Showing results 1 - 10 of 62 for the search terms: litening.
Results for "litening"
A Higher-Tech Hog: USAF A-10C Upgrades and Refurbishments
16-Nov-2009 09:06 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Avionics, BAE, Boeing, Bombs - Smart, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, FOCUS Articles, Field Reports, Fighters & Attack, Lockheed Martin, Other Corporation, Sensors & Guidance, Warfare - Lessons
A-10 over Germany
(click to view full)
The Precision Engagement modification is the largest single upgrade effort ever undertaken for the USA’s unique A-10 “Warthog” close air support aircraft fleet. While existing A/OA-10 aircraft continue to outperform technology-packed rivals on the battlefield, this set of upgrades is expected to make them more flexible, and help keep the aircraft current until the fleet’s planned phase-out in 2028. When complete, A-10C PE will give USAF A-10s precision strike capability sooner than planned, combining multiple upgrade requirements into one time and money-saving program, rather than executing them as standalone projects. Indeed, the USAF accelerated the PE program by 9 months as a result of its experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the PE program, and for other modifications to the A-10 fleet. It covers the A-10’s battlefield performance and advantages, the elements of the PE program, other planned modifications, related refurbishment efforts to keep the fleet in the air, and the contracts that have been issued each step of the way.
In the latest updates, the A-10C program’s $2 billion re-winging effort became a higher priority, as wing cracking became a problem for the entire A-10 fleet. Now a longer-term $1.7 billion general maintenance contract for the fleet has been issued to 3 firms, per new defense acquisition rules, and contracts are begining to flow…
Malaysia Receives its SU-30MKMs, Replaces MiG-29s Early
09-Nov-2009 09:47 EST |
Related Stories: Africa, Asia - India, Asia - Other, Avionics, Contracts - Awards, ECM, Europe - France, Fighters & Attack, Force Structure, Issues - International, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Russia, Sensors & Guidance
Malaysian SU-30MKM
(click to view larger)
On May 24/07, a rollout and demonstration ceremony was held for the first 2 Su-30MKM fighters for the Royal Malaysan Airforce (RMAF) at Russia’s Irkutsk Aviation plant. Malaysia flies the F/A-18D Hornet, and was offered Boeing’s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, but chose the SU-30MKM instead. Their fighter fleet will now consist of R/F-5E/F Tiger IIs (to be phased out), F/A-18D Hornets, MiG-29 Fulcrums (until 2010), and SU-30MKMs. The results from their internal training air combat exercises would be interesting, to say the least.
The original $900 million contract was signed with Irkut Corp. in August 2003, and involves 18 SU-30MKMs. Canards, stabilizers and fins will be manufactured by India’s HAL Nasik under a $25-30 million value subcontract. According to the contracts in place, Irkut was to deliver all aircraft by the end of 2008, but that hasn’t happened yet. Delivery of the final batch is ongoing.
The SU-30MKM is an advanced variant, whose performance involves considerable improvements over SU-30MK/MKK fighters. Malaysia also hopes its maintenance will be an improvement over the MiG-29Ns it has to phase out – and may be about to turn to China for help…
- The SU-30MKM
- The Malaysia Deal: Offsets & Updates [updated]
- Additional Readings
Continue reading…
Switzerland Replacing its F-5s?
09-Nov-2009 07:25 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, Boeing, Budgets, Contracts - Intent, EADS, Europe - France, Europe - Other, Fighters & Attack, Force Structure, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Project Successes, Specialty Aircraft
Swiss F-5Es
(click to view full)
The F-5E/F Tiger II was a follow-on upgrade to the wildly successful F-5 Freedom Fighter, a low-budget aircraft designed to capture the lower tier of the non-Soviet global fighter market in the 1960s and 1970s. A number of countries still operate F-5s, but the airframes are very old. The Swiss bought 72 F-5E/F fighters in 1976, and another 38 in 1981, for a total of 110 (98 single-seat F5E, 12 two-seat F-5F). Switzerland currently flies about 54 F-5s; A squadron of 12 were leased to Austria while they await their Eurofighters, and 44 others were sold to the US Navy.
While F-5 owners like Brazil, Chile, Thailand, et . al. have opted for comprehensive refurbishment and upgrades, Switzerland is looking to replace 3 of its 5 Tiger II squadrons with new aircraft under its Tiger-Teilersatz TTE program. The new fighters will partner with the 3 squadrons of upgraded F/A-18C/D Hornets that make up the rest of its fighter fleet. An initial evaluation RFP has been issued to 4 contenders, but Boeing’s withdrawal means the selection is now down to Sweden’s Gripen, France’s Rafale, or EADS’ Eurofighter.
Testing is now complete, and armasuisse has issued its 2nd and final RFP. Left-wing opponents of any military in Switzerland are working hard to derail the purchase, and like the 1993 F/A-18 sale, this purchase will face a national referendum. If it isn’t canceled by the Cabinet first. So far, however, the program is moving forward, and final bids have now been submitted…
- The Competition [updated]
- The Competitors
- Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
Continue reading…
Israeli Plans to Buy F-35s Hitting Obstacles, Moving Forward
05-Nov-2009 09:48 EST |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, Contracts - Intent, ECM, Fighters & Attack, Helicopters & Rotary, Issues - Political, Lobbying, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, New Systems Tech, Rumours, Support Functions - Other, Transport & Utility, United Technologies
F-16B & X-35
(click to view full)
In an exclusive June 2006 interview, Israeli Air Force (IAF) chief procurement officer Brigadier-General Ze’ev Snir told Israel’s Globes publication that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was a key part of their IAF recapitalization plans, and that Israel intends to buy over 100 of the fighters to replace their F-16s over time. A 100-plane deal would have cost at least $5 billion under Israel’s original estimates, and would involve the F-35A conventional take-off Air Force version. Snir added that:
“The IAF would be happy to equip itself with 24 F-22s but the problem at this time is the US refusal to sell the plane, and its $200 million price tag.”
Unfortunately, Israel’s September 2008 request for its first 75 F-35s would end up costing them an estimated $15 billion – or about $200 million per plane. All in return for a fighter with poorer air-to-air performance than the F-22, and less stealth. The necessary contract must deal with that sticker shock, and with issues like the incorporation of Israeli technologies, before it can be signed. The latest news is that Israel may forego its own weapons and technologies, in order to curtail a $130 million price tag – and may decide to delay its F-35 purchase by 2 years…
- F-35 for Israel: Key Issues
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
Continue reading…
Morocco’s Air Force Reloads (updated)
29-Oct-2009 17:30 EDT |
Related Stories: Africa, Alliances, Americas - USA, Avionics, Boeing, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, ECM, Europe - France, Events, Fighters & Attack, Force Structure, GE, General Dynamics, Guns - 20-59 mm direct, Issues - Environmental, L3 Communications, Lobbying, Lockheed Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Policy - Procurement, Protective Systems - Aircraft, Radars, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, Signals Radio & Wireless, Specialty Aircraft, Spotlight articles, United Technologies
French Mirage F1s
(click to view full)
Morocco’s combat air force currently flies 2 squadrons of old F-5s, and 2 squadrons of only slightly newer Mirage F1s; T-37 light jets serve as key transitional trainers. Their neighbor and rival Algeria flies MiG-23s of similar vintage, but the Force Aerienne Algerienne also flies SU-24 Fencer and SU-25 Frogfoot strike aircraft, even more modern and capable MiG-29s, and is set to receive multi-role SU-30MKs as part of a multi-billion dollar weapons deal with Russia.
Morocco can’t beat that array. Instead, they’re looking for replacement aircraft that will prevent complete overmatch, and provide a measure of security. Initially, they looked to France. France’s Rafale is part of a set of European 4+ generation fighters that were developed and fielded during the 1990s-early 21st century, with the aim of surpassing existing offerings among America’s “teen series” fighters, as well as Russia’s Mig-29 Fulcrum and SU-27/30 Flanker family. “Dogfight at the Casbah: Rafale vs. F-16” discussed the French sales slip-ups that cost Dassault its first export order for the 4+ generation fighter. That outcome is now official.
Just to make things worse, the final multi-billion dollar deal involves new-build F-16s, at a price comparable to the rumored figures for the Rafale. Not to mention an accompanying American deal to replace Morocco’s T-37 trainer fleet with T-6Cs, and contracts for air-launched weapons, targeting pods, and C-27J short-haul transports. The latest development includes a DSCA request for CH-47D helicopters…
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Why The F-16? DID Analysis – Dec. 2007
- Additional Readings
Continue reading…
JDAM: A GPS-INS Add-on Adds Accuracy to Airstrikes
28-Oct-2009 15:45 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Boeing, Bombs - Smart, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Issues - International, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, New Systems Tech, Official Reports, Other Corporation, Project Successes, R&D - Contracted, Support & Maintenance, Transformation, Warfare - Lessons
B-2 drops JDAM
(click to view full)
DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. The DID FOCUS Article looks at the transformational history of the JDAM GPS-guided bomb program, the ongoing efforts to bring its capabilities up to the level of weapons like Israel’s Spice and Raytheon’s Enhanced Paveway, and the contracts issued under the JDAM program and its derivatives.
Precision bombing has been a significant military goal since the invention of the Norden bomb sight in the 1920s, but its application remained elusive. Over 30 years later, in Vietnam, the destruction of a single target could require 300 bombs, which meant sending an appropriate number of fighters or bombers into harm’s way to deliver them. Even the 1991 Desert Storm war with Iraq featured unguided munitions for the most part; the US Air Force did use some laser and TV-guided weapons like Paveway bombs and Maverick missiles, but they were very expensive and only effective in good weather. If precision bombing was finally to become a reality throughout the Air Force, a new approach would be needed.
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) became that alternative, an engine of military transformation that was also a model of procurement transformation. The latest news involves FY 2009-2010 budget updates, plus a $72 million contract for 2,925 JDAM kits…
$5.1B Proposed in Sales, Upgrades, Weapons for Pakistan’s F-16s
19-Oct-2009 08:43 EDT |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Asia - India, Avionics, BAE, Boeing, Bombs - General, Bombs - Smart, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, ECM, Fighters & Attack, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Air-Air, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Radars, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, Spotlight articles, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other, United Technologies
PAF F-16A drops Mk.82s
(click to view full)
On June 28/06, the US DSCA notified Congress via a series of releases of its intention to provide Pakistan with a $5.1 billion Foreign Military Sales package to upgrade the F-16s that serve as the PAF’s top of the line fighters. Some of these items had been put on hold following the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan & Kashmir, but the request for 36 new F-16 Block 50/52s is now going ahead following the required 30-day review period, along with new weapons, engine modifications, 60 F-16 upgrade kits that would cover Pakistan’s older F-16 A/Bs plus other aircraft it might buy second-hand, and related equipment.
These items are detailed below, along with controversies the proposed sales have created, and some of the conditions attached to the sale by the US government. By the end of July 2008, Pakistan was expected to have its first 10 planes. The first new-build F-16, on the other hand, just had its acceptance ceremony this month…
Egypt to Spend up to $3.2B Adding to F-16C/D Fleet
15-Oct-2009 18:41 EDT |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, Avionics, BAE, Boeing, Contracts - Intent, ECM, Electronics - General, Engines - Aircraft, Equipment - Other, Fighters & Attack, GE, GPS Infrastructure, Guns - 20-59 mm direct, Issues - International, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Northrop-Grumman, Protective Systems - Aircraft, Radars, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, Support Functions - Other, United Technologies
Egyptian Air Force F-16D
(click to view full)
The Egyptian government wants to buy 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft, associated parts, weapons, and equipment to modernize its air force. The request, made Oct 9/09 through the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to Congress, could be worth as much as $3.2 billion to Lockheed Martin and the other contractors involved.
The Egyptian Air Force is the 4th largest F-16 operator in the world, mustering about 195 aircraft of 220 ordered. Their overall fighter fleet is a mix of high-end F-16s and Mirage 2000s, low-end Chinese F-7s (MiG-21 copy) bought from the Chinese, a few F-4 Phantom II jets, and upgraded but very aged Soviet MiG-21s and French Mirage 5s.
The formal request comes a few months after the Obama administration conveyed to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak its support for Egypt’s long-standing request to buy the Block 50/52 aircraft…
Continue reading…
Korea’s T-50 Spreads Its Wings
24-Sep-2009 18:20 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Other, Budgets, Contracts - Awards, Design Innovations, Europe - Other, Fighters & Attack, Industry & Trends, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Project Successes, Public Partnering, Radars, Rumours, Specialty Aircraft, Testing & Evaluation, Training & Exercises
T-50 Golden Eagle
(click to view full)
Korea’s defense industry is advancing on all fronts these days. On the armored vehicle front, vehicles like the XK2 tank and K9/K10 self propelled howitzer are beginning to win export orders, and its XK-21/KNIFV amphibious infantry fighting vehicle may not be too far behind. All fill key market niches, promising performance at a comparatively inexpensive price. Its shipbuilding industry, one of the world’s busiest, is beginning to turn out LHDs, and December 2008 saw its first-of-class KDX-III AEGIS destroyer accepted into service on time and on budget. Now its aerospace industry is in flight abroad with the already-exported KT-1 trainer. Not to mention a clever entry into an incipient market.
Enter the T-50 Golden Eagle family, which offers a supersonic high-end trainer and light fighter aircraft at an attractive price. The aircraft is hitting the international market just as many of the world’s jet training fleets are reaching ages of 30 years or more, and high-end fighters are pricing themselves out of reach for many countries. The TA-50 LIFT variant and F/A-50 lightweight fighter are especially attractive as lightweight export fighters, and the ROKAF’s own F-5E/F Tiger II and F-4 Phantom fighters are more than due for replacement.
Weapons export and corporate issues have now been resolved, and a contract to produce the F/A-50 is underway. So, too, is a major new radar contract to equip them…
The UAE’s F-16 Block 60 Desert Falcon Fleet
25-Aug-2009 06:22 EDT |
Related Stories: Alliances, Americas - USA, Boeing, Bombs - General, Bombs - Smart, Conferences & Events, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Fighters & Attack, GE, General Dynamics, Guns - 20-59 mm direct, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Air-Air, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon, Simulation & Training, Support & Maintenance
F-16F “Desert Falcon”
(click to view full)
The F-16 has become what its designers intended it to be: a worthy successor to the legendary P-51 Mustang whose principles of visibility, agility, and pilot-friendliness informed its design. It is no exaggeration to call it the defining fighter of its age, the plane that many people around the world think of when they think “fighter.” The aircraft’s ability to handle future adversaries like the thrust-vectoring MiG-29OVT/35 and advanced surface-air missile systems is in question, but upgrades have kept F-16s popular. The planes have been produced in several countries around the world, thanks to licensing agreements, but this does not change their status as the American defense industry’s greatest success story of the last 40 years.
The most advanced F-16s in the world, however, are not American. That distinction belongs to the United Arab Emirates, whose F-16 E/F Block 60s are a generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ aircraft that form the backbone of the US Air Force and many other fleets around the world. The Block 60 has been described as a lower-budget alternative to the forthcoming F-35A Joint Strike Fighter – and is being treated as such in countries like India and the Netherlands, as they contemplate their future fighter needs.
The UAE invested in the type’s development, and with that investment comes inevitable fielding, training, and equipping needs. This DID article showcases the F-16 E/F “Desert Falcon,” and offers a window into its associated costs. The latest items include a first-ever attendance at Red Flag, and some interesting information about the plane’s AN/APG-80 AESA radar…
- The F-16E/F “Desert Falcon” [updated]
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings [updated]
Continue reading…
