Sponsored by
https://ieeinc.com/
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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
05 Sep 22. MBDA has a requirement to source a supplier to assembly a number of “dummy” missiles for a customer order. information is provided below:
- The missile is approximately 2 metres long
- There are circa 140 different items that need to be assembled in order to complete the missile
- These items in the main are machined components but there are also some composite items, fasteners, fabrications and seals and gaskets.
- There will be no testing required for the finished assembly
- The member have a current supply chain and suppliers set up for around 50% of the components that are required. They can share this information with the suppliers on the enquiry.
- They require the supplier to purchase the items or manufacture where they can as they do not want to free issue any material.
- Quantities at present, they are looking at circa 27 finished assembled missiles. Delivery (ideally) to commence early 2023 and the program would last through to 2025 at present.
31 Aug 22. UK seeks new RCVs for explosive ordnance disposal. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking to procure 50 medium-sized remote-controlled vehicles (RCVs) as part of project Dartrose.
A total of GBP25 m (USD29 m) is available for the procurement, which includes 10-year through-life maintenance, the MoD announced on 25 August.
The contract is expected to start on 25 March 2024. The MoD had not responded to questions at the time of publication.
In October 2020 a request for information (RFI) was issued for project Dartrose to inform the potential acquisition and support of ‘Remote Controlled Explosive Ordnance Disposal Vehicles’. The Remote Controlled Vehicles Delivery Team (SAM RCV DT) will be responsible for the acquisition, the RFI added.
The team stipulated a requirement for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) RCVs that weigh approximately 60–140 kg, with only minor modifications expected. The provision of ‘Train the Trainer’ maintenance is also required.
Deliveries were scheduled to run from 30 September 2021 to 29 September 2026, the RFI noted. (Source: Janes)
05 Sep 22. Project: General Support Utility Platform RFI – General Support Utility Platform RFI . The Army are seeking market information as to military light utility platforms as part of an initial scoping of options to replace Land Rover and other similar vehicles as part of the General Support Utility Platform Programme. Companies are invited to provide information on current and developing military utility platforms. Variants of interest include General Support, Ambulance and Fitted for Radio particularly when these are all included within the same vehicle family. Platforms should be no more than 3.5T and be driven on Cat B license (potentially less ambulance variant).
Notice Details
CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL
Notice Type: SUPPLIES
Official Name: Ministry of Defence
Town: Bristol
Country: UK
For the attention of: Maj Tom Murphy
E-Mail:
Internet Address (URL):
Project Details
- Project Code
General Support Utility Platform RFI
- Project Title
General Support Utility Platform RFI
EUROPE
08 Sep 22. Poland says it plans to buy as many as 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, which will replace its aging fleet of around 30 Cold War-era Mi-24 Hind gunships and then some. This would also make the Polish Land Forces the second-largest AH-64 operator worldwide, behind the U.S. Army. The announcement reflects a broader multi-bn-dollar Polish military spending spree, spurred in part by the current conflict in Ukraine. Just this year, authorities in Poland have announced places to purchase of 48 FA-50 light combat jets and 180 K2 tanks, among other things, from South Korea, as well as 250 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks from the United States. This follows other major procurement programs in recent years, including an order for 32 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak, who was in Germany today as part of the latest meeting of the U.S.-led Ukraine Contact Group, was the first to make the announcement about the Apache deal, via an unexpected post on Twitter earlier today. The AH-64E had been competing with Bell’s AH-1Z Viper for Poland’s long-running Kruk (meaning Raven) attack helicopter tender.
“We sent an inquiry to the USA regarding the acquisition of 96 AH-64E APACHE helicopters in the latest GUARDIAN version for the needs of the Aviation of the Land Forces,” Błaszczak said according to a machine translation of his Polish-language Tweet. “Along with helicopters, we will also obtain technology transfer.”
Apache Guardian is the formal name of the AH-64E variant.
“Boeing is honored the Government of Poland has selected the AH-64E Apache for the Polish Armed Forces’ new attack helicopter fleet. An Apache selection strengthens U.S-Polish military ties by enhancing interoperability and cooperation between Poland, the U.S. Army and NATO nations,” a subsequent press release from Boeing said. “During the procurement process, Boeing established significant cooperative partnerships across Polish government and industry. Our partnership with the Polish Armaments Group, in particular, will continue to expand as we implement training and sustainment efforts with local industry.”
From the start, Poland has hoped that the Kruk program would provide significant opportunities for local industrial participation. However, the program, which dates back to 2016, had long made only slow progress. In the meantime, the Polish Army Aviation has continued to fly its Mi-24D/V Hinds, some of which were deployed in the past on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. These helicopters have undergone some upgrades, including night-vision goggle compatibility and improved navigation equipment, to keep them viable until a replacement can be fielded. (Source: News Now/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/)
08 Sep 22. Boeing Statement on Poland’s KRUK Attack Helicopter Program. The Government of Poland today announced that Boeing’s [NYSE: BA] AH-64 Apache has been selected for its KRUK Attack Helicopter program.
“Boeing is honored the Government of Poland has selected the AH-64E Apache for the Polish Armed Forces’ new attack helicopter fleet. An Apache selection strengthens U.S-Polish military ties by enhancing interoperability and cooperation between Poland, the U.S. Army and NATO nations. During the procurement process, Boeing established significant cooperative partnerships across Polish government and industry. Our partnership with the Polish Armaments Group in particular will continue to expand as we implement training and sustainment efforts with local industry.”
07 Sep 22. Europe goes on shopping spree to fill capability gaps. Poland is embarking on a journey to accelerate defense procurement programs to ensue its forces are not using Soviet-era or Russian gear. That effort has seen decision-makers in Warsaw grow the defense fund to buy weapons and increase the size of its military to 300,000 troops.
Under a bill signed in March by President Andrzej Duda, Poland next year will raise its defense expenditure to 3% of its gross domestic product. The additional funds will allow the government to finance several procurement programs, with the majority of key contracts awarded to American manufacturers.
Some major acquisitions include the $4.75bn deal to buy 250 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks; the $4.6bn contract under which Poland’s Air Force will secure 32 F-35A fighter jets; and the Patriot acquisition designed to develop the nation’s midrange air defense capacities.
Under the first phase of the Patriot program, Poland ordered two Configuration 3+ batteries for $4.75bn. These weapons are to deploy this year.
In April, the Defence Ministry signed a contract to acquire a short-range air defense system capable of firing the Common Anti-air Modular Missile, a weapon produced by European consortium MBDA. A group led by Poland’s state-run defense giant PGZ will serve as the integrator of the new system, cooperating with MBDA, which will supply the necessary technology.
Otherwise known as Polish Armaments Group, PGZ is the strategic partner for the MSPO defense expo, which is taking place Sept. 6-9 in Kielce, Poland.
In May, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced the government had requested from the U.S. a further six Patriot batteries with related gear. He also said that month that he had signed a letter of request to purchase as many as 500 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems from the United States. Poland ordered 20 such launchers in 2019 for about $414m.
Ties to South Korea
Meanwhile, Poland is tightening its defense relationship with South Korea through a series of recently unveiled acquisitions.
In July, Błaszczak signed three memorandums of understanding with South Korean companies Hyundai Rotem, Korea Aerospace Industries and Hanwha Defense under which the Polish military would receive K2 tanks, K9A1 howitzers and 48 FA-50 light attack aircraft.
On Aug. 26, the minister signed the first two deals for 180 tanks scheduled for delivery from 2022 to 2025, and for 212 howitzers set to arrive between 2022 and 2026. Under the plan, a further 820 K2 tanks will undergo production in Poland under license.
A contract to buy FA-50s will be signed before the end of the year, according to Błaszczak.
Poland’s Defence Ministry is also eyeing the Korean-made K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher.
Tomasz Smura, the head of the research office at the Warsaw-based think tank Casimir Pulaski Foundation, told Defense News that before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Poland had set aside more than 2% of its GDP for defense. (Poland is part of the Western-aligned alliance NATO, which has set a goal that members spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense.)
“Our military modernization priorities remain relatively unchanged. Poland is investing in its short- and mid-range air defense capacities because we did not make any significant purchases in this field for 30 years after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact,” Smura said, referring to a Soviet-aligned mutual defense treaty. “We are also strengthening our strike capacities by allocating funds to new howitzers, and acquiring JASSM missiles for our fleet of F-16.”
But Smura noted that local pundits have expressed concern over Poland’s choice to make major purchases of foreign weapons rather than tapping the domestic defense industry. There are also worries that inflation and economic turmoil around the globe will negatively impact Poland’s defense budget in the coming years, he added.
A switch to Western gear
Poland and some of its Eastern European allies have supplied a large share of their Soviet-era weapons to support Ukraine fight off the Russian invasion.
Poland donated its T-72 tanks, Slovakia delivered an S-300 air defense system and the Czech Republic supplied two Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters, for example.
Despite the small size of their respective militaries, the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have allocated considerable shares of their defense budgets to supply Ukrainian troops with armored vehicles, helicopters, anti-tank missiles and drones.
Those countries will likely fill the capability gaps left from these donations by looking to the Western world, allowing the former Warsaw Pact members to equip their forces exclusively with gear produced by NATO allies and partners.
“Russia’s aggression has spurred defense budget hikes by countries which are on the front line of NATO’s eastern flank. They must now demonstrate a high level of flexibility in shifting allocations previously made to other priorities to their defense,” Michael Werbowski, an international relations and security expert at the Polish think tank Warsaw Institute, told Defense News.
In July, the Czech government decided to launch negotiations with the United States for 24 F-35s for its Air Force, potentially becoming the aircraft’s second operator in Eastern Europe.
The same month, a spokesperson for the Latvian Defence Ministry told Defense News the three Baltic states are pursuing a joint acquisition of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System in hopes of joining allies Poland and Romania, who have each ordered the weapons.
The Czech Republic and Slovakia have also accelerated their respective infantry vehicle programs. On Aug. 27, the two nations’ defense ministries signed an agreement to cooperate on their planned acquisitions of CV90 MkIV tracked infantry fighting vehicles from BAE Systems’ Swedish branch. Prague has long planned to acquire 210 infantry fighting vehicles, and Bratislava intends to buy 152.
While the Eastern European nations backing Ukraine are predominantly sending Soviet-era weapons, the war-torn country is also purchasing modern equipment thanks to funding by the European Union and the United States. For example, in June, Poland sold an estimated 60 155mm Krab self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine — a deal that Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki described as possibly his country’s largest export defense contract of the past 30 years.
“These [Eastern European] countries are now required to acquire more NATO-made military gear. They still operate large amounts of Soviet-era weapons, so it’s a massive transition at an accelerated pace. It also creates various issues in terms of NATO interoperability,” Werbowski said. “In Poland’s case, the country operates German Leopard tanks; it will operate U.S. tanks and still has a number of Soviet-designed tanks. This will create challenges in terms of servicing, spare parts and logistics.
“At the same time, it is to be seen how long Poland, which is establishing itself as the alliance’s defensive bulwark against Russia’s aggression, could sustain such a high defense budget before it triggers a spike in inflation or produces other negative economic impacts.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
02 Sep 22. Czechia-Prague: Military helmets.
2022/S 170-483263
Contract award notice for contracts in the field of defence and security
Supplies
Directive 2009/81/EC
Section I: Contracting authority/entity
I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)
Official name: Ministerstvo obrany
Postal address: Tychonova 221/1
Town: Praha
Postal code: 16000
Country: Czechia
Contact person: Mgr. Petra Lacušková
E-mail:
Internet address(es):
General address of the contracting authority/entity: https://www.army.cz/
Address of the buyer profile: https://nen.nipez.cz/profil/MO
Electronic access to information: https://nen.nipez.cz/profil/MO
I.2)Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local sub-divisions
I.3)Main activity
Defence
I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: no
Section II: Object of the contract
II.1)Description
II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract
UP – Přilba AFH
II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance
Supplies
Purchase
NUTS code
II.1.3)Information on framework agreement
II.1.4)Short description of the contract or purchase(s):
Nákup přilby AFH
II.1.5)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
35813000 Military helmets
II.2)Total final value of contract(s)
II.2.1)Total final value of contract(s)
Value: 103145845.00 CZK
Including VAT. VAT rate (%) 21
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1)Type of procedure
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Justification for the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU)
Directive 2009/81/EC
1) Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the OJEU in accordance with art. 28 of Directive 2009/81/EC
Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting authority/entity and in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the relevant Directive: yes
The works/goods/services can be provided only by a particular tenderer for reasons that are:
IV.2)Award criteria
IV.2.1)Award criteria
IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction
IV.3)Administrative information
IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority
IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract
no
Section V: Award of contract
V.1)Date of contract award decision:
30.8.2022
V.2)Information about offers
Number of offers received: 1
Number of offers received by electronic means: 1
V.3)Name and address of economic operator in favour of whom the contract award decision has been taken
Official name: PRAMACOM-HT, spol. s r.o.
Postal address: Na pískách 1667 36
Town: Praha
Country: Czechia
E-mail:
Telephone: +420 588188401
V.4)Information on value of contract
Total final value of the contract:
Value: 103145845.00 CZK
Including VAT. VAT rate (%) 21
VI.3.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures
Official name: Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže
Postal address: třída Kpt. Jaroše 7
Town: Brno
Postal code: 604 55
Country: Czechia
E-mail:
Telephone: +420 542167111
Fax: +420 542167112
Internet address: http://www.uohs.cz
Official name: Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže
Postal address: třída Kpt. Jaroše 7
Town: Brno
Postal code: 604 55
Country: Czechia
E-mail:
Telephone: +420 542167111
Fax: +420 542167112
Internet address: http://www.uohs.cz
VI.4)Date of dispatch of this notice:
31.8.2022 (Source: Europa TED)
USA
08 Sep 22. DARPA Seeks Leap-Ahead Capabilities for Vertical Takeoff and Landing X-Plane.
- ANCILLARY would allow warfighters to deploy, retrieve VTOL systems without infrastructure
DARPA’s AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY X-Plane program, nicknamed ANCILLARY, aims to develop and flight demonstrate critical technologies required for a leap ahead in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), low-weight, high-payload, and long-endurance capabilities. The goal is to build a plane that can launch from ship flight decks and small austere land locations in adverse weather without launch and recovery equipment typically needed for these systems.
“The ability for the warfighter to deploy and retrieve such systems in challenging conditions without reliance on infrastructure would minimize personnel, costs, and vulnerability during sensitive operations,” said Steve Komadina, the DARPA program manager for ANCILLARY.
A large non-traditional commercial industry base has fueled recent VTOL research investments and advanced controls leading to innovative vehicle configurations spanning size, weight, power, and cost. Advancements in small propulsion systems, high capacity low weight batteries, fuel cells, materials, electronics, and low-cost additive manufacturing can now enable new architectures and designs to be explored in this trade space.
“ANCILLARY plans to use a multi-disciplinary approach that will bring together developments in advanced control theory, aerodynamic modelling, and advanced propulsion to solve a combination of challenging design objectives,” said Komadina. “The upcoming Proposers Day and Expo on September 20, 2022, will not only bring together traditional aircraft manufactures, but also non-traditional military contractors that have been investigating commercial VTOL solutions.” (Source: ASD Network)
REST OF THE WORLD
08 Sep 22. SA arms and ammunition worth R1.4bn plus exported in first half of 2022. A Parliamentary oversight committee heard the South African defence industry (SADI) exported military hardware and munitions to 70 plus countries with a monetary value in excess of R1.4bn in the first six months of this year.
The information formed part of a presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) by Advocate Ezra Jele, National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) Secretariat Head.
His presentation, in line with the legislated and regulatory prescripts the NCACC adheres to, was separated into the first two quarters of this year and gave broad outlines with no specifics on, for example, what types and calibres of munitions were exported to what countries.
South Africa’s military hardware and munitions makers exported “product”, approved by 273 permits, to 70 countries in the first half of 2022. The presentation does not state whether permits were approved to the same countries for the first and second quarters.
In Rand terms, military hardware and munitions exports earned their manufacturers R833m in the first quarter and R570m in the second.
The figures are not for dual use items, listed separately and, according to the NCACC, for technology and software as examples. In the first quarter of 2022, 29 dual use authorisations were approved to 13 countries, amounting to R52m. For the second quarter, 27 export authorisations were issued to 21 countries, amounting to R196m.
NCACC permits indicate the manufacturer/supplier meets with a number of safeguards, including United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, governance particularly as regards human rights and politics, “national interest” as well as the “risk of diversion/proliferation” to “non-state actors”.
The NCACC maintains these and other criteria are applied when authorising “transfer of controlled items”. A presentation note has it “Given the global temperature in the world as regards conflict, for example Syria and the forays of ISIS, careful consideration has to be had when authorising these transfers for export (sic)”.
The NCACC listed defence imports into South Africa as well. In the first quarter of 2022, 58 import permits from 11 countries worth R36m were approved while in the second quarter, 74 import permits from 16 countries worth R74m were approved.
For the 2021 calendar year, the NCACC reported the South African defence industry exported R3.3bn worth of weapons, ammunition and military equipment to 67 countries around the world.
(Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
06 Sep 22. Singapore reveals it might choose a different F-35 variant. Singapore is considering buying another F-35 variant despite already selecting and receiving U.S. approval for the “B” version, which can take off from short runways and land vertically, according to a top official with the procurement effort. Speaking to media during a multinational air combat exercise in northern Australia, Major Zhang Jian Wei, who leads his country’s office in charge of the next-generation fighter project, left open the possibility that the island nation may choose another variant. The other two F-35 versions are the “A” — which operates from conventional runways — and the “C” — which is used on aircraft carriers.
He did not give a timeline for how long the evaluation will take, only saying Singapore will “make further decisions when ready.”
Singapore selected the F-35B as its candidate to replace its fleet of 60 F-16C/D multirole fighters, which are receiving upgrades but are due for retirement beginning in the early 2030s. It is expected Singapore will order more fighters in tranches to replace the fleet, per its normal practice.
Zhang, who leads a team of four subject matter experts at his project office, said the ongoing exercise Pitch Black in Australia has served as a “valuable opportunity” for the Republic of Singapore Air Force to understand the ability of the F-35 to operate with other assets and act as a force multiplier in a large force employment setting.
The F-35 is taking part in the exercise for the first time, with host Australia flying F-35As while U.S. Marines use their F-35Bs.
The Singaporeans engaged with both detachments at the exercise, with Lt. Col. Richard Behrmann, operations officer at Marine Aircraft Group 12 based in Iwakuni, Japan, telling Defense News that the Marines began an “excellent dialogue” with the Republic of Singapore Air Force in the months before the exercise. Planning involved the F-35 Joint Program Office, and Singapore sent teams to the Marine Corps’ F-35B detachment at RAAF Base Tindal “to observe operations, interact with maintenance personnel, look at our planning spaces and generally discuss the way that we operate.”
Zhang noted that Singapore signed a letter of offer and acceptance in 2020 for the F-35 and has since gained increased access to program information exclusive to operators of the stealthy fifth-generation fighter. The country has also been able to interact with global F-35 operators as part its evaluation process by attending a user conference in May involving operators from Europe and the Pacific region.
Personnel from Zhang’s office also visited F-35 facilities and attended a training session in Forth Worth, Texas, with American instructors. Attendees also used high-fidelity simulators, which Zhang said enabled better understanding of the operational capability of the aircraft as well as engineering and maintenance requirements. (Source: Defense News)
06 Sep 22. Japan to Build Two 20,000-ton Missile Defense Warships, Indian Carrier Commissions. Japan’s Ministry of Defence is proposing to build a pair of ballistic missile defense ships – the among largest warships in the Japanese inventory since World War II – government officials said last week.
The Ministry of Defense listed design expenses and engines for the two Aegis BMD ships among 100 items requested that did not have a specific cost at the time of the budget rollout as part of its FY23 budget request. The Ministry of Defense requested $39.7bn in spending for the next fiscal year, which exceeds the FY 2022 budget of $38.4bn.
The two ships would be built instead of the land-based Aegis Ashore installations that the Japanese Self-Defence Force backed away from in 2020 based on risks of missile debris falling to the ground, USNI News reported at the time.
“In view of the cost and time [necessary] for the deployment, we will halt the process,” then-Minster of Defense Taro Kono told reporters, according to Kyodo News.
“For the time being, we’ll maintain our missile defense capability by Aegis-equipped destroyers.”
The two Aegis destroyers are expected to have a displacement of around 20,000 tons with a length of 690 feet and a beam of around 130 feet, making them one of the largest and heaviest ship that the JMSDF will operate. In comparison the Izumo class helicopter destroyers have a displacement 19,800 tons (27,000 tons with a full load) with a length of 800 feet and a beam of 124 feet while Japan’s largest destroyers are the Maya class destroyers, which have a displacement of 8200 tons and a beam of 22.2 meters.
The ships are to have a crew of 110 personnel with personnel accommodations being enhanced to enable long deployments on station around Japan. The Ministry of Defense is likely pushing for the first ship to be commissioned in 2027, with the second in 2028, USNI News understands.
In a news conference on Friday, current Japan Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that two new ships would relieve the burden of the BMD task on Japan’s current eight Aegis destroyers, which would then be free to act as a deterrence against maritime incursions in the southwest of Japan.
The current eight JMSDF Aegis destroyers consist of two Maya–class, two Atago-class and four Kongo-class destroyers. Hamada added with North Korea improving their ballistic missile operational capabilities, among them being able to conduct multiple simultaneous launches and increased altitudes in their trajectories, a new ship with higher interception capabilities in contrast to the existing ships was required.
Hamada said that the two destroyers would be large enough to enable operations that would be carried out in rough weather and enhanced crew quarters to allow the ships to conduct longer deployments. The Japanese defense chief also said that the ability to intercept hypersonic glide weapons would also be included in the ships’ capabilities.
Hamada confirmed that the defense ministry was accelerating the acquisition process to get the two destroyers into service faster than usual.
“We believe it is an extremely important initiative to drastically strengthen our defense capabilities within five years,” he said.
Japan is not the only country with eyes on new ships. India formally commissioned the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant (R11) into the Indian Navy in a ceremony at Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also unveiled the new Naval Ensign for the Indian Navy.
Vikrant’s keel was laid down in 2009. The ship was originally planned for commissioning in 2016, but numerous delays during its construction led to the 2022 commissioning date. The carrier has a displacement of 43,000 tons fully loaded and a length of 262m and a width of 62 meters. The carrier’s air wing will comprise of 30 aircraft including MiG-29K fighters Kamov-31 and MH-60R multi-role helicopters while Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy) are envisioned to be operating off the carrier in the future.
The Indian Navy also has a requirement for 26 Multirole Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) aircraft with Boeing’s F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and Dassault’s Rafale-M in contention for that requirement.
Despite its commissioning, Vikrant is only expected to be fully operational in mid to late 2023 due to flight trials and integration of the MiG-29Ks into the carrier. (Source: News Now/USNI)
05 Sep 22. India sanctions Tejas Mk 2 fighter project. The Indian government has officially approved the Tejas Mk 2 fighter aircraft. The project has been sanctioned with INR66.17bn (USD827m) in funding.
The government’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the project for development, flight-testing, and certification on 1 September. The Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari told local media later that same day that the project will help reverse the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) declining squadron strength.
“The development of this indigenous aircraft is much needed. It will benefit the domestic aircraft manufacturing,” ACM Chaudhari said. “The number of squadrons in the Indian Air Force is declining − so therefore this project is necessary to fill a critical capability void.”
In July 2022 ACM Chaudhari said that the IAF would seek to equip six squadrons with the Mk 2. The IAF told Janes that it would like to induct the Mk 2s as soon as possible. (Source: Janes)
05 Sep 22. Otokar seeks new cooperation opportunities in Azerbaijan. Otokar, Turkey’s global land systems manufacturer participates in the 4th Azerbaijan International Defence Industry Exhibition (ADEX 2022) on September 6-8 in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the exhibition, Otokar will exhibit its COBRA II tactical armored vehicle.
Stating that Otokar military vehicles are actively used in five continents, General Manager Serdar Görgüç, said, “Our COBRA II vehicle, which we are exhibiting at ADEX 2022, is already successfully serving the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Also, we are very proud that different types of Otokar military vehicles are already in service in Azerbaijan. ADEX is a great opportunity to get together with the Azerbaijani Armed Forces officials, listen their requirements and seek for further opportunities to serve their needs.”
Stating that Otokar has a long-standing cooperation with Azerbaijan, Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç said, “We have been working to meet the land system needs of Azerbaijan since the late 1990s when Otokar military vehicles started to serve in the country. Today various types of Otokar armored vehicles are in the inventory of different users in Azerbaijan.”
Reminding that Otokar exported Cobra II vehicles to Azerbaijan, Görgüç added: “We are proud that the successful performance of Otokar armored vehicles is appreciated by users in Azerbaijan. Last year, Azerbaijan included Cobra ll vehicles in its inventory for the first time. We continue to meet the expectations and needs of Azerbaijan with our new generation armored vehicle Cobra ll, known as the best in its class and responds to the different needs of users with its modular structure. I believe that the friendship and ongoing cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan will continue for many years, and I am happy to state once again that we, as Otokar, are ready for any task.”
As a listed NATO and UN supplier, Otokar’s military vehicles are actively in service in more than 35 countries and more than 55 end users in different climates and geographies around the world. Otokar’s combat proven know-how in land systems and related R&D, engineering and testing capabilities as well as its wide product range puts Otokar at the forefront of the global defense industry. The company introduces innovative solutions in land systems by taking into account the current and future requirements of modern armies and security forces.
COBRA II
COBRA II offers high level of protection, payload capacity, and large internal volume. In addition to superior mobility, COBRA II also comes with the capacity to accommodate 10 personnel including the driver and commander, offering high protection against ballistic, mine, and IED threats. Delivering high performance in the toughest terrain and climate conditions with high power to weight ratio, COBRA II is tested rigorously in different parts of the world, on toughest terrain and climate conditions, and made thousands of miles. Preferred especially for offering a wide range of weapons integration and mission equipment options, COBRA II is successfully in service of ambulance, command & control, reconnaissance, border protection, signal vehicle as well as internal security and peacekeeping missions. The modular structure of COBRA II also makes the vehicle a flexible platform for a personnel carrier, weapons platform, ground surveillance radar, and CBRN reconnaissance vehicle.
05 Sep 22. Astute-class submarine not an option for Australia, says UK government. The UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, has effectively ruled out an Astute-class submarine as the nuclear-powered replacement for Australia’s six Collins-class conventional submarines.
Speaking at the commissioning of HMS Anson in the UK, Mr Wallace noted that the UK, USA and Australia are all on roughly the same timeline to replace their existing submarines and suggested that a new common design could emerge that meets the needs of all of the AUKUS partners.
“The ultimate is to get all of us to get through the 2030s where we produce a submarine that is in my view, truly collaborative, might have a bit of all three on it.,” Secretary of State Wallace said. “So, it may not look like a submarine that one of us have on our stocks, and I can tell you that because when boat seven [of the Astute-class] is out, that’s it. We are onto our next design and our new one, and that might well be fully shared with all three nations as a collaborative design.”
Mr Wallace explained that Australia’s choice of nuclear powered submarine will not be an either/or – a US off the shelf submarine versus a UK one.
“It’s not that,” he said. “What’s really key here is we’re in the same cycle for the next generation.” Mr Wallace noted that some of the Astute-class boats are already ten years old and that the UK’s next generation of attack submarines will enter the water during the 2030s. “Same for the Australians,” he pointed out. “So, hopefully, we’ll get it in a place of convergence…. a truly UK–US–Australian enterprise.
Australian Minister for Mefence and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said cost is not the only factor driving Australia’s decision-making process: “Cost is clearly a factor, obviously, but it’s not the only factor.
“We need to be thinking about capability and that is what is driving this process in the first place. We need a long-range, highly capable submarine, and what that means going forward needs to be nuclear power. So, capability is fundamental. But also, we need to be thinking through the solution of how we can get this capability as soon as possible, given the lost decade that we have had. So, the timing, capability, costs – they all factor into the decision that we need to make.”
At the commissioned of HMAS Anson Mr Wallace and Australian Minister for Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles also announced that Australian submariners would train aboard the submarine.
“Australia is embarking on the next generation of submarines and in doing so, ensuring we have Royal Australian Navy personnel training with our partners under the AUKUS partnership,” he said. “Today‘s announcement of Australian submariners training aboard HMS Anson says everything about our future plans of building the AUKUS partnership.”
The US Congress has also opened the way legislatively for Australian submariners to train alongside their US Navy counterparts. (Source: Rumour Control)
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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.
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