Defense`s Feeds

Americas

Vigor Marine LLC won a $20 million contract for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry-docking of USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9). T-AKE 9 is a Lewis and Clark Class dry cargo ship. The USNS Lewis and Clark is the first-of-class T-AKE dry cargo and ammunition ship and is part of the more than 40 ships within the US Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force. The ships, which are not armed and are classified as non-combatant ships, are capable of operating independently for extended periods at sea while providing underway replenishment services and contribute to the US Navy’s ability to maintain a forward presence. The deal includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $20,217,869. Work will take place in Portland, Oregon and is scheduled to be complete by March 16, 2020.

Hamilton Sundstrand won a $10.1 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure non-recurring engineering and equipment for system integration lab activities in support of the V-22 aircraft Constant Frequency Generator Control Unit design improvement effort for the Navy, Air Force and the government of Japan. The Osprey is a multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing, and short takeoff and landing capabilities. The V-22’s propulsion system consists of dual counter rotating proprotors attached to gearboxes driven by Allison AE 1107C turboshaft engines. The engines, proprotor gearboxes, tilt-axis gearboxes, proprotor controls, and infrared (IR) suppressors are all housed in the rotating nacelle on the end of each wing. An interconnecting drive shaft transfers power from each nacelle to the mid-wing gearbox. This is the heart of the tiltrotor technology. Work will take place within the US. Estimated completion date is in October 2021.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Shipyards will design the Israeli Navy’s new Reshef Class to replace its aging Saar 4.5 vessels. The class will be based on the S-72, which it described as a “proven design”, even though none have been ordered as yet, and would be able to “successfully withstand the new and evolving threats and challenges” facing the Israeli Navy. The vessels will be used to protect Israel’s exclusive economic zone, including oil and gas facilities. The news follows a November 6 announcement in which the Israeli Ministry of Defense said it had ordered a floating dock from Israel Shipyards as part of a $25.8 million agreement that also covers the design and construction of future naval vessels that were not identified.

Europe

Even though the country faces sanctions from the US, Russian arms sales are on pace to match 2018’s export revenue of about $13.7 billion, the head of Russia’s state-owned defense export company said Monday. Sergei Chemezov, chief executive officer of Rostec, said at the Dubai Air Show that Russia has confirmed sales of $11 billion so far this year, and expects to end 2019 with between $13.5 billion and $13.7 billion in defense-related exports. He acknowledged that Rosoboronexport, which is the country’s arms agency, must accelerate its work until the end of the year to meet the goal. The annual sales totals have become a key marketing point in Russia’s response to US sanctions imposed in 2017 in retaliation for Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and meddling in the US elections in 2016.

Asia-Pacific

Mongolia is now the newest operator of the MiG-29 with two UB two-seaters being delivered recently, local media reports. They will be officially inducted into service on November 26. “As of now, Mongolia has no military aviation but for helicopters. Now it will have two MiG-29 jets,” a spokesman said, adding that the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces had already confirmed the date of the official handover ceremony. The Ministry of Defense of Mongolia plans to purchase four to five new MiG-29 aircraft.

Japanese company IHI unveiled an autonomous underwater mine-detection system at the DSEI Japan 2019 defense exhibition in Chiba, held between November 18-20. Jane’s reports that the system, which comprises two different unmanned vehicles, is designed to acquire, process, classify, and relay information about “mine-like objects, among other things, to the mother ship. One of the elements that comprises the system is a 5 m-long autonomous underwater vehicle, which can reach a top speed of 4 kt, has an endurance of up to 24 hours, and can operate at maximum depth of 200 m, 600 m or 3,000 m, depending on the configuration. The standard configuration is equipped with a side scan sonar, a multi-beam sonar, and a digital video camera, but additional systems and sensors are also available depending on the requirement,

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : Indian Starts Naval AMCA,Helina ATGM Trial,30 Predator-B & NASAMS-2 Deal

Around 50 helicopter tactics specialists from 11 EDA participating Member States as well as representatives of the Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC), the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC), and European Helicopter industry met recently in the Air Manoeuvre, Training and Exercise Centre (AMTEC) situated in Celle, Germany, for the 10th Helicopter Tactics Symposium, organised under the EDA’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP). 

This annual event proved once more to be a unique occasion for European helicopter crews to discuss and share expertise and best practices related to helicopter tactics and to learn about  training opportunities under the Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP).

A central part of the symposium was devoted to drawing the tactical lessons from recent EDA helicopter exercises, such as ‘Dark Blade 19’ held at Namest 22nd Helicopter Air Base, Czech Republic, in May 2019 (see EDA webnews here). Other sessions addressed the lessons learned from operation MINUSMA in Mali as well as the experiences made by helicopter pilots in Iraq and Libya. Furthermore, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) shared his experience and feedback on working with helicopters in operations as well as EDA exercises.

Symposium attendees also received detailed information on helicopter tactics such as aerial gunnery, personnel recovery, air assault/airmobile operations and its planning cycle, NVG training and Attack Helicopter Tactics. A representative from Sweden briefed on the country’s new Helicopter Tactics Training Concept which will include courses given under the umbrella of EDA such as HTC and HTIC.
 

Electronic Warfare

A new topic on the annual EDA Helicopter Tactics Symposium was Electronic Warfare (EW). In that context, participating Member States' experts also provided briefings on evasive training and EW threats. Another new topic raised at the symposium was ‘Non-Technical Skills in Weapon Instructor Training” which was presented by a senior Dutch aviation psychologist and instructor pilot.
Industry was also present during the symposium with a speaker on ‘Rotary Wing developments to meet future operational needs’.

Looking ahead, symposium participants were briefed on upcoming HEP exercises, including Swift Blade 2020 (to be held in The Netherlands and Belgium) which will focus on helicopter Composite Air Operations (COMAO) and national training required by the participating member states. In 2021, the annual HEP exercise will take place in Portugal under the label ‘Hot Blade’.

 

More information:

• Helicopter initiatives (EDA project page) 

 

Americas

Rolls-Royce won a $67.1 million requirements contract for supplies related to the upgrade of the T-56 engine from series 3.0 to series 3.5. The Rolls-Royce T56 is a single-shaft turboprop engine with a 14-stage axial flow compressor driven by a four-stage turbine. The gearbox has two stages of gear reduction and features a propeller brake. The gearbox is connected to the power section by a torque meter assembly. Other engine modules are the can-annular type combustor and the accessory drive housing. The Series 3.5 upgrade, allows T56 engines to operate at greatly reduced temperatures, extending parts life and improving reliability by 22 percent. The upgrades also provide improved “hot and high” performance. The Series 3.5 package can be installed on T56 engines on either C-130 or P-3 legacy aircraft. Work will take place in Indiana and performance completion date is September 30, 2024.

Raytheon won a $61.5 million delivery contract for Global Positioning System-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Services (GPNTS) software support. GPNTS is used to receive, process and distribute three-dimensional position, velocity, acceleration, attitude, time and frequency in the formats required by shipboard user systems. The software support will include development, integration and test of improvements, correction of deficiencies, preparation and delivery of engineering interim/final software builds and inputs for the GPNTS software requirements and configuration baseline. The delivery contract includes a base ordering period of five years, with a subsequent three-year option and a final two-year option for a total of 10 years should all options be exercised. Raytheon will perform work in San Diego, California and is expected to be finished by November, 2024.

Middle East & Africa

South Korean ammunition manufacturer CNO Tech signed a technology transfer agreement on November 14 with the Public Authority for Privatization and Partnership (PAPP), which manages offset programs in Oman. Under the agreement, CNO Tech will transfer production-line technologies to the Oman Munition Production Company (OMPC), which was established with French company Manurhin in 2014 as an indigenous supplier to the Omani Armed Forces and security services. OMPC manufactures NATO-standard 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, and 9 mm caliber ammunition.

Europe

The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed a deal awarded to Babcock for the design and build of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 general-purpose frigate. Signed on November 15, the deal covers the delivery of five ships at an average production cost of approximately $323 million each. The frigates will be assembled at Babcock’s Rosyth facility and involve supply chains throughout the UK in line with the UK’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, the company said in a regulatory announcement to the London stock exchange. Babcock-led Team 31, which also includes Thales, OMT and BMT, was confirmed as preferred supplier for the Type 31 program back in September. The team had proposed the Arrowhead 140 design, which is based on the Iver Huitfeldt Class platform already in service with the Royal Danish Navy.

Asia-Pacific

The Indian Navy lost a two-seat MiG-29KUB on November 16 after the jet took off from INS Hansa Air Base and had a bird strike. The aircraft’s left engine flamed out and the right engine was on fire. Forcing both pilots to eject. Both the pilots, who are trainees, have ejected safely and a search and rescue operation is on. A flock of bird caused a MiG 29K fighter jet of the Indian Navy, which was on a training mission, to flameout and crash shortly after taking off in Goa on Saturday, local media reports.

Images have emerged in Chinese state-owned media showing at least two People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) J-15 fighters equipped with what appear to be the KD-88 air-to-surface missile and either the YJ-91 anti-radiation or YJ-91A anti-ship-missile, Jane’s reports. This is an indication that China has enhanced the multirole capabilities of this carrier-borne fighter. Since the J-15s shown in the image feature three-digit serial numbers – unlike the latest ones displayed during the October 1 parade in Beijing that feature two-digit serials – it is possible that the video was taken some time ago, meaning that the fighters may have been fitted with this armament several months ago. The J-15, which has an estimated maximum weapon load of 6,500 kg, had been previously spotted fitted with the YJ-83K anti-ship missile but the CCTV report marks the first time images of the fighter armed with the KD-88 and the YJ-91 missiles have been released.

Today’s Video

Watch: Incredible: Air Force Downs Several Drones With New Athena Laser WP System

T56 turboprop engine
(click to view larger)

There’s a lot of focus on the latest programs and purchases. It’s certainly justified given the sums at stake, but it can lead casual observers to ignore a major source of funding and profits: service and support for existing equipment.

In September 2013, Rolls-Royce Corp. in Indianapolis, IN received a 6-year, maximum $406 million fixed-price contract to support the T56 turboprop engines that equip many US military C-130 Hercules transports, as well as Navy P-3C Orion sea control planes, EP-3 Aries ELINT planes, E-2C Hawkeye AWACS aircraft, and related C-2 Greyhound carrier cargo planes. Some of those planes have served for well over 30 years. In this case, C-130B/E/H operators Poland, Jordan, and the Philippines are also part of the contract.

This contract was a sole-source acquisition, with an economic-price-adjustment clause to cover any sharp jumps in costs for raw materials. Work will be performed in Indiana until Sept 30/19, the end of FY 2019. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation in Richmond, VA manages this contract (SPE4A2-13-D-0003).

 

Contracts & Updates

November 19/19: 3.5 Update Rolls-Royce won a $67.1 million requirements contract for supplies related to the upgrade of the T-56 engine from series 3.0 to series 3.5. The Rolls-Royce T56 is a single-shaft turboprop engine with a 14-stage axial flow compressor driven by a four-stage turbine. The gearbox has two stages of gear reduction and features a propeller brake. The gearbox is connected to the power section by a torque meter assembly. Other engine modules are the can-annular type combustor and the accessory drive housing. The Series 3.5 upgrade, allows T56 engines to operate at greatly reduced temperatures, extending parts life and improving reliability by 22 percent. The upgrades also provide improved “hot and high” performance. The Series 3.5 package can be installed on T56 engines on either C-130 or P-3 legacy aircraft. Work will take place in Indiana and performance completion date is September 30, 2024.

Thanks, GPNTS
(click to view full)

At the end of June 2010, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in San Diego, CA received a 4-year, $32.2 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to design, develop, test and deliver the Global Positioning System Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Service (GPNTS). If all options are exercised, work could continue until June 2021, and run the contract to $77.1 million. $4.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA (88%), and Fairfax, VA (12%), while the competitively procured contract will be managed by US Space and Naval Warfare Command in San Diego, CA (N00039-11-C-0089).

The DoD description said that “…GPNTS will support mission critical real-time positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data services for weapons, combat, navigation, and other C4I systems requiring PNT information.” That’s technically true, but misleading. Discussions with Raytheon confirm that GPNTS systems will replace existing NAVSSI integrated navigation systems on board US Navy ships. They receive GPS data from the ship’s receivers, and act as a shipboard navigation data distribution hub. That could mean loading current coordinates from the ship into an aircraft or a GPS/INS-guided weapon, working with an aircraft carrier’s precision GPS landing system, or just handling routine navigation and reporting systems on board.

Contracts & Updates

November 19/19: Software Support Raytheon won a $61.5 million delivery contract for Global Positioning System-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Services (GPNTS) software support. GPNTS is used to receive, process and distribute three-dimensional position, velocity, acceleration, attitude, time and frequency in the formats required by shipboard user systems. The software support will include development, integration and test of improvements, correction of deficiencies, preparation and delivery of engineering interim/final software builds and inputs for the GPNTS software requirements and configuration baseline. The delivery contract includes a base ordering period of five years, with a subsequent three-year option and a final two-year option for a total of 10 years should all options be exercised. Raytheon will perform work in San Diego, California and is expected to be finished by November, 2024.

Americas

Rolls-Royce won a $1.2 billion contract, which provides sustainment support of the V-22 AE1107C engine at various V-22 aircraft production, test and operating sites. Sustainment support includes program management, integrated logistics support, sustaining engineering, maintenance, repair, reliability improvements, configuration management and site support. The V-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical performance of a helicopter and speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft, including the ability to convert to a turboprop plane and accomplish high-speed, high-altitude flight. The US Navy in June 2018 exercised an option for Rolls-Royce to deliver 15 production AE1107C engines, including seven for the Marine Corps, six for the Navy and two for the Air Force, by May 2019. Work will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana and various other locations within and outside the continental US. Estimated completion is in February 2025.

The US Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a $15 million contract modification for the purchase of additional Ford CVN 78 Class shore based spares in support of the Ford Class. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the first new design for an aircraft carrier since USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The ship is equipped with two newly-designed reactors and has 250 per cent more electrical capacity than previous carriers. These features will allow the ship to load weapons and launch aircraft faster than ever before. The design and construction of a nuclear powered aircraft carrier requires highly technical and specialized knowledge of the ship’s mission, design, systems and nuclear reactor plants. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. HII-NNS is the nation’s only designer and builder of nuclear powered aircraft carriers. HII-NNS has developed a unique capability encompassing all aspects of aircraft carrier design, construction, modernization, repair and technical and engineering support which, because of its uniqueness, cannot be acquired elsewhere. Work will take place in California and Virginia and is expected to be complete by May 2022.

Middle East & Africa

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces is using the 11 m Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC) made by the British company Holyhead Marine, Jane’s reports. Held on the coast of Ras al-Khaimah on November 1, the demonstration featured a wide variety of the UAE’s air and land platforms, but also a few maritime assets, including the previously unseen raiding craft and a swimmer delivery vehicle that emerged from the water to be used as a sniper platform by its two-man crew. The 11 m ORC is an enlarged version of the 9 m ORC in service with the UK’s Royal Marine Commandos. Holyhead Marine says the baseline craft can be easily reconfigured into two versions: the Troop Carrier Variant that can accommodate 12 soldiers and two crew and the Fire Support Platform with four machine gun mounts and higher armor, which protects against 7.62×39 mm bullets at 20 m.

Europe

The RBS 98 air defense missile system has been test-fired at the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration’s (FMV) test site in Vidsel on November 5. The Swedish Army is fielding a ground-launched version of the IRIS-T, designated RBS 98, to replace the RBS 70 missile system. Four missiles are carried on a special version of a BV 410 tracked armored vehicle.

Asia-Pacific

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) conducted a joint maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise for the first time recently. A SLAF Bell 412 landed aboard SLNS Sindurala for first time during the exercise. Each MI 17 and Bell 412 conducted speed synchronization rounds prior to the landing and the Bell 412 made 3 successful landings while the ship was underway. After the Bell 412 landing, the ship proceeded 50 nautical miles away from the land to conduct rest of the operation with MI 17. Similarly, MI 17 also made 3 successful VERTREPs with landing a dummy man on the helideck.

India’s Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has launched another 105 m improved Sankalp Class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) ordered for the Indian Coast Guard, Jane’s reports. The vessel was reportedly launched on November 14 at GSL’s facilities in Goa. It will be the 11th vessel in the Sankalp Class, which is referred to in India as the Samarth Class after the program’s third ship, which features a longer beam than its predecessors. The OPV is part of a five-vessel, $275 million contract approved by the Indian government in August 2016. This contract is also referred to in country as the Samarth Class Flight II project.

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : MMRCA Linked With Kaveri & AMCA,AGNI-II Night Test,10 Heron TP Deal Final

HMS Prince of Wales, second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy will be formally commissioned on December, 10 2019.

Tag: HMS Prince of Wales

On 7 November, European Defence Agency (EDA) hosted two high level meetings on RPAS Air Traffic Integration and the future of Single European Sky (SES). EDA welcomed senior representatives from European aviation organisations including, EASA, SESAR Joint Undertaking, European Commission (DG MOVE) and Eurocontrol. 
 

High Level Group on the implementation of Single European Sky 

The European Defence Agency was delighted to host the meeting of the High Level Group on SES. The aims of this event were to take stock the outcomes of the High Level Conference on the Future of SES (11-12 September) and to discuss the way ahead regarding the concepts promoted by the Airspace Architecture Study and the Wise Persons Group Report, in view of the Transport Council on 2 December 2019.  During the discussions, EDA Chief Executive, Jorge Domecq,  recalled that the military community recognises the need to collaboratively address the modernisation of the European Air Traffic Management (ATM) system for the benefit of all users, ensuring that some key military principles, in particular linked to ATM Data Service Provision (ADSP) and Airspace Management, which is a national prerogative, are duly considered.
  

4th High Level Coordination Mechanism Meeting

EDA also  hosted the 4th high level meeting on the Coordination Mechanism between the European Commission, EASA, SJU and EDA for the development and implementation of a joint civil-military Roadmap towards drone Air Traffic Integration. Eurocontrol was also  invited to this important EU coordination mechanism which aims to align  workstreams in the regulatory, technical and standardisation domains with the overall objective of supporting the Accommodation of a European MALE-type RPAS in the 2020-2025 timeframe, with full integration as of 2025.

The coordination efforts are of particular importance given the limitations to use military RPAS in a non-segregated airspace as this harms the effectiveness of the systems.
 

Guidelines for the  accommodation of military IFR MALE type RPAS under GAT airspace classes A-C

Finally, EDA Chief Executive, Jorge Domecq and EASA Executive Director, Patrick Ky, presented the “Guidelines for the accommodation of military IFR MALE type RPAS under GAT airspace classes A-C”. This document is the result of a task force jointly launched and chaired by EASA and EDA, with valuable contributions from several representatives of military and civil organisations.

These guidelines propose a basis for Member States and their ANSPs to conduct their own safety assessment and to develop their operational procedures and processes in compliance with European ATM/ANS Regulation.

 

Americas

The US Department of Defense is „focused on China and its growing projection of power” as Beijing seeks to assume a global leadership role in the coming decades based on its “authoritative socialist model”, Chad Sbragia, the US deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, said on November 13. China’s 2019 Defense White Paper, published in July, discusses growing capacity to acquire a “strategic dagger,” he said, meaning the capacity to project power in a sophisticated way on a global scale. „We need diplomatic, economic and security efforts to respond to China’s Belt and Road activities, and they have to be integrated in ways that in the past haven’t been done as well as they should,” Sbragia said. A whole-of-government approach that includes interagency cooperation and working to strengthen alliances and partnerships is key to the US response, he added.

General Dynamics won a $7.7 million contract modification for the operation, maintenance and protection of the floating dry dock Shippingport (ARDM-4). Shippingport (ARDM-4) is an ARDM-4 Class US Navy Medium Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock. Sie is one of the Navy’s two medium Auxiliary Dry Docks and was the first floating dry dock built for the USN since World War II. With a displacement of 5400 tons, this floating dry dock had a lifting capacity of 7800 tons. Shippingport has two 25 ton portal gantry cranes on tracks, one running along the top deck of each hulls side superstructure. She is a government owned, private contractor operated, restored and certified drydock used to execute submarine repairs. Work under the contract modification will take place in Groton, Connecticut and estimated completion will be by November 2020.

Middle East & Africa

Israel announced a ceasefire with Islamic Jihad after two days of fighting, local media reports. Some 450 rockets were launched from Gaza toward Israel since the killing of senior PIJ commander Baha Abu al-Ata early Tuesday morning that sparked the escalation. “Operation Black Belt achieved all of its objectives,” the Israeli Defense Forces said. After 48 hours of heavy fighting between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a ceasefire officially went into effect, the IDF and the terror group confirmed Thursday morning. During the operation, Israeli Forces struck dozens of PIJ targets across Gaza, including rocket caches, underground terror infrastructure, sites for manufacturing long-range rockets, training compounds, the headquarters of the Khan Younis Brigade, and others.

Europe

The United Kingdom has sent fighter aircraft to Iceland for the first time since a diplomatic spat between the two countries over the Nordic nation’s banking crisis scuppered a previous planned deployment in 2008. An undisclosed number of Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s from 1 (Fighter) Squadron and 100 personnel were deployed from their home station of RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to Keflavik Air Base on November 13. According to the UK Ministry of Defense, the aircraft will spend the next month protecting the airspace as the UK’s contribution to NATO’s Icelandic Air Policing Mission, returning to Scotland in mid-December. The RAF deployment to Iceland was announced by the then-Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson in June 2018, at which time he said four Typhoon aircraft would be sent to the island. The announcement came a decade after the last scheduled deployment was called off after Iceland’s banking system collapsed owing billions of pounds to UK savers. In 2016, the UK Treasury announced that it had received the final compensation payment from Iceland, resetting the relationship between the two countries.

The Council of the European Union has approved the TWISTER (Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based TheatER surveillance) capability project, MBDA announced on its website. TWISTER is an endo-atmospheric interceptor that deals against intermediate-range ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles or gliders and conventional air-breathing targets. “In addressing this capability gap, the interceptor component of the TWISTER project will ultimately become a key element in the contribution made by European countries to NATO’s territorial, population and Armed Forces defense mission while meeting the European Union’s level of ambition in the field of missile defense,” claims MBDA. Thanks to its inclusion within the PESCO, the program is now eligible to receive an investment from the European Defense Fund, whose budget for 2021-2027 should amount to €13 billion or approximately $14.3 billion. It is the second MBDA project supported by the fund, after the Beyond Line Of Sight capability program (BLOS), selected in 2018

Asia-Pacific

Head of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, took a flight on the indigenous HTT-40 trainer on November 13 at Bengaluru to assess its capabilitie, India Times reports. Bhadauria is a test pilot himself who has flown 27 types of fixed-wing aircraft. The HTT-40 is a basic fixed-wing aircraft, designed and developed by the HAL, which can be used by the IAF for training and aerobatic purposes too, apart from night flying. With a maximum range of 1,000 km and a top speed of 450 mph, the tandem-seated aircraft has been designed to replace IAF’s fleet of HPT-32 Deepak basic trainers, which have already been grounded following a series of accidents.

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : Naval Tejas MK2 Production,550 Robots For Army,Supreme Court Rafale Review

Americas

BAE Systems wants to create an interim advanced radar jamming technology until next summer for helicopters and UASs, that is lighter and smaller than systems available now. The company published a statement November 12 announcing, the US Army awarded it a research and development contract to bring the technology to bear. The system “aims to improve air survivability and mission effectiveness” for aircraft “by detecting and defeating complex and unknown threats in electronic combat,” the statement read. BAE plans to demonstrate the technology in July 2020. The technology is under development within BAE Systems’ FAST Labs and combines adaptive radio frequency jamming and sensing capabilities into one system, the company statement noted. As the Army looks to modernize its capabilities to fight across multiple domains in highly contested environments, the technology, the company said, will enable the aircraft to fly closer to threats and remain protected.

The US Air Force has reportedly approved a retrofit to prevent cargo locks on an aerial refueling tanker from coming undone midflight. Will Roper, the Air Force’s top acquisition official, told Defense News he’s confident the KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker’s malfunctioning cargo locks will be fixed within months. In September, after a flight where cargo locks on the bottom of the aircraft’s floor became unlocked midflight, the tanker was restricted from carrying either cargo or people in the back of the aircraft. So far Boeing has paid more than $3.5 billion of its own money to fund corrections to ongoing technical issues, of which the cargo issue is the fourth. The company has also paid to address the tanker’s remote vision system, which provides imagery that in certain lighting conditions looks warped or misleading; instances of the boom scraping against the airframe of the receiver aircraft; and a requirement to redesign the boom to accommodate the A-10 plane.

Middle East & Africa

Jane’s reports that the Turkish Naval Forces conducted the first ship-launched firing of the Atmaca (Hawk) Anti-Ship missile (ASM) from the TDK Ada Class corvette TCG Kinaliada (F-514) at an undisclosed location in the Black Sea on November 3. Evolved within the scope of the MILGEM Project, which is Turkey’s national warship program, Atmaca is the country’s first indigenously developed dedicated above-water ASM system, and is intended to replace the Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon ASM in TDK surface platform service. Atmaca is an autonomous, all-weather, low-signature, super sea skimming ASM. Resistant to countermeasures, the missile features a mission planning system with 3D routing, and a target update, re-attack, re-target, and mission abort capability via a commercial off-the-shelf two-way datalink.

Europe

Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov has confirmed that two Su-30SM fighters ordered by the country will land at Baranovichi aerodrome this afternoon, Tass reports. Two more jets are expected to be home this year. The country has ordered 12 Su-30SMs. The Defense Ministry of Belarus signed a contract with Russia’s Irkut Aviation Corporation in 2017 on the delivery of 12 Su-30SM fighters in 2018-2020. Belarus was expected to receive up to four planes a year. The Su-30SM is a generation 4++ serial-produced and upgraded two-seat super-maneuverable fighter jet.

The Czech Ministry of Defense has submitted a document to the government on its plan to purchase 8 UH-1Ys and 4 AH-1Z attack helicopters. Minister of Defense Lubomir Metnar said that he hopes to sign the contract by this year in order to receive the aircraft in 2023. The AH-1Z Viper is the latest in the long line of Huey family helicopters. The twin-engine attack helicopter is based on the AH-1W SuperCobra developed for the US Marine Corps and features a four-blade, bearingless, composite main rotor system, upgraded avionics and a new target sighting system. The Bell UH-1Y Venom is another recent member of the Huey helicopter family. Sometimes called the Super Huey, it is a twin-engine, medium-sized utility helicopter, built for the US Marine Corps. It entered service in 2008, and was planned to replace the USMC’s fleet of 1970s-vintage UH-1N Twin Huey light utility helicopters, which were retired in 2014.

Asia-Pacific

The Philippine Air Force has taken delivery of a C295M at Clark Air Base on November 11. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was the guest of honor at the handover and blessing ceremony. The aircraft is part of the command-and-control fixed-wing turboprop acquisition project of the AFP’s modernization program. It is a new addition to the three operational C295 aircraft in the Air Force. The Air Force is expecting another command-and-control aircraft, the Gulfstream G280, by August next year.

Today’s Video

Watch: First Sukhoi Su-57 PAK FA fifth-generation fighter aircraft ready for delivery to Russian Air Force

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Damir Krstičević, paid a visit to EDA on 12 November for talks with the Agency’s Chief Executive Jorge Domecq.

The main topics discussed during the meeting included the current state of play and way ahead in the implementation of the EU defence initiatives (PESCO, CARD, European Defence Fund), the implementation of the revised EU Capability Development Priorities adopted in June 2018 and Croatia’s current and potential participation in EDA projects and programmes.  Particular focus was put on the CBRN Surveillance as a Service (CBRN SaaS) project, a PESCO project in which Croatia participates (together with Austria, Slovenia and Hungary) and for which EDA has been asked to support the implementation (see related EDA webnews). CBRN SaaS will provide a rapidly deployable 24/7 chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) surveillance capability. Deputy Prime Minister Krstičević was also presented with detailed updates on several other ongoing projects, including on Military Mobility and the Agency’s work related to cyber defence. 

Deputy Prime Minister Krstičević said he expected the Agency to continue to be a strong factor in strengthening the coherence of European defence initiatives.

Mr Domecq and Deputy Prime Minister Krstičević also discussed the defence and security priorities of the upcoming Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (first semester 2020). Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthening Europe's defence, technological and industrial base will be one of Croatia's EU Presidency priorities in the field of defence. They also discussed the follow-up of their recent successful meeting in Zagreb last September (see related webnews) as well as of the workshop in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce which was organised in cooperation with the Agency. 

Americas

The US reportedly awarded Israeli company Rafael follow-on orders for the advanced precision targeting pod and an EW system. The company received orders from the US as well as an Asian customer, totaling approximately $55.8 million, Israeli Defense reports. The company will supply Litening electro-optic precision targeting pods for the use of US Air Force fighter jets, in collaboration with the American Northrop Grumman Company. Rafael also received an order for an electronic warfare system from an undisclosed country in Asia. Both are follow-on orders for already operational systems.

The US Air Force announced plans to test a secure data link between its F-22 and F-35 stealth fighter planes without identifying the planes’ locations, Defense One reports. The first test will be in December. It is an element in the US military’s goal of a comprehensive Multi-Domain Command and Control network encompassing the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace domains. Part of the challenge is figuring out what precisely an F-22 and F-35 should say to each other, and what pilots and their commanders should do with that information. The multirole F-35 was designed to integrate lots of data from various other sensors and drones across the battlefield. The F-22, designed primarily for air dominance, was not. Each pilot’s view of the battlefield and everything in it is very different.

Middle East & Africa

Jane’s reports that the Burundian contingent serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has taken delivery of 10 Springbuck Heavy Duty mine-resistance ambush-protected vehicles. AMISOM announced on November 6 that the Burundians received at least 20 combat vehicles. It did not identify the vehicles. However, it released photographs of 10 Springbuck HDs and at least 10 Egyptian-made Fahd wheeled armored personnel carriers at its base around Mogadishu airport. The Springbuck is a South African built ballistic and landmine protected all-terrain vehicle.

Europe

German defense company Rheinmetall announced the Artec consortium, led by Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, has signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defense to produce more than 500 Boxer 8×8-wheeled armored vehicles for the British Army. The total current value of the order is approximately $2.9 billion. The Boxer vehicles ordered by the British Army will be supplied in several different configurations, including an armored personnel carrier, command vehicle, specialist carrier and field ambulance. Delivery of the vehicles is expected to start from 2023. Most of the production will take place in the UK. Full-scale production will begin in Germany, but 90% of the Boxer vehicles destined for the British Army will be produced in the UK, principally at plants operated by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) and KMW’s subsidiary WFEL.

Indra announced that the Spanish Army is to receive a rapidly deployable portable chemical laboratory from the company. It is due to be delivered in August 2020 to the ‘Valencia’ Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Regiment, based in Paterna near Valencia. The army had until now sent teams on VAMTAC tactical and BMR 6×6 reconnaissance vehicles to collect samples to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. The laboratory will consist of two 6 meter containers that can be carried by truck, boat, or aircraft.

Asia-Pacific

The Republic of Singapore’s Air Force ceased operating its four Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft in June, with the new A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport taking over its roles in providing air-to-air refueling, airlift support, and aeromedical evacuation for the Singapore Armed Forces, service officials revealed during a media briefing held at 112 Squadron. Singapore acquired four ex-United States Air Force KC-135A Stratotanker aircraft in 1996. The deal is said to have been worth approximately $280 million at the time. Singapore purchased the aircraft to complement its existing air-refueling tanker fleet of four Lockheed Martin KC-130Bs and one KC-130H Hercules platform. The Stratotankers were upgraded to the KC-135R configuration by Boeing following reactivation from storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base’s Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group and delivered to the RSAF at its newly stood up Peace Guardian training detachment at the USAF’s McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas from 1999.

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : Tejas-MK1A Export To UAE,6000Km K6 SLBM For China,Astra BVR To Replace MICA

Here’s my latest policy brief from the series on Russian strategic culture and leadership decision-making, written for a collaborative project organized by the Marshall Center with support from the Russia Strategy Initiative. This one is on Russian foreign policy narratives. As with the previous ones, I am posting the full text here with permission from the Marshall Center. Please go to the Marshall Center website if you would prefer to read a PDF version.

Most of the data collection for this policy brief was done by Katherine Baughman and Umida Hashimova. Thanks to Kasey Stricklin for putting together the trends graphic.

Executive Summary

• This Marshall Center Security Insight provides a summary of a project that examined Russian foreign policy positions by analyzing statements made and interviews given by Russian government officials. The analysis found a set of ten narratives frequently used by officials discussing Russian foreign policy. In this policy brief, we describe each of the narratives and provide some recent examples of their use.
• The narratives described in this brief include Russia as the center of a distinct Eurasian civilization, Russia as a bastion of traditional values, Russophobia, whataboutism, fraternalism with Russia’s near abroad, ties with Soviet-era allies, outside intervention in sovereign affairs, Russia as a proponent of stability in the world, Russia as a proponent of multipolarity in the world, and the promotion of international structures in which Russia plays a leading role.
• The most frequently used narratives included outside intervention in sovereign affairs, whataboutism, the promotion of international structures in which Russia plays a leading role, and Russophobia.
• Although the foreign policy narratives of Russian officials are designed to twist reality in ways that promote and justify foreign policy decisions to both domestic and foreign audiences, one common thread tying these narratives together is that all of them have an element of truth at their core.

Introduction

This policy brief provides a summary of results of a project that examined Russian foreign policy positions using statements made and interviews given by Russian government officials. The research team monitored Russian and Western media over a ten-month period, from September 2018 to June 2019, collecting both Russian- and English-language statements. We found a set of ten narratives frequently used by officials discussing Russian foreign policy. In this policy brief, we describe each of the narratives and provide some recent examples of their use. We conclude with some preliminary frequency analysis and trends of use over time during the study period.

Eurasia Versus Europe

This narrative tends to portray Russia as the center of a distinct Eurasian civilization with its own sovereign path that is separate from the rest of Europe. According to this argument, Russia is separate and different from the rest of Europe and should not be expected to integrate with it on purely European terms. This argument reflects a long tradition of Eurasianist discourse among Russian intellectuals that goes back to the early twentieth century and also hearkens back to an even older debate about Russian identity between Slavophiles and Westernizers that goes back to the tsarist era.

Officials focusing on this narrative discussed the need to form a greater Eurasia to safeguard the region’s distinct path, often in contrast to decadent European values. For example, in April 2019, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated, “We believe that there is the need to aspire for Greater Eurasia, which includes the European Union, our Eurasian Union and various Chinese initiatives.” This statement highlights the significance placed by Russian officials on deepening Russia’s relationship with China and especially highlights Russia’s role as a conduit for Chinese trade with Europe.

Russia as a Bastion of Traditional Values

According to this narrative, Russia possesses a distinct civilization that embodies and promotes “traditional” religious, societal, and other values in contrast with the more liberal, “decadent” West. This has been a common trope for Vladimir Putin. For example, in November 2018, he stated, “There is one thing I do not doubt: the voice of Russia will be dignified and confident in the future world, which is predetermined by our tradition, domestic spiritual culture, self-awareness, and, finally, the very history of our country as a distinctive civilization that is unique but does not make self-confident and loutish claims of exclusiveness.”

This narrative has been particularly favored by senior leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church, such as Patriarch Kirill, who said the following in November 2018: “The narrow paradigm of the New Time speaks of globalization as an inevitable process. Hidden underneath the word “inevitability” is the western principle of global development which features liberal secularism and modern forms of colonialism. . . . This mistake is a departure from tradition, the system of passing values from generation to generation which forms the civilizational code of peoples with its cultural, spiritual, and religious paradigms, relying on God-given and thus invariable moral values which have accompanied the humankind throughout history. Experience shows that the trampling of these values has led to tragedies and cataclysms in personal, societal and international relations.”

Russian leaders have focused on traditional values, particularly in their domestic messaging, as a way of contrasting Russia with the supposedly immoral member states of the European Union. This narrative helps Russian leaders justify their caution about developing close ties with Western Europe and their policies aimed at curtailing Western influence in Russia.

Russophobia

Russophobia refers to the narrative that the policies and actions of Russia’s opponents are motivated by an unjustified prejudice against Russia, rather than legitimate disagreement over policy or differences in geopolitical interests. Russian officials frequently highlight the role of Russophobia in accusations by U.S. politicians and media commentators of Russian interference in U.S. elections.

For example, in April 2019, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov commented on the publication of the Mueller Report, “Unfortunately, there is no sign that US political circles, particularly those who seek to score political points in the Congress from Russophobia, are ready for dialogue. The document is most likely to have no effect from the standpoint of improving relations.” He added that Washington “continues to bombard the public with anti-Russian allegations. Russian officials often argue that Russophobia makes it easy for Western politicians to blame Russia for all of their problems, rather than dealing with the actual causes.

Whataboutism

Whataboutism is the narrative that other powers are engaging in the same activities that they accuse Russia of engaging in. During the study period, Russian officials resorted to whataboutism frequently, including when criticizing the United States and its allies for interfering in Russian elections. In May 2019, the Federation Council released a statement noting, “Washington, its allies, and its partners are using available instruments, including information, political, administrative, diplomatic, organizational, technical, and financial ones, for illegally intervening in Russia’s sovereign affairs, including in the period of preparation for and holding of electoral campaigns of various levels in Russia.” This statement was clearly designed to highlight the equivalence between U.S. activities in 2019 and accusations of Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. election.

Russian officials also highlighted violations of freedom of the press in Western Europe and compared Russian police actions against protesters with French police actions against Yellow Vest protesters to show that Russian actions are no different than those of the countries that regularly accuse Russia of violating human rights and international norms. For example, Vladimir Putin highlighted restrictions placed on RT broadcasting in France by noting, “We hear from our Western colleagues that the free dissemination of information . . . is one of the most important principles of democracy. . . . States should not hinder information spread through administrative routes, but rather put forward their perspective and let the people decide for themselves where the truth is and where its falsification is.” Commenting on European government actions against domestic protesters, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said, “Unlike France and Germany, Russia never uses water cannons, tear gas or rubber pellets to disperse protesters.”

Whataboutism is also used to reject criticism regarding Russian military and political influence activities abroad. In April 2019, referring to Russian support for the Venezuelan government, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, “What do they mean by insolent remarks that the countries [outside] the Western Hemisphere are not allowed to have any interests there? But what is the United States doing? Take a look at the map of the US military bases: the entire world is dotted with red spots and each of them poses rather serious risks.” Overall, the whataboutism narrative is used to suggest that Russia is no different from the Western states that regularly condemn Russian behavior both domestically and on the world stage.

Fraternalism with Russia’s Near Abroad

The Near Abroad is Russia’s preferred term for the countries of the former Soviet Union, with the arguable exception of the Baltic States. The term is associated with fraternalist narratives concerning brotherly links, paternalistic relationships, and special historical and cultural commonalities with these countries.

Officials using this narrative during the study period made references to the continuing fraternal relationship with Belarus during a period of intense discussion of potential closer integration of the two states. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the special fraternal relationship, noting, “I don’t think anyone in Moscow or Minsk would dispute the existence of de facto and de jure special and allied relations between the two countries.” Officials also lamented the destruction of brotherly ties with Ukraine by fascists and nationalists bent on tearing Ukraine away from Russia. For example, in reference to Russia’s relationship with Ukraine, Vladimir Putin said, “As for the long term, no matter what happens, no matter who is in power in Kyiv today, the Russian and Ukrainian peoples have always been and will forever be fraternal and very close . . . . This political scum will go away, recede.” Similarly, Peskov stated in May 2019 that “[Putin] has always stated that the relations between the countries’ leadership should not in any way be projected to the long-standing close and brotherly relations of the peoples of the two countries.” These statements highlight Russian leaders’ tendency to continue to consider former Soviet states, especially Ukraine and Belarus, as “naturally” belonging to Russia’s cultural and political sphere of influence.

Relations with Soviet-Era Allies

This category refers to the set of Russian narratives that relate to “traditional relations” with partners that have maintained close ties with Russia since the Soviet Era, such as Vietnam and Syria. When discussing new initiatives with foreign states that fit this category, Russian leaders commonly refer to the history of bilateral ties in the Soviet period. During the study period, Vladimir Putin mentioned such ties during official meetings with leaders of Vietnam and Serbia, and Sergey Lavrov highlighted the history of close relations between Russia and Latin American countries. This emphasis is especially common in situations in which the two sides are discussing military assistance. For example, in April 2019, Russian Presidential Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov noted “Sudan’s willingness and readiness to develop cooperation with Russia on the basis of traditionally friendly relations spanning since 1950s.” Although this is not a frequent narrative, it does play an important role when Russian officials seek to further links with states with which Russia had ties during the Cold War.

Outside Intervention in Sovereign Affairs

This category describes the narrative that certain domestic policies and developments in a given country are the result of meddling from outside powers, most often the United States, rather than the outcome of internal factors. Russian leaders frequently express vehement opposition to such activities, although many countries accuse Russia of employing similar tactics abroad. During the study period, Russian officials made strong statements against U.S. intervention in Venezuela, citing the principle of noninterference in sovereign affairs. For example, in May 2019, Sergey Lavrov stated, “Mike Pompeo called me, urged [Russia] not to support [Venezuelan President Nicolás] Maduro, and urged us and Cuba not to interfere in Venezuela’s internal affairs. This whole story sounds quite surrealistic. I answered him, based on our principled position, that we never interfere in somebody else’s affairs and call on others to act the same way.”

Russian officials have made similar statements about how U.S. military operations in Syria and support for specific political groups in Ukraine were instances of interference in sovereign affairs. In the context of the Syria operation, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin condemned the “United States of America, which continues using terrorists and extremists as a tool of pressure and direct inference in the affairs of sovereign states.” Regarding Ukraine, Russian officials accused the United States of getting involved in the conflict over the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and condemned its influence on Ukrainian elections. Sergey Lavrov’s assessment was that, “The current leadership in Kyiv is guided not so much by the interests of their country but by the ambitions and ‘recommendations’ and often direct orders from other capitals.” When asked about similar Russian activities, Russian leaders argue that unlike the United States Russia only acts when invited by a country’s official government.

Russia as a Proponent of Stability in the World

Russian leaders frequently argue that Russia’s activities at home and abroad are justified by the need to maintain stability, while portraying opponents’ actions as attempts to destabilize a given situation. For example, in April 2019, Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov criticized Western humanitarian operations around the world in the following terms: “Frequently, the so-called humanitarian interference is done under the pretext of promoting democracy, thus provoking intra-state instability. For Western countries, unilateral actions towards other states carried out with disregard for the opinion of their legitimate governments and not authorized by the UN [United Nations] have already become the norm.”

Around the same time, General Alexander Levin, one of the commanders of the Russian military base in Tajikistan, highlighted the beneficial nature of the humanitarian operation there, saying, “The joint actions by the Russian base, units of the Defense Ministry and other security structures of Tajikistan are becoming a guarantor of peace and stability in the region.” This pair of statements highlights the Russian trope that Russian interventions promote stability in the world, while interventions by Western countries, especially by the United States, sow chaos.

Russia as a Proponent of Multipolarity in the World

Russian officials often describe the current world order as being unfairly dominated by a single power—specifically, the United States. In response, they promote the idea that the international community should welcome multiple arbiters, including and especially Russia and China. In the meantime, they highlight how most of the world’s problems are caused by the United States trying to resist the natural development of a polycentric world order. In late May 2019, Lavrov noted, “As we can see, security problems have been piling up in the Asia Pacific region and the world at large because Western countries are trying to stall or even reverse the objective formation of a polycentric world order.” Also that month, Vladimir Putin called for the establishment of an efficient security system that would be equal for all states, arguing that only through a collective response can radical extremist ideas be defeated.

Russian officials generally argue that the U.S. effort to maintain its unilateral dominance is a fruitless battle, and one that the United States will eventually lose. For example, in April 2019, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu argued that “[o]ur Western colleagues cannot accept the fact that the era of the unipolar world order is nearing an inevitable end so they are trying to protract this natural process.” These statements highlight the key idea of this narrative: that multipolarity is inevitable, and that efforts by Western states to resist it are both futile and counterproductive.

Promotion of International Structures in Which Russia Plays a Leading Role

This narrative refers to Russian leaders’ tendency to promote the involvement in international negotiations of organizational entities in which Russia has a dominant or equal voice as compared with Western powers. Such organizations include, most prominently, the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Security Council. Conversely, Russian leaders frequently criticize structures in which their country is less empowered, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Council of Europe.

During the study period, Russian officials frequently argued that international crises could only be solved through the UN. This was particularly noticeable during the peak of the effort by the Venezuelan opposition to replace Nicolás Maduro with Juan Guaidó. Sergey Lavrov stated, “We with our Venezuelan partners share the opinion that any use of force in circumvention of the [UN] Security Council is fraught with disastrous consequences for modern international security as a whole.” Similarly, Vyacheslav Volodin argued that the Kosovo conflict can only be solved under the auspices of the UN: “A solution to the Kosovo problem can definitely only be sought via dialogue based on decisions made in the UN. Primarily, UN Security Council Resolution 1244.”

Russian officials also sought to use other international organizations, especially the OSCE. The OSCE was used to promote Russian interests in Ukraine, as highlighted in the following statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry: “Regardless of this fact, Russia will utilize its right to monitor the elections within an international mission in another OSCE member state, in this case in Ukraine. Our steps are based on the mutual obligations of all OSCE members to provide reciprocal, and unimpeded access by observers to one another’s elections. This measure needs to ensure that electoral processes are transparent and democratic.” These statements show that Russian officials prefer to promote their country’s interests through international organizations in which Russia plays a prominent role, while avoiding or denigrating organizations from which Russia is excluded (such as NATO).

Frequency Analysis

As shown in Table 1, the frequency with which these narratives were used by Russian officials during the period of analysis can be divided into three groups. The most frequently used included outside intervention in sovereign affairs, whataboutism, the promotion of international structures in which Russia plays a leading role, and Russophobia. A second set of narratives was used somewhat less frequently, including references to Russia’s near abroad, Russia’s focus on multipolarity versus Western unilateralism, and Russia’s role as a promoter of stability as compared with the Western tendency toward destabilizing interventions. The least frequently used narratives included references to Soviet-era allies, the importance of Russia’s Eurasian identity, and Russia’s role as a bastion of traditional values.

Table 1. “Frequency of Narratives Used by Russian Officials”

In terms of trends over time, most of the narratives were relatively evenly spread out over the entire ten-month period of observation. In particular, Russophobia, whataboutism, and references to the near abroad occurred at a fairly constant rate throughout the period. Figure 1 shows that some narratives have noticeable peaks and valleys over time, especially sovereign affairs and the promotion of international structures. The February peak in the sovereign affairs narrative is related to the peak of the crisis in Venezuela and concurrent Russian fears of a U.S. military intervention there. However, the smaller April peak in that narrative and the February peak in the promotion of international structures both include mentions of a wide variety of topics. For the former, these include discussion of Western intervention in Libya and Venezuela and discussion related to Brexit and cyberattacks. For the latter, Russian officials refer to a wide variety of crises that they say should all be dealt with either in the UN Security Council or the OSCE, including Ukraine, Syria, Macedonia, Kosovo, and the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Figure 1. “Trends in Key Narratives”

Conclusion

Although Russian official foreign policy narratives are designed to twist reality in ways that promote and justify foreign policy decisions to both domestic and foreign audiences, one common thread tying these narratives together is that all of them have an element of truth at their core. These narratives all connect with prevalent perceptions of the world and of the role of Russia and the United States in it. By starting with a core element of truth, Russian officials are able to create narratives that resonate with the dominant frames through which their audiences view the world.

Thus, they tend to highlight Russophobia and traditional values to domestic audiences. They also highlight the tendency of the United States to intervene in other countries and connect this tendency to increased instability in regions such as the Middle East in order to create the narrative of the United States as a destabilizing actor in world affairs. Whataboutism is used with both domestic and international audiences to highlight instances in which Western actors fall short of their stated principles, making the argument that Western leaders have no standing to criticize Russian actions. The end result is a relatively coherent picture of the world as a chaotic place and of Russia as a stabilizing agent within it.

A Note on Sources: Materials were collected through a variety of sources, including Opensource.gov, the Eastview database of Russian newspapers, and direct access to the TASS news agency and the websites of major Russian and Western newspapers. The bulk of the materials came from newswire reports, such as TASS in Russian and Interfax in English. Russian-language sources also included all major central newspapers. English-language sources also included Western English-language newspapers and media sites of record, such as the New York Times and the BBC. All materials were hand-coded by one of the two team members. Our analysis assumes that statements in Russian-language sources are aimed primarily at a domestic audience, while statements in English-language sources are aimed primarily at an international audience. Links are provided to sources that are available on the internet. Citations to all sources may be found on the Marshall Center’s version of this article.

End of October, EDA’s Cyber Defence Research and Technology (R&T) Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG) organised its 10th meeting in Madrid, combined with a research workshop on cyber defence technologies innovation management.

The aim of the Cyber R&T AHWG was to analyse emerging new cyber defence technologies with a twofold objective: firstly to get feedback from participants as regards the development of future technology roadmaps; and secondly to review the updated Cyber Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and ensure it is complete. The EDA Cyber R&T AHWG is composed of cyber defence research experts and cyber specialists coming from participating Member States, industry and academia. Their task is to develop and update the cyber defence SRA within EDA’s Overarching Strategic Research Agenda (OSRA) framework. Since its establishment in 2016, the Cyber R&T AHWG has promoted EU collaborative research projects on cyber defence including work on emerging technologies with cyber implications. During its mandate, the working group has provided expertise for two ongoing EDA Cat B projects notably on “Cyber Situation Awareness Packages” and on “Enhanced Malware detection”. The Cyber Technology Landscaping Study - commissioned by EDA in 2018 and awarded to ISDEFE, AIT and CEIS – analyses the implementation aspects of the SRA and provides additional inputs which complement the findings on the state-of-the-art technology and related cyber threats.

At the second workshop devoted to innovation, which is part of the OSRA value chain and toolbox, participants discussed cross-cutting cyber defence aspects related to land, maritime, air and space domains as well as modelling and simulation in order to develop new ideas that have the potential to increase cyber defence effectiveness and efficiency. One of the objectives here was to identify potential new projects to be launched in a longer capability perspective, up to 2028. 

Both events took place in Madrid at INDRA and ISDEFE premises respectively.   
 

Background

In November 2018, the European Council adopted an updated version of the EU cyber defence policy framework (CDPF) which calls for considering cyber defence issues in the calls of the Preparatory Action on Defence Research and in the topics called for in the European Defence Fund.

Cyber R&T’s primary focus is to reduce risks when addressing future military capabilities. Researchers in this field are encouraged to explore new avenues because of its novelty and the likelihood of getting quick applications. The military is taking steps towards a better understanding of the implication of recognising cyberspace as an operational domain. Therefore, mature solutions shall always count on well-structured research, development and testing  prior to fielding.

Cyber R&T is one important work strand of the Capability Development Priority “Enabling capabilities for cyber responsive operations”. The OSRA - which provides a necessary link between R&T efforts and the military tasks and long-term capability needs of the Capability Development Plan (CDP) -  identified a number of Research and Technology areas, the so-called Technology Building Blocks (TBBs), in which a cooperative approach at the European level would bring an added-value to support the development of defence capabilities. The Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) on Cyber Defence developed within the relevant EDA Ad Hoc Working Group in compliance with OSRA requirements provides informed prioritisation on cyber-related technologies necessary for the military, while at the same time identifying opportunities for dual-use efforts and investments - be it in national, multinational or EU-funded contexts. 
 

More information:

• Cyber defence (EDA factsheet)

Today, the European Defence Agency (EDA) has for the first time been chosen to support the development of a PESCO project as an Agency initiative, in line with the PESCO commitment to use EDA as the European forum for project capability development. The Austrian-lead project, CBRN Surveillance as a Service (CBRN SaaS), will provide a rapidly deployable 24/7 chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) surveillance capability. The project aims to maximise the use of unmanned ground systems and aerial drones which will be equipped with a variety of sensors to deliver a real time CBRN surveillance, detection and incident management capability for both civilian and military purposes. 

CBRN SaaS involves four contributing Member States (cMS), Austria (lead), Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia. Following a request from the project lead, on behalf of the cMS, CBRN SaaS will be taken forward as an EDA project. The transfer was formalised today during a signing ceremony in the margins of the EDA Steering Board.

Speaking at the event, Thomas Starlinger, Minister of Defence of Austria said, “CBRN SaaS will be designed for use in the military and civilian domain. For the Austrian Armed Forces it constitutes another means to increase force protection for operations in Austria as well as abroad. National project partners may also benefit since the project will most probably be eligible for funding from the European Defence Industrial Development Programme. Through this, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Research Institutes will profit through a financial return from the EU.”

The high strategic value of assets that provide 24/7 CBRN surveillance is proven by their ability to survey critical infrastructure and borders, augment situational awareness and support not only  military commanders but also national disaster management in dealing with CBRN incidents. CBRN SaaS will establish an unmanned sensor network consisting of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS) that will be interoperable with legacy systems. When combined with communications and data networks it will deliver a Recognised CBRN Picture that enhances knowledge-based decision making by leaders and supports the mission of saving lives. In focusing on the deployment of unmanned systems, operational flexibility will be increased and reduces the risk to the operators.  

“EDA is delighted to take this project forward and support our Member States. CBRN SaaS will benefit from EDA’s extensive experience of delivering defence cooperation projects, especially the insights gained from the EDA CBRN Joint Investment Programme. CBRN agents and weapons are a source of great concern, effective surveillance is therefore a crucial capability. As endorsed by the EU’s Capability Development Plan, developing enhanced CBRN capabilities based on newly available technologies such as unmanned systems is a priority that will enhance Europe’s resilience and preparedness to deal with CBRN threats.” EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq commented.

The CBRN SaaS main deliverable will be an operational plugin module for widely varying civilian missions and CSDP or NATO military operations. As a capability and technology development project, CBRN SaaS aims to provide suitable mobility (e.g. aerial, ground, unmanned) to mount CBRN sensors that will collect and send data to be processed through a secure network to the decision maker.

In addition, the generated Recognised CBRN Picture can be offered as a power by the hour service to others in need of CBRN surveillance.

The project will run until 2022, and will mainly deliver a demonstrator that provides a proof of concept; a Cooperation Roadmap which identifies what future modules could be developed in what format and with whom; a concept of operations and a service availability concept. 
 

Background

CBRN SaaS was approved and initially launched as a PESCO project within the second batch on 19 November 2018.

Following a decision of the cMS, EDA was requested to support establishing the CBRN SaaS Cat. B project (developed and launched by a number of cMS with the opportunity for other participating Member States to join later) that will help implement the CBRN SaaS PESCO project.
   
 

EDA press contacts:

Elisabeth SCHOEFFMANN
Head of Media & Communication
elisabeth.schoeffmann@eda.europa.eu
T+32 470 87 01 65

Paul QUINN
Media & Communications Officer
paul.quinn@eda.europa.eu
T+32 2 504 28 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The European Defence Agency’s (EDA) ministerial Steering Board met today under the chairmanship of the Head of the Agency, Federica Mogherini. Defence ministers shared their expectations and views ahead of the presentation  of the first full CARD Report which will be delivered to the Steering Board in November 2020.
 

Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD)

Ministers took the opportunity to highlight their expectations and share success factors they deem important ahead of delivery of the first full CARD Report. The discussions come at an important juncture in the CARD process, as EDA together with the EU Military Staff (EUMS) are currently carrying out bilateral dialogues with each Member State to complement and consolidate information it has already gathered on national defence planning.  

Ministers discussions focused around CARD’s relevance for national defence planning and its contribution to other EU defence initiatives. Ministers expressed their views on how best to structurally integrate CARD into national planning and decision-making and how to incentivise the translation of CARD recommendations into new collaborative projects. 

CARD provides an overview that will allow Member States to better coordinate their defence planning and spending and engage in collaborative projects, improving consistency in Member States defence spending and overall coherence of the European capability landscape. 

“CARD is designed to be a ‘pathfinder’ helping Member States to get a better picture of the European capability landscape and identify new opportunities for cooperation on capability development and procurement, while avoiding duplication of work with NATO. CARD will over time play a crucial role in providing a comprehensive picture of Member States’ defence plans and capabilities, the state of collaboration, as well as progress towards EU capability development priorities.” Jorge Domecq, EDA’s Chief Executive, commented.
 

2020 budget

Ministers also approved the Agency’s general budget 2020 on the basis of a proposal made by the Head of the Agency at the level of €34.125 M. This is with the understanding that pending further clarification of the Brexit situation in 2020, an Amending Budget, that takes into account the role EDA plays in the context of major EU defence initiatives and the Agency’s core activities, will be submitted by the Agency to the Steering Board
 

EDA to take forward PESCO project on CBRN surveillance

EDA has for the first time been chosen to support the development of a PESCO project as an Agency initiative, in line with the PESCO commitment to use EDA as the European forum for project capability development. The project, CBRN Surveillance as a Service (CBRN SaaS), will provide a rapidly deployable 24/7 chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) surveillance capability.

CBRN SaaS involves four contributing Member States (cMS), Austria (lead), Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia. Following a request from the project lead, on behalf of the cMS, CBRN SaaS will be taken forward as an EDA project. The transfer was formalised today during a signing ceremony in the margins of the EDA Steering Board (full press release).

 
  EDA press contacts:

Elisabeth SCHOEFFMANN
Head of Media & Communication
elisabeth.schoeffmann@eda.europa.eu
T+32 470 87 01 65

Paul QUINN
Media & Communications Officer
paul.quinn@eda.europa.eu
T+32 2 504 28 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antti Kaikkonen, the Defence Minister of Finland, visited the European Defence Agency on 11 November where he was welcomed by Chief Executive Jorge Domecq. The Minister was accompanied by the Defence Political Director, Janne Kuusela, as well as other officials from the MoD.

A wide range of topics related to European defence cooperation were discussed, including the state of play on the EU defence initiatives (CARD, PESCO, EDF), the importance of ensuring their coherent and efficient implementation, as well as the need for Member States to embed them into their national defence planning in order to reach the goal of a more coherent, efficient and interoperable European defence landscape.

Finland’s role and participation in EDA projects were also discussed during the visit. Minister Kaikkonen  was presented with detailed updates on several ongoing projects including the air-to-air refuelling Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) or the Agency’s work related to governmental satellite communication (GovSatCom) and the EU Satellite Communication Market (EU SatCom Market).

Americas

Redstone Arsenal is starting to test a new air defense vehicle for the Army. The Stryker A1 IM-SHORAD vehicle supports the Army’s short-range air defense (SHORAD) operational gap. Armed with Hellfire missiles, Stinger missiles and a 30mm cannon, its precision fire-power defeats unmanned aerial systems as well as fixed wing and rotary wing threats. “It all started about 18 months ago when the Army identified that we had this existing gap and they charted our office to find the right material solution to fill that gap,” said Colonel Chuck Worshim, cruise missile defense systems. Arsenal officials say government testing for the very first prototypes started in Huntsville. Test stations in other states will start in January.

Two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Cost Reduction Initiative interceptors successfully hit two ballistic missile targets Thursday at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Lockheed Martin announced. The demonstration was meant to support the US Army’s Field Surveillance Program by ensuring the reliability and readiness of PAC-3 missiles already fielded by the service. The Army-led missile defense flight test demonstrated the weapon’s hit-to-kill capability and was observed by representatives from the service as well as current and potential PAC-3 customers. Lockheed’s PAC-3 CRI is a high-velocity interceptor that defends against incoming threats, such as tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft. “PAC-3 continues its long history of reliability and readiness in the field and remains the only combat proven Hit-to-Kill interceptor in the world,” said Jay Pitman, vice president of PAC-3 programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Today’s global security environment demands reliable solutions. We expect PAC-3 interceptors to continue serving as an essential element in integrated, layered defense systems.”

Middle East & Africa

Iran told the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that three of its tankers have been attacked in the Red Sea this year, the Wall Street Journal reports. The government warns IMO of “unsafe routes” in Red Sea after saying incidents previously described as technical faults were in fact missile attacks. Iran previously reported one attack carried out against the tanker Sabiti on October 11, forcing it to return to Iran. The National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) said the vessel was probably hit by two missiles and photographs showed its hull had been punctured in two places. „We believe that this is an attack organized by one or more states, since two other Iranian flagged [very large] tankers were similarly attacked in the same approximate area” and with “similar damages to the ships“, the Wall Street Journal quotes an Iranian letter. The newspaper identified the two other tankers as Happiness 1 and Helm, which were attacked in April and August respectively.

Europe

Up-armored Alvis Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) have been deployed to Estonia as part of a rotation of the equipment for the UK-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup, Jane’s reports. The Warrior tracked vehicle family is a series of British armored vehicles. The Warrior family developed by Alvis Vickers, which is now BAE Systems Land Systems, has been proved in action with the British Army in operations in the Middle East during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom and on United Nations duties in Bosnia. Warrior vehicles were also deployed to Afghanistan. The British Army has upgraded its Warriors to extend their service life to 2025. The upgrade included the General Dynamics UK Bowman tactical communications system and the addition of a night fighting capability in the form of the Thales Optronics battle group thermal imaging program. Until now the Warriors on duty in Estonia have been standard vehicles from the British Army training fleet with no theater-specific enhancements. The new Warriors appeared to be fitted with plates along the length of their hulls to defeat high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, which British Army sources said is designated Operational Equipment Standard 3 (OES3). This is an evolution of the theater entry standard armored packages developed for the Iraq and Afghan campaigns.

Asia-Pacific

The Nikkei reports that Japan has embarked on a program to process data collected by its maritime patrol aircraft using artificial intelligence (AI) in order to cut down the workload of the crews. $8.25 million is being allocated and the program will begin in April. It is expected that the system can be operational in 2024. The AI would help ascertain whether a target spotted by conventional radar is an enemy vessel or some other threat. Machine learning through previous data would be used to develop the ability to identify a vessel from images that are difficult for the human eye to decipher.

A US Air Force F-16 assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan had dropped a 500lb BDU-50 inert bomb on a private land on November 6. The BDU-50 is reported to have landed 5 kilometers away from its target. It did not contain explosives, and no damage was reported. “Such an incident is a huge concern for surrounding residents and should never happen,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a November 7 news conference. “We urge the US military to provide more information and effective measures to prevent a recurrence.” The US military later found the mock bomb buried in grass on a private farm. US Forces also told the ministry that they will refrain from mock-bomb drop training for the time being.

Today’s Video

Watch: U.S. Marine M142 HIMARS loads on Army landing craft for the first time

Warrior in “Wrap-2”
(click to view full)

Britain’s MCV-80/FV510 Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle was produced between 1984 and 1995. Built of all-welded aluminum construction and armed with the 30 mm Rarden cannon, it was designed to destroy enemy armored personnel carriers at ranges of up to 1,500m, while offering a fast, armored battlefield taxi for up to 7 infantry soldiers. These IFVs were pressurized to protect against Soviet chemical and biological weapons, and included a full range of night vision equipment. They served capably during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, were used to maintain the peace in Bosnia/Kosovo, and have found themselves in very high demand on the post 9/11 front lines.

Individual programs have improved some vehicles’ optics, radios, and add-on armor, but keeping the fleet in service until 2035 will require more extensive work. Hence the GBP 1 billion Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP). In mid-November 2009, BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin UK submitted their bids, but the decision took almost 2 years. Fielding isn’t expected until 2018, but work proceeds.

WSCP Program, Technologies, and Bid Teams WSCP: Program

Basic Warrior IFV
(click to view full)

The WCSP effort has 4 main sections; WFLIP (Warrior Fightability Lethality Improvement Programme) to improve turrets and sensors, and add firepower; WMPS (Warrior Modular Protection System) to add a modular armoring system; WEEA (Warrior Enhanced Electronic Architecture) to add a fully integrated set of modern, expandable electronics and communications gear; and ABSV (Armoured Battlefield Support Vehicle) to improve the repair and recovery variants that keep the fleet in the field.

Out of 789 Warrior IFVs received by the British military between 1987 – 1995, WCSP will upgrade 643 vehicles with WEEA electronics, and WMPS modular armoring upgrades. The latter offers a standard armor mounting system, giving the new Warriors the flexibility to fit different types of armor as future protection technology advances. Within that group, 449 vehicles (69.8%) will also get the WFLIP program’s new turret and weapon system. The remaining ABSV Warriors will be turretless, and carry out field repair and recovery roles using winch and crane attachments.

The UK MoD awarded its contract to Lockheed Martin UK in October 2011. The System Architecture Design Review was completed in November 2012. A future Critical Design Review will be followed by man-in-the-loop firing trials in 2014, and the demonstration phase will end in 2016. Production will follow, with 2018 set as the scheduled in-service date.

WSCP: Technologies

Lockheed UK WSCP
(click to view full)

The core of the WFLIP weapons program will be a new gun, paired with an automated ammunition feed instead of manually-loaded 3-round clips. It will be mounted in a new, stabilized turret, capable of firing accurately on the move, and linked to advanced sensors, modernized targeting systems, and a built-in defensive aids suite. The promise is a 40mm system that combines the space requirements for a 25mm gun and ammunition with a 50mm gun’s killing punch.

The UK Ministry of Defence mandated the CT40 CTWS (cased telescoped weapon system) and its unique 40mm ammunition for both Warrior WCSP and Britain’s forthcoming FRES-SV scout vehicle. The system is produced by CTA International (CTAI), an Anglo-French joint venture between BAE Systems and Nexter. It fires a 1 kg HE (high-explosive) round with 3 times the terminal effect of the 30mm Rarden shell, and its high explosive air burst (HEAB) capability allows detonation in mid-air at precise ranges. This is very useful for dealing with urban strongpoints by firing through a window into a reinforced building, or for detonation above enemies hiding behind cover outdoors.

The system’s most unusual feature, however, is its ammunition – a projectile encased inside a cylinder, with the propellant packed around it. That cuts round length by about 50%, and improves volumetric efficiency by about 33% for a given level of performance. Storage space is always at a premium, and these efficiencies remove some of the natural penalties that accompany a larger 40mm gun. Telescoped ammunition also allowed CTAI to replace the normal breech arrangement with a static ammunition feeder that feeds into a novel rotating breech design, via a hollow trunion. Practical advantages include a feeder with less than 50% of the number of parts found in a standard system, all located farther forward, out of the crew’s way.

WCSP: Challenges & Teams

BAE Warrior MTIP2, trials
(click to view full)

Despite this compartmentalization of the WCSP, the process must also be managed holistically. As BAE Systems’ Warrior campaign director Judith Eastwood, points out, changes in one area lead to changes elsewhere:

“For instance, as Warrior weight has grown, we have developed better brakes. These generate extra heat, which has to be managed to avoid knock-on effects.”

And so forth. Despite general agreement on this point, the competing bids represent different philosophies.

BAE Systems’ Team

BAE plan

BAE touted the need for a new turret into order to provide optimum structural integrity, protection and crew exit, and human design for the crew. BAE sees less value in keeping the Warrior’s exact current chassis. Crew stations and hatches, for instance, were re-designed to accommodate the extra bulk of infantry body armor, which has become ubiquitous in recent years and can make it hard for troops to escape the vehicle. Their “make it right” approach would have changed both the chassis and turret, while adding other improvements.

BAE’s WEEA offering is very similar to the open architecture system that BAE Systems is offering for is CV90 FRES SV, while its WMPS solution will provide a standard mounting system for the various armor fits that have been developed for the Warrior under recent UOR (Urgent Operational Requirement) rapid buys. A new blast-attenuating driver’s seat will improve earlier UOR mine protection measures, which included new belly plates, and stiffer suspension to restore the vehicle’s ride height.

The UK MoD ended up disqualifying BAE’s bid around February 2011, however, for reasons that weren’t made public. That left a different philosophy to guide the upgrades.

Lockheed Martin’s Team (winner)

LM-UK plan

In contrast to BAE’s approach Lockheed Martin UK touted the virtues of a WFLIP turret that’s a modified version of the current system. They point to lower acquisition costs by avoiding significant hull modifications, and better whole life costs from reuse of existing spares stocks. Their upgrade is designed to be achieved as part of the Warrior Base Overhaul process done by the UK Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO, which was later merged into the DSG).

In October 2011, that approach won the contract. Lockheed Martin UK’s Warrior Transformation team includes:

• UK’s Defence Support Group (and see Nov 19/09 strategic partnership entry)
  
• Caterpillar UK
  
• CTA International (40mm cannon, ammunition handling)
  
• Curtiss-Wright Antriebstechnik GmbH (electro-mechanical turret drive and stabilization system)
  
• Elbit Systems Kinetics
  
• Jenoptik ESW
  
• Lorica/ Plasan
  
• Meggitt
  
• MIRA (mechanical design, electrical design, systems integration and test)
  
• Moog (rotary base junction)
  
• NP Aerospace – portion now up for bid.
  
• Rheinmetall Land Systems (turret design, cannon mounting)
  
• SciSys (electronic architecture)
  
• Thales Optronics (Battlegroup Thermal Imaging; commander and gunner sights)
  
• Ultra Electronics (power distribution, driver instrument panel, cannon control unit, fire control computer)

Contracts & Key Events 2012 – 2019

The new Warrior
(click to view full)

November 12/19: Estonia Up-armored Alvis Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) have been deployed to Estonia as part of a rotation of the equipment for the UK-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup, Jane’s reports. The Warrior tracked vehicle family is a series of British armored vehicles. The Warrior family developed by Alvis Vickers, which is now BAE Systems Land Systems, has been proved in action with the British Army in operations in the Middle East during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom and on United Nations duties in Bosnia. Warrior vehicles were also deployed to Afghanistan. The British Army has upgraded its Warriors to extend their service life to 2025. The upgrade included the General Dynamics UK Bowman tactical communications system and the addition of a night fighting capability in the form of the Thales Optronics battle group thermal imaging program. Until now the Warriors on duty in Estonia have been standard vehicles from the British Army training fleet with no theater-specific enhancements. The new Warriors appeared to be fitted with plates along the length of their hulls to defeat high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, which British Army sources said is designated Operational Equipment Standard 3 (OES3). This is an evolution of the theater entry standard armored packages developed for the Iraq and Afghan campaigns.

June 16/14: CT40. The WSCP’s 40mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (q.v. Feb 8/10) has achieved qualification certification from the UK and France for the 40mm cannon and 2 tracer round types: APFSDS armor piercing and TP full target practice rounds.

Qualification certification allows manned firing demonstration phases to begin for Britain’s FRES-Scout and WCSP programs, and for the French DGA’s EBRC wheeled light tank program. The program will work to certify the other initial ammunition types (A3B anti-aerial airburst, Point detonating and Airburst general purpose tracer rounds, and a low-cost reduced range TPPR-T training round) over the next 2 years, in time for the first delivery of the UK’s series production vehicles. The French EBRC program is expected to start full development in 2015. Sources: CTAI, “CTA International achieves Anglo-French qualification for the 40mm Cased Telescoped Cannon and Ammunition”.

Jan 28/14: PDR. Lockheed Martin UK completed its WCSP Preliminary Design Review the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP), following successful completion of a System Architecture Design Review (SADR). Sources: Lockheed Martin UK, “Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle Upgrade Gets Initial Design Approval”.

PDR

Oct 30/13: Kuwait. The Kuwaitis are reportedly inquiring about a similar upgrade for their 250+ vehicle Warrior fleet. Reports indicate that they’re willing to run the same competition based on their own needs, rather than just picking the same solution as the UK. Sources: Tactical Report, “Kuwait: Desert Warrior, Lockheed Martin v/s BAE Systems”.

Nov 13/12: Update. Lockheed Martin UK offers a brief progress report. WCSP programme manager Colin Gilding says that they’re “integrating a number of new technologies into the existing platform around space, weight, height and power…” The System Architecture Design Review was completed in November 2012. The Critical Design Review will be followed by man-in-the-loop firing trials in 2014, and the demonstration phase will end in 2016. Production will follow, with 2018 set as the scheduled in-service date.

Lockheed Martin UK’s Ampthill facility has received GBP 2.5 million in investment, including a GBP 1 million motion test rig with 8t capacity. It incorporates advanced aircraft simulator technologies, and will be used instead of outdoors vehicle tests for turret stabilization testing, turret servo testing, human factor assessments, training, and shakedown testing.

Nov 13/12: Sub-contractors. Lockheed Martin UK announces some new suppliers and responsibilities. MIRA will help Lockheed Martin UK with mechanical design, electrical design, and systems integration and test, working side by side at their dedicated new facility at Nuneaton. They’ll start with about 20 engineers and support staff, which will grow as the program matures.

Ultra Electronics is already a partner, and their Precision Air & Land Systems unit at Cheltenham now has a contract that includes the Warrior Power Distribution System, the Cannon Control Unit and Fire Control Computer (FCC). Ultra is already well underway with the development of the FCC, and will deliver the first Warrior units early next year. Their team will grow to 30 people during peak periods, and the recent contract will help them secure their supply chain.

June 19/12: Weapons. At the Eurosatory 2012 show, French operators give the Javelin anti-tank missile high marks for performance in Afghanistan, and the Javelin JV is in talks with 2 French firms to integrate Javelin with the BAE/Nexter CT40 turret. Nexter is the first firm, of course.

At the same time, Panhard General Defense is working with Lockheed Martin UK to develop its Sphinx medium 6×6 wheeled armored vehicle concept for France’s EBRC light tank competition. Lockheed Martin UK expects to leverage its turret work from the British FRES-SV and WCSP programs for EBRC, and the Javelin missile is already a mainstay in British service. Which means that any Javelin integration work performed for the French market could eventually filter back to those British armored programs. Sources: Army Recognition, “Lockheed Martin at Eurosatory 2012”.

2010 – 2011

With Scots Guards
(click to view full)

Oct 25/11: The UK Ministry of Defence signs a GBP 642 million (currently $1.06 billion) contract with Lockheed Martin’s team, as part of the GBP 1 billion WCSP upgrade program. WCSP reportedly got the go-ahead only after the Treasury’s spring 2011 agreement to a modest 1% increase in the MoD’s defense equipment program after 2015.

Lockheed Martin UK’s team will be responsible for upgrades and enhancements that extend the Warriors’ service life to beyond 2040, and the firm says that WCSP will support up to 600 jobs in the UK. UK MoD | Lockheed Martin | BBC.

WCSP contract

Feb 11/11: BAE. Reports surface that the UK Ministry of Defence has rejected BAE Systems’ WCSP proposal, leaving Team Lockheed as the only option. If the program continues, that is, and if they submit a satisfactory bid. No public explanation was given.

The loss, following General Dynamics’ big win on the FRES-SV contract, leaves BAE Systems with a very diminished presence in Britain’s future armored vehicle industry. Jane’s | The Telegraph.

BAE out

Jan 31/11: Is there a future for WCSP? Even after the recent Strategic Defence and Security Review, Defense News reports:

“The Warrior program, a top British Army priority, is at serious risk of being descoped, delayed or even shelved as budget cuts bite deeply into equipment plans. If the money is available – and that’s a big if – the revamped Warrior could have an initial operating capability of 2015, defense sources here said… Depending on whom you listen to, the WSCP program is either dead, almost dead or facing big changes.”

Some accounts have the number of remaining Warrior vehicles cut to just 270.

Jan 5/11: LMCO. Lockheed Martin UK announces that its Warrior Transformation Team (WTT) has successfully completed the latest series of live WCSP turret firing trials at the Faldingworth Test Range in Lincolnshire, confirms that they’ve submitted their Revise and Confirm proposal for the delayed WCSP upgrade program, and touts commonality benefits given their FRES-SV win.

In detailing its partner firms, the Lockheed Martin UK release no longer mentions NP Aerospace. Questions to Lockheed Martin UK received the response that: “The element that was NP is now being competed”.

March 3/10: WSCP Delay. Funding shortfalls have led the MoD’s Investment Approvals Board (IAB) to call for a 1-year delay before launching the WCSP program. The recommendation was made following the IAB’s Feb 25/10 meeting, which also covered the MoD Defence Equipment & Support’s recommendation in the FRES-SV competition. Jane’s report | PURCON | Defense News re: IAB’s agenda.

Feb 26/10: BAE. Jane’s reports that the FRES-SV industrial programs have become an issue in the Warrior competition, and could elbow it out. At the same time, BAE Systems had warned that its UK military land vehicle concerns will become a “dwindling support services business” should the group fail to be selected to meet the UK FRES-SV and the Warrior Capability Sustainment Plan. In other words, significant layoffs.

Feb 22/10: BAE. BAE Systems announces that they’re starting to build a GBP 4.5 million Turret Test Rig (TTR) for the FRES Scout and Warrior upgrade programs. The rig is closely modeled on BAE Systems’ Mission Equipment Vibration Table (MEVT) in Minneapolis, built for the US Future Combat Systems program. Indeed, systems modeling and analysis manager Vince Whelan relocated from Minneapolis.

The TTR is designed to take a turret through a 20-year life-span in 12-18 months by subjecting it to “shake, rattle and roll” tests under extremes of temperature. Electronic components in particular tend to dislike vibration, but the life of an armored vehicle makes a lot of vibration inevitable. Testing must be done, but field testing is inefficient and expensive. Hence the development of facilities like TTR/MEVT.

Feb 8/10: Cannon. The CTA International (CTAI) joint venture between BAE Systems and France’s Nexter signs a GBP 11 million contract with the French and British ministries of defense, in order to fund qualification of their 40mmm CTCA caseless cannon system. Qualification will begin in early 2011, including freezing, baking, humidity, “shake, rattle and roll” trials, etc. The UK and France have already signed a Government to Government Technical Arrangement for a jointly-funded qualification program, which will require around 15,000 rounds.

The final ammunition requirements will be defined once the prime contractors are announced in the next few weeks. Nexter has secured an ammunition supply contract from the French government, while BAE Systems Global Combat Systems – Munitions (GCSM), recently submitted a proposal to produce that 40mm ammunition through Britain’s existing MASS munitions supply contract.

While the system has been passed for manned firing and considerable data has already been collected, these trials will formally pass the system for use by the British and French armies. CTCA will be used in the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP), the FRES Scout reconnaissance vehicle for the British Army and in the French Army’s EBRC future reconnaissance vehicle. In Britain, however, the WCSP/FRES turrets and the FRES Scout chassis will be selected through competition. BAE Systems release.

CTAI contract

2007 – 2009

Dec 15/09: LMCO. Lockheed Martin UK announces that their team has successfully tested its design for the Warrior Capability and Sustainment Programme (WCSP) in a series of limited live firing trials, at the QinetiQ Test Range in Shoeburyness, Essex, UK. These tests were designed to prove structural integrity, accuracy, and integration. See also Dec 3/08 entry.

Nov 19/09: LMCO. Lockheed Martin UK signs a Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA) with the UK government’s Defence Support Group (DSG). It provides an overarching partnership framework that sets out key terms between the 2 organizations, which will be supplemented by specific teaming agreements, as opportunities arise. Specific teaming agreements for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) and the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) are part of the initial SPA. Lockheed Martin adds that:

“This Strategic Partnering Agreement underpins Lockheed Martin UK’s commitment to the Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Sector… Our plan, if we are successful in our bids on the WCSP and FRES programmes, is to co-locate with DSG at their Donnington facility.”

DSG launched on April 1/08 and brought together the Army ABRO and Navy/RAF DARA trading fund organizations into a single new defense Trading Fund, whose primary focus is in providing expert in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for the through-life support of UK Armed Forces equipment. DSG’s Head Office is located in Andover and provides strategic direction to the main sites in Bovington, Catterick, Colchester, Donnington, Sealand, St Athan, Stafford, Stirling, Telford and Warminster. Smaller support sites are located in Aldershot, Bicester, Kinnegar and Sennybridge ; and small support teams are permanently embedded at other UK military sites, as well as supporting operations at home and abroad. Lockheed Martin UK | UK DSG.

Nov 17-18/09: BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin UK submit bids for the WSCP program, and offer details concerning their solutions and/or teams. A decision is expected in Q1 2010.

BAE Systems touts their delivery of over 40 Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) modifications for Warrior in the last 5 years, and investment of GBP 40 million in company funds to develop the new gun, a new turret, and the vehicle’s electronic architecture.

Lockheed Martin UK’s release mentions its team of partners, and the firm provided additional details in response to questions; these were incorporated into the background briefing, above.

Bids in

March 30/09: Cannon. Defense News reports that Britain and France have agreed to a common process to qualify CTAI’s CT40 gun and ammunition, as the culmination of a 15-year, EUR 100 million development effort by the BAE Systems/ Nexter joint venture. Testing is expected to involve around 20,000 rounds, and could clear the cannon and most of its ammunition types for action by 2012.

Dec 3/08: Cannon. BAE Systems announces the successful completion of a demonstration and trials at the Kirkcudbright range in Scotland, using their MTIP2 40mm turret and its Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS). MTIP2 is a BAE Systems-funded project to lower risks for both both the Warrior Fightability and Lethality Improvement Programme (WFLIP) and the FRES-SV Scout vehicle. While the company’s offerings will use different turrets, they’ll share many common systems. BAE:

“Over the course of 3 trials open days, visitors saw the system perform static and moving firings against static and moving targets, using both training and armour-piercing rounds. 90 rounds were fired from the 40mm gun and 600 rounds from the chain gun [coaxial machine gun], achieving high levels of accuracy and reliability.”

March 26/08: Cannon. The British MoD decides that Warrior WFLIP and FRES-SV will use the Nexter/BAE CT40 gun and ammunition system. The design beats out Finmeccanica’s HITFIST-30 2-man turret with ATK’s Mk.44 30mm gun; and General Dynamics UK’s MK46 turret with Mk.44 gun as developed for the USMC’s amphibious EFV. Lockheed Martin Insys’ is designing a turret based on the existing Warrior design, adapted by Germany’s Rheinmetall Landsysteme. It was also reportedly slated to use the Mk.44, but the firm claims that its design is weapon-agnostic, and intends to continue competing. Jeffrey Strategic.

CT40 beats HITFIST

Dec 5/07: LMCO. Lockheed Martin UK announces successful testing of its WFLIP turret design, which combines ATK’s Bushmaster 30mm Mark 44 Cannon, on a modified Warrior turret with a dual axis stabilized BGTI (Battle Group Thermal Imaging) sight from Thales Optronics Limited. Rhinemetall Defence has designed the cannon, the mounting structure and the Ammunition Handling System. Curtiss-Wright is responsible for the turret stabilization.

The series of limited live firing trials was conducted at the Cranfield Ordnance Test & Evaluation Centre on Salisbury Plain Training Area. Through rapid prototyping Lockheed Martin has taken its WFLIP turret from an idea, through concept design, physical prototyping to live firing in just 33 weeks.

Additional Readings

• UK MoD – Medium Armoured Tracks Team (MATT). 2011 snapshot.

• British Army – Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

• Army Technology – Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicles, United Kingdom.

• Wikipedia – Warrior Tracked Armored Vehicle.

• Lockheed Martin UK – Warrior fightability and lethality improvement programme (WFLIP). 2010 snapshot.

• Defence Management Journal (Issue 40) – The WFLIP dilemma. Discusses the choice of gun: ATK’s Mk44 30mm cannon, or the Franco-British CT40?

Americas

Boeing won a $22.5 million contract for Laser Small Diameter Bomb all up rounds and warhead shipping containers. The deal provides 522 all up rounds and 131 warhead shipping containers for use by US Special Operations Detachment 1. The GBU-39 is a 250 pounds precision-guides glide bomb that is intended to provide aircraft with the ability to carry a higher number of more accurate bombs. It uses an advanced anti-jam GPS-aided inertial navigation system to attack fixed or stationary targets, and carries a multipurpose penetrating blast-and-fragmentation warhead with a programmable fuze. Boeing will perform work at St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be complete by February 8, 2021.

The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $13.9 million contract modification, which is for engineering services and travel for the AN/SLQ-32(V)6 upgrades design agent contract under the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program or SEWIP. SEWIP is an evolutionary acquisition and incremental development program. AN/SLQ-32(V)6 upgrades the existing AN/SLQ-32(V) electronic warfare system by incorporating SEWIP Block 1B3 and SEWIP Block 2 systems. The AN/SLQ-32 is an electronic warfare system that provides powerful countermeasures protection for small and mid-size surface ships. The SLQ-32 systems feature a lens-fed multi-beam array that generates very high jamming power at continuous wave so that an almost unlimited variety of jamming techniques can be used. Work will take place in Syracuse, New York and estimated completion will be by September 2020.

Middle East & Africa

Colonel Terence Taylor, commander of Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component–Afghanistan, told reporters recently that the new AC-130J gunship are in high demand over Afghanistan. Taylor said the gunships were flying every night and so far clocked 218 sorties. The new aircraft’s missions are part of an increase in the pace of the air war following the collapse of peace talks between the United States and the Taliban in early September, and a vow by President Donald Trump “to hit our enemy harder” than ever before. The Air Force’s new AC-130J has been operating over Afghanistan for a little more than four months. The AC-130J Ghostwriter’s gunship comes with the standard 105 mm cannon and an additional 30 mm GAU-23/A cannon, along with wing pylons designed to haul both GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress on the potential Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of 10 CH-47F helicopters. The estimate cost for the package is $830.3 million. This request represents the 10th Foreign Military Sales request from the UAE since the start of fiscal 2017, for a total approximate worth of $10.5 billion. It is also the first Foreign Military Financing request cleared by the DSCA since the Trump administration declared a regional emergency in order to get several weapons packages pushed through Congress despite opposition on Capitol Hill, leading to bipartisan criticism of the move. The UAE bought its first lot of CH-47Fs, 16 aircraft for estimated total of $2 billion, in 2009.

Europe

Swedish Defense company Saab carried out the first flight tests with its new advanced Electronic Attack Jammer Pod (EAJP). Saab flew its EAJP on the Gripen combat aircraft for the first time on November 4, the company announced. According to Saab, the pod’s interfaces with the aircraft’s hardware and software, as well as cockpit control and monitoring, were tested during the flight. “The purpose of Saab’s new EAJP pod is to protect aircraft against radars by sophisticated jamming functions, thereby blocking the opponent’s ability to attack them,” the company added. The EAJP is part of Saab’s Arexis family of electronic warfare systems, and the test marked the latest milestone since the system was first briefed to reporters earlier in the year.

Asia-Pacific

Bell-Boeing won a $68.2 million delivery order, which provides non-recurring as well as recurring engineering associated with the development, qualification test, integration, airworthiness substantiation, flight test demonstration and validation/verification of the Japan unique configuration into MV-22 Block C aircraft and the MV-22 Containerized Flight Training Device. This effort also includes logistics and training efforts, to include post-delivery reach-back support, aircraft preservation and de-preservation, storage, aircraft transit support as well as the remaining unique kits and installs in support of the government of Japan. The V-22 is a multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing, and short takeoff and landing capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. Work will take place in Pennsylvania, Texas, Japan, Alabama, Kansas, Texas, Indiana, Virgnia, Alabama and is expected to be finished in August 2024.

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