Defence`s Feeds

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The Air Policing Mission and Homeland Security Since 9/11 Face Adaptive Threat. “Kill one, terrorize a thousand.” Sun Tzu’s quote from “The Art of War” defines the basis for asymmetrical warfare, a conflict where one side uses traditional military doctrine while the other side exploits the vulnerabilities of its adversary in any way available, including […]

Americas

The US Navy is ordering propulsors and tailcones for its next batch of submarines. The $37.5 million contract modification enables BAE Systems Platforms & Services to procure and manufacture four ship sets of fixed propulsor, tailcone and associated hardware for Virginia-class submarines SSN 800 through SSN 803. The Virginia-class nuclear submarines have several innovations over the Los Angeles class that significantly enhance its warfighting capabilities with an emphasis on littoral operations. The redesigned propulsor makes the Virginia-class submarines quieter than the Russian Akula-class and other fourth-generation attack submarines. Tailcones protect the hoses exiting the rear of the submarine and maintain stability during rapid accent. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky; Minneapolis, Minnesota and Jacksonville, Florida. The contract is expected to be completed by October 2022.

DRS Network & Imagining Systems is being tapped to provide the US Army with the new Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS). The firm-fixed-price contract has a value of $231.4 million and will run through September 2028. The lightweight laser designator rangefinder, is a handheld, portable device for target observation, location, and designation. The primary components are the Target Locator Module (TLM) and the Laser Designator Module (LDM). The hand-held system includes a GPS; celestial compass; precision azimuth vertical angle module, or PAVAM; and a laser designator to enable forward observers to accurately identify a target and drop precision guided munitions such as a Hellfire missile or Excalibur 155mm artillery round to within 10 meters of the target. Work locations and relevant funding will be determined with each order.

The Air Force is increasing the budget for its Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP). United Technologies is receiving a cost-plus-incentive-fee modification priced at $436.6 million for the design, fabrication, integration and testing of its flight-weight adaptive engines. Adaptive engines represent a revolutionary advance in turbine engine technology. The adaptive engine optimizes performance and fuel efficiency across the flight envelope by utilizing a third stream of air to optimize the engine at different flight conditions. The three-stream engine technology is considered critical in developing the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighters and will be included in the F135 engine that powers the F-35 JSF. The modification increases the total value of the contract to $1.4 billion. Work will be performed at the company’s location in East Hartford, Connecticut and is expected to be completed by end of February 2022.

Middle East & Africa

The Egyptian Navy is adding another corvette to its fleet. The ENS Port Said is the second of four Gowind 2500-class vessels and is the first modern warship built in Egypt. The Gowind 2500 is designed by France’s Naval Group, formerly known as DCNS. In 2014 Egypt became DCNS’ second customer for the multi-mission combat vessel when it ordered four ships at a cost of $1.3 billion, with one, El Fateh built in Lorient and the other three being built in Egypt. The ships feature a of sea-proven steel monohull design, can accommodate 50 to 75 crew members and can travel at a maximum speed of 27 knots. The vessels are equipped with 16 VL-MICA surface-to-air missiles and eight Exocet MM40 surface-to-surface missiles as well as one 76mm and two 20mm guns.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is currently testing the T625 helicopter. The Turkish Light Utility Helicopter (TLUH) is the country’s first indigenously-made 5 ton class helicopter. T625 is a new generation, twin engine rotorcraft designed for military, paramilitary and civilian purposes. Full-rate production of the T625 is expected to commence in 2021.

Europe

Flight Global reports that global fighter jet manufacturers are readying themselves to pitch their products to Poland’s “Harpia” fighter tender. Warsaw needs to replace its ageing fleet of RAC MiG-29 fighters and Sukhoi Su-22 ground-attack aircraft, but hasn’t defined its specific requirements yet. Boeing views its combat-proven F-15 and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as potential contenders. Other competitors will likely include the Eurofighter consortium with the Typhoon, Lockheed Martin which could potentially offer either the F-16 Block 70/72 or F-35, and Saab, which is expected to promote its Gripen E.

Asia-Pacific

Chinese defense contractor AVIC is introducing a light combat variant of its FTC-2000 trainer. The FTC-2000G is the latest derivative of the Guizhou JL-9 supersonic advanced jet, and is an export-oriented lightweight multirole combat aircraft. The model can have up to seven hardpoints and a maximum payload weight of 3,000 kg. According to Flight Global, the Chinese aircraft manufacturer says that assembly of the aircraft started in February at the Anshun factory of its Guizhou Aviation Industries Co unit. It is now scheduled to make its first flight in late September

The government of Australia is ordering more than a thousand additional military trucks and modules from Rheinmetall. The $496 million deal is part of Australia’s Land 121 Phase 5B project. The company is already supporting the Australian Defence Force with 2,500 medium- and heavyweight military trucks worth a total of $1.4 billion.

Today’s Video

Watch: USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is replenished at sea

Concerns over the acquisition procedures involved in the AUD1.3 billion (USD975 million) purchase of the Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light for the Australian Army, together with ongoing reliability issues, have been raised by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in a report

A six-member team from the Indian Air Force (IAF) has left for France to train on Dassault Rafale fighters: a move that comes a little over two years after New Delhi ordered 36 of the multirole combat aircraft for EUR7.9 billion (USD9.16 billion) via an intergovernmental agreement. Official sources

Indra has been awarded a contract to supply its Lanza 3D long-range radar (LRR) system to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), the Spanish company announced in a statement on 11 September. Delivery will include the air surveillance radar as well as associated equipment such as Indra’s AirDef: an

The French shipbuilder Naval Group is competing to build four Tamandaré-class corvettes for the Brazilian Navy, offering the existing multimission vessel Gowind 2500 and significant technology-transfer (ToT) package and offsets. The corvette project is the second-highest acquisition priority

Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) will receive new Platforma-O heavy wheeled transporters to replace those produced by Belarus’s Minsk Wheel Tractors Plant (MZKT Volat), an industry source has told Jane’s. “The newest Platforma-O family of heavy wheeled transporters

South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem will begin mass-producing its K806 and K808 wheeled armoured combat vehicles later this year after the vehicles completed a series of field tests by Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) units between April and August, the country’s Defense Acquisition Programme

Thales has opened a new maritime facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the eighth that the company has established in Canada to support work for the Department of National Defence. The company will have about 20 new employees based at the site, which was officially inaugurated on 10 September. These

US Fleet Forces (USFF) Command ordered all US Navy (USN) ships in Virginia’s Hampton Roads area, including Naval Station Norfolk, to set Sortie Condition Alpha on 10 September to begin to sortie and leave the immediate area to avoid Hurricane Florence. Hurricane Florence is forecast to bring

The US government has stressed its commitment to aiding India in bolstering its military capabilities at a time when the Asian nation is assessing its partnerships with a number of different allied partners. The US government claims that while the export of US equipment to India was very limited 10

The British Army begins the update of its Bowman communications system in the next few weeks with the delivery of Bowman ComBAT Infrastructure P-BISA (BCIP) 5.6 to 20 Armoured Infantry Brigade, based in Paderborn, Germany. BCIP 5.6 is the largest single upgrade to Bowman since it entered service and

The Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, announced on 11 September that it had launched studies to prepare three new capabilities of the Scorpion programme. The studies are on the integration of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles into the

The Spanish government gave the go ahead on 7 September for the procurement of a second tranche of Airbus Helicopters NH90s and the modernisation of the army’s Chinook CH-47D heavy transport fleet. The long-awaited green light for the two programmes came after the new Socialist Partido

Japan has been cleared to buy a further nine Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to augment the four already ordered. The US State Department approval, announced on 10 September, covers the aircraft and systems, as well as training,

Key Points The results of the first round give lead to the ruling Union for the Republic (UPR) party. The importance of securing these parliamentary, local, and regional elections mainly stems from the ability to secure seats in parliament, allowing for changes in the constitution should incumbent

UK company Meggitt has increased its involvement on the South Korean programme to develop the KFX multirole fighter aircraft through a new supply contract announced on 10 September. In a press release, Meggitt said it will develop an engine vibration monitoring unit (EVMU) for KFX prototypes

Event On 7 September 2018, the Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the United States’ intent to issue sanctions against the country. This follows a 5 September announcement in which the US said it would “take action” against individuals

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is looking to support the development of its Australian joint venture (JV) to enable the new company to head up a range of local missile manufacturing programmes and lead efforts to secure exports. The JV was established earlier in 2018 through an