Defence`s Feeds

In this issue: The UK’s laser weapons project, US defence under Trump, industry trends for the year ahead, the challenges of maintaining effective land forces, new energy ideas for operating bases, a lesson in air readiness with NATO, and more.

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Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The FSD195 fast patrol vessel (FPV) was designed and built by Italian shipbuilder Ferretti Group's subsidiary Ferretti Security and Defence (FSD), and was initially unveiled in February 2016.

BMT Asset Performance has launched a new maritime legislation database (MLD) for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the 9th Maritime Safety Forum held in Abbeywood.

Almaco Group has received an order from Canadian shipbuilder and industrial fabricator Davie Shipbuilding to deliver the accommodation unit for Canada's Resolve-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessel.

The British Royal Navy's HMS Iron Duke Type 23 Duke-class frigate has returned to sea after undergoing an extensive maintenance at the navy's facility in Portsmouth.

Americas

• The Brazilian Army has ordered an additional procurement of RBS 70 surface-to-air missile systems from Saab in a deal worth $11.7 million. In addition to the systems, the contract includes launchers, night vision equipment, training simulators and other equipment for operators and maintainers of the RBS 70. Deliveries will commence later this year and continue into 2018. A popular system, Saab has sold more than 1,600 RBS 70 units to over 19 countries.

• Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4B Global Hawk UAV has commenced flight testing with the UTC Aerospace Systems MS-177 long-range multispectral sensor. The February 8 maiden flight with the MS-177 is the initial step in a six-month integration, test and qualification phase that will mostly take place at Edwards AFB, close to Northrop’s facility in Palmdale, California, where the aircraft is built. Northrop’s RQ-4 is the second UAV to demonstrate compatibility with the sensor after General Atomics’ “Predator C” Avenger, which performed a series of flight tests in January and February 2016. Integration with the MS-177 will enable the Global Hawk to establish compliance with the USAF’s new Open Mission System standards, which allow different sensors and payloads to be rapidly installed and qualified.

• FAAC Inc has been contracted by the USAF to upgrade weapon systems for the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. Valued at $9.5 million, the contract calls for FAAC to update various F-16 weapon system components including software capabilities, multi-mission computers, and mid-life updates for F-16 Block 16 jets. Work will be completed by March, 2023. The most recent variant of the jet, the F-16V, is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system and weapons include one M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon in addition to air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.

Middle East & North Africa

• Turkey is expected to bring up Turkish interest in the S-400 surface-to-air missile system when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Russia. Officials in Ankara have been touting the S-400 as an off-the-shelf solution to their long-range air-defense requirements, and it is noted that there is an interest in procuring Russian technical assistance for their own long-range SAM program, which was initiated following the collapse of an HQ-9 purchase from China. Turkey’s own efforts to develop an indigenous SAM system has progressed as of late with Roketsan successfully test-firing the medium-range HiSAR-O missile in December, and industry now focusing on validating the design and adapting the HiSAR-series to commercially-standard vertical-launch systems (VLS), which could prepare them for naval use in Turkey and abroad.

Europe

• The European Defense Agency (EDA) has completed a project aimed at improving the accuracy for artillery munitions. Known as the Course Correcting Fuze (CCF), the program is designed to provide near-precision capabilities for conventional munitions by placing fins in the fuze body that can then be used along with GPS technologies to make strikes with 155mm and 105mm munitions more accurate. Work was carried out by munition experts from EDA member states Belgium, Poland, Sweden and Britain participating in the project with additional support from Norway. The agency concluded it would be beneficial for EDA member states to develop common munitions and artillery systems, allowing CCF solutions to be integrated more easily.

• Russia is expanding their military support fleet with a focus on long-range vessels as they looks to increase the capability to ship military hardware and equipment to far-flung battlefields. Since the start of their military intervention in Syria in September 2015, Moscow has been sending supplies via the “Syrian Express” sea route through the Black Sea, however, this has put immense strain on their naval auxiliary fleet and has resulted in buying of Turkish cargo ships as well using an arctic ice breaker to help fill the void. In response to the shortfall, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that “our main efforts must be directed into building large-tonnage ships and other universal and multi-functional ships capable of meeting the needs of the armed forces in distant maritime areas,” and that Russia would build more than 60 such new ships before 2020.

Asia Pacific

• Iran tested two ballistic anti-ship missiles based on the Fateh-110 over the weekend. One missile successfully hit its target — a floating barge — over 155 miles away, while the second is believed to have landed in the vicinity of the target. Alongside the test, Iranian vessels forced a US Navy surveillance ship — the USNS Invincible — and three Royal British Navy vessels to change course in the Strait of Hormuz last week, and were also met with an earlier attempt by an Iranian vessel to position itself between the Invincible and a British ship. The launch comes less than a week after Tehran tested their new S-300 air-defense system for the first time.

• The US military has begun to deploy the first elements of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea. Speaking on the commencement of the deployment, US Pacific Commander Admiral Harry Harris said that the “continued provocative actions by North Korea, to include yesterday’s launch of multiple missiles, only confirm the prudence of our alliance decision last year to deploy THAAD to South Korea.” Meanwhile China has asked Pyongyang to cease their ongoing ballistic missile testing, and for South Korea and the US to stop joint military drills and seek talks instead.

Today’s Video

RBS-70 w. night sight
(click to view full)

Vladimir Putin liked the Winter Olympics so much, he decided his army needed its own event. Brazil isn’t eyeing its neighbors’ territories, so they’re more focused on defensive preparations as they prepare for soccer’s World Cup in 2014, and a 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Air defense is part of standard security preparations, and Brazil’s array needed an update anyway. Early reports had Brazil looking to Russia, and that may still happen, but the 2014 World Cup will see Brazil deploy a new system from Sweden…

RBS 70

March 8/17: The Brazilian Army has ordered an additional procurement of RBS 70 surface-to-air missile systems from Saab in a deal worth $11.7 million. In addition to the systems, the contract includes launchers, night vision equipment, training simulators and other equipment for operators and maintainers of the RBS 70. Deliveries will commence later this year and continue into 2018. A popular system, Saab has sold more than 1,600 RBS 70 units to over 19 countries.

March 3/14: Saab announces an SEK 80 million / $12.2 million contract with Brazil for RBS-70 soldier-portable anti-aircraft missile systems:

“The deal comprises an undisclosed number of RBS 70 man-portable launchers, Mk II type missiles, simulators, night vision equipment, a test set, maintenance tools, spares, associated equipment, and training for the weapon’s operators and maintainers. The systems are among others intended to protect Brazil’s strategic infrastructure, and would be employed in protection of major incoming events, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.”

This small order (likely 12-16 systems) makes Brazil the RBS-70’s 19th customer. Unlike the Army’s more widespread Russian SA-18/24 Igla system, which depends on a seeker, the RBS-70 is a laser beamrider that homes in only on manually designated targets. That makes it essentially unjammable. It also makes the RBS 70 an excellent choice for very public venues that are likely to have a number of legitimate flying machines crowding the airspace at any given time.

The Mk.II is the most advanced form of the standard RBS-70 missile, with a speed of Mach 1.6 and a 7 km range. Saab’s release appears to make deliberate distinctions between Brazil’s buy and the most modern RBS-70 NG core system, and also between the standard Mk II missile and the top-tier Mach 2.0, 8 km Bolide. Sources: Saab, “Saab signs contract for RBS 70 with Brazilian Army”.

Brazil buying RBS-70s

Dec 17/13: Testing. Brazil’s Army confirms the BRL 4.5 million/ $1.9 million purchase of 1 RBS-70 MK2 BOLIDE system and firing rounds for tests. The announcement clearly specifies testing only, but it also recommends the system’s adoption for the 2014 World Cup. Sources: Tecnologia & Defesa, “Defesa antiaérea da Copa FIFA 2014: Brasil vai de RBS-70 MK2 Bolide”.

Brazil buying RBS-70s

Additional Readings

• DID – F-X2: Brazil Picks Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen-NG over Rafale, Super Hornet. New fighters for Brazil, but they won’t come in time for the World Cup or Olympics.

• DID – Rio 2016: Brazil Looks to Russia for Air Defense Systems. SA-24 Igla-S portable missiles and vehicle-mounted Pantsir-S1 systems.

K806 Armored Personnel Carrier

Larsen & Tourbo is a USD 14 billiob technology, engineering, manufacturing and constructing major, with global operations.

Geographic Information to Support decision Making in Operations (GISMO) is a cooperative project between the European Defence Agency and the European Satellite Centre and  involves the European Military Staff, the Multinational Geospatial Support Group and Member States. The main output from the project is a geospatial information management capability called GeohuB.   GeohuB was first demonstrated in 2016 and has now been successfully implemented at the Operational Headquarter (OHQ) in Rome in support of the EUNAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA.

The availability of Geospatial Information (GI) is a key requirement to ensure effective planning, conduct of operations and support to decision-making. The GISMO project, initiated jointly by EDA and EU SATCEN, is addressing this requirement.  The GeohuB tool was initially deployed in a standalone capacity in the EUNAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA Operational Headquarters in Rome. Early in 2017 the tool was successfully installed into the Operation Sophia Classified Mission Network.  

In February 2017 a Training and Operational Field Trial (OFT) was conducted within the OHQ with the objective of assessing the maturity and the operational value of the GeohuB tool and associated GI management capability.  The availability to all staff of geographic-based information was easily accessible through web services in the Classified Mission Network.  Such GI access enables improved shared situational awareness and to inform the decision making process within the OHQ.

The intuitive and user friendly access to the GI provided by the GISMO GeohuB facilitated the access to shared information by both expert and non-expert GI users in the OHQ. CJ2 and JOC products were produced using the GeohuB during the OFT, with higher value for the CJ Staff.   Looking to the future, based on this successful OFT and associated training, the project will now transition the GeohuB to a Fielded Initial Operating Capability with the long term objective being to provide a Full Geographic Information System Capability within EU-led Missions and Operations.

More information:

• Communications and Information Systems (Project Page)
• Operations Support (Project Page)

• European Defence Agency supports CSDP operations

The US Navy has conducted a successful structural test firing of the surface-to-surface missile module (SSMM) aboard the Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Detroit (LCS 7) off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia.

Fincantieri has launched the new Federico Martinengo frégate européen multi-mission (FREMM) frigate for the Italian Navy at its Riva Trigoso shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) has declared initial operational capability (IOC) certification for Hexagon US Federal's intergraph computer-aided dispatch (I/CAD) system, as part of the consolidated emergency response system (CERS) programme.

Marte MK2/N is a ship-launched variant of the Marte Mk2 family of anti-ship weapon systems developed by European missile manufacturer, MBDA.

Czech CZ Scorpion EVO 3 Submachine Gun

Americas

• The US Army is planning to issue contracts this year for the development of next-generation laser-guided mortar systems. This new precision high explosive guided mortar (HEGM) will replace the current systems in place, and will eliminate the need to typically fire several rounds to adjust fire for accurate strikes and incorporate threat counter-measures and enhanced mobility. Speaking on the new system, Lt. Col. Anthony Gibbs, of Product Manager Guided Precision Munitions and Mortar Systems at Picatinny Arsenal said the new capability will allow troops to be “able to quickly come in, establish, fire and with one round you’re able to get effects.” Companies that receive contracts will then create and deliver potential HEGM solutions for the US government to test, and a full and open competition will be conducted in 2018 to select the final solution.

• Rheinmetall has been contracted by the USAF to supply several ten thousand round lots of their new 25mm x 137 Frangible Armour Piercing (FAP) round for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Valued at $6.5 million, the contract will see the company manufacture the rounds in four lots at Rheinmetall Switzerland and delivery will commence in December, 2017. Rheinmetall is marketing the ammunition as only not just for air-to-air superiority fights, but capable of destroying Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) at extreme slant ranges as well.

Middle East & North Africa

• Boeing received a contract-modification of $46 million to perform interim contractor support for Saudi Arabia’s recently purchased F-15s. The above support refers to an agreement wherein a service will defer an investment due to a lack of technological capabilities, such as equipment spares or technical data. Boeing is expected to complete this service for Saudi Arabia by the end of March. The contract is comprised entirely of foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia and supports the recent commissioning of F-15SA fighters by the kingdom.

Europe

• The Germany defense ministry has delayed the signing of contracts with MBDA for the multi-billion Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). The deal will instead move into the spring of 2018 as Berlin reaffirms its commitment to the project while maintaining that there was still work to do on the MBDA proposal, as well as on how the overall project would be managed. In the meantime, the ministry plans to spend several hundred million euros to modernise the software and hardware of the German military’s existing Patriot system, the system MEADS will eventually replace.

• Germany did confirm plans to purchase the high-altitude MQ-4C Triton surveillance UAV from Northrop Grumman as a replacement to 2013’s abandoned Euro Hawk program. While the defense ministry failed to mention how many MQ-4Cs it was intending to buy, the Euro Hawk requirement had initially called for five systems to be delivered with $1.26 billion earmarked for the procurement. However the deal was scrapped when it became known that gaining aviation approval would cost in the hundreds of millions of euros. Ministry sources said the aviation approval for Triton would be less costly because it was baked in from the start of the program.

• Leonardo and Polish Armaments Group have signed a cooperation agreement on helicopter production for the Polish armed forces. The deal will facilitate further industrial collaboration on production, servicing and maintenance for various military rotorcraft. Leonardo is currently offering the AW139, AW101 and W-3PL models to Warsaw as part of several helicopter requirements by the defense ministry and if selected, PGZ will assist with producing components and other supporting systems in Poland.

Asia Pacific

• The US is to step up deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system and could have it operational by April as North Korean missile testing continues to provoke all of its neighbors. Pyongyang’s latest provocation on Monday saw Kim Jong-un supervise the launch of four ballistic missiles by an army unit that is positioned to strike US bases in Japan, stepping up threats against Washington as US troops conduct joint military exercises with South Korea. Speaking after the launches, North Korea’s state-run KCNA said “In the hearts of artillerymen … there was burning desire to mercilessly retaliate against the warmongers going ahead with their joint war exercises.”

• Iran successfully tested its S-300 air defense system at a recent military exercise, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency. Conducted in Iran’s Central Desert, the system was operated from the back of trucks and targeted various flying objects including missiles. Russia delivered the S-300 system to Iran in 2016, nearly 10 years after the initial contract had been signed. Iran signed the $800 million contract to buy the S-300 missile system in 2007, but Russia suspended their delivery three years later because of strong objections from the United States and Israel.

Today’s Video