After two month lull, North Korea launches new ICBM | Raytheon contests DoD’s JSTARS decision | Qatar’s Eurofighter deal concluded, say BAE |

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has landed a $37.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract worth $10.7 billion, to exercise an option for software conversions for structure and systems datasets in support of Lot 10 production for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Work will take place at Lockheed’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility and at Samlebury, England, where program partner BAE Systems operate a 180 acre facility at the disused Samlebury Aerodrome. Contract completion is scheduled for June 2020. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

• The US Navy has exercised a second year option with IAP Worldwide Services for logistics support services on E-6B Mercury aircraft. Worth over $58.9 million, the contract tasks IAP with maintaining and supporting the E-6B Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) and Airborne Command Post aircraft, support equipment, aircraft weapon system, associated support sites, and supporting organizations, up until November 2018. Work will take place at several US locations including: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (70 percent); Patuxent River, Maryland (10 percent); Bellevue, Nebraska (10 percent); and Fairfield, California (10 percent). News of the contract comes as rising tensions over the possible threat of nuclear war with North Korea remain high, with Pyongyang testing yet another nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday. The Pentagon’s E-6 fleet, based out of Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is tasked with relaying instructions from the National Command Authority to its fleet of ballistic missile submarines in the event of nuclear war. E-6B model Mercury aircraft are also capable of remotely controlling Minutemen ICBMs.

• Raytheon is contesting a US Air Force (USAF) decision to reject its Archimedes radar—a derivative of the APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor found on the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft—from the service’s E-8C JSTARS replacement program. While the USAF has yet to officially announce rival Northrop Grumman as the winner, the flying branch did notify Raytheon that Archimedes was no longer under consideration, prompting the firm to file a protest with the US Government Accountability Office on 20 November. Both Raytheon and Northrop are still under contact from an award last year to carry out radar risk reduction work and Raytheon has maintained that it will continue its work on the JSTARS radar risk reduction effort. Speaking to Flight Global, a Raytheon spokesperson said its “radar solution for the JSTARS program offers the air force the most mature and capable technology available to meet this urgent need,” adding that “the evaluation process had significant flaws, and we have filed a protest accordingly.”

Middle East & Africa

• In what may be some kind of record, a senior BAE Systems official has told the UK Parliament’s Defence Select Committee that a deal to sell Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and Hawk jet trainers to Qatar is complete—just six weeks after the signing of a statement of intent. Chris Boardman, the managing director of BAE Systems’ military air and information business, said all that is needed to be decided is an appropriate date to sign contracts, but would not speculate on what that date would be. Boardman also urged the British government to provide clarity on its vision for combat air requirements in a post-Typhoon era. Qatar’s purchase of 24 Eurofighter Typhoons is the first major arms contract to be signed between the UK and the Gulf state, and is the first Typhoon sale by the British since the Ministry of Defence took over responsibility for leading the government’s Typhoon export sales effort from the Defence and Security Organisation, the department responsible for most overseas sales in the sector.

Europe

• Poland’s defense ministry has launched the analysis/market survey phase of its “Harpia” acquisition. The effort covers the replacement the Polish Air Force”s current fleet of 31 MiG-29 fighters and 18 Sukhoi Su-22 ground-attack aircraft and Warsaw wants to program to increase the service’s “capability to perform offensive and defensive counter-air missions, and to support land, sea, and special operations”. The fighter procurement calls for approximately 32 units—enough for two fighter squadrons—with deliveries to start in 2024. Manufacturers are required to submit responses including a general description of their proposed equipment by 18 December, with selected parties to then be issues with an official request for information. Potential candidates include the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab JAS-39 Gripen and a US government-backed proposal with the Lockheed Martin F-16V. Also in the works is an electronic warfare capability, however, it has not been decided whether these aircraft will be the same as the new fighters or a separate platform.

• NH Industries announced the successful maiden flight of its second NH90 Sea Lion platform, a naval variant of the medium-size multi-role helicopter being developed for the German Navy. The November 24 test comes roughly one year on from when model one took off from the Donauwörth facility of NHI consortium member Airbus Helicopters. Next up, NHI will undertake a several-month period of development testing that will focus on avionics and software, followed by further modifications to the aircraft throughout 2018. The initial serial production aircraft is now in final assembly, ahead of first delivery scheduled for late 2019. Berlin will acquire 18 Sea Lions to replace its navy’s fleet of aged Westland Sea King 41s.

• The US State Department has notified Congress that it has cleared the possible sale of AIM-120C-7 air-to-air missiles in support of Poland’s F-16 fighter program. Announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the package includes 150 missiles, as well as missile containers, weapon system support, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. Raytheon will act as prime contractor with the total package estimated at $250 million.

Asia-Pacific

• Following a two month lull, North Korea successfully tested another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the early hours of Wednesday morning. State media hailed the Hwasong-15 missile as its “most powerful”, adding that it reached an altitude of around 4,475 km (2,780 miles)—more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station—and flew 950 km (590 miles) during its 53-minute flight, before landing in Japanese waters (although it did not cross Japan unlike some previous tests). South Korea responded by carrying out live-fire drills, launching one of its own ballistic missiles, while the international community reiterated their opposition and condemnation of Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions ahead of an emergency session of the UN Security Council. An analysis by the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists concludes that the missile could have travelled more than 13,000km on a standard trajectory, thus reaching “any part of the continental United States”.

Today’s Video

• Report on North Korea’s latest ICBM test:

Drag chute tests underway in Alaska for RNAF F-35s | CRLs allowing B-52 smart bombs go for combat overseas | C-Dome declared operational by Israel

Americas

• Over the next several weeks, USAF test pilots and Lockheed Martin will conduct a series of tests as part of the certification process for a drag chute designed to allow Norwegian and Dutch F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to stop on icy runways near the Arctic circle. The modification has been spearheaded by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNAF) with the Netherlands government also contributing $11.4 million towards the chute’s development. The first phase of testing, which will take place out of Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, will examine how the F-35A operates in extreme, icy conditions, while a second phase, scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2018, will test the drag chute’s landing capabilities.

• Conventional Rotary Launchers (CRL) for B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft have been flown out of Barksdale Air Force Base, LA., by a C-5M Super Galaxy on November 6, to be used for combat overseas. The CRLs allow the long-range strategic bombers to carry GPS guided conventional smart weapons inside its bomb bay, thus increasing the number of weapons it can carry in combat by eight. Speaking on the Milestone, Master Sgt. Adam Levandowski, Air Forces Strategic (AFSTRAT) Armament Systems manager, called the inclusion of the CRLs as “a big game changer for current and future warfare.”

• Lockheed Martin has announced six contracts totalling almost $200 million, to improve training for C-130 airmen and operators around the world. The contracts are for: Five new C-130J weapon system trainers for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC); A new, reconfigurable C-130J weapon system trainer for the Air National Guard at Quonset Point Reserve Base in Rhode Island; Four new KC-130J observer trainers for the US Marine Corps based at Cherry Point, North Carolina; Miramar, Florida; Ft. Worth, Texas and Iwakuni, Japan, and obtained through the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR); Upgrades the two AMC C-130J fuselage trainers at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, as well as two visual systems on the flight simulators located at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas and Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany. Awarded under Air Mobility Command (AMC) Obsolescence Phase-3; Upgrades 13 existing AMC trainers at Air Force Bases throughout the US and Europe under Air Mobility Command (AMC) Obsolescence Phase-4; and a one-year technical support contract to assist the USAF with conducting analyses for common architectures across various simulator elements. Completion of contracts, will be completed up until mid-2020 at the latest.

Middle East & Africa

• A naval version of Rafael’s Iron Dome air defense system has been declared operational by the Israeli military, bringing to an end an extensive 18-month development and testing program. Integrated with the Elta Systems ELM-2248 Adir surveillance, track and guidance radar onboard the INS Lahav, a Sa’ar-5 corvette-class surface ship, the system had undergone extensive live-fire testing on November 27, where it successfully intercepted and destroyed multiple incoming targets at sea. The variant will be marketed for export as the C-Dome.

Europe

• Israel plans to offer a mixed fleet of F-16C/D model aircraft as a possible solution to Croatia’s 12-unit MiG-21 replacement competition. Initially, Tel Aviv had proposed selling its already retired A/B model F-16s, however, with incoming deliveries of F-35I Adir aircraft, some of the 78 single-seat F-16Cs and 48 D-model trainers in the IAF’s inventory will become surplus to requirement and available for resale. To boost surplus A/B model exports, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries have previously designed an upgrade package for the retired “Netz” fleet. In the Croatian competition, the Israel’s F-16s will face off against Saab JAS-39 Gripen from Sweden.

Asia-Pacific

• Despite announcing a multi-year pause on developing its own next-generation stealth fighter—or possibly pitching in with a new European fighter project—a Japanese defense official has told Aviation Week that its X-2 stealth demonstrator has collected more data than required during 34 flights since its first flight in April 2016. 50 flights had been planned but were not needed. While further details on the testing remains scant, the official mentioned that radar signature was one area of outperformance, while its IHI XF5 engines also did better than expected under the adverse conditions of high angles of attack.

• A Chinese student is being held in Japan over the illegal export of a Star Safire III Forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera system to China. Developed by Oregon-based FLIR Systems Inc., the camera was initially used on a disaster response helicopter used by Tokyo before being replaced by an upgraded version in September 2015. A recycling company had been tasked with disposing the sensitive equipment, however, the FLIR ended up on an internet auction site before being purchased by the student for $5,000, who in turn sold it to a Chinese company for $22,000. The Star Safire III, which retails in excess of $450k for a new model, requires an export license for shipping outside Japan and the recycling company is facing charges for failing to dispose it properly. The student maintains that the money he earned was used to cover his living expenses and university fees.

Today’s Video

• C-Dome declared operational after testing.

Norway Reiterates Commitment to F-35s

Back in 2006 Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Lightning II team were facing difficulties and controversies in Norway. Since then, there have been some successes. The next milestone MoU was signed on Jan 31/06, amidst industrial and missile deals designed to bring Norway on board – but even that signing came with express statements that the country was keeping its options open.

Norway had threatened to back out of its Tier 3 partnership in the JSF program, but a Kongsberg JSM/NSM missile deal helped, and a subsequent conditional composite structures deal shored up support. Norway’s JSF production MoU was signed on December 31/07. On June 17/11, Parliamentary opposition caved and endorsed an initial buy of 4 F-35As. Now, Norway is moving into the full procurement phase.

Jordan air base to get multi-million USAF facelift | Nexter wins again in French Scorpion program | Croatia to choose between Gripen and Israeli F-16s

Americas

• Huntington Ingalls Industries launched last Wednesday, its eighth National Security Cutter vessel, Midgett, for the US Coast Guard. A Legend-class cutter, the vessel was launch at Pascagoula, Miss., ahead of its christening on December 9. It is named after John Allen Midgett, who was awarded the Silver Cup by the UK Board of Trade in 1918. Midgett received the award for rescuing 42 British sailors aboard the British tanker Mirlo after it was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of North Carolina. The Legend-class is the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutter and are being procured to replace the service’s legacy Hamilton-class cutters, which have been in service since the 1960s.

Middle East & Africa

• Turkey will receive its first delivery of the S-400 Triumf air defense system in 2019, Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli told parliament’s Planning and Budget Committee. He added that Ankara’s agreement with Russia includedan order for one S-400 system with a second one remaining optional. Turkey is also gearing up to work with the Franco-Italian Eurosam consortium on developing its own missile defense system, which is likely to be a more advanced version of the consortium’s SAMP-T system. A deal with Eurosam is expected to be finalized by the end of 2017 at the latest.

• $143 million has been made available by US Congress for upgrade work at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The base, which has been used by US, Belgian, and Dutch air force fighter-bombers due to its proximity to the border with Syria and Iraq, and has been an important strategic asset in the air campaign against the Islamic State. US Air Force documents reveal that the base has been overwhelmed by the pace of operations, with limited ramp space to launch combat sorties, has “zero dedicated space to support cargo and personnel recovery operations” and is operating at “four to five times what the space was originally intended to support.” But since the USAF’s initial budget request, there has been a drop in combat activity in Iraq and Syria as IS territory evaporates amid offensives from both Syria’s government and allies on one side and Iraqi security forces on the other. That said, however, the inclusion of the Jordan project in the $700 billion National Defense Authorization Act highlights the Pentagon’s long-term needs in the region.

Europe

• In its competition to select a replacement fighter for its ageing fleet of MiG-21 fighter aircraft, Croatia has identified both the Saab Jas-39 Gripen and second-hand F-16s from Israel as the front runners for selection, Croatian media reports. Two other offers of F-16s from United States and Greece have already been considered and rejected onthe grounds that they were too expensive and required modernization respectively. In addition to being the most cost effective, Croatia is looking to become a strategic defense partner with Israel, which may give the F-16 package the edge, while Saab have already dropped its Gripen package by some 300 million euro ($358 million) in order to become a more competitive bid. A decision is expected on November 30.

• Russia has successfully conducted an interceptor test with its A-135 anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system. Conducted at the Sary-Shagan range in Kazakhstan, the modernized interceptor missile successfully hit a simulated target. Development of the A-135 began in 1971 and the first launch took place in 1979. Development of a successor system—the A-235—began in 2014, with Moscow expecting to have the test of a new interceptor missile within the next two to three years, however, it was not disclosed what type of interceptor was used during the recent test. The A-135 is tasked primarily with protecting Moscow from nuclear attacks. It includes the Don-2N radio-radar station, located in Sofrino, near Moscow and can detect warheads in flight, at a distance of up to 3,700 km.

• French government-owned weapons manufacturer Nexter has won out against a unit of Swedish-owned Volvo—Renault Trucks Defense (RTD)—in a tender to design and produce a light multirole reconnaissance vehicle, dubbed “Light VBMR,” for the French Army. The winning firm was informed unofficially last week ahead of the eventual official announcement by the Armed Forces Ministry. The vehicle is being procured as part of the French Army’s Scorpion program, where Nexter are already involved as joint prime contractor for the Jaguar combat reconnaissance vehicle and Griffon multirole troop carrier. Despite having earlier highlighted the strategic importance of winning the competition, an RTD exec said that losing the Light VBMR deal “is a pity, but not catastrophic.” The Light VBMR will complement the Griffon VBMR, with a first delivery of the latter next year in a planned total 1,722 units. The two vehicles will replace some 3,000 aging VAB troop carriers.

• A Leonardo Helicopters AW-101 search and rescue (SAR) helicopter recently delivered to Norway overturned during a ground run on 24 October. No injuries were sustained to the two crew onboard at the time of the accident, but the helicopter itself was spotted on its side, sans its main rotor blades. The AW101 was scheduled to enter service in Norway in 2018 so the incident is a setback to Oslo’s replacement of its ageing SAR fleet.

Asia-Pacific

• The Philippines has commissioned into service its first of five TC-90 aircraft. Donated by Japan to help Manilla conduct maritime patrol missions over the archipelago, Naval Vessel (NV) 390 underwent an activation and blessing ceremony in Sangley Point, Cavite City on November 21. The aircraft along with a second unit arrived in the Philippines back in March while the three remaining King Airs are expected to arrive in the country in the first quarter of 2018.

Today’s Video

• Russia tests its upgraded ABM interceptor.

AW101 Flies off With Norway’s SAR Helicopter Competition

In September 2001, the NH90 medium helicopter was chosen as the common helicopter for the Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme, serving the navies of Norway, Sweden and Finland. Norway’s share was up to 24 machines: 14 NFH naval variants (6 for Norwegian ships and 8 for the coastguard), with an option for 10 more Search & Rescue machines. The follow-on SAR contract would replace Norway’s aging Sea King helicopter fleet.

That plan triggered warnings from people in the rescue service that the mid-range NH90 lacked the range and capacity required. Some Norwegians also pointed to Denmark’s departure from the Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme, precisely because the Danes needed the larger EH101 for the SAR role. Norway certainly has a lot of territory to cover. Its own long and deep maritime economic zone over the treacherous North Sea includes shipping, fishing, and abundant oil; and the American withdrawal from Keflavik AFB Iceland is stretching Norway’s patrol zones toward that country. Sikorsky’s Norwegian agent “Aircontactgruppen” has even taken the Norwegian government to court twice, demanding an open competition for the SAR helicopter contract. In 2007, they received their wish, and in 2013, Norway revealed their pick… not the S-92, and not its NH90 competitor.

USMC rolls out modernized LAV-AT to troops | DSCA approves Javelins for Georgia | UK and Japan to cooperate on Meteor BVRAAM upgrade

Americas

• Having successfully completed its initial operational goals during field tests in September, the US Marine Corps (USMC) has started rolling out its upgraded Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank (LAV-AT) weapons system to troops. Developed under the USMC’s LAV-AT Modernization program established in 2012, the upgraded ATWS includes a new turret that is unmanned, fires both wire-guided and radio frequency TOW missiles, and can acquire targets while on-the-move with an improved thermal sight. It also has a Far Target Location system, new commander/gunner video sight displays, and an electric elevation and azimuth drive system, which helps rotate the weapon system onto the target. Fielding will be completed by the end of 2019.

• BAE Systems has been awarded a $8.7 million US Navy contract modification to complete the fitting out availability process for the USS Portland (LPD-27) and for continued efforts associated with the post shakedown availability for the USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26). Work on the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships will take place at BAE’s San Diego facility in California with work on the USS John P. Murtha scheduled to be completed by February 2018, followed by the USS Portland in October 2018.

Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia is believed to have ordered approximately $7 billion worth of precision guided munitions from Boeing and Raytheon. While the US State Department has yet to formally notify Congress of the deal, sources close to the sale said it was agreed as part of a $110 billion weapons package that coincided with President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf kingdom in May. A State Department official maintained that the department does “not comment to confirm or deny sales untilthey are formally notified to Congress,” and both Raytheon and Boeing have declined to comment. The sale of munitions and missiles to Saudi Arabia has become an increasingly contentious issue for many US lawmakers opposed to the Saudi Royal Air Force’s conduct in the Yemen civil war, where Iran-allied Houthi rebels fight against the government backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition. The UN estimates that nearly 4,800 civilians have been killed since March 2015, and Saudi Arabia has either denied attacks or cited the presence of fighters in the targeted areas, adding that it has tried to reduce civilian casualties.

• Azerbaijan is expected to sign a deal with Turkish munitions firm Roketsan for the delivery of the SOM stand-off air-to-surface missile initially developed by TUBITAK SAGE. Three variants—the SOM-A, SOM-B and SOM-B1—come with varying warheads and guidance/communication packages, while a forth version, the SOM-J is being developed by Roketsan and Lockheed Martin for use in the internal carriages of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The missile boasts a range of 250KM and can be launched from land, sea, and air platforms. Also ordered from Turkey are Roketsan’s Kasirga rocket launchers (MLRS), which allow for the operator to strike at targets deep in the enemy’s defense, including military bases, concentration sites, rocket launcher launchers, airports and transport hubs, administrative and industrial centers. Costs and number of units for both purchases have yet to be revealed.

Europe

• The government of Georgia has been approved by the US State Department for the possible foreign military sale of Javelin missiles and Command Launch Units. Announced by the Department of Defense’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) last Monday, the sale, if approved by US Congress, will include 410 Javelin Missiles, 72 Javelin Command Launch Units (CLUs)—includes two Javelin Block 1 CLUs to be used as spares—as well as training equipment, and US Government and contractor technical assistance. The value of the sale is estimated at $75 million, and while the Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture has been listed by the DSCA as prime contractors, the missiles will be provided from US Army stock and the CLUs will be obtained from on-hand Special Defense Acquisition Fund (SDAF)-purchased stock.

• Finland’s Defense Ministry has decided that its F/A-18 fighter replacement program will require a one-to-one acquisition of 64 fighter jets. The defence report, which was approved by the Finnish Parliament in February, says that the readiness of the current fleet must be fully maintained after the procurement, and between 7-10 billion euros ($8.3-12 billion) has been made available for the purchase. A tender is planned to start in 2018, with a newly elected government to pick a winner in 2019. In August, US President Donald Trump claimed during a White House press conference with his Finnish counterpart, Sauli Niinisto, that Helsinki was already buying fighter aircraft from Boeing, much to Niinisto’s confusion. Niinisto later told Finnish media, “It seems that on the sale side, past decisions and hopes about future decisions have mixed … The purchase is just starting, and that is very clear here.”

Asia-Pacific

• In what will be its first non-US defense partnership, Japan is expected to announce, alongside the UK, a new joint development effort on the Meteor air-to-air missile. Developed by the European missile consortium MBDA, the upgraded missile will incorporate a powerful radar system developed by Mitsubishi Electric and a prototype will be built at an MBDA plant starting in fiscal 2018. Live-fire testing will take place in the UK in 2023 at which point Tokyo and London will decide whether to put the weapon into mass production. Japan is likely to select the missile for its fleet of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. A joint statement giving further details on the joint program is likely to take place after a meeting of their top diplomatic and defense officials December 14 in London.

• India’s Ministry of Defense has hailed the successful test-firing of its long-delayed air-;aunched variant of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile. Launched on November 22 from an Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30MKI, the 2.5 ton nuclear-capable missile successfully hit a ship target off of India’s Eastern Coast. A derivative of the Russian P-800 Oniks over-the-horizon supersonic anti-ship cruise missile,Ge the BrahMos is a joint venture between India’s Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) and Russian rocket design bureau NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Ground- and naval-launched variants are already in operation with the Indian Army and Navy respectively, and the IAF plan to modify 50 Su-30MKIs to carry the air-launched weapon. Modifications include electrical and software upgrades, as well as reinforcement of the jet’s undercarriage in order to properly support such heavy-weight ordinance. First deliveries are expected to commence in January 2018.

Today’s Video

• Indian news report on the IAF’s Brahmos test:

LAV-AT: Modernizing the USMC’s Wheeled Tank-Killers

General Dynamics’ wheeled LAV A2 family is the US Marine Corps’ backbone armored personnel carrier, and the LAV-AT (anti-tank) is one of the most interesting sub-types. A pop-up M901 Emerson turret rises out of the vehicle like the head of a robot, tracks opponents using visual and thermal imaging, and fires up to 2 BGM-71 TOW(Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire guided) anti-armor missiles, before dropping back inside to re-load under armored protection. The result is a more mobile tank-killer that can strike from long-range, and remains effective even under heavy artillery shelling. It’s also handy for fire support against enemy strongpoints, serving in the same role as an assault gun.

Unfortunately for the Marines, their LAV-ATs are facing 2 separate threats to their long-term viability. Hence the USMC’s ACAT-III Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank Modernization Program.

Thanksgiving 2017

Wishing all our readers a very happy Thanksgiving in what has been quite a memorable and busy year. Be safe, have fun, and enjoy the leftovers. DID offers thanks to all of our readers, and to all American and allied soldiers in uniform. We will resume publishing on Monday.

Today’s Thanksgiving Videos

• President Trump pardons his first turkey:

• A daring escape: North Korean soldier defects across the DMZ:

KC-390 touches down in Florida ahead of tests | E-6B Mercury to get comms upgrade | Philippines arms MPACs with Spike missiles

Americas

• Rockwell Collins has been awarded a $12.7 million contract modification to carry out upgrade work on the communication systems of US Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft. Under the award, the Navy will exercise an option for the installation of Block I/Internet Protocol Bandwidth Expansion Phase 3/Block IA Very Low Transmit Terminal/Nuclear Planning and Execution System kit on one E-6B aircraft. Field support engineering, training, and licenses are also included in the contract, which will be carried out at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (85 percent) and Richardson, Texas (15 percent), with an estimated completion time scheduled for June 2019. The E-6 Mercury platform, which first went into service in 1989, has the ability for command and control authority to launch land and sea based nuclear ballistic missiles. 16 were built for the US Navy between 1988 and 1991.

• Embraer’s KC-390 has flown from its test centre in the Brazilian interior to its US base in Jacksonville, Florida ahead of flight tests required for its certification. The dual-role tanker transport aircraft to make the trip is the second of two prototype’s built by Embraer as part of a 30-unit order for the Brazilian Air Force, as the first prototype undergoes minor repairs following a stall speed test incident in early October. Testing to be carried out in Florida includes evaluating avionics systems, crosswind operations and external noise. So far, the KC-390 test fleet has accumulated 1,450 flight test hours since the first example achieved first flight nearly three years ago. Alongside Brazil, Portugal is planning an acquisition of five KC-390s, with an option for a sixth, while Argentina, Chile, Colombia and the Czech Republic have expressed interest in buying a combined 26 more.

Middle East & Africa

• Saab announced Monday, an order from the South African National Defense Force for the provision of mass field feeding capabilities. The contract tasks Saab with delivering mobile containerised kitchens systems to the SANDF, which consists of 24 x 50-man systems and 11 x 200-man systems. The 50-man system consists of a fully equipped expandable unit and bladders to handle the potable and waste water, while the 200-man system comes with a fully equipped expandable kitchen unit, complete with a reefer unit, a storage unit, as well as a utility unit for potable water, diesel and waste water. Centurion of South Africa will execute the project over the next two years.

• Middle East Propulsion Company Limited, a Saudi Arabia-based firm, has signed agreements with Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems to maintain and repair Royal Saudi Air Force fighter (RSAF) jets in the country. The first contract covers the maintenance and repair of RSAF Tornado engines, the RB199, while the second contract, which will be finalized by the beginning of 2018, will cover the repair and maintenance of the EJ200 engine used on the Eurofighter Typhoon. The contract falls under Saudi Arabia‘s crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud’s Vision 2030 initiative that looks to have 50% of local demand for military products and services covered in house. Next up for MEPC is to produce the engine parts within the kingdom, and is in talks with General Electric to become an international exporter of such parts.

Europe

• Norway has received the first of an eventual 16 Leonardo AW101 helicopters configured for search and rescue (SAR) operations. Leonardo said the aircraft departed it’s Yeovil, UK facility on Friday for Sola Air Base in southern Norway, and will now receive further operational testing and evaluation before entering active service with the Royal Norwegian Air Force next year. The remaining helicopters in the $1.32 billion deal will be delivered through 2020. For SAR missions, the AW101 employs a multi-panel Osprey AESA surveillance radar system along with two rescue hoists, searchlights and advanced communications equipment.

• A delegation from the Pakistan defense industry visited Poland last week to discuss potential cooperation with the Polish small arms industry. The meeting)—the first of three meeting scheduled for this year— saw representatives from the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) and Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), and the “main topic of talks” between Lt. Gen. Durrani and PGZ board member Maciej Lew-Mirski was the “potential of the purchase and transfer of technology related to the production of small arms and ammunition” for the purpose of supplanting the Pakistan Army’s G-3 and Type 56 assault rifles. Should the Pakistan Army proceed with a small arms modernization program, PGZ estimates that the Army could require “between 500 and 800,000 new automatic rifles, which should replace existing weapons”, a program that could be worth up to $2 billion.

Asia-Pacific

• The Philippines Navy hopes to have equipped by Christmas, Rafael Spike Extended Range (ER) missile systems onboard its three new multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC). Once the systems are given a pre-delivery inspection in Israel, they will be then shipped back by a PAF C-130 before a tentative fitting on the MPACs in December. The Spike ER package is estimated to cost just in excess of $5.3 million.

Today’s Video

• Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 makes emergency landing:

T-6A flights halted due to physiological incidents | Opposition removed to Rafale sale to Egypt | USS Ralph Johnson delivered to US Navy

Americas

• General Electric Aviation (GEA) has been awarded a $143.4 million US Navy contract to provide 22 low-rate initial production Lot 1 and 2 T408-GE-400 turboshaft engines for the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter. In additional to the engines, the sale will also include associated engine and programmatic support, logistics support, peculiar support equipment, and spares. Work will take place in Lynn, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed in July 2021.

• The US Navy has accepted delivery of the future USS Ralph Johnson (DG 114), an Arleigh Burke-class future guided-missile destroyer, following the successful completion of sea and in-port trials in September. Manufactured by shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries, the vessel’s namesake Pfc. Ralph H. Johnson, received the Medal of Honor for his actions during Operation Rock in the Vietnam War, 1968. Johnson jumped on top of a tossed grenade to spare his fellow Marines from the blast. The heroic action took Johnson’s life but saved the lives of his brothers in arms and undoubtedly prevented the enemy from penetrating his sector of the perimeter. The new vessel is the 64th Arleigh Burke class destroyer and the third of the DDG 51 Flight IIA restart ships to be delivered. It was built at Hungtinton’s Pascagoula shipyard, where future destroyers Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121) and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) are currently in various stages of production. Huntington is also under contract for the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)—which will be the first Flight III ship.

• T-6A Texan flights out of Vance Air Base have been halted following reports of a number of physiological incidents experienced by pilots. Four episodes involving four instructor pilots and one student pilot from the 71st Flying Training Wing have occurred since November 1. A statement from the base stated that in each case “the aircraft’s backup oxygen system operated as designed, and the pilot followed the correct procedures, landing the aircraft safely,” adding that an investigation into the incidents was underway. T-1 Jayhawk and T-38 Talon flights out of the base will continue as normal.

Middle East & Africa

• France’s Finance Ministry has dropped its opposition to the sale of 12 additional Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft to Egypt, La Tribune has reported. The ministry—often referred to as Bercy, the arrondissement in which it’s located—had initially been concerned that Cairo had already borrowed too much in order to pay for a growing modernization program, which has seen 24 Rafales, several naval vessels, and a satellite purchased from France, amounting in over $8 billion in sales to French arms companies between 2014 and 2016. However, an intervention from the French cabinet, citing an Egyptian economy that is projected to grow 6% annually this year and set to experience an increase in revenues from recently tapped gas desposits, has managed to change Bercy’s mind—at least to allow for negotiations over a possible sale of additional Rafales to continue.

Europe

• The British Royal Navy will formally accept the first Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier into its fleet on December 7, following the completion of contractors’ sea trials on the vessel. The announcement was made by new defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, during his first visit to the carrier on November 16. The commissioning will take place at the vessel’s home at Portsmouth, and will be inducted into service by Queen Elizabeth II herself.

Asia-Pacific

• Northrop Grumman has carried out the first flight of the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) early warning and surveillance aircraft it is building for Japan. Tokyo ordered an initial Hawkeye in 2014, followed by an additional example in August 2016, and will be added to a 13-strong E-2C fleet the Japanese Air Self Defense Forces have been operating since 1983. Both E-2Ds will be delivered next year and in the words of the company “further strengthens its ability to meet Japan’s evolving security and intelligence needs.”

• China is expected to enter its DF-41 inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) into service from next year. Local media reports say that the solid-fueled road-mobile platform recently underwent its eight test in November in China’s western desert region. Capable of attacking anywhere in the world from a mainland site, it boasts a range of 12,000km, has a top speed of mach 10, and can carry 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MRIV) warheads.

• Harris Corporation will deliver bomb rack units (BRUs) to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for use on the next-generation KF-X experimental fighter. The company will provide both its BRU-47—a single store carrier designed for use on the Boeing F-15E and F-22 Raptor—and BRU-57—a smart-weapon-enabled, twin store carrier that doubles the payload capacity of aircraft without the need to modify any hardware, which allows for a wide array of payload configurations. Further details on the contract were not disclosed. Seoul plans to produce a total of 120 next-gen fighters, as well as help produce a number of aircraft for program partner Indonesia.

Today’s Video

• Roll out of Tu-160M2: