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Meggitt issued its earnings filing for the first half of the company's fiscal year 2016 on 2 August, with revenue up 11% but statutory operating profit down 51% compared with the same period in 2015. The company had revenue of GBP912 million (USD1.2 billion) for the first half of 2016, up from

Americas

• An MV-22B Osprey has successfully flown with critical components fabricated by 3-D printing. The work was undertaken by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) which involved the creation of a titanium link and fitting assembly for the engine nacelle of the aircraft. This link and fitting assembly is one of four that secure a V-22’s engine nacelle to the primary wing structure. NAVAIR intends to further expand the usage of 3-D printed components, fabricating six additional parts for the V-22, H-1 and CH-53K.

• While it doesn’t seem so at first, an emerging problem for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is that it is almost too stealthy. Pilots flying the aircraft have discovered that they are unable to participate in certain training exercises such as evading surface-to-air threats. The inability on the ground to track the fighters had to be rectified by crews flipping on their transponders in order to be followed.

Middle East North Africa

• Israel has wheeled out its indigenous Eitan armored personnel carrier (APC) demonstrator. Weighing in at 35 tons, the 8×8 APC will cost nearly half that of new Merkava Mk4-based Namer heavy carriers now in production. Field trials will now commence to assess Eitan’s performance in “varied and complex” conditions and the Ministry of Defense hopes to have it in service within the next five years.

Europe

• A missile explosion at a military installation in northern Ukraine has killed three people, including a NATO representative. The incident occurred last Thursday while a missile was being unloaded from a vehicle. According to local media, the NATO representative was there to oversee the disarmament of Soviet-era weapons.

• Delivery of a South Korean made fleet tanker for the British Royal Navy has now been delayed by seven months. Initially due to enter service in September, the vessel is still undergoing trials with manufacturer Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). A total of four tankers are to be eventually delivered as part of the service’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) program.

Asia Pacific

• South Korea’s Hanwha Techwin is to buy out the Thales SA stake in their joint venture, Hanwha Thales, for $257 million. While the deal has yet to be approved by the South Korean government, the sale would result in Hanwha owning Hanwha Thales outright and integrated into the company. The integration will add expertise in command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems to Hanwha Techwin, who primarily deal with land systems.

• AM General has been awarded a $356 million contract to provide Humvees to Afghanistan. The deal will see 1,259 M1151 armament-carrying Humvees and 414 M1152 troop carriers delivered, and is part of an earlier released foreign military sales contract which includes deliveries to Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Tunisia. Features found in the models include armor protection, including frag kits, all of of which can be installed and removed in the field.

• BAE and Rheinmetall have both been shortlisted by the Australian government to participate in the second phase of their LAND 400 program. The vehicles offered, AMV35 (BAE) and the Boxer 8×8 (RM), will now be assessed on their mounted combat reconnaissance capabilities. Once selected, the winning company will provide replacements for the Australian light armored vehicle and M113 armored personnel carrier fleets.

Today’s Video

Eitan 8×8 APC:

Russian Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigate

RFA Bayleaf, 1982-2011
(click to view full)

Britain’s Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) program was begun in 2002, and aimed to buy up to 11 supply ships for the Royal Navy’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Unfortunately, all the project could produce was studies, MoD planning delays, and slow progress. In 2007, MARS was broken up into a series of smaller buys, with an initial focus on the critical state of the RFA’s fuel carriers. Even that effort ran into delays, but the last 3 years have seen Britain’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary retire 3 of its 4 Leaf Class replenishment oilers. Another 3 of its remaining 5 oilers were commissioned in 1984 or earlier, and their single-hull design no longer complies with MARPOL regulations for fuel-carrying ships.

Replacements are urgently needed, in order to keep the Royal Navy supplied around the world. In February 2012, Britain finally placed a MARS order for 4 oilers, which will measure over 200m long and around 37,000t apiece. It has been expected for some time that these ships would be built outside of Britain, and that has held true.

Contracts & Key Events

MARS is intended to involve more than 1 block buy. The initial buy involves the 4 Tide Class 37,000t MARS tankers, which will begin entering service in 2016. There are also plans for 3 MARS Fleet Solid Stores ships over the next 10 years, to replace the RFA’s two 23,384t Fort Rosalie Class ships, and the 33,675t RFA Fort Victoria.

2012

MARS Tanker
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August 2/16: Delivery of a South Korean made fleet tanker for the British Royal Navy has now been delayed by seven months. Initially due to enter service in September, the vessel is still undergoing trials with manufacturer Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). A total of four tankers are to be eventually delivered as part of the service’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) program.

Nov 14/12: Named. The MARS tankers will become the Tide Class, restoring a class that had left the fleet. The new ships will be named Tidespring, Tiderace, Tidesurge, after previous ships; and Tideforce, which is a new name for the RFA. RFA, Commodore Bill Walworth confirms that the ships are on contract, with RFA Tidespring scheduled to enter service in 2016.

The original Tide Class fleet tankers were developed using the lessons of the World War II Pacific Campaign, and were the Royal Fleet Auxillary’s 1st purpose-designed replenishment tankers. They served worldwide from 1954 until 1991. UK MoD.

Class & ships named

Sept 14/12: Sub-contractors. Kelvin Hughes Surveillance in London, UK announces that they’ve been picked to supply the 4 MARS tankers’ integrated bridge systems (IBS) and helicopter control radars.

Each shipset will consist of 3 solid state SharpEye radars, accessed and controlled via multiple console mounted Naval MantaDigital tactical displays. The system will also include a suite of navigation sensors, a command and control system, and the helicopter control radar system. All of these elements will be integrated in the IBS.

Feb 27/12: Controversy. The choice of Daewoo as the MARS ships’ builder draws expected criticism, but it also draws a report that there was, in fact, a British bid for MARS. The Daily Mail reports that Fincantieri was partnered with BAE Shipbuilding, and would have built 1 of the 4 tankers in the UK, with 35% of the overall work taking place in Britain. This compares to just 20% for Daewoo, and no ships built in Britian. On the other hand, the Daily Mail’s report cites sources who say that Fincantieri’s bid was about GBP 675 million, compared to announced total of GBP 542 million for Daewoo + BMT.

The very existence of a bid that would have built a ship in Britain contradicts some key MoD statements, which make the story significant enough that British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and Equipment Minister Peter Luff are forced to respond. Luff says that the Fincantieri bid “did not meet some fundamental requirements,” adding that even BAE has said that they don’t know the exact cost of building such a ship in the UK. Hammond doesn’t deny the partnership, and lays out an alternate defense. Based on the leaked letter cited by the Daily Mail, Hammond’s 1st statement is very problematic, but the rest is straightforward:

“No British firm put in a bid and the Italian company never indicated during the two-year bid process that they would build any of the tankers in the UK.

When we are building complex warships or highly sophisticated weapons, of course we must protect Britain’s industrial base. But when it comes to non-military type equipment, I am clear that my responsibility is to get the best deal for the UK taxpayer and plough the savings back into the front line.

In this case, the choice we were faced with was to buy South Korean and save hundreds of millions of pounds for the taxpayer, or let the work to an Italian shipyard.”

Daily Mail | UK MoD

Feb 22/12: Britain’s Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, announces that South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) is the Government’s preferred bidder for a deal to build 4 new double-hulled oilers, using BMT’s Aegir family design. The 37,000t ships will be just 200.9m long, and 28.6m wide, with a draught of 10m. Onboard tanks will handle Diesel Oil, Aviation Fuel and Fresh Water, with Lube oil stored in drums, and stowage for up to 8 ISO 20′ containers. A set of 3 abeam Replenishment And Supply stations will be coupled with a hangar and flight deck for a medium helicopter, allowing simultaneous fuel and supplies transfers. The ships will be designed to add a stern fuel delivery reel in future, but won’t be built with one.

The Daewoo contract is GBP 452 million (about $711 million), but the overall buy will be around GBP 602 million (about $950 million). That adds around GBP 60 million to British firms for “customisation, trials and specialist engineering support”; and GBP 90 million to the UK’s BMT Defence Services for “key equipment, systems, design and support services.” The UK MoD explains that:

“A number of British companies took part in the competition, but none submitted a final bid for the build contract. In light of this, the best option for Defence, and value for money for taxpayers, is for the tankers to be constructed in South Korea by DSME.”

South Korea’s industrial policy makes shipbuilding a priority, and it has been successful. ROK shipbuilders are currently global leaders in the civil sector, with extremely advanced shipyards. This has translated into a very good record with new ROK Navy vessels as well. UK MoD | BMT Defence.

MARS contract

Additional Readings

• UK MoD – MARS Tankers

• BMT Defence – Aegir. See also the more specific MARS Tanker, a derivative of the Aegir-26 design.

• Beedall Navy Matters – Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS). Note: current only to 2008.

M113A1 & M1A1s, 1AR
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The M113A1 family of vehicles was introduced into service in Australia in the mid 1960s, and arrived in time to see service in Vietnam. Additional vehicle variants were added until 1979, and there are 766 M113A1 vehicles currently in the Australian Army fleet. By February 2005, however, only 520 remained in service.

A number of upgrades have been suggested for Australia’s APCs(Armoured Personnel Carrier) over the years, with a number of different reviews and upgrade proposals submitted. Many of Australia’s M113s remained in the old M113A1 configuration, though some had at least been repaired and overhauled at 25,000 km. Bushmaster wheeled mine-resistant vehicles have replaced some M113s in the ADF, but the M113’s lightweight, tracked, off-road mobility remains important to Australian mechanized formations, and to troops deployed in combat zones. A plan approved in the 1990s involved a “minimum upgrade” of 537 vehicles from 1996-1998, at a cost of about A$ 40 million in 1993 dollars, with a major upgrade to follow. That major upgrade did follow – along with schedule slips, and cost increases from around A$ 594 million to nearly A$ 1 billion.

New-Old Vehicles: The M113-AS4s M113AS4 APC
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There are 7 variants of the upgraded M113AS family being produced under LAND 106. Enhancements are being made to a variety of areas.

Protection: Add-on external armor kits to protect against weapons up to 14.5mm; internal spall liners; hull reinforcement to improve mine protection; fuel tanks moved from inside to outside. The change in configuration also allowed the introduction of stealth characteristics into the design by decreasing the overall turret profile, and reducing the vehicle’s radar cross-section and infra-red signature.

Firepower: A new Australian designed and built electrical turret, with improvements designed to lessen the battering its occupant takes. It will host a new .50 caliber weapon that sports a quick change barrel and day/night sights.

M113AS: new controls
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Mobility: Replacement of the engine, transmission, drive train and driver’s controls. To maximize the benefits of this new driveline, the suspension, track and road wheels are also being replaced.

Internal: Compartment improvements like heat mitigation measures and better stowage of equipment externally where it isn’t so much in the way. New electrical and fuel systems; a land navigation system that combines GPS and INS.

The exact designations refer to the upgraded vehicles’ general characteristics. M113-AS3 variants have 5 road wheel stations per side, and a Recommended Gross Vehicle Mass of 15,000 kg/ 33,069 pounds. AS4 variants are stretched by 666 mm/ 26.2″, with 6 road wheel stations per side, and an RGVM of 18,000 kg/ 39,683 pounds. Variants include:

• Armoured Personnel Carrier (M113-AS4 APC). Most common variant.
  
• Armoured Fitters (M113-AS4 AF). Includes a new Hiab crane with a significantly enhanced 2.4-tonne lift at 4 meters. 38 planned of 350.
  
• Armoured Recovery Vehicle Light (M806-AS4 ARVL). Includes a Sepson winch capable of a 13-tonne single line pull. 12 planned of 350.
  
• Armoured Ambulance (M113-AS4 AA)
  
• Armoured Command Vehicle (M113-AS4 ACV)
  
• Armoured Logistic Vehicle (M113-AS4 ALV)
  
• Armoured Mortar (M125-AS3 AM)

The final vehicles will be transportable in the RAAF’s C-17A heavy-lift aircraft (4 per plane, vs. 3 for larger armored vehicles), though that hasn’t been certified as of March 2012. One M113AS4 may be transportable in an Australian C-130J tactical transport aircraft if enough equipment is removed, but it hasn’t been certified, even though the initial test took place 6 years ago in March 2006. ANAO is correct to cite that gap as possible evidence of a problem.

On land, the upgraded M113s will have to wait for the arrival of its LAND 121 (“Overlander”) Phase 3 heavy trucks to transport them, and the ADF will need to lease commercial vehicles until then.

Australia’s LAND 106 The Program

A plan approved in the late 1990s involved a “minimum upgrade” of 537 vehicles from 1996-1998, at a cost of about A$ 40 million in 1993 dollars, with a major upgrade to follow. That initial plan was derailed mid-stream by an unsolicited contractor proposal to combine the 2 phases. The end result was Australia’s LAND 106 project, which aimed to perform major upgrades to a smaller set of 350 M113 APCs. That program suffered from problems in its early stages, delaying any fielded modernization until 2007.

The operational effect of that switch has been to delay fleet upgrades by about a decade. Final delivery is now expected to take place at the end of 2012.

M113AS4 FV
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The LAND 106 M113 Upgrade was scheduled to be completed in 3 stages, and delivery of the first company group of upgraded M113s was scheduled for 2006.

Stage 1: Development and preliminary testing of 2 Demonstration vehicles. Completed in 2004.

Stage 2: Design, construction and testing of the first 14 of the Initial Production Vehicles (IPV). This stage encountered a number of technical difficulties, resulting in an extensive Test and Evaluation Phase. Delivery of the initial 16 Phase 1 & 2 vehicles (14 APCs, 1 AF and 1 ARVL) to the 1st Brigade in Darwin was completed in December 2007.

Design development of the remaining 4 vehicle variants will continue through to the end of 2009.

Stage 3: Design, construction and testing of the remaining IPVs, and the delivery of 336 production standard vehicles. Began with successful completion of the Production Readiness Review for the base M113 APC variant in November 2007.

When Tenix’s land systems business was acquired by BAE Systems, it was easy for the vehicle’s original manufacturer (United Defense, now the largest part of BAE Land Systems) to assume leadership of the project via its new subsidiary. Tenix had chosen Germany’s FFG as the major technology partner for the program. Other key subcontractors and suppliers include Thales Optronics, Moog GmbH, SKF Australia, Bisalloy and a number of Australian SMEs including Imag Australia Pty. Limited.

The ANAO’s 2012 Report

Australia’s independent audit department, the ANAO, has issued a number of reports covering the LAND 106 program, with the program nearing its end, the 2012 audit offers a solid retrospective of the program, its progress, and the lessons learned from its problems. The core of its conclusions:

“Deficiencies in the [2002] Major Upgrade Contract meant that technical problems with the vehicles’ design and production could not be effectively managed under its provisions. Contrary to the advice tendered to government when the major upgrade was initially approved, critical milestones were not effectively incorporated into the contract, which also failed to properly specify vehicle payloads, prioritise vehicle technical specifications in order of necessity and desirability, or establish clear terms for liquidated damages.”

The project subsequently failed to perform, but the government found that it was in a poor position to collect damages, and so ended up renegotiating the contract in 2 global settlements, in an attempt to fix the contract’s original problems. What the November 2007 and August 2011 settlements could not fix, was the time, effort, and money wasted as a result of those omissions.

Defence considers that the Prime Contractor is currently on course to deliver all 431 vehicles by October 2012, after the delivery date has been revised several times.

According to the ANAO, a range of factors hurt project schedule performance, including:

• Delays in the preparation and stretching of M113 hulls under the CSP Contract, which are needed to feed into the major upgrade production line.
  
• Missing/broken lifting eyes on existing M113, which caused delays in moving hulls through the CSP process).
  
• Poor quality, with more vehicles than expected needing rework after quality inspections. That was an especial problem, because the production facilities at Bandiana had limited room for rework.
  
• The ANAO refers to “facility failures at the Defence-owned facilities in Bandiana.”
  
• Hull de-lamination, resulting in additional preparation work, and laminar cracking, which resulted in hulls being set aside until a suitable repair technique could be developed.
  
• Delays in the technical development of the ALV [cargo variant] and AM [mortar variant]; and
  
• Shortages of VIC 3 vehicle communication harnesses, supplied by Defence as government furnished equipment, and required to finish the vehicle.

M113AS4s, Exercise
Chong Ju 2009
(click to view full)

According the ANAO, the full cost of the M113 upgrades is close to A$ 1 billion for 431 vehicles. A$ 2.32 million per vehicle isn’t small change, though in fairness, it is half or less of the cost of a new, modern tracked IFV like BAE’s M2 Bradley, or its CV90. Australia’s Chief of Army responded to the ANAO by saying that:

“…as the Capability Manager … I am satisfied that the [upgraded M113] provides a significantly enhanced capability to Army and that it is a potent and capable platform. I am also satisfied that the delivery of [the upgrade project] satisfies the original requirement specified by the Capability Manager.”

The question ANAO asks is whether the project’s long delays, and 20-year run, have left those requirements behind. The M113AS4 is much less capable than modern IFVs. It has weaker armor protection, less formidable weaponry, and remains stuck with old communication gear. That last issue will be a problem going forward. ANAO:

“The M113 relies on the VIC 3 model communications harness as its main electronic communication system. There are currently a limited number of these harnesses available, and priority… is given to the ASLAV vehicles, currently deployed to Afghanistan… Army aims to rectify this shortage by December 2012 through fitting the Bushmaster fleet… with updated SOTAS communications systems, which will make an increased number of VIC 3 harnesses available… [Even so,] the electronic systems fitted to the upgraded vehicles do not permit optimal communication and data transfer with heavy tanks and the other force elements, such as artillery and aircraft, with which they are intended to operate… Army originally expected to address the current communications limitations of the M113 by fitting to these vehicles the systems to be developed under projects LAND 75 and LAND 125.64 However, in the context of the 2012-13 Federal Budget, the relevant phases… will not now proceed.”

An even more alarming problem involves the M113s’ reliability. ANAO:

“Maintenance records classify the vehicles as ‘Fully Functional’; ‘Restricted Use’; or ‘Unserviceable’. Over the three years to December 2010, the proportion of vehicles at the School of Armour classified as ‘Fully Functional’ decreased from an average of 62 per cent in 2008 to 38 per cent in 2010. Since 2010, this has not improved: Defence advised that as at 19 March 2012 the proportion of vehicles classed as ‘Fully Functional’ was 39 per cent across Army. The main factors affecting vehicle availability have been a lack of supplies (spare parts) and mechanical failures.”

That reliability level would become a serious problem if the upgraded M113s had to be deployed. It also affects the math of a comparison with more expensive IFVs. Assume that buying a new IFV would be 225% of the final upgrade cost, that the budget to buy them remains the same, and that we use reliability benchmarks met by those modern IFVs:

• 431 M113-AS4s x 39% fully functional = 168 available IFVs.

• 192 modern IFVs x 70% fully functional = 134 available IFVs

At similar availability rates, Australia’s DoD would have a strong argument for its choice. Given the actual number of available machines, however, a good counter-argument can be made that it would have been better to own 134 IFVs that are much more capable. What is certain, is that neglecting this key performance parameter seems to have cost Australia hard.

Contracts and Key Events M113AS4 FV and ARVL
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August 2/16: BAE and Rheinmetall have both been shortlisted by the Australian government to participate in the second phase of their LAND 400 program. The vehicles offered, AMV35 (BAE) and the Boxer 8×8 (RM), will now be assessed on their mounted combat reconnaissance capabilities. Once selected, the winning company will provide replacements for the Australian light armored vehicle and M113 armored personnel carrier fleets.

November 17/15: The Australian Department of Defense have issued a request for information for 450 tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) as part of the Australian Defence Force’s largest ever land systems acquisition program. Project LAND 400, which is now in its third phase, has been a major overhaul of existing aging equipment of the ADF and in total will cost approximately USD $7.1 billion. Phase Three will aim to replace the existing M113AS4 and it is hoped that these will be replaced by 2025 and the M113AS4 LOT by 2030, but the Australian DoD find the machinery decaying given current and emerging threats.

May 24/12: The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) issues “Upgrade of the M113 Fleet of Armoured Vehicles.”

Specific conclusions are covered in the previous section, but its overall tone is that many of the program’s problems and cost increases were avoidable. They also point out that the final product is an APC that’s under the capability standard of modern alternatives, despite its costs. This is true, and was known in advance. Australia accepted that trade, in exchange for what it saw as a lower-cost option, with better transportability. Limited communications compatibility with its companion M1 tanks, and the withdrawal of the M113s from plans for Australia’s new battlefield management C4I systems, is a more serious issue. Most serious of all is the fact that availability rates for the upgraded M113s remain abysmal – under 40%! That will impact training, and unless it’s corrected, it will become a serious problem if the armored vehicles ever get deployed.

Meanwhile, BAE has qualified for the first 3 incentive payments under the August 2011 re-negotiation, and looks to be on target to deliver all M113s by the end of October 2012.

May 10/12: Australia’s budget features a series of reductions. From the Chief of Army’s Budget Message:

“M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carriers. One hundred M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carriers will be placed into temporary storage [along with 15 M1A1 Abrams tanks]. The APCs will be placed into temporary storage in a condition where they can be rapidly returned to service when Army’s fiscal situation improves. Army will need to develop an equipment and training methodology to ensure an adequate number of crews are maintained to meet contingency requirements.”

Lt. Gen. D.L. Morrison later pens a letter to the editor of The West Australian, reiterating his confidence in the M113AS4, and citing the current measures as “informed solely by a need to reduce operating costs in order to focus key resources to operational priorities and linked training support.”

August 2011: 2nd global settlement. Dissatisfaction with BAE’s performance led Australia’s DoD to begun reviewing its legal contractual options in June 2010, but it eventually decided that it was on softer ground than it thought, and decided to negotiate a solution instead. The new agreement involves a number of concessions from Defence, and according to the ANAO, key provisions included:

• BAE withdraws A$ 5 million in postponement claims.
  
• Australia’s DoD won’t exercise contractual rights to liquidated damages of approximately A$ 1 million for late delivery.
  
• Final delivery date for all vehicles moves from April 2012 to Dec 9/12.
  
• Incentive payments totaling A$ 2.8 million are available to BAE if certain production targets are met between August 2011 – October 2012, including delivery of the last vehicle by the end of October. Defence says this was done to avoid having BAE close some of its facilities early, and set LAND 106’s schedule back even further.

Oct 7/10: BAE Systems Land and Armaments LP’s US Combat Systems business announces a $14 million contract to provide T150F double-pin track link assemblies and sprockets, for Australia’s M113 upgrades.

Work on the track shoes will take place at the BAE Systems’ Anniston, AL facility by the existing workforce, and is expected to be complete in July 2011. The contract was awarded by Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation office based in Washington, DC.

M113AS4 night test
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March 27/09: The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) issues “Management of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier Upgrade Project.” The 2009 ANAO report praises progress in a number of problem areas that were highlighted in the 2005 report. The 2007 renegotiation and restructuring has helped the program make significant progress in key areas, from management, to technical development. Having said that:

“The M113 Major Upgrade Project commenced in July 2002 and has suffered a series of delays. Army has so far received 42 of the 350 vehicles to be upgraded [which is behind schedule]… In July 2008, the Prime Contractor informed Defence that the existing production facilities at Bandiana, Victoria, were not adequate to the task and, at December 2008, there was a potential shortfall of around 100 upgraded vehicles by December 2010.

The backlog is caused chiefly by delays in extending the hulls. This is proving to be more complex than anticipated, and is taking longer than expected… would not be able to deliver 350 upgraded vehicles by December 2010. Defence is currently negotiating arrangements with the Prime Contractor…”

Oct 28/08: Australia’s Labor Party government announces an A$ 220 million (currently about $143 million) addition to LAND 106. BAE will upgrade another 81 M113s to equip Darwin’s 5 RAR mechanized infantry and the recently established 7 RAR, raising the total to 431 vehicles.

BAE Systems’ production line at Bandiana in northern Victoria will now remain open until July 2011, and additional facilities will be opened in Williamstown, Victoria and Wingfield, South Australia to ensure that delivery commitments are met.

May 22/08: The LAND 106 project is reported to be back on track. Frontier India:

“The M113 project experienced some well-known technical problems in the development phase, and it was feared these problems would impact on the cost and schedule of the project,” the announcement said. The serious technical risks faced by the project have now been resolved, the schedule pressures have been reduced, and the project does not face cost pressures said the release.”

Nov 15/07: The first 4 M113AS4s built by Tenix Aerospace and Defence are accepted into service with the Australian Army’s 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Mechanised Infantry), during a ceremony in Darwin. Australian DoD | Space Daily.

M113A1, last exercise
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June 11/06: Australia’s DMO contracts with Honeywell Germany to supply the new TALIN 500 Inertial Navigation Unit for the M113 vehicles at a cost of A$ 11 million.

Acquired under Project JP5408, the TALIN 500 is the central component of the new navigation system for the M113s, integrating a global positioning system (GPS) with the inertial navigation functions as a backup if GPS isn’t available. The new system will provide full navigation capability to both the commander and driver of the M113. DMO believes the system has export potential. DoD release | DMO On Target article.

July 28/05: The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report criticizes Australia’s management of its M113 upgrade program, beginning with the 3-year delay between project approval in June 1999 and the July 2002 contract and continuing to the present day. The report add that the November 2006 goal for introduction into service is unlikely to be achievable. ANAO report | Jane’s

July 15/02: Australia’s Liberal Party government announces an A$ 400 million (then about $223.5 million) contract with Tenix Defence Land Division to upgrade 350 M113 tracked armored fighting vehicles to M113-AS4 configuration. Imag Australia Ltd. Pty release.

June 2002: The M113 Major Upgrade Project is approved at a cost of A$ 552 million (ANAO figure).

Additional Readings and Sources

• Australian DMO – LAND 106 – M113 Upgrade Project

• Australia DMO – Large-Scale Projects: Upgrade of M-113 Armoured Vehicles LAND 106

• ANAO (May 24/12) – Upgrade of the M113 Fleet of Armoured Vehicles

• ANAO (March 27/09) – Management of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier Upgrade Project

• ANAO (July 28/05) – Management of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier Upgrade Project

• Digger History – “The Tracks”: A Digger’s Best Heavy Metal. Includes history of the M113 in Australian service.

• Australian DoD, Team Australia – Mackay Defence Technologies: armoured vehicles – vibration and noise isolation (APC floor mats)

• Jane’s – BAE Systems Australia one-man turret for M113 APC upgrades (Australia), AFV turrets and cupola

• Army: The Soldiers Newspaper (#1169, June 28/07) – Now that’s better. Discusses firing trials of the new electric turret.

• Army: The Soldiers Newspaper (Ed. 1151, July 27/06) – A fitting display. Discusses the M113-AS4 FV and ARVL.

• Army: The Soldiers Newspaper (#1135) – New M113 on track

Malgré son interdiction, la sous-location des logements sociaux tend à se banaliser d’un été à l’autre, et a fini par gagner les villages les plus reculés de la wilaya pour devenir un créneau juteux et illicite pour leurs bénéficiaires qui exigent aux estivants une somme de 7000 à 9000 dinars pour une seule nuitée ! Une aubaine dorée à ne point rater.

Voilà plus d’une dizaine d’années que la Perle de la Méditerranée  est devenue une destination touristique des plus prisées par des milliers de vacanciers venus des quatre coins du pays et de l’étranger, et plus particulièrement  des villes du sud  et de la France . Ce flux important d’estivants, dont le nombre a dépassé les 10 millions de personnes au cours de la dernière saison estivale, a fini par engendrer une forme demande de lieux d’accueil, et a poussé certains particuliers à en faire de la sous location de logements. Les capacités d’accueil en matière d’hôtellerie ne paraissent point suffire pour satisfaire les besoins exprimés, le recours à la sous-location est devenu inévitable pour certains estivants disposant de moyens financiers assez conséquents. Cette aubaine, se présentant d’un été à l’autre, a été saisie au vol par certains citoyens résidants au sein des communes côtières et au sein des cités urbaines de la ville, elle tend à se généraliser pour l’ensemble des lieux de la wilaya.

Le phénomène de la sous location parait avoir atteint les douars les plus reculés où les logements ruraux ont été loués. Les estivants venus de Mascara, Relizane, Chlef, Tiaret, de Tissemsilt, de Saida, de Bechar, d’Ouargla occupent déjà des logements sociaux, des logements ruraux, situés au sein des communes de Stidia, d’Ouréah, à la cité de Kharouba, des communes de Benabdelmalek Ramdane, Khadra, Sidi Lakhdar et Ouled Boughalem. Quant aux prix de la sous-location, ils varient selon l’état du logement, du nombre de pièces et de la distance le séparant de l’accès à la plage. Malgré l’interdiction de recourir à  de telles pratiques,  ces transactions immobilières et spéculatives ne semblent gêner personne, et demeurent un créneau  illicite et juteux  pour  les propriétaires de logements sociaux ou ruraux, dont certains se replient  à la campagne  chez les parents  en cédant le toit aux estivants contre de fortes sommes pour le loyer , dépassant largement  les  7000 à 9000 dinars la nuitée !

A charity that has been paid millions by the UK government for its work in Africa is under the control of a cult-like organisation, an investigation reveals.

Pályázati tanácsadó irodáinkba felsőfokú végzettségű pályázati referenseket keresünk budapesti és zalacsányi munkavégzési helyszínekre.

Pályázati tapasztalat és gyakorlat nem feltétel, de előny!  Azonnali belépési lehetőséget, intenzív képzést és 8 órás, teljes munkaidős munkaviszonyt ajánlunk.

German Navy research institute, WehrTechnische Dienststelle, WTD 71, has taken delivery of the FOCUS 2 ROTV system from MacArtney.

The UK Royal Navy is set to receive a newly upgraded next-generation anti-submarine maritime patrol helicopter, Merlin Mk2, as part of the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP).

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has officially christened the new mine warfare team at the HMAS Waterhen shore installation in Sydney.

Inspector Mk2 mine countermeasures unmanned surface vehicle (USV) variant is based on a multi-purpose drone platform produced by ECA Group.

Le Grand super Aquarium de Beni Saf unique en son genre dans le pays, est situé à la limite du quartier de la plage du puits de Beni Saf sous une gigantesque falaise constituée de gré dur, qui l’abrite et dont son entrée fait face au quartier, alors que l’autre face de l’ aquarium baignait dans la mer bleue de la méditerranée.

Cet aquarium a ouvert ses portes en 1958, c’est un patrimoine culturel et scientifique qui appartenait hier à la commune de Beni Saf. Aujourd’hui , il se contrebalance de décret en décret entre le ministère de l’enseignement et celui de la pèche sans que ni l’un ni l’autre ne s’est intéressé par cœur ou amour, par sauvegarde ou réglementation, par consistance ou bonne gestion de ce patrimoine ou parc aquatique unique en Algérie, sachant que cet ouvrage recèle une part d’humanité, de vérité, de beauté ‘d’utilité et de savoir.

Le transfert domanial du ministère de l’enseignement supérieur duquel il relevait vers le ministère de la pêche, un ministère sous tutelle duquel il avait été auparavant. Et c’est précisément ces changements incessants d’affectations suivis d’une gestion bureaucratique centralisée à partir de la capitale qui sont la cause de sa déchéance et encore pire de son humiliation. Ainsi, au fil du temps, il n’est plus devenu cette destination tant souhaitée qu’il devrait être par les chercheurs, les étudiants, les touristes visiteurs et les écoliers.

Il représente la fierté du terroir de Beni Saf et même plus de l’Algérie. Pendant la période des années19 70( nostalgie quand tu nous tiens) ce parc aquatique avait avec un total de 1 000 m2 dont 24 aquariums en forme de bassins sélectifs de 1m3, ne peuvent tenir du moins la comparaison avec les grands aquariums dits cosmopolites qu’on voit ailleurs. De ces bassins Benisafiens on peut y observer des centaines d’animaux du monde marin d’une centaine d’espèces différentes. En moyenne, des milliers de personnes, enfants, écoliers, excursionnistes, visiteurs, touristes visitaient à longueur d’années ce fabuleux aquarium, ce qui en fait le premier équipement touristique communal le plus visité ; l’aquarium n’était pas prêt de devenir ce musée où l’on pourrait venir musarder. De la terrasse du centre, une terrasse à la forme d’un pont de navire, les visiteurs seraient également nombreux à venir admirer l’imprenable vue qu’il a sur le quartier et sur Béni Saf « by day » ou «by night ».Sa très belle architecture plongée dans de l’eau de mer entre deux rochers baptisés le « crapaud » et la « grenouille » que les enfants du quartier de la plage se font voir pour l’initiation , pour se distinguer et pour la spécialisation de petits beaux plongeons . L’aquarium a les pieds dans l’eau et la tête dans le ciel avec sa formidable tour qui lui donne une image de beauté que seul les artistes peuvent lui fournir un sens poétique et dont l’ histoire retiendra à tout jamais.

Le quartier avec son empreinte touristique et balnéaire à l’extrémité Est du quartier se trouve la grande et fabuleuse école de Mousses, d’éducation, d’apprentissage et de savoir pour mieux mettre sur le marché du travail les meilleurs pécheurs et même navigateurs. L’autre extrémité Ouest du quartier se positionne l’aquarium. Beni Saf est une ville marquée par son cachet touristique, économique, scientifique, culturel et sportive, en plus de la beauté de la ville. Son côté économique représente une ressource de croissance et de bien être pour ce qui s’intéresse aux âmes charitables de notre jeunesse, la production de l’alevin est un des créneaux porteur d’emplois de valeurs et de valeur ajoutée pour ceux qui savent cultiver la petite idée de façon à ce que demain la joie et la gaieté embaument les cœurs de ceux qui attendent un revenu.

La richesse est à notre portée, l’artisanat et la création de bien qui se rapporte à ce site peut entrainer des effets d’entrainement de valeur utile pour nous pour toi et pour tout le monde. La plupart du temps, les hommes de cultures manquent d’argent pour bien faire alors ceux qui possèdent de l’argent manquent de culture pour mal faire : telle est la question ?

Donnant suite aux orientations énoncées par le président Bouteflika, qualifiant «d’irresponsable » le retour des bidonvilles et de non-respect des normes d’urbanisme, le ministre de l’Habitat, a fait part de sa décision de déclarer la guerre à « l’anarchie urbaine ».

En visite sur plusieurs chantiers de construction de logement, M. Abdelmadjid Tebboune a affirmé que les instructions du chef de l’Etat seront appliquées à la lettre. Repris par la chaine 3 de la Radio Algérienne et s’en prenant au phénomène d’amplification du « barreaudage » sur nombre de constructions, leur donnant l’apparence de « prisons » il a estimé qu’il fallait mettre un terme à ce « carnaval ». Si un citoyen résidant au niveau des seuls rez-de-chaussée et du 1er étage souhaite réaliser ce type d’ouvrages, pour protéger son logement, il devra le faire d’après un modèle préétabli, « sinon il sera arraché », a-t-il menacé. Il a souligné qu’en dehors de leur aspect inesthétique, ces ajouts mettent en danger les occupants de logements, dont il considère salutaire d’en libérer le plus grand nombre d’ouvertures, afin qu’il puisse être possible d’échapper à toute menace telle, par exemple, celle représentée par un incendie. Par ailleurs, le département de Abdelmadjid Tebboune vient d’adresser un ultimatum aux propriétaires de constructions non finies en les invitant à déposer les dossiers de régularisation avant l’échéance réglementaire. Celles-ci tirent à leur fin puisqu’il ne reste que sept jours avant le jour J. Le ministère de tutelle vient de recenser un demi-million d’Algériens qui ont déposé un dossier de régularisation afin de bénéficier du droit de propriété foncière. Toute construction érigée sur une terre agricole ou tout autre terrain limitrophe d’espaces sensibles sera systématiquement exposée à la destruction et verra les sanctions prévoyant l’emprisonnement dans certains cas. Le ministre de l’Habitat, de l’Urbanisme et de la Ville, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, a aussi affirmé que les délais de réception des dossiers d’achèvement des constructions non conformes dans le cadre de l’application de la loi 08/15, fixés à la fin août en cours, ne seront pas prolongés.

The United Nations in South Sudan today condemned unequivocally reports of widespread sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, of women and young girls, by soldiers and unidentified armed men, stressing that such acts constitute grave violations of international human rights law and may be regarded as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Au Royaume-Uni, la Chambre des Lords menace de ralentir le déclenchement de l'article 50 du traité de Lisbonne. Son application permet d'entamer un processus de deux ans qui aboutira à la sortie d'un membre de l'Union européenne.

Au Burkina Faso, afin de combler le besoin de financement du budget et « améliorer le niveau des ressources propres » de l'Etat, les députés viennent de voter de nouvelles taxes. A compter du 1er septembre 2016, les populations devront se familiariser avec ces mesures. Ces nouvelles taxes concernent notamment une retenue à la source sur les gains obtenus par les parieurs et ceux provenant des autres jeux de hasard.

Dans le Grand Nord russe sévit la maladie du charbon, autrement connue sous le nom d’anthrax, qui a déjà fait un mort tandis que des dizaines de personnes sont hospitalisées. La population a été placée en quarantaine et les troupeaux de rennes se retrouvent décimés. Dans cette région, le dernier cas d’infection aiguë qui touche aussi bien l'animal que l'homme avait été recensé il y a 75 ans. Les autorités sanitaires russes pointent du doigt le réchauffement climatique.

Résurgence de l’épidémie de choléra et insécurité alimentaire, la population civile au Soudan du Sud paie un lourd tribut après les combats violents qui ont opposé les forces du président Salva Kiir à celles de l’ex vice-président Riek Machar au mois de juillet. Malgré l’accord de paix signé en août 2015, de graves violences ont éclaté dans tout le pays forçant certains Sud-Soudanais à fuir leurs habitations ; et l’accès à la nourriture est de plus en plus compliqué. Selon le rapport publié samedi par le Programme alimentaire mondial, le pays est à son plus haut niveau d’insécurité alimentaire depuis le début du conflit en 2013.

Un rapport sur le potentiel et les perspectives économiques de l’Algérie sera publié en octobre prochain sur le site du quotidien américain The Washington post, a indiqué lundi à Alger,

Mme Veronica Fuentes, directrice exécutive de True Media, une agence de communication américaine chargée par le journal de mener ce travail.

Le rapport, intitulé « Algerian Investment Report », sera distribué lors de la réunion annuelle du Fonds monétaire international (FMI) et de la Banque mondiale (BM), prévue du 7 au 9 octobre prochain à Washington en même temps que sa mise en ligne sur le site du journal le plus lu aux Etats-Unis avec une moyenne de 49 millions de visiteurs par mois.

Mme Fuentes, qui s’exprimait devant la presse à l’issue d’une rencontre avec avec Salah-eddine Abdessemed, vice-président du Forum des chefs d’entreprises (FCE), partenaire local de True Media, a assuré que l’objectif de ce rapport était de « démystifier » l’image de l’Algérie auprès du public et des investisseurs américains.
Le document sera livré en « grand format » sur douze pages et abordera les différents aspects de l’économie algérienne.
 » Une bonne partie du rapport sera axée sur les efforts fournis par l’Algérie pour mettre en place un nouveau contexte économique », a précisé Mme Fuentes.

« L’Algérie a énormément investi dans ces infrastructures au cours de la dernière décennie et nous commençons à voir les fruits de ces investissements. (à) L’Algérie a également engagé des actions pour s’ouvrir davantage sur l’Afrique, améliorer ses échanges commerciaux dans la région et se positionner comme un hub régional », a-t-elle indiqué, ajoutant que ces aspects seront abordés dans un chapitre distinct du rapport.

Le rapport s’intéressera aussi aux secteurs stratégiques de l’économie algérienne, particulièrement l’agriculture et l’agroalimentaire, mais aussi la santé et l’industrie pharmaceutique.
L’industrie lourde est également considérée comme un axe prioritaire par True Media, selon Mme Fuentes.

« Ce qui nous intéresse c’est surtout la valeur ajoutée technologique et le taux d’intégration en Algérie « , a-t-elle poursuivi.
Pour récolter le maximum d’information, les experts de l’agence travailleront en étroite collaboration avec le FCE ainsi que des entreprises non membres du Forum. Ils auront aussi des contacts avec les différentes institutions publiques, a-t-elle précisé.
Mme Fuentes a, en outre, souligné que le dossier consacré à l’Algérie sera le premier d’une série de dossiers à publier par le Washington post.

Interrogée sur les raisons qui ont poussé le quotidien américain à porter son choix sur l’Algérie, elle a expliqué que plusieurs facteurs étaient à prendre en compte dont principalement la visite effectuée récemment par le ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération internationale, Ramtane Lamara au siège de ce journal.