Latest news with #Hammerhead
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Lack of working Cyclones frustrates Canada's top sailor: 'The helicopter has been letting us down'
Canada's top sailor is so fed up with the dearth of Cyclone helicopters available to fly off this country's warships, he'll replace them with drones if he must. The fleet of 26 CH-148 helicopters was grounded for most of last month due to spare parts problems. And, as of Thursday, only three of the choppers were available to fly off the country's warships as the problems persist. 'Am I satisfied? No, not at all,' Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee said in Halifax on Thursday. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Naval officers often say maritime helicopters are the eyes and ears of a warship. 'This is why we're going all-in on drones right now,' Topshee said. 'The Royal Canadian Navy is working to get into contract for an uncrewed aerial vehicle that we can operate. It was meant to supplement the helicopter, but the reality is, if the helicopter can't be more reliable, then we are going to have to rely even more on other systems.' As a stopgap, the navy is employing Hammerhead target drones — remote-control speedboats it normally uses to mimic small boat attacks — to launch sonobuoys ahead of a fleet so ships can detect submarines. 'One of the things a helicopter can do for us is it can drop sonobuoys to help detect submarines. Now we've got the ability to do that in other ways,' Topshee said. 'Whenever we've been forced to innovate, we will innovate. We will find a way to get the job done. So, the helicopter has been letting us down, but we will find a way to achieve the effect.' The navy is hoping to have purpose-built aerial drones in operation by next summer, he said, noting the project went out to tender. 'We're in the process of awarding it.' Topshee — who was in Halifax to celebrate the start of Fleet Week, where the public can tour warships and meet the folks who crew them — doesn't want to rely on unmanned drones over helicopters. 'A helicopter is a far better platform,' he said. 'A helicopter can do everything. So, what we're going to need to do is take all of the things that we need a helicopter to be able to do and do them individually' in other ways. To that end, the navy's experimenting with large drones that can transport equipment between ships, Topshee said. 'That's not a task that we need a well-armed (anti-submarine warfare) helicopter to do,' he said. 'If it can be done by a drone very simply without people involved in the process of actually flying it back and forth, that's ideal for us.' Topshee is adamant he's not replacing the Cyclones. 'We're not,' he said. 'We want the Cyclone helicopter to be an effective part of the force.' The admiral points out that, even when the helicopters are in top shape, they can only operate for 12 hours a day. 'Even if it's perfectly operational, there's 12 hours where you don't have it available,' Topshee said. 'Which means we need to be experimenting and ready to operate all of the time.' Canada has 26 of the ship-borne maritime helicopters, with a final one slated for delivery this year. The $5.8-billion fleet is normally used to provide air support for the navy. Their missions include surface and subsurface surveillance, search and rescue, and anti-submarine warfare. The Cyclones didn't fly at all for 27 days in May as the military struggled with spare parts problems with certain components. The Department of National Defence indicated last month that it was working with the military and Sikorsky, which manufactured the helicopters, 'to identify potential parts of concern. This includes components of the Cyclone's landing gear, tail rotor driveshaft flange and auxiliary power unit, as well as engine parts.' The problems persist, according to Topshee. 'It's a parts issue that's keeping them grounded.' Another 'messy problem' plaguing the helicopters, he said, is replacing the Cyclones' ageing datalinks — used to communicate digital information such as radar images to other aircraft, warships and shore bases. 'It is a technology from the 1980s,' Topshee said. The admiral places the blame for old tech aboard relatively new helicopters, ordered in November 2004, squarely on former prime minister Jean Chretien's 1993 decision to cancel the contract to buy AgustaWestland's EH-101 maritime helicopters to replace Canada's geriatric fleet of Sea Kings, which went out of service in 2018 after flying off navy ships for more than half a century. 'One of the accusations at the time, as we were coming out of the Cold War, was that we had gold-plated the requirement,' Topshee said. 'That we were asking for far more than we needed out of a maritime helicopter. The interesting thing is if you were to go back to our initial requirement, it is almost exactly the helicopter we need today because … we're in a period of great power competition. We need a war-fighting helicopter.' The military 'listened to the complaints,' and watered down the requirements as much as it could, he said. 'We specified exactly the systems that we wanted as opposed to saying we need the helicopter to have modern link, modern communications and up-to-date combat systems. We said we needed to have this Link 11 system, which was the state-of-the-art at the time we set that requirement.' The datalink is 'critical' for the Cyclones, he said. 'It's what tells the rest of the force where the helicopter is. It tells the rest of the force everything the helicopter is seeing. So, when it finds a submarine, it uses that link to communicate the position of the submarine to the rest of the force so that we can either target that submarine or avoid the submarine. It also tells us that that's our friendly helicopter right there so we don't accidentally shoot it down.' Canada is negotiating with Sikorsky to get the datalinks updated, Topshee said. 'The timeline is unacceptably long. We're in negotiations with the company for them to try and deliver it as quickly as possible but right now it's not quick enough.' Sikorsky is saying it will take 'more than two' years to upgrade datalinks aboard all of the Cyclones, according to Topshee, who wants the choppers upgraded from datalink 11 to datalink 16 and datalink 22. The Cyclones 'can still use the old link … but it doesn't provide all the functionality that we need,' he said. 'A lot of countries are stopping using it.' The old datalinks could put Cyclone crews in jeopardy. 'Without the most modern link system, we don't know exactly where the helicopter is all the time because that system does not provide the same level of positional fidelity that we would expect,' Topshee said. 'The helicopter knows where it is. We just don't know whether it's friendly or not all of the time. Can that put them in danger? Yes. In an operational environment where we're starting to shoot, that could be a problem.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Business Wire
12 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Redwire Successfully Completes Integration of Hammerhead Spacecraft for Upcoming European Mission
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced today that is has completed the integration of a Hammerhead spacecraft platform for an upcoming European Space Agency (ESA) mission at its facility in Kruibeke, Belgium. The Hammerhead spacecraft will support ESA's Atmospheric Limb Tracker for Investigation of the Upcoming Stratosphere (ALTIUS) mission. Redwire is the prime contractor for ALTIUS. This milestone marks the completion of Hammerhead spacecraft platform integration at Redwire's state-of-the-art satellite processing facility in Belgium. Following platform integration, the satellite will undergo platform system testing and payload integration, marking the completion of the full satellite. Hammerhead is Redwire's highly versatile low Earth orbit spacecraft platform, offering exceptional performance and a track record of outstanding reliability with 50 years of in-orbit performance without spacecraft failure. The ALTIUS satellite also features Redwire's third-generation Advanced Data and Power Management System (ADPMS-3) avionics. 'Redwire's Belgium facility has emerged as a world-class satellite processing facility with a proven track record of building satellites for groundbreaking multinational missions, including ESA's Proba-3 mission,' said Redwire President of Civil and International Space, Mike Gold. 'We are incredibly proud of the team's accomplishment in achieving this milestone, and we look forward to continuing to build on this track record of efficiency and on-time deliveries for ESA in support of a bold new era of European space exploration and development.' Redwire's facility in Belgium has more than 40 years of spaceflight heritage developing spacecraft platforms and success delivering innovative technology for game-changing ESA programs. Most notably, every spacecraft used for ESA's Proba missions (Proba-1, Proba-2, Proba-V, and Proba-3) have been developed and integrated at Redwire's Belgium facility. Leveraging its legacy of innovation and excellence, Redwire continues to manufacture spacecraft for important ESA programs, including Skimsat, a technology demonstrator for a small satellite platform designed to operate in very low Earth orbit. Disclaimer: The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency. About Redwire Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is an integrated aerospace and defense company focused on advanced technologies. We are building the future of aerospace infrastructure, autonomous systems and multi-domain operations leveraging digital engineering and AI automation. Redwire's approximately 1,300 employees located throughout the United States and Europe are committed to delivering innovative space and airborne platforms transforming the future of multi-domain operations. For more information, please visit
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vacation hideaway for rich and famous hit by ICE raids as 40 arrested in Nantucket ahead of summer season
Federal immigration raids have spread to New England's summer island getaway destinations, with 40 people detained on Tuesday by agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the FBI. ICE states in a press release that the raids occurred on the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The Nantucket Current reports that the action by federal authorities appears to be the largest immigration enforcement operation on the island in years. Federal agents pulled over multiple vehicles across the mid-island area beginning around 7 a.m., with at least a dozen people taken into custody. It is also not known whether this was a random sweep or if the arrests targeted known criminal suspects. Detainees were then removed from the island aboard the Coast Guard patrol boat Hammerhead around 1:30 p.m. 'ICE officers and FBI, DEA and ATF agents worked together to arrest a significant number of illegal alien offenders which included at least one child predator,' said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. 'Our partners in the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated a safe and efficient transport of the alien offenders off Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, ensuring the safety of the residents of those communities. ICE and our federal partners made a strong stand for prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our New England neighborhoods.' Nantucket Police Lieutenant Angus MacVicar stated that they were notified on Monday by ICE regarding the timing of the operation. 'We were not asked to support their operation in any way [nor] have we assisted today,' he said. The Current reports that a woman was left behind in the passenger seat of a Toyota 4Runner after federal agents pulled it over and took two men into custody on Old South Road, which runs near the island's airport. In addition, on Fairgrounds Road, island resident Mason Kennelly was pulled over by ICE agents who questioned him before saying they 'had the wrong guy.' White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly demanded that immigration agents significantly increase daily arrests to 3,000 in a 'tense' meeting last week. Miller, President Donald Trump's top adviser and architect of the administration's aggressive immigration policies, and Noem told agents they needed to up daily arrests and deportations during the meeting at Immigration and Customs Enforcement's headquarters in Washington, D.C. on May 21, according to Axios. The figure is approximately triple the number of daily arrests that ICE agents were making at the beginning of the Trump administration, the outlet noted. The administration deported 17,000 people in April, according to ICE, which is a 29 percent increase over April 2024, according to NBC News. The ICE sweep comes at the start of the peak tourism season. As a popular — and expensive — destination, Nantucket's population swells to 80,000 during summer months. Following his election defeat in November 2024, President Joe Biden and his family spent Thanksgiving on the island. Martha's Vineyard similarly sees its population swell from 20,000 to over 200,000 in the summer. Famous regular visitors include the Clintons, the Obamas, Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz, and numerous Hollywood and media figures.
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
ICE Conducts Migrant Raids 20 Minutes From Obama's House
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Federal immigration authorities raided locations on Tuesday on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, one roughly 20 minutes away from the home of former President Barack Obama. Officers with ICE Boston and agents with FBI Boston, DEA New England and ATF Boston arrested around 40 alien offenders on the two islands, including a documented member of the notorious MS-13 street gang and at least one child sex offender. Why It Matters President Donald Trump pledged to voters his administration would conduct mass deportations of individuals living in the U.S. without legal status. His term began with large-scale immigration raids, a halt to asylum processing for undocumented migrants, and executive orders aimed at expanding the authority of ICE to arrest and detain those in the country illegally. The administration has been focused on ramping up deportation operations as they look to remove millions of undocumented immigrants. The White House has previously said that they view all migrants without legal status as "criminals." Several individuals on Nantucket were reportedly taken off the island in handcuffs aboard a U.S. Coast Guard cutter on May 27, 2025. Several individuals on Nantucket were reportedly taken off the island in handcuffs aboard a U.S. Coast Guard cutter on May 27, 2025. ICE What To Know Around 8:30 a.m, near the roundabout by Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, federal agents detained two individuals from a white work van, while a third worker remained at the scene. Shortly after, around 9 a.m., federal agents from multiple agencies including the FBI and DEA, conducted another stop near Hillside Village in Vineyard Haven. There, they detained a man in a landscaping sweatshirt and transported him in an unmarked vehicle. Several individuals on Nantucket were reportedly taken off the island in handcuffs aboard a U.S. Coast Guard cutter. Federal authorities have not yet released the identities of those arrested. The 12 individuals were transported off the island around 1:30 p.m. aboard the Coast Guard patrol boat Hammerhead. Barack and Michelle Obama's Martha's Vineyard estate is located on Turkeyland Cove Road in Edgartown. Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, located in Oak Bluffs, is about 8 miles from the Obamas' residence. The drive typically takes 20 to 25 minutes, as the two sites are located on different parts of the island—the high school is more centrally situated, while the Obamas' home is in a secluded area. Hillside Village in Vineyard Haven is approximately 10 miles away from the Obamas' residence. The drive typically takes around 20 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic. During Obama's administration, ICE deported approximately 2.8 million individuals. Deportations increased steadily during the president's first term, starting with 389,843 removals in 2009 and peaking at 435,498 in 2013. Deportations declined after 2013, falling to 240,255 by 2016—the lowest annual total of his presidency. A federal agent stands watch outside an apartment complex during a raid in east Denver on February 5, 2025. A federal agent stands watch outside an apartment complex during a raid in east Denver on February 5, 2025. David Zalubowski/AP What People Are Saying Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Boston Division said in a statement shared with Newsweek: "This operation highlights FBI Boston's ongoing commitment to supporting our partners at the Department of Homeland Security with identifying and apprehending those who are breaking the law by violating our immigration laws and, in some cases, committing crimes that endanger public safety." ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde said: "Our partners in the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated a safe and efficient transport of the alien offenders off Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, ensuring the safety of the residents of those communities. "Operations like this highlight the strong alliances that ICE shares with our fellow law enforcement partners. ICE officers and FBI, DEA and ATF agents worked together to arrest a significant number of illegal alien offenders which included at least one child predator. Our partners in the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated a safe and efficient transport of the alien offenders off Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, ensuring the safety of the residents of those communities. ICE and our federal partners made a strong stand for prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our New England neighborhoods." Congressman Bill Keating's office told The Martha's Vineyard Times: "Congressman Keating was made aware of the presence of federal agents on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket today by concerned constituents. "While the specifics of these detentions remain unknown at this time, Congressman Keating encourages any family members of those detained to contact his office so a Congressional inquiry can be submitted to ICE to ensure due process is followed and not, once again, thrown to the wayside." Dukes County Sheriff Bob Ogden said: "We were not informed they would be here." What Happens Next The Trump administration is expected to increase nationwide immigration enforcement operations.
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
2026 Toyota RAV4 To Global Debut Tomorrow, Design Revealed In Teaser
Toyota, the Japanese car maker, has now announced the launch date for its upcoming 2026 RAV4 SUV. Also, the car maker has released several teaser images of the SUV. Toyota has confirmed 21st May for the debut of the RAV4, globally. Toyota has now updated the sixth generation of the RAV4 in terms of mechanics, distinct trims and the overall design. The teaser images of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 suggest that the SUV is based on the brand's "Hammerhead" and gets C-shaped LED headlights, a more muscular hood, a full-width black lightbar that houses tail lights with vertically placed LED, the RAV4 lettering, and more. Toyota RAV4 Interior The Japanese car maker has also confirmed that the SUV will also get an off-road centric iteration that consists of six-spoke black alloy wheels, matt black accents, and a muscular front bumper further adds to the rugged appeal. Also, Toyota will be revealing a sportier variant of the RAV4, that is the GR Sport variant that gets rally-inspired rear wings, sharper bumper elements, and more. The exact interior specs of the Toyota RAV4 have not been specified yet. However, the teaser indicates that the SUV borrows most of the interior elements from its recently launched SUVs, like the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. It is also expected to get features like a larger set of screens, wireless charging, redesigned HVAC controls, and more. Toyota RAV4 Exterior Talking about the powertrain, the Toyota RAV4 is based on the TNGA-K architecture, as previously seen in the Camry. Hence, it will now get space to install a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid unit. It is likely to get three engine options- a 2.5-litre petrol hybrid engine, a 2.5-litre NA petrol engine and a plug-in hybrid engine.
