Category: Military

AAR Expands Electronics Distribution Relationship with OTTO Engineering 

AAR has signed a territory expansion agreement that expands its Americas-based electronics distribution relationship with OTTO Engineering, Inc. (OTTO) into the APAC region.  

Under the agreement, AAR will distribute OTTO’s extensive line of electromechanical switches, grips, and joysticks to the commercial and defense markets. The agreement leverages AAR’s international presence and market expertise to deliver a broader range of products. 

“OTTO is excited to embark on this channel expansion with our existing partner,” said Angelo Assimakopoulos, Director of Sales at OTTO.  “AAR’s ability to service the global market with our extensive aerospace control products offering is the right alignment to proliferate and grow our business in the APAC region.”

“AAR is pleased to grow our relationship with OTTO and expand our electromechanical product offering into APAC,” said Darren Spiegel, vice president and general manager of AAR Electronics. “Pairing AAR’s customer-centric aerospace focus with OTTO’s design expertise will drive further innovation as the industry places a growing emphasis on electrification.”

Handover of final A350 government aircraft to the German Air Force

Lufthansa Technik recently handed over the third and final Airbus A350 government aircraft to the German Federal Ministry of Defense’s (BMVg) Special Air Mission Wing at a festive ceremony during ILA Berlin. Secretary of State for Defense Nils Hilmer officially put the aircraft with the registration 10+03 into service this afternoon. This already marked the second premiere for “Schumacher,” as the largest modernization program in the history of the Special Air Mission Wing comprised a total of four cabin modifications for three aircraft. Lufthansa Technik delivered all of them to the German Armed Forces on time and on budget, the company said.

“The largest modernization program in the history of the Special Air Mission Wing can justifiably be called a Herculean task. Four cabin refurbishments for a total of three wide-body jets over a period of just four years, and some of them were still heavily influenced by the pandemic,” explained Soeren Stark, CEO of Lufthansa Technik AG. “I am all the more proud of our team, which mastered this task with flying colors, and completely within the estimated cost and time frame. I take my hat off to this achievement and thank everyone who was involved.” 

The initial handover of 10+03 took place just a few months after the political decision was made to replace the German Air Force’s two long-serving Airbus A340s with three brand-new A350s for long-haul political and parliamentary air transport. As the first aircraft was needed in service very quickly, Lufthansa Technik initially only equipped 10+03 with an interim cabin and handed it over to the then Minister of Defense in August 2020. The first A350 deliveries with a full government cabin followed in November 2022 and in March 2023 with 10+01 “Konrad Adenauer” and 10+02 “Theodor Heuss”. 10+03 “Kurt Schumacher” then also returned to Lufthansa Technik’s Hamburg VIP Completion Center, where its cabin interior was completed until recently.

As an “earlycomer” in the program, 10+03 still wore the old color scheme of the so-called “white fleet” until recently, with a serif font on the fuselage and only narrow black-red-gold accents on the wingtips. Just in time for today’s delivery, the livery was also carefully adapted to the more modern look of the two sister aircraft, including new lettering in the “Bundes Sans” font and wingtips that are now extensively painted in the colors of the German flag.

Happy Charles Taylor Day!

Charles Taylor, who was the Wright Brothers’ mechanic and is considered the father of aviation maintenance, was born on May 24th. AMT Day is celebrated each year in the aviation maintenance industry and honors Charles Taylor on the date of his birth. Like Taylor, aircraft mechanics are truly the unsung heroes of the aviation industry. Congress passed a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National AMT Day in 2008. After several years of continuous effort, Senate Resolution #SRES335 passed in December 2016, joining Congressional Resolution #RES#444, recognizing May 24 as AMT Day, and the day is now observed in many states in the U.S. Here’s to all the people who work selflessly to ensure the safety of our air transportation system.

Kaman Measuring Highlights High Precision Displacement Sensors for Extreme Environments

The Measuring Division of Kaman Precision Products is highlighting the availability of high precision displacement sensors for extreme environments such as power generation including nuclear and aerospace propulsion, materials research and development, with operating temperatures from -320°F to +1000°F (+1200°F short term) at pressures up to 5000 psi.

Originally designed for NASA and the nuclear power industry, these sensors provide non contacting measurement of conductive surface motion with unsurpassed accuracy and reliability under the most hostile operating conditions.

Kaman’s sensors are made with hermetically sealed, laser-welded Inconel housings and use metal jacketed, mineral-insulated cable to stand up to high temperature, high pressure, vibration and environmental contaminants.

Three displacement measuring systems are available, all able to operate at high temperatures. KD-1925 withstands pressures up to 5000 psi; and KD-1950 and KD-1975 withstands pressure up to 3500 psi.

The sensors use the versatile KDM-8206 signal conditioning electronics. Single channel systems are available in the NEMA-enclosures or bench-top/ rack-mountable Eurocards. The NEMA enclosure houses an internal power supply, digital panel meter and window kit. Up to twelve measuring channels are available in the rack-mountable KDM-8206.

Barnbrook Sets New Sights on Airshow

A global engineering solutions firm for the aerospace industry is set to showcase innovations at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Barnbrook Systems, of Hampshire, UK, will unveil new and upgraded technology and services when it attends the world famous event for the 14th consecutive time in July 2024.

They will include its market-leading refueling switch for helicopters and the next generation of its BlueCube remote monitoring systems. 

Its team will also unveil more details about its work on hydrogen energy solutions, fire suppression systems, ultra-high pressure monitoring ranges and innovations in AI and machine learning.

Andrew Barnett – director at Barnbrook Systems of Fareham, Hampshire, UK

“All at Barnbrook Systems are excited about this year’s airshow,” said Andrew Barnett, director at Barnbrook. “We may have been attending this event for nearly 30 years but we are also a modern, forward-thinking company which focuses on growth and continuous improvement through creativity and innovation. We are looking forward to showcasing our new and upgraded engineering systems aimed at delivering bespoke solutions to meet myriad requirements of today’s aerospace, aviation and defence sectors.”

Barnett, who is member of the board at Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC), added: “Sustainability and the drive to net zero are proving to be major dynamos as the pace of the digital revolution continues to accelerate. We’re keen to demonstrate how our applications, including our work on hydrogen projects, can harness the power of change at the airshow and share ideas with other innovators from across the world.”

Independent, family owned Barnbrook Systems will be in the main hall at the airshow on July 22 to 26. It will be on stand 1317, close to the FAC marquee. 

It recently won a repeat, six-figure order in for its inflight refueling switch for aerospace giant Leonardo. The first deal for this system was signed at the 2016 airshow.

Robinson Helicopter Company Acquires Ascent AeroSystems, Adding Tactical Uncrewed Solutions Portfolio

Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) has acquired Ascent AeroSystems, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Robinson Helicopter Company. This acquisition reinforces Robinson’s dedication to scaling innovation, accelerating new rotorcraft developments, and supporting diverse missions worldwide. By leveraging the expertise and resources of both companies, Robinson reinforces its leadership in the future of vertical flight systems and utility missions.

Ascent AeroSystems, recognized for its efficient and compact coaxial helicopter drones designed for industrial, public safety, and defense applications, brings a wealth of technological synergies that align with Robinson’s strategic vision for growth and expansion into new markets. Through the acquisition, Ascent can now grow and scale by building its UAVs at Robinson’s cost-effective, vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Torrance, CA.

Ascent AeroSystems’ expertise in autonomous electric flight technology and modular design philosophy will enhance Robinson’s offerings. The integration of emerging technologies and a diverse ecosystem of payloads, power sources, and launch methods will further enhance the company’s mission-focused offerings, including crewed-uncrewed teaming and interoperability across product families.

“This strategic acquisition is in line with our vision to broaden our offerings and meet increasing global demand for enhanced mission capabilities in law enforcement, public safety, firefighting, utility, and defense,” said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. “Ascent’s advanced technologies and versatile designs complement our ability to be the preeminent choice in global rotorcraft.”

Ascent AeroSystems’ unique cylindrical, coaxial airframes stand out from competitors in each weight class, offering unparalleled flight performance, payload capacity, and reliability compared to conventional multirotor configurations. Included on the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Blue UAS Cleared List, the flagship Spirit is a compact, modular, rugged, all-weather platform engineered to operate reliably in the most challenging environments, including high wind, heavy rain, sleet, snow, and blowing sand. The larger NX30 offers more than twice the payload capacity in a heavy lift variant, or it can be configured with additional batteries for flights exceeding an hour.

“Drones based on consumer-grade electronics will never be able to provide the safety and dispatch reliability needed to support operations at scale,” said Peter Fuchs, Ascent AeroSystems’ CEO. “They will ultimately require a type certificate for the aircraft, a production certificate for the factory, an operating certificate for the network, and a maintenance certificate for the repair station. That is the standard that has provided the foundation for civil aviation for the last eight decades. It’s a rigorous process, and there are no shortcuts. The laws of physics and aerodynamics favor coaxials, and with Robinson’s fifty years of experience, there is now no better domestic source for reliable, mission-critical UAV platforms.”

UAS are increasingly integrated into traditional rotorcraft operations in sectors including defense, public safety, agriculture, energy, utilities, construction, logistics, shipping, and surveying. Ascent AeroSystems will maintain its headquarters near Boston.

Kaman Measuring Highlights Family of Precision Measuring Systems for Free Space Optical Communication

The Measuring Division of Kaman Precision Products is highlighting its family of precision differential non-contact eddy current measuring systems for free space optical communication. Widely used in commercial and military imaging and communication satellites, interplanetary exploration vehicles, laser targeting, night vision, and optics stabilization systems, the differential inductance transducer systems have a proven track record of outstanding performance. Kaman says its measuring systems provide reliable high resolution position feedback, ensuring that a reflected laser beam finds its target hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away. The differential measurement family includes the KD-5100+ high reliability displacement measurement system, the commercial grade DIT5200L differential impedance transducer, and the KD-5600 digital differential measuring system.

The KD-5100+ features a stable design, extremely small size, and low power consumption, making it ideal for laser communications satellites and ground stations, image stabilization systems, and directed energy systems for ground, shipboard and airborne applications. With its small package size – only 2 x 2.12 x 0.75 inches thick – the KD-5100+ is an ideal solution for meeting SWaP-C requirements. It is manufactured to Mil-PRF-38534 Class H, with MIL-SPEC components used throughout the electronics.

The KD-5600 digital differential measuring system is a highly accurate and easy to use precision system featuring improved communication and convenience. Kaman has brought together its custom sensors, signal processing, analog to digital converter, and custom calibration system to deliver the precision KD-5690 system. This system provides true digital, high bandwidth, and high linearity, with a high end communication bus for fast data transfer.

Also on offer is the DIT-5200L which offers true differential for common mode rejection at an economical price. Capable of subnanometer resolution with high sensitivity (up to 10v/mil, 39 mV/μm) and outstanding linearity (up to 0.1 percent full range), this product provides a powerful solution for a diverse set of applications that demand exacting precision. The commercial based, fully analog product is built to IPC A-160 Class 3 standards. Depending on the program requirements, it also offers the opportunity for commercial-off-the-shelf up screening. The I/O is on a 9-pin mini-D connector, and the input power connections are reverse voltage protected.

WISER Systems, Inc. Unveils New Software Analytics at MRO Americas 2024

WISER Systems is unveiling its latest graphical user interface (GUI) enhancement for its ATLAS, the enterprise-wide live positioning system. The company says its new GUI is a testament to their commitment to innovation and enhanced customer usability in real-time asset tracking.

The enhanced GUI features improved search functionality, enhanced graphical features for better visualization of thousands of tagged items, upgraded tag reassignment capabilities for faster throughput and enhanced tag rules and notifications.

ATLAS provides precise, wireless location tracking for hundreds to thousands of tagged items in real-time, even within densely packed metallic environments. This advanced system maintains high accuracy while minimizing infrastructure requirements, ensuring easy installation and usage.

Companies of all sizes can benefit from deploying WISER ATLAS site and campus-wide, enabling seamless association of work orders or part numbers with tags via the WISER mobile/desktop app. This association facilitates instant tracking throughout and beyond manufacturing facilities, capturing processes indoors and outdoors.

Utilizing proprietary UWB Redundant Radio Location & Tracking (RRLT) technology, WISER’s ATLAS addresses Industry 4.0 priorities such as smart manufacturing, operational improvements, warehouse management, inventory control, supply chain logistics, and yard management.

Mark Dirks, chief revenue officer at WISER Systems, emphasized the significance of the new GUI enhancement, stating, “Our enhanced GUI will significantly improve the user experience with WISER’s ATLAS. It revolutionizes asset tracking by enabling real-time, high accuracy tracking of thousands to tens of thousands of work orders and assets simultaneously, even in challenging industrial environments. The system offers unparalleled accuracy with minimal infrastructure requirements, making it a cost-effective solution with rapid return on investment.”

WISER Systems’ dedication to innovation continues to propel advancements in real-time asset tracking, empowering companies to optimize operations and achieve greater efficiency.

Abaco Systems Unveils SBC3513L: Next-Gen 3U VPX SBC optimized for FPGA-Based TSN Endpoint Solutions

AMETEK Abaco Systems announced the release of the SBC3513L Single Board Computer (SBC), a groundbreaking solution optimized for the growing demands of modern military and industrial applications. Developed in alignment with the SOSA Technical Standard, the SBC3513L delivers exceptional yet balanced processing power and optional FPGA-based Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) Endpoint capabilities for mission and safety-critical systems.

“Our approach is to develop products which support TSN as flexibly as possible, combining Abaco’s FPGA hardware with FPGA IP Cores to create TSN Switched Endpoints in our SBCs,” said Alan Hislop, division vice president of business development & sales for AMETEK Abaco Systems. “We believe the FPGA-based approach will be key to delivering both full TSN compliance and the 10G bandwidth requirements of major new programs such as the US Army’s Ground Combat Systems Common Infrastructure Architecture (GCIA), Future Vertical Lift (FVL) applications, aviation upgrades, and technology insertion.”

Featuring the Intel Xeon W processor, 100GbE data plane, and onboard Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ FPGA for additional programmable capabilities, the rugged SBC3513L offers exceptional performance and reliability for demanding command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (C5ISR) applications. With its seamless upgrade path and advanced thermal management design, the SBC3513L sets a new standard for rugged computing solutions in space-constrained environments.

AAR Breaks Ground on MRO Facility Expansion in Oklahoma City

AAR broke ground on the expansion of its maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in Oklahoma City earlier on April 5, 2024.

More than 150 representatives from AAR, Alaska Airlines, state and local government, and partner organizations supporting the efforts gathered to celebrate groundbreaking on AAR’s new three-bay facility that is being constructed adjacent to the Company’s existing facility at Will Rogers World Airport.

The new facility has been designed to provide AAR an additional 80,000+ square feet of hangar and warehouse space and to accommodate all 737 variants, including the 737-10. AAR’s growth in Oklahoma City supports a recently expanded maintenance commitment from Alaska Airlines, a valued customer of AAR for more than 20 years. The new airframe MRO facility is expected to be operational in January of 2026.  

Considerable funding for the project was made possible through a grant secured by Oklahoma legislators, with the balance expected to be funded through rent concessions from the airport.

Speakers at the groundbreaking celebration included John M. Holmes, AAR’s Chairman, President and CEO; Don Wright, Alaska Airlines’ Vice President of Maintenace & Engineering; Grayson Ardies, State Director of Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission; Lt. Governor Matt Pinell; Senator Paul Rosino; Jeff Seymour of Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce – Economic Development; Terry Salmon, Chair of the Oklahoma City Airport Trust; and Jeff Mulder, Oklahoma City Director of Airports. 

Holmes shared, “Today’s groundbreaking has been made possible thanks to collaborative efforts across AAR and Alaska Airlines, partnerships with Oklahoma City Airport Trust, and state and local representatives who are passionate about expanding aviation in Oklahoma. We are especially excited about creating 200 additional full-time careers with AAR, which we expect to fill through local technical schools and workforce development partners who create opportunities though aviation-centric programming, such as Choose Aerospace.”

“The Oklahoma City Airport Trust is excited to partner with AAR to expand its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul operation at Will Rogers World Airport. This expansion of AAR’s MRO operation provides more hangar capacity at OKC, along with more aviation jobs for our community,” said Jeff Mulder, Oklahoma City’s Director of Airports.

“This groundbreaking isn’t just about constructing a hangar. It’s about cultivating an excellent experience for all involved. JE Dunn is honored to bring our construction expertise and leadership and partner with The Oklahoma City Airport Trust (OCAT) to support the business growth happening in our city,” said Jason Bishop, JE Dunn’s Vice President – Oklahoma City, who is leading the construction effort.