Monthly Archives: January 2024

Lockheed Martin Sees Likely Delay In F-35 Tech Refresh-3 To Third Quarter

Development of an upgraded software capability for the F-35 fighter aircraft is maturing but more slowly than expected and while Lockheed Martin is still aiming to deliver the third Technology Refresh (TR-3) by June, it is more likely customer acceptance will slip into the third quarter of this year, Jim Taiclet, the company’s chairman, president and CEO, said on Tuesday.

“As we have said before, there continues to be risk in TR-3 deliveries due to delays in software maturity,” the F-35 Joint Program Office said on Jan. 23. “We are exploring a truncation plan with the [military] services and our partners to accept aircraft ahead of full validation of TR-3 capabilities. Any aircraft involved and delivered as part of the truncation plan will provide valuable capability to the warfighters while TR-3 completes final verification and validation.”

Last fall, Lockheed Martin said it expected the TR-3 software to be delivered with the F-35s beginning in the second quarter of 2023.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corporation – Fort Worth – Mikaela MaschmeierrEvent:Arctic Lightning Air Show 2021 – Eielson AFB. Devin Hartman photo

“We are taking the time and attention to get this technology insertion right the first time because it will be absolutely worth it,” Taiclet said during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. “The step function technological advances of TR-3 will provide our customers with the onboard digital infrastructure of data storage, data processing, and pilot user interface to provide unmatched capabilities for many years to come. These include increased types of capability for air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, advanced sensing, jamming, and cybersecurity capabilities and more accurate target recognition to achieve this level of reliable capability for the long run.”

In 2023, Lockheed Martin delivered 98 F-35s, all in the TR-2 configuration, and in 2024 is forecasting between 75 and 110 deliveries. Except for a “handful” of deliveries in the first half of the year, 90 percent of fifth-generation fighters are expected to be delivered during the second half with production of the aircraft slated to restart in the third quarter once the upgraded software is ready.

Taiclet said that the company’s TR-3 hardware suppliers will have to keep pace with F-35 production demand. Jay Malave, Lockheed Martin’s chief financial officer, said that further delays with TR-3 would force the company to revisit F-35 “production cadence.”

Lockheed Martin is currently building F-35s at a rate of 156 per year and Taiclet said the demand signal remains strong. But, he cautioned, meeting Defense Department demands for an expanding set of capabilities is challenging.

The TR-3 core processing and software will create the infrastructure for an ongoing modernization of the aircraft called Block 4, which is expanding.  Block 4 will allow the aircraft to carry more missiles, provide more electronic warfare capabilities, and greater target recognition.

“So, it is essential that this production line keep up,” Taiclet said. “Basically, the recapitalization of the allied fighter aircraft force is the F-35. And so, I think the key to that is full transparency and realizing the reality of the situation.”

That situation is that the more technology loaded onto the F-35, the aircraft customers must “be honest about the schedule, what industry can do, what can the test and evaluation community handle in the various militaries to accept that technology, and what’s the supply chain capacity?” he said.

Lockheed Martin is “brutally honest” with the services and the program office about what the supply chain’s capabilities are in meeting production demands, Taiclet said. And while that is “starting to get traction, I hope it gets more traction because we cannot afford to be over optimistic in the ability to deliver these technologies as rapidly as one might like,” he added.

The post Lockheed Martin Sees Likely Delay In F-35 Tech Refresh-3 To Third Quarter appeared first on Avionics International.

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Clay Lacy Aviation and Overair Partner to Introduce Advanced Air Mobility to Southern California

Overair, an emerging developer of all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft,  has entered a strategic collaboration with leading private jet management company, fixed-base operator, and infrastructure developer Clay Lacy Aviation to establish emission-free, ultra-quiet electric aviation operations throughout the Southern California region.

The companies will work together to develop a concept of operations for Overair’s Butterfly eVTOL aircraft, which begins testing in early 2024 following the completion of Overair’s first full-scale prototype last year, as well as other advanced aircraft. Overair and Clay Lacy plan to develop electric charging facilities at Clay Lacy’s FBO locations at John Wayne Airport in Orange County and Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles. Finally, the partnership will explore the establishment of new vertiport facilities and services across Southern California. 

Overair’s Butterfly eVTOL aircraft. Overair image

“Advanced air mobility (AAM) is an ideal addition to Southern California’s transportation network, creating a new option for fast, safe, and quiet transportation in the region,” said Valerie Manning, chief commercial officer at Overair. “We have been working with our partners at Clay Lacy for over a year and are delighted to announce our shared plan. We are confident that this strategic collaboration will leverage our respective strengths to create an AAM network that will positively impact local residents and visitors alike.”

Per the agreement, Clay Lacy will focus on development of charging infrastructure and aircraft operation logistics. Overair will bring expertise in aircraft integration, maintenance, certification, user and vertiport software integration, flight path planning and public-awareness building to the collaboration.

“Ultra-quiet all-electric aircraft bring the promise of convenient and efficient transportation, easing traffic congestion and reducing travel times,” said Scott Cutshall, senior vice president of strategy and sustainability at Clay Lacy.  “This collaboration with the Overair team brings us one step closer to better serving the residents and communities in Southern California.”

This partnership is the latest of several AAM infrastructure initiatives announced by Overair recently, including partnerships with India’s JetSetGo, the City of Arlington and DFW International Airport in North Texas, and several agreements with South Korean partners.

“As we continue to make strides developing Butterfly, we’re also focused on partnering with infrastructure leaders to ensure that operations using this new mode of transit can be scaled quickly and efficiently,” said John Criezis, head of mobility operations at Overair.

The post Clay Lacy Aviation and Overair Partner to Introduce Advanced Air Mobility to Southern California appeared first on Avionics International.

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USAF Looking Into Night Vision Goggle Training for KC-46A Pegasus

The U.S. Air Force is surveying industry to find companies able to develop Night Vision Goggle (NVG) training and support the latter for the KC-46A Pegasus Aircrew Training System (ATS) at Altus AFB, Okla., from Jan. 1 next year through 2026.

A Jan. 19th request for information by Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio said that the objective of AFMC’s market research “is to determine if any contractor has the capability to provide the required Night Vision Goggle (NVG) training course development along with operations and sustainment of the course material” for the KC-46A ATS at Altus.

The Air Force awarded Flight Safety Services Corp. a 13-year fixed-price incentive contract for ATS on May 1, 2013, including $78 million for engineering and manufacturing development. Flight Safety Services Corp. is now part of FSI Defense–a company under Berkshire Hathaway-owned FlightSafety International.

A Boeing KC-46A refuels a U.S. Air Force F-15 midair. Boeing photo

The Air Force uses ATS “as a significant part of an operations and sustainment training program, which provides total training to KC-46 aircrew members on proper operations of the KC-46 aircraft,” AFMC said on Jan. 22. “The goal of the KC-46 ATS program is to provide pilots and boom operators with thorough knowledge and hands-on training, concurrent with the aircraft’s functionality.”

ATS is a mix of classroom instruction, computer-based training, and hands-on training with high-fidelity hardware aircrew training devices (ATDs), including a weapon systems trainer, boom operator trainer, fuselage trainer, pilot part task trainer, and a boom operator part task trainer.

“These ATDs support instructor‐monitored practice training leading to proficiency and certification,” AFMC said. “This acquisition entails services to develop and deliver courseware and training to the government to support aircrew NVG certification training on devices provided under the existing ATS contract.”

Air Mobility Command (AMC) has said that KC-46A night refueling–important for special operations missions–is limited for the tanker, although it is able to perform night refueling with both planes alight (Defense Daily, Oct. 31, 2022). The tanker is unable to do night vision goggle refueling “with complete blackout,” AMC said, given that the KC-46 Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) cameras on the boom lack the fidelity needed, but the command said that new boom sensor cameras for the aircraft’s Remote Vision System (RVS 2.0) will meet the need.

The tanker’s original RVS had five LWIR “Atom” cameras made by France-based Sofradir–now part of Lynred. RVS 2.0 is to replace the two Sofradir LWIR boom sensor cameras for new boom sensor LWIR cameras by Oregon-based Sierra Olympic Technologies.

The Air Force has said that it foresees fielding RVS 2.0 for the KC-46A in October 2025 at the start of fiscal 2026–a delay of 19 months.

Boeing said that it recently won a $2.3 billion Lot 10 award from the Air Force for 15 KC-46As–a number that brings the total on contract to 153 out of 179 planned.

The post USAF Looking Into Night Vision Goggle Training for KC-46A Pegasus appeared first on Avionics International.

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Joby to Install First Electric Air Taxi Charger in Greater New York City Region

Joby Aviation, a company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service has signed a definitive agreement with Helo Holdings to install the first air taxi charger in the greater New York City region at the company’s heliport in Kearny, N.J., located just a two-minute flight from Manhattan.

The agreement, which provides Joby with an operational base for its electric air taxi in the NYC region, builds on the partnership already established between Joby and HHI in November 2023, when Kearny served as a temporary home base for Joby’s aircraft. 

Joby completed several flights at Kearny in preparation for the Company’s exhibition flight in New York City at an event hosted by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and Mayor Eric Adams. The city has committed to electrify the Downtown Manhattan Heliport to enable electric air taxi operations.

Joby’s eVTOL prototype flies over Manhattan in 2023. Joby photo

First opened in 2011, the Kearny heliport is the largest vertical-lift facility on the East Coast with 27 parking spots for helicopters and plans to expand to 32. The heliport provides ground services as well as hangar space for maintenance operations to helicopter operators in the New York region, one of the busiest low-altitude corridors in the world.

As part of the agreement, HHI will upgrade its electrical infrastructure to support the installation of Joby’s Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS), designed to support the safe and efficient operation of all-electric aircraft under development today, including Joby’s quiet, emissions-free air taxi.

“We’re pleased to expand our partnership with HHI as we prepare to install our GEACS charging system at Kearny Heliport,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “Kearny is expected to become the first heliport with an air taxi charger in the tri-state area and enable the launch of our quiet, emissions-free air taxi service in the greater New York City region.”

The GEACS charging interface is already used at Joby’s flight test center in Marina, Calif., and at Edwards Air Force Base. Joby recently announced a definitive agreement with Clay Lacy Aviation to install a charging system at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, Calif.

“We continue to expand our footprint in Kearny in support of one of the busiest low-altitude corridors in the world, and we’re thrilled to partner with Joby, one of the leading developers of electric air taxis, to bring the next wave of quiet aircraft to residents of the tri-state area,” said Jeff Hyman, founder and CEO of HHI.

In 2022, Joby announced a multi-year, multi-city commercial and operational partnership with Delta Air Lines to deliver seamless airport trips for its customers across several locations, including Los Angeles and New York City.

Joby’s air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and no in-flight emissions.

Joby also is is collaborating with Atlantic Aviation, a leading provider of aviation services and infrastructure, to electrify existing aviation infrastructure in New York and Southern California. 

The two companies will undertake a comprehensive analysis of how Joby’s air taxi can operate at these locations alongside traditional aircraft and other electric aircraft, offering customers a new way to move from point to point in congested cities that is quieter and more sustainable.

Atlantic has an extensive operational footprint in major cities across the United States, including numerous sites in the New York City and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.

“Our collaboration with Joby is a key step in Atlantic’s push to bring existing aviation infrastructure into the future and solidify Atlantic’s leading role in supporting the growth of electric aviation,” said John Redcay, chief commercial and sustainability officer at Atlantic. “We will be a technology-agnostic supporter of advanced air mobility and our work with Joby is a key part of that journey.”

The post Joby to Install First Electric Air Taxi Charger in Greater New York City Region appeared first on Avionics International.

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