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EUROPE
26 Nov 19. Germany on-course to issue heavy-lift helo contract in late 2020. Germany is expected to issue a contract for the Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) heavy-lift helicopter in the final quarter of 2020, one of the two competing manufacturers confirmed to Jane’s on 26 November. Speaking at the Berlin Security Conference (BSC), Country Director for Germany International Business Developmentat Lockheed Martin Alexander Walford said that the company will issue its final proposal to the government in January 2020, with a contract expected “at the end of next year.”
Lockheed Martin is offering the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion to Germany, while Boeing is offering its CH-47F Chinook. Both companies are the only bidding parties for the VFW-Sikorsky CH-53G/GS/GA Stallion-replacement programme for the Luftwaffe. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
27 Nov 19. Poland could buy Swedish submarines to update its Kobben-class fleet. Poland’s defense ministry is reportedly planning to acquire two second-hand Södermanland-class submarines from Sweden as part of its efforts to replace the Polish navy’s outdated Kobben-class boats.
The planned deal was likely discussed with Stockholm during a recent visit to Sweden by Polish Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Wozny, according to the information obtained by local news site Defence24.pl. The acquisition would be related to plans by the Swedish navy to replace its Södermanland-class subs with new vessels, Blekinge-class subs, developed by Saab Kockums.
Last year, the Polish Defence Ministry received three bids to acquire three new subs under its Orka (Orca) program. France’s Naval Group offered its Scorpene-class subs armed with MBDA’s naval cruise missiles (NCM), Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems bid its 212CD-class vessels, and Saab Kockum’s offered its A26-class subs.
Deliveries of those new subs are scheduled to be completed by 2026. The planned contract is estimated to be worth some 10bn zloty ($2.6bn), according to data from the defense ministry.
Meanwhile, to preserve its operational capacities in the Baltic Sea, Warsaw has decided to overhaul its Kobben-class subs. (Source: Defense News)
USA
25 Nov 19. US Homeland Security issues Request for Information for UAS detection, tracking and mitigation solutions. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a request for information (RFI) to announce the Air Domain Awareness and Protection in the National Airspace (NAS) 2019-2020 Equipment Demonstration. This demonstration will support the research and development (R&D) efforts of the DHS S&T Border, Immigration and Maritime Division (BIM) along with other federal partners. The purpose of the demonstration is to safely explore systems, procedures and processes of manned systems and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) detection, tracking, identifying and mitigation (UAS only) systems in varying live operational environments. The focus of the Government’s objectives for this effort include evaluating products, systems, and services that detect, identify and track both manned and unmanned systems (MUMS) and pilot in command (PIC) (or ground controller) of UAS.
The RFI proposes a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Government to allow unrestricted and independent Government use of the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) equipment for up to six months and up to three locations in the US, during demonstration and evaluation events, at no cost to the Government per the terms of a CRADA.
The Government is only requesting submission of the response template, titled “C-UAS Systems Effects in the NAS 2019/2020 Equipment Demonstration- RFI Response Template.” Capabilities statements, marketing materials, etc. are not being requested and will not be reviewed if submitted.
Notice ID: 70RSAT20RFI000001
DHS Office of Procurement Operations, SCI TECH ACQ DIV
Original published date: 28 October 2019
Original response date: 12 December 2019
Point of contact: Richard J. Simons
For more information visit:
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/18e1dc881b076d183bf7e1e8fdf9a33c/view?keywords=UAS&sort=-relevance&index=opp&is_active=true&page=1 (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
REST OF THE WORLD
28 Nov 19. The Indian Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accorded approval for capital procurement for the services amounting to over Rs 22,800 crore on Thursday. The DAC approved procurement of P8I aircraft for the Navy and twin engine heavy helicopters (TEHH) for the Indian Coast Guard.
Ministry of Defence informed, “Procurement of medium range anti-submarine warfare P8I aircraft for the Navy would greatly strengthen the Navy’s capabilities for maritime coastal surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Vesse strike.”TEHH for the Indian Coast Guard would allow them to undertake missions to prevent maritime terrorism, infiltration of terrorists by sea routes and undertake search and rescue operations, added MoD.
To boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative, DAC accorded approval for indigenous design, development and manufacturing of thermal imaging night sights’ for assault rifles. These will be manufactured by Indian private sector and enhance night fighting capabilities of troops. The DAC as a follow up of the successful indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control programme also agreed to procure additional AWACS units. (Source: News Now/https://www.newindianexpress.com/)
28 Nov 19. Malaysia considers ‘fighter exchange’ offer from Russia. Malaysia has received an offer from Russia to part exchange its fleets of Russian multirole combat aircraft for new models, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu has confirmed in parliament.
Sabu said the government is considering the offer from Moscow but indicated that the priorities of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) are in procuring capabilities such as surveillance and light attack. He also indicated that Malaysia would not realistically consider buying a new multirole combat aircraft until after 2030.
The RMAF currently operates about 18 Su-30MKM fighters, which were delivered from 2007. The service has also recently retired what is believed to be 10 MiG-29s, which were operated from the mid-1990s.
In parliament, Sabu was asked if Malaysia “is willing to accept the Russian government’s offer to take back 28 jets” and “replace them with new aircraft made by [Russia]”. The deal – reported to include the transfer of new Su-35 or MiG-35 models – would also likely comprise the countertrade of Malaysian palm oil.
Sabu replied that although the acquisition of multirole combat aircraft “is not in the Ministry of Defence’s plans, it is still scrutinising the Russian government’s offer”.
Sabu added that in line with the RMAF’s long-term modernisation programme it will continue to prioritise maintaining its existing fleets of Su-30MKMs and eight Boeing F/A-18 Hornets acquired in the late 1990s. This sustainment priority will continue through to 2030, he said.
Sabu added that near-term procurement priorities for the RMAF include a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and a light combat aircraft/fighter lead‐in trainer (LCA/FLIT) to “supplement the capabilities and preparedness of the RMAF”. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
28 Nov 19. Australia’s AIDN calls for review of industrial collaboration policy. The Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN) – an association that represents the country’s defence small to medium enterprises (SMEs) – has called on the Australian government to “urgently review” its policy to support national defence industrial development.
AIDC said that the government’s Australian Industry Capability (AIC) programme needs to be assessed to ensure that it provides opportunities for local companies to compete for defence work in Australia and overseas, and that it encourages investment and intellectual property development in the country’s defence sector.
AIDN said the call to review the AIC programme has been prompted by its members reporting “significant frustration in getting Australian industry involved to the extent envisioned” in major defence procurement programmes including projects to acquire and build next-generation submarines, frigates and offshore patrol vessels, combat reconnaissance vehicles, and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
27 Nov 19. Australia announces down-selection of AIR 7003 platform. The federal government’s $1.3bin program to deliver a cutting-edge armed remotely piloted aircraft system to Australia is one step closer after the announcement of the down-selection of a preferred platform for the AIR 7003 project.
Defence Connect can confirm that General Atomics’ MQ-9B ‘Sky Guardian’ has been selected by Defence as the preferred platform for the project.
Following this decision, the next phase for AIR 7003 will focus on developing the MQ-9B acquisition proposal, which is scheduled for government consideration in 2021-22.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said this project will deliver Australia’s first armed medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system.
“Cutting-edge technology of this kind, with advanced sensors and systems, would complement advanced aircraft such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and ensure that Australian Defence Force maintains state-of-the-art capability,” Minister Reynolds said.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price encouraged Australian industry to become involved in this billion-dollar project.
“Local companies that provide a range of innovative sensor, communication, manufacturing and life-cycle support capabilities will have the opportunity to showcase their capabilities throughout this development process,” Minister Price said.
“Australian defence industries are world-class and are extremely well-placed to be involved in projects like this.” (Source: Defence Connect)
27 Nov 19. Russia donates USD12m worth of defence equipment to Kyrgyzstan. Russia has donated defence equipment worth RUB770m (USD12.02m) to the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Moscow announced on 27 November.
“The Russian MoD has donated a new consignment of military hardware, including two Mil Mi-8MT utility helicopters and two mobile P-18-2 [early-warning] radars, to the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic,” said Russian Deputy Defence Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin, pointing out that the radars were previously in Kyrgyz service and were only repaired and upgraded by Russian industry to a modern standard.
The equipment was handed over during a ceremony held the same day as the announcement at Kyrgyzstan’s Kant Air Base. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
22 Nov 19. China’s Chengdu promotes J-10C export variant-20E, displayed at the Dubai Airshow. The Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC), one of two major fighter aircraft design and production centres in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), revealed the export variant of its J-10 fighter at the 17-21 November Dubai Airshow. Designated the FC-20E, the design is a near-parallel configuration of the J-10C, the third major iteration of the aircraft.
Photographs of the J-10C that circulated on Chinese aviation websites in October showed the aircraft still flying in factory primer, suggesting it is only in the initial stages of series-production.
It differs considerably from the original J-10A, most notably in its power plant. The initial J-10 batches have the Russian Salyut-made AL-31FN Series 3, a derivative of the engine installed in the Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30MKK purchased by China.
The installation of the AL-31F in the J-10A required the Salyut plant’s design team to rotate the gearbox and accessory pack to the underside of the engine. The aircraft’s air intake also had to be a quadrangular shape like that of the Su-27 inlet.
In contrast, the J-10C is reported to be powered with the Chinese-made Wo Shan (WS)-10A engine and features a diverterless, oblong-shaped air inlet. The CAC design team has also demonstrated the aircraft flying with an axisymmetric thrust vector control (TVC) nozzle and a modified nozzle that should reduce the rear hemisphere radar cross section. A J-10C pre-production aircraft in this configuration flew at the November 2018 Air Show China in Zhuhai. The J-10C is also equipped with an active electronically scanning array (AESA) radar, a new avionics suite, and electronic warfare (EW) modules. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
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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.
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