Defence`s Feeds

US-based United Technologies Corporation (UTC) published results from its first financial quarter of 2017 on 26 April, showing a 4.7% rise in sales at military aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (P&W), which generated USD3.8 billion in revenue over the three months to 31 March.

Kazakhstan's Zenit shipyard has launched the fourth Kazakhstan (Project 250)-class patrol ship on order for the country's navy, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Astana. Named Mangystau , the 42.2 m-long vessel, which is also locally referred to as a 'rocket artillery ship', was

Key Points Marine risk around Jizan port is assessed to have increased from moderate to elevated, given the proximity of the attack craft to the Jizan terminal before its interception by Saudi forces and associated risk of collateral damage to shipping and surrounding civilian infrastructure. The

Integration of the MBDA Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) onto Europe's fighter aircraft has stepped up a gear with the announcements towards the end of April of three major milestones within a few days of each other. With the 100+ km BVRAAM missile already operational and

Lockheed Martin officials used a conference call with financial analysts yesterday to provide clarity on a future ramp-up in production of its franchise F-35 fighter. “It’s very significant over the next couple

L-3 Technologies reported a 13.4% increase in sales for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter the year before on 27 April, while Raytheon reported a smaller 3.4% sales growth and General Dynamics held ostensibly stead, with revenue down 0.5%. The earnings reports continue a mixed

EVENT On the evening of 27 April, around 200 protesters, supporting the nationalist Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), stormed into the parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) Macedonia in Skopje. They easily broke through a

South Korea’s biggest naval shipyards – Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) – have posted strong quarterly gains on the back of expansive cost-cutting, the companies announced on 27 April. In separate filings to the Korean

Azerbaijan continues to receive Russian-made surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) for its upgraded Buk-MB SAM systems, according to a representative of Belarussia's OKB TSP company, which is upgrading the 9K37 Buk (US Department of Defense designation/ NATO reporting name: SA-11'Gadfly') to Buk-MB

BAE Systems is developing a new missile warning capability to protect rotary-wing aircraft against advanced threats. Working in adjunct with either BAE Systems' Common Missile Warning System or any passive threat detection system, the company's 3-Dimensional Advanced Warning System (3DAWS) not only

The Brazilian Army is restructuring its procurement management system after a four-year analysis of its strategic projects architecture. Analysis led the service to determine it should change that structure and instead design an Army Strategic Portfolio that more clearly adheres to the force's

China's Central Military Commission (CMC) has taken another step towards streamlining and modernising the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by deciding to regroup the PLA ground forces into 13 corps from the previous 18, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) in Beijing announced on 27 April. The new

Diehl Defence is evolving a fire-on-the-move capability for the IRIS-T-SLS (Surface Launched Short Range) mobile air defence interceptor system. IRIS-T-SLS uses an unaltered IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System - Tail/Thrust vector-controlled) air-to-air missile. The interceptor is fired vertically

On 21 April France's defence procurement agency (DGA) placed the first production order with Nexter Systems, Renault Trucks Defense (RTD), and Thales for 319 Griffon Multi-Role Armoured Vehicles (VBMRs) and 20 Jaguar vehicles. The contract value was not disclosed. The VBMR will be available in four

The Islamic State militant group has managed to recruit members of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Igor Korobov, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate within the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, was quoted by TASS News Agency as saying on 26 April. "The

The Israeli Navy received the last of three Super Dvora MK III fast patrol boats on 27 April. Built by Israel Aerospace Industries Ramta, the boats are the latest C variant, meaning they have improved communications equipment, the latest weapons systems, an upgraded machine room, and more space for

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has received a $109 million US Navy contract to deliver modification kits for a Block 3F software upgrade for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The upgrade includes the provision of 567 modification kits as well as labor costs for contractors performing the installation and maintenance for aircraft operated by the USAF, US Navy, USMC, as well as international partners. Earlier this month, the software was successfully tested during a test-launch of an inert GBU-12 Paveway II bomb against a moving target.

Middle East & North Africa

• Israel is looking to add the life-saving Automatic Ground-Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) to its fleet of F-16s. Once integrated, the system will offer a solution to the problem of accidents caused by distracted or incapacitated pilots flying into the ground in an otherwise fully functioning aircraft. However, current negotiations surrounding the potential procurement are first centered around obtaining the hardware and software modifications necessary to facilitate the installation of Auto-GCAS onboard the fighters. Israel’s push to install the technology is part of a broader effort to increase safety across its air force fleet following a number of recent crashes, most recently, last October’s crash of an F-16I which was lost while attempting to land with an asymmetric weapons load.

• In Syria, Israeli jets targeted an arms dump used by the Lebanese militia group, Hezbollah. The move was condemned by both the Syrian government and Russia, and is being seen as a wider sign of the heightened tensions surrounding a six year-long Syrian Civil War that has already caught up regional and international powers. The strike, which caused no injuries, is said to have been targeting weapons sent from Iran via commercial and military cargo planes, and destined to resupply groups such as Hezbollah. While Israel has limited its involvement in the war in Syria, officials have consistently referred to two red lines that have prompted a military response in the past—any supply of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah, and the establishment of “launch sites” for attacks on Israel from the Golan Heights region.

Europe

• Bulgaria’s interim government has selected Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen as the replacement for their aging fleet of MiG-29 fighters. The Swedish jet won out against an offering of second-hand F-16s from Portugal and an Italian offer for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Further discussions with Saab on contract details are scheduled to take place once the new government takes office next month, but it is expected that at least eight aircraft will be procured at a cost of $850 million. This new government will oversee a large military modernisation effort, with plans already approved to purchase new warships as well as a new collection of armored vehicles.

• Saab’s backlog shows that a third order has been placed for the GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft. While the customer was not revealed, the company has already received a $1.27 billion order from the UAE for two examples, which places the Saab Erieye airborne early warning radar, a ground surveillance radar and other intelligence-gathering sensors aboard an adapted Bombardier Global 6000 business jet. The firm received a second order worth $236 million in January from another unnamed buyer. Speaking on the uptake in interest, Saab CEO Håkan Buskhe added that the company forsees “an increase in leads, and an increase in offers that we are sending out to different customers.”

• Ukraine and Poland are to collaborate on helicopter production that ranges from undertaking modernization efforts, to designing and serial producing their own models for their armed forces. Announcing the new plan, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv said that his country could not undertake such efforts on its own and needed help from Polish industry as well as potentially other Western companies. The statement follows comments made in late 2016 by Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz, who said Warsaw and Kiev are discussing plans to launch a joint production effort of helicopters that could be used by the militaries of Central and Eastern European allies.

Asia Pacific

• Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to upgrade the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system for Japan’s fleet of AH-64DJP Apaches. Under the deal, 14 laser designation kits will be delivered to Tokyo by 2020, as well as providing Performance Based Logistics (PBL) support. Known as the “eyes of the Apache,” the new systems will provide pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for safe flight during day, night and adverse weather missions. Having already delivered some 1,350 M-TADS/PNVS systems and spares to the US Army and international customers, Japan is the first customer to receive such upgrades.

• Taiwan’s Institute of Science and Technology has signed a contract, on behalf of the Taiwanese government, with the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation for the production of 66 advanced jet trainers. The effort comes as part of Taipei’s move to militarize the island following a recent spate of island building by China in the South China Sea. The defense ministry is to allocate $2.8 billion until 2020 to develop the advanced trainers, and begin testing the jets until 2026, when 66 units are planned for deployment. The jets will then replace older F-5 and AT-3 aircraft, which are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Today’s Video

• How Auto-GCAS works:

Saab has chosen the Polish Nauta Shiprepair Yard based in Gdynia, Poland, to construct the ship platform for the special-purpose Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) vessel for the Royal Swedish Navy.

Global ship building company Austal has cut the steel plate for the first of 19 Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) vessels for the Commonwealth of Australia, marking the start of construction for the A$306m ($229.4) PPB-R project.

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems has received a four-year contract worth $111.33m from the US Naval Sea Systems Command for work on the US Navy’s Zumwalt-Class guided missile destroyers.