MDA Grants Lockheed Martin $273M for THAAD | US: $4.9B Sale of F-16s to Bahrain Back on Table | Indonesia Signs Letter of Intent with Airbus for A400M

Americas

• A decision will be made shortly by the US Navy to go ahead with low-rate production of the Lockheed Martin High Altitude Anti-submarine warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) package. The package integrates an air-launched accessory (ALA) kit with a GPS guidance system and folding wings onto a standard Mk54 torpedo, and will be made available to P-8A Poseidon foreign customers, which currently include Australia, India and the UK. A guided flight test is scheduled for late Fiscal 2017, and could see as many as 140 high-altitude torpedoes total ordered over the first two lots.

• Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $273 million contract to produce Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Lot 9 Interceptors for the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). In addition to Lot 9 Interceptors, the fixed-price agreement also includes one-shot devices and associated production support efforts, and delivery is expected by the end of March 2020. The THAAD system is used to engage incoming ballistic missile attacks and other airborne threats, and has been recently deployed to South Korea as a response to North Korean ballistic missile tests.

Middle East & North Africa

• AM General received a $28 million contract modification from the US Army to support the sale of 150 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled vehicles to Iraq. Delivery is expected for May, 2017. The vehicles, commonly referred to as Humvees, can perform a variety of military functions, and can be also converted into ambulances and shelter carriers. They can carry machine guns, tube-launched anti-tank missile launchers, and up to four occupants.

• The Trump administration is to continue pursuing the $5 billion sale of F-16 fighters to Bahrain since the deal was postponed last year after it was deemed Bahrain had not done enough to improve their human rights record. The $4.9 billion sale includes the 19 aircraft, 23 engines, radars and other avionics, air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance, and related equipment. Congress will now be notified for a second time by the State Department, giving way to 40 days of additional congressional review, followed by a formal notice to Congress as required by the Arms Export Control Act, after which the licenses for the sale would be approved.

Europe

• Saab has been awarded a $42 million contract to perform operational and developmental support for Swedish Gripen fighters throughout 2017. The contract will include the operation of rigs and simulators, alongside work to test, verify and validate Gripen C/D and Gripen E fighter aircraft systems. Gripen C/D planes will also receive operational support. Work will be carried out in various cities in Sweden, including Linköping, Järfälla, Arboga and Gothenberg.

Asia Pacific

• Indonesia has signed a letter of intent to buy a number of A400M aircraft from Airbus. The announcement was made by the office of French President Francois Hollande following his recent trip to the region. While the number of aircraft to be sold was not given, Jane’s reported in January that Jakarta wanted to buy five A400Ms, joining neighboring Malaysia as only the second export customer for the troubled program. Previous attempts to sell the transport to South Africa in 2009, and more recently Chile, have all fallen through amid soaring costs and development delays.

• Vietnamese media has reported that the Vietnam Peoples’ Air Force (VPAF) follows the visit of a high-level military delegation to the recent LIMA-2017 exhibition in Malaysia, where they visited the site of the Yak-130 combat training ground, leading people to believe that a procurement was near. Hanoi was also considering the L-39NG, however the Yak’s increased interoperability with modern aircraft systems such as Su-30, Su-35, and MiG-35, has made it the number one choice.

• The Chinese AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, will make its maiden flight this May. Its first flight will take place over land, to be followed by another on water in the second half of 2017. Roughly the size of a Boeing 737, state-owned manufacturer the Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) have spent the last eight years developing the aircraft, and have received 17 expressions of interest so far.

Today’s Video

• The Yak-130:

LM Wins $27B Contract from US DoD for CH-53K | Defense Ties Strengthen with UK / France Cruise Missile Project | Philippines Navy AW159s to Get Spike NLOS

Americas

• The US Department of Defense is expected to award Lockheed Martin a multi-billion contract to start production of 200 new heavy cargo helicopters for the US Marines Corp by the end of the week. Colonel Hank Vanderborght, head of the Pentagon’s CH-53K King Stallion program, stated that each unit will cost $87 million on average and $105 million including spare parts and certain service contracts. The total value of the program is $27 billion. Developed by Lockheed’s helicopter subsidy Sikorsky, the CH-53K can lift 36,000 pounds and would replace the CH-53E Super Stallion, which has operated as the backbone of field logistics for the USMC since the mid-1980s.

• Boeing has received a $59 million contract modification to continue production for the USAF’s KC-46 tanker aircraft. The deal will see the company provide interim contracting support, a temporary service conducted in lieu of organic capability for a predetermined time. The deal allows Boeing to defer investment in all or part of required support resources. Work is expected to be complete by March, 2018.

• Navy Rear. Adm. Mat Winter is to take charge of the F-35 program office upon the retirement of program head Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan this summer. Winter, who is currently the F-35 deputy program executive officer, will assume the rank of vice admiral prior to assuming the role. Prior to joining the F-35 program in 2016, Winter acted as chief of Naval Research, working as program executive officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, and oversaw the development of the X-47, a stealthy unmanned aircraft that could autonomously launch from a carrier. He was also responsible for the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program before it was cancelled and transferred into a requirement for an unmanned tanking capability.

• Budget constraints in Argentina will prevent the government from buying too much defense gear, according to their Defense Minister, Julio Martinez. Plans to buy warplanes in the short-term have been dismissed, and the only defense spending earmarked by Buenos Ares is for a modest purchase of 12 Beechcraft Texan aircraft in order to train pilots. Martinez added that the Beechcraft aircraft could be used to fulfil the government’s goal of better patrolling borders with Paraguay and Brazil to stop drug flights.

Middle East & North Africa

• Leonardo will supply Pakistan with additional AgustaWestland AW139 twin-engine helicopters for use in utility, search-and-rescue, and emergency medical operations. The exact numbers of rotorcraft remain undisclosed but will be delivered from the start of next year. A press release by the company stated that the deal is “a major achievement for Leonardo expanding the already successful presence of the AW139 model in the country.”

Europe

• France and the UK are to commence a new joint project to develop a new cruise missile program led by MDBD Missile Systems. Under the terms of the pact, signed by British Defense Minister Harriett Baldwin and French counterpart Laurent Collet-Billon, each country will contribute roughly $62 million for the Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon program, which seeks to introduce a new generation of missiles to be the successor to the Harpoon, SCALP and Storm Shadow. A three-year concept development phase will focus on developing new capabilities that will allow each armed force to perform enhanced anti-ship and deep-strike missions.

Asia Pacific

• Myanmar has received an upgrade package for their MiG-29 from Russia’s RAC MiG. The upgrade carried out on the 10 fighters, referred to as MiG-29SM, is a cheaper alternative to the MiG-29UPG modification undertaken by India, retaining the aircraft’s original N-019E radar but with some technology improvements and new parts. Malaysia and Bangladesh are now being offered the same upgrade package for their respective MiG-29 fleets.

• The Philippines Navy is to equip its AugustaWestland AW159 naval helicopters with Spike non-line of sight (NLOS) missiles. Originally designed as an anti-tank munition, the Spike NLOS was chosen for its ability to engage enemy vessels beyond visual range of up to 25km and possesses a built-in camera that allows it to be operated day or night. The missile’s manufacturer Rafael said the system can “be operated in either direct attack or mid-course navigation based on target coordinates only. These modes enable defeat of long-range hidden targets, with pinpoint precision, damage assessment and the obtaining of real-time intelligence.”

Today’s Video

• South Korean Spike NLOS:

More MiG-29s for Myanmar

Myanmar MiG-29B

In late December 2009, reports surfaced that Myanmar (formerly Burma) had signed a EUR 400 million (about $571 million) deal with Russia’s Rosoboronexport for 20 MiG-29D fighters. Some sources add a deal for more Mi-35 attack helicopters, and place the entire package at EUR 450 million.

By comparison, the Tripartite Core Group (UN, ASEAN, and Burma’s Junta) launched [PDF] a 3-year Post-[Cyclone] Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) in February 2009, appealing for international donations of $691 million…

ARL Considers Giving Troops a Third Arm | China to Build A UAV Factory in Saudi Arabia | Malaysia Up in the Air with $2B Spend; Rafale or Eurofighter?

Americas

• The US Army Research Laboratory is exploring the possibility of giving troops a body-worn weapons mount, or “third arm,” that would decrease the weight of combat loads carried by soldiers and free up their hands for other tasks. Weighing less than 4 pounds, the Laboratory is testing the body-worn weapon mount with the M4 carbine, but also have plans to extend testing with the M249 squad automatic weapon or M240B machine gun. The ARL also plans to examine the device’s potential applications for various fighting techniques, like shoot-on-the-move, close-quarters combat, or even shooting around corners with augmented reality displays.

• A number of US senators have come together in a bipartisan effort to pressure the Trump administration into approving two key defense deals with India. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Mark Warner, D-Va urged Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in joint letters to approve co-production of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 in India and to approve the export of General Atomics’ Guardian, a nonlethal maritime version of the MQ-9 Reaper. Speaking on the F-16 negotiations, the letters stated that a successful deal “will increase interoperability with a key partner and a dominant power in South Asia, build India’s capacity to counter threats from the north, and balance China’s growing military capability in the Pacific,” while on the Guardian UAV deal, the men warned that a failure to go through with the sale “will not only have implications for regional security in the Asia-Pacific, but could also significantly impact the MQ-9 production line and put thousands of US manufacturing jobs at risk.”

Middle East & North Africa

• Israeli Air Force G550 Eitam airborne early warning aircraft have been fitted with a new sensor that allows onboard EL/W-2085 radars to detect UAVs. The upgrade was carried out by installing new software blocks into the original hardware of the aircraft’s airborne radar. Over the last number of years, Israel has noticed that a growing number of UAVs operated by militants from inside the Gaza Strip and Lebanon have attempted to enter Israeli airspace. An anonymous service official stated that the new upgrade to the Eitam platform will allow the air force to create a full aerial picture, even in areas that are beyond the capability of any ground-based radar.

• China is to commence building a UAV factory in Saudi Arabia, the first to be built in the region. Permission to allow the Chinese to build the factory was given following the signing of a partnership agreement between the Saudi King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation — part of a wider economic pact in the fields of energy, culture, education and technology worth $65 billion. China will build their CH-4 UAV at the new facility and will also use the location to promote after-sales services for China’s clients in the Middle East in addition to satisfying Saudi orders.

Europe

• Kongsberg Maritime will provide HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicle systems to Norway in an $18.2 million deal. Possessing a depth rating of over 9,000 feet and outfitted with advanced sensors, the systems will assist Oslo in the detection and identification of mines. Included in the contract are training and maintenance, as well as the provisions for mission planning, execution and analysis, plus launch and recovery systems both for the Navy’s mine hunting vessels and mobile containers. Delivery of the system has remained undisclosed.

• Ukrainian firm Practika has revealed details of the Otaman modernisation package developed for the BTR-60-series armoured personnel carrier (APC). Upgrades found in the new version feature substantial changes to the original vehicle design, a new hull built of modern steel, new powertrain, redesigned interior, and additional armor options that will increase survivability. Development of the new model began in mid-2016 and the firm plans to begin operational testing of the prototypes in late spring.

Asia Pacific

• An agreement has been signed between Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency and the UK Ministry of Defense to exchange information about future fighter technology as well as a possible co-development of a next-generation aircraft. The deal also keeps the door open to working with other countries on future projects. News of the Japan-UK fighter agreement comes only two months after London won a $125 million contract from the Turkish government to initiate collaboration on Ankara’s TF-X fighter program.

• The Malaysian government has said that it has yet to decide on whether it will go ahead with a $2 billion procurement of Rafale fighters from France. Bilateral talks between Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and French President Francois Hollande did see the leaders discuss the aircraft deal, which aims at replacing Kuala Lumpur’s fleet of MiG-29 combat planes, half of which are grounded. Malaysia’s Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was reported in the media as saying the race for new fighter jets has narrowed to the Dassault Rafale and the BAE Systems-built Eurofighter Typhoon. Speaking on the decision, President Hollande said, “all I would like to say is that the Rafale jet is the best in its category, and then we propose to discuss the prices, and the specifications. I trust you will make the decision when the time comes.”

Today’s Video

• The first two TC-90s arrive in the Philippines from Japan:

AAR Cinches $909M Deal for USAF’s Landing Gear Prgm | ARDEC Test Fires 3D Printed Grenade & Grenade Launcher | Leonardo to Unveil Falco 48 UAV

Americas

• AAR Supply Chain has won a $909 million contract to support the USAF’s Landing Gear Performance Based Logistics One program. Under the deal, the company will purchase, remanufacture, distribute and provide inventory control for the branch’s C-130, KC-135 and E-3 aircraft, and will also include work for foreign military sales. Work will be carried out in Illinois, Florida and Utah and will run until March, 2032.

• A US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has stated that the USAF’s KC-46 tanker modernization program could face additional delays despite findings that the program needs fewer engineering changes than expected, and the cost has fallen by 14 percent, or $7.3 billion. Lead contractor Boeing, however, has experienced issues with developing the aircraft, and additional flight testing is likely to push back deliveries, which are already 14 months behind schedule, passed the current target of 14 tankers by October 14, 2018. The service plans to operate 179 KC-46s as part of plans to replace a third of their aging KC-135 tanker fleet.

• The US Armament Research, Development and Engineering Centre (ARDEC) has successfully test-fired a 3D printed grenade from a launcher made from the same process. Named RAMBO (Rapid Additively Manufactured Ballistics Ordnance), The launcher was created in a six month development process involving the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), the US Army Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program and America Makes, the national accelerator for additive manufacturing and 3-D printing. The project was undertaken in order to demonstrate the utility of AM for the design and production of armament systems. A 40 mm grenade launcher (M203A1) and munitions (M781) were selected as candidate systems.

Europe

• NATO is planning to spend in excess of $3 billion over the next three years in order to bolster satellite and computer defenses against threats from hackers and Iranian missile threats. A senior official at the NATO Communications and Information Agency said the plans include a near $2 billion investment in satellite communications to better support troops and ships deployed across the alliance, as well as aiding the use of UAVs. NATO will present their needs in detail at a conference in Ottawa in April and then begin launching the bidding process.

• Leonardo is planning to unveil the latest addition of their Falco tactical UAV, the Falco 48. While little is known about the new system, it’s believed that the UAV will have an increased flight endurance of approaching 48h. The revelation was made by CEO Mauro Moretti during a presentation of the company’s industrial plan until 2021 to the Italian Senate’s permanent committee for industry, commerce and tourism earlier this month. Moretti also identified the company’s M-345 basic trainer and a light fighter development of the M-346 as current main programs, and the latter will also be capable of performing reconnaissance, attack and air defense tasks.

Asia Pacific

• In response to additional sanctions placed on them by the US, Iran has retaliated by placing sanctions on 15 US companies for alleged human rights violations and cooperating with Israel, according to the state news agency, IRNA. Included on the list were defense giant Raytheon, Oshkosh, and United Technologies, although it remains unclear if any of the firms has had any dealings with Iran or whether they would be affected in any way by Tehran’s action. The move came two days after Washington imposed sanctions on 11 companies or individuals from China, North Korea or the UAE for technology transfers that could boost Tehran’s ballistic missile program.

• South Korea is looking to target the Southeast Asian market with their T-50B advanced trainer after a display of the aircraft at last week’s Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia. Included in the sales push was a demonstration from the South Korea air force’s aerobatic team, the Black Eagles. Potential buyers of the aircraft include Malaysia, looking to replace the near obsolete Aermacchi MB-339CM, and Indonesia, who have partnered with Seoul to help develop the next-gen KF-X fighter.

• India is moving ahead with a $1 billion procurement of Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The Spike will see New Delhi acquire 275 launchers and 5,500 Spike missiles in completed and kit form along with an undisclosed number of simulators, and also includes a technology transfer to India’s state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to build another 1,500 systems and around 30,000 additional missiles. Meanwhile, Israel is considering selling armed Heron TP UAVs, including the technology transfers necessary to meet the “Make in India” requirement. A decision on the Heron deal will be made following Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel this July.

Today’s Video

• RAMBO:

US Sanctions 30 INKSNA Violators | LM to Switch Production of F-16 From TX to SC | Turkey’s FNSS Nabs Amphibious Assault Vehicle Contract for Turkish Navy

Americas

• The US has imposed sanctions on 30 foreign individuals and companies for alleged aiding of arms sales to Syria, North Korea and Iran. A State Department statement said that 11 companies or individuals from China, North Korea or the United Arab Emirates were sanctioned for technology transfers that could boost Iran’s ballistic missile program, while 19 others were sanctioned for other violations under the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). INKSNA was passed by the US Congress in 2000 as the Iran Nonproliferation Act, with Syria and North Korea added in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

• Northrop Grumman’s APG-83 AESA fifth-generation radar has been installed on USAF F-16 fighters. The install is part of the F-16 Radar Modernization Program which intends to replace currently used APG-66 and APG-68 radars and provide the F-16 with advanced capabilities similar to fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. It’s believed that the APG-83 could satisfy a need for F-16 users to counter increasingly sophisticated and technological threats with increased bandwidth that would allow the F-16 to detect, track and identify greater numbers of targets faster, and at greater distances.

• Lockheed Martin has announced that it is to switch the production line of the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters from Forth Worth, Texas, to their facility in Greenville, South Carolina. The switch will take place in September following the delivery of the last F-16 being built for Iraq, after which the Forth Worth operation will focus on the company’s F-35 production effort. Of the 4,500 F-16s sold to customers since 1976, about 3,600 have been built in Forth Worth.

Middle East & North Africa

• FNSS has been contracted to produce armored amphibious assault vehicles for the Turkish Naval Forces Command. The Turkish company will deliver a total of 27 vehicles — 23 personnel carriers, two command-and-control vehicles, and two recovery vehicles — to Ankara, in a deal thats value remains undisclosed. Meanwhile, the German government has blocked deliveries of defense equipment to its NATO ally, claiming that Turkish President Recep Erdogan may be using imported weapons to oppress his own citizens.

Europe

• The French government has approved key upgrades for the Rafale multi-role fighter which will bring the aircraft up to its F4 standard. Under the program, manufacturer Dassault will modernize legacy F3-R standard jets with updated technological capabilities that will boost their performance in a network and be more effective in combat missions, with Thales and Safran providing subsystems, and MBDA supplying missiles. It is expected that the F4 standard will begin qualification in 2018 and enter service by 2025.

• Poland’s deputy minister for national defence Bartosz Kownacki has stated that his government will not purchase second-hand early F-16 variants, deeming them too expensive and bad value for the money. Citing Romania’s purchase of second-hand F-16A/Bs from Portugal, deputy commander in chief of the Polish armed forces Gen. Jan Sliwka commented that Bucharest had paid more to upgrade the fighters than buying them new. Instead, Warsaw may look at either purchasing brand new F-16s or the F-35.

• New British Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers will not have V-22 tiltrotor aircraft onboard, according to a written parliamentary reply to Lord West. Lord West, a retired Royal Navy officer and former government minister, had asked if the government was considering the Osprey for use by the state’s special forces. In response, the government stated that the aircraft was not part of plans to deliver the UK Carrier Strike capability. However, the MoD will continue to explore a variety of options to augment the capabilities of the carriers.

Asia Pacific

• India is set to commence contract negotiations for the purchase of 56 Airbus C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force after New Delhi selected the tactical transporter to replace its aging Avro HS-748 fleet in 2015. The aircraft will be built in partnership between manufacturer Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd where Airbus will first deliver 16 units in “fly-away” condition from their own final assembly line in Spain, and the remaining 40 aircraft will be produced in India by Tata. The arrangement will see the Indian firm undertake structural assembly, final aircraft assembly, systems integration and testing, and management of the indigenous supply chain. In a separate order, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) is also looking at four additional C-295s for movement of its troopers within the country.

Today’s Video

• Indonesian Jupiter and South Korean Black Eagles friendship flight at LIMA 2017:

Elbit Garners $49.8M for HDTS for USN Seahawks | USN’s MQ-25A Stingray Competitors Pushed to Redesign | Rafale Pref Choice in Malaysia $2B+/- Fighter Deal

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has ruled the T-50A out of the USAFs upcoming light attack aircraft experiment, instead focusing on offering the plane as part of the service’s T-X trainer competition. The company stated that the T-50A, a variant of Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) T-50 Golden Eagle, already has a light-attack version, the FA-50, hinting that a solution may come not from the fixed-wing side of the company but rather from its rotary and mission systems business. Last week’s invitation by the Air Force details plans to choose up to four companies to bring non-developmental, low-cost, multi-role aircraft to Holloman Air base for a capability assessment. Over a period of four to six weeks, each plane’s “basic aerodynamic performance” will be tested as well as weapons, sensors, and communications capability. On the success of these demonstrations, the Air Force aims to prove whether there is a business case for creating an OA-X program of record.

• Elbit will deliver 126 helmet display tracker systems associated with MH-60 Seahawk helicopters to the US Navy in a contract worth $49.8 million. The system is designed to integrate with the rotorcraft’s 20mm automatic gun subsystem, 2.75-inch unguided rockets and digitally-guided precision rockets, and enhances the situational awareness and targeting capabilities for Seahawk pilots and co-pilots. Work on the contract will be performed at Elbit’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by June 2021.

• The US Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial tanker is likely to have a wing-body-tail design after Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Work division found that a flying wing design is not the best aerodynamic shape for the service’s latest requirements. While the Navy had initially intended a surveillance and possible strike capability for the aircraft, the current requirements suggest a strong emphasis on a tanking role and less on ISR. As a result, competing firms Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics and Boeing are likely to redesign their bids for the competition.

Middle East & North Africa

• L-3 Fuzing and Ordnance System has won a $37 million US Army contract to provide various military fuses for the government of Saudi Arabia. The foreign military sales contract will see the kingdom receive more than 38,000 M734A1 multi-option fuses and more than 165,000 M783 detonating and delay fuses by May 31, 2019. Fuses are used as components in artillery munitions, grenades, sea mines, and other explosive devices.

Europe

• Rheinmetall has been revealed as one of the defense manufacturers affected by defense export denials to Turkey by the German government. Speaking at the company’s end of year results, Chief Executive Armin Papperger reported that the “German government is currently denying clearance for some export contracts,” which could get in the way of current talks with Ankara over a contract to supply a defense system for its Leopard battle tanks, after the country lost 10 such vehicles in its war against the Islamic State. The latest tensions between the two governments have arisen from a row over campaign appearances in Germany by Turkish officials to drum up support for a referendum that could boost President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers.

• An explosion at an army base warehouse storing tank ammunition in eastern Ukraine is being blamed on Russia or Russian-backed separatists. Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak told a press conference that a fire and explosions caused the detonation of ammunition in several sites at the base, possibly set off by a drone attack or a radio or timed device. Poltorak added that “I think that first of all it could be representatives who help the (separatist) groups that carry out combat missions,” hinting that a “friendly” country (Russia) may have been involved.

Asia Pacific

• Dassault’s Rafale is being touted as the preferred selection by Malaysia for their latest fighter procurement program. A pitch in fovor of the fighter is expected to be made during French President Francois Hollande’s visit to the country next week, and could initially be worth as much as $2 billion for 19 aircraft. Hollande’s arrival will be marked by a ceremony which will see two French Rafales join a Royal Malaysian Air Force A400M in a flypast at Subang airbase in Kuala Lumpur. Also in the hunt include BAE with the Eurofighter Typhoon, Russia’s Sukhoi and Sweden’s Saab, which is selling its single engine Gripen.

• The Indian government is considering whether it will pay for the maintenance and repair of grounded helicopters and transport planes belonging to the Afghan Air Force. Experts sent by New Delhi to access Kabul’s need estimate that it will cost close to $50 million for new parts and repairs to 11 grounded Soviet-made Mi-35 helicopters and seven transport aircraft. A final decision is expected within the next few months as soon as final costing is complete. As most of Afghanistan’s small air force dates from the Soviet era, sanctions against Russia means that Western donors that fund the military cannot pay to get grounded aircraft flying again. Here, India plays an important role in potentially supporting Afghanistan as it is not posed by such restrictions.

Today’s Video

• Airspace System’s drone catcher:

LM Claims Can Meet Early IOC on T-X Trainer Program | Airspace Systems Demos Drone Disabling Craft | Germany Denies Turkish Arms Export Requests

Americas

• Lockheed Martin claims they can deliver the T-50A aircraft to meet the USAF’s T-X trainer program two years ahead of the service’s 2024 initial operating capability schedule. Speaking at the company’s annual media day, Rob Weiss, the executive vice president and general manager of aeronautics advanced development programs said “If there’s a desire for an earlier IOC, we will be ready,” adding that the off-the-shelf T-50A could be flying six years ahead of other firms’ proposals designed specifically to compete for the T-X contract, which he said could be delayed until 2028 or later because of additional hurdles that clean-sheet designs need to overcome. Lockheed Martin has teamed with South Korea’s KAI to offer the T-50A against a clean-sheet design by Boeing and Saab, and a variant of Leonardo’s M-346.

• Leonardo fears that US domestic politics may scupper their chances in the T-X trainer competition, as the Italian defense giant goes it alone without a US airframer as a partner. Despite applying through US subsidiary DRS, the company fears that political considerations will favor domestic suppliers, despite Italy’s considerable defence purchases from the USA, notably the Lockheed F-35. Leonardo is set to submit their bid by the end of the month which will include the location of a US final assembly line.

• Silicon Valley startup Airspace Systems has demonstrated a small compact aircraft capable of hunting and disabling wanton drones. The firm is just one of 70 companies working on counter-drone systems as small consumer and commercial drones proliferate. But unlike others, it aims to catch drones instead of disabling them or shooting them down. While the USAF recently tested experimental shotgun shells for shooting down drones, the drone could still fall on targets and cause damage if it is carrying a payload like a bomb or chemicals. Airspace Systems plan to lease out the system, complete with operators and a mobile command center, to customers.

Middle East & North Africa

• An unusually high number of requests for arms exports to Turkey have been denied by Germany due to mounting concerns over deteriorating human rights in the country. There have been 11 requests denied since November, compared to just ten between 2010 and 2015, according to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. Germany and other European countries have criticized Turkey’s crackdown on alleged dissenters in the wake of July’s failed coup, and in past weeks expressed concern at planned reforms that would hand Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan greater powers. Earlier this month Ankara was forced to cancel a contract with Turkish firm Tümosan, after the firm failed to secure a new design and development partner to replace AVL List GmbH from Austria to provide the engine for the Altay main battle tank (MBT) .

Europe

• Ukraine’s state-owned defense firm Ukroboronprom has demonstrated the Shkval and Stilet combat modules built for infantry fighting vehicles. The Shkval module was equipped with a 30mm cannon ZTM-1 automatic grenade launcher, a 7.62mm machine gun and guided missiles, and assisted by a laser range finder and imager to boost its accuracy. The Stilet was equipped with a ZTM-2, reinforced armor, and a similar set of weapons. Kiev will now decide on which module to procure and will then commission Ukrobotonprom to produce a modernized armored vehicle for Urkaine’s army.

Asia Pacific

• It’s been revealed that Myanmar has received the first batch of three Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft, with the contract to be fully delivered by the end of 2017. Yangon ordered the aircraft back in 2015 to become the fourth export customer (after Algeria, Belarus and Bangladesh), and followed up with an order of a Yak simulator in 2016. The announcement was made by Mikhail Petukhov, deputy director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), at this year’s Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition LIMA-2017.

• An executive at BrahMos Aerospace has indicated that an export contract for the supersonic cruise missile could be signed this year, although the identity of the potential customer remains unrevealed. The Russian-Indian missile can travel 290 km, carries a warhead weighing from 200 to 300 kg, and can be both land and sea based. An Extended Range (ER) version of the BrahMos was tested earlier this month, although it remains unknown if it will initially be available for export.

• Afghanistan’s Air Wing has taken delivery of four additional A-29 attack aircraft, bringing to twelve the amount in operation by the service. The latest batch arrived from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, where seven other Super Tucanos are currently assigned for training purposes. An anonymous pilot at the AAW said the extra air craft “will allow us to increase the number of missions we are able to support nationwide,” adding that “more targets can be attacked—more ground troops can be supported.”

Today’s Video

• Testing of the Shkval and Stilet combat modules:

Aselsan to Develop EW Suites for Turkey in $125M Deal | Jenoptik Gets $11.38M to Support Poland’s Leopard 2 Modernization | Taiwan Plans to Build Own Subs

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has been given a $40 million contract modification to strip and recoat F-22 coatings for the USAF’s F-22 Raptor fleet. Work on the contract will be performed at various locations in California, Georgia, Utah, and Texas, and work is expected to be completed by the end of June 2019. At the time of the award, the company received $6.4 million. The fifth-generation tactical stealth fighter has been in service since 2005 and designed to perform air superiority missions.

Middle East & North Africa

• Israel will declare their multi-tier defense network operational from next month following the deployment of the David’s Sling interceptor system. Developed and manufactured jointly by Rafael and Raytheon, David’s Sling will be responsible for shooting down rockets fired from 100 to 200 kilometers away, such as projectiles fired by the Iranian-backed Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah. The network will include the IDF’s short-range Iron Dome and long-range Arrow missiles.

• Aselsan has been contracted $125 million to develop and produce electronic warfare suites for Turkey. The partnership will see the government-controlled firm team with another state-controlled entity, defense engineering specialist STM, to deliver the suites by 2020. Speaking on the contract, industry sources said that the contract “is consistent with a Turkish policy to further nationalize its EW suites.”

Africa

• Nigerian company Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Limited will add two more Damen FCS 3307 patrol vessels to their inventory to help conduct patrols around assets operated by oil companies, as well as occasional transfers of crew and supplies. The firm works with oil companies working in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas fields by providing engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and security services. Due to Damen’s build-for-stock policy, the first additional vessel is almost complete except for some additional items and the second will be ready within a few months, with delivery expected in the second quarter of 2017.

Europe

• Mauro Moretti has vacated his post as CEO of Leonardo amid criticisms that his three-year tenure lacked experience of global markets and failed to win the firm enough orders. He will be replaced by Alessandro Profumo, a banker who was at the helm of Italian banking giant Unicredit from 1998-2010, and who steered the bank to international growth through acquisitions and oversaw a leap in staff numbers from 15,000 to over 162,000 in over 20 countries. However, Profumo’s lack of defense experience has drawn some criticism that he has only been picked by the government in order to handle the sell off of the firm, something the government denies.

• Poland’s Jenoptik Defense & Civil Systems has been contracted $11.38 million to work as a subcontractor in support of Poland’s Leopard 2 main battle tank modernization program. Under the agreement, Jenoptik will provide 126 17-kilowatt auxiliary power units to Polish company ZM Bumar Labedy S.A., and an additional seven units to Rheinmetall Defense. Rheinmetall will receive ten electric turret and weapon stabilization systems that will be used to replace the hydraulic systems currently used to reduce heat generation inside the tank. Warsaw began the upgrade of their 126 Leopard 2 tanks in February 2016. Elsewhere, Polish and US tank operators recently began a series of tactical maneuvering exercises in preparation for an upcoming NATO training event, aimed at improving participants’ ability to shoot, move, and communicate with one another on the battlefield.

Asia Pacific

• The Taiwanese government is looking to build their own submarines with the help of US submarine technology, according to a pledge made by President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday. Speaking during a tour of a submarine in the southern naval port of Zouying, Tsai said that “strengthening underwater combat capabilities is most needed in Taiwan’s defense.” However, defense analysts point out that building the correct type of submarine may pose a challenge to Taipei, who have never built such a vessel before, and may have to rely on foreign technology to resolve issues such as integrating the hardware with various electronic systems.

• In response to North Korea’s growing nuclear missile threat, the Trump administration is looking at implementing sweeping sanctions aimed at cutting Pyongyang off from the global financial system. US officials say that the sanctions would be part of a multi-pronged approach of increased economic and diplomatic pressure – especially on Chinese banks and firms that do the most business with North Korea – plus beefed-up defenses by the United States and their South Korean and Japanese allies, according to the administration official familiar with the deliberations. However, any future sanctions would need full cooperation from the international community, especially China, who have been so far uncooperative when dealing with issues surrounding their neighbor.

Today’s Video

• The Ka-52K naval attack helicopter:

Buy from the Pros: Poland Adds More German Tanks

Polish Leopard 2A4

Germany is almost done selling off one of the world’s most impressive tank fleets, earning itself a solid market around the world in the process, and choking sales of competitive designs. In November 2013, Poland announced that it would buy a 2nd batch of Leopard 2 tanks from Germany, along with assorted other equipment. As usual, the package price was incredibly cheap: just EUR 180 million for 119 more tanks, plus range training fittings, machine guns, radios; and assorted armored tractors, cars, and trucks. Poland’s next question is what to do with the new gear…