Defence`s Feeds

Artemis, the French defence ministry's big data project (IOL 873), which is in the throes of a big upheaval, appears

Last week, EDA has supervised the third and last simulation session of the OCEAN2020 project: 12 simulations centers from research centers, universities, small and major industries in several different countries across Europe were linked together using the High-Level Architecture standards to run specific scenarios in real time.

The simulation highlighted the central role of unmanned systems in various complex situations such as jamming or bad weather conditions, the use of small swarm of unmanned air and/or surface systems for coordinated research paths, the use of unmanned surface and underwater systems working in a squad for anti-mine warfare or the use of gun and missile systems on unmanned air and surface vehicles. The whole session was monitored by EDA from Brussels using video conference systems. The results and main takeaways will be discussed at a project webinar on 30th March.

Overall, the three simulation sessions proved crucial in preparing the two live sea demonstrations - one held in the Mediterranean Sea in November 2019 and one that is scheduled to take place in the Baltic Sea in August of this year - but also to play complex scenarios almost impossible to execute in real-life.

Although the two demonstrations remain key objectives, the simulation in this project has also allowed the development of new and innovative models for unmanned sensors and platforms in the different simulation centers of this wide consortium which entails 43 entities including large defence industries, small and medium enterprises, universities, research institutes and end users from 15 countries across Europe.

Background

OCEAN2020 is so far the largest project financed by the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) managed by the European Defence Agency on behalf of the European Commission. Its main objective is to demonstrate the improvement of maritime situational awareness by the coordinated use of multiple unmanned systems in the three domains (air, surface, subsurface).

 More information can be found on the OCEAN2020 website and in the factsheet

Americas

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control won a $2.8 billion contract for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead rocket pods, GMLRS Unitary Warhead rocket pods, Low-Cost Reduced Range Practice rocket pods, cybersecurity services, integrated product support and other services. The company describes the Guided MLRS as a “rapidly-deployable, long-range, surface-to-surface, precision-strike capability.” It is fired from both the MLRS M270 family of launchers and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers. Six Guided MLRS rockets per launch pod, with 2 pods carried by the M270 launchers and 1 pod carried by the HIMARS launchers. Estimated completion date for work under the contract is October 31, 2024.

Northrop Grumman Systems won a $98.9 million contract modification, which increases the scope and provides for one additional low rate initial production Lot Five MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. The order brings LRIP Lot 5 to three Tritons and, counting orders of the four previous LRIP lots, the Navy has ordered a total of 15. The service plans to procure a total of 68 production Tritons. The Navy has taken delivery of three LRIP 1 Tritons so far, in addition to its two prototypes used for development and testing.  Work will take place in California, Texas, Maryland, Utah, West Virginia, Mississippi and North Dakota. Estimated completion will be in January 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Tornado fighters have deployed to Pakistan for exercise Aces Meet 2021-1. The US Air Force will participate in the exercise, which takes place over a two-week period at Mushaf air base.

Europe

The final Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft acquired by Romania from Portugal was delivered to the eastern European nation on March 25. NATO’s Allied Air Command announced that the 17th aircraft was delivered to Borcea Air Base. This completed an order that commenced in 2016 when Romania acquired 12 F?16AM/BM Block 15 fighters (nine single-seat and three twin-seat), with a further five F-16s (four single-seat and one twin-seat) following for a final tally of 17.

The Italian Air Force is arming its Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets with new GBU-48 bombs, AMRAAM 120 missiles, and IRIS-T missiles, as well as Litening pods made by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, to locate targets and direct guided munitions. The Aviationist website reported that the GBU-48 Paveway is a new 454kg GPS and laser-guided munition. Italian Air Force commanders said that Eurofighter Typhoons were originally intended mainly for missions to maintain aerial superiority, but starting from last year the planes were equipped with new and advanced software enabling them to carry out air-to-ground attacks.

Asia-Pacific

Indian Air Force fighters participated in a Passage Exercise between the Indian Navy and Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on March 28. “In a first, enhancing Jointmanship, Indian Air Force fighters were also included in the Exercise affording IAF an opportunity to practice Air Interception / Air Defence with US Navy close to Indian Coast,” Indian Navy said.
Today’s Video

Watch: Romanian Air Force F-16 Aerial Refueling

Americas

Sikorsky won a $94.3 million deal to support an option exercise of six Program Year 5, Lot 45 HH-60M aircraft. The HH-60M Black Hawk features an integrated MEDEVAC equipment package kit intended to support casualty evacuation missions at daytime or nighttime or even in extreme weather conditions, according to the service branch. The branch exercised an option under a previously awarded contract to procure lot 45 HH-60M choppers for the fifth year of the aircraft procurement effort. Work will take place in Connecticut. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2022.

Rockwell Collins won a $16.9 million order, which upgrades the E-6B Mercury mission computer from a 32-BIT to a 64-BIT Linux-based operating system, resulting in an increase to capability and reduced threat vulnerabilities. The principle mission of the E-6 Mercury is to connect the national command authority with the US Navy’s nuclear missile force carried aboard at-sea ballistic missile submarines. The E-6 is a militarized version of the commercial 707 civilian airliner and carries a very low frequency communication system with dual trailing wire antennas. Work will take place in Richardson, Texas and is expected to be finished in March 2023.

Middle East & Africa

A video circulating online shows a JF-17 being unloaded from a Pakistan Air Force Il-76. The fighter is believed to have been delivered to Makurdi. The Nigerian Air Force has ordered three JF-17s from Pakistan and these have been manufactured, with registrations NAF-720, NAF-721 and NAF-722. In 2018 Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved a $184.3 million sovereign guarantee for the production of three Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC)/Chengdu JF-17 fighters, according to the Pakistan Express Tribune.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Friday that Eritrean forces agreed to withdraw troops from the Ethiopian border after five months of conflict. “The Ethiopian National Defense Force will take over guarding the border areas effective immediately,” he wrote in an official statement posted on Twitter. “Eritrean troops fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray state systematically killed hundreds of unarmed civilians in the northern city of Axum on 28-29 November 2020, opening fire in the streets and conducting house-to-house raids in a massacre that many amount to a crime against humanity,” reported Amnesty International in February.

Europe

The Royal Navy has officially welcomed a new autonomous vessel named Madfox into the fleet. The vessel is operated by ‘NavyX’, the Royal Navy’s experimentation group. Over the next few months, the Royal Navy says that NavyX will carry on its work with the Uncrewed Surface Vessel, while also examining how these vessels can deliver across the range of military operations including surveillance and force protection.

Asia-Pacific

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement late on March 27 that he will be sending the FA-50 to fly over hundreds of Chinese vessels anchored at Whitsun Reef in South China Sea. “Our air and sea assets are ready to protect our sovereignty and sovereign rights,” Lorenzana said.

Today’s Video

Watch: Autonomous vessel ready for operations | Royal Navy

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