Defence`s Feeds

China and Myanmar have agreed to 'maintain peace and stability' in the border areas between the two countries after fighting between Myanmar government forces and an alliance of four insurgent factions escalated in the country's north in late 2016. During the China-Myanmar 2+2 High-level

A lack of available Red Teams and the inability to adequately defend against sophisticated threats are among the shortcomings identified in the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation's (DOT&E's) 2016 report on aspects of the US Department of Defense's (DoD's) cyber-security

US military training and C4ISR provider Cubic Corporation released financial results for the first quarter of its 2017 financial year on 9 February, showing an improved performance compared to the same period in 2016. First quarter sales rose 6.7% to USD334.7 million and while operating earnings

Netherlands-based Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (Damen) took over management of the Curaçao Drydock Company on 1 February 2017. The new company has been renamed Damen Shiprepair Curaçao (DSCu). The Caribbean shipyard has two dry docks - Antilla and Beatrix - with a length of 280 m and

Fincantieri is undertaking a comprehensive 'procurement supply chain roadshow' across Australia in February in support of its bid to meet the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) SEA 5000 project to acquire nine new frigates for an estimated AUD35 billion (USD27 million). Dario Deste - the chairman of

EVENT Philippine secretary of defence Delfin Lorenzana told the media on 7 February that he is seeking assistance from the United States to deal with kidnap-for-ransom attacks on vessels in the Sibutu Passage, a busy channel between the Sulu and Celebes seas for ships travelling from Australia to

South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has posted a fall in annual sales but a return to profit in fiscal year 2016, the company announced on 9 February. HHI said in a filing to the Korean Exchange that sales in the year fell 15% to KRW39.3 trillion (USD1.2 billion). It added that it also

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced a new export-version of its long-range Heron TP unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on 9 February, saying it will be displayed at the Aero India 2017 show taking place from 14-18 February in Bengaluru. The Heron TP XP is identical to the Heron TP except that it

ONE civilian was killed and five others were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED), emplaced by unidentified militants, detonated near a popular market place at Boub al-Sham region, north of Iraq's capital Baghdad on 1 February, Iraqi News reported. No group immediately claimed

TWO civilians were killed and six others were wounded when three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated in the north, east and west of Iraq's capital Baghdad on 1 February, Iraqi News reported.No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Americas

• Despite not having a US-based partner and prime contractor, Leonardo is to go it alone in the USAF T-X trainer competition. Raytheon withdrew from the partnership last month. The Italian firm’s US-subsidary, Leonardo DRS, will now act as prime contractor, although it remains unclear where the T-100 advanced jet trainer will be assembled if the company secures the contract.

• Bell Helicopters will provide long-lead items and components for the US Navy’s AH-1Z aircraft. valued at $49 million, the agreement covers 27 Lot 15 AH-1Z Vipers operated by the USMC, and work is expected to be completed by March 2018. According to manufacturer Bell, the AH-1Z is the only helicopter in the world to feature air-to-air missile attack capabilities.

Middle East & North Africa

• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will supply signals and communication intelligence capabilities to various unnamed customers in contracts worth $30 million. IAI subsidiary ELTA Systems will deliver advanced communication intelligence system (COMINT) to an unidentified operator in Europe and a signal intelligence (SIGINT) suite to an undisclosed buyer in Asia. The COMINT system is designed to provide real-time intelligence and tactical information for military operators, as well as cooperate with existing defense communication networks, while the SIGINT is comprised of ELK 7071 COMINT and ELL-8385 ELINT systems, and can be integrated on military aircraft.

• An unnamed Asia-Pacific customer has contracted Elbit Systems to upgrade and maintain Mi-17 helicopters. The $110 million award will include work on dozens of helicopters and will take place over a five-year performance period. Some of the region’s operators of the aging Mi-17 include Afghanistan, Iraq, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan.

Europe

• A Greek publication has revealed that the country’s Defense Ministry plans to upgrade their fleets of 155 F-16C and F-16D aircraft to the V-variant. The cost of the modernization is expected to run between $1.7 and $2 billion. It was also revealed that the ministry wishes to lay the foundation with Washington for an eventual procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, that would be paid over a period of time. In addition, Athens is looking to have maintenance work done on their S-300 air defense system, however information on a deal remains unclear.

Asia Pacific

• Indonesia and South Korea have opened a joint program office in Sacheon, South Korea, in order to collaborate on the KF-X/IF-X fighter program. 74 personnel from PT Dirgantara Indonesia have made the move to work on the program, and will work with staff from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The opening of the office comes just a year after both governments signed a $7.1 billion agreement to jointly develop the KF-X/IF-X 4.5-generation fighter. In exchange for their capital, Jakarta will receive 50 IF-X fighters as well as a certain amount of knowledge and technological transfer.

• Textron Systems has been tapped to provide contractor logistics support for the Cessna C-208B Caravans used by the Afghan air force. Valued at $9.35 million for the first year, the contract has the potential to reach a maximum of $50 million over the next five years, and will include transfer of capabilities in addition to maintenance training. Manufactured by Textron, Afghanistan operates about 26 C-208Bs for use on a wide variety of missions.

• Israel’s Rafael is ramping up efforts to offer their systems to India’s indigenous Tejas fighter. The Indian Air Force is currently evaluating the company’s Python 5 and 54nm (100km)-range I-Derby ER air-to-air missiles for the Tejas, while it is also promoting its Litening 5 targeting pod and BNET secure radio. Yuval Miller, executive vice-president and head of Rafael’s Air and C4I Systems division, stated that the wide cooperation involved on the Tejas’ development could make it easier to bring the Light Combat Aircraft to the 4.5-generation standard.

Today’s Video

• The US Navy’s Spike missile program:

In this issue: New capabilities in air-to-air refuelling, a look at NATO’s new comms system, trends in protected mobility for armoured vehicles, the world’s first explosives sniffer drone, the future of UAVs in maritime ISR, closing capability gaps i…

Length of video : 35'
You may manually download this video in WMV (432Mb) format

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

Defence cooperation in the EU is now more dependent on political will than on legal considerations, say the Foreign Affairs and Constitutional Affairs committees in a joint resolution passed on Thursday.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The World ATM Congress, the world’s largest air traffic management event, will take place 7-9 in Madrid. The Congress, now in its fifth year, gathers representatives from every segment within aviation to exchange knowledge about the latest air traffic management trends. This year EDA will be there as part of the SESAR stand (889) to represent the military aspects of SES/SESAR.   

The implications for the military of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative and its technological pillar, the Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research (SESAR) programme, are considerable. One of the principle tasks that Member States have given to the EDA in this field is to connect the military with each other and the European Institutions, and to develop ways to engage Europe’s military in the SES initiative. 

“Partnering for excellence in global aviation” is the theme of the activities taking place at the SESAR stand. EDA is collaborating with the project hosts SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) and the SESAR Deployment Manager (SESAR DM). Other European representatives from the European Commission, European Aviation Safety Agency Network Manager,and EUROCAE, make up the joint SESAR representation at the World ATM Congress. 

In the lead up to this event, EDA has launched an updated brochure on its activities in this domain; “The Military in SES/SESAR”, which outlines EDA’s activities, priorities and partnerships in SES/SESAR. 

Our experts will be on the stand throughout the congress, so pass by and find out more about the EDA and its work on SES/SESAR.  

 

More information:

• EDA SESAR Project Page
• The Military in SES/SESAR (Brochure)
• EDA and SESAR JU sign Memorandum of Cooperation (EDA news 19 December 2016)
• EUROCONTROL and the European Defence Agency consolidate their cooperation (EDA news 17 November 2016)
• Partners step up efforts to address the integration of drones into European airspace (EDA news 8 November 2016)

US-based electronics manufacturer RE2 Robotics has secured a Phase II small business innovation research (SBIR) award for the development of an inflatable underwater dual manipulator system.

The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has entered drydock in Toulon, France, to undergo a major refit and modernisation programme.

US-based company Mikros Systems (MKRS) has been awarded a small business innovation research (SBIR) Phase III contract by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) to supply and support of its adaptive diagnostic electronic portable test-set (ADEPT)…

Americas

• The USMC has given March 2019 as the date for declaring initial operational capability for the V-22 Aerial Refuelling System (VARS). Four V-22 Osprey’s will be part of the initial program and will be able to refuel all fixed-wing USMC fighters and the CH-53 helicopter. The V-22 joint program office is looking at the feasibility of adding a chin-mounted gun and crew-served door guns for the Osprey, the latter being of particular interest to the service.

• While some of the industry’s heavyweights having been dropping out of the USAF’s T-X trainer competition, Stavatti have entered the fray with a modified version of their Javelin plane. Initially built as a civilian sportplane, the Javelin has since been configured as a very light fighter and a military jet trainer with more powerful twin-engines and an increased internal fuel capacity, alongside other enhancements. The company began redesigning the Mk-30 platform for military applications in November 2016.

• The chairman of the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee has urged the Pentagon to expand missile defense capabilities in the wake of threats from North Korea and Iran. Republican Representative Mac Thornberry made the comments Monday, following new US sanctions against Iran after Tehran’s recent ballistic missile tests. Mac Thornberry called not only for the provision of more systems, but also for the expansion and investment in new missile defense technology.

Middle East & North Africa

• Boeing has been awarded $18 million to provide AN/APG-63(V) radars for Saudi Arabia’s F-15SA aircraft. The USAF contract covers three of the radars, and work completion is expected for March 2017. Riyadh recently commissioned the new F-15SA fighter jets in January, which feature updated avionics, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, and ASM-135 missiles.

Europe

• Norway’s army is to purchase a mobile version of the Kongsberg NASAMS air defense system operated by their air force. Valued at $115 million, the MoD said the system is being obtained under Project 7628 Kampluftvern for new acquisitions and the reuse of existing equipment and solutions from the Air Force. The new variant will be integrated into armored transport vehicles with fire-control and communication solutions that are in use by the air force.

Asia Pacific

• Alongside the signing of a memorandum between the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) and National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) for the indigenous advance jet trainer, the NCSIST revealed their in-house AESA radar to the public for the first time. The radar will be used as part of the development for Taiwan’s advanced trainer, and marks a new generation of fighter-related research since the development of the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) in the 1990s.

• Indonesia’s ongoing AgustaWestland AW-101 helicopter saga will be investigated by new air force chief, Staff Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto. According to Hadi, the investigation will then be delivered personally to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The procurement of the AW-101 helicopter as a VIP transport sparked controversy because it took place after President Jokowi had initially rejected the plans amongst public outcry. Air Force brass then restarted the procurement for use as a military cargo transport.

• The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Japanese Navy have conducted the first successful intercept of the new SM-3 Block IIA interceptor off the west coast of Hawaii. Co-developed by both nations as part of the Aegis BMD system, the missile is designed to deliver a capability to defend against short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in both the ascent and midcourse phases of flight. A second flight test is already being planned.

Today’s Video

• US-Japanese first test of the SM-3 Block IIA interceptor:

Chief Executive Jorge Domecq today welcomed at the EDA premises the EU Military Committee (EUMC) led by its chairman, General Mikhail Kostarakos.

The meeting mainly focused on two substantive topics: the overall EU Capability Development Process and the Capability Development Plan (CDP) review foreseen for 2018.

Last November, Defence Ministers agreed to review the CDP in order to improve the capability development process by taking into account R&T and industrial aspects, and tasked the EDA to present a new set of EU priorities for military capability development for Steering Board adoption by spring 2018.

The CDP serves as a reference for national capability planning by informing Member States about capability requirements over time, identifying areas for capability improvements and translating capability priorities into concrete collaborative programmes.

 

More information:

• EUMC website
• General Kostarakos (CV)