Aerospace and Defense Review : News

In October, GSOF Symposium Europe will open its doors to the European Special Operations Forces (SOF) community in Budapest, Hungary, for three days of discussion and collaboration on issues affecting SOF operations worldwide. Organised by the Global SOF Foundation in collaboration with Clarion Defence and Security, the 6 th GSOF Symposium Europe will bring together military, government, commercial and educational stakeholders to network, explore topical developments and do business in order to advance SOF capabilities and partnerships and confront global and networked threats, with a focus on European requirements and operations. The Symposium Based around a three-day agenda, the 2022 symposium will include keynote addresses, plenary sessions, informal round-tables and panel discussions on a range of topics including ‘the importance of Special Operations-specific funding’, ‘the Value of Special Operations in integrated deterrence’, ‘growing SOF aviation’, ‘building the bridge between SOF, academia and industry, and the ‘impact of drones in modern warfare’. The day one Government Seminar will begin with welcome remarks from Mr Stu Bradin, President and CEO of the Global SOF Foundation, and opening remarks from Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, Commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces, who will set the scene from the host nation perspective. The day will continue with insights on Hungarian funding and acquisition processes from Dr. Gáspár Maróth, Government Commissioner, Hungary; and a keynote speech from Mr. Jim Smith, Acquisition Executive at Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, U.S. Special Operations Command. Three panel sessions will complete the day, looking at ‘the Impact of SOF Funding on Operational Commanders’, ‘A Perspective on Joint Acquisition for Composite-SOCC’, and ‘NATO SOF Funding: NSPA vs. Gov-to-Gov and the Need for a European Defense Funds for Research and Development; and a look at how military organisations can compete with the private sector when seeking new talent. Day two will kick off the full symposium agenda, with the opening keynote to be delivered by the Hungarian Minister of Defence, Mr. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, who will share his vision for the Special Operations Forces of Hungary and multinational cooperation in the region. SOF leaders from across Europe will then come together in a panel session to discuss ideas and opportunities for a collaborative Regional SOF Headquarters that would serve multiple regions and mission sets. The afternoon will see senior leaders including Lieutenant General Edwin "John" Deerdrick, Jr., United States Military Representative, NATO, Military Committee, consider the shifting role of NATO SOF forces in the future, and how NATO should posture itself for irregular warfare. The third and final day of the symposium will begin with the SOF Commanders Roundtable (invitation only), followed by a keynote speech from Lieutenant General Antonio "Tony" Fletcher, Commander, NATO Special Operations Headquarters. Later sessions will include the return of the SOF Slam, focusing on the role of drones in modern warfare; and a panel on the growing role of aviation in SOF operations. The final keynote speech will be delivered by Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, Commander, Hungarian Defence Forces. Displaying innovation Delegates from nearly thirty countries are set to attend the symposium this year, with exhibitors from around the globe presenting their latest capabilities on the show floor that align with the requirements and acquisition interests of Hungary’s Special Operations Forces - from weapons systems to airborne filtration and CBRNE defence capabilities; battlefield support and personal protection equipment; and the latest developments in soldier protection and survival, medical/casualty care, and EOD, Counter-IED and bomb disposal. The exhibition floor will also include - for the first time - the Disruptive Technology (DisTec) theatre, where speakers will explore cutting-edge solutions and technological breakthroughs with the potential to reshape the future of SOF worldwide. With more than 40 percent of the audience comprised of active, serving military personnel, high-profile SOF commanders, and defence ministers, this year’s GSOF Symposium Europe offers an unparalleled opportunity for SOF stakeholders to network and make meaningful business connections. Registration is now open, please visit: https://www.gsofeurope.org/aerospace-defense-review ...Read more

Aerospace Engineers have designed and successfully tested a more efficient wind sensor for drones, balloons and other autonomous aircraft Anemometers, wind sensors, are used to track the direction and speed of the wind. Better wind sensors are required as demand for autonomous aircraft grows to help these aircraft sense weather changes and carry out safer takeoffs and landings. Such improvements might make it easier for individuals to access their local airspace, whether it be for passengers flying on unmanned aircraft in the future or for drones delivering items.  Using airspace effectively to move or carry objects has significant socio-economic ramifications. However, whether the vehicle is manned or unmanned, exact wind readings must be supplied in real-time to operate these flying things. Accurate wind measurements are necessary for energy predictions and wind turbine performance optimisation, in addition to assisting flying objects in navigating vast distances. Although the methods used by conventional anemometers to obtain their data differ, they have drawbacks. Many types of anemometers are inappropriate for tiny aircraft because they can be costly to manufacture, waste large quantities of energy, and have high aerodynamic drag, which means the instrument opposes the aircraft's passage through the air. However, compared to typical models, the anemometer used by the Ohio State team is lightweight, low-energy, low-drag, and more sensitive to changes in pressure. The instrument was constructed from "smart materials," substances with controlled properties that enable them to sense and react to their surroundings. The team used the electrical polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). PVDF has the potential to be piezoelectric, meaning that it could produce electrical energy in reaction to pressure. PVDF is a material that is frequently used in architectural coatings and lithium-ion batteries. This energy can be used to power the device. The recorded voltage or capacitance change on the flexible PVDF film can be utilised to calculate the wind speed. The PVDF sensor is mounted on an airfoil that mimics an aeroplane wing to reduce aerodynamic drag. Because it can freely rotate like a wind vane, the airfoil can determine the wind's direction. But to determine how their device will function when exposed to Earth's atmosphere, researchers devised a two-pronged experiment. The pressure sensor's sensitivity was initially assessed in a closed container. After that, the sensor was attached to an airfoil and tested in a wind tunnel. The results showed how well the sensor measures both pressure and wind speed. By determining the airfoil's absolute orientation concerning the Earth's surface, a tiny digital magnetic compass integrated inside the airfoil provides precise wind direction data. ...Read more

A significant obstacle to the expansion of the APAC aviation MRO industry is the pandemic, which is also fought in Japan and other Southeast Asian nations By 2028, the APAC aircraft MRO market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7 per cent, from USD 15.61 billion to USD 23.07 billion. The growing use of blockchain technology accelerates market expansion. The aviation industry's MRO services are vital in ensuring the longevity, security, and financial success of both commercial and military carriers. To maintain their competitive advantage in the future, businesses must be adaptable in embracing new and popular technologies that will help them digitize their company processes and eliminate the need for human labour. Blockchain and other cutting-edge technologies enhance procedures in MRO firms. The MRO industry has enormous potential for this technology. Although blockchain technology hasn't been widely used yet, it will eventually play a significant role in the overall expansion of the APAC aviation MRO business. Businesses can keep track of the MRO component configuration information with the aid of blockchain technology. Additionally, this simplifies the documentation process between component makers and MRO service providers. By using blockchain, MRO service providers can also provide verifiable documentation regarding the components they have installed, maintaining operational transparency. The adoption of the technology is being heavily emphasized by stakeholders in the aviation sector, including aircraft manufacturers, aircraft MRO service providers, and aviation technology developers, to track their MRO processes. This aspect is expected to fuel the APAC aircraft MRO market in the upcoming years and will provide a significant future for the industry. Since new airports are planned to open in several nations, it is anticipated that APAC will recover more quickly than other regions. Wide-body and narrow-body jets, which were the main consumers of aftermarket goods and services, were retired by several regional airlines. For the upcoming few months, it is projected that this issue will restrain the market for aircraft MRO. This factor is expected to hinder the aviation MRO business in the coming months. For instance, Qantas withdrew its Boeing B747 in the middle of 2020 to deal with the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same reason led Singapore Airlines to send a number of its Airbus A380 aircraft to long-term storage. Wide-body jet retirement and long-term storage are thus reshaping the aircraft MRO industry. In 2020, the commercial segment dominated the APAC aircraft MRO market based on end-users. Airlines that provide services for both passenger and cargo transportation make up the commercial aviation sector. The commercial aviation sector is experiencing an increase in demand for new aircraft due to rising air traffic and freight. To keep up with the rising demand for new aeroplanes and reduce backlogs, aircraft manufacturers are concentrating on making improvements to their production facilities. The demand for maintenance and repair services is anticipated to increase as the size of the commercial aviation industry's fleet grows. This will further boost the expansion of the APAC aircraft MRO market during the forecast period. ...Read more