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07 May 20. State clears Apache updates for Egypt, excess MRAPs for UAE.
— The U.S. State Department has cleared a pair of potential foreign military sales, with a combined price tag that could be worth $2.8bn for American defense contractors.
The first sale, reported on the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, would refurbish 43 AH-64E helicopters, with an estimated price tag of $2.3bn. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, was ok’d to buy up to 4,569 excess Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from American stocks.
DSCA notifications are not final sales; once cleared by Congress, the sales enter negotiations, during which quantities and costs can shift.
The Egypt package would involve 88 T700-GE-701D engines, 47 AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors, 45 AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems, and 92 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems, among other equipment. Work would primarily be done by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
The announcement of the package comes the day after a new report by the Center for International Policy called for a re-look into whether military aid to Egypt is in the best interests of America. Egypt receives significant foreign military financing — dollars from the U.S. that must then be sent on U.S. built defense equipment — every year, sitting at around $1.3 bn since fiscal year 2014.
“Egypt intends to use these refurbished AH-64 helicopters to modernize its armed forces to address the shared U.S.-Egyptian interest in countering terrorist activities emanating from the Sinai Peninsula, which threaten Egyptian and Israeli security and undermine regional stability,” according to the DSCA.
The UAE package dates back to a 2014 request to buy excess defense articles, and would give the UAE the chance to buy up to 4,569 MRAPs no longer being used by the U.S. Army. The package would be a mix of MaxxPro made Long Wheel Base (LWB), MaxxPro Recovery Vehicle (MRV), MaxxPro LWB chassis, MaxxPro Dash, MaxxPro Bases Capsule, MaxxPro MEAP Capsules, MaxxPro Plus, Caiman Multi-Terrain Vehicles without armor, Caiman Base, Caiman Plus, Caiman Capsule, and MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles.
“The UAE intends to utilize the MRAP vehicles to increase force protection, to conduct humanitarian assistance operations, and to protect critical infrastructure. Additionally, these MRAPs will enhance the UAE’s burden sharing capacity and defensive capabilities,” according to the DSCA announcement. “The UAE has been, and continues to be, a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. This sale is consistent with U.S. initiatives to provide key allies in the region with modern systems that will enhance interoperability with U.S. forces and increase security.”
Before today’s announcements, the UAE has been cleared for 11 FMS cases, with estimated price tags totaling $10.7bn, since the start of fiscal year 2017. In that same time frame, Egypt has been cleared for five cases, with an estimated total of $1.9bn. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
06 May 20. General Dynamics saw $1bn bump after Canada-Saudi accord. General Dynamics has received $1bn since the renegotiation of a $10bn contract for Canada to sell light armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia, company officials said on its first quarter earnings call.
In a deal last month, Canada lifted its ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which in turn agreed to a speedier payment schedule for the LAVs. Canada had the vehicles on hold since 2018, following the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi; and by October, Saudi Arabia had racked up $1.5bn in back payments to General Dynamics.
Amid news on the April 29 call that the company’s revenue fell $512m in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, General Dynamics Chief Financial Officer Jason Aiken highlighted “the formal signing of the restructured contract on the Canadian international program, which settled all issues to the satisfaction of the parties.”
“With respect to our standing receivable you may recall that we received $500m early in the first quarter and we received another $500m this month. This will be very helpful to free cash flow in the second quarter,” Aiken said.
“We will begin a regular cadence of scheduled payments in 2021 consistent with deliveries and making further progress in the scheduled amortization of the arrearage.”
The company’s Combat Systems division had revenue of $1.7bn, up 4.4 percent over the same quarter last year, and sales to the U.S. government were up 12 percent. The firm’s aerospace business segment also had revenue of $1.7bn, but that represented a 23 percent fall from the same quarter last year.
On April 9, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, François-Philippe Champagne, announced Ottawa was “able to secure significant improvements” to the LAV contract, including more latitude for the Canadian government to speak about it.
Under the new terms, Canada could also delay or deny export permits without penalty if it learned Saudi Arabia was not using the vehicles for their stated purpose. Ottawa would also be reviewing permit applications on a case-by-case basis to ensure they meet Canadian law and the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty.
Though the Trudeau government has been under political pressure to scrap the LAV deal over human rights concerns, Champagne said its cancellation would have “resulted in bns of dollars in damages” and risked thousands of Canadian jobs across the defense supply chain.
The vehicles are made by the General Dynamics Land Systems subsidiary in London, Ontario. (Source: Defense News)
06 May 20. Russian Land Force to receive 800 armoured fighting vehicles in 2020.
Key Points:
- The Russian Land Force will receive 460 APCs, over 100 BMP-3s, and 120 T-72B3M tanks in 2020
- Artillery units will receive 35 2S19M2 Msta-SM SPHs and 30 MRLs of the Tornado family
The Russian Land Force is set to receive some 800 armoured fighting vehicles this year, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The ministry said that over 460 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) of the BTR-82A family would be delivered to the service. “Manufacturers will hand over BTR-82A and upgraded BTR-82AM APCs to the troops,” the MoD announced in a press release on 4 May. In addition, over 100 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles will be delivered to the Land Force. (Source: Jane’s)
06 May 20. JGSDF to acquire additional Type-19 SPHs and Type-16 MCVs.one) in FY 2020. Tokyo will procure seven more Type-19 155mm/52 calibre wheeled self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and an additional 33 Type-16 Mobile Combat Vehicles (MCVs) this fiscal year (FY 2020) as part on ongoing efforts to enhance the capabilities of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
The new long-range Type-19 SPH, which is integrated into an 8×8 MAN tactical military truck and has a crew of five, is being gradually rolled out to the JGSDF to replace the service’s ageing fleet of FH-70 towed artillery systems, said the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo in its latest ‘Defense Programs and Budget of Japan’ report, the English-language version of which was released in late March.
The MoD said it has secured JPY4.5bn (USD42.3m) to acquire seven Type-19s after procuring an equal number of the systems in FY 2019 for JPY5.1bin.
The move comes after the MoD’s Acquisition, Technology, & Logistics Agency (ATLA) said on its website that it had taken delivery of five Type-19 prototypes from local manufacturer Japan Steel Works by late May 2018.
One of these prototypes was unveiled to the public during the ‘Fuji Firepower’ exercise carried out from 22–25 August 2019.
Meanwhile, the MoD revealed that it has also secured JPY23.7bn to acquire 33 Type-16 MCVs, after ordering a total of 22 of these vehicles in FY 2019 for JPY16.1bn. Including the latest procurement announcement, the JGSDF has placed orders for a total of 142 Type-16s since FY 2016.
Based on a new 8×8 design, the Type-16, which the JGSDF describes as a “highly agile vehicle”, weighs about 26 tonnes, is armed with a 105 mm rifled gun. The vehicle, which can be airlifted, entered service in FY 2017. (Source: Jane’s)
05 May 20. THeMIS UGV finishes stint in Mali. Milrem Robotics confirmed on 5 May that its THeMIS UGV has completed its first deployment to Mali as part of Operation Burkhane with the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF).
THeMIS was first used in Maliin April 2019, to help French and Estonian soldiers carry out counter-terrorism missions and to transport supplies within their bases.
Lt Col Sten Allik, Senior Staff Officer of the EDF, said: ‘The opportunity to bring along a half-tonne of ammunition and water to places unreachable with an PC added great value to patrols and enhanced combat capability… The THeMIS surprised us with its ability to withstand the tough environment.’
During its time in Mali, the THeMIS travelled more than 1,200km across terrain of lava rock soil and in temperatures reaching 50°C in shade. The UGV was operational for more than 330 hours in total.
Shephard reported last month that the French Army has conducted experiments to integrate the MBDA MMP missile with THeMIS. (Source: Shephard)
04 May 20. Bundeswehr awards Rheinmetall supplementary procurement order for EOD equipment. Rheinmetall has been awarded a supplementary procurement order by the Bundeswehr to supply four Route Clearance Systems. The order is worth a figure in the lower two-digit million-euro range. Signed in December 2019, the contract is set to run for approximately four years. Under the contract, Rheinmetall will be turning five Fuchs/Fox 1A8 wheeled armoured transport vehicles into operator team vehicles, and converting four Wiesel/Weasel 1 airmobile weapons carriers into tracked detector platforms. The scope of delivery also encompasses seven reserve dual sensors with transport and storage racks, together with logistical support. The dual sensor, a key component of the Route Clearance System, is a new version purged of obsolescent elements.
It was in 2011 that Rheinmetall first supplied the Bundeswehr with seven Route Clearance Systems as part of the Heavy Explosives and Ordnance Demolition Platoon. A complete system consists of five vehicles configured for the following tasks: detection and clearance of landmines and improvised explosive devices, command, and transport.
The remotely controlled Wiesel/Weasel features a newly developed, integrated dual sensor with ground-penetrating radar as well as a metal detector. Its task in the so called DEU Route Clearance System is to detect landmines and IEDs on sections of road as well as in off-road terrain.
Equipped with operator consoles for controlling the vehicles and systems for evaluating the dual sensor signals, the Fuchs/Fox 1A8 armoured transport vehicle serves as a mobile, highly protected command post.
Ordered separately, the ordnance verification vehicle is tasked with remotely controlled inspection of suspicious objects. An integrated video system lets operators onboard the Fuchs/Fox command vehicle monitor the situation on the ground at all times.
The vehicles of the DEU Route Clearance System are transported using Multi FSA trucks made by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV).
04 May 20. General Dynamics UK delivered 400 Foxhound vehicles to the British Army. General Dynamics UK, a part of the global General Dynamics Corporation, posted a video of its Foxhound adding that four hundred vehicles were delivered to the British Army.
“In-service since 2012, 400 Foxhounds have been delivered to the British Amy,” the company said on an official Facebook account.
The Foxhound vehicle, also known by General Dynamics Land Systems’ global brand name – ‘Ocelot’, integrates highly survivable V-shaped hull technology and utilises a dismountable crew pod design for different roles, including the existing Foxhound Troop Carrier, a Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK)-style Reconnaissance variant, a flat-bed Utility load carrier, and a Command and Control (C2) variant.
“Foxhound is the protected mobility vehicle of choice for British Army light infantry and specialist troops on operations worldwide. Throughout its service, Foxhound has delivered high-levels of operationally-proven protection, reliability and adaptability, and most importantly extremely high-levels of availability,” vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Land Systems–UK Carew Wilks said. “The British Army knows it can trust Foxhound and the latest Public Order variant shows its adaptability to meet a wide variety of requirements for today’s modern Army.”
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Foxhound has been utilised on operations worldwide, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, and various training exercises, including cold-weather deployment in Norway.
The vehicle’s low weight and tight turning circle enable it to operate effectively in urban environments where the infrastructure cannot support heavier, larger vehicles. The crew pod rests on the V-hull and is designed to be able to tilt, enabling routine repair and maintenance, or to be removed and replaced quickly by an alternative mission module.
The GD UK said that it represents, weight for weight, the best protected vehicle available in its class. (Source: News Now/https://defence-blog.com/)
04 May 20. Taiwan preparing to take delivery of Abrams MBTs from the United States. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has confirmed that it is currently in the process of setting up training facilities ahead of the delivery of 108 General Dynamics M1A2T Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) for the Republic of China Army (RoCA).
Training facilities specifically designed for these MBTs are set to be built in Hsinchu County in northern Taiwan, said Taiwanese authorities, adding that the RoCA also plans to acquire a number of tank simulators while 112 military personnel will be sent to the United States in 2023 to be trained as instructors. Moreover, defence officials told Jane’s on 1 May that an additional 168 RoCA officers with foreign language skills and 72 officers who studied at US military academies have been placed on a reserve list to receive training. (Source: Jane’s)
01 May 20. Thales Australia doubles production of Hawkei vehicles. Thales Australia has doubled production of the Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light from one to two vehicles a day, Jane’s understands.
The increase, implemented from 20 April at the company’s Bendigo facility in Victoria, means that full-rate production of the 4×4 vehicles is close to or may now have been achieved. A company spokesperson confirmed production had been doubled but declined to give details.
In October 2015 Thales Australia signed an AUD1.3bn (USD975m) contract to supply 1,100 of the sophisticated seven-tonne vehicles along with 1,058 companion trailers to replace the majority of the Australian Army’s blast-protected Land Rover fleet in command, liaison, utility, and reconnaissance roles. (Source: Jane’s)
01 May 20. Russian MoD receives first Linza MRAP medevac vehicles. The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 27 April that it has received its first Linza (Lens) mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) medical evacuation (medevac) vehicles.
“A military unit of the Southern Military District stationed in Chechnya has received Linza armoured medevac vehicles. …The [unit’s] medical teams will be trained to evacuate simulated casualties during field exercises,” the MoD said in a press release, without giving numbers delivered.
The Linza features a device to evacuate wounded soldiers from other vehicles’ hatches, a hard stretcher to carry soldiers with back injuries, and “other medical hardware”. (Source: Jane’s)
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About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For decades Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support our customers’ missions. In addition, Oshkosh offers advanced technologies and vehicle components such as TAK-4® independent suspension systems, TerraMax™ unmanned ground vehicle solutions, Command Zone™ integrated control and diagnostics system, and ProPulse® diesel electric and on-board vehicle power solutions, to provide our customers with a technical edge as they fulfill their missions. Every Oshkosh vehicle is backed by a team of defense industry experts and complete range of sustainment and training services to optimize fleet readiness and performance. Oshkosh Defense, LLC is an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE: OSK].
To learn more about Oshkosh Defense, please visit us at www.oshkoshdefense.com.
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