Future Fleet: Australia’s F-35 Commitments – and Choices

Australia’s new Liberal Party government has announced that they’ll buy up to 58 F-35s, raising the RAAF’s approved fleet size to the 72 aircraft mentioned in the Labor Party’s May 2013 White Paper. They’re saying that the money has been reserved by successive governments, which isn’t true. They did set a firm budget of A$ 12.4 billion to buy the fighters and spares, minus about A$ 1.6 billion for required support infrastructure at RAAFB Williamtown, NSW and RAAFB Tindal, Northern Territory.

VH-92A makes maiden flight | State Dept. clears Super Tucanos to Nigeria | RAF A400M participates in Mobility Guardian exercises

Americas

• The Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office has received a $57.1 million US Navy contract modification to carry out modifications to the MV-22 Osprey fleet operated by the US Marine Corps (USMC) in support of the V-22 Common Configuration-Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM) Program. Under the terms of the agreement, the funding will go towards the retrofit of one MV-22 as a test for improving readiness and eventual modification of the MV-22 fleet to the Block C common configuration. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (80 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2019. The Block C configuration includes improved environmental controls, chaff/flare countermeasures, navigation upgrades and command-and-control displays.

• Lockheed Martin has announced that the VH-92A presidential helicopter has made its maiden flight. Two flights were made by Engineering Development Model 1 (EDM-1) on July 29 at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Connecticut with both sorties lasting for one hour. During the test, the team made hovering control checks, a low speed flight, and a pass of the airfield. An additional EDM-2 is on track for its first flight later this year. Expected to enter service in 2020, both helicopters will transport the president and vice president of the United States and other officials.

Africa

• The US State Department has cleared Nigeria to proceed with the purchase of 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft in a deal estimated to be worth $593 million. Sierra Nevada Corporation of Colorado will act as lead contractor in the sale, and in conjunction with the aircraft, the company will provide weapons for the platform, as well as all associated training, spare parts, aviation and ground support equipment, and hangar, facilities, and infrastructure required to support the program. The aircraft will support Nigerian military operations against terrorist organizations Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa, and Nigerian efforts to counter illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. Sierra Nevada, in partnership with the A-29’s original manufacturer Embraer, have already sold the aircraft to the Lebanese and Afghan air forces, and the team is currently demonstrating it as part of a USAF experiment that could lead to a new USAF OA-X program of record.

Middle East & North Africa

• Israel is looking into potentially purchasing the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) B-variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. So far, Israel has already placed orders for fifty F-35i Adirs—the Israeli specific version of the conventional take-off F-35A—but are now considering additional aircraft in order to replace older Boeing F-15 fighters, the oldest of which were delivered in 1976. Alternatively, Tel Aviv could order an advanced version of the F-15 but details on its capabilities remain unknown. Either way, a decision needs to be made before a new 10-year Foreign Military Financing agreement with American comes into effect at the end of the year.

Europe

• Romania has sent a letter of intent to the US government, seeking price and availability of Bell attack helicopters. The request was sent following the visit of Bell representatives to Bucharest where discussions between the company and government included the setting up of a joint venture, as well as technological and know-how transfer allowing the production of helicopter in Romania. In November 2016, Bell signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Romanian company IAR-Ghimbav Brasov Group for the potential support of the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter. The agreement covers the possible maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of the AH-1Z should it be procured by the Romanian government.

• The British Royal Air Force (RAF) has brought a A400M Atlas tactical airlifter to this year’s Mobility Guardian exercise in the US, the first time the aircraft has participated in such exercises. Based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash, it will participate in nine missions during the exercise, which aims to test the abilities of the Mobility Air Forces to execute rapid global mobility missions in dynamic, contested environments, and involves over 3,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and international partners. The RAF plans to induct 22 A400Ms into its tactical and strategic airlift fleet, complimenting the C-17 Globemaster III currently in operation.

Asia Pacific

• In exchange for 11 Su-35 fighter aircraft, Indonesia’s Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has confirmed that Jakarta will barter commodities such as coffee, palm oil and tea to Russia in lieu of hard cash. Lukita made the announcement while visiting Moscow for a bilateral business forum between the two countries, which also saw officials from Indonesian state trading company PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia and Russian state conglomerate Rostec sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) ahead of a formal barter deal being announced. Russia is currently facing a new round of US-imposed trade sanctions, while Jakarta is trying to promote its palm oil products amid threats of a cut in consumption by European Union countries. Indonesia, which had a $411 million trade surplus with Russia in 2016, also aims to expand its partnership in tourism, education, energy, technology and aviation among others.

• Three C-130 aircraft operated by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) are to receive avionic upgrades from Lockheed Martin. Manilla operates five C-130s of various models and ages, which had mostly been in use with the USMC before being transferred to the PAF, and have an average age of 40.2 years. Upgrades to be carried out include the replacement of its analogue cockpit with digital ones, and integrating a glass cockpit that includes touch screen displays.

Today’s Video

• A WW1-era DH9 (found in an Elephants stable) returned to its former glory:

GD railgun ready for testing | Israel starts concept work on Arrow-4 interceptor | French prosecutors widen Malaysian sub probe

Americas

• The US Secret Service is planning to deploy and test a small tethered drone during President Donald Trump’s visit to his golf club in New Jersey this month. The move, which aims at improving and providing new types of presidential protection, will help determine the potential for using such vehicles to protect the president, as the service works to incorporate several types of drones and tethered systems into its overhead security-monitoring efforts. President Trump is expected to spend an extended period of time at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.

• A new 10 mega joule medium-range multi-mission railgun developed by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is ready for testing, according to the company. Designed to provide multi-mission, multi-domain capability with greater flexibility and a smaller footprint for ship, land and mobile platforms, the firm stated that field testing of the system will be conducted at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, however, they did not disclose when the system will be tested. The railgun integrates a High Energy Pulsed Power Container, 10 MJ launcher, hypersonic hybrid missile, and fire control technologies. The HEPPC uses next-generation railgun capacitors and a new approach to packaging and distribution of the energy in a smaller footprint than existing pulsed power solutions.

Middle East & North Africa

• Qatar has completed a deal with Italy to purchase seven naval vessels. The deal, estimated to be worth $5.9 billion, was announced by the Qatari foreign minister on Wednesday, however, no further details on the vessels’ specs or contractors was given by the ministry. Last June, Italian shipyard Fincantieri said it had signed a 4-billion-euro agreement with Doha for four corvette warships, two support vessels and an amphibious landing platform dock, along with support services in Qatar for 15 years after delivery. Qatar is the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter and like its energy-rich Gulf neighbors, is one of the world’s biggest spenders on military equipment. In June, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar, expelling citizens and closing its only land border and barring use of their airspace. Qatar stands accused of supporting Islamists, terrorists, and regional foe Iran, charges it denies.

• The US State Department has cleared the possible Foreign Military Sale for an estimated $150 million naval support package for US origin Navy vessels and a ship repair facility to the government of Iraq. The follow-on technical support deal covers procurement of spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training equipment, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. Swiftships, LLC, of Louisiana will act as lead contractor.

• Early concept work has begun on the Arrow-4 interceptor, Israel’s new air defense system designed to counter future ballistic missile threats from Iran. Involved in the work are Israel’s MAFAT Defense Research and Development Authority, state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as other firms, who are now evaluating the technologies needed to improve the ability to track, target and ultimately destroy such threats. While the work is in its infancy— IAI executive vice president Boaz Levy called said the effort is too early to call Arrow-4—the new interceptor will extend capabilities beyond Arrow-2, which intercepts Scud-type ballistic missiles high within Earth’s atmosphere, and Arrow-3, which is designed to destroy targets in space. The new system will specifically look into countering salvo strikes, sub-munition warheads and multiple reentry vehicles (MRV).

Europe

• Eight German-operated P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft are scheduled to receive mission system upgrades in a $158.5 million contract modification awarded by the US DoD under its Foreign Military Sales program. Lockheed Martin will act as the lead contractor in the sale, providing updates to computer systems, acoustic sensors, weapon systems and avionics for eight P-3Cs, and will include components specified by Germany and will comply with currentand future NATO standards. Work will be performed in Manching, Germany, and Oswego, NY, with a projected completion date of May 2022.

Asia Pacific

• BAE Systems Australia has announced its intentions to build a defense hub that will manufacture armored vehicles and also consolidate various company businesses on one site. Expected to be located at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne, Victoria the facility will be the biggest of its type in the nation and it plans to manufacture the Australian Army’s Armed Combat Reconnaissance vehicles there. The hub will also include a globally competitive aerospace business that develops leading edge autonomous systems, electronic warfare, hypersonics and weapons technology, and BAE will also conduct its naval sustainment business from the facility.

• A former aide to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been placed under formal investigation by French financial prosecutors as part of a probe into the 2002 sale of two Scorpene submarines to Malaysia. The accused, Razak Baginda, has denied any wrongdoing during his time as advisor to Najib during his stint as defense minister, and who oversaw the procurement from French shipyard DCN International—who then became a new entity called DCNS, which in turn rebranded itself as Naval Group this year. Last month, two French former defense industry executives were placed under investigation as part of the same probe into alleged kickbacks from that submarines deal. The investigation began after Malaysian human rights group Suaram alleged that the EUR 1 billion sale resulted in some $130 million of commissions being paid to a company linked to Najib.

Today’s Video

• Russian 9K333 Verba MADPADS downs drone in Syria:

Scorpene’s Sting: Malaysia’s Bribery & Murder Scandal

The Franco-Spanish Scorpene diesel-electric attack submarine competes on the global market against an array of competitors, especially ThyssenKrupp HDW’s U209/212/214 family. In June 2002, the Malaysian government signed a EUR 1 billion contract with Armaris (now DCNS) and Spanish naval shipbuilder Izar (now Navantia) for 2 SSK Scorpenes and associated support and training. Both submarines have been delivered to Malaysia, though there have been some technical problems. Which pale in comparison to the deal’s other problems.

Within Malaysia, the sale has been compromised by an ongoing trial and set of legal actions around the public kidnapping and private execution of Mongolian modeling student, translator, and paramour Altantuya Shaariibuu. Full and impartial accountability for public figures is not a prominent feature of Malaysian justice, but French Journalist Arnaud Dubus added to the pressure with a March 5/09 report in France’s Liberation, “Un cadavre très dérangeant: L’étrange affaire du meurtre d’une interprète mongole qui gène le pouvoir en Malaisie” (Page 30-31). It named very prominent names, offered details, and revealed the contents of documents that Malaysian courts had refused to admit. A subsequent bribery investigation by French authorities has led to the emergence of even more documents, and the scandal is becoming a significant presence in Malaysian politics.

Ruin on Rails: The US Navy’s Rail Gun Project

Back in March 2006, BAE Systems received a contract for “design and production of the 32 MJ Laboratory Launcher for the U.S. Navy.” Some hint of what they are talking about can be gleaned from the name. BAE isn’t the only firm that’s working on this program, which the US Navy sees as its gateway to a game-changing technology. The project is an electro-magnetic rail gun, which accelerates a projectile to incredibly high speeds without using explosives.

The attraction of such systems is no mystery – they promise to fire their ammunition 10 or more times farther than conventional naval gun shells, while sharply reducing both the required size of each shell, and the amount of dangerous explosive material carried on board ship. Progress is being made, but there are still major technical challenges to overcome before a working rail gun becomes a serious naval option. This DID FOCUS article looks at the key technical challenges, the programs, and the history of key contracts and events.

France nationalizes shipyard, annoys Italy | Army orders Abrams upgrades and JLTVs | Refurbished T-64s in the DRC

Americas

• General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded a $270.2 million contract to provide System Enhancement Package (SEP) components for upgraded US Army M1A2 SEPv2 and SEPv3 Abrams main battle tanks. According to the work order, GD will provide, install, and integrate System Enhancement Package v2 legacy components for 45 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks and 60 additional sets of SEPv2 and SEPv3 parts, as well as providing tooling, test, and support equipment. Work will be carried out primarily at Lima Army Tank Plant in Ohio, and other sites in the United States, and is scheduled to run until Aug. 21, 2019. The SEPv2 includes upgraded computers, improved front and side armor, a improved transmission, new infrared sensors and a Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) for the .50 machine gun. While the SEPv3 has improved power generation, networking capabilities and possesses a lower-profile CROWS system.

• The latest order of the Joint light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program has been made by the US Army, with the service requesting the production and delivery of 748 vehicles and 2,359 installed and packaged kits from manufacturer Oshkosh. Valued at $195 million, this has been the fifth JLTV buy since 2015 as part of Low Rate Initial Production orders, while testing and evaluation of the new land vehicle continues. It is anticipated that a decision on Full Rate Production of the JLTV will be made in fiscal year 2019 and first units delivered to the Army later that year.

• With pressure coming from the White House to cut costs on the new Air Force One procurement, the USAF is in talks with Boeing to purchase two 747-8 jetliners that were originally built for a now defunct Russian airline before they were delivered. Sources close to the negotiations added that the service was getting a good deal on the aircraft, said to usually retail for about $386 million on average. The two aircraft were initially ordered four years ago by Transaero, a Russian airline that went bankrupt in 2015, and since then have been stored in the Mojave Desert, where the dry, hot climate slows corrosion.

Africa

• It has been revealed that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) received 25 modernized T-64BV-1 main battle tanks from Ukraine last year after it was initially thought that the deal was cancelled. In 2014, an unknown customer ordered 50 of the modernized Soviet-era tanks in a $11.5 million contract with the Ukrainian state-owned conglomerate Ukroboronprom. However, up until now it was thought the tanks were diverted for use in Kiev’s ongoing conflict with Russian-backed separatists is Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region. It now looks that half of the original 2014 order was diverted to Ukrainian forces, while the other half made their way to the DRC. Ukraine is the DRC’s biggest supplier of defense platforms—since 2000 it has received 18 2S1 122 mm self-propelled guns, 30 BTR-60PB armoured personnel carriers, 8 Mi-24K helicopters, six MT-LB APCs, 12 2S3 152 mm self-propelled guns, 12 BM-21 122 mm multiple rocket launchers, 36 D-30 122 mm towed guns, and 36 M-43 120 mm mortars from Ukraine.

Europe

• The French government has stepped in on a bid by Italian shipyard Fincantieri to gain a controlling stake in the country’s largest shipyard previously owned by STX France. Located at Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic coast, and the only yard in France big enough for the construction of aircraft carriers, Fincantieri’s interest in the yard started last year when a stake was put up for sale by South Korean company STX after it went bankrupt. Instead, Paris swooped in to take a 50% interest in the yard in order to “protect France’s strategic interests in matters of naval construction.” Italy hit back at the move saying: “Nationalism and protectionism are not an acceptable basis for establishing relations between two great European countries.”

Asia Pacific

• Austal has laid the keel for the first Pacific Patrol Boat during a ceremony at Henderson, Western Australia. Once completed, the vessel will be handed over to Papua New Guinea as part of a program to enhance practical maritime security cooperation across the South Pacific region. The Australian shipyard was contracted last May to build and sustain 19 steel-hulled patrol boats for 12 Pacific Island nations as part of Canberra’s Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement project. Austral has already delivered 32 patrol boat vessels to the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.

• South Korea’s new Defense Minister Song Young-moo has met with his Indonesian counterpart, Ryamizard Ryacudu, as the latter visits Seoul for the handing over ceremony of one of three diesel-electric attack submarines ordered from Daewoo. While the meeting included discussions on North Korea, the primary focus of the talks was on how to build on existing defense cooperation—Jakarta has already agreed to buy KAI’s T-50 advanced jet trainer and signed a separate deal to join in the development of the KF-X fighter program—and focus on boost their respective defense industries. Song, a former naval chief and part of President Moon Jae-in’s reform-minded cabinet, said that he believes the local defense industry is too dependent on domestic demand and should become more export focused.

• Several flight and squadron level leaders in the Afghan Air Force (AAF) requested to assume full responsibility for flight line maintenance of its Embraer/Sierra Nevada A-29 Super Tucano light combat aircraft. Until now, such work has been completed by Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air (TAAC-Air), a US-led initiative to train and build the physical capacity of the AAF. However, despite this request, TAAC-Air will be responsible for 80% of all A-29 maintenance functions, though it aims to reduce its role to 20% by 2022 and aims to see the AAF’s training capacity become self-sustaining such that training is done internally through local personnel over the oncoming years.

Today’s Video

• 3D animation of Austal’s Pacific Patrol Boat:

Australia Preps Regional Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Program

Australia’s Pacific Patrol Boat program solves a regional problem. Australia needs stability, but many of its neighbors are island sets with vast territories to cover, small populations, and small economies. Australia’s regional Defence Cooperation Program eventually provided 22 Patrol Boats to 12 different Pacific nations from 1987 – 1997. This includes all ongoing maintenance, logistics support and training, as well as Royal Australian Navy (RAN) specialists in the countries where the PPBs are based. Pacific nations, in turn, use them to support their local military, police and fisheries agencies.

It hasn’t always gone well…

L-3 enters Longsword into USAF OA-X experiment | Hawks land in Oman | DSCA clears Super Hornet upgrades for Switzerland

Americas

• L-3 Communications and Air Tractor have made a late entry into this month’s US Air Force OA-X experiment, bringing with them the Air Tractor AT-802L Longsword, an armed reconnaissance version of the latter’s cropduster. Modifications added by L-3 to bring the aircraft to the Longsword configuration include a glass cockpit, the firms’ Wescam MX-15 EO/IR sensor and ForceX mission management system. It also possesses 11 hard points and can carry 6,200 pounds of fuel or munitions, including precision-guided weapons with the addition of a laser designator. The Longsword joins Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine turboprop and Scorpion jet, along with Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano for the demonstration which will see the USAF assess off-the-shelf options to fill an attack and support role for the service. It has also been reported that if a successful platform is chosen as an OA-X platform, the winning aircraft may also be selected as a light air support capability for special operations forces.

• The USAF has awarded ARCTEC a $37.9 million contract modification for operations and maintenance services for the Alaska Radar System. Work is scheduled to run until September 28, 2018, extending services currently being provided for another 12 months on the network of radars covering Alaskan airspace and the Arctic circle. Alaska’s radar stations form a key part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System and the Missile Defense Agency whose sites can be located in extremely harsh terrain and weather conditions, including high winds and sub-zero temperatures for much of the year.

Middle East & North Africa

• BAE Systems has delivered the first two of eight Hawk advanced trainer jets ordered by Oman in 2012. The trainers arrived a month after the Sultanate received the first of 12 Eurofighter Typhoons—made by a consortium including BAE, Leonardo, and Airbus—and further deliveries are expected over the next coming months. In May, the first Hawk and Typhoon were formally presented to Oman at a ceremony held at BAE Systems’ Military Air & Information business in the UK, in front of an audience including His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidi, theSultanate of Oman’s Minister Responsible For Defence Affairs (MRDA) and the Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman, Air Vice-Marshal Mattar bin Ali bin Mattar Al Obaidani.

• An upgraded prototype of the Namer heavy armoured personnel carrier (APC) has been unveiled by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Developed by the ministry’s Merkava Tank Administration in conjunction with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Ground Forces, the vehicle includes a new turret with Trophy radars fitted to either side of the gun and countermeasures dispensers on both sides. It also has two sets of electro-optics: one mounted coaxially to the left of the gun and a second that appears to be able to rotate independently of the turret. A 30mm gun, thought to be an Orbital ATK Mk44 Bushmaster has also been included, and will give “significant firepower to infantry units, allowing the soldiers to be more independent on the battlefield, and to reduce the dependency on support from other units.” The vehicle is expected to undergo trails this week.

Europe

• The US State Department has approved a foreign military sale (FMS) package to upgrade Swiss F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft. If approved by US Congress, the sale of the Service Life Extension Program for the aircraft would include as many as 50 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems with Concurrent Multi-Net 4 capability, 50 ARC-210 GEN 5 RT-1900A(C) radios with a second-generation anti-jam tactical UHF radio for NATO frequency hopping, and 20 joint helmet-mounted cueing system/night vision cueing display systems. Also included in the deal are software enhancements to the APG-73 radar, improvements to the F/A-18 Software Configuration Set 29C, and sustainment for the ALQ-165 Airborne Self Protection Jammer system. The estimated value of the sale is worth up to $115 million.

• HMS Astute, a British Royal Navy hunter-killer submarine, has returned to active service after a period receiving a capability upgrade and sea training. Commissioned in 2010, HMS Astute is the first of seven new Astute class hunter-killer submarines being constructed for the Royal Navy. The training period included fire-fighting and damage control exercises and completion of weapon certification of its anti-surface and anti-submarine weapon system. The training also included a simulated war environment and training alongside Canadian Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Asia Pacific

• Leidos has been contracted to provide operations and sustainment services for the US Army’s Saturn Arch intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance program in Afghanistan. Valued at $61 million, the contract modification will run until September 18, 2018 and work will go towards Saturn Arch quick reaction capabilities, sustainment and integration in Afghanistan as part of US counter-IED operations in the country. Since its inception in 2010, the Saturn Arch program has expanded to include more conventional ISR missions and is designed to easily share data with Afghan security forces and international partners. It uses a variety of platforms and sensor assets for detecting and assisting in the removal of enemy IEDs and other threats.

• 10 former US Army UH-60 Black Hawks have been ordered by Australia and will be refurbished into firefighting platforms. Sikorsky, Kaan Air Australia and StarFlight Australia have all been contracted in the $50 million deal and includes options for a further 10 helicopters. The planned refurbishment will include engine upgrades, gear boxes and the installation of terrain avoidance systems along with firefighting modifications.

Today’s Video

• AT-802L Longsword at Paris Air Show 2017:

Namer: Israeli Leopard; Troop Carriers

Urban fights are thought of as the future of warfare in many countries, but to Israel, urban fighting is a very current reality. At the same time, conventional defense requires well-protected forces that can maneuver and survive with the country’s heavy armor, out in the tank-friendly environs of the Middle East. The Israelis had long depended on the M113 to fill these roles, but heavier options were needed, and the Israelis could care less about air-transportability. The resourceful Israelis turned to their stock of captured Soviet T-54/55 tanks for initial solutions, producing the Achzarit APC. They liked the results so much that they decided to do the same thing with their older Merkava Mk.I tank hulls, creating the 60 tonne Namer (“leopard”). That’s about twice the weight of the USA’s M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), but Namers are mostly used as ultra-heavy but lightly-armed armored personnel carriers. Unmanned turrets with a 30mm cannon and Spike missiles would be needed to turn them into true IFVs.

Even in an APC role, experiences during the 2006 war in Lebanon against Syria and Iran confirmed the Namer’s value. The Israelis decided to build more using new Merkava Mk.IV hulls, but that creates some manufacturing issues for the Israelis, who were trying to quickly build up their Merkava fleet per the long-range “Tefen” plan. Israel would also benefit financially from having more manufacturing done in America. The solution? Find an American partner. Enter General Dynamics Land Systems.

LRASM passes canister launch | Canada orders G6A1 GPM | RAF/BAE testing Typhoon upgrades

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has announced the successful testing of the surface-launch variant of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). Built on the same production line as JASSM, JASSM-ER and LRASM air-launch weapons, the missile was launched from a topside canister with an angled launcher which uses the same launch control and launch sequencer software currently employed by the Mk-41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). This launcher allows the LRASM surface-launch variant to be employed aboard various platforms in the Navy’s surface fleet, providing the potential for a powerful new anti-ship role under the US Navy’s “Distributed Lethality” concept of operations.

• Its been reported that Raytheon is experiencing issues with the development of a new processor for the AIM-120 air-to-air missile. Ordered under a Form Fit Function Refresh program issued by the Pentagon aimed at upgrading components in the missile’s guidance section, the component in question is a application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that will run the missile’s software. Fearing that Raytheon are struggling to keep the AIM-120 on the cutting edge, both the USAF and Navy have slashed their planned FY 2018 acquisitions of the missile by hundreds, but still remain hopeful that a fix can be found despite a key test being postponed by more than a year. Raytheon responded by assuring that a fix had been found for the issue and that the missile program is still on track.

• The Canadian armed forces have ordered 1,148 new C6A1 FLEX General Purpose Machine Guns as it replaces its stocks of C6 machine guns. Valued at $25.6 million, Colt Canada will begin deliveries in September, which includes cleaning and repair kits, spare parts and slings. A Defense Ministry statement said the procurement “will replace equipment that was procured over 30 years ago and will ensure that the CAF are properly equipped and continue to be ready for operations.” The new gun features a polymer butt stock and soldiers are able to attach pointing devices and optical sighting systems if desired.

• Saab will partner with Lockheed Martin to deliver a next-generation Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) system to the US Army’s live training modernisation program. Both firms already provide laser-based TES equipment to the service, and there are currently several different generations of equipment in service, all of which utilise the MILES Communication Code (MCC). The Instrumentable-Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (I-MILES) Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System (VTESS) will include detectors for trucks and smaller vehicles and laser transmitters for both small arms and for main armament for armoured vehicles, together with the instrumentation for control, tracking, and after-action review. The system will be modular, allowing for components such as the lasers and detectors can be decoupled from the system, which now makes interoperating with dual code based systems possible. This in turn will allow for improved interoperability for US Army training with other nations, at home or abroad, where vehicles conducting exercises need to support more than one TES standard.

Middle East & North Africa

• Jordan has recently received delivery of two additional Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk helicopters, bringing to 26 the number operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF). The batch is part of a wider order for 12 helicopters which is scheduled to be completed by September. Amman’s Black Hawk build-up is geared at reinforcing the defence of border security against Islamic State forces in neighbouring Syria and Iraq, and to enable the Royal Jordanian Army’s Quick Reaction Forces to immediately deploy forces anywhere in the country.

Europe

• Croatian-operated Patria armoured modular vehicles (AMVs) will be fitted with the Elbit Systems 30 mm UT30Mk2 remote-controlled weapon stations, after Zagreb’s Defense Ministry officially sanctioned the purchase. First ordered in 2007, the vehicles originally utilized Kongsberg’s M151 Protector stations. Other bidders included Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with the Samson RCWS-30, and Croatia’s ?uro ?akovi? Special Vehicles with the Protector MCT-30, jointly developed with Kongsberg.

• BAE Systems, in conjunction with the British Royal Air Force (RAF), are testing a new package of advanced weapons, software and avionics enhancements for the Eurofighter Typhoon as part of its Project Centurion program. Upgrades already tested during the program—which looks to provide a seamless transition between use of the GR4 Tornado and Typhoon—have included the successful live firing of the Brimstone air-to-surface missile. The ongoing operational testing and evaluation of the upgrades, known as the Project Centurion Phase 1 capability package, includes trials of MBDA’s Meteor ‘beyond visual range’ air-to-air and Storm Shadow deep attack air-to-surface missile software systems.

Asia Pacific

• The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) have moved forward with its purchase of a further eight T-50TH advanced jet trainers from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), adding to four first ordered in 2015. Valued at $260 million, KAI said that the first two models in the deal will arrive in November 2019, with deliveries to continue up until May 2020. The company added that the latest deal will also give a boost to the company’s plan to sell the jet to more countries, including the United States, Argentina and Botswana. Indonesia, Iraq, and the Philippines have all made purchases of the trainer, bringing to 64 the total number of exports sold by KAI.

• Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) has added a further 10 Super Mushshak aircraft to its order books after signing contracts to deliver the trainers to Azerbaijan. This is the second, albeit smaller, order for the trainer in 2017 following Turkey’s 52 plane order in May. PAC are also looking to sell its JF-17 fighter to Baku, who may look to replace their ageing fleet of Su-25 and MiG-21 aircraft.

Today’s Video

• UT-30 Remote Weapons Station: