July 2011: USA Orders 45 Remanufactured M88A2 HERCULES ARVs

M88 & M1: Need a tow?

The M88 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Life Evacuation System) tracked armored recovery vehicle is built on a unique chassis modified from the previous-generation M60 Patton tank, and can tow or winch any American vehicle out of trouble, up to and including the 70-ton M1 Abrams battle tank. They also carry a hoist and boom with up to 35 ton capacity, for operations like engine changes in the field.

Production of the much-improved M88A2 variant began in 1994, and has continued steadily. HERCULES ARVs serve in a number of countries. Iraq is the latest addition to the type’s operating roster, via refurbishment of former US Army vehicles. In July 2011, the US military ordered more.

UAE’s 30-Helicopter Apache Upgrade Program Underway

Before: AH-64A

The United Arab Emirates is best known for its city of Dubai, an ultra-modern port city that has become the trading and commercial hub of the Middle East. As a May 2005 article in National Defense Magazine notes, however, it has also acquired a reputation for a strong and respected military procurement system.

One of their current initiatives involves the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters the country acquired in 1991 and 1994. The plan involves remanufacture and modernization of 30 AH-64A aircraft to the current AH-64D Longbow Block II standard. Deliveries to the UAE were scheduled to begin in May 2008 and continue through November 2009, with support activities continuing through November 2010. Ancillary equipment requests also come with that effort. DID presents a timeline that extends back to the original 2002 DSCA announcement.

Rapid Fire 2011-08-04: Turboprop Transport Aircraft for Ghana

• US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta responds to the debt ceiling agreement by declaring that the Department of Defense’s spending choices must be based on sound strategy and policy and not result in the weakening of national security.

• The deputy chief of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation says the country is preparing to sign more military cooperation deals with the United States. Cooperation is anticipated to extend beyond helicopter purchases like the recent contract for 21 Mi-17V5s.

• The commander of the UK’s Falklands War Task Groups declares that the House of Commons Defence Select Committee’s findings on the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) provides a framework for sensible reform in straitened financial circumstances. Admiral Sir John Woodward also criticizes Government rebuttals of the Committee’s report.

• The US Army awards Safariland a contract with a potential maximum value of almost $32 million to provide ammunition, over 30mm up to 75mm.

• Israel’s evaluation of the MV-22B Osprey is reportedly positive. The question is whether they’ll find the funding to order a handful.

• GKN’s Results Announcement for the first six months ended 30 June 2011 [PDF] reports an 11% increase in sales and a good showing in the aerospace sector. Meanwhile Cobham announces [PDF] a 7% decline in revenue from 2010, a statistic it attributes to ‘challenging conditions in the US defence and security market’.

• ThyssenKrupp releases a statement indicating that there are no plans to form a joint venture or merger between its Marine Systems division and the French shipbuilder DCNS.

• EADS’ Airbus Military subsidiary signs a contract to supply Ghana with two C-295 turboprop transport aircraft.

• Azerbaijan is reportedly seeking to change Washington’s established policy by asking the United States to supply the country with ‘defense weapons’, including air defense and anti-tank systems.

• USAF officials believe that they can save $15 million in energy costs by making some changes to the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center at Ramstein AB, Germany. The steps were actually pretty simple. Next step? Maybe solar on the KMCC’s 10 acres of roof.