USAF Tests Inert B61-12 Nuke | KAI Wins $378M to Supply Parts for Embraer’s E2 & KC-390 | Seoul in Talks with Supplier Nations to Beef Up Defense Projects

Americas

• The USAF has tested an upgraded inert B61-12 nuclear bomb over the Nellis Test and Training Range Complex in Nevada. Testing of the munition was conducted in order to demonstrate the capability of an F-16 to employ the weapon and the functioning of the bomb’s non-nuclear components, such as the arming and fire control system, radar altimeter, rocket motors, and weapons control computer, the Air Force said. Capable of being carried on B-2A, B-21, F-15E, F-16C/D, F-16 MLU, F-35 and PA-200 aircraft, the recent test is part of the B61 life-extension program run by the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, together with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, and the upgraded variant is scheduled to replace four versions of the B61 currently in the US nuclear stockpile.

• Meanwhile, the US Army has conducted tests on two new dune buggy-like platforms designed to travel through various types of terrain and provide operators with aircraft detection and tracking capabilities. Called Hunter and Killer, the 8 wheel vehicles were tested between April 3 and April 13 during the 2017 Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment (MFIX). While still in early development stages (they were merely slides on a PowerPoint presentation last September), the vehicles have been created with several mission functions in mind such as tracking aircraft activity throughout the battle space, call precision fires in an automated fashion, and allow operators to communicate with friendly planes for support. The vehicles can also support Navy operations by contacting nearby ships in order to attack a target.

• Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has won a $378 million contract to supply parts for Embraer’s E2 and KC-390 programs. Under the agreement, which is scheduled to last until 2033, KAI will supply wing bottom panels for the E-190 E2 and E-195 E2 regional jets, and panels for both top and bottom of the KC-390 tactical airlifter. Separately, the firm announced that it has completed delivery of all 20 KT-1P basic trainer aircraft ordered by the Peruvian air force.

• New Offshore Patrol Vessels being developed for the US Coast Guard are to receive hybrid electric drive systems from Leonardo DRS Technologies. A US subsidiary of the Italian defense giant Leonardo, the company will deliver nine such systems at a cost of $10.7 million to Eastern Shipbuilding, the shipyard tasked with constructing the vessels. The auxiliary power system, when coupled to the main propulsion gearbox, allows the vessels to operate quietly and efficiently during loitering operations.

• Beechcraft has been awarded a $60.5 million USAF contract to support the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS)—the program associated with the procurement of T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft to train Air Force and Navy pilots. Services to be provided under the deal include program management, engineering, sustainment, deficiency reporting, and maintenance. Also provided are diminishing manufacturing sources, technical manual updates, data management and mechanical structural integrity efforts. The contract will run until April 2021.

Europe

• The UK MoD is looking to industry to design and develop new unmanned platforms for the resupply of troops in combat, with the goal of providing their military with more safety. Funding for the vehicles design will come out of the ministry’s Innovation Initiative, a $1.24 billion effort to develop modernized battlefield solutions for the British armed forces. Speaking on the announcement, Parliament Undersecretary for the MoD, Harriet Baldwin, said “our investment in innovative solutions demonstrates how the government’s [$223 billion] equipment plan, supported by a rising defense budget, will ensure that the U.K. maintains a military advantage in an increasingly dangerous world.”

Asia Pacific

• As part of efforts to better equip them to tackle North Korea, the South Korean government is in talks with a number of supplier nations to lease several spy satellites and expects to sign a contract next year. The procurement is part of a wider policy aimed at boosting the country’s military surveillance and strike capabilities between 2018 and 2022 under the revised mid-term national defense blueprint. Under the plan Seoul intends to spend $210 billion on various defense projects that will establish a “three-axis system” intended to help outgun Pyongyang’s superior manpower—NK boasts some 1.1 million troops to SK’s 625k—if open conflict between the two were to commence again. This axis will include the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) strategy.

• Upon his arrival in South Korea, US VP Mike Pence has warned North Korea of Washington’s resolve, as the hermit kingdom conducted another unsuccessful ballistic missile launch. Pyongyang also marked the occasion with a military parade, which showcased their new Pukkuksong submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), however, it has been known for NK to “show off” new concepts before even testing them. In response to the launch Pence warned: “Just in the past two weeks, the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new president in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan,” adding that North Korea “would do well not to test his resolve or the strength of the armed forces of the United States in this region.” Pence’s visit to Seoul is one of a four-nation Asia tour intended to show America’s allies, and remind adversaries, that the Trump administration is not turning its back on the increasingly volatile region.

Today’s Video

• Reverse engineered: Iran’s Fakour-90 air-to-air missile, based on the AIM-54 Phoenix missile sold to Tehran (along with the F-14) in the late 1970s:

PCU Gerald R. Ford to the Rescue | General Atomics to Enter the Sea Avenger in USN Drone Competition | F-35As Head for Europe for Training Deployment

Americas

• Just days into its first sea trials, the PCU Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) responded to an emergency on the USS Oak Hill, where a sailor onboard needed urgent medical attention. The mission involved a MH-60S from HSC-22 which took off from the ship and rendezvoused with Oak Hill on Apr. 11 to take the patient to Navy Medical Center Portsmouth. Following the successful transportation, Capt. Richard McCormack, Ford’s commanding officer, addressed the crew and expressed his pride in Ford sailors and the embarked squadron for their flexibility, mission readiness, and eagerness to help a Shipmate in need. The sailor is in a stable condition.

• The UK and Brazilian governments are in talks over the potential sale of the Royal Navy helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean, for the reported price of $100 million. Designed to support amphibious landing operations, the vessel was commissioned in 1998 but had been designated in 2015 for decommissioning in 2018 with no plans for a like-for-like replacement. Brazil’s interest in the vessel comes as their Navy decided to abandon the refit of the aircraft carrier Sao Paulo and decommission the vessel after a series of technical issues and accidents.

• General Atomics is “confidently” putting forward the Sea Avenger platform into the US Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial tanker competition. Based on their successful Avenger (AKA Predator C), the company states the solution will fit the Navy’s needs, and that their previous work as prime contractor for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear programs has given them precious insights into carrier operations, adding that the firm is the “industry lead” on armed UAVs. The Navy’s request for proposals for the MQ-25A is expected to be released this summer.

Middle East & North Africa

• VSE Corporation has received a number of delivery orders from the US Naval Sea Systems Command International Fleet Support Program Office including a number of NAVSEA Foreign Military Sales support contracts for the Egyptian Navy. The first contract involves the supply and installation of a SMART-S Radar system on an Egyptian Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate at a cost of $21.8 million, to be completed in 14 months. Another two include the provision of in-country follow-on technical support for Egyptian Osprey-class mine hunter coastal vessels, with support to include vessel modernization, technical, logistics, training, facilities, and administrative support. The combined cost of the two Osprey contracts is valued at $36.8 million.

• The US State Department has cleared the potential Foreign Military Sale of a pilot and maintenance training and contractor support package to the Iraqi government. Potentially valued at an estimated $1.06, the contract includes pilot and maintenance training, contractor logistical support (CLS) for trainer aircraft, and base support. This covers support for C-172, C-208, and T-6 aircraft for up to five years and includes contractor aircraft modification; repair and spare parts; publications; aircraft ferry; and miscellaneous parts, along with training base operation support, base life support, security, construction, and other related elements of program support. If approved by Congress, the Spartan College in Tulsa, Okla., would be the principal contractor for the proposed deal.

Africa

• Mali looks to have moved ahead with its purchase of the Mi-35M from Russia after pictures of the attack helicopter emerged online. Snapped during flight testing at the Rostvertol plant in Rostov-on-Don, the images clearly show the mark of the Mali Air Force on the rotorcraft’s belly. It had been reported last September that Mali, along with Angola, Sudan, and Nigeria, were all interested in purchasing the Mi-35M as Rosoboronexport continues to aggressively market it on the continent. Nigeria received delivery of their first two units in January, 2017.

Europe

• This weekend has seen a number of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters make their way to Europe to participate in a training deployment that will last several weeks. The jets and airmen will conduct training with other US and NATO aircraft based in Europe as part of the European Reassurance Initiative—started in 2014 by the Pentagon to increase US presence in Europe for security purposes. Officials say the deployment marks an important milestone for the F-35 program as it allows both the USAF to further demonstrate the capabilities of the fighter, as well as assisting in refining the requirements for basing the F-35A in Europe, scheduled to commence in the early 2020s.

Asia Pacific

• For the first time in combat history, the USAF have dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb as part of an operation targeting an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. Often known as the “Mother Of All Bombs,” last Thursday’s blast killed an estimated 92 militants in what some have described as a “baffling choice”. In response, former Afghan president Hamid Karzai (known to be against the use of US airpower during his tenure) accused his successor, President Ashraf Ghani of committing treason by allowing such a strike to take place. However, Afghan’s response to the strike has been mixed, with some residents near the blast praising Afghan and US troops for pushing back the Islamic State militants.

Today’s Video

• General Atomics’ Sea Avenger UAV:

Orbital ATK to Supply Rocket Motors for AIM-9P | LM Works on Exoskeleton Tech for Mil Mkt | Leonardo Hosts Ceremony to Deliver 500th Eurofighter

Americas

• Orbital ATK has won a USAF contract to supply rocket motors for AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles. The agreement, which could reach a potential value of $67 million, covers the production and provision of motors for ordinance that will be sold to other governments under the US foreign military sales program. First developed in the 1970s, the AIM-9 has undergone significant upgrades to improve its capabilities and lethality over the years, with the present version featuring Orbital ATK’s SR116-HP-1 reduced-smoke rocket motor. Work will continue through until February 2022.

• UTC Aerospace Systems’ MS-177 sensor has been successfully tested by Northrop Grumman onboard an RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV. The sensor is a high-resolution imaging device designed to improve capabilities for the Global Hawk in addition to several other surveillance platforms operated by the USAF, with UTC adding that the sensor will provide warfighters with the most advanced reconnaissance tools to date. Demonstrations with the sensor began in early March and Northrop will continue through the first half of 2017. Prior to being integrated on such a high altitude platform, the MS-177 has been equipped on the E-8C JSTARS aircraft.

• The USAF’s F-16 fighting fleet is to receive service life extension work from Lockheed Martin. The decision boosts the service life for the jets from 8,000 Equivalent Flight Hours to 12,000 with the service looking to continue operating the jets through to 2048. As many as 300 F-16C/D Block 40-52 aircraft will be affected by the work, and will also benefit foreign military customers. It’s intended that the aircraft will supplement US and allied forces while they recapitalize with new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

• Lockheed Martin has secured legal permission to explore the potential use of exoskeleton technology for the military market. The firm secured licensing of bionic augmentation technology from B-Temia and will incorporate it to supplement its FORTIS industrial exoskeleton project. Designed to make labor easier by transferring pressure through the exoskeleton to the ground in a process that makes heavy tools “weightless,” the system requires no external power to operate, and can boost military capabilities by enabling soldiers to carry more equipment over longer distances. The product can be used in standing or kneeling positions, and uses a tool arm to reduce muscle fatigue and boost productivity.

Middle East & North Africa

• Despite issues with gaining certain technology transfers for the Altay, Turkey could begin serial production of the main battle tank as early as this May, according to Defense Minister Fikri Isik. Pakistan and some Gulf nations are believed to be lined up as potential customers for the vehicle. Talk of potential delays to the Altay surfaced when local contractor Tümosan was unable to continue working on providing a domestic diesel engine for the tank, after Austria’s AVL List GmbH, which it had as a technical support partner, ceased working with the Turkish firm amid concerns that the Turkish government were sliding on human rights issues. It now looks like Ankara may instead turn to Ukraine for help, with the Altay possibly adopting the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau’s (KMDB) 1,500 hp 6TD-3 diesel engine.

Europe

• Italian manufacturer Leonardo has handed over its 500th operational Eurofighter Typhoon to the Italian Air Force. Marking the occasion was a ceremony at the firm’s Turin facility and saw attendance from various military and security industry representatives, including leaders from Leonardo, NETMA, and Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug. Speaking at the event, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug CEO Volker Paltzo stated that the “500-strong Eurofighter Typhoon fleet represents one of the largest and most capable fighter fleets in the western hemisphere, and will be the backbone of European airpower for decades to come.” European armed forces have been operating the Typhoon since 2003, when the first completed jet was delivered to Britain’s Royal Air Force. The service received their 100th plane in September 2006 while Germany’s air force accepted the delivery of the 400th jet in 2013.

• Russia has displayed its Pantsyr-S1 and Tor-M2 air defense systems integrated on DT-30-series all-terrain tracked carriers (ATTCs) optimised for Arctic operations. The DT-30 vehicle is amphibious, has a load-carrying capability of around 30 tonnes, and wide tracks that provide a low ground pressure that allows it to cross terrain that is not passable by conventional tracked and wheeled platforms. It consists of two sections that are joined by an articulated joint to allow for a high degree of articulation while moving across rough terrain, including sand, ice, and snow. However, while normally the Pantsyr-S1 usually contains 12 missile launch tubes (six on each side) and two twin 30 mm 2A38M cannons, the arctic version drops the use of the 30mm guns.

Asia Pacific

• The first three months of the year have shown an increase in the number of times that the Japanese air force has had to scramble its fighter jets to ward off foreign aircraft. Figures released by Tokyo show that fighters were scrambled 1,168 times over the 12 months, up from 873 last year. A record 851 jets headed off approaching Chinese planes, or 280 more instances than in the corresponding period last year. The uptick in Chinese activity has contributed to rising tension in East Asia since the start of the year as North Korea pushes ahead with ballistic missile and nuclear bomb tests that have stoked fears in Japan, the United States and elsewhere.

Today’s Video

• The 500th Eurofighter:

I Am Iron Man…?

Most military programs don’t coordinate news releases with major motion pictures. With Iron Man in theaters and getting reviews that may get DID’s staff to go see it, Raytheon is taking the time to promote its US Army-funded exoskeleton suit. Originally funded under a 7-year, $75 million DARPA program, the suite has now gone on to the next stage under a 2-year, $10 million follow-on Army grant:

The problem they’re trying to address is no stunt. The weight of a soldier’s equipment easily approaches 80-100 pounds, far higher than the 30 pounds recommended for maximum mobility. As we load our soldiers down with more technical gadgets, that weight tends to go up, not down. The USA and Japan are only a couple of the countries working on aspects of a mechanical exoskeleton that would give its wearers vastly improved strength and endurance. While Japanese demographic and cultural trends in particular are giving concepts like individual soldier augmentation a push, we can still expect a very long wait before we see exoskeletons that can deliver the required performance to justify their cost, can handle military conditions, and can be maintained in the field at reasonable cost. It’s far more likely that first fielding, if there is one, will involve more limited use by disabled soldiers, or be used like Cyberdyne Japan’s HAL-5 in private, para-public, and first responder roles. Raytheon release | Raytheon feature | Popular Science [PDF].

Updates

April 13/17: Lockheed Martin has secured legal permission to explore the potential use of exoskeleton technology for the military market. The firm secured licensing of bionic augmentation technology from B-Temia and will incorporate it to supplement its FORTIS industrial exoskeleton project. Designed to make labor easier by transferring pressure through the exoskeleton to the ground in a process that makes heavy tools “weightless,” the system requires no external power to operate, and can boost military capabilities by enabling soldiers to carry more equipment over longer distances. The product can be used in standing or kneeling positions, and uses a tool arm to reduce muscle fatigue and boost productivity.

US Navy Frigates May Get Upgraded Air Def Capabilities | Fire Scout UAV Tested Aboard LCS | UAC to Provide MiG-29M/M2 Aircraft to Egypt in $2B Sale

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has won a $372 million contract modification in order to address several issues with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The US Navy contract did not specify any particular work that needed to be undertaken under the agreement, however it facilitates deficiency corrections for US operators as well as the country’s foreign military customers. Work will be carried out in Texas, California, New Hampshire, Japan and Britain, and is expected to be complete by March 2020.

• Future US Navy frigates may come with added air defense capabilities as a new study group is being commissioned to examine adding such a platform to the requirements. At present, service specifications call for a vessel to have enough surface-to-air missiles to protect itself. The new idea is to double the RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) load from 8 to 16 or having a Mark 41 Vertical Launching System loaded with eight Standard Missile-2 (SM-2). Upgunning the frigates will change the Navy designation for the ships from FF, meaning frigate, to FFG — guided missile frigates able to provide area air defense.

• General Dynamics has proven that Raytheon’s ALR-69A Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) can work on an MQ-9 UAV. The demonstration used a company-owned Predator B with the RWR stored within GA-ASI’s standard payload pod against a series of various ground-based radars. A company statement said that the new radar provided enhanced situational awareness by identifying potential radar threats to ground-based crew, and that more test demonstrations are planned that will include the aircraft flying with an integrated Link 16 data link.

• An MQ-8C Fire Scout UAV has been tested onboard a littoral combat ship (LCS) for the first time. 37 recovery evolutions were conducted onboard the USS Montgomery over the course of seven days in order to verify the MQ-8C launch and recovery procedures and test interoperability between the unmanned helicopter and the ship. A larger version of the MQ-8B, the “C” variant was given Milestone C status by the Navy earlier this month and will begin initial operational test and evaluation this fall.

Middle East & North Africa

• United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) President Yuri Slyusar has confirmed that the Egyptian government has bought a number of MiG-29M/M2 aircraft, with the first batch of deliveries expected for this year. As part of the $2 billion sale, Cairo will receive as many as 50 of the fighters by 2020 as well as receiving pilot training and associated equipment. Improvements on the legacy MiG-29 aircraft include design changes to the airframe, improved turbofans in the RD-33MK (which is similar in weight to the RD-33, but benefits from a higher thrust rating and full-authority digital engine control), fly-by-wire flight control system, updated avionics and Zhuk-ME pulse-Doppler radar.

Europe

• The NATO Eurofighter 2000 and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) has contracted Saab to deliver 29 units of the latest version of its BOZ-101 electronic warfare self-protection and countermeasures system for the German Air Force. The wing-mounted pod has been in use on Tornados for many years and provides pilots with early warning and missile detection capabilities while in flight. Saab’s work will be performed at its facilities in Järfälla, Sweden and Centurion, South Africa. German authorities expect deliveries to take place between 2017 and 2020.

• Leonardo believes its AW139M helicopter will suit all the requirements for the Czech Republic’s new fleet of multi-role helicopters, as Prague prepares for the release of a request for proposal (RFP). The company stated that the AW139M is “fully compliant with the [defence ministry’s] request for information and subsequent request for additional data,” which includes requirements such as being capable of carrying troops and air-to-surface weapons; including anti-tank missiles as well as being capable of flying in all weather conditions and at night. Leonardo will not disclose details of the proposed aircraft configuration ahead of RFP release, but the AW139M is also likely to feature defensive aids system equipment and countermeasures dispensers. The company has released an image of a notional fire-support-roled aircraft carrying air-to-surface missiles, guided/unguided rocket pods, a pod-housed gun and an electro-optical/infrared sensor payload.

Asia Pacific

• India is looking to secure long-term ammunition supply contracts with local private industry worth $3 billion over ten years. The initiative aims to encourage capital investments by private sector companies in ammunition manufacturing facilities as India struggles with critical ammunition shortages — of the total 170 types of ammunition, there is a shortage in 125 types. Various types of ammunition wanted by New Delhi include: 500,000 rounds of 30mm high-explosive grenades (VOG-17) for automatic grenade launchers; 125mm APFSDS-T (Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot — tracer) ammo for T-90 and T-72 tanks; 122mm extended-range multiple rocket launcher ammo for the BM GRAD; 23mm HEI/APIT (high-explosive incendiary/armor-piercing incendiary tracer) ammo for ZU-23 air defense guns; 30mm HEI/T (high-explosive incendiary — tracer) ammo for BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles; 40mm MGL/UBGL (multiple grenade launcher/underbarrel grenade launcher) ammo; and electronic fuzes for artillery guns.

Today’s Video

• Sikorsky-Boeing Future Vertical Lift (FVL) concept:

Orbital ATK Gets $92M for US Army Supply | Next Batch F-35s May See Further Savings | Taiwan Searching Off Shore for Domestic Submarine Tech

Americas

• The US Navy has continued the grounding of T-45 aircraft for another week, after the service’s instructor-pilots reported that crew were experiencing physiological episodes. A three-day grounding was initially called last Wednesday in order for an investigation to take place into what was causing the issues. Finding the cause or causes of the problem, however, has been difficult with several investigations taking place, including the aircraft’s oxygen system. A statement by Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, Commander, Naval Air Forces said that the service is taking “an ‘unconstrained resources’ approach to the problem, meaning we have not been nor will we be limited by money or manpower as we diligently work toward solutions.”

• Orbital ATK has been contracted $92 million for the supply of small caliber ammunition to the US Army. The 5.56mm and 7.62mm rounds will be produced at the company’s Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo. The largest manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition for the US DoD, Orbital has produced more than 17 billion rounds of small-caliber ammunition at Lake City to support US and allied troops.

• Negotiations on the next batch of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters could see savings of at least 5% as the unit cost per fighter looks to dip below $80 million. Current talks between the Pentagon and lead contractor Lockheed Martin are said to be for a batch of about 130 planes, 100 of which are likely to be the A-model configuration. It is on these 100 aircraft that between 5-7 percent, or $660 million, could be shaved off the total price in potential savings. This follows comments made by the program’s head Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan last month who said that the government hoped that by 2020 the F-35 would cost less than $80 million, a 16 percent drop from its current price.

Middle East & North Africa

• Thirty mostly Democratic Party lawmakers have expressed their concerns to US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, over the potential sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia. The signed letter comes after an earlier attempt to sell the missiles to Riyadh last December was put on hold due to concerns raised over the increased reports of civilian casualties as a result of sorties from the Royal Saudi Air Force’s campaign in Yemen. Congressional aides told Reuters the Trump administration was on the verge of sending a formal notification to Congress about the sale, which would trigger the formal 30-day review to allow members of Congress to attempt to pass legislation to stop any sale.

• Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Hurkus aircraft has completed its first missile launch with a Roketsan L-UMTAS laser-guided long-range air-to-surface anti-tank missile. The March 7 test was conducted at the Firing Test and Evaluation Group Command test range near the central Anatolian town of Konya-Karapinar. Alongside the L-UMTAS, the Hurkus will be armed with Roketsan UMTAS infrared-guided anti-tank missiles, Cirit laser-guided 70 mm rockets as well as bombs upgraded with Teber precision guidance kits; has five stores pylons and will be able to carry a payload of 1,500 kg. As well as operating as a basic trainer, the aircraft will be used for light assault and armed reconnaissance missions in the counter-insurgency role. The type is planned to enter into service in 2018.

Africa

• The Trump administration is moving ahead with a plan to sell as much as $600 million worth of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and related equipment to help the Nigerian Air Force in their fight against the jihadist group Boko Haram. Initial permission had been granted under the previous Obama administration but was put on hold following Nigeria’s bombing of a refugee camp in January. Congress is expected to receive notification on the sale of 12 Super Tucanos and sophisticated targeting gear within weeks, and Trump plans to go ahead with other foreign defense sales delayed under Obama by human rights concerns.

Europe

• Rauma Marine Constructions has been contracted by the Finnish government to design new vessels for the Squadron 2020 project. The announcement of the $7.9 million award came without any specifics of what the design will entail. The Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 project is to replace seven Navy corvettes that have been, or will be, decommissioned. Contracts for the construction of the new vessels will be signed in 2018.

Asia Pacific

• Taiwan is in need of five types of submarine technology for their domestic submarine program, according to local defense analysts. Modern torpedo tubes and periscopes are believed to be some of the tech missing by Taipei, as well as the possible need for air-independent propulsion technology or an equivalent to allow the submarine to be practically silent when operating in a submerged environment. The government has allocated spending of $94.81 million for the program’s design phase, due to run until December 2020, and have already dispatched delegations to find foreign suppliers of the technology it requires. While several nations have established submarine programs, most may shy away from selling such tech to Taiwan for fear of upsetting relations with China.

Today’s Video

• Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2017:

USS America Downs UAV with RAM in Test | USAF Will RFP for Next Gen Ejector Seats End of FY 2017 | USAF Selects URS Fed Svcs for $3.6B UAV Support

Americas

• The Navy’s USS America has successfully shot down a UAV with the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), during live-fire exercises designed to verify the new amphibious assault ship’s defense capabilities. During the test, the UAV posed as an anti-ship missile threat while the RAM utilized its quick-reaction fire-and-forget capabilities to down the drone. The USS America is the first vessel of its class and is designed to accommodate modern fighters such as the F-35B, alongside other vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) aircraft and helicopters. It will support US Marine Corps aviation requirements, from small-scale contingency operations of an expeditionary strike group, to forcible entry missions in major theaters of war.

• USAF brass are looking for a next-generation ejector seat to be integrated on existing fighters and bombers, according to a notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website. A draft request for proposals is expected for the end of FY 2017 and the service will select two qualified sources and award contracts at the beginning of FY19. A production decision would come in the middle of FY20. The contract could open the door for production of a domestic ejection seat, namely United Technologies Aerospace Systems (UTAS) Advanced Concept Ejection Seat 5 (ACES), and line up a potential competitor to the UK-based Martin-Baker.

• URS Federal Services has received a $3.6 billion USAF contract to deliver various support services for the branch’s UAVs. The deal will see the company provide testing, tactical development, advanced training and operational need missions at several testing grounds in Nevada up until the end of March 2034. The USAF did not disclose which remotely piloted aircraft would be involved with the agreement.

Middle East & North Africa

• The US State Department has given approval to Kuwait to upgrade its Al Mubarak Airbase with US support. Work will be carried out by the US Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors, and will cover the areas of design, construction, procurement of key airfield operations, command and control, readiness, sustainment, and life-support facilities. An operations center, hangars, training facilities, barracks, warehouses, and support facilities will all be built at the airbase, with the estimated total cost expected to reach $319 million.

Asia Pacific

• Bangladesh has been offered a $4.5 billion credit line by neighboring India in order to help it pay for various priority projects, and includes having $500 million earmarked for defense procurements. The announcement was made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, who is on a state visit to India. Modi said that the following cooperation “would include working in the fields of electronics, information technology, cyber security, space exploration, civil nuclear energy, and other areas,” and a government statement added that both nation’s armed forces would be cooperating closely in future.

• Tuo Chiang-class stealth corvettes operated by Taiwan’s navy are to be redesigned in order to give them an anti-air capability. All 11 vessels planned for production will receive the new capability which will see the current design lengthened by 4.6 meters with width to increase from 14 meters to 15 meters. The ships will be armed with the indigenous Tien Chien 2 (TC-2) air defense missile, guided by a 3D radar. Crew size per ship will increase from 41 to 53 personnel. Taipei believes the upgrade to the vessels with a Tien Chien anti-air capability will compliment the current model’s Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III (“Brave Wind”) anti-ship missiles, allowing for the missile systems to be combined in whatever configuration the mission calls for.

• It’s been discovered that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered at least 18 Su-30MKI fighters to the Indian Air Force that have been fitted with second-hand engines. A report seen by the Deccan Chronicle stated that “it was noticed while checking the records…that AL 31FP engines fitted in certain aircraft was in Cat B condition at the time of inspection / delivery to Indian Air Force (IAF).” While the Su-30MKI is powered by a pair of AL-31FP turbofan engines, the report found that some of the aircraft were installed with new and old engines. The Indian Defense Ministry has claimed that the second-hand engines were installed by by HAL without its knowledge.

• Raytheon has been selected by the Australian government to deliver a $1.5 billion ground-based air defense system. The new system will replace the country’s 30-year-old short-range capability, which is due to be retired by early next decade, and will be based on the Raytheon/Kongsberg Gruppen ASA National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) currently operated by the US, Norway, Finland, Spain and the Netherlands. Raytheon Australia will receive a single supplier limited request for tender (RFT) from the government for the ground-based air defense system by the end of June, 2017.

Today’s Video

• USS Gerald R. Ford begins builders trials:

Despite Problems, UK Moves Ahead with $376M Bowman Radio Upgrade

Bowman radios

The UK’s Bowman tactical communications system, which replaced the aging Clansman system, has encountered some problems with troops deployed in Afghanistan. The Bowman radios carried by the soldiers have a short battery life and are heavy. There is also a shortage of ancillary equipment, such as antennas and speakers, according to a May 14/09 report by the UK National Audit Office (NAO).

As DID reported earlier, a 2006 NAO report had identified a number of serious problems with the Bowman system resulting from the radical changes in communications technology and needs since the program was conceived in the 1980s. The report identified as issues the vast growth in bandwidth requirements due to UAVs et. al. transmitting video, the need for far greater capabilities without providing more money, the lack of robustness and modifiability in its closed architecture software systems, the effects of Bowman’s lack of definition on training and doctrine, and the effects of the program on the decimated British tactical radio industry.

Despite these problems, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) recently awarded 2 contracts worth £231 million ($376 million) to prime contractor General Dynamics UK to upgrade the Bowman system.

DID has more on the Bowman system upgrades…

USMC Performs POC Hot Load of GBU-32 on F-35B | Carrier Gerald R. Ford to Begin Sea Trials | Gen Dynamics Chosen by UK for $409M Morpheus Project

Americas

• The USMC has completed the first hot load of a GBU-32 on an F-35B fighter. Hot loading — when the Marines are performing the loading evolution while the aircraft is turning — poses several challenges as far as communicating; just creating some chaos as far as noise and a lot of moving parts, and requires five marines to perform with two to give direction, two to manually move and insert the bomb, and a quality assurance safety observer Marine to ensure everything runs smoothly. The process can save wear and tear on the aircraft, and while in combat situations, it saves time and minimizes any failure opportunities with the aircraft.

• Aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is to commence its first sea trials this week, paving the way for the US Naval Systems Command to take possession of the vessel by early April. The $12.9 billion warship has experienced several delays over its development, much of it due to growing pains with new technology including issues with its electromagnetic catapults and aircraft arresting gear that uses water-twister technology. Next week’s testing will involve putting the ship’s basic systems through rigorous checks prior to further acceptance trials after a period of downtime.

Middle East & North Africa

• Bell Helicopters is scheduled to deliver the first three of 12 AH-1Zs to Pakistan this summer, with the remainder to be delivered next year after being handed over to the US government. Approval for the deal was granted by Washington last April. The sale comes as the company expects the signing of a second export order for the H-1 series UH-1Y Venom utility and AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters in the coming months.

Europe

• General Dynamics has been picked by the UK to design and develop next-generation battlefield communication systems. The $409 million contract is part of the MoD’s Morpheus Project, an effort launched to address critical system obsolescence and procure more advanced Tactical Communication and Information Systems for the British Army; allowing British warfighters to integrate new radios and other communication platforms faster and more easily. Under the agreement, GD will implement the Evolve to Open approach, which will modify existing Bowman communication systems into an open, modular platform.

• A JAS-39 Gripen fighter operated by the Swedish Ministry of Defense has completed the first flight with a GKN RM12 engine completely powered by renewable biofuel. The fuel, named CHCJ-5, is interchangeable with normal jet fuel, so no changes to the engine are necessary for use. GKN Aerospace, who conducted the flight test with Saab, said the RM12 engine demonstrated good performance during the biofuel flight. GKN, Saab and FMV, Sweden’s defense procurement agency, will use the flight to show the potential of biofuel for military aerospace.

Asia Pacific

• Four eager Taiwanese flag officers have been reprimanded for purchasing the Phalanx Block-1B close-in weapon system (CIWS) prior to gaining government budget approval. The officers received written warnings as punishment, and the navy has admitted negligence in the matter as they have seen several other deals come under scrutiny and suspension from lawmakers. The reasoning behind the officer’s decision to move ahead with the foreign military sale stemmed from an offer from the Pentagon; willing to sell the entire CIWS package at a price of $278.33 million if the deal was signed before Jul. 22.

• Kongsberg is to integrate a BAE Systems-developed RF-seeker sensor onto the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for the Australian government. Valued at $17.3 million, the new capability will enable the fifth-generation JSM to locate targets on the basis of their electronic signature and will further strengthen the capabilities of the missile for the most challenging scenarios in a modern battlefield. The JSM is a multi-role version of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), and is being integrated for carriage on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

• The Indian government has given the go ahead for the $1.8 billion purchase of the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). A land-based version of the Barak-8, the MRSAM was developed by IAI and India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in collaboration with Rafael and IAI/Elta, and worked with various Indian companies including BEL, L&T, BDL and other private vendors, and will be operated by the Indian Army. The company will also supply additional LRSAM air & missile defense systems for the first build in India Indian aircraft carrier.

Today’s Video

• Egypt receives third batch of Rafale fighters from Dassault. :

Raytheon’s New Phalanx Gun to be Lean & Mean | Brazil Shows Interest in Russian Pantsir S-1 | Norway to Spend $1.16B on P-8A Poseidon

Americas

• Raytheon has tested a new electric gun that allows varying rates of fire for the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. The gun has been designed to replace the Phalanx’s pneumatic motor, compressor and storage tanks, resulting in a 180 pound weight reduction. Testing conducted aimed to validate if the gun could handle the platform’s heavy vibrations. Capable of firing 75 rounds a second, the new gun also possesses a larger magazine, allowing operators to fight for longer.

• Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky will proceed with low-rate production of the CH-53K King Stallion since the helicopter has received a Milestone C status by a US Defense Acquisition Board review. A total of 200 CH-53Ks are to be acquired by the US Marine Corps. The first six aircraft are under contract and are expected to be delivered starting next year. Long-lead procurement of parts and materials for the first two low-rate initial production helicopters is underway. The King Stallion is capable of lifting three times as much as its predecessor, the CH-53E, and can carry as many as three external loads at the same time.

• Brazil has expressed interest in the purchase of Pantsir S-1 air defense and artillery systems from Russia, according to Russian state media. Earlier attempts at a deal for the platform took place in 2013, but contracts were never signed, while more recent talks in 2016 were suspended due to domestic political troubles in Brazil. Talks were revived, however, during the LAAD 2017 international arms exhibition in Rio de Janeiro. Also in the running is the AV-MMA medium-range air defense system built by MBDA Systems.

Middle East & North Africa

• Critical Solutions International (CSI) has been contracted $132 million by the US DoD to provide Husky second-generation systems with related equipment and services to Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The US firm has partnered with the South African company DCD Protected Mobility to make the Husky family of mine-detection vehicles a US government program of record. The second-generation Husky 2G can accommodate two operators rather than one, making it more appropriate for long-duration route-clearance missions, and comes with ground-penetrating radar and other sensors in order to detect explosive devices.

Europe

• MBDA has successfully conducted air carriage and jettison trials of the Sea Venom/ANL anti-ship missile on board the Lynx Mk 8 naval helicopter, leading to a de-risking of the integration process of the missile on both the Lynx and Super Lynx helicopters for the export market.Testing took place in March at the Larkhill Range at Boscombe Down and involved two Sea Venom missiles fitted with telemetry kits. Sea Venom/ANL has been developed to deliver an enhanced capability to replace existing and legacy systems such as the UK-developed Sea Skua and the French-developed AS15TT anti-ship missiles.

• Norway is moving ahead with procurement of five P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, according to a press release by Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide. The $1.16 billion deal will see the aircraft delivered to Oslo between 2022 and 2023. Speaking on the purchase, Søreide stated that it was “underlining Norway’s allied commitment to spending on defense capabilities vital to both NATO and Norway.” The P-8 Poseidon is equipped with sensors and weapons bays for search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare.

• The UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) has received the first of their delayed Tide-class tankers in the UK in order to undergo customisation and trials ahead of introduction to service at the end of this year. Built by South Korean firm Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in partnership with BMT Defence Services, the RFA Tidespring was built as part of a $562 million deal to deliver four 39,000-tonne-displacement Tide-class tankers under the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) Tanker project to replace now-retired Leaf- and Rover-class single-hull tankers. The design of the Tide-class ships has been optimised for the support of carrier operations.

Asia Pacific

• Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has posted revenues of $2.6 billion for FY year ending March 2017, as well as orders worth $3.25 billion. During the year, HAL produced 12 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft, 24 Dhruv helicopters, and 178 aerostructures. They also conducted overhaul work on 197 aircraft and helicopters, as well as 473 engines. Orders include 12 Do-228s for the Indian navy, 32 Dhruvs for the navy and coastguard, and AL-31FP engines for the air force’s Su-30 MKIs.

Today’s Video

• The Husky Mk III 2G: