A two-crew helicopter, many of which are now entering into service with armed forces around the world including operational use by French Army in Afghanistan Tiger ARH022 was accepted by Defence at local defence manufacturer Australian Aerospace's Final Assembly plant on Brisbane Airport.

The formal hand-over ceremony was attended by representatives of the Commonwealth, aviation and aerospace industry executives, senior officers of the Australian Defence Force, and senior management of Australian Aerospace Limited and its parent; Eurocopter.

Acquired under Project Air 87, the Tiger replaces Defence's existing rotary-wing force comprising Bell 206B-1 (Kiowa) reconnaissance and UH1-H (Iroquois) gunship helicopters. The Tigers have been deployed with the Army's 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin, the Army Aviation Training Centre at Oakey in Queensland and at RAAF Edinburgh, in South Australia.

Commenting at the final delivery, Dr Jens Goennemann Chief Executive Officer Australian Aerospace, said: “This is a great day for Army Aviation, the Australian Defence Force and for Australian Aerospace, marking another important milestone in the ARH program.

“The Tiger ARH has been a complex and demanding program and one not without its fair share of challenges,' Dr. Goennemann said. 'But extensive collaboration and a cooperative approach by Australian Aerospace, our industry partners and the various ADF branches involved has been a significant contributor to where we proudly stand today.”

Dr. Goennemann said delivery of ARH022 did not signify an end to Australian Aerospace's Tiger relationship with the ADF. “Australian Aerospace will continue to work with Army to support, maintain and bring this important new platform to maturity within the ADF.”

Under Project AIR 87, as well as assembly of the Tigers and delivery of ground crew training systems, Australian Aerospace is also responsible for the overall program management and Through-Life-Support (TLS) of the helicopters throughout their service life.

The Tiger ARH is the world's most advanced armed reconnaissance helicopter, comprising a streamlined design incorporating cutting-edge technologies. The largely composite airframe makes the Tiger lighter, faster and more agile than its competitors and reduces the helicopter's radar cross-section.

Equipped to carry a 30mm turreted-cannon in the nose, 70mm rockets and Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, the Tiger can detect and engage targets at long distances. The French Defence Force has operated its Tigers in Afghanistan since 2009 and in Libya in 2011 with great success.

The strong relationship between the ADF and Australian Aerospace holds true across Australian Aerospace's range of Defence programs. The company supports the C-130J Hercules Transports, the AP-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft and the MRH90 multi-role helicopter. The MRH90 is presently being assembled in-country and delivered to Defence. The two partners recently signed a deed agreement to pave the way for the successful introduction of the capability into service.

With more than 1100 staff in Australia and New Zealand, Australian Aerospace has access to the financial strength and expertise of Eurocopter and the EADS Group. At its production facility on Brisbane Airport, Australian Aerospace is currently assembling and delivering 22 Tiger ARH armed reconnaissance helicopters for the Australian Army and 46 MRH90 multi-role helicopters for the Army and Navy.

In addition to its helicopter capabilities, Australian Aerospace supports the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) AP-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft and C-130J Hercules transports. The company is also involved in supporting the RAAF's new Airbus A330-based Multi-Role Tanker-Transport (MRTT) aircraft and F/A18 (Classic) Hornet fighters.

More than 100 European specialists in different fields have validated Astrium’s preliminary design definition, development plan and specifications for the various sub-systems of the launcher that should allow the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution programme to continue full steam ahead with its development stage, once the financing is decided by ESA’s member states during the next Council at the Ministerial meeting, planned for November 2012.

The primary upgrade for the Ariane 5 launcher is a new upper stage equipped with a Vinci restartable cryogenic engine, developed by Snecma (Safran group). The nose fairing will also be extended three meters to accommodate larger and heavier payloads.

Ariane 5 ME will be capable of placing up to 12 metric tons of payload in geostationary orbit, boosting the launcher’s capacity by 20% compared with the current Ariane 5 ECA. The ME version will also have an expanded range that covers all types of satellite orbits, meaning a larger commercial offer for Ariane while meeting the needs of institutional customers.

Alain Charmeau, CEO of Astrium Space Transportation, welcomed this major step forward for the European launcher, which is slated to enter service in 2017: “The Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution (ME) launcher will be capable of simultaneously placing two satellites of over five tons each in orbit, anticipating the needs of both commercial markets and EU institutions. Customers will be able to benefit from a ‘two-in-one’ launcher for the same price as the current Ariane ECA version, representing a price reduction of 20% per launched kilogram.”

The added value generated by Astrium’s unique role as end-to-end prime contractor for Ariane 5 since 2003 will allow the company to drive down costs.

The acceptance of the PDR, which began on 31 August 2011, is a major step in the launcher validation process, and in particular for the new upper stage. It is also the culmination of thousands of hours of work by Astrium engineers in Les Mureaux and Bremen and by Astrium’s industrial partners.

The industrial organization, based to a large extent on a network of “Ariane industrial partners” has made the launcher a huge success. In its role as prime contractor, Astrium will continue to coordinate the work of more than 30 companies around Europe.

Astrium is the number one company in Europe and the third in the world for space technologies. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services.

In 2010, Astrium had a turnover of EUR 5 billion and more than 15,000 employees worldwide, mainly in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment, and Astrium Services for comprehensive end-to-end solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security satellite communications equipment, bespoke geo-information and navigation services worldwide.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2010, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of EUR 45.8 billion and employed a workforce of nearly 122,000.

The UAS arrived on 21 July 2011 following a nonstop ferry flight from Edwards Air Force Base in California to Manching. After its landing, it was successfully fitted with the Integrated Signal Intelligence System (ISIS) developed by Cassidian and will undergo flight testing in 2012. Euro Hawk is the first international configuration of the RQ-4 Global Hawk High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAS.

Delivery of the first Euro Hawk system to the German Air Force and Strategic Intelligence Command (KSA) is scheduled for 2012, with delivery of the following four systems foreseen between 2015 and 2016.

Dr. Stefan Zoller, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cassidian, said: "Today’s rollout ceremony of the Euro Hawk marks a significant step for the German customer in its acquisition of a leading-edge SIGINT capability." Zoller added: “Euro Hawk is an excellent example for the transatlantic cooperation in the defence area, and for the close relationship with our customer. We are very pleased to provide the German Armed Forces with the first HALE UAS which was fitted with a fully Integrated SIGINT System for the detection and identification of ELINT and COMINT (electronic and communications intelligence) emitters. This also proves our significant UAS system integration capabilities. The mission system has been developed by Cassidian for the specific requirements of the German customer and is based on the most advanced technologies."

Gary Ervin, Corporate Vice President and President of Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems, stressed: “Today, we are a step closer to delivering the first Euro Hawk to the German Armed Forces. In times of tight budgets, multinational joint developments like this offer great value to nations and provide effective support for troops in the field. We are proud to be part of the Euro Hawk team."

Neset Tükenmez, Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Venture EuroHawk GmbH, commented: “Euro Hawk marks a new era of strategic reconnaissance in Europe. The German Armed Forces will soon be able to independently cover their own national needs for SIGINT data collection and analysis. This will be a high-value contribution to NATO, EU and UN operations in the future. The Euro Hawk success story will continue with the ISIS flight trials and the hand-over to the German customer in 2012."

The German Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a contract in January 2007 to EuroHawk GmbH for the development, test and support of the Full-Scale Demonstrator Euro Hawk system. Under this contract, EuroHawk GmbH will provide the SIGINT air vehicles, the complete aircraft and ISIS Mission Ground Segments as well as the aircraft modifications requested for the German needs, flight test and logistics support.

With a wingspan larger than a commercial airliner, endurance of 30 hours and a maximum altitude of more than 60,000 feet, Euro Hawk is an interoperable, modular and cost-effective replacement to the aging fleet of manned Breguet Atlantic aircraft which was in service since 1972 and officially retired in 2010. EuroHawk GmbH, a 50-50 joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Cassidian, is responsible for the development and manufacturing of Euro Hawk systems and acts as the national prime contractor for the German MoD through the system’s entire lifecycle.

Cassidian, an EADS company, is a worldwide leader in global security solutions and systems, providing Lead Systems Integration and value-added products and services to civil and military customers around the globe. In 2010, Cassidian – with around 28,000 employees – achieved revenues of EUR 5.9 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2010, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of EUR 45.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 121,000.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

The AAS-72X, an armed derivative of the Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter manufactured by the company’s American Eurocopter business unit, has completed the majority of its militarization requirements in a company-funded development effort that began in 2009.

EADS North America also announced at AUSA that Rockwell Collins has joined the AAS-72X team and will be responsible for the design, engineering and production of simulation and training devices in support of U.S. Army operator and maintainer requirements.

“We’re pleased to welcome Rockwell Collins to the EADS North America Armed Scout team, the team that is offering the most capable of any armed scout helicopter solution,” said Sean O’Keefe, CEO of EADS North America. “We’re ready to prove that fact through a competitive flight demonstration to validate that we can meet the Army’s demanding armed scout mission.”

A highly capable helicopter for the Armed Aerial Scout mission, the AAS-72X combines the safety of a twin-engine aircraft and the high/hot operating performance necessary to meet the Army’s demanding Armed Scout mission. Derived from the same family of aircraft as the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter, the AAS-72X is a low-risk evolution of the U.S. Army’s newest rotary-wing aircraft, which is widely considered one of the most successful acquisition programs in the service’s history.

The EADS North America-led industry team of American Eurocopter and Lockheed Martin has made a significant investment in the development of three AAS-72X Technical Demonstrator Aircraft (TDA), which have been used to conduct parallel development and risk reduction activities and to demonstrate the armed scout’s level of capability and technical maturity. The first TDA aircraft made its maiden flight in December 2010.

Prior to the start of the TDA program, the company conducted high/hot hover-out-of-ground-effect, endurance and payload testing in 2009 at Alamosa, Colo. utilizing a helicopter derived from the UH-72A Lakota/EC145 platform family. In that test the helicopter successfully operated at 6,000 feet and 95-degree density altitude. The team also conducted a key transportability test when five aircraft were successfully loaded in a C-17 transport aircraft. Additionally, EADS North America and Lockheed Martin established a System Integration Laboratory (SIL) and hangar in April 2010 at Lockheed Martin’s Orlando, Fla. facility.

The AAS-72X demonstration aircraft is equipped with a Mission Equipment Package (MEP) that includes a chin-mounted turret with integrated targeting sensor, manned-unmanned teaming capability, communications suite and weapons. All MEP items already are in the Army inventory.

Production of the AAS-72X will take place at American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Miss. helicopter center of excellence where the UH-72A Lakota is currently manufactured for the U.S. Army. EADS North America has delivered more than 190 UH-72A Lakotas to the Army, all on time and within budget, along with five H-72A versions to the U.S. Navy for test pilot training.

EADS North America is the North American operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $11 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 200,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2010, the Group - comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of EUR 45.8 billion and employed a workforce of nearly 122,000.

The aircraft will also be used for medical evacuation, paratrooping, training and humanitarian operations including assistance to organizations such as National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the peace mission of the United Nations. The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana is a new Airbus Military customer.

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana selected the C295 because of its ease of maintenance and proven operational capabilities in any environment, including desert areas. Furthermore, its versatility and adaptability to the most varied type of conditions and operations were other key elements in the selection of the Airbus Military C295.

Including this new order, today, 85 C295s have been ordered by 14 customers. Over 75 C295s currently in operation in 11 countries have accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours.

The new generation C295 is the ideal aircraft for defense and civil assistance missions to the benefit of society, such as humanitarian actions, maritime patrol, environmental surveillance missions, search and rescue, aerial photography, amongst others. All these special versions are already proven in service, confirming the C295 as the most versatile aircraft in its class.

Thanks to its robustness and reliability, and with simple systems, this medium sized tactical airlifter provides wide versatility and flexibility, necessary for personnel, troop and bulky/palletized cargo transportation, casualty evacuation, communication and logistic duties or certified air-dropping capabilities. The C295 has the longest cabin in its class, allowing the transport of 71 troops, 50 paratroops or five standard cargo pallets. All these capabilities are complemented with the lowest maintenance and fuel costs in its class, thanks to efficient design and efficient engines.

Its mix of dual technology civil/military equipment ensure success on demanding tactical missions, growth potential for future equipment as well as compatibility with the latest civil airspace environment. The C295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also include the smaller C212 and CN235 platforms.

Airbus Military is the only military and civic/humanitarian transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 45 tonnes of payload. An Airbus daughter company, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A330 and for further military derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft.

Together with the smaller “Light & Medium” C295, CN235 and C212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market for military transport, tanker and surveillance aircraft able to perform the most varied missions. Altogether, Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft to some 130 military, civilian and governmental customers. More than 800 of these aircraft have been delivered. Airbus is an EADS company.

The Euro Hawk took off on July 20 at 2:50 PDT (11:50 Central European Summer Time) from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and landed at 10:06 Central European Summer Time July 21 in Manching Air Base.

The Euro Hawk will carry a new SIGINT mission system developed by EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian) and integrated in Manching, Germany.

“Today’s arrival of the Euro Hawk on German soil marks a significant step in delivering this highly capable and unique system to the Bundeswehr,” said Nicolas Chamussy, head of UAVs, Cassidian Air Systems, and member of the board of directors, EuroHawk GmbH. “Our trans-Atlantic partnership with Northrop Grumman has helped the entire team achieve this outstanding milestone, which also reinforces Cassidian’s role as a leader for complex UAS solutions in Europe.”

Delivery of the first Euro Hawk demonstrator to the Bundeswehr is scheduled for mid-2012, with another four systems scheduled tentatively between 2015 and 2017.

“Soon, the Bundeswehr will be able to independently cover their needs for SIGINT data collection and analysis, thus contributing to NATO, European Union and United Nations operations,” said Neset Tükenmez, chief executive officer, EuroHawk GmbH. “Euro Hawk will also serve as a working model for other programs and countries.”

The Euro Hawk marks several important milestones – it is both the first international version of the RQ-4 and the first HALE SIGINT UAS in Europe. NATO’s AGS will follow close behind and mark the second international RQ-4 and the second HALE UAS in Europe.

“As a leader in advanced UAS, Northrop Grumman has the unmatched experience to provide a strong foundation to produce extraordinarily capable and reliable unmanned surveillance systems,” said George Guerra, vice president, HALE Systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “Today is a wonderful step towards delivering the Euro Hawk to the German air force, and a great testament to the Northrop Grumman and the EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian) team who worked diligently to make it happen.”

With a wingspan larger than most commercial airliners, endurance of 30 hours and a maximum altitude of more than 60,000 feet, Euro Hawk is an interoperable, modular and cost-effective replacement to the fleet of manned Bréguet Atlantic aircraft which was in service since 1972 and retired in 2010.

EuroHawk GmbH, a 50-50 joint venture of Northrop Grumman and EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian), serves as the national prime contractor for the German Ministry of Defence through the system’s entire lifecycle.

Cassidian, an EADS company, is a worldwide leader in global security solutions and systems, providing lead system integration and value-added products and services to civil and military customers around the globe: air systems (aircraft and UAS), land, naval and joint systems, intelligence and surveillance, cybersecurity, secure communications, test systems, missiles, and services and support solutions.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

It is the first helicopter to be modified under the Puma Life Extension Programme, which was approved by the UK Ministry of Defence in September 2009 and placed on contract with Eurocopter UK.

This programme will extend the operational life of the Puma helicopter fleet and is to significantly enhance its capability – particularly in demanding hot and high conditions. It will improve the safety and performance by providing new engines, a digital flight control system, increased platform survivability and enhanced navigation and communications.

“The Puma Mk2’s first flight is an important milestone, marking the initial step in a test programme that will continue through the second half of 2011,” said Markus Steinke, the Managing Director of Eurocopter UK. “It also represents the achievement of a significant and successful effort focused on design, development and programme management by Eurocopter and Ministry of Defence teams in both the UK and France.”

Eurocopter-built Puma rotary-wing aircraft currently represent one third of the UK’s medium battlefield support helicopters. They are used as battlefield helicopters within the Joint Helicopter Command to provide tactical troop and load movement by day and night.

Puma Mk2s are planned to enter service with the Royal Air Force in 2012, and achieve full operating capability in 2014.

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approximately 17,500 people. In 2010, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s number one helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market with a turnover of 4.8 billion Euros, orders for 346 new helicopters and a 49 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors.

From the EADS Stand (Hall 2A-A253) to the static and flying displays, visitors to the Paris Air Show - which takes place June 20-26 at Le Bourget - will clearly see how the group is preparing to meet future industry requirements. "As the world's largest aviation and space show, Le Bourget is a very important venue for the EADS Group to showcase its products and future technologies to trade visitors, the media and the general public," said Pierre Bayle, Head of Corporate Communications for EADS. "Visitors will see the group's broad portfolio of commercial, defence, security and space products and services on the ground, in the sky and at the stand. They will experience 'The Future, by EADS'," Mr Bayle said.

The EADS Stand will focus on the Group's future projects - under the motto 'The Future, by EADS' - while existing products and systems are displayed on the outdoor static area. Each Division will have their own display zones at the stand while EADS Innovation Works, which operates EADS’ Corporate Research & Technology laboratories, will also be present.

On the stand, Airbus will provide an insight into how it sees the future of aviation while Cassidian will demonstrate its technologies in the fields of security, defence and services. Eurocopter will present a scale model of the high speed X3 helicopter demonstrator and highlight future helicopter innovations. Astrium will present a 3D digital mock-up of the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution and demonstrate other future projects. EADS Innovation Works will present a number of projects including a conceptual study into more efficient and passenger-friendly airports.

In the flying display, Airbus' flagship double-decker A380 will make a welcome return to Le Bourget while Airbus Military's A400M transport aircraft will be seen flying for the first time at the show. Airbus Military will also have a C295 on the static display.

An Italian Air Force Eurofighter will take part in the flying display while Cassidian will have the DRAC/Tracker fixed-wing mini Unmanned Aerial System on the ground display as well as a full scale mock-up of the Talarion long-endurance aerial drone system.

Eurocopter's X3 helicopter demonstrator and the new EC175 medium twin will both appear in the flying display. The static display will present new product evolutions such as the EC145 T2 while the Tiger, the NH90 and the EC725 will be present on the French General Directorate for Armament’s (DGA) static display. The all electric Cri-Cri aircraft, which has been jointly developed by EADS Innovation Works, Aero Composites Saintonge and the Green Cri-Cri Association, will also take to the skies.

EADS, which plans to recruit more than 4,000 new employees in 2011, will be offering exclusive workshops on exciting careers opportunities available throughout the Group. Interested parties will be able to discuss opportunities with engineers and Human Resources managers.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2010, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 45.8 billion and employed a workforce of nearly 122,000.

Today’s increasingly open and globalised world calls for increasingly advanced solutions and security systems. As a leading global provider of security solutions and integrated security systems for the civil and military markets, Cassidian is already working on tomorrow's solutions and developing the technologies of the future, drawing on its key competencies in aerospace, security, defence and services. Innovation and excellence in technologies are CASSIDIAN key recipes for a sustainable lead in our businesses.

At the International Paris Air Show 2011, Cassidian will demonstrate its technological accomplishments through interactive, latest-generation 3D scenarios, staged in its Touch Lab, on the topics of Unmanned Aerial Systems, cyber security, services and air traffic control in the year 2025.

Unmanned Aerial Systems

With 30 years’ experience as a system integrator, Cassidian is expert in all aspects of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) from development to in-service support:

• All UAS R&T and projects are managed by a unique programme organisation that allows cross-fertilisation between production systems and new projects
• Experience throughout the life-cycle and the whole range of UAS
• Outstanding innovation and mastery of international collaboration
• Use of Battle-Lab to capture requirements, plus state-of-the-art development and support tools

Cassidian’s approach to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is a global one: background knowledge of key technologies (e.g. aircraft design, precise navigation, flight software architecture, standardised interfaces, mission planning, etc. gained from decades of experience with manned air systems), used and adapted to meet the requirements of unmanned aerial systems operations (e.g. air traffic requirements, sensor control, air vehicle control), results in overall Unmanned Aerial Systems solutions.

On the static display, Cassidian will present: combat proven UAS with the DRAC presented by French Army servants who operated it in Afghanistan, videos presenting HARFANG last accomplishments and the future MALE TALARION with a scale 1 mock-up.

Cyber security

In 2009, given the growing number and diversity of cyber attacks, Cassidian established the Cyber Security Center staffed by experts based in France, the UK and Germany, in order to put in place the solutions needed to detect and combat these new threats. In order to better anticipate future attacks, these elite teams collaborate closely with the respective government authorities in numerous countries to intercept the threats. They are thus the key elements of international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime.

At the Paris Air Show, Cassidian will demonstrate its experience in protecting highly sensitive and complex networks, and particularly in protecting critical national infrastructures. Indeed, in an increasingly computerised world, critical infrastructures can only operate to maximum effect if they are interconnected and interdependent. The failure of just one link in the chain can have consequences extending far beyond national borders. One of the challenges in the future will therefore be to protect these infrastructures. In its Touch Lab, using a 3D scenario to illustrate critical national infrastructures Cassidian will stage a cyber attack along with its proposed solutions for warding off such threats.

Services

Cassidian Aviation Training Services (CATS, formerly EADS Cognac Aviation Training Services) was founded in 2006 and has since become France’s leading outsourced operator from a technical point of view, providing the French Air Force with equipment and services for pilot training. CATS hosts hundreds of trainees at its technical training sessions and provides the French Air Force with new-generation aircraft and flight simulators which, by June, will have clocked up 100,000 flight hours and 25,000 simulator hours.

At the Paris Air Show, Cassidian will for the first time display a flight demonstration symbolizing Cassidian's fleet and training services. Four training aircraft which could be proposed as a complete training pipeline of a fighter pilot will be presented: initial training (APM 40 Simba), elementary and basic training (Grob 120 A), basic and advanced training (Pilatus PC-21) and advanced training (Aermacchi M346).

Cassidian has offered these aircraft, among others, to various European Air Forces for training purposes. One CATS aircraft will also be displayed on the Static with a representative working at the Cognac flight training school.

The skills and know-how of the CATS personnel provide French Air Force pilots with training facilities using state-of-the art, high-performance equipment at a significantly lower cost (approx. 30%).

Based on the success of its services to the French Air Force over the past five years, Cassidian Air Systems will also present its service offerings for fighter and transport pilot training.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Eurofighter Typhoon is also presented at PAS 2011 with daily flight demonstrations of the Italian Air Force in the Flying Display. Eurofighter is the world's most advanced multi-role/swing-role combat aircraft available on the world market. The aircraft has been ordered by six nations (Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria and Saudi Arabia).

With 707 aircraft under contract and more than 270 deliveries, it is Europe’s largest military collaborative programme and delivers leading-edge technology, strengthening Europe’s aerospace industry in the global competition. More than 100,000 jobs and over 400 supplier companies are involved in the programme. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH manages the programme on behalf of the Eurofighter Partner Companies: Alenia Aeronautica/Finmeccanica, BAE Systems, EADS in Germany and Spain which are Europe’s leading aerospace and defence companies with a total turnover of approx. €120 billion (2010).

The combat aircraft features extreme agility, integrated systems, an optimum human-machine interface, advanced precision-guided armament, sensor data fusion, integration into military data networks and latest production technologies, e.g. the use of carbon fibre composite materials (CFCs). Eurofighter is still at the beginning of its in-service life and thus enjoys an enormous growth potential.

The program is part of France’s commitments within the framework of the Chemical Weapons Convention which came into force on 29 April 1997. The objective is to destroy unexploded chemical weapons discovered each year on former battlefields in northern and eastern France while at the same time ensuring maximum safety levels for people, the environment and property.

SECOIA will employ an automated system at the Mailly-le-Camp site (Aube, France) to destroy 42 tonnes of chemical weapons per year beginning in 2015. The weapons are currently stored by the French Interior Ministry in Suippes, France (Marne).

The plant developed by Astrium will make use of specially adapted equipment, and all weapon handling operations will be entirely remotely controlled. Pyro-chemical safety measures will also be implemented for the entire process, from the initial unloading of the weapons through to their final destruction.

The process that will be implemented will ensure complete control over the waste and the processing via specialized systems. All environmental regulations will be strictly respected and the site will be integrated in Europe’s Natura 2000 ecology network.

In its role as industrial prime contractor, Astrium will provide comprehensive services throughout the program, and will operate the plant during the operational phase.

To ensure the program’s success, Astrium will draw on its extensive experience in a wide range of high-technology fields: the development of complex systems and secure infrastructures, and the design and manufacture of automated, functional workshops that respect the highest requirements in pyrotechnic safety. Many of these skills were developed by Astrium to support France’s ocean-going ballistic deterrent capability at the Ile Longue ballistic submarine base.

The technical solution selected by Astrium to destroy the chemical weapons will make use of a detonation chamber, a concept that has already proven its operational efficiency in several countries. Belgium for example has been successfully using this same technique for several years in a non-automated facility.

As prime contractor, Astrium has opted for proven technology developed by recognized industrial specialists. A case in point is KOBE STEEL, a specialist in the destruction of old chemical weapons via detonation in a shielded enclosure. Astrium will be benefiting from the extensive experience of the Japanese company, which has equipped several plants operating in Europe and around the world (Belgium, Japan, China and the United States).

The second major industrial partner of Astrium is the company TREDI, a subsidiary of the French group SECHE Environment, a recognized specialist in the processing of industrial chemical waste in strict compliance with environmental regulations.

The SECOIA program is scheduled to last over 20 years, comprising two main phases: an initial period of a little more than four years to design, build and commission the facility, and the operational phase that should last more than 15 years.

Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2010, Astrium had a turnover of EUR 5 billion and more than 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment, and Astrium Services for comprehensive end-to-end solutions;