02-Nov-2009 13:15 EST
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Delivery & Task Orders, Missiles - Precision Attack, Submarines, Surface Ships - Combat, T&C - SAIC
Tomahawk launch from
USS Farragut [DDG-99]
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Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) received a task order from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to support the Tomahawk weapons system program.
The task order has a 1-year base period of performance, 4 one-year options, and a total value of more than $60 million if all options are exercised. The task order was awarded under the US Navy’s SeaPort-e contract.
The Tomahawk is a submarine or ship-launched land-attack cruise missile…
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04-Oct-2009 15:42 EDT
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USMC KC-130J
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Special Operations Command’s AC-130H/U gunships can lay down withering hails of accurate fire, up to and including 105mm howitzer shells, in order to support ground troops. The Marines wanted heavy aircraft that could support their Leathernecks on the ground. The bad news was that the the Corps could field 45 KC-130J aerial tankers for the price of a 12-plane AC-130J squadron, and lighter options like the AC-27J “Stinger II” would probably tally similar costs once R&D dollars were factored in.
Could the Marines change tack, and offer a modular weapon package that would let them arm their existing tankers as needed? Could armed KC-130Js offer limited fire support, while loitering over the battlefield and using their unique speed range to refuel helicopters and fast jets alike? The Harvest Hawk program aims to do just that. It would give the USMC a far less capable convertible gunship option for Afghanistan, at a cost that’s about 2 orders of magnitude below a dedicated gunship fleet.
The latest developments include additional background regarding the program, and an order for 2 initial fielding kits…
- Equipping The KC-130J Harvest Hawk [updated]
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings and Sources
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29-Sep-2009 11:34 EDT
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SSK Dolphin Class
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In November 2005, reports surfaced that that Germany would sell Israel 2 AIP-equipped SSK Dolphin Class submarines. In 2006, the deal was finalized at a total of $1.27 billion, with the German government picking up 1/3 of the cost. The new boats were built at the Howaldtswerke-Deutche Werft AG (HDW) shipyard, in the Baltic Sea coastal city of Kiel.
Now, reports indicate that both submarines have been delivered early…
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28-Sep-2009 17:48 EDT
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From these…
In the aftermath of arms control treaties, some of the USA’s nuclear-powered Ohio Class SSBN nuclear missile submarines are being converted to become long range conventional strike and special operations SSGN “Tactical Tridents.” Four ultra-stealthy Ohio-class SSBNs are having their 24 Trident II D-5 nuclear ballistic missiles removed and replaced with up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The USA is also adding accommodation for 66-102 special forces troops, special attachments for new Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) or older Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV) “mini-subs,” and a mission control center. In future, the SSGNs may also carry UUV underwater robotic vehicles and even UAVs for aerial operations.
...to these
(click to view full)
These modifications provide the USA with an impressive and impressively flexible set of conventional firepower, in a survivable and virtually undetectable platform that can remain on station for very long periods.
DID FOCUS articles cover significant programs of record. This updated article covers the origins of this conversion program, the key players, the timeline, the key technologies involved, and comprehensive coverage of the announced contracts under this $1.4 billion refurbishment and conversion program to date. All 4 submarines have now returned to service, and they are beginning to execute key missions…
23-Sep-2009 07:30 EDT
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(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.
- Fast Incoming
- The Highlight Reel
- Additional Readings & Assessments [updated]
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22-Sep-2009 09:21 EDT
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Harpoon in flight
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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 *M39/40 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 missile. 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 since Oct 1/06.
The most recent additions involve the reported cancellation of the US Navy’s Harpoon Block III program, and land target tests for SLAM-ER and Harpoon Block II…
17-Sep-2009 16:49 EDT
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M142 HIMARS
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Long-time US Middle East ally Jordan has submitted [PDF] 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?...
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14-Sep-2009 14:34 EDT
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AGM-65D Fired From F-16
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Raytheon received a $77.4 million foreign military sales contract to produce 266 AGM-65D and AGM-65G2 infrared-guided Maverick air-to-surface all up rounds (AURs) missiles and 1 ground control system for the governments of Korea and Taiwan. AURs are missiles in storage containers that contain appropriate electronics and can be moved from storage to loading as is.
AGM-65 rose to prominence during Desert Storm, when many of TV’s missile-eye views of air strikes came from Mavericks. The missile is produced in 3 versions: TV-guided, imaging infared (IIR) guided, and laser-guided. “Raytheon Restarts Production of Laser Maverick Missiles” has more on the laser-guided variety.
The current contract is for the IIR-guided missiles, which are effective at night or in bad weather…
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13-Sep-2009 09:42 EDT
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AARGM Concept
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The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a medium range, supersonic, air-launched tactical missile whose primary job is to attack and kill enemy radars. The Italian Air Force is expected to buy up to 250 of these successors to the AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), and AARGM is also a US Navy major acquisition program with around 1,750 expected orders from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Now Germany looks set to join, too.
So, why is that such a big deal? Perhaps the story of how a Serbian unit using an antiquated SA-3 battery managed to survive the 1999 NATO air campaign – and shoot down an F-117 Nighthawk stealth plane – will help put things into perspective. DID recounts those events, explains the new weapon, and offers updates re: contracts and key milestones.
The latest developments includes a failed congressional attempt to kill the program, and the final developmental test, as the missile begins production and prepares for Navy operational evaluation tests and hoped-for introduction into the fleet…
30-Jul-2009 14:12 EDT
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AP-3C over Darwin
(click to view full)
In November 2005, the Australian Government, Tenix Defence and Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace (AA) have signed the P3 Accord Master Agreement to provide capability upgrades and Through Life Support (TLS) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The three parties have established a Joint Management Office (JMO) to supervise all Accord activities under a unique risk-sharing contractual arrangement. The JMO will develop and implement all RAAF AP-3C capability upgrades and TLS solutions through to the aircraft’s planned withdrawal date – at which point it will likely be replaced by the 737-based AP-8A MMA.
The combined value of the TLS and block upgrades to the aircraft is expected to be more than A$ 1 billion, and the project is moving on to a new phase – even as some of the efforts that led to the most recent announcement win Australian awards…
- Australia’s AP-3C Programs [updated]
- The AP-3 Accord
- AP-3 Accord Updates [updated]
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