Defense`s Feeds

Bofors Archer system
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BAE Systems Bofors’ Archer is a light, air-portable, and highly automated 155/52 light mobile artillery system. Archer began as a Swedish project, administered by their FMV procurement agency. Funding was provided for system development and some initial production, but the project’s future had been shadowed by anemic Swedish defense budgets.

In May 2007, however, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Norway’s FLO procurement agency, which evolved into a joint production venture. Just as initial production moved the Archer system from concept to imminent reality, however, Norway left the program. Why?

The Archer System

Archer
click for video

Archer belongs in the same class as Nexter’s Caesar (France), Denel’s G6 (South Africa), and Soltam’s Atmos-2000 and Rascal (Israel).

The Archer system mounts BAE Systems’ FH77-B05 155mm/ 52 caliber cannon on a modified Volvo commercial A30E 6×6 all-terrain articulated truck, which has been militarized to add armor and NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection. Road speed is up to 70 km/h, with a cruising range of up to 500 km. The entire system weighs 33.1t / 36.5 tons.

BONUS shells

Automation ensures that the crew can fire the gun within 20 seconds of arriving in position, and without leaving the cabin. The magazine holds 21 shells, which can all be fired in an intensive 3.5 minute volley that includes multiple simultaneous impact targeting for groupings of up to 6 shells. Continuous fire is only 54 rounds in 35 minutes, and is regulated by barrel temperatures and reloading speed. The system can hit targets with great accuracy at ranges up to 50 km/ 31 miles, using rocket-boosted Excalibur GPS-guided shells. Conventional 155mm fire can reach to 40 km/ 24.85 miles, and Bofors and Nexter’s BONUS anti-tank shells can reach to 35 km/ 21.75 miles.

Ammunition resupply involves an armored truck or other vehicle equipped with a modified standard container. Full reloading takes about 10 minutes using integrated lifting equipment, and it’s the only time the crew needs to be outside the system.

M151 on Stryker, Mosul
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Under the Swedish-Norwegian co-development agreement, Archer will use Kongsberg’s popular M151 Protector remote-controlled weapon/ surveillance turret for close-in self defense. This continues in force despite Norway’s withdrawal from the program.

System Design and Development was scheduled to continue until 2009-2010, at which point the Swedish and Norwegian governments had an option to buy up to 24 Archers each at a pre-set price. That option was exercised in March 2010, with delivery supposed to take place from October 2011 – 2013, but the 1st delivery didn’t arrive until September 2013. After Norway’s withdrawal, production deliveries won’t begin until 2016.

Even late as it was, that 2013 delivery was an important milestone for the Archer project. The big break will come at the end of testing and acceptance, whereupon the Archer will become a proven competitor in the light-to-medium mobile artillery market.

Contracts and Key Events 2011 – 2022

Norway withdraws; RWS contracts to Kongsberg; 1st delivery happens, but it’s late.

Archer
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June 16/22: Letter Of Intent Sweden has committed to buying more Archer 155mm mobile howitzers from BAE Systems, having signed a letter of intent at the Paris-based defense exhibition Eurosatory this week. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and BAE Systems Bofors took the first step to establish an additional artillery battalion in line with Sweden’s defense strategy, which runs through 2025.

September 29/15: BAE Systems delivered the first serial production Archer artillery systems to the Swedish Armed Forces on Monday, following delivery of pre-serial systems in September 2013 and an initial batch of 24 Archers in 2007.

June 17/14: Sweden’s FMV concluded an amended contract with BAE Bofors AB, following Norway’s withdrawal. Final deliveries will now begin in early 2016, and continue at approximately 2 systems a month. Financial terms weren’t addressed.

Meanwhile, Swedish reservists are beginning to train with the system. Sources: FMV, “Nytt leveransavtal for Archer” and “Ovning med Archer”.

Amended contract

June 3/14: Update. Sweden’s FMV explains what’s going on with Archer:

“The Archer development project, like many complex projects at the leading edge of technology, has suffered delays. However, FMV was still able to handover the first systems to the Swedish Armed Forces in the autumn of 2013. Shortly afterwards the Norwegian Ministry of Defence announced that they wished to withdraw from the project.

With the disappearance of the 24 Norwegian systems from the order, there is a risk that the long-term costs will increase for the Swedish Armed Forces. At present, during the spring of 2014, FMV is negotiating with representatives from Norway with the aim of finding a solution that is acceptable to all parties involved.”

The problem is that if the extra costs are high enough, Sweden’s FMV has more incentive to dispute Norwegian claims of breach of contract. They’re looking for a balance where Norway pays something, without having to turn this into a chancy, costly, and grudge-inducing legal dispute. Sources: Swedish FMV, “International Collaboration”.

Dec 6/13: Norway out. Norway pulls out of the Archer project, claiming non-performance to contract terms. They haven’t received any guns yet, despite a contract that was supposed to have delivered all 24 by the end of 2013. Norway also claims unspecified failures to meet operational requirements, per the contract. This is important, because Norway will be responsible for significant cancellation fees if they can’t show a major breach of contract.

Sweden’s FMV responds that Archer offers equal or better performance vs. competitors at a lower price, and has found the balance it needs between protection and weight. Which may be true, but won’t change the legal issues.

Sweden’s FMV also announces it will pursue the acquisition on its own. Norway and Sweden will still cooperate on other elements of the program, including the ARTHUR artillery locating radar, ODIN fire control system, ammunition, education and training. Sources: Norway Forsvarsdepartementet, “Norge avslutter kontrakten om artillerisystemet Archer” | Swedish FMV, “Norge bryter samarbetet kring Archer”.

Norway out

Sept 23/13: Delivery. BAE Bofors delivers the 1st Archer artillery systems to Sweden’s FMV procurement agency. Source: FMV, “FMV tar emot leverans av de första Archerpjäserna”.

1st delivery

Dec 21/11: RWS. Norwegian and Swedish sign an NOK 960 million (about $162 million) umbrella contract for Protector “Nordic” Remote Weapon Stations, as an extension of the Jan 31/11 agreement. The initial order is NOK 380 million (about $64.2 million), and includes systems for both the Norwegian and Swedish Defence Forces. They will equip Archer vehicles, as well as other vehicle types chosen by each military.

Because the RWS systems have uses beyond the Archer program, DID will not be covering individual orders as they arise. Kongsberg | UPI.

RWS umbrella contract

Jan 31/11: Sweden RWS. Kongsberg announces an NOK 80 million Swedish order for Protector remote weapon stations. It’s part of the PROTECTOR Nordic program, where Sweden and Norway in cooperation will procure the same RWS configuration for use throughout their platforms.

208 – 2010

Swedish-Norwegian agreement, followed by final development funding and the purchase of 48 systems.

Ready.
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March 26/10: +48. BAE Systems announces a GBP 135 million ($200 million) contract to commence series production of 48 Archer systems and their associated ammunition handling systems for the Swedish and Norwegian armed forces. This contract represents the initial production option at the end of the System Design & Development phase.

The first operational systems are expected to be delivered in October 2011, and production will continue over the following 2 years. FMV [in Swedish] | BAE Systems.

Archer production

Aug 24/09: Sweden OK. The Swedish government gives the green light to an initial order for 24 Archer artillery pieces. They will join Norway’s planned purchase of 24 Archer systems, which was approved by the Norwegian Stortinget shortly before mid-summer 2009. This is not yet a contract. defpro.

June 7-15/09: Prototypes. Sweden’s FMV procurement agency confirms that the first Archer prototype rolled out from Bofors this week, adding:

“Project Archer has previously had two experimental pieces which, for an untrained eye, might look like prototypes. The experimental pieces aim was to test and develop the idea of a wheeled autonomous artillery system and test the new technology in different environments and contexts and in particular to develop methods for the use of artillery. The result of testing and development is now in a final phase… Then there are still some developments, there will be some differences on the prototype one and two. The cab of the prototype which has not, for example, the same protection as the cab at the prototype two and on the next series of products.”

Archer P1 has the Swedish configuration and Archer P2 will be the Norwegian configuration. The 2 prototypes will be verified and completed in spring 2010, with the first production delivery to Sweden and Norway scheduled to begin in 2011.

Jan 15/09: BAE Systems announces a $70 million contract to finalize the development of the Archer artillery system for the Swedish and Norwegian armed forces. This order consists of final development of the self propelled gun, development of ammunition handling system and modular charges.

Construction of a final prototype gun is expected to be complete by September 2009. As part of the contract, both governments hold an option to purchase 24 Archer systems each (total: 48), that can be exercised by September 2009.

Final Archer development

Nov 4/08: The Swedish FMV defense procurement agency announces that intensified cooperation agreements were signed at the end of October 2008 by FMV’s Hakan Espmark and the FLO’s Asle Kjelsberg. Additional joint agreements are in the pipeline for 2009: one for Archer procurement, one regarding a joint control and management system for indirect fire, one for joint maintenance approaches, and one in the field of artillery ammunition.

FMV and FLO will begin joint negotiations with BAE Systems Bofors on the assignment to complete development and delivery.

Swedish – Norwegian agreement

Additional Readings

• Swedish FMV – This is Archer.

• Swedish Forsvarsmakten – Archer [in Swedish].

• BAE Systems – Archer datasheet [PDF].

• Army Guide – Archer.

• DID – GPS-guided shells: The New Excaliburs.

• Nexter – BONUS target detection anti-tank shell.

An EDA delegation, led by Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý and the Agency’s Industry, Synergies and Enablers (ISE) Director, Emilio Fajardo, this week attended EUROSATORY, the world's leading land and airland defence and security exhibition which currently takes place in Villepinte/Paris (13-17 June).  

The Chief Executive participated in the official opening ceremony on Monday (13 June) before visiting several stands and holding bilateral talks with the organisers as well as representatives of GICAT, the Group of French Industries for Land and Air-land Defense and Security. Mr Šedivý also exchanged views with a range of industry representatives.  

This year, the exhibition presents products and services in the following main areas: Ground, aerial and naval vehicles, aircraft & boats; infrastructure protection; sub-assemblies for ground, aerial and naval vehicles; logistics for operations and installations; weapons and ammunition; medical and emergency; communication and information systems; field preparation – Explosive ordnance disposal; detection, localisation, acquisition and deception; research, design and production materials; training and simulation; disaster, business continuity and homeland security; personal equipment, services. 

Americas

Raytheon proposed an upgrade to the main sensor of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). The company is offering the GhostEye MR radar for the air defense missile system. “With the addition of GhostEye MR, we extend battlespace coverage to the full kinematic envelope, or reachable area, of the AMRAAM?ER effector,” said Lindsay Viana, director of ground?based air defense on Raytheon Missiles & Defense’s Requirements and Capabilities team.

Defense News reports that Lockheed Martin is evaluating how its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile can be configured for mobile, short-range air defense. “It’s a concept we have. We think it will have applicability to a number of platforms,” Rita Flaherty, the company’s vice president for strategy and business operations within its Missiles and Fire Control sector was quoted as saying.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled its latest tactical multi-mission, multi-sensor system: the Green Lotus Designed to provide high performance Counter-Rocket, Artillery & Mortar (C-RAM) and Air & Ground Surveillance capabilities to maneuvering as well as stationary forces, the Green Lotus features a unique array of active and passive sensors that maximize situational awareness and countermeasures efficiency. The Green Lotus integrates a proven range of IAI-ELTA’s sensors into a highly automated system that detects, tracks, classifies, and identifies aerial targets, from very low Radar Cross Section (RCS) mortar, rocket and artillery fire and small drones, to manned and unmanned fixed and rotary wing aircraft. It also performs ground surveillance, detecting and tracking vehicles and slow-moving personnel.

Europe

Poland is to procure Leonardo AW149, after having previously discounted the medium-twin utility helicopter in favor of other types. Polish Minister of National Defense, Mariusz B?aszczak, made the announcement as part of wider defense procurement spending. The procurement will meet a long-standing requirement for a multimission helicopter.

HNLMS Groningen will become the first of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s (RNLN’s) four Holland-class patrol ships to receive a hull vane modification. Wageningen-based manufacturer Hull Vane BV announced that the stern-mounted underwater structure, which acts like a hydrofoil to convert energy from the stern wave and ship motions into forward thrust, had been handed over on June 8 at Den Helder naval base. Installation on Groningen will be undertaken as part of an upkeep period scheduled for early 2023.

Asia-Pacific

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Thailand’s prime minister on Monday as part of an effort to strengthen what Austin says is Washington’s “unparalleled network of alliances and partnerships” in the region. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also defense minister, also met Austin last month in Washington.

Today’s Video

WATCH: GhostEye® MR: advanced medium-range radar for NASAMS

BISON COUNTER, the largest and most relevant European Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) exercise, will in the future be organised directly under the auspices of EDA  instead of only benefitting from the Agency’s support, as in the past. To that end, a new EDA ‘Cat B’ project - the BISON COUNTER C-IED Exercises Capability Building (BC-EX) project - has just been launched by 13 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, as well as Norway) at a kick-off meeting in Madrid (8-9 June). The new project, steered by the Agency’s Project Team Counter-IED (PT C-IED) will provide the framework for three additional editions of BISON COUNTER in 2023, 2025 and 2027. 

The BC-EX project will establish a permanent expert team in charge of the planning of the exercises and its subsidiary activities, both at the conceptual and technical level. This means that the joint planning and organisation of future BISON COUNTER exercises will become more centralised and structured under EDA’s auspices in close cooperation, of course, with the future host countries. As a result, this should further enhance the coordination and coherence among all participating C-IED actors at all different levels, from strategy to tactics to operations. Such a more structured approach should also help to better analyse the exercise results and implement a consolidated lessons learned cycle which is essential for moving towards even more sophisticated and interoperable C-IED capabilities in Europe. 

Next exercise to be held in Spain  

Building upon the reflections and observations collected during past BISON COUNTER exercises (2013, 2016, 2021) as well as on experiences made by Member States in other relevant multinational C-IED exercises, the BC-EX kick-off meeting marked the launch of the planning phase of BISON COUNTER 23 (BC23), which will be held in November 2023 under the auspices of Spain which, as the lead nation for the project until the end of next year, will host this event. 

The meeting in Madrid also decided the activation of the afore-mentioned permanent expert team constituted of subject matter experts from all contributing Member States, as well as other relevant C-IED organisations, such as the NATO accredited C-IED Center of Excellence (CoE) based in Madrid. This team will act as the main project interface with the host nation’s Exercise Planning Team, supporting the planning and preparation of the exercises as well as all its subsidiary activities, both at the conceptual and technical level. The establishment of this expert team will provide a more structured approach and a continuity element for the upcoming exercises. 

BISON COUNTER concept 

BISON COUNTER is a series of live multinational exercises covering all C-IED enabler capabilities. Its objective is to train the technical level skills, to integrate the technical enablers at the tactical level and to implement the full C-IED operational cycle. The desired end state is a more coherent, interoperable and resilient European Union, when facing the ever-evolving IED threat, both on expeditionary military operations and in the context of countering terrorism within its borders.

Project Team C-IED and other EDA C-IED projects 

The BC-EX kick-off meeting in Madrid was held back-to-back with the 31st PT C-IED meeting, held on 07/08Jun. This EDA working body is responsible for the inception of collaborative project proposals aiming to close the capability gaps identified by the EU Capability Development Plan (CDP) priority ‘Develop C-IED and CBRNe Capabilities Based on Newly Available Technology and Training’ (Ground Combat Capabilities - Enhance Protection of Forces).  

The project team has been responsible for a wide range of projects and activities. There are currently five in its portfolio: Joint Deployable, Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL), European Center for Manual Neutralization Techniques (ECMAN), Military Search Capability Building (MSCB), Smart Future Counter-IED Field Laboratory (SF C-IED FL) and C-IED Technical Exploitation in Maritime Environment (C-IED TEXMAR).  

The capabilities developed and delivered under these projects are extensively integrated into the BISON COUNTER exercises, building consistency across EDA participating Member States’ specific efforts in this capability area. 

During the 31st PT C-IED Meeting, new business cases for future projects were presented and discussed. The meeting was attended by 33 representatives from 11 participating Member States, as well as the NATO accredited C-IED CoE and EUROPOL.

More information 

• Bison Counter 21 factsheet

• EDA project page C-IED activities

• Video clip from Bison Counter 21 in Sardinia/Italy 

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $53.1 million modification, which adds scope for non-recurring engineering, delivery and installation of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Pilot Training and Maintainer Training technical refresh hardware. Work will take place in Florida and Texas. Estimated completion date is January 2025. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The aerospace firms of Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin have inked a “Teaming Agreement” on June 9 to jointly design, produce and promote an improved model of FA-50 in order to compete in the US market. The US Air Force and the US Navy plan to introduce about 280 and 220 units of new fighter trainers, respectively, in around 2024 and 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Israeli company Plasan, which operates globally in the area of survivability for land, air and naval platforms for the defense market, is revealing its new vehicle, the Wilder, at the Eurosatory 2022 exhibition currently taking place in Paris. According to the company announcement, the Wilder provides Stanag 4569 Level 2 protection for 4 people in a compact package weighing just 3.7t and offering a full 800kg of payload.

Europe

Hungary’s 2023 budget bill reached the country’s parliament on June 7. The draft budget’s allocation to the Ministry of Defense is $1.9 billion, a 28.3% nominal and 31.7% real cut compared to this year’s budget. This is largely due to a 92% fall in the ‘accumulation budget’ for the Hungarian Defense Forces, which is linked to the Zyrinyi 2026 defence development programme.

Russian troops forced Ukraine’s units out of central Severodonetsk, a strategically vital city in Ukraine’s eastern, the Ukrainian military said on Monday as Putin’s forces increasingly press forward in the Donbas region. On Sunday, Ukrainian President Zelensky said that Ukrainian troops were fighting for “every meter” of Severodonetsk and pleaded to international partners for “modern missile defense systems.”

Asia-Pacific

Australia’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, Richard Marles, has said on the weekend, that China’s military buildup must be accompanied by transparency and reassurances to its neighbours or risk triggering an arms race. Speaking in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Marles laid out a vision of economic cooperation balanced with military deterrence, but sounded a warning about militarisation in the Asia Pacific.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Plasan WILDER – Ultra Light Armored Vehicle

Americas

L3Harris won a maximum $13 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Army Chinook CH-47 helicopter spare parts production and repair. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor helicopter. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Performance completion date is June 8, 2027.

Northrop Grumman Systems won a $40.7 million order, which provides Full Scale Fatigue Test (FSFT) and Effects of Defects (EoD) for the Triton MQ-4C unmanned aircraft system, to include testing, analyzing, and documenting the results of both the FSFT and EoD test, as well as identifying post-test activities in order to fully verify and validate fatigue and damage tolerance requirement of the performance based system specification. The order provides Full Scale Fatigue Test (FSFT) and Effects of Defects (EoD) for the Triton MQ-4C unmanned aircraft system, to include testing, analyzing, and documenting the results of both the FSFT and EoD test, as well as identifying post-test activities in order to fully verify and validate fatigue and damage tolerance requirement of the performance based system specification. Work will take place in California, Kansas, Canada and New York. Estimated completion will be by February 2028.

Middle East & Africa

Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has disclosed the development of a sixth-generation evolution of its Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) multi-purpose, multiplatform man-in-the-loop precision-guided missile system. The current Mk 5 variant Spike NLOS features a gimballed dual-mode charged coupled device (CCD) TV/uncooled imaging infrared (IIR) terminal guidance sensor package, coupled with an embedded inertial navigation system/inertial measure unit (INS/IMU) mid-course navigation, and an encrypted radio frequency (RF) two-way datalink delivering real-time video imagery.

Europe

British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, an aircraft carrier functioning as NATO command ship, has arrived in Spain. According to the Royal Navy, the HMS Prince of Wales is currently the lead vessel in NATO’s Response Force – which can be deployed anywhere at short notice to react to world events – and has stopped in Rota on Spain’s west coast ahead of joint training led by Spain.

The UK Ministry of Defense plans to develop a weapons demonstrator that can operate at hypersonic speed. The plan is part of a $2.5 billion in research funding for programs that provide “generation-after-next” military capabilities between 2022 and 2026. The ministry stated that the cutting-edge weapons demonstrator would help the British military deter future threats without providing specific details.

Asia-Pacific

The US State Department has given the green light to a proposed sale of $120 million in ship spare parts, ship system spare parts, and related equipment to Taiwan, the fourth Taipei-bound arms package approved under US President Joe Biden. According to a statement released by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Wednesday, the proposed sale will include unclassified spare and repair parts for ships and ship systems, logistical technical assistance, US government and contractor representative technical and logistical support, and other related elements of logistical and program support requested by Taiwan.

Today’s Video

WATCH: RAFAEL Unveils the 6th Generation SPIKE NLOS Missile

EDA Chief Executive, Jiří Šedivý, visited Lithuania today for high-level talks with Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas, Deputy Minister of Defence Vilius Semeška, Defence Policy Director Vaidotas Urbelis and the Director of the Lithuanian Defence Material Agency (MND), Sigitas Dzekunskas. He also met with the Chairman of the National Security and Defence Committee of the Seimas (Parliament), industry representatives as well as cyber security experts from the MND and national/regional Cyber Security Centres.

The exchange of views with Minister Anušauskas and Deputy Minister Semeška was mainly focused on Lithuania’s involvement in EDA’s current and future activities, the war in Ukraine and its potential impact on EU defence cooperation and spending, future defence investment programmes and cooperation opportunities to mitigate the defence gaps. Also, they discussed the EDA’s role in the implementation of the Strategic Compass as well as the initial phase of the new Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI) within EDA, as agreed by the Agency’s Steering Board in May.

To date, Lithuania participates in six EDA projects and one programme: EU Multimodal Transport Hub Network, Governmental Satellite Communication Demonstration Phase, EU Satellite Communication Market, Diplomatic Clearances, Common acquisition of Carl Gustaf 84 mm ammunition and C27J Spartan Cooperation (C27J). The total value of EDA programmes and projects in which Lithuania participates and where a project arrangement has been agreed currently stands at roughly €51 million. Lithuania also participates in four PESCO projects, one of which are even led by it: Cyber Rapid Response Teams and Mutual Assistance in Cyber Security.

“I am thankful to Minister Anušauskas and all my other interlocutors here in Vilnius for the possibility to personally exchange views about our work at EDA, the importance of enhancing EU defence cooperation, and the need to urgently fill existing defence investments gaps in Europe. I believe that with the massive security and defence challenges Europe is facing, especially now with the war in Ukraine, cooperation remains the best and most effective way of addressing them. Even though Lithuania already participates in six EDA projects and programmes, I am sure that there is much more cooperation potential to be exploited, for the benefit of Lithuania and all our other Member States. I therefore can only encourage the country to further benefit from collaborative opportunities in defence, and to use the Agency to its full potential”, Mr Šedivý commented.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas stated: “The return of war to Europe is a tectonic shift which will have a long term implications for European security. We have to adapt European defence architecture accordingly and ensure necessary defence capabilities are in place. We are grateful for the role EDA plays in this respect, including through PESCO and CARD. We believe that the most recent analysis of defence investment gaps is a good basis for exploiting further possibilities for cooperation, especially as regards replenishment of stocks, which is a key priority for us at the moment. Finally, I would like to stress the importance of EDA’s work on defence innovation which is highlighted by the creation of the European Defence Innovation Hub (HEDI) – a platform that would help to further stimulate and increase cooperation and investment in this field.”

 

Americas

General Dynamics won a $133.2 million deal for MK80 series general purpose tritonal bomb components. The Mark 80 series are the primary US GP bombs. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2023.

Boeing won a $30,7 million modification, which exercises an option to procure 63 Distributed Targeting Processor – Networked (DTP-N) B-kits (32 for the Navy and 31 for the government of Australia); and 56 DTP-N A1-kits (32 for the Navy and 24 for the government of Australia), as well as DTP-N cyber security support data deliveries in support of DTP-N full rate production to implement anti-surface warfare capability in the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft.  Work will take place in St Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in September 2024.

Middle East & Africa

Israeli developer SpearUAV is unveiling the encapsulated Ninox 103 Sub-to-Air loitering UAS, which – according the company –  for the first time enables launch of sub-marine drones into the air, providing immediate beyond-line-of-sight situational awareness. Designed for undetectable, underwater launch, and focusing on existing operational needs, SpearUAV notes that the Ninox 103 sub-to-air is an autonomous AI-based system. Intuitive and easy to operate, it provides the most effective way for submarines, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and other underwater platforms to gain instant aerial capabilities, supporting various missions, including those of Special Forces, reconnaissance, and joint-force operations.

Europe

The UK Ministry of Defense has launched a Science and Technology Portfolio, supported by more than &2.5 billion worth of investment, the MoD announced on June 7. According to the MoD, the new portfolio plans to work with academia and British industry to accelerate cutting-edge research and development (R&D) of generation-after-next military capabilities.

Germany will increase its buy of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime multimission aircraft (MMA) as part of a wider increase in the national defence budget. Kommandeur Marineflieger, Sea Captain Thorsten Bobzin, confirmed the additional purchase in early June, which will happen in the context of Germany’s recently announced $107 billion Söndervermögen (special fund) uplift in defense spending.

Asia-Pacific

According to Janes, Thailand has initiated MS20 configuration upgrades to its fleet of SAAB JAS 39 Gripen C/D multirole combat fighters. A spokesperson for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) said to the news site that the “MS20 system improvement plan is currently in progress and the planned improvements are expected to be completed by 2025”.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Super Hornet: The Most Lethal Fighter Jet in the World

EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý pursued his ‘tour des capitales’ today with a visit to Estonia where he met with Defence Minister Kalle Laanet, Defence Ministry Permanent Secretary Kusti Salm, the Deputy Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Major General Veiko-Vello Palm, National Armaments Director Magnus-Valdemar Saar, Deputy Head of Capability Planning Department Kalle Teras as well as with the Head of the Ministry’s Innovation Department, Miiko Peris. Mr Šedivý also had talks with representatives of the Estonian Defence Industry Association (EDIA).

The exchange of views with Minister Laanet was mainly focused on Estonia’s involvement in EDA’s current and future activities, the war in Ukraine and its potential impact on EU defence cooperation and spending, future defence investment programmes and cooperation opportunities, EDA’s role in the implementation of the EU defence initiatives (especially the ongoing work on the second Coordinated Annual Review on Defence, CARD), the implementation of the recently adopted Strategic Compass, the upcoming revision of the EU Capability Development Priorities, the implementation of the EU’s Strategic Compass as well as the launch of the initial phase of the new Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI) with in EDA, as agreed by the Agency’s Steering Board in March.

To date, Estonia participates in 6 EDA projects: five collaborative capability development projects (Multinational Anti-Tank Training, Governmental Satellite Communication Demonstration Phase, EU Satellite Communication Market, Cooperation on Cyber Ranges in the European Union, Common acquisition of Carl Gustaf 84 mm ammunition) and one joint defence research project (Combat Unmanned Ground System). The total value of EDA programmes and projects in which Estonia participates and where a project arrangement has been agreed currently stands at roughly €54 million. Estonia also participates in 7 PESCO projects, three of which are even led by it: Cyber Ranges Federation, Integrated Unmanned Ground System, Medium size Semi-Autonomous Surface Vehicle.

“I am delighted to have had the opportunity to personally discuss EDA’s work with Minister Laanet and senior decision-makers in the Estonian Ministry of Defence. This visit also allowed me to thank Estonia for its support to the Agency and the EU defence initiatives, including CARD and PESCO, which are crucial for bringing defence cooperation forward. I believe that with the massive security and defence challenges Europe is facing, especially now with the war in Ukraine, cooperation remains the best and most effective way of addressing them. Today, Estonia participates in 6 EDA projects, but there is much more potential to exploit. I therefore encourage Estonia to further benefit from collaborative opportunities in defence, and to use the Agency to its full potential”, Mr Šedivý commented.

Estonian Defence Minister Kalle Laanet stated: “The EU has a very important role in today’s security environment – incentivising investments in Member States’ defence capabilities. EDA has identified the areas that need most attention, and now we need to focus on immediate action. This cooperation will also allow us to be better equipped to support Ukraine through this war, and it was good to have a chance to discuss it in person today with EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý. What’s more, EDA is an important platform for taking innovation and defence industry development forward in Europe. We have already seen great results from PESCO and CARD initiatives, which hold a lot of potential for the future. Estonia welcomes the EU and EDA innovation initiatives, such as the recently established EDA Defence Innovation Hub (HEDI), which will link well with our future NATO DIANA footprint. HEDI and DIANA represent a great opportunity in developing NATO-EU cooperation”.

Industry & cyber defence

Mr Šedivý also visited Milrem Robotics where he was presented the Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (IMUGS) project which is co-funded under the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and run by a consortium led by Milrem Robotics. He also visited the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) where he was received by Chief of Staff LtCol Bernard Hoffmann.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has recently kicked off a new R&T project which aims to improve the testing of military Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) equipment in Europe through enhanced cooperation and information-sharing. 

The cat B. “Resilient PNT Testing for Defence (RIPTIDE)” project officially started on 16 May 2022 with the kick-off meeting in Rome (Italy), at the Secretariat General of Defence and National Armaments Directorate premises. The following EDA Member States are participating in the RIPTIDE project: Italy (lead), Austria, France, Germany, and Spain.  Norway, which has signed an Administrative Arrangement with the Agency, is also participating.

Defence systems, platforms and personnel engaged in military operations heavily rely on PNT information to support mobility, command and control (C2) as well as situational awareness. It is therefore key for military forces to have reliable and resilient PNT at their disposal. However, PNT sources and services can be hampered at any time by different hazards or even become totally unavailable in particularly adverse operational environments, for example subsurface. To be able to anticipate such situations, Armed Forces must evaluate the performance of PNT services available to them during an operation, as well as the potential threats which may arise and jeopardise those services. This allows them to assess the risks in advance and to take mitigating actions to avoid PNT failure. 

Against this backdrop, several EDA Member States have been performing or are planning to perform PNT tests in different operational conditions and threat scenarios. To date, such tests are primarily done at a national level, with limited interaction of information-sharing between the different Ministries of Defence. 
Increasing the joint knowledge

The purpose of the new EDA R&T project is to improve the PNT testing procedures through more cooperation, information-sharing and joint experiments. In concrete terms, it is notably foreseen that participating Member States define, organise and conduct common events (tests, demonstrations, exercises, etc.) in the field of PNT superiority testing and awareness for defence users, by making different test ranges, test equipment, and test platforms available to other participating countries. The objective is also to develop a common forum for the dissemination and awareness of PNT threats and PNT superiority related tests. The project provides the participating industry consortium with an opportunity to consolidate PNT testing tools which could be used in the RIPTIDE events. 

The main rationale behind this project is that a coordinated and cooperative organisation of PNT superiority testing activities will help Member States to acquire and increase their respective knowledge about PNT threats and their impact on operations, but also about PNT technologies, tactics and procedures at EU level. The improved expertise and know-how could also be used in the future to verify and, if necessary, improve countermeasures and develop new doctrines, methods and technologies for the advancement and implementation of PNT superiority at national and EU level. 

The RIPTIDE project is one of several R&T activities under the CapTech ‘Guidance, Navigation and Control’, which is the agency’s forum for a vast number of international experts discussing technological challenges in PNT. It also interlinks with the Agency’s Defence Test and Evaluation Base (DTEB) and the Project Team PNT. 

 

Americas

Bath Iron Works won a $54.6 million contract modification to exercise options for accomplishment of lead yard support for the DDG 51 class guided missile destroyer program. The DDG 51 class guided missile destroyers are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. The majority of work will take place in Maine. Estimated completion will be by June 2023.

Vice Adm. John B. Mustin, chief of US Navy Reserve, told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Defense subcommittee that the Reserve’s number one equipment priority is to buy the C-130J to replace the aging C-130T. The Reserve now operates 19 C-130Ts and 11 KC-130Ts in five fleet logistics support squadrons and the average age is about 30 years.

Middle East & Africa

General Robotics, an Israeli developer of light and smart remote control weapon stations is set to introduce the latest version of its PITBULL Remote Control Weapons Stations (RCWS), with enhanced AI-driven capabilities, which will enable armored vehicles and unmanned platforms to gain substantial improvement in situational awareness, response rate, and firepower. The new system will be revealed at the Eurosatory 2022 Exhibition, which will take place at Paris in mid-June.

Europe

The Portuguese Navy is planning to design and build an offshore multi-purpose surface ship dedicated to deploying unmanned surface vessels (USVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The local development and construction of the multifunctional naval platform was formally approved by the Council of Ministers on for a maximum amount of $101 million between 2023 and 2025, with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the European Union.

Asia-Pacific

The Pacific Air Forces announced that Cope West 22 will take place from June 17-24 at Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base, Malang, Indonesia. The 374th Airlift Wing will send two C-130s from Yokota Air Base, Japan. Indonesia will be represented with two C-130s and its crew.

According to Nikkei, Japan plans to work with the United States to develop an armed drone for flights along with manned aircraft. The drone will fly in front of the manned aircraft, receiving instructions from the pilot or remote command center and receiving terrain and weather estimates from its artificial intelligence. It will be equipped with early detection technology for missiles and aircraft and anti-missile weapons.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Nothing Can Kill the Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer

Americas

Raytheon won a $52 million delivery order for the improved Bradley acquisition system Commander’s Viewer Unit. The Bradley fighting vehicle system is manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments (formerly United Defence) and includes the M2 infantry fighting vehicle and the M3 cavalry fighting vehicle. The new Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS) Block 2 includes enhanced capabilities to improve operational efficiencies and lethality and provides life-cycle cost and reliability improvements. The most notable enhancement to IBAS is the high definition high resolution color imagery. The performance completion date is March 31, 2026. Using military service is Army.

Army soldiers in Alaska were issued new unit patches Monday as the service activated the long-dormant 11th Airborne Division, part of a sweeping reorganization aimed at prioritizing operations in the Arctic Region. The new division — led by the former Army Alaska commander Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler — will focus almost solely on Arctic and cold-weather combat operations amid the Pentagon’s renewed interest in challenging Russian and Chinese ambitions in the far North.

Middle East & Africa

Turkey showcased its Karg? kamikaze drone for the first time during exercise EFES-2022. The drone is a product made by Lentatek. Powered by a PG50 engine from TUSA? Engine Industries (TEI), it is expected to replace the IAI Harpy. The ground systems, navigation and automatic flight control system design and production were all developed domestically, as was the system’s software.

Israeli company Aeronautics Group introduced the Trojan, an Unmanned Hover Plane (UHP), which bridges the gap between the need to hover and the need to reach long ranges. According to Aeronautics, the system’s capabilities support challenging operational missions while simultaneously performing point-to-multipoint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), thereby creating a solution for versatile and dynamic environments, and achieving Wide-Area-Persistent-Surveillance (WAPS). The system’s multi-platform architecture utilizes multiple sensors, together with advanced analytics capabilities, to ensure accurate, reliable, real-time situational awareness.

Europe

The French Navy’s first Suffren Class (Barracuda) nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), Suffren (S 635) , was commissioned into service during a ceremony held in Brest on June 3. This was disclosed by French Minister of Defense Sébastien Lecornu has announced on his official Twitter account.

Asia-Pacific

The government of India has approved the procurement of military equipment and state-of-the-art platforms worth $9.8 billion from local defense firms. The country’s top procurement body issued an acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the multibillion-dollar military equipment proposal. India’s procurement rules indicate that the AoN is the first step towards buying military hardware.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Barracuda ClassSubmarine vs Astute Class Submarine Comparison

FIRE BLADE 2022, the 16th helicopter exercise organised under the umbrella of the European Defence Agency’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), kicked off today at Pápa airbase in Hungary. It will last until 24 June. 

A total of 25 air assets (20 helicopters + 5 aircrafts) and some 550 military personnel from five countries – Austria, Belgium, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary – will participate in this exercise hosted by the Hungarian Defence Forces. In addition, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and several international organisations will participate with exercise observers.

The exercise’s main focus will be on enhancing interoperability at the tactical level between helicopter units by using the Composite Air Operations (COMAO) concept in a joint, combined, realistic and challenging environment, in order to enable proper preparation for future international deployed operations.

Objectives

The objectives of Fire Blade 2022  are manifold, notably: 

• enhance standardisation and improve tactical interoperability between helicopter units from the participating countries by using the COMAO concept and to learn and practice common helicopter Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). 
• train and practise TTPs with and against fighter jets and electronic warfare threats;
• improve interoperability in training and operational tasks with ground forces involvement during day and night in a live and full spectrum environment. 

Programme 

Participating crews will fly diverse day and night COMAO missions and execute, among others, Air Assault (AA), Special Operations Aviation (SOA), Combat Service Support (CSS), Close Air Support (CAS) including Urban CAS and Emergency CAS, Convoy/helicopter escorts, Reconnaissance and Surveillance (R&S), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Personnel Recovery (PR), Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) and Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC). This will include live firing drills.

It will also provide opportunities for attack operations, Special Operation Forces (SOF) training, and the possibility to train special procedures like fast rope and abseiling techniques, Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction (SPIE), pick-up and drop off procedures and air-to-surface live firing (helicopter door gunnery and sniper training). Finally, the European Air Group (EAG) will deliver a Forward Arming Refuelling Point (FARP) Force Integration Training.

FIRE BLADE 2022 will also provide opportunities to practice multinational and national formation and training with SOF units and to enhance crews’ skills in using the HEP Standard Operating Procedures (HEP SOP) and COMAO planning procedures in the conduct of flight planning and operations, also supported by the ATP-49.

Distinguished Visitors Day 

A Distinguished Visitors Day (DVD) is planned for 21 June 2022 when representatives from EDA participating Member States as well as Switzerland and Slovakia will attend and observe a live training session. The Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC), the NATO Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ) and the European Air Group (EAG) are also invited to the DVD.

Background 

The Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP) is part of EDA’s wider helicopter portfolio aimed at providing Member States with a joint European framework to develop, consolidate and share best practices to meet the challenges of flying helicopters in a modern operational environment. Other components of this portfolio are the Helicopter Tactics Course (HTC) programme, the Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course (HTIC) programme and the future Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) which is currently being established at Sintra Airbase in Portugal.

More information

• Fire Blade factsheet

 

Americas

The United States intends to test-fire the Patriot air defense missile system in Palau on June 15, the island’s ambassador to Washington D.C. has disclosed. The 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, from Okinawa will be deployed to Palau for this event. The firing is part of Exercise Valiant Shield which will involve Palau and Micronesia for the first time this year. The Patriot unit is to be deployed at Airai, according to Island Times.

Laurel Technologies Partnership won an $12 million deal for production of Launch Control Unit (LCU) MK 235 Mod 17 and Mod 18 and associated components in support of the MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). The LCUs are used to select and issue prelaunch and launch commands to selected missiles in the VLS. Work will take place in Pennsylvania. Expected completion will be by July 2023.

Middle East & Africa

Gürcan Okumu?, manager of Tubitak SAGE, says mass production of the company’s Bozok laser-guided munition has started. He added that a new penetrating warhead has been developed for Bozok and will undergo testing. The range of the weapon has been extended from 8 to 15km.

Europe

Britain said it will mirror the United States and send long-range missile systems to Ukraine, defying warnings from Russian President Vladimir Putin against supplying Kyiv with the advanced weapons. The UK Ministry of Defence said London had coordinated closely with Washington over its gift of the multiple-launch rocket systems, known as MLRS, to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.

Sweden has joined Finland and Latvia in the research and development of 6×6 armored vehicles based on shared requirements of the participating countries. The participation of Sweden in the initiative will allow the country to have access to the work results.

Asia-Pacific

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces will adopt cutting-edge technologies developed by Turkish software company HAVELSAN. The development was announced following the TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan Aerospace and Technology Festival conducted in Baku last week. According to HAVELSAN official Mehmet Akif Nacar, the company has been doing business in Azerbaijan over the last two years, which includes providing support to the modernization efforts of the country’s military.

Today’s Video

WATCH: MiG 41 fighter jet | How far has it been built?

Americas

C4 Planning Solutions won a $236.7 million contract for the procurement of services to support Tactical Systems Support 3 (TSS-3). The TSS-3 contract will be used to issue task orders to provide professional engineering support services to provide US forces worldwide with continuous support of fielded tactical command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) programs of record to ensure that Marines can successfully set up and operate fielded C4I tactical systems. Work will take place in California, Japan, North Carolina, Germany, Washington DC and Louisiana. The period of performance for the base award is from June 23, 2022, through March 6, 2027.

A-10s will be landing on a highway in Michigan on June 28 as part of Exercise Northern Agility 22-1. The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) will also land an MC-12W and one U-28A aircraft during the event. An MQ-9 from the North Dakota ANG’s 119th Wing will be flying overhead to provide overwatch. Last year, A-10s from Michigan ANG landed on M-32 near Alpena as part of Exercise Northern Strike. This year, the A-10s will practice hot refueling and weapons loading while on the ground.

Middle East & Africa

Israeli company BIRD Aerosystems will unveil two new products at the Eurosatory 2022 exhibition, which will take place on Mid-June in Paris: Hybrid-Eye, an advanced hybrid detection system that enhances the protection of armored vehicles and µMPR, a miniature airborne radar for ground and maritime border surveillance.

Europe

A series of “first-ever” events took place during the recently concluded Neptune Shield 2022 exercise. The Super Hornet from USS Harry S. Truman carried out the first aerial refueling of a Spanish AV-8B and Italian F-35B.

Asia-Pacific

The Australian Department of Defence has released a press statement on June 5 saying that a Chinese J-16 fighter carried out a dangerous maneuver to a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8 maritime patrol aircraft in South China Sea on May 26. Media reports in Australia provided more details on the incident. The fighter first approach the side of the P-8 and release flares. It then cut across the nose of the P-8 and release chaff. Some chaff were sucked into the engines of the P-8. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is aware of the incident and the government is concerned about this incident.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has inked a deal with Hyundai Rotem to acquire an unspecified number of wheeled command post vehicles (CPVs). The contract worth $44.7 million – enables Hyundai Rotem to start mass-producing the CPVs, with deliveries to battalion and higher-level units within the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) and Republic of Korea Marine Corps (RoKMC) to start from 2023.

Today’s Video

WATCH: China’s New J-16 Electronic Warfare Fighter Shocked The World

Americas

South-east Welding & Manufacturing won a $1.2 billion deal for complex repair, maintenance and modernization requirements of non-nuclear Navy Surface Combatant (CG, DDG, and AMPHIB) class ships homeported in or visiting San Diego, California, homeport. These efforts consist of Chief of Naval Operations-scheduled docking and non-docking; continuous maintenance; and emergent maintenance availabilities of Surface Combatant class ships to be performed in the San Diego, California, port. Delivery orders will be competitively awarded under these contracts, which are to be performed in San Diego, California. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

FEW Inc. won a $49.2 million contract to manufacture, produce, inspect, store, stage and ship mortar systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 28, 2027.

Middle East & Africa

Israeli company DSIT Solutions has unveiled its task force underwater security system KnightShield, at the UDT 2022 Exhibition in the Netherlands. The system supports task force underwater protection, simultaneously protecting multiple ships anchored at ports, port entrances, and designated areas of port basins from swimmers, UAVs, SDVs and sabotage attempts. According to DSIT, based on the sophisticated technology implemented in PointShield, the company’s advanced Diver Detection Sonar (DDS) Systems, KnightShield covers medium ranges in ports, delivering exceptional reliability and precision.

Europe

The Royal Navy’s current stock of Tomahawk cruise missiles will be upgraded to the Block V standard. The weapon will arm the Royal Navy’s Astute-Class submarines, allowing them to strike targets at a range of up to 1,000 miles. The Foreign Military Sale contract, worth $333 million, will commence in July and BAE Systems, Babcock International and Lockheed Martin will provide technical and maintenance support. The contract includes spares, operational flight testing, software, hardware and training provisions. The first Block V missile will be ready in 2024.

The US and Germany pledged Wednesday to equip Ukraine with some of the advanced weapons it has long desired for shooting down aircraft and knocking out artillery, as Russian forces closed in on capturing a key city in the east. Germany said it will supply Ukraine with up-to-date anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems, while the US announced it will provide four sophisticated, medium-range rocket systems and ammunition.

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration has contracted Saab to conduct studies related to the development of future fighter aircraft technologies. The aircraft manufacturer announced the $25. million deal on June 1, saying that the study will be “preparatory in nature, and its purpose is to widen the work on how future combat air capabilities can be developed and realised”

Asia-Pacific

Two private-sector Indian defense firms have announced that they will co-operate in the research and development of a submarine-launched unmanned aerial system (UAS). According to an industry source, the UAS will comprise the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) plus a specialised underwater launch canister.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Tomahawk vs. Kalibr Cruise Missile

In the framework of the EU’s Capability Development Plan (CDP), EDA organised a Tabletop Exercise in Helsinki on 1/2 June 2022, hosted by the Finnish Ministry of Defence.  The aim of the exercise, which gathered about 40 experts and defence capability planners from EDA participating Member States, was to identify the long-term capability trends and needs beyond 2040 based on potential future generic conflict scenarios and impact of expected technological innovation suitable for military capabilities at this timeframe. The findings and conclusions of the exercise will nourish the so-called ‘Strand B’ (long-term) input for the CDP revision. 

The focus was on assessing the long-term capabilities trends and requirements expressed according to the Generic Military Task List (GMTL) organised in six main capabilities areas which structures the CDP.

For this purpose, the Tabletop Exercise (TTX) was conducted based on a specific scenario designed to address the full spectrum of conventional military capabilities. The scenario was based on a general context derived from official Foresight Analyses, and on specific military trends, taking into account the technological impact on future warfare, in particular the Emerging Disruptive Technologies (EDT) and innovative warfare. This fictitious environment took place in the year 2040+ and referred to a generic EU Member State having to face external and hostile actions which, eventually, escalated to a full-scale armed conflict. The scope of the state and non-state actors, the geographic background and the specific events were to highlight the capabilities needed in the timeframe of 20 years + ahead to face such a threat, both from a material and non-material perspective.

The TTX stretched over two full working days and involved the participation of Member States’ representatives, EDA subject matter experts and other experts from EU defence and security entities. The audience represented a mix of defence planners, technology/innovation experts, and foresight analysts, enhancing the integrated approach needed to balance the “Capability Pull” and the “Technology Push” of military capability development. Furthermore, NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) also attended the TTX, as observers. The exercise entailed both plenary sessions as well as split sessions in which 3 different groups of experts addressed specific capability areas. Moreover, they discussed the implications of the possible future threats, encompassing all military domains, and considering, among others, the impact of the hybrid warfare and the cognitive dimension. All the findings of the working sessions and the trends identified will be considered to assess the level of importance of the generic military tasks (GMTL), in order to anticipate and prioritise the future military requirements. 

Background

The EU Capability Development Priorities derived from the Capability Development Plan (CDP) provide a key reference for Member States' capability development endeavours and EU defence initiatives such as the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). These priorities are based on the input from the four strands of the CDP:

• Strand A – CSDP military capability shortfalls derived from the EU Headline Goal Process;
• Strand B – Long-term capability development trends;
• Strand C – Member States’ defence plans and programmes;
• Strand D – Lessons learned from missions and operations.

Strand B identifies future capability requirement based on key strategic factors, and expected technological innovation, that may be relevant to support the development of defence and security capabilities in the timeframe of 20+ years ahead. The aim of Strand B is not to predict the future, but to anticipate defence capability needs, and related development, resulting from an assessment of various possible factors, including best use of technological progress, when it will be available. Subsequently, the CDP Strand B informs R&T work and long-term capability activities in the EDA framework and facilitates the linkage of the R&T activities to capability development. The resulting Strand B long-term capability assessment, with the impact of technology on future military requirements, will feed the CDP prioritisation mechanism, providing future level of importance of military tasks in the timeframe of 20+ years ahead. 

The Strand B work is benefiting from the EDA Technology Foresight Exercise 2021, which provides technology trends with an outlook to 2040+, and from the Technology Themes assessment updated with the contribution of EDA’s Capability and Technology Groups (CapTechs). 

 

Americas

The Government of Canada has awarded Bell Textron Canada Limited (BTCL) of Mirabel, Quebec, a contract valued at nearly $800 million for the extension of the life of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CH-146 Griffon helicopter fleet into the mid-2030s. The contract affects 85 helicopters. According to the contract, BTCL will modify the first 9 helicopters and then manage a competitive process to award subcontracts to suppliers to modify the remaining 76 helicopters.

Lockheed Martin won a $34.7 million contract modification for the C-5 Super Galaxy Replacement Multi-Functional Control Display Program. The modification provides for engineering and technical services to produce a hardware and software prototype architecture for transition into the engineering and manufacturing development phase. Work will take place Texas. Expected completion date will be by May 31, 2025.

Middle East & Africa

General Dynamics Land Systems won a $38.9 million modification for Abrams Systems technical support. Work will take place in Michigan. Estimated completion date is April 30, 2023. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales (Kuwait) funds; fiscal 2022 other procurement, Army funds; and fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is showcasing a diverse array of defense solutions and systems at the Hemus International Defense and Services Exhibition in Bulgaria from June 1-4. At Hemus 2022, RAFAEL will exhibit a variety of its solutions, for air, land and naval applications, with a special focus on Bulgaria’s defense programs and requirements. This includes the country’s 8X8 combat vehicle program, where RAFAEL offers a complete package of systems to enable and enhance full ground combat vehicle survivability, maneuverability and lethality.

Europe

German government and opposition party leaders are lobbying their members to approve a constitutional change that would secure a $108 billion defense fund announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in late February, days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The fund, which is meant to plug holes in equipment and ammunition, will be key to setting Germany on course for the NATO-agreed goal of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense.

Asia-Pacific

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) declared that the two T129 attack helicopters that were delivered in March this year are now fully mission capable. The declaration came just after the crews had completed a gunnery competition dubbed Sanay Tudla 2 last month.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Just How Big is America’s C-5M Super Galaxy

Brussels, 1 June 2022. “We must invest more in defence and make up for years of budget cuts and underinvestment. The message is clear: we need to reduce fragmentation and invest more together, starting now”, said High Representative/Head of the European Defence Agency, Josep Borrell, during the first European Defence Innovation Day – organised by the European Defence Agency under the auspices of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The event displayed how greater investment and cooperation in defence innovation is crucial to maintain and drive European technological sovereignty.

A first for the European Defence Innovation Hub (HEDI)

The Defence Innovation Day marks the official launch - and first activity - of the Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI) which was established within EDA following a decision by Member States’ Defence Ministers on 17 May. The launch of HEDI is not only an important first delivery of the Strategic Compass, but also a crucial step towards a more innovative European defence.

The Head of Agency, Josep Borrell said: “EDA certainly has a key role to play in defence innovation. It has been dealing with innovation since its creation in 2004. And it has already delivered. Successful examples include projects on drone swarms; technologies for electromagnetic railguns; or new clean energy technologies to lower the carbon footprint and decrease energy dependencies in the defence sector. These are all initiatives developed at EDA”.

Speaking at the opening of the event, EDA Chief Executive, Jiri Šedivý said: “The creation of the Hub for European Defence Innovation in EDA is an additional sign that Member States are ready to take European defence innovation to the next level, in cooperation with the European Commission but also with NATO”.

Showcasing European Excellence in Innovation

The European Defence Innovation Day also extended to an exhibition highlighting cutting-edge defence innovations developed at national and European level. The exhibition gathered innovators from 19 Member States and 9 developed within the framework of the European Defence Agency. “I’m proud” of EDA’s work on innovation so far, “but we have to do more”, the Head of the Agency Josep Borrell said, insisting on a close cooperation with the European Commission and its European Defence Fund (EDF), as well as with NATO “because we have the same purpose”.

The event gathered defence experts and innovators from EU institutions, Member States’ Defence Ministries, armed forces and innovation agencies, NATO, media, research institutes, industry and academia. A summary of the discussions during the event are available here.

 

More information

Event summary : First European Defence Innovation Day marks launch of HEDI (europa.eu)

Factsheet: https://eda.europa.eu/publications-and-data/factsheets/factsheet-hub-for-eu-defence-innovation-(hedi)

Press release: Hub for EU Defence Innovation Established within EDA (europa.eu)

Americas

According to sources and an Army document viewed by Defense News, the Brazilian Army has written out requirements for its next eight-wheel drive armoured reconnaissance vehicle, after authorization for the service to buy up to 221 of the platforms, each armed with a 105mm or 120mm gun. The VBC Cav-MSR procurement attempt will take the role of the VBR-MR programme. The Army’s General Staff is currently waiting for permission to publish the rules and schedule for industry bids.

According to Jane’s, Information and network technology specialists at the US Department of Defense (DoD) want to evaluate potential solutions to meet multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) requirements for on-the-move tactical communication networks. Industry submissions for the distributed MIMO (D-MIMO) development effort are due to the department’s Research and Engineering directorate by the end of June, according to the request for sources (RFS) solicitation issued in April. The D-MIMO programme is part of a larger DoD-led advanced mobile communications development effort known as the Innovate Beyond 5G (IB5G) programme.

Middle East & Africa

NNS Kada, the Nigerian Navy’s new landing ship tank (LST 1314) has arrived Nigeria, on May 27 and is currently berth at its new home port in Apapa, Lagos. Kada was ordered from Damen Group in 2019 and built at Albwardy Damen shipyard in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was laid down in December 2019, launched in June 2021, and handed over to the NN in Sharjah on 30 March. The vessel departed for Nigeria on 1 April and prior to its arrival in Lagos, made stopovers in five countries: Angola (Luanda), Gabon (Port Gentil), Kenya (Mombasa), Oman (Port of Duqm), and South Africa (Cape Town).

Two previously unseen types of air-breathing missile were displayed during an event intended to showcase Iran’s unmanned aircraft capabilities on May 28. The missiles were seen in media coverage of a visit by Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of the general staff of the armed forces, to an underground facility identified as Strategic Base 313, which is operated by Iran’s regular military rather than the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), where he inspected dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Europe

Finland will initially bed down its F-35As at Rovaniemi airport in 2026, the country declared on May 26. It is Finland’s most northern air base and lies within the Arctic Circle. The country ordered 64 F-35As and will be operational with the aircraft by 2030.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea’s Defense Project Promotion Committee has approved a $605 million project to buy PAC-3 missile interceptors and upgrade its existing PAC-2 launchers so that it can launch the PAC-3 missiles. Seoul will also spend $783 million to develop a mine-sweeping helicopter.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Patriot Missile Defense System Overview