Officially, it’s the B-52H Stratofortress. Unofficially, it’s the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat F–cker). Either way, this subsonic heavy bomber remains the mainstay of the U.S. strategic fleet after more than 50 years of service. A total of 102 B-52H bombers were delivered from FY 1961-1963, and 94 were still on the books as of May 2009, flying mostly from Barksdale AFB, LA and Minot AFB, ND. Of these, 18 are slated for retirement, leaving a planned fleet of 76. By the time that fleet retires in the 2030s, many will be around 70 years old.
The B-52H can’t be flown against heavy enemy air defenses, but a steady array of upgrades have kept the aircraft relevant to follow-on strikes and current wars, where its long time on station and precision weapons have made the BUFF beautiful. Those changes have included advanced communications, GPS guided weapons, advanced targeting pods, and more. The USAF isn’t done yet adding new features, and maintenance remains a challenge for an aircraft fleet that’s always older than its pilots. All of these things require contracts, and the B-52H fleet has several of them underway. So, how does 2010’s 8-year, $11.9 billion umbrella contract fit in…?
One of two missile tracking ships operated by the Military Sealift Command was recently retired at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on December 15, 2021. The white hulled-ship was used previously to track ballistic missile activity in the Middle East using the GRAY STAR radar. The radar system will be repurposed by the Air Force Research Laboratory to conduct testing and evaluation of advanced radar technologies, says Air Force Technical Applications center.
Elbit Systems’ Brazilian subsidiary, AEL Sistemas S.A. won a contract to supply additional Hermes 900 UAS to the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira). The contract is in an amount that is not material to Elbit Systems and will be performed over a period of 16 months.
Middle East & Africa
Aselsan has been adapting the Sarp remote weapon station (RWS) with the capability to fire the Atom 40 mm high-velocity airburst munition, the company reported in its January 2022 bulletin. Atom Sarp was test-fired in June 2021 against dummies representing dispersed insurgents under cover, inside buildings, and in the field.
Europe
The Hellenic Air Force will begin operating its Rafale fighters after January 19 when six aircraft arrive home at Tanágra airbase.Two dual-seat Rafales will be joined by four single-seat Rafales for the ferry flight home.
Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS) signed an agreement with Leonardo to provide maintenance services for the Norwegian fleet of SAR Queen / AW101 Search & Rescue helicopters. The contract will be performed in the period 2022-2026.
Asia-Pacific
North Korea said it conducted tests of a hypersonic missile on Wednesday, three months after it launched a similar missile. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party expressed “great satisfaction” at the results of the missile test observed by leading weapons officials. The KCNA had reported in September that the North fired a “hypersonic gliding warhead” which made a 120km-long lateral movement before hitting a target 700km away. It wasn’t immediately known if both are the same type of hypersonic missile.
BAE Systems won a $24.6 million deal for the Military Global Positioning System User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) contract. The modification incorporates MSI Engineering Change Proposal-1 into the baseline and provides continued MSI with Next Generation Application-Specific Integrated Circuit Technology Development capabilities. The goal of MGUE Inc 2 is to develop, integrate, and produce M-Code capable, GPS receivers for the service requirements specified in the Joint Requirements Oversight Council approved MGUE Inc 2 Capability Development Document. Work will take place in Iowa. Estimated completion date is August 31, 2025.
The MQ-8C is now in the US 7th Fleet area of operations, which spans from the International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Langholf posted photos of the unmanned aerial vehicle on the flight deck of USS Jackson (LCS 6) while they were in Guam on December 22. The helicopter is assigned to HSC-23.
Middle East & Africa
The Qatar Air Force took delivery of the first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) recently, manufacturer Leonardo has announced. The first TTH version helicopter for land-based tasks was delivered on 11 December, in line with contractual commitments, and will be followed in the coming months by the first NFH, dedicated to naval operations, after qualifications. Deliveries will continue until 2025.
Europe
The British Ministry of Defense announced, that a logistics system critical to British military operations around the world will be supported under a new five-year, $625 million contract with Boeing Defence UK. The contract supports implementation of the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper, published last year, which placed an emphasis on more productive, active and globally deployed Armed Forces.
Leonardo completed the acquisition of 25.1 per cent of the shares in HENSOLDT AG, a leading German player in the field of sensors for defense and security applications, with an expanding portfolio in sensors, data management and robotics, for a cash consideration of €606 million. According to a news release, the transaction is a step forward in helping to achieve Leonardo’s strategic objective of acquiring a leadership position in the European Defence Electronics market, as defined by the “Be Tomorrow – Leonardo 2030” Plan, and reflects Leonardo’s determination to play an active role in the consolidation process underway, also in the light of future cooperation programmes in continental Europe.
Asia-Pacific
North Korea has carried out its possible first ballistic missile test in 2022 by launching one into the East Sea shortly after 8 am local time today. The country has fired an unidentified projectile into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. According to the Japanese government, the projectile may have been a “ballistic missile”.
Today’s Video
Watch: The Qatar Air Force Takes Delivery of First NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter!
Latest updates[?]: The Qatar Air Force took delivery of the first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) recently, manufacturer Leonardo has announced. The first TTH version helicopter for land-based tasks was delivered on 11 December, in line with contractual commitments, and will be followed in the coming months by the first NFH, dedicated to naval operations, after qualifications. Deliveries will continue until 2025.
NH90: TTH & NFH
The NH90 emerged from a requirement that created a NATO helicopter development and procurement agency in 1992 and, at almost the same time, established NH Industries (62.5% EADS Eurocopter, 32.5% AgustaWestland, and 5% Stork Fokker) to build the hardware. The NATO Frigate Helicopter was originally developed to fit between light naval helicopters like AW’s Lynx or Eurocopter’s Panther, and medium-heavy naval helicopters like the European EH101. A quick look at the NFH design showed definite possibilities as a troop transport helicopter, however, and soon the NH90 project had branched into 2 versions, with more to follow.
The nearest equivalent would be Sikorsky’s popular H-60Seahawk/ Black Hawk family, but the NH90 includes a set of innovative features that give it some distinguishing selling points. Its combination of corrosion-proofing, lower maintenance, greater troop or load capacity, and the flexibility offered by that rear ramp have made the NH90 a popular global competitor.
As many business people discover the hard way, however, success can be almost as dangerous as failure. NH Industries has had great difficulty ramping up production fast enough to meet promised deliveries, which has left several buyers upset. Certification and acceptance have also been slow, with very few NH90s in service over a decade after the first contracts were signed. Booked orders have actually been sliding backward over the last year, and currently stand at around 500 machines, on behalf of 14 nations.
Bell-Boeing won a $7.9 million contract modification, which provides for additional post-production repairs and related system engineering and program management support for the MV-22B Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization retrofit program. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft. The Marine Corps variant, MV-22B, provides reliable and safe transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment. Work will take place in Pennsylvania and Texas. Estimated completion will be in March 2023.
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is underway for a patrol of the Indo-Pacific and this deployment notes a number of firsts. The Marine Corps is sending its F-35C out to sea for its first operational deployment by bringing VMFA-314 aboard the carrier. VRM-30 will also deploy for the first time along with its CMV-22B. The squadron was established at NAS North Island in 2018.
Middle East & Africa
According to Elbit Systems, the UAE Air Force’s Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft will soon be fitted with Direct Infrared Countermeasures and airborne Electronic Warfare systems supplied by Elbit Systems Emirates Limited in a $53 million contract. The contract runs for five years.
Europe
Norwegian F-16s will fly their last mission out of Bodø Air Base on January 6 and the base will end all fighter operations after that. Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties in the Artic area will be taken over by fighters stationed at Evenes Air Station. Two F-16s will launch from Bodø on Jan. 6 but one will land back at the base to be retired as an exhibit in the local museum.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea started constructing the second KSS-III Batch-II submarine. The boat, built by local shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), will be completed by 2026 and delivered to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) in 2028 after undergoing sea trials.
According to local news, an F-35A fighter operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force made an emergency landing during a training session Tuesday due to avionic system issues. The radar-evading jet made the belly landing on a runway at an air base in Seosan, 151km south of Seoul, at 12:51 pm after the issues caused the landing gear to momentarily malfunction, officials were quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
Today’s Video
Watch: Airbus A330 SMART MRTT Reveal | Next Level Multi Role Tanker Transport Aircraft
The Air Force awarded Canadian Commercial a $70 million deal for the Wescam Aggregate Services Plan. This contract provides for the continuation of contractor logistics support for the three configurations of L-3 Communications/Wescam MX Electro/Optical Infrared (EO/IR) Sensor System line replaceable units installed on the AC-130U/W/J. The AC-130U Spooky is the third generation of C-130 gunships. All gunships evolved from the first operational gunship, the AC-47, to the AC-119, and then the AC-130A which was the basis for the modern C-130 Hercules gunship. Work under the contract will take place in Florida and New Mexico. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2028.
Raytheon won a $55 million contract modification for engineering and technical services in support of the Evolved Seasparrow Missile and NATO Seasparrow Missile Systems programs. The deal combines purchases for the US government and the governments of Japan and United Arab Emirates under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) or RIM-162 is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile. The missile is currently in service with the US Navy and some of the 12 Nato Sea Sparrow consortium nations. Work will take place in Arizona, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Spain, Australia and Greece. Estimated completion date will be in December 2022.
Middle East & Africa
Spanish news Larazon reports that Morocco will soon be taking delivery of the MBDA VL MICA ground based air defense missile system. The new system will complement the Chinese-made FD-2000 air defense system protecting Morocco.
Europe
First of Russia’s new S-550 air defense systems have entered combat service after clearing state trials. “The S-550 air defense system has successfully completed state trials. The first S-550 brigade has entered combat duty,” a source close to the Russian defense ministry was quoted as saying by government-owned TASS.
Asia-Pacific
Boeing won a $471.3 million contract action for the F-15 Japan Super Interceptor Program. The contract action provides for the design and development of an integrated suite of aircraft systems to support modification of the Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15MJ aircraft and the development, test, and delivery of four Weapon System Trainers. Work will take place in Missouri. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2028.
Hindustan Times reports that French Navy Rafale M fighter will be at INS Hansa to carry out suitability trials with the ski jump there. The trials, which begins on January 6, is to determine whether the French fighter is a good fit for Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Testing will last 12 days. The same article says India might lease up to five Rafale Ms when INS Vikrant is commissioned later this year.
Today’s Video
Watch: URafale M to be tested in India for STOBAR take off | Will it fit the Vikrant’s hanger?
Latest updates[?]: Raytheon won a $55 million contract modification for engineering and technical services in support of the Evolved Seasparrow Missile and NATO Seasparrow Missile Systems programs. The deal combines purchases for the US government and the governments of Japan and United Arab Emirates under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) or RIM-162 is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile. The missile is currently in service with the US Navy and some of the 12 Nato Sea Sparrow consortium nations. Work will take place in Arizona, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Spain, Australia and Greece. Estimated completion date will be in December 2022.
RIM-162: sections
The RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft, and is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles. Compared to the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, ESSM is effectively a new missile with a larger, more powerful rocket motor for increased range, a different aerodynamic layout for improved agility, and the latest missile guidance technology. Testing has even shown the ESSM to be effective against fast surface craft, an option that greatly expands the missile’s utility. As a further bonus, the RIM-162 ESSM has the ability to be “quad-packed” in the Mk 41 vertical launching system, allowing 4 missiles to be carried per launch cell instead of loading one larger SM-2 Standard missile or similar equipment.
This is DID’s FOCUS article for the program, containing details about the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile family, and contracts placed under this program since 1999. The Sea Sparrow was widely used aboard NATO warships, so it isn’t surprising that the ESSM is an international program. The NATO Sea Sparrow Consortium includes Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the USA – as well as non-NATO Australia. Foreign Military Sales ESSM customers outside this consortium include Japan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
