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RG-33 variant
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The USA’s Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected (MRAP) program has been a long road for BAE Systems. In the wake of the US Army’s belated realization that mine protection was critical for vehicles in theater, BAE’s designs, long-standing experience in the field, and production capacity had made them an early favorite. By June 20/07, however, contracts had been issued for 3,266 Category I patrol & Category II squad-sized MRAP vehicles, fully 42% of a the program’s planned 7,774 orders. Force Protection had racked up orders for 1,780 Cougar vehicles, and Navistar/Plasan Sasa had come out of the tests at Aberdeen with orders for 1,216 of its MaxxPro joint design. BAE sat in 4th place with orders for just 90 vehicles – 2.8% of the total. It had to be a humbling experience for the firm that went into 2004 as the world leader in the field.

BAE has worked hard to catch up, and recent contracts have put them solidly back into the competition, even as the number of MRAPs in the program more than doubled to over 15,000. The latest orders widen their lead over 3rd place firm Force Protection, and make them one of just 2 firms with a foothold under the new MRAP-II qualifications. MRAP-II includes protection against EFP (explosively-formed projectile) land mines that fire the equivalent of a cannon shell at the vehicle, in addition to the standard underbody blasts.

This in-depth, updated DID feature shines a spotlight on BAE Systems’ family of MRAP offerings, order record, and associated contracts. The MRAP program appears to have reached its vehicle limit, unless additional vehicles are authorized. DID updates the final standings, and notes a series of radio orders from US Special Operations Command…

• BAE MRAP: The Vehicles
• BAE MRAP: The Current Tally
• BAE MRAP: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Appendix A: MRAP Competition Half-Time Update, June 28/07
  
  Continue Reading… »

IqAF King Air 350
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It has been a long road for the Iraqi Air Force. According to Iraqi figures, the IqAF boasted more than 1,000 aircraft before the 1991 Gulf war – and around 300 after it. Over 5 years after Operation Iraqi Freedom began, and over 4 years after the first Iraqi Provisional government was formed, the once-mighty IqAF still operates just a handful of mostly-unarmed propeller aircraft and helicopters.

Unarmed aircraft can still offer value, of course. Surveillance is critically important to Iraq, especially surveillance of national infrastructure like telecommunications lines, pipelines, and other facilities. In addition to its Cessna “Bird Dogs” and handful of other light spotter planes, the IqAF is strengthening its fleet with an unlikely star of the Iraq War: Hawker Beechcraft’s propeller-driven King Air…

• King of the Air: From C-12 to 350ER-ISR
• Contracts and Key Events
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

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In November 2005, “Taiwan Orders F-16 Training in USA, But Larger Defense Buys Remain in Limbo” described the gridlock that had hampered key weapons sales of P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, Patriot PAC-3 missiles, and diesel-electric submarines to Taiwan – in some cases, since 1997. The opposition KMT party’s flip-flops and determined stalling tactics led to all manner of accusations, and eventually created a crisis in US-Taiwan relations. US spokespeople and political figures began to qualify America’s tradiional assertion that it would defend Taiwan, unless Taiwan showed that it would defend itself. Eventually, relations soured to the point that the USA refused a Taiwanese request for F-16C/D aircraft.

That seems to have brought things to a head. On Sept 12/07, Taiwan submitted a formal DSCA request for 12 P-3C Orion aircraft that could be worth up to $1.96 billion. On Nov 9/07, it was followed by an official request to upgrade their 3 existing Patriot fire units by adding PAC-3 elements, creating a setup similar to Israel’s ABM-capable PAC-2 GEM+ in a contract worth up to $939 million. These are must-have capabilities when facing a Chinese government that has vowed to take the country by force, and who has spent a great deal of time and effort in recent years building both an extensive submarine fleet and a large array of ballistic missiles.

ROC Seadragon sub
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Word is that the USA has asked Taiwan to hold off on the F-16 request for now to avoid a direct “no,” which implies that a strong lobbying effort from China has a chance of dooming that effort, as it has stalled the much more complicated effort to find a party who is (a) able to make diesel-electric subs; and (b) is willing to sell them to Taiwan. Will these orders help break the F-16 logjam? Can the broader relationship be saved? Those are questions for the future. This Spotlight article will focus on the here-and-now instead, chronicling key developments and purchases as they arise.

After a long delay, other major elements of Taiwan’s requested modernization program appear to be moving forward – via more than $6 billion dollars worth of official DSCA requests, that open the door for signed contracts…

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SM-2 Launch w. AEGIS
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Variants of the SM-2 Standard missile are the USA’s primary fleet defense anti-air weapon, and serve with 13 navies worldwide. The most common variant is the RIM-66K-L/ SM-2 Standard Block IIIB, which entered service in 1998. The Standard family extends far beyond the SM-2 missile, however; several nations still use the SM-1, the SM-3 is rising to international prominence as a missile defense weapon, and the SM-6 program is on track to replace the SM-2. These missiles are designed to be paired with the AEGIS radar and combat system, but can be employed independently by ships with older or newer radar systems.

DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This article covers each variant in the Standard missile family, several years worth of American and Foreign Military Sales requests and contracts, key events, and the budgetary and technical background that can help put all that in context. New material is indicated in green type.

The latest news involves a large international contract for SM-2s…

• The Standard Missile Naval Defense Family: Budgets, Missiles, and Plans (i.e. “Continue reading…”)
  • Budgets
  • Missiles: The Standard Missile Family SM-1 to SM-6 [updated]
• The Standard Missile Naval Defense Family: US Contracts & Events
  • FY 2008 [updated]
  • FY 2007
  • FY 2006
• The Standard Missile Naval Defense Family: Exports & Related Key Events
  • CY 2008
  • CY 2007
  • CY 2006
  • CY 2005
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

Right now, in many American ships beyond the top-tier AEGIS destroyers and cruisers, the detect-to-engage sequence against anti-ship missiles requires a lot of manual steps, involving different ship systems that use different displays. When a Mach 3 missile gives you 45 seconds from appearance on ship’s radar to impact, however, seconds of delay can be fatal. Seconds of unnecessary delay, are unacceptable.

Hence Raytheon’s Ship Self Defense System (SSDS), which uses software and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics to turn incoming data from several systems (radar, radar warning receivers, combat identification, electro-optics) into a single picture of prioritized threats. SSDS will then recommend an engagement sequence for the ship’s crew, or (in automatic mode) fire some combination of jamming transmissions, chaff or decoys, and/or weapons against the oncoming threat. The entire ship’s combat system concept, including the sensors and weapons, is known as Quick Reaction Combat Capability (QRCC) – and SSDS is the key element that ties it all together.

SSDS began Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) in 1997 on USS Ashland [LSD 48], a Whidbey Island Class amphibious assault ship, and will soon begin equipping America’s new carriers…

• SSDS: Current Versions
• Contracts & Key Events, 2008 – Present
  
  Continue Reading… »

Patriot system
(click for explanation)

In a September 2005 article, DID covered total awards under a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Patriot anti-air missile system engineering services, along with dates/amounts of each award in FY 2004-2005. We’ve brought that list forward, and we’ll continue to update it as new FY 2008 engineering services contracts roll in. We’ll also use this post as a hub for other Patriot SAM related contracts.

Following are the engineering support contract listings from 2004-present, and other contracts and key events related to the Patriot missile over FY/CY 2007 (DID also has a 2006 article). New material is in green type to make it more visible.

The latest additions to our contracts and events coverage? The last FY 2008 engineering support contract, and a contract for Patriot parts…

• The Patriot Missile Family
• Patriot Engineering Services Contracts, FY 2004 – Present [updated]
• The USA’s Patriot Programs
• Other Patriot-Related Contracts & Events, FY 2007 – Present [updated]
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »

USN Heli Plan
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The US Army’s UH-60 Black Hawks have always had a naval counterpart. SH-60B/F Seahawk/ LAMPS helicopters were outfitted with maritime radar, sonobuoys, and other specialized equipment that let them perform a wide variety of roles, from supply and transport, to anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and even surface attack with their Penguin missiles. They can be found aboard US destroyers, cruisers, and frigates. Like their land-based counterparts, however, the Seahawks are getting older. The Reagan defense build-up is receding into history, and its products are wearing out. The US Navy realized that a new set of naval helicopters was required, and technology advances offered the prospect of integrating greater capabilities into each machine without having to spend much on R&D.

European firms designed and built the EH101 medium helicopter, and then the smaller NH90, in order to perform these roles. These helicopters are both larger than the H-60 family, offering airframes made with corrosion-proof composites at a size that confers new capabilities. Both have enjoyed export success. The US Navy, on the other hand, believed that enhancing its proven Seahawk design would be the most cost-effective option for fleet recapitalization. Hence the MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter (aka. “Romeo”) and MH-60S (aka. “Sierra”). MH-60Rs and MH-60Ss will eventually replace all SH-60B/F & HH-60H Seahawks, HH-1N Hueys, UH-3H Sea Kings, and CH-46D Sea Knight helicopters currently in the US Navy’s inventory.

Before this program began, MH- was the traditional designation for special forces aircraft, but the Navy has now adopted it to stand for “multi-mission.” Confusing nomenclature aside, the new MH-60R/S helicopters will be the backbone of the US Navy’s future helicopter force. Both programs are underway, and will be covered in this DID FOCUS Article. The latest additions include a handful of additional helicopters and their cockpits…

• Romeo, Armed: The MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter
• Blue Collar Sierra: The MH-60S
• The MH-60R/S Program
• MH-60R/S Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings and Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

AIM-120C from F-22A
(click for test missile zoom)

Raytheon’s AMRAAM has become the world market leader for medium range air to air missiles. It was designed with the lessons of Vietnam in mind, and of local air combat exercises like ACEVAL and Red Flag.

One of the key lessons learned from Vietnam was that a fighter would be likely to encounter multiple enemies, and would need to launch and guide several missiles at once in order to ensure its survival. This had not been possible with the AIM-7 Sparrow, a “semi-active radar homing” missile which required a constant radar lock on one target. In addition, enemy fighters were capable of launching missiles of their own. Pilots who weren’t free to maneuver after launch would often be forced to “break lock” or be killed – sometimes even by a short-range missile fired during the last phases of their enemy’s approach. Since fighters that could carry radar-guided missiles like the AIM-7 tended to be larger and more expensive, and the Soviets were known to have far more fighters overall, this was not a good trade.

Enter AMRAAM – the AIM-120 Advanced, Medium-Range Air to Air Missile. This DID FOCUS article covers successive generations of AMRAAM missiles, international contracts and key events from 2006 onward, and even some of its emerging competitors. New materials will be highlighted in green type. The most recent additions involve an order request from Turkey…

• Some MRAAM History, and AMRAAM’s Design Approach (ie. Continue reading…)
• AMRAAM: Versions & Derivatives
• AMRAAM’s International Competitors
• AMRAAM: Contracts & Key Events, FY 2006-Present [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

EA-6B Prowler
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With the retirement of the US Air Force’s long-range EF-111 Raven “Spark ‘Vark,” the aging 4-seat EA-6B Prowlers are now the USA’s sole remaining tactical aircraft type for radar jamming, communications jamming and information operations like signals interception. They’ve been predictably busy as a result. In Iraq, they’ve been used for everything from escorting strike aircraft against heavily defended targets during the opening days of the war, to disrupting enemy IED attacks by jamming all radio signals in an area.

All airframes have lifespan limits, however, and the EA-6B is no exception. The aircraft’s 50 year old airframe design is also something of a mixed blessing. It offers excellent range, carrying capacity, and efficient subsonic performance – at the expense of poor self-defense capabilities, and difficulty keeping up with friendly aircraft traveling at high subsonic speeds.

EA-18G at Pax
(click to view full)

By 2009, therefore, a new electronic warfare aircraft is scheduled to make its appearance – one based on a new airframe, with strong self-defense capabilities as well as electronic attack potential. The EA-18G Growler is based on Boeing’s 2-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighter (which traces its history from the Northrop YF-17 and McDonnell Douglas F-18) and has 90% commonality with its counterpart, just as its predecessor the EA-6B was based on Grumman’s robust A-6 Intruder attack aircraft. At present, the EA-18G is slated to be the only dedicated electronic warfare aircraft in the USA’s future force – and since the USA is the only western country with such aircraft, it would become the sole source of tactical jamming support for NATO air forces as a whole.

DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This article describes the aircraft and key systems, outlining the program, and keeping track of ongoing developments, contracts, et. al. that affect the program. New items will be highlighted via green type.

The latest addition is a $200+ million contract for electronic attack sets, and some money for studies to correct issues with the aircraft…

• EA-18G: The Platform
• EA-18G: The Program
• EA-18G: Contracts & Other Key Developments [updated]
• Appendix A: The EA-18G and the Future Force Mix
• Appendix B: Additional Readings and Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

AN/APG-79 AESA Radar

The F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet’s current radar is Raytheon’s all-weather, multimode AN/APG-73, but the revolutionary new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) APG-79 radar offers significantly greater capability, reliability, image resolution, and range. The AESA array is composed of numerous solid-state transmit and receive modules, to virtually eliminate mechanical breakdown. Other system components include an advanced receiver/exciter, ruggedized commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) processor, and power supplies. With its open systems architecture and compact COTS parts, it changes what the aircrew can do with the radar – and does so in a smaller, lighter package.

Fulfilling part of the Navy’s roadmap to expand the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet’s capabilities for future network-centric operations, Boeing and Raytheon debuted the F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet equipped with the AN/APG-79 AESA radar system at a St. Louis ceremony in April 2005. In October 2006, the first Super Hornet Block II squadron attained the requisite “safe for flight” (really for independent operations with the new equipment) designation. The radar will also be featured on the USA’s related new EA-18G Growler electronic jamming aircraft.

This article has been expanded to become DID’s complete Spotlight article covering the APG-79 sub-system’s capabilities, results, and contracts. Developments since our last update include delivery of the 100th radar, and a repair contract…

• The AN/APG-79 AESA Radar
• Contracts & Key Events [updates]
• Additional Readings
  
  Continue Reading… »