Defence`s Feeds

Americas

• While the starting gun has been fired on the USAF T-X trainer competition, Textron AirLand has yet to decide whether they will enter the race. In an email to the Kansas Star, the company stated that they do not “have a decision to share at this time,” when asked if they would respond to the USAF’s request for proposals for a new trainer aircraft. Textron announced the successful maiden flight of their first production-conforming Scorpion tactical jet last month, indicating that it may be submitted as the potential replacement for the USAF’s current trainer fleet of T-38 Talon jets.

• A C-130 transport aircraft operated by the Argentine Air Force has been upgraded by state-owned aircraft manufacturer Fábrica Argentina de Aviones SA (FAdeA). The overhaul is part of a five aircraft modernization program, the first of which was completed by L-3 Communications last April. FAdeA will continue to upgrade the remaining three C-130s, with work slated to be carried out between now and 2019. Argentina plans to add 20 years of service life for all five of their C-130 aircraft.

Middle East & North Africa

• Israel’s Defense Ministry has signed a $450 million 7-year order with IMI Systems for the supply of munitions for infantry and armor units. The deal will commence in 2017 and run through to 2025, averaging annual orders at around $65 million. Announcing the deal, the MoD said the multi-year deal would enable the IDF to complete the resupply of stocks expended in the 2014 Gaza war and support Ground Force live-fire training for the coming decade.

Europe

• General Atomics has been contracted by the US government to provide MQ-9 Reaper UAVs to Spain. The $56 million is an adjustment to an existing basic ordering agreement between Washington and Madrid and work is expected to be complete by January 31, 2019. Last February, Spain ordered four aircraft and associated control stations from General Atomics, in what the company says represents one complete Reaper system. The total value of Spain’s Reaper package, along with associated support and equipment, could reach as much as $243 million.

• An unnamed buyer has ordered services and support for their Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) platform from Saab. The company has kept quiet on particular details of the sale, barring that the order is worth $236 million and deliveries will be made from 2019 through to 2021. AEWC technologies allow aircraft to support military intelligence gathering and reconnaissance operations, and can be used to bolster border security or conduct search-and-rescue missions.

• BAE Systems will test and verify the Iron Fist active protection system (APS) on Dutch CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV). The Israeli-made radar has the ability to detect, track and intercept incoming rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles among other threats to the vehicle and its crew. Once the system is integrated by BAE, the Netherlands’ Defence Ministry will decide on whether the systems will be rolled out in full, making it the first NATO country with an APS “of its kind” on combat vehicles.

Asia Pacific

• It’s been reported that a deal is close to being struck for the establishment of a logistic hub in India, providing crucial Su-30 spare parts to the Indian Air Force instead of having them imported from Russia. The agreement, scheduled to be signed in March, will also allow some of the components to be manufactured in India. It is also expected that once the hub is functioning, operational readiness of the IAF Su-30MKI fleet will rise above the current rate of 63 percent.

• Elbit Systems will supply two unknown customers in the Asia/Pacific region with airborne laser designators. Valued at $35 million, the agreement involves two separate contracts to be delivered over a three-year period. The targeting systems being produced are designed to provide operators with precise target designation.

Today’s Video

IMI’s Iron Fist APS:

Polish Tantal Assault Rifle

An Angolan Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft is being refurbished at the Belotserkovsky Cargo Aircraft Complex (BVAK) in Bila Tserkva, central Ukraine, to extend its operational life, the company announced on 26 December. It released photographs and a video showing an Angolan Il-76TD,

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced in his New Year's Day address that his country will continue to enhance its military capabilities, including the development of nuclear weapons. "We will continue to build up our self-defence capability, the pivot of which is the nuclear forces, and

Rheinmetall and Steyr Mannlicher have partnered to offer the RS556 assault rifle in 5.56 x 45 mm to the Bundeswehr as a potential replacement for the service's G36 standard issue rifle. The RS556 (RS stands for Rheinmetall Steyr in 5.56 mm calibre) is a derivative of the AR-15 and a variant of

Bangladesh's Khulna Shipyard (KSY) launched the first of two locally built, Chinese-designed large patrol craft (LPC) on order for the Bangladesh Navy (BN) on 29 December 2016. Named Durgam (with pennant number P 814), the LPC is identical to the two Chinese-built 64.2 m-long Durjoy-class LPCs that

Curtiss-Wright announced on 4 January that it had completed the acquisition of data acquisition and flight test equipment firm Teletronics Technology Corporation. The acquisition was first announced in early December, and was valued at USD233 million.

Raytheon will provide new mission computers for the US Air Force's fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft, which will more than double the processing capability and increase the memory of the legacy mission computers. Based on commercial technology, Raytheon's Modular Mission

Mauritania and Saudi Arabia signed a defence co-operation agreement that 'cements' relations between the two countries on 4 January. The Mauritanian Information Agency (AMI) reported that the agreement covers military training, the exchange of secure information, logistical support, visits by each

The US military will resume aerial refuelling exercises from 6 January for Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotors stationed in Japan's southern Okinawa Prefecture, according to a 5 January statement issued by Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD). The MoD said the United States had taken measures to

Australian government-owned shipbuilding company ASC is reportedly planning to reduce its workforce by the end of next month due to reduced amount of work on the Hobart Class air warfare destroyer (AWD) project.

The MBDA-led UK Dragonfire consortium has secured a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to produce a laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) capability demonstrator.

Ultra Electronics’ Command and Sonar Systems sonobuoy facility has secured a contract extension for the delivery and production of sonobuoys for the UK Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 maritime patrol helicopter fleet.

A demilitarization program funded by the European Union.

Spain's Everis Aerospace and Defense and New Technologies Global Systems (NTGS) have been awarded their first production contract for the Alakran 120 mm light mortar carrier (LMC). Work on the platform began in 2010 as a private venture with the aim of developing a system that could provide rapid

Key Points Australia has begun investigations into training materials that may have sparked row with the Indonesian Armed Forces A suspension of military co-operation by the Indonesian Armed Forces has not been endorsed by the country's government Canberra has taken steps towards mending military

EVENT On 1 January 2017, a prison riot in Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazon, resulted in 56 deaths after a 17-hour gun battle between rival gangs, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Família do Norte (FDN). This is the bloodiest riot since 2002 and highlights the inability of

The Burkinabe military has reinforced its presence on the border with Mali in the aftermath of an attack on one of its outposts on 16 December. A Burkinabe officer told IHS Jane's that the attack involved more than 40 militants targeting a military position near the village of Nassoumbou, 20 km

Key Points The USN's plan for a 308-ship fleet requires spending about one-third more annually than the service has for several decades, according to the CBO A 350-ship navy proposed by the Trump administration could cost around USD25 billion per year The US Navy's (USN's) 2017 shipbuilding plan

The People's Republic of China has donated non-lethal military equipment, worth USD2.5 million, to Uruguay, the Uruguayan presidency announced on 4 January. The package includes 10 winter tents, 400 summer tents, 4 light trucks, 14 energy generators, and more. The Chinese government will pay for