Incoming & Hostile: The USN’s JATAS Aircraft Warning System

AH-1Z: Hellfire test

The US military has been conducting a pair of competitions for defensive warning systems to equip its helicopters and transports. The Army’s CIRCM remains a hot competition as of July 2011, but the US Navy and Marines have picked their winner for the Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System (JATAS).

This missile and gunfire warning system will equip the services’ MV-22B Osprey, MH-60R/S Seahawk, AH-1Z Viper, UH-1Y Venom and CH-53K HLR platforms, replacing ATK’s AN/AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning System.

Afghan Forces Getting More HMMWVs, 2010-Present

M1152A1B2

Afghan forces have been ordering HMMWV vehicles from the US government, in order to equip their growing forces. That in itself is no revelation. Even before the 2010 order, the ANA already used up-armored Humvees. It’s the scale of recent orders that’s worth noting. If financed by the Afghan government, the 2010 order alone would represent about 85% of Afghanistan’s 2009/10 security budget all by itself, and about 41% of all domestic revenue, per the Ministry of Finance’s 2008-13 strategic plan [PDF].

Announced contracts to date include:

Rapid Fire 2011-07-26: Acoustic Shooting Locating System

• The Government Accountability Office (GAO) publishes Defense Department Cyber Efforts [PDF]. The report raises concerns about the DoD’s initial responses to cyber threats.

• A senior Israel Air Force Officer (IAF) tells an Israel Technology Group conference that the successful deployment of Rafael’s Iron Dome missile interception system in April prevented an escalation of conflict with the Gaza Strip.

• The US Army awards Hamilton Sundstrand a contract with a maximum potential value of almost $38 million for miscellaneous and unspecified communications equipment.

• Rheinmetall announces that the first basic version of its Acoustic Shooting Locating System (ASLS) is ready for the marketplace.

• Terrabon announces that it has been awarded a $9.6 million contract [PDF] to design a renewable jet fuel production solution for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Houston-based company’s MixAlco bio-refining technology will likely underpin research and development.

• The Center for Nonproliferation Studies’ (CNS) current Nonproliferation Review includes an article [PDF] stating that between 1997 and 2009 North Korea accounted for more than 40% of the 1,200 ballistic missile systems exports to the developing world.

• Australia’s Ministry of Defence signs a AUD25 million ($28 million) contract with Thales Australia for nine additional training simulators for army crews operating the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV).

• Boeing is working on a new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft using jets called Pulse Ejector Thrust Augmentors (PETA), based on technology originally developed by Nazi Germany.

• The revival of the state-owned Fabrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) continues following the recent announcement of the company’s upgrades for the IA-58 Pucara counterinsurgency aircraft.