USAF Orders Additional G/ATOR | UK Orders THEON Imaging Systems | South Korea To Get New Submarine

Americas

Lockheed Martin Missiles won a $101.3 million contract modification for procurement of Hellfire missiles and containers. Hellfire is an air-to-ground, laser guided, subsonic missile with significant anti-tank capacity. It can also be used as an air-to-air weapon against helicopters or slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft. It has also been fielded on surface platforms in the surface-to-surface and surface-to-air roles. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2024.

Northrop Grumman won a $28.7 million contract modification, which provides for the procurement of one additional G/ATOR system for the Air Force. The G/ATOR program is managed within the portfolio of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. G/ATOR is an expeditionary, three-dimensional, short-to-medium-range, multi-role radar system designed to detect low-observable targets with low radar cross sections such as rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles, and UAVs. Estimated completion will be in January 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Meteor Aerospace, a privately-owned producer of unmanned systems and advanced missiles, have recently signed a memorandum of understanding to promote mutual cooperation. Under the agreement, the companies will cooperate in developing advanced offensive systems. The agreement also includes joint investment in R&D, including engineering development, as well as joint marketing.

Europe

THEON Sensors won a contract for the supply of THERMIS CS thermal imaging systems following a recent international tender by the UK Ministry of Defense for the procurement and support of Sniper In-Line Low Light System (SILLS) – Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) Thermal Sight Weapon Sight 2.

Asia-Pacific

India’s Cabinet Committee on Security has decided on September 8 to clear the way for the purchase of 56 C295 transport aircraft. It also approves the conversion of six A319 airliners from Air India into airborne early warning (AEW) platforms. Forty of those C295s will be built in India by Airbus along with Tata. The conversion of the A319s means that India has abandoned plans to acquire A330s from Airbus for the early warning project.

The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has contracted Daewoo Shipbuilding to build a 3,600-ton-class submarine – the country’s largest and most advanced ever – with the capability to launch ballistic missiles from vertical launchers. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the signing of a 985.7 billion won (US$853 million) contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. on Friday to build a new 3,600-ton-class submarine equipped with vertically launched SLBMs.

Today’s Video

Watch: Why AGM 114 Hellfire missile becomes one of America’s favorite missiles

US Hellfire Missile Orders, FY 2011-2020

Hellfire I/II missiles are the USA’s preferred aerial anti-armor missile, and are widely deployed with America’s allies. They equip America’s helicopter fleets (AH-64, AH-1, OH-58D, MH-60S/R), AH-64 and S-70 helicopters flown by its allies, and even Australia and France’s Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters. Range is officially listed as 9 km/ 5.6 miles.

While Hellfires lack the fast-jet launch capabilities – and correspondingly extended maximum range – of the UK’s MBDA Brimstone missiles, Lockheed Martin’s missile has made big inroads as the world’s high-end helicopter-launched missile. It has also carved out unique niches as tripod-launched coastal defense assets, as the guided missile integrated into American UAVs like the MQ-1 Predator family, and even as a missile option for transport aircraft like the AC-208B Combat Caravan and C-130J/W Hercules.

Flexible G/ATORs: The USMC’s Multi-Mission AESA Ground Radars

The US military’s long run of unquestioned air superiority has led to shortcuts in mobile land-based air defenses, and the US Marines are no exception. A December 2005 release from Sen. Schumer’s office [D-NY] said that:

“Current radar performance does not meet operational forces requirements… consequences could potentially allow opposing forces to gain air and ground superiority in future operational areas.”

One of the programs in the works to address this gap is the AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR mobile radar system. It’s actually the result of fusing 2 programs: the Multi-Role Radar System (MRRS), and Ground Weapons Locator Radar (GWLR) requirements. When the last G/ATOR software upgrade becomes operational, it will replace and consolidate numerous legacy radars, including the AN/TPS-63 air surveillance, AN/MPQ-62 force control, AN/TPS-73 air traffic control, AN/UPS-3 air defense, and AN/TPQ-36/37 artillery tracking & locating radar systems.