Defence`s Feeds

will take place on Monday 18 June, 15:00-18:30 and Tuesday 19 June, 9:00-12:30 and 14:30-18:30 in Brussels.

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Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

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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, 2018 - EP

Americas

• The Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) is tapping the Sierra Nevada Corporation for the final phase of the Agency’s Gremlins program. The DARPA project aims to develop a system that is able to launch and recover reusable drone swarms using manned airborne aircraft. The Gremlins’ will give the US forces the ability to send large numbers of small unmanned air systems with coordinated, distributed capabilities. These provide troops with an improved operational flexibility at much lower cost than is possible with today’s expensive, all-in-one platforms. Produced by Dynetics the Gremlins’ expected lifetime of about 20 uses. DARPA awarded Dynetics a 21-month, $38.6 million contract for the third phase the Gremlin program in April. Sierra Nevada Corp. will provide the Gremlin Air Vehicles with an autonomous docking system, allowing the drones to be recovered by a C-130 aircraft.

• The US Army Contracting Command is awarding a contract modification to BAE Systems Land and Armaments in Michigan. The modification provides for cost overrun funding in relation to remanufacture programs for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and is valued at $8.1 million. Introduced in the 1980s during the Reagan defense build-up, the Bradleys were a departure from the usual mold of lightly armed Armored Personnel Carriers. The Bradleys’ high level of protection against anti-tank rockets has proven to be a significant plus, and operational readiness has reportedly exceeded 94%, during urban and cross-country missions that have covered more than 8 million miles. BAE Systems works through its Public Private Partnership with Red River Army Depot in Texas to remanufacture and upgrade these vehicles. Unlike RESET programs, designed to replace all defective or worn parts and restore/service a vehicle back to pre-combat condition, remanufacture is a complete rebuild designed to return it to full “zero miles” condition, and install upgrades. Work will be performed at the company’s’ location in Sterling Heights, Michigan and is scheduled for completion by September 2018.

• The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center will receive tactical reconnaissance pods from UTAS, a division of Goodrich. The $61 million contract modification provides for a ceiling increase in production programs that provide foreign military sales partner nations an ordering vehicle for the DB-110 Tactical Reconnaissance Pod program. This includes the procurement of DB-110 reconnaissance pods, program infrastructure and an airborne data link terminal. The DB-110 reconnaissance pod is a digital, real-time, tactical reconnaissance system. It is a derivative of Goodrich’s Senior Year Electro-Optic Reconnaissance System-2 (SYERS-2) multispectral sensor system. It combines visible and infrared imaging capabilities in a compact, lightweight design. The pod provides day and night, high-resolution, wide-area imaging capabilities for F-16 aircraft, as well as other jet fighters, from up to 80 nautical miles away and can collect more than 10,000 square miles of imagery per hour. The pod provides stand-off and vertical imaging capabilities, along with air-to-ground communication over constrained bandwidth systems. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $135,5 million. Work will be performed in Westford, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by May 2021.

Middle East & Africa

• Algeria has acquired several Russian made TOS-1A multiple rocket launchers. The TOS-1A is mounted on a T-72 or T-90 tank chassis and can fire up to 24 220 mm rockets with thermobaric warheads, which are also known as fuel air explosives. The system has a minimum range of 600 meters and a maximum range of six kilometers. Targets are sighted with an optical sight, laser rangefinder and ballistic computer. Algeria is the fifth known TOS-1A export customer after Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Kazakhstan. The Russians describe TOS-1A as a ‘heavy flamethrower’, however its short action radius and limited choice of armament makes the system far less effective compared to other multiple rocket launcher systems, such as the Avibras’ ASTROS or the M142 HIMARS jointly produced by Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems.

Europe

• The British government is awarding funds worth $20.3 million to Airbus Helicopters UK. The funds provide for a sustainment program for the UK’s fleet of Aérospatiale Gazelles Helicopters. The original Gazelle helicopter was designed for the French Army as a lightweight observation helicopter, however, early on in the aircraft’s development, the decision was taken to enlarge the helicopter to enable greater versatility and make it more attractive for the export market. Various types of this helicopter have been in service with Royal Armed Forces since 1974. Earlier this year, a senior representative from the UK’s Joint Helicopter Command revealed that early work had begun on identifying a replacement for the 22-strong active fleet which is scheduled to be completed by 2025.

• The German Navy is currently facing delays regarding the introduction of the NH-90 Sea Lion helicopter into its service. So far, the Navy was unable to procure a bespoke simulator system, necessary for training pilots. The Sea Lion simulator is being procured through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. With the requirement comprising infrastructure, a full-mission simulator, and a rear-cabin crew trainer, the bids from industry have all been received and the technical evaluations are in progress but will not be delivered before the first of the 18 ordered helicopters will arrive at its main operating station. The NH-90 Sea Lion can be used as a utility helicopter, or as an anti-submarine helicopter, depending on how they’re built.

Asia-Pacific

• Jane’s reports that Bangladesh is set to receive two C-130J transport aircraft. The country will receive the Hercules from a UK surplus and has already awarded a multi-year support contract to the Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group. This multi-year contract will see Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group deliver a total support solution to the Bangladesh Air Force C-130J covering aircraft maintenance, logistics support including the provision of spare parts and ground support equipment for establishing local capabilities, as well as engineering services to ensure the effective operation of the fleet. The aircraft give the Asian nation better airlift and MEDEVAC capabilities, enabling the Bangladeshi Air Force to carry out tasks within the country and overseas in support of UN missions.

Today’s Video

• The Republic of South Korea has launched its new Large-Scale Transport Ship.

Most of China’s missiles would fail to meet the weapon limits set by the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed by the United States and the then-Soviet Union to help counter the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing a low-cost seeker that will fit onto any air-deployed munition and can use parts from any company. Under its Seeker Cost Transformation (SECTR) programme, DAPRA is designing a seeker with a new open architecture that is

Indonesia has formally received into service the first Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters that arrived in-country in late 2017. An acceptance ceremony for the first three of eight helicopters on order was held at the Army Aviation Centre (Puspenerbad) at Lanud Ahmad Yani Semarang in

The Australian government has been warned by its Department of Defence (DoD) that the country’s AUD89 billion (USD67 billion) naval shipbuilding plan for submarines, frigates, and offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) carries a “high-to-extreme risk”, the Australian National Audit Office

Two Chinese defence industrial groups, the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) and the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), have each established what they call ‘smart manufacturing’ initiatives to drive capability development. The initiatives, announced

Event A national dialogue mediated by Nicaragua’s Episcopal Conference has been scheduled to start on 16 May to de-escalate anti-government protests that have lasted over 28 days, leaving 54 people dead. Triggered by public opposition to government-imposed social security reforms, protests

India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to the joint venture (JV) formed between Russian Helicopters and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the supply of 200 Kamov Ka-226T ‘Hoodlum’ light multirole helicopters for the Indian Air

Key Points A prototype of France's Jaguar AFV was unveiled at Nexter on 16 May before it is displayed at Eurosatory 2018 The Jaguar, Griffon, upgraded Leclerc MBT, and VBMR léger are part of France's Scorpion programme A prototype of France's Jaguar 6x6 armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) was

Kazakhstan’s defence equipment exports doubled in 2017, the country has announced ahead of the Kazakhstan Defence Exhibition (KADEX). Kazakh Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry Beibut Atamkulov told the country’s parliament on 14 May that defence exports in 2017 reached KZT16

Key Points Suspected jihadists were allegedly planning to attack French targets in Senegal and to spread Islamist influence into neighbouring countries. Senegal remains a likely top target for Al-Qaeda-linked groups due to its strong connections with France, emphasised by a renewed threat from

Navantia has won a contract from the Spanish Navy to develop and install an upgraded version of its integrated platform control system (Sistema Integrado de Control de la Plataforma: SICP) for the Segura-class minehunters. The EUR8.1 million (USD9.6 million) contract will run until 2022 and include

Key Points A top Pentagon official backs the current policy barring commercial payloads on ICBM motor rockets Changing the policy could allow a company to undercut a developing small launch base A top Pentagon official is backing current policy that bars commercial secondary payloads from flying

Key Points Leonardo Airborne and Space Systems has been awarded contracts by the UK MoD and Boeing to modify the DAS fitted to the Apache AH1 attack helicopter for integration into the replacement AH-64E The re-architectured and updated HIDAS fit for the UK AH-64E DAS will be based on

Pyongyang has suspended high-level talks with Seoul over ongoing US-South Korean military exercises, and threatened to cancel a highly anticipated summit between North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump scheduled to take place on 12 June in Singapore. On 16 May

Israel’s Rafael has signed a collaboration agreement with Romania’s Romaero to promote its products in the Romanian market. The agreement, signed at the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace 2018 exhibition in Bucharest, will see the two companies work on targeting a variety of procurement

Rolls-Royce has entered a partnership with Australian engineering company Marand in support of BAE Systems’ proposal to supply its Type 26 Global Combat Ship to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). In a press release on 16 May, Rolls-Royce said it has selected Marand as its industry partner on

Jane’s identifies countries likely to face increased threats to their security in the month ahead. Afghanistan Further deterioration in urban security The Taliban’s spring offensive will target provincial capitals, with fighters having already driven security forces out of Farah in the