Defence`s Feeds

Harris Radio Frequency Communications has secured a contract worth $765m to provide portable radios and ancillary parts to the US Navy.

Austal has secured a new three-year contract to deliver sustainment work for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Cape-class patrol boats, Cape Fourcroy and Cape Inscription.

The US Navy is set to commission its future Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the future USS Washington (SSN 787), at Naval Station Norfolk.

EDA’s efforts to support Member States gaining access to European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for defence-related research projects continue to bear fruit: a project put forward by the Hellenic Ministry of Defence and aimed at developing a transferable Autonomous Composting Unit (ACU) for organic wastes to be used in military missions has just been granted ESIF funding.

For the first time, an EDA-supported project funded by ESIF is directly related to introducing the ‘circular economy’ concept into the military - a new endeavor actively supported by the EDA.

Deployed troops (missions, operations) traditionally generate high volumes of waste which can cause significant ecological and even health-related issues. The ACU project in question intends to alleviate this problem by developing a self-sustained waste treatment capability, which uses innovative energy and environmental technologies while still meeting military requirements.

The project is led by a Greek SME. Its budget is € 1 282 000 of which about 50% will be financed through ESIF co-funding.

 

Successful EDA support

So far, already six EDA-supported R&T projects have been granted ESIF co-funding for a total amount of € 8.5 million (average co-funding rate: 66% of total project costs). All those projects are listed on our new special ‘ESIF success stories’ page where defence stakeholders willing to apply for ESIF funding can find best practices and useful information.

 

More information

• Contact EDA
• ESIF success stories in defence
• EDA’s summary table on EU funding opportunities for defence-related stakeholders
• EDA’s “ESIF web-platform”
• EDA’s work supporting access to EU funding
• EDA’s work on “circular economy” in defence
• EDA’s work on energy for defence

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

On 5/6 October, the Protection of Critical Energy Infrastructure (PCEI) expert group - set up under the European Commission’s Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector (CF SEDSS) - met at the European Defence Agency (EDA) to deliver the “PCEI Conceptual Paper: Focus on European Union Defence”. This step concludes the first phase of the expert group’s work. It should assist Member States to build consensus on how to enhance best the protection and resilience of defence related Critical Energy Infrastructures.

To address the risks, vulnerabilities, capability and research shortfalls of defence related Critical Energy Infrastructures (CEI), the PCEI expert group was set up in May 2016. It’s primary task was to assess how the defence sector can apply existing EU CEI legislation to enhance the protection of defence-related CEI and improve its resilience throughout Europe. For that purpose, the group developed an EU-wide defence focused ‘PCEI Conceptual Paper’.

The chairman of the group, Colonel Georgios Drosos from the Hellenic MOD, explains that “this Paper is intended to lead to a collaborative civilian-military approach which supports EU Member States in the identification of best practices and tools which will strengthen further the resilience of defence related CEI from any failures, risks or threats, including terrorism, cyber-attacks, migration flow stress, climate change, and natural hazards”.

Martin Konertz, EDA’s Capability Armaments and Technology (CAT) Director, considers that “this PCEI Conceptual Paper will provide an important building block for increased CEI resilience in the EU as it should inform a related EU policy or guidelines and assist Member States to initiate projects of common interest with the support of the EU”.
 

Deliverables

Besides the Conceptual Paper, the PCEI expert group also produced a factsheet designed to increase collaboration, awareness and visibility. Both documents will be submitted in mid-October to the European Commission’s DG Energy for final approval. Denis Roger, EDA’s European Synergies and Innovation (ESI) Director, stated: “In order to move beyond the conceptual phase and towards a broader consensus, we will need to foster a common PCEI culture within the EU defence sector and even beyond that, in wider society. In this way, we can contribute to securing a sustainable energy supply chain for both fixed infrastructures and for CSDP operations”.
 

Background

The work of the PCEI expert group is led by the Ministries of Defence of Cyprus and Greece, supported by their respective national academia and research centres (Centre for Research & Technology Hellas – CERTH, Cyprus University of Technology, European University Cyprus, KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence - University of Cyprus, National Technical University of Athens - NTUA). The Commission’s DG Energy and Joint Research Centre as well as the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSEC COE) also support the work of the PCEI expert group. At this stage, six EDA Member States (Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Ireland, Greece and Cyprus) are participating in the group. It is supported within the Agency at an inter-directorate level (CAT and ESI) by CAT Project Officer Protect, Dr Constantinos Hadjisavvas, and ESI Project Officer Energy and Environment Systems, Richard Brewin.
 

More information :

• Experts group looks into protection of critical energy infrastructures for defence (webnews, October 2016)
• Phase 1 of Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in Defence completed (webnews, September 2017)

SAB Brockskes offers heat-resistant cables for the naval industry.

On 11 October, the Subcommittee will consider the amendments to the draft report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy by Michael GAHLER, EPP. The draft report advocates a thorough revision of the CSDP to better equip Europe in an increasingly unstable and volatile internal and external security environment.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Following several requests from industry representative and considering the importance of European Industry’s feedback, EDA has decided to extend the deadline for the Industry Exchange Platform papers’ submissions until 11 October. 

The call for papers aims at gathering the views from industries and other stakeholders about several topics in the RPAS ATI area and will contribute to set the initial scope of this Industry Exchange Platform. Additional information on this initiative is available here.
 

More information:

• Call for papers: EDA Industry Exchange Platform on RPAS AIR TRAFFIC INTEGRATION (ATI) 

Americas

• Elbit Systems announced Tuesday that its US subsidiary has been awarded an additional component contract for Aviator Night Vision Imaging System Head-Up Displays (ANVIS HUD). Awarded by the US Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, the two-year deal is worth $31.5 million. The ANVIS HUD is used for both day and night missions on US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard rotary platforms. The helmet mounted display system provides navigation and system symbology to pilots without having to reference internal instruments.

• The US Navy has ordered two Sea Giraffe Agile Multi Beam Multi-Mode Radar systems from Saab for use on the US Coastguard’s newest class of vessels, Offshore Patrol Cutter. Valued at $16.8 million, the agreement includes options for additional radars that if fully exercised, would raise the contract to as much as $118.5 million. Saab added that the deal will will contribute new jobs to SDAS’ Sensor Systems facility in Syracuse, NY. The Sea Giraffe MMR is a 3D, electronically scanned phased array radar that provides high radiated power, selectable waveforms, and modern signal processing. Saab already supplies its AN/SPS-77 radar for the Navy’s Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship and is currently developing a derivative of the radar, the AN/SPN-50, to meet the Air Traffic Control needs on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships.

• A report from think tank the RAND Corporation has urged US-Russian-Chinese cooperation to prevent the proliferation of hypersonic weapons beyond their borders. Leaders are warned in the report that they have probably under a decade to substantially hinder the potential proliferation of such weapons—which increase the chance of strategic wars due to its compression of timeline for a nation to response under attack. Outside of these countries’ hypersonic weapon development programs, the diffusion of hypersonic technology is underway in Europe, Japan, Australia and India, with many nations beginning to explore such technology. Proliferation could cross multiple borders if hypersonic technology is offered on world markets, leaving little time available to prevent proliferation.

• The planned first flight of Bell Helicopter’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft did not go ahead as originally announced on September 30. Instead, it is likely to meet the milestone in November. Testing of the aircraft started on September 20, with checks of its GE Aviation T64 engines and later electromagnetic interference checks on the Lockheed Martin-supplied avionics, however, the firm is being cautious with its checking regime and a test of its ground test regimen has yet to be conducted. Other reasons for the delay include the weather, with even drops of rain threatening to erode instrumentation on the rotor blades. Despite the delay, Bell’s Valor remains ahead of the competing Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant, who will not see a first flight until early 2018. The two aircraft are being developed for the US Army’s Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration (JMR-TD)—an experiment intended by the army to evaluate technologies that could be used for a family of high-speed, Future Vertical Lift (FVL) aircraft.

Middle East & Africa

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is likely to sign a deal to purchase “more than a squadron” of Su-35 Flanker multi-role fighter aircraft, if unnamed sources cited by Russian news agency Tass are to be believed. “They want a lot, over a squadron but the exact number will be specified in the course of negotiations that may be held in November during an air show in Dubai,” the source said. A fighter aviation squadron in the Russian Air Force normally comprises 12 aircraft but their exact number depends on the type of an aviation regiment. While Emirati interest in the Su-35 has not been officially expressed, the government did sign a cooperation agreement with Russian state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to collaborate on the development of a lightweight fifth-generation fighter at this year’s IDEX exhibition in February, indicating that the UAE is working with the Russians on aircraft programs.

Europe

• The Eurofighter consortium has pitched its Typhoon fighter to Poland at the recent MSPO defence exhibition. Raffael Klaschka, head of marketing at Eurofighter GmbH said that by being part of the Eurofighter program, Poland would experience “new and additional opportunities…both from a military and economic perspective, with a number of possible options in scope, from assembly and manufacturing to support and maintenance.” She added, “Poland would play a role in the definition of any future development of the aircraft, which will continue to be in service well beyond 2050.” Finishing her pitch, Klaschka told the audience that industrial collaboration was an inherent part of the Typhoon program, promising an attractive and cost-effective solution for Warsaw.

Asia Pacific

• Uzbekistan has been listed by Russian media as one of the latest customers interested in purchasing Su-30SM fighter aircraft. Kommersant reports that a high-ranking Uzbek delegation visited the fighter’s production facility at Irkutsk in August and that other procurement plans include armored vehicles, ammunition, and new arms. However, the report also raised the question as to how the former-Soviet republic would pay for these items, citing its lack of funds for such big ticket procurements. Uzbekistan, like its northern neighbor Kazakstan, have been looking to modernize existing defense equipment and platforms, much of which has has been left over since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Just this year alone, Kazakhstan has signed several defense agreements with Russia, and with Uzbekistan, Astana signed a Military Cooperation Plan centered on joint operational and combat training, as well as cooperation in military education.

• An unnamed Asia-Pacific customer has tapped radio-maker Harris Corp. to develop and deliver an integrated tactical communications network. Worth $230 million, the contract is part of that country’s modernization effort and was awarded in the first quarter of the company’s 2018 fiscal year. Harris said the network solution will include tactical radios, network planning, monitoring and routing software and other systems and technology. It will feature Harris’ Falcon III AN/PRC-158 multi-channel manpack radios and vehicular amplifiers, providing voice and data services to tactical forces.

Today’s Video

• Hypersonic missile nonproliferation:

Defence contractor CEA Technologies has secured a new contract to upgrade and enhance the radar capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) Anzac-class frigates.

The Finnish Defence Forces is set to sign a letter of intent (LoI) and pre-design activities contract with aerospace and defence company Patria for the modernisation and upgrade of the navy's Hamina-class missile-capable fast attack craft (FAC).

Marines with the US 2nd Marine Division have tested a number of additive-manufactured, or 3D printed, small unmanned aerial systems (SUASs) at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

On 11 October, SEDE will hold a public hearing on the militarisation in the Black Sea. The hearing is timely, as the regional security situation on the eastern flank has become very challenging for the EU and NATO. It will focus on the security situation following the Russian illegal annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Furthermore, the hearing will analyse the military strategic consequences of the conflicts and the possibilities to foster stability and cooperation.
Location : Paul-Henri Spaak 5B001
Further information
Draft programme
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

On 11 October, SEDE will hold a public hearing on the militarisation in the Black Sea. The hearing is timely, as the regional security situation on the eastern flank has become very challenging for the EU and NATO. It will focus on the security situation following the Russian illegal annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Furthermore, the hearing will analyse the military strategic consequences of the conflicts and the possibilities to foster stability and cooperation.
Further information
Draft programme
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP