Army Copter Buyers Seek to Learn from Ground Vehicle Designers | Report: KAI Winning KF-X Contract

Americas

• Raytheon was awarded a $700 million contract today in support of Norad’s Integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment system, while United Launch Services was awarded a $90.3 million contract for space launch vehicles, including the services in support of Air Force and NRO systems.

• Army helicopter chiefs are reportedly seeking to collaborate with ground vehicle manufacturers in order to develop new technologies to fight in harsh weather conditions. This will principally take the form of the DVE-M, or Degraded Visual Environment-Mitigation, program, which seeks to find ways of allowing rotor wing aircraft to fly in “brown-out” conditions.

• The Navy replenished its AIM-9X stock today, contracting for 648 missile launchers, 40 of which will go to Australia, in a $25 million contract. These launchers – more poetically known as LAU-127s – will enable both the AIM-9X and the AIM-120 missiles to be launched from Super Hornet fighters.

Europe

• The EU today set up a defense research group to advance the Common Security & Defence Policy, drawing together industry leaders, think tankers, academics, politicians and other experts to advance pan-European defense research and policy in the face of falling defense budgets. The advisory group is said to include the heads of Airbus, BAE Systems, Indra, Saab and MBDA.

• Poland is seeking to acquire long-range ground vehicles, launching a tender today. Poland has previously bought German.

Asia

• South Korean manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) was selected as preferred bidder today in the country’s indigenousKF-X fighter program, South Korean media reported today, beating a partnership of Airbus and Korean Airlines. KAI are expected to partner with Lockheed Martin for the $7.9 billion program, which will replace the existing Korean fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighters, as well as equip the Indonesian Air Force, which joined the project in 2010.

• South Korea also awarded a $769.4 million contract to Raytheon for upgrades the country’s Patriot systems, including Radar Digital Processors and an open architecture. This builds on a $1.4 billion contract signed last year.

• In further cooperative sentiment between India and Japan to the US-2 talks reported over the weekend, the Indian Defense Minister has “expressed his readiness to consider” acquiring Japanese Soryu-class submarines, despite reports that the Indian Navy may lease an additional Russian sub. The Japanese and Indians have previously spoken about the possibility of procuring submarines, although the possibility of leasing another Russian sub has also been in the cards for a while. Australia is also engaged in talks regarding the Soryu-class.

• India will procure two Airbus A330 aircraft, in order to convert them into AEW&C platforms, Indian media reported Monday. The Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) will develop an indigenous AWACS to fit onto the new airframes. India currently operates three Israeli Phalcon systems, based on Russian airframes, alongside smaller EMB-145i platforms.

Today’s Video

• Slow-Mo Javelin…