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AIM-120C from F-22A
(click for test missile zoom)

AMRAAM was designed with the lessons of Vietnam in mind, and of local air combat exercises like ACEVAL and Red Flag.

One of the key lessons learned from Vietnam was that a fighter would be likely to encounter multiple enemies, and would need to launch and guide several missiles at once in order to ensure its survival. This had not been possible with the AIM-7 Sparrow, a “semi-active radar homing” missile which required a constant radar lock on one target. In addition, enemy fighters were capable of launching missiles of their own. Pilots who weren’t free to maneuver after launch would often be forced to “break lock” or be killed – sometimes even by a short-range missile fired during the last phases of their enemy’s approach. Since fighters that could carry radar-guided missiles like the AIM-7 tended to be larger and more expensive, and the Soviets were known to have far more fighters overall, this was not a good trade.

Enter AMRAAM – the AIM-120 Advanced, Medium-Range Air to Air Missile. This focus article covers successive generations of AMRAAM missiles, international contracts and key events from 2006 onward, and even some of its emerging competitors. New materials will be highlighted in green type. The most recent additions involve an order for Greece, and changes to the guidance unit…

• Some MRAAM History, and AMRAAM’s Design Approach (ie. Continue reading…)
• AMRAAM: Versions & Derivatives
• AMRAAM’s International Competitors
• AMRAAM: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

Raytheon in Tucson, AZ received a maximum $6.9 million contract. This contract will provide a Global Positioning System (GPS) circuit card assembly that utilizes Selective Availability Ant-Spoofing Module (SAASM) technology. With GPS embedded in everything from smart bombs to hand-held devices carried by thousands of US and foreign military troops, the ability to protect GPS-related “m-code” circuits from jamming is a critical capability.

This contract will support foreign military sales to Austria, Bahrain, Chile, Columbia, Egypt, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Raytheon Facility-100% Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, MA received the contract (FA8807-08-D-0002)

Link 16 Display
(click to see situation)

Jam-resistant Link-16 radios automatically exchange battlefield information – particularly locations of friendly and enemy aircraft, ships and ground forces – among themselves in a long-range, line-of-sight network. For example, air surveillance tracking data from an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft can be instantly shared with fighter aircraft and air defense units. More than a dozen countries have installed Link 16 terminals on over 19 different land, sea, and air platforms, making it an interoperability success story.

While recent advancements may make AESA radars the future transmitters of choice, Link 16 is the current standard. The Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS LVTs) were developed by a multinational consortium to provide Link 16 capability at a lower weight, volume and cost than the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). This DID focus article describes the program, and covers international contracts associated with it. It will be updated and backfilled as time goes on. The latest award is a pair orders covering the USA, Hungary, Japan, Portugal, and Turkey; and a MIDS-JTRS demonstration…

• The MIDS-LVT Program
• Into the Future: MIDS JTRS
• MIDS/ Link 16 Contracts & Events [updates]
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

Mk-44 firing RAM
(click to view full)

The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) MK-31 guided missile weapon system is co-developed and co-produced under a NATO cooperative program between the United States and German governments to provide a small, all-weather, low-cost self-defense system against aircraft and cruise missiles. The RIM-116 was later called RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile), because it spins during flight. To save costs, Designation Systems notes that the RAM was designed to use several existing components, including the rocket motor of the MIM-72 Chaparral, the warhead of the AIM-9 Sidewinder and the IR seeker of the FIM-92 Stinger. Cueing is provided by the ship’s ESM suite or radar.

RAM is currently installed, or planned for installation, on 78 U.S. Navy and 30 German Navy ships, including American LSD, LHD, LPD and CVN ship types. This number will grow as vessels of the LPD-17 San Antonio Class and Littoral Combat Ships enter the fleet, and the LCS will sport an upgraded SeaRAM system that will include its own integrated radar and IR sensors. The Korean Navy has also adopted RAM for its KDX-II and KDX-III destroyers, and its LPX Dokdo Class amphibious assault ships; other navies using or buying RAM include Egypt, Greece, and the UAE/Dubai.

The latest additions to this DID FOCUS Article includes the USA’s FY 2008 purchase….

Continue Reading… »

AH-64A Apache
(click to view full)

America’s AH-64 Apache helicopter fleet has seen heavy use in recent years, because it’s one of the few platforms capable of flying slowly enough to escort battlefield helicopters through dangerous areas. American, Dutch, and British AH-64s have played especially important roles over Afghanistan, and US Army Apaches have also played a role in Iraq alongside Italian A129 Mangustas, Polish Mi-24s, and lighter OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters. As of November 2006, the American Apache fleet had racked up over 2 million flying hours, with over 25% of that logged since 2001.

Nothing lasts forever, which meas decisions must be made regarding the future size of America’s attack helicopter force, and the accompanying reset and recapitalization required.

According to the Korea Times, US Army Col. Kevin W. Madden, who is chief of the Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group-Korea (JUSMAG-K), has created interest in Korea by mentioning that the US government plans to put 260 of its Block I Apache helicopters up for sale to allies. South Korea is apparently considering buying 36 of these Apaches with a total price tag of 1 trillion won ($960 million) to replace the Army’s aging AH-1 Cobra attack choppers Madden added that:

“I have been briefed that there will be options for international customers to refurbish or completely rebuild the helicopters in the customer’s preferred configuration all the way up to [AH-64D] Block III Longbow models.’‘

Harpoon in flight
(click to view full)

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 accordingly 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, though 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-8/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 October 1, 2006. The most recent addition involves a tech support contract that illustrates the Harpoon’s customer range…

• GM-84 Harpoon Family: The Missiles
• GM-84 Harpoon Family: The Contracts [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources: Harpoon Family
  
  Continue Reading… »

Patriot system
(click for explanation)

In a September 2005 article, DID covered total awards under a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Patriot anti-air missile system engineering services, along with dates/amounts of each award in FY 2004-2005. We’ve brought that list forward, and we’ll continue to update it as new FY 2008 engineering services contracts roll in. We’ll also use this post as a hub for other Patriot SAM related contracts.

Following are the engineering support contract listings from 2004-present, and other contracts and key events related to the Patriot missile over FY/CY 2007 (DID also has a 2006 article). New material is in green type to make it more visible. The latest additions to our contracts and events coverage? Firm orders from South Korea, a contract for Taiwan’s PAC-3 radar upgrades, and an equipment contract…

• The Patriot Missile Family
• Patriot Engineering Services Contracts
• The USA’s Patriot Programs
• Other Patriot-Related Contracts & Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

EA-6B launches HARM
(click to view full)

Raytheon Government & Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ received an $8.9 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-03-D-0009). It exercises an option for depot level repair, maintenance, and post-production services of up to 300 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARMs) for the U.S. Air Force ($7,960,411; 89.6%); the U.S. Navy ($396,694; 4.43%); and the Governments of Korea ($437,846; 4.93%) and Turkey ($92,766; 1.04%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ and is expected to be complete in May 2009. The Naval Air Systems Command issued the contract.

The AGM-88 HARM missile is designed to find enemy radar installations up to 150 km/ 90 miles away, and destroy them by homing in on their emissions. It was first introduced in 1983, and upgraded versions remain the mainstay of the SEAD role among American and allied airpower. Tactical responses to HARM have led to the development of various new missiles intended to fill its role more effectively, however, including Raytheon’s AGM-88E AARGM.

(click to view full)

In the 1970s, fighter aircraft began to appear with Head-Up Displays (HUD) that projected key information, targeting crosshairs et. al. onto a seemingly clear piece of glass, so the pilot could keep his eyes on the sky instead of looking down at his instruments. We’ve been wondering when we’d see them in our automobiles ever since. In the 1990s, another innovation appeared: helmet-mounted displays put the HUD inside the pilot’s helmet, providing this information even when the pilot wasn’t looking straight ahead. The Israelis were already using a system called DASH when a set of former East German MiG-29s equipped with HMDs slaughtered USAF F-16s in exercises, and helmet-mounted displays suddenly became must-haves for modern fighters.

The Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) projects visual targeting and aircraft performance information on the back of the helmet’s visor, including aircraft altitude, airspeed, gravitational pull, angle of attack, and weapons sighting, enabling the pilot to monitor this information without interrupting the field of view through the cockpit canopy. The system uses a magnetic transmitter unit fixed to the pilot’s seat and a magnetic field probe mounted on the helmet to define helmet pointing positioning. A Helmet Vehicle Interface (HVI) interacts with the aircraft system bus to provide signal generation for the helmet display. This provides significant improvement for close combat targeting and engagement.

A September 2005 exchange with Boeing enabled DID to gain insights into the rocky past, overall state, and future of a program that has experienced its share of snags and controversy – but gone on to become the #1 helmet-mounted sight in the world today. That information fits nicely with DID’s expansion of our coverage to detail the JHMCS’ game-changing effects on air combat, its production sets and known customers, and all contracts since full-rate production began. The latest item is a minor contract to equip USAF F-15Es…

• JHMCS: A Combat Multiplier [updated] (i.e. Continue reading…)
• JHMCS: The Program to Date
• JHMCS: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Appendix A: JHMCS History & Challenges
• Appendix B: Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

Sniper ATP
(click to view full)

Singapore has used RAFAEL’s LITENING surveillance and targeting pods on its F-16s for a number of years. In 2006, however, the city-state elected to equip its new F-15SG Strike Eagles with Lockheed Martin’s long-range Sniper ATP pods instead. Now the MINDEF has decided to add Sniper ATP pods to its 2-seat Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52+ fighters, which may become part of a broader F-16 modernization drive.

The contract was undertaken as a direct commercial sale, instead of a Foreign Military Sale required for items classified as war materiel/”munitions”. The contract includes integration, spares, support equipment and integrated logistics support, and the pods will begin delivery in 2010. Contract values were not disclosed. Lockheed Martin release.

Sniper on F-16
(click to view full)

Lockheed Martin has orders for Sniper ATPs from 9 international customers (Belgium, Britain – Harriers only, may add Tornado aircraft, Canada, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and of course Singapore), and from the USAF, whose F-15E Strike Eagles have found them very useful in Iraq. RAFAEL/Northrop Grumman’s LITENING pod family had defined this market for a long time thanks to its affordable pricing and a wide feature set, and it is still receiving international orders as Northrop Grumman prepares to roll out a 4th generation version. Lockheed’s Sniper ATP appears to be mounting a very strong bid to secure future leadership in this segment, however, and the total value of its 2001 USAF contract alone could exceed $850 million.