A-10A over Germany

The Precision Engagement modification is the largest single upgrade effort ever undertaken for the USA’s unique A-10 “Warthog” close air support aircraft fleet. While existing A/OA-10 aircraft continue to outperform technology-packed rivals on the battlefield, this set of upgrades is expected to make them more flexible, and help keep the aircraft current until the fleet’s planned phase-out in 2028. When complete, A-10C PE will give USAF A-10s precision strike capability sooner than planned, combining multiple upgrades into 1 time and money-saving program, rather than executing them as standalone projects. Indeed, the USAF accelerated the PE program by 9 months as a result of its experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the PE program, and for other modifications to the A-10 fleet. It covers the A-10’s battlefield performance and advantages, the elements of the PE program, other planned modifications, related refurbishment efforts to keep the fleet in the air, and the contracts that have been issued each step of the way:

• A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II: Experiences on the Ground
• The A/OA-10 Precision Engagement Modification Program
• A-10 Fleet: Other Planned Improvements
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Research
  Continue Reading… »

Polish F-16C,
air display

F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft serve as the backbone of Poland’s air force. In February 2012, the USA’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced [PDF] Poland’s official request for F-16 weapons, as well as a 5 year fleet support contract that includes associated equipment, parts, and training. They will be bought using the USA’s Foreign Military Sales process, and the requested items are expected to cost up to $447 million.

If a contract is negotiated after the 15-day FMS wait period for NATO members, the prime contractors are listed as Raytheon in Tucson, AZ and Waltham, MA; Boeing in St. Charles, MO; McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, OK; and United Technologies Corporation in Hartford, CT. Poland’s specific request includes:

Death from above
(click to view larger)

The Viper Strike began life as the BAT – a canceled munition option for ground-fired ATACMS missiles. After USAF Predator UAVs armed with Hellfire missiles began to show promise in the Global War on Terror, however, US Army planners began to examine their options. Could they place a similar capability in the hands of Army ground commanders? In July 2002, these examinations led to the award of a 90-day contract to demonstrate the possibility of BAT deployment on a modified U.S. Army RQ-5 Hunter UAV.

Those tests went well, and Viper Strikes are currently carried by MQ-5B Hunter UAVs – see this video [MPG, 13.2 MB] of a Viper Strike in testing. The weapon’s small size (3 feet long, 44 pounds) and special advantages in urban fights, mountainous terrain, etc. give it a chance of spreading to other platforms. Special Operations Command has shown interest, but front-line deployment has been limited. Is the Viper Strike a case of “the right weapon at the right time”? Or a case of “caught betwixt and between”? That’s now an important question for Europe’s MBDA, who bought the weapon and manufacturing from Northrop Grumman…

• Viper Strike: Weapon, Platforms & Positioning
  • SOCOM’s Solution: Viper Strikes for AC-130s?
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

F-16F “Desert Falcon”

The most advanced F-16s in the world are not American. That distinction belongs to the United Arab Emirates, whose F-16 E/F Block 60s are a half-generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ aircraft that form the backbone of the US Air Force, and of many other fleets around the world. The Block 60 has been described as a lower-budget alternative to the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter – and has been treated as such in countries like India and the Netherlands, as they contemplate their future fighter needs.

The UAE invested in the type’s development, and with that investment comes inevitable fielding, training, and equipping needs. This DID article showcases the F-16 E/F “Desert Falcon,” and offers a window into its associated costs and life cycle, including dedicated equipment purchases for this fighter fleet:

• The F-16E/F “Desert Falcon” [updated]
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

AASM test from
Mirage 2000D

AASM tests; AASM GPS and dual IIR variants confirmed used over Libya; Libyan weapons used totals; France’s sole bomb-body maker shuts down. (Oct 13/11)

France’s Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) is similar in concept to the American GPS-guided JDAM bomb, but its execution includes several key differences. The global trend toward GPS-guided weapons makes a French entry important for industrial as well as operational reasons, and Sagem/MBDA hope that AASM will earn them a market niche.

AASM’s execution also included delays, however, which was very inconvenient for the new Rafale fighters. The laser variant was especially missed, even though Thales’ Damocles surveillance and laser targeting pod hasn’t been integrated onto Rafales yet. Escorts over Afghanistan from laser-capable Mirage 2000s and Super Etendards could provide targeting, but that isn’t much good without dual-mode bombs. A 2008 contract to add GPS guidance kits to American Paveway laser-guided bombs provided an interim solution for all French fighters, but France really wanted Sagem’s AASMs – and has now begun to order them in quantity.

• The AASM Family [updated]
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings [updated]
  Continue Reading… »

GBU-12 Paveway II

Paveway II kits convert standard Mk 80 family free-fall bombs into laser-guided weapons. Each guidance kit consists of a computer control group (CCG) guidance system with a semi-active laser seeker and pneumatically-controlled guidance canards for the front-end of the bomb, plus an air foil group (AFG) on the back end that provides lift and stability. Once a target is designated, laser guidance is more accurate than GPS, but it can be foiled by obscurants like fog, sandstorms, etc.

At the beginning of August 2011, the US government issued a contract worth up to $475 million…

AGM-158 JASSM in flight

In mid-June 2011, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando, FL received a 5-year, not-to-exceed $100 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity sole-source contract to provide technical support for the WCMD family of GPS-guided cluster bombs (which can include the CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon), and the AGM-158 JASSM family of stealthy cruise missiles. Delivery orders under this basic contract may be firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, or cost-plus-incentive-fee contracts, and will be managed by the USAF’s Air Armament Center/EBJK at Eglin Air Force Base, FL (FA8682-11-D-0155).

WCMD Launched

The associated FBO announcement corrects some errors in the Pentagon DefenseLINK release, and adds more detail. Lifecycle support includes all efforts related to JASSM, JASSM ER and any JASSM variant, or any WCMD variant, in the areas of system upgrade (i.e. datalink program for JASSM), integration with military aircraft, production improvements, sustainment (including mission planning software, non-warranty repair, and flight test support), management (includes FMS sales efforts, studies and various reports, plus parts obsolescence issues) and logistical support (technical manuals, test kits, technical orders, spares, even support for related simulator modes). The contract covers both US Government and foreign government systems. See the FBO solicitation to find the subcontracting opportunities contact person.

CBU-97 & BLU-108s

Integration contract. (May 26/11)

Going after a vehicle such as a surface to air missile launcher, or a cluster of vehicles like a formation of enemy tanks, can be a tricky business for a fast jet pilot. Vehicles hide, they shut off their radars, or there are just too many of them to effectively target and destroy en masse. Weapons like ATK’s AGM-88E AARGM and MBDA’s Brimstone missile can help, but there’s another solution. Textron’s Sensor-Fuzed Weapon (SFW) bomb scatters 40 projectiles, to cover 30 acres. The “skeet” projectiles, which look like tuna cans, will search for targets as they descend, then fire the equivalent of a tank shell through the target’s top armor. If no targets are found, 3 safety modes ensure that the area is safe for troops to move through within several minutes – which means it’s also safe for civilians years later. See “$108.1M for 13,280 ‘Cans of Whup-Ass’ ” for more.

On Sept 30/08, the US DSCA conveyed India’s formal request for a variant of the SFW with GPS guidance… but which IAF aircraft will carry them?

Mark 82 bombs
(click for full sequence)

The “Focused Lethality Munition” is a variant of the 250 pound Small Diameter Bomb I that changes its casing and internal fill, in order to produce more devastating effects within a smaller area. A carbon-fiber bomb body disintegrates instead of fragmenting, which adds explosive force nearby, but largely removes sharpnel issues farther away. Inside, metal particles turn the bomb’s explosive material into short-range projectiles. The result is especially useful in urban areas, in situations where friendly elements are close to the impact zone, and in campaigns fought using contemporary American counter-insurgency doctrine.

Now the USA wants a bigger, but still confined, bang. Enter the Precision Lethality MK82 Quick Reaction Capability Program, designed to turn 500 pound bombs into similar but larger weapons.

• US intelligence pores over Al Qaeda materials retrieved from Osama Bin Laden’s compound.

• RAF Tornado fighters destroy Libyan FROG-7 mobile rocket launchers and missiles as well as Scud missile containers south of Sirte. NATO release

• Qadaffi’s regime in Libya is laying mines near Misrata. The Dutch RNLMS Haarlem is now sweeping them, alongside French vessels.

• Russia’s new SU-35S fighter begins full flight testing of the production version. It will supplement existing SU-27/30 Flanker family machines in Russian service, and bridge the gap to the T50/PAK-FA stealth fighter.

• Russian Deputy PM Sergei Ivanov raises alarms over the state of the Caspian Sea fleet, despite recent Tartarstan/Gepard Class frigate launches. They may have to get in line behind the Black Sea Fleet, among others.

• Royal Navy commissions HMS Diamond, a Type 45 Daring Class air defense destroyer using the Sea Viper anti-air missile system.

• Northrop Grumman to unveil new Firebird MALE UAV with a pilot option.

• NCI snags $26.5 million task order under GSA Schedule 70 to provide IT support to the US Air National Guard headquarters.

• Talon USA in Morrisville, NC restructures its defense contractor subsidiary into 3 separate subsidiaries: USfalcon, a C4ISR services supplier; Greyhawk Defense, a military IT supplier; and Durango Group, a defense consulting firm.