Pratt & Whitney Delivers 50th F135 Engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

05/14/2012
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Pratt & Whitney has successfully delivered the 50th production F135 engine - powering Lockheed Martin's fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II - to the U.S. Department of Defense. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. UTX +0.15% company. The 50th engine…

Rolls secures £194m STOVL order

05/14/2012
Britain’s blue chip aerospace and defence sector manufacturer Rolls-Royce has received a contract for $315m (£194m) from Pratt & Whitney to supply its LiftSystem (pictured) for 17 F-35B Lightning II aircraft. Rolls is the only company in the world to produce the advanced technology that enables F-35B aircraft to perform…

Cyber State

05/14/2012
Department of State: Cybersecurity Update By Richard Weitz The Department leads U.S. international efforts to strengthen global cybersecurity.  It does so by building capacity in developing countries, promoting interoperable standards and enhancing international cooperation to respond to cyberthreats. The State Department is involved with almost every element of international cybersecurity…

The Impact of a Chinese Economic Hard Landing on Asian Security

05/14/2012
By Robbin Laird The current transition in the PRC is unprecedented in modern times in Asia.  A major lynchpin of the global economy and an ascendant power in Asia will face significant political uncertainty in an authoritarian power structure.  The rules will be scripted as part of the power struggle;…

Titanium structures for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to be produced in Bristol, UK

05/14/2012
14:51 GMT, May 2, 2012 GKN Aerospace at Filton, UK, has commenced production of precision machined titanium structures for BAE Systems, a principal subcontractor to Lockheed Martin, for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft (JSF). The Filton site will work in partnership with the GKN Aerospace sister operation…

Understanding the Basic F-35: What is in the Baseline Aircraft? (Updated)

05/13/2012
The F-35 represents a new approach to the development, production, system and sustainment of a fleet of combat aircraft.  Additionally, the F-35 takes an innovative approach to collaborative upgrades over the airframe and global fleet’s life cycle. Too often an understanding of the basic aircraft rolling out of production right…

The Challenge Posed by the New Large Container Cargo Ships: An Interview with Captain Cynthia L. Stowe

05/13/2012
Recently, we posted a piece looking at the impact of the new large container cargo ships on US ports and facilities. https://www.sldinfo.com/the-emergence-of-very-large-cargo-ships-another-contribution-to-“gapsmanship”/ [caption id="attachment_38383" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Fabioloa is only half full for this test of the port and demonstrates the challenges facing the USCG and the ports. "][/caption] And…

President Hollande, France and the Future of French Defense

05/13/2012
by Robbin  Laird President Sarkozy was defeated in a close election on Sunday in France.  This second round of the voting occurred after the right fractured in voting for Sarko and Le Pen in the first round, a first round in which Le Pen (this time the daughter) did very…