No mid-air refueling on AF1 a White House decision, says USAF | French and Italian industry to create “naval Airbus” | Britain enters Boeing-Bombarider row

Americas

• Orbital ATK has announced the award of a $359 million contract from the US Navy to continue full-rate production of AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missiles (AARGM). The initial contract includes a $157 million award for Lot Six full-rate production, as well as an option for Lot Seven, and covers all-up round missiles and captive air training missiles for the US Navy, Italian Air Force and other allies through Foreign Military Sales orders. The missile is integrated into the weapons systems on the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft, and is anticipated to achieve Initial Operational Capability on the Italian Air Force’s Tornado ECR aircraft in 2018.

• US lawmakers have questioned the US Air Force as to why the new Air Force One will not come with an aerial refueling capability. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford was quizzed on the omission in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee and responded that the decision to leave out the capability was made not by the service, but by the White House, and cited fiscal constraints on the program for the decision. Officials have argued that the capability, though useful, added unnecessary cost, mentioning that presidents have never used the capability in flight; not even former President George W. Bush, whose aircraft loitered in the air for eight hours after the Sept. 11 attacks. Despite this, Sen. Tom Cotton, the Arkansas Republican who quizzed Dunford at the hearing reiterated that lawmakers and military leaders will have to revisit the refueling decision in the future, prompting a potential redesign of the aircraft.

Middle East & Africa

• Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has announced the commencement of a series of new programs: a heavyweight variant of the T129 ATAK; the HurJet advanced jet trainer; a 10-ton utility helicopter; and a lightweight geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) communication satellite (SATCOM). Pictures of the Hurjet released on Wednesday shows a twin-engine aircraft with twin vertical stabilizers and armed light-fighter variant. The 10-ton helicopter will be analogous to the Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk and will expand TAI’s transport helicopter portfolio, while the T129 ATAK would likely be in analogous in size to the Bell Helicopter AH-1Z Viper. Finally, the GEO satellite will weigh one ton, will have 22 transponders, and is likely to be marketed as a commercial solution.

Europe

• An agreement has been reached between the French and Italian governments, brining to an end a dispute over the STX shipyard in Western France. The new agreement will see Fincantieri acquire 50 percent of STX, and France will lend 1 percentage point of its holding for 12 years, thus giving the Italian firm a controlling 51 percent stake. This will give Fincantieri the position of holding the voting rights and receive share dividends and for Italy to announce hitting its target of owning a majority stake in the French shipyard at Saint-Nazaire. The rest of the shares will see the French government hold 34 percent of STX, Naval Group 10 percent, STX staff 2 percent and STX local suppliers 3.66 percent. Fincantieri and Naval Group have also been authorized to hold talks for consolidation of the surface warship sector, aimed at achieving a “naval Airbus.”

• Six months ahead of its new decision date on MiG-29 fighter replacement, Slovakia has ruled out procuring Russian aircraft. Defense Minister Peter Gajdos told local media that “no one is counting that we will purchase MiGs,” adding that offers have already been received from the US to supply the F-16 and Sweden to deliver the JAS-39 Gripen. Slovakia aims to acquire new fighter jets before 2019, when the servicing deal for the MiG-29s is set to expire.

• The row between Canada and Boeing over unfair government subsidiaries to Canadian aerospace firm Bombardier has crossed the Atlantic, spurring rumors of a potential trade war with the UK. This week, both Defense Minister Sir Michael Fallon and Prime Minister Teresa May criticized Boeing for undermining its relationship with Britain and for putting at risk 4,200 jobs at a Bombardier facility in Northern Ireland. “What I would say in relation to Boeing is that of course we have a long-term partnership with Boeing in various aspects of government and this is not the sort of behaviour we expect form a long-term partner and it undermines that partnership,” May said on Thursday. Fallon’s comments, which referenced ongoing defense programs with Boeing, ruled out cancelling existing orders for nine P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and 50 Apache helicopters, but added the US firm was seeking other UK contracts. The opposition Labour Party said the case should be referred to the World Trade Organization.

• A massive explosion occurred at a Ukrainian military depot in the Vynnytsya region on Wednesday, the second such incident to happen this year. The explosion forced the authorities to evacuate 24,000 people from their homes. An investigation is currently underway to ascertain whether the incident was caused by an accident or sabotage, either of which would underscore poor security at the bases. Military officials called the depot explosions as the biggest blow to Ukraine’s combat capability since the start of its conflict with Russian-backed separatist in the eastern Donbass region.

Asia Pacific

• South Korean officials have announced the successful testing of its own Directional Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) system. Developed by Hanwha Systems, the testing took place in July at the Anheung test site of the state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD). Seoul is likely to install the new system as part of planned upgrades to its C-130H transport fleet, giving protection to special forces being transported deep into enemy territory. Seoul also announced the creation of a new combat unit to carry out a so-called decapitation mission similar to the Navy SEALs’ operation to take out Osama Bin Laden in 2011. The unit will launch on December 1.

Today’s Video

• Russian Tu-22ME overshoots runway:

Turkey Finally Lands Its Attack Helicopters

Turkey has been looking to modernize its attack helicopter fleet since the mid-1990s, but the process has mostly served as an object lesson in how not to buy defense equipment. This competition faced many difficulties; after numerous snafus, technology transfer and production issues, and canceled competitions, all 3 invited American manufacturers had abandoned the competition entirely.

Even the “final” round seemed imperiled, following reports of the Turkish military’s deep dissatisfaction with the choices. Nevertheless, the competition survived long enough to pick a winner, and signed contracts with AgustaWestland. But Turkey didn’t just buy helicopters. They bought the A129 model – lock, stock, and rotor.

USS Little Rock delivered to Navy | Germany begins Leopold tank modernization | Next British Type 26 frigate to be named HMS Belfast

Americas

• Shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine has delivered the future USS Little Rock, a Freedom variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), to the US Navy. The Little Rock—completed last summer and is expected to be commissioned into service in December—is the Navy’s 11th LCS and the fifth Freedom variant delivered to and accepted by the service. Speaking on addition Freedom-class LCS vessels under construction, Fincantieri added that the future USS Sioux City will enter into trials soon, the future USS Wichita was christened and launched in September of last year and is conducting system testing in the Menominee River, and the future USS Billings was launched in July and is to begin trials next year.

• Black Hills Ammunition of Rapid City, South Dakota has landed a $50 million US Naval Sea Systems Command contract to provide 5.56mm ammunition to US armed forces. The firm, which designs, manufactures and markets ammunition for weapons ranging from sporting firearms to military sniper rifles, said that it is unlikely that the full order will purchased but it will absorb production expenses over the contract’s five-year length. “As a contractor, we’re obligated to be prepared to deliver that quantity should the government order it,” Black Hills co-owner Jeff Hoffman said. “The government is only obligated to order a small fraction of that.”

• Sierra Nevada Corp and Turkish Aerospace Industries has unveiled their collaboration aircraft developed for the USAF’s T-X trainer competition to Aviation Week. A less talked about entry in the much anticipated program, the T-X Freedom trainer has been designed to be a relatively low-cost solution both in terms of acquisition and life-cycle maintenance. It is built with an all-composite airframe, includes a fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system, and is powered by two Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan engines, each with a thrust output of 16.01 kN, cruise speed of 833.4 km/h and range of 3,700 km. As a cost-saving measure, the team decided to omit weaponization of the aircraft, instead using digitally simulated air warfare experiences.

Middle East & Africa

• The US State Department has hit back at claims made by Turkey that it has imposed an unofficial arms embargo against the government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “There is no ‘covered arms embargo’ in place for Turkey,” an US official told Defense News. “We continue to review all potential arms sales on a case-by-case basis, as is consistent with the US Conventional Arms Transfer Policy,” they added. Tensions have been mounting between Turkey and Western allies in NATO over issues ranging from human rights crackdowns in Turkey after last summer’s failed coup against the regime, as well as Washington’s continued support for Kurdish forces fighting against Islamic State militants in both Iraq and Syria—forces that Ankara deems to be terrorists. This has spilled into ongoing arms deals with Turkey, with its indigenous Altay program suffering sets backs over engine supply, and Turkey choosing the Russian S-400 air defense system instead of a Western option with NATO interoperability.

Europe

• The British Ministry of Defence has announced that the next of its new Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy will be named the HMS Belfast. The announcement was made by defense minister Sir Michael Fallon during a visit to the shipbuilder Harland and Wolff in the city, where the Navy’s last HMS Belfast—a light cruiser that is now a museum ship moored in London—was built before World War Two. Eight Type 26 frigates have been slated for production, with the first beginning combat operations in the mid-2020s, and will be used to protect the UK’s nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers.

• Germany released funds to upgrade 104 Leopard 2 tanks, contracting Rheinmetall to carry out the modernization. The $139.4 million award will see 68 Leopard 2A4, 16 Leopard 2A6 and 20 Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks modernized “to state-of-the-art design status,” eliminating obsolescent features in the tank’s fire-control computers and control consoles and install new laser rangefinders and thermal imaging devices. A new L55A1 gun will also be added to the 68 Leopard 2A4 MBTs, enabling them to fire the latest armor-piercing ammunition in the upper pressure zone. The first tanks will be completed by 2020.

Asia Pacific

• While a corruption investigation continues at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced Seoul’s intentions to buy additional T-50 advanced trainer jets from the company. The decision was made at the 105th session of the weapons procurement committee, presided over by Defense Minister Song Young-moo, however, the model or number of jets sought remain unspecified. The project will begin in 2019 and will be procured under a “domestic purchase” program.

Today’s Video

• Singapore deploy F-16Ds to New Zealand’s Ohakea air base :

Lockheed tapped for Fitzgerald repairs collision | S&K to conduct Saudi F-15 maintenance work | Irish Army conduct exercises with Saab MANPADS

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has received a $15.5 million contract modification to conduct repair work on the damaged USS Fitzgerald. The contract marks the beginning of the repair work required on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer following its June 17 collision with a civilian cargo vessel that killed seven US sailors. Under the agreement, Lockheed will provide delivery, installation and testing of one SPY-1D radar array, water cooling systems for the radar system and power cables. Work will be performed in Moorestown, NJ, Clearwater, Fla. and Oswego, NY with an expected completion date of October 2019. The AN/SPY-1D phased array radar is the primary component of the AEGIS Weapons System mounted on Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

• Marines from US Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 conducted a hot-load of AIM-120 air-to-air missiles on a F-35B Joint Strike Fighter at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. The hot-load—the loading of ordinance while the aircraft’s engine is still running—took place during the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) on September 21, an exercise that takes service members from all over the world in a joint training exercise for mission readiness. The hot-load exercise was conducted to ensure both pilots and ground crew have a real example of operations should those units deploy. The F-35Bs were loaded with the AIM-120 missile and took off horizontally immediately after.

Middle East & Africa

• Elbit Systems of Israel has been awarded a $240 million contract to provide a wide array of defense electronic systems to an unnamed country in Africa. Over a two year period, the customer will receive the Directed Infra-red Counter Measure (DIRCM) system to protect its aircraft from shoulder fired missiles, based on passive infrared systems, and includes missile warning systems, radio and communication systems, land systems, mini-unmanned air systems and helicopters upgrade. The contract follows a $20 million June award from another unnamed African customer to equip a VIP Gulfstream G650 aircraft with J-MUSIC Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) systems that include Elbit Systems’ advanced Infrared based Passive Airborne Warning System (IR PAWS).

• S&K Aerospace will provide supply, maintenance and facility services for the Royal Saudi Air Force’s (RSAF) F-15 fighter fleet, after winning a $559 million US Air Force contract on Friday. The agreement, which falls under foreign military sales to the Gulf kingdom, covers the provision of consumables, parts and maintenance of print on demand parts facilities for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s F-15 program, including all F-15 C/D/S/SA fleets. Work will be carried out in Saudi Arabia and is expected to run through March 31, 2023. The F-15 Eagle is one of the main fighter aircraft operated by the RSAF, and is currently receiving delivery of its most advanced version, the F-15SA, which features upgraded avionics, electronics warfare systems and a greater payload.

• Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli has accused US and German defense suppliers of a “covered” [indirect] arms embargo on Turkey. Canikli said that the firms were either halting shipments of spare parts of weapons systems to Turkey, or deliberately delaying them, while a Turkish diplomat dealing with NATO matters confirmed that some Turkish requests for systems and subsystems have not been addressed by the US and Germany. However, the British-based European division of US company Caterpillar—engine-maker Perkins—is in talks with Ankara to produce and supply an engine for the Altay, Turkey’s indigenous Main Battle Tank. Austria’s AVL List GmbH had initially been contracted to supply the power pack (engine and transmission) for the Altay, but this deal was cancelled after Austria’s parliament unanimously adopted a non-binding motion that imposed an arms embargo against Turkey in November 2016.

Europe

• Germany and Norway have placed orders for five Airbus A330 MRTT aerial tankers through OCCAR—Europe’s organisation for the management of cooperative armament programs. The deal follows earlier orders from the Netherlands and Luxembourg for two MRTT tankers, and the aircraft will be managed under the European/NATO Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) program. The program is funded by the four nations who will have the exclusive right to operate these NATO–owned aircraft in a pooling arrangement. The aircraft will be configured for in-flight refuelling, the transport of passengers and cargo, and medical evacuation flights.

• The Irish Army has tested Saab’s RBS 70 and RBS 70 NG man-portable surface-to-air missiles during a series of live-fire exercises at Saab Bofors Test Center in Karlskoga, Sweden. The exercises saw soldiers fire 8 RBS 70 and 2 of the newer RBS 70 NG missiles, with the aim of enhancing the soldiers’ operational capability to engage both aerial and static targets. The RBS 70 NG has improved imaging systems for target acquisition, including thermal sights and has easier-to-use training functions. It can engage targets at altitudes of several miles, and it’s laser beam-riding system makes it difficult to jam compared to more conventional infrared guided missiles.

Asia Pacific

• Australia has commissioned its first of three air warfare destroyers into the service. The HMAS Hobart was put into service during a ceremony at Garden Island in Sydney at which Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the vessel “provides clear evidence of our determination to keep Australians safe and ensure we are ready and able to meet the challenges that come our way in the years ahead.” The Hobart is equipped with an Aegis combat system, including the phased array radar and missile systems capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges of up to more than 93 miles.

Today’s Video

• A German H145M flying over Jordan:

Pressure on Boeing to deliver KC-46 on time | Lockheed announce RC PAC-3 missile intercept | KAI exec arrested

Americas

• Lockheed Martin announced the successful intercept of a tactical ballistic missile with a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) surface-to-air-missile controlled from a remote launcher, the first time such a test has been completed. The test was conducted by the US Army at Reagan Test Site at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Lockheed Martin said the “test demonstrated the expanded defended footprint available by deploying the launcher remotely from the Patriot radar. It also confirmed PAC-3 MSE’s unique ability to detect, track and intercept an incoming threat.”

• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has been awarded a $27 million US Army contract modification for service support to the Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system program. Work will be performed in Poway, California, with an estimated completion date of March, 17, 2019. Derived from the Predator UAV, the Gray Eagle conducts intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike missions. It has space for mounting electro-optical and infrared cameras for target detection and can mount up to four Hellfire laser-guided missiles. It can also carry its own laser designator for targeting of its own ordnance or for other platforms.

• The US Air Force (USAF) has expressed concern that Boeing will face difficulties in meeting a contractual obligation to deliver 18 KC-46 tankers to the service on time. Testing conducted in 2016 found a series of “category one” deficiencies, including where its boom scraped the surface of the aircraft being refueled. The testing also found that the tanker is not detecting when it is missing the receptacle, making it impossible for a KC-46 pilot to communicate that the receiving aircraft has potentially been damaged, the USAF said. While the USAF still believes that Boeing will fix these deficiencies in time to deliver the first KC-46 in late spring of 2018 (with a contractually mandated “required assets available” deadline for 18 tankers following in October), the service did not commit to accepting the aircraft from Boeing if the problem was not fixed, and at this point the timeline for resolving the issue is yet to be determined.

Middle East & Africa

• Despite continued pressure from US President Donald Trump, Iran announced the successful testing of a new ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) and vowed to keep developing its arsenal despite warnings from Washington. The US imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, saying its missile tests violate a UN resolution, which calls on Tehran not to undertake activities related to missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Iran denies any such intentions and reiterated its commitment to the nuclear deal reached with Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama. Footage of the Khorramshahr missile launch was broadcast on state broadcaster IRIB after its was unveiled for the first time at a military parade on Friday, where President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would strengthen its missile capabilities.

Europe

• The office of French President Emmanuel Macron has said that it could reach a deal with the Italian government at a meeting on Wednesday, potentially ending a dispute over the sale of the STX France shipyards. Italian tempers flared in June after Paris imposed the “temporary” nationalization of STX, cancelling a deal in which Italian state-owned Fincantieri and another Italian investor had agreed to buy a 54.6 percent stake in the South Korean owned firm. To solve the spat, France has proposed extending co-operation to Italy in the field of naval defense, in which its Naval Group military shipyard – formerly known as DCNS – is an important player.

Asia Pacific

• Indonesia’s Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu told media that the government will sign contracts solidifying the purchase of eleven Su-35 fighter aircraft in November. Ryacudu added that the aircraft will be delivered within two years but did not confirm plans to acquire a further 5 Su-35s in order to have a full squadron. Jakarta’s deal to buy the fighters includes a substantial barter deal with Russia for Indonesian commodities including rubber and palm oil.

• A former chief executive at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has been arrested as part of investigations into corruption at the firm. Ha Seong-yang, who was detained on 22 September, had previously served as head of the company’s international division, and played a role the company’s efforts to sell variants of the T-50 trainer aircraft internationally. Ha has denied the claims, which include profiteering, accounting fraud, and embezzlement, and investigations are being conducted into big ticket programs such as the KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter, T-50, and the next-generation KF-X fighter.

• AM General will deliver 6,576 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) to the Afghan armed forces. The $45.9 million contract awarded by the US Army falls under foreign military sales and provides the expanded capacity M115 HMMWV. Production will take place in South Bend, Ind., and is expected to run through Aug. 31, 2018. Variants of the vehicle can be used as a troop and weapons carrier, as well as light cargo carriers, ambulances and command-and-control vehicles. However, the vehicles are scheduled to be phased out in favor of Oshkosh Defense’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) due to its vulnerability to improvised explosive devices.

Today’s Video

• Iran’s Khorramshahr missile launch:

$5.1 billion released for Columbia-class development work | Germany lifts Tiger grounding, restrictions placed | KAI exec takes life amid probe

Americas

• General Dynamics Electric Boat has landed a $5.1 billion US Navy contract to commence development work on the Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Announced last Thursday, the award includes component and technology development, missile tube module and reactor compartment bulkhead prototyping and manufacturing efforts, and United Kingdom Strategic Weapon Support System kit manufacturing—which is covered under a foreign military sale—for the Columbia class ballistic missile submarines. Work will be conducted at several US locations and is scheduled for completion by December 2031. 12 Columbia-class submarines are planned by the Navy, and will replace the current fleet of Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. The first vessel, the Columbia, is expected to be completed by 2031 at a cost of $10.4 billion counting research and engineering costs. The expected cost of follow-on vessels has been floated at over $5 billion a piece. The vessels will support the US Navy and British Royal Navy’s Trident II D5 submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system.

• Oshkosh Defense has been awarded a $466.8 million modification to an existing US Army contract for the production of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). Based on the current A1P2 technical data package, procurement will be determined by individual orders and is expected to be finished by August 25, 2018. The A1P2 variant of the FMTV is the standard cargo version of the truck for moving equipment and supplies. Other variants of the platform are used for troop transport, vehicle recovery and other tasks in a utility role.

• The US Navy has received into service its first new Block III Virginia-class attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN 788). Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries and General Dynamics Electric Boat, the vessel is expected to be commissioned into service next spring. Block III submarines feature a redesigned bow with enhanced payload capabilities, replacing 12 individual vertical launch tubes with two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes, each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles. This, among other design changes, reduced the submarines’ acquisition cost while maintaining their outstanding warfighting capabilities.

Middle East & Africa

• Egypt has received delivery of the first of four Gowind 2500 corvettes ordered from French shipbuilder Naval Group—formerly DCNS. Delivered just 36 months after the order being placed, the ENS Elfateh was handed over in a ceremony at a Naval Group shipyard in Lorient before setting sail for Egypt on Saturday. Naval Group added that the Royal Malaysian Navy has also ordered six of the vessels.

Europe

• Saab announced that an unnamed customer has ordered its Giraffe 1X AESA radar system for an undisclosed sum. The firm added that the sale “further underlines Saab’s position as a supplier of world-leading protection against a wide range of air threats.” Giraffe 1X is a flexible and agile 3D active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, featuring the latest in radar technology, including gallium nitride (GaN) circuits. Compact and lightweight with unparalleled performance, Giraffe 1X is suited for changing needs and mobile forces. The complete radar is portable and can be transported on a pickup truck-sized vehicle.

• German military authorities have agreed to lift a ban on Tiger helicopter operations after a helicopter crashed while on UN deployment in Mali. However, the flights are being resumed with certain conditions such as restrictions on speed, weight and usage of autopilot system. A preliminary investigation into the wreckage of the downed helicopter did not point to a specific cause of the crash, but more thorough examinations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Earlier this month, manufacturer Airbus warned Tiger pilots to be careful of rapid switches from autopilot to manual mode during turbulence, after initial indications showed that such a switch may have played a role in the July crash that killed both crew members.

Asia Pacific

• Sri Lankan media has reported that Columbo is interested in purchasing six ex-Indian Air Force Su-30K fighter aircraft that have been grounded in Belarus while Russia looks for a new buyer. 12 of the former Indian jets have already been sold to Angola. The Sri Lankan government had previously been looking at the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17, however,this was met with protest by India who in turn suggested a procurement of its own development, the LCA Tejas. Instead, the government turned its attention to the Su-30 as a possible third-party alternative, but a lack of trained pilots in the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) could prove fielding the fighters difficult without additional funding for a new fighter training program and more advanced training aircraft.

• A vice-president at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has taken his life, as South Korean authorities probe allegations of corruption at the firm. Kim In-sik, a former Brigadier General in the air force, had been in charge of overseas sales including the purchase of the T-50IQ trainer by Iraq—a deal that is now under scrutiny. In a three-page suicide note, Kim said he had done his best, “but it’s so unfortunate that things didn’t work out.”

Today’s Video

• The Pakistan Navy tests an Exocet anti-ship missile:

Egypt Becomes 2nd Customer for Gowind Corvettes

In March 2014, France’s La Tribune reported that Egypt was about to become DCNS’ 2nd customer for their new Gowind Combat Corvette, with plans to order 4 ships in a EUR 1 billion (about $1.38 billion) deal. What’s interesting is that despite the country’s current economic woes, naval modernization at all levels remains an important commitment. By June 2014, Egypt had signed a deal.

ATHENA laser downs UAVs in testing | Bulgaria and Slovakia pause MiG-29 replacement | No bribes in Eurofighter deal, finds report

Americas

• Lockheed Martin announced that it successfully shot down drones with a 30 kilowatt laser during testing of the weapon in August. Conducted at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in conjunction with the US Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, the ATHENA (Advanced Test High Energy Asset) laser brought down five Outlaw unmanned aerial vehicles. The system is being used as a test-bed for future technology and is part of Lockheed Martin’s Accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative for developing higher powered lasers for battlefield use. Investment in laser technology by both industry and government has been increasing as the Pentagon looks to use the technology as the next generation of weaponry to counter enemy indirect fire, improvised explosive devices, drones, missiles and aircraft.

• The US Air Force’s (USAF) newest gunship, the AC-130J Ghostrider, will be declared operational later this month. However, the aircraft will not be combat ready for another two years as the USAF Special Operations Command is behind in training operators. The new configuration has taken the refuelling pods out of an existing MC-130J, replacing them with weapons racks outfitted with precision strike packages. Armaments found on the Block 10 AC-130J configuration includes an internal 30mm gun, GPS-guided small diameter bombs and laser-guided missiles that will launch from the rear cargo door, while the Block 20 adds a 105mm cannon and large aircraft infrared countermeasures. Future updates include the addition of wing-mounted Lockheed AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and radio-frequency countermeasures. A number will have the 30mm gun replaced with a high-energy laser.

Middle East & Africa

• The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has established a second Iron Dome battalion as it looks to prepare itself for aerial threats along its northern border. A service press release quoted Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, Commander of the Aerial Defense Division, as saying “Israel’s northern theatre has always been the most threatened area,” adding that the new ‘Iron Dome’ battalion was born out of this reality, and will provide an active defense response in the northern theatre. It will also defend Israel’s maritime space together with the navy. The IAF said the Iron Dome system has thousands of available missiles for an effective response to a wide array of threats, a lack of which temporarily silenced the Iron Dome during a truce in the 2012 Pillar of Defense operation into the Gaza Strip.

Europe

• An Austrian parliamentary report has failed to find evidence in support of claims that Airbus committed fraud in order to secure a 2003 Eurofighter Typhoon deal. Vienna commissioned the investigation in March in order to ascertain whether claims made by the Defense Ministry—that politicians accepted bribes from Airbus and the Eurofighter consortium during the procurement’s tender process—were true. While the report found no proof of bribery involving lawmakers, it did uphold another ministry complaint that the government were “deceived” by the consortium that they could deliver certain jets as initially agreed, and also found that Airbus had provided millions of euros in sponsorship money in connection with the deal to a soccer club that is seen as close to Austria’s Social Democrats— the ruling party during the tender. A separate criminal investigation continues.

• Bulgaria will restart its MiG-29 fighter jet replacement program, ditching an earlier decision by an interim government to adopt Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen. While Prime Minister Boiko Borissov had initially promised to uphold the previous government’s decision and continue negotiations with the Swedish aerospace firm and government, he has subsequently voiced concerns that the Gripen was not the right choice for the Bulgarian Air Force. A parliamentary committee set up to investigate the bid process has subsequently found “disturbing facts” in relation to the tender and instead, Sofia will rewrite its requirements and invite bidders to resubmit their offers. In addition to Saab, entries in the previous 2016 tender included second-hand F-16s from Portugal and second-hand Eurofighter Typhoons from Italy.

• Another government joining Bulgaria in putting the breaks on MiG-29 fighter replacement is Slovakia, who will instead focus on modernizing its ground forces. The central European NATO member state has been in talks with several firms, including Lockheed Martin for its F-16s and Saab for its Gripen, the latter proving somewhat of a regional favorite and is in use with neighboring Hungry and the Czech Republic. A decision had been expected next month in order to have deliveries coincide with the ending of a Russian MiG-29 maintenance contract in autumn 2019, but this may need to be extended in order to prevent a capability gap.

Asia Pacific

• A South Korean lawmaker has blamed the previous administration for the purchase of obsolete CH-47D helicopters purchased for $130 million. Rep. Rhee Cheol-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea said that 14 Chinooks were sold by the US after fifty years of service with US forces stationed on the peninsula, but have failed to work properly since their delivery to South Korean forces in 2014. Delivery of key navigation equipment has also been delayed hampering their use. Rhee added that the military had rushed to buy the helicopters, citing their lower price when compared to newer models, and that the recent cancellation of a planned upgrade mirrored the fact that the decision to buy the Chinooks was wrong from the beginning.

Today’s Video

• Lockheed Martin’s ATHENA laser weapon in action:

Sierra Nevada Corp. tapped for JCREW services | ATAC hoards Mirage F1s for USAF adversary tender | KC-46 schedule likely to slide, says Air Force

Americas

• A unit of Textron Airborne Solutions, ATAC, have acquired 63 Dassault Mirage F1s in anticipation of the US Air Force’s (USAF) adversary air (ADAIR) contract, a tender for 150 aircraft for use as “red air” training needs. The fleet sale also included support equipment and 150 engines, and ATAC will retrofit the aircraft with digital radio frequency memory jamming capabilities and active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars in anticipation of service requirements. However, ATAC’s options for obtaining the remaining aircraft needed for the program remain unclear, with options for aircraft that can operate for more than a decade or have parts that can be supported at the manufacturing level spread thin. The USAF’s $15 billion ADAIR award would contract out nearly 37,000 flight hours to provide adversary air services, filling the gaps at the USAF’s 57th Wing weapons school and Red Flag training events, as well as operational test and evaluation missions at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

• Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod has been selected by Boeing for use as the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system on the USAF’s F-15C fleet. An engineering, manufacturing, development and production contract will be awarded in 2018, and Lockheed are expected to deliver as many as 130 Legion Pod systems for integration from 2018 through to 2019. The Legion Pod provides long-range detection and tracking of airborne threats in radar-denied environments.

• Sierra Nevada Corp has been awarded a $205 million US Special Operations Command contract to supply support services for Special Operation Command’s Dismounted Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare systems. Work will run through Sept. 12, 2022, and performed in Sparks, Nev., and Folsom, Calif. The Dismounted Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare system is part of the wider Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) series of IED jammers. The JCREW is designed to jam enemy radio-frequencies used to detonate improvised explosive devices. It comes in three different models, including a man-portable version for foot patrols, vehicle-mounted variants, and a static model for protecting key points at installations.

• The head of the USAF’s Air Mobility Command has revealed that deliveries of the KC-46A tanker from Boeing will likely take place next year, and it remains unknown whether the firm will meet the “required assets available” milestone scheduled for October 2018. Speaking at the annual Air, Space and Cyber conference near Washington DC, Gen Carlton Everhart said that the service had discovered severe flaws on the tanker, known as “category 1 deficiencies”. Among the most glaring, the tip of its boom has on occasion struck receiver aircraft outside their refuelling slipways. Unless Boeing resolve the issue quickly it could delay a scheduled 1 December delivery.

Middle East & Africa

• Russia has delivered the first two of 12 Su-30K aircraft to the government of Angola, with remaining deliveries scheduled for early next year. The schedule was revealed on Tuesday by Aleksandr Vorobei, the deputy CEO of the 558 Aviation Repair Plant in Belarus—the facility were the aircraft have been stationed prior to modernization and transfer to Angola. The Su-30K is an interim model of the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet and a total of of 18 units were delivered to India between 1997 and 1999, but the aircraft were returned to the Irkut Corporation in 2005 and replaced with 16 Su-30MKI jets instead. Angola ordered the modernized fighters in 2013.

Europe

• The head of MBDA expects Italian defense contractor Leonardo will remain part of the European missile consortium after it was floated that it may swap its share in the venture. MBDA is owned by France’s Airbus and Britain’s BAE Systems, both of whom have a 37.5 percent stake, and by Leonardo with 25 percent. However, in recent years, Leonardo has considered taking greater control of civil turboprop maker ATR, which it co-owns with Airbus, while Airbus expressed interest in buying out Leonardo at MBDA, prompting periodic discussions over a possible swap. While Italy has decided to stay in the missile game for now, questions still remain at ATR—the world’s largest civil turboprop maker—where Airbus and Leonardo disagree over whether to invest in a new turboprop program, a move supported on the Italian side.

Asia Pacific

• The Indian government is negotiating with MBDA for the purchase of Mistral air-to-air missiles for its indigenous HAL Rudra armed helicopter. The helicopter—an armed variant of the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)—is currently armed with a forward mounted machine gun and rockets, so the inclusion of an anti-air capability will increase its operational role against enemy rotorcraft and UAVs. New Delhi also plans to conduct live-firing trials of the Mistral on its other indigenous helicopter, the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), by the end of the year.

• The Afghanistan Air Force (AAF) has received delivery of its first four Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters from the US. A total of 53 surplus US Army UH-60As will be sent to Kabul in accordance with a 2016 agreement, and could be extended to a total of 159 units as the helicopter replaces Afghanistan’s Mi-8/Mi-17 transport helicopters (of which there are fewer than 100 in service). These will join 30 additional MD Helicopters MD-530F Cayuse Warrior (to join the AAF’s existing 27 MD-530Fs) armed scout helicopters and the remaining eight of 20 Sierra Nevada Corporation A-29 Super Tucano turboprop-powered close air support (CAS) attack aircraft.

Today’s Video

• A Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter accidentally fires rocket at bystanders during the Zapad military drills:

JCREW 3: Next-Generation Land Mine Jammers Use Power of Network

The US military is working on the next-generation of jammers to defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that pose such a grave threat to US forces deployed overseas. The jammers are called Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (JCREW) devices. They are high-power, modular, programmable, multiband radio frequency jammers designed to deny enemy use of selected portions of the radio frequency spectrum. They come in 3 varieties – fixed, mounted, and dismounted.

The first generations of JCREW devices were developed and deployed quickly to meet an urgent need in the field. The next generation of JCREW devices, known as 3.x, are being developed to increase capabilities and tap into the power of the network to enhance their effectiveness. The JCREW 3.1 version is a dismounted device, the 3.2 version is a mounted device, and the 3.3 version is being developed to work in mounted, dismounted, and fixed-installation roles, using a common open architecture of electronics.