Defence`s Feeds

Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has awarded Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) a framework contract for 629 HX2 family logistics vehicles in the last week. The contract follows on the heels of two smaller ones awarded to

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in a test on 11 July, executed a successful intercept of a threat representative intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with the Lockheed Martin-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. The test, designated Flight Test THAAD (FTT)-18,

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has disputed North Korea’s claim that it has successfully developed re-entry capabilities for its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programme, South Korean lawmaker Yi Wan-young was quoted by several media outlets as saying on 11

South Korea's locally developed TR-60 tiltrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has for the first time successfully carried out flight trials from a moving ship, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said in a statement on 11 July. The 200 kg UAV took off from and landed on the flight deck of

The Swedish government will not offer the Saab Gripen E to Belgium for political reasons, the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) announced on 10 July. The FMV said that, while the Gripen fulfils all of the Belgian Air Component’s (BAC’s) operational requirements, there are

A US Marine Corps (USMC) Lockheed Martin KC-130 Hercules tanker-transport aircraft crashed on 10 July with the loss of all 16 personnel on board. The USMC confirmed the "mishap" on its website, but did not provide further details as to the precise nature of the incident, the KC-130

The government of Australia has awarded an AUD223 million (USD169 million) contract to Northrop Grumman for the acquisition, construction, and support of a new satellite ground station to enhance the communication capabilities of the country’s deployed armed forces. Minister for Defence

Lockheed Martin announced on 10 July that it had signed a USD22.45 million contract to supply the Bahrain Defence Forces (BDF) with an undisclosed number of Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) for its F-16 fighters. The contract includes spares and support equipment for integration, with

Key Points Government agency announces reorganisation of first batch of R&D institutes Move intended to boost efficiencies, but implementation will not be straightforward China has signalled the start of a major restructuring programme featuring military research and development (R&D)

On 10 June the Czech government approved a request submitted by the ministry of defence (MoD) to procure 16 Saab Dynamics RBS 70 NG man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) launchers, worth just over CZK1 billion (USD43.63 billion), for the air defence component of the Army of the Czech Republic

The ministry of defence (MoD) of the Czech Republic has announced that it intends to acquire the new Saab RBS 70 NG very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) system in the "next three years". The intended acquisition provides for 16 RBS 70 NG systems to replace legacy S-10M systems - the

MEDIA reports issued on 7 July stated that a businessman had been killed when an improvised explosive device (IED), emplaced on his vehicle by unidentified militants, detonated in Galkayo in Somalia's Mudug region on an earlier unspecified date, Radio Kulmiye reported. No group immediately claimed

Finnish SAKO TRG 42 Sniper Rifle

Comtech Telecommunications has secured a contract modification from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to supply managed satellite services for the US Marine Corps.

Northrop Grumman has secured a contract from the US Navy for the production of the MK 48 heavyweight torpedo transducer array / nose shell assembly.

Indian, Japanese and US naval forces have commenced the 21st annual edition of Exercise Malabar in the Bay of Bengal.

Americas

• The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will test this week, the intercept of an intermediate-range ballistic missile target using the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Despite being planned months ago, the test will garner added significance in the wake of North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4, that has heightened concerns about the threat from Pyongyang throughout the region and beyond. The THAAD system being used for the test is deployed to Alaska, the only part of the United States within range of a North Korean ICBM.

• Colorado Engineering has won a $3 million contract to design, fabricate and test graphics processing units (GPU) for the F-35 Block 4 radar upgrade program. The long awaited Block 4 software update is expected to provide the F-35 with improved radar and electronic warfare systems, and allow the aircraft to carry additional weapons used by both the US military and other F-35 customers. Other additions include upgrading the Lockheed electro-optical targeting system and adding a wide-area high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode – dubbed “– Big SAR” to the Northrop Grumman APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

• Boeing has been awarded a $14.3 million modification to a existing foreign military sales contract for parts changes on CH-47F Chinooks used by the Netherlands and Turkey. The deal will coverobsolete parts changes to account for low- or non-existent production of spares for older model airframes. Work for the project will be conducted in Ridley Park, Penn., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 21, 2020.

Europe

• Piaggio has resumed flight testing of its P.1HH HammerHead UAV, after the first model crashed in May last year. The second prototype made a successful flight on July 5, at Birgi military airport in Trapani, Sicily. However, the company did not release any further information on either the recent flight or the planned flight test schedule. Piaggio so far have eight orders for the aircraft, to be delivered to the UAE from 2018, and an expression of “great interest” from the Italian military, who have been helping Piaggio by providing Italian bases for testing.

• Austria will be ditching the Eurofighter Typhoon from 2020 and will replace it with cheaper aircraft either bought or leased from another supplier, according to the Defense Ministry. The move comes as Vienna takes legal action against Airbus and the Eurofighter consortium for alleged deception and fraud in the procurement of the Eurofighter fourteen years ago. Maintenance costs, believed to be $5 billion during the Eurofighter fleet’s lifespan, is another factor for choosing another aircraft. The ministry added that by buying and operating a new fleet comprised of 15 single-seater and three twin-seater supersonic jets over the same period could be 2 billion euros cheaper than continuing its current program.

• Bulgaria has once again post-ponded discussions on procuring Gripen fighter aircraft, once month after Prime Minister Boyko Borissov signaled that the talks would start soon despite his criticism of Bulgaria’s previous interim government for announcing them. Now, an investigation will take place by a parliamentary commission into the interim government’s actions, which will also check whether President Rumen Radev influenced the process. Radev, who appointed the interim government after Borissov’s previous government resigned late last year, called the commission “a tribunal for political influence” and stressed that military experts had made the decision in favor of the Gripen aircraft.

Asia Pacific

• The Indian Defense Ministry is expected to soon release an Expression of Interest document for local firms to supply 110 light utility helicopters to the Indian Navy in conjunction with a foreign firm. A “Make in India” project, the procurement comes as New Delhi deemed the Ka-226T helicopters—manufactured by Russia and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)—unsuitable for its needs. Indian firms expected to be interested in the deal include Mahindra, L&T and Bharat Forge, along with foreign partners like Airbus Helicopters, Russian Helicopters, Sikorsky and Bell Helicopters.

• Australia now operates a full fleet of 12 Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, after the first two units arrived in February. The aircraft will be based at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley. Minister for Defense Marise Payne said that the Growlers “will work with Army and Navy to deliver a networked joint force able to maneuver and fight in the electromagnetic spectrum.” Australia is the only country outside of the US to operate the Growler, and has already conducted successful weapon firings and integration flights with RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets and US Navy EA-18G Growlers as part of Operational Test and Evaluation.

Today’s Video

• K-300P live-firing:

American Barrett M95 Anti-Material and Sniper Rifle

The UK Royal Navy’s Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS St Albans is set to undergo repair works at Portsmouth Naval Base after completing its nine-month deployment.

The US Navy has commenced the eighth annual Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with the Vietnam People's Navy.