• EADS CEO says the company is looking to buy a medium-sized defense company in the US; last US acquisition was PlantCML.

• The use of metrology assisted machining, manufacturing, and assembly is growing in the aerospace sector.

• Strategy Analytics: Annual market for SATCOM-related electronics to grow from $796 million in 2009 to nearly $2.58 billion in 2020.

• Der Spiegel Online attempts to cover the growing use of UAVs, includes interview with Brookings’ Peter Singer (vid. “In the Loop? Armed Robots and the Future of War”)

• US Navy i-ENCON program saves 354,000 barrels of fuel during Q1 2010; 4.9% better than Q4 2009.

• WIRED Danger Room looks at ongoing issues with removable storage in US military, and the flip-side of its cyber-security efforts for operations.

• Boeing completes design of US Navy free electron laser weapon system to take out high-speed cruise missiles.

• Honeywell gets US Army order to maintain Cold War era Washington-Moscow hotline.

• CACI secures $219 million contract to provide C4ISR and IT to SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic.

Tornado w. Storm Shadows
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On Feb 19/10, Defense News reported that Saudi Arabia’s fleet of Tornado low-level, medium-range strike fighters will soon be receiving a pair of significant enhancements: MBDA’s stealthy Storm Shadow medium range cruise missiles, and the MBDA/Boeing Brimstone anti-armor missile. The Storm Shadow would give the Saudis a potent long range strike capability against even heavily-defended targets, while the Brimstone missiles will allow Saudi fast jets to serve in an assault-breaker role, or offer reliable close air support for ground forces.

The Saudi Tornado Sustainment Programme has been engaged in a little-discussed modernization of Saudi Arabia’s primary strike fleet, under BAE Systems’ aegis…

Continue Reading… »

RAAF F/A-18F rollout
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A$ 21.5 million contract for training support, formal transfer of first 3 aircraft. (Feb 23/10)

Australia’s Super Hornet purchase began life in a storm. “The Australian Debate: Abandon F-35, Buy F-22s?” offers full coverage of the controversies over Australia’s involvement in the F-35 Lightning II program, amid criticisms that the F-35A will (a) be unable to compete with proliferating SU-30 family fighters in the region, (b) lack the range or response time that Australia requires, and (c ) will either be extremely expensive at $100+ million per aircraft during early production, or will have to be bought at after 2018 or so when prices have dropped. The accelerated retirement of Australia’s 22 long-range F-111s in 2010 sharpened the timing debate, by creating a serious gap between the F-111’s retirement and the F-35’s likely arrival.

In December 2006, therefore, The Australian reported that Defence Minister Brendan Nelson was discussing an A$ 3 billion (about $2.36 billion) purchase of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet aircraft around 2009-2010. A move that came as “a surprise to senior defence officials on Russell Hill”; but became an official purchase as requests and contracts were hurriedly submitted. Australia’s new Labor government’s later decided to keep the Super Hornet purchase rather than pay cancellation fees, and ministerial statements place the program’s final figure at A$ 6.6 billion, which includes basing, training, and other ancillary costs.

This DID Spotlight article describes the model chosen, links to coverage of the key controversies, and offers a history of contracts and key event’s from the program’s first official DSCA requests to the present day…

• RAAF Super Hornets: Variants and Variances
• RAAF Super Hornets: Controversies
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

M142 HIMARS
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HIMARS launcher order goes through. (Feb 19/10)

In September 2009, long-time US Middle East ally Jordan submitted an impressive wish list of weapons for its armed forces to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The list includes rocket launchers, radios, and Humvees.

DSCA said that weapons Jordan wants to buy will provide its armed forces with a long-range precision artillery support capability that will significantly improve US-Jordan interoperability and provide for the defense of vital installations. What exactly is Jordan looking for?

Continue Reading… »

• Information Dissemination on 2008 at-sea usage data and implications for various US Navy ship types.

• India to issue a new defense procurement policy, hopes to reduce delays in purchasing weapons, and to increase domestic production.

• India’s Mahindra Group is lobbying the government to lift foreign ownership cap for defense firms to 49%. The firm is involved in a joint venture with BAE systems, among others.

• Pakistan gets its new guns in just over 3 years; India is still dithering after more than 6 years…

• Britain’s maritime replenishment options: From Rover/Leaf to… MARS? Aegir? JSS?

• Chile commissions former American Kaiser Class oiler/ station support ship Andrew J. Higgins [T-AO 190], as the Almirante Montt.

• South Korea, Japan and China mull tripartite security framework.

• Denmark plans to decide sooner re: its future fighter jet. F-35, JAS-39NG Gripen, F/A-18 Super Hornet competing.

• US Missile Defense Agency shoots down ballistic missile with airborne laser.

• Former Hawaii superferries delivering supplies to Haiti. A JHSV preview?

• US Secretary of State Clinton says US would extend security umbrella to Persian Gulf allies to protect them from an increasingly militaristic Iran.

• General Dynamics gets contract worth up to $387 million to support US Army’s constructive training systems.

• Sikorsky, Terma to collaborate if Danish government buys MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

• Raytheon’s AGM-154C-1 passes communications test with JSTARS aircraft.

• Northrop Grumman demonstrates Fire Scout’s resupply capability during the US Army high-tech exercise.

• California State University program that trains linguists for the US DoD gets FY 2010 funding.

AGM-154C, impact
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AGM-154C-1 passes communications test with JSTARS aircraft. (Feb 15/10)

A $93.8 million development contract to develop the AGM-154C-1 variant of the popular JSOW glide bomb family was issued in March 2007. This new version would add moving target capability via improved imaging infrared seekers, better seeker algorithms, and a 2-way weapons data link. That combination allows the missile to be used as a secondary weapon against enemy ships, with some capability against certain moving land targets. The 2-way link ensures that targeting commands can be received, and missile health, status and position transmitted back, right up to the moment of impact. Most of those options are currently found only at the high end of the cruise missile market, giving the AGM-154C-1 an interesting positioning as a cheaper short-range alternative.

That development effort has been successful, and in late 2008 the US DoD gave the go-ahead for JSOW Block III. Now, the system has a full production contract.

Continue Reading… »

Kilo Class cutaway
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$1 billion contract signed for 12 SU-30MKK fighters. (Feb 10/10)

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… »

US Spectrum Chart
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With the explosion in the number of cell phones and other commercial wireless devices, the US Federal Communications Commission has had to take spectrum used by US government agencies and shift it over to commercial use.

To fund this spectrum transition, the US Congress passed and President Bush signed into law in 2004 the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act, which provided over $1 billion to federal agencies to pay for the shift.

The largest US government user of spectrum is the Department of Defense. So DoD got the largest chuck of that money – $355.4 million.

From that pool, the USAF recently awarded Raytheon a $37.9M delivery order to modify weapons data link equipment used for F-15 pilot training…

Continue Reading… »

PJ-10 BrahMos
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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.

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

• Littoral Combat Ship: program updates.

• A British green paper calls for enhanced military cooperation between the UK and France. Industry says: what about R&D?

• India orders BEL’s Akash medium range surface-to-air missile systems.

• India issues turboprop trainer RFP, after instructors reportedly refused to fly HPT-32s.

• Up to 8 UAVs reported operating in Waziristan, Pakistan strike.

• Indian P-8i sea control aircraft may add air-air surveillance.

• Frost & Sullivan: Traditional defense contractors will lose market share to “disruptive companies” that offer “good enough” products at cheaper prices.

• China is threatening to sanction US companies that are involved in the US $6.45 billion weapons sale to Taiwan. Real, or a bluff?

• US Defense Secretary Gates warns Congress that if it makes substantial cuts to the administration’s budget request, the US military will have to “sacrifice” force structure and capabilities.

• USA’s coming rotorcraft crunch?

• US DISA awards Unisys a $187 million contract to provide mainframe computer capacity for USAF logistics.

• Who’s right on the US carrier fighter gap? Defense Secretary Gates or the Navy?

• Raytheon receives a $170 million foreign military sales order to produce AGM-65D and AGM-65G2 infrared-guided Maverick air-to-surface missiles for the UAE.

• Maritime laser clears 2 US design reviews.

• Thales wins 5-year training support sub-contract for Australia’s E-737 Wedgetail AWACS {DII}, 5-year avionics support sub-contract for France’s Rafale fighters.

• The US Navy stands up its new Fleet Cyber Command to oversee the service’s cyberspace operations. Google attacks termed a “wake up call” by DNI.

• Draper Lab gets $131.1 million contract to upgrade the guidance systems on the Trident II D5 missile.