Defense Industry Daily

Americas

The Naval Sea Systems Command Washington awarded Rolls-Royce a $42 million contract modification to procure 20 Marine Turbine (MT7) engines for the Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 100 Class craft in support of the Ship to Shore program. The LCAC-100 is a new class of landing hovercraft being developed by Textron Marine and Land Systems for the U.S. Navy. The craft are to replace the aging LCACs (landing craft, air cushion) in U.S. service. The LCAC 100 will enhance the US amphibious force’s ship-to-shore capacity with a rated load capacity per craft of 74 short tonnes. LCAC-1s have a 60-short tonne-rated payload. The landing craft was originally designated the Ship-to-Shore Connector and is intended to support the rapid movement of Marine expeditionary forces from naval vessels to shore and will be able to tactically deliver personnel and heavy equipment. The LCAC 100 craft consists of four MT7 turbines. The Rolls-Royce MT7 delivers between 4 to 5 MW and shares common core architecture with the AE1107C-Liberty aero engine that powers the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Work under the modification includes production of the MT7 engines and delivery to Textron Marine Systems for assembly, and will take place in Indiana. Completion of the work is expected to be in December 2020.

The Navy tapped Raytheon with a $15.9 million contract modification in support of the Zumwalt Class combat systems program office. The modification includes a provisioned items order of DDG 1000 class mission systems equipment interim spares. The DDG 1000 or USS Zumwalt is the lead ship of the Zumwalt class and a multi-mission surface combatant designed to fulfill volume firepower and precision strike requirements. DDG 1000 has a ‘tumblehome’ hull form, a design in which hull slopes inward from above the waterline. This significantly reduces the radar cross section since such a slope returns a much less defined radar image rather than a more hard-angled hull form.The Zumwalt is equipped with two Advanced Gun Systems, which can fire the Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP). LRLAP was originally meant to be one of a range of land attack and ballistic projectiles for the Advanced Gun Systems. However, LRLAP procurement was cancelled in 2016.

The Navy contracted Northrop Grumman $11.3 million for aerial refueling envelope expansion and objective tanker qualification testing in support of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the latest version of the American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning E-2 Hawkeye aircraft. It features a new avionics suite including the new AN/APY-9 radar, radio suite, mission computer, integrated satellite communications, flight management system, improved T56-A-427A engines, a glass cockpit and planned changes are to enable aerial refueling. Work under the deal will be performed in Maryland and Florida and is scheduled to be completed by January 2021.

Middle East & Africa

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Devision in Maryland contracted Kay and Associates Inc. with a $63 million contract modification to exercise an option for maintenance and support services for F/A-18 C/D and associated equipment in support of the government of Kuwait. Developed by Boeing, the F/A-18 C/D aircraft are the two variants of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, which is a twin-engine, supersonic, all weather multirole fighter jet. The Kuwait Air Force ordered 32 F/A-18C and eight F/A-18D Hornets in 1988. However, the country’s F/A-18C/D fleet is supposed to be replaced by a mix of Super Hornets and Typhoons. Kay and Associates provides maintenance and engineering services to industry and government customers. It offers aircraft maintenance, armament, and rotary-wing weapons systems as well as maintenance and production support services for army tactical and non-tactical ground vehicles and support equipment. Work under the contract, which is expected to be completed by January 2020, takes place at the Almed Al-Jaber Air Base, the Kuwaiti Air Force Headquarters, the Air Insitute/Air Defense Base and the Subhan/Air Defense Base.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed deals worth $93 million to provide India with naval Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems. The contracts were signed with the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard Limited. The company will supply complementary systems for the Indian Navy’s Barak-8 air- and missile-defense system. The MRSAM system is jointly developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization in close collaboration with IAI’s Elta, Rafael and additional companies in both countries. It is used by Israel’s navy as well as by India’s naval, air and ground forces. Each MRSAM system includes several state-of-the-art systems such as digital radar, a command and control system, tracking radar, interceptors with advanced homing seekers and mobile launcher systems.

Europe

The Finnish Ministry of Defense received responses from five manufacturers as part of its its Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet replacement program HX-FP. The program envisages an acquisition of 64 aircraft, with the information packages soliciting information on aircraft, training systems, maintenance tools, testing equipment, weapons, and sensors. HX-FP is valued at $8.03 billion. The Air Force wants to retire its fleet of F/A-18 C/D Hornet jets between 2025 and 2029. Sweden, USA, France and Britain made proposals. The aircraft types covered in the proposals are Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin’s F-35, France’s Dassault Rafale, the British-made Eurofighter and the Swedish Saab Gripen. The Saab proposal includes both the single-seat Gripen E and the dual-seat Gripen F versions.

Asia-Pacific

In Russia’s Khabarovsk Region close to the Chinese border, Su-35S fighter jets practiced interception of mock enemy aircraft that violated airspace during the exercise. The pilots trained offensive and defensive maneuvers in a wide range of altitudes and improved their combat skills as part of tactical flight missions. The Sukhoi Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine, supermaneuverable aircraft. The introduction of the Su-35S into service with the Russian Air Force is part of Russia’s state armament program for 2011-2020. In January 2016, four of Russia’s Su-35S were deployed for the first time to Syria.

Today’s Video

Watch: USS MICHAEL MONSOOR – FULL CAPABILITY ANALYSIS

Americas

The Navy awarded Northrop Grumman with a $55.1 million contract modification for the procurement of five Fire Scout MQ-8C unmanned air systems (UAS) and two lightweight fuel cells. The Fire Scout is a next-generation, unmanned air system designed to support land and sea-based military operations. It is meant to perform missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cargo resupply, and communications relay. It provides naval forces with extended over-the-horizon intelligence-gathering capability. The MQ-8C Fire Scout’s airframe is based on the commercial Bell 407, a mature helicopter with more than 1,400 airframes produced and over 4 million flight hours. The MQ-8C Fire Scout is an upgrade to the existing “B” variant. With a larger airframe and its ability to autonomously take-off and land on any aviation-capable ship, the “C” can fly nearly twice as long and carry three times more payload than its predecessor. On the contract awarded to Northrop, the company will do the work in California, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and various other US locations and should be finished by August 2021.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest contracted RQ Construction Inc. with $41.4 million to design and construct a maintenance hangar in support of the EA-18 Growler aircraft at Naval Air Station in Whidbey, Washington. RQ Construction specializes in design-build projects in federal, public and private markets. The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet and provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to US military forces and allies around the world. The Boeing EA-18G Growler replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler in service with the US Navy. Since 2017 the EA-18Gs are also in service with the Royal Australian Air Force. The Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is the only location where Growler pilots receive training of “touch-and-go” passes that simulate landing on aircraft carriers. The new facility by RQ Construction will provide high-bay space for aircraft maintenance, maintenance shops, and open bay warehouse space for aircraft equipment and administrative spaces. Work will take place in Oak Harbor, Washington, and is expected to be completed by July 2021.

The Navy tapped Nordam Group Inc. with a $7.9 million firm-fixed-priced contract for testing in support of the Super Hornet F/A-18 E-G 11 flight control surfaces. The Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18E Super Hornet is a single seat version of the fighter, while the F/A-18F has two seats in tandem. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm M61 rotary cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface weapons. Additional fuel can be carried in up to five external fuel tanks and the aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air refueling system. Work will be performed in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is scheduled to be completed by January 2020.

Middle East & Africa

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center awarded Sallyport Global Holdings a not-to-exceed $375 million contract action to provide base operations support, base life support, and security services in support of the Iraq F-16 program. Sallyport Global provides contingency operation support services to support individuals and business enterprises working in Iraq. The company offers fire and emergency, environmental, power production, protective, operations and maintenance, training, procurement and logistics, and design and constructive services. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics. In September 2010, a possible Foreign Military Sale of 18 F-16IQ aircraft with the associated equipment and services to the newly reformed Iraqi Air Force was made public. Last year the Iraqi Air Force announced, that it will receive 13 additional F-16 aircraft in 2019 bringing the fleet to a total of 34 fighters. Work under the current contract will take place in Balad Air Base, Iraq and is scheduled to be finished by end of January, 2020.

Europe

British Defense Contractor BAE Systems received a contract by the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) to supply 155mm smoke and illuminating artillery rounds. The deal is valued at $20.9 million. BAE Systems will produce the shell bodies at its UK facility in Washington, England, and assemble the smoke and illuminating artillery rounds into the shells at the Glascoed facility in South Wales. The company will employ the existing Assegai Carrier design developed by German tank manufacturer Rheinmetall for the manufacture of the shell body instead of designing a completely new round. According to BAE Systems, this approach saves time and money. The smoke and illuminating rounds are designed to offer a longer burn duration and intensity. They are utilized in the battlefield for obscuring or lighting during day and night operations.

Lockheed Martin rolled out the first operational F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter for the Netherlands. The aircraft will be temporarily based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where it will join the USAF’s 308 Fighter Squadron for international training before being transferred to Leeuwarden in the Netherlands this year. The Royal Netherlands Air Force is procuring the F-35A to replace its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons. With the first of 37 aircraft set to enter operational service at Leeuwarden later in 2019, the type’s second operating station at Volkel is expected to open in 2021. Until now, more than 360 F-35s have been delivered internationally and are now operating from 16 bases worldwide. Ten nations are flying the F-35, seven countries have F-35s operating from a base on their home soil, five services have declared Initial Operating Capability, and two services have announced their F-35s were utilized in combat operations. According to the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, the F-35 program already generated more than $1 billion in contracts for Netherland’s industry.

Asia-Pacific

Indian President Ram Naht Kovind announced today, that the Indian Air Force is preparing to welcome the Rafale fighter aircraft in its fleet in order of strengthening its strike capabilities. Rafale is a French twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. The aircraft is intended to perform air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions. The Rafale was one of six aircraft competing in the Indian Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft competition, which was a competition to supply 126 multirole combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force. In 2012 the Indian Air Force announced Rafale as the preferred bidder. However, this sparked a political controversy. The Congress and other opposition parties have been attacking the government over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of favoritism. The government has denied the allegations.

Today’s Video

Watch: High Alert! US Navy Spy Plane Intercepted by Russian Su-27 fighter jet over Baltic Sea

F-16IQ (D)
(click to view full)

Iraq’s military has made significant strides in recent years, and the country is ordering more advanced military equipment to match. A slew of 2008 requests aimed to spend over $10 billion to buy advanced armored vehicles, strengthen its national military supply chain, build new bases and infrastructure for its army, and even buy advanced scout helicopters. Budget shortfalls have stretched out those buys, but that situation is easing, even as Iraq’s air force continues to make progress.

Anxious to complete its transformation and stand fully on its own, Iraq is pushing to begin flying its own fighters within the next couple of years – and is looking to buy American F-16s, rather than the Soviet and French fighters that made up Saddam’s air force.

Iraqi Air Force Evolution

Iraqi T-6A trainers
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Iraq’s purchase of armed scout helicopters was significant, because an Air Force that had once been one of the strongest in the region is currently reduced to few dozen planes and helicopters, with no front-line fighters, or attack helicopters with precision munitions. The ARH order would be a significant step forward in aerial combat power, though they will be employed in the internal anti-terrorist battle rather than acting to secure Iraq’s sovereignty against neighboring countries.

That level of security requires the ability to control the air over one’s own country, which is why the USAF has always planned to remain in Iraq for a number of years as a guarantor. The question that remains is how long they will be able to remain as a guarantor, and when Iraq will have an air force that can realistically assume even minimum-level air policing duties.

Iraq is slowly building its fighter force from the ground up. Cessna light planes serve as primary trainers, and some of the larger Cessna 208B Caravans have been modified to perform surveillance or even combat strike roles. T-6A Texan II turboprops serve for the next level of fighter training. After that, Iraq’s pilots have to go to the USA, to train on supersonic T-38 Talons. That will change when Iraq receives its own advanced jet trainers in 2015, and their selection of the L-159 ensures that these jet trainers will also end up serving a secondary combat role. “Iraq’s New Trainers: The Czech Is On The Way” has more coverage of Iraq’s choices.

USAF F-16s, Iraq
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In terms of its front-line fighters, its chosen F-16IQ Block 52s show a pattern of slight downgrades from the more advanced F-16C/D Block 52 base systems. The official export request’s determined avoidance of sophisticated air to ground weapons like GPS-guided JDAMs, or advanced air-to-air missiles, also seems designed to assuage regional fears. The net effect seems cleverly calibrated to give Iraq an air defense force that can handle aging threats from Syria or Iran relatively well, and perform strike missions within Iraq, without being a serious threat to more advanced air forces in the region. Regional memories among its Arab neighbors, as well as Israeli concerns, make that a smart starting point. Upgrades can always take place later, and the F-16IQs have at least some of the equipment required to handle more advanced weapons.

First flight took place in May 2014, and the 1st delivery of 2 planes is scheduled for September 2014, with at least 2 arriving every month thereafter. All 36 ordered fighters are expected to arrive by the end of 2015.

Even delivery of working fighter jets only represents a first step, rather than a solution. The 2010 formal DSCA request was just the beginning of a process that can take between 4 – 10 years from request to full operational capability, and Iraq is likely to fall somewhere in the middle. There’s much more involved than just flying a plane. For starters, Iraq will also need to implement and stand up radar surveillance and command and control capabilities, in order to tie its fighters into a working system. Then there’s the need for effective maintenance and support, something the Iraqis have had trouble executing with platforms that are much less complicated than an F-16. Not to mention training in an Iraqi environment so that everyone is on the same page, and effective parallel training of critical and difficult jobs like Forward Air Controller troops in the Army.

Local efforts should be possible some time in 2015, but realistically, Iraq won’t be able to enforce national air sovereignty before 2016 at the very earliest. A number of analysts have believed for some time that it will be years later than that, and effective close air support will take longer still. If it ever happens at all.

Contracts and Key Events 2014 – 2019

1st flight, 1st F-16IQ delivered, but they won’t go to Iraq; F-16s won’t solve Iraq’s core problem.

 

February 1/19: Support for Iran The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center awarded Sallyport Global Holdings a not-to-exceed $375 million contract action to provide base operations support, base life support, and security services in support of the Iraq F-16 program. Sallyport Global provides contingency operation support services to support individuals and business enterprises working in Iraq. The company offers fire and emergency, environmental, power production, protective, operations and maintenance, training, procurement and logistics, and design and constructive services. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics. In September 2010, a possible Foreign Military Sale of 18 F-16IQ aircraft with the associated equipment and services to the newly reformed Iraqi Air Force was made public. Last year the Iraqi Air Force announced, that it will receive 13 additional F-16 aircraft in 2019 bringing the fleet to a total of 34 fighters. Work under the current contract will take place in Balad Air Base, Iraq and is scheduled to be finished by end of January, 2020.

February 21/18: Planned Deliveries The Iraqi Air Force will receive 13 additional F-16 aircraft in 2019, bringing to 34 the number of fighters operated by the service. Quoted by the Arabic-language satellite TV channel Al-Hurra, Brig. Gen. Andrew Croft, deputy air commander of CJTF-OIR’s land component said that the new aircraft will increase Baghdad’s capabilities in eliminating terrorist organizations and will be strengthened by International training, scheduled to take place at Balad Air Base. In January, Sallyport Global was awarded a $400 million foreign military sale (FMS) contract to support Iraq’s F-16 mission at Balad, with work to include comprehensive life and logistics support, security, construction, and base operation support services up until January 2019.

February 1/18: Contracts-Support Iraq’s F-16 fighter program has received a $400 million contract that covers the provision of base operations support, base life support, and security services in support, to be undertaken by Sallyport Global Holdings. Awarded by the USAF on Monday, work will support F-16-related contractor personnel at Balad Air Base, Iraq, running until January 30, 2019. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $196,000,000 will be obligated at the time of the award.

November 07/17: The Iraqi Air Force has received delivery of three additional F-16 fighter aircraft, bringing the number of the aircraft currently operated by Baghdad to 17. A total of 36 F-16s were ordered back in 2014 at a cost of $2 billion, although two have subsequently crashed during the training of Iraqi pilots in the US. The most recent arrivals touched down at Balad airbase, north of the capital Baghdad.

July 21/17: The US Air Force has awarded Textron Aviation Defense a $8.8 million contract to refurbish 15 T-6A Texan II training aircraft for the Iraqi Air Force. Work on the foreign military sale will be conducted at Inman Ali Air Base in Iraq, with a completion date scheduled for the second quarter of 2018 in order to meet Iraq’s demand for F-16 pilots in 2019. The light turboprop training aircraft serves as the main training platform for Iraqi pilots operating its main fleet of F-16IQ Block 52 fighters.

August 10/16: Iraq’s Defense Ministry has received delivery of its latest batch of four F-16 fighters. This brings to eight the number of fighters operational out of 36 promised by the US government. The sale goes toward bolstering the country’s growing air force fleet, replacing older Su-25s, in the government’s fight against the Islamic State.

March 2/15: Iraqi fighter pilots will continue to be trained in Tucson, Arizona after the Air Force gave a one year extension of Iraq pilot training. The $32 million deal will see Lockheed Martin continue the training of F-16 pilots until the end of February 2017. Baghdad has build up its fleet of F-16s in recent years, with 18 bought in 2011 and a further 18 purchased in 2014. The first pilots arrived in Tucson back in November 2014.

July 10/15: In response to recent reports in the Iraqi press, the US Embassy in Baghdad has stated that the country’s F-16IQ Block 52 fighters due for delivery will not be based in Jordan, as claimed by an Iraqi MP earlier this week. Embassy officials stated that the claims were “completely false”, with the F-16s set to operate out of Balad Air Force base, the location of recent intense fighting. The delivery of three Iraqi Air Force F-16s to the base was hampered by security concerns, with the aircraft instead delivered to Arizona for training.

Nov 10/14: Delivery. The situation around Balad remains unsettled enough (q.v. June 30/14) that the US government is going to deliver Iraq’s F-16s to Tucson, AZ instead. Pentagon spokesman Col. Steven Warren:

“We are going to deliver three F-16s to Tucson in December… then one per month after that through May for a total of eight F-16s. We expect the Iraqi pilots will begin flying their own aircraft for continuation training beginning in January…. All maintenance for the F-16s will be provided by [contracted] logistic support…. So they’re continuing their training, but instead of training using U.S. training aircraft they will now use their own aircraft in Tucson.”

The training will be better, but it does delay the existence of a serious air sovereignty force in Iraq. It also gives the USA some extra leverage over Iraq, via its decisions about delivery. Sources: Pentagon, “Iraqi Pilots to Train on Iraqi-purchased F-16s in Arizona”.

July 4/14: Training. Delivery isn’t the only problem for Iraq. From Stars and Stripes, “Iraq lacks ability to fly F-16s it seeks, US trainer says”:

“Twelve of the 18 Iraqi pilots undergoing F-16 training are at an Air Force facility in Tucson. Two have advanced to the final stage and should be certified to fly as lead pilots in mid-August, according to Tom Fox, a civilian government employee who manages the F-16 training program.

Six others have qualified as wingmen who would accompany the lead pilot in separate planes, and four are in basic training, Fox said. The plan is to train a total of 54 pilots. Fox said Iraq was having trouble paying the agreed-upon price for the training, so the Air Force created a payment plan to make it more affordable and keep it on track.”

June 30/14: Civil war delay. As the Iraqi government’s authority collapses in the north, it has affected F-16 delivery. From the Pentagon, “U.S. Continues Military Aid to Iraqi Government”:

“While the department hasn’t placed any restrictions on the F-16 aircraft delivery process in Iraq, [US Defense Department spokesman Army Col. Steven] Warren said, the relocation of contractors from Balad will cause some impact. Advances by ISIL militants triggered the evacuation of contractors from the air base.

“I don’t have a specific timeline for how the relocation of contractors from Balad will affect the delivery of the F-16. It certainly will,” he said. “These contractors were part of the process; they’re no longer operating in Balad.”

June 5/14: Delivery. The 1st F-16IQ is formally delivered to Iraq at a ceremony in Fort Worth, TX. A group of 3-4 jets will be ferried to Iraq before the end of 2014. Reuters:

“Lockheed said the Iraqi order would keep the F-16 production line running through late 2017, but it continues to bid for new orders in hopes of continuing production through 2020.”

Sources: Reuters, “Lockheed to deliver first of 36 F-16s to Iraq this week”.

Delivery

May 7/14: 1st flight. Lockheed Martin successfully completes the 1st flight of the Iraq Air Force’ inaugural F-16IQ Fighting Falcon. Pictures show that it’s a 2-seat F-16D derivative. Sources: Lockheed Martin, “First Iraqi F-16 Completes First Flight”.

1st flight

May 1/14: On the ground… A Wall Street Journal report offers a poor review of the Iraqi military’s performance, citing desertion, poor logistics, and insufficient support. Prime Minister Maliki’s policies of ethnic division haven’t exactly helped, and the conflict next door in Syria ensures that many Sunnis are returning home with even more battle experience. Close air support is especially problematic:

“In January, Gen. Dulaimi says, he was passing through a dense urban area of Ramadi in a column of nearly 50 Humvees, tanks and armored cars. They were ambushed by what he describes as hundreds of militants carrying machine guns, grenade launchers and improvised explosives…. [but] he was told that there were no airplanes capable of operating at night…. After nearly five hours, Baghdad sent a Russian-made prop plane loaded with two missiles—its maximum capacity. One of the missiles landed a direct hit, scattering the antigovernment commandos.”

The prop plane was almost certainly a very American AC-208 Combat Caravan, but it illustrates the problem. The other bad news is that even the arrival of F-16s isn’t going to help in the near term. The difficulty of conducting close air support without killing your own troops or making even more local enemies goes up sharply at the F-16’s high subsonic speeds, and even fancy gadgets like Sniper ATP surveillance and targeting pods won’t replace trained Forward Air Controllers on the ground and long experience working together. Sources: WSJ, “Fledgling Iraqi Military Is Outmatched on Battlefield: On Eve of Elections, Demoralized Army Is Losing Fight Against Islamist Militants” | See also: Defense One, “Iraq’s Elections Setting Up ‘Worst Case Scenario’ “.

2012 – 2013

Iraq buys 2nd batch of 18; F-16 ancillary orders placed.

L-3’s F-16 sim
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Oct 25/13: In an interview with Reuters, Deputy National Security Adviser Safa al-Sheikh Hussein continues to press for F-16s, and adds a newer request: drones. Apparently “al Qaeda insurgents… are making swift advances in the west of the Iraq,” though a more cynical observer might say that their growing problem is the logical outcome of a consistent “we win, you lose” anti-Sunni approach by Iraq’s government. At any rate, Hussein says:

“The first thing the Prime Minister will ask for is to accelerate the processes for the shipment of drones and F-16s…. The initial response from the U.S. was positive, but it depends on the delivery time. We want them immediately… [but] Iraq will not die if it doesn’t get American weapons. Many countries are offering military equipment”

This last assertion is true, to a point. If they want Medium Altitude, Long-Endurance drones, the field shrinks once you step beyond the USA and Israel. If you want armed UAVs, the field shrinks to almost nothing. Fortunately for Iraq, the last couple of years have seen major steps forward in the MALE UAV field. Neighboring Turkey’s new Anka is unproven, and just lost its engine when China’s AVIC bought Thielert. Nearby in the UAE, the unarmed Predator XP-1 joint venture is still American enough to create problems if the USA demurs; but ADCOM’s United 40 is available and intriguing, albeit unproven. Italy’s Selex ES can offer Falco drones, which serve with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UN, but offer just 8-14 hour endurance; Falco EVO reportedly boosts that to 18 hours, which is more acceptable. Piaggio-Selex can add the larger P.1HH Hammerhead UAV, based on a civil aircraft and offering both heavier payloads and high-speed coverage. Then there’s France’s Sagem. Their glider-derived Patroller-R model’s 20 – 30 hour endurance is extremely well suited to border patrol, and its low payload isn’t an issue in that application. Sources: Reuters, “Iraq to press U.S. on drones, F-16s to fight al Qaeda”.

Sept 16/13: Training. L-3 Link Simulation & Training announces a contract modification to build the Iraqi Air Force 2 F-16 Block 52 Weapon Tactics Trainers (WTTs), 2 brief/debrief systems and 1 mission observation center, which will accompany the 2 Full Mission Trainers (FMTs, q.v. Feb 28/13) they’re already under contract for.

F-16 Block 52 FMT #1 is expected to be operational at Balad Air Base, Iraq during Q1 2015, with the rest of the systems ready to go by Q4 2015. The WTTs are a full cockpit simulator, without the FMT’s full motion simulation and 360 degree view. Instead, they’re more like a realistic cockpit with a screen up front. You can network the 2 simulator types, however, which will allow the Iraqis to train cooperative missions of up to 4 pilots. Sources: L-3, Sept 16/13 release.

Aug 2/13: Training. The Royal Jordanian Air Academy in Amman, Jordan has been issued a $29.4 million task order to pay for English language and technical training to Iraqi Air Force students. Training will be at the Royal Jordanian Air Academy, and is expected to be complete by Aug 8/14.

The US Air Education and Training Command Contracting Squadron/LGCI (International Contracting Flight) at Randolph Air Force Base, TX acts as Iraq’s agent (FA3002-12-D-0006, #0006).

Aug 5/13: The US DSCA announces Iraq’s official request to import an Integrated Air Defense System of surface-to-air missiles, ground radars, command and control, etc. Fulfillment of the $2.4 billion request is critical, if Iraq wants to give its small F-16 fleet any chance of enforcing its aerial sovereignty. Read “Iraq’s New Integrated Air Defense System” for full coverage.

June 10/13: Radars. Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems in Linthicum Heights, MD receives a maximum $115 million firm-fixed-price contract to provide 38 AN/APG-68(V)9 radar systems: 16 for the Royal Thai Air Force and 22 for the Republic of Iraq. This foreign military sale also includes spares for F-16 operators Egypt, Morocco, and Pakistan.

The 22 radars would equip the 2nd ordered squadron, with 4 left over for spares.

This is a sole-source buy, as it must be, and $51.4 million is committed immediately. Work will be performed in Linthicum, MD, and is expected to be complete by Dec 20/17. The USAF Life Cycle Management Center/WWMK at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, acts as the FMS agent for these orders (FA8615-13-C-6018).

April 2013: SIGIR report. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction’s quarterly report [PDF] discusses Iraq’s F-16 fleet. Lieutenant General Robert Caslen, Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq (OSC-I), had this to say:

“The two F-16 cases are designed to bring 18 aircraft each, with the first delivery of two planes scheduled for September 2014. Two will arrive every month thereafter, completing delivery by the end of 2015. Iraq would like them all today. They have given me a letter requesting acceleration, but they understand that we are accelerating as fast as we can. We were in the process of building the airbase infrastructure at al-Assad, and then they switched to Balad. That slowed things down. The F-16 cases, from a production standpoint, are on track. Pilot training is on track. We had some hiccups on pilot training – a couple of guys washed out – but we’re on track now.”

April 30/13: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corp. in Fort Worth, TX receives an $830 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification for 18 more F-16IQs and associated support equipment, technical orders, integrated logistics support, contractor logistics support and “an electronic warfare system” (Raytheon ACES or ITT AIDEWS, per the Dec 12/11 DSCA request).

$406.7 million is committed immediately, and work will be performed in Fort Worth, TX with an expected completion date of December 2018 [Pentagon May 6/13 correction]. Iraq knows what it wants, so these contracts are sole-sourced buys, with the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WWMK at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH acting as Iraq’s FMS agent (FA8615-12-C-6012, PO 0008). Some contracts for ancillary equipment may be competed, but those are handled as separate buys anyway. Recall that the DSCA export request’s total was up to $2.3 billion, with exact numbers to be settled through negotiations.

18 more F-16IQs

Feb 18/13: Training. Iraq becomes L-3 Link’s 11th export customer for F-16 training simulators, via an order for 2 full F-16 Block 52 simulators with HD World and Simusphere HD-9 technologies. Iraq’s simulators will also incorporate L-3’s simulated Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, which is worn by the pilot, and “a geo-specific visual system database of Iraq.” The US military has certainly visited often enough, so you’d expect them to have that part down pat.

The simulators will be built at L-3’s Arlington, TX facility. No delivery date was given, but the simulators’ importance for training Iraqi pilots makes that date information worth knowing. L-3 Communications.

Dec 17/12: Support. BAE Systems announces 2 contracts from Indonesia and Iraq valued at nearly $63 million. They’ll provide F-16 support equipment, test systems, and spares from their Fort Worth, Texas facility by early 2014.

BAE Systems has delivered more than 25,000 support equipment and test systems to more than 24 countries worldwide, and is working hard to carve out a niche in F-16 upgrades as well. Like their rival Lockheed Martin, BAE has a strong regional network, and they will work hard to develop their regional relationship with Iraq.

Nov 29/12: Sniper ATP. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando, FL receives a $31.9 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, time and material contract to supply Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods for the Iraq Air Force. This is the 1st Iraqi order, and it may just be a sum to get production started, rather than the full amount. Combined, Iraq’s 2 DSCA requests would let them order up to 40 pods.

Work will be performed in Orlando, FL, and is expected to be complete by July 2015. It’s a Foreign Military Sale transaction, so the AFLCMC/WNKCB at Robins Air Force Base, GA manages the contract for their Iraqi client (FA8540-13-C-0008).

Oct 18/12: 18 more? Acting Defense Minister Sadoun al-Dulaimi tells Reuters that Iraq has signed a contract for another 18 F-16IQs, on the same terms as the initial 18-plane buy. He adds all of Iraq’s F-16s are expected to arrive before the end of 2018.” Confirmation has been sketchy so far, beyond Reuters.

Duliami reportedly added that Iraq was also talking with American officials about buying air defense systems and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. That’s an interesting comment, because Iraq just bought Russian counterparts to those systems. Reuters | Iran’s Press TV.

Aug 22/12: The Pentagon says Iraq’s F-16IQs will begin arriving in 2014. Defense News | DoD Buzz.

July 24/12: F-16s, Batch 1. Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, TX receives a $199.3 million firm-fixed-price, time-and-material, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to finish providing the government of Iraq with 18 F-16IQ fighters, plus support equipment, technical orders, integrated logistics support, and contractor logistics support. Lockheed Martin confirms that this figure is added to the $835 million Dec 5/11 contract, and not the beginning of a 2nd F-16 order.

Note that even those 2 contracts’ combined $1.03 billion (about $57.5 million per fighter) leaves out important items like $45 million for radars (vid. March 14/12), and other “government furnished equipment” add-ons. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, TX, and will run to May 30/18. The ASC/WWMK at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (FA8615-12-C-6012).

July 13/12: DB-110. Goodrich Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems in Westford, MA received a $71.5 million firm-fixed-price, time and materials, and cost-reimbursable, unfinalized contract action/letter contract for 4 DB-110 reconnaissance pod systems, for use on Iraq’s F-16IQ fighters. The amount involved suggests a substantial training, infrastructure, and service component, in addition to the pods; Oman’s cost for its same-day 4-pod contract was just $34.3 million.

Goodrich’s exportable derivative of the U-2 spy plane’s SYERS cameras offer 3 separate optical fields of view, and the pod has been ordered by 12 customers: Britain (Tornado), Egypt (F-16 C/D), Iraq (F-16C/D), Japan (P-3), Morocco (F-16C/D), Poland (F-16 C/D), Oman (F-16C/D), Pakistan (F-16C/D), Saudi Arabia (F-15S), the UAE (F-16E/F), and the USA. The DB-110 can be operated autonomously on F-16s, controlled by the pod’s reconnaissance management system, while imagery is viewed on the cockpit video display. Iraq’s Dec 15/10 and Nov 14/11 DSCA requests each specified up to 4 pods, as a competition between BAE’s AARS and Goodrich’s DB-110. The DB-110 appears to have won, and it’s a fairly high-end system to export to any country that’s a security concern. Then again, Pakistan and Egypt already operate them.

Work is to be complete by Sept 30/18. The ASC/WINK at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH manages the contract on behalf of its Foreign Military Sale client.

March 14/12: Radars. Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems in Linthicum Heights, MD receives an $87.8 million dollar firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program contract, to provide 43 AN/APG-68v9 radar systems to the Republic of Iraq (22), the Royal Air Force of Oman (15), and the Royal Thai Air Force (6). Work will be performed in Linthicum Heights, MD, and is expected to be complete by March 3/15. The ASC/WWMK at Wright Patterson AFB, OH manages this contract (FA8615-12-C-6047).

The AN/APG-68v9 is the standard radar for new F-16C/D aircraft. Northrop Grumman cites a 33% increase in air-to-air detection range over earlier versions, plus ground-looking synthetic aperture radar with mapping and 2-foot point target response. They also claim that the radar’s reduced weight, power, and cooling help contribute to 25%-45% lower support costs, though their baseline comparison for those costs isn’t clear.

Jan 20/12: Training begins. Gannett’s Military Times reports that:

“The first of the Iraqi pilots that will learn how to fly F-16s recently arrived in Tucson with the 162nd Fighter Wing, an Air National Guard unit that specializes in training foreign pilots to fly F-16s, said wing spokesman Maj. Gabe Johnson. The Iraqi pilot is slated to start the academic part of his training on Jan. 23 followed by hands-on flying from February through September, Johnson said.”

2011

Iraq delays F-16 contract, then issues it. Iraq requests another 18 F-16s. So, what’s that backup option?

USAF F-16 w. AIM-9L/M
fires AGM-65D Maverick
(click to view full)

Dec 12/11: 2nd Squadron Request. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Iraq’s request for what amounts to a 2nd operational squadron of F-16IQs, plus weapons. The request for 18 more fighters would bring Iraq’s total to 36, but unlike their initial December 2010 request, the figure given is up to $2.3 billion, instead of $4.2 billion; 1st-time sales are always more expensive.

Also included: site survey support equipment, Joint Mission Planning System, Ground Based Flight Simulator, tanker support, ferry services, Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD), repair and return, modification kits, spares and repair parts, construction, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, ground based flight simulator, and other related support. Along with the F-16s and support, Iraq is interested in:

• 24 F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines. There are strong signs that the initial buy will use the F100-PW-229s from Pratt & Whitney, but a number of air forces fly a mix of both engines, including Egypt & South Korea. Time will tell.
  
• 24 APG-68v9 radar sets, the most modern radar available in Block 50 aircraft;
  
• 20 pairs of Conformal Fuel Tanks, which mount along the back/top of the F-16;
  
• 20 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System radios;
  
• 120 of VSI’s Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) helmet-mounted displays. The previous request hadn’t included them, and 120 is a very significant number. It may serve as an early indicator that Iraq is looking at an all F-16 fleet for its 6 planned squadrons.
  
• 20 AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems (without Mode IV)
  
• 22 ITT ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS); or Raytheon Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems (ACES), including the ALQ-187 Electronic Warfare System and AN/ALR-93 Radar Warning Receiver. The previous DSCA request had only specified ACES;
  
• 22 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS);
  
• 20 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), using Standard Positioning Service (SPS) commercial code only

On the weapons front, the request includes:

• 19 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons
  
• 10,000 rounds PGU-27A/B target practice 20mm ammunition
  
• 30,000 rounds PGU-28 SAPHEI (semi-armor piercing high explosive incendiary) 20mm ammunition
  
• 120 LAU-129/A Common Rail Launchers, which fit the F-16’s wingtips. They can be used with all AIM-9 missiles including the AIM-9X, and with the AIM-120 AMRAAM;
  
• 100 AIM-9L/M-8/9 Raytheon Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. These missiles are effective, and the AIM-9M missiles are still in widespread American use, but they’re a generation behind the current AIM-9X;
  
• 150 AIM-7M-F1/H Raytheon Sparrow Missiles. A couple of generations behind current beyond visual range air-to-air missiles. They lack the current AM-120 AMRAAM’s independent radar guidance and other improvements;
  
• Undetermined number of LAU-117 Maverick launchers;
  
• 50 AGM-65D/G/H/K Raytheon Maverick Air to Ground Missiles;
  
• 230 MK-84 2000 lb. bombs;
  
• 800 MK-82 500 lb. bombs;
  
• 200 GBU-12 Paveway-II laser guided 500 lb. bombs;
  
• 50 GBU-10 Paveway-II laser guided 2,000 lb. bombs;
  
• 50 GBU-24 Paveway-III laser guided 2,000 lb. bombs with longer glide range and a “bunker busting” warhead;
  
• 20 Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 Sniper or NGC AN/AAQ-28 LITENING advanced surveillance and targeting pods. As noted earlier, almost certain to be Sniper;
  
• 4 BAE F-9120 Advanced Airborne Reconnaissance Systems (AARS) or Goodrich DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods.

Potential contractors include:

• BAE Advanced Systems in Greenlawn, NY
  
• Boeing Corporation in Seattle, WA
  
• Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in St Louis, MO; Long Beach, CA; and San Diego, CA
  
• Raytheon Company in Lexington, MA; and Goleta, CA
  
• Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ
  
• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, TX
  
• Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control in Dallas, TX
  
• Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support in Fort Worth, TX
  
• Northrop-Grumman Electro-Optical Systems in Garland, TX
  
• Northrop-Grumman Electronic Systems in Baltimore, MD
  
• Pratt & Whitney United Technology Company in East Hartford, CT
  
• General Electric Aircraft Engines in Cincinnati, OH
  
• Goodrich ISR Systems in Danbury, CT
  
• L3 Communications in Arlington, TX
  
• ITT Defense Electronics and Services in McLean, VA
  
• Symetrics Industries in Melbourne, FL

Iraqi Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Anwar Amin has admitted that the 1st F-16IQs won’t be operational before 2015 at the earliest, and USAF adviser Col. Steve Burgh adds that recruiting and training Iraqi pilots who can speak English, which has become the international language of aviation, remains a big challenge. Implementation of this particular proposed sale will require multiple trips to Iraq involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, program management, and training over a period of 15 years. Agence France Presse | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | Stars & Stripes | Wall St. Journal [subscription].

F-16 request #2

Dec 5/11: Well, those mystery aircraft are still a mystery. But the initial funding for the F-16 sale isn’t. Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, TX receives an $835 million firm-fixed-price, time-and-material and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for 12 F-16C and 6 F-16D Block 52 base aircraft, plus support equipment, technical orders, integrated logistics support, and contractor logistics support.

There are still other expensive parts like Pratt & Whitney engines (tipped by the “Block 52” designation), Northrop Grumman radars, etc., still to be bought, and modifications to be made to bring the planes to F-16IQ Block 52 status – unless those are covered by the “technical orders”. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, TX, and the contract runs to May 30/18. The ASC/WWMK at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH manages this contract, as an agent for the government of Iraq (FA8615-12-C-6012).

Nov 4/11: Two separate Arabic reports by the Al-Baghdadeya satellite channel shed more light on Iraq’s timelines and plans. One quotes Iraq’s parliamentary Commission on Security and Defence, saying that Prime Minister Maliki will be pressing the USA for accelerated F-16 delivery by 2013, and denying any existing deals to lease further aircraft from the USA or elsewhere.

The other report quotes the same committee, which says that Iraq will need at least 6 fighter squadrons in order to exert full control of its airspace. That works out to about 78-96 aircraft, depending on how they choose to define squadrons. Absent foreign help, that will take some time.

Nov 14/11: Iraqi Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee Chair Hassan Sinead had an interesting teaser for us all. Translated from URA Agency’s report [in Arabic]:

“The next week will see the flight of military aircraft to Iraq since 2003, as part of our national armament efforts for the protection of Iraqi airspace.” Sinead did not mention any other details about the quality of the aircraft, saying only: “you will see next week.”

DJ Elliott, who compiles the Iraqi Order of Battle, had these thoughts regarding the possibilities:

1. Mirage F1s in storage in France.
2. Obsolete MiGs in Serbia [I hope not]
3. Iran returning some Fighters [unlikely]
4. Salvage [unlikely]
5. Loaned from US
6. Not a “Fighter” but instead just a Jet [E.G. the Czech L159s? This is my bet.]

DID agreed with his top-odds pick, and that eventually came true. The deal had been in the works for some time, and L-159s were just the next step up from Iraq’s fielded T-6 trainers, but they can carry a wide array of aerial and ground attack weapons. We saw stored Mirage F1s as the 2nd most likely option, since there may be Iraqi pilots who have flown them before, a critical requirement for a true stopgap. Loaned F-16s from the USA are certainly possible, with the proviso that pilot training requirements mean they won’t be effective for a year or so. The one “instant delivery” option we might add is a loan from Gulf Cooperation Council countries: a handful of Mirage 2000-9s from UAE (same issues as F-16), or retiring Tornado F3 Air Defense Variant fighters from Saudi Arabia. The latter could even come with Saudi pilots in one of the fighter’s 2 seats; it wouldn’t be the first time foreign pilots have flown for a Mideast air force.

Greek F-16D Block 52s
(via EPA: click to view full)

Sept 28/11: The Pentagon confirms that Iraq has an F-16 contract:

“The Iraqi government has transferred its first payment for 18 F-16C fighter aircraft, bringing Iraq closer to independently securing its airspace, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said yesterday… The fighters are the block 50/52 variant of the aircraft…”

Other reports place that payment’s value at $1.5 billion, and Defense News says that this will extend the F-16’s production line to 2015. US DoD | Defense News | Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Sky Talk | Iran’s PressTV | Voice of America. See also Reuters: “Iraqi Air Defense: A Work in Progress.”

18 F-16s

Sept 14/11: The USAF doesn’t quite confirm a deal, but they do give the strongest indication to date that one is close. Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy, the commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq and director of Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq:

“I do not have any word yet that a letter of offer and acceptance is signed, but as you probably know, we did have a senior member of the Iraqi government visit Washington… Everyone that I talk to at every level of government in Iraq is convinced that that is the right approach for them. And so we’re very encouraged by those words, and we feel that we’re very close to them signing that letter of offer and acceptance… They are seeking to buy a larger number of F-16s than they had originally — up to 36… This first letter of offer and acceptance is for 18 of them … we hope to hear very soon that’s signed, but no final word yet on that.”

July 30/11: Aswat-al-Iraq:

“Iraqi premier Nouri al-Maliki announced today the 36 fighters deal with USA. In a press conference, following the parliamentary meeting of today, he declared that he signed a contract to develop Iraqi Air Force by buying 36 F16 fighters. This announcement denotes that Iraq has doubled the fighters deal from 18 to 36 planes, which shall be financed from the increasing oil revenues.”

Accounts differ slightly, with other reports mentioning only documents that revived negotiations, rather than a signed contract. There is no clarity at press time, though it’s worth noting that Lockheed Martin has not made any announcement. Defense News | Reuters.

July 11-12/11: After the Wall Street Journal reports that negotiations have started up again for F-16 fighters and air defense systems, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh denies it. He reiterates that the F-16 plan is postponed, not canceled, due to budget issues. WSJ | Bloomberg.

Feb 16/11: Iraq is shifting the $900 million down payment on F-16s into food aid support, as global currency devaluation, a long global cycle of under-investment in farming, and some event-related shocks conspire to create significant inflation in global food prices. That has already led to significant unrest in many middle eastern countries. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has said that 6 million Iraqis out of a population of around 31 – 32 million possessed food ration permits, and pledged to increase spending on that program from $3 billion to $4 billion.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh has now stated that the F-16 money has been diverted toward improving food ration subsidies, and finance committee member Mohammed Khalil has confirmed it, adding that Iraq’s projected budget deficit of $13.3 billion ($68.56 billion revenues – $81.86 billion spending) also played a role in the decision.

That deficit’s size suggests that the F-16s won’t be replaced by a cheaper option like Mirage F1s, either, which creates some large long-term questions regarding Iraq’s defenses and foreign military presences. One option might be to station Gulf Co-operation Council country fighters at Iraqi bases, which would surely represent a seismic reversal from the Saddam years. Another option might be to have NATO assume air policing duties, as a fig leaf that could keep a substantial US presence. Middle East Online | Agence France Presse.

Jan 27/11: The French Ambassador to Iraq, Boris Boillon, confirms that France is proposing a deal for 18 Mirage fighters. The planes are not Mirage 2000s, however, but retrofitted Mirage F1s. Iraq operated that type before the US invasion, and had 18 ordered aircraft impounded by France as part of the international sanctions regime. Morocco operates an upgraded variant, the Mirage F1 MF2000, which may provide some guidance regarding potential retrofits. The planes are reportedly being offered for EUR 733 million ($997 million), or about 1/4 the price of 18 new F-16IQs.

Ambassador Boillon cited that price when he presented the French deal as a complementary option, rather than a competing choice. Tactical Report, on the other hand, contends that Iraqi Air Force Lt-Gen. Anwar Ameen prefers the Mirage 2000v9. The UAE is the only operator of that type, and wants France to buy back its fleet in return for a deal covering new Rafale fighters. Expatica France | Tactical Report | UPI.

Jan 26/11: Iraqi Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh tells a press conference that the Council of Ministers has approved the purchase of 18 F-16s, and budgeted an unspecified sum, thought to be a $900 million down payment. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki who is also the acting Defense Minister, would negotiate the deal’s final parameters. There has been talk of a $13 billion weapons buy, which would include the existing DSCA request for F-16IQs, but no confirmation as yet. The USA will reportedly deliver the F-16s to Iraq within 2-3 years, but in the meantime, and even for some time thereafter, Iraq will not be able to police its own airspace effectively. Iraq Order of Battle author DJ Elliott believes that 2018 would be the earliest date.

The F-16 is not Iraq’s only option. France is offering Mirage F1s, and DJ Elliott reports that the Iraqis may also be looking at a 3rd option: China & Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder. The JF-17 fills the same lower cost, non-interfering seller requirement as the Mirages, but offers a more modern aircraft than the Mirage F1, from an Islamic vendor. Al-Sumaria News [in Arabic] | Iraq-Business News | Saudi Arab News re: Iraqi readiness | DJ Elliott re: Iraqi readiness.

2008 – 2010

Iraq mulls its fighter options, but there will be a big gap; F-16 request.

French Mirage F1s
(click to view full)

Dec 14/10: Aswat al-Iraq reports that Iraq’s Council of Ministers authorized the government to negotiate with the USA to buy 6 F-16s, and also authorized the minister also to continue negotiations with the French side to buy 18 Mirage 2000 jets as of 2012. Nearby, the UAE also flies this mix, and both aircraft are popular with countries in the Gulf region.

The composition of this set appears to indicate an interim buy, and there is some question regarding the accuracy of the Mirage designation. Continued negotiations could also involve the 18 Mirage F1s that Iraq ordered under Saddam, but France never delivered. France has sold used Mirage 2000s to other countries as well, vid. Brazil, and it may be in their interest to offer the Iraqis an aircraft that could become the foundation for a longer term force split. The UAE is looking to replace its Mirage 2000v9 fleet, which is very advanced by most standards, but they have asked Dassault to buy back their Mirage fleet in exchange for a Rafale sale. An Iraqi Air Force that’s already flying Mirage 2000s, and looking for a good price, would offer a natural option for some kind of 3-way deal. Time will tell.

Sept 15/10: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Iraq’s formal request to buy 18 “F-16IQ” fighters and assorted weapons, at a cost of up to $4.2 billion. Items requested show a pattern of slight downgrades, alongside advanced base Block 50/52 systems. Its determined avoidance of sophisticated air to ground weapons like GPS-guided JDAMs, or advanced air-to-air missiles, seems designed to assuage regional fears. The exact agreed-upon official request includes:

• 18 F-16IQ aircraft;
  
• 24 F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines;
  
• 24 APG-68v9 radar sets, the most modern radar available in Block 50 aircraft;
  
• 20 pairs of Conformal Fuel Tanks, which mount along the back/top of the F-16;
  
• 20 AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems (without Mode IV)
  
• 22 Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems (ACES), including the ALQ-187 Electronic Warfare System and AN/ALR-93 Radar Warning Receiver;
  
• 22 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS);
  
• 20 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), (using Standard Positioning Service (SPS) commercial code only)

The wording does not refer to “excess defense articles,” so presumably these will be new-build planes whose equipment suggests a downgraded F-16C/D Block 50 or so base standard. Plus, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, ground based flight simulators, support equipment, tanker support and ferry services, modification kits, Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD), spares and repair parts, repair and return, site survey (usually for basing), construction, and other forms of U.S. Government and contractor support services.

The order also requests weapons and equipment to arm the fighters. Here, too, a number of requests reveal downgraded or past-generation equipment, alongside other requests which are top of the line:

• 19 M61 20mm Vulcan multi-barrel cannons, which are mounted internally;
  
• 36 LAU-129/A Common Rail Launchers, which fit the F-16’s wingtips. They can be used with all AIM-9 missiles including the AIM-9X, and with the AIM-120 AMRAAM;
  
• 200 AIM-9L/M-8/9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. These missiles are effective, and the AIM-9M missiles are still in widespread American use, but they’re a generation behind the current AIM-9X;
  
• 150 AIM-7M-F1/H Sparrow Missiles. A couple of generations behind current beyond visual range air-to-air missiles. They lack the current AM-120 AMRAAM’s independent radar guidance and other improvements;
  
• 50 AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick Air to Ground Missiles;
  
• 200 GBU-12 Paveway-II laser guided 500 lb. bombs;
  
• 50 GBU-10 Paveway-II laser guided 2,000 lb. bombs;
  
• 50 GBU-24 Paveway-III laser guided 2,000 lb. bombs with longer glide range and a “bunker busting” warhead;
  
• 20 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper or AN/AAQ-28 LITENING advanced surveillance and targeting pods. Almost certain to be Lockheed Martin’s Sniper, given LITENING’s Israeli origins;
  
• 4 F-9120 Advanced Airborne Reconnaissance Systems (AARS) or DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods (RECCE)

The principal contractors include some firms who will only be selected if their particular technologies are chosen. These are highlighted via brackets, though it’s also possible for those contractors to offer other items not subject to competition within this sale. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the base F-16 manufacturer, and system integrator:

• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, TX
  
• Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support in Fort Worth, TX
  
• BAE Advanced Systems in Greenlawn, NY (F-9120 AARS pod)
  
• Boeing Corporation in Seattle, WA
  
• Boeing Integrated Defense Systems St Louis, MO; Long Beach, CA; and
  

San Diego, CA

• Raytheon Company in Lexington, MA and Goleta, CA
  
• Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ
  
• Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control in Dallas, TX (Sniper pod)
  
• Northrop-Grumman Electro-Optical Systems in Garland, TX (LITENING pod)
  
• Northrop-Grumman Electronic Systems in Baltimore, MD
  
• Pratt & Whitney United Technology Company in East Hartford, CT (F100-PW-229 engine)
  
• General Electric Aircraft Engines Cincinnati, OH (F110-GE-129 IPE engine)
  
• Goodrich ISR Systems Danbury, CT (DB-110 pod)
  
• L3 Communications in Arlington, TX
  
• ITT Defense Electronics and Services in McLean, VA
  
• Symetrics Industries in Melbourne, FL

There are no known offset agreements in connection with this proposed sale, but implementation will require multiple trips to Iraq involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, program management, and training over a period of 15 years.

F-16IQ request

Aug 2/10: The Government of Iraq has signed an agreement with the U.S. for 10 Iraqi Air Force pilots to begin prerequisite F-16 training. “This agreement follows the request submitted by the GoI to purchase 18 new Block 52 F-16 airplanes.”

The pilots are projected to begin training in the U.S. this fall, and upon graduation, these pilots will have completed all prerequisite flight training necessary to move immediately into F-16 training. The 12-17 month program will include all necessary components of T-6A Texan II and T-38 Talon training, including a course called Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals. The intensive flight training will be complemented with specialized English language training for aviation. Pentagon DVIDS.

April 9/10: AHN quotes General Nasier A. Abadi, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Joint Forces:

“On the building of the Iraqi military forces, the general said the need of today is to build “Airforce” strength as till now most of the budget went to building army which has now “14 divisions.” From now on, “70% of the budget will go to Airforce,” he noted.

Although the Iraqi government will need at least “three sources (quotations),” for Airforce procurements, the general explained that there is a “special deal with the U.S. over the supply of F-16 fighter jets,” with a plan to partner with F-16 squadrons based in Iraq to “train” Iraqi pilots.”

April 6/10: DJ Elliott, who pens the Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle, reports a tip that:

“Iraq has finally and formally requested 24 F-16s from the US. At this time they are not at the ‘order’ stage but as I noted in my commentary to you in November 2008 the possibility of an Iraqi LOA by the end of this year – if President Obama agrees – is feasible. Delivery could start as early as next year but likely in 2012/13 time frame.”

That tip came without confirmation or sourcing, but DJ later received a verbal confirmation from Scramble magazine, and adds:

“Boss of the IqAF thought that he would need 96 F16s minimum. 24 indicates the start of the first of at least 4 orders. Looks like the planned target is still 2020.”

The next step for Iraq is formal DSCA publication of their request, once it gets through the US State Department’s bureaucracy and political approvals. Congress would then have 30 days to block the sale. Failing that, a contract/ Letter of Acceptance could be signed.

March 5/10: DJ Elliott, who pens the Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle, offers his assessment of both the Iraqi Air Force by 2012, and the most probable USAF force required to secure the country:

“In 2012, the Iraqi Air Force will not have any fighters unless they are provided with used aircraft. Even in that case, they will be 3 years at minimum training personnel to make those aircraft a functional and effective air defense force. Helicopter support forces will be further in development but, still under strength and in training. Fixed-wing transports will still be in delivery. Only the reconnaissance and training wings will be [fully] operational in 2012.”

…US Air Force in Iraq – Will probably base 6 Fighter Squadrons at Tallil, Balad, and Al Asad. Their duties will include training the Iraqi Air force in air combat maneuvering and providing air defense until they are operational. This will probably be needed until 2018-2020, however, delays in delivery and training could extend this requirement.

US Air Force in theater support – Transport aviation would probably be based in Kuwait to provide the majority of the supply needed by air. Additional aviation could be rapidly deployed to reinforce from Europe and the US if needed.”

Nov 22/09: Al-Sabah reports [in Arabic] that Iraqi Prime Minister Talabani’s visit to France:

“…resulted in the signing defense agreements to train the Iraqi army and updated on 18 aircraft (Mirage F-1) and helicopters, and provide 300 scholarships,…”

Thanks to DJ Elliott for assistance with translation. The Mirage F1s were left in France for servicing during the 1990s, and apparently remained there due to arms embargoes imposed after Operation Desert Storm. The report offers no delivery date, but fielding Mirage F1s would offer Iraq a near-term option that would be difficult to fulfill with new-build aircraft.

Oct 20/09: Lockheed Martin CFO Bruce Tanner, discussing Q3 2009 earnings, reveals that Morocco and Iraq will be delaying their planned F-16 purchases “beyond 2011”. Q3 Podcast [MP3] | Q3 Earnings slides [PDF] | Flight International.

Sept 9/09: U.S. Air Forces Central have sent a team to assess how Iraq will maintain sovereignty of their airspace after U.S. Forces withdraw from Iraq on Dec 31/11. From Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq:

“During their visit to Iraq in early September, the Air Sovereignty Assessment Team met with the Iraqi minister of defense, the deputy commander of the Iraqi air force, the Iraqi air force staff, and U.S. advisors attached to Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission- Air Force.

“The goal is to make sure Iraq maintains sovereignty by bridging the gap after we leave,” said Lt. Col. Daniel E. Rauch, deputy advisor from ITAM-Air Force to the Iraqi air staff for planning. “The accelerated schedule of the Security Agreement creates a period of time when Iraq does not possess the foundational capability to ensure air sovereignty or defend against the perceived threat.”

July 28/09: Looks like the timeline is indeed serious. An American Forces Press Service article says the US Air Force is sending an assessment team to Iraq to look at how the Iraqi military can field an air defense once American forces leave in 2011.

“The Iraqis probably will not be able to field advanced air-to-air manned interceptors by the time U.S. forces leave the country at the end of 2011, [Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq] said. The U.S. team will work with Iraqi officials to look for creative solutions to the problem, the general said… “We’re going to bring this team over here to try and get them some creative solutions that might allow them to have some capacity by 2011,” Odierno said, citing use of retired U.S. F-16 fighters or the purchase of aircraft from other countries as possible steps in the process.”

March 31/09: Reuters quotes IqAF head Lt. Gen. Anwar Ahmed as saying that Iraq wants to buy an initial squadron of F-16s in 2009, to help guard against perceived threats from Iran and Syria.

“[Ahmed] said he hoped to sign a contract for 18 advanced F-16s… “This is very important to us… It is a priority.” Provided funds are made available by Iraq’s Parliament, he said his goal was to acquire up to 96 F-16s through 2020. He cited the F-16C/D Block 50/52 models now being produced for Poland, Israel, Greece and Pakistan…

If the funds are freed and a deal is wrapped up this year, the first two Iraqi-piloted F-16s would be patrolling Iraqi skies by 2012, he said… Ahmed, 54, said he had met a U.S. Air Force team in Baghdad on March 18 to discuss F-16 purchases and held follow-up talks with Pentagon officials on Tuesday. So far, he said, U.S. officials supported Iraq’s push to acquire the F-16.”

Sept 5/08: The Wall Street Journal reports that Iraq is seeking 36 “advanced model” F-16s.

Appendix A: Technology Options

UAE F-16F
(click to view full)

So, far, Iraq has picked 18 modified F-16C/D Block 52 fighters as its initial core. That’s a start, but its parliamentary Commission on Security and Defence has indicated that 6 squadrons of fighter jets (about 96-100) is the minimum required for control of Iraqi airspace.

Iraq can choose to meet that need by buying more F-16s, or it can look to a mixed fleet, and try to make training rather than manufacturing the gating item for readiness. Technology options for Iraq’s front-line fighters separated into 2 tiers: F-16 options, and supplementary aircraft.

In September 2008, the Wall Street Journal’s use of the term “advanced F-16s” was generally interpreted to mean the standard F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ models requested or bought by recent customers like Chile, Greece, Morocco, Poland, Pakistan, Romania, Turkey et. al. Even Iraq’s DSCA request could not come to pass without technology export approvals, and clearance for various F-16 types, and for equipment and weapons sold in conjunction with the aircraft, are a political issue in the region. Fortunately for Iraq, the F-16 is already flown by a number of countries in the region, including Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. These aircraft include a number of early F-16A/B models, plus a larger set of upgraded early models and F-16C/Ds. Which is more or less what Iraq ended up ordering in its downgraded F-16IQ Block 52s.

The question is what comes next.

Advanced F-16 variants beyond even the Block 50 models also exist in the region. Israel flies all F-16 models including its own F-16I, which modifies the F-16D Block 52+ and adds a lot of Israeli electronics, equipment, and weapons. The UAE is a another exception, flying the world’s most advanced F-16s: the F-16 E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon with built-in infrared surveillance and targeting, the AN/APG-80 AESA radar, and an engine upgrade, among other improvements.

Both of these options are future non-starters, given the impossibility of an Israeli sale, and the ground reality that some of Iraq’s political parties have close ties to Iran.

Iraq could choose to keep ordering similar F-16s. The formal US DSCA request did match DID’s earlier estimate of $4-6 billion for an initial new-build fighter fleet of 18, plus its associated spares, weapons, etc. Subsequent deals can be expected to be cheaper, and what Iraq actually spends will be set by negotiations, but ramping up to a full fleet of 96 new planes won’t be cheap, or fast.

One way to reduce the additive total for subsequent jet purchases is if Iraq chose to buy some used F-16s, like the AIM-7 Sparrow missile capable American “F-16 A/B ADF” models bought by Jordan and Portugal. Former US Air National Guard flies F-16C/D Block 25 aircraft have been offered to Romania, for example, and a similar possibility still exists for Iraq as a stopgap measure. American F-16 C/D Block 30-42 aircraft may also be available.

The ultimate question is not one of money, however, or even of model, but of time. The 2010 formal DSCA request is just the beginning of the process. Actual signed contracts can take anywhere between 30 days to 4+ years after the official request, and in this case, they took a year. Fighter aircraft delivery times add another 1-3 years. Full training and proficiency adds another 2-3 years.

An Iraqi state that will need serious national fighter options as of 2012, was always certain to be disappointed by even the best timelines. Buying used aircraft for immediate delivery can help, which is why a future buy of used F-16s cannot be entirely ruled out.

Mirage 2000-9
(click to view full)

Another way around the problem is to induct more than 1 type of fighter, raising numbers quickly through parallel purchases.

The most prominent option may already be flying nearby. The United Arab Emirates currently operates a fleet of just over 60 Mirage 2000-9s, an advanced variant that’s comparable to any F-16C/D now flying. Their Thales RDY-2 radars are upgraded for full ground strike capability, including SAR/GMTI (synthetic aperture radar with ground moving target indicator). That’s complemented by the Shehab laser targeting pod (a variant of Thales’ Damocles), the Nahar navigation pod, and a datalink to improve integration with MBDA’s MICA-ER radar guided missiles. This information feeds into upgraded cockpit color displays, and the optional TopSight helmet mounted display. Defensive systems and internal navigation also feature strong improvements over earlier Mirage 2000 models.

The Emirates are considering a replacement purchase of Dassault Rafale fighters, which would be even more advanced than their F-16 E/F Desert Falcons. As part of that deal, however, they’re pushing for France to buy back their Mirage fleet. France isn’t likely to do do that without a ready buyer, and the new Iraqi Air Force would be the best option by far for all concerned. France would cement its position with a new-old customer, the UAE could assist Iraq with training and transition, and both countries wold also have financial and geo-political interests served by the transaction.

It remains to be seen whether that deal can be done. There is reported interest within Iraq’s air force, but there are also budgetary limitations, given the apparent commitment to F-16s. A Mirage 2000-9 buy would offer Iraq a diversified supplier base, but it would also carry a completely different maintenance and weapons base, driving up the air force’s operating costs and reducing its flexibility. On the plus side, a 3-way deal with the UAE would offer very rapid delivery, and local support.

In the mean time, France is offering Iraq a low-cost supplement: upgraded Mirage F1s. Iraq operated this type for a number of years, but France impounded 24 of the 126 ordered F1EQ planes as part of the sanctions effort against Saddam Hussein. The products of a September 1985 order wouldn’t be very helpful in 2010, but the type’s own state of the art has advanced since then. Dassault and Thales have been working with Morocco on a “Mirage F1 MF2000” upgrade, which would bring the type to near-parity with many of the systems and weapons used on the Mirage 2000.

A similar set of upgraded Mirage F1s would offer Iraq a fast near-term solution. One that’s available by 2012 and familiar to some of its old pilots, while forming a natural bridge to future sales of Mirage 2000 or Rafale aircraft, at only 25-33% of the cost of a new F-16 buy. Iraq has been looking to recover EUR 651 million for that failed delivery, which could factor into negotiations. On the other hand, France forgave 80% of Iraq’s EUR 4.8 billion debts, and could easily argue that any damages have already been redressed as part of that EUR 3.84 billion forgiveness package.

FC-1/ JF-17, armed
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There are also rumors of a wild card option: Pakistan and China’s JF-17 Thunder, which entered operational service with Pakistan in 2010. The type uses a Russian RD-93 engine, derived from the RD-33 engines that used to equip Iraqi MiG-29s, but the weapons and avionics are Chinese. Reliability would be lower than F-16s or Mirages, but performance would be similar to mid-range F-16 models or upgraded Mirage F1 MF2000s. The initial cost would be cheap compared to other new aircraft choices, but the planes would require their own maintenance, supply and weapons chains, driving up long term operating costs.

Unless negotiations with Lockheed Martin go seriously sideways, the JF-17s would appear to be dueling with Dassault’s Mirages for the role of “possible F-16 supplement” in the new Iraqi air force. Unlike France, China doesn’t have a deep relationship history with Iraq’s military, or a strong presence in the region. What it does have is state-linked firms that have bought into significant Iraqi oil leases, and growing international credibility as a “no strings” supplier and political backer. Pakistan’s role in the JF-17’s design would even give it a unique positioning as an “Islamic alternative.”

Beyond the operational questions, lies a political issue. An Iraqi buy of Chinese fighters would send shockwaves throughout the Middle East. It would be seen as the dawn of a Chinese role as a serious player in the region, beyond its current relationships with rogue nations like Iran and Sudan. That regional impact has both attractions and downsides for the Iraqi government.

Appendix B: Political Background

USAF F-16, Balad AB
(click to view full)

While events can always overtake even the best of plans, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has told reporters that he wants all American forces to be able to leave Iraq by 2011. The insertion of language by hostile Iraqi parties that would have made US soldiers subject to prosecution under Iraqi laws, and a surprising lack of focus by the USA on negotiating an extended Status of Forces agreement, will effectively end the US presence by 2012.

An Iraqi request for F-16s would have fit well with that strategy – if it had been made in early 2006.

No country can remain sovereign if it cannot control its own air space, and having its own fighter aircraft available for missions would give Iraqis far more leeway to make independent decisions about the future direction, training, and use of their military. The problem is that procurement, plus training, plus qualification of that air force for serious combat, takes years. With no formal request published as of early April 2010, and a contract that only begins at the end of 2011, Iraq has no realistic internal options.

That 2011 timetable was always a tall order; in fact, it was probably impossible from the outset. Even as the war in Iraq calmed down, and the insurgency was defeated, the USAF operated about 300 aircraft of all types in Iraq, supplemented by US Navy fighters. That force will not be replaced by 18 F-16s – nor would such a force provide sovereignty insurance against Iraq’s neighbors. Indeed, the new Iraqi Air Force is unlikely to have any operational F-16s before 2015 at the very earliest.

If Iraq wishes to go beyond air-air roles for its F-16s and perform close air support as well, its air force will find that this is a demanding task all its own, requiring pilot practice, followed by combined-arms training with properly equipped ground forces, in order to be effective. The USAF has deliberately slowed Iraq’s progress in this area for various operational and political reasons, and so there is no current base of expertise or equipment for the IqAF to build upon. If the IqAF wishes to be able to replicate the crucial role performed by American and British fighter jets in the Iraqi Army’s March 2008 Battle for Basra, therefore, or to support Iraqi troops in the event of hostile incursions from its neighbors, it will need to allocate even more lead time before it can be effective.

In the end, all of the relevant decisions have been political, rather than military, choices. That includes the question of whether the USAF remained in Iraq after 2011, in order to guarantee defense of the country’s air space.

At present, the odds are that Iraq will fly F-16 C/D class aircraft beginning in late 2013, with full effectiveness coming around 2016-2018. Our general assumption has involved a reduced but still present USAF, which would remain in Iraq beyond 2011. A combination of Iraqi demands and Obama administration fecklessness appears to have ended that.

Which still leaves the question of how to guarantee Iraqi air space.

One option might be to station Gulf Co-operation Council country fighters at Iraqi bases, while flying AWACS patrols using Saudi E-3s. That would surely be a seismic reversal from the Saddam years, and could be presented as a regional peace and healing initiative, but Arab rivalries and Iranian influence make that option more politically complex than it may appear.

Another option might be to have NATO assume air policing duties, as a fig leaf that could keep a substantial US presence. The dual challenge there would be (a) convincing budget squeezed NATO allies to join; and (b) managing the quasi-Ottomanist Turkish AKP government’s double-edged interest in being a significant part of (a).

Additional Readings Background: Combat Aircraft Options

• F-16.NET – F-16 Versions.

• Dassault Aviation – Mirage 2000-9.

• DID – Pakistan & China’s JF-17 Fighter Program.

Background: Related Iraqi Purchases

• DID – Iraq’s New Integrated Air Defense System. Without it, the IqAF’s F-16s can’t be effective.

• DID – Iraq Orders a Long-Range Radar.

• DID – Iraq’s New Trainer-Fighters: FA-50 Bounces the Czech Iraq initially picked Czech L-159s, but shifted to South Korea’s supersonic FA-50 light fighter/trainers.

• DID – The Penny Drops: Iraq Chooses its COIN Aircraft. The T-6A trainers are the IqAF’s intermediate training fleet. A parallel request for their armed AT-6B version would have given give the IqAF its first fixed-wing close support capabilities, but Iraq only ordered the trainers.

• DID – Bird Dogs for the Iraqi Air Force. Cessna 172 and 208Bs – some of which have become RC-208Bs and AC-208Bs.

News & Views

• DID (July 18/13) – Iraq: Weapons – and Challenges – In the Pipeline. The US Special Inspector General’s Report shows some significant challenges.

• DID (July 12/11) – The Missing Links: A Realistic Appraisal of the Iraqi Military. Events bear it out.

• DJ Elliott’s Montrose Toast (Dec 26/10) – Iraqi Aviation Update December 2010.

• DJ Elliott’s Montrose Toast (March 5/10) – US Forces-Iraq after 2012? “The Iraqi Security Forces are not going to be ready for self-defense in 2012. They were never planned to be ready in 2012…”

• Reuters (March 31/09) – Iraq starts policing borders with unmanned planes. Type undisclosed, though Iraq’s Navy is known to be using ScanEagle UAVs in the south, around its oil terminals. “Interior Ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul Karim Khalaf said the drones would police all Iraq’s borders and their first mission took place two weeks ago.”

Tags: f-16iqaf, iraqf-16

Americas

The Air Force contracted Honeywell International Aerospace $85.7 million for C-5 Honeywell software and engineering support services. The C-5 Galaxy is the primary lift aircraft in the US military for moving outsized cargo to global theaters of operation. It is distinct for having both front and rear cargo ramps allowing for much faster load and offload operations. The US Air Force operates the Lockheed C-5 since 1969. The C-5M Super Galaxy is an upgraded version with new engines and modernized avionics designed to extend its service life beyond 2040. Honeywell’s Versatile Integrated Avionics for C-5M Super Galaxy uses line replaceable units with shared functions to lower weight, reduce wiring and decrease spares inventory. New board Honeywell’s solution is based on key advances that were made by the company in the development and implementation of the advanced avionics architecture. Work for the new deal will take place in Arizona, Puerto Rico, Washington, and New Mexico and is scheduled to be completed by the end of January 2025.

Strategic Systems Programs awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a $13 million contract modification for US and UK SSBN Fire Control System as well as the US Attack Weapon Control System (AWCS) sustainment. The Fire Control System delivers data required to monitor the launch sequence of ballistic missiles. The SSBN AWCS is a non-nuclear system that consists of an integrated Launch Control System interfaced with the Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System and the Captain’s Information and Control Station. In December 2014 General Dynamics was contracted for the development, installation and maintenance, and deployed-systems support of US and UK Trident II submarine strategic weapons systems and subsystems. The modification includes training and support equipment as well as research and development. Work will mostly take place in Massachusetts and is expected to be completed by December 2020.

Middle East & Africa

Israel’s Elbit Systems announced that it reorganized the company’s structure to establish two new business divisions: Land Systems, and C4I and Cyber. The announcement comes after completing the acquisition of IMI Systems Ltd. on November 25, 2018. IMI Systems manufactures weapons, munitions and military technology for the Israeli security forces. It is most commonly associated with the development of the Uzi submachine gun. Elbit now expects to record in the fourth quarter of 2018 expenses estimated in the range of $65-75 million. Elbit’s land division will focus on systems for military vehicles, artillery, and capabilities brought in from IMI, while the C4I and Cyber division will concentrate on command and control, radios, communications, homeland security, and cyber intelligence. The reorganization is supposed to improve the synergy within the Company with respect to the acquired activities and better address market requirements.

Europe

Greece contracted Chassis Plans (CP) Technologies to modernize and update the mission control computers in the P-3B Orion aircraft used by the Hellenic Navy and Air Force. The P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the US Navy. In 2014, the US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to Greece for P-3B aircraft overhaul and upgrade as well as associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $500 million. CP Technologies’ mission computers are used in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) consoles onboard the aircraft and were designed to offer advanced computing technology in order to accommodate new ISR capabilities in the rough aircraft environment like Advance map rendering and GPS tracking, sensor, and surveillance data analysis.

Italian contractor Leonardo Defense Systems developed and tested an upgrade package for the M109L 155 mm self-propelled artillery system, according to Jane’s. The M109 is an American howitzer. The upgraded M109L, used by the Italian Army, has a 23 liter chamber and meets the Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding. It is fitted with a fume extractor and a new pepper box muzzle brake. Firing a standard 155 mm M15A2 high-explosive (HE) projectile a maximum range of 30 km can be achieved. An extended range ammunition could reach 40 km. The most significant range improvement would be firing the latest Leonardo Volcano 155 mm Ballistic Extended Range artillery projectile, which was type classified by the Italian Army and is ready for quantity production as soon as orders are placed.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea received its first of four Airbus Defense and Space A330-200 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The aircraft arrived in November, making the country the seventh member of the worldwide family of A330 MRTT operators. The Republic of Korea ordered the A330s in 2015. Deliveries of the remaining three MRTTs are set to conclude later this year. The A330 MRTT is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330. It was procured under a $1.3 billion deal that will enable the Republic of Korea Air Force to project combat air power as far north as Pyongyang while allowing it to participate more fully in international peacekeeping missions.

Today’s Video

Watch: U.S. Air Force Finally Receives First Replacements for Its 60-Year-Old Stratotankers

Greek P-3B
(click to view full)

Greece’s Hellenic Air Force currently operates 4 older P-3B Orion maritime patrol aircraft, which were delivered to the HAF from 1993 – 1996. They are reaching the limits of their airframe life, but Greece is nearing the end of their fiscal rope. In 2008, the odds appeared to tilt toward new aircraft, with at least EUR 250 million (then about $350 million) reportedly set aside for the winner of a 5-aircraft maritime patrol competition. In 2014, it became clear that Greece was considering another option…

Greece’s Options

P-8A Poseidon: cutaway
(click to view full)

In May 2005, “P-8A MMA Could Become a Multinational Program” said that:

“European nations operating the P-3 may gravitate toward smaller maritime patrol aircraft … Initial designs are even appearing in this class for executive jet aircraft equipped with maritime surveillance radars and related gear. Given that many nations’ maritime surveillance and attack requirements make the P-8’s range and endurance parameters unnecessary, it’s very possible that the EU’s moves will successfully bifurcate the global maritime patrol category into a broad class of nations who buy smaller aircraft, and an elite few with more extensive requirements who buy aircraft in the P-8A [Poseidon] class.”

Greece seemed to be firmly in that broad class who could buy smaller aircraft, and expected competitors are described in Appendix A. A different option also existed. The Orion has upgraded to P-3C designation, and has received a slew of updates since the P-3Bs were fielded. Efforts like Lockheed Martin’s reopening of P-3 wing production have made it possible for countries like Norway to keep upgraded P-3 aircraft in service.

In 2008, Greece had reportedly decided not to buy P-8s, or refurbish the Orions. By 2014, they had changed their minds.

Contracts & Key Events

Wing replacement
(click to view full) January 31/19: Modernization Greece contracted Chassis Plans (CP) Technologies to modernize and update the mission control computers in the P-3B Orion aircraft used by the Hellenic Navy and Air Force. The P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the US Navy. In 2014, the US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to Greece for P-3B aircraft overhaul and upgrade as well as associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $500 million. CP Technologies’ mission computers are used in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) consoles onboard the aircraft and were designed to offer advanced computing technology in order to accommodate new ISR capabilities in the rough aircraft environment like Advance map rendering and GPS tracking, sensor, and surveillance data analysis.

July 27/14: Greece’s P-3B Orion aircraft are to undergo a $142 million mid-life modernization program. Work to be carried out as highlighted in the deal include the reactivation of one of the navy’s P-3Bs and the procurement of software and hardware kits for the upgrade and modernization of a total of four aircraft. Greece operates six of the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) P-3Bs.

Oct 7/14: P-3 overhaul. The Greeks have changed their minds. The US DSCA announces Greece’s official export request for modification and reactivation of 2 stored P-3B aircraft (bringing the fleet to 6), and the upgrade of up to 5 P-3Bs that will include structural Mid Life Upgrades (MLU) to provide 15,000 more flight hours, Phased Depot Maintenance (PDM), Mission Integration and Management Systems (MIMS), and new flight avionics. Not to mention the usual spare and repair parts, repair and return, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, and US Government and contractor support. The estimated cost is up to $500 million.

That’s quite the shift in policy, considering that it ends up costing Greece more than the previous budget for new acquisitions. The P-3s will also be more expensive to operate. On the other hand, their range will be very useful if Greece wants long patrol times over Cyprus’ offshore gas fields. Then, too, the DSCA statement suggests that things have become dire:

“The proposed sale for overhaul and upgrade would allow the Hellenic Navy (HN) to resume operations of its P-3B aircraft for land-based maritime patrol and reconnaissance, surveillance and protection of areas of national interest.”

Airbus performs these kinds of upgrades, and did so for Brazil. In this case, however, the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta, GA. If a contract is signed, the sale will require “multiple” trips to Greece by U.S. Government and contractor representatives for a period of 7 years for delivery, system checkout, training, and program reviews. Sources: US DSCA #14-47, “Greece – P-3B Aircraft Overhaul and Upgrade”.

DSCA request: P-3 reactivation and upgrades

S-3B Viking
(click to view full)

Oct 14/08: Competition. Flight International reports on the expected Greek Maritime Patrol Aircraft competition, and the expected competitors. See Appendix A for even more background. Boeing won’t be offering the P-8, and the magazine also reports that Greece has rejected American offers of refurbished P-3s or of second-hand S-3B Viking jets.

The S-3 is a twin-engine carrier jet whose mission is described simply as “sea control.” Their range fits well with Greece’s needs, and they come armed with advanced surveillance equipment plus the ability to carry torpedoes, missiles, sonobuoys – even refueling pods that let them act as aerial refueling tankers. The US Navy plans to phase out the S-3 by 2010, and is replacing them with MH-60R helicopters whose slow speed and reduced range will shrink the protective anti-submarine “bubble” around American carrier forces.

For Greece, the planes’ age and hard usage in carrier landings creates issues with spares, training, and operational costs. These issues combine to make an S-3B transfer unattractive as a long-term solution. If the current financial crisis pinches Greece’s defense procurement budgets sharply enough, however, a cheap enough S-3 transfer offer might begin to look attractive as a stopgap solution that would compete with P-3 re-winging and/or refurbishment.

Appendix A: Greek MPA Competitors, 2008

ATR-72 ASW
(click to view full)

Greece’s naval focus is limited to the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean, a sphere that is well within the capabilities of smaller and less expensive aircraft. A budget of about $350 million might buy 2 P-8As, plus spares and fielding support. It could not buy 5. In October 2008, Flight International reported that the budget for this purchase could increase, but:

“Boeing does not expect to offer its 737-based P-8A multi-mission maritime aircraft, but is promoting a Boeing Business Jet solution for a separate requirement for three VIP and presidential transports.”

An RFP was expected by the end of 2009, and viable candidates for the maritime patrol requirement reportedly included:

ATR-72MP (Alenia/EADS). This large twin-turboprop regional passenger aircraft has been developed into a maritime patrol variant that includes both integrated surveillance equipment and weapons carriage. Its use in civilian capacities creates an independent source of potential upgrades, troubleshooting, service networks, and trained personnel opportunities. In 2006, Turkey ordered ATR-72ASWs; picking this aircraft would give Greece assured platform parity with its rival.

Be-200
(click to view full)

Be200 (Beriev). Greece buys a lot of Russian defense equipment, from armored personnel carriers, to hovercraft, to advanced anti-aircraft missiles. The Beriev jet would be an interesting choice because it is a true amphibian that can land on water. It also comes with a fire-fighting mission module, something that might offer an attractive supplement to Greece’s Bombardier aircraft after the infamous 2007 fires. Beriev does not advertise a full maritime patrol variant, just a search and rescue variant.

If the competition involved only search and rescue aircraft, the Be-200 would have an exceptionally strong case. The Greek request also requires anti-submarine, anti-surface, and surveillance duties, however, which may prove problematic for the Russian design. There have been reports of a Be-40/Be-42 variant for maritime patrol since 1986, but the project’s status remains uncertain. Given Greece’s requirements for NATO commonality, it would also be fair to characterize a Greek Be-40 as a new variant when assessing development and delivery risks.

C-295-MPA concept
(click to view full)

C-295 MPA (EADS). Chile has ordered the C-295MP, a larger derivative of the CN-235MP Persuader surveillance-only aircraft that serves with a number of air forces. These aircraft offer good endurance in a small plane, and economical operating costs. The C-295 MPA version comes with an advanced surveillance system, and can carry torpedoes or Harpoon/ Exocet missile on underwing pylons. It does not appear to carry sonobuoy launchers.

The CN-235/C-295 family is in widespread use with a number of militaries as light transport aircraft, and versions of the smaller CN-235MP maritime patrol aircraft are already in service with 7 countries and the US Coast Guard. Greece doesn’t currently operate the C-235 family, however; it ordered Alenia’s C-27J as its light tactical transport instead.

P-99 MPA concept
(click to view full)

P-99 (Embraer). Like the ATR-72, Embraer’s offer leverages an in-service, popular civilian platform. An unarmed variant of this ERJ-145 based martime patrol aircraft serves with Mexico. Greece currently operates the R-99A Erieye airborne early warning derivative, and uses the ERJ-145 as a VIP transport. Embraer can also be expected to compete in Greece’s VIP/Presidential transport solicitation, where they will offer a potent challenge to Boeing.

A P-99 purchase would offer fleet commonality, and a jet solution offers greater speed and hence coverage at the expense of sustained low-level flight. Greece’s preferences in this regard will either tip it toward the ATR/EADS turoprop solutions, or give the Embraer aircraft a strong advantage. Embraer’s site touts the new P-99 variant as being capable of carrying weapons, and their concept art even shows sonobuoy launchers; but Greece would be the armed version’s launch customer. That creates customization opportunities, but it also makes that first buyer the guinea pig and bill-payer for platform development and integration issues.

Additional Readings

• DID – Meltem-III: Turkey’s New ATR-72 Maritime Patrol Planes. Includes 6 TMPAs, and 2 TMUA transports.

• Balkan Analysis (May 31/12) – Greece and Turkey: Offensive and Defensive Balance of Naval Power in 2012.

• Balkan Analysis (Feb 19/12) – Greece and Turkey: Offensive and Defensive Balance of Air Power in 2012.

• Flight Global (Oct 14/08) – Greek navy prioritises maritime patrol aircraft contest.

Americas

The Navy awarded Boeing a $56.8 million contract providing program management as well as engineering and integrated logistics support for the post-production support phase of the T-45 aircraft lifecycle. The T-45 Goshawk is the US Navy’s two seat advanced jet trainer. It is a highly modified version of the British BAE Systems Hawk land-based training jet aircraft and was selected to replace the TA-4J Skyhawk and T-2C Buckeye. In order of meeting US Navy training mission and to ensure aircraft carrier compatibility, T-45 includes a 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. The current contract includes special tooling and test equipment, data accessibility and obsolescence identification, and resolution in addition to field services support that provides subject matter expertise in the areas of environmental control systems, cockpit pressurization and On-Board Oxygen Generation Systems integration.

The Navy tapped Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems with a $10.9 million contract modification to exercise options for AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) equipment and spares. The Missile Defense Agency in cooperation with the US Navy developed the AEGIS BMD system to provide warships with the capability of intercepting and destroying short and medium-range ballistic missiles. AEGIS BMD was acquired by Japan, making it the first missile defense system to be acquired by a military ally. The modification includes 4.0.2 equipment for Shipset 23. Work will take place in New Jersey and Florida and is expected to be completed by November 2020.

The Canadian government awarded Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited a $68 million contract for design work on a life extension program for the country’s fleet of 85 CH-146 Griffon helicopters. Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited will design a life extension program to ensure that the aircraft remain in service until at least 2031. The definition work will be carried out under the existing Griffon support contract, originally awarded in 2011. In the first phase under this deal Bell Helicopter will develop design changes to upgrade the helicopter’s avionics systems, engines, and cockpit displays. It will also integrate sensor systems. The CH-146 Griffon is a multi-role utility helicopter used in aerial firepower, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and aero-mobility tasks.

Middle East & Africa

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and BGN Technologies, the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University, announced they are setting up a multi-year research collaboration in cybersecurity, smart mobility, robotics and artificial intelligence. The agreement follows Rafael’s decision to establish a research and development location in Be’er Sheva, the southern Israeli city where BGN is located, which will be launched later in 2019. The first two projects of the collaboration focus on exploring the risk of cybersecurity breaches in sensors of autonomous cars, and how this issue can be tackled. Rafael already implemented cyber defense project around the world, including Israel’s Cyber Emergency Response Team. The company develops and manufactures systems for the Israeli Defense Forces and the defense establishment, as well as for foreign customers around the world. The signing ceremony for the deal between Rafael and BGN Technologies took place at the Cybertech 2019 conference in Tel Aviv.

Europe

Polish Defense Minister, Marius Blaszczak signed a $180.7 million contract to acquire four S-70i Black Hawk helicopters from Lockheed Martin’s offshoot Sikorsky. The helos will be supplied to Poland’s special forces. The aircraft will be produced by the group’s Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec, with deliveries scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019. The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter that entered service with the US Army in 1979 and has been exported to several nations. Black Hawks served in combats during conflicts in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and other areas in the Middle East. The newest version of the Black Hawk is PZL Mielec’s S-70i, which had its maiden flight in July 2010. Poland’s helicopters were acquired outside of a tender procedure. In 2015, the then-Polish Cabinet decided to order 50 H225M Caracal helos from Airbus, but the deal was scrapped the following year after a change in government. Other forerunners in the tender included the Black Hawk and Leonardo’s offshoot PZL Swidnik, which makes the AW149.

Asia-Pacific

The US Naval Air Systems Command contracted Lockheed Martin with a $31.3 million modification for sustainment services for F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial production Lot X aircraft for the Australian government. The F-35A featuring conventional takeoff and landing, is one of three variants of the single-seat, single-engine fighters. Australia is investing more than $17 billion to acquire at least 72 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters. Ten new jets have been delivered to Australia, with the first eight temporarily flying with the US Air Force’s 61st Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, as part of the international F-35 training school. Work for the modification will take place in Williamtown, Australia and is expected to be completed by early 2021.

Malaysia issued a preliminary request for information (RFI) to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in support of a potential buy of the company’s FA-50 light attack aircraft, Jane’s reports. The FA-50 is a variant of the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, a family of South Korean supersonic advanced trainers and light combat aircraft. The T-50 is South Korea’s first indigenous supersonic aircraft and one of the world’s few supersonic trainers. Under the country’s proposed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) procurement program, Malaysia could be seeking to buy an initial 12 aircraft with an option for another 24 units in the future. Moving ahead with the LCA program was motivated by Malaysia’s unsuccessful attempts at procuring a larger platform under its Multirole Combat Aircraft program.

Today’s Video

Watch: This is the Last F-22 Raptor Ever

Americas

The Navy awarded a $26.3 million contract to Rolls Royce for repair of T56-A-427 engines, used on the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft by Northrop Grumman. Its primary mission is battlespace mission command and control, as well as early warning detection. The aircraft was designed specifically for electronic warfare and early detection, which was a big change from previous aircraft. The Allison T-56 is a single-shaft, modular design turboprop with a 14-stage axial flow compressor driven by a four-stage turbine. The T56-A-427 fitted to the E-2 Hawkeye has a 5250 shp rating and a 12:1 compression. In addition, the T56 produces approximately 750 lbs of thrust from its exhaust. Work for the contract till take place in Canada, Texas, Indiana and California and is scheduled to be finished by January 2020.

The Navy tapped Northrop Grumman with a $19.6 million contract modification for the procurement of software design and system integration, qualification testing and cybersecurity activities as well as engineering services in support of the MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Air System. The Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout is an unmanned autonomous helicopter designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support as well as precision targeting support for ground, air and sea forces. The System has the ability to autonomously take-off from and land on any aviation-capable warship and also at unprepared landing zones close to the forward edge of the battle area. Work under the modification will occur in San Diego and is scheduled to conclude in December.

Middle East & Africa

Despite earlier media reports, Egypt will not sign any contract with Dassault Aviation for purchase of an additional twelve Rafale fighter aircraft during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit. The french president is currently visiting Egypt until the 29th of January. In 2015, France agreed to deliver 24 Rafale fighter jets to Egypt at a price of $5.9 billion in order to equip its Air Force with a latest-generation multirole fighter capable of meeting the country’s operational requirements and enabling Egypt to secure its geostrategic position in the region. In June 2016, Egypt started negotiations with Dassault to acquire 12 additional Rafales, which was an option on the original contract. However, Egypt has been facing opposition from the French Treasury to recieve the same favorable financial package it obtained for the original order.

Europe

The Air Force Lifecycle Management Center awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics with a $33.7 million ceiling requirements contract for C-130J long-term sustainment support for the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The company will provide the Royal Norwegian Air Force with return and repair support, spares support, engineering support, and in-country representative support for their C-130J aircraft platform. The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It is the newest model of the Hercules and the only one still in production. Lockheed Martin received a contract from the U.S. government in November 2007 for the purchase of four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters, plus initial spares and training, through the Foreign Military Sales program. The contractor delivered Norway’s first C-130J in November 2008 and its second in April 2009. Work for the current contract will take place in Marietta, Georgia as well as Gardermoen Air Station, Norway and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

The program office for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter awards BAE Systems a sole-source contract to conduct flight trials of the F-35’s future electronic warfare (EW) and countermeasures suite, Jane’s reports. The British defense company will conduct tests of a modified version of the AN/ASQ-239A suite aboard the CATBird surrogate test aircraft. The AN/ASQ-239 system is BAE System’s advanced electronic warfare suite, providing the F-35 with end-to-end capabilities. The demonstration of elements of the EW/countermeasures suite on the modified Boeing 737 airliner known as the Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird) is known as the Project Heisenberg.

Asia-Pacific

The Air Force contracted Space Dynamics Laboratory $18.3 million to support the Republic of Korea’s Global Hawk program. The deal includes tasking, collecting, processing, exploitation, and dissemination (TCPED) capability. The contract provides for the procurement of the TCPED system, spares and support equipment, sustainment support, and system familiarization. The Global Hawk is an unmanned surveillance aircraft by Northrop Grumman. In November 2018 Northrop was contracted to provide contractor logistics support to the Republic of Korea’s Global Hawks. Space Dynamics Laboratory is a nonprofit unit of the Utah State University Research Foundation. It is responsible for the design, fabrications, and operation of sensors on over 400 payloads ranging from aircraft to rocket-borne experiments to space shuttle experiments and satellite-based sensor systems. Work under the current deal will be performed at North Logan, Utah, and is expected to be completed by May 2020. The contract involves Foreign Military Sales to the Republic of Korea.

Today’s Video

Watch: America’s newest carrying-F-35B amphibious assault ship to replace USS Wasp in Japan

Americas

The Air Force awarded Harris Corp., Space and Intelligence Systems a $72.3 million contract for the Combat Mission Systems Support (CMSS) program. The contract sustains the Space and Missile Systems Center portfolio of ground-based electronic warfare systems and develops the Counter Communications System Block 10.3 under the CMSS program. The Counter Communications System is a mobile, ground-based antenna that can jam the signals from a single satellite in geosynchronous orbit. The new system should be designed to easily accommodate new components that become available. Work under the contract will be performed in Colorado and Florida and is scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2024.

The Naval Air Systems Command tapped Boeing with a $2.5 million contract modification to produce 19 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for the U.S. Navy, Norway and the United Kingdom, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a release. Ten aircraft are for the U.S. Navy, four for the U.K. and five for Norway. The modification also includes engineering change proposal 4 SilverBlock for the government of the U.K. and Lot 10 segregable efforts consisting of unknown obsolescence, Class I change assessments and obsolescence monitoring. At almost $1.26 billion, the U.S. Navy purchase makes up 51 per cent of the total contract value, while Norway’s almost $695 million makes up 28 per cent, and the U.K.’s almost $507 million makes up 21 per cent. The P8-A Poseidon conducts anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and shipping interdiction, also with an early warning self-protection ability. The US Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Indian Navy are currently operating the P-8. The UK’s Royal Air Force, where the P-8 will be known under the name „Poseidon MRA1“, the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force ordered the aircraft as well. Work under the contract will be performed in Washington, Maryland, New York, and the UK and is currently expected to be finished by March 2022.

The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair Gulf Coast awarded Austal USA LLC a $16.3 million contract to support prefabrication efforts, material procurement, and execution of work items for littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati extended industrial post-delivery availability (EIPDA). Austal is a global defense prime contractor and designer as well as manufacturer of defense and commercial ships. The company is the fifth largest shipbuilder in the USA. The USS Cincinnati, also dubbed LCS_20 is an Independence-Class littoral combat ship that is currently being built by Austal. The ship was assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One. Littoral Combat Ships are a set of two classes of surface vessels designed for operations near shore by the US Navy. The EIPDA is accomplished within a period of approximately 12 weeks between the time of ship custody transfer to the Navy and the shipbuilding and conversion, obligation work limiting date. Work will include program management, advance planning, engineering, design, prefabrication, and material kitting and is expected to be completed by August this year.

Middle East & Africa

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will trial its Trophy Active Protection System (APS) on the Leopard 2 main battle tank this year. Trophy is a military APS for vehicles, that intercepts and destroys incoming missiles and rockets with a shotgun-like blast. Its primary purpose is to supplement the armor of light and heavy armored fighting vehicles. It is the only fully operational and combat-proven APS in the world. The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank operated by the German Army. Germany’s Bundeswehr operates 328 Leopard 2 tanks of three types – the 2A6, 2A6M and 2A7. The Leopard 2 has also served in the militaries of 12 other countries and several non-European nations, including Canada, Indonesia and Turkey, and seen combat in Afghanistan and Syria, where they suffered heavy losses from anti-tank guided missiles. Rafael wants to soon supply the Trophy APS to Germany and initial trials on the Leopard 2 are expected to begin this year, with the system’s integration and testing completed by 2021. A total of 17 tanks will be equipped with the APS, with a unit training and qualifying to operate it by the following year.

Europe

Saab submitted its proposal to offer Gripen E for the Swiss New Fighter Aircraft procurement to armasuisse, the Swiss defense procurement agency. The proposal consists of options 30 and 40 new Gripen E fighter aircraft in response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) by armasuisse. Switzerland seeks to replace its fighter fleet of F/A-18 Hornet and F-5 E/F Tiger aircraft. The Gripen E or „Saab JAS 39 Gripen“ is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft powered by Volvo RM12. Five nations currently operate Gripen: Sweden, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Thailand. Sweden and Brazil have ordered Gripen E. Additionally, the UK Empire Test Pilots’ School uses Gripen as platform for test pilot training.

Asia-Pacific

India finalized a $797 million military infrastructure development plan spread over ten years for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to counter China. The Andaman and Nicobar Command is India’s only theater command which has assets and manpower of the three services of the armed forces, Army, Navy, Indian Air force and Coast Guard coming under one operational commander. The plan will allow stationing of additional warships, aircraft, drones, missile batteries and infantry soldiers there — against the backdrop of China’s rapidly expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean region.

India’s state-owned Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) tested a new indigenous air-launched missile called NGARM. The NGARM is designed to destroy a variety of surveillance and radar targets on the ground. The missile was launched from a Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighter to a range of 100 kilometers. The SU-30MKI is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter tailor-made for Indian specifications. The NGARM employs an indigenously developed dual-pulse, solid-propellant rocket motor and can be guided by a combination of passive and active radar seekers together with an inertial navigation system that is aided by GPS.

Today’s Video

Watch: RAF MQ-9B SkyGuardian To Be Armed With Brimstone Missile System

Americas

The Air Force tapped Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. with a $80.6 million contract modification for C-20/C-35 fleet sustainment. The company is an American subsidiary of General Dynamics that designs, develops, manufactures, markets and services business jet aircraft. The C-20 aircraft are military modifications of the commercial Gulfstream aircraft. The C-20 provides distinguished visitor (DV) airlift for military and government officials. It supports the long range/low passenger load DV airlift niche, offering worldwide access while including a communications suite which supports worldwide secure voice and data communications for the DV and staff. Smilar to the C-20, the C-37A is the military version of the civilian Gulfstram V and is used primarily for transporting government and Defense Department officials and their staffs. The two aircraft are used by the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. The contract modifies a previous award under the terms of a firm-fixed-price contract with a five-year option period in support of the C-37 and C-20 aircraft. Work is scheduled to be completed by end of January 2020.

General Atomics won a $19.7 million contract to manufacture, test, and deliver Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) spare parts to support the US Navy’s CVN-78 aircraft carrier prior to the Advanced Arresting Gear and EMALS material support dates. The CVN-78, dubbed the USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of its class and the first aircraft carrier design in 40 years. The aircraft is expected to leave on its first deployment in 2022. The CVN-78 is the world’s largest aircraft carrier, and the largest warship ever constructed in terms of displacement. The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, developed by General Atomics, launches carrier-based aircraft rather than the conventional steam piston. It was developed especially for the Navy’s Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers. Work is expected to be completed in January 2023.

Middle East & Africa

The first of 16 Airbus Helicopter H125 training platforms arrived Qatar, Jane’s reports. The Ministry of Defense ordered the platforms in 2018. Footage released on January 23rd shows two helicopters painted in the livery of the Qatar Armed Forces Academy. The H125 is a single-engine light utility helicopter formally known as the Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil. Ordered to replace the secondary training role of the Aerospatiale SA 342L Gazelle that has been in service since 1983, the H125 has been procured as part of a wider deal that also includes 28 NHIndustries NH90 helicopters.

Europe

A Su-27 fighter jet of Russian Aerospace Forces intercepted a Swedish Gulfstream reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea. The Su-27 is a twin-engine super maneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi, a major Russian aircraft manufacturer. It was designed for air superiority missions, and subsequent variants are able to perform almost all aerial warfare operations. The Russian military regularly make public how often Russian fighter jets intercept or accompany foreign military aircraft near Russian borders. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian fighter jet approached the object at a safe distance, identified it as a Gulfstream reconnaissance plane from the Swedish Air Force that was conducting a flight with its transponder switched off. Afterwards the Swedish plane flew away from the Russian state border, while the Su-27 jet returned to its base.

The Swedish Armed Forces awarded German Defense Contractor Rheinmetall a contract for vehicles to transport Patriot missile systems. Under the contract, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles will supply 40 high-mobility trucks including 16 tractor trucks and 24 transport vehicles. Deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2021. The contract is for the HX2 family of vehicles. These trucks are versatile and can be operated in rugged terrain. The vehicles’ flexible design allows the integration of additional force protection solutions for improved crew protection. Previously, the Swedish Procurement Agency, FWV, made orders HX-model logistic corps vehicles, making it one of the most widely used military trucks in the world.

Asia-Pacific

On 23 January, Trade Unions representing about 400,000 of workers employed by state-owned defense enterprises in India started a three-day strike against the privatization of the country’s Defense Industry. The All India Defense Employees Federation (AIDEF), the Indian National Defense Workers’ Federation (INDWF), and Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS) take part in the protests. The strike mainly affects the state-run Ordnance Factory Board, naval dockyards as well as the Defense Research and Development Organization.

Today’s Video

Watch: Flying Lightning! Next-generation European attack-helicopters taking shape

Americas

The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics a $542.2 million firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to support the F-35 Program. Under this deal, Lockheed Martin is to deliver ancillary mission equipment (AME) and associated spares for F-35 Lightning II jets. The F-35 Lightning jet is a supersonic, multirole fighter jet. It is being used by the defense forces of the US and other nations around the world due to its advanced stealth, integrated avionics, sensor fusion, superior logistics support and powerful integrated sensors capabilities. Back in August 2018, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics received a $302 million order against a previous contract for ancillary mission equipment to support the F-35. Work for the current contract will be performed in Texas, and is scheduled to be completed by May 2023.

The Navy contracted Rolls-Royce with a $35.7 million contract modification to support the V-22 aircraft with 17 AE 1107C engines. The AE 1107C is a turboshaft engine powering the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. The engine delivers 6,000 shp Rolls-Royce AE engines power C-130Js, V-22s, Global Hawks and a number of military, corporate and regional aircraft. Rolls Roye is in service with the US Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, NASA and multiple military and civil customers around the world. The AE engine line began as a powerplant for the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft for the US Marine Corps and US Air Force Special Operations Command, with the first flight of the V-22 in 1989. Under this deal one engine goes to the Marine Corps, eight engines to the Navy and another eight to the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected be completed in May 2020.

Northrop Grumman Systems won a $44.4 million deal in support of Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) E-11A platform maintenance requirement. Under this contract, the company provides logistics support for four E-11As that were built on Bombardier BD-700 aircraft platform. Bombardier E-11A is the military variant of the civil Bombardier BD-700 Global Express. It carries BACN allowing disparate battlefield communications systems to share data. It enables real-time information flow across the battlespace between similar and dissimilar tactical data link. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center received two offers for the firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract via a competitive acquisition. Work is scheduled to conclude by Jan. 23, 2020, and will take place in Maryland and Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Middle East & Africa

A fighter jet F7-PG crashed near Mastung, Pakistan while carrying out a training flight today. The F-7PG aircraft is based on the Soviet-era Mig-21 and built by a Chinese aircraft manufacturer. It holds a bad service record in PAF (Pakistan Air Force) service with the majority of recent crashes involving the aircraft. Pakistan is currently the largest non-Chinese F-7 operator, with roughly 120 F-7P and 60 F-7PG. The PAF seeks to replace its entire fleet of F-7 with the JF-17 multirole fighter. All F-7P are planned to be retired and replaced with the JF-17 Thunder aircraft by 2020. It is currently unknown what caused today’s crash. Air Headquarters has ordered the formation of a board of inquiry to investigate the incident.

Rafael wants to trial its Suite for Future Armored Vehicles with a live fire demonstration in summer, Jane’s reports. The Suite is a vehicle automation and capability enhancement system based around data fusion from the vehicle’s sensors. It is in development for the Israeli Carmel future fighting vehicle program. With such a suite of armored vehicles, an operator could manage drones and a variety of weapons systems. Inside the company’s prototype, several screens display a 360-degree picture of what is happening outside, and a map shows the locations of friendly forces.

Europe

Poland wants to modernize its Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter fleet. Warsaw intends to conduct a dialogue with potential suppliers, running from July to September. The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship, attack helicopter and troop transport with room for eight passengers, produced by Mil Moscow. The Mil Mi-24 features an armored cockpit for its pilot and weapons officer as well as a staggering array of internal and external weapons. Its seen action in nearly every conflict that the Soviet Union has engaged in since its first release in 1976. However, the helicopter has its weaknesses, such as its rotors and engine exhaust ports. Man-portable surface-to-air missiles have accounted for the greatest number of Mil Mi-24 losses.

Asia-Pacific

Moscow and Astana agreed to launch the assembly of Mil Mi-8AMT and Mi-171 „Hip-H“ helicopters in Kazakhstan. The deal will see 45 kit versions of the helicopters delivered to Kazakhstan until 2025 for local assembly. The Kazakhstan Engineering NC of the Ministry of Defense and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as Russian Helicopters JSC of Rostec State Corporation signed the contract. The technology of assembling heavy helicopters is being introduced in Kazakhstan for the first time ever. The production is organized without any public funding. The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine helicopter used as a transport helicopter, an airborne command post, armed gunship, and reconnaissance platform.

South Korea started a production of locally developed automatic command-and-control system. Back in December, the Defense Acquisition Administration (DAPA) signed a contract worth $29.1 million with Hanwha Systems to produce 12 Command Control Alert (C2A) Systems by next year. The C2A system, which was developed from 2011 to 2017 by a team led by the state-owned Agency for Defense Development in co-operation with more than 20 local companies, is expected to enter service with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in late 2019. The new command-and-control system will transmit data digitally in real time. It is also designed to assign a target to the air-defense weapon system best suited to counter it.

Today’s Video

Watch: Stealth Shocker: China Claims It Can Track Air Force F 22 Raptors

Mi-28N with MMR
(click to view full)

In August 2012, Russian Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev pledged that the state would buy 60 Mi-28UB attack and training helicopters by 2020. That would be good news for the VVS, as well as the Rosvertol plant at Rostov on Don.

Russia is slowly modernizing its military, and its attack helicopter force is one of the areas being given priority. New Ka-52 Alligator and Mi-28N Night Hunter machines are beginning to replace the VVS’ 240 or so old Mi-24 gunships, but training has been an issue for the nascent Mi-28 fleet.

The Mi-28 Attack Helicopter

Aerobatics video

Flight International’s World Air Forces 2013 places the VVS’ Mi-28N inventory at 51 machines, with another 19 on order. The new Mi-28UB model, introduced in 2013, includes an enlarged cockpit for the instructor, and a larger canopy for the pilot. It can be flown from either the pilot’s cockpit or the second seat, and it retains full attack helicopter functionality.

Implementation of Bondarev’s promise would give Russia 130 Mi-28s by 2020, alongside 140+ Ka-52s. That would more than replace the current Mi-24 Hind fleet, and Russia has also ordered 60+ modernized Mi-35M Hinds to help fill in the gaps.

The Mi-28N is most often compared to the American AH-64, as it shares the same basic heavily-armed attack helicopter layout. The specifications above illustrate some of the basic differences between the 2 machines, but the bigger differences relate to concept of employment, and are reflected in harder to see areas like onboard electronics.

Russia is the largest Mi-28 operator, with 70 machines delivered or on order. Flight International’s World Air Forces 2013 also lists 16 Mi-28s ordered by Kenya, with 5 delivered, and Iraq is reportedly in the process of buying about 30 Mi-28NEs. If a deal is done, the Iraqi helicopters’ configuration may serve as a proxy for assessing the state of the platform’s development.

Rosvertol stated in a June 6/10 investors announcement that Algeria had expressed interest in up to 42 machines, and that became a contract in December 2013. Iraq has also purchased 15, and a Rostvertol report cited serious prospects in Egypt, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

India trialed the Mi-28N against the AH-64D, and chose the American helicopter in 2011. Indian media reported that the AH-64D displayed better maneuverability, more multi-role capability, and better capacity to accept upgrades.

Contracts & Key Events

Mi-28UB, 1st flight
(click to view full)

The Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant developed the Mi-28N Night Hunter, and they’ve been produced at the Rosvertol aviation plant since 2005.

 

January 24/19: Assembly in Kazakhstan Moscow and Astana agreed to launch the assembly of Mil Mi-8AMT and Mi-171 „Hip-H“ helicopters in Kazakhstan. The deal will see 45 kit versions of the helicopters delivered to Kazakhstan until 2025 for local assembly. The Kazakhstan Engineering NC of the Ministry of Defense and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as Russian Helicopters JSC of Rostec State Corporation signed the contract. The technology of assembling heavy helicopters is being introduced in Kazakhstan for the first time ever. The production is organized without any public funding. The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine helicopter used as a transport helicopter, an airborne command post, armed gunship, and reconnaissance platform.

October 24/17: Russian Helicopters confirmed on October 19 that its first batch of Mi-28UB helicopters will be ready for delivery to the Russian Ministry of Defense from next month. The firm added that the first units of the combat training helicopter have already completed factory tests. Chief Executive Officer of Russian Helicopters, Andrey Boginsky said the “emergence of training and combat version offers almost unlimited possibilities in terms of improving the pilots training system for Mi-28N. I’d like to note that the opportunity of learning not on the simulator but on a real combat helicopter is a considerable advantage of our military pilots compared to their colleagues from other countries.”

August 9/17: Russia is to test its Mi-28UB attack helicopter in Syria, according to Russian Helicopters CEO, Andrei Boginsky. The helicopter, which has a combined combat and training configuration of the Mi-28N Night Hunter and features dual controls for both crew members, will be used primarily to train new pilots but can also take part in combat operations. Russian Helicopters expects to deliver eight new Mi-28UB units to the Russian Aerospace Forces by the end of the year, with the first to be delivered to the 344th center of combat training and retraining center in Torzhok.

July 25/178: Russia has announced plans to start serial production of the upgraded Mi-28NM helicopter in 2018. A modernized variant of the Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopter, work on the new system began in 2009 and features a radically new locator providing an all-round visibility, a new dual control system and other equipment, as well as a high-precision weapon. The variant will be deployed to all front line units.

August 1/16: The latest version of the Mi-28NM has been spotted at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, with pictures capturing the attack helicopter on its first hover. In development since 2008, a prototype first flew in 2015 with further tests to continue before delivery to the Russian Defense Ministry later this year. The improved version comes equipped with surveillance radar, an advanced suite of optical-electronic sensors mounted in the new nose turret, and a dual control system which allows the navigator-operator to operate the machine if required.

April 26/16: Russia has placed an order for 24 Mi-28UB attack and two 26 transport helicopters. Contracts were signed between Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Berisov and Director General of Russian Helicopters Alexander Mikheyev. The Mi-28 are to be the first procured to come with dual controls and improved flight crew ergonomics. Improvements to the helicopter come as the Russian military aims to improve combat training speeds for crews alongside increasing the helicopter’s operability, safety and combat capabilities.

June 12/14: Rostvertol report. Rosvertol’s 2013 annual report contains a number of interesting details regarding its orders. Deliveries to Russia are confirmed at 14 Mi-28Ns and 1 Mi-28UB. Evidence is conflicting, but the report also cites a 2013 prototype launch for the of Mi-28UB OP-1, and the helicopter and its and its mast mounted radar enclosure are photographed.

Iraq [foreign customer K-8] has its October 2012 order confirmed at 15 machines, and Algeria [foreign customer 012] is confirmed to have ordered 42 Mi-28NE attack helicopters on Dec 26/13. That Mi-28NE order makes them the type’s 2nd export customer after Iraq (15), but they are the largest. Other serious prospects include Egypt [customer 818], Turkmenistan [customer 795], and Uzbekistan [customer 860].

The report adds that Mi-28s have been having problems with increased vibration in the main gearbox. They decided to continue operations with an upgraded set of main gears in the 1st stage. Sources: Rostvertol PLC, “Annual Report ‘Rosvertol’, ZA2013 Year | LiveJournal bmpd [in Russian, incl. photos].

Dec 25/13: Russian Helicopters JSC announces that:

“The Mi-28N Night Hunter combat helicopter, made by Russian Helicopters a subsidiary of Oboronprom and part of State Corporation Rostec, has officially entered into service with the Russian Defence Ministry under an order signed by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.”

This is a formality. The Russians have of course been flying them for several years now, and the Mi-28N has served as the mount for Russia’s Golden Eagles (Berkuty) helicopter aerobatics team since 2012. Sources: Russian Helicopters, “Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopter enters into service with the Russian Defence Ministry”.

Aug 10/13: Mi-28UB. Russian Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev says that they intend to buy 60 Mi-28UB helicopters by 2020, with a dual training and attack role. The intent is “4-6 [Mi-28UB] helicopters for each unit that has Mi-28N in service,” allowing in-unit training while retaining combat power. Source: RIA Novosti, “Russian Air Force to Get 60 Mi-28UB Helicopters by 2020”.

Aug 9/13: 1st flight. The Mi-28UB training and attack helicopter conducts its official maiden demonstration flight at the Rostvertol subsidiary in Rostov-on-Don. That plant manufactures Mi-28NE and Mi-35M attack helicopters, as well as Mi-26T super-heavy transport helicopters. The Mi-28UB model is distinguished from the Mi-28N by its dual pilot controls, in order to allow for training.

The Mi-28UB’s next destination will be the Zhukovsky airfield near Moscow, for its public unveiling during MAKS 2013. Source: Russian Helicopters JSC Aug 9/13 release.

Dec 26/12: Mi-28NM. A Russian air force (VVS) official says that draft tactical and technical specifications for a modernized Mi-28NM have passed preliminary approval by VVS General Command. A commission on modernization of the Mi-28N had been set up in 2009.

The question is what might be in that modernization. The VK-2500-02 engine could be switched for the VK-2500-03 used in the Ka-52K, which has slightly higher maximum power. There have been some external questions regarding the operational readiness of the type’s Arbalets mast-mounted radar, which is seen very rarely on photos of deployed helicopters, so improvements in that area are another possibility. Another obvious improvement area would involve communications technologies, and there’s always room for improving an attack helicopter’s weapons array. It will be interesting to see what choices they make. Source: RIA.RU [in Russian].

Nov 15/12: Deliveries. Interfax-AVN reports that Russia’s Western Military District received 20 Mi-28N helicopters this year, and expects about 20 more in 2013. Deliveries are clearly picking up. Source: Russian Helicopters JSC.

June 2012: Radar. Take-off magazine reports that the helicopter’s Arbalets radar may have appeared in pictures for over 7 years, but it’s still a work in progress:

“The mast-mounted radar being developed for the Mi-28N by the Ryazan State Instrument-Making Plant cleared a number of test hurdles this spring. In March, the radar’s interdepartmental performance tests were completed… April 2013 saw the completion of the radar-equipped Mi-28N’s preliminary trials in the Moscow Region and the release of the acceptance report recommending the radar’s employment as part of production-standard helicopters of the type. The last hurdle remaining is the joint special flight tests of the helicopter equipped with the radar. Depending on the outcome of the tests, a decision will be made to launch the radar’s production…. Concurrently, the radar’s export version, designated as N025E, is being developed to equip the Mi-28NE export model…”

Feb 15/11: Grounded. The VVS reportedly grounds its Mi-28 fleet after a crash near Starvopol kills the pilot. Source: Washington Post [dead link].

Additional Readings Background: Helicopter

• Russian Helicopters JSC – Mi-28N

• Take-off (June 2012) – New Mi-28N versions in the pipeline. Also deals with the state of the Arbalets radar.

• DID (July 20/06) – Russia Commits to Multi-Year Buy of 67 Mi-28 Attack Helicopters

• DID – Baby Come Back: Iraq is Buying Russian Weapons Again. Including Mi-28NEs.

Competitors

• DID – Russia’s Ka-52 Alligator Scout-Attack Helicopters

• DID – AH-64E Apache Block III: The Once and Future Attack Helicopter

• DID – Turkey Finally Lands Its Attack Helicopters. The T129 ATAK, formerly the A129 Mangusta.

• DID – Tiger, Tamed? Eurocopter’s New EC665 HAD Helicopters

Americas

The Naval Sea Systems Command contracted Raytheon’s Integrated Defense System business with $38.1 million for engineering services for the Dual Band Radar (DBR) System. Raytheon’s DBR is capable of simultaneously operating over two frequency ranges (S-band and X-band), coordinated by a single resource manager. It does not require a dedicated operator or manned display consoles. Its separate band radar arrays provide extensive search, track and multiple missile illumination capacity. DBR also provides target illumination and uplink/downlink capabilities for SM-2 and Evolved SeaSparrow missiles. Per the terms of the contract, Raytheon conducts technical engineering services for DBR system upgrades, product support services, test equipment procurement, installation integration support, combat system integration testing, program management support, along with other studies and analysis. Work will be performed in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia. The company will utilize 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy), and fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funds for the task.

The Navy awarded a $250 million contract to Global PCCI for the Emergency Ship Salvage Material (ESSM) System. The ESSM system is used to provide the fleet with salvage and pollution abatement equipment to augment their organic equipment or specialized equipment not normally carried in their allowance. Examples of specialized ESSM equipment are hydraulic submersible pumping systems, welders, electric power generators, fly away deep ocean salvage systems, lift bags and portable command vans. Pollution equipment includes open ocean boom and skimming systems, specialized inland and arctic response systems, floating storage and pollution offload systems. Global PCCI is a joint venture between Global and PCCI, established in 1987, which was awarded the Emergency Ship Salvage Material Maintenance contract in 1989. With Global as the managing partner, ESSM has been successfully retained through multiple bids. Under the new contract, Global PCCI manages the facilities with emergency response equipment stockpiles, pre-positioned to support and augment the Navy fleet capabilities in the areas of salvage, diving, pollution response and underwater ship husbandry. Work for this deal will be performed worldwide and is scheduled to be finished by January 2024.

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy Rocket into orbit carrying a spy satellite launched Saturday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California after bad weather and technical problems delayed the sendoff for more than a month. Delta IV is an expendable launch system designed to launch payloads into orbit for the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. The program, which started in the 90s, is intended to assure access to space for payloads from the Department of Defense. The mission launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy, comprised of three common booster cores powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine producing a combined total of more than 2.1 million pounds of thrust. The second stage was powered by an AR RL10B-2 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine. United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a provider of spacecraft launch services and was formed in 2006 as joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Saturday’s launch was the 232nd successful launch since the company’s formation.

Middle East & Africa

The Cote d’Ivoire signed a firm order for a single Airbus C295 medium transport aircraft. The C-295 is a tactical airlifter conducting multi-role operations worldwide under all weather conditions. The C295 was also a major bidder for the US Army US Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft, which in the end was awarded to the L-3 Communications/Alenia team in 2007. Airbus’ aircraft was considered a higher risk by the Army due to its use of a new operational mode to meet altitude and range requirements. The aircraft carries 71 troops, 50 paratroops and 5 pallets. The Cote d’Ivoire is now the 28th nation to operate the C295. Airbus Defense and Space has sold 91 aircraft to 17 countries in Africa. 35 C295s are contracted by Egypt, Algeria, Ghana and Mali.

Europe

Meggitt won a $751.2 million deal to provide advanced engine components for Pratt and Whitney. Meggitt is a British engineering business established in the 1940s. It specializes in aerospace equipment. Pratt and Whitney is an American aerospace manufacturer that supplies engines for US fighter jets. The 10-year contract with the engine maker is to supply advanced components for the F119 and F135 engines which power the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The F119 and F135 are afterburning turbofan engines with the F135 being a derivative of the F119.

Italy gears up to launch its program for a new multirole submarine rescue vessel this year, Jane’s reports. The Special and Diving Operations – Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SuRS) is supposed to replace the aging salvage ship, Anteo. The Anteo A5309 was commissioned to the Italian Navy in 1980 and is fitted with a SDC system for submarine rescue up to 250 m deep,a SRC Submarine Rescue Chamber for submarine rescue up to 120 m deep, and a SRV-300 deep-submergence rescue vehicle for submarine rescue up to 300 m deep. The new vessel will have a modular design in order to carry out its three main tasks of submarine rescue in addition to supporting special forces and diving operations carried out by the Italian Navy’s Comando Subacquei ed Incursori (COMSUBIN) special forces and divers command. The ship will also be capable of embarking US Navy and NATO submarine rescue systems.

Asia-Pacific

The Indian Air Force warns of quality issues related to the license production of upgraded rotor blades for the Cheetal fleet by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). HAL failed to manufacture the rotor blades critical for the light helicopters. HAL started making the blades after Airbus Helicopter stopped making them in 2012. However, 12 blades that HAL had manufactured showed high level of vibration and thus were rendered unsuitable. The Cheetal is the re-engined version of the Cheetah helicopter aimed to enhance high altitude operational capabilities and maintainability. The five seater Cheetah helicopter is versatile, multi role, multi purpose, highly maneuverable and rugged in construction. It holds the world record in high altitude flying among all categories of Helicopters. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is now down to its last few rotor blades that were ordered before 2012, questioning their ability to support the helicopters in service.

Today’s Video

Watch: US Army Getting Major upgrades are on the way for the Army’s missiles, tanks and artillery

DBR on CVN-21
(click to view full)

The US Navy’s newest light cruiser and aircraft carrier designs offer a wide array of new technologies. One is the Dual-Band Radar (DBR) system, which can be scaled up or down for installation in the new DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class “destroyers”, and the CVN-21 Gerald R. Ford Class aircraft carriers.

The DBR concept involves a significant change from current naval design approaches, and that change is not without risk. The USA’s GAO audit office remains concerned that key tests may not happen before the radar is installed on new ships, and any more development or testing snags could put much larger programs at risk. In April 2009, a successful full-power “lightoff” of both DBR radars was encouraging, but 2010 saw a major program shift. Sharp drops in the planned number of DDG-1000 destroyer created a per-ship cost crisis. Part of the response involved a shift to a single X-band SPY-3 radar for the Zumwalt Class, leaving DBR as a dual-band SPY-3/ SPY-4 solution only on America’s new carriers.

DBR: Concept and Comparisons

CG-47 antennas
(click to view full)

At present, the radars used for scanning large areas and for focused targeting are completely separate pieces of equipment, that are only integrated by the ship’s combat system. The DBR will break from that approach by combining 2 different radar antennas, with the same back-end radar electronics and software driving both. The ship’s combat system will receive a single stream of data, and the radar itself will be able to mix and match its antennas as the situation requires. At the design tier, this approach allows fewer radar antennas, all flush-mounted with the superstructure for maximum stealth. At the tactical tier, integration at the radar level offers faster response time, faster adaptation to new situations, and better utilization of the ship’s power, electronics, and bandwidth. At the life-cycle maintenance tier, it allows one-step upgrades to the radar suite as a whole.

The tactical difference is easier to understand by comparing the present American state of the art with the DBR approach. The US Navy’s DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS destroyers and CG-47 Ticonderoga Class cruisers currently form the high end of its naval air defense capabilities. They use 2-4 different radars in their work, which are combined into a common picture by the ships’ AEGIS combat system.

The rotating AN/SPS-49 radar on the cruisers’ mast offers 2D (range and heading only) very long-range scans in the L-band. It serves as the primary air search radar aboard a wide array of ship types, from aircraft carriers to frigates, and is also used by CG-47 Ticonderoga Class cruisers.

AEGIS operations
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AEGIS ships have a more effective radar at their disposal, however: the AN/SPY-1B/D/E passive phased array S-band radar can be seen as the hexagonal plates mounted on the ship’s superstructure. SPY-1 has a slightly shorter horizon than the SPS-49, and can be susceptible to land and wave clutter, but is used to search and track over large areas. It can search for and track over 200 targets, providing mid-course guidance that can bring air defense missiles closer to their targets. Some versions can even provide ballistic missile defense tracking, after appropriate modifications to their back-end electronics and radar software.

The 3rd component is the AN/SPG-62 X-band radar “illuminators,” which designate targets for final intercept by air defense missiles; DDG-51 destroyers have 3, and CG-47 cruisers have 4. During saturation attacks, the AEGIS combat system must time-share the illuminators, engaging them only for final intercept and then switching to another target.

In an era of supersonic anti-ship missiles that use final-stage maneuvering to confuse defenses, and can be programmed to arrive simultaneously, this approach is not ideal.

The US Navy’s Dual-Band Radar relies on products from 2 different manufacturers, but they’re integrated in a different way. They also use a different base technology. The use of active-array, digital beamforming radar technology will help DBR-equipped ships survive saturation attacks. Their most salient feature is the ability to allocate groups of emitters within their thousands of individual modules to perform specific tasks, in order to track and guide against tens of incoming missiles simultaneously. Active array radars also feature better reliability than mechanically-scanned radars, and recent experiments suggest that they could have uses as very high-power electronic jammers, and/or high-bandwidth secure communications relays.

Many modern European air defense ships, from the British Type 45 destroyers, to the Franco-Italian Horizon destroyers and FREMM frigates, to Dutch/German F124 frigates, use active array search and targeting radars.

DBR operations
(click to view full)

Raytheon’s X-band, active-array SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar (MFR) offers superior medium to high altitude search performance over other radar bands, and its pencil beams give it an excellent ability to focus in on targets. SPY-3 will be the primary DBR radar used for missile engagements, and the only radar equipping the new Zumwalt Class destroyers. That will require additional programming, in order to give the radar volume search capabilities as well. Many anti-ballistic missile radars are X-band, and the SPY-3 could also be adapted for that role with the same kinds of software/hardware investments that some of the fleet’s S-band, passive phased array SPY-1s have received.

On surface combatants, the AN/SPY-3 would also replace the X-band AN/SPQ-9 surface detection and tracking radar that is used to guide naval gunfire, and even track the periscopes of surfacing submarines. On carriers, it will take over functions formerly handled by AN/SPN-41 and AN/SPN-46 PALS air traffic radars, and would work in conjunction with the new GPS-derived Joint Precision Approach Landing System (JPALS).

Lockheed Martin’s SPY-4 Volume Search Radar (VSR) will be the 2nd radar band on America’s new carriers. It’s an S-band active array antenna, rather than the SPY-1’s S-band passive phased array. The Navy was originally going to use the L-band/D-band for the DBR’s second radar, but Lockheed Martin had been doing research on an active array S-band Advanced Radar (SBAR) that could potentially replace SPY-1 radars on existing AEGIS ships. A demonstrator began operating in Moorestown, NJ in 2003. That same year, its performance convinced the Navy to switch to S-band, and to make Lockheed Martin the DBR subcontractor for the volume search radar (VSR) antenna. It also convinced Lockheed Martin to continue work on the project as a complete, integrated radar, now known as “S4R”.

S-band offers superior performance in high-moisture clutter conditions like rain or fog, and is excellent for scanning and tracking within a very large volume. While Lockheed Martin makes the VSR antenna, the dual-band approach means that Raytheon is responsible for the radars’ common back-end electronics and software.

The VSR/S4R’s nearest competitor would be Thales’ SMART-L, an active array L-band/D-band radar that equips a number of European air defense ships, and South Korea’s Dokdo Class LHDs. Unlike the DBR, however, the ships carrying SMART-L variants use the conventional approach of completely separate radar systems, integrated by the ship’s combat system.

Another American competitor may also be emerging, via the AMDR radar competition for future DDG-51 Flight III Arleigh Burke Class ships – and possibly for fleet refits.

DBR: Contracts and Key Developments FY 2013

GAO report looks at past, present, and future difficulties.

CVN 78 delays
(click to view full)

Sept 30/13: Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, MA, was awarded a not-to-exceed $7.2 million contract modification for hardware changes to the Dual Band Radar (DBR) and Common Array Power System, required to modify it for the Ford Class carriers’ power system interface. $3.6 million in FY 2011 shipbuilding & conversion funds are committed immediately.

Work will be performed in Andover, MA, (75%), and Sudbury, MA, (25%) and is expected to be complete by March 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of this fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-05-C-5346).

Sept 5/13: GAO Report. The new Ford Class carrier CVN 78 has seen costs rise to $12.8 billion, and the GAO looks at what’s driving the increased costs and risk. Issues with key sub-systems play a significant role, and the Dual-Band Radar is one of the main systems responsible. That isn’t really fair to the CVN-21 program, because the DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class “destroyer” program was supposed to handle DBR’s development and testing. The whole thing was dumped on CVN 78 part-way through, when the Navy cut the S-band SPY-4 radar from their battlecruiser.

GAO adds that “Technical deficiencies have slowed development, and key functions, including air traffic control capabilities [and the full voltage/power requirement], remain undemonstrated.” The Navy planned to resume land-based SPY-4 testing in FY 2012 using a final production unit, but contracting delays created the following plan:

• FY 2012: SPY-4 volume search radar testing supposed to resume.
  
• FY 2013: SPY-4 volume search radar testing resumes with prototype.
  
• Sept 2013: DBR integrated testing plan to be handed in.
  
• FY 2014: SPY-3 radar production version to finish land-based testing.
  
• FY 2014: SPY-4 volume search radar prototype to finish land-based testing.
  
• FY 2016: Shipboard testing of full DBR to begin, after the carrier is delivered.
  
• Feb 2017: DBR integrated testing expected to begin.

The Navy is still trying to define integrated testing’s exact scope, activities, and resources. Under the integrated testing approach, the DBR will be required to conduct near-simultaneous air traffic control and self-defense operations, using both the SPY-3 and SPY-4 radars while other antennas and arrays are emitting and receiving transmissions, and multiple loads are placed upon the ship’s power and cooling systems. Discovered incompatibilities, or required hardware changes, would be very expensive at that point.

Since 2008, DBR-related costs for the first-of-class Gerald R. Ford [CVN 78] have risen by 139.7%, from $201.9 – $484 million. In addition, late delivery and testing means that changes have to be made to a partially-complete ship, driving up costs in other areas. Late DBR deliveries have already forced Huntington Ingalls to cut open previously closed areas of the ship, in order to allow loading of equipment, and CVN 78 doesn’t have much margin to incorporate additional weight growth high up unless it redesigns other areas below. The US Navy contends that all future changes will take place within the components’ allotted space and weight, but the GAO doesn’t think they can possibly know that yet. Sources: GAO Report #GAO-13-396

June 3/13: Testing. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, MA receives a not-to-exceed $23.8 million contract modification to support Phase II CVN 78 Dual Band Radar Test and Evaluation at the Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Software Development Laboratory, and at the Wallops Island Engineering Test Center Land Based Test Site.

Work will be performed in Sudbury, MA and is expected to be completed by November 2014. $7.4 million is committed immediately using FY 2011 and 2012 budget lines, and $2.1 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/13. US Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC manages the contract (N00024-05-C-5346).

April 10/13: FY 2014 Budget. The President releases a proposed budget at last, the latest in modern memory. The Senate and House were already working on budgets in his absence, but the Pentagon’s submission is actually important to proceedings going forward. See ongoing DID coverage. The DBR isn’t its own program. It’s a part of the DDG 1000 program, and its R&D falls under PE 0604501N: Advanced Above Water Sensors, alongside AMDR, improvements to the legacy SPY-1 radars, etc.

This year’s R&D is just $18.9 million. It covers cost savings initiatives for adding Volume Search to the X-band SPY-3, future upgrades/technology insertion efforts, resolution of remaining hardware and software issues discovered during testing, and aircraft carrier interfaces to the DBR Battle Force Tactical Trainer (BFTT)/Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC)/Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP).

Jan 17/13: DOT&E Testing Report. The Pentagon releases the FY 2012 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). DBR remains one of CVN 78 Gerald R. Ford’s “pacing items” for on-time delivery, and January 2013 was scheduled for air traffic control tests at Wallops Island, VA.

The Navy is reactivating the Engineering Development Model of the DBR’s SPY-4 Volume Search Radar at Wallops’ Combat System Center, and installing a production SPY-3 Multi-Functional Radar component, in order to support combat system integration and test for their new aircraft carrier class. The Pentagon’s Operation of Testing & Evaluation wants them to maintain a full DBR/ combat system setup, given the lessons of previous SSDS testing.

The Navy is reportedly considering plans for testing DBR at Wallops Island beyond 2015, but it isn’t clear if a Multi-Functional Radar and funding will be available. If it isn’t, the Navy will have problems testing upgrades and fixes, and ensuring lifecycle support after USS Gerald R. Ford’s expected delivery in 2015.

FY 2019

 

CVN-21 Concept
(click for alternate view) January 22/19: Engineering Services The Naval Sea Systems Command contracted Raytheon’s Integrated Defense System business with $38.1 million for engineering services for the Dual Band Radar (DBR) System. Raytheon’s DBR is capable of simultaneously operating over two frequency ranges (S-band and X-band), coordinated by a single resource manager. It does not require a dedicated operator or manned display consoles. Its separate band radar arrays provide extensive search, track and multiple missile illumination capacity. DBR also provides target illumination and uplink/downlink capabilities for SM-2 and Evolved SeaSparrow missiles. Per the terms of the contract, Raytheon conducts technical engineering services for DBR system upgrades, product support services, test equipment procurement, installation integration support, combat system integration testing, program management support, along with other studies and analysis. Work will be performed in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia. The company will utilize 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy), and fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funds for the task. FY 2011 – 2012

June 26/12: Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, MA receives a maximum $38.6 million contract for non-recurring engineering, detail design, software development, and production planning efforts required to ensure that DBR is compatible with the Ford Class carriers’ emergency diesel generator, main turbine generator, and electrical distribution system specifications. The contract commits $19.3 million, with the rest available if needed.

Work will be performed in Sudbury, MA (53%); Tewksbury, MA (29%); Andover, MA (10%); Dallas, TX (6%); and Portsmouth, RI (2%), and is expected to be complete by April 2013. US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC manages the contract (N00024-05-C-5346).

A July 31/12 Raytheon release cites 2 U.S. Navy contracts, with a total value of $53.6 million. Raytheon will enhance the system’s software to optimize power efficiency, and ready the radar suite for the next phase of testing and evaluation.

March 30/12: GAO Report. The US GAO tables its “Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs” for 2012. The CVN 78 section covering the new Gerald R. Ford Class aircraft carriers has this to say about DBR:

“The dual-band radar also will not complete testing until after it is aboard the ship, which presents a risk if the system does not work as intended. The radar is required for ship installation starting in March 2013, but the program does not expect to complete testing the multifunction radar component until early 2013 or begin testing the volume-search radar component until May 2013. Some radar subsystems will not be tested until aboard the CVN 78. In addition, less dual-band radar testing has been done than anticipated because the Navy eliminated the volume-search component of the radar from the DDG 1000 Destroyer program [DID: vid. June 2/10], which the CVN 78 had planned to leverage. CVN 78 will now be the first ship to operate with this radar, but as of August 2011, the Navy had not yet planned for carrier-specific testing.

…In commenting on a draft of this assessment, the program noted that dual-band radar testing, while impacted by DDG 1000 decisions on volume-search radar, is fully funded and will complete land-based tests and begin shipboard testing prior to delivery.”

FY 2010

 

SDTS [EDD-964]
(click to view full)

Aug 11/10: Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, MA receives a $36.1 million contract modification (N00024-05-C-5346) for mission systems equipment (MSE) that will be used on the US Navy’s Self Defense Test Ship [EDD-964], in support of the Anti-Air Warfare Self Defense Enterprise Test and Evaluation Master Plan. The equipment will support the DDG 1000 and CVN 78 classes of ships, in addition to follow-on operation test and evaluation efforts for the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (RIM-162 ESSM) and Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP).

Work will be performed in Andover, MA (58.7%); Portsmouth, RI (32%); Sudbury, MA (5.4%); Tewksbury, MA (2.7%); and San Diego, CA (1.2%). Work is expected to be completed by March 2013. US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC manages this contract.

Aug 10/10: Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, MA receives $59.4 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5346) for CVN 78 dual-band radar (DBR) common array power system (CAPS) and common array cooling system (CACS) work. Raytheon will provide a factory assembly, then integrate and test one CAPS ship set, one CACS ship set, CVN 78 DBR unique components, and whole-life engineering products for the Gerald R. Ford’s radar. Unlike the DDG-1000, the Gerald Ford Class will retain the radar’s dual-band features.

“These efforts are required in order to meet the CVN 78 ship construction in-yard-need-dates at the receiving shipyard, to ensure that critical production schedules are maintained for the CVN 78 program.”

Work will be performed in Andover, MA (72.6%); Sudbury, MA (22%); Portsmouth, RI (2.3%); Tewksbury, MA (2.1%); and Falls Church, VA (1%), and is expected to be completed by November 2013. US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC.

Aug 10/10: An opinion from the Information Dissemination article Happy Thoughts and DDG-1000:

“I love Chris, and I don’t think anyone in the Navy deserved their star more than Jim Syring… but this Navy Times article is just a bit too much happy half-the-story for me. Here is how half the story gets told… The real reason the Navy is dropping the VSR on DDG-1000 is because the Navy intends to put… AMDR on the DDG-1000… because the timeline works out. The thing is the Navy can’t actually say this because there is no official AMDR program yet and the DDG-1000 isn’t supposed to be a ballistic missile defense ship – remember? This story in Navy Times is what it is because when it comes to US Navy shipbuilding, the Navy under CNO Roughead is never completely honest with the American people about what the Navy is doing. Sorry if the truth hurts.”

June 2/10: No DBR for Zumwalt. The US Defense Department announces that the S-band SPY-4 Volume Search Radar will be deleted from the DDG-1000’s DBR. Performance has met expectations, but cost increases reportedly forced the Navy into a cost/benefit decision. The Navy would not release numbers, but reports indicate possible savings of $100-200 million for each of the planned 3 ships.

The move will save weight and space by removing aperture, power, and cooling systems, and may create an opportunity for Raytheon’s SPY-3 to be upgraded for ballistic missile defense – or replaced by the winner of the BMD-capable AMDR dual-band radar competition. The X-band SPY-3 has reportedly exceeded technical expectations, and will receive upgrades to give it better volume search capability.

The full DBR will be retained on the USS Gerald R. Ford [CVN 78] aircraft carrier, as the SPY-4 replaces 2 air search radars and will be the primary air traffic control radar. No decision has been made for CVN 79 onward, however, and AMDR’s potential scalability may make it attractive there as well. Gannett’s Navy Times.

No DBR for Zumwalt

May 3/10: Testing. Raytheon announces that the DBR’s smaller-scale Engineering Development Model has simultaneously tracked a target using both X- and S-band radars, using a common radar suite controller. This first-ever event also demonstrated the system’s ability to perform automatic handover from S-band to X-band in precision-tracking mode, a key feature of the radar and its single track manager.

The test was performed at the Navy’s Engineering Test Center in Wallops Island, VA.

Dual tracking demo

March 31/10: Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, MA received a $9.8 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5346) for CVN 78 dual-band radar common array power system and common array cooling system long-lead time materials and associated efforts. These materials, and associated engineering and management efforts, must be bought now, to ensure that critical production schedules are maintained for the CVN 78 program.

Work will be performed in Andover, MA (87.8%); Sudbury, MA (10.4%); Tewksbury, MA (0.9%); and Portsmouth, RI (0.9%), and is expected to be complete by September 2010. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC manages these contracts.

March 30/10: GAO report. The US GAO audit office delivers its 8th annual “Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs report. With respect to DBR on the DDG-1000 and CVN-78 ship classes:

“The [DDG-1000’s AN/SPY-4] volume search radar has progressed in maturity and began testing with the multifunction radar in January 2009. However, program officials report that the tests were conducted without the volume search radar’s radome and at a lower voltage than required. The lead ship’s volume search radar will be installed in April 2013 – after the Navy has taken custody of the ship [DID: which means far less recourse from the prime contractor if things go wrong].

“…Testing of carrier specific dual band radar functionality [for CVN 78] is scheduled to conclude in fiscal year 2012. Dual band radar equipment will be delivered incrementally from fiscal years 2012 through 2014… Given the recent decision to truncate the DDG 1000 program, CVN 21 program officials stated that the dual band radar production line may be idle for up to 4 years before production begins for CVN 79 [and so adding] costs associated with restarting the production line.”

Nov 16/09: CDR. Raytheon and the U.S. Navy recently completed a critical design review (CDR) for the Dual Band Radar, with respect to the USS Gerald R. Ford [CVN 78]. DBR is currently in production for the Zumwalt Class destroyers, and the CDR verified that it also meets the critical operational requirements of the Ford class aircraft carriers.

Raytheon says that DBR’s modular, open architecture design meant that only minor modifications need to be made to accommodate specific differences between the 2 ship types, which makes a case for their ability to adapt the radar to a variety of naval surface combatants, if required. The firm is also competing in the USA’s AMDR program, where that kind of flexibility will be important. Raytheon release.

CDR for CVN

FY 2009

 

DBR testbed, Wallops
(click to view full)

June 2009: Raytheon begins testing the first SPY-3 array at Andover, MA. Source.

April 23/09: +2 SPY-4 VSR. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, MA received a $217 million cost plus fixed fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5346) for 2 Volume Search Radars (VSR). Lockheed Martin makes the antennas for these radars, but Raytheon is the lead contractor, and also makes the radars’ common back-end electronics and software.

These S-band naval radars will be mounted on one of the new DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class destroyers, and on the inaugural CVN-21 carrier USS Gerald R. Ford [CVN 78]. Work will be performed in Moorestown, NJ (95%) and Sudbury, MA (5%), and is to be complete by March 2013. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. manages this contract.

April 7/09: Lightoff. Raytheon announces a successful full-power “lightoff” of both DBR radars. Both radiated at high power during testing at the Navy’s Engineering Test Center in Wallops Island, VA. Following this successful lightoff test, the radar suite will begin an extended period of operational performance testing.

March 30/09: GAO Report. The US government’s GAO audit office issues GAO-09-326SP: “Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs.” Lockheed Martin’s S-band volume search radar, and the Total Ship Computing Environment, are rated as immature technologies. The report adds:

“Land-based tests of the volume search radar prototype originally planned for before ship construction will not be completed until June 2009 – over 2 years later than planned… The Navy will not demonstrate a fully capable radar at its required power output until testing of the first production unit in 2011… installation [of the volume search radar) will occur in April 2013 – after the Navy has taken custody of the ship.”

January 2009: The SPY-3 and SPY-4 radars are installed together since January at the Wallops Island Engineering Center, on the Virginia coast. The radars soon begin tracking aircraft targets of opportunity, and aircraft test runs begin in summer 2009 and will continue into the fall. Source.

Dec 5/08: Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, MA received a $9 million modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5346) for one time engineering efforts. The purpose of this effort is to initiate the non-recurring engineering work required to make the selected Mission System Equipment (Dual Band Radar SPY-3 Array and REX; MK57 Vertical Launch System Electronics Module Controller Unit; Canister Electronic Units, and Total Ship Computing Environment) compatible with the Navy’s remote controlled Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS). The SDTS test will include the first missile firing with this advanced Mission System, against a difficult target set.

Raytheon will update selected Zumwalt Class Destroyer Mission Systems Equipment (MSE) for initial integration efforts at Wallops Island, VA, and follow-on installation on board the SDTS, in support of the Zumwalt TEMP (test and evaluation master plan). Work will be performed in Portsmouth RI (55%), Tewksbury, MA (25%), and Andover, MA (20%) and is expected to be complete by August 2009. All contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

Dec 2/08: Production Readiness Review. Raytheon announces a successful production readiness review of the mission systems equipment (MSE) for the DDG-1000 program. This comprehensive review was the culmination of more than 90 separate design and production reviews, and afterward the Zumwalt program completed a total ship system production readiness review – the final formal review before ship construction begins.

The Zumwalt Class MSE includes the following major subsystems: the Total Ship Computing Environment; Dual Band Radar; the external communications suite; MK 57 Vertical Launching System; AN/SQQ-90 Integrated Undersea Warfare Combat System; the Electro-Optical/Infrared suite; the Identification Friend or Foe integrated sensor suite; and the Zumwalt ship control hardware, including an integrated bridge, navigation, EO surveillance, and engineering control system components.

FY 2006 – 2008

 

DDG-1000: key features
(click to view full)

July 23/08: DDG-1000: Just 3. Widespread reports indicate that the Navy is canceling the DDG-1000 program, capping construction at the 2 ships already ordered. A 3rd ship will eventually be ordered, but that ship is very likely to be the end of a program that once expected to field 32 ships.

Spring 2008: Testing. Raytheon’s SPY-3 X-Band completes at-sea testing off the California coast aboard the test ship Paul F. Foster, a former Spruance class destroyer. Source

Oct 1/07: Testing. Raytheon announces a milestone in advancing the final development of the company’s Dual Band Radar (DBR) for the Zumwalt Class destroyers. Raytheon IDS led the government-industry team in the successful installation of the Lockheed Martin Volume Search Radar (VSR) array at the Surface Warfare Engineering Facility at the Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, CA. After extensive testing, Raytheon will now integrate the VSR with the SPY-3 X-band Multi-Function Radar to form the DBR.

Another 5 months of extensive testing is set to begin, representing a critical step in testing the maturity of the technology prior to advancing to full system production. Raytheon’s X-band, SPY-3 has successfully completed extensive land-based and at-sea tests over the last 2 years. Raytheon release.

Sept 21/07: +2 DDG-1000 MSE. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, Mass. received a $994.3 million cost-type modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5346), covering key mission system equipment (MSE) production and engineering support services for the first 2 ships of the Zumwalt Class. The MSE includes the total ship computing environment infrastructure; acoustic sensor suite element – including the bow array sensor suite; dual band radar; electro-optic/infrared sensor; ship control system; identification of friend or foe; common array power and cooling systems; electronic module enclosures; and Mark 57 vertical launcher system. Raytheon is the mission systems integrator for the Zumwalt Class ships.

Work will be performed in Moorestown, NJ (21%); Portsmouth, RI (20%); Andover, MA (18%); Tewksbury, MA (17%); Marlborough, MA; St. Petersburg, FL; Ft. Wayne, IN (17%); and Sudbury, MA (7%), and is expected to be complete by December 2012. The MSE is being procured for the program executive office for ships [PMS-500].

Feb 12/07: Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, MA received a not-to-exceed $305.7 million cost-type modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5346) for DDG 1000 Mission System Equipment (MSE) and engineering support services. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, MA (47%); Portsmouth, RI (28%); and Moorestown, NJ (25%), and is expected to be complete by September 2007.

This is part of the DDG 1000 Ship Systems Detailed Design and Integration effort, and the hardware involved includes: Total Ship’s Computing Environment Infrastructure; Acoustic Sensor Suite Element – including the Bow Array Sensor Suite; Dual Band Radar; Electro-Optic/ Infrared Sensor; Ship Control System; Identification of Friend or Foe; Common Array Power and Cooling Systems; Electronic Module Enclosures; and the Mark 57 PVLS Vertical Launcher System.

Oct 24/06: Testing. Raytheon reports successful on-schedule integration of Lockheed Martin’s engineering development model S-Band array with receiver, exciter, and signal/data processing equipment for the Volume Search Radar (VSR) portion of the DDG-1000 destroyer’s Dual Band Radar (DBR). Raytheon had already developed and tested the X-band component of the DBR, known as the AN/SPY-3. Now the challenge is to integrate them together.

May 25/06: Testing. Raytheon announces that the U.S. Navy’s first shipboard active phased array multifunction radar, Raytheon’s AN/SPY-3, has successfully participated in a series of at-sea tests, including the first time the radar has acquired and tracked a live controlled aircraft while at sea. Raytheon release.

FY 2000 – 2005

 

Sept 14/05: DDX CDR. The DD (X) Program’s Flag-Level Critical Design Review (CDR) is completed for the overall system design, marking the end of Phase III and a process advertised as being “on schedule and within 1% of stated budget.” See the release for more details, which include important information about the program.

Note that this effort included an unusually thorough approach of CDRs for each of 10 Engineering Development Models, representing a judgment that they have achieved enough have achieved both technical maturity and cost insight. The 10 EDMs were:

• Wave-Piercing Tumblehome Hull
  
• Infrared Mockups
  
• Composite Deckhouse and Apertures
  
• Dual Band Radar (DBR)
  
• Integrated Power System
  
• Total Ship Computing Environment (TSCE)
  
• Integrated Undersea Warfare System (IUSW)
  
• Peripheral Vertical Launching System (PVLS)
  
• Advanced Gun System (AGS)
  
• Autonomic Fire Suppression System (AFSS)

July 18/05: DDX. The National Team announces that they have successfully completed the Initial Critical Design Review for the DD (X) overall system design, allowing the program to pass on toward the Flag level review in September 2005 and enter detail design.

This was a DD (X) Phase III program event that addressed the total system’s design maturity, and overall progress made to date on DD (X) engineering-development models of hardware and software components that have already been built, tested and reviewed by the National Team and the Navy. Examples include the integrated deckhouse and apertures, total ship computing environment, dual-band radar system, integrated under-sea warfare system, MK 57 advanced vertical launching system, automated gun system and wave-piercing tumblehome hull.

Jan 14/05: Testing. DD (X) AN/SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar Passes Milestone B Criteria Tests. Raytheon announces that the Engineering Development Model (EDM) for the AN/SPY-3 X-Band Multi Function Radar has successfully completed its Milestone B test event at the Navy’s Wallops Island, VA test range. The test served to assess the radar’s environmental, detection, and tracking performance.

2003: VSR = S-Band. The US Navy changes the proposed VSR volume-search antenna from L-band to S-band, and makes Lockheed Martin the sub-contractor for the antenna.

2003: Lockheed Martin’s SBAR demonstrator begins operation in Moorestown, NJ.

2000: SBAR. Lockheed Martin begin pursuing the S-Band Advanced Radar (SBAR project), as an internal development effort.

Nov 1/99: Initial DBR development. Microwave Journal reports that Raytheon has received a 5-year, $140 million, section 845, cost-plus-award-fee contract from the US Navy for engineering and manufacturing development of the next-generation Multifunction Radar (MFR), which will equip future aircraft carriers and destroyers.

Additional Readings & Sources

DID appreciates the assistance of Raytheon IDS, and of Lockheed Martin’s Allan Croly, Director for Naval Radar, in the preparation of this article. Any mistakes are solely DID’s responsibility.

Background: The DBR Radar

• Raytheon – Naval Radars: Dual Band Radar (DBR)

• Raytheon, via WayBack – DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer: Critical technologies

• Global Security – AN/SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar (MFR)

• Wikipedia – AN/SPY-3

• Lockheed Martin, via WayBack – S-band Advanced Radar (SBAR). Their current site focuses on their competing AMDR S-band solution.

Background: The Ships

• DII FOCUS – Design & Preparations Continue for the USA’s New CVN-21 Super-Carrier

• DII FOCUS – Dead Aim, Or Dead End? The USA’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class Program

Background: Other Radars

• DID Spotlight – AMDR Competition: The USA’s Next Dual-Band Radar. The dual-band AMDR was originally slated for the CG (X) cruiser, but will now equip a potential “Future Surface Combatant Ship” by 2015, and could have retrofit opportunities in existing DDG-51 destroyers. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are all competing.

• Wikipedia – SMART-L. Made by Thales Nederland. These radars have been successfully tested for ballistic missile tracking.

Official Reports

• US GAO (Sept 5/13, #GAO-13-396) – Ford-Class Carriers: Lead Ship Testing and Reliability Shortfalls Will Limit Initial Fleet Capabilities. The DBR is a contributor to this situation.

News & Views

• DID – Elec Tricks: Turning AESA Radars Into Broadband Comlinks

• DID – Supersonic SIGINT: Will F-35, F-22 Also Play EW Role?. Their AESA active electronically-scanned array radars are the key technology; a technology shared by the DBR.

• Information Dissemination (Aug 10/10) – Happy Thoughts and DDG-1000. “The real reason the Navy is dropping the VSR on DDG-1000 is because the Navy intends to put… AMDR on the DDG-1000…”

F135 Engine Test
(click to view full)

Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney have successfully performed the first start of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft test engine, using an integrated power package (IPP) that the functions traditionally performed by the auxiliary power system, emergency power system, and environmental control into a single system. The system was used to start a Pratt & Whitney F135 short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) engine at the company’s advanced test facility in West Palm Beach, FL. The IPP is a subsystem of the F-35 Power and Thermal Management System (PTMS).

The JSF program has targeted the successful IPP engine start as a major milestone since the beginning of the System Development and Demonstration phase of the program in 2001. The achievement paves the way for additional development testing in preparation for the F-35’s first flight in 2006, and comes about a month after the Pratt & Whitney F135 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program successfully completed the post test Critical Design Review (CDR) by the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Joint Program Office (JPO). The JPO review found that the F135 propulsion system has met all review objectives and is on track to deliver the first flight test engine later this year.

F-35 JSF

Unlike current-generation fighters, the F-35 will rely on “more-electric” systems to operate the aircraft that are tightly integrated to save weight, add reliability and improve packaging efficiency. Performing engine starts with the integrated systems demonstrates the maturity of their designs and reduces risk for first flight.

At the heart of the IPP is a small gas-turbine engine “turbomachine” that provides power to the engine-mounted starter/generator, bringing the engine to its threshold starting speed. The engine then increases to idle speed and the electrical system, which includes the engine-mounted starter/generator (ES/G), transitions from operating as a motor to operating as a generator. The IPP is also available for in-flight emergency power.

In 2001, Pratt & Whitney was awarded a 10-year $4.8 billion contract for System Development and Demonstration to develop the F135 propulsion system through flight clearance, flight test, and qualification for Low Rate Initial Production.

To date, the Pratt & Whitney led F135 propulsion team has delivered three Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL)/Carrier Variant (CV) configuration and four Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) configuration F135 engines to test for a total of seven engines delivered on or ahead of schedule. In December, the team will deliver the first flight test engine in preparation for Initial Flight Release in January 2006 and first flight in August 2006. Production deliveries of the F135 are scheduled to begin in early 2009.

F135 STOVL
(click to view full)

The F135 is an evolution of the highly successful F119 engine for the F/A-22 Raptor. Together the F135 and F119 engines will have logged more than one million flight hours in support of the F-35’s introduction to operational service in 2012.

The F135 will be competing with the GE/ Rolls-Royce F136 engine, designed to be completely interchangeable with the F135 in any JSF plane.

The F135 propulsion system team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce, supplying lift components for the STOVL F-35B; Honeywell International, supplying the integrated power package; and Hamilton Sundstrand, provider of the F135’s control system, engine start system, external accessories and gearbox.

Updates

January 22/19: Meggitt to provide engine components Meggitt won a $751.2 million deal to provide advanced engine components for Pratt and Whitney. Meggitt is a British engineering business established in the 1940s. It specializes in aerospace equipment. Pratt and Whitney is an American aerospace manufacturer that supplies engines for US fighter jets. The 10-year contract with the engine maker is to supply advanced components for the F119 and F135 engines which power the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The F119 and F135 are afterburning turbofan engines with the F135 being a derivative of the F119.

September 20/17: Pratt & Whitney has successfully finished tests of an adaptive three-stream fan paired with a F135 core engine. The fan includes an adaptive bypass airflow that aims to improve fuel efficient and cooling capacity, and is part of a $1 billion program to develop a full-scale, 45,000lb-thrust-class prototype engine under the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) that could be used to re-engine the F-35 and power a future combat aircraft. At present, most military turbofan engines have only two airstreams, but including an additional, adaptive airstream will give the engine the option to increase its thrust on demand or lower its fuel consumption.

January 17/17: Ethical conflicts at Pratt & Whitney have resulted in the ousting of the head of the company’s F135 engine program alongside nine other employees. The dismissals come after the completion of an internal audit which uncovered an ethics issue linked to a visit by South Korean military officials several years ago. During the trip, the Korean delegation paid a visit to the company’s West Palm Beach facility in Florida, and Pratt & Whitney paid for a rental van to fetch them there. While certainly not the most outrageous form of graft in the industry’s history, causing no violation of US export control or anti-bribery laws, the engine company deemed the move as a breach of their strict ethics laws, amounting to “inappropriate entertainment.”

May 3/16: Following 15 years of work, Pratt & Whitney announced that they are coming to the end of the development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter‘s F135 propulsion system. The F135 team is also about 85% of the way through correcting an engine fault inherent in 180 early-model units which caused one aircraft to catch fire on the runway at Eglin AFB, Florida in June 2014. Derived from the F119-100 turbofan that powers the F-22 Raptor, the F135 was selected for both Lockheed X-35 and Boeing X-32 JSF prototypes.

Additional Readings & Sources:

• News Release: Unique Integrated System Starts F-35 Engine in Joint Test By Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney

• News Release: Pratt & Whitney F135 SDD Program Successfully Completes Post Test Critical Design Review

• DID March 11, 2005 – F136 Engine Reaching Test Milestones

• DID March 7, 2005 – GAO Releases Study of F-22, F-35 Programs

Americas

The Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $77.8 million contract modification for production of the Navy’s AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship Undersea Warfare System (UWS). The undersea warfare combat system can search, detect, classify, localize, and track undersea contacts, as well as engage and evade submarine, mine-like objects and torpedo threats. It presents an integrated picture of the tactical situation receiving, combining and processing active as well as passive sensor data. The system is integrated with AEGIS combat system. In July 2018, Lockheed received a $25.4 million contract modification for the system. The current contract is for development, integration and production of future advanced capability build and technical insertion baselines of the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 USW systems. Work will mainly be conducted in Pennsylvania and Florida, and is expected to be completed by May 2021.

The US Army Contracting Command contracted Talbert Manufacturing Inc. $360.2 million to deliver a batch of M872A4 semitrailers. The M872A4 Semi-trailer is a dual purpose, break bulk/container transporter, 34-ton capacity, with a flatbed. Its’ mission is line and local haul of break bulk cargo, inter-modal cargo containers, as well as shelters. The company is 80 years old and produces a wide variety of trailers for moving goods by truck, including for hauling building materials, pipes, hazardous materials and nuclear materials for commercial, military, government, aerospace and energy end users. Its custom trailers include 13 axle trailers, gooseneck trailers, east/west coast spread axle trailers, lowboy trailers, dual capacity trailers and hydraulic tail trailers. They are sold at dealerships US-wide. Work locations under this contract will be determined with each order and is scheduled to be completed by January 16, 2024.

The Navy tapped Bell Helicopter Textron with a $439.6 million contract modification for production and delivery of 25 Lot 16 AH-IZ aircraft and 25 stores control units. The AH-1Z is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the Bell AH-1W SuperCobra. It features a four-blade rotor system, uprated transmission, and a new target-sighting system. It has upgraded avionics, weapons, and electro-optical sensors designed to find targets at long ranges and attack them with precision weapons. The Marine Corps H-1 upgrades program is building new helicopters as well as rebuilding AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Twin Huey utility helicopters, with state-of-the-art designs. The goal of the program is to upgrade AH-1Ws to AH-1Zs, and UH-1Ns to UH-1Ys. Work will be performed in Texas and is expected to be finished by January 2022.

The Defense Logistics Agency awarded the Bell Boeing Joint Program Office $143.9 million for V-22 support. The contract includes performance-based logistics and engineering support for the V-22 platform. The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is multi-mission, tiltrotor aircraft that has vertical takeoff and landings well as short takeoff and landing capabilities. In July 2018, Bell Boeing received a $4 billion contract that included the manufacture and delivery of 39 CMV-22B aircraft for the Navy, 14 MV-22B aircraft for the Marine Corps, and one CV-22B for the Air Force. Under this performance-based logistics contract, Bell Boeing focuses on improving aircraft maintainability and mission readiness for the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps V-22 fleets. The team’s responsibilities are site activation, maintenance planning, training and trainer support, support equipment, and dedicated field personnel for all V-22 squadrons around the globe. Performance completion date is November 30, 2019.

Middle East & Africa

The MBDA Missile Systems’ medium-range missile was successfully deployed in Mali by the French Army for the first time. MBDA is a european developer and manufacturer of missiles. Its medium-range missile, called Missile Doyenne Portée is a man-portable anti-tank guided missile intended as a replacement for the MILAN. The Picardy Battle Group used the missile for the first time in a combat environment in December. A six-person crew delivered the system by armored car, then installed it at the top of a ridge in southeastern Mali’s three-border region and successfully fired it. MBDA successfully tested the Naval version of the Missile in Djibouti in November.

Europe

The French Defense Procurement Agency awarded Thales to contribute to the development of the Rafale F4 standard, enabling the Rafale combat aircraft to maintain its superiority against new threats. Rafale’s role includes reconnaissance, air defense and precision strikes during a single mission. The aircraft is central to France’s airborne nuclear deterrence, a crucial component of France’s National Security policy. Under the Rafale F4 standard development program, Thales engineers and technicians are to enhance the aircraft’s onboard sensors and improve connectivity to offer a broader range of capabilities and new operational functions. The enhancements will allow aircrews to better assess tactical situations as well as handle larger volumes of information in real time.

Asia-Pacific

China may be developing the first two-seat version of its J-20 stealth combat aircraft, according to a January 2019 report. It is set to fulfill roles as a tactical bomber, electronic warfare, or a carrier strike aircraft. If the report is accurate, the Chinese Air Force could become the first air arm in the world to deploy a radar-evading fighter-bomber whose main mission is long-range ground-attack. Other stealth fighter types, including the U.S. military’s F-22 and F-35, the Russian air force’s Su-57 and the PLAAF’s J-20 and J-31 either primarily are air-to-air fighters or combine air-combat capability with the ability to strike ground targets.

Singapore wants to acquire Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) as a replacement for the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) F-16C/D multirole combat aircraft. This is the outcome of a a technical evaluation by the RSAF and the Defense Science and Technology Agency which lasted more than five years. The RSAF is believed to operate about 20 F-16C and 40 F-16D Block 52/52+ aircraft, which were acquired in the 1990s and believed to be optimized with Israeli-built electronic countermeasures (ECM) systems. The Ministry of Defense is now going to discuss further details for the replacement with relevant parties in the US before confirming the decision to purchase the F-35 JSFs.

Today’s Video

Watch: Here’s How an F-22 Raptor Flew under the Iranian Fighter Jet and Told Him to go Home

Americas

The US Army awarded American defense company Leidos with a $9.7 million contract modification to support Saturn Arch Aerial Intelligence System. The Saturn Arch program started nine years ago in 2010 under the direction of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in order to implement intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to a special aircraft fitted with new sensor technology to identify and assist in removing Improvised-Explosive Devices (IEDs) from the battlefield in Afghanistan. The support provided by Saturn Arch personnel has grown over the years. No the mission is to make the battlefield as safe as possible, providing a clear picture of the battlespace. Back in August the Army awarded Leidos with a contract modification for sustained operations and support services at a cost of $60 million. The current modification includes supporting the Saturn Arch Aerial Intelligence System for day and night image collection and exploitation of IED “hot spot” areas. Work will be performed in Bridgewater, Virginia and is scheduled to be finished by September 16, 2019.

The Naval Sea Systems Command contracted Lockheed Martin with an undisclosed amount to build a littoral combat ship (LCS) in fiscal year 2019. The company will manage design, planning and testing operations as part of the fixed-price-incentive modification that exercises an option of a previously awarded contract. LCS are designed to operate near shore. In 2004 the US Department of Defense along with the US Navy selected two separate defense contracting teams led by Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics to each carry out system design and options for the construction of two first- generation LC-ships. The Lockheed Martin Freedom-class design is a high-speed, semi-planing monohull. Under the current contract modification Lockheed Martin will perform and oversee all necessary design, planning, construction and test and trials activities in support of delivery of this ship to the Navy. Work is scheduled to be completed by February, 2026.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. won a $68.9 million contract to conduct the Mission Data (MD) programming and reprogramming mission for the F-35 Digital Channelized Receiver/Technique Generator and Tuner Insertion Program (DTIP), and other non-DTIP configurations. Under this deal, Lockheed will design, develop, document, integrate and test upgrades to the US Reprogramming Laboratory in order to execute the mission. Efforts benefit the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps operational aircraft as well as all training aircraft wishing the continental US with MD products. The Reprogramming Laboratory was established at Eglin Air Force Base to to compile information in order for the F-35 to be able to operate in combat. This information is known as the Mission Data Files. Work is expected to be completed in May 2021.

Middle East & Africa

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the establishment of a BMC production and technology base in the northwestern province of Sakarya. The $180 million facility is set to become the country’s biggest defense investment in recent years. Once all phases are completed, it is supposed to employ 10.000 people. BMC is one of Turkey’s commercial and defense vehicle producers. Qatar owns a significant stake in the company. The new site will produce Altay main battle tanks (MBTs), military and commercial vehicles, and engines of various platforms. Altay is Turkey’s third generation main battle tank, developed under the Altay National Tank project in 2005. Turkey intends to build 250 Altay MBTs and ultimately produce 1,000 new tanks in four separate lots of 250 units. The Altay tank uses an advanced computerized Volkan-III modular fire-control system and is equipped with a 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun.

Europe

Bulgaria’s parliament approved a government plan to enter into talks with the US on a potential deal for eight F-16 fighter jets in order to replace its Russian MiG-29s. 130 lawmakers voted in favor of the plan. The update will bring the country’s Air Force in line with NATO standards. 84 voted were against entering into discussions with the US and preferred the other two options on the table: Sweden’s Saab Gripen jets and Italy’s second-hand Eurofighters. Lockheed Martin’s F-16V Block 70 is the newest F-16 production configuration and includes the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The question of which warplanes to buy has been vexing successive governments in Bulgaria for more than a decade.

The British Royal Air Force (RAF) holds its annual Cobra Warrior exercise in September at Coningsby Air Base in Lincolnshire and it features a premiere: Israeli Air Force aircrew and fighter jets are to take part in a joint exercise with the Royal Air Force in Britain for the first time. The exercise is the culmination of the advanced Qualified Weapons Instructor course, and usually also includes crew and aircraft from other allied air forces who fly together with the British teams in complex combat scenarios. Last year, German and Italian aircraft joined the RAF. Recent British-Israeli defense cooperation has included the training of British personnel on the use of Israeli weapons systems acquired by Britain: the Watchkeeper WK450 drone, the Exactor ground-based missile, and the Litening targeting pod carried by RAF Typhoon and Tornado aircraft.

Asia-Pacific

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is seeking cabinet approval to acquire more VT-4 main battle tanks (MBTs) made by the China North Industries Corporation (Norinco). If the government approves the proposal, the RTA will own 52 VT-4s. The VT-4 main battle tank, previously known as the MBT-3000, is armed with a 125 millimeter smoothbore cannon to engage armored personnel carriers, main battle tanks, infantry forces, military installations, light vehicles and low-flying helicopters. A remotely operated 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun comprise the secondary armament. At the end of 2017, Thailand became the first VT-4 export partner, with a 28 tank delivery.

Today’s Video

Watch: This is the Stealth Bomber Patrolling Near China to Prevent a Fight

SPRP MiG-29
(click to view full)

Like Poland, Bulgaria bought its MiG-29s back when it was a strategic buffer on the side of the Soviets. Which makes hardware upgrades a bit awkward today. Sending the old fighters off to Russia for refurbishment is awkward at a time when NATO is attempting to roust the impression of additional asset rotations through Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, where a dozen U.S. F-15s were lately exercising in Graf Ignatievo.

Poland, back in 2011, used their own state-owned Wojskowe Zaklady Lotnicze facility in Bydgoszcz to start processing 16 of its own MiG 29s, successfully swapping out avionics, mission computers, a NATO-compatible databus and hardened GPS. This wasn’t gold plating. They opted out of helmet-mounted displays, state-of-the-art counter measures and fitment for western weapons. The thinking was that if they could get one of their squadrons in the air until 2030, that would do.

So it makes perfect sense that Bulgaria would think about contracting with Poland’s WZL to refit.

Bulgaria, aside from the awkwardness and the very real threat of sending their hens to be repaired by the fox, understands the inherent problems in dealing with Russian service providers. It has also been a problematic client, with financing issues shorting many of its ambitious acquisition programs. While it is likely happenstance, the public nature of Bulgaria’s considering options (the minister of defense talked about it on national TV) could be a negotiating ploy to get a better deal with the Russians’ RSK MiG, whose maintenance contract runs out in September, or it could even be that Bulgaria is killing time until it can afford to have one or the other actually start work.

Bulgaria has also been looking to replace its MiG-21s, and has shortlisted three offers out of fifteen received, according to Air Recognition. Pakistan also wants to offer its own JF-17, manufactured with China.

Updates

 

January 17/19: Talks about F-16 replacing MiGs Bulgaria’s parliament approved a government plan to enter into talks with the US on a potential deal for eight F-16 fighter jets in order to replace its Russian MiG-29s. 130 lawmakers voted in favor of the plan. The update will bring the country’s Air Force in line with NATO standards. 84 voted were against entering into discussions with the US and preferred the other two options on the table: Sweden’s Saab Gripen jets and Italy’s second-hand Eurofighters. Lockheed Martin’s F-16V Block 70 is the newest F-16 production configuration and includes the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The question of which warplanes to buy has been vexing successive governments in Bulgaria for more than a decade.

May 22/18: Bulgaria The Bulgarian government is set to make a final decision for the acquisition for new or used fighter jets to replace its ageing Soviet-designed MiG-29s as well as the purchase of 150 combat vehicles. The eastern European country has been under pressure to modernize and replace its old Soviet-era systems ever since it joined NATO in 2004. Under the proposed plan, Bulgaria would acquire at least 8 jets worth $1.08 billion. Bulgaria has received offers by Saab for its Gripen warplanes as well as offers for used F-16s from Portugal and secondhand Eurofighter Typhoons from Italy.

March 14/17: Bulgaria’s Defense Ministry has received three bids from Italy, Sweden and Portugal for the country’s MiG-29 replacement competition. Sweden is offering Sofia its Gripen package; Italy second-hand Eurofighters; while Portugal wants to sell its F-16s second-hand alongside a logistics package and weaponry from the US. $820 million has been earmarked by the government for the acquisition of eight new aircraft in order to improve compliance with NATO standards while reducing reliance on Russian-made aircraft. Formal negotiations with the preferred bidder could start as early as next month.

November 14/16: Bulgaria has signed a deal with Russia to purchase ten engines for its aging fleet of MiG-29 jet fighters. The $23.75 million deal includes the supply of four new and six repaired engines. Last year Bulgaria signed an agreement with NATO ally Poland to repair six MiG-29 fighter jets, part of a push by Sofia to reduce its reliance on Russia. In an effort to move toward greater compliance with NATO standards, the Balkan country is also planning to buy eight new or second-hand fighter jets in 2017.

October 17/16: Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense has altered the criteria of their fighter acquisition program, lessening the importance of an aircraft’s lifespan to just 5% of the evaluation. The previous weightage of 25% was seen to favor Saab’s Gripen but this advantage has now shifted to second-hand F-16s. Bulgaria had wanted to buy used F-16s from Portugal but the plan was abandoned following the collapse of the government of Boykko Borissov in 2013.

April 18/16: April 18/16: The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $22 million contract external link to produce Archerfish mine neutralizers. Flown on board the MH-60S, Archerfish is a remotely-controlled underwater vehicle equipped with an explosive warhead to destroy sea mines. Deliveries of the systems are expected to begin in September 2017. The contract also includes further options which, if exercised by the DoD, could bring the total value to over $55.3 million.

January 27/16: Bulgaria will acquire new fighters to replace its older Soviet-era MiG-25s by 2019. The procurement will see Sofia purchase retired F-16s, the Gripen or the Eurofighter Typhoon as it moves away from its reliance on older Russian technology. The country’s 2004 joining with NATO saw them vow to have their MiGs retired and purchase eight new fighters by 2016. The last three of their MiG-25s were retired last December and an announcement on their replacement is expected by March of this year.

Americas

The Naval Surface Warfare Center tapped Raytheon with $9.3 million for engineering services in support of the Aegis SPY-1 radar and MK 99 fire control system. The SPY-1 radar and the MK 99 are key components of the Aegis Weapon System, the heart of the Aegis Combat System. The MK 99 Fire Control System controls the loading and arming of the selected weapon, launches the weapon, and provides terminal guidance for Antiair Warfare Systems. The AN/SPY-1 radar system is used by Aegis Ashore missile defense sites. The SPY-1 can maintain continuous radar surveillance while automatically tracking more than 100 targets at one time. Raytheon has delivered its first SPY-1 transmitter in 1981. Today, it has equipped 108 ships with 140 systems. The current order provides technical, logistical and engineering services from the original equipment manufacturer. Work is scheduled to be completed by January 2021.

The US Navy awarded Microsoft a potential five-year $1.8 billion contract to support Microsoft-made products for the Department of Defense (DoD), US Coast Guard and intelligence community. Under this deal the company will provide engineering services to help software developers and other product teams use knowledge database, tools, and source code. The contract is issued under the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI). This project was established to enable a software management process within the Department of Defense. The contract mechanism manages Information Technology agreements, assets, and policies in order to lower the total cost of ownership across the DoD, Coast Guard and intelligence community. ESI combines the DoD’s buying power with commercial software publishers, hardware vendors and service providers. Under the contract, Microsoft will perform work at various locations worldwide through Jan. 10, 2024.

Middle East & Africa

Turkey developed stand-alone software to control imported missile systems without threatening its sovereign rights, Jane’s reports. Turkey will go ahead with purchasing a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile battery under a $2.5 billion contract, which also includes an option for a second one. The US is trying to prevent Turkey’s government from buying the S-400 defense missile system and is threatening to impose sanctions on the Turkish authorities in case they do not cancel the arms deal with Russia. They are warning, that Turkey risks expulsion from the US-led F-35 program if the country goes through with the S-400 delivery. The US is concerned, the S-400 would harm the flight safety of the fifth generation F-35 aircraft. The S-400 is an anti-aircraft weapon system, which integrates a multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command as well as control center. It is able to fire three types of missiles to create a layered defense. Turkey will start to deploy S-400s in October this year.

Europe

France contracted Dassault Aviation with a $2.3 billion for 28 upgraded Rafale aircraft. The aircraft will include some of the F-4 standard’s function. The F4 standard is part of the ongoing process to improve the Rafale in line with technological progress and operating experience feedback. The update includes upgraded radar sensors and front sector optronics as well as improved capabilities in the helmet-mounted display. With the F4 standard the aircraft will be able to receive more data and strengthen the data rate. It will also feature new weapons like the MBDA’s Mica NG air-to-air missile and 1,000 kg AASM air-to-ground modular weapon. Th 28 ordered Rafale aircraft will be delivered to the French Air Force from the year 2023. After that, 30 additional Rafales will be ordered and are scheduled to be delivered between 2027 and 2030.

The Hellenic Armed Forces, the combined military forces of Greece move forward with two Hellenic Navy acquisition programs for heavyweight torpedoes and maritime helicopters. The programs were approved in December and are now being forwarded to the Ministry of Defense for implementation, Jane’s reports. The Hellenic Navy wants to procure 36 533 millimeter heavyweight torpedoes for the Papanikolis-class Type 214 submarines and sole Type 209 AIP-equipped submarine, HS Okeanos. The new torpedoes are to replace AEG SUT and SST-4 torpedoes. The type 214 submarine features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion system. The 209 Type is a diesel-electric attack submarine armed with eight bow 533 mm torpedo tubes and 14 torpedoes.

Asia-Pacific

Two Indian Army Soldiers developed an armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for the Indian Army. The armed quadcopter prototype was a long-pending requirement of the armed forces. The quadcopter was displayed at the Army Technology Seminar in New Delhi on Friday and has been previously deployed during live operations along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan and counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. No defense service in India possess armed drones, making this a historic innovation in the history of the Indian Army.

Today’s Video

Watch: Sorry Su-57! UK’s new f-35b and New Eurofighter typhoon-jets ready for combat-missions

Papanikolis at HDW
(click to view full)

On Monday Sept 21/09, ThyssenKrupp Marine informed the Greek Minister of Defence that it was canceling “The Archimedes Project” contract for 4 U-214 diesel-electric submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion technology, because the government’s payments had remained underwater for too long. That development was the just the latest chapter in a long and continuing saga. If the issue remains unresolved, or arbitration results in termination payments but no delivery, Greece could find itself without a submarine force.

Accumulated payment arrears were over EUR 520 million (then $767 million), and so ThyssenKrupp and its subsidiary Hellenic Shipyards sought international arbitration, in order to recover some of the payments due under its contract. A resolution was arrived at, but failed execution by Hellenic Shipyards has left Greece’s future submarine fleet in limbo, even as investigations and trials are sending former Greek officials to court and to jail for corruption associated with the purchase.

Greece’s Submarine Programs: Types and Travails

S118 Okeanos painting
(click to view full)

Greece fielded 8 boats before the U214 program: 4 Glavkos class U-209/1100 boats commissioned between 1971-1979 (S110-S113), and 4 Poseidon class U-209/1200 boats (S114, S117, S118, S119) commissioned from 1979-1980.

In 1989, the Neptune I program began to upgrade the 4 Glavkos class boats. They received flank array sonar and significant electronics upgrades, including the ability to fire UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

In 2002, Hellenic shipyards received the Neptune II contract for the “mid life” modernization and repair of 3 Poseidon class boats, which included cutting the hull and installing an 6.5m long Air-Independent Propulsion section, as well as hydrogen storage tanks for the AIP. Flank array sonar, electronics upgrades, an electro-optic mast with satellite communication capability, and Harpoon missile firing capability reportedly round out the upgrade’s major features. In the end, however, only HS Okeanos [S118] will be upgraded.

No ship lasts forever, and that’s especially true of submarines. The Greek government signed a contract in February 2000 for 3 of HDW’s new Type 214 submarines + 1 option. It was the first order for the new class that would inject new boats into the fleet, and that would eventually grew to 6 submarines after a long and bitter history.

Greece’s Submarine Odyssey

Greek TV report

Papanikolis (S120), the first-of-class U-214, was laid down in Kiel, Germany in February 2001 and launched in April 2004. In January 2005, HDW’s ThyssenKrupp Marine (TKMS) parent company bought Hellenic Shipyards near Athens, Greece, and invested heavily in modernizing it. Submarine work had already been underway since 2002, and Hellenic Shipyards built the next 3 Greek U-214 submarines: S121 Pipinos, S122 Matrozos, and S123 Katsonis.

Once the Papanikolis’ sea trials began in 2006, however, the Hellenic Navy found a host of issues with the new submarine. Poor performance from the AIP system that supplements its diesel engines for long underwater operations, problems with the ISUS combat system, poor surface seakeeping in high seas, and hydraulic system issues were among the major flaws reported. The Navy refused acceptance, leaving HDW to fix the boat.

HDW set to work on Papanikolis, but the submarine has been docked in Kiel since 2006 waiting for Greek acceptance. HDW says acceptance is now justified, as the defects have been fixed, but the Greek government refuses to accept the boat. It has raised other issues, such as the ad-hoc nature of several required modifications to avoid disassembling the boat, the number of sea trials that have consumed some of the onboard equipment’s operational life – and one rather more traditional reservation, which is not expressed but plays a role. Sailors are famously superstitious, and Papanikolis’ tribulations have given it a reputation as an unlucky boat.

In 2010, a provisional agreement was reached. Greece would accept the U214s, and would shift Project Neptune II from 3 upgraded Poseidon Class boats to 1 upgrade plus 2 new U214 submarines, giving Greece a total of 6 U214s on order.

HDW doesn’t seem to be part of that deal, and as of January 2014, S121 Pipinos, S122 Matrozos, and S123 Katsonis are all reportedly still in sea trials, instead of acting as operational boats. Actually, they’re slowly being refurbished after lying partly-finished at Hellenic Shipyards, which was shuttered for years.

Contracts & Key Events 2012 – 2019

 

U-214 cutaway
(click to view full) January 15/19: Acquisition programs The Hellenic Armed Forces, the combined military forces of Greece move forward with two Hellenic Navy acquisition programs for heavyweight torpedoes and maritime helicopters. The programs were approved in December and are now being forwarded to the Ministry of Defense for implementation, Jane’s reports. The Hellenic Navy wants to procure 36 533 millimeter heavyweight torpedoes for the Papanikolis-class Type 214 submarines and sole Type 209 AIP-equipped submarine, HS Okeanos. The new torpedoes are to replace AEG SUT and SST-4 torpedoes. The type 214 submarine features diesel propulsion with an air-independent propulsion system. The 209 Type is a diesel-electric attack submarine armed with eight bow 533 mm torpedo tubes and 14 torpedoes.

Oct 7/14: S121 Pipinos, the first U214 submarine assembled at Hellenic Shipyards, is launched and christened. There’s still a lot left before the boat enters service, but it’s a lot better than just sitting in the shipyard and rusting. Regarding its namesake:

“The Greek submarine was named after Andreas Pipinos (1780-1836), a famous seamen from the island of Hydra. During the Greek War of Independence, Pipinos fought by the side of Constantine Kanaris. He took part in the destruction of the Turkish fleet of Kara Ali in 1822 and in the 1824 battle of Gerontas, in which he was seriously injured while burning the Turkish flagship.”

Sources: Greek Reporter, “Launch of First Submarine Built in Greece”.

June 12/14: Sue what? Britain’s Telegraph newspaper reports that this farce has just gone to 11, following a EUR 1.3 billion lawsuit by new Hellenic Shipyards owner Abu Dhabi Mar late in 2013:

“It can now be disclosed that the Greek Government has launched a seven-billion euro compensation claim against ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Abu Dhabi Mar – the defence firm and shipyard now responsible for the order.

A 200-page document sent to the ICC International Court of Arbitration states that Greece’s international position was compromised by the failure to supply the submarines and its position in Nato was undermined…. Following years of delay, the Greek Government has recently insisted that the submarines are finally due to start full sea trials imminently, although no date has been set.”

AFP reports offered a different timeline, involving completion of S121 Pipinos by the end of the year, and S122 Matrozos and S123 Katsonis by the end of 2016. The April 9/14 Deutsche Welle report paints a picture of neglect, and it remains to be seen whether providing EUR 75 million and some naval engineers to Hellenic Shipyards is going to result in safe and seaworthy boats. Sources: Agence France Presse, “Greek Navy To Fast-Track Long-Delayed Submarine Order” | The Telegraph, “Greece sues for 7 billion euros over German submarines that have never sailed”.

April 9/14: Rust in Peace. Deutsche Welle does a story about poverty and phantom jobs in Greece. This part was revealing:

“Two years before, I sit in this chair. I feel so strange being here”…. That’s because she is one of a thousand workers at Hellenic Shipyards who haven’t received a paycheck in that time. They’re only employed on paper…. Back at the shipyard, Nikos and Alexandra drive past two partially built submarines that are languishing in drydock.

“They are about 80 percent ready to go,” says Alexandra. “Now, in the two years we haven’t been working, they’re ruining and rusting. Can’t you see?”

The submarines cost Greek taxpayers billions and were caught in the crossfire of a massive bribery scandal. They were designed with German know-how – ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems used to run the shipyard.”

If they’re 80% complete and rusting, one wonders if they can ever serve without being largely rebuilt. Sources: Deutsche Welle, “Greek families struggle to survive economic crisis”.

Jan 20/14: Investigation. Germany’s Der Spiegel adds more details to the recent arrests, with an interesting shot of perspective to chase it down. Here’s their take on HSY chairman Sotiris Emmanouil:

“One of the provisions of the deal was that HDW would take over HSY. SPIEGEL has learned that Greek investigators believe the German submarine consortium, which included Essen-based Ferrostaal and HDW shipyards, gave that money to E. in the form of a bribe payment to ensure he wouldn’t stand in the way of the plan. E. is thought to have received the money via shell companies in the Marshall Islands and Hong Kong as well as through his lawyer. He denies the accusations, saying that the payments were legitimate commission fees.”

Legitimate fees. To himself, personally. Suuuure. This part was also interesting:

“For the first time, Greek justice is reaching really high up,” Aristides Hatzis, a legal professor at the University of Athens, told the New York Times recently. “One reason is that the public desire for catharsis is strong. Another is that the political system is weak and has too much to lose by trying to intervene. It risks being exposed.”

Sources: Der Spiegel, “More Arrests: Greece Makes Progress on Arms Deal Corruption”.

Jan 13/14: Investigation. The U-214 affair has led to 2 more arrests. Yiannis Beltsios is a 63 year-old former associate of the jailed former minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who is serving a 20-year sentence over defense-related bribes. The 2nd person was 61 year-old Sotiris Emmanouil, the former chairman of Hellenic Shipyards. What’s going on? The indictment reportedly says that:

“…[Beltsios] with two foreign nationals (a German and an Armenian citizen) and three Greek nationals (Alexandros Avatangelos and Michail Matantos, both of whom have already been charged, and another person), he handed over German bribes totalling [EUR] 63,192,691 and [SFR] 2,960,225… to Tsochatzopoulos and to Sotiris Emmanouil…. Emmanouil was also arrested on Monday morning, after anticorruption investigators, who have heard explosive testimony about the submarine deals from a number of people in recent weeks, issued warrants for the two, who they suspected would attempt to escape justice.”

Reports peg Emmanouil’s bribe at EUR 23 million, while Belisios allegedly picked up EUR 3 million for middleman services. Sources: Enet English, “Getting to the depths of the bribes for submarines scandal” and “Two more arrests in bribes for subs scandal”.

Jan 8/14: Batteries. Greece needs to keep its 3 remaining Glavkos boats and 3 operational Poseidon boats, while it waits for its new submarines to be delivered and become operational. Accordingly, the Greek Ministry of Defence approved the EUR 16.9 million buy of 6 acid-lead submarine battery sets from Sunlight SA.

Jane’s reports that HS Okeanos [S-118] is currently undergoing the Neptune II upgrade at at Hellenic Shipyards in Skaramangas, which includes full refurbishment and hence doesn’t require an additional battery purchase. Note that even the newer U209-1200 Poseidon Class boats are 34-35 years old, while the U209-1100 Glavkos Class boats are 35-42 years old. New batteries or not, the clock is ticking. Sources: IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly, “Greece buys new batteries for Type 209 submarines”.

Dec 19/13: Politics. The leftist Syriza party loses a 120 – 167 vote in Parliament to launch a formal inquiry into the “stalled” deal to finish 3 U-214 submarines at Hellenic Shipyards. The investigation would have focused on Socialist PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, who was defense minister in 2010 when the revised submarine agreement was negotiated. SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras says that shipyard employees have been unpaid since work stopped in 2012, and says to Venizelos: “Either you were the victim of a major scam… or you were part of it”. As Xinhua notes:

“The contract was an extension of a deal signed by former Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos who is currently serving jail term for laundering of money allegedly deriving from kickbacks for lucrative defense contracts…. On its part, the [shipbuilding] consortium said financial problems has pushed for the dismissal of most of the approximately 1,000 employees [at Hellenic Shipyards], who have launched industrial actions for months, demanding backpay.

Athens eventually reached a deal with creditors on Tuesday regarding the restructuring of EAS [Hellenic Defence Systems] next year, gaining the “green light” for the disbursement of the one-billion-euro installment. On Wednesday current Defense Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos pledged a similar comprehensive solution to the Skaramangas’ [Hellenic Shipyards] problem soon.”

Since PASOK is currently part of a governing national unity coalition, the government wasn’t going to agree to any investigations. Sources: ANSA Med, “Greece: SYRIZA loses submarine deal probe bid” | China’s Xinhua, “Greek parliament rejects controversial shipyards, submarine agreement inquiry”.

Aug 27/13: Investigation. A tax audit at Rheinmetall-Defence-Electronics has opened a can of worms, and pointers to alleged bribery concerning the Greek submarine sale now have prosecutors searching the offices of Rheinmetall-Defence-Electronics (EUR 9.1 million alleged) and Atlas Elektronik (EUR 8.5 billion). Sources: Defense News, “Germany Probes Alleged Bribery in German-Greek Submarine Deals”.

2009 – 2011

 

U214, in Greek

June 9/11: Glavkos decommissioned. S-110 Glavkos, the first U209 boat ever built, is retired after 40 years of service. Sources: Bosphorous Naval News, “Greek Submarine Glavkos To Be Decommissioned”.

Decommissioned

May 17/11: Germany’s HDW has reportedly pulled out of the deal to build 2 new U214 submarines and overhaul one U209/1200 Poseidon Class boat at Hellenic Shipyards in Greece, due to “major disagreements” on broader project cooperation between ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and new shipyard owners Abu Dhabi Mar.

Greek defense minister Evangelos Venizelos said that the pullout will not affect the delivery of the 4 U214 submarines that have been completed at Hellenic Shipyards, which still leaves a rather large question mark hanging over the proposed 2 new boats. The deal for 2 new U-214s was a substitution for the original Neptune II plan to overhaul 3 Poseidon Class boats, and add AIP propulsion sections (vid. Sept 15/10 entry). Greek MoD | Expatica.

HDW out

May 3/11: Investigation. Make that EUR 120 million, and now the figure comes from legal depositions. Ekathimerini:

“At least 120 million euros was paid in bribes by the German firm that struck a deal with the Greek government for the sale of four navy submarines, according to German court documents seen by Kathimerini… Two former executives of Ferrostaal, the Germany firm that was part of the consortium which won the contract, gave depositions in Munich concerning the kickbacks paid to secure the deal, which was worth just over 1.2 billion euros.”

March 28/11: Investigation. Greece’s financial crimes squad (SDOE) delivers its report. Make that EUR 100 million in bribes:

“Politicians, civil servants, military officials and middlemen are thought to have been paid off as part of the deal. Sources said that probes into the bank accounts of some Greek shipyard unionists also revealed money that was unaccounted for. Last week, a prosecutor called 37 people to answer questions about bribery allegations…”

Many of the Greek U214 fleet’s custom features were reportedly inserted as a way of padding the bill, and allowing more under-the-table payments to be hidden. The revelations also spark a political controversy, as the current socialist PASOK government was in charge when the deal went down. Ekathimerini.

Feb 27/11: Investigation. An investigation by Greece’s financial crimes squad (SDOE) has concluded that 3 former ministers, and several other public officials, should face prosecution for corruption. The allegations are that U-214 consortium partner Ferrostaal paid EUR 10 – 12 million in bribes to secure the EUR 1.26 billion deal.

The SDOE is due to deliver its findings to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office at the beginning of March 2011. Greek judicial authorities will then make a request to German authorities for details of the financial transactions involved, while asking for the bank accounts of all alleged conspirators to be frozen. Ekathimerini

Sept 15/10: Revised agreement? It took a bit longer, but the first stage of an agreement is now in place. Greece will accept the U214 submarine Papanikolis. A contract to sell of Hellenic Shipyards to Abu Dhabi MAR is signed with government approval, but must be ratified by the Greek Parliament.

The 3rd part isn’t final yet. Instead of refurbishing 2 of the U209 boats under Project Neptune II, the Greek government wants to spend EUR 175 million more to convert that into a purchase of 2 more U214 submarines, a move that would keep Hellenic Shipyards open and working for a while longer. Agence France Presse via Defense News | AFP via Expatica | BYM Marine & Martime News | Capital.GR | Reuters.

Revised agreement negotiated

March 11/10: Negotiations. Media reports quote Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who says that:

“We have reached a solution, which should be signed [March 18] and which protects the interests of the Greek navy as it means it will finally receive modern, functional submarines.”

Reports say that Greece will acknowledge receipt of the Papanikolis, then sell it to a third party. In return, TKMS will drop a compensation claim for breach of contract. Agence France Presse.

March 1/10: Industrial. Greece approves the sale of Hellenic Shipyards from ThyssenKrupp Marine systems to Abu Dhabi MAR. The new joint venture will be led by ADM with 75.1% of the share capital of Skaramanga shipyard (HSY), with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems retaining 24.9%. The move gives ADM something its October 2009 acquisition of large chunks of TKMS did not include: submarine construction capability.

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems picked Abu Dhabi MAR in January 2010 as the preferred bidder for a majority stake; no details were disclosed, but TKMS had reportedly said in the past that the shipyards, which depend on Greek navy orders, would be sold at the price of one euro. TKMS reportedly received 5 bids for HSY, but found only Abu Dhabi MAR’s to be acceptable. Khaleej Times | Reuters.

Oct 21/09: Negotiations. Kathimerini reports that Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Venizelos held talks with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems CEO Hans Christoph Atzpodien, in a bid to resolve the submarine issue. The basic framework of the deal appears to involve TKMS retaining the Papanikolis for resale, and the other 3 U214 submarines being accepted by Greece pending certain defined criteria. It adds:

“Sources said that ThyssenKrupp appears determined to quit its involvement in [Hellenic Shipyards SA] as early as next month, despite government concerns about the job losses that this might cause. There were, however, discussions between the two sides about how some private involvement in the shipyards could continue… An unidentified third country is reported to be interested in buying the [Papanikolis] and the two sides have agreed that selling it would be the best way out… The two men reportedly agreed that if the technical problems are ironed out, Greece will accept delivery of the remaining three submarines.”

Sept 21/09: Canceled. ThyssenKrupp notifies the Greek Minister of Defense that it’s formally canceling the Project Archimedes U-214 contract, and says it intends to seek international arbitration for contractual damages.

Unsurprisingly, this announcement is becoming an election issue in Greece. Capital.gr | Aviation Week | Bloomberg | defpro | Jane’s.

U-214 cancellation sought

July 2/09: Turkey Subs. ThyssenKrupp Marine receives a EUR 2.5 billion contract with Greece’s rival Turkey for 6 U-214 submarines, supplemented with Air-Independent Propulsion technology. They will be built at the military-owned Golcuk Shipyard near Izmit, using pre-built sections and equipment supplied by HDW, as well as Turkish electronics and items. Delivery is expected in 2015. Read DID’s “Turkey Subs” for more.

May 28/09: Negotiations. The Hellenic Navy’s Chief of staff, vice-admiral George Karamalikis, announces the future direction of Greece’s naval procurement. among these items, DefenceNET Greece reports that:

“The HN has decided to accept the 3 T 214 submarines that are being constructed in Greece but the first submarine of the PAPANIKOLIS class, that was build in Germany, is not going to be received by the Navy. Instead, a new submarine will be ordered, in order to fulfill the demand for 4 T 214 submarines.”

Feb 26/09: Neptune II. Greek U-209/1200 submarine HS Okeanos (S118) is re-launched at Hellenic Shipyards in Skaramangas, following a mid-life refit that added Air-Independent Propulsion. It is the first submarine to be re-launched under the Neptune II program. Sources: IHS Jane’s, “Greek submarine force could go under as TKMS cancels two contracts”.

Appendix A: Contracts Under Water – Greece’s Default (2009)

U-214 SSK
(click to view full)

Greece is trying to cancel its 4-boat contract, but that could be expensive, in several ways. The other 3 submarines are reportedly complete now, or very close to it. Pipinos was launched in April 2007, Matrozos followed in 2008, and Katsonis was launched at the end of 2008. Not one of them has been accepted for service. Sources currently report payments to TKMS of almost EUR 2 billion, but also accumulated payment arrears of EUR 524 million ($770 million): EUR 300 million claimed by Hellenic Shipyards SA, and EUR 224 million owed to HDW.

Greece is facing very large budget deficits, expected to grow to 6% of total GDP in 2009. By dragging the problem out, the government can delay payments and possibly create enough pressure to renegotiate the price.

In January 2009, Greek Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis lent credence to this view when he said that he would try to renegotiate the submarine contract. In May 2009, there were rumors of a deal that would have Greece accept the other 3 submarines once Pipinos passes acceptance trials, while HDW would be left with Papanikolis and could resell it elsewhere.

TKMS’ filing and notification indicate that these options have all failed. “The Greek state has long ceased to honour its contractual obligations,” said TKMS’ release announcing its cancellation of the contract for default. Commerzbank AG analyst Dirk Nettling is even more succinct: the Greek government “can’t pay, won’t pay, or has other priorities.” As a result, a TKMS spokeswoman told Jane’s that “…continuation of the contract is no longer economically justifiable.”

The cancellation is also set to affect the Neptune II project to upgrade and refurbish Greece’s existing U-209 boats by adding Air Independent Propulsion systems. While S118 has been accepted and re-launched, Jane’s reports that this contract has also been canceled.

This leaves the Hellenic Navy with something of a problem. Submarines have a limited safe lifespan, in part because of the regular squeezing and release of water pressure on their hulls. The youngest Type 209s are already pushing 30 years, which is a long time. Very few submarines can safely last beyond 40 years in service, a milestone that even refurbished Neptune II project boats would reach in 2020.

Given a required lead time of several years from orders to fielding, and the issues that a sustained contract cancellation would raise with potential builders, Greece may find itself with a limited window of just a few years to work out a new submarine strategy and place an order. The alternative would be a submarine force that could face significant operational limitations – and perhaps even no submarine force at all.

A problem its rival Turkey would not have, since Turkey is set to begin inducting 6 of its own U-214 submarines, beginning in 2015.

Additional Readings & Background

Re: “Archimedes Project.” As most of our readers know, the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes is best known for Archimedes’ Principle: a body immersed in a fluid is subject to an upward force (buoyancy) equal in magnitude to the weight of fluid it displaces. He also invented the lever, the compound pulley and Archimedes’ screw, and was reportedly involved in inventing weapons used during the war between Rome and his city of Syracuse. Archimedes was killed in that war, despite orders from the Roman general that he should not be harmed.

• Hellenic Shipyards – Official Site. No longer has permanent URLs for specific pages, and not much content anyway.

• TKMS – HDW Type 214

• Naval Technology – U212 / U214 Submarines, Germany

• GlobalSecurity – Type 209

News & Views

• DID – German Shipbuilding Restructured: UAE’s Firm Buys Blohm+Voss. That deal fell through, but TKMS also sold Hellenic Shipyards.

• European Public Affairs (May 19/14) – Greek Defense Corruption.

• Deutsche Welle (April 9/14) – Greek families struggle to survive economic crisis. The profiled family depended on Hellenic Shipyards, where nobody actually works now and 2 submarines are slowly rusting.

• Die Zeit (Jan 11/12) – Greece still splashes out billions on defence. Despite massive EU bailouts.

• Der Spiegel (June 2011) – Codename Gebetskreis [in German]. Translates as “prayer circle.” The article details Ferrostal’s role distributing bribes on behalf of HDW to a number of clients, including Greece.

• Defencenet.gr (May 27/09) – Navy “No” to Papanikoli, “yes” to the other three 214s [in Greek, rough translation]

• Bosphorous Naval News (March 4/09) – Greek Naval News

Americas

The Navy awarded AAI Corp. Hunt Valley with a $10.9 million contract modification to services for the Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) unmanned surface vehicle platform. The UISS is a mine countermeasure system designed to influence sweeping of magnetic and acoustic mines. The system enables the littoral combat ship to perform its mine warfare sweep mission. The UISS program is expected to meet the Navy’s need for a rapid, wide-area coverage mine clearance capability to neutralize magnetic/acoustic influence mines. AAI Corporation is an operating unit of Textron Systems. In 2014, Textron Systems received a $33.8 million contract to provide its Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV) for the US Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program. Work for the new deal will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and Slidell, Louisiana and is scheduled to be completed by September 2019.

The Air Force tapped Raytheon Missile Systems with a $21 million modification for advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) system improvement program software architecture and design risk reduction efforts to counter threats. AMRAAM is an active radar-guided intercept missile with inherent electronic protection capabilities for air-to-air applications against massed penetration aircraft. The Air Force and Navy AMRAAM is one of the US’ most sophisticated radar-guided, air-to-air missiles, and one of the world’s most advanced all-weather, all-environment, medium-range, air-to-air missiles for engaging enemy aircraft and missiles from beyond visual ranges. Work for the deal will be performed in Tucson, Arizona.

Lockheed Martin won a deal worth $131.6 million for sustainment engineering services for the C-5 military transport aircraft. The C-5 is the Air Force’s largest plain and features a nose cargo door and a kneeling nose gear, which allow for drive-on capability. The aircraft can haul twice as much cargo as any other airlifter. It has been in service for the US Air Force since 1969 and supported military operations in all major conflicts. The Air Force currently owns 52 Super Galaxy aircraft, which are only assigned to four units worldwide. Contracting activity is the Air Force Life Cycle Management. Work is scheduled to be finished by January 25, 2019.

Middle East & Africa

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and businessman Avihai Stolero offered Aeronautics to open negotiations for the acquisition of all the company’s shares by means of a reverse triangular merger via a company jointly owned by Rafael and Stolero. The offer is valued at $231 million, making it twice as high as their 117 million offer rejected by Aeronautics in August. Earlier this month, Aeronautics announced it has signed a five-year partnership deal with Rafael to collaborate on the development, production, marketing, and distribution of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. Aeronautics has over 45 defense, military, and homeland security customers worldwide.

Europe

The Missile Defense Agency contracted Lockheed Martin with a $23 million sole-source, fixed-price incentive and cost-plus modification to provide Poland Aegis Ashore Engineering Agent (AAEA) engineering and security support. The modification includes AAEA test and site updates, risk mitigation support, and continued completion effort for the Aegis Ashore Poland site. Aegis Ashore is the land-based component of the Aegis ballistic missile defense system developed originally for deployment at sea aboard specially equipped U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. Work is expected to be completed by December 2020.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea will receive the first F-35A stealth fighters in March. The jets have been tested at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The first two jets are scheduled to be combat-deployed in April or May and 10 other jets are supposed to be ready for deployment by the end of this year. South Korea approved a deal in September 2014 to acquire 40 F-35As for about $6.8 billion. The F-35A has radar-evading capabilities and can perform ground-attack and air-superiority missions with several precision weapons.

The Indian Navy successfully tested locally developed Sahayak air-droppable containers off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea. The Sahayak Containers are support containers designed to enhance operational logistics capability by facilitating the supply of spares and stores to ships that are deployed more than 2,000 km from the coast. The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory and the Aeronautical Development Establishment developed these cylindrical containers. A test payload of 50 kg, dropped in the container, descended to the sea with the help of a parachute.

Today’s Video

Watch: America’s F-15E Strike Eagle vs. FA-18EF Super Hornet (Who Wins)