AGS fires LRLAP

Guns for DDG 1002. (Jan 31/12)

As costs rose and missions proliferated, it was easy to forget that the original rationale for the DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class centered around naval gunfire support for troops ashore. Heavily armored US battleships with massive 16-inch (406 mm) guns once performed extremely well in this role, as their volkswagen-weight shells gave enemies pause. While USS Iowa was brought back into service during the Reagan era, she was decommissioned again in 1990. That left America with a floating museum in Los Angeles, and a gap in its options.

While European manufacturers are fielding guided, long range adaptations of existing 127mm/54 and 76mm shells, the Zumwalt Class will be getting an entirely new Advanced Gun System that fires the same 155mm shells used by field artillery ashore. The goal was to combine the wide range of available 155mm shell options with extra-long range, GPS precision guidance, and rapid fire…

• The AGS/LRLAP System
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
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MH-53E & Mk-105 sled

Reliability improvement efforts for the RMS snorkeling USV. (Dec 19/11)

The US Navy currently uses large CH-53/MH-53 helicopters and towed sleds to help with mine clearance work, but they hope to replace those old systems with something smaller and newer. The MH-60S helicopter’s Airborne Mine Counter-Measures (AMCM) system adds an operator’s station to the helicopter cabin, additional internal fuel stores, and towing capability, accompanied by a suite of carried systems that can be mixed and matched. AMCM is actually 5 different air, surface and sub-surface mine countermeasures systems, all deployed and integrated together in the helicopter.

While the US Navy develops AMCM, and complementary ship-launched systems for use on the new Littoral Combat Ships, new minehunter ship classes like the Ospreys are being retired by the US Navy and sold. All in an era where the threat of mines is arguably rising, along with tensions around key chokepoints like the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz.

This article explains the components involved (AQS-20, ALMDS, AMNS, OASIS, RAMICS; COBRA, RMS, SMCM), chronicles their progress through reports and contracts, and provides additional links for research…

• Airborne Mine Counter-Measures (AMCM): The Set [updated]
• Contracts & Key Events, 2000 – Present [updated]
• Additional Readings
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M777: dragon’s breath

Negotiations in India; Request from the Saudis; US Order. (Oct 4/11)

The M777 ultra-lightweight towed 155mm howitzer has an integrated digital fire control system, and can fire all existing 155mm projectiles. Nothing new there. What is new is the fact that this 9,700 pound howitzer saves over 6,000 pounds of weight by making extensive use of titanium and advanced aluminum alloys, allowing it to be carried by Marine Corps MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft or medium helicopters, and/or airdropped by C-130 aircraft. The new gun is a joint program between the US Army and Marine Corps to replace existing 155mm M198s, and will perform fire support for U.S. Marine Air Ground Task Forces and U.S. Army Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.

Britain is the USA’s M777 LWH co-development partner, but Canada became the first country to field it in combat, thanks to an emergency buy before their 2006 “Operation Archer” deployment to Afghanistan. Customers now include the US Army & USMC, Australia, and Canada – but not Britain. This is DID’s FOCUS article covering the M777 program…

• M777: Capabilities and Upgrades
• M777: Program
• M777: Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
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Policeman, Sabari

$30M to ATK, who details full scope to date. (Sept 14/11)

Readers may recall “AEY’s Ammunition: Ain’t An April Fools, Alas”, which detailed a $300 million contract to a Miami company, who delivered ammunition that was not up to standard and is charged with sourcing its stock illegally. Now, more established firms like ATK and General Dynamics are stepping into the breach.

They are not the only firm receiving contracts for “non-standard” ammunition. By “nonstandard,” the military means non-NATO standard, such as the 7.62×39mm caliber used by rifles like the AK-47 and its copies around the world. Other common options include the 7.62×54mm (used in Dragunov sniper rifles and PKM machine guns), and 12.7×108mm (as opposed to NATO’s .50 BMG 12.7×99mm). Even RPG-7 panzerfaust rounds and aviation rockets have been specified in these contracts, which include…

• Defense Secretary Leon Panetta describes the ‘sequestration’ element of the United States’ new debt-reduction law as a ‘doomsday mechanism’ that would result in a dangerous new round of defense cuts.

• The UK Opposition maintains the pressure for a reopening of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) after a former Liberal Democrat leader says a coalition government colleague used ‘political muscle’ to safeguard an airbase in his Scottish constituency.

• Brazil’s Defense Minister Nelson Jobim resigns from Dilma Rousseff’s cabinet after making remarks that angered the President. Jobim’s resignation may add another dimension to Brazil’s FX-2 fighter competition.

• Iraq has received the last of its 22 modified Mi-17 medium helicopters from ARINC.

• The US Air Forces awards Systima Technologies a $9.95 million indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide small munition carriage and release.

• Defense Research Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA) awards Luna Technologies a contract worth almost $12 million for research and development-related work on the Integrity and Reliability of Integrated Circuits (IRIS) program.

• An Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar strike fighter crashes in Uttar Pradesh killing the pilot and an 18 year old girl. The crash comes two days after a fatal accident involving a MiG-21 fighter.

• As China’s aircraft carrier program gathers momentum, debate is beginning as to who will be the first captain of the vessel.

• DARPA uses the Black Hat 2011 security conference to launch its Cyber Fast Track (CFT) project. It is anticipated that CFT will involve short-term projects that are even open to hackers.

• US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta responds to the debt ceiling agreement by declaring that the Department of Defense’s spending choices must be based on sound strategy and policy and not result in the weakening of national security.

• The deputy chief of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation says the country is preparing to sign more military cooperation deals with the United States. Cooperation is anticipated to extend beyond helicopter purchases like the recent contract for 21 Mi-17V5s.

• The commander of the UK’s Falklands War Task Groups declares that the House of Commons Defence Select Committee’s findings on the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) provides a framework for sensible reform in straitened financial circumstances. Admiral Sir John Woodward also criticizes Government rebuttals of the Committee’s report.

• The US Army awards Safariland a contract with a potential maximum value of almost $32 million to provide ammunition, over 30mm up to 75mm.

• Israel’s evaluation of the MV-22B Osprey is reportedly positive. The question is whether they’ll find the funding to order a handful.

• GKN’s Results Announcement for the first six months ended 30 June 2011 [PDF] reports an 11% increase in sales and a good showing in the aerospace sector. Meanwhile Cobham announces [PDF] a 7% decline in revenue from 2010, a statistic it attributes to ‘challenging conditions in the US defence and security market’.

• ThyssenKrupp releases a statement indicating that there are no plans to form a joint venture or merger between its Marine Systems division and the French shipbuilder DCNS.

• EADS’ Airbus Military subsidiary signs a contract to supply Ghana with two C-295 turboprop transport aircraft.

• Azerbaijan is reportedly seeking to change Washington’s established policy by asking the United States to supply the country with ‘defense weapons’, including air defense and anti-tank systems.

• USAF officials believe that they can save $15 million in energy costs by making some changes to the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center at Ramstein AB, Germany. The steps were actually pretty simple. Next step? Maybe solar on the KMCC’s 10 acres of roof.

• A recent meeting of the Defense Business Board at the Pentagon recommended the creation of a single Defense Logistics Organization (DLO) [PDF]. The Board argued that a single DLO with sole responsibility for supply, maintenance and transportation would increase logistics effectiveness and efficiency.

• The former Director of National Intelligence, Admiral (Ret.) Dennis Blair, tells the Aspen Security Forum that the United States should stop unilateral drone attacks and work in closer partnership with countries where unmanned campaigns are conducted. See embedded video at the bottom of this entry.

• Raytheon’s Second Quarter Results show net sales of approximately $6.2 billion, a slight increase on corresponding figures for 2010. The company’s Chairman and CEO attributes a strong second quarter performance to its ‘focus on execution and cost reduction strategies’.

• A US Marine Corps Officer tells the Lexington Institute’s Capitol Hill Electronic Attack Conference that the service is preparing to undertake tests on the new Intrepid Tiger II [PDF] communications intelligence and jamming pod.

• Israel and India are reportedly negotiating to buy 3 more IL-76 Phalcon AWACs aircraft, to follow the current order of 3. IAI had been touting the long-range G550 CAEW used by Israel and Singapore as an even better follow up.

• EADS attributes its ‘solid results’ for the first half year 2011 to strong demand in the commercial aviation sector. The company reports that revenues increased in the first six months of 2011 by 8% to €21.9 billion ($31.2 billion).

• Dassault accuses Safran of holding up talks in relation to the French Government-backed deal to swap assets with Thales.

• The US Army awards Olin Corporation a $29 million contract to provide Small Caliber Ammunition for Caliber .50, 7.62mm and 5.56mm.

• Russia is studying the possibility of deploying paratroopers as part of its multi-branch Arctic contingent.  This may be extended to helicopter regiments by 2020, when Russia’s arms procurement program is due to be completed.

• A number of blog articles have highlighted the problems the Indian Air Force faces in keeping its ageing fleet of Soviet-built fighters airworthy. This may have proved influential upon recent decisions taken in relation to India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) competition.
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APFSDS in flight

ATK recently announced a $77 million, 3-year contract, exercising an option to develop and qualify the USA’s new 120mm tank-killing round for use in the U.S. Army’s M1A2 SEP Abrams tanks. The M829E4 is called the Advanced Kinetic Energy round, and belongs to a class known as APFSDS-T: Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot with Tracer. As the picture shows, the shell casing releases a penetrator sabot dart, which flies at extreme velocity to punch through enemy tank armor. The tracer element makes it easy to see the round in flight.

While manufacturers like Rheinmetall use tungsten alloys for the APFSDS dart, American rounds use alloys of similarly-dense depleted uranium (DU)...

• Reuters reports that the Chinese language Liberation Army Daily newspaper has published an article advocating that China builds up cyber warfare capabilities to counter American attempts to “seize the commanding military heights on the Internet”.

• Boeing will lay off up to 225 people at its Wichita, KS facility,  as the civilian and military demand cycle drops for certain programs. The Wichita facility is involved in programs like the C-40 Clipper executive and transport fleet, E-4B and E-6B national command aircraft, ongoing support for the B-52H bomber, and soon, final conversion of the KC-46A aerial tankers.

• The French  Directorate General of Armaments awards Zodiac Milpro [PDF] a contract for 20 multi-purpose commando RIBs (ECUME) and four air delivery systems (SLE).

• Rheinmetall unveils new HE DM-11 secondary ammunition for MBT 120mm smoothbore guns. The HE DM-11 can be fired from any in-service 120 mm smoothbore gun and is deemed safe to fire in all climate zones.

• As the Arctic continues to increase in strategic significance Defence Watch considers the Canadian Armed Forces’ procurement requirements.

• Now a former U.S. defense industry CEO joins the debate regarding China’s J-20 fighter.

• Danger Room ponders over the topics to be covered by DARPA’s 100 Years Starship conference. The program ties ethical and moral concerns to DARPA’s quest to achieve interstellar flight by 2111. If Jack Kirby’s - the creator of the Silver Surfer cartoon – comments are anything to go by, then the defense industry will be more than welcome to attend.

• Turkey’s current account deficit is hitting levels that worry some observers. High levels have been predictors of economic crises in the past. If that comes to pass, there are a lot of new and pending weapons programs that would be affected.

• Turkey’s next-generation fighters are among them. There are reports of growing interest in a split-buy, to reduce dependence on the USA. Italy’s government is pushing Turkey to solve that problem by joining the Eurofighter consortium. Turkey might also pick a hi-low approach, and join existing arms partners South Korea and Indonesia in KF-X.

• BAE Systems snags 10-year, $850 million contract to manage the US Army’s Radford ammunition plant in southwest Virginia; stock of incumbent ATK takes a hit.

• In the money: EADS posts a net loss of EUR 12 million, on revenues of EUR 9.9 billion, as a result of negative dollar accounting revaluation; however, net cash reserves reach record EUR 12.2 billion (~17.2B USD).

• Russian Space Forces plans to test a new Voronezh DM radar being built near Baltic port of Kaliningrad by end of 2011, one of four radars being built to fill radar coverage gaps created by the collapse of the Soviet Union.

• Goodrich completes EUR 331 million for Microtecnica, a Turin, Italy-based provider of flight control actuation systems for helicopters, aircraft, missile actuation, and aircraft thermal and environmental control systems for military and commercial customers.

• Azerbaijan extends joint production agreement with South Africa’s Paramount Group to produce an additional 30 Marauder [PDF] and 30 Matador [PDF] mine-protected vehicles, with deliveries running through late 2012.

• Raytheon & Boeing finish government testing of their JAGM light strike missile contender, and keep their perfect test record.

• Good news: 1st A109 light helicopter from the May 2008 contract enters service in New Zealand. Bad news: They’re still waiting for the NH90-TTH medium helicopters from their July 2006 contract.

• Northrop Grumman is cutting 200 jobs at its Electronics Systems division, mostly in the Baltimore area.

• Terrorists have procurement networks, too – most of which also have criminal uses. Read FP Magazine’s slanted but still enlightening “Tunnelnomics” piece re: the Israeli/Gaza border.