Defense Industry Daily

Americas

Boeing won a $999 million ceiling contract for A-10 wing replacements. The deal is for up to 112 new A-10 wing assemblies and up to 15 wing kits. Boeing is teaming up with Korean Aerospace Industries for the effort. The news comes after the recent completion of Boeing’s first re-winging contract, awarded to the aerospace company in 2007. Only 109 A-10s still need to be re-winged. The planes, which entered service in 1976 and have deployed to the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific, have played an outsized role in the air campaign that began in 2014 against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, helping provide close-air support for Iraqi and US partner forces on the ground. Also dubbed the “Warthog” for its aggressive look and often painted with teeth on the nose cone, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the US Air Force’s primary low-altitude close air support aircraft. Boeing will perform work under the nearly $1 billion contract at multiple subcontractor locations in the US and South Korea. Estimated completion date is August 23, 2030.

The Navy tapped General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical System with a $20.8 million contract modification that provides for the procurement of 66 M61A2 20 MM Gun Systems in support of F/A-18E/F aircraft production for the US Navy as well as the government of Kuwait. The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is an updated and enlarged variant of the original F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet, using an enlarged airframe, new engines, and updated avionics and weapons systems. It is a twin-engine carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. The M61A1 and M61A2 Gatlin guns are externally powered six-barrel 20mm Gatling gun systems that offer lightweight combat support for a variety of air, land and sea platforms. For the production modification General Dynamics will perform work in various locations in the US and Canada. Work is expected to be finished in March 2023.

Middle East & Africa

Russia and the US agree that Israel can strike Iranian targets in Iraq, Israeli Defense reports. Israel has struck Iranian targets in Iraq at least three times over the past few weeks after Russia and the United States gave the green light. Citing Western diplomatic sources, Saudi-owned and London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported that Israel attacked military positions and arms depots of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq after receiving a green light from Washington and Moscow. Moscow and Washington agreed that the Jewish state could conduct these attacks on Iranian targets in order to “ensure Israel’s security,” the source told the London-based newspaper. As part of the reported agreement, Israel would not publicly acknowledge carrying out the strikes.

Europe

Sonalysts won a $9.5 million contract to the German Navy for maintenance of the Dangerous Waters Naval Simulator to meet its simulation and training requirements, including proper levels of integration and interoperability. According to the company the Dangerous Waters Simulator allows total control over multiple air, surface, and submarine platforms in a modern-day naval environment. The SCS – Dangerous Waters allows the player to take control of over 10 of the world’s most potent naval units out of a total of more than 270 civilian and military surface, submarine, and air units included in the game. The awarded contract includes purchases to the Federal Republic of Germany under the FMS program. Work will take place in Germany and the US. Estimated completion date is in August 2023.

Asia-Pacific

The Guardian reports that Australia will become the third country to join the United States in patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has agreed to dispatch troops and a P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft will be in the region for one month before the end of the year. The contribution to the United States-led mission in the Strait of Hormuz is aimed at protecting freedom of navigation in the Gulf region. The United Kingdom and Bahrain are the only other countries to join the US in the Strait of Hormuz. Australia’s P-8A Poseidon has advanced sensors and mission systems, including a state-of-the-art multi-role radar, high definition cameras, and an acoustic system with four times the processing capacity of the AP-3C Orions.

According to Jane’s, Taiwan’s showcased its Cloud Leopard II M2 prototype last week. The prototype of the next-generation 8×8 Cloud Leopard II armored vehicle was showcased at the 2019 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition. The M2 prototype is the second of two Cloud Leopard II development testbeds built by the 209th Arsenal at the MND Armament Bureau’s Materiel Production Center in partnership with the Hsinchu-based Industrial Technology Research Institute. A major modification carried over from the M1 prototype is a new hydropneumatic suspension system, which replaces the double wishbone suspension of the current Cloud Leopard APCs. The Cloud Leopard II can be used as an armored personnel carrier, infantry fighting vehicle, fire support vehicle, command and control vehicle and ambulance.

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Watch: U.S TEST NEW CRUISE MISSILE AFTER WITHDRAWAL FROM INF TREATY !!

Americas

Boeing won a $154.9 million contract modification for new-build Apache AH 64E helicopters. The AH-64E attack helicopter is the latest version of the AH-64 helo used by the US Army. It is also known as Apache Guardian. Until 2012 it was designated as AH-64D Block III. The helicopter is fitted with more powerful General Electric T700-GE-701D engines, developing 1 994 shp instead of the 1 800 shp on the previous versions. In March 2017, Boeing won the first $3.4 billion multi-year contract for the AH-64E Apache helicopter. Under the first contract, the army was supposed to receive 244 remanufactured Apaches while an undisclosed international customer was to acquire 24 new units. Under the modification, Boeing will perform work in Mesa, Arizona and estimated completion date is December 31, 2922.

The Navy tapped Sikorsky with a $48.3 million firm-fixed-price order in support of the CH-53K King Stallion. The order is to procure spare parts to repair and maintain low-rate initial production Lot Three configuration aircraft. A couple of days ago Sikorsky won a one-year $107.3 million contract from the US Navy for the long-lead items needed to manufacture its fourth batch of six CH-53K helicopters for use by the US Marine Corps. In May, the company received a $1.1 billion contract to produce 12 CH-53Ks and provide aircraft system spares and logistics support services. The King Stallion is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter. Its design features three 7,500 shp engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin than previous CH-53 variants. Sikorsky will perform work under the newly received order in Canada as well as the UK and various parts in the US. Estimated completion date is in August 2024.

Middle East & Africa

DynCorp International won a $32.8 million time-and-materials contract to train, advise and assist the security forces in Afghanistan. Since 2010, DynCorp provides specialized training to strengthen the Afghan national security forces. Under the newly awarded time-and-materials contract DynCorp will perform work in Afghanistan with an estimated completion date of August 19 next year. Army funds in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award. The US Army Contracting Command in Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois is the contracting activity.

Israeli defense company Elbit announced that Israel’s Ministry of Defense selected Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IFLD), the Company’s Active Protection System for the Eitan new eight-wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle as well as the D-9 Bulldozer of the Israeli Armed Forces. The Eitan AFV is an Israeli 8×8 armored personnel carrier. At eight meters long and three meters wide, the Eitan weighs in at 30-35 tons and is operated by three crew members – a commander, gunner and driver. It can carry nine fighters in an air-conditioned environment. Its body and suspension system have been improved to maximize crew protection and survivability. Improvements were also made to the steering, electric and control systems. The IFLD uses independent optical sensors, tracking radar, launchers, and countermeasure munitions to defeat threats at a safe distance from the defended combat vehicles. The system provides 360-degree protection coverage for close-range scenarios in both open terrain and urban environments. According to the company, the lightweight system offers versatile high-performance, negligible residual penetration, and ease of integration.

Europe

The UK Ministry of Defense started the process to select a Systems Integrator for Project Morpheus, its $3.8 billion program to deliver the major part of the UK’s Land Equipment Tactical Communication and Information Systems program. In early August 2019, the MoD released an invitation to tender, seeking expressions of interest from contractors via a dynamic pre-qualification questionnaire. Morpheus will give access to fully integrated operational information technology that simplifies the user experience, allowing units to focus on the mission. Morpheus is the first installation of Defense as a Platform in the tactical environment. In Spring 2017, Morpheus entered the second Assessment Phase, termed Evolve to Open.

Asia-Pacific

Jane’s reports that Taiwan is preparing its CM-34 IFV for delivery. Officials told the news platform that the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense’s Materiel Production Center is set to deliver the first tranche of 32 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variants of the 8×8 Yunpao armored vehicle family to the Republic of China Army at the end of 2019. The CM-34 is based on the 6×6 CM-31 designed by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland and is derived from the common 6.35 meter long, 2.7 meter wide, and 2.2 meter high welded steel hull also used by the in-service, the CM-32 and CM-33 Cloud Leopard armored personnel carriers. The CM-34 has a combat weight of 24 tonnes as opposed to the 22 tonnes of the earlier variants.

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Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $13.4 million contract modification to provide US Trident II Strategic Weapon System efforts for the navigation subsystem. The Trident II D5 is a three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile that can carry multiple independently targeted re-entry bodies for a maximum range of over 7,360km. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, the Navy’s Trident missile prime contractor, developed and produced the missile and support equipment. The company also supplies technical and logistical support at sites where the missiles are deployed. The Trident II D5 LE Program is intended to extend the service life of the weapon system until 2042, to match the hull life of the Ohio Class submarine. Earlier this month Lockheed won an $11.5 million modification for Strategic Weapon System efforts for the navigation subsystem. Work will again take place in Mitchel Field, New York. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2022.

The Naval Air Systems Command tapped Lockheed with a $32.1 million modification for modification and retrofit of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force. The deal procures modification kits and special tooling. The contract will cater to the US Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense participants and Foreign Military Sales customers. The F-35 Lightning is a supersonic, multi-role fighter jet that represents a quantum leap in air-dominance capability, offering enhanced lethality and survivability in hostile, anti-access airspace environments. Currently, it is being used by the defense forces of the United States and 11 other nations. The F-35 is Lockheed Martin’s largest program that generates more than 25% of its total sales. Lockheed will perform work in Fort Worth, Texas and estimated completion date is in June 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Jane’s reports that Iran withdrew the S-300 long-range air-defense system. Satellite images show that that system, which was deployed to Asaluyeh in May, has been withdrawn. The S-300s are Russian missile systems. Originally purchased in 2007, Iran’s S-300 order was blocked until April 2015 when the Kremlin lifted its self-imposed ban on the sale due to the international lifting of some sanctions against Iran. The country purchased and received an unknown number of S-300s in 2016, it was fully tested and implemented in 2017. Iran deployed a full S-300PMU-2 battery to an airfield in Asaluyeh from its base near Bushehr, enabling it to cover the central Gulf. The withdrawal could be seen as a sign that Tehran no longer sees an imminent escalation of tensions in the Gulf.

Europe

The crew of the HMS Lancaster moved back on board the ship after a two year overhaul in Devonport, the UK Defense Journal reports. The sip also known as the „Red Rose“ has undergone extensive upgrades mirroring the major changes across the frigate flotilla, such as the new Artisan 3D radar, improved navigational radar and new-generation Sea Ceptor missile system as the ship’s shield against air attack. The Sea Ceptor is a sea-based supersonic missile defense system developed for the British Royal Navy. The system will initially be mounted on Type 23 frigates.The Lancaster will now sail back into her homeport of Portsmouth during December. She will then enter the trials phase. Queen Elizabeth launched the Duke Class Type 23 frigate ship in May 1990.

Asia-Pacific

India gives up its plan to upgrade Jaguar’s engines. The country has decided that upgrading the Jaguar’s engines with Honeywell’s F-125IN is an expensive option and therefore will shelve the idea. Instead, the service could turn to buying more Su-30MKIs. The Print reports that the Rolls-Royce Adour 811 engines of the 1980s vintage twin-engine aircraft have seen 15-30 per cent reduction in thrust. This means the Jaguar cannot carry its full load. “The price quoted by Honeywell and the HAL for ‘re-engining’ is just too high. For the price of two such upgrades, we can get one basic Rafale,” a source said and added: “One plan is to order more Su-30 MKIs to replace those fighters that would be grounded. As far as role is concerned, one Sukhoi can play the same role as two Jaguars“.

The Japanese government is launching satellite to intercept foreign countries’ military satellites in the event of an emergency, the Japan News reports. The plan is part of efforts to strengthen deterrence amid a rapidly increasing military threat in outer space, as seen in the development by China and Russia of satellites that can attack others. The decision is to be made by the end of the fiscal year so it can be launched mid-2020. The government is considering introducing a type of satellite that can disable the operations of other countries’ military satellites.

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Americas

Raytheon won a $199.6 million firm-fixed contract for MK 15 Close-In Weapon System or CIWS upgrades and conversions, system overhauls, and associated hardware. CIWS is a fast-reaction terminal defense against low- and high-flying, high-speed maneuvering anti-ship missile threats. At sea, Phalanx is designed to defeat anti-ship missiles and “close-in” threats that have pierced other lines of defense. On land, as part of the US Army’s counter-rocket, artillery and mortar systems, it detects and destroys incoming rounds. It also helps provide early warning of attacks. The Phalanx weapon system is installed on all US Navy surface combatant ship classes and on those of 24 allied nations. The land-based version is forward deployed and has been used in combat. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $367,195,456.

The US Air Force awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $47.9 million contract for 469 Maverick units. According to the company, the Maverick is a precision-attack missile for the air, naval and marine forces of 30 countries. Maverick is certified for use on more than 25 aircraft, including helicopters, fighters, attack and patrol aircraft. More than 69,000 missiles have been produced to date, and more than 6,000 have been used in combat, with 93 percent accuracy. The missile’s guidance software provides attack capability around-the-clock against fixed high-value targets, high-speed moving and maneuvering armored vehicles, ships and fast boats, and targets of opportunity. Targets of opportunity provide all-altitude point-and-shoot flexibility ideally suited for time-critical strike in urban close air support and maritime operations. Raytheon will perform work in Tucson, Arizona. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2021.

Middle East & Africa

Syria claimed it shot down a missile that was fired toward the area of Masyaf in the Hama governorate on Thursday night, Israel Defense reports. The missile was reportedly fired from the direction of northern Lebanon toward the Masyaf area, which has been repeatedly targeted in recent years in attacks attributed to Israel. Israel is thought to have shifted to launching missiles from Lebanon into Syria to avoid Syrian air defenses in recent months. The area around Masyaf, which is thought to be used as a base for Iranian forces and pro-Iranian militias has been repeatedly targeted in recent years in attacks widely attributed to Israel.

Europe

Northrop Grumman won a $7 million follow-on contract for the Royal Netherlands Air Force AN/ALQ-131 (V) electronics countermeasures pod upgrade. Northrop Grumman has fielded more than 1,600 ALQ-131 pods, which used state-of-the-art technology to successfully protect aircrews and aircraft in every conflict since becoming operational in the 1980s, the company states. The AN/ALQ-131 Electronic Countermeasures Pod provides electronic countermeasures protection for USAF, ANG, AFRES, and FMS country aircraft. Northrop will perform work in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Estimated completion date is February 15, 2022. This program is focused on the redesign of the ALQ-131 Digital Receiver Exciter and ALM-256 Intermediate Level Support Equipment. The contract involves 100% Foreign Military Sales to the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Asia-Pacific

Japan’s Ministry of Defense approved the purchase of 42 F-35B fighters. According to Asahi Shimbun, each aircraft is expected to cost $132 million. Funding will be made available for the purchase of 18 jets. The government indicated late last year that it intended to acquire the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft, but no formal decision had been made until now. The F-35B aircraft is manufactured by Lockheed Martin. On May 27, US President Donald Trump said at a press conference following talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Japan plans to buy 105 F-35 fighters. The F-35B is a single-engine fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It is the first aircraft to combine stealth technology with STOVL capabilities and supersonic speeds.

The Australian government handed over a Guardian Class patrol vessel to Samoa. The boat, dubbed the Nafanua II , was handed over to representatives from the Samoan government at Henderson, Western Australia on August 16. The delivery is part of the Pacific Patrol Boat replacement component of the $1.35 billion Pacific Maritime Security Program, which is designed to enhance maritime security cooperation across the South Pacific. Under this program, Australia will deliver 19 Guardian Class patrol boats to 12 Pacific Island countries by the end of 2023. The Police Maritime Wing of the Samoan Police Service will operate the Nafanua II.

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AGM-65E onto F/A-18
(click to view full)

Raytheon is restarting its production line to produce AGM-65E2/L laser-guided Maverick missiles, and will also upgrade existing stocks, in response to demand from the front lines. The AGM-65 rose to its greatest prominence during Desert Storm, when many of TV’s missile-eye views of air strikes came from Mavericks. In truth, it was produced in 3 versions: TV-guided (AGM-65A/B/D/H), Imaging Infrared (AGM-65G) guided, and laser-guided (AGM-65E). Production continues for the TV and IIR variants, but the Marines’ AGM-65E laser-guided version had gone out of production.

The AGM-65 Maverick was the first general purpose fire-and-forget tactical air-to-ground missile in service with the U.S. Air Force. The JAGM program initially proposed to replace it, but program changes ensured that Maverick remains the default American option for jet fighter precision-guided missile strikes out to around 20+ km / 12 nmi. While IIR and TV guidance allow precision attacks, laser guidance generally offers the best accuracy of the 3 against ground targets. Likewise, there are circumstances in which a fully-powered missile is a better choice than an unpowered gliding bomb. The following story from Iraq illustrates…

Why Laser Mavericks are Still Needed

I don’t like Mondays…
(click to view full)

“The clock tower in this photo [see above] is located above a crowded marketplace. A sniper was in the tower, and was shooting at people (I don’t know whether he was shooting at civilians or GIs). Someone on the ground called for air support, and a USMC Harrier, carrying the LG Mav arrived on the scene. As you can see from the photo, the LG Mav did a first class job of precisely taking out the sniper’s nest while leaving the surrounding structure intact and keeping collateral damage to a minimum.”

A glide bomb’s unpowered vertical path would not have been very suitable for that operation.

Imaging Infrared guidance works very well against some kinds of targets. It is not an obvious fit in this situation. Targets of this kind, when this level of precision is required, and where heat sources may be hard to distinguish, are not IIR’s forte. Especially when the ability of troops on the ground to pinpoint the exact part of the building involved, in real time, is a priority.

TV guidance could be precise enough to hit a specific part of the building, but its precision level is inferior to laser guidance, and it also lacks the easy adaptability and fire-and-forget qualities of a laser-guided missile.

A smaller laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire missile might have worked, but they’re not designed to be fired from fast-moving platforms like jets. That means more waiting time unless an attack helicopter or UAV is already on site – a luxury that may not be present in time-critical situations. The Hellfire missile’s high-explosive warhead may also be too small for some situations, and its AGM-114N thermobaric warhead variant is only used if a building’s collapse is an acceptable outcome. The same issues are present if one replaces Lockheed Martin’s UAV/helicopter fired Hellfire with MBDA’s Brimstone missile, which is designed to be fired from fast jets.

These kinds of dilemmas are not uncommon in the USA’s current conflicts, and the ease with which laser-guided missiles can work with designators from other aircraft, troops, or UAVs sharply multiplies their effectiveness. If the USA’s fast jets want to be involved in the kinds of close support missions that make up most of the fire requests in its current wars, they need a laser guided option.

Industrial Team

Raytheon is the prime contractor, but as is generally the case, they have a number of important sub-contractors. Major suppliers include:

• Alliant Tech Systems in Rocket Center, WVA (rocket motor)
  
• Analog Modules, Inc. in Longwood, FL
  
• BAE Systems in Lexington, MA
  
• Eagle Picher in Joplin, MO
  
• ELCAN Optical Technologies in Midland, Ontario, Canada
  
• Ensign Bickford in Simsbury, CT
  
• Kaman Aerospace in Middletown, CT
  
• MOOG, Inc. in Salt Lake City, UT and East Aurora, NY
  
• Primus Technologies in Williamsport, PA
  
• Reynolds Systems in Middletown, CA
  
• Woven Electronics in Greenville, SC

Contracts and Key Events

F-15E fires Maverick
(click to view full)

Unless otherwise noted, all contracts are issued to Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ.

August 20/19: 469 Units The US Air Force awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $47.9 million contract for 469 Maverick units. According to the company, the Maverick is a precision-attack missile for the air, naval and marine forces of 30 countries. Maverick is certified for use on more than 25 aircraft, including helicopters, fighters, attack and patrol aircraft. More than 69,000 missiles have been produced to date, and more than 6,000 have been used in combat, with 93 percent accuracy. The missile’s guidance software provides attack capability around-the-clock against fixed high-value targets, high-speed moving and maneuvering armored vehicles, ships and fast boats, and targets of opportunity. Targets of opportunity provide all-altitude point-and-shoot flexibility ideally suited for time-critical strike in urban close air support and maritime operations. Raytheon will perform work in Tucson, Arizona. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2021.

Sept 3/14: Modifications. A $49.5 million firm-fixed-price contract to modify 500 AGM-65A/B guidance control sections to an AGM-65E2 configuration. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2014 US Navy weapon budgets. In early November, the Marine Aviation Plan 2015 explains:

“To address the operational need for a TACAIR forward-firing missile, 500 legacy AGM-65F Infrared (IR) Mavericks will be purchased from the USAF and converted into modernized AGM-65E2 Laser Mavericks. These conversions will nearly double the current inventory of Laser Mavericks. The AGM-65E2 seeker provides F/A-18F and AV-8B with increased self-designation capability, greater chance of laser spot re-acquisition if lost due to obscurants, and a more accurate laser spot scan than the AGM-65E seeker.”

Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ (53%); Williamsport, PA (31%); Orlando, FL (8%); Ontario, Canada (4%); Joplin, MO (3%); and Grass Valley, CA (1%), and is expected to be complete in January 2017. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 by US Navy NAVAIR in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-14-C-0071).

500 swap-in sections

Jan 24/12: Testing. Raytheon announces that the US Navy has completed developmental and operational testing of the AGM-65E2 laser-guided Maverick missile. The Navy fired 4 missiles at moving and stationary targets from F/A-18C/D Hornets, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, and AV-8B Harriers, including 1 shot from a Harrier that hit a moving target, using laser designation from an AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter.

The end of testing clears the way for delivery and use of the missiles.

Dec 19/11: Raytheon Missile Systems in Tuscon, AZ receives a $15 million firm-fixed-price contract for laser maverick missile production. Work is expected to be complete by Sept 30/13 (end of FY 2013). This was a sole-source acquisition, with 1 proposal received by the OO-ALC/GHGKA at Hill Air Force Base, UT (FA8213-09-D-0008, #0004).

Missile production

Feb 9/11: Testing. Raytheon announces a successful series of initial AGM-65E2/L captive carry flight tests, from A-10C, F-16, and F/A-18 aircraft, in Q4 2010. During the tests, the Maverick’s laser seeker locked on to a variety of stationary and moving targets from up to 28 km/ 18 miles away.

May 10/10: Raytheon announces a $34.4 million to continue design work on the newest AGM-65E2 (USN/USMC) and AGM-65L (USAF) laser-guided Maverick missile variants. Under this contract, Raytheon will develop, integrate and test the new guidance and control sections, which will add enhanced laser seekers and new software, in order to improve both accuracy and integration with modern targeting pod laser designators. Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile System’s Air Warfare Systems product line, adds that:

“…we hope to have the newest addition to the Maverick family available for export soon.”

R&D for AGM-65E2

Dec 22/09: Other Mavericks. A $171.2 million contract to provide 200 AGM-65D imaging infrared Maverick missiles, 4 AGM-65D guidance and control sections, 300 AGM-65G imaging infrared Maverick missiles optimized for hardened targets, and 8 AGM-65G guidance and control sections. All funds have been committed, and this contract is managed by the 784th CBSG/PK at Hill AFB, UT (FA8213-10-C-0022).

April 2/09: Raytheon announces a U.S. Air Force contract to restart the laser-guided Maverick production line, and add state-of-the-art laser-seeker technology to existing missiles. The contract will result in the upgrade of up to 450 laser Maverick guidance sections for the USAF and U.S. Navy.

Raytheon plans to deliver the first upgraded guidance sections to the U.S. Air Force in 20 – 24 months, under a contract that uses funds from a General Services Administration (GSA) exchange program, without affecting normal weapon procurement budgets.

Production line restarted, Swap-out 65E contract

March 20/09: The Air Force is awarding an undefinitized firm-fixed-price contract to Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, AZ for an amount not to exceed $23 million. This action provides for production quantities of 70 laser-guided Maverick Missiles, and 1 Guidance and Control Section for a Maverick Missile. At this time, $17.25 million has been obligated by the OO-ALC/LHKC at Hill Air Force Base, UT (FA8217-09-C-0046).

Urgent production: 70

Additional Reading and Sources

• US Air Force – AGM-65 MAVERICK.

• US Navy – AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile.

• Wikipedia – AGM-65 Maverick.

• Federation of American Scientists – AGM-65 Maverick.

• Flightglobal – USAF orders production revival for upgraded Maverick missile

• Deagel.com – AGM-65 Maverick

• Designation Systems – Raytheon (Hughes) AGM-65 Maverick/a>.

Competition

• DID – APKWS II: Laser-Guided Hydra Rockets in Production At Last. And a fast jet variant is in the works, creating a lower-end competitor/ complementor.

• MBDA – Dual Mode Brimstone Missile. Can use either millimeter-wave radar (MMW) or semi-active laser (SAL) guidance, and is designed to work from fast jets in a 3-per-hardpoint configuration.

Americas

Honeywell International won a $110.9 million contract modification to revitalize engines of the US Army’s Abrams tanks. The modification provides spare parts for the Honeywell-made AGT1500 gas turbine engine for the M1 Abrams family of vehicles. Honeywell’s AGT1500 engine provides superior acceleration and mobility to the M1 Abrams, making it the platform of choice for the US Army, Marine Corps, National Guard, and many international allies. The new agreement is part of the Army’s Total Integrated Engine Revitalization or TIGER program to meet the Anniston Army Depot production of the Advanced Gas Turbine 1500 engine for the Abrams tanks and TIGER field repair site requirements. Work will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of February 22, 2022.

Lockheed Martin won a $56 million deal for combat system engineering support on the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS). Under the contract, the SSDS combat system engineering agent and software design agent primary deliverables will be SSDS tactical computer programs, program updates and associated engineering, development and logistics products. The contract will manage the in-service SSDS configurations as well as adapt and integrate new or upgraded war-fighting capabilities. Lockheed will perform work in Moorestown, New Jersey and San Diego, California. Estimated completion date is in December.

Middle East & Africa

Jane’s reports that images have shown at least one Israeli Navy Saar-5 corvette has the new IAI-Elta ELM-2258 Advanced Lightweight Phased Array or ALPHA radar. The radar system is based on unique full digital AESA technology by ELTA Systems Ltd., a Group and Subsidiary of IAI (IAI/ELTA) and is an integral part of the combat systems installed on the missile ships. ALPHA is a rotating AESA radar, capable of producing a large number of simultaneous beams for maritime and aerial targets, and to provide a high quality situation picture in the most extreme marine environment. The radar can perform several tasks at the same time, such as: detection and classification of naval targets, tracking of a large number of targets, and integration into guided missile systems for defense and attack. Israeli Naval sources told Jane’s in 2017 that the Saar 5 corvettes Hanit and Eilat would receive the radar as part of an upgrade that would also see the integration of the new Barak 8 surface-to-air missile.

Europe

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense on August 8 reportedly transferred $1.2 billion to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA) for 8 Lockheed F-16 Block 70 fighters and related equipment, Bulgarian media said. Last month, the government gave the nod to the long-pending deal for the procurement of 8 F-16 jets to replace the aging fleet of MiG-29 jets of the Bulgarian Air Force. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by 2023. The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense said the DSCA’s confirmation of receipt marks the related contracts’ entry into force and the beginning of their implementation.

Asia-Pacific

The US Navy contracted Lockheed Martin with a $80 million modification for AEGIS Modernization (AMOD) production requirements. The deal covers the production, test and delivery of multi-mission signal processor equipment sets; electronic equipment fluid cooler; AEGIS Weapon System AMOD Upgrade equipment; Kill Assessment System 5.1 equipment; AEGIS spares; Australia Combat Systems Engineering Development Site; and AEGIS Ashore Japan Sites equipment. The upgrade is for the US Navy as well as the governments of Japan and Australia under the Foreign Military Sale program. The Aegis Combat System is an integrated naval weapons system using radar and computer technology to track and guide weapons in destroying enemy targets. The project was started by the US Navy in 1964 to defend ships from missile threats, and with constant upgrades is now a feature on over 100 US and NATO ships, as well as those of Australia, Norway and South Korea. It is also an integral part of NATO’s European missile defense system. Work under the modification is expected to be complete by November 2023.

The Trump Administration approved the F-16 fighter jet deal to Taiwan. The deal is worth $8 billion. According to the Washington Post, the move will likely anger China amid the deepening trade dispute between Washington and Beijing. The DoS reportedly submitted the package to Congress for informal review late Thursday, and it is not expected to meet opposition. This would be the largest and most significant sale of weaponry to Taiwan in decades. The State Department has not yet publicly commented on the proposed arms sale to Taiwan. “We are aware of media reports regarding a possible sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan,” a State Department official said on August 16. “As a matter of policy, the US government does not comment on or confirm potential or pending arms sales or transfers before they have been formally notified to Congress.”

Today’s Video

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Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solutions won a $31.1 million contract modification or one E-2D Hawkeye Integrated Training System III Weapons Systems Trainer and one Aircrew Procedures Trainer, including technical data. The Hawkeye is an advanced all-weather, carrier-capable tactical Early Warning Aircraft. The Advanced Hawkeye is assigned aboard aircraft carriers and provides airborne early warning and command and control to carrier air wing. The E-2D can act as a sensor to guide the fleet’s weapons onto targets that other aircraft and ships can not locate. Also it warns of incoming anti-ship missile attacks. Rockwell will perform work in Norfolk, Virginia and estimated completion is in April 2024.

The US Air Force announced that the last pair of new wings for 173 A-10 Thunderbolt planes was successfully installed last week. “From a warfighter point of view, bringing this program to a successful conclusion was a significant accomplishment for the entire enterprise team,” said Stephen Zaiser, director of the 571st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The Air Logistics Complex’s 571st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron swapped wings on 162 A-10s as part of the A-10 Enhanced Wing Assembly replacement program. The remaining 11 were installed at Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea. The $2 billion project is to remove and replace the wings on the planes.

Middle East & Africa

Jane’s reports that Iran unveiled its first indigenously developed mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) on August 13. According to the magazine the Raad was unveiled in a ceremony held at the Defense Industries Organization in Isfahan and is a more advanced version of the Toufan. The Toufan was developed to provide Iranian forces with a highly mobile vehicle that is capable of carrying out logistics and combat missions in all possible theaters of war. It is ambush protected with ballistic protection to resist land mines, improvised explosive devices, and steel core bullets.

Europe

The first steel to be used in Britain’s HMS Cardiff, an anti-submarine frigate, was ceremonially cut in a Glasgow-area shipyard on Wednesday. It marked the start of construction of the second of eight Type 26 Global Combat Ships, also known as City Class, or C-Class Ships for the British Navy. The cutting-edge frigates for the Royal Navy will replace the current anti-submarine warfare Type 23 frigates and provide advanced protection to the Continuous at Sea Deterrent and Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and offer unrivaled anti-submarine warfare capability.

During a telephone briefing on August 13, General Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of the US Air Force in Europe, Air Forces Africa, and NATO’s Allied Air Command told Journalists that the deployment of a squadron of US Air Force F-35s to Europe “allowed us to integrate this fifth generation platform into various exercises and training sorties with our allies and partners“. The US Air Force in Europe has been preparing to base F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in the UK through a series of activities with NATO countries. In July the USAF together with the UK Ministry of Defense’s Infrastructure Organisation broke ground during a ceremony on a new Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II infrastructure at RAF Lakenheath.

Asia-Pacific

After the current protests in Hong Kong, Thailand’s military has prepared a plan to evacuate its citizens living in Hong Kong in case the security situation there deteriorates. Bloomberg reports that the Air Force is ready to deploy two planes, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules and an Airbus A340, if the Thai government orders an evacuation. The Hercules is a turboprop transport aircraft. The aircraft is able to land and takeoff from unprepared runways. Hong Kong citizens have been protesting against a bill allowing extraditions to China. The protests are already lasting for 11 weeks and have made headlines due to the police clashing with demonstrators at Hong Kong’s airport. Flights had been cancelled at the beginning of the week, because of the violence of the protests.

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Lockheed Martin in Florida won a $99 million deal by the US Air Force for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) Foreign Military Sales production support. The contract provides for lifecycle support for all efforts related to JASSM and any JASSM variants in the areas of system upgrades, integration, production, sustainment, management and logistical support. The JASSM is a low observable standoff air-launched US cruise missile. It is a large, stealth, long-range weapon with a 1,000 pound armor-piercing warhead that entered service in 2009. Work will take place in Orlando, Florida and estimated completion date is in August 24.

The US Marine Corps is moving one step closer towards operating its own MQ-9 fleet with the first two Marines graduating from the Basic Sensor Operator Course on August 9. „The graduation of these two lance corporals is a small step in their training,” Marine Liaison to the 558 FTS Major Matthew Bailey said. “It’s probably lost on them how important it is, but this is a major milestone for the Marine Corps UAS community. The two marines will be assigned as sensor operators for the MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aircraft System. The MQ-9 Reaper is the primary offensive strike Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for the US Air Force. Given its significant loiter time, wide-range sensors, multi-mode communications suite, and precision weapons, it provides a unique capability to perform strike, coordination, and reconnaissance against high-value, fleeting, and time-sensitive targets. The Marine Corps in March laid out plans to establish their own MQ-9 Force. The Marine Corps has been on a path to expand it’s UAS assets and enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. This brings the push for expanding into group five UAS’. Group five UAVs can weigh in above 1320 pounds, normally fly higher than 18,000 feet above sea level, and at any speed. These assets can stay in the air longer, with a much larger payload, and observe a much larger area.

Middle East & Africa

Spartan Air Academy Iraq won a $31.5 million task order for continued Air Academy training in support of the Iraqi Air Force. Spartan Air Academy Iraq, LLC, was formed in 2014 to support the establishment of an air academy in Iraq. The launch of the Iraq Air Academy was held at Balad Air Base February 21, 2018. It was attended by senior officials from the US Government, Government of Iraq, and Spartan Air Academy Iraq, LLC. The US is invested in Iraq’s F-16 program where pilots are trained, and the maintenance and security of the F-16s are carried out by American contractors. Iraq will receive a new batch of F-16 fighter jets over the course of next year. The Spartan Air Academy will perform work at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Estimated completion date is July 8 next year.

According to a press release by Raytheon, Bahrain inked an agreement to purchase the company’s Patriot air and missile defense system. This allows the US government to begin contract negotiations with Raytheon for production of an undisclosed quantity of systems and missiles. “Raytheon’s Patriot Integrated Air and Missile Defense System will ensure the Kingdom of Bahrain is well equipped to defend against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and manned and unmanned aircraft,” said Ralph Acaba, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. Patriot is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defense system to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft. It is in service throughout the US, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Poland, Sweden, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Romania, Spain and Taiwan.

Europe

BAE Systems announced in a news release that their ‘revolutionary’ new mission planning software will be rolled out to the Royal Air Force by November 2020. The software, named Sceptre, will be used throughout a mission, from the initial plan, to the execution of it, to the debrief. BAE says it’ll allow users on the ground to “make better, more informed decisions” to support the flight crew. The RAF plans to initially use it primarily to support its Typhoons. BAE Systems developed and funded Spectre internally. The value of the contract with the Ministry of Defense is yet to be released.

Asia-Pacific

India Times reports that India’s Ministry of Defense approved the procurement of locally developed Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (NGMMCBs) and software-defined radios (SDR) for the Indian Navy. The SDR is a complex and state of the art communication system, which has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defense Research Development Organisation, Bharat Electronics Ltd and Weapons Electronics System Engineering Establishment. The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) announced that an undisclosed number of NGMMCBs fitted with the BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile, would be deployed along India’s coastline. The DAC also approved amendments to the Defense Procurement Procedure, 2016, to make it easier to do business in the defense sector.

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Austal USA won a cost-plus fixed-fee task order in support of the post shakedown availability (PSA) of the Littoral Combat Ship USS Tulsa or LCS 16. The deal provides for accomplishment of advance planning, material procurement and accomplishment of work. It includes all of the manpower, support services, material, non-standard equipment and associated technical data and documentation required to prepare for and accomplish the PSA. Work will also include correction of government responsible trial card deficiencies, new work identified between custody transfer and the time of PSA and incorporation of approved engineering changes that were not incorporated during the construction period which are not otherwise the building yard’s responsibility under the ship construction contract. The USS Tulsa is part of the Independence Class Littoral Combat Ships. The ship was commissioned in February. The Tulsa is assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1. The PSA is an industrial activity availability assigned to correct deficiencies found during the shakedown cruise or to accomplish other authorized improvements. Austal will perform work in Seattle, Washington and is expecting to finish work by April next year.

The US Army has signed a contract to buy two sets of Iron Dome missile intercepting units. Defense News reports that the deal for the Iron Dome systems, which will be part of the US Army’s interim cruise missile defense capability, is set in stone. The service had an urgent capability gap for cruise missile defense on an interim basis. The Army will now figure out delivery schedules and details in terms of taking receipt of the systems. The Iron Dome is the world’s most-used system, intercepting more than 1,900 incoming targets with a success rate exceeding 90 percent since being fielded in 2011. Iron Dome detects, assesses and intercepts a variety of shorter-range targets such as rockets, artillery and mortars. It is effective day or night and in all weather conditions including low clouds, rain, dust storms and fog. It features a first-of-its-kind multi-mission launcher designed to fire a variety of interceptor missiles.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Defense reports that Israel asked the US Navy for the price and availability of the V-22 Osprey. An article by Aviation Week says Israel has a requirement for 12 to 14 tilt-rotors. Israel’s Defense Ministry has issued a price and availability request to the US Navy’s international programs office. The Osprey takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter and flies horizontally like a fixed-wing aircraft, and is intended primarily for special operations and forces. The helicopter is self-deployable worldwide, with a ferry range over 2,100nm. Normal operating range is up to 1,100nm. The tilt-rotor aircraft is available in three configurations: the Combat Assault and Assault Support MV-22 for the USMC and the US Army; the long-range special operations CV-22 for US Special Operations Command; and the US Navy HV-22, for combat search and rescue, special warfare and fleet logistic support.

Europe

German defense contractors Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland will build a high-energy laser for installation aboard a German Navy Ship. This marks the first time the German military has entered the arena of laser weapon development. Rheinmetall said in a press release: „Now, for the first time ever, this capability is to be investigated under quasi-operational conditions using a demonstrator installed onboard a German corvette“. The United States first began development of non-lethal lasers for military use in 2014. Rheinmetall also stated that lasers are capable of engaging targets at the speed of light with extreme precision and minimal collateral damage. The two companies agreed to build, integrate, and test a laser demonstrator for the German Navy’s K130 corvette. Rheinmetall and MBDA said they are awaiting the release of the performance specifications by Germany’s Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-service Support, before determining the details and division of labor.

Jane’s reports that Great Britain awarded Industry teams led by Blue Bear Systems Research, Boeing Defence UK, and Callen-Lenz to complete the preliminary design of a low-cost unmanned combat aircraft that can operate alongside manned fast jets as part of future air power mix. The UK’s Project Mosquito is a Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Air technology demonstrator initiative. It is intended to generate evidence in order to inform a potential future ‘Loyal Wingman’ requirement. The Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Air (LANCA) merged from the 2015 studies undertaken by the UK Defense Science and Technology Laboratory to understand how innovative combat air technologies and operating concepts might offer radical reductions in system cost and development time. According to Jane’s, the acquisition strategy for Project Mosquito is split into two phases: Phase I, which lasts for 12 months and covers preliminary system design, and Phase II, which will see a downselect to one or two teams to further mature their designs, complete manufacturing of the technology demonstrator, and complete a limited flight-test program.

Asia-Pacific

Indian media reports that Intelligence Agencies have spotted at least three Pakistan Air Force transport aircraft C-130 bringing equipment to Skardu Air Base. Pakistan is expected to deploy JF-17 fighter aircraft at Skardu Air Base. The Intelligence Agencies are keeping a close watch on the activity at the Base. In the past, Pakistan has used the Air Base to support its Army operations on the border with India. It has been one week since the Narendra Modi government made moves to end special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and bifurcate the state into two Union Territories and the situation between India and Pakistan is tense.

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Lockheed Martin announced that the AEHF-5 protected communication satellite is now in transfer orbit. The launch on August 8 was successful and the AEHF-5 is now responding to the US Air Force’s 4th Space Operations Squadron’s commands. According to Lockheed, the squadron began “flying” the satellite shortly after it separated from its United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes after the rocket’s successful 6:13 am ET liftoff. The Advanced Extremely High Frequency 5 or AEHF-5 satellite is the fifth addition to the Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency constellation. The satellites are built by Lockheed Martin and are used to relay secure communications for the Armed Forces of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands. The first AEHF satellite was launched in 2006 and the most recent, the AEHF-4 in October 2018. The sixth and final AEHF satellite is expected to launch later this year.

The Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire is the first guard base to receive a next-generation KC-46A Pegasus refueling tanker plane. The refueling tanker flew into the Pease Air National Guard base late Thursday afternoon. The Pegasus is developed from a Boeing 767 passenger plane. It is replacing KC-135 Stratotankers in the US Air Force fleet of refueling planes. The Air Base will receive three KC-46As per month for four months. The KC-46A can refuel any fixed-wing plane, foreign or domestic made, while both planes are airborne. It can also accommodate a mix of passengers, including patients and cargo. Boeing had been three years behind schedule on the Pegasus program before deliveries began. The Air Force halted deliveries a couple of times due to debris in the plane. Last week, Lockheed received a $55.5 million contract modification for engineering work on a redesign of the plane’s boom telescope actuator.

Middle East & Africa

Elbit Systems will upgrade tanks and supply radio systems for an Army of an unspecified country in South East Asia. The 32-month deal is valued at approximately $80 million. According to Elbit, the company will supply Fire Control Systems and Electric Gun and Turret Drive Systems for tanks and advanced radio systems from the E-LynX family in several configurations, including hand-held and man-packed radios for infantry soldiers and vehicular radios for Armored Fighting Vehicles. The E-LynX tactical solution is a 4TH generation communication solution provided by Elbit Systems. The software-defined radio (SDR) offers a secure and reliable tactical communications solution to all echelons – from the individual soldier on the battlefield to deployed headquarters.

Europe

Craig Hoyle from Flight Global reports that the final Eurofighter Tranche 3 for the UK Royal Air Force has made its second flight and will be delivered to the customer by end of the year. The Royal Air Force has an active fleet of 116 Typhoons, the oldest of which are 14 years old. Under current plans, the type should remain in UK service until 2040, operating alongside its short take-off and vertical landing Lockheed Martin F-35Bs. The same news report also said that Qatar has requested to accelerate the delivery of its own Eurofighters. The jets will start arriving in 2022 and most of the 24 jets on order will be delivered in 2023. The final aircraft will reach home in 2024.

Asia-Pacific

Lockheed Martin Australia issued a call for local companies to register interest in participating in its program to develop the combat system for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) fleet of next-generation Attack Class submarines. The company said the call to engage with local industry relates to the preliminary design and research and development phase of the combat system program. Australia’s Future Submarine Program is the largest defense capital investment program in Australia’s history and is a truly national endeavor. Design of the Future Submarine has commenced, with platform construction due to begin in 2022-23 and the first Future Submarine likely to enter service in the early 2030’s. Specific requirements detailed by Lockheed Martin Australia include “novel methods for reliable communications on an unstable platform”; “emerging technologies for improved autonomous celestial navigation”; “distributed underwater sensor networks and their impact on submarine operations”; and “novel methods to integrate compressive sensing techniques”.

Jane’s reports that the relationship between India and Pakistan has been increasingly tense since New Delhi announced on August 5 its decision to scrap the special constitutional status it had granted to its portion of the disputed northern region of Jammu and Kashmir about 70 years earlier. Pakistan has expelled India’s High Commissioner to Islamabad, adding that its own envoy, who has yet to assume the position, would not move to India because of New Delhi’s revocation of Article 370 in the Indian constitution. This statute had granted the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir special powers since the early 1950s to make its own laws and fly its own flag.

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Lockheed Martin won a $176.3 million contract in support of the AEGIS SPY-1 Weapon System. The deal is for the repair of 1,672 different head-of-family part numbers. It is a five-year contract with no option periods. The AN/SPY-l radar system is the primary air and surface radar for the Aegis Combat System installed in the Ticonderoga (CG-47) and Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) Class warships. It is a multi-function phased-array radar capable of search, automatic detection, transition to track, tracking of air and surface targets, and missile engagement support. It is capable of providing tracking and discrimination data for ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft, and other air or space breathing threats. Lockheed will perform work under the new contract in Moorestown, New Jersey and work will be done by August 2024.

General Dynamics won a $15.2 million delivery order for the Virginia Class USS Washington or SSN 787. The order includes planning, material procurement and repair work. The nuclear-powered fast attack submarine is built by Huntington Ingalls and General Dynamic’s Electric Boat Division. Virginia Class submarines operate in the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, special operation forces support, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. General Dynamics will perform work in Groton, Connecticut. Work is estimated to be finished by December this year.

Middle East & Africa

Local media reports that Israel is providing intelligence and other unspecified assistance for “Operation Sentinel,” the US-led naval mission to bolster security for vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel’s Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz revealed that the Middle Eastern country is involved in the mission to protect trade routes in the Gulf. Katz also instructed the Foreign Ministry to work with all relevant parties in Israel and the US government to ensure that Israel is integrated into the Gulf security, according to the report, following a recent visit to Abu Dhabi in which he discussed the “Iranian threat” with a senior Emirati official. Iran has reacted negatively to Israel’s involvement in Operation Sentinel. The country threatened to counter Jerusalem’s presence in the region in self-defense after Israel’s FM reportedly said it was helping secure Strait of Hormuz.

Europe

The Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defence site in Romania has completed its upgrade, NATO announced. The work was completed on August 9 and the THAAD battery that had been temporarily deployed there will be relocated. The update is part of the United States European Phased Adaptive Approach to ballistic missile defense, which was announced in September 2009. A release by Nato said that the update, which has been taking place across the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system fleet, did not provide any offensive capability to the Aegis Ashore missile defense system. Aegis Ashore is the land-based variant of the Navy’s Aegis Weapons System and the centerpiece of Phases II and III of the European Phased Adaptive Approach.

Asia-Pacific

The US State Department approved a a possible Foreign Military Sale of MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters to South Korea. The deal is valued at $800 million. The sales proposal includes the 12 helicopters, plus associated engines, multimode radars, sonar and targeting systems, sonobouys, communications equipment, and training and support. South Korea seeks to add anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capability and capacity to the Navy. Back in January 2017, the country’s military procurement arm, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, announced that it planned to procure 12 more maritime ASW helicopters to complement an earlier 2012 purchase of eight AW159 Lynx Wildcats.

According to Jane’s, a second batch of four Boeing AH-64E(I) Apache Guardian helicopters arrived in India. The helicopters for the Indian Air Force arrived at the Hindon Air Force Station on the outskirts of New Delhi on July 30. The choppers are part of a $2.02 billion order placed by the service for 22 of these platforms in 2015. Boeing delivered all eight platforms a few weeks before schedule. The delivery of the remaining 14 Apache Guardians is scheduled to be completed by 2020. The AH-64E (I) is the customized version of the Apache helicopter. Modifications were made to suit the IAF’s future requirements. The helicopter is designed to offer significant capability in mountainous terrain. The service can use the chopper to conduct precision attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile airspace with threats from the ground.

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The US Navy contracted Data Link Solutions with a $75 million modification for the Block Upgrade II retrofit of Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) low volume terminals (LVTs). The MIDS LVT is a low-cost fighter terminal with flexible, open-architecture designs. It provides the critical airborne, ground, and maritime link that allows for simultaneous coordination of forces and situational awareness in battlefield operations. The MIDS program was inaugurated via a Memorandum of Understanding amongst the founding MIDS nations, namely Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and the United States. The terminals provide secure, high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for Navy, Air Force and Army platforms, and for Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will take place in Wayne, New Jersey and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Estimated completion date is in December 2026.

Oceaneering International won a $34.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for the Virginia Class submarine sail racetracks, payload tube loading platforms and multiple all-up-round canister special support equipment ladder kits with shipping crates. The Virginia Class new attack submarine is an advanced stealth multimission nuclear-powered submarine for deep ocean anti-submarine warfare and littoral (shallow water) operations. The lead ship, Virginia was laid down in September 1999, launched in August 2003 and commissioned in October 2004. It underwent a three-year operational evaluation before operational deployment. Oceaneering will perform work under the support contract in Chesapeake, Virginia. Estimated completion date is in August 2024.

Middle East & Africa

Jane’s reports that Iraq has only one operable Chinese-made CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The country actually acquired more than 10 CH-4s, but only one was fully mission capable because of maintenance problems, the news platform cited a US inspector general report. The country’s defense ministry purchased the drones in 2015. The CH-4 was developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), on the basis of the previous model, the CH-3. According to its developer, the CH-4 has better basic performance than that of the US-based General Atomics’ MQ-1 Predator, an industry leader, and is more competent in reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions. According to Jane’s, the CH-4 is not the only problematic UAV type in Iraq’s inventory. The fleet of more than 10 US-made Insitu ScanEagle UAVs flew only two sorties between March 1 and June 30, because of a combination of Iraqi training in the United States, a lapse in maintenance contracts, and problems with signal interference.

Europe

Germany has grounded its Tiger attack helicopter fleet due to defective material being used in a vital component in the main rotor, the German newspaper Spiegel reports. The Bundeswehr is struggling with technical difficulties regarding the helicopter fleet. After a warning from the industry, no Tiger Helicopter will take off for the time being. Airbus is building the Helicopters, which provide UHT multi-role fire support for the German Army. The Tiger has the distinction of being the first all-composite helicopter developed in Europe; even the earliest models also incorporate advanced features such as a glass cockpit, stealth technology, and high agility to increase its survivability. Airbus now informed all of its customers that bolts may have been installed in the rotor control, which do not meet the usual standards and could brake during flight. In order to evaluate the situation, the Bundeswehr has called an Air Safety Committee meeting.

Asia-Pacific

China could eventually arm its H-6K bomber with hypersonic weapons that can destroy hostile military hubs 3,000 kilometers away within minutes, Global Times reports. Together with advanced J-20 stealth fighters, H-6Ks could devastate the enemy’s fighting capability even before a war gets fully underway, analysts said. The H-6K is not a stealth warplane, nor does it have outstanding speed to penetrate deep into hostile territory. However, it is equipped with very advanced weapons including air-launched cruise missiles, enabling it to attack targets far away, Wang Ya’nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Tuesday. The main mission objective of China’s H-6K bomber is to strike key strategic points deep within enemy territories. The Xian H-6K entered service in 2009. China operates at least 15 of these new bombers.

According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia’s government has approved a law to improve the way it procures contracts and services by saving money, making the process fairer, and boosting local bidders. On August 1, 2019, a new Government Tenders & Procurement Law was published. Historically, the degree of risk and its allocation under contracts concerning Saudi government projects has been heavily influenced by the mandatory requirements of Saudi public procurement regulation. Among other changes, the new law introduces flexibility in the price of contracts and compensations in the case of increases in raw material prices, custom duties and taxes. It also prioritizes small and medium enterprises.

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Lockheed Martin won a $16.5 million contract modification to procure consumable parts and material, technical publications and engineering services in support of the C/KC-130J aircraft. The KC-130J is an aerial refueling tanker and the latest in the line of combat proven KC-130 Hercules tanker technologies. The new KC-130J builds on proven tanker designs while taking full advantage of tremendous technological and performance improvements inherent in the basic C-130J aircraft. The C-130J features a glass cockpit, digital avionics and a new propulsion system with a six-bladed propeller. Lockheed will perform work in the US, Kuwait and Japan. Estimated completion date is in December this year.

The Navy contracted Hydroid Inc. with $15.8 million for engineering support and training services for the MK 18 Family of UUV Systems. The Unmanned Underwater Vehicles are. The Navy asked Hydroid in May to upgrade the underwater drones under a potential $47.9 million contract. Hydroid’s smaller MK18 MOD1 Swordfish UUVs possess a small side-scan sonar. It’s also used for basic hydrographic profiling, however, which is a very useful as a baseline before mine countermeasures work begins. Their MK18 MOD 2 Kingfish UUVs are typically used for mine countermeasures work, and are typically launched from ships, but they can also be hand-launched by teams in 11m RHIBs. The current deal includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $84,024,996. Work will take place in Pcasset, Massachusetts and is scheduled to be complete by August next year.

Middle East & Africa

Netline Communications Technologies announced Tuesday the supply of C-Guard Reactive Jamming (RJ) Manpack system to the Israeli military. The system is already being operated by ground forces in NATO countries, as well as in Asia and Africa. The C-Guard RJ Manpack system detects and prevents IED (Improvised Explosive Device) activation attempts. The system creates a secured zone around the troops, reacting to real-time situational electronic warfare (EW) threats by both detecting the threat and providing an immediate response of jamming RF signals that are attempting to detonate the IED. An IED Jammer essentially blocks radio signals used to detonate a remote controlled improvised explosive device or RCIED. Also known as an RF Jammer, this high powered IED Jammer saturates the environment with radio frequency pulses of electromagnetic energy.

Europe

The Ukraine is reportedly evaluating the possibility of buying the Brazilian Embraer EMB-314 light attack aircraft. The Head of the Ukrainian Air Force, Col. Gen. Sergii Drozdov, was recently in Brazil, where he participated in a four-ship EMB-314 flight. The EMB-214 Super Tucano can be used for both the trainer role and as a light attack aircraft. While the aircraft would not be an effective deterrent against the Russian military, Ukraine may find the aircraft useful for patrolling separatist-controlled territory in its east. Infodefensa reported that aircraft could help the Ukrainian Air Force bridge gaps, given that available funding for new fighter jets is limited.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense sent requests for proposals (RfPs) to four companies for the procurement of 150 wheeled armored vehicles to equip battalion-size battlegroups for a mechanized brigade, Reuters reports. The companies Rheinmetall-Krauss-Maffei Wegmann joint venture ARTEC, Patria, Nexter, and General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag – have until 31 October to submit their bids. The European country is asking manufacturers to provide bids by Oct. 31 as the Black Sea country plans to pick a winner by Dec. 20. According to Reuters, NATO has encouraged its eastern members to develop, buy and operate new alliance equipment.

Asia-Pacific

Koreatimes reports that South Korea will take delivery of the RQ-4 Unmanned Air Vehicles that it ordered back in 2014 next month. Just recently, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved a support package to South Korea for those RQ-4s. The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance Unmanned Aircraft System with an integrated sensor suite that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, capability worldwide. Global Hawk’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of ISR collection capability to support joint combatant forces in worldwide peacetime, contingency and wartime operations. The Global Hawk complements manned and space reconnaissance systems by providing persistent near-real-time coverage using imagery intelligence, or IMINT, and signals intelligence, or SIGINT, sensors. South Korea and the US agreed on the deal in 2014. The agreement included four RQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft, two spare engines and ground control equipment. The price is estimated at around $222.7 million

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Americas

Boeing won a $32.1 million contract modification for the performance of damage tolerance analysis on the P-8A aircraft to determine damage tolerance rating. The P-8A Poseidon is designed to support maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and anti-ship warfare operations. The P-8 also conducts shipping interdiction and early warning self-protection ability which involves carrying torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It is able to drop and monitor sonobuoys. It is also designed to operate in conjunction with the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Under the modification Boeing will provide non-destructive inspections for structural components on the P-8A aircraft. Work will take place in Washington, Missouri and Alabama and is scheduled to be completed in March 2023.

Harris Corp. won an $18.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement and repair of various radios and associated communications equipment for the Tactical Air Control Party – Modernization (TACP-M) program. The success of close air support also depends on the equipment and communication tools they Airmen use.TACP-Modernization, an Air Force Life Cycle Management Center-owned program, is the driving force responsible for acquiring and equipping battlefield Airmen with such tools. This technology has the capability to interface with ground forces, CAS aircraft, UHF satellites, remotely piloted aircraft and command and control intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. The Harris Corp. Radios and related equipment have proven interoperability within the existing TACP-M architecture. They are hardware that provide tactical communications in a man-pack portable kit that is designed to be packed into a bag or case that can be easily carried or worn by the user. Each of the radios has unique properties. The deal supports the Air Force TACP-M program’s Air Support Operations Center Gateway Systems, Gateway Lite Systems, Stryker Systems, Mobile Communication Systems and Dismounted Systems.

Middle East & Africa

Elbit Systems announced that it has finished extensive testing and carried out a series of successful capability demonstrations of its innovative Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV), as part of the CARMEL Future Combat Vehicle project of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The Carmel Program was launched three years ago as a multi-year program for the development of advanced technology to upgrade the IDF’s combat vehicles – producing an agile, effective, innovative, compact, easy-to-maneuver vehicle with relatively low costs. The purpose of the program was to develop the technology necessary for the “combat field of the future,” maintaining operational superiority via technological superiority. Israel’s three largest defense companies – Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems – were asked to develop their own Carmel prototypes using M113 APCs. The Carmel Program will develop capabilities that will gradually be installed on the Israel Defense Forces’ Merkava Mk 4, the next-generation Barak tank, the Namer tracked armored personnel carrier (APC), and the Eitan wheeled APC. Israel’s Defense Ministry will also begin developing an AFV that incorporates the new capabilities at an unspecified time in the future.

Europe

The UK and Rolls-Royce signed a contract to provide maintenance for the engines of Typhoon fighter jets. The deal is valued at $425.9 million. The contract will provide support for the Eurojet EJ200 jet engine until 2024, Reuters reports. The company will also be required to provide modules, spares and accessories to support the Typhoon fleet. “Not only will this contract help to maintain our world-class jets, it secures 175 jobs across the UK and boosts the skills base our world-leading defense industry relies upon,” junior defense minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan was quoted by the news agency.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea declared publicly that it will not allow the United States to deploy Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF)-range missiles in the country. After speculations that the Asian country could be a candidate site for US missiles, after Washington pledged to deploy them in the region and elsewhere to maintain deterrence after withdrawing from an anti-missile treaty with Russia, local media reported that the Korean government had no official discussions on the possible introduction of intermediate missiles.

India conducted a test-launch of its indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRASM). The Diplomat reports that the test was held on a launch site in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. It was successful. The missile is designed for canisterized storage aboard a transporter-erector-launcher vehicle. QRASM has a range of 30 kilometers and uses solid rocket propellant. The QRASM entered testing two years ago, with its first test taking place on June 4, 2017. A test in December 2017 failed.

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Americas

HEBCO Inc. won an $80 million deal for A-10 technical order sustainment. The contract is for 10 years of non-personal technical services of technical order sustainment activities by providing technically accurate and up-to-date digital data. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin turbofan engine, straight wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force. The A-10, sometimes also called „Warthog“ served in the Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm, the American led intervention against Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, where the A-10 distinguished itself. With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements, the A-10’s service life can be extended to 2040. HEBCO will perform work in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Clearfield, Utah. Estimated completion date is August 1, 2030.

The Air Force awarded Boeing a $55.5 million contract modification for KC-46 engineering, manufacturing and development. The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is a military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft developed by Boeing from its 767 jet airliner. The new KC-46 fleet is planned to replace the US Air Force’s aging fleet of Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. In April 2019, the company was awarded a $5.7 billion contract for a new fleet of the aircraft with combat capabilities. The KC-46 has completed receiver certification testing with Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft this year. The San Antonio Express News reports that the KC-46 „has been plagued by critical deficiencies that include the plane’s ability to refuel stealth aircraft without damaging them“. The Air Force even stopped accepting the KC-46 twice after debris was found in the planes. These issues have cost the USAF more than $300 million and forced it to limit some refueling operations. Under the current modification, Boeing will perform work in Seattle through February 2021.

Middle East & Africa

According to local reports, Turkey plans to use air-to-surface missiles initially developed for the F-35 on locally developed national combat aircraft and drones. Turkey’s industry and technology minister, Mustafa Varank said on Saturday that the SOM-J cruise missile jointly developed by the US and Turkey, will be deployed on local air assets following Ankara’s exclusion from the F-35 program. The SOM-J is a next-generation, medium-range, all-weather, air-to-surface standoff cruise missile. Stealthy and precise, the SOM-J is designed for use against heavily defended, high-value anti-surface warfare and land targets. These include surface-to-air missile sites, exposed aircraft, strategic assets, command and control centers and naval vessels. The SOM-J can be integrated into the Ak?nc? UAVs produced by leading unmanned air system manufacturer Baykar Makina. The Ak?nc? system can reach an altitude of 40,000 feet and has the capability of flying for 24 hours straight. It has the capacity for a useful load of up to 350 kilograms.

Europe

Ukraine’s Air Force completed drills over the Black Sea, the ArmyInform Agency reports. The service finished the tactical flight training which included various action scripts of subdivisions of the air brigade. The MI-14 and Ka-27 helicopters as well as the airplanes An-26 participated in the training. During the weekly exercises, the crews were engaged in mastering pilots’ skills, and worked out search and rescue, first aid and evacuation elements. The culmination of the military exercises was the search and tracking of “enemy” submarines by members of the Naval Air Force, followed by bombing and torpedo strikes.

On August 1, Russia kicked off the the second in a new series of power projection exercises in the Baltic Sea, Tass reports. The exercise, called „Ocean Shield 2019“ includes 49 combat ships, 20 support vessels, and 58 aircraft drawn from the Baltic, Black Sea, and Northern fleets and the Caspian Flotilla, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence. The Ocean Shield Naval Drills will last from August 1 to August 9 in the Baltic Sea under the direction of Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov. The exercises practice the deployment of the Navy’s inter-fleet grouping and the skills of commanding the fleet’s forces. It will also check the Navy’s capability to defend Russia’s national interests.

Asia-Pacific

Indonesia managed to equip its Su-30 fighter with an Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pod. The rest of the fighter fleet are already using western ACMI pods. The SU-30 is a multirole two-seater fighter. Indonesia ordered two Su-30MKK aircraft in 2003, a further three Su-30MK2 aircraft in August 2007 and six more Su-30MK2 in January 2012. ACMI pods record an aircraft’s in-flight data. The ACMI consists of four subsystems: Control and Computation, Transmission Instrumentation, Airborne Instrumentation, Advanced Display and Debriefing or Individual Aircrew Display.

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A-10A over Germany
(click to view full)

The Precision Engagement modification is the largest single upgrade effort ever undertaken for the USA’s unique A-10 “Warthog” close air support aircraft fleet. While existing A/OA-10 aircraft continue to outperform technology-packed rivals on the battlefield, this set of upgrades is expected to make them more flexible, and help keep the aircraft current until the fleet’s planned phase-out in 2028. When complete, A-10C PE will give USAF A-10s precision strike capability sooner than planned, combining multiple upgrades into 1 time and money-saving program, rather than executing them as standalone projects. Indeed, the USAF accelerated the PE program by 9 months as a result of its experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the PE program, and for other modifications to the A-10 fleet. It covers the A-10’s battlefield performance and advantages, the elements of the PE program, other planned modifications, related refurbishment efforts to keep the fleet in the air, and the contracts that have been issued each step of the way.

A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II: Experiences on the Ground

A/OA-10 at Bagram, AF
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“The Major’s Email: British Harrier Support in Afghanistan, Revisited” examined the statements of a British officer who had criticized British close air support, and openly stated a preference for USAF A-10s over any aircraft the British could deploy in theater.

As we explained at the time, this comes as no surprise. The O/A-10 “Warthog” has the advantage of armored protection, along with a purpose-built design that allows slower speed forward flight and longer loiter time over the battlefield. Not to mention its infamous GAU-8 Avenger 30mm gatling gun that can take apart a tank – or just about anything else in its field of fire. This is what allowed it to do a substantially better job in Desert Storm than fast-moving fighters like the quickly-abandoned “A-16” F-16 experiment, and it’s currently keeping them very busy in Afghanistan.

It kept them busy in Iraq, too. A July 2003 report in Air Force News quoted Lt. Col. Dave Kennedy:

“Kennedy said during a Pentagon interview that in the first week of the war, close-air support requests went to the Combined Air Operations Center “open-ended” — meaning no specific aircraft type was requested. After the first week, he said, 80 to 90 percent of the requests for close-air support were A-10-specific.”

As one can see, the British Major is hardly alone in his preferences. Why is this?

As this National Defense magazine article notes, fast jets simply aren’t an ideal choice for close air support, and the British aren’t alone in having this issue. US Army Sgt. First Class Frank Antenori discuss his recent experiences in Iraq:

“The aircraft that we have are awesome, but they are too awesome, they are too fast, too high speed. The older technology, the A-10, is far better than the new technology, Antenori said. “The A-10s never missed, and with the F/A-18s we had to do two or three bomb runs to get them on the target,” he said, recalling his recent experiences in combat.”

Dispatches from Afghanistan add an additional edge, and reinforce the point:

The A-10 combines some of the best of today’s high-technology Air Force with a solid, low-tech foundation. The addition of a targeting and laser-designation pod was a huge boost to the plane’s capabilities, but still no substitute for the pilot’s eyeballs.

“Most other aircraft rely heavily on (electronic) sensors to find and target the enemy,” said Capt. Rick Mitchell, deployed here from the Air Force Reserve Command’s 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. “In the A-10, it’s not unusual for a pilot to use binoculars.”

“Killer Chick”
flew it home
(click to view full)

Which is not to say that technology is useless. A/OA-10s have made effective and frequent use of LITENING AT surveillance and targeting pods, for instance. Integrating them directly into the aircraft’s systems is a fine idea that lowers pilot workload, and adds scanning range and improved night/bad weather capabilities. While a second crewman would be ideal, and was part of a 1980s “A-10 Night/Adverse Weather” model that was never produced, the sensor pods are clear improvements. Likewise, adding the ability to drop additional precision weapons like JDAM or its WCMD cluster bomb counterpart can only be a plus. On the flip side, A-10s have also been involved in several notable friendly fire incidents, which makes datalink improvements a critical fix.

The difference is that conventional fast jet fighters are forced to depend on these enhancements for effectiveness, because of their aerodynamic design a vulnerability to damage. With the new Precision Engagement additions, the A-10C adds many of the newer fighters’ tricks and weapons, but its cheaper, purpose-built design and stronger protection give its pilots additional options. Those additional options contribute directly to effectiveness in combat, and can still be used if hostile fire or simple technical failure render those technological enhancements useless.

The net result is an A/OA-10A Thunderbolt II/ “Warthog” platform that is a worthy successor to its P-47 Thunderbolt/”Jug” namesake, whose top 10 aces all survived World War II.

The “Hog” is the best western close air support aircraft by a very wide margin, and the A-10C upgrades make it the best close-support aircraft in the world. It’s likely to remain so well into the future, despite competition from the upgraded Sukhoi SU-25/28 “Frogfoot”/”Scorpion”, or boasts from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program that their aircraft will be able to replace it.

The A/OA-10 Precision Engagement Modification Program

A-10 cockpit, before
(click to view alternate)

To date, A-10 fleet upgrades have been somewhat patchwork and piecemeal. The A-10C PE program changes all that. The entire A-10 fleet will be modified over 4-5 years, and an April 2/07 GAO report estimates the A-10 Precision Engagement program’s total overall cost at around $420 million.

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego is the A-10C Precision Engagement program’s prime contractor and systems integrator under the direction of the A-10 program office (508th Attack Sustainment Squadron), leading a team that includes Northrop Grumman of St. Augustine, FL; BAE Systems of Johnson City, NY; and Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) of San Antonio, TX. The Air Force awarded the Precision Engagement development contract to Lockheed Martin in 2001, and as the prime contractor Lockheed is expected to deliver a total of 356 kits over 5 years, at an estimated cost of $168 million. Lockheed Martin received the production contract in February 2005, with the first production kits delivered to Hill AFB in March 2006.

While the program was originally supposed to consist of several spirals, these plans were modified in light of USAF requests and needs. The program now consists of 2 increments, with JTRS fielding left as an open item to be addressed once the JTRS AMF equipment is available.

A-10 PE, Increment 3.2

A-10C, partly upgraded
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The Maryland ANG(Air National Guard) 175th Wing at Warfield ANG Base in Baltimore, MD was be the first unit to convert to the modified aircraft and integrate them into normal operations, beginning in September 2007. They received Increment 3.2, which will include the PE kit described below plus datalink capability (14 months early), basic JDAM and WCMD compatibility (9 months early), the Spiral 1 PE kit described below, and targeting pod compatibility.

Each Spiral 1 Precision Engagement kit consists of a new cockpit instrument panel. A new computer called the Central Interface Control Unit (CICU) adds new cockpit controls and displays, including a pair of 5×5 inch multi-function color displays that include moving digital map functions. The new integrated Digital Stores Management System (DSMS), meanwhile, keeps track of weapons and launches them; it will be linked into applications as diverse as video from the targeting pod, weapons status reports, and the data link. These upgrades require a major change to the aircraft’s wiring, and consume a lot more power. Not to worry, though; a second DC generator will double the A-10’s generator capacity.

For the pilot, a new stick grip and right throttle provide true hands-on-throttle and-stick (HOTAS) fingertip control of aircraft systems and targeting pod functionality. Using the HOTAS, the pilot can designate the targeting pod to monitor an area of interest, confirm target identification, and provide laser guidance to weapons from his A-10 or from another platform – all without taking his hands from the controls. Upgrading 6 of the A-10C’s 11 pylons to ‘smart’ weapons capability via MIL-STD-1760 is the final piece of the basic infrastructure upgrades.

A-10s w. LITENING
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Key add-ons build upon these initial steps, and targeting pod integration is touted as the final piece of spiral 1. PE Program modifications will allow the A-10 to carry either the Northrop-Grumman/ Rafael LITENING AT or the Lockheed Martin Sniper XR targeting pod on an underwing pylon as fully integrated devices, with connections to all of the aircraft’s other systems. The pods, which include long-range TV and infrared cameras with zoom capabilities and a laser target designator, will enable the pilot to identify targets from medium altitudes on the order of 20,000 to 30,000 feet day or night, then illuminate them for homing, laser-guided or GPS guided bombs. During the initial deployments in Iraq, their heat-sensing capability has even proved useful for finding buried land mines, which tend to retain a differential heat signature because they’re made of different materials than the earth around them.

The targeting pods will help reduce mistaken attacks on friendly forces and noncombatants by giving the pilot a closer look at potential targets, and experience with other jets indicates that their stabilized, “point and stare” capabilities are likely to prove especially important in urban operations. Eventually, they will allow A-10 aircraft to engage targets from a higher altitude using advanced sensors and targeting pods and precision guided weapons, including the JDAM and their companion WCMD kits for cluster bombs.

Integration with ROVER devices carried by ground troops also becomes possible, allowing front line forces to communicate using annotated map displays and specific positional data.

SADL screen
(click to view full)

Another very significant Increment 3.2 upgrade involves Raytheon’s SADL data link. SADL was added after the A-10 Precision Engagement program requirements were finalized, which is usually a predictor of trouble. Instead, it went from requirements to delivery in just 17 months, thanks to a general sense of urgency and extraordinary contractor efforts. Those efforts included hardware purchases by Lockheed Martin before they had a government contract to do so, putting their funds at risk but ultimately shortening project completion by 6 months. Back in February 207, Major Drew English, the USAF program manager for A-10C Precision Engagement, told Military Aerospace Technology that:

“I would say the biggest [change] we have coming impact wise is the data link. It will shape our tactics and it bring us into a new era, probably as much as night vision goggles did when we got those in the mid-’90s”

SADL automatically sends and receive data from the Army Enhanced Position Locating and Reporting System (ePLRS) that is part of FBCB2, a.k.a. “Blue Force Tracker.” This means that friendly troops on the ground receive the plane’s position and altitude, while the 5 closest “friendlies” will show up on the aircraft’s heads-up display and/or multi-function cockpit displays at the beginning of an attack. SADL also offers Link 16 integration with other fighters and air defense systems, allowing the A-10C to automatically known receive position data for enemy aircraft, air defenses, and other targets – including targets beyond its range of sight. Link 16 and SADL share information via gateways, which are land-based or airborne portals that permit the transfer of information between different formats.

A-10C pilot Capt. Rich Hunt of the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing said from Al-Asad AFB, Iraq:

“Previously, for me to keep track of all the other airplanes that are around me or to help us perform the mission, I would literally have to write those down with a grease pencil inside my canopy or write them down on a white piece of paper on my knee board in order to keep track of all that… Now I have a color display that has all of the other airplanes that are up supporting the same mission across all of Iraq right now. And they are all digitally displayed through that data link on my map. So now, especially at night when awareness is a little bit lower, I can look at that beautiful map display and know exactly what other airplanes are around me.”

He also praised the ROVER downlink capability, allowing the aircraft to transmit the live video feed to a joint terminal attack controller on the ground, and the new JDAM capabilities:

“In Iraq that is especially important because it’s a very difficult situation when we provide close-air support in such a densely urban environment. By the controller being able to look through my targeting pod real time, we can compare exactly what we are looking at and make sure we have an absolutely 100 percent positive identification of the target… Sometimes we find ourselves where we have to destroy a terrorist stronghold location. But in the house across the street are friendly Iraqi civilians. We know we have to destroy the stronghold, but we don’t want to cause any collateral damage whatsoever. So the JDAM has been outstanding for us. Between the situational awareness data link, the targeting pod with the ROVER down link to the controller on the ground and the JDAM, the A-10C on this deployment has been an amazing success for us.”

The USAF adds that:

“A command and control platform — such as the 12th Air Force Air Operations Center here — can send digital communication via SADL to the A-10C for a variety of purposes. Tasking messages, targeting information, threat warnings, and friendly locations can all be sent and received by the A-10C. Additionally, the A-10C is the only platform with the ability to task other fighter platforms to attack targets.”

Given past A-10-related friendly fire incidents, the appeal of a system like SADL is obvious.

Together, these Increment 3.1 and 3.2 additions create an A-10C aircraft that looks the same on the outside, but offers a very different set of capabilities and can be used in very different ways.

The Air Force has been conducting flight-testing of the A-10C at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, and at Nellis Air Force Base, NV, since early 2005. Operational Testing Certification (OT Cert) begins in July 2007, with Air Force operational test and evaluation center Operational User Evaluation (AFOTEC OUE) in August 2007 that includes a final look at JDAM integration and the SADL datalink. If everything continues to go well, operational fielding begins in early September 2007 and The AFOTEC report will follow in October 2007.

A-10 PE, Increment 3.3

A-10C fires cannon
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A second fielded Precision Engagement release will provide for CNS/ATM, full smart weapon integration, more software upgrades, additional improvements as a result of feedback from earlier flight tests, and some maintainer functional improvements.

Releases to test were scheduled for August 2007 and December 2007, with fielding expected around May 2008.

Overall PE kit production ran to 2008. Squadrons released their jets for modification at Hill AFB, UT for upgrades, and they returned about 90 days later as A-10Cs. Installation work was scheduled to run until 2009.

A-10 Fleet: Other Planned Improvements

In service to 2028

The A-10C PE program is only part of the effort required to keep the Reagan-era fleet of A-10s battle-worthy out to 2028. A separate $2.02 billion dollar wing replacement program is underway, a multiple-award $1.72 billion contract covered overall fleet maintenance and some upgrades from 2009-2019, and more technology inserts and structural modifications were planned. The GAO’s April 2007 report placed the potential total cost of upgrades, refurbishment, and service life extension plans for the A/OA-10 force at up to $4.4 billion.

The Pentagon began pushing to retire the entire fleet early in the FY 2015 budget. If that effort fails, possible upgrades could include electronics and engines, as well as structural work.

The USAF planned to replace the “thin skin” wings on 242 aircraft with new wings, and that effort is now underway. The cost was originally estimated at $1.3 billion, but the June 2007 contract was for $2 billion. This effort will help to extend A-10 service lives to 16,000 flying hours.

At some point, the A-10s would need to install Joint Tactical Radio System-based (JTRS) radios. As of April 2007, JTRS AMF was only in the bid phase, and as of 2014 it was not a required USAF standard.

To improve the A-10’s overall power and maintainability, the USAF hoped to eventually upgrade the existing General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines. Components of the existing engine will be replaced; in particular, a more efficient fan section with wider blades would be installed by General Electric along with digital engine controls. Flight testing of the revamped engine was slated to begin in FY 2008, and production in 2009-2010. Instead, this effort was downgraded in priority and deferred.

An April 2/07 GAO report places the potential total cost of upgrades, refurbishment, and service life extension plans for the A/OA-10 force at up to $4.4 billion.

Contracts & Key Events

Unless otherwise specified, all contracts are awarded to Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY as leader of the A-10 Prime Team; and they are issued by the Headquarters Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, UT.

FY 2016 – 2019

 

A-10 firing run

August 6/19: Technical Order Sustainment HEBCO Inc. won an $80 million deal for A-10 technical order sustainment. The contract is for 10 years of non-personal technical services of technical order sustainment activities by providing technically accurate and up-to-date digital data. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin turbofan engine, straight wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force. The A-10, sometimes also called „Warthog“ served in the Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm, the American led intervention against Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, where the A-10 distinguished itself. With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements, the A-10’s service life can be extended to 2040. HEBCO will perform work in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Clearfield, Utah. Estimated completion date is August 1, 2030.

February 13/18: Draft documents-Upgrades/Re-winging Draft acquisition documents seen by Flight Global reveal that the US Air Force is planning to go ahead with upgrading its A-10 fleet and revive the tank-killer’s production line after March 2019. Even though a contract with Boeing to re-wing the fleet lapsed last month, putting the A-10’s future in doubt, the documents show service intentions to buy 116 new wing sets, and continue with upgrading the fleet with a new contractor. The Air Force plans to buy the first four wing sets for the A-10s under a low-rate initial production contract, then buy up to 112 more over a seven-year period, the documents state.

January 25/18: Back to Afghanistan After a six-year absence, the A-10 Warthog is making a return to Afghanistan. 12 of the ground-attack aircraft are expected to operate from Kandahar air base as the US military continues to intensify its air activities against militants fighting the Washington-backed government in Kabul, and the Warthogs will work providing close air support in a campaign targeting Taliban revenue sources including drug-producing facilities and in counter-terrorism operations. News of the deployment comes following a Taliban attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul at the weekend, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 people.

February 27/17: The USAF is expected to green light a study into a potential low-cost, light-attack fighter fleet to augment the A-10 Warthog and other close-air support (CAS) platforms in Iraq and Syria. The service will abandon plans for a more long-term replacement of the Warthog, which is expected to keep flying well into the 2020s. $100 million has already been earmarked for the study, scheduled to start in the Spring, and will look at the capabilities of the existing commercial designs such as Textron’s Scorpion light-attack fighter before calling out to industry.

January 23/17: The USAF is looking into testing a new low-cost light attack aircraft as soon as this spring. While Pentagon plans to acquire a new light attack platform are not new, the funding and scope of an earlier effort, the OA-X program, has never materialized into contracts being signed. However, if the experiment is approved and funded fully, the new platform will compliment the A-10 in close air support and reconnaissance missions.

August 9/16: Recommendations for the replacement of the A-10 Warthog are to be expected as soon as September. While recent reporting on the OA-X close-air support (CAS) aircraft has leaked some information on the program, it looks likely that USAF will want to acquire two CAS platforms. This would involve a a low flight-hour cost light attack aircraft augmenting the A-10 in the short term, with the service procuring an existing or potential new CAS design. Also on the table are rewinging the A-10 or buying just one replacement platform.

July 28/16: Reports that the USAF was proposing a dual procurement to replace the A-10 Warthog have been dismissed by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, saying that the funds were not available for two programs, and stating that she had heard of the dual proposal via the news and had not been briefed by anyone within the service, or options or strategy in relation to the new close air support (CAS) A-X program. The stories that the USAF had met with industry officials were initially reported last week.

July 25/16: Two new close air support aircraft to complement and eventually replace the A-10 are being sought by the USAF. Beechcraft’s AT-6 and Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano are being looked at for an off the shelf procurement while an initial order of 20 light attack OA-X aircraft could deliver as early as next year. For the OA-X, the service is looking for a medium-altitude aircraft with some level of precision strike capability, such as the BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided rocket.

March 14/16: The USAF is to look at a variety of options to replace the A-10 Warthog for its Close Air Support (CAS) requirements. A study will investigate whether a new clean-sheet design is required, or if existing aircraft such as the AT-6 or A-29 would be best for continued low-intensity “permissive conflict” like counter-terrorism and regional stability operations. An alternative option could involve a derivative of the T-X Advance Trainer, however with the T-X program not due until 2024, it would miss the A-10’s retirement in 2022.

February 4/16: The life of the A-10 attack jet will be extended until 2022 after it was announced in Secretary for Defense Ash Carter’s 2017 defense budget preview on Tuesday. Lawmakers including former A-10 pilot Rep. Martha McSally and Sen. John McCain who supported the plane’s continuation were pleased with the announcement. The close-air support aircraft will continue to see service in the operations against the Islamic State in the Middle East where it has been supporting ground troops. The deferral of the A-10’s retirement comes as continued delays seem likely for the F-35, which is due to replace the A-10 once it comes into active service. The A-10’s ability to swoop in to heights of 50 feet above ground and engage enemies has been held up as an advantage against the F-35 by supporters.

February 1/16: Rep. March McSally has written to the White House in defense of the A-10 ahead of Obama’s budget rollout this week. The former USAF pilot has been one of the biggest political supporters of keeping the close air support aircraft in service until full plans for its legacy replacement are in motion. McSally’s efforts to keep the plane have so far resulted in the USAF reportedly shelving the A-10’s retirement plan indefinitely, due to increased demand for the attack plane in military operations in the Middle East. The letter also urged the president and defense secretary to fund depot support, maintenance, and upgrades to extend the life of the A-10 fleet, such as finishing the wing replacement effort.

November 12/15: The Air Force is considering pushing back the retirement schedule for the A-10, following a spike in demand from US forces operating in the Middle East. The venerable Close Air Support platform has been on the service’s chopping block for years, with recent efforts to retire the aircraft early blocked by lawmakers in September. The Air Force also recently released a RFI to identify sources for a new A-10 re-winging program, with the Thunderbolt Lifecycle Program Support effort intended to extend a portion of the Air Force’s A-10 fleet out to 2028.

October 23/15: The US Air Force deployed a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft to the south of Turkey last week in anticipation of the aircraft seeing more combat against ISIS in Syria, according to reports Thursday. The first Warthogs were first deployed to the Middle East in November 2014, with the Air Force remaining adamant that the fleet should be retired. The aircraft have been deployed to Incirlik Air Force Base, having relocated from their home base at Moody AFB, Georgia.

FY 2015

Election results make retirement tougher.

September 21/15: The Air Force released a Request for Information on Friday to identify potential industry sources for the re-winging of an unspecified number of A/OA-10A close air support aircraft. Over half of the A-10 Warthog fleet is already undergoing a re-winging program, with Boeing acting as prime contractor for 173 of the aircraft, with options for an additional 69. The RFI comes despite repeated calls by the Air Force’s top brass to retire the fleet early in order to free up money and resources. These calls have been blocked, with this latest RFI part of the A-10’s Thunderbolt Lifecycle Program Support (TLPS) program, intended to keep the aircraft flying until at least 2028.

September 4/15: The Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James told Congress that their rejection of her branch’s decision to retire the A-10 – a cut projected to save about a couple billion dollars per year – could cause major problems and delays for programs such as the F-35, the new long-range bomber and the KC-46 refueler – programs that together constitute unprecedented expenditures for any nation in history.

September 1/15: The on-again, off-again Air Force comparison test between the F-35 and the A-10 for close air support is back on again, according to the Washington Times. The F-35 doesn’t carry – and isn’t anticipated to carry – the sorts of weapons that have proven useful in the typical CAS mission. It has but a few seconds of canon ammunition and its weapons bay was once compared to a purse after the F-35C variant further infringed on internal storage. A test between the platforms would likely hinge on the scenario imagined by the Air Force brass, so a cynic might expect a profusion of bogeys best handled by stealth fighters.

August 26/15: In what is perhaps the biggest reality perception difference between the Air Force and the rest of the military and civilian government, the Air Force has been working hard to shut down the A-10 program, maintaining that the close air support stalwart isn’t earning its keep. The several billion dollars saved would go to more F-35 work, as that platform has been tipped to be the replacement, although some senior Air Force officers have suggested that perhaps a completely new craft would be in order. So it was newsworthy that a senior officer for testing had suggested a shoot-out between the A-10 and F-35. That test is now taking fire from the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, who called such a test “silly.” Still, Welsh said that the F-35 was never intended as an A-10 replacement, so that leaves observers scratching heads as to which parts of the Air Force desire what outcome, especially as few believe an A-X replacement would be cheaper.

July 27/15: The Air Force has quashed Boeing’s hopes of selling refurbished A-10s to international customers, following the floating of the idea in May. With the House protecting the A-10 from comprehensive retirement for another year, the Air Force is planning to mothball outgoing A-10s, thereby saving a reported $4.2 billion in sustainment over a five year period.

June 26/15: The Government Accountability Office slammed the Air Force’s body of evidence and cost projections used to make the case for retiring the A-10. A report published on Thursday claims that the Air Force did not fully quantify the economic argument for favoring more advanced multi-role aircraft over the time-tested A-10. Manufacturer Boeing recently floated the idea of selling refurbished US A-10s to international customers.

May 22/15: Boeing wants to sell refurbished A-10s to international customers. The US is the only operator of the Warthog, with the House recently voting to fund the fleet for another year, despite the Air Force chiefs’ efforts to cut down numbers. Boeing is currently engaged in an extensive re-winging program for the aircraft, following a $2 billion 2007 contract.

May 1/15: On Thursdaythe House Armed Services Committee voted to keep the A-10 operational for another year, with the 2016 defense policy bill including an amendment to prohibit the Air Force from retiring the plane. The amendment – proposed by Rep. McSally – passed while a “middle ground” amendment proposed by Rep. Moulton failed. That amendment would have allowed the Air Force to retain a hundred of the aircraft while retiring up to 164.

April 28/15: The House is seeking to block the A-10 from being retired, with Rep. Martha McSally reportedly planning to introduce an amendment to prevent the Air Force from pushing the aircraft aside. This amendment will be attached to Thornberry’s version of the defense budget, with the A-10 fleet fully-funded. An A-10 recently had to conduct an emergency landing while deployed to Iraq, with the aircraft’s engine reportedly suffering “catastrophic damage.”

Nov 11/14: Politics. The USAF has a new angle in the A-10 fight, proposing to retire 72 A-10s in order to switch their maintenance workers over to the F-35. It’s being sold as part of having the F-35A reach Initial Operational Capability, but A-10 proponents like Sen. McCain and Kelly Ayotte say the USAF has other choices. The USAF says that their previous plan B has been blown apart by renewed needs in Iraq and Syria. Sources: Defense News, “USAF Discussing A-10 Compromise With Congress”.

Nov 4/14: Elections. American mid-term elections leave the Republican Party with a bigger House Majority, and recapture the Senate from the Democrats. That result leaves John McCain [R-AZ] as the new chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. There are 80 A-10s at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ in Tucson, and McCain is very much a proponent of engagement in places like Iraq, Syria, and other places where the A-10’s unique capabilities make a big difference. He’s going to be a staunch opponent of any retirement plans.

The election also features A-10 pilot Lt. Col. Martha McSally [AZ-2], who was the first woman to command an American fighter squadron, and has been described as one of the Republicans’ top House recruits. McSally is narrowly ahead in a traditionally-Democratic district, but the vote count and recount process is going to take a little while. If she is elected, it will have obvious implications for A-10 lobbying in Congress. Sources: AP, “Sen. John McCain vows to save A-10 from retirement” | McSally for Congress, “McSally Campaign Statement on Challenge to Uncertified Ballots” | Politico, “The House GOP’s top recruit”.

FY 2014

Attempted retirement of the fleet.

A-10Cs
(click to view full)

Sept 19/14: Ki Ho Military Acquisition Consulting, Inc. in Layton, UT wins a $31.4 million firm-fixed-price, engineering support, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to identify new and developing technologies that can “support the accomplishment of A-10 missions, and either eliminate or minimize operational and/or sustainability gaps.” $5.3 million is committed immediately, using FY 2014 USAF O&M funds.

Is this operational consulting, or payment to make more arguments for retiring the A-10? Poor results so far against in Iraq and Syria aren’t making fantastic arguments for other systems.

Work will be performed at Hill AFB, UT, and is expected to be complete by Sept 15/19. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, with 3 offers received by the USAF Life Cycle Management Center at Hill AFB, UT (FA8202-14-D-0002).

Sept 9/14: Support. Korean Air Lines’ Aerospace Division in Seoul, South Korea receives an estimated $46 million firm-fixed-price maintenance and repair contract for depot level support to A-10 aircraft stationed in the Asia/Pacific region. Funds will be committed as needed.

Work will be performed at KAL’s facility in Seoul, South Korea, with an expected completion date of Sept. 30/20. This contract was a competitive acquisition, with 2 offers received by USAF Life Cycle Management Center at Hill AFB, UT (FA8202-14-D-0001).

Week of June 20/14: Politics. Things continue to move at a brisk pace in the House, with floor action starting for HR 4870 then leading to a vote within days. The White House issued its usual set of “strong” disagreements [PDF], with C-130 AMP, E-3s, and AH-64 transfers among the points of contention. At least the executive appreciated that someone in Congress sided with them to retire A-10s. But it was not meant to be, as an amendment against divesting A-10s easily passed with a 300-114 roll call. This was expected given the fact A-10 retirement was at odds with the already approved authorization bill.

The Administration will now have to find Senatorial opponents to the A-10, among other cuts the House doesn’t want, that are convinced enough to push the issue all the way through reconciliation. The odds are not in their favor.

On June 20 the bill was wrapped up with a 340-73 roll call, showing even broader bipartisan support than the authorization bill: amendments [PDF] | Bill report [PDF].

June 10/14: Politics. The House Appropriations Committee votes 13-23 against Rep. Jack Kingston’s [R-GA-1] amendment to transfer $339 million from the Pentagon’s operations and maintenance account to sustain the A-10 fleet. Former USAF pilot Chris Stewart [R-UT-2] was one of the speakers in favor from both parties, and he outlined the inherent issues with the close-air support mission, but it was to no avail.

What really matters is what the House ends up approving by final vote, but these kinds of losses can hurt politically. Sources: DoD Buzz, “House Panel Votes to Scrap the A-10 Warthog”.

May 23/14: Political. The Senate Armed Services Committee has completed the mark-up of the annual defense bill, which passed by a 25-1 vote. The section relevant to the A-10 is explained this way:

“Prohibits the Air Force from retiring or preparing to retire any A-10 or Airborne Warning and Control Aircraft (AWACS), or making any significant changes in manning levels in FY15.”

That isn’t as comprehensive or as long-term as Sen. Ayotte’s S.1764 bill (q.v. Nov 21-Dec 5/14), but it fulfills the same purpose in the immediate term. If the measure remains in the Senate’s FY 2015 NDAA bill, it will have to be reconciled with similar but different provisions in the House bill (q.v. May 8/14). Bottom line? Unless these measures are stripped from the final bill in either the House or the Senate, the A-10C fleet isn’t going anywhere just yet. Sources: US Senate Armed Services Committee, “Senate Committee on Armed Services Completes Markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015”.

May 8/14: Political. A 41-20 voice vote in the House Armed Services Committee changes the language of Rep. McKeon’s A-10 compromise, and institutes terms that are similar to HR.3657. Ron Barber [D-AZ-2] and Vicky Hartzler [R-MO-4] and Austin Scott [R-GA-8] from HR.3657 are the amendment’s sponsors, and they’ve added interesting requirements. One example would have the Comptroller General’s Office assess the cost per-plane for close air support missions, as part of the set of activities necessary before retiring the A-10s. The F-35’s high operating costs, and heavy depreciation due to its high initial cost, would cripple it in any comparison with the A-10. The F-35’s figures per mission would probably be at least 100% higher, and could easily be worse than that.

May 5/14: Political. House Armed Services Committee chair Buck McKeon [R-MO] proposes a compromise measure that would require “Type 1000 storage” for the retired A-10C fleet. Planes kept in that condition can be recalled to duty and fly again within 30-120 days, because after the initial removal and proper storage of key items like engines and weapons, no parts can be pulled without the express permission of the program office at Wright-Patterson AFB. That’s significantly better than Type 2000/4000 storage, but a step below Type 3000 “temporary storage” planes that receive engine runs, tow-outs to lubricate their bearings, and fluids servicing every 30 days.

Defense News estimates the cost for the 283-plane fleet at $25.7 million over 5 years ($12.17M initial storage + $283k/year + $12.17M refurb every 4 years). Sources: Air Force Magazine, “Living Boneyard” | Defense News Intercepts, “The Price of Storing the A-10 in “Type-1000″ Storage” | House Armed Services Committee, “McKeon Releases Full Committee Mark”.

Feb 24/14: Scrap the A-10Cs. The announcement isn’t a surprise (q.v. Sept 15/13), but Chuck Hagel’s FY 2015 pre-budget briefing explains the official justification for removing the A-10 fleet:

“For the Air Force, an emphasis on capability over capacity meant that we protected its key modernization programs, including the new bomber, the Joint Strike Fighter, and the new refueling tanker. We also recommended investing $1 billion in a promising next-generation jet engine technology, which we expect to produce sizeable cost-savings through reduced fuel consumption and lower maintenance needs. This new funding will also help ensure a robust industrial base – itself a national strategic asset.

To fund these investments, the Air Force will reduce the number of tactical air squadrons including the entire A-10 fleet. Retiring the A-10 fleet saves $3.5 billion over five years and accelerates the Air Force’s long-standing modernization plan [to replace it with the F-35]…. the A-10… cannot survive or operate effectively where there are more advanced aircraft or air defenses. And as we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan, the advent of precision munitions means that many more types of aircraft can now provide effective close air support, from B-1 bombers to remotely piloted aircraft. And these aircraft can execute more than one mission.

Moreover, the A-10’s age is also making it much more difficult and costly to maintain. Significant savings are only possible through eliminating the entire fleet, because of the fixed cost of maintaining the support apparatus associated with the aircraft. Keeping a smaller number of A-10s would only delay the inevitable while forcing worse trade-offs elsewhere.”

The A-10’s original concept did, in fact, aim to survive and operate in the face of advanced fighters and air defense, which makes Hagel’s statement questionable. Expect to see others question Hagel’s use of the term “effective” as well. The A-10 remains peerless in the close support role, and the use of fighter guns for close-in attacks on the front lines remains reality. That isn’t possible for drones, and it’s problematic for the vulnerable F-35A, which carries only 14% as much ammunition (only 180 rounds) in a lesser caliber. It would be possible to defend the decision by saying that the USAF is downgrading Close Air Support in order to build up other capabilities, but that isn’t how the Pentagon is selling this. Sources: US DoD, “Remarks By Secretary Of Defense Chuck Hagel FY 2015 Budget Preview Pentagon Press Briefing Room Monday, February 24, 2014”.

FY 2015 Budget: Retire the fleet

Nov 21-Dec 5/13: Politics. House and Senate members introduce bills in each chamber that would restrict the USAF’s ability to retire its A-10Cs. The Senate’s S.1764 is introduced by Kelly Ayotte [R-NH], While the House’s HR.3657 is introduced by Vicky Hartzler [R-MO-4]. Both have cosponsors from each party, but they’ll need more cosponsors to improve the chances of getting to a vote and being passed into law.

The core condition in both bills is that the USAF must have a fleet of F-35As with Block 4A software, including integration with the GBU-53 Small Diamater Bomb II or equivalent capability, all certified by an audit by the Comptroller General that also says that there are enough F-35s to replace the A-10s. In practice, that would defer A-10C retirement to 2025 at least, and might even push all the way to the A-10’s planned 2028 retirement.

FY 2013

APKWS laser-guided rockets added; A-10s out of Europe.

BAE/GD APKWS
(click to view full)

Sept 26/13: TLPS. Northrop Grumman Technical Services in Herndon, VA receives an estimated maximum $11.3 million task order under a combined firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee engineering support contract. They’ll provide evaluations, analysis, repair designs, and/or testing to support the requirements for the A-10 aircraft structural integrity program and maintenance of operational safety, suitability, and effectiveness. All funds are committed immediately.

This award is a result of a competitive acquisition under the Thunderbolt Life Cycle Program Support contract, but only 1 bid was received.

Work will be performed at Hill AFB, UT, although various portions of the work will take place at subcontractor facilities, and work is expected to be completed by Sept 18/16. The USAF Life Cycle Management Center/WWAK at Hill AFB, UT manages the contract (FA8202-09-D-0003, 0012).

Sept 25/13: Political. Sen. Kelly Ayotte [R-NH], whose husband Joe was an A-10 pilot, puts a hold on the nomination of Deborah Lee James to be Secretary of the Air Force, until she gets clear and acceptable answers regarding the USAF’s proposal to kill the platform. Sources: Defense News, “Ayotte Blocks Air Force Secretary Nominee Over Possible A-10 Cuts”.

Sept 20/13: Political. House Armed Services Committee member Rep. Ron Barber [R-AZ-02] initiates a letter signed by 8 colleagues, calling the A-10:

“…a critical capability…. In Operation Desert Storm, the A-10 was responsible for the destruction of 4,000 military vehicles and artillery pieces. In Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the A-10 has performed nearly one third of the combat sorties…. The Department of Defense must maintain its ability to wage ground combat and support those at the tip of the spear.”

The letter is co-signed by Reps. Rob Bishop [R-UT-01, HASC on leave to Rules]; Paul Gosar [R-AZ-04]; Vicky Hartzler [R-MO-04 HASC]; Jack Kingston [R-GA-01, Ways & Means]; Candice S. Miller [R-MI-10]; C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger [D-MD-02, Intel.]; Austin Scott [R-GA-08, HASC]; and Mike Simpson [R-ID-02, Budget/ Approp.]. Sources: Rep. Ron Barber Release | Full letter [PDF].

Sept 17/13: Political. Gen. Mike Hostage reiterates to reporters at the Air Force Association’s Air and Space Conference that the A-10 may be on the chopping block, and repeats the point about savings only becoming substantial when you remove entire fleets. He adds:

“You can’t get your money out of installations because they won’t support [base realignment and closure]. You can’t get money out of people fast enough. It takes about a year to get savings out of people.”

Gen. Welsh’s address
click for video

Sept 15/13: End of the A-10? USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff, is quoted as saying that “You can cut aircraft from a fleet, but you save a lot more money if you cut all the infrastructure that supports the fleet.”

That’s a step beyond initial reports about the Strategic Choices and Management Review, and current reports have the USAF considering the removal of all 343 A-10Cs, all 59 KC-10 tankers, and more of the 249 or so F-15C/Ds. The CRH successor to the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters is also up for review.

The KC-10 option seems to make zero sense as a “single-role” retirement, as it’s far more capable and multi-role than the smaller KC-135s, giving it especial value in the huge Pacific theater. It’s also the USAF’s key insurance against a grounding of its 1950s-era KC-135 aerial tanker fleet – which may explain the decision. If the USAF is trying to protect its KC-46 program, removing any operational insurance for the aged KC-135s makes the KC-46 program that much harder to mess with, or even to delay.

The F-15Cs, on the other hand, have had serious aging out problems, including maneuvering restrictions, and even a months-long grounding after one of the planes broke in 2 in mid-air. The F-22 Raptor fleet’s small size means that retiring the F-15Cs would be a big hit to US air superiority assets, but the multi-role F-15E Strike Eagles can perform the air superiority role almost as well. It’s just a continuing data point in the long-term downsizing of American TacAir. Sources: Defense News, “USAF Weighs Scrapping KC-10, A-10 Fleets” and “USAF General: A-10 Fleet Likely Done if Sequestration Continues”.

Sept 4/13: Wings. Boeing announces a $212 million follow-on order for 56 A-10C replacement wings, bringing total orders so far under the $2 billion program (q.v. June 29/07 entry) to 173 of a maximum 242.

Work will be performed at Boeing’s plant in Macon, GA. Sources: Boeing, Sept 4/13 release.

Aug 12-13/13: Cut the USAF? Prof. Robert Farley makes a condensed argument for abolishing the USAF as a separate service, in advance of his book “Grounded! The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force.” Farley argues that the USA needs air power, but not a service that’s divorced from the ground and naval forces they support. A misguided focus on strategic effect, which he argues hasn’t panned out in wartime experience, will interfere and has interfered with effective contributions to a land/ sea/ air team.

Michael Auslin of the neoconservative AEI think tank responds, arguing that the USAF’s space role and global fast-reaction capabilities make it a unique asset that can reach areas far inland where the Navy cannot go, and go overseas in a way the Army is unable to. An independent Air Force, he says, will wring every advantage out of the air and space domains, just as the Navy does at sea.

Here’s the thing. What if the USAF is seen as a non-team player, one who consistently short-changes the needs of other services? It then becomes very hard to argue that the USAF is in fact wringing every advantage out of the aerial domain for the USA. At a time of significant budget cuts, cutting an entire service offers much bigger administrative savings than removing aircraft fleets, and removing fleets the other services see as their top priorities could create a level of friction that will place that kind of radical option on the table. Sources: War Is Boring, “America Does Not Need the Air Force” | Breaking Defense, “Why America Needs The Air Force: Rebuttal To Prof. Farley”.

Aug 6/13: Combat. An engagement in Afghanistan illustrates the A-10’s strengths, and underscores why high-altitude bombing simply isn’t going to replace what it does on the front lines:

“Even with all our (top-of-the-line) tools today, we still rely on visual references,” said the lead pilot, who is on his first deployment from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. “Once we received general location of the enemy’s position, I rolled in as lead aircraft and fired two rockets to mark the area with smoke. Then my wingman rolled in to shoot the enemy with his 30 millimeter rounds.”…. “We train for this, but shooting danger-close is uncomfortable, because now the friendlies are at risk,” the second A-10 pilot said. “We came in for a low-angle strafe, 75 feet above the enemy’s position and used the 30-mm gun — 50 meters parallel to ground forces — ensuring our fire was accurate so we didn’t hurt the friendlies.

The engagement lasted two hours that day, and in that time, the A-10s completed 15 gun passes, fired nearly all their 2,300, 30-mm rounds, and dropped three 500-pound bombs on the enemy force.”

As a reference point, the F-35s the USAF wants to use as replacements can’t fly as slowly for visual references, are highly vulnerable to battle damage, and carry just 180 25mm cannon rounds. Sources: USAF, “Bagram pilots save 60 Soldiers during convoy ambush”.

Front-line reality

Aug 5/13: Political. Defense News reports that the 4-month Strategic Choices Management Review will report that the USAF could eliminate most of its older C-130E/H transports, and 5 of 55 tactical A-10, F-15, or F-16 squadrons (up to 120 jets, based on 24-plane squadrons).

The USAF’s problem is that Congress wants to cut money, but won’t countenance closing bases. They’re also not receptive to aircraft retirements, which has left the USAF with several squadrons’ worth of unflyable planes that can’t be retired. FY 2013 budget proposals to retire 22 C-130Hs and shut down two A-10 squadrons were blocked by Congress. Sources: Air Force Times, “AF considers scrapping A-10s, KC-10s, F-15Cs, CSAR helos”

June 18/13: Basing. As part of budget cuts (q.v. Feb 1/12 entry), a ceremony at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany inactivates the 81st Fighter Squadron and its A-10Cs. The ceremony marks the end of A-10 operations in Europe.

The A-10 was originally designed for combat in Europe, and was seen as a crucial fast-reaction asset that could stop heavy armored thrusts through NATO’s defenses. Now, the 52nd Fighter Wing is left with only F-16 fighters on its roster. Considering the situation in Europe, and likely threats, wouldn’t it have made more sense to remove and retire F-16s? That would have left the A-10s as an inexpensive but uniquely reassuring deterrent for NATO’s eastern flank, with fast deployability to the CENTCOM AOR if needed. Pentagon DVIDS.

Europe, Adieu

April 2/13: APKWS guided rockets. Eglin AFB announces successful tests of the APKWS laser-guided 70mm rocket from an A-10C, marking the 2nd test from a fixed-wing aircraft (a Beechcraft AT-6B was the 1st). For the final A-10C test sortie, 2 APKWS rockets were fired at a surface target at altitudes of 10,000 and 15,000 feet. The first rocket hit within inches, and the 15,000 foot shot hit within 2 meters despite a 70-knot headwind.

The USAF used a US Navy rocket launcher, because the guidance section adds 18″ to the Hydra rocket. If the USAF continues to move forward with APKWS on the A-10C and F-16, they’ll buy the Navy’s modified launchers to replace their 7-rocket LAU-131s. The US Navy is preparing to qualify APKWS on the MQ-8C VTUAV, USMC AV-8B Harrier II V/STOL jets, and F/A-18 family fighters. Pentagon DVIDS.

FY 2012

A-10C fleet cut; 1st re-winged A-10C rolls out; A-10C flies on biofuel; Thales acquires Scorpion HMD.

Alcohol-to-Jet
(click to view full)

Nov 5/12: Thales buys Scorpion HMD. Thales announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Gentex Corp.’s Visionix subsidiary for Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) and motion tracking. Products include “Intersense” motion tracking, and the Scorpion HMD that equips American A-10Cs. Thales has a strong position in helicopter HMDs with its TopOwl, but it hasn’t had quite as much luck with fighter HMDs. Visionix has good technologies, which can help Thales improve that position against the Elbit/Rockwell joint venture VSI, and secondary competitors BAE systems and Saab Group.

Visionix will operate as a subsidiary of radio supplier Thales Communications, Inc., a Thales USA company that operates independently under a proxy agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense. Its management team will remain, and they’ll continue to operates from Aurora, IL and Billerica, MA. Thales Group.

July 12/12: Sub-contractors. Boeing calls South Korea’s KAI “a key supplier on the A-10 Wing Replacement Program,” while discussing the Korean company’s role in delivering AH-64D Block III attack helicopter fuselages. Boeing is a huge customer for KAI, who supplies parts for commercial jets and F-15s, as well as helicopter fuselages, A-10 wings, etc.

July 10/12: Lockheed Martin Corp. in Owego, NY receives a $7.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for repair service for the A-10 central interface control unit (CICU), and related Circuit Card Assemblies. This computer is also knows as a Signal Data Processor, and the idea is to provide a support bridge, while the USAF gets ready to perform maintenance in-house.

Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and will be complete by Sept 9/12. The USAF GLSC at Hill AFB, UT manages the contract (FA8251-12-D-0005). See also FBO.gov announcement.

June 29/12: Liquored up. An A-10C from Eglin AFB, FL flies using a cellulosic alcohol derivative, called “Alcohol-to-Jet.” That trick works better for the jets than it does for the pilots, apparently. The fuel comes from Colorado’s Gevo, Inc., and can be had for the bargain price of just $56 per gallon.

The $700,000 flight was just a test, obviously. The A-10 is a good test platform for this sort of thing, because its fuel system was segregated in order to help the plane survive hits. The system allows the 2 engines to run off of different fuel supplies, allowing simple performance comparisons. If a test fuel creates failures, the plane can still make it back on one engine. Daily Mail | Terra.com.

Alcohol flight

May 16/12: Flight International:

“The US Air Force has concluded that the short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) Lockheed Martin F-35B- model aircraft cannot generate enough sorties to meet its needs; therefore the service will not consider replacing the Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog close air support jet with that variant.”

The short take-off F-35B’s ability to base near the battle does multiply the number of flight sorties from each plane, and improves total time over the battlefield. On the other hand, that’s multiplied relative to the F-35A. The A-10 has excellent endurance, whereas the F-35B has to sacrifice fuel capacity in exchange for its short-takeoff and vertical landing capabilities. Beyond that, F-35s of any vintage lack the armoring or gun for in-close support, remove most of their stealth protection if they carry the same array of weapons as an A-10, suffer from the usual problem identifying targets at fast jet speeds, and don’t offer significantly better battlefield sensors than the LITENING-SE or Sniper-SE pods on current A-10s. No matter what the sortie rates may be, replacement of the A-10 with any F-35 is a poor idea.

Feb 15/12: Boeing and the USAF officially roll out of the 1st re-winged A-10C Thunderbolt II in a ceremony at Hill AFB, UT. Boeing is under contract with the Air Force to deliver 233 wing sets through 2018, and delivered the 1st set in March 2011. In the intervening year, the new wings had to be installed, verified, and conduct initial test flights. Boeing.

1st re-winged A-10C

Feb 1/12: US Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz released a short white paper [PDF] outlining its priorities and choices within forthcoming budget constraints. The A-10 fleet bears the largest cuts by far, even though it has been the most consistently requested plane by troops on the ground in recent wars, and offers high value in both counterinsurgency and full-war scenarios:

“More than 280 aircraft have been identified… for elimination… over the next five years. This includes 123 fighters (102 A-10s [emphasis DID’s] and 21 older F-16s), 133 mobility aircraft (27 C-5As, 65 C-130s, 20 KC-135s, and 21 C-27s), and 30 select ISR systems (18 RQ-4 Block 30s, 11 RC-26s, and one E-8 damaged beyond repair)”

That’s 102 of 345 total A-10s flown, leaving 243 in service. It remains to be seen whether Boeing’s re-winging contract will be cut, but if not, 233/243 A-10Cs left will be re-winged planes. Unconfirmed reports point to the elimination of 2 regular USAF units, plus 3 Guard units: the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base (ANGB), MI; the 163rd Fighter Squadron at Fort Wayne ANGB, IN; and the 184th Fighter Squadron at Ebbing ANGB, AK. See Military.com | Salt Lake Tribune | Neoconservative AEI think-tank’s Weekly Standard.

A-10 fleet cuts

FY 2011

A-10Cs to South Korea; TLPS support contracts.

A-10 wing work
(click to view full)

Sept 6/11: TLPS. Boeing announces a 1-year, $2.9 million contract to develop and validate a modification of the A-10’s Digital Video Audio Data Recorder (DVADR), which was becoming difficult to support. That’s not uncommon with electronics, which become obsolete much faster than their fighter jets do.

This contract is the 6th Boeing task order under the A-10 Thunderbolt Life-Cycle Program Support (TLPS) program.

Dec 7/10: TLPS. Northrop Grumman announces a set of 3 small task orders under the A-10 Thunderbolt Life-cycle Program Support (TLPS) indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract, worth almost $2 million. Under the terms of the 2-year Aircraft Structural Integrity Program Modernization II task order, Northrop Grumman and its teammate Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX will develop and document non-destructive inspection (NDI) procedures and source data, and report discrepancies found between current technical data program requirements.

The Critical Safety Item (CSI) Technical Deficiency Improvement task order has 1 base year with 3 option years. Along with Wyle Laboratories in El Segundo, CA, and Rowan Catalyst Inc. in Libertyville, IL, the team will identify the engineering and technical correct CSI technical and acquisition data deficiencies.

Northrop Grumman is also teamed with Wyle Laboratories and Rowan Catalyst Inc., for the Critical Systems Component Analysis task, which has 1 base year with 2 option years. The team will perform component analysis of critical systems and provide solutions for increasing system reliability, safety, and aircraft availability; and reducing maintenance requirements and man-hours.

Nov 16/10: To Korea. Brahmand relays reports that the USAF 25th Fighter Squadron has deployed A-10Cs on the Korean peninsula at Osan AB, near Seoul. Subsequent USAF reports indicate that the last A-10A left the base on Dec 4/10, marking the 25th fighter squadron’s transition to an all A-10C force.

FY 2010

A-10C getting a Scorpion HMD, but not Hellfire missiles.

A-10A fires Maverick
(click to view full)

Sept 27/10: OFP Suite 7, no Hellfire. A $48 million contract modification which will allow for the “completion of the full A-10 Suite 7 Operational Flight Program.”

Asked about this, Lockheed Martin confirmed that this is part of the A-10C program, adding that the government had reached its ceiling on this contract for mission software, also called Operational Flight Programs (OFPs) or Suites. Like the current modification, the original Oct 19/07 sole source contract ceiling for Suites 6, 7 and 8 was not an award, just a maximum. The government awards funds suite by suite, and based on additional things they wanted to add to the A-10C fleet, they requested this ceiling extension to $123 million total. The USAF has since separated Suite 7 into Suite 7A and Suite 7B, and Lockheed Martin recently received a contract for the remainder of OFP Suite 7A work.

The 2007 award also mentioned Hellfire II missiles, which are not normally fired from jets. Lockheed Martin says that the high cost of developing and purchasing a special missile launch rail for the A-10 caused the USAF to change its mind. The AGM-65 Maverick missile can perform the same role at a higher cost per missile, and Hellfire’s forthcoming JAGM missile successor is expected to work with fast jets (FA8635-07-D-6000, PO0012).

July 19/10: Scorpion HMD. Raytheon announces a $12.6 million USAF contract for Phase 1 integration and qualification of the Helmet Mounted Integrated Targeting (HMIT) system for USAF and Air National Guard A-10C and F-16C Block 30/32 aircraft. Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), the prime contractor, is teamed with Gentex Corp. in Simpson, PA to produce the system, based on Gentex’s Visionix Scorpion(TM) Helmet Mounted Cueing System.

HMIT will be a night-vision compatible helmet-mounted display that shows crucial information in high-resolution color imagery directly in the pilot’s field of vision. The color imagery is a step forward, and information displayed will include weapons-cueing, targeting and situational data from on-board and remote sensors. Like other HMDs, the system will track helmet movement to display accurate imagery, regardless of the direction the pilot’s head is turned. The program includes 5 one-year production options, with a potential total value up to $50 million.

April 13/10: Sub-contractors. CPI Aerostructures, Inc. of Edgwood, NY announces an additional $10 million in orders from Boeing in support of the A-10 fleet’s $2 billion re-winging effort. The original contract with Boeing was for $70 million (see July 1/08 entry).

Boeing has added additional structural assemblies and subsystem installations to the CPI Aero contract. These additions include pylon covers, center trailing edge wedge fittings, lower outer trailing edge panels, wingtip covers, wingtip light installations and aileron light installations.

Nov 20/09: OFP. Lockheed Martin announces a $17.8 million contract from the US Air Force to upgrade software that integrates communications and situational awareness capabilities on the A-10C close air support aircraft. The software upgrade is the 3rd in an annual series planned for the A-10 and is scheduled for release in May 2011. The earlier two upgrades were also performed by Lockheed Martin; the first was fielded on schedule in May 2009 and the second is on target for release in May 2010.

The software upgrade will provide improved pilot vehicle interface (PVI) and weapons delivery. Also included with the upgrade are software baselines for the helmet-mounted cueing system that provides situational awareness through improved visual cues for the pilot and for the lightweight airborne recovery system that integrates search and rescue capability. The upgrades will be integrated in Lockheed Martin’s A-10 Systems Integration Lab in Owego, NY. Lockheed Martin A-10 industry team includes Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX and Northrop Grumman in St. Augustine, FL.

Nov 11/09: TLPS. Northrop Grumman announces an 18-month, $3.3 million A-10 TLPS contract to develop and test an anti-jam embedded GPS and an inertial navigation unit (EGI) for the A-10C. Northrop Grumman Technical Services will perform an integrated architecture and life cycle costs analysis and install a temporary modification. The company will then develop a system safety program, and provide program and engineering management support in order to conduct an operational assessment of the EGI capability during flight test. Northrop Grumman’s team includes subcontractors BAE Systems Control Inc., Johnson City, N.Y., and Borsight Aerospace, Farmington, Utah.

FY 2009

$1.72 billion TLPS multi-award maintenance contract; A-10C adds Laser JDAM; Wing cracking in 130 planes.

LJDAM test from A-10C
(click to view full)

February 27/17: The USAF is expected to green light a study into a potential low-cost, light-attack fighter fleet to augment the A-10 Warthog and other close-air support (CAS) platforms in Iraq and Syria. The service will abandon plans for a more long-term replacement of the Warthog, which is expected to keep flying well into the 2020s. $100 million has already been earmarked for the study, scheduled to start in the Spring, and will look at the capabilities of the existing commercial designs such as Textron’s Scorpion light-attack fighter before calling out to industry.

Sept 24/09: Boeing announces that it received 2 separate contracts from the US Air Force to support modernization of its 365 A-10A+ and A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft. The contracts, which have a total value of $4.2 million, consists of several tasks ranging in duration from 3 to 18 months as part of the A-10 Thunderbolt Life-Cycle Program Support (TLPS) contract. For details on the TLPS contract, see the June 11/09 entry.

Under the 1st contract, Boeing and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) will provide engineering services for the A-10 Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP), which involves updating and aligning modern structural analysis tools, processes and standards for the A-10 fleet. Under the 2nd contract, Boeing, Raytheon Technical Services, and BAE Systems Platform Solutions will conduct a trade study analysis and operational assessment/proof of concept for the A-10 Upgraded Data Transfer Unit (UDTU). The goal of this contract is to update the aircraft’s avionics architecture to improve memory and data capability.

Other A-10 contracts Boeing has received include a contract to provide on-site engineering support and 3-D models of the A-10 wing, and a contract for fuselage lofting – the transfer of a scaled-down plan to full size. The $2 billion A-10 Wing Replacement Program, which Boeing received in June 2007 (see June 29/07 entry), plans to manufacture up to 242 enhanced wing assemblies. The 3-D models allow the Air Force to resolve wing-crack issues that temporarily grounded the A-10 fleet in 2008 (see Oct 3/08 entry).

June 11/09: TLPS. The A-10 Thunderbolt Life-Cycle Program Support (TLPS) “provides a multiple-award indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract vehicle to sustain and modernize all A-10 weapon system configuration.” It’s a follow-on to the A-10 Prime Contract, which was competitively awarded to Lockheed Martin in 1997. A-10 TLPS could run for up to 10 years, with an initial 4-year award that can be followed by up to 3 more 2-year option periods. All funds have been obligated, and the A-10 TLPS is managed by the 538 ACSG/PK at Hill Air Force Base, UT.

The Aug 29/08 entry explains the key rule change from the USA’s 2008 Defense Authorization Act, which requires DoD task & delivery order contracts exceeding $100 million to be awarded to multiple contractors. The USAF will select up to 3 contractors to compete for individual A-10 TLPS orders over the life of the contract, which will include avionics, mechanical, structural, and propulsion system upgrade work and a program integration support. The 3 winners of the $1.72 billion total contract are:

• Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY (FA8202-09-D-0002). Current incumbents. Partnered with Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio TX; and Northrop Grumman in St. Augustine, FL.

• Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Saint Louis, MO (FA8202-09-D-0001). Also on contract for the $2.015 billion A-10 re-winging program (q.v. June 29/07 entry).

• Northrop Grumman Technical Services, Inc. in Herndon, VA (FA8202-09-D-0003). NGC will manage the program from Clearfield, UT. Work will also be performed at Warner Robins, GA; Bethpage, NY; El Segundo, CA; and Rolling Meadows, IL.

See also: Lockheed Martin | Boeing | Northrop Grumman.

TLPS support contract

June 11/09: TLPS. Boeing’s A-10 TLPS release adds information concerning the separate $2.015 billion A-10 Wing Replacement Program:

“The work remains on schedule as Boeing develops the 3-D models that provide the engineering foundation for production of the new wings. The models also allowed Boeing to help the Air Force quickly resolve wing-crack issues that temporarily grounded the A-10 fleet last year.”

June 11/09: A-10PE Update. Lockheed Martin’s A-10 TLPS release adds some details concerning the separate A-10C Precision Engagement program:

“Lockheed Martin will remain under contract to complete efforts that are underway including work to provide Precision Engagement modification kits through 2011… To date, the Air Force has converted more than 200 of the 356 aircraft fleet. The A-10C was declared combat ready in August, 2007… In 2007, Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego and the Air Force were co-recipients of a Top 5 DoD Program Award from the National Defense Industrial Association and the Department of Defense for A-10 systems engineering and program management excellence.”

Feb 4/09: TLPS. Boeing announces that it has submitted a proposal to the to the USAF for the $1.6 billion A-10 Thunderbolt Life-Cycle Program Support (TLPS) contract. This is a separate endeavor from the A-10C PE program, but it will have connections to ongoing modernization work.

Boeing is looking to leverage its work creating 3-D models of the plane under the $2 billion A-10 Wing Replacement Program. The A-10 was designed in the 1970s, and 3-D modeling was not used at the time. Lockheed Martin currently handles a large share of A-10 work, and competition is also expected from BAE Systems and L-3 Communications. Boeing release.

Jan 12/09: Cracking up. DoD Buzz quotes 12th Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, who says the USAF has inspected 200 of 244 aircraft with thin wings. Of those, 40% remain grounded, 41% have been inspected and returned to flight and the remainder are considered “flyable and awaiting inspection.” June 2009 remains the target date for a fix. Among the “thick winged” A-10s, 30% are still grounded, 23% will keep flying and the rest should be ready by June 2009.

The USAF’s challenge has been to keep all of the pilots current in their required flight hours for pilot certification, while providing enough aircraft to meet front-line combat needs.

Nov 14/08: LJDAM. The USAF announces that an upgraded USAF A-10C has dropped the GBU-54 LJDAM in a successful test. The next step is operational testing to develop tactics and techniques for employing the 500 pound dual laser/GPS guidance bombs from A-10s, who can use them to hit moving targets or drop bombs through clouds.

If those tests continue to go well, Eglin AFB’s test team may have their feedback as early as January. The goal is to have the LJDAM/A-10C combination deployed on the front lines by early 2009.

Nov 12/08: Cracking up. USAF release: Approximately 5 members of a depot maintenance team from Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, UT arrive at Moody AFB. They will provide hands-on training to perform major crack repairs on A-10 aircraft to Moody maintainers and another 40 active duty, Reserve and Guard maintainers from bases including Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, Nellis AFB, NV, Whiteman AFB, MO, and Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, PA. Master Sgt. Steve Grimes, Air Combat Command Headquarters A-10 maintenance liaison:

“It would cost too much to fly all the aircraft to Hill. It would also take longer to repair all since three could only be sent at a time. This method is more cost-effective and it would be a faster way to repair the A-10s.”

Oct 3/08: Cracking up. The USAF announces “a time compliance technical order requiring immediate inspection and repair of wing cracks” for approximately 130 A-10 aircraft that were originally built with thin-skin wings.

“Such action has become necessary due to an increase in fatigue-related wing cracks currently occurring in aircraft assigned to Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command and Air Force Materiel Command… The inspections, however, will not impact on-going or future operational combat missions.”

The USAF explicitly notes this as one of the issues associated with its aging aircraft fleet. The US military currently has about 400 active A-10s. See USAF release | Reuters.

Wing cracking grounds 130 A-10s

FY 2008

USAF prepared to compete future support; A-10C #100 delivered; Creating a 3-D model of the A-10.

A-10C at Davis-Monthan
2006-11-29
(click to view full)

Aug 29/08: New Rules. Aviation Week reports that the A-10C program is likely to be an early test case for a dramatic rule change inserted in the USA’s 2008 Defense Authorization Act, which requires DoD task & delivery order contracts exceeding $100 million to be awarded to multiple contractors.

The kits that upgrade the A-10A to an A-10C are still sole-sourced to Lockheed Martin, but that’s about to change. A final RFP is expected soon, and the current plan is for 3 associate prime contractors to win a “multiple award” contract that lets them compete for individual task orders. The Air Force will reportedly oversee all modifications above and beyond the A-10 Precision Engagement aircraft under the Thunderbolt Lifecycle Program Support (TLPS) contract, with a $1.6 billion ceiling over 5 years and an additional 5-year option.

Boeing, who has extensive fighter experience and makes new A-10 wings under the $2 billion re-winging program, is likely to add itself to the mix. L-3 Communications also has strong experience with aircraft refurbishment and upgrades, and BAE Systems is heavily involved in the A-10A+ program.

July 1/08: Sub-contractors. CPI Aerostructures, Inc. of Edgwood, NY announces a long-term, $70 million requirements from Boeing in support of the A-10 fleet’s $2 billion re-winging effort.

The first ordering period is to run until Sept 30/11, with an additional option period that runs from Oct 1/11 through Sept 30/16. CPI expects to receive the initial order under this contract within the next 30 days.

June 19/08: Model me. Integrating new weapons and systems onto new aircraft involved aerodynamic and mechanical considerations, in addition to electronic compatibility. Modern engineering practices offer comprehensive 3-D design drawings that account for every part, and can be used to create models that reduce the trial-and-error associated with new work. An aircraft designed in the 1970s wouldn’t have those 3-D CAD/CAM models to work from, however, which is where Eglin AFB’s 46th Test Wing’s SEEK EAGLE office enters the picture.

Visibility Size and Shape Targeting Accuracy Room Scale (V-STARS) uses a photogrammetry system of triangulation to collect thousands of data points involving every external surface of an aircraft. These data points are then used to create a model that’s accurate to within 0.03 inches of the aircraft measured. The B-52H bomber has already been through this process, and now the SEEK EAGLE office is measuring an A-10C on loan from the Maryland National Guard. The 1000,000 data points that result will build an A-10C model that can be used when integrating future weapons. USAF.

Jan 22/08: Wings. Boeing announces a $14.9 million U.S. Air Force contract for systems engineering and modeling services under the A-10 Wing Replacement program (see April 2/07 and June 29/07). William Moorefield, Boeing A-10 Wing Replacement program manager, said that the contract will provide the engineering foundation for the program; the goal is “a true paperless engineering package.”

Boeing will perform the majority of the work in St. Louis, MO, with the remaining work done in Salt Lake City, UT. The contract runs through September 2010.

Jan 18/08: #100. The USAF announces that the 100th A-10C has taken off and flown from Hill AFB, UT to Moody AFB, GA. Aircraft 80-0172 was based at Pope AFB, NC before the modification, but transfers to Moody AFB as part of the base realignment and closure (BRAC 2005) recommendations.

On average, the 571st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron technicians at Hill AFB are upgrading each A-10 aircraft to the new A-10C configuration in less than 90 days. The A-10C Precision Engagement program started in the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group in July 2006.

100th A-10C delivered

Oct 19/07: OFP. Lockheed Martin Systems Integration of Owego, NY receives a $75 million contract modification to fund the A-10C’s Operational Flight Program (OFP) Hardware Improvement Program for the plane’s mission computers, and Development and Integration of mission software Suites 6, 7, and 8, including Hellfire II Missile Development and Integration. This is just an umbrella contract and ceiling, no funds have been obligated by the 642th AESS/PK at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (FA8635-07-D-6000).

The USAF eventually decided to abandon Hellfire II missiles on the A-10C.

FY 2007

$2.015 billion contract for new wings; 25 more kits; Work on SADL datalink; A-10C arrives and reaches IOC.

IOC ceremony
(click to view full)

Aug 22/07: Basing. The USAF announces that an associate group of about 215 reservists will support the active duty 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, GA, while a smaller associate detachment of 14 reservists will augment the A-10 Formal Training Unit at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. The arrangement means the reservists and active-duty personnel have opportunities to train and deploy as a unit; development of fighter associate units began in March 1997 with the launching of the Fighter Reserve Associate Test program. The success of that program led to the signing of an agreement in April 2003 by the commanders of ACC (Air Combat Command) and AFRC (Air Force Reserve Command) to establish fighter associate units at ACC F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle locations.

“Reservists in the Moody group will fly and maintain the A-10s with the regular component under the classic associate unit structure. The first A-10C Thunderbolt II arrived at Moody Aug. 7. About 50 of the upgraded aircraft will move to the Georgia base as a part of force realignment.”

Aug 21/07: IOC. The precision engagement modified A-10C Thunderbolt II receives its Initial Operational Capability certification at a Langley AFB, VA ceremony. The USAF report says that around 75 A-10s have already been upgraded as of IOC receipt.

Aug 7/07: A-10C #1. The first A-10C arrives at Moody AFB, GA.

1st arrival & IOC

July 18/07: AFSOC A-10s? Jane’s Defense Weekly mentions that USAF Chief of Staff General Michael Moseley has told Jane’s he is considering the creation of a new counterinsurgency (COIN) squadron of A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). Gen Moseley said he is mulling the possibility of putting a squadron of A-10A close-support aircraft inside AFSOC to serve US Special Operations Command, which has the lead engagement role in the US-declared global war on terrorism.

The A-10C would certainly be useful in this role as it comes into service; a 2-seater all-weather version like the canceled A/OA-10B would have been even more useful in situations like this.

July 10/07: Sub-contractors. Rockwell Collins Government Systems, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, IA received a $24.85 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract, exercising an option for AN/ARC-210(V) Electronic Protection Radio Systems. The AN/ARC-210 Multimode Integrated Communications System provides 2 way multimode voice and data communications over the 30-512 MHz frequency range in either normal, secure or jam-resistant modes via LOS or satellite communications (SATCOM) links.

The ARC-210 family of equipment is made up of several variants of the receiver-transmitter, each providing a specific combination of functionality. This modification consists of 329 each RT-1851 ARC-210 Receiver-Transmitter Radios; 323 each C-12561 Radio Control Sets, and 294 each MT-4935 Mounting Bases for the USAF’s A-10 aircraft. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, IA, and is expected to be complete in July 2008. The Naval Air Systems Command, at Patuxent River, MD issued the contract (N00019-05-C-0050).

June 29/07: New wings. Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. in St Louis, MO received an indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for $2.015 billion for Engineering Services plus 242 enhanced A-10 Wing sets. The new wings will extend the planes’ life to 16,000 flight hours, and the program calls for the replacement wing sets to be delivered in parts and kits for easy installation. See also our April 2/07 item, which mentions the USAF’s original estimate of $1.3 billion for this program.

Solicitations began November 2006, negotiations were completed May 2007, and $74.2 million has been committed as of the award announcement. Work on the contract could run from 2007-2018, with a base ordering period from June 2007 – September 2011, plus an option period that runs from Oct 2011 – September 2016. The Headquarters Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, UT issued the contract (FA8202-07-D-0004). Boeing release

Re-winging contract

April 11/07: +25 kits. A $17.6 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to produce and deliver A/OA-10 Aircraft Precision Engagement production kits and associated items. This will include: 25 Precision Engagement Modification Kits, 30 Portable Automated Test Sets, 5 Throttle Quadrant Tester Upgrades, 25 Third SP103 Single Board Computers, 30 Stick Grip Attachment, and 357 Throttle Grip Covers. At this time, $8.8 million have been obligated, and work will be complete January 2009 (FA8202-05-C-0004/P00022).

April 11/07: SADL. Lockheed Martin Corp. in Owego, NY received a $70 million indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity, firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee and time-and-materials contract. This action covers continuing development, integration, and production of Raytheon’s Situation Awareness Data Link (SADL), and Improved Date Modem (IDM) efforts in support of on-going A-10C Precision Engagement (PE) fleet modernization and upgrade efforts. At this time, $4.1 million have been obligated, and work will be complete December 2009. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH (FA8635-07-D-6015).

April 9/07: SADL. The A-10 Prime Team announces successful delivery of the full-function Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL) capability to the U.S. Air Force for developmental flight testing. The U.S. Air Force is expected to conduct developmental flight test of the SADL capability through May 2007 at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. SADL is expected to be fielded to operational A-10 units by September 2007. Lockheed Martin release.

April 2/07: GAO Report – Costs. The US Government Accountability Office releases #GAO-07-415 – ‘Tactical Aircraft: DOD Needs a Joint and Integrated Investment Strategy’. A key excerpt:

“The Air Force will retain the A-10 “Warthog” fleet in its inventory much longer than planned because of its relevant combat capabilities– demonstrated first during Desert Storm and now in the ongoing Global War on Terror. However, because of post-Cold War plans to retire the fleet in the early 1990s, the Air Force had spent little money on major upgrades and depot maintenance for at least 10 years. As a result, the Air Force faces a large backlog of structural repairs and modifications – much of it unfunded – and will likely identify more unplanned work as older aircraft are inspected and opened up for maintenance. Major efforts to upgrade avionics, modernize cockpit controls, and replace wings are funded and underway. Program officials identified a current unfunded requirement of $2.7 billion, including $2.1 billion for engine upgrades, which some Air Force officials say is not needed. A comprehensive service life extension program (if required) could cost billions more.”

…A major re-winging effort is planned for 2007 through 2016 that will replace the “thin skin” wings on 242 aircraft at an estimated cost of $1.3 billion. This effort will help to extend the A-10’s service life to 16,000 hours… Total cost to complete the [Precision Engagement] modification is estimated to be $420 million.”

GAO on costs

March 27/07: EMD. Lockheed Martin announces a $40.4 million contract modification to complete the A-10C Precision Engagement program’s engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Work will continue through May 2008 to conclude development of the Precision Engagement software suite and to support flight testing conducted by U.S. Air Force. Lockheed Martin release.

Oct 17/06: Update. The USAF reports that as of October 2006, 21 A-10C aircraft have been modified at Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah; the entire fleet of 356 active aircraft are to receive the upgrades, including active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard Warthogs.

FY 2005 – 2006

179 upgrade kit orders (or is it 239?); DSMS delivered.

The Warthog in Winter
(click to view full)

Sept 27/06: +107 Kits. A $49 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-incentive fee and time and material contract. Lockheed Martin’s release cites 107 PE kits, representing the 2nd production lot following the initial award for 72 kits in March 2005:

“The contractor shall provide total systems performance responsibility for A-10 aircraft integration by managing all system problems to a final solution. Interfaces are maintained between the performance work systems primary areas of modifications, system test/evaluation, project management, system engineering, and facilities.”

DID’s own records show 2005 orders for 132 kits, but we’ll go with the manufacturer’s numbers. At this time, $1.3 million have been obligated, and work will be complete September 2010. The 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group at Hill AFB, UT began installing the first award production kits in March 2006 (FA8202-06-D-0001)

March 21/06: DSMS. Lockheed Martin announces that the A-10 Prime Team has delivered the Digital Stores Management System (DSMS) to the U.S. Air Force’s A-10C flight-test program as scheduled. The new system is integrated with the Sniper ATP and LITENING surveillance and targeting pods, and automates many of the weapons control functions that A-10 pilots today perform manually.

Integration of the targeting pods and DSMS took place in Lockheed Martin’s A-10 Systems Integration Lab (SIL) in Owego, NY, where A-10 pilots validated and refined the mechanization of the upgrade before official release of the software to ground and flight test. “The pilot reviews saved significant ground and flight test time,” said Roger Il Grande, A-10 program director at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego. Built by Lockheed Martin in 2003, the SIL duplicates the aircraft’s wiring and cabling infrastructure, and is outfitted with actual weapon hardware, missile seekers, suspension racks and rocket launchers to emulate an A-10 aircraft on the flight line.

July 25/05: Kits. A $9.1 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to provide for 72 A-10 aircraft precision engagement spiral 1 modification kits with 3 option years and associated test equipment. Looks like an adjustment to a previous order.

At this time, the total amount of funds has been obligated. Work will be complete at a rate of 6 per month beginning 13 months after receipt of order. Solicitation began July 2004 (FA8202-05-C-0004, PZ001).

June 28/05: Sub-contractors. Enertec America in Alpharetta, GA received a $15.3 million firm-fixed-price modification to provide for A-10 digital video and data recorders. Total funds have been obligated, negotiations were completed June 2005, and work will be complete by November 2006 (FA8202-04-C-0023, P00005).

Feb 22/05: +60 Kits? A $28.5 million, firm fixed price, time and materials contract modification for 60 A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter precision engagement Spiral 1 modification kits, along with associated parts and test equipment.

Solicitations began July 2004, negotiations were complete in July 2005, and work will begin 13 months after the exercising option and will refit 6 aircraft per month after that (FA8202-05-C-0004/P00002).

Feb 17/05: +72 Kits. A $37.8 million contract to provide the U.S. Air Force with 72 Precision Engagement Spiral 1 production kits to modify A/OA-10 “Warthog” close air support aircraft, plus associated test equipment. At this time, $28.3 million of the funds have been obligated. Solicitation began July 2004 (FA8202-05-C-0004). Lockheed Martin release.

The production kits, a result of work by Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Southwest Research Institute, are one component of the Precision Engagement program.

FY 2004 and earlier

Main upgrade contract; Sniper pods for A-10Cs.

Sniper XR

Feb 12/04: Sniper. Lockheed Martin announces a contract to integrate the Sniper XR targeting pod on the A-10 aircraft in support of the A-10 Precision Engagement (PE) Program. The contract award follows a successful demonstration of the Sniper system during the A/OA-10 Precision Engagement upgrade program’s critical design review.

Some existing A-10s do fly with targeting pods, but they’re earlier models of Northrop Grumman’s LITENING pod. The USAF picked Sniper as its future targeting pod in 2001 (though they’d shift to a dual-pod approach again in 2010), and the current contract will ensure that Sniper pods work seamlessly with the A-10’s upgraded stores management systems, pilot displays, weapon targeting, etc.

As part of the integration effort, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control will develop the Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI), pod Operational Flight Program (OFP) software, and pod interface adapter hardware for the A-10. Upon completion of this effort, the Sniper XR pod will self-detect and automatically load the appropriate Operational Flight Program when installed on either the A-10, F-16 or F-15E airframes.

Feb 15/01: Lockheed Martin announces the contract win, stating that:

“The A/OA-10 Prime contract modification has an estimated value of $226 million, $74 million for the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase through 2004 with follow-on production at $152 million.

This innovative government and industry teamwork approach cost-effectively combines multiple A-10 upgrade requirements into one program that fits within current available funding and saves the U.S. Air Force approximately $150 million over the cost of executing the requirements as standalone projects. The Precision Engagement modification also provides the A-10 fleet with enhanced close-air support and precision strike capability earlier than originally planned.

During the EMD phase, the company’s Aerospace Systems business unit will design, manufacture and test the Precision Engagement system. This effort involves the installation of a digital stores management system for cockpit interface with its weapon systems; new cockpit displays; a Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL) to provide accurate information about friendly forces and potential threats; a Direct-Current (DC) generator upgrade; and the integration of guided weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) along with future targeting pod integration. Follow-on efforts will then outfit the entire A-10 fleet.”

A-10C upgrade contract

Additional Research Background: A-10 Platform & Enhancements

• USAF Fact Sheets – A-10 Thunderbolt II

• Air Force Technology – A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog) Ground Attack Aircraft, USA

• Lockheed Martin – A-10 Thunderbolt II. Describes the Precision Engagement and support programs.

• Northrop Grumman – A-10 Thunderbolt II. The firm bought the A-10 assets of Fairchild in 1987. They are presently partnered with Lockheed Martin Systems Integration as a member of the A-10 Prime Team.

• MILAVIA – Fairchild-Republic A-10/OA-10 Thunderbolt II. Includes upgrade program descriptions into Spiral 2. Not 100% current due to program changes, see article above.

• Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network – A-10/OA-10 Thunderbolt II.

• DID Spotlight – Kicked Up Hogs: The A-10A+ Program. Not as extensive as the A-10C PE program. Intended as an interim measure; these aircraft will be the last upgraded to A-10C status.

• Air Force Technology – Su-25 Frogfoot (Sukhoi Su 28) Close-Support Aircraft, Russia. The SU-25 bears a strong resemblance to the A-9 aircraft that lost the US competition. As is frequently the case, some observers thought the A-9 was a better aircraft. A carrier-based variant of the SU-25 has been fielded, and some planes have received a set of upgrades to SU-29 status.

News & Views

• POGO (Dec 13/13) – The A-10 Warthog: A Core Defense Issue Washington Can No Longer Ignore. “More than 100 people (Hill staff, journalists, combat pilots and ground commanders, DOD officials and think-tankers) recently attended two events [covering CAS and the A-10]…. The described materials follow…”

• USAF (Aug 6/13) – Bagram pilots save 60 Soldiers during convoy ambush. What an A-10 pilot’s job really involves.

• USAF, via WayBack – (May 12/10) – Behind the Scenes: The Making of an A-10C Pilot “First Refueling” [PDF]

• USAF (Nov 7/07) – Upgraded A-10s prove worth in Iraq [dead link]. See Public Domain Files for a picture.

• Defense of the Realm, via WayBack (Sept 23/07) – Jackpot! Covers a series of letters to The Sunday Telegraph, including one from from Group Captain Hastings (Ret.), who commanded the Sultan of Oman’s tactical air force in Dhofar Province. He writes that the war “had similarities with the current Afghan operations…” Their weapon of choice? A slow-flying BAE Strikemaster counter-insurgency aircraft, derived from an RAF trainer. The same fast jet/slower plane effectiveness dynamic applied back then.

• Flight International, via WayBack (Aug 29/07) – US Air Force may extend Fairchild A-10 life beyond 2028. “There are bigger numbers throwing around that are much [later] than that,” Air Combat Command chief of requirements Lt Col Ralph Hansen told Flight International on 21 August.”

• USAF (June 27/07) – A-10s get digital makeover with data link. Includes an especial focus on the SADL datalink and how it works.

• David Axe (April-May 2007) – A-10 Upgrade Flickr Photo Set

• Defense Technology International, via WayBack (May 21/07) – Hog Heaven. Bryan William Jones paid a visit to Hog heaven at the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where the old jets get ripped apart and rebuilt.

• Defense Technology International, via WayBack (April 30/07) – Warthogs’ Secret Haunt. “The Air Force’s A-10 Warthog squadrons attend a secret training exercise in rural Florida to prepare for combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The exercise involves jets, pilots and maintainers deploying to an “austere” airfield and practicing round-the-clock bombing and strafing in difficult conditions. Predeployment training in this vein is nothing new: many units do it annually; but rarely is it shrouded in such secrecy. Warthogs have been very busy over Iraq and Afghanistan and are only getting busier…”

• Military Aerospace Technology, via WayBack (Feb 21/07) – A-10 Makeover On The Horizon

• USAF (Oct 17/06) – A-10 upgrade effort transforms Warthog capabilities

• DID (July 21/05) – $9M more for A-10 Modernization Program, Spiral 1

• DID (Feb 27/05) – $28.5M to Lockheed for 60 More A/OA-10C Spiral 1 Upgrades

• Defense Tech, via WayBack (Feb 2/05) – Next-Gen Warthog Takes Off

• C4ISR Magazine (Sept. 14/04) – A-10 Warthogs slated for major upgrade

• Salon, via WayBack (April 5/04) – The Hidden Cost of War. Describes several friendly fire incidents involving A-10s. Reading it helps to explain the appeal of the SADL data link.

• USAF 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs, via WayBack (April 13/03) – Pilot brings battle-damaged A-10 home safely. Recounts the story of Capt. Kim “Killer Chick” Campbell in the photo above. The mission took place on April 7/03.

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $18.8 million cost-plus award-fee order to provide engineering as well as management services for LCS-15 post shakedown availability, the Department of Defense announced on Thursday. The LCS-15 or USS Billings is one of the Navy’s newest warships. The vessel has a helicopter pad, a ramp for small boats and can be used by small assault forces. Post Shakedown Availability is an industrial activity availability assigned to correct deficiencies found during the shakedown cruise or to accomplish other authorized improvements. Lockheed Martin will provide 62,462 man-hours level of effort and work specification, pre-fabrication and material. Estimated completion date is in January 2021. On Saturday Lockheed also announced that the Navy commissioned LCS-15. This places the USS Billings into active service.

The Navy awarded EFW a $7.2 million delivery order to procure 15 Fast Characterization Tools, 15 Helmet Kit Modification Fixtures, 15 Ready Room Texters and 20 Night Vision Goggle Modification Kits for the V-22 Color Helmet Mounted Display System. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopters. The flight crew have a pilot’s night-vision system and a Honeywell integrated helmet display. The delivery order also provides drawing packages and the upgrade of five Fast Characterization Tools. Work will take place in Israel and the US and is expected to be finished in October next year.

Middle East & Africa

Raytheon won a $36.3 million contract modification for the Qatar Early Warning Radar (QEWR). The Early Warning Radar will add long-range detection to Qatar’s layered Integrated Air and Missile Defense architecture, which includes Patriot systems and an Air Defense Operation Center. EWR strengthens a defense shield built on the Patriot system because it detects a threat at very long range. That provides extra warning time to alert command centers and cue fire control systems. In 2017, Raytheon was awarded $1.1 billion to build the Early Warning Radar System for Qatar. Work under the modification will take place in Massachusetts and estimated completion date is in August 2023.

Raytheon will train the Afghanistan Air Force in aircraft maintenance. The company will develop a new training program for the US Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation under the $108 million contract, called Afghanistan Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Training, or AMT. The new program, which will be directed by the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and Train Advise Assist Command-Air, falls under a contract awarded to Raytheon last year by the US Army Contracting Command. The purpose of the overall, multi-award contract was to have Raytheon provide training and readiness across the US Army up to joint task force levels.

Europe

The UK Ministry of Defense and Raytheon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop new UK Space capabilities. The company will join Team ARTEMIS, which is a collaboration between government and industry formed to fast track the launch of a small satellite constellation and enhance the UK’s sovereign space capability. “Raytheon provides advanced satellite-based mission planning and data processing capabilities to governments around the world,” said Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. Raytheon’s many decades of experience in developing space systems will be a significant boost to the MOD’s space plans and their commitment to launch a small satellite demonstrator within a year with Team ARTEMIS Industry.

Asia-Pacific

North Korea test-fired two short-range projectiles into the East Sea on August 2, BBC reports. It was the country’s third such test launch since July 25. The string of tests are being seen as a reaction to planned military exercises between South Korea and the US. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a statement that the projectiles were launched at 0259 and 0323 h local time, respectively, from the Yonghung area in South Hamgyong Province. The projectiles flew about 220 km at a top speed of Mach 6.9 and reached an altitude of around 25 km before falling into the East Sea. North Korea’s latest launches came just one day after Pyongyang announced that it test-fired what it described as a new type of “large-calibre multiple launch rocket system” on July 31.

Today’s Video

Watch: BRP Davao del Sur welcomed in SoKor, to escort BRP Condrado Yap home

Americas

Huntington Ingalls Industries won a $290.6 million cost-plus-fixed fee modification to prepare and make ready for the refueling and complex overhaul of the USS John C. Stennis or CVN 74. The modification adds a second year to a previously awarded contract. Huntington Ingalls will obtain long-lead-time materials, perform forecasting and scheduling tasks, develop cost estimates, facilitate pre-overhaul tests and assessments, manage data acquisition efforts and conduct other advanced planning functions. The USS John C. Stennis is a Nimitz Class nuclear powered supercarrier. The Nimitz Class aircraft carriers are the largest warships ever built. With over 6,000 personnel, the carrier has a displacement of 102,000t, and a flight deck length of 332.9m. Services under the modification are part of the CVN 74 RCOH initiative for fiscal year 2019 through fiscal 2020. Naval Sea Systems Command will obligate $107.5M in FY19 incremental shipbuilding and conversion funds at the time of award. Work will take place in Newport News, Virginia through July 2020.

The Navy awarded Northrop Grumman Systems an $8.7 million fixed-fee delivery for non-recurring engineering needed to modify software to detect deficiencies identified by the Navy and Marine Corps aircrews and test community in the Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures AN/AAQ-24 system. The AN/AAQ-24 system is a directional infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system to protect aircraft from infrared (IR) homing (“heat seeking”) man-portable missiles. DIRCM is a lightweight, compact system designed to provide mission-vulnerable aircraft with increased protection from common battlefield threats. It is more advanced than conventional infrared countermeasures. Northrop will perform work in Rolling Meadows, Illinois and estimated completion day is in May 2021.

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of 152 MIDS-JTRS (5). The deal for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System – Joint Tactical Radio System is valued at $44 million. Canada had requested 152 MIDS-JTRS terminals with remote power supply, along with spare cables and MIDS batteries, Link-16 mobile racks, diagnostic support tools, technical documentation, and training and engineering technical support. The terminals will upgrade Canada’s CF-18 and CC-130J aircraft and Royal Canadian Air Force’s ground stations, providing modernized electronic protection, secure, jam-resistant wave forms, and Link 16 message exchange and information fidelity including support to advanced weapon employment.

Middle East & Africa

The US Navy awarded Vertex Aerospace a $9.6 million contract modification for Automatic Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast Out installs. The deal also exercises an option for organizational and intermediate depot maintenance and logistics and supply support for three KC-130J aircraft for the government of Kuwait under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Lockheed Martin KC-130J is the latest variant of the family of extended-range tanker version of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft modified for aerial refueling. Vertex Aerospace will perform work at the Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base in Kuwait and expected completion date is in August next year.

Advanced Electronics won a $57.8 million modification for the Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA Cyber Protection System and Related Facilities program. The F-15SA multi-role fighter is a Saudi Advanced variant of the Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle. It has a modern fly-by-wire flight control system in place of the hybrid electronic/mechanical system used by previous F-15s. The variant includes the APG-63(v)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, digital electronic warfare systems (DEWS), infrared search and track (IRST) systems, and other advanced systems. It also includes a redesigned cockpit originally intended for the F-15SE. The fly-by-wire system will allow the carriage of weapons on the previously unused outer wing weapon stations. Work is expected to be completed by July 31, 2022.

Europe

Lockheed Martin won a $800 million firm-fixed-price incentive contract for the production and support of 14 Slovak Republic F-16 block 70 aircraft. Slovakia wants to replace its MiG-29 fighter jets with this purchase. The country had previously been in talks to purchase Saab Gripen multirole fighter jets from Sweden, but Defense Minister Peter Gajdoš stalled those discussions and invited other bidders, with the field eventually narrowing in February 2018 to a choice between F-16 Vipers and JAS-39 C/D Gripens. Among its nearest neighbors, Hungary and the Czech Republic operate Gripen jets, while Poland has fleet of F-16s. Lockheed will perform work in Greenville, South Carolina and estimated completion dare is January 21, 2024.

Asia-Pacific

Thailand wants to buy BrahMos cruise missiles. The country has been in talks with India for the purchase. The Brahmos missile systems can be used in ground attack and shore defense modes. BrahMos missiles have a range of about 300 km and weigh 2.5 tonnes. The missile was developed by India in cooperation with Russia, with a maximum speed of 3,450 km/h.-VNA. While Thailand expressed interest in the missiles some time back, discussions picked pace after the visit of Royal Thai Navy Chief Admiral Ruddit to India in December last year, the paper said. The two sides are likely to sign a sale contract next year.

Today’s Video

Watch: THeMIS UGV Unmanned Ground Vehicle used by Estonian soldiers deployed in Mali

Americas

General Atomics Aeronautical System won a $21.7 million contract modification in support of the MG-1C Gray Eagle extended range aircraft unique initial spares and ground support equipment. The General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). It was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the United States Army as an upgrade of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator. Its endurance is about 30 hours and it can fly up to 280 km/h (170 mph). It has four hardpoints for four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or four GBU-44 Viper Strike. General Atomics will perform work in Poway, California. Estimated completion date is July 21, 2021.

The US Navy tapped Boeing with $10.6 million to procure 16 P-8A A-Kits and 16 Turret Deployment Units for Lots 8 and 9 full.rate production aircraft. The P-8A is designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is capable of broad-area maritime and littoral operations. Back in January it was reported that Boeing would start building add-on kits to create flying torpedoes that can attack submerged enemy submarines from long ranges and from high altitudes. The P-8A weapon system consists of a basic Boeing commercial 737-800 ERX air vehicle modified to meet Navy requirements, and numerous systems and subsystems for avionics, communications, mission, and weapon capabilities.Boeing will perform work under the contract modification in Washington, Arizona, and Canada and expects completion in August 2021.

Middle East & Africa

The US Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Egypt of Follow-On Technical Support (FOTS) for various ships. The deal is valued at $554 million. Egypt had requested Follow on Technical Support that provides for material and labor services in support of Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigates (FFG-7 class ships), Fast Missile Craft (FMC), Mine Hunter Coastal (MHC) ships, Coastal Mine Hunter (CMH) ships, and 25 Meter and 28 Meter Fast Patrol Craft (FPC). The prime contractor will be the Virginia-based VSE Corporation, with an estimated price tag of $554 million.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that pilots and maintenance personnel are now in Jordan to train on operating the AH-1 attack helicopter. Jordan had donated two AH-1s to the Philippines. The crew will now begin their familiarization training on the two AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters donated by the Jordanian government. Jordan was the first Cobra operator to modernize the avionics of the AH-1F/S. The Cobra is a two-blade, single-engine attack helicopter. Jordan obtained 24 AH-1Fs in the late 1980s, and in 2001 obtained nine additional ex-US Army Cobras. In 2010 Jordan transferred 16 AH-1F helicopters to Pakistan, under a US-sponsored support program that provided Islamabad with 40 AH-1 refurbished helicopters. In September last year, the Department of National Defense and the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation.

Europe

A Swiss Air Force F/A-18 went supersonic during a scramble on July 29 in the afternoon. The sonic boom was heard in the city of Lausanne.The sound alarmed residents and elicited many calls to the police. Two Hornets took off from Emmen Air Base in order to check on an aircraft that lost radio contact, according to the military. The Army did not specify the location of the incident beyond the fact that it occurred in the canton of Vaud where Lausanne is located. No further details were given of the mission except that it ended without problems. The Hornet has a very short reaction time from its alert position, very good aeroplane performance and flying characteristics and is able to accelerate extremely fast, reaching sonic speed within seconds. Its extremely good maneuverability in curvilinear flight is important in aerial combat in visual flight conditions and is proven to be of the best worldwide.

Asia-Pacific

The American State Department approved a possible Sale to the Republic of Korea for Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) for RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPS). The deal is worth $950 million. The contract would enable the Republic of Korea to sustain and operate its fleet of RQ-4 Block 30 remotely piloted aircraft and will significantly advance US interests in standardization with the Republic of Korea’s Armed Forces. In 2014 South Korea signed a deal to purchase Global Hawks with production starting in 2015 and delivery expected to start last year. Due to cyber security concerns, delivery was delayed. Northrop Grumman is the principal contractor on the contract.

Today’s Video

Watch: Philippines considers Scorpene-class diesel electric submarine for submarine program

Americas

Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC won a $167.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for 263 full-rate production Lot 8 Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles or AARGM. The deal for the subsidiary of Northrop Grumman includes the conversion of US government-provided AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles into 260 AGM-88E AARGM all-up rounds and 3 Captive Air Training Missiles as well as supplies and services needed for manufacture, spares and fleet deployment. AARGM is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile compatible with US and allied strike aircraft, including all variants of the F/A-18, Tornado, EA-18G, F-16, EA-6B, and F-35. Designed to upgrade the AGM-88 High-Speed, Anti-Radiation Missile system (HARM), AARGM features an advanced, digital, anti-radiation homing sensor, millimeter wave radar terminal seeker, precise Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) guidance, net-centric connectivity, and Weapon Impact Assessment transmit. Missile Impact Transmitter capability is available for approved customers. The missile offers extended-range engagement, as well as organic, in-cockpit emitter targeting capability and situational awareness. Work under the contract will take place in California and is scheduled to be finished by March 2022.

PAE Aviation and Technical Services won a $50.4 million contract modification for organizational, selected intermediate, and limited depot maintenance and logistics support for the F-5F and F-5N aircraft. The F-5 is a supersonic light fighter. The F-5N is a single seat, twin-engine, tactical fighter and attack aircraft providing simulated air-to-air combat training. The F-5F is a dual-seat version, twin-engine, tactical fighter commonly used for training and adversary combat tactics. The aircraft serves in an aggressor-training role with simulation capability of current threat aircraft in fighter combat mode. The F-5F Tiger II and F-5N Freedom Fighter are used by the Navy and Marine Corps for adversary training purposes. They serve as proxies for third-generation Soviet-era fighters due to their small size, maneuverability and relatively primitive sensor gear compared to modern aircraft like the F/A-18. PAE will perform work in Nevada, Arizona, and Florida. Estimated completion date is in July next year.

Middle East & Africa

The 38th Contracting Squadron awarded Sierra Nevada a $23.2 million modification to support the A-29 pilot and maintenance training for the Afghanistan Air Force at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia; and in Afghanistan. The modification involves building partner capacity/pseudo-Foreign Military Sales to Afghanistan. In April, the company won an almost $43 million contract for the A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft training for the Afghan Air Force. The Super Tucano is a flexible two-seat aircraft designed for counter-insurgency roles. It can also be used for reconnaissance missions in low-threat environments and for pilot training. Estimated completion date for the contract modification is December 31, 2023.

Europe

According to local reports, Russia has started serial production of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets. Sukhoi began to implement its contract for the delivery of the jets to the Russian Air Force. The deal entails delivery of 76 Su-57 fighter jets to Russia’s Aerospace Force. The first plane is scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year. The Russian Air Force was expected to receive two Su-57s prototypes by the end of 2019 and two more aircraft in 2020. The Su-57 is designed to destroy all types of air targets at long and short distances and hit enemy ground and naval targets, overcoming its air defense capabilities.

The German Chief of Defense Staff, General Eberhard Zorn, selected a new replenishment tanker for the German Navy on July 17. The two new Type 707 replenishment tankers will be able to carry 15,000 m3 of fuel and 20 containers, compared with 11,500 m3 and two containers for the two Type 704 Rhön Class tankers Rhön and Spessart they will replace. The Type 707 will have a speed of over 20 kt, compared with 16 kt for the Type 704. They can keep up with other warships such as frigates. The German Navy expects the new class to serve until the 2050s. The new Type 707 tanker will have a crew of 42.

Asia-Pacific

India has reportedly paid approximately $218 million to buy a batch of R-27 air-to-air missiles. The missiles will be equipped on the SU-30MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The missiles have been acquired under 10-I projects, which mandate the three services to maintain critical weapon systems and spares for a specified minimum period. The R-27 is a medium-to-long-range air-to-air missile developed by Russia for its MiG and Sukhoi series of fighter jets. Russia developed these missiles to add capability to the Sukhoi and MiG warfare aircrafts. Indian Air Force has signed $1.1 billion deals in the past two months. These deals were supposed to acquire equipments under emergency requirements.

Today’s Video

Watch: SCORPENE SUBMARINE FOR PHILIPPINE NAVY