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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
20 Jun 24. Royal Navy call for Long Range ASW weapon for its surface combatants. The request for information is for the latest conception that will augment the weapons capabilities on future Type 26 and 31 frigates.
The UK Royal Navy is seeking information regarding a new Long Range Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRAW) weapon concept for its surface combatants.
In a request for information (RFI) extended to industry on 13 June 2024, the service stipulated that such a weapon must be capable of launching from a Mark 41 (Mk41) vertical launch system (VLS).
According to the Mk41 supplier and US defence prime Lockheed Martin, the Mk41 is the only launching system that can simultaneously communicate with weapon control systems and missiles of every warfighting mission area: anti-aircraft, anti-surface, anti-submarine, ballistic missile defence and land attack. The system can accept any missile into any cell.
The LRAW effector solution will be a “missile/rocket delivered system.” Although, the Navy added that it will examine uncrewed systems as potential future anti-submarine warfare enablers.
LRAW will provide an extended range for lightweight torpedo or very light weight torpedoes against submarine contacts identified by organic or third-party sensor detection. Engagement ranges are to comfortably overmatch those of current and forecast threat heavy weight torpedoes.
In line with the Ministry of Defence’s new Integrated Procurement Model – through which the government will buy off-the-shelf, ensuring the exportability of new systems – the Navy has determined a total stockpile requirement of 500 missiles as a costing assumption.
This early industry engagement comes off the back of another RFI released a few days earlier to explore capabilities for a new Surface Ship Torpedo Defence unit that will replace the existing Sea Sentor system.
Fitting the Mk41 VLS to Type 26 and 31 Navy ships
Currently the Royal Navy do not operate any Mk41 launcher systems on any of their warships.
Its Type-45 Daring-class destroyers use the Sylver VLS for its Sea Viper missiles, which it recently deployed against Iranian-backed Houthi strikes in the Red Sea under the auspices of Operation Prosperity Garden, an international task force committed to protecting maritime trade from the Yemeni militants.
The Type-23 frigate fleet employ VLS Seawolf, GWS 26 Mod 1, designed to accommodate eight Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles in two four-cell launchers.
However, the service is thinking ahead with the new LRAW concept as they aim to integrate Mk41 onto its future Type 26 and Type 31 frigates expected to enter service between 2025-2028.
In February 2024, it was announced that Mk41 would be fitted to Type 31s in the form of capability insertion periods carried out after the units are delivered to the Royal Navy. This decision will ensure that the ongoing construction the vessels will not be disrupted allowing their timely induction into the fleet. (Source: naval-technology.com)
EUROPE
21 Jun 24. Boeing eyes Finland for AH-6i light attack helicopter. Boeing sees Finland as a potential customer for its AH-6i ‘Little Bird’ light attack helicopter, both as a replacement for its ageing MD Helicopters MD 500s and as a capability upgrade with its Hellfire anti-armour missiles. Speaking to Janes on 20 June, Terry Jamison, director Vertical Lift international sales, identified the Nordic country as a strong candidate for the platform that is based on the same Hughes Model 369 airframe as the MD 500 it would be replacing in national service.
“Yes, I do [see potential in Finland]. With what is going on in Europe [with the war in Ukraine], you have to believe that an anti-armour capability has got to be a high priority for any NATO member right now on the continent, [and] the AH-6i has a fully integrated Hellfire capability,” Jamison said.
The Finnish Army operates seven MD 500D helicopters that it has fielded since 1983, and five MD 500E helicopters since 1999. Despite an upgrade programme launched in 2020, these ageing airframes are due for replacement. Launched in 2013, the AH-6i shares many of the attributes that made the MD 500-series helicopter, including its diminutive size (the main rotor system is only 8.33 m in diameter, and from tip to tail it is only about 9.95 m in length), and a highly crash-resistant A-frame with rugged skid landing gear. (Source: Janes)
21 Jun 24. Boeing touts Apache pooling for Nordic countries. With none of the nordic countries fielding an attack helicopter type, Boeing sees an opportunity for a pooled capability utilising its AH-64E Apache Guardian. (Crown Copyright)
The Nordic countries could field a pooled attack helicopter capability based on the AH-64E Apache Guardian, Boeing told Janes on 20 June.
Terry Jamison, director Vertical Lift international sales, said that informal discussions on the subject had been held between Boeing and the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
“I can tell you there have been discussions with every [Nordic country] you mentioned… I see a lot of potential there for a consortium to pull resources together to get this capability,” he said, adding that these discussions had so far been informal, with no letters of request (LORs) yet received.
With none of the Nordic countries currently fielding an attack helicopter capability, Jamison said they would be fielding a bespoke beyond-line-of-sight anti-armour capability that has been honed over decades by the US Army.
“This was a purpose-built attack helicopter designed to fight on the plains of Europe against a peer adversary. The [AH-64A] model of the 1980s was a game changing aircraft, but it’s nothing like what we have today [with the AH-64E]. When a customer buys this aircraft, they’re really investing into a US Army modernisation programme that has taken this from the AH-64A model to the AH-64D model into the AH-64E model.
(Source: Janes)
20 Jun 24. European ammo firms tell EU to ‘hurry up’ with 155mm shell aid top-up. European policymakers should urgently provide more funding to increase production of the propellant and explosive materials required to manufacture 155mm artillery shells, ammunition makers Nammo and KNDS said at the Eurosatory defense show in Paris.
“The response from the industry: hurry up,” said Morten Brandtzaeg, the CEO of Nammo, in response to a round table question about the need for European Union financing beyond the €500 m (U.S. $536 m) ASAP program allocated in March. “We need to get this in place as soon as possible.”
The scaling up of artillery shell production to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s invasion equates to “an industrial war,” and the time lag to boost output is concerning, the Nammo CEO told Defense News on the sidelines of the round table discussion.
While the EU says annual European production capacity of 155mm shells reached one m in January, the bloc was only able to deliver slightly more than half of one m shells promised to Ukraine by March. The ASAP program will help Europe reach production capacity of 2 m shells a year by the end of 2025, according to the European Commission.
The requirements to further boost raw-materials production have already been identified as part of ASAP, and there is no new tender necessary should the European Commission for example decide to invest an additional €200 m, according to Dominique Guillet, vice president of ammunition at KNDS. “We know what is necessary. It’s just a decision to take.”
Beyond financing capacity, companies need to take into account research-and-development funding, with long range and precision important for future munitions, and loitering munition another new development that needs to be considered, said Guillet.
The industry also needs to consider “the end of the peak and the big volume,” and how to manage the new assets beyond that, according to Thierry Francou, the CEO of French artillery-propellant manufacturer Eurenco.
Brandtzaeg said he “fully supports” coordinating demand, for example with one European country holding a significant amount of explosives, while another has significant capacity to fill warheads. The Nammo CEO cautioned against industry consolidation, however, while Guillet and Francou also expressed doubts about further concentration in the European ammunition industry.
“It’s not the time for consolidating something you are in short supply of,” Brandtzaeg said. “There are a handful of players in Europe. They should not be fewer, but a few should be bigger.”
The price of a 155mm shell produced in Western Europe ranges from a low of $5,000 to more than $10,000 for the high-end ammunition, a senior industry executive attending the round table told Defense News.
Ammunition manufacturers face higher supply-chain costs due to more demand for machinery, as well as more expensive energy, which is “a big weight,” according to Francou.
“We have an increase in pricing of all the machinery, and this is the case of everyone in this room,” Francou said. “One example: In order to accelerate the investment, we accept to overpay in order to be first in line. If I have time, I can do it cheaper, but in three years. So in the end, what is the price of the acceleration right now?”
The price of small-caliber ammunition has also doubled. “This is the market during the last five years,” Francou said.
Brandtzaeg at Nammo said price hikes aren’t only due to the war in Ukraine, but started already because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and setting up a new ammunition factory takes two to three years. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
USA
19 Jun 24. USAF failed to provide Congress with F-22 retirement data: GAO. The US Air Force has been looking to retire its 30 older Block 20 F-22 fighters, which are used for training purposes, rather than upgrade to the Block 30/35 standard.
The US Congress was not provided with the data required to fully understand the implications of a US Air Force (USAF) FY2023 budget proposal to retire from service all of the older Block 20 variants of the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, according to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).
In its 18 June 2024 report, the GAO stated that the F-22 Block 20 fighters, which are used for training and not upgraded to the same capability as the more advanced Block 30/35 platforms, were proposed by the USAF to be withdrawn from service without documenting associated costs with running the remaining aircraft harder to accommodate flight training or upgrading the older aircraft.
The USAF operates 32 F-22 Block 20 fighters, which lack distinct upgrades compared to the 150 Block 30/35 iterations.
Further, the GAO stated in its proposal to Congress, the USAF “didn’t note key details such as how to train without Block 20s or whether they should be upgraded instead of retired. Congress didn’t have enough data to make a decision”, adding that a similar 2016 report also found similar issues.
“We recommended that the Air Force collect data to inform its proposals, and that Congress consider requiring specific data in the proposals,” the GAO said.
The GAO stated that in its proposal to Congress, the USAF “didn’t note key details such as how to train without Block 20s or whether they should be upgraded instead of retired. Congress didn’t have enough data to make a decision”, adding that a similar 2016 report also found similar issues.
“We recommended that the Air Force collect data to inform its proposals, and that Congress consider requiring specific data in the proposals,” the GAO said. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
18 Jun 24. GAO finds DoD programme delivery delays have increased. For successful Major Defence Acquisition Programmes, delivery times have stretched from 8 years to 11 years since 2023, a GAO report found.
AGovernment Accountability Office (GAO) report published on 17 June 2024, found that the US Department of Defence (DoD) is struggling to field new weapon system technologies quickly, and failing to take advantage of leading product development practices in some programmes.
The increase in the time to delivery for initial capabilities from Major Defence Acquisition Programmes (MDAPs) is a concerning trend within the DoD. MDAPs are experiencing delays in achieving planned initial operational capability dates, with more than half of the assessed programmes reporting schedule delays in the past year.
The results of these delays include slower innovation and development, reduced adaptability, a risk of technological obsolescence within DoD programmes, and inefficient resource allocation.
For those MDAP that have delivered an initial capability, the average time to do so increased from 8 years to 11 years since 2023. For these MDAP, the average overrun was 3 years.
These delays in delivering initial capabilities can have significant implications for military readiness and national security. They may result in gaps in operational capabilities, reduced effectiveness in addressing emerging threats, and increased costs associated with prolonged development timelines.
Among MDAP that are still to deliver an initial capability, the average wait has been 10 years, slightly longer than the GAO found in 2023.
Factors contributing to the delays in delivering initial capabilities from MDAPs include issues such as test delays, production challenges, staffing shortages, and supply chain disruptions.
The GAO also found that costs for MDAP had decreased slightly, by $1.7bn on a $2trn investment, largely due to changes in inflation rate assumptions, but also representing quantity reductions for some programmes offsetting quantity increases elsewhere.
The GAO recommended several key practices for programmes to follow at critical design review and production start milestones to enhance the success and efficiency of MDAPs.
Programmes should ensure that they have achieved critical levels of knowledge before proceeding to the next acquisition phase, and they should standardise the way manufacturing risks are managed. (Source: army-technology.com)
REST OF THE WORLD
21 Jun 24. India advances light attack helicopter program with large tender. Thanks to its high-altitude performance, the Light Combat Helicopter – or LCH for short – is an important aviation platform for India’s military. Now, a major acquisition of this helicopter type has moved forward after India’s Ministry of Defence issued a request for proposals.
The RfP was issued to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the designer and manufacturer of the 5.8-ton LCH Prachand. The request asked for 156 helicopters, split into 90 for the Indian Army and 66 for the Indian Air Force.
Release of the RfP was confirmed by HAL in a stock exchange filing on June 17. The deal is expected to be worth more than 450 bn rupees (around US$5.4 bn) once negotiations conclude and a contract is issued.
In response to the news, HAL shares surged 6.5% to hit a record 5,582.80 rupees.
Defense News sought additional information about the tender from HAL, but had received no reply by press time.
K.P Sanjeev Kumar, a former Indian naval aviation test pilot and aviation commentator, told Defense News that this tender “is a significant milestone in India’s journey of making customized helicopters for its armed forces”.
He said the LCH Prachand is “arguably the only attack helicopter that packs a punch all the way from sea level to super high altitude”. It can take off and land at altitudes of 16,400ft (5,000m), thus making it ideal for operations along India’s mountainous borders with China and Pakistan.
Armaments on the LCH include Mistral air-to-air missiles, up to four FZ231 2.75-inch (70mm) rocket pods, a nose-mounted M621 20mm cannon and, in the future, Dhruvastra air-to-ground missiles.
Although the LCH is considered an indigenous design, only a 45% level of local content was attained in 15 limited series production LCHs delivered in 2022-2023. However, HAL’s goal is to reach 55% local content with the 156 series-produced helicopters.
An important reason for the increase in indigenous content is a 2023 agreement with Safran for full technology transfer of the Shakti 1H1 engines that power it.
The LCH’s development has been protracted, its maiden flight occurring way back in 2010. Sanjeev Kumar noted “product improvement is a continuous process,” and that, hopefully, HAL will address legacy issues of other HAL helicopters, such as low time between overhaul of key subassemblies, in the LCH.
Sanjeev Kumar concluded: “So long as attack helicopters remain relevant in the battlespace, the LCH will be a vital weapon in India’s arsenal.” These Prachands will operate alongside 28 AH-64E Apache helicopters procured from Boeing in the U.S.
This tender comes on the heels of an RfP for 97 Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A aircraft issued to HAL in April. As at March 31, HAL’s order books stood in excess of 940 bn rupees, even before these LCA and LCH orders were lodged. (Source: Defense News)
21 Jun 24. Prachand LCH procurement to propel India’s quest for indigenization of defense manufacturing, says GlobalData.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the acquisition of 156 Prachand Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), which will cost the country’s exchequer about $5.4 bn. This procurement holds paramount importance in India’s quest for self-reliance in defense manufacturing and is expected to boost the country’s efforts to reduce dependence on imports of foreign attack helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s report “Global Military Rotorcraft Market Forecast 2024-2034” reveals that India’s investment in procuring attack helicopters is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% over the next 10 years. India’s diverse terrain, including mountainous regions, necessitates the procurement of versatile rotorcraft platforms for close air support, ISR operations, and rapid troop deployment, thus ensuring operational readiness and tactical flexibility against any potential threats, irrespective of all geographical constraints.
Venkatesh Kandlikar, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “With over 50% of its equipment to be locally produced, the LCH procurement program will ensure a consistent supply of critical parts, mitigating risks associated with supply chain disruptions and enhancing the availability rate of these helicopter units, which is crucial for maintaining a formidable defense posture for the Indian Armed Forces. Over time, the increased production of Prachand LCH is anticipated to gradually phase out existing inventories of attack helicopters like the Mi-35.”
The impending introduction of the Prachand LCH also marks a significant leap forward in augmenting the combat capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces, largely due to the helicopter’s exceptional operational proficiency at altitudes exceeding 5,000 meters. This capability is crucial in ensuring efficient logistical support for troops stationed in challenging terrain like the Siachen Glacier, located at 5,400 meters.
Furthermore, the LCH can be equipped with a diverse range of arsenal encompassing air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, 70 mm rockets, and 20 mm turret guns, making these helicopters capable of delivering critical fire support to infantry units in high-altitude contested regions such as the Depsang Plains, Galwan Heights, Daulat Beg Oldi, and Pangong Tso, where Indian forces are actively engaged in defensive maneuvers against adversaries.
Kandlikar adds: “The Indian government, along with prioritizing the protection of its borders and national interests, recognizes the export potential of the Prachand LCH platform, aligning with its ambitious defense export goals. Leveraging its robust military-industrial complex and growing expertise in aerospace and defense manufacturing, India aims to strengthen its position as a reliable supplier of aerial platforms in the global aerospace and defense market.”
The Prachand LCH will be a suitable platform in the coming years for nations like Egypt, Nigeria, Argentina, and the Philippines, all of whom have indicated interest in purchasing similar platforms to support their ground forces and carry out counter-insurgency operations. India’s HAL might continue to look for growing opportunities in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia for advanced combat helicopters.
Kandlikar concludes: “The RFP for the Prachand LCH serves as a vital support for bolstering HAL’s production lines and its network of local suppliers. The meeting of HAL’s delivery commitments for ALH Dhruv Mark IV ordered earlier is indicative of the company’s capabilities in timely delivery of the upcoming LCH units.
“The fulfillment of such projects further drives HAL’s long-term goals, aiming for the production of about 1,000 helicopter units of varying tonnage over the next two decades. Amidst escalating tensions with China and Pakistan, India’s possession of a substantial helicopter inventory underscores its readiness to defend its borders with homegrown capabilities while providing continued support to domestic defense suppliers.”
18 Jun 24. Congress OKs Israel F-15 sale as Biden takes heat on heavy bomb pause. The White House has convinced two key Democrats on Capitol Hill to lift their hold on a roughly $18bn F-15 sale to Israel, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adds to pressure on the Biden administration to release its own pause on a shipment of thousands of heavy bombs to the country.
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland – the top Democrats on the foreign affairs panels in both chambers – confirmed Monday that they’ve lifted their months-long blockade of 50 Boeing-made F-15 fighter jets; Raytheon-made Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles; and Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions kits, which convert so-called dumb bombs to precision-guided munitions.
Shortly thereafter, Netanyahu released a video in English attacking President Joe Biden for his April pause on delivery of some 3,500 air-to-ground munitions for Israel, including 500- and 2,000-pound bombs. He said he raised the issue during a recent meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“It is inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday. :Israel, America’s closest ally fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and other common enemies. Secretary Blinken assured me the administration is working day and night to remove those bottlenecks.”
The Washington Post first reported Monday that Meeks and Cardin have released their holds on the hold on F-15s, which are not slated for delivery until the end of the decade, after pressure from the Biden administration and pro-Israel advocates. The Washington Post also reported that the Biden administration is considering releasing its own hold on the 3,500 heavy bombs for Israel, which were slated for immediate delivery.
“We continue to have constructive discussions with the Israelis for its release, but I don’t have any updates beyond that,” a National Security Council spokesperson told Defense News regarding the munitions hold.
Blinken said Tuesday that the U.S. continues to “review” the heavy bomb delivery but added “everything else is moving as it normally would move.”
Biden withheld the heavy bombs in May ahead of Israel’s Rafah offensive in the southern Gaza Strip, voicing concern that they would exacerbate civilian casualties in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and brought the population to the brink of famine. The last president to publicly withhold weapons shipments to Israel was Ronald Reagan in 1982 after seeing pictures of civilians killed in Lebanon.
Meeks also cited civilian casualties, widespread starvation and restrictions on humanitarian aid in April as factors in his decision to hold the F-15 sale before reversing course.
“I have been in close touch with the White House and [National Security Council] about this and other arms cases for Israel and have repeatedly urged the administration to continue pushing Israel to make significant and concrete improvements on all fronts when it comes to humanitarian efforts and limiting civilian casualties,” Meeks said in a statement. “I continue to support the administration’s pause on certain munitions transfers due to concerns about ongoing civilian casualties in Gaza. The aircraft in question will not be delivered until years from now, and I remain supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself against the real threats posed by Iran and Hezbollah.”
Congressional pressure
Although Meeks lifted the F-15 hold a few weeks ago, the State Department has yet to formally notify Congress of the sale. Nor has it formally notified Congress of a separate $1 bn sale in tank ammunition and tactical vehicles. The notifications would trigger a formal congressional review period in which senators critical of Israel’s Gaza offensive could trigger floor votes seeking to block either sale.
Congress has also moved legislation seeking to undo Biden’s pause on the heavy bomb delivery and restrict the president’s ability to restrict future arms transfers to Israel.
A provision in the House’s fiscal 2025 defense spending bill would bar the Pentagon from using funds “to withhold, halt, reverse or cancel the delivery of defense articles or defense services” for Israel, and force the president to transfer withheld weapons to the Israeli military within 15 days.
The Appropriations Committee advanced the defense spending bill last week in a 34-25 party-line vote with the full House set to vote in the weeks ahead.
Some Democrats also joined Republicans in May to pass 224-187 a more stringent bill undoing Biden’s heavy bomb hold, but the Democratic-held Senate has refused to hold a floor vote amid a White House veto threat.
Congress invited Netanyahu to address a joint session on July 24. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., both signed off on the invitation alongside Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Meanwhile, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Cory Booker, D-N.Y., convened a private meeting Tuesday for senators with several CEOs – including major Republican donors – to urge Congress to continue arms sales for Israel, Punchbowl News reported. Palantir CEO Alex Karp and Booz Allen Hamilton CEO Horacio Rozanski were reportedly set to attend the meeting alongside several finance and tech CEOs. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
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Since 1946, Industrial Electronic Engineers, IEE, has specialized in the design, test, support and fielding of display products for use in demanding military and aerospace applications throughout the world. IEE has developed an extensive product portfolio that today includes enhanced flat panel displays, smart displays and handheld devices.
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