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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
24 Jul 19. How many sixth-gen fighter projects is too many? Britain’s defense secretary weighs in. Europe can afford to develop two different sixth-generation combat jets concurrently, but the nations involved in the programs are coordinating to “maximise interoperability,” according to a British Ministry of Defence report to Parliament about the country’s Tempest effort.
Boosted by last week’s memorandum of understanding with Sweden to investigate the feasibility of the Nordic nation becoming Britain’s first partner in the Tempest sixth-generation fighter development effort, British Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt told Parliament July 22 there was room for two when it came to Europe funding rival programs.
France and Germany have teamed up to develop a new European combat aircraft.
Some analysts believe the huge cost and possibly small numbers of jets required for the post-2040 battlefield will eventually prohibit the Europeans from running two separate sixth-gen fighter programs.
But for the moment, Mordaunt appears to disagree.
“From progress to date [with Tempest], we believe that Europe can afford two separate combat air programmes,” Mordaunt reported to lawmakers in what will become an annual statement about progress on the project.
BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA and Rolls-Royce are the main players in the Tempest team.
Saab is not part of the industrial team as a result of the memorandum of understanding, but Britain’s defense procurement minister, Stuart Andrew, said the Gripen aircraft manufacturer “is very much part of this joint arrangement between the industries in the two countries.”
Swedish and British ministers said Tempest technology development would be incorporated in future upgrades to their respective Gripen and Typhoon fighter programs as a bridge ahead of introduction in any Tempest fighter. That effort for a Typhoon road map is underway.
Mordaunt said that in June the U.K. and the other Eurofighter nations of Germany, Italy and Spain awarded a €54 m (U.S. $61 m) contract for the long-term evolution study of the Typhoon to industry, which will explore how to maximize Typhoon’s future capabilities.
Britain failed to reach agreement to join a Franco-German project to develop a sixth-gen fighter project and instead went its own way, taking the wraps off its Tempest at last year’s Farnborough Airshow. The British government pledged £1.9bn (U.S. $2.4bn) to mature the technologies and retain the industrial skills needed for a future combat system.
But the door to cooperation hasn’t completely closed. Mordaunt reported to Parliament that the government is “contracting our industry to work with their French counterparts on technologies that would maximise interoperability of our current and future platforms, recognising that, as currently envisioned, the Franco-German [Future Combat Air System (FCAS)] acquisition programme does not meet the objectives laid out in our strategy.”
That cooperation is applicable to the Future Combat Air System as well as current fighter jets like the Typhoon and the F-35.
Sweden signed up with the U.K. to analyze the early economic, operational and industrial prospects for partnering in Tempest. “The main purpose of this partnership is to explore the feasibility for an affordable and substantial industrial base for the U.K. and Sweden offering solutions for a future operational requirement,” said Peter Hultqvist, the Swedish defense minister, in announcing the deal at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, western England, on July 19.
Hultqvist said the study work will run until next Autumn. “After that we will be ready to discuss the next steps. This [memorandum of understanding] is a starting point,” he said. He made it clear that Sweden is looking for an equal partnership with the U.K. on any future aircraft program.
Industry reaction
Signing up Sweden to the early concept work on Tempest has been welcomed by British industry leaders.
Norman Bone, the chairman and managing director of the U.K. arm of Italian firm Leonardo, said that, among other benefits, the Swedes bring the ability to deal with problems in a practical way.
“We have worked with Saab for many years on radar and other programs. They are tremendously good partners, and this is a real opportunity to bring Swedish pragmatism into the project,” Bone said.
Sweden may be the first to sign up for the early stages of the program, but the country appears unlikely to be the last, according to Mordaunt. The defense secretary said Britain is performing feasibility work with other potential partners and expects to sign deals similar to the one struck with Sweden within the next 12 months.
The feasibility work is bilateral between the U.K. and other nations. Italy, Japan and India have been among those linked with the Tempest project, and Mordaunt confirmed in her report to lawmakers that partners may include nations from outside Europe.
Bone said there was a “very good possibility of another partner coming through. Britain has been in discussion with a number of nations, and Italy is one of those,” he said.
British defense export officials previously said more than 12 nations had been engaged in discussions over joining the Tempest program. The report to Parliament said that the Tempest project was starting to ramp up. Some 120 subcontracts were awarded and more than 1,000 people are working on the project, a number that is expected to double within a year.
The government said it is making progress developing technologies earmarked for a Tempest platform that emerges from early work.
“The first of these has already been achieved — the embedding of an electrical starter generator by Rolls-Royce within the main body of a powerful military aircraft engine. This increases the power density and reduces the complexity of future aircraft engines,” the report stated. “This technology will continue to be matured in the coming years, leading to a fully integrated novel power and propulsion system.” (Source: News Now/Defense News)
22 Jul 19. Saab banks on Gripen upgrade in new UK-Sweden warplane alliance. The “E” version of the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter is presented at Saab in Linkoping on May 18, 2016. (Anders Wiklund/AFP via Getty Images)
COLOGNE, Germany — Saab on Friday celebrated its inclusion in a British-led push to build a sixth-generation warplane, with executives eyeing near-term improvements to the company’s Gripen E aircraft rather than the creation of a brand-new fighter in the more distant future.
Saab CEO Håkan Buskhe described the prospect of jointly developing Britain’s notional Tempest platform as only one of several possible outcomes of the tie-up inked by the two countries’ defense ministers July 18.
The lower-hanging fruit, he said, lies in Saab participating in cutting-edge research that could help boost the performance of its latest Gripen E fighter. The jet is “75 percent software,” he explained, which presents the possibility of new capabilities without major hardware changes.
“We need projects; we need new challenges,” Buskhe said at a news conference on the company’s most recent earnings. “It creates huge business opportunities for us,” he said of the new partnership agreement.
Word got out in recent weeks about Sweden’s impending participation in Tempest, the United Kingdom’s ambitious plan to field a sixth-generation warplane by around 2040. Today’s announcement of the partnering agreement by the defense ministries, however, is less about that program specifically and more about technology cooperation in general.
While the British Defence Ministry’s statement makes mention of a “joint combat air development and acquisition programme” as the objective, the Swedish government’s description of the bilateral memorandum of understanding, or MOU, is more noncommittal.
“The MoU is the starting point for the countries to analyze the conditions for deeper cooperation on the development of future combat aircraft capabilities, including future development of the JAS 39 Gripen,” the Swedes said.
“The MoU does not entail long-term commitments between the countries, but is intended to enable future positions. Nor does it prevent the countries from engaging in similar studies and analyses with other partners.”
That last bit is noteworthy, as the Tempest is not the only attempt at a sixth-generation warplane in Europe. Germany and France have begun a similar effort, the so-called Future Combat Air System. Officials unveiled a concept mock-up of the plane at the Paris Air Show in June, as they formally accepted Spain as a member of the development team.
Buskhe argued Sweden makes for a great partner with Britain because the Scandinavians possess the industrial breadth to domestically produce combat aircraft. In addition, there is already some overlap with U.K. companies in making the Gripen E, he said.
However, he admitted that much about the U.K.-Swedish alliance must be sorted out. Officials plan to study through this and next year what is achievable under a possible joint work plan. A concrete path forward could then emerge in early 2021, Buskhe said.
At the same time, the Swedes want to get involved in whatever technology study the British — aided by the Americans, according to the Saab CEO — have ongoing for Tempest. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
EUROPE
26 Jul 19. MPs Discuss Veto of the Purchase of F-16 Block 70 Aircraft Imposed by President Rumen Radev. The National Assembly has again voted to ratify the law on the four contracts for the purchase, equipment, maintenance and services of fighters F-16 Block 70, which President Rumen Radev vetoed.
“For the ratification, there were 128 votes. Against the contracts voted a total of 73 MPs, three MPs abstained.” (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: defense-aerospace.com/National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria)
25 Jul 19. Romanian Corvettes – On Hold Again. The decision in favour of Naval Group from early July is already stalled (again). Damen, one of the three contenders, lodged a complaint with the Romanian National Council for Solving Complaints on July 8, and simultaneously opened a lawsuit at the Bucharest Tribunal.
The Dutch yard, which cooperates on site with Damen Shipyards Mangalia (in Mangalia) and Şantierul naval Galaţi (in Galati), bases its claim on irregularities in compliance with the conditions established in the tendering procedure. Damen indicates
leaked information, especially in terms of pricing. The main point of the Gorinchem company is that one of the participants in the tender does not have the corvettes built entirely in Romania. On-site assembly does not meet the requirements of the tender. In addition, Damen points out that apparently pricing was not the only determining criterion (as it was indicated in the presentation of the result). Taking this into account, the company considers that it had presented the best solution for the requirements of the Romanian Navy. Damen’s offer (€1.25bn) was just above that of Naval Group (€1.2bn). In fact, the press release on behalf of the French Minister of Defence published on the Ministry’s website on July 3, suggests that Lorient and Toulon-Ollioules have a substantial stake in the construction programme. It also says that construction of the platforms and final assembly will be carried out in technology transfer at Constanta SNC. However, this formulation offers a wide array for interpretation. It seems we have to prepare for the next round in the struggle over the Romanian corvette programme. Which in itself is unfortunate because the Black Sea country should have an intact navy with up-to-date capabilities given the growing importance of this area for NATO as response to the tense situation. The modernisation programme already suffered postponements. Thus, the expected entry-into-service 2022 may not be maintained. On the other hand, the government has an interest in the modernisation of the armed forces. There the risk is looming to lose the political consensus to increase military spending from 2017 to 2% of GDP – compared to 1.4% in previous years. In 2018, military spending was only 1.8% of the GDP. This was mainly due to late or frozen modernisation projects. (Source: ESD Spotlight)
25 Jul 19. France to seek new engineer vehicle. The French Direction Generale de l’Armement (DGA) is expected to issue a request for proposals later this year for a new engineer combat support vehicle (ECSV) to replace its tracked Engin Blinde du Genie (EBG) combat engineer tractor, according to a DGA briefing viewed by Jane’s.
The French Army received 71 EBGs, with production undertaken at the now-Nexter facility at Roanne, with 54 subsequently upgraded to extend their operational lives and final deliveries in early 2014 under the designation EBG Valorise (EBG Val). EBG is based on the AMX-30D armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) platform but modified for its specialised role and fitted with a hydraulic winch, front-mounted hydraulically operated dozer blade, and a hydraulically operated jib on the right side (typically fitted with a pincer device). (Source: IHS Jane’s)
BATTLESPACE Comment: There were rumours at the time of the launch of the BAE Systems terrier CET in 2002 that France was interested in joining the programme. Now 17 years later France is ready y=to buy a new vehicle. Whether BAE Systems will be permitted to bid is another mater given EU bidding rules.
23 Jul 19. Bulgaria president vetoes $1.26bn deal for F-16 fighter jets. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on Tuesday vetoed a deal to buy eight new Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, describing a lack of consensus over the purchase as “extremely worrying”. The $1.26bn deal would be the country’s biggest military purchase since the fall of Communism three decades ago. But Radev, a former air force commander, said the sharp disputes in parliament during the debate on its ratification showed that public consensus on the contracts had been neither sought nor achieved.
“Because of the shortened legislative procedure, a number of important issues such as prices, warranties, delivery times, penalties, indemnities, and so on, have remained unclear,” he said.
“The commitment of the Republic of Bulgaria to obligations, for years to come, without a national consensus and conviction in the mutually acceptable conditions of the treaty, is extremely worrying,” Radev said in a statement.
In 2017, an interim government selected the Gripen built by Sweden’s Saab but the deal was later canceled and a new procedure was launched a year later.
Radev said it was important that Bulgaria receive “a full package of equipment, accompanying equipment and personnel training”.
“The public needs a definite answer as to whether this is actually achieved by the contracts.”
The ruling center-right GERB party defended the contracts and expressed its readiness for another vote at a parliamentary session on Friday. Parliament could overrule Radev’s veto with a vote of at least 121 votes in the 240-seat assembly.
“We have a consensus that we need to modernize (Bulgaria’s) armed forces,” Konstantin Popov, chair of parliamentary defense committee, said. “The F-16 is a wonderful airplane.”
The Black Sea state, a staunch Washington ally, is looking to replace its aging Soviet-made MiG-29 aircraft after 2023 and improve its compliance with NATO standards.
23 Jul 19. US Re-Sourcing of Turkish-Made F-35 Parts Complicated By Global Shortages, Capacity Issues. The US Defense Department will likely be hard-pressed to transition hundreds of F-35 aircraft components away from Turkish suppliers in a timely manner in light of worldwide parts shortages and a lack of supplier production capacity as Russia stands ready to exploit the Trump administration’s decision to eject Ankara from the program, analysts told Sputnik.
US Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Ellen Lord last week told reporters the Pentagon would unwind Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program by March 2020 due to Ankara’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 defense systems. Lord also said the United States will spend up to $600m in non-recurring engineering to shift the supply chain. The United States has finally started delivering F-35s to twelve countries but the program has already been plagued by global spare parts shortages and is at risk of falling short of readiness assessment targets.
A US Government Accountability Office (GAO) official told Australia’s ABC on July 17 that the Pentagon, which owns all spare parts, “doesn’t even know how many it has or where they are.”
Moreover, President Donald Trump’s nominee to become Defense Secretary, Mark Esper, in mid-July told a Senate committee that the roughly 300-strong fleet of F-35s belonging to the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps “is not expected” to meet the Pentagon’s readiness assessment target, primarily due to shortages in key parts including canopies.
About ten Turkish suppliers currently manufacture more than 900 F-35 part numbers, 400 of which are sole-sourced, although Lord last month claimed that the lead contractor, Lockheed Martin, has already secured domestic backup suppliers.
Last year, Defense Secretary James Mattis told Congress he opposed suspending Turkey from the F-35 program because it would take 18 to 24 months to resource parts and could delay the production of at least 50 aircraft. Mattis said removing Turkey at this juncture could trigger a supply chain disruption for the US military and its partners.
In April, the GAO reported that F-35 aircraft were unable to fly almost 30 percent of the time between May and December of last year due to spare parts shortages. The Pentagon in the meantime is trying to boost availability by increasing supplier capacity to manufacture new parts and repair old ones, the GAO said.
According to a reprogramming request submitted by the Defense Department’s Comptroller’s office to Congress, the Pentagon wants to transition $200 m of funding towards the effort to find new sources of supply for the Turkish-made parts. The problem is those funds are being shifted from an account that is dedicated to purchasing spare parts.
Brookings Institution Scholar Michael O’Hanlon told Sputnik that while he agreed with Mattis’ assessment on the timeline for resourcing parts, he hopes the United States has not squandered the last 6 months and has gotten a head start on the process.
O’Hanlon also warned, however, that Ankara could take advantage of the situation if the Pentagon does not swiftly accomplish the mission.
“We’d [the United States] have to be careful not to give Turkey leverage they could then play against us by threatening not to deliver the parts,” O’Hanlon said.
Historical and political commentator Dan Lazare thinks the bigger challenge will be finding a country that wants to partner with the United States.
“Sure, a lot of countries want to get their hands on F-35 technology. But are the military gains really worth the cost of being tied hand and foot to an increasingly erratic US?” Lazare said.
From a commercial perspective the decision presents a lose/lose situation given Turkish suppliers will lose around $9 bn in business while the US F-35 program is likely to suffer supply disruptions and cost overruns. However, sometimes geopolitics interferes, even when the perceived benefits are flawed, experts have said.
Independent Institute Director Ivan Eland believes the half bn Dollar cost the United States will absorb is still relatively modest compared to the overall total cost of the F-35 program, which is “the most expensive weapon system in American and world history.”
“The Pentagon does not operate like a commercial business, which chooses subcontractors on the basis of quality, lowest price, and speed of delivery, but instead heavily doles out contracts on the basis of political goals,” Eland told Sputnik. “The Pentagon knows that sometimes the politics changes and costs will be incurred to take them into account.”
However, Lazare has argued that the decision will not serve US geopolitical interests well because it will only strengthen Russia. Although the supply chain will certainly be disrupted, Lazare thinks that is the least of Washington’s problems.
“It seems to me that the real risks lie elsewhere. One involves Russia, which is no doubt delighted by the latest turn of events since its leverage in the middle East is enhanced to the degree that Turkey is now in its corner,” Lazare told Sputnik. “Unsurprisingly, reports are that it’s already talking about selling Turkey its Su-35 ‘Flanker-E’ fighter instead.”
Lazare also observed the absurdity of the situation in light of the fact that Turkey is supposedly a NATO ally.
“Finally, there’s NATO. With Turkey half inside the alliance and halfway out, all kinds of curious anomalies arise, e.g. the fact that Russian missiles are now guarding US nuclear warheads at Incirlik Air Base, as the folks at Foxtrot Alpha point out,” Lazare remarked.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has already condemned the US move as a “mistake” that might cause irreparable damage to bilateral relations. According to Ankara, the United States’ claims that S-400 is incompatible with NATO’s air defense systems and might compromise operations of the F-35 are groundless. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Sputnik News)
USA
24 Jul 19. US Air Force requests ideas for drone technologies at Pitch Day event. The US Air Force (USAF) has invited companies to submit ideas for drone technologies at a Pitch Day contest to be conducted at Northeastern University’s research drone-testing facility. The competition will take place on 24 July at the Kostas Research Institute and is part of a series of USAF competitions to be held this year. Through these contests, the service will look for solutions for national security challenges in areas such as space, hypersonics, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems.
Kostas Research Institute CEO Peter Boynton said: “Because the airforce is now doing so much work collaborating with our researchers at KRI, I think the opportunity to host this Pitch Day became evident. It just made sense to use this facility with our new and really unique research facilities here, and because this is a place where they’re already working.”
During the morning session of the programme, 13 companies will be provided with the opportunity to present their ideas before a panel of judges comprised of USAF personnel.
The service will announce the companies with the best ideas and immediately award funding to them to proceed with the first phase of the projects.
Boynton added: “When a company wins their pitch, the airforce brings them into an adjacent conference room and they swipe a credit card and give them their funding right in that moment.”
Granting funding on the spot is intended to encourage rapid development and testing of prototypes for new technologies, he added.
The second part of the event will see the winning companies demonstrate their technologies at the facility’s anechoic chamber and Faraday cage.
The final segment involves a networking event with national security organisations, the aeronautics division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and other agencies. In March, the USAF awarded contracts to 51 companies at its inaugural Pitch Day event in New York City. The service has switched to commercial investment pitch competition-style model to avoid lengthy contractual processes. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
22 Jul 19. The Army wants better cyber defense in 4 areas. The Army’s research and development community is looking for contractor information in developing state-of-the-art cyber defenses that can improve decision-making across the battlefield.
In a notice posted online, the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Cyber, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center’s Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate; Cybersecurity Defense Operations and Research (CDOR) Branch is looking for capabilities to support cyber operations and security in four areas:
- Battlespace awareness. Providing friendly forces with better information to improve decision making to gain an advantage over the adversary. This can include combining intelligence related to threats, adversaries, technology and environment information.
- Secure operating area. Tools to secure cyberspace operating areas and the commander’s assessment of operational risk as well as continuous hardening for a stronger cybersecurity posture.
- Command and control. Tools to improve the cyber posture of forces to enable them to counter threats, manage risk and achieve objectives.
- Defense. Tools for stronger cyber defense against adversary attempts to disable or disrupt operations.
The notice states that the period of performance will be 12 months with four- to 12-month option periods. Responses are due by Aug. 19.
The CDOR, formerly the Army Research Lab Sustaining Base Network Assurance Branch, addresses current cyberthreats by designing state-of-the-art cyber defense capabilities. CDOR guides cyber defense research and development by relying on raw data collected from real-world networks. (Source: Fifth Domain)
20 Jul 19. America’s defense export strategy is key to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. In late March, two Chinese fighter jets crossed the maritime border separating China from Taiwan, lingering in Taiwan’s airspace for about 12 minutes. It was the first time China had flown aircraft across the border since 2011. The event — and China’s live-fire military exercise near the strait in May — joins a growing list of boundaries crossed — figuratively and literally — in the Taiwan Strait and as part of an intensifying and expanding U.S.-China geostrategic competition.
The stakes of this competition are high, increasingly focused on the future predominance of democratic norms, efficacy of the rules-based order, and persistence of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The U.S. Department of Defense’s recently released “Indo-Pacific Strategy Report” frames the challenge to the U.S. and the region starkly, labeling China as a revisionist power seeking to “reorder the region to its advantage by leveraging military modernization, influence operations, and predatory economics to coerce other nations.”
Deterring expansion and intensification of these behaviors requires an integrated whole-of-government effort that should prominently feature a U.S. defense export strategy that balances multiple imperatives: demonstrating commitment and providing capabilities to allies and partners, confronting China directly when necessary, and building new and enhanced partnerships all while managing increasingly pronounced escalatory risks.
At the root of China’s Taiwan Strait encroachment in March was the Trump administration’s approval of the sale of 66 F-16Vs to Taiwan.
The deal will not fundamentally alter the strategic military balance between Taiwan and China. Neither will the Administration’s approval in June of the export of an additional $2 bn worth of defensive equipment. The F-16V constitutes a significant upgrade of Taiwan’s tactical air capabilities and offers a clear commitment to Taiwan, though it will not solve the central challenge associated with the defense of Taiwan: absent intervention from the United States, Taiwan would likely be overwhelmed by the quantity of missiles and aircraft and increasing sophistication of Chinese military assets.
However, fully redressing the military imbalance between China and Taiwan was never the objective of these deals. They are largely symbolic, designed to deter China by signaling heightened U.S. commitment to Taiwan rather than through providing a specific balance-shifting capability. The deals also represent provocative means of pushing back on China’s efforts to define and bound the competition and, as a result, bound U.S. action and strategic flexibility.
As welcome as this pushback is, a U.S. Indo-Pacific defense export strategy cannot rest solely on provocation or on a narrow focus on “the revisionist power of China.” Deterrence need not always be confrontational, especially in the charged and complicated competitive environment of the Indo-Pacific. Subtle but directed should also be part of the strategic mix.
A focus on the export and development of primarily defensive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities constitutes a potential “sweet spot” for advancing U.S. interests and deepening partnership- and capability-building efforts while reducing risks of escalatory responses. And demand for U.S. ISR assets across the region is more than notional in a region marked by difficult-to-detect gray zone challenges.
Australia announced in November 2018 its intent to acquire MQ-9 Reaper drones through a sole-sourced procurement. India, Japan and New Zealand have also all expressed interest in acquiring the platform, among other ISR assets, as part of efforts to enhance situational awareness of an expanding range of fast-moving threats frequently unfolding over great distances or in crowded and contested urban or maritime environments.
A U.S. defense export strategy stressing ISR assets has an additional benefit for allies and partners. Geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific do not lend themselves to clean, Cold War–like lineups of economically and ideologically separated blocs. Many U.S. allies and current and prospective partners have deep economic and political links to China, raising fears among some that they could be caught in the middle of a competition that compromises their interests and forces unwanted choices.
As Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted during June’s Shangri-La Dialogue, “unfortunately when the lines start to get drawn … that makes it difficult for the small countries.” U.S. partnership- and capacity-building efforts focused on ISR capabilities offer opportunities for constructive engagement that does not have to aggravate this sense of vulnerability. The foreign military sale in May of 34 ScanEagle drones to support maritime security activities in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam offers a useful and replicable model.
Deterring China in the Indo-Pacific is a complicated, but achievable task. It begins by signaling commitment and resolve to U.S. allies and partners (as well as China) through many measures, including defense exports. The nature of these exports should align with the broader objective of deterring China without unnecessarily risking escalation or alienation of partners. An enhanced — but not exclusive — focus on building allied and partner situational awareness seems both operationally relevant and strategically correct. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
19 Jul 19. GAO Denies L3Harris Protests Of Advanced Checkpoint Scanner Contract To Smiths. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) earlier this month denied two protests by L3Harris Technologies [LHX] of a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) contract award to Smiths Detection for the first tranche of new scanning systems to screen carry-on bags at airport checkpoints. The rejection of the protests means that Smiths Detection, which is part of Britain’s Smiths Group, can get to work on delivering the first of the computed tomography (CT)-based checkpoint scanners to TSA for acceptance testing within the next two months before deployments can begin. The agency in late March awarded Smiths a $96.8m contract for 300 of the company’s HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX systems, which will begin to replace Advanced Technology (AT) X-ray systems currently in use. A TSA spokesman told Defense Daily on Friday that deliveries of Smiths’ CT systems are expected to begin sometime this fall. GAO rendered its decision on July 8 and published it on July 19. Under terms of the contract, Smiths has 60 days to deliver the first system to TSA for testing and evaluation, a process expected to take a month or two. Once TSA approves the first test article scanner, Smiths will have 30 days to deliver the first 30
CT systems and then is contracted to deliver 30 more per month to complete deliveries. In addition to L3Harris and Smiths, TSA also considered bids from Analogic and Integrated Defense & Security Solutions. Smiths’ price proposal was far below what TSA expected, even though price ranked fourth in terms of evaluation criteria, with production and deployment capability ranked first, followed by technical capability and past performance. The award was based on a best-value tradeoff basis, GAO said.
L3Harris primarily objected to the production and deployment capability rationale of TSA, which ranked Smiths second with an “outstanding” grade and L3Harris fourth with an “acceptable” mark. According to the GAO, L3Harris proposed adding an automated diverter feature to its system, which TSA assessed as potentially adding schedule risks. L3Harris argued that the assessed risk was unreasonable but GAO disagreed. L3Harris also challenged TSA granting Smiths’ proposed deployment timeline as a strength that would reduce schedule risks, arguing that the company has “little relevant experience” and that its HI-SCAN system is too heavy and will not be able to execute installation, according to the GAO. However, the GAO said that TSA verified that Smiths had installed two identical systems for operational tests and evaluations at airports in St. Louis and Los Angeles. With regard to the weight of Smiths’ system, GAO also disagreed with L3Harris’ challenge given the previous HI-SCAN installations.
L3Harris also protested over Smiths’ manufacturing capability, arguing that it doesn’t have a domestic production plant and that the systems will be manufactured in Germany. This should have been assessed as a “material risk” to the delivery schedule due to having to import the systems. But GAO said that L3Harris didn’t prove that Smiths can’t produce its HI-SCAN systems in the U.S. and that Smiths’ proposal includes a domestic manufacturing facility that has produced more than 9,000 X-ray systems since 2010. Smiths plans to use its German facility for surge capacity if needed, GAO said. L3Harris also protested that it should have been given a strength based on its installation of more than 100 CT systems at 12 airports worldwide, arguing that Smiths should have been assessed a weakness here given a “lack of experience,” GAO said. But the auditors said
L3Harris’ challenge in this regard should have been filed before bids were due. TSA is expected to buy around 2,400 checkpoint CT scanners and industry officials expect a second source to be added. The next round of contracts for the systems is expected in 2020. The CT systems provide a virtual, three-dimensional view of the contents of a carry-on bag, giving an operator a better image than the current 2-D systems. The better image quality will mean that travelers will be able to leave their personal electronic devices in their bags. The systems also have the capability to automatically detect explosives, which TSA eventually expects to take advantage of and allow liquids to remain in bags as well, helping speed up throughput at the checkpoint. (Source: Defense Daily)
19 Jul 19. Navy To Solicit NIXIE Torpedo Countermeasures. Naval Sea Systems Command released a notice on July 17 that it intends to issue a solicitation for AN/SLQ-25 Torpedo Countermeasure Transmitting Sets, called NIXIE, electro-acoustic towed torpedo countermeasures. The NIXIE systems are part of the Surface Ship Torpedo Defense (SSTD) program, which aimed to provide independent torpedo protection to aircraft carriers before it was canceled in 2018. NIXIE is essentially a towed torpedo decoy that emits signals to divert torpedoes from a target. In February Navy acquisition chief James Geurts said the $700m SSTD system was canceled due to poor performance compared to its effectiveness and cost. However, at the time Geurts said this did not mean the technologies were not useful, “just the current instantiation wasn’t something we were going to keep on the ships.”
SSTD included a torpedo warning system to detect, localize, and alert about incoming torpedo threats as well as the countermeasure anti-torpedo hard-kill countermeasure to intercept the threats. This new NIXIE procurement “will provide a tech refresh for currently fielded systems and will include modernization efforts to ensure future supportability,” the FedBizOpps post said.
The Navy expects to award a cost-plus fixed fee indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract that has line items for proof of manufacturing, engineering services including design analysis, first articles, and backfit and new construction production units. The NIXIE contract will also support Foreign Military Sales, the notice said. While the Navy will provide Level II drawings nad performance specifications in the request for proposals, the contractor will develop and deliver Level III drawings with system components. The contract will have a one-year base period with four one-year options. The Navy expects to issue the RFP around Aug. 6 and it will have a 450-day response time. (Source: Defense Daily)
REST OF THE WORLD
23 Jul 19. Leonardo not giving up on Argentina fighter bid. Leonardo remains confident that it can sell its M-346FA to Argentina, despite Jane’s being told that the Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina – FAA) has already selected the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 Fighting Eagle to be its new interim fighter aircraft.
Speaking to Jane’s on 22 July, Leonardo officials said that the company is still pushing the light fighter and attack variant of its M-346 Master advanced jet trainer to the FAA as part of a wider proposal that includes technology transfer and local industrial participation.
An additional part of its interim-fighter bid, Leonardo sees the M-346FA serving as a potential stepping-stone to the Eurofighter Typhoon, which the company manufacturers as part of a consortium that includes BAE Systems from the UK and Airbus from Germany and Spain. It is also offering the M-346FA alongside other platforms from its portfolio, including the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft and various helicopters.
Leonardo’s comments came a day after Jane’s quoted an informed source as saying that the FA-50 was the FAA’s preferred option, and that, subject to upcoming presidential elections in October, the government is expected to sign off on the procurement. The details of KAI’s bid have not been disclosed, but the chief of the FAA, Brigadier General Amrein, has previously told Jane’s that he is looking for an aircraft that is relatively cheap to acquire and operate, and that is capable of meeting his requirements. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
22 Jul 19. South African and Indian defence industries identify areas for collaboration. The South African Aerospace Maritime and Defence Export Council (SAAMDEC) has outlined a number of areas in which it wishes to collaborate with the Indian defence industry.
Sandile Ndlovu, CEO of SAAMDEC, announced that local companies will be paired with Indian companies and will focus on areas including the development of both small and medium calibre ammunition, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
SAAMDEC falls under the government’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and facilitates exports for defence and related industries.
It is part of the department’s so-called Outward Selling Mission to India, and the trade mission seeks to promote South African goods and services to the Indian market. (Source: Google/Jane’s)
23 Jul 19. Jakarta still seeking concessions on K-FX/I-FX costs. Jakarta continues to press for concessions on the price of involvement in the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) K-FX/I-FX fighter programme. A recent report by Indonesia’s official Antara news portal quotes government minister Wiranto as suggesting that the next payments be not in cash, but potentially a contra deal involving Indonesia-produced defence equipment.
In 2018, Wiranto, who is Indonesia’s coordinating minister for politics and law, was placed in charge of Indonesia’s efforts to renegotiate its involvement in the fighter programme.
In early 2019, KAI confirmed that it had received a W130bn ($117m) payment from Indonesia’s defence ministry, apparently putting things back on track.
A 22 July report in the Korea Herald, however, suggests Indonesia is now in W300bn in arrears. It quotes an official at Seoul’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration as saying that Jakarta has paid just W220 bn in total.
Under the terms of the original K-FX/I-FX deal, Jakarta was to foot W1.6trn ($1.9bn) of the programme’s W8.5bn price tag.
The Korea Herald report adds that the programme’s critical design review will take place in September, with both Jakarta and Seoul to review the project pending the production of prototypes.
In 2018 a Korean source said the prevailing view locally was that Jakarta was adamant about using K-FX to wring concessions from Seoul, such as orders for additional Airbus Defence & Space CN-235s that would be produced by Indonesian Aerospace, also known as PTDI, in Bandung.
Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer shows that South Korea has been a major customer for the CN-235. The Republic of Korea Air Force operates eight examples with six on option, while the South Korean coast guard operates four, with two on option. (Source: Google/Flight Global)
23 Jul 19. Colombia could spend $1bn on new air force planes: sources. Colombia is examining proposals from the United States, Spain and Sweden as it look to replace its aging military aircraft, the South American country’s air force said on Tuesday.
Replacing around 20 Israeli Kfir fighter jets, which Colombia bought three decades ago, could cost more than $1bn, air force sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly, told Reuters.
“Different countries, including Spain, Sweden and the United States, have made formal proposals to Colombia to replace the squadron,” the air force said in a statement.
“Planes like the Saab Gripen, Eurofighter and F-16 are being evaluated, a process which will allow the (air force) to present recommendations for decision-making at the moment that the government determines,” the statement added.
Despite budget limitations, President Ivan Duque has said he is in favor of modernizing the country’s military equipment. (Source: Reuters)
23 Jul 19. South Korea joins regional aircraft carrier race with ‘Lightning carrier’ announcement. As both China and Japan surge ahead with plans to build potent aircraft carrier capabilities, South Korea has joined the race and announced plans to build a modified large-deck aircraft carrier based on the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) Dokdo Class amphibious warfare ships – leaving Australia as the only established Indo-Pacific power without a plan for an aircraft carrier capability.
At the end of the Second World War, the aircraft carrier emerged as the apex of naval prestige and power projection. Unlike their predecessor, the battleship, aircraft carriers in themselves are relatively benign actors, relying heavily a their attached carrier air-wings and supporting escort fleets of cruisers, destroyers and submarines to screen them from hostile action.
In recent years, nations throughout the Indo-Pacific have begun a series of naval expansion and modernisation programs with traditional aircraft carriers and large-deck, amphibious warfare ships serving as the core of their respective shift towards greater maritime power projection.
Driving this change is an unprecedented period of Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea and the growing capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), which has seen the Chinese fielding or preparing to field a range of power projection capabilities, including aircraft carriers and supporting strike groups, fifth-generation combat aircraft, modernised land forces, area-access denial and strategic nuclear forces, combined with growing political and financial influence throughout the region.
In recent years, nations throughout the Indo-Pacific have begun a series of naval expansion and modernisation programs with traditional aircraft carriers and large-deck, amphibious warfare ships serving as the core of their respective shift towards greater maritime power projection.
Driving this change is an unprecedented period of Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea and the growing capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), which has seen the Chinese fielding or preparing to field a range of power projection capabilities, including aircraft carriers and supporting strike groups, fifth-generation combat aircraft, modernised land forces, area-access denial and strategic nuclear forces, combined with growing political and financial influence throughout the region.
Building on this, the long-term threat from North Korea has prompted South Korea to embark on a series of land, air and sea acquisition programs that support the Republic of Korea’s transition towards developing a robust, deployable, conventional power projection and deterrence focused force – at the core of this redevelopment is the planned construction of a 30,000-ton short-take off, vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft carrier.
Developing blue water power projection
This new vessel – which is expected to be double the size of the ROKN’s two previous Dokdo Class, which weigh in at 14,500 tonnes of displacement – will serve as the basis for Korea’s burgeoning carrier capability and will be slightly larger than Japan’s Izumo Class vessels at 27,000 tonnes of displacement, which will be modified to accommodate a fleet of STOVL-variant F-35B Joint Strike Fighters beginning in the mid-2020s.
It is expected that the new vessel will accommodate 16 F-35Bs, in conjunction with 3,000 marines and 20 armoured vehicles – further supporting the power projection capabilities of the new vessel and the broad ROKN. This announcement fits in with the broader reorganisation of the ROKN – this new vessel is similar in size to the Royal Australian Navy’s Canberra Class amphibious warfare ships: HMA Ships Canberra and Adelaide.
Serving in a complementary role in Korea’s transition towards a blue water capable navy is the original Dokdo Class vessels, which will serve as the flagship in Korea’s ‘Rapid Response Fleet’ structure. Korea has recently announced plans for three additional 7,600-tonne block two Seejong the Great Class Aegis guided missile destroyers worth a total of US$3.3 bn, to be completed by 2028 – these vessels are expected to serve part of Korea’s broader integrated air and missile defence capabilities with a secondary focus on anti-surface and land attack capabilities.
This complementary capability and force structure mix provides Korea decision makers with three credible rapid reaction fleets supported by a range of escort and sea control formations – however, the power of aircraft carriers comes from their embarked air wing, with Korea expected to build on its 2014 US$6.75 bn order for 40 F-35As with an additional 20 F-35Bs or replace the original order with 40 F-35Bs with an additional 20 F-35Bs.
Australia being left behind?
The Japanese government has closely monitored the rise of the Chinese Navy and its growing force of aircraft carriers and territorial ambitions, particularly in the South China Sea and the Southern Ryukyu and Senkaku Islands. In response, Japan recently announced that it would begin the refit of the Izumo Class vessels to reintroduce an integrated fixed-wing naval aviation capability to the JMSDF.
Izumo and her sister ship Kaga are capable of supporting airwings of 28 aircraft, with capacity for about 10 F-35Bs, with both 27,000-tonne vessels capable of supporting 400 marines. While in the early stages of design phase for the refit of the vessels, incorporating the F-35B into the two vessels enhances the maritime strike and broader deterrence options for Japan.
Driving the regional carrier race is the rising power, China’s pursuit of a credible blue water naval capability is taking a step closer to reality with new imagery revealing steady progress on the next-generation Type 002 conventional aircraft carrier at the Jiangnan Shipyard at the mouth of the Yangtze River – which will be the third aircraft carrier in service with the PLAN.
China’s carrier ambitions are not limited to these two platforms, with increasingly capable aircraft carrier designs currently in varying stages of design or construction. The Type 002 carrier, expected to be commissioned in 2023, will be a traditional, CATOBAR-based vessel, weighing in at 80-85,000 tonnes.
The next evolution of China’s carrier force provides a launching point for the nuclear-powered Type 003 aircraft carrier. Currently understood to be in the design phase, the Type 003 will serve as the basis of China’s power projection focused aircraft carrier force and is expected to be constructed at the Jiangnan Shipyard, which is currently undergoing a series of modernisation and expansion programs to accommodate an increase in the Chinese carrier fleet.
Additionally, serving a similar role to America’s large deck, amphibious warfare ships, China is responding with the construction of three Type 075 landing helicopter docks, weighing in at 40,000 tonnes, placing them in the same category as the US Wasp Class vessels. It is anticipated that these vessels will accommodate up to 30 helicopters and be capable of supporting amphibious landings through the use of advanced command and control facilities. (Source: Defence Connect)
23 Jul 19. Ecuadorian Air Force negotiates new helicopters. The Ecuadorian Air Force is expected to select its future rescue and medium-twin helicopter before the end of the year, an official has told Jane’s. The service is looking to replace its Indian-built HAL Dhruv helicopters with a shortlist that includes the Airbus Helicopters H145 and the AgustaWestland AW139. The selected platform will join four AgustaWestland AW119Ke helicopters purchased earlier this year to reinforce its fleet of Bell 206 and TH-57 helicopters used by the 2211 Squadron at Guayaquil. The plan is to order up to six helicopters, with full equipment for combat search-and-rescue operations. The force plans to use the Koalas on rescue missions close to their bases and the new helicopters for longer range sorties, including operations over mountains and the sea. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
22 Jul 19. South Korea to build ship for short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aircraft. South Korea is to launch a new version of a large-deck landing ship from which short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aircraft can operate by the late 2020s, amid naval buildups in China and Japan.
The decision was made during a July 12 meeting of top brass presided over by Gen. Park Han-ki, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea is gaining traction over Tokyo’s export restrictions on high-tech materials to South Korea.
“The plan of building the LPH-II ship has been included in a long-term force buildup plan,” said a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs, speaking on condition of anonymity and using an acronym for “landing platform helicopter.”
“Once a preliminary research is completed within a couple of years, the shipbuilding plan is expected to be included in the midterm acquisition list,” the spokesman added.
The new LPH is to be refit to displace 30,000 tons, double the capacity of the previous two LPHs — Dokdo and Marado — with 14,500 tons of displacement. The carrier-type vessel is also bigger than the 27,000 tons associated with Japan’s Izumo-class helicopter destroyers.
“It’s the first time that a light aircraft carrier-class ship is pursued under South Korea’s force improvement plans,” Kim Dae-young, an analyst at the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, told Defense News. “It’s also a symbolic and meaningful step to upgrade the country’s naval capability against potential threats posed by Japan and China.”
Japan has plans to convert its two Izumo-class helicopter destroyers by 2023 to light aircraft carriers from which the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) jet can operate.
China is building two more aircraft carriers in addition to Liaoning, a refurbished ex-Soviet carrier. A modified version of the Liaoning is currently being fitted out in northern China, while another, larger carrier is having its modules built at a shipyard in the city of Shanghai. China is also building a Type 075 helicopter assault ship at another shipyard in the same city, while continuing to crank out a variety of conventional and nuclear-powered submarines.
South Korea bought 40 F-35As for its Air Force in 2014 for $6.75 bn, and 20 more could be purchased as part of midterm arms-buildup plans. In tandem with the light aircraft carrier plan, the military is considering buying 20 more F-35Bs, a defense procurement source said.
“A pilot study on the purchase of F-35Bs is being conducted by a state-funded research institute. The study results are to be released as early as September,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The study weighs in on two options to replace the order of F-35As with F-35Bs, and buy 20 more F-35s additionally.”
The new carrier is expected to hold 16 STOVL aircraft, 3,000 marines and 20 armored vehicles, according to the source. The LPH-II is expected to have a ski jump-style launch ramp.
The South Korean Navy has already launched two Dokdo-class LPHs in an effort to develop its blue-water operational capability, as well as counter North Korean threats.
In May 2018, the second Dokdo-class LPH was launched with reconfigurations from the lead ship. The 199-meter-long, 31-meter-wide LPH is equipped with a fixed-panel 3D surveillance radar built by Elta Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, in place of the Thales SMART 3D radar aboard the Dokdo.
As for Marado, its flight deck was adapted to accommodate two V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, while the Dokdo could carry only one V-22. Marado is also fitted with two Phalanx close-in weapon systems, instead of the Goalkeeper CIWS installed on the Dokdo.
The Dokdo-class LPH can carry up to 720 fully equipped marines, 10 tanks, 10 trucks, seven amphibious assault vehicles and three artillery systems. It can sail at a maximum speed of 41 KPH with a crew of 300 on board.
The well deck has a capacity for two landing craft. Below the deck hanger, 15 helicopters, including two V-22s, can fit while the flight deck can simultaneously accommodate up to five helicopters of all types. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
22 Jul 19.Indonesia Seeks Reduction in Share of Expenses in Joint Fighter Jet Project. Indonesia is seeking a reduction of its share of expenses in the fighter jet development project with South Korea, as it is running about 300bn won ($254m) in arrears. According to Indonesian news reports, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Wiranto reiterated the need to renegotiate the deal for the Korean Fighter Experimental, citing the government’s lack of budget.
Korea and Indonesia have been working together to develop a new fighter jet for the air forces of the two countries since striking an agreement in 2010. Under the arrangement, the $8 bn cost of the project is to be divided between South Korea and Indonesia, with Korea paying 80 percent.
Wiranto, however, stressed that Indonesia is not seeking to withdraw from the project, and does not want to “disturb the long-standing friendship with South Korea,” Indonesian news outlet Kompas reported Thursday.
The country also does not want to lose the opportunity for the technology transfer the program would offer, Wiranto added.
According to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Monday, Indonesia had paid about 220 bn won of its share of 1.7tn won as of Monday. The first deposit was made in 2016. Since paying 132bn won early this year, there have not been any additional payments from Indonesia, and it is running about 300 bn won in arrears as of July, DAPA said.
While admitting that they have been renegotiating the deal since early this year, the Korean government refused to elaborate on details of their talks.
“The negotiation between the two countries are ongoing, and the two sides have agreed to keep it closed to the public,” DAPA spokesman Park Jeong-eun said.
The Indonesian Coordinating Ministry had said it would renegotiate its involvement in the joint project for “lighter” economic commitments, citing its national economic conditions, in a statement in October last year.
“Aside from the financial problem, the development of the fighter jets is going smoothly. We do not see that Indonesia will withdraw from the project,” an official from Korea Aerospace Industries, which is participating in the project, told The Korea Herald.
According to the official, 32 more Indonesian personnel are set to arrive in Korea in August, adding to the current 80 working here.
The Critical Design Review meeting is also expected to take place in September, in which the two sides will review the development of the project. It would then lead to building an actual prototype of the fighter jets, the official said. The KFX/IFX project is aimed at producing semi-stealth fighter aircraft of generation 4.5. From the program, the two countries will build 168 units, of which 120 will belong to Korea. The warplanes are expected to be equipped with semi-conformal missile launchers, advanced avionics and air-refueling functions. The KFX project is South Korea’s second domestic fighter jet development program, first proposed in 2001. (Source: (Source: defense-aerospace.com/The Korea Herald)
23 Jul 19. Canada launches fighter jet competition, sees first aircraft delivery in 2025. Canada officially launched a long-delayed competition for new fighter jets on Tuesday, and said it was confident that there had been no favoritism toward any one contender though some have said the race is tilted towards Lockheed Martin Corp..
Ottawa wants 88 new planes in a contract worth between C$15 bn and C$19bn. Initial proposals are due in the spring of 2020, with a winner due to be named in early 2022 and the first aircraft delivery as early as 2025. (Source: Reuters)
22 Jul 19. Indonesia considers counter-trade to support KFX/IFX project. Indonesia is looking to support its involvement in the project to develop the KFX/IFX fighter aircraft with South Korea through the potential counter-trade of locally built CN235 transport aircraft. The possible trade deal was confirmed by Indonesia’s minister for security affairs, Wiranto (who goes by a single name), on 19 July.
In comments to the state-run Antara news agency Wiranto indicated that Indonesia could offer the CN235 aircraft to the South Korean government in lieu of cash payments for its continuing involvement in KFX/IFX development programme.
“We are adjusting [our involvement in the KFX/IFX project], so, for instance, in coming stages we don’t have to pay in cash but in other [forms of exchange],” he said. Wiranto went on to identify the CN235 aircraft, which is produced by state-run company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) under licence from Airbus, as a potential product for barter exchange.
Wiranto also confirmed that the Indonesian government wanted to reduce its financial commitment to the KFX/IFX project but did not want to damage its strong defence ties with South Korea and diminish the technological gains it was looking to secure through the development programme.
In October 2018 the Indonesian government announced that it will renegotiate with South Korea its financial involvement in the KFX/IFX project because of “national economic conditions”. The renegotiated package is expected to be finalised by October 2019.
Elements of the deal under review include Indonesia’s overall financial commitment; the agreed percentage of development costs to be covered by Indonesia; production workshare and expenses; technology transfers to Indonesia; and Indonesia’s access to intellectual property. By late 2018 Indonesia had accrued a shortfall on the project of nearly USD200m. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
21 Jul 19. Argentina selects Korean FA-50 fighter. The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina – FAA) has selected the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 Fighting Eagle to be its new interim fighter aircraft, Jane’s has been told. A senior FAA officer with direct knowledge of the planned procurement said that the supersonic, twin-seat light fighter and attack aircraft has been selected following an evaluation that Jane’s first reported in September 2016.
The officer, who requested not to be identified as the deal is not finalised, said he expects the government to sign off on the planned procurement “in the near future”, with deliveries to commence shortly after. Argentina has national presidential elections at the end of October, and the officer noted that these may slightly prolong the timeline, but that he still expects the deal to go through.
While Jane’s was not told numbers, Argentine national media has reported an anticipated deal for 10 aircraft.
The FAA has a pressing need to acquire a new fighter type to replace the Dassault Mirage III and Mirage 5 fleets that were retired in late 2015, and the ageing Douglas A-4R Fightinghawk fleet that is proving increasing difficult and costly to maintain.
An Argentine delegation first visited the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (RoKAF’s) 16th Fighter Wing at Yecheon on 7 September 2016, when an FAA pilot tested a TA-50 Golden Eagle operational trainer variant of the FA-50.
Other aircraft types that the FAA has reportedly considered include the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Kfir, the Dassault Mirage F1, the Alenia M-346FT, the Aero L-159 ALCA, the CAC FC-1/PAC JF-17 Thunder, the Saab Gripen, early-model Eurofighter Typhoons, and the Sukhoi Su-24 ‘Fencer’ (although this is widely believed to have been a hoax). (Source: IHS Jane’s)
22 Jul 19. Australian Army contest to replace Tiger ARH heats up. The Australian Army’s pursuit for a new attack helicopter has gathered pace as both Boeing and Bell Helicopters have presented offers for the venerable Apache and AH-1Z Viper, respectively. The Australian Army is planning to replace the current fleet of EC665 Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters (ARH) from the mid-2020s as identified in the 2016 Defence White Paper: “The government will replace the 22 Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters with a new armed reconnaissance capability from the mid-2020s.”
The government has brought the LAND 4503 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Replacement program forward and aims to acquire a proven and mature, off-the-shelf manned armed helicopter to deliver armed reconnaissance effects in the close and deep contested battlespace in support of the Australian Defence Force.
The acquisition strategy aims to reduce operational and in-service risk, and to allow the Australian Army to rapidly achieve operational milestones for the replacement armed reconnaissance capability, while achieving value for money.
The LAND 4503 capability may be based on up to 29 aircraft, including support equipment and aircraft for individual training – LAND 4503 is a key part of the Army’s modernisation and recapitalisation programs for the Australian Army and is designed to contribute to the creation of the modernisation and development of a ‘networked and hardened’ Army.
LAND 4503’s program of delivery is broken down into three delivery stages beginning with projected IOC in 2026 and FOC in 2028, including:
- Up to 24 aircraft would be based at one primary location and another five are intended at a training location. The aircraft fleet may also be co-located in one primary location, however this is yet to be determined.
- IOC for LAND 4503 is based on a squadron of up to 12 aircraft. This organisation would be capable of generating a deployable troop of four aircraft, continued force generation of four aircraft, and an initial build-up training element of four aircraft. IOC will be supported by trained personnel and support systems.
- FOC for LAND 4503 is based on a regiment of up to 24 aircraft. This organisation would be capable of generating multiple concurrent deployed forces of up to squadron size. FOC will also be supported by a mature training system of up to five aircraft, with trained personnel and support systems.
In response, Bell Helicopters has proposed its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter currently in service with the US Marine Corps – the AH-1Z is designed and built to support the expeditionary requirements of the USMC.
With virtually identical front and rear glass cockpits, fully integrated weapons, avionics and communications systems, the marinised Bell AH-1Z flies with what Bell describes as “the most advanced aircraft weapons and survivability equipment in the world”.
The Zulu is the only attack helicopter in the world with a fully-integrated air-to-air missile capability. Target identification is crucial in the modern battlefield. The Bell AH-1Z’s Target Sight System provides the longest range and highest accuracy of any helicopter sight in the world.
Not to be outdone, Boeing Defence Australia has presented the AH-64E Apache as an option for the LAND 4503 program – Boeing describes the Apache as “the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter and is used by the US Army and a growing number of international defence forces”.
To date, Boeing has delivered more than 2,200 Apaches to customers around the world since the aircraft entered production. The US Army Apache fleet has accumulated (as of July 2016) more than 4.2 m flight hours since the first AH-64A was delivered to the US Army in January 1984.
Since the first delivery, Boeing’s global customers for the Apache include Egypt, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the UK. (Source: Defence Connect)
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