PAF F-16A drops Mk.82s

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, along with new weapons, engine modifications, and upgrade kits for Pakistan’s older F-16 A/Bs. The buy went through, and was accompanied by the supply of 26 older F-16s from USAF surplus stocks.

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:

• Item 1: 36 New F-16 Block 50/52s – $3 billion
• Item 2: Weapons for the New F-16s – $650 Million
• Item 3: F-16A/B Mid-Life Update Modification Kits – $1.3 billion
• Item 4: F-16A/B Engine Modifications & UP/STAR – $151 Million
• Deal Updates and Progress [updated]
• Potential Controversies (July 2006)
• Additional Readings [updated]
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Polish F-16C,
air display

F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft serve as the backbone of Poland’s air force. In February 2012, the USA’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced [PDF] Poland’s official request for F-16 weapons, as well as a 5 year fleet support contract that includes associated equipment, parts, and training. They will be bought using the USA’s Foreign Military Sales process, and the requested items are expected to cost up to $447 million.

If a contract is negotiated after the 15-day FMS wait period for NATO members, the prime contractors are listed as Raytheon in Tucson, AZ and Waltham, MA; Boeing in St. Charles, MO; McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, OK; and United Technologies Corporation in Hartford, CT. Poland’s specific request includes:

F-16F “Desert Falcon”

The most advanced F-16s in the world are not American. That distinction belongs to the United Arab Emirates, whose F-16 E/F Block 60s are a half-generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ aircraft that form the backbone of the US Air Force, and of many other fleets around the world. The Block 60 has been described as a lower-budget alternative to the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter – and has been 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 and life cycle, including dedicated equipment purchases for this fighter fleet:

• The F-16E/F “Desert Falcon” [updated]
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
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Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) has recently disclosed the following Requests for Proposals (RFP), modifications and notifications:

• The US Air Force releases a Statement of Work, Questions and Answers and additional documents in relation to the purchase and installation of a Lawful Intercept (LI) capability for the Government of Iraq (GOI). LI will provide the GOI with enhanced communications intelligence to support a range of security operations.
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• Brookings Institution and University of Maryland scholars tell the National Bureau of Asian Research that the United States and India should co-develop weapons technology to overcome technology transfer restrictions. They also argue that India’s rejection of US bids for its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirement was based upon worries over supply reliability.

• The UK Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) announces the development of the National Training Estate Prime (NTEP) contract. The contract value may reach £900 million ($1.4 billion).

• The US Marines have doubled their AV8-B Harriers’ weapons loads in Afghanistan, by moving the planes’ LITENING target pod.

• The first 4 of 24 new F-16 C/D Block 52 fighter jets have left Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, TX, on a ferry flight to Morocco.

• Turkey’s BMC is rumored to have orders for its blast-resistant Kirpi vehicle from Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Russia is planning to buy up to 120 Iskander-M (SS-26 Stone) tactical missile systems. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry is reportedly putting the final touches to technical specifications for the replacement of its Voevoda (SS-18 Satan) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

• The Czech Defense Ministry is to impose sanctions on Omnipol because defects on its new EADS CASA C-295 turboprop transport aircraft have not been repaired on time.

• South Africa’s Hawk trainers are receiving upgrades; now they can also use GPS-guided Umbani glide bombs, with a 40km/24 mile range.

• A photograph emerges reportedly showing changes to China’s fifth J-10B prototype multirole fighter.

• A European Defence Agency (EDA) official is confident that member states will have identified potential pilot cases for its Common Off The Shelf Procurement initiative by the end of 2011.

• Diehl BGT and Israel’s RAFAEL have unveiled the PILUM long-range glide bomb concept. With a reported range of 60-100 miles, PILUM will use RAFAEL Spice’s combination of GPS/INS and imaging infrared, in Diehl’s HOSBO bomb system. This JSOW Block III competitor will be integrated on Tornado and Eurofighter aircraft – wonder if the Saudis, who fly both, will want any?

• The Dixmude, France’s 3rd Mistral Class LHD/BPC, has arrived in Toulon for final fitting and testing. It was ordered with French economic stimulus funds in April 2009.

• Britain’s 3rd Type 45 air defense destroyer, HMS Diamond, has officially joined the Royal Navy.

• As part of its efforts to build a strong UAV industry in the state, Oklahoma is petitioning the US FAA to create an unrestricted UAV corridor in civil airspace.

• Despite the presence of a Eurocopter EC645 at CANSEC, there is still little movement in Canada’s plans to replace the Griffon.

• Lockheed Martin delivers its National Source Tracking System (NSTS) to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to assist in the tracking of radioactive source material.

• Saab agrees to divest its shares in the 3D mapping company C3 Technologies AB. The transaction is expected to be closed by the end of the 3rd quarter FY11.

• Research and Markets adds DoD UAS Forecasts, Missions and Initiatives FY2012 DoD Budget Justification Analysis and The Venezuelan Defense Industry – Market Opportunities and Entry Strategies Analyses and Forecasts to 2015 to its list of publications.

• The Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) plans to follow up the recent graduation of its first group of third generation fighter pilots by introducing a new training program for the next cohort.

German Tornado,
Holloman AFB

On June 16/11, the US DSCA announced Germany’s official request for base services, to support the German Air Force Tactical Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), NM. Base services include training services, fuel, munitions, base operating support, and other related operational and/or logistics requirements. Munitions used by the German Tornado fighters on base will include 720 MK-82 500 pound bombs, 135 MK-84 2,000 pound bombs, and 5 BQM-167 Skeeter target drones. The estimated cost is up to $300 million, but that will depend on the final government to government agreement. Since there’s no contractor involved, it’s likely to be pretty close.

The German Air Force has actually been training its aircrews in the United States since 1958. Interoperability is one reason, but another is Germany’s population density, which really restricts the airspace for full-throttle fighter training. This overseas training took place on various bases before it was consolidated at Holloman AFB, NM, in 1992, and an inter-government agreement made the GAF TTC a full tenant unit on May 1/96. Holloman was picked for consistent flying weather, and for its proximity to the German Air Force Air Defense Center at Ft. Bliss, TX. DSCA [PDF] | Holloman AFB factsheet.

Mark 82 bombs
(click for full sequence)

The “Focused Lethality Munition” is a variant of the 250 pound Small Diameter Bomb I that changes its casing and internal fill, in order to produce more devastating effects within a smaller area. A carbon-fiber bomb body disintegrates instead of fragmenting, which adds explosive force nearby, but largely removes sharpnel issues farther away. Inside, metal particles turn the bomb’s explosive material into short-range projectiles. The result is especially useful in urban areas, in situations where friendly elements are close to the impact zone, and in campaigns fought using contemporary American counter-insurgency doctrine.

Now the USA wants a bigger, but still confined, bang. Enter the Precision Lethality MK82 Quick Reaction Capability Program, designed to turn 500 pound bombs into similar but larger weapons.

Cypriot Mi-35P

As Rosvertol General Director Boris Slyusar announced the firm’s 2010 trading figures, he revealed that a fall 2010 deal had been signed with Azerbaijan for 24 Mi-35 attack helicopters. That would more than double the current fleet of 12-13 Mi-24s at Baku Kala air base, and make “Hind family” helicopters the backbone of Azerbailjan’s rotary-wing force. Newer Russian attack helicopters like the Mi-28 “Night Hunter” and Ka-52 “Alligator” get a lot of attention, but the Mi-24 “Hind/Krokodil” family of heavy helicopter gunships remains broadly popular around the world, with a secondary troop transport capability that’s unique in the market. News.Az.

Azerbaijan is located on the Caspian Sea, south of Russia, north of Iran, and east of Armenia. A highly-charged territorial dispute with Armenia remains a source of tension, as does protection of the country’s significant oil & natural gas infrastructure, and the possibility of meddling from its larger neighbors north and south. The country is busy building a defense industry of its own, and has pursued close cooperation and joint ventures with a number of foreign countries including Israel, Pakistan, Russia/Ukraine, and Turkey. Beyond its helicopter forces, recent cooperation discussions have involved 9mm Czech Skorpion EVO-III submarchine guns, Russian GAZ 2975 Tigr HMMWV class vehicles, and Pakistani designs for air-dropped bombs.

F-15E Strike Eagle

Singapore’s decision to buy the F-15SG Strike Eagle as a replacement for its A-4SU Super Skyhawks has already sparked one weapons purchase to outfit the new aircraft. The August 2005 DSCA request mostly involved air-air weapons, plus ancillary equipment and a handful of JDAM and JSOW precision weapons. Now the DSCA reports that Singapore has submitted a request for another handful of precision strike weapons, and a lot of training assistance “to support its F-15 aircraft”.

The proposed sale is worth up to $200 million, and the principal contractors will be F-15 primes Boeing Integrated Defense Solutions of St. Louis, MO and General Electric Aircraft Engines Division of Cincinnati, OH. Components of the request include: