32
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/ Vol. 5 / No.9 / SEPTEMBER 2013
Military News
Denel Group
posts profit
for third year
"Denel Group's net profit for the year
has grown to R71m as a result of the
increase in revenue, the restructuring
of the company and a wide range
of cost-saving initiatives. During
the financial year, the company
has integrated 11 businesses into
On 1 August 2013, Airbus Military formally delivered the first A400M
next-generation military airlifter, which was received by the French Air Force.
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SAAB starts
assembly of first
pre-production
Grippen E
Defence and security company
Saab has started the assembly of
the next generation Gripen, the
Gripen E. First to be constructed
is the front fuselage of the first
pre-production test aircraft 39-8.
Following a short and intense
period of design using the latest
tools and methods, through so
called `Model Based Design',
the construction of the Gripen E
begins with the manufacturing
and assembly of all parts of the
fuselage; the largest and most time
consuming part of the airframe.
These parts will then be joined
together and assembled into a
complete airframe. This is followed
by an intensive construction
period to install cables, mount
systems, the outer shell and other
equipment. More than 1,000
people at Saab are now working
solely with the development and
production of the Gripen E.
"What we are experiencing now is a
leap in technology for Saab and the
global aeronautical industry as we
can see the latest and most modern
fighter being constructed using the
latest processes, methods and tools.
This allows us to bring forward an
six divisions, introduced measures
to support the streamlining of
operations and the sharing of support
services across the group," said
Mr Riaz Saloojee, Group CEO.
The operating expenditure has
decreased from 27% to 24% of
revenue, but the results continue to
be affected by the interest on external
borrowings and the financial losses
posted by Denel Aerostructures.
However there are concerns
about the loss presented by Denel
Aerostructures although this had
decreased from a R74m to R46m
before interest and tax last year. The
division is expected to start breaking
even in 2015-16 with profits being
shown thereafter. Operational
savings and new contracts signed
with Airbus Military on the
A400M strategic airlifter have
both contributed to a significant
reduction in the losses incurred.
"The third A400M component
contract with Denel Aerostructures,
acquisition of LMT and the
accreditation of Denel Aviation as
a maintenance, repair and overhaul
facility for Russian Helicopters
as well as the joint venture with
Tawazun Dynamics are all examples
of the Group's profitable growth,"
said Public Enterprises Minister
Malusi Gigaba at the release
of Denel's financial report.
Denel has seen a number
of successful project over the
past financial including the
successful unmanned aerial
vehicle surveillance services
provided to SANPARKS in the
Kruger national Park in support
of anti-rhino poaching activities,
the delivery of the final upgraded
Rooivalk combat helicopter to
the South African Air Force, the
establishment of a joint venture
with Tawazun Holdings in the
United Arab Emirates for the
manufacture of guided weapons,
the acquisition of local company
LMT, the maintenance, repair and
overhaul of Russian Helicopters
aircraft at Denel Aviation and
the participation in numerous
international defence exhibitions.·
even more capable fighter at an
even more favourable life cycle
cost," says Lennart Sindahl, Head
of Business Area Aeronautics at
Saab. "Following years of R&D
investments in aeronautical design,
we can offer unique opportunities
for transfer of knowledge and
technology by inviting customer
countries' industries into the
work on Gripen E. The Gripen E
programme will also continue to
drive technological development as
well as the creation of jobs, both in
Sweden and in other countries."
Based on the design of previous
versions of the Gripen system, the
Gripen E offers a next generation
sensor suite, new communication
links, revolutionary avionics
architecture, more thrust, increased
flight time, more weapon stations
and load capability, a fully digital
cockpit including HUD (Head-
Up Display) and a brand new
electronic warfare system.
The test aircraft 39-8 will be the
first complete pre-production
version of the Gripen E and will
be used to demonstrate new
features and capabilites. The
technological leaps in the Gripen
E have been proven in the Gripen
demonstrator programme with
the Gripen E/F demo aircraft
that has flown over 250 hours in
countries such as Sweden, the
UK, India and Switzerland (in
Emmen in October 2012, January
and April 2013) since 2008.
On February 15, Saab signed
an agreement with the Swedish
Defence Materiel Administration
(FMV) regarding development
and modification of 60 Gripen
E for Sweden during the period
2013-2026 as well as a possible
order for new production of
Gripen E for Switzerland.
·
The Boeing Thin Disk Laser
system, which integrates a series
of high-power industrial lasers to
generate one concentrated, high-
energy beam, exceeded required
thresholds for power and beam
quality during a demonstration
for the Department of
Defense's Robust Electric
Laser Initiative (RELI) effort.
The high-power, solid-state
laser system output reached
more than 30 kilowatts nearly
30 percent more power than
RELI requirements while
simultaneously measuring
excellent efficiency.
A high-power, solid-state,
directed energy weapon can
provide pinpoint accuracy to
precisely destroy or disable
a target with little to no
collateral damage. Directed
energy weapons such as the
Thin Disk Laser system will
provide military customers
with precision targeting for a
variety of tactical missions.
"These demonstrations prove
the military utility of laser
systems," said Michael Rinn,
Boeing Directed Energy Systems
vice president and program
director. "In order to be truly
viable as a weapons-class
system, a laser must achieve high
brightness while simultaneously
remaining efficient at higher
power. Our team has shown
that we have the necessary
power, the beam quality, and
the efficiency to deliver such
a system to the battlefield."
The demonstrations were the
first time the Boeing system
simultaneously achieved
high beam quality at high
power. Combining these two
factors results in a measure of
brightness, and the brightness
measured by the Boeing system
is among the best measured to-
date by anyone in the industry.
Solid-state lasers are powered by
electricity, making them mobile
and supportable on the battlefield.
The Boeing system incorporates
a series of commercial, solid-
state lasers that have proven
to be extremely reliable
while requiring low levels of
support and maintenance. ·
Boeing Thin Disk Laser exceeds performance
requirements during testing
Boeing Thin Disk Laser engineers work with the system's main optical bench.