China :: Defence :: Space

"Back in the 60's, I developed a weather changing machine which was in essence a sophisticated heat beam which we called a 'laser'...." Chinas first national key laboratory on laser propulsion and application established (Source: PLA Daily) 2012-05-09 The first national key laboratory on laser propulsion and application of China was officially established on May 7, 2012 at the Beijing Equipment Institute, marking that China has taken a solid step in exploring the research on new-type high-efficiency aviation and aerospace propulsion technology. Zou Peng, president of the Beijing Equipment Institute, said: The national key laboratory on laser propulsion and application, which was constructed by the Ministry of Science and Technology and relies on the Beijing Equipment Institute and the No.31 Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, is the first laboratory in China devoted to the intersection field of laser and aviation and a...

Marietta GA (SPX) May 03, 2012 -The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $156 million contract to provide new training devices to accommodate the growing pipeline of C-130J aircrews and maintainers. Lockheed Martin will develop 24 new training devices and provide program management and engineering services under the U.S. Air Force's C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System II, referred to as JMATS II. The devices include weapons systems, enhanced integrated cockpit systems, loadmaster fuselage and loadmaster part-task trainers along with enhanced cargo handling system training aids. "These new devices will support multiple C-130J communities as they receive their new aircraft," said Col. Peter Eide, Simulators Division Chief for Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "High fidelity simulator systems provide safe, affordable training alternatives that can free up critical C-130J resources to fly airlift missions." ...

Arlington VA (SPX) May 03, 2012 -ITT Exelis has been awarded a $238 million contract to begin full-rate production of the AN/ALQ-214 on-board jammer system on the F/A-18 aircraft. This system (AN/ALQ-214 (v)4/5) is smaller and lighter than its predecessor and can be installed on both the legacy Hornet (F/A-18 C/D) and Super Hornet (F/A-18 E/F) variants. Under this contract, Exelis will provide 104 systems through fiscal year 2016. "This contract award resulted from an innovative engineering approach and a proven track record of performance," said Chris Bernhardt, Exelis executive vice president and president of the Electronic Systems division. "Our long partnership with the U.S. Navy program team was essential to adopting a solution that will keep our Navy front-line fighters ahead of the most advanced threats to the F/A-18." The AN/ALQ-214 Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) system combines sensitive receivers and active countermeasures to electronically s...

For the first time ever, China has launched more rockets into orbit in a year than the U.S. In 2011, the Chinese sent 19 rockets into space. The U.S. sent just 18. Russia, the Walmart of space launches, fired off no fewer than 31 rockets (a lot of US launches were probably outsource to Russia. How many launches did ESA made in 2011 ?). The numbers, parsed in recent reports from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the nonprofit Space Foundation, might seem to herald Americas orbital decline relative to its most bitter rival. In terms of sheer numbers of rocket launches, China has been steadily catching up to America for several years. In 2010, China fired off 15 rockets, matching the U.S. for the first time. But the raw figures obscure the real trends. Beijing is not about to catch up to Washington in space. For starters, the U.S. government spends more money than any other country on space launches and spacecraft: nearly $50 billion, compared to just $25 billion or so for all ...

This old rusty basket is being cleaned up at the Jiangshan Dao yard destined to be a tourist attraction in the Taizhou military theme park near by. GW 349 drifted around for 20 years in an unremarkable career with Wang Fushan, the current deputy commander of the North Sea Fleet, as its skipper being the only bright spot.

2012-05-06 (China Military News cited from zeenews.india.com) -- China today successfully launched a remote sensing satellite into space, stepping up its efforts to keep up with its schedule to put 100 satellites in space by 2015. The mapping satellite, Tianhui I-02 was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gansu province using a Long March 2-D carrier rocket. A similar satellite, the Tianhui I, was launched into space in 2010. The satellite, developed and produced by a company under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), will mainly be used to conduct scientific experiments, carry out land resource surveys and map territory, state-run Xinhua quoted an official statement as saying. The mission marked the 161st launch for the Long March rocket family since 1970. China launched 19 satellites last year surpassing the United States's 18 to become World number two after Russia, which launched thirty six. Early this mon...

2012-05-05 (China Military News cited from atimes.com and by Benjamin A Shobert) -- Few parts of the American mythology resonate more deeply in popular consciousness than the Cold War-era space race. Americans recall with a certain fondness a time when the country led the world in manned space exploration, a group of accomplishments set in motion only after the Soviet Union shocked the world with its Sputnik launch. Even today, during one of President Barack Obama's recent State of the Union addresses, he harkened back to this moment as an example of America's ability to come together and rally after being surprised by a foreign competitor, except this time it would be in an effort to build consensus domestically for a focused effort to match China's immense energies in the clean-tech and high-speed rail areas. Beyond this point, China's financial ability to entertain manned space travel As China continues to develop as a nation-state, it was inevitable that ...