Showing results 1 - 10 of 42 for the search terms: RAID.
Results for "RAID"
Next Steps, Or Last Steps, for GMD?
09-Nov-2009 12:54 EST |
Related Stories: ABM, Americas - USA, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, Issues - Political, Lobbying
GMD launch, 2001
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The USA’s Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program uses land-based missiles to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in the middle of their flight, outside the atmosphere. The missiles are currently based at 2 sites in the USA: 4 at Vandenberg AFB in California, and 20 (eventually 26) at Fort Greely in Alaska.
The well-known Patriot missiles provide what’s known as terminal-phase defense options, while longer-reach options like the land-based THAAD perform terminal or descent-phase interceptions. Both can be used against intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), but their sensors and flight ranges are best suited to defense against shorter range missiles launched from in-theater. In contrast, GMD is designed to defend against ICBMs. It depends on tracking that begins in the boost phase, in order to allow true mid-course interception attempts in space, before descent or terminal phase options like THAAD and then Patriot would be tried. In order to accomplish that task, GMD missiles must use data feeds from an assortment of long-range sensors, including the naval SBX radar.
GMD’s future is the long term question, given directions set by the new Obama administration. Recent developments include the FY 2010 budget, and the reported closure of several silos in Alaska, due to plumbing problems…
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Raytheon’s Standard Missile Naval Defense Family (updated)
05-Nov-2009 14:30 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Asia - Japan, Australia & S. Pacific, BAE, Boeing, Contracts - Intent, Contracts - Modifications, Europe - France, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Surface-Air, New Systems Tech, Protective Systems - Naval, Raytheon
SM-2 Launch w. AEGIS
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Variants of the SM-2 Standard missile are the USA’s primary fleet defense anti-air weapon, and serve with 13 navies worldwide. The most common variant is the RIM-66K-L/ SM-2 Standard Block IIIB, which entered service in 1998. The Standard family extends far beyond the SM-2 missile, however; several nations still use the SM-1, the SM-3 is rising to international prominence as a missile defense weapon, and the SM-6 program is on track to supplement the SM-2. These missiles are designed to be paired with the AEGIS radar and combat system, but can be employed independently by ships with older or newer radar systems.
DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This article covers each variant in the Standard missile family, several years worth of American and Foreign Military Sales requests and contracts, key events, and the budgetary and technical background that can help put all that in context. New material is indicated in green type.
The latest addition includes a $47.8 million order for engineering and technical services to support the Standard Missile program…
V-22 Osprey: The Multi-Year Program
03-Nov-2009 16:36 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Boeing, Contracts - Modifications, Engines - Aircraft, Europe - E.U., GE, Helicopters & Rotary, Issues - Political, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Policy - Procurement, Rolls Royce, Spotlight articles
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In March 2008, the Bell Boeing Joint Project Office in Amarillo, TX received a $10.4 billion modification that converted the previous advance acquisition contract (N00019-07-C-0001) to a fixed-price-incentive-fee, multi-year contract. The new contract now sits at $10.8 billion, and will be used to buy 141 MV-22 (for USMC) and 31 CV-22 (Air Force Special Operations) Osprey aircraft, plus associated manufacturing tooling to move the aircraft into full production.
The V-22 tilt-rotor program has been beset by controversy throughout its 20-year development period. DID’s “V-22 Osprey: A Flying Shame?” offers a focused look at a number of specific allegations associated with the program, with material from Pentagon test reports, critical reviews, ongoing news reports, and the US military’s responses. Despite these issues, and the emergence of competitive but more conventional compound helicopter technologies like Piasecki’s X-49 Speedhawk and Sikorsky’s X2, the V-22 program continues to move forward. This DID Spotlight article looks at the V-22’s new multi-year purchase contract, associated contracts for key V-22 systems, and program developments that arise after the contract conversion.
The latest developments involve a slew of minor contracts, and a very negative GAO report on the program. Which does nothing to change the program…
Land-Based SM-3s for Israel - and Others
28-Oct-2009 14:42 EDT |
Related Stories: ABM, Americas - USA, Europe - Other, Middle East - Israel, Middle East - Other, Raytheon, Rumours
Land-based SM-3 concept
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In July 2008, Aviation Week reported that the US Missile Defense Agency was considering a land-based variant of the SM-3 Standard missile – largely due to specific requests from Israel.
Israel currently fields the medium range Arrow-2 land-based ABM system, supplemented by Patriot missiles for point defense. The Arrow has performed well in tests, however, and an order for more was placed as recently as February 2008. What could Israel’s rationale be?
DID discusses some possible rationales, and also discusses developments. Which includes a big role for land-based SM-3s in the USA’s future missile defense architecture…
- The SM-3 Option [NEW]
- Israel’s Possible Rationales [updated]
- Updates and Developments [updated]
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Galileo GPS Project Faces More Certain Future
26-Oct-2009 13:48 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - China, Britain/U.K., Budgets, C4ISR, EADS, Europe - E.U., Events, FOCUS Articles, GPS Infrastructure, IT - Cyber-Security, Industry & Trends, Interoperability, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Lobbying, New Systems Tech, Official Reports, Other Corporation, Project Failures, Projections & Assessments, R&D - Contracted, Satellites & Sensors
Galileo concept
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The European Union is cooperating with a number of outside investors to replace the USA’s free Global Positioning System service with an alternative under their own control. In addition to civilian GPS (the Open Service), services to be offered include a paid Commercial Service (with accuracy greater than 1 meter), and a Public Regulated Service (PRS)/ Safety of Life Service (SoL) for use by security authorities (police, military, etc.) and safety-critical transport applications (air-traffic control, automated aircraft landing, etc.). PRS/SoL aims to offer Open Service quality, with added robustness against jamming and the reliable detection of problems within 10 seconds.
Organizational issues and shortfalls in expected progress pushed the “Galileo” project back from its originally intended operational date of 2007 to 2013-14 – and doubts persist in several quarters about its economic model, even as security issues arise regarding China’s COMPASS project. After a public-private partnership model failed to agree among themselves or with the EU’s desired terms, the organization gained initial-stage approval for its plan to finance the program with tax dollars instead of the expected private investments. Political issues were overcome, albeit with some protest, by raiding other EU accounts for over EUR 3 billion (about $5.35 billion) in funds, rather than asking for more money from member states.
The latest set of updates cover developments in Galileo, and in related programs like GIOVE and EGNOS. While the project’s base funding is now more secure, its ability to remain within budget faces issues, as does the expected launch timetable. Recent events may even lead to a smaller Galileo constellation…
C-27As for the Afghan Air Force
01-Oct-2009 12:00 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Contracts - Awards, Finmeccanica, Force Structure, Support & Maintenance, Transport & Utility
G.222/ C-27A
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The Afghanistan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) is just getting to its feet, with about 6 flyable AN-32s and a pair of AN-26 light transport aircraft, about 38 Mi-17 assault transports and Mi-35 attack helicopters combined, and a small fleet of L-39 trainer/ light attack aircraft. Many of its pilots are older men, and ANAAC has not graduated a new pilot since 1992.
An 8-year plan has been drawn up to begin training a new crop of pilots, and expand the air force. The ultimate goal is a force that can support the Afghan Army against al-Qaeda/ Taliban elements that launch raids within the country, or from across the border with Pakistan. Given Afghanistan’s rugged terrain and sparse infrastructure, however, a decision has been made to make tactical transportation of troops and supplies ANACC’s top priority. This explains US NAVAIR’s efforts to secure the Ukrainian AN-32s, which offered familiar technology even though the spares situation is less than ideal.
Now a 3-way deal has been made involving Italy, which will send some of its Alenia G.222 (C-27A) light transports to Afghanistan, after a refurbishment program conducted by Alenia North America. The latest updates include the roll-out of the first refurbished aircraft, and an adjustment contract…
The USA’s RAID Program: Small Systems, Big Surveillance Time
19-Jul-2009 13:49 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Blimps & LTA Craft, Contracts - Awards, Delivery & Task Orders, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Other Equipment - Land, Radars, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, Spotlight articles, Transformation
TCOM 17M RAID Aerostat
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The RAID program is a combination of cameras and surveillance equipment positioned on high towers and aerostats, in order to monitor a wide area around important locations and bases. Aerostats differ from blimps in that blimps are powered, while aerostats are anchored to the ground via a cranked tether that also supplies electrical power. Because the aerostats are not highly pressurized, bullets won’t burst them and they can actually remain buoyant for hours after suffering multiple punctures.
The RAID concept began with a smaller TCOM 17M aerostat as the base platform, instead of the TCOM 71M JLENS aerostats used for cruise missile and air defense. Its sensors were also optimized for battlefield surveillance, rather than JLENS’ focus on powerful air defense radars. The result is a form of survivable and permanent surveillance over key areas that has been deployed to Afghanistan & Iraq. “Aerostats” has actually become something of a misnomer, however – RAID can also be deployed as a tower system, and this “Eagle Eye/ GBOSS” deployment is turning out to be the preferred mode.
Raytheon continues to receive contracts from the US Marine Corps and US Army for new towers, as well as maintenance of existing systems. FLIR Systems is another prominent RAID contractor, who has just received another order…
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High Integrity GPS/ iGPS: Boeing’s Iridium Ace Card
13-Jul-2009 14:42 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Boeing, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, GPS Infrastructure, R&D - Contracted, Satellites & Sensors, Transformation
GPS IIF satellite
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In July 2008, the Pentagon announced that Boeing’s Huntington Beach, CA facility would work on a “High Integrity GPS (Global Positioning System) Technology Concept demonstration,” under a $150+ million contract that runs until January 2011.
The European Space Agency has a similar program called EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), which is the ESA’s interim step until its competing Galileo GPS constellation can be built and deployed. EGNOS uses 3 satellites in geostationary orbit, correlating their information with GPS to improve civilian positioning accuracy from 15 meters to 2 meters. In contrast, the USA’s Office of Naval Research contract aims to leverage an existing commercial constellation: the low-bandwidth Iridium constellation of satellites. If their R&D project succeeds, it will create a GPS service that provides quicker positioning fixes, offers improved accuracy for military M-code users, and is more resistant to jamming and other forms of damage.
What is Iridium? Why is this such an important contract? How does a global satellite phone service end up improving the Global Positioning System? Could this program have important commercial spin-offs? DID offers answers, below…
- The Rise and Folly of Iridium
- HI-GPS: A Starring Role in A Different Global Vision?
- HI-GPS: Theory and Practice
- Contracts and Key Events [NEW]
- Additional Readings covering Iridium, GPS, and related developments [updated]
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Canada Ordering Aerostats and Towers
01-Jul-2009 12:46 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Blimps & LTA Craft, C4ISR, Industry & Trends, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Thales, Warfare - Trends
RAID tower top
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The need for affordable 24/7 surveillance of key areas like bases and geographic chokepoints is a key feature of both modern counterinsurgency, and domestic/ border security. In the USA, this has resulted in programs like Raytheon’s RAID/ GBOSS towers and aerostats, Lockheed Martin’s TARS aerostats along the southern border, and Lockheed Martin PTDS aerostats on the front lines. The same trend can be observed in places like Thailand and in Israel, whose experience has led to export orders in Mexico and India.
In mid-June 2009, the Government of Canada decided to take a similar approach, and order aerostats and surveillance towers for use on the front lines. Instead of awarding contracts to Raytheon or Lockheed Martin, however, the 1st phase of Canada’s Enhanced Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Project awarded a pair of contracts to Thales Systems Canada Inc. (C$ 12.5/ $10.8 million) and Rheinmetall Canada (C$ 13.6/ $11.75 million). The contracts will include supply and delivery of equipment and associated accessories, training, spares, and contractor integrated logistics support.
These awards are small, but there is a definite possibility that Canada’s decision will increase competition in the international military aerostat/surveillance tower market. In both cases, one can expect the awards to feed back into their parent company’s capabilities matrix, with the Canadian subsidiaries positioned as potential global centers of excellence.
Guided Air-Ground Rockets: Program Halts & New Entries
30-Jun-2009 10:57 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Asia - Other, BAE, Contracts - Intent, Design Innovations, Europe - France, Europe - Other, General Dynamics, Industry & Trends, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, Middle East - Other, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, R&D - Private, Raytheon, Rockets, Russia, Sensors & Guidance, Spotlight articles, Thales
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In “Hydra-70 Rockets: From Cutbacks to the Future of Warfare,” Sen. Leahy’s [D-VT] work to keep the Hydra 70mm rocket family alive through special appropriations was discussed, just in time for the Hydras’ potential on the battlefield to rise again. The key was the addition of low-cost precision guidance, which would expand the number of precision weapons carried by helicopters, aircraft, and even UAVs. “APKWS II… Hydra Rockets Enter SDD Phase,” discussed a laser-guided version from BAE, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman that appeared to have the inside track as a precision weapon of choice for helicopters, UAVs, and aircraft. This proved true, and the team won that contract in April 2006.
A lot can change in a couple of years. A lot has. This second attempt at APKWS has seen its program status change, before righting the program with Navy funding. Meanwhile, private development efforts from Lockheed Martin, Thales TDA, and a raft of international partnerships between major defense firms and partners in Korea, the UAE, Canada and Norway, and Israel are introducing new competitors into the precision-guided 70mm rocket space. The latest updates include successful tests of Elbit/ATK’s 70mm GATR system, and of a USMC program to retrofit its larger Zuni rockets…
- APKWS II: To be, or not to be…
- Lockheed Martin: Is this a DAGR I see before me…?
- LOGIR: ”...the heavenly-harnessed team/ Begins his golden progress in the east…”
- Raytheon and the UAE: “Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie…”
- Other Entries: “Come unto these yellow sands….” [updated]
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