81mm mortar
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A weapon without ammunition is useless, which is why ammunition is almost always a strategic national capability whose production must remain in-country. On the other hand, government demand has a tendency to swing up and down within narrow limits, and the demands of efficiency usually lead to a single supplier situation – often using equipment that dates back to World War 2. The USA has run into problems because of its reliance on a single small arms ammunition plant, for instance, and has moved to modernize and diversify its base. Its ally Australia is modernizing key ammunition facilities, and trying to modernize its industrial approach as well.

Then there’s Britain, whose long-term defense contracting practices are establishing world-class benchmarks. The UK MoD had been working on an arrangement that secures national supply needs from British sources, and ensures that modernization investments continues to improve industrial efficiency. Hence the new 15-year, GBP 2+ billion “Munitions Acquisition – the Supply Solution” (MASS) program, inaugurated in August 2008. The latest component is a major deal with a German supplier…

• BAE and The MASS Program
• Contracts & Key Events
  
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Policeman, Sabari
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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 rocket rounds have been specified in these contracts.

The latest developments include $150 million in contracts for Afghan and American forces…

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Alliant Techsystems (ATK) in Minneapolis, MN received an $86 million base-with-option contract to provide lightweight (LW) 30mm M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) tactical ammunition for the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter. The U.S. Army Contracting Command’s Rock Island Contracting Center in Rock Island, IL manages the contract. Alliant expects to begin production in December 2009 at the company’s facilities in Elk River, MN; Radford, VA; and Rocket Center, WV.

The AH-64D Apache attack helicopter has been going through Block III improvements that are incorporating 25 technology insertions as part of the Army’s future force plan. “Apache Block III Program: The Once and Future Attack Helicopter” has more on the Block III improvements.

In a September 2008 letter justifying the use of ATK as the sole supplier of LW30mm M789 HEDP ammunition, the US Department of the Army said that the depletion of stocks from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan prompted the order. There are several reasons that this weapon has been so popular…

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Base, Bleeding Out?
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Back in July 2005, DID informed its readers that India’s sanctions against Denel and possible disqualification from a $2 billion artillery contract could have a major effect on the South African defense firm as a whole. In August 2005, those sanctions came to pass, barring Denel from a contract it was likely to win and accelerating efforts already underway to radically restructure the firm.

CEO Shaun Liebenberg launched that shift in late 2005 with some frank discussion of the global defense market, and the position of small-medium players like Denel in it. At DSEI 2005 in London, UK, the outline of this new strategy was already apparent. Many of the products Denel is known for will no longer define the firm. But could it find a way to stanch the bleeding and survive in a globalized market?

And how has it done since?

• Denel’s Position
• Denel’s New Strategy
• Updates and Key Events [updated]
  
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M777: dragon’s breath
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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 also an M777 LWH development partner, but Canada became the first country to field it in combat via an emergency buy before their 2006 “Operation Archer” deployment to Afghanistan. This is DID’s new FOCUS article covering the M777 program. The latest news includes another orders from Canada and the US military…

• M777: Capabilities and Upgrades
• M777: Program
• M777: Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
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Alliant Techsystems (ATK) in Minneapolis, MN received $42 million in small-caliber ammunition orders from the U.S. Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, IL to produce 5.56mm, 7.62mm and .50-caliber ammunition. ATK Small Caliber Systems will perform work at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) in Independence, MO. The orders are part of a four-year indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract (W52P1J-09-D-0027) worth up to $2 billion.

ATK said it began operating the LCAAP in 2000 and is the largest supplier of small-caliber ammunition to the U.S. military, producing a mix of 5.56mm, 7.62mm, .50-caliber, and 20mm cartridges, as well as ammunition links. Working in partnership with the Army, ATK has expanded manufacturing capacity at the plant, and is also under contract to modernize the facility. The company has delivered 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition in FY 2009.

The US armed forces have suffered from small arms ammunition shortages in recent years, and their reliance on the World War 2 era Lake City plant as their sole source for military small arms ammunition was a contributing factor. In addition to financing the modernization of the Lake City facility, the US military has made General Dynamics Ordnance & Tactical Systems (GD OTS) its second source supplier for small arms ammunition.

Elbit Systems in Haifa, Israel, has agreed to pay $18 million for a 19% stake in fellow Israeli defense firm Mikal. The Mikal group operates through 3 main divisions: Soltam Systems, which supplies artillery, mortars, and ammunition; Symar, which supplies armored fighting vehicles; and ITL Optronics, which supplies sensors for soldiers, unmanned aerial vehicles, military vehicles and battle management systems.

In the first stage of the transaction, Elbit Systems will loan Mikal $18 million. Once regulatory approvals are received, the loan will be converted to an equity investment, and Mikal will issue approximately 19% of its shares to Elbit Systems. Then, Elbit Systems will be granted the option to purchase the remaining shares of Mikal from the other shareholders during 2011 for a purchase price to be determined through an independent external valuation. The Mikal Group is Israel’s second largest privately owned defense conglomerate, consisting of 19 globally-distributed companies focusing on land-based solutions, systems and products for over 80 countries worldwide.

Iraqis train: M240B, PKMs
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June 11/09: Agility Logistics subsidiary Taos Industries Inc. in Huntsville, AL won a $30.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for 33,400,938 rounds of “various non standard ammunition” for the Republic of Iraq. Work is to be performed in Huntsville, AL until Oct 29/10. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web, with 3 bids received by the Rock Island Contracting Center in Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-09-C-0026). See also firm release.

Taos has also been contracted by Rock Island to supply “non-standard” ammunition to Afghan Army forces, in the wake of the AEY scandal. In these cases, “non-standard” means non-NATO standard. The Soviet caliber 7.62×39 ammunition used in AK-47 type assault rifles would qualify; Iraq is phasing them out in favor of the American 5.56mm M4 carbine, but Iraqi forces operates some. Likewise, the 7.62×54mm ammunition used in Iraq’s Dragunov sniper rifles and PKM light machine guns is a non-NATO caliber, and hence “non standard.” In Afghanistan, Taos is also supplying 12.7×108 mm ammunition for Soviet heavy machine guns, and 70.5mm PG-7VM rocket propelled grenades.

MK13 Mod 5
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ATK subsidiary Federal Cartridge Co. in Anoka, MN received a $49.9 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for .300 Winchester magnum ammunition. Maximum quantity is 80,100 boxes of 480 rounds each, minimum is 117 boxes. This ammunition will be used by U.S. forces engaged in combat, and by the US Navy in Match Team competition.

300 Winchester offers longer range, better accuracy, and more hitting power than standard NATO 7.62×51 mm rounds. The MK248 MOD 1 cartridge grew out of the .300 Winchester Magnum Product Improvement Program…

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F-15E firing flares:
“Splash Two in Singapore!”
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At the dawn of the 21st Century, Singapore decided that it needed a new aircraft to replace its often-upgraded A-4SU Super Skyhawks. This was hardly surprising; John McCain had been flying an older model A-4 Skyhawk when he was shot down during the Vietnam War. The decision to require a twin-engine aircraft eliminated the JAS-39 Gripen and F-16 E/F Block 60 from the competition, and the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and Sukhoi Su-30 family were also scratched. That left just 3 finalists: Boeing’s F-15 Strike Eagle, France’s Rafale, and the Eurofighter Typhoon. Limited air-ground capabilities and a slow upgrade schedule splashed the Eurofighter, leaving just 2 contenders still flying. September 2005 releases tapped Boeing as the winner, and the deal was done in December 2005. The 12-plane, $1+ billion order (est. $1.4-1.8 billion) was good news for Boeing: Singapore’s F-15SGs, and South Korea’s 40-60 plane F-15K order, are keeping the assembly line open for this 2-seat, multi-role fighter.

The F-15SG will be an advanced version of the U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle, with minor customization to Singapore’s specifications and the most up-to-date avionics available. The higher-thrust GE F110 engine will be used in place of the Pratt & Whitney F100 engines that power some F-16s and most F-15s. AN/APG-63v3 AESA radars will be included, and there are rumors that a number of Israeli electronics and self-defense systems will be part of the F-15SG as well. Sniper XR surveillance & ground targeting pods, and IRST systems built in for air-air engagements, will also be added to Singapore’s standard equipment list.

With all of these features built into its fighters, Singapore has legitimate grounds to argue that it will be flying the world’s most advanced version of the F-15 Strike Eagle. A follow-on order increased the numbers bought, and now the first planes have been delivered…

• Contracts and Key Events
• Appendix A: The F-15SG and the Global Fighter Market
• Appendix B: Additional Readings & Sources – Equipment
• Appendix C: Additional Readings & Sources – Other News & Developments
• Appendix D: Additional Readings & Sources – Market Analysis and Background
  
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