Defence`s Feeds

The US Navy (USN) has awarded Bell Helicopter a USD3.3 million contract to investigate the potential for future flight strain, fatigue, and tail boom cracking on the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The contract, which was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command

Brazilian aerospace and defence company Embraer is seeking to further reduce its workforce through a new voluntary redundancy package, which was opened on 6 October. The company claims that the programme was initiated at the request of three workers' unions, which together represent around half of

India's state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is planning to launch a long-expected initial public offering (IPO) within the next few months, media reports in India have said. Citing official sources, reports said the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has

The Indonesian Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Darat, or TNI-AD) has deployed an undisclosed number of South Korean made 155 mm KH179 towed howitzer artillery pieces with the service's Field Artillery Battalion 16 in Ngabang, West Kalimantan. The battalion, which was established in

Video footage of Iran's Simorgh unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) taking off and landing was filmed at Kashan International Airport, according to IHS Jane's geolocation analysis. Shown by various Iranian TV channels on 1 October, the footage of the aircraft flying at Kashan was the most credible

Key Points Italian Navy receives its fifth FREMM, the fourth and final ASW variant The ship's delivery had been postponed, but in return it is ready for immediate service following its handover The Italian Navy has received it fifth FREMM (Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission) frigate, and

Kazakhstan is to create a government ministry to implement policy in the areas of defence, aerospace, and electronics, the office of the president announced on 6 October. The new Ministry of Defence and Aerospace Industry will take responsibility for industrial functions previously performed by

Key Points The goal is to help US forces move away from large single-purpose systems The companies want to develop a capability for multiple platforms Logos Technologies and Raytheon are teaming to combine their intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies to create an

EVENT At least 20 Nigerien protection force troops were killed on 6 October when Islamist militants attacked a Malian refugee camp at Tazalit in the central Tasara region. The attackers, numbering around 40, then escaped towards the Malian border in a convoy of 13 pick-ups. The attack follows

EVENT On 6 October 2016, Moldova's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) approved the list of 12 candidates for the presidential election on 30 October. On 4 March 2016 Moldova's Constitutional Court had abolished the 5 July 2000 amendment to the constitution and replaced parliamentary presidential

The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKO) contingent deployed to Syria could well be bolstered by the return of Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft to the country, the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on 30 September. Citing a source in military and diplomatic circles mentioning that an unspecified number of

EVENT On 3 October, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gave the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo: MONUSCO) a

A GBP1.3 billion (USD1.6 billion) programme to refurbish buildings and facilities at Clyde naval base complex is at the heart of the UK Defence Infrastructure Organisation's (DIO's) future procurement plan. For the first time the Ministry of Defence (MoD) organisation responsible for the management

In Bangui, a Colonel of the armed forces was killed and his teenage son was wounded when unidentified militants opened fire on their vehicle near a police station in the Muslim area PK5. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Americas

• Canada’s Air Force will request $379 million from the government in order to fund the upgrade of avionics on its CF-18 fighters. Once installed, the modernization will keep the fighters flying until 2025, giving leaders in Ottawa some much needed breathing room on making a decision on the aircraft’s eventual successor. First bought in 1982, almost $2 billion has been spent on upgrading the fighters since 2001. (Values in USD)

• The US government, along with 44 other nations, has signed a joint declaration on the “Export and Subsequent Use of Armed or Strike-Enabled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).” Signatories promise to “ensure the responsible export and subsequent use of these systems” as misuse of these UAVs could fuel conflict and instability, and facilitate terrorism and organized crime. The declaration said none of the principles were meant to undermine a country’s legitimate interest in producing, exporting, or acquiring such systems.

• General Dynamics Land Systems has unveiled their medium-weight tracked vehicle demonstrator, the Griffin, at the Association of the US Army (AUSA) 2016 Annual Meeting & Exposition. Combining elements of the turret and 120mm cannon from their M1A1/M1A2 Abrams main battle tank and the Ajax Scout Specialist Vehicle, the Griffin is being offered by GDLS as a “conversation starter” for the US Army’s Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program. Speaking to IHS Janes, Mike Peck, GDLS’ head of business development, said the company could respond to army feedback with a revised platform within about 9-12 months.

Middle East & North Africa

• Joran’s King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) compound is playing host to Iraqi officers training under a NATO-led scheme to build a more stable, permanent cadre of squadron leaders. The six week course, involving both classroom and live-fire training exercises, comes at a time when the Iraqi government gears up for its assault on the city of Mosul, held by the Islamic State since June 2014.

Europe

• Poland has dropped plans to purchase H225M Caracel military helicopters from Airbus. The move was revealed by the Ministry of Economic Development, citing the cessation of negotiations with the company over potential offsets, and indicating that the Ministry of Defense was backing away from the $3.5 billion sale. Warsaw’s new government is instead leaning to offerings off Lockheed Martin’s Black Hawk and Leonardo’s AW149 helos, which come with greater offsets and production at domestic subsidiary facilities.

• Airbus has successfully demonstrated their C295W transport aircraft as an aerial tanker. Equipped with a palletized air-to-air refueling unit and associated computer control system, the aircraft conducted multiple contacts with a Spanish air force C295 aircraft during a test flight on September 2. Further trials with a helicopter receiver are planned before the end of the year and work is underway to eventually refuel UAVs. Future applications for the C295W include special operations and extending search and rescue aircraft range.

Asia Pacific

• The Philippine Air Force is to launch its fourth bid in two years to procure a close-air support (CAS) platform to replace its OV-10. A request for proposals (RFP) is expected in the coming months with Embraer’s Super Tucano tipped as the hot fave to win the competition. Previous attempts to acquire new CAS aircraft have fallen short as potential bidders failed to meet the requirements.

Today’s Video

Don’t Call It A Tank! General Dynamics’ Griffin:

American Knox Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate

IAP Worldwide Services wins a position on the US Navy’s global contingency support multiple award contract II, and the Royal Australian Navy’s first Hobart-class air warfare destroyer, Hobart, has completed builder sea trials at Techport Australia. …

The cumulative market for military submarine and related maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) globally is anticipated to reach $323.7bn by 2026, growing from $22.8bn in the current year to $36.3bn in 2026, at a compound annual growth rate of 4.74%,…

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA Naval Systems) has awarded a Nkr220m ($27.4m) contract to Kongsberg Defence Systems for upgrading part of the main weapon system of ULA-class submarines.

German company Rolls-Royce will supply 14 MTU diesel engines for the seven new multi-purpose ocean-going patrol vessels that are being built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy (Marina Militare Italiana).