Russia Wins Back China Deal By Annexing Pesky Shipyard

Ukraine’s deal to sell Zubr hovercrafts made by the Feodosiya Shipyard to China was going along, with two of the landing craft delivered. There were disputes between it and Russia’s Almaz Shipbuilding about who owned the design (the craft does appear similar to the Almaz-designed Project 1232.2, the Bison Mark II), but then Russia went and annexed the territory on which important facilities sat. Now, it appears, Russia is selling Zubr hovercrafts to China, although the last two units in the contract were already to be built in China, so the project is largely a technology transfer to spin up Chinese shipbuilding capacity.

Asia

• Another crash of a HAL-built Dhruv helicopter – the third in a month – has the company looking into potential common causes. The Indian Army Dhruv crashed in Kashmir. It was one of 73 in the inventory, with 151 more ordered. The recent two other crashes were in Ecuador. Of Ecuador’s seven Dhruvs it has operated since 2009, four of them have crashed. Of the two recent crashes, local media report that the January 27 incident involved a fire after takeoff from Tena. The second one – on the Dhruv that sometimes carries President Rafael Correa – happened on a flight between Guyaquil and Quito.

• Taiwan commissioned a corvette designed and built on the island. The 502-ton Tuo Jiang was built by Lung Teh Shipbuilding Company and features Taiwanese anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm gun and Mark 46 torpedoes. Total cost: $66.39 million.

• A U.S. analyst believes China’s pressure on South Korea to avoid installing U.S. anti-missile systems will backfire, but more interestingly, indicates China thinks the South Korean-U.S. relationship is vulnerable to pressure.

Europe

• Sweden, as it assumes the chair of the Nordic Defense Cooperation, won approval for greater cooperation. The plan includes intelligence sharing for certain, and possibly the creation of a Nordic-Baltic Battle Group.

• Russia’s Krylov State Research Center – a state-owned design and research shop – built a model of a very large aircraft carrier. Their design, they say, reduces hull friction by about 20 percent. Russian press (Russian) indicate that if the ongoing lab tests prove promising, they will build a 1:1 scale model for further testing.

Americas

• Special Operations Command demanded – and got – upgrades to the AC-130 series gunships. The new AC-130J Ghostrider is testing now, with a lengthy series of upgrades, most dramatically an additional gun – this one facing backwards. Between the current inventory of AC- 130H, 130W and 130Us, the Air Force has 37 gunships, but it is retiring eight of the 130Hs and plans to retire more shortly.

Middle East

• Israel’s IAI is going in with India’s Alpha Design Technologies to produce and market miniature UAVs for the Indian market. Domestic production is increasingly a requirement for tenders in India. The deal covers IAI’s Bird-Eye 400 and Bird-Eye 650 as well as others. The UAVs are designed to be hand-launched.

• And on the topic of Israeli drones, the IDF formed a new unit for the expressed purpose of attaching drones to artillery units to accelerate target acquisition and spotting.

Today’s Video

• As the Air Force tries to shed the dead weight of the A-10 program, look what showed up over Syria for refueling…

Russia ‘Mad Maxes’ Its Ilyushins, Snarls | Air Force Wants to Disown A-10, Keep CAS Mission

Russia’s Ilyushin aircraft company is testing out the mounting of bomb rails onto its Il-76MD transport aircraft. War Is Boring reports that Russia intends to field them in Tver, Orenburg, Pskov and Taganrog, conveniently close to potential future conquests. The idea of the each IL-76 dropping bombs to clear a path, then disgorging 225 soldiers is the sort of deliciously violent imagery that may be more designed to server Russia’s current diplomatic efforts with Europe than it is in shaping an actual battle field in a practical manner.

Americas

• Much ink has been spilled over the past few weeks regarding the U.S. Air Force’s animus toward the A-10, the close air support aircraft that the Air Force would be happiest to have cut from its budget. Recent daggers in its back include the Air Force’s release of a factoid: that the A-10 is the most lethal jet in the inventory for fratricide. Which was established since as misleading by a POGO piece. With some wondering why the close air support should even continue to be in the remit of the Air Force, its air combat command reportedly indicated that a follow-on platform may be in store.

• The Navy is recruiting female enlisted submariners, now that the January 21 has passed and women are allowed to serve. Already 60 female officers are serving.

• The Brazilian Air Force is bragging (Portugese) about a successful test firing of an air-to-air A-Darter missile developed with along with South Africa. The heat-seeking missile hit a drone flying at a 90 degree angle. It has a maximum range of 12 miles and maneuvers without control surfaces, using instead using thrust vectors. The news release appeared geared to an export market, noting that other missiles with similar technologies aren’t allowed to be exported from those producing countries.

Europe

• Indeed, as indicated in the past week, French President Francois Hollande confirmed that Dassault will sell a couple dozen Rafale fighters to Egypt, along with a FREMM frigate and MBDA missiles for about $6 billion. The purchase appears to be arranged on credit, which signifies a vote of confidence on the part of France that the Egyptian military-led government is likely to become and remain stable.

Asia

• Boeing is still pushing F/A 18 Block II craft for Malaysia – they’ve been negotiating with the country for more than a dozen years. What is interesting about their paid messages is the messaging. They’re going with “extremely affordable.”

Today’s Video

• With the Brazilian Air Force excited about their A-Darters, here is a video of them doing range training in their A-1s. More info on the munitions and context from The Aviationist.

Boeing Reorganizes

Americas

• As expected, Boeing announced the details of its impending reorganization. A new group called BDS Development will take over management of six major programs, including the KC-46 tanker.

• The coming Air Force decision regarding the long-range strike bomber is thought to have implications Northrop Grumman’s survival as a military aviation manufacturer. The $900 million per bomber program – to number 100 units – is likely the last such program in a generation. If Northrop fails to win it, analysts are speculating that its military aviation division might be sold off to a remaining aviation prime – were the DoD and Department of Justice to allow it.

• Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work visited strategic nuclear forces in Minot to ground truth reports that much progress has been made in the troubled force.

• The Government Accountability Office released a report (PDF) – part of a series of reports on the elements of the federal government experiencing the highest risk of failure – and judged the Department of Defense to be somewhat improved in their slow move toward transforming its business practices. The biggest criticism remains an assessment that the DoD isn’t seriously communicating its reform intent; measuring progress; and making people feel that their perceived performance is based on progress on business transformation.

Europe

• Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister claims that his country will soon produce an attack/reconnaissance drone. Previous reports had spoken of a Chirok drone made by Russian United Instrument Corporation, a division of Rostec Corporation.

Asia

• A Rand report (PDF) indicates China’s primary military weaknesses are still weaknesses, despite much hand wringing inspired by the many advancements achieved in the past couple of decades.

• Australia will not allow Russia or North Korea to compete for its submarine competition to replace the Collins-class boats.

Today’s Video

• Lockheed released this video showing off its LRASM anti-ship missile capabilities, now in the news again after a test launch.

JLTV RFP Deadline Passed: Lockheed, American General and Oshkosh Now Wait

The deadline for USTACOM’s 4th and final iteration of its JLTV RFP for Low Rate Initial Production and Full Rate Production has passed, and all three prime contractors have submitted their proposals. The Firm Fixed Price contract should last 3 years of LRIP followed by 5 years at full rate. Pricing the years out will depend of whether Multiyear Procurement is approved by Congress.

Americas

• Computer Sciences Corp. saw revenues fall nine percent, blaming the downturn at least in part on an inability to recruit specialized talent needed to fulfill business already won.

• The U.S. Navy, Air Force and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency test launched a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) from a B-1 bomber. The missile flew to several waypoints and was able to avoid an obstacle place between it and its target. The Navy stated that this third test of the LRASM indicates it has “transitioned from a DARPA demonstration to a formal, U.S. Navy program of record.” The B-1 will be the first platform to enable launching, to be followed by the Navy’s F/A-18.

Middle East

• Saudi Arabia awarded a $166 million contract to Gilbane Federal to design facilities needed to mondernize the kingdom’s F15 variants.

Asia

• While South Korea reportedly shrugged its shoulders and indicated it hadn’t been consulted after being warned by China that it wouldn’t be wise to deploy the American THAAD anti-missile system on the peninsula, the Pentagon isn’t bashful about confirming it has been in “constant discussions” with its South Korean ally.

• Russia’s deputy prime minister warned the country’s defense industry that after 2020 they should expect relatively little domestic purchasing or subsidy. The statement appears to be designed to impel executives to invest today’s revenues into technology and upgrades to make them sustainable after the current up-arming is over.

Today’s Video

• Lockheed released this video showing off its LRASM anti-ship missile capabilities, now in the news again after a test launch.

‘Fat Leonard’ Procurement Scandal Takes Down Three Rear Admirals

The Secretary of the Navy
issued letters of censure to three rear admirals – all of whom are retiring – for involvement in the “Fat Leonard” scandal that involved officers steering ships to particular port facilities in return for gifts and sexual favors. A review concluded that the three admirals improperly accepted gifts between 2006 and 2007 and that their improper familiarity with Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis “cultivated an unacceptable ethical climate within the respective commands.”

Rear Admirals Michael Miller, then a commander serving on the USS Ronald Reagan; Terry Kraft, CO of the same carrier; and David Pimpo, the Reagan’s supply officer, have all asked to retire. The Navy’s issuance of reprimands does not preclude criminal charges. Secretary Mabus promised to set up an ethical disciplinary process to follow up with Navy officers who are not charged criminally, or whose ethical lapses aren’t addressed directly in criminal proceedings. Navy officials previously indicated that the scandal will grow wider as leads are followed up.

Francis, proprietor of a Malaysian naval resupply and refit firm named Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. pleaded guilty to various corruption charges, having been successfully lured to the U.S. in a San Diego hotel sting, and after finally losing the services of a bribed senior official in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, who had previously been tipping him off. Francis’s firm aggressively sought Navy business, bribed officials for secret ship movement information and for favorable contracting decisions and overcharged for services. Allegations have been made as well that Francis was effective in changing the schedules and destinations for certain Navy deployments.

Francis has been cooperating in recent weeks, according to the Washington Post.

Francis has agreed to pay back $35 million in money made through the scheme, and awaits sentencing of up to 25 years in prison.

Navy captain Daniel Dusek pleaded guilty to giving Francis secret information in exchange for money, prostitution services and travel services around the Pacific. Dusek was relieved of his relatively new command of the Bonhomme Richard in 2013 when he was first suspected of involvement. Dusek is one of five navy officials to plead guilty, and the most senior so far.

He has admitted to, in at least one instance, to change the movements of a carrier and strike group to ensure that they stopped at Francis’s Port Klang facility in Malaysia.

A couple months before Dusek’s arrest, a former commander of the USS Mustin, Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, was arrested for bribery, about the same time that Naval Criminal Investigative Service supervisory agent John Bertrand Beliveau II was arrested.

Misiewicz allegedly attempted reschedule port visits to include Francis’s firms facilities, adopting routes that included Sepangar, Malaysia, and Laem Chebang, Thailand.

Already, several mid-level officers have been found guilty, including one who pleaded guilty only last week.

In documents presented to the court using Francis’s own words, the scheme was designed to “drive the big decks into our fat revenue” facilities.

Army Goes from Cutting M1 Tank to Burnishing It

Typical of the stop-start volatility in an uncertain budget time that Ashton Carter referenced in his addresses to Congress, the Army is moving 180 degrees from its original position that the M1 tank fab lines should be cut from the budget. Congress objected, and the Army didn’t just come back with an even funding proposal, but now wants 50 percent more for upgrades. The request totals $368 million.

Asia

• India is talking with Japan about possibly purchasing six Soryu-class diesel-electric submarines. India is asking Japan to consider having them manufactured in India.

• South Korea is putting off its tender for the KF-X, the would-be indigenous fighter. Only one bid came in (from KAI), and the tender will be re-deadlined to February 24 in the hopes that Korea Air will also bid.

• China is curbing its military class, proscribing income from non-military sources. The word comes directly from President Xi Jinping.

Americas

• Canada has written off the loss of three artillery shells worth more than half a million (Canadian) dollars. The Excalibur rounds were packed with U.S.-bred International Traffic in Arms Regulation technology.

Europe

• Rolls Royce won three contracts totaling $442 million for F-35B parts. Rolls Royce makes the bits that allow the B variant to have vertical lift capacity.

Today’s Video

• Still more strange dog-like robots coming out of Boston Dynamics….

F/A-XX Stealth Not a Foregone Conclusion

Perhaps learning from the expensive lessons of the present, designers of the future fighter F/A-XX may have reason to make stealth a lower priority. And, interestingly, the Chief of Naval Operations appears to agree. The limits imposed by stealth, coupled with extra tens or hundreds of billions of dollars through a fighter program’s service life are high costs to bear. The benefits of stealth may also be better on paper at the time of design than on the electromagnetic spectrum, especially a spectrum at the mercy of future detection technologies.

Americas

• Harris Corporation will acquire Exelis, the 2011 military spinoff of ITT, for $4.56 billion, or $23.75 per share, a premium of about a third of the value of shares trading last week. Both firms have been competing hard for the Soldier Radio Waveform (both are among the four invited) and the RFP for Rifleman Radio.

• Northrop Grumman will eschew the BAE Hawk training system for a completely new design in the U.S. Air Force’s T-X trainer competition. That puts them up against a Boeing/Saab effort, also with a new design; the Lockheed/KAI push for a T-50 and T-100- based model; General Dynamic’s use of the M-346 of Alenia Aermacchi and a Textron Airland effort using their Scorpion.

• The U.S. Navy was able to alter a Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile’s course in flight via information from a surveillance aircraft, striking a moving target.

• The rail gun people at the U.S. navy are spending engineering resources to see if one would fit on the third Zumwalt-class destroyer currently being built at Bath Iron Works. The Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) would likely be the first to receive such an armament, with the first two copies too far along for such changes.

Europe

• Egypt may finally sign for 24 Dassault Rafale fighters and a FREMM frigate for $4.5 billion.

Middle East

• Foreign Policy reports that General Atomics was denied a license to export MQ-1 drones to Jordan.

Asia

• China is indicating that devices employing its Beidou GPS-equivalent will also receive signals from the other three navigation satellite nets. This, and the likelihood that Beidou will beat Europe’s troubled Galileo network to market, will make it difficult to see how Galileo’s costs can be significantly recouped through its commercial arm. Already officials are indicating some sort of regulatory trade barrier may be needed.

• The Defense Intelligence Agency is telling Congress that Pakistan is continuing to try to develop battlefield tactical nuclear weapons.

Today’s Video

• The BAE rail gun that the Navy hopes to field on the third Zumwalt-class destroyer had its coming out party late last week at a navy science expo.

New Order for MDAPs: Gov-Led Design Teams

Several newly-defined U.S. Major Defense Acquisition Programs appear to be taking a new approach to design, with the government managing teams of competing contractors during a design phase that is supposed to be better at choosing the best ideas and components, playing to individual vendors’ strengths rather than their inter-contractor business development relationships. Recent news about the F/A-XX taking this approach announced by procurer-in-chief Frank Kendall and a constant dribble of newly defined projects stemming from the FY 2016 Administration budget, such as the Missile Defense Agency’s EKV redesign seem to be the new norm.

Americas

• Sikorsky reports that Eastern European nations are beating down its door to look at the Black Hawk program now that it is becoming more apparent that continuing to use Russian rotary aircraft could prove problematic. Slovakia was specifically mentioned.

• The Army wants money once more for a Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System. A similar budget request in FY 2015 was cut. The Army has been seeking better sniper systems for quite some time.

Europe

• NATO’s much talked about “Spearhead Force” is gaining more definition. The brigade is to be designed as a rapid reaction force that hopes not to bog down into roles that previous RRF efforts have devolved to, involving mostly international babysitting missions, and taking months to mobilize. The unit – led by France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.k. – will feature a 5,000-strong ground force capable of moving within 2 days. The total force is to be 30,000 members, up from the 13,000 troops assigned previously. Command units are being stood up in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, whose geography should give a clear picture of the expected enemy.

• Outgoing SecDef Chuck Hagel’s office characterized his sideline meeting with Georgian counterpart Mindia Janelidze as involving a thanks for help in Afghanistan and pat on the head for continued work toward “interoperability and readiness.” Georgia’s MoD, on the other hand, pointedly noted that the NATO Secretary General spoke to of Georgia “moving closer to NATO membership.” Last fall, NATO granted Georgia something less than a Membership Action Plan – a diplomatic face-saving prize termed a “substantial package.” Georgian officials have been good sports about it, but the elephant in the room remains the West’s reluctance to put themselves in a position of needing to go to war with Russia if it decides (again) that it would like to make trouble there.

Middle East

• A House Armed Services Committee member told the Washington Times that the Administration denied a Jordanian request for Predator drones to help define targets for its air war against ISIS. Jordan’s king was received very warmly by House members earlier this week, and several – perhaps channeling Charlie Wilson – have been public about their determination to help King Abdullah II acquire more equipment to fight the common enemy. Meantime, a piece on drone export limits shows the Administration is being very deliberate in their prudence or intransigence, depending on your perspective.

Asia

• China’s new sternness with its ally North Korea may have come too late for it to be able to prevent South Korea from allowing the fielding of an American anti-missile defense system. China appears to be most worried about the U.S.’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. Yonhap reports that Hong Lei, the Chinese foreign minister, warned South Korea against such action a day after an exchange took place between the two countries’ defense ministers. The complaint is reminiscent of Russia’s reaction to early suggestions of missile defense in Europe versus a future nuclear Iran. For its part, South Korea is claiming that it has not been consulted by the U.S. as to whether it will protect its forces on the peninsula with THAAD, effectively telling the Chinese “Don’t blame us.”

Today’s Video

• China would rather not see the American THAAD system come to the Korean Peninsula. Below is a test firing of two interceptors in the Pacific back in 2011, hitting two mid-range missile targets.

New Boomers Sinking Navy Shipbuilding Budget; Rear Admirals Suggest Everyone Share Pain

Refreshing the Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines will garner $10 billion in expenditures, split between research and long-lead-time procurement, over the next five years, according to the Future Years Defense Plan. After that, the real money really starts to add up. The Navy today estimates that it will cost $100 billion to replace the existing 14 boomers with 12 new ones – an amount equal to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product at the end of the first cold war. Over their service life, the program would be expected to cost roughly four times that. Navy officials have been talking openly and often about how the navy will need “budget relief” to get this accomplished, yet still have funds to afford other shipbuilding programs. The idea of moving this big project off their books – first brought up seriously during FY 2013 discussions – appears to be more and more frequently floated.

Americas

• Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, is assigning the F/A-XX project to be run by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. DARPA will work with both the Navy and Air Force, and it isn’t yet clear how long into the program development DARPA will continue to be the lead agency.

• An early hull prototype of the LCS built by Lockheed – through the strange twists of time and fate, which include an appearance on Baywatch Hawaii – has wound up on a San Diego-based online yacht sales site. See DID’s March 25/2002 reference under contracts. It can be yours for $180,000. That’s only a twentieth of one percent of the cost of a new LCS, and – we couldn’t resist – if you invite your local skeet club for a cruise, it might be better armed.

Europe

• Germany delivered the fourth of six Dolphin class submarines to Israel, this one featuring air independent propulsion (fuel cells), which allows it to stay under and moving for about a week at a time. The first three Dolphin class subs – the first one delivered in 1998 – were given to Israel as part of a war reparations settlement. Germany is picking up about a third of the cost for the next three.

• France is offering 18 used Mirage 2000-5F fighters to Columbia at about $20 million a piece. Another $150 would purchase the initial logistics package. A big selling point may be the French radars that allow for engaging more targets simultaneously than the F16 Block C/D alternatives.

• Russia is awarding its rifle modernization program to Kalashnikov Concern. Janes reports that the Kalashnikov AK-12, one of two models by the firm chosen, didn’t initially make the first cut, but was allowed to compete after political pressure was applied. One reason cited for the win was an existing production facility, where the other competitors would likely have had to build new factories. The AK-12 is chambered in 5.45x39mm and will be purchased by the Russian Army, and the AK-103-4 – to be purchased by the Russian Federal Protective Service – is chambered in 7.62x39mm.

Middle East

• The United Arab Emirates reportedly backed out of air missions against ISIS when demands for specific search and rescue assets weren’t met by coalition forces. The New York Times reported that the UAE asked that SAR resources, including V-22 Ospreys be moved to northern Iraq to support coalition missions, and that this request was declined.

Asia

• The number three official in the Indian Air Force appears to be much enamored with the V-22 Osprey, as he wrote an ode to the tilt-rotor craft in the new issue of Indian Defence Review.

Today’s Video

• For those interested in the news above of the LCS early hull prototype for sale, here is an aerial video produced by Lockheed of a sunny outing set to rock music contemporary to the time. Certain staff wanted to show the Baywatch Hawaii episode that featured Lockheed’s Sea Slice (episode 10), but management decided it couldn’t in good conscious be called fair use.

Air Force Asks for More F-35s to Help Bring Down Per-Copy Price; To Heck with JSTARs, Other Ground Support

The Air Force, even while adding billions to procurement budgets, is putting off its Joint Stars ground surveillance aircraft to 2023. It had previously been hoping to field the new system in 2022. The Air Force has been fairly consistent in choosing fighters and other air dominance platforms over ground support missions in its procurement decisions.

The F-35, meanwhile would get additional funds to produce more units (up to 57 from 38), reportedly to help bring down the per-unit cost, which is rapidly gaining ground on the all-important $200 million-per-copy figure that effectively blew up the now-defunct F-22 program production.

Americas

• The new logistics arrangements putting performance costs on vendors, in the hopes that it will iteratively reduce costs are bearing enough fruit that the Defense Logistics Agency is throwing Boeing the second phase ($223 million) of a combat logistics support agreement. The effort may extend up to five years and involve up to $516 million. Systems under contract support include the Super Hornet, Apache, Harrier, Stratofortress, Globemaster and associated ground support equipment.

• The Pentagon’s Comptroller said he thought Congress would come around to a new base closing BRAC process – just not necessarily very quickly. He noted that he was a senate staffer when the first one was instituted, and that one took 8 years to finally gain approval.

• The Service Women’s Action Network, along with the American Civil Liberties Union, sued the Department of Defense claiming that the DoD’s answers to questions about recruiting females in the nation’s service academies were inadequate. The group sought answers in November as to targets and activities for recruiting women to the academies, which – excepting the Coast Guard – have as incoming freshmen more than three quarters male students.

Europe

• An A400M heavy lift aircraft destined to be one of the four Malaysia ordered made its first flight.

• The trial balloon popped. Floated a few days ago, the Administration made it known to major newspapers that it was considering providing weapons to Ukraine. Today The Hill reports that the President decided against it, opting instead for continuing sanctions against a few dozen Russians and some limited financial sector limitations. Tolling on the Russian economy however, has been the implosion of oil prices, which may make some believe that even pinprick economic sanctions may have more meaning in the new context.

Asia

• Russia is considering alternate ideas for the use of its much-troubled sea launch platform, which has been suspended since the past summer, in part due to a lack of rocket engines available from the now-unfriendly Ukraine.

• Russia is building up its new Gadzhiyevo (not far from Murmansk) submarine base and facilities so quickly that it is experiencing fatal construction accidents (Russian).

• Indonesia awarded its helicopter tender to Boeing to provide eight AH-64E Apaches for $295.9 million.

Today’s Video

• This is what a sea launch looks like – perhaps the last for Energia’s Seal Launch – for lofting a commercial telecommunications satellite.