Rapid Fire: 2010-07-06

• Aquino Keen on Defense: New Philippine President Aquino orders a review of the country’s national security posture, including possible procurement of new military equipment.

• Lord Protector: Kongsberg books a NOK 140 million order for Protector remote weapon stations from France’s Renault Truck Defense under a NOK 500 million contract to upgrade the French Army’s Renault VAB 4×4 armored personnel carriers.

• French Trainers: France said it will soon send 250 more trainers to Afghanistan, bringing the overall French force there to 4,000.

• Giraffe Radar: Saab snags SEK 190 million order to supply Giraffe AMB radar and related services to the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation.

• What’s in a Name: Other US services expected to follow Army’s lead in changing the name of its psychological operations to the more neutral Military Information Support Operations (MISO).

• Home Grown: India prepares to roll out its indigenously produced naval light combat aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics.

US Ammo Shortage: GD Now A Second Source Prime as it Delivers Guns, Ammo

Ma Deuce, raising demand…

In July 2005, “Pass The Ammunition: Army Taking Action on Small-Cal Shortages” began covering some of the steps the US Defense Department was taking to address this issue. Few reserves, a low production rate, and some of the oldest assembly-line machines on the supply side, coupled with skyrocketing demand, had made for a difficult situation. The Us military went on the invest substantial funds, in order to help modernize the World War 2 era Lake City ammunition plant, which had become the USA’s sole source of small caliber military ammunition.

Even so, the situation was creating both front line shortages, and strategic risk. In 2005, therefore, the Army took steps to move General Dynamics into an important second source supply role, and awarded GD OTS a substantial contract…

DARPA’s Hypersonic Vulcan Engine Meld

Logical progression

GE, United Technologies win Phase II contracts. (July 6/10)

It might not be a Vulcan mind-meld, but it’s pretty close. The Department of Defense’s technology brain trust, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has given 4 contractors the go-ahead to develop the advanced Vulcan combination engine system for hypersonic flight.

The Vulcan engine will integrate a traditional jet turbine engine that performs well at low speeds, with a constant volume combustion (CVC) engine that performs well at higher speeds. The combination will help the vehicles go from standing starts to Mach 4 or so, where hypersonic engines can take over. DARPA’s ultimate goal is to design, build, and fly Mach 6+ re-usable, air-breathing, turbine-based hypersonic vehicles.

What current engines will the Vulcan program modify? What are the program’s goals? What is its structure? DID has answers…

• The Logic Behind Vulcan
  
• Contracts & Key Events [NEW]
  
• Additional Readings [updated]