Rapid Fire 2010-10-22: Cyber Diversification

• Looking for a graphic that snaps Britain’s defense review decisions into focus? Canada’s National Post has it.

• Promoting Diversity: Pentagon wants to diversify supplier base for cybersecurity systems and products.

• Supply Bottleneck: Prices for rare-earth metals used in high-tech weapons have soared in response to Chinese export quotas.

• Sikorsky and partner firms are funding 2 prototypes of their “S-97 Raider” X2 compound helicopter, and intend to fly it in 2014. The Raider will be a scout/ light utility/ light attack machine, with V-22 class speed, but the safety and lower costs of a helicopter design.

• Rumbles begin that France and Britain may cooperate on next-generation SSBN nuclear missile submarines. Since the Astute Class has just launched, and the Barracuda Class is well along in development, there’s no point talking about their SSN fast attack counterparts.

• Thinking Adjustment: BAE Systems lowers its earnings per share projection in response to UK’s Strategic Defence and Security Review [PDF].

• Deutsche Bank lowers its 2010 earnings per share estimate for Boeing to $4.07 from $4.15 due to weak defense business performance.

• SBIRS-High GEO-2 satellite assembled.

• Terminating IEDs: Northrop Grumman’s Remotec gets $11.2 million contract to upgrade the USAF’s fleet of 173 Andros HD-1 unmanned ground vehicles to help with IED disposal.

• Fluid Situation: Ohio Aerospace Institute snags $9.3 million contract to provide computational analysis of aircraft fluid dynamics for the US Air Force Research Lab’s Air Vehicles Directorate.

Britain Moves Forward on Harrier Support Agreements

HMS Illustrious takeoff

“Future Contracting for Availability” involves the removal of traditional “parts and hours” maintenance contracts in favor of fixed-price long-term support for vehicles throughout their service lives, plus performance awards based on number of vehicles available. It has become a fixture in the British defense industry, and a pillar of British procurement policy going forward. As our in-depth coverage of the ATTAC Tornado support contract shows, however, it isn’t a “big bang” process. Smaller contracts are signed for sub-components, trust and knowledge are built up, and the contracts become more comprehensive over time.

BAE Systems has won a number of these contracts, and back in January 2006, they were on their way to adding Britain’s vertical/short takeoff and landing Harrier GR7/GR9A fleet to the list. The UK MoD continued to expand these contracts, culminating in a new half-billion pound contract to support the fleet through to the end of its life… which is coming a lot sooner than the contracting parties thought.

Rapid Fire 2010-10-21: HawkerBeechcraft’s AT-6C

• US universities weigh in on the direction of, and trends in, US defense research as it applies to them.

• Packing Aid: The US is expected to offer Pakistan $2 billion in military aid during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit this week.

• No Tweet Zone: Israel is banning the use of social media sites while soldiers are on base to reduce security leaks.

• HawkerBeechcraft AT-6C light attack turboprop aircraft finish Operational Assessment testing with USAF and Air National Guard pilots at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. See also corporate release [PDF]. Meanwhile, the corresponding LAAR program’s status remains very uncertain.

• Up to $249 million to Raytheon to remanufacture, overhaul, and repair equipment for the USMC Logistics Command.

• ATK gets $67 million contract to supply AAR-47 Missile Warning System weapon replaceable assemblies – which include optical sensors, control indicators, and computer processors – for helicopters and transport aircraft.

• Blissed Out: People in the US military are more satisfied at work than their private sector counterparts.

Rapid Fire: 2010-10-20

• Filling a Black Hole: UK government releases its Strategic Defence and Security Review [PDF], which calls for cuts in defense spending to plug a GBP 38 billion “black hole” in future defense plans by canceling weapons systems, trimming MoD expenses, and reducing the number of military personnel.

• The Lexington Institute’s Daniel Goure has a sharper view: “Britain’s Defense Review And The End Of NATO.”

• Meanwhile, Goure’s colleague Loren Thompson is less than thrilled with local trends: “What Force Multiplier? U.S. Military Losing Cost-Exchange Advantage In Combat.” Though Thompson should remember the $2 million or so in death benefits for those 4 soldiers in a Humvee, before he makes MRAP cost comparisons.

• Foreign Legions: French defense firms are looking for opportunities overseas as the French government plans to reduce defense spending in its 2011 budget.

• ‘Jesus Nut’: US federal investigators say they have evidence that Kustom Products of Coos Bay, OR, provided phony helicopter replacement parts, including a nut called the “Jesus Nut” used to secure the rotor on the Kiowa attack helicopter. No comment from Kustom Products.

• Stormy Forecast: Lockheed Martin posts a 28% decline in 3rd quarter profit and cut its 2010 earnings forecast. Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman CEO and President Wes Bush is urging the US government to maintain industrial capacity.

• Agilent Technologies gets $35 million contract to supply 1,600 MG microwave analog signal generators for the US Army’s test equipment modernization program.

• UN panel calls for stronger oversight and regulation of private military contractors in war zones.

Rapid Fire 2010-10-19: Britain’s National Security Strategy

• Thinking Strategically: UK government’s new National Security Strategy [PDF] identifies terrorism, cyber attacks, natural disasters, and foreign wars as the top 4 threat facing the nation.

• Not So Strategic: UK parliamentary panel is not impressed with government’s strategic thinking.

• Max Boot looks at indicators of progress in Afghanistan, while WIRED discusses the prospects for an innovative program that aims to provide cellphone justice.

• Stepping Stone: Xi Jinping is named to head China’s People Liberation Army, a stepping stone to the presidency.

• Israel urged to step up civil disaster capabilities as a nuclear Iran – or Israeli strikes – loom large.

• Up to $490 million to ManTech to provide integrated logistics support services to US Army Sustainment Command.

• Peru and Ukraine’s Morozov begin testing their Tifon-2 derivative of Peru’s T-55 tanks.

• Raytheon gets $37.6 million initial production contract to supply 22 Navy Multiband Terminals (NMT), compatible with a range of US military satellite constellations, as part of $1 billion program.

• General Dynamics ATP continues its relationship with Boeing for C-17 parts & spares.

• Britain’s “Wolfhound” blast resistant supply vehicles are operational in Afghanistan.

• Infowar front: The suicide protest. Not the Buddhist variety.

Rapid Fire: 2010-10-18

• UK MoD reportedly agrees to a budget cut of around GBP 3 billion.

• NATO expected to approve US-led effort to build a missile defense shield over Europe at next month’s Lisbon summit.

• Honeywell ramps up its political donations dramatically.

• Form Fitting: Northrop Grumman files SEC form to prepare for the spin-off of its shipbuilding business; Cleveland Ship lobbies to buy business.

• Vietnam offers repair services for Indian warships.

• Frost and Sullivan: Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have fueled growth in US military helicopter market; US budget to field and sustain additional helicopters is expected to increase $500 million this year.

• Sometimes it’s the small things that matter – like improved rear sights for the Mk19 grenade machine gun.

• Up to $440 million to L-3 to provide life-cycle contractor support for the US Army’s turboprop C-12 and UC-35 passenger/cargo aircraft and the RC-12 ISR aircraft.

• Israeli F-35As will fly with Pratt & Whitney’ F135 engines.

• Research and Markets: Due to budget cuts, Italy expects delays in its Frecia armored vehicle, FREMM frigate, and Eurofighter programs.

• This, not tech, is what wins fights.

Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle 2010 09/10

(c) DJ Elliott

DJ Elliott is a retired USN Intelligence Specialist (22 years active duty) who has been analyzing and writing on Iraqi Security Forces developments since 2006. His Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle is an open-source compilation that attempts to map and detail Iraqi units and equipment, as their military branches and internal security forces grow and mature. While “good enough for government use” is not usually uttered as a compliment, US Army TRADOC has maintained permission to use the ISF OOB for their unclassified handouts since 2008.

This compilation is reproduced here with full permission. It offers a set of updates highlighting recent changes in the ISF’s composition and development, followed by the full updated ISF OOBs in PDF format. Reader feedback and tips are encouraged. This month’s developments include:

Rapid Fire: 2010-10-15

• Indian Aid: India pledges to assist Vietnam in modernizing its military equipment.

• Show US the Money: US wants NATO countries to put their money where their mouths are.

• Cyber Team: US government increases military role in thwarting cyber attacks on civilian infrastructure with signing of DoD-DHS memo [PDF].

• Noteworthy: Raytheon sells $2 billion in notes to pay off existing debt.

• ATK repurchases $275 million in convertible notes due 2024.

• CSC wins contract worth up to $270 million to provide support to the Missile Defense Agency.

• Lockheed Martin gets $24 million contract extension from the US Navy to provide acoustic processing and tracking capabilities to detect and track submarines.

2010-10-13: $141M in Stryker-related Contracts

M1127 Stryker Recce

Oct 13/10 saw over $140 million in announced contracts related to the US Army’s Stryker fleet. The US Army’s 8×8 Stryker family of wheeled armored vehicles were originally put forward as a C-130-portable medium armor fleet, which might eventually replace heavy and medium tracked vehicle altogether. Battlefield reality ended up pouring very cold water on that notion, as the resulting vehicles could not be carried by C-130s in ready to fight condition, had trouble handling difficult terrain, and can’t be relied on to face enemy heavy armor.

On the other hand, the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams have proven to be very mobile on roads, using their relative silence to tactical advantage, making good use of their advanced computers and communication gear in counter-insurgency fights, and handling certain weapons like land mines and enemy RPG anti-tank rockets better than most people expected they would. The economic lifeline that roads represent will always be an important aspect of any American-style counterinsurgency fight, and Strykers have obvious value for domestic emergencies as well. Hence the fleet’s ongoing popularity.

Rapid Fire: 2010-10-14

• WIRED’s Danger Room offers a look at the key defense controversies and issues likely to land in the next Congress, after America’s November 2010 elections. Part 1: Missile Fights! Shipyard Showdown! | Part 2: Stealth Jet Faceoff! Wars Over War!

• Cash and Carry: Veritas Capital to pay $815 million in cash for Lockheed Martin’s Enterprise Integration Group, a supplier of engineering and management services to US DoD and other US federal agencies.

• Catching a Wavestream: Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks agrees to pay $130 million for Wavestream, a San Dimas, CA-based maker of high-power solid state amplifiers for the defense and broadcast satellite markets.

• Up to $300 million to BAE Systems for virtualization upgrades to the US Defense Intelligence Agency’s computer workstations.

• Drug Deal: CSC wins contract worth up to $95 million to operate DoD’s Pharmacy Data Transaction Service.

• Cambridge International Systems to provide $6 million maritime surveillance system for the Iraqi Navy under a US Navy SPAWAR contract.