MEADS: air view

The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program aimed to replace Patriot missiles in the United States, the older Hawk system in Germany, and Italy’s even older Nike Hercules missiles. MEADS will be designed to kill enemy aircraft, cruise missiles and UAVs within its reach, while providing next-generation point defense capabilities against ballistic missiles. MBDA’s SAMP/T project would be its main competitor, but MEADS aims to offer improved mobility and wider compatibility with other air defense systems, in order to create a linchpin for its customers’ next-generation air defense arrays.

The German government finally gave their clearance in April 2005, and in June 2005 MEADS International (MI) formally signed a contract worth approximately $3.4 billion to design and develop the tri-national MEADS system. In February 2011, however, events began to signal the likely end of the program. This DID FOCUS Article covers that program, and has been converted into a free-to-view article:

• MEADS: The System
• MEADS: Mobility and Employment
• MEADS: The Program [updated]
• Contracts & Key Events, 2004 – Present [updated]
• Additional Readings
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FC-1/ JF-17, armed

The JF-17 is a joint Chinese-Pakistani project that aimed to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on western firms for advanced fighters, by fielding a low-cost multi-role lightweight fighter that would host modern electronics, and represent a step up from its Chinese MiG-19/21 derivatives, and French Mirage fighters. This positioning addresses a market that the West once dominated, but has nearly abandoned in recent decades.

China has made no decisions yet for the PLAAF, but Pakistan has signed an agreement for the first 42 operational JF-17 aircraft, and is reportedly seeking additional agreements with Western firms for avionics and weapons upgrades. India’s competing Tejas fighter is overcoming project delays by looking to foreign component sources, but Pakistan and China remain out front with their offering. The 2 countries have set up a joint JF-17 marketing agency to promote export sales, and their offering has received initial interest.

• The JF-17 Thunder, aka. FC-1 Fierce Dragon
• JF-17/FC-1: The Program
• Stuck in Sichuan: The Saga
• Updates and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
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Finnish F/A-18D

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, in 2007, 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, repeated its request for stealthy cruise missiles – with 2 alternative buys waiting in the wings. In 2011, Finland finally got what it wanted:

• The Missiles: JSOW, SLAM-ER, JASSM, and Taurus
• Contracts & Key Events
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Finnish Buk M1

Sisu trucks for SLAMRAAM; Stingers for Finland? (Oct 31/11)

Control of the air isn’t a cornerstone of Finland’s defense, as it is for a country like Australia. Instead, Finland needs to make its airspace dangerous enough to deny enemies full air dominance, while its difficult terrain and mobile land forces bleed any Russian invasion until it quits.

That thinking fed into Finland’s recent decision to upgrade its medium and long-range air defenses, Russian 9K37-M1 Buk (SA-11 ‘Gadfly’) intermediate range anti-aircraft missiles, and radars with NATO-compliant solutions. The move was Finland’s largest single defense purchase since it bought its current fighter fleet of over 60 F/A-18C/D Hornets. The next step is to replace some of its man-portable, short range missile systems…

• Nordic Cooperation: NASAMS for Finland
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings [updated]
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HMS Sutherland

HMS Richmond refit; Article closed. (Oct 17/11)

Britain’s Type 23 Duke Class frigates were originally envisioned as pure anti-submarine vessels, to the extent of being planned with no other armament. The 1982 Falklands War quickly put paid to that idea, however, and the Type 23s would end up being commissioned from 1989-2001 and fitted with a main gun, Sea Wolf short range anti-air missiles, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles to accompany her torpedoes, decoys, et. al. These changes turned the frigates from specialized sub-hunters into versatile multi-role combatants that play a key role in the British fleet. The Royal Navy is set to continue shrinking in size (see esp. diagram) due to rising ship costs, and even though key platforms like aircraft carriers and amphibious ships may be more capable, the mid-tier combat role filled by frigates is not slated for new construction any time soon. As such, upgrading the Navy’s 13 remaining Type 23s to keep them in service is vitally important to Britain’s future force.

As part of those operational upgrade efforts, the Type 23 frigates will receive: Sonar 2087 towed sonars, the Royal Navy’s latest and most sophisticated submarine hunting system (Thales UK, GBP 166 million for machines that go ‘ping!’); Upgraded vertical-launch Sea Wolf Block 2 air defense missiles to help counter supersonic anti-ship missiles (BAE Systems Insyte with MBDA, GBP 300 million); an improved 114mm Vickers Mk 8 Mod 1 main gun, capable of firing long-range ammunition; and a reshaped stern to cut fuel use. Upgrades are also being performed during maintenance periods, some of which are significant to the ship’s overall capabilities. This article covers a number of upgrade efforts, from 2005-2011.

AASM test from
Mirage 2000D

AASM tests; AASM GPS and dual IIR variants confirmed used over Libya; Libyan weapons used totals; France’s sole bomb-body maker shuts down. (Oct 13/11)

France’s Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) is similar in concept to the American GPS-guided JDAM bomb, but its execution includes several key differences. The global trend toward GPS-guided weapons makes a French entry important for industrial as well as operational reasons, and Sagem/MBDA hope that AASM will earn them a market niche.

AASM’s execution also included delays, however, which was very inconvenient for the new Rafale fighters. The laser variant was especially missed, even though Thales’ Damocles surveillance and laser targeting pod hasn’t been integrated onto Rafales yet. Escorts over Afghanistan from laser-capable Mirage 2000s and Super Etendards could provide targeting, but that isn’t much good without dual-mode bombs. A 2008 contract to add GPS guidance kits to American Paveway laser-guided bombs provided an interim solution for all French fighters, but France really wanted Sagem’s AASMs – and has now begun to order them in quantity.

• The AASM Family [updated]
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings [updated]
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• Leadership. At last. As USMC Sgt. (then Cpl.) Dakota Meyer receives the Medal of Honor, a follow-up report affirms that his compatriot, Army Capt. William Swenson, has now been submitted as a Medal of Honor candidate for his own actions at the Ganjigal engagement. Thanks to Afghan theater commander Gen. John Allen (USMC!). In fairness, we should also note that 2 of the officers who refused Swenson’s fire support calls are looking for new lines of work now. Video embedded below.

• Britain’s GBP 30 million upgrade of its CVR-T light tracked combat vehicles has been fielded in Afghanistan.

• America’s Office of Naval Research has a new conflict of interest policy in place for contractors.

• Good news for Britain’s Type 26 frigates: their short-range CAMM air defense missile is coming along nicely. The rest of the ship is still being defined.

• Saab announces that they have delivered their 10,000th NLAW portable anti-armor missile; introduces the RBS-70 NG upgrade of its popular man-potable anti-aircraft missile. Most of the improvements are in the controller and operator sensors, but the company says the missile can also be used against ground targets like APCs.

• A year ago Ashton Carter published his “Better Buying Power” [PDF] memo. In its wake, a number of changes have been initiated in acquisition policy and documents. The latest is Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology & Logistics Frank Kendall’s streamlining of the Life-Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP), a document focused on product support and the cost drivers that impact long-term affordability. This makes sense given the fact total ownership costs over the life of a program go way beyond initial procurement. Every acquisition program is now expected to have its LCSP.

• USAF has completed its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program.

• The Washington Times reports that President Obama has ruled out F-16 C/D sales to Taiwan, in line with reports surfacing up last month. There’s been no official confirmation yet but that should happen today (Friday). Earlier this week Reuters reported that for the 1st time in years the US State Department won’t have a representative to a forthcoming industry conference with Taiwan.

• The Senate Committee on Appropriations confirms its Defense Subcommittee’s markup for the FY12 bill. Highlights: JSF slower ramp-up, DWSS and JLTV cancellations, reductions to GCV, THAAD, JTRS components. There’s still ways to go to wrap up FY12 appropriations legislation. The House bill is $17B or 3.3% above the Senate’s.

• The House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security had a hearing on corruption related to trucking contracts in Afghanistan: video, POGO summary.
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• Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday to reporters in Ankara that after downgrading diplomatic ties with Israel, he is now suspending defense ties between the two countries. Turkey is also asking most Israeli diplomatic personnel to leave by tomorrow, including the IDF military attaché (or not, as of Wednesday reports were contradictory), after expelling the ambassador last week. Turkey has been seeking an apology from Israel over the death of 9 Turks during an IDF raid against a flotilla bound for Gaza last year. Cooperation on UAVs was already quite strained as of June last year.

• Russia signs a $4+ billion contract with state-controlled Oboronprom for 140 military helicopters by 2020, but there’s no breakdown on types. There is, however, confirmation that the 1st navalized Ka-52K Alligator attack/scout helicopter shipment for use on Russia’s new Mistral LHDs will finish by the end of 2012.

• The chinese Foreign Ministry says it will implement tighter export controls in the wake of the recent revelation that state-owned weapon manufacturers had been in recent talks with the Qaddafi regime. Last decade China started implementing legislation to align itself with MTCR members but so far fell short of the group’s standards.

• Meanwhile US primes are urging the Obama administration to allow large sales to foreign entities such as new F-16s for Taiwan (a decision left up in the air for years), and are seeking revisions to MTCR to ease UAS exports. Reuters via Aviation Week.

• South Korea’s Navy will be equipping its patrol boats with MBDA’s Mistral missiles. This will make them dangerous targets for any North Korean air attack, and the Mistrals can also be used to strike enemy boats. No luck against submarines, though, like the one that sank ROKS Cheonan.

• Britain’s Babcock has designed a decoy launcher that sits inside a submarine’s outer hull, but outside the inner pressure hull. This makes refits much easier for submarines that weren’t designed to carry torpedo countermeasures.

• Colombia’s narco-traffickers are operating submersibles and mini-submarines. Colombia’s Navy operates U209 boats, but can’t pay as well. You can guess what comes next.

• Deputy staff is starting to join the deficit Super Committee with, so far, people experienced in entitlement programs and the tax system. The Business Roundtable organized a forum yesterday to discuss and explain how this committee works (3-hour video).

• Speaking at his monthly press briefing, NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed the idea of joint NATO-Russian centers for cooperation on missile defense. The comments follow his recent meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi.

• Medvedev has told Defense Secretary Anatoly Serdyukov to report on the implementation of state defense orders for 2011 within the next three days. The move comes after reports that the Defense Ministry has delayed the signing of defense contracts, particularly for strategic nuclear armaments.

• Prime Minister David Cameron announces that the UK will be able to reduce its forces in Afghanistan from 9,500 to 9,000 personnel by the end of 2012. The decision was made on the advice of the National Security Council and reflects recent comments made by Barack Obama that the Afghan mission was moving from ‘combat to support’. The UK’s decision comes as Italy announces that the country’s financial crisis is forcing it to scale back its overseas operations.

• MBDA France and DCI-Cofras sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide training for MBDA’s anti-tank, artillery and air-defense products.

• As Canada’s Great Western Minerals Group nears completion of a rare earth mineral mine in South Africa, an article considers other countries as alternative sources to China’s dominance of the global market.

• Indonesia’s President calls for better relations with Malaysia to ward off conflict and resolve maritime border disputes.

• Speculation mounts that China’s new unmanned aerial vehicle may be used to provide targeting information for its anti-ship ballistic missiles.

• The internet also continues to provide plenty of intrigue regarding China’s J-20 stealth fighter. Pictures have now emerged showing the J-20’s weapons bay doors open.

• Airbus Military and IAI Elta are developing a C-295 AEW turboprop, using an Elta AESA radar. Its likely price point, and C-295M/MPA commonality will make it a serious competitor to turboprops like the E-2D Hawkeye and Saab 340/2000 Erieye - as well as mid-tier jet options like Brazil’s EMB-145 AEW&C, or IAI’s own Gulfstream G550 CAEW.

• BAE Systems announces the creation of a new Electronics Systems Sector. The reorganization sees the consolidation of BAE’s Systems Electronic Solutions and Systems Platform Solutions sectors. BAE hope the reorganization will better serve its military electronics and information technologies and homeland security customers.

• EADS signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkish Aerospace Industries to boost collaborative opportunities for the UAV market.

• Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) also uses the Paris Air Show to unveil a prototype unmanned helicopter. The R-IHA is expected to achieve first-flight in 2012. TAI is also confident that the R-IHA will prove attractive to Arab and Southeast European markets.

• MBDA’s PARS 3 LR guided missile system has been shortlisted for the Indian Army’s helicopter future air-to-ground requirement. The announcement comes two months after three successful PARS 3 LR firings were conducted at Sweden’s Vidsel test range.

• Speaking at the Paris Air Show, the General Executive Manager of the Portuguese Aerospace Industry Association (PEMAS) says Embraer is the catalyst for the country’s emerging aerospace sector, but laments the decision not participate in the A400M program.

• Cobham’s Chief Executive tells Reuters at the Paris Air Show that the company is upbeat about further air tanker deals with the United States and Brazil.

• South Korea’s President meets with members of the National Assembly’s defense committee and asks for cooperation in gaining parliamentary approval for defense reforms. Plans focus upon making the military command’s structure more efficient and increased powers for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff over the Army, Navy and Air Force.

• The International Business Times outlines 9 ways the military is curbing its thirst for energy.