RQ-7 Shadow

What the USMC missed without this; Afghan deployment coming. (Dec 30/11)

By 2007, US Army RQ-7 Shadow battalion-level UAVs had seen their flight hours increase to up 8,000 per month in Iraq, a total that compared well to the famous MQ-1 Predator. Those trends have gained strength, as workarounds for the airspace management issues that hindered early deployments become more routine. Some RQ-7s are even being used to extend high-bandwidth communications on the front lines.

The difference between the Army’s RQ-7 Shadow UAVs and their brethren like the USAF’s MQ-1A Predator, or the Army’s new MQ-1C Sky Warriors, is that the Shadow has been too small and light to be armed. With ultra-small missiles still in development, and missions in Afghanistan occurring beyond artillery support range, arming the Army’s Shadow UAVs has become an even more important objective. It would take some new technology, but that seems to be on the way for the US Army’s RQ-7B Shadow UAV fleet…

• Pieces of the Puzzle
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings [updated]
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Iron Dome concept

On August 16, 2011, Rafael and Raytheon announced a partnership to market the Iron Dome system in the United States. This rocket interception system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has an all-weather range of up to 70 km (43.5 miles). To make the system mobile, the detection/tracking radar and battle management/control parts of the system are carried on trucks, while the missile firing unit is mounted on a trailer.

IL-76/A-50EI Phalcon:
first delivery

IAF ordering 2 more A-50EI Phalcons?; Article improvements. (Nov 8/11)

In recent years India has been shifting toward aircraft that would give it the ability to patrol and act at extended ranges. In January 2004, India and Israel signed a $1.1 billion contract for 3 Phalcon airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, as part of a $1.5 billion tripartite agreement with Russia. With the arrival of its first IL-76 Phalcon, India joined the global ranks of AWACS operators. The aircraft will monitor huge swathes of Indian airspace, intercept communications and log radar frequencies, add some ground surveillance, and help command IAF responses.

At the same time, India moved to implement AWACS capabilities on a 2nd, smaller, platform, in order to provide broader coverage. The goal there is to field a Tier 2 platform based on Embraer’s ERJ-145 jet, and Indian radar and electronics, allowing India to join the global ranks of AWACS designers. Just to make things interesting, their arch-rival Pakistan offers a contrasting case study, with quicker fielding of off-the shelf buys from China (Y-8 based ZDK-03) and Sweden (Saab 2000 Erieye)...

• India’s AWACS: Platforms & Programs [updated]
• Updates and Developments [updated]
• Video Briefings from Aero India 2009
• Additional Readings & Sources
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EFSS Concept

75 ITVs. (Oct 17/11)

The U.S. Marine Corps sees the 120mm Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) mortar as the 3rd leg of its expeditionary fire support triad. EFSS will be the short-range but easily transportable counterpart to the reduced-weight M777 155mm towed howitzer, and the truck-mounted M142 HIMARS rocket system.

Accompanying Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs) in expeditionary operations, EFSS will be the heliborne Ship-To-Objective Maneuver (STOM) force’s primary fire support, before the larger and longer range systems can move into position. As such, the EFSS launcher, its Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV) carrier, a portion of the basic load of ammunition, and a portion of its crew, must all be transportable by a single CH-53E Super Stallion or future CH-53K heavy lift helicopter, and/or a single MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. The program’s path has not been smooth, and its vehicle choice in particular has come in for criticism, as it heads toward full-rate production…

• EFSS and ITV [updated]
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
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M119 105mm

Sept 21/11: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces Saudi Arabia’s formal request for up to $886 million of equipment to augment the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s existing light artillery capabilities. The Royal Saudi Land Forces already have towed 155mm and 105mm howitzers and support vehicles and systems, and DSCA says they will have no difficulty absorbing these additional howitzers into their armed forces. If a contract is negotiated, implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As a Foreign Military Sale mode purchase, any contract will be managed by a US Army department, probably the Rock Island Arsenal, IL. The specific items requested include:

• Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, J Randy Forbes (R-VA), has outlined a number of shortfalls in US Navy programs. Concerns focus upon increased inspection failures for naval vessels, the deployment of ships lacking essential equipment or systems and aircraft that are not combat ready. Forbes’ concerns have also been echoed by two senior Navy officers during a hearing on fleet readiness.

• The House Armed Services Committee announces the formation of a bipartisan financial management panel to scrutinize the Department of Defense’s (DoD) financial management systems.

• The Defense Contract Agency questions Northrop Grumman’s claims that the divestment of its shipbuilding business and the closure of the Avondale shipyard will save the United States an estimated $600 million.

• A New Jersey based defense contractor pleads guilty to a charge of conspiring to illegally export Department of Defense (DoD) weapons plans to China. Rather than fulfil the obligations of the DoD contract to domestically manufacture defense materiel, Swiss Technology contracted with a company in China who made the products at a cheaper price.

• Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gives the Defense Ministry the go-ahead to purchase foreign military equipment if domestically manufactured products are overpriced.

• Speaking at a conference at the UK’s RUSI think tank, Defence Secretary Liam Fox echoed comments made by recently-retired Defense Secretary Robert Gates by criticizing NATO member states who are ‘not pulling their weight’ in the Libyan air campaign.

• A former British Army General argues that the country’s military could offset financial problems associated with ‘equipment lust’ by striking a balance between regular and reserve forces.

• A member of Iraq’s Security and Defense Commission says the country is interested in increasing defense cooperation with the European Union (EU).

• IMI’s M329 APAM-MP-T Kalanit 120mm tank shell wins an Israeli 2011 Defense Prize. The shell works in both time fuzed/airburst mode, and conventional HEAT mode, to kill targets hiding in trenches or behind walls. It’s one of the many spinouts of Israel’s 2006 Lebanon War experiences.

• A Chinese media profile has emerged of the man regarded as the ‘architect’ of the J-20 stealth aircraft.

• Democrat members of the House of Representatives challenge President Barack Obama’s plans for troop withdrawals from Afghanistan by proposing a series of amendments to the 2012 fiscal year defense appropriations bill. The amendments seek to reduce funding for combat operations and accelerate US troop withdrawal.

• The Department of Defence (DoD) sends to Congress a 91 page request to reallocate $5 billion worth of funding to replace bombs dropped during the Libya air campaign.

• The UK National Audit Office (NAO) publishes a report raising concerns that the Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) [PDF] radically changed the Queen Elizabeth Class carrier concept.

• Australia awards a two year contract extension to BAE Systems to provide maintenance, engineering and logistics support to its 33 Lead-in-Fighter Hawk Aircraft.

• South Korea’s defense ministry requests a 6.6% increase to its budget for 2012 to improve combat readiness for its troops. If approved, the defense budget will increase to $29.1 billion in 2012, up from $27 billion for 2011.

• Israel’s Defense Ministry awards the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) new Calanit artillery shell with the Israel Defense Prize.

• Russia follows up its agreement with Azerbaijan to extend the lease of its Armenian air base until 2044  by formally asking Ukraine if it can rent facilities on its Crimean peninsula to to train naval pilots.

YRH-70 w. Hydras

Order for surveillance – and targeting – turrets; EC635s will also be ARH. (June 12/11)

In July 2008, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Iraq’s formal request to buy 24 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters that act as scouts, perform light close air support, and escort other helicopters on dangerous missions. The DSCA documents also included requests for airborne weapons – which would be a new capability for the nascent post-Saddam air force.

At the time of the requests, the IqAF relied on a small force of Russia’s popular Mi-8/17s, and a handful of refurbished Bell “Huey II” helicopters. While the Russian helicopters can be armed, their status as Iraq’s only medium utility helicopters makes them a poor fit for an ARH role. Instead, Iraq chose between 2 competitors: Bell’s 407, whose derivative ARH-70A won the competition in America but ran into trouble; and Boeing’s AH-6 “Little Bird” light attack helicopters used by US Special Forces. AH-6s are very effective in urban settings, and provided critical fire support during the 1991 “Blackhawk Down” incident. Iraq went on to pick its ARH winner – and issued production contracts. Now, details concerning its IA-407 helicopters are beginning to emerge…

Canadian M777s

April 25/11: Raytheon in Tucson, AZ receives an $8.3 million firm-fixed-price contract from Canada for its GPS-guided M982 Excalibur Block LA-2 155mm artillery shells. Canada has been using earlier Excalibur versions in Afghanistan, firing them from its new ultra-lightweight M777 155mm howitzers. Their $100,000+ cost per shell has attracted some criticism, but the reality is that current Rules of Engagement leave almost no other options for artillery support of troops in contact. That becomes even more important for a country like Canada, with no armed airpower in theater other than its CH-146 twin-Huey helicopters, and no movement on its expression of interest in other options like MLRS rocket launchers.

Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ; McAlester, OK; Farmington, NM; Niceville, FL; Healdsburg, CA; Anniston, AL; Cincinnati, OH; Anaheim, CA; Williamsport, PA; Joplin, MO; Lowell, MA; Baltimore, MD; Kariskoga, Sweden; and the United Kingdom, with an estimated completion date of March 31/13. One bid was solicited with one bid received. by the U.S. Army’s Contracting Command in Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, on behalf of its foreign customer (W15QKN-07-C-0100).

• The liberal-centrist hybrid warfare specialists at the Center for a New American Security think-tank release “Crime Wars: Gangs, Cartels and U.S. National Security”, and “Security Through Partnership: Fighting Transnational Cartels in the Western Hemisphere.” They are entirely correct to recognize crime cartels as near-state-level security threats, and their reports are worth attention.

• European Defence Agency is calling on members to reduce or eliminate reliance on outside suppliers for key technologies. Translation: buy American less often. The EDA’s effort is independent of issues with US export controls, but America’s combination of actions and inaction have made the EU’s reception warmer, and their task much easier.

• Keith Hennessey on why the USA’s upcoming debt-limit increase fight will be different than budget battles.

• Pentagon figures out that the services and industry has gamed its requirements process. Proposes new process. Wonder who can adapt faster?

• The Jihadis’ “Worlds of Warcraft”, and the intrinsic logic of “gamified” interaction systems.

• Georgia annuls agreement with Russia allowing Russian troops to transport military equipment across the country to a base in Armenia. Something to do with Russia trying to annul Georgia…

• Thales picks up a $50 million sub-contract for rifled 120mm mortar ammunition, as part of the US Marines’ EFSS program. The system was recently deployed in Afghanistan.

• United Technologies’ LifePort gets 5-year contract worth up to $45.5 million to provide Stanchion Litter Systems (stretchers) for US military medical evacuation.

• ASFT founder Anjan Dutta-Gupta agrees to plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence, RI to bribery of a public official in connection with an alleged kickback scheme of more than $9 million in Navy defense technology contracts.

• General Dynamics gets $13 million in contracts to supply 22 M61A2 20mm Gatling gun systems for the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F fighters and GAU-19/A Gatling gun spare items for the US Army.

• Pentagon procures Kevlar underwear and titanium athletic supporters to provide protection for US troops in Afghanistan from IEDs. Now that’s what we call protection!