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Archives by date > 2017 > June

Turkey inducts UMTAS into service | Saudi shopping list revealed | France invited to Eurofighter successor program

Jun 13, 2017 05:00 UTC

Americas

  • Austral is currently conducting final outfitting of the ninth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EFT) for the US Navy. The Spearhead-class vessel left an Austral shipyard earlier this month in Mobile, Alabama before moving to Bismark for final work. They feature a flight deck and an off-load ramp which allow quick access ports and quays. Littoral operations are made easier by the inclusion of 15-foot shallow draft, ability to interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and ease of access to austere and deteriorated piers.

Middle Easy & North Africa

  • Turkey’s armed forces has officially inducted Rokesan’s UMTAS infrared guided anti-tank missile into service. OMTAS is a semi-active laser-homing ATGM with a range of 500-8,000 m that Ankara will use as the main weapon of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T129 attack helicopter, with Roketsan hoping to sell additional launchers and missiles to the Air Force and Navy as well. The system has also been tested on TAI’s Hürkus-C close air support and counterinsurgency attack aircraft and is being marketed for export to several governments including Pakistan.

  • A White House document seen by media sources has fleshed out the Trump administration’s $110 billion-worth of arms deals with Saudi Arabia. Much touted by Trump after his first international tour as US President, experts had denounced the successful deals as speculative that still needed to be negotiated and cleared by Congress. Now, the shopping list that accounts for those billion and billions has emerged with items including seven THAAD missile defense batteries, over 100,000 air-to-ground munitions and billions of dollars’ worth of new aircraft. Also included are new vessels, artillery, land and fighting vehicles, helicopters Patriot system sustainment services, as well as two satellite communications & Space Based Early Warning Systems. See the full list and price breakdowns here.

Europe

  • The head of Airbus has called on the French government to join German and Spanish efforts on a proposed new fighter to succeed the Eurofighter Typhoon. “I really hope that France will be involved,” says Fernando Alonso, speaking to reporters on 9 June at the company’s media day. “We have to do this in Europe. There’s no place to do two or three different systems.” While Paris had initially stayed out of the Eurofighter program—instead favoring to work with Dassault on the Rafale—there has been much talk of further integrated European defense research and procurement among EU members, and with the UK gearing up to leave the EU, France is being seen as a potential replacement partner in such joint programs. Last year, Germany and Spain partnered to draw up requirements for the New Generation Weapon System (NGWS), a proposed new fighter that would be developed under the Future Combat Air System effort, which includes other elements of air warfare technology, including unmanned air vehicles (UAV) and space-based capabilities.

  • Finland has extended the service of an existing 2013 Foreign Military Sales agreement with the US for spare parts and support for F-18 Hornet aircraft. Valued at $97.1 million, the amendment covers software maintenance, spare parts for the aircraft, equipment, repair, transport and training services from 2018 to 2020. Additional information on the deal was not revealed.

  • Saab has signed a framework agreement to provide maintenance and support of submarines and submarine rescue systems operated by the Swedish military. The deal will cover the period of 2017-2019 at an initial cost of $9.7 million. “The framework agreement encompasses maintaining and providing high operational availability of the Swedish Armed Forces submarines and submarine rescue systems by configuration management, maintenance, engineering support, and modifications,” Saab said in a press release.

Asia Pacific

  • It’s been reported that South Korean artillery has been delivered to Pakistan, where the government there is believed to be trailing the weapons. A Hanwha Corporation KH179 155 mm towed howitzer and two Hanwha Corporation 40 mm auto grenade launchers (AGL) arrived in January and is one of several rival self-propelled howitzers (SPH) that has been tested by Islamabad over the years, and while no active competition is underway, it’s believed that Pakistan could spend as much as $844 million on SPH by 2024. If there is an active requirement, Hanwha will compete with Daudsons Armoury (DSA), which had displayed its own SPH during Pakistan’s biennial defence exhibition, IDEAS 2016.

  • The Indian army will send a squadron of weaponized Dhruv helicopters to its border with China as part of moves to strengthen its deployments along its eastern borders. As many as ten helicopters will arrive in the town of Likabali, Assam provence, over the next three months. Weapons found on the helicopter include a turret gun in its nose area, air-to-air missiles, 70 mm rockets and 20 mm turret guns, while newer models come equipped with anti-tank guided missiles, infrared jammers and obstacle avoidance systems.

Today’s Video

  • Roketsan’s OMTAS:

Canada pulls out of Super Hornet procurement | S-300VM delivered to Egypt | BAE conducts Advanced Hawk maiden flight

Jun 09, 2017 05:00 UTC

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Americas

  • Canada has decided to pull back from its plan to procure 18 F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters as an interim replacement for its CF-18 successor program. Instead, the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has unveiled a new defense plan which calls for 88 new fighters for the Royal Canadian Air Force – an increase from the previous government’s plan to purchase 65 jets – and to recapitalise the Lockheed Martin CP-140 Aurora anti-submarine warfare and surveillance fleet. The news comes amid a row between the Canadian government, Boeing, and Bombardier, after the US company accused Bombardier of “dumping” its CSeries jet onto the US market.

Middle Easy & North Africa

  • It’s been announced that Egypt has received delivery of the S-300VM air defense system, after pictures were released of the system’s vehicles and missile canisters being unloaded at the port of Alexandria. The export version of the S-300, the system is equipped with 9M82M and 9M83M missiles, providing an engagement range of up to 200 km and maximum altitude of 25,000 m. The $1 billion purchase is part of a wider $3.5 billion package agreed with Russia in 2015, and includes 50 Mikoyan MiG-29M/M2 and Kamov Ka-52K attack helicopters.

  • Heron TP UAVs leased to the German military by Airbus will be operated from an Israeli air base. It is also believed that German crew will be trained at the site. Deliveries of Heron TP systems for use by the German military will commence late next year and will go towards supporting international operations involving German personnel prior to the availability of a European-developed medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV from around 2025. The deal has been initially held up after a protest by General Atomics.

  • Rafael will showcase its new Spike LR II missile at this month’s Paris Air Show, adding that deliveries to customers will start in late 2018. Capable of carrying either a tandem high-explosive anti-tank warhead or a multi-purpose blast warhead, the new missile also features a new electro-optical/infrared seeker with smart target tracker capabilities. It can be launched from any current Spike launcher.

Europe

  • Leonardo has unveiled” a compact version of its BriteCloud decoy system for fast jets after successful testing on Danish F-16s. Known as BriteCloud 218, the system is 2-by-1-by-8 inches and is compatible using the standard-size flare decoy cartridge, such as the F-16 and F-15. Leonardo fitted the cartridge directly into a RDAF F-16’s standard flare dispenser with no integration work required. During the test, the aircraft dispensed the BriteCloud 218 in response to being locked-onto by a real radar-guided surface to air missile targeting system. The company said that once launched, “it creates powerful electronic emissions that create a ‘false target’ and draw enemy missiles away from the real aircraft.”

  • Insitu will provide three of its Integrator UAV to the Netherlands as part of Dutch military plans to replace their ScanEagle UAVs. The Integrator is a multi-mission small UAV that carries custom payloads for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is the baseline aircraft for the RQ-21A Blackjack, a program of record with the US Navy and Marine Corps that entered full-rate production last year. Each has a 40-pound payload capacity and delivers line-of-sight communications for as much as 55 nautical miles. Delivery will take place next year.

  • BAE’s Advanced Hawk trainer has completed its first test-flight at the company’s Warton, Lancashire, UK site. The test aimed to assess a series of enhancements developed which could equip new-build examples or be added as upgrades to in-service aircraft. Upgrades to cockpit include a large area display and the integration of BAE’s LiteHUD head-up display, and a new wing that increases performance and the capacity for an increased range of offensive weapons and defensive measures. The aircraft will now undergo a series of flights to collect test data on the new key capability enhancements.

Asia Pacific

  • The Australian government has begun testing and evaluation of two rival armored vehicles as part of its LAND 400 Phase 2 program. Rheinmetall’s Boxer CRV and the BAE Systems Australia’s Patria AMV35 are currently undergoing a year-long assessment as a risk mitigation activity, which aims to help Canberra in the final selection of a vehicle. Text-generation combat reconnaissance vehicle procurement will eventually see 225 vehicles purchased by the Australian military for a total purchase price of more than $3 billion.

Today’s Video

  • The GAIC FTC-2000 advanced jet trainer:

SpaceX to launch X-37B spaceplane in August | Spain eyes F-35 for AF and Navy | China unveils export version of trainer

Jun 08, 2017 05:00 UTC

Americas

  • Raytheon has bee awarded at $12.5 million modification to an existing contract for the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System (CIWS). Under the terms of the deal, the company will deliver Phalanx CIWS hardware kits to the US Navy that are intended to upgrade the Phalanx weapons system to the latest approved configuration. Work will be performed at El Segundo, Calif. And Louisville, Ky, and the program is expected to be completed by March 2019.

  • Elbit Systems of America has been sub-contracted by Lockheed Martin to develop a cockpit display replacement unit for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter under a program, called Technology Refresh 3, Panoramic Cockpit Display Unit. While the cost of the contract was not given, a company statement said that the value of the award was not in a material amount. Details on contract length were also omitted. Elbit already provides power amplifiers, structures and sustainment work for the F-35 and, together with Rockwell Collins, it also provides the F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System, through their joint venture Rockwell Collins ESA Vision Systems.

  • SpaceX will launch the USAF’s next X-37B miniature spaceplane mission in August—the company’s first for the service— after four previous X-37B missions have already been undertaken by United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rockets—a joint venture by Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Unlike most USAF launch contracts, which are awarded some two years before the flight, this recent award was only announced on Tuesday, two months before lift-off. SpaceX’s first publicly disclosed launch contract for the Air Force was awarded last year for a next-generation Global Positioning System satellite flight in 2018. A second GPS launch contract was awarded in March. The contracts are valued at $83million and $96.5 million, respectively.

Middle Easy & North Africa

  • A diplomatic spat between Qatar and several Arab neighbors could have knock on effects for Doha’s planned purchase of 72 F-15QA muliti-role fighters from Boeing. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE, as well as he recognised government of Saudi-backed Yemen, all cancelled flights to and cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday, citing that it had been supporting and funding terrorist activities in the region and was in league with regional rival Iran—charges Qatar denies. However, US President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind the move, tweeting on Tuesday that they [Saudi and Gulf allies] “said they would take a hard line on funding … extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!”, arguing that his visit to Saudi Arabia was “already paying off.” Qatar was finally cleared to move ahead with its $21.1 billion F-15 procurement last November, and although the deal has yet to be finalized, it was billed as extending Boeing’s struggling F-15 production line into the 2020s.

Europe

  • French FREMM frigates have been integrated with MdCN naval cruise missiles from MBDA. This new deep strike capability was added to the vessels in February, with all six equipped with two A70 eight-cell vertical-launch silos for a total of 16 MdCN missiles. The MdCN is based on the Scalp EG (Storm Shadow in the UK) air-launched cruise missile now in service with Mirage 2000 and Rafale combat aircraft deployed by the French Air Force and Rafale Marine aircraft.

  • The Spanish Air Force and Navy are looking into the procurement of F-35s in order to replace the services’ EF-18s and AV-8B Harrier aircraft. For the Navy, its Harrier jets will have to be phased out over the next decade—leaving the Armada’s sole aircraft carrier without a fixed-wing replacement—and is looking at acquiring 15 F-35Bs to fill its capability gap. But in order to make the procurement worthwhile financially, Madrid may also look at adding addition F-35A aircraft to its air Force fleet instead of addition Eurofighters.

Asia Pacific

  • Officials from Russia and Indonesia have finalized contracts for the delivery of Su-35 fighters. Negotiations over the draft Su-35 contract had begun in March and it is expected that the deal will be signed by both parties later this year. While further details on the sale have yet to be revealed, earlier reports said that the planned contract envisages the sale of 10 Su-35 jets to Jakarta, which could be paid for in part by Indonesia’s natural rubber and palm oil reserves.

  • China has unveiled its FTC-2000 pilot trainer/fighter aircraft ahead of testing in Sudan. The aircraft is developed by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, and operates as the main advanced trainer used by the PLA Air Force and the PLA Navy. Both the domestic and export variants are powered by the indigenously-built WP-13 turbojet engine, with the export version featuring various avionics systems, navigation guidance systems or external stores tailored for overseas client’s demand for multiple missions.

Today’s Video

  • Kim Jong-un oversees Korean People’s Army Air Force combat flight contest:

GAO rejects Glock’s appeal for Modular Handgun System contract | DSCA clears $1.4 billion in sales to Saudi | First Japanese-assembled F-35A unveiled

Jun 07, 2017 05:00 UTC

Americas

  • Despite the protectionist rhetoric coming from the Trump administration, Embraer is still confident that it can continue to make strides in the US market despite its Brazilian heritage. The firm is currently preparing its A-29 Super Tucano with Sierra Nevada Corp. for the USAF’s upcoming light attack aircraft experiment, which could lead to a program of record for a long-delayed OA-X platform. However, President Donald Trump’s continued push of his “America First” policy could give a leg up to Embraer’s probable competition — the Wichita, Kansas-based Textron, which will fly its Scorpion jet and AT-6 turboprop plane in the demo. In response Gary Spulak, president of Embraer’s US subsidiary, said that $1.6 billion of the company’s $6.2 billion revenue had came from its US subsidiary, including ongoing production of 26 Super Tucanos for Afghanistan and Lebanon under a contract with the USAF.

  • An appeal by Glock to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been denied, paving the way for Sig Sauer to deliver a $580 million contract to replace US Army M9 Berettas. The award in favor of Sig Sauer had been announced in January, with Glock filing a protest in February under the grounds that the Army had improperly evaluated its proposal, and challenged the service’s “interpretation of the solicitation regarding the minimum number of contract awards required by the Request For Proposal”. In response, the GAO denied the challenge, stating that the Army only had to make one award (although three were permitted under the proposal’s terms), and that “any errors did not prejudice Glock in the competition.”

  • Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $42 million contract modification for TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array production units, accessories, shipping products and engineering services. Under the deal, 56% of the contract is destined for the US Navy while the remainder will go to Japan, with completion scheduled for September 2019. The TB-37 is an integral part of the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Integrated Undersea Warfare Combat System Suite and is designed specifically to locate, identify and engage enemy submarines.

Middle Easy & North Africa

  • The US State Department has cleared the sale of Lockheed Martin’s AN/TPQ-53 counter-battery radar to Saudi Arabia. Valued at at estimated cost of $662 million, the deal marks the first export order of the radar outside of the US. Included in the deal are 26 AN/TPQ-53(V) Radar Systems to include Solid State Phased Array Radar with KN-4083 Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) enhanced Land/Sea Inertial Navigation System (INS) and automatic leveling system, as well as various equipment, training and materials. Riyadh reportedly intends to use these radars to support its border security requirements and modernise its armed forces with a more current capability to locate and counter the source of incoming ballistic artillery, rockets, and mortars.

  • Saudi Arabia has also been cleared by the US State Department to receive a blanket order training program for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) and other Saudi forces. The training will be conducted both inside and outside of the kingdom and includes, but is not limited to, flight training, technical training, professional military education, specialized training, mobile training teams (MTTs), and English language training. Training will include such subjects as civilian casualty avoidance, the law of armed conflict, human rights command and control, and targeting via MTTs and/or broader Programs of Instruction (POIs). While contractors have yet to be revealed, the total cost of the program is estimated at $750 million.

Europe

  • In anticipation of Russian military exercises in September, Lithuania has commenced constructing a two-meter high wire fence along its border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. While the government has conceded that this will do little in the event of a full scale attack, the precautionary measure aims to prevent provocations and incidents from Moscow. While Russia has not disclosed the number of troops for its Zapad (West) exercises—held every four years on its western borders—analysts believe that it could be the largest since the end of the Cold War, with about 100,000 expected.

Asia Pacific

  • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has completed the first assembly of a F-35A in Japan. Unveiled at the firm’s Komaki South Final Assembly and Checkout (FACO) facility on Monday, the ceremony was attended by government officials from the US Department of Defense and Japanese Ministry of Defense as well as members from Mitsubishi and Lockheed Martin. F-35 Program Executive Officer. Adm. Mat Winter said the assembly of the first Japanese built F-35A “is a testament to the global nature of this program.” 38 of Japan’s 42 ordered F-35s will be assembled at MHI’s FACO facility.

Today’s Video

  •  Japanese assembled F-35 unveiled:

Navy receives USS Gerald R. Ford | Denel announces plans for Rooivalk Mk. 2 | India tests QR-SAM

Jun 06, 2017 05:00 UTC

Americas

  • Leonardo and IMP Aerospace & Defence (IMP) are collaborating on a bid for the Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) CH-149 Cormorant Search and Rescue (SAR) modernisation program. The joint venture, Team Cormoran, will look to modify Ottawa’s current inventory of AW101-519s, the VH-71 Kestrel model once slated to replace the US president’s helicopter, along with the RCAF’s current fleet of 14 Cormorants. Upgrades will include new avionics, advanced radars and sensors, vision enhancement and tracking systems. Final delivery of the modernization is expected for 2024 and is expected to keep the CH-149s flying until 2040. Contracts for the program are scheduled for later this year and is expected to cost between $500 million and $1.5 billion.

  • The US Navy has received delivery of the air carrier USS Gerald R. Ford from Huntington Ingalls Industries after completing acceptance trials on May 26. It is the first aircraft carrier to join the fleet since USS George H. W. Bush in 2009, and features a larger flight deck, the ability to host more aircraft, additional weapons and aviation fuel storage, and the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear, giving the Navy increased sortie rates by one-third when compared to Nimitz-class vessels. The Ford will be commissioned later this summer and will be declared operational in 2020.

  • BAE Systems and Helios Global Technologies have agreed to collaborate on developing a “custard style” liquid armor for ground troops. The new style is considered an improvement on the ballistic fabric vests like Kevlar and ceramic plate models that are meant to shatter on impact, as it actually hardens when struck. It is also part of a wider plan to develop a future advanced armored suit known as “Iron Man,” named after a well-known comic book character.

  • The USAF’s unfunded wish list for FY 2018 focuses on procuring F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and KC-46 tanker aircraft, however priorities lie with advancing research and development. Of the $10.7 billion unfunded priorities list submitted by the service to Washington at the end of the month, $6.7 billion would be invested in advancing its readiness needs which would include an additional 14 F-35As, three KC-46As, 12 MC-130Js, and an additional HC-130 on top of previously arranged procurements. The list also includes $131.6 million for various modifications for fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets

Africa

  • South Africa’s Denel has announced that it is in discussions with various government departments, including the South African Air Force, on upgrading the Rooivalk combat helicopter and developing a next generation Rooivalk Mk 2 to be marketed for export. Plans for the next-gen Rooivalk were revealed at a demonstration event at the Denel Overberg Test Range (DOTR) in the Western Cape where two Mokopa precision guided missiles were fired as part of ongoing qualification testing. Potential customers in need of such combat helicopters include Poland, Nigeria, and Egypt.

Europe

  • The Swedish military is currently conducting comparative testing of several types of handheld mine detectors as part of plans to upgrade current explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) systems. Wares from seven companies are currently being looked at at the Swedish EOD and Demining Centre (SWEDEC) where the products will be run through a number of comprehensive tests using diverse targets, soil types and environments. A Swedish Armed Forces statement said that the “test results can be used as a basis to help SWEDEC and the Swedish Armed Forces as well as others partners to find and choose the right product in this field. And the companies get a proper review on their products.”

  • With security now at the heart of the UK’s parliamentary election race, oppositions leaders are calling for the publication of a long delayed report into terror funding in the UK which allegedly focuses on the role of Saudi Arabia—its biggest customer for defense systems. The calls have increased in the aftermath of last Saturday’s terrorist attack in central London—the third terrorist incident in the UK in the space of three months—where three men killed seven people and injured dozens of others before being shot to death by police. Speaking in Carlisle on Sunday evening, Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the UK needs to “have some difficult conversations, starting with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that have funded and fuelled extremist ideology. Labour had previously hinted that if elected, it would look at cancelling arms sales to Riyadh amid reports of ongoing war crimes in Yemen. Voters go to the polls on Thursday.

Asia Pacific

  • India has successfully test-fired its Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM). Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited, testing was conducted from a truck-mounted canister launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur—the location of last month’s test-firing of the Surface to air Python and Derby (SPYDER) Missile system. The QR-SAM system is equipped for quick reaction engagement of aerial threats in all-weather conditions and is capable of search-on-the-move.

Today’s Video

  • Test-fire of QR-SAM missile:

Lockheed contracted for Lot 15 JASSAM-ER missiles | Three offers for Renault Truck Defense | Duterte to ditch second-hand equipment deals

Jun 05, 2017 05:00 UTC

Americas

  • Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $243.9 million contract to deliver 72 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars to the USAF, as well as spares and support services. Work will be carried out at Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by January 31, 2019. Eight of the radars have been earmarked to be retrofitted on F-16s assigned to the Oklahoma Air National Guard at Tulsa. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

  • Lockheed Martin has been contracted to deliver Lot 15 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles Extended Range (JASSM-ER) to the USAF. Valued at $413.8 million, 360 missiles alongside engineering and testing equipment will be delivered under the order, which is expected to run until August 21, 2020. This order brings to 910 the number of JASSM-ER missiles under contract with Lockheed, and over 3,000 missiles when combining all JASSM variants.

Middle East & North Africa

  • The Lebanese Army has received the first five of an eventual fifteen armored vehicles agreed under a $33.6 million deal with former French President Francois Hollande. The batch, which included two refurbished armored vanguard vehicles and three others to supply spare parts, was handed over during a ceremony in the presence of Gen. Bertrand Boyard, head of the French Armament Control Division of the Armed Forces General Staff, as well as Lebanese and French officers. the operational vehicles supplied will also be equipped with the HOT long-range anti-tank system.

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his government is ready to supply the S-400 air defense system to Turkey, although a deal may be further away than expected. Putin discussed the matter recently during meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan as relations between the two leaders improve while relations between Erdogan and NATO allies continue to strain. Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik dismissed ditching an alliance friendly system in favor of a Russian one saying that “NATO member countries have not presented an offer which is financially effective.”

Europe

  • Three offers have been received for Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) as part of a disposal by Volvo of its group government sales unit. The French-German joint venture KNDS, Belgian firm CMI and private equity firm Advent have all made non-binding preliminary offers and a shortlist of preferred bidders is expected to be drawn up in the next three weeks. KNDS are currently working with RTD on the French Army’s Scorpion modernization program, and if they are chosen as the preferred bidder, RTD would join as a third partner to the French-German joint venture rather than face a shut down.

Asia Pacific

  • Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to increase the number of fighter jets operated by its air force after ordering 12 FA-50 light fighters from South Korea. “By the time I am out of office, you will have about 24 jet planes,” Duterte announced. He added that Manilla will also cease to receive second-hand military equipment from the US in favor of newer models and hinted that this could be purchased from Russia and China. The Philippine budget allocates more than 100 billion pesos ($2 billion) to modernize the military’s equipment under a five-year plan, spending 25 billion pesos this year on acquisitions from South Korea and Israel.

  • Australia’s government is to invest $75.2 million in the procurement of small UAVs for its military. The deal is to occur in two tranches with the initial procurement of AeroVironment’s Wasp AE UAVs with the second tranche expected to be carried out within the next 10 years and will see the Wasps either upgraded or replaced by another system. A government statement added that the acquisition will go towards giving Australian front line troops world-class surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

  • Pakistan has been revealed as the undisclosed buyer from Saab, of three Saab 2000 turboprops equipped with Erieye radars in the $155 million deal. These will be added to Islamabad’s airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) assets which already includes four Saab 2000 AEW&C platforms in addition to four Chinese-produced Shaanxi Y-8’s configured to carry out AEW&C missions. Saab will conduct deliveries from 2017 to 2020, with the order to be booked within the next six months.

Today’s Video

  • Russia tests Iskander-M during exercises in Tajikistan:

HH-60W passes CDR | KC-46 begins anechoic testing | German court rules in favor of German Heron UAV lease

Jun 02, 2017 05:00 UTC

Americas

  • The US Navy has granted General Dynamics a $244 million contract to provide training services to the Center of Surface Systems (CSS). Awarded by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, the program will see GD provide training and training-related program support services, from curriculum development to advanced warfare training across the CSCS domain, which includes their 15 learning sites and detachments and International Programs. Also included are four option years which, if exercised, could significantly increase the value of the contract.

  • Lockheed Martin has successfully completed an Air Vehicle Critical Design Review for the USAF’s Combat Rescue Helicopter program, allowing the firm to continue with the manufacture and testing of the HH-60W helicopter. The milestone moves forward the $1.28 billion development program, which will see Lockheed produce at least 112 HH-60Ws in order to replace the service’s existing fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The June 2014 contract includes test aircraft, maintenance, training and simulation suites, and a $203 million modification in January 2017 brought the total number of test helicopters to nine.

  • A KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft has entered the Benefield Anechoic Facility (BAF) at Edwards Air Force Base to undergo testing. The tests in question are integral in order to demonstrate that the tanker meets Federal Aviation Administration certification requirements and Defense Department electromagnetic environmental effects requirements for systems. These tests include shielding effectiveness, emission control and high intensity radiated fields. The BAF is the largest anechoic chamber in the world, and provides a location where electronic warfare tests can be conducted without radio frequency interference from the outside world.

Africa

  • The US Congressional Committee On Oversight and Government Reform is to continue its probe into the proposed sale by L-3 of 12 Air Tractor AT-802L aircraft to the government of Kenya. A letter sent by the committee to USAF secretary, Heather Wilson, stated that “A recent news account reported the potential that a major Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract was negotiated between the United States and Kenya for the sale of 12 weaponized border [patrol] planes. The US Air Force selected New York-based L-3 Technologies for the proposed contract at a cost of $418 million. The Committee is interested in learning more about the decision to award this contract despite evidence that L-3 has no weaponized border patrol aircraft in service and has limited past performance in manufacturing aircraft of this type.” The letter also suggested the USAF selected the airframe “on a basis inconsistent with established protocol” relating to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification. The deal came into question earlier this year after firm IOMAX challenged the proposed Kenyan sale via Congressman Budd, who represents the district in which IOMAX is based.

Europe

  • Saab has been awarded a $217.5 million contract by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) to continue providing maintenance and support to Gripen C/D model fighters through to the end of 2019. The deal primarily covers design and support, component maintenance, spare parts, the provision of logistics, and the procurement of certain equipment, while also allowing for the requisition of technical system support, aircraft maintenance with associated spare parts, and the management of obsolescence. Saab said maintenance and support will be conducted at its facility in Linköping and five other locations in the country.

  • A German court has ruled against US weapons manufacturer General Atomics after the firm posted a legal challenge against Germany’s plans to lease armed drones from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). GA, along with Switzerland’s RUAG lost out to provide the Predator B UAV to the German military after Berlin chose to lease the Heron TP UAV in a deal estimated to be worth $652 million. On taking the deal to court, GA stated that they did so “to ensure that this procurement is conducted as a fair and open competition; thereby ensuring that the German Ministry of Defense procures the most technologically superior and cost efficient solution.” Berlin’s decision to lease Herons instead of buying Predators comes as an interim measure until the EU has developed its own drone. Germany, France, Italy and Spain plan to jointly develop a drone by 2025.

Asia Pacific

  • South Korean President Moon Jae-in has sent his top security aide to the US in a move designed to alleviate fears in Washington that he will scrap a deal to host the THAAD air defense system. Moon—a liberal politician who favors detente with North Korea and a normalization of relations with its biggest trading partner China—had pledged during his election campaign that he would review the decision to deploy THAAD, and said it was “very shocking” that his office had not been told of the latest deployment while he is preparing for a summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington this month. However, Moon has since softened his stance on the presence of THAAD, telling visiting US Senator Dick Durbin that the probe launched by his office is “purely a domestic measure” and that he wanted to be clear that “it is not about trying to change the existing decision or sending a message to the United States.”

Today’s Video

  • Kalibr missiles used by the Russian Navy in Syria:

GMD intercepts ICBM | PGZ moves to buy Polish shipyard | Indian Army looks back to Akash

Jun 01, 2017 05:00 UTC

Americas

  • The US DoD has announced the successful test of its Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptor against a ICBM-class target. During the test, the US Missile Defense Agency launched an unarmed ICBM from Kwajalein Atoll, while the exoatmospheric hit-to-kill interceptor was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Various defense firms announced their involvement in the test, which saw Raytheon provide the interceptor as well as its sea-based X-band radar and AN/TPY-2 radar, Boeing with its Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, while Orbital ATK provided its ICBM target rocket for the national security system test.

  • ATK Orbital has announced that it has received a $90 million contract from Northrop Grumman for composite materials meant for maintenance of the B-2 Spirit heavy stealth bomber. The deal will also include the production and delivery of 17 Hot Trailing Edge (HTE) parts for the bomber as well as Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) work. Work will be conducted over a five-year term and contains options for follow-on orders.

  • Triumph Group will continue to manufacture parts for the V-22 aircraft if Boeing Bell successfully negotiates its next V-22 Osprey Multi-year 3 contract with the US Navy. In a renewed statement of work, Triumph added that it will also manufacture cargo ramps and doors for the aircraft, in addition to components including the empennage, elevator, ramp extensions, ramp mounted weapons system floor boards, main landing gear doors. Deliveries of the components in support of the Multi-year 3 contract would begin in 2019.

Middle East & North Africa

  • Turkish defense electronics firm Aselsan is looking to secure s contract to supply very high frequency (VHF) radios to the Ukrainian armed forces. As many as 600 VHF units are being sought by Kiev, who are assessing proposals in accordance with the following: cost effectiveness; scalability and application potential; compatibility with the systems used by the Ukrainian Army, Navy and Air Force; NATO compliance; transfer-of-technology, offsets (e.g. co-production) and credit. Aselsan’s software defined radios (SDR) have already been exported to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Europe

  • PGZ, a Polish defense firm, has moved to purchase Naval Shipyard (SMW) from the Polish Treasury in a deal expected to reach $60.1 million. Announcing the deal, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Bartosz Kownacki added that after the shipyard’s finances are overhauled, it will take part in a multi-billion dollar program to build three submarines. Three companies have applied to take part in the procurement procedure: France’s DCNS, Sweden’s Saab and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, but ministry officials have emphasized they expect the selected supplier to closely cooperate with Poland’s defense industry on the contract.

Asia Pacific

  • South Korea’s Defence Ministry intentionally omitted details about the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system battery (THAAD) in a report last week, according to a probe issued by President Moon Jae-in. The report failed to include details stating that four additional launchers have been added to the THAAD site as the new government was preparing for Moon’s summit with US President Donald Trump next month. An earlier version of the defense ministry report specified the total number of launchers being prepared for deployment and the name of the US military base where the four were being kept, but the reference was removed in the final version delivered to the government, according to presidential Blue House spokesman Yoon Young-chan.

  • The Indian government has decided to cancel its Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SR-SAM) contest and will instead buy more of the indigenous Akash air defense missile system. A $2.7 billion contract released by New Delhi calls for two regiments of the system which will be delivered and inducted into the Indian Army in 2018, bringing to four the total number of Akash systems deployed with the service. The return to the Akash to the Indian Army comes after officials complained that the system experienced deficiencies in forward deployed locations which resulted in an upgrade of the system and which added systems required by the Army.

  • Pakistan has received seven surplus Sea King helicopters from the British Royal Navy. Officials in Islamabad said that the helicopters will first undergo maintenance services undertaken by M/s Vector Aerospace before being shipped to Pakistan for deployment later this year. Built under license by Westland Helicopters, the deal for them was signed by Pakistan and Britain’s Ministry of Defense last year.

Today’s Video

  • Ka-52 helicopter attacks Islamic State targets in Syria:

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