Sun Setting on Era of the Nighthawk | USAF Awards $82.7M to SpaceX to Launch GPS III in 2018 | UAE Donating APCs to LNA

Americas

• Legislation being considered by the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) could see the last of the USAF’s F-117A Nighthawk fleet sent to the scrap yard. Retired since 2007, a fleet of the pioneering stealth aircraft have been kept in special climate controlled storage hangers in the event they were ever needed again. Now, Congress is considering removing those mothballed aircraft and having them scrapped and gutted for hard-to-find parts.

• With its fourth test aircraft up and running, Boeing has reported a $243 million pre-tax charge for cost overruns on the USAF’s KC-46A Pegasus tanker program. It is believed that the company has incurred out of pocket expenses for the tanker totalling around $1.5 billion since being awarded the the $4.4 billion fixed-priced KC-X development contract in 2011. In total, $6.4 billion has been spent on the tanker, and Boeing is anxious for more funds to be released under the low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract expected later this year.

• The USAF awarded an $82.7 million contract to Space Explorations Tech. (SpaceX) to launch a GPS III satellite in May 2018. The move represents a shift away from the decade-long monopoly held by giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin on military space launches. Work to be carried out under the contract includes production of a Falcon 9 rocket, spacecraft integration, launch operations, and space flight certification.

Middle East North Africa

• UAE has seemingly donated a number of Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) and military pick-up trucks to the UN backed Libyan government based in the city of Torbuk. The amount of vehicles sent by the Gulf emirate is unknown, but a picture posted by the Libyan National Army (LNA) shows dozens of what appear to be new Panthera T-6 light APCs and Toyota Landcruiser pick-up trucks. Together with Egypt and Jordan, the UAE has allegedly defied the UN arms embargo on Libya to become one of the most consistent supporters of the LNA since 2012.

Europe

• Airbus has reported further delays to the development of the A400M with the latest issue involving the engine gearbox of the military transport plane. In a statement following the the first-quarter financial results by chief financial officer Harald Wilhelm, he warned of “serious challenges for production and customer deliveries” of the A400M this year. Negotiations on a new delivery schedule are being held through OCCAR, the European procurement agency.

• Polish company WB Electronics has announced that it has sold a number of its Warmate micro combat unmanned air vehicles to two undisclosed export customers. The system operates as a scaled-down expendable loitering munition, aimed at detecting and countering targets including light tanks and armored vehicles. The Warmate can be operated as an autonomous system transported by the army or special forces, and can also be installed on board military vehicles and controlled through the vehicle’s electronics.

Asia Pacific

• Defense experts in Seoul have reported that North Korea carried out two test-firings of their intermediate range missiles on Thursday with both failing. The seemingly hurried tests involved a Musudan missile with a range of more than 3,000 km, followed later by a similar intermediate range missile, both of which crashed soon after take-off. North Korean missile testing in the face of the UN ban have been escalating as of late in the run up to the ruling Workers’ Party congress to be held on May 6.

• Efforts by India to increase their domestic weaponry and equipment output has hit a stumbling block as domestic and private companies are divided over a new not-yet-implemented Ministry of Defense procurement policy. When brought into force, the policy would identify a select few private sector defense companies to be named Strategic Partners (SP), who could then be nominated to big ticket defense projects. Opposition to the policy mainly comes from over 6,000 small and medium companies who fear that the use of SPs would leave very little for them to be involved in.

Today’s Video

• Iraqi army aviation helicopter strikes against ISIS targets west of Baiji (Salah Ad-Din province):

SpaceX launches Falcon 9, With A Customer

Falcon 9 Engines

DID has covered SpaceX’s role in DARPA’s Responsive Small Spacelift Launch Vehicles program with its Falcon I design, and noted the Low-Earth Orbit launch contracts it had secured for various customers. RSSLV is designed to create a less expensive, quick launch capability. Yet SpaceX is developing a whole family of launch rockets, and recently announced a much larger Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) class rocket called the Falcon 9.

It’s a long way from the venture’s beginnings, when PayPal founder (and SpaceX CEO) Elon Musk noted that “The computer and Internet revolutions have given a great deal of capital to the ‘Star Wars’ fans.” SpaceX stuck to its original plan – giving private firms and government agencies that want to launch satellites a $6 million alternative to the cheapest existing rockets, which now cost $30 million per flight. Now, it’s branching out.

$11B Canadian Export to SA Under Fire | UK Selects CPB UAV as Reaper Replacement | Australia Picks France’s DCNS for $38.7B Future Sub Program

Americas

• The forth and final test aircraft of Boeing’s KC-46A tanker program has made its maiden flight. While not kitted out for aerial refueling, the 767-2C aircraft will be used to conduct environmental control system testing for the program. The arrival of the latest tanker comes as Boeing scrambles to complete a “milestone C” review by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). A favorable review will unleash additional funds needed for the program, including a seven tanker production order, which the manufacturer had already begun producing out of its own pocket.

• Northrop Grumman has been awarded an $83.4 million modification contract by the US Army to provide logistics support for the Hunter Unmanned Aircraft System. Work will continue until October 30, 2016. Based on the Hunter UAV by Israel’s IAI, the RQ-5 Hunter has been used by the US Army as a short wave system, and has been operated extensively on missions in Afghanistan. While retirement of the Hunter was scheduled for 2013, the Army has issued a number of logistic and support contracts to Northrop since then, giving the RQ-5 a license to keep hunting for the time being.

• Efforts to prevent Canada’s $11 billion deal to sell light armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia have gone one step further after the filing of a legal challenge in the Federal Court of Canada by former MP and law professor Daniel Turp. According to Turp, the sale violates Canadian law, which prevents the export of military goods to a nation that abuses human rights or is engaged in an active conflict. However, the case may be over before it begins, as Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion quietly issued export permits for the bulk of the shipments earlier this month, and the deal has received its blessing from Canada’s media darling, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Saudi Arabia, accused of committing war crimes during its ongoing campaign in Yemen with western made weaponry, has purchased 1,400 LAVs from General Dynamics Land Systems with a variety of weapon systems, ranging from 25mm cannons to 90mm guns over the last 20 years.

Middle East North Africa

• Israel’s eagerness to customize its orders of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters has already seen its first app created for the next generation jet. Utilizing the open-architecture software design found in the Lockheed Martin designed fighter, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has developed its own command, control, communications, and computing (C4) system which will be equipped on the aircraft in December. The software is an upgrade of an existing C4 system the Israeli air force flies on its F-15 and F-16 fighters.

Europe

• After some guessing and speculation, the UK’s Protector unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform will be the Certifiable Predator B (CPB) UAV. The MoD had announced its plans to go ahead with its 10-strong MQ-9 Reaper Block 1 fleet replacement back in October 2015, but only now has its successor been revealed. The $606 million purchase from manufacturer General Atomic Aeronautical Systems will be facilitated through the usual government to government Foreign Military Sales with the US. Compared to the MQ-9, the CPB has 40% more endurance and four extra external store stations.

Asia Pacific

• After numerous delays in its maiden flight which occurred last week amid much excitement from manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the X-2 stealth demonstrator will have a year long test campaign involving around 50 flights. With the maiden flight described as “ordinary” by Hirofumi Doi, manager of Japan’s Future Fighter Program at the defence ministry’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), future testing will help ATLA gather data on advanced fighter technologies such as stealth, thrust vectoring, data links, and other areas. Depending on this data, flight testing of the X-2 could easily be extended, leading the way for a potentially busy period for the demonstrator.

• Delivery of the S-300 air defense system to Iran is ahead of schedule after deliveries began earlier this month. The $900 million contract was initially signed back in 2007, but suspended when UN Security Council sanctions blocked the deal in 2010. A thawing in relations between the US and Iran over the latter’s dropping of its nuclear program has allowed Tehran to pursue additional military hardware, much to the chagrin of the US’s Gulf allies. Potential future arms contracts between Russia and Iran may involve weaponry that is not on the UN ban list, including air defense systems, small arms, and electronic warfare systems.

• France’s DCNS has been announced as the winner of the $38.7 billion Australian Future Submarine contract. The hotly contested tender for the 12 new subs also saw offers from Germany’s Thyssen-Krupp Marine Systems and the Government of Japan to carry out the build. The new design will be based on DCNS’s Shortfin Barracuda A1 submarine design, a conventionally-powered derivative of the nuclear-powered Suffren-class submarine now under construction for the French Navy. US made combat systems integrator and weapons systems will be installed by either Lockheed Martin or Raytheon in contracts expected to be announced shortly.

Today’s Video

• Live fire testing of a Russian Iskander-M Tactical Missile Launcher Cruise Missile:

Increased Funding Requested for Israeli Missile Defense | Australia Cleared for $1.22B in FMS of AIM-120Ds | Blue Magpie Official Name for Taiwan’s XT-5

Americas

• Orbital ATK has been awarded a $121.3 million contract by the US Navy to provide conversion services of old stocks of US government-provided AGM-88B high-speed anti-radiation missiles. The conversion will see the munitions turned into 145 full-rate production Lot 5 advanced anti-radiation guided missile all-up-rounds, and 12 captive air training missiles, including related supplies and services necessary for manufacture, sparing, and fleet deployment of the missiles, for the Navy and the government of Italy. Completion is expected by September 2018.

• Recent software glitches found in the APG-81 radar for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have not caused any problems for F-35Bs operated by the USMC. The comments were made by Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Aviation Lt. Gen. Jon Davis as he appeared in front of the US Senate Armed Services seapower committee. Davis said that the glitches, which caused the fighter’s radars to reset mid-flight, only occurred on code found in the 3I software update which the Marine Corps never uploaded onto their jets, instead keeping with the older 2B version.

• The DoD has issued a notice to modify the V-22 so that a 18-inch gimbaled multispectral sensor can be lowered from the tilt-rotor’s cargo hold well. The new sensors will increase the ability of the US military to target enemies from afar, giving the aircraft similar situational awareness and precision targeting capabilities to the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Predator UAV. Up to four competing sensor solutions will be tested at the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) tactical demonstration next year.

Middle East North Africa

• Support for increased funding to go toward Israeli procurement of missile defense programs by nearly $200 million above the level requested has been expressed by the US House Armed Services Committee. The bump in funding would see Tamir interceptors for Iron Dome increase from the $42 million requested in the president’s budget to $62 million. The committee would also increase funding for procurement and co-production of David’s Sling from $37.21 million to $150 million, and the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Missile Defense System from $55.8 million to $120 million.

Europe

• Ukraine and Romania have discussed an initiative which would set up a joint military brigade between the two countries. Discussions have also included Bulgaria, and follow an earlier initiative by the Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania to set up a joint military brigade, dubbed the Litpolukrbrig. The increase in cooperation between the US and pro-NATO former Communist nations in eastern Europe has recently seen F-22 Raptor aircraft sent to Romania by the US, and discussions of sending the anti-tank Javelin system to Ukrainian forces.

Asia Pacific

• Australia has been cleared by the US State Department to purchase up to 450 AIM-120D air-to-air missiles. The $1.22 billion sale will see Australia become the first customer of the AIM-120D, where the munition will be used on their fleets of F/A-18, E/A-18G, and F-35 aircraft. Included in the sale will be up to 34 AIM-120D Air Vehicles Instrumented (AAVI), up to 6 Instrumented Test Vehicles (ITVs) and up to 10 spare AIM-120 Guidance Sections (GSs).

• Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has named its XT-5 advanced jet trainer concept the blue magpie. The bird, which dwells in the mountains of Taiwan and is extremely defensive of its nest, was deemed an appropriate name for the jet by the AIDC. Increased indigenous development of military hardware and technology has become a hallmark of the new Taiwanese administration with plans to also develop its own new fighter jet to replace its Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) jet.

• An Indian defense company is to begin developing precision-guided and laser bombs for the country’s defense forces. OIS Advanced Technology (OIS-AT) will partner with Sagem of France to manufacture the munitions, a first for any Indian company. At present, the Indian armed forces import such munitions from Israel, France, Russia, and the US. Sagem’s collaboration will see them share their high-precision, AASM Hammer Guidance and Range Extension kit for aerial munitions, which will see the Indian government spend up to $2 billion on domestically produced precision guided munitions over the next ten years.

Today’s Video

• First flight of Aurora Flight Science’s LightningStrike, Vertical Take-off and Landing Experimental Plane (VTOL X-plane):

JLENS Can’t Stay Afloat After Budget Cuts | Poland Looks Hard at Boeing AH-62 Apache | More Saber Rattling from NK with SLBM Launch

Americas

• The House Armed Services Committee has issued a massive cut to the Army’s Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor system (JLENS) program to only $2.5 million. With the Army initially requesting a budget of $45 million for Fiscal Year 2017, the slashing could put a stop to the troubled program often referred to as “Runaway Blimp.” Political enthusiasm for JLENS has been waning significantly since the Raytheon-made tethered aerostat broke free from its mooring in Maryland, and floated into Pennsylvania, only to be shot down by state troopers. Rep. Jackie Speier stated “This isn’t the first time we’ve tried to kill this ‘zombie program’ — let’s hope it stays dead this time.”

Middle East North Africa

• Experts have recommended that Qatar install advanced short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems to counter the growing capabilities of terrorist groups to acquire and use off-the-shelf technology to launch low-altitude mortar and rocket attacks. The comments were made by retired Lt. Col. David Montgomery Leigh, of Britain’s Parachute Regiment, as Qatar undergoes a massive military modernization in the run up to the 2022 World Cup.

Europe

• Russia has placed an order for 24 Mi-28UB attack and two 26 transport helicopters. Contracts were signed between Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Berisov and Director General of Russian Helicopters Alexander Mikheyev. The Mi-28 are to be the first procured to come with dual controls and improved flight crew ergonomics. Improvements to the helicopter come as the Russian military aims to improve combat training speeds for crews alongside increasing the helicopter’s operability, safety and combat capabilities.

• The Italian Navy is to act as an official partner at the 2016 Seafuture & Maritime Technologies event next month. Now in its fifth year, the May 24-27 event will see officials from 11 navies around the world scout for bargains among various classes of vessel, which Italy is hoping to make some much needed money by selling. Italian defense companies will also be in attendance offering their services for refits and upgrades to give the vessels a technological makeover. Italy is looking to offload some of its older vessels as it plans to spend up to $6.1 billion on a naval package, which will see a new shipbuilding program covering seven near-multi-mission vessels, a support ship, a landing helicopter dock, and fast craft for special forces.

• Boeing’s AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are the most likely selection to be made by Poland in an acquisition that could cost up to $1.6 billion. The helicopters will go to the country’s Air Force as part of a widespread military modernization started by the previous government, known as the Kruk program. Under the previous administration, some $33.6 billion was to be spent on new hardware by 2022; however, Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz recently said the program was underfunded, with at least $61.1 billion needed to carry out the required reforms.

Asia Pacific

• South Korea’s Defense Ministry has claimed that its northern neighbor has continued with its ambitions to successfully launch a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) as North Korea gears up for a rare and much-hyped ruling party congress early next month. The missile appeared to have failed after flying for 18 miles. News of the testing has been met by the usual widespread international condemnation with UK Foreign Minister Philip Hammond saying the test showed North Korea’s “blatant disregard” for its international obligations, while the US described it a “clear violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.

• A defense shipbuilding expo is to be hosted by Taiwan this August, as its Navy continues to push for a domestic ship build program that will include up to eight conventional attack submarines. The Kaohsiung International Maritime and Defence Expo is currently awaiting RSPVs from foreign defense contractors invited to the event which include BAE, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Rolls-Royce. The exhibition will feature a variety of commercial and military wares: amphibious task force equipment, combat systems, communications, construction, engineering, green port technology, machinery, platform equipment, propellers, radar, shafting, ship design, telemetry, and underwater operations.

Today’s Video

• The F-14 Restoration Project:

US Approves Sale of Surface-to-Air Missiles to Qatar | LM Awarded $73.8M FMS Contract for Japan’s F-35A | Maiden Flight of X-2 Stealth Pleases Mitsu Heavy Industries

Americas

• The USMC has borrowed a number of MQ-8C Fire Scouts from the US Navy to test how they could be operated from the amphibious assault ships. It is believed that they may want a Group 4 or 5 unmanned aerial system (UAS), which are larger and have longer range and endurance, and that are capable of conducting ISR and fires missions. At present the RQ-21 Blackjack is operated from the corps ships, but that system, a smaller Group 3 system, is launched from a small catapult and recovered by hooking onto a tether, all of which limit the payloads that can be put on the aircraft.

• An exercise off the coast of Rio de Janeiro has seen the Brazilian Navy fire an anti-ship missile from its newly acquired S-70B naval helicopters for the first time. Brazil has acquired six of the Seahawk helicopters over the last number of years to replace their older SH-3A/B Sea King fleet. During the exercise, the helicopter fired an AGM-119 Penguin missile causing significant damage to its target, an MM40 Exocet missile which was later sunk.

Middle East North Africa

• The US State Department has approved the sale of $250 million worth of surface-to-air missiles to the government of Qatar. Included in the sale are 252 RIM-116C Rolling Airframe Tactical Missiles, and two RIM 116C-2 Rolling Airframe Telemetry Missiles as well as support equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training, US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, live fire test event support, and other related integration elements. Approval for the naval missile comes as Qatar awaits State Department approval for the purchase of 36 F-15E Strike Eagle fighters.

Europe

• A Norwegian F-16 was utilized to carry vital medical equipment from a hospital in Trondheim to a dying patient 280 miles away. The dying patient urgently needed a special lung and heart procedure called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, but the hospital in the town of Bodø in central Norway had neither the equipment nor the skills to carry it out. With a drive between the two cities a ten hour journey by car, the F-16, which usually covers the distance in 35 minutes, managed to shave off some time to reach its destination in under 25 (perhaps due to the special nature of the trip).

• Finland is considering investing in a number of armed combat UAVs to compliment their jet fighter procurement planned to replace their fleet of Super Hornets. A call for proposals has been made by the country’s Defense Forces Logistics Command for the plan to coincide with the Hornet’s decommissioning in 2025. At present, UAVs have only been used for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes, with Helsinki using the Swiss build Ranger, and Israel’s Orbiter UAVS.

Asia Pacific

• Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $73.8 million contract for long lead materials, parts, components, and effort to maintain the planned production schedule for six low-rate initial production Lot 12 F-35A Lightning II aircraft as part of Japan’s procurement of the aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work is expected to be completed by December 2020. The first four of Japan’s planned 42 planes are in various stages of production at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 facility in Forth Worth, Texas while the remaining 38 Japanese aircraft will be assembled and delivered in Japan from Mitsubishi’s Nagoya factory.

• The chief drone designer at China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics has claimed that sales of its Cai Hong (CH) series of unmanned aerial vehicles have been exported to more than ten foreign nations, and are being used by 20 different military branches. Its first foreign purchaser was a South Asian nation which procured several of its small, unarmed reconnaissance CH-1s, that have a proven record in locating and monitoring targets. The newest and largest capacity combat drone in the series, the CH-5, is currently waiting on government approval for export.

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has announced the successful maiden flight of its X-2 stealth demonstrator. The test flight now makes Japan the world’s fourth nation to test-fly a stealth aircraft. After performing a number of basic maneuvers, the X-2 left Nagoya Airport and landed at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Gifu Air Base. In development since 2009, the X-2 program has seen MHI cooperate with 220 domestic companies alongside Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) to develop the necessary technologies.

Today’s Video

• Maiden flight of the ATD X-2:

Brazil Buys Naval Seahawks, Penguins

USN & Brazilian SH-3s
at TOPEX 1987

Brazil needs new anti-submarine helicopters to accompany its “AH-11” Super Lynx models, and replace HS-1 Squadron’s aged SH-3A/B Sea Kings. HS-1 bases out of Sao Pedro da Adelia near Rio, and generally serves aboard Brazil’s sole aircraft carrier, NAe Sao Paulo (ex-Foch).

Brazil is standardizing on Eurocopter’s EC725 Cougar as its medium helicopter across all 3 services, but that model doesn’t have a naval/ anti-submarine variant. Brazil could have chosen a comparably-sized naval helicopter like the EH101 Merlin, or the forthcoming NH90 NFH. Instead, they opted for Sikorsky’s smaller S-70B/H-60 Seahawk. It’s in wide service around the globe, and offers commonalities with the Brazilian Army’s fleet of S-70/UH-60L Pave Hawk search and rescue aircraft. Now, the final pieces of Brazil’s contract and support structure are falling into place.

Sikorsky’s CH-53K Completes First Load Flight Test | USAF’s Selection Process to Replace Huey Invites Protests | Spanish Navy Considering F-35B to Fill in for Retiring Harriers

Americas

• A USMC test has seen a Sikorsky CH-53K complete its first external load flight test, lifting a 12,000 pound external load in a hover. The April 12 test will see further loads tried with external payloads of 12,000 pounds flown first in hover, then incrementally increasing speeds up to 120 knots, followed by 20,000 and 27,000 pound external payloads. The system features an electrical load release capability from the cockpit and cabin, and a mechanical load release capability at each of the pendant locations. An auto-jettison system is incorporated to protect the aircraft in the event of a load attachment point failure.

• The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is now the first aircraft carrier to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command center. Certified by the US Navy, the command center was installed during the vessel’s Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) in San Diego. The installation marks the start of a phased implementation of the MQ-XX Stingray system on an aircraft carrier, which will deliver a high-endurance unmanned aircraft that will replace today’s F/A-18E/F in its role as the aerial tanker for the Navy’s carrier air wing (CVW), thus preserving the strike fighter’s flight hours for its primary mission.

• Protests have arisen by some US lawmakers against the USAF’s UH-1N Huey helicopter replacement program. The helicopters, which protect US supplies of inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are to be replaced via a sole-source contract due to a new urgency felt by air force brass in fielding the capability favoring Sikorsky’s UH-60 Black Hawk. This in turn has caused a group in Congress to rail back who now want a fair and open competition for the Huey’s replacement.

Middle East North Africa

• It doesn’t look likely that the F-35 will be sold to any Gulf nation within the next decade, allowing Israel regional exclusivity to the fifth-generation jet fighter. The widely held, but not often articulated belief by many Israeli officials, is that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members will not have access to the fighter until Israel has fully integrated the F-35 into its arsenal. This belief has been given further weight after US Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work indicated such a move was unlikely, saying that “right now, we do not have any expectation for selling the F-35 in the near term, beyond the countries that have already bought into the program.”

Europe

• The Spanish Navy may look to adopt the F-35B in order to cover the shortage that will be left by its AV-8B Harriers, which are due to retire in the next decade. $54.1 million has been allocated by the Defense Ministry to cover the Harrier program from 2014-2024, but little has been planned for what comes after it. The Navy may look at the possibility of a joint strategy with the Spanish Air Force, which is set to retire their fleet of F-18s.

• Russia is to spend $35 million on procuring six new Niobium-SV mobile air defense radars. The first two sets are to be delivered next year, with the remaining four to follow in 2018. The tender was announced by the Russian Defense Ministry via its public procurement website. The system will be able to track objects at 1000 m/s, and is capable of detecting a wide range of air targets from aircraft to cruise and guided missiles.

• The UK government’s Centre for Defence Excellence (CDE) is supporting the development of payload projects, which will seemingly be adapted for use on its two new Airbus Defence & Space Zephyr high-altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS). Technologies that are being developed include lightweight optical systems, a proof-of-concept foliage-dispersing radar, software-defined laser radar (lidar), an infrared sensor, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) combined with tomography. The Zephyr 8, a lightweight, solar-powered, long-endurance surveillance aircraft will be used to provide persistent battlefield overwatch.

Asia Pacific

• Hanwha Thales has been selected by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) to supply the AESA radars for the country’s KF-X fighter program. The company beat off competition from rival bidder LIG Nex1 Co. for the contract, and will move into negotiations with the ADD with an aim to have contracts signed by June. Seoul is spending $1.6 billion to develop its indigenous fighter with domestic technology, and aims to have 120 of the fighters in total.

Today’s Video

• GoPro footage of the A-10’s GAU-8/A in action:

Canada Mulls Joining US in GMD System | US Considers Restarting F-22 Production | SK Decision Coming on KAI KF-X Fighter Engine Provider

Americas

• Canada’s government is considering joining the US-led Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system with Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, soliciting feedback from the public on the issue. In 2005, the previous Conservative government had rejected George W. Bush’s offer to participate in the program, and in 2014, a Senate committee had urged the former government to join the GMD system as a partner. If a decision is made to join the program, Canada could contribute sites for interceptors or radars for the system.

• The latest testing of the US Army’s Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) has used an Israeli Tamir interceptor. Tamir missiles are used in Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Each launcher can fit up to six different interceptors at a time with the AIM-9X and Longbow Hellfire fully integrated into the system. While not integrated yet, Tamir joins both Mini-Hit-to-Kill and the Stinger as missiles that have all been shown to have the capability to be shot from the MML.

• Testing of a submarine-launched UGM-109 Tomahawk was terminated by the US Navy after the inert cruise missile crashed 50 minutes after its launch in southern Florida. The Navy was conducting a routine flight test, which was coordinated by the Navy’s Tomahawk Weapon System program at the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Maryland. Causes of the missile crash are currently being investigated by Navy officials.

• A study has been ordered by US Lawmakers into potentially restarting the F-22 Raptor production line. It’s been nearly six years since Lockheed Martin ceased manufacturing the jet; however, due to the growing perception that the US military is losing its technological edge to adversaries like Russia and China, Congress has expressed keen interest throughout this year’s budget season in restarting the line. Only 187 jets were ever produced, falling short of the initial production aims of 749.

Middle East North Africa

• Afghanistan’s National Army has launched its first ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The first operational site is in the often volatile Helmand province, and there will be a total of eight sites situated across the country. The systems will provide the Afghan National Army with airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities as it conducts security missions against militants operating within its borders.

Africa

• A joint South African and Brazilian development of the 5th generation A-Darter infrared short-range air-to-air missile (AAM) is in trouble, as the latter may be pulling out of the project. Despite development work already being done on the missile, only South Africa has put in a production order, with Brazil citing financial troubles to be able to further integrate the missile on the JAS 39 Gripen E fighter. South Africa has signed commitments to order the missile for the next five years, while Brazil is looking at existing missiles that are cleared for carriage on the latest variant of the JAS 39.

Europe

• A number of bids have been received by Poland’s Defense Ministry to provide battlefield simulation systems for the country’s military. Five consortia have submitted tenders with the participation of US Cubic, Germany’s Rheinmetall Defence Electronics, Israel’s Elbit Systems, Thales Poland, Sweden’s Saab, Ruag Defence France, and the state-run Polish Armaments Group (PGZ). The companies teamed up with a number of other defense manufacturers and research institutions, predominantly from Poland, which hopes to have the simulation systems supplied by October 2021.

Asia Pacific

• South Korea looks set to decide on which engine provider will be selected for its KAI KF-X fighter as early as the end of the month. Suppliers looking to win the contract are European firm Eurojet Turbo GmbH and the US’s General Electric. Seoul is seeking to locally produce 120 twin-engine combat jets under the KF-X program that is estimated to cost some $16 billion. Deployment of the new planes is hoped to start in mid-2020 to replace its aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.

Today’s Video

• Su-34 fighter-bombers clearing ice jams in Russia’s Vologda region:

P&W Upgrade to Keep B-52 Aloft into 2040 and Beyond | State Dept to Approve Contested Sale to Qatar, Kuwait | Taiwan Plans to Develop Own Engine for IDF

Americas

• The US Army has successfully carried out a dual engagement flight test of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS). Developed by Northrop Grumman, the system has the ability to identify, track, engage, and defeat ballistic and cruise missile targets. The April 8 test built upon previous testing and validated the ability of IBCS to manage multiple threats. A Milestone C (production and deployment) decision is anticipated for later this fall.

• Pratt and Whitney has maintained that they can develop a TF33 upgrade package that will keep Boeing’s B-52 bomber flying until the 2040s. The eight engine bomber has kept the same TF33 engine since its induction in 1952, but high fuel consumption had the USAF looking at potential re-engine options. With oil prices dropping dramatically, the program was dropped; but P&W are still looking at improvements for the TF33 that will keep it on-wing, and allow the air force to reduce their maintenance costs.

• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems “Predator C” Avenger aircraft has successfully tested the USAF’s next-generation multi-spectral camera. Developed by UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS), the MS-177 sensor can pivot 20° to achieve a wider field of view. While the test was successful, the Predator C is unlikely to be the main platform for the MS-177 with plans to integrate it on Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4B Block 30 Global Hawk already in place.

Middle East North Africa

• The US State Department is set to approve the long awaited multi-billion dollar sale of Boeing fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait. An announcement confirming the deals could be made during President Barak Obama’s visit to the region this week; despite concerns from Israel that equipment sent to Gulf states could fall into the wrong hands and be used against them. Qatar’s order for 36 F-15 fighter jets is believed to be around $4 billion, while Kuwait is awaiting on a $3 billion order for 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

• Turkey’s procurement agency is launching a competition to promote domestic development of key sub-systems used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Systems Ankara want developed include turboprop engines, spare cruise systems, perceive-and-avoid systems, wide band satellite communication systems, automatic takeoff and landing systems, high-resolution cameras, surveillance systems, electronic support pods, electronic ground support systems, and search-and-rescue systems. The subsystems will initially be mounted on Turkey’s first domestically produced UAV, the Anka, developed by Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI).

Europe

• The Netherlands is to receive 12 tandem-rotor CH-47F Chinooks, adding to six already procured by the Royal Dutch Air Force. The $308 million contract was awarded by Boeing as the air force transitions away from the older D-model helicopters. Approval for up to 17 of the Honeywell T55-714A-powered helicopters was given in March 2015 through the US government’s foreign military sales (FMS); however, Boeing has stated that none of them have yet been delivered.

Asia Pacific

• Taiwan is currently embarking on a project to develop its own indigenous fighter engine. Work is being undertaken by the country’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and is seen as part of the incoming Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) push to prioritize Taiwan’s defense industry. The engines are being developed for locally produced jets such as the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) and AT-3 trainers. While about 90% of the IDF and AT-3 are produced in Taiwan, some key technologies such as its engine is built in cooperation with foreign companies before the plane is assembled domestically.

• The Indonesian Navy has decided to select a stern mounted Chinese Type 730 close-in weapon system (CIWS) to be fitted on two missile attack craft. The two ships, KRI Sampari (628) and KRI Tombak (629), will undergo refits later this year when the systems will be integrated. China will also integrate its own combat management system (CMS) to link the warships’ other weapons together.

Today’s Video

• US Army’s April 8 Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) test: