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June 16, 2016 (JUBA) - Armed South Sudanese gunmen have killed several officers and soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), an official army of South Sudan, in the attack targeting government officials in Raja town, which is the administrative capital of Lol state on Wednesday.

An SPLA soldier is pictured behind a South Sudan flag as he sits on the back of a pick-up truck in Bentiu, Unity state January 12, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

The attack which occurred on Wednesday morning resulted to the brief capture of the state capital by the gunmen.

Senior government officials, including governor Rizik Zechariah Hassan, fled the town for their safety. However, several officers were killed including those in charge of the governor's bodyguards.

The head of gubernatorial guard force, Captain Deng Akuei Diing, is one of several officers and soldiers who have been killed in the attack.

Several others including one of the drivers of governor Hassan have also sustained injuries as they were trying to flee the town amid heavy gunfire.

At least 9 gubernatorial guards, according to several state government officials, have been confirmed killed in the fighting.

Five guards who sustained injuries have been received at Aweil hospital. Others have been received at Nyamellel and Marialbai where they are getting medical attention at local primary health units.

While others are being treated some are reportedly still on their way to where they would be assisted.

Government officials have reportedly returned to Raja on Thursday following the withdrawal of the gunmen who took control of the capital on Wednesday.

There are conflicting explanations as to the exit of the armed fighters. While some said they withdrew voluntarily and government officials had to return after confirming their withdrawal, others said the Darfuri rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) who had a base near the town were asked by the South Sudan army to help in the fight which dislodged the gunmen from the town on Wednesday evening.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault on the state capital and the government could not identify the attackers only to describe them as “bandits.'

(ST)

June 16, 2016 (JUBA) – A United States-based Enough Project has called on South Sudan's President, Salva Kiir, to ensure that the public money which have been stolen over the years by his officials should be returned.

Clooney, South Sudan's Kiir and Prendergast share a light moment, March 11, 2012 (Larco Lomayat)

In a statement released on Thursday, Enough Project's top leaders including John Prendergast and Brian Adeba, said President Kiir's recent comments to recover the assets stolen were encouraging, but cautioned that past promises by the President meant nothing.

“Recently, the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, called for global support to recover assets stolen by South Sudanese elites and deposited into foreign bank accounts or spent on purchasing properties in foreign countries. This is not the first time President Kiir has expressed a desire to tackle elite corruption in his country. In past cases, however, there has been no effective follow through, leaving the situation unchanged and the stolen assets in the hands of those who stole them,” said Enough Project in the statement.

“This time it can, and should, be different,” it added.

The statement suggested that President Kiir could demonstrate his commitment to action by giving real autonomy and support to the domestic agencies that are authorized to counter corruption and by operationalizing collaborative efforts between his government and international agencies.

It added that combating corruption would work only if independent investigators were allowed access to financial information of top officials of the government, right up to the presidency, instead of targeting political opponents in the country.

“If instead anti-corruption efforts become a tool to target political opponents, it will have no impact on good governance and only serve to undermine confidence in future anti-corruption initiatives,” said.

Recent news of convictions in a case involving the reported theft of $14 million from the presidency, the statement said, was encouraging, but added that questions abound as to how such an effort will be followed up and further high-level corruption will be targeted.

In order for President Kiir's call for global support for asset recovery, specific steps including official request for global assistance in asset recovery, specifically to the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Kenya are important.

The president, it added, should also spearhead and fully resource an independent audit of government departments suspected of massive leaks of funds both before and during the conflict, including his own office.

The body also recommended tasking government agencies with implementing mechanisms to enforce banking and procurement transparency.

“In particular, procurement transparency should include requirements for the publication of contract amounts, beneficial ownership information, and other pertinent data, in line with the principles of the Open Contracting Partnership,” the statement added.

“Ensure that civil society and media organizations focused on investigating and reporting on corruption can do so in a safe space without fear of retribution.”

With these steps taken, it added, the United States and other governments should respond by providing tangible assistance to investigations through the Department of Justice's Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative and, for transactions that appear to have been conducted in U.S. dollars, through investigative tools available to the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

“President Kiir has opened up a critical conversation just as he did in 2012 when he addressed a letter to 75 top officials asking for the return of $4 billion that were stolen and taken out of the country. Since that time, the looting has continued and too often anti-corruption measures have been used as a political tool to target political opponents,” it said.

The Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), it further observed, will need to address serious economic, humanitarian and political challenges so as to win support of the donor community, adding that demonstrating that graft and corruption will no longer be tolerated is an essential element in building back trust.

“In order to set South Sudan on a new path forward, we call on President Kiir to show the South Sudanese people and the international community that he means what he says and that the Transitional Government of National Unity will act on these words in the interest of the people.”

Taking the fight against corruption serious, it said, the era of impunity can be brought to an end, restoring investor and donor confidence as well as laying the groundwork for a lasting peace.

(ST)

Fighting for disability rights in Africa is a huge task but some are taking it upon themselves to make a positive change.

Russian Mi-17 Medium Transport Helicopter

Americas

• Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) intends to negotiate and award a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract with Boeing for the integration of the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile on the Saudi F-15SA. The notice was made on the US Federal Business Opportunities website. NAVAIR’s plan to award Boeing the contract was justified as the company “alone has the experience, special skills; proprietary technical documentation, software/algorithms; facilities and manufacturing techniques required to produce, assemble and integrate this equipment and furnish the supplies and services within the required timeframe.”

• Workers at the Lockheed Martin plant in Forth Worth are to ballot on potential strike action next week as the current contract between the aerospace giant and the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers union expires next month. A vote in favor of industrial action would put pressure on Lockheed to come up with an offer that is more amicable to the workers. A 2012 strike, which lasted ten weeks, led to an 11% pay increase, however the union was unable to stop the company from ending a traditional defined-benefit pension for new hires and shifting instead a 401(k) plan.

Middle East North Africa

• Aerospace giant Airbus and Turkish missile producer Rokestan are to collaborate on integrating the latter’s Cirit laser-guided rocket on H135 and H145 helicopters. The Cirit missile project was launched to equip Turkish Army’s T-129 Atak, AH-1P Cobra and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters with low-cost precision strike capabilities, but now has started to attract foreign clients as the Eurocopter selected the missiles to equip the EC635 helicopters. Test operations will be conducted in Turkey.

Africa

• Botswana has confirmed that negotiations to purchase between eight and 12 JAS Gripen C/D from Sweden are underway. With an estimated cost of $1.7 billion, the fighters will replace the country’s F-5 fleet bought from Canada in the mid-1990s. Other procurements in Botswana’s sights include a $179 million deal to purchase 45 Piranha 3 8×8 armored wheeled vehicles from Swiss company General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag (GDELS-Mowag).

Europe

• A senior French official has disclosed that they are offering the Aster 30 missile to Sweden as a potential option for the latter’s hunt for a new ground-based air defense system. The joint French-Italian Aster 30 missile program will compete against the Norwegian NASAM – which has seen interest from Poland and Lithuania – and other competing products from Diehl and Rafael. The offering to Stockholm comes as the Aster program enters a new phase, with France and Italy having signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on the Aster Block 1 New Technology, a version which extends the missile’s range.

• Belarus has announced plans to purchase Su-30SM fighters from manufacturer Irkut. Interest in the new aircraft was admitted by Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov when asked by media if his ministry had any plans to procure newer fighters than the current Su-27 and MiG-29 in service. Regarded as a 4+ generation fighter, the Su-30SM is capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with a wide variety of precision-guided munitions. The aircraft features thrust-vectoring engines to enhance maneuverability.

• A series of British Army sponsored live-firings of the Lockheed Martin & Raytheon Javelin missile have scored 100%. The missiles were fired from a Kongsberg M151 Remote Weapon Station mounted on a Spartan armored fighting vehicle in Salisbury Plain Training Area in Wiltshire, England. Traveling distances of between 1.2 and 4.3 kilometers, the tests were conducted following a growing demand to fire Javelins from infantry fighting vehicles and the need by soldiers to have a flexibility to fire the missile from either a vehicle or in the dismounted mode.

Asia Pacific

• Saab is to push to increase its presence in India with a series of plans to boost their Aerospace production and sales to the country. Among these are to create dedicated manufacturing and maintenance facilities for fighter aircraft, aligning supply of the Gripen E fighter aircraft under the “Make in India” policy, and the setting up of a joint venture in India for the fighter program with a domestic private firm. Other ongoing talks with the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) aim to offer electronic-warfare technologies, avionics, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and weapon-integration solutions for the Indian-made Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas 1A.

Today’s Video

• The Rokestan Cirit laser guided rocket:

Harpoon in flight
(click to view full)

The sub-sonic, wave-skimming GM-84 Harpoon is the US Navy’s sole anti-shipping missile, with the minor exception of small helicopter-borne AGM-119B Penguin missiles. The Harpoon has been adapted into several variants, and exported to many navies around the world. At present, the Harpoon family includes AGM-84 air, RGM-84 sea/land, and UGM-84 submarine-launched versions. Variants such as the Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles and the upgraded AGM-84K SLAM – Expanded Response will also be covered in this DID FOCUS Article. It describes the missiles themselves, and covers global contracts involving this family.

The Harpoon family’s best known competitor is the French/MBDA M38/39/40 Exocet, but recent years have witnessed a growing competitive roster at both the subsonic (Israel’s >Gabriel family, Russia’s SS-N-27 Klub family, Saab’s RBS15, Kongsberg’s stealthy NSM, China’s YJ-82/C-802 used by Hezbollah in Lebanon), and supersonic (Russia’s SS-N-22 Sunburn/Moskit, SS-N-26 Yakhont, and some SS-N-27 Klub variants, India’s SS-N-26 derived PJ-10 BrahMos) tiers.

GM-84 Harpoon Family: The Missiles UGM-84 Harpoon launch
(click to view full)

The sub-sonic, sea-skimming GM-84 Harpoon is the standard anti-shipping missile used by the US Navy, and its variants are in service with 27 navies around the world. Boeing lists its range as “in excess of 67 [nautical miles]”; other sources place the range for basic Harpoon types between 140-200 km (75 – 120 nautical miles). The current version in service with most US ships and aircraft is the Block IC.

At present, air-launched AGM-84 Harpoon missiles are qualified for use on serving P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, F/A-18 and F-16 fighters, and B-52 Bombers. Because they don’t need to fight gravity at launch, and are already moving forward at speed, air-launched missiles have the longest ranges.

The ship-launched version is the RGM-84, and it includes a solid rocket booster to help it fight gravity at launch and extend its range.

The submarine-launched UGM-84 also includes a rocket booster, all inside a container that pops to the surface when the missile is fired. The rocket booster ignites as the container reaches the surface.

Block II test
(click to view full)

Harpoon Block II. This privately-developed upgrade program was designed to improve the missile’s ability to attack targets in congested littoral environments, where nearby land masses and other ships can provide cover for would-be targets. xGM-84L Block IIs have more waypoints associated with missile flight in their software, which allows them to take less direct routes. To ensure that they do arrive, GPS/INS guidance gets them to the target area. Once the missile arrives in the target area, the Block II’s targeting system can use shoreline data provided by the launch platform to make it much better at distinguishing between a ship and a nearby land mass; indeed, these upgrades reportedly offer a 90% shrinkage of the Block I’s “problem zone” near local shorelines.

To keep costs down, the Block II program leveraged progress on several other weapons, using the low-cost Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) from Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) smart bomb program, plus GPS antennae and software from Boeing’s Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) and AGM-84K SLAM Expanded Response (SLAM ER). Its GPS/INS capabilities give it the ability to hit targets on land, and the existing 500 pound blast warhead can deliver lethal firepower against targets like coastal missile batteries and ships in port.

The Harpoon Block II can use existing command and launch equipment, and will eventually work with all platforms that currently use the Harpoon Missile system. Harpoon Block II has been bought or requested by some foreign navies (Australia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey), but not by the US Navy.

An upgrade called Block II+ uses JSOW C-1’s Common Weapon Datalink for targeting updates and re-targeting, and should be operational in 2017.

Block III (canceled). The proposed Harpoon Block III program was intended to be an upgrade kit for up to 800 of the US Navy’s surface and air-launched UGM/AGM-84 Block IC missiles, and 50 RGM-84 Block IC ship-launched missiles. Once complete, it would also have become a new missile or upgrade option for other customers. It would have built on the Block II, reportedly adding more jam-resistant SAASM GPS, “land blanking” capability for improved near-shore and land attack; and a 2-way datalink that lets controllers receive the missile’s radar picture, update or even switch targets in mid-flight, and confirm hits. Navy budget documents estimated that the entire development program would have cost $113.7 million between 2007-2009.

The US Navy decided not to go ahead with Block III, but SAASM GPS systems have been tested as part of Block II. The other Block III enhancements will have to wait, as will competitive upgrades like extended range, fitting an electro-optic terminal seeker similar to that used on the AGM-84K SLAM-ER (Standoff Land Attack Missile – Enhanced Response); and allowing vertical launch from strike-length Mk 41 Vertical Launch System cells mounted inside Navy ships. That last capability would allow navies to remove the separate Harpoon launcher on the deck, improving both ship flexibility and radar signature. None of these would have been realized in Block III, though Boeing had said that the missiles would be “positioned” for vertical launch and extended range. Whatever that meant.

SLAM-ER Highlights
(click to view full)

SLAM-ER. Boeing’s AGM-84K Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) is an advanced derivative of the Harpoon missile, and competes with precision attack missiles like Lockheed’s JASSM, and European missiles like the EADS Taurus KEPD 350 and MBDA’s Storm Shadow. In service since 2000, it is the primary long-range land attack missile for US Navy F/A-18 aircraft, and has also been ordered by South Korea (F-15K) and Turkey (F-16).

Powered by an air-breathing turbojet engine, the 1,400 pound/ 635 kg SLAM-ER can deliver its 500-pound warhead over 150 nautical miles, flying by INS/GPS navigation at subsonic speeds. The missile can also receive in-flight target position updates, via an In-Flight Flex-Targeting capability and video link. Once it nears its designated target area, the missile activates its imaging infrared (IIR) sensor, using pattern-matching algorithms to compare the target scene with on-board reference images, in order to locate the pre-planned aimpoint in the target scene. The Weapon System Operator or pilot can then change the decision taken by the missile, or do nothing and have it continue to its target. A special Stop Motion Aimpoint Update makes this task easier, and allows narrowband datalinks like Link 16 to be used for near-real time battle damage assessment and transmission.

Defense Update reports that approximately 700 SLAM missiles in the U.S. Navy arsenal will be retrofitted with the SLAM-ER upgrade. They add that:

“The missile is equipped with a 500 pound derivative of the Tomahawk Block III warhead developed by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif. The WDU-40/B warhead uses a titanium case shaped specifically to increase penetration and becomes reactive during detonation, substantially increasing the blast and incendiary effects.”

GM-84 Harpoon Family: Contracts & Key Events RGM-84 AUR, loading
(click to view full)

Before we begin, a few terms. Entries referring to “encapsulated all-up rounds” (AUR) refer to a missile pre-loaded into a container that contains electronics required to transmit data and fire the missile, or protects a missile that’s ready to load. The idea is that it’s all one simple package that can be dropped into torpedo bays, or fitted to the Harpoon launchers on a ship’s deck. Countries can also specify AUR containers only, if they have existing stocks of missiles.

The Harpoon missile body consists of the Guidance Section, Warhead Section, Sustainer (propulsion) Section, and the Control Section. The Harpoon missile body, along with an appropriate air launch, canister (ship) or other launch kit (to include wings, fins, booster if applicable for UGM-84s), makes up a Harpoon AUR.

Harpoon canister AURs can be bought in any of 3 configurations. Thickwall Canister is armored against small arms fire and other hazards. Grade B Canister is only protected against near-miss shock. Lightweight Canister is the lightest configuration, designed for use on small ships.

Unless otherwise noted, all contracts are issued to Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. in St. Louis, MO. Unless otherwise noted, US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract. This is also true for Foreign Military Sales, where it acts as the buyer’s agent.

FY 2013 – 2016

Tiger Class
(click to view full)

June 17/16: Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) intends to negotiate and award a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract with Boeing for the integration of the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile on the Saudi F-15SA. The notice was made on the US Federal Business Opportunities website. NAVAIR’s plan to award Boeing the contract was justified as the company “alone has the experience, special skills; proprietary technical documentation, software/algorithms; facilities and manufacturing techniques required to produce, assemble and integrate this equipment and furnish the supplies and services within the required timeframe.”

November 20/15: Boeing has reached an important milestone in the development of the latest Harpoon Block II+ missile after successful tests carried out by the US Navy. The main feature of the missile is the ability to receive in-flight updates through a network enabled data link as well as an upgraded GPS guidance kit. The missile will receive more rigorous testing in the new year but all seems to be pointing to the positive for Boeing who also this month received increased orders of its existing systems from foreign buyers worth $124.6 million.

November 9/15: The Navy has awarded Boeing a $124.6 million contract for 53 Harpoon weapons systems, along with Standoff Land Attack Missile – Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles. The contract covers Foreign Military Sales requirements for several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Australia, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Japan requested the Harpoon system in May, with Australia reportedly looking to integrate the missiles onto its P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

May 15/15: The State Department has approved a possible sale of 48 UGM-84L Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles to Japan. The submarine-launched Block II version of the missile is designed to improve the missile’s ability to attack targets in congested littoral environments, where nearby land masses and other ships can provide cover for targets. The Foreign Military Sale would be worth $199 million, with the missiles manufactured by Boeing. The company is meanwhile offering the latest version of the missile – known as the Harpoon Next-Gen – to the US Navy.

July 29/14: Australia. Flight Global reports that Australia is looking to incorporate the AGM-84G Harpoon Block I anti-ship missile into its P-8A Poseidon long-range sea control jets. The AGM-84 Block IG is based on the Block IC, and reportedly adds seeker improvements and re-attack mode. It could be created by upgrading existing Australian AGM-84 missiles, which serve on the existing AP-3C Orion fleet of sea control turboprops. Australia has requested Harpoon Block IIs for other platforms, but appears to be satisfied with smaller-scale air-launched upgrades.

There seems to be a bit of a divergence on the P-8, but no matter which missile is picked, it needs to be fully integrated with the plane’s mission software. The USA has been testing the AGM-84 Block IC, Australia has picked the Block IG, and India’s P-8i seems set to host the GPS/radar guided AGM-84L Block II with land attack capability. Sources: Flight Global, “Australia pushes for Harpoon integration on P-8As”.

May 28/14: Portugal. Portugal’s pair of U212 (U209PN) Air-Independent-Propulsion diesel submarines will soon be able to fire the country’s small handful of Harpoon Block II missiles operationally, with plans for formal induction in Q4 2014:

“Eight Portuguese Navy RGM-84 Block I surface-launched anti-ship missiles are being adapted into Block II weapons in Den Helder, the Netherlands, with the installation of upgrade kits supplied by Boeing, the missile’s original equipment manufacturer. Upgrade of the first missile was completed on schedule at the end of 2013…. Portugal also purchased eight capsules and associated containers in 2009 under its Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LoA) agreement with the United States.”

The submarines were delivered with Harpoon compatibility, for use alongside its Black Shark heavy torpedoes. A Sources: IHS Jane’s Navy International, “Portugal to induct Harpoon Block II for submarines in 2014”.

May 6/14: Brazil. The US DSCA announces Brazil’s formal export request for AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Missiles. Specifically, they want an initial order of 16 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Missiles, 4 CATM-84L Harpoon Block II Captive Air Training Missiles, containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, and other forms of US Government and contractor support. The estimated cost is up to $169 million, but the exact price will depend on contract negotiations.

Adding AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles would give Brazil’s P-3AMs a long-range weapon to extend their reach over sea and land, and proportionately reduce their response time to high-level threats. This is only enough for an initial buy, but it will get the FAB started and allow their crews to become fully proficient with the new weapon. For full context, read “Brazil’s Maritime Patrol Aircraft“.

DSCA: Brazil request

Dec 17/13: The Boeing Co., St. Louis, MO, is being awarded a $70 million firm-fixed-price contract for 12 encapsulated Harpoon AURs; 5 harpoon Grade B exercise Missiles; 2 encapsulated harpoon certification training vehicles and shipping containers; 100 harpoon improved fuze booster kits; 50 harpoon improved fuze kits; 2 harpoon blast test vehicles; and associated hardware and containers. They’re for the US Navy ($2.4 M / 3.42%) and various foreign military sales customers: South Korea ($38.1M / 54.44%); Canada ($10M / 14.25%); Japan ($7.7M / 10.97%); Germany ($6.5M / 9.27%); Australia ($3.4M / 4.79%); Taiwan ($812,520 / 1.16%); Saudi Arabia ($460,952 / 0.66%); Turkey ($444,749 / 0.64%); Egypt ($239,618 / 0.34%); and the United Kingdom ($51,225 / 0.07%).

All funds are committed immediately. The USA isn’t buying these missiles any more, so it’s likely that most of these missiles are headed for South Korea.

Work is expected to be complete in December, 2014, and will be performed in the St. Charles, MO (48.2%); United Kingdom (12%); McKinney, (8.83%); Middletown, CT (4.77%); Elkton, MD, (4.16%); Toledo, OH (3.72%); Lilititz, PA (2.24%); Joplin, MO (2.09%); Galena, KS (1.9%); St. Louis, MO (1.74%); Grove, OK (1.38%); Lancaster, PA (1.04%); Huntsville, AL (1.0%); Newton, PA (0.8%); China Lake, CA (0.8%); Chandler, AZ (0.7%); Minneapolis, MN (0.56%); East Camden, AR (0.55%); and various locations in the continental United States (3.52%). This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, by US NAVBAIR in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-14-C-0005).

Missiles & Parts

Dec 4/13: Support. Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives an $8.5 million firm-fixed-price delivery order top provide 2014 integrated logistics support/engineering services for Harpoon/ SLAM-ER Missile System and Harpoon Launch System parts for the US Navy and various foreign military sales customers.

This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($3,122,737; 36.82%); the governments of Korea ($759,253; 8.95%); Taiwan ($715,517; 8.43%); Turkey ($632,914; 7.46%); Egypt ($421,912; 4.97%); United Kingdom ($317,393; 3.74%); Japan ($302,563; 3.57%); Pakistan ($283,035; 3.34%); Australia ($260,331; 3.07%); Chile ($223,047; 2.63%); Saudi Arabia ($223,212; 2.63%); Canada ($204,204; 2.41%); Israel ($165,053; 1.95%); Bahrain ($109,006; 1.29%); United Arab Emirates ($106,102; 1.25%); the Netherlands ($83,584; 0.99%); Germany ($83,582; 0.99%); Kuwait ($77,246; 0.91%); Singapore ($75,386; 0.89%); Oman ($71,439; 0.84%); India ($64,462; 0.76%); Portugal ($62,687; 0.74%); Thailand ($45,825; 0.54%); Denmark ($41,791; 0.49%); and Malaysia ($28,823; 0.34%) under the Foreign Military Sales program.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (91.17%); St. Louis, MO (5.43%); Yorktown, VA (2.64%); Pt. Mugu, CA (0.71%); and Oklahoma City, OK (0.05%), and is expected to be complete in July 2014 (N00019-11-G-0001, DO 2035).

Oct 17/13: Testing. You wouldn’t think that loading an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with 4 Harpoon missiles underwing would be a problem, but its canted pylons magnify the effects of turbulence and buffeting on the aircraft, and on each missile launch. US NAVAIR is just now beginning tests of this load-out, beginning with a simple flight test of the load.

It’s a good reminder that just because an aircraft is integrated with a specific weapon, doesn’t mean that any configuration is automatically acceptable. Testing may or may not test the full range. Sources: Boeing feature, “Locked & Loaded” (incl. video).

Oct 15/13: A pair of DSCA export requests from Saudi Arabia and the UAE would deliver a large number of Harpoon Block II and SLAM-ER missile to those Mideast air forces, for use from their F-15SA (Saudi) and F-16E/F (UAE) fighters. If the orders go through, they’ll be a big boost for the production line.

Saudi Arabia: Part of a $6.8 billion request

• 400 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles.
  
• 40 Harpoon CATM.
  
• 20 ATM-84L Harpoon Exercise Missiles.

• 650 AGM-84H SLAM-ER cruise missiles. The Saudis already deploy MBDA’s stealthy, long-range Storm Shadow cruise missile from their Tornados, but SLAM-ER will definitely add punch to the F-15 fleet.
  
• 40 CATM-84H Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM), with seekers but no motor.
  
• 20 ATM-84H SLAM-ER Telemetry Missiles for test shots.
  
• 4 Dummy Air Training Missiles. Sometimes you just need similar weight & form factor.
  
• 60 AWW-13 Data Link pods. Pilots can receive text, data, and photos from various sources, and can also use it to communicate with the SLAM-ER in mid-flight.

UAE: Part of a $4 billion request

• 300 AGM-84H SLAM-ER cruise missiles.
  
• 40 CATM-84H Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM), with seekers but no motor.
  
• 20 ATM-84H SLAM-ER Telemetry Missiles for test shots.
  
• 4 Dummy Air Training Missiles. Sometimes you just need similar weight & form factor.
  
• 30 AWW-13 Data Link pods. Pilots can receive text, data, and photos from various sources, and can also use it to communicate with the SLAM-ER in mid-flight.

Sources: US DSCA 13-48, Oct 15/13 | US DSCA 13-49, Oct 15/13.

DSCA: Saudi Arabia & UAE

June 24/13: Testing. One of NAVAIR’s P-8A test aircraft serving in VX-20 successfully fires an AGM-84D Block IC Harpoon anti-ship missile, which scores a direct hit on the Low Cost Modular Target’s fabric. The Point Mugu Sea Test Range firing is the 1st live Harpoon firing by the new P-8 sea control jet. US NAVAIR.

Dec 20/12: Egypt & Turkey. A $12.2 million firm-fixed-price contract from Egypt ($11.9M/ 98%) and Turkey ($312,482/ 2%), with all funds committed. Turkey gets 1 Lot of AN/SWG-1A(V) Harpoon Shipboard Command Launch Control Set (HSCLCS) hardware; 1 of the 90-day Prime Spares Kits; 1 Global Positioning System Receiver Assembly (GPS-RA) and associated hardware; and 1 Lot of Engineering Technical Assistance.

When Germany transferred 5 of its Tiger Class Type 148 Fast Attack Craft to Egypt about a decade ago, they were equipped with MM38 Exocet missiles. Egypt appears to be in the process of converting 4 of its 5 Type 148s to Harpoon Block IIs, per its Dec 18/09 DSCA request, to create commonality with its forthcoming Ambassador III Class FACs. They’re buying 4 AN/SWG-1A(V) HSCLCS, including both classified and unclassified portions; 4 Ordinance Alteration EGE 3987 kits; 8 GPS-RA Retrofit Kits and associated hardware; Installation and Checkout Prime Spares Kit (both classified and unclassified portions); 4 of the 90-day Primes Spares Kits; 1 Classified Prime Spares Kit – 2 years; 2 Unclassified Prime Spares Kit – 2 years; 1 Harpoon Shipboard Equipment Integrated Logistics Support Program; and 1 lot of engineering and technical assistance.

Work will be performed in Lititz, PA (51%); St. Louis, MO (32%); Pryor Creek, OK (5%); Santa Fe Springs, CA (5%); Madison, AL (3%); Kirkwood, MO (3%); and Irving, TX (1%), and is expected to be complete in July 2014. This contract was not competitively procured, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304c1 (N00019-13-C-0019).

Egypt & Turkey

Nov 9/12: JCTS. A $34.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the design, development and test of the Harpoon and SLAM-ER’s Joint Common Test Station. This contract includes purchases by the Governments of Saudi Arabia ($15.0M/ 57.7%) and Australia ($11.0M/ 42.3%), who use Harpoons. That $26 million is committed. The rest will be spent as required by the USA.

Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete in March 2016. This contract was not competitively procured, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 (N00019-13-C-2022).

Nov 5/12: FMS parts. A $36.6 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for Harpoon Weapons System components to the governments of Australia ($32M/ 87.48%); Japan ($1.5M/ 4.00%); Saudi Arabia ($786,992/ 2.15%); Korea ($953,400/ 2.60%); the Netherlands ($848,925/ 2.32%); Egypt ($311,045/ 0.85%); Taiwan ($87,710/ 0.24%); Oman ($73,128/ 0.20%) and the United Arab Emirates ($59,390/ 0.16%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete in April 2014 (N00019-12-C-0103).

FY 2012

Multi-national buy; Korean request for sub-launched Block IIs; Korea’s failed test: a reminder. AGM-84 Harpoon launch
(click to view full)

Sept 3/12: Post-Harpoon? Aviation Week offers a look into potential Harpoon replacements, as part of a larger shift toward “net enabled weapons.” In June 2012, the US Navy announced a sole-source contract to Raytheon to develop the interim Offensive Anti-Surface Weapon (OASuW) by modifying Tomahawk Block IV missiles with new sensors and data links. The missile is expected to enter service by 2015.

Full PE 0604786N OASuW Technology Development awards are expected to begin in FY 2013, after a Q2 Milestone A decision. The technical Development phase runs from FY 2013 – FY 2017, to an expected total of $557.2 million, with Initial Operational Capability currently set for 2024. RDT&E finding is proposed as:

• FY 2013: $86.8 million
  
• FY 2014: $44.3 million
  
• FY 2015: $88.9 million
  
• FY 2016: $138.5 million
  
• FY 2017: $198.7 million

The Navy is looking to replace the Harpoon and Standoff Land Attack Missile—Extended Range (SLAM-ER) in the maritime interdiction role, and they will have choices. The USN is deploying Raytheon’s new AGM-154C-1 glide bomb with anti-ship capabilities, and Raytheon continues to develop their powered but slow JSOW-ER. In Norway, Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile offers high subsonic speeds, and would share JSOW-ER’s ability to fit inside an F-35C fighter. Lockheed Martin is developing the stealthy, long-range LRASM-A under a DARPA/USN contract, effectively re-introducing a more advanced form of the JASSM missile that competed against the AGM-84K SLAM-ER. LRASM-A would even be capable of vertical launch, which offers a unique capability within this set.

Boeing isn’t idle, fielding AGM-84K SLAM-ERs and Harpoon Block IIs with foreign militaries, and developing the AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Plus. Block II+ uses JSOW C-1’s Common Weapon Datalink for targeting updates and re-targeting, and should be operational in 2017. It won’t fit inside an F-35, though, or launch vertically – and looks set to face stiff competition from many directions.

June 29/12: Lot 87? A $145.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for the nearly 90 Harpoon Block II missiles and associated hardware “for the U.S. and 4 foreign militaries.” The $145.1 million contract also includes exercise and test variants of the Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER).

In truth, almost all of these orders are exports. The USN isn’t buying Harpoon missiles, which are so low on their priority list that they don’t even rate a mention in Navy FY 2012 budget justification documents. Boeing has now confirmed that:

“The contract for the U.S. portion included the “associated hardware.” The Harpoon Block II’s were for the four FMS customers, not the USN.”

The first missile deliveries under this contract are scheduled for August 2012, and contract work is expected to run through December 2013. Boeing.

2012 orders

May 22/12: ROK request. The US DSCA announces [PDF] South Korea’s official request to buy 18 UGM-84L Harpoon Block II All-Up-Round Missiles, 1 UGM-84L telemetry exercise section, and containers, Guidance Control Unit (GCU) spares, recertification and reconfiguration support, spare and repair parts, tools and tool sets, and other forms of support. The estimated cost is up to $84 million; actual prices will depend on contract negotiations.

UGM-84s are submarine-launched missiles, which could be employed from the ROKN’s U209 and U214 diesel-electric boats. The DSCA says that they’re intended to “supplement current weapon inventories and bring the ROK’s Naval Anti-Surface Warfare performance up to existing regional baselines.” Boeing will be the prime contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale won’t require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor personnel to Korea, but there will be occasional visits for program, technical, and management support.

South Korea request

May 21/12: An $11.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for GM-84 Harpoon and SLAM-ER components. Orders are from the US Navy ($4.3 million/ 39.2%) and, under the Foreign Military Sales Program, the governments of: Australia ($2.9 million/ 26%); Britain ($237,005/ 2.1%); Canada ($241,015/ 2.1%); Egypt ($39,834/ 0.4%); India ($59,428/ 0.5%); Japan ($916,182/ 8.3%); Kuwait ($79,668/ 0.7%); Pakistan ($246,452/ 2.2%); Saudi Arabia ($313,751/ 2.8%); South Korea ($537,786/ 4.9%); Turkey ($1.1 million/ 10.2%); and the United Arab Emirates ($67,431/ 0.6%).

Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete in August 2013. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 (N00019-12-C-0058).

May 21/12: ROK. A $7.8 million delivery order covers an Advanced Harpoon Weapon Control System software license for the government of Korea, integrating ships with Encapsulated Harpoon Command Launch System III hardware. Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete in June 2012 (N00019-11-G-0001).

Dec 1/11: A $9.2 million firm-fixed-price basic ordering agreement modification, exercising an option to provide Harpoon/ SLAM-ER System and Harpoon Launch System integrated logistics and engineering services support to the U.S. Navy (35.82%); and to the governments of South Korea (8.22%), Turkey (6.94%), Taiwan (5.06%), Japan (4.72%), Egypt (4.62%), Greece (3.88%), United Kingdom (3.63%), Pakistan (3.07%), Australia (2.97%), Chile (2.76%), Canada (2.24%), Saudi Arabia (2.34%), Israel (2.04%), Singapore (2.03%), Thailand (1.45%), Bahrain (1.24%), United Arab Emirates (1.10%), Germany (1.09%), Netherlands (1.09%), Portugal (0.82%), Kuwait (0.81%), Malaysia (0.76%), Oman (0.74%), and Denmark (0.55%).

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (91.17%); St. Louis, MO (5.43%); Yorktown, VA (2.64%); Point Mugu, CA (0.71%); and Oklahoma City, OK (0.05%), and is expected to be complete by November 2013. $3.3 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/12 (N00019-11-G-0001).

Nov 29/11: ROK Test fail. Consternation and controversy in Korea, where an AGM-84K SLAM-ER missile test-fired from an F-15K falls into the sea. The Korea Herald reports that ROKAF is drawing criticism for not disclosing the failed June 15/11 live fire drill. Their other live firing to date, on June 17/11, worked just fine; it was used as televised warning footage on Nov 23/11, the 1st anniversary of North Korea’s attack on the Yeonpyeong islands.

This may seem like a lot of concern over 1 failed test, but the SLAM-ER is the ROKAF’s longest-range strike weapon, for use against the most heavily defended targets. It’s important enough that the ROKAF’s new F-15K Strike Eagle family fighters are colloquially known as “Slam Eagles”. The ROKAF’s response was to note that as a rule, they don’t talk about test results, so they didn’t hide anything by not mentioning this one. They are trying to investigate the failed launch as best they can, however, without the missile’s remains to help them. They’re also are checking other SLAM-ER missiles in inventory for defects, and the missile’s importance assures a high priority for those tasks.

Having said tall that, most people think of missiles the way they think of a flashlight: assemble it, then turn it on when you need it and it lights up. The truth is that keeping them combat-ready is a very involved exercise of careful handling, frequent inspections, and periodic testing; otherwise, a country will have a surprising number of failures. This isn’t to say that the ROKAF has failed at these tasks, only that the task itself is more chancy and complex than it seems. Some missile manufacturers are working to get ahead of this curve by installing self-test systems inside, and turning the storage container itself into as push-button test device. Raytheon’s new SM-6 medium range air defense missile is a good example of that.

SLAM-ER test

FY 2011

Missile orders from Egypt, India, Taiwan. F-15E w. SLAM-ERs
(click to view full)

Sept 14/11: A $9.6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity support contract, to include engineering, training and technical services, for the Harpoon and SLAM-ER missile; the Encapsulated Harpoon Command and Launch Systems; encapsulated support; and the Harpoon Shipboard Command Launch Control System.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO, and is expected to be complete in December 2013. Funds will be committed if and as needed. Since Boeing is the missiles’ manufacturer, this contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 (N00019-11-D-0041).

August 15/11: An $8.8 million firm-fixed-price delivery order to provide integrated logistics services in support of Harpoon and SLAM-ER programs for the US Navy and for the governments of various foreign military sales customers. The total estimated value including all options is $18 million. Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (91.17%); St. Louis, MO (5.43%); Yorktown, VA (2.64%); Point Mugu, CA (0.71%); and Oklahoma City, OK (0.05%), and is expected to be complete in November 2012. $3.2 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11.

This order combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($3.2M/ 36.64%) and the governments of Korea ($711,007/ 8.06%); Turkey ($607,029/ 6.88%); Taiwan ($435,217/ 4.93%); Japan ($418,388/ 4.74%); Egypt ($402,423/ 4.56%); Greece ($343,865/ 3.90%); United Kingdom ($314,938/ 3.57%); Pakistan ($264,047/ 2.99%); Australia ($256,929/ 2.91%); Chile ($246,008/ 2.79%); Canada ($193,501/ 2.19%); Saudi Arabia ($196,640/ 2.23%); Israel ($173,608/ 1.97%); Singapore ($173,345/ 1.96%); Thailand ($125,777/ 1.43%); Bahrain ($110,445/ 1.25%); Germany ($99,643/ 1.13%); Netherlands ($99,643/ 1.13%); UAE ($95,249/ 1.08%); Portugal ($74,732/ 0.85%); Kuwait ($68,820/ 0.78%); Malaysia ($65,153/ 0.74%); Oman ($64,075/ 0.73%); and Denmark ($49,821.45/ 0.56%). See also FBO.gov).

July 6/11: Orders. A $119.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for Lot 86 Harpoon missiles and associated equipment. Based on past order requests, all missiles in this set are Block II Harpoons with dual radar/ GPS guidance. Orders include:

• Egypt: $51.2 million/ 42.9%. 20 tactical light weight canister BGM-84 AUR. Egypt’s new Fast Attack Craft missile boats will use Harpoons.
  
• India: $35.1 million/ 29.4%. 20 tactical air launch AGM-84 AUR; and 2 exercise air launches.
  
• Taiwan: $26.9 million/ 22.5%. 2 AGM-84 Harpoon missile bodies; 2 exercise Grade B canister All Up Rounds (AUR); 8 anti-submarine rocket AUR (not Harpoon-related); associated hardware, and 2 exercise air launches. Taiwan is receiving refurbished P-3C Orion aircraft, which will use the air-launched version.
  
• “Harpoon-related hardware” will for existing customers in Australia ($1.9 million/ 1.6%), Canada ($695,994/ 0.6%), Japan ($2.1 million/ 1.7%), Korea ($1.2 million/ 1%), and Singapore ($404,441/ 0.3%).

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (43.5%); McKinney, TX (13.5%); Toledo, OH (6.0%); Motherwell, United Kingdom (4.4%); Cedar Rapids, IA (3.6%); Lititz, PA (3.5%); Elkton, MD (3.0%); Grove, OK (2.6%); Black Mountain, NC (2.2%); Middletown, CT (1.8%); Kirkwood, MO (1.6%); Galena, KS (1.5%); Joplin, MO (1.3%); Huntsville, AL (1.1%); Chandler, AZ (1.0%); Palo Alto, CA (0.8%); McCalester, OK (0.8%); El Paso, TX (0.7%); Clearwater, FL (0.7%); Lancaster, PA (0.7%); Estill Springs, TN (0.6%); and various locations in and outside the continental U.S. (5.1%). Work is expected to be completed in July 2012. This contact was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 (N00019-11-C-0300).

Egypt, India, Taiwan, etc.

FY 2010

India equips its Jaguars; Missile buys from Canada, Pakistan; Requests from Taiwan & Egypt. IAF Jaguar IMs
(click to view full)

Sept 2/10: India buy. India’s Economic Times reports that India signed a deal with Boeing for 24 Harpoon Block II missiles in late July 2010, but the missiles will equip its its Jaguar strike aircraft. The paper quotes Boeing defence, space and security’s India head Vivek Lall, who says that no agreement had been reached yet with regard to supplying the missile for P-8I. That will be a separate Foreign Military Sale case.

India is believed to possess about 10 Jaguar IM maritime strike variant fighters in No.6 Squadron, which have been upgraded over the years with IAI ELta’s EL/M-2032 radar and improved electronic defense systems. At present, the Jaguars are limited to carrying 1980s-vintage Sea Eagle missiles, and their land attack capabilities have not kept pace. Adding the Block II Harpoons, with their dual sea-land attack capabilities, will make the Jaguar fleet a potent threat once again. See also Sept 9/08 entry.

India

July 29/10: Orders. A $66 million firm-fixed-price contract for:

• 32 Lot 85 Harpoon missile bodies (HMB) for the government of Taiwan
  
• 4 Harpoon canister grade “B” missiles for the government of Canada
  
• Associated spares and support.
  
• Harpoon missile spares for the governments of Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Japan, the United Kingdom, Israel, Pakistan, Turkey and Singapore, to include containers;
  
• Plus Block II guidance section upgrade kits; wire bundle assemblies; and guidance control units.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (55.3%); McKinney, TX (10.7%); Toledo, OH (6.2%); Huntsville, AL (4.5%); Lititz, PA (3.7%); Middletown, CT (2.7%); Grove, OK (2.3%); Galena, KS (1.6%); Minneapolis, MN (1.5%); Motherwell, UK (1.2%); Elkton, MD (1.1%); Kirkwood, MO (1%); Anniston, AL (0.8%); Clearwater, FL (0.7%); McAlester, OK (0.6%); Melbourne, FL (0.6%); and various locations in and outside the contiguous U.S. (5.5%). Work is expected to be complete in June 2011.

This contract combines purchases for the governments of Taiwan ($43.8M; 66.4%), Canada ($10.1M; 15.3%), Portugal ($7.6M; 11.5%), the Netherlands ($3.2M; 4.8%), Japan ($514,864; 0.8%), the United Kingdom ($263,986; 0.4%), Israel ($194,635; 0.3%), Pakistan ($169,360; 0.3%), Turkey ($31,643; 0.1%), and Singapore ($2,584; 0.1%) under the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract was not competitively procured (N00019-10-C-0053).

Taiwan, Canada, etc.

Jan 29/10: Taiwan request. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Taiwan’s official request for 12 “Harpoon Block II Telemetry” missiles. The DSCA release cites 10 “RTM-84L” and 2 “ATM-84L” missiles, which have telemetry payloads for missile tests, instead of the warheads found on standard RGM-84 (ship-launched) and AGM-84 (air-launched) variants. In addition to the missiles, Taiwan would receive containers; training devices; spare and repair parts; supply/technical support; support equipment; personnel training and training equipment; technical data and publications; and U.S. Government and contractor support.

The estimated cost is $37 million, the prime contractor will be Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri, and implementation of this sale will not require any additional U.S. Government personnel or contractor representatives.

The Harpoon Block II could be militarily significant, because its GPS guidance and improved clutter resolution allow it to attack land targets, as well as ships. See also the Oct 3/08 entry, requesting submarine-launched Block II missiles. Taiwan is building its own “HF-2E Hsiung Feng” land attack cruise missiles with much longer ranges, however, so the Block II’s land-attack capability would not be a new military development in the region.

Taiwan request

Dec 18/09: Egypt request. The US DSCA announces Egypt’s formal request to buy of 20 RGM-84L/3 Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles with rocket boosters; 4 AN/SWG-1A Harpoon Shipboard Command Launch Control Systems including all consoles, software, and shipboard canister launcher units (4 missile battery); plus spare and repair parts; supply/technical support; support equipment; personnel training and training equipment; technical data and publications; and U.S. Government and contractor support. The estimated cost is $145 million.

Egypt intends to use the missiles and launch systems on upgraded S-148 Tiger Class Patrol Boats, and consolidate the configuration of the surface-to- surface missiles within its inventory away from the shorter range MM-38 Exocet missiles that had previously equipped this class. The principal contractor will be Boeing in St. Louis, MO. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, and implementation of will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to Egypt. U.S. government and contractor representatives will be required to travel to Egypt annually for a period of 1-2 weeks, however, to participate in program and technical reviews.

DSCA requests are not contracts, and Congress can block the sale if it acts promptly. The Harpoon Block II’s land attack capabilities have created concern and lobbying from Israel, which had previously succeeded in ensuring that American missiles sold to Egypt could not be used to strike its population centers.

Egypt request

Dec 8/09: Australia. Australian Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Greg Combet provides an update regarding their Air Warfare Destroyer program, and notes both Lockheed Martin’s “pull the plug” ceremony, and an A$ 20 million (currently $18.3 million) contract with Boeing for the Advanced Harpoon Weapon Control System.

Its accompanying missiles, expected to be BGM-84 Harpoon Block IIs with dual radar/GPS guidance “…will allow our three Air Warfare Destroyers to engage surface and land targets at ranges well beyond the horizon.” That contract is still pending.

FY 2009

Harpoon Block III canceled; Taiwan request; Block II tested with improved GPS; SLAM-ER cleared for land targets. SLAM-ER CATM
(click to view full)

Sept 21/09: Block III. Forecast International reports that the U.S. Navy has dropped plans to purchase the Harpoon III.

Senior Missile Analyst Larry Dickerson refers to the company’s overall forecast of a $7 billion anti-ship missile market through 2018, and sees the possibility of MBDA eclipsing Boeing thanks to its updated Exocet and Otomat/ Marte offerings. Boeing’s American orders will drop, but export sales will continue as the anti-ship market changes. Eventually, Dickerson sees anti-ship missiles disappearing as an independent segment, becoming submerged in a larger strike weapons market.

No Block III

Sept 10/09: Block II SAASM. A Boeing Harpoon Block II missile equipped with a redesigned Guidance Control Unit (GCU) flew for the first time in a test from the USS Princeton off the coast of California, scoring a direct hit on a land-based target on San Nicolas Island, CA.

The new GCU incorporates a Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to improve GPS security, replaces some obsolete electronics, and has been designed to accommodate a future 2-way datalink if one is funded. Boeing began developing the new GCU in 2007, and all new Harpoon missiles will incorporate it. In its release, Boeing says that it has delivered more than 7,100 Harpoon missiles to the United States and 28 allied partners over the program’s lifetime.

July 2/09: SLAM-ER cleared for land. The U.S. Navy declares the AGM-84K SLAM-ER missile operationally effective against moving targets on land, following a successful Operational Evaluation. This is extremely useful against targets like missile launchers and mobile radars, but its 2-way datalink and in-flight re-targeting also have obvious uses against elusive and mobile targets like terrorists. Boeing release.

SLAM-ER for land attack

Dec 18/08: SLAM-ER upgrade. Raytheon Technical Services Co., LLC in Indianapolis, IN received an $8.5 million firm-fixed-price and cost plus fixed fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement.

This delivery order will provide for the development of the upgraded Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) systems’ AWW-13 Data Link Pod with the AWW-13 Frequency migration. The AN/AWW-13 Advanced Data Link can allow retargeting in flight to deal with targets of opportunity, or let the operator select a more refined aimpoint via mid-course corrections. In order to “close the loop,” it can receive seeker video images from the missile’s data link transmitter, for display in the pilot’s cockpit video.

Work will be performed in Indianapolis, IN, and is expected to be complete in October 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00019-05-G-0008).

Nov 8/08: Dutch test. The Royal Netherlands Navy successfully test-fires Boeing Harpoon Block IC missiles from its new air defense and command frigate HMS De Zeven Provincien. It’s the first time the Dutch Navy has launched multiple Harpoons on a single target, and both missiles hit. The Netherlands has been a Harpoon customer since 1975. Boeing release.

Oct 3/08: Taiwan request. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Taiwan’s official request for 32 UGM-84L Sub-Launched Harpoon Block II missiles. Taiwan’s request adds 2 UTM-84L Harpoon Block II Exercise missiles, 2 Advanced Harpoon Weapons Control System (Version 2) for installation on Taiwan’s 2 Seadragon Class submarines, 36 Harpoon containers, 2 UTM-84XD Encapsulated Harpoon Certification and Training Vehicles, test equipment and services, spares and repair parts for support equipment, and other forms of support.

The estimated cost is $200 million, and the contractor is Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas in St Louis, MO.

The US DSCA notes that “The recipient has previously purchased both air and surface launched HARPOON missiles and will be able to absorb and effectively utilize these submarine-launched missiles.” As such, no additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives will be required.

Taiwan request: sub-launched

FY 2008

Missile buys: Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey; Harpoon Block III development contract.

Aug 25/08: Orders. A $149.8 million firm-fixed-priced contract covers purchases for the US Navy, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. The orders include:

• US Navy: 9 SLAM-ER exercise missiles retrofitted and certified from SLAMs to SLAM-ERs ($9.2 million; 6%)
  
• Canada: 4 UGM-84 Block II Grade B exercise missiles in canister AURs ($8.4 million; 6%)
  
• Japan: 1 Harpoon Exercise Section and associated hardware ($432,103; 0.3%)
  
• South Korea: 9 AGM-84 air-launched missiles and associated hardware and 1 missile exercise section with associated hardware ($11.5 million; 8%)
  
• Taiwan: 60 AGM-84 air-launched AURs and associated hardware ($89.8 million; 59.7%);
  
• Turkey: 4 UGM-84 Block II missiles with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) GPS added, in AURs that fit to ships’ Tartar launchers rather than conventional Harpoon missile launchers ($30.4 million; 20%). That suggests a possible fit with Turkey’s upgraded FFG-7 frigates.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (55.32%); McKinney, TX (10.71%); Toledo, OH (6.28%); Huntsville, AL (4.58%); Lititz, PA (3.76%); Middletown, CT (2.68%); Grove, OK (2.25%); Galena, KS (1.55%); Minneapolis, MN (1.52%) the United Kingdom, (1.17%); Elkton, MD (1.08%); and various locations across the United States, (9.10%). It is expected to be complete in June 2010 (N00019-08-C-0042).

USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey

June 5/08: An $8.1 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for engineering, logistics, and technical services in support of the Harpoon Weapon Systems and SLAM-ER Missile System for the U.S. Navy, and for the Governments of Australia, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO and is expected to be complete in December 2010. This contract was not competitively procured (N00091-08-D-0011).

Jan 30/08: Harpoon III SDD. A $73.7 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-08-C-0021) for the system development and demonstration of the Harpoon Block III Missile Program. See above for details re: the missiles/ upgrade kits, and see the Sept 11/07 entry for related market analysis.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (92.12%); Lititz, PA (1.93%); Cedar Rapids, IA (0.84%); Chatsworth, CA (0.76%); Galena, KS (0.49%); Lowell, MA (0.42%); and various locations across the United States (3.44%), and is expected to be complete in August 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $5 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured.

Harpoon III SDD

Dec 27/07: Turkish order. A $16.7 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract (N00019-07-C-0037) for 9 Harpoon Lightweight Canister All-Up-Rounds for the Government of Turkey under the Foreign Military Sales Program. In addition, this modification exercises an option for an Encapsulating Training All-Up-Round for the Government of Turkey.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (38.64%); McKinney, TX (20.48%); various locations within the U.S. (10.45%); Toledo, OH (7.40%); the United Kingdom (5.13%); Chicago, IL (4.49%); Elkton, MD (3.97%); Kirkwood, MO (3.97%); Galena, KS (2.79%); and Hartford, CT (2.68%), and is expected to be complete in December 2011.

Turkey

FY 2008

Missile buys: Pakistan, Turkey, South Korea; Requests from Israel, Pakistan, Taiwan, Turkey; Harpoon datalink development; Global ASM market. RGM-84 launch
(click to view full)

Sept 19/07: Datalink contract. Rockwell Collins announces an $18 million contract by Raytheon Missile Systems to design, develop, and produce the Strike Common Weapon Data Link for the JSOW Block III precision glide bomb, and the next generation of Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The Strike Common Weapon Data Link Program is ultimately sponsored by the U.S. Navy’s PMA-201 program management office. S

See “Harpoon & JSOW Getting 2-way Datalinks” for the full story, and a scenario explaining how this would work in practice and why it would matter.

Sept 11/07: Harpoon III. In “Harpoon III Order a Boost for Boeing,” Forecast International sees the forthcoming Harpoon Block III version giving Boeing another push in the global anti-ship missile market. F.I. sees $1.5 billion in revenues for Boeing from anti-ship missile sales over the next 10 years, followed by MBDA with $789 million in sales. China will build the largest number of anti-ship missiles, according to the market forecast, and Russia will manufacture nearly as many missiles as the United States, but receive considerably less money for them.

Aug 24/07: Israel request. The US DSCA announces Israel’s request for 30 RGM-84L Harpoon block II anti-ship missiles with containers, 500 AIM-9M Sidewinder Short Range Air-to-Air Infrared Guided missiles, spares and repair parts for support equipment, training, publications and technical documents, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

The principal contractors will be the Boeing Company in St. Louis, MO (Harpoon) and Raytheon systems Corporation in Tucson, AZ (Sidewinder), and the estimated total for both purchases is $163 million.

Israel request

Aug 8/07: Taiwan request. The US DSCA announces [PDF format] Taiwan’s formal request (“the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States”) for 60 AGM-84L air-launched HARPOON Block II missiles, 2 HARPOON guidance control units, 30 HARPOON containers, 30 HARPOON extended air-launch lugs, 50 HARPOON upgrade kits from AGM-84G to AGM-84L configuration, missile modifications, test equipment and services, spares and repair parts for support equipment, training, publications and technical documents, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $125 million.

This sale is consistent with United States law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8. The U.S. is committed to providing military assistance under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act. Taiwan has previously purchased both air and surface launched Harpoon missiles, and will be able to absorb and effectively utilize the additional missiles (60 new, 50 upgraded). Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas will be the prime contractor, and although the purchaser generally requires offsets, at this time, there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Taiwan request

June 14/07: Turkey request. The US DSCA announced [PDF] Turkey’s request for 51 All-Up-Round, Selected Availability, Anti-spoofing Module-compliant Block II Tactical HARPOON missiles in the following configurations: 8 set for Tartar launcher, 38 Lightweight canisters, and 5 Encapsulated missiles. Also included: containers, test sets and support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical data, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government (USG) support, contractor representatives’ engineering and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics support. DSCA adds that:

“Turkey will use these missiles to augment its present HARPOON missile inventory and enhance its anti-ship warfare capability. The capabilities of this weapon system will improve Turkey’s ability to contribute to coalition NATO operations. The missiles will be provided in accordance with, and subject to the limitation on use and transfer, under the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, and as embodied in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance. This proposed sale will not adversely affect either the military balance in the region or U.S. efforts to encourage a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question.”

The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $159 million. The prime contractor will be Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas.

Turkey request

May 31/07: Pakistan. A $8.1 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0027) for the procurement of a Harpoon Missile Subsystem Test Set Weapon Station upgrade, interim spares, installation and checkout, and applicable training for the Government of Pakistan under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (34.02%); Dallas, TX (28.89%); St. Louis, MO (18.46%); Oklahoma City, OK (7.34%); St. Louis, MO (3.43%); Yorba Linda, CA (3.19%); Chatsworth, CA (1.20%); Englewood, CO (0.70%); Austin, TX (0.60%); and various locations across the United States (2.17%) and is expected to be complete in January 2009. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.

April 13/07: Pakistan. Small business qualifier Delex Systems, Inc. in, Vienna, VA received a $7.5 million firm-fixed-priced order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-03-G-0015) for the development, documentation, testing and delivery of a turnkey Harpoon Tactical Training Program for the Pakistan Navy under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in Vienna, VA (95%), and Karachi, Pakistan (5%), and is expected to be complete in April 2012. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

March 30/07: Orders. A $191.4 million firm-fixed-priced contract combines US and foreign military sales:

• US Navy TL: $3.7 million – 1.96%
  
• 4 SLAM-ER exercise missiles retrofitted from SLAMs to SLAM-ERs for the U.S. Navy
  
• Japan TL: $821,504 – 0.43%
  
• 6 Harpoon Guidance Section Containers
  
• 2 Harpoon Exercise Sections
  
• 2 Harpoon Exercise/Warhead Containers
  
• Pakistan: $63.7 million – 33.27%
  
• 30 Harpoon Tactical Block II Encapsulated All-Up Rounds
  
• Turkey: $79.2 million – 41.36%. Fulfills prevous DSCA announcement.
  
• 48 SLAM-ER tactical missiles
  
• 59 SLAM-ER All Up Round (AUR) Missile Containers
  
• 3 SLAM-ER Instrumented Recoverable Air Test Vehicles
  
• 2 each SLAM-ER Guidance Sections; SLAM-ER Warhead Sections; SLAM-ER Sustainer Sections; SLAM-ER Control Sections; SLAM-ER Exercise Missiles; SLAM-ER Captive Air Training Missiles
  
• South Korea TL: $44 million – 22.98%
  
• 30 Harpoon Tactical Block II Encapsulated All-Up Rounds (AUR)
  
• 9 Harpoon Air Launch AUR Containers
  
• 2 Harpoon Captive Air Training Missile (CATM-84) Ballistic Air Test Vehicle-uninstrumented

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (45.75%); various locations across the United States (9.35%); McKinney, TX (8.29%); the United Kingdom (8.03%); Toledo, OH (5.44%); Tucson, AZ (4.18%); Huntsville, AL (3.59%); Melbourne, FL (3.31%); Fort Washington, PA (2.74%);Middletown, CT (1.91%); Galena, KS (1.80%); Erlanger, KY (1.44%); Elkton, MD (1.44%); Clearwater, FL (1.44%); and Kirkwood, MO (1.29%) and is expected to be complete in December 2011. This contract was not competitively procured (N00019-07-C-0037).

USA, Japan, South Korea, Turkey

Feb 12/07: Pakistan buy. A $15.8 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0027), exercising an option for 10 Harpoon Tactical Block II Grade B All-Up-Round (AUR) missiles and 10 MK631 Canister AUR Containers for the Government of Pakistan under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Retired Indian Commodore RS Vasan’s “The impact of induction of the P3C Orion Aircraft on the Indian Navy’s Preparedness: An Assessment” is an excellent source for those who wish to understand the regional military implications of Pakistan’s expanding P-3 fleet and recent Harpoon missile purchases – a topic that grows in importance as Pakistan itself becomes less stable.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (50.46%); McKinney, TX (15.14%); Toledo, OH (5.93%); United Kingdom (5.28%); Huntsville, AL (3.86%); Clearwater, FL (3.79%); Galena, KS (2.33%); Elkton, MD (2.19%); Kirwood, MO (2%); Middletown, CT (1.83%), and other various locations throughout the United States (7.19%), and is expected to be complete in February 2007.

Pakistan

Oct 23/06: A $17.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for Harpoon Ship Command Launch Control Systems upgrades, modifications and associated equipment and spares for the Governments of Pakistan, Chile, and Turkey. This contract combines purchases for the Governments of Pakistan ($6.1M/ 35%); Chile ($5.9M/ 34%); and Turkey ($5.3M/ 31%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (74%); Lititz, PA (8%); San Diego, CA (6%); Baltimore, MD (5%); Cedar Rapids, IA (4%); Kellyville, OK (2%); and various locations across the United States (1%), and is expected to be complete in July 2008. This contract was not competitively procured (N00019-06-C-0090).

Oct 13/06: ROK buy. A $37.5 million modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-06-C-0027 exercises an option for 20 tactical Block II airlaunch all-up-round (AUR) missiles, 10 MK607 airlaunch AUR containers, 6 tactical Block II encapsulated AUR missiles, and 6 MK630 canister AUR containers for the government of Korea under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in St. Charles, MO (50.46%); McKinney, TX (15.14%); Toledo, OH (5.93%); Huntsville, AL (3.86%); Clearwater, FL (3.79%); Galena, KS (2.33%); Elkton, MD (2.19%), Kirwood, MO (2.00%); Middletown, CT (1.83%); other various locations throughout the United States (7.19%), and the United Kingdom (5.28%); it is expected to be complete in November 2007.

South Korea

Additional Readings & Sources Background: Harpoon Family

• Boeing – AGM-84D Harpoon The USN actually uses the xGM-84 Block IC. Their generic Harpoon page is actually about the GPS-enabled Harpoon Block II, which isn’t in America’s arsenal but has been exported.

• GlobalSecurity – AGM-84 Harpoon/ SLAM [Stand-Off Land Attack Missile].

• Boeing, via WayBack – Standoff Land Attack Missile — Expanded Response SLAM-ER.

• Information Dissemination (Sept 11/07) – The US Navy and the Harpoon III.

• Defense Update – SLAM-ER Guided Missile.

• Indian Commodore RS Vasan’s “The impact of induction of the P3C Orion Aircraft on the Indian Navy’s Preparedness: An Assessment.” Excellent perspective on operational deployment of Harpoon missiles on Pakistani P-3C Orion long-range maritime patrol aircraft, and its implications in and around the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.

Background: Competitors Sub-sonic

• Wikipedia – CHETA C-802. Also known as YJ-82 in China, and CSS-N-8 by NATO.

• MBDA – Exocet MM40 Block 3. The AM39 (see MBDA sidebar) is the air-launched variant, and the SM39 is the submarine-launched variant.

• GlobalSecurity.org – Exocet AM.39/ MM.40.

• Defense Update – Exocet MM40 Block 3.

• Wikipedia – Gabriel Missile.

• Defense Update – IAI Unveils Gabriel 5.

• DID – LRASM Missiles: Reaching for a Long-Range Punch. Derived from Lockheed Martin’s AGM-158B LRASM-ER, this stealthy missile will be the Harpoon’s immediate successor. It may also win a wider order for ship-launched replacements, as it will be compatible with the Mk.41 VLS.

• DID Spotlight – Norwegian Contracts Launch NSM missile.

• Saab Bofors Dynamics – RBS-15 Mk3 Surface-to-Surface Missile. They also have a page for the air-launched RBS-15F.

• Wikipedia – Kh-35. Also known as SS-N-25; sometimes unofficially called the “Harpoonski” for its resemblance. Limited export succes, to India and Algeria.

Supersonic

• BrahMos Aerospace – Home Page. This is the Indian joint venture based on Russia’s P800/ SS-N-26. The envision a hypersonic Brahmos II.

• GlobalSecurity.org – Moskit/ SS-N-22 Sunburn.

• Warfare.RU, via WayBack – SS-N-27 Sizzler / P-900, 3M54 Klub family. Anti-ship designs become supersonic during their terminal attack phase.

June 15, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United States, United Nations and African Union have expressed concern over clashes between Ethiopia and Eritrea in a disputed border.

Rival forces of the two neighboring nations engaged in fighting between Sunday and Monday in the border town of Tsorena, sparking fears of a renewed full scale war.

The two nations have accused one another of provocation.

Ethiopia said Monday that its military took "proportional measures" in response to the Eritrean army's attempted attack and that retaliatory measure taken by its forces “seriously weakened” the Eritrean army.

Eritrea, however, denied the accusations, saying it repulsed the attack with Ethiopian troops sustaining heavy causalities.

The latest clash is larger in scale since the two countries fought war in 1998-2000 over their disputed border area.

The international community is expressing concern over the growing tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The US voiced "grave concern" and called on both sides to exercise restraint and engage in political dialogue.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the US's assistant secretary and department spokesperson, John Kirby urged the two arch rivals to cooperate in promoting stability and sustainable peace in the region.

“As both Ethiopia and Eritrea are party to the 2000 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and there cannot be a military solution, we call for both sides to exercise restraint and engage in political dialogue”, Kirby said in a statement.

Concerned by the latest development, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday met Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Brussels and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson phoned Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed, urging them to restraint and refrain from any act or statement that could exacerbate the situation, according to a UN statement.

The AU chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, equally expressed deep concern over the fiery weekend clashes.

She urged the two countries to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from any statement and action likely to aggravate the situation and further endanger regional stability.

The AU chairperson said both nations could resolve their differences and lay foundation for lasting peace between them only through the recourse of peaceful means.

Although a peace deal signed in 2000 ended a civil war, terms of the accord are yet to be implemented as Addis Ababa demanded further talks on implementation process.

Ethiopia and Eritrea routinely exchange accusations backing rebels trying to topple their respective regimes.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (JUBA) – Violent incidents against aid workers operating in South Sudan increased during the month of May, despite efforts to assist thousands of vulnerable people in the war-torn nation, the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA) said in a recent report.

Non-food items distributing to IDPS by the UNHCR workers in Maridi on 4 March 2016 (ST Photo)

78 humanitarian access incidents, OCHA said, were reported by partners in May, 73% of which involved violence against aid personnel or their properties.

These numbers, it said, was higher than in April, when 48 incidents were reported, and also higher than the monthly average of 63 incidents reported from January to March.

“Road and river travel for humanitarians continues to be hazardous,” partly reads the OCHA report.

It said violent incidents, including shooting, ambushes, assaults, harassment and robberies, increased during May, and included the killing of three humanitarian workers, bringing the reported number of aid workers killed in South Sudan to 55 since the conflict began in December 2013.

Since January, there have reportedly been 29 incidents of vehicles robberies as they travel to assess, deliver and pre-position items in various part of the young nation.

“In Upper Nile, humanitarian partners were shot at while attempting to cross the River Nile to deliver humanitarian assistance between Malakal and Wau Shilluk on 26 and 30 May,” the agency disclosed.

According to OCHA, nearly 4,500 internally displaced people departed the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site in May, bringing the population in the site to about 95,000 at the end of the month. Most of those departing, it said, plan engaging in farming in Rubkona, Guit and Koch counties.

About 103,400 people have been reached with food rations distributed outside the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site, including in Bentiu Town, Ding Ding, Kuach, Nhialdiu, Nimni, Bil, Kadet and Jazeera since February, while seeds and fishing kits have been provided to about 7,400 households in Guit County and 10,000 in Koch County, OCHA revealed.

(ST)

Jacobs Engineering Group has been awarded a $427m contract to provide test and evaluation / training threat / target systems (T4S) for warfighter training and debriefing systems to the US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD).

The world's largest international maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016, is scheduled to begin on 30 June in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands and southern California, US.

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has requested $2.9bn in funding under the 11th Malaysia Plan 2016-2020 for 36 programmes, which are anticipated to boost the capabilities of the RMN in coming years, says a report by Strategic Defence Intelligence (SDI)…

On Tuesday, June 21st at 1:15pm EST, IPI is hosting a Global Leaders Series presentation featuring Ms. Irina Bokova, candidate for the position of UN secretary-general.

IPI Live Event Feed

At the event, Ms. Bokova will discuss her experience and how it informs her vision of the future of global politics and the United Nations. She will address questions including how she would shape the job of UN secretary-general and define her priorities in office.

In February 2016, the Bulgarian Government formally nominated Ms. Bokova as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, she graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and studied at the University of Maryland and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Ms. Bokova joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in 1977, where she was responsible for human rights and equality of women issues. She was later appointed in charge of political and legal affairs at the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations in New York. She was also a member of the Bulgarian delegation at the United Nations conferences on the equality of women in Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985), and Beijing (1995).

The event will be moderated by IPI Senior Adviser for External Relations Warren Hoge.

Le ministre de la défense, accompagné du CEMAT, s'est rendu cet après-midi à Auxonne, au 511e
Plus d'infos »

"The Council of the European Union

1.             RECALLS that under Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities, that Union action, which shall complement national policies, shall be directed towards improving public health, that the Union shall encourage cooperation between the Member States in the field of public health and, if necessary, lend support to their action, and fully respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the organization and delivery of health services and medical care and allocation of the resources to them;

2.             RECALLS that under Article 168(4)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Council can, in order to meet common safety concerns, adopt measures setting high standards of quality and safety for medicinal products and devices for medical use;

3.             RECALLS that under Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, the Union and the Member States shall assist each other in carrying out tasks which flow from the Treaties, pursuant to the principle of sincere cooperation;

4.             RECALLS that under Article 5(2) of the Treaty on European Union, the Union shall act only within the limits of the competences conferred upon it by the Member States in the Treaties to attain the objectives set out therein and that competences not conferred upon the Union in the Treaties remain with the Member States;

5.             RECALLS that under Article 3(1)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Union has exclusive competence in relation to the competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market for medicinal products;

6.             STRESSES that it is fully Member States' competence and responsibility to decide which medicinal products are reimbursed and at what price and that any voluntary cooperation on pricing and reimbursement between Member States should remain Member States driven;

7.             RECOGNISES that a balanced and strong, functioning and effective intellectual property environment, that is line with international commitments of the European Union, is important for supporting and promoting access to innovative, safe, effective and quality medicinal products in the European Union;

8.             NOTES that the pharmaceutical sector in the European Union has the potential to be a major contributor to innovation and the health and life sciences sector, through the development of new medicinal products;

9.             RECOGNISES that new medicinal products however may also pose new challenges to individuals patients and public health systems, in particular regarding the assessment of their added value, the consequences for pricing and reimbursement, the financial sustainability of health systems, their post-market surveillance and patient access and affordability;

10.           UNDERLINES that Health Technology Assessment is an important tool in achieving sustainable health care systems and to promote innovation that delivers better outcomes for patients and society as a whole and RECOGNISES that EU cooperation in line with the Strategy for EU cooperation on Health Technology Assessment and the adopted work programme of EUnetHTA can support the decision-making of Member States, while acknowledging the potential added value of health technology assessments in the context of national health systems;

11.           TAKES NOTE that the EU pharmaceutical legislation provides harmonised regulatory standards for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human use and lays down certain regulatory schemes for the earlier marketing authorisation of medicines with less comprehensive data, such as the conditional marketing authorization or the authorisation under "exceptional circumstances";

12.           RECOGNISES that the exact conditions for the inclusion of innovative and specialised medicinal products in the existing schemes of early marketing authorisation could be further clarified in order to improve transparency, to ensure a continuous positive benefit risk balance of medicinal products put on the market under special conditions and to focus on medicinal products of major therapeutic interest for public health or to meet unmet medical needs of patients;

13.           BEARING IN MIND that specific legislation has been put in place promoting the development and marketing authorisation of medicinal products targeting - inter alia - products to treat patients suffering from rare diseases commonly known as orphan medicinal products, paediatric medicinal products and advanced therapy medicinal products, incorporating specific incentives, including supplementary protection certificates, data exclusivity or market exclusivity and protocol assistance for orphan medicinal products;

14.           BEARING IN MIND that the incentives in this specific legislation need to be proportionate to the goal of encouraging innovation, improving patients' access to innovative medicines with therapeutic added value and budgetary impact, and it should be avoided that circumstances are created that might encourage inappropriate market behaviour of some manufacturers and/or hamper the emergence of new or generic medicinal products and in this way potentially limit patients' access to new medicines for unmet medical needs and that can affect the sustainability of health systems;

15.           NOTES that there are indications that the post-market compliance with certain obligations for marketing authorization holders is not always optimal, which may cause that independent research data and information from patient registries are not structurally generated, collected and made available for research and proof of effectiveness and safety;

16.           NOTES WITH CONCERN an increasing number of examples of market failure in a number of Member States, where patients access to effective and affordable essential medicines is endangered by very high and unsustainable price levels, market withdrawal of products that are out-of-patent, or when new products are not introduced to national markets for business economic strategies and that individual governments have sometimes limited influence in such circumstances;

17.           NOTES the increasing trend of marketing authorisation of new medicinal products for small indications, including, in some cases, the authorisation of a single product for 'segmented' patient groups within a disease area and the authorisation of one substance for several rare diseases and in this respect NOTES WITH CONCERN that companies may seek very high prices while the added value of some of these products is not always clear;

18.           RECOGNISES that special attention should be given to the access to medicines for patients in smaller Member States;

19.           UNDERLINES the importance of timely availability of generics and biosimilars in order to facilitate patients' access to pharmaceutical therapies and to improve the sustainability of national health systems;

20.           STRESSES that both public and private investments are essential for the research and development of innovative medicinal products. In those cases where public investment has played a major role in the development of certain innovative medicinal products, a fair share of the return on investment in such products should preferably be used for further innovative research in the public health interest for example through agreements made on benefit sharing during the research phase;

21.           STRESSES that the functioning of the pharmaceutical system in the EU and its Member States depends on a delicate balance and a complex set of interactions between marketing authorisation and measures to promote innovation, the pharmaceutical market, and national approaches on pricing, reimbursement and assessment of medicinal products and that several Member States expressed concerns that this system may be imbalanced and that it may not always promote the best possible outcome for patients and society;

22.           RECALLS the Council Conclusions on the reflection process on modern, responsive and sustainable health systems adopted on 10 December 2013[1], the Council Conclusions on the economic crisis and healthcare adopted on 20 June 2014[2], the Council Conclusions on innovation for the benefit of patients adopted on 1 December 2014[3] and the Council Conclusions on personalised medicine for patients adopted on 7 December 2015[4];

23.           RECALLS the discussion at the Informal Meeting of Ministers of Health in Amsterdam on 18 April 2016 on “Innovative and Affordable Medicines” which highlighted the important role of the life sciences industry in Europe, in particular, in developing effective new treatments for patients with high unmet medical needs. At the same time challenges in the pharmaceutical system in the EU and its Member States were noted and that several Member States may wish to cooperate and take action on a voluntary basis to face common challenges identified by those several Member States to the sustainability of national healthcare systems, which may be linked to a number of potential factors, for example the affordability of medicinal products related to high prices, possible unintended or adverse consequences of incentives and the lack of leverage of individual Member States in negotiations with industry;

24.           WELCOMES the discussion during the informal meetings of relevant high level representatives of the Member States responsible for pharmaceutical policy on 11 December 2015 and 26 April 2016, who met for the first time and recognised the added value of an informal reflection and exchange of views on strategic policy level between Member States;

25.           RECOGNISES that a number of Member States have expressed interest in pursuing voluntary cooperation between two or more Member States in the field of Health Technology Assessment as well as in exploring voluntary cooperation in different areas, for example on issues related to pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products, activities aimed at 'horizon scanning', the exchange of information and knowledge, the collection and exchange of price data such as the EURIPID collaboration, and in some cases by bringing together of facilities and resources as well as instruments for joint price negotiations and the conducting of early dialogue with companies developing new products; all these activities should remain to be voluntary, focused on clear added value, shared interests and objectives;

26.           RECOGNISES that further analysis to examine the current functioning of the pharmaceutical system in the EU and its Member States would be useful, in particular in relation to the impact of certain incentives in EU pharmaceutical legislation, the use thereof by economic operators and the consequences for the innovation, availability, accessibility and affordability of medicinal products for the benefit of patients including as regards innovative treatment solutions to common diseases that cause a heavy burden for individuals and health systems;

27.           RECALLS also the relevant findings of the European Commission's 2009 Pharmaceutical Sector Inquiry Report[5], which stressed that a healthy and competitive market for medicinal products benefits from vigilant competition law scrutiny;

28.           UNDERLINES the importance of a continuing open and constructive multi-stakeholder dialogue with pharmaceutical industry, patient organizations and other stakeholders, which is necessary in order to ensure future developments of new and innovative medicinal products as well as the sustainability of the pharmaceutical system in the EU and its Member States, while reinforcing, at the same time, public health interests and guaranteeing the sustainability of the EU Member States health systems;

29.           RECOGNISES that the pharmaceutical system in the EU and its Member States, which is characterised by a division of competences between Member States and the EU level, can benefit from dialogue and a more holistic approach regarding pharmaceutical policy, by enhancing voluntary cooperation between Member States aimed at greater transparency, to safeguard common interests, ensuring access of patients to safe, effective and affordable medicinal products as well as the sustainability of national health systems;

30.           RECALLS the Report on the implementation of the EMA-EUnetHTA three-year work plan 2012-2015 [6] published by the European Medicines Agency and EUnetHTA;

31.           RECOGNISES potential benefits of the exchange of information across Member States on implementation and application of Managed Entry Agreements;

32.           RECOGNISES that while these Council conclusions mainly refer to medicinal products, given the specific nature of the sector, the same concerns regarding sustainability and affordability, as well as considerations regarding research and development and HTA, are also applicable to medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic medical devices.

INVITES THE MEMBER STATES TO:

33.           Consider further development of exclusively Member States driven voluntary cooperation between relevant authorities and payers from Member States, including cooperation within groups of Member States, that share common interests in relation to pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products and to explore possible areas in which such voluntary cooperation can contribute to higher affordability and better access to medicinal products. Where relevant and appropriate, groups of Member States that would like to explore cooperation on a voluntary basis, may also make use of international expertise, with full respect of Member States' competences. This voluntary cooperation could include activities such as:

• Assessment of future introduction of new medicinal products with a possibly significant financial impact on health systems at an early stage through so called 'joint horizon scanning', which entails a forward looking scan of emerging trends and future developments in pharmaceutical research and development aimed at better anticipating the arrival of new, expensive, innovative medicinal products that might potentially affect current policy and practice;
• Pro-active exchange of information between Member States (e.g. national pricing and reimbursement authorities), particularly in the pre-launch phase, with due respect for existing national rules and frameworks, e.g. in relation to business confidentiality;
• Exploring possible strategies on voluntary joint price negotiations in coalitions of Member States, that have expressed interest to do so;
• Consider reinforcing existing cooperation schemes and initiatives to foster agreement on approaches to address unavailability of medicinal products and market failure situations.

34.           Exchange HTA-methodologies and assessment outcomes through EUnetHTA and the HTA Network as already foreseen under the Joint Action EUnetHTA, while recognizing that financial impact and pricing must be addressed separately from the HTA, and that the applicability of HTA results need to be assessed by national health systems.

35.           Without prejudice to existing cooperation in the context of EUnetHTA, and where appropriate, further explore closer voluntary cooperation on HTA between two or more Member States as a Member States' initiative, such as mutual recognition of HTA reports and/or joint HTA reports.

36.            Consider organising during each EU Presidency an informal meeting of relevant high level representatives from the Member States responsible for pharmaceutical policy (e.g. national directors of pharmaceutical policy), encouraging strategic reflection and discussion on current and future developments in the pharmaceutical system in the EU and its Member States, thereby avoiding duplication and respecting the division of competences. These discussions are purely informal and, where relevant and appropriate, can be used as an input for further reflection in the appropriate EU fora, in particular the Working Party on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices when areas of EU competence are concerned.

37.             The Presidency-trio (the Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta) is invited to identify with the Member States a set of mutual experienced concerns and challenges which could be considered and/or modified by the future Presidencies in the period from 2017-2020, with full respect for Member States' and EU level competences.

38.             Where appropriate, these common concerns and challenges will be followed up concretely through dialogue, exchange and (international) cooperation as well as through information exchange, monitoring and research at Member States and EU level in the appropriate fora and, in particular, when EU competences are concerned, through the Working Party on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, with the input from Member States, existing technical and policy fora and, where relevant, the European Commission.

INVITES THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION TO:

39.             Explore possible synergies between the work of regulatory bodies, HTA bodies and payers, whilst respecting their specific responsibilities in the pharmaceutical chain and fully respecting Member States competences, in order to ensure timely and affordable access of patients to innovative medicinal products that reach the market especially through EU regulatory tools of accelerated assessment, marketing authorisation in exceptional circumstances and conditional marketing authorisation while also analysing the effectiveness of these tools and examining possible clear and enforceable (pre-) conditions and exit options for the products that enter the market through these mechanisms in order to ensure high level of quality, efficacy and safety of the respective medicinal product. These products will therefore continue to be appropriately evaluated and examined with regard to their benefits and risks and appropriateness to be included in these tools.

40.             Foster enhanced cooperation between Member States under the 3rd Joint Action of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) as adopted and to reflect about the future of HTA cooperation at European level for the period beyond 2020 when the current Joint Action comes to an end.

41.             Improve and strengthen existing dialogue and cooperation between Member States and at EU level, in particular through and within existing fora and technical working bodies and by continuing investment in and facilitating the work of the Network of Competent Authorities on Pricing and Reimbursement (NCAPR), the Pharmaceutical Committee and the Expert Group on Safe and Timely Access to Medicines for Patients (STAMP).

42.             Assess the relevance and functioning of the various technical bodies operating at EU level within the EU pharmaceutical framework, including those operating under the auspices of the European Commission, to clarify and confirm existing tasks, roles and mandates with the aim to avoid duplication and fragmentation of work, and to give Member States a better insight and overview of ongoing developments and discussions in these fora.

43.            Consider further investments at national and EU level in the availability of registries and in the developments of methods to assess the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals including through the use of relevant digital means. The implementation of means to inform on post-marketing effectiveness of medicines should allow exchange of information between Member States although in full respect of individual competences, applicable legislation on data protection and other legislation.

44.            Consider further investments at national and EU level in the development of innovative medicines for clearly defined unmet medical needs, in particular also through Horizon 2020 and the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and with the involvement of the European Medicines Agency, whilst promoting open access to research data while fully respecting applicable legislation on data protection and, where applicable, the information that is considered commercially confidential, and considering conditions such as equitable licensing to ensure a fair return on investment for publicly funded research that delivered a major contribution to the development of successful medicinal products.

45.             Explore obstacles for deploying existing methods and consider new solutions to address market failure, in particular also in small markets, when established products become unavailable or new products are not introduced to national markets, for example for business economic reasons.

INVITES THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO:

46.             Pursue the ongoing activities to streamline the implementation of the current legislation on orphan medicinal products and to ascertain correct application of the current rules and fair distribution of incentives and rewards and if necessary consider revision of the regulatory framework on orphan medicinal products without discouraging the development of medicinal products needed for the treatment of rare diseases.

47.             Prepare as soon as possible and with the close involvement of the Member States, while fully respecting Member States competences, the following:

a.              an overview of the current EU legislative instruments and related incentives that aim to facilitate the investment in the development of medicinal products and the marketing authorization of medicinal products given to the holders of a marketing authorisation as implemented within the EU: Supplementary Protection Certificates (Regulation EC 469/2009), medicinal products for human use (Directive 2001/83/EC and Regulation EC 726/2004), orphan medicinal products (Regulation EC 141/2000) and paediatrics (Regulation EC 1901/2006);

b.             an evidence based analysis of the impact of the incentives in these EU legislative instruments, as implemented, on innovation, as well as on the availability, inter alia supply shortages and deferred or missed market launches, and accessibility of medicinal products, including high priced essential medicinal products for conditions that pose a high burden for patients and health systems as well as availability of generic medicinal products. Among those incentives, particular attention should be given to the purpose of supplementary protection certificates as defined in the relevant EU legislative instrument and the use of the “Bolar” patent exemption[7], the data exclusivity for medicinal products and the market exclusivity for orphan medicinal products.

Where relevant, the analysis of impacts should also address - inter alia - the development of medicinal products and the effects of the pricing strategies of industry in relation to these incentives.

The Commission will conduct the analysis on the basis of the information that is made available or gathered, including from the Member States and other relevant sources.

To this end, the Commission should prepare by the end of 2016 a timetable and methodology for conducting the analysis as mentioned in this paragraph.

48.             Continue and where possible intensify, including through a report on recent competition cases following the pharma sector inquiry of 2008/ 2009, the merger enforcement pursuant to the EC Merger Regulation (Regulation 139/2004) and the monitoring, methods development and investigation - in cooperation with national competition authorities in the European Competition Network (ECN) - of potential cases of market abuse, excessive pricing as well as other market restrictions specifically relevant to the pharmaceutical companies operating within the EU, such in accordance with Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union.

49.             Based on the above mentioned overview, analysis and report in paragraphs 39 and 40, and taking into account the international commitments of the EU and - inter alia- also the needs of the patient, health systems and the competitiveness of the EU based pharmaceutical sector, discuss the outcome and possible solutions proposed by the Commission in the Working Party on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices and, when public health issues are concerned, the Working Party on Public Health at Senior Level." 

[1]        OJ C 376, 21.12.2013, p. 3, with Corrigendum in OJ C 36, 7.2.2014, p.6
[2]        OJ C 217, 10.7.2014, p.2
[3]        OJ C 438, 6.12.2014, p.12
[4]        OJ C 421, 17.12.2015, p. 2
[5]        12097/09 + ADD1 + ADD2
[6]         http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Report/2016/04/WC500204828.pdf
[7]        Article 10.6 of the Directive 2001/83/EC of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use.

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