Search Results for: "Allison+Transmission"
Upgraded Powertrain Extends Military Vehicle’s Operational Life
Relevance Score: 4.651 2010-03-02 21:58:34
The introduction of a new engine and the latest fully automatic transmission technology has seen a military vehicle designed by Engesa that was a success in the 80s and 90s back in front line action. Considered by many to be out of action - as the last units were, for many years, parked in the battalion storage of the Brazilian Army - the armoured Engesa EE-11 Urutu may yet be ready for service again. Destined for troop transportation, the EE-11 despite weighing 13 tons, is a highly capable amphibious vehicle. Together with its carrying capacity, these features made the Urutu very popular among many national armies in South America. With a new powertrain, it is set to strike again. Its name was taken from the venomous Urutu snake, from the family of Veperidae, the same as the rattlesnake, the bushmaster and Jararaca - the three feared reptiles of the South American forests. The Urutu's attributes and importance to the Brazilian Army led the local force to decide to reactivate 226 units and more than 600 armoured Cascavel (or rattlesnake) vehicles. All of those were mothballed and in storage. With a very old-fashioned powertrain, and a mix of manual and automatic gearboxes, Urutu and Cascavel had a sizeable technological disadvantage during operations. The Brazilian Army claimed that by updating the powertrain of their armoured vehicles, they could keep them running for the next 15 years. That claim was validated after a rigorous evaluation made with a prototype produced by those involved in the project. For the first prototype the existing Mercedes-Benz OM 352 engine was replaced by a militarized OM 366 LA, increasing the power output from 158hp to 230hp. Coupled to the Engesa transfer box, the original Mercedes G3-36 gearbox was changed for an up to date Allison 3000SP automatic transmission, with electronic controls. The initial tests on light terrain saw the prototype reach a top speed of 110km/h. Over heavier off-road situations, the vehicle could travel at 80km/h. Crucially, the range was increased from 750km to 950km. Engemotors, a company of the Brasília Motors group is undertaking the upgrade. According to Glauco Bueno da Silva, general manager for Engemotors, one of the reasons for using Allison's automatic gearboxes on all the Urutu and Cascavel units is the improved drivability. "In a combat vehicle during battle, it is difficult for the driver to focus on the gear change coordination, clutch usage, choosing the best gear for each situation and so on. With an automatic transmission the driver is free from such distractions and so they can concentrate on the mission. The Allison 3000SP gearbox we now use is more resistant and delivered very interesting results during the tests. The performance is superior to old versions equipped with manual/automatic transmissions as that older transmission generation, when used in the Urutu, had no electronic management and lacked many updates which help vehicles to have better serviceability".
Thales Communications Inc Has A New Business Development Manager for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy.
Relevance Score: 4.428 2009-10-15 15:38:20
Thales Communications, Inc. (Thales) has appointed Mr. Patrick J. Allison to the position of Business Development Manager for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. Mr. Allison’s primary focus is developing and promoting engineering programs for the company’s tactical ground communications products and developing Thales derivatives that directly impact the communications capabilities of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Naval organizations. He cooperates closely with system level prime contractors and industry partners to bring solutions to the service organizations. Prior to joining Thales, Mr. Allison served as a Senior Program Manager for International Command and Control solutions with Raytheon Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In this capacity, he takes responsibility for execution, management, and business development in the Pacific Rim countries of Australia, Korea, and Malaysia.
Navistar Debuts Its Husky TSV At UK Vehicle Show
Relevance Score: 3.030 2009-07-01 09:36:37
Navistar Defense has debuted its International Husky Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) at the U.K. Ministry of Defence vehicle show known as DVD. In April, the Ministry of Defence awarded the company a contract to provide 262 Husky vehicles. Organized by the Ministry's Defence Equipment and Support division, DVD offers attendees the chance to see vehicles in action on the show's off-road course. Specially designed to meet U.K. urgent operational requirements in Afghanistan, the lighter and more mobile Husky is built to navigate the rough Afghan terrain, while offering added protection from ballistics fire, mines and roadside bombs. The Husky, which is the medium variant for the TSV program, will be procured in three vehicle types: patrol, ambulance and command vehicle. Integrated with U.K. specific systems by Dytecna, the vehicle accommodates a four-person crew and is equipped with a MaxxForce D 6.0 L V8 engine, Allison five-speed automatic transmission, and also incorporates Plasan Sasa's armouring solution. Last month, Navistar also delivered its first two Husky prototypes, ahead of schedule, to undergo final requirements testing before full production begins this summer. "The Navistar team is going after an aggressive delivery commitment to provide our U.K. forces with the equipment they need as soon as possible," said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. "Not only will we deliver quickly to support those in theater, but Navistar is prepared to rapidly incorporate design changes into our vehicles as in-theater threats evolve."
US Military’s Pacific Network Goes with Verizon
Relevance Score: 2.596 2009-05-29 12:11:59
Verizon Business Network Services Inc. in Ashburn, VA won a $2.5 billion under the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) transmission services – Pacific II (DTS-P II) contract. In return, they will provide end-to-end transmission services and capabilities essential to the USA’s Defense Information System Network – Pacific, the military’s consolidated enterprise level telecommunications infrastructure for the expanded Pacific region. DTS-P II has a 5-year base period, followed by a pair of 2-year option periods and a 1-year option period; $2.5 billion is the maximum amount under all option periods. This RFP was announced via the Federal Business Opportunities website, and 2 offers were received by the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Pacific (HC1019-09-D-2000).
Verizon gets 10-year, $2.5 billion defense pact
Relevance Score: 2.508 2009-03-23 00:01:10
Verizon Communications' business segment has received a 10-year contract worth up to $2.5 billion to continue to provide network and data services at global U.S. Department of Defense locations. Under the Defense Information System Network Transmission Services — Pacific II contract, Verizon Business will remain the provider of telecommunications services at military installations and other government sites located in the Asia-Pacific region, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and South America, the Middle East and the United States. If all options are exercised, the deal has a maximum value of $2.5 billion. Verizon Business said it will provide services ranging from individual circuits to managed transmission services over fiber or satellite, or both. The company also will provide managed data services including Internet protocol, Ethernet and Internet services.
ViaSat Follow-on Contract Continues LinkWayS2 Broadband Modem Adoption as U.S. Government Standard for Tactical Satcom
Relevance Score: 2.331 2010-02-12 12:16:26
ViaSat (Nasdaq:VSAT) has received additional orders for its LinkWayS2® satellite modem systems to support U.S. government networks. The system includes U.S. Department of Defense approved transmission security, to provide secure, efficient tactical network connections to warfighters. Each modem also features a second DVB-S2 demodulator to enable both full mesh and one-way receive operation in a single product. The value of the follow-on orders totals $1.9 million. The LinkWayS2 system connects users with single-hop, full mesh, high-throughput data transport and secures the links with TRANSEC transmission security. The open-standards MF-TDMA (multi-frequency, time-division multiple access) system provides more operational flexibility compared to proprietary hub-spoke MF-TDMA modem systems. The LinkWayS2 system represents the next generation, DVB-S2 standard platform in a strong lineage of LinkWay modem products that feature increased throughput and transmission rate and 100% backwards-compatibility with the widely deployed LinkWay2100 modem. The integrated National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) certified, Type 3 cryptographic module performs AES-256 encryption/decryption in accordance with Federal Information Processing Standards 140-2, Level 2 (FIPS 140-2, Level 2), so all over-the-air data can be bulk-encrypted.
New Cyber Threats Part Nine
Relevance Score: 2.253 2009-04-08 11:18:28
Cybersecurity vulnerability should be the primary responsibility of the partner that owns, manages and uses the information technology infrastructure of the United States. It is largely the U.S. private sector's duty to address vulnerability by taking reasonable precautions in much the same way that society expects the private sector to take reasonable measures for safety and environmental protection. These relations and the nature of the responsibilities that are involved are explored in the Heritage Foundation study "Resiliency and Public-Private Partnerships to Enhance Homeland Security" by James Jay Carafano. It is essential that the new Obama administration in the United States recognizes clearly the cybersecurity agenda facing it. The first step in implementing this agenda must be to facilitate cross talk. There is a plethora of ongoing cybersecurity and cyber-warfare initiatives. The tendency of any new U.S. administration in Washington is to conduct grand reviews of existing efforts, issue sweeping strategies, centralize management, and reorganize operations and responsibilities. That is a mistake. Such moves are as likely to stunt momentum and slow innovation as they are to achieve any efficiencies of operation. Instead, the Obama administration's first priority must be to facilitate cross talk among the members of the national "cyber team." Today, those responsible for offensive cybersecurity measures -- for example, identifying and countering malicious actors -- have little contact, familiarity or collaboration with those working on "defensive" measures, and vice versa. Likewise, agencies and organizations conducting covert activities have scant interaction with those engaged in public programs. This must change. To close gaps, minimize duplication and overlap, facilitate joint action and build trust and confidence among members of the public-private team, establishing routine and consistent dialogue must be an immediate priority. This is a vital first step in building a community of professional cyber-strategic leaders. The second step in implementing a truly effective cybersecurity strategy has to be research, research, research. Building cyber-strategic leaders will be like building castles on sand unless the knowledge and skills imparted to them is based on comprehensive, practical and unbiased research. However, as a 2007 Computer Science and Telecommunications Board research report, "Toward a Safer and More Secure Cyberspace," concluded, the national research and development program is wholly inadequate, and both traditional and unorthodox approaches will be necessary. Part 10: Lessons of the report for closing the knowledge gap in U.S. government and private-sector cybersecurity (James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., is assistant director of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies and senior research fellow for national security and homeland security in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, a division of the Davis Institute, at the Heritage Foundation. Eric Sayers is a research assistant in the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation.) (United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)
GE Informed About Industry's First Proven Web-based Aircraft Health Management System Utilizing Advanced Anomaly Detection Technology
Relevance Score: 2.174 2010-04-22 12:35:00
GE Aviation informed about the launch of the first proven web-based health and usage monitoring system utilizing GE Advanced Anomaly Detection (AAD) technology. The system is introduced with AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, on the AW139 to further enhance its global Customer Support Services. "This application of our Advanced Anomaly Detection technology brings about one of the most significant changes in HUMS effectiveness in the last 20 years," informed Chris Beaufait, president of Avionics for GE Aviation Systems. "Operators are able to monitor fleet trending and detect anomalies earlier and with greater confidence as this technology provides higher fidelity interpretation of all data. This is a major step forward since GE produced the first certified HUMS in 1991." The AW139 HUMS Web Services package features dedicated data transmission software and website as well as the Advanced Anomaly Detection technology. The new data transmission software allows a quicker and smarter 24/7 web link between the customer base and the central data repository, which is automatically updated. The helicopter health status can be updated wherever internet access is available. "The advanced anomaly detection technology provides a simple set of indicators for the operator's technical staff, enabling more efficient data analysis," informed Marco Sala, AgustaWestland Senior Vice President Customer Support & Services Italy. "This allows easier and more efficient maintenance activities on AW139 transmission components, in addition to reduced workload and increased fleet operational effectiveness." GE's artificial intelligence based AAD technology is the first of its type to have been successfully proven through comprehensive in-service trials. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sponsored the trials conducted with Bristow Helicopters. The new HUMS Web Services were presented to a number of AW139 operators during the AW139 HUMS Operators Conference held in Vergiate (Italy) on April 8th and 9th. By this innovative data monitoring approach, the AW139 operators can easily manage the automated transmission of health and usage data collected during operations, enabling highly flexible and rapid sharing with AgustaWestland Customer Support & Services. GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE, is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aviation Systems LLC and GE Aviation Systems Ltd are subsidiaries of GE.
Triumph Group Selected to Provide Bell Helicopter 429 Transmission
Relevance Score: 2.080 2009-07-28 22:19:56
TGI today announced that its gear systems operations, located in Park City, Utah and Macomb, Michigan, have been awarded a multi-year supply agreement by Bell Helicopter to provide the main transmission assembly for the 429 helicopter. The scope of the agreement includes manufacturing, assembly/integration and testing of the transmission, as well as the design and engineering of the test equipment. The supply agreement is for a period of five years with five one-year contract extension options and has an estimated value in excess of $363 million over the next ten years. Richard C. Ill, Triumph’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are extremely pleased that Bell Helicopter chose Triumph to be a strategic supplier to this program. We believe Triumph’s experience in providing cost effective solutions, our capacity to integrate complex bills of material and our commitment to meet or exceed stringent quality control requirements enabled us to win this business. We view this award as a significant milestone in our excellent relationship with Bell Helicopter and look forward to supporting this program.” Triumph Group, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania, designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs and overhauls aircraft components and accessories. The company serves a broad, worldwide spectrum of the aviation industry, including original equipment manufacturers of commercial, regional, business and military aircraft and aircraft components, as well as commercial and regional airlines and air cargo carriers. Statements in this release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including estimates of contract value. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which could affect the company’s actual results and could cause its actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the company. Further information regarding the important factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results can be found in Triumph’s reports filed with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.
The TCS Wireless Point-to-Point Link (WPPL) systems
Relevance Score: 2.061 2009-12-28 17:19:12
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), today announced that it has been awarded an additional $8 million in funding from the U.S. Marine Corps for the TCS Wireless Point-to-Point Link (WPPL) systems. WPPL systems provide deployed Marines with secure point-to-point and point-to-multipoint transmission of voice, video and data communications over terrestrial microwave radio links. Under this award, TCS will provide field support representatives and extended maintenance warranty support. In addition, TCS will supply spare parts for the RF and Network packages of the WPPL systems, including sector and directional antennas, modems, routers, router cards and router modules. The TCS WPPL provides Marines with critical last-mile communications and allows them to extend their Local Area Network (LAN) to forward-deployed locations by extending services over terrestrial microwave radio links. It enables Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router (NIPR), Secret Internet Protocol Router (SIPR), Voice over IP (VoIP), Video and Defense Switched Network transmission of vital information. This order was awarded by the Army Project Manager for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (PM WIN-T) Commercial Satellite Terminal Program (CSTP) and through the U.S. Army's $5 billion World-Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) contract vehicle.