BATTLESPACE UPDATE Vol.20 ISSUE 12
19 March 2018
NEWS
NEWS IN BRIEF – EUROPE
Nerve Agent: Salisbury Incident
Chemical Weapons Defence Centre
Ajax: Threat Warning System
Protector: Combined Test Team
HMS TRENT: Officially Named
Royal Navy: Standing Commitments
12 (Bomber) Squadron: Disbanded
NATO: Defence Expenditure Data
NATO Annual Report
FAC: Foreign Secretary
Counteracting Russian Disinformation
German Air Defence Competition
France increases AI investment
NATO Trends Heading Up
New fighter needs to start
RNLAF Air Power Information Hub
Turkish defence spending
Russian interference pattern
Baseline profit falls to 6.81%
European Command Deterrence
Norwegian FAF 2018-2025
European Funding Gateway
EDA and EIB agreement.
NEWS IN BRIEF – USA
New KC-46 deficiencies
US Alarms Over Chinese Tech
Budget Aligns With Strategy
F-35 Cost Stabilizes
Africom Fights Threats
USAF freeze on media
No Change in Russian Capability
NEWS IN BRIEF – REST OF THE WORLD
Chinese carrier sub plans
RoK to buy more Apaches
Saudi Will Obtain Nukes
IAF Commits to 324 Tejas
UK deals in Indonesia?
Saudis in talks with Houthis
Georgia and Ukraine For NATO
More Saudi Eurofighters
India’s cost of Rafale
Arctic-Deployed Submarines
J-20 to Be Enhanced
Brunei to increase budget
India offers Mauritius credit
War, conflict fuel imports
Aus-UK alliance for SEA 5000
India, France strengthen ties
BUSINESS NEWS
GKN shareholder rejects Melrose
TransDigm buys Esterline unit
Cobham sale to Viavi
Boeing crowdsourcing
Airbus warns over GKN bid
Reorg of GKN Aerospace
Rheinmetall on track
Rheinmetall sees German orders
Broadcom withdraws offer
Dana CEO meets GKN investors
Melrose ups the ante for GKN
DSME finally hits profit
Trump blocks Broadcom bid
Barzan signs agreement
Elbit Systems closes on IMI
GKN rejects final bid
Melrose higher bid for GKN
Melrose Industries’ ambitions
Brexit to barely impact Thales
GE divesting electrical business?
Ricardo Interim Results
Inmarsat cuts dividend
MILITARY VEHICLE NEWS
EPE GPR on TALON
LAND 400 Phase 2 Winners
Ground Robot P’type by ‘19
CNIM upgrades for SPRAT
Rheinmetall wins Land 400
Supacat welcomes LAND 400
Russia expands ATV roles
LAND 400 decision
Malyshev T-84s to Ukraine
Team SAIC for US Army MPF
NEW TECHNOLOGIES, NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS
US announces DCGS contract
U.S. Faces Science Competition
QinetiQ partners with CSIRO
3-D printing to surpass $4bn
New LED Strobe Panel
USN Enterprise Network
US Army command systems
Roboteam AI-CU software
Australia power generation
US Army modernization efforts
US buys IT equipment differently
EuroSWARM and SPIDER activities
SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE
Availability of ViaSat-2
Build MD Space Sensors Now
Pentagon wants small satellites?
New metric for SATCOM: lethality
ILS assignments for Proton
SAT4M2M and Fujitsu JV
Orbital ATK In-Orbit
Rohde & Schwarz PKU100
Flat-Panel Terminal Available
ILS SPACE DRONE™
Space Alliance Spaceflight stake
Spectra announces major US orders
DoD and commercial satellites
ThinKom delivers antennas
Viasat Antenna Selected by SES
SES partners for O3b mPOWER
Comtech Heights™ Networking
Cobbett Hill Earthstation agreement
AST&Science buys into NanoAvionics
Spacecom builds Ukrainian Satellite
KazSat earned Kazakhstan $15.5m
RADAR, EO/IR, NIGHT VISION AND SURVEILLANCE UPDATE
RoK MPA tender bidders
Aimpoint run of Micro T-2™
Czech Israeli ELM-2084 update
HorizonX Invests in Fortem
USAF tests new HUD for C-17
IEC introduces Dragon EOF
New T-3 (SM19063) Magnifiers
Networked Images at Future Soldier
BNVD-1531 NVB to Canada
Airspace Systems Raises $20m
X-Class CMOS Image Sensor
LM TPS-77 MRR to Latvia
iNtuition ATO certification
JSTARS recap cancellation
Use of NVGs by enemy fighters
DB-110 for MQ-9 UAV?
Fencepost acoustic detection
Revitalizing USAF’s Four Horsemen
LM to award Aus sonar contract
Way forward after JSTARS
MISSILE, BALLISTICS AND SOLDIER SYSTEMS UPDATE
RoK guided weapons centre
Air-to-Air Missiles on Reaper
OTO 76/62 SR cyber assessment
US Army battalion adds D-PICC
Avon AvonAir™ air range
Maritime Nuke Cruise Missile
US Infantry Task Force
Honeywell Spectra Shield®
Detectors see buried bombs
Aselsan’s LGK-84 tests
IFAC live-fire exercise
New Leonardo Marlin 40
S-400 to Turkey in 2020
Top Gun For Grunts
Kinzhal missile from MiG-31
Russia test-fires Kinzhal
Spanish GroundHunter contract
Elbit to buy Uzi maker IMI
Our new nukes are no bluff
Tamir/Mini Hit-to-Kill wanted
USSOCOM seeks Griffin
Malaysia trials Ingwe
Egypt Missile sale update
Congress grills USMC on M27
UNMANNED SYSTEMS UPDATE
Kratos Mako Approved
UK prepares for Protector
Singapore developing USVs
Training with squadrones?
Predator Ends Era at Creech
Altitude Angel/Frequentis Connect
Serbia’s first HAPS
CYBER, EW, CLOUD COMPUTING AND HOMELAND SECURITY UPDATE
China speeds AI tech
Role of Cloud Infrastructure
Nominee for Top NSA Post
Sweden’s plan to deter Russia
UK chemical weapons centre
DoD combats Russian intel?
New tool in firing back?
US IT staff into cyber force
Provisioning system for JEDI
Lithuania’s response force
US turns to legal opponent
DHoS hiring cyber workers
Cyber Defence Education
INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES
UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
BAE design for Type 31e
Radar Magnetrons
UK seeks enhanced JFST
EUROPE
New Swiss fighter vote
USA
MH-47G Block 1 Chinooks
Transcom cloud contract
GAO cloud protest
Bell proposes 407GXi
Army submits wish list
TH-57 replacement prog
REST OF THE WORLD
India eyeing Super Hornet
Brazil receives surplus Sherpa
SEA 5000 sonar bid
CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
Challenger Sighting Contract
AIR
Tempus procures L-1011s
TECHNOLOGY
MASS and SEA selected
EUROPE
LAND
Chemring Spanish contract
Federal Premium contract
PIT-Radwar contract
SEA
Sweden Finnish contract
USA
LAND
GDLS computer contract
InDyne to support SSPARS
Oshkosh HEMMT Recap contract
Spectra SlingShot contract
SEA
Erapsco sonobuoy orders
GD Virginia-class contracts
AIR
AECOM UAV contract
Lockheed F-35 contract
Raytheon GBU-49 contract
Space Exploration contract
United Launch contract
TECHNOLOGY
Kromek DARPA contract
LGS Innovations contract
LinQuest contract
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
Kongsberg Qatar contract
Rheinmetall Aus contract
SEA
Ares Qatar contract
Elbit SAR contract
Orbital Sciences contract
AIR
Angola orders C295s
Baykar Makina Qatar contract
Leonardo Qatar NH-90 contract
RoK Taurus contract
TECHNOLOGY
Tapestry Qatar contract
MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
TopEngineer.com Job Of the Week!
Marine Systems Support Engineer
LOCATIONS
LAND
Kongsberg Qatari business
Qatar’s new naval base
MARITIME
USN Commissioned Colorado
6th Type 055 Chinese destroyer
TRENT River Class OPV
AIR
First Il-76MD-M received
First KC-390s this year
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
Leonardo early retirement
Rex Tillerson replaced
Job losses at Devonport
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
In Memoriam, Michael Hewetson
Current EDA vacancies
New NATO Atlantic Command
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
Rr. Adm. S.A. Stearney appointed
Rear Adm. R.C. Copley nominated
Rear Adm. B.K. Corey nominated
Rear Adm. D.E. Crandall nominated
Rear Adm. K.M. Creighton nominated
Rear Adm. John W. Korka nominated
Rear Adm. Lorin C. Selby nominated
Rear Adm. J.R. Wolfe Jr. nominated
Capt. James A. Aiken nominated
Capt. Thomas J. Anderson nominated
Capt. Heidi K. Berg nominated
Capt. Michael A. Brookes nominated
Capt. William E. Chase III nominated
Capt. R.J. Cheeseman Jr. nominated
Capt. Craig A. Clapperton nominated
Capt. Keith B. Davids nominated
Capt. Joseph A. J. Diguardo nominated
Capt. Leonard C. Dollaga nominated
Capt. Ann H. Duff has been nominated
Capt. Kristen B. Fabry nominated
Capt. Christopher S. Gray nominated
Capt. John E. Gumbleton nominated
Capt. James A. Kirk nominated
Capt. Timothy J. Kott nominated
Capt. Nancy S. Lacore nominated
Capt. Eileen H. Laubacher nominated
Capt. Theodore P. Leclair nominated
Capt. John S. Lemmon nominated
Capt. Fredrick R. Luchtman nominated
Capt. Brendan R. McLane nominated
Capt. Mark J. Mouriski nominated
Capt. Joseph D. Noble Jr., nominated
Capt. Scott W. Pappano nominated
Capt. E.C. Ruttenberg nominated
Capt. Ryan B. Scholl nominated
Capt. Lance G. Scott nominated
Capt. Philip E. Sobeck nominated
Capt. John D. Spencer nominated
Capt. Gregory N. Todd nominated
Capt. D.C. Verissimo nominated
Capt. George M. Wikoff nominated
Brett Markham appointed
Vice Adm. Karl Schultz appointed
Rear Adm. P.A. Piercey assigned
Rear Adm. D. Gabrielson assigned
Rear Adm. D.A. Goggins assigned
Rear Adm. G.N. Harris assigned
Rear Adm. M.P. Holland assigned
Rear Adm. J.T. Jablon assigned
Rear Adm. Carl A. Lahti assigned
Rear Adm. Gary A. Mayes assigned
Rear Adm. Charles W. Rock assigned
Rear Adm. M.J. Tynch III assigned
Rear Adm. F.D. Whitworth assigned
MG Michael T. Brewer appointed
MG David S. Nahom appointed
BG Sean M. Farrell appointed
BG Gerald V. Goodfellow appointed
BG Cameron G. Holt appointed
BG Heather L. Pringle appointed
BG John T. Wilcox II appointed
Col. John J. Allen selected
Col. Alice W. Treviño selected
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
Terma/Scandinavian Avionics JV
PERSONNEL
Rivals decry Boeing RoK consultant
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
BAE appointed Andrew Wolstenholme
Sofradir appoints of J-F Delepau
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
Raytheon elected Adriane M. Brown
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
CPI appointed Andre Jones
EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES
AUSA Winter
Owning The Night 2018
CMS Strategic for DSEI ‘19
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Defence
Shipping: Procurement
Defence: Modernisation
Defence: Procurement
FEATURES
Salisbury Highlights Importance of CBRN Capability
By Howard Wheeldon, FRAeS, Wheeldon Strategic Advisory Ltd.
Inherent Instability: Cyber and Space as Deterrence Spoilers
By Thomas Frear |Research Fellow
The Art of Space Deterrence
By Bleddyn Bowen |Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Leicester
Qioptiq, Persistent Systems and Steatite Demonstrate Networked Images at Future Soldier Technology 2018
By Julian Nettlefold
Military Spending: The Other Side of Saudi Security
By Anthony H. Cordesman
Yet Another Strong Message on UK Military Credibility
By Howard Wheeldon, FRAeS, Wheeldon Strategic Advisory Ltd.
Forecasting the Trump Defense Budget
By Mark F. Cancian
Saudi Crown Prince Visit To UK Cements Vital Long Term Relationship
By Howard Wheeldon, FRAeS, Wheeldon Strategic Advisory Ltd.
The US, Europe and the Iran nuclear deal: is there a sweet spot?
By Simon Gass |Former Political Director at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Former Ambassador to Iran
TAILPIECE
“Portsmouth’s historic dockyard has smashed its way into the top UK’s five cultural attractions outside the capital.” (RN website headline, 16 Mar 18.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
CONTACT DETAILS
Julian Nettlefold
BATTLESPACE Publications
8 Sinclair Gardens
London W14 0AT
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)207 6105520
Mobile: +44 077689 54766
e-mail j.nettlefold@battle-technology.com
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NEWS IN BRIEF – EUROPE
Web Page sponsored by Harris Corporation
http://www.harrisforcemodernization.com
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04 Mar 18. Nerve Agent: Salisbury Incident. Following the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on 4 Mar 18, the Prime Minister said: “It is now clear that Mr Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia. It is part of a group of nerve agents known as Novichok…. either this was a direct act by the Russian state against our country; or the Russian Government lost control of their potentially catastrophically damaging nerve agent and allowed it to get into the hands of others.”. (House of Commons Statement, 12 Mar 18).
The Prime Minister stated that Russia had provided “no explanation” as to how the nerve agent came to be used in the UK and concluded that: “This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the United Kingdom.”. The Prime Minister went on to confirm that the UK “will now expel 23 Russian diplomats who have been identified as undeclared intelligence officers”. (House of Commons Statement, 14 Mar 18.)
France, Germany, the UK and the US issued a joint statement abhorring the poisoning incident in Salisbury and called on Russia “to address all questions related to the attack”. (FCO, 15 Mar 18.)
The UK Ambassador in Moscow was informed that Russia is to expel 23 diplomats, close the British Consulate-General in St Petersburg and close the British Council offices in Moscow. (FCO, 17 Mar 18.)
Comment: The RAF reported (15 Mar 18) that 22 personnel, drawn from 20 Defence (CBRN) Wing RAF Regt and 27 Squadron RAF Regt, continued to support the Police investigation in Salisbury. RAF personnel have
been deployed to assist civilian emergency services and Army operations to remove vehicles. [CBRN = Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear.] (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
15 Mar 18. Porton Down: New Chemical Weapons Defence Centre. The Defence Secretary announced (15 Mar 18) that £48m is to be invested in a new Chemical Weapons Centre at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) site at Porton Down. The investment is intended to
“ensure the UK retains its world leading capability in chemical analysis and defence”. Construction on the Centre is due to begin in April 2018. It was also confirmed that UK military personnel, held at high readiness,
are to be offered the anthrax vaccine.
Comment: The UK’s military operational CBRN capabilities are currently led by the RAF, based at RAF Honington. The Armed Forces’ Minister confirmed (15 Mar 18) that CBRN capabilities are being reviewed as part of the Modernising Defence Programme, although it is understood that
responsibilities are being transferred to the Army.
15 Mar 18. Ajax: Threat Warning System. The Defence Secretary announced (15 Mar 18) a £3.7m contract to equip the Ajax family of armoured fighting vehicles with threat warning systems. Thales UK has signed a contract with General Dynamics Land Systems UK for the installation of its Acusonic sensor on the Ajax vehicles. Designed to accurately sense and report the direction of incoming enemy fire, “the system will give the vehicle’s crew the critical situational awareness to react to the threat”. Each Ajax will be fitted with three Acusonic sensors, giving the vehicle crew a 360-degree threat detection capability. Under the terms of the contract, 735 Acusonic systems are now on order for integration onto Ajax.
Comment: The six variants in the Ajax programme (Ajax, Apollo, Ares, Argus, Athena and Atlas) are due to enter service from 2020. The Defence Procurement Minister confirmed (24 Jan 18) that the MoD plans to procure 589 Ajax vehicles. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
13 Mar 18. Protector: Combined Test Team. The RAF announced (13 Mar 18) that a small team based in the US is preparing the way for the introduction into service of the UK’s new remotely piloted air system (RPAS): the MQ-9B Protector. The UK is investing in an initial 16 Protector aircraft, manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. Protector will
replace the MQ-9 Reaper in RAF service.
Comment: As part of the US trials, the RAF team hopes to ensure that Protector complies with national and international airspace and safety regulations; allowing it to operate in a wide variety of environments and
locations (‘RAF News’, 9 Mar 18). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
13 Mar 18. HMS TRENT: Officially Named. HMS TRENT, the third of five new River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels, was officially named (13 Mar 18)
during a ceremony at BAE Systems’ Glasgow site. After the Naming Ceremony, HMS TRENT was loaded onto a barge which lowered her into the water prior to outfitting and systems installation. It is anticipated that HMS TRENT will be delivered to the Fleet in the second half of 2018.
Comment: The four River Class vessels currently in service (HMS TYNE, SEVERN, MERSEY and CLYDE) are to be decommissioned by 2019 and replaced by the five ships indicated above. HMS FORTH was named on
9 Mar 17 and HMS MEDWAY on 20 Oct 17. The fourth in Class, TAMAR, is structurally complete while the fifth and last, SPEY, remains under construction with BAE Systems. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
16 Mar 18. Royal Navy: Standing Commitments. The Armed Forces’ Minister confirmed that the RN continues to meet all standing commitments which includes: Continuous at Sea Deterrent; Fleet Ready Escort; Towed Array Patrol Ship; Marine Enforcement, Mine Countermeasures Support; Atlantic Patrol Tasking North and South; Gibraltar Squadron; Operations East of Suez; contributions to the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) & Standing NATO Forces and supporting EU and NATO counter-migration Operations in the Mediterranean.
Comment: In addition to the above commitments HMS SUTHERLAND is currently conducting Operations and exercises in Australia while HMS ARGYLL is due to deploy to the Asia-Pacific later in 2018. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
13 Mar 18. 12 (Bomber) Squadron: Disbanded. The RAF advised (13 Mar 18) that 12 (Bomber) Squadron has lodged its Standard at RAF College, Cranwell, drawing to a close over 25 years of Tornado operations. The Squadron completed its final flight as a Tornado Squadron on 14 Dec 17, in the skies over Iraq and Syria. The Squadron is to reform with Typhoon, based at RAF Coningsby.
Comment: 12 Squadron personnel have now been assigned to other Tornado Squadrons: IX (Bomber) and 31. This should allow the Tornado Force to maintain the same tempo of operations until the aircraft’s planned out of
service date (in 2019). The 12 Squadron Standard was paraded before HM The Queen on 2 Feb 18 prior to the Squadron being formally disbanded on 14 Feb 18. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
15 Mar 18. NATO: Defence Expenditure Data. NATO published (15 Mar 18) its updated Defence expenditure data for 2010-2017. The figures confirm that UK spending remains above 2.0% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), one of five member nations forecast to have achieved this target in 2017. The UK continues to have the second largest Defence budget in NATO and the largest in the European Union, as measured in current US dollars. The UK is also one of ten member nations estimated to meet NATO’s guidelines to spend 20% of the Defence budget on major equipment and equipment support in 2017. The UK spent 36.6% of the Defence budget on personnel in 2014 and is expected to have spent 34.1% in 2017. For equipment expenditure the figures are 22.8% for 2014 and an estimated 22.0% in 2017.
Comment: The four NATO members forecast to have spent above 2.0% of GDP on Defence in 2017 are: US – 3.6%; Greece – 2.4%; UK 2.1%; Estonia 2.1% and Poland 2.0%. The cut-off date for information included in the above defence expenditure data was 9 Feb 18. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
15 Mar 18. NATO Annual Report. The NATO Secretary General presented (15 Mar 18) his Annual Report for 2017, highlighting that European Allies and Canada have increased their defence spending by nearly 5% “meaning there have now been three consecutive years of growth since 2014”. Progress has also been made on investing in new capabilities. In addition, there were over 23,000 troops serving on NATO deployments, up from just under 18,000 in 2014.
Comment: The Secretary General addressed the recent use of a nerve agent in the UK, noting that this was “the first offensive use of a nerve agent on Alliance territory since NATO’s foundation”. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
16 Mar 18. Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC): Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Secretary is to give evidence to the FAC on Wed 21 Mar 18 in the Thatcher Room (Portcullis House), starting at 14.00. The Foreign Secretary’s range of responsibilities will be considered. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/11, 19 Mar 18)
16 Mar 18. Eucom Commander Discusses Counteracting Russian Disinformation. Russia is using all aspects of government power to overthrow the existing international rules-based infrastructure and especially trying to subvert NATO, Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti said during a roundtable with reporters at the Pentagon yesterday.
The general is dual-hatted in Europe as the commander of U.S. European Command and NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe. He has been in Washington testifying before Congress on the situation in Europe.
The command’s mission includes deterrence and defense of the European theater. A decade ago, this looked like a mission that was going away. Russia seemed to be embracing the rules-based international norms and moving toward inclusion in the economic sphere of the continent.
Then came Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and its illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2012. Then came continued conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Russia flexed its muscles using cyberattacks against Estonia in 2007 and used computers to infiltrate electrical grids throughout Western Europe and North America.
Through all this, Russia used disinformation to subvert solidarity inside and among countries. Russia also launched widespread efforts to interfere in democratic elections.
Russia also likely launched a nerve agent attack against a former spy in Great Britain last week. The United States joined Great Britain, France and Germany in condemning the incident as an attack on national sovereignty.
Disinformation
“Russia is consistently using disinformation in Europe,” Scaparrotti said. “Within Eucom itself and also within NATO … we have structures that work on information operations.”
This includes information operations channels in the military and the State Department. These contacts run through NATO and the European Union as well as individual countries.
This web of contacts serves to counteract Russian propaganda, he said. “All of this really is about being truthful and factual about the news,” the general said.
Western nations also need to underscore the importance of democratic values, appropriate democratic government, freedom of speech, individual rights and all that these entail, “because Russia’s disinformation campaign is largely centered on undermining the West, our way of life, our rules-based structure,” Scaparrotti said.
The military aspect of this effort plays a really small part, the general said. “Most of this is the connections with our [public affairs] and diplomacy and their messages to ensure we all know the environments and what the facts are,” he said.
The general said he has noticed a difference in coverage in just the last year. Western leaders see the Russian disinformation and understand they have to quickly respond. They know how to track down the truth and how to work together to counteract the disinformation. “They know how to work together on a response to something,” Scaparrotti said. “You get a little faster, you work more closely together, you get facts out a little bit quicker.”
Getting Ahead of Attacks
NATO and Eucom are trying to anticipate Russian disinformation attacks. The general said the commands were particularly successful during the enhanced forward presence effort following the Warsaw Summit in 2016. These are multinational battle groups in the Baltic countries and Poland. Their mere presence signifies NATO’s determination to defend all nations in the alliance, defense officials have said.
When the effort began, NATO officials were sure that the Russians would try to discredit the enhanced forward presence. “That’s what we thought, and sure enough, that’s what they tried to do,” Scaparrotti said.
In advance, the alliance put out a framework of key messages and had a tabletop exercise that included public affairs and information operations specialists from all the entities and countries involved.
When the Russians launched their disinformation effort, NATO and the individual countries were prepared and responded within hours. “In the end, it’s the country you are in that makes the decision about how you are going to react,” the general said. “But it brought the entire group to bear on it and allowed us to get speed.”
(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @GaramoneDODNews)
16 Mar 18. Raytheon, Rheinmetall angle to snatch Germany’s air-defense market from Lockheed. Raytheon and Rheinmetall have unveiled an integrated suite of air-defense capabilities that they think could meet the entire portfolio of German air-defense needs, ideally choking off efforts to buy an antimissile system from competitor Lockheed Martin, according to executives.
The announcement to provide sensors and shooters capable of defeating everything from low-flying drones to incoming missiles fans the flames of a long-standing industry battle between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. While Lockheed, in cooperation with MBDA Deutschland, clinched a deal in 2015 to develop a German system based on the Medium Extended Air Defense System, Raytheon and Rheinmetall are waiting in the wings if things go south.
Raytheon believes it can offer its Patriot system for less money, sooner, and without the risks inherent in a new development. Those points were largely already in play when Berlin went for MEADS anyway. But what has changed, executives here argued today, is that Patriot has undergone continued improvements, attracting some of Germany’s European allies.
That pertains especially to the area of sensors, where Raytheon says it has made substantial progress in gallium-nitride radar technology, which could vastly decrease Patriot radar down times.
The bottom line, Rheinmetall and Raytheon argued, is that Berlin risks ending up with an “insular” air-defense capability so novel that nobody else has it.
Lockheed officials have faced that argument for years, but the prospect of European heavyweight Germany adopting a new system with built-in 360-degree radar and interceptor capability has kept hope alive of landing a key deal on the continent.
Asked about a specific opportunity to get back into the business, Rheinmetall officials suggested they are banking on a surprise when it comes to cost, as the Lockheed-MBDA team is expected to submit more detailed figures in the coming months.
In other words: If MEADS comes in too high, the tide might seriously turn against the program, which was initially begun 10-plus years ago to replace Patriot.
The defense ministry has given no indications that it plans to make a change in the TLVS program, short for Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem.
Lockheed Martin and MBDA this month formalized their relationship under a joint venture, meaning the German government will deal with a hybrid German-US company.
Raytheon and Rheinmetall executives argued today that the capability gap TLVS is meant to fill does not exist because Germany already operates Patriot. “You can make up your own mind whether it’s needed at all,” Harald Mannheim, Rheinmetall’s chief of German air defense programs told reporters.
Raytheon’s Michael Tronolone, business development director for Europe and NATO, said the company would strive to build a “sovereign” command-and-control architecture for Germany that knits together various elements of the proposed air-defense suite.
In the short-range segment, roughly 4-15 kilometers, Rheinmetall is proposing its own development of a 35-mm gun that would obliterate aerial targets with shrapnel. There is also a more quickly available variant with a 40-mm gun, but the hit probability is lower. In the future, laser weapons also are possible – especially against drones – but the technology is not yet considered ready for real-world deployment.
In the range segment up to about 100 kilometers Raytheon proposes its Next-Generation Patriot product. The company says the system features a “netted, open architecture,” 360-degree sensors and the option of using all interceptor variants that Germany already has in stock.
For Raytheon, offering its existing Patriot customer base an additional shorter-range capability with the help of Rheinmetall could mean big business, as many countries are busy crafting plans for fighting drones.
In Ukraine, Russian-linked separatists reportedly were successful in using small reconnaissance drones to call in artillery strikes against ground formations, which were unprepared to take down the aircraft.
(Source: Defense News)
16 Mar 18. France to increase investment in AI for future weapon systems. France’s armed forces minister has announced a plan to increase spending over time to an annual €100m (U.S. $123m) on artificial intelligence as part of an innovation drive to develop future weapon systems.
Florence Parly made the announcement March 16 at the launch of the government-backed Man-Machine Teaming, or MMT, study for applying AI to combat aircraft. That study is part of the ministry’s road map to explore AI for armaments.
Parly also announced the creation of an agency for defense innovation, which is open to civil and startup companies and as well as European cooperation.
About half the annual AI budget will fund studies, and some €10m a year will test and integrate existing AI technology, the ministry said. Some 50 AI specialists will be recruited by 2022 to staff the Direction Générale de l’Armement procurement office and the services. The ministry will also keep track of civil development of AI.
Parly visited Dassault Aviation on the launch of the MMT study, which was requested and funded by the DGA. Dassault and Thales will run the study, which will draw on a network of small and medium companies and laboratories.
The MMT study will look for “innovative strategies” to fly fighter jets and drones together to evade air defense systems.
Future aircraft flying in 2025-2030 will be fitted with advanced and high-resolution sensors, generating a great deal of data, which will need to be processed and merged in real time. The study will consider how to merge that real-time data and also allow the system to draw on historic data and other sources of information in the combat cloud.
“These systems will be hyper connected,” the ministry said.
In the face of this increasing complexity, the human must manage the system and stay in the decision-making loop. A key factor in AI will be to deliver “robust decision-making” based on the display of information to the pilot, not just processing the data.
AI will play a larger role in future weapons, with the first applications expected to be in intelligence gathering, cybersecurity, collaborative combat on land and in the air, anti-mine warfare, and predictive equipment maintenance.
AI applications are expected to be used in four areas: intelligent and recognition sensors; autonomous navigation in complex areas; collaborative operations between manned and unmanned aircraft; and man-machine interface in the cockpit.
Technology developed under the MMT project will not be tied to a specific platform or program, but will be applied to all future combat aircraft systems, both manned and unmanned. The first AI applications are expected in 2025, with wide distribution in 2030.
AI is already in use for algorithms that calculate missile trajectories and for systems that perform transcription and translate foreign languages. (Source: Defense News)
16 Mar 18. NATO Trends Heading Up, Annual Report Shows. NATO has stepped up recrafting deterrence and defense, and the alliance’s annual report for 2017 shows that the trend lines for the alliance are up, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels yesterday.
The alliance nations have followed through with some high-profile moves to deter Russian interference, the secretary general noted. In 2017, NATO nations deployed four multinational battle groups to the Baltic republics and to Poland. Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States each lead a battalion-sized group, and troops from many NATO nations are members.
Another action to counter Russia was increased forward presence in the Black Sea region. The alliance also “increased our resilience against hybrid war, and strengthened our cyber defenses,” Stoltenberg said. NATO joined as an entity in the global coalition to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, he added, and the alliance also raised the level of cooperation with the European Union and welcomed Montenegro as NATO’s 29th member nation.
Sharing the Burden
Burden-sharing has increased in the alliance, the secretary general said. At the 2014 summit in Wales, member nations pledged to stop cuts to defense budgets and increase spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product within a decade. “Since then, we have seen three consecutive years of increased defense spending in Europe and Canada, adding a total of $46bn,” he said.
This increase means new equipment, Stoltenberg said. Since the decision, he pointed out, alliance nations have spent $18bn on major equipment and increased investments in operations and exercises.
“For instance, in 2017 we decided to increase contributions to our Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, and allies have contributed thousands of troops to our increased presence in the east of the alliance,” he said. “At the end of 2017, there were over 23,000 troops serving in NATO deployments, up from just under 18,000 in 2014 – before Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the rise of ISIS.”
Focus on Russia
Russia is a focus of all this activity. Stoltenberg discussed the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter and a British police officer. The weapon – a military-grade nerve agent – was traced to Russia. British officials say this attack is an unlawful use of force by Russia against the United Kingdom.
“This is the first offensive use of a nerve agent on alliance territory since NATO’s foundation,” the secretary general said. “All allies agree that the attack was a clear breach of international norms and agreements. This is unacceptable. It has no place in a civilized world.”
NATO regards any use of chemical weapons as a threat to international peace and security, he said. “The attack in Salisbury has taken place against the backdrop of a reckless pattern of Russian behavior over many years,” Stoltenberg said.
He spoke about the Russian attack into Georgia in 2008, the illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2012 and Russia’s continued military support to separatists in Eastern Ukraine. He also pointed to Russia’s attempts to subvert democratic elections and institutions, and its military buildup from the north of Europe to the Middle East.
The secretary general pointed to Russia’s military modernization program, especially its investment in modernizing nuclear weaponry. “Russia has integrated conventional and nuclear warfare in its military doctrine and exercises,” he said. “This blurring of the line between nuclear and conventional lowers the threshold for Russia’s use of nuclear weapons, and the blurring of the line between peace, crisis and war is destabilizing and dangerous.”
The alliance does not want a new Cold War or a new arms race, Stoltenberg said. “But let there be no doubt: NATO will defend all allies against any threat,” he added. “We will maintain strong conventional forces, as well as a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent.”
Stepping Up in Afghanistan and Against ISIS
Russia is just one challenge to peace, and NATO has also stepped up in Afghanistan. NATO forces are helping to train Afghan forces to police their own country. “We have decided to increase the size of our Resolute Support training mission from 13,000 to around 16,000,” the secretary general said. “With our assistance, Afghan forces have increased military pressure on the Taliban, ensuring they did not achieve their strategic objective of capturing a provincial capital in 2017.”
The alliance strongly supports an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. “I commend [Afghan] President [Ashraf] Ghani for his courageous leadership. His offer to the Taliban is the clearest invitation to peace yet. So I call on the Taliban to come to the negotiating table.”
NATO also joined the coalition confronting ISIS. “We are working to strengthen the Iraqi armed forces to fight terrorism, training almost 500 Iraqi trainers so they can share their new skills with thousands of others,” Stoltenberg said. “This year, we will further boost our contribution by launching a new training mission in Iraq to build on our efforts and by providing more support to our partners in the region such as Jordan and Tunisia.
“The world does not stand still,” he said, “and neither does NATO.”
(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @GaramoneDoDNews)
16 Mar 18. MTU Aero says new fighter project needs to get started soon. Germany and France need to hammer out a realistic timetable and key requirements soon for a joint next-generation fighter jet to ensure it will be ready for use by the target date of 2035, a top MTU Aero Engines (MTXGn.DE) executive said Friday.
MTU Chief Programme Officer Michael Schreyoegg also called for the creation of separate programmes for development of the aircraft and its engine to ensure greater control, unlike the approach taken on the troubled A400M military transport where engine maker MTU served as a subcontractor to Airbus (AIR.PA).
“2035 seems far away, but given the realistic development timeframes that we have to face, it’s now the time to start,” Schreyoegg told Reuters in an interview.
France and Germany unveiled plans in July 2017 to develop a European fighter jet, with an initial schedule expected by mid-2018.
Schreyoegg said he favoured one, or at most, two countries being in charge, in contrast to the eight-nation consortium that developed the A400M.
“What’s important is that we work on a German–French airplane …. and that we don’t fall back into a situation where 8 countries are setting 15 specific requirements,” he said. “And we have to be realistic about the timetable.”
The A400M programme, Europe’s largest defence project, has been beset by glitches, cost overruns and delays. Industry and military officials say the next joint project must be structured carefully to avoid the problems that have plagued the A400M.
Schreyoegg said MTU began preliminary work on materials and other aspects of a next-generation engine two years ago, spending about 10 million euros each year. He said the costs would likely rise to about 80-100 million euros per year during the technological phase.
He said it typically took about seven to eight years to develop a new engine, and it would need to be ready by the end of the 2020s to allow sufficient flight testing of the new aircraft before 2035.
He said it was imperative to involve the customers from the start of the programme to ensure the new engine served their needs and was easy to maintain.
MTU is also urging the German military to adopt a more commercial approach to engine maintenance for the new programme.
Under so-called performance-based logistics contracts that are widely used in the commercial sector, companies like MTU service a fleet of aircraft or engines for a set fee. If problems arise, the company is liable, not the operator.
MTU argues that such contracts lead to much higher readiness rates than are generally reported in the military.
Schreyoegg said lawmakers and military officials were generally supportive of the company’s recommendations for the new fighter project. But next steps would depend on Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support.
(Source: Reuters)
16 Mar 18. RNLAF to get Air Power Information Hub. Thales and the Netherlands Aerospace Center (NLR) will support the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) in the development of an Air Power Information Hub platform, Thales announced on 12 March.
The platform will improve cooperation between military and civil partners in the security domain, through the secure sharing of air force information.
At the RNLAF’s Air Operations Control Station in Nieuw-Milligen (AOCS NM), aerial information is collected which is valuable for civil partners – such as the police, coast guard, safety region and the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security – for the execution of their tasks.
This information enables the civil partners to obtain an exact aerial picture of the location of an aircraft, hot air balloon, helicopter or UAS. The Air Power Information Hub will ensure that this classified information is exchanged quickly and securely between the air force and partners in the security domain to create a more complete image and improve the decision-making and execution process.
Thales, NLR and the Netherlands Ministry of Defence will develop the technology, create the prototype and demonstrate the information hub. Thales has developed the cybersecurity technology called Martello, which shares secure information with security domain partners.
Mike Balm, director of new business at Thales, said: ‘There is an urgent need for this digital information exchange, to create a joint image in order to work better and safer. AOCS NM will remain in full control of the information shared in the Air Power Information Hub.
‘AOCS NM can decide real-time what information will be received by which stakeholder and during which period. Information can then be transferred and analysed more accurately and quickly turn into actions.’ (Source: Shephard)
16 Mar 18. Report: Turkish defence spending to reach $15.8bn by 2023. Turkey’s defence budget is expected to reach $15.8bn in 2023, witnessing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.36% over the forecast period, according to a report by Strategic Defence Intelligence (SDI).
Titled ‘Future of the Turkish Defense Industry – Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts to 2023’, the report provides insights about the Turkish defence industry.
Annual defence spending reached $10.7bn in 2018, recording a CAGR of -5.94% during the period.
Continuous threats from the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), active participation in peacekeeping missions, reduced dependency on the acquisition of foreign military equipment and Turkey’s disturbed relationship with Greece are factors expected to drive defence spending during the period.
As a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), the country’s defence budget is expected to average 1.36% over the forecast period, compared to an average of 1.44% reported during the historic period.
The allocation of capital spending is expected to fall marginally to an average of 25.8% during the forecast period, compared to the average of 26.3% during the historic period.
Acquisition of advanced defence equipment and an aim to enhance the indigenous capabilities of the country’s defence industry are claimed to be the major reason behind the budget.
In order to support the growth of capital expenditure over the forecast period, Turkey intends to carry out various acquisition programmes which would include the procurement of physical security, multi-role aircraft, armoured vehicles, submarines, and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR).
The remaining budget will be assigned to revenue expenditure, which includes personnel salaries, development programmes for military personnel and training.
Turkey’s homeland security spending is anticipated to reach $20.2bn in 2023, representing a CAGR of 11.02% during the forecast period, the report adds. (Source: army-technology.com)
15 Mar 18. After nerve agent attack, NATO sees pattern of Russian interference. NATO accused Russia on Thursday of trying to destabilise the West with new nuclear weapons, cyber attacks and covert action, including the poisoning of a Russian former double agent in Britain, that blurred the line between peace and war.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters the use of the Novichok nerve agent against Sergei Skripal and his daughter “happened against a backdrop of a reckless pattern of Russian behaviour over many years”.
Russia denies any involvement and says it is the U.S.-led Atlantic alliance that is a risk to peace in Europe.
Britain’s National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill told NATO envoys at a special meeting of the alliance’s governing North Atlantic Council that Russia was to blame.
“What happened in Salisbury was the latest in a clear pattern of reckless and unlawful behaviour by the Russian state,” Sedwill said in a statement he read to reporters after the meeting, referring to the English city where Skripal was attacked.
Sedwill said the attack “concerns the whole alliance” and that Britain would support allies who faced similar threats. Britain’s ambassador to NATO briefed the envoys on Wednesday.
Stoltenberg said Russia was mixing nuclear and conventional weapons in military doctrine and exercises, which lowered the threshold for launching nuclear attacks, and increasingly deploying “hybrid tactics” such as soldiers without insignia.
Stoltenberg listed Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, its direct support for separatists in Ukraine, its military presence in Moldova and Georgia, meddling in Western elections and its involvement in the war in Syria as evidence of Russia’s threat.
He cited the development of new nuclear weapons, which President Vladimir Putin unveiled in a bellicose speech on March 1, as another worrying development.
“BLURRING THE LINE”
He also accused Moscow of a “blurring of the line between peace, crisis and war”, which he said was “destabilising and dangerous”.
Stoltenberg, who will meet British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Monday in Brussels, stressed there had been no request from London to activate the Western military alliance’s mutual defence clause, but said Russia must be deterred.
“The UK will respond and is responding in a proportionate and measured way … I fully support there is a need for a response, because there must be consequences when we see actions like those in Salisbury,” he said.
NATO has deployed significant ground forces to the Baltic countries and Poland to dissuade Russia from repeating any Crimea-like seizures.
Stoltenberg said there was little for NATO as an alliance to do immediately in response to the nerve agent attack, beyond giving Britain strong political support.
(Source: Reuters)
15 Mar 18. Following today’s announcement by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson that the baseline profit rate for single source defence contracts would fall to 6.81 per cent, ADS said further reductions could put long-term investment in the industry at risk. The new rate was recommended by the Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO).
ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said: “There is concern in the industry that continuing reductions in the baseline profit rate could put at risk the long-term investment in the UK defence industry that sustains thousands of high value jobs and protects our national security. It is important that the Government ensures that the regulatory framework around single source defence contracts incentivises innovation and encourages UK defence companies to continue to develop and deliver the very best capability to our armed forces. We are keen to continue engaging directly with the SSRO and the MOD to address these challenges and make sure defence procurement is founded on a closer, long-term partnership between Government and industry.”
15 Mar 18. Results are in: Here’s how much NATO allies spent on defense in 2017. After a lengthy trend downward in defense spending, there has been, “for the first time in many years,” three consecutive years of increases, said NATO’s annual report for 2017.
At the 2014 summit in Wales, NATO signed up to a ‘Defence Investment Pledge’ which called for all allies that did not already meet the NATO-agreed guideline of spending 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense to stop cuts to associated budgets, gradually increase spending, and aim to move towards the goal within a decade.
They also agreed to move towards spending at least 20 percent of annual defense expenditure on major new equipment, including related research and development, in the same timeframe.
“After years of defense cuts, the trend over the last three years has been one of increased defence spending,” said the report, unveiled at NATO’s Brussels HQ.
In 2017, the trend continued, with European allies and Canada increasing their defense expenditure by almost 5 percent.
Many allies have put in place national plans to reach 2 percent by 2024 and are making progress towards that goal. In real terms, defense spending among European allies and Canada increased by 4.87 percent from 2016 to 2017, with an additional cumulative spending increase of $46bn for the period from 2015 to 2017, above the 2014 level. In 2017, the United States accounted for 51.1 percent of the allies’ combined GDP and 71.7 percent of combined defense expenditure.
But, the report adds, at the same time, European allies and Canada helped “to redress the balance.”
Progress was also made on the commitment to invest 20 percent or more of defense expenditure in major new capabilities. In 2017, 26 allies spent more in real terms on major equipment than they did in 2016. The number of allies meeting the NATO guideline rose to 12 in 2017.
A “league table” of NATO members shows that the United States is still way ahead of other allies’ spending, with defense expenditure accounting for 3.57 percent of its GDP in 2017.
Greece at 2.36 perpercent, the U.K. at 2.12 percent, and Estonia at 2.08 percent are the next best performers in terms of meeting the GDP target. The laggards are tiny Luxembourg (0.46 percent), Belgium (0.90 percent), Spain (0.92 percent) and Slovenia (0.98 percent).
In 2017 the report says the U.K. spent some $55.2bn on defense, Germany $45.4bn and France $45.9bn. But this still pales when compared with the United States’ $685.9bn in spending.
When it comes to the proportion spent on defense as a share of GDP, Europe has fallen from just under 3 percent in 1989 to 1.95 percent last year.
This compares with the U.S. where the share is down from nearly 6 percent to 3.57 per cent over the same period.
The report, launched by NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, noted that back in 2014, when the pledge was first made, only three countries met the 2 percent guideline. This year, eight allies are expected to meet the 2 percent guideline. As important, according to the report, is the fact that those countries that have yet a way to go before they reach the target are also increasing significantly.
For instance, Germany increased defense spending last year by around 6 percent in real terms. The country is also upping contributions to NATO missions and operations, recently announcing it will increase its presence in Afghanistan, from around 1,000 to 1,300 troops.
“ I think this shows that European allies and Canada are doing more, stepping up, contributing more to our shared security,” said Stoltenberg said during a news conference.
The report also reveals that more than 15 NATO allies spend well over 50 percent of their defense budget on personnel and pension costs; for Belgium and Greece that accounts for more than 75 percent of defense spending.
Stoltenberg was asked whether it was now time for NATO to also introduce guidelines on a pensions limit.
“In the long run, it’s very hard to have good soldiers and good officers without paying them, and they also have to pay pensions,” he said. “So, that’s part of the cost of having an army. How much they (allies) pay in salaries and pensions, I leave that to nations as long as they deliver what we ask them to deliver.”
Stoltenberg was also quizzed about the importance and weight President Trump has put on the 2 percent spending goals and the link, in the United States at least, to other issues such as aluminium and steel tariffs.
“It’s not for me to comment on trade tariffs and trade issues as Secretary General of NATO,” he said when asked if that was an appropriate use of NATO spending targets,. “What I can say is that we have seen, throughout the history of NATO, differences between NATO allies on different issues, including trade issues; but we have always been able to avoid these differences [undermining] the unity of the alliance when it comes to the core task of NATO — that we protect and defend each other.”
He added, “I am absolutely certain that we will be able to do that this time. Yes, there are some differences when it comes to trade. But at the same time, I am absolutely certain that NATO will stand united again to defend and protect each other.“ (Source: Defense News)
15 Mar 18. European Command Continues Deterrence, Defense Strategy. U.S. European Command has made significant progress under the deterrence initiative which has supported the largest reinforcement of the Euro-Atlantic defense in a generation, Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Eucom’s commander and NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe, told the House Armed Services Committee today.
“Every challenge we face as a nation is best addressed with our allies, and I’m proud to report that the NATO alliance is strong, it is united and it’s committed to being fit for purpose,” Scaparrotti said.
NATO Defense Spending Increases
United States European allies have turned a corner on defense spending with increases in each of the past three years, the general said. During this time they’ve added $46bn to the collective defense.
Between 2018 and 2024, at least 15 nations will reach or exceed NATO’s two percent spending target, which will enable NATO to ensure it is vigilant in peace, responsive in crisis and possesses the strategic depth for high-end, large-scale, multidomain conflict.
“Together with NATO, the U.S. has made significant progress, but we have much work to do as we execute our National Defense Strategy, fueling an increasingly lethal, agile and resilient joint force in long term strategic competition with Russia and ready to counter violent extremist organizations, Scaparrotti told the committee.
At sea, on land and in the air Russia’s increasingly modernized military is operating at levels not seen since the Cold War, according to Scaparrotti. The general said Russia is carrying out a campaign of destabilization to change the international order, fracture NATO and undermine U.S. leadership around the world.
“Throughout Europe — along its periphery in the Middle East and beyond — Russia has demonstrated a willingness and capability to use political provocation, spread different disinformation and undermine democratic institutions,” the general said.
Scaparrotti listed some actions taken by the U.S. and its allies to deter Russian forces in Europe:
— Increased U.S. security posture in Europe by deploying rotational forces to include an armored brigade combat team and a combat aviation brigade;
— Implemented the framework battalion task force for NATO’s enhanced forward presence in Poland;
— Prepositioned equipment for additional armored brigade combat teams and doubled their maritime deployments to the Black Sea; and
— Exercised theater contingency and anti-submarine operations, executed bomber assurance and deterrence missions in Europe and deployed 5th-generation fighters to Europe for the first time.
In addition, NATO has implemented its enhanced forward presence with four multinational battle groups backed by 29 nations. It has also established a tailored forward presence in the Black Sea region.
Challenges
“The U.S. and NATO are putting a spotlight on Russian meddling and interference,” Scaparrotti told the committee. The U.S. and its allies, he added, are countering Russian misinformation with truthful and transparent information and reinforcing the narrative of sovereignty, freedom, the dignity of the individual and the rule of law.
Violent extremist groups pose the second major threat faced in the European area of operations, the general said. Since 2014, he added, Europe has experienced 18 major terrorist attacks.
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria remains active and seeks to expand its operations across Europe, the general noted. Eucom provides forces for military operations against ISIS, such as Operation Inherent Resolve, and has increased information intelligence sharing among U.S. agencies, international partners and the private sector.
“Our European allies fight alongside us, deploying forces worldwide to support U.S.-led counterterrorism operations including OIR and Operation Freedom Sentinel and to conduct national counterterrorism missions,” Scaparrotti said.
Thanks to the resources provided by Congress, particularly through the European deterrence initiative, Eucom has made significant headway in establishing a defensive posture that is credible, capable and relevant to their strategic objectives.
“As our National Defense Strategy states a strong and free Europe bound by shared principles of democracy, national sovereignty and commitment to Article 5 of NATO’s Washington treaty is vital to our security,” Scaparrotti told the committee.
Eucom’s service members and civilians are making this strategy a reality, he said, and they stand ready to protect the homeland, strengthen the alliance and ensure that Europe remains whole, free and at peace.
14 Mar 18. Future Procurement for the Defense Sector 2018-2025 (FAF 2018-2025). This document gives an overview of future acquisitions for the Norwegian Defence Sector in the period 2018 – 2025. The long-term planning process outlines the continuous development of the Norwegian Defence Sector with respect to organisation, infrastructure (garrisons and bases), personnel (numbers, composition and qualifications) and materiel (existing equipment and new acquisitions). This process is carried out under the direction of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD). The Long Term Plan – Materiel forms the basis for all materiel procurements in the short term (4 years), the medium term (8 years) and the long-term perspectives (20 years). Annually, the plan is updated to reflect updates based on changing requirements, available resources and progress in on-going acquisitions. The Government recognises the vital role the defence industry plays in support of the Armed Forces’ capabilities. This role ranges from the provision and maintenance of military equipment to the delivery of a wide range of support services. The Government’s national strategy for the defence industry was recently revised, and presented as a new White Paper to Parliament (Meld. St. 9 (2015–2016) Nasjonal forsvarsindustriell strategi) and covers the relationship between the Defence Sector and the defence industry. The main reasons for presenting an updated White Paper are the developments in the security sphere over the recent years, changes in the defence market both nationally and internationally, changes in terms and conditions, the introduction of the EU’s defence and security procurement directive, in addition to an increased focus on preparedness and security of supply. The new White Paper focuses on national security interests and security of supply as basis for the new policy and strategy. The policy will continue to maintain and develop an internationally competitive Norwegian defence industry in areas of relevance for the Norwegian Defence Sector.
The Norwegian defence industry contributes substantially to our national economic growth, technological and industrial development, export related income and high-tech related employment. The aim of the strategy is to secure good cooperation between the defence sector and the defence industry based on our sector’s need for cost-efficient deliveries of defence equipment and services. The strategy implies that Norway increasingly should cooperate with other nations on defence procurement. The strategy will also contribute to necessary predictability for Norwegian export companies. The Government upholds the governmental support programme for marketing and industrial cooperation.
A central feature in the annual updating of the Long Term Plan – Materiel is the preparation and publication of an unclassified overview of long-term materiel requirements. This publication does not examine each planned project in detail but creates opportunities for in-depth discussions between the Defence Sector and industry. In this way, industry can get an early insight into potential materiel investments. The aim is to maintain highly skilled companies that, individually or in cooperation with others, are able to support the needs of the Defence Sector. Having a proven and highly skilled industry is also fundamental for being able to compete in the international defence market that in many ways remains a closed one. The materiel investment projects are subject to decisions and approval by the MoD and the Parliament. The projects listed in this publication are not approved for implementation. It is emphasized that any project not yet formally approved may subsequently be terminated or changed without any further explanation or liability. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Norway Ministry of Defence)
23 Feb 18. EDA launches ‘European Funding Gateway’ for defence. To support the defence sector in accessing European funding, the EDA now provides industry, Ministries of Defence/Armed Forces, research-and-technology organisations, academia with a comprehensive European Funding Gateway for defence, encompassing:
- EDA ad-hoc schemes: both Cat.A and Cat.B;
- European Defence Fund (EDF): Preparatory Action (PADR) and forthcoming European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP);
- European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), including the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), its ‘Interreg’ share and the European Social Fund (ESF);
- European Investment Bank (EIB)’s major project financing;
- EU COSME Programme: financial instruments and grants supporting access to markets;
- Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and its Single European Sky ATM Research-window (SESAR);
- Erasmus+: Learning mobility, Strategic Partnerships and Knowledge Alliances;
- Horizon 2020 for dual-use projects: Thematic areas, SME instrument and financial instruments.
This interactive Gateway to European funding serves defence priorities under the Strategic Research Agendas in defence and their Technology Building Blocks (OSRA-TBBs), as well as Key Strategic Activities (KSA). It also supports EDA industry engagement.
All defence-related stakeholders can access a:
- comparative view per funding dimension to compare each relevant criterion one-by-one across the many funding opportunities; and
- detailed view per funding source to explore each specific European funding opportunity in detail.
The EDA’s European Funding Gateway is a result of the collaboration between EDA and several Institutions, including the European Commission (DG GROW, DG EMPL, DG EAC, DG RTD, DG REGIO) and the European Investment Bank Group. (Source: EDA)
28 Feb 18. European Defence Agency and European Investment Bank sign cooperation agreement.
Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA) and Alexander Stubb, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions.
The European Council of 19 October 2017 encouraged the EIB to examine further steps with a view to supporting investments in defence research and development activities. As a response, the EIB recently approved the European Security Initiative – Protect, Secure, Defend, strengthening its support for RDI for dual-use technologies, cybersecurity and civilian security infrastructure. Today the EIB and EDA teamed up to support EU policy objectives, in particular as regards the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The cooperation between the two entities materialises as major European initiatives supporting the EU level of ambition in the area of security and defence are launched, including a European Defence Fund.
As a first step, EDA and the EIB envisage cooperation in the Cooperative Financial Mechanism (CFM). The CFM is foreseen as a mechanism for EDA Member States to financially support the set up and conduct of the development of military technology. The EIB role in the CFM would focus on supporting the development of dual use technologies. Additionally, the two organisations agreed to exchange expertise, in particular with a view to identify possible financing opportunities for defence and security-related Research and Technology projects in support of EDA participating Member States. EDA stands ready to support the EIB in identifying projects, that are potentially eligible for its assistance; this could include both projects promoted by the Member States, such as those in the context of the recently launched Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), as well as projects promoted by companies including Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the defence and security sector.
“European security and defence is high on the agenda of decision-makers and citizens alike. EDA and EIB have complementary expertise and are natural partners. The Agency will support the EIB in the identification and assessment of projects as well as by putting its defence expertise at the service of the Bank”, said Jorge Domecq.
“Under the European Security Initiative – Protect, Secure, Defend, the EIB is ready to step up its support to the security and defence sector. In line with our mission, we look forward to supporting in particular investment projects that target dual-use technologies, which can be commercialised also in civilian applications”, said EIB Vice-President Alexander Stubb. “Today’s cooperation agreement is welcome news for Europe’s security as it will help the European Defence Agency and the European Investment Bank to better contribute to EU policy goals”.
Cooperative Financial Mechanism
The Cooperative Financial Mechanism (CFM) will play an important role in easing the launch phase of cooperative projects. Designed to support any type of collaborative efforts, in the R&T, R&D or acquisition phase, its support will include access to funding, a well-known shortfall hampering cooperative efforts, as well as the reduction of bureaucracy. It will result in an increased quality of public expenditures.
The Mechanism, developed as an EDA ad hoc Category A programme, is voluntary. Member States decide if they wish to participate, contribute and support projects.
Once negotiations on the Programme Arrangement are finalised, the CFM is likely to be based on two pillars. In the first, intergovernmental, Member States will have the opportunity to mutually support via a system of reimbursable advances and deferred payments. In the second, the European Investment Bank will act as the sole lender, supporting dual use projects in line with its policies. This will enable an increased support from EIB to the security and defence agenda, an objective underlined several times by the European Council.
(Source: EDA)
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16 Mar 18. US Air Force adds new deficiencies to KC-46’s list of problems. The U.S. Air Force’s troubled KC-46 tanker program has hit another bump, adding two of the most serious types of deficiencies yet to the list of problems manufacturer Boeing needs to fix.
The service on Thursday evening disclosed two “category one” deficiencies involving the remote vision system and centerline drogue systems, and there is no concrete timeline by which these issues will be fixed, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in an email.
The first deficiency centers on the KC-46’s remote vision system made by Rockwell Collins. The RVS is used by the boom operator to safely steer the boom into the receiver aircraft’s receptacle in all weather conditions.
The RVS performance is not meeting Air Force requirements. That, in turn, is contributing to another, previously disclosed issue: “undetected contact outside the receptacle,” or in layman’s speak, an increased likelihood of scraping the exterior of a receiver aircraft with the boom.
To combat this deficiency, Boeing is developing a software fix to the RVS that will hopefully make it more effective. The Air Force will begin flight testing the amended system this month. If successful, the service may be able to cross out both the RVS and “undetected contact” deficiencies at the same time.
The second deficiency revolves around the centerline drogue system, or CDS. During tests, the Air Force found that sometimes the receiver aircraft unexpectedly disconnects from the CDS.
This doesn’t pose any “immediate” safety risks, and the Air Force and Boeing are conducting systems engineering analysis to determine the cause of the problem and how to mitigate it.
“We are confident that the KC-46 will meet the USAF’s operational need safely and effectively,” Boeing spokesman Chick Ramey said in a statement. “We will continue to refine those capabilities with the Air Force — including the Remote Vision System (RVS) and Centerline Drogue System (CDS). Boeing is flight testing a software enhancement this month that we expect will improve visibility.”
Although new issues have cropped up, the Air Force is making progress in solving other KC-46 problems. It recently downgraded two deficiencies — one of which involved the high-frequency radio and another where the boom would push forward into the receptacle upon disconnect — from category 1 to category 2, Stefanek said.
“Risk from the High Frequency Transmit Inhibit [deficiency report] was found to be acceptable for delivery, but the DR remains open since the system does not meet specification requirements. A long-term fix to the deficiency will still be required to eliminate risk, and Boeing is expected to resolve the issue,” she said.
“A minor software update is expected in the spring, to address the Uncommanded Boom Extension During Flowing Disconnect deficiency,” she said.
Mo’ tankers, mo’ problems
The revelation of the new issues comes just a week after the Air Force disclosed that it now believes the delivery of the first KC-46 will be delayed again, this time likely to the end of the year. Perhaps more importantly, Boeing probably won’t be able to meet its contractual obligation to deliver 18 certified KC-46s in October 2018, with the service now estimating it will happen in spring 2019.
However, Stefanek said the recent deficiencies did not prompt the service to revise its schedule projection, and that the issues are “a normal part of our development process.”
“The timeline for first delivery was modified based on known risks and predicted impacts associated with airworthiness certifications and slower-than-expected flight test execution,” she said. “While these deficiencies weren’t explicitly accounted for, the potential for additional technical findings were accounted for in the schedule risk assessment.”
In a House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Sumbcommittee hearing on Wednesday, lawmakers asked if the Air Force would be able to get the KC-46 back on track. The committee’s top Democrat, Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney, was especially concerned that the testing issues could cause later problems as new tankers are delivered and the service begins training the first KC-46 pilots.
“How [do] we get this centipede moving along instead of having it bunched up after the planes are coming out of the factory?” he asked.
Air Force acquisition head Will Roper replied that, going forward, the speed that Boeing resolves issues will be a “key metric” that Roper will consider in assessing the program’s heath.
“The fact that there are issues on the program is less concerning to me. What will concern me during this year is if issues don’t get retired quickly,” he said.
The service is planning to begin divesting its smaller KC-10 fleet once the KC-46s are delivered and begin operating. It will retain 300 KC-135s and buy 179 KC-46s for a total fleet of 479 tankers, growing the tanker inventory from the 455 KC-10s and KC-135s currently operated by Air Mobility Command.
However, if the KC-46 is delivered late, the Air Force will not be able to begin retiring KC-10s in fiscal 2019, as is currently planned.
“If we’re late on delivery, I would expect that we would have a similar delay on the retirement of the aircraft,” Roper told the panel.
(Source: Defense News)
15 Mar 18. US Sounds Alarms Over Chinese Tech, IP Thefts & Espionage. The alarm bells are going off all over Washington and Silicon Valley that Chinese startup investors are coming — and are pumping their money into tech startups at a pace that is making Congress stand up and take notice.
Just this week, President Donald Trump cited national security concerns when he blocked Singapore-based Broadcom’s proposed acquisition of Qualcomm, a U.S.-based technology firm that has made huge investments in artificial intelligence and other dual-use technologies important to both the commercial sector and the Pentagon. While his decision is being framed as a telltale sign of his newly muscular nationalist “America First” policies, members of Congress, Pentagon brass and tech experts have been raising the flag all week over the precarious American advantages in artificial intelligence, and the massive strides China has made in closing the gap.
In particular, Beijing has set out on a path to diminish the Pentagon’s traditional technological advantages “by targeting and acquiring the very technologies that are critical to our military success,” the Pentagon’s head of manufacturing and industrial base policy Eric Chewning, told a House panel on Thursday.
China has said it plans to be the world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030, a plan underlined by massive investments that cut across civilian and military applications. In 2017 alone, $12.5bn in startup funding flowed into artificial intelligence companies, with Chinese startups receiving 48 percent of that money.
Adm Harry Harris, head of Pacific Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday that China is “blurring lines” between military and civilian industry and efforts, warning that U.S. policymakers and businesses need to be be more sensitive the advantages that our open society provides competitors. In particular, when it comes to China, he’s worried about the “purchase of large tracts of land near our training and electronic ranges,” which are ripe for espionage.
A bill being currently being considered by Congress aims like an arrow straight at the heart of this issue, and if passed, would institute sweeping changes in the national security reviews performed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The White House, Pentagon, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are all behind The Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2017 (FIRRMA) that would grant the government more power to block technology transfers, the sharing of intellectual property with certain foreign individuals, and even scrutinize proposed land sales near sensitive military and intelligence installations in the United States. (Old hands still talk about the then-Soviet Union’s brilliant move in secretly buying land on one of Washington’s highest points for a new embassy, the better to perform electronic espionage.)
The bill’s co-sponsors say that the purpose isn’t to create a blacklist, or to squelch foreign investment in the United States, but to monitor entities from “countries of special concern” who would face closer scrutiny in a small number of matters.
The bill “is not trying to broaden the definition of national security, but broaden the transactions that are reviewable,” the Treasury Department’s Heath Tarbert — sitting next to the DoD’s Chewning — told the House Financial Services Committee Thursday. At the same time, “national security concerns are changing over time so we want flexibility to keep up with new threats…it’s certainly not an economic benefits test,” he said.
The concern over Chinese investments is very real, however.
Chinese companies and investors were involved in a record 7 to 10 percent of all funding of tech startups in the United States over the past five years, which is one area that CFIUS still only has partial visibility over. This level of involvement in developing technologies is “an existential threat to the security of our country,” Rep. Joseph Heck (R-NV) said during Thursday’s hearing.
China’s industrial policy has long emphasized importing machinery and weapons and then building their own version without bothering to acknowledge that the ideas were stolen. The idea has been to “extract technology from foreign companies, and then put up walls” in order to then protect what they have built, Chewning said.
One of the areas that American officials are most concerned about is artificial intelligence, an area where Beijing has already become a global leader.
But even some of the advances the Chinese have made in recent years in artificial intelligence look familiar to their American competitors. Part of the reason is that many of them studied in the same American universities. And part is just a matter of cutting and pasting.
Beijing’s three-year AI plan, unveiled last year, “is basically a Chinese translation of the U.S. AI plan, which I worked on,” said Dr. Jason Matheny, director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity — known as the intel community’s DARPA — at a breakfast meeting with reporters on Wednesday. “There were a lot of familiar passages,” Matheny laughed.
Unlike the often plodding American — and particularly Pentagon — acquisition systems, policymakers are also worried about the speed which which the Chinese have shown they can prototype and operationalize their ideas. “That’s what worries me, the ability to move at speed,” Adm. David Hahn, chief of Naval Research, told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday.
During a Thursday morning rollout of an new Artificial Intelligence at the Washington-based Center for a New American Security, Amir Husain, founder and CEO of SparkCognition, an AI firm, said the differences in the political and business cultures between a country like China and the United States gives rise to real, structural disadvantages for the Pentagon.
He said he recently had a conversation with a military officer who said the typical acquisition goal is five to seven years. “I live in a world where there is a revolution every 16 days,” he said, adding that people in AI and the tech industry can’t conceive of working on one project for five years, and as a result, “we live in an age where not everyone wants to work with the DoD” because it is so slow, and so structured. “You buy tanks in one way, and you buy algotherims in a different way.”
Former deputy defense secretary Bob Work, who is one of the leaders of the CNAS task force, summed up the differences between how the Chinese and Americans do business. “In China, if someone in the government has an AI problem, they call the commercial sector and the commercial sector will respond. If someone in the commercial sector has an AI problem they call the government and the government will respond. The United States really needs to think through how it does AI as a nation.”
(Source: Breaking Defense.com)
15 Mar 18. AF Secretary: Proposed Budget Aligns With National Defense Strategy. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein yesterday testified before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations about the Air Force’s proposed fiscal year 2019 budget.
The proposed budget “aligns with the National Defense Strategy,” Wilson said.
She said the budget also recognizes and reflects that the United States is experiencing “a more competitive and dangerous international security environment than we have faced in decades.”
Wilson added, “We have returned to great power competition and the central challenge to security and prosperity is one we must meet. That’s what you expect of your Air Force and of your joint force, and we’re here to deliver.”
Bold Moves
According to Wilson, there are “two bold moves” in this budget.
“The first is accelerating defendable space. We need to deter, defend and prevail against anyone who seeks to deny our ability to freely operate in space,” Wilson said.
“The second is the shift to multi-domain operations,” she added. “We are proposing to change the way we do command, control and communication on the battlefield. A mission we perform for the joint force and particularly for the ground forces.”
In addition to the two bold moves, the Air Force will continue to prioritize the readiness of the force to win any fight, any time, Wilson said.
“Let there be no doubt, your airmen stand ready to defend the homeland, deter nuclear conflict through nuclear readiness, own the high ground with air and space superiority and project global vigilance, reach and power with our joint teammates, allies and partners,” Goldfein said.
Fiscal year 2019 funds will expand pilot training and address experience shortfalls, continue incentive pay and bonuses, improve administrative support at the squadron level and support flying hours to executable levels, officials said. The funding also will address gaps in space, nuclear, cyber and intelligence career fields and support battlefield airmen — the service’s air-to-ground integration force.
“Airmen participate in some way in every mission the joint force performs,” Goldfein said. “We operate from below the surface in a remote missile silo to the outer reaches of space, and everywhere in between. We can do all of this only with the unwavering support of the American people and the leadership and support of Congress.
The general added, “This Air Force budget request allows our nation to confront today’s threats and moves us toward the Air Force we need to face tomorrow’s challenges.”
The Air Force’s fiscal 2019 budget request of $156.3bn builds on the progress made in 2018 to restore the readiness of the force, increase lethality and modernize in a cost-effective manner, officials said.
(Source: US DoD)
13 Mar 18. Lockheed F-35 Cost Stabilizes at $406bn, Pentagon Says.
The Pentagon’s estimated cost to develop and purchase Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 jet, the costliest U.S. weapons program, has stabilized for now, according to a new report to Congress. The total acquisition cost for the advanced fighter is projected at $406.1bn, virtually unchanged from the $406.5bn estimated last year, according to the Defense Department’s latest Selected Acquisition Report, which will be sent to Congress this week. The projections were obtained in advance by Bloomberg News.
Within the total — which includes research, development and initial support such as spare parts and military construction — the estimated cost to procure 2,456 U.S. aircraft has ticked down to $345.4bn from $346.1bn, or a 0.2 percent decline.
That’s good news for the F-35, which has wide support in Congress but a past marred by cost overruns. Last year, the annual acquisition report on major weapons estimated that costs would rise about 7 percent to $406.5bn after several years of declining projections.
Software Upgrades
But the report to Congress doesn’t include as much as $11bn that the Pentagon’s F-35 program manager told a House panel on March 7 that the Defense Department might need to spend in coming years to develop major software upgrades. Pentagon officials plan to meet in June to review the upgrade plan, including additional costs to procure the tweaked software.
The acquisition estimates are separate from a projection of about $1.1trn for long-term operations and support to keep the aircraft flying until 2070. Those costs have drawn the concern of the military services and Ellen Lord, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer, who’s responsible for such “sustainment” expenditures.
Lockheed and its subcontractors are trying to improve production processes as the Pentagon plans major increases in the pace of F-35 purchases. Parts shortages, unavailable aircraft and lingering unresolved technical issues also must be resolved as the program soon ends its 17-year development phase. In September, the F-35 is due to begin as much as one year of rigorous combat testing that’s required by law. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Bloomberg)
13 Mar 18. Africom, Partners Fight Violent Extremists, Other Threats. The U.S. military is working with its African partners to strengthen security and counter violent extremist organizations and other threats to the continent, the commander of U.S. Africa Command said at on Capitol Hill today. Africom’s area of responsibility covers 53 countries with complex and varied issues, Marine Corps Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“The U.S. interests in Africa are reflected in our mission statement,” he said. “Africom, with partners, strengthens security forces, counters transnational threats and conducts crisis response in order to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability and prosperity in Africa.”
He pointed out the mission statement deliberately highlights the importance of working with partners. “Very few, if any, of the challenges on the African continent can be resolved through the use of exclusive military force,” he told the Senate panel.
The command, he noted, provides training, advice and assistance to the G5 Sahel countries — an institutional framework for coordination of regional cooperation in development policies and security matters in central Africa — and the multinational joint task force to help contain violent extremists and secure borders.
“While African nations have enormous potential, they are often challenged by instability and exploitation stemming from the disruption caused by violent extremist organizations,” the general said. “These VEO groups take advantage of vast ungoverned spaces and recruit from populations lacking economic opportunities.”
Honoring Fallen Service Members, Partners
Waldhauser said he has completed the review of an investigation surrounding the deaths of four U.S. Army soldiers in an ambush last year in Niger. He said he forwarded the report to the secretary of defense through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“Once the secretary completes his review and after the families have been briefed, I intend to provide a comprehensive and detailed account of the investigation to you as soon as practicable,” he said.
Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, Sgt. La David T. Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright were conducting a train, advise and assist mission with Nigerien forces Oct. 4 when they came under attack by a group linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during an Oct. 23 news conference at the Pentagon.
Waldhauser honored the fallen soldiers as well as a Navy special warfare operator, Kyle Milliken, who was killed May 5, 2017, during an operation against the al-Shabab terrorist group in a remote area west of Mogadishu, Somalia.
In addition, the general paid tribute to the many African forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against extremists and in pursuit of security.
“We honor their commitment, service and dedication to duty,” he said. “I offer my sincere condolences to the families of our fallen U.S. comrades and those of our African partners.”
Africom is ‘Postured and Ready’
Africom remains “postured and ready” to respond to contingencies and protect U.S. personnel and facilities on the continent, Waldhauser said.
He explained the command is updating its strategy and theater campaign plan to reflect the guidance provided by the secretary of defense, in accordance with the National Defense Strategy.
He discussed operations on the continent, including contributions to international efforts to help Somalia implement its recently designed national security architecture.
“Al-Shabab remains a threat to Somalia and the region, as demonstrated by their October 2017 bombing in Mogadishu that killed over 500 people,” he said. “The challenges facing the federal government of Somalia are enormous.”
Somalia’s government continues to slowly make progress, he said, but there is a “long way to go before they are prepared to secure their own territory.” (Follow Lisa Ferdinando on Twitter: @FerdinandoDoD)
12 Mar 18. Air Force orders freeze on public outreach. The Air Force is slashing access to media embeds, base visits and interviews as it seeks to put the entire public affairs apparatus through retraining — a move it says is necessary for operational security, but one which could lead to a broader freeze in how the service interacts with the public.
According to March 1 guidance obtained by Defense News, public affairs officials and commanders down to the wing level must go through new training on how to avoid divulging sensitive information before being allowed to interact with the press. The effort, which represents the third major Defense Department entity to push out guidance restricting public communication over the past 18 months, creates a massive information bureaucracy in which even the most benign human-interest stories must be cleared at the four-star command level.
Before settling on retraining its public affairs corps and commanders, the service considered an even more drastic step: shutting down all engagement with the press for a 120-day period, a source with knowledge of the discussions said.
Instead, the service settled on the retraining plan, a temporary move which Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas, director of public affairs, said could be completed “in the coming weeks.”
“In today’s challenging information environment marked by great power competition, we will continue to be as transparent with the American public as possible while protecting sensitive information on our operations and capabilities,” Thomas told Defense News. “We owe both to the public, and it is vitally important for the public to understand what we are doing on their behalf and with their tax dollars.”
But two former Air Force secretaries and an influential congressman all raise the same concern: that intentionally or not, this will send a message that engaging with the public simply isn’t worth the risk.
Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., told Defense News the memo fits into a trend of recent moves inside the Defense Department towards less transparency, which could ultimately undermine DoD’s efforts to address long-standing problems. Gallagher serves on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which oversees several key Air Force programs like the B-21 bomber.
“I fully support the National Defense Strategy’s focus on great power competition,” Gallagher told Defense News, “but I think the department has it backwards; It is precisely because of the scale of the challenges before us that transparency is more important than ever. I worry that by failing to discuss problems, we will only ensure there is no public pressure to fix them.”
Shrinking Air Force access
The renewed focus on operational security stems from the Trump administration’s recently released national defense strategy, according to the Air Force guidance. That document, which was marked as “for official use only,” was distributed to public affairs officials following a February 2018 memo on operational security signed by Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein.
“As we engage the public, we must avoid giving insights to our adversaries which could erode military advantage,” the March 2018 guidance read. “We must now adapt to the reemergence of great power competition and the reality that our adversaries are learning from what we say in public.”
Until wing-level spokesmen have been certified by their corresponding major command, responses to reporter queries that potentially could include details about “operations, training or exercises, readiness or other issues which may reveal operational information to potential adversaries” are subject to approval by the Air Force’s public affairs headquarters at the Pentagon, known as Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs or SAF/PA. Exceptions can be made for human interest stories, community engagement pieces or other lighter, fluffier news, which can be approved by major command public officials.
Here’s the memo:
What this means is that if public affairs officials at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas haven’t received their training, a local story about military working dogs would need the approval of Air Education and Training Command before being allowed to proceed with an interview or any engagement.
Beyond limiting the Air Force’s interactions with journalists, the new guidelines pose new restrictions on public appearances such as air show demonstrations, trade shows, industry conferences and think tank events, which can move forward if authorized by SAF/PA’s engagement division.
And although Air Force band performances will be permitted to continue, all band members who interact with the media must receive training from public affairs.
Exactly what constitutes sensitive information is unclear. The Air Force’s guidance lays out “potential engagement areas” alongside topics that could possibly pose “operational security risks.” Classified information and vulnerabilities are included in the latter area, but so are details about flag exercises, the number and location of operational assets, or information related to current readiness — some of which are routinely shared with the public.
The guidance notes that “neither list is all inclusive,” and that public affairs professionals “use sound discretion and exercise discretion when evaluating all engagement opportunities.”
Pausing a turnaround
The guidance comes as the Air Force was finally repairing a damaged public affairs reputation. The service infamously clamped down on talking after the 2008 firing of both its chief of staff and service secretary, which had a chilling effect across the service.
The situation culminated in a 2016 informal poll by Foreign Policy magazine, which found reporters ranking the Air Force as the worst service to deal with. That result resonated heavily within Air Force leadership, triggering promises of more open lines of communication.
Deborah Lee James, Wilson’s predecessor as Air Force secretary, told Defense News it was her belief the service needs to be more open, not less.
“I have not seen the memo. However, I am sorry to hear about this development. If true, it certainly runs against the grain for what I tried to do as secretary of the Air Force,” James said. “Sometimes there’s positive news to talk about, and our airmen can be the best communicators. Sometimes there’s negative news to talk about. But much better that we be the ones to describe that news and frame it for the American people.”
Whit Peters, who from 1997-2001 served as both Air Force secretary and undersecretary, acknowledged there are times when the military needs to keep information back for security reasons. He said the memo restrictions remind him of the way the service handled information during the conflict in Bosnia. But he also warned the memo may have a chilling effect far beyond its printed text.
“The penumbra of this memo is worse than the memo itself. If you’re already an Air Force officer, who is disinclined to talk to the press, this just gives you one more reason to think it is not career enhancing to talk to the press,” Peters said. “And that is unfortunate because the Air Force at all levels needs to be talking to the American public about what a valuable service it provides.”
“I still think the Air Force does not do enough publicly to explain its mission and to explain why it needs to rejuvenate its whole fleet, both in air and space,” Peters continued. “So I would hope this doesn’t get in the way of the Air Force telling its story on why it’s important, and why it needs to be funded by the taxpayers.”
The Navy: A Case Study
A test case for the potential impact of the memo can be seen in the recent status of the Navy.
In March 2017, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson issued a memo that directed admirals to continue to engage with the media. But it also implored Navy officials not to give “too much” information — even unclassified information — in a public setting.
“When it comes to specific operational capabilities however, very often less is more,” he said in the memo. “Sharing information about future operations and capabilities, even at the unclassified level, makes it easier for potential adversaries to gain an advantage.”
The memo, which was broad and lacked specific guidance, created a persistent atmosphere of uncertainty throughout the Navy where leaders and program managers have been unsure about what they can talk about and what they can’t.
And last October, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis released a memo calling for employees to be “vigilant” in preventing leaks.
“It is a violation of our oath to divulge, in any fashion, non-public DoD information, classified or unclassified, to anyone without the required security clearance as well as a specific need to know in the performance of their duties,” he said.
The information chill both inside the Navy and DoDwide has been noticed by lawmakers, who have called on the military to err on the side of transparency.
Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., discusses the budget and transparency at the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium on Jan. 10, 2018.
At a Navy conference in January, Gallagher dismissed Richardson’s concerns about giving away secrets in the press, arguing that if the Navy doesn’t talk about what it’s doing, members of Congress can’t convince their fellow members not on defense committees, let alone their constituents, that more resources are necessary.
“Despite the old adage that ‘loose lips sink ships,’ non-existent strategic communications can sink entire navies,” he continued. “If the bias is towards silence to prevent adversaries from finding out about unique capabilities or potential weaknesses: guess what, there will never be a public constituency for acquiring or mitigating them.
“And, oh by the way, our adversaries probably have a decent idea of what we’re up to anyways.”
The powerful chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), spoke out in January as well, saying that while secrecy is important, so is transparency, saying it makes a difference in DoD’s bottom line.
“As we’ve talked before, some of the folks in DoD are reluctant to talk too openly about our shortfalls because you’re broadcasting that to your potential adversaries,” Thornberry said. “And I admit, it’s a fine balance. But if we’re going to convince my colleagues who are not on this committee, as well as the American people, to fix these things, I think we do have to at least talk somewhat openly about what our problems are.”
(Source: Defense News)
11 Mar 18. Mattis Sees No Change in Russian Military Capability in Light of Putin’s Speech. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said he sees no change in Russia’s military capability in light of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent speech in which he said Russia has nuclear weapons capable of attacking the United States.
The secretary called Putin’s remarks “disappointing, but unsurprising.”
Mattis spoke with reporters aboard a plane bound for Oman as part of an overseas trip designed to strengthen relationships.
“I looked at President Putin’s speech, and like many of us, I focused on the last third of it,” Mattis said. “The first two-thirds [was] clearly about domestic issues, but also opportunities in that first two-thirds, as I was reading it. And I tried to forget that I … knew what the last third was about — that you would actually see opportunities there to reduce the tensions between the NATO countries, the Western countries, the nations that want to live by international law, maintain sovereignty and territorial integrity of everyone, and the Russian Federation.”
Strategic Assessment
The secretary said his role is to make strategic assessments, and that he saw no change to the Russian military capability in Putin’s remarks. The systems the Russian president talked about “are still years away,” the secretary said, adding that he doesn’t see them changing the military balance.
“They do no impact any need on our side for a change in our deterrent posture, which would be certainly an indication I registered this assessment with something that was changing,” Mattis said.
Moscow’s cancellation of scheduled strategic security talks shows a Russia that’s not even acting in its own best interests, he added.
Cease-Fire
Russia signed up with the United Nations Security Council for a cease-fire in Homs, Aleppo and East Ghouta in Syria, Mattis noted. “Their partner proceeds to bomb, at best, indiscriminately, at worst, targeting hospitals,” he said. “I don’t know which it is — either they’re incompetent or they’re committing illegal acts, or both.”
Though he doesn’t have evidence to show them, the secretary told reporters, he is aware of reports of chlorine gas use and of the bombings taking place in Syria. “It’s almost like a sickening replay of what we’ve seen before, in Aleppo for example, and before that in Homs,” he said.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley worked with the U.N. Security Council to reach a cease-fire in Syria, and “Russia’s partner immediately commenced violating it,” Mattis said. “We’re working through diplomatic means; continuing to work,” he emphasized. “We don’t give up.”
(Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDoD)
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17 Mar 18. It looks like China accidentally revealed plans for a massive aircraft carrier and submarines to rival the US.
- A major Chinese shipbuilder briefly posted, and then deleted, images of plans for ships and weapons systems that reveals that China may be planning to unseat the US as the most powerful navy in the world.
- The picture shows a carrier at sea with models of unmanned drones and stealth jets on the deck in a clear effort to match US sea power.
- China has long focused on countering the power of US aircraft carriers, but has usually done so with “carrier killer” ballistic missiles.
A major Chinese shipbuilder briefly posted, and then deleted, images of plans for ships and weapons systems that reveals that China may be planning to unseat the US as the most powerful navy in the world.
The images, screengrabbed and reported on by Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer at Popular Science, showed Chinese plans for a massive, nuclear-capable aircraft carrier with stealth jets, nuclear submarines, and underwater drones, as well as a possible “underwater great wall of China” attack and defence system to surveil and attack enemy ships.
The China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) had previously confirmed on their website that a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was in the works and expected by 2025, the South China Morning Post reported.
China currently operates two aircraft carriers, both of which are based on Cold War-era Soviet designs and burn fossil fuels, which limits their range and power projection ability. The smaller carriers, which displace about 60,000 tons, feature ski-jump platforms rather than the flat decks of US aircraft carriers, which also limits the weight and range of the aircraft it can launch.
The photos posted by CSIC show a large flat-deck carrier that looks much like US Nimitz-class carriers.
One picture shows a carrier at sea with models of unmanned drones and stealth jets on the deck. China has an upcoming class of stealth jets, though none of them have been navalized.
With a nuclear-powered, flat deck aircraft carrier, China would join the US and France as the only countries with full-on naval power projection capabilities. China’s single nuclear carrier would put it on par with France, but far behind the US, which has 11 full size nuclear aircraft carriers.
But the leaked images likely indicate China wants to rival the US, as they included plans for electromagnetic catapults to launch heavy jets like the US’s newest aircraft carrier types will feature.
Paired with the nuclear attack submarines also leaked by CSIC, the Chinese navy could see a considerable boost in power-projection capability.
China has long focused on countering the power of US aircraft carriers, but usually done so with “carrier killer” ballistic missiles.
The fact that China is investing in such an expensive, valuable target to put to sea so far in the future indicates there is some life left in the concept of aircraft carriers. (Source: News Now/Australian Business Insider)
16 Mar 18. South Korea may buy more Apache helicopters to lead the fight across DMZ. The South Korean military plans to buy more Apache heavy-attack helicopters to lead the deployment across enemy lines should conflict erupt on the Korean Peninsula, according to defense officials.
Ordered by Defense Minister Song Young-moo, the Joint Chiefs of Staff is expected to issue requirements for the procurement next week, an official at the Ministry of National Defense said.
It’s unknown exactly how many more Apaches the government wants, but informed sources tell Defense News the number could reach as much as 40.
“The South Korean military has been shifting the concept of its warfare strategy to an offensive one,” an official said. “To that end, the military leadership decided to put a priority more on helicopter assets than tanks.”
Because of that shift, the military may cancel plans to acquire some 300 more K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, according to the official.
The South Korean military has long established a counteroffensive strategy in which South Korean armed forces conduct a full-scale counterattack only after U.S. augmentation troops arrive on the peninsula.
However, military leadership under the Moon Jae-in administration are seeking to shift operational focus to enable South Korean forces to more rapidly advance into North Korea should conflict arise.
Under the envisaged plan, the South Korean military aims to occupy North Korea’s capital Pyongyang two to three weeks after the outbreak of war.
“One of the Army’s key operational focuses is the improvement of an air assault capability,” according to Kim Dae-young, a research fellow at Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, a Seoul-based think tank. “Toward that end, the South Korean Army now seeks to model after the U.S. 101st Airborne Division consist of helicopters and infantry forces.”
The South Korean Army recently ran simulations of how fast and effective its airborne capability can advance into the North in case of war, according to sources.
“The simulations are known to have showed that the fleet of Apache helicopter is more effective than main battle tanks in penetrating the North’s air defense network and making breach for our forces,” Kim noted.
Based on the results, the Army is said to have reported the needs of procuring more Apache attack helicopters to the Ministry of National Defense.
Seoul bought 36 Boeing-built AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters in 2013 under a Foreign Military Sales contract valued $1.6bn.
The South Korean Army now operates two Apache battalions. In November, the battalions carried out an Apache Hellfire air-to-surface missile exercise on top of rocket and machine gun live-fire drills as part of final operational tests before full-scale field deployment. A Stinger missile exercise was subsequently held in December. (Source: Defense News)
16 Mar 18. Saudi Crown Prince: If Iran Obtains a Nuclear Weapon, We Will Too “As Soon As Possible.” In a preview of an interview that will air in its entirety on “60 Minutes” this coming Sunday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told correspondent Norah O’Donnell that if Iran were to develop a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would “follow suit as soon as possible.” The preview was broadcast Thursday on CBS This Morning. The crown prince also compared Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Adolf Hitler, explaining, “he wants to create his own project in the Middle East very much like Hitler who wanted to expand at the time.” He said that by the time Europe realized how dangerous Hitler was, it was too late. He then added, “I don’t want to see the same events happening in the Middle East.”
O’Donnell then asked Mohammed Bin Salman if Saudi Arabia needed nuclear weapons to deter Iran. He answered, “Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.”
The crown prince’s response is consistent with statements made by other Saudi officials in recent years. In December 2013, a month after the talks over Iran’s nuclear weapons program began in earnest, Time magazine reported that Saudi Arabia was considering acquiring nuclear weapons because it expected that the deal that would emerge would allow Iran to develop its own nuclear weapons. (Source: theisraelproject.org)
15 Mar 18. IAF Commits to 324 Tejas Fighters, Provided A Good Mark-II Jet Is Delivered. After years of being critical of the Tejas fighter, which is still not combat-ready 35 years after the Light Combat Aircraft project was first approved by the government, the IAF has now agreed to induct 324 of the indigenous jets in the long-term to make up for its fast-depleting number of fighter squadrons. IAF has “firmly committed” to 123 Tejas jets at present, which will come at a cost of over Rs 75,000 crore if both developmental and production costs are taken into account. But it wants the next 201 Tejas Mark-II jets to be “entirely new fighters” with much better avionics and radars, enhanced fuel and weapons carrying capacity, and more powerful engines, say top sources. The existing single-engine Tejas has limited “endurance” of just an hour, with a “radius of action” of only 350-400-km, and weapon-carrying capacity of 3-tonne. Other single-engine fighters like Swedish Gripen-E and American F-16 have roughly double the weapon-carrying capacity and triple the endurance. But IAF, down to just 31 fighter squadrons (18 jets in each) when at least 42 are required to tackle the “collusive threat” from China and Pakistan, realises inducting expensive foreign fighters “in large numbers” is simply not an option. The 36 Rafale jets, ordered from France in September 2016, for instance, have cost India Rs 59,000 crore. The total cost, of course, includes a decidedly deadly weapons package, all spares and costs for 75% fleet availability and “performance-based logistics support” for five years.
“The Tejas Mark-II is still on the drawing board. But if DRDO, Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd deliver the required Mark-II fighter, IAF has agreed to have a total of 18 Tejas squadrons,” said a source.
This comes after a flurry of top-level meetings in South Block, with defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman herself announcing earlier this month that the government is “not ditching” the home-grown Tejas and “putting all its energies” into ensuring the fighter is delivered at a much faster pace.
Only six of the 20 Tejas ordered by IAF in their IOC (initial operational clearance) configuration, which basically means the fighter is airworthy, have been delivered by HAL till now under the first Rs 2,813 crore contract inked in March 2006. Another 20 Tejas in their FOC (final operational clearance) or combat-ready configuration were to be delivered by December 2016, as per the second Rs 5,989 crore contract inked in December 2010. But the Tejas will get its FOC only by June at the earliest, with IAF now hoping to begin inducting these 20 jets from 2019 onwards.
The contract for 83 Tejas Mark-1A fighters, which will cost around 50,000 crores, is in the process of being finalized now. These jets will have 43 “improvements” to improve maintainability, AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar to replace existing mechanically-steered radar, mid-air refuelling capability, long-range BVR (beyond visual range) missiles and advanced electronic warfare to jam enemy radars and missiles. The delivery of these 83 jets is slated to begin in 2023.
(defense-aerospace.com EDITOR’S NOTE: The Hindustan Times reported yesterday, quoting an unidentified “a person familiar with the Tejas induction programme” in the air force that ““The rough order of magnitude cost of the Mk-IA is higher than (that for) a Sukhoi-30” he said.
This will make it extremely unlikely that the aircraft will ever be affordable, especially given its technical shortcomings that require additional investment.
Consequently, this agreement can be interpreted as being an informal death sentence for the Tejas program, which should not come as a surprise since, after 35 years of investment, it has only produced six in-service aircraft that cannot meet the Indian Air Force’s operational requirements.) (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Times of India)
15 Mar 18. UK industry bids to secure deals in Indonesia. Indonesia and the United Kingdom have held a joint conference in Jakarta to promote defence industrial collaboration, the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 15 March. The MoD said the conference followed a UK defence industry trade mission to Indonesia, in which representatives from several UK firms visited and held discussions with state-owned Indonesian defence companies. These local companies included electronics specialist PT Len Industri, land systems firm PT Pindad, aerospace manufacturer PT Dirgantara, and naval shipbuilder PT PAL. Hadiyan Sumintaatmadja, the secretary-general of the MoD, said in a press release that the MoD is looking to promote an expansion in co-operation between Indonesian and UK industry through joint production, joint development, and joint marketing activities. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
15 Mar 18. Saudis in secret talks with Houthis to end Yemen’s war: report. The warring parties discussed ways to halt the conflict that has left 22 million Yemenis in dire need of humanitarian assistance, diplomats and Yemeni officials told Reuters news agency on Thursday.
The war has killed an estimated 10,000 people, left millions facing famine, and initiated a major outbreak of disease.
The sources – speaking on condition of anonymity – said Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam had met Saudi officials in neighbouring Oman.
“There are consultations between the Houthis and the Saudis, without a representative of the internationally recognised government, and it is clear that there is a desire of the Houthis and the coalition to go toward a comprehensive agreement,” a diplomat was quoted as saying.
Wrap it up
The resolution of the conflict would begin with a truce that would halt fighting and allow the negotiation of a definitive peace deal that accounts for the interests of both sides, sources said.
The diplomats told Reuters the talks have been going on for two months. The negotiations follow previous mediation efforts between the Yemeni government and the Houthis that were held in Kuwait in 2016.
Both sides have yet to comment on the news report.
Saudi Arabia, which is leading a military coalition against the rebels, launched its intervention in Yemen to reinstate the internationally recognised government of President Abu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Coalition air attacks have failed to bring about any real change on the battleground where Houthis continue to control the capital, Sanaa, and most of northern Yemen.
Thousands of Saudi-led air attacks have killed hundreds of Yemeni civilians. Coalition forces have made modest territorial gains, but appear far from seizing back the capital from seasoned fighters.
With no victory in sight, and as the war pushes the country towards famine, Saudi officials – including the powerful Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman – have expressed a desire to wrap up the conflict.
‘Devastating’ conditions
The UN Security Council said on Thursday that 22.2 million people – of a 27.5 million Yemenis – are in need of humanitarian assistance, a 3.4 million jump compared with last year. The council expressed concern over indiscriminate attacks on densely populated areas that have led to high civilian casualties and significant damage to civilian infrastructure.
“The Security Council expresses its grave concern at the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and the devastating humanitarian impact of the conflict on civilians,” it said in a statement. The UNSC called on all parties to “respect and protect schools, medical facilities, and personnel”.
It also denounced the use of schools by rebels as arms depots and condemned “in the strongest possible terms” ballistic missile attacks by the Houthis on Riyadh in November and December 2017. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Al Jazeerah)
12 Mar 18. Georgia and Ukraine still knocking on NATO’s door. Georgia and Ukraine are continuing their efforts to become NATO and EU members, senior officials from the two former Soviet republics have said.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili told the German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States’ Brussels Forum conference on 10 March, “We deserve to become members, we think we are entitled to become members” after dismantling the Soviet system. “And we believed that we were in this process, after the collapse of Soviet Union, fighting for our western values, fighting for our independence, and we’ve been harmed pretty badly.” Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ukraine’s vice prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, recognised the “huge and ambitious task” her country and Georgia face in reaching and implementing EU association agreements and annual national (defence) plans with NATO while defending themselves against Russia. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. Saudi Arabia Signs Letter of Intent for 48 Additional Eurofighter Typhoons. Saudi Arabia has signed a “Letter of Intent” with the United Kingdom “to finalize discussions for the purchase of 48 Typhoon aircraft,” signaling a possible advance in the decade-old attempt by BAE Systems to seal a follow-on sale to the 72 Typhoons ordered in and whose delivery was completed last year. The letter was signed by Mohammed bin Salman (widely known by his initials as MBS), Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who visited London at the invitation of the Government of Queen Elizabeth ll who, according to the joint final communiqué, “welcomed his Royal Highness the Crown Prince at the beginning of his visit and invited him to lunch at Buckingham Palace.”
The fact that this latest agreement is but a “Letter of Intent” – arguably the lowest level of commitment of all diplomatic agreements – must come as a disappointment to the United Kingdom. This is, in any case, the impression of some skeptical British trade journalists. (see above) And it was signed on the third and final day of his visit, and apparently at the airport just before MBS flew home.
Finally, it should be noted that the single sentence on the Typhoon agreement takes up just 27 of the final communiqué’s 2,529 words, and it comes in the fourth paragraph of the fourth chapter – probably an indication of its importance.
In fact, the Ministry of Defence has not even mentioned the Saudi LoI on its daily “Defence in the media” blog, a general recap of any significant news story regarding the MoD or the British services.
BAE’s own announcement -– five lines, issued as a regulatory stock exchange statement rather than a press release (see following item) – is hardly more enthusiastic, as it should be for a 478-aircraft contract that should keep the UK’s Eurofighter final assembly line open for three or four more years.
Clearly, this sale is not considered a major outcome of MBS’s visit, and there is nothing to suggest that it is considered anything more than a symbolic step by either the British government or BAE – who has not mentioned a follow-on Saudi order in its guidance to investors for a couple of years.
The irresistible conclusion is that the LoI was signed because neither the Saudis nor the British wanted to run the risk of implying the end of their defense procurement relationship, but were keen to keep exposure at a minimum for fear of igniting public outrage at Saudi bombing civilian populations in Yemen. (Source: defense-aerospace.com)
13 Mar 18. India reveals cost of Rafale procurement. The Indian government has revealed the unit cost of the Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft it has agreed to procure from France. The disclosure in the Indian parliament by Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre on 12 March follows allegations raised by the political opposition in India that the procurement lacked transparency.
Bhamre said that the unit cost of the aircraft is INR6.7bn (USD103.12m). However, he noted that this does not include the costs for India-specific modifications, weapons, and other undefined services. The total stated cost of the programme – agreed under an India-France government deal announced in 2016 – is about USD8 billion.
In his parliamentary reply, Bhamre also compared the cost of the Rafale programme to the previously quoted price of USD10.2 billion for 126 Rafales under the scrapped Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition. Bhamre said the cost of the terminated MMRCA programme did not include technology transfers under offset.
Bhamre said, “The inter-governmental agreement (IGA) for [the] supply of 36 Rafale aircraft envisages [the] supply of aircraft in a fly-away condition along with associated equipment. The earlier proposal in the procurement of 126 aircraft involved licensed manufacturing only and not transfers of technology. It [the MMRCA procurement] was never finalised.”
Making reference to the agreement to procure 36 Rafales, he added, “The cost of each Rafale aircraft is approximately INR670 crore [or INR6.7bn] at the prevailing exchange rate of November 2016, without associated equipment, weapons, India-specific enhancements, maintenance support, and services.”
In another parliamentary reply, Bhamre gave additional details about Dassault’s offset obligations in the procurement of 36 Rafales under the IGA. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
13 Mar 18. Arctic-Deployed Navy Submarines Participate in Ice Exercise 2018. The Navy’s fast attack submarines USS Hartford and USS Connecticut both surfaced in the Arctic Circle north of Alaska during the multinational maritime Ice Exercise 2018, March 10.
Both submarines, as well the U.K. Royal Navy submarine HMS Trenchant, are participating in the biennial exercise in the Arctic to train and validate the warfighting capabilities of submarines in extreme cold-water conditions.
“From a military, geographic, and scientific perspective, the Arctic Ocean is truly unique, and remains one of the most challenging ocean environments on earth,” said Navy Rear Admiral James Pitts, commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center.
Ice Canopy
ICEX provides the U.S. submarine force and partners from the British navy an opportunity to test combat and weapons systems, sonar systems, communications and navigation systems in a challenging operational environment, officials said. The unique acoustic undersea environment is further compounded by the presence of a contoured, reflective ice canopy when submerged.
According to Pitts, operating in the Arctic ice alters methods and practices by which submarines operate, communicate and navigate.
“We must constantly train together with our submarine units and partners to remain proficient in this hemisphere,” Pitts said. “Having both submarines on the surface is a clear demonstration of our proficiency in the Arctic.”
In recent years, the Arctic has been used as a transit route for submarines. The most recent ICEX was conducted in 2016 with the U.S. submarines USS Hampton and USS Hartford.
The first Arctic under-ice operations by submarines were conducted in 1947-49. On August 1, 1947, the diesel submarine USS Boarfish, with Arctic Submarine Laboratory’s founder Waldo Lyon serving onboard as an ice pilot, conducted the first under-ice transit of an ice floe in the Chukchi Sea.
USS Nautilus Makes Undersea Passage
In 1958, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Nautilus made the first crossing of the Arctic Ocean beneath the pack ice. The first Arctic surfacing was done by USS Skate in March 1959. USS Sargo was the first submarine to conduct a winter Bering Strait transit in 1960.
The units participating in the exercise are supported by Ice Camp Skate, a temporary ice camp on a moving ice floe approximately 150 miles off the coast of the northern slope of Alaska in international waters.
The ice is a remote Arctic drifting ice station built on multiyear sea ice especially for ICEX that is logistically supported contract aircraft from Deadhorse, Alaska. The camp will close once the exercise is over.
(Source: US DoD)
13 Mar 18. J-20 Stealth Fighter’s Capabilities to Be Enhanced. China will continue to improve and upgrade its cutting-edge J-20 stealth fighter jet, giving it more capabilities than merely penetrating an enemy’s air defense networks, according to its chief designer. Yang Wei, a deputy director of science and technology at Aviation Industry Corp of China and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told China Daily in an exclusive interview that designers will develop variants of the radar-evading J-20 and will open research on its successor － a sixth-generation fighter jet.
“We are not complacent about what we have achieved. We will develop the J-20 into a large family and keep strengthening its information-processing and intelligent capacities. At the same time, we will think about our next-generation combat plane to meet the nation’s future requirements,” Yang said.
The designer made the remarks on the sidelines of the ongoing first session of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing. He is a deputy in the nation’s top legislature.
“In the past, we had to follow others’ paths when it came to designing military aircraft because our research and development capabilities were primitive in this regard, but now we have become capable of designing and making what we want to have,” he said.
The senior designer said that the J-20 is the best fighter jet in China, so it would be used at the most crucial moments during a war.
“Of course, it will be tasked with penetrating air defense networks, but that will not be its only mission. It definitely has multiple functions. How we will use it depends on its production and deployment scale,” Yang said.
The J-20, China’s first fifth-generation combat aircraft, made its maiden flight in January 2011 and was declassified in November 2016. It was the third such stealth fighter jet to enter service, after the United States’ F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. It has been sent to take part in a series of combat exercises with other advanced fighter jets in the Air Force and practiced beyond-visual-range aerial fighting maneuvers during the drills, according to the Air Force. The jet shoulders the important responsibility of making way for other aircraft in an air battle, said Zhang Hao, head of an Air Force flight-testing center that has deployed the jet. In addition to the J-20, AVIC is testing the FC-31, another fifth-generation combat plane, and wants to use it to tap the international market for advanced fighter jets. The Air Force has made clear that it will not allow exports of the J-20. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/China Daily)
13 Mar 18. Brunei to increase defence budget by 13%. Brunei’s defence budget for 2018-19 has been set at BND492.75m (USD375m), the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced. The allocation is equal to about 7% of the government’s total expenditure for the year.
According to the MoD, the new expenditure, which was presented to Brunei’s 14th Legislative Council on 10 March, is an increase of BND56.3m, or 12.9%, over defence spending in 2016.
In his defence budget speech to the Legislative Council, Brunei’s Minister of Defence II, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, said the budget is intended to support seven important defence activities in the country.
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. India offers Mauritius more credit for procurement. India has offered another line of credit to Mauritius in support of defence procurement. The new offer – announced during Indian president Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to the Indian Ocean island nation on 12 March – amounts to USD100 million and follows New Delhi’s provision of USD46 million to Mauritius in 2014.
According to the Indian government, the new round of credit will fund the acquisition of an Indian-constructed multipurpose patrol vessel that will support Mauritius’ efforts to enhance maritime security. “India and Mauritius share common security concerns in the Indian Ocean Region,” said Kovind. “I am happy to announce today that India will supply a multipurpose offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius under a line of credit.”
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. War, conflict fuel arms imports to Middle East, Asia. Weapons imports to the Middle East and Asia have boomed over the past five years, fuelled by war and tensions in those regions, a new study shows.
In the period between 2013 and 2017, arms imports to the conflict-ridden Middle East more than doubled, jumping by 103 percent compared with the previous five-year period, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) calculated.
And the Middle East accounted for 32 percent of all arms imports worldwide.
SIPRI, an independent institute, monitors arms deliveries by volume over periods of five years in order to iron out short-term fluctuations.
Saudi Arabia – which is waging a war against Shiite Houthi rebels backed by its regional rival Iran – is the world’s second largest importer of arms after India, SIPRI said.
The US accounts for 61 percent of arms imports to Saudi Arabia and Britain for 23 percent.
On 9 March, Britain signed a preliminary multi-billion-pound order from Saudi Arabia for 48 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, BAE Systems announced.
The deal sparked heated debate and protests in the UK where the NGO, Save the Children, placed a life-size statue of a child near parliament ‘to draw attention to the violence that is being fuelled, in part, by British-made bombs.’
Pieter Wezeman, senior SIPRI researcher, said: ‘Widespread violent conflict in the Middle East and concerns about human rights have led to political debate in Western Europe and North America about restricting arms sales.
‘Yet the US and European states remain the main arms exporters to the region and supplied over 98 percent of weapons imported by Saudi Arabia.’
Nevertheless, Asia and Oceania was the biggest region for arms imports, accounting for 42 percent of the global total between 2013 and 2017, the institute calculated.
And India was the world’s largest weapons importer, with Russia its main supplier accounting for 62 percent of its imports.
At the same time, arms deliveries to India from the US, the world’s top weapons exporter, increased more than six-fold in the five-year period, SIPRI calculated.
Siemon Wezeman, another SIPRI researcher, said: ‘The tensions between India, on the one side, and Pakistan and China, on the other, are fuelling India’s growing demand for major weapons, which it remains unable to produce itself.
‘China, by contrast, is becoming increasingly capable of producing its own weapons and continues to strengthen its relations with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar through arms supplies.’
Beijing, whose weapons exports rose by 38 percent in the five-year period, is the main arms supplier for Myanmar, accounting for 68 percent of imports.
It also accounted for 71 percent of weapons imports to Bangladesh and for 70 percent of imports to India’s nuclear-armed rival, Pakistan.
Myanmar’s violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority has caused some 700,000 of the people to flee over the border to Bangladesh since August 2017, taking with them horrifying testimony of murder, rape and arson by soldiers and vigilante mobs.
The atrocities have triggered international condemnations, including EU and US sanctions, against Myanmar. (Source: Shephard)
12 Mar 18. Aus-UK alliance stands strong as SEA 5000 decision looms.
As the UK’s Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland visits Australia during its seven-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific, the federal government has talked up strengthening its trade and security relationship with the UK.
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop concluded a trip to the UK last month where she talked up Australia’s relationship with the UK, “one of our closest international security partners”.
The minister, who sits on the National Security Committee that is responsible for key Defence procurement decisions, has firmly thrown her support behind growing the relationship with the UK in a post-Brexit world.
“The UK is Australia’s second largest source of foreign investment and our fifth largest two-way trading partner, worth $27.5bn in goods and services last financial year. I will support this trading relationship,” Minister Bishop said in February.
In a speech at the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, Minister Bishop also alluded to the nations’ defence relationship, making mention of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s visit to Australia for last year’s AUKMIN meeting.
The UK government has also been showing its support for a strengthened defence industry relationship with Australia. Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin visited Australia in November and announced the UK is looking into incorporating the Australian ‘CEAFAR’ radar, developed by CEA Technologies, on future British warships.
The radar is already in service with the RAN and a capability study to fit the radar to British ships will begin early next year. If successful, the UK would be the phased array radar’s first international customer.
Under Secretary Baldwin’s visit came just months after Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne and the former secretary of state for defence Sir Michael Fallon held the first ever Aus-UK Ministerial Defence Industry Dialogue, discussing defence materiel and industry co-operation between the nations.
Sir Michael said selection of the UK’s BAE Systems bid for the SEA 5000 project would create ample defence export and job opportunities for Australia.
“It is being put forward to the Australian government by BAE systems who have a well established track record in Australia, a good record in local employment,” said Sir Michael. “[It] will be able to offer opportunities along the supply chain to a whole range of Australian companies.”
The former defence secretary was adamant that regardless of whether BAE’s bid is successful, Australian companies would continue to win work on the UK’s Type 26 program.
“I expect … Australian companies to be involved in that supply chain, producing the British frigate, whether or not the Australian government chooses the Type 26 design for their frigate,” Sir Michael stated.
Tasmania’s Liferaft Systems Australia and Victoria’s Mackay Consolidated Industries have won contracts to contribute to the UK’s Type 26 frigates.
Liferaft Systems Australia, which is also a supplier to the UK’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, will provide the Type 26 Marine Evacuation System, while Mackay Consolidated Industries will supply pipe hanger inserts, a key component in reducing underwater noise that is essential for anti-submarine warfare.
These contracts will secure more than 200 jobs across Australia and takes the number of global suppliers contracted to the UK Type 26 program to 44.
The British firm and the UK government have also committed to the transfer of more than $1.5bn of technical design and intellectual property if BAE Systems secured the SEA 5000 project.
The UK’s Defence and Security Organisation (DSO) have also launched a platform for Australian companies looking to join the supply chain and pursue defence opportunities in the UK.
Head of the Defence and Security Organisation Steve Phipson also spoke with Defence Connect at the Pacific 2017 International Maritime Exposition, and said the UK industry is looking to better communicate with Australian industry to establish reciprocal trade with its new supplier registration website.
“Very often we hear this, I’ve had this challenge from the Australian ministers before now about, well, ‘how do we get reciprocal trade going?’ and it is quite straight forward to do,” Phipson said.
“I think a lot of it is about communicating the process to make sure that we are able to point Australian companies in the right direction to sign up for this. So there’s that one, which is good.
“The second one, which is good, is teaming up with the UK prime suppliers and using Australia as parts of their supply chain, which is something else that we are working on very hard, particularly as most of our larger companies have substantial assets here in Australia. And making sure that Australian companies are able to become part of the supply chain back to the UK is something that we’re pushing for quite heavily.”
Companies looking to register with UK’s MoD can sign up here.
BAE Systems is offering the Type 26 Global Combat Ship Australia (GCS-A) for the SEA 5000 project. Fincantieri of Italy is offering its FREMM design while Spain’s Navantia has put forward its F-5000 design for the project. The winner will be announced this year. The vessels will replace the Anzac frigates from the mid 2020s.
The UK company has said it will establish a digital shipyard that will transform Australia’s shipbuilding industry and facilitate a transfer of intellectual property and technical data, including the digital ship design optimised for the production of the Global Combat Ship.
The innovative digital shipyard will bring the “ship to life” during its service life, with intelligent systems, both on board and linked to those ashore, that will monitor the performance of the ship and its systems. The digital shipyard will also include an inventory of parts, including cost and acoustic signature, suppliers and their details.
BAE Systems also recently unveiled its workforce mobilisation strategy for the SEA 5000 project, with a recruitment strategy that will include an Early Careers Program to create a pipeline of apprentices and graduates throughout the build phase of the $35bn project.
The UK contender will commit to apprentices in steelwork, mechanical, electrical and technical trades, who will be central to the company’s strategy to ensure the right breadth and depth of skilled workers are brought into the multi-decade program. The company is anticipating that, at its peak, the Early Careers Program will have a population of around 150 apprentices, which will continue throughout the 35-year program.
A graduate program for business and engineering students will also offer opportunities for international placements across the company’s global business. (Source: Defence Connect)
10 Mar 18. India, France vow to strengthen defence, energy ties. Giving a boost to their strategic partnership, India and France on Saturday vowed to strengthen defence and energy ties with each other. However, despite a major push by France, India did not agree to buying additional Rafale fighter jets from them.
During a bilateral meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a four-day visit here, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as many as 14 agreements were signed ranging from defence to solar energy.
“We have strong relations in defence equipment and manufacturing. We welcome the commitment of France for Make in India in the defence sector,” Modi said post his hour-long meeting with Macron at the capital’s Hyderabad House.
An agreement on the provision of reciprocal logistics support between both the Armed Forces one of the 14 pacts that got inked during the meeting. It was signed by the Defence Ministers of India and France, Nirmala Sitharaman and Florence Parly.
The agreement seeks to facilitate the reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies and services between the armed forces of the two countries during authorised port visits, joint exercises, joint training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts among others.
However, while Modi sought greater French investment in the country’s defence sector, India has not agreed to buy additional Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force manufactured by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, sources told BusinessLine.
Strategic partnership
According to the joint statement issued after the meeting, both leaders noted with satisfaction the on-schedule progress in acquisition of 36 Rafale warplanes for Rs. 58,000 crore under the government-to-government agreement signed in 2016. The first aircraft is expected to arrive by 2019.
“India had made a sovereign decision in this respect (Rafale) and we are monitoring the progress in the field. We want to continue the programme very much. It is a long-term contract which is mutually beneficial. I personally consider it as the heart of the strategic partnership,” Macron told reporters here post his meeting with Modi.
Both leaders also took note of the commissioning of INS Kalvari, the first Scorpene submarine made in India by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) in collaboration with French shipbuilder Naval Group under the Indian Navy ‘Project 75’ programme, according to the joint statement.
The leaders also noted ongoing discussions between DRDO and SAFRAN on combat aircraft engine and encouraged necessary measures and forward looking approaches to facilitate early conclusion.
“They looked forward to continue their discussions to expand and deepen the ongoing defence manufacturing partnerships. They acknowledged that the Make-in-India initiative offers a valuable opportunity for Indian and French defence enterprises to enter into arrangements for co-development and co-production of defence equipment in India, including through transfer of know-how and technologies to the mutual benefit of all parties. In this context, the leaders welcomed various joint ventures between Indian and French companies and reaffirmed their commitment to facilitate the establishment of new ones,” said the joint statement.
Maritime security
India and France also agreed to take their cooperation in maritime security to the next level. A ‘Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region’ was also agreed upon by both countries in order to maintain the safety of international sea lanes for unimpeded commerce and communications in accordance with the international law, for countering maritime terrorism and piracy, for building maritime domain awareness, for capacity building and for greater coordination in regional/international fora in the region.
In a direct reference to China’s aggressive stance in South China Sea, Macron said sea lanes should be free from aggression and any kind of domination over those cannot be tolerated.
Both leaders will be chairing the International Solar Alliance Summit which is going to be attended by 25 Heads of State. (Source: Google/The Hindu)
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16 Mar 18. GKN top 30 shareholder plans to reject Melrose bid. A top 30 shareholder in British engineering company GKN (GKN.L) plans to reject a hostile takeover bid from industrial turnaround specialist Melrose (MRON.L), the latest voice to back GKN as the bid battle intensifies.
Steve Davies, head of strategy, UK growth, at Jupiter Asset Management, said that he preferred the plan for adding value put forward by GKN’s management, in comments first reported in the Financial Times.
“I don’t see the need to dilute this value creation by accepting the Melrose proposal, which also brings with it pension risk, balance sheet concerns and potential issues with how GKN’s customers might react to the change of ownership,” Davies said in comments emailed to Reuters on Friday.
Jupiter is a top 30 investor in GKN with a stake of just under 1 percent according to Reuters data.
GKN’s campaign to fend off the bid, currently worth about 7.8bn pounds ($10.89bn), was boosted on Thursday when top customer Airbus (AIR.PA) said it could not guarantee new work to a new owner with a short-term perspective. [nL8N1QX3U9]
Melrose is seen by some to be a short-termist owner as its model is to break up companies once it has improved them, although it says it
The deadline for GKN shareholders to accept Melrose’s offer is March 29.
($1 = 0.7163 pounds)
(Source: Reuters)
16 Mar 18. TransDigm purchases Esterline elastomers unit. US aerospace component manufacturing group TransDigm has finalised its acquisition of Esterline’s Kirkhill Elastomers business, the company announced on 15 March. As well as producing silicone seals used in commercial and military aircraft, Kirkhill, based in California, supplies products including radar absorbing and electromagnetic interference dissipating materials. Esterline, whose defence activities are focused on airborne electronics and combustible countermeasures, purchased Kirkhill for USD83 million in 1998.
Chairman and CEO of TransDigm Group Nicholas Howley said, “Kirkhill products fit well with our business strategy. Although the improvements could take a little longer to develop than for some acquisitions, we see significant opportunities to improve Kirkhill’s profitability.
16 Mar 18. TransDigm purchases Esterline elastomers unit/
US aerospace component manufacturing group TransDigm has finalised its acquisition of Esterline’s Kirkhill Elastomers business, the company announced on 15 March.
As well as producing silicone seals used in commercial and military aircraft, Kirkhill, based in California, supplies products including radar absorbing and electromagnetic interference dissipating materials. Esterline, whose defence activities are focused on airborne electronics and combustible countermeasures, purchased Kirkhill for USD83m in 1998.
Chairman and CEO of TransDigm Group Nicholas Howley said, “Kirkhill products fit well with our business strategy. Although the improvements could take a little longer to develop than for some acquisitions, we see significant opportunities to improve Kirkhill’s profitability.
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
16 Mar 18. Cobham completes sale of business units to Viavi.
British defence communications and aviation specialist Cobham announced the completion of its divestment of two business units on 16 March. The USD455m transaction sees its AvComm and Wireless test and measurement businesses sold to US-based Viavi Solutions Inc, a supplier of network test and evaluation systems. First announced on 1 February, Viavi’s acquisition of the businesses is aimed at strengthening the company’s 5G technology portfolio and at diversifying into military, public safety, and avionics test markets. In a statement announcing the approval of the purchase by the boards of directors of both companies, Viavi President and CEO Oleg Khaykin said “Cobham AvComm and Wireless T&M are recognized leaders with a world-class team that has a long track record of successfully bringing innovative solutions to market. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
14 Mar 18. Boeing [NYSE: BA] wrapped up a crowdsourcing initiative March 9 that gathered employee ideas for workforce investments that the company has pledged to make as a result of the benefits of tax reform legislation.
Boeing asked employees directly for ideas on how to spend $100 m on learning and development for the future. The company built a custom survey that was emailed to all employees, as well as housed on branded iPad “idea stations” set up throughout factories. In total, the effort generated more than 40,000 ideas from employees across the globe.
“The creativity of our Boeing teammates is one of the greatest strengths of our company,” said Heidi Capozzi, Boeing senior vice president of Human Resources. “Crowdsourcing allowed us to listen directly to their ideas on how to invest in learning and development. It was an effective – and fun – way to be sure their voice was included and we’re grateful that so many offered their thoughts. This will ensure our investment represents real value to employees where and when they need it.”
Employees voted on four categories of investments, with real-time results updated every day to encourage participation. Of the categories, improving technical development programs received the highest number of votes, followed by reskilling for jobs being affected by technology disruption. The other two categories were modern, accessible learning and support for first-line leaders.
Employees also had the option to submit ideas in a free response field for other ways to invest the $100m. Ideas included increased work swap and rotation programs, new tools and software, rapid prototyping and enhanced options for continuing education.
The planned investment in workforce development is part of a $300 m employee-related and charitable investments the company announced in December 2017 as a result of tax reform legislation. The investments focus on the future of employees and communities:
- $100mi for corporate giving, with funds used to support demand for employee gift-match programs and for investments in Boeing’s focus areas for charitable giving: in education, in our communities, and for veterans and military personnel.
- $100m for workforce development in the form of training, education, and other capabilities development to meet the scale needed for rapidly evolving technologies and expanding markets.
- $100m for “workplace of the future” facilities and infrastructure enhancements for Boeing employees.
The company will process the crowdsourced data over the coming weeks with plans to implement programs this year.
15 Mar 18. Airbus warns over GKN takeover bid. Airbus has warned it would be “practically impossible” to give new business to engineering giant GKN if it was bought by turnaround specialist Melrose.
GKN makes wing components and other key aircraft parts for Airbus, which is its biggest customer.
However, it is fighting off a hostile bid from Melrose, saying it fundamentally undervalues the firm.
GKN employs more than 59,000 people, with 6,000 in the UK.
Tom Williams, Airbus’s chief operating officer at its commercial aircraft division, said: “The nature of our industry is one that requires a commitment to long-term investment and strategic vision.
“The industry does not lend itself to shorter term financial investment which naturally reduces R&D budgets and limits vital innovation.
“It would be practically impossible for us to give any new work to GKN under such ownership model when we don’t know who will be the long-term investor.”
His comments were first reported by the Financial Times.
Earlier this week, GKN rejected what Melrose called its “final” offer. Melrose said the bid valued the company at £8.1bn.
GKN chairman Mike Turner said: “The comments from Airbus that stress the need for long-term investment and strategic vision in our industry emphasise our firmly held belief that Melrose is not an appropriate owner of GKN.
“Its management lacks the relevant experience and its short-term business model is inappropriate for GKN’s customers and investors.”
Christopher Miller, chairman of Melrose, said his company “invests in its businesses for the long term”.
He added: “Under Melrose, shareholders and customers will be able to enjoy a considered and longer-term process of value creation, investment and business enhancement, which is clearly not an option under continued GKN ownership.”
The intervention by Airbus, GKN’s biggest customer, is as dramatic as it is unusual.
The takeover bid by the turnaround specialists Melrose is described as hostile, because it was not sought by GKN’s management. But it is Melrose that is experiencing hostility on several fronts.
The board of GKN, MPs, pension fund trustees and now a key customer have all very publicly questioned Melrose’s attempt to buy one of Britain’s oldest engineering giants.
Airbus’s decision to wade in raises new concerns for GKN shareholders. They have two weeks to decide whether to back the bid or send Melrose packing. The share price of GKN suggests this is far from a done deal.
MPs’ concerns
GKN also makes parts for Boeing 737 jets and Black Hawk helicopters, as well as parts for Volkswagen and Ford cars.
Under the terms of the Melrose bid, GKN investors would receive 81p in cash and 1.69 new Melrose shares for GKN share they held. GKN shareholders would end up owning 60% of Melrose.
However, GKN says a fall in the Melrose share price has reduced the value of the cash and shares offer.
GKN has fought hard against the bid, offering to give back £2.5bn to shareholders and agreeing to merge its car unit with US company Dana.
The takeover approach has raised fears among unions and MPs that GKN, one of the UK’s largest industrial firms, will be broken up and sold to overseas owners. The Pensions Regulator has warned that the Melrose takeover could affect the company’s ability to fund its pension scheme. Last week, a cross-party group of MPs wrote to the Business Secretary, Greg Clark, saying the Melrose takeover should be blocked. (Source: BBC)
15 Mar 18. Corporate Reorganization of GKN Aerospace Services/Fokker Technologies Management Effective immediately, GKN plc has undergone an internal corporate reorganization combining the management of the Cowes, Filton, and Western Approach sites of GKN Aerospace Services Ltd. in the United Kingdom (“GKN Aero UK”) and Fokker Technologies Holding B.V. (“Fokker Holding”), as well as Fokker Holdings’ subsidiaries, without merging or dissolving these entities. As part of this internal reorganization, GKN Aero UK’s registered address (but not the address of the various GKN Aero UK sites) is changing from Ferry Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight PO32 6RA, UK, to Ipsley House, Ipsley Church Lane, Redditch, Worchestershire B98 0TL, UK. This internal reorganization will necessitate adding GKN Aero UK as a signatory to the various ITAR Part 124 agreements in which Fokker Holding or its operating subsidiaries in The Netherlands are a party so that personnel from GKN Aero UK can interact with U.S. signatories and have access to data under those agreements. Likewise, Fokker Holding and its operating subsidiary, Fokker Aerostructures B.V., will need to be added as signatories or sublicensees to the various ITAR Part 124 agreements in which GKN Aero UK is a party or sublicensee. This internal corporate reorganization does not affect any current or pending ITAR licenses or reexport authorizations. All currently approved agreements will require an amendment to be executed to reflect this internal corporate reorganization. The agreement holder will be responsible for amending its agreement. The executed amendment will be treated as a minor amendment per 22 CFR 124.1(d) and must be submitted as such. New DSP-83s must be executed as a result of this internal reorganization, as applicable. Pending agreement applications that require amending must be brought to the attention of the assigned Agreements Officer by the agreement holder. The necessary changes will be made prior to issuance when the Agreements Officer has been notified. A copy of this website notice must be maintained by the license holder and presented with the relevant license to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (Source: glstrade.com)
16 Mar 18. Rheinmetall on track for profitable growth – Increases in sales and earnings forecast for 2018
Outlook 2018
– Consolidated sales forecast to rise between 8% and 9%
– Consolidated operating margin to increase to around 7%
– Automotive projecting further sales growth of 3% to 4% and
operating margin of around 8.5%
– Defence forecasting sales to climb by between 12% and 14% with margin improving to 6.0% to 6.5%
Fiscal 2017
– Consolidated sales up 5% at €5,896m
– Operating earnings improve 13% to €400m
– Earnings after taxes rises by €37 m to €252m
– Operating free cash flow improves significantly from €161m to €276m
– Dividend to be raised by 17% to €1.70
14 Mar 18. The Rheinmetall Group in Düsseldorf is forecasting continued growth in organic sales and a further increase in operating earnings in its Automotive and Defence divisions for fiscal 2018. The technology corporation’s annual sales are set to grow organically by 8% to 9% in the current fiscal year.
The operating profit margin forecast for the Group will increase to 7% after 6.8% in fiscal 2017.
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, said: “We have every opportunity to continue our growth in sales and earnings. With our presence on key global markets, we are excellently positioned with our two segments and have laid the foundations for further profitable growth. In Automotive we will also have to get used to a mix of drive technologies moving ahead. With our products for reducing consumption and emissions, we are benefiting from rising demand for environmentally friendly mobility. At the same time, we are selectively expanding our e-mobility activities. In Defence, the general trend towards increased security in Germany and abroad will have a positive impact on our business.”
Operating earnings and free cash flow up significantly in 2017
The Rheinmetall Group generated sales of €5,896m in fiscal 2017, an increase of 5% compared to the previous year’s figure of €5,602m. Both segments again contributed to the Group’s growth in sales.
The Automotive segment’s sales increased by 8% to €2,861m. The Defence segment reported sales of €3,036 m in the past fiscal year, up 3% on the figure for the previous year. The international share of consolidated sales was unchanged at 76% in fiscal 2017.
The Rheinmetall Group’s incoming orders in fiscal 2017 were level with sales at €5,884m (previous year: €5,720m). The order backlog was €6,936m on December 31, 2017 and therefore down slightly year-on-year (€7,114m).
Operating earnings (EBIT before special items) climbed by 13% to €400m after €353m in the previous year. The Group’s operating margin rose to 6.8% (previous year: 6.3%).
Including special items of €-15m, reported EBIT amounted to €385m. Special items included restructuring costs at two locations (€-24 m) and income from a property sale (€9m).
At Group level, earnings after taxes amounted to €252m in the past financial year after €215m in 2016. Including the earnings attributable to non-controlling interests, earnings per share for 2017 amount to €5.24 (2016: €4.69).
Operating free cash flow has increased as well. It amounted to €276m for the Group in 2017, significantly higher than the previous year’s figure of €161m.
The Executive Board and Supervisory Board will be proposing a dividend of €1.70 per share at the Annual General Meeting on May 8, 2018, putting the distribution ratio at approximately 32%. A dividend of €1.45 per share was paid in the previous year.
Automotive outpacing the market and maintaining high profitability
Rheinmetall Automotive tangibly increased its business volume in 2017, generating sales of €2,861m, an increase of €205m or 8% compared to the previous year. This increase is significantly higher than the growth in the global production of light vehicles of 2.1%.
All three divisions contributed to sales growth. Sales in Mechatronics rose by 9% to €1,621m in the reporting year thanks to high demand for products that reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Sales by the Hardparts division increased by 5% to €968 m, due in particular to a recovery in demand in large-bore piston business. The Aftermarket division’s business expanded by 11% to €359m.
The contributions to sales made by the segment’s three divisions were largely unchanged. Within Automotive, Mechatronics again had the highest share of sales at 55% (previous year: 54%) in fiscal 2017. Hardparts contributed 33% of sales (previous year: 34%) with Aftermarket – as in the previous year – accounting for 12%.
Automotive’s operating earnings amounted to €249m in the past fiscal year, a year-on-year increase of €26m or 12%. Mechatronics made the strongest contribution to operating earnings at €176m. With an operating margin of 8.7%, Automotive outperformed the previous year’s solid 8.4%.
Including a non-recurring effect of €-22m for the closure of a piston plant in France, reported EBIT amounted to €227m.
Automotive’s 50/50 joint ventures in China, whose sales are not included in Rheinmetall’s consolidated figures, continued to develop well in fiscal 2017. The joint ventures’ income increased by 7% in local currency to CNY 6,447m (2016: CNY 6,037m), with general production growth in light vehicles in China of around 2%. The wholly owned subsidiaries in China that are included in consolidation enjoyed an even more dynamic performance, with sales surging by 21% in fiscal 2017 to CNY 969m (2016: CNY 798m). Translated into euro, the Chinese joint ventures’ income rose by 2% from €825m to €845m. The sales of the wholly owned subsidiaries expanded by 17% from €109m to €127m.
Operating earnings up significantly in Defence
Defence increased its sales by €90m or 3% to €3,036m in the reporting period after €2,946m in the previous year.
The segment reported incoming orders of €2,963m in the past fiscal year, only slightly below the previous year’s high level (2016: €3,050m).
The order backlog amounted to €6,416m on December 31, 2017 (2016: €6,656m). The biggest individual orders in the order backlog are the Land 121 program for Australia (military trucks), Puma infantry fighting vehicles for Germany and parts for the Fuchs vehicles in Algeria, which are in the delivery phase.
The continuing high level of booked business ensures a significant portion of the organic growth planned for Defence in 2018 and beyond.
Defence’s earnings have increased significantly. Operating earnings (EBIT before special items) amounted to €174 m in the past fiscal year, soaring by €27m or 18% as against the previous year. Special items of €-2m – resulting from the capacity adjustment at a Dutch site – led to reported EBIT of €172m for the fiscal year.
As in the previous year, the earnings improvement resulted from the positive development in the Weapon and Ammunition and Vehicle Systems divisions. This was thanks in particular to high-margin ammunition sales and continuing good capacity utilization in Vehicle Systems.
The segment’s profitability has continued to rise. The operating margin rose by 0.7 percentage points from 5.0% to 5.7%. Operating free cash flow has more than doubled to €238m (2016: €103m).
Outlook 2018 Sales growth to continue in both segments
Rheinmetall is forecasting continued growth for the Group in the current fiscal year. Rheinmetall AG’s annual sales are set to rise organically by 8% to 9% in the current fiscal year based on €5.9bn in 2017. Both segments are expected to contribute to sales growth.
Sales performance in the Automotive segment is crucially influenced by economic developments on the key automotive markets of Europe, North and South America and Asia.
Based on current expert forecasts for trends in global automotive production this year, which anticipate increases of around 2%, Rheinmetall expects Automotive to achieve sales growth of between 3% and 4%.
Rheinmetall is projecting double-digit sales growth of 12% to 14% in Defence in fiscal 2018. As in the previous year, the sales forecasts for 2018 are largely covered by the relatively high order backlog.
Further earnings improvement forecast in fiscal 2018
Assuming stable economic developments, Rheinmetall anticipates an improvement in operating earnings in absolute terms and an operating margin of around 8.5% in Automotive in fiscal 2018. Rheinmetall is also assuming a further improvement in operating earnings in Defence division in 2018 with an operating margin of between 6.0% and 6.5%.
Taking into account holding costs and low double digit m expenses for realizing and marketing new technologies, the Rheinmetall Group will achieve a margin of around 7%.
15 Mar 18. Rheinmetall sees German orders driving defense sales growth. Germany’s Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE) said on Thursday it expected its annual defense sales to grow by an average 10 percent through 2020 on the back of orders from the German military forces, European Union defense projects and a shift to digital applications.
“In the coming years we expect an average of 2bn euros in orders (per year) from the (German army) Bundeswehr,” Chief Executive Armin Papperger told journalists at a news conference.
Germany’s new governing coalition has agreed to add 10bn euros ($12.4bn) to the military budget over the next four years. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has said further increases will be needed to rebuild the military after years of spending cuts.
Rheinmetall expects Germany to account for more than 30 percent of its defense business in the future, Papperger said.
France, Germany and 21 other EU governments also signed a defense pact in November that should bolster the arms industry.
Papperger said unilateral actions by the German government, as seen in the coalition agreement, would harm efforts to streamline the fractured European arms industry and stood in the way of partnerships with other European producers.
“France will never accept the German export rules if we have a German-Franco project and then the German government says, ‘You can’t export,’” Papperger told lawmakers, military officials and industry executives at an evening event in Berlin.
The same was true for Italy, Poland and other German allies.
“There will not be a consolidation of the industry in Europe if there is no Europe-wide export law. That is a must,” he said, calling for swift work to enact such legislation.
Papperger is the latest German arms industry executive to express concern about plans by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the more dovish Social Democrats to further reduce arms exports.
Industry executives have said that Germany’s restrictive posture poses risks to their business and will harm European defense integration plans.
Papperger ruled out moving Rheinmetall’s base out of Germany, but warned that industry would be unable to support the European security needs if the situation grew worse.
Rheinmetall said it also expected success in Australia with further vehicle types after beating BAE Systems (BAES.L) to a $2.5bn order for armored reconnaissance vehicles.
The group has targeted 2018 group sales growth of 8 to 9 percent, driven by a jump in defense sales by 12 to 14 percent thanks to a backlog of orders, including a previous contract with Australia, Puma infantry fighting vehicles for Germany and parts for Fuchs vehicles in Algeria.
The group operating margin is estimated to improve only slightly, to 7 percent from 6.8 percent in 2017, partly due to costs related to marketing new technologies. ($1 = 0.8090 euros) (Source: glstrade.com/Reuters)
14 Mar 18. Broadcom withdraws $142bn offer for Qualcomm Retreat comes after Trump blocks Singapore chipmaker’s pursuit for US rival. Broadcom withdrew its $142bn offer to purchase Qualcomm on Wednesday, two days after President Donald Trump blocked the Singapore chipmaker’s pursuit of its rival, citing national security concerns. The move, while expected, brought to an end a months long battle between the two companies. Broadcom said it would still move it’s official base from Singapore to the US and would hold its special stockholder meeting on March 23. “Although we are disappointed with this outcome, Broadcom will comply with the order,” the company said in a statement. (Source: FT.com)
13 Mar 18. Dana CEO meeting top GKN investors in attempt to fight off Melrose. The chief executive of U.S. firm Dana Incorporated (DAN.N) is in London meeting top GKN (GKN.L) shareholders in a drive to persuade the British engineer’s investors to back a deal with Dana and reject a hostile bid by Melrose Industries (MRON.L). GKN agreed a $6.1bn deal on Friday to merge its automotive division with Dana, an Ohio-based maker of axles and driveshafts, hoping to fend off an unwanted takeover approach by Melrose, a UK-based industrial turnaround specialist.
Melrose responded by raising its cash-and-shares bid for all of GKN on Monday. The offer, which at the time valued the FTSE 100 engineer at 8.1bn pounds ($11.3bn), was declared “final”, meaning it cannot be increased under Britain’s takeover rules.
James Kamsickas, the Dana chief executive, is now in Britain to discuss the merits of the automotive deal with GKN’s major shareholders, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The Dana CEO is expected to spend most of the week in Britain, one of the sources added.
It comes as the battle for the future of GKN, a mainstay of Britain’s engineering sector, reaches its final stages.
GKN shareholders have two options. They can choose Melrose’s bid of 81 pence in cash for each GKN share plus 1.69 new Melrose shares, a deal that will hand them a 60 percent stake in the London-listed turnaround specialist.
GKN investors have until March 29 to accept Melrose’s offer.
Alternatively, they can back GKN’s plan, which would give them a 47.25 percent stake in New York-listed Dana.
GKN, led by new CEO Anne Stevens, has also pledged to sell off its powder metallurgy business, which along with the Dana deal would leave the engineering group focused on the aerospace sector, supplying parts for aircraft including the Eurofighter Typhoon. It would then return as much as 2.5bn pounds to its shareholders over three years.
Such a plan “would delever GKN, but weaken its business profile,” analysts at Moody’s Investor Service warned in a March 12 report.
They argued that a deal with Dana would leave GKN as a “substantially smaller and less diversified” business.
Melrose has been pursuing GKN since January, when the fight between the two companies quickly descended into a war of words.
They clashed again on Tuesday over the future of GKN’s retirement schemes following an intervention by the trustees of the engineer’s pension plans.
The trustees said on Monday evening that they had held a number of discussions with Melrose about its takeover bid but had yet to receive proposals that addressed their “key concerns”.
GKN said the trustees’ statement showed Melrose was “not demonstrating a responsible approach to the serious issue of protecting the long-term interests of GKN’s pensioners.”
Melrose’s Executive Chairman Christopher Miller retorted that the turnaround specialist is “an exemplary custodian of pension schemes”.
“We are working towards an agreement on the GKN pension schemes which will strengthen them and better protect GKN’s pensioners,” he said.
(Source: Reuters)
13 Mar 18. Melrose ups the ante for GKN. The fight for GKN (GKN) has intensified after Melrose Industries (MRO) upped its scrip/cash offer, which would leave GKN shareholders with a 60 per cent stake in the combined business, up from 57 per cent in the previous bid. The enhanced bid, or “final offer” according to Melrose management, is now pitched at 1.69 shares in the new group and 81p in cash. That’s equivalent to 467p a share, including the final dividend of 6.2p a share announced on 27 February, an effective 43 per cent premium to GKN’s share price before news of the approach emerged in January.
However, GKN has disputed Melrose’s inclusion of the final dividend in the value of its offer, which it said related to the 2017 financial year and had already been earned by shareholders. Excluding that, the revised offer is actually worth 460.7p per GKN share, the board argued.
Melrose chairman Christopher Miller has been highly critical of recent moves by GKN to merge its Driveline automotive business with US peer Dana in a £4.4bn deal. Mr Miller believes the transaction represents a leap of faith, leaving GKN shareholders “with a minority stake in a foreign listed group run by a Dana management team based in Ohio”.
He was also critical of GKN management for pursuing a deal which would likely require “a forced sale of Dana shares” and would “leave behind a GKN Aerospace business burdened by a disproportionate, and very substantial, amount of gross pension liabilities, inappropriate for the size of the underlying business”. (The deal would result in the GKN group holding around two thirds of the group’s gross pension liabilities).
However, GKN said it had agreed a liability reduction and deficit elimination plan with the trustees of its UK pension schemes. This was expected to enable GKN Aerospace to operate with pension schemes that have been “right-sized” in proportion to its cash profits and without any UK pension deficit, management said.
IC View: The share price is now bobbling around the 431p mark, suggesting a muted response to the increased bid – perhaps reflecting a positive response to the actions taken by the GKN board to release significant additional value for its shareholders. There is no doubt that Melrose has a proven track record in maximising efficiencies and identifying the most profitable elements of acquired assets, but we still believe the enhanced offer falls well short of the breakup value of the group, particularly the GKN Aerospace assets. GKN management said it was evaluating the improved bid, which has a deadline of 1.00pm on 29 March. Reject.
Last IC view: Reject, 428p, 27 Feb 2018
*This article was updated to include GKN’s additional response to the offer (Source: Investors Chronicle)
12 Mar 18. South Korea’s DSME finally hits profit. South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has registered a profit for the first time in five years, the company announced on 12 March.
In a filing to the Korean Exchange, DSME said its net profit in fiscal year (FY) 2017 climbed to KRW670bn (USD629m) compared with a loss of KRW2.8 trillion in 2016. DSME has posted consistent losses since 2012, with the largest deficit – KRW3.3 trillion – posted in 2015.
Despite the 2017 gains, DSME said its total sales in the year declined by 13.4% to KRW11.1trn.
DSME’s financial performance in recent years has been hit by a major downturn in commercial shipbuilding and energy-related contracts.
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. Trump blocks Broadcom’s $142bn bid for Qualcomm. President cites national security concerns in taking unprecedented action against deal. President Donald Trump blocked Broadcom’s $142bn hostile bid for rival chip company Qualcomm, saying he was acting to protect the national security of the US. The unprecedented presidential action to prevent a giant merger before it was even agreed threatened to turn the White House into a pivotal player in corporate dealmaking, while thrusting national security considerations to the centre of the wave of consolidation that has transformed the US chip industry over the past two years. The hostile takeover bid by Singapore-registered Broadcom had already aroused opposition from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US, an inter-agency group in Washington that vets foreign acquisitions. However, while Cfius warned of possible national security concerns, it had called for a full investigation only a week ago. The hasty White House intervention appeared to cut off Broadcom’s hopes of sidestepping the deeper national security review. The company said shortly ahead of Mr Trump’s order that it expected to complete a process of “redomiciliation” — turning itself back into a US company — by April 3. It claimed that it was “in all important respects a US company,” with most of its management and operations taking place in the US. In the presidential order released on Monday, Mr Trump said there was “credible evidence” to believe that after a purchase of Qualcomm, Broadcom might “take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.” He went on to prohibit the deal, and order the companies to “immediately and permanently abandon the proposed takeover of Qualcomm.” Qualcomm is one of the largest makers of chips and other technologies for mobile devices, and derives most of its revenues supplying Apple’s iPhone and their Android competitors. Share this graphic Cfius had pointed to a number of potential concerns arising from Broadcom’s bid for the leading US wireless chip technology company. These ranged from possible cuts to research and development spending that would hold back Qualcomm, to a veiled warning that Broadcom could harm the US company’s assets through arrangements with “third-party foreign entities”. Broadcom said in a short statement that it “strongly” disagreed that the proposed acquisition of Qualcomm raised any national security concerns. A paper circulated inside the White House earlier this year had warned of the risks to US national security if Chinese companies take a lead in the next generation of high-speed wireless technology, known as 5G. Mr Trump’s order appeared to point to a complete victory for Qualcomm, which had resisted the acquisition approach and secretly requested the Cfius intervention at the end of January. Share this graphic It was unclear on Monday whether Broadcom would attempt to challenge the order, since its planned conversion in less than a month into a US company would put it outside the reach of Cfius. In another step that should help Qualcomm buttress its defences against unwanted takeovers, Mr Trump ordered the San Diego-based company to move ahead quickly with its annual shareholder meeting. Broadcom had lobbied Qualcomm shareholders to use the meeting to elect a majority of its own nominees the board, a move that could have forced Qualcomm into accepting the takeover approach. Recommended Qualcomm: national insecurity US protectionism could set off a digital trade war US tariffs foreshadow tougher action on China The embattled company had won a one-month reprieve when Cfius ordered it to delay the meeting a week ago pending a national security review of the proposed deal. With Broadcom now barred, Mr Trump ordered Qualcomm to issue a notice for the meeting “as soon as possible” and then hold the meeting within 10 days of that — a step that could quickly see the opponents of Broadcom’s takeover offer consolidate their hold on the board. Qualcomm duly responded to the order on Monday by rescheduling the annual meeting for March 23. Qualcomm’s shares dropped nearly 5 per cent in after-market trading after the Mr Trump’s order was released, wiping off about $4bn in value, while Broadcom edged up 1.5 per cent. (Source: FT.com)
12 Mar 18. Barzan Holdings signs first collaborative agreement. Qatar’s Barzan Holdings has signed its first public joint venture agreement, with Italian firearms manufacturer Beretta announcing on 12 March that it will be opening a new manufacturing facility in the Gulf state with the company. According to a press release by Beretta, the agreement will see the two companies form a joint venture in Qatar known as BINDING, which will involve the construction of a pistol and shotgun production site in Doha. The site will produce weapons for the Qatari government, and also potentially develop new firearms in the future. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. Elbit Systems closes in on IMI. The Israeli government is to finalise the long-running privatisation of Israel Military Industry (IMI) Systems by reportedly selling the defence contractor to Elbit Systems for ILS1.8bn (USD522m). Finance minister Moshe Kahlon announced the deal on 11 March, Israeli media reported. The sale is part of a government initiative to remove industrial facilities in order to make room for public housing. The acquisition will include the displacement of IMI factories to Negev in southern Israel to strengthen employment in that region, while also freeing up government-owned land for housing in Ramat Hasharon, where the company currently primarily resides.
Tel Aviv was authorised to sell the company to industry in 2013, and Elbit System’s bid for IMI is expected to include an additional ILS100m should the company perform well this year. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. GKN rejects ‘final’ £8bn hostile bid from Melrose. Turnround group raises offer as fierce battle for UK engineer enters last stages. GKN said its board was evaluating the revised offer from Melrose. GKN dismissed an increased £8.1bn hostile takeover bid from Melrose Industries on Monday, setting the stage for a fierce battle to win over shareholders as the tussle for one of the UK’s oldest engineering companies entered its final stages. The FTSE 100 group said the revised Melrose bid, tabled earlier in the day, “fundamentally” undervalued the company. GKN went on to accuse Melrose of inaccuracies in laying out its final offer. Mike Turner, GKN chairman, called on shareholders to give the existing management the time to turn the company round. GKN has a heritage dating back more than two centuries but has run into trouble and issued a profit warning last year. “Over the past few weeks, we have demonstrated how much we can achieve for our shareholders. We ask for shareholders’ support as we continue with the transformation of GKN. Give us the opportunity to finish the job. Reject Melrose’s offer,” he said. The two-month battle for GKN, founded in 1759 as an ironworks in the Welsh valleys and a now a significant supplier to the automotive and aerospace industries, has become highly political, with calls for government intervention from opposition leaders, MPs and trade bodies. The impasse leaves GKN’s shareholders with a clear choice ahead of a deadline of 1pm on March 29. Turnround specialist Melrose raised its cash-and-shares offer for GKN to 467p per share on Monday morning, declaring it would not be increased “under any circumstances”. The new bid structure would give GKN shareholders a greater share of the enlarged group — 60 per cent, up from 57 per cent — while they would also receive £1.4bn in cash. That move appeared to wrongfoot GKN, which, at the same time, launched its final defence against Melrose’s previous bid of 416p per share. GKN argued that based on planned disposals and cash returns to shareholders unveiled in its defence, its shares were worth more than £5 — still some way above the increased offer. Shares in GKN lost 2.1 per cent to trade at 425.8p, while Melrose’s stock dropped 7.5 per cent to 213p. Melrose’s latest bid comprises 81p in cash and 1.69 in new Melrose shares for each share in GKN, up from the 1.49 shares originally offered. The bid includes a final dividend of 6.2p that would be otherwise payable to GKN shareholders in April. Melrose said the package represented a 43 per cent premium to GKN’s undisturbed share price before its initial approach in January. In a letter to GKN shareholders, Christopher Miller, Melrose chairman, invited them to “You can join us on a journey of value creation by investing in a UK listed manufacturing powerhouse worth over £10bn today”. GKN disputed the value of the new bid, saying it actually amounted to 445.5p, due to the inclusion of the dividend payment and the fall in Melrose’s share price. GKN has moved to defend itself against Melrose by accelerating the split of its automotive and aerospace arms, promising to improve profit margins and cash, sell off non-core businesses and return £2.5bn in cash to shareholders. It is pursuing a merger of its Driveline automotive business with Dana of the US, in a $6bn cash and share transaction outlined last week that will create the world’s biggest provider of vehicle drive systems with annual sales of more than $13bn. The deal is subject to shareholder approval but threatens to scupper Melrose’s takeover plans. Melrose on Monday criticised the proposed Dana transaction as “prejudicial to GKN’s UK shareholders” and said it was also “a bad deal for other stakeholders including UK plc”. Mr Miller said: “[It] would leave you with a minority stake in a foreign-listed group run by a Dana management team based in Ohio. Many of you may not be able to hold the shares being offered by Dana as part of the consideration as they will not be listed in the UK.” The Dana transaction would involve a “lengthy and uncertain completion process”, he added, including antitrust clearances in the EU, US and China. Recommended Brian Groom GKN takeover row reveals UK doubts about open markets Melrose also said, as a result of planned sell-offs, GKN’s aerospace business would end up shouldering a “disproportionate and very substantial” amount of gross pension liabilities. But the car and aircraft parts maker accused its suitor of misleading statements on the matter, adding that, unlike Melrose, it had agreed a liability reduction and deficit elimination plan with the trustees of its UK pension schemes. With both companies laying out similar plans to revive performance at GKN, the battle has, in effect, turned into a contest of management teams. One hedge fund investor said Melrose could reduce the level of minimum acceptances, from the current 90 per cent, to follow up on its increased offer. While GKN’s valuation of £5 a share was “realistic” and it could easily claim that, on a standalone basis, it offered better value than Melrose, the bidder’s decision to rule out any further increase would focus minds. The question would be whether investors trusted GKN management to deliver, he said. Mr Turner also accused Melrose management of paying its top 11 executives “virtually the same amount in performance incentives as its entire stated spend on research and development over the past five years”. Meanwhile, it had offered GKN shareholders “a premium lower than any relevant FTSE 100 takeover in the last 10 years and substantially lower than any of its previous acquisitions”. (Source: FT.com)
12 Mar 18. Melrose higher bid for GKN fails to quell political worries Labour tells government time is running out for it to step in and prevent any deal Share on Twitter (opens new window) Share on Facebook (opens new window) Share on LinkedIn (opens new window) Mail Save Save to myFT Jim Pickard in London 45 MINUTES AGO 0 Melrose’s announcement of a higher bid price for GKN has failed to quell the political concerns about the takeover attempt for one of Britain’s biggest engineering groups. Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow secretary of state for business, said time was running out for the government to “step in” and prevent any deal. “What the government had to consider is not the share price but only whether this bid has adverse national security implications,” she said. “We only have until March 29, unless there is an extension, but we have yet to hear the government’s view on this.” Melrose raised its bid from 416p a share to 467p in a proposal that involved lifting the share element. But GKN has already proposed a defence strategy that involves the sale of its Driveline automotive parts business to US group Dana. Jack Dromey, a senior Labour MP who last week wrote a letter — signed by 16 MPs — criticising the Melrose bid, said shareholders were unlikely to be impressed by Melrose’s higher bid. “GKN is coming together with Dana to create a new global engineering giant, we are leaving nothing to chance, however, and we are stepping up our pressure on the government to use the powers they have to intervene to block the takeover,” he said. “The bid is not in the national interest and it should not go ahead.” Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said: “It’s becoming increasingly clear that we’re dealing with several unsatisfactory options, including the plans proposed by GKN’s management to break up the company. If Melrose is going to press ahead with this takeover, then the government must extract cast-iron commitments on R&D, jobs and investment.” (Source: FT.com)
12 Mar 18. Melrose Industries’ takeover ambitions no longer have anything to do with GKN plc – apparently, they are now all about UK plc. Or, rather, in upping its bid for GKN, from £7.4bn to £8.1bn, Melrose is wrapping itself in the Union Flag, singing the national anthem – and suggesting that GKN shareholders back a British bid, rather than a deal to sell GKN’s automotive business to Dana “based in Ohio”. Melrose’s final throw of the dice comes with the claim that the “Dana transaction is prejudicial to GKN’s UK shareholders and is, in our view, a bad deal for other stakeholders including UK PLC”, aka the Land of Hope and Glory. Under the terms of its final offer, Melrose will pay 467 pence per share, valuing GKN at £8.1bn, which will result in GKN shareholders owning 60 per cent of the enlarged and patriotic Melrose – rather than 57 per cent as before – and receiving £1.4bn in cash. This, Melrose calculates, represents an “immediate premium” of 43 per cent. Melrose’s argument is essentially that GKN’s counter-proposal to sell Driveline, the automotive half of its engineering business, is a “hasty fire-sale” that will leave UK shareholders with a minority stake in a “foreign listed group” run by a US management team. It also suggests that “many” GKN shareholders may not be able to hold the Dana shares as they are not UK listed, which would require a forced sale of those shares on deal completion – “a fact that will be anticipated by the US markets” reducing their value. In addition, Melrose says the Dana deal would involve a lengthy and uncertain completion process, including anti-trust clearances in the EU, US and China, as well as Dana’s shareholder approval, which may not come until the end of the year. In fact, the only truly British thing about the proposed Driveline sales is the “disproportionate, and very substantial, amount of gross pension liabilities” – pension problems being our national speciality. Also what kind of name is Dana? Now, if instead, it were Diana… or Kate… or Meghan. Oh, that doesn’t quite… OK, so Melrose doesn’t say that last bit. But you get the gist. GKN, however, has robustly defended its proposed Dana deal as a much better outcome than a takeover by Melrose – today being the last day on which it can respond to Melrose’s original offer. GKN chairman Mike Turner has written to shareholders arguing that Melrose’s bid undervalues GKN, and a new strategy, “including accelerated separation, will maximise shareholder value”. He suggests that a sale of Driveline to Dana is simply “bringing together two highly complementary businesses and creating a global leader”. He describes the $6bn in cash and shares that Dana is offering as “highly attractive terms for our shareholders”. Significantly, he also notes the transaction involves “Dana taking on a significant proportion of our UK pension scheme liabilities. This has allowed us to agree a deficit elimination plan with the trustees of our UK pension schemes. Once implemented, this plan is expected to enable GKN Aerospace to operate without any UK pension deficit”. And, with the automotive business sold, GKN will be free to begin “unlocking the value of our world class Aerospace business through the creation of a standalone company, which we expect will positively re-rate in line with peers”. Then, there will be the small matter of returning up to £2.5bn in cash to shareholders over three years, primarily from selling off its Powder Metallurgy and other non-core businesses. Mr Turner said he’s a Yankee Doodle Dan… no he didn’t. But you get the gist. Shareholders have to decide which side of the Atlantic their bread is buttered by the end of the month. (Source: FT.com)
10 Mar 18. Brexit to barely impact Thales, chief financial officer says. Thales expects to see little direct harm from Britain’s planned exit from the European Union, as there is scarcely any trade flow between its British subsidiary and the rest of Europe, according to the company’s chief financial officer.
“We, unlike other groups, which have trade flow between Europe and the U.K., have practically no flow,” Pascal Bouchiat told Defense News on the sidelines of a March 6 media conference on 2017 financial results.
The raising of customs barriers between Britain and the EU would have no effect on Thales, as the U.K. unit is autonomous and focuses on defense products, and does not trade heavily with continental Europe, he said.
Arms are sold to the British government and then exported directly to client nations worldwide.
Britain is the third-largest defense market for Thales, and the company expects that country to remain so, according to Chairman and CEO Patrice Caine.
There is, however, concern over the potential impact of Brexit, which could weaken the British economy and, in turn, hurt the defense budget, Bouchiat said.
Brexit has prompted a sharp fall in sterling against the dollar and the euro, which boosts the cost of arms imported into the U.K., he added, something that could prompt Britain to build a strong domestic defense industry.
Britain’s departure from the single customs market has, however, sparked grave concern with Airbus, which builds the wings of A400M military airlifters and airliners in the U.K. There has been little clarity on the paperwork and customs duties that will likely be needed for shipping equipment for assembly across the English Channel. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
08 Mar 18. GE explores divesting electrical engineering business – sources. General Electric Co (GE.N) is exploring a sale of the electrical engineering business which it acquired for $3.2bn in 2011, as the U.S. industrial conglomerate continues to shed unwanted assets, according to four people familiar with the matter. John Flannery, who took over as GE’s chief executive last summer, indicated to analysts and investors for the first time earlier this year that he was open to breaking up the company, and said that a spinoff of any of its units, which include power, healthcare and aviation, was possible.
GE acquired Converteam, an electrical engineering company, in 2011 to boost its presence in that sector. At the time, energy was GE’s most profitable business, accounting for a quarter of the company’s revenue. Since then demand for its products have fallen sharply, and profit at the division plunged 45 percent last year.
Converteam, which in 2012 was rebranded GE Power Conversion, is losing money, and is expected to fetch less than what GE paid for it, the sources said this week. GE is reviewing ways to shed the unit before launching a sale process, said the sources, who requested anonymity because the deliberations are confidential.
A GE spokeswoman declined to comment.
GE’s power conversion business makes electrical motors and positioning systems for oil rigs, bulk transport ships and aircraft carriers, as well as power converters for solar farms, mines and mills. GE acquired Converteam from a private equity consortium that included Barclays Private Equity and LBO France.
GE’s stock has lost half its value in the last 12 months, and Flannery is under pressure from investors, including activist hedge fund Trian Fund Management LP which sits on its board of directors, to turn the business around.
The divestiture would be the latest in a string of asset sales GE is exploring. Reuters reported in February that GE was considering divesting its industrial gas engine business, which includes the Jenbacher and Waukesha engines.
Since last year, GE has also been seeking to hive off other divisions, including its railway locomotives business, consumer lightbulbs manufacturing assets and healthcare information technology business.
GE views a spinoff of its railway locomotive unit as more likely than a sale, given the tax hit from an outright sale, according to the sources.
Flannery said in October that GE would sell at least $20bn in operations to shore up its financial performance. (Source: Reuters)
08 Mar 18. Ricardo Interim Results Presentation Dec 2017.
Highlights – for the half year ended 31 December 2017
- Record order book at £302m, up £54m on June 2017
- Strong order intake at £238m, up £57m on HY 2016/17
- Revenue up 9% to £183m and underlying PBT up 8% to £16.3m on HY 2016/17
- Net debt reduced from £38m at June 2017 to £32m (after £6m acquisition of Control Point)
- A good mix of orders in terms of geography, sector and size with increased orders in hybrid/EV activity at 24% of total Group order intake, up from 17% for FY 2016/17
- Acquisition of Control Point completed in the period and performing well
- Outlook remains positive with a good pipeline
09 Mar 18. Inmarsat cuts dividend to focus on in-flight wi-fi
– Satellite operator Inmarsat on Friday said it would cut its annual dividend to 20 cents a share as it cited issues over payments from a US partner and a desire to cash in on the growing in-flight wi-fi market.
The company said it would pay a final dividend of 12 cents a share, making a total of 33.62 cents per share, adding future payouts would stay at the lower level “until the cash flow of the business rebuilds sufficiently to make an increase appropriate”.
Fourth quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell 26% to $163.7m. For the full year EBITDA was 8% lower at $731.5m. Group revenue increased by 5.4% to $1.4bn.
It added that payments from Ligado, which is a US satellite company that uses Inmarsat’s spectrum, would pause in 2019 and resume in 2020 at around $136m a year. Ligado is currently waiting for a government licence. Inmarsat said it still expected current revenue, excluding Ligado, to be in the range of $1.30bn – $1.50bn.
“Should Ligado obtain its licence from the Federal Communications Commission in 2018, there would be no pause in 2019,” Inmarsat said.
Chief executive Rupert Pearce said the company delivered further operational and strategic progress in 2017, “comprising both gratifying near term revenue growth as well as several important strategic proof-points around exciting medium term growth opportunities, especially in in-flight communications (IFC). Our investment in Global Xpress (GX), our high bandwidth global mobile satellite network, is starting to show material returns, generating over $140m of revenue in the year,” he said. “Our strategic investment in GX will enable us to retain and develop our competitive positions in maritime and government and will ensure that we are well placed to access the substantial opportunity in IFC in aviation.”
Pearce said Inmarsat was targeting mid-single digit percentage revenue growth (excluding Ligado) on average over the next five years. He added that EBITDA and free cash flow generation (both excluding Ligado) were expected to improve steadily as a result of the combined impact of a growing revenue base, an improved revenue mix, tightly managed overhead costs and new, lower cost, satellite technologies being implemented that “to drive a meaningful moderation in our annual infrastructure capex over the medium term”.(Source: ShareCast)
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15 Mar 18. Brisbane company EPE has completed the first phase of its innovation project, awarded under the Defence Innovation Hub.
EPE worked with Defence to integrate a ground penetrating radar (GPR) capability (AMULET) that can be deployed remotely using TALON, the current in-service medium-sized unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), and demonstrated a proof of concept (POC) to prove the integration could work. As separate entities, the AMULET and the TALON are proven and known capabilities.
The POC was designed specifically around proving they could be integrated to achieve a remote standoff detection capability.
EPE said the POC was highly successful and the logical progression is to now produce a prototype of this capability.
Warwick Penrose, managing director of EPE, said the success experienced so far in this project will allow the company to develop more innovative capabilities for Defence and open up doors for export opportunities.
“The GPR for UGV project recognises EPE’s long-term commitment and investment in building and developing sovereign force protection capabilities that help take Australian servicemen out of the danger area,” Penrose said.
“The commitment made by the Defence Innovation Hub to support Australian industry in concept development and prototyping will allow EPE to accelerate the development and delivery of innovative capabilities that meet the specific needs of the ADF.
“In addition, the technologies developed for the ADF right here in Australia have equal application with neighbouring countries as well as traditional coalition partners. This creates the potential to generate strong export opportunities, expand our ability to create new employment roles and offer long-term job security.”
EPE, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRND) and counter-IED solutions provider, was also recently awarded a second Defence Innovation Hub contract; a $1m contract that will look at developing a portable detection system for the Navy to sense distant explosives, chemical warfare agents, gasses and narcotics.
EPE employs 20 people and is headquartered in Brisbane with offices in Canberra, Albury-Wodonga and New Zealand. (Source: Defence Connect)
15 Mar 18. LAND 400 Phase 2 decision a win for Australian industry. While Victoria’s state government mourns the loss of the $5.2bn LAND 400 Phase 2 contract, the real winners of the project extend far beyond Rheinmetall and Queensland, with 69 per cent of the total project cost slated to go towards Australian industry content.
Over 40 Australian companies will take part in the project that will see the Australian Army acquire up to 225 Rheinmetall Boxer CRVs. The vehicles will be built in Brisbane and will replace the ageing Australian Light Armoured Vehicle fleet.
The project is tipped to create 1,450 jobs across the country, with 330 to be created in Queensland, 170 in Victoria and 140 in NSW during the project’s acquisition phase.
Of the $5.2bn contract, $2.8bn will go into the acquisition phase, $1.8bn of which will be spent in Queensland and $635m in Victoria.
Queensland companies make up the bulk of companies chosen to participate in the project, with 13 companies from the sunshine state chosen to contribute. Victoria follows closely behind with 12 companies, including AME, Cablex, Supacat and Tectonica.
Chief executive of Supacat Group Nick Ames said its partnership with Rheinmetall on the LAND 400 Phase 2 project will extend well beyond the Australian project.
“We are delighted that the involvement between Supacat and Rheinmetall will continue through the LAND 400 program,” Ames said.
“This complements our interactions with Rheinmetall on a number of European projects.”
NSW’s defence industry will also receive a large chunk of the pie, with $90 million set to be spent across the eight NSW companies included in the project.
NSW Defence Advocate Air Marshal (retired) John Harvey AM congratulated Rheinmetall and the NSW companies set to contribute to the project.
“NSW companies have played an essential role supporting the Army’s combat vehicle fleet in the past and today’s decision to select Rheinmetall to build the next generation Army vehicles will ensure this continues as part of the national effort,” Harvey said.
Among the main winners from NSW, Rheinmetall has signed teaming agreements with Port Kembla-based BlueScope Steel to potentially supply thousands of tonnes of feedstock and with Unanderra-based specialist steel finishing company Bisalloy to manufacture armour plates for its Boxer CRV vehicles.
“Bisalloy’s armour steel has been used in a range of Navy and Army projects in Australia and internationally – including our Collins Class submarines, the Army’s Hawkei and Bushmaster vehicles as well as mine resistant vehicles for the US Army – winning acclaim for its strength, toughness and versatility,” Harvey said.
“A number of other NSW-based companies have signed teaming agreements with Rheinmetall – including Land Air Sea Space of Brookvale, Milspec Manufacturing of Albury, and Rojone of Ingleburn – which could lead to further project work and support up to 140 jobs across the state.”
The Boxer CRVs will undertake a range of missions, from regional stability and peacekeeping through to high-threat operations. Over the 30-year life of the vehicles, Australian industry will secure two-thirds, or $10.2bn, of the total investment in acquiring and maintaining the fleet, the government said.
The full list of Australian companies confirmed to contribute to the LAND 400 Phase 2 project:
Able Industries (VIC)
Albins (VIC)
Allplates (QLD)
AME (VIC)
APT (VIC)
AW Bell (VIC)
Axiom (SA)
Bisalloy (NSW)
BlueScope (NSW)
Cablex (VIC)
CAS (SA)
Century Engineering (SA)
Codan (SA)
Curtiss Wright (NSW)
DGH Engineering
Direct Edge (TAS)
Elbit Systems (QLD)
Entech (SA)
Extel (VIC)
Ferra Engineering (QLD)
Frontline Manufacturing (QLD)
G&O Kert (QLD)
GCI Group (QLD)
Global Manufacturing Group (QLD)
Hetech (QLD)
Hofmann Engineering (WA)
IntelliDesign (QLD)
Kiddie Deugra (VIC)
Land Air Sea Space (NSW)
Milspec (NSW)
Nezkot (VIC)
NIOA (QLD)
Nupress Manufacturing (NSW)
Penske (QLD)
Precision metal Group (NSW)
Redarc (SA)
Rojone (NSW)
Supacat (VIC)
Tectonica (VIC)
Toolcraft (SA)
(Source: Defence Connect)
15 Mar 18. US Army Wants Armed Ground Robot Prototype by 2019. After 20 years of cancelled programs, the Army now wants prototypes of all-new robotic and “optionally manned” combat vehicles by 2019 so soldiers can begin field-testing them in 2020. Compared to current vehicles, they’ll be lighter, smaller and optimized for urban combat, said Brig. Gen. David Lesperance, head of the armor school at Fort Benning, Ga. and the hand-picked head of the service’s Cross-Functional Team on future ground vehicles.
Both established defense contractors and non-traditional companies are currently working on concepts, he told me and two other reporters this afternoon, and there’ll be intense experimentation, modeling, and simulation in the next “six to 12 months.”
Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley created the Cross Functional Teams last fall to advance his Big Six modernization priorities. What’s called Next-Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) is No. 2, second only to long-range artillery and missiles. Until this week, however, the CFTs have kept quiet. But Gen. Milley promised the Army would seek “radical,” ten-fold improvements in technology on a tight timeline. Lesperance’s proposal would definitely deliver on that promise — if it works.
Risk Factors
The problem is the post-Cold War Army’s track record on new armored fighting vehicles is unblemished by success. (The successful Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicleis essentially a modified Bradley, not an all new design). While continually upgrading and modernizing the 1980s-vintage M1 Abrams tank and the M2 Bradley, the Pentagon has cancelled the M8 Armored Gun System (1997), the Crusader howitzer (2002), the Future Combat Systems (2009), and the Ground Combat Vehicle (2013). FCS in particular is the dead elephant in the room, because it was the Army’s last attempt at this kind of technological great leap forward, specifically including both manned and robotic vehicles.
Milley has said specifically his Big Six modernization program won’t repeat the mistakes of FCS, and there are grounds for hope. First, technology is just better. The private sector has made dramatic advances in computing power, artificial intelligenc and ground robots since FCS was cancelled in 2009, when the iPhone was in its infancy and self-driving cars were a fantasy.
The Army, for its part, is taking care to prototype the new technology before it commits to an acquisition program, unlike FCS. It has also abandoned the cumbersome mega-program approach of FCS, which was a single contract for eight manned vehicles, multiple ground robots and drones, and a mobile network to link them all. The Cross Functional Teams, by contrast, are loosely coupled. Lesperance’s combat vehicle team holds weekly video conferences with the others, and it’s working closely with the CFTs for the soldiers who’ll ride in it, the networkthat’ll connect it, and the simulators everyone will train in. But they are separate efforts that won’t all collapse with the failure of the weakest link.
Only this week are the CFTs beginning to talk to selected press. They’re opening up in anticipation of the AUSA conference in Huntsville, Ala. March 26th-28, where the Army will formally unveil the org chart for its new Futures Command, to which the CFTs will belong, along with other Army entities as yet unspecified.
“Futures Command is a critical component (of modernization), but we are impatient and speed is critical, which is why we have these Cross Functional Teams stood up now,” Army Secretary Mark Esper told the House defense appropriations subcommittee this morning. They’re called cross-functional because each CFT combines combat veterans, military futurists, scientists, technologists, and acquisition professionals — disciplines historically scattered around the Army — in order to short-circuit the bureaucracy and accelerate modernization. The goal, Esper told Congress, is to cut the time to field a new weapon system from 10-15 years down to five to eight.
Brig. Gen. Lesperance — whose name means “hope” in French — understandably declined to commit himself to a fielding date today. But he wants what he calls “experimental prototypes” in “shakedown testing” in 2019, followed by full-up field tests with an operational combat unit in 2020. (That’s two years ahead of the original Next Generation Ground Vehicle timeline, which didn’t even include robotics). The Army will take the troops’ feedback and refine the design, tentatively aiming for a second round of field tests in 2022 and a third in 2024. Only then will the Army decide whether the vehicles are ready to produce.
Lesperance also declined to discuss the vehicles’ weight, armament, or power plant, saying those all remain to be decided. He’s still waiting for the industry concepts to come back and he doesn’t want to prejudge them or cramp their creativity, he said. He wouldn’t even say whether the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle would replace the M1 Abrams heavy tank or the M2 Bradley troop carrier, two very different roles. (Historically the Army’s prioritized replacing the Bradley, which has been upgraded so many times its electrical system and drivetrain are at their limits).
What Lesperance would say, however, was eye-opening enough. Over and over, he emphasized the new combat vehicles must be “optimized for fighting in dense urban terrain,” in contrast to current vehicles optimized for open-field blitzkrieg across Europe. Fighting in narrow streets, in turn, requires smaller vehicles than the massive M1, as does the need to deploy rapidly by air and to keep operating despite frequent disruptions to supply lines.
One way to reduce the weight is to take out the humans — not because people weigh a lot, but because the armor to protect them does. A robotic vehicle can be smaller, lighter, cheaper, and expendable, scouting ahead of the human force and springing traps like roadside bombs, landmines, and ambushes. It would be armed, Lesperance said, but a human soldier would always be “in the loop” and make any decision to use lethal force. Initially, the Robotic Combat Vehicle will probably require close human supervision, he said, but as artificial intelligence improves, he envisions the robots acting more and more autonomously.
The Next Generation Combat Vehicle itself, by contrast, will be “optionally manned.” It’ll have the space, seats, and above all the protection to carry human troops, but it’ll also have enough artificial intelligence to navigate the battlefield without them. Depending on the tactical situation, commanders may decide to send in the vehicles unmanned, with few human crew, or with a passenger compartment full of infantry ready to jump out and assault.
Lesperance doesn’t know yet how many soldiers the NGCV troop carrier should fit, a hotly contested question. The tracked M2 Bradley can manage a fire team of four or five, the larger but more lightly armed eight-wheel-drive Stryker can carry a full squad of nine. Trying to combine better-than-Bradley protection with a Stryker-sized passenger compartment drove the cancelled Ground Combat Vehicle north of 60 tons, so the Army is now studying trade-offs among passenger capacity, protection, size, weight, and cost.
The robotic and optionally-manned machines are intended to complement each other, Lesperance said, but they’re “not inextricably linked.” In other words, one program might be delayed or even cancelled without dooming the other. Given the stakes and risks, that’s probably prudent.
(Source: Breaking Defense.com)
13 Mar 18. CNIM readies upgrades for French SPRAT bridging systems. French company CNIM has been contracted to modernise the French Army’s 10 Système de Pose Rapide de Travure (SPRAT) modular tactical rapid bridge laying systems with a new day- and night-capable situational awareness system and upgraded Système Contrôle Commande (SCC) command suite. The SPRAT system – also called the PTA (système de Pose de Travure Avancée) by CNIM – is based on a 58-tonne, 10×10 all-terrain vehicle outfitted with an automatic bridge launch and recovery mechanism and two 14.3m long bridges. It is designed to launch bridges in less than 10 minutes to provide a fast gap-crossing capability for MLC 80- and MLC 100-class vehicles. The carrier vehicle, which has a maximum range of 800 km and top speed of 70 km/h, is operated by a two-person crew in an armoured cabin which is ballistic and mine resistant. It also features nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection suite and Nexter GALIX smoke grenade launchers to improve crew survivability. It is accompanied by the Porteur de Travures Supplémentaire (PTS) bridge resupply unit, which comprises a 6×6 Scania R420 series tactical tractor truck with protected cab and a trailer carrying two additional 14.3m long bridges. A total of 42 bridges were received by France. The current driver’s observation system comprises several cameras and a cabin-mounted turret incorporating a camera and rangefinder. This package will be replaced by Bertin Instruments’ PeriSight 360° surveillance system to enhance short-range situational awareness and driver vision. Each carrier vehicle will also be equipped with two PeriSight driver vision-enhancer modules mounted on the top of the cabin, 2×2 PeriSight wide field-of-view modules on each side of the vehicle, and a rear-mounted PeriSight fisheye module. The modules are integrated to a single electronic housing which provides electronic stabilisation and automatic detection and tracking. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
13 Mar 18. Broken navigation system? Put a drone on it. Autonomous vehicles work on a simple premise: at all times, the car must be able to sense the environment around it, and then process that information fast enough to successfully navigate. Presently, this means often bulky systems of cameras and LIDAR mounted on the top of factory-model vehicles, watching and directing the vehicle in real time. If the sensors break, there’s a chance that the autonomous car is then dead in the water … err … road, and no one wants to be stuck in that situation. To meet this so-far hypothetical problem (or possibly to prevent the competition from doing the same), Ford filed a patent, published earlier this month, for “surrogate vehicle sensors,” or a drone that lands on the car to replace its broken sensors.
From CNET:
According to Ford’s patent filing, your vehicle would register a fault in one of its sensors and using a vehicle-to-vehicle network, it communicates with one of these drones, which then finds its way to your vehicle. Once there, it lands on and acts as a replacement sensor while it directs your vehicle to a nearby repair center where the issue could be fixed permanently.
Patent filings don’t guarantee future production, but they’re a solid springboard for implications of a future technology, a possible path yet-to-be-taken. So what could this technology mean, assuming the idea was pursued to fruition? And, more importantly for anyone reading here, what could this do for military vehicles?
First, this assumes a world where vehicles have a reliable data port for the drone to plug into, and it also assumes a network of relief-driver drones ready to swoop into action and take over the hobbled car, feeding new data from a sensor onboard the drone into the car’s own internal navigation system. This would be quite the infrastructure challenge for civilian vehicles on roads, though I suppose not an impossible one.
In a military context, we can picture a similar setup used to the ability to repair sensors on an Infantry Fighting Vehicle, or perhaps rescuing a stuck autonomous supply truck after it loses a camera. Any system light enough to mount on a drone could be added after a short flight to a vehicle, so long as the drone could connect with the vehicle’s onboard computers. It would be one way to add modularity to a fleet, with the possible modifications limited only to what a drone can fly out and plug in. A drone system like this could be instrumental in retrieving vehicles abandoned by crew or left stranded for situational concerns, provided the wheels or tracks of the vehicles are still working.
There’s nothing in the patent about securing the connection used by the drone to communicate with the vehicle it docks onto, though it’s a safe assumption that any such tool would need some protocol making sure only drones that are supposed to take over navigation of vehicles actually do so. Otherwise, the entire process opens up a world where adversary drones could latch onto vehicles and perform a hostile takeover. If mobile navigation systems can latch onto cars to steer them in a helpful way, then no doubt someone will attempt to adapt the same technology for malicious ends.
This is veering into straight-up fiction, so I’ll leave the remaining implications for screenwriters. Still, what stands out about the patent is how it imagines a whole new interaction between vehicles, aerial robots autonomously dispatched to augment passenger-carrying robots when they get stuck. The future is likely far weirder than we give it credit for, and something this strange is now at least floating into the realm of possibility. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
14 Mar 18. Rheinmetall set to supply the Australian Defence Force with over 200 Boxer wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicles
The Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP, has announced today that Rheinmetall has been selected by the Australian Government to provide its next generation 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) as part of plans to modernise the Australian Army under the Land 400 Phase 2 Project.
The multi-billion dollar project will see Rheinmetall deliver at least 211 of the latest generation Boxer 8×8 vehicles, with Rheinmetall’s advanced Lance 30mm turret fitted to the reconnaissance variants. To deliver the project Rheinmetall will establish a state of the art Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) near Brisbane in partnership with the Queensland State Government. The MILVEHCOE will serve as the focal point for the execution of the program and a base for the establishment of an export orientated military vehicle industrial complex in Australia. The MILVEHCOE will support the Australian Governments Defence Export Strategy that was recently announced by the Australian Minister of Defence Industry, The Honourable Christopher Pyne MP.
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG commented, “It is a privilege for Rheinmetall to have been selected by the Australian Government to deliver this landmark military vehicle program. The program, one of the largest in the history of Rheinmetall, will continue our successful partnership with the Australian Government that has been delivering the latest generation of military trucks to the Army.”
The Boxer 8×8 provides an unparalleled level of capability in a highly mobile, survivable, adaptable vehicle that will see Australia join leading nations already using the vehicle including Germany, The Netherlands and Lithuania. The Lance turret fitted to the vehicle utilises the latest technologies that allow the Boxer CRV to be uniquely aware of its environment, with advanced systems to automatically detect, characterise and track threats on the battlefield. The turret features a range of scalable effects, including non-lethal systems, the latest air-burst cannon technologies and a guided anti-tank missile system that allows the crew to engage the most aggressive threats on the battlefield.
Ben Hudson, global head of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems Division, said, “We are honoured to have been chosen by the Australian Government at the conclusion of the rigorous Land 400 Phase 2 selection process. I must pay tribute to the Rheinmetall team and our Australian partners that have contributed to Land 400; their tireless dedication over the last three years will ensure that the Australian Army receives a vehicle that allows them to fight, survive and win on the battlefields of today and tomorrow.”
The MILVEHCOE will allow Rheinmetall to transfer cutting edge technologies to Australia in the areas of military vehicle design, production, turret systems, sensors, survivability,
simulation and through life support. This transfer of technology, coupled with the scale of the Land 400 based Australian design and manufacturing, will underpin the establishment of an export oriented military vehicle industry that will collaborate with academic institutions in companion technologies and see significant development in small to medium businesses around Australia that cooperate with Rheinmetall through the MILVEHCOE.
After two years of extensive industry engagement, Rheinmetall has identified over 40 companies from around Australia that will form part of a globally competitive military vehicle industry. Some of the businesses that will contribute to the truly national Rheinmetall Boxer CRV program include:
– MILSPEC and Bisalloy from New South Wales,
– Supashock from South Australia,
– Nioa and Penske from Queensland,
– Direct Edge from Tasmania,
– Supacat, Tectonica and Cablex from Victoria, and
– Hoffman Engineering from Western Australia.
Gary Stewart, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said “The Land 400 program will enable the Australian Army to receive the best CRV capability for their needs, and create a long term, economic benefit for Australia. Rheinmetall’s investment in the MILVEHCOE will enrich the economy in the high technology advanced manufacturing sector and broaden employment in defence across the nation. In doing so, we will create a strong sovereign military vehicle industry that allows Australian companies to innovate, compete and win globally.”
14 Mar 18. Supacat welcomes LAND 400 decision. Supacat, which is a member of the Rheinmetall Land 400 team, welcomes the announcement today of the selection of the Boxer CRV and Rheinmetall as the preferred tenderer for Phase 2 of the LAND 400 program. Supacat believes that Defence has chosen the outstanding capability to serve the Australian Army.
Supacat was established in Australia in January 2012 and since that time has built a considerable capability focused on Land Systems in the region. In addition to delivering its own products and services within Australia, the region and globally, Supacat has been proud of its participation with the Rheinmetall LAND 400 team since the early part of the bidding process through to playing a key role in the RMA phase of the program.
Supacat now looks forward to playing a substantial role in the delivery and support of the Boxer CRV fleet. Michael Halloran, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, congratulated Rheinmetall on the Boxer down selection and said “We have been very impressed with the way that Rheinmetall has actively sought out Australian industrial involvement for the program. Participating in this program offers Australian SMEs an opportunity to further develop their capabilities and reach a global audience.”
Supacat has significant recent expertise in developing industrial capability in Australia through delivering development, production and support programs in partnership with Australian SME’s under the Supacat Team Australia banner.
Mr Halloran went on to say “Over the last six years, we have strived to create an agile, compact prime, capable of delivering land projects within our region and services around the globe. On top of our existing projects, our involvement in the LAND 400 program will contribute to a lasting legacy of Defence Industry capability that provides Defence with access to a cradle to grave development capability for Land Systems.”
The interaction between Supacat and Rheinmetall is not limited to Australia. Mr Nick Ames, Chief Executive Officer, SC Group said, “We are delighted that the involvement between Supacat and Rheinmetall will continue through the LAND 400 program. This complements our interactions with Rheinmetall on a number of European projects.”
11 Mar 18. Russia expands ATV roles. Russia has developed several mission specific roles for its articulated DT-30 all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The DT-30 and the smaller DT-10 ATV, also referred to as the “Knight”, are developed by the Ishimbai Transport Machine Building Works with the latest models being the unarmoured DT-10PM and DT-
The DT-30 comprises two articulated units joined together with 960 mm wide tracks, providing lower ground pressure for increased cross-country mobility over challenging terrain. The front unit houses the crew compartment with the diesel engine in the middle and storage space towards the back, while the rear unit functions as the primary payload bay with the diesel fuel tanks located under the floor.
The baseline vehicle is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by its tracks but the latest air defence variants do not have this capability.
One example is the latest Tor-M2DT surface-to-air missile (SAM) system that is based on the DT-30 platform and is expected to enter service which Russian forces in 2018 following trials at the Kapustin Yar Range.
The Tor-M2DT is armed with 16 vertically launched missiles in the ready-to-launch position and these can engage up to four targets simultaneously out to a maximum range and altitude of 12,000 m and 10,000 m respectively.
The system has been developed by Izhevsk Electromechanical plant, which is part of the Almaz-Antey missile concern. The original Tor system is based on a different tracked vehicle.
Also developed for use in the Arctic is a version of the Pantsyr-S1, which is also based on the DT-30.
Another DT-30 variant under development is being fitted with what appears to be the upper part of the widely deployed Russian 40-round BM-21 122 mm artillery rocket system (ARS), which is normally mounted on the rear of a 6×6 cross-country chassis. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
08 Mar 18. LAND 400 decision puts focus on force protection. When British academic and defence specialist Martin Shaw talks about the ‘new Western way of war’, what he’s referring to is force protection. Armies, learning the lessons of the 20th century, have adapted strategies, tactics, and technologies to help keep our soldiers, airmen and sailors safe.
That key consideration is written into the DNA of Phase 2 of the LAND 400 project, which is to select Australia’s new combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRVs). The two remaining contenders vying for the $5bn project are the BAE Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV35) and Rheinmetall’s Boxer. Both are heavier and stronger, and have greater firepower than their predecessor, the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV).
The LAND 400 project is an excellent case study of the challenges associated with Defence’s focus on force protection. Both the Boxer and the AMV35 have much more firepower – a 30mm and 35mm cannon respectively, as well as space for two guided missile launchers. More firepower means more weight, and while both options boast heightened lethality, both can store fewer rounds and missiles than the ASLAV.
But the real weight increase comes from the armour and the scaling up of all the systems designed to make the vehicles safe and functional. Since the introduction of the ASLAV in the 1990s, the roadside bomb or IED became a common tool used by asymmetric adversaries. As such, the ADF has placed emphasis on strengthening the armour around the tyres and on the undercarriage of whichever vehicle it chooses. Both options weigh more than double the ASLAV, which means that Australia’s C-130 Hercules aeroplanes will be hard pressed to transport more than one or two of them at a time.
For some, like Ben Coleman of the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, the increased weight of whichever contender wins the LAND 400 contract could limit the ADF’s operational freedom.
“They’re certainly not air portable,” Coleman told Defence Connect, “and it raises issues around how many can be carried by the landing craft that go into our LHD’s [Amphibious Assault Ships], then there’s another potential problem in terms of the transport infrastructure that exists around the theatre.”
Coleman says that while the Boxer and the AMV35 are suitable for major coalition operations, they will also be used to contribute to the security of our neighbourhood. Something which, he says, requires a far more agile force due to the poor nature of the roads and other transport infrastructure throughout much of our region.
“Both contenders for the LAND 400 Phase 2 have battlefield mobility that is equal to or better than the ASLAV, but vehicle weight and size is still a negative factor for strategic deployability; for example strategic airlift in a crisis or ability to use poor roads without degrading those roads, and weight limited bridges,” Coleman said.
The federal government’s obsession with force protection, Coleman argues, is an understandable one, and he concedes that there is no right or wrong answer to the choice between protection and strategic deployability.
He suggests that “a trade-off has to be made but this requires a really well-developed understanding of capability need. Defence seems to be optimising for protection and firepower over strategic deployability and logistical supportability, but this choice is less well suited to crisis reaction and stabilisation operations in our neighbourhood”.
Nick Stewart, Canberra Times columnist and writer, suggested to Defence Connect that the best way for the Australian Army to meet both its obligations to the missions it undertakes and to the men and women who serve, is to understand those missions totally. He argues that the conception of the proposed CRV is outdated.
“The trouble is, what we’re doing now is replacing an armoured reconnaissance regiment that was originally designed for operations on the German border,” Stewart said.
“We’re never going to have a central front in Europe that we’re going to participate in, and instead we require new formations and new ideas that can appropriately engage in our region.”
He suggested one way of using the strengths of the new vehicles without sacrificing force protection or mission effectiveness was to use them as a sort of mobile base.
“One of the things about the Rheinmetall armoured vehicle is it’s way too heavy. For example, it can’t get up hills. It can’t sit at the top of the hill and look at things. But it will be very secure, it will protect people, and they can operate little remote aircraft from that vehicle, so effectively you get to the top of the hill without having to go there physically,” Stewart said.
That kind of secure operating base for unarmed aerial vehicles, he argues, will provide a far greater picture of the battlespace than the CRV could on its own, enhancing the mission effectiveness of a vehicle that is specifically designed for reconnaissance.
Coleman agrees that the Australian Defence Force needs to be thoughtful when it comes to deciding which vehicle it chooses and what it will be used for.
“For a very small army, like the Australian army is always going to be, then you really ought to be focusing as far as you can on being clever about it and using an indirect approach rather than crossing directly into the teeth of fire,” he said.
Whichever vehicle ultimately wins the Phase 2 LAND 400 contract, Australia’s new CRVs will be stronger, heavier and deadlier, but also safer for the men and women who will utilise them on the ground. Because questions remain over the strategic deployability and mobility of both vehicles, the ADF will have to be clever and considered in how they’re used if missions are to be successful without sacrificing force protection.
That said, it may well be that when Australia’s fleet of C-130J cargo planes is retired around 2030, the conversation we have to then focus on is how many Boxers or AMV35s the next generation of aircraft can hold, something which will contribute to Australia’s ability to deploy them in a crisis. (Source: Defence Connect)
08 Mar 18. Malyshev to deliver modernised T-84 MBTs to Ukrainian Army for trials. Key Points:
- A batch of newly modernised T-84 MBTs are to be delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces for trials
- Assuming the tanks will ultimately be put into series production, they will provide the Ukrainian Army with a much-improved armour capability in the eastern Donbass
Ukrainian State Enterprises (DPs) Malyshev Plant and Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau are preparing to deliver a batch of T-84 main battle tanks (MBTs) for trials by the Ukrainian armed forces.
The T-84 Oplot (‘Fortress’) is a newly modernised version of the T-80 MBT design that was widely produced for the Soviet armed forces in the 1980s.
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
08 Mar 18. Team SAIC readies US Army MPF bid offer. An international team led by the Virginia-based Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) is readying its bid sample vehicle for the US Army’s Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) programme following integration and testing of a prototype vehicle that commenced in the fourth quarter of 2017, officials from the respective companies briefed Jane’s.
SAIC is partnering with Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics, the land systems and specialty vehicles arm of ST Engineering Group, as well as Belgium’s CMI Defence. ST Kinetics is providing a bespoke version of its Next Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle (NGAFV) – which has been ordered by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and is expected to enter service from 2019 – while CMI Defence is supplying its modular Cockerill 3105 turret.
“In April 2018 we will deliver the bid sample vehicle …. we [have done] extensive checks on the turret and fire control system [FCS], integrated it to the chassis, and it has performed wonderfully in terms of meeting all of the mobility requirements,” Jim Scanlon, SAIC senior vice-president and general manager of the Defense Systems Customer Group, told Jane’s.
Team SAIC’s bid sample is based on ST Kinetics’ NGAFV platform, which – according to specifications released by the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) – has a fighting weight of 29 tonnes and measures 6.9m long, 3.28m wide, and an overall height of 3.2m in the AFV configuration. Equipped with a highly digitised architecture, the NGAFV has been specifically designed for closed-hatch operations with a suite of high definition daylight and low illumination cameras positioned around the hull providing real-time imagery to the crew for manoeuvring as well as situational awareness.
However, for the US Army’s MPF requirement the company has integrated CMI Defence’s Cockerill 3105 turret, which is armed with a 105mm calibre high pressure main gun. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
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13 Mar 18. US Army announces long-awaited DCGS contract. After years of protests and legal wrangling, Palantir is finally part of the Army’s battlefield intel analytics system. The Army announced on March 8 that Palantir and Raytheon were both winners in the commercial competition for work on the Army’s Distributed Common Ground System. The 10-year DCGS-A Increment 1 Capability Drop 1 has a ceiling value of $876 million and covers a range of hardware and software designed to operate in austere battlefield environments.
Palantir, a Silicon Valley firm founded by sometime Trump tech adviser Peter Thiel and Alex Karp that specializes in data analytics, has long advocated for opening up the multibillion DCGS-A to commercial competition. Palantir has argued that its software platform is preferable to a multiproduct intelligence system that includes a mix of commercial tools and bespoke military software.
Raytheon is the incumbent integrator on the DCGS-A contract.
In October 2016, a federal judge issued an injunction stopping the Army from moving ahead with a solicitation for the second increment of DCGS-A, which sought an integrator to manage the system.
The first delivery order was awarded concurrently with the multiple award
indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity contract, which supported a “competitive test-fix-test phase” to help the Army select hardware and software solutions to put in the field.
Program manager Col. Robert Collins said the order “directly addresses soldier’s feedback for improving usability, will enhance the tactical military decision making and intel processes, and support situational understanding at the tactical level.”
Palantir and Raytheon won’t be teaming up. An Army spokesperson told FCW that the two contractors will be competing on subsequent delivery orders.
Palantir and critics in Congress have long railed against the DCGS-A system as ineffective and representative of the Army’s resistance to innovative commercial products.
In an email to FCW, Todd Probert, vice president, Mission Support and Modernization, Raytheon Intelligence, touted the agility and flexibility of the company’s FoXTEN software.
“The system integrates commercial off-the-shelf products and is designed to be fully open, allowing the Army to rapidly incorporate new capabilities from any developer as they become available. It is streamlined and intuitive so soldiers can learn how to operate the system quickly,” Probert said.
Palantir did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
The Army is currently conducting market research and product demonstrations for Capability Drop 2 of DCGS-A. The Army announced March 12 that an industry day for the contract will take place sometime before the end of June.
(Source: Defense Systems)
15 Mar 18. U.S. Faces Global Science, Technology Competition, Official Says. The United States is in an era of constant science and technology competition from countries such as Russia and China, a senior Pentagon official said on Capitol Hill yesterday.
Mary Miller, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering, along with Steven H. Walker, director of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, testified before the House Armed Services Committee’s panel on emerging threats concerning the fiscal year 2019 budget request for the Defense Department’s science and technology programs.
“We see nations like China and Russia investing heavily in research trying to close the technology gap with the [United States],” she said. “We see high-end military technology that has diffused to many countries that would have been unable to develop it themselves, even reaching some nonstate actors.”
Speed is Vital
In a world with near-equal access to technology, speed is becoming the discriminator, Miller told the panel — not just the speed of discovery, but also speed of delivery. “How fast we can develop, adopt or leverage technology to meet the warfighter’s needs and get it into their hands will determine our ability to outpace our adversaries.”
In such a competitive environment, DoD must pay much more attention to future readiness and ensure its conventional overmatch remains on overtime, she said.
“We must be willing and able to tap into commercial research, recognize its military potential, and develop new capabilities and operational and organizational constructs to employ them faster than our competitors,” Miller noted.
Such effort would not be possible without DoD scientists and engineers, who are doing groundbreaking and innovative work, she said. “They are embracing these hard challenges our military faces every day, seeking to better understand the warfighter’s problems and working diligently on affordable and effective solutions.”
DoD Addresses Gaps
The Defense Department is addressing critical technology and capability gaps through a combination of adaptation of existing systems such as efforts conducted through its Strategic Capabilities Office and the development and introduction of innovative new technologies through its labs and centers, such as DARPA, and Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, she said.
“We recognize that our adversaries present us with a challenge of sophisticated evolving threats,” Miller told the House panel. “We are prepared to meet that challenge and restore the technical overmatch of the United States armed forces through focus and innovation.”
DARPA in Line With White House, DoD
Walker, the DARPA director, said his priorities for investment are aligned with President Donald J. Trump’s National Security Strategy and with Defense Secretary James N. Mattis’ National Defense Strategy.
“So, my priorities for investment in the future are defending the homeland, No. 1, from varied threats to include developing cyber deterrence capabilities, bio surveillance and bio protection technologies and the ability to sense and defend against weapons of mass terror,” he told the panel.
DARPA’s No. 2 priority is deterring and prevailing against peer competitors in Europe and Asia, which will require new thinking, Walker said.
“The [United States] can no longer be dominant across all scenarios, but it needs to be highly lethal in select ones,” he noted. “Realizing new capabilities across all the physical domains will be important and hypersonics will be a key technology there. But we also have to look at space and the electromagnetic spectrum domains. They’re going to be very important for that fight.”
Fighting Differently
DARPA’s No. 3 priority is effectively prosecuting stabilization efforts across the globe, which requires the United States to become better at fighting differently and in different environments, Walker said.
“Capabilities to address gray zone and 3-D city-scale warfare, along with the development of rigorous and reliable models to predict adversarial moves will be critical,” the agency director added.
The No. 4 priority is what Walker called foundational research in science and technology, which he said would underlie all of DARPA’s “grander pursuits” and makes possible never-before-seen capabilities. “We must continue to do what I think DARPA does better than anyone, and that’s to follow where technology can lead us to solve the country’s toughest challenges,” he said.
“[DARPA] promises to continue to be a bold risk-tolerant investor in high-impact technologies,” Walker said, “so the nation can be the first to develop and adopt the novel capabilities made possible by such work.”
(Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDoD)
13 Mar 18. QinetiQ has partnered with the CSIRO on a groundbreaking project where advanced crystal technology will be applied to see submarines stay submerged longer while using less power. The new technology, called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), will not only see submarines submerged for longer, but will also improve conditions for sailors.
If successful, the cutting-edge technology could form part to the Australian government’s Future Submarines Program (SEA 1000), the largest and most complex military program ever undertaken in Australia. SEA 1000 involves the design and construction of 12 highly advanced submarines with a range in excess of 33,000 kilometres and capable of operating independently for up to 80 days.
For a non-nuclear submarine those figures are already considered impressive, but CSIRO and QinetiQ are hoping the new technology will make it more so.
CSIRO project leader Dr Matthew Hill said the CSIRO will work with QinetiQ to test the MOFs.
“Together, we’ll be testing whether advanced materials known as called metal-organic frameworks can allow submarines to remain submerged longer. MOFs have the largest internal surface area of any known substance, which can be optimised to capture gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2),” he said.
“The more CO2 MOFs can capture and store, the longer a submarine can potentially remain underwater, undetected.”
As submarines are an enclosed space, CO2 expelled by a crew’s breathing and other chemical processes builds up and can eventually become toxic. Carbon dioxide scrubbers avoid that, by removing CO2 from a submarine’s atmosphere and storing it for later release.
QinetiQ Australia managing director Greg Barsby said if the new technology is successful, it would give the Australian Defence Force a leading edge.
“If proven, MOFs could give Australian submarines an edge: a performance advantage that lets them dive longer while placing less demand on a submarines precious space and weight, as well as critical systems such as power,” Barsby said.
“We’re focused on creating real capability gains for the Australian defence forces. This project plays to both partners’ strengths, our decades of experience and expertise in submarine operations and atmospheres; plus CSIRO’s unmatched and patented ability to make MOFs in large volumes, cheaply and with great precision.”
Current CO2 scrubbers take up a large amount of the limited space, weight and power available in submarines. They can also generate corrosive by-products, which have both health and sustainment implications in the close confines of a submarine.
A MOF-based system would use a smaller amount of space, place less demands on a sub’s systems and wouldn’t rely on damaging gasses.
It could also be incorporated into existing submarines such as Australia’s current Collins Class to extend their operational life and capabilities. (Source: Defence Connect)
13 Mar 18. Aerospace and defense 3-D printing market to surpass $4bn by 2023, report says. The aerospace and defense 3-D printing market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 23.2 percent over the next five years, reaching $4.7bn by 2023, according to a MarketsandMarkets report.
The market research firm attributes this growth to the significant reductions in maintenance and production costs of 3-D printed components, as well as high reliability and performance levels.
Rather than producing many small, individual parts, the process of 3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, allows companies to take many individual components and manufacture them as a single piece, reducing weight and bulk.
This technique is used by Arconic, a Pittsburgh-based supplier of aluminum, nickel and titanium parts to the commercial and defense industry, which produces parts for the F-35 using 3-D printing.
Major players in aerospace and defense have already begun transitioning to additive manufacturing techniques. According to the report, Boeing announced in February 2017 its plan to develop cheaper satellites using 3-D printing. And in that same month, it contracted Oxford Performance Materials to deliver about 600 3-D printed parts for the company’s Starliner space taxi project.
The report notes companies like Bombardier and Airbus have also invested in metal 3-D printing for research and development projects as well as end-use aircraft parts. (Source: glstrade.com/Defense News)
12 Mar 18. 2G Robotics, a global leader in underwater laser scanners and imaging solutions for the Offshore Energies, Geosciences and Defense industries, is proud to announce the launch of its new LED Strobe Panel, named the NOVA. Providing ultra-bright and even illumination, the NOVA enables users to capture crisp stills images on even the fastest of AUVs. Based on the proven RAY single LED currently being used for marine research and offshore energy inspections, the NOVA combines 36 LEDS to produce the brightest lighting solution on the market with a powerful 450 000 Lumen output. Kongsberg Maritime was integral to the development of the product and have purchased 4 units to be used for applications in the Defense industry.
“Our aim was to create an illumination solution that would allow the industry to complement laser data with crisp images regardless of the vehicle speed or the depth of operations,” explains Chris Gilson, Product Development Manager for 2G Robotics. “In order to do this, we needed a product with ultra-bright, even illumination while also maintaining a consistent power draw. The NOVA successfully brings these added values to the market.”
Each NOVA is produced with a custom LED orientation dependent on the mounting configuration, enabling users to capture evenly illuminated images for even the most specific applications. Additionally, the product features a selectable current limited charging rate which eliminates any problematic power spikes and has a maximum 90W continuous power draw.
13 Mar 18. US Navy Beefing Up At-Sea Enterprise Network. The Navy is working to make its enterprise networks more agile and easily updated as the service prepares for future multi-domain conflict with near-peer competitors, officials said.
Rear Adm. Christian “Boris” Becker, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command commander, said that the service should feel “a renewed sense of urgency” as Pentagon leadership calls for a pivot to great power competition with countries including Russia and China.
“The fact that we need to be ready for war next week does not mean we take our eye off the ball or let the ball drop” with regard to creating long-term capabilities, he said in an interview with National Defense. “Rather, you should not waste your time today.”
Conflict already exists within the cyber world, he added. “Whether it’s criminal activities or potentially other [malicious] activities, we have to be ready for those sorts of things today.”
The Navy is moving forward with developing its next-generation tactical afloat network which will enable the service to better streamline its technology for information warfare, Becker said. The consolidated afloat networks and enterprise services, or CANES, program will combine legacy shipboard, submarine and shore-based command, control, communications, computers and intelligence, or C4I, network systems into one entity to increase capability and affordability across the fleet, according to the service.
“We have got to … turn CANES into the information warfighting platform,” Becker said at the annual WEST conference in San Diego co-hosted by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and the U.S. Naval Institute.
Northrop Grumman won the full-deployment production contract in 2014. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract has a potential value of $2.5bn over eight years, according to the company. The Navy anticipates that the systems will be operational across the fleet by 2023.
CANES will be installed on all Navy platforms, including ships, submarines and land sites. The program will eliminate many legacy standalone shipboard networks and provide a common computing environment for a range of C4I applications, according to Northrop Grumman. This will help strengthen the network infrastructure, improve security, reduce its existing hardware footprint and decrease total ownership costs.
CANES will provide “the infrastructure and services required for the Navy to dominate the cyber warfare domain,” said Rear Adm. Brian E. Luther, deputy assistant secretary for the Navy for budget during a briefing with reporters on the fiscal year 2019 presidential budget request. Service documents include over $477 million for CANES-related work in 2019.
The program is currently in full-rate production, and the system has been installed on 66 platforms so far, said Capt. Kurt Rothenhaus, program manager for the Navy’s tactical networks program office.
Industry partners can help the service enhance CANES’ cyber resiliency with tools that will help sailors operate the system in highly contested environments, Rothenhaus said in an interview.
“We’re looking for those kinds of training opportunities — how do we better prepare them for what is a very dynamic and challenging cyberspace,” he said. “We are always looking at cutting-edge tools that help us both understand the status of the network to be able to see where activity is anomalous to the baseline, and really leverage some of the advances in machine learning and other technologies.”
Implementing the new CANES system is key to helping the Navy better control its network configurations, and better understand “what our networks look like to us … [and] to a potential adversary,” Becker said.
The program would enable the Navy to update various applications owned by program executive offices across the service at a faster rate, he added.
“We need to move at [the program offices’] pace to support their fleet mission and still provide the cybersecurity [and] provide services,” he noted.
SPAWAR is also involved with Navy-wide efforts to move its networks into the cloud, Becker said. Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan spoke of the department’s cyber vulnerabilities at the WEST conference, and Pentagon leadership has called for greater investment in cloud technologies across the services.
“The cloud provides many advantages for us — elasticity, ability to maintain large stores of data, the ability to have analytics” of that data, Becker said. “That technology can enable us to execute our mission more effectively and more efficiently.”
The Navy’s cybersecurity efforts involve every part of the service, from engineers to contractors, and even its legal counsel, he noted. “It takes all of our competencies, logistics, program management, engineering. It takes … [an] integrated product team approach to understand how best to move our Navy into cloud technologies.”
But the service will need an assortment of new tools to ensure its systems are more agile, adaptable and easily managed. Various companies are offering products that can help the Navy and other federal customers streamline their networks and automate tasks to lighten sailors’ responsibilities.
Galois, a Portland, Oregon-based computer science research-and-development company, was recently awarded a $2 million contract with the Office of Naval Research to build an open-source tool that could ease the design process for complex cryptographic algorithms.
The cryptographic analysis, verification, exploration and synthesis, or CAVES, contract could help verify the correctness of cryptographic software, a key factor in cybersecurity and privacy, said Aaron Tomb, research lead in software correctness at the company.
The CAVES program employs automated reasoning to identify central problems in cryptographic designs early in the design phase, he said. “If you’re exploring a wide variety of possible algorithms … you will quickly rule out the ones that might have security issues,” he added. “You get the benefits of higher security and lower effort in a combined package.”
The two-year small business innovation research program is being developed as an open-source project, Tomb said. “Anybody who is interested could start using the current capabilities right now and continue to monitor it.”
The team is testing the new technologies as they are developed, he added. “We’re really trying to take a much more agile approach where all of those [milestones] are integrated together, and the tools just gain capabilities over time in fairly small increments.”
The cybersecurity landscape has been evolving over the past few years, Tomb noted. The world overall is more dependent on computer systems, and potential adversaries are exploiting that to a greater degree than in the past, he said.
“I think now that [as] more and more critical infrastructure really depends on computer systems and is connected to the internet, it has become a very obvious attack factor,” he added.
In past years, manufacturers may have underestimated the importance of developing software with security in mind from the start, but automated reasoning techniques, such as those used in the CAVES program, are being increasingly employed to help improve the quality of software, he said.
Hardware designers must also work to bake security into their systems from the beginning, said Chris Ciufo, chief technology officer for General Micro Systems, a Rancho Cucamonga, California-based computer technology company.
“The biggest challenge from a technology standpoint is for the designers of these systems … to look beyond the requirements of what they’re designing,” he said. “They’re designing a display system [and] they think, ‘I have a display that has to be this size, that has to have this resolution and these many colors.’ … They need to have security in their mind all of the time, and to do safe coding practices that are secure [and] safe hardware design practices.”
GMS has built a secure storage server that keeps classified and unclassified networks completely separate within its architecture. The Hurricane S1U401-SHS secure high-speed storage service includes isolated ports that could allow sailors to keep both networks segregated from one another, Ciufo said.
“We have architected these ports in such a way that every single one of the wires that comes out of the Ethernet goes to a separate console, person or node in the ship,” he said. “None of the nodes are connected together, except at this box.”
A typical Ethernet network would combine several ports together, allowing multiple users’ traffic to cross when they access the internet.
“These paths never cross. They are individually connected to the processor system, one at a time,” Ciufo said. “They have individual addresses. They are separate from one another electronically [and] software-wise, and it requires a different way of architecting the system.”
The Hurricane server’s compact size also allows the Navy to save physical space while keeping the networks separate, he noted. It can operate in temperatures from negative 4 degrees to over 167 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also includes removable cartridges that “encrypts storage on the fly,” he said. That allows a user to pull the cartridge out and move it to another station and the data would remain secure, he added.
The server comes with two cartridges each supporting up to 128 terabytes of mass storage over eight drives. Should any one drive or group of drives fail, redundancies can be built in so that the data is protected, encrypted and recoverable, according to the company.
“You can walk down the street with this cartridge with classified data … and you can’t break into it,” he said.
The server could be used for Navy and Marine Corps shipboard operations centers and command-and-control systems, as well as for other service networks that require secure but compact and rugged hardware, Ciufo said.
(Source: glstrade.com/National Defense)
12 Mar 18. US Army leaders: don’t expect identical mission command systems. The Army is beginning to change the way it buys, equips and fights. While it is signaling a move away from big programs it has also begun discussing the notion of tiered readiness, in which all units across the Army either won’t have equipment or won’t receive in-depth training on networking and mission command systems from years past.
Officials speaking over the course of the AFCEA Army Signal Conference last week in Springfield, Virginia articulated how this training scenario may play out
“Everybody in the Army doesn’t need one. The days of everybody in the Army having one, they’re gone,” Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said March 7.
As is most often the case when military leaders discuss the ideal capability, smartphones were used as the prime example for what this readiness might look like.
“I think we’ve had a revelation over the last four or five months that we can’t field everybody,” Brig. Gen. Brian J. Mennes, director of force management in the deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, said March 6. “My daughter gets [an iPhone] X and guess what I get? I get her 8. Before the 8 it was a 6 and I had a 3 in Korea. Whoever was passing on the phone, I get upgraded when they’re done.”
But, he added, despite having an older version of the device, he’s still able to run the same apps on the same architecture, albeit maybe not as fast.
Ostrowski noted the Army has to realize whatever the first five units get, the next ten probably won’t receive the same devices because the service is going after current capabilities in order to fix current issues at the same time.
Home station training
Basic systems must at least be available at home stations for units to train on because all units won’t be able to go to combat training centers prior to deployments.
“We’re not going to cycle every [brigade combat team] through combat training center before we deploy them,” Gen. Stephen Townsend, the new Training and Doctrine Command commander, said March 8. “We’re not going to cycle every division and corps command post through mission command training program before we deploy them. You’re going to deploy as you are.”
Townsend, who had led his command six days when speaking, said these units have to be ready and it’s up to home stations to get them ready.
“A system in Afghanistan is different than a system in Operation Inherent Resolve, [is] different than a system in Korea. We’ve got to have a way to be able to plug and play those things, flip a switch, load some software, I don’t know what it is,” he said.
“Those things have to be resident at home stations. If we’re going to fight in Europe, it’s going to be a NATO partner fight,” he added. “A different set of partners might fight in the Pacific with us … there aren’t enough [kits] for a fight in the Pacific. There aren’t enough systems to go everywhere we need them to go. There’s got to be some kind of interface we can flip switches to make it talk, I think.”
The Army, as a result, has begun moving towards a standard, common baseline for its IT and networking solutions. This, they believe, will prevent interoperability problems that popped up over the last 16 with systems and units that had different capabilities. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
12 Mar 18. Roboteam announces AI-CU software. On 1 March Roboteam announced the launch of its Artificial Intelligence Control Unit (AI-CU) software to provide autonomous and artificial intelligence capabilities to the warfighters. The AI-CU software will provide intuitive control and operation of unmanned systems and payloads according to the company. This will include unique features such as autonomous navigation, facial recognition and other artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities for operators of unmanned systems.
The AI-CU allows operators to control numerous platforms and payloads simultaneously, based on multi-robot operator control unit (MOCU) compliant, open source software. Roboteam said that with the use of AI, an operator can control semi-autonomous platforms with voice commands while receiving real-time facial recognition data in the field.
The AI-CU leverages universal sensors that can be integrated with GPS location, pre-defined payload configurations, and mission objectives for autonomous and intuitive operation.
The use of machine learning will allow platforms to recognise individual operators and learn how each user utilises system features and performance.
Its control and usability features automatically adjust during operations, allowing the AI-CU to provide a customised interaction with the platform to better meet an operator’s needs. The AI-CU can be easily modified to meet any mission objective, whether it is controlling UGVs or UAVs. It leverages an obstacle alert system for superior situational awareness.
The software is also designed to provide a high levels of security for users in the battlefield. Sensitive material stored on the AI-CU or robotic platform can be remotely deleted in situations where a platform may have been compromised.
Shahar Abuhazira, CEO, Roboteam, said: ‘The AI-CU will revolutionise the way soldiers are able to execute their mission objectives safely and successfully. This software provides users with the next generation of unmanned software control by enhancing the level of situational awareness and intuitive operation. The AI-CU provides military quality speech and facial recognition technology that will forever change the way soldiers leverage robotics on the battlefield.’ (Source: Shephard)
12 Mar 18. Australia to develop new defence deployable power generation asset. Two companies have teamed up to develop field deployable microgrid power for the Australian Defence Force under funding from the Defence Innovation Hub.
XKG and Optimal Group Australia have come together to develop a new deployable power distribution and generation solution that will deliver a microgrid solution with microturbine power generation technology, enhanced by battery storage and renewable energy sources. XKG and Optimal Group said the system will be based on a plug and play architecture with a sophisticated energy management system.
Managing director of XKG Dominik Kul said the solution will offer reliable power at a low cost.
“With the ADF’s ongoing commitment to operational tasking around the globe, Defence is always looking to find an edge,” said Kul.
“XKG is proud to have responded to Defence’s call for innovation for deployed power solutions by partnering with Optimal Group in this innovation project, which will provide Defence with further options beyond the 20th century solutions currently available. It will provide reliable, scalable, efficient and secure field power with a low total cost of ownership.”
Optimal Group chief executive Craig Dugan said the modular system will be well suited for small deployments.
“Our Defence microgrid will provide substantial benefits to Defence for deployed power,” said Dugan.
“Being modular, the system will be able to be scaled for small field deployments up to large scale bases. Using the Capstone Microturbine and battery storage hybrid, we will provide Defence with the ability to run in silent mode while continuing to draw full power.”
The project involves developing a microgrid solution to support Defence’s Deployed Force Infrastructure energy requirements.
XKG and Optimal Group said the components of the system are designed to be dispersed through a base on a ring main system such that any one element can be removed from the system without affecting the broader system’s operation.
“The redundancy built into our system will provide Defence with power security far exceeding their existing systems,” said Dugan. (Source: Defence Connect)
08 Mar 18. US Army official: ‘We’ve been on a modernization vacation.’ The US Army is undergoing a series of modernization efforts, not the least of which includes how it buys and fields network, communications and mission command capabilities.
“We’ve been on a modernization vacation,” Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, told an audience before the AFCEA Army Signal Conference in Springfield, Virginia March 7. “The culture of the Army is changing.”
The recent budget request for fiscal 2019 provides an opportunity to “get well,” he said
Part of this change relates to doing business differently and procuring systems on faster timelines to keep pace with commercial technology. Some Army leaders have noted in the past that the current acquisition structure is not optimized to take advantage of gains in the commercial world.
Ostrowski charted a familiar path: bring in more commercial companies, leverage non-traditional acquisition mechanisms such as Other Transaction Agreements to get away from Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR-based contracts, increase prototyping and experimentation.
In terms of specifics, Ostrowski pointed to the new cross functional teams the Army established that line up with the chief of staff’s six modernization priorities and are designed to shrink acquisition and fielding timelines.
These teams, he said, are designed to draw the requirements process down to months as opposed to years.
A network solution?
In describing what the future network might look like, Ostrowski used smart phones as an example.
Folks open their phones and look at texts or emails from the night before, which is the data aspect of a radio, make a call to family or friends, which is the voice aspect, watch television through an application, which is full motion video aspect, all done in a WiFi environment that can seamlessly transition from WiFi to 3G or 4G.
“Why is it that we can’t do the same thing for our soldiers,” he asked. “How many countries are putting in landlines? Nobody. Why? They go through cell towers. So the question is who is going to create the first transport layer that the Army can use that goes beyond cell towers?”
This future capability would have to provide radios to tap into all the available networks seamlessly to include small satellites or some other innovative solution to get after the ability to reliably communicate seamlessly anywhere in the world anytime.
“We have to, at the risk of failure, get after the next generation transport layer so that we’re not caught flat footed and we’re ready for the next fight,” he said.
Help from Congress
Ostrowski also said he needs help from Congress in the way of flexibility in funding “in an environment where IT is exploding in terms of the capabilities being provided.”
“Right now I have program element lines that say I’m going to buy ‘x’ number of widgets,” he said. “If I want to change any of that in order to go after speed to market, I have to do this thing called above threshold reprogramming in order to go after getting funds in order to take advantage of speed to market. I need congressional help to do that. I’m letting the Hill know.”
OTAs are also helping in that they get around the FAR and allow for greater direct dialogue with industry as opposed to months of written correspondence that “gets you nowhere” in the current FAR-based system.
“We need some first downs. We want the touchdown, but you don’t get there very often unless you make some first downs,” he said in regards to near and mid-term solutions the Army is chasing, acknowledging they can’t get to the end state right away, they must address the pressing operational needs in the interim.
Referencing another Army buzzphrase – adapt and buy – Ostrowski said the Army has looked at what has been done across other services and other executive branch agencies to see what they can take advantage of. The service found some capabilities in the special operations community that it liked and adapted.
There’s also been opportunities with the Security Force Assistance Brigades, a new, specialized brigade within the Army designed solely to conduct advise and assist missions overseas, to “bring that capability in, to experiment with it, to continue to prototype it and trying to get after fixing what we currently have,” he said.
The Army put a “new capability in their hands, played with it, perfected it along with the 82nd Airborne and next thing you know we’ve got some potential fixes,” he said adding this is “exactly what we need to do.”
The service is also looking into anti-jam antennas, Ostrowski said.
“Some of these things are reachable now and can be rolled in – potentially and perhaps – to our objective network,” he said.
Another Army leader at the conference indicated progress might really begin to take place in the early 2020s.
“You’ll see in that that there’s a balance beginning to occur between readiness end strength and modernization around the 2022 timeframe,” Maj. Gen. John George, director of force development in the Army’s deputy chief of staff G8. “If you think about the future as we approach ‘21, ‘22, that’s an opportunity of us to really make the turn and start modernizing our force with leap-ahead technologies.” (Source: Defense News)
08 Mar 18. Russia and China are forcing the Army to buy IT equipment differently. US Army leaders used the AFCEA Army Signal Conference in Springfield, Virginia this week to emphasize that the service wants to change is the way it buys and equips forces from an IT and communications perspective.
The Army recently finished its high profile review of the tactical network in which it charted a “halt, fix, pivot” approach for the future.
While officials have maintained the tactical network as a whole worked as designed, with the return of so-called great power competition, WIN-T is no longer what the service needs for the future.
“When it comes to communications, the network, WIN-T was built for a specific fight – the [counterinsurgency] fight where we knew or believed or we assumed that we would own the electromagnetic spectrum,” Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said March 7. “So guess what? Crimea happened. And what did we learn? We learned that the Russians had studied us. they understood our tactics, our techniques, or procedures over the last 16 years of war and they did exactly what we would do – they found, fixed and finished. To devastating effects.”
So what is the Army doing? For months, officials have hinted that large programs of record within IT and communications might be a thing of the past because it is often difficult to insert technology refreshes and advancements.
“The Army has been reviewing all current and potentially new programs that support the network,” Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford, CIO/G6, told C4ISRNET via a written emailed response. “As we move forward in modernizing our network we are pursuing a ‘modernization in service’ approach, a separate funding line not associated with a program of record, which provides more flexible funding and enables us to insert evolving technology into our network while simultaneously operating on the network.”
Other officials at the conference pointed to tangible changes the Army has taken in this regard.
“Now [the PM tactical radio] is a capability set that, theoretically, different vendors could enter in and out of to provide a service, capability,” Brig. Gen. Brian J. Mennes, director of force management for the Army’s deputy chief of staff, said March 6.
“If I create a big program thinking I’m going to buy all those radios for the Army, that puts me in a high acquisition category,” he added. “If you can keep the lines shorter, shorter marriage of commitment, I think we can iterate.”
Standards of record
One phrase that has emerged in Army acquisition circles over the past few months is the term “standards of record.”
We’re “thinking about programs a little differently. Not necessarily thinking about them as programs of record, but standards of record,” Maj. Gen. John George, director of force development in the office of the Army’s deputy chief of staff, said March 7.
Crawford, has also used this phrase in the past noting “This idea of a program of record is going to migrate to a standards-of-record kind of mindset … That allows us to take advantage of open architectures. It allows us to take advantage of other commercial and industry standard vice this program of record mindset that we’re going to field for 35 or 40 years in our formations.”
George likened the standard of record mindset to a highway. This means the Army would establish rules, everyone would understand what the rules are, what vehicles can and can’t drive on the highway and they must have the police to enforce the standards.
The Army’s solution is to begin buying smarter to both allow greater flexibility to insert new technologies when possible and field the latest and greatest to units that need it.
“We figured out it wasn’t just what we were buying but how we were buying that caused us to be in this situation that we’re in,” Crawford told the conference March 6. “I don’t believe as an institution we actually had our sensors in the right places to be able leverage the might of commercial industry.
“Absent knowing what technology is available, absent a clear eyed and sober view of the playing field to understand what was in the art of the possible what did we do? We bought as much technology as quickly as we can via operational needs statements and we got it in the hands of soldiers.” And therein lies the problem, he said. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
23 Feb 18. Pilot Project EuroSWARM and SPIDER activities completed. Two research activities of the Pilot Project on defence research, SPIDER and EuroSWARM, financed by EU budget, were brought to a successful closure at their respective final meetings on the 20 and 21 February 2018. The last activity, TRAWA, is due to be completed by May 2018.
The Pilot Project aims at exploring how the European Union can support building defence capabilities relevant for the Common Security and Defence Policy and Member States. It was proposed by the European Parliament and launched by the European Commission in response to multiple political calls from EU institutions, Member States and NATO to improve Europe’s defence capabilities. This objective is also enshrined in article 42 (3) of the Treaty on the European Union.
The Pilot Project had been entrusted to the European Defence Agency (EDA) by the European Commission through a Delegation Agreement, which was signed on 16 November 2015. The EDA proposed to the European Commission a list of topics, for the preparation of the work plan of the Pilot Project. The call for proposals, the submission of proposals, the evaluation and the awarding of the grant agreement were organised and coordinated by EDA. After the signature of the grant agreements, three research activities were launched, executed by the awarded consortia and monitored by EDA.
With a budget of 1.4 million euros from the European Union, the three research activities received a grant in the order of € 430.000 each. All projects were launched in November 2016, namely: EuroSWARM, SPIDER and TRAWA.
The successful outcome of the Pilot Project, as a predecessor to the Preparatory Action for Defence Research, is to be seen in proving the feasibility of defence research funding through the EU budget. The initial rationale and objectives of the Pilot Project, which along with the on-going Preparatory Action on Defence Research was set-up to pave the way for a fully-fledged European Defence Research Programme (EDRP) in the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework after 2020, have already been met. It has supported the demonstration that EU funding can effectively support EU defence research needs, based on a structured cooperation and joint work between the European Commission and the EDA. The successful handling of the Pilot Project by the European Commission and the EDA has been an excellent preparation for the Preparatory Action on Defence Research and a future EDRP.
Unmanned Heterogeneous Swarm of Sensor Platforms (EuroSWARM)
EuroSWARM aimed to test and demonstrate that efficient and effective operation of unmanned swarm systems can bring a profound impact to the military arena. The key focus was the minimisation of uncertainties in situational awareness information for surveillance operations through a swarm system of systems composed by static and mobile heterogeneous sensors.
The main objectives of the activity were to:
- develop key techniques for adaptive, informative and reconfigurable operations of unmanned heterogeneous swarm systems, namely: optimal task allocation and resource management, sensor fusion, cooperative guidance, robust sensor network;
- integrate the developed enabling techniques;
- validate the developed enabling techniques based on empirical simulation studies;
- demonstrate the proposed solutions based on a small scale of experiments.
EuroSWARM was carried out by a consortium led by the University of Cranfield (UK) which also included the French aerospace research agency ONERA (Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales), the Swedish Defence Research Agency FOI and the University of Patras (Greece).
Inside Building Awareness and Navigation for Urban Warfare (SPIDER)
SPIDER aimed to develop an innovative system to support Urban-Warfare operations by providing improved situational awareness to operational forces entering an unfriendly building. It focused on the use of radiofrequency (RF) stationary sensors and mobile ground robots.
The main objectives of the activity were to:
- develop and analyse a framework comprising the use of multiple sensors to perform indoor mapping and human detection in an Urban Warfare context;
- consider the choice of a data fusion strategy to process and combine sensor data;
- explore the advantages and constraints of using each solution as well as solutions encompassing autonomous robots combined with static RF sensor networks.
SPIDER was carried out by a consortium led by TEKEVER, a Portuguese technology company, and composed of IT Aveiro – Instituto de Telecomunicações (Portugal), Aralia (UK) and the Bulgarian Defence Institute (BDI).
Standardisation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Detect and Avoid (TRAWA)
The TRAWA activity, which is still ongoing, aims to contribute to the development of standards for a performant and affordable detect and avoid (DAA) system usable on-board Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). It is focused on the Remain Well Clear (RWC) function and contributes to the standardisation activities in cooperation with other international efforts in full alignment with EUROCAE WG 105 Terms of Reference.
The main objectives of the activity are to:
- specify Remain Well Clear in quantitative terms and obtain validation via simulations;
- specify sensor types, detection ranges and position estimation accuracy;
- develop requirements for remote pilot HMI (Human Machin Interface) characteristics.
TRAWA is carried out by a consortium led by the Netherlands Aerospace Center (NLR) with the following partners: the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR), Deep Blue (Italy), Tony Henley Consulting (UK) and EuroUSC (Italy). (Source: EDA)
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE
Web Page sponsor Viasat
www.viasat.com/gov-uk
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12 Mar 18. Viasat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced the availability of ViaSat-2 satellite communications (SATCOM) service for government, defence and military applications. The service leverages the world’s most advanced communications satellite, ViaSat-2, along with innovations in ground networking technologies, that will deliver significant performance advantages over any other commercial or U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) SATCOM system. In early March 2018, Viasat conducted a ViaSat-2 SATCOM system demonstration—attended by representatives from the U.S. armed forces—and showed a number of cloud-based government applications. The speeds on the ViaSat-2 satellite system demonstrated the industry’s fastest broadband connections, exceeding 100 Mbps during the demonstration day.
The ViaSat-2 SATCOM system has the ability to:
- Transmit bandwidth-intensive, media-rich cloud applications: Fast data rates and more satellite capacity will enable 4K and HD video streaming to thousands of electronic devices simultaneously for greater operational capabilities at the tactical edge.
- Conduct more simultaneous operations: Abundant capacity will enable warfighters to capture and send Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensor data; transmit live two-way video conferencing and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls; as well as conduct Command and Control (C2) and Situational Awareness (SA) communications as prioritized traffic to many more platforms in a region.
- Continue operating through an electromagnetic, terrestrial or cyber-attack: Resiliency is provided through the ViaSat-2 system’s exceptional anti-interferer performance, Viasat’s unique Satellite Access Node (SAN) gateway diversity, seamless satellite switching and assured pattern re-routing to operate through gateway failures, and through Viasat’s Active Cyber Defense, which automatically detects, mitigates and attributes Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks against the network’s infrastructure. The resilient nature of the Viasat network will enable mission-critical communication packets to be protected and distributed safely, even in highly contested combat environments.
- Provide assured communications: Viasat’s Best Available Network concept provides a global, redundant system for military to access Viasat’s global Ku-band networks, its more advanced Ka-band networks, as well as the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. The Best Available Network allows terminals to roam across multiple networks to maximize resilience and collaboration for ground fixed, transportable, mobile, maritime and airborne platforms.
“We are proudly demonstrating emerging U.S. government concept of operations requiring bandwidth-intensive, cloud-connected military applications with our latest high-throughput commercial satellite, ViaSat-2,” said Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems, Viasat. “The innovations in the new ViaSat-2 satellite and network show that we can dramatically improve operational capabilities for military missions. This satcom system is the first in our series of ultra-high-capacity global satellite networks, which will enable superior reach, readiness, and resiliency for global military forces.”
The ViaSat-2 satellite system validates the performance advantages and capabilities of Viasat’s commercial satcom system today with a glimpse into the Company’s ViaSat-3 satcom system capabilities. Viasat’s satcom network delivers more bandwidth and better resilience, redundancy and active cyber protection required to maximize operational performance in the contested environments military operations face during combat.
16 Mar 18. Build Missile Defense Space Sensors Now.
Faced with an improving Russian threat, the United States should deploy a serious space sensor layer to provide persistent birth-to-death tracking of missiles, including against the kind that rip through the air at low altitudes 20 times the speed of sound (hypersonics).
Vladimir Putin recently showed off an animated film of Russia attacking the United States while bragging about Russia’s supposed new nuclear missile capabilities. Adding insult to injury, according to him, the new Russian missiles are so complex that the United States can’t defend against them.
Well, not quite. Last weekend Defense Secretary Jim Mattis clarified that the Russian capabilities are years away from being operational. Besides, Russia’s current arsenal can already reach our allies and the U.S. homeland, and it’s not hard to evade a defensive system that isn’t trained on your weapons in the first place. But that could be changing soon, at least to some degree, against some Russian missile threats. Step one is to deploy a serious space sensor layer to provide persistent birth-to-death tracking of missiles, including against the kind that rip through the air at low altitudes 20 times the speed of sound (hypersonics).
Although nerve-rackingly escalatory in the invective directed at the United States, Putin didn’t just start ordering his military to come up with these sophisticated missiles because the Trump administration focused on great power competition in its National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review. Rather, those reports are a response to the behaviors of Russia and China, who are both contesting the United States in various regions of the world. Part of that contest involves building missiles meant to hold at risk U.S. assets that, if targeted, would have strategic effects. The forthcoming Missile Defense Review (MDR) is the next report in the series. (Note the word “ballistic” has been dropped from the report’s name.) I have likened these reports to Russian nesting dolls, each one complementing the other and explaining in greater detail what the United States will do to successfully engage in great power competition.
The MDR ought to, and I expect it to if it remains true to the previous documents, outline how the United States is updating its missile defense policy and architecture to defend the United States and our allies and interests from increasingly complex missile threats from wherever they emanate.
Even after President George Bush rightfully withdrew the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) in 2002, U.S. missile defense policy has remained comparatively modest in its aspirations. Policymakers from both parties have eschewed plans to expand missile defense to include capabilities that could defend the United States and allies from Russian or Chinese missile attacks. The current missile defense architecture is designed to defend against simpler (but certainly not “simple”) ballistic missile attacks from rogue nations like North Korea and Iran.
But U.S. military leaders have been not-so-quietly sounding the alarm about the threat to the U.S. homeland posed by Russian cruise missiles. Charles Jacoby, then in charge of Northern Command, warned congressional committees in 2014 of the vulnerability of the United States to the missiles Russia and China are building. The NORTHCOM commander who followed him, Bill Gortney, echoed his sentiments, and in 2015 Sandy Winnefeld, then vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave a speech outlining the threat of Russian cruise missiles to the United States.
If the United States is really going to “develop a state-of-the-art missile defense system to protect against missile-based attacks from states like Iran and North Korea” as stated in a Trump administration policy document, the United States must shore up weaknesses in the current sensor architecture. That also requires committing the resources necessary to deploy a space-based sensor constellation.
The current U.S. missile defense architecture relies on a combination of terrestrial and sea-based sensors (and a very limited space-based sensor layer) to cue defensive systems. While impressive and effective against many of the ballistic missiles the United States is trained on, the threats emanating from North Korea and Iran, the missile defense systems are only as capable as their sensors. Ground and sea-based systems will always be limited by permanent problems like the curvature of the earth that make difficult persistent tracking from the birth of the missile until intercept.
The vantage point of space, looking down at the earth, deals with that problem handily, and will provide a complement — not a replacement — for the current sensors deployed around the globe. Talk is cheap and the solutions are often expensive, but not as expensive as not doing it. This is the message of Strategic Command’s Gen. John Hyten, who, days before Putin’s brag fest bluntly stated: “There are not enough ships, there are not enough islands in the Pacific that radars can answer all of your sensor questions.”
It’s also way past time to put to rest the notion that when it comes to missile defense, the United States should only worry about North Korea and Iran, or that to counter those “rogue” nations it merely requires a more limited type of defensive system.
Those two countries will continue to advance their missile programs in capability—adding more complex decoys and countermeasures—and quantity, closing the gap for all intents and purposes between the kind of systems needed to optimally discriminate decoys from countermeasures on ballistic missiles and to track the earth-hugging cruise missile variety. “As the countermeasures become more complex that the enemy’s using, you have to see what they’re doing earlier in flight,” Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Scott Greaves recently noted. In sum, sensors from space will dramatically supercharge the current ballistic missile defense architecture to stay ahead of the increasing threat even from the rogue nations with smaller ballistic missile arsenals.
Those opposed to qualitatively improving the entire missile defense architecture to include a robust space sensor layer generally make three arguments making the system too robust would be:
- far too expensive;
- too technically difficult;
- and, worst of all, “destabilizing.”
But Gen. Hyten insists that space sensor technology is mature enough to become a reality, and will be far more cost effective than continuing to pepper the globe with terrestrial and sea-based sensors. That will be true, of course, as long as the Pentagon doesn’t “pile on” unreasonable requirements. Gen. Greaves agrees. “We’re not starting from scratch. We’re starting from capability that’s either existing or has developed to a point where there’s high confidence,” he said recently. “It’s based on a design that’s absolutely achievable, Technology Readiness Level Six.” (TL 6 means that the technology has a “fully functional prototype or representational model,” but has not been tested in space.)
If the United States sets out to build a missile defense architecture capable of defending against every missile in adversaries’ arsenals, it would indeed be cost-prohibitive. There are simply too many missiles worldwide. It’s also impossible to imagine a scenario in which the United States remained in a fortress posture and merely played catch with an onslaught of North Korean or Russian missiles. In a real-life scenario, the United States would use a mix of offensive and defensive capabilities, conventional and, perhaps, strategic, to provide optimal protection of key interests, while seeking to end the conflict as quickly as possible on terms most favorable to the United States.
The last criticism, that an improved system would be “destabilizing,” is especially interesting because it has the least evidence to support it. The United States does not build missile defense systems to intercept Russian missiles. Rather than being dissuaded from investing in expensive strategic missiles meant to hold at risk targets in the United States (or invaluable national security satellites) Russia appears to have been tempted to exploit those vulnerabilities. Remaining vulnerable to Russian strategic missiles has not resulted in a more stable environment; in fact, the opposite is true. It’s time the United States close that exploitable gap, and once a satellite constellation is in place, the United States could get even sportier and put a kill capability on those satellites, not only to provide the satellites with a means of self-defense, but also to provide a capability to shoot down threat missiles while they are still boosting.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry admonished those who wish to keep the missile defense system intentionally limited in nature. “It is foolish to try and pick and choose what aggression we will stand against and which we will let go unanswered,” he said. “It is not enough to advocate for a more robust cyber response to Russia’s attempts to meddle in our elections but waiver on our response to their renewed nuclear and territorial ambitions.” The chairman is precisely right. Now it’s up to the administration to make the same points just as clearly in the Missile Defense Review, and to provide the necessary funding. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
15 Mar 18. Why industry wants the Pentagon to consider small satellites. Industry leaders at the Satellite 2018 conference continued to tout small satellites, long an object of fascination in the space community, as a potential benefit to the Department of Defense.
Small satellites range in mass from a few kilograms to half a metric ton. These mini satellites can be used for gathering intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities at a fraction of the cost of larger satellites that the government typically launches into orbit.
“The government has a couple of really strong reasons to go and use small launch and small satellites,” said Dan Hart, president and CEO of Virgin Orbit, which recently signed a contract to launch several smallsat payloads for the U.S. Air Force. “One is the economics, but the other is resilience.”
Resilience has been a key factor in the Pentagon’s approach to space technology, especially in recent years as adversaries such as Russia and China begin to act more aggressively in space. DoD officials are increasingly viewing space as a potential battlefield and are designing spacecraft accordingly.
“If you have large centralized satellites, they’re vulnerable to attack if conflicts arise,” Hart said. “If you can put a capability across 50 satellites, you thoroughly complicate the adversaries’ targeting problem. If they only cost $10m to $20m to put up, instead of $1bn, well, you can just replenish them.”
But some Defense Department officials are skeptical about Hart’s line of thinking. The Pentagon’s embrace of small satellites for military use has been limited. Small satellites’ size often limits the payloads they can carry and the amount of critical information they can gather. In October 2016 senior Air Force officials said they were uncertain about the future of the technology and that small satellites also lack the self-defense capabilities necessary to ward off an attack, leaving them cost-ineffective.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has taken an interest in small satellites as an avenue to prepare for a more militarized space environment. The agency is currently working on several programs aimed at developing small satellite technology such as miniaturized sensors and laser communication systems for relaying information back to ground. Stephen Walker, the director of DARPA, has said the agency is looking at how to leverage industry partners working at low-Earth orbit and how the Pentagon buys smaller, cheaper satellite buses. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
15 Mar 18. The Pentagon has a new metric for SATCOM: lethality. Industry has been watching with keen interest for a Department of Defense study on the future of satellite communications, but a new National Defense Strategy could impact the satellite communications world as well.
“It’s about the war fighter. It’s about obtaining mission effectiveness and as the secretary who is the ultimate decision maker for us, has stated in the national [defense] strategy, it’s about lethality,” Norman Yarbrough, operations research analyst in the Office of the deputy assistant secretary of defense for C3, cyber, and business systems, said during a panel discussion March 14 at the Satellite 2018 conference in Washington, D.C.. “How much better can we hold targets at risk or hold the adversary at risk. How much readiness do we want to have … Ultimately, the use of SATCOM … is certainly going to feed into doing that.”
DoD is looking to work with industry on several metrics, including lethality, readiness and survivability of forces. Senior leaders also want to know how much better is the Defense Department positioned to fulfill its missions as it invests the dollars into this satellite communications capability, he added.
In the current analysis of alternative process, DoD is trying to better understand how specific satellite architectures would work, including what are the use cases, what are the warfighters who can best be served by the particular strengths of each of the concepts while paying homage to the weaknesses as well, Yarbrough said.
“It’s ultimately about a risk versus reward for the department as we go forward,” he said. “The trade space that we’re looking at is still wide open … [we’re] trying to understand how the range of alternatives the department could look at whether it’s purely purpose built … all the way to using purely commercial systems and the enterprises that go along with those commercial systems, they’re all still in play.”
(Source: C4ISR & Networks)
14 Mar 18. ILS, a leading provider of commercial launch services, announced multiple launch assignments for Proton Medium launches that will include the use of both the 4.35 meter and the new 5.2 meter payload fairing. The missions will take place beginning in late 2019 from Pad 24 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Proton Medium launch vehicle is an optimized 2-stage version of the heritage Proton Breeze M vehicle. The medium class vehicle serves the lighter weight satellites in the 3.5 to 6 Metric Ton range with the capability to launch single, dual or multiple satellites to a variety of orbits. The Proton Medium vehicle utilizes either the 5.2 or 4.35 meter payload fairing with the benefits of the standard, flight-proven Proton Breeze M configuration and spacecraft insertion history.
“Since its introduction in the fall of 2016, and following the first firm launch order for the vehicle at that time, the Proton Medium has continued to gain traction and interest in the marketplace,” said Kirk Pysher, President of ILS. “Customers continue to look for vehicles that are right-sized for new-generation missions but also provide compelling value and launch vehicle diversity.” Pysher continued, “We look forward to the upcoming launches starting next year.”
(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Mar 18. SAT4M2M and Fujitsu Electronics have decided to cooperate on the development of a dedicated module enabling IoT communications via satellites. The cooperation between the two companies aims at the design, development and production of a new range of IoT LPWA (Low power Wide Area) modules to the booming IoT markets with the following disruptive key features:
- Communication to Low Earth Orbits (LEO) satellite payloads according to the SAT4M2M developed protocol of communication with the use of SAT4M2M patents
- Global coverage with several IoT messages / day
- High capacity serving thousands of connected objects simultaneously
- Low battery consumption that secures + 5 years autonomous operation with the use of small batteries
- Easy integration with terrestrial LPWA solutions (Sigfox, Lora, Weightless and NB IoT)
- Easy integration with GNSS capabilities (GPS, Glonass and Galileo)
- Easy integration of SPI/I2C sensors
The companies
SAT4M2M: “Bringing Space to the Internet of Things”.
The company develops a disruptive LPWA space based connectivity to expand the fast growing domains of IoT and benefits from the support of EU, ESA (European Space Agency), ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute), DLR (German Space Agency), leading industry partners and has secured substantial financing. The company meets the needs of a high number of business cases in the following Industrial IoT verticals: transportation & logistics, industry 4.0, agriculture, energy & environment, safety & security.
As an end user or IoT player, feel free to contact us for a participation in our on- going IoT developments & projects.
13 Mar 18. Orbital ATK Introduces Next Generation of In-Orbit. Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced its plan for the company’s next generation of satellite life extension and in-space servicing products. During a keynote address at the SATELLITE 2018 Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C., Orbital ATK President and Chief Executive Officer David W. Thompson and SpaceLogistics President Tom L. Wilson introduced a new robotic servicing system that provides additional options for customers to enhance the value of their satellites. This new space system also enables the company to expand its customer base with advanced mission capabilities in an emerging market that Orbital ATK is pioneering.
The new system consists of two products, Mission Extension Pods (MEPs)™ and Mission Robotic Vehicles (MRVs)™, which complement the industry’s first commercial satellite servicing vehicles, Orbital ATK’s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEVs)™, by providing customers with more flexibility to extend the life and effect repairs to their valuable in-orbit satellite assets. The MEP is an external propulsion module that attaches to and provides up to five years of orbital life extension for aging satellites which are running low on fuel, but are otherwise healthy. While the primary application of the MRV is to transport and install MEPs or other payloads on customer satellites, it will also offer space robotic capabilities for in-orbit repairs and similar functions.
Continuing Orbital ATK’s “keep it simple” strategy, MEP installation is low risk and allows a customer to remain in full control of their satellite before, during and after the process. Both new products leverage the company’s MEV technology while adding new capabilities to its expanding fleet of in-orbit servicing vehicles. SpaceLogistics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Orbital ATK, is now offering this innovative new system with initial launch scheduled for 2021.
“The introduction of MEPs allows us to offer a complementary service alongside our MEVs to meet the industry’s needs by providing low-risk, low-cost station-keeping for geosynchronous satellites of all types,” said Wilson, President of SpaceLogistics. “We always aimed to expand our fleet to provide a wide variety of space logistics services, and the MEV, MEP and MRV products give our customers the option to select exactly the kind of life extension or in-space repair they may need,” he added.
As Orbital ATK introduces its newest in-orbit servicing system, the company continues to make excellent progress on the production of its first two Mission Extension Vehicles. MEV-1 is scheduled to launch in late 2018 and MEV-2 is targeted for lift-off in early 2020. Each MEV has a 15-year design life with the ability to perform numerous dockings and other services during its life span. Intelsat, one of the world’s largest commercial satellite operators, is the initial customer for the first two MEV’s.
The MEV, MEPs and MRV are part of SpaceLogistics’ long-range plan to establish a fleet of in-orbit servicing vehicles that can address diverse space logistics needs including repair, assembly and through-space transportation. The company is also working with U.S. government agencies to develop and implement new capabilities in its servicing vehicle fleet. These include next-generation repair vehicles, in-orbit assembly of large space structures, and cargo delivery and logistics services to deep-space gateways in lunar orbit.
B-roll and animation footage for Orbital ATK’s next-generation commercial servicing vehicles can be found here: http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/bmc/#. Please note that media will need to request a PIN for access. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Mar 18. Rohde & Schwarz to Present Compact Amplifier for Latest-generation Satellite Uplinks.
With its new R&S PKU100, Rohde & Schwarz is entering the market for satellite uplink amplifiers in the Ku band. The R&S PKU100 combines the best of two worlds in a single device: the unbeatable strengths of solid-state amplifiers and the compactness and low weight of tube amplifiers. Adaptive linearization makes the R&S PKU100 truly innovative.
The R&S PKU100 from Rohde & Schwarz ushers in a true technology shift in uplink signal amplification. The device uses solid-state output stages throughout and offers a genuine alternative to conventional tube technology. Should individual transistors fail, for example, the amplifier will continue to operate at reduced power.
The R&S PKU100 is just as light, compact and energy-efficient as conventional tube amplifiers and therefore clearly superior to comparable semiconductor-based products. No other instrument on the market offers adaptive linearization. This improves signal quality, enabling network operators to transmit significantly more data over the same signal bandwidth. The amplifier offers excellent efficiency, reducing operating costs.
The R&S PKU100 is available in indoor and outdoor versions. It can be used in ground stations and satellite news gathering (SNG) vehicles.
Rohde & Schwarz has put a lot of thought into the amplifier’s power supply concept. If fitted with an optional redundant power supply, the R&S PKU100 will continue to operate should one of the power supplies fail.
The solid-state amplifier comes in 400 W and 750 W versions, each with a frequency range from 12.75 GHz to 13.25 GHz and 13.75 GHz to 14.5 GHz, covering the Ku band. The R&S PKU100 can be fitted with a block upconverter (BUC), allowing low-frequency L-band signals to be processed and converted to the Ku band. The amplifier can be controlled remotely; it supports all common standards such as a web interface, SNMP, RS-232 and parallel I/O interfaces.
The R&S PKU100 will be available from Rohde & Schwarz as of June 2018. It will be presented at the Satellite Show in Washington at booth 2216.
(Source: ASD Network)
13 Mar 18. World’s Only Commercially-Available, Flat-Panel, Electronically-Steered Satellite Terminal Now Available in a New, Innovative Package. After last year’s successful commercial launch, Kymeta—the communications company making good on the promise of global, mobile connectivity—continues to lead innovation in the satellite communications market. Kymeta today announced limited availability of the Kymeta™ KyWay™ Go, a portable, mobile SATCOM terminal. Another industry-first solution, the KyWay Go is a ruggedized, portable terminal that can be up and running in minutes.
“Commercial and government customers have shown great interest in a portable KyWay satellite terminal for use in defense, oil and gas, and first responder applications,” said Nathan Kundtz, Founder, President and CEO, Kymeta. “Since becoming commercially available, the Kymeta KyWay flat-panel, electronically-steered terminal has been widely deployed across more than 23 customers, in ten countries, and seven industries. Interest in the new KyWay Go has been significant and we look forward to sharing its capabilities during SATELLITE 2018.”
The KyWay Go rapid-deployment terminal currently comes in two cases, and goes from opening the boxes to transmitting in less than four minutes. The initial limited production units are available to rent for 3-month or 6-month periods or can be purchased. KyWay Go can be bundled with Kymeta’s innovative and affordable KĀLO™ satellite connectivity services, as well as bespoke MIR/CIR satellite plans. The KyWay Go will be available to both commercial and government organizations.
(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
12 Mar 18. ILS and Effective Space Announce the ILS Proton Breeze M Launch of Two Satellite-Servicing Space Drone Spacecraft in 2020.
ILS, a U.S.-based leading global commercial launch services provider and UK headquartered Effective Space announce their intent to contract to deliver two of Effective Space’s SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft into orbit. The Proton Breeze M rideshare launch is planned for 2020 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
“ILS is focused on serving the satellite industry with flexible, and affordable launch solutions and our agreement with Effective Space is a perfect example of that. The performance of the Proton Breeze M vehicle to deliver the SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft directly to geostationary orbit combined with our decades-long history of launching dual or multiple spacecraft at one time, makes it a natural fit for Proton to deploy their spacecraft,” said ILS President Kirk Pysher. “This combination of performance and experience will enable Effective Space to realize their mission objective in the most expedient and effective way possible.”
The ILS Proton Breeze M vehicle with the standard 4 meter payload fairing will launch the two spacecraft into a geostationary orbit. The SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft will then use their onboard propulsion system to maneuver to their contracted life-extension mission locations, as recently announced.
Related Research on ASDReports.com:
The Global Military Satellite Market 2018-2028
The SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft is a 400-kilogram spacecraft (1m x 1m x 1.25m) that has a universal, non-intrusive docking system to rendezvous and dock to the geostationary host satellite. The SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft then uses electric propulsion to take over the station-keeping and attitude-control maneuvers of the joint stack. Missions include station-keeping, relocation, deorbiting, orbit correction, inclination correction and ‘bringing into use’ (BIU). The ILS Proton Breeze M launch will be the first deployment of Effective Space’s SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft in 2020.
Planned fleet expansion will see up to six (6) SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft being sent to orbit on an annual basis. Future phases will see SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft being launched to support low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations, Active-Debris-Removal (ADR) and other logistics in space. “Launching our first two SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft into a geostationary orbit is part of our strong commitment to our first customer, meeting mission timeline and ensuring smooth transition into a life-extension service,” said Arie Halsband, founder and CEO of Effective Space.
“Due to the attractive economics, extending existing assets in space is something that is gaining significant traction in today’s market. With that in mind, the announcement of this launch, utilizing the performance of the Proton Breeze M vehicle, is an important milestone for a rapidly developing market. ILS worked with us to arrive at a reliable, high performing, cost-effective solution for our business. We look forward to our continued work with ILS and Khrunichev to propel this exciting phase of our company forward,” said Halsband.
The Proton Breeze M vehicle has launched 416 times since its maiden launch in 1965, when it started out as a two-stage vehicle. For ILS, there have been 96 missions to date since its debut with the launch of the Astra 1F communications satellite in 1996. Proton Breeze M has a lift capability of 6.3 Metric Tons to reference GTO and over 3 Metric Tons to GSO; it has the versatility to launch single, dedicated missions as well as dual or multiple spacecraft with either the standard 4.35m payload fairing or the larger 5.2m diameter payload fairing.
(Source: ASD Network)
13 Mar 18. Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio and Spaceflight Industries Finalize Alliance to Manufacture Smallsats at Scale and Deliver Innovative Geospatial Services. At the Satellite 2018 conference, The Space Alliance formed by Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67%, Leonardo 33%) and Telespazio (Leonardo 67%, Thales 33%) announced today it has officially taken a minority stake in Seattle-based Spaceflight Industries, having received all government approvals for the transaction.
This investment is part of an overall fundraising effort of $150m from several sources which include The Space Alliance, existing investors, and Mitsui & Co., Ltd., one of the largest general trading companies in Japan. With this latest funding, Spaceflight Industries has raised more than $200 million in total capital.
BlackSky, the geospatial intelligence company of Spaceflight Industries, is now fulfilling its vision to deploy a high revisit rate earth imaging constellation which, especially when combined with other space and terrestrial based sensors, will enable delivery of innovative global monitoring solutions and geospatial activity-based intelligence products and services. BlackSky’s first four Global next-generation satellites are slated to launch in the next 12 months. This round of funding ensures production and launch of an additional 20 Global satellites which are planned to be in orbit by 2020. These smallsats will generate revenues that will enable the production and launch of the full 60-satellite constellation.
In conjunction with the investment, Thales Alenia Space and Spaceflight Industries are creating a Seattle-based industrial joint venture (owned 50% by Spaceflight Industries and 50% by Thales Alenia Space) which will be responsible for manufacturing cost-effective, high-performance small satellites at scale, including the 20 satellites for the BlackSky constellation. The new company, named LeoStella LLC, will start operation this year. It will provide a unique capability for the U.S. market as well as the fast growing low earth orbit constellations. The executive team is being formed from both Spaceflight Industries and Thales Alenia Space, as well as other leading organizations.
Finally, BlackSky and Telespazio have signed a joint cooperation and marketing agreement to distribute each other’s products and services, as well as co-develop, brand, and market unique applications and services. Under the agreement, Telespazio will sell BlackSky products and services within Europe to key government customers.
“This partnership reflects the ‘new space’ transformation strategy being implemented by Thales Alenia Space, with the aim of becoming a major manufacturer of small satellites for constellations featuring short revisit times, both in Europe and the United States,” said Jean Loïc Galle, president and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “The LeoStella LLC Joint Venture, will combine the innovative and competitive design of the platform developed by Spaceflight Industries, with the industrial expertise developed by Thales Alenia Space for constellations such as Globalstar 2, Iridium NEXT and O3b, and will be able to offer a production capacity exceeding BlackSky’s requirements.”
“This new and important agreement with Spaceflight Industries strengthens Telespazio’s role as global operator in the greatly expanding sector of the Earth observation from space,” stated Luigi Pasquali, Leonardo’s coordinator of space activities and CEO of Telespazio. “The launch of new constellations of mini-satellites working alongside the main space systems will be one of the driving elements of the ‘space economy’ and will allow Telespazio to meet in an even more effective and profitable way the present and future needs of innovative services for citizens, institutions and companies.”
According to Jason Andrews, chairman and CEO of Spaceflight Industries, “This agreement with two leading players in the European space industry validates the BlackSky business model and reduces capital and execution risk for our high-revisit rate earth observation constellation. The LeoStella LLC Joint Venture with Thales Alenia Space represents a game changer for small and microsatellite production in the United States. Further, the partnership with Telespazio, and significant involvement of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., accelerates our go-to-market strategy and creates win-win synergies for all parties.”
The Earth observation market is undergoing constant changes, with increasing requirements in terms of both high resolution and much shorter revisit times. Thales Alenia Space, Spaceflight Industries and Telespazio are combining their strengths to offer a constellation of small satellites that will be deployed in conjunction with a smart ground segment to offer services at very competitive prices by calling on massive and automated data/image processing. The result is a disruptive product, designed not only for traditional customers in the commercial observation market, but also to support the development of new vertical B2B markets, such as mining, energy, transport, finance, agriculture, manufacturing and environmental monitoring, and even B2C applications.
(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Mar 18. Spectra Group announces major US orders at the Satellite 2018 exhibition in Washington D.C.. Spectra Group (UK) Ltd, a world leading solutions provider of high grade information security and communication capabilities, has today announced the receipt of a series of significant North American orders for SlingShot, Spectra’s BLOS COTM (Beyond Line Of Sight Communications On The Move) system for tactical radios. Already popular with specialist users in the US, in the run up to Satellite 2018 Spectra Group has received a total of 12 separate orders with a combined value of over GBP £2m. the SlingShot orders have been placed by undisclosed US partners and are for use by a variety of end-users.
SlingShot is a unique low SWaP system that enables in-service U/VHF tactical radios to utilise Inmarsat’s commercial satellite network. Including omnidirectional antenna for the man, vehicle, maritime and aviation platforms, the tactical net can broadcast over 1000kms between forward units and a rear HQ, no matter how or where the deployment. In addition to C2 voice, the system enables data capability supporting mission critical applications such as; artillery fire missions, GPS tracking and biometric analysis. With reduced cost compared to traditional TACSAT, increased channel availability and almost no increase in the training burden, SlingShot is redefining tactical communications. Spectra has strategic relationships with both Inmarsat, whose L-TAC™ service uses SlingShot and Airbus which brands SlingShot as TREx services. These order announcements coincide with the Satellite 2018 exhibition taking place in Washington D.C. 12-15 March. At Satellite 2018, one of Spectra Group’s US partners, ComSat Inc, will be showcasing SlingShot on their stand (No. 234/236). Spectra Group representatives will also be on hand to provide further information, if required.
Simon Davies, CEO at Spectra Group (UK) Ltd said: “these recent orders further consolidate our position in the US market and prove, again, that SlingShot is fast becoming the system of choice for tactical radio users needing to increase range, flexibility and interoperability. Users are really beginning to understand the benefits that SlingShot brings with its excellent utility for coalition interoperability, customs and border patrol, anti-narcotics, maritime patrol, homeland security, National Guard, intelligence communities, police, and emergency responders.” He added: “we’re receiving significant amounts of interest in our products and services from around the globe so our attendance at Satellite 2018 is another great opportunity to meet people and explain the advantages of our systems. My team will be at the event all week so please do make contact by visiting the ComSat stand”.
12 Mar 18. Why DoD is a difficult customer for commercial satellite providers. Despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Defense is one of the biggest markets and users of commercial satellite capabilities, it can often be a demanding customer.
One of the biggest gripes of the commercial providers is that requirements for the military continue to change, Sherin Kamal, chief scientist / engineer at SAIC, said at the annual Satellite 2018 conference in Washington March 12.
These requirements are fluid and the military typically doesn’t know in advance where, when, how much or what frequency it needs, which is troublesome for a commercial satellite operator that needs time and money to invest in the proper infrastructure.
“If I want to rent my apartment I’d like to rent it for five years … now I’ve got this demand that’s shifting and moving based on geopolitical needs, based on urgency,” Kamal analogized.
However, despite this criticism from many in the commercial satellite world, Kamal said those complaining need to move past their grips because the military is never going to be able to accurately project requirements.
Instead, he suggested DoD step back and try to estimate its needs for satellite capability and determine how to best maximize agility and resilience.
With all of the satellites the Department of Defense owns, both the Pentagon and military operators should approach the issue, not from a perspective of military requirements vs. commercial requirements, but by asking what are the joint requirements.
Kamal also outlined cyber as a critical challenge for the department moving forward. The satellite platforms themselves orbiting above earth and the ground stations that control them could be susceptible to cyber attack.
Francois Carraud, system chief engineer at Thales Alenia Space during the same conference outlined how his organization has identified three security domains where cybersecurity can be applied in the context of high-throughput satellites. They include:
- the platform domain, which needs to be protected and encompasses the satellite control center uplink stations and onboard software,
- the payload domain, which encompasses payload application software, among others, and
- the user domain, which encompasses user terminals, gateways and network management tools
These domains are segmented as a way to increase resilience and security. By segregating them, an attack from the user segment, for example, would be detected and will be removed before it moves to other links in the chain that control the satellite. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
12 Mar 18. ThinKom Solutions, Inc. today announced it has delivered its next-generation Ka-band aeronautical satellite antenna systems for the U.S. government’s E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft. The E-4B aircraft (SLC3S-A) serves as the National Airborne Operations Center and is a key component of the National Command Systems for the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, providing secure and highly-survivable 24/7/365 global communications. ThinKom was competitively selected to supply its ThinAir® Falcon-Ka2517 fuselage-mounted phased-array antenna systems for installation on the E-4B platforms under a modernization program to replace the aging less-efficient Ku-band ESA systems. The new satcom system will enable more reliable and more cost-efficient higher-bandwidth voice, data and video connectivity in a highly-survivable low-profile subsystem that can exploit both military and commercial satellite assets. Installations are now underway and the upgrades are expected to become operational by the third quarter of this year.
The ThinAir Ka-band fully integrated satcom suite provides industry-leading high throughput and transponder bandwidth efficiency. It supports data rates up to 400 Mbps forward link and 100 Mbps return link. The phased-array antenna apertures are packaged in the industry’s lowest-profile radome, eliminating aerodynamic drag in flight. The unit’s superior high skew angle performance ensures highly efficient connectivity in equatorial regions, while also being able to reliably close links along high-latitude/polar routes at elevation angles below 10 degrees. Importantly, it is the only commercially available Ka-band airborne antenna system with the bandwidth and beam agility to support hybrid operation with both geostationary (GEO) and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks.
The system’s low-profile form factor and fuselage footprint is designed to fit easily on a wide range of military and commercial air transport aircraft including regional, single-aisle and dual-aisle airframes.
“The decision to rely on ThinKom’s new Ka-band system for this mission-critical application is an important validation of the reliability and performance of our superior technology solution,” said ThinKom Director of Sales, Greg Otto. “The product is fully compatible with both commercial and government Ka-band services. We are already engaged with leading inflight entertainment and connectivity service providers, and we expect to see a significant number of deployments in the commercial aviation sector.”
“The future is built into this next-generation antenna system. Its hybrid GEO/LEO capability means it will be fully compatible with the new low-orbit Ka-band satellite networks expected to proliferate in the next few years, as well as high-throughput GEO satellites,” Otto added.
The ThinAir Falcon-Ka2517 has achieved FAA RTCA/DO-160 qualifications, and ARSTRAT/WGS/DISA certifications for the E-4B platform are expected in Q3 2018.
12 Mar 18. Viasat Phased Array Flat Panel Antenna Selected by SES Networks for the O3b mPOWER System. Viasat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced that its solid-state, fully-electronic phased array flat panel antenna has been selected by SES Networks for the O3b mPOWER satellite communications (satcom) system. The Viasat flat panel antenna will be used for a new generation of customer edge terminals for multiple applications on the O3b network.
Viasat’s flat panel antenna technology leverages years of commercial innovation and research and development (R&D) investment. The antenna offers a compact, lightweight solution for fixed and mobile broadband terminals. It is scalable, customizable and will enable SES Networks to target various types of users with different broadband connectivity needs.
“O3b mPOWER is designed to provide connectivity for application-aware services on a global scale,” said John-Paul Hemingway, executive vice president of Product, Marketing and Strategy for SES Networks. “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Viasat, and recognize that with their advancements in terminal technology, we can introduce the latest innovations and greatest cost-efficiencies across multiple market segments at great scale.”
“As part of Viasat’s commitment to broadband satellite services we have made some significant advancements in ground infrastructure and terminal technologies,” said Kevin Harkenrider, president, Commercial Networks at Viasat. “We look forward to being an integral part of SES’ O3b mPOWER ecosystem and believe our flat panel technology will help create compelling end-to-end experiences for SES Networks and its end-users.”
Viasat’s fully-electronic flat panel antenna has the ability to dynamically steer beams—without any moving parts—and rapidly follow a satellite’s position, allowing seamless handover between satellites in a non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) constellation. The antenna also features advancements in spectrum usage; dynamic interference mitigation to and from other satellites; enhanced processing power; and the ability to perform on-the-fly reconfiguration of antenna characteristics to enable end-terminals to support and communicate within a hybrid satcom system of NGSO and Geostationary Satellite (GEO) systems.
The Viasat phased array is based on proprietary flat panel core technology, inclusive of a new radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit and a modular approach that enables multiple types of user terminals—from residential broadband and in-flight Wi-Fi to connected car and backhaul applications—to keep pace with growing broadband connectivity demands. The current phased array uses a dual-beam flat panel antenna system operating in the full Ka- frequency band with an ability to be customized for Ku-band applications. The development of the Viasat phased array is in part supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Viasat and ESA announced in November 2017.
(Source: ASD Network)
08 Mar 18. SES Announces Partnerships for O3b mPOWER Terminals. SES has introduced ALCAN, Isotropic Systems and Viasat as new technology partners for O3b mPOWER which, according to SES Networks, is their groundbreaking satellite-based communications system — these three companies have been contracted by SES to develop smart, high-throughput terminal solutions, a building block in the system’s ground infrastructure innovation roadmap.
Developed with leading technology partners, O3b mPOWER Customer Edge Terminals (CET) will combine innovative steerable antenna technology with functionality spanning modem, networking and edge compute capabilities. The O3b mPOWER CET will deliver advanced network capability in form factors optimized for market specific cost, performance and power that are quick and simple to install, a key part of the strategy to scale SES Networks’ proven Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) system for mass connectivity.
ALCAN, Isotropic Systems and Viasat each have unique, innovative and alternative approaches for the antenna technology, enabling SES Networks and its O3b mPOWER ecosystem with the best possible solutions for its customer market needs. This development strategy plays a critical role in making it faster, easier and more affordable to expand service reach for both SES Networks and its customers in the dynamic mobility, fixed data and government markets.
O3b mPOWER ecosystem of partners
O3b mPOWER creates a unique ecosystem of technology partners in space segment, ground infrastructure and software innovation. In addition to accelerating time to market for new technologies that bring scale to SES Networks, this approach to working together with industry partners in an open, collaborative, standards-based ecosystem will help make satellite a more seamless and mainstream part of global, cloud-scale data networking.
The O3b mPOWER technology partners each bring a differentiated approach to providing innovative technology for SES Networks’ CET:
- ALCAN is working to develop a smart antenna that is flat, low power, and has no mechanical moving parts. The antenna has electronic beam steering capability, which is implemented using liquid crystal (LC) panels that can be manufactured at low cost in LC display assembly lines
- Isotropic Systems is developing a low-cost, low power, unlimited instantaneous bandwidth, optical-based, multi-beam electronically steered terminal that can transmit and receive high bandwidth signals in the same modular and scalable aperture
- Viasat is designing and building an all-electronic dual-beam flat panel antenna system to meet the requirements of the O3b mPOWER next-generation MEO satellite fleet. The Viasat antenna is based on proprietary flat panel core technology, a new radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit and a modular approach that will enable multiple types of user terminals to keep pace with growing broadband connectivity demands
At the heart of the unique O3b mPOWER system will be seven super-powered MEO satellites, with more than 30,000 dynamic, electronically-generated fully-shapeable and steerable beams that can be shifted and switched in real time. The fleet, built by Boeing, is scheduled for launch in 2021 and is scalable to multiple terabits of throughput globally, providing coverage to an area of nearly 400 million square kilometres.
Dr. Onur Karabey, the CEO at ALCAN, said the company is delighted to have achieved this milestone and are looking forward to working with SES to develop a low-cost and low-power flat panel antenna for SES and their MEO constellation. At ALCAN, the firm is excited to be developing these ground-breaking smart antennas and are ideally positioned to meet the demands of an increasingly mobile and connected world.
John Finney, the founder and CEO of Isotropic Systems, noted that users and service providers worldwide are demanding greater access to broadband, and satellite-based network providers such as SES have the opportunity to deliver ubiquitous connectivity services to these potential customers with new and existing HTS capacity at all orbits. The company’s partnership with SES Networks will help to further develop and deploy the firm’s terminal technology. Their new Customer Edge Terminals aim to dramatically change satellite communications by providing cost-effective, high-throughput capacity for global users who lack much-needed connectivity.
Kevin Harkenrider, the President, Commercial Networks at Viasat, added that as part of Viasat’s commitment to broadband satellite services, the company has made some significant advancements in ground infrastructure and terminal technologies. Viasat looks forward to being an integral part of SES’ O3b mPOWER ecosystem and believe the company’s flat panel technology will help create compelling end-to-end experiences for SES Networks and its end-users. (Source: Satnews)
06 Mar 18. Comtech EF Data Goes to New Heights with Heights™ Networking Platform Portfolio Offering New Remote Gateways. Comtech EF Data Corp., a subsidiary within Comtech Telecommunications Corp.’s (NASDAQ: CMTL) Commercial Solutions segment, will be at Satellite 2018 with new and expanded products such as …
the expansion of its Heights™ Networking Platform portfolio to include three new and innovative Remote Gateways. The new Remote Gateways include both indoor and outdoor models – the indoor H-Plus Remote Gateway, and two outdoor units, the H-Plus-ODU Remote Gateway and the H-Pro-ODU Remote Gateway. The offerings provide customers with targeted Heights and Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) solutions to address specific market needs and technology trends that are shaping the satellite communications community.
The H-Plus Remote Gateway, aptly named, provides customers the flexibility to choose between Hub and Spoke VSAT connectivity “Plus” the option to run in true SCPC mode. Providers that are targeting mid-tier VSAT services or those who would prefer to start with a simple hub-less SCPC network can use a single device that allows them to convert from true point-to-point SCPC mode of operation to Hub and Spoke VSAT operation without changing hardware.
The H-Plus Remote Gateway offers flexibility for future applications, and in addition to the quad-core standard onboard processor, it incorporates an optional Single Board Computer (SBC) to offload computationally intensive tasks and provides a location where both organic and third-party applications can reside.
The Outdoor Units (ODU), the H-Plus-ODU Remote Gateway and the H-Pro-ODU Remote Gateway, allow service providers and end-users to move the entire VSAT system onto an antenna and away from environmentally controlled shelters. The outdoor package options reduce the overall power consumption and footprint needed for a VSAT terminal. Moving the electronics outdoors greatly reduces the power consumption, eliminates valuable shelter space and cooling requirements that are typical with indoor models.
Louis Dubin, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Marketing for Comtech EF Data said that their point-to-point SCPC hardware is the global standard for highly efficient operation and best-in-class spectral efficiency. With the new Remote Gateways, customers can now choose to begin network services with SCPC simplicity and efficiency, and then convert to the highly efficient and intelligent Heights Networking Platform when the traffic and overall network dataflow makes sense.
The Heights Networking Platform is engineered to elevate services with greater horsepower, efficiency and intelligence. It combines the most efficient waveforms, Heights Dynamic Network Access (H-DNA), header and payload compression engines, WAN and GTP optimization, multi-tier Quality of Service (QoS), proven dynamic bandwidth and power management along with bi-directional Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) capability to achieve the clients’ goals.
To learn more about the Heights Networking Platform and the new Remote Gateways, visit Comtech’s booth E273 at the Convergence India 2018 show in New Delhi or booth 313 at Satellite 2018 in Washington, D.C.
(Source: Satnews)
06 Mar 18. C-Band Coverage by Spacecom’s AMOS-17 Satellite Acquired by Cobbett Hill Earthstation. Spacecom (Tel Aviv Stock Exchange: SCC), operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, has announced that Cobbett Hill Earthstation has entered into a long term agreement for C-band capacity covering the Sub-Sahara region on the AMOS-17 communication satellite. Scheduled for launch in Q2 2019, AMOS-17 is specifically designed for meeting the growing demands of the African continent. With extensive Ka-band, Ku-band and C-Band HTS services, the satellite will combine broad regional beams and high throughput spot beams to maximize throughput and spectral efficiency from the 17°E orbital position.
Cobbett Hill Earthstation Ltd., a leading UK independent teleport, will use the capacity on AMOS-17’s C-band transponders to provide HTS-based internet, voice, data and broadcast services to the growing Sub-Sahara communication markets.
Cobbett Hill Managing Director, Paul O’Brian stated that the company is looking forward to AMOS-17 taking its place covering Sub-Sahara Africa. Its extensive range and superior power meet our needs for adding new services as we expand our next gen service packages to existing and new clients.
Spacecom’s Ido Ginzburg, VP Sales North America, UK and Nordic, commented that Spacecom is happy to have Cobbett Hill return to the company’s client list. They were one of the firm’s first partners more than 10 years ago and to have them back with Spacecom for AMOS-17 is a great sign of things to come. The company’s new satellite will be the most technologically advanced to service Africa and will deliver a large variety of services from its state of the art digital payload. The satellite will connect Africa, Europe and the Middle East, creating a unique bridge for furthering a new digital age in Sub-Sahara Africa in which satellite services will be at the center. (Source: Satnews)
07 Mar 18. AST&Science has closed on a controlling interest in the European satellite manufacturer and system integrator, NanoAvionics. All the key executives and management team of NanoAvionics will remain unchanged under the leadership of CEO Vytenis Buzas and CCO Linas Sargautis, both founders of the company. Abel Avellan, chairman and CEO of AST&Science, will become chairman of the board of NanoAvionics.
NanoAvionics is a satellite platform manufacturer and mission integrator for satellites weighing less than 50 kg. (110.2 lbs). The company’s flagship, multi-purpose M6P is the first preconfigured nanosatellite platform in the sector, designed to serve emerging commercial space markets. The company’s efforts are focused on enabling critical satellite functions and optimizing their launch, hardware and operating costs — ranging from single missions to constellations. The firm’s core engineering team has implemented more than 40 successful satellite missions during the past several years.
In June 2017, NanoAvionics launched its second satellite under the European Commission’s QB50 project dedicated to atmospheric research. In addition to the scientific study, the satellite performed an important validation of an innovative green chemical propulsion system for small satellites developed by NanoAvionics. It was the first liquid chemical propulsion propelled smallsat in the history of the space-tech industry.
Avellan said that NanoAvionics’ existing programs with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission, its track-record of successful satellite deployments, proprietary technologies for navigation and propulsion, and the abundant technical know-how and vibrant energy throughout their company were key decision factors in this investment. According to Avellan, the investment into NanoAvionics will be used to expand its manufacturing capabilities both in Europe and the United States.
Buzas noted that NanoAvionics has made a huge leap in small satellite technologies during the past few years. The capital infusion, along with the involvement of the broadly experienced AST&Science management team, will be a significant contributing factor in entering the U.S. market and successful further commercialization of the firm’s products. This combined venture will be focused on a goal to become a go-to company for manufacturing and launching smallsat constellations for businesses worldwide. (Source: Satnews)
05 Mar 18. Spacecom in Talks to Build New Ukrainian Satellite. Israel’s Spacecom has held talks in Kyiv, Ukraine, with the head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU) on creating a Ukrainian national satellite communications system (UNSCS). According to an announcement on SSAU’s website, the talks on the status of the UNSCS project were held between SSAU head Pavlo Dehtiarenko and CEO of Spacecom CEO David Pollack in Kyiv at the end of February. According to the press service, Israeli representatives expressed interest in a successful launch into orbit of the [Ukrainian] Lybid satellite and activating it with the aim of using it jointly.
During the meeting, the positive experience of cooperation between Spacecom and the state-owned Ukrkosmos enterprise was noted, namely the rent of the AMOS 7 satellite under the Strana TV project, the press release said. The creation of UNSCS in cooperation with Canada and Russia foresaw the creation and launch of the Lybid satellite, which would operate at a geostationary orbit beaming in three directions: European-Ukrainian, Western-African and Indian, capable of transmitting up to 900 television stations.
The satellite was created under a contract signed by SSAU and Canada’s MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) in December of 2009. A loan worth $254.6m was raised from Export Development Canada (EDC) against government guarantees to build the satellite on the Express 1000NT platform, developed by Russia’s Information Satellite Systems — Reshetnev Company. Since summer 2014, the satellite has been in safe custody at the Russian developer, as was instructed by the Canadian general contractor.
The implementation of the project was under a threat of a failure due to the annexation of Crimea and the loss of land infrastructure involved in the project by Ukraine. Taking additional financial liabilities, Ukraine has overcome force majeure: in 2014 to 2015, a new spacecraft control center was built on Ukraine’s mainland.
Ukraine’s government in October 2017 supported SSAU’s proposal for additional financing of the project in the amount of $17m, taking into account increased costs. SSAU in November announced plans to use the satellite in the second half of 2018. The satellite will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Zenith-3SLBF carrier rocket. The project was jeopardized by the bankruptcy in 2017 of Diamantbank (Kyiv), one of the clients and creditors of Ukrkosmos, which ordered the satellite.
(Source: Satnews)
10 Mar 18. KazSat system earned Kazakhstan $15.5m in 2017. The KazSat national satellite communication system brought $15m in income and replaced $37.2m worth of imports in 2017 due to the reduced use of foreign satellites’ resources, Kazakh Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry Beibit Atamkulov reported, according to the ministry’s press service.
“The KazSat satellite communication system, satellites of the remote sensing system are functioning regularly and smoothly providing solutions to economy, defence and national security tasks. In 2017, state agencies and organisations with the help of the space remote sensing system provided space images of the Earth’s surface with a total area of 11.5m square kilometres for the amount of 1.2bn tenge [US$3.72m],” the minister said.
The agency pays special attention to the promotion of space technologies to foreign markets, with neighbouring states Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan as priority markets. Today, these countries do not have their own space communications systems. During the recent working visit of a Kazakh delegation to Kyrgyzstan, the parties discussed cooperation in various areas, including the joint use of Kazakh space systems by disaster prevention and response agencies in Kyrgyzstan.
“In the near future, the roadmap for the implementation of projects within the framework of agreements with Kyrgyzstan will be prepared,” the ministry report said.
Meanwhile, this year, experts of the ministry will continue work on developing space industry infrastructure, updating the national satellite group, expanding export opportunities and commercialising projects. The work on making Baiterek’s new environmentally friendly space rocket complex will continue, as well as work to exclude the ground-based space infrastructure of the Zenit-M spacecraft from the facilities leased by Russia.
Among the key priorities of the ministry’s work for this year is the management of the full cycle of production of the newest and most promising types of weapons, equipment and services for the implementation of defence and national security tasks.
In addition, the Fund for Defence Industrial Complex Development called for by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev will begin to function this year as a mechanism for supporting enterprises of the defence industry.
“Last year, the Scientific and Technical Council was established at the ministry, which considers and selects the best promising breakthrough projects in the field of defence, space and cybersecurity,” the ministry revealed. As of today, 19 prospective projects worth 3.3bn tenge (US$10.23m) have already been selected. (Source: Google/astanatimes.com)
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15 Mar 18. European firms challenge Boeing in South Korea maritime patrol aircraft tender. U.S. and European aircraft makers are gearing up for South Korea’s $1.8bn contest to acquire new maritime patrol aircraft.
South Korea has long sought to boost its fleet of maritime patrol and surveillance jets in response of North Korea’s naval capabilities, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
The Defence Acquisition Program Administration plans to issue a request for proposals to foreign aircraft makers as early as May, DAPA spokesman Kang Hwan-seok said. The government is looking to buy at least six maritime patrol aircraft, or MPA, in addition to the existing fleet of 16 P-3Cs, he added.
“The RFP is expected to be issued when the DAPA’s executive committee makes a final decision over the method of acquiring MPA in late April or early May,” Kang said. “We’re now reviewing information of potential candidate aircraft.”
The DAPA originally considered a private contract with Boeing for the P-8A Poseidon, as there were no tangible rivals, but European aircraft makers are ready to throw their hats in the ring.
Sweden’s Saab is the most aggressive among the European contenders. The firm pitches the Swordfish MPA variant built on the airframe of the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet.
“Saab GlobalEye, an airborne early warning and control aircraft, has completed its first flight successfully,” an official representing Saab’s MPA campaign told Defense News on condition of anonymity.
“GlobalEye was built on the Bombardier Global 6000 jet, the same platform for the Swordfish, and shares mission systems and sensors as much as 80 percent with those of the Swordfish,” the official said. “So there is not a single problem for the Swordfish to compete for the South Korean MPA contest and undergo due test and evaluation procedures.”
The Global 6000 configuration has a maximum cruise speed of 450 knots and a long-range cruise speed of 360 knots. According to Saab, the Swordfish, which is not yet in production, can be equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar that has a 360-degree detection capability, six torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
Saab is ready to offer South Korea an opportunity to take part in the development and construction of Swordfish planes, according to the official. “We could propose South Korea build two to three of the initial Swordfish planes in Sweden, with the rest being assembled in South Korea,” the official said.
“This opportunity will help South Korea to build its own maritime patrol aircraft platform in the future.”
Airbus is said to offer either the C295 MPA or the militarized A320neo built for maritime warfare. Airbus Defence and Space, the defense unit of the European aerospace giant, held a news briefing at Gimpo Airport in July, ahead of the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, to offer a potential candidate aircraft for South Korea’s MPA procurement effort.
During the briefing, an Airbus representative touted the C295 MPA fitted with Elta Systems AESA as a potential candidate for the South Korean Navy’s new MPA fleet. Airbus, however, has yet responded to the DAPA’s request for information on the MPA program, according to the agency.
Despite competition, Boeing is still confident about the P-8’s ability to stand out against against European contenders.
“The P-8 is proven, already deployed around the world and designed for multiple missions: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface, ISR, and search and rescue,” said Matt Carreon, global sales and marketing lead for the P-8 program. “It’s the only maritime patrol aircraft in operation today that enables complete interoperability between the U.S. and its allies.”
Modified from the 737-800 commercial jetliner, the P-8 can carry four anti-ship missiles, five torpedoes and 129 sonobuoys. The plane can fly 1,200 nautical miles and remain on station for more than four hours. It can reach a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet.
Canada’s KP-X MPA, built using the the Bombardier Challenger 650 platform, may also prove a contender in South Korea’s procurement effort.
“Field Aviation and General Dynamics Mission Systems of Canada have for decades been recognized as leaders in providing special-mission aircraft modifications and innovative anti-submarine warfare and maritime security solutions, respectively,” said Hwang In-kew, head of Hanbaek Aerospace, an agency for the Canadian firms’ MPA campaign in Seoul.
The aircraft’s endurance is in excess of 11 hours, Hwang said, adding that the company could offer 15 aircraft within the $1.8bn budget.
“We already provided information on the KP-X to the DAPA,” he said. “Upon final requirements — including armament — being released, we’ll be able to make a decision on whether or not we can compete for the MPA program.”
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
15 Mar 18. Aimpoint, the originator and worldwide leader in reflex sighting technology, has announced the launch of a limited run of Micro T-2™ carbine ready sights in Flat Dark Earth (FDE) color. This is the first time the company has offered an FDE finished sight to the US market.
The sights are being finished with Cerakote® H-Series surface coating – an advanced thin-film ceramic coating that bonds completely with the aluminum alloy housing of the sight. Cerakote® finishes are known worldwide for their corrosion and chemical resistance, UV and thermal stability, and durability under extreme conditions.
“We needed to match our choice of color surface finish with the durability and performance of the Micro T-2 sight,” said Jonas Ardemalm, Director of Commercial Sales & Marketing at Aimpoint AB. “Cerakote® offers an extremely durable coating that has been proven to perform under very demanding conditions, and it offers advantages beyond typical paint applications. We are very happy to offer this enhanced Micro T-2 to our customers in the USA.”
This initial run of FDE Micro T-2 sights is being offered on a test basis through a select group of authorized Aimpoint Dealers in the USA, and they are expected to sell out quickly.
15 Mar 18. Czech minister puts hold on Israeli radar deal over NATO concerns. The ELM-2084 multimission radar is advertised as a high-accuracy medium-/long-range transportable radar system that can detect a bank of targets, including UAVs. The Czech Ministry of Defence will not sign a much-awaited contract to purchase eight ELM-2084 multimission radars from Israel’s IAI Elta Systems unless the radars are interoperable with NATO’s air defense system, according to Defence Minister Karla Slechtova.
“I will not accept such a major and dangerous order without connecting [the radars] to NATO,” Slechtova said, as reported by local news site Novinky.cz.
The Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency has not approved the documentation for the acquisition of the 3-D radars, and without the institution’s certification, the radars cannot be integrated with NATO infrastructure, according to Slechtova.
The minister said that a recently established working group is to prepare a new version of the contract by the end of April.
The radars were selected by Slechtova’s predecessor, Martin Stropnicky, the country’s incumbent foreign minister, who postponed the signing of the 3.6bn koruna (U.S. $175m) deal in anticipation of his dismissal.
The new equipment is to allow the Czech military to replace its obsolete Soviet-designed radars.
IAI did not reply to a request for comment by press time.
(Source: Defense News)
15 Mar 18. Boeing HorizonX Invests in Fortem Technologies, Creator of Radar Systems for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
– Scalable and adaptable radar will ensure safe operations of future autonomous air vehicles
Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced its investment in Fortem Technologies, Inc., a Salt Lake City, Utah-based company developing advanced radar systems for unmanned and manned aircraft.
Fortem Technologies offers airspace awareness solutions using low size, weight and power radar to ensure safe operations of unmanned aerial vehicles. Fortem’s TrueView radar technology helps UAVs detect and avoid other aircraft and airborne objects beyond visual line of sight — a key capability for future autonomous air vehicles.
“Radar technology is a necessary and trusted element as we continue to strengthen autonomy capabilities for a variety of commercial and urban mobility applications,” said Steve Nordlund, vice president of Boeing HorizonX. “Safety is paramount in our approach to the responsible introduction of future air vehicles. Fortem’s radar systems will help as we pave the path to emerging markets of autonomous flight.”
Founded in May 2016, Fortem has developed a suite of radar systems and radar-enabled product solutions to help unmanned aircraft and pilots safely operate in an increasingly crowded airspace. Its TrueView radar systems enable autonomous aircraft to perform various logistics applications, including cargo transport, package delivery and large infrastructure inspections.
“With support from Boeing and others, Fortem can scale more quickly to support continuous improvements in airspace safety,” said Timothy Bean, CEO of Fortem Technologies. “We look forward to continue working with Boeing as they develop autonomous air vehicles.”
Boeing HorizonX Ventures participated in this Series A funding round, which included follow-on investments by Data Collective (DCVC) and Signia Venture Partners. This is Boeing HorizonX Ventures’ second investment in autonomous systems technology since the fund was established in April 2017.
The Boeing HorizonX Ventures investment portfolio is made up of companies specializing in technologies for aerospace product and manufacturing innovations, including energy storage, advanced materials, augmented reality systems and software, machine learning and hybrid-electric propulsion. Boeing HorizonX also seeks unique business opportunities and non-traditional partnerships for the company’s aerospace technology using disruptive innovations and business strategies.
Chicago-based Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. A top U.S. exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries.
14 Mar 18. USAF tests new HUD for C-17 Globemaster III. The US Air Force’s 418th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) is completing testing on a new head-up display for the C-17 Globemaster III.
The USAF is looking to see if the Replacement Head-Up Display (RHUD) can replace the legacy C-17 display system with a more capable solution.
The three-week test saw the C-17 Integrated Test Team install RHUDs on an Edwards C-17 for a second round of testing.
The current HUD is being replaced due to obsolescence. The new RHUD, which is larger and has more clarity of symbology than the legacy HUD, is designed to be installed and removed easily for maintenance. It provides a larger field of view with a sharper image, which can provide decreased pilot workload to analyse information in the HUD.
The 418th FLTS will collect data from both flight and ground tests along with human systems integration surveys from pilots. The air force will review the compiled data to see if the RHUD is suitable to replace the legacy C-17 HUDs. (Source: Shephard)
14 Mar 18. Successful First Flight for GlobalEye. Today Saab successfully completed the first flight of the GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft in Linköping, Sweden.
GlobalEye took off on its maiden flight at 12.52 local time on 14 March 2018, from Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden. The aircraft, a modified Bombardier Global 6000 jet platform, undertook a 1 hour 46 minutes test flight collecting extensive flight-test data using the on-board instrumentation suite. This data is then used to verify the aircraft performance and associated modelling. The first flight was preceded by a series of ground trials including high and low speed taxiing tests.
“The first flight is the second major milestone for the GlobalEye programme within a very short space of time. Yet again we have demonstrated that we are delivering on our commitments and that we are on track with our production of the world’s most advanced swing-role surveillance system,” said Anders Carp, Senior Vice President and head of Saab’s business area Surveillance.
“Today’s flight went as planned, with the performance level matching our high expectations. The aircraft’s smooth handling was just as predicted and a real pleasure for me to fly,” said Magnus Fredriksson, Saab Experimental Test Pilot.
The maiden flight took place three weeks after Saab revealed the GlobalEye aircraft to the media for the first time on 23 February 2018. GlobalEye combines air, maritime and ground surveillance in one swing-role solution. GlobalEye carries a full suite of sophisticated sensors including the powerful new extended range radar (Erieye ER), integrated with the ultra-long range Global 6000 aircraft, known for its versatility and smooth flight characteristics.
The GlobalEye launch customer is the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, where it is known as the Swing Role Surveillance System (SRSS). The initial order was placed in November 2015. GlobalEye brings extended detection range, endurance and the ability to perform multiple roles, including tasks such as search and rescue, border surveillance and military operations.
Bombardier and Global 6000 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
15 Mar 18. IEC introduces the new Dragon EOF(Escalation of Force) system. IEC Infrared Systems designs and manufactures wide area surveillance
and Remotely Operated Weapon systems that are intuitive, simple to
operate and provide unmatched situational awareness and force
protection. When surveillance is the first line of defense, IEC Infrared
Systems is the solution. The Dragon EOF(Escalation of Force) system detects, assesses, warns and mitigates intruders, guaranteeing complete surveillance and protection.
This system is equiped with:
- 360º Panoramic Image Creation for Point & Click Go-To Camera and Weapon Positioning
- Embedded EO/IR Video for both Surveillance and Weapon Systems
- Geo-Referenced Map Displaying Geo-Located Targets
- Slew to Cue to Peripheral Alarms
- Integration capability with Multiple Ground Radars, UGS and CBRNE Sensors
- IntrudIR Alert® Single Soldier Operation C2 Interface
- Integration capability with Precision Remotes ROWS, LRAD, Laser Dazzler, Grenade Launcher and 12M candle Power White Spot Light
15 Mar 18. Helping shooters accurately extend the range of their reflex or red dot sight, new T-3 (SM19063) and T-5 (SM19064) Magnifiers provide 3x or 5x magnification in a straight tube optic system .7-.8” shorter than their predecessor. Perfect for AR platform firearms and specifically target shooting, 3 gun competitions and hunting applications, T-3 and T-5 Magnifiers feature a locking quick detach and flip-to-side mount, allowing rapid transition between the magnifier and accompanying sight. An advanced, streamlined, low-drag design prevents the magnifier from snagging on vests and equipment. External windage and elevation adjustments make aligning the center of the magnifier’s point-of-view to the reticle extremely easy. Fully multi-coated optics improve brightness and resolution, increasing target and POI recognition. Both weighing less than 11 oz., T-3 and T-5 Magnifiers provide an effortless and effective way to increase optical magnification without sacrificing the advantages of a close quarters reflex/red dot sight. These magnifiers are compatible with most reflex and red dot sights on the market, including Sightmark Element, Wolverine and Ultra Shot models. IP55 water resistant and recoil rated up to .308, Sightmark T-3 and T-5 Magnifiers include flip-to-side LQD mount, adjustment tools and a manual.
12 Mar 18. Qioptiq, Persistent Systems and Steatite Demonstrate Networked Images at Future Soldier Technology 2018. BATTLESPACE Editor Julian Nettlefold visited the SMI Future Soldier Technology 2018 Conference, held in London from 12 -14 March 2018. BATTLESPACE was given an exclusive ‘world first’ demonstration by Qioptiq, Persistent Systems and Steatite, of networked images from the Qioptiq DRAGON C Thermal sight to the Persistent Systems MPU 5, the world’s first smart radio. Once the systems were matched the DRAGON C image was linked to two MPU 5 radios, one on the ‘dummy’ soldier on the Steatite Booth(UK agents for Persistent Systems), through to another MPU 5 radio and on to a central display.
“This demonstration clearly shows that a soldier equipped with a DRAGON C or similar thermal sight, can network his images around the battlefield, not only to fellow soldiers in the field, who do not have a thermal sight, but back to HQ through the MPU 5 and ISTAR systems including UAVs to Headquarters for analysis and distribution to give the targeting order, if required. We can build networked systems with ranges up to 150kms using the MPU radios.” Chris Harrington of Steatite told the Editor.
Persistent Systems MPU 5
MPU 5 is the most advanced, most scalable, and most efficient Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) radio in the world. Built to create powerful, secure networks anywhere, the MPU5 unites all your critical data sources in real time – giving you and your team the confidence to make difficult decisions in the heat of the moment. Data, video, voice, and a fully integrated AndroidTM computer system makes the MPU5 the world’s first Smart Radio. As a Smart Radio, the MPU5 significantly decreases the amount of gear you have to carry. Having one fully capable Smart Radio platform frees up valuable space and weight so you can focus more on the task at hand. Fewer cables, fewer batteries, fewer worries – without ever sacrificing capability.
Qioptiq DRAGON C Thermal Weapon Sight
This ultra lightweight multi purpose Thermal Weapon/Surveillance Sight provides all round capability for the dismounted close combat user. DRAGON COMPACT is fitted with Qioptiq LO GLINT™ Coating Technology to reduce sunlight glint and reflection. (See Features: Qioptiq, Persistent Systems and Steatite Demonstrate Networked Images at Future Soldier Technology 2018 By Julian Nettlefold)
13 Mar 18. L3 to supply BNVD-1531 night vision binocular to Canadian agency. US-based company L3 Warrior Sensor Systems has secured its first international contract to deliver its latest night vision binocular to a Canadian government agency.
Under the multimillion-dollar contract, L3 will be responsible for providing the agency with the Binocular Night Vision Device (BNVD-1531) that was released less than a year ago.
BNVD-1531 is a lightweight, ergonomic binocular featuring adjustable diopters, manual gain adjustment, individually rotating monoculars and an integrated infrared illuminator.
A range of features gives the device improved situational awareness that allows operators to carry out their missions more effectively and efficiently.
L3 Warrior Sensor Systems of International Solutions general manager Serge Buchakjian said: “The BNVD-1531 adds a new dimension of capability to our extensive portfolio of night vision solutions.
“By combining the features most sought after by our customers, the BNVD-1531 is the best-value solution to deliver night vision capability that is interchangeable across multiple users in a variety of operational environments.”
The BNVD-1531 devices are equipped with high-performance Gen III image-intensification tubes. These are produced at the company’s electron tube operations facility in Tempe, Arizona, US.
As the newest addition to the company’s portfolio of image-intensified (I2) systems, BNVD-1531 combines the most significant features of the rugged, battle-proven AN / PVS-15 and AN / PVS-31A binocular devices. It can be operated as a helmet-mounted, head-mounted or handheld system.
L3 manufactures the binoculars at its Sensor Systems business segment in Londonderry, New Hampshire, US.
(Source: army-technology.com)
12 Mar 18. Airspace Systems Raises $20m Series A Funding for Anti-Drone Technologies. Airspace Systems has built what it calls “kinetic capture” technologies, which currently consists of a ground-based system that identifies an offending unmanned aircraft, then launches its own drone to chase it down, fire a tethered net at it and carry it away.
But the compmay has shifted attention from simply launching nets to building drone-focused autonomous systems that will allow their systems to track down other drones on their own. The company says that more than two-thirds of its 32 employees are currently working on technologies related to autonomous drone flight.
“We don’t rely on just one technology anymore, we really include machine vision, onboard radar, lidar — all of these different sensing technologies — to enable us to fly in a variety of environments and do this capture mission,” Airspace Systems COO Todd Komanetsky told TechCrunch.
As the company scales its ambitions, it’s raising more money as well. Airspace has closed a $20m Series A funding round, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. The round was led by Singtel Innov8 with s28 Capital, Shasta Ventures and Granite Hill Capital Partners also participating. The startup has now raised $25m to date.
The company’s announcement comes as it grows even clearer how large the market for these technologies could be.
Just last week, word emerged that the White House is going to be proposing that law enforcement gain the ability to track and disable civilian drones. As is the case with many facets of the tech industry, legislation has been slow to catch up with the rapidly advancing technologies of the drone industry. Airspace saw the writing on the wall for this one though and the company’s CEO Jaz Banga sits aboard the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee alongside representatives from companies like DJI, Amazon and Facebook.
“Demand for protecting stadiums, commercial buildings, power plants and, for that matter, any other public venues from potential drone threats is growing rapidly,” Singtel Innov8 managing director Jeff Karras said in a statement. “There are a number of important drone defense technologies flooding the market but there has not been one which integrates all the best capabilities under a single platform until the solutions developed by Airspace.” (Source: UAS VISION/Tech Crunch)
12 Mar 18. X-Class CMOS Image Sensor Platform from ON Semiconductor Enables New Functionality for Industrial Camera Design. ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ON), driving energy efficient innovations, has announced its X-Class image sensor platform, which allows a single camera design to support not only multiple product resolutions, but also different pixel functionality. The first devices in the new platform are the 12 megapixel (MP) XGS 12000 and 4k / UHD resolution XGS 8000 image sensors, which provide high-performance imaging capabilities for applications such as machine vision, intelligent transportation systems and broadcast imaging.
The X-Class image sensor platform enables a new dimension in camera design by supporting multiple CMOS pixel architectures within the same image sensor frame. This allows a single camera design not only to support multiple product resolutions, but also different pixel functionality, such as larger pixels that trade resolution at a given optical format for higher imaging sensitivity, designs optimized for low noise operation to increase dynamic range and more. By supporting these different pixel architectures through a common high bandwidth, low power interface, camera manufacturers can leverage existing parts inventory and accelerate time to market for new camera designs.
The initial devices in the X-Class family, the XGS 12000 and XGS 8000, are based on the first pixel architecture to be deployed in this platform – an advanced 3.2 µm global shutter CMOS pixel that features superior imaging performance, high image uniformity and low noise. The XGS 12000 provides 12 MP (4096 x 3072 pixel) resolution in a one-inch optical format to supply the imaging detail and performance needed for modern machine vision and inspection applications. The device is planned to be available in two speed grades – one that fully utilizes 10GigE interfaces by providing full resolution speeds up to 90 frames per second (fps), and a lower price version providing 27 fps at full resolution that aligns with the bandwidth available from USB 3.0 computer interfaces. The XGS 8000 provides 4k/UHD (4096 x 2160 pixels) resolution in a 1/1.1 inch optical format and is also planned to be available in two speed grades (130 and 75 fps), making the device ideal for broadcast applications.
The package dimensions of both devices combine with a low thermal profile enabled by the low-voltage, low-power architecture of the X-Class interface to make them fully compatible with compact 29 x 29 mm2 camera designs.
“As the needs of industrial imaging applications such as machine vision inspection and industrial automation continue to advance, the design and performance of the image sensors targeting this growing market must continue to evolve,” said Herb Erhardt, Vice President and General Manager, Industrial Solutions Division, Image Sensor Group at ON Semiconductor. “With the X-Class platform and devices based on the new XGS pixel, end users have access to the performance and imaging capabilities they need for these applications, while camera manufacturers have the flexibility they require to develop next-generation camera designs for their customers both today and in the future.”
The XGS 12000 and XGS 8000 will begin sampling in the 2Q2018, with production availability scheduled for the 3Q2018. Both devices will be available in 163-pin LGA packages in monochrome and color configurations. Additional devices based on the 3.2 µm XGS pixel, as well as products based on other pixel architectures, are planned for the X-Class family in the future.
To help customers in the development of new camera designs incorporating the new image sensors, ON Semiconductor offers evaluation kits that support full device evaluation, including still image and video capture, and region of interest readout. Other custom test functions can also be configured. Customers can purchase an evaluation kit or enquire about an on-site demonstration of X-Class devices by contacting their local ON Semiconductor sales representative. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
12 Mar 18. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently completed a successful site acceptance test of a TPS-77 Multi-Role Radar (TPS-77 MRR) marking an on-time delivery of the first of three radars to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia, and a major step forward in strengthening Latvia’s national defense.
The TPS-77 MRR plays a vital role in improving the Latvian Air Force’s airspace defense by increasing its low-level flight surveillance and identification capabilities, leading to enhanced early warning and situation awareness that allows its armed forces to make more informed and efficient decisions in response to modern day threats.
This milestone is the most recent event in a 16-year partnership of radar development and training between Latvia and Lockheed Martin, including the 2015 contract for three TPS-77 MRRs.
“Acquisition of the TPS-77 MRR is a huge investment in the strengthening of combat capabilities of the National Armed Forces, enabling the Latvian army to address current security challenges with appropriate response tools. Surveillance, especially low-level flight surveillance and identification is a vital part of Latvian airspace surveillance capabilities. New MRR technology is compatible with other types of radars used by other countries,” emphasizes Latvia’s Minister for Defence, Raimonds Bergmanis.
The TPS-77 MRR is the latest version in Lockheed Martin’s successful product line of surveillance radars and was developed in response to the evolving needs of armed forces on the battlefield. The radar’s multi-role single scan technology allows operators to select multiple missions for the radar at a single time, such as long range or medium range low-level flight surveillance. As the radar rotates through each 360-degree scan, the system automatically adjusts to the selected mission. Changes can be easily made if the system is moved or mission is changed. Once set, no further operator inputs are required.
The TPS-77 MRR is designed for ultra-low power consumption and is the most transportable version of Lockheed Martin’s successful TPS-77 product line. Latvia’s variant of this high-performing radar can be truck mounted for operation at remote sites or dismounted for use at fixed sites.
As with current production TPS-77s and other next generation Lockheed Martin radars, the TPS-77 MRR uses Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology in its design. Utilizing GaN, the radars high power amplifiers consume much less power, ultimately increasing reliability, lowering life-cycle costs and extending the useful life of the radar.
As part of the TPS-77 MRR program, Lockheed Martin has engaged with local Latvian industry for procurement and production. These relationships will form the basis for long-term local maintenance and support of the new systems.
“The Latvian industry has been an important partner during the development and production of the Lockheed Martin TPS-77 MRRs. This support will help strengthen Latvia’s Industrial Capability,” said Rick Cordaro, program director, Lockheed Martin Ground Based Radar
Lockheed Martin has produced and maintains more than 180 surveillance-range radars, all of which are operational around the world detecting targets at ranges up to 250 miles, 24 hours a day. There are three previously installed Lockheed Martin TPS-77 radars in Latvia, positioned in Čalas, Lielvārde and Audriņi. These radars can operate completely unmanned and many have performed for decades in remote, inhospitable areas and in a wide range of operational environments.
12 Mar 18. TeraRecon’s iNtuition solution granted US DoD ATO certification. TeraRecon’s iNtuition Advanced Visualisation solution has been granted an Authority to Operate (ATO) certification on networks in the US Department of Defense (DoD).
Currently, the company is the first advanced medical image viewing solution provider to have achieved a risk management framework (RMF)-based ATO.
The certification received by the iNtuition solution is essential for systems running on sensitive DoD networks in order to ensure system security.
TeraRecon chief executive officer Jeff Sorenson said: “Our close and ongoing collaboration with the DoD has made our iNtuition products better.
“We are proud to be the first in our product category to receive the DoD ATO, and are now working to further expand the presence of our products in military hospitals around the world.
“Cybersecurity requirements like these are incredibly demanding and require nothing less than a full and focused commitment to process and quality.”
With the US DoD approval, the company completed the two installations of the iNtuition solution under the ATO at Evans Army Community Hospital in Fort Carson, Colorado and William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas.
Once the installation was complete, the team from the DoD Technology Assessment and Requirements Analysis (TARA) visited the project sites and completed an acceptance test of the TeraRecon Aquarius iNtuition systems.
TeraRecon chief technology officer TC Zhao said: “TeraRecon remains diligent and compliant with federal guidelines in all aspects of Security and Data Integrity.
“Achieving our ATO required careful adaptation of our design, development, and delivery systems. These efforts continued for several years, and represent another milestone in our commitment to both the DoD, and our PACS partners who bundle our product with theirs and operate within the DoD environment.”
The new ATO certification granted to the company is valid until January 2021. (Source: army-technology.com)
10 Mar 18. USAF open to input from Congress on way forward after JSTARS recap cancellation. The Air Force is open to conversation with Congress about incorporating elements of the JSTARS recap in its future battlefield management family of systems, its top general said Thursday in an exclusive interview.
However, the amount of JSTARS recap reuse will ultimately depend on Congress’ ability to raise the budget topline, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein.
The Air Force, in its fiscal year 2019 budget request, canceled its replacement effort for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System known as JSTARS recap. But certain members of Congress fear the service may be too hasty in backing away from the program.
Ohio Republican Rep. Mike Turner, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee’s tactical air and land subcommittee, told reporters on Tuesday that Congress would seek a “balanced” approach to replacing the legacy JSTARS aircraft.
Goldfein, speaking to Defense News and Air Force Times in a joint interview, said he is eager to discuss the matter with lawmakers.
“It’s actually a really healthy dialogue to have, and we appreciate Congressman Turner’s leadership when it comes to this particular issue,” Goldfein said. “We actually are looking forward to this conversation and including Congress, with their oversight responsibilities, in the path we take going forward.”
However, he noted that the service believes its current plan — which involves sensor upgrades and investments that would network a number of existing platforms together — would produce greater battlefield management capability and capacity, especially in contested environments where the JSTARS cannot go.
“The threat has advanced and there’s a — without getting into operational details — there’s a certain range at which the Joint Stars can no longer perform its function because it’s held too far outside of its operating window. And so while the threat has changed, we’ve got to change.”
At the McAleese and Associates/Credit Suisse defense conference on Tuesday, Turner said the subcommittee’s markup “will try to find the balance of funding” between the JSTARS recap and the Air Force’s new plan, comparing it to the coexistence of Uber and traditional taxi cab companies.
“We have to have a smorgasbord of capabilities. And that’s what we’re going to work towards” with Air Force leadership, he said. “If there is a capability that is absolutely essential, we are going to make sure it’s preserved.”
The defense industry is watching carefully to see if Congress could force the Air Force to reverse course on the JSTARS recap cancellation. Competitors Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin remain in source selection for a $6.9bn contract for engineering, manufacturing and development contract that may never reemerge.
But Goldfein warned that if Congress forces the Air Force to pay for some of the capabilities laid out in the JSTARS recap — for instance, a downsized version of the program instead of the full 17 plane buy — the service may not be able to foot the bill for other capabilities it believes it needs more.
“Each service chief operates in the capability, capacity and readiness trading space and I’ve got to always try to find the right balance,” he said.
“I’m convinced we really need to move forward into the more disaggregated, multidomain operations solution that we’ve laid out” and the service’s ability to pay for both that and the elements of JSTARS recap deemed necessary by Congress “is going to be based on the amount of [budget] topline we see.”
While the Air Force is still finalizing how it will accomplish the JSTARS ground surveillance and battle management mission sets, it believes part of the answer is updating its existing assets.
The FY19 budget includes some preliminary funding to develop a ground moving target indicator radar for the MQ-9 Reaper and to outfit its E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft with new networks, sensors and communications gear.
The service plans on retiring three E-8Cs next year, but the rest of the legacy JSTARS planes will keep flying until the mid 2020s. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
11 Mar 18. How much longer will US and partner forces ‘own the night’ in combat? Filmed through the tinted green of night vision goggles, a February video by the Taliban depicts their assault on an Afghan security forces outpost in Kandahar province.
After police abandoned the base, the Taliban were free to roam and collect the weapons and vehicles left behind.
The use of NVGs by enemy fighters in situations like this appears to be growing, with reports from November indicating that the Taliban’s “Red Unit” used rifle-mounted lasers and night vision optics to quickly overrun multiple checkpoints and police bases.
This proliferation of night vision capability across the battlefield may be unstoppable in the long-run, and could change the way U.S. and partner forces fight.
In looking into the issue, Military Times spoke with retired Army Col. Steven Bucci, a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation who served 28 years as a Special Forces officer with a stint on the staff of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Bucci said the proliferation of night vision capabilities and other optical devices is “kind of inevitable.”
“When we do these kinds of missions, we basically try and buy [local forces] the same kind of equipment they already have,” Bucci said. “But, you know, we are trying to upgrade these folks and give them an advantage, so we do introduce them to things like night vision devices and maybe longer range optics for weapons, and you run the risk that they’re going to fall into enemy hands.”
Speaking on behalf of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Navy Capt. Tom Gresback confirmed that “the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command and General Command of Police Special Units are equipped with night vision goggles.”
For security reasons, Gresback wouldn’t provide specific details. However, he did add that “the Taliban uses its criminal network of couriers and middlemen to purchase and transport high-end, over-the-counter military equipment such as [NGVs].”
That supply line makes sense to Bucci.
State actors, like Iran, Russia and especially North Korea, could be willing to exchange hard cash for battlefield tech, with the added benefit of causing headaches for U.S. officials, Bucci said.
“That is a more strategic-level threat, because you could get a whole ship full of equipment as opposed to just picking stuff up that the other guys may have lost,” he said.
NVGs could also be simply bought off the black market, for purely financial motivations on the seller’s end. But regardless of who the seller is, U.S. officials have “got to try to close the door on all of those things,” Bucci added.
The best equipment and training is reserved for Afghan commandos and other specialized units, yet they’re in the minority. Regular security forces aren’t supplied as well, and appear to be losing control to the Taliban in some provincial areas.
“You’re not going to keep throwing the regular local guys at them, because you know they’re going to lose,” Bucci said. “So you have to then utilize your higher-end forces to respond, and you really should be saving them to do something else more strategic.”
While American equipment is still superior to the older generation tech the Taliban acquire, the simple fact that they have NVGs at all, even if only a few, degrades traditional tactics, techniques and procedures with infrared light that’s visible under night vision.
“If you’re using IR markers to spot the good guys for air support, suddenly the bad guys can see them too,” Bucci said.
He reflected on his early days a Special Forces platoon leader, noting that he would often be the only one with NVGs.
“Even if only one guy has a set of NVGs, even if they’re older generation, they can now see us coming in the dark, and we’ve lost a great advantage there,” Bucci said. “The other guys don’t need a thousand [NVGs]. Just a couple can change the calculus and dilute our advantage a great deal.”
Eventually, U.S. and partner forces may start treating IR light similar to how they currently treat the visible spectrum of light, according to Adam Routh, a former Army Ranger and researcher at the Center for a New American Security.
“Instead of putting a strobe on your head and letting it flash during the whole infil, you may be using it only briefly at certain checkpoints, and you’re using it in a way that shields some of the light, so only aircraft overhead can see,” Routh said.
Not only would IR signals require more light discipline, but the way soldiers move would also necessitate greater awareness, similar to daylight maneuvering.
“Choosing more carefully where you walk and how you walk, choosing to take cover and concealment, operating with more general tactical discipline will be critical,” he said.
And especially when facing a peer-level competitor, like Russia or China, “things like night vision aren’t an inherent advantage anymore,” Routh added.
Those tactical changes when facing a modern military will also be felt on the aerial side of operations.
“From an aircrew perspective, they’re going to be more diligent in their surface-to-air-fire reporting, to include whether they feel it’s aimed or unaimed,” said Navy Cmdr. Thomas Bodine, a Navy Federal Executive Fellow at the Chicago Council who does not represent the views of the U.S. Navy.
Pairing night vision sights with surface-to-air missiles, like a peer-level adversary would, “ultimately drives up the threat level, which would drive up the time to kill,” Bodine said. “And that’s what you really care about on the battlefield.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Military Times)
11 Mar 18. New York Air National Guard assesses DB-110 for MQ-9 UAV. The New York Air National Guard has completed an operational assessment of UTC’s DB-110 airborne reconnaissance system aboard the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The assessment, conducted by the 174th Attack Wing at the Syracuse, New York Air National Guard Base, examined the potential use of the company’s dual-band electro-optical and infrared reconnaissance pod for domestic operations.
The DB-110 pod trialled by the New York Air National Guard towards the end of 2017 is equipped with a similar suite of sensors found aboard systems that have been integrated to combat aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16, although the interfaces for the UAV are different, Kevin Raftery, vice-president, general manager ISR and space systems, UTC Aerospace Systems, told Jane’s. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. General Atomics Acoustic Detection System Performs Successfully at US Army Event. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced the successful demonstration of their Fencepost acoustic detection system at the U.S. Army’s Fires Center of Excellence annual Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment (MFIX) at Ft. Sill, in Lawton, OK. GA-EMS was invited to participate in the December 2017 event to demonstrate Fencepost capabilities in the support of Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) missions.
“Six Fencepost acoustic sensors were deployed in a networked configuration to create a passive surveillance perimeter that effectively detected and tracked small UAS threats on the range,” said Hank Rinehart, business lead for Surveillance and Sensor Systems at GA-EMS. “We were also successful in demonstrating Fencepost integrated with the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Aviation and Fires Integrated Application (MAFIA) solution, displaying threat tracks and providing updates within MAFIA. We have validated the Fencepost system against multiple groups of threats and continue to see the technology successfully provide persistent, reliable early warning, security, and surveillance capabilities under diverse operational conditions and environments.”
The MFIX event brings together military and industry partners to view and demonstrate key technology solutions to inform requirements, validate/refine concepts, address capability gaps, and assess solutions for incorporation into the future Army Warfighting Assessments.
Fencepost is a covert, lightweight, and cost effective acoustic surveillance system for CUAS, port security, and high value asset, facility and base protection applications. Fencepost provides a range of tracking and data collection capabilities and visualizations, including early warning alerts with target bearings, multiple simultaneous threat detection and tracking, and 3D-track of targets. The system can be configured with multiple networked sensors to support a wide area of coverage, from remote field operations to congested urban environments. Captured data can be integrated into existing command and control software programs to support Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, operations, and decision-support applications. (Source: UAS VISION)
09 Mar 18. Viewpoint: Revitalizing the Air Force’s Aging Four Horsemen. Today’s battlefield requires a fully interoperable grid and near instantaneous data sharing. Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information sharing and exploitation with strike platforms has become a mainstay of the modern battlefield. Sensor system architecture on ISR platforms is a composite of numerous subsystems interleaved into an integrated modular avionics suite. Their information products empower warfighters with a technological battlefield advantage.
It is assumed that as systems age, they become obsolete. In many cases, that is correct, but not for Compass Call, JSTARS, AWACS and Rivet Joint, the U.S. Air Force’s four horsemen of the battlefield. In fact, field commanders and intelligence organizations over the years have come to depend more heavily on these four sensor systems for situational awareness in the airborne, ground and surface environments.
As these four assets move through the decades, their importance grows, but their platforms age — exceptional daily maintenance and timely depot refurbishments have their limits. Thus, mission readiness is jeopardized. The recent Air Force decision to rehost the Compass Call system on a newer platform opened discussion on all four assets.
Here are some optimal strategies for recapitalizing each of the four horsemen.
Compass Call, a tactical command, control and communication countermeasures system, identifies opposing forces’ lines of communication and disrupts those links, nullifying the opposition’s ability to issue orders and allocate power.
The agility of combatant forces is severely hampered with the loss or degradation of communications necessary to reposition forces and employ alternative engagement tactics. Compass Call has proven its worth since initial operating capability was achieved in 1983. Whereas its value grows with each deployment and mission and the system of systems value increases with each passing year, the host aircraft become more difficult to maintain. Some aircraft have been flying for half a century and present tremendous maintenance challenges.
For the Compass Call rehost, the Air Force required the principal sensor system provider to identify an appropriate new platform. To reduce development expenses associated with moving to a new platform, the Air Force stipulated that the platform should be commercially available and capable of being missionized for military and system application.
This acquisition strategy was used previously for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS): the sensor system provider led the effort to host the most advanced air-to-ground sensor system on a stripped-down C-135 aircraft. The sensor system provider, as the prime contractor, installed the system, configured the cabin, placed the antennas and much more. This successful experience accommodating a sensor to a new platform may very well be the precedent for Compass Call.
Yet this approach to acquisition generates complaints. Aircraft manufacturers protest that the sensor system provider will not look objectively at all available commercial platforms, that previous business relationships will taint the evaluation, and that unique aircraft features will not be valued appropriately. In response, the Air Force agreed to oversee platform selection to ensure fairness and proper assessment of potential platforms, but aircraft manufacturers remain uneasy with this acquisition strategy.
Some manufacturers are reluctant to share their proprietary design information and necessary interface control documentation with the sensor system provider, which makes it difficult for the sensor system provider to assess aircraft capabilities.
By holding this information close, aircraft manufacturers believe they are ensuring they will play a pivotal role in the rehost effort; however, competitors that offer full disclosure may have an advantage in the acquisition process. In the final analysis, aircraft companies’ concerns are unwarranted: aircraft manufacturers by necessity will play a critical role in the rehost effort because so many tasks, such as power budget, antenna placements, electromagnetic interference, cabin layout and weight and balance fall into their portfolio of responsibilities.
Recently, the Government Accountability Office dismissed protests from Boeing and Bombardier and awarded L3 Technologies the role of system integrator, as such allowing L3 to select the airframe for the Compass Call sensor suite. Indications are that L3 has chosen the Gulfstream G550 aircraft as the new host platform. This seems logical: when the sensor system is the primary consideration and there are no plans to change it out, the sensor system provider can lead the acquisition. However, when the platform is centric, for example, in bombers, fighters and cargo aircraft, it is reasonable to assume the aircraft manufacturer will be prime.
Success of the Compass Call acquisition strategy hinges on its ability to use documented established costs applied to a green aircraft and assurance that “existing systems/subsystems” will be rehosted. The only variable cost should be that of integration onto the new platform, which by no means is a simple cost to forecast. But, assuming the initial contract for the first rehost effort is a mix of fixed price and cost-plus, follow-on contracts should convert quickly to all fixed price.
The successful JSTARS acquisition strategy, and subsequent selection of E-8, which served as the catalyst for Compass Call, is now over 20 years old, and the host aircraft is significantly older.
However, now as in 2007, the Air Force in the fiscal year 2019 budget request has decided once again to cancel the JSTARS recapitalization program in favor of a network of existing and new sensors linked to a ground command-and-control element.
The composition of the network with an explanation regarding how the ground moving target track functionality will be ensured has not been fully defined, but nonetheless, appears to be the path chosen.
With a must-address threat from North Korea, expanding Russian influence in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and growing Chinese hegemony in the Pacific, is this the right time to bench proven technology for a notional sensor network? This is a question the Air Force needs to answer.
More than 10 years ago, U.S. allies and international partners realized the airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, was vital to their air forces; however, the aircraft and systems were reaching their operational limits and a next-generation system was required.
The principal AWACS contractors and the Royal Australian Air Force sat down with a clean sheet of paper and specified what the next system should look like. After years of development and the many inherent challenges of pushing the state of the art, Boeing and Northrop Grumman produced one of the most sophisticated airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems: E-7 Wedgetail.
AWACS recapitalization, in essence, has occurred outside of the U.S. Air Force. This upgrade to a sophisticated electronically scan-controlled radar hosted on new 737 platforms is in the inventory of several air forces around the world, and is proving its worth in the field. Approval to export this advance development effort has perhaps yielded a recapitalized AWACS to the benefit of a strained
U.S. Air Force budget. With risk retired and a business relationship already established, the Air Force has a logical starting point for recapitalizing its own AWACS fleet.
With Compass Call aligning its acquisition strategy with that of the successful procurement of JSTARS, which is commencing its own recapitalization cycle, and the AWACS next-generation system already fielded by foreign air forces, the only true unknown in rehosting the four horsemen is Rivet Joint.
Although all four systems are unique, the Rivet Joint electronic surveillance system is probably the most complex. Its peacetime and wartime missions are to serve the intelligence and operational commander’s needs. According to Air Force data sheets, several variants of the RC-135 are tailored to specific mission needs. What is concerning is the number of flight hours — some as high as 50,000 — on the platforms and that electronics suites were procured when analog governed systems configurations.
Rehosting the immense Rivet Joint sensor system, with its numerous subsystems, will require considerable planning to ensure no loss of operational performance on a new platform. The sensor system provider, acquisition authorities and operators must work collectively and quickly to establish an appropriate acquisition strategy.
Assuming the Compass Call acquisition strategy succeeds, it would not be surprising to see Rivet Joint recapitalization plans following a similar path soon. Because of the system’s intricacy, complexity and density, the Air Force should not delay starting the acquisition process.
With the focus on reducing schedule and cost risks, commercial aircraft present the logical options, but in some cases smaller cabins with less crew space could affect the system’s ability to counter large opposing-force engagements. Furthermore, aircraft platforms inherently last multiple years, but electronic suites in many cases follow Moore’s Law, and need to refresh on a more frequent basis by the system provider while mapping to the overall strategy of reducing eventual recapitalization risks. Just as Knute Rockne’s four horsemen made gridiron success possible for Notre Dame in 1924, the Air Force’s four horsemen of the battlefield make victory possible for our troops today. (Source: glstrade.com/Breaking Defense.com)
08 Mar 18. Likely a surprise for bidders, Lockheed to award sonar contract this year. French electronics company Thales expects Lockheed Martin to pick a supplier of an acoustic suite of sonar equipment for an Australian program early next year, while the U.S. firm has told Defense News the contract will be awarded this year.
“I expect a selection, a contract, by Lockheed Martin and validated by the Commonwealth (of Australia) probably not before the end of the year,” Thales Chairman and CEO Patrice Caine said March 6 at a media conference on 2017 financial results. “We could say early in 2019.”
Thales is “in discussion” with Lockheed, according to the executive.
Those talks are related to a competition held by Lockheed for sonars and other equipment. The Australian government selected the U.S. company as its combat system integrator for the AU$50bn (U.S. $39bn) program in which France’s Naval Group is designing, building and servicing 12 diesel-electric boats. Thales hopes to win the sonar selection, which is expected to generate sales worth €1bn (U.S. $1.2bn) for its Australian subsidiary.
In following up on Caine’s estimate, Lockheed Martin Australia told Defense News a contract is expected later this year. The company noted that a selection of sonar arrays is on schedule and a request for quote was sent last week to industry. The company declined to give a value on the contract, as the competitive process is still underway. Australia and France are major markets for Thales as the two nations plan to boost their respective defense budgets for the coming years, signaling a return to “significant” increases in mature markets, Caine said.
That boost in spending reflects geopolitical tension and security threats. Australia plans to increase domestic defense spending and aims to be one of the top 10 arms exporters.
France seeks to boost capabilities in intelligence gathering, innovation and digital systems — key industrial areas for Thales, the executive noted. (Source: Defense News)
08 Mar 18. USAF chief open to input from Congress on way forward after JSTARS recap cancellation. The Air Force is open to conversation with Congress about incorporating elements of the JSTARS recap in its future battlefield management family of systems, its top general said Thursday in an exclusive interview. However, the amount of JSTARS recap reuse will ultimately depend on Congress’ ability to raise the budget topline, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein. The Air Force, in its fiscal year 2019 budget request, canceled its replacement effort for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System known as JSTARS recap. But certain members of Congress fear the service may be too hasty in backing away from the program.
Ohio Republican Rep. Mike Turner, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee’s tactical air and land subcommittee, told reporters on Tuesday that Congress would seek a “balanced” approach to replacing the legacy JSTARS aircraft.
Goldfein, speaking to Defense News and Air Force Times in a joint interview, said he is eager to discuss the matter with lawmakers.
“It’s actually a really healthy dialogue to have, and we appreciate Congressman Turner’s leadership when it comes to this particular issue,” Goldfein said. “We actually are looking forward to this conversation and including Congress, with their oversight responsibilities, in the path we take going forward.”
However, he noted that the service believes its current plan — which involves sensor upgrades and investments that would network a number of existing platforms together — would produce greater battlefield management capability and capacity, especially in contested environments where the JSTARS cannot go.
“The threat has advanced and there’s a — without getting into operational details — there’s a certain range at which the Joint Stars can no longer perform its function because it’s held too far outside of its operating window. And so while the threat has changed, we’ve got to change.”
At the McAleese and Associates/Credit Suisse defense conference on Tuesday, Turner said the subcommittee’s markup “will try to find the balance of funding” between the JSTARS recap and the Air Force’s new plan, comparing it to the coexistence of Uber and traditional taxi cab companies.
“We have to have a smorgasbord of capabilities. And that’s what we’re going to work towards” with Air Force leadership, he said. “If there is a capability that is absolutely essential, we are going to make sure it’s preserved.”
The defense industry is watching carefully to see if Congress could force the Air Force to reverse course on the JSTARS recap cancellation. Competitors Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin remain in source selection for a $6.9bn contract for engineering, manufacturing and development contract that may never reemerge.
But Goldfein warned that if Congress forces the Air Force to pay for some of the capabilities laid out in the JSTARS recap — for instance, a downsized version of the program instead of the full 17 plane buy — the service may not be able to foot the bill for other capabilities it believes it needs more.
“Each service chief operates in the capability, capacity and readiness trading space and I’ve got to always try to find the right balance,” he said.
“I’m convinced we really need to move forward into the more disaggregated, multidomain operations solution that we’ve laid out” and the service’s ability to pay for both that and the elements of JSTARS recap deemed necessary by Congress “is going to be based on the amount of [budget] topline we see.”
While the Air Force is still finalizing how it will accomplish the JSTARS ground surveillance and battle management mission sets, it believes part of the answer is updating its existing assets.
The FY19 budget includes some preliminary funding to develop a ground moving target indicator radar for the MQ-9 Reaper and to outfit its E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft with new networks, sensors and communications gear. The service plans on retiring three E-8Cs next year, but the rest of the legacy JSTARS planes will keep flying until the mid 2020s. (Source: Defense News)
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Blighter® Surveillance Systems (BSS) is a UK-based electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider delivering an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter electronic-scanning radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. Blighter Surveillance Systems is a Plextek Group company, a leading British design house and technology innovator, and is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.
The Blighter electronic-scanning (e-scan) FMCW Doppler ground surveillance radar (GSR) is a unique patented product that provides robust intruder detection capabilities under the most difficult terrain and weather conditions. With no mechanical moving parts and 100% solid-state design, the Blighter radar family of products are extremely reliable and robust and require no routine maintenance for five years. The Blighter radar can operate over land and water rapidly searching for intruders as small a crawling person, kayaks and even low-flying objects. In its long-range modes the Blighter radar can rapidly scan an area in excess of 3,000 km² to ensure that intruders are detected, identified and intercepted before they reach critical areas.
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MISSILE, BALLISTICS AND SOLDIER SYSTEMS UPDATE
Sponsored by Control Solutions LLC.
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15 Mar 18. South Korea invests in guided weapons centre.
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced plans to develop a research centre to assess the quality of guided weapon systems. DAPA said in a press release on 15 March that the new facility – in the central metropolis of Daejeon – would be operational from October 2019. DAPA had allocated KRW44.6bn (USD42m) for the project, it said. The research centre will be operated by a DAPA institute, the Defense Agency for Quality and Technology (DTaQ), and will be used to test various types of guided weapons with a view to improving quality and capability as well as lengthening their lifespan. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
16 Mar 18. US Air Force Wants Air-to-Air Missiles on Reaper. The US Air Force (USAF) is looking to equip its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper with an air-to-air missile (AAM) capability for the first time. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Medium Altitude UAS Division disclosed on 7 March that it intended to award the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) a sole-source contract for the development of MQ-9 Reaper Air-to-Air Missile (RAAM) Aviation Simulation (AVSIM) as the first step in the process of fielding such a capability. No details as to the type or capabilities of the proposed AAM were disclosed, neither were proposed development and fielding timelines or contract values.
The Reaper can currently carry up to 16 Lockheed Martin AGM-114P Hellfire missiles. It has also been cleared for the carriage of two GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs and the GBU-38 500 lb variant of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and for mixed loads of these weapons.
To date, the Reaper has been employed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike missions only, and the inclusion of air-to-air combat in its mission set would represent a significant expansion of its capabilities.
While such an enhancement would be a first for the Reaper, the USAF has fitted short-range AAMs to UAVs previously. (Source: UAS VISION/Jane’s 360)
16 Mar 18. Naval gun OTO 76/62 SR completes cyber vulnerability assessment. Leonardo has successfully concluded an extensive vulnerability assessment campaign on its OTO 76/62 Super Rapid (SR) naval gun in order to demonstrate its resilience to cyber-attacks in the future.
Though several enhancements to the weapon system have improved the performance of the gun mount, in addition to making the system potentially more exposed to the risk of cyber-attacks.
To address this issue, the company launched the comprehensive vulnerability assessment to recognise potential cyber threats and address them with the implementation of necessary countermeasures.
During the assessment, Leonardo challenged the technology in the naval gun system to identify different attack scenarios such as malware or viruses present on removable devices and behaviour falling outside basic rules of cybersecurity, which could be exploited by voluntary or accidental actions.
In addition, the cybersecurity assessment demonstrated that the OTO 76/62 SR naval gun meets several security requirements put forward by expert bodies, specifically the NIST SP800-53, ISO 15408 and ISO 27002 standards.
The OTO 76/62 SR weapon system features a gun console, which is capable of managing every other part of the weapon mount.
Depending on its configuration, the naval gun could include the Strales capability, which is a targeting system for the DART highly manoeuvrable projectile, the Vulcano munitions capability and the multi feeding (MF) device for automatic handling of ammunition.
The assessment has also helped identify potential weaknesses of the system and implement required security measures to mitigate the risk associated with the vulnerabilities.
Suitable for installation on any navy vessel, the OTO 76/62 SR gun mount is a lightweight, rapid-fire naval gun that can perform any air defence or anti-surface role. (Source: naval-technology.com)
16 Mar 18. US Army battalion adds D-PICC system. The US Army’s 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-1 ADA) has added the Dismounted Patriot Information Coordination Central (D-PICC) system.
The D-PICC helps enhance the battalion’s ability to carry out command and control operations of four firing Batteries currently located on Okinawa, Japan. It will also help direct identification and engagement orders to subordinate Patriot Batteries. 1-1 ADA executive officer major Patrick Snyder said: “Beyond the great capability the D-PICC provides to our mission, one of the best aspects of the fielding was the support we received from the higher levels of the US Army and industry partners.
1-2 “The assistance provided by the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Capabilities Manager, as well as the fielding team that Raytheon brought forward with the equipment ensured that we were able to seamlessly integrate this great capability.”
It also allows for the battalion’s Information Coordination Central tactical weapons control system to be moved from a vehicle into a collection of transportable cases. The US Army Battalion adopted a ‘crawl, walk, run’ approach to training to prove the capabilities of the D-PICC. In addition, several exercises involving their Tactical Operations Center, battle staff, and Battery Command Posts were carried out in preparation for a future Battalion-wide field training exercise.
1-1 ADA Operations Officer major Juan Remy said: “We received the D-PICC before the associated manning could be provided, and sourced our crews internally.
“Bringing great soldiers forward from the batteries and training them to direct fires at the battalion level has been challenging, but definitely has shown us the quality of soldiers we are lucky to work with on the Snake Eyes team.”
(Source: army-technology.com)
15 Mar 18. Avon Protection’s new modular powered air systems receive NIOSH CBRN approval. Avon Protection has received NIOSH CBRN approval on its AvonAir™ modular powered air range. The Avon EZAir, MP-PAPR and CS-PAPR usher in a new era of multipurpose and adaptable respiratory protection. The single filter Avon EZAir is the smallest and lightest CBRN powered respirator available with cost of ownership per use at nearly half that of PAPRs. The low profile MP-PAPR provides supreme user comfort through its unique flexible construction and hydration integration capability. The market leading in-mission response flexibility of the CS-PAPR provides the tools necessary to keep pace with rapidly changing threats. These three modular CBRN hardened systems provide the level of protection needed to meet ever-changing mission demands.
An intelligent CBRN blower with its flow control technology and alarm systems is used in all AvonAir systems. The modularity even extends as far as the mask and filters with owners of Avon masks able connect to their new powered air system and meet NIOSH CBRN requirements using the Avon CBRN canister.
The patented design approach delivers maximum operational flexibility – interchangeable performance modules allow for multiple protection level configurations that can be rapidly assembled to accommodate changing threats. With reduced breathing burden and greater integration with legacy equipment, enhanced protection against toxic industrial chemicals, ease of weapon sighting, and integrated communications, the AvonAir™ range enables the wearer to stay comfortable and effective in physically taxing scenarios.
Commenting on the approvals, James Wilcox, Vice President Product & Innovation, said, “After 5 years of development, working alongside the end-user community, Avon has produced the next generation of modular powered CBRN respiratory protection. With their NIOSH CBRN approval, these products now provide the wearer with lighter, modular and fully integrated solutions. In addition the ability for customers to configure systems depending on operational needs dramatically lowers their ownership and maintenance costs.”
15 Mar 18. Rep. Rogers: Hill Must Fund Sea-Launched Nuclear Cruise Missile, Lower Yield Warhead. Vladimir Putin recently announced that Russia is developing and fielding four new and horrific nuclear weapons. They include a nuclear-powered cruise missile of essentially infinite range and a nuclear-powered underwater drone with an enormous, salt-the-earth nuclear payload. The announcement should come as a surprise to no one.
It certainly did not surprise the Trump Administration, who warned in a series of strategy documents, including the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) released last month, that Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions over the past decade require a strong response to deter war and reassure our allies. Successfully implementing the recommendations from the NPR, the National Defense Strategy and the forthcoming Missile Defense Review will be critical to this effort.
But beneath all the Russian bullying, the timelines and very real capabilities of these nuclear weapon programs reveal an even more troubling picture. It is obvious none of these programs were started in reaction to the Trump administration’s 2018 NPR, which is barely a month old, nor in reaction to the Trump administration itself, which is just over a year old. These programs were initiated many years ago.
Putin claims his new nuclear weapons are being developed because the U.S. refuses to engage in arms control and is developing missile defenses to counter Russia’s strategic nuclear forces. This is as laughable as it is ridiculous, and directly in line with Russia’s longstanding tradition of accusing the U.S. of things for which Russia alone is guilty.
If Russia were truly interested in arms control, it would address its own numerous violations. Russia continues to brazenly violate the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by fielding and deploying ground-launched cruise missiles. Russia is also violating or failing to comply with numerous other arms control agreements, including the Open Skies Treaty, the Vienna Document, the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Budapest Memorandum and the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives.
The U.S. strictly adheres to these and all other arms control agreements to which it is a party, reports compliance and directly and immediately addresses any concerns regarding its compliance.
The 2018 NPR prudently states that in arms control, the U.S. remains willing to engage, but “further progress is difficult to envision, however, in an environment that is characterized by nuclear-armed states seeking to change borders and overturn existing norms, and by significant, continuing non-compliance with existing arms control obligations and commitments.” In short, the U.S. simply won’t continue to sign agreements with a nation that is a serial violator of such agreements.
On missile defenses, the U.S. has taken great pains to show Russia that our deployed missile defenses simply cannot — by the laws of physics — counter Russian strategic missiles. The United States’ withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, a key part of President Putin’s rationale for his new nuclear strike weapons, did not change the laws of physics. Instead, it is Russia that actually has ballistic missile defenses aimed explicitly at countering U.S. strategic missiles — Moscow’s layered rings of nuclear-armed ballistic missile interceptors are specifically postured to defend Russia’s leaders and command and control centers from U.S. retaliatory strikes. Those who decry any U.S. action as undermining “strategic stability” rarely mention this fact.
Even with the rise of China and the immediate danger from North Korea, Russia—with its massive nuclear weapons stockpile, and its equally massive inferiority complex—remains the top existential threat to America and the Western world. Like the Soviet Union before them, Russia continues a broad-based “active measures” campaign to foment and fund disarmament movements in the West.
So what is to be done?
On the nuclear front, Putin’s revelations only make it clearer that President Trump’s 2018 NPR correctly assessed Russia’s intentions and wisely recommended responses.
The NPR recommends the U.S. add two supplemental capabilities to the nuclear triad modernization program originally initiated by President Obama: modification of an existing ballistic missile warhead to provide it a lower-yield option; and redeployment of a Sea-Launched Cruise Missile capability similar to that fielded by the U.S. for decades, only to be given up by the Obama Administration in 2010.
Both systems will make sure our deterrence and assurance remain robust in the face of these threats and Russia’s well-resourced and well-exercised strategy to use nuclear weapons early in a conflict. By ensuring the U.S. has highly credible options, unquestionably able to penetrate and deliver an appropriate nuclear response in any sort of environment, these supplemental capabilities will lower the odds that nuclear weapons are used at all. Congress must act to fund them and the broader nuclear modernization program requested by President Trump.
Similarly, the U.S. must support and bolster NATO’s nuclear and conventional deterrence capabilities. Efforts resulting from the 2016 Warsaw Summit to strengthen and adapt NATO’s nuclear planning guidance, exercises, infrastructure, command and control and dual-capable aircraft survivability must be accelerated. We must also push our NATO allies to continue adopting missile defenses to complement and enhance the U.S. systems deployed in Europe. As the U.S. continues to invest billions of dollars to bring back capability and forces to Europe, so must NATO allies invest in the alliance’s security. Conventionally, we must push NATO to continue investing in defense capabilities to the 20 percent equipping target made at the 2014 Wales Summit and increase interoperability across the alliance.
Most fundamentally, continued steady leadership and signaling are required. The United States and our allies are not intimidated and will not be coerced. President Putin and his kleptocratic friends in the Kremlin may spend their nation’s increasingly limited treasure on foolish and dangerously misguided weapons, while the U.S. will continue to take strong, but prudent steps to defend our interests and deter war.
(Source: Breaking Defense.com)
15 Mar 18. Infantry Task Force Looks to Overmatch Potential Foes. The United States already has the best infantry soldiers, Marines and special operators on the face of the Earth, but Defense Secretary James N. Mattis wants them to completely overmatch any potential foes.
Joseph L’Etoile, the senior advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, is leading a Close Combat Lethality Task Force to ensure this overmatch becomes a reality.
The task force is laser-focused on capabilities, policies and doctrine that will allow close-combat squads to overmatch any opposing foe. “The idea is to ensure a squad can impose its will on a like-sized organization in any operational environment in any condition,” L’Etoile said in an interview in his Pentagon office.
A career infantry Marine, L’Etoile is working with Army, Marine Corps and special operations personnel to examine every aspect of infantry operations. This effort is aimed at the roughly 130,000 Defense Department personnel who engage in close-combat operations. This group historically suffers 90 percent of war casualties.
Improving Squad Lethality and Protection
Many things can be done to improve squad lethality and protection, L’Etoile said. “There’s some low-hanging fruit, there’s some that’s going to be a lot of work. There’s some that is futuristic,” he added. “In some areas, we are going to plant seeds that others are going to harvest.”
Over the last 30 years, most of the changes in infantry squads have been evolutionary, he said. He pointed to the first night-vision goggles he used in the late 1980s as an example. “The NVGs that are out there today are eye watering with the capabilities they have,” he said. But those are evolutionary changes. “What we’re also looking for are breakout capabilities – more revolutionary than evolutionary,” he said.
Infantry personnel are still shooting 5.56 mm rounds out of an M-4 rifle, which is a derivation of the Vietnam era’s M-16. “There is an element of this that bears repeating — first do no harm,” L’Etoile said. “We produce magnificent infantry that have been very successful. What we are looking at is, ‘What is technologically available today that will have a revolutionary impact?’ This is about optimizing for success.”
Training, human performance and manpower policy are three nonmaterial aspects that the task force will examine. “A good guideline is [that] it is what is in the soldier or Marine, not what is on the soldier or Marine, that is much more important,” he said. “Human performance enhanced by modern training techniques is what we are looking at.”
The task force is looking at weaponry that has greater range and lethality and the ability to find and defeat concealed enemy forces. “The material components are there – they are in the sensing arena. What can we give a squad that can look over the next ridge line — and the one after that — that is man portable?” he said.
Lightening the Load
This last is crucial, he said, as the task force does not want to add any more weight; in fact, it wants to decrease the warfighter’s load. A fully equipped infantry soldier carries weapons, water, ammunition, batteries, food, personal protective equipment, hand grenades, goggles and more. The weight easily tops 120 pounds. “The piece about reducing the soldier’s load is central to what we’re looking at,” he said. “There’s some opportunity there, but there are some technological challenges.”
The task force is looking at what exoskeletons can accomplish and is considering the possibility of autonomous robots carrying gear, food and ammunition.
Not all battles occur in the same clime or place. Combat in cities requires different equipment, sensors and weapons than combat in the desert or jungle or tundra or forest, L’Etoile said. These environmental challenges need to be factored into how military officials design, experiment and procure these capabilities.
One of the innate advantages American squads enjoy is the innovative spirit. Soldiers and Marines take the initiative to find new ways to use equipment, capitalize on new technology or use old technology in new ways.
“When they come up with a solution, we have to listen, and we have the mechanisms in place to exploit that creativity,” L’Etoile said. “We have a bias for action on the task force. We are not going to let ‘perfect’ be the enemy of ‘good enough.’”
(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @GaramoneDoDNews)
14 Mar 18. Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that Safariland Group is using Honeywell Spectra Shield® in a breakthrough new design that changes the way ballistic glass is installed in ballistic handheld shields. The resulting shields can be up to 20 percent lighter. Safariland is introducing the new design in its new X Series line of lightweight ballistic shields, sold under its PROTECH Tactical brand. Handheld shields have a lens cap, also known as a viewing window, made from ballistic glass. It is typically installed into a frame that is then bolted into the shield. Using Spectra Shield, Safariland is able to integrate the lens cap directly into the rest of the shield. This streamlined design eliminates points of weakness that arise from the traditional bulky frame system such as drill holes and seam lines. The result is better ballistic integrity with as much as 20 percent less weight. Traditional ballistic handheld shields can weigh more than 20 pounds.
“When we challenged ourselves to design a lighter ballistic shield for our law enforcement customers, we knew we had to use Honeywell Spectra Shield because it was the most optimal material to help us meet our goals,” said Todd Mackler, Vice President, Armor, Safariland. “Our innovative X Series Lightweight Shields remove common structural weakness points without sacrificing ballistic protection, ensuring that we continue to protect our men and women in uniform while helping to lighten their load. We are excited to offer this latest result from our extensive collaboration with the Honeywell Spectra team.”
Safariland supplies protective equipment to law enforcement personnel in the U.S. and around the world. The PROTECH Tactical line of hard and soft armor products includes ballistic tactical vests, shields, armor plates, helmets and other accessories.
“Demand for Spectra Shield continues to grow as it consistently proves to be the best material for the world’s most advanced armor products,” said Sanjay Sharma, Vice President and General Manager, Packaging and Composites, at Honeywell. “Customers choose Spectra Shield for its unique, mission-critical benefits: best-in-class ballistic performance, while being lightweight, strong and comfortable. They know that our team is dedicated to providing application expertise and support to help them realize their designs, resulting in innovative products such as the new X Series Lightweight Shields.”
Pound for pound, Spectra is 15 times stronger than steel, yet light enough to float. It has up to 60 percent greater strength than alternate aramid fiber. Spectra fiber is made from ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. It is used to create Spectra Shield, an advanced ballistic-resistant composite material. Honeywell’s Shield technology is a patented Honeywell process designed to optimize the ballistic performance characteristics of Spectra, as well as for aramid fiber in Gold Shield® materials.
Spectra Shield and Gold Shield products have been widely adopted and proven for the most advanced armor applications globally, from bullet-resistant vests, breast plates and helmets to combat vehicles and military aircraft – all of which require lightweight solutions and superior performance.
Honeywell maintains an active Spectra fiber and ballistic materials research program focused on continuous improvement and development of high-performance materials. For more information about Spectra fiber, visit www.honeywell-spectra.com.
14 Mar 18. US Army mine detectors to ‘see’ buried bombs. The US Army is developing a new technology that visually alerts soldiers to hidden IEDs in the ground rather than just providing them with an audible notification while using mine detector equipment.
Known as real-time spatial location tracking, the technology can display sensor images of buried bombs on either a tablet or head-up display attached to a handheld detector. When a soldier sweeps with the device, a coloured representation of the area showing up metallic objects appears on the screen. With the device’s position location capabilities, information about where a soldier has swept and what was found there can be passed on in real-time to observers in other locations. The current handheld minesweeping technology requires users to mark potential threats with sticks or other markers.
The system also monitors how a soldier swings the mine detector, to ensure they are not fatigued in such a way that it may cause them to miss a hidden object.
As the device tracks sweeping patterns, it could also serve as a training tool for soldiers who are taught to sweep at certain speeds and distances with metal detectors. Mine detection UGVs could also be equipped with the technology to capture and send back imagery to soldiers in a nearby vehicle. (Source: Shephard)
14 Mar 18. Aselsan’s LGK-84 laser-guided bomb kits undergo firing tests. Aselsan has begun firing tests of its LGK-84 laser-guided bomb kits, moving closer to serial production, the company says in its annual report. LGK-84s will be mounted on MK-84 general purpose bombs, which continue to be produced. The report noted that Aselsan is continuing deliveries of LGK-82 and HGK-2 precision guidance kits for MK-84 general purpose bombs to the Turkish Air Force Command, which has been using them intensively in operations in Syria and northern Iraq. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
14 Mar 18. USMC phases out expeditionary mortar system. The US Marine Corps (USMC) has phased out its General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS) 120 mm Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS), an official revealed at the Omega Conferences & Events Mortar Systems conference held in Bristol, United Kingdom.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Butler, Indirect Fire Capabilities Integration officer at the USMC’s Combat Development and Integration, explained that the decision to phase out the EFSS included concerns about the time required to load and unload from the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, as well as the reliability of the Internally Transported Vehicles (ITVs) which tow and transport the 120 mm mortar and its associated ammunition.
The EFSS comprises the French TDA MO 120 RT 120 mm rifled mortar which is designated the M327, a suite of ammunition, and two ITVs, plus a Light Strike Vehicle for command and control (C2) and fire-direction control (FDC).
The ITV-Prime Mover (ITV-PM) tows the mortar and its crew while the ITV-Ammunition Trailer (ITV-AT) carries the 120 mm projectiles, charges, and fuzes, with 36 rounds typically carried.
Lt Col Butler noted that the remaining stock of 120 mm ammunition cannot be passed to the US Army as it operates smoothbore mortars. He added that the EFSS will be assigned to the USMC’s Basic School to provide training in call for fire/fire-support applications until the ammunition stockpile is expended.
The USMC also fields 60 mm and 81 mm mortars at the rifle company and battalion levels respectively, as well as the BAE Systems 155 mm/39 calibre M777A2 lightweight towed howitzers (LTH) which replaced the heaver 155mm/39 calibre M198. A total of 478 M777A2 LTHs have been acquired, with 370 operational guns and 108 kept in reserve.
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
14 Mar 18. Iraqi forward air controllers conduct first coalition live-fire exercise. The Iraqi forward air controllers (IFAC) have successfully completed the first coalition live-fire exercise for the IFAC course.
The exercise was carried out by the US Central Command’s Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, together with the Coalition Aviation Advisory and Training Team.
Conducted with an aim to improve the combat capabilities of Iraq, the live-fire exercise allowed the newly trained forward air controllers of the country to become certified.
It also demonstrated the significant advancement made by the controllers since the beginning of their training, which commenced in December.
370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group commander US Air Force (USAF) colonel James Howard said: “The coordination that occurred during planning sessions leading up to the live-fire events and the actual execution of the mission signals positive commitment to building a capable and professional Iraqi security force to integrate and control airborne strike assets.
“This builds legitimacy into the Iraqi programme and fosters enduring relationships among partners in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.”
The coalition live-fire exercise was supported by the US Army’s 449th Combat Aviation Brigade and was conducted using an AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter in order to carry out close air support and close combat attack training with IFAC students.
Coordinated by Task Group Taji, the IFAC course is taught by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps personnel, who are supported by the US Air Force (USAF) tactical air control party joint terminal attack controllers.
USAF Central Command commander airforce lieutenant general Jeffrey Harrigian said: “Throughout the fight to liberate Iraq, the ability to effectively call in air support was a critical enabler as Iraqi ground forces advanced against the enemy.
“Our efforts to help them hone this and other vital skills will pay dividends down the road as they take the lead in safeguarding their country from threats.”
In December, a similar live-fire exercise was conducted, during which the IFACs practised calling in close air support from both fixed and rotary wing Iraqi air assets from their airforce and army aviation command.
(Source: airforce-technology.com)
13 Mar 18. Leonardo presents its new Marlin 40 Naval Defence System at DIMDEX 2018. For the first time ever, Leonardo is exhibiting its OTO Marlin 40, the newest member of its naval defence systems family. The turret will be a key product at the 2018 edition of Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (DIMDEX), starting today in Qatar.
The new OTO Marlin 40 naval turret has been designed for Navies, which are increasingly engaged in patrol operations using fast, lightweight vessels, but still require high-performance equipment.
The Marlin 40 provides superior performance for challenging missions such as anti-missile defence, anti-aircraft warfare and ship-to-ship engagement. The gun features a dry weight of only 2,100 kg in its remotely controlled version, high maneuverability (the barrel can move at 120°/s thanks to powerful and accurate servo-systems), and the ability to fire multi-purpose programmable fused ammunition.
Marlin 40 is fully digital and can be configured as either fully slaved to a Combat Management System/Fire Control System (CMS/FCS) or with autonomous local control by means of an independent optical sight and ballistic computation. Installation and integration procedures are straightforward, the system is compact and no deck penetration is required.
The Marlin 40’s high performance, flexibility and low weight make it the ideal solution for a ship’s main armament and/or secondary armament, providing valuable protection from maneuverable threats both in the air and on the surface (AAW, ASuW).
With extensive experience in producing defence systems, Leonardo is one of largest manufacturers of 40mm naval gun mounts in the world. More than 850 of the Company’s systems are in service with 30 Navies worldwide
(Source: ASD Network)
12 Mar 18. Russia to Begin Delivering S-400 to Turkey in 2020. Russia will begin implementing the contract on the delivery of S-400 air defense systems with Turkey in early 2020, the presidential aide on military cooperation told a local television on Monday.
“Turkey expressed a wish to accelerate its implementation and we managed to find the most appropriate solution as we agreed to accelerate the contract’s implementation, so I think we will begin to fulfill it sometime in early 2020,” Vladimir Kozhin told Rossiya 24.
Kozhin also said that Russia has got requests from Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration on new arms supplies, but he added it is too early to give any details. Last December, Turkey announced that it had concluded an agreement with Russia for the purchase of two S-400 systems by early 2020. The S400 system has been in the inventory of Russian Army since 2007. This missile system — designed for high efficient guard — is able to detect 600-kilometer-away targets (372.8 miles) and eliminate targets such as stealth aircraft and ballistic missiles. The S400 system is composed of at least one mobile operation command center and 8 launchers and 32 missiles. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Analodu Agensi)
13 Mar 18. Top Gun For Grunts: Mattis May Revolutionize Infantry. Forget the old-school grunt. Imagine a future American infantrymantrained as intensively as a fighter pilot through hundreds of virtual and real-world drills, culminating in a “small unit Top Gun.” Imagine infantry going into battle with swarms of drones serving as scouts and fire support. Imagine Army and Marine infantry exempted from the Pentagon’s bureaucratic personnel policies so they can build teams of experienced soldiers in their late 20s and early 30s, much like Special Forces.
“Special Forces, Marine infantry, Army infantry….these are the forces that are overused, overextended and the most likely to die,” said Bob Scales, a leading advisor on infantry to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. “There’s no one administration or one service one can fault for this, because this has been a nagging problem…. since World War II.”
But it doesn’t have to stay that way, Scales told me: “To get a quantum increase in the quality of close combat forces, we can do it in the next two years, (and) the cost compared to the rest of the DoD budget is very small.”
Advisor To Mattis
Scales spoke to me Monday about his new position chairing the advisory board for Mattis’s newly created Close Combat Lethality Task Force.
“My relationship with Secretary Mattis…..goes back almost 14 years on this subject,” Scales told me. Mattis, a retired Marine four-star, and Scales, a retired Army two-star, worked together when Mattis commanded first Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) and then the since-disbanded Joint Forces Command (JFCOM).
Scales is both a military historian and a futurist, as well as a passionate advocate for the often-neglected “poor bloody infantry.” He played a leading role in the Army After Next wargames of the 1990s, which pioneered new concepts in the military use of drones and networks, including ideas now being revived as part of the Army’s Multi-Domain Battle concept. He dedicated his latest book to Mattis and has spoken about it to enthusiastic audiences in the Marine Corps — although, ironically, not from his own service.
In private conversations, “the rank and file and the leaders in the Army I’m talking to are extremely enthusiastic,” Scales said, but as for public presentations, “the first time I’m actually talking to an Army audience is on the 21st at AUSA.”
That’s when the Association of the US Army will host Scales and DoD personnel undersecretary Robert Wilkie, who’s overseeing Mattis’ task force. That Mattis has given the lead to “P&R,” rather than to an acquisition or technology official, suggests how much the task force will emphasize training, personnel, and policy over new equipment.
Technology
That said, Pentagon budget plans include about $1.2bn in new investments stemming from the effort’s first phase, a Cost Assessment & Program Evaluation (CAPE) study that Scales said focused primarily on materiel. So what do the infantry really need?
“I think the Number One investment is in sensors and robots,” Scales told me. The great technological revolution of our time is not in armored vehicles, warships, or even jet aircraft, he argues, whose performance is improving on the margins rather than by great leaps. The real revolution is in electronics, especially the continual miniaturization of computing power, which means capabilities that once required a large dedicated platform — a vehicle, a ship, or an aircraft — can now fit in packages small enough for the infantry to carry.
Shoulder-launched anti-tank guided missiles were killing tanks and jets as far back as 1973 (although active protection may change that). Today, Scales said, the breakthrough lies in small unmanned systems — miniature drones in the near term, but ground robots further out — that can carry sensors and weapons for the infantry. The ideal, he said, is systems sufficiently small and cheap that they’re “disposable,” with troops treating them as munitions to be expended rather than as assets to be husbanded.
Both the Army and Marine Corps have experimented with such technologies. Marine Commandant Bob Neller — who noted Scales’s influence at a recent NDIA breakfast— has promised every Marine infantry squad will have its own drone and its own unmanned/electronic systems specialist.
So far, though, the official experiments have focused on robotic Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance (ISR), not strikes. Scales, however, was one of the first military futurists to propose armed drones, back during the Army After Next wargames. Whereas large Predators and Reapers strike high-value targets on the orders of senior commanders today, Scales envisions a near future in which every squad leader can order strikes with armed mini-drones.
“This turgid firepower system (we use today) can be replaced by stealthy orbiting drones and a squad leader with a fire support app,” Scales told me. “He presses the button and the target disappears in 20 seconds.”
Technology doesn’t just apply on the battlefield, however. It can save lives long before the first shot is first by changing how the infantry train.
Why, asks Scales, do we invest millions in training a fighter pilot, but not in training the infantry troops whose lives are at much greater risk? “We’ve learned the effects of TOPGUN on fighter pilot proficiency, and yet today we don’t have the equivalent (for infantry squads),” Scales said. “What if you had a small unit TOPGUN?”
Scales envisions training simulators at every level, from a specialized training centers like the Army’s Fort Irwin down to individual units at their home bases. While training in the field is still vital, it’s limited by its expense, the time it takes to set up, and the physical terrain. In real life, you can’t train your troops in the woods one day and then the next day build a full-scale megacity in the same place, but in virtual reality, you can switch from forest to urban with a few keystrokes. VR allows a variety of environments, adversaries, and tactical situations that real-world training does not — and it allows you to experience them over and over again.
A typical infantry unit gets to do a “force on force” exercise against a thinking, reacting opponent a handful of times a year, Scales said. VR training allows such exercises “hundreds of times a year, he said, “so a straight leg (infantry trooper) can have just as much opportunity to become as proficient as an operator in Delta Force.”
Talent
Training is not the only way in which Scales sees regular infantry becoming more like special operators. He also wants the infantry to get its pick of personnel — and to be exempted from Pentagon policies that make it hard to train expert teams and keep them together.
“SEALs, DELTA, and Rangers are selected from the top mental categories. Not so for our straight leg close combat units, both Army and Marine,” Scales said. “Why not? We know from experience, many years of experience, that intelligent soldiers are far more effective and far less likely to become casualties.”
Older infantrymen are more effective as well, because they’re more experienced, skilled and emotionally mature than 18-year-olds. Judging from special operations experience, “the optimum age for a close combat soldier is between 28 and 32,” Scales said. “What if we recruited soldiers for close combat at the beginning of their second tour,” he said, after they’d already proven themselves — and gained useful skills — in a less brutal job such as radioman or medic?
Once you select these elite infantry, you have to keep them. Time to train together contributes both to skills — practicing “team plays,” not just individual skills — and to morale — building the “band of brothers” loyalties that motivate troops to fight.
“Units have to stay together a long period of time in order to be bonded,” Scales said. “Think about a squad that stays together four or five years.”
That infantry squad should also be manned at more than 100 percent strength, Scales argued, so it can take casualties and still have enough manpower. If the optimum infantry squad size is nine, for instance, assign 11 troops to each squad. The assault squads on D-Day were overmanned this way, for example, and the Rangers do something similar today. “The only way to maintain combat proficiency when the bullets start to fly is to go into combat over-manned,” Scales said.
All these reforms go against the grain of Pentagon policy, Scales admits. So exempt the infantry from those policies, he says, much as the legendary Admiral Rickover did to get nuclear engineers excepted in the Navy. “Only 4 percent [of the force] go out every day with the intended purpose of direct, eyeball to eyeball killing,” Scales said. “We need to promote them differently. We need to select them differently. We need to train them differently.” (Source: glstrade.com/Breaking Defense.com)
13 Mar 18. Russia test-launches Kinzhal hypersonic missile from MiG-31 aircraft. The Russian Defense Ministry has reportedly announced that a combat training launch of its Kinzhal aero ballistic hypersonic missile was conducted from the Russian Air Force’s MiG-31 fighter jet.
In a statement, the ministry was quoted by Defence World.net as saying: “A MiG-31 interceptor jet made a training launch of a Kinzhal high-precision ‘aeroballistic’ hypersonic missile and the missile hit a target on the test range.”
The ministry also said that the MiG-31 aircraft took off from an airfield in the Southern Military District.
As part of the combat training plan, crew members of the Kinzhal air system have completed more than 250 flights to date.
The ministry was further quoted by TASS as saying: “Performance characteristics and time indicators of the Kinzhal high-precision airborne missile system were confirmed during the hypersonic missile launch.”
“Crew members of the Kinzhal air system have completed more than 250 flights to date.”
The ministry added: “The air staff has been trained in full scope day and night in various weather conditions.”
Developed based on the upgraded MiG-31 interceptor jet, the Kinzhal system is said to be capable of striking down surface and waterborne targets.
Integrated with high-precision aeroballistic missiles, the weapon system has a strike range of more than 2,000km.
Test air alert flights on the Kinzhal system have been underway since it became operational on 1 December. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
11 Mar 18. Russia test-fires hypersonic Kinzhal missile.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the missile as “an ideal weapon.” Russia claims the missile that flies at 10 times the speed of sound cannot be intercepted by air-defense systems.
Russia said on Sunday it had successfully test-fired a hypersonic missile, one of a range of next-generation weapons unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in his state-of-the-nation address earlier this month.
The country’s defense ministry released video footage which showed the high-precision Kinzhal missile detaching from a MiG-31 supersonic fighter jet and darting across the dark sky, leaving a fiery trail behind.
“The launch went according to plan, the hypersonic missile hit its target,” the ministry added.
‘Ideal weapon’
The Kinzhal — the name means a double-edged Russian dagger — was described as “an ideal weapon” by Putin during its unveiling on March 1.
Putin, who is widely expected to be re-elected as Russia’s president later this month, claimed that the missile, which flies at 10 times the speed of sound, cannot be intercepted by air-defense systems.
Read more: Putin’s certain victory: What you need to know about the Russian presidential election
The missile has been deployed in the Southern Military District since December 1, he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Facebook that Russia had been working to modernize the MiG-31 supersonic jets which will carry the missile. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Reuters)
13 Mar 18. The Spanish Ministry of Defence (Ministerio de Defensa de España) has awarded Chemring Technology Solutions a second contract to supply further GroundHunter Advanced Wire Detectors (AWD). The new contract follows a successful product evaluation by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and its Spanish partner Eleycon21.
GroundHunter AWD is the world’s most accurate improvised explosive device (IED) wire detector, and was selected by the Spanish Ministry of Defence following an extensive evaluation programme. GroundHunter AWD was proven to deliver unrivalled operational support as it can identify the full spectrum of IED wires, from angel wire upwards, operating over the range of wire lengths and depths used by insurgents. This includes the end of command wires, which until now have been impossible to detect.
The system also provides increased assurance in wet ground, or where the IED has been weathered-in and there is no visible ground disturbance, which other detectors are unable to achieve. GroundHunter AWD’s pinpoint accuracy across a wide variety of soil types means that operators are not required to adapt to the evolving terrain, delivering rapid and reliable search support to optimise operation advance times.
Sergeant First Class Burgos, EOD Team Leader, Ministerio de Defensa de España, said: “Of all the equipment we evaluated, GroundHunter AWD was the only one to meet our requirements and exceeded the performance of other systems. Its high levels of detection will give our operators the highest levels of assurance.”
Eleycon21 distribute and support the AWD product throughout Spain. Gabriel Crespo, Managing Director of Eleycon21, said: “AWD offers a ground-breaking approach to identifying advanced IED wire threats and it will deliver the Spanish MoD a distinct advantage. We are therefore delighted to be partnering GroundHunter AWD in the delivery and support of its technology in Spain.”
A highly intuitive system, GroundHunter AWD requires minimal training and auto calibrates in under ten seconds. It requires no further calibration when ground compositions vary, enabling search teams to respond quickly to changing scenarios. It is interoperable with the majority of in-service equipment, minimising equipment inventory, soldier burden and cost. GroundHunter AWD’s combination of extremely low false alarm rates and EMC compatibility with other equipment, including communications and jamming systems, minimises interference and maintains a high degree of detection reliability.
Roger Hopper, Strategic Business Development Manager, at Chemring Technology Solutions, said: “Chemring Technology Solutions’ proven pedigree of developing exceptional sensors and systems has enabled us to create GroundHunter AWD. It is easy to use, easy to train, easy to carry and is the most effective wire detector in all the competitive trials. The Spanish Ministry of Defence’s decision to purchase GroundHunter AWD is testament to this unique sensing technology which delivers a new and unrivalled level of assurance when finding command wires.”
12 Mar 18. Israel’s Elbit to buy Uzi maker IMI for $523m.- Israel will sell state-owned weapons maker IMI Systems to Elbit Systems (ESLT.TA) for 1.8bn shekels ($523m), the Finance Ministry said on Sunday.
A deal would likely see Elbit top Israel Aerospace Industries as the country’s biggest defense contractor.
Elbit was the last remaining bidder among five which had shown interest in IMI, a manufacturer of military systems best known as a maker of the Uzi submachine gun, the ministry said.
Elbit shares were up 5.8 percent in Tel Aviv.
The government announced its intention to privatize IMI in 2013.
The ministry said negotiations had taken “a number of months” and that Elbit might pay an additional 100m shekels depending on IMI’s results.
IMI Systems reported 2016 sales of $628m, mostly in Israel.
The acquisition will require approval from Israel’s antitrust authority.
Elbit declined to comment. (Source: glstrade.com/Reuters)
12 Mar 18. Russia to world: Our new nukes are ‘no bluff.’ Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unveiling of several new types of nuclear weapons March 1, Westerners were left scratching their heads and wondering if he was bluffing. But in an interview published by the military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star) on Monday, Deputy Defence Minister Yury Borisov assured them: “This is no bluff.”
Borisov was specifically referring to the hypersonic boost-glide system Avangard, also known as 4202, one of the systems mentioned by Putin. The announcement itself was not a revelation. Russia has been testing hypersonic technologies similar to the U.S. gliders since at least 2004, and the Soviets began playing with the technology in the late 1980s.
“Avangard is well-tested,” Borisov said. “Its development was not without difficulty because the temperature on the surface of the glide vehicle reaches 2,000 degrees Celsius. It really flies within a plasma.”
Borisov said the major stumbling blocks to Avangard’s development were related to control surfaces and heat shielding for the vehicle.
Borisov, who is in charge of defense procurement, stressed that solutions were found and that “we already have a contract for the mass production of this system.” He also mentioned that Russia’s new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, the 200-ton Sarmat, would be capable of launching a hypersonic vehicle — suggesting that Sarmat will double as the launch vehicle for Avangard.
Borisov’s interview comes a day after the Defence Ministry published a video of another Russian hypersonic system, Kinzhal, conducting a test flight. Taken together, it seems the Defence Ministry wants to underscore Putin’s message and ensure the announced systems are real — and not bluffs. Borisov walked down the list of six new systems announced by Putin.
Kinzhal is a more basic hypersonic weapon and is essentially a heavily modified Iskander short-range ballistic missile launched from a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor. The video blurred out shots of the engine. But as Borisov told Krasnaya Zvezda: “It is probably clear to everyone, from a technical point of view, how all this works.”
According to Borisov, Kinzhal can reach Mach 10 and maneuver during hypersonic flight. Its range has previously been reported to be 2,000 kilometers. Borisov said =the first prototypes have already been tested and placed on duty.
“So this has long been no fantasy,” he said.
Borisov also insisted, though it comes as no surprise, that testing was well-underway for the Sarmat ICBM. As for the nuclear-powered cruise missile that turned so many heads, Borisov said the design last year underwent “integration testing” that showed the concept is feasible. The nuclear-powered engine has not, it seems, actually been tested yet.
(Source: Defense News)
12 Mar 18. Tamir and Mini Hit-to-Kill are among the missiles offered to Army to protect against indirect fires. Israeli company Rafael’s Tamir and Lockheed Martin’s new Miniature Hit-to-Kill missile are both being offered to the Army as possible interceptors for the service’s Indirect Fires Protection Capability.
The Army is looking for a second interceptor for its multi-mission launcher — part of the IFPC Increment 2 program — having already chosen a first weapon, the Raytheon-manufactured AIM-9X Sidewinder missile.
[Army Looks to Accelerate Air-and-Missile Defense Programs]
The Army wants to qualify a variety of interceptors for the system and, in a search for the second one, is looking for capability to counter rockets, artillery, and mortars as well as provide residual cruise missile defense and defend against drones.
The Army initiated a competitive solicitation last year for what its calling the Expanded Mission Area Missile (EMAM). The service chose three vendors to be eligible for a contract award and in fiscal 2019, it will choose a single vendor to proceed to a preliminary design review stage.
Rafael is planning to offer Sky Hunter — which is essentially the U.S. version of the Tamir interceptor — through its U.S. partner Raytheon, a Rafael spokesman told Defense News.
In parallel, the company is offerings its full Iron Dome system, which was co-developed by Raytheon and heavily funded by the United States government, as an alternative to the Army’s internally developed multi-mission launcher which will ultimately fire the interceptor, the Rafael spokesman added.
Rafael brought Iron Dome to the States for the first time last fall to demonstrate its capability as a Short-Range Air Defense option for the Army. The Army has already tested a wide variety of interceptors in its multi-mission launcher to include Tamir, as well as Hellfire Longbow, Stinger and Miniature Hit-to-Kill missiles.
Frank St. John, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for missiles and fire control, told Defense News in a recent interview that the company was offering its Mini Hit-to-Kill missile for the EMAM program.
The company has been developing the mini missile in Army labs and using internal research and development funding to bring it to life.
“It’s got a lot of capability at a really affordable price point,” St. John said. “We did some flight testing on it a couple of weeks ago.”
The testing, conducted at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on Jan. 30, demonstrated the interceptor’s increased agility and validated the performance of its airframe and electronics, according to a Lockheed statement.
St. John added the company was in the proposal process and expected the Army to make an award within a couple of months to get started on evaluating and testing the missile as an option for EMAM.
A Raytheon spokesman, John Patterson, told Defense News it was also offering an interceptor but would not discuss its submission at this time due to competitive reasons. It is unclear whether the submission is a separate offering from Sky Hunter or the same.
The Army plans to make an engineering and manufacturing development decision in the first quarter of FY20. A production decision is due in FY23. (Source: Defense News)
11 Mar 18. USSOCOM seeks Griffin missiles for gunships and other aircraft. The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) intends to issue a sole-source contract to Raytheon for the procurement of the AGM-176 Griffin powered stand-off precision-guided munition (SOPGM) for employment aboard fixed-wing aircraft. The pre-solicitation posted by the command on 9 March covers up to 800 missiles to be ordered on its behalf by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) across five ordering periods from calendar years (CY) 2018 through to the end of 2021. A further 640 missiles are expected to be procured in the same period for a total of 1,440, with a further potential 1,440 to be procured in the CY 2022 for a total of 2,880 missiles. As noted by USSOCOM, the contract is expected to be awarded in July. This latest notification follows a request for information (RFI) for a SOPGM that was issued by USSOCOM in February. In that original solicitation, the command said it was looking for a SOPGM to be carried aboard Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) AC-130W Dragon Spear/Stinger II and AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, allied-operated AC-208 Combat Caravan light strike platforms, as well as other manned and unmanned special operations forces (SOF) aircraft. Though not named in the RFI, the performance parameters and specifications laid down for the missile suggested that it was the Griffin that USSOCOM was referring to. AFSOC currently fields 12 AC-130W and 17 AC-130U Spooky gunships, and has received the first of 37 AC-130Js. Once all the AC-130Js have been received by about the mid-2020s, the AC-130Us will be retired to leave the AC-130Ws and AC-130Js as the command’s capital gunship fleet. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. Malaysian Army trials Ingwe missile. The Malaysian Army conducted firing trials of the Denel Dynamics ZT35 Ingwe anti-tank missile system from the anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) variant of its 8×8 Deftech AV8 Gempita armoured fighting vehicle on 8 March, the service disclosed via the social media account of its official Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia (BTDM) news portal. The firing trial at the Asahan range located in Syed Sirajuddin Camp, Gemas, is believed to the first in-country firing trial of the missile systems since deliveries of the ATGW variant began in 2016 to the two Malaysian Army units operating the vehicles, 19th Battalion (Mechanised), Royal Malay Regiment and 1st Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, although the ATGW variant conducted missile firing trials in South Africa in 2016. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
08 Mar 18. Missile sale from France to Egypt depends on US permission, Dassault head says.3The French government must seek U.S. authorization before selling French Scalp cruise missiles with American components to Egypt, said Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
Those U.S. parts on the long-range weapon are critical to its ability to function.
Egypt is in talks with France on exercising an option for 12 Rafale fighter jets, business website La Tribune reported. That option was included in a 2015 contract for 24 twin-jet fighters and weapons from Safran and MBDA.
“This is very sensitive,” Trappier said March 8 at a media conference on 2017 financial results. “This is a government-to-government contract. If there are authorizations, then it is up to the government for the component and the government for the aircraft.”
Dassault has delivered 14 of Egypt’s order for 24 Rafale aircraft.
The French Armed Forces Ministry and MBDA declined to comment.
A U.S. State Department official said that “as a matter of policy, we do not comment on private diplomatic exchanges, and we are restricted under federal law from commenting on issues related to specific commercial defense export licensing cases.”
Egypt was the first export client for the Rafale, which was part of a French arms deal that included a Naval Group multimission frigate and four Gowind corvettes, with options for two more. Egypt went on to buy two Mistral helicopter carriers, which France had bought back from Russia.
Previously, France ran into U.S. authorization problems on a 2013 sale of two Falcon Eye spy satellites to the United Arab Emirates. That contract lapsed, as U.S. authorization under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations for two key components was slow. France eventually closed that deal with the UAE in 2014, but only after then-French President François Hollande and then-U.S. President Barack Obama met at the White House and agreed to speed up the authorization.
Dassault expects a down payment from Qatar “shortly” after exercising an option in December for 12 more Rafale fighters, Trappier said. That adds to an initial order for 24 units. Doha also asked for options for 36 more units.
Asked about legal doubt over the French government-to-government offer of the Rafale to Belgium, Trappier said it was simply up to the Belgian government to exercise its national sovereignty, and decide whether to opt out of its fighter competition and pick the Rafale.
The U.S. and Britain have pitched respectively the F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon in the Belgian tender.
Malaysia is due to hold general elections soon, and Dassault expects to continue talks with the new administration on its offer of the Rafale.
“The discussions will resume with the arrival of the next government,” he said, addressing doubts over Malaysia’s interest in the French fighter following the European Union’s move to curb imports of palm oil. With Britain leaving the EU, Malaysia has signaled a change in interest to the Eurofighter, Reuters reported.
Dassault expects Switzerland to launch a competition soon to replace the F-5 and F-18. The firm has high hopes for the Rafale, the executive said.
A previous Swiss tender picked the Saab Gripen to replace the F-5, but that selection was canceled in a public referendum.
Dassault expects the French government to sign a contract soon for three new Falcon jets for its Epicure airborne universal electronic warfare program, replacing an aging fleet of two Transall Gabriel aircraft. The selection likely will be the 7X or 8X versions of the Falcon twin-engine jets, Trappier said, and the deal will be will be shared with Thales.
Dassault expects Japan will order more Falcon jets for surveillance and electronic warfare on top of the four units already ordered, he said.
(Source: Defense News)
08 Mar 18. Congress grills Marines over M27. U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment fire the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle during a live-fire weapons exercise at range F-18 on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 8, 2017. (Lance Cpl. Michaela R. Gregory/ Marine Corps)
Marine commanders were grilled by members of Congress on Tuesday over their decision to seek a single-source contract from a foreign company to procure the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, or IAR.
The Corps is seeking to procure nearly 15,000 Heckler & Koch M27 rifles to field to the infantry. But the nearly $3,000 automatic rifle is being sourced to a German company, an issue raised by members of Congress at a House Armed Services Committee meeting on readiness late Tuesday.
“Do you believe that it is the best option to not compete a contract that could be as many as 50,814 rifles?” Congressman Joe Wilson, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, asked Marine commanders at the hearing. “Do you believe the U.S. defense industrial base could support such a request?”
To date, the Corps has already fielded 6,500 rifles, a process that began in 2008 through open competition.
“Our plan is to outfit our infantry Marines with that M27,” Lt. Gen. Brian D. Beaudreault, deputy commandant of Plans, Policies and Operations, told Wilson.
But any new decision to source the weapon from a new U.S. supplier could result in costs as high as $24m and a two-year delay in getting the weapons in the hands of grunts.
“We’d basically be starting over,” Beaudreault warned.
But not all lawmakers were satisfied with that answer.
There is a tremendous “number of U.S. manufacturers that make just as good of a rifle as H&K [Heckler & Koch], which H&K is also a good company,” said Congressman Austin Scott, R-Ga.
Scott said that American defense manufacturers “could use the business” and that those companies have been “hurt by the sequester” just like the military.
Sequestration enacted automatic budget cuts and set spending caps for the Defense Department as part of the Budget Control Act of 2013.
Those caps have taken a heavy toll on military readiness, an issue military leaders have routinely complained about to Congress, especially as the force is now amid a shift towards conflict with rising near-pear adversaries like Russia and China.
Moreover, lawmakers were concerned that a foreign company might not have the capacity to meet the demand and that it could pose a readiness challenge for the Corps if spare parts couldn’t be delivered on time from the German manufacturer.
In its presolicitation, the Corps sought a production capacity of 50,184 M27s to ensure any sole source provider could meet the demands if the Corps needed more than 15,000 rifles. Heckler & Koch met those requirements.
And a report by the Government Accountability Office found the process undertaken by the Corps to be legal for the service to pursue a sole source contract, Beaudreault told lawmakers.
Kitting up grunts with new weapons and tech has been a priority for Marine Commandant Robert B. Neller. A new open competition to seek a U.S. manufacturer for an automatic rifle could prove to be a major setback.
The M27 is a proven weapon that has afforded grunts increased lethality. The 30-round capacity rifle has increased range over its predecessor the M4. As such, the Corps made a marksman version of the M27 known as the M38.
The M38 can accurately engage targets at 600 meters or more, a learned lesson borne out of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. A single designated marksman in an infantry squad will carry the M38, Marine officials say.
But while the infantry has fallen head over heels over the IAR, Marine special operators don’t want it.
The M27 is not compatible with SOCOM’s low receivers and adopting the rifle would mean Marine operators would lose the flexibility of changing out various rifle barrels and configurations for a multitude of diverse mission sets carried out by the elite commando force. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Marine Times)
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14 Mar 18. Kratos Mako Approved for International Marketing. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that it has received U.S. State Department approval to market its Mako High Performance Jet Tactical Unmanned Aerial System to certain European and Asia Pacific region countries.
Kratos Mako provides fighter-like performance and is designed to function as a wingman to manned aircraft as a force multiplier in contested airspace, or be deployed independently or in groups of UAS. The Mako is a highly maneuverable unmanned aircraft, capable of carrying and operating weapons and advanced sensor systems, which has flown in multiple large-scale military exercises and could soon be put into production for combat use.
Kratos works with most of these recently State Department approved nations on other programs, contracts, systems and products across the corporation, including certain existing Kratos High Performance Unmanned Aerial Target Drone customers. Kratos is recognized as being the industry leader in high-performance, low-cost jet aerial target systems that support the U.S. military and foreign ally military customers/users, with its primary customers including the United States Air Force, Navy, and Army.
Kratos is also currently under contract on multiple high performance jet powered tactical unmanned aerial drone systems. Kratos is an industry leader in the rapid development, demonstration, and fielding of technology leading systems and products for National Security at an affordable cost. Due to competitive and other considerations, no additional information will be provided.
Steve Fendley, Unmanned Systems Division President of Kratos, said:
“This approval represents another important step in our roadmap of being the global leader of high performance jet unmanned aerial drone systems. These U.S. ally and partner nations represent a key part of our existing, new, and evolving customer base and are a critical element in enabling Kratos to maintain its economy of scale related cost advantage for the Tactical UAS that we routinely achieve with our unmanned aerial target systems. Kratos has experienced significant growth over the past few years, we are forecasting this growth to continue in 2018, and this approval for Kratos to market Kratos tactical UAS internationally positions us for continued and potentially even stronger growth in future years.” (Source: UAS VISION)
13 Mar 18. UK prepares for Protector UAV. The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is preparing for the introduction into service of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) Protector unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with a dedicated team currently working through the issues in the United States. The Protector Combined Test Team (CTT) is now co-ordinating the testing and evaluation of the Protector system, which will replace the GA-ASI MQ-9 Reaper UAV in RAF service, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported on 13 March.
As noted by the MoD, this Wing Commander-led CTT comprises experienced pilots, sensor operators, and engineers from the RAF; industry partners; and the US Air Force (USAF). An important aspect of the work of the CTT will be to ensure that Protector complies with national and international airspace and safety regulations.
The United Kingdom is investing in an initial 16 Protectors, but has a stated requirement for 20 such aircraft to replace the 10 Reapers that it currently fields (though a US Defense Security and Cooperation Agency notification of the proposed Protector sale put the number at 26).
Protector is the United Kingdom’s name for the Certifiable Predator B (CPB) that is being upgraded with national-specific equipment and munitions. Equipment includes multispectral targeting systems and AN/APY-8 Lynx IIe Block 20A synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indicators (SAR/GMTI), as well as enhanced datalinks. Munitions comprise MBDA Brimstone 2 missiles and Raytheon Paveway IV laser-guided bombs.
According to GA-ASI, the CPB has a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 ft (compared with 50,000 ft for the Reaper), a maximum endurance of more than 40 hours (compared with 27 hours for the Reaper), and a maximum air speed of 200kt (compared with 240kt for the Reaper). The CPB also has nine external stories stations, compared with five for the Reaper.
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
13 Mar 18. Singapore Navy developing new USVs. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has revealed the development of a new type of unmanned surface vessel (USV), which will be used to improve the country’s maritime security and homeland defence capabilities.
RSN is set to deploy the unmanned ships to patrol the Singapore Strait, as well as detect and neutralise mines on the seabed to ensure that the country’s shipping lanes are safe for navigation, according to the Singapore Ministry of Defence.
“The USVs are slated to be equipped with advanced sensors and software, making them capable of carrying out their operations at a much lower cost than current models.”
A total of three types of autonomous surface vessel is currently being developed as part of the initiative, namely the Coastal Defence USV, the Mine Countermeasure USV with towed synthetic aperture sonar (TSAS) and the Mine Countermeasure USV with expendable mine disposal system.
The Coastal Defence USV is being built to carry out coastal patrol operations, while the Mine Countermeasure USV with TSAS is intended to help detect underwater mines on the seabed.
The Mine Countermeasure USV with mine disposal system will be used for mine disposal activities.
RSN’s latest USVs are designed for high-speed operations and manoeuvrability.
In addition, they will feature a built-in collision detection and collision avoidance system in order to enable them to navigate safely and operate autonomously in proximity with other vessels.
The USVs’ integrated command and control systems will enable the Operator Control Station, located ashore or on-board platforms at sea, to control the movement and payload of the unmanned vessels with minimal manpower.
Furthermore, the USVs are slated to be equipped with advanced sensors and software, making them capable of carrying out their operations at a much lower cost than current models.
The technology will also allow the manned vessels to be deployed at further ranges from Singapore and for more complex missions.
Each of the three types of USV is approximately 16m in length, has a displacement of approximately 30t, an endurance of 36 hours and a top speed of 25k. (Source: naval-technology.com)
10 Mar 18. Training with ‘squadrones’? It’s happening for the US Marines.
In the spring of 2013, over drinks somewhere in Washington, a Marine officer candidate told me about an idea he had. He was getting ready for a wargame — a weekend in the field simulating a combat engagement — and he wanted to use his discretionary budget for the activity to buy a drone. Now, the military has plenty of drones, from Global Hawks on down, but nothing currently in the inventory could match both the capability and the disposability he wanted. So he was going to buy a camera drone kit for less than $1,000, and try to field it in the wargame.
I never made it out to see how the drone faired, but five years later, adding a drone into a Marine squad is no longer just the stuff of daring candidates looking for an edge over their peers in friendly wargames. Last month, Marines in the California desert practiced with quadcopters of their own.
The InstantEye will hardly be the first quadcopter tested by the military, nor will it be the first small drone. Perhaps the most iconic drone carried by infantry is the RQ-11 Raven, a hand-tossed fixed-wing designed to break apart like LEGOs when it landed. The Ravens had a unit price of $35,000, and were sold with all the relevant equipment to operate a batch of three for $250,000. That’s bargain basement when compared to the price of other aircraft, but still pricey in the world of small drones.
To get scouting capabilities dirt cheap, the Marines and the Army have bought and tested commercial off-the-shelf quadcopters, like DJI Phantoms. These quadcopters typically run only a few hundred dollars, making them as cheap as a functional drone can get. The cost savings wasn’t worth the potential risk of the drones being built compromised, so citing cyber security concerns last summer, the U.S. Army ordered units to stop using drones from China-based manufacturer DJI. The InstantEyes quadcopters, meanwhile, are built by InstantEye Robotics of Andover, Massachusetts. And while InstantEye’s announcent of a recent sale of 800 quadcopters to the Marine Corps didn’t include unit price for the drones, they were reported as costing around $1,000 in 2014. If the cost is similar, then it means that the Marines might finally have a squad-based aerial scout that matches or exceeds those of rivals in both capability and disposability. And it means the Marines are now much closer to Commandant Neller’s vision of a drone in every squad. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
12 Mar 18. USAF’s Predator Ends Era at Creech AFB. The iconic MQ-1B Predator, which ushered in the age of drone warfare in the mid-1990s, flew into the sunset on Friday. The US Air Force held an official retirement ceremony at Creech AFB, Nevada, the headquarters of Air Force remotely piloted aircraft operations, on Friday, marking the end of the Predator’s reign in the air and the shift to an MQ-9-dominated RPA fleet.
Creech has flown the Predator since 1995 when it began its operational life. At the time, the base was called Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field. That same year, the Predator deployed to Albania and the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron stood up in Indian Springs. The squadron, later joined by the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, flew the Predator’s early missions, providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for Operation Allied Force over the Balkans.
The Predator became an armed, constant eye in the sky in 2001 as Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off in Afghanistan. It has flown constant missions in the Middle East ever since, undergoing a series of modifications and upgrades to keep it combat relevant. The modern wars in Afghanistan and Iraq proved the Predators capability, and that of pilots and sensor operators flying both unarmed and armed missions from air conditioned trailers in the Nevada desert.
“Wars are destructive,” Abraham Karem, the engineer whose feats in the 1970s and 1980s made the Predator possible, told Air Force Magazine last year. The goal is “to win with the minimum casualties, both us and them. And I think armed UAVs being able to … look at the targets for a long time and throw a small missile can do that better than an F-16 coming in with a 2,000-pound bomb.”
The Air Force in 2011 received the last of its 268 Predators, at the time having accumulated more than 900,000 flight hours with a mission capable rate of 90 percent. As of 2017, the Air Force had 129 of the MQ-1s left. Some of the airframes have already made their way to museums in the US and England.
SSgt. Trung, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, reports a munitions load to the munitions operations center at Creech AFB, Nev., May 12, 2014. Air Force photo
With the Predator retired, the Air Force plans to field 346 MQ-9 Reapers, which have better sensors, more fuel efficient engines, a higher ceiling, and larger armaments. Predators finished their combat mission in the Middle East last year as expeditionary squadrons transitioned to the MQ-9s.
“The Predator has been a workhorse in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the fight against ISIS,” said Lt. Col. Douglas, commander of the 361st Expeditionary Attack Squadron in Southwest Asia as his unit flew its final MQ-1 flight in July. “When you see the results everyday on the battlefield, it’s unfathomable at times.”
The Air Force is retraining MQ-1 pilots and sensor operators to transition them from Predators to Reapers under a process that began in February of last year.
While Friday marked the ceremonial retirement of the aircraft, the transition from Predators to Reapers will not be completed until later this year, according to the Air Force. The US Army will also continue flying its derivative of the Predator, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle. (Source: UAS VISION/Air Force Magazine)
12 Mar 18. Altitude Angel and Frequentis will Connect ATM to UTM. Frequentis, a provider of ATM communication, automation and information solutions and Altitude Angel, the pioneering drone management platform and airspace integration start-up, have entered into a strategic partnership to provide solutions that will allow Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to more safely co-exist in the shared airspace.
The ability for drone technologies to support essential tasks such as emergency health services and organ transport, policing and traffic patrols, highlights the need for them as an important user of airspace. However, this increases the pressure to safely manage it. “The underlying mission of the industry remains the same – to fly safely and legally in assigned airspaces. Finding a way for drones and manned aircraft to safely coexist is crucial. We understand that building a harmonised framework for air traffic management (ATM) and unmanned traffic management (UTM) is the safest way forward.
Altitude Angel’s GuardianUTM platform coupled with Frequentis’ mature, safety-critical infrastructure components and state-of-the art technology will ensure their safe integration into the airspace.
“Our focus is to enable new business models for our ANSP customers and enable organisations to leverage the potential of these autonomous technologies,” says Hannu Jurrakko, Vice President ATM at Frequentis
Frequentis delivers a highly reliable, modular, end-to-end framework suite to connect UTM and ATM systems around the world. All Frequentis ATM products are ‘drone ready’, and can integrate the information and communication needs with unmanned traffic. Altitude Angel’s geospatial database covers more than 80 countries and is a key component of its autonomous drone navigation system. This allows any drone to tap into its situational awareness database, helping them go beyond the line of sight of the operator. Altitude Angel’s long-term goal is to use its platform to enable millions of autonomous drones to fly – safely – without any human pilots.
“Drones have the power to revolutionise business and transform lives. Our GuardianUTM platform provides the most accurate and up-to-date information for drone pilots, and multiple, reliable integration pathways to existing ATM systems and networks built on top of a common interface framework. With Frequentis’ expertise we can move forward in our goals for a harmonised airspace, bringing the ATM and UTM communities together for a more integrated airspace.” said Altitude Angel Founder & CEO, Richard Parker, also a board member of the Global UTM Association.
The companies are both involved in many drone research efforts and projects, with the focus on safely integrating them into the airspace. In Oct 2016, Frequentis contributed to the NASA UTM trials at Reno Stead Airport. Altitude Angel was also selected by NATS to provide a drone safety app and UTM solution. Both companies are actively involved in SESAR-driven research, and are members of relevant international and regional working groups, such as at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Global UTM Association (GUTMA), or the standardisation organisation EUROCAE. (Source: UAS VISION)
09 Mar 18. Serbia’s first HAPS, new UAVs, unveiled by CTT at SEAS. The second Southeast Europe Aviation Summit (SEAS), held in Belgrade, Serbia, on 8 and 9 March, saw the unveiling of three new innovative unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) currently under development by Belgrade-based Composite Technology Team (CTT).
Chief among these was a high-altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) named Pupin after the Serbian-American scientist Mihajlo Pupin. A solar-powered UAV designed to fly at altitudes of 20,000 m, Pupin is intended to stay airborne for months while carrying various payloads, such as telecommunications equipment and surveillance sensors.
“We are one of only five companies worldwide that are currently working on developing HAPS and we hope that very soon we will begin testing our system in order to prove the concept and proceed with the follow-on development of Pupin for executing a wide variety of military and civilian missions,” Petar Matunovic, CTT aerospace engineer and CEO told Jane’s at SEAS.
Matunovic explained that CTT is looking to partner with reliable companies from the aviation industry to further boost its work on Pupin as well as the company’s other two ongoing UAV projects: the NT155 and the NT161 (the NT designations are a tribute to the Serbian-American scientist Nikola Tesla).
Presented in model form at SEAS, the NT155 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV with an airframe made entirely from advanced composites. This allows a complex aerodynamic shape and light weight while offering the structural strength required to facilitate wing-mounted hardpoints for weapons, electro-optical payloads, or auxiliary fuel tanks. The system is still in the design phase but is expected to have a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 1,000 kg, a cruising speed of 140km/h, and an operational endurance of at least 16 hours. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
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15 Mar 18. How is China developing AI technology so much faster than the US? China is rapidly developing and deploying technologies powered by artificial intelligence at a pace that will see the country soon eclipse the United States as the world’s leader in the technology.
But how is China progressing so quickly?
Speaking during a press briefing at the Center for a New American Security, announcing the organization’s new AI and national security Task Force, SparkCognition CEO Amir Husain explained that the pace of technological development is influenced by doctrine and governance, but also funding.
“The Chinese are spending $150bn [on AI] by 2030… hopefully we will spend more than the $1.2bn we spend now,” Mr. Husain said.
While adding a few zeros on the end of the Defense Department’s AI budget would help spur development, fundamental differences in how China and the U.S. approach civil liberties also restricts how quickly America can create advanced AI systems.
“The issue is… China is more liberal in allowing large scale experiments,“ Husain added. “The level of data you can gather when you’ve got 5 million cameras deployed and the kinds of objects and situations you see will allow you to build better training systems… They will have a leg up on.”
In addition to lacking communication and organization between government and industry, Husain bemoaned long five to seven year acquisition timelines and the difficulty for young, innovative AI companies to work with the Defense Department.
“I live in a world where there is a revolution every 60 days. So seven years is 40 generations,” he said. “You buy tanks in one way, and you’ve got to buy algorithms in a different way” he explained.
Former deputy secretary of defense Robert Work noted China’s centralized government and civil-military fusion across the defense industry also makes it easier for China to ”really drive the fusion at the national level.”
“As a democracy, I don’t ever imagine something like that,” Work said. “The United States just needs to think through how we do this as a nation.”
So how can the U.S. keep pace with China?
Work has previously spoken about establishing an AI Center of Excellence, but also believes more government leadership is needed from the top.
“To have a national response you have to have a national push from above,” he said. “In my view it must start from the White House.”
The former deputy secretary also noted the importance of congressional support, citing the influence of Lyndon Johnson in Congress during the space race.
“We are going to need some help from Congress,” Work said. “Either a caucus or someone who takes this as a leadership position.”
(Source: Defense News)
14 Mar 18. DoD Officials Highlight Role of Cloud Infrastructure in Supporting Warfighters. The Defense Department is seeking an enterprisewide cloud infrastructure to ensure warfighters have access to real-time, mission-critical data, DoD officials said March 7 at an industry day for the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure Cloud acquisition.
Having the departmentwide cloud infrastructure could mean the difference between mission success or mission failure for warfighters, the speakers stressed.
“This program is truly about increasing the lethality of our department and providing the best resources to our men and women in uniform,” DoD Chief Management Officer John H. Gibson II said. “JEDI Cloud is just one contract and part of a much larger strategy for overall [information technology] efforts.”
Global challenges to the military remain, he said, adding that the department must consider significant reforms to best equip the military to meet mission requirements.
“Leveraging the commercial cloud is one IT area that we believe will achieve operational, financial and security benefits of which the JEDI Cloud contract is a great example,” Gibson said.
The Industry Day event, held at the Sheraton Pentagon City near the Pentagon, was open to the public. Hundreds of people, including representatives from industry, academia and government, attended.
Changing the Way DoD Does Business
“We must embrace change,” Ellen M. Lord, the undersecretary of defense acquisition and sustainment, said. “If we leverage commercially available cloud solutions, we will have the foundational technology in place that we need to deliver better software to our warfighters faster, with better security, and at a lower cost, and that software will be easier to maintain,” she said.
Lord said the initiative is the kind of innovation the defense acquisition world needs.
“If we keep doing business the same old way, our software will be outdated, it will cost far more than it needs to, we won’t be able to attract the best software talent, and we’ll lose our technological edge,” she said. “Change is uncomfortable, but as I tell our team all the time, we need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
Building a Better Now
The Defense Digital Service is leading the JEDI Cloud acquisition and has worked throughout the Defense Department to stand up the JEDI Program Office within the Office of the Chief Management Officer to transform the way DoD buys, builds and makes decisions about technology. Speaking at Industry Day, DDS Director Chris Lynch emphasized that JEDI Cloud is additive — it is a force multiplier rather than an end product solution, he explained, and is critical to DoD’s efforts to accelerate adoption of cloud infrastructure and platform services.
Embracing a commercial solution will allow DoD to innovate at the speed of relevancy, improve lethality, and both identify and meet the evolving requirements of the joint warfighter, Lynch noted.
“We get to take advantage of innovation that has not yet come to us,” Lynch said. “We get to take advantage of the innovation that we aspire to use.”
Lynch underscored the importance of operating at speed in warfighting environments, where troops depend on information for making life and death decisions.
Fighting and Winning the Nation’s Wars
Air Force Brig. Gen. David A. Krumm, the Joint Staff’s deputy director for requirements, reminded attendees that the JEDI Cloud event was held just across from Arlington National Cemetery. He encouraged them to walk the hills of the cemetery and go through the rows of graves, noting they will discover that some of those buried there are young service members.
“If we do this right, if we do this together, you and your team will be responsible for making some of those end dates not as close [to the birthdates],” he said. “You’ll be responsible for a few fewer tombstones up there.”
More service members would make it home because they had the critical information when they needed it in the battlespace, Krumm said. He described the cloud undertaking as “not an IT contract,” but a way to change how the department does business. “We’re going to change the way that this nation, its soldiers, its sailors, its Marines and its airmen fight and win our nation’s wars,” he said.
For the past quarter century, the department has had a system in which data is secure, but also isolated and inaccessible to other systems, the general noted.
“We need to take your commercial solutions and we need to integrate them into the military,” he said. “We need to put them on a global scale in both the unclassified and classified environment. That information has to be available to the warfare on the tactical edge, not just the headquarters.”
Global Enterprise, Millions of Users
Essye B. Miller, DoD’s acting chief information officer, noted that the Defense Department now has 3.4 million users, about 4 million endpoint devices, more than 1,700 data centers, and some 500 different cloud initiatives. She stressed the security aspect of the commercial solution for the cloud infrastructure.
“It is less about protecting the boundary of the network and the physical limitations,” she said. “It’s more about protecting the data and exposing it to the individuals and functions who need it in a real-time basis.”
The project, she said, is about capturing best practices of industry that can help the department.
“Cloud computing enables the department to consolidate infrastructure, leverage IT commodity functions, eliminate functional redundancies, while improving continuity of operations,” she said.
In September, DoD established the Cloud Executive Steering Group to develop and execute a strategy to accelerate the adoption of cloud architectures and cloud services with a focus on commercial solutions.
The department is using a tailored acquisition process to acquire a modern enterprise cloud services solution that can support unclassified, secret and top secret requirements. The planned contracting action will be a full and open competition.
The draft DoD JEDI Cloud request for proposals went live after the forum on the Federal Business Opportunities website.
(Follow Lisa Ferdinando on Twitter: @FerdinandoDoD)
15 Mar 18. Nominee for Top NSA Post Shares Views With Senators at Confirmation Hearing.
President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to serve as the next director of the National Security Agency today promised to defend the nation and secure the future as he testified before lawmakers during his confirmation hearing here.
Lt. Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, the commander of U.S. Army Cyber Command, spoke before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which is considering his nomination to succeed retiring Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers as NSA director.
Ensuring Security
“The safeguard of our national secrets, the safeguard of our capabilities is one of the most important things the next director will continue to address,” Nakasone said, “My intent is to look to ensure the security of the enterprise and the security of the network initiatives that NSA has undertaken to date are timely, are accurate, are on target to ensure that we continue to have the safeguard of our national treasures,” he said.
He emphasized two elements that will help ensure national security.
The first focus, he said, is “continuing to hire great people that work at the NSA, not only hiring them, but also training them, developing them and ensuring that their long-term careers with the NSA are well-tended-to.”
Secondly, he said, the agency needs to continue to look at control mechanisms to provide the ability to safeguard networks and secure the environment.
If confirmed to the post, Nakasone will assume the current dual-hat arrangement of leading both U.S. Cyber Command and the NSA.
(Source: US DoD)
15 Mar 18. Sweden’s plan to deter a Russian digital attack. As Sweden seeks to revitalize its “total defense” concept, it will rely heavily on its private technology industry to develop new protections from cyberattacks.
The blueprint, which would see the entirety of Sweden activated to repel an invasion, was laid out by Defence Commission head Bjorn von Sydow and commission secretariat chief Tommy Akesson during a February interview with Defense News.
While Sweden had plans throughout the Cold War to militarize the nation in case of an attack, government officials let those plans expire as the country’s relationship with Russia changed. That means leaders have a system to build on as they develop a new strategy.
But there is a vital area the old plans never had to account for: cyberwarfare, which is expected to become an early focus for the commission.
“The cyber challenges were not known 25 years ago. They were even less taken care of by the system. So we need time,” von Sydow said.
He acknowledged it’s logical to assume digital strikes against infrastructure and the power grid would be the first move in any aggression by a great power. That could be particularly crippling to the civilian population if any attack came in winter. Imagine going days without heat or electricity with temperatures well below freezing.
Sweden doesn’t have to look far to see what damage could come from a digital-first strike. Estonia, located a short distance away, was infamously hit with a major cyberattack that crippled the government in 2007. And in 2015, Ukraine’s power grid was shut down via cyberattack; since then, other utilities have been taken offline. In both cases, analysts believe Russia was behind the attacks, and hence they can be seen as a preview of the kinds of activities that could come at the start of a Russian military action.
“Sweden is like the U.S., a tremendously digitalized country,” von Sydow said. “In some areas, you would probably not be able to open a door without the digital performance. If electricity is out, or at least out and in, it would probably [have] tremendous effects.”
(Source: Fifth Domain)
15 Mar 18. UK to invest in chemical weapons defence centre. Britain will invest £48m in a new chemical weapons defence centre and vaccinate thousands of British soldiers against anthrax, the country’s defence minister said on 15 March after the nerve agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.
British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: ‘We are investing £48 million in a new Chemical Weapons Defence Centre to maintain our cutting edge in chemical analysis and defence.’
Williamson said the centre would be based at the existing Porton Down facility, a secretive British Army base which analysed the nerve gas used to poison former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the city of Salisbury on 4 March.’
Britain has accused Russia of being ‘culpable’ for the attack.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory – its official name – employs 3,000 scientists across a sprawling rural site, and has an annual budget of £500 million.
It was founded in 1916 to counter German gas attacks in World War I, which initially involved chlorine and then mustard gas and phosgene.
In the 1950s scientists at Porton Down developed non-lethal CS gas, better known as tear gas, as well as the deadly nerve agent VX.
Given international conventions that prohibit the use of chemical weapons, research conducted at Porton Down is defensive in nature, according to the defence ministry.
Williamson said: ‘If we doubted the threat Russia poses to our citizens, we only have to look at the shocking example of their reckless attack in Salisbury.’
He added that threats from chemical weapons in different countries, not just Russia, were ‘intensifying’.
(Source: Shephard)
15 Mar 18. Is DoD organized to combat Russian information operations?
Members of Congress have been hammering cyber leaders from the Department of Defense and the intelligence community for answers on how to combat Russian information operations.
Part of the issue, some believe, is the organization of the military.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., noted how disorganized the Pentagon is when it comes to information warfare or information operations, during a March 13 Senate Armed Services Cyber Subcommittee hearing. He mentioned how cyber, electronic warfare and information operations are organized across different lines.
“Why does this matter? Because Russia’s information operations troops conduct technical and cognitive operations in an integrated way,” he said. “We conduct information operations in support of commanders at the tactical level. Adversaries are coming at us at the strategic level in so-called peacetime.”
The panel’s witnesses, while explaining the ongoing operations in the information space, conceded that some of these operations are taking place more at the tactical and operational level as opposed to the strategic level.
Information: the other side of cyberwar
“We have conducted information operations” against ISIS, Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of Army Cyber Command said. He added that this is the piece of the cyber counter offensive against ISIS he’s learned the most about. “Being able to provide a message, to amplify a message, to impact our adversaries.”
Nakasone noted that while these efforts have gone beyond disrupting ISIS’s networks, the operations are probably taking place more at the tactical level. This is a good starting point for beginning such a campaign, he said, by understanding how to provide that message, the infrastructure needed and the capabilities that are going to underpin the messaging.
In response to further prodding, Nakasone said there are likely lessons from the counter-ISIS cyberoffensive that can be applied to information warfare threat from Russia, but was hesitant to “apply a broad brush.”
However, Nelson was still concerned that while all the functions of information warfare are integrated at the service level, why are they separated at the unified command level and at the Pentagon.
Nakasone indicated a recent provision in the most recent annual defense policy bill might get at this issue of bringing everything together for a singular look.
The provision, requires DoD to implement a plan for a strategy for operations in the information environment with a review of DoD’s current strategy in this space dated for 2016.
Nakasone said he believes the Pentagon is working on this currently.
12 Mar 18. The Army’s new tool in firing back? Cyber. The Army has introduced three new concepts for 21st century battles including a new counter-drone capability, a tactical “cyberfire” used to neutralize enemies and cyber-enabled attacks as part of an ongoing pilot program.
The service is iteratively adding these capabilities to the Cyber and Electromagnetic Activity (CEMA) Support to Corps and Below (CSCB) pilot program that explores where cyber, electronic warfare and information operations capabilities should exist on the battlefield.
Maj. Wayne Sanders, the lead for the CSCB pilot, in an interview with Fifth Domain, said the counter-drone capability was part of training for a unit providing force protection against a key adversary’s drone capability.
In terms of tactical cyber counterfire, Sanders explained that the brigade combat team successfully identified an adversary’s cyber activity in their networks, requested support to return fire to stop the attack not simply plug holes from a defensive perspective. This was the first time this had been done, he added.
If a unit is being fired upon, Sanders said, it is going to want to be able to return fire. (Source: Fifth Domain)
08 Mar 18. USAF plans to convert IT staff into cyber force. The US Air Force is moving forward with its cyber squadron initiative to beef up cyber forces to protect weapons systems from intrusions, starting with converting IT workers at seven bases to cyber operators by the end of 2018. Lt. Gen. Bradford Shwedo, chief of information dominance and CIO for the Air Force, told FCW the service was pushing forward with its plan to convert IT professionals at every base into mission defense teams.
Right now, Shwedo said service members in the 44 mission defense teams that were established in previous fiscal years were pulling double duty, splitting their time between traditional IT work and cyber offensive and defensive work.
“They’re all right now doing operations, but they’re not fully manned because they’re still doing their traditional IT [jobs],” he said, following his panel talk on disruptive technologies at the National Defense Industry Association’s cyber symposium March 6 in McLean, Va.
This year, the Air Force will start to convert seven bases to have mission defense teams and continue to convert an unspecified number each year until all bases are switched over, Shwedo said. Ultimately each base will have a series of “beat cops” that search for vulnerabilities and network anomalies.
The cyber squadron initiative was announced in 2017, and Fifth Domain reported in February the Air Force was beginning to pick bases for conversion.
Shwedo said the initiative works as part of the Air Force’s overall cloud migration plan to do enterprise as a service.
“The bottom line is I’m going to pay a price per seat for every one of IT, and we are converting our whole basically [IT team] into cyber folks, and we’re going to start getting after the weapons systems,” Shwedo said during his panel. “Whatever base they’re at, they’re going to hover over that weapons system, and their job is to get after the back doors of the weapons systems in that base, all the industrial control systems, etc.”
Service members will undergo training at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss., Shwedo said, where the curriculum will shift from basic IT training to higher-end training, such as how to use the cyber protection toolkits used by mission defense teams to protect networks during daily operations. Shwedo said the timeline for completion was unclear and dependent on Congress’ budget decisions for fiscal 2019. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
08 Mar 18. Defense Digital Service to build provisioning system for JEDI. The Department of Defense hopes to have a militarywide commercial cloud contract in place by September. And to make sure defense agencies can take full advantage of it, work is already underway on a provisioning system that will automate much of the back-end complexity that comes with government cloud deployments.
At the March 7 industry day event to discuss DOD’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud acquisition, Lt. Col. Kaight Meyers, the JEDI program manager, said the “self-service automated provisioning tool” would be a key enabler for the “rapid access and adoption” that DOD wants for commercial cloud services.
“Through this tool the department will be able to manage a lot of the back-end business processes and implementations of appropriate security policies in an automated fashion, rather than manually,” Meyers said.
“The tool will have built-in controls and oversight for security, billing and usage,” she added, “and will be designed to maximize security, ease of use, and develop common standards to take full advantage of cloud services.”
The goal is “to have a minimum viable product by JEDI award,” Meyers said, because DOD views the provisioning system as “critical to enabling users to focus their resources on their primary mission.”
The tool is being developed in-house by the Defense Digital Service. Tim Van Name, DDS’ deputy director, told reporters after the event that DOD officials have “talked at length about what is required to lower the bar to adoption of these incredible commercial capabilities.” Back-end business processes emerged as an obvious place to start.
The provisioning tool will “allow us to manage the billing services in the way the department must in accordance with law,” Van Name said. “And then when services are provisioned, to assist with the configuration … in accordance with the appropriate security [controls] to manage the department’s risk.”
Exactly what cloud services will need to be configured, however, will not be known until DOD settles on a winning proposal for the JEDI contract. But Van Name said DDS developers are pushing ahead “on a sort of provider-agnostic framework.”
“We’re really focused on integrating with the department’s systems,” he said. “And then once the contract is awarded, that last mile will be completed, and [the provisioning system] will be hooked with the winning proposal.” (Source: Defense Systems)
12 Mar 18. Lithuania’s cyber response force formation proposal receives approval. European Union (EU) Defence Ministers has approved the Lithuanian Government’s proposal of creating rapid cyber response teams as part of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework.
The Lithuanian cyber rapid response force formation and mutual assistance in cybersecurity initiative is one of the 17 PESCO projects approved by the EU member states.
While six member states will function as participants in the project, five other EU countries will remain as observers.
In addition, Lithuania serves as the member of the Dutch-led military mobility initiative that focuses on smooth and effective removal of procedural, legal and infrastructural obstacles for quick movement of forces in Europe.
Lithuanian National Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis said: “Fluent movement of military forces and equipment across inner borders of European countries is a crucial factor in ensuring expeditious response to threats in our region.”
Karoblis further said that the implementation of the proposal will be a shared interest of the Nato and the EU. Existing obstacles will be removed in the most effective way using tools from both organisations.
The initiative of developing European military capabilities is expected to bolster the transatlantic cooperation and address all Nato and EU interests.
Karoblis added: “We have to seek openness and proper information sharing about the processes taking place in both organisations because compatibility of work and priorities is a necessary condition for Nato-EU cooperation.”
The two organisations agreed to cooperate on response to hybrid threats, strategic communication, cybersecurity, the fight against terrorism, and military capability development. They will also coordinate on exercise planning and execution, and building up the capacity of partner nations.
(Source: army-technology.com)
10 Mar 18. The US Army turns to a former legal opponent to fix its intel analysis system. The U.S. Army has made good on a new push to buy commercially available products by issuing a contract to both Raytheon and Palantir Technologies to provide solutions for its struggling intelligence analysis system, the Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A), according to a March 8 contract announcement posted to the Pentagon’s website.
The Army has been criticized in recent years for not buying enough commercial off-the-shelf technology and instead spending billions and many years to build the capabilities itself.
DCGS-A is a poster child for how the Army has struggled to develop and field a highly technical capability while ignoring the pace of technological development outside of the defense world. It’s also an example where existing technology could have already provided a functional capability without further development.
But the service is showing, through its contract award, that its epic legal dispute with Palantir is water under the bridge.
Palantir sued the Army in 2016 in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for what it says was an unlawful procurement solicitation for the service’s next iteration of DCGS-A that shut the company’s commercial offering out of the competition.
The lawsuit argued the Army should be stopped from moving forward on an unlawful and risk-prone software development project that would reinvent the wheel at a very high price.
The court ruled in favor of Palantir in October 2016 and upheld Palantir’s central legal argument that the Army violated a 1994 law — the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act — by not conducting the market research needed to determine if commercially available items could meet its needs with or without modification.
The judge ordered the Army to go back and seriously look at whether commercial products existed to meet it needs.
And that is exactly what the Army did, choosing Raytheon and Palantir to build DCGS-A platforms in what its called Increment 1, Capability Drop 1.
The new contract’s ceiling is $876m with a period of performance of 10 years, according to a March 9 Army statement.
The first capability drop will be a commercial hardware and software solution “to support intelligence analyst operations at the tactical echelon,” the statement notes. Hardware includes ruggedized laptops and a “displacement” of the Intelligence Fusion Server at the battalion echelon to make the system more expeditionary.
Software will allow analysts to use the system in disconnected, intermittent and limited bandwidth environments and will be much easier to use than the current system.
Raytheon and Palantir will supply systems as part of the first delivery order under the contract, although it is unclear how much each company will receive to provide those systems.
The Army will competitively assess the systems in a “test-fix-test” phase with soldier involvement, which aligns with the service’s stated acquisition reforms, particularly related to network solutions.
The Army does not indicate whether it plans to downselect to one system over the other at any point, but states, the process will allow the “Army to evaluate and determine the best solution to field to tactical maneuver units across the force.”
The first capability drop “directly addresses the soldier’s feedback for improving usability, will enhance the tactical military decision making and intel processes, and support situational understanding at the tactical level,” Col. Robert Collins, the Army’s program manager for DCGS-A, said in the statement.
The Army states that additional information regarding the program will be made after a “debriefing period.”
While Palantir has not yet announced what it will be providing to the Army for testing, court documents from its lawsuit stated that its data-management product — Palantir Gotham Platform — does exactly what DCGS-A was trying to do and comes at a much lower cost.
Raytheon, which has been one of the many players in earlier versions of DCGS-A, will supply its FoXTEN open architecture software product, according to Todd Probert, company vice president for Mission Support and Modernization within Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information and Services business, in a statement provided to Defense News.
FoXTEN “can be loaded onto a commercial laptop and easily deployed to and used by soldiers operating in the field,” he said. The product, “connects warfighters to intelligence from numerous agencies and sources, quickly and easily allowing them to make mission decisions when operating in remote environments,” Probert added.
The system can operate on low-transmission speed or even when disconnected, according to Probert, and can “rapidly incorporate new capabilities from any developer as they become available.”
The system is also designed to be intuitive enough that it cuts training time from 24 hours to 8, Probert said.
Users of previous DCGS-A systems argued the system was so complex too much training, too often, was needed to operate it.
DCGS-A was initially deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a quick-reaction capability and used commonly to track insurgents’ improvised explosive device networks. It’s gone through several iterations with incremental improvements, but complaints of various aspects of the system continue to bubble to the surface.
Several lawmakers have gone after the system, namely Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who famously fought with then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno during a 2013 House Armed Services Committee hearing, where he blasted the system and referred to reports from the field that DCGS-A was anything but functional and easy-to-use.
Signs changes were afoot for the service’s intelligence analysis framework emerged in the spring of 2016 when Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, acknowledged during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that DCGS-A was not performing well at the tactical level and that it might be time to look at other options.
During the most recent Network Integration Evaluation at Fort Bliss, Texas, soldiers there admitted that its DCGS-A system was packed up in a corner because the unit fried two server stacks and the systems were having significant problems operating in the level of austerity out in the desert environment of the fort. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
08 Mar 18. GAO: Homeland Security too slow in hiring cyber workers. The Department of Homeland Security has failed to hire needed cybersecurity professionals even though it was given approval to do so by Congress in 2014, according to a report released March 8 by the Government Accountability Office.
The GAO, which is the watchdog arm of Congress, said DHS also overstated the number of cyber professionals assigned with the proper identification codes,
The agency has not implemented expedited hiring authority granted in 2014 by Congress. Several House Homeland Security subcommittees held a joint hearing to review cybersecurity hiring problems at DHS.
“Although DHS clamored for these authorities for several years prior to 2014, the department does not plan to fully implement them until April 2019,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee. “We cannot afford to waste this kind of time.”
The top Democrat on the oversight subcommittee, Rep. Jose Luis Correa, criticized DHS for not reporting its cyber workforce needs to Congress.
“Without appropriate tracking, DHS will not be positioned to effectively examine its cybersecurity workforce, identify its critical gaps or improve its workforce planning,” Correa said.
Rep. Cedric Richmond, the top Democrat on the cybersecurity protection subcommittee, recommended DHS look for talent beyond university students to fulfill the cybersecurity vacancies at the department. “We need to look beyond four-year universities,” he said. “There is untapped talent in unconventional places, and we will find it if we look for it.”
He also said the White House needs to recognize the importance of cybersecurity threats.
“The president must come out and say that the cybersecurity posture of the federal government has a direct impact on our economy, our national security priorities, our critical infrastructure and even the integrity of our elections,” Richmond said.
But Angela Bailey, DHS chief human capital officer, defended the agency, saying it is working to combat increasing cyberattacks on federal networks. “Cybercriminals and nation-states are continually looking for ways to exploit our hyper-connectivity and reliance on IT systems,” she said. “Our enemies will not rest and neither will we.” (Source: Fifth Domain)
28 Feb 18. Green light for Cyber Defence Education, Training, Exercise & Evaluation Platform. EU Member States last week agreed to commence work on a platform to provide Member States with education, training, exercise and evaluation (ETEE) services in the field of cyber security/defence. The platform will be led by the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and will build on the support already provided by the European Defence Agency (EDA), the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission.
The main task of the ETEE platform within the ESDC is the coordination of cyber security and defence training and education for EU Member States. The existing training will be harmonised and standardised and new courses will close the gaps between training needs and training activities. These efforts will be jointly undertaken by various stakeholders and partner organisations.
In response to Member States’ requirement to fill the skills gap in cyber defence, EDA played an important role in developing the design proposal of this platform, following the results of a relevant feasibility study which were properly adapted to the actual Member States’ needs.
The ESDC will liaise closely with the EEAS, the Commission and EDA on the implementation. EDA will seek to migrate existant initiatives on education, training and exercises to the ETEE platform for sustained delivery into the future; a prime example is the increasingly well-established Cyber Strategic Decision Making Exercise. The ESDC will also seek synergies with respective NATO initiatives, also in the frame of the implementation of the EU-NATO Joint Declaration.
The cyber platform is planned to reach initial operating capability by 1 September 2018. Meanwhile, staff will be recruited and an initial training catalogue drafted. The full operational capability of the platform is planned to be announced in April 2019. (Source: EDA)
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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
14 Mar 18. BAE to unveil proposed design for British Royal Navy’s Type 31e frigate. BAE Systems is set to unveil the proposed design for the British Royal Navy’s future class of Type 31e frigates at the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference.
The company has entered a teaming agreement with commercial shipbuilder Cammell Laird to bid for the contract to provide the navy with a new Type 31e, adaptable, general-purpose frigate.
According to BAE Systems, the multi-mission frigate will feature a flexible design, which is expected to allow it to perform all warfare roles.
BAE Systems Type 31e programme director Angus Holt said: “We are proud to be displaying our Type 31e design at DIMDEX, the first opportunity for international audiences to see this highly capable ship.
“Our Type 31e design builds on the proven design and quality of our ships, including Type 45, offshore patrol vessels and the Khareef vessels delivered to the Royal Navy of Oman.
“It also draws upon the invaluable experience of our Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme, giving us the confidence that we are able to offer a highly advanced ship that can be deployed for a variety of purposes around the world.”
The ship will be equipped with a flexible mission bay that can be reconfigured at short notice to carry out constabulary, disaster relief, maritime interdiction, counter-piracy and joint taskforce operations.
It is set to feature various modern and advanced weapons systems and will be capable of operating in international waters, including the Gulf, at a proposed top speed of more than 25k and at a range of more than 7,500 miles.
In addition, BAE’s proposed Type 31e vessel design also features an upgraded combat system that will add upgraded capabilities to the ship through its open, secure, flexible and extensive architecture.
BAE noted that the frigate’s combat system can be further modified as new technology develops, thereby enabling it to adapt to future emerging threats.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
14 Mar 18. Radar Magnetrons
B2B Quote Ref no: B2B607928
Location: Scotland
Register Interest Deadline: Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Submit Documents Deadline: Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Supply radar magnetrons.
(Source: B2B.com)
11 Mar 18. UK seeks enhanced JFST. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for its next-generation Joint Fires Synthetic Trainer (JFST) late February and has invited six companies to bid for the programme, which is expected to be worth between GBP20m and GBP80m (USD27m and USD110m). According to the MoD, JFST “will replace existing training capabilities currently provided by Distributed Synthetic Air Land Training 2 (DSALT2) and the immersive Close Air Support Simulator (iCASS) at the Joint Forward Air Controller Training and Standards Unit (JFACTSU), as well as other obsolete and unsupported capabilities”. It will provide an individual and collective immersive joint fires training capability for operators in mounted and dismounted roles in the land, littoral, and air domains, enabling realistic and complex training that cannot be conducted live on the United Kingdom’s training areas, contributing to the maintenance of operational effectiveness. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
EUROPE
12 Mar 18. Swiss to be given vote on whether to buy new fighter, but not which type. Switzerland is to hold another national referendum on its planned future fighter procurement, although voters will not be given the choice on the particular aircraft type to be fielded. The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) said on 9 March that voters will be asked if the country should proceed with a programme to replace the air force’s ageing fighters with a new aircraft, but unlike the previous referendum on the issue held in 2014 the type-selection will take place after the vote. According to national media SWI, which disclosed the terms of the new referendum, a vote on a wider CHF8bn (USD8.4bn) defence procurement programme to include the new fighters is expected to be held by 2020 at the latest. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
USA
14 Mar 18. US Army begins process to replace manufactured MH-47G Block 1 Chinooks with Block 2 newbuilds. The US Army is moving ahead with plans to begin replacing its current remanufactured MH-47G Block 1 Chinook special mission helicopters with newbuild Block 2 platforms.
A request for information (RFI) issued by the Aviation Integration Division (AMCOM) on 14 March calls for an initial six newbuild MH-47G Block 2 Chinooks with an option for a further eight helicopters to partially replace the army’s 61 MH-47Gs that were made from remanufactured CH-47D and MH-47D/E airframes.
Fielded by the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), the current MH-47G fleet comprises the 61 remanufactured Block 1 helicopters (62 were delivered – 35 CH-47Ds, 9 MH-47Ds, and 18 MH-47Es – although one was lost on operations in Afghanistan), as well as 8 newbuild MH-47Gs for a total fleet of 69 Block 1 platforms.
Derived from the baseline CH-47F heavy-lift Chinook, the MH-47G is a specialist special-mission platform that features double-capacity ‘fat’ fuel tanks, an in-flight aerial refuelling probe, a digital advanced flight control system, and classified sensors and electronic warfare kits specified by SOCOM. The USASOC’s MH-47Gs are among the most heavily utilised in the army’s inventory, and it is likely that all 69 Block 1 helicopters will eventually be replaced with Block 2 models.
The Block 2 enhancements, which are being developed for the US Army’s wider CH-47F fleet, include the Advanced Chinook Rotor Blade (ACRB), which features geometry and a new asymmetric aerofoil to increase the aircraft’s lift capacity by about 1,500 lb (680 kg) at 4,000 ft and 35°C in the hover (the army’s 4K/95 performance benchmark).
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
13 Mar 18. Protest against U.S. Transcom cloud contract withdrawn. Microsoft has decided to back away from a fight over a sole-source contract U.S. Transportation Command wants to award to rival Amazon Web Services for putting classified data in the cloud.
Transcom wants to give AWS the contract and said it would do it without competition because AWS is the only cloud service provider with a solution rated for Impact Level 6, to handle data with a “Secret” classification.
Microsoft said in October that was working toward its own “Secret” designation for its Azure cloud offering.
In its protest, the firm argued that Transcom didn’t adequately justify the use of a sole-source procurement as opposed to a full and open competition.
The protest withdrawal was first reported by NextGov.
When asked for additional details, Microsoft said it withdrew the protest “because the issues involved were resolved to Microsoft’s satisfaction.”
I’ve also contacted Transcom because I’m not sure what exactly does “resolved to Microsoft’s satisfaction” mean? I’m also asking for more clarification from Microsoft.
But does it mean Transcom will move forward with its award to AWS, or did the procurement strategy change and lead Microsoft to withdraw its protest? Will there be a competition for this work?
I’m not going to read too much into this until I hear more from Microsoft or get a response from Transcom. But I can’t help but think there is more to this to meet the eye. It is also worth noting that Microsoft has had some success turning back government efforts to sole-source work to AWS. In August, Microsoft filed a protest of a Navy attempt to give a contract directly to AWS. The Navy then backed off within days. (Source: Defense Systems)
14 Mar 18. GAO dismisses protest of DoD cloud support contract. The Government Accountability Office has dismissed a protest issued by Interoperability Clearinghouse, of Alexandria, Virginia, that claimed the award of a sole-source Department of Defense cloud support contract contained “impermissible organizational conflict of interest that renders it ineligible for award.”
The nearly $7m contract was awarded to Eagle Harbor Solutions in January 2018 to support the DoD’s Cloud Executive Steering Group, tasked with developing a strategy for the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud, a contract that could be worth billions over the next decade.
In a decision issued March 12, 2018, GAO dismissed Interoperability Clearinghouse’s February 2018 protest of the award due to the fact that the protestor was a not-for-profit entity and did not qualify as an “interested party” in the award.
“Under the bid protest provisions of the competition in Contracting Act of 1984, only an interested party may protest a federal procurement. That is, a protester must be an actual or prospective bidder or offeror whose direct economic interest would be affected by the award of a contract or the failure to award a contract,” the GAO decision said.
The award was offered under the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) business development program, which offers sole-source contracts to firms that are majority-owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Interoperability Clearinghouse is not an 8(a) firm, and acknowledged in the protest that it was not challenging the DoD’s choice to offer the contract through that program.
“Notwithstanding the protester’s concessions that it is not eligible to participate in the 8(a) program and that it is not challenging the propriety of the inclusion of the requirement in the 8(a) program, IC contends that it is nevertheless an interested party to protest the award because if the awardee is found to be ineligible for award there is a likelihood that the requirement would be removed from the 8(a) program,” the GAO decision said, adding that IC’s 8(a) concessions weakened their argument too much to warrant pursuit of a protest.
(Source: C4ISR & Networks)
13 Mar 18. Bell Helicopter proposes 407GXi, 429 aircraft for TH-57 replacement. Key Points:
- Bell Helicopter proposes either its 407GXi or 429 aircraft for the USN’s TH-57 replacement
- The USN expects to buy 107 aircraft
Bell Helicopter is poised to offer either its new 407GXi single engine aircraft or its 429 twin-engine helicopter for the US Navy’s (USN’s) TH-57 replacement programme, depending on the sea service’s requirements.
Colin Smith, Bell Helicopter senior business development manager, told Jane’s on 13 March that the company believes the USN procuring single engine aircraft would allow it to acquire the most affordable aircraft. He said the service did not specify whether it wanted a single or dual engine aircraft in a late 2017 request for information (RFI).
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. Asking for just $308m, Army submits modest wish list to Congress. The Army in recent years has asked for billions of extra dollars in funding to grow its force and increase its capability beyond what its normal budget requests contain, but this year the service is only asking for $308m in its unfunded requirements list sent to Congress earlier this month. The unfunded requirements list is a wish list typically sent to Congress by each service to help guide Capitol Hill in considering what additional funding beyond the budget request Congress might provide as lawmakers begin to draft the policy and spending bills.
At the beginning of the Trump administration, the Army diverted from normal practice and submitted a wish list to Congress in January 2017 asking for more funding beyond the fiscal 2017 and FY18 budget requests to increase its end-strength by 16,000 more soldiers. And it calculated it would need an additional $8.2bn not included in 2017 and an additional $18.3bn on top of its yet-to-be-released 2018 budget request.
And when that FY18 budget request dropped in May, the Army submitted another unfunded requirements list to Congress asking for an additional $12.7bn in funding to grow the force by another 17,000 troops, increase munitions stockpiles and modernize brigade combat teams and vertical lift capabilities.
This year it was believed by several sources familiar with the process that the Army didn’t even want to submit a list to Congress, but instead chose to submit a meager one.
The requirements list — obtained by Defense News — would “provide opportunities to accelerate the Army’s readiness and lethality to meet combatant commanders and the National Defense Strategy requirements,” according to the letter accompanying the list sent to Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Thad Cochran, R- Miss., by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley.
The reason for the modest list is likely due to the fact the Army’s FY19 budget request marks an out-of-the-ordinary and enabling increase over previous years. The service requested $182bn — an 8 percent, or $13bn, increase over the yet-to-be-passed FY18 budget of $169bn.
Previous budget requests regularly prioritized meeting Army force readiness requirements over modernization, but the new budget request has allowed the Army to be able to meet readiness while taking strong steps forward to modernize.
Milley stresses in his letter to Cochran that “funding for the items on this list should not displace items in the FY19 [President’s Budget] request.”
Additional resources, Milley says will enable the service to “further improve warfighter readiness in support of the NDS by addressing specific operational needs and Rapid Capability Office initiatives.”
The RCO was established in August 2016 and was designed to zero in on the Army’s biggest requirements with the intent to deliver capabilities within a one-to-five year horizon. It immediately honed in on developing capability in three areas: Electronic Warfare; Position, Navigation and Timing and cyber, areas neglected in counterinsurgency operations over the past 15 years of war in the Middle East.
The RCO has moved out quickly on many projects including a more recent one — as Defense News first reported in October — to address underground facilities along the North and South Korean border using EW and PNT capabilities.
The unfunded requirements list asks for $239.2 m to support the NDS to include $153m in cyber electromagnetic activities for the RCO as well as $25.4m for an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance quick reaction capability.
“The requirements include critical cyber electromagnetic activities and several RCO efforts that will provide greater cyber capability,” according to the list.
The Army is also asking for $13.2m to fund special information operations, $14m for the Guardrail Common Sensor and $33.6m to support the Korea Yongsan relocation plan and land partnership program.
The funding would provide an open architecture for signal intelligence pods for the Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system and upgrades to Guardrail sensor’s geolocation communication sensors.
The Korean activities are directly related to supporting the Army’s command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) infrastructure requirements at the U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in South Korea. The Army asked for $69m to support increased lethality “and deter aggression in the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East,” according to the requirements list. The service wants $14m for cannon munitions to test and demonstrate cannon-delivered area effects munitions “as a bridging strategy to ensure compliant cluster munition area effect cannon artillery round,” the document states. The Army also wants $30m to buy 20,000 2.75-inch Hydra rockets “to increase lethality through the procurement of High Explosive and Flechette rockets.
Also included in the list is 1,572 83mm Bunker Defeat Munitions “to replenish munitions expended in combat operations and to meet war reserve requirements.”
The Army’s regular FY19 budget request saw a major boost in munitions procurement.
Last year, Army officials sounded the alarm that years of budget cuts had led to a growing shortage of munition production to restore what the Army had expended in various contingencies. (Source: Defense News)
08 Mar 18. US Navy pursuing commercial aircraft for TH-57 replacement programme. Key Points:
- The US Navy wants to procure a commercial aircraft to replace its TH-57 trainer helicopter
- The service is starting to lay the groundwork for this competition
The US Navy (USN) will acquire commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) aircraft as part of its effort to replace its Bell Helicopter TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopter, according to a key officer.
Rear Admiral Scott Conn, director of the air warfare office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N98), told the Senate Armed Services (SASC) seapower subcommittee on 6 March that the service was still working through the maintenance certification plan for the programme. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
REST OF THE WORLD
15 Mar 18. India eyeing Boeing’s Super Hornet in the latest twist to Air Force procurement. Boeing Co, considered the frontrunner in the race to supply the Indian navy with new fighter jets, is now in contention for a much bigger USD 15bn order after the government abruptly asked the air force to consider the twin-engine planes.
Until recently, Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-16 and Saab AB’s Gripen were in a two-horse race to supply at least 100 single-engine jets to build up the Indian Air Force’s fast-depleting combat fleet.
Both had offered to build the planes in India in collaboration with local companies as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to build a domestic industrial base and cut back on arms imports.
But last month the government asked the air force to open up the competition to twin-engine aircraft and to evaluate Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, a defence ministry source said. That jet is a finalist for the Indian navy’s $8 billion to $9 billion contracts for 57 fighters.
The defence ministry plans to within weeks issue a request for information (RFI), the first stage of a procurement process, for a fighter to be built in India. The competition will be open to both single and twin-engine jets, the official said, but both Lockheed and Saab said they had not been informed about the new requirements.
The latest change of heart is a major opportunity for Boeing, whose only foreign Super Hornet customer so far is the Royal Australian Air Force.
It also illustrates how dysfunctional the weapons procurement process and arms industry are in the world’s second-most-populous country. The need for new fighters has been known for nearly 15 years, but after many announcements, twists and turns, the country’s air force has only three-quarters of the aircraft it needs.
An indigenous light combat aircraft, the Tejas, is still not operational, 35 years after it was first proposed.
An Indian Air Force source said fighter procurement was urgent: the branch’s operational strength has fallen to just 33 squadrons, its weakest level in four decades, as it decommissions Soviet-era MiG-21s.
“The IAF wants the RFI issued within weeks and get the process started,” said the source, who declined to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media. “The problem is that government keeps shifting what it wants.”
A PRESSING NEED
Over the next decade, 13 more squadrons will be retired as their aircraft age out of service, parliament’s standing committee on defence said in a December report.
The defence ministry declined to comment on the air force’s aircraft modernisation programme, saying it was not in a position to do so.
Lockheed, which had offered to shift its F-16 production line in Fort Worth, Texas, to India, said it had not been told of any change to the Indian plan for single-engine fighters.
“Our proposed F-16 partnership with India stands firm,” the company said in an email. Last year it picked Tata Advanced Systems as its local partner and said it was in talks with dozens of firms to build up the supplier network.
“The Government of India has not yet issued formal requirements but we are continuing to support government-to-government discussions and engage with Indian companies about F-16 industrial opportunities,” Lockheed said.
Sweden’s Saab was also caught off guard.
“We have seen the reports in the Indian media, but no new formal communication has been made to us regarding the fighter programme,” said Rob Hewson, Saab Asia Pacific’s head of communications.
France’s Dassault Systemes SE’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Russian aircraft are also potential contenders under the new requirements, the air force source and industry analysts said.
Admiral Harry Harris, the head of U.S. Pacific Command, told the U.S. House Armed Services Committee last month that India was considering the stealthy F-35, among other options. But the Indian air force said no request had been made to Lockheed for even a briefing on the aircraft.
An order the size of India’s is rare. The only comparable opportunity for the Super Hornet is Canada’s request for 88 fighters, which could be worth as much as $14.6bn.
The Indian air force competition has echoes of a 2007 tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft, for which Dassault was selected for exclusive negotiations. But the talks quickly bogged down over local production and prices, and in the end, the government ordered just 36 Rafales in 2016 for $8.7bn.
LOCAL FIGHTER
The air force ideally would like a combination of lighter single-engine and twin-engine jets, as well as stealthy aircraft, but cannot afford such a range of foreign systems, analysts said.
A twin-engine foreign fighter would perhaps offer the best value while the Tejas finishes development, they said.
India’s annual defence capital procurement budget of $14bn to $15bn has to be spread over the army, navy, air force and the indigenous defence research organisation.
“The operational costs are going up with increased manpower, higher wages and general inflation. Ministry of Defence doesn’t have the luxury to go for too many platforms despite the rapidly falling squadron strength of the air force,” said Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defence at global consultancy KPMG.
Boeing India President Pratyush Kumar said the company was ready to respond to any request from the air force.
“We will follow the MoD’s lead on their process and will be responsive to their needs if we are asked to provide any information,” he said.
Kumar said Boeing was committed to building the planes in India and had offered to help with India’s plans to develop its own advanced medium combat aircraft.
But the experience with the Rafale contract has made experts sceptical that the latest tender will proceed as planned.
Richard A. Bitzinger, visiting senior fellow at Singapore’s S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said he did not expect a resolution in even the next two to three years.
“I am never surprised by what the Indians do when it comes to their procurement tenders. They are constantly changing the rules, changing their minds, and often even cancelling orders mid-way through,” he said.
“The Indians have a remarkable knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”
(Source: Google/The New Indian Express)
13 Mar 18. Brazil to receive surplus Sherpa airlifters from US Army. Brazil is to receive four Shorts C-23B+ Sherpa tactical transport aircraft that are being sold by the US Army as Excess Defense Articles (EDAs).
Under the planned sale, which was announced by the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) on 13 March, the twin-turboprop airlifters will be transferred to the Brazilian Army (Exército Brasileiro: EB) from the ‘boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona.
As noted in the source-sought solicitation for the proposed sale, the Sherpas would first be returned to an airworthy condition and have their cockpits upgraded ahead of delivery from the Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). This upgrade will comprise several enhancements, including night-vision goggle (NVG)-compatible lighting; an auto-pilot; Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS/GPWS); Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS); a civil transponder; and weather radar.
The four C-23B+ aircraft – identified as 93-1321/SH3405/AK05, 93-1334/SH3418/AK18, 93-1335/SH3419/AK19, and 94-0310/SH3424/AK24 – have each been in storage for the past three-to-four years. Brazil has requested that they be delivered no sooner than the first quarter of calendar year 2021.
As well as prepping and delivering the aircraft, the selected contractor will provide air and groundcrew training which is to be conducted prior to the aircraft being handed over to the Brazilian Army’s 4th Army Aviation Battalion located in Manaus. Once in service, Brazil has stipulated that the aircraft fly 200 hours per month, or about 67 hours per aircraft considering three aircraft are full-mission capable and one aircraft non-mission capable due to schedule or non-scheduled maintenance. A 75% mission-capable rate is desired, and in-country support for a period of five years is also requested.
The anticipated contract vehicle is firm fixed price, the US Army said, with interested parties having until 1600 h local time on 12 April to respond. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
13 Mar 18. Sonar leaders unite for SEA 5000 bid. Sonar equipment stalwarts, Thales and Ultra, have come together with BAE Systems to offer decades of technology transfer to Australia, should its design be chosen for the SEA 5000 project.
BAE Systems, which has offered the Global Combat Ship-Australia for SEA 5000, a local variant of the UK Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship currently in production in Glasgow, has committed to an “unprecedented transfer” of technology and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) knowledge from itself, the Royal Navy and the UK defence industry.
Under the arrangement, BAE Systems, Thales and Ultra will develop local capability to build, maintain and optimise the systems and sub-systems that will enable the ships to detect, hunt and destroy submarines. Thales and Ultra are already key suppliers of sonar equipment to the Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
BAE Systems said such a commitment would make Australia one of a handful of nations with advanced stealth technology and ensure the country becomes a leader in ASW technology, creating new industries and hundreds of high technology jobs.
“BAE Systems is committed to growing Australia’s industrial knowledge base. The expertise of BAE Systems, our partners and the UK Royal Navy, will contribute to a technology transfer solution for Australian industry that will fast-track the development of new ASW and underwater industries,” said BAE Systems SEA 5000 managing director Nigel Stewart.
“This will give Australia the opportunity to apply local capabilities to SEA 5000 and future exports.”
Rear Admiral Chris Gardner added that not only would new stealth technologies underpin a new capability for the Royal Australian Navy and be the catalyst for the development of new industrial opportunities for Australia, but the UK-Australia operational defence relationship would also benefit.
“We have a close, strategic relationship with the Royal Australian Navy. As Five Eyes partners we have a unique opportunity to further enhance our relationship in ASW operations,” said RADM Gardner.
“The visit of HMS Sutherland in recent weeks has provided further opportunities to build our relationship in ASW operations.”
A decision on the $35bn SEA 5000 project is expected before the second half of the year. BAE Systems is up against bids from Fincantieri and Navantia. (Source: Defence Connect)
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American Panel Corporation
American Panel Corporation (APC) since 1998, specializes in display products installed in defence land systems, as well as military and commercial aerospace platforms, having delivered well over 100,000 displays worldwide. Military aviators worldwide operate their aircraft and perform their missions using APC displays, including F-22, F-18, F-16, F-15, Euro-fighter Typhoon, Mirage 2000, C-130, C-17, P-3, S-3, U-2, AH-64 Apache Helicopter, V-22 tilt-rotor, as well as numerous other military and commercial aviation aircraft including Boeing 717 – 787 aircraft and several Airbus aircraft. APC panels are found in nearly every tactical aircraft in the US and around the world.
APC manufactures the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Large Area Display (LAD) display (20 inch by 8 inch) with dual pixel fields, power and video interfaces to provide complete display redundancy. At DSEI 2017 we are exhibiting the LAD with a more advanced design, dual display on single substrate with redundant characteristics and a bespoke purpose 8 inch by 6 inch armoured vehicle display.
In order to fully meet the demanding environmental and optical requirements without sacrificing critical tradeoffs in performance, APC designs, develops and manufactures these highly specialized displays in multiple sizes and configurations, controlling all AMLCD optical panel, mechanical and electrical design aspects. APC provides both ITAR and non-ITAR displays across the globe to OEM Prime and tiered vetronics and avionics integrators.
————————————————————————-CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
13 Mar 18. Repair of the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank Commander Sighting System. – VEAT Contract Award
B2B Quote Contract Award Ref no: B2B606984
Location: South West
Repair of the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank Commander Sighting System. – VEAT Contract Award
(Source: B2B.com)
AIR
15 Mar 18. Tempus procures six Lockheed L-1011s. Tempus Applied Solutions has acquired six Lockheed L-1011 aircraft formerly owned and operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the company announced on 12 March.
Four of the aircraft are configured for air-to-air refuelling operations and the remaining two are configured for passenger and cargo operations. They previously served the RAF and NATO. (Source: Shephard)
TECHNOLOGY
12 Mar 18. Cohort plc companies MASS and SEA have been selected to form part of a new UK Ministry of Defence maritime research and development programme being managed by defence technology company QinetiQ. QinetiQ has been awarded a contract by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to manage the Progeny Maritime Research Framework contract to enhance the effect of technology in the maritime defence environment. Under the contract, QinetiQ will build and manage a community of interest who will contribute ideas to maximise the impact of science and technology for UK maritime defence. Specialists in Information Warfare and Maritime Combat systems, the companies will focus the best resources on developing new systems which will keep the Royal Navy at the forefront of defence capability. MASS is a leading expert in Electronic Warfare (EW), cyber and information management, while SEA is experienced in developing innovative maritime combat systems including sub-surface communications and sonar, self-defence weapon and autonomous technologies. Dstl is making up to £25m available to fund research and development every year to advance maritime science and technology.
EUROPE
LAND
13 Mar 18. The Spanish Ministry of Defence (Ministerio de Defensa de España) has awarded Chemring Technology Solutions a second contract to supply further GroundHunter Advanced Wire Detectors (AWD). The new contract follows a successful product evaluation by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and its Spanish partner Eleycon21. GroundHunter AWD is the world’s most accurate improvised explosive device (IED) wire detector, and was selected by the Spanish Ministry of Defence following an extensive evaluation programme. GroundHunter AWD was proven to deliver unrivalled operational support as it can identify the full spectrum of IED wires, from angel wire upwards, operating over the range of wire lengths and depths used by insurgents. This includes the end of command wires, which until now have been impossible to detect.
15 Mar 18. Federal Premium has secured a significant ammunition contract with the Swedish Police Authority, Danish National Police and Norwegian Police. These forces have committed to a five-year contract beginning in 2018 for the delivery of 223 Rem./5.56x45mm Tactical Bonded and 308 Win. Tactical Bonded Tip ammunition for use in all duty rifles.
08 Mar 18. PIT-Radwar receives Polish radar maintenance contract The Polish Inspectorate of Armed Forces Support announced on 2 March that Poland’s PIT-Radwar company (part of the Polish Armaments Group) has received a three-year contract worth PLN41m (USD12m) to service Polish mobile and stationary military radars. The contract covers the maintenance of numerous radar types: the NUR-12M/ME (part of NATO’s integrated air defence System), NUR-15M, NUR-15C (part of the Polish Navy’s coastal defence system, which is equipped with Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles), ZDPSR Soła, RZRA Liwiec (a mobile counter battery radar), Daniela-23MC, NUR-21M, NUR-22N-3D, RM-100, and SKRL-Avia systems. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
SEA
13 Mar 18. Sweden signs torpedo development deal with Finland. Work in support of a bilateral co-operation agreement between Sweden and Finland has begun, which will result in various types of torpedo development for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. Building on a deal for Sweden’s Saab Dynamics to provide Finland with the New Lightweight Torpedo (NLT) weapon for the navy’s Hamina-class fast attack craft under the service’s Squadron 2000 mid-life upgrade programme, the two nations agreed in January to carry out further work in the ASW domain, and an inaugural meeting to organise this has taken place. A steering committee has been established, Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) says, which will monitor the various developments and act alongside a working group. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
USA
LAND
15 Mar 18. General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, has been awarded an $11,509,892 firm-fixed-price contract for fire control computers. This is a one-year base contract with a one-year option period that was exercised at time of award. This was a sole source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1). Locations of performance are Michigan and Florida, with a Dec. 31, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2018 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-18-C-0014).
14 Mar 18. InDyne to support SSPARS. InDyne has received a contract to support operations and maintenance of the US Air Force’s Solid State Phased Array Radar System (SSPARS), the company announced on 7 March. Under the $417.8m firm-fixed-price contract, the company will provide all non-personal services, administrative, financial, and managerial resources necessary on a continuous 24-hour/seven-day basis to support the five SSPARS installations/sites. Work will be performed at the air force’s Beale Air Force Base, California; Cape Cod Air Force Station, Massachusetts; Clear AFS, Alaska; Royal Air Force Fylingdales, UK; and Thule Air Base, Greenland. Work is expected to be complete by 30 April 2026. The SSPARS sites provide early missile warning, military satellite communication systems and space surveillance support. (Source: Shephard)
13 Mar 18. Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $7,917,550 modification (0027) to contract W56HZV-15-D-0031 for Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles recapitalized Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks M1977A4s. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2019. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $7,917,550 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
13 Mar 18. Spectra Group announces major US orders at the Satellite 2018 exhibition in Washington D.C.. Spectra Group (UK) Ltd, a world leading solutions provider of high grade information security and communication capabilities, has today announced the receipt of a series of significant North American orders for SlingShot, Spectra’s BLOS COTM (Beyond Line Of Sight Communications On The Move) system for tactical radios. Already popular with specialist users in the US, in the run up to Satellite 2018 Spectra Group has received a total of 12 separate orders with a combined value of over GBP £2m. the SlingShot orders have been placed by undisclosed US partners and are for use by a variety of end-users.
SEA
14 Mar 18. Erapsco receives sonobuoy orders. Erapsco, a joint venture company between Sparton and Ultra Electronics, has secured a new orders worth $28.4m for the manufacture of sonobuoys for the US Navy, Sparton announced on 6 March. The orders come under Erapsco’s existing five-year contract. Sonobuoys are tactical sonar systems that are used for detecting and transmitting underwater sounds, primarilycaused by submarine activity. Work on the contract is expected to be complete by December 2019. (Source: Shephard)
12 Mar 18. General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut, is being awarded a $696,246,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-2100 for additional long lead time material associated with the fiscal 2019 Virginia-class submarines (SSNs 802 and 803); and the fiscal 2020 Virginia-class submarines (SSNs 804 and 805). This contract provides long lead time material for steam and electric plant components; the main propulsion unit efforts and ship service turbine generator efforts; and miscellaneous hull, mechanical and electrical system components to support SSNs 802, 803, 804 and 805 ship construction commencing in fiscal 2019. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (35 percent); Newport News, Virginia (5 percent); Quonset Point, Rhode Island (5 percent); Depew, New York (3 percent); Stoughton, Massachusetts (3 percent); Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (3 percent); Florence, New Jersey (3 percent); Windsor Locks, Connecticut (3 percent); Mount Vernon, Indiana (2 percent); Cajon, California (2 percent); Cheswick, Pennsylvania (2 percent); Arvada, Colorado (2 percent); Coatesville, Pennsylvania (2 percent); York, Pennsylvania (1 percent); Mossville, Illinois (1 percent); Spring Grove, Illinois (1 percent); Linden, New Jersey (1 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (1 percent); Tucson, Arizona (1 percent); Tacoma, Washington (1 percent); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1 percent); Charleston, South Carolina (1 percent); Orrville, Ohio (1 percent); Louisville, Kentucky (1 percent); Tempe, Arizona (1 percent); Westfield, Massachusetts (1 percent); Manassas, Virginia (1 percent); South El Monte, California (1 percent); Pewaukee, Wisconsin (1 percent); Loanhead, United Kingdom (1 percent); and other efforts performed at various sites throughout the U.S. (13 percent), and is expected to be completed by January 2019. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $696,246,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
AIR
12 Mar 18. AECOM’s URS Federal business has won a seven-year, $961m contract to help the Air Force operate and maintain three types of unmanned aircraft. The Air Force received three offers for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operations and Maintenance Support contract that seeks to sustain combat and training capabilities, the Defense Department said in its Friday contracts digest. URS will be responsible for organizational-level maintenance support to Predator, Reaper and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles. The business also will also support launch, recovery and sensor operations. AECOM acquired URS in 2014. (Source: Defense Systems)
13 Mar 18. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $1,463,152,389 not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-17-C-0001) for long lead material and parts for low rate initial production (LRIP) of F-35 Lightning II air systems in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants; and foreign military sales (FMS) customers. This modification provides for 145 Lot 13 aircraft for the Services, non-U.S. DoD participants and FMS customers; and 69 Lot 14 aircraft for the non-U.S. DoD participants and FMS customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); El Segundo, California (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Florida (10 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (5 percent); Nagoya, Japan (5 percent); and Baltimore, Maryland (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2018. Fiscal 2017 advanced procurement (Navy and Air Force); fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Marine Corps), non-U.S. DoD participant; and FMS funds in the amount of $1,463,152,389 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchase for the Air Force ($346,801,667; 24 percent); the Marine Corps ($165,939,840; 11 percent); the Navy ($47,734,591; 3 percent); and the non-U.S. DoD participants ($636,890,291; 44 percent); and FMS customers ($265,786,000; 18 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
14 Mar 18. The US military is to procure 400 Raytheon GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II precision-guided munitions (PGMs) as it looks to afford the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) with an interim moving target capability. The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), which is the contracting authority for the F-35 across the US services, issued a request for information (RFI) on 14 March for the procurement of the 500 lb PGMs, as well as the associated logistics support. No details pertaining to delivery timelines or contract values were disclosed. This RFI follows a ‘sources sought’ notice issued in February 2017 for an interim 500 lbclass weapon with a moving target capability for the F-35, to be fielded while the military continues with its Block 3F (full combat capability) integration efforts of the Raytheon GBU-12 Paveway II PGB. As noted in the 2016 Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) report on the F-35, the GBU-12 has limited moving target capability. “Block 3i [initial combat capability] does not have an automated targeting function with lead-laser guidance (i.e. automatically computing and positioning the laser spot proportionately in front of the moving target to increase the likelihood of hitting the target) to engage moving targets with the GBU-12, like most legacy aircraft have that currently fly close air support (CAS) missions”, the report noted. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
14 Mar 18. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $290,594,130 firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver the GPS III to its intended orbit. This contract provides launch vehicle production, mission integration/launch operations/spaceflight worthiness and mission unique activities for a GPS III mission, with options for two additional GPS III launch services. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Cape Canaveral Air Force Space Station, Florida; and McGregor, Texas, and is expected to be complete by March 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 space procurement funding in the amount of $96,937,905 will be obligated at the time of award. The Contracting Division, Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-18-C-0001).
14 Mar 18. United Launch Services, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded a $354,811,947 firm-fixed-price contract for launch services to deliver the AFSPC-8 and AFSPC-12 satellites to their intended orbit. This contract provides launch vehicle production, mission integration/launch operations/spaceflight worthiness, mission unique activities, and mission unique options for the AFSPC-8 and AFSPC-12 missions. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; Decatur, Alabama; and Cape Canaveral, Florida, and is expected to be complete by June 2020; and March 2020, respectively. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 space procurement; and fiscal 2018 research, development, test, and evaluation funding in the amount of $354,811,947 will be obligated at the time of award. The Contracting Division, Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-18-C-0002).
TECHNOLOGY
12 Mar 18. Kromek (AIM: KMK), a radiation detection technology company focusing on the medical, security and nuclear markets, has been awarded an extension to its high-volume production contract awarded in February 2016 by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (“DARPA”), an agency of the US Department of Defense. The contract, worth $1.6m, will be delivered over an 18-month period with revenue commencing during the current financial year. Under the terms of the extended contract, Kromek will add further technical innovation capability to the Kromek D3S family of equipment. The enhancements will take the already deployed Kromek D3S product range into even greater operational capability by improving user experience and enabling the device to provide further information to the Homeland Security community and First Responders. This extension is to the high-volume production contract awarded by DARPA in February 2016, which has seen the successful delivery of 10,000 D3S units and field-testing of the standalone detectors in Washington DC and other major areas of strategic importance to the US. DARPA’s SIGMA programme is aimed at preventing attacks involving radiological “dirty bombs” and other nuclear threats in the US and globally. The enhancements to Kromek’s leading-edge D3S product range will result in greater operational capability, ease of use and provide more detailed information to the Homeland Security community and First Responders.
13 Mar 18. LGS Innovations, a technology company providing specialized mission-critical communication research and solutions, was advised by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that it has been awarded $8.5m toward a potential $204M NOAA Radio Frequency Interference Monitoring System (RFIMS) contract. RFIMS is a five-year contract to develop, produce, install, and maintain a radio frequency interference monitor system to mitigate the risk of potential interference by commercial wireless carriers sharing the spectrum with NOAA satellite operations. Other affected government departments such as the Departments of Defense and Interior ground stations may also benefit from the development of the RFIMS and awarded contract. Under the terms of the contract, LGS Innovations will deliver frequency spectrum monitoring between NOAA and wireless carriers, provide real-time detection of “interference events,” classify the types of RF interference it detects, and provide real-time notifications to both NOAA operators and the wireless carriers of any detected interference. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Mar 18. LinQuest has won a potential seven-year, $99.2m contract to support a Defense Department-run center used for navigation warfare functions by the U.S. military and coalition partners.
The Air Force received one other offer for the contract that covers non-personal services to the Joint Navigation Warfare Center, the Defense Department said in its Monday contracts digest.
Established in 2004, the JNWC works to enable positioning, navigation and timing superiority through offensive and defensive PNT operations, along with situational awareness and operational assessments and analysis.
Colorado Springs-based LinQuest’s responsibilities will include IT support, logistics, program management and facilities management. Solicitation documents also detail requirements for engineering, analysis, modeling, simulation, assessments and special studies.
(Source: Defense Systems)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
13 Mar 18. Norway’s Kongsberg Gruppen in $1.9bn Qatar weapons deal. Norwegian defense contractor Kongsberg Gruppen has signed a letter of intent to supply equipment for military vehicles in Qatar worth up to 15bn Norwegian crowns ($1.93bn), its largest deal to date, the company said on Tuesday. Kongsberg was picked for an eight-year deal to supply weapons technology and digitalization systems to 490 armored vehicles that will be produced by France’s Nexter, it added.
Qatar’s deal with the French firm was announced late last year as part of a major military procurement package, but the Norwegian company’s role had not previously been disclosed.
The deal is part of a wider Kongsberg cooperation agreement with Qatari authorities over technology development programs within defense, maritime industry and digitalization, the company said, while adding it saw “huge potential” in the country.
14 Mar 18. Rheinmetall set to supply the Australian Defence Force with over 200 Boxer wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicles The Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP, has announced today that Rheinmetall has been selected by the Australian Government to provide its next generation 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) as part of plans to modernise the Australian Army under the Land 400 Phase 2 Project. The multi-billion dollar project will see Rheinmetall deliver at least 211 of the latest generation Boxer 8×8 vehicles, with Rheinmetall’s advanced Lance 30mm turret fitted to the reconnaissance variants. To deliver the project Rheinmetall will establish a state of the art Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) near Brisbane in partnership with the Queensland State Government. The MILVEHCOE will serve as the focal point for the execution of the program and a base for the establishment of an export orientated military vehicle industrial complex in Australia. The MILVEHCOE will support the Australian Governments Defence Export Strategy that was recently announced by the Australian Minister of Defence Industry, The Honourable Christopher Pyne MP.
SEA
13 Mar 18. The Qatari coast guard ordered another nine vessels from Turkey’s Ares Shipyard during the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) show held from 12 to 14 March. The new order covers three 48m Ares 150 Hercules offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and six 24m Ares 80 SAT craft, all of which are expected to be delivered by the end of 2020. All the new boats will be armed with 30mm weapon stations made by the Turkish company Aselsan, Brigadier General Ali Saif al-Badeed, the commander of the Qatar Coast and Borders Security Department (QCBSD), told Jane’s. Qatar ordered 17 boats for the QCBSD from Ares in April 2014: two Ares 150, 10 Ares 110, and five Ares 75. Brig Gen al-Badeed said the last five of these should be delivered by the end of August 2018. The remaining vessels include the two OPVs. BMT, a consultancy that has helped Ares design the Qatari vessels, announced on 26 February that the first of the Ares 150s had successfully completed sea trials and had demonstrated a top speed of 37kt. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
14 Mar 18. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT and TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems” or “the Company”) announced today that it was awarded a $65m contract by an Asian-Pacific country to provide a comprehensive Search and Rescue (SAR) solution. The project will be performed over a three-year period. Under the contract, and as part of Elbit Systems’ comprehensive airborne radio communication solutions portfolio, the Company will install Airborne Locator Systems (ALS) and Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) onboard various mission aircraft and rotorcraft platforms in use by the customer’s Air Force, Army and Navy, and will also supply thousands of Personal Survival Radio (PSR) systems.
14 Mar 18. Orbital Sciences Corp., Chandler, Arizona, is being awarded a $67,579,333 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost contract to procure 24 full-rate production Lot 11 GQM-163A Coyote Supersonic Sea Skimming Target base vehicles and spares for the Navy; and the government of Qatar, as well as D6AC long lead steel for the government of Japan. Work will be performed at Chandler, Arizona (50 percent); Camden, Arkansas (37 percent); Vergennes, Vermont (6 percent); Lancaster, Pennsylvania (5 percent); and Hollister, California (2 percent); and is expected to be completed in June 2021. Fiscal 2016, 2017 and 2018 weapons procurement (Navy); and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $67,579,333 are being obligated at time of award, $222,035 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($67,461,135; 99.83 percent); the governments of Qatar ($97,597; 0.14 percent); and Japan ($20,601; 0.03 percent), under the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-18-C-1047).
AIR
12 Mar 18. Angola orders C295s. The Angolan military has ordered three C295 transport aircraft from Airbus, and will use them for transport and maritime surveillance duties. The three aircraft are being acquired for nearly 160m euros, according to documents seen by the Lusa news agency last week. Lusa reported that Angolan President Joao Lourenco on 2 March authorised commodities trading company Simportex to finalise the contract for the aircraft with Airbus Defence and Space. The contract is worth 159.9m euros. It will be financed by Banco Bilbao and Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) of Spain and be included in the contract of the Public Investment Programme of the Angolan government. (Source: defenceweb)
14 Mar 18. Turkish unmanned aircraft producer Baykar Makina signed an agreement on Wednesday to export six armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Qatar’s armed forces. Under the agreement, six Bayraktar TB2 armed UAV Platforms, three ground control station systems and equipment, and a UAV training simulator will be delivered within a year. Baykar will also set up a UAV operation center and network-based data tracing and archiving software for Qatar’s Armed Forces. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2018). (Source: UAS VISION)
14 Mar 18. The Ministry of Defence of Qatar has announced a contract today for the purchase of 28 NH90 medium twin-engine multirole military helicopters. The deal was announced during the DIMDEX Exhibition in Doha in the presence of the Italian Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti and Leonardo Chief Executive Officer Alessandro Profumo. The overall programme is valued at more than €3bn to the NHI consortium, and includes 16 NH90 TTH for land operations, 12 NH90 NFH for naval missions, a comprehensive support, maintenance training services package and associated infrastructure. The programme could be further extended in the future with the addition of 6 + 6 units in a mix of TTH and NFH variants. Leonardo will act as overall prime contractor with responsibility for programme management, final assembly and delivery of the 12 NH90 NFH helicopters from its Venice – Tessera facility in Northern Italy and an eight-year support and training services package for crews and maintenance technicians. Meanwhile Airbus will be responsible for the final assembly of the16 NH90 TTH aircraft. Deliveries are expected to start before June 2022 and to continue through to 2025. Leonardo will also supply, contribute to and integrate various equipment, avionics and sensors.
13 Mar 18. South Korea’s arms procurement agency recently signed a contract to purchase 90 more Taurus long-range, air-launched, bunker-busting missiles, according to defense officials. The Defence Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA, however, had not issued a news release on the contract, an apparent move not to harm the warming atmosphere for dialogue with the nuclear-armed North. Tension on the Korean Peninsula has eased in the wake of meetings between North Korea and South Korea, as well as ongoing negotiations about a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The contract for the missile system, made by German company Taurus Systems GmbH, was signed late February, said Kang Hwan-seok, spokesman for the DAPA. The latest contract for the Taurus missile is the second of its kind since 2013, when the DAPA ordered 170 Taurus missiles to arm the fleet of F-15K fighter aircraft. Each missile costs about $1.8m. (Source: Defense News)
TECHNOLOGY
16 Mar 18. Qatar Armed Forces (QAF) has selected Boeing subsidiary Tapestry Solutions to provide an advanced enterprise resource planning and logistics management information system (ERP/LMIS). Work on the project includes on-going maintenance support. It will be carried out for a period of five years and will help optimise the readiness of Qatar’s ground, air and sea troops. The project will be carried out by Tapestry Solutions in collaboration with Accenture, Oracle, and Qatar-based firm Mannai. Primary components of the ERP / LMIS include GOLDesp maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) software provided by Tapestry Solutions and the E-Business Suite from Oracle. GOLDesp software provides integrated supply, maintenance, and transportation capabilities for complex assets for land, air, sea and space environments. (Source: army-technology.com)
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TopEngineer.com Job Of the Week!
Job – Marine Systems Support Engineer TYPE 45 in Portsmouth
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Location: Portsmouth, UK
Salary: £39.73 – £40.00 Per hour
Job type: Contract
Category: Defence Engineering
Job Reference: 140653MA
Posted on: 9 Mar 2018
About the Role:
ROLE OVERVIEW
Providing technical resource to the MoD Marine Systems Support Authority in order to support the delivery governance and oversight of engineering decisions that affect T45 Marine Systems. You will supply advice and support to the MoD System Approval Authority layer, T45 Engineering team and MSSP organisations. Providing T45 specific knowledge transfer into the Marine Systems Approval Authority and the Authorities’ Engineering Group, Internal Technical Support Team (ITS) teams to allow the Marine Systems Approval Authority to conduct the Authority role across T45 Marine Systems. Including;
* Technical Assessment of the provided baseline to allow the Marine Systems Approval Authority team to conduct assessments of existing proposed design changes. This is to include but not limited to system definitions, interfaces, key characteristics and margins.
* Identification of risks and gaps in the provided design documentation at the marine systems layer and technical assessment of impacts on other systems/equipment outside of the Marine Systems boundary.
* Defining the systems design and applied partitioning of the marine systems as part of the design intent.
* Assess impact of identified gaps and provide proposals for resolution.
* Technical assessment of proposed design changes identifying impacts where applicable to other systems. Assessment of updated safety argument. This may include impacts to through life support and ability to maintain in service.
* Technical assessment of proposed design changes identifying impacts to systems safety argument and overall Platform Safety Case.
* Utilising knowledge of platform and marine systems design identify potential systems proposal which may improve the safe operation or through life cost of the marine systems layer. ESSENTIAL SKILLS / PROVEN ABILITY
* Mechanical engineering background, Maine Engineer Petty Officer of above.
* Have the required level of knowledge, understanding and experience in marine systems.
* Understand the Platform integration into a systems of systems, understand impacts on wider systems and how they affect the overall performance of the vessel
* Understanding the IT systems and applications used to support the T45 including SDE, Windchill and TEIP.
* Understanding of the overall CSM support solution and company engineering requirements Conversant with the use of IT and Microsoft Office applications and appropriate MoD IS applications.
* An understanding of industry and MoD design / safety management tools and processes.
* Awareness of the MOD/RN engineering and project processes and procedures
ADDITIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION: WE SEEK AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS WORKED IN A MILITARY / DEFENCE ENVIRONMENT / INDUSTRY WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR WHO IS CAPABLE OF OBTAINING SECURITY CLEARANCE (SC LEVEL MINIMUM)
LOCATIONS
LAND
13 Mar 18. Kongsberg establishes Qatari business. Kongsberg has announced that it has established a company in Qatar to facilitate long-term technology development in the areas of defence, maritime, and digitalisation, under which it will initially deliver systems for the country’s VBCI 8×8 vehicle programme. Alongside Qatari authorities, Kongsberg has established BK Systems, which will initially focus on the development of communications, digitalisation, and tower systems for the 490 Nexter VBCI 8×8 vehicles being delivered to the armed forces. This is expected to be worth about NOK15bn (USD1.93bn) over the coming eight years, and will be the largest programme to date for Kongsberg, it says. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Mar 18. Qatar’s new naval base still on track. The Qatari Emiri Naval Forces’ (QENF’s) new base will be fully operational in early 2022, despite the blockade imposed on the country by other Gulf states, a senior Qatari naval source told Jane’s during the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) held on 12-14 March. “We have completed 60% of the new naval base infrastructure works and tendered the naval base building contracts,” Brigadier General Abdul-Aziz Almeer told Jane’s. The competition to win the construction contracts for the base’s buildings involves 24 international and local companies, he added. A decision will be taken in mid-April and work will start in July. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
MARITIME
16 Mar 18. US Navy Commissioned Submarine Colorado. The US Navy commissioned its newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN 788), during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, March 17, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. The principal speaker was U.S. Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado. Annie Mabus, daughter of 75th Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, she will give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”
“USS Colorado is a true marvel of technology and innovation, and it shows the capability that our industrial partners bring to the fight,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Today’s world requires undersea platforms designed for dominance across a broad spectrum of regional and littoral missions, and I am confident Colorado will proudly serve in defense of our nation’s interests for decades to come.”
The future Colorado, which began construction in 2012, is the 15th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine. Colorado will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned with a name honoring the state of Colorado. The first Colorado was a three-masted steam screw frigate that participated in the Union Navy’s Gulf Blockading Squadron and fought in the Second Battle of Fort Fisher with then-Lt. George Dewey serving as her executive officer. In the early years of the 20th century, the second Colorado (ACR-7) was a Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser that escorted convoys of men and supplies to England during World War I. The third ship of her name, the lead ship of the Colorado class of battleships (BB-45), supported operations in the Pacific theater throughout World War II, surviving two kamikaze attacks and earning seven battle stars. This next-generation attack submarine provides the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea superiority well into the 21st century. Block III Virginia-class submarines feature a redesigned bow, which replaces 12 individual launch tubes with two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes, each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Virginia-class submarines are built to operate in the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities—sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence. (Source: US DoD)
14 Mar 18. China beings work on sixth Type 055 destroyer. Recently captured commercial satellite imagery shows that China has begun construction at its shipyard in Dalian of the sixth Type 055 guided-missile destroyer on order for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
The imagery shows that the pierside assembly of the first modules for hull 6 began between 21 December 2017 and 3 January 2018. Two Type 055 hulls (3 and 4), both of which are in the late stages of assembly, are present in a neighbouring dry dock.
Hulls 1 and 2 are being built at the Jiangnan shipyard facilities near Shanghai where work on hull 5 began in November 2017. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
13 Mar 18. TRENT, the third of five new River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels, was officially named today during a ceremony at BAE Systems’ site at Govan, Glasgow, as final preparations were made before she enters the water for the first time in the coming days.
To mark the occasion, employees and guests watched as Mrs Pamela Potts, TRENT’s sponsor and wife of Vice Admiral Duncan Potts, named the vessel which will aid in a range of operations including counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling to secure the UK’s borders.
Mrs Potts released a bottle of gin from the Nelson’s Gin Distillery & Gin School in Stafford against the ship’s hull to officially name the vessel.
Iain Stevenson, Managing Director of BAE Systems Naval Ships, said, “This is another landmark moment for the River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel programme and an important day that honours the traditions of the Royal Navy. Today is made even more special as we are able to see the full scale of TRENT as she prepares to enter the water for the very first time in the next few days. This is yet another reminder of the importance of what we do.”
Defence Minister Guto Bebb MP said, “As the third of five Offshore Patrol Vessels being built in Scotland, TRENT will soon be part of a fleet of highly capable ships. These new vessels will keep the UK safe by conducting counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and other vital maritime operations. UK Defence has invested in an unprecedented ship-building production line in Glasgow and the city’s shipyards with their 1,700 highly skilled engineers and technicians are benefiting from full order books for the next two decades.”
After the Naming Ceremony TRENT will be loaded onto an awaiting barge which will then lower her into the water before her outfitting and systems installation. TRENT is expected to be delivered to the Royal Navy in the second half of 2018.
In February, FORTH, the first of five River Class OPVs departed Glasgow and her birthplace on the Clyde, to make her way to the home port at Portsmouth Naval Base. This was a significant milestone in the programme as FORTH is the first completed complex warship to leave Glasgow since HMS DUNCAN in 2013.
The second in class, MEDWAY, named in October 2017, is set to depart for sea trials in the first half of this year. The fourth ship, TAMAR, is now structurally complete while the final River Class OPV, SPEY, is under construction at BAE Systems’ Govan yard.
AIR
12 Mar 18. Russian MoD receives first serial-production Il-76MD-M upgraded airlifter. The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has received the first serial-production Ilyushin Il-76MD-M upgraded transport aircraft, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced on 13 March.
The aircraft – the first of 30 Il-76 ‘Candid’ airlifters that are being upgraded to the Il-76MD-M (sometimes designated Il-76MDM) standard – was handed over to the MoD ahead of final tests before being delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).
As previously noted by Jane’s , the Il-76MD-M modification comprises refurbishing the Il-76’s existing engines and equipping it with many of the new systems installed on the newbuild Il-76MD-90A that the VKS is now receiving. The Il-76MD-90A features carried across to the Il-76MD-M include a Global Air Traffic Management (GATM)-compliant digital ‘glass’ cockpit, as well as structural improvements that feature a modified wing and reinforced landing gear. In addition, an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor has been installed to enable the crew to better view landing/drop zones in all weathers and at night.
While the Il-76MDM upgrade retains the old D-30KP engines (compared with the PS-90A engines equipping the new Il-76MD-90A/Il-476), they are being refurbished to afford them an additional 15 years of service life in line with the rest of the airframe.
“The purpose of modernisation is to extend the life of combat aircraft, provide modern means of navigation and communications, and replace equipment that is no longer being manufactured,” Ilyushin noted. The cost of modernising the Il-76MD to Il-76MD-M is only a third of that of a newbuild Il-76MD-90A.
(Source: IHS Jane’s)
08 Mar 18. Brazil expects to receive first KC-390s this year. The Brazilian Air Force will receive its first two serial-production Embraer KC-390 multi-mission aircraft in the second half of 2018, the company told Jane’s on 8 March. The aircraft will initially be fielded by the newly established Kilo Group from Wing 2 located at Anápolis in the state of Goiás. Twenty-eight serial-production aircraft were ordered for BRL7.25bn (USD2.23bn) in May 2014 and an amendment for two prototypes worth BRL72.86m was placed the same month. Initial operational capability was achieved in December 2017 and final operational capability is planned for late 2018, Embraer said. The KC-390 is designed for roles such as transport and airdropping, search-and-rescue, medical evacuation, disaster relief, firefighting, and airborne refuelling. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
13 Mar 18. Leonardo agrees voluntary early retirement for 1,100 workers. Italian defence group Leonardo (LDOF.MI) said on Tuesday it had signed a framework agreement with the country’s main unions to allow some 1,100 employees to retire early, in a bid to increase its competitiveness and profitability. The state-controlled company said it aimed to return to double-digit profitability by 2020 – half-way through its five year plan – after cutting revenue and profit guidance last year over issues with its helicopter business. The agreement covers employees who qualify for retirement over the next four years and the option could be extended to managers, it said in a statement. At the same time new workers would be employed “taking into account the company’s financial resources,” it added.
All layoffs will be substituted with either new hires or by stabilising existing workers’ contracts, a separate statement by FIOM-CGIL, one of the industry’s biggest unions, said.
“The strategic agreement will support the technological transformation and sustainable development of the company … It is an important step toward the full implementation of our 2018-2020 industrial plan,” Chief Executive Alessandro Profumo said in the statement. The group had 45,600 employees at the end of October 2016, a third of whom worked in Italy.
Details of the scheme will be negotiated in the coming weeks with Leonardo’s different units, “taking in account business need and the required eligibility of the workforce”.
A final agreement will be reached and signed by the end of next month, FIOM-CGIL said, adding that workers are expected to leave the company in three different time slots – November 2018 and July and November 2019.
(Source: Reuters)
13 Mar 18. President Trump has ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replaced him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, orchestrating a major change to his national security team amid delicate negotiations with North Korea, White House officials said Tuesday.
Trump last Friday asked Tillerson to step aside, and the embattled top diplomat cut short his trip to Africa on Monday to return to Washington.
Pompeo will replace him at the State Department, and Gina Hapsel — the deputy director at the CIA — will succeed him at the CIA, becoming the first woman to run the spy agency, if confirmed.
In a statement issued to The Washington Post, Trump praised both Pompeo and Haspel.
“I am proud to nominate the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Mike Pompeo, to be our new Secretary of State,” Trump said. “Mike graduated first in his class at West Point, served with distinction in the U.S. Army, and graduated with Honors from Harvard Law School. He went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives with a proven record of working across the aisle.”
The president continued, “Gina Haspel, the Deputy Director of the CIA, will be nominated to replace Director Pompeo and she will be the CIA’s first-ever female director, a historic milestone. Mike and Gina have worked together for more than a year, and have developed a great mutual respect.”
Trump also had words of praise for Tillerson: “Finally, I want to thank Rex Tillerson for his service. A great deal has been accomplished over the last fourteen months, and I wish him and his family well.” (Source: Washington Post)
08 Mar 18. Job losses at Babcock Devonport revealed. British naval engineering and services company Babcock has announced a significant reduction its UK workforce, as plans to cut up to 500 jobs at its Devonport Dockyard site were reported. The facility, which currently employs around 5,000 people, is located alongside the Royal Navy’s HM Naval Base Devonport and provides maintenance and support services to the Navy, including refitting and refuelling of nuclear-powered submarines. The planned job losses come as part of an attempt to improve performance and reduce costs. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
12 Mar 18. In Memoriam, Michael Hewetson, Symposia at Shrivenham. Nick Lindley wrote: It is my very sad duty to inform you that our much loved friend and colleague Michael Hewetson has passed away. Some of you will have known that he had been taken ill with pneumonia at New Year. In the course of treating this he was recently found to have terminal cancer with a very short period to live. Michael was discharged from hospital a week ago and passed away at home on Sunday 11 March. We will all miss his wry humour, infectious laugh and calm leadership of Symposia.
“He was one of nature’s true gentlemen, amusing at the same time as being totally professional, a pleasure to work with. It was his drive which enabled Owning The Night to be brought back onto the Conference calendar, for which I thank him for trusting in our ability to deliver it to his high standards. As well as being a dedicated professional he was a skiled aviator and regaled me with many stories including flying the AH-1 Venom attack helicopter now in the Shrivenham Museum from Germany! The Steam Museum dinners will not be the same without Michael.” Said Julian Nettlefold of BATTLESPACE.
29 Jan 18. Current EDA vacancies. All currently available vacancies are listed below. We only accept applications submitted through our online application system. To apply, you must have a valid e-mail address. Please refer to the User Guide. You cannot find a vacancy that suits your experience and background? We suggest that you regularly consult our vacancies page and subscribe to the EDA RSS feed or follow EDA on LinkedIn to be informed about the latest vacancies.
Note that EDA does not consider unsolicited applications.
EDA also offers each year few traineeship placements through the Blue Book Traineeship scheme run by the European Commission.
CURRENT VACANCIES
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Head of Unit Information Superiority
Posted: 29 January 2018Closing Date: 4 April 2018
- Temporary
Project Officer Land Systems Technologies
Posted: 29 January 2018Closing Date: 4 April 2018
(Source: EDA)
08 Mar 18. NATO aims to create new Atlantic Command, new European logistics command. NATO ministers are considering adding two new entities to improve logistics and support capabilities, in addition to a new cyber-operations centre, as part of a wider reform of NATO’s command structure, according to Czech General Petr Pavel, chairman of the NATO Military Committee. Alliance officials are increasingly worried that Russia could complicate NATO movements at sea with submarine warfare, and that infrastructure and policy issues in Europe could complicate movements on land. To address this, commanders have created an ‘outline design’ for improving NATO’s command and force structures. That design’s final results will be presented to the NATO defence ministerial meeting in June, and then for the NATO Summit in July, Gen Pavel told reporters during a meeting in Washington, DC, on 7 March. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
15 Mar 18. USN Rear Adm. Scott A. Stearney for appointment to the rank of vice admiral, and assignment as commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command; commander, Fifth Fleet; and commander, Combined Maritime Forces, Bahrain. Stearney is currently serving as director, J3, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
15 Mar 18. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Ronald C. Copley has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Copley is currently serving as director of intelligence, J2, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
15 Mar 18. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Brian K. Corey has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Corey is currently serving as commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division; and assistant commander for test and evaluation, Naval Air Systems Command (AIR-5.0), China Lake, California.
15 Mar 18. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Darse E. Crandall has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Crandall is currently serving as legal counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Kathleen M. Creighton has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Creighton is currently serving as deputy commander, Joint Forces Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Networks, Defense Information Systems Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland.
15 Mar 18. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) John W. Korka has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Korka is currently serving as commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific; and director, Fleet Civil Engineer, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
15 Mar 18. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Lorin C. Selby has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Selby is currently serving as deputy commander for ship design, integration and
engineering, SEA-05, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Johnny R. Wolfe Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Wolfe is currently serving as program executive, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, Missile Defense Agency, Dahlgren, Virginia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. John J. Adametz has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Adametz is currently serving as commanding officer, Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. James A. Aiken has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Aiken is currently serving as executive assistant, Assistant Secretary of the USN (Financial Management and Comptroller), Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Thomas J. Anderson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Anderson is currently serving as executive assistant, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington USN Yard, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Heidi K. Berg has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Berg is currently serving as special assistant to the Director of Digital Warfare Office, N2N6, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Michael A. Brookes has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Brookes is currently serving as information warfare commander, Carrier Strike Group One, San Diego, California.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. William E. Chase III has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Chase is currently serving as chief of staff, Naval Information Forces, Suffolk, Virginia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Richard J. Cheeseman Jr., been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Cheeseman is currently serving as director, Surface Warfare Officer Distribution, PERS-41, USN Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Craig A. Clapperton has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Clapperton is currently serving as special assistant to commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, North Island, California.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Keith B. Davids has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Davids is currently serving as special assistant to the president; and deputy director, White House Military Office, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Joseph A. J. Diguardo has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Diguardo is currently serving as assistant vice deputy director, J39, Joint Staff, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Leonard C. Dollaga has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Dollaga is currently serving as director, USN Budget Office and Congressional Appropriations Committee, Assistant Secretary of the USN (Financial Management and Comptroller), Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Reserve Capt. Ann H. Duff has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Duff is currently serving as commanding officer, Naval Reserve, U.S. Fleet Forces Personnel Management Command, Norfolk, Virginia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Kristen B. Fabry has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Fabry is currently serving as director, Fleet Resources Integration, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Christopher S. Gray has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Gray is currently serving as chief of staff, USN Installations Command, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. John E. Gumbleton has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Gumbleton is currently serving as director, Operations Division, Office of Budget, Assistant Secretary of the USN (Financial Management and Comptroller), Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. James A. Kirk has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Kirk is currently serving as deputy, weapons and sensors, N96, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Timothy J. Kott has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Kott is currently serving as branch head, programming and development, N801, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Reserve Capt. Nancy S. Lacore has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Lacore is currently serving as commanding officer, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa.
15 Mar 18. USN Reserve Capt. Eileen H. Laubacher has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Laubacher is currently serving as regional commander, Naval Information Force Reserve Region Washington, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Reserve Capt. Theodore P. Leclair has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Leclair is currently serving as commanding officer, USN Reserve Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, Fort Worth, Texas.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. John S. Lemmon has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Lemmon is currently serving as vice commander, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Fredrick R. Luchtman has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Luchtman is currently serving as executive assistant, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Brendan R. McLane has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). McLane is currently serving as chief of staff, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, California.
15 Mar 18. USN Reserve Capt. Mark J. Mouriski has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Mouriski is currently serving as chief of staff, Naval Air Reserve Program Executive Office, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Joseph D. Noble Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Noble is currently serving as commanding officer, Naval Supply Corps School, Newport, Rhode Island.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Scott W. Pappano has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Pappano is currently serving as major program manager, PMS 392, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Reserve Capt. Eric C. Ruttenberg has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Ruttenberg is currently serving as commanding officer, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Reserve Program, San Diego, California.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Ryan B. Scholl has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Scholl is currently serving as chief of staff, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Lance G. Scott has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Scott is currently serving as executive assistant, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Philip E. Sobeck has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Sobeck is currently serving as special assistant to the director of Digital Warfare Office, N2N6, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. John D. Spencer has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Spencer is currently serving as executive assistant, U.S. Strategic Command, Omaha, Nebraska.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Gregory N. Todd has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Todd is currently serving as chaplain, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, District of Columbia.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. Douglas C. Verissimo has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Verissimo is currently serving as commanding officer, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), San Diego, California.
15 Mar 18. USN Capt. George M. Wikoff has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Wikoff is currently serving as executive assistant to the chief of naval operations, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.
12 Mar 18. Robert Cardillo, the head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, has appointed Brett Markham as the NGA west executive and deputy associate director for operations.
Markham will take over at agency’s west branch in St. Louis, assisting with the integration of NGA’s activities across the western United States. According to an NGA press release, Markham will oversee the NGA Operations Center, the Office of NGA Defense, the Office of Expeditionary Operations, an NGA leadership at the three National Reconnaissance Office Aerospace Data facilities. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
08 Mar 18. The head of US Coast Guard Atlantic Area has been nominated to be the Coast Guard’s next top officer, replacing the outgoing Adm. Paul Zukunft. Vice Adm. Karl Schultz will take over a service in the middle of several major acquisition projects, including its first polar icebreaker in decades. He will also likely have to wage budget battles with the White House ― last year the service had to fight off a $1.3bn cut. Zukunft took to Twitter to endorse the selection by Department of Homeland Security head Kirstjen Nielsen. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. Patrick A. Piercey will be assigned as chief of staff, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany. Piercey is currently serving as director of operations, J3, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Donald D. Gabrielson will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, Everett, Washington. Gabrielson is currently serving as commander, Logistics Group, Western Pacific; commander, Task Force 73; and Singapore area coordinator, Singapore.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) David A. Goggins will be assigned as program executive officer for submarines, Washington, District of Columbia. Goggins is currently serving as director, Ohio replacement, Washington, District of Columbia.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Gregory N. Harris will be assigned as chief of naval air training, Corpus Christi, Texas. Harris is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, Everett, Washington.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael P. Holland will be assigned as director, Programming Division, N80, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia. Holland is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group 10, Kings Bay, Georgia.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Jeffrey T. Jablon will be assigned as commander, Submarine Group 10, Kings Bay, Georgia. Jablon is currently serving as deputy director, plans, J5, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Carl A. Lahti will be assigned as commandant, Naval District Washington, Washington, District of Columbia. Lahti is currently serving as director, Energy and Environmental Readiness Division, N45, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Gary A. Mayes will be assigned as director, Energy and Environmental Readiness Division, N45, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia. Mayes is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Northwest, Silverdale, Washington.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Charles W. Rock will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia. Rock is currently serving as commandant, Naval District Washington, Washington, District of Columbia.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Murray J. Tynch III will be assigned as commander, Logistics Group, Western Pacific; commander, Task Force 73; and Singapore area coordinator, Singapore. Tynch is currently serving as assistant chief of staff, operations, Allied Joint Forces Command, Naples, Italy.
09 Mar 18. Rear Adm. (lower half) Frank D. Whitworth will be assigned as deputy chief, tailored access operations (S32), Signal Intelligence Directorate, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland. Whitworth is currently serving as director, J2, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
09 Mar 18. MG Michael T. Brewer, director, strategic plans, programs and analyses, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
09 Mar 18. MG David S. Nahom, deputy commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command; and deputy, Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to director of programs, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
09 Mar 18. BG Sean M. Farrell, director, strategic plans, programs and requirements, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlbert Field, Florida, to director, Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
09 Mar 18. BG Gerald V. Goodfellow, director, Nuclear Enterprise Support Directorate, J-10, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to director, strategic plans, programs and requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
09 Mar 18. BG Cameron G. Holt, who has been selected for the grade of major general, commander, Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to deputy assistant secretary (contracting), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
09 Mar 18. BG Heather L. Pringle, commander, 502d Air Base Wing; and commander, Joint Base San Antonio, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to director, strategic plans, programs and analyses, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
09 Mar 18. BG John T. Wilcox II, director, strategic plans, programs and requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, to director, operations and communications, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
09 Mar 18. Col. John J. Allen, who has been selected for the grade of brigadier general, director of staff, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to director of civil engineering, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Installations and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
09 Mar 18. Col. Alice W. Treviño, who has been selected for the grade of brigadier general, military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to commander, Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
12 Mar 18. Terma and Scandinavian Avionics team for form Avionics Test Centre in Denmark. With the F-35 fighter aircraft being introduced in Europe these years, there is a growing need for establishing European regional maintenance capabilities. Terma has substantial expertise and experience in developing, designing, and manufacturing electronic components and software to industries and customers within the international defense market. Also, Terma is strongly involved in the design and manufacturing of advanced composite structures and electronic components for F-35 primes.
Scandinavian Avionics has a substantial expertise and experience within the areas of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of avionics components for both civil and military aircraft and helicopters within the international aviation market, including NATO organizations.
“In order to provide best value to the F-35 Program, Terma and Scandinavian Avionics decided to team up to form Avionics Test Center Denmark. We both aim to enhance and grow our MRO capabilities towards the F-35 Program with specific focus on the test and repair of F-35 avionics”, explains Jens Maaløe, President & CEO, Terma.
“We also intend to utilize our capabilities on other MRO possibilities such as the EH-101 helicopter, UH-60R Seahawk and C-130. Further we agree to explore, identify, and discuss specific areas of mutual interest, projects, and collaborative efforts, which serve our joint business and strategic interests”, said Michael Truelsen, CEO, Scandinavian Avionics.
In practice, Terma and Scandinavian Avionics will:
- Jointly, as one team, provide a proposal on support of F-35 avionics toward the F-35 Program Office
- Seek mutual MRO possibilities on the EH-101 helicopter, UH-60R Seahawk, and C-130
- Jointly invest in depot stand-up capability and seek possibilities to establish the facility in close cooperation with DK MOD.
PERSONNEL
15 Mar 18. Controversy in South Korea: Rivals decry Boeing consultant hire. Boeing’s rivals in a South Korean tender for maritime patrol aircraft are crying foul over the U.S. aerospace giant’s hiring of a former high-ranking official at the agency in charge of the procurement.
The $1.8bn competition, run by the Defence Acquisition Program Administration, is for the purchase of at least six new maritime patrol aircraft in addition to the existing fleet of 16 P-3Cs, DAPA spokesman Kang Hwan-seok said.
The complaints surround the hiring in 2016 of retired South Korean Air Force Lt. Gen. Park Shin-kyu as a consultant. Park had served as head of the DAPA’s weapons programs management bureau between 2014 and 2015.
Under the local rules of employment, a retired public official is not permitted to enter a company with duty relations for a certain period. This is meant to prevent influence peddling or illegal lobbying.
Park, however, signed a contract less than a year after retirement and didn’t undergo the government’s due scrutiny over duty relations, according to officials.
But Boeing argues Park, who has been with the company since 2016, didn’t require those steps and that there is no legal problem.
“Park is an advisory consultant who does not lobby, and only provides strategic advice. He is explicitly prohibited from promoting Boeing products or engaging in any sales advocacy with the Korean government,” said Paul Lewis, director of Asia Pacific communications.
“Boeing deeply respects Korean law and takes its compliance responsibilities very seriously. We have followed all relevant laws, and have demonstrated an unmatched level of openness and transparency.”
The DAPA has confirmed the exception.
“Overseas employment of a public servant is an exception of the duty relations rules,” a DAPA official said. “There is no legal problem, though some may raise ethical issues.”
“Park was in a top position at the DAPA, enough to wield an influence over key weapons procurement program,” a source from a European aircraft company told Defense News, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He could influence the MPA contest and other, such as an upcoming [airborne early warning and control system competition] competition.”
In response to the growing controversy over Boeing’s consultant contract, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense is considering conducting an audit of the Boeing-Park contract.
“We’re collecting information on the MPA acquisition plan, as there are some reasonable suspicion over Boeing’s consultant contract,” a ministry official said. “If needed, we can launch an official audit of the contract problem.” (Source: Defense News)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
13 Mar 18. BAE Systems announced that Andrew Wolstenholme OBE will join BAE Systems plc from 24 May 2018, in a newly-created role on the Executive Committee as Group Managing Director, Maritime and Land UK. Andrew will be responsible for BAE Systems’ Maritime and Land UK sectors and will report directly to Chief Executive, Charles Woodburn. Andrew joins BAE Systems from Crossrail Ltd., where he led Europe’s largest infrastructure project for the last seven years. He has extensive experience in business leadership and delivering major engineering projects in the UK, Asia and North America, including the delivery of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5.
08 Mar 18. OneWeb Readies for Global Constellation Launch and Now Three New Senior Executives. OneWeb, which is building the world’s highest throughput satellite system to enable affordable, high-speed, low latency broadband services for all, announced three new senior executives:
David Tolley, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who was previously at Blackstone, Stephen Chernow, General Counsel (GC) previously at Intelsat, and Vivek Jhamb, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) who most recently managed data and connectivity carrier services globally for Vodafone.
As OneWeb’s CFO, David Tolley is responsible for leading OneWeb’s financial operations, corporate and operational finance, corporate development, procurement, accounting, tax and financial reporting.
As General Counsel, Stephen Chernow is responsible for all legal and regulatory matters.
As the CCO, Vivek Jhamb is responsible for strategic leadership and defining and delivering OneWeb’s compelling customer value proposition and the commercial infrastructure to support it.
OneWeb headquartered in the United Kingdom is a global communications company that is committed to bridging the digital divide around the world by 2027. OneWeb is working with governments, internet service providers, mobile operators and other partners to provide the infrastructure to connect everyone in the world. (Source: Satnews)
12 Mar 18. Sofradir Group shareholders Thales and Safran announce today the appointment of Jean-François Delepau as its new chairman, with immediate effect. Previously managing director of ULIS, a Sofradir Group company, Mr. Delepau will oversee all the defense, aerospace and commercial market operations of the three companies within the Group: Sofradir, ULIS and US-based Sofradir-EC.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
13 Mar 18. The board of directors of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has elected Adriane M. Brown as a director, effective immediately.
Brown, 59, has held positions of increasing responsibility over the course of her distinguished 34-year career, leading aerospace, automotive, electronics and technology companies.
Brown was previously president and chief operating officer of Intellectual Ventures, LLC. Before that, she was senior vice president of Energy Strategy at Honeywell International Inc. and held a series of other senior positions, including president and CEO, Transportation Systems, during her 10 years with the company.
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
08 Mar 18. CPI Antenna Systems has brough Andre Jones into CPI Antenna Systems Division to share his 27 years of experience with industry firms, including L3 Technologies, Viasat, General Dynamics and Globalstar.
The announcement came from the Antenna Systems Division (ASD) of Communications & Power Industries (CPI) that is joining its management team as vice president, business development, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Jones is responsible for the division’s business development and marketing across satellite, radar, high frequency, data link and telemetry products. (Source: Satnews)
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EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES
13 Mar 18. Top U.S. Army senior leaders are scheduled to conduct media engagements March 26-28, during the 2018 Association of the U.S. Army Global Force Symposium and Exposition at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Modernizing and Equipping America’s Army for Today and Tomorrow,” and will feature six contemporary military forums that showcase the Army six modernization priorities, as well as presentations in a Warriors Corner and an Innovators Corner.
Monday, March 26, 2018
Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper will deliver the opening keynote address, followed by remarks from Under Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy, and a question and answer session with McCarthy and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville, from 8:20 to 9:50 a.m.
Additionally, Army senior leaders will host a media roundtable in the Ballet Room from 10 to 10:45 a.m. focusing on Army Priorities and Futures/Modernization Command. Esper will open the roundtable from 10 to 10:15 a.m., followed by McCarthy and McConville from 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Contemporary Military Forum No. 1 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., will focus on Long Range Precision Fires. The session is hosted by Gen. Robert B. Brown, commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific, and Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Maranian, director, Future Long Range Precision Fires Cross Functional Team.
The panel members from CMF No. 1 will conduct a media roundtable in the Ballet Room from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Contemporary Military Forum No. 2 from 1:40 to 3:10 p.m., will focus on Next Generation Combat Vehicle. The session is hosted by Gen. Robert B. Abrams, commanding general, U.S. Army Forces Command, and Brig. Gen. David A. Lesperance, commandant, U.S. Army Armor School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence.
The panel members from CMF No. 2 will conduct a media roundtable in the Ballet Room from 3:20 to 3:50 p.m.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Opening remarks delivered by Gen. Gustave F. Perna, commanding general, U.S. Army Materiel Command, from 8:05 to 9:25 a.m.
Contemporary Military Forum No. 3 from 10 to 11:35 a.m., will focus on Future Vertical Lift. The session is hosted by Gen. James C. McConville, vice chief of staff, U.S. Army, and Brig. Gen. Walter T. Rugen, director, Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team.
The panel members from CMF No. 3 will conduct a media roundtable in the Ballet Room from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Contemporary Military Forum No. 4 from 2:40 to 4:20 p.m., will focus on Army Network. The session is hosted by Lt. Gen. Bruce T. Crawford, chief information officer/G-6, Office of the Secretary of the Army, and Maj. Gen. Peter A. Gallagher, director of Architecture, Operations Networks and Space, Office of the Chief Information Officer/G-6.
The panel members from CMF No. 4 will conduct a media roundtable in the Ballet Room from 4:30 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) Bruce D. Jette will provide the closing keynote address from 8:05 to 9:05 a.m.
Contemporary Military Forum No. 5 from 9:05 to 10:35 a.m., will focus on Air and Missile Defense. The session is hosted by Lt. Gen. James H. Dickinson, commanding general, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Forces Strategic Command, and Brig. Gen. Randall A. McIntire, commandant, U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School and U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence.
The panel members from CMF No. 5 will conduct a media roundtable in the Ballet Room from 10:40 to 11:10 a.m.
Contemporary Military Forum No. 6 from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., will focus on Soldier Lethality. The session is hosted by Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commanding general, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and Brig. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence.
The panel members from CMF No. 6 will conduct a media roundtable in the Ballet Room from 12:25 to 12:55 p.m.
27 Feb 18. Owning The Night 2018 – Battlespace Surveillance. Fighting the 24 Hour War – Live UAV Detection Planned! ‘Owning the Night 2018’ is to be held at Chepstow Racecourse, Monmouthshire, South Wales, UK, in association with Cranfield Defence and Security, on Tuesday 20th November 2018.
‘Owning the Night 2018’ is to be held at Chepstow Racecourse, Monmouthshire, South Wales, UK, in association with Cranfield Defence and Security, on Tuesday 20th November 2018. This year it will be a one day event, with morning registration followed by the Conference and Exhibition, ending with a live evening battlespace surveillance demonstration, including live UAV detection, followed by a cocktail reception and buffet dinner at the racecourse.
Julian Nettlefold of BATTLESPACE said, “Chepstow Racecourse is an ideal venue to hold Owning The Night as it provides the conference and demonstration facilities under one roof. In addition, given its location in over 400 acres of countryside, with a secure perimeter fence, it is a perfect location for night vision demonstrations with little ambient light egress and the distances required to enable target location at range. Chepstow also has a road running inside the course which will enable Owning The Night to have night driving for the first time since 2009. These vehicles will form part of the night-time demonstrations and will be tracked by exhibitors’ cameras and sensors. We will also be demonstrating day and night live UAV detection systems for the first time.”
Nick Lindley, Director Symposia at Shrivenham said, “Holding Owning the Night at Chepstow represents another step in the development of the Symposia programme as we look to better match facilities to symposia aims and objectives, whilst still ensuring value for money. The innovative use of the racecourse offers us the freedom to deliver high-quality presentations, discussion, networking, exhibits and a range of demonstrations on a single secure site.”
Charlotte Caple of Chepstow racecourse said, “We are delighted to host Owning The Night 2018. Given the location and our extensive facilities, we can accommodate Owning The Night’s conference and demonstrations in one location. The fact that racecourses are required to have the highest standards of security, we are well placed to make this event a complete success and look forward to developing the event and others with BATTLESPACE and Symposia for future years.”
Today’s soldier is exposed to new and evolving threats in conflict, an adversarial and unrelenting activity, that can be transmitted live into our homes by 24 hour media often embedded with forces in the front line. In this scenario the soldier on the ground not only has to deal with his enemy in bad weather, poor light and darkness, he may also have to liaise with coalition forces, local and homeland security organisations, non-government and humanitarian agencies, as well as the media. These requirements require multi-functional skills and multi-cultural disciplines that add to the pressure of combat. He may also have to fight an amorphous enemy who is often indistinct from not only the local population, but also the assured information the soldier receives. The increasing amount of information and data that the soldier needs to analyse in his decision-making mean that systems that can deliver pervasive and better visibility, clearer and greater granularity, and can be fused with other information streams are likely to offer the advantage defence and security operators need.
Owning The Night 2018 will give Defence, Police, Government and Industry a taste of the future and the ability to try the latest night vision devices from weapon sights through night driving aids to advanced target tracking and identification systems.
Please submit proposed Conference Papers to Julian Nettlefold or Nick Linley.
Please contact Nick Linley or Leanne Lawson at Symposia At Shrivenham for Delegate and Exhibition Rates.
For further details contact:
Julian Nettlefold
BATTLESPACE
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)207 6105520
Mobile: +44 (0)77689 54766
e-mail: j.nettlefold@battle-technology.com
www. battle-technology.com
and
Nick Lindley
Director Symposia at Shrivenham
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 78 (Mil 96161) 5847
e-mail: N.P.Lindley@cranfield.ac.uk
12 Mar 18. CMS Strategic to deliver the PR campaign for DSEI 2019. CMS Strategic has been chosen to deliver the PR campaign for Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), the biennial defence and security event which returns to ExCeL London on 10-13 September 2019.
DSEI brings together the entire supply chain across the defence, security, land, aerospace and maritime sector, and the industry’s leading prime contractors, with key buyers from militaries around the world. It also provides a unique opportunity for new and innovative companies to introduce their products to the international military and security marketplace.
For example, Miltronix, a technology start-up based in Surrey used DSEI’s Innovation Hub to showcase its range of state of the art Radar Systems. Sumit Chadha, CEO, said: “DSEI has proved to be very significant for us in that we received a tremendous number of leads and potential collaboration opportunities for our technology and products.”
The innovative UAV and counter-UAV equipment of SteelRock Technologies, which was first introduced to the market at DSEI, was also met with acclaim. Rupert English, CEO, said: “With its strong focus on innovation in the defence industry and high level international delegations, DSEI was the ideal platform to launch SteelRock’s next generation Counter-UAV and UAV technology.”
DSEI also features the latest technologies and products from prime defence and security companies. Marco Monticelli, Communication and Institutional affairs, Leonardo, said: “DSEI attracts many international delegations and military visitors. It is a great opportunity to showcase our products and services. In 2019, we will be back at DSEI, aiming to support conferences and improve our relationship with our customer base.”
CMS Strategic, which specialises in defence, security and aerospace communications, will be on hand to help with all media enquiries related to the event, including the latest developments from the DSEI team, exhibitor product news, and media registration which is due to open in early 2019.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Fabian Hamilton
(Leeds North East)
Asked on: 06 March 2018
Ministry of Defence
Defence
131246
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to implement a defence review before 2020; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Gavin Williamson
Answered on: 13 March 2018
The Ministry of Defence continues to implement the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. The work conducted through the National Security Capability Council and now, the Modernising Defence Programme will build on this. There are currently no plans to conduct a Defence Review before the next Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Q
Asked by Mr Stephen Hepburn
(Jarrow)
Asked on: 05 March 2018
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Shipping: Procurement
130844
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2018 to Question 128159, for what reasons the decision was made to procure ships other than warships by international rather than UK-only competition.
A
Answered by: Richard Harrington
Answered on: 13 March 2018
As outlined in the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSbS), the Government is committed to the procurement of non-warships through international competition. It remains the cornerstone of defence procurement policy as the means by which we attract the best solutions and maximise value for money for UK taxpayers, and lies at the heart of the NSbS. The exemption under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Article 346), which allows any member nation to reserve a procurement for reasons of national security, does not apply to the design, construction and commissioning of non-warships. Where applicable, the sensitive elements of these ships will be limited to a UK only competition. A key element of our vision for a modern and efficient maritime sector, capable of meeting the country’s future defence and security needs, is one that can compete in the overseas as well as in the domestic market. Sir John Parker identified a renaissance in the UK shipbuilding sector, which has a record of success in international competitions. As a result of the NSbS, we have set up and are supporting the Maritime Enterprise Working Group, an industry group aimed at actively assisting UK shipyards and supply chains improve their competitiveness and capability capacity to put in high-quality bids. BEIS expects UK shipbuilding companies to be in a position to be able to bid into all competitions announced by MoD. We strongly encourage UK companies to take part in all Defence competitions.
Q
Asked by Nia Griffith
(Llanelli)
Asked on: 06 March 2018
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Modernisation
131356
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral contribution of 5th March 2018, Official Report, column 5, when he plans to launch a consultation on the Modernising Defence Programme.
A
Answered by: Gavin Williamson
Answered on: 13 March 2018
The public consultation for the Modernising Defence Programme has been launched, and will close on 30 April 2018. It can be found by searching for ‘Modernising Defence Programme consultation’ on www.gov.uk, or by following the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-defence-programme-public-consultation
Q
Asked by Gerald Jones
(Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
[N]
Asked on: 08 March 2018
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Procurement
131607
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that equipment purchased via the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation or single source procurement provides value for money.
A
Answered by: Guto Bebb
Answered on: 13 March 2018
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) approach to acquisition is to carefully assess the choices available to achieve best value for money while meeting the needs of the UK Armed Forces. This is sometimes achieved through competition, sometimes through single source arrangements, and sometimes through collaboration, which itself may involve elements of competition.
International organisations such as the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) will establish value for money in a similar way to the UK MOD. This can include establishing prices via competitions. They will also have similar provisions in place to those under the UK’s Single Source Contract Regulations (SSCR), which includes detailed visibility of the breakdown of costs.
The MOD seeks to ensure value for money in single source procurement through the provisions of the DefenceReform Act 2014 and the associated SSCR. Parliament enacted this legislation specifically to address some of the difficulties the MOD had previously faced in assuring value for money when undertaking single source procurement. This approach has already significantly strengthened the MOD’s ability to secure value for money through single source procurement.