Ed Hill, Aerospace Manufacturing In this Q&A session Don Kinard, Lockheed Martin senior fellow F-35 production, discusses with Ed Hill how the defence giant is applying automation, robotics and additive manufacturing to production of the F-35 Lightning II. Q) At what stages have you introduced more automation in your aircraft construction. Is…
By Robbin Laird Last week, the Pentagon announced that Raytheon has won a $14.8 million contract to purchase the Naval Strike Missile for the Littoral Combat Ship and to put it in line to do the same for the new class of frigates which the US Navy is postured to…
MBDA is building a new generation of missile defense capabilities, built in part around a common missile. Recently, the UK MoD announced the arrival of the Sea Ceptor for its frigates. he Sea Ceptor is a sea-based supersonic missile defence system developed by MBDA for the UK’s Royal Navy. The…
We would like to thank Rear Admiral Nils Wang for bringing the development of the Arrowhead 140 design for the UK Type 31e frigate to our attention. We have looked at the Danish frigate in the past and have underscored our sense that the Danes had come up with a…
By Robbin Laird I had the chance to visit HMS Queen Elizabeth in Scotland as the carrier was being built. During a visit to Portsmouth in late April 2018, I had a chance to see the carrier again and to talk with senior UK Navy and industrial personnel involved in…
The HMS Queen Elizabeth is designed as a fast jet carrier for strike operations but also able to operate assault operations as well. For the assault mission, Leonardo has developed a new variant of the Merlin helicopter. According to a story published on the UK Ministry of Defence website on…
“A world-class missile system that will protect the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers has officially entered service, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced on May 24, 2018.” According to a story published on the UK Ministry of Defence website on May 24, 2018: Sea Ceptor provides a powerful shield against…
A key dynamic associated with the strategic shift to higher intensity operations is working airbase defense as well as mobile basing options. With regard to Norway, the new main operating base for F-35s will be at Orland Air Station in central Norway. The Norwegians, along with the US and the…
