Americas
* Raytheon has unveiled its solution to give the Stryker armored fighting vehicle a mobile air defense capability, a Stinger missile mounted into a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) and integrated on the vehicle. The solution was successfully tested by the US Army at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico last month, where it successfully intercepted several airborne targets. “With so many airborne threats in the battlespace, our ground forces need the protection of additional mobile air defense systems,” said Kim Ernzen, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president. “Combining these two proven systems gives the Army an immediate, low risk, high-value solution.” The integration was in response to the US Army’s urgent need for mobile air defense for ground troops.
* Lockheed Martin has received a $337 million contract to supply the US Army, UK, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the latest in target acquisition for their attack helicopters. Known as the “eyes of the Apache,” the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system provides pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for safe flight during day, night and adverse weather missions. Under the terms of the order, Lockheed will provide the US Army with upgrade kits for the M?TADS/PNVS Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) and Modernized Laser Range Finder Designator. For the UK Ministry of Defence, it is delivering M-DSA upgrade kits for M-TADS/PNVS refurbishment as part of a remanufacture effort to upgrade D-model Apaches to E models. For the Saudi Ministry of National Guard, it is providing M?TADS/PNVS systems for new E-model Apaches.
Middle East & Africa
* Turkey’s foreign minister has stated that Turkey can procure a missile defense system from another country if Russia does not agree to joint production and technology transfer of a defense shield. Ankara recently announced the placing of a downpayment on the S-400 air defense system with the aim that the deal would allow it to acquire the technology to eventually develop its own defense system—although this is something Moscow has never agreed to. Western options that lost out to the S-400 include Raytheon’s Patriot system and a system by the Franco-Italian group Eurosam, owned by the multinational European missile maker MBDA and France’s Thales. However, in July, Turkey announced that it had also signed an initial accord with the Eurosam consortium on the development of missile defense systems.
* Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan is to begin marketing its C-2 heavy transport aircraft to the Middle East as part of efforts by the Japanese Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) to enter the global defence industry market. In addition to the C-2, the P-1 maritime patrol aircraft is also being marketed after its unveiling at the Parish Air Show last year. The Japanese government is believed to be currently in talks over the C-2 with an interested UAE, and Kawasaki is expected to display the aircraft at the Dubai Air Show this November.
Europe
* BAE Systems confirmed Tuesday that it is to cut nearly 2,000 jobs from its UK operations in what is being deemed a “significant blow” to the country’s manufacturing industry. Approximately 1,400 jobs are expected to go at its military aerospace business over the next three years, along with a further 375 in maritime services and 150 at its cyber-intelligence business. The brunt of the cuts will take place at BAE’s aerospace bases at Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet is assembled, with 750 losses, while another 400 posts will go at its other aerospace base in Brough, east Yorkshire. 340 posts will go in Portsmouth, 245 at the RAF bases Marham in Norfolk and Leeming in North Yorkshire, and 150 in London, Guildford and at other cyber-intelligence sites. A further 30 job losses will take place at other UK locations. The firm’s new CEO, Charles Woodburn, said the “organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology.” Citing the timing of future Typhoon orders, BAE said the cuts were necessary “to ensure production continuity and competitive costs between the completion of current contracts and anticipated new orders, we now plan to reduce Typhoon final assembly and Hawk production rates.” It also blamed the British government’s decision to take the RAF Tornado fleet out of service in 2019, which will affect Marham and Leeming, although BAE will continue to work on the F-35 fighter jet at Marham. BAE employs more than 83,000 people worldwide, including 34,600 in the UK.
Asia Pacific
* It has been reported in Taiwanese media that Taipei may have given up on attempts to purchase M1 Abrams tanks from the US, instead, favoring to locally upgrade the M60A3 main battle tanks it has in service. According to reports in the United Daily News newspaper, the government has earmarked $6.57 million dollars for the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) to develop an upgrade program for the approximately 450 M60A3 TTS tanks operated by Taiwan’s Army. Due to start in 2018, the program will look at replacing the main gun from the 105mm M68 to a new 120mm weapon, as well as upgrading the ballistics computer, turret hydraulics and other systems. As seen by its inability to secure surplus M1 Abrams, Taiwan has faced severe challenges in procuring advanced, big-ticket military hardware, with potential suppliers wary of incurring China’s wrath, who see Taiwan as a breakaway province rather than a independent state.
* Indonesia’s Kaplan Medium Tank has been displayed for the first time by the Army during an October 5 parade commemorating National Armed Forces in Cilegon, Banten Province. The tank was developed by Indonesia’s PT Pindad and FNSS Savunma Sistemleri of Turkey under the TNI-AD’s Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT) program. It is based on FNSS’ Kaplan chassis and comes equipped with a CMI Cockerill 3105 turret armed with a Cockerill 105 mm main gun, autoloader and digital fire-control system. It also has a 7.62 coaxial machine gun, battlefield management system and laser warning system. The tank is being marketed as a support solution suitable for attacking light armoured vehicles along with flanking and ambush roles, and sees competition in the Chinese NORINCO VT5 light tank.
Today’s Video
* The Kaplan Medium Tank:
https://youtu.be/3mvNMnCOwKs
