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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
05 May 22. UK sets out scope for expanded Fleet Helicopter Support Unit. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has set out an indicative requirement for an expanded Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU) to deliver a crewed rotary-wing service to the Royal Navy (RN).
Besides providing support to operational sea training needs in the South Coast Exercise Areas (SCXAs) and wider UK flight information region, the capability requirement may additionally encompass a land-based maritime airborne search-and-rescue (SAR) service for maritime counter-terrorism (MCT) training, and the transport of personnel and/or cargo to the Queen Elizabeth-class (QEC) aircraft carriers and other ships. A request for information (RFI) for the future FHSU provision was released on 25 April. Intended to run for approximately five years, with a potential option to extend, the core task is to transport personnel and/or cargo to, from, and between ships within the Fleet Officer Sea Training (FOST) SCXAs. The FHSU service is delivered by British International Helicopters using two Airbus AS365 N2 Dauphin II helicopters. (Source: Janes)
04 May 22. DASA seeks ways in which human augmentation can benefit defence and security.
DASA has launched a new Innovation Focus Area to find Generation-After-Next (GAN) human augmentation technologies for use in defence and security
- DASA has launched a new Innovation Focus Area: Human Augmentation (HA)
- Funding provided by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) HA Science and Technology (S&T) project
- Funding proposals to a value around £70,000 for innovative Generation-After-Next (GAN) human augmentation solutions
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Innovation Focus Area (IFA) called Human Augmentation. This IFA is seeking proposals which present GAN solutions to operational challenges for UK Defence and Security, where the human performance is the limiting factor for delivering operational effect.
This IFA is run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) HA Science and Technology (S&T) project.
Funding
DASA expects to fund proposals to a value around £70K which provide a proof of concept within a 6 month contract
Do you have an innovation which could augment human performance?
Human augmentation technologies in defence
HA is the use of Science and Technology (S&T) to temporarily or permanently modify human performance. As the battlefield becomes more complex and more advanced technologies become available, the operational demands and technical challenges on our defence and security personnel will increase. It is vital to explore if human augmentation technologies can be harnessed safely, legally and ethically to develop enhanced levels of operator (and system) performance in military and security capability.
We are interested in GAN technologies that deliver a competitive advantage to UK Defence and Security by:
- optimising physical and/or psychological performance
- enhancing physical and/or psychological performance
- enabling an individual to work for longer at a desired level (baseline)of performance
- supporting performance restoration
Examples of candidate HA technologies include, but are not limited to: * wearable assistive devices (e.g. exoskeletons and technologies to enhance senses) * sensory enhancement technologies * nutritional supplements * pharmacological interventions * manipulation of the microbiomes * neurotechnologies * novel materials * implantable devices * synthetic biology * cross reality * robotics * artificial intelligence
Submit a proposal
Do you have a solution or novel approach that may help contribute to the portfolio of human augmentation capabilities and promote UK Government’s understanding of their appropriate (potential) use? Submit an idea and help DASA and Dstl accelerate the development of human augmentation technologies for defence and delivering military effect.
Read the full competition document to learn more and submit a proposal: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-and-security-accelerator-dasa-open-call-for-innovation/open-call-innovation-focus-areas#IFA033 (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
28 Apr 22. Winner-Takes-All for U.K. Army’s Training, Simulation Contract. The British Army on April 28 revealed its game plan for its new training and simulation program — it will award a single-source contract worth more than 600m pounds that will run for 10 to 15 years.
The Collective Training Transformation Program is the British Army’s long-term program that intends to modernize its currently out-of-date training with live, virtual and constructive systems.
Service officials for the first time revealed their plans to roll out the program over the next decade and a half at the IT2EC trade show in London, the continent’s largest annual training and simulation confab.
With a guarantee of hundreds of ms of pounds and work that will endure for up to 15 years, the contract will be hotly contested by major defense contractors involved in training and simulation.
Mike Cooper, senior responsible owner of CTTP in the Ministry of Defence, said the U.K. Army has 600m pounds to spend over the first 10 years of the contract plus an additional £200m in investment money to get the program going.
“With the program running 15 years, clearly the final contract value will be greater than that,” he said in a panel discussion.
Officials at the conference laid out a timeline that will end with a contract award in the later part of 2025. Prior to that, in phase one, requests for information will be released around January 2023. Phase two will result in several companies receiving contracts to develop and submit their ideas.
The next phase will whittle down candidates further while officials research the company’s ability and capacity to do the work. The next phase will cut the competitors down to two candidates with the winner revealed in 2025.
“There is a balance being struck between wanting to get on with this as quickly as we can, but also having sufficient information and confidence — both in terms of the numbers and to get the relationship [with the contractor] right. Because at the end of the day, this is going to be a massive commitment of taxpayers’ money,” Cooper said.
CTTP has air and maritime versions as well with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy on their own paths to modernize what they believe are outdated training and simulation systems. Earlier in the conference, a navy representative said the sea service had only received authorization to kick off its version of the program about two weeks ago. The Royal Navy is approximately two years behind the RAF, he said.
The British Army, meanwhile, wants a flexible system adaptable to changes in technology that are sure to happen over the next 15 years, officials on the panel said.
“Flexibility is multifaceted. It is the ability to train in different places linked to an expeditionary [force] but also about timing. When do you want to train? What do you want to train?” Cooper said.
The Army wants “the ability to analyze and deliver training in a more data-informed, evidence-based approach,” he said. It wants to train wherever soldiers are in the world and to move data around quickly.
It also wants to be interoperable so it can train with partners and allies, he added.
“Clearly synthetics … will play a massive part in this,” he said, referring to computer-based simulations. “We’re looking at a whole, massive, immersive and rich and complex environment.”
The system will also emphasize training in complex, urban environments, Cooper said. That is a factor the U.K. Army has known about since before the current conflict in Ukraine, he added.
Cooper said, while this will be a single source contract, and the British Army will consider the winner a strategic partner, “this is not about outsourcing training. We cannot transfer that ultimate risk” to industry, he added.
“This is about a strategic partner supporting us, having a system that works, but is still under the direction and control of the army,” he said. (Source: glstrade.com/National Defense)
EUROPE
04 May 22. Congress signals openness to Turkey F-16 sale amid Ukraine cooperation. Turkey’s 2017 purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system notoriously turned it into a pariah on Capitol Hill, prompting Congress to lead the way in kicking Ankara of the F-35 stealth fighter jet program.
But Turkey’s support for Ukraine, most notably via the export of armed drones and diplomacy with Russia, has presented Ankara with an opportunity to bolster its tarnished image in Congress. If it plays its cards right, the NATO ally could convince Congress to allow a roughly $6 bn purchase of 40 Block 70 F-16 fighter jets and approximately 80 modernization kits from Lockheed Martin to upgrade its existing fleet.
Several key lawmakers who proved instrumental in expelling Turkey from the F-35 program have cautiously signaled to Defense News that they may be inclined to allow Ankara to purchase the F-16s after the Biden administration suggested that such a sale could serve NATO and U.S. security interests.
Still, Congress wields considerable power in blocking potential arms sales and lawmakers made clear that an F-16 transfer would be contingent on Turkey continuing to support Ukraine even as it tries to strike a tricky balance in its relationship with both the United States and Russia amid a myriad of other regional disputes.
“We need to talk and work with Turkey and others that are working with us against Russia,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., told Defense News. “They’ve shown some movements in the right direction. There’s other things that we still need to work with Turkey, certain things that still irritate us at times.”
Meeks did not assume chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs Committee – a position that allows him to block arms sales – until 2021, well after Congress first codified Turkey’s expulsion from the F-35 program in the 2019 government funding bill.
Other Democrats and Republicans who fought tooth and nail to legislate Turkey out of the program have also signaled that they would not use their power to block a potential F-16 sale.
“I’ve talked to several of the parties involved in this,” Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told Defense News. “The Turks have made a credible argument for why they should get the F-16s.”
“I’m positively disposed in that direction, but I’m not completely there yet,” he added.
Turkey has steadily maintained a fleet of the older F-16s since the 1980s as Ankara seeks an upgrade.
Risch also emphasized that the F-16s are “a different case” than allowing Turkey to receive the F-35s.
Washington blocked the transfer of the advanced F-35 fighter jets to its NATO ally out of fear that the S-400′s powerful radar system would allow Russia to spy on the state-of-the-art aircraft, thereby compromising the technology.
The S-400 purchase also prompted the United States to sanction Turkey’s military procurement agency in 2020, as required under a Russia sanctions law. But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought a détente with its NATO allies in recent years.
The office of Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Defense News: “We expect Turkey to continue standing with its NATO allies who are in lockstep in supporting Ukraine as it defends its homeland.”
“The war in Ukraine is not over,” McCaul’s office said. “We expect that should the administration seek congressional authorization for this sale, Turkey will still be playing a constructive role in the conflict, but also addressing concerns over Turkey’s role in other global conflicts.”
At home, Erdogan has framed his push for the F-16 sale as potential compensation for Turkey’s sunk investments following its expulsion from the F-35 co-production program. And he pushed Biden on the sale during a meeting last October.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan went out of his way last week to thank Turkey for helping secure imprisoned U.S. Marine Trevor Reed’s release from Russia.
“We need a relationship with Turkey; we need to find some way to build that back,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., told Defense News. “The president’s probably spot on in terms of trying to balance it. It’s hard because the S-400 complicated our relationship in many ways, but it’s not a relationship we can walk away from.”
Smith and a bevy of lawmakers passed legislation codifying Turkey’s ban from the F-35 program in the annual defense authorization bill – language that remains on the books.
Reuters reported last month that the State Department sent a letter to Congress finding that “there are compelling, long-term NATO alliance unity and capability interests, as well as U.S. national security, economic and commercial interests, that are supported by appropriate U.S. defense trade ties with Turkey.”
The letter came in response to a query from Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and a bipartisan group of more than 50 other House members as they urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reject the F-16 sale for Turkey.
The Energy and Commerce Committee, which Pallone chairs, does not have jurisdiction over arms sales. But the senior senator from Pallone’s home state of New Jersey, Democrat Bob Menendez, is in a position to unilaterally block the F-16 sale given his status as Foreign Relations Committee chairman.
“At some point we have to decide is Turkey the type of NATO ally that we expect or not,” Menendez told Defense News. “It acts in ways that are contrary to our interests in a whole host of things. I think the administration has to stop seeing from the aspirational part of what we would like Turkey to be and realize that Turkey is under Erdogan.”
Menendez infuriated Turkey in 2019 by shepherding legislation to partially lift a decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus into law, the same year that the House and Senate both passed resolutions recognizing the Armenian genocide for the first time.
While the Ukraine crisis has presented a unique opportunity for Turkey to turn its tattered reputation around on Capitol Hill, Menendez and several lawmakers continue to lambast Ankara over tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as its military role in conflicts spanning from Armenia and Azerbaijan to Syria and Libya. (Source: Defense News)
26 Apr 22. Norway issues request for information for supply of detection and counter drone equipment. Norwegian air navigation service provider Avinor has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for drone detection and counter unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) for airports. The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement.
According to the tender document:
“Avinor AS (Avinor) invites interested parties to a market dialogue in advance of a potential tender competition regarding drone detection systems/C-UAS. The purpose of this RFI is to:
- Inform the market of Avinor’s ambitions, needs and requirement regarding the potential purchase of a drone detection system.
- Gather relevant information to use in the upcoming tender.
- Ensure the scope and quality of the upcoming tender.
- Gain further understanding of the market, product developments, current technology, solutions, and system providers.
- Gain knowledge of how a drone detection system can be implemented and operated in an airport operational environment.
“The purpose is to explore and learn from the market of suppliers of drone detection systems. The intended scope of the potential tender will be a drone detection system for Oslo Airport (OSL/ENGM) with purchase options for several additional airports operated by Avinor. A solution for a drone detection system must therefore be scalable to suit the needs of both Oslo Airport and additional airports of different sizes.
“There are an estimated 400,000 drones currently operating in Norway. The rising number of drones increases the probability for conflicts between manned and unmanned aviation, both intentionally and unintentionally.
“The Norwegian national regulations state that it is forbidden to fly a drone closer than 5 km of an airport without permission from Air Traffic Services. There have been several reports of drones flying closer to an airport than 5km, which has led to multiple closures of Avinor airports for various time periods. Avinor is looking for solutions that can cover as much as possible of the prohibition zone around the airport, with the departure and arrival sector as the most important areas.
“The main goal for Avinor with a drone detection system is to maintain the high safety level for manned aviation and to reduce the operational consequences when unauthorized drone(s) is observed. Avinor is interested in a system that is reliable, accurate, easy to use for the operator and cost efficient.
Avinor would like to highlight the following topics as vital in this RFI document:
- What kind of drones the different systems are able to detect.
- How detection systems can be handled from the operator side
- Different financial models the suppliers can offer.
- Learn more about how the suppliers is looking into integrating C-UAS with UTM systems, U-Space and tracking of authorized drones.”
Reference number: 22/02085
For more information
https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:219861-2022:HTML:EN:HTML&tabId=1&tabLang=en
Contact:
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
REST OF THE WORLD
06 May 22. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged to bolster the nation’s defence manufacturing base under an expanded training program.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced $108.5m would be invested in the upskilling of an additional 1,500 Australians for jobs in the defence industry if re-elected to government later this month.
This would involve expanding the Defence Industry Pathways Program beyond its pilot to 14 regions across the country under a nationally accredited Certificate III – Defence Industry Pathways.
Students would be provided with practical experience in technical trades, including welding, electric, engineering, project management and logistics, cyber security, and computer-aided design skills.
More than 50 major prime and small businesses are reportedly committing approximately 170,000 hours of supervisory oversight for the current 120 trainees, offering commercial premises, facilities and equipment.
Some of the existing trainees have already entered discussions for longer term employment opportunities.
Regions to be supported by the expanded program include:
- Newcastle and the Hunter region (aerospace);
- Sydney and surrounds (maritime and aerospace);
- Cairns (maritime);
- Townsville (land and aerospace);
- Brisbane and surrounds (land and aerospace);
- Darwin and surrounds (maritime, aerospace and land);
- Perth and surrounds (maritime, aerospace and explosive ordnance);
- Adelaide (maritime, aerospace and land);
- Bendigo (land);
- Benalla and Mulwala (explosive ordnance);
- Melbourne and surrounds (maritime);
- Geelong and surrounds (land);
- East Sale (aerospace); and
- Hobart and Launceston (maritime).
“Our investment in building the capabilities of Australia’s defence force is about keeping our country strong and secure and backing local skills and jobs,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“Australia has a record 220,000 people in trades training but as our defence investments grow, so does the demand for skilled Australians to move into the industry.
“A strong pipeline of workers will make our $270bn defence investment into the equipment and capabilities Australia needs.” (Source: Defence Connect)
06 May 22. Special Ops forces to receive $1bn kit upgrade
Australia’s Special Operations Command is set to receive new equipment and facilities as part of a major investment from the Commonwealth.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced $1 billion would be invested in a major revamp of the Special Operations Command’s capability as part of the second phase of Project Greyfin.
The project, first announced in 2019, aims to bolster specialist equipment and enhance communications, surveillance and counter-terrorism capabilities.
This second stage involves updating Special Operations Command and control with a focus on “agility and strategic posture”.
The new $1bn package includes the delivery of:
- “highly specialised” communications and intelligence equipment;
- new water and land vehicles;
- tactical equipment and weapons; and
- new facilities.
“Our special forces and commandos are the best in the world at what they do, and we’re committed to ensuring they’ve got the right kit to do their jobs,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“Our special forces and commandos defend Australia and our interests 24 hours a day and Project Greyfin will keep them at the cutting edge.
“Not only do these upgrades help keep Australians safe, they mean more investment in the jobs and skills right here at home that make this equipment.
“Australia’s booming defence industry is playing a growing role in delivering the specialist capability our Special Operations Command needs and we will keep making the investments to grow local jobs and skills.”
Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said Project Greyfin would strengthen Australia’s response to both domestic and foreign threats.
“Keeping Australians safe, protecting our interests and preserving our way of life is the top priority for the government,” Minister Dutton said.
“Project Greyfin is ensuring our Australian special forces have access to the best and latest weapons and equipment.
“Given the rapidly evolving strategic and threat environment facing Australia, special forces troops need the best gear. And it’s equally important that Defence is agile enough to get this equipment to the troops, when they need it.”
Australia’s Special Operations Command is made up of the Special Air Service Regiment, 1st and 2nd Commando Regiments, Special Operations Engineer Regiment and the Special Operations Logistic Squadron.
This latest investment comes just a day after the government announced over $2 billion would be invested in the acquisition of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM Block 2) capability for the Royal Australian Navy.
The ESSM Block 2 advanced surface-to-air missile – to be supplied by BAE Systems Australia, L3 Harris, and G H Varley – is designed to counter anti-ship missile threats.
The weapons leverage an advanced active radar missile seeker, capable of hitting targets at a range in excess of 50 kilometres.
The first tranche of the missiles has already arrived in Australia for initial integration and testing.
The ESSM Block 2 is expected to be deployed from the RAN’s Surface Combatant Force, which includes the Anzac Class frigates and Hobart Class destroyers.
(Source: Defence Connect)
05 May 22. Raytheon Australia, BMT and Austal team up for LAND 8710-1A Australian independent littoral manoeuvre vessel.
According to Raytheon Australia, the solution is expected to be a BMT-designed vessel built by Austal at the Henderson shipyard in WA.
Raytheon Australia has confirmed that it is teaming up with BMT and Austal to design and deliver the new Australian independent littoral manoueuvre vessel, to meet the Australian Army’s future littoral manoeuvre requirements.
Raytheon Australia confirmed that it “will lead the team” – delivering a BMT-designed solution built by Austal in the WA’s Henderson Shipyard.
Michael Ward, managing director at Raytheon Australia, explained that the trio were ready to support the Australian Army with a future ready solution.
“Raytheon Australia knows how complex it is to bring a ship design to life – from training to operational testing and evaluation to sea trials and certifications. Our experience has taught us that this is a complex endeavour, requiring unique expertise that we have invested in developing over the past 22 years of delivering large-scale defence projects on time and to budget,” Ward said.
“From our work to deliver the Hobart class destroyers, and our current evergreening activities on the LAND19 Phase 7B program, we have the relevant expertise, processes, tools and capacity to bring this new class of ships to life for the Australian Army. The Australian ILMV is a resilient and flexible vessel that meets Army’s requirements. It is robust and capable, and future ready with clear growth and upgrade opportunities to ensure our solution supports the Army in motion as they respond to accelerated warfare.
“Importantly, we are ready to start work now to meet Army’s timeline and have the experience to work with them to realise the Australian ILMV’s full operational capability.”
Paddy Gregg, chief executive officer at Austal explained that his team was ready to deliver a solution for the LAND 8710-1A program.
“As one of Australia’s largest shipbuilders with an acknowledged world class operation and decades of Australian Defence Force experience, we have an existing workforce that is trusted to deliver on multiple programs from our Henderson shipyard. Our unique ability to do production design in our shipyard will also minimise risk and cost to the LAND 8710-1A program,” Gregg said.
“Our team has a successful track record in delivering ships every three months and this project will be key to providing a continuous ship building program and preserving local jobs in this vital sovereign industry.”
Meanwhile, Trevor Dove, senior business development manager at BMT, described how the solution was specifically tailored for the local environment.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer our customised Australian independent littoral manoeuvre vessel (ILMV) design, optimising stability, speed, endurance, fuel, stores and accommodation for independent and in-company operations. Our Australian ILMV is based on BMT’s existing landing craft hull form, a mature design in the running for LAND 8710-1A,” Dove said.
“It is ready to be delivered, with growth margins for a future ready Army.
“Our partnership with Raytheon Australia and Austal brings the experience and pedigree capable of delivering a low-risk solution designed specifically for current and future Australian Army littoral manoeuvre requirements.” (Source: Defence Connect)
04 May 22. Delay hits Brazil’s $1.7bn frigate program. Construction of the first of four Tamandaré-class frigates for the Brazilian Navy is delayed, with the shipbuilding timeline slipping from last month to this September, and commissioning potentially being pushed from 2025 to 2026, sources close to the program told Defense News.
The four frigates are to be built under a $1.7bn contract awarded early in 2020 to Aguas Azuis, a consortium led by German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The ships are needed to bolster Brazil’s diminishing and aging fleet of maritime escorts. The contract includes options to build two additional frigates based on an improved design expected to come from experience gained during construction of the first four frigates.
Local media reports blamed the delay on the COVID-19 pandemic. But military sources told Defense News that the shipbuilding work, originally set to begin in late 2021 before it was moved to April 2022, is delayed because Aguas Azuis found problems during the building of a section for a frigate mock-up.
The Navy had requested the mock-up section be built in order to test the capacity of the shipyard to handle modern techniques of naval shipbuilding before giving the greenlight for construction of the real ship. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security reasons, said TKMS is successfully solving the problems.
The company declined to comment for this story, and the Navy did not return a request for comment.
Brazil unveiled its PROSUPER program in 2008, which involved procurement plans for five 6,000-ton frigates, with work on the first vessel to begin in 2013. PROSUPER was the first step in a long-term plan to equip and increase in quantity the Brazilian fleet with 30 escort ships of various sizes. But the global financial crisis forced the South American country to postpone those plans.
Meanwhile, the country’s escort fleet suffered cuts, going from 15 vessels to eight — six aging frigates plus two missile corvettes.
A stopgap plan that would involve local construction of light frigates using the design of the corvette Barroso, plus increased displacement, was under consideration from 2014 to 2016, but eventually fell to the wayside due to technical limitations as well as risks associated with the lack of industrial experience and qualified shipbuilding technicians.
Brazil launched a new program afterward to find an experienced foreign shipbuilder that could provide a proven design and lead local shipbuilding work as the prime contractor. Aguas Azuis won the contract in March 2020 to build the four frigates in cooperation with local firms Embraer Defense and Security as well as Atech.
To meet contractual obligations, TKMS bought the Oceana shipyard in Itajai, in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina, renaming the yard ThyssenKrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul and upgrading its infrastructure.
According to information released by the Brazilian Navy and TKMS, the Tamandaré-class frigates will be based on the Meko A-100 design. The 3,500-ton multipurpose vessels will each have a length of 107.2 meters and a width of 15.95 meters. They will feature two-shaft propulsion driven by four MAN 12V 28/33 DSTC diesel engines and four Caterpillar C32 diesel generators, for a maximum speed of 28 knots (32 mph).
Their superstructure will have stealth characteristics for reducing radar signature and profile. With a crew of 136, each frigate will have a flight deck and hangar to operate and accommodate a medium-sized helicopter with anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface vessel capabilities as well as a drone.
The unmanned system is Insitu’s ScanEagle Block E, for which Brazil ordered six under a $10m contract made in late 2019. The UAVs, which are fitted with HoodTech Vision EO900 electro-optical systems, were delivered last month, and operators will now begin training.
Atlas Elektronik’s ANCS combat management system will serve as the brain of the frigates’ combat suite, interfacing and providing data fusion for the coordinated use of sensors, weapon systems and more.
Sensors include Raytheon Technologies’ X and S band radars for navigation and search; an Atlas Elektronik ASO 713 hull-mounted radar; and a TRS-4D multifunction surveillance and target acquisition radar from Hensoldt. Two Paseo XLR extra-long-range, high-definition electro-optical sights from Safran will provide extended monitoring of the frigates’ surroundings. The Paseo can detect and identify small vessels that usually escape the detection of radars, even in poor at-sea conditions.
The anti-shipping missile onboard will be the indigenous MANSUP (otherwise known as AV-RE40), developed by SIATT, Avibras and Omnisys, with characteristics similar to the Exocet MM40. MANSUP is scheduled to undergo a series of live test launches this year, and production is set to start in 2025.
The Sea Ceptor weapon from MBDA will provide air defense. The missile can travel at Mach 3 and has a range of 25 kilometers. TLS-TT torpedo launching systems from British company Systems Engineering and Assessment are also to be fitted to the frigates, as will the 76/62 Super Rapid gun from Leonardo and the Sea Snake gun from Rheinmetall. (Source: Defense News)
03 May 22. Upgrading the SAAF’s ageing C-130BZ Hercules fleet would cost R1.6bn. The Department of Defence (DoD) is exploring upgrading the SA Air Force (SAAF) C-130BZ Hercules fleet at a cost of R1.6bn.
According to a reply to a parliamentary question by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise, “a Required Operational Capability (ROC) is in process for the upgrade of the current C-130 fleet.”
Kobus Marais, Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow defence minister, in another question, asked Modise about Armscor’s discussions to acquire second-hand C-130s based on known approaches to Armscor by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and US Air Force (USAF). It asks, in part, if she and/or Armscor “considered discussions” with Lockheed Martin and the two air forces “for support to acquire new and/or well-maintained aircraft”. This would, in Marais’ view give the SAAF a serviceable fleet of “at least six to seven aircraft”.
The American offer was in the form of correspondence from the US Embassy Office of Defence Co-operation (ODC) offering Hercules C-130H models through the excess defence articles (EDA) programme. “This letter was sent to the CSANDF and routed to CAF.”
The SAAF considered three options. The first, according to Modise, was to spend no money and decline the purchase of second hand aircraft and not upgrade the current C-130BZ fleet – this would mean aircraft lifespan terminates in 2024.
The second was also to decline the purchase offer and upgrade aircraft currently in 28 Squadron’s inventory, returning to service “the rest of the fleet”. Upgrade cost is estimated at R1.6 bn for five aircraft presently in service aircraft and one in long term storage. This would enable the C-130BZs to remain airworthy until 2040.
The third option is to accept the purchase offer from the United States at R228 m per aircraft and simultaneously upgrade the current fleet of five aircraft for R1.6 bn. Second-hand C-130H models would be able to serve until 2028 and the C-130BZs until 2040.
“The SAAF considered option two,” Modise stated in her reply to Marais.
She added that the door for additional Hercules transports is not completely closed, stating that Armscor “indicated” to Lockheed Martin it awaits the Department of Defence (DoD) restarting the acquisition process. This is because “any new requirement will be satisfied through an open bid process” depending on the user requirement statement.
“Armscor,” she further told the DA defence watchdog, “has been approached by the UK Embassy [should be High Commission] about potential used C-130s available”. This will not happen “due to no budget for the acquisition of the assets”. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
29 Apr 22. Brazil orders more Gripen jets, mulls another large buy. Brazil is set to order four Saab-Embraer F-39E jets in addition to the 36 already purchased in 2014 under a $4.7bn contract. The country is also considering ordering another batch of at least 30 F-39E fighters — the local designation of the JAS 39E Gripen NG. Sweden’s Gripen NG was officially selected in 2013 to provide the Brazilian Air Force with an advanced, fourth-generation-plus fighter jet under the F-X program. The decision followed a protracted process launched in the mid-1990s, which suffered several delays and was at one point suspended by then-President Fernando Henriquez Cardoso in 2002. It was restarted in 2008 by then-President Luiz da Silva.
The head Brazil’s Air Force, Gen. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Jr., made the extra order announcement during a combat aviation celebration April 22 at the Santa Cruz Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro.
During the event, two F-39s — received from Sweden earlier this month, raising the number of F-39s delivered to Brazil to five — were presented and declared operational. The full delivery of 36 aircraft is expected to be complete in 2024, but some experts believe it could take longer.
A second large order of the Gripen is needed to achieve a minimum fleet of 70 new fighter jets, down from the original target of 100 aircraft under the F-X program, according to a local June 2021 new report citing de Almeida shortly after he took command of the Air Force.
No price tag was given for the additional order, but experts believe it will cost Brazil about $240 m, and a potential order for 30 more could cost between $1.8 bn and $2 bn.
The additional orders would make F-X one the most expensive military procurement programs in the history of South America, rivaled only by the PROSUB contract, awarded by Brazil to French shipbuilder DCNS (now known as Naval Group) in 2009 for four diesel-electric submarines. The deal included extensive transfers of technology as well as local design training for building a nuclear-powered boat.
The $4.7 bn contract signed in 2014 for the Gripen jets included not only the procurement cost of the first 36 aircraft but also a high degree of technology transfer and industrial investments for assembly and parts production in Brazil.
The testing and integration of the systems and weapons that will equip Brazilian Gripens is ongoing. Weapons include the advanced IRIS-T short-range, infrared-guided air-to-air missile, developed and produced by Diehl Defence of Germany, as well as the beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile Meteor, made by European consortium MBDA. (Source: Defense New
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Since 1946, Industrial Electronic Engineers, IEE, has specialized in the design, test, support and fielding of display products for use in demanding military and aerospace applications throughout the world. IEE has developed an extensive product portfolio that today includes enhanced flat panel displays, smart displays and handheld devices.
From rapid prototyping of custom designs to full-scale production runs, IEE, produces displays with advanced features like low-latency video processing, high-bright and NVIS backlighting, and lightweight rugged enclosures. Their SWaP-C products employ the latest lightweight composite materials; low power, high performance integrated ARM processors; standard Ethernet and USB communication, in a low cost, highly producible design.
In-house California facilities include optical bonding, clean rooms for display assembly, a dark room for optical measurements and environmental chambers for pre-compliance and customer acceptance testing. On-site manufacturing includes PCB assembly and flow soldering. IEE has manufactured handheld, in-vehicle, airborne and naval LCD displays for all military branches as well as leading aerospace firms both domestically and internationally.
IEE is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified.
IEE’s Advantage:
- Direct control of critical process steps that reduce cost, decrease production lead times and improves life-cycle management
- Unique advantage to serve to both smaller quantity, highly custom displays needs as well as high volume production outputs
- Expert in delivering the best value in form and fit replacement by modifying existing COTS products to meet legacy requirements
- Leading the next generation avionics efficiencies by leveraging open architectures and common software standards
- Field-proven, pre-engineered displays minimize lead-time and non-recurring engineering costs.
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