• A senior Russian defense official claims that the Sukhoi T-50/PAK-FA stealth fighter will be the ‘principal plane’ of the Russian and Indian Air Forces.

• A new Pike Research report predicts that the military fuel cell market will reach $1.2 billion by 2017, an increase from $9 million in 2011.

• Moscow’s MAKS 2011 air show has prompted a number of developments concerning Russia’s military and defense industry. Russia’s Air Force is expected to receive 450 helicopters this year, including the Kamov Ka-52 Alligator. The state-run United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) plans to provide the Air Force with 20 new aircraft a year. UAC is also keen on securing a contract to supply the military with 10 Antonov AN-124 freighters.

• Western aerospace contractors keep at low profile at Taiwan Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2011. Boeing and General Electric miss the show altogether.

• Elbit Systems’ Second Quarter 2011 Results show revenues at $691.6 million, as compared with $603.3 million for last year’s corresponding quarter. C4I and airborne systems were leading contributors to the increase.

• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is considering aerial refueling options for the upgraded version of its Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

• The US Army awards an Omnibus III $497 million indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for the provision of support to the US Navy Medicine Research and Development (R&D) programs.

• Meanwhile, the General Services Administration (GSA) awards N~Ask Inc., BIT Systems and CACI Technologies an IDIQ contract worth up to $40 million for Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Engineering Support Services (SESS II).

• Ukraine’s Arsenal Design Bureau claims to have developed a ‘world class’ infrared seeker for use on anti-ship missiles.

• The DoD Inspector General’s internal audit of DARPA contract awards will likely pay close attention to business conducted with RedXDefense, a bomb detection company co-founded by the current director of DARPA.

• Speaking at his monthly press briefing, NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed the idea of joint NATO-Russian centers for cooperation on missile defense. The comments follow his recent meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi.

• Medvedev has told Defense Secretary Anatoly Serdyukov to report on the implementation of state defense orders for 2011 within the next three days. The move comes after reports that the Defense Ministry has delayed the signing of defense contracts, particularly for strategic nuclear armaments.

• Prime Minister David Cameron announces that the UK will be able to reduce its forces in Afghanistan from 9,500 to 9,000 personnel by the end of 2012. The decision was made on the advice of the National Security Council and reflects recent comments made by Barack Obama that the Afghan mission was moving from ‘combat to support’. The UK’s decision comes as Italy announces that the country’s financial crisis is forcing it to scale back its overseas operations.

• MBDA France and DCI-Cofras sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide training for MBDA’s anti-tank, artillery and air-defense products.

• As Canada’s Great Western Minerals Group nears completion of a rare earth mineral mine in South Africa, an article considers other countries as alternative sources to China’s dominance of the global market.

• Indonesia’s President calls for better relations with Malaysia to ward off conflict and resolve maritime border disputes.

• Speculation mounts that China’s new unmanned aerial vehicle may be used to provide targeting information for its anti-ship ballistic missiles.

• The internet also continues to provide plenty of intrigue regarding China’s J-20 stealth fighter. Pictures have now emerged showing the J-20’s weapons bay doors open.

USN & Brazilian SH-3s
at TOPEX 1987

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. It’s 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.

• Up to $2.5 billion to 13 companies for mobilization and deployment planning support to the US Army Forces Command under the OPTARSS II contract.

• US Army to shut down Accessions Command, which oversees initial entry training programs for recruits.

• BAE Systems gets $62 million contract modification to provide energy absorbing seats, gunner protection, and laser designation for the US Army’s Bradley fighting vehicle.

• Fire and Brimstone: The US and French air forces are considering acquiring the MBDA’s Brimstone anti-armor missile used by RAF Tornado fighters in Libya.

• EU countries’ defense spending totals $280 billion, according to ASD Reports.

• South Korean F-15K Slam Eagles begin flying with their new Lockheed Martin Sniper surveillance and targeting pods. When did that contract happen?

• If you want to field a 2 foot long, 13 pound bomb for small UAVs, the first thing you need is a really good small warhead. Raytheon turned to Nammo Talley for its new STM Small Tactical Munition.

• The Indonesian Navy successfully tests Russian-made Yakhont anti-ship missiles for the first time. The P-800 (Russian)/ SS-N-26 (NATO) missile was used as the basis for the Indo-Russian Brahmos, and “Yakhont” is the name used for P-800 export versions.

• Is the US Army losing its best officers?

PJ-10 BrahMos

Back in November 2005, The Hindu newspaper reported that India’s government had given the go-ahead for exporting missiles, and that India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was looking to market several of its products internationally. The missile systems in question included several products from the decades-long IGMP set of development programs, and one new success that used a very different approach. DRDO has led the long, turbulent development histories of the Trishul (“trident”) short-range surface-air missile (SAM), the Akash (“sky”) medium-range SAM, and the Nag (“cobra”) vehicle-mounted anti-armor missile. In contrast, the Indo-Russian PJ-10 BrahMos medium-range supersonic cruise missile was developed very quickly, and performed as advertised.

As of August 2010, India has not made an export sale, or even formally decided which countries would be eligible to receive these missiles. The programs themselves have also seen changes and developments, with Trishul canceled, Akash finally ordered, BrahMos expanded, and ongoing IGMP work in other areas.

• The Missiles: IGMP set, and BrahMos
• Program Updates [updated]
• Appendix A: India’s Export Prospects – DID Op/Ed Analysis (Dec 1/05)
• Appendix B: Additional Readings & Sources – Related Reports & News
• Appendix C: Additional Readings & Sources – The Missiles
  Continue Reading… »

• India is planning to boost its defense spending by 11.6% in the next fiscal year to counter China’s growing military capabilities.

• How was the Stuxnet attack on Iran targeted?

• But a recent IAEA report says enrichment and production has continued at Natanz despite the Stuxnet slowdown, and adds that Iran continues to prepare military delivery vehicles etc. for nuclear weapons.

• Steel cut to begin CVN 79, the 2nd carrier in the Gerald R. Ford class. If only budgets and funding could be as certain.

• According to Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, Russia is still planning to supply supersonic P-800 Yakhont anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, despite US and Israeli opposition.

• Advanced Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles are also on their way to Venezuela, now that a timeline has been agreed. There have been rumblings for a few months now that Iran’s requested missiles could be headed that way instead.

• Oshkosh job fair attracts over 1,700 applicants to fill between 650 and 750 positions to build US Army tactical vehicles.

• On the other hand, Frost & Sullivan expects a steep drop in US military tactical vehicle market, from $4.45 billion in 2010 to just $740 million in 2015.

• SAIC gets $25 million contract to provide management planning and systems integration services to the US Navy Strategic Systems Programs Command.

• Harris secures $14 million order from Brazil to provide Falcon III RF-7800V VHF handheld combat net radios and Falcon II AN/PRC-150-C [PDF] HF manpack radios.

• Expand your intellectual horizons a bit, and meet Gene Sharp... the unsung, mostly-unknown thinker whose ideas and approaches have underpinned many modern non-violent uprisings. You might want to read former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky’s current thoughts after that. Both can provide insights into counterinsurgency and the “3 block war.”

• America’s under-performing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education is widely seen as a slow-motion crisis by the industry. Former hedge fund manager Sal Khan and The Khan Academy say… YouTube to the rescue!

LRASM-B Concept

The US Navy is beginning to acknowledge a growing problem that threatens its freedom of the seas: its strike reach is shrinking and aging, while potential opponents’ attack reach is expanding and modernizing. As new designs replace older planes, its carrier aircraft strike range is shrinking to 1950s levels. Meanwhile, its anti-ship and land attack missiles are generally older, medium-range subsonic designs like the Harpoon Block I, which are much more vulnerable to air defenses. In contrast, China is deploying supersonic SS-N-22 “Sunburn” missiles bought from Russia, and working on a DF-21 anti-ship ballistic missile. The Sunburn is just one of Russia’s supersonic anti-ship missile options for sale, and a joint venture with India has added the supersonic PJ-10 BrahMos.

The math is stark: enemies with longer reach, and better weapons, may be able to create large “no go” zones for the Navy in key conflict areas. In response, think-tanks like CSBA are proposing ideas like AirSea Battle, which emphasizes a combination of advance hardening, more stealth and long-range strike options, and a progressive campaign of blinding strikes and grinding interdiction campaigns. Success will require some changes to American weapons, beginning with the missiles that arm its ships and aircraft. Hence LRASM:

• LRASM: The Program
• Contracts & Key Events
• Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

• Boom goes bust: An EADS A330 MRTT tanker plane being developed for the Royal Australian Air Force loses part of its refueling boom during tests with a Portuguese F-16 fighter.

• Russia’s arms sales continue to climb, as the Russian Centre for Analysis of Global Arms Trade pegs them at $10 billion in 2010, good for 2nd place overall.

• Perhaps responding to Chinese pressure, North Korea offers to hold high-level military talks with South Korea, an offer the South couldn’t refuse.

• Lockheed Martin gets 2 contracts totaling $218 million to demonstrate two variants of a long-range anti-ship missile (LRASM) under DARPA’s LRASM program.

• Strategy Analytics: Market for AESA-based military radar systems is expected to grow.

• CAE snags C$140 million in military aircraft simulator contracts from 12 countries.

• Norway receives the Thor Heyerdahl, the 5th and last Fridtjof Nansen Class AEGIS frigate from Spain’s Navantia.

• Bolivia’s K-8 trainer and light attack jets to arrive from China in March 2011.

• 5th C-5 Galaxy super-jumbo transport jet inducted into the RERP program for transformation into a C-5M Super Galaxy.

• Rockwell Collins, a supplier of military electronics, said its sales jumped by 25% in its fiscal 2011 first quarter.

• Harris gets $10.6 million contract to upgrade networks at 23 US Army medical treatment facilities.

• Pentagon chief Robert Gates warns about China’s J-20 Black Eagle stealth fighter jet, DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile during his first visit to Beijing.

• US DoD belt-tightening plan could benefit Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and L-3, says FBR analyst Patrick McCarthy.

• Kit Up! and DefenseTech discuss the Taliban’s performance in defeating and overrunning OP Topside and COP Kahler near Wanat, Afghanistan, with reference to the final report. Intelligent use of gear by the Taliban made a difference – and so, apparently, did problems with the Americans’ M4 carbines.

• US Army recognizes its Top 10 inventions for 2010. CERDEC goes into more detail about the REPPS backpack solar power system, Duke v3 CREW jammer; and the Wolfhound system for finding the radio used by that enemy you can hear talking, or think might be nearby scouting you, but can’t see.

• Israel Defense Force considers anti-mortar system along Gaza border.

• Pentagon’s proposal to increase health care fees for working-age military retirees draws fire.

• China’s DF-21D “carrier killer” anti-ship ballistic missile is operational, judges Admiral Willard, commander of the US Pacific Command.

• In 3-part series, Deutsche Welle examines how Germany overcame taboo against deploying military forces abroad. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

• Egypt uncovers anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons buried in Sinai, destined for West Bank.

• Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan gets $130 million Type III constant pressure refueling system for large aircraft.

• Russian President Medvedev signs into law agreement allowing France to transport weapons, military equipment from Afghanistan via Russia.

• Wall Street Journal publishes internal UN maps showing deteriorating security in Afghanistan.