Boeing tapped for HAAWC Integration | Russia rearms with Iskander-M | LOM Praha buys four L-39NG jets

Americas

The Naval Air Systems Command awarded Integral Aerospace a $14.3 million contract modification for external fuel tank testing and exercises option year one for the production and delivery of 114 external fuel tanks in support of the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. Integral Aerospace is a manufacturer of flight critical subsystems and components based in Santa Ana, California. The Boeing F/A-18E/F are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multi-role fighter aircraft variants primarily used by the US Navy. The aircraft, also called „Super Hornet“ entered service for the United States in 1999. The Boeing EA-18G Growler is specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. It provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to US military forces and allies. The Growler has the ability to protect itself against adversarial aircraft using its AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles. Work is scheduled to be finished by May 2020.

The US Naval Sea Systems awarded Boeing a $9.3 million contract modification for the integration of the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) on the Poseidon P-8A submarine-hunting aircraft. The High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) provides an all-weather, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon system capable of high altitude launch of the MK-54 torpedo from the P-8A Poseidon. HAAWC consists of a modular, Air Launch Accessory (ALA) kit that attaches to the MK-54 Torpedo. the ALA transforms the MK-54 into a precision-guided glide weapon wich operates in either GPS-aided or GPS-denied environments. Back in June the the US Navy announced, it intended to award Boeing a contract for full rate production of the HAAWC Air Launch Accessory for use in launching the MK 54 Torpedo from the P-8A Poseidon aircraft from high altitude. Work will be performed in Missouri and is expected to be finished by May 2020.

Middle East & Africa

Algeria commissioned two new submarines from Russia. The Kilo class submarines Ouarsenis (031) and Hoggar (032) were commissioned during a visit by Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Ahmed Gaïd Salah to the Mers el-Kébir naval base. They are part of a 2013/2014 order for two new Project 636 Varshavyanka (Kilo class) vessels from Russia. The project 636 Kilo class vessels are a more advanced version of the naval diesel-electric attack submarine 877 Paltus. The attack submarine are intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in shallow waters. The Project 636 boats have improved sonar systems, 533 mm torpedo tubes. They carry up to 18 homing or wire-guided torpedoes, or 24 AM-1 mines.

Europe

Ukrainian automobile manufacturer AutoKrAZ donated a 8?8 KrAZ-7634?? cab-chassis truck to the Ukrainian army. The truck, equipped with a powerful engine rated at 460hp and automatic transmission with maximum torque rated at 2500 N/m, is used for conversion to a vehicle equipped with heavy special equipment. Instead of two rectangular tanks with capacity of 350 liters, two 165-liters round fuel tanks are provided. The truck’s ergonomic mounted cab has been lowered to a height of 2800 millimeters to allow its roof to be fitted with special equipment.

Russia’s Missile Troops and Artillery will be completely rearmed with Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile systems this year. The 9K720 Iskander-M is a short-range system deployed by Russian, which includes a cluster munitions warhead, a fuel-air explosive enhanced-blast warhead, a high explosive-fragmentation warhead, an earth penetrator for bunker busting and an electromagnetic pulse device for anti-radar missions. In 2011 the Kolomna-based Machine-Building Design Bureau (KBM) and the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a long-term contract under which KBM was to deliver two Iskander-M brigades to the military per year. The implementation of the contract began in the year 2013.

The Czech company LOM Praha agreed to buy four L-39NG next generation jet training aircraft from Aero Vodochody in 2020. The order ist valued at $49.2 million. LOM Praha military aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul, and training provider will be the launch customer for the L-39NG and has an option to buy two additional aircraft. The company’s machines are used for pilot training services. The L-39NG is a single-engine two-seated aircraft, that achieves a speed of 750 kilometers per hour. The first pre-serial machine took off for the first time last December. Serial production is scheduled to begin in 2020.

Asia-Pacific

The Indian Army is in the process of spending an estimated $503 million on a new service rifle for its frontline infantry troops. The Indian Ministry of Defense is about to enter a three-month negotiation period with US-based SIG Sauer to procure SIG 716 battle rifles. SIG 716 uses a short stroke piston-driven operating system and has a 16 inch hammer-forged free floating barrel.

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Czech L-159s: Cheap to Good Home

Czechoslovakia originally ordered 72 of Aero Vodochody’s sub-sonic L-159A single-seat light attack jets. Their preceding L-39/59 Albatros trainer and light attack aircraft family became the world’s most popular jet trainers during the Cold War, and the L-159A Advanced Light Combat Aircraft was positioned as a modern derivative, offering full combat capability and compatibility with western weapons. The resulting aircraft filled a useful niche for the Czechs, but its overall success always depended on exports.

Unfortunately, the Soviet Union’s demise lost the Albatros family its global market niche, and killed the military aid subsidies that had helped promote it. Worse, the L-159’s program cost grew from CZK 20-30 billion to over 51 billion Koruna. That left the Czech government in a bind. In response, they kept 24-35 jets for operational use, and have been trying to sell off 36-47 of the L-159As (one aircraft has been lost) since 2002. They also moved to privatize state-owned Aero Vodochody, which took place in November 2006.

A few 2-seat L-159T conversions have been performed with CzAF funding, as a demonstration of their potential to become dual-role trainer/attack aircraft. That has helped Aero tout the planes to Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, Georgia, Indonesia, Iraq, and Nigeria. Their breakthrough, such as it is, came elsewhere.