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Results for "jassm"
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: 2009-2010
18-Nov-2009 18:38 EST |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, BAE, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, ECM, Electronics - General, Engines - Aircraft, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Fighters & Attack, Finmeccanica, GE, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Lobbying, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, Northrop-Grumman, Official Reports, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Policy - Procurement, R&D - Contracted, Radars, Rumours, Security & Secrecy, Sensors & Guidance, Testing & Evaluation, Transformation
F-35A: incoming…
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The F-35 Lightning II is a major multinational program which is intended to produce an “affordably stealthy” multi-role strike fighter that will have three variants: the F-35A conventional version for the US Air Force et. al.; the F-35B Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing for the US Marines, British Royal Navy, et. al.; and the F-35C conventional carrier-launched version for the US Navy. The aircraft is named after Lockheed’s famous WW2 P-38 Lightning, and the Mach 2, stacked-engine English Electric (now BAE) Lightning jet. System development partners included The USA & Britain (Tier 1), Italy and the Netherlands (Tier 2), and Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Turkey (Tier 3), with Singapore and Israel as “Security Cooperation Partners.” Now the challenge is agreeing on production phase membership and arrangements, to be followed by initial purchase commitments around 2008-2009.
This updated article has expanded to feature more detail regarding the $300 billion F-35 program, including other contracts as well as notable events. New material is highlighted by putting it in green type. Recent news include an investigation by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram into JET’s conclusions regarding program delays, Lockheed Martin’s response, and a Rolls Royce contract for production LiftSystem engine modules…
Ships Ahoy! The Harpoon Missile Family
22-Sep-2009 09:21 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Asia - Japan, Asia - Other, Boeing, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Modifications, FOCUS Articles, Middle East - Israel, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, New Systems Tech, Sensors & Guidance
Harpoon in flight
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The sub-sonic, wave-skimming *GM-84 Harpoon is the US Navy’s sole anti-shipping missile, with the minor exception of small AGM-119B Penguin missiles and anti-tank Hellfires carried on some H-60 helicopters. The Harpoon has been adapted into several variants, and exported to a wide variety of world navies. Its best known competitor is the French/MBDA *M39/40 Exocet, but recent years have witnessed a growing competitive roster at both the subsonic (Israel’s Gabriel family, Russia’s SS-N-27 Klub family, Saab’s RBS15, Kongsberg’s stealthy NSM, China’s YJ-82/C-802 used recently in Lebanon) and supersonic (Russia’s SS-N-22 Sunburn/Moskit and some SS-N-27 Klub variants, India’s PJ-10 BrahMos derived from Russia’s SS-N-26) levels.
At present, the Harpoon family includes air, sea/land, and submarine-launched versions of the GM-84 missile. Variants such as the land attack SLAM variant and the modern AGM-84K Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) will also be covered in this DID FOCUS Article, which describes the missiles themselves and covers global contracts involving this family since Oct 1/06.
The most recent additions involve the reported cancellation of the US Navy’s Harpoon Block III program, and land target tests for SLAM-ER and Harpoon Block II…
THAAD: Reach Out and Touch Ballistic Missiles (updated)
20-Aug-2009 08:18 EDT |
Related Stories: ABM, Americas - USA, BAE, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, FOCUS Articles, Lockheed Martin, New Systems Tech, R&D - Contracted, Raytheon
THAAD: In flight
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The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is a long-range, land-based theater defense weapon that acts as the upper tier of a basic 2-tiered defense against ballistic missiles. It’s designed to intercept missiles during late mid-course or final stage flight, flying at high altitudes within and even outside the atmosphere. This allows it to provide broad area coverage against threats to critical assets such as population centers and industrial resources as well as military forces, hence its previous “theater (of operations) high altitude area defense” designation.
This capability makes THAAD different from a Patriot PAC-3 or the future MEADS system, which are point defense options with limited range that are designed to hit a missile or warhead just before impact. The SM-3 Standard missile is a far better comparison, but the SM-3 is a naval counterpart and could offer positioning advantages or disadvantages depending on the area to be defended. An ideal multi-layered anti-ballistic missile system should have both land and naval options, as well as theater-level and point defenses backed by a 3rd tier of longer ranged midcourse-defense missiles (q.v. GBI) and/or space-based weapons that can hit the missile during its boost phase.
This is DID’s FOCUS article covering the THAAD system, and newer items will be indicated in green type as a reader convenience. The latest news involves potential changes to THAAD that could make it much more competitive with Raytheon’s new land-based SM-3 offering…
Australia’s A$ 1B+ P3 Accord Support Program
30-Jul-2009 14:12 EDT |
Related Stories: Australia & S. Pacific, Avionics, Coastal & Littoral, EADS, ECM, Missiles - Precision Attack, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Procurement Innovations, Project Management, Project Methodologies, Project Successes, Public Partnering, Sensors & Guidance, Specialty Aircraft, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other, Underwater Weapons
AP-3C over Darwin
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In November 2005, the Australian Government, Tenix Defence and Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace (AA) have signed the P3 Accord Master Agreement to provide capability upgrades and Through Life Support (TLS) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The three parties have established a Joint Management Office (JMO) to supervise all Accord activities under a unique risk-sharing contractual arrangement. The JMO will develop and implement all RAAF AP-3C capability upgrades and TLS solutions through to the aircraft’s planned withdrawal date – at which point it will likely be replaced by the 737-based AP-8A MMA.
The combined value of the TLS and block upgrades to the aircraft is expected to be more than A$ 1 billion, and the project is moving on to a new phase – even as some of the efforts that led to the most recent announcement win Australian awards…
- Australia’s AP-3C Programs [updated]
- The AP-3 Accord
- AP-3 Accord Updates [updated]
Continue reading…
NextiraOne Federal Gets $9.8M Contract to Upgrade White Sands Network
28-Jun-2009 12:23 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Delivery & Task Orders, General Dynamics, IT - Cyber-Security, IT - Networks & Bandwidth, IT - Software & Integration, Other Corporation, Signals Radio & Wireless, T&C - SAIC
JASSM test, White Sands
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The U.S. Army Contracting Agency Information Technology, e-Commerce and Commercial Contracting Center awarded to NextiraOne Federal (dba Black Box Network Services) in Herndon, VA a $9.8 million task order to upgrade and expand the voice switching environment at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The task order was awarded under a 5-year indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity infrastructure modernization (IMOD) contract awarded in 2006 under the Installation Infrastructure Modernization Program (I3MP).
DID has more on the NextiraOne Federal contract as well as information on other recipients of the IMOD contracts…
Continue reading…
2009: AGM-158 JASSM Faces Cancellation - Again
21-May-2009 18:37 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Budgets, Issues - Political, Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Precision Attack, New Systems Tech, Raytheon, Testing & Evaluation
AGM-158 JASSM
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Lockheed Martin’s AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) was intended as a stealthy, inexpensive cruise missile that would let American aircraft attack well-defended targets – without putting themselves in the crosshairs of new long-range surface to air missile systems. The missile has been produced in quantity, and chosen by Australia.
It has also enjoyed a very rocky development history. In October 2005, “JASSM/ No Ma’am – Which Will It Be?” covered threatened cancellation of the program, following a series of poor test results. In November 2007, “UPI & The JASSM Debate” covered the program’s ongoing roller coaster of ups and downs, as it reported on sharp media criticism and Lockheed Martin’s substantive reply to it. Now Reuters reports that the program is facing cancellation once again, in the wake of FY 2010 budget cuts that left only $82.2 million in funding to address reliability issues.
JSOW-ER, rear
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While the JASSM program was continued on the basis of military necessity, an alternative has emerged. Raytheon’s AGM-154 JSOW precision glide bomb has become a big success, adding new capabilities and new variants over time. A new AGM-154C-1-ER version adds a flush inlet to preserve its radar signature, and a small turbojet taken from their MALD decoy, in order to extend its range to 300 nautical miles/ 575 km. The JSOW-ER is considered to be less stealthy than JASSM, but it has definitely positioned itself as a reliable low-budget competitor, and a “good enough” alternative if JASSM fails.
Norwegian Contracts Launch NSM Missile
28-Apr-2009 17:55 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Europe - Other, Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Testing & Evaluation
NSM test launch
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“Lockheed & Kongsberg Partner to Bring NSM to JSF” covered Kongsberg’s stealthy new Naval Strike Missile (Nytt SjomalsMissil), which continues its development and testing program. NSM has definite market potential as an internal carriage option for nations buying the F-35 Lightning II, but this long-range complement to their popular Penguin short-range anti-ship missile also had a more immediate option closer to home. Norway intends to deploy them as ship-launched missiles for their Skjold Class ground-effect catamarans, and eventually for their new Fridjof Nansen Class AEGIS frigates as well.
The market for anti-ship missiles is a crowded one. Aside from a bevy of Russian subsonic and supersonic offerings, naval buyers can choose Boeing’s BGM-84 Harpoon, China’s YJ-82/C-802 Saccade, MBDA’s Exocet, Otomat, or Marte; RAFAEL of Israel’s Gabriel, Saab’s RBS15, and more. Despite an ongoing shift toward supersonic missiles, Kongsberg chose not to go that route. So, how do they expect to be competitive in a crowded market?
Continue reading…
Finland to Buy Cruise Missiles for its Hornets
08-Apr-2009 14:59 EDT |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, Contracts - Intent, EADS, Europe - Other, Fighters & Attack, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Missiles - Precision Attack, Other Corporation
Spanish EF-18 w. Taurus
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In 2007, Finland wanted Lockheed Martin’s stealthy AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles, in order to arm its F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters. Despite a history of good relations, the US State Department said no. Fast forward to 2008. The Russian invasion of Georgia, and Germany’s response, upset more than a few calculations in the region. As NATO weakens, the Nordic nations appear to be moving toward an informal defense compact of their own. Finland, whose memories of Russian invasion are still vivid, is repeating its request for stealthy cruise missiles – and if America says no this time, an alternative buy waits in the wings.
April 1/09: Finnish media report that the government’s financial affairs committee has given the go-ahead for EUR 200 million in upgrades and new equipment for the nation’s 67 F/A-18 C/D Hornets, as part of a EUR 1 billion plan to update the entire fleet by 2016. That approval includes a second request for American JASSM missiles, with Finland’s Patria Oyj acting as the integrator under associated industrial cooperation deals.
Finnish officials are reportedly optimistic that this request will be approved. If not, however, papers obtained by YLE indicated that KEPD’s Taurus 350 would be Finland’s secondary choice. KEPD is a partnership of EADS LFK, MBDA, and Saab Bofors Dynamics, and the Taurus missile has already been integrated with Spanish F/A-18 Hornets.
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Events & Contracts 2007-08 (updated)
17-Dec-2008 13:31 EST |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Australia & S. Pacific, Avionics, BAE, Bases & Infrastructure, Bombs - Smart, Britain/U.K., Budgets, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, Engines - Aircraft, Europe - Other, Events, FOCUS Articles, Fighters & Attack, Guns - 20-59 mm direct, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Lobbying, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Official Reports, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Policy - Procurement, Project Management, R&D - Contracted, Radars, Support & Maintenance, Think Tanks, Transformation
F-35A AA-1
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The F-35 Lightning II is a major multinational program which is intended to produce an “affordably stealthy” multi-role strike fighter that will have three variants: the F-35A conventional version for the US Air Force et. al.; the F-35B Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing for the US Marines, British Royal Navy, et. al.; and the F-35C conventional carrier-launched version for the US Navy. The aircraft is named after Lockheed’s famous WW2 P-38 Lightning, and the Mach 2, stacked-engine English Electric (now BAE) Lightning jet. System development partners included The USA & Britain (Tier 1), Italy and the Netherlands (Tier 2), and Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Turkey (Tier 3). Now the challenge is agreeing on production phase buys, with initial purchase commitments expected around 2008-2009. Export interest is also beginning to stir in a number of quarters, even though full testing will not be complete until 2014.
DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This updated article has expanded to feature more detail regarding the $300 billion F-35 program, including details regarding the different F-35 variants, associated contracts for the aircraft, and notable events on the bumpy road toward stable production. New material is in green type. Recent additions include a sharp response from Saab re: the Norwegian competition, noise issues spreading to the Netherlands, and an engine contract between Pratt & Whitney and Rolls Royce…
Korea’s F-X Multi-Role Fighter Buy, Phase 2: The Race is Over
29-Jul-2008 14:40 EDT |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, Asia - Other, BAE, Boeing, Britain/U.K., EADS, Europe - France, Europe - Other, Fighters & Attack, Force Structure, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Lobbying, Lockheed Martin, Other Corporation, Pre-RFP, Russia
Strike Eagle w. SLAM-ERs
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Back in 2002, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) selected the F-15K advanced derivative of the F-15E Strike Eagle for its Next Generation Fighter Program. Under that $3.6 billion contract, Boeing will deliver 40 aircraft to the ROKAF beginning in 2006 and ending in August 2008. South Korea’s 2-seat F-15K Strike Eagles will be the first F-15s produced with the GE F110 engine common on many US F-16C/D aircraft, and they will also carry the SLAM-ER missile as their medium-range precision strike weapon. F-15Ks will not be equipped with the AESA radars found on some US F-15Cs and Singapore’s forthcoming F-15SGs, however, relying instead on the AN/APG-63(v1) radar upgrade developed in the 1990s for American Strike Eagles. See this RealVideo clip of the first F-15K in flight.
In May 2006, the Korean Overseas Information Service said that the ROKAF would purchase another 20 F-15K multi-role aircraft beginning in 2009 – but that report has since been qualified, debated, and finally superseded. Under the second phase of the F-X next-generation warplane procurement project, South Korea’s military plans to purchase 20 multi-role fighters via open bidding, with an investment of about 2.3 trillion won (currently about $2.4 billion). Things haven’t quite gone as hoped, however: the F-35 was excluded for having incompatible timelines, Dassault and Sukhoi didn’t attend the DAPA presentation after being named as candidates, then Eurofighter pulled out, leaving Boeing as the only submission.
DAPA has put out a second request for tenders in response, and Boeing was the only respondent. They closed the deal in April 2008, leaving only the ancillary contracts up for grabs. Northrop Grumman has just confirmed a contract for electronic warfare systems…
