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Archives by date > 2017 > January

Russian Armed Forces: Bring on the Big Budget Boost

Jan 19, 2017 00:56 UTC

Latest updates[?]: January 19/17: Russia has test-fired external link a Topol-M ICBM, one of the first ballistic missiles to be developed after the fall of the Soviet Union. Capable of being deployed from missile silos or APU launchers mounted on the 16-wheeled MZKT-79221 universal transporter-erector-launcher, the test was carried out to confirm the weapon’s stability. The weapon’s developers claim their product is able to bypass any current or planned US missile defense system, and can make evasive maneuvers to avoid missile interceptors during flight.
LAND_T-80s.jpg

Making a comeback?

The Russian Ministry of Defense plans to replace nearly half of the Russian Army’s hardware by 2015, according to Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. Ivanov said military spending over the next 8 years was planned at $189 billion, and that official Russian military spending had quadrupled from 2001 to reach $31 billion this year.

Ivanov said weapons purchases would include “17 intercontinental ballistic missiles, 4 military spacecraft with the same number of launch rockets for them,” as well as new bombers, ships, and other heavy equipment. The ICBMs are believed to be the new SS-27 Topol-M, and other plans reportedly include 50 new bombers, 31 ships of varying sizes, and fully re-arming 40 tank, 97 infantry and 50 parachute battalions. Some outside observers doubt Russia’s ability to fulfill these plans, however, given a closed military procurement system, that’s very resistant to scrutiny, in a country with a record of corruption. See Defense-Aerospace: “Russia to Spend $189bn on Weapons by 2015” | “Russia’s Defense Minister Unveils Plans to Overhaul Military.”

Update

January 19/17: Russia has test-fired a Topol-M ICBM, one of the first ballistic missiles to be developed after the fall of the Soviet Union. Capable of being deployed from missile silos or APU launchers mounted on the 16-wheeled MZKT-79221 universal transporter-erector-launcher, the test was carried out to confirm the weapon’s stability. The weapon’s developers claim their product is able to bypass any current or planned US missile defense system, and can make evasive maneuvers to avoid missile interceptors during flight.

South Korea Beefs Up Anti-Air Defenses as North Blusters

Jan 19, 2017 00:56 UTC

Latest updates[?]: South Korea is shopping for 12 new naval helicopters as its Defense Acquisition Program Administration earmarks $768 million for the acquisition. A decision will be made by the end of 2018 with AgustaWestland’s AW-159, the Sikorsky MH-60R, and NHIndustries’ NH-90 are all in the running. Deliveries will take place between 2020-2022 and the choppers will be deployed on next-generation frigates to counter North Korean submarines and surface vessels.
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SM-2 salvo

SM-2 salvo

North Korea’s recent aggressive actions, including abrogation of the 1953 ceasefire, nuclear detonation, and testing of short and long-range missiles, has increased international tensions and directly threatened its southern neighbor. South Korea has been modernizing its defenses for some time now, and a recent request for Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) systems from the United States is a case in point.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced May 26/09 [PDF] South Korea’s official request to buy 46 SM-2 Block IIIA missiles, 35 SM-2 Block IIIB missiles, 3 SM-2 Block IIIB Telemetry Missiles for testing, 84 SM-2 missile containers, and associated test and support equipment, spare and repair parts, training, and other forms of support. The estimated cost is $170 million, and the prime contractor will be Raytheon in Tucson, AZ. The sale would require temporary travel for U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Republic of Korea for in-country training, as a recurring requirement during the life of the missile systems.

How does this purchase fit into South Korea’s overall defense plans?

Continue Reading… »

LM Taps BAE to Modernize HUD for F-22s | Oshkosh Gets $200M to Provide FMTVs to Israel | British-Japanese JNAAM Tech Feasibility Study to be Complete by Year End

Jan 18, 2017 00:58 UTC

Americas

  • US Navy fleet pilots have expressed concerns over the safety of catapult launching the F-35C from aircraft carriers. Recent sea testing of the naval variant of the Joint Strike Fighter exposed an issue of excessive vertical oscillations, or a bouncing effect, during takeoff with the aid of a steam-driven catapult. However the program’s manager, Lt. Christopher Bogdan, downplayed the concerns stating that the oscillations only occur at very light gross takeoff weights and no F-35C going into combat would be taking off at such a light weight. “At medium weights and heavy weights you don’t see this problem at all,” Bogdan was quoted as saying.

  • BAE Systems has been selected by Lockheed Martin to modernize the head-up display (HUD) for USAF F-22s. The existing HUD will be replaced with an all-digital version, based on BAE’s Digital Light Engine (DLE) technology to produce a form, fit, and function HUD that will fit seamlessly into the F-22’s existing HUD space. Work includes the replacement of the current conventional cathode ray tube image source on the current HUD with a digital version that offers increased reliability, eliminates high-maintenance and obsolete items.

Middle East North Africa

  • Israel’s Defense Ministry has contracted Oshkosh Defense to provide 200 FMTV tactical trucks. Valued at $200 million, the deal comes after vigorous field testing by Israel of six trucks to ensure the firm’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) meets Israeli requirements. It’s expected that this order will be added too, as Tel Aviv begins the replacement of the nearly 60-year old tactical trucks currently used by its logistics branch.

Europe

  • Rolls Royce has announced that they have reached a number of settlements with authorities in the UK, US and Brazil, following evidence of bribery and corruption involving company intermediaries on a number of defense deals. The total cost of the settlements is believed to be approximately $809 million, with the UK’s Serious Fraud Office set to earn the bulk of the funds, a national record, at nearly $500 million. Other payments to the US Dept. of Justice and Brazil’s Ministerio Publico Federal are set to receive $170 million and $25.58 million respectively. In the first year, Rolls is expected to hand over about $352.2 million to authorities.

  • Eurofighter will provide a five-year support deal for four NATO countries operating the Typhoon fighter. Two contracts were signed between NETMA, the NATO Eurofighter & Tornado Management Organization on behalf of core Eurofighter nations, and Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH on behalf of aircraft makers Airbus Defense and Space, BAE Systems and Leonardo. The deals cover the sustainment of engineering capabilities and program management, and for logistics, repairs, and the provision of spare parts for the Eurofighter fleet.

Asia Pacific

  • An inquest into the third launch failure of India’s Nirbhay cruise missile has found that the missile’s wings failed to deploy properly during its flight. Following take-off, the wings became stuck at 60 degrees position for about 1.5 seconds, causing the missile to roll rapidly and overwhelming its Inertial Navigation System (INS). Engineers then needed to abandon the test as the missile had veered off its flight path.

  • Taiwan’s military has laid out a timeline for their indigenous advanced jet trainer program, with the aircraft slated to make its flying debut in June 2020. State-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) is currently on a hiring spree, looking to recruit additional engineers in order to get blueprints completed by the middle of this year. Taipei expects to have a working prototype rolled out by September 2019 and into production by 2021. AIDC has also begun work on the Republic of China Air Force’s F-16V upgrade program. Under the Phoenix Rising Project, the team will upgrade Taiwan’s F-16A/B fleet by 2023.

  • A British-Japanese technical feasibility study for the Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) is expected to be completed by this year. Preliminary research into the missile has already found that if both countries were to continue with the project’s development, it potentially could be the world’s top air-to-air missile on the market. The JNAAM is an attempt by London and Tokyo to merge the AESA missile seeker from Japan’s AAM4B missile on the MBDA Meteor body.

Today’s Video

Iranian air-defense shoots at rogue quadcopter in Tehran:

Raytheon to Adapt Coyotes for Quadcopter Suicide Missions | LM Working to Mitigate F-35 Costs, Increase Jobs | Leonardo to Develop Replacement for Italy’s A129

Jan 17, 2017 00:58 UTC

Americas

  • The USAF and Army have tasked Raytheon with adapting their Coyote UAV into a suicide drone to take out quadcopters. The program will see the UAV given features in order to operate as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) asset, as well as being fitted with a counter unmanned air system (C-UAS) capability in order to defend itself against small quad-copter UAVs by using a kinetic payload. Completion of the C-UAS is expected by the end of the year. Coyotes currently form the backbone the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) program.

  • Costs associated with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program could drop, according to Lockheed Martin’s CEO Marillyn Hewson. Hewson met with US President-elect Donald Trump for a second meeting last week, later telling reporters that her company is “close to a deal” to bring down the cost of the F-35 program. In addition to the fighter’s costs, Hewson committed the firm to increasing jobs at their Fort Worth, Texas, facility by 1,800.

  • Ethical conflicts at Pratt & Whitney have resulted in the ousting of the head of the company’s F135 engine program alongside nine other employees. The dismissals come after the completion of an internal audit which uncovered an ethics issue linked to a visit by South Korean military officials several years ago. During the trip, the Korean delegation paid a visit to the company’s West Palm Beach facility in Florida, and Pratt & Whitney paid for a rental van to fetch them there. While certainly not the most outrageous form of graft in the industry’s history, causing no violation of US export control or anti-bribery laws, the engine company deemed the move as a breach of their strict ethics laws, amounting to “inappropriate entertainment.”

Africa

  • An ex-USAF WC-130H Hercules aircraft has been offered to the government of Niger under the Pentagon’s Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. Currently collecting dust at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the plane was offered to Niger in November 2015, but this offer has yet to be accepted. The WC-130H was used in weather reconnaissance and aerial sampling, and has been modified to penetrate hurricanes and typhoons to collect meteorological data that make advanced warnings of such storms possible. In a separate EDA transfer, Washington is sending a C-130 wing set to Niger, although it is unknown if the set would be used on the offered WC-130H, or an older C-130H first delivered in Niger in 1979.

Europe

  • Leonardo will develop the replacement for the Italian Army’s A129 gunship, following the awarding of contracts by the Italian National Armaments Directorate of the Italian Defense Ministry. Under the contract, Leonardo will design and produce one prototype of the new exploration and escort helicopter (NEES) as well as three production examples. Rome could buy as many as 48 NEES as part of the replacement program. The company has also consolidated their UK operations under a single entity, Leonardo MW Ltd, comprised of AgustaWestland Ltd, Selex ES Ltd, Finmeccanica UK Ltd, and DRS Technologies UK Ltd.

  • The Slovakian government has received a number of offers to buy or lease fighter planes that will replace their aging MiG-29s. Those offered include Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen fighter, currently operated by neighboring Czech Republic. Last December, both governments signed a “Joint Sky” agreement, aimed at collaborating on joint airspace defense, and if Bratislava selects the Gripen, both countries could potentially share maintenance and pilot training.

  • EUROSAM has officially welcomed Italy’s participation in the development of their Aster 30 Block 1 NT program. A consortium led by MBDA and Thales, EUROSAM’s B1NT program is an effort supported by the French and Italian defense ministries to develop new technology for the Aster missile in addition to modernizing SAMP/T systems currently in service. Currently used to counter ballistic missile threats, improvements made to the Aster 30 Block 1 NT will allow operators to extend this capability to more complex threats and will also deal with the emerging threat of Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles.

Asia Pacific

  • Pakistan is hoping that a Donald Trump presidency may restart a plan to procure F-16 jets through a foreign military financial aid scheme. US Congress downed the plan last year following concerns by some lawmakers over Islamabad’s allegiances in regards to counter-terrorism operations in the region. It was decided that if Pakistan wanted the F-16s, they would have to pay for them out of their own pocket.

Today’s Video

Aster 30 Block 1 NT:

LM to Design New EW Pod for Navy’s MH-60s | Harris to Fit Moroccan F-16s with New EW Gear in $91M Deal | Warsaw Considers 96 More F-16 Fighters

Jan 13, 2017 00:58 UTC

Americas

  • Lockheed Martin will design a new Electronic Warfare (EW) pod for US Navy MH-60 helicopters. Known as the Advanced Off-board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) system, the pod will relay the signals it picked up back to the ship’s existing SLQ-32 system without any input from the helicopter crew. Company officials said the new capability will allow the fleet to respond to threats beyond the horizon, however declined to comment on whether the technology would come with any offensive capacity.

  • Flight testing of the Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile has been completed. A Raytheon announcement stated that the launches were conducted to demonstrate the missile’s ability to engage time-sensitive targets. The first test saw personnel onboard the USS Pinckney utilize the Launch Platform Mission Planning capability while during the second test, crew members fired the weapon for a longer duration, and also conducted a terminal dive maneuver to strike the intended target. The company said the performance confirms the Tomahawk’s ability to attack heavily defended targets.

  • The US Navy plans to test-fire Boeing’s AGM-84 Harpoon Block II+ER extended range anti-ship missile this year. Upgrades to the missile can fit inside the existing Block 1C airframe, providing for easier integration as well as a cheaper separation testing process. Navy F/A-18 and P-8A Increment III aircraft will be fitted with the missile, and will give the platforms a doubling in target range alongside a new warhead.

Middle East North Africa

  • Moroccan F-16s will be fitted with new EW gear thanks to a $91 million deal with Harris Corp. The company will provide a number of the AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS) to the Royal Moroccan Air Force in an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract issued by the US Air Force’s Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. AIDEWS is the only combat-ready electronic warfare system available to allied countries flying F-16 aircraft.

Europe

  • Poland’s military modernization marches on as Warsaw is reported to be exploring the possibility of more F-16 fighters. A plan by the Defense Ministry looks to purchase 96 second-hand A/B models from the US, and have the overhaul and upgrade work carried out by local industry. At present, the Polish Air Force operates 48 F-16 C/D variants alongside soon to be phased out MiG-29 and Su-22 fighters.

Asia Pacific

  • Reports that the New Zealand government are in talks with Japan over a deal for maritime patrol and cargo aircraft have been downplayed by Wellington. A Defence Ministry spokesperson said that no offers had been made by Tokyo to sell Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft and C-2 cargo planes to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, in a deal that would exceed $1 billion. The statement also reiterated that the ministry will not release a new competition to replace its existing fleet of six P-3 Orion, five C-130 Hercules, and two Boeing 757s this year.

  • The Chinese Air Force has taken delivery of its first four Su-35 fighters. Beijing has ordered 24 models in total following a negotiation process that has dragged on for several years. Chinese brass have commented that Moscow was eager to complete the deal due to concerns about the rolling out of the People’s Liberation Air Force’s new Chengdu J-20 fighter. The J-20 made its debut last year, although much of its capabilities have yet to be demonstrated publicly, and it is believed to have already entered low-rate production.

  • Early work on Tiger Mk III helicopter upgrades by the European defense procurement agency, the OCCAR, has commenced, although there is uncertainty over Australia’s participation in the project. Set up by Germany, the UK, France, and Italy, the OCCAR is in charge of the Tiger modernization program, and while Australia is not one of its members, it was hoped that Canberra, with a 22 Tiger fleet, would commit to the effort.  Canberra, however, has expressed frustration with the rotorcraft, even hinting that they may ditch the Tiger in the mid-2020s. France, Germany and Spain are currently heavily involved in the program’s definition phase, which includes avionics and weapons overhauls, including the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire and Rafael Spike, used by the Tiger’s European operators.

Today’s Video

US Army demonstrates 3-D printed drones:

Army Submits RFP for Biodegradable Training Ammo | Raytheon’s SM-6 Missile Cleared for Int’l Export | Leonardo Heli to Provide AW159 Wildcat Support to UK

Jan 12, 2017 00:58 UTC

Americas

  • The US Army is looking to shoot green, releasing a solicitation for biodegradable ammunition to be used during training exercises. Biodegradable alternatives for low-velocity 40mm grenades, various mortar shells, shoulder-launched munitions, 120mm tank rounds and 155mm artillery rounds are all being sought, with the Army stating that “materials identified can be utilized by private industry to manufacture biodegradable water bottles, plastic containers, or any other composite or plastic product(s) on the market today.” Current training rounds can often take 100 years or more to biodegrade with long-term effects including the pollution and corrosion of soil and nearby water.

  • Raytheon’s SM-6 missile has been cleared for international export by the US DoD. At present, the missile is in use by the US Navy, providing anti-aircraft and anti-ship defenses for its fleet. First deployed in 2013, testing of different variants of the SM-6 have progressed over the last several years, the most recent in December 2016, which confirmed the missile’s ability to be used against ocean surface targets. During the trials, the SM-6 set a record for the longest range surface-to-air interceptor.

  • UAV manufacturers are off to a busy 2017, with branches of the US Armed forces commissioning new orders and sustainment works. Washington firm Insitu has been contracted $70 million for the provision of six additional Lot I RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft systems to the Navy, comprised of unmanned aircraft, ground control stations, multi-mission plug-and-play payloads, and additional supporting equipment. The Army, meanwhile, has contracted Textron to perform sustainment services for the Army’s RQ-7 Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft system. Valued at $ 206 million, Textron will provide engineering, logistics, field service operations, depot materiel repair and post-production software support to the Army’s fleet of 117 Shadow aircraft.

Africa

  • Joint exercises between the militaries of the UK and Sierra Leone will take place for the first time. Speaking on the announcement, UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said the exercises are “the latest example of the UK stepping up globally to tackle international threats that put Britain at risk.” 90 soldiers from the Queen’s Dragoon Guards will partner with 25 soldiers from Sierra Leone, with a focus on learning to fight and survive in a jungle environment.

  • Germany will send troops and attack helicopters to Mali to support the current UN peace mission in the country. 150 personnel alongside eight attack helicopters will join existing troop numbers as part of efforts to tackle an Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgency that had previously co-opted an ethnic Tuareg uprising in the north of the country. The four attack helicopters and a similar number of transport machines will stay in Mali until mid-2018.

Europe

  • France’s procurement agency has contracted Safran to develop and build an improved version of the global navigation system currently used on French Triomphant-class nuclear submarines. The system will incorporate new technologies for higher performance to eliminate the need for electrostatically suspended gyroscopes, which are traditionally used for navigation on strategic platforms. Safran’s navigation systems are used on more than 500 surface ships from around the world as well more than 70 nuclear-powered and diesel-electric submarines.

  • Leonardo helicopters has been commissioned to provide support for UK AW159 Wildcat helicopters. The five-year Wildcat Integrated Support and Training contract, worth $333 million, will see Leonardo provide a range of support and training services for Wildcat variants operated by the Royal Navy and Army and will preserve some 500 jobs at its UK facilities. Navy Wildcats act as the core of the service’s aviation capability, tackling ASW roles, force protection, transport and information, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance, while the Army variant performs reconnaissance, command and control, force protection, and transport missions.

Asia Pacific

  • A $5 billion plan to build 12 mine counter-measure vessels (MCMVs) for the Indian Navy has run aground following the refusal by South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation to provide a performance guarantee for supervision of construction of the vessels by state-owned Goa Shipyard Ltd. As a result, both parties are no where near signing the $1 billion design and technology transfer agreement required for the program to go much further. According to India’s MoD, “the real bone of contention is that we want full intellectual property rights of the MCMVs which is not acceptable to the selected design and technology partner.” Discussions continue.

Today’s Video

A recap of US SM-6 and SM-2 Block IV interceptor tests:

AAI Secures $475M Contract for Unmanned Aircraft ISR | $100B for Columbia-class Subs Gets Milestone B Approval | TAI to Jump into USAF’s T-X Competition

Jan 11, 2017 00:58 UTC

Americas

  • AAI Corporation has secured a contract for a maximum of $475 million for the provision of mid-endurance unmanned aircraft systems intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services at multiple locations worldwide. An indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity award, the work includes a 54-month period of performance, with four 12-month ordering periods followed by one six-month ordering period. Estimated completion date is July 2022.

  • The DoD has announced the successful demonstration of Perdix mini-UAVs, released by three F/A-18 Super Hornets. 103 of the mirco-drones were released during the exercise and were capable of performing advanced swarm behaviors such as collective decision-making, adaptive formation flying, and self-healing. According to the DoD, the October 2016 demonstration represents one of the first examples of the Pentagon using teams of small, inexpensive, autonomous systems to perform missions once achieved only by large, expensive ones.

  • A one hundred billion dollar plan for the US Navy to procure 12 new Columbia-class nuclear submarines has moved forward. Outgoing Pentagon acquisition undersecretary Frank Kendall gave his blessing to the program, announcing the Milestone B approval, which will move work on the new subs into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. With less than ten days left of the Obama administration, it is expected that President-elect Donald Trump will continue the effort after his inauguration on January 20. Costing $127 billion and expected to stretch into the 2030s, the program will see Ohio-class nuclear submarines replaced in what was originally referred to as the Ohio Class Replacement (ORP).

Middle East & North Africa

  • Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will collaborate with Sierra Nevada Corp. to offer a trainer to the USAF’s T-X competition. Dubbed the SNC-TAI Freedom Trainer, the aircraft is a lightweight twin-engine trainer with an all composite airframe and a fully digital fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system. The trainer also utilizes a significant amount of existing off-the-shelf subsystems, aimed at keeping procurement and running costs low. Speaking on the collaborator’s offering, Sierra’s president Fatih Ozmen said “In this day of tight budgets and looming operations and sustainment bow waves, it only makes sense for the Air Force to spend less up-front so they can save more over the life cycle, which is why this training system makes so much sense.”

Europe

  • Production of a Laser Directed Energy Weapon demonstrator has been ordered by the UK government, with MBDA and industry partners from the UK Dragonfire consortium winning a $36 million contract to carry out the work. It is hoped that the weapon will be demonstrated by 2019, eventually entering service by the mid-2020s. London also signed a $303 million Integrated Support and Training contract with Leonardo Helicopters in a five year deal for the provision of support work of Royal Navy AW159 Wildcat ASW helicopters.

  • General Atomics will provide MQ-9 Reaper UAVs to the Spanish government, following a $53 million contract award by the USAF. The order is an adjustment to an existing basic ordering agreement between the United States and Spain. In 2015, Madrid selected the Reaper over the Heron TP to perform homeland security, counter-insurgency, and counter-terrorism operations. The procurement is expected to cost some $181 million over five years.

  • The Russian branch in charge of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Strategic Missile Troops, plan to switch to an all digital communication network by 2020. Speaking on the plan, Defense Ministry sources said that the last four years have seen the equipping of missile launch centers and command points across the country with new digital telecommunication equipment. “If the current pace of modernization is maintained, by 2020 the Russian Strategic Missile Forces will be 100-percent equipped with digital data transmission technologies,” the statement said.

Asia Pacific

  • Discussions are underway between the governments of India and Vietnam over the potential sale of India’s indigenous Akash air defense missile system. Hanoi is keen for negotiations to include a possible technology transfer, while New Delhi is leaning toward promoting an initial off-the-shelf purchase of the system prior to any discussions over technology transfer and joint production. Vietnam represents a growing market for Indian training and gear, with India already set to provide training to Vietnamese Su-30MKI fighter pilots, and they have already trained sailors on operating Kilo-class submarines.

Today’s Video

The release of Perdix mini-UAVs from F/A-18 Super Hornets:

US DLA Contracts $403M to Harris to Support Radio Systems | Safran to Dev & Mftr Smart Bombs for the French | Nirbhay Gets 18 Months to Resolve Issues

Jan 10, 2017 00:59 UTC

Americas

  • Israel’s Elbit Systems has been contracted by the Brazilian Army to supply remote controlled weapons stations. Named REMAX, the system will be supplied over a five-year period and an initial production order worth $7.5 million. A REMAX turret is fitted on Brazilian VBTP-MR Guarani APCs, which includes a .50 machine gun, gives soldiers 360° capacity and is equipped with night vision, thermal vision, high resolution camera and zoom.

  • The USAF has issued a request for proposals to develop laser protection systems for their fleet of tactical fighter aircraft. Known as the Laser Advancements for Next-generation Compact Environments (LANCE) project, researchers will investigate laser-based solutions for defending pilots from a variety of anti-aircraft threats. The product of LANCE will then be used for integration within an aerodynamic integrating structure for use during flight testing on tactical aircraft for self-defense research during Phase II of the Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHIELD) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD).

  • Harris Corp. has received a $403 million contract to provide spare parts to support various tactical radio systems for the US Defense Logistics Agency. The five-year agreement covers services for radios to be used by both the Defense Logistics Agency and the US Army. Harris has a variety of tactical radio systems in their catalogue, including systems with airborne, vehicular, and handheld applications. According to the company, the products are ideal for delivering high-speed voice, data and full-motion videos.

Middle East & North Africa

  • Renewed long-range missile development has been given the go ahead by the Iranian parliament, as part of approval for an increase in wider defense spending. The extra cash, amounting to an increase of 5%, will go toward the development of long range missiles, armed drones and cyber-war capabilities, and could put Tehran on an early collision course with the incoming Trump administration in Washington. Iranian missile development has always been a thorny issue with the US and further advancements may been seen as violations against promises to curb research into nuclear warheads.

Europe

  • BTR-3 APCs manufactured by Ukraine’s state-owned Ukroboronprom has been transferred to their military. 50 of the vehicles were produced as part of efforts by Kiev to boost BTR-3-related activities such as maintenance work and the production of new models. The 8×8 fully amphibious armored vehicle is equipped with hydraulically amplified power steering and armed with modernized weapon systems including 30mm guns and additional missile munitions. Since March 2014, the Ukrainian government has been fighting an insurgency against Russian-backed separatists in the country’s eastern Donbass region.

  • Safran will develop and manufacture smart bombs for the French government. The new modular ASSM air-to-ground block 4 bomb kits are aimed at cutting procurement costs without scrimping on performance. While details on the contracts value or unit numbers remain unknown, first delivery is due in 2019 and could be followed with further orders at a later date. The ASSM family of kits, used by France and other countries, give precision guidance to standard bombs and come in several versions, depending on the type of guidance: inertial GPS, inertial/GPS + infrared imaging, and inertial/GPS + laser.

Asia Pacific

  • The Indian government has given the team behind the Nirbhay cruise missile an 18 month extension in order to fix issues with the munition and finally deliver a successful test-firing. It was expected that the program would be wrapped up by the end of 2016, however most attempts to test-fire the missile have resulted in its veering off course and aborting mid-air. In conjunction with the extra time, New Delhi has also commissioned an inquiry by an independent technical committee in order to identify faults in the system that led to the missile’s failure during its fourth trial on December 21.

  • While Indian cruise missile testing stumbles, Pakistan has announced the successful firing of their first submarine-launched cruise missile. The nuclear-capable Babur-3 missile has a range of 450 km (280 miles) and was fired from an undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean on Monday. News of the test may flare long-running tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi, as Pakistan looks to develop “credible minimum deterrence” against Indian missile development.

Today’s Video

A look at PT Sari Bahari’s munitions:

VBTP Guarani: A New APC for Brazil

Jan 10, 2017 00:57 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Israel's Elbit Systems has been contracted by the Brazilian Army to supply remote controlled weapons stations. Named REMAX, the system will be supplied over a five-year period and an initial production order worth $7.5 million. A REMAX turret is fitted on Brazilian VBTP-MR Guarani APCs, which includes a .50 machine gun, gives soldiers 360° capacity and is equipped with night vision, thermal vision, high resolution camera and zoom.
VBTP concept

VBTP concept

In December 2009, Brazil signed a EUR 2.5 billion deal with Italy’s Iveco that aims to renew its wheeled armored personnel carrier fleet, and revive Brazil’s land vehicle defense industry in the bargain. The 6×6 Guarani Viatura Blindada Transporte de Pessoal, Media de Rodas (VBTP-MR) is envisaged as a vehicle family that can replace Engesa’s wheeled vehicles. Their EE-9 and EE-11 have suffered from age-related problems, questionable protection levels, and a shortage of ready spares since Engesa’s 1993 bankruptcy.

Iveco is best known around the world for its trucks, but its Iveco Fiat Oto Melara joint venture has designed and fielded the core of Italy’s tank, wheeled APC, and tracked IFV fleets. The firm already has the new Puma wheeled 6×6/ 4×4 APC in its offering set, but the VBTP will offer them a new market, a new joint venture, and new export opportunities.

Continue Reading… »

Harris Corp. Rising as Tactical Radio Market Grows

Jan 10, 2017 00:56 UTC

Latest updates[?]: Harris Corp. has received a $403 million contract to provide spare parts to support various tactical radio systems for the US Defense Logistics Agency. The five-year agreement covers services for radios to be used by both the Defense Logistics Agency and the US Army. Harris has a variety of tactical radio systems in their catalogue, including systems with airborne, vehicular, and handheld applications. According to the company, the products are ideal for delivering high-speed voice, data and full-motion videos.
ELEC_Harris_Falcon_II_Multiband_Radio.gif

Falcon II Multiband

After the bell last Thursday, Harris Corp. raised its revenue and per-share earnings forecast for fiscal year 2006, citing higher-than-expected orders for its Falcon II tactical radios. Harris said the U.S. military was moving toward deploying more mobile and self-sufficient units that rely on radios and that demand is rising in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. Pakistan, for instance, awarded a $68 million contract for Falcon-II tactical multi-band radios in February 2005.

Meanwhile, new analysis from Frost & Sullivan’s “Aerospace and Defense Group, U.S. Tactical Military Communications Markets” reveals that Department of Defense (DoD) spending for tactical communications was $4.78 billion in 2004 and predicts $5.68 billion by 2010.

Continue Reading… »
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