You are here

Defense`s Feeds

Oshkosh To Retrofit HET A1 Tractors | StemRad to Produce Gamma Radiation Shields For US Troops | Korea Donated 500MDs For Kenya

Defense Industry Daily - Tue, 12/26/2023 - 05:00
Americas Lockheed Martin won a $141.5 million modification to exercise options for capability package development and fielding, system integration and fielding, and in-service sustainment in support of current configurations of the AEGIS combat system. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2024. Defense manufacturer Oshkosh has inked […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Workshop with defence industry outlines collaboration portfolio for engaging with EDA

EDA News - Fri, 12/22/2023 - 12:19

A strong and competitive European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) is a prerequisite for developing defence capabilities and securing European strategic autonomy. EDA has established a structured dialogue and enhanced engagement with industry, which aims to EDTIB and focuses on European entities. This month, the Agency hosted a dedicated workshop for the defence industry, welcoming over 150 experts in-house and online, to update on the state of play and related way ahead of EDA’s activities of particular interest to the defence industry.

Welcoming industry representatives from large, mid-cap, SMEs and industrial associations, EDA’s Director for Industry Synergies and Enablers (ISE) underlined that the establishment of defence initiatives at EU level have created favorable conditions for strengthening the EDTIB. He emphasised that the Agency is committed to fostering an environment that supports the EDTIB, acknowledging its crucial contribution to Europe's overall security and defence.

The participants were updated by EDA experts during the workshop on the five pillars of EDA’s industry engagement approach, notably: Capability Development, Research, Technology and Innovation, Key Strategic Activities and wider EU policies as well as overall support to Industry. The update focused on activities of interest to the industry, including opportunities for potential engagement. Representatives of the European Commission also attended the meeting and provided an update on their current initiatives relevant to defence industry.

Access to finance, 2023 EU Capability Development Priorities & tools for industry

Industry representatives were informed on the Member States joint statement on access to financing that was prepared by EDA through a collaborative dialogue involving participating Member States and the industry. The statement, that was endorsed by 27 EU Ministers of Defence last November, emphasizes on the importance of accessing finance on capital markets, and encompassing both regulatory proposals at EU-level related to ESG reporting and ongoing developments with national financial actors.

The 27 EU Ministers of Defence approved also the 2023 EU Capability Development Priorities (CDP). The 22 agreed priorities provide a valuable overview of the capability development landscape for the defence industry. The workshop allowed industry representatives to address relevant questions on the CDP, primarily what are the next steps regarding the implementation and how industry could be involved in this process.  

Clarifications also provided to the participants on how to access to the EDA prioritization platform which contains the Capability Development Priorities (CDP), Strategic Context Cases (SCC), Overarching Strategic Research Agenda (OSRA including the TBB roadmaps) and Key Strategic Activities (KSA) and on the further development of the B2B platform.

EDA also informed the participants about the publication of the Industry Engagement Roadmap 2024 which offers an overview of the EDA activities of interest to the industry, that are planned to take place in 2024 in all 5 pillars of EDA Industry Engagement.

Participants stressed that this workshop could take place one more time per year as the update provided is considered very useful.

Raytheon Tapped For ESSM Support | Spain Acquires 16 C295 | Philippines Acquired Advanced Radar System

Defense Industry Daily - Fri, 12/22/2023 - 05:00
Americas Raytheon won a $41.1 million for the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block (BLK) one spare parts for sustainment and support of in-service ESSM BLK 1 Guided Missile Assemblies. This delivery order includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this delivery order to $49,251,821. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Australia’s MH-60R Maritime Helicopters

Defense Industry Daily - Fri, 12/22/2023 - 04:58
MH-60Rs fire Hellfire (click to view full) Australia’s AIR 9000, Phase 8 project aimed to buy 24 modern naval helicopters to 16 existing S-70B-2 Seahawks, along with the disastrous A$1.1 billion, 11-helicopter SH-2G “Super Seasprite” acquisition attempt. With a total sales and support value of over A$ 3 billion, it was a highly coveted award. […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Sikorsky Tapped For King Stallion Support | Latvia Acquires 6 HIMARS | US Flies Bombers For Joint Drills With South Korea, Japan

Defense Industry Daily - Thu, 12/21/2023 - 05:00
Americas Sikorsky won a $29.4 million modification, which exercises an option to provide logistics support analysis, logistics products and product data, technical publications resulting from production engineering changes, diminishing manufacturing sources, material shortages in support of CH-53K King Stallion aircraft production, and fielding for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut; Bohemia, […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Propelled forward - EDA project on low-noise naval propeller development finalised

EDA News - Wed, 12/20/2023 - 14:38

The final meeting of the EDA project “Next Generation of Propellers” (NextProp) took place in Brussels this month. NextProp, a cross-domain activity involving EDA’s CapTechs “Naval Systems” and “Materials & Structures”, successfully developed models and tools for the design of low-noise naval propellers. With a budget of 4 million Euros, NextProp was cooperatively funded by Italy, Norway, and Poland. Eight partner entities from these three countries implemented the project over the past three years.

Designing modern naval propellers involves various considerations such as efficiency, weight, durability, cost, and detectability. Testing these propellers through experiments, using either scale models or full-size prototypes, is crucial but can be expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, advancements in high-performance computing have increased the importance and feasibility of numerical simulations and modelling.

Creating a model for the acoustic field generated by propeller motion is a complex task. It encompasses factors like the flow around the hull, turbulence, fluid-structure interaction at the propeller blades, and the interaction between the hull wake and propeller. This complexity defines a multi-physics and multi-scale problem that needs simplification in a computational model.

Reducing the signature

The primary project outcome is an improved software tool for the minimisation of the acoustic signature of naval propellers. To this end, models based on hydro-elastic physics are used to predict the behaviour of typical propeller materials, including metals and advanced composites, under operational conditions. Results obtained from NextProp improve the understanding of sound generation and propagation from naval propellers and support advanced low-noise propeller design. Beyond this, NextProp brings forth new methods and setups for experimental propeller tests as well as advanced knowledge of sensor integration for the purpose of condition-based maintenance.

More detailed information on NextProp is available in the executive summary.

In combining knowledge in the fields of hydro-acoustics and advanced material properties, the project has effectively exploited synergies among EDA’s Capability and Technology Groups (CapTechs) “Naval Systems” and “Materials and Structures”. Several Member States support the continuation of the NextProp research line towards further optimisation and validation of the design and fabrication of composite and isotropic polymer propellers, with a follow-up project currently being prepared.

Eight partner entities from Italy, Norway and Poland

FFI (coordinator), FiReCo, Light Structures, SINTEF Ocean, CNR-INM, CETENA, Politecnico di Milano, Polish Naval Academy.

NG Tapped For Hawkeye Retroft | Colt CZ To Buy Sellier & Belloti | Additional Vehicles To Ukraine

Defense Industry Daily - Wed, 12/20/2023 - 05:00
Americas Northrop Grumman  won a $23.3 million modification, which exercises an option to provide continued manufacturing and installation efforts in support of aerial refueling capability retrofit on 25 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye fleet aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in St Augustine, Florida (34.7%); Ronkonkoma, New York (28.9%); Melbourne, Florida (5.5%); Plainview, New York […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

E-2D Hawkeye: The Navy’s New AWACS

Defense Industry Daily - Wed, 12/20/2023 - 04:58
(click to view full) Northrop Grumman’s E-2C Hawkeye is a carrier-capable “mini-AWACS” aircraft, designed to give long-range warning of incoming aerial threats. Secondary roles include strike command and control, land and maritime surveillance, search and rescue, communications relay, and even civil air traffic control during emergencies. E-2C Hawkeyes began replacing previous Hawkeye versions in 1973. […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

USAF Plans Beddown Of Singapore F-15s At Andersen AFB | DoS Approves Black Hawk Sale To Greece | DSCA Announced Two FMS To Japan

Defense Industry Daily - Tue, 12/19/2023 - 05:00
Americas The US Air Force has unveiled plans to beddown up to 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter jets at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam. The decision is part of a revised proposal for the base’s infrastructure upgrades, aligning with strategic initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region. The proposal, first announced on […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Aging Aircraft: USAF F-15 Fleet Sees Renewed Interest

Defense Industry Daily - Tue, 12/19/2023 - 04:58
F-15C over DC (click to view full) “Array of Aging American Aircraft Attracting Attention” discusses the issues that accompany an air force whose fighters have an average age of over 23.5 years – vs. an average of 8.5 years in 1967. One of the most obvious consequences is the potential for fleet groundings due to […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

EDA Command and Control projects aims to strengthen support to CSDP missions and operations

EDA News - Mon, 12/18/2023 - 16:28

To support the EU’s ability to act rapidly and robustly whenever a crisis erupts, the development of a European Command and Control (C2) capability is essential for decision-making, planning, and conduct of missions and operations. Supported by EDA, the European Strategic Command and Control System (ESC2) project concluded a major phase in its aim of to provide a ground-breaking solution that will enable the EU and its Member States to employ the most advanced Command and Control system available worldwide, fully interoperable with the C2 systems of the EU, Member States, NATO, and civilian agencies. 

On December 11th, EDA hosted the Closure Session of the ESC2 project with the participation of Member States, stakeholders and industry. The session heard that once the ESC2 system design has delivered in 2023 as expected, a new project will link up with the ESC2 to further develop the system by creating a software prototype in 2025 ready for prompt implementation in the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC).

Together, the ESC2 and the future follow-up project European Command and Control System (EC2), will provide an advanced and integrated suite of C2 tools designed to support decision-making, planning, and conduct of CSDP missions and operations from the strategic to the operational level. It will provide a Staff-wide set of solutions, exploiting the emerging technologies in key domains such as Information Technology and Communication Systems. 

With a total budget of 22 million euros, the project is funded by a group of 6 Member States: France, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain as the leading nation; as well as the European Commission. Launched under the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), the project gathered 21 companies from 10 different Member States to ensure delivery of a beyond state-of-the-art design for ESC2.

Together through cooperation

Launched in January 2021, amid COVID restrictions which restricted the first steps of the project, the project team managed to make up time and reach the end of 2023 ready to deliver the system design, after 36 months of work. The complexity and demands of the project required a wide range of actors to ensure the ambitious goals of ESC2 could be achieved. 

EDA supports EU Member States acting as the ESC2 Project Manager. In this role, EDA manages Member States financial contribution, monitors the execution of the project plan, provides focused expertise and coordinates all contributing activities. Among the 21 industry partners, companies such as Indra (Spain), Thales (France), Leonardo (Italy), and Rheinmetall (Germany) all participated. 

To ensure end-user requirements and operational expertise were built-in, the MPCC, EUMS and EEAS played a significant role. Additionally, the Spanish Ministry of Defence and the Greek Ministry of Defence supported this project by facilitating the participation of the industrial experts in the exercises MILEX 22, MILEX23 and INTEGRATED RESOLVE 22.

 

ER GMLRS Moves Closer To Fielding | Dutch Shipments Of F-35 Parts To Israel Can Continue | DoS Approves HIMARS Sale To Italy

Defense Industry Daily - Sun, 12/17/2023 - 11:00
Americas The Boeing Insitu Integrator drone demonstrated the dropping of a pair of GPS-guided Shryke munitions. It is part of a program to add strike capability to Integrator, with Corvid Technologies’ Shryke one of several kinetic payloads the drone offers its customers. A NATO Class 1 small uncrewed aircraft system, Integrator has an endurance of 24 […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Progress seen in EDA project ALOCAS on developing low observable materials for next generation platforms

EDA News - Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:34

ALOCAS - The project Advanced Low Observable Coatings And Structures, initiated by the European Defence Agency's (EDA) Capability and Technology Group “Materials & Structures”, is a joint material research project between Saab (lead) and FOI of Sweden and AkzoNobel and NLR of the Netherlands. The project shows successful research performed in developing innovative low observable materials with the potential to reduce the radar signature of next generation platforms.

Low observable (LO) technology is a fundamental part of future aeronautical and naval weapon systems. In general, LO technology is intended to reduce the detectability of military platforms against a variety of threat sensors. This project focused on material development in the radar microwave- and infrared wavelengths with the goal of enabling the access to, and the survival within, hostile air and sea-space for combat, intelligence and reconnaissance assets to perform the designated missions.

The final meeting which recently took place at Saab Aeronautics in Linköping, Sweden, shows promising progress in the low observable materials regarding design and optimisation methods, absorber concepts, additive manufacturing of honeycomb structure, scattering cancellation meta-surfaces, LO multifunctional coatings, non-destructive testing and maintainability of LO additively manufactured materials. 

US Rushed F-35 Capabilities To Israel | DoS Approves FMS To Poland | Royal New Zealand Navy Receives Renewable Energy USV

Defense Industry Daily - Fri, 12/15/2023 - 05:00
Americas Lockheed Martin won a $74 million deal for the AH-64 Apache Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor Performance Based Logistics program. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2024. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded Raytheon a $10-million contract to design […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

AH-64E Apache Block III: Evolving Battlefield Roles

Defense Industry Daily - Fri, 12/15/2023 - 04:58
AH-64 in Afghanistan (click to view full) The AH-64 Apache will remain the US Army’s primary armed helicopter for several more decades, thanks to the collapse of the RAH-66 Comanche program, and the retirement sans replacement of the US Army’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH). Apaches also serve with a number of American allies, some of […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Sikorsky Tapped For Black Hawk Program | Rheinmetall, BAE Offer Archer As AS90 Replacement | Korea Bolsters Defense Capabilities

Defense Industry Daily - Thu, 12/14/2023 - 05:00
Americas Sikorsky won a $443 million modification for the Black Hawk helicopter program. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2027. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $442,956,422 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Sikorsky’s $8.5-11.7B “Multi-Year 8” H-60 Helicopter Contract

Defense Industry Daily - Thu, 12/14/2023 - 04:58
US Army HH-60Ms (click to view full) In July 2012, the US military signed another huge contract with Sikorsky. With production of the Army’s HH/UH-60M, and the Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters, all in full swing, there’s no question about the need for future orders. In that environment, multi-year contracts allow efficiencies in purchasing, and […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

NSPA, EDA and OCCAR unite in trilateral meeting in Luxembourg

EDA News - Wed, 12/13/2023 - 12:54

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the European Defence Agency (EDA), and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) converged in Luxembourg for a trilateral meeting on 12 December. 

Hosted by Ms Stacy Cummings, NSPA General Manager, the gathering focused on navigating the evolving security landscape and fortifying joint initiatives to optimise use of resources and enhance complementarity.

With a candid exchange on the impact of the current security environment on their respective roles and missions, the organisations delved into strategic discussions aimed at identifying synergies and areas of collaboration. The emphasis lay on identifying common challenges and unlocking opportunities for strengthened cooperation.

Key areas of focus included brainstorming pathways to bolster collaboration and coordination, addressing concerns regarding potential competition and overlapping capabilities, and identifying objectives for unified messaging when engaging with common stakeholders.

"The current security environment challenges us to be more efficient, effective and responsive. We are stronger together, as partners. By leveraging their synergies, NSPA, EDA and OCCAR are building collective strength," stated Ms Cummings. "This meeting is a step forward as we leverage past successes and continue to join forces towards enhanced cooperation, reinforcing our commitment to enabling and supporting nations across Europe and the NATO alliance.

EDA Chief Executive, Mr Jiří Šedivý, said: “Sharing views trilaterally and identifying areas for greater synergies at this precise moment in time is much helpful and necessary. We did it in the past already, delivering tangible achievements together with the multinational multirole tanker and transport (MRTT) fleet, which was conceived in EDA, managed by the NSPA on behalf of the participating countries and supported by OCCAR in the acquisition phase.”

“While our organisations have different mandates, scope of activities, and membership, we are aiming to support our respective member states so that they can best cope with the fast-changing security environment and new capability needs”, he added.

OCCAR-EA Director, Mr Joachim Sucker confirmed: “At a time when our world is ever more disconnected, we need to work hard to find ways to connect and cooperate to achieve our common goal to provide options to deliver defence capabilities to the Nations. I am very thankful to NSPA General Manager, Ms Stacey Cummings for bringing myself and Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA) Jiří Šedivý together for the first time, trilaterally, to further develop and strengthen our joint efforts to collaborate effectively and efficiently with our individual organizations ‘strengths and capabilities.”

The outcome of this trilateral meeting shows commitment to fostering an environment of collaboration and to addressing pressing security challenges.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is NATO’s lead organisation for multinational acquisition, support and sustainment in all domains.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) is an inter-governmental organisation of the European Union (EU). Created in 2004 to support and facilitate defence cooperation in the EU, it enhances European defence capabilities through collaborative projects and initiatives.

The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) is an independent International Organization for the management of complex, cooperative armament programmes

Boeing To Produce 6 Chinooks For US Army | USSF Activates New Service Compound For Europe and Africa Europe and Africa | Italy Flew Reaper Block 5

Defense Industry Daily - Wed, 12/13/2023 - 05:00
Americas Boeing has been awarded a $271-million deal to produce six “remanufactured” MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters for the US Army. Boeing said the updates to the chopper answer the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command’s need for battle-ready heavy-lift helicopters capable of adapting to increasingly complex missions. The contract brings the total number of Block […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

The New Chinooks: Boeing’s Modern H-47 Heavy-Lift Helicopters

Defense Industry Daily - Wed, 12/13/2023 - 04:58
CH-47Fs take off (click to view full) DII FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record; this FOCUS Article covers the CH-47F/MH-47G Chinook helicopter programs, in the USA and abroad. These helicopters’ distinctive “flying banana” twin-rotor design stems from the brilliant work of aviation pioneer Frank Piasecki. It gives Chinooks the […]
Categories: Defense`s Feeds

Pages

THIS IS THE NEW BETA VERSION OF EUROPA VARIETAS NEWS CENTER - under construction
the old site is here

Copy & Drop - Can`t find your favourite site? Send us the RSS or URL to the following address: info(@)europavarietas(dot)org.