Defense Industry Daily

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $935.5 million deal, which procures support equipment, autonomic logistics information system hardware, training systems, site activations and integrated contractor support for the F-35 Lightning II. Additionally, the contract supports tasking that will result in improvements to the reliability, availability, maintainability and total ownership cost of the F-35 Lightning II for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. The F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF), is being developed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and the UK Royal Navy. It is a stealthy supersonic multirole fighter. The JSF is being built in three variants: a conventional take-off and landing aircraft (CTOL) for the US Air Force; a carrier variant (CV) for the US Navy; and a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft for the US Marine Corps and the Royal Navy. Work will take place in Florida, Texas, California, New York and the UK. Estimates completion will be in March 2026.

General Dynamic Land Systems won a $44.4 million contract modification to procure improved fire control electronics units in support of the Abrams expedited active protection system-trophy. M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). The first M1 tank was produced in 1978, the M1A1 in 1985 and the M1A2 in 1986. Army and Marine units intend to use Trophy APS-equipped Abrams main battle tanks to disrupt/destroy certain classes of enemy fire while safely maneuvering across the full range of military operations. Work will take place in Tallahassee, Florida. Estimated completion date is October 1, 2022.

Middle East & Africa

An oversight failure left the Pentagon unable to judge if a $174 million Afghan surveillance drone project is effective, an inspector general’s report says. The report notes that at least $174 million was spent between 2015 and 2019 to supply Afghanistan’s security forces with ScanEagle remotely piloted aircraft. It adds, though, that the Defense Department is unable to determine if the project is effective, if the Afghan forces can sustain it or what the immediate and long-term impacts of the investment. The report concludes that whatever benefit the drones offer the Afghan forces is not quantifiable, and that their use has offered few gains in fighting Taliban forces in the country.

Europe

Local media in Austria says Indonesia has written an official letter to buy 15 Eurofighters from Austria. The letter was from Indonesia’s Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to his Austrian counterpart Klaudia Tanner. The Austria Defense Ministry has confirmed that the letter was received. The letter was dated July 10. Subianto has also stated in his letter that he understands the issue of the Eurofighter in Austria is sensitive due to a corruption probe into the purchase of the 15 aircraft. He added that the sale offers opportunities for both sides. Austria had previously said it wanted to retire those fighters starting from this year and replace them with another type of aircraft such as the Gripen or F-16. Back in 2017, Austria launched a probe into the purchase of the fighters, alleging that Airbus had paid brides during the competition. Indonesia is looking to replacing its F-5 with new fighters and had signaled that it intends to buy the Su-35. However, the deal to buy the Russian fighters has never been signed. The South East Asian nation had also indicated last year that it intends to buy two squadrons of F-16s this year.

Royal Marines responsible for guarding the UK’s nuclear weapons and submarines have been testing drones and robots at Jackton Police College in East Kilbride near Glasgow. The Ministry of Defense says that 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines are the last line of defense protecting the nation’s Trident missiles and the machines which carry them. 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is a 550-strong unit based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Argyll and Bute.

Asia-Pacific

The US Navy says the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Groups dual carrier operations in the South China Sea are still ongoing. The latest statement said both groups “continued high-end dual-carrier exercises in the South China Sea, July 17.” The Navy had announced on July 6 that both groups had started dual carrier operations in the area on July 6. Nimitz and Ronald Reagan CSGs continue to leverage the teamwork of over 12,000 Sailors and Marines to conduct tactical air defense exercises, in order to maintain warfighting readiness and proficiency.

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Watch: Eurofighter Typhoon vs Dassault Rafale – Which would win?

Americas

Raytheon Missiles and Defense won a $15.3 million contract modification to exercise options for engineering and technical services and obsolescence solution in support of Standard Missile-2/6. The designation refers to the SM-2, or RIM-166 missile, and its new and upgraded version, designated SM-6 or RIM-174. Each is a surface-to-air missile designed to intercept both hostile aircraft and high-performance anti-ship missiles. The SM-6 variant can be used against fixed and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, land attack cruise missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles. Each is vertically launched and compatible with the Aegis Weapon System. Work will take place in Tucson, Arizona. Estimates completion date will be inJune 2021.

Lockheed Martin won a $15 billion deal for C-130J development, integration, retrofit and production activities for all C-130J variants. The contract provides flexibility to accommodate the broad enterprise of activities associated with the C-130J program. The C-130J can carry tons of supplies more than 3,000 miles, according to the company, and can operate with only two pilots and a loadmaster for most missions. Military operations the aircraft is suited for include weather reconnaissance, electronic warfare, medical evacuation, search and rescue, paradrop, maritime mission, special operations, personnel support, as well as both in-flight and ground fueling. Work will take place in Marietta, Georgia and is expected to be finished on July 16, 2030.

Middle East & Africa

Israel’s RADA Electronic Industries announced it has received $8 million in accumulated new orders since June 1. To date, the aggregate amount of new orders since the beginning of 2020 has reached $49 million, compared to $31 million during the same period in 2019, the company said. Out of the new orders, 70% were for RADA’s software-defined tactical radars for counter UAV and counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) operations. The orders are a mix of follow-ons from existing customers, along with orders from new defense customers. Most of these orders are expected to be delivered during 2020. The rest of the orders were for UAV avionics as well as digital video recorders and debriefing stations for fighter aircrafts, according to RADA.

Europe

The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has ordered one NS100 radar and seven Scout Mk3 radars for its warships, Thales announced. The NS100 radar will be installed on HNLMS Johan de Witt, a Landing Platform Docks (LPD), and acceptance testing will commence in 2023. One of the Scout Mk3 surveillance radar ordered will be installed on the same ship as well. The Combat Support Ship that is presently being built for the service will get the Scout Mk3 radar as well. The other five sets of radars are for the M-class frigates operated by the RNLN and the Belgian Naval Component.

Russia’s Military Industrial Company (VPK) has developed a concept for a new family of light tactical vehicles on its own initiative. The Strela (Arrow) 4×4 multipurpose air-transportable armored platform can be configured as a command-and-control, protected transport, or patrol vehicle. It carries up to eight servicemen, including the driver, depending on the configuration. The platform uses advanced commercial-off-the-shelf components of the GAZ vehicle family, which Russian industry plans to mass produce. The Strela features a modular design and has only Russian-made subsystems.

Asia-Pacific

A public hearing was organized on July 18 for local residents of Taitung County, Taiwan to discuss the possible deployment of AH-64E attack helicopters at Fengnian. The locals opposed the plan, saying that the rotorcraft will bring additional noise to the area and they are concern over the safety. The Army’s Aviation and Special Forces Command explained that the helicopters generate only 49.1 decibels, while air traffic at Fengnian averages 56.3 decibels. Residents will be compensated for the noise generated as well. However, the majority of the locals attending the hearing still are against the deployment as they have been suffering from noise pollution from Zhihang airbase nearby.

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Americas

Northrop Grumman won a $35.9 million deal for repair of 174 B-52 Engine Nose Cowls for the B-52 Stratofortress Bomber jet. The B-52H is the US Air Force’s (USAF) long-range, large-payload multirole bomber and is known as the Stratofortress or the Buff (big ugly fat fellow). It is the USAF’s principal strategic nuclear and conventional weapons platform that supports the US Navy in anti-surface and submarine warfare missions. Work will take place in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Expected completion date will be in July 2021.

Testing of the AN/APQ­-187 Silent Knight terrain-following/terrain-avoidance K-band radar on the US Air Force’s CV-22B has started last month. The flight took place on June 23 at Eglin Air Force Base. Testing is being performed by 413th Flight Test Squadron. The new radar allows special forces to fly their aircraft at 100ft above ground level in straight and turning flight at speed up to 300kts. It is designed to replace the AN/APQ-174, AN/APQ-186 and AN/APQ-170.

Middle East & Africa

Boeing won a $12.2 million delivery order for the procurement of multiple flight control surfaces in support of the Boeing F/A-18 E-G Super Hornet aircraft. Kuwait funds in the amount of $5,978,490 will be obligated at the time of the award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Kuwait funds will be used under the Foreign Military Sales program. In 2018 Boeing won a $1.5 billion contract to build 28 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets for the Kuwait Air Force. The deal was a scaled-down version of the initial purchase announced in 2016 which involved 40 aircraft. At the time, the deal was considered significant by industry analysts and US government officials because it would keep Boeing’s Super Hornet production line operational. Work will take place in St. Louis, Missouri. Estimated completion will be by May 2026.

Europe

Saab received the first order from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) for the life extension of the heavyweight torpedo system, Saab announced. The order value is approximately 485 MSEK and deliveries will take place during 2020-2024. The order is part of a life extension programme for the heavyweight torpedo and mainly comprises a review of the system, modifications and enhancements. The order also includes preparations for upcoming stages of the life extension program. Torpedo 62 is a heavyweight torpedo system for surface and underwater targets. Torpedo 62 is equipped with an advanced propulsion system with high capacity and long endurance, combined with an advanced target seeker, developed for the Swedish Navy’s operational area.

Asia-Pacific

An Indonesian Navy Frosch I (Type 108) Class amphibious landing craft has sunk after experiencing a hull breach. The 98 m vessel, KRI i, began sending out a distress signal around 8.38 am local time on 14 July about 55 n miles northeast off the Kangean Islands in the Java Sea. It sank about 45 minutes after its first distress call. The 1,900-tonne vessel had a crew complement of 55 onboard. 54 personnel were rescued by a container ship, KM Tanto Sejahtera , while a remaining crew member was retrieved from the water by passenger and cargo liner, KM Dobonsolo. All crew members have since been transferred to the Martadinata (SIGMA 10514)-class frigate, KRI Raden Eddy Martadinata , which was dispatched to the area in response to the first distress call from the ill-fated ship.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has outlined a commitment to locally develop a transmission system for Hyundai Rotem’s K2 Black Panther main battle tank (MBT). The commitment, it said, is linked to wider efforts in South Korea to reduce reliance on foreign components and systems, and especially those that are integrated into “critical” military programmes such as the K2. Such efforts have intensified partly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has exposed supply-chain weaknesses in South Korea’s defense industry.

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Americas

Thomas Instrument won a $7.1 million deal for the depot-level overhaul of the C-5 visor door actuator. The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft originally designed and built by Lockheed and now maintained and upgraded by its successor, Lockheed Martin. It provides the USAF with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsized and oversized loads, including all air-certifiable cargo. The C-5 Galaxy’s development was complicated, including significant cost overruns, and Lockheed suffered significant financial difficulties. Shortly after entering service, cracks in the wings of many aircraft were discovered and the C-5 fleet was restricted in capability until corrective work was completed. The C-5M Super Galaxy is an upgraded version with new engines and modernized avionics designed to extend its service life beyond 2040. Work will take place in Brookshire Texas. Expected completion date is July 13, 2025.

The Air Force hopes to adopt a virtual reality trainer to help B-52 Stratofortress student-pilots train for combat. The Virtual Reality Procedures Trainer, developed by Maj. Mark Budgeon of Air Force Global Strike Command, Maj. Brandon Wolf, 307th Operations Support Squadron, and Maj. Justin Stephenson, 11th Bomb Squadron chief pilot and chief of innovations, along with King Crow Studios was released earlier in July at StrikeWerx in Bossier City, La. A prototype is expected later this year. The VPRT is intended to reduce human bias in instruction, provide better access to training for student pilots and give students immediate feedback — reducing their chances of developing poor habits early in training.

Middle East & Africa

The ST-100 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) made by the Egypt-based International Marathon United Technologies (IMUT) is available in 10 modular variants, including ones armed with Chinese missiles, according to Jane’s. The magazines reported information released in a video by an unofficial source. The footage included computer-generated imagery (CGI) showing how the different mission modules can be changed in 45–60 minutes, with the powerpack being replaced in 25 minutes. The anti-tank variant has a four-round launcher that raises from the rear compartment and appeared to be armed with the Poly Technologies GAM-102 anti-tank missile that uses an imaging infrared seeker to guide itself to its target. The IMUT video showed the missile being tested from a Dongfeng CSK141 light armored vehicle but not an ST-100.

Europe

A £65 million ($81.8 million) contract has been awarded to build the UK’s first three Protector drones. Protector is the world’s first certified Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS), enabling it to fly in busy, unsegregated airspace, including civilian airspace, thanks to its ground-breaking ‘detect and avoid’ technology. The contract follows the development phase by manufacturers General Atomics Aeronautical Systems which will build the first three Protector aircraft, plus three ground control stations and other associated support equipment. It also includes an option to build 13 more aircraft and four ground control stations, which will complete the current planned fleet of 16 aircraft, more than doubling the capability currently provided by Reaper.

Asia-Pacific

An Egyptian military delegation that traveled to China on two C-130s is in the news in Thailand after a 43 year-old man on the trip had tested positive for COVID-19 while the delegation was on a stay over in Rayong province. Information released by the Thai government said the flights, EGY1245 and EGY1216, arrived at U-Tapao airport in Rayong on July 8 and they left for Chengdu, China on Jul. 9. The two C-130 then return from China on the same day at 11:30 p.m. On July 10, 27 of the 31 people in the delegation went shopping at a mall and only three were wearing masks at that time, including the person who tested positive. The local authorities had to seek help from the embassy of Egypt to get them to undergo swap tests for COVID-19. The two aircraft left Thailand on July 11. Thailand’s Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration admitted that an oversight had allowed the delegation to use U-Tapao airport instead of Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok. Foreign visitors were normally quarantined at Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport hotel. Because of this incident, Egypt’s two military flights on July 17-20 and 25-29 have been cancelled.

Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang wargames has started on July 13, delayed this year due to COVID-19. The exercise saw the military deploying a Patriot air defense missile unit to the carpark of the Taipei City Zoo. The Han Kuang Exercise is designed to maintain Taiwan’s combat readiness against a possible attack from the People’s Republic of China. Starting in 1984, the exercises have been held annually since 2011.

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Americas

Boeing won a $22.9 billion deal for the F-15EX system. The delivery order provides for design, development, integration, manufacturing, test, verification, certification, delivery, sustainment and modification of F-15EX aircraft, as well as spares, support equipment, training materials, technical data and technical support. The contract award is a big win for Boeing and gives a second life for the F-15 production line in St. Louis, Mo. After years of urging the Air Force to consider an advanced version of the F-15 as a complementary capability to Lockheed Martin’s F-35, Boeing found an ally in the Defense Department’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office, which in 2019 forced the service to purchase F-15EX planes in order to build capacity. Work will take place in St. Louis, Missouri and at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Expected completion date is December 31, 2023.

Northrop Grumman Systems won an $11.3 million contract for the procurement of transitional development and sustaining engineering services for the Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), to include software support activity transition, low/slow/small capability development and ground weapons locating radar improvements. The G/ATOR program is managed within the portfolio of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. The AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is the US Marine Corps next generation Air Surveillance/Air Defense and Air Traffic Control Radar. In June last year, Northrop receives a deal worth $958 million to provide an additional 30 gallium nitride-based (GaN) G/ATOR systems. The contract for Lot 6 full-rate production of the systems also included spare parts and retrofit kits. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. Work will take place in Linthicum, Maryland and is expected to be finished by July 2021.

Middle East & Africa

An MD-530F helicopter that was delivered to the Kenyan Army’s Joint Helicopter Command in January this year has crashed on July 13, killing two people on board. Six of these helicopters were handed over at Embakasi Barracks on January 23. The country had placed an order for 12 MD-530Fs. The mishap helicopter was on a routine mission when it crashed in Kithyoko, Masinga area around 10 a.m. local time. The helicopters were acquired from the United States through the US Foreign Military Sales program.

Europe

Latvia is prepared to house, and pay for, US troops if they leave Germany, Latvia’s defense minister told a Bookings Institution virtual conference. “We are ready, and this is an official announcement, we are ready to invest to receive a certain amount of American troops on Latvian soil,” Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Artis Pabriks said Friday. A deployment would be the first large-scale housing of US troops in the Baltic country, a part of the former Soviet Union and a NATO member since 2004. Pabriks later said he would welcome negotiations with the United States on a deployment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a NATO force on the border between NATO countries and Russia.

Asia-Pacific

Northrop Grumman won a $7.8 million hybrid contract to provide US Forces Korea with information technology, architecture and engineering, command and control networks and associated systems support services. United States Forces Korea is a sub-unified command of US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). USFK has Title 10 authority, which means that USFK is responsible for organizing, training and equipping US forces on the Korean Peninsula so that forces are agile, adaptable and ready.

China warned it would place sanctions on Lockheed Martin on Tuesday, following US approval of a Taiwanese purchase of upgrades to Patriot III missiles for about $620 million. Beijing’s defense ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday at a press briefing the Chinese government could sanction the US defense contractor, less than a week after the United States endorsed the delivery of a package that includes tests of missile capabilities. “China is firmly opposed to U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan,” Zhao said. “The United States must abide by the One-China policy and the Three Joint Communiqués.”

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Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $7.3 million contract modification to exercise an option for AEGIS Platform Systems Engineering Agent efforts for the integration and delivery of AEGIS Baseline 9 capabilities. The contract provides for the completion of the development and fielding of the AEGIS Baseline 9 AEGIS Weapon System and integrated AEGIS Combat System on the remaining AEGIS Technical Insertion (TI) 12 configured destroyers as well as TI 12 and TI 08 configured cruisers. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey. Work will take place in Moorestown, New Jersey. Estimated completion will be by July 2021.

Raytheon Integrated won a $9.7 million order for engineering design and component replacement parts to support the Dual Band Radar systems. According to Raytheon, the Dual Band Radar is the first radar system in the US Navy fleet capable of simultaneously operating over two frequency ranges (S-band and X-band), coordinated by a single resource manager. Work will take place in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.Expected completion date will be in November 2022.

Middle East & Africa

The Israeli Air Force inaugurated the new 7th Wing into service on July 12. The new wing puts the 669 rescue unit, Shaldag commando unit and Frontal landing unit under a unified command. An intelligence unit and a joint school for Special Forces will be added to the wing at a later stage. It is located at Palmachim air force base. “A systemic organization of Special Forces, which focuses on unique operational response to the IAF’s challenges, is a dream for the IDF’s Special Forces personnel and in general”, said Commander of the Wing, Col. E.

Europe

The US State Department has approved the possible sale of Mk54 lightweight antisubmarine torpedoes and related equipment to Belgium for an estimated cost of $33.3 million. The Government of Belgium requested to buy twenty-nine All Up Round MK 54 LWT Mod 0.  Also included are two Fleet Exercise Section conversion kits, torpedo support equipment, training and publications, US Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally which is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

Asia-Pacific

New Zealand’s coalition government announced that it has approved the $7.5 million procurement of 43 Thales Australia Bushmaster 4×4 Protected Mobility Vehicles to replace the New Zealand Army’s armored Pinzgauer Light Operational Vehicles (LOVs). The new fleet of Australian-designed and-built Bushmasters will provide “better protection for personnel and improved carrying capacity”, said Defense Minister Ron Mark, pointing out that the approved funding will deliver “the vehicles, along with training, a desktop simulator, support equipment and infrastructure upgrades at Linton Camp”. Delivery of the multirole vehicles is expected to start in late 2022, with the full fleet scheduled to begin operational introduction in late 2023.

The Philippine Navy intends to arm four of the Shaldag Class patrol boats that it will be acquiring from Israel with the Rafael Spike NLOS missile that has a range of 25km. Some of the Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) in service with the Philippine Navy already has the shorter-range Spike-ER missile. The new craft will replace the patrol killer medium (PKM) boats that came from South Korea in 1995. Four Shaldags will be built in Israel while the rest will be assembled locally at PN Cavite Naval Yard.

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Americas

Lockheed Martin won an $87.5 million deal, which provides non-recurring engineering for the development and maturation of the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) in support of data migration and transition to the newly developed F-35 Operational Integrated Data Network (ODIN). ALIS and ODIN provide maintenance capabilities to support worldwide F-35 operations. Additionally, this contract provides software and hardware engineering in support of F-35 ODIN development, delivery and associated data management activities for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and non-Department of Defense participants. ODIN is intended to reduce operator and administrator workload, increase F-35 mission readiness rates, and allow software designers to rapidly develop and deploy updates in response to operator needs. Work will take place in Orlando, Florida and Fort Worth, Texas. Estimated completion will be by June 2022.

Raytheon won a $17.2 million order, which provides non-recurring engineering in support of upgrading the existing Tactical Tomahawk Guidance Test Set (TTGTS) product baseline to eliminate obsolescence and production issues. Additionally, this order provides for the development, test and delivery of six new TTGTSs. Since 1994, RMS (Raytheon Missiles Systems) has been the sole developer, designer, and manufacturer for the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. RMS solely possesses the current configuration and manufacturing data for the Tomahawk Block IV AUR missile, and is the only source capable of performing the required tasking. RMS maintains and controls both the Level III technical data package (TDP) and the manufacturing documentation for the Block IV AUR. The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is an all-weather, long range, subsonic cruise missile used for deep land attack warfare, launched from US Navy surface ships and US Navy and United Kingdom Royal Navy submarines. Work will take place in Arizona, Florida, UK, Ontario, Alabama, Utah and various other locations. Expected completion date will be by December 2022.

Middle East & Africa

An Afghan light attack plane crashed in northern Afghanistan,with its US Air Force pilot safely ejecting before the crash, US and Afghan officials said. The plane, an A-29 Super Tucano, was on a training exercise in Baghlan province when the incident occurred. The pilot’s name was not released, and it is unclear if a second person was aboard the two-seat plane. Preliminary reports from United States Forces Afghanistan indicated that a mechanical issue was the cause of the crash. Support aircraft arrived quickly in the remote valley where the plane crashed to rescue the pilot.

Europe

The DoS approved a possible sale of 64 MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight torpedoes, ten MK 54 Conversion Kits and related equipment to Germany for an estimated cost of $130 million. Also included are torpedo containers; Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers; Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and fuel tanks to be used with MK 54 conversion kits (procured as MDE); air launch accessories for fixed wing; torpedo spare parts; training, publications, support and test equipment; US Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The proposed sale will improve Germany’s capability to meet current and future threats by upgrading the Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities on Germany’s P-3C aircraft.

Asia-Pacific

The State Department approved a possible sale to Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) of Recertification of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles for an estimated cost of $620 million. TECRO has requested to buy Recertification of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles, including the replacement of expiring Limited Life Components (LLCs) and certification testing in order to support an operational life of thirty years; Test and repair of PAC-3 missiles, including Stockpile Reliability Testing (SRT) and Field Returns; Repair and Return (R&R) of classified and unclassified PAC-3 missile items and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) component level parts; replenishment of classified and unclassified missile spares and GSE spares. This proposed sale will help sustain the recipient’s missile density and ensure readiness for air operations.

The DoS approved a possible FMS to Korea of items and services to extend follow-on support to its Peace Krypton reconnaissance aircraft for an estimated cost of $250 million. The Republic of Korea has requested to buy items and services to extend follow-on support to its Peace Krypton reconnaissance aircraft. Included are Ground System Modernization (GSM) and sustainment of Prime Mission Equipment (PME); Field Service Representatives (FSR); minor modifications and upgrades; Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); spares and repair and return of parts; publications and technical documentation; US Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.  The proposed sale will improve Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by supporting operation of its fleet of Peace Krypton aircraft and enabling continued Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) interoperability with the United States.  Korea will have no difficulty absorbing this follow-on support into its armed forces.

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Americas

Brazil has officially begun manufacturing fighter jets with the start of production at a new facility that makes sections of the Saab Gripen, Swedish aerospace company Saab announced Tuesday. Saab Aeronáutica Montagens, a new manufacturing plant located near Sao Paulo, has begun producing Gripen E/F aerostructures, including the tail cone and front fuselage for the single-seat Gripen E version of the jet. It will eventually also make the brakes, rear fuselage, wing box and front fuselage for the two-seater “F” model, Saab stated. Those structures will then undergo final assembly at Embraer’s nearby plant in Sao Paulo and Saab’s main Gripen production hub in Linköping, Sweden. Saab won a contract with Brazil in 2014 for 36 Gripen E/F aircraft after a hard-fought competition that included Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon. Technology transfer was a major requirement for all proposals.

Northrop Grumman announced that the US Air Force has placed an initial order for Litening pods with full-color digital video capability and two-color laser spot search and track. The pod includes full-color digital video (with resolution of more than 1k x 1k) and two-color laser spot search and track, the company announced. A color video capability gives aircrew and ground forces ‘more complete situational understanding in less time’, said Ryan Tintner, VP of navigation, targeting and surveillance at Northrop Grumman. Any Litening pod can be upgraded to the color configuration. This upgrade also includes the ability to record simultaneous video feeds from all sensors for post-mission analysis, automatic laser code display and an eye-safe mode that allows for more realistic training while using the laser.

Middle East & Africa

Elbit Systems has integrated a mini-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) onboard the Seagull Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) further enhancing its intelligence gathering capabilities. According to the company, the trials with the mini-UAS were conducted in recent weeks. With this, Elbit Systems is expanding the operational capabilities of the Seagull USV beyond Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Mines Countermeasure (MCM) missions. The shipborne mini-UAS, with a takeoff weight of up to 15kg, is capable of point water recovery. The visual feed generated by the mini-UAS can be transmitted to the land based control unit of the Seagull USV and to the Combat Management System (CMS) of additional vessels.

Europe

Estonian Special Forces deploying to Mali will be loaned four Jackal armored vehicles by the Ministry of Defense. Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey confirmed the loan, plus a three-week training package, for elite soldiers of the Estonian Armed Forces. The loan will equip Estonian troops as they join the fight against Islamic terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa, a further example of the UK’s strong partnership with one of its closest NATO allies, say the MoD.

UAC has delivered another four Su-35 fighters to the Russian Knights aerobatics team, local media reports. This brings the total number of aircraft delivered to 8. The first four were transferred in November last year. These aircraft were manufactured at Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnAAZ).

Asia-Pacific

Polaris has delivered six of its diminutive 4×4 all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to the New Zealand Army, as part of the latter’s Protected Mobility Capability Project. The lightweight four-seat vehicles, which are powered by a turbo diesel engine, are meant to replace quad bikes and other small vehicles operated by the army, and to provide improved mobility, safety, and versatility to rapidly deployable mobile forces.

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MWMIK Jackal
(click to view full)

Britain is part of the general push by western countries to field heavier, mine-protected vehicles, via orders for the Mastiff Cougar variant and its smaller 4×4 Ridgback companion. UK forces are also fielding vehicles like the Land Rover WMIK (Weapons Mounted Installation Kit) that have a very different core concept: firepower and visibility over protection. When deployed in mixed groups with more protected vehicles, and used on open terrain like the plains of southern Afghanistan, ‘the porcupine’ (WMIK) has earned enemy respect and commander requests.

The British sought to build on the WMIK’s strengths, while asking for a vehicle that offered both greater firepower, and better off-road mobility. In response, Supacat’s High Mobility Transporter (HMT) was adapted, then adopted, by the British (“Jackal”) and by Australia’s SAS commandos (“Nary”). Success led to more British orders for Jackal 2 and HMT 600 “Coyote” designs, and now Australian Special Forces are adding the new Extenda vehicle to their fleet.

Supacat’s MWMIK/ Jackal: Origins and Program

Jackal, front
(click to view full)

The Jackals have a somewhat complicated history. As Battlespace Magazine notes:

“The initial history of the MWMIK was littered with cost overruns, delays and technology changes which resulted in the MoD taking IPR for the top hamper design of the vehicle. The vehicle was developed as a result of an MoD requirement for replacement of the aging Pink Panther Land Rovers. The previous UOR, issued in 1982, caused the then Technical Director of SMC, Mike Stone, to say, “The only thing this vehicle [specification] can’t do is fly!” SMC declined to bid!

Thus, when the UOR (Urgent Operational Requirement) for this replacement vehicle was issued in 1999 it had, once again, a very onerous specification. Many companies bid the UOR including ATK, Ricardo and AutomotiveTechnik, but the contract was won by Supacat which ticked all the capability boxes. It rapidly became apparent that the vehicle offered by Supacat, the HMT, although superior in performance and speed, lacked the engineering and support required for the vehicle.

Thus, after many months of protracted negotiations, the MoD took some IPR over the vehicle which allowed it to purchase further batches, and a deal was hammered out with DML which allowed it to recoup some of the money in establishing the assembly for the initial batch. Supacat had obtained the sales and deign rights for the vehicle from HMT Vehicles Ltd a fledgling Scottish Company owned by the Duke Of Hamilton and the Trustees of the Hamilton Estates along with other investors.”

Jackal family vehicles are designed by Supacat in Honiton, Devon, but manufacturing is done by a company known for ship-building and nuclear submarines. Babcock subsidiary Devonport Management Ltd (DML) will build it at their Devonport dockyard in Plymouth, as part of a larger diversification effort to reduce dependence on dwindling ship-building contracts for the Royal Navy et. al. In April 2009, the 2 firms formalized their alliance.

A single project office, located at Dunkeswell in Devon, provides overall control. Supacat is the design authority, responsible for design, development, prototyping, integration and overall program management. Babcock took responsibility for detailed production planning, purchasing and manufacture. Other industrial partners include:

• Allison (transmission)
  
• Cummins (engine)
  
• Frazer-Nash systems engineering consultancy (assistance during testing and trials)
  
• Universal Engineering (chassis)

Lockheed Martin’s INSYS land vehicle subsidiary is also involved, thanks to its acquisition of original designer HMT Vehicles Ltd. HMT had originally negotiated a royalty of GBP 4,000 per axle for the vehicle, but the arrival of British contracts has reportedly led INSYS to reduce that royalty.

To date, Britain has ordered over 565 vehicles in the Jackal family:

• 35 HMT MEPs for Project Soothsayer (canceled in 2009)
  
• 202 Jackal 1s
  
• 120+ Jackal 2s
  
• 140 Jackal 2As
  
• 70+ Coyote TSV-Ls.

Jackal, Afghanistan
(click to view full)

The approximate contract value of the various British buys is over GBP 350 million. That includes GBP 174 million for Jackal 1 + GBP 140 million for the Jackal 2 and Coyote buys + GBP 45 million has been spent ordering Jackal 2As. The first Jackal 1 vehicles entered service in November 2007, and were in theater in early 2008. The Jackal 2s entered service in August 2009, as did the cargo-carrying Coyote TSV-L, which is based on the 6×6 HMT 600.

Supacat has been hoping for continued orders from the British government, and/or other governments around the world, in order to keep the ball rolling. Follow-on work has materialized from Britain, Australia became the vehicle’s second special forces customer, with total orders rising to 120, and Canada currently has a special forces vehicle competition underway. Even so, the pace of deliveries has been challenging for Supacat.

Supacat’s HMTs: The Vehicles

Jackal & Jackal 2
click for video

The new Supacat MWMIK/ Jackal has provisions for 2 crew-served weapons, just like the Land Rover WMIK. The other similarity is that it’s an open vehicle, so the crew has a full field of visibility and fire with rifles, light 5.56mm machine guns, or whatever is at hand. The Supacat HMT Jackal is larger at 5.39 m/ 17’8″ long, and 6,650 kg/ 14,660 pounds. Key advantages include smoke/specialty grenade launchers as integral fittings, longer driving range, greater carrying capacity (4 tonnes), and far better off-road mobility than its Land Rover counterpart. Some concerns did remain, however. Battlespace magazine:

“One stumbling block is believed to be the requirement to armour the front cab, an addition which not only adds weight to the front axle but also overall weight which may affect the ability to heli-lift the system. Another area of concern would be mobility in rough terrain with a 6×4 system with weight added. The Carmichael 6×4 Fire Engines purchased by the MoD in the eighties suffered from problems in rough and wet terrain due to the 3rd trailing non-driven axle getting stuck in the mud.”

Jackal 2
(click to view full)

In the end, even more armor became mandatory. The follow-on Jackal 2 adds weight by adding some side armoring as standard equipment, and providing space for an additional crew member. A larger 6.7 liter engine replaces the original vehicle’s 5.9 liter Cummins ISBe Euro3, in order to maintain similar performance. The upgraded Jackal 2A’s most significant change involves a new cab design with integrated mine blast protection. Supacat says that it’s easier to build, and offers better protection than the Jackal 2’s system. Even so, the HMT family’s defenses against mines or small arms fire are best described as limited.

An optional “Extenda” module can add a third axle, turning the vehicle from a 4×4 into a 6×4 wheel base, and adding length and storage space. Conversation takes 2 hours, and requires a forklift. The Coyote TSV-Light (HMT 600) is built as a 6×6 version from the outset, and will be used to carry supplies alongside its brethren.

Extenda SOF
(click to view full)

The Supacats have very good all-terrain capability. Even so, they aren’t tracked vehicles; as Canada’s Afghan experiences alongside the British have shown, this can become an operational limitation. Fortunately, the vehicle’s intended use as a special forces vehicle and long-range reconnaissance platform is likely to keep the Jackal away from most of those situations.

When the terrain is suitable, the Jackal’s engine can push it to a top speed of 130 kmh/ 80 mph. Given convoy operational procedures and the ever-present dangers of mines from the enemy or even from the Soviet era, that mobility isn’t likely to be used very often during convoy operations. It may help get a scout group or special forces team out of the kill zone quickly, however, should they come under fire in ambushes. Absent protection, it does pay to have speed.

Contracts and Key Events 2011 – 2020

Australia.

Leaving Afghanistan

Aug 19/14: Australia. Australia’s Defence Material Organisation awards Supacat a $105 million contract to deliver 89 HMT Extenda Mk2 Special Operations Vehicle – Commando (SOV-Cdo) in 4 variants, under the JP2097 Ph 1B (REDFIN) program. The vehicles are convertible to either a 4×4 or 6×6 configuration, as required, and will supplement the existing 31 HMT “Nary” vehicles used by the Australian SAS. Sources: Supacat, “Supacat to deliver 89 Special Operations Vehicles – Commando under $105m contract for JP2097 Ph 1B (REDFIN) Program”.

Australia: 89 HMT Mk2 Extenda

July 10/20: From UK To Estonia Estonian Special Forces deploying to Mali will be loaned four Jackal armored vehicles by the Ministry of Defense. Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey confirmed the loan, plus a three-week training package, for elite soldiers of the Estonian Armed Forces. The loan will equip Estonian troops as they join the fight against Islamic terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa, a further example of the UK’s strong partnership with one of its closest NATO allies, say the MoD.

December 2013: UOR to Core. The Ministry’s Defence Equipment & Sustainment group confirms that blast-resistant vehicles will become something of a ‘new normal’ for Britain’s Army. Most blast-resistant Protected Patrol Vehicles (PPV) will be sustained as long-term additions to the force, and so will all of the Jackal all-terrain vehicles and Coyote TSV all-terrain supply vehicles. Vehicles that have survived will go through “regeneration” to make repairs, convert some vehicles to different roles, bring them into line with UK regulations for local use, etc. DE&S:

“Also included is a range of ancillary equipment procured at short notice to provide additional safety features to the deployed fleets, including minerollers, emergency lighting and egress equipment and rollover protection. The vehicles will now form the backbone of patrol capabilities for Army 2020… Husky, Mastiff and Ridgback will be issued to protected mobility infantry battalions, combat support and combat service support units. Jackal and Coyote will be used by some of the newly-badged light cavalry units…. The estimated cost for the minor work, conversions and support is thought to be in the region of [GBP] 300 million over four years.”

The Jackals Sources: UK DE&S Desider magazine, “Protected Vehicles From UOR to core”.

June 19/13: Industrial. Supacat partners with Navistar Defence, signing a a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a team that will integrate their existing support structures for their Jackal and Husky Urgent Operational Requirement vehicles. that will help them prepare to become a “Strategic Support Supplier” that could service over 1,000 vehicles, which have been bought under various urgent requirements by the U.K. Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Protected Mobility Team (PMT). Sources: Supacat, “Supacat and Navistar defence sign MoU providing future joint support to the U.K. MoD protected mobility fleet”.

Dec 14/12: Australia. Supacat delivers a prototype of its new special operations vehicle to the Australian Defence Force under Project REDFIN 1B, on time and on budget. The decision to buy up to 76 of them, as supplements to the existing 31-vehicle Nary HMT fleet, is still a couple of years away. Sources: Supacat, “Supacat successfully delivers REDFIN 1B vehicle prototype to the Australian Defence Force”.

April 16/12: Australia win. Supacat announces that they are the Preferred Bidder for Australia’s JP2097 Ph 1B (REDFIN) program’s Special Operations Vehicles, and received an unspecified initial contract for the Project Definition and Evaluation (PD&E) phase.

Supacat’s HMT Extenda offers considerable commonality with the SAS’ Supacat Narys, but adds additional armoring options, as well as the extra module in back that can turn it from a 4×4 into a 6×4.

Supacat Managing Director Nick Ames calls the REDFIN 1B award “pivotal to Supacat’s expansion,” and the end of British HMT family orders gives that assertion weight. The problem is timing. Australia’s DMO is expected to acquire a fleet of about 76 vehicles under a separate contract, after PD&E is done. But that’s expected to happen around 2014-2015. The 14-company Supacat Team Australia group (vid. Oct 13/11 entry) will run the project from their Melbourne program office, in collaboration with Australia’s chosen battlefield C2 provider Elbit Systems.

Australia picks Supacat

March 7/12: USP acquired. Supacat Pty Ltd. buys the business assets and staff of Unique Solution Partners Pty Ltd. (USP) based in Melbourne, Australia. USP was already part of Team Supacat Australia, and Supacat’s release says that:

“The acquisition is in line with the strategy announced last October of the creation of a Supacat operational capability in Australia. The acquisition enhances Supacat’s capability to provide in-country support to existing fleets in the critical areas of design and engineering.

In addition to a general automotive engineering capability, USP provides Supacat with world-class capabilities in Computer Aided Engineering, Composite Material Technology and Prototype Development. It also provides a strategic foothold in the Asia Pacific region.”

Jackal, Afghanistan
(click to view full)

Dec 12/11: A Force Protection release says they have been informed that their entry lost Australia’s REDFIN competition, but doesn’t mention a winner. Neither do other releases, yet.

Oct 13/11: Team Australia. Supacat announces their operational launch in Australia, and names the 15 partner firms in Supacat Team Australia.

Australian Michael Halloran will transfer as Managing Director, from his current position as Director & General Manager of Supacat’s UK operations. It will be Supacat’s 1st international office, and will extend beyond defense to include Supacat’s solutions for Australia’s very large mining sector, among other civil opportunities.

If Supacat’s JP2097 Ph 1B REDFIN program bid wins, VEEM Pty Ltd will extend its current support role from the existing 31-vehicle Nary HMT contract, to add the 76 new Extenda HMTs. Other Team Australia partners include Aerostaff, Andrew Engineering, Baker and Provan, Broens Industries, Cablex, Eggler Consulting Engineers, Hallmark Logistics & Engineering, Hofmann Engineering, Marand Precision Engineering, PS Management Consultants, QinetiQ, Tectonica Australia, and Unique Solution Partners. Supacat.

Aug 15/11: Australia. Supacat Team Australia submits its 76-vehicle bid for the JP2097 Phase 1B “REDFIN” program, offering their Special Forces HMT Extenda vehicle. The Extenda shares commonality with the Nary HMT, which Supacat delivered for Australian SAS use in 2008-2009 (q.v. Oct 27/08 entry). Supacat.

2009 – 2010

Jackal 2A.

Coyote TSV
(click to view full)

June 23/10: +140. The new coalition government’s Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, says they will be buying 140 of Supacat’s Jackal 2As, alongside 28 more Wolfhound blast-protected TSV-H heavy cargo vehicles from Force Protection. The pair of contracts is reported to be worth a total of GBP 65 million (about $96.8 million), and Supacat’s release confirms its share at GBP 45 million (about $67 million). This new order will bring the total number of Jackal variants in service with the UK Armed Forces to over 530.

The upgraded Jackal 2A is an enhanced version of the successful Jackal 2. The most significant change involves a new cab design with integrated mine blast protection. Supacat says that it’s easier to build, and offers better protection than the Jackal 2’s system. Production began in February 2010, right after the firm finished deliveries on the April 2009 order for Jackal 2 and 6×6 Coyote TSV-L cargo variants. Supacat | Defense News | UK MoD.

UK: 140 Jackal 2As

April 6/10: RAF, too? The RAF announces that No 3 Sqn RAF Regiment took delivery of 2 Supacat Jackal-2 vehicles in early March 2010, as part of a 2 month long assessment of its suitability for Force Protection Operations in the Area of Operations around Bastion Joint Operating Base in Helmand, Afghanistan.

It is expected that the Jackal, which has already proven itself in Afghanistan with other service branches, will replace the RAF Regiment’s current fielded fleet of Land Rover RWMIK vehicles.

April 22/09: Jackals & Coyotes. Britain’s Ministry of Defence announces a GBP 74 million ($108 million equivalent) order for “around 110 enhanced Jackal 2 vehicles and more than 70 Coyote Tactical Support Vehicles.”

Supacat as the vehicle designer has been awarded the prime contract, but GBP 55 million will be subcontracted to Babcock as the vehicle manufacturer. Most of these vehicles are expected to be delivered during 2009. Supacat would later confirm the total as over 120 Jackal 2s, with final deliveries taking place in February 2010. UK MoD | Babcock.

UK: 120 Jackal 2s, 70 Coyote TSVs

April 22/09: Babcock deal. Supacat and Babcock formalize their cooperation on the Jackal program. Supacat is the design authority, responsible for design, development, prototyping, integration and overall program management. Babcock will take responsibility for detailed production planning, purchasing and manufacture at their Devonport dockyard facility. A single project office, located at Dunkeswell in Devon, will provide overall control. Supacat | Babcock International [PDF].

Partnership agreement

March 10/09: Canada? The Ottawa Citizen’s David Pugliese relays a CASR report that Canada’s JTF2 Special forces may be about to order 100 Jackals as their special operations vehicles, and adds research of his own. According to Pugliese, Mercedes’ Wolf G-Wagen variant is not a finalist; instead, the Jackal’s competition will be a special operations adaptation of the Hummer: the GMV-S used by some American special forces.

Canada’s solicitation is for 80 special reconnaissance vehicles and 20 quick reaction vehicles, to be fielded in a number of variants: troop carrier/weapons platform, cargo carrier with an optional tow package and trailer, ambulance, and a simpler litter carrier for stretcher cases.

2007 – 2008

 

Jackal, armed

Nov 19/08: Coyote wins TSV-L. The UK MoD selects a 6×6 version of Supacat’s Jackal as its preferred choice for the Coyote TSV (Light), an all-terrain vehicle with enhanced carrying capacity. It’s expected to operate alongside Jackal vehicles as supply carriers.

At this point, exact vehicle numbers and costs have yet to be finalized, but Supacat eventually confirms “over 70” vehicles ordered. This purchase is part of a GBP 700 million land vehicle upgrade round that was first announced on Oct 29/08. UK MoD Oct 29 | UK MoD Nov 19.

Oct 27/08: Australia’s Nary. While visiting the Australian Special Air Services Regiment (SASR) at Campbell Barracks in Western Australia, the Minister for Defence inspects the first Nary Special Operations Vehicles (SOVs) delivered under Project Redfin. They replace the current set of long range patrol vehicles. Project Redfin is designed to enhance the ADF’s Special Operations equipment, and will introduce a range of combat and support vehicles.

Australia’s DoD confirms that they have ordered 31 SOVs, whose design is based upon the Supacat HMT. Australia’s version has been named the ‘Nary,’ in honor of SASR Warrant Officer Class Two David Nary, who died during a training operation in the Middle East in 2005. Australian DoD release.

Australia: 31 HMT/ Nary

Oct 16/08: Not mine. The Supacats are not designed for mine protection. UK MoD release:

“It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Trooper James Munday, of 1 Troop, D Squadron, the Household Cavalry Regiment, on Wednesday 15 October 2008. Trooper Munday was serving as a Jackal driver on Operation HERRICK 8 when he was killed in action in Helmand province. His Troop was conducting a routine patrol approximately 23km north of Forward Operating Base Delhi when he was killed by a contact explosion [land mine].”

May 8/08: +72. Supacat announces that the UK MoD is buying another 72 Jackal vehicles, bringing total UK Jackal 1 orders to 202 (237 if Soothsayer vehicles are counted).

UK: 72 Jackals

Apr 25/08: The UK MoD announces that the first MWMIK Jackal courses for drivers and driver instructors have just finished at the Defence School of Transport (DST).

At this point, there are 10 instructors on the Jackal at DST, with 12 of the vehicles at their disposal to be used for some 24 courses per year. All potential Jackal operators from 3 Commando Brigade, approximately 120, will train on the vehicle initially at DST. The article adds that the vehicle is already being used in the field by 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Sept 5/07: 130 Jackals. The UK MoD announces a GBP 30 million contract for 130 Supacat HMT MWMIK/Jackal vehicles.

UK: 130 Jackals

Appendix A: How Land Rover Lacunae Left Britain Looking

Land Rover WMIK,
40mm GMG & GPMG
(click to view full)

The British Land Rover WMIK (Weapons Mounted Installation Kit) lacks even the protection levels of an armored Hummer. It’s a flat-bottomed vehicle with the troops positioned over the axles, which is where pressure mines will detonate. It has very little armor on the sides, no doors, and lacks a roof to protect its crew from the elements. Its weapons even lack transparent gunshields.

This is sometimes costly, vid. the June 9/07 incident outside of Sangin, Afghanistan. What the WMIK it does have is a pair of weapon mounts for firepower overmatch. The main mount can take a heavy machine gun for accurate ranged fire, or the 40mm grenade machine guns that have been in demand for their devastating area effects, or even a Javelin missile for use as a scouting mechanism and ultra-accurate long range shot. There’s also a lighter 7.62mm machine gun mount next to the “shotgun” front seat.

The “infantry enhancement” effect is similar to adding one of the Royal Marines’ popular BvS-10 Viking tracked vehicles, but with an adjusted set of plusses and minuses. The Land Rover WMIK/ Jackal’s advantages include:

• Higher top speed
  
• Better all-round visibility
  
• Air portability via helicopters smaller than a CH-47 Chinook
  
• Lower costs

Drawbacks include:

• Cannot traverse some Afghan terrain that would be accessible to BVS10s
  
• Less armor protection in all dimensions, verging on none
  
• Less versatility in terms of possible battlefield roles

BvS-10, Afghanistan –
note anti-RPG ‘cage armor’
(click to view full)

On balance, however, these trade-offs appeared to be acceptable to commanders in theater. The WMIK became popular, and the Taliban reportedly refer to them as ‘porcupines’ due to their appearance and effect. They worked with some reconnaissance and elite elements, acted as advance scouts for some supply convoys, and also took up middle and rear positions to provide sudden firepower while the convoys are running. Even so, they took no shortage of criticism.

On May 3/07, the UK MoD responded to press reports by saying:

“A newspaper repeats claims from earlier this week that British commanders in Afghanistan have complained that they do not have enough combat vehicles, especially the heavily-armed Land Rover “wimiks” (Weapons Mounted Installation Kit or WMIK). There are sufficient vehicles in Afghanistan to conduct our extant operations, and further vehicles have been delivered to allow for a planned step-change in the overall campaign. The new armoured Vector vehicles, purchased specifically for operations in Afghanistan, and the new Mastiff vehicles [DID: Cougar MRAPs, see DID coverage] have arrived in theatre. We’ve received the first tranches of these so far, with an additional batches coming in regularly and more to follow.”

Those helped, but they didn’t solve the problem of full all-terrain mobility needed by special forces, and increasingly by regular British troops as well. Hence the MWMIK’s designation as an “Urgent Operational Requirement,” and the string of contracts from 2007 to 2009.

At the time of the September 2007 MWMIK/Jackal announcement, there were 300 Land Rover WMIKs in the task force. Now they’ve added hundreds more upgraded Supacat/DML Jackals to that mix, which were delivered through 2010 as Urgent Operational Requirements.

Additional Readings

• British Army – Jackal 2.

• British Army – Coyote TSV (Light).

• Supacat – HMT Family.

• Elite UK Forces – Mobility Troop – SupaCAT HMT 400 / MWMIK. Says that the vehicle has been ordered by Britain’s SAS as a long-range patrol vehicle, as a replacement for their Land Rovers.

• Australian DoD – JP2097 Phase 1B REDFIN – Enhancements to Special Operations Capability. 2013 snapshot.

• CASR – Canadian Forces Special Operations Vehicles – Special Reconnaissance (SR) and Quick Reaction (QR) Vehicles – the Candidates.

News & Views

• UK MoD (Aug 20/10) – Jackal keeps proving its worth in Afghanistan. Includes overall program buys and dates.

• UK MoD (Oct 13/09) – Helmand-bound Cavalry test Jackals on the dunes.

• UK MoD (March 25/09) – British Forces attack Taliban in the Snake’s Belly. Narrates Operation KAPCHA BAZ (“Cobra Eagle” in Pashtu). Note the Jackal’s varying roles, from fast-moving firepower overmatch to work in pursuit and blocking roles.

• DID (Nov 4/08) – UK SAS Commander Quits, Citing Inadequate Equipment. The commander had specifically asked for Jackal all-terrain vehicles, instead of the Land Rover Snatch vehicle that failed to protect his road-bound troops. He was refused.

• UK MoD (June 5/08) – Taking the Jackal for a spin. While the author praises the vehicle’s ability to handle terrain, terrain won’t be the only threat the vehicle will face, by any means.

• UK MoD (Dec 3/07) – “Just one bloke who got a medal”: Marine who hammered the Taliban. Describes the efforts by WMIK gunner and Royal Marine Corporal John Thompson that earned him the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, which is just one level lower than the Victoria/George crosses as a combat decoration.

• Plymouth Herald (Sept 6/07) – DML CONTRACT MAY START A BOOM.

• Daily Mail (Sept 5/07) – Army to use ‘Mad Max’ 4×4 to fight Taliban.

• UK MoD (Sept 5/07) – MOD signs contract for new Army patrol vehicles.

• Battlespace Magazine (Vol. 10, Issue 1, July-August 2007) – MWMIK ORDER SUSTAINS DML DRIVE TO DEVELOP MILITARY VEHICLE SEGMENT. The most detailed description of the order, the vehicles, and their history.

• EU Referendum (Aug 28/07) – Imagine this was a “Snatch.” Richard North uses a photo of a US Cougar 6×6 mine-resistant vehicle that had just hit a land mine. Despite a clearly wrecked vehicle, whose engine lay almost 100 years away, the crew all escaped. As one might guess, the MWMIK purchase comes in for strong criticism.

• UK MoD (July 25/07) – New patrol vehicles will give troops enhanced capability.

Americas

Advanced Technology International won a $450.4 million contract modification for large-scale manufacturing of antibodies directed to novel coronavirus. Advanced Technology International provides applied research and commercialization services. The Company offers services in the areas of custom collaborations, enterprise leadership, intellectual property management, compliance management, financial management, contracting and procurement, and collaboration management tools. Currently, there are 3,097,084 registered cases of coronavirus-patients in the US (July 8th). Advanced Technology will perform work in Summerville, Sout Carolina and Tarrytown, New York. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2021.

BAE Systems won a $26.3 million delivery order for E-2D aircraft electronic phase shifters. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 US Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-1. The next-generation, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has a new radar, theatre missile defense capabilities, multisensor integration and a Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems tactical glass cockpit. Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors has developed the AN/APY-9 solid-state, electronically steered UHF radar under the E-2C radar modernization program. Work will take place in New York. Estimated completion date is November 30, 2027.

Middle East & Africa

The State Department has approved the possible $23 million deal to sell one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and related equipment to the government of Jordan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced. Jordan’s government had asked to buy one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter in standard US Army configuration, along with related equipment, including a common missile warning system as well as AMPS software development and support services; and other related elements of logistical, engineering, and program support. The UH-60M will supplement Jordan’s existing fleet of Black Hawk helicopters and be used to transport the Jordanian Royal Family. The principal contractors for this deal will be Sikorsky Aircraft Company in Stratford, Conn., and General Electric Aircraft Company in Lynn, Mass.

Europe

Russia will stand up a second MiG-31 squadron at 317th Composite Aviation Regiment at Yelizovo airfield, Jane’s reported. The new unit will be operating the MiG-31BM. Aircraft have started arriving since last year. The regiment currently operates a squadron of 12 MiG-31B and MiG-31BS variants, two squadrons of Ka-27 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, a squadron of Il-38 ASW aircraft, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, small transport aircraft, and other helicopters.

A month after celebrating her 30th birthday, the HMS Lancaster has now proved herself ready to resume UK defense operations after a refit giving her the latest in Royal Navy hardware. Many feared the vessel would be paid off and disposed of at the time, however, she received a refit that finished in 2019 and it included the fitting of the Artisan 3D radar, Sea Ceptor anti-air missiles and strengthening the backbone of the ship. The Type 23 Frigate arrived back in HMNB Portsmouth, in December 2019. Fears that the vessel would spend the rest of her career tied up alongside before being disposed of were circulating widely in 2017. The fears were calmed however in the form of a response to a written parliamentary question asked by Nicholas Soames and answered by the then Secretary of State for Defense. Harriett Baldwin said: “On current plans, the refit for HMS LANCASTER will commence in mid-2017. She is presently alongside in Portsmouth and is maintained with a minimal ship’s company until her refit.”

Asia-Pacific

Australia is setting its sights on big defense expenditures over the coming decade to support a more active defense concept. The prime minister announced $190 billion in additional defense spending over the next decade, which will include long-range missiles and other capabilities to hold enemies further from its shores. Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned that the post-pandemic world will become more dangerous and announced a renewed focus on Australia’s immediate region, although its military would be open to joining US-led coalitions as it did in Afghanistan and Iraq in campaigns that were in the Australian national interest.

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : Army Buying 2000 Akash-1S,F-15EX Offer With AIM-120D,Indian Navy Patrol SCS

Americas

Vigor Marine LLC won a $133.4 million deal to prepare for and accomplish repair and alteration requirements for USS McCampbell (DDG 85) chief of naval operations scheduled depot maintenance availability. USS McCampbell will receive comprehensive modernization for DDG 51 class ships to ensure a mission relevant service life. These improvements will include hull, mechanical and electrical technology insertion; as well as provide critical warfighting improvements, such as upgraded machinery control system, integrated bridge and navigation system (to include physical throttles); advanced galley upgrade; wireless communications and digital video surveillance system upgrade; upgrade to a fiber optic local area network backbone; AEGIS baseline 9 upgrade (that includes updated guns weapons system); enhanced Vertical Launching System; multi-mission signal processor; and Ballistic Missile Defense 5.0 upgrade. USS McCampbell (DDG-85) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. This ship is the 35th destroyer of her class. USS McCampbell was the 20th ship of this class to be built by Bath Iron Works at Bath, Maine, and construction began on 16 July 1999. She was launched and christened on 2 July 2000. On 17 August 2002, the commissioning ceremony was held at Pier 30 in San Francisco, California. The Arleigh Burke Class guided-missile destroyer is en route to Portland, Oregon, where it will undergo midlife modernization. Following routine maintenance and system upgrades, McCampbell will proceed to Naval Station Everett, Washington, where it will be homeported. Work will take place in Portland, Oregon. Estimated completion will be by November 2021.

The US State Department has given Argentina the OK to procure 27 M1126 Stryker infantry carrier vehicles and related equipment for $100 million. The prime contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems. he Government of Argentina had requested to buy twenty-seven (27) M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles and twenty-seven (27) M2 Flex .50 Cal Machine Guns.  Also included are AN/VAS-5 Driver’s Vision Enhancers; AN/VIC-3 Vehicle Intercom Systems; AN/VRC-91E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS); Basic Issue Items (BIi); Components of End Items (COEI); Additional Authorized List (AAL); Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); M6 Smoke Grenade launchers and associated spares; Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) De-processing Service; OCONUS Contractor-provided training; Field Service Representatives (FSR); technical manuals; spare parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. Argentina will use the Stryker vehicles to conduct stability operations in support of disaster relief and international peace keeping obligations. The M1126 Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles that can travel at speeds up to 62mph on highways, with a range of 312 miles.

Middle East & Africa

The US government also approved the sale to Israel of aviation fuel and other petroleum-based products for an estimated $3 billion. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) approval, announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 6 July, covers approximately 990 million US gallons of JP-8 aviation fuel, diesel, and unleaded gasoline. “The proposed sale of the JP-8 aviation fuel will enable Israel to maintain operational aircraft. Diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline will be used for ground vehicles. The proposed sale will improve Israel’s ability to meet current and future threats in order to defend its borders,” the DSCA said.

Europe

Lithuania could buy six UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and related equipment from the United States for $380 million. On July 6, the US State Department approved the possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Lithuania. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale. The proposed sale of these UH-60 helicopters to Lithuania will increase its capability to provide troop lift, border security, anti-terrorist, medical evacuation, search and rescue, re-supply/external lift, combat support in all weather. These UH-60 helicopters will allow for interoperability with US and NATO forces in rapid response to a variety of missions and quick positioning of troops with minimal helicopter assets.

The DoS approved a possible sale of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to France, in a deal that would bring the US and French carrier air wings even closer together. The Government of France had requested to buy three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft, ten T-56-427A engines, three AN/APY-9 radar assemblies, four AN/ALQ-217 electronic support measure systems, three AN/AYK-27 Integrated Navigation Channels and Display Systems, five Link-16 (MIDS-JTRS) Communications Systems, ten Embedded GPS/INS (EGI) Devices, four AN/APX-122(A) and AN/APX-123(A) Identification, Friend or Foe systems and one Joint Mission Planning System. Also included are Common Systems Integration Laboratories with/Test Equipment, one in Melbourne, FL, and the other in France; air and ground crew equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; transportation; training and training equipment; US Government and cntractor logistics, engineering, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $2 billion. France currently flies the E-2C Hawkeye. The upgraded E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, according to the US Navy “features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness.

Asia-Pacific

The US government has cleared the sale of eight Bell Boeing MV-22 Block C Osprey tiltrotors to Indonesia. The total estimated price of the deal is $2 billion. The sale, if it is executed, will mark the second foreign air arm to purchase the Osprey, with Japan being the first. The prime contractors will be Bell Textron Inc., Amarillo, Texas and The Boeing Company, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. The Osprey is the world’s only production tiltrotor aircraft, enabling servicemen and women to conduct diverse missions throughout the most difficult operating environments.

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Americas

The US government is ready to send its newest spy satellite, NROL-129, into space on July 15 using a Minotaur 4 rocket. The payload, was craned on top of the former LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile, at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport last week. The launch window is expected to be opened at 1300GMT. NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility plans to provide a live stream of the event. This is the first Minotaur liftoff in nearly three years.

A task force focused on issues of racism, sexism and other biases in the branch was announced by the US Navy this week. “Task Force One Navy” will be led by Rear Admiral Alvin Holsey, who will report his findings to the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mike Gilday, through the Navy’s Chief of Personnel, Vice Adm. John B. Nowell, the Navy said on Tuesday. A video released last week to Navy personnel, included statements by enlisted Black sailors, commenting on racial and sexual biases they have encountered. At the end, Gilday appears, commenting in part that “as sailors, and as a Navy, we cannot tolerate discrimination or racism of any kind.”

Middle East & Africa

Arab News reports that an agreement has been signed between the General Directorate of Border Troops of Saudi Arabia and the local Military Industry Corporation on the production of joint armored vehicles. The head of the Military Industry Corporation, which is part of Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Military Industry, said that the standard engine tests of the Dahna armored vehicle, which will be produced jointly with the Border Troops, have been completed in accordance with international classification. “The Dahna armored vehicle with a 4 × 4 wheel formula is a multi-purpose vehicle suitable for all conditions and military operations,” he said.

Europe

Serbia unveiled its CH-92A UCAVs. A video report noted: “At the military airport Colonel pilot Milenko Pavlovi? presented unmanned aerial vehicles that arrived from China a few days ago. The Air Force of Serbia received the first part of the delivery of 6 CH-92A aircraft, which will carry two FT-8C missiles with a range of 6.8 km. An agreement was also made to take over the technology used by the CH-92A for a domestically produced BPL of the ‘Pegasus’ type. The Pegasus will also carry two missiles, but for the lower class of the FT-8D type with a range of 5 km. It is expected that in the middle of 2021, the Air Force of Serbia will receive the entire squadron of Pegasus.”

Asia-Pacific

The Japanese government is said to be considering a suggestion to put the Aegis Ashore system on a floating platform out at sea. However, the idea is met with skepticism by some as the floating base is vulnerable to tsunami and from torpedo attacks. Another suggestion was to have two more Aegis-equipped destroyers added to the fleet but the challenge is finding enough personnel to man those warships. One solution proposed was to have Ground Self-Defense Force personnel deployed on board the ships. But having more Aegis warships will not allow Japan to deploy them around the clock as the ships cannot operate effectively during bad weather. Japan announced on June 15 to suspend the Aegis Ashore program as it cannot guarantee that the SM-3’s Mk72 booster can safely drop inside the base in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

News reports from Japan reportedly say the governments of Japan and United States have started talks on how to proceed with the former’s F-X fighter program. According to the reports, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin are involved as well. It is said that the other two American companies are Boeing and Northrop Grumman. While Lockheed’ strength is in stealth technology, Boeing has considerable knowledge on composite materials while Northrop can contribute in radar and electronic warfare technology.

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Americas

An advance in aircraft simulators, allowing F-35 pilots to link with pilots of other aircraft, was announced on Wednesday by Lockheed Martin. For the first time, Lockheed, the F-35 Joint Program Office and the US Air Force successfully connected F-35, F-22, F-16 and E3 airborne warning planes in a simulated environment. Additional platforms, like the F-15, can also connect to the shared virtual environment. The success came during a Distributed Mission Training final acceptance test at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., the company said.

The number of cases of coronavirus among active-duty military personnel has more than doubled in the past three weeks, according to information published by the Department of Defense. As of Wednesday, 6,493 U.S. service members currently have the virus — up from 2,807 on June 10. The number of cumulative cases listed on the departments’s website Thursday was 12,521, up from 6,864 cumulative cases on June 3. The Army has surpassed the Navy in terms of the number of cases, with 3,836 as of Thursday, compared to 3,662. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of three service members since the pandemic began. According to Johns Hopkins University’s running totals, there have been at least 2.7 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with 128,651 deaths.

Middle East & Africa

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will cooperate with the United Arab Emirates’ Group 42 (G42) to research and develop equipment and solutions to tackle the coronavirus, according to media reports. G42 has previously been implicated in the development of ToTok, a messaging app the New York Times reported was “used by the government of the United Arab Emirates to try to track every conversation, movement, relationship, appointment, sound and image of those who install it on their phones”.

Europe

HMS Severn has returned to operational status after her crew completed the three-week Operational Sea Training assessment, according to the Royal Navy. The vessel was originally decommissioned in October 2017 as previously the plan was to replace the Batch 1 River class Offshore Patrol Vessels with the newer Batch 2 vessels. In 2018, it was announced that all vessels will be retained. A&P Defense recently delivered the reactivation refit of HMS Severn as part of an ongoing support contract with BAE Systems.

Asia-Pacific

US aircraft carriers carried out exercises in the South China Sea, US military officials said Saturday as China conducts its own drills in the disputed area. Rear Adm. George Wikoff, commander of the strike group, said the USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz carriers navigated to an unspecified area of the South China Sea for the drills. The move comes days after China began its own exercises in the international waters. The show of force comes as China aggressively lays claim to the islands there, despite counterclaims by neighboring countries, officials said.

Australia will receive delivery of its first Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) UAV in 2023, and of the second and third aircraft by early 2025, Northrop Grumman Australia Chief Executive Chris Deeble has disclosed according to Jane’s. IFC-4 functionality will add a signals intelligence capability to the UAV’s baseline IFC-3 configuration. The production pause proposed in draft US budget papers for USN Triton UAVs in fiscal year 2021 (FY 2021) and FY 2022 provides Australia with an unprecedented opportunity to fill the LRIP-5 production gap with the remainder of its own Triton requirement, said Deeble.

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Americas

Raytheon won a $495.1 million (AMRAAM)>deal for advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) program support and annual sustainment. The contractor will provide non-warranty repairs, program support, contractor logistics support and service life prediction program analysis supporting the AMRAAM weapon system. AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) is a new generation all-weather, missile manufactured by Raytheon. The AMRAAM is in service with the US Air Force, US Navy, and US-allied nations. Work will take place in Tucson, Arizona. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2026.

Sierra Nevada won a $700 million contract in support of US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the development and procurement of Radio Frequency Countermeasure (RFCM) systems. The systems will be integrated onto AC-130J Ghostrider and MC-130J Commando II aircraft operated by Air Force Special Operations Command to help protect aircrews from air- and land-based enemy radar and missile systems. The deal includes RFCM system engineering services, logistics support and spare parts. The AC-130J Ghostrider is a modified version of the MC-130J aircraft. The MC-130J Commando II is a special operations tanker aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force Special Operations Command. It is an improved variant of the C-130J aircraft.

Middle East & Africa

Translang won a $7.3 million contract to provide training and support services to ensure the continued sustainment and development of United Arab Emirates National Defense College. The National Defense College of the United Arab Emirates, or NDC, is an education organization in Abu Dhabi that provides advanced training for both senior military officers and civilians. It was officially opened in December 2013. Work will take place in Waynesboro, Virginia. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2022.

The United Arab Emirates’ Joint Aviation Command concluded joint exercises in the Arabian Gulf with US forces, the US Marines said on Wednesday. The naval and air training operations were conducted from June 21 to June 25 and centered on the US Navy’s USS Lewis B. Pulller, an expeditionary mobile base vessel. The operations included tracking and engagement of simulated fast-attack craft, and UAE pilots of CH-47F, Bell 407, AH-64D and UH-60M helicopters completed deck landing qualifications aboard the ship.

Europe

Belarus has declared that its Su-30SM fleet at 61st fighter airbase is now ready to take up combat duty. The country has taken delivery of 4 Su-30SMs so far with the first pair arriving home on November 14, 2019. Su-30SM is a heavy multirole fighter jet. It is designed for aerial fights, for securing supremacy in air, for destroying aerial targets at any time of the day and night in any weather while having to deal with active and passive jamming. The Belarusian defense minister stressed that the Air Force regularly gets modern hardware, including within the framework of cooperation with Russia.

Asia-Pacific

Raytheon won a $27.1 million contract modification for the advanced medium range air-to-air missile program obsolescence. This modification provides for a life of type procurement of known obsolete component in support of production and sustainment through the program of record and foreign military sales procurements. The deal involves foreign military sales to Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, Qatar, Romania and Spain. Work will take place in Tucson, Arizona. Expected completion date is August 31, 2021.

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Americas

Northrop Grumman won a $54.4 million delivery order, which procures maintenance support equipment and recurring peculiar support equipment, along with associated non-recurring engineering and integrated logistics support for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The next-generation, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has a new radar, theatre missile defense capabilities, multisensor integration and a Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems tactical glass cockpit. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion date will be by December 2022.

Sikorsky won a $107 million modification for the low rate initial production of organic capability pilot repair material, technical publications, peculiar support equipment and logistics support for the CH-53K King Stallion aircraft. The Sikorsky CH-53K is a heavy-lift helicopter. It can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. It will also be used to carry external cargo loads. At the end of June, the CH-53K finished two-week sea trial in the Atlantic Ocean. Work under the modification will take place in Connecticut, France, Canada, Florida, Mississippi, New York, Virginia, Arizona, California and the various locations within the continental US. Estimated completion date is in June 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Lockheed Martin won a $12.9 million delivery order, which provides for the production and delivery of 62 Audio Management Computer-Lite computers to be used as spares in the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter in support of the Naval Supply Systems Command, the government Australia and Saudi Arabia and to support the development of the Operation Test Program Set for the Navy. Additionally, this order provides for the production and delivery of 33 flight management computers for installation on the Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopter and 50 SP-103E circuit cards for retrofit computer upgrades. MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is considered to be the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter. The helicopter is equipped for a range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search-and-rescue (SAR), naval gunfire support (NGFS), surveillance, communications relay, logistics support and personnel transfer, and vertical replenishment. Work will take place in New York and expected completion will be by August 2023.

Europe

F-35 jets launched from HMS Queen Elizabeth practiced air combat, dogfighting against Typhoons and other F-35s. HMS Queen Elizabeth and her aircraft were recently joined by frigate HMS Kent and a nuclear submarine while on Exercise Crimson Ocean. Exercise Crimson Ocean is geared towards putting the carrier and her F-35s through their paces. The exercise is part of a journey to enable the carrier, her aircraft and her escorts to deploy operationally next year. Next year, HMS Queen Elizabeth will deploy with two frigates, two destroyers, a nuclear submarine and support vessels.

Asia-Pacific

The 353rd Special Operations Group organized exercise Gryphon Jet from June 17-26, 2020 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Over that 10-day period US forces teamed up to execute the high altitude high opening, high altitude low opening, fast rope, and repel training needed to get its special tactics operators where they need to be quickly, efficiently, and most importantly, ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

The Australian government will proceed with the purchase of the AGM-158C, Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs). The US government had cleared the same in February and the deal is worth up to $990 million. However, Australia is reported to be spending $880 million for the purchase. The weapon will be integrated on Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornet and training will start next year.

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Americas

Huntington Ingalls won a $936 million contract modification to exercise the fiscal 2020 option for the construction of a USS Arleigh Burke DDG-51 Class ship (DDG 135). This modification also includes options for engineering change proposals, design budgeting requirements and post-delivery availabilities on the fiscal 2020 option ship. The DDG 51 Arleigh Burke Class is a multi-mission warship. It features an advanced anti-submarine warfare system, the AEGIS combat system, the Vertical Launching System, Lockheed’s LMT two embarked SH-60 helicopters along with advanced anti-aircraft missiles and land-attack missiles. Impressively, the warship offers protection against a wide range of threats, including ballistic missiles. Work will take place in Mississippi, Pennsylvania and other locations. Estimated completion date will be by June 2027.

Lockheed Martin won a $67.7 million contract modification, which procures long lead materials, parts, components and support necessary to maintain on-time production and delivery of nine lot 16 F-35A Lightning II aircraft for the government of The Netherlands, as well as seven F-35A semiconductors and two F-35B Lightning II aircraft for the government of Italy. Work will take place in Italy, Texas, California, UK, Maryland and New Hampshire. Estimated completion date is in May 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI’s) Drone Guard counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) is to receive a kinetic intercept capability under a collaborative partnership with Iron Drone announced on June 29. The collaboration will see the Drone Guard ground-based range of systems for detecting, tracking, and disrupting UAVs integrated with one or more interception UAVs to physically take down any target unmanned aircraft. All of the components of the Drone Guard system for drone detection, air defense and intelligence collection systems are manufactured by IAI’s ELTA systems, which has sold over 100 units to disrupt the operation of malicious drones. The intercepting drone can be launched during the day or night from a docking station that hosts several ready-to-use drones. It can be steered to the target with the help of the advanced radar integrated with Drone Guard, capable of detecting drones as they enter the airspace.

Europe

Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin JV won a $25.4 million modification for support services for the Javelin weapon system. Javelin is an anti-tank guided munition that can be carried and launched by a single person. It is made by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Lockheed Martin. Foreign Military Sales Funds To the UK in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award. Work will take place in June 30, 2025.

Asia-Pacific

Lockheed Martin won a $7 million deal for follow-on support sustainment of the Republic of Korea Peace Krypton Program. This contract provides for support of the field service representatives, program management, core/field engineering, System Depot Support Facility sustainment, technical manuals sustainment and obsolescence management. Work will take place in Colorado and Seoul, South Korea. Estimated completion date will be December 31, 2020.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it had awarded Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) a $573 million contract for 20 TA-50 Block 2 aircraft. The agency said the jets will be delivered by 2024. The country currently has 22 TA-50s. TA-50 Block-2 is an upgraded version of KAI’s T-50 trainer jet, which is now in service. The new planes will replace KF-16 fighters, according to DAPA officials. (Yonhap)

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Bath Iron Works (BIW) won a $132 million deal to fund capital expenditure projects for shipbuilder and supplier industrial base efforts in support of the USS Arleigh Burke DDG-51 class destroyer program. The deal will fund shipbuilder and supplier base efforts to address supply chain fragility and to ensure future readiness for the fleet. The Arleigh Burkes are the primary type of ship produced by BIW, a subsidiary of global aerospace and defense company General Dynamics. BIW provides planning yard services for all Arleigh Burke Class and Zumwalt Class destroyers including engineering, design, material kitting, logistics, planning and execution. The shipyard announced the contract modification as the company’s largest union, Local S6, continues to strike over disagreements about the proposed contract between BIW and the union. The union has decried to the company’s plans to continue hiring subcontractors and make changes to seniority privileges. Work will take place in Bath, Maine. Estimated completion will be by June 2028.

Huntington Ingalls won a $22.8 million contract modification for the USS Boise (SSN 764) Smart Start that encompasses continued advance planning, execution services, production and availability preparations for fiscal 2020 USS Boise engineered overhaul. The contracted requirements also include continued advance planning, execution services, production and availability preparations necessary to repair and maintain unrestricted operation of the submarine. It also includes upgrades and modernization efforts required to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the chief of naval operation’s scheduled availability. The USS Boise is a Los Angeles Class submarine, The Los Angeles Class is a nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. It is armed with both the land-attack and anti-ship version of the Tomahawk missile from Raytheon that can be fitted with a nuclear warhead. Work will take place in Newport News, Virginia. Expected completion will be by September 2020.

Middle East & Africa

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems won a sole-source contract in the amount of $2.3 billion under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Under this production contract, the contractor will provide seven Army/Navy Transportable Surveillance and Control Model 2 radars, radar spares, obsolescence design, sustainment services and initial contractor logistics support for KSA. Army/Navy Transportable Surveillance and Control Model 2 radar is a missile defense radar that can detect, track and discriminate ballistic missiles. It operates in the X-band of the electromagnetic spectrum. This enables it to see targets more clearly and distinguish between an actual menace and non-threats, like launch debris. Work will take place in Massachusetts. Performance period is June 26, 2020 to August 31, 2027.

Raytheon Won a $9.2 million deal for the Qatar Early Warning Radar (QEWR). This modification is for the construction of the communications infrastructure at the QEWR site. The company won a $1.06 billion deal to provide an early warning radar (EWR) to Doha in February 2017. The Qatari radar is expected to add long-range detection to the country’s layered Integrated Air and Missile Defense architecture, which includes Patriot systems and an Air Defense Operation Center. A layered defense takes fuller advantage of the specialized abilities of different radars and interceptors. The EWR will provide extra warning time to alert command centers and cue fire control systems. Work will take place in Woburn, Massachusetts and Qatar. Expected completion will be by December 2020.

Europe

Sweden’s ground-launched short-range air defense missile, the RBS 98, was successfully tested this week, the Swedish armed forces announced on Friday. The surface-to-air missile is a variant of the German-made IRIS-T air-to-air missile, in use by 11 countries, including several NATO countries, according to Swedish officials. During the test, the missiles were launched from a trailer pulled by a BvS 10 all-terrain amphibious armored vehicle, known as a Bandvagn 410. The vehicle consists of two tracked units, one carrying a crew of four, and the other carrying four missiles. The RBS 98, officially the Robotsystem 98, was designed to replace the US-made AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, and can engage a target at altitudes up to 12.5 miles.

Asia-Pacific

Taiwan has admitted that US troops have been training on the island after a video made by the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) last year showed the soldiers boarding a Black Hawk helicopter with Republic of China markings. The code name of the exercise is Balance Tamper and it involved Taiwan special forces personnel from the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion.

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Americas

Boeing won a $16.6 million order, which procures retrofit modification upgrades to the series aircrafts’ F/A-18 Block II Super Hornet and Growler display suites within the Block III Super Hornet and Growler Advanced Cockpit Systems. The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The single-seat F/A-18 Hornet is the nation’s first strike-fighter. It was designed for traditional strike applications such as interdiction and close air support without compromising its fighter capabilities. With its excellent fighter and self-defense capabilities, the F/A-18 at the same time increases strike mission survivability and supplements the F-14 Tomcat in fleet air defense. F/A-18 Hornets are currently operating in 37 tactical squadrons from air stations world-wide, and from 10 aircraft carriers. Work will take place in Missouri, Arizona, California and Florida. Estimated completion date will be in February 2025.

General Dynamics won an $11.2 million modification to extend the delivery date of the USS Cowpens (CG 63) fiscal 2018 modernization period from December 28, 2019, to November 25, 2020, in order to complete ship repairs and alterations. USS Cowpens (CG-63) is a Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser in service with the United States Navy The ship is named after the Battle of Cowpens, a major American victory near Cowpens, South Carolina in the American Revolution. She was built at the Bath Iron Works in Maine. Work will take place in San Diego, California. Estimated completion will be by November 2020.

Middle East & Africa

Boeing won a $439.2 million modification for new-build Apache AH-64E aircraft and Longbow crew trainers. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales funds to Morocco in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award. Morocco signed a contract with Boeing for 24 of its AH-64 Apache helicopters, becoming the 17th country to acquire the helicopter. Deliveries of the helicopters to Morocco are scheduled to commence in 2024. The helicopter, which has been designed and equipped with an open systems architecture, comprises the latest communications, navigation, sensor and weapon systems. Work will take place in Mesa, Arizona. Estimated completion date is March 1, 2025.

Europe

Izvestia reports that Russia will test the upgraded Su-57 from summer of 2022 and complete testing in two years. The fighter will have new engines and avionics. The hydraulic actuators will be replace by electric ones. The cockpit will get wide-angle heads up display and panoramic display panels. The Su-57 is a stealth, single-seat, twin-engine multirole fifth-generation jets fighter.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea decided to replace its aging M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) with the indigenous Anti-Aircraft Gun Wheeled vehicle system (AAGW) from Hanwha Defense. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the contract awarded is worth $200 million. The AAGW uses the same turret of the tracked K30 Biho and has a 1.6x longer range than the existing Vulcan guns, Hanwha said.

Northrop Grumman won a $333.4 million contract modification, which exercises options for the production and delivery of three low-rate initial production MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft, two main operating bases and one forward operating base in an integrated functional capability-four and multiple-intelligence configuration, with associated export compliance support for the government of Australia. Northrop Grumman had announced June 19 the Australian government’s decision to provide funding for an additional three of their planned six MQ-4C Tritons and associated ground mission control stations. The MQ-4C Triton is a cooperative development program between the Royal Australian Air Force and the US Navy. Operating at altitudes exceeding 50,000 feet, Triton can cover more than 2 million square miles of ocean and littorals in a single flight, bringing unprecedented awareness to operational commanders’ common operating pictures. Work will take place in California, Texas, Maryland, Utah, West Virginia, Mississippi, Indiana and North Dakota. Estimated completion will be by April 2025.

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System Dynamics International won a $28.7 million contract for MQ-9 unmanned aerial system aircrew and support services. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily against dynamic execution targets and secondarily as an intelligence collection asset. Work will take place in California and Arizona. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2025.

The US Navy received its first fleet CMV-22B Osprey, a tilt-wing helicopter redesigned for use on aircraft carriers. Designed and built by Bell Textron Inc. and Boeing Co., it was delivered at Naval Air Station North Island, California, on Monday. Two prior CMV-22Bs were delivered to the Navy, in February and in May, for developmental testing. The variant of the Navy’s V-22 aircraft will take over the Carrier Onboard Delivery Mission, replacing the C-2A Greyhound, in use since 1964. It is a tiltrotor V/STOL aircraft that can take off and land as a helicopter, as well as transit as a turboprop aircraft.

Middle East & Africa

Burkina Faso’s security forces said that they had destroyed two jihadist bases in the north and east of the country and arrested two suspects near the border with the Ivory Coast. According to media reports, a gendarmerie unit on Saturday “dismantled a terrorist base” near the eastern town of Tanwalbougou. In a separate operation in the north of the country, Burkinabe troops in the five-nation G5 Sabel Force, supported by a company of soldiers from Niger, destroyed a terrorist base on Saturday in a drilling zone 40 kilometers from Oursi, it said. Eight motorbikes, phones, and other equipment were seized.

Europe

Sweden has completed the test-firing trials of the RBS 98 air defense missile system and only a minor software modification is required before it enters service. Using the Bv 410 as the platform, the system employs the IRIS-T heat-seeking missile. The first firing test was carried out at Vidsel on November 5, 2019. The RBS98 Robotsystem 98 is designed to protect soldiers and infrastructure against aerial threats as missile, aircraft and helicopters. Sweden is the first country to benefit from the open system design of the newly developed GBAD family IRIS-T SLM/SLS, combining and integrating system elements (sensors/radars, command and control systems, communications systems) from various manufacturers into a single powerful weapon system.

The United Kingdom may not upgrade all of its early model Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning combat aircraft to the latest Block 4 standard later this decade, declaring it will decide numbers based on ‘military capability requirements’. Answering a question in the House of Commons Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Jeremy Quin, said that, while the international Block 4 (full combat) upgrade has been costed into the UK’s procurement programme, the precise numbers of already-delivered jets to go through the retrofit process have not yet been decided.

Asia-Pacific

The USS Gabrielle Giffords joined two ships of the Japan Self-Defense Force for bilateral exercises in the South China Sea. The Kashima class training vessel JS Kashima and the Shimayuki Class training vessel JS Shimayuki of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force joined the US Navy’s Independence Class littoral combat ship on Tuesday. The purpose of the exercise, the Navy said, was to “practice and enhance bilateral interoperability between the two navies and to emphasize the importance of communications and coordination.”

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Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $22.4 million contract modification, which exercises options to procure 12 retrofit advanced radar processor systems for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has a new radar system, theater missile defense capabilities, multi-sensor integration and a Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems tactical glass cockpit. Work will take place Liverpool, New York and Andover, Massachusetts. Estimated completion date is in November 2023.

The USS Nitze sailed into contested waters off the coast of Venezuela Tuesday in what the Navy describes as a “freedom of navigation operation” contesting “an excessive maritime claim” by Venezuela. The Arleigh Burke Class guided missile destroyer conducted the operation outside of Venezuela’s 12-nautical-mile territorial jurisdiction, an area the Maduro regime claims control over. “The US Navy routinely conducts freedom of navigation operations around the world to preserve the maritime navigation and access rights guaranteed to all nations and vital to the global mobility of US forces,” said the Navy’s press release on the operation.

Middle East & Africa

Advanced Electronics won a $12.4 million modification, which provides for implementation and delivery of end-user training for the CPS for two years. The scope of this contract effort will include custom contractor-developed training and original equipment manufacturer training. This is a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) acquisition between the US government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This FMS is for the total package of acquisition and fielding of 84 F-15A aircraft; the upgrade of 70 F-15SA aircraft to the F-154SA configuration; the procurement of associated equipment, weapons and spares; and the construction, refurbishment and infrastructure improvements of support facilities for the F-15SA in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter aircraft designed to outperform and outfight enemy aircraft obtaining air supremacy for the US Air Force. The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15SA is an advanced fighter jet aircraft version of the F-15E Strike Eagle featuring state-of-the-art sensors and a wide range of guided and smart munitions.

Europe

The United Kingdom has renewed for a further five years its Graphical Electronic Cockpit Organizer (GECO) Mission Support System (GECO MSS) contract for the Royal Air Force (RAF’s) Puma Force. This contract extension with Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) will see RAF Benson’s 33 and 230 squadrons equipped with the system until 2025, with the Westland-Aerospatiale SA 330E Puma HC2 fleet using GECO MSS on all flying operations in the UK and internationally. GECO Air, as the system is known in its airborne configuration, is designed to complement an aircraft’s existing onboard avionics systems by bringing commercial off-the-shelf hardware technology to the cockpit.

Asia-Pacific

Boeing won an $8.5 million deal for the Japan Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) mission computing upgrade (MCU) installation and checkout (I&CO) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out). The contract modification is to upgrade its fleet of four aircraft with the ADS-B Out capability. ADS-B Out is a software and hardware update to the Raytheon APX-119 transponder that includes the addition of a Global Positioning System (GPS) card. Under the E-767 AWACS I&CO program, the GPS card is to be installed within the four aircraft and updating the three ground support facilities. Work will take place in Oklahoma, Texas, and Japan. Expected completion date is December 23, 2023.

The final satellite required to complete global coverage of China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system was launched on June 23 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 3B three-stage carrier rocket, achieving its intended orbit. The previous launch of a Long March 3B in April had ended in failure due to a malfunction of the rocket’s third stage. Moreover, the first launch of the Long March 7A, which has some commonality with the Long March 3B in its third stage, had also malfunctioned after launch on March 16.

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