T3: Triple Target Terminator’s Terminus

AARGM Concept
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In early FY 2011, DARPA awarded a pair of initial contracts for something called the Triple Target Terminator. In their own words:

“The Triple Target Terminator (T3) program will develop a high speed, long-range missile that can engage air, cruise missile, and air defense targets. T3 would be carried internally on stealth aircraft or externally on fighters, bombers and UAVs. The enabling technologies are: propulsion, multi-mode seekers, data links, digital guidance and control, and advanced warheads. T3 would allow any aircraft to rapidly switch between air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities. T3’s speed, maneuverability, and network-centric capabilities would significantly improve U.S. aircraft survivability and increase the number and variety of targets that could be destroyed on each sortie.”

Oddly, T3 sounds very similar to an ongoing Air Force Research Laboratory project – and seems to confirm a trend toward multi-guidance, multi-role smart weapons. But can the USAF develop and field its desired Next Generation Missile from among these development programs? Seems not.

• T3: Tracking the Trends
  
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
  
• Additional Readings
  

Rapid Fire 2012-02-16: BAE’s 2011 Results Hurt by US Slide

• BAE Systems announced its 2011 financial results: sales dropped by 14% to 19.2 billion pounds (about $30B) while the order book shrank by 8% to 36.2 billion pounds ($56.7B). US sales accounted for 47% of the total but the Platforms & Services US division is the one that lost the most ground vs. 2010.

• Indonesia will buy 9 C295 light transport planes from Airbus Military, for an undisclosed sum. They were a partner in designing & building the smaller CN-235 transport, and operate 19, so it’s a compatible acquisition on all fronts.

• The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) overhauled the online resources dedicated to its Life Cycle Logistics Community of Practice (LOG CoP). The new website, available at https://acc.dau.mil/logtools, keeps track of hundreds of documents dedicated to technical management, product support, contracting strategies et. al.