Defense Industry Daily

Americas

• The US Army has awarded LOC Performance a $49.1 million contract modification to an existing order for Bradley Fighting Vehicle modification kits and installation. Under the terms of the deal, LOC will produce and supply 276 additional Bradley Engineering Change Proposal 1 kits and two sets of spare parts, which will be used to upgrade Bradley Fighting Vehicles weight-bearing systems and underbelly armor. Work will be conducted at Plymouth, Minn. with a completion date scheduled for April 30, 2019. The Engineering Change Proposal 1 installs heavy load-bearing tracks, torsion bars to restore ground clearance and improved underbelly armor on the Bradleys. This in turn improves the vehicle’s capability to handle the stress placed on its chassis caused by the installation of armor upgrades and Bradley Urban Survivability Kits.

• Lockheed Martin will deliver Patriot Advanced Capability-3 anti-ballistic missile systems to several international customers after receiving a $130.3 million contract from the US Army. The order calls for the delivery of 35 missile segment enhancements, 100 launcher modifications kits, parts, software, and missile round trainers. Recipients of the systems include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Untied Arab Emirates, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan. Work will primarily take place at the company’s Grand Prairie, Texas facility, as well as other sites across the US, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2020.

Africa

• The Nigerian armed forces have began to receive deliveries of 4×4 armored personnel carriers from the Streit Group. Its first batch of 25 vehicles included the firm’s Spartan APCs and Typhoon 4×4 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles. It’s expected that a total of 177 vehicles will be delivered. The Spartan provides protection against both ballistic and blast threats with crew compartment protection of CEN Level BR6 armor. The Typhoon 4×4 MRAP features a V-shaped armored hull as well as blast protection to STANAG 4569 Level 3. Nigeria will use the vehicles to better tackle the ongoing insurgency by the jihadist group Boko Haram in the country’s north and east.

Middle East & North Africa

• Israel has increased the scope of its Leonardo Aermacchi M-346 “Lavi” advanced jet trainers after the successful upgrade of the aircraft’s software. Additional external fuel tanks have already been added to the trainers with future enhancements to include the addition of live bombs which will allow for the advanced training of air-to-surface strike missions. The aircraft are also being employed to support advanced training involving “fourth-generation” fighters.

• Turkish F-16 Block 30 fighters are scheduled to get structural and avionic upgrades aimed at increasing the fleet’s combat capabilities. A total of 35 aircraft will undergo the modernization, 25 of which will be upgraded jointly by Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and manufacturer Lockheed Martin, while the remaining ten will be upgraded at a Turkish Air Force support and maintenance unit in Eskisehir in Central Anatolia. Deliveries of the modernized aircraft will begin in 2018 and completed by the end of 2023. This is likely to be the last Turkish F-16 upgrade program as the fighters will be eventually phased out in favor of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Europe

• Swedish truck manufacturer Volvo has two interested buyers for its armored vehicles unit, Renault Trucks Defense (RTD), in a deal estimated to be worth $573 million. The interested parties expected to submit offers by the July 24 deadline include French-German tank maker KNDS and Belgian group CMI. Sources close to the deal added that private equity groups which initially expressed interest in RTD are not expected to take part in the auction, which is organized by Rothschild. Volvo’s decision to shed RTD from its portfolio comes as the firm looks to dump non-core assets as part of efforts to streamline a group that has been built on a series of large acquisitions. It has already sold its aerospace unit and external IT operations as well as a large real estate portfolio.

Asia Pacific

• Indian officials have commenced negotiations to buy ex-French Air Force Jaguar strike fighters. The aircraft had been offered to New Delhi by France about six months ago, and the issue is expected to be discussed during a meeting between both countries’ air force chiefs in India this week. While it remains unknown how much France wants in exchange for the warplanes, Indian officials said that they are actively considering acquiring them after proper refurbishment.

• India’s Dassault Rafale fighters on order from France will be equipped with Israeli firm Rafael’s Litening targeting pod. Yuval Miller, head of the Israeli company’s air and C4I systems division said that the pods, produced to the latest 4I island will be manufactured in India in partnership with a local firm. The Indian air force already uses the Rafael-produced pod on several types of combat aircraft, having acquired the system in the Litening III standard. Rafael also is to supply its advanced 4I version of the system for use by the Aeronautical Development Agency’s Tejas light combat aircraft.

Today’s Video

• MiG-35 at MAKS 2017:

M3A3 Bradley CFV: Charge!
(click to view full)

In the 1970s, middle eastern wars demonstrated that tanks without infantry screens were vulnerable to infantry with anti-tank missiles. Unfortunately, armored personnel carriers were easy prey for enemy tanks, and sometimes had trouble just keeping up with friendly tanks like America’s 60+ ton, 50+ mph M1 Abrams. In response, the Americans rethought the armored personnel carrier, taking a page from the Soviet book. They created a more heavily armored, faster “Infantry Fighting Vehicle” named after WW2 General Omar “the soldier’s general” Bradley, and gave it an offensive punch of its own. M2/M3 tracked, armored IFVs can carry infantry – but they also have 25mm Bushmaster cannons, networked targeting sensors, and even TOW anti-armor or Stinger anti-aircraft missiles at their disposal.

Bradley puts on wear
(click to view full)

Even well-serviced vehicles must suffer the pangs of age and wear, however, and the pace of electronics breakthroughs is far faster than the Army’s vehicle replacement cycle. The US Army plans to keep its Bradley fleet for some time to come, and new technologies have made it wise to upgrade part of that fleet while renewing the vehicles. Hence the remanufacture program, which complements the restore-only RESET programs.

This free-to-view DII Spotlight article explains the differences between the Bradley variants involved, details the re-manufacture process, offers additional research sources, and covers associated contracts from FY 1999 to the present.

Bradley Variants and Sub-Variants: A Quick Guide Bradley Fighting Vehicles: Origins and History

M3A2 CFV: Ad-Dwr, Iraq
(click to view full)

Introduced in the 1980s during the Reagan defense build-up, the Bradleys were a departure from the usual mold of lightly armed Armored Personnel Carriers. They were heavily criticized for their expense, and accused of being both too heavy for rapid transport to crisis points and too lightly armored to hold their own against serious opposition. Even so, over 6,700 were produced. Most were for the US Army, but there was also a minor order on the side from the Saudis.

The Bradley IFV/CFV was finally thrust into battle during the 1991 Desert Storm campaign, where their combination of firepower, mobility, and protection made them a valuable asset, and largely laid the effectiveness controversies to rest. A widely upgraded fleet of Bradleys would reprise this role in Operation Iraqi Freedom, both during the deep in-country push that culminated in the “Thunder Run” into Baghdad, and during subsequent stabilization operations. The 2nd Battle of Fallujah also made heavy use of the Bradley, as documented in Staff Sgt. David Bellavia’s (retd.) excellent book “House to House: An Epic Memoir of War.”

Today, many other nations employ IFVs, from older Russian BMP/BRDMs to modernized and up-gunned M113 APCs, to more modern options like BAE’s popular CV90 family and Germany’s new Puma IFV from KMW & Rheinmetall.

The Bradleys’ high level of protection against anti-tank rockets has proven to be a significant plus, and operational readiness has reportedly exceeded 94%, during urban and cross-country missions that have covered more than 8 million miles. Its major weakness is a 175 gallon fuel tank in the belly, which is typically protected only by aluminum armor, and can become a source of severe burns during land mine attacks. Unfortunately, the Bradleys are not being redesigned to carry fuel externally as part of the remanufacture and upgrade process. Instead, a number of Bradleys are receiving improved mine-resistant belly armor as a stopgap measure, plus BFSS that use a new, lower, fuel cell bladder

Bradley Family Variants

M6 Linebacker
(click to view full)

Bradley vehicles carry a crew of 3 (commander, gunner and driver), plus additional soldiers in some variants. Overall, the Bradleys fulfills 5 critical mission roles for the US Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams: infantry fighting vehicle – carries 6-7 troops (M2); cavalry fighting vehicle – carries 2 scouts (M3); fire support vehicle (A3 BFIST or M7 BFIST based on A2-ODS); battle command vehicle; and engineer squad vehicle (EBFV, or M2A2-ODS-E).

The M-A3s are the most modern variants of the Bradley, with fully digitized computing, navigation, and communications equipment. On-board subsystem monitoring, diagnostics/ prognostics, and segregated electrical power are included in this upgrade, as are improved NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection and the addition of a 7th troop seat in the M2A3 variant. The A3 then adds enhanced sensors including IBAS 2nd generation FLIR (thermal imaging) with significantly greater range. Armor Magazine’s March 2005 issue relates this story from Iraq:

“Staff Sergeant Brian Flading, a 19D Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, remembers an incident when his platoon was mortared one night in Balad. With the new FLIR, the crew was able to see the enemy shooting the mortars. His crew sent rounds downrange within three seconds of the mortar shot…”

The US Army plans to have more than 2,000 total Bradley A3s in its future fleet. Most of those vehicles will be converted to that standard through the remanufacture process.

M-A2-ODS vehicles lack the full electronics, sensor set, and future upgradeability of the M-A3s; instead, they have their own set of off-the-shelf improvements over the base M-A2s that duplicate many of the A3 variants’ essential capabilities, without the cost of a full A3 upgrade. Many remanufactured vehicles are being brought to the “Operation Desert Storm – Situational Awareness” standard, from the base A2 or A2-ODS.

Navigation that allows ODS vehicles to maneuver with more modern variants is provided by the addition of PGS/POSNAV. For ODS – Situational Awareness vehicles, the new laser range-finder is integrated into both the new GPS system, and new FBCB2 (aka. “Blue Force Tracker”) equipment, significantly improving their ability to designate and hand off targets. Survivability gets a boost via the integration of Battlefield Combat Identification System and a Missile Countermeasure device, as well as applique reactive armor from the General Dynamics-RAFAEL partnership. Bench seats help the crew mount up and dismount faster. Finally, a 7th seat has been added to the ODS to support the 3×9 Mechanized Infantry Platoon organization.

M7 Bradley BFIST
(click to expand)

M6 Linebacker. This variant carried Stinger missiles and related sensors to serve as mobile short-range air defense for US armored formations, but for good or ill most Linebackers have been converted into M2A2-ODS vehicles under a February 2005 contract.

The M7 BFIST (Bradley FIre Support Team) is a variant of the M2A2-ODS Bradley. It is used as an artillery forward observer vehicle and laser designator, providing major improvements in first-round artillery accuracy on a platform whose mobility and survivability is the same as the armored maneuver units it rides in. BFIST’s performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom was reported to be impressive. The M7’s successor is simply referred to as the Bradley A3 FIST or A3 BFIST, and incorporates all Bradley M-A3 features in addition to its suite of advanced targeting sensors and electronics.

Beyond the listed variants, the Bradley Urban Survivability Kit (BUSK) III offers a useful set of bolt-on improvements: an Emergency Ramp Release (ERR) to get out of battle damaged vehicles; Bradley Fuel Cell Survivability (BFSS) which increases protection against land mine blasts by using a new, lower, fuel cell bladder; Bradley Advanced Survivability Seats-Driver (BASS-D) energy absorbing seats and foot rests; and a Turret Advanced Survivability System (TASS) that adds floor plates and energy-absorbing foot rests for the gunner and commander.

Bradley Remanufacture Program: Details & Contracts

M2A3 Bradley
(click to view full)

BAE Systems works through its Public Private Partnership with Red River Army Depot (RRAD) in Texas to remanufacture and upgrade these vehicles. Initial disassembly and subsystem rebuild is performed at RRAD. Further disassembly and structural modifications is performed by BAE Systems in Fayette County, PA, with some work done in Aiken, SC. Final assembly, integration and test is conducted at the BAE Systems facility in York, PA.

Unlike RESET programs, designed to replace all defective or worn parts and restore/service a vehicle back to pre-combat condition, remanufacture is a complete rebuild designed to return it to full “zero miles” condition, and install upgrades.

Unless otherwise specified, the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI manages the contract, and BAE Land Systems and Armaments is the recipient.

FY 2017

July 19/17: The US Army has awarded LOC Performance a $49.1 million contract modification to an existing order for Bradley Fighting Vehicle modification kits and installation. Under the terms of the deal, LOC will produce and supply 276 additional Bradley Engineering Change Proposal 1 kits and two sets of spare parts, which will be used to upgrade Bradley Fighting Vehicles weight-bearing systems and underbelly armor. Work will be conducted at Plymouth, Minn. with a completion date scheduled for April 30, 2019. The Engineering Change Proposal 1 installs heavy load-bearing tracks, torsion bars to restore ground clearance and improved underbelly armor on the Bradleys. This in turn improves the vehicle’s capability to handle the stress placed on its chassis caused by the installation of armor upgrades and Bradley Urban Survivability Kits.

FY 2013

 

March 21/13: CAV – IFV. BAE Systems Land & Armament LP, York, PA receives a $16.6 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to convert Bradley Reset Vehicles from M3A3 to M2A3 configuration. In other words, to change them from cavalry scout vehicles with a crew and 2 scouts, to infantry fighting vehicles that carry their crew + 7 soldiers.

Work will be performed in York, PA; Lemont Furnace, PA; and Aiken, SC; with an estimated completion date of Aug 29/14. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by Army Contracting Command in Warren, MI (W56HZV-10-G-0003).

FY 2011 – 2012

Orders, including BUSK urban warfare kits; Slow funding forces a furlough at York.

M2 & BUSK armor
(click to view larger)

Aug 14/12: +353 various. BAE Systems in York, PA receives a $306.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to upgrade 353 Operation Desert Storm M2A2, M3A2 and M7 Bradley Fire Support Team vehicles to Operation Desert Storm Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) configurations. This production contract is the flip side of $340 million in funding to purchase upgrade materials, bringing the full contract total for the 353 vehicles to $646 million.

Work will begin in August 2012, with final delivery expected in April 2014, but the contract runs until May 30/14. The upgraded Bradleys will be provided to the Minnesota and Pennsylvania National Guard units, and to Combined Armed Battalions in the Kansas, South Carolina and Ohio National Guard units (W56HZV-10-G-0003). See also BAE Systems.

Aug 13/12: The furlough ends at BAE’s York, PA plant. Source: BAE personnel.

Furlough ends

May 10/12: A $68.7 million cost-reimbursement, no-fee contract modification to reset, and if necessary to convert, Bradley ODS vehicles to the ODS-SA standard. Subsequent conversations with BAE personnel reveal that it did not avert the planned furlough (vid. May 2/12 entry), and was just additional funding for parts due to delays in getting the main contract award. That award came through in August 2012.

Work will be performed in York, PA, with an estimated completion date of May 31/14. One bid was solicited, with one bid received (W56HZV-10-G-0003).

May 6/12: A $31.6 million firm-fixed-price contract modification will supply material and labor for Bradley ODS (Operation Desert Storm) vehicle conversions. This would appear to be the installation and labor bookend to the Dec 7/11 contract.

Work will be performed in York, PA, with an estimated completion date of Oct 31/12. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W56HZV-10-G-0003).

May 2/12: Layoff. BAE furloughs 210 employees from mid-July to Mid-August 2012, pending the release of more Bradley funds. Furloughed workers will be covered by their company benefits during the 30-day period, and can also choose to apply vacation time to this period and be paid. The firm expects to have everyone back by Aug 13/12. York Daily Record.

Furloughs at York

Dec 7/11: BAE US Combat Systems in York, PA receives a $30.4 million cost-no-fee and firm-fixed-price contract, to buy materials for 247 Bradley ODS-SA vehicles. It looks like this boosts the Oct 5/11 contract.

Work will be performed in York, PA with an estimated completion date of Oct 31/12. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by the US Army’s Contracting Command in Warren, MI (W56HZV-10-G-0003).

Oct 5/11: +245 ODS. A $270.8 million cost-no-fee contract will buy the materials and equipment needed to bring 245 Bradleys to the Operational Desert Storm Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) standard. Work will be performed in York, PA, with an estimated completion date of Dec 30/13. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W56HZV-10-G-0003).

Aug 25/11: BUSK. BAE Systems in York, PA receives a $23.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for Bradley Urban Survivability Kits. Work will be performed in York, PA, with an estimated completion date of March 9/12. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W56HZV-10-G-0003)

April 25/11: BUSK. BAE Systems receives a $53.3 million contract to provide 3,034 Bradley Urban Survivability Kits III to outfit the Bradley Fighting Vehicles to the BUSK III configuration.

Work will be performed in York, PA with an estimated completion date of June 30/11. One bid was solicited with 1 bid received by the Army Contracting Command in Warren, MI (W56HZV-05-D-0005).

March 22/11: Components. A $47.7 million cost-reimbursement, no-fee contract for M2A2 ODS-SA(Operation Desert Storm – Situational Awareness) components, to be used to convert Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Work will be performed in York, PA, with an estimated completion date of Oct 31/12. One bid was solicited with one bid received (W56HZV-10-G-0003).

Nov 9/10: long-lead. A $250.1 million cost reimbursement – no fee contract. It covers long lead time materials to make up 247 M2/M3 Bradley Operation Desert Storm Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) conversion kits, with 202 used under the contract to convert vehicles from Bradley ODS to ODS-SA configurations, and the other 45 kept for future requirements. The main buy of ODS-SA kits and conversions is expected in April 2011.

Work is to be performed in York, PA, with an estimated contract completion date of Feb 28/12, but BAE Systems places the end of production work at September 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received (W56HZV-10-G-0003). See also BAE release.

FY 2008 – 2010

Orders slow down.

M2A3 & squad
(click to view full)

April 1/10: Sub-contractors. L-3 Communications Combat Propulsion Systems in Muskegon, MI received a $16.1 million firm-price with incentive and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for 221 remanufactured Bradley transmissions, 2 control tests and incentive fee pool. Work is to be performed in Muskegon, MI (54%), and Texarkana, TX (46%) with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/13. For the order, 1 bid was solicited with 1 bid received by the US Army TACOM Contracting Center in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-C-0098).

Sept 23/09: Sub-contractors. L-3 Communications Combat Propulsion Systems in Muskegon, MI received a $33.1 million firm-fixed-price with Incentive and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for 94 remanufactured Bradley transmissions and parts, 20 new Bradley transmissions, 87 repaired Bradley transmissions, 979 parts kits to rebuild Bradley transmissions, 20,000 hours of system technical support, and $5.2 million in management support.

Work is to be performed in Texarkana, TX (43%), Muskegon, MI (42%) and Huddersfield, UK (15%) with an estimated completion date of Dec 30/11. One bid solicited with one bid received by the U.S. Army TACOM LCMC in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-C-0098).

April 6/09: Sub-contractors. Raytheon Network-Centric Systems in McKinney, TX announces $163.5 million worth of contracts from BAE for 822 advanced thermal sighting systems: a $123 million order for 620 Commander’s Independent Viewer block 1 units on Feb 20/09, and a $40.5 million award for 202 units on Feb 26/09. The systems will be installed on Bradley M-A3 vehicles.

Raytheon’s CIV is a 2nd-generation infrared vision system that provides the commander with a 360-degree battlefield view. It complements sub-systems like DRS’ IBAS (Improved Bradley Acquisition System), and has the same extended-range capabilities. By providing the commander and gunner with independent sights, it allows the vehicle to operate in “hunter-killer” mode, with the gunner engaging one target while the commander surveys the situation and queues up the next victim.

Sept 22/08: +326 various. BAE announces a a $742 million U.S. Army contract to remanufacture and upgrade 326 Bradley vehicles. The award exercises an option in the contract announced on July 8/08, and brings the total value of BAE Systems’ 2008 Bradley remanufacturing contracts to $1.3 billion for 578 vehicles.

Under this award, BAE Systems will remanufacture another 189 M2A3 IFVs (51 of which which will covert to M3A3 cavalry vehicles), 115 M3A3 cavalry vehicles, and 22 M3A3 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) vehicles.

These Bradley vehicles will be equipped with improved armor designed to resist land mine attacks, Bradley Urban Survivability Kits, and several engineering changes designed to increase soldier survivability. The company will also provide more than 200 different types of spare parts in varying quantities. Work under the contract will begin immediately by the existing workforce, with deliveries ending in February 2011.

July 8/08: +252. BAE announces a $538 million U.S. Army contract to remanufacture 252 Bradley vehicles: 160 M2A3 vehicles, 60 M3A3 cavalry vehicles and 32 M3A3 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) vehicles in conjunction with the Red River Army Depot. The company will also provide 200 different types of spare parts, in varying quantities.

Work under the contract will begin immediately, with deliveries ending in June 2010.

Sept 15/08: IED kits. BAE Systems announces an $11 million contract from the U.S. Army to purchase and install Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Mine Armor Kits on 433 Bradley Combat Systems vehicles. This award also includes the installation work for 116 kits previously purchased under this contract. When combined with previous awards, this modification brings the total contract value to $96 million for Bradley IED Mine Armor Kits.

Work under the contract will be conducted at various field installation sites with deliveries scheduled from December 2008 through March 2009.

March 31/08: Sub-contractors. L-3 Communications Corp. received a $20.8 million firm-fixed price contract for remanufactured Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems transmissions. Work will be performed in Muskegon, MI and is expected to be complete by Aug 4/09. Web bids were solicited on Oct 17/07, and 1 bid was received by U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command in Warren, MI (W56HZV-08-C-0119).

FY 2005 – 2007

Heavy orders, as wars take their toll.

M2s, Sadr City
(click to view full)

July 23/07: +172 various. BAE announces a pair of contract modifications from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, totaling $411.7 million.

Under the first contract, BAE Systems will upgrade 172 Bradleys to the A3 baseline: 108 M2A2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, 60 M3A2 Cavalry Fighting Vehicles and 4 M7 FIST Fire Support Team Vehicles. The second contract calls for BAE Systems to provide spare parts for Bradley A3 Combat Systems. Deliveries for both contracts are scheduled to begin in October 2009, and continue through February 2010.

These contracts, when combined with the $1.16 billion contract awarded in November 2006 for the remanufacture and upgrade of 610 Bradley Combat Systems, bring the total value of BAE Systems Bradley work to $3.9 billion for Fiscal Years 2005 – 2007. BAE Systems release.

Feb 14/07: +8 A3. The full delivery order amount of $16 million as part of a firm-fixed-price contract for the remanufacture and upgrade of 8 Vehicles to M2A3 standard, and return to 0 Mile Condition. Work will be performed in York, PA (60%), Fayette, PA (8%), Santa Clara, CA (28%), and Aiken, SC (4%), and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2009. This was a sole source contract initiated on Feb. 10, 2006 (W56HZV-05-G-0005). See also BAE Systems release.

Nov 27/06: +490 various. BAE Systems in York, PA receives the full delivery order amount of $1.01 billion as part of a firm-fixed-price contract to remanufacture of 490 total Bradleys into M2A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, M3A3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle scouts, and A3 BFIST targeting and fire control vehicle configurations. Work will begin immediately, and will be performed in York, PA (60%), Fayette, PA (8%), Santa Clara, CA (28%), and Aiken, SC (4%). Deliveries are scheduled to begin in April 2008, and the contract is expected to be complete by May 31, 2009. This was a sole source contract initiated on Feb. 10, 2006 (W56HZV-05-G-0005).

Nov 27/06: +120 ODS. BAE Systems in York, PA receives the full delivery order amount of $118.7 million as part of a firm-fixed-price contract to remanufacture 120 total Bradleys to M2A2-ODS and M3A2-ODS configurations. Work will begin immediately, and will be performed in York, PA (60%), Fayette, PA (8%), Santa Clara, CA (28%), and Aiken, SC (4%), and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2009. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in April 2008, and the contract is expected to be complete by May 31, 2009. This was a sole source contract initiated on Feb. 10, 2006 (W56HZV-05-G-0005). See BAE release re: its Nov 27/06 contracts.

July 28/06: +96 various. The 2 orders announced on this day included full delivery order amounts of $192.6 million and $30.9 million [TL.= $223.5 million] as part of a firm-fixed-price contract for FY 2006 remanufacture and upgrade of Bradley vehicles. Work will be performed in York, PA (83%), Aiken, SC (5%), San Jose, CA (8%), and Fayette, PA (4%), and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2008. This will be performed under a sole source contract initiated on May 17, 2006 (W56HZV-05-G-0005).

BAE Systems, in partnership with Red River Army Depot (RRAD), will remanufacture and upgrade a total of 96 vehicles whose final configurations will be: 57 Bradley A3 vehicles in infantry (M2A3) and cavalry (M3A3) configurations, 16 Bradley A3 Fire Support Team (FIST) vehicles, and 23 M7 BFIST vehicles based on the M2A2-ODS. See also BAE’s release.

June 27/05: +533. See BAE’s June 27, 2005 release covering all of the remanufacturing work announced on DefenseLINK June 23, 2005. DID also covered this set. Over $1.1 billion worth of contracts encompassed:

• 450 older Bradleys remanufactured to Bradley A3 status – the total value of this delivery order also incorporates 55 vehicles and $71.5 million awarded in March, 2005.

• 50 vehicles remanufactured to Bradley A2-ODS status, plus kits to convert 100 more vehicles to the A2-ODS configuration.

• 33 vehicles remanufactured to Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) vehicles

• Spares for Bradley A3 vehicles (not noted below, as not part of the remanufacture program)

• BAE Systems will also provide 120 Commander’s Independent Viewers for 120 Bradley vehicles ordered under a contract modification.

June 23/05: A3. United Defense LP (now part of BAE Systems) in York, PA receives a delivery order amount of $896.4 million as part of a $967.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for the remanufacture of Bradley A3 vehicles. Work will be performed in York, PA (83%), San Jose, CA (8%), Aiken, SC (5%), and Fayette, PA (4%), and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2008. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 1, 2005 (W56HZV-05-G-0005).

June 23/05: ODS. United Defense LP (now part of BAE Systems) in York, PA receives the full delivery order amount of $78.4 million as part of a firm-fixed-price contract for the remanufacture of M-A2 Operation Desert Storm vehicles and conversion kits. Work will be performed in York, PA (83%), San Jose, CA (8%), Aiken, SC (5%), and Fayette, PA (4%), and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2008. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 1, 2005 (W56HZV-05-G-0005).

June 23/05: M7 BFIST. United Defense LP (now part of BAE Systems) in York, PA receives the full delivery order amount of $31.4 million as part of a firm-fixed-price contract for the remanufacture of M7 Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicles. Work will be performed in York, PA (83%), San Jose, CA (8%), Aiken, SC (5%), and Fayette, PA (4%), and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2008. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 1, 2005 (W56HZV-05-G-0005).

June 23/05: Components. United Defense LP (now part of BAE Systems) in York, PA receives a $30.6 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for the commander’s independent viewers. Work will be performed in York, PA (83%), San Jose, CA (8%), Aiken, SC (5%), and Fayette, PA (4%), and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2008. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 1, 2005 (DAAE07-01-C-M016).

FY 1999 – 2004

123 vehicles – but this list may not be exhaustive.

M2A3 & squad, Iraq
(click to view full)

Sept 24/99: +53. United Defense LP (now part of BAE Systems) in York, PA receives a $43.8 million modification to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract DAAE07-96-C-X036, to acquire the effort necessary to remanufacture/ convert 53 Bradley Fighting Vehicles from an M3A0 configuration to an M3A2-ODS configuration. Work will be performed in York, PA and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30, 2001.

Dec 21/98: +70. United Defense LP (now part of BAE Systems) in York, PA receives a $114.6 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for the remanufacture of 27 M2A2 vehicles to the upgraded M2A3 configuration, remanufacture of 43 M3A2 vehicles to the upgraded M3A3 configuration, and the purchase of material/support for 3 M2A3 vehicles (the price for an option to build these three vehicles is not included in this contract action). Work will be performed in York, PA and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2001. This is a sole source contract initiated on Jan. 30, 1998 (DAAE07-96-C-X036).

Additional Readings & Sources

• Army Technology – Bradley M2 / M3 Tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicles, USA

• GlobalSecurity.org – M2 and M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems (BFVS)

• Association of the United States Army, Army Magazine (June 2005 – DEAD LINK) – Bradley A3. Good overview of the Bradley modernization program. See this 2012 document from PEO GCS [PDF] instead.

• BAE Systems – Command and Control Vehicle (C2V), M4. Via Wayback.

• Army Technology – Bradley Linebacker Short Range Air Defense Vehicle, USA

• BAE Systems – Bradley Fire Support Vehicle, M7. Via Wayback.

• Association of the United States Army, Army Magazine (July 2002) – M7 Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicle

• Ft. Sill, OK – Fire Support Branch (re: M7 Bradley BFIST). Via Wayback.

• Defense News (Sept 23/13) – Industry Pushes Back Against Army Report. “BAE Systems CEO Linda Hudson, the heads of 40 suppliers that help sustain the company’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle program and several labor unions penned a highly critical letter to Army Secretary John McHugh on Sept. 19…”

• Breaking Defense (March 14/13) – BAE Storms Hill For Bradley Funding To Keep Penn. Plant Alive.

• Lt. Col. James L. Miller, Field Artillery Magazine (Sept-Oct 2002) – How to Develop the Best-Ever Fire Support System [PDF]. Good explanation re: the doctrinal, training, and support elements that go into this effort. See also his maintenance notes re: the M7 Bradley BFIST.

Americas

• Airbus Helicopters has received a $35.2 million contract modification for the supply of parts and logistical support for the US Army’s UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter. The deal includes orders for spare parts and logistical support to account for higher flying hours by the UH-72 fleet than originally projected. Work will be conducted at Grand Prairie, Texas, with a scheduled completion date set at December 31, 2017. $35.2 million in 2017 Army operations and maintenance funds have been obligated for the project.

• The first Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer to be commissioned in five years has been named the USS John Finn, during a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Named after US Navy sailor Chief John Finn, Finn had been awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the attack on Pearl Habor, and at the time of his death in 2010, was the oldest living recipient of the award. In preparation for the vessel’s commissioning, acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackly said that Finn “distinguished himself through heroic service to his fellow Sailors and our nation. I know the men and women who make up the crew of USS John Finn will carry his legacy forward with the same selfless service he distinguished more than 75 years ago.”

Middle East & North Africa

• Despite recently agreeing to purchase the S-400 air defense system from Russia, Turkey has also signed an initial agreement with the Franco-Italian Eurosam consortium for the development of a missile defense system. According to the deal, Turksh companies and Eurosam—which is owned by the multinational European missile maker MBDA and France’s Thales—will work together to produce SAMP/T Aster 30 long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, which is already in use in several NATO member countries. The SAMP/T Aster 30 system uses a network of sophisticated radars and sensors – including 3D phased array radar – enabling it to be highly effective against all types of air threats. The system can intercept missiles with a 600 kilometer range and it can operate in standalone mode or can be integrated in a coordinated network such as NATO missiles defense system.

Europe

• An investigation into fraud surrounding Austria’s 2003 purchase of Eurofighter jets has moved forward after Green party lawmaker Peter Pilz filed an official complaint with Vienna prosecutors against Daimler. Daimler, which was the parent company of Airbus’ predecessor EADS, is being accused by Pilz of deceiving the Austrian Economy Ministry about side deals intended to boost the local economy that were required by Vienna to agree the purchase. Pilz added that after years of research, they have “a seamless chain of evidence” that shows that new projects presented by firms tendering for the fighter contract were in fact already underway. Daimler company spokeswoman Ute Wueest von Vellberg said the criminal charges were unfounded.

• Russia’s next-generation fighter-interceptor jet is being designated the PAK DP, according to director general of the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (RSK MiG), Ilya Tarasenko. Research and development work of the aircraft is expected to start in 2019 and will replace the MiG-31 which is expected to be phased out of service in the next ten years and replaced by a more sophisticated warplane. Meanwhile, Russia’s next generation strategic bomber, known as the Advanced Long-Range Aviation Complex (PAK DA), is due to make its maiden flight in 2025-2026 and is expected to enter serial production shortly after.

• Following a series of flight trails earlier this year, a British Eurofighter Typhoon has test-fired a Brimstone air-to-surface missile for the first time. The missile’s integration is part of Phase 3 Enhancements developed for the jet in a wider a program known as Project Centurion, which aims to deliver a series of upgrades that will improve the strike abilities of RAF-operated Tornado GR4s and Typhoons. The missile is expected to enter service in 2018.

Asia Pacific

• Prosecutors in South Korea have raided the offices of the nation’s only aircraft manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), after allegations that the firm inflated the research and development costs of a weapons program. Although the project in question has yet to be officially revealed, South Korean media believe that the wrongdoing occurred during the development of the Surion helicopter, where KAI allegedly defrauded the state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration out of $41.8 million. This marks the first investigation since reformist prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol was appointed as head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors‘ Office. Yoon was a member of an independent counsel team involved in the probe that impeached former President Park Geun-hye and her administration on corruption charges.

• The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) has taken delivery of two overhauled F-7 jets as Chinese specialists help the island nation conduct overhauls of two further F-7 aircraft at the Aircraft Overhaul Wing located at SLAF base, Katunayake. It is expected that the Chinese will help with a number of further overhauls before withdrawing, leaving the SLAF with the capability to independently handle future work. While initial overhauls are being conducted solely on Chinese-made airframes—Columbo operates PT-6 trainers and Y-12 transport aircraft in addition to the F-7s—it may be possible to overhaul other aircraft as well. Sri Lanka currently has a number of Russian-made MiG-27s and the Israeli Kfirs, however, they are either grounded or deemed unserviceable.

Today’s Video

• HALO jumps for the armchair general:

UH-72As: MEDEVAC
(click to view full)

DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This is DID’s FOCUS Article regarding the US Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program, covering the program and its objectives, the winning bid team and industrial arrangements, and contracts.

The US Army’s LUH program will finish as a 325 helicopter acquisition program that will be worth about $2.3 billion when all is said and done. It aimed to replace existing UH-1 Hueys and OH-58 Kiowa utility variants in non-combat roles, freeing up larger and more expensive UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for front-line duty. In June 2006, a variant of Eurocopter’s EC145 beat AgustaWestland’s AB139, Bell-Textron’s 412EP Twin Huey, and MD Helicopters’ 902 Explorer NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) design. The win marked EADS’ 1st serious military win in the American market, and their “UH-145” became the “UH-72A Lakota” at an official December 2006 naming ceremony.

Eurocopter has continued to field new mission kits and deliver helicopters from its Mississippi production line, while trying to build on their LUH breakthrough. A training helicopter win will keep the line going for a couple more years…

The LUH Program: Objectives & Background

RAH-66 Comanche
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The LUH program spun out of the canceled $9 billion AH-66 Comanche stealth scout/attack helicopter, as one of the US Army’s cheaper reinvestment and recapitalization options. LUH helicopters are intended to replace Vietnam era UH-1H Hueys and OH-58A/C Kiowa aircraft in the U.S. Army and National Guard. Note that the US Marine Corps will continue to fly the modernized UH-1Y Venom, and the civilian para-military DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is likely to retain many of its OH-58s and may pick some up from Army surplus.

The US Army’s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters, meanwhile, will be replaced by 368 militarized Bell 407s between FY 2006-2013 under the $2.2 billion Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) program, the first of the AH-66 spinoffs. These efforts are part of the Army Aviation Modernization Program, along with programs like the Warrior UAV and hopefully the Joint Cargo Aircraft to replace the Army’s C-123 Sherpa light transport planes.

UH-60 Blackhawk

The intent was to acquire a Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS)/ Non-Developmental Item (NDI) aircraft that is Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Type Standard Certified, and produce approximately 322 new LUH helicopters between 2006-2015. They will fill the niche missions in which the Army’s standard UH-60 Black Hawk’s size, capability, and operating expenses may be unnecessary, performing a wide range of general support missions in the United States and overseas. Transport of personnel and supplies, disaster relief operations, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, drug interdiction, and homeland security will all be likely tasks.

In 2006, therefore, while the rest of EADS was targeted for divestment and beginning to face bottom line issues, Eurocopter continued to fly. Fresh off of major wins with Korea’s KHP development program ($1.3 billion) and Australia’s NH90 order ($1.5 bilion), Eurocopter racked up the biggest win of all in June: its EC145 would serve as the USA’s future Light Utility Helicopter, replacing existing UH-1s and OH-58s in a 322 helicopter, $3+ billion program between 2006-2015. Losing entries included Team MD Helicopters’ 902 Explorer NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) design, Bell-Textron’s 412EP Twin Huey, and Team AgustaWestland’s AB139. See DID coverage of the 4 competing teams.

Excel
download

The US military subsequently raised the planned number of UH-72 LUH helicopters to 345, but shifts near the end of the program cut the final number to 325, and aimed to place the last orders in FY 2014. In 2015, however, Airbus was picked for a 100-helicopter contract as the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence’s prime training helicopter. Budgets over the life of the program included:

The LUH Winner: Eurocopter’s EC145/ UH-72A

EC145 w. hoist
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The UH-72A Lakota is a militarized version of the Eurocopter EC145, which in turn is a new and thoroughly modified version of the famous BK 117-C1. It was given its Lakota designation in keeping with the Army’s tradition of naming rotary-wing aircraft after native American Indian tribes. Requests for the naming originate with the tribes themselves, and their history and traditions must be aligned with the helicopter’s characteristics and uses in US Army service.

The Lakota is outfitted with an advanced avionics suite that includes a “glass” (digital screen) cockpit for flight and navigation instrument display. Its civilian version is already FAA Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) certified, and safety features include redundant hydraulic and electrical systems. An array of radios allows communication with civilian first responders, as well as military channels.

The aft cabin, including baggage area, is 50.77 ft2, at 4.59 x 11.23 feet. That cabin can be switched between a 6-seat (3-3) arrangement, or 2-3 seats plus 2 MEDEVAC stretcher rails. If a medic needs to work on a patient in the air, operational capacity drops to 1 stretcher. A high-set main and tail rotor design allow safe loading and unloading through the main side doors and rear-fuselage clamshell doors, even while the rotors are turning.

Those turning rotors are relatively quiet, for a helicopter. That was true of the old BK-117, is true of the EC145, and remains true for its military counterpart. Quietness makes helicopters easier to operate in civilian airspace, and provides front-line advantages if UH-72 variants are ever deployed that way.

UH-72A S&S
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So far, the US military’s UH-72As have stuck to their original intent, and are used for service away from the front lines. They’ve been used most often for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions, search and rescue, border patrols along the U.S./Mexican border, and VIP transport. They’ve also found niche roles in missile testing, and in general aviation support and combat flight training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany; the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Ft. Polk, LA; and the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, CA. Special missions have included disaster response following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and oil spill monitoring and response flights along the U.S. Gulf Coast after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

They’ve also remained true to their initial affordability promises. Deliveries have been on time and on-budget, and in 2012, US Army project manager for utility helicopters, Col. Thomas Todd, said that the UH-72A is cheaper to operate than its predecessors were. He cited a readiness rate of over 90%, which is excellent even for such a young fleet, and a parts cost that’s 30-40% less than UH-1 and OH-58 legacy helicopters. That parts cost is especially good news. The history of modern military programs has usually involved lower availability rates, and higher maintenance costs, than the equipment it replaces. Since operating and maintenance costs are a majority of any platform’s real costs over time, lowering those costs makes a big cumulative difference to the Army’s future budgets.

UH-72A Lakota Variants

UH-72A S&S
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Overall, 7 UH-72A variants exist, but several of them are really kits that can be rolled on and off of the base helicopter.

MEDEVAC/Search and Rescue. This mission “B-kit” includes the external rescue hoist, 2 stretchers, plus associated medical equipment and systems. Two medics are positioned in rear-facing seats behind the pilot and co-pilot.

Missile Test LUH. This variant operates in the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll, Pacific Ocean. The Kwajalein helicopters are painted in high visibility orange, and come with skid-mounted floats, integrated life rafts, and jettisonable cockpit doors.

UH-72A Security & Support (S&S) Battalion. This 3rd kit is more extensive. It includes an external hoist, a forward centerline-mounted camera system which can track targets at up to 9 miles away using electro-optical and infrared sensors, a laser pointer, a 30 million candlepower searchlight, an operator console, cockpit and cabin touch-screen displays with moving maps that can navigate to streets as well as military coordinates, a video management system, a digital video recorder and data downlink system, and additional avionics and communications equipment that can be synced with first responders on the ground. The US Army National Guard plans to buy at least 100 UH-72A S&S helicopters: 17 retrofitted and 83 new build.

Training. Current proposals would replace existing US Army TH-67 (Bell 206) and OH-58 training helicopter fleets with the UH-72A, allowing those existing types to completely retire from US Army service.

Airbus is also trying to interest the Navy in using the UH-72 as a replacement for its aging TH-57 Sea Ranger (Bell 206) helicopter trainer fleet. The helicopters would add Garmin G1000H avionics, and be fitted with student, instructor, and observer seats.

VIP transport. This adds more and nicer seats, for a total of 3 rear-facing seats located behind the cockpit, 2 forward-facing seats just aft of the helicopter’s side doors, and 3 seats behind them.

2 more kits are left deliberately undefined, except to say that they are “associated with training missions that teach soldiers how to fight aircraft and recognize friend or foe on the battle space.”

US Navy. The 7th variant was produced for a different customer, the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, MD. Their variant is exactly what you would expect: it trains test pilots from the U.S. military and allied countries. Navy H-72A modifications include jettisonable cockpit doors, a cockpit voice and flight data recorder, a main rotor blade folding kit, and an air traffic advisory system.

AAS-72X+ concept
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The platform’s next frontier was supposed to involve a step beyond kits, into a fully armed version.

In 2009, EADS North America moved to build on their success. With Bell’s ARH-70 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter canceled due to cost overruns, EADS announced a partnership with Lockheed Martin to offer an EC645/AAS-72X variant for the US Army’ Armed Aerial Scout competition. After initial tests, they decided to favor performance over full commonality, and used the EC145-T2 as the base for their armed scout. The AAS-72X+ adds uprated Arriel 2E engines and the Helionix avionics suite, and switches to an enclosed Fenestron tail rotor instead of the UH-72A’s twin-tail high configuration.

Lockheed Martin is in charge of mission systems and weapons, and the team’s bid will push the advantages of having a similar base type for armed scout, training, and support roles. The problem is that the USA decided to do away with their scout helicopter fleet altogether, so any sales will have to be exports.

LUH Industrial Arrangements

UH-72A program management is located in Huntsville, Alabama and led by the EADS North America Defense business unit of EADS North America. Production takes place at American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Mississippi facility, which received a major expansion to accommodate the Light Utility Helicopter program.

The production line is a version of Eurocopter’s EC145 multi-mission helicopter line in Donauworth, Germany. The initial UH-145s were actually built on Eurocopter’s existing EC145 production line in Germany, and shipped to Columbus, MS for final assembly and completion. Even before the contract was formally awarded, the first UH-145 helicopters were already under assembly, and components had been allocated for the manufacture of 7 more UH-145s. It was a gutsy move, but once the contract was won, it helped American Eurocopter deliver its first 8 machines to the US government on budget and ahead of schedule.

The line was duplicated in Columbus through a series of steps that began with partial assembly, followed by full assembly and the subsequent U.S. manufacture of major subsystems. Growth continued at Columbus, up until full build-up of the aircraft on a new assembly line in 2007.

Columbus, MS facility
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American Eurocopter’s expansion of the 92,200 square foot Columbus facility grew it to to approximately 276,000 square feet to accommodate the UH-145 program. As of July 2006, this plant built A-Star AS350 helicopters at a rate of about 30 per year, and its advanced metallic production center manufactures components that include aft fuselage sections for all new production A-Star/Ecureuil helicopters sold worldwide. It also handles assembly and customization of other American Eurocopter helicopter models for U.S. customers. On a federal level, the Columbus plant was already re-engining and upgrading U.S. Coast Guard Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin search and rescue helicopters to the improved performance HH-65C version; and assembling, customizing and delivering EC120B helicopters ordered by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Employment at Columbus grew from the current staffing of 129 to approximately 330, plus 20-40 additional jobs at the company’s headquarters in Grand Prairie, Texas for program support.

Other suppliers also geared up. Turbomeca USA, which builds the UH-145’s Arriel 1E2 engines, grew its Grand Prairie, Texas facility by 35-45 new jobs. Thales USA transferred production of its Meghas avionics suite from Europe to a new facility in Irvine, California. Meghas also equips the Eurocopter EC145, EC135, EC155, EC120, EC130 and AS350 helicopters, and manufacturing of avionics for all these aircraft types, as well as the UH-145, was relocated to Irvine.

UH-72 LUH
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UH-72A deliveries have gone well. UH-72A deliveries to the US Army commenced in December 2006; the first 7 helicopters were delivered by June 2006, whereupon the first active unit was equipped. Deliveries continued at the rate of 1 per month until September 2007, then rose to 2 helicopters per month.

By 2010, there were 7 different H-72 configurations produced on the line, and 10 new fielding sites stood up, making 31 basing locations in the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, Germany, and the Pacific Ocean’s Kwajalein Atoll.

From December 2006 – November 2012, EADS North America delivered 243 Lakota helicopters, on budget and either on time or ahead of schedule. Delivery rates can now reach over 4 helicopters per month, or up to 53 helicopters per year. As the LUH program winds down, however, that production rate is set to slow and then stop. It’s currently 3 helicopters per month, but under the proposed FY 2014 budget that will taper to 1 per month by September 2014. By June 2015, LUH production will end.

American UH-72As: Contracts and Key Events

Unless otherwise noted, all contracts are issued by the US Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL; and the recipient is EADS North American Defense in Arlington, VA.

FY 2016-2017

 

MEDEVAC exercise
(click to view full)

 

July 18/17: Airbus Helicopters has received a $35.2 million contract modification for the supply of parts and logistical support for the US Army’s UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter. The deal includes orders for spare parts and logistical support to account for higher flying hours by the UH-72 fleet than originally projected. Work will be conducted at Grand Prairie, Texas, with a scheduled completion date set at December 31, 2017. $35.2 million in 2017 Army operations and maintenance funds have been obligated for the project.

November 16/15: Airbus has received a further order for 12 of their UH-72A light helicopters by the US government which will bring the total ordered to 400. The latest batch is said to be used for pilot training.

FY 2013 – 2014

Orders; AAS-72X tests but ARH is cancelled; From early termination to another 90-100 training helicopters.

Sept 29/14: Thailand. The US DSCA announces Thailand’s official export request for up to 9 UH-72A Lakota Helicopters, an Aviation Mission Planning Station, plus warranty, spare and repair parts, support equipment, communication equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, and other Government and contractor support. The estimated cost is up to $89 million, and the principal contractor will be EADS North America in Herndon, VA.

Thailand’s last UH-72A request became an order in under a year. The 9 helicopters will surely be welcome in the Mississippi plant, but they aren’t about to make a significant industrial difference. Read “Huey’s Departure: Thailand’s New Helicopters” for full coverage of their importance to Thailand.

DSCA: Thailand (9)

Sept 22/14: Lawsuit. AgustaWestland sues the US Army, seeking an injunction to stop its planned UH-72A training helicopter purchase. The claim states that the Sept 4/14 sole-sourcing decision wasn’t justified properly, while claiming a massive price difference of $7 million per UH-72 vs. $3.25 million for their helicopter. That price matches expected costs for the AW119Kx Koala, which is built near Philadelphia.

AgustaWestland representatives point out that the UH-72 has a restricted flight maneuver envelope, while Bell Helicopter representatives cite “a cost difference of $1,000 to $1,500 per flying hour more for the UH-72” in exchange for training on a glass cockpit and a twin-engine platform.

The stakes are higher than usual. AgustaWestland is also touting the Koala as a replacement for the US Navy’s TH-57 Creek, which is based on the same Bell 206 airframe as the Army’s TH-67 fleet that the Airbus UH-72 would replace. The Navy doesn’t have a formal program to replace the TH-57 Sea Ranger fleet, but it is aging, and an Army trainer buy would be a natural cross-service lead in. Meanwhile, the threat of sequestration (q.v. Aug 24/14) is driving pressure to buy more UH-72As immediately. If the lawsuit delays the training buy for long enough, the Army has to choose between accepting the risk of a smaller replacement fleet, or picking a cheaper option. Sources: AIN, “AgustaWestland Sues over Airbus Army Trainer Plan” | Bloomberg, “AgustaWestland Sues U.S. to Block Airbus Helicopter Buy” | Reuters, “Finmeccanica unit sues to block U.S. helicopter deal for Airbus” | Defense News, “AgustaWestland Pitches AW119 for US Navy Helicopter Trainer”.

Aug 24/14: TUH-72. Despite Kendall’s cautions, all 4 Congressional defense committees are moving to approve a $110.8 million reprogramming request that would buy another 21 UH-72As in FY 2014. These helicopters would be slotted for the training fleet, and sequestration is the reason for their haste. The FY 2016 budget is the one under threat if sequestration continues, and Fort Rucker, AL needs a bare minimum of 60 helicopters for instructor and student training needs. The added 21 + 55 in FY 2015 would provide 76, leaving the fleet ready to go despite sequestration.

If things work out in FY 2016, the remaining 24 helicopters can be ordered to raise the training fleet to 100. If sequestration hits, FY 2015 funds could be reprogrammed, or some helicopters could be moved out of the National Guard. Sources: Forecast International, “Congress Signs Off on Plan to Buy 21 Additional UH-72A Lakotas in FY14”.

Aug 6/14: TUH-72. Pentagon Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall says that he wants to see the Army’s business case for buying 90 UH-72s to replace existing TH-67 Creek (Bell Model 206B Jet Ranger III, initial training) and OH-58 Kiowa (tactical training) machines, under the proposed Army Aviation Restructure Plan.

We can summarize the cases. The Army says that removing these helicopter types from the fleet, and consolidating on the UH-72A, will save on support costs. Bell Helicopters says that the single-engine TH-67 fleet is 16 years old on average, and can still be used and supported for some time. On the other hand, the UH-72A production line won’t be around forever. Sources: Defense News, “Kendall Wants Business Case for US Army Helicopter Swap”.

June 26/14: Support. EADS-NA in Herndon, VA receives a $14.4 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, for UH-72A contractor logistics support. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2014 Army O&M budgets.

Work will be performed at Columbus, MS with an estimated completion date of May 15/15. US Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal – Aviation at Redstone Arsenal, ALmanages the contract (W58RGZ-06-C-1094, P00811).

May 27/14: Support. EADS North America, Inc. in Herndon, VA receives a $33.8 million modification, exercising an option to increase contractor logistics support for the UH-72A. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2014 Army O&M budgets.

Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of June 30/16 (W58RGZ-06-C-0194, PO 0795).

May 23/14: Politics. The Senate Armed Services Committee has completed the mark-up of the annual defense bill, which passed by a 25-1 vote. The section relevant to the UH-72 is explained this way:

“Authorizes $612.6 million in procurement for UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). At the request of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Secretary of Defense directed the Army to procure 100 additional LUH as a replacement training aircraft rather than transfer any from National Guard for that purpose. Additional funds would authorize procurement of a total 90 new aircraft to replacement of the Army’s legacy aviation training aircraft.”

$612.6 million is $196 million above the Defense Department’s budget request, and supposedly adds 35 more helicopters in Fiscal Year 2015. That creates a total of 90 ordered if the House agrees, which explains phrases like “decreases the risk and cost to the Army in their divestiture of TH-67 training aircraft”. Implicitly, it also removes the 45 helicopters and $387.6 million planned for 2016, and cuts the future training fleet from 100 to 90. Sources: US Senate Armed Services Committee, “Senate Committee on Armed Services Completes Markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015” | WTVY.com, “Senate Bill would Fund Alabama Defense Programs”.

May 14/14: #300. Airbus Group delivers 300th UH-72A to the US military, on time and on budget. The UH-72A S&S will enter service with the Missouri National Guard. The firm touts an American workforce that is “more than 50 percent U.S. military veterans”. No doubt they’re all happy about the 2-year extension to Army orders. Sources: Airbus, “Airbus Group delivers 300th on-time, on-budget UH-72A Lakota helicopter to U.S. Army”.

#300

May 6/14: Support. EADS North America in Herndon, VA receives a $25.5 million option for UH-72A contractor logistics support.

All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2014 Army O&M budgets. Work will be performed in Columbia, MS, with an estimated completion date of Nov 30/15. US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL manages the contract (W58RGZ-06-C-0194 P00787).

March 28/14: EADS-NA in Herndon, VA receives a $34 milllion contract modification to sole-source, foreign military sales contract for 6 UH-72A Lakota helicopters with AN/ARC-231 radios, the Mission equipment package, and environmental control units to deal with Thailand’s heat.

It’s a dubious purchase, as Thailand already operates similar helicopter fleets from other manufacturers, and won’t make much of an industrial difference with the Us Army committed to its training order. Read “Huey’s Departure: Thailand’s New Helicopters” for full coverage.

Thailand buys 6

March 4-11/14: FY15 Budget. The US military slowly files its budget documents, detailing planned spending from FY 2014 – 2019. The UH-72 gets a big win. As part of the Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI) the UH-72A will become the primary training aircraft at the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence in Ft. Rucker, AL.

That means 100 more UH-72A orders are scheduled for FY 2015 – 2016, to equip the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing training fleet.

Feb 18/14: +4. A $22.9 million modification for 4 UH-72A Lakota helicopters, with the standard add-ons of ARC-231 radios and engine inlet barrier filters to keep incoming air clean.

All funds are committed immediately, using Army FY 2014 other procurement budgets. Work will be performed in Columbia, MS, and the estimated completion date is March 31/15. US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL manages the contract (W58RGZ-06-C-0194, PO 0766).

4 UH-72As

Jan 17/14: Budgets. Congress doubles the planned buy of UH-72As in 2014, so the final order will be for 20 rather than 10. It ends up being a mid-point compromise between 10 and the original 31. It’s part of the omnibus spending package. Sources: Airbus Group, “Congress continues support of UH-72A Lakota helicopter”.

OH-58D, Afghanistan

Jan 14/14: No AAS. The US Army’s OH-58D scout helicopter fleet will be retired without a successor. This means the end of Airbus’ hopes to sell the AAS-72X to the US military, though they could still offer it as an export package if a country was willing to pay the remaining development costs.

Instead, the Army will rely on a mix of their AH-64E attack helicopters and UAVs. The Army realized that they didn’t have enough money to buy enough AH-64s, and that they were going to shrink the number of people in the Army. The current leadership has decided that 698 AH-64Es, who will be able to control the planned fleets of unarmed RQ-7B Shadow and armed MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAVs from the air, will provide an “80% solution.” In parallel, a rebalancing will move more UH-60 utility helicopters to the National Guard alongside the UH-72s, where they can offer useful capabilities during natural disasters etc., while shifting AH-64 attack helicopters to the active-duty force. Sources: US Army, “Army aviation flying smarter into fiscal squeeze” | Alabama.com, “Army planning to scrap OH-58 Kiowa Warriors helicopter fleet: Reports” | Jackson Sun, “National Guard: Tennessee could lose 30 OH-58D helicopters, including at Jackson flight facility, under proposed Army plan” | The Motley Fool, “The U.S. Army Is About to Make a Huge Mistake”.

End of US Scout helicopters

July 1/13: Support. EADS North America in Herndon, VA receives a $12.9 million firm-fixed-price option for contractor logistics support for the Army’s aviation assets. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS.

The only platform that fits is the UH-72A, and the Pentagon says that this award brings the cumulative total face value of the LUH contract to $2.265 billion (W58RGZ-06-C-0194, PO 0703).

June 20/13: Thailand. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Thailand’s formal request for 6 ready-to-fly UH-72A Lakota Helicopters, communication equipment, an Aviation Mission Planning Station, plus spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, and other forms of contractor and government support. The estimated cost is up to $77 million.

It’s part of an effort by Thailand to add a new light utility helicopter to its fleet, and would represent the UH-72A’s 1s export order, but the base EC145 has been exported to a number of other countries already. If the UH-72A is chosen, the principal contractor will be EADS North America, in Herndon, VA. Implementation will require U.S. Government or contractor representatives in Thailand for a period of 5 weeks for equipment de-processing/fielding, system checkout and new equipment training; plus a Contractor Furnished Service Representative (CFSR) for a period of 1 year. Read “Huey’s Departure: Thailand’s New Helicopters” for full coverage of Thailand’s multi-platform recapitalization drive.

DSCA Thailand: 6

May 30 – June 7/13: Lobbying. EADS North America is lobbying to reverse planned cuts to the UH-72A program, and essentially restore a year’s worth of orders. The have Congressional representatives attending, but the rallies are at their own plants in Mississippi and Texas. EADS NA re: MS | AL.com | WCBI, incl. video | EADS NA re: TX.

April 25/13: #250. American Eurocopter delivers the 250th UH-72A, which will be operated out of Oklahoma City by the Oklahoma National Guard. It’s actually the 255th, if you count the US Naval Test Pilot School’s 5 machines, and it’s the 54th UH-72A S&S configuration delivered to the US military.

EADS NA says that the combined Lakota fleet’s operations have now exceeded 150,000 flight hours, while maintaining over 90% availability. EADS North America.

#250

April 10/13: FY 2014 Budget. The President releases a proposed budget at last, the latest in modern memory. The Senate and House were already working on budgets in his absence, but the Pentagon’s submission is actually important to proceedings going forward. See ongoing DID coverage.

The UH-72A’s record of on-time and on-budget delivery didn’t entirely protect the LUH program. Instead of buying 31 in 2014 and the last 10 in 2015, the proposed budget would cut 31 machines, and close the program with a 10-helicopter buy in 2014. EADS North America chairman Sean O’Keefe vowed to fight the cuts, which would remove about $345 million from the firm’s order books. It will be interesting to see if he has any luck. See also EADS North America.

Feb 27/12: Support. EADS North America in Herndon, VA receives a $15.3 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for Contractor Logistics Support. At this point EADS North America’s site is advertising 279 LUH helicopters delivered.

Work will be performed in Columbus, MS with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/13. US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Jan 3/13: MEP support. EADS North America in Herndon, VA receives a $26.3 million firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure contractor logistics support for LUH Mission Equipment Packages.

Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of June 30/16. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Nov 16/12: +34. EADS North America, Herndon, VA receives a $181.8 million firm-fixed-price contract, to deliver 34 more UH-72A helicopters (10 standard, and 24 S&S), plus engine inlet filter barrier kits that help the helicopters cope with dust and sand.

This order brings the total number of UH-72As ordered to 312/347; so far, about 243 have been delivered. EADS North America says that the Lakota fleet has averaged an operational availability rate greater than 90% in the 21 military units that enjoy full contractor logistics (CLS) support. The spare parts fill rate under the hybrid CLS concept supporting all 33 units has averaged 97%, but there’s no word of the total availability rate.

34 UH-72As

Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Aug 31/14 (W58RGZ-06-C-0194). See also EADS-NA.

Oct 12/12: AAS-72X. The US Army holds preliminary flying tests of the EC145-T2 at Fort Hood. It’s related to the AAS program, but they’re flying the civilian version instead of the AAS-72X+ prototype. DVIDS.

FY 2012

Orders; #200 delivered; Security & Support variant operational; UH-72A delivering lower operating costs; Armed Aerial Scout unveiled.

UH-72A at JMRC
(click to view full)

Sept 25/12: Support. A $10.9 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for services in support of the UH-72A Lakota. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Sept 28/13. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 1 bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Aug 28/12: Ancillaries. A $33.5 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to buy UH-72A Security and Support Mission Equipment Packages. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Aug 31/14. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 1 bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Aug 17/12: Support. A $19.8 million modification to the existing firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-06-C-0194) for logistic support. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012.

August 2012: MEDEVAC. The US Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) announces that after an inaugural test cycle that included Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) testing, 12 medical devices are now Airworthiness Certified on the UH-72A.

July 18/12: AFTD gets 3. The US Army fields 3 UH-72A Lakota at Redstone Arsenal, AL for the Aviation Flight Test Directorate, a part of the Redstone Test Center. They’ll be used for general support, and as a rotary wing chase platform to support the developmental testing of aircraft and aviation systems. Huntsville Times.

July 17/12: Support. A $9.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for UH-72A engineering support services. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of June 30/16. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

July 9/12: A $15.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification of an existing contract buys contractor logistics support to June 30/16. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

May 29/12: Support. A $26 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, for contractor logistics support. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

May 22/12: 100,000 flight hours. EADS North America announces that the US Army & National Guard’s fleet of 219 delivered UH-72As achieved 100,000 total flight hours on May 10/12.

100,000 hours

April 9/12: Support. A $12.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for contractor logistics support services. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. Five bids were solicited, with 3 bids received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

April 3/12: Update. US Army project manager for utility helicopters, Col. Thomas Todd, discusses the UH-72A Lakota fleet. So far, the Army has taken delivery of 209, and the fleet is in use in 42 states and approaching 100,000 flight hours. Fully 2/3 of the fleet will be located in National Guard units. Along the Mexican border, for instance, 11 Lakota aircraft have racked up 700 flying hours working the Southwest Border Mission, from operating locations in Larado and Harlingen, TX. Col. Todd:

“The real success story for us: it’s been on schedule [and] it’s met its cost targets perhaps better than any other aviation program we have got that’s active right now… It maintains consistently 90 percent operational availability rates… When we compare [to OH-58s and UH-1s] our parts fill rate is higher, and our parts cost or our contracts cost is easily 30-40 percent less. That’s a huge measuring stick for us, in these resources constrained times.”

April 2/12: AAS-72X+. American Eurocopter unveils its AAS-72X+ contender for the Army’s Armed Aerial Scout, which may or may not become a program. Unlike the LUH, it will be based on Eurocopter’s EC-145 T2, which adds more powerful 1,038 shp Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines, replaces the dual-tail rear rotor with an enclosed Fenestron, and uses the Helionix glass cockpit and avionics suite instead of Thales Meghas. American Eurocopter.

March 1/12: #200. A ceremony at American Eurocopter in Colombus, MS marks the 200th UH-72A delivered the U.S. Army, a Security and Support (S&S) variant. American Eurocopter says that the program remains on-time and on-budget. American Eurocopter.

#200

Dec 23/11: +39. A $212.7 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to buy 39 UH-72As. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS with an estimated completion date of Nov 30/13. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

American Eurocopter adds that 32 of these UH-72As will be produced in the Army’s Security and Support (S&S) Battalion configuration, and says that US Army deliveries stand at 198 UH-72As as of January 2012.

39 UH-72As

Nov 5/11: S&S stood up. The first battalion of UH-72A helicopters with the Security & Support Mission Equipment Package enters service with the US military, in the Mississippi National Guard’s Company C, 1st of the 114th Security and Support Battalion.

EADS says that 69 of the 100 anticipated S&S MEP installations have been ordered. Of those, 52 will be built-in, 16 will be retrofits, and the last will be the S&S MEP prototype, which was delivered and fielded in this 1st UH-72A S&S battalion. EADS NA.

UH-72 S&S

FY 2011

Orders; Haiti mission; Dedication at Crazy Horse Memorial; New Eurocopter manager; Rescue; AAS-72 testing.

DC Guard UH-72As
(click to view full)

Sept 7/11: A $9.9 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, to increase the funding for contractor logistics support flight hours. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, and Trumbull, CT, with an estimated completion date of Aug 31/13. One bid was solicited, with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Aug 29/11: +32 S&S kit cut-ins. A $43.8 million firm-fixed-price contract modification buys production line cut-in for 32 Security & Support mission equipment packages on 32 base UH-72As.

Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Aug 31/13. One bid was solicited, with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Aug 24/11: Half-time. EADS North America announces that it has now delivered more than half of the planned 345 Lakotas to the U.S. Army, with sustained output reaching 53 helicopters per year and 180 machines delivered to the US military.

UH-72A Lakota helicopters are now operating from 31 basing locations, and the U.S. Army has ordered 219/345 possible UH-72As under the current contract. EADS NA.

July 25/11: A $10.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to provide UH-72A spares support. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/11. One bid was solicited, with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

June 16/11: +14. A $74.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for 14 UH-72As and 14 airborne radio communication systems (previous contracts suggest the AN/ARC-231). Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of Aug 31/12. One bid was solicited with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

14 UH-72As

June 7/11: Personnel. American Eurocopter announces Peter Cutler’s hiring as VP Military and Federal Government Programs. In this position, he will be responsible for the U.S. Army UH-72A LUH program, the associated Armed Aerial Scout capture effort, and expanding sales to the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and FBI.

Before his hiring, Cutler spent 24 years at Sikorsky, finishing as the leader of their product support organization. He holds a B.Sc. Industrial Engineering from Rutgers University, and an MBA in Industrial Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

May 27/11: Haiti. Soldiers from Florida’s Army National Guard’s B Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation (Security and Support) return to Cecil Field in Jacksonville after a 30-day rotation in Haiti. The overwater deployment involved 2 helicopters and 12 personnel, and missions included over 140 sorties over 30 days for passengers and cargo, command and control operations, reconnaissance operations, personnel recovery training exercises, and hoist training exercises. EADS NA.

May 16/11: Crazy Horse. A ceremony at South Dakota’s Crazy Horse Memorial mountain marks the inauguration of UH-72A Lakota helicopters into the state’s National Guard. The ceremony included a Native American blessing, singing and dancing, and a commemorative blast on the mountain carving of the Lakota warrior. EADS NA UH-72 site.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe chairman Charles Murphy says “Lakota” is a word that will represent all the people in the 7 tribes in the Dakotas and Nebraska, and he says they appreciate what the Guard has done.

April 2011: Update. The Army UH-72A fleet surpasses the 60,000 flight hour milestone.

Production in 2010 saw 53 helicopters delivered, and another 41 retrofitted with new missions equipment. That includes the now FAA-certified Combat Training Center mission package. The Security and Support MEP began retrofits this month, and early 2012 will see first delivery of new-production UH-72A S&S helicopters. So far, the Army’s UH-72As have freed up at least 23 Black Hawk helicopters for military service oversees. Source 1 | Source 2.

March 30/11: +4. A $21.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for 4 more UH-72A light utility helicopters; 4 AN/ARC-231 radio system production cut-ins; and 1 engine inlet barrier filter production cut-in.

Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of April 30/12. One bid was solicited with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

4 UH-72As

March 1/01: This is not a drill. A UH-72A operating from the U.S. Army’s National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment at Ft. Irwin, performs a real rescue, when a man is trapped in his truck in the surging Mojave River. EADS’ UH-72 site

Feb 14/11: FY 2012 request. The Pentagon releases its FY 2012 request, though the failure of the last Congress to pass a budget means that it’s FY 2011 requests are also pending.

All UH-72 funds from FY 2010-2012 are procurement funds; there is no RDT&E outlay. Orders are tailing off slightly from $325.2 million for 54 helicopters in FY 2010, to $305.3 million for 50 helicopters in FY 2011, to $250.4 million for 39 helicopters in FY 2012. The overall program, as noted earlier, calls for 345 UH-72s, plus the 5 the Navy ordered for its test pilots school.

Feb 9/11: Update. EADS North America provides an update on orders to date:

“The U.S. Army has ordered a total of 32 UH-72A Lakotas from EADS North America in Fiscal Year 2011… The latest contract brings Lakota orders to 219, composed of 214 rotary-wing aircraft for the U.S. Army and five for the U.S. Navy. Another Army order for 18 more UH-72As is projected in the current Fiscal Year budget, with the Army targeting a total acquisition of 345 helicopters through 2015, for a total of 350 from both services.”

Jan 4/11: +12. A $52.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for 12 UH-72A helicopters, 12 Airborne Radio Communication systems, and 2 Engine Inlet Barrier Filters that keep sand and fine particles out of the intakes.

Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion date of April 30/12. One bid was solicited with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

12 UH-72As

Dec 7/10: AAS-72. EADS North America flies the 2nd of 3 company-funded Armed Aerial Scout 72X Technical Demonstration Aircraft (TDA), at the company’s American Eurocopter facility in Grand Prairie, TX. The 40 minute flight was used to demonstrate integrated targeting sensor, manned/unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and communications and navigation capabilities. EADS NA.

Nov 18/10: Update. The US Army showcases the new security and support model at the Pentagon. The Army says that 140 of 345 planned UH-72As have been delivered. Col. Neil Thurgood, project manager for Utility Helicopters at Redstone Arsenal, AL says that Lakotas are almost exclusively being used by the National Guard in support of homeland security, adding that there are no current plans to send the helicopter into combat. US Army.

Oct 26/10: Update. EADS North America touts the 5 UH-72A variants to date, and states that 138 Lakotas have been delivered to Army and Army National Guard units (133), and the U.S. Navy (5). Overall, the UH-72A fleet has flown more than 40,000 hours in operational service.

The 5 variants are MEDEVAC, Security & Support, VIP transport, and 2 more “associated with training missions that teach soldiers how to fight aircraft and recognize friend or foe on the battle space.” EADS UH-72 site.

Oct 25/10: AAS-72. The Armed Aerial Scout 72X (AAS-72X) team of Lockheed Martin, Eurocopter, and American Eurocopter is preparing for the initial flight of their 1st company-funded Technical Demonstration Aircraft (TDA). The 3 AAS-72X TDAs will have fully-integrated Mission Equipment Packages (MEP), and the initial flight is scheduled to occur in December 2010.

The MEP has been simulated in flight tests with a weight of 2,300 pounds, and development has continued at the MEP Systems Integration Laboratory in Lockheed Martin’s Orlando, FL facility. EADS NA.

Oct 18/10: Sub-contractors. Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. announces a contract from American Eurocopter to provide Skyquest Video Management Systems for the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Security and Support (S&S) Battalion Mission Equipment Package (MEP). The estimated value of the contract is $20 million, based on projected helicopter production and deliveries over the next 5 years. EADS North America has 187 Lakota helicopters on order from the Army, with the potential for up to 345 helicopters through 2015.

The Skyquest airborne surveillance system is designed, developed and manufactured at the firm’s Embedded Computing facility in Laindon, East London, UK. The hardware will be shipped to American Eurocopter’s Columbus, MS facility, where it will integrate the Skyquest VMS system onto the S&S Battalion-configured Lakotas. The contract will continue through 2015.

FY 2010

Orders; Production hits full rate; Navy deliveries; New security & Support kit; New missile test copters; #100 delivered; C-17 loading test; AAS-72 tests.

Kwajalein UH-72A
(click to view full)

Sept 29/10: +36 S&S. A $67.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for 16 security and support (S&S) mission equipment package (MEP) retrofits, and 20 S&S MEP production cut-ins, for Army National Guard LUHs. Work is to be performed in Columbus, MS, with an estimated completion day of Aug 31/12. One bid was solicited with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

U.S. Army National Guard security and support battalions are on call to their own and neighboring states to help civil authorities as requested, and they can also be tasked for military missions. Most currently fly UH-1 Hueys. Asked about this MEP set, Eurocopter USA replied:

“The UH-72A S&S Battalion configuration includes a forward centerline-mounted camera system with electro-optical and infrared sensors and laser pointer, a 30 million candlepower searchlight, operator console, cockpit and cabin touch-screen displays with moving map, a video management system, a digital video recorder and data downlink system, plus an external hoist and additional avionics and communications equipment.”

36 UH-72A S&S

July 28/10: Update. Eurocopter says that it has delivered 125 UH-72As so far, all of which have been on time and on budget.

June 6/10: Kwaj. The US Army deploys 4 specialized UH-72A helicopters to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll, Pacific Ocean. The Kwajalein helicopters arrived in a C-17, and are painted in high visibility orange. They’re also equipped with skid-mounted floats, integrated life rafts, and jettisonable cockpit doors. Source.

April 2010: Germany. The US military delivers 5 UH-72As to the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Germany. The JMRC helicopters will support pilot training for combat engagements, carry observers of war game scenarios performed against aggressor unit aircraft squadrons, and perform MEDEVAC duties as needed. The JMRC’s UH-72A fleet is scheduled to rise to 10 by January 2011. Eurocopter | UH-72 site.

EC645/AAS-72X concept
(click to view full)

April 15/10: AAS-72. EADS North America and its industry team of American Eurocopter and Lockheed Martin announce that they will independently fund and develop 3 armed scout AAS-72X helicopter variants, in order to demonstrate the design’s performance and (they hope) its low risk.

The first AAS-72X Technical Demonstration Aircraft (TDA) is scheduled to be operational in late 2010, and will be used for mission equipment and weapon system integration, performance testing and survivability validations. In addition to the 3 demonstration helicopters, Lockheed Martin has established a high-fidelity systems integration lab for the AAS-72X at its Orlando, FL facility. EADS NA.

March 11/10: #100. The 100th UH-72A delivery is celebrated at a rollout ceremony. Col. L. Neil Thurgood, the Army’s project manager of the utility helicopter office, said:

“The UH-72A Lakota program has progressed on schedule and within budget constraints… The aircraft has been well received by Army aircrews and we have maintained a remarkably high operational availability rate combined with an admirable safety record. We especially look forward to fielding even more of these capable aircraft to Army National Guard units throughout the United States.”

The 100th Lakota helicopter will be deployed to Germany with the Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center. US Army.

#100

Jan 9/10: Update. The Alabama Army National Guard receives the initial 2 UH-72A Lakotas, of an expected 4 to base at Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Birmingham, assigned to Detachment 1, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment. They will replace existing OH-58 Kiowa helicopters, and are the first new National Guard machines in many years. The unit is tasked with state level support for Alabama’s governor and state organizations, as well as federal level missions include aerial command, control and reconnaissance in homeland security operations.

EADS North America produces the UH-72 in Alabama. As of Jan 9/10, the firm says it has delivered 93 Lakotas to U.S. Army and Army National Guard locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and 5 to the U.S. Navy. Future deployments of UH-72As are anticipated in the Pacific, Europe and Japan as well. EADS-NA release.

Dec 31/09: Ancillaries. An $11.7 million firm-fixed-price contract. It funds program year 5 for 624 hours of contractor field team in support of the main post helipad at the National Training Center, and adds 6 clip on B-kits that add MEDEVAC/SAR hoists to the UH-72A. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va, with an estimated completion date of June 30/16 (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Dec 3/09: +45. A $247.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for 45 UH-72A helicopters, 30 MEDEVAC equipment packages, 30 MEDEVAC B-kits, 30 Hoist B-Kits, 4 VIP mission equipment packages, 11 engine inlet barrier filters, 34 environmental control units, and 45 airborne radio communication 231s. This contract funds FY 2010 production (5th contract year), and brings the total number of Army UH-72A orders so far to 178.

Work will be performed in Columbus, MS with an estimated completion date of June 30/11. One bid was solicited with 1 bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194). See also EADS North America release.

45 UH-72As

Nov 16/09: Update. Aviation Week reports that UH-72A production has hit a rate that translates to 55 helicopters per year, and chronicles the Army National Guard’s transition from UH-1 medical (MEDEVAC) helicopters to UH-72As.

The District of Columbia National Guard’s 121st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) at Fort Belvoir, VA is the 1st Guard unit to receive aircraft in medevac configuration: 6 UH-72As replacing 9 UH-1H/Vs, with 2 more delivered in 2012 to the 1-224th Aviation Battalion (Security and Support), replacing 2 OH-58s. They will be joined at Fort Belvoir by 8 UH-72As in the active Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion.

The D.C. National Guard is reportedly in discussion with Martin-Baker to develop a sliding, rotating seat that would let a medic treat a stretcher patient while remaining buckled in.

Nov 12/09: Navy. EADS North America delivers the 1st of 5 H-72A training helicopters for the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, MD, where it will be used to train test pilots from the U.S. military and allied countries. Navy H-72A modifications include jettisonable cockpit doors, a cockpit voice and flight data recorder, a main rotor blade folding kit and an air traffic advisory system. EADS release.

Deliveries to the school were completed in January 2010. US NAVAIR.

Oct 5/09: Update. EADS North America announces a successful demonstration, during which it loaded 4 U.S. Army UH-72s and a company-owned EC145 into a U.S. Air Force C-17. The loading test confirmed that 5 UH-72As can be accommodated in the C-17’s cargo bay with minimal disassembly (including no removal of the folding rotor blades), and that the aircraft can rapidly be made mission-ready upon arrival with no maintenance test flights required. The demonstration was performed at Gulfport, MS in preparation for a future delivery of 4 U.S. Army UH-72A Lakotas to the Pacific theater for basing on the Kwajalein Atoll.

EADS says that to date, more than 85 Lakotas have been delivered on or ahead of schedule and on budget. Current plans call for up to 345 Army UH-72As to be acquired through 2016, plus 5 H-72A helicopters for the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, MD. EADS North America also is offering its Armed Scout 645 variant in response to the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter competition, if it re-opens.

FY 2009

Orders; Partnership with Lockheed Martin; EC645 armed scout unveiled; New UH-72 VP at Eurocopter; 1st Full Assembly Line UH-72A delivered.

UH-72A Lakota
(click to view full)

Aug 11/09: Personnel. EADS North America announces that Gary M. Bishop has joined them as VP of the Armed Scout 645 program. Bishop previously led the Boeing industry team responsible for the U.S. Army’s Apache Longbow programs at Mesa, AZ, managing managed Apache Longbow remanufacture and new production programs for Block I, Block II, Extended Block II, and Wartime Replacement Aircraft. Bishop was also responsible for the Apache Block III developmental program. Before that, Bishop served as the United Kingdom Apache program manager, and the acting director for all International Apache Programs.

Bishop holds a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY; a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA; and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI He also is a graduate of the Program Manager’s course at the Defense Systems Management College at Ft. Belvoir, VA.

July 29/09: Testing. EADS North America today announces the results of its private UH-72A “high/hot” flight demonstrations near Alamosa, CO. Operating at a takeoff elevation of more than 7,500 feet and carrying a simulated 2,300-pound Mission Equipment Package (MEP), the helicopter successfully hovered-out-of-ground-effect at a density altitude of 6,000 feet and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This meets the requirement included in the Army’s October 2008 Sources Sought document, which reflects the mission environment in theaters like Afghanistan.

The demonstration flights were also used to validate controllability and tail rotor authority at full altitude and load, while a subsequent flight with the simulated MEP payload completed a 2:30 flight with a 35-minute fuel reserve.

May 5/09: AAS-72. EADS North America unveils their Armed Scout 645 offering (later changed to AAS-72X) for the Army’s armed aerial scout requirement, and announced that Lockheed Martin has been picked to provide the Mission Equipment Package (weapons integration, targeting, etc.). The Armed Scout 645 will be built at the same Columbus, MS facility where the Army’s UH-72A Lakota is currently produced. EADS NA.

May 4/09: LUH to ARH. At the Army Aviation Association of America 2009 convention in Nashville, TN, EADS North America announces that it has teamed with Lockheed Martin to offer an armed scout variant of its UH-72A Lakota for the US Army’ Armed Aerial Scout competition. The EC645 Armed Scout will be based on the same Eurocopter EC145 commercial airframe as the Uh-72A, and would be produced at the same Columbus, MS facility. Team Site | EADS North America release | Flight International.

Jan 21/09: +5. A $25.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for 5 more UH-72A helicopters, plus 2 MEDEVAC (MEDical EVACuation) equipment packages, 2 MEDEVAC B-Kits, 2 Hoist B-Kits, and 2 “Environmental Control Units” (air conditioning, see Nov 10/07).

Work will be performed at Columbus, MS with an estimated completion date of March 1/10. One bid was solicited and one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Dec 2/08: +39. A $208.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for 39 UH-72 helicopters, covering Program Year 4 of the Army’s LUH contract. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS and Grand Prairie, TX with an estimated completion date of Aug 31/10 (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

44 UH-72As etc.

Oct 7/08: Industrial. EADS North America delivers its first full assembly line (FAL) UH-72 on schedule from the production facility at Columbus, MS. The production transition process from Eurocopter to the US facility involves 3 major overlapping production phases: Light Assembly Line (LAL), Full Assembly Line (FAL) and Production Line (PL).

EADS North America’s initial UH-72A from the FAL phase was the 41st Lakota delivered to the Army. The machine completed 7 of the 14 assembly production work stations in Columbus, including the installation of flight instruments, engines, tail boom and doors to systems test, flight testing and airworthiness approval. This aircraft also incorporates the first UH-72A tail boom that was entirely manufactured at the Columbus facility. EADS NA release.

FY 2008

Orders, incl. Navy contract; Program total rises to 345; UH-72A named “Lakota”; Cramped medical space; Overheated?

Hoist close up
(click to view full)

Sept 22/08: Lakota, meet the Lakota. The Lakota tribe reportedly feels that their reputation as a peaceful people is well-matched with the UH-72’s civil rescue capabilities and domestic mission focus. A pair of UH-72As from the 5th Aviation Battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana, are present for the Lakota Sioux’s annual sun dance in Rosebud, South Dakota, with the pilots invited to participate in the traditional ceremony that honors the tribe’s warriors and elders.

The deployment also includes a fly-past of Mount Rushmore. EADS NA release.

Tribal ceremony

Sept 15/08: +5 Navy. A $24.8 million firm/fixed/price contract for the purchase of 5 UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters for the US Navy Test Pilot School. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS with an estimated completion date of June 30/16. Bids were solicited online, and 5 bids were received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194). NAVAIR release.

5 Navy UH-72As

EADS North America’s release adds that:

“Today, more than 40 aircraft are operating with Army and Army National Guard units across the country… Lakota deliveries to the Army and National Guard currently average three to four helicopters per month, with the capacity to reach five UH-72s monthly.”

April 7/08: SAR – more UH-72As. The LUH program is mentioned in the Pentagon’s Selected Acquisitions Report to December 2007:

“Program costs increased $208.4 million (+11.1 percent) from $1,881.8 million to $2,090.2 million, due primarily to a quantity increase of 23 aircraft from 322 to 345 aircraft ($139.3 million). There was an additional cost increase for modifications to address issues identified during the Initial Operational Test (+$171.1 million). These modifications included ARC-231 secure radios and cabin ventilation kits for all 345 aircraft, engine inlet (air) filters for 66 aircraft, and medical evacuation kits for 84 aircraft.”

DID note: If modifications cost $171.1 million, and additional helicopters $139.3 million, the extra helicopters cannot be “primarily” responsible for the overall increase in costs.

SAR – more UH-72s

March 27/08: Support. A firm-fixed-price contract for $7.2 million, increasing the PY03 Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) hours to ensure continued CLS coverage for the UH-72A. The action also exercises the option for PY03 Procedural Trainer Support Labor to ensure that coverage is available for maintenance of the Procedural Trainer following acceptance.

Performance locations include Fort Irwin, CA (33.3%), Fort Eustis, VA (33.3%), and Fort Polk, LA (33.3%). The estimated completion date is Dec 31/08. One bid was solicited with one bid received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Dec 14/07: +43. A $213.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for Light Utility Helicopters. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS, and is expected to be complete by Sept 30/08. There was 1 bid solicited on Dec. 12/07, and 1 bid was received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

EADS North America informs DID that the order covers 43 helicopters, plus associated items like rescue hoists, MEDEVAC kits, and training.

43 UH-72As

Dec 11/07: Update. EADS North America issues a release summarizing the UH-72A program’s achievements in 2007: meeting milestones, making deliveries, good in-service rate over 90%. Their helicopter’s recent difficulties are not mentioned.

Nov 10/07: The LUH program encounters its first spot of trouble. The Associated Press reports that during flight tests in Southern California in 80-degree weather, cockpit temperatures in the UH-72A Lakota soared above 104 degrees, the designated critical point for communication, navigation and flight control systems. In response, the Army will be installing air conditioning in many UH-72s, something that’s common on the EC145 civilian helicopters it’s derived from, but rare on military machines.

The helicopter also had difficulty with the requirement that it be able to evacuate 2 critically injured patients. It can carry them, but the cabin is too cramped for medics to actually work on more than one at a time.

Testing problems

Oct 8/07: Industrial. EADS North America announces that UH-72A production reached 2 machines per month in September 2007. Both UH-72As were accepted at the newly-expanded Lakota production center in Columbus, MS. These are the 11th and 12th UH-72As received by the Army, and the 2nd and 3rd helicopters assembled in America.

FY 2007 and Earlier

“UH-145” wins; Initial deliveries: 6 MEDEVAC, 2 VIP.

Dark horse no more

July 23/07: Update. EADS North America announces delivery of its 8th UH-72A Lakota to the U.S. Army ahead of schedule, completing the initial phase of orders. Unlike the 6 MEDEVAC helicopters at Ft. Irwin, these 2 UH-72As are the first configured for VIP transportation duties, and are equipped with removable seats that also enable their use in general support and airlift/logistic missions. They will be based at Ft. Eustis, VA. EADS North America will now begin delivering 34 UH-72As ordered by the contract option exercised in October 2006.

The UH-72A’s ability to hit cost projections and delivery targets may have wider implications as well. A number of representatives on Capitol Hill are seriously considering a recommendation to the military that Bell’s ARH-70A Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program be canceled, with funds redirected into integrating sensors and weapons on the UH-72 instead, and buying more of those helicopters for the ARH role.

June 19/07: 1st unit. The U.S. Army has equipped its first operational UH-72A unit – the National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment at Ft. Irwin, California, which received its 6th Lakota helicopter less than 11 months after contract award.

The milestone followed Full Material Release (FMR) authorization from the Army’s Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), confirming that the UH-72A and its production system are ready to support the LUH mission. According to Army program officials, FMR was granted at the initial request – a first in AMCOM history for an Army aviation system. Rotor News.

1st unit

Dec 11/06: 1st delivery. EADS North America officially handed over the first UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter during a delivery and naming ceremony in Columbus, MS. The helicopter will be named “Lakota,” after the Sioux Indian tribe, and 4 of the initial aircraft will be based in Mississippi.

EADS North America plans to deliver a second UH-72A before year-end, which will be used on missions within the United States. Another 40 UH-72As are currently in the production cycle for delivery during 2007 and 2008.

1st delivery

Nov 1/06: Ancillaries. A $170.6 million modification to a firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursable contract for MEDEVAC B and Hoist B kits, along with student pilot and maintainer training, and a procedural training device for the Light Utility Helicopter Aircraft. Work will be performed in Columbus, MS (97%), Grand Prairie, TX (1%), and Tampa, FL (2 percent), and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2016. Bids were solicited online on July 26, 2005, and 5 bids were received (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

June 30/06: UH-145 Wins! EADS breaks into the US military market, as Eurocopter’s “UH-145” (later UH-72A) beats Bell Helicopter’s 412EP, MD Helicopters’ UH-902 NOTAR, and AgustaWestland’s AW139. That victory comes with an initial order:

EADS North American Defense of Arlington, VA received a $43.1 million firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-level-of-effort, cost-reimbursable contract for the Light Utility Helicopter with MEDVAC B and hoist B kits, along with pilot transition and maintainer training. Work will be performed at American Eurocopter in Columbus, MS, and is expected to be complete by June 30/16. Bids were solicited July 26, 2005, and 5 bids were received by The Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-06-C-0194). For more information, call the program executive office, aviation, public affairs at (256) 842-0561.

UH-145 is LUH

Appendix A: Eurocopter – Anatomy of a Win

MEDEVAC through the back

While the order is a breakthrough for Eurocopter in the military market, the firm did have US government experience to draw upon. American Eurocopter helicopters (though not necessarily the EC145) were already operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency in the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI. The EC145 itself has been deployed in a variety of roles in Europe and the USA, including medical, offshore, law enforcement and paramilitary/security uses.

While it didn’t possess the Bell 412 twin-Huey’s backward compatibility, or MDHI’s patented NOTAR system, the EC145 offered a pair of benefits that matter in combat-related situations.

One is a high-set main and tail rotor design that allows safe loading and unloading through the main side doors and rear-fuselage clamshell doors, even while the rotors are turning. That “back door” capability has a number of uses in a military context, including MEDEVAC, fast exits, and more. Only the MD-902 Explorer NOTAR matched this capability, and it did not use the EC145’s convenient clamshell arrangement.

EC145 Interior View

The second benefit is lowered noise signature. A helicopter’s external noise levels matter, as this Christian Science Monitor article about the American experiences in Afghanistan notes. Quieter helicopters are better equipped to avoid detection and targeting, and preserve the element of surprise, especially under circumstances like night missions. The EC145’s noise emissions have been a focus due to tightening civilian regulations, resulting in a profile 6.7 dB below the ICAO standards. Again, the only competitor who could match this was the MD-902, whose NOTAR design reportedly made it slightly superior.

On which topic, MD Helicopters’ acting CEO and founder and principal of the $5 billion investment firm Patriarch Partners, LLC (which owns MDHI) blasted the decision in no uncertain terms:

“Ms. Tilton said MDHI is a classic American turnaround story and did not receive the same level of consideration as its competitors. “The process was seriously flawed and perfunctory, at best. Had the military taken the time and expended the energy to conduct serious diligence and come out and kick the tires, the conclusion would have been inescapable. The simple reality is that there was no attention to substantive matters. No rational investor would commit capital absent a recent on-site review. There is absolutely no question in my mind that the MDHI bid offered by best overall product and value.”

MDHI’s NOTAR explained
(click to view full)

This may be so, but evaluations are not made public, so it’s hard to gauge such statements. It is likely that MDHI’s reorganization gave it a lower supplier stability rating than Eurocopter’s, which owns a leading share in the global civilian helicopter market. The US military has also traditionally been lukewarm at best regarding MDHI’s NOTAR (No TAil Rotor) technology, which hasn’t seen a more aggressive country adopt the design and prove it in combat.

In contrast, American Eurocopter had a strong political lobby behind it, including Sen. Trent Lott [R-MS, now retired], and may have benefited directly or indirectly from the post-Katrina focus on the state of Mississippi and the funneling of aid to that region. The winning release is even more full of politicians’ quotes than usual, a testament to the lobbying effort’s depth. Eurocopter added to that depth by fielding a very strong bid team including American military helicopter leader Sikorsky as its contractor logistics support partner, plus Westwind Technologies for special purpose helicopter systems integration and modification, and CAE USA to provide simulators. In contrast, Bell Textron largely relied on its own clout and services, AgustaWestland recruited L-3 as its key US partner, and MD Helicopters assembled an innovative team that included Dyncorp. None had the combination of political and industrial backing that Eurocopter displayed.

Additional Readings & Sources

Readers with corrections, comments, or information to contribute are encouraged to contact DID’s Founding Editor, Joe Katzman. We understand the industry – you will only be publicly recognized if you tell us that it’s OK to do so.

• GlobalSecurity.org – Light Utility Helicopter

• Eurocopter UH-72A Site

• <Armed Aerial Scout 72X site. Armed Reconnaissance version being offered to the US military as a complement to the UH-72A.

• DID (Nov 1/05) – US Army LUH Competition: 4 Bids, New Partnerships. Covers the various contending teams, and contains links to previous DID articles covering the various contenders and the competition in depth.

News & Views

• Aviation Week (Nov 16/09) – Guard Moves To UH-72A Lakota For Medevac. Dead link.

• EADS North America (May 4/09) – American Eurocopter joins the new Armed Scout 645 helicopter industry team. It aims to fill the void left by the Bell 407/ARH-70 project’s cancellation, creating an armed reconnaissance helicopter that’s also based on the EC145.

• DID (Sept 14/08) – Eurocopter Wins Additional Orders from American DHS. Not EC145s, but AS350B3 – also produced at Eurocopter’s Mississippi facility.

• Eurocopter USA LUH Site (June 30/06) – EADS North America selected to provide U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter

• Eurocopter USA LUH Site (June 30/06) – UH-145 deliveries will begin this November for the Army’s Light Utility Helicopter requirement

• Eurocopter USA LUH Site (April 10/06) – Four leading suppliers join the UH-145 industrial team for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter

• EADS (Jan 30/06) – American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Mississippi facility to produce EADS North America’s UH-145 Light Utility Helicopter

• Aviation Today (April 2006) – Downsized, Digitized, and in Demand. Excellent report giving an overview of the US Army’s helicopter modernization programs. Dead link, unfortunately.

• Aviation Week & Space Technology (Jan 29/06) – Bell Prepares 412EP for U.S. Army Competition [dead link]

• Bell Textron (Jan 23/06) – Bell Helicopter’s Submission for Army’s Light Utility Helicopter Credited with Saving Tens of Thousands of Lives

• MD Helicopters International (Jan 20/06) – MD Helicopters Adds Key Executives to Management Team

• Eurocopter USA (Jan 18/06) – The UH-145 Light Utility Helicopter’s EC145 Version Builds on its Growing Sales Success in the U.S. Market

• MD Helicopters LUH site (Jan 13/06) – Rep. Flake Visits MD Helicopters for Briefing on Company’s Progress for Army Program. Release also contains links to a study by Conklin & de Decker [PDF] concluding that the direct operating costs of the MD Explorer 900 were significantly less than other aircraft vying for the LUH and could save the U.S. Army between $300-700 million over its competitors during the 20-year life of the LUH program.

Americas

• The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will test this week, the intercept of an intermediate-range ballistic missile target using the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Despite being planned months ago, the test will garner added significance in the wake of North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4, that has heightened concerns about the threat from Pyongyang throughout the region and beyond. The THAAD system being used for the test is deployed to Alaska, the only part of the United States within range of a North Korean ICBM.

• Colorado Engineering has won a $3 million contract to design, fabricate and test graphics processing units (GPU) for the F-35 Block 4 radar upgrade program. The long awaited Block 4 software update is expected to provide the F-35 with improved radar and electronic warfare systems, and allow the aircraft to carry additional weapons used by both the US military and other F-35 customers. Other additions include upgrading the Lockheed electro-optical targeting system and adding a wide-area high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode – dubbed “– Big SAR” to the Northrop Grumman APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

• Boeing has been awarded a $14.3 million modification to a existing foreign military sales contract for parts changes on CH-47F Chinooks used by the Netherlands and Turkey. The deal will coverobsolete parts changes to account for low- or non-existent production of spares for older model airframes. Work for the project will be conducted in Ridley Park, Penn., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 21, 2020.

Europe

• Piaggio has resumed flight testing of its P.1HH HammerHead UAV, after the first model crashed in May last year. The second prototype made a successful flight on July 5, at Birgi military airport in Trapani, Sicily. However, the company did not release any further information on either the recent flight or the planned flight test schedule. Piaggio so far have eight orders for the aircraft, to be delivered to the UAE from 2018, and an expression of “great interest” from the Italian military, who have been helping Piaggio by providing Italian bases for testing.

• Austria will be ditching the Eurofighter Typhoon from 2020 and will replace it with cheaper aircraft either bought or leased from another supplier, according to the Defense Ministry. The move comes as Vienna takes legal action against Airbus and the Eurofighter consortium for alleged deception and fraud in the procurement of the Eurofighter fourteen years ago. Maintenance costs, believed to be $5 billion during the Eurofighter fleet’s lifespan, is another factor for choosing another aircraft. The ministry added that by buying and operating a new fleet comprised of 15 single-seater and three twin-seater supersonic jets over the same period could be 2 billion euros cheaper than continuing its current program.

• Bulgaria has once again post-ponded discussions on procuring Gripen fighter aircraft, once month after Prime Minister Boyko Borissov signaled that the talks would start soon despite his criticism of Bulgaria’s previous interim government for announcing them. Now, an investigation will take place by a parliamentary commission into the interim government’s actions, which will also check whether President Rumen Radev influenced the process. Radev, who appointed the interim government after Borissov’s previous government resigned late last year, called the commission “a tribunal for political influence” and stressed that military experts had made the decision in favor of the Gripen aircraft.

Asia Pacific

• The Indian Defense Ministry is expected to soon release an Expression of Interest document for local firms to supply 110 light utility helicopters to the Indian Navy in conjunction with a foreign firm. A “Make in India” project, the procurement comes as New Delhi deemed the Ka-226T helicopters—manufactured by Russia and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)—unsuitable for its needs. Indian firms expected to be interested in the deal include Mahindra, L&T and Bharat Forge, along with foreign partners like Airbus Helicopters, Russian Helicopters, Sikorsky and Bell Helicopters.

• Australia now operates a full fleet of 12 Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, after the first two units arrived in February. The aircraft will be based at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley. Minister for Defense Marise Payne said that the Growlers “will work with Army and Navy to deliver a networked joint force able to maneuver and fight in the electromagnetic spectrum.” Australia is the only country outside of the US to operate the Growler, and has already conducted successful weapon firings and integration flights with RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets and US Navy EA-18G Growlers as part of Operational Test and Evaluation.

Today’s Video

• K-300P live-firing:

Americas

• Future US Navy amphibious transport dock, the USS Portland, has successfully completed Builder’s Trials and has returned to its shipyard in Mississippi. The Huntington Ingalls-built vessel will now be prepared for Acceptance Trials, where the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey will formally assess the ship’s capabilities. The Portland will be the 11th ship of the LPD 17 San Antonio-class to join the Navy fleet next year. It will be home ported in San Diego, Calif., and will deploy combat and support US Marine Expeditionary Units and brigades.

• Lockheed Martin has received contracts with a total value of $74 million to cover the sourcing of advanced materials for F-35 construction for the USMC and engineering services for Japan. The DoD stated that the contracts will apply to long-lead time parts, materials for future low-rate production of F-35s for the Marine Corps along with engineering and assembly on future jets for Japan, with work projected to be completed by December 2017 for the Marine Corps and December 2018 for Japan. Work for the Marine Corps F-35s will primarily be conducted in Fort Worth, Texas, El Segundo, Calif., Warton, Britain and other locations across the United States and in Japan. The assembly and engineering work for Japan will take place in Nagoya, Japan, and Baltimore, Md.

Africa

• Jordan is to donate an undisclosed number second-hand AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters to Kenya. The announcement comes as Kenya takes delivery of UH-1 helicopters from the US, of which it has received six of eight, and has recently requested the purchase of 12 armed MD 530F helicopters. Bell Helicopters has added that it will be giving support to Kenya’s new aircraft when required. Kenya’s recent military modernization effort comes as it looks to bolster its efforts against al Shabaab militants in Somalia and its contributions to the UN/AU mission in the region.

Europe

• After alleged disagreements over price, the US has agreed to sell Patriot missile defense systems in the latest configuration after both parties signed a memorandum on Wednesday. Poland’s Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz made the announcement on US President Donald Trump’s arrival to Warsaw onWednesday, ahead of his trip to the G20 summit in Germany this weekend. The deal is estimated to be worth $7.6 billion.

• Rheinmetall MAN Vehicles expects to receive a contract from ARTEC—the consortium behind the Boxer 8×8 vehicle—to modernize 38 of the armored vehicles for the German Army. ARTEC, a joint venture of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Nederland, received the order from OCCAR, the European procurement agency in late June, in a deal that is in excess of $23.8 million. The deal will see the vehicles upgraded from the command variant to the A2 level, which requires changes to the vehicles’ chassis and mission modules. Other enhancements include advanced driver visualization technology, new weapon systems, IT equipment modules and new communication systems.

Asia Pacific

• Australia has contracted Boeing to carry out upgrades to the early-warning and control capabilities of its fleet of E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. Valued at $442.4 million, the aircraft will be fitted with new sensors as well as tactical data links, and communication and encryption systems. The project will be completed by mid-2022. Wedgetail aircraft are configured Boeing 737-700, with the addition of advanced Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and 10 mission crew consoles. Australia currently has the aircraft deployed to the Middle East region as part of its contribution to the fight against the Islamic State.

• Airbus is taking a C295 maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA), recently delivered to the Brazilian air force, on a tour of five Asian countries. Already in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and South Korea are all scheduled for stops as the aerospace giant looks to capitalize on the region’s interest in procuring MSA aircraft amid rising tensions over conflicting territorial claims in littoral regions. Airbus has particular interest in selling the aircraft to Thailand, as the country already operates transport versions of the C295 and CN235, which “potentially leads to an easy crew transition and lower operating costs in the future,” according to the company. Following its Asian tour, the C295 will conduct a demonstration tour in North America.

• The Royal Australian Air Force (RAFF) has commenced flight training operations with the latest version of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). Manufactured by BAE Systems, the latest variant comes with a number of digital upgrades and can simulate radar and electronic warfare attacks that the company says “provides the RAAF with a leading edge capability and, coupled with the CAE full mission simulators, delivers a highly impressive Lead-In Fighter Training System that will ensure Hawk retains its effectiveness into the next decade and beyond.” Australia’s Hawk fleet modernization started in 2014 and is expected to be fully upgraded by 2019.

Today’s Video

• US & SK conduct missile drills in response to NK’s recent ICBM test:

https://youtu.be/tGQBMRYRKPQ

E-7A Wedgetail
over New South Wales
(click to view full)

The island continent of Australia faces a number of unique security challenges that stem from its geography. The continent may be separated from its neighbors by large expanses of ocean, but it also resides within a potential arc of instability, and has a number of important offshore resource sites to protect. Full awareness of what is going on around them, and the ability to push that awareness well offshore, are critical security requirements.

“Project Wedgetail” had 3 finalists, and the winner was a new variant of Boeing’s 737-700, fitted with an MESA (multirole electronically scanned array) radar from Northrop Grumman. That radar exchanges the traditional AWACS rotating dome for the E-7A’s “top hat” stationary antenna. That design, and the project as a whole, have run into severe turbulence, creating problems for Boeing earnings, the ADF, and other export orders for the type. DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This one covers contracts, events, and key milestones within Australia’s E-7A program, from inception to the current day.

Project Wedgetail: Program and Participants The Competition

E-7A Cutaway
(click to view full)

In 1997 Australia’s AIR 5077 Project aimed to field a next generation aircraft that could monitor the airspace and even the waters around Australia. They named their AWACS project “Wedgetail,” in honor of their native eagle.

Rather than picking the larger E-767, as the Japanese had done, they wanted to be able to buy a larger number of smaller and less expensive aircraft within their allotted budget. A set of small Initial Design Activity contracts were issued to 3 shortlisted firms in 1997, followed by bid submissions in early 1999 and selection of a preferred bidder.

MESA radar

In 2000, a Boeing/Northrop Grumman team beat 2 competing offers.

Raytheon’s offer involved the Israeli Elta Phalcon stationary active-array radar, mounted on an Airbus A310 widebody airframe. The Phalcon system is currently mounted on Israel and Singapore’s Gulfstream G550 jets, Chilean 707s, and India’s Russian-built IL-76s.

Lockheed Martin’s offer involved C-130J-30s fitted with rotating radomes derived from the E-2C Hawkeye carrier-launched AWACS. The C-130J-30 is used by the ADF as a transport aircraft, and the E-2C is in wide use by the USA, Egypt, France, Mexico, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Boeing’s 737-700 offered Australia a very successful, in-production commercial aircraft that could maintain consistent high-subsonic speeds. That gave it a coverage advantage over the C-130J, but not the A310. Its accompanying Northrop Grumman MESA radar was seen as the newest technology choice, however, which could deliver the best performance if it lived up to its claims. That seems to have given the 737 an edge over Raytheon’s Airbus offer – but it also led to a lot of problems with a developmental radar that wasn’t truly ready.

Program & Industrial Team

KC-135 & E-7
(click to view full)

The initial contract wasn’t signed until December 2000, and the price quoted at the time was A$ 3 billion. DoD releases issued after Australia exercised 2 of its options for additional planes have used a figure of A$ 3.45 billion. ANAO’s 2012-13 report places the figure at A$ 3.83 billion, including factors like monetary inflation and currency exchange.

The real turbulence began in 2006, when a project that was held up as a model of acquisition reform, and reported as on time and on budget, suddenly “found” itself way behind schedule and over cost. This has led to widespread unhappiness in Australia.

The first 2 E-7A aircraft were supposed to be delivered in November 2006, and enter service in 2007. Full Operational Capability was originally scheduled for December 2008. Bottom line? Australia’s E-7As will be about 5 years behind schedule. Initial aircraft were delivered without key electronics, and began limited service and training over Australia at the end of 2009. The 1st aircraft in a ‘final’ configuration, which would still fall short in high-end war fighting scenarios, eventually arrived in May 2012. Initial Operational Capability and final acceptance actually began in November 2012, and Final Operational Capability isn’t expected until June 2015.

Boeing was also unhappy, as the A$ 3.45 billion contracts were structured in a way that shifted risk to the contractor. That has forced the firm to take hundreds of millions of dollars in write-offs. A 1999 Boeing release set out team responsibilities:

• Boeing (737-700, systems integrator)
  
• Boeing Australia (systems engineering and airplane modification support, product support, ground support segments)
  
• Northrop Grumman (MESA 360-degree steerable beam radar).
  
• BAE Australia (ESM signal detection, electronic warfare self-protection subsystem, operational mission simulator and mission support segment, AEW&C support facility)
  
• Qantas Airlines (maintenance support)

Contracts & Key Events 2015

 

Feb 25/15: Real-world results.An RAAF officer spoke to media about the two real-world taskings the Wedgetail pulled: the marshaling of disparate aircraft in the search for Malaysia Airlines MH370 and in recent operations against ISIS. Wing Commander Paul Carpenter said the reliability rate was 90 percent or higher. He also said that since the platform is based on the Boeing 737, when it operated away from Australia, it benefited from high availability of the 737 support chain.

2014

Support contract gets 5-year extension.

Flares test
(click to view full)

 

July 7/17: Australia has contracted Boeing to carry out upgrades to the early-warning and control capabilities of its fleet of E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. Valued at $442.4 million, the aircraft will be fitted with new sensors as well as tactical data links, and communication and encryption systems. The project will be completed by mid-2022. Wedgetail aircraft are configured Boeing 737-700, with the addition of advanced Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and 10 mission crew consoles. Australia currently has the aircraft deployed to the Middle East region as part of its contribution to the fight against the Islamic State.

March 17/14: Support. A 5-year, A$ 901 million support contract extension (q.v. July 29/13) to Boeing Defence Australia will help No.2 Sqn in Williamtown with program management, supply-chain management, engineering, and maintenance services until at least 2019. Deeper E-7A aircraft maintenance support and training services will also continue under this deal, but only to 2016. Australia’s DoD intends to open them up to competition after that, and Boeing will have to win again to keep that work.

The extension features 48% Australian content: A$ 433 million is being spent in Australia, including A$ 275 million in Newcastle, A$ 80 million Brisbane and Ipswich and $78 million in Adelaide.

The contract’s scope covers all 6 E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, a full flight simulator, an operational mission simulator, a software development and test laboratory, and maintenance facilities. The contract could be extended via annual extensions based on performance metrics, and Boeing’s key contract partners remain BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman. Sources: DoD, “Minister applauds $901 million Wedgetail sustainment contract” | Boeing Australia, “Boeing Signs Contract to Continue Support for Australia’s Wedgetail Program”.

2011 – 2013

All E-7s delivered, planes are flying in exercises; IOC reached, but not Full Operational Capability; Changes in Boeing’s relationship with Australia’s DMO; Boeing Australia takes over support; ANAO report.

COPE NORTH 2012
(click to view full)

Dec 17/13: ANAO Report. Australia’s National Audit Office releases their 2012-13 Major Projects Report. AIR 5077 Phase 3 Wedgetail is one of the projects whose completion has slipped the most in the last year, adding a 20 month delay to make Final Operational Capability 78 months (6.5 years) late, in June 2015. That helped contribute to an A$ 91.4 million underspend in the past year. The program has spent A$ 3,452.5 million of A$ 3,843.7 budgeted, but it also has been adversely affected by inflation (A$ 1,111.1 million) and exchange variation (A$ 108.8 million) over that period. While Wedgetail was removed from the Projects of Concern list at Materiel Release 3 / Initial Operational Capability in November 2012:

“The performance shortfalls and technical difficulties are adversely affecting the transition into operational service and sustainment…. due to problems with sub?system integration, hardware availability, radar and electronic support measures maturity and aircraft modification.”

Final acceptance of the Mission Support Segment, Operational Mission Simulator, and Airborne Early Warning and Control Support Facility took place in December 2012, but Final Materiel Release has been delayed until December 2014, when Boeing is scheduled to finish remediation work.

Ongoing work with Boeing and Northrop Grumman has helped change minds at Australia’s DMO, and they now believe that they will fix almost all of the performance shortfalls through the settlement with Boeing. Radar performance in the clear has been “substantially remediated,” performance in clutter expected to see “substantial improvement” by December 2013, and a number of shortfalls in Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Electronic Warfare Self Protection (EWSP), communications datalinks/ data forwarding, and residual integrated system performance are getting better. Work also continues on system stability.

July 29/13: Support. Boeing Defence Australia Australian industry receives A$ 140 million to take on the E-7A Wedgetail support contract from Boeing USA (q.v. Jan 19/10). They’ll provide engineering, maintenance, spare parts and training support to Number 2 Squadron at RAAF Williamtown NSW, until the contract ends in 2015. Australian DMO | Australian DoD | Boeing.

Support passes to Boeing Australia

Dec 19/12: ANAO Report. The ANAO releases their 2010-2011 Major Projects Report. With respect to the E-7 program, ANAO says that successive software builds delivered to Australia’s fleet have improved integrated system performance. Unfortunately, other issues remain:

“….a radar remediation program was established. This program includes a radar collaborative research and development program. A contract for the collaborative program was signed on 21 June 2010. The program has been very successful and consequently the period of performance has been extended to the end of 2012. Radar performance in the clear has been recovered to very close to specification and substantial improvement in performance in clutter is anticipated by mid 2013. Further technical challenges in the development of the Communications, ESM, Electronic Warfare Self Protection (EWSP) and ground support systems are still being encountered…”

Dec 12/12: No concern. The Australian government officially removes the Wedgetail program from DoD’s “Projects of Concern” list. Australia DoD.

Off “Projects of Concern” list

Nov 19/12: IOC. Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announces that the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Wedgetail aircraft has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC). For Australia, IOC is the minimum standard required to operate the fleet, including the readiness of a platform’s support infrastructure. Since 2011, the E-7A fleet has participated in Exercise Bersama Lima in Malaysia, Exercise Cope North Guam, Exercise Bersama Shield, the Red Flag multinational meet in Alaska, and most recently Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012.

The announcement also marks final acceptance. ANAO attributes the delays in aircraft final acceptance to delays in completing the large volume of formal documentation required. Australia’s DoD has no word on when to expect Full Operational Capability. Australia DoD.

May 31/12: Final delivery. The Australian government announces that Boeing has delivered the 6th and final E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, which is now based with the rest of No. 2 Squadron at RAAFB Williamtown.

This is the very 1st E-7 delivered to Australia in ‘final’ configuration. There has, as yet, been no announcement regarding acceptance of the “final” configuration Wedgetail. In response to queries, Australia’s DoD said that Initial Operating Capability is expected by the end of 2012, adding that “Boeing plans to offer all six aircraft for final acceptance in the third quarter of 2012.”

Deliveries end

May 10/12: Exercise. Australia completes Exercise Bersama Shield 2012 with Malaysia, which included RAAF E-7A Wedgetail, AP-3C Orion, B300 King Air and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, along with the frigate HMAS Ballarat and submarine HMAS Collins.

Feb 14/12: Exercise. Australia deploys 6 of its F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters, and 1 E-7A Wedgetail plane, and 3000 RAAF personnel to Guam for exercise COPE NORTH 2012. They will join the USAF’s B-52 bombers, F-15Cs, F-16s, F-16CJs and KC-135, and Japan’s F-15Js, F-2s and E-2Cs. More than 1,000 military personnel from around the world are expected to participate.

It’s the Wedgetail’s 2nd foreign deployment, but the plane is still operating in the very limited initial configuration.

Dec 20/11: ANAO Major Projects Report. The report lists the aircraft’s current schedule, and adds that:

“The Wedgetail test aircraft participated in the Canadian exercise, Trident Fury, during May 2011. The flights showed varying success, with some radar fixes flown showing excellent results. However, there were still issues with system stability, consistency and repeatability which undermined overall mission system utility. Electronic Support Measures (ESM) remains the most significant concern and schedule risk. Reliability, maintainability and supportability are the key ESM issues that have been highlighted during recent testing. The resolution of these ESM issues will be a primary driver of Final Acceptance.”

ESM systems are used to detect radar and other emitters, and backtrack them to their location. The report also says that “some radar deficiencies will remain at final delivery.”

December 2011: E-7 Increment 2. Upgrades are done on all 4 initial E-7A aircraft, bringing them to the 2nd increment of their initial configuration. Source: ANAO.

Nov 1/11: Exercise. An E-7A Wedgetail participates in the type’s 1st foreign deployment, at the Bersama Lima 2011 exercises with Malaysia. The RAAF shares the RAAFB Butterworth base in Malaysia with the RMAF, as part of a regional defense accord.

An Australian E-7A had participated in RIMPAC 2010, but Australia’s DoD confirms that the Hawaiian exercise was conducted by Boeing crew and maintainers, as part of the development program. Australia DoD.

July 2011: Manage Different. The Australian DMO’s bulletin magazine [PDF] covers the changed relationship between the DMO and Boeing, within the Wedgetail project. In early 2010, DMO/RRAF staff worked separately from Boeing, with security doors preventing access. DMO Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Rebecca Sharp:

“It was a real case of us versus them and these attitudes were deep seated,” she said. “The DMO staff felt as if the contractor was just in it for the money while the Boeing staff felt as though they were being used.”

Changes began amidst the program’s difficulties, beginning with co-locating in the same building, followed by joint mapping of business processes and value streams (Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain, HR/Training), and the application of LEAN business principles. The contract itself has reversed to outsource all Systems Project Office functions to Boeing, unless the fixed-fee contract explicitly says that they belong to the DMO or RAAF.

These changes have led to others. A co-located finance team shares project financial data for the 1st time in the DMO’s history. A common AEWCSPO Storyboard displays metrics related to cost, downtime, and capabilities. A Joint Integration Group (JIG) of representatives from Boeing, DMO, and the RAAF, meets on a weekly basis to share problems, ideas and issues. The JIG can also make operational decisions, instead of directing everything up to management level and creating endless delays. Similar groups exist higher up the food chain, but the JIG allows them to focus on strategy and future planning. The DMO says that these measures are saving money as well as time, while creating fundamental changes in the parties’ relationships.

Jan 28/11: Boeing losses. Flight International reports that Boeing’s Q4 and year-end 2010 earnings statement includes a new charge against earnings for its E-7A program, valued at $136 million. It covers “additional software development and testing required for acceptance of the Wedgetail aircraft” as well as “resolution of issues associated with the test program” for the Turkish air force’s similar “Peace Eagle” 737 AEW&C program.

It’s not clear whether these revelations mean more delays in store. Boeing release [PDF] | Conference Call | Flight International.

2009 – 2010

5-year support contract; FAA certification; Interoperability proven with ScanEagle UAVs; Still lots of issues, and Australia’s initial acceptance of 2 E-7s is conditional.

(click to view full)

May 5/10: Acceptance. The first 2 Wedgetail aircraft are formally accepted by Minister for Defence Material and Science Greg Combet, during a ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown in Newcastle, Australia. The RAAF will now work with Boeing to train personnel in operating the aircraft over the next 12 months. Combet acknowledges that the program will remain on Australia’s “projects of concern” list, noting performance shortcomings in his speech:

“In particular, I look forward to the delivery of the Electronic Support Measures and Electronic Warfare Self Protection Subsystems and improvements in both radar performance and integrated system performance over time… the MESA radar will be subject to a collaborative research and development program to examine potential improvements. This could provide real improvements in the radar and develop the radar expertise of Australian industry. As part of this, the Government is pleased to see the work being done to provide CEA Technologies, an innovative Australian Radar company, with opportunities to play a major role in supporting the Radar Subsystem in service.”

See: Australian DoD | Transcript of acceptance speech | The Australian | Sydney Morning Herald.

Acceptance – with reservations

Feb 2/10: Support. Thales Australia announces a 5-year agreement with Boeing Defence Australia to provide through-life maintenance and engineering support for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Wedgetail program’s Operational Flight Trainer (OFT). Price was not disclosed.

Developed by Thales in Australia and the UK, the Wedgetail OFT offers flight performance, air-to-air refuelling, flight deck and pilot tactical training capabilities. It’s customized to reflect unique characteristics of the Wedgetail AEW&C system, including controls for the communication, aerial refueling, and Electronic Warfare Self Protection systems. This OFT will be the sole Wedgetail pilot training device for the RAAF. The OFT was awarded the highest level of Australian flight simulator accreditation in June 2008, and allows the RAAF to graduate Wedgetail pilots with 100% of their type conversion training completed on the simulator. The term is called ‘zero flight time pilot training’, which is actually something of a misnomer because they will have a number of flying hours in other aircraft first.

Jan 19/10: Support. Boeing signs a 5-year, USD $600 million (A$ 800 million) In-Service Support contract from Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation, for Project Wedgetail’s 6 aircraft. Under the performance-based logistics (PBL) contract, Boeing will provide acquisition, program management, integration and engineering services, with specified rewards for meeting or exceeding contract benchmarks.

Boeing Defence Australia will support the program with engineering, maintenance and training services and supply chain management. Subcontractor Northrop Grumman will support the aircrafts’ Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar. Boeing claims that the contract is expected to create more than 100 jobs in Newcastle, Australia, while providing continued and new employment for more than 100 personnel in Queensland, Australia. Boeing release | Australian DoD ceremony transcript and release.

5-year support contract

Airworthiness test
(click to view full)

Dec 14/09: Testing. As part of planned tests for Australia’s Project Vigilare NC3S (Network Centric Command and Control System) the system completes its first data transmission with an RAAF Wedgetail aircraft. The Vigilare system installed at the RAAF’s Northern Regional Operations Centre in Northern Territory, Australia, successfully sent Link 16 transmissions to an airborne Wedgetail aircraft performing training missions over Australia’s east coast. Other platforms planned for this network include Australia’s F/A-18 Hornets, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, its future P-8A Poseidon sea control aircraft, and its future Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers.

Developed by Boeing Defence Australia, Project Vigilare NC3S will combine data from land, sea, air and space platforms, sensors and data links, in order to help the ADF provide tactical and strategic surveillance across wide geographic regions, and perform battlespace-management operations as needed. Boeing release.

Nov 26/09: Delivery. Delivery of the first 2 Wedgetail aircraft to RAAFB Williamstown, in Australia, follows a commercial settlement with Boeing. As a result of this agreement, Boeing is making these 2 aircraft available to the RAAF for familiarization training, while it continues to work on the program. Australian Aviation writes that:

“The initial delivery denotes that the aircraft have been provided by Boeing to the RAAF for training purposes, but will not be formally handed over to their new owner until March 2010. Despite wearing their ADF serial numbers – A30-001 and A30-004 – the aircraft will remain on Boeing’s books and the US civil register until that time, and Boeing must provide a pilot in command and a flight test engineer on all RAAF training flights until the official handover.”

The aircraft also lack key electronics, but can be used along with the Williamstown AEW&C Support Centre’s Wedgetail Operational Flight Trainer, Operational Mission Simulator, and Mission Support System, in order to allow the RAAF to begin familiarization training for flight, mission and maintenance crews. Australian DoD | Boeing | The Australian | Newcastle Herald | News Australia | Australian Aviation | Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Nov 9/09: Testing. Boeing confirms that it successfully completed tests of the Counter Measures Dispenser System (CMDS) for Project Wedgetail in September and October 2009. Tests were held off the Washington coast and over Puget Sound, over 19 flights that dispensed more than 500 units of chaff and flares.

Testing of BAE Systems’ CMDS system is just one step toward verification of the Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft’s overall Electronic Warfare Self-Protection (EWSP) capability, which will include LAIRCM defensive systems as well as chaff. See also Aviation Week.

Nov 6/09: Update. Australian Defence Magazine reports that late December 2009, Wedgetail aircraft will begin service over Australia in a training and domestic surveillance role. They will be limited to those uses, because the first 2 E-7As will not have operational electronic counter-measures systems that would allow their use in conflict zones. A total of 5 aircraft have received the basic Wedgetail conversion at this time, and the other 4 fully-equipped aircraft (plus 2 initial deliveries, for 6 total) are expected by the end of 2010. The report adds that:

“One of the final approval tests with the aircraft is expected in Seattle in early November [2009] when ECM tests firing flare and chaff are completed… We understand negotiations about the status and capability of the Wedgetail aircraft, and particularly the performance of their Northrop Grumman MESA radar have been underway for some time between Boeing, Northrop Grumman and the Defence Department.”

July 13/09: Radar issues. The Sydney Morning Herald quotes Air Vice Marshal Chris Deeble, who says that the first 2 Wedgetails are on target for delivery by Nov 30/09, and are now ready to be used for training and initial operations. He also says, however, that ironing out key issues with the plane’s radar could take a couple more years, and the report details those issues:

“The key remaining radar problems relate to its clutter performance – the ability to detect targets such as low-flying aircraft against a ground or water backdrop in certain circumstances – side lobes – extraneous radar signals which could create false images – and stability, where some combinations of operator commands cause mission computers to halt temporarily or even lock up.”

Boeing is scheduled to deliver 4 Wedgetails in full configuration between March and September 2010, after which the first 2 aircraft will also be upgraded to full specification. Depending on how quickly the radar and software issues sort themselves out, further upgrades may become necessary.

May 19/09: Testing. The Australian reports that the Wedgetail project has performed well in a series of tests and technical reviews:

“Senior defence and industry sources say the Wedgetail, a modified Boeing 737-700 aircraft with a specially developed phased array radar, performed well in flight tests over the Northern Territory a fortnight ago.

Ten days ago, a Wedgetail aircraft flying out of Canberra with senior defence officials on board also performed satisfactorily, with its radar detecting RAAF F/A-18 fighters from Williamtown air base, near Newcastle.

The aerial trials of the high-tech airborne air defence system followed a lengthy series of laboratory tests earlier this year on the performance of the Wedgetail’s radar by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory.

The Lincoln Laboratory assessment found there were no fundamental performance problems with the state-of-the art phased array radar that would place the Wedgetail project in jeopardy.”

May 19/09: Certification. The RAAF’s Wedgetail aircraft receive US FAA supplemental type certification. The certification is supplemental because it’s an amendment to the existing civil certification for the 737-700IGW (increased gross weight). International certifications are required in order to fly in civil airspace. The Australian | Aviation Week.

FAA certification

March 16/09: Testing. Boeing’s two-fer. Australia’s Project JP129 failure has created an opening for Boeing’s ScanEagle UAV, but its flagship “Wedgetail” E-7A AWACS faces questions. Boeing responded by linking 2 birds with one datalink: a live demonstration in which a not-yet-delivered Wedgetail aircraft flying over Washington State, USA, controlled and received sensor data from 3 ScanEagle UAVs.

The 3 ScanEagles were launched from Boeing’s Boardman Test Facility in eastern Oregon, approximately 120 miles/ 190 km away from the airborne Wedgetail. Using the company’s UAS battle-management software, airborne operators issued NATO-standard sensor and air-vehicle commands via a UHF satellite communication link and ground-station relay. Operators tasked the UAVs with area search, reconnaissance, point surveillance and targeting, while the UAVs sent back real-time video imagery of ground targets.

Boeing will conduct a follow-on demonstration for the Australian government in early May 2009 at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales. A Wedgetail will take control of ScanEagles operated by Boeing Defence Australia personnel at Woomera Test Facility in South Australia, approximately 1,080 miles/ 1,730 km from Williamtown.

Feb 27/09: Training. Australia’s Project Wedgetail AEW&C program accepts an operational flight trainer (OFT) from Boeing, as the first segment of the Wedgetail program to be delivered to Australia. The simulator was installed at the Wedgetail AEW&C Support Center at RAAF base Williamtown.

The motion-based flight simulator was designed, built and installed by Thales, and managed under a subcontract by Boeing Defence Australia. The OFT is customized to account for the Australian aircrafts’ unique characteristics, including controls for the communication, aerial-refueling and Electronic Warfare Self Protection systems. Prior to delivery, the OFT passed a series of certification tests and was awarded the highest “zero flight time status” accreditation, allowing experienced pilots to train using an accredited simulator instead of an actual aircraft.

RAAF pilots have used the OFT since October 2007, in order to familiarize themselves with the Wedgetail AEW&C flight deck and to develop training scenarios. It will now be used for full pilot training. Boeing.

Feb 25/09: Update. Aviation Week reports comments by that Wedgetail project manager Air Vice Marshal Chris Deeble to an Australian parliamentary committee. While the initial jet is scheduled for delivery in November 2009 with limited performance, Australia expects the other 5 jets to be delivered to the full specification:

“We have made no concessions to Boeing… Neither have they sought any concessions to a reduction in the performance.” But he adds that not all program risks have been mitigated.”

Feb 13/09: Testing. The Australian publishes a follow-on story, which covers the MIT Lincoln Lab’s testing of the E-7A’s MESA radar:

“The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory is undertaking the review, assisted by a small team from Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Organisation… Senior defence sources say the problems with the radar go beyond simple target identification and software integration issues to the basic performance and geometry of the system, which sits on top of the 737’s fuselage.

The Lincoln Laboratory assessment is due to be completed by the end of March and will be followed by flight testing over northern Australia in May… Subject to further tests later this year, Boeing expects to deliver an initial 737 aircraft to the RAAF for training tasks in November with the first two planes achieving full capability by March next year.”

Jan 21-28/09: Testing. Boeing conducts successful functional airworthiness flights of 2 Project Wedgetail 737-700s from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Amberley.

The flight followed major aircraft modifications performed by Boeing Defence Australia at Amberley, including the installation and checkout of an advanced Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) antenna, ventral fins and mission system equipment.

The two aircraft will be painted with RAAF markings over the next few weeks. Boeing will finish installing mission system equipment on both aircraft, and conduct a series of ground checkouts later in 2009. Boeing release.

Jan 7-10/09: Testing. Boeing and the USAF conduct the first aerial refuelings involving a 737-based aircraft, as part of Project Wedgetail. The fights were conducted at Edwards AFB in California, and involved a USAF KC-10 tanker on Dec 7/08 and a USAF KC-135 on Dec 10/08. Boeing release.

2007 – 2008

Multiple delays announced, as Boeing begins taking substantial write-offs.

Wedgetai over Sydney
(click to view full)

Nov 20/08: Delays. Announcements are made that the Wedgetail Project will have its delivery date pushed back yet again, with the first aircraft not expected until late 2009, initial operating capability waiting until 2011, and full operating capability waiting until 2012. Even those dates are not firm, however, as they depend on Boeing’s ability to solve major technical issues.

The Australian quotes Australia’s Defence Procurement Secretary Greg Combet, who said the project was on the government’s “Projects of Concern” watchlist but that there were no plans to cancel it:

“Just last week there was a summit held in Canberra where we discussed how we are going to move things forward. I am pleased to say progress was made in those discussions but there is much more work to be done yet. This probably the project that keeps me awake the most at night.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s Courier News reports that:

“Senior military officers have admitted the prime contractor, US giant Boeing, and its sub-contractors have no idea how to fix the main problem – an unworkable radar system… Air Vice-Marshal Deeble qualified his [2011-2012] timetable by saying it depended on solving the technical issues with the MESA radar built by US firm Northrop Grumman… In a desperate bid for answers, the Defence Materiel Organisation has contracted the world-leading independent radar house MIT Lincoln Lab to investigate. “That will be important for us to understand the baseline performance and any path forward for remediation of any shortfall of the radar,” Air Vice-Marshal Deeble told the Senate.”

Sources. The Age: Nov 20 report || The Australian: Nov 21 report | Nov 24 report || Courier-Mail.

Jan 22/08: Testing. The first Wedgetail aircraft modified by Boeing Australia Ltd (aircraft #3 in the program) takes off on a successful functional check flight to verify the airworthiness of the aircraft’s systems and structures. Boeing Australia release | Boeing release with photo.

June 6/07: Testing. Boeing begins flight testing under Project Wedgetail. During an initial 4-hour flight from Boeing Field in Seattle, WA, the crew conducted a series of functional tests as part of a program to measure the mission system’s impact on the aircraft’s power generation capability and environmental controls, such as the liquid and air cooling systems. Boeing release | Gizmag.

March 20/07: Testing. Boeing announces that communications, navigation, mission computing, radar and electronic warfare self protection subsystems has been completed aboard a 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for Australia’s Project Wedgetail. Functional checkout of the AEW&C system with the aircraft is scheduled for the end of April 2007, and FAA certification and qualification testing are scheduled for summer 2007. Boeing’s release promises delivery of the first 2 Wedgetail aircraft in March 2009, and the remaining 4 aircraft by mid-2009.

Boeing conducted tests aboard the aircraft and at its System Integration Lab in Kent, WA, using a variety of simulations. “The tests demonstrated that the systems worked separately and together, and that they were compatible with the aircraft,” said Ross Dessert, Boeing Wedgetail program manager at the time.

Feb 2/07: Delays. The Australian reports that the Wedgetail early-warning aircraft project has been delayed again, pushing back the expected acceptance date to 2009 and contributing to another $US 274 million fourth quarter write-off by Boeing. Initial operation capability is now expected in 2010. The report adds that:

“Most importantly, it has had problems getting the revolutionary phased array radar — a Northrop Grumman system forming the centrepiece of the new planes — to work properly. The problems have already resulted in a $US496 million write-off in Boeing’s second-quarter results last year and prompted a comprehensive review of the program… But it says it has worked with suppliers to move significant resources to the program and is now confident it can meet its revised timetable as well as the RAAF’s operational requirements.”

2005 – 2006

Sudden flip from “everything’s great and on schedule” to “we’re going to be delayed, and we don’t know how badly.”

E-7A Wedgetail
(click to view full)

June 29/06: Delays. Australia’s Minister for Defence Dr. Brendan Nelson, announces that the Wedgetail project has fallen behind schedule:

“During our talks, Boeing CEO Jim Albaugh confirmed the Wedgetail project has slipped behind schedule. Until recently, Boeing was advising that this project had been running well and achieving significant success for one of such complexity… The extent of the delay will be determined by intense project reviews over the next two months… The contract between the ADF and Boeing does include a provision for liquidated damages. The government is reserving its contractual rights in this regard.”

June 29/06: Boeing tells its investors that it will recognize charges related to delays on the Project Wedgetail and the similar Turkish “Peace Eagle” project, when it announces second-quarter 2006 results July 26.

“Boeing expects to record a charge of between $300 million and $500 million pre-tax due to delays related to its Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) program for Australia and Turkey… Delivery of the first two Wedgetail aircraft and that effort’s flight test schedule have been delayed up to 18 months because of development and integration issues with certain hardware and software components. Boeing now plans to deliver all six Wedgetail aircraft by the end of 2008 and is developing the Peace Eagle schedule with its Turkish customer.”

March 09/06: Testing. Boeing and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems have completed ground testing of the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar aboard a 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for Australia’s Project Wedgetail, clearing it for flight testing at full power. Boeing also integrated the radar and Identification Friend or Foe system, allowing for simultaneous operation and more efficient targeting and data collection. Jack Delange, 737 AEW&C integration and test manager:

“The testing demonstrated the radar would not interfere with the aircraft’s avionics and engines and is compatible with the mission system hardware and software.”

Boeing’s release adds that: “Australia has purchased six 737 AEW&C aircraft. The first two will be delivered for initial operational capability in July 2007. The remaining aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by 2008.”

Jan 16/06: Testing. Australia’s DoD announces that a Wedgetail aircraft has successfully conducted a ‘world first’ 360 degree scanning with a fixed airborne phased array radar.

Defence Minister Robert Hill says the airborne test of the radar, carried out by the combined Boeing and Defence Materiel Organisation AEW&C project team based in the USA, lasted more than 3 hours and operated trouble-free.

Jan 16/06: First delivery of a 737-700 aircraft to Boeing Australia for modifications, as it arrives at RAAF Amberley. Australian DoD | Space Mart.

Sept 01/05: Boeing announces the first in-flight test of the Northrop Grumman MESA radar aboard a 737 airborne early warning and control aircraft for Australia’s Project Wedgetail. The 6-hour flight test over Washington state followed 3 weeks of ground testing of the radar in Victorville, CA. The ground testing verified the compatibility of the radar with other aircraft systems while operating and scanning through 360 degrees.

The firm is still promising delivery of the first 2 aircraft in 2006. Jack DeLange, 737 AEW&C integration and test manager:

“The mission was flawless… All of the first radar flight test objectives were achieved.”

July 05/05: Testing. Boeing announces successful completion of the air performance and flight handling test program for Australia’s first Wedgetail 737 aircraft.

March 17/05: Boeing and BAE Systems Australia Limited, today signed a world teaming agreement to capture similar business with their 737 AEW&C platform. Boeing release.

March 15/05: A Boeing 737 Wedgetail aircraft lands in Canberra, Australia, as part of Boeing’s participation in the Australian International Airshow at Avalon in Victoria. In the DoD release, Senator Hill says

“In the four years since project signature, it is still on schedule and on budget.”

2003 – 2004

Order for 2 more; Program HQ opened.

E-7A Wedgetail
over New South Wales
(click to view full)

Nov 23/04: Boeing announces installation of the MESA radar assembly on a 2nd 737-700 for Australia’s Project Wedgetail. The Northrop Grumman-built MESA antenna is 35.5 feet long and weighs more than 3 tons.

June 3/04: Australia formally commits to the purchase of 2 additional Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft in a special signing ceremony at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley. DoD release:

“The $3.4 billion AEW&C project, which is on budget and ahead of schedule, will equip the RAAF with a fleet of six Wedgetail aircraft and provide a state-of-the-art air and maritime surveillance capability. Four of the six aircraft will be modified in Australia. The first of these is scheduled to arrive at RAAF Amberley late next year, with the final Wedgetail due for completion in early 2008.

Australian industry involvement in Project Wedgetail is already worth more than $A 400 million. Completion of the four aircraft in Australia will increase that Australian industry involvement by $80 million. Strategic industry development activity worth an additional $99 million has also been included with the purchase of the extra two aircraft. “The Wedgetail project will create around 170 new jobs in South East Queensland – most based at Amberley,” Senator Hill said.”

May 21/04: Australia’s DoD announces the first flight of the Royal Australian Air Force’s new “Wedgetail” Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, at Boeing Field in Seattle in the United States.

May 12/04: Boeing announces that Australia has exercised options to purchase 2 of its 3 optional Project Wedgetail aircraft, raising its total order to 6 fully-equipped planes. The options are valued at approximately $180 million, as the original contract had included 6 AEW&C systems. Boeing’s release adds that:

“Delivery of the first two 737 AEW&C aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force is scheduled for 2006. The other four aircraft will be delivered by 2008.”

1st flight;
2 more E-7As =
6 TL.

March 5/04: Infrastructure. Australia’s DoD:

“Defence Minister Robert Hill today opened the new headquarters for Australia’s $3.27 billion Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Wedgetail aircraft. The headquarters at Williamtown near Newcastle is also the official new home of Air Force’s re-formed No 2 Squadron, who will fly the AEW&C Wedgetail when it becomes operational.”

The current DoD schedule has the first Wedgetail flight in Seattle in May 2004, and the first 2 aircraft being officially handed over to the RAAF in November 2006. Sen. Hill:

“The headquarters is the first tangible delivery for the project, which has been leading the way for reform in Defence Materiel Organisation projects… In the three years since project signature, it is still ahead of schedule and on budget.

The opening of the headquarters today also marks the beginning of long-term relationship with the Hunter region. It is the first stage of a $149 million redevelopment of the RAAF base, which includes hangars and parking areas for the AEW&C Wedgetail and improvements to the runways and taxiways. The construction program has created about 255 jobs on the base and more indirect jobs related to the prefabrication, supply and distribution of material for the project in the region.”

Nov 03/03: Testing. Australian DoD and Boeing announcements re: successful installation and testing of the power distribution system on the first 737-AEW&C platform, ahead of schedule. The first airworthiness flight of the aircraft is scheduled for spring 2004. Defence Minister Robert Hill:

“Australia’s new AEW&C aircraft remain under budget and on track to entering into service in 2007, providing us with a key air and maritime surveillance capability.”

Oct 21/03: Boeing installs the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array antenna on the first 737-700 for Project Wedgetail.

May 19/03: Component CDR. The Australian DoD announces a successful critical design review (CDR) for BAE Systems Australia’s Electronic Warfare Self Protection and Electronic Support Measures Subsystems.

2001 – 2002

Project reviews for key technologies that are still in development.

Manufacturing line
(click to view full)

Nov 8/02: “Defence Minister Robert Hill today welcomed the completion of the first Radar and Identification Friend or Foe antenna for Australia’s new Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.” DoD release.

Oct 31/02: Boeing photo release:

“The first Australian Wedgetail aircraft was rolled out Oct. 31 during a ceremony at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash. The 737-700 will be transformed into a platform for an Airborne Early Warning & Control System, or AEW&C. Modifications to the aircraft begin in 2003. Project Wedgetail is named after Australia’s native eagle.”

See also the Australian DoD Nov 1/02 release, which adds that:

“Defence Minister Robert Hill today saw the first airframe for Australia’s new [A$] 3.45 billion airborne early warning and control aircraft fleet – fresh off the production line at Boeing’s Military Flight Centre in Seattle, United States… With the first air frame ready for modification we expect our first Wedgetail aircraft to fly before the end of the year – around six months ahead of schedule – with the first two aircraft of the fleet expected to be in service in 2007,” Senator Hill said.”

Rollout

July 12/02: Component PDR. Boeing announces a successful preliminary design review for Project Wedgetail’s airborne mission system. The review was conducted on schedule — one year after the start of the System Acquisition contract. It includes a general review of the airborne mission system design against the requirements established by the Commonwealth of Australia. It shows how the radar, communications, mission computing , electronic warfare self protection, navigation, and aircraft subsystems integrate together.

Group Capt. Lindsay Ward, leader of the Australian Defence Resident Project team:

“The airborne mission segment is the most complex and highly integrated single element in the overall AEW&C System we are buying from Boeing. The review therefore represented the culmination of a huge amount of work… Under our partnering approach with the contractor team headed by Boeing, the program has a solid track record of facing up to and resolving issues so that we can keep forging ahead while still meeting required capability outcomes. This review was no exception.”

Boeing’s release adds that it expects to deliver the first two aircraft to the Commonwealth of Australia in 2006.

April 23/02: Component CDR. Boeing announces a successful critical design review (CDR) for Project Wedgetail’s MESA radar and identification friend or foe subsystems.

“The review was completed on schedule and confirmed that the detailed design developed by Boeing S&C teammate Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is producible, supportable, maintainable and will yield the required performance characteristics… Boeing and Northrop Grumman also examined the interfaces between the design elements of the radar and between the radar subsystem and the other aircraft and mission system elements to make sure the radar/identification, friend or foe (IFF) subsystem will function properly within the entire airborne mission system.”

Nov 26/01: Component PDR. Boeing announces a successful preliminary design review (PDR) for the mission computing subsystem hardware in Project Wedgetail. It included a review of the hardware elements of the mission computing subsystem against the requirements assigned to that hardware. BAE Systems, New York is the Boeing subcontractor providing the mission computing hardware.

The hardware includes the mission computers, the mission system operator consoles and a tactical display in the cockpit. The mission computing subsystem processes and integrates basic data provided by various mission system sensors; analyzes and presents it to the operators as an integrated situation display of the battlespace environment; and provides them with controls of the sensors and communications suite.

Sept 19/01: Component PDR. Boeing announces a successful preliminary design review (PDR) of the radar and identification friend or foe (IFF) systems for Australia’s Project Wedgetail, on schedule and within budget.

The PDR includes a general review of the radar/IFF design against the Wedgetail radar subsystem requirements established by the Commonwealth of Australia. It is the first major design milestone in the development of this system.

2000 and Earlier

From approval, to initial competition, to the initial award for 4 Boeing jets.

MESA radar assembly
(click to view full)

Dec 20/2000: Boeing signs a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia for the development and acquisition of Project Wedgetail. The contract is worth A$ 3 billion according to the DoD release (about $2.04 billion). Defence Minister Moore:

“The AEW&C system is a strategically important capability that will make a major contribution to Australia’s air combat capability, significantly multiplying the combat power of the upgraded F/A-18 fleet. The system will improve command and control, and the capacity for air defence of surface ships. It also will enhance Australia’s strike capability.

“Importantly it will also provide support to Coastwatch activities, as it will be capable of covering four million square kilometres during a single 10 hour mission – that’s the equivalent of Darwin to Perth and back again.”

The contract involves 4 of its 737-700 systems, 6 AEW&C systems, and an option for up to 3 more aircraft at set prices. Initial training and support will also be part of the packagem and the in-service date for the first 2 aircraft is set for 2007. Note that in-service dates usually come some months after the delivery date, due to testing etc. Australian DoD | Boeing release.

Team Boeing wins Wedgetail contract

Aug 21/2000: Delays. Australia’s Minister for Defence John Moore announces that the Federal Government had decided to defer consideration of the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) project to establish whether it fits into the balance of the ADF’s required capabilities in the context of the forthcoming Defence White Paper.

That White Paper is released on Dec 6/2000. It will be out of date in less than a year.

July 21/99: Boeing picked. Boeing announces that its team has been selected as the preferred tenderer for Australia’s Project Wedgetail.

Jan 27/99: A Boeing-led team, including Northrop Grumman, British Aerospace Australia and Boeing Australia Limited, submits its response to a Request for Tender for Australia’s Project Wedgetail. It details the team’s solution to meet the AEW&C requirements of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), including 7 of its 737 AEW&C systems, plus ground support segments for flight and mission crew training, mission support and system modification support.

“Source selection is expected by mid-1999… Australia’s AEW&C acquisition strategy that began a year ago with an Initial Design Activity (IDA) contract. During that period, the Boeing team and Australia worked together to develop an approved functional requirements baseline and then developed detailed subsystem design requirements.”

Boeing’s release also sets out team responsibilities:

• Boeing (737-700, systems integrator)
  
• Boeing Australia (systems engineering and airplane modification support, product support, ground support segments)
  
• Northrop Grumman (MESA 360-degree steerable beam radar).
  
• BAE Australia (ESM signal detection, electronic warfare self-protect subsystem, operational mission simulator and mission support segment, AEW&C support facility)
  
• Qantas Airlines (maintenance support)

Dec 3/97: Australia’s DoD awards 3 Initial Design Activity contracts by the Australian Defence Force for the Project Wedgetail airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) system. The contracts are valued at A$ 8.5 million (about $6.5 million) each:

• Boeing is offering Northrop Grumman’s MESA active-array radar atop its 737-700 jet.

• Raytheon Systems Company is offering the Israeli Elta Phalcon radar mounted on an Airbus A310 widebody airframe.

• Lockheed Martin is offering a mechanically steered UHF radar from Northrop Grumman that was derived from the E-2C Hawkeye, mounted on a C-130J-30 Hercules airframe.

Boeing’s release states that:

“Managing Director of Boeing Australia Limited, David Gray, said that the contract is worth $6.5 million and during the next year, Boeing will work “closely with the ADF on developing a design solution that meet its AEW&C requirements.”… A production contract is expected to be awarded in 1999 and the Royal Australian Air Force plans to enter the AEW&C capability into service in 2002.”

Wedgetail initial design contracts

Dec 2/97: Australian Minister for Defence Ian McLachlan announces government approval for acquisition of an AEW&C capability. The announcement was included in the Minister’s statement on Australia’s new strategic policy.

Australia approves AEW&C program

Feb 19/97: Boeing announces that it is offering its Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force as an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system platform. Australia has named the project “Wedgetail” in honor of its native eagle.

Oct 14/96: Australia’s Minister for Defence, Mr. Ian McLachlan announces the short-list of potential prime contractors: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon E-Systems are selected after evaluation of responses to a world-wide Invitation to Register Interest in the AEW&C Project.

“Although two of the companies, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, have recently announced an intention to team for this project, both have asked to be considered separately until their teaming arrangements have been finalised.”

IRI produces shortlist

Additional Readings The Aircraft

• RAAF – E-7A Wedgetail.

• Australian Defence Materiel Organization – Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft – AIR 5077 Phase 3

• Boeing – 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)

• Northrop Grumman – Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) Surveillance Radar

News & Views

• Flight International (Jan 26/10) – Airborne early warning redefined by 737, MESA and perseverance

• C4ISR Magazine (May 4/07) – Radar down under: Australia grapples with the Wedgetail AEW&C program [dead link]. Good discussion of the physical and integration challenges.

• Air Power Australia (June 1999) – Wedgetail – Australia’s “Pocket AWACS”. Discusses the pros and cons of the 3 designs that competed under AIR 5077. Does not offer a conclusion.

Americas

• Huntington Ingalls has received a $218 million contract modification for advance construction activities on the San Antonio-class LPD 29 amphibious transport dock ship. Under the agreement, the firm will provide long-lead time manufacturing materials and construction in support of the program, running until February 2018. Work will be carried out at Pascagoula, Miss., Beloit, Wash., and at other sites across the United States.

• The US Navy has christened its latest Freedom-class littoral combat ship the USS Billings during a ceremony in Marinette, Wis. Built by Lockheed Martin, Freedom-class LCS is the smaller of the two variants of the LCS, the other being the Independence-class constructed by Austral USA. It has a top speed of over 40 miles per hour and carries a variety of light guns, short-ranged missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes. Each LCS is outfitted with a single mission package made up of mission modules containing warfighting systems and support equipment.

Africa

• A hurricane has decimated a large number of aircraft belonging to the Chadian Air Force in what has been described a s a huge setback for the service. The storm, which struck on 1 July with torrential rain and strong winds, broke tree branches and destroyed hangars and buildings at the airport in N’Djamena, along with a number of aircraft. Its been reported that only the Presidential aircraft, a transport plane and a French Air Force refueling tanker were spared from damage.

Middle East & North Africa

• After finding a crack in the tail rotor blade of one of its AH-64 Apache helicopters, the Israeli Air Force has decided to replace the tail rotors after 995 flight hours, rather than a previous interval of every 4,600h. A temporary grounding of IAF Apaches was called last month after a routine inspection found the crack and saw the US Army and manufacturer Boeing co-operate in the following investigation, which included X-ray inspections of helicopters intended to detect even the smallest crack.

Europe

• MBDA has successfully test-fired its Sea Venom/ANL anti-ship missile for the first time. The missile was launched from a Dauphin test bed helicopter owned by the French procurement agency, the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), at the Île du Levant test range in France. Jointly ordered in 2014, the Sea Venom/ANL project has been developed 50/50 between the UK and France for use on their respective AW159 Wildcat and Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger (HIL) helicopters, but has also been designed for use on a wide range of platforms, with air carriage trials having been conducted to demonstrate compatibility of the missile on legacy Lynx helicopters.

• Poland is close to signing a deal with Lockheed Martin for the long-awaited delivery of the HOMAR mobile artillery missile launcher system. The announcement was made on Wednesday by defense minister Antoni Macierewicz ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Poland. Trump is scheduled to make a speech in Warsaw on Thursay, where he is said to demonstrate his commitment to NATO, after months of calling out member nations for not spending enough on defense and remaining aloof on whether Washington would intervene against any acts of aggression against alliance members.

• The US, UK, and Norway are seeking to build a trilateral coalition based around the mutual use of P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. While the exact details of the plan have yet to be fleshed out, the agreement will initially seek to establish a framework for further cooperation in areas such as readiness, enhancing defense capability, and interoperability. Additional areas for further cooperation include joint operations in the North Atlantic, information sharing and the possibility of co-locating maintenance and training assets. It is hoped that the co-operation and sharing of assets such as maintenance will help bring costs down and keep readiness rates high for American assets surveilling the waters near Europe.

Asia Pacific

• In its fight against jihadist militants in the southern city of Marawi, the Philippine Air Force last month dispatched one its its C-130 cargo aircraft to the US in order to replenish stocks of rockets and munitions already used in its campaign to reclaim the city. Aircraft used by Manilla in the offensive include FA-50s, OV-10 Bronco attack aircraft and SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 light attack planes, as well as the AgustaWestland AW-109 and MG-520 attack helicopters. An Australian P-3 Orion has also been providing data and information for ground troops. The PAF also announced its intention to acquire ScanEagle UAVS from the US and is looking into buying KUH-1 utility helicopters from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

Today’s Video

• Christening & launch of USS Billings:

Americas

• Lockheed Martin has received a $39.2 million contract modification in support of several allied countries Patriot Advanced Capability-3 anti-ballistic missile systems. Germany, Netherlands, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Japan and United Arab Emirates are all covered under the deal, which includes work on the enhanced launcher system, field missile activities and unscheduled maintenance as ordered. Contract completion is scheduled for June 25, 2018.

• The US Navy has been asked by Congress to provide a plan for the replacement of reserve F/A-18 aircraft incapable of being integrated back into their fleet. As many as 33 Super Hornets were found to lag behind front-line aircraft in terms of technology and will be unable to participate in combat activity during a time of crisis. The aircraft are predominantly used by the service to act as opposition forces for training aviators and are painted to look like Russian MiG fighters. Congress expects the plan to be delivered no later than December 1.

Europe

• Next month will see the Croatian government send letters of interest to four governments for fighter aircraft. Both the US and Israel are being looked at to provide second-hand F-16s, while Sweden and South Korea are having their respective Gripen and FA-50 fighters considered as well. Responses are expected for the second week of September. Saab, which has targeted Croatia as a potential customer for the Gripen for the last ten years, remains the front runner at present, however, Israel have approximately 40 upgraded F-16C/D variants ready to roll at a much cheaper price.

• General Dynamics European Land Systems has been contracted by the Danish government to deliver Mowag EAGLE light armored 4X4 vehicles. The initial contract calls for 36 vehicles, with deliveries starting in 2018, to supplement their existing EAGLE fleet, and contains options to expand the program to include electronic-warfare, support, and reconnaissance variants of the vehicle. The value of the deal remains unknown. Used by a number of NATO members, including Denmark and Germany, the vehicle features a modular armor package that can be adjusted depending on mission needs, including improved improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade protection.

• Germany has received its 15th and final H145M multi-role helicopter from manufacturer Airbus. The 2013 contract was awarded to provide the German military with light utility and light attack rotorcraft capability, and includes a fast-roping system for troops, a camera system for reconnaissance and equipment for fire support during deployment. With Germany acting as the launch customer for the platform, other countries who have subsequently ordered the H145M include Serbia with nine units and Thailand with five.

Asia Pacific

• AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) have been deployed to South Korea by the US military. As many as ten of the long-range, precision-guided missiles are now on the peninsula, and will be deployed on F-16 fighters located at Kunsan Air Base. While the type of JASSM variant deployed remains unknown at this time, the base model boasts a range of 300 kilometers and is equipped with a penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead. Manufacturer Lockheed Martin stated in March that it had performed several flight tests with an updated version of the JASSM. Its JASSM-Extended Range (ER) is also in production.

• Japan is considering a procurement of Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for its fleet of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in what is being considered by analysts as “a big step forward in stand-off capability”. At present, Tokyo’s fighters are only equipped with anti-ship missiles, so an added air-to-surface missile strike capability would be welcomed as tensions in the region rise amid North Korean ballistic weapons testing and the controversial deployment of the THAAD missile defense system by the US in South Korea. However, Japan had previously resisted the purchase of air-to-ground munitions, in part not to offend sensibilities in Beijing and Pyongyang, and may now face further accusations of looking to pursue renewed imperial ambitions.

• A new domestically-built destroyer has been unveiled by China. Dubbed the Type 055 destroyer, the vessel is considered to be a successor class to the smaller Type 052D guided missile destroyers and is part of a drive by Beijing to modernize and increase its naval presence within its armed forces. Local media described the vessel as “equipped with new air defense, anti-missile, anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons,” and will undergo testing before being commissioned into use. China’s naval effort comes alongside its increasingly assertive stance over disputed territory in the South China, where it lays claim to territory believed to hold oil and gas reserves and through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.

Today’s Video

• Live-firing of Igla missiles in Russia’s Southern District:

Americas

• Acting Secretary of the US Navy (USN) Sean Stackley has revealed that there are issues concerning the General Atomics-built Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) when launching F/A-18 aircraft that are loaded with fuel tanks. Stakley told a congressional hearing on June 16 that vibrations were detected when fuel tanks were attached to Super Hornets, “so now what they’re doing is going back through the software and adjusting the system to remove that vibration.” Installed onboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, EMALS is intended to enable a higher degree of computer control, more accurate end-speed control, and smoother acceleration when launching carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft, and is also intended to adapt to future carrier air-wing platforms, such as lightweight unmanned systems or future heavy strike aircraft.

• The Colombian Air Force (FAC) has added two additional Kfir fighter aircraft to its fleet as replacements for aircraft lost in training accidents. Bogota has lost four trainers from 2009-14, as well as one operational fighter, leaving its only one two-seat Kfir and a limited training ability. Alternative options included bringing back two Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighters from retirement, but ultimately, the Kfir option was chosen. Israel have had the Kfir aircraft in storage since their retirement from the IAF as they look to sell them second-hand to cash strapped governments looking for a cheap fighter solution.

• Raytheon have tested a high energy laser system installed on a AH-64 attack helicopter. The test at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, saw the helicopter go airborne with the system before successfully engaging several targets, including a tank. The system saw Raytheon pair a variant of the Multi-Spectral Targeting System, an advanced electro-optical infrared sensor, with a laser. The MTS provided targeting information, situational awareness and beam control. The demonstration marks the first time that a fully integrated laser system successfully engaged and fired on a target from a rotary-wing aircraft over a wide variety of flight regimes, altitudes and air speeds.

Africa

• Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) has announced that United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have delivered two Su-30 fighter aircraft to the government of Nigeria. Ten more aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 2018. The acquisition is one of several air platforms being procured for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), with $68.76 million earmarked “for counter air, counter surface, air ops for strategic effect and air support operations.” These include purchases of JF-17 fighters from Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Mi-35M helicopters, and the A-29 Super Tucano for COIN operations.

Europe

• The UK’s new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has began sea trials after leaving BAE’s shipyard in Scotland on Monday. During the six week trial, crew will test the vessel’s speed, maneuverability, power and propulsion, and weaponry before returning to its shipyard Rosyth for further testing and maintenance and then return to sea to test mission systems. She will later transfer to Portsmouth Naval Base to be handed over to the Royal Navy later this year.

• RAMSYS GmbH has being awarded a $92.3 million contract for design and development work on the Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2B (RAM) in a deal fully funded by the German government. Work will be conducted mainly at Ueberlingen, Germany, and several other sites across the country with a completion date scheduled for June 2021. The program is a joint effort between the the German and US navies, with other allies including South Korea, Japan, Egypt, Greece deploying the system on board vessels that include aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and littoral combat ships.

Asia Pacific

• The US State Department has cleared the possible sale of one C-17 transport aircraft to India. Valued at an estimated $366 million, the package also includes 4 Turbofan F-117-PW-100 engines, a missile warning system, a countermeasures dispensing system and an identification friend or foe transponder. Offsets usually requested by New Delhi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative will be negotiated between both India and lead contractor Boeing.

• A possible $1.3 billion deal has also been cleared by the US State Department that could see up to five Gulfstream G550 aircraft with Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems delivered to Australia. The sale will support ongoing efforts by Australia to modernize its Electronic Warfare capability and increases interoperability between the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). L-3 Technologies will act as lead contractor on the sale.

Today’s Video

• Raytheon tests high energy laser from Apache:

RN CVF Concept
(click to view full)

Britain’s 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) announced a big leap forward for the Royal Navy: plans to replace the current set of 3 Invincible Class 22,000t escort carriers with 2 larger, more capable Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) ships that could operate a more powerful force. These new carriers would be joint-service platforms, operating F-35B aircraft, plus helicopters and UAVs from all 3 services. Roles could include ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), force projection and logistics support, close air support, anti-submarine/ anti-surface naval warfare, and land attack.

The scale of the CVF effort relative to Britain’s past experiences means that the program structure is rather complex. It has passed through several stages already, and is being run and conducted within an industrial alliance framework. There is also a parallel international framework, involving cooperation with France on its PA2 carrier as a derivative of the CVF design. This DID FOCUS article covers that structure and framework, ongoing developments, and the ships themselves as they move slowly through construction, and eventual fielding.

Salve, Regina: The Queen Elizabeth Class

CVF, De Gaulle, Invincible
(click to add Nimitz)

The winning ACA “Design Delta” was fitted with a ski-jump to operate short take off and vertical landing aircraft like the F-35B STOVL Joint Strike Fighter. The design is being touted as able to accommodate catapults and arrester gear to fly conventional carrier aircraft, but by 2012 it became clear that the cost would be nearly GBP 2 billion for just 1 carrier conversion. The ski jumps were retained.

Once the new ships of the Queen Elizabeth Class are complete, Britain will possess a full-size carrier for the first time in several decades. These CVFs are slightly larger than the USA’s 50,000t America Class escort carriers, and France’s 43,000 tonne nuclear CVN Charles de Gaulle Class, and 3 times larger than the UK’s previous 22,000 tonne CVS Invincible Class. The CVF designs may not compare to the USA’s 90-100,000 tonne Nimitz Class and CVN-21 Class supercarriers, but fielding them will restore options and capabilities that the Royal Navy hasn’t had in decades.

BAE Concept – lost
(click to view full)

When fielded, the CVF design will be the largest ships in the world to use electric rather than mechanical propulsion drives. In addition to serving combat ships’ ever-hungrier electrical needs, and providing efficiency benefits, this all-electric approach improves survivability by decoupling placement of the turbines and generators from the propellers’ mechanical drive.

There is some irony in this choice of gas propulsion over nuclear power. The last ship named HMS Queen Elizabeth was one of the triggers for the British government’s 1914 acquisition of a controlling interest in the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. That interest, in turn, served a a key catalyst to develop the Middle East’s oil and gas reserves.

Thales Concept, 2003
(click to view full)

True to the Royal Navy’s recent history, the new carriers will be launched with vestigial self-defense capabilities, and upgraded later. BAE’s Artisan 3D radar will provide short to medium-range 3-D air surveillance out to 200 km, surface gun fire support tracking, air traffic control, and secondary navigation/surface surveillance. Its sensitivity reportedly extends to Mach 3 objects with tennis-balls size radar cross-sections. Thales’ S1850M D-band radar, which also equips Britain’s Type 45 anti-air destroyers and Franco-Italian Horizon Class anti-air frigates, will provide long-range air surveillance and volume search.

The Future Air Wing

F-35B Lightning II
(click to view full)

The new carriers will have 2 core components in the air wing, and 2 important ancillaries.

F-35B fighters. The class will embark 12 – 36 of the new F-35B Lightning II Short Take Off, Vertical Landing fighters, depending on the fleet’s given mission. A full fighter complement would be 36, plus 4 AEW helicopters.

The F-35B STOVL was re-instated after a short-lived switch to the F-35C carrier variant in 2010 – 2012, sacrificing range, maneuvering limits, and internal payload. In exchange, the supersonic jets will be able to take off without catapults, and land without arresting wires. Britain’s F-35Bs will differ slightly from the USMC’s, with extra software to allow low-speed Ship-borne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) if a loaded plane is trying to land on a hot day. Those conditions sap lift, and the plane is too close to its weight limits to return with stores and significant fuel in a straight vertical drop. Britain’s carriers will also have corresponding modifications for those contingencies, including markings on their decks, and lighting set up to guide the pilots whether they land vertically or using SRVL.

Initial F-35B Block 3 load-outs will be limited, involving 2 AIM-132 ASRAAM or AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and 2 Paveway-IV laser/GPS guided 500 pound bombs. British additions will eventually include up to 6 of MBDA’s Spear 3s, an adaptation of the Brimstone light strike missile with a 75 km strike range. The Ministry told a Parliamentary committee on May 20/13 that they also expected to deploy the long-range MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile from inside the F-35B’s weapon bay, but that weapon doesn’t have a scheduled integration date yet. Given current F-35 program schedules out to Block 4, the RAF is unlikely to see Meteor in F-35s before the mid 2020s.

The ships were also slated to operate some Harrier GR9 V/STOL (Vertical or Short Take-Off and Landing) fighters from their decks until about 2018, due to the F-35B’s expected lateness. Instead, the 2010 SDSR retired the British Harrier force almost immediately, while delaying the new carriers’ in-service date.

Mk.7 ASaC
(click to view full)

AW101 AEW Helicopters. These AW101 Merlin Mk2 derivatives will scan the air to provide wide-area surveillance against enemy aircraft and missiles, and are critical to the carrier group’s survivability in medium high-threat situations. A carrier will typically embark 4 machines from the 8-machine fleet, leaving the rest for training and maintenance rotations. Existing British machines will be used, essentially removing them from their current roles; specifications do call for a 24 hour role change, but their Sea King predecessors have proven so valuable in naval and overland roles that reversion is unlikely. Costs are expected to range between GBP 230 – 500 million for system integration and manufacture.

Crowsnest?
(click to view full)

The “Crowsnest” program will replace the Royal Navy’s 13 Sea King Mk7 ASaC helicopters, which will all retire by 2016, leaving a gap of about 6-7 years before coverage is restored. Crowsnest’s Assessment Phase 3 is in 2014, with a planned main gate approval in 2017. By 2020, the Royal Navy expects to have modified 4 helicopters, with radar trials beginning and 2 helicopters available for emergency deployment. Full Operational Capability and carrier deployment isn’t expected until late 2022 or 2023.

Lockheed Martin and Thales will compete as Mission System providers, but there are 4 radar types under consideration. One is the same Thales Searchwater 2000 radar/ ASaC as the Sea King, mounted on a rail system with the same inflatable Kevlar dome. The 2nd is Northrop Grumman’s Vigilance pod, carrying a modified version of the F-35’s APG-81. Option #3 will be from IAI Elta, whose Phalcon AEW system is in service on a number of platforms. Option #4 will come from Finmeccanica’s Selex ES. Italian carriers also use an AW101 AEW helicopter, with a Selex Heliborne Early Warning 748 surveillance radar mounted in an enlarged under-fuselage radome.

Apache, ahoy!
(click to view full)

Other Helicopters. Beyond the F-35Bs and AEW helicopters, the Queen Elizabeth Class will be able to deploy regular helicopters as required for missions, by trading embarked F-35Bs for helicopter space. Normal mission load outs are expected to include around 6 AW101 Merlin helicopters, which will handle transport and/or anti-submarine roles. They will actually be the 1st aircraft qualified on the new carriers.

Beyond the Merlins, Britain has already operated a number of different helicopter types from its previous carriers, including WAH-64D/ AH Mk.1 Apache attack helicopters which were used over Libya. The Royal Navy also cites Britain’s huge twin-rotor Chinook helicopters as an option, and AW159 Wildcats will be serving with the Army and Navy by the time the carrier is in service. The ship’s loadout could easily add a range of types.

UAVs. Britain doesn’t currently have a requirement for carrier-launched UAVs, but the requirement can be expected to arise early in the carriers’ service, and a 2013 speech by the First Sea Lord explicitly raised this possibility. If and when Britain moves in this direction, the USA’s ongoing experiments integrating advanced UAVs like the X-47B into their carrier operations will be helpful. The difference is that Britain won’t be able to use UCAVs that depend on catapults and arrester wires for launch and recovery.

The CVF Carrier Program

HMS Ark Royal
(click to view full)

The original design competition for the CVF was won by Thales Group UK in January 2003, with delivery intended for 2014 and 2016. By the time the 2010 SDSR was published, however, it became clear that this renewed and improved carrier capability would only be delivered around 2021. The SDSR also planned to mothball the Queen Elizabeth immediately, while converting Prince of Wales for catapults and arresting gear.

The Navy still plans to mothball 1 carrier, but the 2 ships will remain identical, foregoing “cats and traps” after studies showed that the single-ship conversion cost would be close to GBP 2 billion. A decision on whether to activate both ships, or to retain the 2nd ship in ready reserve unless the 1st is out of service, will be made in the 2015 SDSR.

Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for Britain’s new aircraft carrier is now expected in 2020. That capability includes the ship built and tested, with F-35B fighters qualified, AW101 Merlin Mk.2 helicopters qualified, and an emergency AW101 AEW capability of 2 untested helicopters. Further delays to the ship or to the F-35B could push that IOC date back.

Full Operational Capability, with a fully-functional AEW contingent, and all aspects of the ship ready for deployment to high-threat areas, isn’t expected until 2022.

Meanwhile, events since 2011 have left Britain with no fixed-wing aircraft carrier capability. HMS Ark Royal was decommissioned early in March 2011, and then scrapped. The Fleet Air Arm’s Harrier IIs were retired early, and then sold to the USMC in November 2011. Only HMS Illustrious remains. She will serve in the role of helicopter carrier until 2014, whereupon the flat-deck helicopter carrier HMS Ocean is scheduled to re-emerge from maintenance, and Britain’s last carrier is scheduled to retire.

Program Team: The Aircraft Carrier Alliance

Assembly required
click for video

The original design competition for the CVF was won by Thales Group UK in January 2003, but Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that BAE Systems would operate as prime contractor. These two companies formed the “Aircraft Carrier Alliance” (ACA), along with the UK Ministry of Defence. Formal agreement of the alliance principles took until Spring 2004. Thales UK will be responsible for system design of the platform, power and propulsion; they will also lead the team responsible for ensuring the ship’s readiness to operate aircraft.

In February 2005 Halliburton subsidiary KBR UK Ltd was selected as the “physical integrator” to manage the overall project. Britain’s ACA membership expanded again in December 2005 to include naval architects FBM Babcock Marine, and shipbuilders and ship support specialists VT Group, plc (since bought by BAE), even as the ACA’s “Delta” design was formally announced as the baseline by the Ministry of Defence.

That’s the British corporate alliance. At the same time, a Power and Propulsion Sub-Alliance has been put in place, to handle all elements of the ship’s generating, electrical, and mechanical propulsion and stabilization systems. It comprises Thales UK (ACA representative), plus Rolls Royce (MT30 engines), GE (was Converteam: induction motors) and L3 Communications.

International Team: Et Vous, France?

PA2 Concept
(click to view full)

On the international level, there’s a co-operation agreement in place with France, whereby France’s larger PA2 carrier would have been based on the CVF design, to be executed by DCN-Thales. The two countries made a number of compromises in the final CVF base design, as well as some modifications to France’s larger 74,000t design. Under the agreement, France agreed to pay one third of the demonstration phase costs of the common base line design, in addition to staged payments of GBP 100 million in recognition of the investment the UK has already made.

In the end, France decided that it couldn’t afford to build and equip a new carrier, and PA2 was terminated in 2012. That shift may have played a role in Britain’s 2012 decision to have 2 identical British carriers available for use, ensuring 100% carrier availability rather than 65%.

On To Production

How it’s built
click for video

Design work on the Queen Elizabeth Class is centered in Bristol, England and in 2 new design offices in Portsmouth, England and Glasgow, Scotland. As of August 2010, 6 shipyards across the UK were involved: Govan and Rosyth in Scotland, Portsmouth and Devonport in the south, and Newcastle and Birkenhead in the north.

Construction of British CVF carriers will be carried out in sections, and then the sections will be fitted together. Construction and assembly of the ships in yards owned by members of the new expanded Alliance, though BAE’s November 2009 buyout of its partner VT group has shifted ownership of several yards along the way. Present arrangements include:

Early CVF Workshare
(click to view full)

Final Assembly: BAE Shipbuilding’s Rosyth facility in Scotland, where they have invested in a new “Goliath” crane with 1,000t lift capacity.

Lower Block 1 (bow): Babcock’s Appledore and Rosyth facilities. Under a revised build strategy agreed in 2006, Babcock Appledore on Britain’s SW coast was given LB01, and also CB05/6.

Lower block 2: BAES Portsmouth facility.

Lower blocks 3 and 4 (stern): BAES Govan, on the Clyde near Glasgow. Block 3 used to be slated for the BAES Barrow facility, but submarine work was keeping that facility too busy. Barrow will continue to provide engineering support, as needed.

Lower Block 5 (stern): BAES Portsmouth.

Center Blocks: Cammell Laird is building CB02 and CB04. CB03 is being built by A&P Tyne. Babcock Marine in Appledore is building CB05 and CB 06.

Sponsons (the overhanging upper hull structure): Babcock Marine in Appledore. Babcock is also conducting CAD-based modelling, design and development work.

The 2 superstructure Islands: BAES Portsmouth now builds the rear island UB14, and BAES Govan was made responsible for UB07.

It was expected that substantial elements of the ship structure would be competed, and sub-contracting competition within the ‘superstructure blocks’ would be maximized. The above distribution is based on changes reflected in April 2012 ACA data, which is shown below along with installation schedules, key locations, and shipping routes:

CVF Workshare and Geography, 2012

 

See full-size graphic, 771k.

The CVF Program: Contracts and Key Events 2014 – 2016

NAO Report; Carrier to enter service without AEW; HMS Queen Elizabeth.

CVF ops concept
click for video

June 28/17: The UK’s new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has began sea trials after leaving BAE’s shipyard in Scotland on Monday. During the six week trial, crew will test the vessel’s speed, maneuverability, power and propulsion, and weaponry before returning to its shipyard Rosyth for further testing and maintenance and then return to sea to test mission systems. She will later transfer to Portsmouth Naval Base to be handed over to the Royal Navy later this year.

May 18/17: The British Royal Navy operated HMS Queen Elizabeth will receive its first F-35B aircraft next year, with the new aircraft carrier also receiving Merlin, Apache, Wildcat and Chinook helicopters. Royal Navy sailors have also trained alongside their US Navy counterparts on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, with British personnel fully embedded in the USS Wasp trials and will use the data gathered from this event for future trials and operational deployments to support the UK’s flying trials aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2018. British F-35 pilots also recently embarked on the USS America for at-sea developmental testing phase 3 (known as DT), the last trial that paves the way for the US Marine Corps to deploy the jet operationally on amphibious assault ships.

January 7/15: UK Defence procurement minister Philip Dunne has said that the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers will hold more marines than ever before. The Queen Elizabeth class carriers will house 900 marines and navy personnel, an increase of 210 on the HMS Ocean. The Ocean will be decommissioned in 2018 and replaced with the new HMS Queen Elizabeth, and will be joined by her son, the HMS Prince of Wales, in 2020. The construction of the two vessels is reported to have cost $9.06 billion and they will be the largest warships in the Royal Navy.

October 20/15: The Royal Navy’s future Queen Elizabeth-class carrier looks set to feature unmanned boats, with BAE Systems and ASV demonstrating an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) boat near Portsmouth Naval Base. The system is purportedly capable of allowing the boats to operate for up to twelve hours at a time in a reconnaissance and surveillance capacity. The technology – designed to be retrofitted onto Pacific 24 Rigid Inflatable Boats – could also equip manned RIBs deployed on Type 23 Frigates and Type 45 destroyers.

October 9/15: The Royal Navy’s new carrier the HMS Queen Elizabeth has been fitted with the 3D ARTISAN (Advanced Radar Target Indication Situational Awareness and Navigation) radar system, capable of providing air surveillance out to 200km. Manufactured by BAE Systems, the radar – also referred to as the Type 997 – will also equip the Royal Navy’s future Type 26 Global Combat Ships, as well as retrofitted Type 23 Duke-class frigates. Integration trials began in September 2013, after successful tracking trials in July 2010. The radar was developed by BAE Systems through a $195 million contract in August 2008.

June 29/15: The Royal Navy’s future carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, saw its propulsion system powered up for the first time at the back-end of last week. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Marine 36MW MT30 gas turbine alternators and four diesel engines, the total power reaches approximately 110 megawatts. The carrier will be equipped with F-35B fighters, with a joint US-UK team testing the jet on a replica of the Elizabeth-class carrier’s ski-jump last week.

Nov 3/14: F-35 integration. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, TX receives a $50 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification, to provide “operational and engineering support required to integrate the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter operations with the Queen Elizabeth Class carrier…” $10.8 million in UK dollars are committed immediately.

Work will be performed in Samlesbury, UK (64%); Fort Worth, TX (26%); and Orlando, FL (10%), and is expected to be complete in December 2017. US Navy NAVAIR in Patuxent River, MD manages this FMS contract as Britain’s agent (N00019-02-C-3002).

Sept 10/14: AEW. Thales is readying its upgraded Searchwater 2000 radar for installation on the future AW101 “Crowsnest” Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) helicopters. Updating the radar, control console, software, and mission system to “drive out obsolescence” has the side effect of greatly expanding the radar’s back-end processing power, and they’re trying to update to corresponding software and mission system to take full advantage. The remaining uncertainty involves whether to keep the existing inflatable radar dome design, or switch to a solid pod with a different mounting – like Team Lockheed’s competing Vigilance system.

Thales says that their upgraded system manages to exceed competition standards in several areas, and they hope to fly the test airframe they’re integrating at Yeovil by mid-November 2014. They also believe that they’ll need less than the allotted 30 flight hours to prove out their solution, and that the ability to simply modify existing ASaC systems means they could deliver this solution well before 2018. If so, HMS Queen Elizabeth could begin service with an AEW system that’s tested to initial or even full operational capability, instead of having to wait until 2022 for FOC (q.v. Feb 3/14). It remains to be seen whether the Vigilance team will offer the same thing when Crowsnest program bids come in by the end of January 2015. A decision is expected by early spring 2015. Sources: Flight Global, “Thales nears flight tests for Royal Navy Crowsnest bid”.

July 4/14: #1 naming. HMS Queen Elizabeth is formally named by Queen Elisabeth, on American Independence Day. Instead of champagne, however, the ceremony breaks a bottle of Islay single-malt whiskey across the ship’s bow. Construction is still underway, even though the ship has been floated out of dock. Sea trials won’t get underway until 2017, and flight trials with F-35Bs won’t begin until 2018. Prince of Wales will follow, but to what end? At the ceremony, Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond says that the UK will be considering capability, cost, and trade-off issues when assessing whether to bring both of its new aircraft carriers into service, instead of mothballing one. With that said, he added that:

“I believe that we will find that … the relatively small amount that it will cost us annually to operate the two carriers will be a very good use of defence budget money, but that is a decision for the SDSR 2015.”

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas continued to push for both at the ceremony, describing the difference as “…not just twice the [capability]… a completely changed capability, because we would always have one carrier available to go to sea at any given time.”

Sharp-eyed readers will note the different name spellings – the ship is named after the current monarch’s predecessor, whose forces beat the Spanish Armada. Sources: UK MoD, “HMS Queen Elizabeth is named” | BBC, “HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier naming ceremony” | IHS Jane’s, “UK defence secretary outlines considerations in the case for a second carrier”.

HMS Queen Elizabeth

Feb 13/14: NAO Report. Britain’s National Audit Office releases their 2013 Major Projects Report. For starters, the CVF program is responsible for 106% of major program cost growth last year, based on the revised costs of the new deal:

“Today’s report shows that, in the last year, there was a net increase in costs of £708 million in respect of the 11 projects included in the review. The main contribution to this was a £754 million increase in the cost of carriers. This increase was due to a number of factors including delay to the schedule, immaturity of the design, underestimation of the cost of labour and materials and the Department’s decision in 2012 to revert back to the short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the latter adding £120 million. In addition to the £754 million, the Department estimates that the write-off from this decision will be £55 million.”

That GBP 55 million write-off isn’t part of the GBP 754 million cost increase, and is actually a drop from the original GBP 77 million estimate. Overall, the program has spent GBP 3.321 billion so far – almost the original approved budget of GBP 3.541 billion, but just 54.4% of the current GBP 6.102 billion projection.

Looking through the big hits to this budget, we find a 2009 Financial Planning Round decision (674 million), cost savings predicted but never realized (543 million), inflation in various forms (350 million), cost of stretching the build schedule (261 million), and over 17,000 change requests as the design matured (150 million).

From a timeline perspective, Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with basic ship safety has shifted from April – October 2017. Tier 2 with basic warfighting capability is now predicted for December 2017. The main risks at the moment seem to involve external items, such as the ship’s F-35B and AW101 AEW aircraft, the cost and schedule risk of providing 2 fully serviced Portsmouth berths and associated infrastructure, and the design and readiness of an in-service support solution. Work on designing that support solution is expected to begin in Q1 2014.

Feb 3/14: AEW. The UK MoD announces that savings from renegotiating the main carrier contract (q.v. Nov 6/13) are being channeled to accelerate the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control program to ensure that it’s operational by 2019. Defence Secretary Hammond says this is being done “so that we will have the full operating capability available when the aircraft carriers go into service.” As part of this move, Merlin mission system integrator Lockheed Martin is receiving “a UK 24 million contract to run a competition to design, develop and demonstrate Crowsnest.” It’s actually a continuation of previous work, and the UK will pick a radar system from either Thales/AgustaWestland or Lockheed/ Northrop Grumman (q.v. July 24-30/13).

The Sea King Mk.7 ASaCs are retiring in 2016, along with all other Royal Navy Sea Kings. “Crowsnest” isn’t even slated for a Main Gate spending decision until 2017, with initial deliveries for testing in 2019. The planned date for CVF Initial Operational Capability was 2020, but its pair of Crowsnest AEW helicopters would be an emergency deployment that wasn’t fully untested. Full Operational Capability, with a fully-functional AEW contingent, and all aspects of the ship ready for deployment to high-threat areas, wasn’t expected until 2022. The MoD has conveniently avoided any kind of revised schedule in its announcement, so it’s difficult to tell whether this simply means that the 2020 carrier IOC will include AEW helicopters with more testing under their belts, or whether he’s promising FOC for the carrier as a whole by 2020. This issue has been a source of concern for Parliament’s Defence Committee (q.v. Sept 19/12, Sept 3/13), who can be expected to pry further into the details. Sources: Hansard, Feb 3/14 | UK MoD, “New surveillance system for Royal Navy aircraft carriers”.

2013

CVF “adaptability” was a GBP 100M mirage; Government considering 2 operational carriers; BAE looking to renegotiate the contract.

CVF cutaway
(click to view full)

Nov 11/13: #1. The fitting of the 130t ski ramp is the final stage in Queen Elizabeth’s construction. Sources: Royal Navy, “Queen Elizabeth closes ‘a pivotal chapter’ with construction of her hull completed ” | Afloat, “UK’s Biggest Jigsaw Finally Completed: Aircraft-Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth”.

Nov 6/13: Sea Change. BAE and the UK government agree on a big restructuring of military shipbuilding. The new agreement will replace the Terms of Business Agreement (ToBA) that restructured the sector (q.v. May 20/08, Oct 29/09), as a condition of the carrier contracts. This is just an agreement in principle, so far, but its outlines included:

• Changes to the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier contract that “accommodate programme changes and activities previously excluded from the contract,” and move risk share to a 50/50 arrangement beyond the GBP 6.2 billion target cost, up to a loss of all BAE profits.

• The original agreement had made BAE responsible for financing slack shipbuilding periods, but that would hardly be fair if government delays to the Type 26 are the reason why. Rather than paying termination and industrial costs to keep the shipyard idle, the UK government is ordering 3 Ocean Class OPV vessels, for delivery by 2017. The River Class OPVs HMS Tyne, Severn and Mersey will probably be retired at the same time. The difference between the 2 classes? The larger Ocean Class adds a flight deck that can handle AW101 Merlin helicopters.

• Finally, the Ministry will chip in to pay for extra costs involved in shrinking the shipbuilding sector by 1,775 people and 1 shipbuilding facility. BAE determined that Glasgow, Scotland is the best place to invest in shipbuilding capacity. That’s a chancy business giving Scotland’s independence referendum, but the plan is to invest in Glasgow facilities, and shift Portsmouth to a naval and combat systems service & development center before the end of 2014. That will cost 940 jobs in Portsmouth, but the government is also investing GBP 100 million there to base the 2 carriers. Glasgow shipyards will take over Prince of Wales’ Lower Block 05 and Upper Blocks 07 and 14; and they will also build the Type 26 frigates. There will still be a reduction of 835 people across Glasgow, Filton, and Rosyth.

Sources: BAE Systems, “UK Naval sector restructuring” | Royal Navy, “New ships for Royal Navy secure UK shipbuilding skills”.

Major shipbuilding restructuring

Nov 4/13: Costs. British media report that negotiations on a revised carrier contract are at an advanced stage, but not done. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is expected to announce a GBP 800 million cost hike, pushing total costs to around GBP 6.2 billion. They were originally forecast at GBP 3.5 billion when the program began in 2007.

The new contract reportedly aims to split any cost increases beyond $6.2 billion 50/50 between the government and BAE. Sources: British Forces News, “Costs for carriers ‘to top £6 billion'” | The Telegraph, “Carrier cost ‘could rise even higher than £6.2 billion'”.

Costs to GBP 6.2+ billion

Oct 10/13: BAE tells investors that it’s negotiating with the UK Government over “potential amendments” to the aircraft carrier contracts. The government is reportedly trying to force BAE to take more responsibility for any further cost increases, in a project that has risen from GBP 3.6 billion to GBP 5.3 billion. With construction at such an advanced stage, that isn’t an unreasonable request, but what if the government wants further design changes? How much is already paid for within the supply chain, and how much can realistically be changed? Answering those questions, and negotiating answers, takes time.

BAE is also reportedly expressing concerns about the sharp dropoff of work at Portsmouth, Govan and Scotstoun when the carrier project ends. Britain’s Defence Industrial Plans had hoped to ensure steady work, but the actual rhythm of programs and orders hasn’t kept pace, and it will at least 2016 before Type 26 frigate production starts up. Sources: BAE Systems Oct 10/13: “Interim Management Statement for period from 1 July 2013 to 9 October 2013” | Bloomberg, “BAE Systems Renegotiating U.K. Aircraft Carrier Contract Terms” | Daily Mail, “US shutdown and Saudi contract wrangles threaten BAE”.

Oct 2/13: Let’s play 2! British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond tells a Conservative Party meeting that he’ll recommend keeping both carriers in service, but for that to mean anything, his party would have to win the next election. Technically, they could conduct the 2015 SDSR before the mandatory May 2015 election, but that would mean nothing if they lost. What he does say, is this:

“I think having put the money we have into building the carriers, for the sake of about GBP 70 million per year being able to operate the second carrier looks like a snip. But it does mean we have to stop doing something else. If we spend an extra GBP 70 million a year to be able to operate 2 carriers, which gives us a guaranteed one permanently available to go to sea, if we do that we will have to stop doing something else. All these things are about choices and priorities….”

Sources: BFBS British Forces News, “Hammond: ‘Second UK carrier worth using'”

Sept 10/13: Innovation. First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas delivers a speech to industry at Britain’s DSEI 2013 exhibition. The CVF program features prominently, both as a window into the Navy’s view of the program, and his challenges re: next steps. Some excerpts – see Additional Readings for the full speech link:

“And – last but certainly by no means least – we await expectantly the rebirth of the United Kingdom’s carrier capability. We look forward to the launch event for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH next summer, which will be a real moment of national awakening. Why? Because she will be the first of two ‘big deck’ aircraft carriers capable of delivering a full spectrum of diplomatic, political and military options. Instruments of national power – symbols of national authority on the world stage – national icons. The Navy ‘back in business’.

Apache helicopters operate successfully from HMS Ocean off the Libyan coast back in 2011. An obvious blueprint for the future. Aboard Queen Elizabeth, they will be tiny. Unless, of course, a couple of squadrons embark. And why not? I challenge the Army to think that way. And these platforms are universal adaptors. Because our international partners can plug in as well. An obvious example would be the US Marine Corps operating their Joint Strike Fighters off our new carriers…. In July we saw pictures in the press of the first unmanned aircraft landing on a US aircraft carrier, USS George HW Bush, off the coast of Virginia. I am sometimes asked whether the absence of cats and traps precludes such options for us? I really think not, and I challenge industry to find ways to offer the Royal Navy better options from the Queen Elizabeth Class in the near future.”

Sept 10/13: Sensors. BAE’s Artisan 3D radar has begun integration trials at BAE’s old Somerton Aerodrome facility. Those trials involve providing tracks and radar video to initial versions of the QEC combat management system, while working with the QEC IFF system.

The Type 997 Artisan 3D radar will equip the new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, as well as retrofitted Type 23 Duke Class frigates and the new Type 26 frigates. On the carriers, it will be used for air surveillance, target identification, and even air traffic control. Detection range is reportedly up to 200 km, and it’s designed to track more than 900 targets at once. Sensitivity is reportedly in the range of tennis-ball sized objects traveling at up to Mach 3, which sounds odd until you remember than stealthy missiles may have a radar cross section that in that range. Source: BAE Systems release, Sept 10/13.

Sept 3/13: PAC Report. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee takes another look at the Carrier Strike program, including the AW101 Crowsnet AEW helicopter program. The core problem in the committee is that the members have now heard the Ministry say, several times, that they had a handle on things given their best information. Which then turned out not to be true. Their findings and recommendations mostly revolve around wanting correct information, and credible time and cost baselines. The tone can be inferred from these excerpts:

“The Department has a history of making poor decisions, based on inadequate information…. Carrier Strike remains a high risk programme…. Despite assurances from the Department, we are not convinced…. significant technical issues, costs and delivery dates for the aircraft are not resolved. There are also significant cost risks associated with in-service contracts for maintenance which have yet to be resolved…. We are also concerned that, according to current plans, the early warning radar system essential for protecting the carrier will not be available for operation until 2022, two years after the first carrier and aircraft are delivered and initially operated. And the MOD does not yet have the funding to replace the shipping needed to support the new carrier.

….Although the Department employs some 400 people on this programme, it may not have the right procurement skills to manage the risks in delivering Carrier Strike effectively…. We are concerned that the Department’s staff are wasting their time with bureaucracy and duplicated effort in having to make detailed checks on the operations of contractors, raising a question as to the quality of the contracting process.”

Sources: House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, “Carrier Strike: the 2012 reversion decision (HTML)”

July 24-30/13: AEW. As part of its GBP 750 million MSCP contract to upgrade the Royal Navy’s Merlin HM1 fleet, Lockheed Martin is overseeing an initial GBP 3 million investigation into “Crowsnest” AEW integration with its “Vigilance” mission suite. That contract was awarded in 2012, and the 18-month assessment phase has just begun. It should be done by the end of 2014.

Eventually, 10 helicopter will receive refits. Option 1 is a Lockheed Martin/ Northrop Grumman radar pod (q.v. Nov 18/11, Feb 14/12) based on the SABR F-16 AESA radar. Option 2 is Thales / AgustaWestland’s ASaC proposal (q.v. July 4/10) that would just move the Sea Kings’ Searchwater 2000 equipment over to the AW101s, upgrade the radars, and install them in a retractable rear ramp housing. The Vigilance team is touting advanced technology and portability, the ASaC team focuses on low costs and fast turnaround. Sources: Flight Global, “Royal Navy works to add more capability to Merlin fleet” and “Thales cites affordability and speed for Crowsnest bid”.

July 24/13: AW101. The Royal Navy confirms 2 interesting things about its new carriers: the 1st qualified aircraft aboard, and the Merlin helicopter’s role beyond AEW. From “Royal Navy captures preview Of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s future role”:

“The two giant aircraft carriers will operate multiple aircraft, but the Merlin will be the first to be cleared for operational use, ahead of the F35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter…. Merlin helicopters will operate in the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) roles, as well as providing force protection and conducting other roles, including evacuating medical emergencies and the all-important collection of mail.”

May 20/13: Hearings. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee holds hearings related to carrier strike programs. Key witnesses include UK MoD Permanent Secretary Jon Thompson, Chief of Defence Materiel Bernard Gray, and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff Air Marshal Stephen Hillier, who is now overseeing the F-35 program. Key factual points inlcude:

• Contractors will still make a profit on carrier construction until costs hit GBP 7.74 billion – GBP 2.5 billion over the GBP 5.24 billion target cost. (That target is, in itself, significantly higher than the original GBP 3.x billion). The UK MoD is trying to renegotiate the contract to create more shared contractor risk, as an incentive to find savings. The contractors are less enthused.
  
• All parties agree that the GBP 500 – 800 million estimate for catapult/arrester carrier conversion was poor work, with key items like inflation, VAT tax (which applies to Foreign Military Sales from the USA), and other basic figures left out.
  
• They’re still trying to get a handle on the extra costs of their vacillation between the F-35C and F-35B; current estimates are down to GBP 74 million, but they won’t know until 2014.
  
• A modification to MBDA’s Meteor long-range air-to-air missile will allow it to fit in the F-35’s weapons bay.
  
• SRVL rolling F-35B landings will require unique deck markings, added F-35 aircraft software, and lighting on board ship.
  
• The Royal Navy will still mothball its 2nd carrier, with reconsideration planned for the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.
  
• There are 399 MoD staff working on Carrier Strike, including the CVF, F-35, and Crowsnest programs: 250 are Military, 118 Civil Service and 31 Contractors.

Sources: House of Commons, “Oral Evidence Taken before the Committee of Public Accounts on Monday 20 May 2013.”

Feb 6/13: CV01. About 70 weeks after steel was first cut in Portsmouth, Queen Elizabeth’s 680t Forward Island and bridge set sail on a barge from the dock hall on HM Naval Base Portsmouth, all painted by specialists from Pyeroy, and ready for final assembly in Rosyth. BAE Systems.

Feb 5/13: Not Adaptable. The House of Commons Defence Committee says that Britain’s shift from the F-35B STOVL to the F-35C and back cost the country GBP 100 million. Most of that money was spent on budgets related to Britain’s new carriers, and the committee faults the government for rushed work on the October 2010 SDSR.

That is quite a lot of money to waste, and it’s true that after the Conservative/ Lib-Dem coalition took power, there was a strong push to get the SDSR out the door in a short period of time. These kinds of decisions are very complex, and the committee faults the Ministry for going along with this recommendation, without really understanding the changes involved.

The Ministry’s defense is that their CVF/ Queen Elizabeth Class carriers had been touted as “future proof”, able to include catapults if that became necessary during the ships’ lifetimes. That proposition was put to the test early, thanks to the F-35C switch. The Ministry’s retrospective conclusion is blunt, and discomfiting on its own terms:

“I think the fundamental misunderstanding that many of us had was that these carriers would be relatively easy to convert and had been designed for conversion and for adaptability. That is what we were told. It was not true. They were not. They were physically big enough to accommodate conversion, but it came at a higher price than was apparent at the time when the decision was taken… It is not my belief that they were genuinely designed for conversion, or that the contract allowed them to be designed for conversion.”

One wonders, then, why they were touted that way. UK Commons Defence Committee Acquisitions Report | Flight International.

Britain’s F-35 switching costs

Jan 25/13: Engines. Rolls-Royce announces that they’ve installed the 1st of 2 MT30 gas turbines into Queen Elizabeth.

The MT30s are derived from the Trent 800 that powers 777 planes. They’re installed as part of a Gas Turbine Alternator (GTA) which also includes an alternator and gas turbine enclosure, weighing 120t in total. Each turbine produces 36 MW/ 50,000 hp, and together they produce 66% of the carrier’s 109 MW maximum power. Diesels will produce the rest.

2012

GBP 1.8b for refit? No, thanks – back to F-35B; Flight deck redesign will also go for naught; Field both ships now?; AEW gap at initial fielding.

CVF sense of scale
(click to view full)

Dec 28/12: CVF01. Queen Elizabeth’s 30,000t forward section is skidded 17m backwards, to join up with the 11,000t hull section LB04. The bow section had already been lifted onto the ship Dec 13/12, and blocks CB04a/b were lifted Dec 17/12. At this point, most of the ship’s hull is in place. ACA Flickr | ACA Blog.

Oct 23/12: Infrastructure RFP. The Royal Navy is inviting bidders to pre-qualify for a GBP 60 million contract to add berthing spaces for the Queen Elizabeth Class. The project will include includes dredging the existing channel to make it deeper and wider, and adding a new electrical substation located near the refurbished jetty and docking space. Construction Enquirer.

Oct 16/12: CVF01. The 11,000-tonne Lower Block 04 (LB04) is rolled out of BAE’s Govan facility. It houses 2 main engine rooms, a hospital complex, a dentist, the galley, and accommodations including 242 berths. It was loaded onto a huge sea-going barge for its 5-day, 600-mile journey to Rosyth, where the carrier sections will be assembled.

LB04 is the carrier’s largest single piece, and Prime Minister Cameron takes the opportunity to show up for an “inspection” photo op. BAE | BBC | UK MoD.

Oct 2/12: Crewing. The first 8 sailors join Queen Elizabeth in Rosyth, led by Captain Simon Petitt. Royal Navy.

Sept 19/12: PDC Report. The Parliamentary Defence Committee publishes its report on Maritime Surveillance, which parenthetically includes Airborne Early Warning for the fleet.

Right now, Sea King Mk7 ASaC helicopters perform this role, but they will be taken out of service in 2016. The problem is that the Crowsnest project to field their replacement is in limbo while the Ministry tries to reconcile its future budget plans, and may not field anything before 2020 given plans for a “lengthy” project assessment phase. We aren’t quite sure why this requirement needs a lot of assessment time, but any delays beyond 2020 would put carrier fielding at risk. Meanwhile, there would be no successor to the Mk7s for use on overland or littoral surveillance missions. UK Parliament | Defense News.

Initial AEW gap looms

July 4/12: CVF 01. Assembly Cycle B has now officially begun, as massive Super Block 03 (SB03) has been moved 90 metres north to meet Lower Block 02 (LB02), which measures “only” 60m x 38m x 21m.

Assembly Cycle A saw the assembly of Super Block 03, comprising the mid-hull section (LB03) and 4 sections making up Centre Block 03 (CB03), plus associated sponsons. This finished in May 2012, and outfitting of the 9 major upper blocks integrated with LB03, including cabling, mechanical pipe systems, ventilation, and fittings and equipment, is scheduled to complete later in 2012.

During Assembly Cycle B, Babcock will integrate LB02 with Lower Block 01 (the forward sections from the keel up to the flight deck, including the bulbous bow), previously built by Babcock at its Appledore shipyard in Devon, and Super Block 03 (SB03) already assembled in the dock. Assembly Cycle B will continue until spring 2013.

Assembly Cycle C will then see assembly of the remaining blocks, including the stern sections and island structures, with the hull fully assembled by 2014. Babcock.

June 6/12: Back to 2? Portsmouth’s The News reports that the government is considering keeping both carriers in service, now that they’re the same configuration again.

” ‘Planning assumptions are that both carriers will now enter service,’ a defence source told The News… to be confirmed in the next defence review in 2015, is being welcomed by the navy as it will offer the UK a continuous, year-round carrier capability. It could also secure hundreds of jobs at BAE Systems in Portsmouth due to double the repair and maintenance work.”

May 24/12: Melting decks. After the Daily Mirror brings up the issue of F-35B exhaust and how it affects carrier decks, the UK MoD responds by saying that the extra cost of paint was seen as manageable, in comparison to full carrier modifications. It’s actually about more than just paint, as the deck coatings make a difference to carrier operations if they’re melted off.

The USA is developing a new deck coating to try and withstand the F-35B’s higher temperatures, compared to the Harrier’s less powerful 4-nozzle Pegasus engine. The MoD is at least correct that this change would be less expensive than an EMALS catapult fit, which carries technical risks of its own. Daily Mirror | UK MoD.

May 10/12: Back to F-35B. Britain’s government confirms long-standing rumors that it would abandon the F-35C and its associated catapult modifications to 1 carrier, returning to the ski-jump deck and F-35B STOVL variant. That will mean reversions and changes to the carriers’ evolved design and lighting, some of which were described in the Jan 25/12 entry. Aircraft are less affected. The UK had already ordered and paid for an F-35B test plane, before the switch to the F-35C. Those flights will now continue, and F-35B flight trials are scheduled to begin from a British carrier in 2018.

A DSTL report has explained some of the capabilities Britain would lose by abandoning the F-35C (vid. April 20/12 entry), but the government justifies their decision by saying that the F-35C’s improved capabilities would come at too steep a cost. Staying with the F-35C, they say, would delay Britain’s return to carrier capability from 2020 – 2023 or later, cost nearly GBP 2 billion to modify 1 of their 2 carriers, and leave the Royal Navy with no carrier capability if their converted ship needs maintenance. In contrast, the F-35B gives Britain the option of taking its 2nd CVF carrier out of strategic reserve, and using it during long refit or maintenance dockings for their primary ship.

The F-35C would also have offered compatibility with American and French nuclear-powered carriers, but the government sidestepped that by saying that the F-35B provides commonality with the US Marines and Italy. UK MoD.

Back to F-35B

April 20/12: F-35B vs. C. A UK DSTL document marked “Secret – UK eyes only” looks at the larger trade-offs between the F-35C and F-35B:

“The Daily Telegraph has seen a… document setting out secret contingency planning for future military operations… The highly-classified report shows that planners have grave doubts about the [F-35B’s] capabilities… the MoD will have to spend an extra £2.4 billion buying 136 aircraft compared with 97 [F-35Cs]… The reduced range means the jump jet can spend less time over its target than the conventional jet. For a target 300 nautical miles away from the aircraft carrier, the jump-jet can spend only 20 minutes over its target before turning back, compared with 80 minutes for the conventional jet.”

That GBP 2.4 billion compares well to the GBP 1.8 – 2 billion cost to add an electromagnetic catapult to a CVF ship. Daily Telegraph | Defense Update.

March 12/12: Conversion – GBP 1.8 billion? The Telegraph reports that:

“Estimates for adapting HMS Prince of Wales so that it can be used by the Joint Strike Fighter are understood have risen from £500 million to £1.8 billion.”

That may be an unaffordable price, and force a shift back to F-35B jets. Fortunately for Britain, the F-35B has been taken off of its program probation already. Unfortunately for Britain, the sale of its recently-upgraded Harrier force to the USMC, at a bargain-basement price, for use as spares, will look especially bad if there’s a switch back to a STOBAR carrier design. The government’s response will likely be to cite Harrier operating & maintenance costs as too high to sustain.

March 1/12: Conversion. Labour Party shadow defense minister Jim Murphy sends a letter to British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, asking if the government is considering abandoning the F-35C decision made in the October 2010 SDSR, and reverting to the F-35B. The letter telegraphs the growing pressure created by cost estimates of the carrier refit, as well as the costs of the F-35, which is now expected to exceed the GBP 57 million (about $90 million) budgeted per plane.

The UK MoD reiterates its commitment to a carrier strike force, and says they’re reviewing all programs before the 2012-13 budget is announced, around Easter. The Guardian | The Telegraph | Defense News.

Feb 22/12: UK Rafales? French DGA head Lauren Collet-Billon tells a press conference that the extent of carrier cooperation with Britain will depend on Britain’s final plans and choices. With respect to fighter jets, Defense Aerospace quotes him saying that the F-35:

“…is an ambitious program, and like all ambitious programs it faces a number of challenges… If one day we have to lend Rafale Ms to the Royal Navy, why not? Personally, I’d find that very pleasing.”

January 2012: CVF 02. British Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral George Zambellas officially cuts the first chunk of steel for Prince of Wales Lower Block 02, at BAE System’s facility in Portsmouth. Overall production on HMS Prince of Wales began in Glasgow in May 2011, however, when steel was cut on Lower Block 03 at BAE’s Govan yard.

Prtsmouth is also building Queen Elizabeth’s Lower Block 02, Lower Block 05 stern section, and forward island. BAE Systems.

Jan 25/12: Deck & lighting redesign. BAE Systems’ simulator at Warton, UK is being used to refine landing procedures for the proposed F-35C, and is helping to redesign the flight deck’s array of lighting systems, deck markings, and arrester gear. BAE’s simulator has been programmed to use the F-35 and the CVF layout, but the pilots are US Navy F-18 pilots.

ACA’s Pete Symonds says that the flight deck is being redesigned, and the new design has reached “level 2 maturity.” It will use the American landing light system as its base, but must move other gear for a “land and stop” sequence instead of the F-35B’s “stop and land”. Meanwhile, the JCA Team’s Wing Commander Willy Hackett is focused on the GPS-aided JPALS landing system, combined with new symbology in the helmet-mounted display. UK MoD.

2011

Parliamentary report; Babcock’s highly mechanized weapons handling system (HMWHS); ECDIS picked; QE Lower Block 03 moved; FS De Gaulle into maintenance.

Take me to the river…
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Nov 29/11: PAC report. Britain’s House of Commons Public Accounts Committee publishes its 56th report of Session 2010-12, “Providing the UK’s Carrier Strike Capability,” on the basis of evidence from the Ministry of Defence. The committee notes that costs have increased since inception from GBP 3.65 billion to receive 2 carriers in 2016 and 2018, flying F-35B STOVL fighters, with all-year availability of carrier assets. They now sit at over GBP 6 billion, for 1 operational carrier, flying heavier F-35C fighters, but with no carrier capability until 2020, and reduced availability. Some excerpts from the statement and report:

“The decision was taken on proper policy grounds, not on the basis that the UK was locked into contracts which would have cost more to break than to maintain… So far the Aircraft Carrier Alliance has delivered 98 per cent of the work originally planned and the project achieved 48 of the 53 target milestones in 2010-11 on time. In cost terms, the project is currently forecast by the Alliance to cost [GBP] 5.461 billion, [GBP] 219 million higher than the contracted Targeted Cost, with a planning trajectory to meet the Target Cost.[21]… The cost of up to [GBP] 1.2 billion for conversion of the operational carrier remains an estimate and the Department does not expect to have a better understanding of costs for 18 months… the Department is exposed to the price the US Navy will pay for their [EMALS] systems.[28] Furthermore whilst the USA is building a system with four catapults the UK requires a system with only two catapults… The conversion of the carriers to using catapults and arrestor gear will push back the in-service date by two years to 2020 and sortie rates will not reach the maximum full operating capability until 2031.[31] When the carrier is introduced it will be able to operate at sea for only 150 to 200 days a year, compared with the original plan to provide carrier capability for 435 days a year using two carriers.”

On the procurement end, the committee adds that:

“There is no one person responsible for delivering the Carrier Strike project below the Accounting Officer. The Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) has a co-ordinating role, rather than real budgetary and implementation authority. This Committee has consistently identified the Department’s weak SRO role as a systemic problem.”

The committee is chaired by opposition MP Lady Margaret Hodge [Lab. – Barking]. PAC release | Full PAC Report | Wales Online.

Nov 1/11: Fire. A piece of welding equipment catches fire in a compartment on Deck 8 of what seems to have been Lower Block 03, forcing about 40 firefighters to show up. Fife Constabulary said no-one was injured in the fire, which was traced to an extractor fan, and appears to have been just a minor incident. BBC | Daily Record | Dumferline Press | Fife Today | UKPA.

July 29/11: CVF 01. BAE Systems moves the 8,000t Lower Block 03 mid section of HMS Queen Elizabeth out the company’s shipbuilding hall at Govan. The block is then loaded onto 1 of the 2 biggest sea-going barges in the world in preparation for her 600 mile journey to Rosyth, where the aircraft carrier will be assembled. ACA.

July 18/11: DeGaulle gone. France withdraws FS Charles de Gaulle from Libyan operations, as the ship prepares for maintenance in the fall. Once it enters maintenance, neither Britain nor France will have an operational aircraft carrier. Despite pledges of cooperation in this area, in order to offset the absence of CVF carriers (vid. Nov 2/10), they may need to get used to this. The French carrier will be undergoing a full reactor refueling around 2015, which will remove her from service for well over a year. Reuters.

May 26/11: CVF 02. Ceremonial 1st steel cutting for Prince of Wales, the 2nd CVF carrier, at BAE’s Glasgow shipyard. UK MoD | ACA.

Prince of Wales begins.

April 28/11: GBP 7 billion? A BBC report states that:

“The firms building the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers say the cost has risen by at least £1bn and possibly almost £2bn, the BBC has learned. This could push the final cost of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales to about £7bn – from the agreed £5.2bn.”

A corresponding blog post points out that even GBP 5.2 billion for the 2 ships is up from the GBP 3.9 billion budget announced when the contract was signed in July 2008, and says that the Ministry believes the project can be brought in for GBP 6 billion if just one carrier is modified with catapults. Other analysts, and the shipbuilders themselves, seem to be less sanguine. In response to the BBC report, the UK MoD would only say that:

“Final costs are yet to be agreed and detailed work is ongoing. We expect to take firm decisions in late 2012.”

March 29/11: Sub-contracts. BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd. issues a contract to Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine to build, install, and test Integrated Navigation Bridge Systems (INBS) with an electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS-N). Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine has already completed the initial design phase of the contract, including change requests, and is currently designing a Navigation Lights, Shapes and Sounds (NLSS) under an option in the production contract. Deliveries are scheduled to be complete in 2018, and Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

The Queen Elizabeth Class’ INBS/ ECDIS-N (UK) system is based on Sperry Marine’s VisionMaster FT offering, and the multi-function workstations will include navigation planning, electronic charts, and radar displays, as well as a comprehensive set of software, and tie-ins to the carriers’ sensors. The system fully meets UK MoD specifications, NATO standards STANAG 7170 and STANAG 4564, and International Electrotechnical Commission standards IEC 62288 and IEC 61174. Northrop Grumman.

Feb 13/11: CVF 01. BAE Systems’ Govan yard near Glasgow moves 2 giant sections of the Queen Elizabeth’s hull together for the first time. A team of 20 employees moved the 1,221 tonne block over 100 meters in just 1 hour, to line up with the rest of the block and form Lower Block 03 (mid section of the hull up to the hangar deck). Workers will now continue to outfit the block, which on completion will weigh over 9,300 tonnes and stand over 23 metres tall, 63 metres long and 40 metres wide. The structure is already so big that it fills an entire hall at Govan and now extends beyond the doors onto the yard.

Lower Block 03 will be shipped to Rosyth in the latter part of 2011, and work also continues at other yards. BAE Systems is building the largest and most complex section (main stern) at Rosyth on the Clyde, and work is well underway at Portsmouth to build the forward and lower stern sections of the hull, as well as the pole mast. Integration and testing of the ships’ complex mission system is underway at the Company’s Maritime Integration and Support Centre, while another team of BAE Systems engineers on the Isle of Wight tests the advanced communication systems. The Company is set to begin work on the 2 island structures, which house the bridge and traffic control facilities, towards the end of 2011. BAE Systems.

Jan 17/11: CVF 01. Shipyard workers in Portsmouth are beginning the 2nd major phase of construction – building the massive stern section of HMS Queen Elizabeth. The BBC report also identifies HMS Prince of Wales as the ship that will be placed in reserve. BBC.

Jan 14/11: HMWHS. Babcock’s highly mechanized weapons handling system (HMWHS) for the new carriers has successfully completed factory acceptance testing. The HMWHS and its 56 track-mounted “moles” move palletized munitions around the deep magazine and weapon preparation areas, and to a series of weapons lifts that connect the magazines, hangar, weapons preparation area, and flight deck.

Because space on board is always at such a premium, it’s a very complex machinery set designed to get the very most out of all available space – even if that makes retrieving specific items something like solving a Rubik’s Cube. It’s a maritime application of shore-based commercial warehousing processes using automated systems with all-electric controls, and as one might guess, there’s a notable software component as well. Babcok’s release discusses a number of the system’s unique features.

2011

2010 SDS mothballs a carrier, switches to F-35C; Sub-contracts; QE bow ships; UK-French cooperation pledges; Parliamentary report pegs cost at GBP 5.25 billion; Lord Hesketh’s criticisms and resignation.

Enter the F-35C…
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Dec 15/10: Britain’s Harrier fleet is officially retired. The Guardian | Mercopress.

Harriers retired

Nov 22/10: Parliament reports. Britain’s Parliamentary Treasury Committee reports on defense purchasing policy in general, with special attention to the Queen Elizabeth Class. Some excerpts:

“These carriers will cost around [GBP] 5 billion.[96] Only one will be operational, while the other will be placed at ‘extended readiness’.[97] The operational carrier will now have catapult and arrestor gear installed… It became clear that it wasn’t possible to get out of the contract. It would have been possible to have done alternatives. It would have been possible not to have built the carriers and to have built other ships instead. But that would have been less good value for money, and in the end, the judgment was that the carrier strike force was part of the long-term strategic needs; that, looking 10 to 20 years ahead, this was something that would be part of the adaptable posture that we have adopted and, therefore, that we would go ahead with building the carriers. But there were alternatives and those were considered but they were thought, in the end, to be less good from a strategic military perspective and less good from a value-for-money perspective…

If both carriers were completed the stated cost would be [GBP] 5.25 bn. If the Prince of Wales was cancelled, BAE said the direct cost would be [GBP] 4.86 bn, plus an additional [GBP] 690 million of consequential costs. The letter also warned that the loss of a second carrier would precipitate the closure of at least one BAE Systems shipyard, and 2,500 job losses in BAE Systems in Scotland and the South East, as well as several thousand in the wider supply chain. The Chancellor told us that this was “of all the problems we faced, probably the greatest.”[108]… It is argued that the aircraft carrier contract was unbreakable not just for legal reasons, but also because it was inextricably linked to the strategic need to maintain a stable supply of work for the sole warship-producing supplier in the UK… The Treasury should draw on the lessons from the contract to analyse all future Ministry of Defence procurement to ensure that value for money is being obtained, particularly when little competition exists in the market.”

Revised costs

Nov 10/10: Conversion. London’s Telegraph newspaper reports that:

“Babcock, part of the BAE Systems-led consortium building the two carriers, estimates adding the equipment will cost [GBP 600-800 million] per ship, potentially taking the total bill for the vessels to almost [GBP 7 billion for both]. At present, the Government plans to add the extra equipment to only one carrier… Babcock’s chief executive, Peter Rogers, said installing the catapult equipment and switching to the so-called carrier variant of the F35… will allow the Ministry of Defence to greatly reduce the number of aircraft it has to buy and cut the cost of the planes by 25[%] over their life-span, according to last month’s Strategic Defence & Security Review.”

Nov 8/10: Lord Hesketh. Babcock International Group PLC Deputy Chairman Lord Hesketh resigns “with immediate effect,” after the firm issues a statement that: “Babcock dissociates itself from these personal comments [to the Telegraph newspaper], which do not in any respect reflect the views of the company.”

Hesketh has held his position as nonexecutive deputy chairman of Babcock since 1996 and has been a nonexecutive director since 1993. BBC | Defence Management | Daily Mail | The Independent | The Scotsman | Dow Jones.

Nov 8/10: Lord Hesketh. Babcock Deputy Chairman Lord Hesketh tells London’s Telegraph newspaper that:

“Britain could afford to run both ships – and put aircraft on them from the start – were it not for the “vested interest” of BAE Systems, the prime contractor. “We are paying twice as much as we should to get half the capability,”… said the [GBP] 5.2 billion project was a “Loony Tunes” operation that was “about to turn into a classic British disaster”… the F35 will not be ready until 2020, and plans for a jump-jet version have been scrapped – meaning an electric catapult to launch the aircraft will have to be developed at extra cost. Lord Hesketh said a far quicker and cheaper solution was to adapt the RAF’s existing Typhoons for work at sea. But he said this was less remunerative for BAE than buying dozens of new F35s.”

The bit about “an electric catapult” was also interesting.

Nov 2/10: UK & France. The “UK-France Summit 2010 Declaration on Defence and Security Co-operation” has this to say:

“9. Aircraft carriers. The UK has decided to install catapults and arresting gear to its future operational aircraft carrier. This will create opportunities for UK and French aircraft to operate off carriers from both countries. Building primarily on maritime task group co-operation around the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, the UK and France will aim to have, by the early 2020s, the ability to deploy a UK-French integrated carrier strike group incorporating assets owned by both countries. This will ensure that the Royal Navy and the French Navy will work in the closest co-ordination over the next generation.”

In the immediate term, concerns focus on the FS Charles de Gaulle’s readiness; she is currently held in port while problems with her propulsion are resolved. Over the longer term, expressed concerns center around how to share a carrier when national aims often diverge, sometimes strenuously. The more distant worry is that the combination of carrier-sharing and insufficient escort ships make the 2010 SDSR an initial step toward dismantling the Royal Navy, in favor of an EU fleet.

UK/ France Summit

Oct 29/10: Conversion. In an interview with BBC Scotland during a visit to the Govan shipyard, Defence Secretary Liam Fox said that estimates for the addition of catapults to the Queen Elizabeth Class ranged “upwards from GBP 500m,” with studies on going to pick a catapult system and determine likely costs.

Meanwhile, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Peter Luff confirmed that the government had not yet been decided whether one or both carriers would be converted, what type of catapult system to use, procurement approach, or delivery dates. What is fairly certain is that delivery dates will be delayed. Defence Management.

Oct 27/10: Share? As Britain and France prepare to sign a military cooperation treaty, French defense minister Hervé Morin is already discussing the possibility of sharing a carrier:

“Beyond joint exercises, we are in favor of sharing the accompanying of aircraft carriers… I’ve [also] asked our military command to consider the feasibility of stationing British aircraft on our aircraft carrier and vice versa,” Morin said. “We’re looking into other areas such as refueling planes.”

With an in-service date of 2020, however, the Queen Elizabeth Class is unlikely to be ready before the FS Charles de Gaulle needs its long overhaul, making it unlikely to solve the problem of how France can maintain a carrier force during their own carrier’s long drydocking. See: The Telegraph | UPI | Turkey’s Today’s Zaman.

Oct 18/10: Britain’s new government releases its 2010 Strategic Defense and Strategy Review [PDF]. Canceling a carrier would have made no financial sense, but the CVF program will change in several important ways.

First, the carriers will now install catapult gear, delaying in-service dates from 2016 to 2020. This will ensure that the carriers are interoperable with all allies, meaning French and American naval aircraft.

Second, the carriers will embark only F-35s, because the Harrier GR7/9 fleet is about to be retired, leaving the UK with no fixed-wing naval aviation from 2011-2020.

The F-35 chosen will be the F-35C carrier variant, instead of the F-35B that sacrifices range and payload for short takeoff/ vertical landing capability. Since the new carriers won’t enter service until 2020, the F-35C’s late availability won’t be an issue. The other thing that will change are the numbers bought. The report explicitly says the UK intends to reduce its F-35 buy, and also says that:

“We cannot now foresee circumstances in which the UK would require the scale of strike capability previously planned. We are unlikely to face adversaries in large-scale air combat. We are far more likely to engage in precision operations, which may need to overcome sophisticated air defence capabilities. The single carrier will therefore routinely have 12 fast jets embarked for operations while retaining the capacity to deploy up to the 36 previously planned, providing combat and intelligence capability much greater than the existing Harriers. It will be able to carry a wide range of helicopters, including up to 12 Chinook or Merlin transports and eight Apache attack helicopters. The precise mix of aircraft will depend on the mission…”

Finally, one of the carriers (probably the Prince of Wales) will be mothballed into “extended readiness” as soon as it’s delivered, and may be sold at some future date. The cuts have created concern in Britain that it will be unable to defend the Falklands from 2011-2020.

ADDENDUM: The Harrier fleet was taken out of service in December 2010, just a few years after major refits to GR9 status, and sold to the US Marines in 2011 as low-cost spare parts. The carrier Ark Royal was also retired around the end of 2010 per the SDSR, about 2 years sooner than planned. Her sister ship HMS Illustrious had just received a modernization refit, so she was left to operate as a helicopter and command ship, alongside Britain’s LPH helicopter carrier HMS Ocean. HMS Illustrious will now phase out in 2014 instead of 2015. See also Daily Express.

2010 SDSR cuts carrier, switches planes

Sept 8/10: SDSR. BAE Systems CEO Ian King said that the UK Defence Ministry had asked his company to examine options, including canceling the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. The ministry is conducting a comprehensive review of defense capabilities, the 1st review since 1998.

In response to a query by Labour lawmaker Thomas Docherty, UK Defence Minister Peter Luff said that equipment subcontracts worth a total of GBP 1.25 billion have already been awarded to build the 2 Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. In a parliamentary written answer to Docherty, Luff also said work is under way at 6 shipyards: Appledore, Birkenhead, Govan, Portsmouth, Rosyth and Tyne. “To rip up these contracts worth millions at this stage would not only be financial madness, but political suicide and I hope the coalition government sees sense,” Docherty, whose district includes Babcock International Group’s Rosyth dockyard, told the BBC.

Aug 9/10: Sensors. Ultra Electronics Command and Control systems announces a contract from the UK’s Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA). They’ll supply electro-optical systems based on the Series 2500, which will be used for general area surveillance and as a Glide Path Camera. Both systems will distribute their results as digital video, and this contract covers initial supply, installation, commissioning, and trials support.

The Series 2500 is already in service on the Type 45 Destroyer’s Electro Optical Gun Control System, and is also in service abroad with the navies of Australia, Brunei and Romania. A Design Services contract was awarded in 2008. and the resulting EO surveillance system is configured as dual EO Director (EOD) system integrated into the carrier’s Mission System. The Glide Path Camera is a single EO Director system that monitors the position, attitude and status of recovering aircraft on their landing approach.

Aug 8/10: Conversion. Jane’s reports [subscription req’d] that: “An unprecedented number of UK Royal Navy (RN) Harrier pilots have begun training for catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) carrier operations in the United States…”

Aug 1/10: SDSR. With Britain’s strategic review in progress, leaks and speculation are flying hard and fast, in an effort to influence the debate going on behind closed doors. The Sunday Times reports [JPEG] that one of the options under consideration is cancellation of Britain’s participation in the F-35 program, and purchase of F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft instead. Expected savings are set at GBP 10 billion – but there would also be costs to modify Britain’s carriers for catapult operations.

July 30/10: SDSR. The Observer reports that: “one of Britain’s new GBP 2bn aircraft carriers could be sold off under cost-cutting plans being considered by the Ministry of Defence. India has lodged a firm expression of interest…” The Guardian | London Evening Standard.

July 26/10: Sub-contractors. Construction of the flight deck’s steel plates begins at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, the final shipyard in the program to begin construction. Under their GBP 44 million contract, they will make 2 of the steel sections that make up the carrier’s flight deck. Their combined 7,500 tonne weight exceeds most serving destroyers. UK MoD.

April 13/10: Sub-contractors. Rolls Royce announces completion of Queen Elizabeth’s 1st propeller, and the successful testing of the vessel’s first MT30 gas turbine in Bristol, UK.

The 33t, 5-bladed Kamewa Adjustable Bolted Propeller is manufactured from nickel aluminium bronze, and will deliver 50,000 horsepower when connected to the ship’s propulsion system. Each carrier will have 2 propellers, and the 1st has now completed acceptance tests at the Rolls-Royce facility in Kristinehamn, Sweden.

April 1/10: CVF 01. Queen Elizabeth’s 2 bow sections are complete, and ready to set sail from Babcock’s Appledore shipyard in Devon. They will make a 6 day journey by barge to Rosyth in Scotland, where the ships will be assembled.

The two sections will make up the bow of the ship. The bulbous bow is 30.3 meters long, and weighs 293 tonnes; the upper bow is 29.1 meters long, and weighs 141 tonnes. “bulbous bows” have become popular in recent years, as they increase speed, fuel efficiency and stability by making the ship more hydrodynamic.

/changeNav/6568">Royal Navy.

Jan 14/10: Sub-contractors. The UK’s Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) awards 5 more sub-contracts, worth a total of GBP 333 million (about $540 million). According to the UK MoD, this brings the total value of sub-contracts awarded so far to almost GBP 1.1 billion. Winners and tasks include:

Imtech Marine and Offshore Ltd in Billingham, Teesside, and Portsmouth receives GBP 120 million for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.

The Pyeroy/ Cape joint venture Ship Support Services Ltd based near Rosyth, Scotland receives GBP 105 million for paint and scaffolding during the build process.

Henry Abrams in Glasgow receives GBP 85 million to transport sections of the ship from the yards across the UK to Rosyth for final assembly.

Tyco in Manchester wins GBP 15 million for fixed fire fighting systems.

AEI Cables in Birtley, County Durham, receives GBP 8 million for much of the 2,500km of cabling to be installed in the ships. UK Ministry of Defence.

Jan 12/10: SDSR. Reports that the UK is considering cuts to the aircraft carrier program, and especially to its buy of carrier-capable F-35B Lightning II jets, persist. The Guardian.

2009

BAE buys BVT partner; Barrow too busy; CVF 01 begins; Modeling the islands; Sub-contracts, incl. S1850M radar; Political rumblings; Prince of Wales to become helicopter carrier?; India interested?

CVF concept:
leaving Portsmouth
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Dec 18/09: Sub-contractors. South Tyneside’s Shields Gazette reports that a GBP 55 million contract to A&P Tyne in Hebburn continues at full pace, cutting steel for a carriers’ center section. Yard managing director Stewart Boak says that:

“So far as the yard is concerned, we are full steam ahead on the contract, whatever political rumours fly around about what will happen to the project after the General Election. We started working on the contract in July and have between 70 and 75 people from our core workforce involved with the main centre block for the carriers. Next March, we will ramp up the work when the contract enters a new phase and would expect to increase the number of people on the project to about 150 workers.”

Nov 16/09: India. Amidst rumors of major British defense budget cuts, The Guardian reports that India has expressed formal interest in the CVF/Queen Elizabeth class carrier program. The UK MoD is desperately looking for long-term budget savings, but canceling either of its full-size carriers at this point would be rival the cost of finishing them:

“According to senior defence sources, Whitehall officials are examining the feasibility of selling one of the carriers. It is understood they are planning to put forward the option as part of the government’s strategic defence review, which will start early next year… “Selling a carrier is one very serious option,” a defence source said this weekend, although the government is a long way from committing to any sale. It could take between six and 12 months to reach a decision, he added.”

Each Queen Elizabeth carrier costs about $3.5 billion, and the negotiating difference around the Admiral Gorshkov is currently around $2.2+ billion. The question is whether India would be able to buy one of the CVF carriers for less than the UK paid, in order to offer the Treasury monies that it could not otherwise obtain from the CVF program. If a refund could be forthcoming from the Russians, and a deal done with the British, investing the Vikramaditya’s $3 billion could net India a completely new ship rather than an old and refurbished one, with double the Gorshkov’s aerial complement. Key questions include whether those deals could be secured, and whether India is prepared to wait until 2016 for the British carrier, as opposed to 2013 (and sliding…) for Gorshkov.

Nov 3/09: Defence Management reports that:

“Both the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales aircraft carriers will be able to carry the joint strike fighter (JSF) according to defence equipment and support minister Quentin Davies.”

The question is what number of F-35B aircraft will be available for carrier use, and whether there will be enough to equip more than 1 operational carrier with a full fighter complement. Davies adds that “neither has there been any change in our JSF programme,” which could be true in an official sense even if future plans are still being debated. Time will tell.

Oct 29/09: BAE Buyout. BAE buys out VT’s 45% share of BVT Surface Fleet Ltd. for GBP 346 million in cash, under the put option in their joint venture provisions. The new firm will be renamed BAE Surface Ships Ltd. VT Group Chief Executive Paul Lester comments:

“This marks the completion of our transition to a pure support services company and we are well positioned to grow the business both organically and through acquisition, using the resources from the sale of our shareholding in BVT.”

The financial details begin with a base buyout from BAE Systems of around GBP 380 million. Then VT Group will pay about 0.8 million of notional interest, 12.2 million for pensions liabilities, and 22 million in dividend repayments. While this nets GBP 345 million if calculated, all figures are rounded, and VT Group says the result is GBP 346 million net; DID accepts that figure.

VT Group then injects another GBP 43 million of capital into the divested BVT Surface Fleet, to cover cost over-runs on the export contracts for Oman’s and Trinidad’s patrol boats, and pays 4.7 million to settle up various inter-company balances. The net is now GBP 298.3 million.

When the joint venture was announced, BAE Systems acquired a 50% holding in acquisition in Flagship Training Ltd. Per VT’s Group’s future focus as a “pure support company,” it’s buying BAE Systems’ 50% of Flagship Training for GBP 70.2 million (65 million of deferred consideration and 5.2 million of notional interest, held currently as debt). That leaves GBP 228.1 million as the net total for the transaction if calculated. See: BAE Systems | VT Group.

BAE buyout of BVT JV

Oct 25/09: SDSR. Just 2 days after a Liverpool flypast celebrating 100 years of British naval aviation, the UK’s Times reports that the Royal Navy has agreed to turn Prince of Wales into a helicopter carrier, slash its planned buy of 150 F-35Bs to about 50, and save about GBP 8.2 billion from its long term defense budget. Since contracts have already been signed for both carriers, reneging would be expensive. The Times report says that:

“The decision to have only one new aircraft carrier will cut the number of JSFs to be flown by RAF squadrons from 138 to about 50, saving [GBP] 7.6 billion. At current prices, the aircraft will cost close to [GBP] 90m each [DID: about $150 million], but this could rise to more than [GBP] 100m. Using the Prince of Wales as a commando ship will save a further [GBP] 600m, the amount that would have been needed to replace the amphibious landing ship Ocean [link DID’s], which is due to go out of service in 2018. The decision to cut the number of JSF aircraft has been agreed by senior navy and air force commanders in discussions preparing for the strategic defence review.

…A senior Royal Navy officer said: “We always knew that the real cost of the carrier project is the JSF fleet to go on them. It would cost us at least [GBP] 12 billion if we bought all the aircraft we originally asked for. We are waking up to the fact that all those planes are unaffordable. More than half of the [GBP] 5 billion contracts to build the two new carriers have been contracted, so it is too late to get out of building the ships. This way at least we are covered when Ocean goes out of service.”

Changing a ship’s internal plan part-way through construction is also very expensive. What’s more likely to happen is that the 2 carriers will share a single F-35B air wing, and the land-based role will be filled exclusively by about 120 Eurofighters. Britain would have 1 carrier active at any time, with the other available about 50%-60% of the time to embark a combination of EH101 Merlin/Transports, AW159 Lynx Wildcats, AH-64D Mk.1 Apaches, and possibly even CH-47 Chinook helicopters for other missions. More F-35s could always be bought in future if it was thought to be necessary, though that’s considered to be unlikely. See also: Aviation Week | Information Dissemination.

Oct 19/09: Sub-contractors. Rolls Royce begins deliveries under its CVF contracts, shipping the 1st pair of Neptune stabilizing fins from Dunfermline, Scotland to the BVT Surface Fleet shipyard in Govan, where they will be incorporated into a hull section that’s currently under construction.

The stabilizing fins are retractable, and can be extended from their housing in the ship’s hull, pivoting as necessary in order to stabilize the vessel when sailing through rough seas. The passenger cruise ship boom has helped refine this technology, but it also has military uses during various carrier operations such as the loading weaponry, refueling, or takeoff and landing. (q.v. Oct 6/08 entry)

Sept 20/09: Cancellation costs? A Financial Mail article places cancellation penalties on the existing GBP 960 million or so worth of contracts at about GBP 400 million, with another GBP 500 million in contracts to be placed over the next 9 months. Severance and layoff payments would also be required for the project’s 7,000 or so direct workers, and the total estimated cost according to unnamed “defence experts” could be as high as GBP 2 billion in funds spent to no result.

Sept 16/09: The Times reports that the CVF program may be headed for a renewed fight under a new Conservative Party government, if that party wins the forthcoming election:

“George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, said in a speech on the economy that he would hold a Budget within weeks of a victory. Afterwards, he was asked to identify specific savings that an incoming Conservative government might make. In comments that surprised and dismayed his own colleagues, he cited the [GBP] 20 billion Eurofighter/Typhoon project, the [GBP] 4 billion project to build two aircraft carriers and the [GBP] 2.7 billion order for 25 A400 transport aircraft as areas ripe for cuts. Later, however, he admitted that he did not know what penalties might have to be paid out under break clauses if the contracts were scrapped.

…Mr Osborne’s intervention appeared to surprise senior colleagues, including Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary. The Conservatives have said in the past that such decisions should be taken as part of a strategic defence review.”

Sept 7/09: Sub-contractors. Another GBP 52 million (about $86.2 million) in contracts for CVF components. The sub-contracts include GBP 16 million to Score Marine Ltd. in Peterhead for 12,000 valves; GBP 15 million to Babcock Strachan and Henshaw in Bristol for an integrated waste management system; GBP 3 million to McGeoch Technology Ltd. in Birmingham for ship lighting and lighting distribution panels; plus “several other smaller contracts.” UK MoD.

HRH Princess Royal
(click to view full)

July 7/09: CVF 01. Her Highness the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) officially presses the button to fire up the laser cutter at BVT’s Govan shipyard, and begin steel-cutting for the new Queen Elizabeth carrier. The UK MoD release adds that:

“While the hull construction is just beginning, the project has moved on apace since the manufacture contract was signed in July last year, with [GBP] 700m worth of sub-contracts placed for the equipment and furnishings.”

The BBC, meanwhile, covers the continuing debate over the Queen Elizabeth class, as the government of the day announces a “root and branch” review of British defense policy.

Queen Elizabeth begins

May 21/09: On the islands. The UK MoD explains work underway to model the CVF’s “island” structures and electronics, using computer modeling and a test structure built on the Isle of Wight. The work at BAE Systems Insyte’s Cowes electromagnetic environment facility is part of BAE’s GBP 275 million contract to design and supply a fully-integrated mission system. That system will includes about 1,400 different pieces of equipment: 1,740 km of fiber-optic cable, over 100 grouped antennas of various types, a complete I.T. infrastructure, complete air traffic control infrastructure, complete communications infrastructure, plus the various radars, self-defense systems, and other electronics.

Placing all of that equipment in the 2 “islands” is a challenge, and so is ensuring that all the electronic emitters won’t interfere with one another. Trying to do all that after the ship is built can lead to expensive re-work and delays. Hence the use of computer modeling, followed by the GBP 600,000 test structure on the Isle of Wight, which allows incremental work and testing to proceed before this part of the ship is built and fitted. BAE Systems’ Steve Dowdell sums up their philosophy, which mirrors modern approaches to software development:

“We need to integrate early, little and often. The earlier you integrate the more time you have to fix problems, not six months before the end of the programme. Little and often means we can apply bits of kit incrementally – that’s our mantra.”

Mach 23/09: Sub-contractors. The UK MoD announces GBP 83 million ($120 million equivalent) in additional CVF contracts. The Aircraft Carrier Alliance has now placed sub-contracts for almost 40% of the total value of the base materials and equipment required to build both ships.

Recent contracts will sustain over 400 jobs, and include:

• GBP 57 million to Ticon Ltd UK in Glasgow (350 jobs). Their insulations will prevent the transfer of noise and heat, while providing force protection;
  
• GBP 25 million from Thales UK in Crawley, West Sussex (50 jobs). Their communications systems will cover both onboard IP networks for data and voice, and fleet-wide UHF/VHF;
  
• GBP 1m to Ormandy Group in Bradford, West Yorkshire (?? jobs) to treat and supply hot and cold fresh water to the accommodation spaces within the ships.

See: UK MoD | Royal Navy.

March 2/09: Sub-contractors. The Alliance Management Board of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) approves a revision to the CVF build strategy. That revision is described above, and includes a shift away from BAE’s facility in Barrow, which is too busy with submarine work.

The ACA has also announced further shipbuilding orders worth up to GBP 150 million to UK shipyards. A&P Tyne in Tyneside, and Cammell Laird in Merseyside, have both been named as preferred bidders for the ship’s large central Upper Blocks. A regional breakdown of contracts issued to date was provided with the ACA release.

Feb 11/09: Radar. Thales Nederland announces a contract with BAE Systems for a pair of S1850M Long Range Volume Search active array radars, a modified version of Thales SMART-L. S1850M radars are produced by Thales and BAE Insyte.

The first radar system is scheduled to be delivered during 2011, and the second radar system in 2013. The scope includes minor enhancements to the S1850 design that serves on Britain’s Type 45 anti-air destroyers, in order to meet the specific needs of aircraft carrier operations.

Jan 16/09: Sub-contractors. The Royal Navy announces another GBP 90 million ($131.5 million equivalent) in contracts for long lead time items, which need to be available during the early phases of the construction process. These orders include:

• GBP 50 million covering steelwork for bow sections of the 2 carriers, to be carried out at Babcock’s Appledore Shipyard in Devon. Early steelwork for HMS Queen Elizabeth commenced in December 2008. This contract will sustain some 150 jobs at peak production;
  
• GBP 3.4 million in galley in kitchen equipment from Kempsafe Ltd in Southampton;
  
• GBP 23 million for modular cabins and “wet spaces,” plus another GBP 4.4 million in furniture, from McGill Services Ltd. This will sustain about 40 jobs at peak production in Billingham, County Durham;
  
• GBP 1.3 million in windows from Tex Special Projects Ltd in Ipswich;
  
• GBP 3.9 million in doors and hatches from McGeoch Marine Ltd in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire; and
  
• GBP 4 million in aircraft electrical supplies equipment from Ultra Electronics PMES in Rugeley, Staffs.

See: UK MoD | Royal Navy.

2008

Program go-ahead for main build; Program delayed 1-2 years; Sub-contracts, including propulsion.

CVF Alliance “Delta”
(click to view full)

Dec 11/08: CVF Delayed. The UK MoD confirms that they are delaying the CVF program:

“We have concluded that there is scope for bringing more closely into line the introduction of the Joint Combat Aircraft and the Aircraft Carrier. This is likely to mean delaying the In Service Date of the new carriers by 1-2 years. We are in close consultation with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance on how this might best be done. Construction is already under way and will continue, the programme will still provide stability for the core shipyard workforce, including 10,000 UK jobs.”

The F-35 program’s decision to extend its testing phase into mid-2014 did create a potential schedule issue for CVF, even though the F-35B is expected to reach operational status before that date. Liam Fox, the opposition Conservative Party’s shadow for the defense portfolio, was quoted in a Bloomberg News report as saying that:

“The aircraft-carrier announcement is the government finally owning up to industry and the public that they so dragged out the process that there was never any realistic prospect of them meeting the 2014 and 2016 in-service dates… This questions whether the government is really committed to the carrier program.”

See also: The Register (op-ed).

Nov 29/08: CVF Delayed. The expected major construction contract for the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers is late, amidst consistent reports of defense spending cuts over the next 5 years, and an economic downturn. That lateness has prompted rumors of threats to the CVF project – rumors that are currently being denied by people in the Royal Navy, industry, and government.

The Scotsman’s report quotes Commodore Mike Mansergh and Alan Johnston, the chief executive of the BVT Surface Fleet joint venture. The Telegraph quotes assurances by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Comments indicate that a deal is likely to be finalized by March 2009 – though that deal may involve later construction and delivery dates, in order to stretch procurement funds. The Scotsman | The Telegraph.

Oct 6/08: Sub-contractors. The latest GBP 235 million (about $415 million) set of CVF contracts will deliver the carriers’ gas turbines, generators, motors, power distribution equipment, platform management systems, propellers, shafts, steering gear, rudders and stabilizers. A sub-alliance arrangement will manage this contract, and handle overall responsibility for this aspect of the ship; it is led by Thales UK, with participation from Rolls Royce (turbines, propellers, steering and stabilizers, low voltage systems), GE (formerly Converteam: electric conversion, high voltage systems), and L-3 (platform management system).

The COmbined Diesel And Gas (CODAG) system will be supplied by Rolls Royce in Fife, Scotland, UK and Converteam in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. The company’s overall share of this latest contract set is GBP 96 million, and includes a pair of 35MW MT30 turbines. Rolls Royce’s Dalgety Bay facilty will benefit from a GBP 13 million contract to provide rudders and stabilisers which steer the ship and keep it level, while the facility in Rugby will provide the generators that will be coupled to the CODAG system. In all, each ship will be capable of generating some 109 MW, and feeding it to the Advanced Induction Motor (AIM) propulsion and/or the ship’s systems.

Power conversion specialists Converteam will provide the electric equipment which controls and monitors the power for the propulsion system and motors, under a GBP 26 million contract. This involves making medium-voltage (11kV) switchboards, VDM25000 solid state variable speed drive controllers, electric converters, and filters. The system will be based upon the one Converteam is helping to build for the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 air defense destroyers. Converteam spun off from ALSTOM; with the completion of a second leveraged buyout [PDF] on Sept 30/08, the GBP 2 billion firm is now held by Barclays Private Equity France (33.3%), new stakeholder LBO France (33.3%), and by the Management and the employees (33.3%). Rolls Royce release | Thales UK alliance release | Converteam alliance release [PDF] | The Royal Navy and UK MoD release; does not detail the remaining GBP 111 million in contracts to the sub-alliance.

Sept 1/08: Sub-contractors. The UK MoD announces a series of contracts for various systems within its Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. Investments in this set total GBP 51 million (about $93 million). Firms were not specified, but items bought include:

• GBP 34 million to manufacture and install Highly Mechanised Weapons Handling Systems for the two ships. It will automate and track the movement of large quantities of munitions on board the carriers. Its goal is to let the new carriers function with the same weapon handling crew size as the current Invincible class carriers, which are about 1/3 their size.
  
• GBP 8 million to supply air uptake and downtake systems for both ships.
  
• GBP 5 million to development and supply Air Traffic Control software.
  
• GBP 3 million for Whole-ship Pump Integration, including pumps and associated systems engineering.
  
• GBP 1+ million for Emergency Diesel Generators.

May 20/08: CVF. The UK MoD announces that it has given the go-ahead to the CVF project, and expects industry players to follow suit with the promised joint venture firm shipbuilding consolidation, so work can begin on the 2 carriers. Reports indicate that BAE Systems and VT Group hope to finalize joint venture plans by mid-June 2008. UK MoD | BAE Systems | Thales | VT Group | Agence France Presse | Bloomberg | The Guardian | North-West Evening Mail | Times Online | The Scotsman predicts up to 800 new jobs in the Rossyth yard | Forbes re: JV | Telegraph re: JV

CVF go-ahead

May 18/08: Sharing a carrier with the French? The Times of London reports on talks that may lead to the building of just 2 CVF type carriers, instead of 2 Queen Elizabeth Class ships and the French PA2.

The “bilateral carrier group interoperability initiative” was proposed by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, at his March 2008 summit with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The idea is that either navy could borrow an aircraft carrier from the other if their own was unavailable as a result of a breakdown or refit, and there was agreement on the military mission and objectives. That latter requirement is what makes any arrangement of this kind so unlikely. British MoD officials reportedly dismissed the talks as “aspirational” and insisted there were “no current plans” to share carriers with the French.

May 17/08: The Times of London reports:

“General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, has written confidentially to all one-star and two-star officers in the Ministry of Defence -equivalent to brigadier and major-general – asking for their views about the need for a next-generation carrier strike force… There is increasing speculation that the RAF’s Super Lynx helicopter project and the third phase of the Eurofighter/ Typhoon programme may have to be scrapped [if the program goes ahead].”

April 4/08: Sub-contractors. Thales UK places a GBP 13 million (about $26 million) contract on behalf of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance for aircraft lifts and their associated motors and hydraulic machinery. Each of the carriers will have 2 tennis-court sized lifts (about 400 square meters), which use established technologies to lift 70 tonnes each from hangar to flight deck in 60 seconds. They are used to move aircraft, helicopters, and heavy equipment to the flightline, and the installed weight of the 2 lifts on each ship will be around 500 tonnes/ 600 tons. MacTaggart Scott employs 245 workers at its Loanhead site in Midlothian.

CVF long-lead item contracts announced to date include those for the flightline elevators, diesel generators, steel, Identification Friend or Foe electronics, flying control rooms, landing aids, navigation and bridge systems, infrastructure works at Rosyth dockyard to allow for the assembly of the ships, a fiber optic cable plant, a reverse osmosis plant and the aviation fuel system. UK MoD.

April 1/08: The Telegraph reports that cost-saving proposals worth an estimated GBP 100 million have been made by BAE Systems and VT to the UK Defence ministry, in an attempt to head off further delays to the proposed GBP 3.9 billion contract for 2 CVF aircraft carriers.

March 31/08: Value-Added Tax is widespread concept in Europe, and in Canada as well as the Goods & Services Tax. The concept resembles a sales tax, but levied at each stage of the production or services process. The topic is relevant to Britain’s new aircraft carriers because Britain’s VAT is applied to ships built by multiple companies, but not to those built by only one.

BAE Systems has been lobbying for a prime contractor role on the carriers, and the proposed merger with VT’s shipbuilding assets into Shipco gives them a vehicle that could end up saving as much as GBP 700 million in VAT taxes over the project’s lifetime. The House of Commons Defence Committee is concerned, however, fearing that a shift to a prime contractor approach could lead to the same kinds of cost overruns and schedule issues seen on the Nimrod patrol aircraft and Astute Class fast-attack submarines. The Times report.

March 4/08: Sub-contractors. Britain buys about GBP 73 million (about $140 million) in early production items for its CVF carriers.

Corus has won a GBP 65 million contract to supply 80,000 tonnes of steel to the Royal Navy for its 2 new aircraft carriers, against international competition. Most of the steel will be manufactured at sites in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, Dalzell, near Motherwell and Skinningrove in Teesside. Dent Steel Services (Yorkshire) Ltd. will be providing warehousing, as well as shot-blasting and painting services. Over 90% of CVF steel tonnage will be produced in the UK, with some smaller quantities being produced in Europe.

Other long-lead items bought include blown fiber optic cable (GBP 3 million, Brand-Rex Limited in Glenrothes, Scotland and Alfred-McAlpine IT Services), reverse osmosis equipment to produce over 500 tonnes of fresh water per day (GBP 1 million, Salt Separation Services in Rochdale, Lancashire), and aviation fuel systems equipment (GBP 4 million, Aviation Fuel Systems Equipment in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire). UK MoD release | BBC report.

2005 – 2007

Main build contract; CVF/PA2 agreement; Final design contract.

CVF concept: top view
(click to view full)

Dec 11/07: Sub-contractors. Defense Aerospace has a copy of a UK MoD release that’s curiously lost from the MoD site, noting that contracts totaling GBP 28 million (about $57 million) have been placed for equipment related to the CVF carriers. DID adds to these reports using other sources as well:

8 diesel engines and electricity generators – 4 per ship – at a cost of about GBP 18.5 million. The contract went to Wartsila Defence SAS, based in Nantes France, with the engines to be manufactured in Trieste, Italy. Power output for each ship will be about 100 MW (40 engines, 60 alternators) and the weight of a ship set is about 800 tonnes. The size of the ships means that the exhausts for some of these diesels are 130 metres long. Accordingly, the diesel generators are located deep in the hull and have to be fitted very early. This is a loss for Rolls Royce, whose 36MW MT-30 was seen as the main competition.

The first ship set of diesel generators will be delivered in 2009, with the equipment for the second ship following in 2011. The alternators, which transform the diesel’s power into electricity, are built at Converteam, in Rugby, Warwikshire, UK. See MarineLink.

INBS – Detailed design of a new and innovative fully Integrated Navigation and Bridge System, initially worth in excess of GBP million. Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit will deliver a system based on Sperry Marine’s VisionMaster FT. The system uses an advanced network architecture that will provide the ship’s watch team with a seamless integration of radar and chart functionality that will bring together all of the ships’ navigation sensors and systems into a modern, efficient, ergonomic bridge. Sperry Marine is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA with a major engineering and support office in New Malden, UK where this work will be performed. See NGC release.

Flyco (Flying Control) rooms at a cost of circa GBP 1 million. The contract went to Tex Special projects of Ipswich, Suffolk, UK.

Advanced visual landing aids, to guide fighters and helicopters on to the deck. This GBP 7.5 million contract was issued to Aeronautical and General Instruments Ltd of Poole, Dorset, UK.

Nov 19/07: CVF & PA2. DCNS announces that French (DCNS and Aker Yards) and British (BAE Systems, VT Shipbuilding, Thales Naval and Babcock Support Services) corporations have signed an agreement that lays down the general provisions for co-operation for the development, manufacture and in-service support of the PA2 and CVF carriers. One aspect of the agreement is that the teams will study the feasibility of making all equipment requests joint acquisitions, in order to maintain commonality and drive down costs.

Key caveat: France’s PA2 hasn’t yet been approved for construction.

Sept 22/07: Industrial. Viasys UK announces that its Material Advantage software system has been selected by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance to provide the backbone of its procurement and contracts management functions.

The ACA will use Material Advantage to provide a central hub for procurement, contracts, materials control and document control, while interfacing with many other ACA systems and applications in use at Alliance member sites. A Viasys project team has been deployed at the ACA project office in Filton, Bristol to ensure that delivery of the system meets the ACA requirements and timescales, and provide on-going support. Viasys release.

July 25/07: BAE Systems plc announces that it has entered into a legally binding Framework Agreement with VT Group plc (‘VT’) to establish a joint venture (JV), which will be the UK’s premier provider of surface warships and through-life support. This is part of the sector rationalization pushed by the UK ministry of Defence as a precondition for its CVF carrier program. See full DID article.

BVT JV

July 25/07: Production Order. Orders for two new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers are confirmed by Defence Secretary Des Browne, who said the GBP 3.8 billion (about $7.8 billion) contract would lead to the construction of the largest vessels ever sailed by the Royal Navy.

The settlement of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) for defense paved the way for the new ships, and breaks down into an annual budget of GBP 34 billion in 2008/9, GBP 35.3 billion in 2009/10 and GBP 36.9 billion in 2010/11. MoD release | UK MoD: “First Sea Lord welcomes aircraft carrier decision” (incl. video) | BAE release | BBC report.

Build contract

Jan 16/07: France. Mer et Marine updates the status of the French PA2/CVF program, and excerpts are translated by Defense-Aerospace.

Meanwhile, the French are working to get US clearance for a steam catapult system to incorporate into their carrier (the British plan to deploy the F-35B which uses a take-off ramp and vertical landing instead). On the British side, the British government wants its shipbuilding industry to begin restructuring in accordance with the Defence Industrial Strategy before it awards the future aircraft carrier (CVF) contract. British yards shipyards are visiting French facilities, and looking to benefit from their improvement – and the French have offered to help, for a price. The quid pro quo is that British shipyards adopt French production standards and methods, and that the British agreed to design changes that accommodate French requirements (provision for larger ammunition storage holds, special secure storage areas the French can use for nuclear weapons, etc.) There is some thought that adoption of identical standards could lead to the building of common sections for the three carriers, but that hasn’t gone past the discussion stage at this point.

May 5/06: Design. Defence Procurement Minister Lord Drayson announces a series of contracts totalling GBP 143 million ($263.5 million at current conversion) to continue to refine and develop CVF design. These contracts cover all aspects of the ship and ship equipment including hull, structure, mission systems, the planned all-electrical power and propulsion system, and the involvement of shipyard and industry design teams in this work. Contract winners included alliance team members KBR, Thales UK, VT Group, Babcock, BAE Systems Naval Ships and BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies. See MoD release.

April 13/06: The MoD and its five Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) partners – BAE Systems, KBR, Thales UK, VT Group and Babcock – signed an Alliance agreement that will take the project through the current demonstration phase. It establishes the Alliance management arrangements, relationships and behaviors with reference to the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy.

The Alliance’s structure consists of a senior Alliance Board, chaired by Chief of Defence Procurement with CEOs of the participant companies, overseeing the strategy with the project’s direction the responsibility of a sub-ordinate Alliance Management Board, chaired by the MOD’s team leader with representatives of each of the participant companies. Reporting to the AMB is an Alliance Management Team delivering the outputs, drawing on staff from all the participant companies, and headed by a Chief Executive, an MOD civil servant seconded from Industry. See MoD release.

ACA agreement

March 6/06: UK & France Reach Agreement on CVF Carrier Development. Including R&D cost-sharing to the tune of GBP 100 million. The agreement was formalized on March 6/06 at an informal meetings of EU Defence Ministers in Innsbruck, Austria.

A Common Baseline Design was later agreed upon, which the governments hope will bring savings in design costs, procurement and possibly support. The program is not fully collaborative in that France will also make its own modifications, its role is limited to exercising ‘influence’ rather than executive authority over the project, and there shall be no delays waiting for French decisions.

Jan 14/06: France Steaming Ahead on PA2/CVF Carrier Project with a EUR 20 million contract to develop a “modified CVF” design for France. The CVF design includes room for catapults, and France will install steam catapults for use with its Rafale-M fighters, E-2C Hawkeye 2000s, et. al. Other modifications will also be made by DCN/Thales.

CVF/PA2 agreement

Dec 21/05: Parliament reports. UK Defence Committee Continues Questions RE: CVF, F-35. This Parliamentary report examines both the CVF and F-35 JSF program in detail. The row over the JSF and technology transfer, aka. ‘sovereign capability’ also continues and is debated.

Dec 12/05: British Defence Secretary John Reid announces a series of major developments that effectively ended the exploratory phases, launched the program, and set out the program’s roadmap. He also announces GBP 300 million to develop the design of the ships to the point at which manufacturing can begin.

Program launch

CVF: Ancillary Contracts and Events

This section involves items that are being developed as separate projects from CVF (as opposed to items bought off the shelf), or involves equipment and infrastructure that relates to the carriers but will not be fitted to them.

2013 – 2014

Crowsnest AEW competition.

AW101 ASaC
(click to view full)

Feb 3/14: AEW. The UK MoD announces that savings from renegotiating the main carrier contract (q.v. Nov 6/13) are being channeled to accelerate the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control program to ensure that it’s operational by 2019. Defence Secretary Hammond says this is being done “so that we will have the full operating capability available when the aircraft carriers go into service.” As part of this move, Merlin mission system integrator Lockheed Martin is receiving “a UK 24 million contract to run a competition to design, develop and demonstrate Crowsnest.” It’s actually a continuation of previous work, and the UK will pick a radar system from either Thales/AgustaWestland or Lockheed/ Northrop Grumman (q.v. July 24-30/13).

The Sea King Mk.7 ASaCs are retiring in 2016, along with all other Royal Navy Sea Kings. “Crowsnest” isn’t even slated for a Main Gate spending decision until 2017, with initial deliveries for testing in 2019. The planned date for CVF Initial Operational Capability was 2020, but its pair of Crowsnest AEW helicopters would be an emergency deployment that wasn’t fully untested. Full Operational Capability, with a fully-functional AEW contingent, and all aspects of the ship ready for deployment to high-threat areas, wasn’t expected until 2022. The MoD has conveniently avoided any kind of revised schedule in its announcement, so it’s difficult to tell whether this simply means that the 2020 carrier IOC will include AEW helicopters with more testing under their belts, or whether he’s promising FOC for the carrier as a whole by 2020. This issue has been a source of concern for Parliament’s Defence Committee (q.v. Sept 19/12, Sept 3/13), who can be expected to pry further into the details. Sources: Hansard, Feb 3/14 | UK MoD, “New surveillance system for Royal Navy aircraft carriers”.

July 24-30/13: AEW. As part of its GBP 750 million MSCP contract to upgrade the Royal Navy’s Merlin HM1 fleet, Lockheed Martin is overseeing an initial GBP 3 million investigation into “Crowsnest” AEW integration with its “Vigilance” mission suite. That contract was awarded in 2012, and the 18-month assessment phase has just begun. It should be done by the end of 2014.

Eventually, 10 helicopter will receive refits. Option 1 is a Lockheed Martin/ Northrop Grumman radar pod (q.v. Nov 18/11, Feb 14/12) based on the SABR F-16 AESA radar. Option 2 is Thales / AgustaWestland’s ASaC proposal (q.v. July 4/10) that would just move the Sea Kings’ Searchwater 2000 equipment over to the AW101s, upgrade the radars, and install them in a retractable rear ramp housing. The Vigilance team is touting advanced technology and portability, the ASaC team focuses on low costs and fast turnaround. Sources: Flight Global, “Royal Navy works to add more capability to Merlin fleet” and “Thales cites affordability and speed for Crowsnest bid”.

2010 – 2012

 

EMALS Components
(click to view full)

Feb 14/12: AEW. AIN offer more detail re: the Lockheed & Northrop Grumman Vigilance pod solution for airborne early warning. With the Nimrod fleet gone, the potential for commonality between Navy helicopters and fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft is a key point being stressed by its backers. From “Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Offer Airborne Vigilance At Lower Cost”:

“The [Windows-based] software and hardware (including operator consoles) from this upgrade project form a key part of the Vigilance proposal. They process and display the data from the radar and other sensors mounted in self-contained pods that have their own environmental control system and anti-vibration mountings.

The radar is a minimal adaptation of Northrop Grumman’s fighter-size APG-80/81 series. A gimbal will be added to provide a 180-degree field of view. Two pods fitted either side of a Merlin, H-60 or similar-size helicopter would provide hemispheric coverage. On a C-130, the pods would be mounted under the outer wings. The CN-235 is another potential fixed-wing platform…. The pod weighs just over 600 pounds and requires 25 kW of power.”

Dec 21/11: EMALS/AAG. General Atomics in San Diego, CA receives $17.4 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to provide engineering support for the development of EMALS and Advanced Arresting Gear configurations for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier Program. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA, and is expected to be complete in June 2012. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-11-C-0057).

Nov 18/11: AEW. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have adapted the SABR AESA fighter radar into a Vigilance pod that can be carried on AW101 Merlin Mk2 naval helicopters, other medium-plus rotary platforms, and even on RAF transport aircraft.

That offers an interesting competitive option against AW/Thales AW101 ASaC, and might even offer a way ahead to first supplement, and then replace, the RAF’s big 707-based E-3D AWACS jets. Could more + cheaper + networked end up offering improved performance, as well as survivability benefits? AIN Online.

Nov 15/11: EMALS/AAG. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Britain’s official request for Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System/Advanced Arresting Gear (EMALS/AAG) long lead sub-assemblies. EMALS long-lead items include the Energy Storage System, Power Conditioning System, and Launch Control System. AAG long-lead items include Power Conditioning, Energy Absorption Subsystems, Shock Absorbers, and Drive Fairleads. The request would also cover Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment, spare and repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, software support, and other forms of U.S. Government and contractor support.

The estimated cost is up to $200 million, and the prime contractor will be General Atomics in Rancho Bernardo, CA. This is still just a potential sale, but the nature and specificity of the request strongly suggests that Britain has decided to abandon its own electro-magnetic catapult research. Now that EMALS is launching real aircraft, they can certainly reduce technical uncertainties and costs by buying it to equip one of their forthcoming Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.

Oct 12/11: NLSS. Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine unit signs a full production contract with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, for the Queen Elizabeth Class’ Navigation Lights Shapes and Sounds (NLSS) signaling system. This confirms the end of the NLSS design phase, and deliveries will begin in 2012.

The system has been designed by Northrop Grumman together with its technology partner Oxley Developments, and includes an innovative set of 47 night-vision friendly LED navigation and signal lights, plus control of ships’ audible signaling equipment. International regulation and signaling requirements are met using pre-programmed commands from touch screen workstations, with full status and diagnostics built in. Northrop Grumman is already delivering the carrier’s Integrated Navigation Bridge System, Inertial Navigation System, Navigation Data Distribution System and the Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System (WECDIS). NGC.

Sept 21/11: Goliath. The Rosyth shipyard’s Goliath crane (see Jan 30/09 entry) begins operation at Rosyth. The first major lift comes later that week, as the 1st section of the 8,000-tonne, 2-deck center block is lifted onto the 8,000t, 7-deck-high Lower Block 03. UK MoD.

Goliath Crane ships
(click to view full)

March 7/11: Goliath. The required ‘Goliath’ crane heads into Rosyth, Scotland after a 14,000 nm journey from Shanghai’s Zhenhua Port Machinery, carried aboard a specialist crane transport ship. The crane is being delivered with the girder and upper sections of the legs already assembled. It will be erected to its full height on the ship over a 6-week period, before being winched from ship to shore directly onto the crane rails. After that, it will take another 4 months to erect, test and commission the crane. Final handover is expected in the summer of 2011, ensuring that it will be ready for use by September 2011. See also Jan 30/09 entry. UK MoD.

Oct 18/10: SDSR = F-35C, EMALS. Britain’s new government releases its 2010 Strategic Defense and Strategy Review [PDF]. As noted above, Britain decides to install catapults on 1 carrier, and switch to the F-35C.

July 20/10: EMALS. Jane’s reports that the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is funding development of an electromagnetic catapult system for the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, in case the F-35B STOVL is abandoned. Rather than go through the involved process of joining America’s EMALS program, however, they appear to have contracted with Converteam, who was already developing an electro-magnetic launch systems for UAVs under an April 2006 EMKIT (Electro Magnetic Kinetic Integrated Technology) contract.

The GBP 650,000 (about $1 million) EMCAT contract was reportedly awarded in July 2009, as a follow-on effort to continue the design, development and demonstration of high-power electrical systems for its EMCAT (electro-magnetic catapult) system. In October 2009, a smaller-scale demonstration of both controlled acceleration and braking was performed using electromagnetic linear motors. This could lead to the same core systems being used for launch and recovery. New Low Voltage linear motors with reduced end effect coils were delivered in early 2010, paving the way for the design of medium voltage linear motors which will help Converteam scale up their design. Jane’s Naval Intelligence | Converteam project page.

July 19/10: ARTISAN. The CVF’s ARTISAN 3D radar has begun tracking trials, mounted on a full-size mockup of the CVF superstructure, built on the Isle of Wight. The radar will perform air traffic management, surveillance, target tracking with clutter discrimination, back-up navigation and Identification Friend or Foe capabilities on the CVFs, British Type 23 frigates, and amphibious ships such as HMS Ocean, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.

The radar recently finished its Customer Critical Design Review, and the 1st full system is due at the Land Based Test Facility at Portsdown in 2011. The first ship fitted with the replacement radar system is likely to be a Type 23 frigate, as HMs Queen Elizabeth won’t receive her radar until final assembly in Rosyth. BAE Systems.

July 14/10: AEW. AgustaWestland and Thales sign an agreement to offer a new airborne early warning option for Britain’s new carriers: an AW101 Merlin Helicopter with Thales’ Cerberus mission system and Searchwater 2000 radar. H-3 Sea King ASaC (Airborne Surveillance and Control) Mk7 helicopters currently perform this role using the same Cerberus/Searchwater 2000 combination, but they’re scheduled for retirement in 2016. Since the Merlin helicopter has already cemented its place as the British Navy’s future medium helicopter, this collaboration locks itself down as the lowest risk replacement option. AgustaWestland.

Jan 30/09: Infrastructure. The UK MoD reports on changes underway at the Rosyth dockyard, in order to accommodate the new carriers. The Firth of Forth yard’s No 1 dock was originally built in 1916. Babcock Marine is managing work to increase the dock’s capacity; and to widen the entrance from 38m to 42m in order to allow the ship blocks in, then let the completed carriers out. A coffer dam is also being built, in order to create a dry working environment.

A GBP 15 million 120-metre “Goliath” span crane from Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery was due to arrive in August 2010, but arrived in May 2011 instead. The crane will straddle the dock, with a total 1,000t capacity from 3 hooks, including 500t from the central, lower trolley and hook. It. Nearly 90 reinforced concrete bored pile foundations are being socketed 3m into the underlying rock on the eastern side of the dock, with further piles driven up to 7m into rock on the western side.

Up to 150 staff from BAM Nuttall are doing the engineering in a GBP 35m contract with Babcock on behalf of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, with workers from around 50 other sub-contractors also on site.

2006 – 2009

 

ARTISAN 3D on Duke Class
(click to view full)

Jan 12/09: F-35. Reports of a US Navy NAVAIR study surface in the USA. “Joint Programs TOC (Total Ownership Cost) Affordability reportedly says that:

“…the cost to operate and support the F-35 [for the USA, all variants] will be $442 billion or more depending on additional costs for integration on ships and currently unforeseen development costs. This estimate is in FY 2002 program baseline dollars; the current dollar cost will be significantly higher. The production and development costs are cited, by the JET II, to be $217 and $46 billion respectively (2002 $), thereby making total program ownership cost to be $704 billion, or more, in 2002 dollars… the cost to operate the existing (larger) fleet of F-18A-Ds and AV-??8s. Cost per flight hour of the combined F-18A-D and AV-8 fleets is estimated to be about $19,000 per hour; F-35B/C cost per flight hour is estimated to be about $31,000…”

This American debate is also significant to Britain’s financial questions, as it ponders the future of its carrier force. The navalized F-35B’s more complex LiftFan STOVL system and swiveling afterburner nozzle could make it even more expensive to operate than its naval F-35C counterpart. While F-35 operating costs will be difficult to estimate until the testing program is much farther ahead, the NAVAIR study is in line with several decades of acquisition history; newer, more advanced jets consistently cost more to operate than preceding generations. The F-35 is attempting to reverse this trend using smart wiring, embedded prognostics, fleet maintenance systems like ALIS, design for maintainability, and other innovations. Can Lockheed Martin break this very long and consistent cycle? DoD Buzz | ELP Defens(c)e, incl. chart.

Nov 27/08: F-35B. The Register reports concerns that the F-35B may be unable to meet critical performance criteria for carrier operation. In order to be capable of combat air patrols at an acceptable cost, the carrier’s fighters needs to be able to take off fully armed, fly a patrol, and then land back on the ship without having to dump its missiles beforehand. The F-35B has had issues with its vertical fan system, and tests have yet to begin. Britain’s concerns are reportedly serious enough that they are investigating “Shipboard Rolling Vertical Landings” (SRVL), where jets would add some lift by moving forward slowly as they landed.

If Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) efforts with Britain’s 3 F-35Bs fail, however, the impacts will be far-reaching. Assuming that the carrier program survives, the first consequence would be an aircraft switch. The article quotes General O’Donoghue’s recent Parliamentary Defence Committee testimony as saying that a navalized Eurofighter is not being looked at, but the F-35C carrier variant “must be an option” if the F-35B STOVL cannot meet Britain’s needs.

The problem is that any move away from the F-35B requires the addition of aircraft catapults on the ship. A nuclear carrier produces great quantities of steam, but the CVF’s CODAG powerplant does not. Retrofitting steam catapults to CVF’s design increases its build and operating costs, and may require an increase in size to match France’s PA2.

The alternative is an EMALS Electro-Magnetic catapult, which is still in the R&D stage as a critical technology for the USA’s new CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford Class super-carriers. If it could be produced and fielded in time, it would leverage the Queen Elizabeth Class’ all-electric power infrastructure, while requiring less space and less maintenance than today’s steam catapults.

Aug 4/08: ARTISAN. BAE Systems announces a GBP 100 million contract (about $195 million) to develop the ARTISAN 3D (Advanced Radar Target Indication Situational Awareness and Navigation) radar, for deployment on a variety of ships including the Queen Elizabeth Class. Between 2011-2015, it will also be refitted to Britain’s Type 23 “Duke Class” frigates, the amphibious assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, and the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean. BAE Systems, QinetiQ and Roke Manor Research will form the Artisan 3D team.

Artisan will be a medium range radar used for “volume search”, which means it can quickly scan large areas and pass potential targets to the ship’s fire control radar. It will also have secondary navigation functions, and is being designed to operate effectively in the clutter produced by near-shore littoral environments. BAE has confirmed with DID that Artisan will use a passive phased array design. UK MoD release | BAE release.

Feb 11/08: Infrastructure. Babcock Engineering Services signs a GBP 35 million contract with Glasgow-based subcontractors Edmund Nuttall Limited. The contract covers key modifications to the dock, and the widening of the direct entrance. The rest of the planned GBP 50 million (about $100 million) upgrade will be spent on the ‘Goliath’ crane (which will be the UK’s largest) and hauling gear.

The majority of the work at Rosyth will be carried out by Edmund Nuttall Limited in Scotland and the rest by their own subcontractors; the firm is part of the Royal BAM Group Dutch civil engineering and construction company. UK MoD release.

F-35B JSF Cutaway
by John Batchelor
(click to view full)

June 27/06: F-35B. A $115.8 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract for integration of the British version of the joint strike fighter (F-35B JSF STOVL) with its CVF future carrier project, under the JSF systems development and demonstration effort. Work will be performed in Warton, United Kingdom (57%), Fort Worth, TX (35%), Orlando, FL (5%), and El Segundo, CA (3%), and is expected to be complete in October 2013. The contract modification was issued by US NAVAIR to Lockheed Martin in Ft. Worth, TX.

March 23/06: F-35B. British JSF Prospects Looking Up covers the developments, controversies, and prospects surrounding Britain’s potential F-35B Joint Strike Fighter buy, which is expected to serve as the mainstay of its carrier fleet.

Jan 24/06: F-35B. The UK has been looking for an alternate fighter option, in case differences over the F-35 JSF program prove too great. According to The Financial Mail, the French Minister of Defense made a verbal offer on this day during talks in London, to let the UK buy “up to 150” carrier-capable Rafale-M jets. This would appear to give the UK its desired “Plan B” for CVF aircraft, esp. given French cooperation in the CVF’s design and potentially its build-out.

Jan 13/06: Training. GBP 100M to BAE for Surface Warship Combat Sims. The idea is to have the crews know how to operate the ship’s combat and command systems before they are taken aboard.

Appendix A: CVF Program Management

Stealth Trimaran – lost
(click to view full)

When the production contract was issued in July 2007, delivery of the CVF carriers was expected in 2014 and 2016. That has now slipped, but the project’s industrial philosophy remains. As British Defence Secretary John Reid noted:

“This project is a key to the Defence Industrial Strategy and marks the end to the ‘boom and bust’ industrial cycle. The introduction of a managed and steady work stream will allow industry to plan efficiently and to retain the highly skilled workforce that has contributed to the fine tradition of shipbuilding in this country. In addition, this project will sustain and create some 10,000 UK jobs around the country.”

Given this focus, and the project’s size, it should hardly be surprising that the program is the focus of a number of cutting-edge procurement practices. For instance, CVF is one of the flagship programs for the implementation of SMART acquisition. This includes, for example, a greater willingness to identify, evaluate and implement effective trade-offs between system performance, whole-life costs and time; the adoption of incremental acquisition for areas like the combat system; the use of the off the shelf equipment and commercial standards where appropriate; and a continued close and more open working relationship with industry.

The CVF Integrated Project Team (IPT) has also been in the forefront of the roll out of Earned Value Management assessment techniques, resulting in the receipt of a Chairman’s Award for Innovation from BAE Systems. The IPT pioneered the Continuous Assessment process that took account of a number of criteria falling into 2 broad categories: those relating to the contractor’s performance in keeping to project schedules and establishing a relationship with the MoD; and those relating to the actual output and results of the work being undertaken by the contractors. Finally, the CVF IPT was one of the first organizations anywhere in the world to gain ISO9001/2000 Quality Assurance certification in March 2001.

The Initial Roadmap

Many of these initiatives were put in place during the program’s earliest phases. On Dec 12/05, British Defence Secretary John Reid announced a series of major developments that effectively ended the exploratory phases, launched the program, and set out the program’s initial roadmap:

• Naval architects FBM Babcock Marine, and shipbuilders and ship support specialists VT Group, plc joined the ACA, even as the “Delta” design was formally announced as the baseline by the Ministry of Defence.

• GBP 300 million would be spent to develop the design of the ships to the point at which manufacturing can begin. Commitment to some long-lead items for the ships was also made. The Demonstration Phase was delivered under 6 works contracts – a separate works contract for each alliance partner (2 x BAE Systems (Naval Ships and Insyte), Thales, KBR, VT, Babcock). The Works Contracts covered the budget, payment arrangements, work scope, fit to requirements, and construction timetable. The Alliance Agreement defined the arrangements for gainshare, management and establishing relationships/behaviors for the Demonstration Phase, with an over arching alliance agreement signed by all the parties on April 13/06.

• Main Gate approval was split into two incremental steps. Dec 12/05 marked the end the MoD’s assessment phase. Following the Demonstration Phase, a ‘Red Team’ assessment led by Sir John Parker, and an Independent Financial Review by Deloitte plus Jacobs and Rand, the second step of main gate approval was given in July 2007. Costs were pegged at GBP 3.8 billion for 2 ships, and in-service dates were initially pegged at 2014 and 2016.

• Per Britain’s Defence Industrial Strategy, the government looked for a merger to create a single supplier of surface fleet ships and support. BAE Systems and VT Group eventually created BVT Surface Fleet for that purpose in July 2007, and the first CVF production contracts followed. By November 2009, however, BAE had bought out its partner, creating a more direct single supplier.

• The British government has also announced their intent to explore performance-based all-encompassing in-service support contracts for the new carriers and the existing carriers through to their out of service dates. This is in line with their broad-based “Future Contracting for Availability” initiative, which is part of their Defence Industrial Strategy.

Approvals and contracts for the Demonstration Phase continued through to October 2007. Subsequent contracts have involved production items. As noted above, the production phase is being managed by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, in cooperation with the Power and Propulsion Sub Alliance.

Additional Readings & Sources

DID thanks reader Roderick Louis for his tips and research.

Background: CVF Program

• Aircraft Carrier Alliance – Official Site. See also Build Updates.

• Wikipedia – Royal Navy CVF programme. Very good summary in brief of the program’s history.

• Defence Procurement Agency, UK MoD – Future Aircraft Carrier. See also the Integrated Project Team page.

Background: Ships

• Royal Navy: Future Ships – Queen Elizabeth Class.

• UK MoD, via UK National Archive – VIDEO: Computer Generated Imagery of the UK’s Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF) [Windows Media format, 2.8MB]

• UK MoD, via WayBack – FACTSHEET: The Royal Navy’s Future Aircraft Carriers. Includes good historical background re: past ships to hold the names HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, whose histories go back to the Spanish Armada. From July 25/07.

• Thales UK – Future Carrier

• Navy Matters – Carrier Strike Programme. See also the numerous sub-sections. Includes some excellent material, see esp. The development of the CVF in pictures.

• Naval Technology – CVF – Royal Navy Future Aircraft Carrier, United Kingdom

• GlobalSecurity.org – Queen Elizabeth class Future Aircraft Carrier CVF (002)

Related Ships

• DID FOCUS Article – France Steaming Ahead on PA2/CVF Carrier Project. Describes a number of the compromises made between the French and British in the final CVF base design, as well as some of the modifications that France’s larger 75,000t carrier would have had. France eventually decided not to build a 2nd carrier.

• Naval Technology – Invincible Class Aircraft Carriers, United Kingdom. HMS Illustrious is the last.

• DID – DDG Type 45: Britain’s Shrinking Air Defense Fleet. The carrier’s prime air defense protection.

• DID – Britain’s Future Frigates: Type 26 & 27 Global Combat Ships. Will be the carrier’s primary anti-submarine protection. Due to enter service in the early 2020s.

Background: Ancillary Technologies

• BAE – Artisan 3D Medium Range Radar Type 997

• Rolls Royce – MT30

• Thales (Feb 11/09) – United Kingdom selects Thales’s S1850M radar for new aircraft carriers. Thales’ site is behind the times, and lacks a single reference for the S1850M. This long-range volume search radar is also used aboard British Type 45 Daring Class air defense destroyers, and the related Franco-Italian Horizon Class.

• DID Spotlight – EMALS: Electro-Magnetic Launch for Carriers. Was picked to equip the 2nd CVF ship during the 2010-2012 interlude. Dropped when Britain reverted back to the F-35B.

• Converteam, via WayBack – Electromagnetic Catapult. Received some UK funding, before General Atomics’ EMALS was picked. The firm became part of GE in 2011.

Background: Air Wing

• DID – F-35 Lightning: The Joint Strike Fighter Program, 2012 – 2013

• RAF – F-35 Lightning II. The F-35Bs will be RAF.

• Royal Navy – F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

• DID – $2 Bn for British EH101 Merlin Multi-Role Upgrades. In-depth coverage of the upgrades to Merlin Mk.2 status, as part of a wider set of Merlin support programs.

• Royal Navy – Merlin MK1

• Spyflight – Westland Sea King AEW2 and ASaC.7. Since British carriers didn’t have catapults, a conventional AEW aircraft like the E-2C Hawkeyes that serve on FS Charles de Gaulle wasn’t an option.

Official Reports

• UK House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (Sept 3/13) – Public Accounts Committee publish Carrier Strike report. Includes links to the full report, and 2013 testimony to the committee.

• UK House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (Nov 29/11) – Providing the UK’s Carrier Strike Capability.

• UK House of Commons Defence Committee Transcript, Evidence heard in Public Questions 146 – 247 (Oct 25/05) – Minister for Defence Procurement Lord Drayson re: CVF Program Progress. Includes in-depth discussion of their project and program management approaches.

• UK MoD – Future Aircraft Carrier Power Point Presentation [rendered in PDF format – broken link]. Nelson’s ghost, the PPT scourge has crossed the pond, has it?

News & Views

• Royal Navy, via WayBack – The Role of an Aircraft Carrier (CVS). Explains the Royal Navy’s envisioned uses for aircraft carriers generally, and describes the current state of affairs. Capture from July 4/08.

• Royal Navy (Sept 19/13) – Equipping UK maritime forces for the challenges of the future. A speech by First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas at DESi 2013.

• James Hasik (July 31/13) – How to price yourself out of the war business – the naval edition

• Defense News (April 9/13) – UK Advances New AEW Capabilities

• Aviation Week, via WayBack (Dec 3/12) – U.K. Mulls Sea King Successors

• Defence Management Journal, via google cache (2012) – Ships of the line. DE&S Capital Ships Team briefs DMJ on the considerations, challenges and successes of the construction process under way at Rosyth…

• IET, via WayBack (Dec 3/09) – Virtual aircraft carriers underway. “In this video interview [ACA’s] Mark Langdon talks to Steve Dowdell, mission system director for the Aircraft Carrier Alliance about the UK’s newest aircraft carriers which are taking shape in an artificial world high above Portsmouth.”

• DID (Nov 9/09) – BAE & VT Group Finalize, then Dissolve, UK Surface Ship JV. BAE bought out VT’s assets.

• Aviation Week’s Defense Technology International, via WayBack (Jun 13/07) – Britain and France Develop New Carriers. Among other things, has very interesting data on cruise ship vs. aircraft carrier waste management and load/costs. PA2/CVF carriers are incorporating some of those lessons.

• DID (Aug 16/05) – Britain Studies Ways to Reduce CVF Future Carrier Program Costs. The UK MoD recognised that the design process provided opportunities to save substantial sums of money over the ships’ lifecycles. The RAND Corporation was asked to perform an independent, objective analysis of new technologies and alternative manufacturing options and, in particular, to identify and evaluate options for reducing support costs, other whole-life costs, and manpower.

G550 CAEW

The US Navy is replacing its 2 NP-3D “Billboard” range monitoring aircraft with a new plane, which will use the same core design as the modern AWACS aircraft bought by Israel, Italy, and Singapore: “a Gulfstream G550 long-range business jet with the Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) structural modifications.”

The aircraft needs to be ready by the end of September 2017. So, why the G550 CAEW?

NP-3D “Billboard”
(click to view full)

“The aircraft shall be procured pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Type of Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements.” The Gulfstream G550 CAEW aircraft is the only known aircraft that will satisfy the NAWC-WD Sea Range Support requirements without significant engineering, development, modification, test, and certification effort. This commercial derivative aircraft has both an FAA Type Certificate and the necessary Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) to meet Government airworthiness requirements. No other known commercial derivative aircraft that possesses these necessary type certificates is capable of meeting the mission requirements, and therefore the G550 CAEW is the only aircraft that can meet the Government’s requirements on a timely basis.”

The one area that isn’t clear is the electronics. Some reports note IAI Elta as the sub-contractor, but that doesn’t appear in official announcements or new releases. The text of this FBO.gov announcement, and the fact that they’re buying from Gulfstream rather than Elbit or IAI, suggest that may only be buying the certified airframe. That would mean that they’d need to integrate their own radars, datalinks, etc. for over the horizon monitoring and missile testing. The full AWACS equipment set would certainly work, but it isn’t cheap, and may be more than the mission needs.

Fortunately, the Gulfstream 550 CAEW comes with a lot of built-in space and power for any installations the US Navy wants performed. Sources: FBO.gov Solicitation Number N00019-14-P1-PMA-207-0804 | Defense Update, “Gulfstream jets with Israeli radar to replace US Navy’s P-3 orion in test-range surveillance” | Flight International, “US Navy to order Gulfstream jet for test-range surveillance”.

Updates June 28/17: A possible $1.3 billion deal has also been cleared by the US State Department that could see up to five Gulfstream G550 aircraft with Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems delivered to Australia. The sale will support ongoing efforts by Australia to modernize its Electronic Warfare capability and increases interoperability between the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). L-3 Technologies will act as lead contractor on the sale.

May 12/16: The USAF has requested $165.7 million in the FY 2017 defense budget to convert the EC-37B (military designation for the G550) into an electronic attack platform. If selected, the C-37B will eventually replace the EC-130H currently used. According to the service, the selection of the C-37B was made uncompetitively as the aircraft did not require any further certification work.

January 8/16: Australia’s DoD has confirmed that they have purchased two Gulfstream G550 aircraft modified for surveillance and electronic warfare. Confirmation comes after the US DoD announced a foreign military sales contract on December 28. The two corporate aircraft will be fitted with specialized modifications by L-3 Communications Mission Integration in a deal worth $93.6 million.

January 4/16: Australia is to procure and operate the Gulfstream G550 as a special missions aircraft. A US Department of Defense foreign sales contract has awarded L-3 $93 million to provide special missions modifications to the aircraft to be completed by November 30 2017. While the Australian government has yet to confirm its intention to operate special missions aircraft, it is believed that it will be announced in a forthcoming Defence Department white paper.

Americas

• The USAF awarded Lockheed Martin a $104 million contract to develop, produce and field a threat simulator to train combat aircrews to recognize and deal with rapidly evolving threats, such as surface-to-air missiles. The deal will see the firm undertake the development and test of a single Advanced Radar Threat System Variant 2 (ARTS-V2) production representative system, with follow on options for a further 20 systems. Lockheed added that future sales could come from countries that plan to operate the stealthy F-35 fighter jet in coming years.

• A report into restarting production of F-22 Raptor aircraft has been received by the US House Armed Services Committee. The USAF report was ordered by the committee last year, asking what it would take and how much it might cost to begin producing the high-tech, fifth generation aircraft again. Congress voted in 2009 to stop purchasing the F-22 after just 187 were made, hundreds less than USAF procurement needs. It is now been considered as a possible solution to filling US air power requirements, cost depending.

• Despite an agreement with India’s Tata Advanced Systems to establish hub for future F-16 services, logistics, and plane and parts production, Lockheed Martin is moving ahead with plans to relocate its F-16 production line to its Greenville, S.C. facility. The F-16 production line, currently located in Forth Worth, is being moved from its Texas facility to make way for the F-35, with Greenville announced as the new location in March. Lockheed’s F-16 is facing off with Saab’s Gripen in India’s new fighter competition, and the Tata agreement is part of New Delhi’s ‘Make in India’ offsets requirement. When asked about a possible move from Greenville to India, Lockheed spokespersonJohn Losinger said that if selected, Indian F-16 production would start in South Carolina, adding that they don’t currently have a timeline for moving production lines east.

Middle Easy & North Africa

• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced the successful test-firing of its Long-Range Artillery weapon system (LORA). For the purpose of the trial, LORA was placed on board a cargo vessel and successfully attacked a ground target with a high degree of precision. The test was also part of a conclusive stage for the sale of the system to several customers, and the system is also a key focus for IAI at this week’s Paris Air Show.

• Thales has been chosen by Airbus to supply a number of flight and mission training equipment for Kuwaiti-operated Airbus Caracal helicopters. Under the deal, Thales will provide one Reality H FFMS simulator and two flight procedures and tactical training stations to the Kuwait Air Force and National Guard as part of a contract aimed at collective training exercises to prepare pilots and crews for complex missions, such as combat search-and-rescue. The training stations provide new pilots with initial training in flight procedures, as well as tactical training for captains and crews, while the H FFMS system provides pilots with training in navigation, instrument flight, equipment failures and emergency procedures.

Europe

• Germany has delayed a decision on a military defense package, citing that lawmakers needed more time to discuss its contents. Valued at $14.5 billion, the procurement includes orders for Corvette warships and UAVs, but Social Democrat (SPD) representatives have requested more time to discuss the deal further before signing off on the decision. Speaking on the deferment, SPD lawmaker Christine Lambrecht said that the committee were now discussing how to proceed.

• Sukhoi and MiG are scheduled to merge into a single combat aviation structural unit of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). Starting in 2019, the UAC will switch to the format of a single company, a single corporate contour while the division will be in the format of a unit of the UAC single company. However, this does not mean that two of the world’s most iconic fighter brands will disappear from the skies any time soon, after Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov had previously said that the brands would continue even if the companies merge.

Asia Pacific

• Boeing has been awarded a three-year support contract for the Indian Navy’s fleet of P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. Included in the deal are the supply of field logistical representatives, engineering, planning, and material support for the 737-based airframe and other systems. The contract continues the service Boeing provides under the program’s current initial production contract, scheduled to expire in October. India currently operates a fleet of eight P-8I aircraft and Boeing are scheduled to deliver a further four from 2020.

Today’s Video

• IAI test LORA:

Americas

• Huntington Ingalls has been awarded a $3 billion contract modification for the design and construction of the America-class Landing Helicopter Assault Replacement Amphibious Assault Ship. The majority of work will take place in Pascagoula, Miss., with further work to be carried out at smaller sites. Completion is expected for January 2024. The vessels will go towards the replacing the US Navy’s fleet of Wasp-class of amphibious assault ships.

• A second generation variant of the Coyote expendable unmanned air vehicle is being developed by manufacturer Raytheon. Additions to the sonobuoy-deployable system include offering customers multiple payload and engine options and trade-offs on endurance and payload that can be made by the operations, as well as making the UAV a more cost-effective procurement. Raytheon expect to commence testing by the end of the year and is currently working on gaining export licences for the UAV, with discussions underway with the Washington on how to sell the technology overseas.

• F-35A flights out of Luke AFB will commence today, 11 days after they had been originally canceled due to five incidents in which pilots experienced symptoms similar to hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation. While the root cause of the incidents has yet to be identified, several possible causes of concern have been ruled out. Pilots will also adhere to a temporary application of five criteria during their flights while data is gathered on the ground. They are: Avoid the altitudes in which all five physiological events occurred; Modify ground procedures to mitigate physiological risks to pilots; Expand physiological training to increase understanding between pilot and medical communities; Increase minimum levels for backup oxygen systems for each flight; and offer pilots the option of wearing sensors during flight to collect airborne human performance data.

Middle Easy & North Africa

• Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has unveiled its Hurkus turboprop trainer aircraft internationally for the first time. The firm has sent two of its A-model aircraft to the the Paris air show, where one will take part in the flying display, while the other is in TAI’s static display representative of a future C-model light-attack variant. TAI sees clear export potential for the Hurkus, although it is not naming prospective customers. Speaking at the air show, Özcan Ertem, head of TAI’s aircraft group said: “There are a few countries looking for the Turkish air force to induct the type and start flying,” before advancing their interest any future procurements.

Europe

• The Eurofighter consortium has announced a record year in operations of its Typhoon fighters, with further sales on the horizon. Operators of Eurofighter fleets have exceeded a combined 400,000 flight hours, including operations by RAF aircraft in Syria and supporting Baltic Air Policing commitments for NATO. The consortium also announced that its fighter will soon commence the first live firings of missile manufacturer MBDA’s Brimstone air-to-surface missile.

Asia Pacific

• Italian firms will collaborate in India’s modernization of its Su-30MKI fleet, according to Russian officials. The announcement was made by Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheev at this week’s Paris air show, however, no details were made on what work the Italians would be assisting with. Earlier, CEO of Russian United Engine Corporation Alexander Artyukhov said that the Indian version of Su-30MKI after modernization will get the AL-41F turbofan engines designed for 4++ generation aircraft currently being installed on the Su-35 fighters.

• Taiwan intends to ramp up production of its Wan Chien standoff weapon for use on its IDF aircraft. Production had initially been rolled back by Taipei’s previous government, but will now be reversed and increased to producing over 100 weapons. Upgrades to increase range and boost electronic countermeasures will also be added. Taiwan also test-fired two types of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptors while a US PAC-2 successfully intercepted and destroyed a indigenous Tien Kung II missile.

• A long-floundering deal to bring the Sikorsky S-70B multi-role helicopter to India has been dropped. 16 Seahawks had been ordered back in 2014 to fill a naval requirement but both sides have been dragging over the price as Sikorsky is unwilling to extend the validity of its commercial bid. The sale’s failure is likely to frustrate naval officials who are in need to fill an urgent requirement to replace 42 SeaKing helicopters bought from Westland helicopters.

Today’s Video

• Drone footage of Iranian missiles striking Islamic State targets:

LHA-R/NAAS Concept
(click to view full)

Modern U.S. Navy Amphibious Assault Ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) / Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). LHA/LHD are a key element of the Seapower 21 doctrine pillars of Sea Strike and Sea Basing, transporting, launching, and landing elements of the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) via a combination of LCAC hovercraft, amphibious transports and vehicles, helicopters, and aircraft.

Designed to project power and maintain presence, LHA-Replacement (LHA-R, aka. LH-X, and now the New Amphibious Assault Ship or NAAS) large deck amphibious assault ships were slated to replace the US Navy’s 6 LHA-1 Tarawa Class vessels. They are based on the more modern LHD Wasp Class design, with the LHD’s landing craft and well deck removed in favor of more planes and hangar space. While its LHA/LHD predecessors were amphibious assault ships with a secondary aviation element, it’s fair to describe the America Class as escort carriers with a secondary amphibious assault role.

The NAAS Program

LHA-R concept
(click to view: large!)

The LHA-R program may have been in the works since PMS-377 was put in charge in November 2000, but it took several years to get underway as a major spending program.

LHA 6 America, the lead LHA-R vessel, was planned for delivery to the U.S. Navy in October 2013, though when that date came and went, sea trials had yet to take place. It and should be in service by 2015. The ultimate question is how many ships of class will be built. Support for the limited NAAS buy of 2 ships is already set, and LHA 7 Tripoli is due for delivery in June 2018. The question is the 3rd ship, and any ships after that.

The FY13-18 FYDP does feature a 3rd “LHA-R” ship in FY 2017, pushed back a year from the original plan. In April 2009, Gannett’s Navy Times revealed that the Marines were having second thoughts about the well deck removal, and the limitations this created for the total force. Altering ship plans for LHA 6 or LHA 7 would have been too expensive, but “LHA 8’s” planned cost, and these previous statements by the Navy and Marines, suggest that this ship will have a well deck. Low amounts allocated for LHA 8 design also indicate that any well-deck equipped ship is likely to be a fairly close derivation of an existing design. So, too, does the math inherent in the ships’ volume and internal layout limits. In other words, LHA 8 looks set to be a slightly updated variant of the all-electric LHD 8 Makin Island design. In effect, it would become “LHD 9”. This return of the well deck is later confirmed as the “Flight 1” configuration.

The ship’s timeline at the end of the FYDP makes it vulnerable to further budget cuts, and so does the higher price of a well deck equipped vessel. The FYDP has set aside $4.4 billion, compared to the Navy’s 2012 estimates of $3.2 – $3.3 billion per ship for the America Class. Time will tell whether the 3rd New Amphibious Assault Ship survives.

Note that even at that lower price, America Class ships already far exceed the cost of smaller LHDs like France’s 21,500t helicopter-only Mistral Class LHD (EUR 325M/ $485M), though the American ships are designed to naval survivability levels, and feature far more advanced defenses and launch capabilities.

A better comparison may be Australia’s 27,500t, jet-capable Canberra Class LHDs (AUD$ 1.6 billion/ USD$ 1.4 billion per), or Italy’s 27,100t Cavour Class escort carrier, which combines F-35B launch capability with housing for troops, and vehicle ramps for heavy vehicles stored inside (about EUR 1.5 billion/ $1.975 billion). Measured on a per-ton basis, their cost is not all that far off. The tactical tradeoff is that larger ships like the America Class gain new fighter spots and storage capacity faster than they grow in tonnage. On the flip side, they offer less survivability and mission flexibility than 2 Cavour Class ships might enjoy.

The LHA-R Ships: 21st Century Escort Carriers

LHD Wasp Class
(click to view full)

LHA-R/NAAS design modifications aimed to optimize aviation operations and support activities. The end product is essentially a revival of the World War 2 escort carrier concept, with integrated berthing, cargo, and light vehicle spaces for Marines.

At 844 feet long and 106 feet wide, LHA-R ships will be almost 80 feet longer than USS Wasp and 10 feet wider, since they don’t have to fit through the Panama Canal. As a result, these ships will weigh in at 45,594 long tons fully loaded, rather than LHD 8’s 41,649t full load. The Navy prefers not to call their America Class ships carriers, but will admit that they’re an “aviation centric” design. In plain English, they’re really CVL/CVE aircraft carriers with crew space for 1,204, that can also berth up to 1,686 Marines, with a possible surge to 1,800 people for short periods of time. These NAAS ships will rely on a mix of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft for most of their tasks, from close air support, to transport, to helicopter coverage.

Protection comes in 3 layers, from the medium-range Evolved SeaSparrow launchers, to the short-range RAM missile system, to close-in defenses that range from radar-guided Mk.15 Phalanx 20mm gatling guns to a range of decoy systems. Few small carriers have defenses this comprehensive, and some full-size carriers in Britain and India will also fall short by comparison. Even so, advances in modern cruise missiles makes the Navy doubt LHA-R’s survivability against a determined multi-missile swarm.

DID uses the term “escort carriers” due to their relative size compared to America’s 95,000t+ nuclear-powered supercarriers, and also due to the size of their aerial complement, which is reduced by the ship’s amphibious mission. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that the America Class’ overall displacement is larger than France’s 43,000t FS Charles De Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, or the American World War 2 Essex Class carriers’ 36,380t.

Like the Tarawa and Wasp classes, NAAS ships will have a flat flight deck, without a “ski ramp” on the front. With a ski ramp, V/STOL (Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing) fighters like the Harrier, STOVL (Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing) fighters like the F-35B, UAVs, or tilt-rotor aircraft can all take off with larger loads, while using less fuel. On the other hand, a fully flat deck increases the number of deck locations available for landing or parking aircraft.

The US Navy thought hard about this choice. During the Analysis of Alternatives phase, they considered a 69,000 ton “Dual Tram Line” option with an LHD 8 sized well deck for hovercraft, an angled flight deck like an aircraft carrier’s, and a ski ramp that allows aircraft to take off with heavier loads. Existing F-35B-capable platforms that already use the ski ramp approach include Britain’s new 65,000t Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, Italy’s new 27,100t Cavour Class aircraft carrier/LHD, and Navantia’s 27,500t BPE / Canberra Class LHDs. The Navy eventually chose to pursue a design based on LHD 8 Makin Island instead, as the path of least risk and best cost containment. For good or ill, they also decided against adding a ski ramp.

Eliminating the ramp did give them a couple more “spot factors.” A ship’s possible aircraft combinations are calculated by totaling “spot factors” (SF), and amphibious ships use the CH-46E Sea Knight’s space requirements as their base (1.0). The aged Sea Knights are being phased out, however, and will not be part of the America Class’ 58.0 Spot Factor air wings. Instead, these air wings are expected to include MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotors (2.22 SF), CH-53E/K heavy transport helicopters (2.68/?), MH-60R/S multi-role utility helicopters (1.0), UH-1Y troop transport helicopters (0.94), and AH-1Z attack helicopters (0.92); and/or 6-23 fixed wing F-35B Lightning II STOVL fighters (2.0).

These new aircraft, and the MV-22 in particular, drove many of the ship’s key requirements. When one compares the “standard” complements of the LHA-R vs. the existing LHD Wasp Class, the result is about a 45% increase in required “spot factors,” for the same number of airframes: [1]

• 12 MV-22 vs. 12 CH-46 (+14.64 SF)
  
• 2 MH-60S vs. 2 UH-1 for SAR (+0.14 SF)
  
• 4 CH-35K vs. 4 CH-53E (assumed even)
  
• 3 UH-1Y vs. 3 UH-1N (+0.03 SF)
  
• 4 AH-1Z vs. 4 AH-1W (+0.36 SF)
  
• 6 F-35B vs. 6 AV-8B (+2.82 SF)

In single-role carrier configuration, America Class ships will embark 2 MH-60S helicopters for Search And Rescue, and take on 20 F-35B fighters plus all of the required spares, extra weapons, etc. Even so, the F-35B will have just 2 landing spots that can handle the heat from its engine: #7 and #9.

Floor footage wasn’t the only thing affected by the class’ escort carrier configuration. High-bay enlargement of the maintenance hangar in 2 areas was required in order to accommodate USMC MV-22s or AFSOC CV-22s, which can’t be brought in for full servicing on current LHA Tarawa and LHD Wasp Class ships.

A final aviation advantage comes from the addition of fuel tanks, in place of the ballast tanks used by the Tarawa and Wasp classes to offset the weight of a filled well deck. That more than doubles available JP-5 aviation fuel, from 600,000 gallons to a full 1.3 million gallons.

The Well Deck Issue

LHA 3 launches LCAC
(click to view full)

There’s a cost to these changes.

While it’s called an amphibious assault ship, the America class lacks those ship types’ characteristic feature: a floodable well deck for launching landing craft. The US Navy and Marines initially decided that there were enough other ships in the fleet with well decks, and contended that the use of LHA/LHD ships to transport and land heavy vehicles tends to be rare anyway. They eventually changed their minds, and “LHA 8” may now include a well deck, but LHA 6 America and LHA 7 Tripoli will be built without.

Removal of the traditional well deck offers some advantages. For starters, it provides America Class Flight 0 ships with an extended hangar deck and aviation support spaces. It also lowers LHA/CVL America Class maintenance costs. In exchange, the America Class can’t launch and land medium-heavy vehicles like the USMC’s AAV7 amphibious armored personnel carriers, their future amphibious APCs; or LCAC hovercraft that can carry vehicles like M1 tanks, LAVs, and mine resistant MRAP-type vehicles ashore.

Lift-on/ Lift-off cranes, which could have mitigated this shortfall by transferring cargo to other ships, are also absent from the design. If LHA-R Flight 0 ships decide to carry heavier vehicles, or require faster offload given the 14,000+ pound empty weight of even very light mine-resistant vehicles, their sole options will be their CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters, or offloading by ramp onto a port’s docks.

Power and Influence: Secondary Ship Features

Naval LM2500
(click to view full)

Propulsion and power is the same hybrid system as LHD 8, which is a plus for the Navy. It involves 2 GE LM2500+ gas turbines, each rated at 35,290 shaft horsepower at U.S. Navy standard day conditions (100 degrees F), and a pair of 5,000 hp auxiliary propulsion motors. The hybrid propulsion system enables the ship’s propellers to be driven either by the gas turbines or by electric motors, which are powered from the ship service electrical system. This allows the ship to operate in a more fuel efficient mode throughout its speed range, while being able to generate far more electricity to power onboard electronics, etc.

Finally, the new class resembles its LHA/LHD predecessors in that will be able to operate as the flagship for a full expeditionary strike group. Its enhanced and reconfigurable command and control complex will be based on the US Navy’s directive to use open architecture electronics whenever possible, in order to lower costs and make future upgrades easier.

A hospital facility complements these advanced command and aviation capabilities when assisting in humanitarian operations, and serves the amphibious combat force. It’s about 67% smaller than USS Makin Island’s [LHD 8], as a result of expanding the hangar bay.

LHA-R: Contracts & Key Events

launch timelapse

Unless otherwise specified, all contracts are awarded by the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in Washington, DC, to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (now Huntington Ingalls, Inc.) in Pascagoula, MS. The company’s Ingalls operations in Pascagoula, MS is where the USA’s current fleet of Tarawa Class LHA and Wasp Class LHD amphibious ships were all built.

FY 2015-2017

 

June 21/17: Huntington Ingalls has been awarded a $3 billion contract modification for the design and construction of the America-class Landing Helicopter Assault Replacement Amphibious Assault Ship. The majority of work will take place in Pascagoula, Miss., with further work to be carried out at smaller sites. Completion is expected for January 2024. The vessels will go towards the replacing the US Navy’s fleet of Wasp-class of amphibious assault ships.

May 8/17: Shipyard Huntington Ingalls has launched the second ship in the America-class of amphibious assault ship 13 weeks ahead of schedule. The future USS Tripoli can carry 12 Osprey aircraft and six F-35s and is fitted with .50 caliber machine guns and 20mm CWIS cannons. It can also support AV-8B Harriers, Cobra attack helicopter, cargo carriers, and other equipment. More America-class vessels are expected to be built in 2018, with the next vessel to be named after the WW2 Bougainville campaign.

April 10/17: The Navy’s USS America has successfully shot down a UAV with the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), during live-fire exercises designed to verify the new amphibious assault ship’s defense capabilities. During the test, the UAV posed as an anti-ship missile threat while the RAM utilized its quick-reaction fire-and-forget capabilities to down the drone. The USS America is the first vessel of its class and is designed to accommodate modern fighters such as the F-35B, alongside other vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) aircraft and helicopters. It will support US Marine Corps aviation requirements, from small-scale contingency operations of an expeditionary strike group, to forcible entry missions in major theaters of war.

Feb 25/15: Navy to pit two yards against each other in duopolistic design competition for LHA-8, new oilers and LX(R) dock landing ship. Mindful of the trend of shipyards to consolidate to the point where there is barely the opportunity for real competition, the Navy is deliberately packaging three very different major defense acquisition programs together and selecting two shipyards to bid for each, with the explicit expectation that each will be rewarded at least one. General Dynamics NASSCO and Huntington Ingalls Industries will compete for the redesign of the LHA-8 (which sorely needs its well deck back now that Marines vehicles have plumped up); the T-AO(X) fleet oiler and the LX(R) dock landing ship replacement.

“Each shipyard will be awarded one detail design and construction contract for LHA 8 or one DD&C for T-AO(X) ships 1-6,” said a Navy representative. “This approach balances the Navy’s commitment to maintaining a viable shipbuilding industrial base while aggressively pursuing competition.” The arbitrary connection of three disparate programs and the automatic win that could go to a loser seems reminiscent of a kindergarten awards ceremony, but at least the creation and maintenance of this duopoly appears to be deliberate. It may shed light on the decision-making process as it happens for the Ingalls/BIW duopoly on the Arleigh Burke contracts and the ancient Newport News/Electric Boat rivalry for submarine work.

FY 2013-2014

LHA 6 nearing completion. LHA 8 will have a well deck.

America sea trials

July 15/15: The Navy has reportedly issued a Request for Proposals to two shipyards for a third America-class amphibious warship (LHA-8) and six next-generation oilers (TAO(X)). The RFP was sent to General Dynamics NASSCO and Huntington Ingalls Industries, with the Navy looking to pit the two yards against one another for contracts to manufacture the first six oilers or LHA-8.

Oct 11/14: LHA 6 Commissioned. The ship is formally commissioned at Pier 30/32 during San Francisco Fleet Week.

She is the 4th ship to bear that name, with predecessors that include a schooner, a World War I transport [ID-3006], and a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier [CV 66, 1965-1996]. Sources: US Navy, Full video and “USS America Joins the Fleet”.

USS America

Aug 26/14: Visits, F-35B Prep. LHA 6 America is visiting around South America on its way to San Francisco, with 4 MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotors, 3 H-60 Seahawk helicopters, and a special purpose MAGTF (Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force) on board. The ship hasn’t even been commissioned yet, and they’re treating the visits to Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Peru as a training cruise.

After PCU America’s commissioning and shakedown, a Post-Shakedown Availability visit to the shipyard expects to install modifications that will let the ship safely use F-35B fighters. To achieve that, intercostal structural additions will be inserted underneath flight deck landing spots numbers 7 and 9, in order to deal with the heat produced by the F-35B’s F135-PW-600 LiftFan engine. Those changes are currently being tested on the USS Wasp [LHD 8]. Sources: Defense Tech, “USS America Tours South America, Prepares for JSF”.

July 11/14: LHA 6. LHA 6 America leaves the Ingalls Shipbuilding division at Pascagoula, MS, sailing to the West Coast in preparation for her Oct 11/14 commissioning in San Francisco, CA. Sources: HII, “Ingalls Shipbuilding’s Amphibious Assault Ship America (LHA 6) Sails Away”.

June 20/14: LHA 7 keel. The official keel-laying ceremony for LHA 7 Tripoli takes places at HII’s Pascagoula, MS shipyard. Sources: HII, “Ingalls Shipbuilding Authenticates Keel of Amphibious Assault Ship Tripoli (LHA 7)”.

June 13/14: LHA 8. General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, CA receives a $23.5 million contract modification for early industry involvement in the LHA 8/ LHA(R) Flight 1 affordability design phase. LHA 8 is supposed to put the well deck back, pushing the design much closer to USS Makin Island [LHD-8]. Unfortunately, the ship has seen estimates as high as $4.4 billion. If the designers can reduce that figure, the ship’s odds of surviving coming budget battles will improve.

All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2014 RDT&E budgets. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA and is expected to be complete by May 2015. US NAVSEA in Washington, DC manages the contract (N00024-13-C-2401). See also HII, “Ingalls Shipbuilding Awarded $23.5 Million LHA 8 Affordability Contract”.

LHA 8 initial design

April 10/14: LHA 6 Delivery. HII’s Ingalls shipyard delivers the LHA 6 America to the US Navy in Pascagoula, MS. Commissioning is set for late 2014. Sources: US Navy, “Navy Accepts Delivery of the future USS America” | HII, “Ingalls Shipbuilding Delivers Amphibious Assault Ship America (LHA 6)”.

March 31/14: GAO Report. The US GAO tables its “Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs“. Which is actually a review for 2013, plus time to compile and publish. The report cites a high degree of rework on LHA 6, and the fact that they began construction with the design just 65% complete may have something to do with that. That has raised costs, and helped make the ship’s delivery 19 months late. Another $42.4 million will be spent on rework of the ship’s deck to cope with the F-35B’s exhaust and downwash (q.v. Jan 17/12). GAO adds that:

“Although not considered critical technologies, the program has identified an additional six key subsystems necessary to achieve capabilities. Five of these subsystems are mature. The sixth, the [GPS-guided] Joint Precision Approach and Landing System, is still in development, but LHA 6 can use backup aviation control systems to meet requirements. There are no new critical technologies expected for LHA 7 or LHA 8, but requirements for LHA 8 are still in development.”

Beyond the new deck design, design changes to LHA 7 will include a new firefighting system; and updates to the radar and the command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence systems. One hopes that key survivability upgrades (q.v. Jan 28/14) are also on this list. Design changes to LHA 8 will add a well deck that can accommodate 2 landing craft, and they’re considering designs that would allow compartments to be reconfigured in low-risk areas, in order to meet changing mission needs with less rework.

Jan 31/14: INSURV. LHA 6 America completes Navy acceptance trials off the coast of Pascagoula, MS. The Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) evaluated all of the ship’s major systems, including combat, propulsion, communications, navigation, mission systems and aviation capabilities. It passed with no major deficiencies, which is a real achievement for a first-of-class ship. Delivery is planned for spring 2014. Sources: US NAVSEA, “LHA 6 Completes Acceptance Trials” | HII, “Video Release — Ingalls Shipbuilding’s Amphibious Ship America (LHA 6) Sails the Gulf of Mexico for Successful Acceptance Trials”.

Jan 28/14: DOT&E Testing Report. The Pentagon releases the FY 2013 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). The America Class is included, and some of its deficiencies aren’t really about the ship – but others are.

It has been known for some time that the SSDS combat system needs continued improvement, and test aboard Nimitz Class supercarriers indicate that some modern cruise missile attacks will overwhelm existing defenses. The technical term is “Probability of Raid Annihilation”, and LHA-R isn’t likely to meet the goal the Navy set (q.v. Jan 17/12). Some of that is traceable to the design, however:

“LFT&E analysis completed so far identified potential problems in susceptibility and vulnerability that would likely result in the LHA-6 being unable to maintain or recover mission capability following a hit by certain threat weapons, the details of which are classified. The Navy’s required updated analysis is behind schedule jeopardizing planning for follow-on ship survivability improvements…. In particular, some fluid systems need additional isolation valves, sensors, and remote operators to allow rapid identification and isolation of damage and reconfiguration for restoration of the mission capability they support. Additionally, the egress from some of the troop and crew berthing spaces may result in crew causalities and delay damage control actions. The Navy has plans to incorporate some corrective actions for follow-on ships.”

Nov 7-9/13: Builder trials for PCU America are conducted in the Gulf of Mexico. If all goes well she is to be delivered to the Navy in March 2014. LHA 6, the 4th ship named USS America, will join the Pacific Fleet and have San Diego, CA as its homeport. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is scheduled for September 2016. Sources: HII, Nov 14/13 release | US Navy PEO Ships, Nov 7/13 release | DefenseTech: First America-class Amphib Nears Completion.

June 2013: LHA 8. The Navy plans to complete the Preliminary Design of LHA 8 during FY13, finalize its Capability Development Document (CDD) and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), and get started on contract design. The Senate Armed Services Committee is somewhat skeptical and recommends the addition of $20 million to the LHA-8 (i.e. flight 1) development budget because “[r]epeated Navy shipbuilding programs have shown that failing to complete a ship’s design before starting construction inevitably leads to cost growth and schedule delays.” Senate NDAA FY 2014 report 113-044 | PE 64567N budget justification [PDF].

April 2013: The FY14 President Budget still sets the order of a 3rd LHA ship to FY2017 as of the latest FYDP. The delivery of LHA 6 is however delayed by 6 months. Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson had testified before the Senate Committee on Armed Services in February that this delay was one of the consequences of starting FY13 under a continuing resolution (CR) preventing the start of new programs.

Schedule as of April 2014

November 2012: The Navy conducts an operational assessment of LHA 6, though they don’t release any results publicly.

Oct 20/12: The US Navy christens Pre-Commissioning Unit America [LHA 6] at HII’s shipyard in Pascagoula, MS. USN.

FY 2012

LHA 7 main contract, named “Tripoli”; LHA 6 launch; DOT&E report highlight survivability fears against modern missiles.

LHA 6 berthed
(click to view full)

June 5/12: LHA 6 launch. HII launches LHA 6 America at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS. Instead of sliding down a ramp, the ship just floated free of a drydock – but first, the 29,000 ton proto-ship became one of the largest objects moved across land when it was translated to the drydock. HII.

LHA 6 launch

May 31/12: LHA 7 main contract. A $2.381 billion fixed-price incentive contract modification, covering LHA 7 Tripoli’s detail design and construction, and installation (but not the purchase) of Government Furnished Equipment bought under separate contracts. Work will also include crew familiarization, technical manuals, and engineering and post-delivery industrial services.

Work will be performed in Pascagoula, MS (92.5%); Charlottesville, VA (2.4%); Beloit, WI (1.5%); Ocean Springs, MS (1.4%); Santa Fe Springs, CA (1.2%); and Brunswick, GA (1%), and is expected to be complete by June 2018 (N00024-10-C-2229). See also US Navy.

LHA 7

May 4/12: LHA 7 Tripoli. The Secretary of the Navy picks USS Tripoli as LHA 7’s future name. This isn’t a reference to recent events, but to the USMC’s early battles against the Barbary Pirates, immortalized in the Marines’ battle hymn: “From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli…”

Appropriately enough, the 1st USS Tripoli was CVE-64, a World War 2 escort carrier that served in the Atlantic theater. The 2nd USS Tripoli was LPH-10, a helicopter carrier that served in Vietnam. US Navy.

April 4/12: A $50.3 million contract modification for additional long lead time material in support of LHA 7. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, MS, and is expected to complete by May 2013 (N00024-10-C-2229).

Feb 13/12: FY13 PB. The President’s budget request for FY2013 sets the contract award date for LHA 7 to May 2012, with construction to start in April 2013, and expected delivery in March 2018. A more expensive LHA 8 ship has also been added in FY 2017.

Feb 6/12: LHA 7 lead-in. A $9 million contract modification for additional LHA 7 long lead time materials. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, MS and is expected to be complete by May 2013 (N00024-10-C-2229).

Jan 26/12: LHA 7 delayed. Preliminary FY 2013 budget materials discuss coming shifts in Pentagon priorities, as the defense department moves to make future cuts. The America Class is involved:

“To ensure sufficient resources to protect these strategic priorities, we will reduce the number of ships by slowing the pace of building new ships and by accelerating the retirement of some existing ships. These include… Slipping a large deck amphibious ship (LHA) by 1 year.”

See: Pentagon release | “Defense Budget Priorities and Choices” [PDF]

Jan 17/12: DOT&E report. The Pentagon releases the FY2011 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). The America Class is included, even though they haven’t conducted testing yet. Some of the ship’s systems have been tested elsewhere, however, and their problems affect the ship. At the same time, some aspects of the design itself are being questioned, and so is ship survivability.

The good news is that LHA 6 will likely meet its Key Performance Parameters for vehicular stowage space, F-35B capacity, vertical take-off and landing spots, cargo space, and troop accommodations; but it will have much less hospital capacity than other American LHA/LHDs. DOT&E wonders if it will be enough.

The bad news is that LHA 6’s 12,000 pound limit for the vehicle ramp from the hangar deck to the flight deck, is a serious problem. Since the America Class has no well deck and no crane, everything must be airlifted ashore. There’s no point in having a ramp that can support 70-ton tanks and 24-ton LAVs, but even an up-armored HMMWV would stress the ramp as currently designed. Worse, blast-resistant MRAP or JLTV vehicles that could be airlifted off by a CH-53K, and would be necessary for many operations, couldn’t be carried on the ship. Those limitations are magnified by DOT&E’s statement that the USN and USMC haven’t yet produced a concept of operations or concept of employment that accounts for the America Class’ lack of a well deck, or that takes advantage of its enhanced aviation capability. On which note:

“Jet blast from the F-35Bs is expected to produce unsafe forces on flight deck personnel up to 75 feet from the short take-off line. MV-22 operations produce heat levels that might damage the flight deck and overwhelm the environmental controls in the spaces immediately below the flight deck.”

A full survivability assessment report is due in FY12, but DOT&E is concerned that:

“Due to long-standing and previously identified legacy sensor limitations, LHA-6 may be vulnerable to certain airborne threat flight profiles. Based on combat systems testing on other platforms, it is unlikely that LHA-6’s Ship Self-Defense System Mk 2-based combat system (including Nulka, SLQ-32, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile) will meet the ship’s Probability of Raid Annihilation requirement against anti-ship cruise missiles.”

This is true, but worth deeper analysis. Part of the problem is that there’s only so much weaponry one puts on ships like this. Its armament is actually substantially stronger than foreign LHDs like the Mistral or Juan Carlos/Canberra Classes, and matches up evenly against the Italian Cavour Class light carrier and amphibious support vessel. If advances in enemy weapons create a problem, other ships will have to compensate, or the cost of each NAAS ship would become very high indeed.

In this case, however, DOT&E is citing performance shortfalls against certain threat types by the ship’s component weapons: RIM-162 ESSM, RIM-116 RAM, Nulka, SLQ-32, and the ship’s radars. The radar shortfalls are a known issue, but unless the USN opted for a foreign radar design, there’s no reasonably-priced radar option that would fix them. As for the weapons, they are a real problem for the fleet, but extraneous to this one program. The long term solution is for their capabilities to improve, or the Navy to adjust its tactics to address their weaknesses, if it can.

FY 2010 – 2011

LHA 7 added to program, and lead-in buys begin; Any LHA 8 will have a well deck.

LHA 7 concept
(click to view full)

Aug 1/11: RAM. A $7.4 million contract modification for 3 refurbished and upgraded rolling airframe missile MK 49 Mod 3 Guided Missile Launch Systems with associated hardware, for use on LHA 7 (2 systems) and LCS 5 (Detroit, Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship, 1 system).

Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ, and is expected to be complete by March 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00024-11-C-5448).

April 15/11: SAR to 2 ships. The Pentagon’s Selected Acquisitions Report ending Dec 30/10 includes the America Class under significant cost increases, for an obvious reason:

“LHA 6 – Program costs increased $3,458.9 million (+102.7%) from $3,367.9 million to $6,826.8 million, due primarily to the addition of one ship from one to two ships.”

March 31/11: LHA lead-in. A not-to-exceed $28.7 million contract modification for the procurement of additional long lead time material in support of “the LHA replacement flight 0 amphibious assault ship.” That could describe LHA 6 America, or LHA 7; timelines suggest that it probably means LHA 7.

Work will be performed in Philadelphia, PA (79.9%), and Pascagoula, MS (20.1%), and is expected to be complete by March 2014 (N00024-10-C-2229).

Oct 28/10: A $48.1 million contract modification for additional planning and advanced engineering services in support of LHA 7. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, MS, and is expected to be complete by May 2012 (N00024-10-C-2229). See also Northrop Grumman.

June 30/10: LHA 7 lead-in. A not-to-exceed $175.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for LHA 7 long-lead time material, planning, and advance engineering services. The as-yet unnamed LHA 7 will be an LHA-R Flight 0 ship just like America [LHA 6], which is now 25% complete. Long lead time materials include items like main reduction gears, which must be complete and ready to go very early in the build stage. With all contract options exercised, this contract could reach $193 million.

Work will be performed in Brunswick, GA (24.4%); locations yet to be determined (24.2%); Pascagoula, MS (23.1%); Los Angeles, CA (17.3%); York, PN (9.3%); and Brampton, Canada (1.7%), and is expected to be complete by March 2014. This contract was not competitively procured (N00024-10-C-2229). See also Northrop Grumman release.

March 30/10: GAO. The US GAO audit office delivers its 8th annual “Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs report. With respect to LHA-R, it says:

“The LHA 6 began construction in December 2008 with mature technologies, but [only 65%]… of its design complete… Approximately 45 percent of the LHA 6 design is based on the LHD 8. The Navy conducted two production readiness reviews to assess the shipbuilder’s readiness to commence full construction. In addition, as of September 2009, the program office had conducted unit readiness reviews for 141 of the ship’s 216 assembly units. The LHA 6 is likely to experience further cost growth because postdelivery rework of the ship’s deck may be necessary to cope with the intense, hot downwash of the Joint Strike Fighter… The Navy is planning to conduct aircraft tests on the LHD 1 during the fall of 2010, and will then determine whether the LHA 6 [and other ships that will operate it] need to modify their flight decks. The program office does not expect the Navy to finalize a solution for the LHA 6 prior to ship delivery…”

March 22/10: Gannett’s Navy Times:

“More than two years before the amphibious assault ship America enters the fleet, Marine officials have already drawn up early plans for a version of the ship that includes a major component America is missing – a well deck. The “LHA 8 concept,” as it was called in a presentation Monday by Marine Corps Combat Development Command, would combine new aviation features the Marines want in the America class with a traditional big-deck capacity for landing craft and green gear… the Navy’s most recent shipbuilding program includes no plans for such a ship… Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has said it would be prohibitively expensive to alter the designs for America or the follow-on LHA 7, so they’ll be built as planned.”

FY 2008 – 2009

LHA 6 keel laid; America Class.

RIM-116 RAM Launch

Aug 28/09: Well deck rethink? Information Dissemination reports that the Marines may be rethinking the removal of this class’ well decks:

“When the Marines decided to remove the well deck on the LHA (R) for USS America (LHA 6), it was a decision to move towards specialization. No surprise then that this year the Marines testified in front of Congress that the well deck will be added to future LHA (R)s as soon as possible, because just the removal of the well deck turned the LHA (R) into too much of a specialization for the Marines to overcome shortcomings in necessary sealift throughput.”

July 17/09: LHA 6 keel laid. Northrop Grumman Corporation holds the keel authentication ceremony for LHA 6 at the company’s Pascagoula facility.

Per Navy and maritime tradition, ship sponsor Lynne Pace had her initials welded onto a ceremonial steel plate noting the ship’s keel had been “truly and fairly laid.” Ms. Pace is the wife of retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, the first US Marine to Chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff. NGC release.

Oct 20/08: LM2500. GE’s LM2500+ gas turbines will power the USS America, which surprises no-one. The same engine was used on LHD-8, and its use in LHA 6 was expected from the outset. Northrop Grumman’s formal selection merely makes it official.

The LHA 6 ship’s mechanical-electric propulsion system will consist of 2 LM2500+ gas turbines, each rated at 35,290 shaft horsepower at U.S. Navy standard day conditions (100 degrees F), and a pair of 5,000 hp auxiliary propulsion motors. The hybrid propulsion system enables the ship’s propellers to be driven either by the gas turbines or by the electric motors, which are powered from the ship service electrical system. This allows the ship to operate in a more fuel efficient mode throughout its speed range, and also gives it more electrical capacity to power sensors and onboard equipment. MarineLog.

June 27/08: America Class. US Navy Secretary Donald Winter announces that LHA 6 would be named USS America when it is brought into service, a move that also names the ship class.

The new America would be the 4th ship in US Navy service to bear the name; the last such ship was CV 66, the Kitty Hawk Class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1965, decommissioned in 1996, and sunk as an 2005 experiment using explosives, torpedoes and naval gunfire. US Navy | Gannett’s Navy Times.

Class named

March 20/08: LHA 6. Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit has been selected to supply the Machinery Control System (MCS) for LHA 6, under a contract valued at approximately $47.6 million. The contract work includes hardware, software, design, engineering, logistics, training, testing and shipboard integration support. It also includes an option for continuing logistics support of the MCS and its land-based test facility through the end of the LHA 6 ship guaranty period. The work will be performed at Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine facility in Charlottesville, VA and at the Pascagoula shipyard.

The MCS for LHA 6 will be a completely integrated network for monitoring and controlling the ship’s main propulsion plant and auxiliary systems, and will include more than 50 data acquisition units located around the ship, 25 operating consoles, 10 electric plant and propulsion plant controllers, and multiple redundant local-area network switches. It is based on a similar system being supplied by Sperry Marine for Makin Island [LHD 8], which has the same gas turbine propulsion plant, zonal electrical distribution and electric auxiliary systems. NGC release.

Jan 30/08: SSDS. Raytheon Co. Integrated Defense Systems in San Diego, CA received a $17.3 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-5105) for FY 2008 production of 4 “Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) MK 2 Tactical Ship Sets. SSDS will form the core of the ships’ self-defense capabilities, tying together, coordinating, and even automating the sensors, weapons, and decisions involved from detection, to engagement, to kill against anti-ship missiles etc. Raytheon will also conduct a special study to define engineering changes to the SSDS MK 2 product baseline in support of the LHA 6 Combat System configuration.

Work will be performed in Portsmouth, RI, and is expected to be complete by Oct. 2009. This contract was not competitively procured.

FY 2007 and Earlier

LHA 6 initial milestones.

F-35B vertical landing
(click to view full)

June 1/07: LHA 6 order. A $2.4 billion fixed-price incentive modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-2221) for the detail design and construction of the LHA 6 Amphibious Assault Ship. The LHA 6 LHA-R Class will replace the LHA 1 Tarawa. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, MS (95%) and New Orleans, LA (5%), and is expected to be complete by August 2012.

Philip Teel, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman’s Ship Systems sector, is quoted in Northrop Grumman’s release:

“This contract award reinforces the U.S. Navy’s confidence that we have recovered from the effects of Hurricane Katrina and are capable of meeting the warfighters’ needs in a timely and cost effective manner.”

LHA 6

June 15/06: LHA 6 lead-in. A $20.4 million modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-2221) to exercise a cost-plus-fixed-fee option for special studies and procurement of additional long lead-time material, in support of LHA 6 ship construction. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, MS and is expected to be complete by December 2006.

Feb 13/06: A $93.8 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification under a previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-2221) exercises options to initiate engineering and detail design for the LHA-R Flight 0 Amphibious Assault Ship, and procure additional long lead time material in support of ship construction. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, MS and is expected to be complete by December 2006.

July 15/05: LHA 6 lead-in. A $109.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for advanced planning, long lead time materials, systems engineering, and special studies for the first LHA-R Flight 0 Amphibious Assault Ship. Work on this contract will be performed at t Work is expected to be complete by December 2006. The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis (N00024-05-C-2221). The total contract value, if all options are exercised, will be $264 million.

Aug 6/04: LHA 6 lead-in. FY 2005 Defense Appropriations Act includes $150 million for Advance Procurement related to LHA-R Flight 0

Aug 5/04: LHA-R CDD formally entered into JCIDS review process

June 17/04: Feasibility Design completed; results briefed to ASN (RD&A)

April 30/04: Required Capabilities Letter for LHA(R) Flight 0 issued by ASN (RD&A), CNO and CMC

Jan 23/04: ASN (RD&A) formally asks for additional cost vs. capability studies

September 2002: Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) Report re: possible range of ship designs completed

July 20/01: MS A Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM)

March 5/01: Mission Need Statement (MNS)

Nov 20/2000: NAVSEA’s PMS377 designated as LHA-R Program Managers

Footnotes

fn1. Spot factor figures, MV-22 maintenance, and fuel capabilities given in US PEO-Ships briefing presentation to the NDIA. [return to article]

Additional Readings Background: The America Class

• US Navy – Amphibious Assault Ships Fact File

• US Navy SURFPAC – LHD/LHA

• PEO Ships – Amphibious Assault Ships Replacement.

• HII – LHA

• Global Security – LH-X. LHA-R was the next step, and a significant change.

Background: Ship Ancillaries

• DID – CEC: Cooperative Engagement for Fleet Defense

• DID – RIM-162 ESSM Missile: Naval Anti-Air in a Quad Pack

• DID – Phalanx CIWS: The Last Defense, On Ship and Ashore. LHA-Rs use Phalanx Block IB.

• DID – RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) Systems: Contracts & Events

• DID – USN Ship Protection: From “Slick 32s” to SEWIP

• DID – NGC Contracted for USN/RAN SPQ-9B Radars & Support.

• DID – SSDS: Quicker Naval Response to Cruise Missiles. LHA-Rs use the combat system’s Mk.2 MOD 4B variant.

Background: Aircraft

• DID – CH-53K: The U.S. Marines’ HLR Helicopter Program.

• DID – Snakes and Rotors: The USMC’s H-1 Helicopter Program.

• DID – MH-60R/S: The USA’s New Naval Workhorse Helicopters. Any LHx ship could also embark MH-60R helicopters for added anti-submarine punch, but distributed hosting on destroyers and LCS ships is almost always a better idea for the fleet.

• DID – V-22 Osprey: The Multi-Year Buys, 2008-2017.

News & Views

• Sea Power 21 – Doctrine circa 2002.

• Naval Postgraduate School (June 2012) – Thesis on the effect of shipboard design decisions in amphibious warfare [PDF].

• US NAVSEA (June 2005) – LHA-R Cargo Handling System Trade Study Models [PDF]. Back when the ships were planned with a well deck; sets out options et. al for cargo functions within that space.

• Congressional Budget Office (Nov 1/04) – The Future of the Navy’s Amphibious and Maritime Prepositioning Forces. Notes that the Navy’s current plan risks industrial and capacity shortfalls.

• National Defense Magazine (August 2004) – Navy Downsizing Could Weaken Marine Corps Expeditionary Posture.

• Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Div (March 2004) – LHA(R): Designing the Next Generation of Big Deck Amphibious Assault Ships [PDF] with initial specs that are different from the final specifications.

• DSpace at MIT, Department of Ocean Engineering (May 30/02) – LHA-R: Amphibious Assault Ships For The 21st Century [PDF]. An initial set of modeled concepts and discussion the includes extensive modeling work on a notional trimaran hull design, as well as a thorough look at the LHA-R’s required capabilities and various trade-offs. Interesting read, and a thorough discussion document.

Americas

• It’s been revealed that the US Navy intends to acquire at least 80 F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft over the next five years, running against initial plans to zero out the aircraft program beginning next year. The announcement was made by the sailing branch to the US Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee last week in a written testimony notes the “Fiscal Year 2018 President’s Budget requests $1.25 billion in [the Navy’s aircraft procurement account] for 14 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft” that will “address continuing warfighter demand for advanced tactical aircraft.” 23 aircraft will procured in 2019 for $1.95 billion, 14 in 2020 for $1.35 billion and 14 in 2021 for $1.27 billion and 15 in 2022 for $1.28 billion.

• Ahead of its debut at this week’s Paris air show, Lockheed Martin are close to finishing the latest round of negotiations for the manufacture of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. As many as 440 jets are being negotiated under the deal and are being spread out over three tranches in a multi-year deal estimated to reach at least $37 billion. As many as 11 customer nations will receive fighters as part of the deal, including Australia, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, South Korea, Britain and the United States. The price of the F-35’s A variant is then expected to drop to $80 million by the end of 2020.

• Raytheon is to restart the Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) production line after a $650 million dollar order from the Netherlands, South Korea, Japan and Australia. The sale calls for the delivery of a total of 280 SM-2 Block IIIA and IIIB missiles, and the sale is expected to keep the company’s Arizona production line open through 2035 as Raytheon anticipates more orders from the US and its allies as they rebuild their inventories using the modernized production line. Congress are expected to be notified of the sale in the coming days.

• Lockheed Martin has received a $472 million US Army contract for the production of Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets. The sale includes 2,868 alternative warhead rockets, 648 unitary warhead rockets and 370 pods of reduced-range low-cost practice rocket and covers delivery under a foreign military sale to Finland, France, Germany and Singapore. Work will be conducted in Grand Prairie, Texas, and has an expected completion date of July 31, 2019.

Middle Easy & North Africa

• A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet has scored its first air-to-air kill, shooting down a Syrian Su-22 on Sunday. The incident occurred after reports that the Su-22 had bombed the forces of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces as they moved on Islamic State positions south of Tabqah. A statement by the US Central Command issued a statement saying the plane was downed “in collective self-defense of Coalition-partnered forces,” while a Syrian army statement initially suggested that that the US-led coalition shot down one of its planes as it conducted a combat mission against Islamic State militants. The US Super Hornet is based onboard the USS George H.W. Bush, the only US aircraft carrier operating in the region.

Europe

• A new fighter attack version of Leonardo’s M-346 has been unveiled at the Paris air show. The updated aircraft—the M-346FA— includes the company’s Grifo multi-mode fire control radar, as well as seven pylons for external weapons loads, enabling it to carry 2,000 pounds of external weapons. Leonardo stated that the new fighter was designed to help different air forces meet their needs rapidly by building on a common base, adding that they have found international interest in the plane “specifically in the Far East and South America.”

• Serbia could receive a new batch of MiG-29 fighters by the end of this month, according to Defense Minister Zoran Djordjevic. It had been reported in March that Belgrade would receive six MiG-29 fighter jets as well as the modernization of another four planes from Russia in a deal worth $207 million and includes the cost of fuel storage facilities, hangers to store ten planes and the complete maintenance and modernization of the planes’ missiles. The deal is being seen as good value, enabling Serbia to modernize its fleet at a much lower cost than its neighbors.

Asia Pacific

• Japan’s ShinMaywa has said that it is willing to allow Indonesian industry to collaborate on the final assembly of the US-2 amphibian aircraft if the Indonesian government selects the aircraft as its amphibious search-and-rescue (SAR) platform. However, the firm ruled out the possibility of assembling the aircraft in Indonesia as it will not be economically feasible to do so. Instead, ShinMaywa stated that the aircraft could be delivered fully assembled with final configuration works to be done in the customer’s country, mentioning Indonesian state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia as a possible partner in the collaboration.

Today’s Video

• AV-8B Harrier performs reverse landing on USS America:

Americas

• BAE Systems will provide Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) upgrade kits to the US Navy. The $181 million deal is funded under a recently announced indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contract and will allow BAE to keep up with increased demand for APKWS rockets instead of more expensive laser-guided munitions such as the Hellfire missile. The APKWS mid-body guidance kit transforms standard unguided Hydra 70 (2.75-inch) rockets into highly accurate precision munitions by easily screwing into place between the warhead and the motor. Export customers can purchase the technology through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

• Lockheed Martin has won a $59 million USAF contract modification to provide fuselage trainers for systems used on the KC-10J. The firm will provide trainers modified from C-10 fuselages designed to represent the functions and appearance of the KC-130J tanker aircraft, and will allow for training on exterior and interior preflight and post-flight inspections and loading operations. Work will be conducted in Tulsa, Okla., and Marietta, Ga, with a completion date scheduled for December 31, 2021.

Middle Easy & North Africa

• Elbit Systems is planning to make the debut of its SkyStriker loitering munitions system at this year’s Paris air show. The system is able to locate, acquire and attack targets with high precision, with an operator using its electro-optical/infrared seeker to identify threats. The company added that the SkyStriker can engage targets from a variety of angles, while an operator will be able to abort a strike as little as 2s prior to impact, before re-engaging other authorised threats or returning to a recovery point. The air vehicle lands using a parachute and airbag.

Europe

• Switzerland has approved funds for the initial stages of its F/A-18C/D fighter successor program. $10 million has been allocated in order to cover preparatory studies, testing and other pre-acquisition costs, with a decision to be made by the end of 2020. Additional funds for the full procurement should be in place by 2022, with deliveries to commence in 2025. Bern is also planning to undertake a life extension program for its current fleet of 30 Hornets, which will bring their active service life to 2030.

• Boeing has been awarded a $411 million modification to an existing contract to provide 38 Apache attack helicopters to the UK. Also included in the deal are three crew trainers for the Apache’s latest Longbow variant of the aircraft, as well as spares for both systems. Work will be completed in Mesa, Ariz., and is estimated to be completed by Feb 28, 2023.

Asia Pacific

• Russian aerospace manufacturer Sukhoi has plans to build a spare parts factory in Indonesia as part of a deal to sell Su-35 fighter aircraft to the country. Indonesia’s Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu made the announcement, adding that the deal will benefit Jakarta as the factory can manufacture parts that can then be sold to neighboring governments—Malaysia operates the Su-30MKM—who operate Sukhoi aircraft. Negotiations between Russia and Indonesia over a deal for ten Su-35 aircraft are still ongoing.

• A crashed North Korean drone found in South Korea is believed to have been spying on the US THAAD system prior to its crash. The drone, mounted with a camera, was found last week in a forest near the border between the two Koreas, where ten photos of the THAAD were found. North Korea has about 300 unmanned aerial vehicles of different types including one designed for reconnaissance as well as combat drones, the UnitedNations said in a report last year.

• Dassault and Indian partner Reliance Defense & Aerospace will break ground next month on a components facility for Rafale fighter aircraft. Construction of the facility comes as part of ‘Make in India’ commitments stipulated in September’s $8.8 billion Rafale fighter jet deal. Dassault are also currently training the first group of Indian engineers at its facilities in France, and the Indian facility is expected to be operational and producing components by the first quarter of 2018.

Today’s Video

• Japan’s first F-35 makes its maiden flight:

Americas

• Austral is currently conducting final outfitting of the ninth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EFT) for the US Navy. The Spearhead-class vessel left an Austral shipyard earlier this month in Mobile, Alabama before moving to Bismark for final work. They feature a flight deck and an off-load ramp which allow quick access ports and quays. Littoral operations are made easier by the inclusion of 15-foot shallow draft, ability to interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and ease of access to austere and deteriorated piers.

Middle Easy & North Africa

• Turkey’s armed forces has officially inducted Rokesan’s UMTAS infrared guided anti-tank missile into service. OMTAS is a semi-active laser-homing ATGM with a range of 500-8,000 m that Ankara will use as the main weapon of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T129 attack helicopter, with Roketsan hoping to sell additional launchers and missiles to the Air Force and Navy as well. The system has also been tested on TAI’s Hürkus-C close air support and counterinsurgency attack aircraft and is being marketed for export to several governments including Pakistan.

• A White House document seen by media sources has fleshed out the Trump administration’s $110 billion-worth of arms deals with Saudi Arabia. Much touted by Trump after his first international tour as US President, experts had denounced the successful deals as speculative that still needed to be negotiated and cleared by Congress. Now, the shopping list that accounts for those billion and billions has emerged with items including seven THAAD missile defense batteries, over 100,000 air-to-ground munitions and billions of dollars’ worth of new aircraft. Also included are new vessels, artillery, land and fighting vehicles, helicopters Patriot system sustainment services, as well as two satellite communications & Space Based Early Warning Systems. See the full list and price breakdowns here.

Europe

• The head of Airbus has called on the French government to join German and Spanish efforts on a proposed new fighter to succeed the Eurofighter Typhoon. “I really hope that France will be involved,” says Fernando Alonso, speaking to reporters on 9 June at the company’s media day. “We have to do this in Europe. There’s no place to do two or three different systems.” While Paris had initially stayed out of the Eurofighter program—instead favoring to work with Dassault on the Rafale—there has been much talk of further integrated European defense research and procurement among EU members, and with the UK gearing up to leave the EU, France is being seen as a potential replacement partner in such joint programs. Last year, Germany and Spain partnered to draw up requirements for the New Generation Weapon System (NGWS), a proposed new fighter that would be developed under the Future Combat Air System effort, which includes other elements of air warfare technology, including unmanned air vehicles (UAV) and space-based capabilities.

• Finland has extended the service of an existing 2013 Foreign Military Sales agreement with the US for spare parts and support for F-18 Hornet aircraft. Valued at $97.1 million, the amendment covers software maintenance, spare parts for the aircraft, equipment, repair, transport and training services from 2018 to 2020. Additional information on the deal was not revealed.

• Saab has signed a framework agreement to provide maintenance and support of submarines and submarine rescue systems operated by the Swedish military. The deal will cover the period of 2017-2019 at an initial cost of $9.7 million. “The framework agreement encompasses maintaining and providing high operational availability of the Swedish Armed Forces submarines and submarine rescue systems by configuration management, maintenance, engineering support, and modifications,” Saab said in a press release.

Asia Pacific

• It’s been reported that South Korean artillery has been delivered to Pakistan, where the government there is believed to be trailing the weapons. A Hanwha Corporation KH179 155 mm towed howitzer and two Hanwha Corporation 40 mm auto grenade launchers (AGL) arrived in January and is one of several rival self-propelled howitzers (SPH) that has been tested by Islamabad over the years, and while no active competition is underway, it’s believed that Pakistan could spend as much as $844 million on SPH by 2024. If there is an active requirement, Hanwha will compete with Daudsons Armoury (DSA), which had displayed its own SPH during Pakistan’s biennial defence exhibition, IDEAS 2016.

• The Indian army will send a squadron of weaponized Dhruv helicopters to its border with China as part of moves to strengthen its deployments along its eastern borders. As many as ten helicopters will arrive in the town of Likabali, Assam provence, over the next three months. Weapons found on the helicopter include a turret gun in its nose area, air-to-air missiles, 70 mm rockets and 20 mm turret guns, while newer models come equipped with anti-tank guided missiles, infrared jammers and obstacle avoidance systems.

Today’s Video

• Roketsan’s OMTAS:

Americas

• Canada has decided to pull back from its plan to procure 18 F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters as an interim replacement for its CF-18 successor program. Instead, the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has unveiled a new defense plan which calls for 88 new fighters for the Royal Canadian Air Force – an increase from the previous government’s plan to purchase 65 jets – and to recapitalise the Lockheed Martin CP-140 Aurora anti-submarine warfare and surveillance fleet. The news comes amid a row between the Canadian government, Boeing, and Bombardier, after the US company accused Bombardier of “dumping” its CSeries jet onto the US market.

Middle Easy & North Africa

• It’s been announced that Egypt has received delivery of the S-300VM air defense system, after pictures were released of the system’s vehicles and missile canisters being unloaded at the port of Alexandria. The export version of the S-300, the system is equipped with 9M82M and 9M83M missiles, providing an engagement range of up to 200 km and maximum altitude of 25,000 m. The $1 billion purchase is part of a wider $3.5 billion package agreed with Russia in 2015, and includes 50 Mikoyan MiG-29M/M2 and Kamov Ka-52K attack helicopters.

• Heron TP UAVs leased to the German military by Airbus will be operated from an Israeli air base. It is also believed that German crew will be trained at the site. Deliveries of Heron TP systems for use by the German military will commence late next year and will go towards supporting international operations involving German personnel prior to the availability of a European-developed medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV from around 2025. The deal has been initially held up after a protest by General Atomics.

• Rafael will showcase its new Spike LR II missile at this month’s Paris Air Show, adding that deliveries to customers will start in late 2018. Capable of carrying either a tandem high-explosive anti-tank warhead or a multi-purpose blast warhead, the new missile also features a new electro-optical/infrared seeker with smart target tracker capabilities. It can be launched from any current Spike launcher.

Europe

• Leonardo has unveiled” a compact version of its BriteCloud decoy system for fast jets after successful testing on Danish F-16s. Known as BriteCloud 218, the system is 2-by-1-by-8 inches and is compatible using the standard-size flare decoy cartridge, such as the F-16 and F-15. Leonardo fitted the cartridge directly into a RDAF F-16’s standard flare dispenser with no integration work required. During the test, the aircraft dispensed the BriteCloud 218 in response to being locked-onto by a real radar-guided surface to air missile targeting system. The company said that once launched, “it creates powerful electronic emissions that create a ‘false target’ and draw enemy missiles away from the real aircraft.”

• Insitu will provide three of its Integrator UAV to the Netherlands as part of Dutch military plans to replace their ScanEagle UAVs. The Integrator is a multi-mission small UAV that carries custom payloads for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is the baseline aircraft for the RQ-21A Blackjack, a program of record with the US Navy and Marine Corps that entered full-rate production last year. Each has a 40-pound payload capacity and delivers line-of-sight communications for as much as 55 nautical miles. Delivery will take place next year.

• BAE’s Advanced Hawk trainer has completed its first test-flight at the company’s Warton, Lancashire, UK site. The test aimed to assess a series of enhancements developed which could equip new-build examples or be added as upgrades to in-service aircraft. Upgrades to cockpit include a large area display and the integration of BAE’s LiteHUD head-up display, and a new wing that increases performance and the capacity for an increased range of offensive weapons and defensive measures. The aircraft will now undergo a series of flights to collect test data on the new key capability enhancements.

Asia Pacific

• The Australian government has begun testing and evaluation of two rival armored vehicles as part of its LAND 400 Phase 2 program. Rheinmetall’s Boxer CRV and the BAE Systems Australia’s Patria AMV35 are currently undergoing a year-long assessment as a risk mitigation activity, which aims to help Canberra in the final selection of a vehicle. Text-generation combat reconnaissance vehicle procurement will eventually see 225 vehicles purchased by the Australian military for a total purchase price of more than $3 billion.

Today’s Video

• The GAIC FTC-2000 advanced jet trainer:

Latest updates: 3rd squadron stands up in the south.

Indian Heron UAV
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In November 2005, media reports claimed that India was set to purchase some 50 Heron MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) UAVs from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in a deal worth $220 million. They would be put to use carrying out reconnaissance missions on India’s mountainous borders with China and Pakistan, and along India’s long coastal waters. India was said to have been close to sealing the deal in 2004, but it was postponed due to the change in governments in New Delhi.

The Heron’s performance during the December 2004 tsunami apparently clinched the deal. Its performance since, and Chinese aggression on the Indian border, has green-lighted a follow-on contract.

The Herons

Heron, multi-sensor
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India already had about 12 Heron-1 drones before the 2005 sale, and they played a crucial part in search and rescue operations following the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004. IAI Searcher tactical UAVs and and their high-end Heron UAV counterparts were used to locate trapped survivors and missing bodies near the Andaman and Nicobar islands, relaying clear live feed photographs while in flight, and allowing immediate response as soon as survivors or victims were identified on screen.

The Heron UAV is reportedly capable of flying for over 24 hours at a time at altitudes around 32,000 feet. IAI lists flight time as >40 hours, and says that it has demonstrated 52 hours of continuous flight. It has a maximum range of about 3,000 km and can carry a maximum payload weighing 250 kg/ 550 lbs. As a large MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) UAV, it’s built to carry multiple payloads at a time for a variety of missions. Choices include electro-optical and thermal surveillance equipment, SAR radars for ground surveillance, maritime patrol radars and sensors, signals and other intelligence collection antennas and equipment, laser designators, and even radio relays.

India doesn’t discuss its UAV payloads, but reports have its Searcher IIs equipped with the standard day/night surveillance turret, while the Herons are similar to Israel’s maritime patrol configuration, with an Elta Systems radar and a stabilized Tamam surveillance and targeting turret.

A subsequent Heron-2 or Heron-TP variant is larger, with a bigger 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop to power it. Typical mission payload rises to 1,000 kg, which can be carried to around 45,000 feet, and the UAV has a maximum flight time of over 36 hours in favorable conditions.

India and Israel are not alone in being impressed by the Heron’s capabilities. As of 2011, leased Herons or Heron variants are operating in Afghanistan on behalf of the Australian, Canadian, French, and German armed forces; and have participated in demonstrations involving US SOUTHCOM and its Latin American partners. Subsequent years have also seen confirmed or rumored export sales to Brazil’s federal police, Ecuador’s navy, Singapore’s armed forces, and Turkey.

Contracts & Key Events

Israeli Heron-TP
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June 9/17: Heron TP UAVs leased to the German military by Airbus will be operated from an Israeli air base. It is also believed that German crew will be trained at the site. Deliveries of Heron TP systems for use by the German military will commence late next year and will go towards supporting international operations involving German personnel prior to the availability of a European-developed medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV from around 2025. The deal has been initially held up after a protest by General Atomics.

June 2/17: A German court has ruled against US weapons manufacturer General Atomics after the firm posted a legal challenge against Germany’s plans to lease armed drones from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). GA, along with Switzerland’s RUAG lost out to provide the Predator B UAV to the German military after Berlin chose to lease the Heron TP UAV in a deal estimated to be worth $652 million. On taking the deal to court, GA stated that they did so “to ensure that this procurement is conducted as a fair and open competition; thereby ensuring that the German Ministry of Defense procures the most technologically superior and cost efficient solution.” Berlin’s decision to lease Herons instead of buying Predators comes as an interim measure until the EU has developed its own drone. Germany, France, Italy and Spain plan to jointly develop a drone by 2025.

October 19/16: Having joined the Missile Technology Control Regime this summer, India is forging ahead with plans to purchase Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron TP UAV. While Israel is not a member of the regime, which aims to restrict the proliferation of missile technology, it has agreed to export its strategic weapon systems only to member countries. While New Delhi has operated the Heron 1 and smaller Israeli UAVs, the Heron TP UAV has a 40h endurance, maximum take-off weight of 5,300kg (11,685lb), and carries a typical mission payload of 1,000kg.

September 14/15 The Indian government has approved the purchase of ten armed UAVs from Israel Aerospace Industries, following a fast-tracking of the program by the Modi administration. The $400 million acquisition will see ten IAI Heron TP drones join other Israeli designs operated by the Indian Air Force, with Harpy loitering munitions, Searcher ISR aircraft and unarmed Heron-1 aircraft already seeing service. The country is also pursuing an indigenous UAV development program known as the Rustom 2. India has been the world’s largest importer of drones over the last thirty years, with IAI officials reportedly in talks with the Indian Defence Ministry over a possible joint production of the new UAVs. India is also planning to allocate significant funds to train increasing numbers of operators to use its expanding UAV fleet.

May 5/15: With 22.5% of all UAV imports over the 1985-2014 period, India has topped the list of unmanned aerial systems importers. The principle beneficiary of India’s UAV spending has been Israel, particularly the IAI Heron and Searcher variants.

Dec 29/13: +15. India’s Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reportedly approved an INR 12 billion (about $300 million) budget to buy another 15 Heron UAVs and associated equipment from Israel, and upgrade the existing fleet for improved communications.

The move would give India 40+ Herons, which is a respectable fleet. India’s massive border length, and the number of neighbors it needs to keep an eye on, mean that it really needs more than this. The new UAVs are reportedly slated for the Chinese and Pakistan borders, whereas the existing 3 squadrons seem to be more focused on India’s eastern and western seaboards. Sources: Times of India, “Govt clears proposal for buying 15 UAVs from Israel” | Israel’s Arutz Sheva, “India to Buy 15 Drones from Israel” | (Anti-India) Kashmir News Service, “Indian govt clears proposal for buying 15 Israeli UAVs”.

Sept 8/13: Shift east. India shifts some of its Heron UAVs to the 4,057 km Line of Actual Control between India and China. The Searcher Mk.II UAVs suffer from endurance restrictions and high altitude performance shortfalls, so the IAF wants to replace them all with Herons in that area. As the UK’s Daily Mail reports:

“Though unrelated, this development comes just a day after the furore over the contents of a report filed by Shyam Saran, chairperson of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), indicating a loss of almost 640 sq km of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh to China…. the army will soon issue a formal communication about the [UAV] proposal, which came directly from the ground formations posted along the LAC…”

Sources: UK Daily Mail, “India sends Heron drones to LAC to boost surveillance efforts”.

April 11/12: 3rd Squadron. India’s Navy commissions a 3rd UAV squadron of IAI Searcher tactical UAVs and IAI Heron long-endurance UAVs, in order to step-up surveillance in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait and Palk Bay. INAS 344 will be operated from INS Parundu, the naval air station in Uchipuli, Tamil Nadu, in southern India. It will be controlled by Eastern Naval Command

INAS 344 joins the western INAS 343 naval UAV squadron in Porbandar, Gujarat and the original INAS 342 eastern squadron at Kochi in Kerala. sUAS News.

March 31/11: Flight International:

“India’s navy has operational requirements for additional unmanned air vehicles made by Israel Aerospace Industries, sources say, with these to potentially include improved Heron or Heron-TP systems carrying maritime sensor payloads. Evaluations using some systems have already been carried out, they add.”

Jan 21/11: 2nd Squadron. The Indian Navy stands up INAS 343 (the “Frontier Formidables”) at Porbandar, Gujarat, near the Pakistani border. Gujarat has the longest coastline of any Indian state.

This is India’s 2nd Heron/Searcher UAV squadron; INAS 342 has been operational since 2006. Flight International | India Defence | MarineBuzz.

Aug 2/09: Reports that the deal has been approved:

“The Indian Army is going in for two more “troops” (six to eight birds each) of advanced Heron UAVs from Israel for Rs 1,118 crore [DID: then about $230 million], after getting the nod from the Defence Acquisitions Council headed by defence minister A. K. Antony.”

Times of India | SatNews.

India: 12-16 Herons

Hunter

Nov 4/05: Reports of the sale. In analyzing the Heron sale, Stratfor notes that:

“The purchase will allow India to better protect its long borders and to pave the way for the planned 2007 acquisition of Israeli Phalcon radar — all while seeking to convince Pakistan that the security balance between the two countries will not shift further in New Delhi’s favor. Pakistan, however, is unlikely to be placated, and will endeavor to counter the Indian acquisition… Despite the negative resonance this deal will have in Islamabad, the Herons will strengthen New Delhi’s ability to deny access to jihadists crossing into India from Pakistan by enhancing India’s border surveillance capabilities.”

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Daily Times newspaper has sources who claim that the Indian Army is also making inquiries about the Hunter UAV, a smaller IAI aircraft that is also in service with the US Army. RQ-5A Hunter UAVs have logged substantial flight time in Iraq, and demonstrated their ability to drop small precision munitions like the Viper Strike. Pakistan’s Daily Times | India Defence | Stratfor

Additional Readings:

• IAI – Heron Family. Range for the Heron-1 is given as 350 km, but since the drone flies at well over 100 km/h, and can stay up for far, far more than just 3.5 hours, that makes no sense. A 24 hour flight at 125 km/h is 3,000 km, the figure used in this article.

• Defense Update – Heron TP (Eitan)

• IAI – Searcher Mk.III

News & Views

• DID – Canada, Australia Contract for Heron UAVs

• DID – France’s Harfang/ SIDM IUAV Program. Based on Heron-TP.

• DID – Germany Leases IAI’s Herons for Afghanistan

• DID – Israeli Manufacturers’ Turkish UAV Contract. Herons. Ran into trouble due to Turkish subcontractors, leading to delays that were covered by rent-a-UAV services from a 3rd Israeli firm, Aeronautics DS.

• India Strategic (November 2013) – Unmanned Aerial Systems: The Game Changer

• India Strategic (February 2012) – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Indian Perspective

• DID (Sept 13/05) – Israel Places $50M Order for Heron MALE UAVs.