Defense`s Feeds

The European Defence Agency (EDA) launched a new project on 13 January to improve the technology behind automatic targeting, as well as in threat recognition and identification, as European militaries seek to make soldiers and weapons systems more effective in battle.

Automatic target/threat recognition, identification and targeting for land systems (ATRIT) can help militaries in detecting, tracking, prioritising and selecting targets, whether off the top of a combat vehicle or from individual weapons. The technology cannot engage, however, without human command. 

Led by Germany, the first phase of ATRIT will also bring together the contributing Member States of France, Greece, the Netherlands and Poland, as well as Norway. It will be carried out by a consortium led by Germany’s Rheinmetall and involves IABG, also of Germany, Safran and Thales of France, ISD SA of Greece, TNO and Thales of the Netherlands, Rheinmetall in Norway and PCO of Poland.  

PHYSICAL DEMONSTRATORS

With a €2 million budget over 18 months, the EDA launch marks the first step in a series of ATRIT projects that eventually aim to develop and test physical demonstrators in relevant environments in a second phase.

ATRIT in its first phase will seek to define the requirements and design the system architecture for an overarching, cross-platform capacity to allocate military targets and enhance detection and to identify threats, including on the basis of behaviour. The new, improved software will not only have the capacity to better identify and enable automatic targeting, but also fuse different sensor data and make it easy for soldiers to use.

As a Category B project managed by EDA, the initiative is co-funded by Member States and additional participants can opt in.

ATRIT analysis in the first phase will be based on the following modules: human behaviour; 360-degree situation awareness; integration of fused sensor information; target allocation; presentation of fused data, including real-time sensor data, C4I and historical data.

For more details, please see here.

EDA'S ROLE

The European Defence Agency (EDA) supports its 26 Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the ‘hub’ for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks allowing it to the whole spectrum of defence capabilities. 

Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented. For more details, please see here.

Americas The US Air Force has awarded machine learning-based health developer Sparta Science a small business innovation research deal to identify early signs of sub-concussive brain injury in airmen. Data gathered from the research will assist experts in developing a capability to recognize the impacts of repeated exposures to subconcussive blasts. According to Sparta, results […]

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Americas Riverview Construction won a $10.5 million deal to construct a C-130 flight simulator training facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Scotia, New York, with an estimated completion date of February 14, 2024. According to Lockheed Martin, the C-130 Hercules primarily performs the tactical portion of […]

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Americas

The US Air Force has received a new E-11A aircraft with a battlefield airborne communications node (BACN) payload at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. The plane will be integrated into the air force’s 430th Expeditionary Electronic Communications Squadron, the “Black Wolves,” which supports combat communications. The BACN’s “WiFi in the sky” capability allows the E-11A to function similarly to a low-Earth satellite, maintaining aerial command and control capabilities for airborne and ground units.

Colombia has selected the French defense firm Nexter’s Caesar 6×6 self-propelled howitzer for its military, according to Spanish defense news website Infodefensa. The South American nation has reportedly earmarked $101.7 million to purchase an undisclosed number of the artillery platforms, which have become increasingly popular in recent years.

The US Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin have finalized a $30 billion deal to deliver up to 398 F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The agreement includes 145 Lot 15s, 127 Lot 16s, and 126 Lot 17s for Finland, Belgium and Poland. “The F-35 delivers unsurpassed capability to our warfighters and operational commanders,” F-35 Joint Program Executive Officer USAF Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt stated.

Middle East & Africa

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has announced the start of construction of the United Arab Emirates Navy’s first Falaj 3-class fast patrol vessel (FPV). A steel-cutting ceremony was held recently at an ADSB facility, confirming the completion of the research and design phase for the new vessels. According to the company, the Falaj 3-class FPVs are complex, high-speed warships with state-of-the-art sensors and combat systems.

Europe

The British Ministry of Defence has donated counter-explosive ordnance equipment to war-torn Ukraine. Last week, the UK delivered more than 1,000 metal detectors to help Ukrainian troops clear land mines and clear civilian infrastructure of explosives.

The Polish government has inked a five-year deal with France to purchase two Airbus military observation satellites. With an accuracy of 30 centimeters (nearly 1 foot), the new satellites are expected to bolster the Polish Armed Forces’ reconnaissance capabilities to detect potential military and civilian threats.

Asia-Pacific

Taiwan is planning to purchase 100 units of the Switchblade, a small, attack-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the American company AeroVironment, and give it to the Army’s special forces. The purchase is expected to take place in 2024 via foreign military sales channel. According to Up Media, Taiwan is taking a close look at such type of suicide drone after noticing its successful in the Ukrainian battlefield. An invitation to bid by the Navy suggest the service is seeking to acquire similar drones.

Today’s Video

WATCH: 430th EECS receives new E-11A BACN

Americas

Boeing won a $38.7 million modification for B-1 and B-52 bomber engineering services. This modification is for recurring and non-recurring engineering services to B-1 and B-52 aircraft. Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Edwards AFB, California; Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed December 31, 2023.

Sikorsky has filed a protest with the US government regarding the US Army’s decision to award a contract for its next-generation helicopter to Textron’s Bell. The Lockheed Martin subsiadary seeks a review of the $1.3 billion deal awarded in early December, in which Bell’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor was selected over Sikorsky and Boeing’s Defiant X coaxial rotor for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program.

Middle East & Africa

Iran’s army held major military drills in the Gulf on Friday, state media reported. The exercises, which included naval, air and ground forces, were held at the Strait of Hormuz — a key waterway through which 25% of the world’s oil passes and about a third of global liquified natural gas.

Europe

The European Defence Agency (EDA) is launching a new research project to improve the efficiency and success rate of air-to-air refuelling (AAR) missions that uses the hose and drogue method by developing an automated system. The project, which has a budget of $4.26 million, will be led by Spain in collaboration with Germany and involve an industry consortium including Airbus Defence and Space, GMV, the German Aerospace Center, and AES Technology.

Asia-Pacific

The Japanese and Indian Air Forces will conduct their first bilateral fighter jet training in January, bolstering ties amid continued tensions with China. Their first-ever joint air combat training will commence on January 16 to 26 at Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture, 95 kilometers (59 miles) northeast of Tokyo. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) said the 10-day air drills would “promote mutual understanding and strengthen defense cooperation between the air forces.”

South Korea’s Defense Project Promotion Committee has approved two major projects to enhance the country’s military capabilities. The first project is a $2.73 billion effort to upgrade the combat capabilities of its F-15K fighters. The project, which will run from 2024 to 2034 and aims to strengthen the mission capabilities and survivability of the F-15K jets. The upgrade will include replacing the current F-15Ks’ old radar system with an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and installing integrated electronic warfare equipment and an up-to-date mission computer. It is not known if the upgrade of F-15Ks will be similar to Japan’s “Japanese Super Interceptor” (JSI) configuration. The JSI uses the APG-82(v)1 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, Advanced Display Core Processor II Mission System Computers and AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS).

Today’s Video

WATCH: AMA’s Actively Stabilized Drogue Refueling System (ASDRS).

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $31.8 million modification to incrementally increase the annual award of Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target Advanced Capability-3 missiles. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama; Rocket Center, West Virginia; Camden, Arkansas; Chelmsford, Massachusetts; and Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2024.

Lockheed Martin has made significant progress in the development of its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). The company conducted a successful flight test of the JAGM Medium Range (JAGM-MR) on November 16 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California. The missile flew for 16 kilometers, twice the range of the JAGM. This longer range is seen as a major advantage for military operations, as it allows for greater standoff from enemy locations. The ability to operate out of range of enemy weapons systems is critical for the military’s efforts to protect its personnel and assets. In addition to the increased range, the JAGM-MR also features a tri-mode seeker that combines a low-cost imaging sensor with semi-active laser and millimeter wave sensors. This technology was originally required by the U.S. Army, but the requirement was later changed to a dual-mode seeker due to cost concerns. However, the price of tri-mode seeker technology has since become more affordable, and the Army is now looking to address its aviation strategy with a JAGM Increment 3 requirement that would increase the range of the missile and add the tri-mode seeker.

Middle East & Africa

Turkey’s top defense official announced on December 30 that the country’s indigenous long-range air defense missile, Siper, had been successfully test-fired and hit its target at a range of over 100 kilometers. The head of Turkey’s Defense Industries Presidency, Ismail Demir, referred to the test as a “New Year’s gift to our nation as we enter the Turkish Century from our defense industry” on Twitter. The Siper project is being led by Turkish defense giants Aselsan and Roketsan, as well as the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). Roketsan is in charge of developing the missile, while Aselsan focuses on creating the sensors and electronics. The missile is expected to be a rival to Russia’s S-400 system.

Europe

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday oversaw the commissioning of several new warships and a nuclear-powered submarine as he vowed to further strengthen Russia’s navy. Putin, who has largely avoided public engagements since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, gave the green light for Russian flags to be hoisted on the new vessels via video link. Among the newly-commissioned vessels were a corvette, a minesweeper, and the Generalissimus Suvorov nuclear-powered submarine that is capable of launching ballistic missiles.

Asia-Pacific

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has teamed up with Saunders International and US-Australian venture Nova Nacap to develop a bulk fuel infrastructure in the country’s Northern Territory. The program is an extension of the decade-long alliance between the US and Australian armed forces in promoting regional stability across the Indo-Pacific.

The US State Department approved on Wednesday the $180 million sale of vehicle-launched anti-tank systems to Taiwan, the Pentagon said, the latest weapons deal between the self-governed island and its main ally. Taiwan would receive Volcano anti-tank munition-laying systems, cargo trucks, ammunition, logistics support packages, and a myriad of other related services under the deal, according to a Pentagon statement.

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Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $527.7 million contract action, which will be awarded for a sole-source, hybrid (cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee) modification (P00054) under contract HQ085121C0002. This UCA expands performance of the Aegis Weapon System to implement Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities into an Aegis Guam System. An initial obligation of $11,394,512 using fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation funds will occur at the time of award. The work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, with period of performance from time of award through December 31, 2027.

Insitu won a $19 million modification, which adds scope for the production and delivery of 10 RQ-21A air vehicles, two RQ-21A turrets, support equipment, spares, tools, and training in support of RQ-21A Blackjack and ScanEagle unmanned aircraft platforms for the Navy, Marine Corps, and international partners. Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington; and various locations outside the continental US, and is expected to be completed in June 2026.

Middle East & Africa

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has contracted Oshkosh Defense to produce hundreds of “Eitan” armored personnel carrier (APC) hulls for the Israel Defense Forces. The more than $100 million US-funded contract will reportedly see 500 hulls delivered to Israel within 18 months. The hulls will be fitted with unmanned turrets and other systems and sent for operational use. More hulls are expected in the future.

Europe

The Russian Navy’s latest Admiral Gorshkov-class multi-role frigate has begun its second phase of sea trials. The testing follows a demonstration of the ship’s maneuverability, navigation capabilities, and propulsion at Severnaya Verf shipyard, Saint Petersburg in early December. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the second phase will validate the frigate’s control systems, artillery, anti-aircraft missile systems, communication, and electronic warfare equipment. All tests will be monitored by the service command control center. Results will be delivered to Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Evmenov.

Asia-Pacific

Aerospace firm L3Harris and Israeli defense manufacturer Elta Systems will deliver advanced threat detection and response systems to the Australian military. The newly-inked teaming contract would transform Australian fighting vehicles, enabling each to immediately detect incoming live fire and launch self-defense responses, including electronic warfare measures and kinetic effects.

South Korea has awarded Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) a $235 million contract to deliver 10 Light Armed Helicopters for the army. KAI will begin delivery of the aircraft by 2024, including training, maintenance, and spares, The Korean Herald reported. The award comes after the Defense Acquisition and Program Administration approved a $4.5 billion plan to mass produce the helicopters through 2031.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAV | Long-Endurance, Low-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Americas

Raytheon won a $30 million deal for the procurement of Patriot post deployment build hardware updates and Multifunctional Distribution System Block Upgrade 2. Patriot is a combat-proven air defense system operated by the US and a number of its allies. The Patriot missile is equipped with a track-via-missile (TVM) guidance system. Midcourse correction commands are transmitted to the guidance system from the mobile engagement control centre. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will take place in Massachusetts. Estimated completion date is March 31.

The US Navy demonstrated unmanned cargo delivery to a moving ship for the first time recently. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division demonstration saw multiple unmanned aerial systems (UAS) delivering cargo weighing less than 50 pounds (22.68 kilograms), accounting for 90 percent of navy logistics deliveries.

Middle East & Africa

Turkey recently completed another round of tests on its “Alka” directed energy counter-drone weapon system. The Roketsan-developed system is one of many directed energy weapons Turkish defense firms have been developing, such as the LSS laser defense system by Aselsan. The Alka uses an electromagnetic jamming system and a 50-watt laser to disable and destroy short-range threats like drones. The system can also defuse bomb traps and improvised explosive devices, the manufacturer states.

Europe

Italian defense firm Leonardo has finished the initial phase of flight testing for its latest Falco Xplorer remotely piloted aircraft system. The Italian drone performed complex functional tests to validate platform maturity and performance. Leonardo received air traffic, fire prevention, and flight safety assistance from the Air Force’s 37°Stormo wing during the activity at Trapani Birgi military airport in Sicily, 260 miles (420 kilometers) south of the capital Rome.

Asia-Pacific

Japan on Friday approved a $839 billion budget for the year ahead, including record defense spending after a major security strategy overhaul announced this month. The fiscal 2023 budget approved by the cabinet includes $51 billion for the defense ministry, up approximately 30 percent from last year.

The Japanese Defense Ministry has included the cost of acquiring 180,000 square meters of land necessary for deploying an air defense missile unit to the Yonaguni base of the Ground Self-Defense Force in the budget plan for fiscal 2023. While there is currently a coastal surveillance unit deployed on the island of Yonaguni, this will be the first time that a combat unit will be deployed there. In fiscal 2023, an electronic warfare unit will be newly established, and the number of personnel stationed at the Yonaguni base will increase from around 170 at the end of this fiscal year to around 210.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Turkey’s Domestic Laser Weapon”ROKETSAN ALKA” in inventory !

Americas

Canada has tasked Leonardo with executing the CH-149 “Cormorant” Mid-Life Upgrade (CMLU) Project by awarding a contract $736 million to the Italian aerospace giant. The mid-life upgrade of the CH-149 search and rescue helicopters will enhance the aircraft’s systems and technologies, ensuring compliance with emerging airspace requirements and extending the life expectancy of the fleet to 2042+. In addition, the upgrade will enable the return of the Cormorant helicopters to the Main Operating Base (MOB) Trenton. The upgrades will include the installation of state-of-the-art avionics, a new glass cockpit, more powerful digitally-controlled engines, wireless in-cabin communications, and the latest search and rescue sensors such as an Electro Optical Infrared device and Mobile Phone Detection Location System.

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $1.05-billion deal to advance the production of its F-35 fighter jets for the US armed forces. According to the US Department of Defense, the deal includes purchasing long-lead materials, spare parts, and necessary components to ensure the on-time delivery of the aircraft. The procurement of long-lead items is a critical step in advancing F-35 production since such materials often have a lengthier delivery period, affecting the duration of production.

Middle East & Africa

According to Israel Defense, Germany’s Thyssenkrupp, which manufactures the Israeli Navy’s submarines, will invest millions of euros in the local company VSense Technologies in order to provide it with manufacturing, maintenance, inspection and repairing abilities of equipment installed in the navy’s submarines. The cooperation is with Atlas Electric, the marine technology division of Thyssenkrupp, which mainly focuses on sonar, command and weapons systems for maritime platform. VSense technologies is based in Petah Tikva and specializes in the design, production and integration for military, defense, and civilian naval industry clients. In addition to Israel, Thyssenkrupp has been building submarines for the German and Norwegian navies.

Europe

The Albanian government has inked a deal with Turkish defense firm Baykar to acquire three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Under the agreement, Baykar will deliver TB2 armed drones to the Balkan nation, bolstering the modernization efforts of the country’s armed forces in 2023. “The initial three drones will be armed and ready for combat and for use in any possible case that I hope will never be the case,” Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said.

Norway’s state procurement agency has recently ordered additional Kongsberg fifth-generation naval strike missiles (NSMs) for the Royal Norwegian Navy. Under the $61 million supplemental agreement, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will deliver more “ship-killer” missiles at an undisclosed date. “Kongsberg appreciates the strong cooperation with the National Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) team and looks forward to continuing these efforts as we focus on the deliveries to the Norwegian Navy,” the company said.

Asia-Pacific

Taiwan has decided against carrying out expensive repairs to a E-2K Hawkeye airborne early aircraft that was damaged during a belly landing incident on November 25. According to local news reports, the cost of repairs will cost $65.16 million. The cause of the incident, in which the landing gear failed to deploy, was due to pilot error. This is the second such incident for a Taiwan Hawkeye. A similar accident occurred in 1997 when #2503 was damaged in the same way. However, the aircraft was repaired using a fuselage that was being produced for the US Navy.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Royal Canadian AF. CH-149 Cormorant helicopter 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron lands at CFS Alert

Americas

Rolls-Royce won a $74.7 million deal, which procures 28 V-22 AE1107C engines (24 for production aircraft and 4 spare engines) in support of the V-22 Osprey for the Navy and Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed in December 2023. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopters. Boeing is responsible for the fuselage, landing gear, avionics, electrical and hydraulic systems, performance and flying qualities. Bell Helicopter Textron is responsible for the wing and nacelle, propulsion, rotor, empennage (complete tail system), ramp, overwing fairing and the dynamics.

Lockheed won a $43.4 million modification, which exercises options for the production and delivery of one MH-60R aircraft, and to procure one Australia unique modification kit in support of modifying the MH-60R aircraft from standard Foreign Military Sales configuration to a unique configuration for the Commonwealth of Australia. Work will be performed in Owego, New York; Stratford, Connecticut; and Troy, Alabama, and is expected to be completed in May 2026.

Middle East & Africa

Israel has grounded eleven of its F-35A stealth fighters following the advice of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO). The data and findings from the recent crash of a US F-35B fighter jet in Texas indicate the need for a dedicated inspection to determine if the Israeli system is at risk of a similar malfunction. “The Israeli Air Force (IAF) will analyze the findings from the incident and will draw conclusions and recommendations for the safe return of the aircraft to operational duty,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said. Israel has 33 F-35A delivered so far and they are assigned to the 116th Lions of the South Squadron and the 140th Golden Eagle Squadron.

Europe

The Netherlands on Friday pledged $2.7 billion to help war-torn Ukraine in 2023, with most of the money earmarked for military aid. “Nearly two billion is intended for military support,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told a press conference in The Hague. The rest will go towards humanitarian aid, rebuilding infrastructure as well as ensuring accountability, he said.

American technology firm Palantir has been awarded a $90-million contract to support the British military’s intelligence-gathering capabilities. As part of the three-year agreement, the company will utilize its cutting-edge software to help the army make real-time decisions and predict how battlefield decisions will play out. The software will allow the armed forces to treat data as a strategic asset, delivering military advantage and greater efficiency.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea accused North Korea of flying “several” drones across their border on Monday, prompting Seoul’s military to deploy warplanes and fire warning shots to ward them off. “Our military first detected a North Korean unmanned aerial vehicle around the Gimpo airspace at 10:25 am,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement. “Several North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles invaded our airspace” in the border areas around Gyeonggi province, it added.

Today’s Video

WATCH: V-22 Osprey – The Helicopter and Airplane That Changed The Game

Americas

Northrop Grumman won a $26.4 million contract modification for Triton electronic protection enhancements. Under this modification, the contractor will continue to work to further develop and demonstrate enabling technologies for the Triton MQ-4C Unmanned Aircraft System Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) radar systems. The proposed effort is for the non-recurring engineering required to establish the hardware baseline for the technical refresh for the MQ-4C Triton MFAS Radar Signal Processor (RSP) on the AN/ZPY-3(v) 2 Mercury Power Stream 7000 Signal Processor, 272K300G01 in order to implement advanced capabilities developed by the Office of Naval Research.

Lockheed Martin won a $16 million modification to previously awarded contract N00024-15-C-5151 to exercise options for ship integration and test of the AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) for AWS baselines through Advanced Capability Build 16. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey; Norfolk, Virginia; San Diego, California; Washington, DC; Pascagoula, Mississippi; Mayport, Florida; Bath, Maine; and various locations and is expected to be completed by September 2023.

Middle East & Africa

L3Harris Technologies has secured a $29-million contract with Bahrain, Jordan, and Morocco to upgrade their F-16 fighter jets. As part of the deal, the American tech firm will integrate 105 smart weapon release systems into the F-16s. The system enables the F-16 to carry double the number of smart munitions and makes it compatible with 500-pound (226-kilogram) and 1,000-pound (453-kilogram) guided weapons.

Europe

Elbit Systems has been awarded a contract to supply four F-16 Full Mission Simulators (FMS) to the Polish Air Force. The contract is worth approximately $36 million and will be delivered over a 28-month period. These simulators will provide a high fidelity, immersive real flight experience for F-16 pilots by featuring a 360-degree display system and having the FMS interconnected. One of the primary purposes of FMS is to allow pilots to become familiar with the controls and systems of the aircraft. This can include learning how to navigate, operate the various systems, and understand the aircraft’s capabilities and limitations. FMS can not only help pilots to become familiar with the aircraft, but also enable them to acquire advanced combat flight competencies. This can involve training in tactics and techniques used in various operational environments, as well as practicing the utilization of weapons and other systems. Through the simulation of various scenarios and challenges, pilots can improve their ability to make quick decisions and react to pressure, in addition to enhancing their skills in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

Austria’s Ministry of Defense has taken delivery of its first AW169M light utility helicopter from Italian defense firm Leonardo. The aircraft is the first of 18 under order as part of a 2021 Italy-Austria government-to-government agreement. The country chose the AW169M over Bell’s 429 Global Ranger and Airbus’ H145M twin-engine battlefield helicopters because of logistical issues. The new helicopters will succeed the aging Alouette III light liaison and transport helicopters, which will be decommissioned next year.

Asia-Pacific

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has signed a $235 million deal with Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration to provide the South Korean military with 10 light armed helicopters (LAH). The newly produced LAH will replace the South Korean military’s aged 500MD and AH-1S helicopters in performing air strike missions against armored vehicles. The contract requires KAI to provide integrated product support, including training for first-time operators and a maintenance float.

Today’s Video

WATCH: AW169M helicopter delivery to Austria

Americas

The US Air Force Research Laboratory has contracted California-based Pacific Defense to provide and demonstrate a sensor for space situational awareness missions. As part of the program, the company will deliver its small, lightweight power sensor “Moonraker” to operate in the cislunar region, or the space between the Earth and the moon.

The US Air Force Global Strike Command has announced a safety stand-down for all operations of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet. The temporary halt follows an incident where a B-2 encountered an in-flight malfunction on December 10. According to the command, the aircraft was damaged upon an emergency landing at a runway at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

Middle East & Africa

Elbit Systems has been awarded a framework contract with a maximum value of $410 million to supply up to seven “Watchkeeper X” tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the Romanian Ministry of National Defense. The contract is valid for five years. The Watchkeeper X UAS is the British export variant of the British army’s UAS and is made by UAV Tactical Systems Limited, a UK subsidiary of Elbit Systems. It is compatible with NATO standards, which enables essential interoperability with NATO and other allied forces.

Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) successfully flew its new NATO Pod for the first time on November 23, 2022. The test flight took place at the Yuma Proving Grounds using a GA-ASI-owned MQ-9A aircraft. The NATO Pod is a joint development between GA-ASI and Sener Aeroespacial of Spain, and was designed to meet NATO airworthiness standards while increasing configuration and payload options for GA-ASI’s MQ-9A and MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

Sweden has awarded Saab a $33.8 million contract to provide life extension services for two Swedish Navy Koster-class minehunter vessels. The agreement will see the replacement and integration of new equipment to “ensure continued operability” of the ships. Among the capabilities to be updated are radar navigation, combat systems, and surface sensors.

Asia-Pacific

The Indian Navy has officially launched its first indigenously built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessel known as “Arnala.” A ceremony was held in eastern India to mark the milestone, with Ministry of Defence representative Rasika Chaube in attendance. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), the vessel has been named Arnala to signify the strategic maritime importance of the island of Arnala in west India.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Watchkeeper X delivering maritime ISR

Americas

Sikorsky won a $676.7 million deal for the supply chain management that includes 196 weapon replaceable assemblies/shop replaceable assemblies in support of the CH-53E and MH-53E helicopters. The contract will include a five-year base period with one two-year option. If the option is exercised, the contract will be a not-to-exceed amount of $752,324,052. Work will be performed in North Carolina Connecticut. Work is expected to be completed by December 2027.

Bell-Boeing won a $18 million deal, which provides technical analysis, engineering, and integration support for the V-22 aircraft program. Work will be performed in Texas and Pennsylvania and is expected to be completed in December 2023. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued.

Middle East & Africa

The Turkish government has completed a “successful” test-firing of its first domestically-developed air-to-ground ballistic supersonic missile. Turkey’s Bayraktar Ak?nc? unmanned combat aerial vehicle struck a target at 100 kilometers (62 miles) with the TRG-230 missile, Daily Sabah reported. The 12-meter (39-foot) aircraft took off from a base in Tekirdag province, traveling 700 kilometers (434 miles) to the northern Black Sea province of Sinop.

Europe

Italian aerospace firm Leonardo has finished the delivery of M-346 advanced trainer aircraft to the Polish Air Force, boosting Poland’s fleet to 16. The third and final delivery of four advanced jet trainers last week made the Polish Air Force’s the second largest fleet of M-346 aircraft in Europe. “We are very proud to have equipped the Polish Air Force with an advanced training system based on our M-346,” Senior Vice President Dario Marfè said.

Asia-Pacific

The Japanese government has decided to acquire submarine-launched long-range missile capability, The Mainichi reported. The decision, to be detailed in three security documents, will be approved soon. The underwater capability is part of Tokyo’s “counter-strike” strategy to take out enemy missile launch sites before attack.

Indian armed forces are set to acquire a tactical surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of striking targets up to 500 kilometers (311 miles) away. The military’s proposal to acquire the conventionally-armed Pralay missile could be approved at a meeting this week, Asia News International revealed, citing sources. The Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) completed flight tests of the missile in December 2021 following four years of development.

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WATCH: A Day in the Life of the Most Feared US Drone

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has kicked-off a new research project, led by Spain and in collaboration with Germany, to develop an automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) operation with the hose and drogue system. The two-year EDA project which has a budget of €4 million, will involve an industry consortium of Airbus Defence and Space (Spain and Germany), GMV, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and AES Technology (Germany). A limited number of flight tests will be carried out in 2024 with an Airbus A330 MRTT tanker and Tornado aircraft provided by the two participating countries.

Innovation in the air

Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) is one of the main pillars of air mobility and a key force multiplier. AAR is an operation that demands tanker and receiver pilots operate in close formation, flying in variable flight conditions, during the day or at night and performing high precision manoeuvres to achieve the contact. While the hose and drogue system of AAR operations has evolved in terms of new systems that provide better information to the Tanker Operator and better operational awareness, the way in which the refuelling is performed has been the same for the last 70 years. For instance, there have not been substantial improvements in providing greater assistance to the aircraft involved, in the different phases of the AAR operation.

Although nowadays the success rate of the hose and drogue contacts is high, the impact of unsuccessful contact is significant, often resulting in mission cancellations, damage to assets and hindering operational effectiveness. In view of maximising its operation effectiveness, introducing innovative automation features to the AAR systems will provide new ways to better assist the aircraft during this operation and will increase the success rate of AAR missions.

The feasibility of greater AAR automation has already been shown by Airbus when achieving a fully automatic contact with the boom system in 2020, and recent certification in 2022 of a fully automatic boom. Launching research into the hose and drogue system will prepare air-to-air refuelling tankers, such as A330 MRTT, A400M or C295, to cope with more demanding operations and be ready for the next generation of unmanned platforms.

A3R: Trade-offs, Technology and new Concepts of Operation

The first phase of the project is focused on the technology trade-off, which will be needed to perform the future automation of the operation, such as the levels of automation or assistance to be implemented for manned and/or unmanned platforms.

The technologies will be evaluated, prototyped and tested in real scenarios such as flight test. This will allow the proper identification and tracking of the hose and drogue system and the receiver aircraft. The technical gaps to be addressed will include sensors, computing capability and suitability in all weather conditions.

A simulation environment will also be developed to evaluate the optimum trajectory of the receiver aircraft towards the drogue, analysing the interaction between them. Technology gaps have already been identified around the data/communication link needed between the tanker and the receiver aircraft and how factors such as latency, integrity or accuracy of the data could affect it.

Within the current project plan, a concept to increase the drogue’s stabilisation will be developed, also evaluated in a representative environment such as in a wind tunnel.

Lastly, the project will also align this technological development with operational needs, and explore new ways of performing the AAR operation to increase its efficiency and within new scenarios to be considered in the future.

Background

The project started in December 2022 and is executed under the CapTech Aerial Systems of the European Defence Agency. More information here. 

 

EDA’s Tactical Personnel Recovery Mission Simulator (TPRMS) has achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC) on 7 December. The TPRMS is used for rehearsing Personnel Recovery missions, tactics, techniques and procedures usually considered too risky to be practiced in live training events. 

TPRMS consists of twenty posts that replicates the elements of the Personnel Recovery (PR) Forces package (rotary and fixed air-wings crew, land soldier and crew of land combat vehicles, PR planners) employed when conducting military operations. Located at the Italian Air Force Base Poggio Renatico, the achievement of FOC completes the TPRMS project that begun in April 2019 with its initial set-up and subsequent declaration of Initial Operational Capability in November 2021.

EDA Chief Executive, Jiri SEDIVY, said; “TPRMS is a major achievement for European defence cooperation and the personnel recovery community. The simulator is a unique and powerful training capability to enhance European expertise in Personnel Recovery through the innovative use of training simulations, an expertise that has clear operational value in most difficult threat environments.” 
 
FOC Ceremony 

 The FOC ceremony, held on 7 December, was attended by representatives from eight Member States (AT, CY, DE, HU, IT, PO, RO and SE) and five international organisations with proven expertise on PR (EPRC/ European Personnel Recovery Centre, US JPRA/Joint Personnel Recovery Agency and NATO JAPCC/Joint Air Power Competence Centre, CASPOA/Air Operations Centre of Excellence and CAOC/Centre of Combat Air Operations UEDEM). 

On this occasion, an ITAF team presented a live-demo training session within the TPRMS by using a special designed Virtual Reality (VR) scenario, showcasing TPRMS performances and familiarisation with the VR technology. 

Pilot Course

On the same day, and as a direct follow up to the TPRMS FOC, a new EDA project, TPRMS Pilot Course, kicked off. Coupled together, they mark a major step towards to the creation of a European common approach in how PR forces gear up for an upcoming deployment or conduct PR mission rehearsals.