BAE Systems To Develop Technology To Detect Weapons Of Mass Destruction Activity | Iran Unveiled Raad-500 | DoS Approves IADWS Sale To India

Americas

BAE Systems announced in a press release that it has received funding from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office to develop advanced analytics technology that will assist in the detection and deterrence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) activity, helping to ensure national security. The technology will leverage multiple data sources and uses data fusion, adversary modelling, pattern matching, and machine learning techniques to detect and identify indications of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threat.

The US Army is slowing down its timeline to acquire a fleet of Joint Tactical Vehicles, an armored Humvee replacement that some have criticized as being better suited to past wars Breaking Defense reports. The Army’s budget for fiscal 2021 earmarks $894.4 million to buy 1,920 JLTVs of various configurations as well as 1,334 JLTV-T companion trailers. The Army began slowing its JLTV acquisition strategy last year, announcing it would buy 2,530 JLTVs in fiscal 2020, a significant reduction from its 2019 purchase of 3,393 vehicles. The JLTV was one of 93 programs the Army cut or reduced last year, putting roughly $30 billion in savings toward the Army’s ambitious modernization effort. Army leaders said last year that the service was considering lowering its procurement objective of buying 49,000 JLTVs by the mid-2030s.

Middle East & Africa

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it has developed a lightweight variant of its Fateh-110 family of tactical ballistic missiles called the Raad-500. Iranian television showed a ceremony during which IRGC commander Major General Hossein Salami and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of its aerospace force, inaugurated the new missile’s production line at an unidentified location. Missiles were seen at various stages in the manufacturing process, including a motor body being made using a carbon fibre winding machine. The satellite, which Iran says was to be used for scientific observation, is part of a programme the United States has previously described as a “provocation”. According to the reports the Raad-500 has a range up to 500km. That is some 200km more than the Fateh-110, a ballistic ground-to-ground missile first unveiled in 2002 that weighs twice as much as the new missile. The Raad-500 is also equipped with new Zoheir engines made of composite materials lighter than earlier steel models, according to the IRGC’s Sepah News website.

Europe

The British Army is on its way to reach its soldier recruitment target for the first time since signing a $641.6 million contract with Capita in 2012 as part of the Recruiting Partnership Programme (RPP). As of February, 99% of its target for regular soldier recruits has started or been accepted and has a date to commence basic training. Capita expects to reach its target of 9,404 recruits for the year ending March 31. These latest figures come as a relief to Capita and the British Army after a 2018 National Audit Office report highlighted that the RPP had not met its annual target to recruit soldiers since its inception, leading to Capita openly acknowledging that it underestimated the complexity of armed forces recruitment.

Asia-Pacific

Lockheed Martin Corp. won a $67.6 million contract modification for upgrading Singapore’s F-16s. The aircraft are equipped with with Advanced Medium Range air-to-air missiles linked to a DASH-3 Mounted Sight. The deal modifies a contract awarded in 2015 with options that, if exercised, would bring the total value of the contract to $980.4 million. Upgrades for 60 of Singapore’s F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon fighter jets were approved earlier that year through the US Foreign Military Sales program. Work will take place in Fort Worth, Texas and in Singapore. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2023.

The US Department of State has approved a possible sale to India of military equipment comprising an Integrated Air Defense Weapon System (IADWS). The estimated value of the deal would be approximately $1.867 billion. The IADWS package that has been approved includes a range of sensors, weapons systems, and support equipment. Included in the potential sale are AN/MPQ-64Fl Sentinel radar systems, AMRAAM AIM-120C-7/C-8 missiles and associated guidance and control equipment, and Stinger FIM-92L missiles. The sale also includes M4A1 rifles, M855 5.56mm cartridges, and a range of other associated equipment. The announcement comes shortly before an anticipated trip to India by US President Donald J. Trump later this month. Trump is expected to visit India for a two-day trip between February 23 and 26.

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Singapore’s Steps: Modernizing the RSAF’s F-16 Fleet

In September 2013, Singapore confirmed its much-anticipated intent to upgrade its F-16C/Ds with improved radars and other changes. By January 2014, that was a published DSCA request. There’s no firm timeline just yet, but the proposal is part of wider-ranging military improvements underway in Singapore. It’s also seen as an early example to many other F-16 operators around the world, who respect Singapore’s as a discerning buyer and may wish to do the same thing.

That decision is expected to launch at least 2 fierce competitions. One will be between Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems. The other will be between Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.