Defence`s Feeds

The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA), the flight technology development arm of state-owned space and defence technology prime China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), announced on 3 August that it has successfully developed and tested China’s first experimental

The Croatian Ministry of Defence (MoD) invited the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to visit Croatia on 2-5 August as it negotiated the purchase of F-16 combat aircraft from Israel. The potential deal reflected Croatia’s growing sign of support and friendship with Israel, with the arrival of three

The Italian Parliament approved the transfer of 12 patrol boats to Libya on 7 August. The vessels will be operated by the Libyan Coast Guard and the Ministry of Interior, and are intended to support efforts to stem the flow of illegal migrants through the Mediterranean. The boats are being donated

Systematic’s Sitaware Frontline command-and-control (C2) software is to be integrated onto the Lithuanian Land Force’s future armoured combat vehicles, the company announced on 8 August. Sitaware Frontline will be installed aboard the Land Force’s 8x8 Boxer infantry fighting

Event On 6 August, students – including school children – protested in Dhaka for a ninth consecutive day to demand improved road safety regulations. The protests were initially triggered by the death of two children in a road accident on 29 July but quickly spread across the capital,

Thales announced on 10 August that it has extended its acceptance period for the acquisition of digital security company Gemalto due to delays in receiving regulatory approval. Thales’ offer to Gemalto shareholders of EUR51 (USD59) per share was originally due to expire on 6 June but was

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) should complete a national maritime strategy to sustain the US-flagged commercial cargo ships on which the Pentagon relies to ship Defense Department cargo, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has said. The DOT has drafted but not issued the national

Key Points President Kabila likely intends to use the announcement of Ramazani Shadary’s candidacy to retain power, either as a disguise for his own upcoming presidential candidacy or de facto through parallel channels while out of office. However, the ascension of Ramazani Shadary to the

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has re-contracted state-owned company ASC to deliver the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Collins-class submarine training programme. Services that will be delivered in the contract include operator, maintainer, and operational training for all

More than 1,000 Australian businesses have formally registered interest in becoming part of the supply chain in support of Australia’s programme to build 12 next-generation submarines, the Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra has announced. In a statement on 9 August, Australian Minister

Iran was trying to send a message when it held a naval exercise as the United States reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic, according to General Joseph Votel, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM). CENTCOM noted apparent preparations for the exercise on 1 August, when it stated it was

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is to adjust the composition of its planned future Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules fleet to reflect the recent loss of an aircraft on operations in Iraq. The RAF fields both the ‘short-bodied’ C-130J (designated C5 in RAF service) and

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has pledged to invest in developing cyber-defence capability as part of wider military reforms. The MND said on 9 August that its new ‘cyber-security enhancement plan’ features the restructuring of its existing cyber-defence systems

Key Points The Philippine Navy has conducted a successful acceptance firing of the Spike ER missile Weapon significantly improves the service’s anti-surface warfare capabilities Representatives from Rafael Defense Systems and the Philippine Navy (PN) have concluded sea acceptance test of

The Dutch F-35 based at Edwards Air Force Base has carried out tests with the Lightning II in “Bomb Truck”/”Beast Mode” configuration lately. 323 TES (Test & Evaluation Squadron), the Dutch unit based at Edwards Air Force Base and responsible for the F-35 Operational Test and Evaluation Phase (OT&E) as part of the Joint Operational […]

Americas

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division is procuring support equipment for its fleet of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Northrop Grumman will supply the Navy with 45 end items of Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE) at a cost of $29.9 million. The firm-fixed-price order includes the delivery of updated software sets, system specification documents and obsolescence management. E-2D support activities are conducted through the PEO(T) and PEO(U&W) programs led by the Supporting Program Executive Office. Both programs provide flight line and intermediate maintenance level test equipment & automated test equipment for the E-2D. The E-2D gives the warfighter expanded battlespace awareness, especially in the area of information operations delivering battle management, theater air and missile defense, and multiple sensor fusion capabilities in an airborne system. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida, and is expected to be completed in August 2021.

The Missile Defense Agency is procuring further efforts for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) from Lockheed Martin. The cost-plus award fee valued at $15.8 million provides for the procurement of materials and work necessary to support the BMD Increment 3 Capability Concept Development; and raises the total cumulative contract value to $2.8 billion. Aegis can simultaneously attack land targets, submarines, and surface ships while automatically protecting the fleet against aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Aegis has become a widely-deployed top-tier air defense system, with customers in the USA, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, and Spain. Work will be performed at the company’s location in Moorestown, New Jersey and is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

The Air Force is ordering the next round of receiver technology for its military GPS development program. Raytheon is being awarded with a $11.3 million contract modification for the development of the miniaturized airborne global positioning system (GPS) receiver 2K-M. Under the Military GPS User Equipment program (MGUE), the Air Force’s GPS Directorate is developing receiver cards that will plug into existing equipment, enabling them to utilize the new military M-Code. Last year Raytheon’s MAGR-2K-M underwent a successful prototype and system functional check on the B-2 — confirming the card could draw power, put out the right data and that that data was being received by the B-2 systems in the appropriate format. So far, the military has identified more than 700 types of weapons systems that will need to be upgraded — an effort requiring almost one million receiver cards. Work will be performed at Raytheon’s locations in El Segundo, California; and Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by the end of May 2020.

The US Air Force is contracting Lockheed Martin to rapidly advance the development and testing of new hypersonic missiles. An initial contract for the development for Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW, pronounced “Hacksaw”) at a cost $928 million was awarded to the company in April. Lockheed will also develop another weapon system named the AGM-183A or ARRW for short. HCSW has been designed to deliver a prompt hypersonic / hypervelocity, precision strike capability against high-value, time-critical fixed and re-locatable surface targets in a single or multi-theatre challenged anti-access / area denial (A2/AD) environment. By using a rocket to boost the missile to very high altitudes, the unpowered ARRW then glides down to lower altitudes at speeds up to Mach 20. The US acceleration of the hypersonic missile development project is a necessary response towards Chinese and Russian surprise developments in high-speed weapons.

Middle East & Africa

AAI Corp., a subsidiary of Textron, is being contracted for the provision of force protection efforts in Afghanistan. The firm-fixed price contract has a value of $12.7 million. AAI will most likely use its Aerosonde as an advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) solution in order to provide the US military with the capability to effectively execute a number of deployment operations and engineering support activities. The Aersonde is equipped for simultaneous day-and-night full-motion video, communications relay and intelligence in a single flight. It has an endurance of over 14 hours and can travel to a range of about 75 nautical miles. Work will be performed at Bagram Airfield and Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, and is expected to be completed by March 27th, 2019.

Côte d’Ivoire’s Gendarmerie is now using the Belarusian-made Cayman 4×4 light armored vehicle. Last month the State Military-Industrial Committee (Goskomvoenprom) announced that it will deliver the vehicle to an unnamed African nation. Built by the 140 Repair Plant in Borisov, vehicle can be used in reconnaissance and sabotage missions, patrol, escort, peace-keeping and police operations, as well as in emergency response missions. It weighs about 7 tons and can carry a crew of six. A 170 hp D-245 engine powers it to a top speed of 60 mph on paved roads. Its side and rear armor is said to be equivalent to STANAG 4569 Level 1 and its frontal armor equivalent to Level 2. Côte d’Ivoire which currently has a protection company serving with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is the first known export customer of the Cayman 4×4.

Europe

A Spanish Eurofighter accidently launched an AIM-120 AMRAAM in Estonia. The fighter aircraft was flying near defenses near Pangod in the vicinity of Otepää when the incident occurred. It is yet unclear if the AIM-120D’s built in self-destruct mechanism terminated the flight or if the missile landed at an unspecified location. The Estonian Defense Forces have sent helicopters to search for the missile. The Spanish Eurofighter is part of NATO’s Air Policing Mission that support member states that do not have the necessary air capabilities to independently protect their airspace. The Spanish air force currently deploys six Typhoons as part of this mission. An investigation has been initiated to clarify the circumstances.

Asia-Pacific

Jane reports that the Philippines is currently negotiating the terms of an agreement to expand collaboration on diesel-electric submarines with Russia. The Philippine Navy is currently in the process of conducting market research and doctrine studies in support of its submarine procurement program. The Navy is looking to purchase at least two submarines as part of its 2018-22 Second Horizon military modernization program. If the agreement realizes Russia would provide the Philippine Navy with submarine training to support military operations, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

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The Ecuadorian Ministry of National Defense (MND) outlined its strategy to strengthen the country’s armed forces on 2 August, with its goals including the acquisition of new platforms and the repair and modernisation of existing ones. The objective for the army is to acquire light

The Italian Navy will start training an initial batch of Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) personnel in September to operate new ships being built for Qatar by Fincantieri. A steel cutting ceremony for the first of four Doha-class multirole corvettes destined for the QENF was held at Fincantieri's

Australian shipbuilder Austal announced on 9 August that the first Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) had begun sea trials. The vessel is one of 21 Austal-designed and -built patrol boats that are to be gifted by Canberra to Pacific Island states as part of Australia’s security

The government of New Zealand has approved the purchase of a flight simulator from Canadian company CAE to train the pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF’s) fleet of NHIndustries NH90 multirole medium helicopters. “A New Zealand-based simulator offers the benefits of