Aerospace and Defence

Book: Spies in the Sky - Surveillance Satellites in War and Peace

2021-10-26

Author Pat Norris gives an overview of the development history and operational use of spy satellites while also showing the the influence these satellites had on the arms race and arms control treaties (in particular START I and II) of the cold war. The book also describes how the end of the cold war and the rise of commercial satellite imagine services have changed the utilisation of these types of satellites.

The book published by Springer and is available both in ebook or print format.

Video: Detailed briefings on Soviet Navy submarines

2021-05-06

U.S. Navy submariner Aaron Amick has created a video sub brief series on the Soviet Navy’s Cold War submarines. The videos are professionally researched and give a detailed overview of the different submarine types and their development, testing and operational use.

• Victor I class, Project 671 Yorsh
• Victor II class, Project 671RT Syomga
• Victor III class, 671RTM/RTMK Shchuka (behinde paywall)
• Alfa class, Project 705 Lira
• Sierra class, Project 945 Barrakuda / Project 945A Kondor
• Mike class, Project-685 Plavnik
• Akula class, Project 971 Shchuka-B

• Echo class, Project 659
• Oscar class, Project 949 Granit / Project 949A Antey (behinde paywall)

• Yankee class, Project 667A Navaga / Project 667AU Nalim
• Delta I class, Project 667B Murena
• Delta II class, Project 667BD Murena-M
• Delta III class, Project 667BDR Kalmar (behinde paywall)
• Typhoon class, Project 941 Akula
• Delta IV class, Project 667BDRM Delfin

Video: World-famous Arecibo telescope will close permanently due to un-repairable damage

2020-11-22

The National Science Foundation has decided to permanently close down the well known Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico due to damage to the telescope sensor array suspension wires. Scott Manley has made a 📺 good video describing the history of the telescope and goes into detail why the telescope is going to be shut down.

Video: Leonardo/CIO showcases Centauro II with 120mm main gun

2020-11-10

The Iveco - Oto Melara Consortium (CIO) (Oto Melara is now owned by Leonardo S.p.A.) 📺 ️has showcased the Centauro II 8x8 wheeled combat vehicle with a 120mm main gun. In 2018 the Italian army ordered an initial tranche of 10 Centauro II. The Italian army plans to acquire a total 136 vehicles.

GBU-53/B StormBreaker cleared for fielding on USAF F-15E

2020-10-14

Raytheon Missiles & Defense’s StormBreaker was approved for fielding on the USAF F-15E Strike Eagle by the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command. The GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision guided glide bomb with a multi mode seeker head using infrared, millimeter wave radar and semi active laser in addition to more conventional GPS in INS guidance. The GBU-53/B’s relatively compact dimensions allow it to be deployed via a 4x MER on the F-15E. Initial fielding of the GBU-53/B on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is planned for later this year and on the F-35 JSF next.

France orders 10 NH90 for special forces

2020-10-13

France has ordered 10 NH 90TTH helicopters for the French special forces. The version delivered under the order is going to be an upgraded version offering enhanced sensors for low visibility operations by integrating the EuroFLIR™ from Safran, new digital 3D map, new quick removable doors and a fast rope beam. Delivery is planned to begin in 2025.

With this order the NH consortium is able to extend its range of versions of the NH90 offering troop transport, ASW and now a special operations variants.

Till now 427 NH90 have been delivered and operate by various NATO and other countries.

Germany’s heavy lift helicopter replacement project cancelled

2020-10-12

Germany has cancelled its procurement project (German) for a replacement of the Sikorsky CH-53G variants used by the German Army (Heer). The German defence ministry said it is unlikely the replacement project as currently defined is going to reach the set budget and time goals.

The replacement project is going to be re-started with new project parameters. Boeing and Sikorsky took part in the tender, offering the CH-47F and CH-53K respectively.

It will be interesting to see what the parameters of the new project are going to be. There are not a lot of options besides the CH-47 and CH-53 in the heavy lift helicopter category. Also, it is highly unlikely the German Federal Ministry of Defence is going to want to purchase refurbished helicopters. So if the Federal Ministry of Defence wants to get a cheaper offer for the CH-53G replacement, they are going to have to reduce the performance parameters, which in term would probably mean downgraded capability of a potential replacement compared to the current CH-53G.