LAND 125, Phase 3
(click to view full)

In March 2010, Elbit Systems Ltd. announced a major contract win under Australia’s LAND 75 Phase 3.4 (Battle Management System) and LAND 125 Soldier Combat System Phase 3 programs, following a 2007 tender. The A$ 331 (about $298 million) contract will see Elbit supply, integrate, install and support of a Battle Group and Below Command, Control and Communications (BGC3) system for the Australian Army over the next 3 years.

Most advanced militaries are fielding systems like this, and the US Army uses a well-known analogue called “FBCB2”. It’s colloquially known as “Blue Force Tracker,” after the component that shows the location of all friendly forces and identified enemies on a digital map, and allows the exchange of messages and data. Such “Battle Management Systems” (BMS) change the kinds of operations commanders can plan and execute, and also reduce the risk of friendly fire. Australia’s DoD has faced criticism for having a shortage of such systems.

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3BCT-101st, Iraq-
no Chavis turrets?
(click to view full)

$178M for 1,222 DXM off-road suspension upgrade kits. (March 15/10)

Navistar subsidiary International Military and Government LLC (IMG) in, Warrenville, IL has now won well over $4 billion in contracts to date under the MRAP program. The Category I MRUV vehicle’s role is similar to a Hummer’s, albeit with more carrying capacity and much more protection. That has become a staple for IMG’s entry, dubbed the “MaxxPro” by its manufacturer. Their collaboration with an Israeli firm who provides up-armored vehicles for the Marines successfully overcame lukewarm initial interest, but even successful survivors of Aberdeen’s tests may not offer enough protection against the ERP class of land mines that began to appear in Iraq.

Nevertheless, the MRAP program became a production race – and Navistar did very well under those competitive terms. In the end the military’s desire for standardization of its fleets exerted something of a gravitation pull on the competition. A July 2007 order vaulted Navistar into 1st place for MRAP vehicles ordered, and they have kept that position ever since.

• MRAPs, Start Your Engines [updated]
• MaxxPro: A Collaborative Success
• MaxxPro Contracts [updated]
• MPV or APC to Face EFPs? (June 2007)
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
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B-2 drops JDAM
(click to view full)

$46.3 million to Kaman for 12,994 JPF fuzes for JDAMs. (March 15/10)

DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This DID FOCUS Article looks at the transformational history of the JDAM GPS-guided bomb program, the ongoing efforts to bring its capabilities up to and beyond 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.

• JDAM: A History of Transformation
• JDAM: Program & Variants [updated]
• JDAM: Contracts and Key Events, 1996 – Present [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
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F-35A: incoming…
(click to view full)

New ADM restructures program; GAO report; USAF 30-year plan; F135 engine cost growth reports; fire risks?; Coming Nunn-McCurdy breach, delays sparking controversy; Flight testing is way behind; Sypris subcontract; Training for Turks; Paralysis in the Netherlands; Israel delaying purchase; Denamrk picks Super Hornet? (March 11/10)

The $300+ billion F-35 Joint Strike fighter may well be the largest single global defense program in history. This major multinational program is intended to produce an “affordably stealthy” multi-role fighter that will have 3 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. Lightning II 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 in 2009-2010.

This updated article has expanded to feature more detail regarding the F-35 program, including contracts, sub-contracts, and notable events and reports.

• The F-35 Family of Aircraft
• F-35 Program: Production Timelines & Structure
• F-35 Program: Controversies and Competitions
• F-35 Program: Events & Developments, CY 2009-2010 [updated]
• F-35 Program: System Development & Production Contracts, FY 2009-2010
• F-35 Program: Ancillary and Sub-contracts, FY 2009 – 2010 [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources [updated]
  
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F-16B & X-35
(click to view full)

Expected March 2010 deal faces 1+ year delay; other Mid-east export issues come up. (March 11/10)

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. Since then, however, the expected cost of that purchase has more than doubled.

The necessary contract must deal with that sticker shock, with issues like the incorporation of Israeli technologies, and with slips in the internal F-35 program before it can be signed. Israel is even contemplating delaying its purchase, removing an important early adopter for the multi-national program…

• F-35 for Israel: Key Issues
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  
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AIM-120C from F-22A
(click for test missile zoom)

Continued funding for improvement program. (March 15/10)

Raytheon’s AIM-120 Advanced, Medium-Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM) has become the world market leader for medium range air-to-air missiles, and is also beginning to make inroads within land-based defense systems. It was designed with the lessons of Vietnam in mind, and of local air combat exercises like ACEVAL and Red Flag. This DID FOCUS article covers successive generations of AMRAAM missiles, international contracts and key events from 2006 onward, and even some of its emerging competitors.

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 that required a constant radar lock on one target. To make matters worse, 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…

• Some MRAAM History, and AMRAAM’s Design Approach
• AMRAAM: Versions & Derivatives
• AMRAAM’s International Competitors
• AMRAAM: Program [NEW]
• AMRAAM: Contracts & Key Events, FY 2006-Present [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
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• Pentagon officials brief Congress on terms of $35 billion aerial tanking competition, release final RFP.

• Spanish defense minister says 7 member governments backing the A400M military transport plane have reached agreement in principle. Details said to be forthcoming on Thursday.

• Israel’s “Iron Dome” rocket/artillery defense system faces skepticism in Israel.

• US Army’s new Afghan airdrop system: just heave it out the door...

• US Army Patriot missiles headed to Poland in April 2010.

• UK parliamentary panel criticizes Defense Ministry for losing track of sensitive equipment and wasting hundreds of millions of British pounds.

• BAE brings cutting edge “shake, rattle and roll” testing equipment to UK from USA; aimed at Warrior WCSP and FRES-Scout armored vehicle programs.

• New engine support contract for France’s Rafale – or just approval to negotiate one?

• USAF STRATCOM may have lifted its thumb drive ban – but the US Army hasn’t.

• As Argentina and Britain revisit their Falklands dispute, the UK conducts armed patrols, while France reportedly considers selling Argentina improved Super Etendard strike aircraft by 2015.

• Taiwan air force is not ready to withstand an attack from China, US DIA report warns. AP | Reuters

• Pakistan formally inducts 1st JF-17 fighter squadron.

• WIRED Danger Room: Where have all the MANPADS (MAN Portable Air Defense missile Systems) gone?

• United Technologies’ Sikorsky Aircraft selected for DARPA mission-adaptive rotor (MAR) technology development.

• Sikorsky upgrading its S-92 helicopters; British SAR likely to benefit.

• US Army’s proposed new IFV hitting roadblocks?

• British defense firm VT Group rejects revised GBP 1.3 billion takeover offer from Babcock.

• Israel’s Elbit Systems gets $20 million follow-on contract from defense ministry for “Snunit” aircraft trainer.

FH-77Bs, Kargil War
via Bharat Rakshak
(click to view full)

A $647 million end run around India’s DPP?; additional background & structure; Rheinmetall’s offering, ULH tests to start soon. (Feb 15/10)

India has marked over $4 billion worth of artillery projects to purchase several hundred new 155mm howitzers. They’re intended to supplement India’s dwindling artillery stocks, while out-ranging and out-shooting Pakistan’s self-propelled M109 155mm guns. It seemed simple enough, and in the main towed artillery competition, BAE Systems Bofors had been competing against systems from Israel’s Soltam and Denel of South Africa.

Unfortunately, that competition and related artillery procurements have mostly served as cautionary tales, years-long affair filled with legal drama, accusations of corruption, and more than one re-start. Meanwhile, India’s stock of operational 155mm howitzers has dwindled to around 200. In 2007, a new towed howitzer RFP was issued, and the competition was expanded. Only to crash again in 2009. Is there an end in sight to any of these competitions? Or a potential winner?

• Towed Artillery Competition Saga
• The Other Indian Howitzer Competitions [NEW]
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  
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IAI Heron
(click to view full)

Turks to accept the modified Herons, penalty for late delivery set. (Feb 14/10)

In April 2005, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems won an contract to supply medium endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Turkish military. Turkey’s local industry would provide sub-systems and services amounting to 30% of the contract.

The contract’s terms have been the subject of shifting reports, and the type of UAV was not specified in the official releases. Over time, however, clarity has emerged on several fronts. One front is the UAV type: the same Heron UAVs that serve with Israel, India, Canada, and other customers. Another front has involved problems with the contract, related to the weight of made-in-Turkey equipment…

• Contract Arrangements and Participants
• The UAVs – and the Issues
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings and Sources
  
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