THAAD goes 15 for 15 in latest intercept test | LM gets Interim payment for foreign F-35 orders | Portugal moves forward with KC-390

Americas

• The US DoD has granted Lockheed Martin a $3.7 billion interim payment for 50 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters that are earmarked for non-US program members. The deal will allow Lockheed to continue production of the F-35 jets while it finalizes the terms of the 11th contract with the Pentagon and includes one F-35B aircraft for the UK, one F-35A for Italy, eight F-35A aircraft for Australia, eight F-35A for the Netherlands, four F-35A for Turkey, six F-35A for Norway, and 22 F-35A aircraft for other foreign military sales customers. According to the F-35 Program office, the DoD would continue to negotiate the 11th low rate initial production contract with Lockheed Martin and expected an agreement by the end of 2017, adding that it was “confident the final negotiated Lot 11 aircraft unit prices will be less than Lot 10.”

• Boeing has won a $276.6 million US Army contract for engineering work and manufacturing development for the CH-47F Chinook Block II program. The program will see Boeing upgrade existing CH-47F and special operations MH-47G Chinooks, totaling 542 airframes, including new composite rotor blades for better performance, drivetrain upgrades, and a strengthened airframe. Work will be conducted in Ridley Park, Penn., and is scheduled for completion by July 27, 2020.

• Electromagnetic testing of the KC-46A Pegasus tanker has been completed by a joint team involving Boeing, the USAF, and the Naval Air Systems command, moving the aircraft closer to its first delivery. Testing took place at Naval Air Station Patuxent, Md. electromagnetic pulse laboratory and the Benefield Anechoic Facility at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif, which aimed to assess whether the aircraft could safely operate when confronted by the electromagnetic fields generated by equipment like radar. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in March had deemed the tests as one of the two key risk factors that could keep Boeing from meeting its delivery goals. However, Boeing has stated that the timing of the electromagnetic tests would not push back other key milestones and that the company still intends to deliver the first KC-46A this year.

• Huntington Ingalls announced that its latest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), has successfully completed its builder’s sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. During the trails, the vessel underwent basic testing of its main propulsion, controls, and other ships systems in the Gulf out of Pascagoula, Miss. It is expected to be home-ported at Naval Station Everett, Wash, following its commissioning later this year. So far, Huntington has delivered 29 Arleigh Burke’s to the US Navy and have four additional vessels—Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123)—currently under construction.

Middle East & North Africa

• The world’s first integrated national center for defense against weapons of mass destruction has become operational in Kuwait. Developed by Saab and delivered in co-operation with Kuwait partner Bader Sultan & Bros, the center now covers the entire country with fixed and mobile sensors and units, and will also provide simulated defense training, which will support the Kuwait National Guard’s automatic warning and reporting system—also developed by Saab. The Automatic Warning and Reporting (AWR) system was delivered to the national guard in 2015 and can be operated from fixed locations and carried by personnel or mounted on vehicles, giving operators the ability to make fast and accurate decisions to limit the effects of a CBRN attack.

• Egypt has received its first of eight single-seat Dassault Rafale C multirole combat aircraft in the latest batch of Rafale deliveries from manufcaturer Dassault. This is the fifth batch of Rafale deliveries since Cario ordered the aircraft in 2015—the previous four only containing the twin-seat Rafale B variant—and the Egyptian Air Force will eventually operate a fleet of 24—8 Rafale Cs and 16 Bs. While most fighter customers receive twin-seat variants first to allow for the training of pilots ahead of the arrival of the fully operational single seaters, in the case of the Egyptian Rafale deal it appears that the EAF intends to use the Rafale Bs in a full combat role, with the additional crew member taking on a mission commander role.

Europe

• Portugal’s Council of Ministers has given its Defense Ministry the go ahead to commence negotiations for the purchase of five KC-390 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft from Brazil’s Embraer. The ministry will now form a negotiation team with representatives appointed by the Minister of Finance, Of Science, Technology and Higher Education and by the Minister of Economy, for what could be the first foreign sale of the KC-390 after Brazil placed an order for 28 in 2014. In an effort to boost foreign interest in the tanker, Embraer recently completed a 40 day global demonstration tour, visiting 19 prospective markets in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Asia Pacific

• The US has successfully shot down another medium-range test ballistic missile in the latest test of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Conducted over the Pacific Ocean, the scheduled test comes shortly after North Korea tested its own long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Saturday, which Kim Jong-un claims is capable of striking the US mainland. While the US launch was planned well before North Korea’s latest missile launch, it comes at a time of rising tension with the country since Pyongyang launched its first-ever test of an ICBM on July 4. In response to the recent North Korean launch, South Korea said it will proceed with the deployment of four additional THAAD launchers after delays caused by South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s ordering of an environmental assessment on the system.

Today’s Video

• Launching and landing on the USS Gerald R. Ford:

Software fix for EMALS | B-52 drops words not bombs | Scorpion looks to sting a sale in Arabia

Americas

• The US Navy has validated a software fix to the service’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) after it was found during testing that the next-generation catapult generates excessive vibration to the aircraft when external fuel tanks are attached. However, final testing involving launches with an instrumented aircraft have been postponed for an additional year, with the service citing competing testing priorities as the reason for the delay. EMALS is one of many new technologies planned for the Navy’s Ford-class aircraft carrier fleet and is already installed on the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). The Ford is expected to receive the software update in 2019, following the ship’s Post Shakedown Availability.

• Testers from the USAF’s 419th Flight Test Squadron have validated that the B-52 Stratofortress bomber is capable of dropping the PDU-5/B leaflet bomb. The squadron recently ran two successful sorties where a B-52 released eight PDU-5/B leaflet bombs over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range and eight more over the Precision Impact Range Area at Edwards Air Base. During the sorties, the bombs were released from the aircraft’s external Heavy Stores Adapter Beam and the 419th now plan to drop the bomb from the internal weapons bay on future flights. Developed from the CBU-100 “Rockeye” Cluster Bomb, the PDU-5B was developed to drop leaflets in combat zones, either as psychological warfare or to inform the public.

Middle East & North Africa

• Still hunting for its maiden Scorpion sale, Textron AirLand has announced that it is in talks with Saudi Arabia over a potential sale for the light attack aircraft. While still in the early stages of negotiation, the procurement is believed to be part of the the recent $110 billion batch of arms deals agreed between Washington and Riyadh, which includes an undisclosed number and type of “light close air support aircraft” amounting to $2 billion. Saudi Arabia’s apparent interest in the Scorpion may refer to a presumed requirement for an entry-tier fighter to re-assume the role left by the Royal Saudi Air Force’s (RSAF) retired Northrop F-5 Tiger II, and could prove a cheaper alternative to the JF-17 Thunder—which Saudi expressed an interest in last year.

• Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $8 million contract modification to provide logistical support of Israel’s F-35A “Adir” fighters. The foreign military sale includes maintenance, sustainment operations, supply chain management, work on the Automated Logistics Information system and training. Work will be conducted in Orlando, Fla., Greenville, NC and Fort Worth, Texas, with a scheduled completion date of Dec. 2017.

Europe

• Media in France has reported that French President Emmanuel Macron intends to donate 31 ex-French Air Force Jaguar fighters to India after initial reports stated that a sale was being negotiated. After delivery, the transferred aircraft will be used for cannibalization to maintain sufficient spares for aircraft already in the Indian Air Force (IAF) inventory. Currently, the IAF has a fleet of 130 Jaguars IM/IS single-seat attack aircraft and 30 Jaguar IB two-seat trainers. Approximately 60 of these Jaguars will be modified to DARIN III standard by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the rest will remain at DARIN II standard until they’re retired.

Asia Pacific

• After two years of talks and negotiations, Indonesia has confirmed that it will purchase 11 Su-35 fighter aircraft from Russia. The fighters will replace its F5 E/F Tiger II warplanes, which have been in service with the Indonesian Air Forces since 1980s, and deliveries could commence from as early as next year. Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu made the statement to media outlets following a recent cabinet meeting, adding that the government is also looking into purchasing Chinese UAVs that will have an attack capability as well as the ability to be customized to Jakarta’s specifications.

• Insitu has been contracted by the US DoD to deliver five ScanEagle UAS systems, along with their support equipment, operators, spare parts, site activation services and management for the operation of the UAS for the government of Afghanistan. The work will primarily be conducted in Afghanistan and Bingen, Wash. with a projected completion date of April 2018. The $19.6 million order is being covered under Afghan Security Forces funding. ScanEagles provide intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance data with high endurance of over 24 hours.

• The Philippines has taken delivery of two new Cessna 208B aircraft transferred from the US. Prior to their delivery, the aircraft were fitted with electro-optical sensors and other surveillance equipment in order to help Manilla detect ships in the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea, and they are also likely to be used against Islamist militants in Marawi City on the southern island of Mindanao. The donated package as a whole is estimated to be worth in the region of $30 million. Washington has also promised to donate two ScanEagle UAVs by September to help tactical units defeat the insurgency in Mindanao, and are preparing deliveries of 500-pound bombs and unspecified rockets have been bought from the US to replenish PAF stocks depleted from daily bombing in Marawi.

Today’s Video

• The ScanEagle UAV:

Human error to blame for SM-3 Block IIA test failure | Wildcat production to remain in UK | Potential expansion of KAI corruption probe

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has received a $85.5 million United States Air Force contract modification for the production and delivery of Long Range Anti Ship Missiles (LRASM) to the service. The order calls for the manufacture of 23 LRASM Lot 1 missiles, with work to be performed in Orlando, Fla., with a scheduled completion date of Sept. 29, 2019. The missile is currently being integrated with the B-1B Lancer strategic bomber and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for air launched missions, as well as the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System used on US and allied ships for surface-to-air and land attack missiles. It is expected to be mounted on submarine vertical launch systems as well.

• The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $11.5 million contract modification for engineering and technical services for Standard Missile-2 and Standard Missile-6 surface-to-air missiles. As well as the US Navy, Japan, Denmark, South Korea, Taiwan and Germany will receive services under the award which includes engineering work for production and integration of the system into Navy and foreign missile platforms. Work will be conducted in Tucson, Ariz. and has an expected completion date of June 2018. The SM series feature as a key element of the AEGIS Weapon System mounted on Ticonderoga and Arleigh Burke-class Navy warships, while variants are also in use with 15 allied countries.

• Last month’s failed SM-3 Block IIA interceptor test conducted by the US Navy and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) was caused by human error, according to an anonymous source close to the test. The June 21 test saw the missile self-destruct after it tracked a medium-range ballistic target missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii. Now, it is believed that a tactical datalink controller, in charge of maintaining encrypted data exchanges between ships and aircraft, accidentally identified the incoming ballistic missile target as a friendly in the system, causing the SM-3 missile to self-destruct in flight. So while the incident is slightly embarrassing, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the interceptor.

Middle East & North Africa

• Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has announced that contracts involving the sale of Almaz-Antey S-400 surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems have been “inked.” Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party at a party meeting in parliament, Erdogan stated that “Steps have been taken and signatures signed with Russia concerning the S-400s. God willing we will see the S-400s in our country.” The announcement now confirms that both the S-400 procurement and the Turkey-Eurosam programs are parallel initiatives, with the S-400 being sought for near-term needs.

Europe

• Two unidentified governments have placed orders with Rheinmetall for air defense system hardware and services for its air forces. With a combined value in excess of $250 million, one order is to a new customer who will acquire two Skyguard 3 air defence systems, with each system including a Skyguard 3 fire control unit and two 35mm Oerlikon Twin Gun GDF009 automatic cannons. The second order, to a repeat customer, requests the delivery of one 35mm Skyguard 1 fire units, as well as 35mm ammunition, simulators, and on-location training. Rheinmetall will conduct deliveries through 2021 with expectations that follow-up orders will be made.

• The British MoD has insisted that fabrication of the AW159 Wildcat helicopter will remain within the UK. Leonardo, the helicopter’s manufacturer, had been considering moving from its facility where the Wildcat is fabricated in Yeovil, UK, however, the government announced that work will remain there for the life cycle of the Wildcat program. The helicopter is in use with the British Royal Navy and British Army, with 62 of the models currently in service.

Asia Pacific

• As a result of the ongoing investigation into corruption at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), many in South Korea see the scandal potentially widening into a probe into other defense programs initiated under former President Park Geun-hye. Prior to being impeached, ousted from office, and imprisoned earlier this year for influence peddling, Park and her administration had overseen the approval of the purchase of 40 F-35 fighters from Lockheed Martin and kicked off the development of the indigenous KF-X fighter with KAI. Now, these programs could be rolled into a wider corruption investigation to include higher-level figures, as President Moon Jae-in seeks to eradicate corruption between big business and politicians. The prosecution personnel made available—more than 100— for the ongoing KAI Surion helicopter investigation may also indicate to a potential widening of scope.

• AeroVironment has signed contracts with the Australian MoD to deliver its Wasp AE unmanned aerial system to the Australian Defense Forces. Deliveries will take place over a three-year period commencing from July 2018 in conjunction with Australian partners XTEK, General Dynamics Mediaware and Sentient Vision. The WASP AE is a small hand-launched reconnaissance and surveillance UAS that weighs just 2.8 pounds and is capable of landing on both land and sea.

Today’s Video

• Wasp AE demonstration:

New CLU for Army’s Javelin | USS Harry S. Truman finishes refit, begins sea trials | Manilla gets Hermes 900 demo

Americas

• Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have been contracted by the US DoD to modernize the Command Launch Unit for their jointly-developed Javelin anti-tank missile. Valued at $10.1 million, the contract modification will apply toward weight reduction, engineering design requirements and analysis for updating the CLU infrared targeting system. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and is scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2019. The CLU provides thermal target detection and lock-on to the missile before launch, and it can be used independently as a thermal scanning device for dismounted troops.

• The United States Air Force has awarded a $75 million contract to Raytheon to conduct technical work on the GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb (SBD) II guided air-dropped weapon system. Work will be conducted at Tuscon, Ariz., and covers engineering, manufacturing development and production work for the SDB II. Completion time is expected by July 25, 2024. The all-weather munition is carried on USAF-operated F-15E, F/A-18E/F, and F-35B/C aircraft.

• Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the USS Harry S. Truman has returned to the sea after completing some 10 months of deep maintenance and upgrades as part of its Planned Incremental Availability (PIA). Work carried out during the refit included an overhaul of the ship’s internal and external communication network, receiving and installing more than 3,000 Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services assets and the Navy’s next-generation tactical afloat network, as well as repair work to 4,500 reactor material items, which accounted for approximately 25 percent of the ship’s overall work package. Other work involved a refurbishment of the vessel’s hanger bay and flight deck. It will now go on sea trials before returning to its home port at Naval Station Norfolk. Next up for PIA at the shipyard will be the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in August.

Middle East & North Africa

• State-owned oil concern Saudi Aramco has received bids from several defense firms to increase security systems at its offshore oil facilities. Raytheon, Germany’s Rheinmetall AG, Leonardo’s Selex ES Saudi Arabia and General Dynamics are all believed to have tenders submitted for the work, which will include providing long range integrated security systems on nine of its offshore sites, with the potential for further security contracts as Aramco considers expanding its offshore oilfields and upgrading their security. A contract is expected to be awarded in either late 2017 or early next year.

Europe

• BAE Systems has teamed with Italian firm Goriziane Group SpA to offer joint support of the BvS10 Beowulf armored all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Gorizioni Group, who have already worked with BAE on the older BV206 ATV, are specialists in the engineering and maintenance of vehicles and other heavy equipment, and this extended agreement is part of BAE’s dedication to “work closely with industries in the countries we do business in to support government programs and local economies,” according to Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, general manager of BAE Systems Hagglund. The Italian military is one of the largest users of the BV206 and BV206S vehicles, and the vehicle is also in use with the militaries of Austria, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) have announced a collaboration to market aviation products and platforms to Poland’s military. Signed last week, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covers tactical loitering unmanned aircraft systems, aerial reconnaissance systems, electronic warfare systems multi-mission transformer tankers, and also includes the transfer of innovative aerial technologies to PGZ companies. The companies will also cooperate in promoting and marketing products and engage in the licensed production of equipment for various modernization projects in Poland, and both will also review Poland’s modernization programs for supply of IAI solutions.

• France placed its new Griffon multirole troop carrier on public display during this year’s Bastille Day celebrations on July 14. The Griffon featured in the parade was one of two prototype vehicles undergoing certification tests by the French Army and Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA)—its procurement office—with four more currently on order with manufacturers Nexter, Renault Trucks Defense and Thales. The same group is also developing the Jaguar, a combat vehicle designed to share common equipment with the Griffon. Both vehicles are being developed under France’s Project Scorpion—a $6.8 billion multi-company modernization effort that aims to replace all of France’s frontline fighting vehicles with improved platforms linked with a new and unified communications and battlefield management system (BMS).

Asia Pacific

• Elbit Systems announced that it has flown a number of demonstration flights of its Hermes 900 UAV for an interested Philippine Air Force (PAF). Manila is in the market for new intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities for both patrolling its territorial waters and tackling an insurgency on the archipelago by jihadists affiliated with the Islamic State. Earlier this month, neighboring Singapore offered to send UAVs and urban warfare assets to help the Philippine military tackle the insurgency, platforms which contains fellow Israel firm IAI’s Heron 1—which has a range of 200km and can stay in the air for 24 hours—and the Hermes 900’s predecessor, the Hermes 450—which has half the range and a shorter flying time of 14 hours. The Hermes 900 meanwhile, boasts an endurance of 36 hours and a flight range of 1,850km.

Today’s Video

• Now in production. Iran’s Sayyad-3:

Double-Jointed & Popular: The Bv Family of Infantry Support Vehicles

The BvS10 is the successor to the wildly popular Bv206, 11,000 of which have been sold to 40 countries around the world – including the USA (M978). Readers may have seen these vehicles elsewhere, too, as a number of Bv206s have post-military careers at ski resorts, in industries like mining and logging, etc. The new BvS-10 is larger and more heavily armored; it’s in use in Britain, France and the Netherlands as a key armored vehicle for their respective Marines, has been bought by Sweden, and is under evaluation elsewhere. International interest includes imitators: Singapore’s Bronco ATTC is a BVS10 competitor, and Finland and Norway have their own local Bv206 variants.

What makes this unusual-looking vehicle family and design so popular? They aren’t like Humvees or similar wheeled mainstays. They aren’t full armored personnel carriers, either – they’re armored, but Bv family vehicles can’t take the kind of punishment that a Bradley or LAV can absorb. Instead, the secret to their success lies in a remarkable all-terrain capability, and their ability to fill a rare and critical role: air-portable and amphibious infantry enhancement. These success factors are discussed below, along with contracts and key developments related to this vehicle family.

Further THAAD launch planned for this week | Another industry nominee for Trump Administration | Mi-28NM to enter serial production

Americas

• Alaska’s Kodiak Island could be the site of a further THAAD system launch, conducted less than a month after a previous successful test at the facility. In a notice posted by the US Coast Guard, mariners are advised to remain clear of swaths of ocean between Kodiak Island and Hawaii through the weekend. The launch is expected to take place at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska between 7 p.m. on Jul. 29 and 1:30 a.m. on Jul. 30. THAAD, which currently has a 100 percent success rate in 14 tests, uses a direct hit to intercept a target in its final phase of flight. Batteries of the system have been placed in Guam and South Korea to counter missile threats from North Korea.

• Raytheon vice president of government relations Mark Esper has been nominated by the Trump Administration to act as secretary of the Army. The third selection made by the White House for the position, Esper’s nomination comes after the previous picks—Tenn. State Senator and former Army flight surgeon Mark Green and Wall Street trader, and businessman Vincent VIola—dropped out over criticism over LGBT positions, and financial entanglements involving federal contracts respectively. Esper is the second industry big hitter to be offered a Pentagon position and if confirmed by the Senate, will join former Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan, who will serve as secretary of defense.

Middle East & North Africa

• The Eurosam consortium has outlined its plan to develop a SAM system for the Turkish government, having already signed a “Heads of Agreement” (HoA) with Turkish defence companies Aselsan and Roketsan to develop and produce the system in Turkey. MBDA, a member of Eurosam, has confirmed that this system will effectively form the basis of Turkey’s own air defence program, adding that the future Turkish system “will be based on the technologies and experience that Eurosam has built in ground and naval systems.” However, it remains unclear if Ankara will purchase Aster 30 SAMP/T (Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain) batteries off-the-shelf or if it will solely acquire the joint system developed by Eurosam, Aselsan and Roketsan.

• Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) has delivered its first batch of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft to the Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF). Eight aircraft were ordered last June and are expected to serve as a primer and/or screener trainer for trainee Qatari pilots at its al-Zaeem Air Academy prior to moving onto the Pilatus PC-21 trainer. Further procurements expected to be delivered to Qatar include 24 Dassault Rafales and 36 Boeing F-15QA, and it is possible that PAC may be providing its JF-17 fighter following a demonstration of the aircraft by the Pakistan Air Force during a visit to Qatar last year.

Europe

• Russia has announced plans to start serial production of the upgraded Mi-28NM helicopter in 2018. A modernized variant of the Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopter, work on the new system began in 2009 and features a radically new locator providing an all-round visibility, a new dual control system and other equipment, as well as a high-precision weapon. The variant will be deployed to all front line units.

Asia Pacific

• State media in Iran have reported that a new production line has been opened to produce the Sayyad-3 surface-to-air missile. Capable of reaching an altitude of 27 km (16 miles) and travel up to 120 km (74 miles), the Sayyad-3 has been developed to target fighter planes, UAVs, cruise missiles and helicopters. news of the missile’s production comes as tensions with regional rivals andthe US mount over Tehran’s alleged “malign activities” in the Middle East which has seen Washingtontarget 18 entities and people for supporting what it said were “illicit Iranian actors or transnational criminal activity.”

• Japanese F-2 fighter aircraft is to receive a new supersonic anti-ship missile that will replace the Air Self-Defense Force’s Type 80 and Type 93 missiles. Currently under development, the speed of the new missile is roughly Mach 3, or three times the speed of sound and about three-times faster than the Type 93 missile, and plans are underway to test the munition against a retired destroyer. It also differs on current missiles as aircraft will launch the new missile by attacking targets at a high speed and low angle, making it harder for interceptor missiles to defend. The anti-ship missile effort is one of several programs currently underway by Tokyo to increase the lethality and operational capabilities of its warfighting platforms as part of plans to deter a Chinese Navy that has been increasingly active in power projection activities in the region.

• The Indonesian Air Force has announced the second phase of its 2014-2019 plan to upgrade its fighter, transport, and UAV capabilities. Under the procurement plan, Jakarta will replace its F-5 fighter aircraft and MALE UAVs with newer, more capable aircraft, and has also announced intentions to purchase Lockheed Martin’s C-130J transporter. Other big ticket items planned include 12 new radars, helicopters and training aircraft.

Today’s Video

• President Trump’s speech at the commissioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford:

Trumps launches Ford-class carrier | Mission tanker role for MQ-25 Stingray | KAI CEO offers to step down amid Surion scandal

Americas

• The US Army will commence fielding its new Sig Sauer XM17 modular handgun system (MHS) to troops in November, starting with 2,000 pistols going to the 101st Airborne Division. Under current Army plans, the semi-automatic weapons will be fielded to a new post each month from November until September 2018, except for March and April 2018. Eventually, the Army will distribute the weapon to all units over a 10-year period. So far, reviews by soldiers who tested the handgun earlier this year have praised the MHS, pointing out greater comfort when shooting and confidence with using the weapon in comparison to the Beretta M9 that it is scheduled to replace.

• US President Donald Trump turned out on Saturday to attend the commissioning of the Navy’s first Ford-class aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. Hailing the vessel as a “100,000 ton message to the world,” adding that America’s enemies will “shake with fear” when they see the Ford cutting across the horizon. After the speech, he put the Ford into commission and asked God to “bless and guide this warship and all who shall sail in her.” He was followed by Susan Ford Bales, the ship’s sponsor and daughter of the 38th president, from whom the ship, and class, takes its name. $43 billion has been spent on producing three Ford-class carriers, the others being the USS Enterprise and USS John F. Kennedy.

• A new draft request for proposals released by the US Navy has revealed that the service’s plans for the MQ-25 Stingray will be primarily that of a mission tanker. The draft, published on July 19, made no mention on the unmanned platform’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, instead outlining the two key performance parameters (KPP) required for the aircraft’s airframes as having both carrier suitability and mission tanker capacity. As a result, the four competitors – Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Atomics – will only have to prove that their aircraft can take-off and land back on a carrier and do mission tanking.

Africa

• Angola is negotiating the purchase of six unsold Su-30K fighter aircraft originally destined for India. The aircraft could potentially be added to Angola’s 2013 order for 12 Su-30s that have yet to be delivered by Moscow. If an agreement is reached, Luanda will be able to increase its fleet to 18 while Moscow will be able to rid itself of the aircraft returned by India, which were built in fulfilment of the contract signed in 1996-1998. Since the fleet’s return to Russia, potential customers before Angola included Byelorussia, Sudan, and Vietnam. However, none of the aircraft ordered in 2013 have been delivered as the fighter’s undergo repair and upgrade work to the Su-30KN standard.

Europe

• Construction of the first (of three) Type 26 frigate has begun in earnest at a BAE Systems shipyard in Scotland. A ceremony last Thursday which launched the vessel’s production was attended by British Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon, who said the warship “will maintain our naval power with a truly global reach. Designed for a service life of at least 25 years, the Type 26 frigates will form the backbone of the future Royal Navy surface fleet into the 2060s.” Due to be named the Glasgow, the ship will be 492 long, 68 feet in the beam and have a speed of more than 26 knots. Its operational range will be more than 7,000 nautical miles.

Asia Pacific

• Australia and the US are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March for the delivery of MQ-4C Triton UAVs. As many as seven Tritons could be purchased by Canberra with the expectation that they will go towards augmenting its P-8A Poseidon aircraft fleet in conducting maritime patrol and surveillance missions. Later in 2018, Germany is expected to sign a letter of offer and acceptance for four Tritons, which will replace its existing EuroHawk fleet.

• Ha Sung-yong, the CEO of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), has offered to step down after Korean prosecutors raided his company’s offices to gather evidence as part of the Surion utility helicopter scandal. Allegations levelled at the firm include that charge that the company inflated expenses for the development of the Surion military helicopter and pocketed illicit gains—to the tune of $21 million—in the process. Ha, who last year said he would resign if KAI’s T-50 was not selected for the USAF’s T-X trainer program, offered to resign again during a board of directors meeting, and a successor will be chosen at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, to be arranged for as soon as possible.

• Rosoboronexport has announced that China purchased four additional Mi-171E transport helicopters during the MAKS 2017 airshow last week. Four Klimov VK-2500 engines will also be supplied as part of the sale and deliveries for both engines and rotorcraft will take place in 2018. in 2012, China ordered 52 Mi-171E helicopters in a deal worth $1.3 billion. Rosoboronexport said that demand for the Mi-171E is growing with the helicopter already operational in China and South-east Asia.

Today’s Video

• Firing demonstration of the US Navy’s electromagnetic railgun:

New wing for JASSM-ER | Gripen pulled out of Belgian fighter comp | CH-5 UAV available for export

• Lockheed Martin has been granted a $37.7 million contract for the continued development of a new wing design for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER). The new wing design will provide greater range for the missile, which currently can strike targets more than 550 miles away. Speaking on the award, Jason Denney, program director for Lockheed’s Long Range Strike Systems said the company has “developed a novel design that provides additional standoff range to further increase pilot survivability in an Anti-Access-Area Denial threat environment.” This further increase in the range of the missile will be incorporated into production lot 17.

• A report on the investigation into the detachment of a boom on a KC-100 tanker aircraft on November 1, 2016, has blamed a sheared Dual Rotary Voltage Transducer (DRVT) rotary crank as one of the primary cause of the incident. The issues started during a routine training flight over Idaho when the tanker was about to refuel F-15s and a C-17. During the exercise, the boom immediately began to move erratically and well outside of its operational and structural limits after the operator lowered it. Unable to control the boom, the aircraft declared an emergency and proceed to land at Mountain Home Air Force Base. The boom detached while en route to the base.

• Additional long lead time construction materials have been ordered by the US Navy for the construction of the Ford-class CVN 80 Enterprise. Work will be carried out in Newport News, Va., and is expected to be completed by January 2024. Navy 2017 shipbuilding funds of $148.7 million will be obligated to the project. Long lead parts involve the lengthy planning, development and work of certain components and subsystems needed for the vessel. These include examples like shipboard nuclear power plants to the thousands of tons of steel needed to construct an aircraft carrier hull. The Enterprise is powered by A1B nuclear reactors and can generate two-and-a-half times the electrical power of its Nimitz-class predecessor, giving it the capacity to mount future weapons and electronics like laser weapons. It also has an electro-magnetic aircraft launch system rather than standard steam-powered catapults.

Middle East & North Africa

• The US Air Force has awarded Textron Aviation Defense a $8.8 million contract to refurbish 15 T-6A Texan II training aircraft for the Iraqi Air Force. Work on the foreign military sale will be conducted at Inman Ali Air Base in Iraq, with a completion date scheduled for the second quarter of 2018 in order to meet Iraq’s demand for F-16 pilots in 2019. The light turboprop training aircraft serves as the main training platform for Iraqi pilots operating its main fleet of F-16IQ Block 52 fighters.

Europe

• Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen has been pulled out of Belgium’s fighter competition, leaving Brussels with the choice of either the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, or Lockheed Martin F-35. While Sweden’s FMV defence materiel administration had initially touted the Gripen as a cost-effective solution that can easily fill the operational requirements required by Belgium, the request included the requirement that the delivering nation also provides extensive operational support—something that would require a change in both Swedish foreign policy and political mandate. As a result, Sweden and the FMV choose not to submit an answer to the Belgian request.

• The British Royal Air Force (RAF) is to drive funds into Eurofighter Typhoon fleet enhancement from savings made through a new in-service support model. Known as the Typhoon total availability enterprise (Tytan), the 10-year arrangement between the RAF and industry partners BAE Systems and Leonardo is expected to reduce the Typhoon’s per-hour operating cost by 30-40%, generating savings of at least $712 million over the agreement’s lifetime. These funds will then be generated back into upgrading the aircraft. UK-specific initiatives already introduced via the Tytan contract include increasing the intervals between scheduled major maintenance activities, which will increase aircraft availability and reduce repair bills. Deep maintenance initially scheduled after every 400 flight hours has previously been extended to a 500h interval, and is expected to be stretched further to 750h.

• Slovakia has become the first recipient of the latest variant of Saab’s Carl-Gustaf M4 multi-role weapon. Deliveries of the 84mm man-portable reusable anti-tank weapon system took place last month and will go towards replacing the older M3 variants currently in use by Slovakia. Weighing less than 15.5 pounds, the new lightweight design offers soldiers significant mobility improvements, and is compatible with future battlefield technology developments, such as intelligent sighting systems and programmable ammunition.

Asia Pacific

• The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has announced that its CH-5 UAV is available for serial production and export to overseas. The drone has been described as on-par in terms of endurance and payload to the US-made General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, but at much cheaper cost. Current CH-series operators include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while another Chinese UAV vendor, the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG), is believed to have sold its Wing Loong to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt. Potential markets to be targeted by CASC include Latin America, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and potentially even Eastern Europe.

Today’s Video

• China’s CH-5 completes flight trials:

Shanahan confirmed as Dep. Defense Sec. | USS North Dakota tests Tomahawk with Block III Payload Tubes | India gears up for LUH

• Leidos has received a $64 million task order for the integration and demonstration of three Airborne Reconnaissance Low-Enhanced (ARL-E) ground surveillance and intelligence aircraft. Work and testing will take place at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and will take part in demonstration flights prior to delivery to the US Army. The aircraft are the upgraded version of the ARL, which replaces the ARL’s de Havilland Canada Dash 7 airframe with a twin-engine Bombardier Dash-8 turboprop aircraft, and is equipped with dual-optical high definition sensors, laser rangefinders and target designators, a long-range surface search radar, and radio wave direction finders which can give precise coordinates of enemy communication signals.

• Two Tomahawk vertically-launched cruise missiles have been successfully test-fired from the Virginia-class submarine USS North Dakota. The test aimed to verify the capabilities of the recently installed Block III Payload Tubes, designed to replace the original Virginia-classes 12 vertical launch missile tubes. Integration of the tubes are part of upgrades to the class’s missile launch systems—which includes the Virginia Payload Module launch system—and will triple the capacity for Tomahawks and allow greater flexibility for installing other vertical launch weapons systems. Improved Tomahawk Block IV missiles are expected to be deployed from 2019 and will be in the US Navy inventory beyond 2040.

• Former Boeing vice president Patrick Shanahan has been confirmed by the US Senate as deputy secretary of defense. The Senate voted 92-7 in favor of the appointment, despite concerns by some in the political arena—Senate Armed Services Committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz found his answers during his confirmation hearing on arming Ukraine as “unsatisfactory,” while other senators were opposed to a defense contractor getting a post in Trump’s Pentagon. Shanahan will replace Robert Work as deputy defense secretary, who has held the post since 2016.

Middle East & North Africa

• Three Turkish defense firms will be asked to submit proposals to Turkey’s Altay tank program, which could reach beyond $10 billion. BMC, Otokar and FNSS—all private companies—will bid to secure a contract for the serial production of an initial batch of 250 Altay tanks, with Turkey planning to produce a total of 1,000 units. Ankara’s decision to include three bidders in the program comes after Otokar produced and successfully completed qualification tests of an Altay prototype, including mobility and endurance testing on rough terrain and climatic conditions, firing tests with various scenarios, and survivability testing. However, last month, the Turkish procurement agency deemed Otokar’s serial production sole-source offer as too expensive, instead opening up the competition to include other bidders.

Europe

• The delivery schedule for Su-30SM fighters to Belarus has been delayed due to “technical changes in the aircraft’s equipment set.” Originally scheduled to begin next year, Belarus will instead have to wait until 2019 for deliveries to start at a rate of four per year for a total of 12 models. Already this year, the Belarusian Armed Forces has received six Mil Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters, the fourth battery of Tor-M2 air defense missile systems, a Protivnik-G radar, two Torn-8P radio control and radio monitoring stations and various kinds of modern sniper rifles and special weapons from Russia.

• Rheinmetall has signed a framework agreement with the German military for the delivery of DM11 120mm tank ammunition. The first delivery is valued at an initial $43 million deal and calls for a potential order for 5,000 rounds of 120mm training ammunition, and multi-year orders could see a total contract value reach into the hundreds of millions of euros. DM11 120mm ammunition would be used on the German military Leopard 2 main battle tanks and can be retrofitted with any 120mm smoothbore gun with modern fire control. It has been in use by Berlin since 2014 and has been exported to other countries using the Leopard 2 tank.

Asia Pacific

• In an effort to help the Philippines tackle a jihadist insurgency, the US is to transfer two Cessna 208B Caravans equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The archipelago nation has seen a recent flare in violence on the muslim majority southern island of Mindanao, where its obsolescent Rockwell OV-10B Bronco aircraft and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 fighters have been conducting raids against enemy forces. The aircraft were ordered in a $14 million May 2016 contract awarded by the US Department of Defence to L-3 Communications, which called for the modification of Cessna 208Bs to the ISR mission. Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and the Philippines—countries all dealing with insurgencies—had been earmarked for the aircraft.

• The Indian government is to kick start a multi-billion program to acquire 110 light utility helicopters (LUH) for the Indian Navy. New Delhi plans to send out an expression of interest to domestic companies, including Bharat Forge, Reliance, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra Aerospace and Tata Advanced Systems, who in turn will act as a strategic partner with a selected overseas original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to produce the aircraft. 30 helicopters will be bought off-the-shelf from the foreign manufacturer, while the rest will be produced domestically with the local partner. Airbus, Russian Helicopters, Sikorsky, and Bell Helicopters are all expected to take part in the LUH program.

Today’s Video

• US ISR aircraft for the Philippines:

India discusses Jaguar purchase | Two offers expected for Renault Trucks Defense | LOC to deliver Bradley modification kits

Americas

• The US Army has awarded LOC Performance a $49.1 million contract modification to an existing order for Bradley Fighting Vehicle modification kits and installation. Under the terms of the deal, LOC will produce and supply 276 additional Bradley Engineering Change Proposal 1 kits and two sets of spare parts, which will be used to upgrade Bradley Fighting Vehicles weight-bearing systems and underbelly armor. Work will be conducted at Plymouth, Minn. with a completion date scheduled for April 30, 2019. The Engineering Change Proposal 1 installs heavy load-bearing tracks, torsion bars to restore ground clearance and improved underbelly armor on the Bradleys. This in turn improves the vehicle’s capability to handle the stress placed on its chassis caused by the installation of armor upgrades and Bradley Urban Survivability Kits.

• Lockheed Martin will deliver Patriot Advanced Capability-3 anti-ballistic missile systems to several international customers after receiving a $130.3 million contract from the US Army. The order calls for the delivery of 35 missile segment enhancements, 100 launcher modifications kits, parts, software, and missile round trainers. Recipients of the systems include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Untied Arab Emirates, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan. Work will primarily take place at the company’s Grand Prairie, Texas facility, as well as other sites across the US, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2020.

Africa

• The Nigerian armed forces have began to receive deliveries of 4×4 armored personnel carriers from the Streit Group. Its first batch of 25 vehicles included the firm’s Spartan APCs and Typhoon 4×4 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles. It’s expected that a total of 177 vehicles will be delivered. The Spartan provides protection against both ballistic and blast threats with crew compartment protection of CEN Level BR6 armor. The Typhoon 4×4 MRAP features a V-shaped armored hull as well as blast protection to STANAG 4569 Level 3. Nigeria will use the vehicles to better tackle the ongoing insurgency by the jihadist group Boko Haram in the country’s north and east.

Middle East & North Africa

• Israel has increased the scope of its Leonardo Aermacchi M-346 “Lavi” advanced jet trainers after the successful upgrade of the aircraft’s software. Additional external fuel tanks have already been added to the trainers with future enhancements to include the addition of live bombs which will allow for the advanced training of air-to-surface strike missions. The aircraft are also being employed to support advanced training involving “fourth-generation” fighters.

• Turkish F-16 Block 30 fighters are scheduled to get structural and avionic upgrades aimed at increasing the fleet’s combat capabilities. A total of 35 aircraft will undergo the modernization, 25 of which will be upgraded jointly by Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and manufacturer Lockheed Martin, while the remaining ten will be upgraded at a Turkish Air Force support and maintenance unit in Eskisehir in Central Anatolia. Deliveries of the modernized aircraft will begin in 2018 and completed by the end of 2023. This is likely to be the last Turkish F-16 upgrade program as the fighters will be eventually phased out in favor of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Europe

• Swedish truck manufacturer Volvo has two interested buyers for its armored vehicles unit, Renault Trucks Defense (RTD), in a deal estimated to be worth $573 million. The interested parties expected to submit offers by the July 24 deadline include French-German tank maker KNDS and Belgian group CMI. Sources close to the deal added that private equity groups which initially expressed interest in RTD are not expected to take part in the auction, which is organized by Rothschild. Volvo’s decision to shed RTD from its portfolio comes as the firm looks to dump non-core assets as part of efforts to streamline a group that has been built on a series of large acquisitions. It has already sold its aerospace unit and external IT operations as well as a large real estate portfolio.

Asia Pacific

• Indian officials have commenced negotiations to buy ex-French Air Force Jaguar strike fighters. The aircraft had been offered to New Delhi by France about six months ago, and the issue is expected to be discussed during a meeting between both countries’ air force chiefs in India this week. While it remains unknown how much France wants in exchange for the warplanes, Indian officials said that they are actively considering acquiring them after proper refurbishment.

• India’s Dassault Rafale fighters on order from France will be equipped with Israeli firm Rafael’s Litening targeting pod. Yuval Miller, head of the Israeli company’s air and C4I systems division said that the pods, produced to the latest 4I island will be manufactured in India in partnership with a local firm. The Indian air force already uses the Rafael-produced pod on several types of combat aircraft, having acquired the system in the Litening III standard. Rafael also is to supply its advanced 4I version of the system for use by the Aeronautical Development Agency’s Tejas light combat aircraft.

Today’s Video

• MiG-35 at MAKS 2017: