18 Jun 14. The U.S. Air Force is planning to request proposals from industry to finally provide needed communications connectivity between fifth- and fourth-generation fighters. The service has long projected a need for so-called “5th to 4th” capability. This need is made even more urgent as the timeline for fielding the stealthy, fifth-generation F-35 has stretched out due to technical challenges in development and funding limitations at Air Force headquarters. And the service acquired far fewer stealthy F-22s from Lockheed Martin than originally planned, making the ability to connect each one to larger networks critical for campaign planning in future operations. Though called “5th to 4th,” a major long-term issue is how to allow for the F-22 and F-35 to communicate without using Link 16 alone, which would compromise their stealthy operations. Though both are manufactured by Lockheed Martin to meet Air Force needs, they were designed in different eras. F-22s can essentially only “talk” to other F-22s through a dedicated, low-probability-of-detection/low-probability-of-intercept system. The F-35, by contrast, uses the Multi-function Advanced Datalink (MADL) system, which employs a different waveform; the F-35 is slated for its Air Force operational debut as early as August 2016. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh highlighted the need for a 5th to 4th system in his speech at the annual Air Force Association conference in Orlando, Florida, in February. But Air Combat Command has not articulated what, specifically, is required. The command declined a request for an interview on the subject. Underscoring the need for a quick program is the fact that communications are a limiting factor to using F-22s operationally. They were considered for use in the Libya campaign in 2011, but planners were stymied by an inability to deliver data collected by the F-22s back to other forces, according to one industry source. The service has proposed a program, the Multi-Domain Adaptable Processing System (MAPS), to address this need with what will likely be a pod to act as a gateway between the two stealthy fighters. It is likely this will be placed on fourth-generation fighters such as the F-16 and F-15 families, thus putting a reliance on the involvement in these older systems to support communications requirements. The operational concept would be for the stealthy fighters to penetrate behind the “bubble,” or threat zone, of air defenses, and communicate with one another by transmitting data through the MAPS system. Though it enhances the communications among combat air forces, this operational concept is dependent upon the availability not only of the stealthy platforms to penetrate forward in a fight, but also on the presence of a fourth-generation fighter orbiting within range to support communications; this will likely add cost to execute certain campaign plans. The service plans to issue a draft request for proposals for MAPS by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2015, or March 2015, says Col. Anthony Genatempo, the director for the aerial, space and nuclear networks division at the Air Force’s Electronic Systems Center, which will head up the MAPS procurement. He hopes to announce competitive awards by the end of fiscal 2015. Requirements for MAPS, however, are still being finalized. (Source: Open Source Information Report/AvWeek)
17 Jun 14. Spain reopens truck competition following procurement suspension. The Spanish Ministry of Defence has reopened the bidding process relating to the procurement of more than 700 all terrain trucks after the previous competition had to be cancelled in April. Complaints were raised at the time by the national free trade commission (CNMC) over terms which suggested bidding companies located closer to the Army’s main maintenance centre would receive a “higher valuation”. The mix of 734 trucks, from four tonne to 15 tonne carrying capacity, for all three services is estimated to cost some EUR1