Sponsored by American Panel Corporation
http:// http://american-panel.com/
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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
19 Sep 19. UK to sell surplus workboat. The Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) in the UK Ministry of Defence has issued an advance notice for the potential sale of the former ship-to-shore workboat Terra Nova. The 8.7m-long boat, with a maximum speed of 15kt, was built in 1995. It was recently taken out of service after deployment aboard the Royal Navy ice patrol ship Protector. Expressions of interest are due by midnight on 30 September, with viewings in Plymouth to follow in October. Terra Nova will be sold “via a price only tender with best sealed offers considered”, DESA announced. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
EUROPE
19 Sep 19. Czech SHORAD procurement delayed. The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has delayed the Army of the Czech Republic’s (ACR’s) CZK10bn (USD427m) short-range air defence (SHORAD) system procurement. Deputy Defence Minister Filip Říha told Jane’s recently that the contract would be concluded at the end of 2020, a year later than the originally planned end of 2019. The delay is due to a CZK800m cut in the 2020 defence budget following ministry savings negotiations over the summer. Říha said the SHORAD procurement was the only strategic project delayed.
The ACR plans to procure four batteries of new SHORAD systems mounted on Tatra 815-7 8×8 platforms and transportable by C-130, C-17, or A400M aircraft. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
17 Sep 19. Dutch Defense 2020 Budget: Repair and Modernize. In 2020, the Defense organization will continue to restore and modernize the armed forces. Since a budget low in 2014, the Defense organization has a little more than €3bn to spend in 2020, when the Defense budget will total €11.035bn.
Steps ahead
Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld-Schouten said “We are taking steps forward. To further strengthen and modernize our armed forces, we will invest in our people and we purchase new equipment. But we also still have to carry out a lot of overdue maintenance that is desperately needed. We will repair and modernize at the same time.”
Reflect on freedom
In 2020, the Ministry of Defense will again consider the liberators of 75 years ago and the soldiers who have been helping to ensure peace and security since then. With the organization of the Invictus Games in May 2020, the Defense organization is paying extra attention to the sacrifices they made for freedom.
Threats are complex
Bijleveld-Schouten said “We find living in freedom quite normal. Almost too normal. But we must not forget that the security environment has become more unstable in recent years. Geopolitical relationships are changing. The US and Russia have denounced the INF nuclear weapons treaty. Threats have become more unpredictable and complex. This leads to a greater requirements for Defense, both at home and abroad.”
Under the NATO standard
The NATO alliance remains the cornerstone of the security of the Netherlands. It has been agreed within NATO that all countries will spend 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) on Defense by 2024. In the Netherlands, the counter is currently at 1.35% and the percentage is expected to be about the same in 2024. So, the Netherlands is not there yet. Bijleveld-Schouten said that “Further investments in security is needed, because we also want to live in freedom for the next 75 years.”
Personnel and collaboration
Defense will invest in its people in 2020, because without them there are no armed forces. The emphasis is on the further modernization of the wage structure and further steps towards a safe Defense organization. State Secretary for Defense Barbara Visser said “The organization has a structural shortage of employees and will continue its efforts in 2020 to recruit and retain personnel. Where necessary, we will collaborate with other organizations or companies. ”
Extra F-35s and maintenance of frigates
In 2020, the Defense organization will purchase new equipment and modernize old equipment. A further nine additional F-35 fighter aircraft will be purchased in addition to the 37 that have already been ordered.
And major maintenance is being carried out on 4 air defense and command frigates, which will get the latest radars and sensors. Investments are also being made in support and deployability of Special Operations forces.
Replenishment of ammunition stocks
In addition, the Ministry of Defense will take the necessary steps next year to introduce a new IT infrastructure, to replace medium-duty landing craft and the PC-7 training aircraft, and to modernize the NH90 helicopters. Ammunition stocks are also being replenished.
Deferred maintenance
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense is working on repairing overdue maintenance of 11,000 buildings, among other things. Visser said “We thereby tackle the backlogs of buildings and kitchens with priority. We do not want the safety and health of staff to be compromised.” (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Dutch Ministry of Defence)
USA
16 Sep 19. Sikorsky anticipates first Combat Rescue Helicopter LRIP contract. Key Points:
- Sikorsky expects its first Combat Rescue Helicopter production contract by the end of September
- The US Air Force selected Sikorsky for CRH in 2014
Sikorsky expects its first of two low rate initial production (LRIP) contracts for its HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) to be awarded by the end of September, according to a company official.
Greg Hames, Sikorsky CRH programme director, told Jane’s that the company and the US Air Force (USAF) have a 24 September date scheduled with William Roper, the service’s acquisition executive, to sign a unilateral contract agreement for 10 aircraft. Sikorsky has had four CRH aircraft in flight tests that generated sufficient data for a Milestone C decision that also allowed the service a 30-day review prior to a contract award, he said. The first CRH test aircraft flew on 17 May and the second aircraft flew on 23 May, which Hames said were both ahead of projected delivery dates in June. The third test aircraft flew on 8 August while the fourth aircraft flew on 27 August. Hames said all four aircraft, built at the company’s facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, have generated a total of 113.9 hours against a 50-hour requirement for Milestone C. Hames noted Sikorsky has been collecting CRH data beyond the 50-hour minimum.
The first system demonstration test article (SDTA) aircraft built at Sikorsky’s Connecticut facility flew on 6 September. This aircraft has accumulated seven maintenance test flight hours and also flew on 10 September, Hames said. Now that Sikorsky has established its task times, it is pivoting from the test programme into a production environment where it can regularly predict the aircraft moving from one position to another, he added. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
16 Sep 19. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) today announced a nationwide GBSD team, comprised of hundreds of small, medium and large companies. Northrop Grumman’s team, if selected, is ready to deliver on a national security priority to develop a modernized ICBM capability for the U.S. Air Force.
This Northrop Grumman nationwide GBSD industry team includes Aerojet Rocketdyne, BRPH, Clark Construction, Collins Aerospace, General Dynamics, Honeywell, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Parsons and Textron Systems, along with hundreds of other small, medium and large businesses across the United States.
Nationwide team brings together hundreds of small, medium and large companies, with extensive ICBM missile systems expertise, ready to deliver on modernized strategic deterrence mission for the nation.
“Northrop Grumman has assembled a nationwide team of partners from across the defense, construction and engineering industries – rich in ICBM missile systems expertise – that is ready now to design, build and deliver a modernized strategic deterrence capability for our nation and its allies,” said Greg Manuel, vice president, GBSD enterprise leader, Northrop Grumman. “We are confident this GBSD team we have so carefully assembled over the past four years is positioned to deliver a safe, reliable and affordable GBSD system on schedule.”
“Our team will bring with it the capability, capacity and commitment to address this national security priority and deliver on this critical mission for our customer,” added Manuel.
On Aug. 21, 2017, Northrop Grumman was one of two companies awarded a three-year Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction contract for the new GBSD weapon system program. In July 2019, the Air Force released its final request for proposals for the next phase of the program, with an expected award date in the third quarter of 2020.
Last month, Northrop Grumman broke ground on a new facility, near Hill Air Force Base, to serve as a future headquarters for its workforce and nationwide team supporting the GBSD program, with the opportunity to add thousands of jobs in the state of Utah. Overall, the GBSD program will involve over 10,000 people across the United States directly working on this vital national security program.
REST OF THE WORLD
18 Sep 19. Applications open for 2020 Australian Military Sales Catalogue. Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has announced that applications are open for inclusion in the 2020 Australian Military Sales Catalogue. Australian businesses who want to expand their defence industry operations by taking their products and services to the world are invited to apply for inclusion in the 2020 Australian Military Sales Catalogue.
Minister Price said the Australian Military Sales Catalogue’s purpose is to promote world-class, Australian-origin goods and services to foreign governments.
“The Morrison government is building a stronger, more sustainable and globally competitive Australian defence industry. I’ve just returned from a major international defence trade show where I led a record delegation of Australian businesses, and saw the intense competition that our defence industry deals with,” Minister Price said.
Minister Price said feedback from companies showcased in the 2019 catalogue had been very positive and encouraged those in Australia’s defence industry, particularly small business, to be a part of the 2020 catalogue.
Applicants will need to meet set criteria in order to be considered for the 2020 catalogue:
- Applicants must be an Australian company as defined by the Corporations Act 2001 – and have an Australian-based industrial capability as outlined in the Defence Industrial Capability Plan (mandatory)
- The product or service must be at least 51 per cent Australian origin (in design and/or build) (mandatory)
- The product should be used by Defence (preferable)
- Demonstrate a link to the current Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities (preferable)
- Must be export-ready (mandatory). Export-ready means exportable within the next 12 months. The applicant must be able to gain an export permit if required.
Minister Price added, “It reinforced to me why we have a responsibility to help Australian companies unlock their full potential in the international market – and why the government’s Defence Export Strategy is so important.”
The role of the Australian Military Sales (AMS) team is to support Australian sovereign capability and military sales programs through the planning and execution of international government-to-government transfer of:
- Australian Defence Organisation materiel
- Australian-origin sensitive technology
- products and services of Australian defence industry.
AMS seeks expressions of interest from foreign governments for consideration for government-to-government transfers.
Applications will remain open until 23:59 AEDT on Thursday, 31 October 2019. Full information on eligibility criteria for the 2020 edition of the catalogue can be found on the Australian Military Sales website http://www.defence.gov.au/Export/australian-military-sales/default.asp (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.
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