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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO

 

01 Sep 23. UK MoD seeking info on Type 31 frigate naval gun ammunition.

The five-ship Type 31 general purpose frigate class will uniquely feature a combination of a single 57mm main gun and two 40mm secondary Bofors.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a Request for Information (RfI) into the operational and training ammunition compatible with the BAE Systems 57mm naval weapon system and 40mm Bofors gun, which will be installed on the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigates.

Not since classes such as the initial Leander light frigate of the 1960s and 1970s has a Royal Navy warship been so gun centric, with the single 57mm main gun and two 40mm secondaries offering the Type 31 platform considerable kinetic effect at short ranges. The combination has likely been chosen with an eye on threats such as swarming crewed or uncrewed small boats and aerial threats.

Published on 31 August, the RfI is intended to “alert the market of an early engagement opportunity” relating to Type 31 57mm and 40mm operational and training naval ammunition”, according to the MoD notice.

The intention is to “grow the understanding of the medium calibre naval ammunition market, its readiness, supply chain resilience and competitiveness including key players”, gather knowledge of alternative options from potential bidders, and “understand the operational performance” of alternative ammunition.

A short deadline, which is due on 15 September, is the cut-off for industry expressions of interest.

Type 31 naval gun selection: the data

The BAE Systems Mk 110 57mm naval gun systems is relatively common across vessels operated by the US Navy (USN) and US Coast Guard, having been selected for use on the upcoming Constellation-class frigates being built for the USN, and currently fitted to the Freedom– and Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships. The 57mm main gun is also fitted to the 4,500 tonne Legend-class cutters operated by the US Coast Guard.

According to BAE Systems the Mk 110 is capable of automatic salvo fire at a rate of up to 220 round per minute and can feature a selectable fuze for each round as required, depending on desired effect.

Mk 110 57mm naval gun

Rate of fire 220 rounds/min

Ammunition capacity 120 rounds

Maximum range >9nm

Loading time 3-5 minutes

Elevation −10° to +77°

Weight 14,960lbs/6,800kg

Information courtesy of BAE Systems

The 40mm Bofors meanwhile can utilise the 3P all-target ammunition, programmed for optimised effect against targets, including airburst patterns for new threats “that were previously impossible to engage”, according to manufacturer BAE Systems.

Bofors 40mm naval gun

Rate of fire 300 rounds/min

Ammunition capacity 100 rounds

Maximum range 12.5km

Muzzle velocity 1012 m/s (3P)

Elevation −20° to +80°

Weight 2,300kg

Information courtesy of BAE Systems

However, the issuance of the RfI by the UK MoD indicates that it is exploring what alternative ammunition options might exist for the Type 31 frigates, which are not due to enter service for several years.

Type 31 progress amid dispute and design changes

The first two ships in class, HMS Venturer and HMS Active, are currently in manufacture at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard, with much of the hull and superstructure of the former completed. The class is also undergoing a slight design change to accommodate the integration of the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launch system, which could remove the initially planned Sea Ceptor ‘mushroom farm’ air defence system, mounted amidships.

In April this year Babcock began a dispute resolution process (DRP) with the UK MoD to determine liability for increased costs being sustained on the Type 31 frigate programme, with up to £100m ($126.7m) in additional funds needed.

Providing a 2023 financial year and Type 31 programme update on 20 April, Babcock said it recognised over £600m in revenue on the Type 31 programme, which remained on schedule and due to conclude in 2028. However, the programme’s production plan was described as “demanding”, given the impact felt by UK industry during the Covid-19 pandemic, and had seen an increase in actual and projected costs.

Continuing, Babcock said that despite having been in dialogue with the MoD as to who is responsible for the additional costs under the contract, it had been “unable to reach agreement” and as such, has seen a DRP commence. A DRP could result in arbitration to determine who should bear the increased costs of the programme.

The original contact was signed in November 2019 to deliver five Inspiration-class Type 31 general purpose frigates, at an average production cost of £250m per vessel.

The Type 31 class was born from the realisation by the UK MoD that it could not afford to acquire 13 Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates from UK defence prime BAE Systems, instead constraining that programme to eight hulls. A stop-start competition to determine an alternative five-ship frigate requirement was won by Babcock using its Arrowhead 140 design, heavily derived from the Danish Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates.

(Source: naval-technology.com)

 

31 Aug 23. UK MoD eyeing purchase of 1,100 ‘tactical mobility’ vehicles.

The two-variant Light Tactical Mobility Platform programme is seeking to acquire new Medium and Light vehicles in combined deal worth in excess of £90m. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking industry responses to the potential acquisition of more than 1,000 4×4 and all-terrain vehicles under the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Medium and LTMP Light programme.

According to details contained in two separate pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ), the LTMP Medium would seek a 4×4 solution, while the LTMP Light would require an ATV-like capability.

The LTMP Medium deal could be worth up to £80.9m ($102.8m), with the Light variant amounting to £10.4m. Closing date for submissions was listed as 25 September.

The LTMP Medium contract would see the procurement of up to 48 so-called Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV), with potential options within the contract for a maximum of 863 UTVs inclusive of initial procurement.

Desired specifications require the UTVs to be able to accommodate a driver and passenger side-by-side, with a minimum speed of 65kph on the road when towing the platform’s maximum load, while the minimum payload capacity, including personnel, equipment, and stores, would be in excess of 600kg.

An initial support period will be for five years with the option to extend for a further five years in one-year increments. Any chosen supplier would have to provide two sample vehicles plus trailers to use during a trialling period, which would run from February – April 2024.

Similarly, the LTMP Light PQQ calls for the potential supply of up to 156 Light UTVs, with potential options within the contract to reach a maximum of 311 platforms, inclusive of initial procurement.

The LTMP Light platform would need to have a minimum ground clearance of 180mm when fully laden, achieve a minimum speed of 40kph on road when towing a weight of 450kg, and have a minimum payload capacity of 270kg.

The initial support period will be for five years with the option to extend for a further five years in one-year iterations. Two sample platforms would also have to be made available by a potential bidder for the trial date in order to be deemed compliant.

Taking each potential contract to include the maximum number of options, an individual LTMP Medium platform would cost approximately £94,000, while a single Light UTV would cost around £33,000.

Is LTMP the replacement for Ukraine donations and equipment disposals?

According to an April MoD acquisition pipeline, requirements for a ‘Low Technology Mobility Platform’ Light and Medium was listed under ‘New Requirement’ and had an estimated tender issuance date of 1 October and 1 August respectively. The estimated contract issuance date for the Light programme was listed as 1 January 2025, with the Medium variant being 1 September 2024.

Although determining the exact nature of the platform is difficult according to the details contained in the PQQs, it is possible that the LTMP programme could replace much of the British Army’s tactical mobility and logistics platforms, centred around, among other platforms, the Pinzgauer and Land Rover 4×4 vehicles.

According to UK-German joint venture RBSL, the Pinzgauer all-terrain utility vehicle is available in both 4×4 and 6×6 wheel configurations, and typically utilised in roles such as command and control, liaison, special forces, evacuation, and administrative tasks.

The Land Rover has been ubiquitous in British Army service for decades, across the entire spectrum of roles. Its unsuitability for high tempo conflict seen in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, where its lack of protection offered to crews was highly criticised, saw it replaced on the frontline by more survivable platforms such as the High Mobility Transporter 4×4 and 6×6 variants, produced by Supacat.

It was reported in November 2022 by Army Technology that the UK MoD had sold off 22 Pinzgauer Truck Utility Medium – Heavy Duty, and 132 Land Rover vehicles across a range of variants through the calendar year. Around 300 trailers had similarly been sold at auction or scrapped.

(Source: army-technology.com)

 

31 Aug 23. UK Light Tactical Mobility Platform (M) Contract Notice. The Land Rover Defender TUM HS, ordered in 1996, is the current UK MoD 4×4.

In a recently published Contract Notice the UK MoD announced the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Medium Project requirements. The Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Project is to provide the MoD with new high tactical mobility platforms that enable the user to conduct dismounted close combat manoeuvres. The Project has been split into two platform types, LTMP Medium (Contract Number 704573452) and LTMP Light (Contract Number: 703466451) are procured separately. Suppliers are invited to bid against either or both Contracts under the respective adverts. This Advert relates to the Medium platform.

Specifications: It is expected that this Contract will initially procure up to forty-eight (48) x LTMP Medium Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) (to operate on diesel/AVTUR F-34 fuel) and trailers, with potential options within the Contract for up to a maximum of eight hundred and sixty-three (863) inclusive of the initial procurement. The Contract is for the procurement and through life support.

The Authority requires a supplier with a proven track record of providing support for a vehicle fleet. Specifications to include, but not limited to, (A detailed specification will be part of the ITT):

• suppliers are to note that LTMP Medium platforms are to operate using diesel/AVTUR F-34 fuel,
• a configuration of driver and passenger side-by-side,
• minimum speed of 65kph on road when towing at the platform’s Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM),
• trailers are required whereby combined weight of the trailer, and the payload capacity, shall not exceed the towing capacity of the platform nor exceed the width of the platform and the height of 1530mm,
• minimum ground clearance of 180mm+ when fully laden,
• minimum payload capacity (personnel, equipment, stores) of 600kg+,
• the LTMP Medium platform can be legally driven on UK highways/roads.

The initial support period will be for five (5) years with the option to extend for a further five (5) years in one (1) year iterations. The value advertised within this advert is inclusive of all potential options and is subject to future funding and approvals. Details of the platform, quantities, options, and Contract duration shall be set out within the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The Project Team is running this procurement using the ITT process as set out in Chapter 16 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011. The Contract Classification is Official Sensitive. The Cyber risk profile for this requirement has been assessed as Very Low. Suppliers will be required to complete the Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) as part of the ITT.

Pre-Qualification Tender Stage: The DPQQ (Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) will be hosted in the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). All suppliers’ responses to be submitted via the DSP. The DPQQ will close for suppliers at 17:00 25th September 2023.

The anticipated timetable for the whole procurement process is as follows:

Activity Timetable Planned Completion

• DPQQ Responses Received (30 calendar days) 25th September 2023
• DPQQ Evaluation (Down selected to a Maximum of 5) October 2023
• ITT Issued (40 Calendar Days) November 2023

Whilst it does not intend to do so, the Authority reserves the right to depart from this tender timetable at its discretion and will notify Tenderers accordingly throughout the competition. As this competition is running in parallel to LTMP Light (Contract Number: 703466451), the Authority will endeavour to deconflict the two Tender schedules.

Selection Criteria: It is a requirement that the potential Bidders shall supply a sample of two (2) platforms and trailers at the Trialling Date (estimated February 2024 – April 2024) at no cost to the Authority. As such, it will be necessary to confirm that this is achievable at the DPQQ stage. Should this not be possible, the supplier will be deemed non-compliant and excluded from progressing to the next stage.

Suppliers are to note the Bid Validity period is likely to be approximately 300 days to allow for full approvals. This is due to the Trial Period, approvals and evaluations that need to be incorporated into the schedule. This will have no effect on the outcome of the ITT evaluation.

Estimated value excluding VAT: £80,900,000

 

31 Aug 23. UK Light Tactical Mobility Platform (M) Contract Notice. In a recently published Contract Notice the UK MoD announced the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Light (L) Project requirements.

Contract notice for contracts in the field of defence and security; Published 25 August 2023, 6:09pm.

The Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Project is to provide the MoD with new high tactical mobility platforms that enable the user to conduct dismounted close combat manoeuvres. The Project has been split into two platform types, LTMP Medium (Contract Number 704573452) and LTMP Light (Contract Number: 703466451) are procured separately. Suppliers are invited to bid against either or both Contracts under the respective adverts. This Advert relates to the Light platform.

Specifications: It is expected that this Contract will procure up to one hundred and fifty-six (156) x LTMP Light (Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) / All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)) platforms, with potential options within the Contract to procure up to a maximum of three hundred and eleven (311) platforms inclusive of the initial procurement. The Contract is for the procurement and through life support of the platforms.

The Authority requires a supplier with a proven track record of providing support to a vehicle platform fleet. The specifications include, but are not limited to:

• Minimum ground clearance of 180mm+ when fully laden.
• Minimum speed of 40kph on road when platforms are towing a weight of 450kg.
• Minimum Payload capacity is 270kg+.
• The LTMP Light platform can be legally driven on UK highways/roads.

Please note, suppliers can only bid one (1) platform in this Tender.

The initial support period will be for five (5) years with the option to extend for a further five (5) years in one (1) year iterations. The value advertised within this advert is inclusive of all potential options and is subject to future funding and approvals.

Further details of the platform, quantities, options, and Contract duration shall be set out within the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The Project Team is running this procurement using the ITT process as set out in Chapter 16 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011. The Contract Classification is Official Sensitive. The Cyber risk profile for this requirement has been assessed as Very Low. Suppliers will be required to complete the Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) as part of the ITT.

Pre-Qualification Tender Stage: The DPQQ (Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) will be hosted in the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). All Supplier responses will be submitted via the DSP. The DPQQ will close at 17:00 25th September 2023.

The anticipated timetable for the whole procurement process is as follows:

Activity Timetable

• DPQQ Responses Received (30 calendar days)- Planned Completion 25th September 2023
• DPQQ Evaluation (Down selected to a Maximum of 5) – Planned Completion October 2023
• ITT Issued (40 Calendar Days)- Planned Completion November 2023

Whilst it does not intend to do so, the Authority reserves the right to depart from this Tender timetable at its discretion and will notify Suppliers accordingly throughout the competition. As this competition is running in parallel to LTMP Medium (Contract Number: 704573452), the Authority will endeavour to deconflict the two Tender schedules.

Selection Criteria: It is a requirement that the potential Bidders shall supply a sample of two (2) platforms at the Trialling Date (estimated February 2024 – April 2024) at no cost to the Authority. As such, it will be necessary to confirm that this is achievable at the DPQQ stage. Should this not be possible, the supplier will be deemed non-compliant and excluded from progressing to the next stage.

Suppliers are to note the Bid Validity period is likely to be approximately 300 days to allow for full approvals. This is due to the Trial Period, approvals and evaluations that need to be incorporated into the schedule. This will have no effect on the outcome of the ITT evaluation.

Estimated value excluding VAT: £10,400,000

(Source: joint-forces.com)

 

30 Aug 23. New DASA Market Exploration seeks facial recognition technologies. DASA seeks solutions that can help increase the use and effectiveness of facial recognition technologies within UK policing and security.

• DASA has launched a new Market Exploration: Facial Recognition (FR) technologies for policing and security applications
• This Market Exploration is being run on behalf of the Home Office and seeks technologies for the use of facial recognition
• Submissions must be submitted by midday on 12 October 2023

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Market Exploration which seeks technological solutions for the use of Facial Recognition (FR) technologies within policing and other security stakeholders. Run on behalf of the Home Office, this Market Exploration is seeking to identify higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL) capabilities that could be deployed to benefit the Home Office and Policing and within the next 18 months.

FR technology is an increasingly important capability for law enforcement and is already being used in a number of ways within UK policing and security settings to prevent and detect crime, enhance security, find wanted criminals, safeguard the vulnerable and protect people from harm. The use of FR technologies is at varying stages across UK policing and the use of this technology in an ethical and effective way is a priority for the Home Office.

The Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire and Professor Paul Taylor, National Policing Chief Scientific Adviser have jointly supported progressing the use of this technology:

“The Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire and I strongly support the development and implementation of facial recognition (FR) technology within the law enforcement sector and are encouraged by it’s potential. We firmly believe that embracing this advanced technology can significantly enhance public safety while respecting individual rights and privacy. Industry is pivotal to realisation of that mission.

“It is essential to acknowledge the concerns surrounding FR technology, particularly those relating to privacy and potential biases. However, responsible development and implementation of FR systems can address these concerns effectively. By establishing robust governance frameworks, implementing strict data protection protocols, and ensuring transparency and accountability, we can strike the right balance between public safety and individual privacy rights.

“To maximise the technological benefits and minimise the risks associated with FR, it is crucial that we support and encourage industry to continue developing capabilities which can be deployed effectively and ethically.”

Professor Paul Taylor, National Policing Chief Scientific Adviser

Do you have an innovation? Read the full Market Exploration document and submit a proposal.

What technologies is this Market Exploration seeking?

The Home Office is primarily interested in higher TRL innovative capabilities that can resolve identity using facial features and landmarks as well as technologies that support algorithm development, integration, and analytics. It is vital that proposed solutions are secure, accurate, explainable and free from bias.

The Home Office is seeking capability to support the following FR applications or use cases (although other use cases would be considered):

• Retrospective FR (RFR), a system to be used after an event to help establish who a person is or whether their image matches against other media held on image databases.
• Operator-initiated FR (OIFR), a system where an operator can decide that they need to take an image of a person and then use FR software to help them establish who that person is.
• Live FR (LFR), a system where cameras are focused on a specific area; when people pass through that area their images are streamed directly to the Live FR system.

This Market Exploration is not seeking technologies beyond the resolution of identity through facial recognition camera systems, such as iris detection, gait analysis and object detection.

Submit a proposal

Do you have a higher TRL innovation that could increase the ethical and effective use of facial recognition technologies within policing and other security stakeholders?

Read the full Market Exploration document to learn more and submit a proposal: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/facial-recognition

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

30 Aug 23. Over £3.5m funding from Government to reduce the impact of offshore windfarms on UK Air Defence.

Two projects have been awarded funding to develop windfarm mitigating prototypes and new funding announced to help the government accurately model the effectiveness of the different solutions.

• The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and DASA has awarded £3.2m in funding to minimise the impact of offshore windfarms on UK Air Defence.
• The funding will be used to help develop prototype demonstrations of windfarm mitigating technologies such as new materials and sensor technology.
• A further competition has also launched today, with up to £500,000 in funding available for innovators with expertise in modelling and testing the effectiveness of different mitigation technologies.

Another significant boost to the UK’s renewable energy expansion has been delivered today, with fresh multi-m-pound Government funding and the launch of a new competition driving the move to minimise the impact of offshore windfarms on UK Air Defence surveillance.

Funding worth £3.2m has been awarded by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to two projects aiming to demonstrate technologies which can mitigate offshore windfarms’ impacts and their interference on defence radar.

Alongside this a new £500,000 competition has been launched which will help companies find solutions to accurately model and test the effectiveness of these technologies.

This will help ensure the UK remains on course to reach its ambition of 50GW in offshore wind by 2030, whilst supporting and co-existing with our air defence capabilities.

The Windfarm Mitigation for UK Air Defence: Phase 3 Programme is funded by the government’s £1 bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) and is undertaken in partnership with the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and DASA.

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has shown us how important it is to power more of Britain from Britain. Our offshore wind capability plays a huge role in delivering our energy security, with world’s four largest offshore windfarms in UK waters.”

“But with the war raging on, we need to make sure our energy security and our national security remain fully compatible. This funding will ensure our offshore wind works alongside our latest air defence technologies – boosting our defences through our military, and by delivering home-grown energy for our homes and businesses.”

The first winner of the funding today is LiveLink Aerospace, a Hampshire-based aerospace company, who have been awarded up to £1.3m in funding.

Their project will address the challenge of radar clutter caused by the rotating blades of wind turbines, which can degrade the performance of air defence radars and surveillance systems.

The firm’s work comprises of developing a series of small low-cost and robust passive air defence sensors, which do not emit any signals themselves, and therefore do not interfere with the radar returns from wind turbines.

The second winner is Trelleborg, an engineering firm based in Nottinghamshire, which has been awarded up to £1.8m in grant funding to deliver a project on the use of advanced materials in wind turbines to tackle radar interference. Trelleborg will use its existing expertise in manufacturing and engineering of stealth materials to deliver next-generation wind blades which will cause less interference with radars.

Key dates and funding

Also announced today, is up to £500,000 in funding now available for Stream 2 of Windfarm Mitigation for UK Air Defence: Phase 3.This phase seeks to provide funding for innovators with expertise in modelling and testing the effectiveness of different mitigation technologies, with the end goal of producing the best technology through the right combination of radar, materials and mapping software.

The deadline to submit a proposal is midday 24 October 2023 (BST).Read to full competition document to submit a proposal.

The Windfarm Mitigation for UK Air Defence Programme

As part of the UK’s renewable energy supply to achieve Net Zero goals, offshore wind energy will be essential. However, the installation of offshore windfarms may cause detrimental effects on the quality of data gathered from surveillance radars, which are crucial for the UK’s air defence detection capability.

The Windfarm Mitigation for UK Air Defence programme has been addressing this challenge area for several years. After the successful completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2, Stream 1 of Phase 3 was launched earlier this year. The primary objective of Stream 1 is to support prototype demonstration of the technologies that could mitigate the impact of windfarms on UK Air Defence.

Stream 2 aims to find innovative solutions that can accurately model and test the effectiveness of different mitigation technologies.

Wing Commander Kevin Walton, Co-Chair of the Ministry of Defence/Offshore Wind Industry Council Air Defence Mitigation Task Force said:

“The MOD is playing an active role in the UK’s efforts to build a greener, net-zero future.

“Offshore wind will play a central part in meeting our nation’s renewable energy needs and ensuring energy security for the UK. Complementing existing RAF work to mitigate the impacts of large-scale offshore windfarms on our current radars and the previous phases of this competition, this 2nd stream of Phase 3 of the innovation competition will play an important part in helping us to find the right combination of future solutions that will enable the long-term co-existence of windfarms and the UK’s air surveillance radars.”

Windfarm Mitigation for UK Air Defence Programme: Phase 3 – Stream 2

To support the decision making on further development of windfarm mitigation technologies, it is necessary to develop a model which can be used to objectively compare the funded solutions, determine their effectiveness in reducing the impact of proposed offshore windfarm developments and predict the consequences and benefits of combining solutions together.

For this competition, we are seeking models that can help assess the performance of different windfarm mitigation technologies to inform future policy decisions. The model should be able to assess the technologies and combinations against a set of specific metrics, data, and different scenarios.

Example scenarios include:

• Several military jets crossing over a windfarm
• A fast jet performing a turn over a windfarm
• A supersonic fast jet traversing a windfarm at high/low altitude

Example metrics include:

• Percentage of time over a windfarm that the target remains tracked
• Time to re-establish tracking if lost
• Delay of any tracking.

Read the full competition document for a more detailed breakdown of the competition’s requirements.

Supporting events

Dial-in session

12 September 2023 – A series of 20 minute one-to-one teleconference sessions, giving you the opportunity to ask specific questions. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page.

Submit a proposal

Can you help DASA and DESNZ model the effectiveness of windfarm mitigation technologies? Read the full competition document to learn more and submit a proposal. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

EUROPE

 

31 Aug 23. Turkey seeks partners for TF-X fighter program amid fiscal uncertainty. The first aircraft of Turkey’s indigenous fighter program, the TF-X, sits in a hangar ahead of its maiden flight at the end of the year. But fiscal problems could stand in the way of its success, according to an analyst, even as the country’s president seeks partners for the program.

The Turkish economy is experiencing high inflation, and the country’s external debt reached nearly $476bn in March. The international insurance company Allianz Trade reported the stock of total external debt due within the next 12 months has risen to about $250bn.

“Inevitably, the TF-X program will face financial difficulties in line with the country’s economic situation,” Ozgur Eksi, a defense analyst in Ankara, told Defense News.

However, Turkey is seeking foreign partners, which could lessen its own financial burden in regard to the program.

Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler said Aug. 14 Pakistan was about to sign an agreement to participate in the development of the fifth-generation fighter. “Friendly and brotherly countries are also making efforts to become partners in this project. An agreement was signed with Azerbaijan. There are other countries that are also about to sign, like Pakistan,” Guler said.

If Pakistan joins the Turkish program, it would be its second international fighter partnership following a deal with China on the JF-17 built by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and Chengdu Aircraft Corp.

As for Azerbaijan, the government there signed a protocol with Turkey to explore involvement in the TF-X program.

“With the protocol, it is aimed to determine the working procedures and principles of cooperation with Azerbaijan on joint production issues, including the development activities of the 5th-generation national combat aircraft Kaan, which is being developed for the Turkish Air Force,” according to the Turkish Defence Industry Agency, using the government’s chosen name for the TF-X aircraft.

The agency, otherwise known as SSB, did not reply to Defense News’ questions on the TF-X and specifically Pakistan’s current status in relation to the program.

The Pakistan Air Force declined to comment on the status.

“Getting in foreign partners is like subletting part of your house: You share expenses, but disputes become inevitable and troubleshooting takes much longer than normal,” Eksi said. “Hydrocarbon-rich Azerbaijan has money. Pakistan does not but could transfer know-how. Once combat-proven, the Kaan could be an option for countries without access to Western-made fighter aircraft.”

Eugene Kogan, a defense analyst based in Tbilisi, Georgia, said Azerbaijan appears ready to bring money to the table.

“As for Pakistan, I wonder what exactly it can bring to the table. Not money, obviously. Technological know-how? More questions than answers,” he told Defense News.

Future flight

The government wants to fly the planned aircraft this year, the centennial of the Turkish republic. Turkish Aerospace Industries said the TF-X will fly Dec. 27, 2023.

Under the program, TAI will deliver 20 TF-X Block 10 aircraft to the Air Force in 2028. The company said in March the per-unit price will be $100m, but noted in May it could be “a little bit higher.” By 2029, TAI plans to produce two TF-X fighters per month, generating an annual revenue of $2.4bn.

“In all probability, the aircraft will fly for political purposes before critical local elections [in March] but without most systems fitted into it,” a program insider told Defense News on the condition of anonymity, fearing prosecution for discussing the subject. “Most Turks will not know or care if the aircraft is ready for any mission. It will be a piece in [the] government’s showoff.”

Turkey launched the TF-X program in 2009. In October 2016, British firm Rolls-Royce offered a joint production partnership to Turkey with a view to powering planned Turkish platforms and potential sales to third parties. The company’s proposal, which still stands, would see a production unit in Turkey manufacture engines for the TF-X as well as helicopters, tanks and missiles.

In January 2017, the British company BAE Systems and TAI signed a deal worth more than £100m (U.S. $127m) to develop the Turkish fighter jet. Presently there are about 30 BAE engineers working at the TAI production unit for the TF-X.

Then in 2022, the Turkish government launched a competition for the local development of a turbofan engine to power the TF-X. Three competitors are in the running: Tusas Engine Industries; TRMotor; and TAEC, a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Turkish industrial conglomerate Kale, which owns 51% of TAEC.

TAEC has pitched an engine expected to fly the aircraft at a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet and help it reach a speed of up to Mach 1.8.

It’s unclear what TRMotor is offering. The company was founded in 2017 by SSTEK, a subsidiary of SSB. Tusas, which is the parent company of Tusas Engine Industries and Turkish Aerospace Industries, wholly owns TRMotor.

Tusas Engine Industries is developing TEI-TF6000 and TEI-TF10000 engines, referring to them as a prelude to what it will produce for the TF-X. TEI is a government-controlled business founded in 1985 as a joint venture involving the American firm GE Aviation (now GE Aerospace), Turkish Aerospace Industries, the Turkish Aeronautical Association, and the government-owned Turkish Armed Forces Foundation.

SSB plans to build TF-X prototypes using the American-made F110 engine. The General Electric F110 is an afterburning turbofan jet engine produced by GE Aerospace, and it uses the same engine core design as the company’s F101. The engine is also built under license by Tusas Engine Industries.

Turkey wants to use the F110 in serial production, but powering the TF-X with the engine may prove difficult because serial production could require vast amounts of investment and tests. Furthermore, this option would come with the same export license and intellectual property rights as Rolls-Royce’s offer, which the Turkish government dislikes.

Eksi said the government shouldn’t delay its engine choice any longer.

“Every [engine] proposal has advantages and disadvantages. Ankara must make a decision at once before it’s too late to move onto the serial production phase at feasible costs,” he explained.

Ultimately, the TF-X’s export potential is key to the program’s success, Eksi added.

“There are several countries that cannot buy Western-made aircraft for political reasons. Some of those countries also want to avoid Russian- or Chinese-made aircraft, also for political reasons. The Kaan could be what they’re looking for.” (Source: Defense News)

 

31 Aug 23. Rafale F5 will outperform the Typhoon and MiG-35/Su-35 fighters. It is projected that the Rafale F5, a superior product of France’s Dassault Aviation, will transcend its European and Russian rivals in performance. Undoubtedly, the Rafale F4 aircraft emerged as a pivotal component in the industrial arsenal of Clodoaldian, the renowned aircraft manufacturer. As soon as the inaugural Rafale F4 was delivered to the French Air Force and Navy, chatter around the anticipated Rafale F5 started permeating through various circles.

• French Rafale F5 coming with emphasis on EW and SEAD in 2030
• Can the USAF crush drug trafficking along the Mexican border?
• F-35 and Rafale fighters cannot meet domestic and foreign demand

One cannot overlook the fact that Dassault Aviation, armed with its fully interconnected aircraft, is poised to outmaneuver its most immediate rivals. The European consortium Eurofighter and the Russian behemoth, United Aircraft Corporation, are squarely in its sights. Furthermore, even the formidable U.S. aircraft manufacturer, Lockheed-Martin, may find the challenge daunting.

Expectations of witnessing the Rafale F5, adorned with a tricolor cockade, swiftly cutting through the skies may be met with a tinge of disappointment. Dassault Aviation’s preliminary schedule, meticulously crafted, does not anticipate the commencement of deliveries to DGA before 2035, in the context of export contracts. This is primarily because the Rafale F5 is set to encapsulate the collective intellectual prowess of the design offices based in Saint-Cloud and the rigorous precision of the assembly lines in Mérignac.

The collaboration of “Team Rafale”, spearheaded by Safran and Thales, is committed to transforming this formidable challenge into the creation of a sophisticated combat aircraft for the era spanning 2030-2040.

Initiating the discourse with the advent of the groundbreaking RBE2-XG radar system, alternatively termed the Disruption Radar. This innovative system harnesses the power of advanced technology, amalgamating the utilization of gallium nitride with the computational prowess of artificial intelligence.

In the realm of theoretical discourse, the RBE2-XG radar system holds a significant position. Theoretically, it possesses the capability to identify all aircraft within its operational range. This includes even the most advanced 5th generation fighters, operating in nondegraded stealth mode.

The capability of discerning even the minutest targets, inclusive of micro-drones, is a significant feature of the Rafale F5. These entities, being nearly undetectable by contemporary fighter jets, pose a considerable challenge. It is, therefore, crucial to underscore that this feature is not a mere addition but indeed lies at the core of the Rafale F5’s functionalities.

It is projected that within the forthcoming five years, a DGA Flight Test aircraft, furnished with this advanced-generation radar, will embark on its inaugural flight. Commencement of mass production is anticipated to occur at the dawn of the subsequent decade. The integration of the RBE2-XG is poised to significantly enhance the longevity and effectiveness of currently utilized ‘simple’ AESA radars, notably the Captor-E ECRS Mk.2, a staple in the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 4.

It is imperative to note that the renowned Optronics of the forward sector [OSF] is in a phase of rejuvenation. This revitalization aims to sustain its role as the vigilant eye of the tricolor fighter. The enhancements are projected to significantly bolster its capabilities, particularly in the realm of image resolution.

ONERA, the legendary National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in conjunction with weapons manufacturer MBDA, is diligently pursuing the development of the successor to the ASMP-A.

By the year 2035, the present improved medium-range air-to-surface missile is slated to be superseded by a device presently identified as the ASN4G. This advanced armament is characterized by its exceptional stealth capabilities and unparalleled speed. The introduction of the ASN4G will maintain, if not enhance, the nuclear strike vector of the ISS. A conventional version of this weapon is under consideration, which could potentially replace the existing SCALP-EG cruise missiles.

The renowned French aircraft manufacturer, Dassault Aviation, is reportedly developing an advanced interconnect for the Rafale F5. This innovative technology would enable the aircraft to command a swarm of drones. The creation of such a device is a significant shift in military aviation technology, marking a critical transition point for the Rafale and the European SCAF in the 2045-2050 horizon. This development stems from the experiences and learnings acquired from the famous experimental nEUROn project.

As the Dassault Aviation Rafale F5 prepares to make its debut in the market, it stands to encounter stiff competition from the European EF-2000 Typhoon, the Russian Mikoyan MiG-35 Fulcrum-F, and the Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E. However, the Rafale F5 is anticipated to follow in the footsteps of predecessors, the Rafale F3-R and the Rafale F4, in rendering these formidable adversaries obsolete, and potentially nudging them towards retirement.

Indeed, the management of Dassault Aviation harbors high expectations for the Rafale F5. They foresee this aircraft to be a significant player in the international arena, capable of recuperating the ground lost to the Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II.

Undeniably, as our understanding of the Rafale F5 continues to expand, rest assured that we shall persistently keep our readers informed. This prevailing standard possesses the potential to revolutionize the Rafale into an entirely new breed of aircraft. This is indeed an impressive feat, particularly when one recalls that the technological demonstrator of Rafale A took its inaugural flight back in July 1986. The discourse on this topic will undoubtedly persist. (Source: News Now/https://bulgarianmilitary.com/)

 

29 Aug 23. Germany: The European Sky Shield Initiative Leaves Many Issues Unresolved? After the United States on August 17 green-lighted the sale to Germany of the Arrow-3 anti-missile system, many issues remain unsettled, but three questions are more important than others.

Three burning questions

First, the issue of co-operation among members of the ESSI. So far, the club of 19 countries is more a buyer’s club of the IRIS-T-SLM middle-range air defence system. The new training centre of Todendorf, set-up by Diehl defence for the Lutfwaffe, will be extended to the other members of the club. This initiative is similar to other ones entering into the NATO’s Framework Nations Concepts: a pool of buyers of German systems agree to train together using one of the centres of excellence in Germany, enhancing NATO specific capabilities. But will this procurement pool transform itself into a defensive alliance in air defence systems? If yes, how will this alliance exchange information with three members – Austria, Switzerland, and (for nos) Sweden – are not members of NATO?

Second, the purchase of the Arrow-3 will remain a German-only investment. No other European country seems to have a similar project, as it is too expensive and too sensitive. How will this US-Israeli ATBM system be shared with the other ESSI members? The firing sequence being too short for a joint decision, how will Germany deal with missile threats outside of its airspace? So far, Germany has not signed any defence agreements with the 18 other members of ESSI to settle this crucial issue. Another question is whether Germany is free to sign such treaties, given the U.S control over its purchase and use? This “supreme shield” is strangely similar to the French deterrence: useful for all, but under strict national control and use…

Third, the interoperability with other ATMB systems: NATO has already deployed the SM-6 AEGIS Ashore interceptors in Poland (Redzikowo) and in Romania (Deveselu), which are nearing initial operational capability. How will the Arrow-3 and the SM-6 be coordinated in terms of firing sequences? Will France, UK and Italy’s competing ATBM interceptor – the very capable Aster 30 B1NT- interact with these two ATBM systems?

In the French doctrine, air defence – even against ballistic missiles – is strictly limited to point-defence: the role of the deterrence is strategic not tactical. On the contrary, German conventional ATBM systems – i.e., Arrow – are here to avoid the use of nuclear weapons as long as possible.

A rational purchase, really?

So far, the German Cabinet has refused to be specific on these issues: in its written answer (20/6218) of the 27th of March, it avoided making clear statements about whether Arrow-3 is also intended to protect other states, or about the needed coordination among NATO-and non-NATO members of its ESSI. Of course, agreements of this kind are certainly not discussed in public forums, but the impression left by German attitude so far is rather more a diplomatic coup on European scale than a rationale strategy.

Designed to counter to the threat of Iranian medium-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, the Arrow 3 system is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles in the exo-atmospheric domain, i.e. beyond 100 km altitude and in theory offers a perfect capability against both medium-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. But Russia does not own such missiles, being limited to ICMBs & SLMBMs (Bulava) and SRBMs (Iskander, Kinzhal). Russian authorities seem to prefer the development of hypersonic systems instead.

Countering such threats is not the main capability of the Arrow-3 but of the future Arrow-4, which has been in development since 2021. So, what is the real added-value of the Arrow 3 for Germany? It is very surprising that nobody inside the Budget and Defence committees of the Bundestag has dared to ask this simple question. That is the $3.5bn question. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/)

 

28 Aug 23. Acquisition of New 3D Radars Is A Priority for the Modernization of the Bulgarian Air Force. The project to acquire new 3D radars is one of the priorities for the modernization of our armed forces. This capability will increase airspace awareness, which is extremely important for making adequate decisions, said Deputy Minister of Defense Stanimir Georgiev in his welcome to the first open meeting of the interdepartmental working group on the “Acquisition of new 3D radars”.

The meeting was held today, August 24, and at it the five bids received from defense companies based on the request for proposal sent by the Bulgarian side were opened.

In the presence of company representatives and commission members from various departments, Deputy Minister Georgiev emphasized that one of the priorities of the Bulgarian government is the modernization of the armed forces, which has been postponed for many years. “On this project, the goal of the Ministry’s leadership is to achieve maximum capabilities at an optimal cost. At the same time, we strive to be as transparent as possible when conducting the procedure,” Deputy Minister Georgiev also pointed out.

The interdepartmental working group includes representatives from the Air Force, from directorates from the Ministries of Defence, Transport, Innovation and Growth and Economy and Industry. The commission sent letters to 8 companies, three of them did not submit proposals. The bids were opened in the order they were received, namely Lockheed Martin (USA), Leonardo (Italy), Elta (Israel), Indra (Spain) and Thales (France).

“This is a major project for the Air Force, after the project to acquire a new type of combat aircraft. Work on it began 4 years ago. We are extremely happy that today we have the opportunity to open the offers of the manufacturing companies”, the chairman of the interdepartmental working group, Colonel Dimitar Georgiev, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, told journalists. The next step is to prepare a comprehensive analysis of the proposals using a special methodology. “The main criteria for the evaluation are: acquisition price and maintenance price, operational capabilities, industrial cooperation, warranty maintenance of the radars,” Colonel Georgiev pointed out.

The scope of the project includes the acquisition of 7 new 3D radars, training of personnel, warranty support of not less than 24 months and subsequent integrated logistics support for 5 years. According to the responses received to the requests for information sent in 2019, the cost of implementing the project amounts to approximately BGN 400 m.

After drawing up the ranking, negotiations will be held with the selected participant to conclude a contract. The period for delivery of the radars is within 2 years from the conclusion of the contract.

(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Bulgarian Ministry of Defense)

 

28 Aug 23. Poland MND finalises offset agreements for PAC-3 WISLA Phase II. Valued at $242m, the agreements have been signed with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) has signed offset agreements for elements of medium-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, under the WISLA Phase II programme.

The agreements have been signed with US-based defence contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

It has an estimated value of approximately PLN1bn ($241.36m).

As part of this agreement, the two US companies will support Poland’s defence industrial base by ensuring that the Polish industry can provide service, repair and production facilities related to WISŁA system domestically.

The major elements included under WISŁA system are Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor (LTAMDS) radar.

According to the Polish MND, another crucial aspect of the new agreement is the inclusion of Polish industry partners in the group of “certified suppliers” for US-based companies.

As per a Lockheed Martin’s media release, the Polish offset companies included in this programme are PGZ (Warsaw), PCO (Warsaw), WZL-1 (Deblin), WZL-2 (Bydgoszcz) and Mesko (Skarzysko-Kamienna).

Lockheed Martin Poland, Central and East Europe director Robert Orzylowski said: “Our partnership with Polish industrial base and MND is providing real economic prosperity to local communities across Poland and delivering critical security assets to Polish armed forces.

“This work also boosts critical skills needed to develop national industrial capability and expertise for future.”

The latest effort further aims to modernise and strengthen the Polish Army’s defence equipment and capabilities to counter the rising threats from Russia’s “aggressive” policy.

Poland National Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said: “Experience from the war in Ukraine shows that air and missile defence is very important.

“I am therefore very pleased that after five years we can once again finalise offset agreements which precede the next phase of our cooperation with regard to acquiring further batteries of the Patriot system for the equipment of the Polish Armed Forces.”

In 2019, Northrop Grumman received a contract from the US Army to produce integrated air and missile defence battle command system for Poland under WISLA Phase-I programme. (Source: army-technology.com)

 

USA

 

30 Aug 23. Space Force responsive space mission enters ‘hot standby’ phase. The U.S. Space Force put its Victus Nox launch and satellite providers on call for a highly anticipated responsive space demonstration, notifying the companies that a 24-hour delivery window could open at any moment. The Victus Nox mission, Latin for “conquer the night,” will demonstrate the ability to build a satellite, integrate it onto a rocket and place it in orbit on rapid timelines. Satellite manufacturer Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing subsidiary, and the mission’s launch provider Firefly Aerospace have been preparing for the effort since last September. Firefly is under a $17.6 m contract, and Millennium declined to disclose the value of its award.

Now, according to an Aug. 30 statement from Firefly, the companies are in what’s called a “hot standby” phase, which means that sometime within the next six months, the Space Force will request the satellite and rocket be available for launch.

The initial alert will go to Millennium, who will have 60 hours to deliver its satellite to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, fuel the spacecraft and integrate it onto Firefly’s Alpha rocket’s payload adaptor. Then, 24 hours prior to the mission, the service will call on Firefly to complete its final pre-launch preparations, which includes attaching the payload to its vehicle.

Once on orbit, the company will have two days to make initial contact with the satellite, which will begin performing its space domain awareness mission soon after.

The limited details on timing and the rapid delivery plan are part of the service’s intent for Victus Nox, which aims to mimic as much as possible the operational conditions under which it would use the capability, dubbed Tactically Responsive Space.

The service wants to have an enduring responsive space capability as soon as 2026, which would allow the service to quickly launch satellites into space either to respond to an in-orbit threat or augment a degraded or destroyed system. That could mean having a spare satellite on orbit that could be turned on or maneuvered into position as needed, working with commercial partners to buy data in a crisis or, as in the case of Victus Nox, have a satellite on the ground that’s ready to be launched on demand.

Victus Nox is the Space Force’s second tactically responsive mission. The first flew in 2021 on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket. The service is making plans for a third launch, this time working with the Defense Innovation Unit. DIU announced Aug. 24 that the effort, dubbed Victus Haze, would focus on “end-to-end execution using commercial capabilities.”

The agency plans to award contracts for Victus Haze this fall. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)

 

29 Aug 23.  US aerospace primes actively facing off for Navy’s next-gen strike fighter, F/A-XX. The Navy confirms Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are officially vying for the right to build its next-gen fighter.

Three top American aerospace defense contractors are competing to build the aircraft for the Navy’s secretive next-generation strike fighter program, while two others seek to produce the engine, the service confirmed to Breaking Defense today.

According to a Sunday report from Aviation Week, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are all vying to build the aircraft slated to replace the Navy’s F/A-18 fleet. The same report identified Pratt & Whitney and GE Aerospace as the engine competitors.

In response to a request for comment from Breaking Defense, a Navy spokesperson said “F/A-XX has recently completed the Concept Refinement Phase and has entered Design Maturation. Navy confirms that Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, GE Aerospace, and Pratt & Whitney are industry participants in the F/A-XX Program.”

The service “has identified operational reach, capacity, long range kill chains, autonomy, and next generation survivability as key enablers in the Air Wing of the Future and supporting Family of System,” the spokesperson added.

Boeing declined to directly confirm it was in the competition, but provided a statement from Steve Nordlund, vice president and general manager at Boeing Air Dominance in which he said, “Boeing fighters are the backbone of today’s carrier air wing, and we’re using what we’ve learned to inform the multi-bn dollar strategic investment we’re making in advanced open mission systems and brand new, all-digital factories of the future.”

“We are fully committed to helping the US Navy achieve its future vision,” he said in the statement.

A spokesperson for Northrop Grumman confirmed to Breaking Defense the company is participating in the development work for the Navy’s F/A-XX efforts, but did not elaborate. However, earlier this this summer, Northrop CEO Kathy Warden indicated that the company was pursuing the Navy’s fighter effort. And Tom Jones, president of Northrop’s Aeronautics Systems, told Aviation Week that “Our focus and investment in digital engineering, advanced manufacturing and legacy in designing and fielding aircraft with advanced mission systems allow us to rapidly design, execute, and sustain current and future systems.”

A spokesperson for Pratt & Whitney confirmed the company is participating in the program but did not offer any further comments. Spokespeople for Lockheed Martin and GE Aerospace did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

The program to build the Navy’s next strike fighter is formally called “Next Generation Air Dominance” — the same name the Air Force has given its next-gen fighter, albeit a separate effort — and is largely shrouded in secrecy. In recent budget requests, the Navy has said it wants to prioritize funding the research and development of NGAD over the continued production of F/A-18 Super Hornets, a decision that received a poor reception from members of Congress whose districts benefit economically from the legacy aircraft’s factories.

Development of the Air Force’s NGAD fighter is thought to be ahead of the Navy’s, with an award planned for next year. Northrop’s Warden recently disclosed the company is not competing for that sixth-gen jet. It is believed that Lockheed and Boeing are the sole competitors for the Air Force program, though neither has said so publicly.

Meanwhile, Pratt and GE are also separately vying to build the Air Force NGAD’s engine, with a top service official recently sharing new plans to have both companies build powerplant prototypes.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has said that his service’s NGAD fighter will likely cost “multiples” of the F-35, and that early plans are to buy 200 copies of the pricey plane. The fighter, set to replace the F-22 beginning in the 2030s, will enjoy greater government control of data rights, Kendall has said, and will be built using a growing pool of “non-traditional” vendors. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense)

 

29 Aug 23. USAF requests $5.8bn for AI-driven combat aircraft. The US Air Force’s request for funding would see the AI-driven Valkyrie model developed and tested later this year.

The US Air Force has called for a multibn-dollar budget to build more than 1,000 pilotless combat aircraft, known as the XQ-58A Valkyrie model, US Department of Defense (DOD) service plans reveal.

Amounting to $5.8bn in total, the investment would be one of the largest in autonomous aerial weaponry. The Valkyrie aircraft is reportedly well-suited to ‘suicide’ missions and providing cover to flesh-and-blood pilots. It boasts a top speed of 700mph, cruise speed of 550mph and a range of 3,000 nautical miles.

Human rights organisations have expressed concerns. New York City-based Human Rights Watch released a report earlier this year that said the US policy of autonomous weaponry is “flawed” and a “recipe for disaster”, while the non-profit Future of Life Institute calls these developments “slaughterbots”.

The Valkyrie will be tested in a simulation over the Gulf of Mexico later this year, where it will invent its own strategy to chase and kill an enemy target, according to the New York Times.

The AI-military trend

The push for Valkyrie funding represents a wider push from the US weapons business and military institutions to rapidly evolve army technology in competition with rival states.

Mentions of artificial intelligence (AI) in defence company filings have increased by 182% from July to August, GlobalData research shows, reaching the same levels as previous spikes in March and May. AI has cemented itself as the leading thematic factor across the defence industry.

On 28 August, the US DOD announced its deployment of an AI-powered detection system to monitor airspace around Washington D.C. The system represents a “tenfold increase” in functionality over the 9/11-era version it replaces, according to Air Force Lt Col Kurtis Engelson.

AI’s emergence – and increasing prominence – across the US defence market is now giving rise to a new group of Pentagon contractors aiming to disrupt the longstanding monopoly of the ‘Big Five’: Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics.

(Source: army-technology.com)

 

29 Aug 23. Pentagon unveils ‘Replicator’ drone program to compete with China. The Pentagon committed on Monday to fielding thousands of attritable, autonomous systems across multiple domains within the next two years as part of a new initiative to better compete with China.

The program, dubbed Replicator, was announced by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, speaking at the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies conference here.

“Replicator will galvanize progress in the too-slow shift of U.S. military innovation to leverage platforms that are small, smart, cheap and many,” Hicks said.

Hicks and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady will oversee the program, with support from Doug Beck, director of the Defense Innovation Unit. Further details, Hicks said, will be released in the coming weeks.

Replicator rests on two assumptions. The first is that China’s core advantage is mass — “more ships, more missiles, more people,” as Hicks said — and that the United States’ best response is to innovate, rather than match that pound for pound.

The second is that attritable, autonomous systems are the right form of innovation. Hicks pointed to the war in Ukraine, in which cheap, often commercial drones have proven indispensable on the battlefield for reconaissance, targeting, and attacks. Russia too, she said, appeared to have a similar mass before launching its invasion last February.

However, this program is squarely focused on China. Hicks called this moment a “generational challenge to American society.”

”We’ll counter the [People’s Liberation Army’s] mass with mass of our own, but ours will be harder to plan for, harder to hit, and harder to beat,” she said.

Even so, Hicks noted the Pentagon will remain focused on its core systems. “America still benefits from platforms that are large, exquisite, expensive, and few,” she said. Instead, she said, Replicator is particularly focused on accelerating DoD’s recent investments in autonomous systems.

Replicator’s goal of fielding small drones in high numbers and on a rapid timeline echoes calls from former DIU director Mike Brown for the Pentagon to better leverage commercial innovation to deliver capability at scale — an approach he called a “hedge strategy.”

House appropriators have backed that idea in their fiscal 2025 defense spending bill. The legislation would allocate $1 bn toward establishing a DIU-managed hedge portfolio made up of low-cost drones, agile communication and computing modes and AI capabilities.

The Department of Defense requested $1.8 bn for artificial intelligence for fiscal 2024 and was overseeing more than 685 related projects as of 2021. Replicator is intended to pull those investments together and further scale production, Hicks said.

“It’s a reorganization of largely existing funds, and expected to cost in the range of the hundreds of ms,” wrote Eric Pahon, a spokesman for Hicks, in an email.

This is far from the first Defense Department innovation program, and Hicks invoked several past ones near the top of her speech. Such initiatives, in the past, were referenced so often they nearly became buzzwords.

Hicks is betting against that outcome today. “We know we can do it,” she said. “It doesn’t mean it’s without risk. We’ve got to take a big bet here.” (Source: Defense News)

 

24 Aug 23. Space Force to seek industry ideas for rapid deployment of satellites. Under a program called ‘Tactically Responsive Space Challenge’ the selected proposals can win awards of up to $1.7m. The U.S. Space Force is kicking off a new initiative focused on the rapid deployment of satellites during conflicts or emergencies.

From Aug. 30 through Sept. 28, companies can submit bids for the “Tactically Responsive Space Challenge” on the DoD Small Business Innovation Research portal. Selected proposals will receive “direct to Phase 2” Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts worth up to $1.7m. The Space Force is looking for “capabilities to rapidly respond to any kind of on-orbit needs on operationally relevant timelines. And usually that means within about 24 hours or less,” said Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough, Space Safari materiel leader at the Space Systems Command.

Speaking on a webinar Aug. 24, Birchenough said the Space Force is hoping to get ideas from a broad range of companies in the launch, satellite, ground systems and space logistics sectors of the industry.

Birchenough’s organization, Space Safari, last year funded a tactically responsive space experiment and awarded contracts to Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space to launch a space mission on 24 hours’ notice. That mission, called Victus Nox, has not yet launched.

Looking for fresh ideas

In announcing the kickoff of the Tactically Responsive Space Challenge, Birchenough said there is a need for comprehensive solutions beyond just buying launch services and payloads.

In a tactically responsive scenario, for example, the U.S. would need to launch a small imaging satellite to inspect a potential adversary’s spacecraft. “It could be some type of threat response where the adversary launches something new into orbit and we want to go and characterize it in a very short timeline,” she said.

Another scenario would be having to launch communications or imaging satellites to replace assets that were damaged during a conflict.

“It’s really having the ability to have something on the ground and ready to launch at the time of need,” said Birchenough. “There’s a lot of different approaches.”

The Space Force is open to nontraditional concepts such as having payloads readily available in warehouses on orbit. “We are extremely interested in capabilities that would be prepositioned on orbit and allow us to quickly respond that way, completely taking launch out of the equation,” she said.

“The scope here is very large and we’re looking for things that would fill all of those different approaches across those different mission areas,” Birchenough added.

The ‘Tactically Responsive Space Challenge’ will seek proposals under six different areas:

• Upfront coordination processes
• Logistics — defined broadly as capabilities for storage, security, fueling, support, and transportation
• Payloads sensors including electro-optical, infrared, LIDAR and radar
• Spacecraft buses, satellite refueling, maneuvering and disposal
• Launch vehicles
• Ground systems, command and control, on-orbit operations, and global antenna networks

The project is run by SpaceWERX, a Space Force technology-focused organization, and the Space Systems Command.

SpaceWERX project manager Maj. Jareth Lamb said companies are encouraged to team up with others, and can bid for multiple awards in more than one of the six areas.

Birchenough said the Space Force is looking for relatively mature technologies that can be prototyped over 15 months and fielded within two years. (Source: glstrade.com/Space News)

 

REST OF THE WORLD

 

31 Aug 23. Product specific Armscor tender documentation not unheard of. Armscor going as far as being product specific in tender documentation is not out of the ordinary when these are destined for “scientific research” according to James Kerr of Orion Consulting.

He was referring to a recent Armscor tender seeking a REMUS unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) for its Institute of Maritime Technology (IMT) in Simon’s Town. The tender (R&D/IMT-2023/018R&D/IMT-2023/018) was questioned by a potential bidder on the grounds Armscor “has an established preferred supplier/agent”. This because a specific product name is given in documentation and it is US manufactured.

He or she notes further in correspondence with Armscor’s Procurement Secretariat, the US-based OEM (original equipment manufacturer) “introduces other parameters of difficulty for acquisition, unless Armscor has a pre-arrangement for supply”. The Armscor Procurement Secretariat: Research and Development, has it “non-adherence, by proposing an alternative, as this potential bidder has requested, would nullify their compliance adherence”.

Kerr maintains IMT can specify specific products in the name of scientific research. “Gerotek, Alkantpan and other research entities in Armscor use the same approach for specialised equipment as does the CSIR, so this is not out of the norm for the country.”

Others in the local defence industry, who preferred anonymity, are of the opinion the challenge facing Armscor on the UUV tender will be to find three compliant products for evaluation, and drafting relevant tender documentation.

“There are probably companies willing to put a mark-up on off-the-shelf products to meet tender requirements,” one said, adding “the short response timeline more than likely indicates the requirement would have been known by a select few companies beforehand”.

“This could be an opportunity for a BBBEE Level 2 company to make 10% mark-up on a R50m plus system if the OEM also submits a solution. Even more mark-up if the OEM does not submit a bid. Not bad for filling in a few forms,” he noted wryly. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)

 

30 Aug 23. Communication Upgrades for Anzac Frigates. Work is underway to build and install new communications systems on New Zealand’s two Anzac frigates, HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana.

“The project will deliver modern communications systems to meet the most recent international interoperability and security standards and to ensure secure communication with our partners. This includes upgraded radios and satellite communications across a wide spectrum, and sophisticated control systems,” Sarah Minson, Deputy Secretary Capability Delivery at the Ministry of Defence said.

UK supplier Systems Engineering and Assessments (SEA) is leading the build and installation on the NZ$52 m contract, working with New Zealand-based companies, Beca, Marops, and McKay. The three New Zealand companies were previously involved in the design phase of the project, also led by SEA.

SEA Managing Director Richard Flitton said the company is fully focused on bringing the communications system in to service over the coming years, and on developing in-country training, skills and expertise through local partners. “Engagement with New Zealand industry commenced in 2016, and relationships had matured with our Anzac partners by 2019 for what was our first in-country project. Through the design phase of the project, Beca, McKay and Marops have offered invaluable support and insight that will greatly benefit the build and install phase of the programme,” he said.

Beca will test and validate the upgraded capability, Marops will develop and supply computer-based training packages for the maintainers and operators, while McKay will undertake the installation.

“It is great to see these companies working together through to the second phase of this important project – bringing benefits to New Zealand industry and strengthening regional supply chains,” Sarah Minson said.

The two Anzac-class frigates are high-end capabilities capable of undertaking a wide range of operations in support of New Zealand’s interests, ranging from Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to combat roles as part of a multinational coalition.

The frigates were commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy in the late 1990s. In combination with the recent systems upgrade to their combat, surveillance and counter measures, their sustainment programme and this communications upgrade, the Anzac frigates will provide the Royal New Zealand Navy with a proven and reliable combat capability out to the mid-2030s.

Work on the new system for each frigate is expected to take place during scheduled maintenance. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ New Zealand Ministry of Defence)

 

28 Aug 23. EDGE Group Signs Agreement with the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology of the Brazilian Air Force. EDGE Group PJSC (EDGE), one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, today announced the signing of a strategic agreement with the Brazilian Air Force’s Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA), the national military research centre for aviation and space flight.

The signing ceremony took place in the city of São José dos Campos as part of an ongoing high-level EDGE delegation visit to Brazil, and was witnessed by members of EDGE’s senior management and the General Director of the Department of Aerospace Science & Technology, Air Force General Maurício Augusto de Medeiros.

During their itinerary, the group also met with local dignitaries and major Brazilian industry players and partners, including SIATT and Turbomachine. The visits will enable EDGE to pave the way for greater collaboration on knowledge exchange, R&D cooperation, and the co-development of advanced defence systems, among others.

As per the agreement, the two organisations will explore opportunities to jointly develop projects in the Air and Space, Smart Weapons, and unmanned and autonomous platform domains, as well as other areas . The agreement is in line with EDGE’s strategy of building mutually beneficial partnerships supporting defence capability development in the UAE and Latin America, where EDGE recently established its first international office, located in Brasilia.

EDGE recently announced a strategic partnership agreement with the Brazilian Navy to co-develop a long-range anti-ship missile, as well as provide advanced solutions, such as anti-jamming technology, which is developed by EDGE in the UAE. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/EDGE)

 

28 Aug 23. Chief of Taiwan’s AIDC Urges Government to Start Building Next-Gen Fighter Jets. The head of Taiwan’s main domestic aircraft developer has called on the government to give the green light and funding to develop the next generation indigenous fighter jets sooner rather than later, a move local defense experts said could boost the defense industry’s capability and increase leverage in buying advanced fighters from the United States.

Speaking to CNA during an Aug. 18 interview, Ma Wan-june, president of Taichung-based aerospace company, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), made the call 30 years after AIDC-developed Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) entered service in the nation’s Air Force in the 1990s.

Taiwan initiated development of the IDF in May 1982, and named it after then President Chiang Ching-kuo, after the U.S. government at the time refused to sell F-16s to the country.

Since beginning service in 1992, the IDF has become one of the main backbones of the nation’s Air Force fleet.

Following the development of IDF, AIDC has also been building its own Advanced Trainer Jet (ATJ) dubbed the “Brave Eagle” since 2017 as part of President Tsai Ing-wen’s project to build indigenous warplanes, warships, and submarines launched after she assumed office in May 2016.

The first prototype of the new ATJ, serial 11001/08-9001, flew for the first time on June 2020. AIDC is scheduled to deliver 66 advanced trainer aircraft to the government by 2026.

“Now is the time for moving on to develop the next generation ‘Advanced Defense Fighter (ADF),'” Ma told CNA.

According to Ma, while 55 percent of parts used in IDFs and 75 percent of parts used in ATJ are domestically-made, given Taiwan’s unique diplomatic isolation, AIDC estimated that it would be capable of building 95 percent of all parts to be used in the future ADF once the government agrees to launch the project.

Ma said advancing indigenous weapon system development and construction capacities is definitely the right path for Taiwan, because they are valuable for the country both in boosting its defense capability and bringing economic benefits.

Ma also said indigenous weapon design and development are a long-term mission and one cannot simply call it off after the completion of one stage of the mission.

“It would take approximately 15 years to develop an aircraft, plus another 10 years before entering mass production,” he noted.

He disclosed that after completing the development of IDF from the 80s to 90s, many AIDC talents decided to leave the country and find works overseas, including to South Korea, where they helped the Asian country develop T-50 Golden Eagle trainer jets.

“Brain drain is inevitable if a country is not providing a stage for talents to exercise their expertise,” Ma said.

AIDC, previously known as the Aero Industry Development Center, was founded in 1969 under the Republic of China Air Force, the official name of Taiwan. It became part of the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), Taiwan top military research unit, in 1983.

In 1996, AIDC was transformed from a military establishment into a government-owned company under the authority of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Ma has been serving as AIDC president since March 2019. He previously served in the NCSIST as its deputy head.

Asked by CNA to comment on Ma’s calls to develop the next generation indigenous fighter jet, the Air Force did not give a direct answer, saying only that the military has always made plans on weapon system procurement and development based on its defensive needs and latest enemy threats.

Three defense experts CNA talked to all agreed that it was important for Taiwan to start putting resources in developing next generation fighter jets.

Chang Yen-ting, a former deputy commander of the Air Force, said Taiwan was able to buy F-16s from the U.S. in the 1990s after it had successfully developed and produced IDFs.

So, if Taiwan begins to develop its own ADF, the U.S. would more likely grant F-35 sales to the country, he noted.

However, Chang said Taiwan’s weapon developers currently do not have the capability to build fifth-generation jets and therefore it could be extremely costly to develop ADFs on its own.

Chang, Su Tzu-yun, a scholar with the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), and Chieh Chung, an associate research fellow with the National Policy Foundation in Taipei, all suggested that Taiwan’s government jointly develop advanced fighters with the U.S.

Given the fact that it could take a decade for developing a new fighter, by then other countries are already developing 5.5 generation or more advanced jets, Chieh warned.

Chieh also said Taiwanese defense companies should focus on first becoming part of the U.S.’ defense supply chain to learn from building the basic system before moving into more advanced aircraft manufacturing.

(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ China News Agency)

 

28 Aug 23. RFPs for Canadian submarine upgrade are expected by end of 2023. Initial work packages under Phase 2 of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN’s) Victoria-class submarine Modernization (VCM) project are scheduled to go out for tender. According to a Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) official, requests for proposals (RFPs) for two VCM Phase 2 projects – flank sonar array modernisation and periscope modernisation – “are expected to be released to industry in late 2023”. A further project for making improvements to the submarine galley is in the bid evaluation process and is almost complete. The DND official told Janes, “Contract for that work is expected to be awarded later this year.” The RCN’s four Victoria-class submarines are completing a series of deep maintenance cycles as a way of moving towards a new operational and maintenance profile, and these docking periods present an opportunity to upgrade the boats with new equipment under the VCM project. (Source: Janes)

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