Defense Industry Daily

Americas

Leidos won a $30 million cost-plus-fixed fee contract modification for integrated logistic support, fleet support and life cycle sustainment of the US Navy’s AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 surface ship Undersea Warfare Systems. The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 is a combat system that’s able to search, detect, classify, localize and track undersea contacts and to engage and evade submarines, mine-like small objects and torpedo threats. It is the primary undersea warfare system used aboard US Navy surface combatants. The system uses active and passive sonar to conduct anti-submarine warfare search. The acoustic energy received is processed and displayed to enable operators to detect, classify, localize, and track threat submarines. Leidos will perform work within the US as well as Japan and Spain and is expected to be finished by June next year.

The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Austal a modification for Littoral Combat Ship Class design services. The deal also includes integrated data and product model environment (IDPME) support. The IPDME will enable the Navy to access enterprise data management, visualization, program management applications, and network management and control. According to the Department of Defense, the company will provide efforts to support Littoral Combat Ship Class ships, including but not limited to technical analyses, non-recurring engineering, configuration management, software maintenance and development, production assessments, and diminishing manufacturing sources and seaframe reliability analysis. The Littoral Combat Ship is a set of two classes of relatively small surface vessels designed for operations near shore by the US Navy. Work under the modification will take place in Alabama and Massachusetts and is scheduled to be complete by June 2025.

The Naval Air Systems Command tapped Bell Boeing Joint Project Office to facilitate additional structural improvements, tooling assessment, and test aircraft retrofit tooling in support of the V-22 Nacelle Improvement effort. The contract modification provides for non-recurring engineering. Bell-Boeing’s V-22 Osprey is a joint service multirole combat aircraft utilizing tiltrotor technology to combine the vertical performance of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft. With its rotors in vertical position, it can take off, land and hover like a helicopter. It is the first production tiltrotor aircraft. Bell Boeing wants to increase Osprey mission readiness rates by 10 to 12 percent by removing eight of the 10 wiring interface boxes on the aircraft’s nacelles, changing wiring types, and through nacelle structural upgrades, such as latch changes. The fleet’s readiness rate has been below 60 percent. 84 percent of the work will take place in Fort Worth, Texas with a scheduled completion date in August next year.

Middle East & Africa

General Electric won a $24.9 million modification by the US Naval Air Systems Command to procure 72 F-414-GE-400 engines for the F/A-18 Super Hornets of the Navy and the government of Kuwait. 24 will be for the US Navy and 48 for Kuwait. The General Electric F414 is an afterburning turbofan engine. The contract also includes two spare and six test F414-GE-400 install engines devices for the government of Kuwait. Kuwait will underwrite 69 percent of the figure, or $17.5 million, under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work, which will take place in Evandale, Ohio, is scheduled to be finished in December next year.

The US confirmed that Iran shot down an American Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk. While Iran claimed the drone had violated Iranian airspace, the US insists that the aircraft had been over international waters at the time. The attack comes in a time of tensions between Iran and the US. Last week, the US announced it wants to send 1,000 additional troops to the region. It has already sent an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers. Jane’s reports that shooting down the Global Hawk might have confirmed that Iran has developed highly capable surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems in recent years. Iran credited a 3 Khordad, one of several new indigenous surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, with the shootdown. There are no fixed SAM sites within range of the shootdown location, affirming the claim that a mobile system like the 3 Khordad was used in the engagement.

Europe

The 47th annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise came to an end on Friday in Kiel, Germany. The annual maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic region is one of the largest exercises in northern Europe. It started on June 9. The US Navy’s 2nd Fleet was leading the two-week-exercise. Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as NATO partner nations Finland and Sweden, participated and completed 389 serials, a planning term for a coordinated military exercise. During the exercise, a UK-led Maritime First Responder Force took to sea for the first time. The nine-nation Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) was formally created a year ago. The BALTOPS 2019 exercise is the second of three phases of the Baltic Protector Deployment 2019. UPI reports that BALTOPS ended with the start of “Kiel Week,” an annual sailing competition which draws millions of tourists to the city of Kiel.

Asia-Pacific

The Bangladesh Air Force ordered additional surplus ex-Royal Air Force C-130J Super Hercules. It previously had ordered two units from the UK. Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group will undertake the support contract. The new Super Hercules aircraft will improve Bangladesh’s overall airlift and logistics capability. The procurement also allows the Bangladesh Air Force to retire older C-130B Hercules it acquired second hand from the US in 2004. The C-130J is expected to become the most capable airlift asset of the BAF.

Today’s Video

Watch: U.S. Navy Successfully Tests Upgraded RAM Missile

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $76.7 million modification in support of the AEGIS development and test sites operations. The option is for continued technical engineering, configuration management, associated equipment/supplies, quality assurance, information assurance and other operation and maintenance efforts at the Combat Systems Engineering Development Site, SPY-1A Test Facility and Naval Systems Computing Center. The deal also provides for continued site maintenance and planned improvements of the sites for AEGIS Combat System and Aegis Weapon System upgrades to CG-47 and DDG-51 class ships through the completion of Advanced Capability Build 20 and Technology Insertion 16, in addition to AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense and FMS requirements. The AEGIS Weapon System is a centralized, automated, command-and-control and weapons control system that was designed as a total weapon system, from detection to kill. The modification combines purchases for the US Navy and Missile Defense Agency as well as the governments of Japan, Australia, South Korea and Norway. Work is scheduled to be complete by June 2020.

The US Navy contracted Ultralife with $10 million to procure Universal Vehicle Adapter radio battery chargers, MRC-UVA-V1, in support of the Family of Special Operations Vehicles Ground Mobility Vehicle and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected platforms. The MRC-UVA-V1 is a handheld radio charging solution for vehicle communications. The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected family of vehicles provides soldiers with highly survivable multimission platforms capable of mitigating improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades, explosively formed penetrators, underbody mines and small arms fire threats which produce the greatest number of casualties in Overseas Contingency Operations. Ultralife will perform work in Newark, New York and is expected to be complete in June 2024.

Middle East & Africa

The US Army Contracting Command awarded Sikorsky a $15 million contract modification to procure the Post Green DD250 aircraft support, storage and maintenance for UH-60M aircraft for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of the National Guard. The UH-60M is a variant of the Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopter. The UH-60M has multi-mission capabilities and features a new airframe, advanced digital avionics and a powerful propulsion system. It can be used to perform tactical transport, utility, combat search-and-rescue, airborne assault, command-and-control, medical evacuation, aerial sustainment, search-and-rescue, disaster relief and fire-fighting. In July 2017, Sikorsky secured a $3.8 billion contract from the US Department of Defense to deliver 142 UH-60M helicopters for the US Army and 115 helicopters to the National Guard of Saudi Arabia. Sikorsky will perform work in Stratford, Connecticut and estimated completion date is April 30, 2022. Foreign Military Sales funds in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award.

Europe

Thales announced that it won a contract to design and build the ground segment for the next-generation Syracuse 4 satellite communication system for the French armed forces. Syracuse 4 is a geostationary military satcom program designed to replace the Syracuse 3A and Syracuse 3B satellites currently in orbit. According to Thales, Syracuse 4 will benefit from Thales’s expertise in satellite communication systems, which the company has built up as a technology orchestrator and integrator in France and internationally. It will rely on the System21 highly secure transmission system to guarantee the availability and confidentiality of all communications and protection against jamming, interference, interception, detection and cyberattacks. This contract will enable French Armed Forces to meet their initial strategic capability objectives for the Scorpion vehicle program, the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier and the Rafale combat aircraft.

According to local reports, Bulgarian president Rumen Radev warned the government not to cut the F-16 fighter aircraft package. The government is in negotiations with the US on the acquisition of new F-16 fighter jets. Radev wants to make sure that the aircraft’s combat capabilities will not be cut back for the sake of lowering the price. The president is a skilled fighter pilot who headed the Bulgarian Air Force before being elected President and Commander-in-Chief. “Every move down and trimming back of this package already leads to the impossibility of achieving the airplane’s operational capabilities, so I expect the government to ensure that there is no cut in the combat capabilities, and Bulgarian taxpayers will not give their money in vain,” Radev said. The government has already received a concrete offer for the acquisition of eight F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft, It however hopes to reduce it to about $1.2 billion in the framework of negotiations.

Asia-Pacific

The New Zealand government said it has made progress in its program to procure Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the US government. New Zealand agreed to procure four P-8A aircraft in July 2018. It said at that time that the acquisition – including training systems, infrastructure, and introduction into service costs – would total $1.5 billion. A factsheet released last week states that delivery of the first P-8A to the RNZAF is expected by April 2023 with initial operating capability achieved by July of the same year. The entire fleet of four aircraft is slated to reach final operating capability by 2025.

Today’s Video

Watch: RAFAEL Litening + SAR

Americas

The US Navy completed guided flight tests for Raytheon’s Block 2A short-range, surface-to-air missile, the company announced in a press release This means the missile is ready for the Navy and Raytheon expects to deliver the RAM Block 2A by the end of the year. The RAM is a supersonic, lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget weapon. It is designed to destroy anti-ship missiles. The Block 2 variant has a larger rocket motor, advanced control section and an enhanced RF receiver capable of detecting the quietest of threat emitters. The improvements make the missile two and a half times more maneuverable, with one and a half times the effective intercept range, Raytheon says. The RAM is deployed on more than 165 ships in 11 countries, ranging from 500-ton fast attack craft to 95,000-ton aircraft carriers. The tests occurred at the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, California, and from the Navy’s self-defense test ship off the coast of Southern California.

Lockheed Martin announced that it finished a demonstration of its radar solution for the US Army’s Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) program during a Sense-Off at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. In May, the Army requested proposals for prototypes after it had struggled to procure a new radar for its integrated air and missile defense system meant to replace the Patriot AMD system. Lockheed Martin completed a two-week-series of exercises showcasing how its new solution will meet the Army’s requirements for the LTAMDS system, while providing additional deployment strategies for the air and missile defense mission.

FlightGlobal reports that the US Air Force is still finding foreign object debris insight KC-46 Pegasus refueling tankers. Tools, rubbish and left-over parts, including loose nuts, are being found since Boeing first delivered the refuelers in January and revamped its inspection process. Assistant secretary of the Air Force, Will Roper cited „cultural issues“ as the root of the problem. Air Force stopped accepting the planes from Boeing in February until its inspection process was changed. Deliveries resumed in March and were halted again after the Air Force found more debris. Will Roper says, he expects all of the KC-46s are going to have foreign object debris.

Middle East & Africa

Israel will replace its own refueling tankers. The country made the first step towards replacing its old Boeing-707 tankers by submitting a Letter of Request to the US Government, for the acquisition of two new Boeing KC-46 refueling tankers. The request is for the acquisition of two aircraft with an option for the future acquisition of an additional six. Israel Defense reports that Airborne refueling tankers are vital for the Israel Air Force to extend its long strategic reach. They provide the Air Force with the ability to reach countries within the third, distant circle.

Europe

Saab relaunched the HMS Uppland. The Uppland is a Gotland Class Submarine. Two ships of the class now have concluded comprehensive mid-life upgrades. The Swedish Navy’s diesel-electric subs are the world’s first submarines to feature a Stirling engine air-independent propulsion system. This extends their underwater endurance from a few days to weeks. The mid-life upgrades saw the submarines receive an additional 2 meter hull section to accommodate the third generation of the Stirling air-independent propulsion engine and a diver lock-out chamber in addition to combat management and ship management systems upgrades. The updated version of Uppland and her sister ship Gotland are paving the way for the next generation of Swedish air independent propulsion submarines: the Blekinge Class, or A26.

Asia-Pacific

The Philippine Navy commissioned two Leonardo AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopters and four Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles in a ceremony on June 17 at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Cavite City. The AW159 are part of a $101 million deal signed with Leonardo in 2016. They feature anti-submarine warfare capabilities and will serve with the Naval Air Wing’s Squadron MH-40 at the Danilo Atienza Air Base. The helicopters will be deployed from the José Rizal Class frigates, the first of which was launched on May 23 at the Ulsan facility of South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries. The four Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles were ordered in April 2016 from South Korean defense company Hanwha Techwin.

A Kawasaki military transport aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force accidentally dropped 81mm mortar with supplies from the air during training in Shizuoka Prefecture. The incident happened during the training of the Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Airborne (Kuu Tei) team over the Higashi-Fuji Training Center. A C-1 transport aircraft accidentally dropped the mortar system. Though the accident was not life-threatening, the Self Defense Force announced they would do their best to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : Tempest India Investment,Mach 6 HSDTV Test,FICV Prototype,Abhyas Drone 2020

A26 SOF concept
(click to view full)

Submarines remain the ultimate maritime insurance policy, which is why so many countries treat the ability to build or design them as a strategic capability. Sweden is trying to recover from a disastrous pair of assumptions in the early 21st century, and preserve both their industrial capabilities and their country’s defenses.

The narrow, shallow Baltic seas present their own special challenges, but Swedish designs have proven themselves very capable. In order to field their next-generation design, however, Sweden may have to do something unusual: partner with other countries…

Sweden’s New Submarine

A26 concept
(click to view full)

The A26 was originally envisioned as a 62m boat with about 1,800t displacement when surfaced, and more when fully submerged. It would be designed to excel in littoral operations, while remaining a capable ocean-going vessel. As a point of comparison, that size is a bit larger than the German U212A/214, and about the same as the Scorpene AM-2000 AIP, all of which are ocean-going boats.

Kockums A26 design also included a 6m x 1.5m Multimission Portal flexible payload lock system, in addition to its twin pairs of conventional 533mm and 400mm torpedo tubes. Envisaged weapons include torpedoes and mines, but not anti-ship missiles.

The lock system makes it easy for commandos to enter and exit the boat, and is large enough to allow the launch and retrieval of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles. UUVs are expected to play a larger role in future submarine warfare. They can already provide advance surveying and sensing capabilities, and their modification toward a combat role is a certainty. This will likely begin with coordinated decoying tactics, but UUVs are expected to graduate to active combat capabilities before the A26 leaves service.

Background: AIP

The A26 will be equipped with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) supplement to its diesel-electric systems, which is intended to allow it to remain underwater for up to 18 days at relatively slow speeds before its AIP fuel is exhausted. That avoids the need to surface and suck air for diesel combustion to recharge its batteries, a vulnerable time that was the absolute bane of submarine operations until the USA introduced nuclear-powered boats. The A26’s AIP system will be Kockums’ Stirling, which also equips Sweden’s 3 Gotland and 2 Sodermanland Class submarines, Singapore’s Archer Class Sodermanlund variant, and Japan’s Soryu Class.

To date, Swedish submarines have been renowned for their quietness. HMS Gotland performed well enough in Mediterranean naval exercises to earn an invitation and eventual 2-year lease from the USA, which brought the boat and crew to San Diego to help train its forces against an advanced diesel-electric boat. In return, the Swedes got a nice payment, outstanding training for their own crews, and a record of torpedo “kills” against US Navy submarines and carriers in exercises.

That reputation for stealth was dented somewhat by Australia’s much-enlarged 3,400t (submerged) Collins Class boats, which were designed by Kockums based on the 1,150t Vastergotland Class and built in Australia. For various reasons, the AIP-less Collins Class are known to be rather noisier than they ought to be. The topic remains relevant because Australia may become a partner in the A26 program. If they do, they will demand a larger design with greater range, longer endurance, and probably missile-firing capability. Saab, in turn, will need to avoid a repeat of whatever happened to the Collins design.

Poland, which has become alarmed by recent Russian military operations to annex parts of Georgia and Ukraine, is another potential partner. They are looking to lease or buy 2 submarines by the early 2020s, with a 3rd to come by 2030.

Contracts & Key Events

Sweden destroys Kockums, contracts with Saab to finalize the A26 design; Australia a potential A26 partner.

A26 concept
(click to view full) 2019

June 20/19: Mid-Life Lift Saab relaunched the HMS Uppland. The Uppland is a Gotland Class Submarine. Two ships of the class now have concluded comprehensive mid-life upgrades. The Swedish Navy’s diesel-electric subs are the world’s first submarines to feature a Stirling engine air-independent propulsion system. This extends their underwater endurance from a few days to weeks. The mid-life upgrades saw the submarines receive an additional 2 meter hull section to accommodate the third generation of the Stirling air-independent propulsion engine and a diver lock-out chamber in addition to combat management and ship management systems upgrades. The updated version of Uppland and her sister ship Gotland are paving the way for the next generation of Swedish air independent propulsion submarines: the Blekinge Class, or A26.

2014

July 1/15: Saab landed a $1 billion contract on Tuesday for the construction of two A26 submarines, in addition to planned upgrades to the Swedish Navy’s Gotland-class subs. The two Type A26 boats will be delivered in 2018 and 2019, with the Swedish government announcing their intention to procure the subs back in March. The announcement dispels rumours in the Swedish press last week which reported that the procurement was likely to be delayed owing to cost overruns.

June 23/15: The Swedish planned procurement of Saab Kockums A26 submarines may be delayed owing to inflating cost forecasts, according to Swedish press reports. The government announced its intention to acquire the boats in March, allocating $1 billion for the acquisition of two A26 submarines, alongside upgrades to the Swedish Navy’s Gotland-class subs.

Nov 8/14: Australia. Saab CEO Hakan Bushke will be unveiling Saab’s offer to Australia at the Submarine Institute of Australia’s centenary conference, but Australia’s government confirms that it has already received the unsolicited bid. At this point, all the report will say is that:

“It includes a lower price than its competitors and a smooth flow of Japanese submarine [propulsion] technology from the Soryu Class boat, because Sweden is a partner in the Japanese project. There will also be substantial technology transfer and industrial offsets for Australia, including jobs in Adelaide during the build phase.”

Sources: News Corp., “Australian jobs promise as Sweden’s Saab Group bids for Navy’s $20 billion plus submarine project”.

Sept 11/14: Australia. Sweden wasn’t part of the Australian government’s initial submarine evaluations, because Kockums was still trapped and suppressed within TKMS. That has changed. Saab CEO Hakan Bushke says that they’re willing to design a 4,000t submarine for Australia, and take ASC and Royal Australian Navy engineers and technicians to work on its new A26 design. Bushke:

“As of July 2, Saab completed a full takeover of Kockums which is now Saab Kockums and the Swedish Kingdom now controls the intellectual property for… [Australia’s currently-serving] Collins class submarines…. If there is an open competition, Saab Kockums will be in it.”

The question is whether there will be an open competition. Australia’s government has been handed a program that’s already badly behind, and an existing Collins Class fleet whose cost-effective and performance-effective lifecycle is being questioned. Japan’s Soryu Class is already designed, built, and in service, unlike its German and Swedish competitors. Meanwhile, state-owned ASC has lost this government’s confidence as a shipbuilder, and delays in awarding a contract make it harder to reduce ASC’s role. Sources: Australia Financial Review, “Swedes launch desperate bid for Oz submarine project” | Business Insider Australia, “Germany Joins The Race To Build Australia’s New Submarine Fleet” | Business Insider Australia, “Australia Could Get A Great Deal On Its New Submarine Fleet If Tony Abbot Wants It”.

Visby Corvette
(click to view full)

June 29/14: Sold! Saab finalizes the deal with ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG to buy its former Kockums subsidiary. Dagens Industri had speculated on Friday that it would cost about SEK 500 million, but the final price tag was just SEK 340 million ($50.5 million) on 2013 sales of SEK 1.7 billion (2011/2012: SEK 1.9 billion) and income from operations of approximately SEK 34 million (2011/2012: SEK 13 million).

Existing funds will be used to finance Saab’s acquisition, which still has to be approved ThyssenKrupp Group’s board, German authorities, and the Swedish Competition Authority. These approvals are expected during July 2014.

In a way, this acquisition closes a long loop. The original 1999 acquisition of Kockums by HDW was an all-shares transaction, which saw Celsius AB give up Kockums in exchange for 25% of HDW, with an option to exit the business for a lump sum. After Saab acquired almost all of Celsius in 2000, they opted to be paid the lump sum and exit. Celsius had also owned 49% of Australia Submarine corp. (ASC), but the Australian government used its leverage over the larger merger to help them nationalize ASC in 2000, instead of completing its transfer to HDW. Now, there is talk of Saab buying ASC alongside Kockums. Sources: Thyssen Krupp, “ThyssenKrupp and Saab agree on sale of Swedish shipyard activities ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB (formerly Kockums)” | The Local – Sweden, “Saab completes Kockums shipyard deal” || Background: Cision 1999-09-22, “Celsius: Kockums Naval Systems and HDW merge” | Saab Group 2000-02-25, “Saab has acquired 99 percent of the shares in Celsius” | The Australian, “Subs divide: tale of two companies”.

Saab buys Kockums

June 26/14: Saab would like to remind everyone that a “a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding” (q.v. April 14/14) is exactly that:

“The discussions are at a final stage but still ongoing…. Saab has chosen to clarify the status of these discussions due to information published in the media.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt one’s negotiating position when many of Kockums’ engineers are already hired away, and the government has seized key plans and physical equipment where it has a share of the intellectual property. Sources: Saab Group, “Saab still in ongoing talks concerning an acquisition of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB”.

June 10/14: Netherlands. The Netherlands has determined that an overhaul of its locally-designed Walrus Class submarines doesn’t make financial or operational sense, after a 20-25 year service life. They need new boats, but can’t afford to replace all 4, and their submarine industry died after Chinese pressure killed a sale to Taiwan. The solution? Present an initial plan this year, and go Dutch:

“As a result of the current budget constraints, the Dutch MoD is looking for an international partner to increase economy of scale and reduce costs of ownership in a new submarine programme. ‘We are open to discuss the whole spectrum from training to logistics,’ [CO Submarine Services Capt. Hugo] Ammerlaan said. While the MoD is currently exploring a variety of options it sees Norway as a potential partner for co-developing and building submarines.”

That’s an interesting assessment. Norway isn’t a strong design/build partner, though Kongsberg’s combat system is often used in German U-boats, and well proven. Really making this work probably requires at least one more major partner, be it French (Scorpene), German/Italian/Korean (U2xx), or Swedish (A26). Spain’s S-80 was part of the Sept 11/12 RFI, but its severe weight issues have derailed development and made it a very unlikely candidate. Sources: Shephard Maritime Security, “UDT: Dutch MoD advances submarine replacement”.

June 9/14: Sweden. Saab announces SEK 467 million (about $70.2 million) in orders from the Swedish FMV. They’ll produce construction and production plans for the next generation submarines, and a mid-life update of 2 Gotland Class AIP submarines. This implies that Sweden has gone back to its original plan of upgrading only HMS Gotland and HMS Halland (q.v. Oct 5/12), instead of upgrading HMS Uppland as well per some April 2014 reports.

This contract includes the completion of systems design for the new subs, and “detail construction” for the Gotland Class upgrades over 2014-2015. The work will be carried out in Sweden, and conducted within Saab’s business area Security and Defence Solutions.

In addition, FMV and Saab have signed a long term Letter of Intent to support Sweden’s submarine force. The Letter of Intent extends from 2015-2024 and comprises support, development, design and production of submarines and other underwater systems. If all options are exercised and new boats are built, the LoI could be worth approximately SEK 11.2 billion (about $1.683 billion at current conversion). Guess it’s time to hire away the rest of TKMS’ local Kockums engineers. Sources: FMV, “FMV bestaller undervattensverksamhet” | Saab Group, “Saab receives orders from FMV and has signed a Letter of Intent regarding underwater systems”.

Sweden orders renewed sub design, Gotland upgrades

April 14/14: Saab to buy Kockums. Saab AB and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG sign a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding concerning the sale of the Swedish shipyard ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB (formerly named Kockums), including its Malmo, Karlskrona, and Musko operations, to Saab AB.

“Both parties agree that during the negotiations phase, the integrity and the operating ability of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB must be safeguarded. The transaction will be subject to regulatory approval. The negotiations between Saab AB and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB are at an early stage and more information will follow.”

There’s a major backstory here. Sweden’s FMV effectively raided TKMS’ offices in Malmo “to take sensitive technological equipment,” but FMV says that since “…it was a transfer of defence material, belonging to FMV, all information regarding the transfer is classified as secret”. It’s generally believed that they came and took the A26 submarine’s plans, as well as a complete Stirling Air-Independent Propulsion system, which are technically owned by the Swedish state. A country that believes time is of the essence, and doesn’t want what it perceives as a hostile corporation to have leverage from holding state materials, might be inclined to move swiftly. The very fact that this happened speaks to how badly relations between Sweden and TKMS have deteriorated. Sources: Saab, “Saab and ThyssenKrupp have signed a MoU on an acquisition of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems” | Radio Sweden, “Defence authority leaves empty-handed after Kockums raid” | The Local – Sweden, “‘Baffling’ Swedish raid on German sub makers” | The Local, “Swedes ‘took engine’ in German sub site raid”.

Saab buying Kockums

April 12/14: Australia. The Collins Class was built around a Swedish design, and News Corp Australia says that Saab and the Swedish Government have been engaged in secret talks around a new joint submarine effort. That proposed approach may have the potential to cut through many of the dilemmas faced by Australia’s government, and Sweden’s as well. Here’s Australia’s problem, as explained in the SMH:

“This week the Australian Strategic Policy Institute hosted a conference billed as the “Submarine Choice” – but the arguments simply shot past each other. Nothing connected. The Navy stressed its strategic need for submarines without reference to the budget; industry obsessed about the business case without worrying about how such massive expenditure would severely unbalance the forces; while politicians agonised over the need to save jobs and save money, despite the fact these objectives stand in direct contradiction to one another. In the meantime, the bandwagon rolls remorselessly onwards.”

The reported Swedish solution would buy ASC, and embark on a fully cooperative joint design for Sweden and Australia’s next submarines. Australia would receive a design that’s explicitly built for Australia’s needs – a necessary compromise for Sweden, whose needs are different. It’s also worth noting that the Japanese Soryu Class propulsion system which is attracting so much interest from Australia’s Navy is part Swedish. From industry’s point of view, making ASC part of Saab removes any conflict of interests with a foreign firm that acts as the project lead, creating both development jobs/skills, and production work. From the politicians’ point of view, a program that includes Sweden and Australia offers the added security of shared risk, and shared acquisitions.

Sweden is looking to re-establish an independent submarine industry (q.v. March 26/14), and their challenge will be buying enough talent, building an equivalent production workforce, and designing the new sub within Sweden’s budgets. Australia offers Sweden a development partner, and a workforce with good experience. Poland has also been mentioned by some sources as a possible team member. Sources: News Corp., “Swedish firm Saab bids to design new Royal Australian Navy submarines” | Sydney Morning Herald, “Swedish-Australian submarines could fit defence needs”.

March 26/14: Sweden. Sweden is looking at ways to restore its indigenous submarine-building capability, and Saab is involved:

“Defence and security company Saab is currently working on the order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) regarding a study on a consolidated underwater strategy. Commenting the article by Karin Enström, Swedish Minister for Defence, in the Swedish business daily Dagens Industri, Saab would like to clarify that no further order has been placed.

As previously announced, defence and security company Saab, received a contract from FMV at the end of February 2014. The order was to conduct a study on a consolidated underwater strategy. This study is now being carried out within the business area Security and Defence Solutions.”

Sweden’s problem is that they allowed ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to buy Kockums, Sweden’s submarine builder and the Collins Class’ designer. TKMS promised to keep Kockums as an independent firm, but the reality is that they’ve blocked Kockums’ efforts to export their submarines to existing customer like Singapore, in favor of a new German U216 design. This suggests that the acquisition may have had more to do with removing a competitor, but Sweden is a neutral country that is disinclined to depend on others. Sweden’s government has pulled out of talks with TKMS concerning their next-generatin A26 submarine, and is turning to Saab, who is hiring Kockums engineers and trying to become a sub-builder. Sources: Saab, “Comment on statement regarding the Swedish stand on the underwater domain from the the Minister for Defence”.

2010 – 2013

Initial A26 design contract; Approval for more, but no deal; Contract to design Gotland Class upgrades establishes time window; Poland becomes a potential opportunity; TKMS engages in Kockums-blocking.

U216 concept
(click to view full)

Dec 2/13: Kockums-Blockers. Singapore’s new submarine buy unwittingly becomes the catalyst for a seismic shift in Sweden’s submarine industry. The city-state is an existing Kockums customer, with 2 advanced Archer (ex-Vastergotland Class) boats in service, but TKMS prevented Kockums from bidding to replace them. Instead, the German company offered a new “U218SG” model, which is what Singapore bought. Specifications remain hazy for now, but it’s believed to be a modified version of the 4,000t Type 216 that HDW has been touting at shows.

The deal created a crisis in Sweden. When Kockums AB was sold to ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in 2004, Sweden’s belief was that (a) they weren’t really under external threat any more, and (b) that the merger would allow Sweden’s submarine industry and expertise to remain, with a larger pool of investment and skills behind them. Both premises were drastically wrong. Beginning in 2008, Russia’s invasion of Georgia began making it clear that it intended to use the weapons it was rearming itself with. Meanwhile, the global submarine export market’s size, and consistent insistence by customers on local construction, meant that there wasn’t enough room for TKMS to maintain both Germany’s HDW and Sweden’s Kockums to compete against the Russians and French. Unsurprisingly, the German company chose the larger and more popular German submarine division.

Sweden’s negotiations with TKMS had remained deadlocked since 2010, and now they were faced with a clear message that their national submarine capabilities would be lost within TKMS. They decided to act, and everything since has followed. Sources: Singapore MINDEF, “MINDEF Signs Contract to Acquire Two Submarines” | TKMS, “ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems receives major submarine order from Singapore” | Defense Update, “Singapore’s Type-218SG – Forerunner of a new Submarine Class?” | Senang Diri, “Republic of Singapore Navy Type 218SG submarine buy caps 18-year journey in underwater warfare”.

Singapore sinks Swedish smugness

Nov 15/13: Poland. Alarmed by recent Russian aggression, and eager to replace its 2 Russian Kilo Class submarines as its primary insurance policy in the Baltic, Poland announces that they’re looking for 3 new submarines. Translated:

“The Polish Navy, according to the approved Technical Modernisation Programme 2013-2022, is expected to receive three new submarines. Two will go to its facilities by 2022 – a third by 2030.”

The general expectation was that Poland would lease a pair of German U214 submarines, and eventually buy them. A May 27/14 “Letter of Intention” to increase co-operation between the 2 countries’ navies included a “submarine operating authority,” after all. By late November, Poland wasn’t going ahead with any such deal just yet, though reports indicated that they might water down their requirements so that the U212A submarines could fit them. By March 2014, Swedish media were beginning to report that Poland could become a Swedish partner in the new A26 design. Sources: Polish MON, “Okrety podwodne – rozmawiajmy o faktach” | The Local – Germany, “Poland gives thumbs down to German subs” | SvD Naringsliv, “Sverige tar tillbaka ubatarna”.

May 16/13: IP deal. Australia’s government signs a deal with Sweden’s FMV procurement agency, covering Intellectual Property rights for submarine design and technology. As RAND’s 2011 report had noted (q.v. Dec 13/11), this was a major stumbling block for any sort of Evolved Collins design, since the original is based on a scaled-up version of Kockums submarine technology and designs.

The agreement covers use of Collins Class submarine technology for the Future Submarine Program. It also creates a framework and principles for the negotiation of Intellectual Property rights, if Australia wants to be able to use and disclose other Swedish submarine technology for an Evolved Collins solution. Disclosure is included because there are sub-contractors et. al. who require some level of disclosure in order to work on the project. Defense Ministers Joint Communique | Australia DoD.

Swedish Intellectual Property Agreement

Gotland Class

Oct 5/12: Gotlands. Kockums CIO John Ahlmarks says that they’ve received an order from Sweden worth several hundred million kronor to modernize 2 of Sweden’s 3 Gotland Class submarines. Some changes are apparently driven by new environmental regulations. Others are related to keeping the boats in service from their launch in the mid-1990s to 2025-2030. That will give Sweden enough time to replace the Gotland Class with a follow-on order, after replacing the 2 Sodermanlund Class boats with 2 A26s in the early 2020s.

The physical upgrades will cover HMS Gotland and HMS Halland, and are expected to take place from 2014 – 2017. HMS Uppland will be left as is for budgetary reasons. Sources: NyTeknik, “Kockums far stor ubatsorder”.

June 16/10: Sweden. The Swedish Parliament votes in favor of allowing the government to procure 2 new submarines during 2010, per the proposed spring budget presented earlier this year by the government. Of course, the FMV and Kockums must come to an agreement, but the company says that they’ve started to prepare by hiring new employees. Sources: Kockums AB, “Swedish Parliament votes in favor of procuring new submarines”.

Feb 25/10: Sweden. Kockums AB, which is part of Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), has signed a contract with Sweden’s FMV for the next-generation A26 submarine’s design phase.

The A26 is envisioned as a 62m boat with about 1,800t displacement at surface, and more when fully submerged. It will be designed for mainly littoral operations, but that size is also suitable for ocean-going capabilities, especially when equipped with Kockums’ Stirling AIP system. Kockums A26 design includes a new innovative flexible payload, with a 6m x 1.5m Multimission Portal flexible payload lock system in addition to its conventional 533mm and 400mm torpedo tubes. Sources: Kockums AB, “Kockums receives overall design order for next-generation submarine”.

A26 design contract

Additional Readings Background: A26

• TKMS Kockuyms – Kockums A26.

• TKMS Kockums – Kockums Stirling AIP System. Property of the Swedish government, now.

Background: Other Submarines

• Naval Technology – SS Soryu Class Submarines, Japan.

• TKMS Kockums – Kockums Stirling AIP used by Japan: Air-independent Stirling propulsion in submarines since 2001.

News & Views

• Naval Technology (Feb 19/14) – Sink or swim: Sweden’s new A-26 next-gen submarine in doubt.

• Wall St. Journal (March 23/14) – Dispute Threatens ThyssenKrupp’s Submarine Business.

• SvD Naringsliv (March 18/14) – Sverige tar tillbaka ubåtarna. Mentions Australia and Poland as potential collaborators on a Swedish submarine design.

• Defense News (March 2/14) – Saab Maneuvers To Buy Swedish Submarine Maker. Following a late February decision by Sweden’s FMV to give Saab a $3.87 million contract. The point? To study Saab’s ability to produce Sweden’s next-generation submarine, instead of Kockums.

• Sverige Radio (Feb 27/14) – Osäker framtid för Kockum. “Uncertain future for Kockum”.

• The Local – Germany (Nov 29/13) – Poland gives thumbs down to German subs. “…but sources have told The Local that on the back of a landmark naval deal between the two countries, Poland is likely to lease two subs anyway.” Over the longer term, could Poland become a partner?

• Polish MON (Nov 15/13) – Okrety podwodne – rozmawiajmy o faktach. Excerpt Trans.: “The Polish Navy, according to the approved Technical Modernisation Programme 2013-2022, is expected to receive three new submarines. Two will go to its facilities by 2022 – a third by 2030.”

Americas

The US Air Force awarded the federal Canadian Commercial Corporation a $10.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for C5M Super Galaxy Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Production. The C5M strategic transport aircraft is a modernized version of the C5 Galaxy. Lockheed Martin manufactured the aircraft to extend the capability of the C-5 fleet to remain in service at least until 2040. The C-5M Super Galaxy transport aircraft achieved initial operational capability in February 2014. The aircraft set 89 world aeronautical records to date. Work will take place in Ottawa, Canada and is scheduled to be complete by the end of October this year.

Raytheon won a $29.6 million delivery order, which provides for the upgrade of the Block IV Tomahawk missile equipment. The upgrade includes test equipment like the system Integration Laboratory, the Air Vehicle System Integration Laboratory, hot-benches, automated flight test equipment and associated test equipment. Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles can launch from a ship or a submarine and can fly into heavily defended airspace more than 1,000 miles away to conduct strikes on targets with minimal collateral damage. The cruise missile is designed to circle for hours above or away from its target and change course on command. The Tomahawk is also able to send an image of its target to controllers right before it hits the target. The latest Block IV variant includes a two-way satellite data-link that enables the missile to be retargeted in flight to pre-programmed, alternate target. Raytheon will perform work within the US and is expected to finish in June 2021. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Middle East & Africa

The Jerusalem Post reports that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) is holding a large-scale drill simulating a multi-front war. The drill started on Sunday and also premiers the F-35i Adir stealth fighter jet. The F-35i Adir is the result of the Israeli procurement of F-35 Lightning II. The first nine Israeli aircraft became operational in 2017. The Adir will be the only F-35 variant to enter service heavily tailored to a foreign country’s specifications. Israel’s multi-front drill also includes all aircraft from combat squadrons, helicopters and transport planes as well as troops from the Aerial Defense Division and the IAF control units. The drill is aimed at improving the readiness and efficiency of the IAF to cope with a multi-front wartime scenario including numerous attacks over a short period of time as well as assistance to ground forces, who are full partners in the drill.

Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $91 million contract to support the UK’s MQ-9A Contractor Logistics Support Phase IV Program. The deal provides for depot repair, life cycle sustainment, and software maintenance services. The Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle is able to perform remotely controlled autonomous flight operations. The UK operates Reapers since 2006. In 2007 the UK’s defense ministry deployed the MQ-9A to Afghanistan. Since 2014 the Royal Air Force’s Reapers are part of the Operation Shader, the United Kingdom’s contribution to US-led military intervention against the Islamic State. The drone has an endurance of over 27 hours, a speed of 240 knots true airspeed, can operate at an altitude of up to 50,000 feet, and has a 1,746 kg payload capacity that includes 1,361 kg of external stores. General Atomics will perform work under the new contract in Poway, California and is expected to be finished by September 30, 2021. The contract involves 100 percent FMS funds to the UK.

Asia-Pacific

Jane’s reports that the Indian Air Force wants to limit the use of its aging fleet of Antonov An-32 ‘Cline’ transport aircraft. Just recently an AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force with 13 people on board crashed 33 minutes after taking off from Jorhat in Assam for Arunachal’s Menchuka, killing all 13 service personnel. Senior Indian Air Force officers said, the Force plans to curtail operations of the service’s 105 Soviet-era An-32s in the country’s Himalayan regions and over the Bay of Bengal due to safety concerns. Four fatal accidents involving the twin-engine turboprop transporter, resulting in the deaths of 54 service personnel and civilians, have taken place since the early years of the AN-32’s services for the Indian Air Force.

The Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigate HMAS Arunta (II) has reportedly rejoined the fleet after having undergone a 20-month-long Anzac Mid-Life Capability Assurance Program upgrade at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia. The Arunta is the first of eight ships of the class to have completed the extensive upgrade. She returned in early June to its home port of Fleet Base West where she rejoined the fleet. The 118 meter-long ship, which was commissioned in December 1998, will soon start to conduct work-ups and testing the new equipment on board.

Today’s Video

Watch: Dassault Rafale Fighter Flying Display at Paris Air Show 2019 – AINtv Express

AN-32 over Taj Mahal
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The Antonov AN-32 “Cline” builds on the general design of the widely-used AN-26 light transport plane, but high placement of the engine nacelles above the wing allow bigger propellers, driven by 5,100 hp AI-20 turboprops that almost double the output of the AN-26’s engines. As a result, the AN-32’s 14,750 pound/ 6900 kg load capacity is almost 50% better than its AN-26 cousin’s, and it can take off with much better load fractions in hot and/or high-altitude conditions, whose thin air could be a problem for other aircraft. AN-32s serve with a number of countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and the type was purchased in 2008 by Afghanistan.

India was the plane’s launch customer in the 1980s, and its fleet of up to 105 aircraft are used by the IAF’s Parachute Training School, by its military for humanitarian personnel and supply airdrops, and as an important link in the transport chain to the disputed Siachen glacier area in northern Jammu and Kashmir. That length of service has taken a toll, hence India’s decision to modernize over 100 planes to An-32RE status…

The New AN-32REs

AN-32 at altitude
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The process began with a Parliamentary Committee suggestion in 2000-01. The intent to upgrade the AN-32 fleet was restated in 2006, and India went on to perform pre-upgrade surveys of its fleet. Anotnov and Israel’s Elbit Systems were said to be the likely contractors, with the latter playing a role as an equipment supplier. The Ukraine’s Motor Sich will work on upgrades to the engines. The formal announcement cited the Ukraine’s state agency Spetstechnoexport as the contract winner, but the Antonov Plant and Civil Aviation Plant 410 are actually executing the contract.

The $400 million main project envisages a Total Technical Life Extensions (TTLE) for 40 aircraft at Antonov-certified plants in Ukraine, at the rate of 10 aircraft per year. It also includes the supply of material and transfer of technology for the upgrade of remaining 64 aircraft at the IAF’s No. 1 Base Repair Depot (BRD) in Kanpur (tl. 104). A parallel 3-year, $110 million contract with Motor Sich OJSC in Zaporizhia with upgrade the fleet’s AI-20 engines. The 40 AN-32 aircraft upgrades in Kiev are expected to be completed by March 2014, and the upgrades at 1 BRD are scheduled to finish by March 2017.

With over 800,000 flight hours on India’s 104-plane fleet, the airframes needed an extensive structural refurbishment to extend their service lives for another 15-20 years. So, what else goes into a TTLE’d An-32RE?

A combination of press reports and Ukrainian announcements says that the engines are being upgraded, while the structural changes lower the plane’s overall mass, leading to better fuel consumption. In the cockpit, the 1980s avionics are being replaced with a new “glass cockpit” of display screens, a satellite navigation system, a better flight management system, aircraft collision warning equipment, ground collision early warning equipment, modernized aircraft rangefinders and height finders, a new radar set with 2 multifunctional indicators, new oxygen equipment, and noise and vibration reduction measures, and modernized crew seats.

Taken together, the upgraded An-32 will be able to make full use of runways with international ICAO category Instrument Landing Systems Category II runways, allowing takeoffs and landings in visibility as low as 300 meters. India’s MAFI program will give the new planes up to 67 bases in India that can make full use of these capabilities.

The AN-32 upgrade program not only survived India’s contract to purchase 6-12 C-130J Hercules aircraft configured for special forces operations, it appears to be complementary. On Oct 14/08, Zee News quoted Agra Air Station’s Air Officer Commanding Air Commodore Shouvik Roy:

“With special operations being the focus of the Air Force in the days to come, the upgraded aircraft will be used increasingly for operations involving tactical transport. The improved on-board avionics will facilitate night operations and even search and rescue.”

Contracts and Key Events 2012 – 2019

 

IAF AN-32RE
(click to view full) June 19/19: Downsizing after Crash Jane’s reports that the Indian Air Force wants to limit the use of its aging fleet of Antonov An-32 ‘Cline’ transport aircraft. Just recently an AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force with 13 people on board crashed 33 minutes after taking off from Jorhat in Assam for Arunachal’s Menchuka, killing all 13 service personnel. Senior Indian Air Force officers said, the Force plans to curtail operations of the service’s 105 Soviet-era An-32s in the country’s Himalayan regions and over the Bay of Bengal due to safety concerns. Four fatal accidents involving the twin-engine turboprop transporter, resulting in the deaths of 54 service personnel and civilians, have taken place since the early years of the AN-32’s services for the Indian Air Force. June 4/19: Missing An AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force with 13 people on board reportedly went missing on Monday afternoon around 33 minutes after taking off from Jorhat in Assam for Arunachal’s Menchuka close to the border with China. According to the IAF the aircraft took off from Jorhat 12:27 pm, and its last contact with the ground control was at 1 pm. The IAF has deployed C-130J and AN-32 aircraft next to two Mi-17 choppers while the Indian Army has pressed into service advance light helicopters to locate the missing Antonov AN-32 aircraft. The AN-32 is a Soviet Union-origin twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft. The IAF was the aircraft’s launch customer. January 18/19: First landing at Pakyong The Indian Air Force (IAF) landed its Antonov-32 transport aircraft at the Pakyong Airport in Sikkim only four months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airfield. Pakyong is one of the highest airfields in India and is located around 60 kilometers from the India-China border. India has been ramping up infrastructure along the nearly 4,000 km border with China. The effort is supposed to boost the mobility of troops and materials in the region. The Antonov-32 is a twin-engine, turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and manufactured by Antonov Design Bureau of Ukraine for the Indian Air Force.

Oct 9/14: India is still trying to get multiple local bids to upgrade the remaining 60+ An-32s in its fleet. This phase was always planned as a local effort, but the IAF needs to relax some of the RFP’s conditions and ensure that industry is ready:

“In a first, IAF last year had invited bids from private parties for upgradation of AN-32 transport and MiG-29 fighter aircraft…. “We needed to change certain aspects related to the conditions and invited fresh bids again, which are expected to be received by end of this month,” said Air Marshal P Kanakraj, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of IAF’s maintenance command based at Nagpur…. As much as 95% of the spares required for the aircraft have now been indigenized…. as far as the maintenance command is concerned, the focus was on indigenization of spares and consumables for the aircraft and other systems…. A plan of upgrading the BRDs [Base Repair Depots] was also being considered by the ministry of defence, he added.”

The plan was to use the BRDs as infrastructure, plus resources from maintenance command and private companies to refurbish the planes. Sources: Times of India, “Bids for AN-32 upgrade likely by month end”.

July 17/14: CAG Report. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India points out some problems in the An-32RE program:

“IAF had paid USD 719,500 (Rs 3.16 crore) per engine against the contract of June 2007 [for 17 engines], whereas, it had to pay USD 10,90,000 (Rs 5.43 crore) per engine against the contract of December 2009 [for 100 engines]. Thus, IAF had to incur a total of Rs 227 crore extra on procurement of 100 aero-engines…. Despite being aware of long-term requirement of aero-engines, IAF failed to project the entire requirement which resulted in the extra avoidable expenditure.

“….Due to delay in initiation and conclusion of the contract, facilities for upgradation of an aircraft could not be set up in time despite an investment of Rs 272 crore on Transfer of Technology resulting in grounding of more than 50 percent of the transport aircraft fleet…”

Sources: Jagran Post, “CAG pulls up IAF for grounding AN-32 transport planes”.

March 29/14: Delivery. A 7th batch of 5 upgraded AN-32REs flies out of Kiev toward Kanpur, India. Ukroboronprom mentions that the fly-outs occurred immediately, and that:

“Taking into consideration the [Russian annexation of] Crimea [and threats to Ukraine], the European partners, as an exceptional case, have opened the sky for the military transportation aircrafts, so that the vehicles will be able to arrive at destination place in time.”

Normally, these planes would ferry themselves to India via Russia. The final set of 5 from Ukraine are scheduled for delivery and departure in summer 2014. After that, the contract will involve upgrade kits that are installed in India. Sources: Ukroboronprom, “The seventh batch of An-32 Aircrafts upgraded was supplied to the Air Forces of India”.

March 29/14: MAFI. India’s Business Standard discusses India’s INR 25 billion “Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure” (MAFI) project, which is being led by Tata Power’s strategic electronics division. It uses Doppler Very High Frequency Omni-directional Radio Range (DVOR), and Category II Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), allowing direction from 300 km and operations in visibility as low as 300 meters.

ICAO ILS Category II compatibility is an important goal for the AN-32RE, but the challenge is that India can only upgrade 5-6 bases at any given time. The eventual goal is 30 IAF and navy bases set up by 2016, including 8 along the Chinese border. By the end of 2019, the goal is to expand MAFI to 67 air bases, including 2 owned by the ministry of home affairs. Sources: India’s Business Standard, “First upgraded IAF base commissioned”.

Feb 10/14: The Ukrainian state export agency Ukroboronprom announces a “new contract for repair and renovation of aircraft equipment between Indian Air Forces and SFTE Spectechnoexport”, involving India’s An-32s.

The on-site translation is poor, but it appears to be either a tranche of the original upgrade deal, or a longer-term maintenance and spares arrangement. No figures are provided. Sources: Ukroboronprom, “New contract for renovation of aircraft equipment was signed in interests of the Ministry of Defense of India”.

Jan 31/14: 35/105. Antonov advertises its coming presence at India’s DefExpo 2014, and offers an update regarding its An-32RE conversions:

“Today enterprises of Ukraine perform deep modernization of the fleet of 105 AN-32 light military-transports of Indian Air Forces. Till present, works on 35 airplanes were completed.”

Things appear to be moving slowly, as contracted, at a rate of just 10 per year. Meanwhile, India needs to have begun preparation for its own upgrade work, which will begin once AN-32RE #40 is delivered. Sources: Antonov, “ANTONOV will participate in DEF EXPO?2014 in Delhi”.

Feb 5/13: 25/105. Antonov offers a progress report. So far, the firm has upgraded and re-delivered 25 AN-32REs, out of the total order for 105. They’re also looking to provide 1-stop service for the fleet:

“Developing cooperation with India on the AN?32 programme, ANTONOV Company proposes to realize the principle of integrated operational support of the aircraft. It implies all the services, including: scientific and research investigations, scheduled maintenance and repair, engineering services, training of personnel, modification of the aircraft, providing with technical documentation, warranty maintenance, spare parts and vendor items deliveries to be rendered through the “single window” – ANTONOV Company. This system will provide the most efficient interaction between the aircraft operator and enterprises participating in the programme.”

It’s a lucrative opportunity, but India’s poor experiences with the Ukrainian firm’s Russian counterparts is likely to be an obstacle.

2009 – 2011

From contract negotiations to 1st returns to service.

IAF AN-32
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June 8/11: The IAF inducts the first 4 refurbished An-32RE transports back into service at the Palam AFB. India had sent 5 AN-32s to the Ukraine, and the remaining one will be inducted after it is finished re-equipping.

An-32s have limited range, and Spets Techno Export ferried the An-32REs from Kiev to Ankara, Turkey; Cairo, Egypt; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Doha, Bahrain; and the United Arab Emirates, before bringing them to New Delhi. India Strategic’s article also discusses the deal’s value, players, and timelines.

1st returns to service

March 10/10: A Parliamentary reply clears up one aspect of the deal – when it was signed:

“The Government has signed a contract for ugpradation of AN-32 aircraft with M/s Spets Techno Export, Ukraine on June 15, 2009. This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Gireesh Kumar Sanghi in Rajya Sabha today.”

Feb 3/10: Engines. Engine-maker OJSC Motor Sich in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine announces a $110 million contract to modernize the IAF AN-32 fleet’s AI-20 engines.

The 3-year deal is running from December 2009 – 2013, and 2010 will reportedly see Motor Sich modernize around 100 engines. Unless this is a multi-stage process, that would be close to half of the stock. Sources: Ukrinform, “Motor Sich modernizing engines for India Air Force”.

Engine upgrades

July 22/09: India MoD release:

“A contract for Total Technical Life Extension, Overhaul and Re-equipment of AN-32 fleet has been concluded with Spets Techno Export, Ukraine to overhaul and upgrade these planes, as part of the IAF fleet management approach. The project includes calendar life extension up to 40 years, overhaul and re-equipment of AN-32 aircraft. There were no conditionalities at the time of acquisition of AN-32 with the Russian Government. This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Vijay Jawaharlal Darda and Smt Shobhana Bhartia in Rajya Sabha today.”

June 13/09: Reports say that India’s Ministry of Defence signed a $400 million deal with Ukrainian firms to refurbish “close to 100” AN-32s under a life extension contract. Reports are slightly conflicting, due to lack of transparency on both sides. The contract is eventually established as covering 105 planes, and is signed 2 days later, on June 15/09.

Word of the deal leaked after a June 9/09 AN-32 crash, shortly after it took off from the Mechuka landing base near the Chinese border. The state of the fleet is well known, and early leaks re: upgrades are a good way to divert heated inquiries into the fleet’s safety. Indian Express.

Contract signed

March 3/09: Jane’s adds that the upgrade will involve about 70 aircraft, adding that around 50 of the 100 remaining AN-32s will require structural refurbishment, as well as systems modernization. It will apparently be performed in cooperation with Elbit Systems, whose avionics are popular with the Indian military.

Feb 16/09: According to the Ukraine’s official news agency UKRINFORM, Ukraine’s Aviant Aircraft Building Plant in Kiev appears to have won the upgrade contract for India’s AN-32s. Ukraine’s national news agency reports that:

“At the meeting with India’s Defense Minister it was noted that in the context of a recent victory of the Ukrainian party in a tender on modernization of the fleet of 105 An-23 planes of the Indian Air Force, the relevant bilateral military-technical cooperation has prospects of achieving a qualitatively new level. The work on the contract is being completed now.”

Contract amounts were not mentioned. In India, however, it is wise not to count on any contract until it is actually signed.

Additional Readings

• Antonov – AN-32 /Light Transport Multipurpose Aircraft.

• India Strategic (June 2011) – Upgraded AN-32 transport plane inducted into IAF.

HMAS Adelaide
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The FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates make for a fascinating defense procurement case study. To this day, the ships are widely touted as a successful example of cost containment and avoidance of requirements creep – both of which have been major weaknesses in US Navy acquisition. On the other hand, compromises made to meet short-term cost targets resulted in short service lives and decisions to retire, sell, or downgrade the ships instead of upgrading them.

Australia’s 6 ships of this class have served alongside the RAN’s more modern ANZAC Class frigates, which are undergoing upgrades of their own to help them handle the reality of modern anti-ship missiles. With the SEA 4000 Hobart Class air warfare frigates still just a gleam in an admiral’s eye, the government looked for a way to upgrade their FFG-7 “Adelaide Class” to keep them in service until 2020 or so. The SEA 1390 project wasn’t what you’d call a success… but Australia accepted their last frigate in 2010, and the 4 remaining ships will serve until 2020.

Australia’s Adelaide Class & Its Upgrade Program Ships Rationale

SM-1 on HMAS Darwin
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The FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry class was produced as a capable 3,600t – 4,100t anti-submarine platform, with some secondary air defense and anti-ship capabilities via its SM-1 Standard and RGM-84 Harpoon missiles, and which could be bought in large enough numbers to fill the US Navy’s needs. The ships’ hull twisting and cracking problems were solved early on, and they proved they could take a hit and stay afloat when the USS Stark was struck by 2 Iraqi Exocet missiles during the Iran/ Iraq war. By FFG-36, the “FFG-7 Flight III (Long)” variant was the sole US production version, with an extra 8 feet of length that let it accommodate larger and more capable SH-60 Seahawk helicopters instead of the SH-2 Sea Sprites.

The bad news was the flip side of the good news. FFG-7 updates were problematic, thanks to very little reserved space for growth (39 tons in the original design), and the inflexible, proprietary electronics of the time. Indeed, they were so problematic that the US Navy gave up on the idea of upgrades to face new communications realities and advanced missile threats. Instead, they removed the 25 “FFG-7 Short” ships from inventory via bargain basement sales to allies or outright retirement, after an average of only 18 years of service. The remaining 30 ships received minor upgrades but had their no-longer standard SM-1 missiles removed – and with them, any air defense role. They do not operate in dangerous areas without cover from high-end AEGIS destroyers and cruisers.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquired 4 US Navy designed FFG-7 Flight I frigates: FFG 1 Adelaide (ex-FFG 17), FFG 2 Canberra (ex-FFG 18), FFG 3 Sydney (ex-FFG 35) and FFG 4 Darwin (ex-FFG 44) in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1983, the Australian Government decided to build 2 more ships of this class at the Williamstown Naval Dockyard – now owned and operated by BAE. HMAS Melbourne [FFG 5], was delivered in 1992. HMAS Newcastle [FFG 6] was delivered in 1993.

The supportability of the Adelaide Class had been the subject of discussion since 1987. Between 1993 – 1996, a Surface Combatant Force Study conducted within Australia’s Department of Defence analyzed the capabilities of their 14-ship surface combatant force. Unsurprisingly, they concluded that the FFG 7 class required an increase in capability. HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra were eventually retired, but the other 4 ships were upgraded.

These 2 decisions – to build 2 more 4,000t Adelaide Class frigates instead of buying a newer type, and to begin a capability improvement program instead of buying the USN’s second-hand 9,700t Kidd Class destroyers – largely set the stage for what was to follow.

ESSM from FFG 3
(click to view full)

The Adelaide Class upgrade program has a number of elements, but the 3 most important are (1) a new combat and fire control system with an upgraded long-range air search radar, (2) improved air defense missiles, and (3) an upgraded sonar suite that includes both a new hull-mounted sonar, and integration of towed sonars into a common data picture.

Their goal was to create ships that would remain able to defend the fleet against aerial attacks, including the ability to face the supersonic anti-ship missiles that are beginning to appear in the region. The other regional trend involves a growing number of quiet diesel-electric submarines being purchased by nations near Australia’s sea lanes. Hence the need for ships with better anti-submarine capabilities.

Buying used Kidd Class destroyers instead would have improved both capabilities, while providing much more room for growth. That decision is water under the bow now.

SEA 1390: Ship Upgrades

RAN FFG-7 changes
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First, the ships’ maximum displacement was raised from 4,100t to 4,200t by increasing their longitudinal, deck and bulkhead strength, and raising the V lines. New ship service diesel generators and new solid state 400 Hz static frequency converters provide more reliable power. Beyond that, the upgrades break down into several groups:

Electronics

Under SEA 1390, the Adelaide Class ships received a modified and re-hosted FFG Naval Combat Data System (NCDS) and Australian Distributed Architecture Combat System (ADACS), operating on upgraded computers with new Q70 consoles, and using an upgraded Local Area Network (LAN) with higher data transmission rates.

Link-16 equipment was introduced to complement the older Link-11 standard, and provide the combat system with better allied and helicopter interoperability.

The Gun and Missile Fire Control System was upgraded from Mk92 Mod 2 to Mod 12 variant.

Sensors

The AN/SPS-49v4 air surveillance radar is upgraded to AN/SPS-49Av1MPU, and the AN/SPS-55 surface search and navigation radar is improved.

The Mk92 Fire Control System is upgraded from the original MOD 2 to MOD 12, which includes upgrades to the Separate Target Illumination Radar (STIR).

An Radamec 2500 EOTS system offers long-range passive TV & infrared surveillance that doesn’t warn its targets, plus a laser rangefinder. It’s integrated into the targeting system, but the RAN has placed operational limitations on it due to performance.

Along related lines, a multi-sensor Radar Integrated Automatic Detect and Track System (RIADT) was added to improve target detection, tracking and engagement, particularly against low altitude targets in cluttered ocean or near-shore environments.

For underwater warfare, the AN/SQS-56 and MULLOKA sonar system was removed, in favor of an improved variant of the ANZAC Class’ Thompson (Thales) Spherion Medium Frequency Sonar. Electronics that can integrate the Spherion’s data with the ALBATROS towed sonar, in order to provide the frigate with a single underwater picture, are every bit as important.

Defensive

The old AN/SLQ-32v2 “Slick 32” electronic support system was replaced with newer technology from Israel’s Elbit (EA-2118) and RAFAEL (C-Pearl). An ESM system picks up and classifies enemy radar emissions, and part of its role is to act as a 2nd layer of warning against attacks.

The torpedo detection and classification system was deemed “unlikely to achieve operational viability”. Instead, the ships will rely on a DSTO-developed PANORAMA processor that combines the Spherion bow sonar and Albatross towed array inputs, in order to detect incoming torpedoes passively. HMAS Darwin, Melbourne, and Newcastle also got SLQ-25 Nixie active towed torpedo decoys transferred from ANZAC frigates, but HMAS Sydney will be left without.

This area has proven to be somewhat weak. According to the ANAO, the RAN has placed operational limitations on the Electronic Support (ES) System, Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR), PIRATE Infra Red Decoy, and the Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS). The Mine and Obstacle Avoidance System has not been endorsed at all, and the RAN won’t decide what to do until 2014.

Weapons

Weapons array
(click to view full)

The ships’ existing Mk13 GMLS pop-up launcher retains its 40 round magazine, but it can now be fitted for more advanced SM-2 Standard anti-air missiles and Harpoon strike missiles (usually fitted: 32 x SM and 8 x Harpoon). An 8-cell Mk41 tactical-length vertical launching system will generally carry up to 32 shorter-range RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow air defense missiles, but could carry different weapons including SM-1/ SM-2s.

Self-contained drop-in weapon changes round out the mix.

• SEA 1390 Phase 4A/4B will replace all SM-1 missiles with SM-2 Block IIIAs. They offer far better performance against modern anti-ship missiles, and don’t require constant Home All the Way guidance.
  
• Harpoon anti-ship missile capability was improved to include RGM-84 Block IIs, with GPS guidance and land/ near-shore attack capability.
  
• New Eurotorp MU90 lightweight torpedoes sit in the torpedo tubes, instead of the old American Mk.46s. The MU90s were a troubled project of their own, and weren’t officially commissioned into service until October 2013.
  
• The ship’s 20mm Phalanx CIWS last-ditch defense systems were upgraded to Block 1B for better capabilities against UAVs, helicopters, and small boats.
  
• RAFAEL’s Mini-Typhoon 12.7mm remote weapons systems were bolted on to supplement the Phalanx’s defenses against fast boats and similar threats.
  
• Additional launchers for acoustic, long-range chaff and passive infrared (IR) decoys.

All these changes must work together well, in order to make the Improved Adelaide Class’ upgrades effective. That wasn’t easy.

SEA 1390: Project & Industrial Structure

The SEA 1390 project has had several phases, all of which have been completed.

• Phase 1 – Project Definition Studies (1995-1998).
  
• Phase 2 – FFG Upgrade Implementation (1999-2010).
  
• Phase 3 – A Study into the replacement of the SM-1 missile.
  
• Phase 4A – Upgrade of the existing test set to enable testing of the SM-1 replacement missile.
  
• Phase 4B – Replacement of the SM-1 Missile capability.

FFG 6 fires SM-1
(click to view full)

SEA 1390, Phase 1. The RFP was released in 1994, and Transfield Defence Systems of Melbourne (TDS, now BAE), and ADI Limited of Sydney (now Thales Australia) were selected to conduct the 2-year Project Definition Studies. The Australian Government subsequently endorsed a list of capability improvements and supportability measures for the Adelaide Class.

SEA 1390, Phase 2.1. ADI won the tender for on Nov 13/98, and signed an A$ 900 million contract on June 1/99, as part of a A$ 1.266 billion budget overall. The last ship was to be delivered in 2005. The project faced difficulties from the outset, and in November 2003, the upgrade set was cut to 4 ships. HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra would be decommissioned. It actually took until June 2006 to amend the contract, including the settlement of all claims and provisional acceptance disputes. Final acceptance was now scheduled in December 2009.

SEA 1390 Phase 4B. This upgrade received Second Pass approval on July 12/04, and would allow the 4 ships to fire newer SM-2 Block IIIA Surface to Air Missiles, with far better performance against modern anti-ship weapons. Completion was scheduled for early 2009, but Operational Release didn’t take place until July 2013.

Despite RAN acceptance of the last ship in 2011, problems with some of the on-board sub-systems have delayed Final Materiel Release until March 2014. These 4 ships will serve until 2020 or so. Companies involved included:

• ADI Systems (now Thales Australia) – Integration Authority and Combat System Design.
  
• Gibbs and Cox – Platform System Design Authority. The ship’s upgrades will push its weight to 4,200t – note that American upgrades to 4,100t have pushed a hull designed for 3,600t into stability issues.
  
• AAI – On Board Training System (OBTS).
  
• BAE Systems – Changes to the missile launcher system.
  
• CEA – Data Fusion system.
  
• Lockheed Martin Naval Electronic and Surveillance Systems (LM NE&SS) – Mk 92 Mod 12 Fire Control System.
  
• RAFAEL – Electronic Support Measures. Israel’s Elbit Systems would also contribute, and Tenix (now BAE) would become a RAFAEL subcontractor.
  
• Thales Underwater Systems (formerly Thompson Marconi Sonar) – Underwater Warfare Design Agent.

Other major subcontractors include Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Launching Systems, who would handle the 8-cell Mk41 vertical launching system placed in front of the Mk13 pop-up launcher and magazine in the bow, and the ESSM and SM-2 missiles the ships will carry.

Replacement of the diesel generators and air compressors involved their own equipment contractors.

Contracts & Key Events, 2008 – Present 2012 – 2019

 

FFG 6 fires SM-2
(click to view full)

June 19/19: Completed and Rejoined The Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigate HMAS Arunta (II) has reportedly rejoined the fleet after having undergone a 20-month-long Anzac Mid-Life Capability Assurance Program upgrade at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia. The Arunta is the first of eight ships of the class to have completed the extensive upgrade. She returned in early June to its home port of Fleet Base West where she rejoined the fleet. The 118 meter-long ship, which was commissioned in December 1998, will soon start to conduct work-ups and testing the new equipment on board.

Dec 17/13: ANAO Report. Australia’s National Audit Office releases their 2012-13 Major Projects Report. The frigate upgrades themselves aren’t reported any more, but Project SEA 1390 Phase 4A and 4B are. It involves replacing the frigates’ SM-1 missiles with more advanced SM-2s Block IIIAs possessing Mid-Course Guidance capability.

That program is almost done, but not quite. Final Materiel Release (FMR) was supposed to be September 2012, but is now January 2014 due to contracting and shipping issues (q.v. ). That pushes Final Operational Capability to March 2014. “Capability observations by Navy regarding legacy Fire Control performance issues have been addressed insofar as these can be corrected in software to ensure the products are suitable [emphasis DID’s].”

The project has spent A$ 327 million of A$ 400.2 million, and will come in under budget but about 16 months late. As of June 30/13, A$ 258.3 of those funds have been devoted to the SM-2 missiles themselves, and mostly went to Raytheon via the US government. The other contractors were AAI (training systems), BAE Systems (launcher modifications), and Lockheed Martin (Mk92 CW illuminator modifications). A Foreign Military Sale Letter of Request for 3 years In-Service Support is pending, per the project’s obligations. Then there’s this mention, which is something for global buyers to remember:

“…classified items require licensing by the US Department of State for international transfer. Several issues were encountered where the Australian Freight Forwarder changed its street address in US and this required reissuing of the licence, a process that takes about three months through the US Department of State.”

Dec 17/13: ANAO Report. Australia’s National Audit Office releases their 2012-13 Major Projects Report. SEA 1390 Phase 2.1 seems like it would be over, as the final ship was accepted in 2011, but there’s still work to do on the Torpedo Defense System. Phase 2.1 has spent A$ 1,352.1 million of 1,450.1 million, leaving just A$ 98.0 million to last until Final Materiel Release in December 2014. That’s somewhat at risk because the program was largely de-staffed after final delivery, and the RAN will need to recruit contract help for the project office.

As things stand, the RAN has placed operational limitations on the Electronic Support (ES) System, Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR), PIRATE Infra Red Decoy, and the Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS). The Mine and Obstacle Avoidance System has not been endorsed at all, and the RAN won’t decide what to do until 2014.

The other technical problem is the torpedo detection and classification system, whose faults made the accompanying Le Scut decoy “unlikely to achieve operational viability”. Instead, they’ll rely on a DSTO-developed PANORAMA processor that combines the Spherion bow sonar and Albatross towed array inputs, in order to detect incoming torpedoes passively. HMAS Darwin, Melbourne, and Newcastle also got SLQ-25 Nixie active towed torpedo decoys transferred from ANZAC frigates, but HMAS Syndney will be left without.

SEA 1390 Phase 4A and 4B are still in progress to deliver SM-2 Block IIIA missiles and their accompanying MK 698 test sets, as a replacement for existing SM-1s. Most missiles have been delivered, and Operational Release took place in July 2013, but there’s still A$ 73.2 million of the A$ 400.2 million budget left. There’s also an unfinished item or 2:

“Procurement of Additional Missile Section Spares was initially delayed due to US FMS contracting issues. Delivery has commenced but is not expected to be completed until Dec 2013 due to shipping delays associated with the annual/semi-annual ammunition ship that transports ordnance from US to Australia. Additionally establishment of the In-Service Support arrangements are outstanding but expected to be in place by late 2013.”

Nov 22/13: The Australian DoD announces a A$ 46 million contract to Thales Australia, replacing an interim contract to support the Improved Adelaide Class’ upgraded ADACS Combat System. The contract also covers on-board systems and associated support facilities, and will be delivered from Thales facilities in Sydney and Perth. Source: Australian DoD, “Defence awards contract to support frigates”.

Oct 15/13: MU90. The MU90 lightweight torpedo finally receives its official entry into RAN service, 13 years after the deal to buy an “off the shelf” torpedo began. Australia’s ANZAC and Adelaide Class frigates are now fully equipped with the MU90, which has reached Full Operational Capability for Australian purposes. Source: Australia Defence Magazine, “MU90 torpedo enters Royal Australian Navy service”.

Dec 12/12: MU90. The JP 2070 project to equip Australian ships with the MU90 lightweight torpedo is finally removed the Australia’s “Projects of Concern” list, after a sojourn of more than 4 years. They have also attained Initial Operational Capability, signifying that Australian ships are finally able to depend on them in combat. Delays in weapons testing, integration challenges, and cost risks forced a formal remediation plan agreement in 2011, and it didn’t achieve Initial Operational Capability until November 2012.

The torpedo’s problems were treated as separate from the SEA 1390 Frigate Upgrade program, but they matter, because they’re the ships’ main anti-submarine weapon. Sources: Australian DoD, “Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel – Joint Media Release – Update to the Projects of Concern List” | See also ANAO, “Remediation of the Lightweight Torpedo Replacement Project”.

Jan 27/10: Thales Australia announces that HMAS Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin and Newcastle, have all been contractually accepted into service by the navy, and the project had been struck from the Government’s notorious “Projects of Concern” blacklist. The Australian.

In-service & closure

2008 – 2011

 

FFG 3, modified
(click to view full)

Dec 18/09: SM-2 firing. HMAS Melbourne fires the SM-2 Block IIIA edium range air defense missile, an upgrade from its previous SM-1 armament. Australia’s upgraded Adelaide Class frigates are all slated to add this capability, and the lessons learned may allow Raytheon to offer a more standardized upgrade package for other operators of the SM-1 missile and/or FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry Class Australian DoD | Raytheon.

SM-2-IIIA firing

Sept 17/09: Last acceptance. Australia’s Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science announces contractual acceptance of the last upgraded FFG-7 frigate, HMAS Newcastle. In legal terms, it means the government is certifying that the ship meets all requirements of the contract. In practical terms, it means that any problems discovered after this point are the government’s responsibility, not the contractor’s. Combet thanked a couple of specific individuals for reaching this point:

“Twenty four days before the election of the Rudd Labor Government the Australian National Audit Office released a performance audit of the FFG program. This report concluded that this $1.5 billion upgrade was over four and half years behind schedule… So concerned was the new Government regarding projects like the FFG upgrade, the Sea Sprite and the Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft that we established the ‘Projects of Concern’ process.

…The oversight provided by the ‘Projects of Concern’ unit was very important in improving cooperation between the parties. The involvement of the General Manager-Major Programs was especially important in elevating this issue. [Thales Australia CEO] Chris Jenkins realised that the reputation of Thales was at risk and showed strong leadership to improve contractor performance. This project also highlights one of the advantages of having multinational companies active in Australia. Thales was able to reach back into their parent corporation to access specialists who helped resolve some of the issues around the upgrade.”

The 2006 re-baselining had set this milestone for December 2009, so project delivery was about 3 months ahead of project expectations, even if it was years late based on the initial schedule. DoD release | Combet’s speech | Thales Australia release.

Nov 20/08: 2 accepted. Australia’s Minister for Defence announces that the DMO has agreed to Contractual Acceptance of HMAS Sydney and HMAS Darwin from prime contractor Thales Australia. He adds that contractual acceptance of HMAS Melbourne is expected by the end of 2008, and provisional acceptance of HMAS Newcastle is now expected by June 2009. See also Thales release.

This acceptance milestone also includes the new FFG Warfare Systems Support Centre at Garden Island. Integrated combat system performance has been one of the project’s biggest difficulties, with claims that key weapons systems were not fully integrated. The ministerial release adds that upgraded software for the Australian Distributed Architecture Combat System has now been delivered – but it did not say whether this had resolved past issues, in part or in full.

Defence minister Fitzgibbon recognized the Hon. Greg Combet MP, Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, for his role in resolving outstanding issues with the project:

“Greg invested a lot of time and effort in getting the parties to the contract – Defence, Thales Australia and Raphael – to sit down and talk about the issues impeding the project. This has resulted in much greater collaboration between the parties than has previously been experienced during the project’s history [as well as improved progress].”

Nov 19/08: MTWAN. Thales Australia announces that it has completed the Detailed Design Review for both Mission and Support Systems for project SEA 1442 Phase 3: Maritime Communications Modernisation. Its inclusion on the Adelaide Class is enabled by previous upgrade efforts.

SEA 1442 involves the introduction of an Internet Protocol (IP) based Maritime Tactical Wide Area Network (MTWAN) into the Royal Australian Navy, interfacing with the RAN’s existing analogue system. The MTWAN is scheduled to be installed on all 8 ANZAC frigates, its 4 upgraded Adelaide Class guided missile frigates, and the amphibious ships HMAS Manoora, HMAS Kanimbla, and HMAS Success. The first installation at the Fleet Network Centre is scheduled for December 2008.

Jan 19/08: FFG 1 gone. HMAS Adelaide [FFG-01] is decommissioned after 27 years of service. Following her decommissioning, Adelaide will be gifted to the NSW Government, to be sunk off Terrigal on the New South Wales central coast, as an artificial reef and dive attraction. DoD release.

Adelaide retired

Jan 1/08: Unfit for purpose. A whistleblower describes a raft of very serious problems with the frigate upgrade program, as described above. Their sum would make the ships less capable in use than they were before the upgrade.

Reports place the total cost of the upgrade to date at A$ 1.46 billion (about $1.01 billion at June 2004 conversion), or A$ 360 million per ship, with 98% of those funds already paid out to Thales Australia. The project is also reportedly 4 years behind schedule. A blizzard of coverage and recriminations follow – see Additional Readings for more details.

Appendix A: SEA 1390 – Equipment Problems & (Partial) Resolution

HMAS Darwin
(click to view full)

The Frigate UP program’s problems were a continuous and changing set, triggering a program change in 2003. Unfortunately, the renegotiated 2006 contract didn’t solve the problems. In 2007, Australian Navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Shalders refused to accept HMAS Sydney for operational release, on the grounds that its fighting systems did not function properly.

In January 2008, an unnamed “government whistleblower” claimed that even this understated the problems.

Towed and on-board sonar sensors could not be integrated, he claimed, significantly hampering submarine detection. Long range chaff could not be used, datalinks to the onboard S-70 Seahawk helicopters were not functioning, and though the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles had been fired from the ships, the electronic support measures that find enemy radars are not working properly, and the ships’ radars were alleged to be inadequate. The Australian Defence Materiel Organization, for its part, took the official position that the problems were fixable, and said that SEA 1390 can still deliver FFG-7 ships that have been improved enough to face modern threats.

Incoming defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon didn’t appear to believe this, and was especially vociferous in his criticism. In response, allegations flew in Parliament as well as the media. Obviously, ships in this state cannot be sent to even low-medium threat conflict zones, and there are allegations that Adelaide Class sailors were quitting in disproportionate numbers, due to their inability to deploy.

Bridge to nowhere?
(click to view full)

What to do?

Step 1 in politics: blame. There were even claims that the entire upgrade project was partly driven by a desire to maximize government-owned ADI’s sale price, before it was sold to France’s Thales. Raising this issue also raises questions about the 1990s construction program as a “jobs buying” measure, in lieu of purchasing more capable Kidd Class destroyers second-hand.

The thing is, there seemed to be more than enough blame to go around. Australian Defence Association executive director Neil James went right to that point when asked by the media, saying that while the [Liberal Party] Howard government was responsible for the upgrade contract, it was the [Labor Party] Whitlam government that chose the wrong frigates to begin with:

“There’s no one government that can be blamed for this, the whole problem has both parties’ fingerprints on it.”

Ultimately, therefore, the issue wasn’t blame. It was ships.

HMAS Armidale
(click to view full)

The pressure to accept the ships must be understood in light of the scenario if the effort had failed. The Adelaide Class would have remained undeployable in threat zones, and A$ 1.5+ billion would still be gone. Australia’s effective surface combatant fleet would have shrunk to just 6 ANZAC frigates, to be supplemented 7 or more years later by 3 Hobart class air warfare frigates. This set would be supported by the new 56m Armidale Class Offshore Patrol Vessels, which are suitable for Coast Guard type duties throughout the South Pacific, but very little else.

The extra coverage slots would have had to be filled somehow. One option would have been lesser capability ships like an extended OPV, or a corvette like Navantia’s BAM. Unfortunately, almost A$ 1.5 billion had already been spent, and buying anything else would require additional funds. It’s a classic sunk cost question. Can an equivalent alternative be fielded for less than it would now take to complete SEA 1390?

This was more than a cost question, as ships that could not be made fit for purpose could be replaced by anything as an improvement.

As it happens, the Improved Adelaide Class had its upgrades completed within 2 years of the whistleblower’s revelations, leaving some question concerning just how many of the issues described were fixed, and how many were simply accepted. In exchange for more than A$ 1.6 billion, The Royal Australian Navy ended up with 4 ships that plus up its anti-submarine warfare numbers until 2020, and can perform the full range of naval duties to varying levels in low to medium threat environments.

What transpired was better than a hole, or a significantly reduced capability. Even so, the decision to extend and then to upgrade Australia’s FFG-7s remains a very expensive program. One that came, twice, disguised as a bargain.

Additional Readings & Sources Background: Ships & Upgrade

• Royal Australian Navy – Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate

• GlobalSecurity – FFG-7 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY-class

• Australia DoD, Defence Materiel Organization – SEA 1390 – FFG Upgrade Project (FFG UP). A bit behind the times, even though it’s a 2013 snapshot.

• Thales – FFG Upgrade [PDF]. Details the changes.

• Tenix – SEA 1390 Ph 2 FFG Upgrade. They stepped back in as a subcontractor to Israel’s RAFAEL, who is integrating the electronic support systems that detect enemy radars. 2008 snapshot, since Tenix became BAE that year.

• GlobalSecurity – DDG-993 Kidd Class. They are now referred to as the DDG 1801 Chi Teh Class.

News & Views

• ANAO (2012/13 Report) – Remediation of the Lightweight Torpedo Replacement Project. The very problematic MU90, whose procurement began in 2000.

• ANAO (May 20/10) – Lightweight Torpedo Replacement Project [PDF].

• The Australian (Jan 7/08) – Navy cost sinking budget

• The Australian (Jan 3/08) – Parties exchange blame over frigates

• The Age (Jan 2/08) – Adelaide frigates a nightmare: govt

• The Courier-Mail (Jan 1/08) – Navy Ships Unfit For War

• Lockheed Martin (Sept 25/07) – Lockheed Martin Awarded $20.6 Million For Fire Control System Upgrade To Support Enhanced Missile Australian Navy Frigate. To give them SM-2 missile capability.

• Australian DoD (Annual Report 2004/05) – Approved Major Capital Equipment Projects: SEA 1390 Ph 2 FFG Upgrade Implementation. It isn’t going well.

• Sea Power magazine (September 2004) – Australia to Upgrade Adelaide-Class Ships, Eyes UAV Fleet

• Asia Pulse (October 2002) – Taiwan’s Kidd-Class Warships Deal To Cost US$785 Mln [dead link]. For 4 of the fully multi-role, 9,700t ships, or about 20-25% of their original cost. The Kidds would also have required upgrades, but had more native capability and the space to accommodate upgrades more easily.

• Australian Navy, Navy News (June 14/99) – $900m FFG Upgrade

• Australian government (#65, Dec 1/98) – Australian Centre for Maritime Studies, Australian Maritime Digest. See “RAN Frigate Upgrade.”

Americas

Raytheon won a $33 million firm-fixed-price contract to demonstrate a new dual-band towed decoy to help US Navy Super Hornet jet fighter-bomber pilots avoid modern sophisticated enemy radar-guided anti-aircraft missiles. The deal supports the Dual Band Decoy Program, which aims to meet an urgent Navy necessity to protect crews of area-penetrating attack jets like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from enemy radar-guided missiles that operate on two separate frequencies, such as X-band and S-band. Raytheon will demonstrate expanded capabilities of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy and AN/ALE-50 Advanced Airborne Expendable Decoy. The company will perform work in Goleta, California and scheduled completion date is in September 2021.

The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center in Utah awarded Boeing a five-year-extension to an earlier contract for JDAM guided bomb tailkits, spares, repairs and technical services. This deal increases the contract ceiling by over $6.5 billion. The Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kit features a GPS-aided inertial navigational system that essentially converts “dumb” gravity bombs into accurate, guided “smart bombs“, improving their accuracy. Once released, the JDAM autonomously navigates to the designated coordinates. In April, Boeing won a $250 million, 10-year contract for Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kit services. The extension includes Foreign Military Sales funds. Work will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, and will be completed by February 28, 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Reuters reported that Iran would further scale back its compliance with nuclear deal commitments due to the lack of „positive signals“ from fellow signatories to the pact. Tehran has said in May that, unless world powers protected its economy from US sanctions within 60 days, Iran would start enriching uranium at a higher level. Also in May, Iran stopped complying with some of the commitments in the 2015 nuclear deal. The United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and tightened sanctions on Tehran.

Europe

The offer by Saab to deliver its Gripen to Finland also entails two GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, the Swedish company announced via a press release. Saab’s GlobalEye is a multi-role AEW&C solution that can detect and track airborne and surface targets on land as well as on sea. According to Saab, AEW&C capability would increase Finland’s situational awareness and provide increased pre-warning time, supporting the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity. AEW&C systems have shown to provide an efficient deterrent effect whilst enhancing and maximizing the combat effectiveness of a fighter fleet. Saab’s proposal comprises 64 Gripen aircraft, of which 52 are single-seat Gripen E and 12 are dual-seat Gripen F, as well as two GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft. Finland is planning a procurement decision in 2021.

France wants to to purchase an additional H225M, which will be operated by the French Air Force, Airbus said on June 14. The French Defense Procurement Agency DGA has signed the order. The aircraft will reportedly be delivered in a configuration that allows it to be interoperable with the existing fleet of 10 H225Ms in the French Air Force and in particular it will be capable of inflight refueling, an essential operational advantage that this helicopter offers. The French Air Force will utilize the aircraft for Special Forces and Search and Rescue missions. Two Makila 2A1 engines power the multi-purpose H225M, which features a five-blade rotor that provides an exceptionally low vibration level. The modular Spheriflex design of rotor mechanical assemblies allows for lower maintenance.

Asia-Pacific

Israeli defense company Elbit Systems could possibly net a $180 million drone deal with the Philippines Army, Globes reports. Sources apparently say, that the deal, which includes the Hermes 900, Hermes 450, Skylark 1, and Skylark 3 UAV, could possibly be signed in the next couple of weeks. The Philippine Army will use these UAVs for intelligence gathering, patrols, and border defense missions. The Army will adapt the drones to homeland and internal security missions for the Philippines, a country of many islands that faces terrorist threats. The Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 are multi-role drones used for long-range missions. Skylark 1 and Skylark 3 are tactical UAVS designed mainly for use by field units for real time observation and intelligence gathering missions. Skylark 3 is optimized for both dismounted and vehicle-based operation.

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : Israel Offers New Stealth Radar,30 Predator-B Final,56 C-295 Deal Signing

ALE-50 “Little Buddy”
(click to view full)

The entire ALE-50 system consists of a launcher and launch controller attached to one of the aircraft’s weapon pylons, containing one or more expendable towed decoys. These trail behind the aircraft when deployed, attracting radar-guided missiles to themselves instead. Each decoy and payout reel is delivered in a sealed canister, and has a 10-year shelf life.

In both flight tests and actual combat, the ALE-50 has successfully countered numerous live firings of both surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. Deagel.com estimates the ALE-50 expendable decoys’ estimated value at $22,000 each – which is certainly a lot cheaper than a B-1 bomber. At least one US pilot who came home safe referred to the ALE-50 as “my little buddy” in a letter to Raytheon…

Contracts & Key Events, 2006 – Present

Contracts for the ALE-50 have been ongoing since at least 1995, and production began in December 1996. Unless otherwise noted, work on the ALE-50 towed decoy system is being done at Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) business by its Electronic Warfare Systems organization located in Goleta, CA. The ALE-50 is used by older F/A-18E/F Block I Super Hornets, and by USAF F-16s and B-1B Lancer heavy bombers.

Note that the Integrated Multi-Platform Launch Controller (IMPLC) is the standard launch controller for all future installations. It’s a component of the AN/ALE-50(V) countermeasures decoy dispensing set, and the IDECM integrated defensive electronics countermeasure system. The US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter, the USAF’s B-1B Lancer heavy bombers, and Raytheon’s AN/ALQ-184(V)9 ECM pod that equips a number of different aircraft each use their MPLC with platform-specific launchers. This flexibility makes the AN/ALE-50 adaptable to any tactical or combat support aircraft.

June 17/19: Demonstration Raytheon won a $33 million firm-fixed-price contract to demonstrate a new dual-band towed decoy to help US Navy Super Hornet jet fighter-bomber pilots avoid modern sophisticated enemy radar-guided anti-aircraft missiles. The deal supports the Dual Band Decoy Program, which aims to meet an urgent Navy neccessity to protect crews of area-penetrating attack jets like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from enemy radar-guided missiles that operate on two separate frequencies, such as X-band and S-band. Raytheon will demonstrate expanded capabilities of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy and AN/ALE-50 Advanced Airborne Expendable Decoy. The company will perform work in Goleta, California and scheduled completion date is in September 2021.

Sept 23/14: Raytheon Electronic Warfare Systems in Goleta, CA receives a $9.4 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for 226 ALE-50 Bravo T3F launchers for U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F aircraft. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2013 US Navy aircraft budgets.

Work will be performed in Forest, MS (70%), and Goleta, CA (30%), and is expected to be complete in October 2017. US Navy Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-10-G-0006).

April 25/13: IMPLC. Raytheon in Goleta, CA receives a $9.1 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, exercising an option for 26 integrated multi-platform launch controllers (IMPLCs) “for installation on F/A-18 aircraft.”

Work will be performed in Forest, MS (66%); Goleta, CA (25%); and Nashua, NH (9%), and is expected to be complete in November 2015. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2013 USN Aircraft Procurement funds (N00019-13-C-0006).

April 9/13: Raytheon in Goleta, CA receives a $35.2 million firm-fixed delivery order for AN/ALE-50 towed decoys. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition, using FY 2011 funds within a multi-year contract (q.v. March 5/04 entry).

Work will be performed at Forest, MS and is expected to be complete by March 31/15. The AFLCMC/WNKCB at Robins AFB, GA manages the contract (FA8523-04-D-0001, 0087).

Oct 3/12: IMPLC. A $15.8 million firm-fixed price contract for 48 integrated multi-platform launch controllers (IMPLCs).

Work will be performed in Forest, MS (66%), Goleta, CA (25%), and Nashua, NH (9%), and is expected to be complete in January 2014. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, and $7.9 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00019-13-C-0006).

March 6/12: Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives an $8 million firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee contract modification for 57 SUU-78 A/A pylons, and 40 ALE-50 towed decoy well covers.

Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete in December 2014. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-09-C-0019).

Sept 15/11: ECM. Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives a $7.7 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft armament equipment, to include a number of systems. 174 station control units comprise the first set of capabilities. Self-protection items include 6 ALE-50 dispensers for those towed active missile decoys; 6 ALE-50 chassis towed decoys; and 6 ALE-50 protector towed decoys. They’re also ordering 4 sets of mounting bases and retainers for the plane’s ALR-67 radar warning receivers.

F/A-18E/F Super Hornets with tanks can act as low-capacity hose-and-drogue aerial tankers, and this order covers 22 aerial refueling store (ARS) suspension lugs; 12 centerline feed-through plates; 11 ARS air probes; and 11 ARS fuel probes.

Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete in December 2013. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-09-C-0019).

Dec 15/09: Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. received a $6.1 million firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement for 35 SUU-78 centerline pylons, and 14 ALE-50 well covers, in support of FY 2010 aircraft armament equipment production for the F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft.

Work will be performed in El Segundo, CA (86%); St. Louis, MO (11%); and Irvine, CA (3%). Work is expected to be complete in April 2012. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-05-G-0026).

May 14/09: Lot 13. Raytheon announces a $19.8 million contract modification from the U.S. Air Force Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. ALE-50 Lot 13 production will include 807 decoys for the Air Force, to be delivered through April 2011. Completion of Lot 13 production will bring the total number of decoys produced by Raytheon to 26,489.

Oct 16/08: Lot 12. Raytheon announces a $24.3 million contract from the USAF’s Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to provide the 12th production lot of 1,048 ALE-50 decoys: 799 for the USAF, and 249 for the Navy. They will be delivered through October 2010.

Production of ALE-50 equipment began in December 1996. Raytheon has now achieved 12 years of on-time deliveries, and Lot 12 deliveries will bring Raytheon’s total production to 25,682. Raytheon release.

Dec 3/07: IMPLC. A $7.9 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Lot P9 Full-Rate Production of 30 Integrated Multi-Platform Launch Controllers (IMPLC) for the AN/ALE-50 (V) and associated technical support for the Government of Australia and the United States Navy, for F/A-18E/F aircraft.

Work will be performed in Goleta, CA (94.4%) and Nashua, NH (5.6%) and is expected to be complete in December 2011. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-08-C-0006).

May 7/07: Lot 11. Raytheon in Goleta, CA receives a $23.2 million contract for 947 ALE-50 advanced airborne electronics decoy sets. That’s the Pentagon’s figure, anyway. On June 7/07, Raytheon announces a $29 million Lot 11 contract for 1,269 systems: 934 for the USAF, and 335 for the Navy. It’s very likely that they’re the same contract.

All funds are committed immediately by the 542th CBSG/PKS at Robins Air Force Base, GA. Raytheon recently produced its 23,000th ALE-50 decoy and achieved 11 years of on-time deliveries. Completion of the Lot 11 program will bring the total number of decoys produced by Raytheon to 24,634 (FA8523-04-D-0001). Raytheon release.

Aug 30/06: Lot 10. Raytheon Company announces a $20.7 million contract award for the 542nd Combat Sustainment Group, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, GA for ALE-50 decoys. The Lot 10 contract calls for 862 decoys for the US Air Force ordered for the U.S. Air Force, and will be delivered through September 2008.

Raytheon also announced that it has produced its 20,000th ALE-50 decoy and achieved 10 years of on-time deliveries for the USAF and U.S. Navy as part of an original contract that began in December 1996. Completion of the Lot 10 program will bring the total number of decoys produced by Raytheon to 23,365. See Raytheon release.

March 20/06: Lot 9. Raytheon’s Sensors and Electronic Systems Division in Goleta, CA is being awarded a $13 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract, exercising an option for the full rate production of 110 integrated multi-platform launch controllers for the ALE-50 Advanced Expendable Airborne Decoy system.

Work on this contract will be performed in Goleta, CA (90%), and Nashua, NH (10%), and is expected to be complete in June 2008. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD issued the contract. According to Raytheon, the Lot 9 production contract in April 2005 has increased the total number of decoys ordered to almost 22,500, with deliveries scheduled through 2007 (N00019-05-C-0031).

March 5/04: Raytheon in Goleta, CA receives a $423.9 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract modification. It’s for the same items and under the same terms as the Feb 27/04 contract, but has been revised to extend for 10.5 years, to August 2014 (FA8523-04-D-0001, P00001).

Feb 27/04: Raytheon Co. in Goleta, CA receives a 5.5-year, $211.9 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to provide for spares and repairs determined to be sole-source to Raytheon Co., and within the federal stock classes included in the class justification and approval. These items are applicable to multiple systems (AN/ALE-50, AN/ALQ-184 and AN/ALQ-161), and the USAF can issue delivery orders totaling up to the maximum amount. At this time, $2.2 million of the funds have been committed.

Solicitation began April 2002, negotiations were completed January 2004, and the contract will run until August 2009. The Headquarters Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB, GA manages the contract (FA8523-04-D-0001).

ALE-50 etc. base contract

Additional Readings

• DID – ALE-55 Towed Fighter Decoys for US Navy, Australia. BAE’s ALE-55 is a competitive product that serves on F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.

Skylark-I launch
(click to view full)

Elbit’s Skylark-I mini-UAV has become a popular choice for portable “over the hill” surveillance, as nations like Israel, Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, Poland, Sweden, et. al. adopt it for battlefield use. Bental’s electric propulsion system using brushless permanent magnetic motors is an especial benefit to Skylark operators, as its silent operation avoids warning enemy targets of its presence.

In an effort to build on that success, Elbit soon introduced the larger Skylark-II for battalion level UAV operations, fired from a rail launcher mounted on small wheeled vehicles rather than launched by hand. In exchange for the launcher requirement and a doubling of the crew size to 2, the Skylark-II gains a mission radius of 50-60 km instead of 10 km, and the ability to mount larger sensor packages. Awards soon followed from sources as varied as Popular Science and industry analysts Frost & Sullivan – but awards don’t pay the bills. Fortunately, orders have followed.

The UAVs

Skylark-I Concept
(click to view full)

Skylark I comes in 2 versions. The standard Skylark I is launched by hand, and flies below 1,000 feet for up to 1.5 hours, with a mission range of 10 km/ 6 miles. Each “system” comprises 3 UAVs, 2 surveillance and targeting payloads, a ground station, an operating console and a communications link. Skylark I competes in the mini-UAV market, and remains a serious international competitor to Aerovironment’s popular RQ-11B Raven.

The new Skylark I-LE (long endurance) increases flight time from 1.5 hours to 3 hours, with a mission range “greater than 15 km.” It can carry the same payloads etc. as Skylark I, usually Controp’s D-STAMP or the new uncooled U-STAMP infrared payload.

The LE Block 2 swaps in a new engine and power system, and touts the performance of a Day/Night sensor payload – which is probably Controp’s M-STAMP.

Skylark-II launch
(click to view full)

The larger Skylark II cannot be launched by hand, like its counterparts; it must use a rail launcher instead. The launcher is usually towed by a small wheeled vehicle, and requires 2 crew to operate. The UAV can fly at medium altitudes, with a flight time of around 6 hours, a mission radius of 50-60 km/ 30-36 miles, and larger sensor packages on board. Skylark II competes in the lower tier of the conventional UAV market, alongside models like Boeing’s ScanEagle/ Integrator, Textron AAI’s RQ-7 Shadow, Aeronautics’ Aerostar, IAI’s Searcher, etc.

Its standard mission package is a Micro-CoMPASS turret with a day sensor, cooled infrared night sensor, and a laser illuminator and tracker. An advanced digital communication system from Tadiran Spectralink rounds out its capabilities. Israeli forces will soon be swapping in Controp’s TD STAMP surveillance turret.

There’s also a Skylark II-LE, which could become the standard Skylark II export offering. It moves the engine to the rear, alters the fuselage, and adds a new tail configuration. Endurance has more than doubled to over 15 hours, and with its new datalink, it can operate out to 150 km. This will give it the ability to compete with popular offerings like Boeing’s ScanEagle.

Contracts & Key Events

Note that some sales may not be publicized, or may not be detailed, as is often the case with purchases from Israel. Reports of Skylark buys for Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, and Slovakia have been rumored, but they aren’t reproduced here for lack of confirmation. Israel has also made large sales to countries like Azerbaijan and Georgia, but those sales have not been detailed, so it’s hard to tell if Skylarks have been part of the package.

2015 – 2019

 

Skylark I-LE Block 2
(click to view full)

June 17/19: Philippine Drone Deal Israeli defense company Elbit Systems could possibly net a $180 million drone deal with the Philippines Army, Globes reports. Sources apparently say, that the deal, which includes the Hermes 900, Hermes 450, Skylark 1, and Skylark 3 UAV, could possibly be signed in the next couple of weeks. The Philippine Army will use these UAVs for intelligence gathering, patrols, and border defense missions. The Army will adapt the drones to homeland and internal security missions for the Philippines, a country of many islands that faces terrorist threats. The Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 are multi-role drones used for long-range missions. Skylark 1 and Skylark 3 are tactical UAVS designed mainly for use by field units for real time observation and intelligence gathering missions. Skylark 3 is optimized for both dismounted and vehicle-based operation.

August 19/16: Elbit Systems has launched a maritime variant of its Skylark I Mini UAV. Dubbed Skylark C, the new system offers the extended operational capabilities of its land-based counterpart and provides the ability to inspect maritime activities from a safe distance, observe targets, perform reconnaissance over coastal areas, and perform continuous covert surveillance. Those standing to benefit from this latest offering include special forces and other small-scale naval crews.

November 18/15: Uruguay has expressed an interest in purchasing a number of the Elbit Skylark I UAV after watching them being deployed by the Israeli Defence Forces. The UAV has been deployed extensively by the IDF at battalion-level system in support of artillery units and is operational in many militaries worldwide including Australia, Sweden and Canada. Uruguay would deploy the UAV in order to monitor areas which may potentially host terrorist threats. In August of this year, the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas captured one of the drones after it fell into the Gaza Strip. They claimed to have been able to make its services operational after checking it wasn’t booby trapped.

2012 – 2013

American SUAS ‘win’; Israeli Upgrades; I-LE Block 2 introduced;

Jan 3/13: SUAS 2013-2017. U.S. Army Contracting Command in Natick, MA awards a 5-year, $248 million multiple-vendor fixed-price Small UAS contract. From FBO.gov:

“The Army currently has fielded 1,798 RQ-11B systems and 325 RQ-20A systems and has a requirement to sustain and maintain this existing fleet. The Army has met 92% of the RQ-11B Army Acquisition Objective (AAO), and has met 83% of the anticipated need for RQ-20A (required by USFOR-A-issued JUONS). Additionally, the current [DID: RQ-11B & RQ-20A] fleet has pre-planned spiral upgrades such as the Gimbal payload, which will be competed and retrofitted under this effort. The need exists to complete the AAO; maintain, sustain and upgrade the fleet; and procure future SUAS Systems as required by DoD, Other Government Agencies (OGA) and foreign countries.”

Vendors will compete for each order, and work can include full Unmanned Aerial Systems, upgrades, testing, packaging, marking, and storage and shipping. Work location will be determined with each order, and the contract runs until Dec 20/17. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 5 bids received. All 5 qualified to compete:

• RQ-11B Raven & RQ-20A Puma: AeroVironment Inc. in Monrovia, CA (W911QY-13-D-0073). Obviously, they’re in a strong position for fleet upgrades at least, as well as for additional UAVs.

• NOVA Block III: Altavian in Gainesville, FL (W911QY-13-D-0074). They’re not a household name, but their air/land UAV is working with the USACE (Army Corps of Engineers). They partner with ISR Group Inc. in Savannah, TN for support and service.

• Skylark I-LE Block 2: Elbit Systems of America LLC in Fort Worth, TX (W911QY-13-D-0075).

• Skystinger, and others: Innovative Automation Technologies LLC in Gainesville, FL (W911QY-13-D-0076). Skystinger is more like the RQ-11 Raven, while their AXO is closer to the RQ-20 Puma. Note that The Skystinger is the only UAS that IAT could confirm, but they did say there was more than 1 UAS offered.

• Desert Hawk III: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Owego, NY (W911QY-13-D-0077). The Desert Hawk has been successfully used on the front lines by British forces.

The AECV contract expires in 2013, so this appears to be the follow-on. See also: AeroVironment | Elbit Systems | Gainesville Sun.

SUAS multi-vendor

Dec 13/12: Israel. Israel’s Artillery Corps already employs Skylark I-LE UAVs within its “Sky Rider” unit. The unit is upgrading to the Skylark I-LE Block 2, with the “Version 10” operating system and new communications links. Artillery units are getting a new “Tamoon” command and control system, and the new UAVs will be compatible with Tamoon and with the Army-wide DAP (Digital Army Program). Once the UAV is attached to the DAP, Sky Rider Commander, Lt. Col. Uri Gonen says that battalion commanders will be able to pinpoint a UAV’s location on their screens, and determine the area it is observing.

The Artillery Corps is also looking at a brigade-level UAV, and has held some initial trials. That might be an opportunity for the Skylark II-LE, but there are a number of other UAVs within Israel that could compete for this role. This is Israel, so they expect the winning UAV to be in the field within 18 months. Source: Ba’Machane (official IDF magazine), via Elbit Systems. Note that the translation here is “Sky Rider,” not Sky Raider.”

Aug 2/12: I-LE block II. Elbit Systems announces that it will showcase the new Skylark I-LE Block II at this month’s AUVSI conference in Las Vegas, NV. The new UAV can be built in the USA, and adds a new engine and power system, plus an improved day/night sensor turret.

June 11/12: Sweden. AeroVironment announces that they’ve won Sweden’s competition, and will supply 12 SUAS systems in a mix of RQ-20A Puma AE and Wasp III air vehicles, plus a set of common ground stations, training, and logistics support. Contract options could increase the buy to a total of 30 systems. The firm adds a roundup of foreign RQ-11 Raven, RQ-20 Puma, and Wasp customers, which demonstrates why they’re Elbit’s top competitor:

“In addition to Sweden, other international governments that have purchased AeroVironment small UAS include Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Uganda, and the United Kingdom.”

Swedish loss

May 23/12: Airbag issues. Flight International:

“Israel Defense Forces confirms that operations of the mini-unmanned aerial vehicle have been halted until further notice, pending the completion of work to determine what caused its airbag to be deployed in flight several times during recent weeks… Flights… will resume immediately after the issue has been resolved, with the aircraft mainly used by artillery units to provide an “over-the-hill” intelligence capability.”

2008 – 2011

Wins in Israel, France; Canada goes another way; Skylark I-LE introduced.

Skylark-I LE
(click to view full)

Dec 13/11: Sweden. Sweden bought 6 Skylark UAV systems in 2007, but it’s looking to replace them with a follow-on buy. Their FMV is reportedly looking to buy a 2-tier system with ranges of 10 and 20 km, respectively, plus associated common ground control stations.

That could open the door to a buy of Skylark 1LE and Skylark II UAVs, but it also introduces new competitors into the mix. Shephard Media.

Dec 1/11: The UAS Dynamics joint venture ends, as Elbit Systems USA buys General Dynamics’ share. It was marketing Elbit’s Skylark I/II, Hermes 90, and Hermes 450 UAVs in the USA. Elbit Systems.

UAS Dynamics

Dec 20/10: Elbit Systems Ltd. announces a $16 million contract from the Polish Ministry of National Defense to supply a testing set of mobile multi-sensor monitoring and surveillance systems for Poland’s Rosomak, a variant of Patria’s 8×8 AMV wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier. The systems include Skylark UAV integration. Read “Poland & Elbit to Cooperate on Rosomak APC Surveillance Upgrade” for more.

Poland

Aug 3/10: Canada. Canada, previously a Skylark customer, buys [PDF] 5 of Prioria Robotics Maveric mini-UAV systems for use in Afghanistan. See also Nov 19/06 entry.

March 8/10: France. France’s DGA delivers Skylark I and Wasp-III mini-UAVs to French Special Forces, less than 3 months after contracts were signed for Elbit Systems’ Skylark (Oct 18/09) and Aerovironment’s Wasp-III (Nov 4/09), following verification and testing.

The DGA says that the Skylark delivery completes a set, following earlier DGA deliveries in 2008 and 2009. The Wasp-IIIs, on the other hand, will be entering an operational evaluation phase to assess their future value. DGA [in French].

Jan 26/09: Israel. Elbit Systems issues a clarifying release [PDF], adding that that the Israeli “Sky Raider” contract is worth approximately $40 million.

Dec 16/08: Skylark I. Elbit systems announces that Israel’s Defense Ministry has picked the Skylark I-LE to fill the battalion-level “Sky Raider” IDF tender. The IDF has been operating Skylark Is since 2005, but this purchase will supply mini-UAVs for all IDF Ground Forces battalions, including training and logistics support battalions. When the non-linear battlefield makes front lines irrelevant, and your country is 15 km wide at its narrowest point, that’s a smart decision.

Defense Update reports that the IDF intends to buy up to 100 systems at an estimated cost of $50 million, and Flight International states that options could raise the deal’s value to $100 million equivalent. Each system comprises 3 UAVs, 2 U-STAMP uncooled surveillance and targeting payloads developed by Controp, plus a ground station, an operating console and a communications link.

Elbit’s Skylark I LE had to compete with several Israeli UAVs, owing to the country’s strength in that sector. Competing options included IAI’s Bird’s Eye 400/600; Aeronautics Defence Systems Ltd’s Orbiter, which has won some export success; RAFAEL’s shoulder-launched Skylite A and the larger 2-man Skylite B; and Top I Vision/Rotem’s Casper 250.

Note that Defense Update and Flight International have different accounts regarding the competitors and deal value. While DID respects Flight International, Defense Update has earned its reputation as the top source for developments in Israel. Elbit Systems release | Defense Update | Flight International.

Israel’s Sky Rider artillery UAV program

Sept 1/08: Skylark I. Elbit Systems Ltd. announces [PDF] a contract to supply Hermes 450 and Skylark 1 UAV systems to “a country in the Americas” for the total of approximately $25 million. All UAVs are to be delivered within a year.

New information points to Mexico as the customer, with 2 complete Hermes 450 systems and a complete Skylark system.

Mexico

Skylark-I, ADF in Iraq
(click to view full)

Aug 3/08: Skylark I. Australia places its 3rd Skylark I mini-UAV order, valued at “several million dollars.” Elbit informs DID that these are standard Skylark Is, not the new Skylark I-LE model.

Australia is also working with Boeing to lease ScanEagle UAV services as its mid-tier solution, instead of the canceled Project JP129 Elbit Systems release [PDF].

3rd Aussie order

June 18/08: Upgrades. UV-Online reports that Elbit has made significant changes to its line of Skylark UAVs:

“Meanwhile the work on the company’s Skylark UAVs has vastly improved the performance of both the Skylark I and II. The company has changed some of the elements of the airframe structure, integrated a new battery and looked at power management. According to officials the new Skylark I-Long Endurance (LE) and Skylark-II LE can now stay aloft a lot longer.

The Skylark I-LE has doubled its endurance from 90 minutes to three hours with a mission range greater than 15km. The Skylark II-LE is almost completely a new system in its outward image with a much changed aerostructure. The engine has bee moved to the rear, the fuselage has been altered and there is also a new tail configuration. The endurance has more than doubled to over 15 hours and with a new datalink it can operate out to 150km.”

March 24/08: Skylark I. Elbit Systems Ltd. announces [PDF format] that it has won “a tender involving 10 of the leading UAV manufacturers worldwide,” and will supply Skylark I UAV systems to France’s Special Forces. This contract marks Elbit Systems’ first UAV contract with France.

France

2005 – 2006

Wins in Australia, Canada, South Korea; Problems with Canadian UAVs; Skylark II introduced.

Skylark II concept
(click to view full)

Dec 17/07: Skylark II. Elbit System announces that the Skylark-II has been selected by the South Korean military as their “preferred solution” in ” a tender involving extensive technical tests and including UAV manufacturers from all over the world.” The first phase of the contract includes one comprehensive Skylark® II system. Additional systems are expected in the future.

The UAVs will be equipped with their standard-issue payload: Elbit subsidiary Elop’s advanced 8″ Micro-CoMPASS turret with a day sensor, cooled night sensor, laser illuminator and tracker; and an advanced digital communication system from Tadiran Spectralink, which is about to be wholly merged [PDF] into Elbit Systems. Elbit release.

South Korea

June 17/07: Recognition. Elbit Systems Ltd. announces that business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan has presented them with a “Best Innovative Product Award” for 2007 in the Aviation & Defense Category, for their Skylark-II. It is praised for bringing the capabilities of more expensive UAVs to a smaller and cheaper vehicle. Philadelphia Examiner | Israel Times.

Nov 19/06: Skylark I. Israel’s Globes business daily relays a Flight International report re: Canadian experiences with the Skylark I in Afghanistan:

“The British weekly quotes a technical director in the Canadian Army interim small UAV programme, Captain Rob Sanders as saying, “Most of them aren’t flying in Afghanistan. For some reason, in some parts of the country it will fly great, or today it will fly. The same one, at a separate time tonight, won’t fly. So they have grounded them all trying to figure out what is going on. We are sending a couple of specialists over there to sort that out.”

Despite requests, Elbit declines to provide updates concerning the resolution of this problem. On April 6/09, Boeing subsidiary Insitu receives an award to provide “small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV) services” to support the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere, using its ScanEagle UAV.

Canada problems, loss

Nov 8/06: Recognition. Elbit Systems Ltd. announces [PDF | HTML via Shepherd] that its Skylark II UAV has received a “2006 Best of What’s New” Award from Popular Science Magazine in the Aviation and Space category. If you haven’t heard of this feature before, the magazine explains:

“Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of new products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners – the Best of What’s New – are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What’s New in 1987. Best of What’s New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 10 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, General Innovation, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health and Recreation.”

Oct 3/06: Skylark I. Canada joins Australia in choosing Elbit’s Skylark. The UAV was first ordered on a temporary basis, as part of the $200 million set of emergency purchases for Operation Archer in November 2005.

It was picked more formally as Canada’s future mini-UAV in October 2006, following a competition that reportedly included IAI’s I-View 50 with its unique parafoil landing system, and Boeing’s larger ScanEagle UAV. Thales Canada will act as the prime contractor.

Canada

June 13/06: Skylark II. Elbit Systems formally introduces the Skylark II “close range class tactical UAV system.” Release.

Skylark II

Nov 3/05: Skylark I. Australia chose Elbit’s Skylark as its mini-UAV, to complement Israel Aerospace Industries’ larger I-View 250 and some Boeing ScanEagles used at battalion and brigade levels.

Australia

Additional Readings

• Elbit Systems – Skylark I-LE

• Defense Update – Skylark 1 LE Mini Unmanned Aerial vehicle (Mini-UAV)

• Israeli Weapons – Skylark 1

• Controp – M-STAMP, Stabilized Miniature Payload

• Elbit Systems – Skylark II

• Elbit Systems El-op – Micro-CoMPASS for UAV [PDF]

• DID Spotlight – Raven UAVs Winning Gold in Afghanistan’s “Commando Olympics”. Covers a wide variety of mini-UAV buys for use in theater, including Skylarks.

• Aviation Week Defense Technology International (March 8/08) – Mini-UAVs Rack Up Big Gains

• Aviation Week & Space Technology (Aug 7/02, via AeroVironment) – War on Terrorism Boosts Deployment of Mini-UAVs

Americas

Huntington Ingalls will perform early service life period work on the USS Gerald R. Ford. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC awarded the deal, which is valued at $687.1 million. Per the terms of the contract, Huntington Ingalls will support ship repair and modernization during continuous incremental availabilities, planned incremental availabilities, full-ship shock trials and continuous maintenance and emergent maintenance during the ship’s early service life period. The company will perform work until June 2024. The Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier or CVN 78 is the lead ship of her class. CVN 78 is the first new US aircraft carrier design in 40 years. The ship has 250% more electrical capacity than previous carriers, which will allow the ship to load weapons and launch aircraft faster than ever before. The USS Gerald R. Ford is currently undergoing sea trials. She is scheduled to be delivered in October and deployed around 2020. Issues with Ford’s nuclear propulsion system and Advanced Weapons Elevator had delayed the delivery for three months.

The US Special Operations Command awarded Boeing a $194.2 million delivery order modification. The deal procures six renew-build and one new-build MH-47G rotary wing aircraft. The MH-47G is the special operations variant of Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook multi-role, heavy-lift helicopter used by the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command. The aircraft is able to support heavy-lift missions such as troop, weapons, vehicles and other equipment transportation, as well as civil and humanitarian relief missions. It can conduct long-range missions at a low level and in adverse weather conditions during the day and at night. The CH-47F/MH- 47G modernization programs, which includes a mix of remanufactured and new aircraft, will help the aircraft remain in the Army fleet at least through the 2030s. The current modification will sustain US Special Operations Forces (SOF) heavy assault, rotary wing aircraft and mitigate the impact of the MH-47G aircraft availability in light of increased SOF operational demands.

Middle East & Africa

Boeing will supply more than 2,000 pieces of equipment to repair Kuwaiti Super Hornets under a $41 million contract. The deal is for peculiar support equipment, support equipment spares and test equipment for the maintenance and repair of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. The Naval Air Warfare Center in Lakehurst, New Jersey awarded the deal. Boeing will perform work in St. Louis, Missouri and will finish in June 2022. In 2018, the US Navy placed a potential $1.17 billion contract with Boeing to develop Kuwait’s Super Hornet baseline configuration. The Super Hornets will be delivered by 2022.

Israel’s Elbit System launched a new Long Range Oblique Photography (LOROP) system that according to the company introduces Multi-Spectral sensing capability and Artificial Intelligence analytics to stand-off strategic intelligence gathering missions. The so called Condor MS integrates three high resolution Electro Optic sensors into the already widely operational Condor 2 system. The sensors are Visible & Near Infra-Red (VNIR), Medium-Wave Infrared (MWIR), and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR). The Condor systems can be installed onboard platforms like the F-16 A/B/C/D/I, F-4, SU-30 and B-737. According to a press release by Elbit, the new Condor MS can identify a large number of targets at extremely high rates, hence significantly shortening the time frame needed to close sensor-to-shooter loops.

Europe

The US Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana awarded a $10 million contract to Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division for removable media cartridges. The deal supports the Trident Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) program and includes Foreign Military Sales funding to the UK. The Trident II D5 is the latest generation of the US Navy’s submarine-launched fleet ballistic missile. It is a three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile developed by Lockheed Martin. The missile can carry multiple independently targeted reentry bodies for a maximum range of over 7,360 kilometers. A system upgrade is incorporating requirement changes to increase performance and address obsolescence. Curtiss-Wright will perform work in Fairborn, Ohio, and will finish by October 2024.

Asia-Pacific

Japan is planning to put an experimental infrared sensor on board the ALOS-3 satellite that it plans to launch into space orbit next year. The government will mount a sensor on the satellite in order to acquire its own early warning satellite capability to detect ballistic missiles launched from North Korea and elsewhere. The image sensor that uses tiny semiconductor particles is said to be able to detect infrared rays in two wavelength bands. ALOS-3 is an earth observation satellite that continuously observes the global land area, and orbits at an altitude of 669 kilometers.

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : DRDO Tests Hypersonic Prototype,Anti-Artillery System,Defence Space Agency

Americas

Lockheed Martin launched the latest version of an advanced visualization and training tool for Apache AH-64 sensor system maintainers, called Rely3D. According to Lockheed Martin RELY3D is an interactive suite of applications that supports Apache aircraft maintainers with M-TADS/PNVS virtual guides, 3-D animations, wiring diagrams and more. The advanced tool is aimed at reducing maintenance time on the Apache M-TADS/PNVS system. M-TADS/PNVS provides Apache helicopter pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for mission success and flight safety during any time of the day and in any weather. Lockheed Martin developed RELY3D based on an employee idea to improve maintenance efficiency through interactive training content. The tool helps reduce training time for Apache aircraft maintainers by up to 60%, the company noted.

According to Defense News, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter continues to face a number of serious deficiencies that could negatively impact pilots and missions. Valerie Insinna writes that documents show, the F-35 struggles with things like cabin pressure spikes that cause ear and sinus pains and loss of aircraft control with certain maneuvers. She also mentions issues with the helmet-mounted display and night vision camera that contribute to the difficulty of landing the F-35C on an aircraft carrier. The documents describe some of these problems as category 1 deficiencies, which is a designation only given to major flaws that impact safety or mission effectiveness. Most of the issues described have not been publicly communicated. However, Defense Department leaders want to decide by the end of the year if they should move forward with full-rate production.

Middle East & Africa

According to a press release, UVision plans to present its Hero-400EC’s Multi-Canister Launcher at the upcoming Paris Air Show. The Israeli company describes the Hero-400EC as a long-range, high-precision Loitering munition system with a low acoustic, visual and thermal signature that can locate, track and strike static as well as moving targets with high accuracy, stealth, and minimal collateral damage. The Hero-400EC loitering munition is 2.1 meters long and has a wing span of 2.4 meters as well as a maximum take-off weight of 40kg. UVision designed the weapon system to engage a range of stationary or moving targets, including armored vehicles, main battle tanks (MBTs), entrenched and fortified positions, and targets in confined urban environments. It is also suitable for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) applications. The company unveiled the system in 2017. The new launcher is suitable for a wide range of land and naval applications. UVision will also reveal an advanced configuration of the Hero-120 with multi-purpose warheads.

Rafael together with IAI’s Elta Systems will upgrade the Litening 5 and Reccelite XR all-weather stand-off airborne electro-optic targeting pods with a synthetic aperture radar imagery intelligence payload, Jane’s reports. The Litening 5 is a high-resolution multi-sensor targeting pod, incorporating an upgraded 1.2K x 1.2K large aperture forward-looking mid-wave infrared and a short-wave infrared. In addition to more diverse targeting, the pods are said to feature inter-asset communications and sensor sharing capabilities. The fifth generation of the targeting pod is now capable of targeting from long range, enabling strike aircraft to employ guided weapons from standoff range without relying on external support. Litening 5 employs a new sensor package, utilizing an optical assembly and larger aperture tailored specifically for the new sensors, enabling the increased identification and recognition distance. Reccelite XR is a multi-spectral, multi-role, real-time standoff reconnaissance system that consists of an airborne pod, a wide digital datalink and a ground exploitation station. Similar to the Litening 5, Reccelite XR received an enhanced sensor package comprising megapixel-size arrays of near-infrared, mid-wave infrared, color sensors and short-wave infrared.

Europe

Rheinmetall won a $104 million order to deliver 252 unprotected transport vehicles with payloads of five and fifteen tonnes to the German „Bundeswehr“. In 2017, the German company signed an agreement to build 2,271 state-of-the-art military trucks. The agreement includes special tools and training services and is worth about $1 billion. Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH will build and deliver the just ordered vehicles until the end of the year.

Asia-Pacific

India launched an indigenously-developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) in its maiden test from a base off the Odisha coast on June 12. Initial reports say that the test was successful. According to India Today however, the Defense Research and Development Organization could not achieve the wanted results. The HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration vehicle that can cruise up to a speed of mach 6 and rise up to an altitude of 32. kilometers in 20 seconds. A successful test of a hypersonic technology transporter vehicle could boost the development of a hypersonic cruise missile, the Brahmos II, which is currently under development with Scramjet technology.

Today’s Video

Watch: Indian Defence Updates : Mig-29K Surprise Rafale,NASAMS-2 Puzzle,Predator Fast Track,1st Apache July

Americas

Sikorsky won a $542 million firm-fixed price modification to produce six VH-92A Presidential Helicopters. Under the terms of the contract, known as Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 1, Sikorsky will begin deliveries of six VH-92A helicopters in 2021. The remaining production aircraft will be delivered in 2022 and 2023. The contract also provides spares and training support. The VH-92A is the military variant of the Sikorsky S-92. It is currently under development and will replace the Marine One US Presidential Transport Fleet. The aircraft has undergone government testing and operational assessments, including over 520 flight test hours establishing the aircraft’s technical maturity and readiness of its mission systems. Lockheed Martin delivered and installed the first VH-92A training device at the Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1 in Quantico, Virginia, earlier this year. Sikorsky will perform work within the US and is expected to be finished in April 2022.

The US Navy awarded Boeing a $22.8 million contract modification for additional acoustics software support activity and engineering support for the P-8A Poseidon. The modification also incorporates virtual machine efforts and develops and integrates software for Multi-static Active Coherent Enhancements. The Poseidon is capable of broad-area maritime and littoral operations. It is also effective at humanitarian and search and rescue missions. The aircraft is designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and ISR missions. Work will take place in Huntington Beach, California and is scheduled to be complete in January 2022.

Saab announced that the US Navy ordered additional Sea Giraffe Multi Mode Radars (MMR) for the Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutter. Saab initially won a contract that includes multiple line item options for additional Sea Giraffe MMR systems in 2017. The deal also covered manufacturing, inspection, testing and delivery of the radars, which will be deployed on the Coast Guard’s Heritage class offshore patrol cutter. The Sea Giraffe MMR is a three-dimensional, electronically scanned, phased-array radar that offers high-radiated power, selectable waveforms and modern signal processing abilities. Saab’s Sea Giraffe AMB radar, designated AN/SPS-77 in the US, is currently deployed on the US Navy’s Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship. Saab will deliver the Radars between 2020 and 2022 and will carry out work in Syracuse, New York in the US and Gothenburg, Sweden.

Middle East & Africa

Elbit announced that its Hermes 45 Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS) will be premiering at the upcoming Paris Airshow 2019. According to the Israeli company „Hermes 45 offers a unique combination of extended range and duration with point launch and recovery, to and from land and maritime platforms thus enhancing Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities at the brigade and division levels and also for naval squadron units“. Elbit launched the small tactical-level unmanned aircraft system in 2017. It has a maximum operating endurance of more than 24 hours and a maximum takeoff weight of 65 kg, including a payload capacity of up to 15 kg, and can simultaneously operate with up to three payloads. Hermes 45 reportedly features a flight range of 200 kilometers or an extended Beyond Line of Sight range and an internal payload bay that supports multi-payload operation, including EO/IR, Marine-Radar, Terrain Dominance, Electronic Warfare and communications.

Europe

According to reports, a Russian Su-27 intercepted US and Swedish reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Monday. The incident is the latest in a series of similar encounters occurring at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow. The Russian defense ministry said in a statement: “On June 10, the Russian airspace control services over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea detected two air targets approaching Russia’s state border. A Su-27 fighter jet of the Baltic Fleet’s Air Defense Forces was scrambled to intercept the targets,” the statement said. The Su-27 identified the two foreign airplanes as a US Air Force RC-135 plane and a Swedish Air Force Gulfstream reconnaissance aircraft. The Baltops-2019 NATO naval drills are held on June 9 until June 21 in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. Around 40 ships and submarines, and 40 aircraft from 18 countries will take part in the military exercise.

Asia-Pacific

In a press release, Thales announced that the Australian Defense Forces awarded General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) $15 million for the prototype and process development of a 155mm XM1113 Rocket-Assisted Projectile Round. The XM1113 RAP uses rocket technology to deliver greater thrust to the round, when compared to its predecessor, the legacy M549A1. It provides the user with cannon-launched munitions to engage targets beyond the current 30 kilometer capability. Thales Australia became a part of the GD-OTS international supply chain in 2018, enabling co-production and technology transfer for a variety of critical munitions products. According to the press release, GD-OTS is working with Thales Australia to expand the international Supply Chain enabling the US Government to make the system available to additional customers. The deal could potentially lead to additional exports from Thales’s operations at the Benalla and Mulwala sites, potentially securing and increasing jobs and investment for Thales and its local supply chain.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Defense released its Defense Capability Plan 2019 on June 11, outlining the investment priorities for the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) to 2030. The highest priority project within the plan is the replacement of the five Hercules transport aircraft. The preferred option for this replacement is the C-130J-30 Super Hercules, which is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft by Lockheed Martin. The C-130J already flies with over 21 nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. New Zealand’s current Hercules first started services in the 1960s and is getting more and more expensive and harder to maintain. The C-130J-30 is a stretch version of the C-130J adding 15 feet to the fuselage, increasing usable space in the cargo compartment.

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Watch: RUSSIAN PRS 1M HYPERSONIC INTERCEPTOR ! FULL ANALYSIS

Americas

Northrop Grumman Systems won a $958 million firm-fixed-price contract to deliver 30 full-rate production Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar systems for the US Marine Corps. The deal includes spares parts and retrofit kits. The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR system provides multi-faceted detection and tracking capabilities to support engagement of a wide range of hostile threats, and offers robust air traffic control capabilities to ensure the safety of Marines worldwide. The G/ATOR comes in two distinct software variants: Block I conducts air defense and surveillance missions for aviation command and control squadrons, and Block II targets the source of incoming artillery and other ground-based fires. The radar is able to detect low-observable targets with low radar cross sections such as rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles and drones. Northrop will perform work within the US and is expected to be finished by January 13, 2025.

The US Navy contracted Bath Iron Works with a $61.7 million modification in support of the DDG 51 Class destroyers. The deal is for lead years services, which is a broad category encompassing necessary engineering support and configuration, baseline upgrades and new technology support, data and logistics management, analysis, acceptance trials, post-delivery test and trials and other elements of supporting construction of DDG 51 Class destroyers. DDG 51 Arleigh Burke destroyers are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. Destroyers can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups. The ships use the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multifunction radar array. The ships were designed to use Tomahawk and other surface-to-air missiles and engage in antisubmarine warfare. Majority of the work under the contract modification will take place in Maine and is scheduled to be completed by June next year-

Middle East & Africa

Iran unveiled a new defense system called the „Khordad 15th“. The weapons system was displayed in a ceremony attended by Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami in Tehran, during which he said that it could detect targets as far away as 150 kilometers and hit several targets with the indigenous “Sayyad-3” missiles. According to reports, the missile system is a high-precision weapon capable of flying at low altitudes and able to carry a significant payload. Iran has worked in recent years to build its own weapons locally, rather than relying on foreign actors. Iran’s missile program was among the reasons cited by US President Donald Trump for leaving the 2015 nuclear deal last year and reimposing crippling sanctions. Recently Trump said he would be willing to reopen talks as long as Iran agreed to give up nuclear weapons.

Europe

China turns to the Ukraine to upgrade its military, the Washington Post reports. Chinese investors are reportedly asking staff at a Ukrainian aircraft engine factory about record-keeping and planning, the setup of production lines and the interplay between workshops. China is looking to upgrade its military and has found a willing partner in Motor Sich, because it can supply warplane engines as well as the know-how to possibly make a Chinese-built version in the future. Motor Sich has lost its biggest market, specifically supplying engines for military helicopters and other aircraft, after the Eastern Ukrainian War broke out in 2014.

Asia-Pacific

According to local reports, Kazan will be finishing up the upgrades of the Ansat helicopter next year. Ansat is a light twin-engine gas turbine multi-purpose helicopter with 7-9 seats. The fuselage has a pair of doors in pilot’s cab, and a pair of upwards and downwards opening side doors in transport compartment. After the seats have been removed, it can take 1000 kg of cargo inside. On external hook, it can take 1300 kg of load. The Kazan Helicopter Plant is upgrading the Ansat light multipurpose helicopter at the moment. Work is carried out in two stages: the first block of modernization was completed in 2018, the second will be finished next year. The company also continues work on starting a serial production of the modernized Ansat.

After the sudden crash of a Japanese F-35 into the Pacific Ocean in April, reports now saw this was caused by „spatial disorientation“ of its pilot. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force jet disappeared from radar while on a training mission with three other F-35s off northern Japan on April 9. There was no indication from the jet’s pilot, Maj. Akinori Hosomi, of any problems with the aircraft before contact was lost. The Ministry of Defense said Monday that Hosomi, a 41-year-old with 3,200 hours of flight experience, essentially flew the stealth fighter straight into the ocean during the night training mission. About 15 seconds lapsed between the pilot’s last communication and loss of contact with the plane. “We believe it highly likely the pilot was suffering from vertigo or spatial disorientation and wasn’t aware of his condition”, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said in a briefing.

Today’s Video

Watch: The F-35 Could Intercept a N. Korean Missile Launch – but it Could Bring an All-Out Fight

Americas

General Dynamics won a $25.6 million firm-fixed-price contract to produce MK 46 Modification 2 Gun Weapon Systems for use on modern Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships. MK46 30mm all-weather, day/night, fully stabilized weapon system is a remotely operated system that uses a high-velocity cannon for shipboard self-defense against small, high-speed surface targets. It is the main deck gun for LPD-17 ships and is the secondary gun battery for LCS, and Zumwalt Class ships. The contract is for the procurement of two 30mm MK 46 MOD 2 GWSs for the LCS Surface Warfare Mission module, two 30mm MK 46 MOD 2 GWSs for the LPD-29, two 30mm MK 46 MOD 2 GWSs for the LPD-30, and associated spare parts. General Dynamics will perform work within the US and is expected to be finished by September 2021.

Sikorsky has flown its Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) technology aboard a UH-60A Black Hawk testbed helicopter for the first time. The company said in a press release that the flight took place on May 29 and it marked the official start to the flight test program for the soon-to-be optionally piloted aircraft. “This is the first full authority fly-by-wire retrofit kit developed by Sikorsky that has completely removed mechanical flight controls from the aircraft,” Lockheed Martin said. The OPV trials are part of a wider effort led by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to demonstrate unmanned helicopter operations under its Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System program. Follow-on flight testing aims to include envelope expansion throughout the summer leading to flights without any pilots in 2020.

Middle East & Africa

Five Rafales for the Qatari Amiri Air Force arrived at Dukhan Air Base on June 5. Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani was on hand to welcome the pilots and the jets home. Qatar inked a number of major arms deals after Riyadh and its allies the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain announced a total economic boycott of Doha in June 2017. Qatar ordered 24 of the Rafales from France in 2015, adding 12 more last year. It also has an option to buy 36 more. In February, France formally handed the first of the aircraft over to Qatar in a ceremony in Merignac, southwestern France, where the planes are built. Qatar has separately inked deals with France for 50 Airbus A321 passenger planes as well as a deal with Britain to buy Typhoon fighters.

Europe

Aero Vodochody delivered three new L-159T2 light attack/trainer aircraft to the Czech Republic. The new T2 twin seat aircraft, which made its maiden flight in 2018, has a newly built central and forward fuselage, and is fully NVG compatible. The L-159 aircraft is operated by Czech Air Force, Iraqi Air Force and US company Draken International. According to reports, the cockpit has a multi-function display and upgraded version of the VS-20 ejection seat, while the aircraft offers single-point pressure refueling capability and carries self-protection systems in the form of countermeasures and a radar warning receiver. This makes the trainer perfect to train for the fleet of Gripens that student pilots move onto.

Finnish defense and aerospace group Patria has acquired Belgian aircraft propulsion maintenance operation Belgium Engine Center (BEC) from AIM Norway, said an official press release from Patria. BEC is a military jet engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center that services the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine which powers F-15 and F-16 aircraft around the globe. The center also provides material management services for those engines. BEC has its operating base in Herstal in Belgium, and has about 90 employees. AIM Norway acquired BEC in 2016. The acquisition comes after Patria acquired Norwegian aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul specialist AIM Norway in partnership with Kongsberg of Norway in December 2018.

Asia-Pacific

The Japanese defense ministry plans to deploy a radar-equipped Aegis Ashore unit in the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Araya training area in Akita, the capital of the prefecture. However, officials found several mistakes in the survey documents that supported the need to deploy missile interceptors in Akita, local news reported Thursday. The defense ministry said on May 27 that 19 other candidate sites were “unfit” for Aegis Ashore deployment, Jiji Press reported. The government survey in question included errors for terrain data on nine other areas that provided comparisons to the designated site. The US State Department approved the Aegis Ashore systems purchase to Japan in January. Total cost of the system is estimated at more than $2 billion.

Today’s Video

Watch: China’s first sea launch: Long March-11 launches from a ship at sea

Americas

L-3 Communications Integrated Systems won a fixed-price-incentive-firm contract for aircraft avionics upgrades on 176 C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft. The deal is worth $499.6 million. The contract covers engineering and manufacturing development, as well as training and logistics requirements. The Hercules was originally designed as a troop, medevac, and cargo transport aircraft and is able to user unprepared runways for takeoff and landing. It is now used for gunship, airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling, maritime patrol and aerial firefighting. The 40 variants of the aircraft, which include the C-130J Super Hercules, are used by more than 60 countries. Work will primarily be performed at L-3 Communications’ Waco, Texas, facility, with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2029.

The US Air Force awarded Universal Propulsion a $92 million contract to supply the Modernized ACES II Electronic Sequencer for the ejection seat on US as well as Foreign Military Sales aircraft. ACES II is an ejection seat system that senses the conditions of the ejection, such as airspeed and altitude, and selects the appropriate drogue and main parachute deployments to minimize the forces on the occupant. It is used on Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, General Dynamis F-16 Fighting Falcon, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, Rockwell B-1 Lancer, WB-57, and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit aircraft. Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates are the foreign military sales customers. Universal Propulsion will perform work in Fairfield, California, and is expected to be finished by August 2026.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will unveil the new tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) of the Heron Family – the T-Heron – in the upcoming Paris Air Show. Ground Forces and Coast Guard as well as other protection forces will be able to use the T-Heron. It is designed for tactical missions on the battlefield and features a high level of flight safety and reliability. It reportedly is also resistant to extreme weather conditions. With its advanced, certified and proven Rotax engine, the drone can reach a maximum altitude of 24,000 feet and a top speed of 120 knots. The new UAV is capable of carrying several payloads simultaneously of up to 180 kg. The T-Heron will use the same automatic takeoff and landing capability as its family members, but will also be able to deploy from unprepared runways, so will not have to rely on being operated from airfields and can instead be forward deployed as required.

Europe

According to reports, the German Army finished its firing training for the Rafael Spike LR anti-tank guided missile. Spike is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance. It has an imaging infrared seeker. Rafael has sold over 30,000 Spike missiles to 31 countries around the world. The German training involved the firing of 54 live Spike missiles by gunners using the new Spike integrated control launch unit (ICLU) launcher. Complex firing scenarios, like beyond-line-of-sight engagements, retargeting mid-flight, firing in total darkness in infrared, as well as having to cope with adverse weather conditions, like intense rain and strong winds were part of the exercise.

An Apache Attack Helicopter landed on the deck of the UK Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, for the first time, to commence its preliminary ship integration testing on June 3. The Apache that conducted the first landing belonged to the British Army’s Attack Helicopter Force (AHF) and assigned to 656 Squadron Army Air Corps. Under Joint Helicopter Command, the Attack Helicopter will begin a series of tests and evaluations in a so called Platform Ship Integration Testing, or PSITs for short. The visit is also part of the commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Asia-Pacific

China successfully launched its first sea-based rocket. A Long March-11 solid propellant carrier rocket blasted off at 12:06 pm from a mobile platform. It is China’s first space launch from a sea-based platform and the 306th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. The rocket reportedly also carried two communications satellites courtesy of China 125, a Beijing-based technology company that plans to launch hundreds of satellites to provide global data networking services. About six minutes after the launch into space, five commercial satellites and a pair of “technical experiment” probes – called Bufeng, or Wind Catchers – reached their designated orbits.

Today’s Video

Watch: Incredible: F-35B vs AV-8B Harrier II Short Takeoff & Vertical Landing

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $56.9 million contract modification to procure Mk 48 Mod 7 guidance and control (G&C) sections and Mk 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS). The company will also produce Functional Item Replacement (FIR) kits, spares and production support material, apart from offering related engineering services and hardware repair support, for G&C sections and CBASS kits. The MK 48 Mod 7 CBASS is an upgraded version of the MK 48 Advanced Capability Mod 6 Advanced Common Torpedo, manufactured by Raytheon. Lockheed Martin’s MK 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedo is the US Navy’s most potent anti-surface and anti-submarine weapon in use aboard allied submarines. The torpedo has been designed to be exceedingly lethal and effective against threats operating in deep and shallow waters. Work will take place in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and is scheduled to be finished by March 2021.

Raytheon announced that it completed the final developmental test of the latest generation of the Ship Self Defense System or SSDS, Integrated Combat System for the USS Gerald R. Ford or CVN 78. Mike Fabel, Raytheon’s SSDS program manager said that the successful dual-target test would demonstrate the maturity of the Ship Self Defense System ICS and paves the way for operational testing to begin. SSDS is an open, distributed combat management system in service on US carriers and amphibious ships. The CVN 78 SSDS Integrated Combat System incorporates several elements including Raytheon’s dual band radar, Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM), and the Rolling Airframe Missile. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of the Ford Class Carriers. Gerald R. Ford is equipped with an AN/SPY-3 and an AN7SPY-4 active electronically scanned array multi function radar.

Middle East & Africa

The US Air Force awarded Textron Systems a $24.3 million contract action for AC-208 contract logistics support and maintenance training for Afghanistan. The AC-208 Eliminator Armed Caravan is an advanced reconnaissance and ground attack aircraft. The Air Force awarded the aircraft’s manufacturer Orbital ATK a firm fixed price contract worth $86.4 million to supply Afghanistan with seven AC-208 Eliminator aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered to the Afghanistan Air Force under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The AC-208 deliveries are expected to conclude in 2019. Textron Systems will perform work Kabul, Afghanistan, and is expected to be finished by May 31, 2020.

Europe

Elbit Systems announced that its German subsidiary will supply the E-Lynx Soldier Radio Systems to the German Army. The E-Lynx soldier radios will come in handheld and vehicular configurations. According to Elbit, the radios provide forces with the capability to use several voice groups in a single channel and fast data services and enable effective closing of the sensor to shooter loop and accurate monitoring of forces location based on radio integrated Blue Force Tracking (BFT) capability. The systems will be used at the platoon and company levels and will be installed onboard various combat vehicles including the SPz PUMA.

The US State Department approved a possible sale of F-16C/D Block 70/72 aircraft to Bulgaria. The deal is worth $1.7 billion. Prime contractor will be Lockheed Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland. The sale would bring a US fighter platform to an Eastern European member of NATO, marking a recent continuance in the shift from dependence upon Russian-based equipment dating back to the Cold War era when imposition of Soviet puppet states and its Warsaw Pact counter-NATO edifice dominated the region. Bulgaria had initially hoped to finalize a deal for the F-16s in 2018 allowing for deliveries to run through 2021, with in-service capability initially achieved by 2020. If a deal is reached in the coming months, these timeframes will be pushed out by a year or two. The F-16 Block 70/72 is the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration. Capability upgrades include the advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with a new avionics architecture, and structural upgrades to extend the structural life of the F-16s by more than 50 percent.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea and New Zealand signed an agreement to collaborate on defense development and production activity. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said that DAPA minister Wang Jung-hong and New Zealand’s Secretary of Defense Helene Quilter signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul. In April, South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. launched New Zealand’s future fleet tanker/replenishment vessel, called Aoteaora. It will likely be delivered and commissioned in 2020.

Today’s Video

Watch: High Alert : Why the Legendary F-15 Might Be Poised for an Epic Comeback

Latest updates: 22-month support contract for the Caravans.

Cessna 208B to Kirkuk
(click to view full)

“Bird Dogs for the Iraqi Air Force” has covered the growth of Iraq’s primary trainer fleet of Cessna 172 and 208Bs, alongside surveillance and even attack variants of the same aircraft. Now, Afghanistan is beginning the same process, and needs primary training aircraft for new air force candidates. Soon, they may need more.

Active military use of “grasshopper”/ “bird dog” aircraft is merely the re-invention of doctrines that worked very well in World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam. The combination of lower tech, lower prices, and lower crash rates than UAVs will continue to give “bird dog” aircraft a military role as light cargo planes, spotters, and even attack aircraft in countries that are watching their budgets…

Contracts & Key Events

Cessna 182
(click to view full)

June 5/19: Contract Logistics Support and Maintenance Training The US Air Force awarded Textron Systems a $24.3 million contract action for AC-208 contract logistics support and maintenance training for Afghanistan. The AC-208 Eliminator Armed Caravan is an advanced reconnaissance and ground attack aircraft. The Air Force awarded the aircraft’s manufacturer Orbital ATK a firm fixed price contract worth $86.4 million to supply Afghanistan with seven AC-208 Eliminator aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered to the Afghanistan Air Force under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The AC-208 deliveries are expected to conclude in 2019. Textron Systems will perform work Kabul, Afghanistan, and is expected to be finished by May 31, 2020.

Sept 27/12: The Cessna Aircraft Co. in Wichita, KS receives a is being awarded a $12.7 million contract modification, covering interim contract support for Afghanistan’s C-280B Caravans in the Basic Trainer/Light Lift Program.

Work will be performed in Wichita, KS until July 31/14. The AFLCMC/WLZI at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH manages the contract on Afghanistan’s behalf (FA8617-11-C-6209, PO 0011).

May 26/11: The Cessna Aircraft Co. in Wichita, KS receives an $88.5 million firm-fixed price, single award contract for the Afghanistan Basic Trainer/Light Lift Family of Systems: 6 Cessna T-182T aircraft; 26 Cessna 208Bs; 6 aircrew training devices; plus interim contractor support for the aircraft, training devices in Afghanistan, and advisor training. The 877th AESG/SYI at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH manages the contract (FA8617-11-C-6209).

In Iraq, some C-208B Caravans have been fitted with surveillance turrets, and some of those have even been armed with Hellfire missiles as “AC-208B Combat Caravans.” Afghanistan has opted for the Cessna 182 Skylane Turbo, however, over Iraq’s Cessna 172 Skyhawks. The Skyhawk is the most popular aircraft in the world for a reason, but Afghanistan’s high altitudes and air-thinning hot weather spells require more power. The Skylane Turbo’s Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A engine delivers full-rated power all the way to its maximum operating altitude of 20,000 feet.

Additional Readings

• DID – Bird Dogs for the Iraqi Air Force

• DID – US SDAF Buying Cessna C-208B Caravan Light Planes. These 4 C-208Bs may be destined for Afghanistan; the announcement is inconclusive.

• DID – Military Again: Afghan AF Picks MD-530F Helicopters. Also for training and assorted other duties. They’ll serve alongside Mi-17 medium helicopters and a handful of Mi-24/35 attack helicopters.

• USAF (Nov 1/11) – C-208B Roadshow comes to Kabul

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $29.3 million contract modification to produce TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array production units, accessories, shipping products, and spare modules for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations aboard surface warships. The TB-37, part of the AN/SQQ-89(V) Undersea Warfare/Anti-Submarine Warfare Combat System, is a next-generation passive and active sonar receiver configured as a long 3-inch-diameter array that can be towed behind surface ships. It is for Arleigh Burke Class destroyers, Ticonderoga Class cruisers, the Littoral Combat Ships, and Zumwalt Class land-attack destroyer. It is able to operate at a variety of depths to enable surface warships to detect and localize enemy submarines attempting to hide in different ocean layers of varying temperatures and salinity. Lockheed will perform work in New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Scheduled completion date is in June 2021.

The US Navy awarded Sierra Nevada Corp. a $9.8 million task order for the AN/SPN-46(V) landing system upgrade program. The deal addresses obsolescence issues, system degraders, deficiency correction and cybersecurity implementation. The AN/SPN-46(V) is a Precision Approach and Landing System. It is capable of controlling up to two aircraft simultaneously in a “leapfrog” pattern because of two dual-band radar antennas. As each approaching aircraft being assisted by the system lands, another can be “acquired”. Work will take place in St. Inigoes, Maryland and is scheduled to be finished by May next year.

Lockheed Marin won a $9.3 million order for post shakedown availability on the Navy’s future USS Billings or LCS-15. The Billings is a Littoral Combat Ship currently undergoing sea trials. It is the 17th littoral combat ship delivered to the Navy and eighth of the Freedom variant to join the fleet. She will be commissioned on August 3 in Key West, Florida and will be tasked with near-shore multi-purpose missions that utilize her ability to deploy and recover landing craft and helicopter. A vessel is typically not committed to any timetables or tasks until it completes its shakedown cruise. While the ship is assigned to the industrial activity for this purpose, this period is known as an “availability”. The awarded deal provides advance planning, accomplishment and emergent availabilities. Work will take place within the US and is expected to be completed by January 2021.

Middle East & Africa

Russia’s Ministry of Defense will soon be able to establish permanent missions within its counterparts in the Central African Republic and Sudan. Jane’s reports that the country has signed agreements with the African States that will run for seven years and will automatically renew if they are not terminated. The aim is to resolve military issues, provide training, and support the acquisition and maintenance of equipment.

Europe

The Belarusian company AGAT Control Systems will soon finish the Berkut-3, a Group 1-class drone. The UAV reportedly has a wingspan of 3 meters and a maximum take-off weight of 11 kg, and has the ability to carry a 2 kg payload. It can be assembled within 10 minutes and launched and recovered via a catapult and a parachute respectively. It is equipped with a combined inertial navigation system (INS) and GPS/GLONASS satellite navigation receiver. The system also includes a digital still camera, infrared camera, or TV camera – ground control station (GCS), datalink, and a ruggedized storage container.

Asia-Pacific

Insitu won $47.9 million to deliver ScanEagle drones to four US allies in Asia. The company will deliver 34 ScanEagles to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The order also provides for spare payloads, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools, training, technical services and field service representatives for each nation. The drone delivers high-quality imagery for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The UAV is based on Insitu’s SeaScan miniature robotic aircraft and draws on Boeing’s systems integration, communications and payload technologies. It carries either an electro-optical or an infrared camera. Both are inertially stabilized. Insitu will perform 70 percent of the work under the new contract in Bingen, Washington as well as at multiple shore and at sea locations, including nine percent in Malaysia, five percent each in Philippines and Vietnam, and four percent in Indonesia. Expected completion is in March 2022.

Indonesia could get Su-35 supplies as soon as the end of the year, according to Russian reports. Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu stated that Jakarta would not cancel the contract on jet supplies despite the US sanctions against Russia. The sanctions aim to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine, involvement in the Syrian war, and interference in the 2016 US presidential election. In February last year Indonesia signed contracts for the purchase of 11 SU-35s. The Defense Ministry has already signed all the necessary paperwork. However, the Trade Ministry and Finance Ministry are still in the process of approval. Indonesia is the second country after China to buy Su-35 aircraft from Russia. The Asian nation wants the fighter jets to replace its ageing fleet of F-5 Tigers.

An AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force with 13 people on board reportedly went missing on Monday afternoon around 33 minutes after taking off from Jorhat in Assam for Arunachal’s Menchuka close to the border with China. According to the IAF the aircraft took off from Jorhat 12:27 pm, and its last contact with the ground control was at 1 pm. The IAF has deployed C-130J and AN-32 aircraft next to two Mi-17 choppers while the Indian Army has pressed into service advance light helicopters to locate the missing Antonov AN-32 aircraft. The AN-32 is a Soviet Union-origin twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft. The IAF was the aircraft’s launch customer.

Today’s Video

Watch: High Alert : U.S. Air Force deploys F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft to Poland

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Naval technologies have advanced on many fronts, but one of the most significant is the growing roster of diesel-electric submarines that boast exceptional quietness. Some of the newer AIP (Air-Independent Propulsion) models even have the ability to operate without surfacing for a week or two at a time. In exercises against the US Navy, diesel-electric submarines have successfully ‘killed’ their nuclear counterparts, and in 2006, a Chinese submarine reportedly surprised a US carrier battlegroup by surfacing within it.

The US Navy is slowly moving to beef up anti-submarine capabilities that had been neglected since the end of the Cold War, and other navies are also beginning to adjust. One of the first areas that requires attention is improved detection. That means wider coverage areas, longer baselines, better sonar and other detection systems, and greater use of small unmanned platforms on the surface and underwater. With UUV/USV platforms still maturing, and almost every advanced navy except the Chinese getting smaller due to the cost of new warships, towed systems are a natural place to start.

The New MFTA

DDG-51 modernization
(click to view full)

In the USA, towed array systems are made by a number of manufacturers: EDO/ITT, L-3, Lockheed Martin Undersea Systems, and the small specialist firm Chesapeake Science Corp. are a few of the firms involved.

Unlike a ship’s main bow-mounted sonar, towed arrays can quickly be fitted to any ship with a minimum of yard work. Towed arrays will also be necessary adjuncts to future unmanned anti-submarine vehicles, as their low weight and streamlined shape makes them usable by smaller platforms. Hence MFTA (Multi-Function Towed Array) production contracts since 2008, which are replacing America’s existing set of AN/SQR-19 TACTAS arrays.

The new AN/SQR-20 (now TB-37U) MFTA is the first new surface ship array to be built for the U.S. Navy in 25 years, and is configured as a long 3″ diameter array that can be towed behind surface ships. It is an active and passive sonar sensor, meaning it can listen silently for enemy submarines, or can send out a an active sonar ping and listen for the echoes. MFTA provides several enhancements over the existing AN/SQR-19 TACTAS, including better coverage, better detection capability, and better reliability.

The new towed array will be integrated with AN/SQQ-89Av15 underwater combat systems that are being installed aboard Arleigh Burke Class guided missile destroyers and Ticonderoga Class missile cruisers as part of their planned upgrades. It’s also slated for use on DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class “destroyers” as part of the AN/SQQ-90 dual-and sonar, and aboard the Littoral Combat Ships as part of their Anti-Submarine Warfare mission package.

WLD-1 USV

While the array is described as “towed”, it can still be helpful for the array to have some attached movement capability. One of the key technical issues faced by towed arrays is the fact that knowing the shape of the array in the water is critical to interpreting its results. Unfortunately, currents, maneuvers by the towing vessel, and a myriad of other factors can change the array’s shape in the water. Self-monitoring via a pinging device and listening “birds” clipped along the array (birds because they measure “time of flight”) is a commonly used approach to calculating the array’s shape, and some kind of monitoring approach will continue to be necessary.

Having a streamlined node on the end with some maneuvering ability of its own – a UUV, for instance – can still be quite helpful, allowing operators to adjust the array line’s shape so it remains more useful more often. The US Navy specifically declined to discuss any aspect along these lines, saying that towing characteristics and features were not for public release.

The other unmanned mobility option would be to expand coverage by attaching the relatively small arrays to unmanned vehicles, allowing a warship to cover a much larger area, and to use unmanned vehicles as quiet advance scouts.

Lockheed Martin has confirmed to DID that part of the MFTA contract included an option involving the Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) snorkeling unmanned surface vehicle (USV). RMMV was expected to have a significant role to play in anti-submarine warfare (as the WLD-1), but the US Navy decided to restrict it to LCS’ counter-mine warfare package. That still leaves possibilities aboard USN cruisers and destroyers, but unless the USV improves significantly, WLD-1 probably would be more of a position adjustment aid than a towing platform. Overall USV technology, on the other hand, is expected to improve significantly in the coming decades. It’s very likely that some kind of USV or UUV system will eventually be deployed with MFTA as an independent sensor set.

Contracts and Key Events

CG-47 modernization
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Unless otherwise noted, contracts are issued by US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC, to Lockheed Martin Mission in Liverpool, NY. The division’s name changes, but it’s the same maritime sensor group.

June 4/19: Production Units and Accessories Lockheed Martin won a $29.3 million contract modification to produce TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array production units, accessories, shipping products, and spare modules for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations aboard surface warships. The TB-37, part of the AN/SQQ-89(V) Undersea Warfare/Anti-Submarine Warfare Combat System, is a next-generation passive and active sonar receiver configured as a long 3-inch-diameter array that can be towed behind surface ships. It is for Arleigh Burke Class destroyers, Ticonderoga Class cruisers, the Littoral Combat Ships, and Zumwalt Class land-attack destroyer. It is able to operate at a variety of depths to enable surface warships to detect and localize enemy submarines attempting to hide in different ocean layers of varying temperatures and salinity. Lockheed will perform work in New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Scheduled completion date is in June 2021.

May 25/15: Lockheed Martin has been handed a $27.3 million option for seven TB-37 multi-function towed array (MFTA) production units, as well as auxiliary equipment and support services. The work and production will be split between the US Navy and Japan under a previous Foreign Military Sale. The TB-37 is a potent anti-submarine warfare sensor, with the system offering several enhancements to the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array System which it replaces. The TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array is the first new surface ship array to be built for the US Navy in 25 years and is configured as a long array that can be towed behind surface ships for ASW mission sets.

May 19/14: +9. Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Liverpool, NY, is being awarded a $31.8 million contract modification, exercising options for 9 TB-37/U Multi-Function Towed Array (MFTA) production units, tow cables, electro-optical slip rings, drogues, and engineering services.

$30.1 million is committed immediately, using various FY 2014 US Navy budgets. Work will be performed in Liverpool, NY (66%), Millersville, MD (33%), and Marion, Massachusetts (1%), and is expected to be complete by July 2016 (N00024-13-C-6292).

Sept 30/13: A $44.7 million fixed-price-incentive, firm-fixed-price, and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for TB-37/U MFTAs and associated support. They’ll act as part of the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Antisubmarine Warfare Combat Systems on board USN DDG-51 and CG-47 cruisers.

$28.2 of the $44.7 million is committed immediately, and the contract includes options which could bring its cumulative value to $199.1 million.

Lockheed Martin confirmed that the designation has changed, but it’s the same product. TB-37/U = SQR-20. Presumably, TB-37/U systems for the DDG-1000’s SQQ-90 dual-band sonar, and the Littoral Combat Ship’s forthcoming ASW module, are all handled under separate contracts.

Work will be performed in Syracuse, NY (60%), and Millersville, MD (40%), and is expected to be complete by April 2015. This contract was competitively procured via FBO.gov, with 2 offers received by US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC (N00024-13-C-6292). Sources: FBO.gov | Pentagon DefenseLINK, Sept 30/13.

Multi-year contract & Designation changed

March 15/12: A $14.95 million contract modification to produce and support of AN/SQR-20 MFTAs. The Pentagon release specifically mentions production for the AN/SQQ-89Av15 antisubmarine warfare combat systems on board modernized US Navy cruisers and destroyers.

Work will be performed in Syracuse, NY (60%); Baltimore, MD (20%); Cleveland, OH (14%); and Phoenix, AZ (6%). Work is expected to be complete by January 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00024-08-C-6282).

March 25/11: A $7.9 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification exercises an option to produce more AN/SQR-20 MFTAs. Work will be performed in Syracuse, NY (60%); Baltimore, MD (20%); Cleveland, OH (14%); and Phoenix, AZ (6%), and is expected to be complete by January 2013 (N00024-08-C-6282). See also Military & Aerospace Electronics.

March 24/10: A $12.2 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification exercises an option to produce more AN/SQR-20 MFTAs. Work will be performed in Syracuse, NY (60%); Baltimore, MD (20%); Cleveland, OH (14%); and Phoenix, AZ (6%), and is expected to be complete by December 2012 (N00024-08-C-6282).

Dec 17/08: Lockheed Martin-MS2 in Liverpool, NY received a $15.1 million firm-fixed-price, cost plus fixed fee option under an existing contract (N00024-08-C-6282) to produce and support MFTAs for the AN/SQQ-89Av15 antisubmarine warfare (ASW) combat systems.

Work will be performed in Syracuse, NY (60%), Baltimore, MD (20%), Cleveland, OH (14%), and Phoenix, AZ (6%) and is expected to be complete by December 2012. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC manages the contract.

June 23/08: MFTA appears to be ready to begin production. Lockheed Martin announces a $10 million contract to produce and support MFTAs for the U.S. Navy’s AN/SQQ-89 Antisubmarine Warfare Combat System. Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin’s Syracuse, NY facility, in collaboration with Chesapeake Science Corporation in Millersville, MD. Lockheed Martin release.

Nov 21/07: A 3rd revision [PDF format] is made to the RFP. Several sections clarify the structure of the production options, and restate the government’s option not to exercise them if it so chooses. With respect to the issue of the drawings raised in the Nov 5/07 amendment, it adds this language:

“1. The Government may have some of the drawings available to it in a modifiable format and to the extent such drawings are available the Government will make them available after award, as a courtesy, upon request by the successful offeror. The Government, however, will be under no obligation to provide any such drawings at all or in a given time frame, nor will the Government be under an obligation to convert any drawings into a modifiable format.”

Nov 5/07: A revised RFP (Amendment 0002), includes questions and answers that indicate a serious controversy with one of the [unnamed] bidders, who believes the competition is not level:

“We have some serious concerns with respect to the referenced competition:

a. The competition is for a “winner take all” FFP contract [rest relates to numbers produced, Navy clarified]…

b. Our competitor, Lockheed Martin contributed to the design of the Engineering Development Model and the drawing package (their CAGE code appears on some drawings). The RFP states that the drawing package is being provided for information only, but also says that if a contractor uses a drawing package or design other than provided by the Navy it will be viewed as a risk. Hence, the Government is mandating a baseline system engineered by Lockheed Martin and allowing them to bid as a supplier…

c. The Navy has provided the drawing package, with some drawings missing, in PDF format. The selected contractor will have to re-deliver a production data package… We asked for the drawing package in CAD/CAM, i.e. modifiable format, but RFP Amendment 1 denied our request. We will be at a substantial cost disadvantage in that we will have to re-develop the entire data package, whereas Lockheed can proceed with the modifiable format they already have available.

[Complaints are also raised re: incomplete test data and drawing information]

It seems to us that we are at a disadvantage with respect to our competitor who constructed the original drawing package, has built and tested an array [for which limited data was provided to others], and has insight into the revised “informational” drawing package that is the only recognized low risk approach…”

The Navy’s response involved changes in only one area – that the drawing package information was provided for information only, and that contractors had to meet the government’s requirements. Which included either using the existing MFTA design, or providing an “in-depth comparison” with the Navy’s “informational design.” RFP, incl. amendment and Q&A.

Sept 15/07: The US Navy issues a Request for Proposal for the production of up to 75 Multi-Function Towed Arrays for the AN/SQQ-89A(V) 15 Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Combat System. This RFP and related files listed under solicitation number N00024-07-R-6217 are issued electronically, and some controversy ensues re: the way the competition was set up. FBO advance notice.

Additional Readings

• US Navy Fact File – AN/SQQ-89(V) Undersea Warfare / Anti-Submarine Warfare Combat System

• Global Security – AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array SONAR (TACTAS)