Archive for October, 2012

The French Air Force will position a new Ground Master 406 radar at the Nice Mont-Agel airbase, overlooking Monte Carlo

ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) has been selected by the French defense procurement agency (DGA) to supply the French Air Force with a Ground Master 406 radar base and provide on-site support at Nice Mont-Agel airbase overlooking Monte Carlo.

The US Navy has test fired the Israeli Spike Electro-Optically Guided Missile from an unmanned boat last week, on Oct. 24th, as part of an operational demonstration of the weapon conducted as part of an international agreement between Israel Ministry of Defense and the US Combating Terrorist Tactics Support Office.

After decades of relying exclusively on laser and GPS for precision attack, the military and US special operations community is slowly opening to consider Electro-Optically (EO) guided weapons, gaining strike precision at extended range.

China’s J-31, the new stealth fighter prototype developed by AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) took off on its maiden flight on October 31, 2012 on 10:32 Beijing local time. The flight lasted only ten minutes.

A recent weapons flight test in the Utah desert may change future warfare after the missile successfully defeated electronic targets with little to no collateral damage.

This process, known as Capability Set Management, is a significant departure from the previous practice of fielding systems individually and often to only one element of the operational force at a time. Capability Set Management is executed in a deliberate and disciplined process in accordance with the Army Force Generation [...]

Sustaining combat operations in high intensity ‘linear’ warfare has always represented a huge challenge to military planners, pushing supplies to forward supply bases and forward units by sea, air and land. Engaged in asymmetric warfare, without a clear ‘forward line of troops’, where every truck, supply base or civilian tanker [...]

Another area facing a temporary slowdown is the ballistic and blast protection. In past years, armor manufacturers were relatively small and specialist companies that supplied armor products to prime contractors like GDLS and BAE Systems. This has changed in the mid 2000s, as the US raced to build armor-protected vehicles [...]

Contrary to the Army planner’s foresight in the 2000s, this decade is not about grand programs, but on reconstruction, reconstitution and incremental building of forces. Those military units that survive the cuts will have to do more with less. For the defense industry, it means that there will be fewer [...]

In terms of weapons systems the trend today is towards smaller, focused effects. The days of big bang and carpeting are long gone. Today, the yield is not measured by body count but in the high precision and minimized collateral damage. The military is seeking higher precision kits for its [...]

The opportunity to sell thousands of medium and light tactical vehicles to SOCOM has attracted almost all major US military vehicle manufacturers to last months’ Modern Day Marine 2012 expo (MDM) in Quantico, and is bound to repeat here at AUSA this week. Some of these requirements address certain ‘special [...]

In the past 10 years force protection has been at the focus, as the military invested tens of billions of dollars buying anything that could enhance the survivability and protection of troops. However, since such devices are often required to counter specific and evolving threats that were uncommon or unfamiliar [...]

This issue is offered to Defense-Update readers as a complimentary preview issue. Forthcoming reports from the exhibition will be available nightly from Defense Update in web & PDF format, providing excerpts for all readers and full features for our paid subscribers.

Elbit Systems of Israel has introduced a subset of the Dominator IICS integrated combat system designed for the dismounted soldier.

Ceradyne, Inc. in conjunction with Threat4 Inc., is showing a new concept of helmet and head protection called ‘MOdular HArd Wired Kitted’ (MOHAWK). Integrating a headset communication system with hearing protection into the helmet eliminates redundant power sources and connecting cables on the helmet.

The Israeli robotics developer Roboteam is introducing a new miniature robot designed for intelligence gathering and counter IED operations. The ultra-light, 13-lb, highly maneuverable robot can be carried by an individual soldier, climbs stairs and 60⁰ obstacles, operates effectively indoors utilizing secure MANET data link

An F-35A completed the first in-flight weapons release of a 2,000 pound GBU-31 BLU-109 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) over the China Lake test range yesterday, October 16, 2012.

MBDA performed the first test flight The KFK missile on 19 September 2012 at the military training centre in Baumholder, Germany. On this test the miniature missile demonstrator performed two successful unguided firings, with the missile travelling the planned distance in each case. The test was attended by German officials.

Soldier Technology is the annual meeting of senior soldier and marine system modernization leaders in Crystal City, Arlington where decisions about future capabilities for the small unit and squad take shape.

Elbit Systems Ltd. reported today that it was awarded two contracts from a Far Eastern country to supply self-propelled artillery systems and communications equipment with a total value of approximately $50 million.

The Israel navy has awarded IAI Elta a first contract for the development and integration of the Advanced Lightweight Phased Array (ALPHA) Naval Radar on the Hetz Class Saar 4.5 Missile Boats.

BAE Systems plc (BAE Systems) and EADS N.V. (EADS) confirmed yesterday that they are negotiating a possible merger which would create the world’s largest aerospace and defense company.

By opening the night and enabling safe, low-level flight under limited-visibility conditions, the TF/TA system enables tactical transport aircraft to fly in low-level, limited visibility flight conditions using ‘terrain following and avoidance’ profiles

A UAV autonomy technology developed under an ONR contract will enable aircraft to operate under supervisory control – a human operator will interact with the system at a high level while low level control is left to the automation.

After decades of unchallenged naval supremacy in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, new naval powers are looming in the area, and new alliances are formed.

Raytheon announced it has won a multiyear contract worth US$349 million, to deliver 6,676 TOW RF missiles to the US Army and Marine Corps

The new issue of Asia pacific Defense Update is here! This digest of 28 articles highlighting recent defense news events from the region is based on the full version (premium content) from Defense Update and other sources, brought to you in a concise, pdf edition you can store on your desktop, read on tablets and smartphones.

After years of negotiation, South Korea and the United States have reached an agreement in support of extending the reach of the South’s ballistic missiles.  Under this agreement, Seoul will be allowed to deploy ballistic missiles with a range of 800 kilometers bringing all of North Korea within striking range of the South’s missile arsenal.

The Indian Air Force is planning to embark on a tri-service wide upgrade of its Israeli-supplied unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as part of an unprecedented program that could cost up to one billion US$. Indian military services are already operating more than 150 UAVs, mostly Searcher Mk II and Heron I procured from Israel Aerospace Industries since the early 2000s.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to raise four more Su-30MKI fighter squadrons in the near future, as it prepares to induct the tenth unit of the aircraft in Punjab along the Pakistan border. The four additional squadrons will deploy in the near future bringing the total force to 13-14 squadrons.

Australia has invested $73.9 million to complete its investment and enter the US Navy P-8A Poseidon development program as a partner. Once deployed, the Poseidons are likely to be based in RAAF Edinburgh South Australia where the Orions are currently stationed.

The Government of Bangladesh has signed a contract with the Chinese Wuchan Shipyard, for the construction and delivery of two 64 meter corvettes based on the Houjian Class missile boat. The first vessel will be completed in 2013.

The lead ship of a new class of missile frigates was launched last month at Iran’s Southern port city of Bandar Abbas. The new vessel – IRI Sahand was described at the official announcement as the largest, most modern naval vessel built by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The new vessel utilizes a new radar absorbing hull structure, although the design itself is based on the current 1,500 ton Moudge Class light frigate.

In recent weeks Iran has introduced new guided weapon systems claimed to be based on indigenous developments. Among these weapons are precision guided versions of the Zelzal medium range rocket, and Taer medium-range air-defense missile, positioned to be a precursor for the country’s new category of air defense weapon systems.

Pakistan announced it had test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile on Monday, September 17, 2012. Few days later, India also tested two of its Prithvi-II-class missiles, as well as an AGNI medium range missile.

Iran recently introduced the Shahed 129 UAV in September 2012. Shahed 129 described as a ‘clone of the Israeli Hermes 450’ was developed by the corps’ military production facilities can carry can the Sadid guided missile it can carry.

Jakarta, Indonesia: Germany is expected to deliver 44 Leopard II Main Battle Tanks and refurbished Marder armored infantry fighting vehicles to Indonesia by November 2012, as part of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) effort to establish the ‘Minimum Essential Force’ (MEF). The new armored formation will comprise 103 tanks, 50 [...]

The Army awarded General Dynamics C4 Systems a $346 million delivery order to procure the WIN-T Inc 2 network for additional Brigade Combat Teams and Division Headquarters units. The system completed its Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) during the Army’s Network Integration Evaluation 12.2 this summer.

Major issues reported during the recent sea trials at the Barnets Sea are delaying the completion and handover of the refurbished Russian built Admiral Gorshkov, aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy at least until July 2013