APDR News in Brief

Markforged introduces metal & advanced composite 3D printer: Markforged has unveiled the FX10 Metal Kit, a print engine that brings metal printing capability to the FX10. With this kit, the FX10 becomes the world’s first industrial 3D printer that can print both metal filaments and composites with continuous fibre reinforcement. The FX10, released in November 2023 as a composite only printer, was designed to be the most versatile tool on the factory floor and has received tremendous feedback from early customers. With its modular architecture, upgrades like the Metal Kit enable customers of the FX10 to gain additional value from the machine after purchase. Markforged also announced a new 316L stainless steel metal filament to be used with the FX10 Metal Kit. Users will also be able to print in 17-4PH with additional support for other Markforged metal filaments in the future. The FX10 Metal Kit consists of a swappable print engine that includes a metal-specific print head, material feed tubes, routing back, and dual pre-extruders. An FX10 can be swapped between metal and composite as many times as needed, and the swap takes about 15 minutes. Downer unlocks opportunities for veterans’ families: Downer, Australia’s largest sovereign Defence partner, has launched their Downer Defence Veterans’ Family Scholarships, to support the children and grandchildren of Australian Veterans to pursue a tertiary education. The three scholarships aim to drive meaningful change for Veterans and their families by removing financial barriers, empowering young people to pursue further education. Applications for the scholarships are open now, closing 31 October 2024. The scholarships will be administered by Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust (AVCAT), a national charity managing tertiary scholarships to assist children and grandchildren of the Australian ex-service veteran community with the costs of full-time tertiary education. A founding member of the Australian Veterans Employers Coalition (AVEC), Downer actively promotes veteran employment and participation, providing tailored career and wellbeing support to respond to the unique strengths and needs of veterans. In addition, Downer supports ADF spouses and partners to enter operational roles in the business, facilitating where possible their transfer to other Downer sites or projects if relocation is required due to their partner’s posting. Seatransport wins licence for new development: Gold Coast based ship design group Seatransport has secured the approval and exclusive licence for Class approved closed cell foam for commercial vessels. After six years of cooperation with Strathclyde University and a European foam manufacturer overcoming toxicity and flammability issues with marine closed cell foam, Lloyd Register gave its approval last month Seatransport will incorporate this foam in existing newbuilds including the Stern Landing Vessel (SLV) design for the USMC. Approved closed cell foam inserted in all possible voids increases the Survivability Index. Most 2 compartment ships have a survivability index of 0.72 which equates to surviving 72 out of 100 disaster scenarios. It also reduces bilge piping and increases the vessel structural life. Forensic modelling between Seatransport and Strathclyde on the SLV design brought the Survivability index to 0.96, an unprecedented level for amphibious vessels Senior Navy leader visits Indo-Pacific for AUKUS: Acting Under Secretary of the Navy Tom Mancinelli travelled to Perth, Australia, Sept. 1-3, to meet with partner navies, government officials, and military leaders to discuss their shared commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. Mancinelli observed the Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (STMP) and engaged with Royal Australian and U.S. Navy Sailors supporting this Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) milestone. Throughout the trip, he discussed the trilateral AUKUS partnership and held several engagements to communicate the Department of the Navy’s commitment to advancing interoperability, innovation, and maritime security. The acting Under Secretary of the Navy met with senior defence leaders, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) leaders, and government leaders during his travel to Western Australia, to include Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence Richard Marles, Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Development Pat Conroy, Premier of Western Australia Roger Cook, Western Australia Minister for Defence Paul Papalia, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King, British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell, RAN Chief of Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, and Director General Australian Submarine Agency Vice Adm. Jonathan Mead. Leaders exchanged views on the importance of maritime security and spoke about AUKUS Optimal Pathway accomplishments, the significance of maintaining strong navies, as well as their shared commitment to ensure a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, complementing the existing regional security architecture. SitaWare’s mobile applications updated: When units are operating at reach, connectivity, accuracy and speed of secure data transmission is vital. With brand new improvements to SitaWare’s mobile C4ISR products, the user experience is now greatly improved for mounted and dismounted operations.  “Version 3.7 of SitaWare Frontline and SitaWare Edge brings significant enhancements aimed at improving deployment efficiency,” explains Jesper Annexgaard, Product Manager. “We know that in the current climate networks and connectivity are crucial enablers to dynamic, flexible operations which is why we have paid particular attention to this aspect in our latest updates.” SitaWare is the world’s leading C4ISR software and is the battle management system of choice for more than 50 nations across the globe. Earlier this year it was chosen in a competitive tender by NATO as its Future Land C2 system and, in 2023, the Australian Defence Force confirmed its intention to down-select elements of the SitaWare suite of battle management software (BMS) to support the first Tranche of LAND 200 Phase 3 project.  These elements are SitaWare Headquarters and SitaWare Frontline which will support command-and-control (C2) functions for the Australian Army across a limited number of critical fixed, static, and mobile locations for deployment at battlegroup and above. SitaWare Headquarters is the core product that supports joint, fixed and deployable headquarters, while SitaWare Frontline delivers situational awareness for the mounted commander within a vehicle. Cummins to debut 1,000 hp ACE: The 1,000 hp Advanced Combat Engine (ACE), developed by Cummins in partnership with the U.S. Army, will be showcased at Australia’s Land Forces Exposition in Melbourne from September 11-13. Incorporating advanced technologies not currently available in diesel combat engines, the compact four-cylinder ACE is designed for infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks. The 14.3-litre, two-stroke engine features opposed-piston technology and is equipped with dual Holset variable geometry turbochargers and a gear-driven supercharger for high power density and peak torque of 2424 lb-ft. The engine on display at Land Forces will be the 1000 hp, four-cylinder version, with maximum power delivered at 2600 rpm and peak torque of 2424 lb-ft at 1600-2000 rpm. ACE’s modular design also allows it to be configured in three-cylinder and six-cylinder arrangements to deliver power ranging from 750 to 1,500 horsepower. Compactness is an obvious advantage of ACE, particularly crucial for combat vehicles with their restricted installation space. Cummins has collaborated with Achates Power on the opposed-piston technology which eliminates the need for a valve train and cylinder head. Another advantage of the design is low heat rejection which enables a smaller radiator which frees up space and weight in the vehicle. Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER wins EASA Design Verification Report: The CAMCOPTER S-100 received the first-ever Design Verification Report (DVR) by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for a Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System (RWUAS). The Design Verification Report (DVR) for the specific category of UAS operations was issued after a rigorous evaluation process, including 300 EASA observed flight hours proving airworthiness, safety and enhanced containment, as well as successfully demonstrating laser safety, cyber security features and HIRF (High Intensity Radiated Fields) resistance. This EASA report enables the French Navy to issue a “Military Operational Type Authorisation” and facilitates the approval processes for S-100 flight operations in all EASA member states. “Receiving the DVR is a significant milestone for Schiebel and a major step towards fully certifying the CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS,” said Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group. The DVR process was set in place by EASA at the end of 2021 and aims at ensuring safe drone operations in Europe. Airbus completes acquisition of infodas: Airbus Defence and Space has finalised the acquisition of infodas, a German company that provides cybersecurity and IT solutions in the public sector including for defence and critical infrastructures, and which is now becoming an Airbus subsidiary. This follows receipt of the required regulatory approvals. With the exponential growth of cyber threats, along with the increasing digitalisation and connectivity of defence and aerospace products and systems, cybersecurity is an important component of Airbus’ development. Over the last years, the company has continuously developed its cybersecurity capabilities and expertise, ensuring the best possible protection for its products, operations, customers, and ecosystem, including in the perspective of major military programmes such as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Infodas with around 250 employees and annual revenues of about 50 million euros is headquartered in Cologne, it has additional offices in Germany in Berlin, Bonn, Hamburg, Munich and Mainz. The company has been certified by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) as an IT security service provider in the areas of information system auditing, consulting and penetration tests. The infodas Secure Domain Transition (SDoT) Security Gateway product family is approved for classification levels up to secret. The products are also certified in accordance with the Common Criteria (CC) and have other country-specific certificates. Boeing offers CH-47 Chinook to Poland: Boeing is offering the CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter to Poland. The announcement was made at the annual MSPO International Defence Industry Exhibition where Boeing is highlighting advanced defence systems, capabilities and services. The CH-47F Block II is the newest iteration of the Chinook, providing increased lift and range. Chinook Block II is a modernized and ready now solution that provides increased operational flexibility, improved performance, and enhanced survivability. It builds upon the proven capabilities of the CH-47 Chinook, offering an upgraded platform that meets the capability that militaries need today and serves as a strong foundation for affordable future upgrades. With more than 950 aircraft in 20 countries, the Chinook has a long history of successful operations worldwide and has been extensively used in various military operations and humanitarian missions. Germany is the 21st customer and the 9th NATO nation to have selected the Chinook as its heavy-lift helicopter. GRUPA WB, Leonardo, sign MOU: GRUPA WB and Leonardo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exploring capabilities and prospects within the defence sector. The partners intend to jointly develop new capabilities and promote business opportunities for tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), including AI-integrated UAS, swarming operations and loitering munitions. GRUPA WB and Leonardo intend to seek business opportunities in Poland and export markets in the areas of light and medium tactical uncrewed reconnaissance and strike systems. The signed MoU will allow the entities to undertake joint initiatives in the area of industrial cooperation, based on autonomous air platforms, systems integrated with artificial intelligence and other advanced solutions that meet the needs of the modern and evolving battlefield. The cooperation is to be based on the use of knowledge, competences and experience of the WB GROUP and Leonardo in the development of specialist military electronics, reconnaissance and strike systems capable of operating in an integrated combat environment, which allows for multi-domain operations. Joint initiatives are to be based on the established presence of partner entities in Poland, within the framework of the WB GROUP’s activities and through Leonardo Poland. Embraer delivers first C-390 Millennium to Hungary: Embraer has delivered the first C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft to the Hungarian Air Force. The aircraft will be the first in the world equipped with a roll-on/roll-off Intensive Care Unit, being even better equipped to perform humanitarian missions and Medical Evacuation Missions. The Hungarian C-390 is fully compatible with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) requirements, not only in terms of its hardware but also in its avionics and communications configuration. The aircraft fully meets the requirements of the Hungarian Defence Forces, being able to perform different types of military and civilian missions, including Medical Evacuation, Humanitarian Support, Search and Rescue, Cargo and Troops Transport, Precision Cargo Airdrop, Paratroopers Operations, and Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR). The C-390 can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (470 knots) and farther, being capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways. The aircraft configured with air-to-air refuelling equipment, with the designation KC-390, can operate both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case also by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings. For Editorial Inquiries Contact : Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]