Rapid Fire 2011-01-18: US to Prioritize Older Systems

• “Most Dangerous Week Ever“?

• India’s foreign direct investment cap is crippling the Indian defense industry, argues Sushant Singh of the Takshashila Institution.

• Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) to merge with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd?

• Fall of Tunisia’s government looks set to affect that proposed SH-60F helicopter sale covered in July 2010.

• Meanwhile, a more natural flood could wash away Brazil’s proposed fighter purchase.

• More US defense funds likely to go into repairing, upgrading older systems.

• US needs to shore up its air superiority vis-a-vis China, warns the American Enterprise Institute.

• Is an arms race in East Asia imminent?

• Are American P-3 Orion sea control aircraft hunting narco-smuggler submersibles in the Caribbean?

• The GAO is expected to rule in March on a protest over the US Army’s $88 million contract award to Boeing for development of 4 ISR aircraft based on the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350, under the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) program.

• AM General to lay off 300 workers at its Mishawaka, IN, plant that manufactures Humvees.

• Sikorsky Aircraft opens virtual reality center to identify production and maintenance gaps for the USMC’s forthcoming CH-53K heavy lift helicopters, before the initial builds take place.

AgustaWestland’s Through-Life Support for UK Merlin Helis

RAF Merlin HC3

Thales’ 2011-2016 IMOS sub-contract. (April 11/11)

The United Kingdom has sustained extensive efforts to strike long-term, through-life support contracts for various weapons systems under a “contracting for availability” (rather than for maintenance hours) framework. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) keeps driving the point home with new contracts that encompass more and more of their military.

The Royal Air Force currently flies 28 AW101 Merlin HC3 medium helicopters that work with the army, whilst the Royal Navy’s 42 soon-to-be upgraded AW101 Merlin Mk1s are used for both Anti-Submarine warfare and Anti-Surface warfare. This single 25-year contract covers both helicopter types…

• The AW101 Merlin’s IMOS Contract [updated]
  
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
  
• Additional Readings [NEW]
  

Canada Awards Maintenance Contract for Bell 412EP Helis

CH-146, Northwest Territories

During a January 2011 visit to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Ltd’s assembly line in Mirabel, QB, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a 10-year, C$ 640 million (about $646 million, get used to this) contract to maintain Canada’s fleet of about 90 CH-146 Griffons (Bell 412EP) utility helicopters, until their expected withdrawal from service in 2021. It also includes the option to extend the contract for up to 4 more 1-year periods, stretching it to 2025 if necessary.

Germany Orders MANTIS C-RAM Base Defense Systems

Skyshield AHEAD

Rheinmetall’s MANTIS C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortars) system is a further development of their Skyshield system. Also known by its German initials NBS (Nachstbereichs-Schutzsystem, very short range protection system), it is intended to detect and physically intercept incoming rocket, artillery and mortar rounds, in order to protect stationary bases.

The USA and Britain have already taken similar measures, deploying and using modified Mk15 Phalanx “Centurion” land-based systems equipped with special self-destructing ammunition. While the German C-RAM system looks set to reach the field 2 years late, reports indicate that the German government has approved a purchase – and signed a pair of contracts:

• The NBS System
  
• Contracts and Key Events [updated]
  
• Additional Readings