Sponsored by
https://ieeinc.com/
————————————————————————
UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
20 Mar 24. A quarter of UK New Medium Helicopter decision dependent on ‘social value’ and workshare. A decision is due to be made on the UK’s New Medium Helicopter programme at some point in 2025. A full quarter of the decision-making consideration for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme will be dependent on ‘social value’ and ‘UK industrial capability’, as the country looks to deliver a new fleet of helicopters to replace a range of in-service platforms.
Information revealed by the UK’s Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge revealed the levels at which in-country industrial participation and social value offsets would influence the potential winner, with the competition including a 10% “weighting” for social value “in line with the Cabinet Office Social Value Model and guidance”.
Further, the NMH programme decision also included an “additional 15% weighting for UK industrial capability which includes essential industrial considerations, spanning design, production, manufacture and importantly, export potential,” stated Cartlidge on 18 March.
“This is intended to ensure that the New Medium Helicopter contract will secure the vital operational independence we require, as well as investing in UK skills for the long-term and demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to the Defence & Security Industrial Strategy,” Cartlidge said.
It is widely anticipated that the UK Ministry of Defence will invite Airbus, Leonardo, and Lockheed Martin to negotiate the details of their respective rotorcraft concepts, after the UK Government’s confirmation in February that it would soon issue Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) notices.
According to the UK Government the competition will be managed by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and proposals will be evaluated through 2025 when, subject to approvals, a contract award is anticipated.
What are the contenders offering for the NMH programme?
Responding to the formal issuance of the ITN notice by the UK, Leonardo confirmed it would be putting forward its AW149 platform for the NMH programme. The company stated that more than 60% of AW149 production would take place in the UK, from its facilities in Yeovil.
Leonardo’s already established facilities have been used by the UK to help in the production of the AW159 Wildcat and AW101 Merlin helicopters in service with the country’s military.
Meanwhile, another contender for the UK NMH programme will be Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, a type in service with a number of militaries around the world, including the United States.
In a September 2023 release Lockheed Martin stated that it estimated nearly 40% of total Black Hawk production and assembly will occur in the UK and will support around 600 UK jobs a year between 2025 and 2030.
Additionally, Lockheed’s Black Hawk proposal would create approximately £470m ($597.3m) of export opportunities for UK partners manufacturing sub-systems and components over the next 10 years, equivalent to 40% of the total programme value, based on the expected export market to Black Hawk customers, the company stated.
An onwards sustainment requirement would also support around 320 jobs per year for “decades to come”, when the UK Black Hawk fleet was operational.
Pitched as one the most attractive elements at the time was the potential for “UK industry to take part in the development and production of Lockheed Martin’s next generation rotorcraft solutions, creating a potential 45-year pipeline of work and exports for UK companies”, it was stated.
However, Lockheed Martin’s participation in the US military’s FARA helicopter programme will end in the coming months, with the programme’s effective cancellation.
Another factor to consider for any UK selection of the Black Hawk would be the role that Poland’s PZL Mielec could play in limiting any potential export opportunities for UK-built platforms. PZL Mielec maintains the largest Lockheed Martin production plant outside the United States, delivering Black Hawk helicopters to 18 customers from 11 countries around the world since 2010.
The final entry for the NMH programme will likely come from Airbus with its H175M platform, which would be assembled at the company’s UK site in Broughton.
Airbus stated in June 2023 that as well as boosting the economy by creating over 400 jobs, a new UK production facility would be “strategically important for both Airbus Helicopters and the UK”, creating a new helicopter manufacturing line for exports.
“It also supports Airbus Helicopters’ strategy of making the UK the fourth ‘core’ country of its strategic future and cements Airbus Helicopters in the UK’s position as part of the UK’s national security and national resilience architecture for the long term,” said Lenny Brown, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK.
Airbus’ focus also appears to make significant reference to developing industrial partnerships with companies in North Ireland and Wales.
The UK’s NMH programme could replace up to five current in-service platforms, including the RAF’s Puma HC2 and Bell 412, the Army Air Corps Bell 212, and the Airbus AS365 Dauphins operated by UK Special Forces.
(Source: airforce-technology.com)
19 Mar 24. Make UK Defence members seeking to win more bids can now benefit from the latest guidance in the new BSI PAS 360:2023 international standard for instilling better bid practices.
As the standard’s technical author, Make UK Defence member BidCraft has released a range of easy to access maturity assessment and transformation services called BidCode®.
BidCode® is the essential tool for SMEs to multinational primes who want to benefit from the standard’s guidance to win profitable defence contracts efficiently and effectively.
The PAS 360 aligned BidCode® services offer:
- 360 Assessment (Solo) – a FREE online assessment designed exclusively to benchmark organisations against PAS 360, giving them an instant assessment and recommendations
- 360 Assessment (Team) – a facilitated workshop for teams to assess their capability together
- 360 Change – a business change programme to sustainably improve bidding capability
- 360 Learning – a training course for people who want to understand PAS 360 in more detail and implement its guidance for themselves.
Find out more about how PAS 360 and BidCode® can improve your bidding performance by clicking here: https://www.bidcode.co.uk/.
(The Make UK Defence Team)
18 Mar 24. UK Boosts Air Power with Additional F-35 Lightning II Fighters. Originally committed to acquiring 138 F-35Bs, the UK has adjusted its procurement strategy to balance between immediate next-generation air capabilities and future investments, such as the Global Air Combat Programme (GACP) aimed at developing a sixth-generation fighter.
Summary: Originally committed to acquiring 138 F-35Bs, the UK has adjusted its procurement strategy to balance between immediate next-generation air capabilities and future investments, such as the Global Air Combat Programme (GACP) aimed at developing a sixth-generation fighter. Despite scaling back, the intention to acquire more F-35s remains firm, highlighting the aircraft’s integral role in the UK’s defense strategy.
The United Kingdom took delivery of an additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft this past weekend, bringing the total of the fifth-generation stealth fighters operating from the island nation to thirty, while an additional four are undergoing testing in the United States. The British military remains on track to receive all of the forty-seven aircraft it expects in its first batch of F-35s by the end of next year, and the Ministry of Defense has expressed interest in purchasing a second tranche of the fighters, UK Defence Journal reported.
“Funding for a second tranche of F-35 Lightning has been delegated to Air Command as part of our recent annual budget cycle,” Jeremy Quin, then minister of state at the Ministry of Defense told UK Defence Journal last year. “As you know, we are going to acquire 48. We have made it absolutely clear that we will be acquiring more.
As a key member of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the UK’s Ministry of Defense had committed to purchasing 138 F-35Bs—the short/vertical takeoff and landing (S/VTOL) variant of the joint strike fighter—but scaled back on the acquisition as it sought to invest in other projects, including the Global Air Combat Programme (GACP) to develop a sixth-generation fighter and supporting systems.
One of the UK’s F-35s was lost in a crash from the flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2022 during the warship’s return voyage from her deployment to the Indo-Pacific. (Source: Google/https://nationalinterest.org)
16 Mar 24. Hawk replacement under investigation by RAF. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Air Force (RAF) has initiated a comprehensive Capability Investigation process to explore the future of combat aircrew training, including the procurement of successors to the Hawk T2 aircraft.
This investigation aims to assess options for aircraft, simulators, and a combined live/virtual training approach.
The findings from this Capability Investigation are eagerly awaited later this year, as they will shed light on the potential costs and timeline for the Hawk T2’s replacement training solution.
The information came to light in the following exchange. John Healey, the MP for Wentworth and Dearne, asked on 6th March 2024,
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of successors to the Hawk T2 aircraft.”
James Cartlidge, Minister of State (Ministry of Defence), answered:
“The RAF has already started its standard Capability Investigation process into the future of combat aircrew training; this comprehensive review will include the approach to the procurement of the replacement of the current Advanced Jet Trainer capability. The investigation will consider options for aircraft, simulators and associated combined live / virtual training, such that we can continue to deliver a world-class training capability for the UK Armed Forces. The Capability Investigation’s findings are expected later this year and will provide evidence on likely costs and timing of the replacement training solution to the Hawk T2.” (Source: Google/UKDJ)
EUROPE
15 Mar 24. 2024 EDA Defence Innovation Prize opens for applications. The European Defence Agency (EDA) has published its call on 15 March 2024 for applications for the 2024 edition of its Defence Innovation Prize, which this year is dedicated to technologies for maritime situational awareness in terms of critical infrastructure protection and technologies for smart sensing. The prize winners are expected to propose ideas which would, if implemented between now and 2030, contribute to improving and enhance specific EU defence capabilities. A total of two prizes (one prize per category) will be awarded for the best innovative ideas. The winning ideas or concepts will each be awarded €30,000 and presented during the EDA Annual Conference 2024.
Open for applications
Proposals for this edition of the EDA Defence Innovation Prize must be in the scope of one of the following topics:
- Topic 1: Innovative concepts, technologies, and solutions for critical maritime infrastructure protection.
- Topic 2: Cognitive sensing for enhanced ISTAR systems performance in defence applications.
The EDA Defence Innovation Prize aims to stimulate defence technological innovation in Europe by supporting non-defence Research and Technology (R&T) communities and innovators who are set to play an ever-bigger role in developing and producing Europe’s future defence capabilities.
How to apply?
The deadline for submitting applications is 14 June 2024 at 17h00 (Brussels time).
- Contest rules
- Application criteria/details can be found here (word / PDF)
- More information on EDA’s Defence Innovation Prize
The prize will be awarded during EDA’s Annual conference in Brussels in December 2024.
The Contest is open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons established within the European Defence Agency participating Member States (+ Switzerland).
HEDI – fostering defence innovation
The EDA Defence Innovation Prize is organised under the umbrella of HEDI (Hub for EU Defence Innovation), the new platform for innovation led by EDA that was established in March 2022 derived from ‘’Strategic Compass for EU Defence and Security’’, as one of its main recommendations. HEDI’s objective is to foster innovative solutions following a systematic approach from an idea towards cutting-edge military capabilities.
The innovation prize complements other HEDI’s services such as the EDA Research, Technology and Innovation Papers Awards or proofs-of-concept, uptakes of innovation (short field experimental campaigns).
What is expected from applicants?
Submitted innovations must be the applicants’ own intellectual property. However, submissions may include improvements of existing ideas, new combinations, or adaptations thereof and which are applicable in a different context. The applicants must demonstrate the innovative added value of their ideas, compared to what already exists.
Proposals must be innovative, implementable through a collaborative project and financially affordable in terms of future development and exploitation.
The contest is especially, but not exclusively, aimed at non-traditional defence industries, including civil or dual-use producers, and researchers as they play a growing role in inventing and creating the disruptive capabilities that Member States’ armed forces will need tomorrow.
No specific defence background is required to be considered for the prize, and consideration is open to innovators from all types of industries and research institutions in EDA Member States (+CH), including defence and civil/commercial producers, large companies, start-ups / SMEs, and military/civil research communities. (Source: EDA)
09 Feb 24. EDA opens contest for best defence research papers. European Defence Agency (EDA) has published on 9 February 2024 its call for applications to its EDA Research, Technology, and Innovation Papers Award 2024. The competition, now in its second year, focuses on innovative technologies, processes, and applications for enhanced future defence capabilities. EDA is looking to hear from early career researchers before the deadline for applications on 29 March 2024. The awards will be presented at Eurosatory in Paris in June with each prize winner receiving €4,000.
Innovators of tomorrow
This year, papers shall be related to the topic of “Innovative technologies, processes, and applications for enhanced future defence capabilities.” The winning entries will come up with ideas which, if implemented between now and 2035, would contribute to enhance specific EU defence capabilities. Entries will be judged on their quality and impact, with a special emphasis on technology and innovation to help cover the European Union’s defence needs and shortfalls.
The contest aims to promote and support the work of early career researchers by introducing their work to the defence community, stimulate engagement of innovators to widen their access to emerging and potentially disruptive research, and identify areas in which additional investment is needed to address future defence capability needs.
More than a prize
EDA’s award seeks to increase the visibility and impact of tomorrows innovators, with the contest conceived to offer more than just the financial prize. The winners will have the opportunity to expose their ideas during the dedicated session at EUROSATORY 2024 exhibition and conference in Paris on 19 June, 2024. An official EDA Booklet of papers to be edited and published in a scientific review by EDA, including ISBN (International Standard Book Number) reference. The Best Papers Award and names of the winners will also receive coverage on the EDA website and social media channels.
How to apply?
The deadline for submitting applications is 29 March 2024, with the following documents.
- Rules of Contest
- Annexes to the Rules of Contest can be found here (word / PDF)
The contest is open to all citizens of EDA’s 27 participating Member States. For the first time in 2024 the contest is open also to citizens from Switzerland.
HEDI
The EDA Research, Technology, and Innovation Papers Award is done under the ‘’umbrella’’ of HEDI (Hub for EU Defence Innovation), which is the new platform for innovation, led by EDA, that was established in March 2022 as an action derived from “Strategic Compass for EU Defence and Security’’.
HEDI has the objective of fostering innovative technological solutions following a systemic approach towards cutting-edge military capabilities. Furthermore, HEDI serves as a platform to stimulate and facilitate cooperation on defence innovation while ensuring synergies with related European Commission activities, notably the EU defence innovation scheme, coherence of output with NATO innovation and other EU Defence Innovation organizations.
This Call for Papers complements other HEDI’s services, such as e.g., the EDA Defence Innovation Prizes, or Proofs-of-Concept. (Source: EDA)
21 Mar 24. F-35 delivery delays frustrate European air force upgrade plans. Delivery disruptions for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are creating a headache for European buyers, as some countries face a potential capacity gap and delays in training pilots and maintenance engineers.
Denmark is exploring how to deal with a slipping delivery schedule, including possibly borrowing or buying aircraft from other F-35 users. Norway said there’s a risk full operational capacity of its F-35 fleet will be pushed back.
F-35 deliveries are on hold as Lockheed Martin wrestles to complete an upgrade known as Technology Refresh 3, initially planned for summer 2023. While the company still aims for the second quarter for TR-3 software acceptance, the third quarter is a more likely scenario, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet said in January.
The delays threaten to frustrate plans by Denmark and Belgium to replace their fleets of more than 40-year old F-16 fighters. Denmark has four F-35s in country, of 27 ordered, while Belgium is scheduled to receive the first of 34 stealth fighters in 2024, a milestone already delayed from last year.
“We are making progress toward delivering the first TR-3 configured aircraft,” Lockheed Martin said in a statement, declining to say when European buyers will get their next planes. “Customer deliveries will be informed based on the remaining TR-3 test schedule.”
Denmark said last week that Lockheed Martin targets TR-3 for around July, but risks delays. It’s too early to say what delays would mean, the country’s defense minister said.
For now, Denmark still conducts operational tasks with F-16 aircraft, “but if the delay in F-35 delivery continues, there can be consequences,” said Hans Peter Michaelsen, an independent military analyst and former Royal Danish Air Force major.
The snag comes at a time of high tension in Europe, following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. NATO fighter jets scrambled more than 300 times last year to intercept Russian military flights, mostly over the Baltic Sea, after 570 intercepts in 2022. The U.K., Norway, the Netherlands and Italy have deployed their F-35s for air-policing missions over the Baltic and the northern Atlantic.
The Danish Ministry of Defence has asked the joint military command and its procurement organization “to explore a number of options that could mitigate the implications to the Danish F-35 implementation timeline in case a delay should occur,” it said in a statement.
Options include repatriating some of Denmark’s six F-35s now stationed at Luke Air Force Base in the U.S. for training, possibly with support from other nations so Danish pilot instruction can continue. Another would be buying or borrowing aircraft from other F-35 operators.
“If the planned F-35 deliveries slip to 2025 and Danish F-35s cannot be temporarily withdrawn from Luke AFB, I foresee operational and training consequences,” Michaelsen said. While he doesn’t expect Quick Reaction Alert tasks to be affected, having only four aircraft in Denmark could complicate maintaining operational status for pilots and technicians.
The defense ministry has investigated whether the U.S. can provide additional F-35s for training, which would allow Denmark to withdraw planes from Luke AFB to avoid a delay building up its F-35 capacity, according to the analyst.
Norway and the Netherlands face less urgency, as they already operate most of their F-35 fleet. The Royal Norwegian Air Force retired its F-16s in 2022, and the Royal Dutch Air Force plans to do the same by October.
Norway has “enough aircraft available to meet current operational and training requirements,” said Endre Lunde, an adviser at the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency. “Like the U.S. and other partners in the JSF program we will not be taking delivery of any further aircraft until a solution has been found to current issues related to the TR-3 upgrades.”
Norway has 34 F-35s in country and six in the U.S. for training, of a total 52 planes ordered. Delivery of the remaining aircraft, originally scheduled for 2023 and 2024, remains to be confirmed.
The Netherlands meanwhile has received 39 of its 52 F-35s, with eight aircraft in the U.S. for training. The Dutch Ministry of Defence declined to comment ahead of a progress report to parliament toward the end of this month.
“For Norway and Netherlands I do not foresee large consequences, as both countries have already achieved limited operational status with their F-35s, but the full operational date will probably slip to the right,” Michaelsen said. “A delay in delivery for other European customers – Belgium, Finland, Poland and Germany – will probably mean that these countries will have to operate their legacy fighters for a prolonged time.”
The U.S. Air Force conducted the first flight of an F-35 in TR-3 configuration in January 2023. The upgrade provides the F-35 with more computing power as the basis for modernized Block 4 capabilities, including new sensors and improved electronic warfare capabilities.
“Even after TR-3 completion we expect that it will take some time to clear the backlog of undelivered aircraft,” Lunde said. “Our current expectation however is that we will be able to take delivery of all Norwegian aircraft by the end of this year, or during the first half of 2025 at the very latest.”
There’s a knock-on effect on planned upgrades of Norway’s TR-2 configuration aircraft, with the impact on the schedule still unclear, Lunde said. The delays pose a risk to reaching full operational capability in 2025, though the main risk to that milestone is a lack of trained maintenance personnel, he said.
Norway requires full operational capability to have a sufficient number of air frames, but also for the capability TR-3 adds, including integration of the Joint Strike Missile, according to Lunde. The JSM is a cruise missile being developed by Kongsberg and RTX, designed to be launched from the F-35′s internal weapons bay.
Belgium, which had expected to receive its first two F-35s in 2023, said in December it now counts on eight jets to be delivered for training of Belgian pilots and engineers starting this summer. Poland is also scheduled to receive its first F-35 this year, after ordering 32 planes in 2020.
The U.K. has received 35 aircraft of 48 expected by the end of 2025, and in December formed its second squadron to operate the F-35 Lightning II. The 13 aircraft due by the end of next year are in the TR-3 configuration, and the U.K. is working with the F-35 joint program office to understand the impact of the delay.
“We do not currently anticipate a shortfall in the ability to build the U.K. Lightning force to full operational capability,” the Ministry of Defence said.
The Danish defense ministry has said it doesn’t expect the issues to affect the planned donation of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, while Norway said F-35 delays won’t impact delivery of F-16s to international partners, either through sale or donation.
F-35 customers
Delivered as of March 18, 2024 Program of record
Belgium
0 34
Denmark
10 27
Italy
24 90
Netherlands
39 52
Norway
40 52
U.K.
35 138
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
USA
21 Mar 24. It’s official: The F-35 will not get a new engine anytime soon. With text of the fiscal year 2024 spending agreement finally released today, lawmakers have officially decided the future of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s engine. According to explanatory text accompanying the legislation, lawmakers will provide $280m for advanced engine development work — money that will mostly go to Pratt and GE Aerospace, which have both developed prototype powerplants through the Air Force’s Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) and are competing to build an engine for the service’s secretive Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter.
But that $280m is just for the engine industrial base, the text says. In fact, “[t]he agreement does not support the integration of an alternative engine on the F-35, and includes a new general provision that prohibits the use of funds to integrate an alternative engine on any F-35 aircraft.”
Instead, the money furnished by appropriators is tailored to “only” fund work to support future engine development programs like “adaptive cycle engine technologies, improved manufacturing techniques for engine components, development of novel materials, and the integration of enhanced digital design capabilities into the engine development process” the text says.
Previously, officials had been weighing whether to pursue an upgrade to the Pratt engine or to hold a competition with Pratt’s and GE’s AETP prototypes to re-engine the F-35. Reasoning that the AETP engines would not be compatible with all three variants of the stealth fighter and pose prohibitive costs, the Air Force moved to upgrade the F135 in the FY24 budget, though some lawmakers remained open to keeping a new, adaptive engine in play.
The decision to upgrade the Pratt engine opened up an unusual rift between F-35 planemaker Lockheed Martin and Pratt, with Lockheed’s aeronautics boss telling Breaking Defense last year he preferred to see a new engine introduced. The position led to an extraordinary rebuke from Pratt, and eventually prompted Lockheed Chief Executive Officer Jim Taiclet to tamp down the controversy.
Still, the outcome in the spending agreement today is not all too surprising, as the writing has been on the wall for some time. Markups released last year by Senate and House appropriators did not include funding for a new F-35 engine, and GE followed by mostly muting its pitch for its adaptive engine prototype to re-engine the stealth fighter.
House Appropriations defense subcommittee (HAC-D) Chairman Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., cast further doubt on a new engine as well, telling Breaking Defense in an interview last year that House appropriators are “not looking or seeking to change out the Pratt & Whitney engine.”
Theoretically, it’s always possible in future budgets that lawmakers could change their mind. The two companies’ respective AETP prototypes probably aren’t going to be junked anytime soon, and lawmakers might have renewed interest in a new engine if something goes awry with Pratt’s F135 upgrade plan dubbed the Engine Core Upgrade.
Calvert mentioned that possibility, though he deemed it unlikely. “Unless there’s a catastrophic failure on the part of Pratt & Whitney, which I don’t foresee, I don’t see at this point that there’s going to be any change … Pratt & Whitney will continue to have that engine,” he told Breaking Defense. Rep. Mike Garcia, a fellow California Republican who also sits on HAC-D, explained in the same interview that the adaptive engine program could serve as a “backup” and provide research utility.
Both Pratt and GE have said they are continuing to leverage their adaptive engine prototypes, whose insights could be used for the NGAD engine program known as Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP). Both companies are expected to have their NGAP engine designs carried through a prototyping stage, an Air Force official told reporters last year. The legislation released today fully funds the Air Force’s request to carry the NGAP program out, providing $595m in addition to the $280m in advanced engine work. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
19 Mar 24. DoD Announces Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Awards. The Department of Defense awarded $17.6m to 27 collaborative academic teams under the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR). DEPSCoR is a capacity-building program designed to strengthen the basic research infrastructure at institutions of higher education in underutilized states and territories.
“The Department of Defense’s science and technology mission relies on an ecosystem of creative and insightful researchers in every state,” said Dr. Bindu Nair, director of DoD’s Basic Research Office. “DEPSCoR aims to increase the number of academics pursing research in DoD-relevant areas, while enhancing the science and engineering capacity of their institutions into the long term.
“It is crucial that we build a Department of Defense research infrastructure that strategically uses the research capabilities found across the country.”
Today’s awards follow two Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 competitions – the DEPSCoR Research Collaboration competition and the DEPSCoR Capacity Building competition.
The DEPSCoR Research Collaboration competition is open to tenured and tenure-track faculty members with appointments in the 37 states and territories eligible to compete for DEPSCoR funds. This competition helps introduce potential researchers to DoD’s unique research needs and its supporting research ecosystem. Each collaborative team pairs a principal investigator new to the DoD research enterprise with a mentor who has previously worked with the department.
DoD received more than 80 white papers for the FY 2023 Research Collaboration competition, from which subject matter experts in the Military Services selected the final 25 collaborative teams. Principal investigators from universities in Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin will lead these teams. Each team will receive up to $600,000 over a three-year period of performance to pursue science and engineering research relevant to DoD.
The DEPSCoR Capacity Building competition supports the strategic objectives of institutes of higher education (either individually or in partnership with others) in DEPSCoR-eligible states and territories, enhancing their competitiveness as research and development centers.
DoD received over 15 white papers for the FY 2023 Capacity Building competition, from which DoD subject matter experts selected the two finalists. The executive offices at Louisiana Tech University and University of Tulsa will lead the selected teams. Each team will receive up to $1.5 m over a two-year period of performance to pursue capacity-building activities that will help them achieve basic research excellence in areas relevant to DoD.
Click here for the list of winning Research Collaboration teams:
https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/19/2003415937/-1/-1/1/FY23_DEPSCOR_AWARDEES.PDF
About USD(R&E)
The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) is the Chief Technology Officer of the Department of Defense. The USD(R&E) champions research, science, technology, engineering, and innovation to maintain the U.S. military’s technological advantage. Learn more at www.cto.mil, follow us on Twitter @DoDCTO, or visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ousdre. (Source: U.S. DoD)
12 Mar 24. Pentagon budget 2025: US Navy requests USD16.6bn to procure 75 aircraft. The US Navy (USN) has requested USD16.6bn in its fiscal year (FY) 2025 presidential budget request, intended to purchase 75 aircraft, down from USD17.3bn in FY 2024.
The service intends to purchase 26 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters: 13 short take-off and vertical landing B-models for the US Marine Corps (USMC) and 13 carrier-capable C-models for the USN. The B-models are intended to replace the Boeing AV-8B as the USMC’s lone ship-based fixed-wing strike fighter, while the Cs are to augment the larger carrier-based fleet of Boeing F/A-18E/Fs. (Source: Janes)
REST OF THE WORLD
21 Mar 24. Leonardo and New Zealand industry sign Memorandum of Understanding for nation’s Maritime Helicopter Replacement programme.
Leonardo is offering its AW159 Wildcat helicopter to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)
as a solution for its maritime helicopter replacement (MHR) programme
Leonardo will establish a Wildcat Support Centre (NZ) at the RNZAF base in Auckland in
collaboration with local partners, if successful on the MHR programme
This collaborative approach with Leonardo represents a cross-section of the best in New
Zealand’s engineering, manufacturing and technology sectors
Leonardo is collaborating with New Zealand industry – including the
development of Small to Medium Enterprises – through a set of comprehensive Memorandum of
Understandings (MoU). The MoU outlines technical and programme support, operations, maintenance, and job creation, which will foster a symbiotic relationship as part of Leonardo’s offer for the country’s MHR programme with its latest-generation AW159 multi-role helicopter.
Further to the signings on 20th March, Leonardo was joined by Beca Applied Technologies, Core Aviation, Marops, Redfort Logistics Group, and United Machinists. The MoUs are in recognition of the need to build resilience into the NZDF’s operations for the future through the country’s growing industrial capability.
Within the anticipated MHR framework, Leonardo is offering the establishment of a Wildcat Support Centre (NZ) for the AW159 helicopters. This would be located within the operating base in Auckland and would be delivered through this collaboration with domestic partners.
Furthermore, the MoU represents an investment in skills, design and manufacturing, sustainment of jobs for local businesses and potential opportunities for veterans, if Leonardo is successful with the MHR programme. In addition to these areas, it will ensure the enhancement of science and technology through maintenance support, simulation and training, across the country. This will, in, turn, help put the New Zealand aerospace industry on the map in providing support to its defence forces and enriching its industrial capability.
Adam Clarke, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters UK, commented: “The MoUs with local industry in New Zealand highlights Leonardo’s commitment to supporting the country’s aviation industry.
This collaboration will help foster the long-term growth and sustainability of jobs through domestic
companies that provide services, maintenance, and technology capabilities for the New Zealand Defence Force with our AW159 Wildcat helicopter.”
The AW159 Wildcat has been proven in service with Navies around the world to be capable of meeting and exceeding the demanding environmental and performance requirements of the Royal New Zealand Navy.
The twin-engine multi-role AW159 is able to conduct missions ranging from constabulary to high-end warfighting where it has the capability to autonomously detect, identify and attack targets on land and at sea, including submarine threats. The high-performance platform has state-of-the-art systems, including a Leonardo Seaspray multi-mode electronically-scanning (E-scan) radar, and integrated electronic warfare Defensive Aids Suite and is fully Network-enabled.
21 Mar 24. UK firm appointed to build Australian AUKUS submarines.
The partnership between British firm BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd could be worth bns of pounds, in a major boost to the UK’s defence industry
British firm BAE Systems will partner with ASC Pty Ltd to build Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines, in a major moment for the AUKUS programme.
Meeting in Australia, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, and US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, welcomed the partnership.
The submarine builder deal follows months of negotiations and is a monumental success for British industry. BAE Systems have been at the heart of the UK’s submarine enterprise for generations and will bring their experience and excellence to deliver this important submarine for Australia.
First announced in September 2021, AUKUS is a trilateral security and defence partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US that will see our nations work together on a range of capabilities, including a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability for Australia.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “In a more dangerous world, today’s announcement symbolises the huge confidence our close partner Australia has in our world-leading defence industry, including companies such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce.
Through these collaborations, British industry will grow, and thousands of jobs will be created across the country, delivering security and prosperity to our two nations.”
Opportunities through the AUKUS supply chain for British industry could be worth billions across the life of the Australian submarine programme. That includes Rolls-Royce, which will deliver the nuclear propulsion plants for the Australian programme.
As announced in March 2023, Australia has agreed to make a significant investment into the UK’s submarine industrial base, including Rolls-Royce, Sheffield Forgemasters, and their supply chains, to support the delivery of the Australian SSN-AUKUS programme. This investment, alongside funding from the UK Ministry of Defence, will enable the Rolls-Royce Derby site to double in size, with a further 1,170 highly-skilled jobs created.
CEO of BAE Systems, Charles Woodburn, said: “We’re extremely proud of our role in the delivery of this vitally important, tri-nation submarine programme. Our selection as a partner in Australia, alongside ASC, recognises our role as the UK’s long-term submarine design and build partner and as a key player in Australia’s maritime enterprise and wider defence landscape. Drawing on decades of experience in the UK and Australia, we look forward to working with ASC to develop an enduring, sovereign nuclear-powered submarine building capability for Australia.
We’re already making good progress on the design and development of the next generation submarine in the UK where we have more than 1,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programme and major infrastructure investment underway.”
This latest step will ensure an integral connection between the UK design and the build strategy development in Australia as we work together to deliver next generation military capability as well as considerable social and economic value to all three nations.
Rolls-Royce Submarines President, Steve Carlier, said: “Last year we were proud to welcome the Hon Richard Marles MP, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence and UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to our Raynesway site and showcase some of the world-class manufacturing and engineering capabilities we have developed over the last 60 years. This commitment of funding to our existing expansion work shows the trust Australia places on our nuclear expertise and our ability to deliver. We look forward to working with the Australian Submarine Agency to support them in building their own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
These jobs are part of the 7,000 additional British jobs that the UK’s and Australia’s AUKUS submarine programme will generate through their life. At the peak, there will be over 21,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programmes in the UK – concentrated in Barrow-in-Furness and Derby.2
The first UK submarines built to this design will be delivered in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute Class vessels, and the first Australian submarines will follow in the early 2040s.
The appointment of a builder by Australia comes a year after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian Prime Minister Albanese and US President Biden met in San Diego, where they announced that the first generation of AUKUS submarines would be based on the UK’s world-leading design. The AUKUS partnership is a demonstration of the commitment of Australia, the UK, and the US to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
The partnership has carried out extensive engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, with all countries committed to developing an approach which protects classified information and strengthens the global non-proliferation regime.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
21 Mar 24. The Australian Government has selected BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to build Australia’s new fleet of nuclear powered submarines in the latest significant development in the AUKUS trilateral security pact between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, and UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced the news in Australia, marking the next step in the pathway for Australia to build and operate its own nuclear powered submarines.
Under the AUKUS agreement, Australia and the UK will operate a common submarine of the future, incorporating technology from all three nations, based on the UK’s next generation design which BAE Systems is leading.
BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd will now bring together their complementary skills, expertise and capabilities under a collaborative arrangement in Australia, ultimately leading to the establishment of a long-term, incorporated Joint Venture.
Defence Secretary Shapps said: “In a more dangerous word, today’s announcement symbolises the huge confidence our close partner Australia has in our world-leading defence industry, including companies such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce.
“Through these collaborations, British industry will grow, and thousands of jobs created across the country, delivering security and prosperity to our two nations.”
BAE Systems Chief Executive, Charles Woodburn, said: “We’re extremely proud of our role in the delivery of this vitally important, tri-nation submarine programme. Our selection as a partner in Australia, alongside ASC, recognises our role as the UK’s long-term submarine design and build partner and as a key player in Australia’s maritime enterprise and wider defence landscape. Drawing on decades of experience in the UK and Australia, we look forward to working with ASC to develop an enduring, sovereign nuclear-powered submarine building capability for Australia.
“We’re already making good progress on the design and development of the next generation submarine in the UK where we have more than 1,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programme and major infrastructure investment underway.
“This latest step will ensure an integral connection between the UK design and the build strategy development in Australia as we work together to deliver next generation military capability as well as considerable social and economic value to all three nations.”
SSN-AUKUS will be the largest, most powerful and advanced attack submarines the Royal Navy has ever operated and will start to replace the Astute class, which BAE Systems is building at its site in Barrow-in-Furness in the North West of England, from the late 2030s. Australia expects to deliver its first SSN-AUKUS submarine in the early 2040s.
The UK Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems almost £4 bn for the next phase of the SSN-AUKUS programme in October. The funding covers development work through to 2028, enabling BAE Systems to progress the detailed design phase of the programme and procure long-lead items. The award is also funding significant infrastructure investment in Barrow, which will see the site’s facilities double in size from 80,000 to 160,000 m2 by the late 2030s, as part of a multi-bn pound programme, and continued recruitment to support the national endeavour.
BAE Systems has already increased its UK submarines workforce to 13,500 with plans to grow to around 17,000 at its peak to support SSN-AUKUS in the UK, as well as the Astute and Dreadnought programmes, providing a significant employment boost for the region.
BAE Systems is the UK’s long-term submarine build partner and brings critical nuclear-powered submarine building experience and intellectual property. The involvement of BAE Systems in Australia ensures an integral connection between the SSN-AUKUS design led by BAE Systems in the UK and the development and maturation of the Australian build strategy.
BAE Systems has already delivered five of seven Astute class submarines to the Royal Navy in the UK, with the remaining two boats at advanced stages of construction at its shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The Company is also designing and building the UK’s next-generation nuclear deterrent submarines, Dreadnought, with construction underway on the first three of four new boats.
In Australia, BAE Systems has a long and proud heritage over 70 years providing advanced defence technology from air and maritime sustainment to shipbuilding, which protects both people and national security, keeping critical information and infrastructure secure.
19 Mar 24. Armscor seeking troop carrying helicopter for the SAPS.
The helicopter, to be delivered to the South African Police Air Wing Heliport in Pretoria West, must be supplied by either the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or an OEM-authorised supplier.
The Armscor tender stated the helicopter needs to be a twin turbine design (850 hp per engine) certified for single pilot visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) operations by day and night. It needs to be in the 3 180 to 5 670 kg weight class able to transport one pilot and at least eight passengers for three hours with a 20 minute reserve.
Performance specifications include a maximum speed of 130 knots (240 km/h), fast cruise of at least 120 knots (222 km/h), maximum range of at least 350 nautical miles (648 km), and minimum useful load of 2 200 lb (997 kg). Service ceiling should be in excess of 12 500 feet (3 810 metres).
As the helicopter will be required to operate in dusty and corrosive conditions, it will need to be fitted with sand or barrier filters.
Other requirements include a rotor brake, oil and gearbox chip detectors, jettisonable front doors, removeable or foldable cabin seats, night vision goggle compatible cockpit instrumentation, skid landing gear, provision for a search light, cargo sling hook, fast roping equipment, and hoist attachment.
Defence Industrial Participation (DIP) requirements come into play should more than $2m be remitted overseas, or $10m in the case of National Industrial Participation (NIP).
Closing date for the helicopter tender (ECAC/2023/117) was 5 March 2024.
Armscor has also issued a tender for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the SAPS.
The state-owned defence materiel agency has overseen the procurement of new helicopters for the SAPS Air Wing, with Business Day reporting seven are being acquired for R400m.
So far, three Airbus Helicopters H125 light utility rotorcraft have been delivered to South Africa, with the first (ZT-RFP) being received by the SAPS in December 2012. Another two (ZT-RFT and ZT-RFU) were accepted on 1 September 2023.
At the time of their handover, SAPS National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, said the aircraft would “provide crucial air support to police on the ground,” with their primary focus being on tracking and tracing suspects in high-risk incidents such as cash-in-transit (CIT) heists, armed robberies, hijackings and other serious and violent crimes.
Armscor has a service level agreement (SLA) with the SAPS for the new rotorcraft. The SLA includes “acquisition and procurement services to achieve synergy across the [Cabinet] security cluster departments”.
Armscor on behalf of the SAPS was tasked with disposing of 13 of the Air Wing’s 13 BO 105 helicopters, grounded in 2017. A single private buyer acquired seven as part of an Armscor tender last year. Armscor previously facilitated the purchase of six R44 helicopters for the SAPS, delivered from 2008 onwards.
The SAPS Air Wing now operates 16 AS350/H125 helicopters. Airbus says its H125 is “a multi-mission workhorse” with manoeuvrability, excellent visibility and low in-cabin vibration levels. The rotary wing aircraft has a flat floor that can be quickly and easily reconfigured for missions including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, passenger transport and others.
Other rotorcraft in the SAPS fleet include six R-44 Raven IIs, two MD500s and a BK 117. Fixed wing aircraft include eight PC-6 Turbo Porters (the ninth was destroyed in a crash in August 2022), a PC-12, a King Air C90 and a Citation Sovereign jet. Half the fleet is based in Gauteng with the remainder deployed throughout the country.
SAPS aircraft are used in policing operations including crime prevention, vehicle tracking and pursuit, dagga plantation spraying, crowd control and monitoring, VIP transport and sear. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
19 Mar 24. Force Posture Project: Industry invited to bid on RAAF Darwin infrastructure contract.
The Australian defence industry is being invited to bid on a critical defence infrastructure project in Darwin, to enhance US-Australian joint military operations and training exercises.
The contract opportunity for eligible Australian companies, announced by the United State Department of Defence, includes construction of a parking apron, a maintenance support facility and an aircraft maintenance hangar at RAAF Base Darwin in the Northern Territory.
“As part of the US Force Posture Initiatives, the project will enhance the capacity of the US and Australia to complete joint military operations and training exercises, promote opportunities to engage with regional partners, and demonstrate our shared commitment to Indo-Pacific security,” according to a statement published by the US Embassy in Australia earlier this month.
The defence infrastructure contract presents the opportunity for Australian industry to support Force Posture Initiatives in northern Australia, according to Defence’s Security and Estate Group.
“These projects are part of force cooperation with the United States to enhance interoperability and improve our ability to respond to regional crises,” a SEG statement said.
“Under the Force Posture Initiatives, Australian businesses and joint ventures have won United States-funded contracts for force-posture infrastructure projects to the value of US$198.4m.
“This latest tender opportunity are (is) valued at around US$250-500m.”
The Darwin contract was originally published on March 4 this year and offers are due on April 18 this year.
The contract also reportedly includes aircraft rinse facility, aircraft wash rack, helicopter landing pads, and supporting facilities as well as the construction of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron and Marine Wing Support Squadron facilities in support of the Marine Corps Air Combat Element, according to information published by the United States Government.
In addition, construction of a Type II aircraft maintenance hangar, telecommunications distribution facility, supporting facilities, utility connections, site improvements and earthwork necessary for full operation is also required.
Earlier this year, the Australian Federal Government announced a new 9,000-panel solar farm based at RAAF Base Darwin in the Northern Territory.
The 3.2-megawatt system solar farm, operated and maintained by Assure Energy, is installed at RAAF Base Darwin and is expected to deliver up to 40 per cent of the Australian Defence Force base’s energy requirements
Construction of the solar farm included design of the solar array and battery storage solution, procurement, installation, and commissioning of the system, following the signing of a 20-year power purchase agreement between Defence and Assure Energy NT Darwin in April 2019.
(Source: Defence Connect)
20 Mar 24. Nuclear submarines may never appear, but AUKUS is already in place. An upgraded HMAS Stirling in Western Australia will cater for one British and up to four US nuclear-powered submarines rotating through what is known as Submarine Rotational Force-West.
One year since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese went to San Diego to unveil the AUKUS deal the news came that the first of three second-hand Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines supposed to arrive in 2032 may not happen.
Former coalition prime minister Scott Morrison announced AUKUS in September 2021 and Albanese continued to champion the pact between the US, Britain and Australia.
Phase one involves Australia acquiring eight nuclear-powered submarines as tensions in the Indo-Pacific are growing.
Concerns about the submarines ever materialising are not new, despite the US passing its National Defence Bill 2024 which facilitates the transfer of the nuclear-powered warships.
However, the Pentagon’s 2025 fiscal year budget only set aside funding to build one Virginia submarine. This affects the AUKUS deal as the US had promised to lift production from around 1.3 submarines a year to 2.3 to meet all requirements.
Australia’s acquisition of the first of three second-hand SSNs were to bridge the submarine gap, as talk about a US-led war on China continues.
US Democratic congressperson Joe Courtney told The Sydney Morning Herald on March 12 the US was struggling with its own shipbuilding capacity, meaning promises to Australia were being deprioritised.
Production downturn
Courtney said that the downturn in production “will remove one more attack submarine from a fleet that is already 17 submarines below the navy’s long-stated requirement of 66”.
The US needs to produce 18 more submarines by 2032 to be able to pass one on to Australia.
After passing laws permitting the transfer of nuclear technology, the deal is running a year at least behind schedule.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge said on X that “When the US passed the law to set up AUKUS they put in kill switches, one of which allowed the US to decide not [to] transfer the submarines if doing so would ‘degrade the US undersea capabilities’”.
Pat Conroy, Labor’s Defence Industry Minister, retorted that the government was confident the submarines would appear.
The White House seems unfazed; it would have been aware of the problems for some time.
Meanwhile the USS Annapolis, a US nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) has docked in Boorloo/Perth.
AUKUS still under way
Regardless of whether Australia acquires any nuclear-powered vessels, the rest of the AUKUS deal, including interoperability with the US, is already underway.
Andrew Hastie, Liberal Party spokesperson, confirmed that construction at HMAS Stirling will start next year for “Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West)”, the permanent US-British nuclear-powered submarine base in WA, which is due to be completed in 2027.
SRF-West includes 700 US army personnel and their families being stationed in WA. If the second-hand nuclear submarines do not materialise, the US submarines will be on hand.
SRF-West may also serve as an alternative to the five British-designed AUKUS SSNs, slated to be built in Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide over coming decades.
Australia respects the Pentagon’s warhead ambiguity policy, meaning that any US military equipment stationed here could be carrying nuclear weapons: we will never know.
Shoebridge said on March 13 he was entering a hearing to decide where the AUKUS powers can dump their nuclear waste. Local waste dumps are being considered, as the US and Britain do not have permanent radioactive waste dumps.
The waste to be dumped is said to have a low-level radioactivity. However, as former Senator Rex Patrick pointed out, SSNs produce high-level radioactive waste at the end of their shelf lives that will need to be stored somewhere, underground, forever.
‘Radioactive waste management’
The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023, tabled last November, allows for the AUKUS SSNs to be constructed and also provides for “a radioactive waste management facility”.
The Australian public is spending US$3 bn on helping the US submarine industrial base expand capacity. An initial US$2 bn will be spent next year, followed by $100 m annually from 2026 through to 2033.
The Pentagon has budgeted US$4 bn for its submarine industry next year, with an extra US$11 bn over the following five years.
The removal of the Virginia subs, and even the AUKUS submarines from the agreement, would be in keeping with the terms of the 2014 Force Posture Agreement, signed off by then prime minister Tony Abbott.
As part of the Barack Obama administration’s 2011 “pivot to Asia”, the US-Australia Force Posture Agreement allows for 2500 Marines to be stationed in the Northern Territory.
It sets up increasing interoperability between both countries’ air forces and allows the US unimpeded access to dozens of “agreed-to facilities and areas”.
These agreed bases remain classified.
US takes full control
However, as the recent US overhaul of RAAF Base Tindall in the NT reveals, when the US decides to do that it takes full control.
Tindall has been upgraded to allow for six US B-52 bombers that may be carrying nuclear warheads.
US laws that facilitate the transfer of Virginia-class submarines also make clear that as Australia is now classified as a US domestic military source this allows the US privileged access to critical minerals, such as lithium. (Source: News Now/https://asiapacificreport.nz/)
15 Mar 24. In USA we trust: Albanese, Marles rebuff barrage of submarine doubt. The Australian federal government has rebuffed a barrage of speculation that the future transfer of Virginia Class submarines is in doubt after the release of US President Joe Biden’s fiscal year 2025 defence budget.
The defence budget, unveiled on 11 March and based on the 2022 National Defense Strategy, detailed a US$849.8bn budget request to fund US military investment and operations during the 2025 fiscal year.
More than US$8.2bn was marked for SSN 774 Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarine in the US defence budget request, more than US$4 bn in funding allocated to the US submarine industrial base, and US$11.1 bn over five years in funding to expand production. The document also confirmed the US Navy is on track for only one fast-attack submarine in 2025, and the US industry is unlikely to produce two submarines per year until 2029.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, speaking to ABC Afternoon Briefing on 13 March, said the recent budget announcement has produced no significant surprises in future planning.
“The fact that the American industrial base is stretched in 2024, as it was in 2023 when we made this announcement, is not news. It formed part of the landscape against which this arrangement was agreed a year ago,” he said.
“I think what’s important to see in the budget that’s been put forward by the Biden administration is an $11 bn commitment over the next five years to grow the industrial capacity within the United States to produce Virginia Class submarines, which will see an increase over that time in the tempo of Virginia class submarines produced. That’s what we need to see. That’s as expected.
“The fact that the industrial base is tight in this year is something that we already understood. And so we welcome the fact that we are seeing an increased commitment of funding over the next five years.”
Australia is seeking the future transfer of three Virginia Class submarines from the US in the 2030s, promised under the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, and avoid a capability gap left by the retirement of ageing Collins Class submarines in the same period.
“The commitment we have with the Biden administration and the American government is around the provision of Virginia Class submarines to Australia, and that commitment absolutely remains in force,” according to Deputy Prime Minister Marles.
“I think if we take a step back, when we made this announcement last year, in the last 12 months, we’ve seen a power of work be undertaken by us here in Australia, but in the UK and very much in the US as well, the very first step was to see an increase in the number of nuclear-powered submarine visits to Australia.
“There’s an LA Class submarine at HMAS Stirling right now, the USS Annapolis, and we have seen that increased tempo of submarines come to Australia.
“If you look at the legislation, which went through the Congress last year, this was groundbreaking legislation undertaken by both the Congress and the US administration, which provides for the submarines to be transferred to Australia. The US government has been meeting its commitments and continues to do so.
“Even in the news of the budget, which they have put forward this week, is contained an $11bn commitment over the next five years to grow the industrial base in the US, which is obviously very important.
“There is absolutely a rock-solid commitment to Australia. And that’s a commitment which has been reiterated by the US government, and it forms part of a commitment that the United States is making not only to Australia but also to the UK as part of the trilateral AUKUS agreement.
“When you look at all the work that’s been done over the course of the last 12 months from all three governments, it speaks to the ongoing commitment which all of us have to meet the time frames within the AUKUS arrangement.
“We’ve reached an agreement about what our contribution will be, and that agreement stands. And when you look at that agreement, when you look at the fact that this budget reflects a reality of the tightness of the industrial base today, but looking forward, which is actually when we will be receiving the Virginia Class submarines, sees an increase in the American commitment to their own industrial base. They are living up to the agreement which we all reached a year ago.”
As the world faces an uncertain and unstable future, the US will need a capable partner such as Australia, Mr Marles said.
“We live in a world which is challenging, where the future is not easy to see. It’s precisely in that context that obviously we are seeking to increase our own naval capability through the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine capability,” he said.
“Does it remain part of or in the interests of the United States, its future strategic interest for Australia to have this capability? The answer is clearly yes.
“Indeed, the more uncertain the world is, the more America is going to need a capable partner, which only adds to the weight of seeing this agreement fulfilled.”
Speaking to 2SM radio on 14 March, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed the federal government’s confidence in the AUKUS commitment with any incoming US administration.
“Across the board, I, of course, met with Republican and Democrat senators and Congress people, and there was extraordinary support for AUKUS,” he said.
“This proposal, this is an agreement between our two great nations, not an agreement between two individuals.
“So, whilst the election in the United States is, of course, a decision for the people of the United States, I’m very confident that regardless of the outcome, this agreement will stay in place.” (Source: Defence Connect)
15 Mar 24. Analysis: Too soon to quit – Armscor tenders and SMME development. “It is always too soon to quit”. This is a quote attributed to Norman Vincent Peale. I was starting to wonder if Armscor would ever get around to start issuing tenders that are of interest to people wanting to assist companies in putting forward innovative bid solutions.
As stated in my bio, I assist businesses in submitting proposals that are suitable for winning tenders based on a competitive focus. I particularly enjoy working with SMMEs (Small Medium and Micro Enterprises) and businesses that are looking to expand into defence as a sector. These are entities that can help achieve the goals of the defence sector charter.
In order to assist SMMEs you need significant risk appetite. SMMEs generally do not have the budget allocation for external consultants. Addressing risk means conducting a success analysis. This is possible if you can understand the whole product solution that is required. Then it boils down to risk versus reward and the understanding that the competition is also going through this analysis.
Armscor of late has released next to zero tenders for complex high value product solutions that would enable a SMME to formulate a solution against the major players. Great was the surprise that Armscor is now getting involved with South African Police Service (SAPS) acquisition and released two tenders for air assets for the police service. One for the acquisition a single Troop Carrier Helicopter. The other for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAS) solution.
I want to use the helicopter tender to highlight the potential problem of Quiet Quitting. Quiet Quitting is when employees continue to put in the minimum amount of effort to keep their jobs, but don’t go the extra mile for their employer (for this article also think end user).
In reading the Request for Bid (RFB), you can quickly see which helicopter has been specified. This is minimum effort. Is there a reason for not going the extra mile to actually engage the end user for the true requirements/needs? Maybe the employer has a particular solution in mind. In this RFB’s case, the preferred solution – from an international original equipment manufacturer (OEM) already has a SA presence and obviously intervened early to influence the requirement. Good on them.
But, if there is only one solution in contention, stop wasting everyone’s time and go for a single source solution. It takes time and money for industry players to prepare bids. This seems to be something that Armscor does not understand. How many times in recent years has Armscor reissued complex system tenders on multiple occasions, or even just cancelled them mid-tender?
There is a change to the Armscor 90:10 value system. The 10% goal is now advancement of SMMEs. This helicopter tender presents a great opportunity for some of the newer aircraft maintenance SMMEs to get some alliance with an international OEM. An understanding of the pricing of the Troop Carrier class of helicopter indicates that this tender would require Defence Industrial Participation (DIP) and should also break through the National Industrial Participation (NIP) foreign value thresholds. This then aligns with SMME advancement, but it makes a simple tender significantly more complex.
The problem is that there is a three week submission deadline. This is a short timeline if you did not have forewarning that the tender was being released. The timeline is short even if the contract conditions are based on A-STD-61 Part 5 (COTS) and A-STD-61 Part 6 (Maintenance Programme) but applied to a complex mission system that requires DIP and NIP confirmation by bidders.
If an SMME would want to prepare a solution, they would need to immediately request an extension for the additional time to prepare a compliant commercial off the shelf (COTS)-based solution. You need to secure an agreement with a foreign OEM that can be convinced that there is an opportunity in South Africa. If possible, you need to secure the single rights for the tender submission on the product offering. Lastly, the DIP & NIP agreements need corporate approval. This takes time in any organisation, never mind a foreign entity. Once again if there is already a preferred OEM solution, either specify the product and get three submissions for the same product or go for a single source solution under an urgent operational acquisition model.
What is sacrilege, and the ultimate personification of Quiet Quitting, is when the procurement agency does not have the wherewithal to even answer a Request for Extension letter for the tender. The tender KD17 document was last updated on 12 May 2023 before issuing on 12 February 2024. It also took one member over a month to sign the KD17 backing RFB document. So, offset the tender response urgency timeline (21 days) with the 180 days validity, having known about the tender for nine months. The UAS tender was extended, albeit by a week. Note that a UAS would be difficult to exceed even the foreign DIP threshold, but really should have the requirement for a locally designed solution.
Why it is difficult doing business in the Aerospace & Defence sector? Before submission, there could be informal whispering (that would never be admitted if it did come out) that the SMME/bidder should not upset the bidding process as another party is already pencilled in for the work. Insult to injury for a Level 1 BBBEE SMME operating in the designated sector would be if the local entity, which was set up by the OEM at great cost, is not even submitting the bid. Armscor state that the goal is “Advancement of SMMEs”! To SMME’s out there: It is always too soon to quit.
This is the SA tender reality. What does it mean to the end user? There is less value for money. The potential best solution may not even be offered for evaluation.
There is still opportunity in South Africa in general, and specifically in the aerospace and defence sector. It is always too soon to quit. I remain engaged to assist real SADI businesses to secure work.
So, what now? How is this problem addressed? For the defence sector it is easy:
- The various government sponsored plans have been calling for the South African Defence Industry’s (SADI’s) visibility of the Strategic Capability Acquisition Management Plan (SCAMP). defenceWeb up to 2009 had articles linked to the SCAMP and highlighted projects in the 30-year time frame. Armscor did trial a procurement plan two years ago showing timelines for release of tenders. Not sure why this innovation was discontinued.
- It would also help if the SANDF new/latest force design is discussed with the SADI. This would ensure that local capabilities can be aligned with future SANDF capabilities. The Defence Review 2015 was a good benchmark in this regard. Local industry could examine the capability requirements and align with the outcomes desired. The funding versus capability unfortunately did not match. This is where the current SANDF force design process could be different if desired. AMD Executive, Sandile Ndlovu, has effectively committed SADI to assist in finding a solution. The defence capability role players need to put heads together to get a solution for moving forward.
- Armscor needs to re-start announcing the tender values received and the successful tenderer on their website. This also stopped around 2010. They should include both the contract values/BBBEE status in a system update. This way there is potential for scrutiny of value for money as well as seeing where excessive mark-ups are going to impact the end-user limited budgets.
This takes effort, but the defence industry may be lucky. I do not see the SANDF as “quiet quitters”. The Chief of the Navy is a case in point. Long may C SAN stoke the fires and inspire the other arms of service to be vocal. It would be good if the ambitious fleet wish is also captured in the force design and SCAMP. The Chief of the Air Force has started action to coalesce the SADC region air forces with a call to action for self-sufficiency. Reach for the Stars! SA would need a new acquisition approach if regional co-operation was possible (Armscor opportunity calling). These two Chiefs of arms of service know it is always too soon to quit. If fact, I think that they are just getting started.
Armscor’s time for quiet quitting is at an end if these two arms of service take up the call to action. The SADI also needs to start engaging Armscor, as the defence procurement agency, to find a viable solution that is acceptable to all. Engaging with the SANDF and SANDF defence materiel department may also be a good idea for all concerned.
Written by James Kerr, Orion Consulting CC, which provides Market Entry Strategy and Bid & Proposal services to the Aerospace & Defence related industry and assists international SME mission system product suppliers to gain traction in South Africa. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
————————————————————————
Since 1946, Industrial Electronic Engineers, IEE, has specialized in the design, test, support and fielding of display products for use in demanding military and aerospace applications throughout the world. IEE has developed an extensive product portfolio that today includes enhanced flat panel displays, smart displays and handheld devices.
From rapid prototyping of custom designs to full-scale production runs, IEE, produces displays with advanced features like low-latency video processing, high-bright and NVIS backlighting, and lightweight rugged enclosures. Their SWaP-C products employ the latest lightweight composite materials; low power, high performance integrated ARM processors; standard Ethernet and USB communication, in a low cost, highly producible design.
In-house California facilities include optical bonding, clean rooms for display assembly, a dark room for optical measurements and environmental chambers for pre-compliance and customer acceptance testing. On-site manufacturing includes PCB assembly and flow soldering. IEE has manufactured handheld, in-vehicle, airborne and naval LCD displays for all military branches as well as leading aerospace firms both domestically and internationally.
IEE is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified.
IEE’s Advantage:
- Direct control of critical process steps that reduce cost, decrease production lead times and improves life-cycle management
- Unique advantage to serve to both smaller quantity, highly custom displays needs as well as high volume production outputs
- Expert in delivering the best value in form and fit replacement by modifying existing COTS products to meet legacy requirements
- Leading the next generation avionics efficiencies by leveraging open architectures and common software standards
- Field-proven, pre-engineered displays minimize lead-time and non-recurring engineering costs.
————————————————————————