More Bell 412s for Pakistan’s Military

Pakistani 412

The Bell 412EP (Enhanced Performance) is a “twin Huey” with a 4-bladed rotor; while it lists as a commercial product on Bell’s site, over 30 militaries around the world employ it as a utility helicopter. Including Pakistan, which has operated 26 Bell 412s since 2007.

The USA has been sending more as “security assistance” aid for the government of Pakistan, and in the wake of huge national floods, a September 2010 DSCA request looks set to turn the 412EP into the mainstay of Pakistan’s utility helicopter fleet…

Rapid Fire: 2010-09-23

• Big Enough Umbrella: US Secretary of State Clinton and NATO Secretary General Rasmussen call for cooperation between the Western alliance and Russia on a missile defense shield.

• ‘Intersleek’ Paint Job: BAE Systems completes GBP 17.5 million overhaul of the Type 42 Sheffield class destroyer HMS Edinburgh; the ship has been fitted with a new underwater spoiler and a coat of new “intersleek” paint that will cut fuel consumption by up to 15%.

• Slimey Solution: US DoD awards a $29.5 million contract to Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Trius Therapeutics to develop antibiotics from bacteria on the ocean floor for defense against biological weapon agents.

• L-3 acquires 3Di Technologies, a provider of secure satellite communications for forward-deployed US special ops forces and in-theater personnel.

• US DoD explores use of mobile solar and wind generators to produce energy in combat zones.

Fuchs Ups: Germany’s Armored Vehicle Upgrades

Fuchs 1A8

Rheinmetall recently announced a EUR 33 million contract to modernize 65 of the German Bundeswehr’s Fuchs/Fox 6×6 wheeled armored vehicles. The Fuchs is currently the Bundeswehr’s best-protected vehicle in Afghanistan. Under this contract, 43 APC(Armored Personnel Carrier), C2 command, and MEDEVAC (MEDical EVACuation – ambulance) variants will be upgraded to the Fuchs 1A8 standard, with improved drive systems like axles, suspensions, and running gear; and better protection from IED land mines. Another 22 Fuchs vehicles will also be reconfigured under this contract for new roles such as fire fighting, bomb disposal, and mine clearing, by adding protection and specialized equipment.

The Bundeswehr already operates 21 Fuchs 1A8 vehicles, bought in a EUR 13.8 million immediate operational requirement contract. That was followed by a EUR 36.6 million 2009 contract, to retrofit another 40. This contract will bring the number of upgraded Fuchs vehicles to 126, out of Germany’s stated requirement for 134 Fuchs/Fox 1A8s. The other 8 are very specialized Fuchs Nuclear, Biological & Chemical reconnaissance vehicles, which are to be upgraded at a later date.

Rapid Fire: 2010-09-22

• Sweden signs a contract to begin production of MBDA’s Meteor air-to-air missile, with a significantly longer reach than available Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAMs. The UK MoD manages the Meteor project, on behalf of 6 nations.

• Iron Dome Plans: Israel could deploy IAI’s Iron Dome rocket/artillery defense systems in north of country when they become operational in November, says IDF chief.

• Supersonic Sale: US, Israel voice opposition to Russian sale of P-800 Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria – but Netanyahu admits he cannot stop it.

• Missile Enhancement: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard gets first batch of home-grown surface-to-surface Fateh-110 ballistic missile with enhanced guidance to hit ground targets.

• Caterpillar gets contract [PDF] worth up to $641.2 million to supply 621G wheeled tractor scrapers, used in building roads and airfields, to the US Marine Corps and US Army – the largest military contract ever secured by the Peoria, IL-based company.

• Kaman, a Bloomfield, CT-based supplier of aircraft and missile and bomb components, raises up to $350 million through an “accordion” revolving credit line.

US Plans to Transfer 8,000 Humvees to Iraq

US M1114s, Kir Kush

Mechanic training. (Sept 20/10)

“RESET of the US Army’s Vehicle Fleet Continues” covers the USA’s HMMWV RECAP program, while noting that the extra weight of the add-on armor was wearing out Humvees to the point where even RESET/RECAP programs may not be able to extend their life much. One solution is to turn them over to Iraqi forces, who are often driving unarmored pickup trucks.

On Jan 17/08, a ceremony in Taji, Iraq marked the beginning of a program to refurbish and transfer more than 4,244 up-armored Humvees from US inventory to the government of Iraq by the end of 2008, and reach more than 8,000 Hummers transferred by the end of 2009. So, how are they doing?

Rapid Fire: 2010-09-21

• US GAO looks at “hybrid warfare,” and its implications for Pentagon planning.

• Across the Pond: French, British defense firms divvy up US biometrics and intelligence services firm L-1 Identity Solutions for a combined $1.6 billion.

• US Army sends PEO Soldier engineers into field – to use the gear they’re supplying the Army. Bravo.

• Bristol Alloys charged with falsifying documents re: heat-treated metals used in Virginia Class nuclear fast attack submarines. The company is cooperating. On another front, the Navy still doesn’t know why large swatches of sound-absorbing tiles are peeling off of Virginia Class boats.

• Sikorsky’s X2 demonstrator hits 250 knots true airspeed in level flight, offering V-22 class speed in a compound helicopter.

• Known and Unknown: Former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld discusses his career and tenure at the Pentagon in his memoir titled Known and Unknown due out in January.

• Eurocopter begins flight testing its new Tiger HAD scout and attack helicopter.

• Nice Paint Job: North Korean military manual allegedly smuggled out of the country indicates military uses radar-absorbing paint to disguise jet fighters, warships, and tanks. Nothing like that fairy dust…

• US Navy moves up orders for double-hulled oil tankers to keep Northrop Grumman from closing its Avondale shipyard and available to complete work on 2 LPD-17 class San Antonio-class amphibious assault ships – LPD-23 and LPD-25.

• X-ray Vision: American Science and Engineering gets $10 million order to provide service and maintenance for its Z Backscatter Van (ZBV) military trailers that detect explosives in vehicles and cargo.

Mexico Orders Eurocopter’s EC725 Helicopters

EC725 Cougar

In March 2009, Mexico became the EC725 Cougar’s 2nd export customer, thanks to a Mexican Ministry of Defense order for 6 helicopters. Mexico followed Brazil, who became the EC725′s first export customer with a $1.1 billion order for 50 machines to equip its Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Mexico’s medium-lift helicopters be used for transport and civil security missions as well. Despite the understated terms, these are primarily military helicopters that will address a military problem. In 2010, the order was doubled…

Rapid Fire 2010-09-20: Optionally Manned UAVs

• Give Peace a Chance? Despite increasing belligerence coming from the north, including deployment of an additional 200 250mm MLRS rocket launchers along the border, South Korea is proposing holding inter-Korean military talks.

• A Scoop NZ story on the Indian arms export opportunity for the USA.

• Reports of BILL 2 anti-tank missile exports from Sweden to Saudi Arabia spark controversy.

• US Navy Cyclone Class patrol boat fleet sidelined for repairs; not surprising given their usage levels.

• A growing opportunity for “optionally manned” UAVs?

• Overseas Flight: Taiwan’s Army Aviation Special Forces Command recently flew a fleet of Army helicopters – including CH-47SD, AH-1W, OH-58D and UH-1H models – to the outlying Penghu Islands, 30 miles off Taiwan’s southwestern coast, the first ever cross-sea helicopter drill performed by the command.

• Renewed Interest: UK Defense Secretary appoints Lord Philip to head independent review of the 1994 crash of an RAF CH-47C Chinook helicopter on the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland, after discovery of a controversial pre-crash UK MoD internal document describing problems with engine software.

• Big Sky Country: Local ranchers, pilots oppose plans to quadruple the size of the Powder River Training Complex [PDF], based at Ellworth AFB in South Dakota, to accommodate training of B-1B Lancer bombers.

• General Dynamics Land Systems gets $68 million contract to provide technical support, including identifying improvements and replacing obsolete parts, for the US Army’s M1 Abrams main battle tank.

• Frost & Sullivan: US DoD expected to increase spending on enterprise IT products and services by $2 billion, to $8.8 billion, by 2015.

Rapid Fire: 2010-09-17

• EADS Astrium will market SpaceX’s Falcon 1e rockets as a lower-cost launch option for European customer to put small payloads into Low Earth Orbit. Agreement runs through to 2015.

• The German Air Force is grounding all 55 of its Eurofighters, made by EADS, out of concern for the functioning of the pilot ejector seats.

• Is the UAE about to ditch France’s Rafale as a Mirage 2000v9 replacement, and buy Super Hornets? Or are they just exercising some savvy negotiating?

• Chemring Group, a UK maker of countermeasures and IED detection and disposal systems, is bullish on its FY 2011 outlook after it reported surging revenue and order-book growth, which it attributed to diversification outside Europe; the firm also reported a fire at its Kilgore Flares plant in Tennessee.

• More US bases should be shut down to save money, says Gen. Brady, US Air Force commander in Europe.

• Open tender for Russia’s amphibious ships? Russia appears to be continuing talks with France in the background.

• NATO backs US on need for alliance-wide cybersecurity shield, US Deputy Defense Secretary Lynn says after visit to Brussels.

• First British FSTA A330 aerial tanker flight at Getafe, Spain.

• F-15 AESA radar replacement moves forward: 1st AN/APG-63v3 AESA radar installed and tested on USAF F-15C; 1st AN/APG-82v1 AESA radar delivered to Boeing for the USAF’s F-15E RMP program.

• Kyrgyzstan might double or triple the rent Russia pays for military facilities on Kyrgyz territory.

DARPA’s Vulture: What Goes Up, Needn’t Come Down

Initial Boeing concept

Phase 2 contract for Boeing/ QinetiQ’s SolarEagle. (Sept 15/10)

In April 2008, 3 teams received Phase 1 contracts to begin developing develop a radical new aircraft, under a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program known as “Vulture.” DARPA’s goals for Vulture are not trivial: 5 years on station with a 450kg/ 1,000lb payload, 5kW of onboard power, and sufficient loiter speed to stay on station for 99% of the time against winds encountered at 60,000-90,000 feet.

So, what is the significance of a platform like that, who is competing, and what is happening now? Well, Phase 1 is done, and Phase 2 has been awarded.

• The Potential, and the Process
  
• The Designers & The Designs
  
• Contracts and Related Events [updated]
  
• Additional Readings