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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
07 Sep 23. UK scopes transition plan for directed energy weapons. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is embarking on a three-year ‘Transition Phase’ programme designed to support the development and delivery of directed energy weapon (DEW) systems tothe UK armed forces over the next five to 10 years.
In a briefing note promulgated on 1 September industry has been asked to help shape the UK DEW procurement strategy by providing early input to guide planning and policy. At this stage, the MoD is leaning towards a framework arrangement that would allow it to leverage expertise from a wide range of suppliers across all tiers of the supply chain.
Being led by the Directed Energy Weapons team within the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation, the new DEW road map is intended to result in the fielding of laser DEW (LDEW) and radio frequency DEW (RFDEW) systems for air-defence and counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) applications. The work will build on prior DEW maturation and learning, including lessons learned from three capability demonstrator projects expected to start user experimentation in 2024. (Source: Janes)
07 Sep 23. Puma support agreement raises questions about UK’s new helicopter programme. The UK Ministry of Defence extends its contract with Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd for Puma Mk2 AC support through 2028, raising doubts over the UK’s New Medium Helicopter programme.
To secure ongoing support for the Puma Mk2 AC, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced an extension of its contract with Airbus Helicopters UK.
The decision to extend this contract has far-reaching implications, particularly for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter programme, which is intended to replace the ageing Puma fleet.
Valued at £320m ($400m), the contract will span up to three years, providing maintenance and support for this military asset. This decision is to ensure the continued readiness and reliability of the Puma Mk2 AC in the service of the UK MoD.
The contract, which falls under the “Repair and maintenance services of military aircraft, missiles and spacecrafts,” has a closing date for submission of 20 September, 2023.
The unresolved transition
The current contract, known as the Puma follow-on support arrangement, is an extension of support for an additional three years, starting from 1 April 2025, and concluding on 31 March 31, 2028.
The extension of support for the Puma Mk2 AC raises questions about the future trajectory of the New Medium Helicopter programme. Will this extension affect the MoD’s timeline and objectives for transitioning to a new helicopter platform?
According to GlobalData’s “UK Defence Market 2022-2027” report, the New Medium Helicopter programme is for the defence platform acquisition of transport and utility helicopters in a planned deal worth $1.3bn. The agreement is planned but is undisclosed and has yet to be awarded.
In a GlobalData Analyst Briefing, titled “From four to one: the UK must choose carefully for its Future Medium Helicopter”, defence analyst James Marques emphasised that the decision to be made on the UK’s decision on what direction it will take on the medium helicopter programme is not an easy one.
“Leonardo, Airbus, Sikorsky and Bell have all put forward strong platforms, but the decision goes beyond measuring capability – the UK must consider the benefits their choice can bring to the British economy through involving domestic industry and manufacturing.”
A complex decision
With the new medium helicopter requirement, Army Technology understands the UK Ministry of Defence will likely fly the helicopter into the mid-2040s. Therefore, It is not a decision to be taken lightly, hence the extension of the Puma HC2 and mitigation of what is expected to be the delay of the decision on which supplier to choose from for the new medium helicopter programme. Army Technology reported in 2021 that the Puma was expected to retire by 2025.
Airbus Helicopters UK has confirmed that no licenses for Puma Mk2 support shall be granted outside the Airbus Helicopters Group. This assurance reinforces its position as the provider of support for the Puma Mk2 AC.
The extension of this contract safeguards the operational readiness and reliability of the Puma Mk2 AC, ensuring that it continues to serve as a asset for the UK MoD as the New Medium Helicopter programme shows delays.
The intersection of this extension with the New Medium Helicopter programme adds complexity to the MoD’s strategy.
Airforce Technology has approached the UK MoD for comment regarding the future of the New Medium Helicopter programme. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
05 Sep 23. £880k available for proposals to help reduce cyber risk across defence. DASA has launched a new Themed Competition to help quantify and reduce cyber risk across defence and enhance digital resilience.
- DASA has launched a new Themed Competition: Reducing Cyber Risk Across Defence
- Funding provided by the Cyber Resilience Programme (CRP) in Defence Digital, a part of Strategic Command
- Up to £880k is available (excluding VAT)
- This competition is looking to fund up to 5 proposals
- Additional funding for further phases to increase TRL may be available
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Themed Competition Reducing Cyber Risk Across Defence. Cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated, with potentially more impact on military operations. This Themed Competition seeks proposals that will help to quantify and reduce the cyber risk across Defence, enhance digital resilience and enable Defence to be secure by default.
The risk of cyber attack is amongst the highest that is managed by the Defence Board and it requires a collective response to address it. Becoming cyber resilient is the first challenging milestone. Remaining resilient will require constant appraisal of our adversaries and ourselves. We are not alone in developing and exploiting technologies and will need to work together across industry, Government, Allies and Partners to maximise our collective capabilities.
The Cyber Resilience Programme seeks to address the need to build a cyber resilient Defence, in accordance with the Cyber Resilience Strategy for Defence, and comprises four themes:
- Awareness, Behaviour and Culture
- Resilient by Design
- Secure Digital Foundations
- Cyber Vulnerability Fixes
This competition is part of a broader suite of activity undertaken by the Cyber Resilience Programme that engages industry, academia, partners and allies, to build military capabilities with inherent resilience.
This competition seeks:
- novel tools that strengthen digital resilience across defence
- novel approaches that enable security by default
- novel ways to quantify Operational Technology risk
This competition is interested in support innovation projects that will deliver outputs at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 – technology model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.
The challenges:
Challenge 1: Digital Resilience
This competition is seeking innovative ways to strengthen digital resilience across Defence.
Challenge 2: Secure by Default
This competition is seeking to develop capability to enable Secure by Default approaches to be implemented in the future, for Defence and its industry partners. We are looking for research activities that will investigate tools and approaches which support the implementation of a Secure by Default approach.
Challenge 3: Quantifying Operational Technology Risk
This competition is seeking innovative ways to quantify OT cyber risk across Defence. Proposals need to be able to work in an operational environment or in some way take operational scenarios into account.
Key Dates and Funding
- Up to £880k is available for this competition, and DASA expects to fund up to 5 proposals.
- Submission deadline: midday on Tuesday 31 October 2023
Do you have a novel approach that could help reduce cyber risk across Defence? Read the full competition document and submit a proposal: Reducing Cyber Risk Across Defence – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Supporting events
Webinar
19 September 11:00 -12:00pm
This dial-in session will provide further detail on the problem space and a chance to ask questions in an open forum. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reducing-cyber-risk-across-defence-launch-webinar-tickets-3817281
1 – 2 – 1 Sessions
A series of 20 minute 1-2-1 teleconference sessions, giving you the opportunity to ask specific questions. If you would like to participate, please register on the links below. Booking is on a first come first served basis.
20 September 1-2-1 Sessions | 21 September 1-2-1 Sessions
Submit a proposal
Do you have an innovation that may help reduce cyber risk and increase cyber resilience across Defence? Read the full competition document to learn more and submit a proposal.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
05 Sep 23. DASA seeks technologies to detect airborne pathogens.
New Innovation Focus Area seeks generation-after-next biosensing technologies.
- DASA has launched an Innovation Focus Area called Revolutionising Biosensing: Instant Detection within Aerosol Collector Substrates
- Funding provided by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
- Up to £150,000 funding available for Generation-After-Next (GAN) proposals, which can detect and identify biological threats on or within filters.
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Innovation Focus Area (IFA) called Revolutionising Biosensing: Instant Detection within Aerosol Collector Substrates. This IFA seeks innovations that will help contribute to the development of generation-after-next biosensing technologies.
This IFA is run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
Do you have a biosensing solution? Read the full requirements and submit your proposal.
Background: the importance of biosensing
Timely detection and identification of airborne pathogens or hazardous materials is crucial for an integrated systems-based response to a malicious release. This allows for quick implementation of measures to ensure safety. One common method for collecting airborne materials is via the capture of air samples onto filters, followed by removal and the specific detection of nucleic acids or surface antigens (e.g. PCR, ELISA). However, the downstream (i.e. off filter) processing step(s) increase burden for the user and delays actionable response, such as donning respiratory protection or taking medical countermeasures. Specific identification to species level is therefore critical to ensure timely intervention. Capacity to perform the assay while the sample is still on the filter would be a significant step-change in capability.
The vision of UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Security Partners Across Government (PAG) is to develop generation-after-next biological sensing capabilities that will sustain strategic advantage and contribute a decisive edge. The MOD is currently investing in several projects developing future platforms for which filter-based collection of airborne material will remain a favourable technology option. This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) Innovation Focus Area (IFA) is supporting efforts to leverage novel advances and techniques in the fields of sensing and filtration to understand and open the exciting potential to integrate biological sensing assays onto filters for UK defence and security applications.
Scope
This IFA is seeking proposals that present novel solutions that facilitate detection and identification of biological threat materials on or within a filter substrate. Submitted proposals must:
- demonstrate evidence of an innovative and unique approach with practical experimentation
- incorporate assays supporting species level specificity with good sensitivity (detect at concentration of 100 microbes per litre of air)
- use microbe(s) to demonstrate functionality (preferably in aerosol phase)
- reduce downstream processing burden for filter-based collection techniques
- provide a readily discernible signal to a positive event in a rapid time frame (preferably equal to or less than 60 min)
- reach between Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 and 4 by the end of contract
- consider at onset the real world challenges to prototyping concepts across TRL 5 to 7
- have project values of ideally between £50,000 to £150,000
- have a project duration of no more than 12 months, including reporting
Submit a proposal
Do you have a solution or novel approach that may help Dstl develop new biosensing techniques?
Read the full competition document to learn more and submit a proposal: IFA041 – Revolutionizing Biosensing: Instant Detection within Aerosol Collector Substrates – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
EUROPE
07 Sep 23. TKMS reveals potential offerings for Polish Navy’s ‘Orka’ submarine programme. German shipyard Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is planning to potentially pitch its Type 212 Common Design (CD) submarine for the Polish Navy’s ‘Orka’ submarine programme, Janes has learned. Speaking to Janes at the MSPO 2023 exhibition in Kielce, Poland, a source from TKMS noted the shipyard’s interest in the programme, which is to replace the Polish Navy’s aging and last remaining ‘Kilo’ (Project 877E)-class submarine, ORP Orzeł . Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak previously announced in May that a tender for the Orka programme would be launched in 2023. The project is for an as-yet-unspecified number of cruise missile capable submarines with high stealth characteristics. (Source: Janes)
07 Sep 23. Boeing pitches F-15EX Eagle II to Poland. Boeing is formally pitching its F-15EX Eagle II to Poland, saying the air dominance fighter offers the country “unmatched” capabilities. Announcing its offer at the MSPO 2023 defence exhibition in Kielce, Boeing said on 7 September that a potential US Department of Defense (DoD) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) buy would be extended to the country for “superior interoperability, supportability and affordability, along with a robust industry plan that would support Poland’s goal of developing independent defence capabilities”. (Source: Janes)
07 Sep 23. Hanwha Voices Hope for Poland’s Submarine Acquisition Project, South Korea’s Hanwha Group hopes to strengthen its presence in the Polish defense market by competing in the Eastern European country’s submarine acquisition project, a senior executive at the group’s defense unit has said.
Lee Boo-hwan, head of Hanwha Aerospace Co.’s European unit, made the remarks Wednesday in a group interview as the company has become a major arms supplier for Poland after signing deals last year to supply hundreds of K9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers to Warsaw.
On the back of that success, the group’s shipbuilding unit, Hanwha Ocean, is seeking to participate in Poland’s “Orka” project, which aims to acquire three to four 3,000-ton submarines and is estimated to be worth over 3 trillion won (US$2.25 bn).
Lee voiced his hope of taking part in the project, citing the relationship that the broader group has built through last year’s deals. “As we have built trustworthy ties since last year, (we) believe that it will be easier for Hanwha Ocean to approach the (Polish Navy),” he said.
A total of 11 companies have submitted preliminary bids for the project, with Hanwha proposing the KSS-III Batch-II submarine, Lee said during the 31st International Defense Industry Exhibition, or MSPO 2023, in Kielce, Poland.
“In terms of technology, Poland has made a lot of requirements, but I think the South Korean solution meets all of those,” Lee said. “The main requirement is the ability to offer maintenance capabilities, and we can sufficiently provide that,” he said. “We have already made exports to Indonesia and have built maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities there.”
He also noted the advanced technologies incorporated in the KSS-III Batch-II, such as its fuel-cell-based air-independent propulsion, allowing for quieter operation.
The KSS-III Batch-II, which is planned to be equipped with 10 vertical launching system cells, has yet to enter service in South Korea. The Navy currently operates KSS-III Batch-I submarines, which have six such cells.
“Poland thinks of South Korea as a good candidate, and as South Korean shipyards are very competitive, (we) expect that there will be an opportunity to enter the submarine project,” Cho Hyun-ki, deputy minister for current capabilities program at South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said in a separate interview.
Hanwha has made a groupwide push to secure the project, with the group’s Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan explaining details of the KSS-III Batch-II submarine to Polish President Andrzej Duda, when he visited the company’s booth at the exhibition Tuesday.
The move comes as Poland has heavily invested in the modernization of its military since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine early last year. Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. also signed a deal last year to supply Poland with 48 FA-50 light attack aircraft through 2028.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Yonhap News Agency)
07 Sep 23. L3Harris, PGZ Sign MoU to Strengthen Polish Defense Capabilities. L3Harris Technologies and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. (PGZ) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) intended to enhance communication systems integration and sustainment for the Polish Armed Forces and bolster Poland’s indigenous defense industry.
The MOU furthers collaboration between L3Harris and PGZ with a shared vision of rapid response to Polish defense sector requirements from system development to in-country field maintenance.
As part of the agreement, PGZ subsidiaries Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności Nr 2 S.A. (WZŁ 2) and PIT Radwar S.A., renowned for their defense manufacturing and support expertise throughout Poland, will work toward renewing their status as an authorized in-country maintenance facility for L3Harris tactical radio products. L3Harris further intends to designate WZŁ 2 and PIT RADWAR as preferred in-country installation and integration providers.
“We stand committed to meeting the current and future needs of the Polish Armed Forces, and once we successfully complete the negotiation of definitive agreements, we will formally extend our long-standing relationship with PGZ, WZŁ 2 and PIT RADWAR to foster investment and capabilities that enhance the technological landscape in Poland,” said Rick Dickson, L3Harris regional managing director for Central and Eastern Europe. “This MOU represents a great step toward providing our customers with the highest level of support and service for our resilient and interoperable communications solutions.”
L3Harris has been supporting the Polish Armed Forces for decades and has plans to expand its presence in the coming years. From a tactical communications perspective, the company has been delivering Falcon radios since the mid-1990s to Poland’s special forces, land forces and national guard. L3Harris has delivered thousands of radio systems to Poland to date and continues to hire in-country employees and team with local Polish partners.
In addition to the strengthening partnerships and collaboration with local industry, L3Harris plans to expand its presence in Poland and open a facility next year to support advanced electro-optical/infrared engineering and manufacturing.
L3Harris and PGZ subsidiary WZŁ 2 have partnered on numerous defense programs in Poland since 2003. In 2013, WZŁ 2 became certified to perform in-country maintenance of L3Harris NSA-endorsed, high-assurance radios. The companies will also look to expand technology collaboration by leveraging a proven roadmap for industrial localization, which L3Harris has successfully implemented in other regions, including Saudi Arabia.
“PGZ and its subsidiaries are renowned for their defense manufacturing and support expertise throughout Poland, and 20 years of partnership has built mutual trust,” said Dickson. “We have a shared vision of ‘Polonization,’ enhancing technological capabilities and providing superior products and services to the Polish defense sector.”
The MOU marks the beginning of a collaboration demonstrating the commitment of both companies to support and strengthen Poland’s defense capabilities, contributing to the nation’s security and growth.
“We are proud to join forces with L3Harris,” said Kamila Matela, PGZ director of C4 Projects. “This collaboration will bolster our technological capabilities and enable us to contribute significantly to the growth and advancement of the Polish defense sector.”
Both companies will work towards commitments on definitive commercial agreements in the following months that will further strengthen the defense industry in Poland and foster enduring cooperation between L3Harris and PGZ.
“We are always looking for ways to better support our customers,” said David Taubman, L3Harris Poland regional sales director. “We are proud to be a preferred communications provider to the Polish Armed Forces, and we are in full support of ‘Polonization.’ We are looking forward to exploring the possibility to manufacture our resilient and NATO-interoperable communication equipment and accessories right here in Poland”. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ L3Harris Technologies)
06 Sep 23. Germany forges pact for Leopard 2 successor in snub to Paris, Handelsblatt reports. Germany has signed agreements with Italy, Spain and Sweden on the development of a successor to the Leopard 2 tank, German business daily Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday.
If confirmed, the deal would be certain to upset France, which, in 2017, agreed with Berlin to develop a joint Franco-German tank to succeed the German Leopard 2 and the French Leclerc in a project beset by delays and disagreements.
The initiative is to take place under the leadership of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE), the German arms makers building the Leopard 2, Handelsblatt reported, citing unnamed industry and political sources.
The German defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Rheinmetall declined to comment on the report. A spokesperson for KMW could not immediately comment.
The newspaper said the partners in the deal were planning to apply to the European Defence Fund for funding amounting to a three-digit m euro sum, adding the project would also involve Sweden’s Saab (SAABb.ST) and Italy’s Leonardo (LDOF.MI). It did not identify which Spanish company would be involved.
The delays to the proposed Franco-German project have strained ties already tested by differences over energy topics and the question to what extent Europe should become independent from the U.S. in its security policy.
Still, the defence ministers of France and Germany said in July they sought to give fresh impetus to the venture and had tasked their army chiefs to hammer out the rough outlines of the new tank’s capabilities, to have a basic document ready by the end of the year.
Handelsblatt, however, reported the countries had not been able to agree on the specifications of the tank, with France aiming for a rather light vehicle whereas Germany opted for a more heavily armoured tank.
The French military has been traditionally strongly involved in Africa where having a lighter vehicle that can be more easily transported by air makes sense. Germany, in contrast, sees the major threat as coming from Russia.
The defence ministry in Paris and the office of President Emmanuel Macron did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Handelsblatt said the new tank deal was a setback for the Franco-German cooperation in defence procurement, even though it was possible that both projects might be continued.
It cited French government sources as saying the topic would be raised at Franco-German government consultations scheduled for the start of October. (Source: Reuters)
07 Sep 23. MOD to Recommend to Slovakia’s Air Defence Capability to the Government. The Slovak Defence Ministry has completed the bid evaluation process for very short-range and medium-range air defence (VSHORAD & MRAD) systems.
Following up on the conclusions of the evaluation, a team of MOD experts have prepared the proposed best solutions to Slovakia’s Air Defence Capability, taking account of all relevant criteria such as technical capabilities, total procurement price, integrated logistical support services, service life costs, schedule of delivery, and training of operators.
Following the evaluation results from the MOD experts, the MOD recommends that one (1) mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM-M) system be procured from the State of Israel through a Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement under Stage 1 of the Slovak Air Defence Capability Programme. The best offer from Israel was followed by the offers from Germany and France.
The MOD also recommends that the very short-range man-portable/crew-served air defence (MANPAD/CREWPAD) systems be procured from Poland via a G2G agreement. The best offer from Poland was followed by the offers from Sweden, France and South Korea.
Today, the MOD has referred the proposal to the Ministry of Finance’s Value for Money Office for consideration. Subsequently, the document along with the recommended solution will be submitted to the SVK government for a final approval decision.
If talks with the selected states are unsuccessful, the MOD will lead negotiations with the countries next on the list, according to the final bidders’ ranking.
As State Secretary of the SVK MOD Marian Majer reminds us, securing Slovakia’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) has been among the shortages in our country’s defence capabilities in the long run. “It holds true that thanks to our allies, we have the opportunity to address this need to our satisfaction, even in view of the value that we can get for the resources available. The proposed solution reflects the specific needs of our Armed Forces and our country,” State Secretary Marian Majer said.
Director General of the MOD Modernisation Department and National Armaments Director Michal Homza said: “Based on our lessons learned from the ongoing conflict, Slovakia and many other allied states must urgently address the need to develop their Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) capabilities. Therefore, this situation places additional demands on existing production capacities, which results in higher prices and longer delivery periods. For these reasons, it is inevitable for Slovakia to make this decision as soon as possible.”
According to the winning bids, the overall procurement costs for the two types of AD systems, initially estimated at €196,450,677 (including VAT), stand at €193,985,880 (including VAT).
The VSHORAD & MRAD systems are set to be delivered into service with the Slovak Armed Forces from 2024 to 2027. The final approval decision on the best solution now rests with the SVK Government.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Slovak Republic Ministry of Defence)
07 Sep 23. Italy: A Major Boost to Arms Sales. On August 3, in the middle of the summer holidays, the Italian Cabinet gave the green light to a major change of the arms export control system based on the law n°185/1990.
The reform…
The text of the official press release confirms the key-point: the reform will transfer the decision-making process to a political body instead of an administrative department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the UMAA (Unità per le autorizzazioni dei materiali di armamento).
“The Council of Ministers, on the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Antonio Tajani, approved a draft law which introduces modifications to the law of July 9, 1990, n. 185, regulating the control over international transfers of military material. In particular, action is being taken on the mechanism for applying export bans, to eliminate certain uncertainties of interpretation, without modifying their strictness.
“Responsibility for the application of the bans is attributed to the Interministerial Committee for the Exchange of Military Materials for Defense (CISD), composed of the President of the Council of Ministers and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, of the Interior, Defence, Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Industry.
“CISD will establish general guidelines for the application of the law, general guidelines for the transfer of military property and general criteria for the application of prohibitions. The text also eliminates the need for an authorization for contractual negotiations in the event of exchanges with European Union countries, extends the deadlines for the obligation to justify the completion of the export operation and toughens the administrative sanctions envisaged in the event of non-compliance with this obligation.”
In detail, the main amendment relates above all to Chapter II of Law 185/1990, more specifically to Articles 6 (re-establishment of the CISD, which was abolished in 1993) and 7 (composition of the new committee).
In line with the target of boosting the arms sales
This reform is one of the pillars of the overall strategy of Meloni’s government which aims to restore Italy’s key-position in strategic aeras: the Mediterranean Sea (first ring), the Persian Gulf (2nd) and the Indo-Pacific region (3rd). This foreign policy relies on establishing or re-establishing strategic partnerships initially with Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Tunisia, Libya, and subsequently with Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Indonesia, Singapore, and India will follow later.
The restoration of the CISD should boost Italian arms sales, which have been declining since 2017 as highlighted by the recent annual report on arms exports: (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/)
07 Sep 23. Eastern European nations reshape their fleets of fighting vehicles. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine fueling military acquisitions along NATO’s eastern flank, several European allies are advancing purchases of new wheeled and tracked infantry fighting vehicles.
Military budgets are soaring across the region, and lessons drawn from the ongoing war are triggering a robust increase in defense acquisitions. Numerous Eastern European allies have supplied tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, generating a spike in demand for replacements.
Some seek to buy foreign-made vehicles, while securing domestic participation in their manufacturing and maintenance, and others intend to have their own industry develop new vehicles fitted with foreign-designed weapons.
Here’s a snapshot of what that looks like:
Polish fleet
Poland’s Defence Ministry is developing the largest tracked vehicle acquisition program in Eastern Europe in terms of the number of units planned for production. Earlier this year, the ministry signed a contract with a consortium led by Huta Stalowa Wola — an offshoot of Polish defense giant PGZ — to buy about 1,400 vehicles on a tracked platform.
Developed under the Borsuk program (or “Badger” in English), the initiative is to enable Poland to replace its outdated fleet of BWP-1s, a version of the Soviet-designed BMP-1 vehicle.
A Polish BWP-1 amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle demonstrates capabilities during training in Wierzbiny, Poland, on June 4, 2018. (Spc. Alan Prince/U.S. Army National Guard)
“The framework agreement concluded on 28 February 2023 foresees the delivery of about 1,400 vehicles based on a universal modular tracked platform, including 1,000 Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles,” a spokesperson for the ministry told Defense News. “The delivery time of these vehicles will be stipulated in the further executive contracts.”
The 400 tracked vehicles that are to accompany the Borsuk are to come in several variants, including command, medical evacuation, engineering reconnaissance, contamination reconnaissance and more.
The Borsuk is equipped with a ZSSW-30 turret armed with a Mk44 Bushmaster II 30 mm chain gun, a Spike LR anti-tank missile system and a UKM-2000C 7.62mm machine gun, among other weapons, according to the ministry.
Poland plans to implement the entire project by 2035.
Foreign designs for Romania
Romania is spearheading a similar initiative. The nation’s MLI-84 infantry fighting vehicle is a design from the early 1980s. About 180 such vehicles were produced for the country’s land forces, some of which were later modernized in cooperation with Israeli partners. The Romanian Defence Ministry now plans to replace them with a new platform in what could represent one of the country’s largest acquisition programs in the coming years.
Contrary to Poland, which decided to develop its new generation of tracked vehicles through its domestic defense industry, Romania is seemingly planning to acquire a foreign product to be manufactured with the participation of its domestic defense sector.
Other Eastern European nations have employed a similar model. Among others, the Czech Republic and Slovakia selected the CV90 made by BAE Systems Hägglunds in Sweden, and Hungary opted for the German firm Rheinmetall’s Lynx.
A spokesperson for the Romanian ministry told Defense News that Bucharest “intends to buy a total number of 298 IFVs in different configurations.”
“There is a mix of technical criteria, regarding both the armaments systems and the performances of the vehicle, that will be evaluated, together with financial, economic and delivery conditions,” the representative said.
In March 2023, the ministry requested lawmakers’ approval for several programs, including its tracked vehicle acquisition plans. Publicly available information suggests the program is worth about €2.99 bn (U.S. $3.28 bn).
“There is a cross-party consensus that military spending is needed, given the war that is taking place just across the border in Ukraine,” a senior Romanian defense analyst told Defense News on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of military acquisition efforts.
“The program is divided into two phases. The first phase will take place between 2023 and 2031, and involves the acquisition of 246 vehicles. The second phase will begin after 2031, and involves the procurement of 52 vehicles for the strategic reserve,” the analyst added.
Slovenia’s commitment
For Slovenia, developing a fleet of eight-wheel-drive infantry fighting vehicles is part of the nation’s commitment to NATO.
The country has vowed it will be able to deploy a midsized battalion battle group and a midsized reconnaissance battalion to take part in NATO activities. According to Slovenia’s 2020 defense whitepaper, the government will establish the former by 2027 and the latter by 2030.
In July 2023, the government amended the Defence Ministry’s acquisition program for the years 2023 to 2026, authorizing it to allocate about €695.2 m toward the purchase of 106 wheeled infantry fighting vehicles.
The ministry is currently “in the process of purchasing 8×8 wheeled combat vehicles on a government-to-government model. We estimate that the procurement process will be completed this year with the signing of the relevant intergovernmental agreement,” a spokesperson for the Slovenian ministry told Defense News.
The latest development follows the government’s decision last year to scrap a deal to buy 45 Boxer armored vehicles with related equipment and services for a total of €343.4 m from the international entity Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation. The move was based on findings from an internal audit commissioned by Defence Minister Marjan Šarec.
In a July 2023 interview with local broadcaster RTV Slovenija, Šarec said his ministry is evaluating five offers, but he did not disclose the names of the companies involved.
“This purchase will definitely be carried out according under the government-to-government system, which means without intermediaries,” he said. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
06 Sep 23. EDA Signs Framework Contracts for Joint Procurement of 155mm Ammunition. The European Defence Agency has so far signed eight framework contracts with European industry for the joint procurement of 155mm ammunition. The signing of the latest five contracts took place at EDA headquarters in Brussels on 5 September, during a visit of the European Union’s Political and Security Committee (PSC) ambassadors.
High Representative Josep Borrell, who is also Head of the European Defence Agency, said: “We are taking another step forward in our three-track ammunition initiative. Member States can now pass orders within eight framework contracts. Time is of essence. Putin does not show any sign of letting up in his aggression against the Ukrainian people. This is why our military support for Ukraine’s defence must continue. ”
EDA’s Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý said: “The signing of these framework contracts between EDA and the European defence industry shows our capacity to swiftly secure the best deals possible for EU Member States and Norway.
“We are now offering viable opportunities for Member States to place orders with industry through EDA, either to support Ukraine or to replenish their own national stocks. It is now up to Member States to make full use of these options,” he said.
To date, EDA has negotiated and signed the multiple framework contracts for the procurement of the 155mm ammunition round, also known as all-up-round, for the Panzerhaubitze 2000, as well as for the projectile and fuse components of ammunition for the Krab howitzer system.
More framework contracts will soon materialise for other howitzer systems.
Signing ceremony
Collaborative procurement is the best option to achieve cost reduction from economies of scale and interoperability, while allowing Member States to purchase ammunition according to their national needs or in support of Ukraine. The overarching EDA project arrangement has been signed by 26 Member States and Norway. Flexible and inclusive, it allows all EDA Member States to join the initiative.
The ammunition being procured is for the most common self-propelled howitzers that EU Member States have sent to Ukraine: France’s Caesar; Poland’s Krab; Germany’s Panzerhaubitze 2000; and Slovakia’s Zuzana.
To comply with legal obligations and to protect commercially sensitive information, EDA cannot disclose the names of the contractors nor the unit prices at this stage, and does not comment on ongoing negotiations.
These framework contracts have been signed as part of a three-track approach to deliver more artillery ammunition and missiles to Ukraine, agreed by the EU Council in March 2023. Through these three tracks, the EU is supporting Member States to deliver artillery ammunition and missiles from national stockpiles; to aggregate demand and jointly procure 155mm ammunition; and to ramp up the production capacity of the European defence industry.
EDA’s wider role
EDA supports all EU Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the hub for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks spanning the whole spectrum of defence capabilities.
Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/EDA)
04 Sep 23. Airbus and SCAF: The Signs Are There, and They’re Not Rosy. Defence Analysis reported from Le Bourget about how France has been launching new initiatives around air systems which replicate ones which, apparently, are the responsibility of Germany or Spain as part of the SCAF future fighter system-of-systems.
Nonchalantly releasing news scant days before the Paris air show that there was a fully funded programme to develop the Neuron stealth UAV to operate with the Rafale F-5, as well as a Dassault/Thales Combat Cloud, ought to have caused alarm bells to ring shrilly in Airbus Defence & Space’s HQ.
All Defence Analysis can say is that, comparing notes with other hacks who attended both Le Bourget and RIAT, the German/Spanish entity is still seemingly completely unaware, or unwilling to accept, that its French “partner” has the capability and the intention to utterly shaft it over SCAF, and where this would leave German industry?
What new to suggest that Team Germany/Airbus Defence & Space is being pushed out of SCAF? It’s almost, “where to start”?
- France, having undertaken its first hypersonic weapon test, has now revealed that it is undertaking fundamental research on a hypersonic fighter, (Project ESPADON) which it says could be a part of a SCAF capability. This is a Franco-French programme, and none of that “the door is always open” talk.
- As part of the State Visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France for the Bastille Day parade, an agreement was very publicly signed between the two governments to, “…cooperate in the field of defence in the field of advanced aeronautical technologies in supporting the joint development of an air combat system”.
- France’s Defence Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has “boasted” about the fact that cooperation over Rafale operations and support between (at the very least) France, India, UAE, and Indonesia will likely end with cooperation over development of the F-5 standard, but even an F-6 standard for mid-late-2030s.
- France’s DGA has started a programme – an active programme, not a “Blue Sky Thinking” one – about launching a range of disposable “loyal wingman” from transport aircraft (and eventually MPAs). Cooperation with Rafale is a main driver.
- And France’s Chief of the Air Staff told Senators in an evidence session in July that the Air Force was testing/evaluating a Franco-French MALE UAV/UCAV. Although he didn’t mention an actual name, it is not difficult to work out that this is the Turgis & Gaillard Aarok, which has already been flown.
Why would France look to develop a long-term partnership over Rafale spirals with customers if SCAF was “the only option”? Why would France agree to develop a new fighter aircraft with India, rather than, say, bring India into SCAF?
UCAVs/loyal wingmen in SCAF are the responsibility of Airbus Defence & Space, so if Team France is going to spend, say, several hundreds of ms of Euros to develop such a capability, what is the likelihood of their throwing it all away less than a decade later? Seriously?
One issue to consider up front: “well, if France’s going to play hardball over SCAF, we’ll just take our toys elsewhere!” Defence Analysis will just put a simple question out there: where would Airbus go to for a future fighter?
OK, so Germany is buying 36 F-35As, and there could be extra orders. But work for German industry? Yes, Rheinmetall has a contract for a few hundred central fuselage sections – and there’s no absolute guarantee that this work will be extended – but what of Airbus, and Hensoldt? The idea that the Pentagon is going to cut a sweetheart deal to fit German EW is for the birds. Well, they might offer it, but at what cost, and with what degree of handing over technology to US industry?
Next Generation Air Dominance? A “US Eyes Only” programme is just not going to be open, certainly no German workshare.
“Aaah, but our Eurofighter partners, Italy, and the UK, will welcome us into Tempest!” What? After all the export bans put in place over pretty much every defence system to the Middle East (unless it is Germano-German tanks and AFVs, in a pretty flagrant piece of hypocrisy)?
Germany has been the dog in the manger over a new Typhoon order from Saudi Arabia, which would benefit Airbus Defence & Space ….
And if this is still the Airbus Defence & Space position – and Defence Analysis has first-hand experience that it is, as well as confirmation from other defence hacks – it ignores some (for Airbus) unpleasant realities. The arrival of Japan on the Tempest scene means that whatever Berlin can/could bring to the party as regards funds and offtake is now irrelevant.
Further, the programme is being satisfactorily carved up between the three partners (Defence Analysis expects one or two more to come into the programme over the next two to three years), so any idea that German industry can saunter into Tempest and cherry-pick the work that it wants is simply a non-starter.
Basically, as Defence Analysis sees it, politically and industrially, Germany doesn’t see that it is increasingly being marginalised over any future fighter programme. The mathematics about programme viability for both Tempest and Rafale/SCAF are fundamentally and rapidly moving against Germany, and thus Airbus Defence & Space.
Both Team France Plan B and Tempest can point to partners with resources and offtake that mean that Germany (with Spain a distant third) is less required, or even actively unwanted.
If Team Germany has any Trump Cards, either politically or industrially, Defence Analysis cannot see them. We might be wrong, but as far as we see it, over pretty much any future fighter, Germany is the poker player at the table with cards that will never win.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/Defence Alnalysis)
04 Sep 23. BAAINBw Commissions AI Backbone for FCAS. The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has selected the HIS consortium, consisting of Helsing, Schönhofer Sales and Engineering GmbH (SSE) and IBM Deutschland GmbH, to provide the artificial intelligence (AI) development infrastructure for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
On August 7, 2023, BAAINBw signed the contract for provision of the software platform (AI backbone) with immediate effect.
FCAS is a multinational joint initiative between Germany, France, and Spain to develop a next-generation combat air system. Part of FCAS is the Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS), which will develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial systems. National initiatives in Germany will run in parallel to FCAS.
Now that the HIS consortium has been awarded the contract, these initiatives can proceed through the NGWS National Research and Technology (R&T) project.
“AI plays a key role in conflicts with peer competitor adversaries,” says Stephanie Lingemann, Program Director at Helsing. “The AI backbone is the first step toward giving the air force cross-functional capabilities with AI; the FCAS program is making progress, but this sort of infrastructure is crucial for every platform.”
“SSE draws on many years of excellent cooperation with the German armed forces on innovation topics, and we look forward to driving the development of AI technologies in Germany,” says Dr Martin Schönhofer, CEO of SSE. As a trailblazer for national research and technology projects for NGWS and FCAS, the HIS consortium offers the right platform for agile AI development.”
In addition, Sandra Pfetzing-Huber, Associate Partner, Defence & Intelligence, IBM Consulting, explains: “In order to develop and operate AI applications, a powerful and scalable IT infrastructure is required that is also secure. The Secure Cloud (VS-Cloud) from IBM and its partners Secunet and RedHat offers the scalability, flexibility, reliability and security to quickly and easily develop, operate and secure AI applications.”
The AI backbone from the HIS consortium will allow high-performance AI to be developed 999for military applications, including complex industry collaboration, and deployment to the German armed forces. Each of the consortium partners has a specific strength to contribute. Helsing is a leader in defence AI products, as well as development and deployment of edge AI for military platforms. As a long-standing partner of the Bundeswehr, SSE uses its deep expertise in real-time situational awareness, analytics, AI and management of complex data and data formats.
IBM complements the team with its many years of expertise in the military sector and provides cloud technologies for the use of artificial intelligence in security-related areas. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/Helsing)
USA
07 Sep 23. DOD opens proposal window for $48bn tech research on-ramp. Companies that are a part of the so-called IAC-MAC vehicle also support the sharing of knowledge gained from their research-and-development work with customers.
The Defense Department has given industry the green light to put together and turn in proposals for the on-ramp process to join a potential $48 bn technology research-and-development services contract vehicle.
Bids to become a part of the vehicle known as IAC-MAC are due by 5 p.m. Eastern time on Oct. 20, DOD said in its Tuesday notice to release the final solicitation.
A total of 28 companies hold positions on the Information Analysis Center Multiple-Award Contract, which focuses on the R&D work itself and the subsequent sharing of knowledge gained from those efforts.
For the on-ramp process: DOD plans for up to three on-ramp awards for the unrestricted pool and two selections for the small business set-aside track. IAC-MAC also has a third group of awardees that are nonprofit organizations, a pool that is not part of the on-ramp.
DOD uses the contract to acquire support for a pair of its flagship field activities in the Defense Technical Information Center and Information Analysis Center.
DTIC manages the preservation and distribution of research information related to military technology, while the IAC network provides technical analysis and data support for uniformed and civilian leadership.
Substantially every service branch and other component of DOD can acquire customized R&D services through the vehicle. (Source: washingtontechnology.com)
06 Sep 23. Lockheed Martin trims F-35 jet delivery outlook after supplier delays. U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) cut its full-year delivery forecast for F-35 jets as delays at supplier L3Harris Technologies (LHX.N) held up development of an upgraded version of the aircraft, the company said on Wednesday.
The delays at Lockheed’s largest program pushed shares down to 4.7% at Wednesday’s close, while L3Harris settled 1.3% lower.
Lockheed now expects to deliver 97 aircraft that run on existing technology this year, it said in a filing, down from between 100 and 120 jets it previously forecast. The company, however, maintained its annual financial outlook.
“We have updated our F-35 TR-3 schedule projections with a first TR-3 aircraft delivery between April and June 2024,” Lockheed said. It earlier expected to deliver the first jet by the end of this year.
“The development of the Integrated Core Processor(ICP) by L3 Harris has driven delays due to unexpected challenges associated with hardware and software development, component and system integration testing and system qualification testing,” it added.
Lockheed has parachuted employees to L3Harris to help expedite hardware delivery and is also working with RTX (RTX.N) on their delivery of Next Gen Electro Optical Digital Aperture System.
L3Harris in an emailed response to Reuters said it overcame early design challenges and delivered a fully qualifiable ICP to Lockheed Martin well over a year ago.
“We continue to work closely with Lockheed to support them in the integration of their software into the TR3 hardware. L3Harris remains fully committed to the F-35 program,” L3Harris added.
Lockheed’s advanced F-35 jet generated 27% of total consolidated net sales and 66% of aeronautics’ net sales in 2022 on the back of strong demand from countries ramping up their defense spending.
The company has been upgrading the jets under the TR-3 (Technology Refresh 3) program that aims to improve displays and processing power.
The defense contractor said in July that the completion of the software integration testing would likely cause delays to its TR-3 jet.
Lockheed on Wednesday said it was making the jets at a rate of 156 per year and expects to continue at that pace while working to finalize TR-3 software development and testing. (Source: Reuters)
REST OF THE WORLD
07 Sep 23. Rafales on the upswing? French fighter eyes additional Mideast sales. The United States’ dominance of the combat aircraft industry could see increased competition as the French hope to bolster their slice of the pie. With a German veto blocking Eurofighter deliveries to Saudi Arabia, and amid Israel’s persistent opposition to any F-35 sale to Qatar, this may be French firm Dassault’s opportunity to further push its fighter in the region.
In July, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited Qatar where he met with the emir in hopes of strengthening their strategic partnership through operational and industrial cooperation.
Following the trip, reports emerged that Qatar may opt to purchase an additional 24 Rafale from Dassault, which would bring the country’s fleet to 60, having acquired an initial batch of 24 in 2015 and another 12 in 2017. Although Qatar’s Defense Ministry hasn’t announced its decision, analysts have told Defense News such as sale appears likely.
“That they would come back to the table seeking another order is relatively unsurprising considering they already have the Rafale as well as another French-designed and -built type — the Mirage 2000-5 — in their fighter inventory,” said Dan Darling, the director of military and defense markets at Forecast International.
Qatar would want a fleet of 60 Rafales for two reasons, Darling explained: for stronger deterrence capabilities and for political purposes. There is a political element attached to major defense purchases, he said, where Qatar “buys” influence with the exporting nation and vice versa.
Richard Aboulafia, a managing director at Aerodynamic Advisory who has tracked aircraft programs for more than 30 years, agrees the diplomatic benefits are key.
“They [the Qatari government] view fighter aircraft as an opportunity to purchase a strategic relationship, and given their recent history with Gulf neighbors, these are extremely important for Qatar,” he said, referring to a recent diplomatic crisis that saw several nations accuse Doha of funding terrorist groups. “It isn’t [about] the Rafales.”
Experts, however, diverge over who could be the next customer of the Rafale in the greater Middle East. For Aboulafia, Saudi Arabia appears to be the logical contender, even if the U.S. agrees to sell F-35s to the kingdom.
“They [Saudis] already source F-15s from the U.S. and of course want F-35s. But as they are eager to continue their dual-source decision, they’ll want to buy another aircraft from another provider. Eurofighter tranche 2 is on hold. There’s really nobody else other than France,” he said.
Earlier this summer, while Germany relaxed arms restrictions on Saudi Arabia, it remained firm in blocking deliveries of the Eurofighter to the kingdom. The twin-engine aircraft is made by a consortium of French firm Airbus, British business BAE Systems and Italian company Leonardo.
Germany’s decision appeared to have irked the U.K., given four years ago the British foreign secretary demanded Germany lift its restraints on weapons transfers because they stood to hurt the British defense industry. BAE Systems is one of the largest private sector employers in Saudi Arabia, where it employs 5,300 Saudis — 57% of its total workforce there.
Although Germany’s Eurofighter veto could benefit Dassault in the absence of other competition, Darling said Saudi Arabia may not have a vested interest in the French jet because it fairly recently purchased more than 80 American-made F-15 fighters, upgraded legacy versions, and has expressed interest in buying the F-35 and joining the Global Combat Air Program. The latter is a trilateral effort involving the U.K., Japan and Italy to develop a sixth-generation fighter.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Iran are trying to improve diplomatic relations, with the latter’s foreign affairs minister visiting the kingdom Aug. 17. However, Gaspard Schnitzler, a research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, said it’s unlikely this would hinder or stop France from selling the Rafale to Saudi Arabia.
It’s possible pressure from public opinion or potential monetary risks could interfere with such a sale, “but we have to keep in mind that for years now, the Gulf has been one of the major export areas for French weapons,” he added.
A more probable export opportunity for the Rafale, besides in Qatar, would be a top-up order by Egypt in light of the collapsed deal with Russia for Su-35 aircraft that fell through over U.S. sanctions, said Darling. Cairo last placed an order for 30 additional Rafales in 2021, bringing its fleet number to 54.
But no matter how well-placed the Rafale seems, an additional order from Qatar or its neighbors does not necessarily signal a declining demand for the fifth-generation fighter. Aboulafia and and Darling agreed that F-35 interest in the Middle East remains strong.
Several Arab states would indeed purchase the F-35 were it not for Israel’s strict opposition. For instance, Qatar in 2020 reportedly made a formal request for the Lockheed Martin jet, which was closely followed by Israel declaring it would oppose any F-35 sale by the U.S. to the Gulf country. A concrete deal has yet to materialize.
“The main question is whether the U.S. would even be willing to sell the F-35 to Doha. It has been wary about F-35 sales to Arab states, primarily because of its commitment to ensuring Israel’s qualitative military edge over its neighbors and rivals in the region,” Darling said.
The same approach has applied to Saudi Arabia’s interest in the F-35.
“Saudi Arabia would love F-35s, but unless the Biden administration offers them as part of a deal that involves normalized relations with Israel, it won’t happen for a few more years at least,” Aboulafia said. “None of these difficulties are in play in Europe, so European countries can just order F-35s without worry about disapproval.” (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
06 Sep 23. Indian Army issues RFI for armoured recovery vehicles. The Indian Army issued a request for information (RFI) on 5 September to procure 170 armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs) based on a tracked platform. According to the RFI, the ARV will be used for cross-country (offroad) operations in plain, semi-desert, and desert terrains along India’s western borders, as well as high-altitude (up to 5000 m)/mountainous terrain along India’s northern borders (eastern Ladakh/Central Sector/North Sikkim).
The proposed ARV should possess adequate cross-country mobility and protection and the capability to carry at least six soldiers including the driver and commander, the RFI said.
The gross vehicle weight should be less than 50 tonnes and the ARV must be equipped with a diesel fuel-based engine mounted with low thermal and acoustic signature, the RFI added.
The vehicle must have a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) with in-service 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun and smoke grenade launcher, according to the RFI. (Source: Janes)
05 Sep 23. Kawasaki prepares P-1 replacement project. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has instituted a project team to develop a ‘future fixed-wing patrol aircraft’ to replace its P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The aircraft is currently operational with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). A company spokesperson told Janes that the project team for the ‘future fixed-wing aircraft’ was instituted in April 2023 with “expectation of the deployment by the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD)/JMSDF in the 2040s”. The specifications of the new aircraft are under consideration. According to KHI, the company is waiting for the “concept of future fixed-wing aircraft operations” to be issued by the MoD. A Japan MoD spokesperson confirmed to Janes that the plan for the future aircraft is still under consideration. The P-1 is a major component of the JMSDF’s maritime airborne patrol, anti-ship, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. According to Janes (Source: Janes)
04 Sep 23. Israel Launches Procurement of Third F-35I Squadron. The Ministry of Defense has begun the process of purchasing the third squadron of the “Adir” (F-35) aircraft, which will be absorbed by the Israel Defense Force (IDF).
Following the approval of the Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant, and the Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Major General (ret.) Eyal Zamir, the procurement delegation of the Ministry of Defense in the USA submitted an official request for procurement (LOR) to the American HAF 35 Directorate (JPO) in order to complete the approval and signing of the deal in the coming months.
The Ministry of Defense will purchase from the American government 25 F-35 aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin in a deal that includes support and maintenance. Upon completion of the transaction, the fleet of the world’s most advanced stealth aircraft operated by the Israeli Air Force will be expanded to 75. The supply of the planes to the IDF will begin in 2027 at a rate of 3 planes per year.
The scope of the deal is estimated at about 3 bn dollars from the American aid funds. As part of the original agreement between the governments, the plane’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, and the engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney, committed to share with Israeli companies in the production of the F-35 planes sold to the countries that are equipping them.
The new deal will allow the continuation of the commitment of the American companies to cooperate in the production of the aircraft parts with the Israeli industries.
(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Israel Ministry of Defense)
04 Sep 23. New Zealand Anzac frigates upgraded with RF distribution system. British contractor SEA, the main communications systems contractor for the frigates, has subcontracted RF Products to deliver radio frequency system.
After New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence announced it had awarded the UK supplier Systems Engineering and Assessments (SEA) a $32.9m contract to install a modern communications system in its two Anzac-class frigates, the contractor has recently subcontracted RF Products Inc to deliver a multi-mode, multi-band radio frequency (RF) system on the ships.
The Navy commissioned its two Anzac-class frigates – Te Kaha (F77) and Te Mana (F111) – in 1997 and 1999 respectively.
Anzac has one eight-cell Mk41 vertical launching system for Nato Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles. Sea Sparrow is a semi-active radar missile with a range of 14.5km.
Radio frequency communications
Meanwhile, the new subcontractor RF Products has been in business with the Royal New Zealand Navy since 1991 and has over 100 years of experience in RF Tuning. The New Jersey-based company will be providing their VHF/UHF Multi-Mode, Multi-Band RF Distribution System to support the bespoke SEA system’s open architecture.
The system’s open architecture will also meet interoperability requirements, allowing the Royal New Zealand Navy to communicate with partner navies and support missions with friendly countries such as neighbouring Australia.
The system will allow FSC radio system operators to adapt platform external communications more easily to changes in mission focus.
Reducing further costs until Anzac replacement
The bespoke SEA system reduces through-life costs and associated maintenance of the frigate’s new communication capability. The flexible, modular system will enable the Navy to integrate equipment, including cryptos and radios, regardless of the manufacturer or supplier.
Reducing through-life costs will help until the Navy replaces its two ships in the near future. GlobalData expects the two Anzacs will be replaced as the navy procured them in 1997-1999. New Zealand’s frigate procurement will cost around $1.5bn; another planned programme for the Southern Ocean Patrol Vessel will cost approximately $400m. (Source: naval-technology.com)
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