Navy Field Testing Semi-Auto Carrier Recovery | Russia, Japan Follow SOCOM in Developing ‘Terminator’ Suits

Americas

• On Wednesday the House Armed Services Committee shot down an amendment intended to transfer money from the F-35 program to the National Guard and Reserves as part of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. Representative Jackie Speier pushed to shift $589 million – representing six F-35 fighters – from the $1 billion funding increase, with Speier’s amendment losing on a voice vote, following a heated exchange between the Democrat Representative and Chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee Rep. Mike Turner.

• The Army awarded an up-to $3.89 billion firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to Thales Defense & Security for rifleman radios, beating out two other bids. Thales was previously awarded a US Army contract in 2012 for its AN/PRC-154 radios, jointly developed with General Dynamics.

• Also on Wednesday, the Navy awarded a $62.5 million contract to Timken Gears & Services Inc. for two Main Reduction Gear systems for Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class destroyers. The MRG systems are used to turn the very fast rotational speed of an engine, such as a DDG-51 type destroyers’ LM2500 turbines, into efficient slower speed rotation of the ships’ propellers.

• The Navy has field-tested the Maritime Augmented Guidance with Integrated Controls for Carrier Approach and Recovery Precision Enabling Technologies (MAGIC CARPET) software onboard CVN-77, with the software intended to assist landing aircraft. The system is scheduled for deployment in 2019.

Europe

• French president François Hollande announced Wednesday that the country would implement a $4.2 billion increase to its annual defense budget, a break from previous strategic planning for the 2014-2019 period. With a detailed budget expected to be presented before the country’s cabinet on 20th May, the government needs to find an additional $4.2 billion to finance military procurement and operations over the 2016-2019 period. Indonesia has also committed to double its defense budget by 2020 to $15 billion, representing 1.5% of GDP.

• Russia and China are reportedly close to signing a final agreement to jointly construct helicopters. The precise model of helicopter the two are intending to construct has not been disclosed, although it is thought that the new helicopter will seek to surpass the enormous Mi-26 heavy lift helicopter’s impressive operational capabilities.

• Meanwhile, TASS is reporting that the Russian defense industry will be supplying exoskeletons to the Russian Armed Forces “within five years.” The fancy suits are to be capable of lifting up to 300kg and making “incredible jumps.” The Chinese have also shown recent strides in exoskeleton technology, while Japan is also exploring the idea. SOCOM is also currently seeking up to a dozen potential vendors to submit proposals for its Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit competition, with these twelve expected to submit proposals at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa next month.

Asia

• In a boost to the country’s defense industry, two privately-held Indian firms – Bharat Forge and Punj Lloyd – have been selected as finalists for the Indian Army’s $2.65 billion anti-air gun requirement. The replacement of aging Swedish L70/ZU 23 guns will involve procurement of over 1,100 vehicles, with an initial contract expected to see 428 new guns over five years.

• British Prime Minister has reiterated the offer of Eurofighter Typhoons for India’s MMRCA competition, with the European nation offering “a better deal than Rafale”. The Typhoon was one of two finalists in the competition, losing out to the Rafale as preferred bidder.

• The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile appears to be on the cusp of significant export success. The joint venture between India and Russia may soon be exported to South American countries such as Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina, as well as other countries including South Africa, with reports of preliminary discussions having already taken place between India and these states. India recently stood-up a third regiment of BrahMos missiles.

• The Indian Air Force will receive an additional four HAL Tejas light combat aircraft by the end of this year.

Today’s Video

• A Chinese exoskeleton suit at the Zhuhai Airshow last year…

Air Force Testing Plasma Engines | Gripen on Export Roll | Tata/Airbus Likely to Reap Growing Light Air Transport Orders

Americas

• The Air Force will test a plasma-based propulsion system on board a X-37B reusable space vehicle, in a joint effort between the The Air Force Research Laboratory, Space and Missile Systems Center, and Rapid Capabilities Office. A Hall thruster can provide greater fuel efficiency compared to conventional engines, with the new thruster a modified version of those equipping the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellites. The launch is scheduled for 20th May.

• On Tuesday, the Air Force awarded a $325 million IDIQ contract to engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney for the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) engine’s Phase III stage. That is the same amount GE won several months ago for the same project.

• Also Tuesday, Lockheed Martin was handed a $10.5 million contract to provide the UAE with Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sights for the AH-64 helicopter, with the UAE having first formally requested the Apache in November 2010.

• The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency is looking to the Army for modernization of its UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, with a view to convert A-models to newer L-models. The deal is a mirror of a previous 2008 arrangement, with the CBP receiving upgraded L-models to extend the lifespan of their Black Hawks by 15 to 18 years.

Europe

• Saab is confident about Gripen exports to Eastern European states, with the company reportedly set to sign a contract with Slovakia for up to a dozen of the jets later this year. Finland is also looking to modernize its fighters, with the Air Force looking to upgrade its existing fleet towards the beginning of next decade. The Gripen has seen export success in Brazil, with the company also angling for a potential sale to India, to fulfill its single-engine fighter requirement.

• The Czech Republic is planning on bolstering its troop numbers by 63% by 2025, an increase of around 10,000 men. Similarly, the Czech defense budget is set to grow to 1.4% of the country’s GDP by 2020, up from the 2015 level of 1%.

Asia

• The DSCA has cleared a $96 million support contract for India’s fleet of five C-130J transport aircraft. Similarly, the agency has delivered a notification to Congress regarding a potential $1.5 billion support package for Australia’s fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

• India’s Coast Guard is reportedly set to join the Indian light transport aircraft replacement program, bringing the total value of the project up by 45% to around $2.76 billion for a revised total of 62 aircraft. A single bidder – a joint bid with partners Tata Group and Airbus – remains, following Alenia’s departure in October. This burgeoning number of aircraft may grow, with the Indian Navy also potentially seeking to jump on the bandwagon.

• Airbus Group Australia Pacific and the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) have commissioned a joint support center at Brisbane Airport to provide engineering, technical and other services to the Australian military’s fleet of Tiger and Taipan helicopters. The new center will be staffed by both civilian and military personnel, expected to number 250 people when the center is fully operational.

Africa

• Following the August 2014 announcement that BAE Systems intended to sell its majority share in its Land Systems South Africa business to South African state-owned Denel, the divestiture is reportedly complete. The $56.6 million deal comes as the company mulls selling most of its US services group.

Today’s Video

• A Customs & Border Protection Black Hawk over Super Bowl XLIX…

Lacking Realistic CAS Alternative, Congress May Forbid AF from Dumping A-10 | House Also Meddling in F-35 Basing Decisions | Poland to Decide Attack Heli Vendor in 2015

Americas

• The House Armed Forces Readiness Subcommittee is seeking clarification regarding F-35 basing criteria. The panel is asking the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force to specify the methodologies leading to site selection, as well as a host of other related F-35 stationing, basing and laydown decisions. All this is included as Report Language attached to the 2016 Defense Authorization Bill, which can be found on page 145 of the bill.

• Also on Monday, the House is seeking to block the A-10 from being retired, with Rep. Martha McSally reportedly planning to introduce an amendment to prevent the Air Force from pushing the aircraft aside. This amendment will be attached to Thornberry’s version of the defense budget, with the A-10 fleet fully-funded. An A-10 recently had to conduct an emergency landing while deployed to Iraq, with the aircraft’s engine reportedly suffering “catastrophic damage.”

• MIT was awarded a $3.06 billion IDIQ contract Monday for operation of the Lincoln Laboratory Federally Funded Research and Development Center, with the aim of long-term technological development and prototyping. The contract extends to 2020, with $600,000 committed immediately. Also on Monday, DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems Inc. was awarded a $7.3 million cost-plus fixed-fee development contract for Air Force detector array systems, beating out 18 other offers.

• The Air Force has retired a final pair of C-130P special mission aircraft from the Pacific region, with the aircraft being replaced with the upgraded C-130J Commando II.

Europe

• On the heels of Poland’s recent selection of Airbus for its new fleet of transport helicopters, the country’s Deputy Defense Minister announced Monday that the Defense Ministry will select a winning supplier for thirty attack helicopters by the end of the year. Four companies have reportedly expressed interest in competing.

• A Franco-Italian satellite was launched on Sunday, joint developer Thales announced Monday. The SICRAL 2 telecom satellite is a joint program between the Italian Defense Ministry and the French defense procurement agency DGA. The Italians will benefit from a majority stake in the new capability. This is the latest in a series of French and Italian cooperative satellite projects.

• Swedish subsidiary of the UK-based defense giant, BAE System Hägglunds has incorporated “active damping” technology from Formula 1 motor sport into its family of CV90 armored vehicles. This is designed to improve the speed and stability of the vehicle, reducing the wear on components and providing a more stable platform for gunnery targeting. The new system reportedly boasts speed improvements of 30 to 40%, setting records in the process.

Asia

• Taiwanese media reported Monday that a Chinese S-300PMU2 SAM system acquired a lock on a Taiwanese Air Force Ching-Kuo IDF fighter last year, with the jet taking evasive maneuvers to break the SAM’s lock. The PLA tested the S-300PMU2 system in May last year, with the Russians agreeing to sell the Chinese more capable S-400 systems in January this year.

• Indian defense imports rose 56% over three years, according to data published by Janes. The Indian defense market remains robust for international players, with the government seeking to boost the country’s domestic manufacturing base through mandatory technology transfers, offset agreements and majority-Indian ownership. Despite the increase in imports, India’s own defense industry is becoming increasingly capable, with indigenous warships, aircraft and strategic weapons all taking great strides in recent months.

• In a further illustrative example, the Indian Navy is reportedly using Swedish composite fiber materials for its new stealth corvettes, with the carbon fibre-based composite forming the new ships’ superstructure.

• In parallel to a recent push from the Indian High Court to the Defense Ministry, the Indian Home Ministry is replacing many INSAS rifles of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the counter-terror force responsible for combating Maoist and Islamist terror groups. The much-criticized INSAS rifles – developed by the state Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) – will be replaced by 67,000 time-tested AK-47s. Criticism of the INSAS stems principally from its error percentage rate of 3%, resulting in much more regular jamming than the AK’s 0.02% error rate.

Today’s Video

• A pre-dampened CV90…

India’s Light Transport Competition: Follow Avros to Exit

IAF’s 748M Avro

India’s slow-motion force modernization has made significant progress within its aerial transport fleet. Their AN-32s are being modernized, stretched C-130J Hercules have been bought for their special forces, and the IAF’s high-end IL-76s will soon be joined by 10 Boeing C-17 heavy transports. Now, at the very bottom of India’s fixed-wing transport force, it’s time to replace the 6 tonne capacity of the IAF’s 30 or so surviving 748M Avros. The planes are currently used for troop transport, communications, and training.

The 2 leading contenders are a familiar pair, and would be more like western counterparts to the higher-performance AN-32s. A number of other makes and models have been floated, which could make for an interesting competition if enough of them respond.

BAE, Airbus Selling Assets | Navy Winces, Asks to be Thrown into F-18 Briar Patch | Army Saves Time Not Re-Inventing Fire Control

Europe

• BAE Systems is looking to see what it might get were it to sell its services division. The parts for sale generate between one and two billion dollars per year and employ almost 8,000 people, a ratio about on par with non-technical professional services industries. The BAE divisions, however, involve technical, mission and IT support services.

• Similarly, Airbus is reportedly shopping around its defense electronics business as part of its plan announced in 2014 to raise cash by selling non-core assets. Its hopes for cash raised are also optimistic, having asked an investment bank to organize a sale that would realize ten times EBITDA.

• The Russian military is doing the Dance of the Seven Veils, almost showing off a series of new armor assets, said to included AFVs, main battle tanks, self-propelled artillery and an APC. The Ministry of Defense appears to be trying to build up suspense leading up to the annual May 9 parade in Moscow, where the vehicles are expected to figure prominently.

Americas

• The Navy is floating a trial balloon that it might procure a couple dozen more F-18s due to F-35 delays. The Navy has been especially impacted by the delays as its variant, the F-35C VTOL version. Running a couple squadrons as F-18 shops would also save the Navy between one and two billion dollars, which starts to add up.

• In a comment that will bemuse F-35 critics, a Chinese military expert scoffed at suggestions that China adapt its F-35 knockoff, the J-31, to add VTOL capabilities. Song Xinzhi reportedly poo-pooed the idea, indicating that it would be too expensive, impractical, cause heat problems and foist unreasonable range limitations.

• The Army is proud of its having re-used a common fire control system across various artillery and related systems. Of seven systems employing the MFCS since 2000, most saw between a year and three years of quickened deployment for having foregone a custom fire control system.

• Boeing took a flyer and privately financed the production of 10 C-17A Globemasters. With a series of Commonwealth countries expressing interest, five are still left unsold.

• General Dynamics NASSCO will get $24.2 million – and potentially $96.3 million – for maintaining and upgrading Littoral Combat Ships running out of San Diego.

Asia

• Although China has already transferred the technology to Pakistan so that the junior partner in their military relationship can produce the JF-17 Thunder fighter, China has agreed to provide Pakistan an additional 50 jets over the next three years and 110 in total. Pakistan reportedly cannot make them fast enough to keep up with military demand.

Today’s Video

• The X-47B unmanned fighter demonstrator successfully refueled autonomously…

Army Tests MRZR-4 Buggies | Canadians Test Domestic UAV | Italy Probes Alleged Copter Bribes | Court: India’s Rifle a Stinker Too

Americas

• The Army is currently evaluating Ultra Light Combat Vehicles – the Polaris MRZR-4 – with a potentially large procurement in the pipeline. This acquisition is dependent on results of the testing currently underway, with the vehicles already used by Special Operations. The Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence wants approval for a plan to procure commercial off-the-shelf vehicles, with a target of fielding 300 by 2016, before a longer-term acquisition strategy can be implemented.

• A dozen Air Force A-10s are to be deployed to the Middle East for six months, with 350 personnel accompanying them. This latest batch of A-10s in the second the US has sent to assist in the fight against ISIL.

• The Canadian Department of National Defense is testing a small UAV to evaluate its maritime surveillance and ASW capabilities. The Canadian-manufactured Brican TD100 will use magnetometers to search for metallic objects (submarines, mines, ships, etc), with the aircraft’s payload, which is more than twice as large as the Canadian military’s ScanEagles.

• Tinker Air Force Base (Oklahoma) has been named as one of four potential locations to base the Air Force’s fleet of new KC-46A refueling tankers, alongside Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base (North Carolina), Westover Air Reserve Base (Massachusetts) and Grissom Air Reserve Base (Indiana).

Europe

• Former managers of Italian group Finmeccanica’s AgustaWestland company are reportedly being investigated by Italian police. The corruption probe is revolving around the sale of helicopters to Algeria over the 2009-2011 period. AgustaWestland was awarded a contract for 100 helicopters in 2009, following-on from a 2007 order worth EUR400 million. The company was awarded a further order for six helicopters in 2012.

• French firm Sagem has reportedly prepared an unsolicited upgrade package for the French Air Force’s fleet of C-130 transports. The proposal would see the aircraft kitted out with the firm’s SSA-1101 Gerfaut system, allowing the aircraft to carry eight AASM guided bombs under its wings.

• On Thursday, the UK’s Ministry of Defence released figures detailing the number of ground vehicles and aircraft it holds under the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty. The data reveals how the UK Armed Forces have been trimmed as a result of budgetary constraints. The number of attack helicopters held in the UK fell by 17% compared to 2014, part of a 43% fall from 2008. Over the last seven years the number of combat aircraft has fallen by 31%, the number of armored combat vehicles by 35%; however, the number of artillery pieces rose in comparison to last year by 3%.

• Russia will begin using Orlan-10 UAVs to monitor Arctic regions from the beginning of May, according to Russian media, with the aircraft having undergone climate testing earlier this year.

• The country is also reportedly seeing export success with its Ptero-class UAVs. The manufacturer – AFM-Servers Ltd – is in talks with Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China regarding the UAVs, with six of the company’s Ptero-G0 systems already sold.

Middle East

• Iraq is reportedly set to receive its first batch of F-16 fighters in July, following a 2011 $3 billion contract for 18 of the aircraft.

• The undisclosed customer in Raytheon’s $2 billion contract announced earlier this week for Patriot air defense systems is now thought to be Saudi Arabia. The company secured a multi-billion dollar contract with Poland this week, with the Patriot system also a contender for Germany’s air defense modernization requirement.

Asia

• India’s High Court has instructed the Defense Ministry to review steps to replace the INSAS assault rifle used by para-military and counter-terror troops, following a Public Interest Litigation filed by retired Lt Col Deepak Malhotra. The retired veteran has alleged that the rifles had directly contributed to the deaths of service personnel. In 2005 43 Nepalese troops were killed after their base was attacked by Maoists and their INSAS rifles malfunctioned. The rifle’s problems have now become well-documented, with the Defense Ministry making their most recent order of the rifles two years ago. The Ministry has ten weeks to respond to the PIL.

• Indian firm Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd has been awarded a $3.1 billion contract to construct three stealth frigates, as part of the Indian Navy’s Project-17 program. Seven frigates are due to enter service from 2023 onwards, with four ships planned for construction by Mazagon Dock Ltd in Mumbai, with the remaining three due to be constructed in Kolkata.

Today’s Video

• A classic A-10 strafing run video…

Industry Opposes Reform Bill | Germans to Dump G-36 | Japan Picks Dassault’s Falcon 2000

Americas

• Defense contractors are unhappy with the House Armed Services Committee’s defense acquisition reform bill, with an industry trade organization – the Professional Services Council – raising objections to the committee’s Chairman, Rep. Thornberry. Concerns principally revolve around the bill’s plan on centralizing decisions on when commercially-available products should be procured in lieu of defense-specific designs.

• Canada’s military will benefit from a $9.6 billion budget boost over the next ten years, with this increase increasing year-on-year to 2026.

• Colombia is putting the finishing touches to its acquisition program for eight new frigates. The state-run Science and Technology Corporation for the Development of Naval, Maritime, and Riverine Industries (COTECMAR) will develop and construct the 4,000-5,000 ton vessels over the next twenty years, with the frigates due to enter service in 2035. Colombia has seen substantial modernization of its military in recent years, with the country’s defense budget reported unlikely to fall, even if the ongoing peace negotiations with the FARC conclude successfully.

• Lockheed Martin appears to have made a profit on the F-35 program this year, with a Q1 operating margin of 14%, despite the Joint Project Office transitioning all of the company’s F-35 contracts from a cost-plus model to fixed-cost.

Europe

• Russia has revelated the vehicles it plans on displaying for its Victory Day parade next month. Interesting elements include the T-14 main battle tank and the Typhoon-K and new Bumerang personnel carriers.

• The German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the controversy-riddled G36 assault rifle – the standard issue weapon of the German armed forces – has “no future” in the German Army. Also on Wednesday, reports (German) detailed how former Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière was apparently aware of the significant deficiencies of the weapon as early as spring 2012, whilst the manufacturer Heckler & Koch has continually denied the weapon’s shortcomings.

• Finland is buying Israeli camouflage systems as part of a multi-year contract with Fibrotex. The multi-spectral systems are capable of shielding equipment and personnel from a variety of detection methods, including UV, visual, near-infrared, thermal, and radar-based sensors.

• The Netherlands’ Ministry of Defense and Thales have partnered on a long-term Early Warning Capability radar program, the latter announced Wednesday. The contract will see the firm service four SMART-L radars for the Royal Netherlands Navy and deliver and service another pair of ground-based variants for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The four naval, ballistic missile defense-capable radars are fitted to the Royal Netherlands Navy’s fleet of four De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates, whilst the two ground-based radars will replace existing Thomson-CSF ARES radars which have operated since the 1970s.

Asia

• The Philippines is reportedly seeking to acquire more military aid from the US, with the country’s Armed Forces Chief drafting a wish list of new equipment. This is expected to focus principally on maritime and amphibious capability. The two nations signed a ten-year security agreement last April, which has led to an increase in the number of US assets rotating through the country. This is reflected in the joint amphibious drills currently underway.

• Japan has selected Dassault’s Falcon 2000 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft for its Coast Guard. The company will partner with L-3 Platform Integration and Thales, with the number of aircraft ordered not specified. The Japanese Coast Guard currently operates four business jet-based aircraft.

• Photos posted online appear to show a developmental radar for the Chinese J-20, with canard-mounted radar visible on a Tupolev Tu-204 testbed aircraft. These latest photos follow similar ones from 2011, which appeared to show the J-20’s weapons bay. The first photos of the fighter emerged in 2010, with the number of prototype aircraft tripled in 2014 to six.

Today’s Video

• RT footage of a Russian T-15 Armored Personnel Carrier:

Gripin’ in Switzerland: Referendum Shoots New Fighter Deal Down

Swiss F-5Es

While F-5 owners like Brazil, Chile, Thailand, et. al. have opted for comprehensive refurbishment and upgrades, Switzerland is looking to replace 3 of its 5 Tiger II squadrons with new aircraft under its Tiger-Teilersatz TTE program. The new fighters will partner with the 3 squadrons of upgraded F/A-18 C/D Hornets that make up the rest of its fighter fleet.

An initial evaluation RFP was issued to 4 contenders, but Boeing’s withdrawal narrowed the selection to Sweden’s Gripen, France’s Rafale, or EADS’ Eurofighter Typhoon. A 2010 suspension of the competition was followed by a measured revival, thanks to the latest budgets – and then by a provisional winner in Sweden’s Gripen. But as one might expect, Switzerland’s left worked hard to derail any purchase. Once the necessary legislative hurdles were overcome, the new Swiss fighters faced a national referendum just like Switzerland’s 1993 buy of F/A-18 Hornets. The difference is that the new acquisition failed to convince voters. DID presents the background, the candidates, and what may come next.

Marines Developing Air-Air Tactics to Integrate F-35s with F-18s | Poland Chooses Patriots & Airbus H225M | Swiss Will Replace F-5Es

Americas

• The Marine Corps is altering its aerial combat techniques to introduce F-35Bs alongside older F/A-18s. The Hornet Standard Game Plan will see the Corps adapt air-to-air combat tactics to maximize the new jet’s capabilities. Additionally, the plan will see the Marine Corps change the language used by pilots to better align with both the Air Force and international partners.

• The Air Force is also realigning B-1 fleets and the Long Range Strike-Bomber (LRSB) program from Air Combat Command to Air Force Global Strike Command, with the move shifting 63 aircraft and around 7,000 personnel. The LRSB is slated to see an RFP this fall.

• In contract news, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $14 million modification Tuesday for F-22 sustainment, while General Dynamics bagged a $24.2 million contract for Littoral Combat Ship components. The Marine Corps is also set to receive Night Targeting Systems-Upgrade systems following a $43 million procurement contract with Kollsman (an Elbit Systems of America subsidiary), also announced Tuesday.

Europe

• Poland has reportedly selected Raytheon’s Patriot AMDR system as the winner in its Wisla program, following the firm’s selection as a finalist in June last year>. The Wisla program is designed to be the outermost, ballistic-missile-killing third tier of Poland’s modernized air defense system. The winning bid is reported to come with a price-tag of $5.6 billion.

• In addition to the Patriot announcement, Poland has selected the Airbus H225M to fulfill its tri-service helicopter requirement. 50 of the Airbus helicopters will replace the current 40-strong fleet of Mil Mi-17s; a figure revised down from the original requirement for 70 units. The H225M beat out AgustaWestland’s AW149 and Sikorsky’s S-70i Black Hawk and S-70B Seahawk, with the winning helicopter set to undergo checks this May and June to verify its capabilities against Poland’s requirement set. The Eastern European state is also looking to upgrade its attack helicopter fleet. Combined with the Patriot program, the helicopter procurement will account for approximately a quarter of Poland’s eight-year defense modernization budget.

• Estonia will host a major cyber defense exercise this week. The country saw a major cyber offensive in 2007, with NATO conducting annual cyber drills in the country since 2010. The exercises this week – known as Exercise Locked Shield 2015 – will focus on Windows operating systems and SCADA/industrial control systems.

• Switzerland is looking to replace its F-5E light fighters from 2017, with the problem-hit fleet recently seeing a third of its aircraft retired prematurely. When an additional six F-5Es taken offline for repairs return, the Swiss Air Force will have only 54 combat aircraft available for frontline service, 32 of these being F/A-18C/D Hornets.

Africa

• A report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute found that defense spending in across the African continent rose by 5.9% in 2014 compared to the previous year. Angola and Algeria were the most prolific spenders, spending 6.7% and 12% more respectively compared to 2013.

Middle East

• Israel is reportedly seeking to acquire larger brigade-level UAVs than its current Skylarks, with recent operations in Gaza apparently spurring the IDF’s thinking on the matter.

Asia

• The Philippines reportedly scrapped the country’s contract for UH-1D helicopters, having accepted only seven of the helicopters, a third of the number contracted for in 2013 from a joint venture between Rice Aircraft Services Inc and Eagle Copter Ltd of Canada. The country’s Department of National Defense has not only scrapped the $27 million contract, but has blacklisted the suppliers, citing defects in the helicopters, as well as late delivery.

• Kazakhstan has received four Sukhoi SU-30SM fighters, following an announcement in early February that the country would receive an undisclosed number of the aircraft, with no schedule announced.

Today’s Video

• The 30mm Bushmaster:

UK to Top Off Bomb Stocks After 300+ ISIS Sorties | Saudi-Financed French Arms Deliveries Hit Lebanon | Blue Force Tracker Gets First Export

Americas

• On Monday the Air Force handed a $138 million modification to United Launch Services for launch vehicle production services, in support of the launch vehicle configuration of one National Reconnaissance Office Atlas V 541. The modification also included the backlog transportation of GPS IFF-10 and -11 satellites, plus commodities for the MUOS-4 mission. The company also showed-off of its Next Generation Launch System earlier this month<, which is set to include reusable booster main engines.

• General Dynamics was awarded a $36.4 million contract to produce and repair components for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical network (WIN-T), with the firm beating two other bids to take the contract.

• The US Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has selected AVL Powertrain Engineering to help develop an opposed piston, two-stroke Single Cylinder Advanced Combat Engine Technology Demonstrator. This follows a similar contract at the end of March with Achates, a firm specializing in fuel efficient engines. The latter contract saw Achates partner with engine developer Cummins.

• Mapping firm DigitalGlobe has unveiled low-bandwidth technology to facilitate rapid access to maps and analytical software from tablets and other small devices. This will reportedly allow the military user to access high-powered analytics powered by cloud-based assets, with this converted to very low-bandwidth signals and sent to the individual. The aim of the technology is to enable the leverage of powerful computing power to allow the military to blend up-to-date mapping images with other data sources on the fly, without the need for wide channels of data. This is particularly relevant given the intelligence community’s increasing utilization of publicly available data.

• Peru has taken delivery of three Bell AH-412 helicopters, sold by the Royal Dutch Navy following their retirement in December last year.

Europe

• Belarus has begun receiving Yak-130 light attack aircraft from Russia. The country signed a contract in December 2012 for four of the aircraft, with this recent delivery on-schedule according to the 2012 contract.

• 24 European-based US Apache helicopters will be relocated to Alaska over the next two years, despite criticism that their removal will reduce NATO’s capacity to counter assertive Russian behavior in the region. This said, the US is spending $985 million on the European Reassurance Initiative, deploying armor on exercises in Baltic states and warships to the Black Sea, as well as allocating $175 million of military equipment for Ukraine and Baltic states.

• Following sustained Royal Air Force strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq – which reached the 300 mark since September 2014 – the UK’s Ministry of Defence is looking to replenish munition stocks as Paveway IV bomb and Brimstone missile numbers dwindle. To this end, the MoD has reportedly opened negotiations with manufacturer Raytheon to top up stockpiles.

Middle East

• $3 billion-worth of Saudi-funded French arms have begun arriving in Lebanon, the first shipment since the Franco-Lebanese deal was struck in November last year. This first shipment reportedly includes 48 Milan anti-tank missiles.

Africa

• Saab Grintek Defence has reportedly sold its IMPI Blue Force Tracking Device to a Sub-Saharan country. The devices operate as miniature encrypted modems, capable of using radio, cell phone and satellite networks to communicate. The IMPI system can also be fitted to ground vehicles and aircraft, with this being being the first export order for the Blue Force system.

Asia

• South Korea will significantly increase its defense budget over the next five years, a reflection of concerns over the North’s nuclear program. The North Koreans are thought to be close to possessing an operational ICBM, a scare for their Southern neighbor who will pump over $8 billion into their defense budget through to 2020, much of it to missile defense, surveillance and a pre-emptive strike capacity. US military chiefs want to base THAAD interceptor systems in South Korea, leading to a diplomatic furor with China, with the two Asian nations recently holding arms control talks.

• The Philippines is sourcing ten new 40-meter multi-role response vessels from manufacturer Japan Marine United Corporation to equip the state’s Coastguard. The $107.4 million deal was partially financed by the Japanese government and will see the new ships delivered between 2016 and 2018.

• Taiwan is dispatching anti-submarine aircraft to the Spratley Islands for the first time, the country’s Ministry of National Defense announced Monday. Twelve originally-US P-3C Orion aircraft were refurbished and sold to Taiwan in 2007, with a price-tag of $1.96 billion. Taiwan has taken delivery of eight of the twelve, with the remaining four scheduled for the end of the year.

Today’s Video

• A RAF Typhoon demonstrates the Paveway IV: