Northrop Wins Contract To Re-Engine the E-8C JSTARS

March 4, 2010 by Matthew Potter · 1 Comment
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Events, IT, Military Aviation, Northrop Grumman Corp., Services, U.S. Air Force, production program

The U.S. Air Force operates E-8C JSTARS aircraft to survey the ground and provide information to combat commanders on enemy forces and movements. They are converted Boeing 707 aircraft carrying radars and other sensors. The aircraft were used successfully in Desert Storm but were designed to support the defense of Western Europe against the Soviet Union. That threat has obviously passed.

The aircraft were converted by Northrop Grumman at a facility in Florida. They are aging and money is being spent to upgrade the platforms and systems since the replacement E-12 MC2A was canceled a few years ago. Northrop was awarded a contract worth over $200 million to re-engine two of the aircraft. New engines will extend their useful life, improve fuel consumption and increase the range and mission time of the E-8. It is a wise investment of money into these capable and useful platfomrs.

Tags: boeing 707, contract worth, desert storm, fuel consumption, jstars aircraft, mission time, new engines, northrop grumman, u s air, u s air force

U.S.M.C. Buys New Engines From BRP For Light Boats

November 5, 2009 by Matthew Potter · 1 Comment
Filed under: Business Line, Contract Awards, Events, Evinrude, Services, U.S. Marine Corps, logistics, production program

The United States Marine Corps awarded BRP a contract to purchase new engines for its fleet of Zodiac Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC). The contract for at least fift-five Multi Fuel Engines (MFE) is worth about $10 million. The engines are considered a commercial product and are the best MFE available that meet other military specifications.

The Marines will use these engines to power the CRRC to support insertion, patrol and reconnaissance operations along coastlines and rivers. Obviously with these types of missions reliability and performance are important. The engines may run on gasoline, kerosene and jet fuel. They come in two versions: One with an impeller and a conventional propeller model. The Marines are focusing on the impeller model. Because this is a commercially available product they can be delivered in less then six months to the customer.

Tags: combat rubber, fift, fleet, fuel engines, impeller, jet fuel, military specifications, new engines, states marine corps, united states marine, united states marine corps

Eurocopter Gets English Contract To Extend Life of Puma Medium Transports

September 30, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Countries, EADS, England, Events, Military Aviation, Services, U.S. Army, logistics, production program

The current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to demonstrate the need for personnel and cargo lift by helicopters. The English military operates a mixed fleet of Boeing CH-47 and Eurocopter Puma aircraft to perform this mission. Over the last eight years all components of their transport aviation have seen heavy use. The English government announced that they have awarded Eurocopter a contract to perform significant upgrades and life extensions for the Pumas.

The contract will be worth about $400 million and will add a new cockpit, avionics and engines to the aircraft. The work to upgrade twenty-eight aircraft should be completed in five years. The new engines will improve performance in high altitude and temperature conditions faced by units in Afghanistan. Like the United States Army which is upgrading their CH-47 and UH-60 fleet with new more powerful engines to face conditions in South West Asia the Puma will get a boost in performance. This will improve capability and provide better support to operations there.

Tags: boeing ch, CH-47, english government, english military, high altitude, new engines, south west asia, temperature conditions, transport aviation, united states army