Defense Industry Daily

P-3 Orion, armed –
note Sidewinder
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The P-3 Orion remains the USA’s main maritime patrol aircraft, and is also finding use in overland surveillance roles despite the fleet’s age. Earlier DID articles have noted the extra effort required to preserve the USA’s P-3C Orion maritime surveillance & patrol aircraft, along with radar and weapons upgrades to improve the fleet. Lockheed has even opened a new production line, to deal with planes whose wings that are so aged and worn that they need a full replacement.

The SMIP (Sustainment, Modification, and Installation Program) is intensive depot-level inspection and repair process that includes P-3 airframe and component inspection, identification of problems, and corrective maintenance. The idea is to ensure safe and reliable P-3 use, while trying to get more hours out of each airframe in order to sustain dwindling global fleets. More intensive “MIP” efforts may be launched once inspection results become clear, such as the USA’s P-3 recovery plan and full “ASLEP” re-winging efforts underway in Norway and Canada.

SMIP Activities

SMIP work is performed on all types, models and series of P-3 aircraft in the 164-aircraft U.S. Navy fleet, as well as P-3 aircraft supported through U.S. Navy-administered foreign military sales programs.

The US Navy formally launched a P-3 service life assessment program in 2000. That led to a full-scale fatigue test on a P-3C by 2002 – and the results shocked the Navy. Lockheed Martin’s assessment was based on a 1980s software algorithm, but testing showed that the problems were ahead of the algorithm, and new tools predicted very serious failures. That led to the creation of a Special Structural Inspection Kit, with wing undersides receiving extra attention.

SMIP work includes 2 types of activities.

The first type of SMIP activity involves those special structural inspections to ensure that corrosion from salt spray, or the stresses of repeated low-level swoops to near-sea level, haven’t created damage that might make the airframe unsafe before the next inspection. These services include:

• P-3 Special Structural Inspections (SSIs);
  
• Enhanced Special Structural Inspections (ESSIs);
  
• Fabrication and delivery of Special Structural Inspection Kits (SSI-Ks)

To ensure the aircraft remain safe, a Fatigue Life Management Program (FLMP) tracks and updates each P-3’s status every 6 months, and each plane’s flight hours and mission profiles are also monitored.

The inspections do find problems, as one would expect with aircraft this old. Next comes the actual work done. Sometimes, that just means regularly scheduled maintenance. Sometimes, the work involves installing new equipment, from upgraded electronics and radars to entirely new sets of wings. These services are referred to under SMIP as:

• Phased Depot Maintenance (PDM); and
  
• Modification/Installation Programs (MIPs).

The exact bundle of work varies to some extent from customer to customer, and MIPs will have contracts of their own attached to cover the cost of the equipment and any work “above and beyond.”

“Zone 5” – The Program and Process

Zone 5 repairs
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The Zone 5 repairs are very extensive, requiring 21,000 man-hours of work, 6,000 holes drilled for rivets, and special equipment. Work includes replacement of 5 of the 9 lower wing planks, and the aft lower wing spar. When the Zone 5 repairs are complete, they provide an estimated 5,000 additional flight hours, or 8 – 10 years, to the aircraft’s airframe service lifespan. See NAVAIR’s “FRCSE Delivers First Red-Striped P-3 Back to the Fleet” for further details regarding the process.

Some countries like Norway have opted for an even more extensive plan, which involves a full re-winging, plus other replacements that include the horizontal stabilizer and engine nacelle components. Lockheed Martin has become the sole source for new P-3 wings as a matter of Pentagon policy, and a few outer wing kits were bought, but installation is the responsibility of other firms like L-3 Communications.

The main thrust, however, involved establishing rotatable wing pool, beginning with an order for 15 new wings. As P-3s come in and their old outer wings are removed and replaced, their old wings are refurbished and partially replaced, then returned to the pool.

The US Navy planned to ground 6 – 10 Orions a year, with all aircraft re-evaluated every 6 months. The re-winging effort and associated “Zone 5 modifications” is expected to take up to a year for each aircraft, and the US Navy expects to reach a steady state of 24 Zone 5 modifications (including re-wings) per year. That has accelerated somewhat due to fleet readiness issues, and as of September 2010, 45 P-3s were undergoing depot-level repairs.

Getting there required more than just spending money. The initial “Zone 5 groundings” in December 2007 kicked off a detailed value stream analysis of the entire P-3 industrial base. Two new plank and wing spar manufacturing vendors were certified, in order to make sure long-lead items would be available as needed. Another 3 depot facilities were brought under contract to conduct wing modifications and start work on the backlog of grounded aircraft. Existing contracts were restructured to reward higher depot throughput, and the Navy invested in machinery and production level management software for its own depot, in order to streamline P-3 repair operations.

SMIP Contracts and Related Announcements

The age of the fleet has even begun to involve re-winging and “Zone 5” work under a crash plan to, well, keep the P-3s from crashing. Because of their emergency nature and operational significance, those efforts are covered in a separate article: “US P-3 Recovery Plan Tries to Keep the Fleet in the Air.” Unless otherwise noted, US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages these contracts.

FY 2011 – 2019

 

Refurb done
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October 22/19: Last Deployment Complete The US Navy completed the process of transitioning from P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon earlier this month as the “Fighting Marlins” of Patrol Squadron FORTY returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. The conclusion of a six-month rotational deployment on October 10, 2019, marked the final active duty deployment for the P-3C Orion, which served as the US Navy’s airborne anti-submarine warfare and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) force for more than five decades. After post-deployment leave, the Fighting Marlins will begin the final of 12 active duty squadron transitions to the more modern and capable P-8A Poseidon. The US Navy will continue to operate its intelligence collection variant, the EP-3E, for several years along with reserve component operations before the official retirement of all P-3 variants.

August 5/15: The Navy’s P-3 Orion maintenance monitoring system, the Fatigue Life Management Program, was bolstered with a $32.3 million five-year contract with Lockheed Martin on Tuesday. Covering P-3 aircraft from the Navy and several other government agencies, the contract also provides engineering services for international operators, including the German Navy, which recently handed the company a contract to re-wing its eight P-3Cs. Similarly, Norway will also benefit from the contract, with the Scandinavian country also re-winging its Orions.

July 30/15: Following initial reports from early July, Germany has awarded an eight-year contract to Airbus Defence & Space and Lockheed Martin Overseas Services Corp. to re-wing the German Navy’s fleet of P-3C orion maritime patrol aircraft. The contract will cover eight P-3C aircraft, with Lockheed Martin manufacturing the new Mid-Life Upgrade kits on a production line opened in 2005 and Airbus responsible for integration and installation of the kits. Previous estimates put the value of a ten-aircraft contract at approximately $626 million. Norway has also invested in upgrading its Orions through a re-winging program. Germany previously requested aircraft mission computer, acoustic systems and simulator equipment for its Orion fleet, detailed in a DSCA request from April 2014.

Nov 15/13: FY 2014. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Waco, TX receives a $96.4 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract modification, exercising an option for services in support of the P-3 (Orion, maritime patrol), EP-3 (Aries II, electronic eavesdropping), and NP-3 (testing plane) SMIP programs. This includes planned maintenance intervals, structural replacement and fabrication efforts pertaining to special structural inspection kits, center wing assemblies, Zone 5 kits, and outer wing installations and refurbishments.

Work will be performed in Waco, TX, and is expected to be complete in September 2014 (N00019-11-D-0017).

Oct 31/12: FY 2013. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems – Waco Platform Integration Division in Waco, TX receives a $109.1 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract modification, exercising an option for services in support of the P-3 (Orion, maritime patrol), EP-3 Aries II electronic surveillance, and NP-3 testing aircraft SMIP services.

Work includes planned maintenance intervals, structural replacement and fabrication efforts pertaining to special structural inspection kits, center wing assemblies, Zone 5 kits, and outer wing installations and refurbishments. Funds will be committed as needed, leading to work in Waco, TX, until October 2013 (N00019-11-D-0017).

Dec 23/11: Re-winging. US NAVAIR announces that artisans at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) completed the installation of the 1st new set of wings on a P-3C Orion in November 2011.

“P-3 Orion Program Manager Clinton Batten said the artisans were still conducting Zone 5 repairs to the lower outer wing planks and the lower aft wing spar, but they were running into repair issues on the upper planks of the donor wings…. It is proving more cost effective to install new wings because of the many unknowns associated with refurbishing the old ones according to Cmdr. Stephen Tedford, PMA-290 P-3 Sustainment Integrated Product Team Lead.

An upper wing surface analysis performed in September 2009 determined that corrosion on the upper surface and not fatigue was the primary concern for the P-3 fleet.”

P-3s scheduled to remain in service the longest are getting the new wings, and FRCSE personnel have been providing feedback to Lockheed Martin re: how to assemble the wings being produced from 3-decade-old tooling. Apparently, the biggest obstacle has been aligning the new wings’ nacelles to hard points on the propellers. Sources: US NAVAIR, “FRCSE artisans rewing legacy P-3 Orion patrol aircraft to extend service life”.

Oct 20/11: FY 2012. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems – Waco Platform Integration Division in Waco, TX receives a $113 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract modification, exercising an option for services in support of the P-3 (Orion, maritime patrol), EP-3 Aries II electronic surveillance, and NP-3 testing aircraft SMIP services. This includes planned maintenance intervals, structural replacement and fabrication efforts pertaining to special structural inspection kits, center wing assemblies, Zone 5 kits, and outer wing installations and refurbishments.

Work will be performed in Waco, TX, and is expected to be complete in October 2012. $5.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/12 (N00019-11-D-0017).

May 25/11: FY 2011. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems – Waco Platform Integration Division in Waco, TX wins a $104 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for services in support of P-3 (Orion, maritime patrol), EP-3 (Aries II, electronic eavesdropping), and NP-3 (testing plane) SMIP services. This includes planned maintenance intervals, structural replacement and fabrication efforts pertaining to special structural inspection kits, center wing assemblies, Zone 5 kits, and outer wing installations and refurbishments.

Work will be performed in Waco, TX and is expected to be complete in May 2012. $4,105,717 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals, with 2 offers received (N00019-11-D-0017). See also L-3 release.

April 28/11: FY 2011. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Global Sustainment Services in Greenville, SC receives a not-to-exceed $64.4 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract modification. The money will pay for continued P-3 airframe sustainment support: phase depot maintenance, special structural inspections, special structural inspection kits and installations, and modification installations.

Work will be performed in Greenville, SC (100%), and is expected to be complete in December 2012 (N00019-05-D-0013).

April 27/11: FY 2011. L-3 Communications Corp. in Waco, TX wins a not-to-exceed $84.5 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract modification for continued P-3 airframe sustainment support: phase depot maintenance, special structural inspections, special structural inspection kits and installations, and modification installations.

Work will be performed in Waco, TX (96%), and Greenville, SC (4%), and is expected to be complete in December 2012 (N00019-05-D-0008).

April 18/11: Upgrades. Lockheed Martin receives a $23.8 million order for procurement of 76 acoustic processor and receiver tech refresh kits for the AN/USQ-78V acoustic subsystems aboard the P-3C Orion. Work will be performed in Manassas, VA, and is expected to be completed in February 2014. As one might guess, this is a P-3 MIP activity.

Oct 21/10: Stats. US NAVAIR says that it has 80 mission-ready P-3s of 147 in the fleet, and trending upward. It’s a vast improvement from the Fleet’s lowest point in 2009, when “only 49 aircraft were available for missions.” Source: US NAVAIR, “More P-3s Available for the Fleet”.

FY 2008 – 2010

 

P-3 with CG 54
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March 24/10: Upgrades. US NAVAIR discusses one aspect of the P-3 fleet non-structural efforts to stay ahead of obsolescence via MIP: radio replacement. According to P-3 Critical Obsolescence Program (COP) Team Lead Danny Hartwell, the existing Army/Navy Piloted ARC-161 analog radio was “costly and time consuming. We were required to replace the system organically…”

To hat end, the U.S. Navy recently began installation of an Organic Depot at Fleet Readiness Center South West (FRCSW) in San Diego, CA, to install AN/ARC-243 high-frequency radios in P-3s beginning in 2011. This is the same system that will be used for the Orion’s P-8A Poseidon; high-frequency radio provides instant over-the-horizon communications without the use of satellites, by bouncing signals off of the ionosphere.

Oct 17/09: Upgrades. Lockheed Martin announces a $17.5 million contract to upgrade existing AN/USQ-78V acoustic subsystems aboard the P-3C Orion. The contract includes upgrades and technical refreshes to software and Acoustic Receiver Tech Refresh hardware designed to comply with the Navy’s open architecture directives, replace obsolete components, provide increased processing capacity, and provide the framework for future aircraft upgrades. Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin’s Undersea Systems facility in Manassas, VA; Undersea Systems VP and GM Denise Saiki says that:

“This update provides an open Commercial Off-The-Shelf digital architecture using a modern digital receiver that is common across all maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters… That helps drive down the total ownership cost of the platforms…”

Sept 17/09: Inspection kits. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems LP in Waco, TX receives a $39.7 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award P-3 SMIP contract (N00019-05-D-0013), for special structural inspection kit installation.

Work will be performed in Waco, TX, and is expected to be complete in July 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $7.05 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

June 11/09: Inspection kits. Lockheed Martin Services, Inc. in Greenville, SC received a $49.6 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award P-3 SMIP contract , for special structural inspection kit installation. Work will be performed in Greenville, SC, and is expected to be complete in July 2011 (N00019-05-D-0013).

March 13/09: RFP. US NAVAIR releases a solicitation for the next set of P-3 SMIP and Zone 5 replacement contracts, with a planned base year and 4 option years. The actual contract(s) will not be awarded for many months. FedBizOpps.

Dec 17/08: FY 2009. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems in Waco, TX is being awarded a ceiling priced $136.1 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for the P-3C SMIP effort. Work will be performed in Waco, TX and is expected to be complete in December 2009 (N00019-05-D-0008).

Nov 24/08: FY 2009. Lockheed Martin Services, Inc. in Greenville, Sc received a not-to-exceed $11.8 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for Special Structural Inspection Kit (SSIK) Revision 7 inspection/ installation on 5 P-3 aircraft. Work will be performed in Greenville, SC, and is expected to be complete in June 2010 (N00019-05-D-0013).

June 12/08: Inspection kits. Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., DBA Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics in Greenville, SC received a $9.4 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00019-05-D-0013) for additional Special Structural Inspection-Kits (SSI-K) for the P-3 aircraft. Work will be performed in Greenville, SC and is expected to be complete in June 2010.

June 4/08: FY 2008. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Global Sustainment in Greenville, SC received a $142.5 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity multiple award contract to exercise an option for the P-3C SMP effort. Work will be performed in Greenville, SC and is expected to be complete in June 2009 (N00019-05-D-0013).

Feb 26/08: FY 2008. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, LP in Greenville, TX received a $10.7 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for the P-3C SMIP effort. Work will be performed in Waco, TX (60%) and Greenville, TX (40%), and is expected to be complete in December 2008 (N00019-05-D-0008).

Dec 27/07: FY 2008. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, LP in Greenville, TX received a $123.4 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for the P-3C SMIP effort. Services to be provided include phase depot maintenance, special structural inspections, and special structural inspection kits. Work will be performed in Waco, TX and is expected to be complete in December 2008 (N00019-05-D-0008).

FY 2005 – 2007

 

P-3C drops sonobuoy
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Sept 25/07: BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services in Rockville, MD receives a $10.5 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-06-D-0038) for the manufacture of 13 P-3 Special Structural Inspection airframe kits.

This effort entails production of Emergency Rate Initial Production quantities of end item component parts, including engineering, analytical and manufacturing efforts in support of the Aging Aircraft Program; the original $14 million contract was announced on Sept 26/06. Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO (56%); Rockville, MD (24%); and Brea, CA (20%) and is expected to be complete in September 2009. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

June 1/07: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Global Sustainment in Greenville, SC received a $133.8 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00019-05-D-0013), exercising an option for the P-3C sustainment, modification and installation program (SMIP). This is an extension of a previous contract that ends this month.

Work will be performed in Greenville, SC, and is expected to be complete in June 2008.

Dec 26/06: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems LP in Greenville, TX received a $109.4 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00019-05-D-0008), extending its work by exercising an option under the P-3C Sustainment, Modification and Installation Program (SMIP).

Work will be performed in Greenville, TX (50%); Waco, TX (25%); and Birmingham, AL (25%), and is expected to be complete in December 2007.

Jan 30/06: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems LP in Greenville, TX received a $104.2 ceiling-priced modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract N00019-05-D-0008. It exercises an option for the P-3C Sustainment, Modification and Installation Program (SMIP). Work will be performed in Greenville, TX (50%); Waco, TX (25%); and Birmingham, AL (25%), and is expected to be complete in December 2006.

A1079874000000*B1142991204000*DgroupByDate*J2*M704*N1001302&newsLang=en&beanID=1963892417&viewID=news_view">L-3 IS release.

June 9/06: Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics Centers in Greenville, SC received a $125.8 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00019-05-D-0013), exercising an option for the P-3C Sustainment, Modification and Installation Program. Work will be performed in Greenville, SC and is expected to be complete in June 2007.

June 10/05: Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics Centers in Greenville, SC received a $121.4 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for phased depot maintenance, special structural inspections, enhanced special structural inspections, special structural inspection kits, and modification and installation programs for P-3 and EP-3 aircraft. Work will be performed in Greenville, SC, and is expected to be completed in June 2006. This contract was competitively procured under an electronic request for proposals; 2 offers were received (N00019-05-D-0013).

June 10/05: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Greenville, TX received a $104.2 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for phased depot maintenance, special structural inspections, enhanced special structural inspections, special structural inspection kits, and modification and installation programs for P-3 and EP-3 aircraft. Work will be performed in Greenville, TX, and is expected to be complete in June 2006. This contract was competitively procured under an electronic request for proposals; 2 offers were received (N00019-05-D-0008).

Additional Readings

• US NAVAIR (Dec 23/11) – FRCSE artisans rewing legacy P-3 Orion patrol aircraft to extend service life. “It is proving more cost effective to install new wings because of the many unknowns associated with refurbishing the old ones according to Cmdr. Stephen Tedford, PMA-290 P-3 Sustainment Integrated Product Team Lead. An upper wing surface analysis performed in September 2009 determined that corrosion on the upper surface and not fatigue was the primary concern for the P-3 fleet.”

• Flight International (Nov 9/10) – US Navy Overcomes Mass P-3 Grounding Scare

• US NAVAIR (Oct 21/10) – More P-3s available for the fleet. Also discusses how they made that happen.

• US NAVAIR (Nov 7/08) – FRCSE Delivers First Red-Striped P-3 Back to the Fleet

Americas

Raytheon won a $17.9 million order that procures Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared special test equipment updates to the Windows 10 operating system in support of the F/A-18E/F Super Horner aircraft. The Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared is a multi-sensor, electro-optical targeting pod incorporating thermographic camera, low-light television camera, target laser rangefinder/laser designator, and laser sport tracker developed and manufactured by Raytheon. It is now in full-rate production, fully integrated and flight tested on all F/A-18 models. Word under the new deal will take place in McKinney, Texas and estimated completion will be in February 2022.

Collins Aerospace won a $21.3 million contract modification that exercises an option to provide non-recurring engineering support to modernize the High Power Transmit System installed on the E-6B aircraft. This effort modernizes weapons replaceable assemblies and subsystems of the HPTS to avoid obsolescence. The Boeing E-6 Mercury is a command post and communications relay aircraft manufactured by Boeing for the US Navy. The aircraft relays communications for ballistic missile submarine forces and provides airborne command and control for strategic forces. The Navy introduced the E-6 to replace its EC-130Q aircraft. The E-6B features battle staff positions and an airborne launch control system equipped with land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. Work under the contract modification will take place in Texas and Iowa and estimated completion will be in May 2022.

Middle East & Africa

Oshkosh Defense won a $159.2 million Foreign Military Sales to Israel for production of Israel modified variant of family of medium tactical vehicles, including initial parts provisioning and training support. In 2017, Israel’s Ministry of Defense purchased the first six trucks to ensure the firm’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) meets Israeli requirements. The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles stands alone as the get-things-done resource for military operations, according to Oshkosh. Crew-protecting armor and advanced technologies work in concert to provide the capability, versatility, mobility and protection to move troops and supplies, recover vehicles and weapon systems or haul equipment wherever the mission requires. Oshkosh Defense will perform work until October 17, 2024.

Europe

During exercise Nickel Strike last month, USAF F-16s from the 555th Fighter Squadron practiced flying mixed formation defensive combat air patrols with Polish F-16s. According to Commander of the 555th Fighter Squadron, Lt. Col. Beau E. Diers, his fighters came under command and control of the Polish AOC while connected to a common datalink network. Demonstrations of combat ability, readiness, and interoperability between American and Polish forces, such as the ones during Nickel Strike, allow for thorough tactical training and strengthening of regional partnerships.

Asia-Pacific

The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to South Korea for 120 AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). The estimated cost is around $253 million. The missiles will arm South Korea’s F-15, F-16 and F-35 aircraft. The proposed sale also includes containers; weapon support and support equipment; spare and repair parts; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The principal contractor is Raytheon, and there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the potential sale. The AIM-120 AMRAAM missile is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operation. The fire-and-forget weapon employs active radar guidance and incorporates a datalink to guide the missile to a point where its active radar turns on to intercept the target.

Bangladesh is said to be interested in acquiring the AH-64 attack helicopter, local media reports. Anonymous US officials say two helicopters were proposed to Bangladesh and the Apache was chosen. They added that the Bangladesh government will have to decide whether to approve the request put up by the Bangladesh Air Force. Both countries are currently negotiating two agreements that are required by the US law for the purchase to go ahead that will expand the military cooperation between the countries.

Today’s Video

Watch: AUSA 2019: Debut of Compound Coaxial Helicopter mock-up

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $108,3 million deal for the Mk21A Reentry Vehicle program. The contract is to conduct technology maturation and risk reduction to provide a low technical risk and affordable RV capable of delivering the W87-1 warhead from the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Weapon System. The Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center has determined it necessary to develop a Reentry Vehicle for the W87-1 warhead that will be deployed on the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Weapon System. The W87 is a thermonuclear missile warhead. Work will take place in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and is expected to be finished by October 2022.

The first Dream Chaser cargo spacecraft to go into space has been delivered to Sierra Nevada Corporation for final assembly and testing. It was built by Lockheed Martin. The spacecraft’s two wings and cargo module are to be delivered later. The schedule calls for the Dream Chaser to launch into orbit as early as September 2021. At a media event at a company facility, SNC took possession of the primary structure of the first orbital Dream Chaser vehicle. That structure was recently shipped from a Lockheed facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to SNC. Lockheed Martin contributed to the construction using both its space and aeronautics expertise, the latter coming from a facility that makes composite structures for the F-35 fighter aircraft.

Middle East & Africa

US F-15s and Apache attack helicopters carried out a ‘show of force’ near Ayn Issa, Syria after Turkish militia came close to a US base, threatening troops there. The incident underscores the complex battlefield in Syria as 1,000 American troops are withdrawing from the country in the middle of fighting between Turkish forces and Syrian Kurds. The Turkish-backed fighters had violated an agreement with the US to not get too close to US forces and threaten them, officials said. The US military also formally contacted the Turkish military to protest the risk posed to the American forces by the nearby presence of Turkish-backed fighters.

India delivered the final two of four refurbished Russian-built Mil Mi-24 ‘Hind’ attack helicopters it had promised the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in early 2018 to boost their counter-insurgency capabilities. The two Mi-24Vs, which were purchased from Belarus, were officially handed over by Vinay Kumar, India’s ambassador to Afghanistan, during a ceremony held on October 15 at the Afghan Air Force (AAF) base in Kabul, according to the Indian Embassy in Kabul. These helicopters are a replacement for the four attack helicopters previously gifted by India to Afghanistan in 2015 and 2016. In March 2018 Afghanistan’s then-ambassador to India, Shaida Mohammad Abdali, told the Hindustan Times newspaper that the Mi-24s were being acquired under a trilateral agreement signed between Afghanistan, Belarus, and India.

Europe

News reports say Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister and defense minister has floated the idea of buying the KAI T-50 and set up an assembly line for the aircraft locally. KAI developed the T-50 Trainer with US Lockheed Martin from 1997-2006. This helped the Bulgarian government select the trainer. The T-50 is 13.14 meters long, 9.45 meters wide and 4.94 meters tall and weighs 6.3 ton, which is 77 percent of the F-16 weight. It runs on the F404-GE-102 engine, which is used for the US FA-18 model. The T-50 features a high speed of Mach 1.5, a rare speed for a trainer and the latest digital flight system. The F-50 is evaluated suitable for so-called fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 and the F-22. It has a maximum flying range of 2,592 kilometers and a maximum flight altitude of 16 kilometers.

Asia-Pacific

Boeing, StandardAero and AAR Aircraft Services each won a contract modification in support of the P-8A Poseidon. Boeing and StandardAero will provide CFM56-7B27A/3 and CFM56-7B27AE engine depot maintenance and repair, field assessment, maintenance repair and overhaul engine repair, and technical assistance for removal and replacement of engines for the P-8A Poseidon aircraft in support of the Navy, the government of Australia and Foreign Military Sales customers. AAr Aircraft Services will provide P-8A Poseidon aircraft depot scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, fulfillment of depot in-service repair/planner and estimator requirements, technical directive incorporation, airframe modifications, aircraft on ground support, and removal and replacement of engines in support of the Navy, the government of Australia and Foreign Military Sales customers. Boeing won $193.3 million, StandardAero was awarded $174.7 million and AAR won $44.9 million. Work is expected to be complete by October next year.

Today’s Video

Watch: AUSA 2019 News Show Daily Association of United States Army Defense Exhibition Washington DC Day1

Americas

Sikorsky won a $7.9 million firm-fixed-price delivery order that procures 36 improved nacelles production kits in support of the CH-53E in-service aircraft. The CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter. It was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. A total of 172 Super Stallions have been delivered and 165 are in service with marine corps squadrons in the Pacific Fleet and in the Atlantic Fleet. King Stallion is currently being developed from the Super Stallion. It will be the largest and heaviest helicopter in the US Army. Work under the delivery order in support of the CH-53E will take place in Stratford, Connecticut and estimated completion will be in May 2022.

Robert Strider, deputy director of Army hypersonic programs told the Association of the United States Army on Monday that deployment of a long-range hypersonic weapon system by the US Army is expected by 2023. “We’re going to field an experimental prototype with residual combat capability by 2023“, he said. Hypersonic missiles will be capable of reaching the top of the Earth’s atmosphere, remaining beyond the range of air and missile defense systems, until they are ready to strike. They will be designed for accuracy, speed, survivability and maneuverability, according to the Army, and are supposed to strike anywhere in the world within minutes. Design of the missiles and the launching platforms is overseen by the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, whose focus has been on hypersonic devices since 2018.

Middle East & Africa

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed closer defense equipment co-operation with Saudi Arabia on his first visit to the country since 2007, BBC reports. In talks with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh on October 14, Putin discussed the possibility of cooperating in the area of military technology. Defense discussions in the past have included the possible purchase and future deployment of Russia’s S-400 air defense missile system, which would be something of a diplomatic blow to the USA. It is not known, if the recent talks included the missile system. The Saudis have also invited Russia to participate in the ongoing international investigation into the September 14 drone and missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

Europe

The Czech Republic is in discussions to export more Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros basic trainer/light attack jet aircraft to Cambodia, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on October 14. Speaking in Prague during a visit by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Babis noted “the possibility of co-operation in the defense industry, for example Cambodia has Czech L-39 aircraft, which I see as a good point of contact for further co-operation in this area”. The Royal Cambodian Air Force currently operates a fleet of five L-39s. The first was delivered in 1996, so upgrades or replacements are needed. Hun Sen said he discussed the potential procurement of “three or four” new L-39s, “and we continue to discuss this”.

Asia-Pacific

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force is sending a C-130H to Panagarh, India for exercise Shinyuu Maitri with the Indian Air Force. The exercise will commence on October 17. It ends on the 23rd. At the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte, 25 soldiers from each side will train together on counter-terrorism measures whereas, in the Shinyuu Maitri air exercise at Panagarh, the focus would be on tactical operations with botth sides using aircraft — C-130J by the IAF and C-130H by Japan — used in special operations. The C-130H aircraft is the military’s primary combat delivery aircraft and has provided humanitarian assistance, precision airdrop and tactical airlift across the globe for more than 40 years. The C-130 has been around since the Vietnam War, forming the backbone of the US Air Force’s tactical airlift fleet. It is especially well-suited to austere conditions like those found throughout Afghanistan. The H models performed fantastic work in the area of responsibility. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the C-130 Hercules.

Raytheon will be partnering with Korean Air to pursue the Republic of Korea’s Air Force’s Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance program. Based on the Global 6500 business jet, Raytheon will be the prime contractor and provide sensors for the aircraft. Korean Air will deliver design, logistics and life cycle support services. Under the agreement, Raytheon will provide multiple-intelligence, or Multi-INT, technologies for the aircraft. Through the partnership, Raytheon intends to meet ROKAF’s need for an ISTAR aircraft solution to improve intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

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Watch: HNLMS Karel Doorman – Incredibly, This Warship Has Dual Nationalities: Netherlands and Germany

Americas

BAE Systems has unveiled the RAVEN Countermeasure System that will protect combat vehicles from missile threats. Ryan Edwards, business development manager for Soldier and Vehicle Electronics at BAE System, says the RAVEN, which is a directable infrared countermeasure, can be “easily tailored to any vehicle, mission, or budget.” The RAVEN Countermeasure system, is a rugged, reliable laser-based countermeasure capable of defeating a variety of guided missile threats. The system is lightweight, modular, and scalable, and provides armed forces with efficient vehicle protection in a small, cost-efficient package. It is specifically designed for capability growth to address future threats as they emerge.

Bell, part of American conglomerate Textron, displayed mock-up of its new rotorcraft, 360 Invictus, during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) National Conference, Defence Blog reports. The Bell 360, say company officials, combines high cruise speeds and long-range functionality mixed with maneuverability. Personnel in the new helicopter will be able to collect and develop data to keep troops on the ground informed regarding conditions, which enables better decision-making. The 360 Invictus is Bell’s answer to the US Army’s requirements for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.

Middle East & Africa

Turkey’s indigenous Hisar-A low-altitude air defense missile system will soon enter mass production. The system recently completed testing. Hisar-A System has a modular design comprising Search Radar & Identification friend or foe (IFF), Infrared Sensors & Laser Range Finder, Data Link, Vertically Launcher & Bi-Pulsed Air Defense Missile with IIR seeker. Hisar missiles are defense weapons developed to protect military bases, ports, facilities, and troops against aerial threats as well as to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces for a low- and medium-altitude air defense security system. While the Hisar’s radar, command and control, and fire control systems are developed by Aselsan, Roketsan developed the missile system. The Hisar-A and Hisar-O are expected to be in service by 2020 and 2021, respectively. Defense Industry President Ismail Demir announced that the mass production of the project will start soon. “Hisar-A low-altitude air defense missile system domestically developed by ASELSAN and ROKETSAN has successfully destroyed the target with 100% accuracy in the final tests,” Demir said on Twitter.

Europe

French Armed Forces (Defence) Minister Florence Parly tweeted on October 10 that she had signed a letter of intent with her Greek counterpart, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, for the acquisition of two Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) defense and intervention frigates to equip the Hellenic Navy starting in 2023. However, Panagiotopoulos declared to the press that there was “a long way to go” before an agreement is reached regarding the final (technical) configuration of the frigates. France is procuring five FDIs of its own under the „Loi de Programmation Militaire“ 2019-2025 military funding program in a program conducted by the „Direction Générale de l’Armement“, the French armament procurement agency, in co-operation with the French Navy, Naval Group, Thales, and MBDA. The Armed Forces Ministry expects the FDI to account for one-third of French frigates by 2030, with the first two to be delivered in 2025.

Asia-Pacific

Singapore’s F-15 fighter jet training program in USA’s Idaho turns 10 years old, Defense News reports. In May 2009, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) took delivery of its first F-15SG and, shortly after, inaugurated a detachment based in Idaho, United States. Its aim was to build a critical mass of pilots and engineers capable of flying and maintaining the fourth-generation fighter jet. A decade later, the Peace Carvin Five detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base has come a long way, validating the capabilities of a fully-fledged fleet and winning awards at high-level multilateral exercises. Singapore commemorated 10 years of its Boeing F-15 training program in the US during an October 11 ceremony, at which officials unveiled new artwork painted on one of the jets. The ceremony was held at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho where the Republic of Singapore Air Force, or RSAF, maintains the Peace Carvin V F-15SG detachment.

Chinese media have released more details about the Z-20 helicopter operated by the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF). Reports by the Global Times newspaper highlighted that the engines installed in the Z-20 provide sufficient power for the aircraft to perform well at high altitudes, and stated that the Z-20 design incorporates “many technologies that should be considered advanced in the world, including active vibration control, fly-by-wire, low-noise design for rotor and the high-performance aerodynamic design of the rotor”. The reports, which were published in the context of the fifth biennial China Helicopter Exposition held in Tianjin, where the Z-20 was a key exhibit, followed the first public appearance of the Z-20 at China’s National Day Parade on October 1. A 1,600 kW turboshaft engine displayed at the Tianjin exhibition is believed to be the type that powers the twin-engined Z-20. A display board accompanying the exhibited engine noted that it is suitable for medium and large helicopters. No designation was given to this engine, although it is thought to be the WZ-10.

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Watch: First British-owned jets landed on HMS Queen Elizabeth

Americas

Sikorsky showcased its next generation Combat Rescue Helicopter during a ceremony at its Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida last week. The HH-60W is manufactured by Sikorsky, a unit of Lockheed Martin, and is designed to replace Air Force’s aging fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawks. During the event, United States Air Force General James M. Holmes, Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia described the HH-60W helicopter as a critical tool for the warfighter. The US Air Force program of record calls for 113 helicopters to replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all US military services.

A new UNIPAC III Search and Rescue (SAR) kit for the US Navy’s P-8A is now undergoing testing. The kit can provide 100 people with food, water and communications for an extended time. The testing, which is performed at PAX, but funded by the Royal Australian Air Force ensures those rescued are found and sustained with food, water and communications for an extended time. “The test program is a perfect example of the benefits reaped when two international partners join as part of a cooperative partnership“, said Squadron Leader Nathan Mula, an Australian P-8A Flight Test Tactical officer stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (PAX) in Maryland. Operated by US Navy, Australia and India, the P-8 is performing maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations around the globe. Additionally, the United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand and South Korea have ordered the aircraft with deliveries expected through the middle of the next decade.

Middle East & Africa

The Turkish military and allied Syrian rebels launched their long-threatened offensive into northeastern Syria on October 9 with the stated objective of establishing a safe zone that has been cleared of Kurdish forces and can be used to resettle Syrian refugees. “A 30 km safe zone is okay for us. We do not have a plan to go beyond that,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu. “First we have to enter 120 km deep to clean the terrorists completely from this area. It will continue gradually until the safe zone is completed.” The offensive began with howitzers shelling suspected YPG positions across the border and airstrikes. Airstrikes were also carried out against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq under Operation ‘Claw’.

Europe

Thales and Nexter Systems teamed up to develop a new multi-role weapon system, called RAPIDFireNaval, to meet potential French Navy requirements, Jane’s reports They are eyeing DGA funding in the first half of 2020, according to Sylvain Richy, managing director of CTAI,a joint venture between Nexter and BAE Systems. RAPIDFireNaval consists of a remote-controlled turret armed with the stabilized CTAI 40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS) that has been qualified by France and the UK for land-based applications and has been in production since early 2016.

Asia-Pacific

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will take delivery of six A-29 light attack aircraft by February 2020. The aircraft will supplement and not replace the existing OV-10 fleet. The Super Tucanos are expected to beef up the remaining North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco attack aircraft being used by the PAF in strike missions. The turboprop aircraft is designed for light attack, counter-insurgency, close air support, aerial reconnaissance missions in low threat environments, as well as providing pilot training.

The Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) confirmed in a report presented to South Korea’s National Assembly on October 11 that it plans to reduce the number of active military personnel by about 100,000 to 365,000 by 2022 as part of defense reforms aimed at creating a smaller and more technologically advanced military. Seoul, a key Washington ally, conscripts men for two years of service to defend the country from the nuclear-armed North and its much larger army, which invaded the South in 1950 backed by communist allies China and the Soviet Union. The war ended three years later in an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the South and North technically at war and the peninsula divided along the Demilitarized Zone. Citing forecast data from Statistics Korea, the Yonhap News Agency reported on the same day that one of the reasons behind the move is that South Korea’s low birth-rate is likely to lead to a decrease in the number of male citizens in their 20s to less than 250,000 after 2022, compared with about 350,000 in 2018.

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Watch: Latest military equipment Special Forces Operations units unveiled during SOF Symposium in Belgium

Americas

Electric Boat Corp. won a 434.4 million deal for lead yard support and development studies and design efforts regarding the Virginia Class submarines. The Virginia Class replaces Los Angeles Class submarines as they retire. The Virginia Class has several innovations that significantly enhance its warfighting capabilities, including in littoral operations. Virginia Class SSNs have a fly-by-wire ship control system that provides improved shallow-water ship handling. The class has special features to support SOF, including a reconfigurable torpedo room which can accommodate a large number of SOF and all their equipment for prolonged deployments and future off-board payloads. The class also has a large lock-in/lock-out chamber for divers. In Virginia Class SSNs, traditional periscopes have been supplanted by two photonics masts that host visible and infrared digital cameras atop telescoping arms. Work under the contract will take place in Connecticut, Virginia and Rhode Island. Estimated completion will be by September 2020. The contract provides lead yard support for Virginia class submarines that will maintain, update and support the Virginia class design and related drawings and data for each Virginia class submarine, including technology insertion, throughout its construction and post-shakedown availability period. The contractor will also provide all engineering and related lead yard support necessary for direct maintenance and support of Virginia class ship specifications.

Northrop Grumman Systems won a maximum $24.3 million firm-fixed-priced delivery order for rudders in support of the F/A-18 aircraft platform. The F/A-18 Hornet is a single- and two-seat, twin engine, multi-mission fighter/attack aircraft that can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases. The F/A-18 fills a variety of roles: air superiority, fighter escort, suppression of enemy air defenses, reconnaissance, forward air control, close and deep air support, and day and night strike missions. The F/A-18 Hornet replaced the F-4 Phantom II fighter and A-7 Corsair II light attack jet, and also replaced the A-6 Intruder as these aircraft were retired during the 1990s. The multi-mission F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter is an upgrade of the combat-proven night strike F/A-18C/D. The Super Hornet will provide the battle group commander with a platform that has range, endurance, and ordnance carriage capabilities comparable to the A-6 which have been retired. The F/A-18E/F aircraft are 4.2 feet longer than earlier Hornets, have a 25% larger wing area, and carry 33% more internal fuel which will effectively increase mission range by 41% and endurance by 50%. The Super Hornet also incorporates two additional weapon stations. This allows for increased payload flexibility by mixing and matching air-to-air and/or air-to-ground ordnance. The aircraft can also carry the complete complement of “smart” weapons, including the newest joint weapons such as JDAM and JSOW. Work for the rudders will take place in California with an August 31, 2026 expected completion date.

Middle East & Africa

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Kuwait for 19 M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System (HERCULES) recovery vehicles and related equipment and support for an estimated cost of $281 million. The Hercules is a full tracked armored vehicle used to perform battlefield rescue and recovery missions. The M88A2 is essential to the long-term sustainability of Kuwait’s new M1A2 tank fleet for national Defense. Hercules was the primary 70-ton recovery system during Operation Iraqi Freedom. And, US troops found other capabilities when they used it to pull down the Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad on April 9, 2003. Hercules utilizes a hull designed for the recovery mission and thoroughly proven by US Army testing.

Tunisia has been cleared by the US government to buy 12 T-6C trainers worth an estimated cost of $234 million. The Government of Tunisia has requested a possible sale of twelve T-6C Texan trainer aircraft, spare engines, cartridge actuated devices/propellant actuated devices operational flight trainer, spare parts, ground handling equipment, support equipment, software delivery and support, publications and technical documentation, clothing, textiles and individual equipment, aircraft ferry support, technical and logistical support services, site surveys, minor modifications/class IV support, personnel training and training equipment. The proposed sale will replace Tunisia’s aging trainer fleet and allow the country to continue training pilots to support Tunisia’s counter-terrorism and border security missions.

Europe

Royal Norwegian Air Force chief Brig. Gen. Tonje Skinnarland said in an exclusive interview with Defense News that his F-35 fleet has an issue with its unique drag chute. Peculiar to RNoAF F-35A, the drag chute is mounted on a pod on top of the aircraft to help slow down the jet on icy runways. It was supposed to fail one per 10,000 uses. Nevertheless, the service is encountering a lower figure for the failure rate. F-35 JPO and Lockheed Martin say the first compliant parachute will be delivered to Norway next year.

Asia-Pacific

Rolls-Royce won a $9.1 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure three spare AE1107C engines in support of the V-22 Osprey program for Japan. The AE 1107C is mission-ready with improved ‘hot and high’ performance for enhanced capability. The Osprey is a multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft. In 2012, former Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto ordered an investigation of the costs of V-22 operations. The V-22 exceeds current Japan Self-Defense Forces helicopters in terms of range, speed, and payload. The ministry anticipated deployments to the Nansei Islands and the Senkaku Islands, as well as in multinational cooperation with the US. The first V-22 for Japan was delivered in August 2017.

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Watch: PCG OPV DELIVERY AND THE UPCOMING ASSETS

Americas

Raytheon won an $11.9 million delivery order for the procurement of 101 spare part units across nine assemblies used in support of the F-18 APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system. The AN/APG-79 AESA radar is an airborne radar made for F/A-18 E/F aircrafts. It is comprised of numerous solid-state transmit and receive modules to practically eliminate the possibility of mechanical breakdown. With a range of 150 km, the AN/APG-79 provides instantaneous track updates and multi-target tracking capabilities. Its X-band radar allows for higher resolution imaging, helping with target identification and discrimination. The AN/APG-79 is the replacement radar for the AN/APG-73. Work will take place in Forest, Mississippi. Estimated completion date will be by December 2022.

The US Air Force reactivated the 420th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base for flight and ground testing of the next-generation bomber, the B-21 Raider. The squadron was organized under the 412th Test Wing at the base, and a ceremony marking the occasion was held on October 4, the Air Force announced on Wednesday. The first B-21 Raider bomber, the next-generation replacement for the B-1 and B-2 aircraft, is under development at Lockheed Martin facilities in nearby Palmdale, California. The B-21 is expected to enter service by 2025, and will replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit over time.

Middle East & Africa

Spartan Air Academy Iraq won a $24.8 million contract for contractor logistics support services. The deal provides for CLS services and material support for 15 T-6A aircraft. The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft. In 1996, the US Navy and Air Force awarded Raytheon Aircraft Company, now Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC), the contract for the joint primary aircraft training system (JPATS). The aircraft was subsequently named the T-6A Texan II. The aircraft uses a Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop engine which provides a flat rated 1,100hp. The range of the aircraft is more than 1,667km. Work under the new contract will take place at Balad Air Base, Iraq and has an estimated completion date of June 30, 2020.

Europe

Finland has received Torpedo System 45 lightweight torpedo assets on loan from Sweden for installation on board the Hamina Class strike craft FNS Tornio, Jane’s reports. The Hamina Class fast attack craft were built by Aker Finnyards in Rauma, Finland for the Finnish Navy. Previously known as Rauma 2000, fast attack craft regularly patrol the Finnish coastline. Four vessels home-ported at Upinniemi are operated under Squadron 2000. A loan arrangement forms part of a wider bilateral co-operation, formalized by Sweden’s Defense Materiel Administration and the Finnish Defense Forces Logistic Command in early 2018, that also covers the new Torpedo System 47. As well as co-operative development and procurement of the Torpedo System 47, the bilateral arrangement also includes the loan of existing Torpedo System 45 assets to establish an interim capability.

Asia-Pacific

Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense Production (MoDP) revealed that it procured 60 CM-400AKG missiles in its 2017-2018 annual year book. According to MoDP’s latest yearbook, which was released in September, Pakistan ordered 60 additional Chinese-made CM-400AKG air-launched anti-ship missiles for the Air Force for $100 million. The document also states that the country ordered 52 9K129 Kornet-E anti-tank guided missile weapon systems and 295 FN-16 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADSs) during that period.

38 North has done a technical evaluation of North Korea’s new short-range missiles that were tested recently. It concluded that the KN-23, -24, and -25 missiles are likely to be more accurate than the Scud-variants that North Korea had been using earlier. The KN-23 is a North Korean short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) first tested in May 2019. The missile flies on a quasi-ballistic trajectory and has a maximum range of 690 km. North Korea first flight tested the missile on May 4, 2019. Due to its visual similarity to Russia’s Iskander-M SRBM, analysts dispute whether the missile was constructed with foreign assistance.

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Watch: PACIFIC 2019 Day 2 – Royal Australian Navy Programs

Americas

The US Army awarded BAE Systems a contract modification worth up to $269 million for continued production of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the company announced in a press release. The deal for additional 168 Bradley A4 Infantry Fighting Vehicles is part of the Army’s combat vehicle modernization strategy and will help ensure force readiness of the Armored Brigade Combat Teams. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle or BFV is an armored personnel carrier. The development of the Bradley dates back to the pre-Vietnam era. The early plans of an advanced armor personnel vehicle were being discussed in the early 1960s, even as the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier was just entering service. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle entered production in 1981 and became a replacement for the M113. The Bradley is considered to be a more powerful and faster vehicle than the M113, and its better suspension increases speed on off-road terrain. The Bradley A4 is equipped with an enhanced powertrain that maximizes mobility and increases engine horsepower, providing rapid movement in reaction to combat or other adverse situations. Wide angle Driver’s Vision Enhancer, improved Force XXI Battle Command Bridge and Below (FBCB2) software integration improves friendly and enemy vehicle identification, enhancing situational awareness.

General Dynamics Mission Systems announced in a news release that the National Security Agency (NSA) has certified its new TACLANE-Nano (KG-175N) network encryptor to secure voice, video and data information classified Top Secret/SCI and below traversing public and private IP networks. The NSA certification validates the TACLANE-Nano’s capability to protect the most critical data communications through government networks and national security systems worldwide at any time, it says in the release. The TACLANE-Nano provides end-to-end encryption in the smallest, lightest and lowest power configuration of any HAIPE device available today. It operates faster than 100 megabits per second aggregate throughout in a Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C) optimized form factor, ruggedized to withstand the rigors of a mobile environment.

Middle East & Africa

Soldiers from the US Army’s 1st Battalion 178th Infantry Regiment were taught how to counter commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) drones ahead of their deployment to Afghanistan in a course conducted by the 5th Armored Brigade, First Army Division West. This is the first time that a unit had received deliberate training on Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Fort Bliss, the largest FORSCOM installation, is the first in the Army to persistently permit military personal to fly commercial-off-the-shelf UAS in the training area. This capability was created to train soldiers and joint partners to combat the emerging small Unmanned Aircraft Systems threat around the world.

Europe

The Netherlands want to buy nine more F-35s. The Dutch government announced plans to purchase nine more of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jets, a move that would bring the country’s inventory to 46. The acquisition will be worth approximately $1.1 billion. It will lay the foundation for a third F-35 squadron in the Dutch Air Force, a plan that government officials first had in late 2018. The additional aircraft are expected to contribute to the Air Force’s objective of having four jets available for NATO missions while also performing homeland defense operations and accounting for training requirements and maintenance downtime.

Asia-Pacific

Thales Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Maritime College to establish a presence at the Tasmanian Defense Innovation and Design Precinct. This makes it the first defense industry prime to commit to a presence at the Defense Innovation and Design Precinct. “The Federal Government’s $30 million funding to establish the Defence Innovation and Design Precinct in Tasmania reflects the range of smart innovations under development at the Australian Maritime College and from SMEs in Tasmania,” Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said. The announcement builds on Thales’s initiative to establish a sonar testing capability in Tasmania’s deep, cold and acoustically quiet lakes.

The Royal Australian Air Force will equip its Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets with the same AN/ASG-34 podded infrared search-and-track (IRST) system as carried by the US Navy, Jane’s reports. A sources-sought notification issued by the US Naval Air Systems Command on October 2 calls for 12 IRST systems to cover the RAAF’s fleet of 24 Super Hornets. Developed by Lockheed Martin, with Boeing and General Electric, the AN/ASG-34 IRST is a passive system geared at giving the Super Hornet the capability to locate and engage airborne and ground targets when use of the Raytheon AN/APG-79 AESA radar would give away the aircraft’s position.

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Watch: Testing of the Air Force’s Super-Secret B-21 Raider Long-range Strike Bomber

Americas

The US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC), together with the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), has performed a series of complex launch trials with the Dynetics baseline and Block I variant GBU-69/B Small Glide Munitions (SGMs) from an MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aircraft System. According to Jane’s, the services conducted the trials in late August at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The tests mark the first time the GBU-69/B weapon system has been released from a UAS and represent an expanded platform set from which the munition can be employed. The baseline GBU-69/B SGM is a 60 lbs Class precision glide munition, 11.4 cm in diameter, and has a wingspan of 71.1 cm. The Gray Eagle is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS. The aircraft offers extended endurance, increased payload capacity, and high-reliability. Its mission capabilities include surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition, communications relay, and weapons delivery.

The US Air Force issued its new uniforms to recruits after a three year wait, entering basic military training, utility uniforms identical to those of the US Army. The first Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms were distributed at the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, last week. They will be rolled out to all Air Force personnel over the next three years. The new OCP has six colors, allowing its camouflage to better blend in with various environments, compared to the four pixelated colors of the ABU, and will cost $20 per set more. Insignia indicating rank will no longer be on airman’s sleeves or officer’s collars, but will be displayed in the center of their chests. Organizational patches and a US flag will appear on the new uniforms as well. By April 1, 2021, all airmen will be required to wear the OCP.

Middle East & Africa

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a significant increase in the country’s defense budget, citing a growing threat from Iran. His announcement came after an Iranian attack using drones and cruise missiles, on two oil refineries in Saudi Arabia on September 14, and a recent Israeli attack on Albukamal at the Iraq-Syria border, where Iran is building a military base. Netanyahu, in the process of forming a new government said last week that Israel must raise its defense spending by “many billions immediately and then many billions every year” since a threat from Iran „has intensified in recent weeks.”

Europe

Babcock International won a deal for for the Gun System Automation (GSA) 9 in-service support contract with the Ministry of Defense supporting the UK Royal Navy. The contract will provide support for all aspects of GSA9 support including Electro Optical Gunfire Control System (EOGCS), the Electro Optical Sensor Platforms (EOSPs), the Quick Pointing Devices (QPD) and below decks equipment of six Control Consoles, Gun Allocation Subsystem, Gunnery Check Fire System and two Maintenance and Analysis Facilities (MAF). The deal includes an option to be extended by two years and will be carried out from the company’s Devonport and Portsmouth facilities in the UK, delivering support for the Navy’s Type 45 Daring Class destroyers and management of the supply chain for the work.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a report presented to the National Assembly for a parliamentary audit that the country will launch the second phase of the F-X project in 2021. $3.3 billion will be allocated for this phase of the project. Codenamed the F-X, or Fighter eXperimental, South Korea has been pushing to replace its aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighter jets since 2012. Under the first phase of the project, the country has decided to buy 40 F-35A stealth fighters by 2021.

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has confirmed that the country is buying a C295 and G280 for command and control missions. The C295 will be delivered this year while the G280 will reach home in August 2020. The Airbus C295 is a new generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment. The C295 conducts multi-role operations worldwide under all weather conditions. It is fully certified and routinely operates day and night in combat missions in all weather extremes, from desert to maritime environments, from extremely hot to extremely cold temperatures. The Gulfstream G280 is a twin-engine business jet. It began delivery to users in 2012.

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Watch: LCA-TEJAS 90% availability | Super Sukhoi With PESA radar?

Americas

The US Navy has retired its fleet of Boeing F/A-18A-D Hornet combat aircraft from active service. The USN announced on October 2 that the final flight took place out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The retirement of the ‘classic’ Hornets brings 35 years of frontline service with the USN to an end and comes just over a year since the service performed its final carrier deployment of the type earlier in 2018. While the Hornet has been retired from the USN’s active unit inventory, it will remain operational with the Navy Reserve, the Blue Angels display team, and the US Marine Corps (USMC).

Raytheon announced the final stage for development of the Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool for the US Army. The EWPMT is a suite of software tools and applications which deliver capability enhancements to plan, coordinate and synchronize battlefield electronic warfare, spectrum management, and cyber operations. The service refers to the development stages as “capability drops,” and Raytheon’s CD4 is the final stage of fully operational capability. The tool features a software interface overlaid onto a physical map, allowing soldiers to visually manage their signal output in the electromagnetic spectrum, and then use the tool against threats in a tactical environment. “EWPMT gives the Army the freedom to add new capabilities and algorithms so they can manage an increasingly complex electromagnetic spectrum,” said Niraj Srivastava, product line manager for Raytheon Electronic Warfare Systems. “And because it uses open architecture, the tool can be shared with other military services.”

Middle East & Africa

The Iranian Army unveiled what appeared to be a new guidance upgrade called the Labeik that converts existing artillery rockets into surface-to-surface missiles on October 3, Jane’s reports. Several Labeik units were displayed in an event attended by General Mohammad Hossein Dadras, the deputy commander of the regular military, and Brigadier General Kioumars Heidar, the commander of its ground forces. The system looked similar to the guidance units used with the Fateh-110 family of solid-propellent missiles. However, its four triangular control surfaces were inverted. As with the Fateh-110 family, these would be attached between the rocket motor and warhead to steer the projectile. They appeared to be compatible with the 610 mm diameter of the Zelzal heavy artillery rocket.

Europe

Airmen from the Lithuanian Air Force have started testing the NASAMS medium-range air defense system at the Kongsberg factory in Norway. The tests will run until February 2020. The system will then be delivered to Lithuania by the end of 2020. The trials will assess technical and tactical conformity of NASAMS components to the determined weaponry specification. The tests will run until February 2020 and test all the NASAMS components – missile launchers, radars, electro-optical sensors, components of integration with the RBS70 short-range air defense systems, communication, and control components, and vehicles. The contract for procuring the NASAMS mid-range air defense system for the Lithuanian Air Force was signed by the Ministry of National Defense and Norway’s Kongsberg NASAMS manufacturer on October 26, 2017.

Asia-Pacific

Elbit Systems won a $153 million contract to supply an Army of a country in Southeast Asia with a comprehensive, multi-layered array of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The contract will be performed over a 22-month period. Under the deal, Elbit Systems will supply a networked multi-layered UAS solution, including more than a thousand THOR Multi-Rotor Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) mini-UAS, scores of Skylark LEX, Skylark 3 and Hermes 450 tactical UAS as well as Universal Ground Control Stations. The THOR vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Mini – Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is a low altitude multi-rotor platform, designed for a wide range of surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Built from the ground up, THOR features a real-time HD data link and unique control software.

The Royal Thai Air Force intends to replace its F-16A/B fleet at Wing 1 and a committee will soon be formed to draft the Concept of Project Requirements (COPR). Air Force chief ACM Maanat Wongwat has indicated that the successful bidder will have to allow Thailand to access the software code of the fighter in order to develop it for its own needs. Air Force commander ACM Maanat Wongwat said the Air Force has a policy of not purchasing “ready-made” aircraft, and the F-35 manufacturer has yet to sell its jet to a buyer who wants to participate in the development of the fighter jets’ software programs. “We are implementing a ‘pur­chase-and-develop’ policy in our procurement plans, which we intend to begin enforcing in the next 3-5 years,” said the air force chief, who took up the post this month.

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Americas

United Technologies won a $325.2 million fixed-price-incentive-firm contract to provide material and support equipment for depot maintenance facilities, non-recurring sustainment activities, supplies, services and planning for depot activations as well as two F135 full-scale high fidelity mockup engines and four modules for test cells in support of the F-35 Lightning II Program. The Pratt & Whitney’s F135 is an afterburning turbofan developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a single-engine strike fighter. Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system powers all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft – the F-35A CTOL (Conventional Takeoff and Landing), F-35B STOVL (Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing) and F-35C CV (Carrier Variant). The F135 has evolved from the proven F119 engine, which exclusively powers the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, and features best-in-class single-engine reliability, fifth generation stealth capabilities as well as advanced prognostics and health management systems. Work under the contract will take place in various places within as well as outside of the US. Estimated completion will be in January 2023.

The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $75.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to exercise options for the accomplishment of class services for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The option exercise is for class services for the LCS program. The company will provide expert design, planning and material support services for LCS-class ship construction. Lockheed Martin is in full-rate production and has delivered eight Freedom-variant ships to the US Navy. There are eight ships in various stages of production and test. This year, Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine will begin construction on two ships, deliver two ships, complete sea trials for two ships and see three ships commissioned. The company will perform work in Virginia, New Jersey, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and estimated completion will be in October 2020.

Middle East & Africa

A new Turkish laser weapon passed its acceptance tests. The Vehicle-Mounted Laser System (ARMOL) designed and developed by the Informatics and Information Security Research Centre (B?LGEM) of Turkey’s Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜB?TAK) has successfully completed all acceptance tests. According to local media, the 400-kilogram (881 lbs) laser system was mounted on a Cobra armored vehicle, along with target acquisition hardware and a control terminal. BILGEM has developed other laser weapon systems, including the 20-kw High Power Laser System (YGLS).

Europe

German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung has reported that the Super Hornet has an advantage over the Eurofighter in the country’s fighter competition to replace the Tornado. According to the newspaper, getting the Eurofighter certified to drop nuclear bombs will take between three and five years longer than the Boeing fighter. From 2025 on, the Bundeswehr will phase out almost 90 Tornados. US certification plays a crucial role in the decision process. Part of the fleet guarantees Germany’s nuclear participation. In case of emergency, these jets should be able to carry the US nuclear bombs to their destination. Whatever aircraft will take on this task in the future has to go through a complex certification process with the US. Germany’s former defense minister Ursula Von der Leyen had asked the US to provide information on the cost and time for the procedure with regard to the various models. The results should now be available to the Ministry and turn out in favor of the American model. The certification of the Eurofighter could take three to five years longer than the Super Hornets.

The State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to the Ukraine for Javelin missiles and related equipment and support for an estimated cost not to exceed $39.2 million. The Government of Ukraine had requested to buy one hundred fifty Javelin missiles and ten Javelin Command Launch Units (CLUs). Also included are training devices, transportation, support equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, US government, engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support tools and test equipment; support equipment; publications and technical documentation; spare and repair parts; equipment training and training devices; US Government and contractor technical, engineering and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical, sustainment, and program support. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky brought up the missiles in the July 25 phone call with President Donald Trump that led Democrats to kick off an impeachment inquiry last week. In a five-page memorandum of the call released last week, Zelensky noted that Ukraine was “almost ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes.”

Asia-Pacific

The new head of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) R.K.S. Bhadauria, has disclosed that four Rafales will be home by May next year. Bhadauria was being interviewed at his first press conference after taking out the post this month. The first four of 36 Rafale jets will come to India by May next year and the aircraft will significantly enhance the IAF’s combat prowess, Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria said on Friday. The first four Rafale jets would “hit the Indian skies by the end of May next” after the training of pilots in France. As the deputy Air Chief, ACM Bhadauria played a key role in the negotiations for 36 Rafale jets.

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Americas

General Electric won a $10.6 million contract modification that exercises an option to procure two F414-GE-400 production install engines, five engine devices, and 29 engine device K-seals in support of Lot 23 engine production for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. GE designed its F414-GE-400 turbofan engine to help increase the Super Hornet’s thrust by 35 percent. It is an afterburning turbofan engine in the 22,000-pound thrust class. Boeing manufactured the US Navy F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet maritime strike attack aircraft. It flew for the first time on November 29, 1995. The single-seat F/A-18/E and the two-seat F/A-18/F fly greater ranges with heavier payloads, have more powerful engines and provide greater survivability. Work will take place in Lynn, Massachusetts; Evendale, Ohio; Hooksett, New Hampshire; Rutland, Vermont; and Madisonville, Kentucky. Estimated completion is in August 2021.

The US Army Contracting Command awarded $7.9 million for the Communication Interface System Obsolescence for the Apache AH-64E full rate production. The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. The US Army has more than 800 Apaches in service, and more than 1,000 have been exported. The AH-64E attack helicopter is the latest version of the AH-64, used by the US Army. It is also known as Apache Guardian. Until 2012 it was designated as AH-64D Block III. Work under the new contract will take place in Mesa, Arizona. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2022.

Middle East & Africa

Louis Berger Aircraft Services won a $7.2 million contract modification for air terminal ground handling services in Kuwait. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $20.3 million from $13.1 million. Fiscal 2020 transportation working capital funds were obligated at the time of award. The US Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Work will take place at Al Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait. Expected completion date is September 30, 2020.

South Africa and Brazil finished the development of the A-Darter AAM. The Brazilian Air Force has accepted the data package and type certificate of Denel Dynamics’ A-Darter air-to-air missile (AAM), signaling the closure of the project’s development cycle. The A-Darter has been jointly developed by South Africa and Brazil, having been originally conceived by Denel Dynamics, part of South Africa’s State-owned Denel defense industrial group. The data package that contained the material that included all the knowledge that was produced was handed over by the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR) to the Brazilian Air Force’s Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) at the end of September. The end of development is expected to lead to the first production orders of the missile for Brazilian F-39E/F Gripen and South African Air Forces’s Gripen C/D fighter jets.

Europe

Britain’s newest aircraft carrier hit its top speed for the first time during sea trials in the North Sea, off Scotland this week. The Royal Navy said HMS Prince of Wales achieved 25 knots when its six engines were pushed to “full throttle”. The warship, built at Rosyth at a cost of $3.7 billion, is being tested in the North Sea and Outer Moray Firth. Four diesel generators and two gas turbines with a maximum combined capacity of 109MW power the 65,000t carrier. The 280m-long aircraft carrier features an integrated platform management system, which controls the generation, propulsion and fluid systems. More than 600 sailors and around 400 contractors are working to prepare the ship’s engineering systems, radars, and communications systems before it is officially handed over to the Navy in December.

Asia-Pacific

North Korea has tested a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which it dubbed Pukguksong-3, Reuters reports. The missile is reported to have flown for 450 km while reaching an apogee of 910 km. This will give it a range of 1,300 km, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo says. The test “had no adverse impact on the security of neighboring countries,” state news agency KCNA said but gave no other details about the launch. South Korea however expressed strong concern and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the launch, saying it was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

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Americas

Crew Training International won a $42.3 million contract modification for the MQ9 Aircrew Training and Courseware Development contract. The MQ-9 Reaper is the primary offensive strike Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for the US Air Force. Reapers can also perform the following missions and tasks: intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, close air support, combat search and rescue, precision strike, buddy-laser, convoy/raid overwatch, route clearance, target development, and terminal air guidance. The Reaper is part of a remotely piloted aircraft system. A fully operational system consists of several sensor/weapon-equipped aircraft, ground control station, Predator Primary Satellite Link, and spare equipment along with operations and maintenance crews for deployed 24-hour missions. The contract modification is for the exercise of option year one. Work will take place at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; March Air Reserve Base, California; and Hancock Air National Guard Base, New York, and is scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2020.

Rheinmetall and Raytheon’s joint venture Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems has submitted a bid for the US Army’s new Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, or OMFV, program. Rheinmetall announced this in a press release on October 1. The team will offer the next-generation Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Lynx is a next-generation, tracked armored fighting vehicle designed to address the critical challenges of the future battlefield. The vehicle provides ample growth capacity to support new technologies over its lifetime, and features lower life-cycle costs. The joint venture will be based in the US and is the result of a 2018 agreement between the two companies. First unveiled in 2016, Rheinmetall’s 37-55 ton Lynx is highly modular tracked armored vehicle typically outfitted with a 30mm or 35mm main cannon, but can also carry a 50mm cannon, one of the objective requirements for the OMFV program.

Middle East & Africa

The US Acquisition Management Center awarded DynCorp International a $68.4 million modification for Air Force Central Command war reserve materiel. The deal provides for the exercise of Option Year Three period of performance for services being provided under the basic contract. Work will take place at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina as well as the Middle Eastern countries Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $68,379,284 are being obligated at the time of award. Estimated completion will be by September 30 next year.

Europe

BAE Systems delivered an advanced Typhoon to the UK Royal Air Force, the company announced in a press release. The delivery of the final Tranche 3 aircraft brings a production run of 160 Typhoons for the RAF to an end that began in 2003. The RAF fields eight Typhoon units with 1 (Fighter), 2 (Army Cooperation), 6, and 9 (Bomber) squadrons based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland; and 3 (Fighter), 11 (Fighter), and 12 (Bomber) squadrons based at RAF Coningsby in England. There is also a permanent detachment located on the Falkland Islands. A ceremony was held at BAE Systems’ final assembly facility at Warton to mark the latest milestone delivery.

Asia-Pacific

The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to Japan of Follow-On Technical Support sustainment and services in support of eight Japan AEGIS Destroyers consisting of four KONGO Class Destroyers, two ATAGO Class Destroyers, two MAYA Class Destroyers and one Japanese Computer Test Site (JCPTS). The estimated value of the deal is $140 million. The sustainment efforts will include AEGIS software updates, system integration and testing, US Government and contractor technical assistance, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $140 million.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that the Philippine Air Force wants to acquire the Mi-17 helicopter from Russia. He told the BusinessMirror that there is no rush to buy the rotocraft now as a technical working group is still studying the issue. The helicopters are offered at the price of $14.7 million apiece. They were reportedly dangled with one free additional chopper through Rosoboronexport, Russia’s official arms exporter. The Mi-17 made its first flight in 1975-1976. Production commenced in 1977. The first export Mi-17 was delivered in 1981. This transport helicopter widely exported both for military and civil operators. “The PAF wants to acquire the Mi-17. There is no contract yet“, Lorenzana said.

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Americas

Lockheed Martin Space and the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory were both tapped in support of the Trident II (D5). Lockheed won a $494.9 million modification for missile production and deployed systems support. CSDL won an $83.4 million deal to provide specialized technical knowledge for the guidance, navigation and control applications that will support Navy programs for the US Trident II (D5) Strategic Weapon System. Lockheed will perform work within the US and various other locations and estimated completion will be September 30, 2024. CSDL will work in Cambridge, Massachusetts with an expected completion of September 30, 2021. The Trident II is a submarine-launched ballistic missile equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles.

Boeing won a $70.8 million contract modification, which exercises an option to provide F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft inspections, modifications and repairs as well as F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G inner wing panel (IWP) modifications and repairs. The remanufacturing efforts for the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers will restore aircraft and IWP service life projections to the new design specifications. The F/A-18E is a single-seat Super Hornet. The 2-seat F/A-18F sacrifices some range, carrying only 13,350 pounds of fuel – 900 fewer pounds than the F/A-18E. In exchange for this reduced range, it adds a 2nd crewman with an advanced attack station cockpit to assist in strike roles. The EA-18 is more than 90% common with the standard F/A-18F Super Hornet, sharing its airframe, AN/APG-79 AESA radar, AN/AYK-22 stores management system, and weapons options. The exception is the Super Hornet’s 20mm Vulcan gatling gun, which has been removed from the nose in favor of electrical equipment. Work under the contract modification will take place in Florida, Missouri, and California. Estimated completion will be in September 2020.

Middle East & Africa

Cubic Defense Applications won a $41.1 million contract for P5 Air Combat Training System (P5CTS) equipment delivery. The deal provides for the procurement of Air Force and Qatar P5CTS equipment. The P5CTS Internal Subsystems enables real-time, live monitoring and recorded mission data of air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air training scenarios for both real-time training and post mission analysis. Unlike the wing-mounted P5CTS the internal subsystem is placed inside the F-35. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $31,249,695 are being obligated at the time of award. Work will take place in San Diego, California, and is scheduled to be complete by October 2021.

Europe

The 31st Fighter Wing executed a rapid deployment to Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria for Exercise Rapid Buzzard on September 24. US Air Force Airmen and F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing executed the rapid deployment to conduct “hot-pit” refueling and participate in the bilateral training exercise, Rapid Buzzard, with the Bulgarian Air Force, September 24 through September 27. They conducted Refueling operations with the 435th Contingency Response Squadron and three C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, which provided the fuel through rapid defuel operations from the C-130 aircraft into an R-11 fuel truck.

Asia-Pacific

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems won a $43.8 million delivery order for 281 Technical Insertion Sixteen (TI-16) Common Display System (CDS) Variant A water-cooled and air-cooled production consoles. CDS is a set of watch station consoles designed to support the implementation of Open Architecture in Navy combat systems. The TI-16 CDS is the next evolution in the CDS family and consists of a three-eyed horizontal display console. This delivery order combines purchases for the Navy, Coast Guard and the governments of South Korea as well as Japan. The CDS family is designed to be compatible with commercially available hardware and software; to conform to open-architecture computers and standards; and to incorporate human systems integration design principles. Work will take place in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be complete by March 2020.

The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center awarded L3 Technologies a $17.4 million contract for an F-16 A/B Block 15 simulator. The deal provides for one F-16 A/B Block 15 simulator and involves 100 percent FMS to Thailand. Thailand’s 102 Fighter Squadron operates F-16A/B ADF and the 103 Fighter Squadron operates the F-16A/B. Foreign Military Sales funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award.

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Americas

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace won a $180.4 million contract modification that exercises an option for organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance, logistics, and engineering support for Navy T-45 aircraft, aircraft systems, and related support equipment. Under the contract, L-3 will also deliver equipment, direct material, services and tools to maintain the flight, test and evaluation operations. The T-45C is a training aircraft for pilots who will eventually fly F/A-18 Hornet, the AV-8B Harrier II and other carrier-based aircraft. To meet the needs of the US Navy training mission and to ensure aircraft carrier compatibility, several modifications were incorporated into the T-45 Goshawk design, including: new twin nose-wheel with catapult launch T-bar; nose-wheel steering for maneuvering within the confines of the carrier deck; strengthened airframe and undercarriage for catapult launches; relocated speed brakes; provision of under-fuselage tailhook; revised avionics and modified cockpit layout for compatibility with front-line US Navy combat aircraft. Work will take place at the Naval Air Stations in Kingsville, Texas; Meridian, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; Patuxent River, Maryland. Estimated completion is in September 2020.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division won a $30.8 million contract for engineering, technical, design agent, and hull planning yard support for the Navy’s operational aircraft carrier fleet. The deal will provide for engineering and technical support of operational Gerald R. Ford or CVN 78 Class aircraft carriers and propulsion plant related efforts for Nimitz or CVN 68 Class aircraft carriers. The scope of this effort includes technical and engineering support for nuclear powered aircraft carriers and aircraft carrier support facilities; design, development, conversion, testing, studies, operational support for operational nuclear-powered aircraft carriers; modernization and procurement of material, equipment, spares, repair parts, and test equipment for operational nuclear powered aircraft carriers; design agent, planning yard support and equipment obsolescence support of operational nuclear powered aircraft carriers; and engineering/logistics studies in support of modernization efforts, repairs, ship alterations, ship change documents, and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance upgrades. For more than 40 years, Nimitz-class carriers have played the first-responder role in crises and conflicts. Ford Class ships will begin to succeed those of the Nimitz Class when Gerald R. Ford is commissioned. Gerald R. Ford is the first new design for an aircraft carrier since USS Nimitz. Work will take place in Newport News, Virginia. Estimated completion will be in September 2023.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Shipyards received orders for its OPV 45, and is in discussions towards the first sale of a Sa’ar S-72 vessel, Jane’s reports. The OPV 45 is Israel Shipyards’ newest patrol craft. The Sa’ar S-72 is 71.8 m long, has a 3,200 n mile range, an 800 tonne displacement, and a 30 kt top speed. Noam Latsav, managing director at Israel Shipyards, said that contract talks are ongoing with one country, and one Sa’ar S-72 has begun construction in the meantime. The OPV 45 is driven by fixed-pitch propellers and the power plants depend on the customer’s needs. It can mount stabilized naval gun systems of up to 30 mm in the primary position, and 12.7 mm machine guns.

Europe

The US Army Contracting Command awarded Lockheed Martin with an $18.4 million Foreign Military Sales contract to the Netherlands as well as the UAE. The deal is for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight Pilot Night Vision Sensor Systems, subcomponent production, and technical services for the Apache Attack Helicopter. The helicopter is designed to survive heavy attack and inflict massive damage. It can zero in on specific targets, day or night, even in terrible weather. In September last year, officials from the Netherlands signed a letter of offer and acceptance to proceed with a $1.2 billion upgrade of the Dutch fleet of AH-64D Apache helicopters with the United States. Lockheed will perform work in August 31, 2021.

Asia-Pacific

Northrop Grumman won a $1.4 billion contract modification for non-recurring and recurring engineering for the production and delivery of nine Japan configuration E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft under the FMS Act. The announcement comes after Japan received the first of an initial batch of four E-2Ds at the end of March, with the other three E-2Ds expected to be delivered between the end of 2019 and the end of 2020. The E-2Ds are expected to supplement Japan’s 13 E-2Cs ahead of the latter being eventually retired. Japan has operated the E-2C since 1983 and is the largest E-2 operator outside the US. FMS funds in the full amount will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

Nova Nacap won a $62.6 million contract for construction of two nominal eight million liter cut-and-cover bulk fuel storage tanks. According to the DoD, work will take place in Darwin, Northern Territory of Australia, and is expected to be completed by October 2022. The work to be performed provides for two nominal eight million liter cut-and-cover bulk fuel storage tanks with pump vaults, truck unloading and loading gantry, filter equipment and building, operations facility with laboratory, modifications to Fuel Farm #7, fuel system controls, pipelines, demolition, site preparation, pavements, grading and drainage improvements, supporting utility infrastructure, and incidental work. Work also includes a new liquid dry breathing oxygen (LDBO) facility and demolition of the existing LDBO facility.

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Americas

Boeing won a $2.6 billion contract modification for Lot 5 production KC-46 aircraft, initial spares, and support equipment. The deal provides for the exercise of an option for an additional quantity of 15 KC-46 aircraft, data, two spare engines, five wing refueling pod kits, initial spares, support equipment, subscriptions and licenses, and G081 flat file being produced under the basic contract. The KC-46A Pegasus is a widebody, multirole tanker that can refuel all US, allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures. The aircraft is capable of carrying 212,299 pounds of fuel and 61,000 pounds of cargo, 10 percent more than the KC-135 can hold. The KC-46A is equipped with a refueling boom driven by a fly-by-wire control system, and is capable of fuel offload rates required for large aircraft. Its hose and drogue system adds additional mission capability that is independently operable from the refueling boom system. Work will take place in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be completed by March 2023.

Northrop Grumman Systems won a $495 million contract for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft. This contract provides for modernization and sustainment of 16 mission and one trainer aircraft. The deal will support the current JSTARS Program Office and Air Combat Command projections of improvements to increase or maintain E-8C performance, capability, reliability, and maintainability. The JSTARS is an airborne battle management, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform. Its primary mission is to provide theater ground and air commanders with situational awareness to support military operations. In 2015, team JSTARS set a major milestone when they surpassed 100,000-combat flying hours in support of the US Central Command while flying the E-8C Joint STARS out of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Northrop will perform work at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia; and Melbourne, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 26, 2024.

Middle East & Africa

United Technologies doing business as Pratt & Whitney Military Engines won a $78.1 million deal for engine module remanufacture. The contract provides for F100-PW-220/-220E engine module remanufacture for Foreign Military Sales partner country of Jordan. It involves 100% Foreign Military Sales to Jordan. The Pratt & Whitney F100 is an afterburning turbofan engine that powers the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Work will take place at East Hartford, Connecticut; Midland, Georgia; and Midwest City, Oklahoma, and is expected to be finished by September 30, 2024

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Qatar of two AN/AAQ-24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $86 million. The procurement of the LAIRCM systems will provide enhanced capability to Qatar to deter regional threats. Northrop Grumman has been named as the principal contractor for the AN/AAQ-24(V)N LAIRCM. LAIRCM offers protection to aircraft from infrared-guided missiles. Qatar intends to use the LAIRCM systems for installation on a pair of 747-800s.

Europe

The Ukrainian Forces received their first Bars-8MMK (mobile mortar complex) vehicles from Ukroboronservice, Jane’s reports. The defense conglomerate said Ukroboronservice had successfully completed acceptance tests with the vehicle, covering tactical and technical characteristics, as well as firing trials, with a Ukrainian military unit. The BARS-8MMK is a new mobile self-propelled mortar vehicle using the chassis of the BARS-8 4×4 wheeled armored vehicle. It carries a 120 mortar which can be deployed automatically at the rear of the vehicle to perform firing operations. It takes only 30 seconds to bring this artillery system in firing condition, and the vehicle is able to leave the firing position in less than 20 seconds. The BARS-8 is a 4×4 armored vehicle designed and manufactured by the Ukrainian Company Bogdan. The vehicle is built on the Dodge Ram pick-up truck’s 4×4 wheeled chassis. It has a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 kg and a payload capacity of 2,000 kg.

Asia-Pacific

The DoS approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Thailand of eight AH-6i light attack reconnaissance helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $400 million. Boeing’s AH-6i gunship is a light attack/reconnaissance helicopter based on the storied Hughes OH-6 Cayuse – better known as the Little Bird – that first flew in 1963. The commercial version was named the Hughes 500, later renamed the MD 500 after McDonnell Douglas purchased Hughes Helicopters in 1984. Following Boeing’s later merger with McDonnell Douglas, MD Helicopters purchased the MD 500 line, and produces aircraft – including military variants – based on the platform.

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E-8C JSTARS: Before
(click to view full)

The USA’s E-8 JSTARS is a Boeing 707-300 derivative that provides a picture of the ground situation analogous to the E-3 AWACS’ picture of the air situation. JSTARS aircraft use their radars to determine the direction, speed and patterns of military activity of ground vehicles, helicopters, and even groups of people. They then send this information via secure data links with air force command posts, army mobile ground stations and centers of military analysis around the world.

These surveillance and communications relay capabilities are somewhat unique, and have proven extremely useful in a series of conflicts from Desert Storm in 1991 to the present day. Europe originally intended to field a similar, smaller AGS aircraft based on the Airbus A321, but that project has now been cut to a small fleet of RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs. With the Global Hawk limited by its payload capacity, and the USA’s E-10A program canceled, the USA’s 17-aircraft operational JSTARS fleet is likely to remain very popular for some time to come. The question is how to keep that fleet relevant, flying, and allocated among all of the units clamoring for their attention.

The Engines

CFM56-7B engine
(click to view full)

Military studies indicate that structural improvements and other modifications could allow the aircraft to fly safely for another 40-50 years. Significant performance improvements are being considered, but the fleet’s #1 issue remains its old JT3D-3B engines, whose core design was first introduced in the 1950s. An upgrade program is underway to address that, and the US Air Force finally appears to be on board. Mostly.

The choice facing the US Air Force involved 2 candidates:

One was GE’s very popular CFM56 high bypass tubofan, which flies on a wide variety of commercial jets including the entire Airbus 320 family, the A340, and Boeing’s 737-300+) and has been used to re-engine the USA’s 707-derived KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. The new KC-135Rs have demonstrated about a 27% fuel savings since the switch, in addition to lower maintenance costs, compatibility with the KC-135 fleet, and the ability to leverage a wider commercial skills base.

The other option would be Pratt & Whitney’s JT8D-219, based on an engine design that was introduced in the mid-1960s. It powers DC-9, MD-80, Boeing 727, and early-model 737 aircraft. While the fuel savings would be slightly smaller, the JT8 has an advantage of its own: no significant aircraft modifications are required, because the engine has the same weight and center of gravity as the older JT3D engines in current use.

This seemingly minor feature means significant capital and time savings for the re-engining program, and ended up determining the USAF’s choice. The JSTARS fleet is always in demand, and high project costs elsewhere mean a cash crunch for investment, so the Pratt & Whitney offering won.

The JSTARS engine upgrade program is based on the Propulsion Pod System, incorporating Pratt & Whitney’s JT8D-219 jet engine and Seven Q Seven’s pylons, thrust reversers, and instrumentation. Benefits are expected to include 17% fuel savings, added power generation for future upgrades to the radar sensor and mission equipment, elimination of engine overheating in warm months that sometimes forced the planes to fly at night, and the ability to use shorter runways. That last capability may allow the E-8Cs to fly from runways closer to some of their operating areas, which reduces the need for aerial tankers and adds fuel savings of its own.

Northrop Grumman added an innovation of its own, via a single stage precooling design that allows hot, compressed bleed air from the engine turbines to be processed at much cooler temperatures and more consistent pressure levels. That vastly improves reliability and the hardware’s life cycle, even as it keeps a number of critical systems functioning. The bleed air is used to pressurize the Air Cycle Machines (ACM) that cool the interior, cabin and prime mission equipment (PME); and also pressurizes the utility hydraulic subsystem, engine starting capability, and liquid cooling system.

Program: Current State

JT8D on JSTARS
(click to view full)

Northrop Grumman representatives said that civil certification was completed in October 2008, as noted below. The T-3 testbed plane has been flying, and flight tests for military certification remain on track. That testing has continued into 2011.

Funding for the re-engining program has been appropriated by Congress, and on Sept 30/09 Pentagon technology chief Ashton Carter directed the US Air Force to free up funds for initial production, but the full go-ahead hasn’t happened yet.

The funding is being used to buy JT8D-219 engines and Seven Q Seven’s propulsion pod systems as long-lead material items, which take time to produce. At this point, 2 initial pod sets are under contract, but a Milestone C decision to produce the remaining engines and pods isn’t scheduled until 2012.

Once military certification is complete, and a decision is made to produce the engine pods, having the equipment on hand would mean that re-engining could begin during the 17-plane E-8C fleet’s routine depot maintenance (PDM) cycles. Each E-8C enters PDM every 18 months, and the inspection and maintenance process last for about 4-6 weeks per plane. The entire E-8C fleet could be re-engined in about 2 years this way, while remaining available for use at their normal rates.

Beyond the re-engining program, the E-10’s demise may yet see the work on that plane’s full size MP-RTIP radar transferred to the E-8 fleet. Smaller MP-RTIP radars currently fly on RQ-4B Global Hawk UAVs, but a move to install the full version on the E-8 fleet would improve their ability to find ground targets by a factor of 5x – 10x. “Jumped-up JSTARS: New Technology for Ground Surveillance Planes?” covers those developments.

As the USAF thinks about investing in its E-8C fleet, both re-engining and wider upgrade plans may find themselves in trouble. There’s a serious debate concerning the wisdom of keeping the current JSTARS fleet at all, given its operating costs and age. Boeing is pushing a modified variant of its 737-derived P-8A Poseidon sea control aircraft, whose surface-looking radars are reportedly already competitive with JSTARS, as a similar-cost solution versus E-8 re-engining and upgrades. Radar capabilities could be improved further using existing technology, while keeping the P-8’s new electronics, new airframe, and operating efficiencies.

Contracts & Events

Re-engined JSTARS
(click to view full)

September 30/19: Modernization And Sustainment Northrop Grumman Systems won a $495 million contract for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft. This contract provides for modernization and sustainment of 16 mission and one trainer aircraft. The deal will support the current JSTARS Program Office and Air Combat Command projections of improvements to increase or maintain E-8C performance, capability, reliability, and maintainability. The JSTARS is an airborne battle management, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform. Its primary mission is to provide theater ground and air commanders with situational awareness to support military operations. In 2015, team JSTARS set a major milestone when they surpassed 100,000-combat flying hours in support of the US Central Command while flying the E-8C Joint STARS out of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Northrop will perform work at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia; and Melbourne, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 26, 2024.

Dec 14/11: Northrop Grumman announces that its JSTARS T-3 testbed aircraft has successfully completed its first official flight using the new, Pratt and Whitney engines, and the newly designed pneumatic system for bleed air cooling.

Feb 9/11: Northrop Grumman Corporation announces completion of the Preliminary Design Review for the JT8D propulsion pod’s new bleed air system. That system extracts high-pressured hot air from the JT8D’s engines and converts it into cool air that can pressurize the Air Cycle Machines (ACM) that cool the interior, cabin and prime mission equipment (PME), while pressurizing the utility hydraulic subsystem, engine starting capability and liquid cooling system. The new bleed air system is only expected to be installed and flight tested around mid-2012.

Jan 14/11: 20th anniversary of the E-8 JSTARS’ 1st operational combat sortie in 1991, which happened in support of Operation Desert Storm. Since 2001, the 116th Air Control Wing based on Warner Robins, GA have flown over 63,000 hours in 5,200 combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Source.

Sept 13/10: End of JSTARS? The battle over the E-8 JSTARS fleet’s future is heating up. Boeing is proposing a derivative of its P-8A Poseidon sea control aircraft as a proposed $5.5 billion, 1-for-1 replacement of the current E-8C fleet, instead of paying that estimated amount to upgrade the E-8Cs with new cockpits, sensors, and engines. The Boeing AGS version would include the Raytheon-Boeing Littoral Surveillance Radar System (LSRS), Raytheon’s AN/APY-10 multi-mode radar in the nose, some the same Electronic Support Measures for emissions geo-location that are featured on the E/A-18G Growler electronic attack plane, and an electro-optical surveillance and targeting turret. A P-8 derivative would also give the USAF space and integration for weapons on board, or additional sensors in those spaces.

Northrop Grumman believes the Boeing figure may be a lowball price, and has its own proposal to add 1′ x 8′ array radars on the plane’s cheeks, derived from the firm’s APG-77 and APG-81 AESA radars that equip the F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters. Today, JSTARS operations have to “break track” with a target to collect an image. The cheek fairings would solve that problem, while keeping the existing AN/APY-7, in order to lower the upgrade price to around $2.7 billion: $900M re-engining, $500M for new APY-7 receiver and exciters, $1 billion for the cheek array, $300M for avionics upgrade and battle management improvements. This would replace the previous push to replace the APY-7 with their MP-RTIP radar.

Northrop Grumman executives have expressed concern that USAF officials haven’t showed them the 2009 initial capabilities document that could launch a competition to replace or upgrade the E-8C. That isn’t a required step, but it is common practice. This may be because the USAF is considering even wider options – like putting the focus on “persistent ground looking radar and optical surveillance with high resolution moving target capability,” instead of an E-8C vs. 737 AGS competition. If so, the firms could find themselves competing with other platforms, possibly including derivatives of airship projects like Northrop Grumman’s US Army’s LEMV etc. Aviation Week | Flight International.

Feb 25/10: The expanded Phase II effort is awarded to Northrop Grumman Corp., with $60 million added to the contract, bringing it to $283.6 million. This Phase II contract includes flight testing, data capture for flight simulators, modified air certification, pneumatic system development, training, logistics, flight manuals and logistics design efforts. Maj. Kevin Massie, commander of the 633rd Electronic Systems Squadron, offers his take on past delays in a March 18/09 USAF article:

“Concerns about long-term fleet viability and program cost growth led to a delay in execution and outright halt of portions of the program in August [2009]. In late September, after being presented with several options, the Air Force directed the continuation of the Re-engining System Design and Development phase, with the intention of moving toward a Milestone C decision for production of the remaining E-8C engine shipsets in fiscal 2012.”

The article adds that this decision was reinforced by a pointed ADM released on Sept 30/09 – see below.

Feb 9/10: The 751st Electronic Support Group at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA finalizes a $223.6 million contract with Northrop Grumman to supply 2 JSTARS propulsion pod system (PPS) shipsets to the Georgia Air National Guard. The PPS shipsets each consist of 4 Pratt and Whitney JT8D-219 engines, pylon assemblies and associated aircraft interconnections.

Deliveries are expected to begin in 2011 pending final military certification of the engines on T-3, the JSTARS 707-300 test bed aircraft. See NGC release. A Northrop Grumman representative provided DID with the following explanation of the contract funding:

“The $223.6M contract we signed had predominantly FY08 and FY09 appropriated funds that we finally received in 2010 [as a result of] the [Ashton] Carter directive…However, of the $223.6M awarded, we estimate about $9.5M appears to be from FY10 RDT&E and $500K is FY10 procurement. That’s about $10M of FY10 funds paying an FY08/ FY09 bill.”

Oct 19/09: Commenting on Pentagon technology chief Ashton Carter’s decision to direct the Air Force to free up funds for the new JSTAR engine sets, Lexington Institute’s Loren Thomson says that:

“If the Air Force had obligated money in a timely fashion, the first two sets of engines would be funded, but instead it is asking Congress to make up a shortfall its foot-dragging created, which amounts to seeking money for the same item twice. This mess doesn’t build confidence about the Air Force’s commitment to supporting the needs of soldiers, soldiers being the main consumers of JSTAR reconnaissance. But it’s more important to get warfighters what they need than to have an inside-the-beltway wrangle over who’s to blame… Carter needs to hold Air Force feet to the fire… and Congress needs to provide the money… There are only 17 planes in the JSTARS fleet, but it looks like we’re going to have to rely on them for a long time to come, and as of right now not one has the new engines needed to stay viable.”

JT-8 cutaway
(click to view full)

Sept 30/09: Pentagon technology chief Ashton Carter signs a memorandum, [PDF] which was introduced into the Congressional Record, directing the Air Force to free up funds for the JSTARS PPS shipsets to begin initial production. The memo reads:

“I direct the Air Force to continue the JSTARS re-engining System Design and Development phase, including the development, flight testing, and production of the initial increment of re-engine shipsets. The Air Force should immediately identify and obligate RDT&E and procurement funding necessary to executive this direction.”

July 29/09: The Lexington Institute publishes “Air Force Delay on Radar Plane Fix Hurts Soldiers.” An excerpt:

“Now, it can’t even find money to replace the plane’s failing engines. The latter problem is a remarkable example of bureaucratic foot-dragging, when you consider that defense authorizing and appropriations committees in both chambers of Congress have already approved the money… As a result, about once every ten days the Joint Stars fleet has to abort a mission due to malfunctioning engines, and half the time an in-flight emergency is declared. Needless to say, this tends to reduce the readiness of the plane while greatly increasing maintenance bills.

The Air Force’s own estimates show that if it replaced the E-8’s decrepit engines with new ones, it could avoid about a million dollars a day in maintenance costs. In fact, the replacement program would pay for itself in eight years, and eventually save $10 billion… without new engines, it will probably become unflyable in the next decade.”

Dec 20/08: A USAF E-8C test bed aircraft makes its first flight powered by the new engines. This flight marks the start of the re-engined E-8C’s military air worthiness certification test program, which will last “into next spring.” Northrop Grumman release.

Oct 22/08: Northrop Grumman announces that the USAF’s E-8C engine upgrade program had successfully completed Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type civil certification flights.

After civil certification was complete, the engines and pylons were removed from Omega Air’s 707, for installation on a military E-8C aircraft that would be used for military certification.

May 13/08: Northrop Grumman announces 2 unfinalized USAF contracts worth $300 million. Their team will complete non-recurring engineering, flight test, and certification of new PW JT8D-219 engines for the service’s E-8C JSTARS fleet, and begin engine production. Work will begin immediately, with the test bed aircraft in Melbourne, FL being the first E-8 to convert to the Pratt and Whitney JT8D engine and begin military flight certification later this year. Concurrently, production startup activity begins with Northrop Grumman’s principal subcontractors to produce the propulsion pod system.

The first retrofit to the Joint STARS fleet is set for late 2010. All refits will take place during routine periodic depot maintenance schedules, in order to ensure the least amount of down time for the in-demand JSTARS fleet. NGC release.

Jan 18/07: Northrop Grumman selects Pratt & Whitney’s JT8D-219 engine to power the E-8 JSTARS conversion project. The effort will be a joint venture involving United Technologies’ subsidiary Pratt & Whitney and Seven Q Seven (SQS), will produce and deliver the complete JT8D-219 propulsion system. Pratt & Whitney will be responsible for delivering the engines, and SQS will work with its key suppliers Goodrich Corporation and The Nordam Group to supply the propulsion pods the engines rest in, including the struts, cowl doors, inlets, reversers and systems. Pratt & Whitney release.

Additional Readings

• USAF Fact Sheets – E-8C Joint Stars

• Northrop Grumman – E-8C Joint Stars. Northrop Grumman is the E-8C’s lead integrator; the base plane is Boeing’s.

• Pratt & Whitney – JT8D

• DID – Jumped-up JSTARS: New Technology for Ground Surveillance Planes?

• Lexington Institute (July 29/09) – Air Force Delay on Radar Plane Fix Hurts Soldiers

• USAF (Dec 4/08) – E-8C’s new engine program takes off

• DID (Nov 23/05) – USA Spending $532M to Upgrade its E-8 J-STARS Eyes in the Sky

Americas

BAE Systems won a $2.7 billion firm-fixed-price contract to procure the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II full rate production Lots 8-12. The deal procures WGU-59/B units to upgrade the current 2.75-inch rocket system to a semi-active laser guided precision weapon to support the US Navy, Army, Air Force, and Foreign Military Sales requirements to include the governments of Iraq, Lebanon, Netherlands, Jordan, Afghanistan, United Kingdom, Tunisia, Philippines and Australia. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System is a combat-proven, laser-guided 70mm rocket system designed and manufactured by BAE Systems in collaboration with the US Government. The lethal weapon system can be launched from rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned platforms to strike ground-, air- and sea-based targets, and also supports close air support operations. APKWS uses semi-active laser guidance technology to strike soft and lightly armored targets in confined areas, it has provided the US Marine Corps with a 93 percent hit rate. BAE Systems will perform work in Hudson, New Hampshire and Austin, Texas. Estimated completion will be in December 2025.

EMS Development Corp. won a $10.3 million deal for supplies relating to the maintenance and repair of the Advanced Degaussing Systems onboard T-AKE Lewis and Clark Class vessels. The ships, which are not armed and are classified as non-combatant ships, are capable of operating independently for extended periods at sea while providing underway replenishment services and contribute to the US Navy’s ability to maintain a forward presence. The ships provide services with logistic lift from sources of supply in port or at sea and the transfer of cargo including ammunition, food, fuel, spares, potable water and expendable supplies and materiel to battle groups, station ships, shuttle ships and other naval ships at sea. Work under the contract will take place in Yapbank, New York and is expected to be complete by September 2024.

Middle East & Africa

DynCorp International won a $10 million Foreign Military Sales contract to Iraq for technical services, logistics, maintenance training and repairs. DynCorp International is a leading global service provider. According to the Department of Defense, one bid for the contract was solicited via the internet with one bid received. The company will perform work in Fort Worth, Texas with an estimated completion date of September 25, 2020.

Europe

The Strategic Systems Program awarded BAE Systems a $50.4 million contract modification to provide services for the US as well as the United Kingdom Trident II D5 strategic weapon system programs, US SSGN (guided missile submarine) attack weapon systems, nuclear weapon surety, and future concepts. The Trident II D5 SLBM is a three-stage, solid-fuel, inertially-guided missile with a range of 4,000 nautical miles capable of carrying multiple W76-Mk4/Mk4A or W88-Mk5 reentry bodies. The missile is launched by the pressure of expanding gas within the launch tube. When the missile broaches the waterline, it enters the boost phase, expending its first, second, and third-stage rocket motors. Following third-stage motor separation, the missile deploys the reentry bodies. The Trident II (D5) strategic weapon system, originally designed with a life span to 2024, recently underwent a life extension that will keep it operational through the late 2040s. The life-extended missiles will serve for the remaining service life of US Ohio Class and United Kingdom Vanguard Class SSBNs, and as the initial loadout for the US Columbia Class and UK Dreadnought Class SSBNs. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2020.

Boeing won a $16.1 million modification that provides for the Lots 6-8 retrofit of optical sensor capability A-kits, aircraft updates, remote interface unit wiring and the Dry Bay Fire Protection System as well as the Lots 9-10 production and delivery of the optical sensor capability and the Dry Bay Fire Protection System for the Navy and the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom and Norway in support of P-8A aircraft retrofits and production. The P-8, based on Boeing’s 737-800 airframe, conducts anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and shipping interdiction, and also carries electronic support measures, torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and other weapons. The first P-8A Poseidon for the UK took its inaugural flight on July 12, 2019. Estimated completion will be in February 2024.

Asia-Pacific

The US Army Contracting Command awarded Dyncrop International a $18.9 million Foreign Military Sales contract to Taiwan for aviation field maintenance services. The company provides aviation, logistics, training, intelligence and operational solutions. According to the DoD, bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will take place in Germany, Honduras, and Kuwait. Estimated completion date is December 31 this year. Fiscal 2010 and 2019 Foreign Military Sales; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the combined amount of $18,881,501 were obligated at the time of the award.

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Americas

Woodward HRT Inc. won a $20.6 million delivery order for the repair of 402 hydraulic drive units in support of the V-22 aircraft. The Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey is the first production aircraft in the world utilizing tilt-rotor technology. The tilt-rotor allows the V-22 to takeoff and land vertically, much like a helicopter, and once airborne, transition into horizontal high-speed, high-altitude flight by tilting the wing-tip mounted engine nacelles forward 90 degrees so that the rotors function as conventional propellers. Woodward will perform work under the hydraulic drive unit delivery order in Santa Clarita, California. Estimated completion will be in November 2020.

The US Air Force awarded Boeing a $22.7 million modification for F-15C and F-15E Mission Training Center. The contract modification is for the implementation of Suite 9.1/Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) into F-15C and F-15E MTCs in order to update F-15 MTCs with Suite 9.1 and add EPAWSS capabilities to the F-15E MTC simulators. The Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System provides the US Air Force F-15 fleet with advanced electronic warfare technology to maximize mission effectiveness and survivability. The F-15 is an all-weather, day and night, tactical fighter aircraft designed to gain and maintain control over the battlefield. The F-15C aircraft perform air-to-air missions and are part of the Air Superiority portfolio. The purpose of the Air Superiority portfolio is to gain and maintain air dominance across all military operations and threat environments. The F-15 electronic warfare system used 1970s technology which has limited capability to detect, locate, deny, degrade, and disrupt modern and advanced enemy threats. Using the F-15C aircraft without Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System will limit the warfighter’s ability to detect and identify air and ground threats, employ counter-measures, and jam enemy radar signals. Boeing will perform work at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Mountain Home Air Force Base and Nellis Air Force Base as well as Bases in the UK and Japan. Work will be finished by September 23, 2021.

Middle East & Africa

Honeywell International won $21.2 million FMS contract for engine parts for the Advanced Gas Turbine-1500 tank engine rebuild in support of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The Honeywell AGT1500 is the main powerplant of the M1 Abrams series of tanks. Engine output peaks at 1,500 hp (1,120 kW), with 2,750 lb-ft (3,754 N-m) of torque at that peak, which occurs at 3,000 rpm. For the deal, one bid was solicited with one bid received. Honeywell will perform work in Phoenix, Arizona and estimated completion is on February 28, 2022.

Europe

Airbus Defence and Space (DS) has performed the first air-to-air refueling (AAR) contacts between the A400M tanker-transport aircraft and a helicopter, the company announced in a press release. The tests, which occurred over four flights, saw 51 ‘dry‘, which means no fuel passed, contacts between an A400M tanker and an Airbus Helicopter H225M Caracal helicopter over southern France. The contacts were made between 1,000 ft and 10,000 ft altitude and at speeds as low as 105 kt. The tests also included the first proximity trials between the A400M and an Airbus Helicopters H160 helicopter. The A400M is certified to be quickly configured as a tanker, not requiring a dedicated aircraft version. The A400M carries up to 111,600 lb of fuel in its wings and center wing box, without compromising any cargo hold area.

Asia-Pacific

Japan’s air defense systems failed to track some of North Korea’s new ballistic missile launches in recent months, according to a local news report. Most of those missiles flew below 60km in altitude and had irregular trajectories. To counter the problem, Tokyo may deploy more Aegis destroyers to cover the lower regions of airspace and improve the coverage of existing radars. „Japan’s inability to detect missiles that could land in the country at an early stage would make it difficult to intercept them and to take necessary steps swiftly enough such as issuing evacuation warnings“, the report says. In missile launches from May to September, North Korea reportedly fired off projectiles with different shapes and capabilities from previous ones on 10 occasions. Some of them flew below an altitude of 60 kilometers, which is lower than that of usual missiles.

The Indian Navy has launched a global tender to buy short-range air defense missiles for its Kamorta Class corvettes. Bidders have until October 17 to submit their bids to supply around 150 missiles. Foreign companies, including European defense major MBDA and Swedish firm SAAB, are set to submit their proposals to the Indian Navy. Each SRSAM system will have a command and control system, a fire control system, a command link radar and a launcher for a particular number of missiles. The Kamorta Class corvettes or Project 28 are a class of anti-submarine warfare corvettes currently in service with the Indian Navy.

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