been terrific to have the Deputy Premier open this strategically important facility, delivering sustainable support to the RAAF mission. Our sustainment and modernization program is a key element of our on-going commitment and investment to the State,” said Christine Zeitz. “Northrop Grumman’s growing sustainment work at the BMMC has enabled us to establish an apprenticeship program providing a pipeline of skilled Queensland engineers underpinning the company’s ability to deliver Advanced Technology programs in the coming years. A world class skilled local workforce with genuine and attractive career options, in partnership with the Queensland Government, is a critical driver of future joint mission success.”

The facility provides support and maintenance to the RAAF’s six KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, a versatile platform that is an operational refuelling tanker for a range of RAAF aircraft.

The Multi Role Tanker Transport has supported a range of ADF missions, including Operation OKRA in the fight against Daesh, Operation Afghan Assist and the Regional Presence deployment with allied partners.

It also supports the RAAF’s fleet of 10 C-27J Spartan transport aircraft, which have proved invaluable in the airlift of people, equipment and supplies in Australia and our near region. The Spartan provides a versatile and unique capability that is well matched to Australia’s strategic and humanitarian objectives in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia due to its ability to land on regional and unsealed airstrips.