U.K.-France Joint Weapon Development Plans

A 10-year strategic plan for complex weapon development and a new unmanned air vehicle joint venture are among the industrial highlights of two defense treaties announced by Britain and France at a summit meeting here Nov. 2 between U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.


The treaty on defense and security cooperation covers a series of potential air and sea equipment programs, as well as an operational alliance involving the sharing of aircraft carrier capabilities and the creation of a joint expeditionary force.


A second treaty covers cooperation in the testing of nuclear warheads for safety and reliability at facilities in the U.K. and France.

The two sides have been partners on several projects in the past, but the new deal potentially brings industrial and nuclear cooperation to an unprecedented level.

Cameron said the agreement was "big, bold and radical … and shows a level of trust never equaled in our history."

The British prime minister said the agreement was "practical and hard-headed cooperation between two sovereign countries."
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British Military Scientists Developing An Army Of Invisible Tanks

British military scientists say they're working to develop an army of invisible tanks ready for use on the battlefield within five years. The armored vehicles will use a technology known as "e-camouflage" that would let images on the vehicle's hull change to match their environment, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
Sophisticated electronic sensors attached the tank's hull would project images of the surrounding environment back on the outside of the vehicle, helping it blend into the landscape and evade attack, the report said.
Until recently such ideas were thought to be the stuff of science fiction, but scientists at the British defense company BAE Systems now think near invisibility will soon become reality.


BAE scientists are also looking at other battlefield innovations to increase troop protection while making vehicles more lethal.
Scientists at BAE are said to be close to developing a form of transparent armor -- much tougher than bullet-proof glass -- which could be used in turrets on the sides of armored vehicles to improve visibility.
A technology called "biometric integration" uses advanced computer programs to analyze crowds and search for potential threats by analyzing suspicious behavior in groups or individuals, the newspaper said.

British Expert Believes Chinese engines Used American Technology

British military experts believe that China in the development of WS-10 "Taihang" turbofan engines for military use in the process of obtaining business from the United States CFM56 turbofan engine technology.

Russian media said the Chinese WS-10 "Taihang" engine development program comparable to the United States that year's "Apollo" moon program, are extremely important strategic significance. Experts believe that a weakness of domestic manufacturing of advanced jet engines can not become a superpower country.

WS-10 engine thrust does not open when the afterburner is unclear, but sources said it up to 132 kN afterburning. This indicator and the United States of its F-15 and F-16 are equipped with the F110 engine quite.

WS-10 Taihang Historical Development of the engine

Russian media said the United States to China in 1982 provided for the assessment of CFM56II two engines. Although only a commercial engine, but CFM56II the core components – high-pressure compressor, combustor and high pressure turbine is the same with the F110. U.S.

Department of Defense was worried that China will steal by CFM56II advanced engine manufacturing technology, and therefore opposed to the Chinese side. But the then Reagan administration insisted the deal, the Chinese people dismantling the engine and its components in detail. It is reported that it has not returned to the United States the last two engines, because they were "destroyed in a fire."

Russian media said, but just can not get to observe the structure of materials and production methods related to the engine enough information. Then the Chinese also carried out a lot of work, a generic version engine components has been completed.
Development process

WS-10 turbofan engine development work in 1987 in the 624th China Aviation Industry Research Institute was officially launched.

Russian media said, in 1992, basically to determine the main structure of the engine. In addition, the Chinese side in the powder metallurgy, directionally solidified turbine blades and other fields of work have also made great progress.

In 1997, the compressor blades have also been developed to solve the problem, the engine bench test went smoothly. WS-10 flight test engine later received permission.

In 2000-2001, the first station WS-10 prototype was installed in a J-11 (Su -27) and carried out on a high-altitude fighter test (another test used is imported from the Russian engine AL-31F .)

In 2003-2004, China's engineers have ruled out the engine during the test, some of the problems and try to reduce engine weight. After the completion of a series of improvements, the first time China has decided to install two J-11 WS-10 test flight. However, in 2004 during a test flight, J-11 engine on the right side of the fracture due to bearing damage, but fortunately, the ultimate in single-engine plane to fly back condition. The cause of failure was quickly identified and resolved.

2005, WS-10 engine successfully withstood a 40-day test program.

Russian media said that in 18 years after development work started, WS-10 received airworthiness license, subsequent production work was handed over to the Shenyang Aircraft Manufacturing Company. 2006-2007 have been rumors in the news that the Air Force on WS-10 quality of life of the engine and assembly are not satisfied.

However, WS-10 in the next few years or be out of production. Had emerged in 2010 with a WS-10 equipped with two engines of the J-11B fighter photos.

Obviously, WS-10 engine had appeared most of the problems have been resolved. China has also become able to independently produce advanced state of military jet engines.
Prospects

Now, China's engineers have mastered the advanced jet fighter for the equipment, engine manufacturing technology. It is said, WS-10 WS-10A model improvements have also been put into use. Although the WS-10A in appearance very similar to WS-10, but the former has a guide vane 17 (the latter is 15), in addition, the structure of the engine below the gear box is changed. Another source said, China is also developing the other WS-10 An Improved Model – WS-10B (also known as WS-10G). The new engine has more thrust, longer life, may also be equipped with a control vector nozzles.

Of course, China's engineers to develop new military engine in the process need to solve many problems, but WS-10 engine, its performance has reached the United States in the 1980s the level of similar products, and its improved model, and even more advanced.

DAE & Dassault Join Forces To Develop New Unmanned Aircraft System

UK-based BAE Systems and French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation are to jointly develop a new medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft system to be offered to the military in France and the UK.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding follows an agreement between the UK and French governments in November 2010 to collaborate on the next-generation MALE UAS to meet the requirements of both countries.

BAE and Dassault will collaborate exclusively on the preparation and submission of a joint proposal to the UK and French ministries of defence for the design, development, production and support of the MALE UAS.

The two companies have already completed a feasibility study for the project that will feed into the joint proposal.

Kevin Taylor, managing director Military Air & Information at BAE Systems says: "A successful BAE Systems/Dassault Aviation solution will ensure that the UK and France maintain their status as leading providers of aerospace capability.

"It will also ensure that both countries get the best return on the investment they have made in state-of-the-art technologies and UAS.

We have a strong team in place that is ready to develop the future frontline UAS capability required by both the UK and France."

Eric Trappier, executive vice-president international at Dassault, says that the skills of both companies will allow them to provide a cost-effective system "to meet both countries' military requirements to schedule and within the budgetary constraints under which both governments will operate in future".

He adds: "We look forward to a swift development go-ahead decision from the two governments soon."