UK Tornados Biding Time

With the retirement of the RAF’s Jaguar fleet, the core of Britain’s land-based tactical air fleet rests in a pair of multinational European fighters. The new Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the top 3 air superiority fighters in the world, and enhancements are finally beginning to give it some precision strike capability. The mainstay of the existing fleet is made up of the British-Italian-German Panavia consortium’s Tornado aircraft, in both F3 air defense and GR4 low-level precision strike configurations.

The F3s are being pushed aside by the Eurofighters, but the GR4s were expected to remain in place until 2025. A 2007 effort added LITENING surveillance and targeting pods, to improve the aircraft’s close air support capabilities on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan. Now a GBP 253 million (about $496 million) “Capability Upgrade Strategy (Pilot)” program seeks to take the next steps, and is intermeshed with the Tornado fleet’s successful ATTAC fixed-price through-life maintenance program…

Naval ScanEagles for land-locked Afghanistan | Army to turn Stryker into mobile SHORAD platform | Leonardo’s BriteCloud decoy to debut on RAF Tornados

Americas

• The US Army plans to transform its Stryker combat vehicles into maneuverable Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) systems. The 8×8 wheeled Stryker armoured vehicle is likely to be the backbone of several medium armoured brigades. The US Army aims to close a capability gap in SHORAD that needed to be filled for possible operations against near-peer threats such as Russia. One viable candidate for the provision of the system is Boeing with its Avenger launcher, which mounts 8 Stinger missiles on a Humvee jeep, along with an FN M3P .50 cal machine gun, and automated systems that include optical sights, infrared, a laser rangefinder, and an IFF (Identification Friend-Or-Foe) system. Modern units include “slew-to-cue,” which automatically slews the turret to place the sights on targets received from FAAD (Forward Area Air Defense) Command and Control systems. The Avenger launcher can be equipped with several types of missiles including the Longbow Hellfire, AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. The Army expects to be fully under contract by August and expects the first prototypes to be ready by Spring 2019. A request for ordnance technology initiatives to the industry is scheduled to be published by March 30th.

Middle East & Africa

• Jane’s reports that Turkey has carried out a first test firing of its Gokdogan (Peregrine) and Bozdogan (Merlin) air-to-air missiles at a firing range close to the Black Sea town of Sinop. Both missile types are part of Turkey’s ambitious plan to develop a spectrum of short-, medium- and long-range missiles of its own design. The Gokdogan and Bozgodan missiles, developed by the Defense Industries Research and Development Institute (SAGE) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), were unveiled during the 13th International Defense Industry Fair held in Istanbul in May 2017. They have been developed as direct replacement for Turkey’s arsenal of US-made the US-made AMRAAM and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Surface-to-air tests against live targets will take place in the last quarter of 2018.

• Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have been contracted by the Indian Ministry of Defense to supply additional Barak-1 short-range surface-to-air missiles. The contract is valued at $70.5 million and includes 131 Barak-1 shipborne, point defense missiles to be delivered to the Indian Navy. The Barak-1 is a supersonic, vertically-launched short range air defense system, with an operational range of about 6 miles. That pushes it past the standard ranges of shoulder-launched options with naval counterparts, like the MBDA Mistral/SIMBAD or Saab Boofors’ RBS-70, but short of other small vertical launch options like the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow. Its closest western competitor on the international market is probably Raytheon’s horizontally-fired Amero-German RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, and MBDA’s flexible Crotale VT-1/NG. Key attributes include a compact 8-cell vertical launching system that weighs just 1,700 kg, coupled with an equally compact 1,300 kg fire control system. This makes it easier to install in small ships, and to retrofit into older vessels.

Europe

• The British Royal Air Force (RAF) will be the first air force in the world to field the new BriteCloud countermeasure system produced by the Italian company Leonardo. The decoy will be deployed on the Tornado G4 fighter-bomber. BriteCloud is an electronic radar jamming system that can fit into a fighter’s chaff and flare dispenser without modifications and will provide enhanced protection from advanced guided missiles. The countermeasures update comprises an active, expendable decoy which is capable of luring an incoming radar-guided missile away from a host aircraft. The acceptance into service follows a series of tests carried out by the RAF in the United States in June 2017. These live firings saw dozens of BriteCloud decoys launched from Tornado GR4 aircraft by the RAF’s 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron against high-tech radar guidance systems. The RAF’s remaining two squadrons of Tornado GR4s are scheduled to be retired by April 2019, with the type’s capabilities to be assumed by the service’s Eurofighter Typhoons via the Project Centurion activity, and subsequently by the UK’s incoming fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35Bs.

Asia-Pacific

•  The US government is procuring 8 ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in support of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Insitu Inc. has been awarded a contract valued at over $47 million. ScanEagle’s base Insight UAV platform was originally developed by Washington state’s Insitu, Inc. to track dolphins and tuna from fishing boats. Its characteristics make it equally suitable for naval operations and for battlefield surveillance. A partnership with Boeing took ScanEagle to the defense market. The ScanEagle is launched by catapult, and autonomously recovered using a folding “skyhook” and catch-line. These UAVs fill a niche between hand-launched mini-UAVs like Aerovironment’s RQ-11 Raven and runway-capable tactical UAVs like Textron’s RQ-7 Shadow. The drone can be modified to speciality variants, from sniper locator, to bio-warfare agent detection. The ScanEagle is currently in service in Canada, Malaysia, Colombia, Iraq, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Singapore. The deal also includes spares, other support equipment, 17 field services representatives plus site surveys and activation teams. The majority of work (95%) will be performed in Afghanistan with the remaining 5% being completed in Bingen, Washington. Work is scheduled for completion in March 2019.

• China will upgrade Pakistan’s fleet of JF-17 fighter jets with a KLJ-7A radar system that will likely improve the combat capability of the aircraft. The KLJ-7A radar can be mounted on light-or medium-weight fighter jets and tremendously extends the fighter jet’s detection range and is capable of tracking dozens of targets and engaging several of them simultaneously and boosts a good jamming-resistant capacity that keeps the plane away from enemy’s electronic interference. The FC-1/JF-17 is a lightweight multirole combat fighter platform was developed jointly by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) to produce a low-cost, multirole aircraft taking advantage of the latest avionics and weapons packages. The plane is widely deployed by the Pakistan Air Force and some reportedly have been purchased by the Myanmar Air Force. The Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology promotes its product series of new-generation radar capable of detecting stealth aircraft such as the US F-22 Raptor.

• South Korea’s Navy is reviewing a plan to build a 5,000-ton nuclear-powered submarine in an effort to boost its deterrence against North Korea’s sub-based nuclear attack capability. Reports suggest that the Navy plans to build a nuclear attack submarine modeled after the French 5,300-ton Barracuda-class sub, multiple Navy sources told Defense News. The SSN Barracuda Program was designed to meet the French Navy’s operational mission needs by providing replacements for its 6 current-generation nuclear attack submarines. Despite their relatively modest size, the Barracudas have sharp teeth. A set of 4 x 533mm launch tubes are be able to fire its stored armament of up to 20 heavy weapons, in whatever combination of new short range F21/Artemis heavyweight torpedoes, medium-range SM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, A3SM (Mica) anti-aircraft missiles, and stealthy long range MdCN Scalp Naval cruise missiles. So far South Korea has built nine 1,200-ton KSS-I diesel-electric submarines and nine 1,800-ton KSS-II subs, both with technical assistance from German shipbuilding company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft. The Asian nation is on track to build its own 3,000-ton attack submarine known as KSS-III. South Korea’s announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions with its northern neighbor. The North is currently entering the final stage of development for a 3,000-ton submarine that could carry three SLBMs, called Pukkuksong-1.

Today’s Video

• South Korea shows off its new F-35 Lightning II:

Leonardo to enter Eurofighter into Poland’s Harpia tender | Israel plans old F-16 sale to Croatia | Afghans to receive four Indian Mi-24s

Americas

• The Boeing Co., St. Louis Missouri has been awarded a contract modification valued at $34 million. This amended contract includes an integrated product support and sustained engineering for F/A-18A-F and EA-18G aircraft in support of the US Navy and the governments of Australia, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Switzerland, Canada and Spain. The F/A-18A-F Super Hornet is the two seat version of the aircraft that exchanges a greater operational range for a more advanced attack station cockpit to assist its strike role. The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18F that provides tactical jamming and electronic protection capabilities. They have been used in Iraq for everything from disrupting enemy IED attacks by jamming all radio signals in an area to escorting strike aircraft against heavily defended targets during the opening days of the war. Work is scheduled to be completed in December 2010 and will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, Bethpage, New York as well as El Segundo and San Diego, California.

• Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. of Sunnyvale, California is being awarded a contract valued at over $10 million. This modification refers to a 2016 contract between the US Navy and Lockheed Martin for a Common Missile Compartment Replacement for Ohio Class submarines, a missile service unit, a X-Link Pod Refresh and Strategic Weapons Systems Ashore efforts. The common missile compartment, being designed for the Ohio and Vanguard submarine replacement vessels, will house submarine-launched ballistic missiles in quad-packs aboard future U.S. and United Kingdom missile boats. The common missile compartment carries the UGM-133 Trident II nuclear missile, one of the most advanced submarine-launched atomic missiles in the world. The Strategic Weapons Ashore facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station provides long-term shore-based testing capabilities to proof modernized submarine missile systems. This installation will play an important role in the upcoming US Navy program to replace the Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Work will be performed in Cape Canaveral, Florida, with a completion date of December 31, 2020.

• The US Navy plans to modify 45 more Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in the next two years to increase the aircraft’s service life and capabilities. The potential contract will cover modifications to up to 15 aircraft in fiscal 2019 and up to 30 aircraft in FY2020 and is valued at $73.2 million. The modifications are designed to extend the fighter’s airframe life from 6,000h to 9,000h, adding up to 10 years of service life. Upgrades include an enhanced network capability, a longer operational range, an advanced cockpit system, a reduced radar signature and an enhanced communication system. Such upgrades are designed to make the Super Hornet effective in combat until at least into the early 2030s. The US Navy currently has an active fleet of 541 F/A-18E/Fs and is buying 24 new Super Hornets for a sum of $1.8 billion in FY2018.

Middle East & Africa

• Jane’s reports that the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) signed a letter of intent covering the production of Beryl M762 assault rifles in Nigeria. The memorandum determines three phases of technology transfer: initial assembling, partial manufacturing, and finally full production of the assault rifles at the Ordnance Factory Complex in Kaduna. The PGZ is one of the largest defence groups in the world and is active in the defence, shipyard, offshore, property and high-tech sectors. Nigeria’s federal budget allocated $1 million to the production of the Beryl M762 rifles and $1.08 million to the production of AK-47 assault rifles. It was not announced how many rifles will be produced in Nigeria.

• Israel plans to sell a squadron of its ageing F-16 planes to Croatia. The NATO member seeks to modernize its fleet of MiG-21s with this $500 million deal. The first of the 12 jets is scheduled to arrive in 2020 with the remaining following by 2022. The decision comes after a number of top Croatian officials have voiced concern over the condition of the country’s MiG-21s. Croatia bought those Soviet-era jets from Ukraine in 2013.

Europe

• The Italian airframe manufacturer Leonardo prepares to promote the Eurofighter Typhoon to the Polish government which should launch its “Harpia” fighter tender to replace its remaining RAC MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-22s within the next few weeks. The company is willing to negotiate the relating integration of weapons used by the Polish air force. This would involve the Eurofighter consortium clearing the type to operate with Lockheed Martin’s AGM-158 JASSM air-to-surface cruise missile. Warsaw is a strategic costumer for the company as it has previously bought Leonardo’s Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainers. Eurofighter Typhoons can be either assembled in Italy, Germany, Spain or the UK. The companies that took part in the analysis and market survey phase are Boeing, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin and Saab.

• The Swiss government has unveiled details of its $8 billion ‘Air 2030’ program which envisions a reboot of the country’s air-defense complex that sets the stage for the purchase of both aircrafts and ground-based missiles. The existing fleet of decades-old F/A-18 and F-5 jets is considered too outdated for the task. New aircraft under consideration include the Eurofighter, Dassault’s Rafale, Saab’s Gripen, the F/A-18 Super Hornet from Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s F-35A, according to the March 23 list of requirements published by the defense department. In addition, Swiss officials want to protect an area of 15,000 square kilometers with ground-based weapons, which is more than one-third of the country. They also seek to intercept targets up to 12 kilometers high and 50 kilometers away. Ground-based weapons on the short list are the Eurosam consortium’s SAMP/T system; the David’s Sling missile shield from Israel; and Raytheon’s Patriot system. The ministry wants to purchase a single plane type under a “one-fleet policy.”

Asia-Pacific

• As part of its four-year military transition plan backed by the US to modernise its air force Afghanistan will receive 4 Belarusian Mi-24 helicopters from India. A trilateral agreement between Belarus, Afghanistan and India was signed earlier this month. The Mi-24 is a Cold War-era helicopter and is used for counter-terrorism operations by the Afghan National Army. India already supplied four Mi-24s to the Afghan Air Force during in the year 2015-2016, marking a significant shift from its earlier reluctance to provide lethal military equipment. However, some of these helicopters had been grounded because of the lack of spares and India is working on plans to help repair and refurbish these Mi-24s and other Russian-origin helicopters and transport aircraft of the Afghan Air Force. Those helicopters will have a positive effect on the continued Afghan counter-terror operations against the Taliban and IS-KP and will provide ground troops with much needed close air support.

Today’s Video

• The Afghan Air Force drops its first laser-guided bomb on Taliban troops in Farah

China’s first aircraft carrier prepares for sea trials | Poland to exercise option for more M-346 trainers | USAF orders Cessnas for allied COIN operations

Americas

• United Technologies has won a contract for services in support of the F135 propulsion system on F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. The deal was awarded by the US Navy and is valued at more than $239.6 million. Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, a subsidiary of United Technologies will support F-35 programs within the US Air Force Navy, Marine Corps, non-U.S. Department of Defense participants and foreign military sales customers. The F135 propulsion system is the engine manufactured exclusively for the F-35 Lightning II. The work is expected to be complete in January 2021. Most recently the F-35 program hit a major milestone as two squadrons accomplished day and night qualifications with 140 “traps”, each denoting a successful landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft-carrier deck. The milestone clears the F-35C to begin operational testing on the carrier later this year, which will determine if the US Navy can obtain their initial operational capability target for the aircraft in fiscal year 2019.

• The US Air Force plans to acquire 22 more Cessna AC-208s to provide to allied governments to use for lightly armed surveillance missions and is open to receive bids from companies interested in modifying aircraft to carry weapons and sensors. The USAF plans to equip the planes with BAE manufactured Hydra APKWS II rockets. In addition the planes will be outfitted with an L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical and infrared sensor with a laser designator. The AC-208 Combat Caravan is a light attack combat aircraft manufactured by the US-based aerospace and defense company Alliant Techsystems (ATK). The plane is a counter insurgency (COIN) aircraft converted from a cargo / ISR plane. It was developed under the Combat Caravan program of the US as part of the government’s effort to rebuild the Iraqi Air Force. AC-208s ordered by Iraqi, Lebanese and Afghan militaries received modifications by Orbital ATK, but AC-208s planned to be delivered to several other countries – including Chad, Cameroon, Niger and the Philippines – are modified by L-3 Communications.

Middle East & Africa

• The first amphibious assault ship (LHD) for the Turkish Navy is expected to start sea trials in February 2019. The ship with the designation TCG Anadolu is Turkey’s first indigenously built multipurpose amphibious assault ship, which can be configured as a light aircraft carrier. Currently 90% of its 114 building blocks built by Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul, have been completed. The ship is 232 meters in length, 32 meters in width and 55 meters in height and will increase the operational capability of the Turkish Navy. Turkey will be 10th state to have such a ship. Construction began in 2016 with an overall project cost estimated be over $1.2 billion. The project is partnered with Navantia which offered Sedef its BPE/Juan Carlos I Class design. The Juan Carlos/BPE ships can carry almost 1,000 troops, and transport 150 vehicles including main battle tanks. A ski jump at the front of the deck can be used to launch fighter jets like the V/STOL AV-8 Harrier II, or the future F-35B Lightning II STOVL. The vessel will enable Turkey to sustain long-endurance, long-distance military combat or humanitarian relief operations, while acting as a command center and flagship for the Turkish Navy.

• Harris Corp., Clifton, New Jersey has been awarded a contract modification to a previously firm-fixed-price-contract to exercise an option to procure 14 full-rate production lot 15 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures AN/ALQ-214 A(V)4/5 onboard jammer systems in support of the Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program Office for the government of Kuwait. The contract is valued at $24.5 million and is expected to be completed in May 2021. A similar deal, valued at $161 million, was struck between Harris Corp. and the Australian government in February 2018. The Naval Air Systems Command is contracting the activity. Work will be performed in Clifton, New Jersey as well as in San Jose, San Diego, Rancho Cordova and Mountain View, California.

Europe

• Poland plans to order four more M-346 trainers which will boost the size of its advanced jet trainer feet to 12 aircraft. This option signed with Leonardo is worth more than $143 million. The order should be delivered by 2020 and includes a support package. According to Leonardo its total order for this plane type is at 72 units, procured by Israel, Italy, Poland and Singapore. Leonardo is also taking part in the USAF T-X completion via its DRS subsidiary. The M-346 project began in 1993, as a collaboration with Russia. The aircraft’s design for vortex lift aerodynamics, and thrust/weight ratio of nearly 1 : 1, allow it to remain fully controllable even at angles of attack over 35 degrees. This is useful for simulating the capabilities of advanced 4+ generation fighters like the F/A-18 Super Hornet, Eurofighter, and Rafale.

• Norway’s procurement of the F-35 joint strike fighter and new high-end submarines is on track, and the government is working to induct both new systems. Additionally, Norway will move along with the planned procurement of the P-8 anti-submarine aircraft. The planned acquisitions constitute a major modernization of Norway’s military equipment. The four German made diesel-electric submarines of the Type 212A built by Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems subsidiaries HDW and Nordseewerke are set to be ready to go by the mid-2020s. In April 2006, a German U-212A set a world record for non-nuclear subs with a two-week-long dive from Eckernfoerde in Germany to Rota in Spain. Norway further intends to buy 52 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jets to replace its current inventory of 56 F-16 Fighting Falcons, which it will phase out as early as 2021. The five P-8 aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the 2022-2023 time frame.

Asia-Pacific

• On March 27 China announced that its first domestically made aircraft carrier prepares for sea trial. This news comes one day after two senators pressed president Donald Trump in a letter to allow the sale of either F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant or of F-16V Fighting Falcon aircraft to Taiwan to fend of Chinese aggression. The United States sold Taiwan 150 F-16s in 1993. Taiwan currently has 144 F-16 fighters. Of these, 15 are in the United States for training and an additional 24 will be offline on a rolling basis in an ongoing upgrade program that runs through 2023. Taiwan has flagged continued interest in the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet, possibly as part of an upcoming new round of arms purchases from the United States. Taiwan sees the F-35B and its STOVL capabilities as a way to offset the threat of a first strike by China, allowing the island to retain the ability to generate air power in the event of its runways being disabled.

Today’s Video

• Chinese Air Force holds drills in the Western Pacific:

Finmeccanica’s M-346 AJT: Who’s the Master?

Alenia’s Aermacchi’s M-346 advanced jet trainer began life in 1993, as a collaboration with Russia. It was also something of a breakthrough for Alenia Aermacchi, confirming that the Finmeccanica subsidiary could design and manufacture advanced aircraft with full authority quadriplex fly-by-wire controls. Those controls, the aircraft’s design for vortex lift aerodynamics, and a thrust:weight ratio of nearly 1:1, allow it to remain fully controllable even at angles of attack over 35 degrees. This is useful for simulating the capabilities of advanced 4+ generation fighters like the F/A-18 Super Hornet, Eurofighter, and Rafale. Not to mention Sukhoi’s SU-30 family, which has made a name for itself at international air shows with remarkable nose-high maneuvers.

The Russian collaboration did not last. For a while, it looked like the Italian jet might not last, either. It did though, and has become a regular contender for advanced jet trainer trainer contracts around the world. Its biggest potential opportunity is in the USA. For now, however, its biggest customer is Israel.

KAI selects Martin-Bakker for KF-X ejection seats | MDA calls for more THAAD interceptors | Poland signs off on Patriot offsets deal

Americas

• The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has contracted Lockheed Martin Corp. Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas for the production of additional missile round pallets, spares, and associated peculiar support equipment for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. The contract modification worth over $53 million puts the overall value of the contract close to $978 million and is set to be completed by April 30, 2021. The THAAD system is a long-range, land-based theatre defense weapon that acts as the upper tier of a basic 2-tiered defense against ballistic missiles. It’s designed to intercept missiles during late mid-course or final stage flight, flying at high altitudes within and even outside the atmosphere. This allows it to provide broad area coverage against threats to critical assets. This capability makes THAAD different from a Patriot PAC-3 or the future MEADS system, which are point defense options with limited range that are designed to hit a missile or warhead just before impact. The MDA has almost tripled its production orders for THAAD interceptors from the systems’ manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.

• President Donald Trump signed into law a spending bill that adds 143 aircraft to the order that was already requested by the Department of Defense. This bill includes the purchase of 20 additional F-35 Lightning II fighters, 10 F/A-18 Super Hornets, and three KC-46A tanker aircraft worth $9.5 billion. The defence spending was part of a $1.3 trillion budget that was six months overdue and only funds the government until September 30. The Pentagon’s budget was boosted by $61 billion over last year to $700 billion. Congress appropriated $44 billion to aircraft procurement, 27.5 percent above what was requested by the Department of Defense. The largest pile of money will be set aside to buy 90 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters, worth $10.2 billion in total. Congress also topped off the military’s wish list with 10 more Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets for the Navy, worth $739 million.

Middle East & Africa

• 25-year old William Elong, a young entrepreneur from Cameroon, managed to produce a UAV that is 25 times cheaper than the standard market price. The drones are multipurpose and can fly autonomous. The utility of the UAV’s made in Cameroon is diverse and includes surveillance, weather prediction and assist in disaster relief. The current prototype has a range of 12 miles and can stay in flight for about 45 minutes and is definitely an addition to the mini-UAV market to look out for. However it still has to be seen if Elong’s drone truly is a match for other UAVs of its size such as the PUMA.

Europe

• The Polish government has officially signed an offset agreement with the US industry that will pave the way for the purchase of the Patriot integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) system under the Wisla program. The Wisla program is part of the Tarcza Polskior (Shield of Poland), aiming at to give the country an advanced air defense system to match. Missile proliferation in the Middle East, American fecklessness, and a rearming Russia have all led Poland to the conclusion that they can no longer depend on old Soviet-era air defense equipment. They need their own advanced national air defense system, which can benefit from allied contributions without being dependent on them. The purchase of the Patriot system was initialised in March 2017 when Poland signed a deal worth up to $7.6 billion with Raytheon. Warsaw sees the deal as central to a thorough modernisation of its armed forces by 2023. The MIM-104 PATRIOT anti-air missile system offers an advanced backbone for medium-range air defense, and short-range ballistic missile defense, to America and its allies. A Patriot firing battery includes several components: an antenna mast group, radar, electric power station, launchers, ECC command center, and maintenance center. They are carried on a mix of heavy and medium trucks.

• Jane’s reports that the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has awarded MBDA in France a $204 million contract to submit detail on three air-to-surface missile options regarding the French Army decision on its future MAST-F requirement. The MAST-F solution is intended to equip the army’s upgraded Airbus Helicopters EC665 Tiger HAD Mk3 standard attack helicopter. Work is scheduled to begin in 2023. The MAST-F missile is planned to replace the current air-to-surface anti-armour capability provided by the Lockheed Martin AGM Hellfire II missiles, which France acquired under a foreign military sales request in November 2015. The 140mm Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) is a ‘fifth generation’ land combat system that features a new infrared seeker allowing engagement of both hot and cold targets.

• The government of Belgium is looking into the replacement of its F-16 fighter fleet. Currently this is a hot topic in the Belgian parliament after a F-16 replacement affair transpired earlier this year. Currently there are two options on the table: either extending the life of the current F-16s; or purchase Rafale jets for which France already proposed a strategic partnership.

Asia-Pacific

• After years of delays, cost blow-outs and questions over its performance, the focus on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is shifting from development and production to sustaining operations ahead of the permanent basing of the first two aircraft in Australia later this year. Canberra has ordered 72 of the fifth-generation fighter, and expects over time the price of each aircraft will average $116 million. While the F-35 JSF is seen very much as an American jet, it has always been a development partnership with Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark, paving the way for companies indigenous to those countries to participate in production. More than 50 Australian firms have shared in $1 billion of contracts to deliver parts and services to the project, a tally expected to double by 2023.

• Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) selected the Mk18 ejection seat produced by Martin-Baker for its KF-X fighter program. The selection of the Mk18 seat continues long history of cooperation between KAI and Martin Baker which included both the KT-1 and T/A-50 programs. The Mk18 ejection seat is the most advanced ejection seat ever produced for fighter and trainer aircraft. A similar seat to the one currently in competition for the US Air Force new trainer Jet, the T-X. The KF-X fighter program started back in 2008 and is part of South Korea’ success story in the defense sector. The ROK has become a notable exporter of aerospace, land and naval equipment. The KF-X program has progressed in fits and starts, and became a multinational program when Indonesia joined in June 2010. DARPA’s estimated that the KF-X program will cost about $5.5 billion, Indonesia reportedly contributed about $165 million so far. In a nearly 70 years long history Martin-Baker products have saved the lives of 7,563 aircrew from around the world.

Today’s Video

• Iron D’Oh! Hamas drill triggers Israel’s Iron Dome meltdown:

DSCA clears TOW sale to Saudi Arabia | France & Ukraine sign their largest deal for Airbus helicopters | Israel considers Osprey after joint exercises

Americas

• Raytheon Missile Systems was awarded a contract for the provision of various services related to its Tomahawk cruise missile production. Valued at $37 million, the contract provides for lifecycle management and technical support required to maintain a Tomahawk cruise missile depot facility, including depot maintenance, demilitarization preparation, system test operations and foreign military sales maintenance. This also includes associated support requirements for the Navy and the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Most recently, the US Navy’s FY18 Budget $3.4 billion weapons procurement request called for the acquisition of 100 ship-launched Tactical Tomahawk cruise missiles.

• Jane’s reports that Boeing is about to give Lockheed Martin a Legion pod full development and production contract. This contract aims to integrate the Legion Pod infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor on the F-15C by end of the year. The pod is mounted on the centreline of the jet – mirroring what the Super Hornet Block III is doing – and the IRST21 long-wave infrared sensor being used is the same as the navy version. Infra-Red Search & Track (IRST) systems provide long range thermal imaging against air and ground targets. IRST enables the host aircraft to acquire and track airborne targets through the heat generated by the jet engine and through aerodynamic heating of the airframe as it travels through the atmosphere. Being a passive system, the target aircraft does not know that it is being tracked. The IRST21 sensor has already been fitted to the US Navy’s Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet as part of an interim drop tank/IRST sensor combination. The Legion Pod is equipped with advanced networking and data processing technology, and also supports the emerging Multi-Domain Adaptable Processing System.

Middle East & Africa

• Israel revives interest in procuring Bell Boeing MV-22 Ospreys after a joint exercise conducted with the US Marine Corps. Exercise “Juniper Cobra” formally concluded on March 15 after several weeks of robust training between US and Israeli military personnel on shared capabilities and interoperability via computer simulations and live scenarios. The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft has the capability to take off and land vertically and on short runways. It is primarily used by the US Marine Corps and Air Force. Israel last year froze a potential acquisition process for the V-22 Osprey, which had emerged as a possible solution for supporting its special forces personnel following flight evaluations conducted four years ago. Following the type’s participation in the recent exercise, Israeli sources indicate that a re-evaluation of a V-22 deal could be considered, “even in small numbers”. On March 23, another V-22 Osprey support contract was awarded to Bell Boeing JPO by the Department of Defense, valued at more than $102.8 million.

• The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of  TOW 2B (BGM-71F-Series) missiles for an estimated cost of $670 million. The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to purchase up 6,600 TOW 2B missiles and 96 TOW 2B fly-to-buy lot validation missiles. The principal contractor is Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ. The wire-guided, operator-controlled BGM-71 TOW missile family remains a mainstay thanks to modernization, specialization, improved sighting systems, and pre-existing compatibility with a wide range of ground vehicles. In September 2017, Raytheon has been awarded a $31.5 million US Army contract modification for domestic and foreign military sales of the BGM-71 TOW guided anti-tank missile. The contract is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2018 after which the missiles will be delivered to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the US military. This deal comes at a time of heightened geo-political tension in the region and can be seen as a US foreign policy and national security initiative aimed at strengthening the security of one of its most important allies in the Middle East. This sale is in line with US initiatives providing key partners in the region with modern systems that enhance interoperability and increase stability.

Europe

• France received its 14th A400M Atlas military airlifter and meets a major milestone. The delivery took place several months in advance of the scheduled date, thanks to significant improvement in the quality of the aircraft delivered. Delivery of the 14th unit means that the French air force now has a large enough fleet of A400Ms to fly operational missions and test further tactical capabilities such as in-flight refueling of fighter jets. France ordered a total of 50 A400Ms. The 15th A400M is due to be shipped next year, the first of the 11-strong batch of units scheduled for delivery in the draft 2019-2025 military budget law. Airbus’ A400M is a €20 billion program that aims to repeat Airbus’ civilian successes in the full size military transport market. A number of smart design decisions and versatility leave the aircraft well positioned to tale overall market share form Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules.

• In the coming months two German Bundeswehr drone projects are up for some critical milestones. The government’s newest biannual snapshot of big-ticket investments that seek to reverse a trend of out-of-date equipment after years of chronic underfunding. Despite the fact that a previous deal regarding the lease of five Heron drones failed, one can expect advocates for the German Heron TP to push parliamentary consideration of the project soon. Also this spring, the multinational Eurodrone project is set to move forward with the issuing of an industry solicitation. The project is a cooperation between Germany, France, Italy and Spain and involves the companies Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo. An eventual contract is set to be in place next year. Delivery of the drones to the nations’ armed forces is eyed for 2025. The envisioned Eurodrones are medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft for reconnaissance and combat.

• Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and French Minister for European and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian have signed an agreement on the purchase of 55 helicopters produced by Airbus Helicopters for the needs of the Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry. The Ministry plans to receive helicopters of three models, the H145, H125 and H225, which will complement Ukraine’s Mi-8 helicopters. The French-produced helicopters will help operation of the State Service for Emergency Situations, the National Guard, the National Police and the State Border Service of Ukraine. This procurement contract is the largest project between Ukraine and France.

Asia-Pacific

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp, Melbourne, Florida was contracted to provide program and engineering support for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye weapon system trainer for the government of Japan. The contract has a value of $13,8 million and includes development, integration and verification processes. Japan ordered its first E-2D Hawkeye aircraft in 2015. The E-2D weapon system trainer will enable training for Japanese Ministry of Defense weapons system operators in the operation and employment of the Japan E-2D Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D comes with enhanced operational capabilities including the replacement of the old radar system with Lockheed Martin AN/APY9 radar, upgraded communications suite, mission computer, displays and the incorporation of an all-glass cockpit. The aircraft will improve Japan’s ability to effectively provide homeland defence utilizing an AEW&C capability.

Today’s Video

• Get Ready, U.S Navy moves rapidly to Build Tomahawk Super Naval Cruise Missile to rival China

Raytheon Continues to Produce, Maintain TOW Missiles

Despite modernization that has led to advanced anti-armor weapons like the Javelin and Hellfire fire and forget guided missiles, the wire-guided, operator-controlled BGM-71 TOW missile family remains a mainstay thanks to modernization, specialization, improved sighting systems, and pre-existing compatibility with a wide range of ground vehicles. TOW remains the US Army and Marine Corps’ primary heavy anti-tank/ precision assault weapon deployed on more than 4,000 TOW launch platforms including HMMWV jeeps, the Army’s M1134 Stryker ATGM variant and M2/M3 Bradley IFVs; the Marines’ LAV-AT wheeled APC and SuperCobra attack helicopters; and numerous foreign vehicles. Designation Systems notes that more than 620,000 BGM-71 missiles of all versions had been built for all customers by 2001.

Raytheon Co. in Tucson, AZ was recently awarded a pair of contracts that illustrate its continued production and maintenance work on these missiles.

USMC wants new radar for C/D Super Hornets | Efforts to add laser to USAF tanker fleet “in the infancy stage” | MBDA to extend range of Otomat AShM

Americas

• While the US Air Force moves ahead with plans to equip its fighters and gunships with a high-energy laser weapon, it remains on the fence as to whether it will do so with its tanker fleet. Speaking to Defense News on Monday, Tom Lockhart, director of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation Office, said putting the laser onboard aircraft such as the KC-135 was “still in the infancy stage,” adding that his people had recently met officials from Air Mobility Command to identify an area to mount a pod for the laser and the next step is to figure out if that make sense. Lockhart described the KC-135 integration as a parallel effort with the Air Force’s best-known laser program—the Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD)—which aims to test a laser pod on an F-15 fighter by 2021.

• The US Navy has tapped Rolls Royce to build and deliver 14 AE 1107C engines for use in the V-22 Osprey program. Valued at $31 million, the contract modification will see 12 engines go to Ospreys used by the Navy while the remaining two will go to the Marine Corps. Work will take place at Rolls’ Indianapolis, Indiana plant with a scheduled completion date set for March 2019. In 2012, Rolls landed a $598 million contract for 268 engines destined for the USMC and Air Force. In 2013, it received an $84 million contract for 38 more AE 1107C engines for the two military branches.

• Sierra Nevada has been contracted by the US Air Force to provide logistics support for two USAF aircraft precision strike packages of weapons and sensors. Nearing a value just shy of $20 million, the order exercises options on a previous contract to provide additional services to AC-130J and AC-130W aircraft, bringing the total value of the contract to $72.3 million. Work will be carried out at Canon Air Force Base, in Curry County, New Mexico, and Hurlburt Air Force Base in Okaloosa County, Florida. Work is expected to wrap up by March 31, 2019. The AC-130J Ghostrider is a gunship that gained its initial operational capability (IOC) in September 2017 and will replace the AC-130H once enough crews are trained to operate them, while the AC-130W, AKA the Stinger II, has been flying since 2010 and is a highly modified C-130H.

• Jane’s reports that the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has issued a request for information (RFI) on behalf of the Marine Corps, requesting a new AESA radar for the service’s F/A-18C/D fleet. Approximately 98 sets are being sought to replace the incumbent Raytheon AN/APG-73 radar currently installed and a winner is expected to be selected by October 1. Retrofits are scheduled to take place from the fourth quarter of 2020 and running through to the fourth quarter of 2022. Potential entrants include Raytheon’s Raytheon Advanced Capability Radar (RACR)—which has been adapted from the AN/APG-79 as fitted to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler—and Northrop Grumman, with its Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR). Both radars are compatible with the legacy Hornet and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Middle East & Africa

• Qatar has reportedly spent $800 million on various defense wares during this year’s Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX). Held earlier this month from March 12 to 14, the Gulf state tapped Turkish shipyard Ares Shipyard to supply three additional ARES 150 Hercules offshore and inshore patrol boats—adding to the two ARES 150 it originally ordered in 2014—alongside six 24 m ARES 80 SAT boats. Two other Turkish outfits, the Anadolu Shipyard and Yoncha-Onuk, will supply two ‘cadet training ships’ (CTS) and eight MRTP24/U high-speed patrol boats respectively. For drones, Qatar will be the launch export customer of the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), in use with the Turkish armed forces. Its land forces will receive 214 of Nurol Makina’s NMS 4×4 light armoured vehicle, as well as 50 Kirpi mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles and 35 Amazon 4×4 armoured vehicles from the Turkish auto-manufacturer BMC.

Europe

• Italy’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has set money aside to allow MBDA to commence development of an evolved-range variant of its Otomat MK2 Block IV anti-ship missile. An official contract is expected by the end of the year upon which the program will commence. Initial deliveries will take place between 2022-23. The new MK2E will leverage component technologies from MBDA’s new Marte extended range (ER) anti-ship missile, the initial customer for which is the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces, to equip its coastal defence system, and the Qatari Emiri Air Force to arm its new NH90 NFH naval variant medium twin-engine multirole helicopters. For Italy, the new missile will eventually arm the Italian Navy’s PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) multirole combatant patrol vessel as its primary anti-ship missile.

• Germany has taken tentative steps towards replacing its fleet of 22 Westland Sea Lynx anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters. In service since 1981, maintaining the Sea Lynx has been an ever increasing challenge for the navy with an average of only six rotorcraft deployable with the service in 2017. According to the defence ministry, the federal procurement office is now developing several proposals for a successor ASW platform, however, a request for proposals is not expected for this year, and no details have been offered up as to the specifications for the mission or the number of helicopters sought. Potential contenders for the competition are likely to be NH Industries’ NH90—already a navy winner, selected to succeed its Sea King fleet—as well as Leonardo’s AW159 Wildcat and the Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk.

Asia-Pacific

• Rheinmetall announced Wednesday the receipt of a USD$77 million contract to supply various types of its Assegai ammunition, fuses and propelling charges to the government of Australia. The order falls under the Land 17 Phase 1C.2 Future Artillery Ammunition project and includes options for additional five-year periods as well as war reserve stocks. First deliveries will occur during the year with a second lot coming in 2019. The order marks the first time that Assegai ammo will be used on the M777A2 field howitzer, a platform that is also in use with Canada and the United States.

Today’s Video

• Saudi F-15 warplane comes under attack from Houthi missiles in Yemen:

Australia’s A$ 450M-600M LAND 17 Artillery Replacement

In February 2006 the Australian Government gave first pass approval for the replacement of the ADF’s current 105mm and 155mm artillery pieces with new, more capable, artillery systems that feature improved mobility, protection, range and accuracy. Current systems are all towed, and include the aged 105mm M2A2, the L119 Hamel 105mm Field Gun, and the M198 155mm Howitzer. Options for replacing them include a mix of self-propelled artillery systems and lightweight towed artillery systems under an A$ 450-600 million project known as LAND 17. The project will also examine advanced high precision munitions and a networked command and fire control system.

So, how does this project fit into Australia’s larger defense plans? What’s the expected program timeline? And who are the declared and potential contenders? That matters even more now that the solicitation has been released. DID covers the program, and a number of the confirmed or likely competitors… but one category has now been decided.