Cercasi successore per il C-130 ....

[Tuccio14]

Diventerebbe praticamente il corrispettivo ad ala fissa dell'Hind. Potrebbe offrire una piattaforma per operazioni speciali senza pari.

[Vultur]

Io non c'ho capito niente. Cosa potrebbe diventare il corrispettivo ad ala fissa dell'Hind??

[Tuccio14]

Intendevo che un aereo capace di paracadutare in zona di operazioni un gruppo di soldati ed assisterli dall'altro con armamento di precisione sarebbe un po' quello che l'Hind era per le forze armate russe, ossia un mezzo da assalto efficacissimo. Se poi questa piattaforma è stealth sarebbe anche l'ideale per operazioni clandestine.

[Vultur]

Si, ma l'Hind era fatto per operazioni spacca tutto operate sotto gli occhi di tutti in mezzo a divisioni corazzate all'attacco di posizioni fortificate di un nemico che li stava aspettando. Una roba da muoia Maciste con tutti i Filistei.

Insomma: era tutto meno che una cosa furtiva.

Qua invece si tratterebbe di un'azione silenziosa operata da grandi cargo stealth. Nel momento in cui si spara, credo che tutta la sorpresa finisce, quindi non credo che sia utile usare un grande cargo stealth per manifestare la sua presenza sul campo mettendosi a sparare, dato che il primo requisito dovrebbe essere appunto convincere i nemici che lui non esiste.

Una cannoniera volante che si mette a sparare invece denuncia la sua esistenza a chiunque si trovi nel raggio di uno o due giorni di marcia, per cui che se ne fà della stealthness?

Bersagli di opportunità, o puntiformi, altamente redditizi e da raggiungere all'improvviso? Ci sono già gli UAV armati di Hellfire, o le bombe guidate. Usare un grande cargo stealth per queste cose mi pare controproducente oltre che uno spreco.

In una zona altamente difesa e sorvegliata da alta tecnologia ci dovrebbero entrare solo i cruise, seguiti da aerei ECM, seguiti dai SEAD: neanche gli stealth ci si avventurerebbero a cuor leggero.

In una zona in cui le postazioni radar più "chiassose" sono state ridotte al silenzio e ammorbidite potrebbero entrare gli stealth e operare con ragionevole sicurezza.

Una cannoniera volante invece, da ciò che so, non può operare in posti in cui ci siano ancora SAMs attivi o contraerea pesante.

Modificato 23 Settembre 2011 da Vultur

[Flaggy]

In realtà nei propositi le cose stanno in maniera diversa.

 

Come si evolve la piattaforma, si evolvono anche sensori e armamenti e di conseguenza la missione.

 

Se l'attuale profilo di missione rende le cannoniere piuttosto vulnerabili, l'utilizzo di una piattaforma stealth non implica il mantenimento dello stesso profilo di missione, anzi.

 

In altre parole non si deve necessariamente pensare alla cannoniera come all’attuale mezzo dotato di cannoncini e di un obice da 105, che al massimo consentono di colpire bersagli a una decina di chilometri di distanza volando a circa 5000 metri di quota.

 

L'obiettivo è quello di estendere il braccio a una trentina di chilometri volando a quote che mettano il velivolo al sicuro da buona parte delle minacce (in particolare i MANPADS), sfruttando sensori avanzati per vedere il bersaglio da lontano e armi di portata nettamente superiore per raggiungerlo, senza la necessità magari di volare in tondo o con traiettorie prevedibili.

 

Il ventaglio di opzioni a quel punto è molto grande e contempla l'utilizzo di armamenti plananti di piccolo calibro come le Viper Strike (una ventina di kg) o missili come il Griffin (una quindicina di kg) e futuribili torrette laser che rimpliazzino i cannoni da 25 o 40mm.

 

D'altra parte il progetto per una futura gunship AC-X inizialmente aveva addirittura considerato la possibilià di impiegare come piattaforma quella del futuro bombardiere stealth e quindi sicuramente ancor più costosa dell'ipotizzato cargo stealth.

[Andrea75]

photo of a U.S. Coast Guard C-130J clearly shows what wingtip vortices look like

 

[Andrea75]

On board a C-130J during a 16-Ship Formation Flight: the largest formation of Super Hercules aircraft to date

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B5HjgnXSUU&feature=player_embedded

[Andrea75]

C-130 Hercules

 

A C-130 Hercules with the 107th Airlift Wing fires off flares during a night formation training mission. A flare is an aerial infrared countermeasure to counter and infrared homing (heat seeking) surface-to-air or air-to-air missile.With the Air Force intending on killing the C-27J program (aircraft seen below) the C-130 will face the responsibility of making up for the lift capacity lost.

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

Promosse le nuove versioni del C-130J ....

 

.... dal "Daily Report" dell'AFA di ieri ....

 

 

Testers Give Thumbs Up to New Rescue and Commando Airplanes ....

 

 

Air Force operational testers have certified that the service's new HC-130J Combat King II rescue aircraft and MC-130J Commando II special-mission tanker are "effective, suitable, and mission capable," announced Lockheed Martin, the airplanes' manufacturer, on Nov. 1.

 

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2012/november/lockheed-martin-c-130j-super-hercules-variants-declared--mission.html

 

The certification came in October, according to the company.

 

The Air Force is currently recapitalizing its legacy HC-130s and MC-130s with the new-build Combat King IIs and Commando IIs.

 

These platforms are modified variants of the basic C-130J airframe.

 

Lockheed Martin is currently on contract for 15 HC-130Js and 27 MC 130Js.

 

Overall, the Air Force has plans to procure 37 HC-130Js and 85 MC-130Js.

 

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArchive/Pages/2011/May%202011/May%2019%202011/AirForceBuying48MoreSpecial-MissionC-130Js.aspx

 

Sixteen of the MC-130Js are slated to undergo post-production conversion to AC-130J gunships.

 

See also .... http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArchive/Pages/2012/October%202012/October%2025%202012/MoreSpecialMissionC-130JsOrdered.aspx

 

First New AC-130J Gunship in Production ....

 

The first MC-130J Commando II that will be converted to become an AC-130J Gunship is being built at the Lockheed Martin Marietta, Ga., C-130 production facility.

The AC-130J will be equipped with a Precision Strike Package creating the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s newest gunship.

Sixteen AC-130Js are planned with an Initial Operating Capability scheduled for 2015.

 

(Immagine tratta dalla "gallery" di Lockheed Martin su "Flickr")

[Andrea75]

Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Variants Declared 'Mission Capable' After U.S. Air Force Testing

 

The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] HC-130J Combat King II and the MC-130J Commando II aircraft have been certified as “Effective, Suitable and Mission Capable” by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center. The U.S. Air Force is currently recapitalizing the HC, MC and AC-130 gunship fleets with new C 130J variants.

 

The HC-130J is the personnel recovery/combat search and rescue aircraft for Air Combat Command, and the MC-130J is the Special Operations tanker aircraft for Air Force Special Operations Command. Currently Lockheed Martin is on contract for 27 MC 130Js and 15 HC-130Js. The certification was received in October.

[Andrea75]

C-130J Super Hercules Variants Declared 'Mission Capable' After U.S. Air Force Testing

 

HC-130J Combat King II and the MC-130J Commando II aircraft have been certified as “Effective, Suitable and Mission Capable” by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center. The U.S. Air Force is currently recapitalizing the HC, MC and AC-130 gunship fleets with new C 130J variants.

The HC-130J is the personnel recovery/combat search and rescue aircraft for Air Combat Command, and the MC-130J is the Special Operations tanker aircraft for Air Force Special Operations Command. Currently Lockheed Martin is on contract for 27 MC 130Js and 15 HC-130Js. The certification was received in October.

 

 

Saudi Arabia – C-130J-30 and KC-130J Aircraft

 

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Nov. 8 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 20 C-130J-30 Aircraft and 5 KC-130J Air Refueling Aircraft, as well as associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $6.7 billion.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has requested a possible sale of 20 C-130J-30 Aircraft, 5 KC-130J Air Refueling Aircraft, 120 Rolls Royce AE2100D3 Engines (100 installed and 20 spares), 25 Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems, support equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance, and other related logistics support. The total estimated cost is $6.7 billion.

[TT-1 Pinto]

North .... to Alaska ....

 

"A forklift off-loads supply pallets from the back of a C-130 Hercules at Cape Newenham in northern Alaska, Dec. 4, 2012.

Cape Newenham is a remote radar site that is part of the North Warning System, a string of aircraft-detection sensors stretching from northern Alaska across upper Canada to the Canadian Atlantic coast.

Sites like Cape Newham are dependent upon air-delivered resupply."

 

(Air Force photo by TSgt. Brian Ferguson)

 

Fonte ....

[TT-1 Pinto]

L' Hercules non ha ancora trovato un suo successore (almeno negli USA) .... però l'inesauribile Lockheed sta studiando una nuova modifica per l'intramontabile velivolo .... le winglets ....

Airbus Military, Lockheed Try Winglets on Airlifters ....

 

Fonte .... http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:efc6ee5f-3028-44a8-82a6-86a13fc40f5c

 

[Mustanghino]

credo che sia più un esercizio accademico: quanti benefici possono dare alla velocità di crociera del C-130J???

[TT-1 Pinto]

credo che sia più un esercizio accademico: quanti benefici possono dare alla velocità di crociera del C-130J???

 

Non sembra sia una questione relativa alla velocità di crociera .... quanto piuttosto alla riduzione del consumo di carburante ....

 

Predicted results show either about a four percent increase in range for a C-130J on a long-range cruise mission with a 17,250 pound payload or about a twenty-one gallon per hour reduction in fuel consumption on a typical 2,500 nautical mile mission with a 20,000 pound payload.

 

Fonte .... http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=91

[Mustanghino]

Le alette winglets aumentano i benefici (minore resistenza all'avanzamento) con l'aumentare della velocità di crociera...... a 550 km/h credo il rapporto benefici/contro (riduz resistenza/peso-costo) sia prossimo a 1. Piuttosto dal disegno sembra che ci sarà una nuova ala con maggiore allungamento, questo si che è un passo avanti

[Andrea75]

C-130 Gunship http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/141537/usaf-talks-up-new%2C-improved-c_130-gunship.html

 

 

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --- The first MC-130J Combat Shadow II to be converted into Air Force Special Operations Command's newest variant of the gunship, the AC-130J Ghostrider arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Modifications to the airframe will be completed in 10 months and will be a milestone in the recapitalization of the AC-130H/U fleet.

The AC-130J Ghostrider will inherit the AC-130W Stinger II's precision strike package, which was developed to support ground forces in overseas contingency operations.

Insurgent activity in urban environments created the need for an airframe that could deliver direct fire support to ground forces and precisely engage enemies with low-yield munitions.

"These new weapon systems and small diameter bombs will provide overwatch and further standoff distance to cover a wider range of space for our warfighters on the ground," said Maj. Stuart Menn, U.S. Special Operations Command Det. 1 commander.

The precision strike package includes dual electro-optical infrared sensors, a 30-mm cannon, griffin missiles, all-weather synthetic aperture radar and small diameter bomb capabilities. The sensors allow the gunship to visually or electronically identify friendly ground forces and targets at any time, even in adverse weather.

"The precision strike package that is going into this aircraft is proven down range," said Todd McGinnis, USSOCOM Det. 1 AC-130J modification manager.

Pairing weapons with a networked battle management system, enhanced communications and situational awareness upgrades the J-model's ability to deliver surgical firepower.

"Now we get the successes of this precision strike package and marry it up with the advantages of the J-model bringing the best two C-130s together in a new weapons system," McGinnis said.

The AC-130 primary mission is closeair support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance.

Closeair support missions include delivering fire support to ground forces that are fighting enemies and convoy escort. Air interdiction missions are conducted against preplanned targets or targets of opportunity. These missions also include strike coordination and reconnaissance.

The AC-130 gunship has proven to be a reliable and fierce weapon system used by special operations forces since the 1960s. AC-130s had roles in operations Urgent Fury in Grenada, Just Cause in Panama, Desert Storm in Iraq, Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia, as well as Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In each operation, AC-130s were credited with many life-saving overwatch missions.

According to the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, "AC-130 gunships have been invaluable in supporting operations against insurgent and terrorist groups in Iraq and Afghanistan. These units have therefore been in heavy demand even as a portion of the fleet approached the end of its service life."

The AC-130J has the speed of the MC-130J, the precision strike capabilities of the AC-130W and carries forward the heritage of the AC-130H/U.

A total of 37 MC-130J prototypes will be modified as part of a $2.4 billion AC-130J program to grow the future fleet, said Capt. Andrew Reed, USSOCOM Det. 1 AC-130J on-site program manager. The first AC-130J is expected to be completed November 2013 and expected to be ready for initial flight testing by December 2013.

"This will be the most advanced gunship in the inventory," Menn said.

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

Il "concetto" Speed Agile di Boeing ha ottenuto il brevetto ....

 

Boeing awarded patent for Speed Agile stealth transport concept ....

 

Boeing was granted a patent for a swept-wing powered lift aircraft on 26 March, which looks like it is based on the company's submission to the US Air Force Research Laboratory's Speed Agile program--which is a "collaborative effort" between NASA, Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

 

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2013/04/boeing-awarded-patent-speed-ag.html

 

Il precedente .... http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3aec0015b6-faa5-426c-945e-92b4fa021700

[Flaggy]

Che "belli” che sono i documenti di brevetto: si cerca con cavillose descrizioni del concetto di evitare un qualsiasi aggiramento del brevetto…ammesso non si incappi in qualcuno che direttamente se ne frega dei brevetti, come hanno fatto i cinesi con le prese d’aria DSI dell’F-35…

In questo caso il concetto Boeing è meno semplice di quel che sembra in confronto a quello Lockheed Martin.
L’ugello del motore può in effetti essere "schiacciato e allargato" grazie a pannelli mobili sopra, sotto e di lato e questo consente al motore di dare un contributo al sostentamento del velivolo, aprendo il pannello laterale e abbassando il pannello inferiore e superiore per schiacciare e allargare il flusso di scarico in modo da fargli seguire l’ipersostentatore abbassato. In tal modo si massimizza la spinta verticale e si riduce la spinta in avanti (configurazione d’atterraggio).
In configurazione di decollo credo che l'aereo abbassi i flap, chiuda il pannello laterale e tenga alto il pannello inferiore: in tal modo si ha il disaccoppiamento fra flusso del motore e quello che segue l'ipersostentatore e l'aereo così accelara rapidamente sulla pista, poi ,acquisita velocità, si abbassa il pannello inferiore e la spinta da un contributo verticale che consente il decollo.

 

Elemento di rilievo dei tutto il concetto è l'integrazione totale fra ala e propulsori e tra le rispettive forze generate. Si va alla precisa ricerca di una geometria alare e di una combinazione di angoli di freccia al bordo d'attacco e d'uscita tali da fare in modo che il contributo dei motori non generi alcuno spostamento del centro di pressione, eliminando di fatto ogni effetto intorno all'asse di beccheggio.

 

Comunque mi sa che anche il concetto Lockheed Martin, con il suo inversore di spinta integrato nell'ala, avrà qualche paginetta di brevetti...

 

 

http://www.aviationweek.com/blogs.aspx?plckpostid=blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7post:4ed2785f-832c-4f7f-8a7b-1d820cb2b07a

[TT-1 Pinto]

Dal sito della Nasa ....

 

 

Speed Agile Team Wins Laureate ....

 

Almost since the dawn of powered flight, military aircraft have benefitted from NASA aeronautics research. Back then - in 1917 – it wasn't called NASA. It was the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which changed its name to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958.

That legacy continues today and is getting recognition. A government/industry team, led by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and including NASA, won Aviation Week magazine's 2013 prestigious Laureate Award in Aeronautics and Propulsion for the Speed Agile Powered Lift System Concept Demonstrator. The idea behind the program is to design a next-generation tactical mobility aircraft that could give the U.S. Air Force more flexibility to deliver supplies and troops to remote regions of the world that might not have traditional infrastructure such as long, paved runways. Included on the award winning research team were not only NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate's Fixed Wing Project, but also Boeing Research & Technology; Lockheed Martin; Advanced Technologies, Inc.; and Williams International.

Since the research efforts started in 2002, AFRL and its partners have designed, tested and validated technology for cruise-efficient short takeoff and landing aircraft. NASA's primary interest is in the dual use technology and its potential application to future airliners. NASA contributed computational tool, wind tunnel, simulator and aerodynamic expertise at its Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. and Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. Researchers tested several concepts in NASA Langley's National Transonic Facility and 14 by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. They also used NASA Ames' Vertical Motion Simulator to evaluate flying qualities and control schemes for an advanced transport.

Image Credit: NASA Langley/George Homich

[TT-1 Pinto]

L'ammazza pappagalli ....

 

Not a Parrot Joke ....

 

The UK Ministry of Defence has paid compensation to parrot owners for the death or injury of their pets startled by low flying military aircraft, the British press reported today.

 

Fonte .... http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:dd3412fb-2d73-42d1-9198-a34a51256c5d

 

 

 

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

C-130J .... prossimo acquirente .... la Libia ....

 

US notifies Congress of potential Libyan C-130J sale ....

 

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on 7 June that it may sell the Libyan government two Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 tactical transports for an estimated $588 million. The potential deal would also include 10 Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines, support and test equipment, and other government furnished equipment, such as radios.

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-notifies-congress-of-potential-libyan-c-130j-sale-386972/

 

Mi chiedo .... e lo chiedo a chiunque sia in grado di rispondere .... che fine abbiano fatto i venti G.222 Tyne venduti a suo tempo al paese nordafricano ....

[TT-1 Pinto]

Lockheed Martin sta pensando ad un successore per il cargo civile L-100 .... ma anche ad una versione ASW del C-130J destinata ai paesi che non si possono permettere il costoso P-8 ....

 

PARIS: Lockheed pitches civilian J-model Hercules ....

 

Lockheed Martin is examining the possibly of developing a civilian variant of its C-130J to replace the legacy L-100 civilian-model Hercules airlifters.

There are about 70 L-100 aircraft remaining in service with various civilian operators of the type, says Jack Crisler, Lockheed's vice-president of new business for air mobility programmes.

The company expects that it could sell more than 70 civilian versions of the C-130J.

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-lockheed-pitches-civilian-j-model-hercules-387245/

[fabio-22raptor]

Primo C-130J per Israele

 

Fonte: Flightglobal

 

 

The Israeli air force received its first C-130J tactical transport at Lockheed Martin's Marietta site in Georgia on 26 June. The first of three stretched fuselage -30-model aircraft currently on order for the service, the asset is scheduled to be flown to Israel in "spring 2014", Lockheed says.

Israeli preparations to operate the new-generation Hercules have involved the deployment of a US Air Force C-130J to its Nevatim air base in January 2013. The transport was used during a joint training exercise with Israeli squadrons operating legacy examples. The nation has a current inventory of 16 E/H-variant transports and tankers, as recorded by Flightglobal's MiliCAS database. Flown since 1971, the oldest of these will be phased out, while the others will undergo structural treatment.

Lead aircraft 661 is from a contract signed during 2010, but the air force late last year began talks with Lockheed about the possible purchase of another three C-130Js.

Israel is acquiring its aircraft with cockpits adapted for three crew members, in a configuration similar to that used by US special forces. Its aircraft will also be modified for the future installation of some Israeli-developed systems.

[TT-1 Pinto]

C-130H della RAAF ricondizionati e girati alla Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara ....

 

Qantas Defence Services to prepare four ex-RAAF C-130Hs for Indonesia ....

 

Qantas Defence Services (QDS) has entered into a contract with the Indonesian air force for refurbishment work on four former-Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules tactical transports.

Worth Australian dollars (A$) 63 million ($58 million), the deal mainly applies to three of the aircraft, says Glenn Brown, head of the Qantas Aviation Services organistation, of which QDS is a unit.

 

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/qantas-defence-services-to-prepare-four-ex-raaf-c-130hs-for-indonesia-388644/