Defence`s Feeds

Ethiopian Communications Minister Getachew Reda confirmed during a 26 October press conference that his country is withdrawing troops from Somalia, although attributed it to the financial burden of the deployment rather than the state of emergency at home. "We have been making a very conscious

On 28 October the EU added 10 more names to its list of individuals subject to restrictive measures for their violent repression of Syria's civilian population. It brings the total number of persons targeted with an EU travel ban and freeze on their assets to 217. The names include four Syrian

Key Points Saab Light Weight Torpedo to enter water at Saab's training facility in 2017 The company says it is on track to deliver the system on time to the Royal Swedish Navy Saab's new lightweight torpedo is due to enter the water for the first time in 2017, the company has confirmed. Thomas

European and US defence companies began publishing reports covering the third quarter of their 2016 financial year on 24 October, with results revealed ranging from a 21.5% rise in operating income at Saab to a 29.3% fall in Airbus's profits on a similar measure. Airbus and Safran The same day as

Key Points USNS Lewis B Puller (T-ESB 3) completed IOT&E in August 2016 General Dynamics NASSCO in Norfolk is to perform a post-shakedown availability, including modification for special operations forces The US Navy (USN) has released details of the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation

Three French military personnel and two contract aircrew were killed when a surveillance aircraft crashed at Luqa airport in Malta on 24 October. A camera on the dashboard of a local vehicle filmed the moment the aircraft hit the ground and was engulfed in a fireball. Air crash investigators are

Key Points Intermarine begins build of two high-speed multipurpose vessels The vessels are being delivered as one of a number of programmes put in place under the 'Legge Navale' to provide new capabilities for the navy Italian company Intermarine has begun building two high-speed multipurpose

IOMAX demonstrated the capabilities of its Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) to the US Marine Corps (USMC) during a series of recent training courses in southern California and Arizona. In mid-October a pair of Archangels took part in a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course at the Marine

THIRTEEN power plant workers - including four Iranian technicians - were killed and three Iranians were wounded when three Islamic State suicide bombers assaulted the power plant in the town of Dibis in Iraq's Kirkuk province before detonating their explosives on 21 October, the New York Times

The Islamic State has "pulled out all the stops" to defend Mosul, according to Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, the commander of the US-led coalition that is supporting the Iraqi offensive. Speaking during a 26 October press briefing, Lt Gen Townsend said that the Islamic State had

EVENT On 25 October 2016, the Ukrainian hacking group 'Kiberkhunta' (CyberJunta) leaked over 2,000 emails allegedly retrieved from the inbox of Vladislav Surkov, a top aide to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Surkov was reported by credible Russian media to be a key mentor of Russian policy in

Key Points MBDA Italia is also developing lighter missiles launcher modules to enhance the CDS system's mobility Firing trials to test and qualify an all-up Marte ER round are expected by 2020 MBDA unveiled a new 'scalable' coastal anti-ship missile defence system (CDS) concept at the Euronaval

Cost was the deciding factor in the US Air Force's (USAF's) decision to award Northrop Grumman a development contract for the B-21 Raider bomber aircraft, a USAF acquisition official confirmed on 26 October. Both Northrop Grumman's and Boeing's bids for the work met technical requirements,

Pakistan's minister for defence production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, has called for his country to enter trilateral defence industrial collaboration programmes with Qatar and Turkey. In a meeting held in Islamabad on 27 October with his counterpart from Qatar, Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah, Hussain

The Philippines has received into service its second and final surplus Lockheed Martin C-130T Hercules transport aircraft from the United States, it was announced on 25 October. The former US Navy aircraft, tail number 5040, was formally received by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) during a ceremony

China's Poly Technologies has developed a complete coastal defence system that ties together a variety of command and control systems, sensors, land-based air defence and other weapon systems to engage off-shore surface targets at short-, medium- and long-ranges. The sensor elements can include

Americas

• As with last quarter, higher than expected sales of Paveway laser- and GPS-guided smart bombs and air-to-air missiles have contributed to Raytheon reporting a 4.3 percent rise in quarterly revenue. Raytheon’s missile systems unit increased 9.4 percent to $1.80 billion in the third quarter while their airborne systems business also jumped 10 percent to $1.59 billion. The announcement, however, didn’t save the company from taking a greater than 3 percent drop in shares in early trading on Thursday as a broad sell-off in defense stocks was caused by some companies in the sector missing revenue targets.

• Northrop Grumman recorded a rise in quarterly profits, announcing a 16.7 percent rise with shares hitting an all-time high of $229.45 and were still up 3.9 percent at $228.10 in afternoon trading on Thursday. The company now expects full-year sales of $23.9 billion to $24.1 billion, up from $23.5 billion to $24.0 billion. Increased business from their participation in the F-35 program, autonomous systems and increased buying in top-secret programs all contributed to the rise. Both Northrop and Raytheon’s better than expected accounts follow that of Lockheed Martin earlier in the week.

• Negotiations over low-rate initial production (LRIP) lots 9 and 10 of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter look close to conclusion following the completion of supplier discussions between Northrop Grumman and lead contractor Lockheed Martin. The talks indicate that Lockheed may soon wrap-up its 15-month talks with the Joint Program Office (JPO). But both the JPO and Lockheed have said that negotiations were still ongoing and gave no comment as to when they would come to an end.

Middle East & North Africa

• It’s been reported that the US military is using bases in Tunisia to conduct surveillance drone operations against Islamic State militants in Libya with unarmed MQ-9 Reaper UAVs. However Tunisian sources have denied that the drones have been in Libyan airspace and instead are being used for training Tunisian forces and protecting the country’s borders. Following attacks by jihadists in a popular vacation destination in 2015, Washington has given more than $250 million in security assistance to Tunisia while the UK has provided personnel to train Tunisian forces.

Europe

• Engineers from Russia’s Elektropribor design bureau, specialists in aviation technology, are developing a new carrier-killing torpedo to replace the high-speed Shkval. As with its predecessor, little information is known about the new weapon dubbed Khishchnik, or Predator, however those working on the project are looking to improve on the capabilities found in Shkval by utilizing the similarities in torpedo engines and their airborne equivalents. With Shkval nearly three times the speed of a standard torpedo, an improved Khishchnik could potentially leave enemy vessels defenseless from being hit.

• Unlike some of their American counterparts, Airbus posted lower than expected third-quarter profits, attributed to drops in their commercial jet liner and helicopter business. Quarterly operating profit before one-off items fell 21 percent to $796 million while revenue fell 1 percent to 13.95 billion euros. Additional headaches for the defense group followed when the UK government continued their ban on Super Puma oil industry flights just weeks after European safety regulators cleared the helicopter to fly again.

• The A-100LL flying laboratory has made its maiden flight. Based on the A-50, the aircraft will form the basis for the the A-100 AEW&C platform and when introduced into service will replace the A-50 and A-50U. The test-bed will be used for ground and flight tests of various system elements, including electromagnetic compatibility and information exchange protocols.

Asia Pacific

• A Request for Information (RFI) has been issued by the Indian government for the provision of 200 sets of self-protection systems for their fleet of Mi-17V-5 helicopters. The self-protection suites will protect Indian helicopters against radar controlled weapons and IR seeking missiles while fighting against militants in the dense forest terrain found in areas such as Kashmir. Each system contains a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) and Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS); while fifteen helicopters will receive an additional Laser Warning Receiver (LWR) and Directed Infrared Counter Measure system.

Today’s Video

Russian warships passing the English Channel (while watched by the Royal Navy):

Indian Mi-17s
(click to view full)

In October 2006, the Indo-Asian News Service reported that the Indian Air Force will buy 80 medium lift multi-role Mi-17 1V helicopters from Russia. India’s Chief of Air Staff Marshal S.P. Tyagi reportedly told the news agency that the contractual detail would be finalized within a few months, that Russia will start delivering the helicopters in 2007, and that deliveries would finish within a year. MosNews estimated the deal’s value at approximately $662 million, with the exact value depending on ancillary equipment like avionics.

The deal is the result of a dance over time involving both Sikorsky and India’s HAL, and the Mi-17 1V incorporates a few changes to the well-known Mi-17 already in service with India. Of course, “a couple of months” in Indian procurement time turns out to be over 2 years – and in a now-familiar scenario, Russia ended up asking for about double the originally agreed deal terms. Nevertheless, a deal is now done.

Maneuvering for Position: Offers and Types Indian Mi-17
(click to view full)

July 2006 reports had characterized the sale as conditional on Russia buying 20 of India’s Dhruv light helicopers, but this has not mentioned since and appears to have been dropped. Sikorsky had also bid on the contract, but the IAF reportedly believed the Mi-17’s commonality with the existing fleet made it a batter choice.

According to Aeronautics.ru, the Mi-17-1V Helicopter is manufactured in the following versions: combat; assault (carrying about 30 airborne troops); ambulance (with medical equipment and 12 stretchers); and transport (airlifting up to 4,000 kg in the cargo cabin and up to 4,000 kg on external sling). Its two TV3-117BM Turboshaft Engines are rated at 1,900 hp each, giving this variant greater service/hovering ceiling, improved performance in “hot and high” conditions, and better load capacity. An enlarged rear door with a loading ramp substitutes for the older clamshell doors, making it quicker and easier to load and unload troops and supplies. The avionics set includes radio and flight navigation equipment used to fly the helicopter under day, night, and adverse weather conditions, and de-icing equipment.

The Mi-17v5 differs from the Mi-171V in having a protruding ‘dolphin’ nose rather than the glassed-in round noses other Indian Mi-17s possess, more powerful 2,200hp TV3-117VM engines with new auxiliary power unit, and an extra port door on the starboard side. It shares the rear fuselage ramp that distinguishes both of these models from earlier Mi-17 versions. The improved Mi-17v7 variant reportedly features the 2,400hp VK-2500 engine with a digital FADEC for full performance in hot and high conditions. This would seem to make it more suitable for India – but media reports indicate that the order is for 80 Mi-17v5s

These characteristics are especially important on India’s mountainous northern and northeastern borders. India already operates both the Mi-17 and the improved 1V as the Pratap, and StrategyPage notes that the country has about 150 Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters in service. IAF Mi-17s were used in the Nov 29/08 commando assault over Nariman House, which killed some of the terrorists conducting their massacre in Mumbai.

The Mi-17 is popular far beyond India, and the type’s consistent string of wins indicate that Russia may have a strong commercial winner on its hands. The American UH-60 is more expensive than the Mi-17, and lacks the tactical flexibility of its rear ramp option. The European NH90 is more expensive still, and offers greater capabilities including a rear ramp and better lift – but suffers from serious delivery and availability problems. The Mi-17, in contrast, offers comparable performance for less, no political restrictions on its use, greater integrated armament capabilities than its competitors, optional versions that include western engines and avionics, and availability that has remained good thus far. While international competition can also be expected from Eurocopter’s Puma family, the Mi-17 is poised to remain a strong export success.

Doing the Deal: Updates and Key Events Indian Mi-17 1V
(click to view full)

The problem for India’s MoD was that Russia had most of the negotiating leverage. The competing European NH90 medium helicopter is still badly backlogged on the production lines, as is the American CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter that has become so popular in Afghanistan’s “hot and high” conditions. The European medium-heavy EH-101 is in better shape than the NH90, but its still backlogged to the point that Britain bought Denmark’s fleet to upgrade its front-line capacity, rather than waiting for delivery from the factory. That leaves Russia’s Mi-17, which has abundant international orders and does not depend on India; or adoption of the American S-70 Black Hawk, with its corresponding removal of key features and questionable “hot and high” performance; or possibly Eurocopter’s EC532/EC725 Cougar.

Inducting either the S-70 Black Hawk or Eurocopter Cougar into service would come with an additional cost of its own, since the helicopters would lack commonality with India’s existing 12 squadrons of Mi-8s and Mi-17s. These helicopters are already significantly more expensive than the Mi-17; Brazil will pay over $1 billion to buy 50 Eurocopter Cougars, and based on recent orders the simple fly-away cost of 80 UH-60M Black Hawks would hover near $1 billion. Additional training, maintenance tooling, spare parts inventory, and related factors add an expected 30-40% to a new helicopter type’s procurement cost. Which means that available alternatives remained significantly more expensive, even when compared to a Russian deal that had doubled in price.

October 28/16: A Request for Information (RFI) has been issued by the Indian government for the provision of 200 sets of self-protection systems for their fleet of Mi-17V-5 helicopters. The self-protection suites will protect Indian helicopters against radar controlled weapons and IR seeking missiles while fighting against militants in the dense forest terrain found in areas such as Kashmir. Each system contains a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) and Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS); while fifteen helicopters will receive an additional Laser Warning Receiver (LWR) and Directed Infrared Counter Measure system.

Aug 27/10: RIA Novosti quotes India’s Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, who says that delivery of their 80 ordered Mi-17s will begin in late 2010, and adds that the Army intends to order another 59 Mi-17s for its fleet.

Dec 5/08: Indian MoD Director General (Acquisitions) Sashi Kant Sharma and Rosoboronexport Director General A P Isaykin reportedly sign a $1.2 billion contract for 80 Mi-17 helicopters, after the officials talks conclude between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian “President” Medvedev. Times of India report | Zee News.

A Times of India op-ed is less encouraging:

“As far as defence agreements go, the $1.2 billion deal for 80 Mi-17 medium lift utility helicopters was a disappointment. While the new acquisitions will replace obsolete Mi-8s and the substantial offset commitment was a bonus, the Mi-17 is already at the end of its upgrade potential and is being superseded by later models at the top of Russian arms exporters’ lists. More worryingly, no substantial progress was made on the Gorshkov issue… Given that 70 per cent of India’s defence acquisitions are sourced from Russia, these failures are troubling. They raise a larger question of overwhelming dependence on the Russian defence industry. With US, Israeli and EU companies clamouring for a share of the Indian pie, the defence establishment must consider looking seriously at its list of options.”

Dec 4/08: Media reports surface that India’s Cabinet Committee on Security has approved paying $1 billion for 80 Mi-17v5 helicopters. Newstrack india | Zee News.

Nov 29/08: Indian Mi-17 helicopters are used during a successful commando assault against hostage-holding terrorists in Narmian House, during the Mumbai massacre. Black Cat commandos of India’s elite National Security Guard (NSG) carry out the mission. Times of India report | Sify News: “Near-perfect coordination with little political interference paid off”

June 1/08: The Press Trust of India reports that Russia’s state-run Rosoboroexport has hiked the price tag for the Mi-171Vs from $650 million or so agreed in March 2007, to over a billion dollars. This comes on the heels of similar moves by Russia with respect to India’s aircraft carrier deal, and PTI reports that “…the demand for more than fifty per cent price hike has irked the Ministry of Defence.”

May 21/07: An Austrian firm named Rite Approach Ltd. is suing Russian firm Kazan, who made a deal with Rite Approach and then paid the 16% commission on a (previous) deal for 16 Mi-17 helicopters to Russian state firm Rosoboronexport instead. As IBN notes:

“What’s interesting to note here is the fact that payment of undisclosed commissions is banned by India.”

Read “Lawsuit in India Shines a Spotlight on Under-the-Table Practices” for more.

Oct 18/07: Defense News claims that negotiations for India’s recent program were finalized during a defense ministers’ meeting meeting in Russia, and “a senior defense ministry official” claims that contracts will be inked with Rosoboronexport within the next 2 months.

The $310 million worth of upgrades under the reported deal will be carried out on 46 Mi-8, 78 Mi-17 and 48 Mi-171V helicopters to add instrument landing system radars, very high-frequency omni-directional range radars, an advanced weather radar and a digital moving map display. The Mi-17s will also receive Bharat Electronics Tarang 1B radar warning receivers, and missile approach warning systems. Other upgrades are possible, mostly with respect to weaponry, but will be floated as separate tenders if approved.

If the early reports are correct, 2 helicopters of each type will upgraded in Russia, and the rest performed by state-owned HAL under license at a rate of 36 helicopters per year.

The purchase of 80 more medium-lift Mi-171V helicopters will add to the fleet, and will reportedly cost about $140 million and be finalized by the end of 2008.

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic (SSC Atlantic) has contracted CACI International to provide communications systems, satellite communications, and network support services for critical systems used by US Navy operations.

Saab and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation in building and delivering surface ships and submarines to the Polish Navy and export customers.