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Gulf States Requesting ABM-Capable Systems
19-Nov-2009 16:39 EST |
Related Stories: ABM, Americas - USA, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Force Structure, Industry & Trends, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Surface-Air, Radars, Raytheon, Rumours, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other, Think Tanks, Transformation
Patriot PAC-2
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A 2007 US National Intelligence Assessment [redacted NIE summary] believes Iran’s nuclear program has stopped, but others, including the United Nations and Israel are more skeptical. Intelligence is always a very uncertain and ambiguous exercise, and occasionally features assessments like the infamous NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) whose 1962 judgment was that there were no Soviet missiles in Cuba [1]. Uncertainty creates perceptions of risk, and perceptions of risk lead to behaviors aimed at reducing that risk. Iraq is no longer a missile/WMD threat, Iran’s regular and Revolutionary Guards air forces remain relatively weak, and Iran’s ballistic missiles based on North Korean designs lack accuracy. Still, even a lucky conventional missile could create havoc in some Gulf states if it hit important oil-related infrastructure, or hit the larger and more nebulous target of business confidence.
Arms spending is an incomplete but very concrete way of tracking a state’s real assessment of threats and priorities. It’s becoming clear that Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, have stepped up their defense spending in recent years. Those expenditures cover a range of equipment, but anti-ballistic missile capabilities appear to be rising to the top of the priority list.
In June 2008, over $10 billion worth of December 2007 Patriot missile upgrade requests in the UAE and Kuwait shone a spotlight on the region’s new defense priorities. In December 2008, a multi-billion dollar Patriot missile contract from the UAE seemed to lock in that shift, and Kuwait is proceeding with upgrades to its own Patriot systems. Upgrades that have led to recent contracts, and sales requests…
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Land-Based SM-3s for Israel - and Others
28-Oct-2009 14:42 EDT |
Related Stories: ABM, Americas - USA, Europe - Other, Middle East - Israel, Middle East - Other, Raytheon, Rumours
Land-based SM-3 concept
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In July 2008, Aviation Week reported that the US Missile Defense Agency was considering a land-based variant of the SM-3 Standard missile – largely due to specific requests from Israel.
Israel currently fields the medium range Arrow-2 land-based ABM system, supplemented by Patriot missiles for point defense. The Arrow has performed well in tests, however, and an order for more was placed as recently as February 2008. What could Israel’s rationale be?
DID discusses some possible rationales, and also discusses developments. Which includes a big role for land-based SM-3s in the USA’s future missile defense architecture…
- The SM-3 Option [NEW]
- Israel’s Possible Rationales [updated]
- Updates and Developments [updated]
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Australia’s A$ 450M-600M LAND 17 Artillery Replacement
21-Oct-2009 19:58 EDT |
Related Stories: Asia - Other, Australia & S. Pacific, BAE, Electronics - General, Europe - France, Europe - Other, Force Structure, Guns - Artillery & Mortars, Official Reports, Other Corporation, Other Equipment - Land, Pre-RFP, RFPs, Raytheon, Rumours, Shells & Mortar Rounds, Tanks & Mechanized, Thales, Transformation, Trucks & Transport
Now: M2A2 105mm
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In February 2006, the Australian Government gave first pass approval for the replacement of the ADF’s current 105mm and 155mm artillery pieces with new, more capable, artillery systems that feature improved mobility, protection, range and accuracy. Current systems are all towed, and include the aged 105mm M2A2, the L119 Hamel 105mm Field Gun, and the M198 155mm Howitzer. Options for replacing them include a mix of self-propelled artillery systems and lightweight towed artillery systems under an A$ 450-600 million project known as LAND 17. The project will also examine advanced high precision munitions and a networked command and fire control system.
So, how does this project fit into Australia’s larger defense plans? What’s the expected program timeline? And who are the declared and potential contenders? That matters even more now that the solicitation has been released. DID covers the program, and a number of the confirmed or likely competitors… but one category has now been decided.
- The LAND 17 Program
- LAND 17: Likely Contenders
- Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings & Sources
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Taiwan’s (Un?)Stalled Force Modernization
18-Oct-2009 14:49 EDT |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, Asia - Other, Avionics, Budgets, C4ISR, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Intent, Force Structure, Issues - International, Issues - Political, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Other Corporation, Policy - Procurement, Radars, Raytheon, Rumours, Signals Radio & Wireless, Specialty Aircraft, Support & Maintenance
In November 2005, “Taiwan Orders F-16 Training in USA, But Larger Defense Buys Remain in Limbo” described the gridlock that had hampered key weapons sales of P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, Patriot PAC-3 missiles, and diesel-electric submarines to Taiwan – in some cases, since 1997. The opposition KMT party’s flip-flops and determined stalling tactics eventually created a crisis in US-Taiwan relations, which finally soured to the point that the USA refused a Taiwanese request for F-16C/D aircraft.
That seems to have brought things to a head. Most of the budget and political issues were eventually sorted out, and after a long delay, some major elements of Taiwan’s requested modernization program appear to be moving forward: P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, Patriot missile upgrades; and requests for AH-64D attack helicopters, E-2 AWACS planes, and missiles for defense against aircraft, ships, and tanks. These are must-have capabilities when facing a Chinese government that has vowed to take the country by force, and is building an extensive submarine fleet, a large array of ballistic missiles, an upgraded fighter fleet, and a number of amphibious-capable divisions.
Chinese pressure continues to stall some of Taiwan’s important upgrades, including diesel-electric submarines and American fighter jets. Meanwhile, upgrades to its Patriot air and missile defense systems continue…
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Pilum High: The Javelin Anti-Armor Missile
08-Oct-2009 16:40 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Australia & S. Pacific, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Intent, Contracts - Modifications, FOCUS Articles, Field Innovations, Field Reports, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Anti-Armor, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, Warfare - Lessons, Warfare - Trends
Javelin, firing
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After a series of disastrous experiences in Vietnam trying to use 66mm M72 LAW rockets against old Soviet tanks, the US military developed a renewed seriousness about giving its soldiers shoulder-fired weapons that packed enough punch to face down enemy armor. A number of options like the Mk 153 SMAW and the AT4/M136 spun out of that effort in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until electronics had miniaturized for several more cycles that it became possible to solve the next big problem: the need for soldiers to remain exposed to enemy fire while guiding anti-tank missiles to their targets.
Javelin solves both of those problems at once, offering a heavy fire-and-forget missile that will reliably destroy any enemy armored vehicle, and many fortifications as well. While armored threats are less pressing these days, the need to destroy fortified outposts and rooms in buildings remains. Indeed, one of the lessons from both sides of the 2006 war in Lebanon has been the infantry’s use of guided missiles as a form of precision artillery fire.
Javelin is not an ideal candidate for that latter role due to its high cost-per-unit; nevertheless, it has often been used this way. Its performance in Iraq has revealed a clear niche on both low and high intensity battlefields, and led to rising popularity with international and American clients. This DID FOCUS Article covers the Javelin anti-armor missile system, and associated contracts and key events. The latest items include a $200+ million contract for more Javelin systems…
Timely Defenders: Keeping Patriots in Shape
08-Oct-2009 13:10 EDT |
Related Stories: ABM, Americas - USA, Asia - Japan, Asia - Other, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, Middle East - Other, Other Corporation, Radars, Raytheon
Patriot system
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DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. The USA’s Patriot anti-air missile system offers an advanced backbone for medium-range air defense, and short-range ballistic missile defense, to America and its allies. This article covers domestic and foreign request and contracts for Patriot systems. It also compiles information about the engineering service contracts that upgrade these systems, integrate them with others, and ensure that they continue to work.
The Patriot missile franchise’s future appears assured. At present, 12 nations have chosen it as a key component of their air and missile defense systems: the USA, Germany, Greece, Japan, Israel, Kuwait, The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan and the UAE. Poland, Qatar, and Turkey have all indicated varying levels of interest, and some existing customers are looking to upgrade their systems.
New material is in green type to make it more visible. The latest additions to our coverage include a continued effort to improve performance and efficiency in supplying spare parts, and the last engineering services contract of FY 2009…
JLTV: Hummer v2.0, or MRAP Lite?
06-Oct-2009 09:11 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, Design Innovations, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Finmeccanica, General Dynamics, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Partnerships & Consortia, R&D - Contracted, R&D - Private, Raytheon, T&C - SAIC
Ultra APV demonstrator
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In an age of non-linear warfare, where front lines are nebulous at best and non-existent at worst, one of the biggest casualties is the concept of unprotected rear echelon vehicles that do not need to be designed for combat. That imperative is being driven home on 2 fronts. One front is operational. The other front is buying trends.
These trends, and their design imperatives, found their way into the USA’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program, which aims to replace many of the US military’s 120,000 or so Hummers as its main tactical vehicle in combat zones. The military’s goal is a 7-10 ton vehicle that’s lighter than the MRAPs and easier to transport aboard ship, while offering substantially improved protection over existing up-armored Hummers. They’d also like a vehicle that can address front-line issues like power generation, in order to recharge all of the batteries troops require for electronic gadgets like night sights, GPS devices, etc. The end of October 2008 saw 3 contract awards out of 7 qualifying submissions, which will be developed over the next 27 months into rival designs for the JLTV’s systems design and development phase.
DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. JLTV certainly qualifies, though its future remains cloudy due to expected spending cutbacks and the possible presence of “good enough” substitutes. Recent updates include Australia’s continued participation, India’s interest, and a progress report…
DARPA’s Vulture: What Goes Up, Needn’t Come Down
30-Sep-2009 13:30 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Awards, DARPA, Design Innovations, Materials Innovations, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, R&D - Contracted, Transformation, UAVs
Boeing’s concept
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In April 2008, 3 teams received Phase 1 contracts to begin developing develop a radical new aircraft, under a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program known as “Vulture.” DARPA’s goals for Vulture are not trivial: 5 years on station with a 450kg/ 1,000lb payload, 5kW of onboard power, and sufficient loiter speed to stay on station for 99% of the time against winds encountered at 60,000-90,000 feet.
So, what’s the significance of a platform like that, who is competing, and what is happening now? Well, Phase 1 is done, and a $155 million Phase 2 is being prepared.
- The Potential, and the Process
- The Designers & The Designs
- Contracts and Related Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
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Australia’s 2009 Defense White Paper
23-Sep-2009 07:30 EDT |
Related Stories: Air Reconnaissance, Australia & S. Pacific, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Intent, Fighters & Attack, Force Structure, Forces - Special Ops, Helicopters & Rotary, IT - Cyber-Security, IT - General, IT - Networks & Bandwidth, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Missiles - Anti-Armor, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, Missiles - Surface-Air, Non-Lethal Weapons, Official Reports, Policy - Procurement, Power Projection, R&D - Contracted, Satellites & Sensors, Signals Intercept, Cryptography, etc., Soldier's Gear, Specialty Aircraft, Submarines, Surface Ships - Combat, Surface Ships - Other, Tanks & Mechanized, Think Tanks, Transport & Utility, Trucks & Transport, UAVs, UUVs & USVs
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Defense was an issue in the last Australian election. The center-left Labor Party attacked the center-right Liberal Party by citing mismanaged projects, and accusing the Howard government of making poor choices on key defense platforms like the F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A Joint Strike fighters. That sniping continued even after Labor won the election, and has been evident in more than a few Defence Ministry releases.
The new government made some program changes, such as canceling the SH-2G Seasprite contract. Yet it has been more notable for the programs it has not changed: problematic upgrades of Australia’s Oliver Hazard Perry frigates were continued, the late purchase of F/A-18F Super Hornets was ratified rather than canceled, and observers waited for the real shoe to drop: the government’s promised 2009 Defence White Paper, which would lay out Australia’s long-term strategic assessments, and procurement plans.
On May 2/09, Australia’s government released “Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030.” DID has reviewed that document, and the reaction to date… including a new ASPI roundup of reactions from around Asia.
- Fast Incoming
- The Highlight Reel
- Additional Readings & Assessments [updated]
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Jordan Submits $220M Weapons Wish List to USA
17-Sep-2009 16:49 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, Contracts - Intent, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Precision Attack, Other Corporation, Raytheon, Rockets, Signals Radio & Wireless, Tanks & Mechanized, Trucks & Transport
M142 HIMARS
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Long-time US Middle East ally Jordan has submitted [PDF] an impressive wish list of weapons for its armed forces to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The list includes rocket launchers, radios, and Humvees.
DSCA said that weapons Jordan wants to buy will provide its armed forces with a long-range precision artillery support capability that will significantly improve US-Jordan interoperability and provide for the defense of vital installations.
What exactly is Jordan looking for?...
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