Defense`s Feeds

Boeing won a $239.6 million deal for the Apache Improved Turbine Engine Integration Phase II. The US Army plans to use the next-generation engine in all Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter engines. The service is also planning on using it on Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft it plans to field in the 2030s. Work will take place in Arizona. Estimated completion date is December 31.

Raytheon won a $250 million deal for a StormBreaker Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) integrated engineering change proposal. The StormBreaker bomb is an air-launched precision strike weapon manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems for the US Air Force and the US Navy. Work will take place in Arizona. Expected completion date is August 22, 2027.

Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems won a $51 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure 65 BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Targets, 50 for the Navy, seven for the government of Japan, and eight for the government of Saudi Arabia, as well as associated technical and administrative data in support of full rate production lot three. BQM-177A is an advanced, high-subsonic, recoverable aerial target system. Work will take place in California, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Kansas and Wyoming. Estimated completion date will be in February 2024.

The Navy awarded Kay and Associates a $72.8 million deal to provide maintenance, operation, and management support services for the Hornets, Super Hornets and associated equipment, as well as maintenance repair and storage facilities for the Government of Kuwait. In September, Boeing completed the delivery of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet combat aircraft for Kuwait. Estimated completion will be in January 2023.

Amidst tensions with Ukraine, Russian Zirkon hypersonic missile was launched in a salvo of several missiles increasing its potential to destroy highly protected enemy formations such as aircraft carrier battle groups. “A salvo launch of the Zircon hypersonic system was carried out tonight or this morning,” Russian President Vladimir Putin  said at a joint meeting of the State Council and the Council for Science and Education on Friday. “The tests were carried out successfully, flawlessly,” Putin added.

Lockheed Martin won a $29.8 million contract modification for the US and the UK to provide Strategic Weapon System Trident Fleet Support, Trident II SSP Shipboard Integration (SSI) Increment 8, SSI Increment 16, Columbia-class and UK Dreadnought-class navigation subsystem development efforts. The Trident II D5 fleet ballistic missile (FBM) is a three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile developed by Lockheed Martin. Work will take place in New York, California, Florida and Massachusetts. Estimated completion date is November 30, 2023.

The construction of China State Shipbuilding Corp’s new shipyard on the Changxing Island, Shanghai, is set to open in 2023. The construction of the dock basin of the second phase of the Changxing Shipbuilding Base Project started on Wednesday with a commencement ceremony, CSSC Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding announced on its WeChat account.

Watch: Meet the U.S. Navy’s New High-Tech Bomb

Sikorsky won a $29.5, which procures logistics support analysis and products resulting from production engineering changes and diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages to include technical publications, logistics support analysis and logistics product data in support of CH-53K aircraft production and fielding. The Super Stallion can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. Estimated completion date is in December 2022. Work will be performed in Connecticut and the US.

Northrop Grumman won a $245.8 million contract modification, which provides for the exercise of five option contract line items to procure eight Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar systems, and associated spares, data, and travel in support of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR is a short- to medium-range, air-cooled Active Electronically Scanned Array radar under development for the Marine Corps. Work will take place in Maryland. Expected completion will be in January 2025.

Israel Innovation Authority recently approved the establishment of a new innovation consortium, led by Elbit Systems C4I and Cyber, for Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) technologies research and development. Dr. Aviv Zeevi, VP Technological Infrastructure at the Israel Innovation Authority, commented: “The Israel Innovation Authority is working to close technology gaps in the field of robotics using various tools as well as by promoting knowledge transfer from the defense sector and academia to the wider industry.”

The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the development and procurement of the H160M in the frame of the Light Joint Helicopter programme (HIL). The contract includes the development of several prototypes and the delivery of a first batch of 30 aircraft (21 for the army, 8 for the navy and one for the air force). The French Ministry for the Armed Forces plans to order a total of 169 H160M helicopters, or Guépard as it will be known in the French armed forces.

Northrop Grumman won a $353.6 million contract modification, which provides for the production and delivery of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the government of France. The E-2D is the US Navy’s premier airborne command and control aircraft for all targets and all environments. The French Navy has been operating the E-2C Hawkeye since 1998 and is the only country other than the United States to operate its E-2 Hawkeyes from an aircraft carrier. France’s plan to acquire three E-2Ds to replace the Navy’s old E-2C Hawkeyes was first revealed more than a year ago. The U.S. approved this sale for $2 billion in July 2020. The French Navy will be second only to Japan, to own these jets. Work will take place in New York, Florida, Indiana, California, Illinois and Connecticut. Estimates completion will be in April 2027.

Malaysia’s Deputy Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz told the Senate that Kuala Lumpur is “still waiting for discussions” with Kuwait over the purchase of the latter’s F/A-18C/D fleet. He was responding to an supplementary question from Senator Datuk Zaiedi Suhaili. Ikmal said the Royal Malaysian Air Force intends to use the aircraft till 2035.

Watch: Airbus Helicopter H160M

Boeing won a $30.3 million delivery order for the repair of 93 EA horizontal stabilizers used on the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft. The period of performance for this delivery order begins January 2022 and will be completed by September 2023 with no option periods. Work will take place in Florida and Missouri. The period of performance for this delivery order begins January 2022 and will be completed by September 2023 with no option periods.

The US Air Force is working on placing USB ports on the B-52 bomber, Bossier Now reports. This will allow the crew to charge their electronic tabs on long-distance flights without having to resort to battery packs.

Morocco is said to have received the FD-2000 long-range air defense missile system that it bought from China. The unit is to be based at Sidi Yahia el-Gharb, north east of Rabat. The layout of the missile site is different from the Chinese ones and is circular in pattern. There is no pad in the middle for the radar to be station.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Ground Force employed an advanced homegrown tank dubbed ‘Karrar’ for the first time during the ongoing massive joint military exercises. Press TV reported that Karrar, an upgraded version of the Soviet-era T-72M tanks, came into service during the Great Prophet 17 joint drills in the country’s southern coasts on Wednesday,

The Raggruppamento Temporaneo di Impresa (RTI) consortium led by Fincantieri signed an agreement with Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) to build the second Logistic Support Ship (LSS) for the Italian Navy. The LSS will be entirely built at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard, with delivery scheduled for 2025. The value of the contract is approximately € 410 million including the combat system, Fincantieri said.

Raytheon Missiles & Defense won a $578.3M firm-fixed-price modification to procure Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) production requirements. Requirements include all up rounds, instrumentation kits, engineering services and spares; and to definitize the long-lead-material undefinitized contract action in support of the Navy and the governments of Korea, Denmark, Taiwan, Netherlands, Spain, Chile, Japan and Germany. Estimated completion will be by December 2026.

Watch: Anti-ship Missile SM-2 in Action . US Navy Missile Launch Compilation | MFA

Nammo Defense Systems won a $498 million contract for the full rate production of M72 Light Assault Weapon variants and components for shoulder-launched munitions training systems. The M72 LAW is a portable, one-shot 66mm unguided anti-tank weapon and was adopted by the US Army and Marine Corps as their primary individual infantry anti-tank weapon in 1963, Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Estimated completion date is December 19, 2026.

The US Navy and Boeing have successfully maneuvered the T1 test asset on an aircraft carrier for the first time – an early step forward in ensuring the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueler will seamlessly integrate into carrier operations. During a demonstration aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Navy flight deck directors used standard hand signals to direct T1 just like any other carrier-based aircraft. Instead of a pilot receiving the commands, however, it was a Boeing MQ-25 Deck Handling Operator (DHO) who commanded the aircraft using a new handheld deck control device.

A military agreement between Qatar and Turkey could see the Gulf state deploying its Rafale fighters to Turkey. Turkey hopes that this will bring opportunities for its pilots to train on the Qatari Rafales. Lawmaker Gülüstan Kiliç Koçyi?it was quoted as saying that the agreement allows Qatar to deploy the Rafale in Turkey.

Egypt’s purchase of 16 new air defense batteries, including 10 IRIS-T SLX air defense batteries with a range of 80 km and a height of 30 km, and six IRIS-T SLS batteries with a range of up to 12 km will give it an ability to guard against drones, rockets, aircraft and short range missiles. Made by Diehl Defense of Germany, the IRIS-T sale was approved by the previous Angela Merkel government. The two air defense systems will provide it with capability similar to the ‘Iron Dome’ system in neighbouring Israel.

Rolls-Royce won an $8.8 million task order for C-130J MissionCare propulsion support. The modification provides for the exercise of option period one for an additional 12 months of performance under the task order. Work will be performed at locations as indicated by task/delivery order, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2024.

Lockheed Martin won a $21.7 million deal for P3-C aircraft mission system hardware, as well as obsolescence studies and technical support to maintain the P3-C mission systems for the government of Taiwan. The P-3C Orion land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft is operational in the airforces of ten countries. Work will take place in New York and Florida. Estimated completion will be by December 2026.

Watch: Qatar Emiri Air Force Rafales joining Turkish exercise

The United States Air Force (USAF) tested a current inventory cruise missile armed with a live warhead as part of the Rapid Dragon program to demonstrate the ability to employ weapons using standard airdrop procedures from cargo aircraft. During the test on December 16, a MC-130J flown by an Air Force Special Operations Command operational flight crew, received new targeting data while in flight which was then routed to the cruise missile flight test vehicle (FTV).

Defense and security company Saab inked a contract for multi-role Sea Giraffe AMB naval radar antenna kits, for the upgrade of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates. The upgrade is based on the customers’ requirement to sustain the service life and enhance the performance of the Halifax-class frigates. The work will be carried out in Halifax, Canada and Gothenburg, Sweden, starting from 2021 and continuing through 2026.

Iran will spend on its Revolutionary Guard next year more than double the amount allocated in 2021, according to a budget bill submitted by President Ebrahim Raisi to parliament on December 12. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will receive 930 trillion rials or $22 billion.

A Hungarian government official says the country has signed a deal to buy the IRIS-T dogfight missile for its Gripen C/D fleet. The deal is part of the MS20 Block II upgrade program that will keep the Hungarian Gripen fleet relevant for the next 10 years. The IRIS-T allows Hungary’s fighter fleet to regain the off-boresight lock-on capability that it once had with the MiG-29.

BAE Systems won a $24.5 million deal to provide all necessary material and services required for the procurement and support of an ordnance alteration to modify the MK38 MOD3 machine gun system. The deal combines purchases for the Navy and the Republic of the Philippines under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will take place in Israel and Kentucky. Estimated completion will be by May 2023.

Japan’s Yomiuri news reports that Tokyo is finalizing its policy on how to jointly develop the jet engine of its F-X fighter with Britain. The article says the government wishes to have a framework on cooperation established before March of next year. Earlier this year, Asahi reported that Britain’s Rolls-Royce will partner with Japan’s IHI Corporation on the program. Both will also offer the engine for the export market.

Watch: Mk-38 Mod 3 Machine Gun System Chain Drive Cannon Live Fire

L3 Technologies won a $9.5 million deal to develop a Weapon Data Link prototype for the Joint Air Force to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). JASSM is a cruise missile built by Lockheed Martin and designed to counter both fixed and relocatable targets from long ranges. Work will take place in Utah. Estimate completion date is July 1, 2022.

The Pentagon awarded AgustaWestland USA a $159,4 million deal for the production and delivery of 36 TH-73A helicopters Lot III and initial spares in support of the Advanced Helicopter Training System program. The TH-73A is the aircraft portion of the Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS). AHTS improves pilot training and skills by using current cockpit technologies and modernized training curriculum that reflect the capabilities in the current Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard inventory. Work will take place in Pennsylvania and Texas. Estimated completion will be in December 2023.

Boeing won a $398 million deal for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Modernization Program, Phase 2. The deal provides for production, training and installation and checkout, in order to keep the RSAF E-3 AWACS fleet interoperable with the US Air Force and functionally viable through its expected end of life in 2040. Work will take place in Oklahoma and Saudi Arabia. Estimated completion date is February 21, 2026.

The final flight of Belgium’s C-130 fleet took place on December 17. Three aircraft were supposed to fly on a three-hour trip across the country but bad weather prevented that from happening. Instead, the three planes went on separate directions with the press on onboard.

The South Korean army has introduced a new 7.62 mm-calibre machine guns, the K-16 to replace K-3 and M60 gun used by its troops earlier.  The K-16 gun’s operational range is 30-percent more than that of the K-3 gun and its destructive power is about double that of the K-3, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a release. The military plans to deploy the new rifles to all armed services by 2024.

Northrop Grumman Corporation recently completed a significant milestone in the production of Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft when the aircraft fuselage was mounted onto Triton’s unique one-piece wing. Once completed and delivered, Triton’s powerful payload and endurance will provide the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with the ability to detect and analyze threats that were previously undetectable.

Watch: Australia’s First MQ-4C Triton Fuselage Joins its Wing

Boeing won an $11.4 million contract modification for the repair of B-52 Control Assembly contract line item numbers 0003 and 0004.The B-52H is the US Air Force’s long-range, large-payload multirole bomber and is known as the Stratofortress or the Buff (short for big ugly fat fellow). Work will take place in Missouri. Estimated completion date is February 28, 2024.

Raytheon won a $15.1 million delivery order for the repair of pod aircraft unit components of the advanced targeting forward-looking infrared radar system in support of the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather jet aircraft that is used by the US Navy and Marine Corps as both a fighter and attack platform. Work will take place in England and Texas. Estimated completion will be by May 2025.

On December 14, the United Arab Emirates interrupted talks on a $23 billion deal to buy the USA’s F-35s as well es armed drones and other equipment, in a dispute between Washington and a key US ally in the Persian Gulf. Emirati officials blame an American insistence on restrictions on how and where the F-35s could be used and say they are a violation of the UAE’s sovereignty. The US and UAE inked the deal in January 2021, right at the end of Donald Trump’s tenure and was a part of the former president’s efforts to arm strategic US allies in the middle east. The deal closely followed the “Abraham Accords”. The Accords marked the normalization of relations between the UAE and Israel. The Abraham Accords were signed by the leaders of Bahrain, Israel and the UAE in September 2020.

Bell Textron won a $21.6 million order, which provides engineering and logistics support, to include support for AH-1Z production aircraft and sustainment efforts for UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircraft for the Marine Corps; support for AH-1Z production aircraft for the government of Bahrain; and support for UH-1Y and AH-1Z production aircraft for the government of the Czech Republic. Work will take place in Texas and Maryland. Estimated completion date is in February 2023.

A report from the UK’s Ministry of Defense discusses the progress made on the Dreadnought submarine programme in the last year. The Dreadnought class will carry the UK’s Trident nuclear missiles, replacing the Vanguard class submarines.

India’s Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) received a $315 million order from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the supply of 20 types of airborne electronic systems to be fitted on the LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft. The order spanning five years from 2023 to 2028 involves supply of critical avionic Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) related to Digital Flight Control Computers, Air Data Computers, Weapon Computers, LRUs related to Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Head Up Display.

Watch: Essential Geopolitics: Is the UAE-US F 35 Deal Off?

EDA Member States’ defence research (R&T) Directors met today in hybrid format for a Steering Board meeting which stood out not only for its forward-looking agenda focused on defence innovation and the impact of key technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems on defence, but also because it was the 100th Steering Board meeting since the creation of the Agency in 2004.

EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý looked back at 100 Steering Boards which, he said, “guided and developed the Agency over the years, creating its unique character and tasks”. He thanked all Member States representatives who participated in these 100 Steering Boards in the last 17 years: “Your inputs and guidance are crucial for EDA to fulfil its main mission: to support you, the Member States, in all matters of collaborative European defence”. Mr Šedivý also expressed particular appreciation for the successive Chairs of EDA’s Steering Boards in the different formations (national R&T, Armaments and Capability Directors).

It was also the last R&T Directors Steering Board meeting chaired by Dr Luisa Riccardi (Italy) who held this position since December 2018.  “Over the past three years, we have seen the role and importance of the Agency grow. EDA has gradually established itself as the natural point of reference for the Defence Community, the one where competences, specific skills, the ability to evaluate the main processes and objectives for Defence and Research are inherent. The Agency has been the place where responses to the needs of Defence were found in a flexible and dynamic way, always using collaborative and constructive dialogue between European Member States and stakeholders. No other forum has the same natural vocation and the same predisposition to cooperation, nor it is structured in this way for the achievement of common objectives”, Dr Riccardi stated. She wished the best of luck to her successor, Portuguese Major-General Jorge Filipe Marques Moniz Côrte-Real Andrade, who takes over as of 1 January 2022.

R&T Directors discussed different topics related to defence innovation, in particular the impact new technologies such as AI and autonomous systems are already having on defence. The update of the Agency’s Overarching Strategic Research Agenda (OSRA), the OSRA Defence Technology Taxonomy and the Emerging Disruptive Technology’s (EDT) Action Plan were also on the agenda. Directors were also briefed by Mr Šedivý on the outcome of the last Steering Board meeting in Ministers’ composition which took place on 16 November. The EDA Chief Executive also touched upon the Energy Consultation Forum and other activities in terms of climate change and defence, including the recent launch of the EDA’s Incubation Forum for Circular Economy in European Defence.

EDA’s groundwork to help Member States move towards the integration of MALE-type Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in civil air traffic in non-segregated airspace received another significant boost on 13 December 2021 when a live MALE-type RPAS cross-border flight was carried out by the French Air Force from Cognac airbase to Spain and back to France. While multiple inland flights had already been performed in the past by the French Air Force, it was the first time that such a MALE-type RPAS flight crossed European borders in non-segregated airspace class A-C.

During this flight - depicted on the chart below - several handovers were carried out between civilian and military air traffic control centers in Bordeaux, Madrid, Barcelona, and Marseille. The cruise was carried out in upper airspace, up to FL 230, according to one “circular” flight plan. The RPAS had no specific onboard equipment such as a detect and avoid system. The flight was successful as it demonstrated the ability of MALE-type RPAS to perform seamless changes from their initial routing and altitude, as requested by the Air Traffic Control. It also demonstrated the benefit of a robust safety analysis, harmonized procedures and a common Concept of Operations “ConOps” for cross-border operations.

Based on the materials gathered during this flight and on the safety analysis performed by the initial Accommodation Study (2017-2019 timeframe) carried-out by EDA, a validation report will be published early 2022, together with the guidelines on how to “accommodate” MALE-type RPAS in General Air Traffic (GAT)  in non-segregated airspace class A-C. 

EDA’s Accommodation Study was ordered in 2018 as part of the Agency’s effort to support Member States in the area of MALE-type RPAS air traffic integration. The study conclusions published in February 2019 provided tailored risk assessments and an enhanced aviation safety case assessment methodology for MALE-type RPAS flying in non-segregated European airspace, alongside manned aviation. Following the presentation of those simulations results, France offered the possibility to perform real flights with a MALE-type RPAS (the FAF Reapers), including a cross-border portion with Spain. 

The material gathered during the latest test flight will further consolidate the work  on the validation report and the guidelines of the study.

• EDA project page on RPAS Accommodation Validation 

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics won a $9.3 million contract modification, which increases the ceiling to partially definitize fiscal 2021 air vehicle initial spares, to include global spares packages, base spares packages, deployment spares packages, and afloat spares packages in support F-35 Lightning II Air Vehicle deliveries for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, non-US Department of Defense participants, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will take place in Texas. Estimated completion is in December 2021.

Raytheon won a $13.9 million deal to procure contractor logistics support maintainers and engineering reach back support of the AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer-Mid Band (NGJ-MB) during development, test and evaluation. The AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band system is part of a larger NGJ system that will augment, and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System currently used on the EA-18G Growler aircraft for Airborne Electronic Attack. Work will take place in Maryland and California. Estimated completion date is in June 2023.

BIRD Aerosystems, a global provider of defense technology and solutions for air, sea, and land fleets of governments and related agencies, has received a Supplemental Type Certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel for its Cessna CJ3 ASIO Special Mission Aircraft. The granted STC follows a modification of the aircraft into a special mission configuration and includes all the structural and electrical changes to the aircraft to support the installation of the airborne surveillance sensors (Radar, EOP, AIS), multiple communication equipment, and BIRD’s operator workstations and pilot display.

The first two Eurofighter Typhoons out of an order for 28 aircraft for the Air force of Kuwait landed in Kuwait City. The Eurofighter Typhoon for the Kuwait Air Force feature a wide range of operational capabilities, built by Leonardo according to the specific requirements of the Kuwaiti Air Force.

The German representative on the supervisory board of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has blocked the delivery of anti-drone jamming guns to Ukraine which were already paid for by Kiev. The shipment of these anti-drone mitigation systems was being procured from Lithuania, according to Ukrainian newspaper Dzerkalo Tyzhnia.

South Korea’s Hanwha Defense inked a contract to supply the Australian Army with advanced self-propelled howitzers and ammunition resupply vehicles. The deal is worth about $730 million, representing the highest-valued export of Hanwha’s K9 self-propelled howitzer, nicknamed Thunder and known in Australia as the AS9.

Watch: Ultra Powerful South Korean K9 Thunder Artillery Mass Live Fire vs Mountain

Bell Boeing won a $18 million contract modification, which exercises an option to provide systems integration, technical analysis, and engineering support for the V-22 aircraft. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft, which operates as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. The nacelles rotate 90° forward once airborne, converting the aircraft into a turboprop aircraft. Work will take place in Texas and Pennsylvania. Estimated completion is in December 2022.

The Pentagon has given Northrop Grumman Corporation a task order to start engineering and planning work to reconfigure four EQ-4 Block 20 aircraft for the SkyRange program. These four aircraft will be fitted with sensors to collect data in order to support the testing of US hypersonic systems. Conversion will take place at Northrop Grumman’s Grand Sky facility near Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Israeli media says Tel Aviv asked Washington for the immediate delivery of two KC-46A aerial refueling tankers. The original schedule is for Israel to receive the first two tankers in 2023. However, the United States reportedly denied the request. Back in July 2020, it was reported that Israel had also asked for the delivery of the planes to take place this year.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force is reportedly planning to buy 8 H225M Caracal helicopter from France. Morocco is currently negotiating with Airbus for eight H225Ms, as per reports. A dozen of these helicopters along with 80 Rafale fighter jets were purchased by the United Arab Emirates recently.

Greece’s Hellenic Air Force will commence operations with the first six Rafale fighters next month. The jets will be ready for operational missions immediately after arriving at 114th Combat Wing as the crew have completed their training.

China’s J-20 stealth jet has reportedly entered mass production after all technical issues concerning the domestically-made WS-10 engine having been solved; state-media reported quoting a statement from Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Group Co. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force displayed J-20s equipped with domestically developed engines at Airshow China 2021.

Watch: The Good News about the KC-46 Tanker

General Dynamics won a $93.5 million deal for M1A2 Abrams engineering, manufacturing, design and production. The M1A2 is an improvement of the Abrams M1A1 main battle tank. It includes a commander’s independent thermal viewer, weapon station, position navigation equipment, and a full set of controls and displays linked by digital data bus. Work will take place in Ohio. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2025.

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works won a $12.9 million modification for the accomplishment of planning yard efforts such as engineering, technical, planning, ship configuration, data and logistics efforts for DDG-1000 class destroyers post-delivery and in-service life-cycle support. The DDG-1000 or Zumwalt class destroyers provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. A few days ago the lead ship, USS Zumwalt, caught media attention due to noticeable rust all over its exterior. Work under the modification will take place in Maine and California. Estimated completion will be by December 2022.

Egypt will be hosting its first naval defense exhibition in September 2022, dubbed “Naval Power,” according Defense News quoting the commander of the Navy. Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khaled Hassan Said Ahmed announced this during the Egypt Defence Expo, which was held from November 29 to December 2. “After hitting its goal with more than 400 exhibitors at EDEX 2021, Egypt is moving to more specialized defense exhibitions, and the naval expo to be held is in accordance with all the country’s efforts to boost its naval and maritime capabilities,” Ahmad Eliba, a defense expert at the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, told Defense News.

Finland chose the F-35A to replace its ageing F/A-18 fleet and will order 64 of the jets and their support equipment in a $9.4 billion deal. The government of Finland authorized the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command to sign a procurement contract with the Government of the United States on Finland’s next multi-role fighter. The procurement includes 64 F-35A Block 4 multi-role fighters, substantial and versatile weaponry tailored for the operating circumstances, required training and sustainment solutions, other related systems as well as sustainment and maintenance services until the end of 2030.

A multirotor mini-UAV developed by Turkey’s Zyrone Dynamics is ready to be exported to India’s DCM Shriram which has a 30% stake in the Ankara-based company. Zyrone Dynamics is preparing for the first product delivery to its Indian partner. Thirty percent of the company was sold to India-based DCM Shriram Industries for $3.5 million with the agreement made at the 15th International Defense Industry Fair in August this year.

India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) flight-tested the indigenously developed Helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile from Pokhran ranges on December 11. The flight-test was successful in meeting all its mission objectives. The release mechanism, advanced guidance and tracking algorithms, all avionics with integrated software, performed satisfactorily and tracking systems monitored all mission events.

Watch: Finland Chooses the F-35 | Breaking News

Lockheed Martin won a $20.5 million contract modification, which adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering for the selected F-35 “Out the Window” replacement solution in support of full mission simulator production for the Air Force, Navy, and non-US Department of Defense participants. The F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) is a stealthy, supersonic multirole fighter. Its advanced sensor package is designed to gather, fuse and distribute more information than any fighter in history, giving operators a decisive advantage over all adversaries. The F-35’s engine produces 43,000 lbs of thrust and consists of a three-stage fan, a six-stage compressor, an annular combustor, a single-stage high-pressure turbine, and a two-stage low-pressure turbine. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion is in March 2024.

The USS Oakland (LCS 24) is ready to be armed with the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), the US Navy announced in a press release on December 10. The launch module was installed at Naval Base San Diego. Besides LCS 24, USS Jackson (LCS 6), USS Charleston (LCS 18), USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), USS Tulsa (LCS-16) are the other Independence-variant littoral combat ships (LCS) that have the NSM installed.

According to Jane’s, the Malian Armed Forces received several Chinese-made Norinco VN2C 6×6 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) recently. The new armored and unprotected vehicles were handed over by the military in a ceremony held at the Kati military camp on December 3. The VN2C is an improved variant of the VN2, itself a derivative of Norinco’s WZ551 armored personnel carrier with increased protection against improvised explosive devices. It has a gross vehicle weight of 19 tonnes, a 402 hp diesel engine, and armour that provides STANAG 4569 Level 3a/3b protection.

The US transferred three C-130 transport aircraft to Jordan under its C-130 Ramp-to-Ramp (R2R) transfer program. The Royal Jordanian Air Force accepted two aircraft on December 9. The planes had arrived in September. The final aircraft will arrive in January. The R2R program transfers active C-130s to key partners. So far, eight aircraft have been transferred.

The US State Department Approved Two Sales to Greece’s Hellenic Navy. The Hellenic Navy could soon finalize a $6.9 billion deal for four Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) ships besides another $2.5 billion contract for MEKO-class frigate modernization, The Government of Greece requested to buy equipment and services to repair, update, and enhance their four (4) existing Hellenic Navy (HN) MEKO Class frigates. Greece also plans to acquire four MMSC ships that are similar to the 370-plus-foot-long Littoral Combat Ships used by the US Navy; five COMBATSS-21 Combat Management Systems; five Vertical Launch Systems; 200 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and related equipment and support. The Pentagon said Lockheed Martin was the prime contractor for the ships.

Japan will proceed with the F-15JSI (Japan Super Interceptor) upgrade program by allocating funds for the program in next year’s budget. According to local media, the final price of the program is now agreed at $3.5 billion after negotiations with the Americans. Tokyo will drop the integration of the LRASM on the Japanese Eagle in order to reduce costs.

Watch: USS Oakland (LCS 24) Joins the Fleet

Boeing won a $366 million contract modification, which increases the ceiling to extend the service life for up to 32 F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft. Boeing delivered the first Super Hornet to the US Navy in February 2020 under the Service Life Modification (SLM) Block III conversion programme. The initial Super Hornets delivered under SLM extended the aircraft’s service life from 6,000 to 7,500 flight hours. Work under the modification will take place in Texas and Missouri. Estimated completion is in May 2024.

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded a research contract to Stratolaunch for rapid-turnaround hypersonic flight testing. The company will use its Talon-A hypersonic vehicles to act as a threat-representative and threat-replicating target. Talon-A testing will commence in 2022 and government and commercial customers can procure its services in 2023.

Boeing won a $93 million contract modification for the Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA Original Equipment Manufacturer Training Program. Saudi Arabia’s F-15SA Advanced Eagle includes Raytheon’s APG-63(V)3 AESA radar, fly-by-wire control systems and two additional underwing weapons stations. It features upgraded avionics, more powerful engines, and the BAE Systems Digital Electronic Warfare System/Common Missile Warning System (DEWS/CMWS). Work will take place in Saudi Arabia. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2023.

USAFE-AFAFRICA delivered the second of three C-130H transport aircraft to Niger. The transfer took place at Nigerien Air Base 101 in Niamey on December 7. The first cargo plane was delivered in January and has since been involved in various humanitarian assistance operations and United Nations troop and vehicle movements. Besides providing aircraft, the US has help to refurbished a hangar and is in the process of building a second one.

The UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth aka Big Lizzie returned home to Portsmouth after completing a massive global deployment leading her Carrier Strike Group to the Pacific and back. The carrier had been deployed to its maiden deployment in the Far East. It involved the loss of a £100 million fighter jet at sea, a stand-off with the Russian navy, and a Covid-19 outbreak.

The Indonesian Navy took delivery of two Bell 505 helicopters today. The newly acquired helicopters will be utilized as basic helicopter trainers. This delivery brings the Indonesian Navy’s Bell fleet to five aircraft, which already includes three Bell 412 helicopters. The Bell 505 is Bell’s newest five-seat aircraft designed for safety, efficiency and reliability. With the latest Garmin avionics and dual channel FADEC-controlled engine, the Bell 505 is the most advanced short light single aircraft on the market.

Watch: Take a look at the Bell 505 and learn more about its wide range of capabilities

L3Harris Technologies won a $45.8 million deal for development to integrate the AN/PRC-160 high frequency manpack radio in the MH-47 and MH-60 aircraft. The Boeing MH-47G is a special operations variant of the CH-47 Chinook multi-role, heavy-lift helicopter. It is in service with the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOC). The MH-60R Seahawk missions are Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Surveillance, Communications Relay, Combat Search and Rescue, Naval Gunfire Support and logistics support. The MH-60S Seahawk missions are Anti-Surface Warfare, combat support, humanitarian disaster relief, Combat Search and Rescue, aero medical evacuation, SPECWAR and organic Airborne Mine Countermeasures. Work will take place in New York.

The US Air Force Air Mobility Command approved the operation of KC-46A Pegasus to refuel five more aircraft: AC-130J Ghostrider, HC-130J Combat King II, MC-130J Commando II, C-5M Super Galaxy and E-3G Sentry. On December 6, Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, approved a fourth Interim Capability Release (ICR) mission set for the KC-46A allowing it to refuel five types of aircraft.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly running low on its stock pile of Patriot missile interceptors and has reached out to the United States and allies in Europe and Gulf for resupplies. Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been launching ballistic missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has been using the interceptors to defeat those attacks over the past several months.

The UK’s 16 Regiment Royal Artillery accepted into service the first tranche of Sky Sabre air defense systems. According to the Ministry of Defence, “unprecedented in speed, accuracy, performance and target acquisition, Sky Sabre will be able to hit a tennis ball-sized object travelling at the speed of sound”.

Air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jet today, clearing the weapon for serial production. The missile was tested at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

Rheinmetall announced today the delivery of three HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) at an official ceremony on November 25th 2021 at the Trentham Military Camp in Wellington, New Zealand. The purchase of the HX 8×8 adds to the in-service medium and heavy operational vehicle fleet with NZDF. The Medium-heavy Operational Vehicles (MHOV) has been used by the military in training, operations and disaster relief both in New Zealand and offshore.

Watch: UK Deployed Sky Sabre Air Defense System to Counter Aircraft, Drones and Laser Guided Smart Bombs

Following the various keynote speeches (see other related news on the opening speeches, the ministerial debate as well as the fire side chat with EIB Vice-President Kris Peeters), attendees of EDA's Annual Conference on 7 December also enjoyed two lively, interactive and highly interesting panel debates, each of them focusing on a specific aspects of defence innovation.

Moderated by EDA Deputy Chief Executive Olli Ruutu, the first panel entitled ‘How to foster defence innovation?’ featured Emmanuel Chiva, Executive Director of the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID), Vice Admiral Louise K. Dedichen, Norwegian Military Representative to NATO, Timo Pesonen, Director General of DG DEFIS at the European Commission, Kusti Salm, Permanent Secretary at the Estonian Ministry of Defence, and David van Weel, Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO. In this panel, representatives of national governments and European institutions discussed the potential and requirements for greater innovation in European armed forces, from new technologies, concepts and processes to doctrines and decisions.   

“Political will is paramount” for bringing defence innovation forward at a time when we are entering a new era where we have “new battlefields” with space, cyber warfare, new materials, information manipulation, etc. and where we will see “technological disruption that will foster strategic disruption”, said Emmanuel Chiva.  From its creation in September 2018, the French Defence Innovation Agency has worked to support the French Armed Forces in this respect launching “more than 1,100” innovation projects over the first three years. As part of it, a Defence Innovation Lab was put in place to be able to challenge the start-ups and SMEs and the wider civilian eco-system. “You need to work with them, the smaller ones, but you also need to work with the larger companies because the innovations put forward by the start-ups need to be integrated in existing operational systems”, Mr Chiva stressed. The French Defence Agency also set up a “unique point of entry“ or “one-stop-shop” for all defence innovators, especially the new and small ones for which it is very important to make thing simple because they don’t know how a Ministry of Defence works.  Working on national levels is good, but “now we need to move to a European level because the size of our Member States is nothing compared to Russia or China: “The idea is to spread this philosophy throughout Europe and benefit from European synergies (…) this is a collective mission”. All of this needs to be done in coordination with NATO’s efforts in this domain: “The objective is not to compete, but to complete”.

Norway is active in defence innovation at various levels, explained Vice-Admiral Louise K.Dedichen; at NATO (through the NATO Science Technology Organisation, STO), by participating in projects at the European Defence Agency (with whom it has signed an Administrative Agreement), through the European Defence Fund and through cooperation directly with Allies. Norway also joined NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (or DIANA) and is also considering to join NATO’s Innovation Fund, she said. On a European level, Norway participated and financed EDA’s Joint Investment Programme on CBRN where artificial intelligence is used in sensor technologies for detecting, for instance, biological threats: “This demonstrates that Norway has succeeded in its strategy to invest in defence research and development through EDA”. As regards the European Defence Fund, Norway contributes with 200 million to the EDF budget with no return guarantee, the Vice-Admiral said.

Timo Pesonen said the European Commission’s main instrument for supporting defence innovation was the European Defence Fund (EDF), which became operational this year. Even before that, through the EDF’s precursor programmes - the Pilot Project on Defence Research, the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR), and the European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIDP) - the Commission has already actively supported defence innovation in the past few years. “We will continue on this part, and with the EDF we intend to spend around 150 million euros per year on defence innovation”, he said. This will be done in different ways. First, the Commission will continue to issue calls for proposals on disruptive technologies. “Up to 8% of the total EDF will allocated to this”, the Director General said. Second, from next year onwards, the Commission will also organise technological challenges, similar to those organised in the US. Third, the Commission adopted this year the Action Plan on synergies between civil, defence and space industries. Fourth, the Commission will support cross-border innovation networks and will test the relevance of technologies from the civil sector and spin them into defence. Fifth, innovation often lies within SMEs. “Therefore we will continue our special support to SMEs through the EDF (…) we have to make sure SMEs find their place in the supply chains of major defence programmes”. Sixth, the Space directorate of DG DEFIS has initiated specific actions to promote innovation in the space domain, with obvious benefits for defence too. “Last but not least, we will use new, innovative forms of funding”, including the usage of lump sums for project funding to reduce red tape, Mr Pesonen said. Of course, those Commission activities must be complementary to what other actors do in this field, including EDA. “We can only succeed if we do it together”, he said.

What sparks defence innovation in Estonia, was Kusti Salm asked. "There is no black magic", he said some very “basic things”. “Necessity, to start with. Estonia is a small country with very limited resources, and even now, everything is measured against these two parameters. We need to find solution with less resources”, he said. As an example, he mentioned the efforts put by the Estonian Ministry of Defence in developing and using unmanned ground systems for taking over military tasks, especially logistics tasks. “This has been identified by Estonia as a way to save people and increase war-fighting power”, he said, adding that this technology can then be linked to other platforms. The naval domain is another example. “In 10-15 years, Estonia needs to replace its fleet. Challenges at sea are growing fast, faster than our financial and staff resources. So we will look at unmanned systems and use modularity” to find innovative, efficient and cost-effective solutions, Mr Salm Stated. “So, we are actively seeking in two areas: one is unmanned capabilities, and the other one is modularity. The idea is that we can spread out to a number of smaller ships the technologies that would otherwise mounted on our large frigates”.  He also insisted on the importance of decentralisation for triggering innovation, as most innovations come from bottom-up. “For that we need to be ready to take risks and to also accept failure from time to time”, he said.

NATO’s work on emerging disruptive technologies (EDTs) went through three action-phases, namely “identify, understand, act”, said Mr van Weel. That’s the framework in which NATO works on EDTs, and which has already resulted in two specific strategies adopted last October: the Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy and the strategy on data exploitation policy. NATO’s core instruments for promoting innovation are the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (or DIANA) and the NATO’s Innovation Fund. “DIANA will have small offices on both sides of the Atlantic, connecting both sides’ ecosystems but also the funding, and using existing accelerators and testing sites already existing in the nations”, explained Mr van Weel. The NATO Innovation Fund, for its part, will help to bridge the financing gap many innovative ideas face in their development process (“valley of death”). “The Fund, which will total 1 billion euros, will do these early seed investments in promising dual-use technologies which either come through the DIANA accelerator programme or are being brought up by nations that are participating in the Fund as being promising for the defence sector”. The hope is that both DIANA and the Fund will be launched at the next NATO summit to take place in Madrid next June, Mr van Weel said. He also insisted on the importance of innovation regulation and standardisation. The military needs to pay more attention to this than in the past when we left this to the civil innovators and market. “We need to be ahead of the curve in this domain”, said Mr van Weel.

The second panel, moderated by Pieter Taal (EDA Head of Unit Industry Strategy and EU Policies), was entitled ‘Innovation capacity of the European defence industry’ and featured Peppas Antonios (CEO ETME), Domitilla Benigni (CEO and COO of Elettronica), Hervé Dammann (Senior Vice-President Europe, Thales) as well as Jan Pie (Secretary General, Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe, ASD). The panel discussed how the industry is adapting to the new defence innovation environment which is increasingly based on synergies between the Ministries and Defence with the civil sector, and what the current and future challenges and opportunities are for the industry.

Tremendous technological changes and developments have been witnessed in the defence sector in recent times and most, if not all, innovations that pushed those developments are driven by the commercial market, said Jan Pie. Hence the need to manage the spin-in process of those civil innovations into the military domain “which is much easier said than done”, especially because the requirements in the defence sector are different from those in the civil domain. That being said, commercial innovations on their own will not be enough to secure our Armed Forces’ technological superiority in the future. “We will also have to continue to need develop defence-specific technologies as well”, he stressed. The Commission’s Action Plan on synergies between the civil, defence and space industries is a step in the right direction but “we need a systematic approach” to implement the action plan and to actually create these synergies, Mr Pie stated. Furthermore, synergies can never replace the existing investment plans in Member States which should not be dropped because of synergy expectations that will only materialise in the future.

Domitilla Benigni agreed that the relationship between innovation and defence has changed over the years, “but what has most changed is the speed by which innovation occurs, and also where the innovation coming from”, namely from the civil sector “which is clearly leading”. Only collaborative initiatives such as the proposed future EDA Defence Innovation Hub, Nato’s DIANA programme and the Nato Defence Innovation Fund can allow the innovation coming from start-ups and SME to break through and reach a higher level, she thought. It will require good-will and efforts from both sides, however. “If the introduction of civil innovation in defence has to be successful, both sides need to act. The defence sector musty be ready to accommodate the new civil technologies in its systems, but on the other side, the civil innovators should be ready to include into their own products the military requirements that are important for defence. Otherwise, this mix and collaboration will not succeed”.

For Peppas Antonios, the speed of innovative change is indeed of the essence: “The name of the game is how to marry the speed of civil innovation with the long processes still being used in the Ministries of Defence”, he said. Everybody, innovators and military end-users, have to move “out of their comfort zones”: SMEs and start-ups have to understand, have to change, have to adopt new processes and learn from the prime defence companies. On the other hand, the primes have to learn from the more agile civil companies, SME and start-ups”, Mr Antonios said.

Hervé Dammann insisted on the “continuous efforts” needed in terms of investment to bring innovation forward. There is also a human dimension: “we need to be able to attract the best talents”, he said, referring to a “war of talents” on the labour market where a new awareness must be raised that working for a defence or dual-use company is a good thing, a good job, he said. The importance of start-ups and SME and their role in the defence supply chain cannot be over-estimated, said Mr Dammann as cooperation with them has become indispensable: “We could not do otherwise”. However, it is important they specialise on very specific domains needed for defence, he stressed.

The latest European Defence Matters magazine (N°22) is now available, with a special focus on Innovation in Defence. The magazine also features exclusive Opinion Editorials by Slovenian Defence Minister, Matej Tonin, and the Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Kris Peeters, as well as an interview with the departing Chairman of the EU Military Committee, General Claudio Graziano. Our bi-annual publication also comes with a richly illustrated article about BISON COUNTER 21, Europe’s largest and most relevant counter-IED exercise which recently took place in Sardinia, Italy.

You can read the new magazine in PDF or in a slightly shorter digital format.

In the magazine’s cover story, we put the spotlight on a (non-exhaustive) list of technologies our in-house experts think will have the biggest impact on defence in the future; we also briefly present the work the European Defence Agency, as the EU hub for collaborative defence innovation, research and capability development, is already delivering in those domains. We also look at other innovative trends in defence, give the floor to innovation experts to develop on those ‘non-tech’ aspects and ask defence innovators from some of our Member States - France, the Netherlands and Estonia - about their specific national approaches and experiences. EDA’s efforts to promote innovation are also looked at through articles on the Agency’s recent technology foresight exercise as well as this year’s EDA Defence Innovation Prize.

Beyond the cover story, we also sat down for an exciting ‘legacy interview’ with General Claudio Graziano whose mandate as Chairman of the EU Military Committee (EUIMC), the EU’s highest military body, will end in May 2022 after more than three years. Two inspiring and informative guest articles delivered by Slovenian Defence Minister Tonin and EIB Vice-President Peeters  - the first on EU defence cooperation under the Slovenian EU Presidency, and the second one on the importance of ensuring that Europe’s dual-use industry has adequate access to finance - also provide for an interesting read.

Have a look immediately – and enjoy!

• EDM Magazine Nr.22 (PDF)
• Digital (webzine) version of EDM Magazine Nr.22

Sikorsky won a $35.3 million deal to procure long lead items for full-rate production, Lot 7, CH-53K aircraft. The Ch-53K Super Stallion can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. It can be operated from austere and remote forward operating bases. Estimated completion is in December 2022. Work will take place in Connecticut.

Raytheon won a contract for the repair of three ALE-50 towed decoy system components in support of the F/A-18E/F aircraft. The deal includes a five-year base period with no options. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the US Navy’s primary strike and air superiority aircraft. It is an updated version of the F-18C/D, featuring a 20 percent larger airframe, 7,000 lb heavier empty weight, and 15,000 lb heavier maximum weight than the original Hornet. The Super Hornet carries 33 percent more internal fuel, increasing mission range by 41 percent and endurance by 50 percent over the earlier Hornet. Work will take place in Mississippi and California. Estimated completion is in December 2026.

An Israeli air strike hit a shipment of Iranian weapons in the Syrian port of Latakia on December 7. It was the first such attack on the key facility, according to a war monitor. The Israeli raid “directly targeted an Iranian weapons shipment in the container yard,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Syrian state media reported the strike on the container yard at Latakia port without specifying what was targeted.

French company Safran entered into exclusive discussions to acquire Orolia from Eurazeo. Orolia is a positioning, navigation, and timing product provider. It has a broad portfolio of technologies across the Resilient PNT value-chain with full system capabilities and is a provider of PNT equipment, simulation and test solutions. Orolia is also providing emergency locator beacons for commercial aviation and military applications.

Lockheed Martin has formally recognized Tata-Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) as a potential future co-producer of fighter wings in India’s Hyderabad city. A ceremonial event marking the first fighter wing prototype built at the TLMAL facility in Hyderabad was attended by Shri. K.T. Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Industries and Commerce, and Information Technology of Telangana; along with other government dignitaries; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Global Business Development executives; and Tata Advanced Systems Limited and TLMAL leadership.

Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE), the joint venture between the global aerospace and technology business, Paramount Group and one of Kazakhstan’s leading defense and engineering companies, Kazpetromash, has announced that the company commenced production of the advanced Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), the Barys 6×6. The first deliveries are expected by the end of the year to the Armed Forces Special Units of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Barys 6×6 accommodates two crew members, up to eight troops, and can be utilised for a myriad of defence and security operations, including border patrol, armoured ambulance and infantry fire support.

Watch: KTR:Speaking at TATA Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited Fighter Wing Qualification Ceremony

EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý this afternoon closed the Agency’s 2021 Annual Conference devoted to ‘Innovation in European Defence’ with a call for Member States, and Europe as a whole, to invest more and better in defence innovation “and to do it together”, reflecting a general assessment expressed throughout the conference.

He also expressed the hope that 2022 will become “the year of European defence” and that Europe will take further decisive action to live up to its defence aspirations, also with respect to innovation. “The choice is clear”, he said repeating what many speakers and panelists expressed throughout the day: “Either we innovate in defence or we will become defence irrelevant”.

Main takeaways

Mr Šedivý singled out a number of commonalities expressed during the conference which could serve as the main takeaways of today's event, such as:

• in terms of defence innovation, Europe is clearly stagnating vis-a-vis its main competitors, especially the US but also other global powers. This widening gap could, at some point, put at risk Europe’s interoperability with its partners;
• to catch up, Europe needs to be open to partners both in Europe and outside, also across the Atlantic: “We need complementarity with NATO rather than competition”. Openness also means a readiness to work with civil industry, SMEs and start ups;
• to boost innovation, there is a need for cultural change and a change of mindset throughout Europe’s Ministries of Defence, including a tolerance for failure;
• the final test of European defence innovation will be in its operational output, i.e. the capacity to deliver usable high-end capabilities that are needed by our Armed Forces;
• Europe’s defence relevance will also stand or fall with the robustness, resilience and competitiveness of its defence industrial and technological base, including the security of supply chain;
• EDA’s role in innovation is unique because, under the same roof, it deals with capability prioritisation and development, research and development, industrial synergies and civil-military cooperation as well as support to PESCO, CARD and the EDF. “Innovation is in the Agency’s DNA since its very start”; now, it is the time to use its expertise and experience to bring defence innovation forward in Europe.

EUMC Chair Graziano: Innovation must respond to military needs

Previously, addressing the Annual Conference for a last time in his capacity of EU Military Committee Chairman, departing General Claudio Graziano, whose mandate will expire end in May 2022 after more than three years, said that European Defence were at an “historical moment with wind of change blowing from everywhere”. Now is the moment for Europe to show “assertiveness and the capacity to adapt” if it wants to play a “responsible role for a sustainable future”: “Either we succeed as a group, or we all fail as a group”. The upcoming Strategic Compass offers the EU an opportunity for aligning its defence tools, also financial, and consolidating its role as a global security provider, the General stated: “If we miss this train of credibility, I’m afraid it will be long before we catch another one, if any at all”. Innovation in defence is of course a key part of this endeavour because it is an indispensable path for Europe towards achieving operation superiority and being able to project power, rapidly and effectively.  “In this context, the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity is not just the most tangible sign of a renewed EU commitment, but also a clear demonstration that the EU understands the winds of change”, he said. The defence industry and, in general, Europe’s defence industrial and technological base will be crucial for Europe’s future defence posture. “At the same time, the defence industry can only succeed of it is not undermined by other EU policies such as the possible extension of the EU sustainability taxonomy to social aspects, inter alia. One must be wary of that!”, Mr Graziano stressed. He also called for making sure that defence innovation is driven by the operational needs and requirements of the Armed Forces on the ground; the end-users’ perspective must always be decisive and guide innovation, he said.

EIB Vice-President Kris Peeters: “Hope that next year will be the year of defence”

Conference attendees also witnessed an interesting fire side chat with Kris Peeters, the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) Vice-President. He recalled the Bank’s decision, back in 2017, to launch the ‘European Security Initiative’ with a budget of 6 billion euros of which, so far, 4 billion have already been invested in dual-use projects benefiting to security and defence. 47% of those 4 billion euros have gone into innovation, Mr Peeters said, stressing that the funding was allocated as loans to both Member States and private companies (including start-ups) as well. Even though security and defence are still “sensitive” topics at the EIB which, as a European organisation, “is defending European values”, one should not forget that against the backdrop of increasing threats everywhere, “security and defence are also important values for European citizens”. “If we don’t invest in this sector, we cannot talk about European strategic autonomy, sovereignty or resilience. We must not be naive”, he said. There is a “momentum” to push for more investments in security “and I hope that next year, 2022, will be the year of defence”.

Lively and interactive panel discussions

Throughout the day, following the various keynote speeches (see other related news on the opening speeches and the ministerial debate), conference attendees also enjoyed two lively, interactive and highly interesting panel debates, each of them focusing on a specific aspect of defence innovation.

Moderated by EDA Deputy Chief Executive Olli Ruutu, the first panel entitled ‘How to foster defence innovation?’ featured Emmanuel Chiva, Executive Director of the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID), Vice Admiral Louise K. Dedichen, Norwegian Military Representative to NATO, Timo Pesonen, Director General of DG DEFIS at the European Commission, Kusti Salm, Permanent Secretary at the Estonian Ministry of Defence, and David van Weel, Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO. In this panel, representatives of national governments and European institutions discussed the potential and requirements for greater innovation in European armed forces, from new technologies, concepts and processes to doctrines and decisions.   

The second panel, moderated by Pieter Taal (EDA Head of Unit Industry Strategy and EU Policies), was entitled ‘Innovation capacity of the European defence industry’ and featured Peppas Antonios (CEO ETME), Domitilla Benigni (CEO and COO of Elettronica), Hervé Dammann (Senior Vice-President Europe, Thales) as well as Jan Pie (Secretary General, Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe, ASD). The panel discussed how the industry is adapting to the new defence innovation environment which is increasingly based on synergies between the Ministries and Defence with the civil sector, and what the current and future challenges and opportunities are for the industry.