L-3 Learjet, EW-Equipped

L-3 Flight International’s modified Learjets include uprated on-board power systems, internal electronics, and the ability to carry a range of external pods to help them simulate enemy radar and communications jammers in Navy training exercises. The modified business jets can also tow targets for gunnery training, and perform related tasks.

L-3 has performed this role for many years now, and chartered aircraft of various kinds play a significant role in US Navy exercises, within the commercial air services (CAS) program…

Each of the US military services runs Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) courses for its people, at 3 escalating levels of severity. They aim to teach soldiers the code of conduct they’re obliged to follow if captured; how to survive in the wild for brief periods, while evading capture and losing weight; and sometimes how to cope if evasion fails. L3 MPRI in Alexandria, VA recently won a $42 million firm-fixed-price contract to provide the US Army with full-spectrum SERE courses at Fort Rucker, AL, until Sept 31/15. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 5 bids received by the Mission Contracting Office in Fort Bragg, NC (W91247-11-C-0039).

The Fort Rucker, AL school primarily serves Army flight crews, who generally get SERE-B training that includes 3 weeks of all aspects, with a focus on survival, plus resistance after initial capture. SERE-C training is the full special forces/ high ranking version, with a week-long prison camp stay, and techniques like waterboarding that have drawn controversy when they were also used on a handful of high-ranking al-Qaeda terrorists. As a former Army SF vet points out, just about everybody in SERE-C ends up signing the false “war crimes” confession – but it’s possible to beat the system on rare occasions. The 6-pack of Budweiser was a nice touch, Jimbo.

• Similarly to his predecessor Robert Gates, US SecDef Leon Panetta told NATO members that they would have to step up defense spending otherwise the alliance would “hollow out” [DOD transcript]. Meanwhile British defense secretary Liam Fox lambasted as duplicate “nonsense” proposals to increase defense integration at the European Union level.

• Spain is joining NATO’s missile defense system which leads Russia to make grumpy noises. 4 Aegis ships will be stationed at the US-funded Naval Station Rota.

• RAND researched how Australia, France and the UK have structured their international defense cooperation efforts [PDF].

• The Institute for the Study of War published a report on Iran’s recent naval reorganization [PDF]. The move towards more procurement self-sufficiency, and base realignment and openings, show the country’s intent to increase its strategic depth and its operational reach.

• Canada’s Department of National Defence explains how it estimates hourly flying costs. Somewhat related: the US DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to clarify the requirements for the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) to submit data other than certified cost or pricing data. CCC administers most DoD contracts with contractors located in Canada.
• Speaking of DFARS, its latest change revises the definition of “qualifying country end product.” The updated rule “eliminates the component test for qualifying country end products that are commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items.” This MS Word document shows where the rule’s language was updated.

• The US House Republican Cybersecurity Task Force is making a series of cybersecurity recommendations [PDF] that include updates to federal and defense acquisition regulations. Among several recent leadership changes at the DoD, Eric Rosenbach has been appointed deputy assistant secretary of Defense for cyber policy.

• Wind farms can affect air defense radars but this can be mitigated, says a report prepared by Atkins Limited last year for the British government, and now released publicly in a sanitized format [ZIP file with 3 redacted PDFs inside].

E-2C Hawkeye

On Dec 4/07, the US DSCA announced the United Arab Emirates’ official request for 3 used, refurbished E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft with radar and antennae. When combined with the UAE’s $9 billion request for Patriot missiles, and other recent initiatives, it would appear that the UAE is taking strong steps to beef up its defensive and surveillance capabilities.

Making that happen requires more than just planes. It requires extensive back-end systems that help turn information from platforms like the Hawkeye into a coherent whole, and allow command staff to direct battles based on that information. DID explains what happened to that Hawkeye sale, how it fits into a larger picture, and where things stand now, as the UAE continues its strong Command, Control, Computing, & Communications (C4) push:

• The UAE’s Quest for Hawkeyes
• Contracts & Key Events, 2002 – Present [updated]
• Additional Sources [updated]
  Continue Reading… »

RAAF Hawk Mk127s

In July 2011, the Australian government announced a 2-year, A$150 million (about $161 million) extension of the existing contract with BAE Systems Australia, to provide support for the RAAF’s Hawk 127 Lead-In-Fighter Trainers, plus accompanying full simulators (2) and computer training systems. The 33 Hawk Mk.127s are based at RAAF Williamtown near Newcastle in the SE, and RAAF Pearce near Perth in Western Australia. They provide the last stage of training before pilots graduate to Australia’s F/A-18A/B Hornet and F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters.

As part of their Strategic Reform savings program, Australia’s DoD and BAE have arranged for more than 10% in savings over the extension’s life, via a revised maintenance strategy and overhaul program changes. BAE Systems Australia employs 180 people to support the aircraft, and has been providing that support since 2000. Australia DoD.

(c) DJ Elliott

DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing about Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.

This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format. Reader feedback and tips are encouraged. Recent developments include:

Hawk LIFT

Back in October 2006, an $840 million contract for BAE’s Hawk LIFT trainers aimed to provide advanced jet training for both Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots, as part of the consolidated UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS). In November 2006, the Ascent team of VT Group plc and Lockheed Martin announced their status as Preferred Bidder to provide military flying training to the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps for the next 25 years.

In June 2008, they secured the contract. That began a combination of infrastructure build-out, aircraft modification, and managed competition, aimed at fulfilling a contract that was estimated at up to GBP 6 billion (about $11.7 billion) when it was signed…

• UKMFTS and its Components: Fixed Wing & Helicopters [NEW]
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
  Continue Reading… »

• UK government steps forward with the 1st explicit covenant, stating the moral obligation which exists between the British nation, the Government and the Armed Forces. See full document, and a companion document discusses the steps they’re taking to turn its principles into action. Not in the covenant: the duty to protect armed service members and their families, by maintaining security & confidentiality when appropriate.

• On which topic… US “SEAL Team 6” (TINSTS) members who killed Osama are worried that their identities will leak. It would be nice for the US media to rediscover OpSec, but that doesn’t seem to happen unless a journalist is the one threatened.

• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions agrees to pay $266 million in cash and stock [PDF] to acquire Integral Systems, a Columbia, MD-based provider of controls for military ground systems and satellites.

• Vector’s Ground Vehicles forecast sees a real crunch coming between US recap/RESET programs, and planned new ground vehicle purchases. They say that FY 2013 will be a key inflection point.

• Turkey is considering Russian and Chinese weapons systems in its long-range missile and air defense system procurement, something that concerns other NATO members.

• UAE has hired a number of contractors to train its military: Spectre, which provides academy training capabilities; Horizon, a pilot training firm; and R2, a company run by the founder of Blackwater Worldwide, which provides operational, planning, and training to the military.

• GAO says NTIA, which manages the US government radio spectrum – including military – requirements, has failed to develop a federal spectrum plan, and has no way to determine if agency self-reported spectrum requirements are accurate. Recall the FCC’s $1 billion spectrum screw-up, involving the B-2 fleet…

• RAF disbands Number XIII Tornado Squadron, less than 2 months after their Tornado GR4s opened the war in Libya with Storm Shadow cruise missile strikes. The squadron will re-form in 2012, flying the RAF’s new MQ-9 Reapers.

• Meanwhile, a US Navy P-3 is providing overwatch for British ships off of Libya. Without its Nimrod fleet, or an affordable replacement…

• US military’s working dogs, trained to provide explosive detection, combat tracking, and patrolling dues, are now able to enjoy life in retirement. Shamefully, we used to kill them.

• The Australian government is cutting A$2.7 billion from its defense budget over the next four fiscal years, including a reduction in the costs of acquiring a 5th C-17 aircraft.

• Russian President Dmitry Medvedev chastizes military for delaying tenders on major weapon systems.

• Up to $450 million to Lockheed Martin to provide Instrumented Ranges/Digital Range Training Systems (IR/DRTS) to the US Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation.

• General Dynamics snags contract worth up to $125 million to provide IT network services to the US Special Operations Command.

• AAR gets $23 million contract to supply flat racks to the US Army for transportation of materials and containers via trucks and other ground equipment.

• UK Ministry’s DSTL developing a display system to reduce helicopter “brownout” crashes when dust clouds kill visibility – and sometimes, landing helicopters.

(c) DJ Elliott

DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.

This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format. Reader feedback and tips are encouraged. Recent developments include: