A Higher-Tech Hog: USAF A-10C Upgrades and Refurbishments

Feb 24, 2014 19:06 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Hagel's FY 2015 budget request would retire the A-10 fleet; Additional Readings section updated.

A-10A over Germany

The Precision Engagement modification is the largest single upgrade effort ever undertaken for the USA’s unique A-10 “Warthog” close air support aircraft fleet. While existing A/OA-10 aircraft continue to outperform technology-packed rivals on the battlefield, this set of upgrades is expected to make them more flexible, and help keep the aircraft current until the fleet’s planned phase-out in 2028. When complete, A-10C PE will give USAF A-10s precision strike capability sooner than planned, combining multiple upgrades into 1 time and money-saving program, rather than executing them as standalone projects. Indeed, the USAF accelerated the PE program by 9 months as a result of its experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the PE program, and for other modifications to the A-10 fleet. It covers the A-10′s battlefield performance and advantages, the elements of the PE program, other planned modifications, related refurbishment efforts to keep the fleet in the air, and the contracts that have been issued each step of the way.

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Billions to Upgrade and Up-arm Pakistan’s F-16s

Feb 20, 2014 20:43 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Pakistan buying 13 F-16s from Jordan - where does that leave the respective fleets?; Article reformatted & background updated; Photos added; Additional Readings updated & upgraded.

PAF F-16A drops Mk.82s

On June 28/06, the US DSCA notified Congress via a series of releases of its intention to provide Pakistan with a $5.1 billion Foreign Military Sales package to upgrade the F-16s that serve as the PAF’s top of the line fighters. Some of these items had been put on hold following the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan & Kashmir, but the request for 36 new F-16 Block 50/52s is now going ahead, along with new weapons, engine modifications, and upgrade kits for Pakistan’s older F-16 A/Bs. The buy went through, and was accompanied by the supply of 26 older F-16s from USAF surplus stocks.

These items are detailed below, along with controversies the proposed sales have created, and some of the conditions attached to the sale by the US government….

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The Saudis’ American Shopping Spree: F-15s, Helicopters & More

Feb 19, 2014 20:40 UTC

Latest updates[?]: $10-13 billion LAV order lets its customer slip, but still leaves a lot of questions. Not in question: the London, ON, Canada plant will be going strong for quite some time; 2010-2014 Saudi dashboard updated.

F-15S & weapons

In October 2010, talks that Saudi Arabia was negotiating a $30-60 billion arms package with the USA were made official with a full multi-billion request that included 84 F-15 Strike Eagles to replace the Kingdom’s Tornado strike aircraft and/or F-15A-D fighters, upgrades for another 70 planes, about 132 UH-60 Black Hawk utility and AH-64 attack helicopters, and armaments to equip them.

This article looks at those requests, their tie-ins, the issues that are part of these potential deals, and related follow-on requests. As is often the case with DSCA announcements, years can pass between the requests and the signed contracts, but these contracts have started to roll in, alongside other significant buys.

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Top Falcons: The UAE’s F-16 Block 60/61 Fighters

Jan 26, 2014 20:22 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Next 30 F-16 "Block 61s" will be bought via Direct Commercial Sale, but a DSCA request covers ancillary items; Additional Readings sections upgraded.

F-16F “Desert Falcon”

The most advanced F-16s in the world aren’t American. That distinction belongs to the UAE, whose F-16 E/F Block 60s are a half-generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ aircraft that form the backbone of the US Air Force, and of many other fleets around the world. The Block 60 has been described as a lower-budget alternative to the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, and there’s a solid argument to be made that their performance figures and broad sensor array will even keep them ahead of pending F-16 modernizations in countries like Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore.

The UAE invested in the “Desert Falcon’s” development, and the contract reportedly includes royalty fees if other countries buy it. Investment doesn’t end when the fighters are delivered, either. Money is still needed for ongoing training, fielding, and equipment needs – and the UAE has decided that they need more planes, too. This DID article showcases the F-16 Block 60/61, and offers a window into its associated costs and life cycle, including dedicated equipment purchases for this fighter fleet.

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France’s AASM Precision-Guided Bombs

Jan 23, 2014 15:38 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Sagem can't rest on their laurels - Raytheon test shows unfilled AASM niche.

AASM test from
Mirage 2000D

France’s Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) is similar in concept to the American GPS-guided JDAM bomb, but its execution includes several key differences. The global trend toward GPS-guided weapons makes a French entry important for industrial as well as operational reasons, and the Sagem/MBDA team hope AASM will earn them a market niche.

In order to become a true market success, however, Sagem and MBDA know that their AASM will have to find export markets beyond France. Will that place them in conflict with Dassault?

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New Options: Denel & Tawazun’s Precision Weapons Partnership

Nov 21, 2013 17:07 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Mirage integration done, now TD makes a nearly $500 million sale...

Al-Tariq

In September 2012, Denel Dynamics signed an important deal with the UAE’s Tawazun Holding. By creating a joint firm near Abu Dhabi to manufacture and develop guided weapons, the new Tawazun Dynamics partnership will be able to offer GPS-guided glide bombs and more to customers throughout the Middle East, and around the world. It’s another significant crack in a set of barriers that have given western countries a great deal of leverage with countries who buy their fighters.

Those cracks are appearing all around the world. New entrants like Brazil, Turkey, South Korea, and South Africa are introducing advanced systems for the global market. As alternatives proliferate, the environment that allowed America and European countries to use the continued supply of advanced weapons as a political bargaining chip is eroding quickly. Tawazun Dynamics has one barrier left to conquer, but their partnership has already chalked up 1 success in that area. Now, the question is how far they can take any export opportunities…

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Colombia’s Defense Modernization

Nov 17, 2013 14:31 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Colombia is looking for light attack jets, an AEW aircraft, and higher-end (used) air superiority fighters; Article reformatted; Additional Readings section updated & upgraded.

FAC Kfir C7
(click to view larger)

Years of unswerving pressure from the Colombian army wore down the narco-terrorist FARC. Much of that pressure was led by the popular (former) President Uribe, who ruled out a bid for constitutional amendments and an attempt at a 3rd term of office in 2009. His legacy continued, however, thanks to a special 2006 tax was set up to back those military gains with about $4 billion worth of military hardware.

Colombia’s El Tiempo newspaper reported that the deals were set to include a wide variety of equipment from American, French, German, Israeli, and Russian suppliers. Colombia is well into the delivery phase, and has added key equipment buys along the way.

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Moving Target: Raytheon’s GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb II

Nov 05, 2013 15:07 UTC

Latest updates[?]: F-15E "Normal Attack" testing gets over its glitch, and finishes by hitting moving targets; The F-35 program's lateness is creating real difficulties for SDB-II; GAO Report; Article improvements, incl. videos, updated Program Dashboard, and Program Timeline; Additional Readings sections updated.

GBU-53/B, aka. SDB-II

The 250 pound GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb gives American fighters the ability to carry more high-precision GPS-guided glide bombs, without sacrificing punching power against fortified targets. The initial award to Boeing was controversial, and the Darlene Druyun corruption scandal ultimately forced a re-compete of the Increment II development program. Whereas the initial GBU-39 SDB-I offered GPS-guided accuracy in a small and streamlined package, the goal of the GBU-53 SDB-II competition was a bomb that could hit moving targets in any weather, using a combination of guidance modes.

For the SDB-II competition, Boeing found itself allied with Lockheed Martin, its key opponent for the initial SDB-I contract. Its main competitor this time was Raytheon, whose SDB-II bid team found itself sharing its tri-mode seeker technology with a separate Boeing team, as they compete together for the tri-service JAGM missile award against… Lockheed Martin. So, is Raytheon’s win of the SDB-II competition also good news for its main competitor? It’s certainly good news for Raytheon, who wins a program that could be worth over $5 billion.

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India Buys GPS-Guided “Cans of Whup-Ass”

Sep 16, 2013 11:00 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Public confirmation that India's Jaguars will carry them; Industrial offsets; How WCMD/SFW fits with the Jaguar's new role; Formatting improvements.

CBU-97 & BLU-108s

Going after a vehicle such as a surface to air missile launcher, or a cluster of vehicles like a formation of enemy tanks, can be a tricky business for a fast jet pilot. Vehicles hide, they shut off their radars, or there are just too many of them to effectively target and destroy en masse. Weapons like ATK’s AGM-88E AARGM and MBDA’s Brimstone missile can help, but there’s another solution. Textron’s Sensor-Fuzed Weapon (SFW) bomb scatters 40 projectiles to cover 30 acres. The “skeet” projectiles, which look like tuna cans, will search for targets as they descend, then fire the explosive-formed equivalent of a cannon shell through the target’s weak top armor. If no targets are found, 3 safety modes ensure that the area is safe for troops to move through within several minutes – which means it’s also safe for civilians years later.

On Sept 30/08, the US DSCA conveyed India’s formal request for a variant of the SFW with GPS guidance… and now we know which IAF aircraft will carry them.

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Greek F-16 & Weapons Buys Taking Off

Jul 14, 2013 13:28 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Spares request for the HAF's F100-PW-229 engines. It took 6 months just to publish this, following Greek government approval of the funds.

Greek F-16D, F-16C

In 2005, Greece terminated its $6 billion Eurofighter contract in favor of F-16s. Now that sale has taken the next step, as Greece has submitted its order for the aircraft and ancillary electronics, spares, and weapons, to match rival Turkey’s recent F-16 purchases and upgrades.

On October 25/05, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified Congress [PDF] of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Greece of 40 F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. That sale continues to move forward, item by item; the total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $3.1 billion. Greece’s full “Peace Xenia IV” order request now features:

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Fast Rides: HSV Spreads to Middle East

Singapore’s Aerial Tanker Buy

The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks

Heavy Lifting Down Under: Australia’s Half-Dozen C-17s

You Can Track Your F-35s, At ALIS’ Maintenance Hub

Military Logistics Delivered By

India’s Light Transport Competition: Follow Avros to Exit

Saving the Galaxy: The C-5 AMP/RERP Program

Kuwait is the Latest Gulf State in the C-17 Club

Britain’s A330 Voyager FSTA: An Aerial Tanker Program – With a Difference

The US Military’s International Airlift Contracts

India Refurbishing its AN-32 Transport Fleet

The Right to Bear Arms: Gunship Kits for America’s C-130s

Norway Renews Its Tactical Transport Fleet

From VH-71 to VXX: the Future of US Presidential Helicopters

MQ-8 Fire Scout VTUAV Program: By Land or By Sea

Finland Updating Its Air Defense Systems

KC-46A Aerial Tanker: The USAF’s Top Priority Program

The USA’s JHSV Fast Catamaran Ships

Samson’s Wings: Israels New C-130 Hercules Fleets

Blast Hounds: Britain’s Army is Keeping Their Mine-Resistant Vehicles

Days of the Jackal: Supacat’s HMT Vehicles

The USA’s C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft

More AN-124s On The Way?

High Afghan Exit Costs Force US Military to Contemplate End of Era

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