IDGA Tactical Vehicle Conference - Click Here!

India’s IGMP Missile Programs: Export contenders?

Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - India, FOCUS Articles, Industry & Trends, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Middle East - Israel, Missiles - Anti-Armor, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, Missiles - Surface-Air, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Radars, Russia, Testing & Evaluation

BrahMos
PJ-10 BrahMos
(click to view full)
DII

Major Akash order by India, additional background. (Feb 2/10)

Back in November 2005, The Hindu newspaper reported that India’s government has given the go-ahead for exporting missiles, and that India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is looking to market several of its products internationally. The DRDO will participate in international expos as part of its marketing strategy, and government officials have claimed interest from African, Gulf and South-East Asian countries. They have also noted, however, that India’s government would be required to approve any foreign sales to specific countries. The missile systems in question included:

  • The canceled Trishul (“trident”) short-range surface-air missile (SAM)
  • Akash (“sky”) medium-range SAM
  • Nag (“cobra”) vehicle-mounted anti-armor missile; and the
  • Indo-Russian PJ-10 BrahMos medium-range supersonic cruise missile, which is primarily designed as an anti-ship weapon but can also perform land attack.

Brazil Buys Naval Seahawks, Penguins

Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Helicopters & Rotary, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Other Corporation, Support Functions - Other, United Technologies

SH-3s
USN & Brazilian SH-3s
at TOPEX 1987
(click to view full)

Brazil needs new anti-submarine helicopters to accompany its “AH-11” Super Lynx models, and replace HS-1 Squadron’s aged SH-3A/B Sea Kings. HS-1 bases out of Sao Pedro da Adelia near Rio, and generally serves aboard Brazil’s sole aircraft carrier, NAe Sao Paulo (ex-Foch).

Brazil is standardizing on Eurocopter’s EC725 Cougar as its medium helicopter across all 3 services, but that model doesn’t have a naval/ anti-submarine variant. Brazil could have chosen a comparably-sized naval helicopter like the EH101 Merlin, or the forthcoming NH90 NFH. Instead, they opted for Sikorsky’s smaller S-70B/H-60 Seahawk, which is in wide service around the globe, and offers commonalities with the Brazilian Army’s fleet of S-70/UH-60L Pave Hawk search and rescue aircraft…

Continue Reading… »

Pakistan’s P-3 Orion Maritime Aircraft - and their Harpoons

Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Electronics - General, Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Radars, Specialty Aircraft

AIR_P-3_Orion_Pakistan.jpg
Pakistani P-3
(click to view full)

In late 2004, Portuguese aircraft refitter OGMA was chosen by Lockheed Martin in Marietta, GA to refit Pakistan’s 2 P-3C Update II.5 Orion maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft for service. In addition, Pakistan was preparing to buy 8 US Navy surplus P-3C aircraft through the Foreign Military Sales program.

Pakistan’s location on the Indian Ocean places it next to the Persian Gulf, and its rivalry with India ensures that its maritime patrol and strike capabilities will remain relevant across a wide expanse of ocean. Subsequent orders have served to detail the modernization work for Pakistan’s fleet, additional aircraft buys and refurbishment orders, and accompanying orders for AGM-84 Harpoon missiles that can attack naval or land targets.

The latest developments include an order for additional mission systems work, and delivery of the 2nd plane…

Continue Reading… »

Ships Ahoy! The Harpoon Missile Family

Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Asia - Japan, Asia - Other, Boeing, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Modifications, FOCUS Articles, Middle East - Israel, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, New Systems Tech, Sensors & Guidance

ORD_Harpoon_Missile.jpg
Harpoon in flight
(click to view full)
DII

The sub-sonic, wave-skimming *GM-84 Harpoon is the US Navy’s sole anti-shipping missile, with the minor exception of small AGM-119B Penguin missiles and anti-tank Hellfires carried on some H-60 helicopters. The Harpoon has been adapted into several variants, and exported to a wide variety of world navies. Its best known competitor is the French/MBDA *M38/39/40 Exocet, but recent years have witnessed a growing competitive roster at both the subsonic (Israel’s Gabriel family, Russia’s SS-N-27 Klub family, Saab’s RBS15, Kongsberg’s stealthy NSM, China’s YJ-82/C-802 used recently in Lebanon) and supersonic (Russia’s SS-N-22 Sunburn/Moskit and some SS-N-27 Klub variants, India’s PJ-10 BrahMos derived from Russia’s SS-N-26) levels.

At present, the Harpoon family includes air, sea/land, and submarine-launched versions of the GM-84. Variants such as the land attack SLAM variant and the modern AGM-84K Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) will also be covered in this DID FOCUS Article, which describes the missiles themselves and covers global contracts involving this family.

The most recent additions involve a requested Harpoon Block II buy from Egypt, and a Harpoon-related purchase from Australia for its new destroyers…

Vietnam Buys Russian Kilo Class Subs, SU-30 Fighters, Nuke Plant

Related Stories: Asia - Other, Contracts - Intent, Force Structure, Issues - International, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, Other Corporation, Russia, Submarines, Underwater Weapons

SSK Kilo
Kilo Class cutaway
(click to view full)

In April 2009, reports surfaced that Vietnam had agreed in principle to a deal with Russia for 6 of its diesel-electric Kilo/ Project 636 Class fast attack submarines. There have been rumors that Vietnam owns 2 ex-Yugoslav mini-submarines for use in commando operations, but the Vietnamese People’s Navy doesn’t own any full size submarines that can take on enemy subs and ships. That’s about to change, thanks to a December 2009 contract. In addition to submarines, the Vietnamese Navy order is said to include new heavyweight torpedoes and missiles (most likely Klub family) to arm them.

China’s April 2009 display of naval might is only part of the mosaic influencing Vietnam’s decisions in this matter, as contracts for submarines – and more – are signed in Russia…

Continue Reading… »

SELEX Delivering Marte Mk2 Radar Seekers to UAE

Related Stories: Contracts - Awards, Europe - Other, Finmeccanica, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Sensors & Guidance

Marte Mk2N
Marte Mk2N test
(click to view full)

Finmeccanica subsidiary SELEX Galileo recently announced [PDF] a EUR 26 million (about $38.7 million) contract for SM-1S radar seekers, as part of an MBDA contract for the provision of Marte MK2/N anti-ship missiles to “a Middle East customer.” The SM-1S integrates a new digital processor developed to enhance processing of the missile’s radar data, in order to improve detection and accuracy in environments that include near-shore’s high clutter levels.

The Marte Mk2/N anti-ship missile was introduced in 2006 as a naval variant of the helicopter-launched Mk2/S. The customer in this case is almost certainly the UAE, which became the Marte Mk2/N missile’s first customer when it contracted for 24 refit and new-build Ghannatha class 26.5 meter patrol boats at IDEX 2009. Some of these boats will carry the Mk2/N missile, while at least 6 will carry Patria’s 120mm Nemo automatic mortar turret instead, creating a flexible form of naval fire support that mirrors similar efforts in Finland.

NGC Contracted for USN/RAN SPQ-9B Radars & Support

Related Stories: Americas - USA, Australia & S. Pacific, Contracts - Awards, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Northrop-Grumman, Radars, Surface Ships - Combat

ELEC_AN-SPQ-9B_ASMD_Radar.jpg
AN/SPQ-9B radar

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in Melville, NY recently received a pair of contracts from America and Australia for the AN/SPQ-9B radar system. That radar was the main air defense radar on several American destroyer and cruiser classes, but is now relegated to a secondary role on advanced air defense ships. It provides the capability to detect and track low-flying, high-speed, small radar cross-section anti-ship missile targets in heavy clutter environments.

The AN/SPQ-9 radar is currently installed on CG-47 Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruisers, where this track-while-scan radar can be integrated into the Mk 86 gun fire control system (GFCS) or the Aegis Combat Direction System. It is also the primary radar on the LHA-1 Tarawa class amphibious landing ships. As for the AN/SPQ-9B…

Continue Reading… »


Australia’s 2009 Defense White Paper

Related Stories: Air Reconnaissance, Australia & S. Pacific, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Intent, Fighters & Attack, Force Structure, Forces - Special Ops, Helicopters & Rotary, IT - Cyber-Security, IT - General, IT - Networks & Bandwidth, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Missiles - Anti-Armor, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, Missiles - Surface-Air, Non-Lethal Weapons, Official Reports, Policy - Procurement, Power Projection, R&D - Contracted, Satellites & Sensors, Signals Intercept, Cryptography, etc., Soldier's Gear, Specialty Aircraft, Submarines, Surface Ships - Combat, Surface Ships - Other, Tanks & Mechanized, Think Tanks, Transport & Utility, Trucks & Transport, UAVs, UUVs & USVs

Cover
(click to download)

Defense was an issue in the last Australian election. The center-left Labor Party attacked the center-right Liberal Party by citing mismanaged projects, and accusing the Howard government of making poor choices on key defense platforms like the F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A Joint Strike fighters. That sniping continued even after Labor won the election, and has been evident in more than a few Defence Ministry releases.

The new government made some program changes, such as canceling the SH-2G Seasprite contract. Yet it has been more notable for the programs it has not changed: problematic upgrades of Australia’s Oliver Hazard Perry frigates were continued, the late purchase of F/A-18F Super Hornets was ratified rather than canceled, and observers waited for the real shoe to drop: the government’s promised 2009 Defence White Paper, which would lay out Australia’s long-term strategic assessments, and procurement plans.

On May 2/09, Australia’s government released “Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030.” DID has reviewed that document, and the reaction to date… including a new ASPI roundup of reactions from around Asia.

Modernizing Canada’s Halifax Class Frigates

Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, BAE, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, EADS, Europe - Other, Events, Finmeccanica, General Dynamics, IT - Software & Integration, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Other Corporation, Protective Systems - Naval, Radars, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, Simulation & Training, Spotlight articles, Support & Maintenance, Surface Ships - Combat, Thales

Windsor and Montreal
HMCS Montreal & sub:
HMCS Windsor
(click to view full)

Launched between 1988-1995, and commissioned between 1992-1996, Canada’s 12 City Class (now Halifax Class) frigates currently form the high end of its naval capabilities. The Canadian Navy has declined drastically from its post-WWII status as the world’s 4th largest navy, and the Halifax Class itself is finding that its open-ocean design is not suited to cope with modern littoral threats and improving anti-ship missiles. Replacement vessels are still many years away, which means that the 4,750t frigates will need to be modernized within the limits of their design if they are to remain effective.

Canada’s government has decided to fund that modernization, much as Australia and New Zealand are modernizing the Halifax Class’ ANZAC Frigate contemporaries. Refits are scheduled to begin with HMCS Halifax in 2010, and that ship is scheduled to re-enter service about 18 months later in 2012. By 2017, all 12 frigates are scheduled to be upgraded as part of a C$ 3.1 billion (about $2.9 billion) program.

This DII Spotlight article explains the scope of the upgrades, notes the current systems, and covers the contracts and developments involved. The latest addition is a contract for Indentification Friend-or-Foe systems, and the opening of a key program facility in Nova Scotia…

South Korea Beefs Up Anti-Air Defenses as North Blusters

Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Other, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Surface-Air, Protective Systems - Naval, Raytheon

SM-2 salvo
SM-2 salvo
(click to view full)

North Korea’s recent aggressive actions, including abrogation of the 1953 ceasefire, nuclear detonation, and testing of short and long-range missiles, has increased international tensions and directly threatened its southern neighbor. South Korea has been modernizing its defenses for some time now, and a recent request for Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) systems from the United States is a case in point.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced May 26/09 [PDF] South Korea’s official request to buy 46 SM-2 Block IIIA missiles, 35 SM-2 Block IIIB missiles, 3 SM-2 Block IIIB Telemetry Missiles for testing, 84 SM-2 missile containers, and associated test and support equipment, spare and repair parts, training, and other forms of support. The estimated cost is $170 million, and the prime contractor will be Raytheon in Tucson, AZ. The sale would require temporary travel for U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Republic of Korea for in-country training, as a recurring requirement during the life of the missile systems.

How does this purchase fit into South Korea’s overall defense plans?

Continue Reading… »

Images on Defense Industry Daily

Defense Industry Daily does not own the rights to the images displayed on our site. We use images under "fair use" copyright doctrine, from public sources and private organizations, or use images under Creative Commons/ GNU licenses that make them available to the general public, or with explicit and noted permission. All rights remain with the original image owners.

If you believe that a DID image may violate these conditions, please discuss it with us via an email to editorial@defenseindustrydaily.com

The sizes displayed on DID are the only sizes we have to offer.


Close