Defence`s Feeds

The first of two Austal-built Cape-class patrol boats has entered service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), according to a statement by Australian minister for defence industry Christopher Pyne on 5 May. ADV Cape Fourcroy was commissioned in early May in a ceremony held at HMAS Stirling naval

Recent information from Chinese, Russian, and Ukrainian sources reveals an uptick in activity by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation on its FC-31 lightweight fighter programme. The 'second prototype' of what has been billed as a stealthy design is reported to have flown in December 2016 and was

Key Points Singapore has commissioned its first Littoral Mission Vessel Vessel inducted in conjunction with the Republic of Singapore Navy's golden jubilee celebrations The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has formally inducted its first Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV). The 80 m platform, which

Key Points Singapore has commissioned its first Littoral Mission Vessel Platform significantly bolsters the Republic of Singapore Navy's maritime patrol and interdiction capabilities The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has inducted its first Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) and declared the

Key Points USN will move Future Frigate requirements to support independent or CSG operation Area air defence, communications, EW, and radar systems are areas of focus USN officials have discussed capability requirements for the Future Frigate that would enable it to combine with carrier strike

BAE Systems has announced that it has recruited Czech cable assemblies manufacturer Ray Service to produce components relating to a Swedish vehicle-mounted mortar system as the UK group looks to strengthen its position to replace the Czech Republic’s legacy fleet of BMP-2 infantry fighting

The Indian government has formally incorporated a joint venture (JV) with Russia to build Kamov Ka-226T 'Hoodlum' light multirole helicopters for the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian embassy in Moscow said in a statement that the JV was incorporated by the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs on 2

Key Points USN awards initial LRIP contract for nine systems Navy will compete follow-on LRIP and FRP awards The US Navy awarded Raytheon a USD327.14 million contract for the first low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), known as SPY-6(V), for the Flight

A user-trial of India's nuclear-capable two-stage Agni 2 medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) from Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha on 4 May was unsuccessful, according to official Indian defence sources. Conducted by India's Strategic Forces Command (SFC), the Defence Research and Development

Applied Research Associates(ARA) has announced the acquisition of US unmanned technologies firm Neya Systems. Terms of the transaction – announced on 4 May – were not disclosed. Neya Systems produces the UxInterceptor unmanned ground vehicle and also technologies relating to autonomy,

Brazil's military and civilian Geostationary Communications Satellite (Satélite Geoestacionário de Defesa e Comunicações: SGDC) was launched on 4 May. SGDC was sent towards orbit on a 780-ton Ariane 5 ECA rocket built by Airbus Safran Launchers for Arianespace, and launched from

ONE civilian was killed and another was wounded in armed clashes between two militants and security forces after the militants took position and opened fire near the 4th police district in the city of Kandahar in Afghanistan's Kandahar province on 3 May, Khaama Press reported. The two militants -

Australian shipbuilder Austal announced on 26 April that it had cut the first steel plate for the SEA 3036 Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement programme. Under the programme Austal will build 19 vessels that will be donated to 12 Pacific Island nations as part of Australia's security assistance to the

Western Australian-based naval shipbuilder Austal has established a joint venture (JV) with German shipyard Fassmer to support a joint bid to build and supply offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Austal said on 5 May that the JV will be based at a new facility in

Key Points BAE Systems Inc. is anticipating production for electronic systems on the F-35 programme will grow rapidly The company does not see any big shift from Trump's 'Buy American' initiative BAE Systems Inc., the US subsidiary of British giant BAE Systems Plc, is anticipating some boom years

Key Points Boeing's latest KC-46 tanker type test aircraft flies again The programme is inching closer to delivering aircraft Boeing's newest KC-46 aerial refuelling tanker made its second flight on 2 May after making its first on 29 April, according to a company spokesman. Boeing spokesman

China has reiterated its opposition to US involvement in the disputes over parts of the South China Sea (SCS). "The issue of the South China Sea is between China and some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN], rather than between China and the entire ASEAN or between

EVENT On 2 May 2017, Moscow Mayor's office published a list of 4,566 residential buildings to be demolished under the citywide Soviet-era housing renovation programme. This includes buildings with about 1.2 million residents in 85 districts of Moscow; similar housing in further 40 districts was

Key Points Cobham reports rights issue gains 98% subscription Targeted revenue generation from issuance to help company's cash balances Embattled aerospace systems and services company Cobham reported on 5 May that it had received acceptances for 98.01% of the rights issue that was launched on 28

Americas

• Boeing has pulled its Harpoon anti-ship missile out of a US Navy contract aimed at procuring an over-the-horizon (OTH) cruise missile for its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and frigates. Proposed upgrades to the current Harpoon Block II would have initially extended its range to 150 miles, along with providing a new, more powerful warhead. However, the company stated that changing service requirements “would have to take a lot of capability out of this existing system and really deliver a less-capable weapons system.” Boeing added that they would continue to deliver upgrades for the missile. This leaves the Raytheon/Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Lockheed Martin Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) as the likely candidates in the OTH effort.

• However, Boeing has reached an important milestone in bringing its KC-46 tanker program closer to serial production, announcing that it now has a total of six units ready for its testing program. The newest, of the planes, which is the second to be produced under a low-rate production order, conducted its first test flight on April 26, and future testing will be largely focus on ensuring that the tanker can stand up to electromagnetic fields—radars and powerful radio towers are capable of scrambling aircraft electronic systems if they are not carefully shielded. Boeing intends to eventually produce as many as 179 KC-46 tankers for the USAF.

• Raytheon has claimed that its Patriot air defense systems have downed more than 100 ballistic missiles in worldwide combat operations since January 1, 2015. Of those 100 or so intercepts, more than 90 involved the low cost Raytheon-made Guidance Enhanced Missile (GEM) family of interceptors. First introduced as an improvement to earlier PAC-2 missiles, early GEMs added a new, faster proximity fused warhead, alongside upgraded seekers to improve performance, and has been subsequently improved into four variants over the last two two decades. The missile operates by flying at extremely high speeds to close in on the threat and then detonating a blast-fragmentation warhead at precisely the right moment.

Middle East & North Africa

• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is looking to use its facilities to provide engine sustainment and support for Pratt & Whitney F135 engines used on Israeli F-35i Adir fighter jets. Yosi Melamed, general manager of IAI’s Bedek group subsidiary, believes its engine division is the right place to maintain and overhaul F135 engines, and while Israeli F-35s would be the first receive maintenance, the company suggests that this could be expanded to include overhaul work for other aircraft that utilize the US-made engine, but only once an agreement has been reached with Pratt & Whitney. IAI already manufactures wings for the F-35 as a subcontractor to Lockheed.

Europe

• Russian media has reported that the Sukhoi T-50/PAK-FA stealth fighter will be armed with the upgraded Kh-35UE anti-ship missile. An upgrade of the Kh-35, the integration of the tactical cruise missile will give the fighter an added anti-surface mission capability, and add to the aircraft’s weapons load which includes the Kh-38 air-to-surface missile and Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missile. Nikolai Vasilyev, chief designer of the Kh-35UE at the Korolev-based Tactical Missiles Corporation, said that the missile has already demonstrated itself effectively on the carrier-based variants of the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUBR fighter planes, and on the Ka-52 attack helicopter.

Asia Pacific

• India has conducted two successful tests of the BrahMos Block III land attack cruise missile in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Conducted on May 2 and 3, an MoD statement confirmed that both missiles were were in full operational land-to-land configuration and fired from Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL). This is the fifth consecutive time that the Block-III version of the munition has been successfully launched against a land-based target in “top-attack” mode. Developed in conjunction with Russia and based on the P-800 Oniks cruise missile, both governments are planning on the development of a BrahMos variant capable of operating in the 600 km-plus range.

• Rheinmetall Defense Australia has picked NOIA as its supplier of ammunition and armament services as part of its bid to win an armored vehicle competition launched by the Australian government. The firm is offering its Boxer CVR armed with a LANCE turret and Northrop Grumman’s C4ISR architecture as a solution to Canberra’s Land 400 Phase 2 program, and faces competition from BAE Systems, who have teamed with Patia to offer the AMV35 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV)—a solution that combines Patria’s Armoured ModularVehicle (AMV) and BAE Systems Hägglunds’ E35 turret system. Rheinmetall is also starting a military vehicle center of excellence, creating a program for the design, building and support for its military vehicles in Australia and the Asian region.

• China’s Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) has unveiled a B variant prototype of its L-15A Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) aircraft. The new model is said to be a more combat capable and better armed version of its predecessor and is being touted as potential competition for Korean Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) FA-50. Additions to the L-15B include two afterburning turbofans with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), an extended nose section housing a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar with a reported 75 km range, and an electronic systems structure, which is most likely to be a radar warning receiver (RWR), located atop the vertical stabiliser. The jet also has nine weapon hardpoints and attachments for a 3.5-tonne payload, with reports stating that the aircraft’s wingtip mounts are strong enough to carry heavy short-range air-to-air missiles.

Today’s Video

• Indian Army test firing of BrahMos Block III: