Last updated: Friday May 18, 2018 - 05:00 UTC ()

Israel Announces F-16 Variant Upgrades

Trident II D5 Missile: Keeping Up with Changing Times

Rapid Fire | Friday, May 18, 2018, 05:00 UTC ()

Reapers will get a Block 5 upgrade | Poseidons’ Trident continues to protect and deter | China flies the export version of its Z-19 attack helicopter

Americas

• General Atomics is being tapped to retrofit the MQ-9 system. The firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive, and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is valued at $206 million and provides for retrofitting 122 MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft. The MQ-9 Reaper UAV, once called “Predator B,” has been called the first fielded Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV). This UAV is far more of a fighter substitute or close-air support complement than other UAVs. The latest MQ-9 version is the Block 5, formerly known as Block 1+. Improvements focus on 3 areas: power capacity, payload capacity, and communications capacity. Power is improved via a new high-capacity starter generator, and an upgraded electrical system whose new backup generator can support all flight critical functions with a triple redundancy. Payload is improved using new trailing arm heavyweight landing gear, a weapons kit and communications upgrade. Work will be performed at Poway, California, and is expected to be complete by June 20, 2024.

• The Naval Air Systems Command is contracting Northrop Grumman Systems for services related to the MQ-4C platform. The firm target advance acquisition contract, valued at $45 million, provides for lead materials components, material, parts, and associated efforts required to maintain the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system planned production schedule. The MQ-4C Triton, despite being designated a multi-mission aircraft, mostly performs ISR/reconnaissance missions in support of the P-8 Poseidon. In mythology, Triton was Poseidon’s son, and the messenger of the sea. Tritons work with the P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft on missions that include maritime surveillance, collection of enemy order of battle information, battle damage assessment, port surveillance, communication relay and other support functions. Work will be performed at various locations across the continental US, including San Diego, California; Baltimore, Maryland and Salt Lake City, Utah. Work is expected to be completed by January 2019.

• Lockheed Martin Space Systems will continue its support activities for the Trident II program. The awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification worth $40.1 million provides for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed system support. Nuclear tipped missiles were first deployed on board US submarines at the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, to deter a Soviet first strike. Over the years the missile system evolved. The old C4s were succeeded by larger Trident II D5in 1990. Since then the missiles have been the backbone of US and UK submarine forces. The current Trident II D5 Life-Extension program intends to extend the service life of the weapon system until 2042, to match the hull life of the Ohio-class submarine. Under the program, 108 additional missiles are being purchased, in order to meet long-term inventory requirements. Work will be performed at multiple locations including Sunnyvale, California and Rockford Illinois. Work is expected to be completed by September 2022.

Middle East & Africa

• Israel is looking into options to purchase additional Boeing F-15s. The proposed deal would also include upgrading the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) existing I-model of the strike aircraft. The proposed deal is worth almost $4 billion provides for the purchase of F-15Is in an advanced configuration, giving the system an extended lifespan and a larger cockpit display. The IAF currently flies 25 F-15Is, aged between 18 and 20 years. Israel’s fleet of F-15A-D and F-15Is are currently undergoing a multi-role conversion upgrade. The customized F-15I Ra’am Strike Eagle is optimized for advanced ground attack and long-range interception. Both types of F-15 are heavily modified from the US versions, with Israeli avionics, self-protection systems, weapons, and sometimes radars as well. The Israeli military wants the upgraded F-15Is as supplement to its fleet of F-35s. While the F-35 will be the IAFs main first-strike platform, the F-15Is will do the ‘heavy-lifting’ in the later phases of a potential conflict.

Europe

• Jane’s reports that France has unveiled the Jaguar and Griffon armored fighting vehicle. The Jaguar is the product of joint program between the defense contractors Nexter, Renault Trucks and Thales. Both vehicles are part of France’s large-scale Scorpion defense program, devised in 2009, to find replacements to its fleet of ageing infantry vehicles. The program also includes upgrades to its Leclerc main battle tank and the VBMR Léger vehicle. The Jaguar EBCRs, will replace AMX10RC and Sagaie light tanks, as well as VABs in their HOT antitank configuration. They will perform combat and reconnaissance missions. Deliveries should reach 110 units by 2025. The Griffon VBMRs will replace Véhicules de l’avant blindé (VAB) 4×4 infantry carriers. Deliveries should reach 780 units by 2025. The Jaguar comes with a 500hp engine and a stabilized two-man turret with a CTA 40 mm main armament and 7.62 mm secondary armament in a remotely operated turret. The platform can be equipped with different pods and kits.

Asia-Pacific

• China’s indigenous Z-19E armed helicopter has reportedly completed its firing flight tests. A spokesman of the manufacturing company Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has said that, “the Z-19E has shown its maneuverability and operational capability in the just concluded firing flight test phase, which marks a major step for the export model into the market”. The flight tests included the platforms use of its airborne weapons such as the gun, air-to-air missile, air-to-ground missile in live weapon firing, and rocket projectile in precision attack. The Z-19E is the export variant of the Z-19 attack helicopter, in service with China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force. The platform is a Chinese light scout and observation helicopter. The Z-19 is essentially a tandem-seat version of the Z-9W, which in turn is a license-built version of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin. Its key missions are anti-tank and ground-attack operations. The Z-19E comes with a single rotor and is designed and manufactured by the AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Co. in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province.

Today’s Video

• Bell shows off its newly developed V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft!

More In-depth Contract News & Updates

The MQ-4C Triton: Poseidon’s Unmanned Herald

| The Naval Air Systems Command is contracting Northrop Grumman Systems for services related to the MQ-4C platform. The firm target advance acquisition contract, valued at $45 million, provides for lead materials components, material, parts, and associated efforts required to maintain the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system planned production schedule. The MQ-4C Triton, despite being designated a multi-mission aircraft, mostly performs ISR/reconnaissance missions in support of the P-8 Poseidon. In mythology, Triton was Poseidon’s son, and the messenger of the sea. Tritons work with the P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft on missions that include maritime surveillance, collection of enemy order of battle information, battle damage assessment, port surveillance, communication relay and other support functions. Work will be performed at various locations across the continental US, including San Diego, California; Baltimore, Maryland and Salt Lake City, Utah. Work is expected to be completed by January 2019. More »

MQ-9 Reaper: Unfettered for Export

| General Atomics is being tapped to retrofit the MQ-9 system. The firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive, and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is valued at $206 million and provides for retrofitting 122 MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft. The MQ-9 Reaper UAV, once called “Predator B,” has been called the first fielded Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV). This UAV is far more of a fighter substitute or close-air support complement than other UAVs. The latest MQ-9 version is the Block 5, formerly known as Block 1+. Improvements focus on 3 areas: power capacity, payload capacity, and communications capacity. Power is improved via a new high-capacity starter generator, and an upgraded electrical system whose new backup generator can support all flight critical functions with a triple redundancy. Payload is improved using new trailing arm heavyweight landing gear, a weapons kit and communications upgrade. Work will be performed at Poway, California, and is expected to be complete by June 20, 2024. More »

F-35 Lightning: The Joint Strike Fighter Program

| The Naval Air Systems Command is awarding a contract modification to Lockheed Martin. The modification provides for the delivery of the F-35 In-A-Box (FIAB) software model, software license fees, and continued FIAB software model development, integration, and support. It is valued at $24,1 million. The F-35’s core software is written in C++ and runs on commercial off-the-shelf PowerPC architecture processors. The operating system is Green Hill Software’s Integrity DO-178B real-time OS, as used in a number of (mostly American) aircraft, both civil and military. The F-35’s processors are bundled into an “electronic brain” called the Integrated Core Processor (ICP). So far, the F-35 program has been plagued by various software problems seriously delaying the aircrafts declaration of Initial Operating Capability. Work will be performed partially in Fort Worth, Texas and in Marietta, Georgia, it is scheduled for completion by September 2018. More »

Serious Dollars for AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)

| The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is contracting Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems Division in support of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system. The awarded modification of $12.8 million allows for the procurement of material necessary to support the Aegis 6.0 modelling and simulation. Aegis, named after the legendary protective shield of Zeus, Aegis has become a widely-deployed top-tier air defense system. It is deployed on over 80 serving naval ships around the globe, with many more Aegis-equipped ships planned or under contract. The Aegis combat system software takes input from a number of systems in order to create a unified picture of the threat environment. Aegis equipped ships are key elements in modern carrier and battleship battle groups, providing fleet area defense and communicating an integrated air picture for more effective deployment of naval aircraft. Modeling and simulations are computer representations that simulate the system’s performance to assess the capabilities and limitations of how elements or the BMDS perform under a wider variety of conditions than can be accomplished through the limited number of flight tests conducted. Ground tests enable MDA to repeatedly conduct scenarios that may be too costly or subject to constraints as a flight test. The modification increases the total cumulative contract value to $2.8 billion. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey and is scheduled for completion by September 2018. More »

India Ordered, Modernized Su-30MKIs

| The Indian defense contractor Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has voiced its interest to produce more Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets. The HAL manufactured Sukhoi makes up the backbone of India’s Air Force. Its fleet would grow to 312, if the company’s proposal to produce 40 more planes is accepted by the Ministry of Defense. India originally received standard Su-30MKs, while its government and industry worked with the Russians to develop the more advanced Su-30MKI, complete with innovations like thrust-vectoring engines and canard fore planes. The Su-30MKI ended up using electronic systems from a variety of countries: a Russian NIIP N-011 radar and long-range IRST sensor, French navigation and heads-up display systems from Thales, Israeli electronic warfare systems and LITENING advanced targeting pods, and Indian computers and ancillary avionics systems. HAL is currently producing the Su-30 at a cost of $62.6 million per unit, making it significantly cheaper than the competing Rafale that costs close to $165 million. More »

NH90: Europe’s Medium Helicopter Gets New Order Despite Issues

| The German Navy is currently facing delays regarding the introduction of the NH-90 Sea Lion helicopter into its service. So far, the Navy was unable to procure a bespoke simulator system, necessary for training pilots. The Sea Lion simulator is being procured through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. With the requirement comprising infrastructure, a full-mission simulator, and a rear-cabin crew trainer, the bids from industry have all been received and the technical evaluations are in progress but will not be delivered before the first of the 18 ordered helicopters will arrive at its main operating station. The NH-90 Sea Lion can be used as a utility helicopter, or as an anti-submarine helicopter, depending on how they’re built. More »