• 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.

USMC M1A1 settles a
firefight in Fallujah
(click to view full)

RESET for M1200 Armored Knights, Bradleys. (Feb 19/10)

The RESET process takes used vehicles apart, inspects the parts, then replaces any defective parts and refurbishes the equipment to like-new condition. Sometimes upgrades are also performed. RESET and related processes like remanufacture/upgrades are being performed on M1 Abrams tanks, Bradley IFV/CFVs, HMMWV jeeps, and even helicopters. It usually takes place when the vehicles return from the front lines in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations, where sand damage and increased wear have taken their toll.

In truth, many of these vehicles were produced in the 1980s, and are reaching an age where “deep maintenance” is a wise and necessary measure. Note that this is not a complete list of RESET contracts; DID will seek to backfill its roster as opportunities arise.

• RESET Programs and Procedures
• RESET Contracts, Delivery Orders & Developments, FY 2006-Present [updated]
• Vehicle Fleets and Maintenance Overhangs
• Additional Readings
  
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M109 Howitzer
(click to view full)

India’s artillery replacement programs may be stuck, but Pakistan has had more success. On Dec 16/05, The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced [PDF] Pakistan’s official request to buy 115 used M109A5 155mm self-propelled howitzers as well as spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, Quality Assurance Team, and other support. The total value, if all options are exercised, was stated as $56 million.

On Feb 13/10, the US Embassy in Islamabad announced delivery of the last 48 upgraded M109A5s, to the Malir Cantonment in Karachi. This completed the 115 vehicle order. As the release noted: “The FMS/FMF case was initiated by Pakistan in 2006 and enabled the Government of Pakistan to obtain the cannons from the United States at a greatly discounted rate.”

That is true because the equipment was already in storage, and considered to be surplus. No contractor was involved, just a Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) and U.S. Government Quality Assurance Team for 1 year to check out the equipment, followed by 2-week TAFT intervals twice annually, to participate in program management and technical reviews. Pakistan already operated earlier model M109A2 self-propelled howitzers. They used this buy to re-equip existing units, and retire older artillery pieces.

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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M1130 Stryker MC
(click to view full)

General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, MI received $246 million in contracts to support Stryker vehicles deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 8×8 wheeled Stryker armored vehicle is the backbone of the US Army’s 7 medium armored brigades, with an 8th on the way.

Of the Army’s 7 medium armored Stryker brigades, 3 are deployed in combat zones: 2 in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan.

The 1st Stryker brigade in Afghanistan was deployed in June 2009. Since then, the 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, has been patrolling the Kandahar and Zabul provinces.

In the difficult terrain of Afghanistan and Iraq, Stryker vehicles require maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to keep them functioning effectively…

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Much better on pavement
(click to view full)

One complaint heard about the 8×8 wheeled Stryker armored vehicles in Afghanistan was that they had difficulties with the rough, mountainous off-road terrain. The Canadian forces in particular found that their Strykers’ mobility limitations created unacceptable difficulties.

Another complaint about Stryker vehicles is that upgrades designed to address combat needs have been done in a piecemeal fashion. This has resulted in significant inefficiencies, including having to turn off some systems to operate others.

To address Stryker vehicle limitations and overcome the piecemeal approach to vehicle improvements, the US Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command has undertaken a Stryker modernization program…

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120mm M120 mortar
(click to view full)

The US Army is pushing to get precision mortars developed and deployed to the field in Afghanistan as soon as possible. The precision mortars are needed to target insurgents who are dug in along mountain ridgelines and other high positions.

Three companies are competing to develop a 120mm precision mortar compatible with the M120 system under the Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI): Raytheon, General Dynamics, and Alliant Techsystems (ATK). The 3 companies tested GPS guided versions of the precision mortar in May 2009. The next test will be in January 2010 after which the Army will select the winning design.

ATK said that it had used its Mortar Guidance Kit (MGK) to provide GPS guidance to the 120mm mortar during the testing…

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M734A1 Mortar Fuze
(click to view larger)

L-3 Fuzing & Ordnance Systems in Cincinnati, OH received a $98.5 million firm-fixed-price contract with 4 firm-fixed-priced options for the production and delivery of US Army mortar fuzes.

The fuze controls separation of the munition from the delivery platform and triggers its detonation. Safety features are built into all fuzes to protect personnel while handling ammunition during storage, transit and deployment.

L-3 Fuzing and Ordnance Systems, a unit of L-3 Communications, will provide the US Army with M734A1 and M783 fuzes…

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Now: M2A2 105mm
(click to view full)

In February 2006, the Australian Government gave first pass approval for the replacement of the ADF’s current 105mm and 155mm artillery pieces with new, more capable, artillery systems that feature improved mobility, protection, range and accuracy. Current systems are all towed, and include the aged 105mm M2A2, the L119 Hamel 105mm Field Gun, and the M198 155mm Howitzer. Options for replacing them include a mix of self-propelled artillery systems and lightweight towed artillery systems under an A$ 450-600 million project known as LAND 17. The project will also examine advanced high precision munitions and a networked command and fire control system.

So, how does this project fit into Australia’s larger defense plans? What’s the expected program timeline? And who are the declared and potential contenders? That matters even more now that the solicitation has been released. DID covers the program, and a number of the confirmed or likely competitors… but one category has now been decided.

• The LAND 17 Program
• LAND 17: Likely Contenders
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
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M1130 Stryker MC
(click to view full)

The 8×8 wheeled Stryker armored vehicle is the backbone of the US Army’s 7 medium armored brigades, with an 8th on the way. The base vehicle is also known as the LAV-III (Canada) and Piranha-III (GD MOWAG Switzerland), but American Stryker family APCs are outfitted with a set of communications and electronics equipment that makes them a unique variant. Stryker program’s production contracts began in 2000; to date, General Dynamics Land Systems in Canada and the USA have delivered 2,988 vehicles to the US military. Now, a $647 million order will add another 352 Strykers to the Army.

Consultation with General Dynamics Land systems has yielded the full breakdown of this Stryker order among all variants…

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