|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||
Recently published Headlines:
|
||
 
|
Sukhoi's Su-35 Performs First FlightThe first prototype of the Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E multi-role
fighter made its first flight on February 19, 2008. Flown
by Sukhoi test pilot Sergey Bogdan from Zhukovsky airfield
near Moscow, the Super Flanker's flight lasted 50 minutes.
Two additional planes are currently being completed at the
United Aircraft Corporation's plants in the Russian Far
East, and on schedule to join the test flight, in anticipation
for delivery of the first aircraft (designated Su-27SM2)
to the Russian Air Force by 2010 and achieving initial operational
capability a year later. Export deliveries are planned a
short while thereafter. |
|
|
British Warriors Get New ArmorWarrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles operated by the British
Scots Guards, operating under the command of the 4 Mechanized
Brigade in Iraq has received a major boost with the introduction
of the new 'Wrap Two' armor kit. The new armor replaced
the bar armor (slat) previously used to augment the Warrior's
protection against shaped-charge threats. The new armor
improves the vehicle's survivability to roadside improvised
attacks (RSIED) as well as RPGs and other shaped-charge
attacks.  |
|
 
|
Force Protection to Deliver Cougars, Buffalos to NATO ArmiesThe British MOD is buying 174 additional Mastiff heavy
armored vehicles from Force protection, under a new order
worth $115 million. These vehicles will be supplied by the
end of the current year (December 2008). The British forces
are using the Mastiffs for patrol, troop transportation
and convoy protection in Afghanistan. Force Protection will
also deliver six Cougar 6x6 transport vehicles and four
Buffalo route clearance vehicles to the Italian Ministry
of Defense. The vehicles will be delivered in July 2008.
Italy and France share the command of the U.N. peacekeeping
force in Lebanon. In past months, these forces suffered
several casualties under a series of attacks by roadside
and vehicle borne IEDs. |
|
 |
India's Arms Procurement Programs Discussed at the Defexpo 2008India's major arms procurement programs are discussed in
this overview of the hot topics at Defexpo 2008, India's
bi-annual arms bazzar. A more comprehensive report of Defexpo
and Singapore Airshow will be published just after these
upcoming events. |
|
 |
Space Program Raises Concern About Iran's Ballistic Missile ThrustTehran successfully launched an experimental research rocket
called Explorer-1 last week. According to Iranian information,
the new launcher will be able to carry a small satellite
into orbit. According to the Iranians, the Explorer-1 was
launched to determine the exact orbital position for the
satellite. Tehran unveiled the first indigenous satellite
called Omid (Hope). According to Iranian plans, Omid will
be launched by March 2009 and operate in low-earth orbit,
hinting on the potential use of the satellite for strategic,
earth observation mission (reconnaissance). |
|
|
U.S. Army Awards M1A1 Upgarade into M1A2 SEP(V2)General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded a first
order, under a multi-year upgrade modernization of 435 M1A1
Abrams main battle tanks into M1A2
Systems Enhancement Package (SEP) Version Two (V2) configuration.
The first increment of this multi-year contract is valued
at $39 million, funding upgrades for 20 M1A1 Abrams tanks.
An earlier $12.4 award announced in January million funded
parts for this upgrade. |
|
|
EPX - Studying a Future SIGINT Platform for the US NavyThe U.S. Navy awarded three industry teams $1.25 million
five month contracts (each), to help develop the system
concept for the Navy's EPX – the future manned SIGINT
platform expected to replace the current EP-3. Planned as
a replacement for the EP-3 Aries aircraft, the EPX will
be a manned multi-mission, multi-intelligence, surveillance,
reconnaissance and targeting (ISR&T) platform. |
|
|
U.S., Israel Pursue Counter Rocket, Artillery & Mortar(CRAM) WeaponsLockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Space & Mission
Systems were awarded $8.6 and $5.9 million contracts (respectively)
to design prototype hardware for EAPS Battle Element. Both
companies are expected to present their competing systems
to the Army by the end of 2012. A parallel Israeli program
is in more advanced stages, with RAFAEL expecting to conduct
initial test demonstrations of the Iron-Dome Wide Area Counter-RAM
system later this year. In Novebmer 2007 Raytheon was contracted
by the pentagon to build 12 Centurion units to protect coalition
operating bases in Iraq. In this role, the LPWS is integrated
with counter-battery radar systems such as TPQ-36/37 which
will be augmented in the future multi-mission radar known
as EPQ-36. |
|
|
U.S. Army Orders Ravens for SOCOM & Other ServicesThe U.S. Army exercised an option for additional procurement
of RQ-11B Raven Small Unmanned
Aerial Systems (SUAS) from AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:
AVAV). The total award value is $45.8 million. Each Raven
system typically consists of three aircraft, a ground control
station, system spares, and related services. and is fully
funded. |
|
 |
Sweden Cancells SEP Armored Vehicle ProgramOn February 4, 2008 Sweden has decided not to proceed with
the development of the next-generation SEP family of armored
combat vehicles, Joris Janssen Lok reported on Aviation
Week's Ares
blog. According to armed forces procurement chief Leif
Nylander, one of the main reasons for this is that neither
Sweden nor BAE Systems have managed to find an international
partner for the program, with whom Sweden could have shared
the development cost. The Swedish Army planed to field a
new Modular Armored Tactical System program (SEP) which
will be based on common modular wheeled and tracked platforms
configured for more than twenty different roles. |
|
|
U.S. Navy Contracts Honeywell to Deliver 185 Micro Air Vehicle SystemsThe U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) intends to
buy 185 RQ-16A Micro
Air Vehicle (MAV) Systems from Honeywell as part of
a Joint, Urgent Operational Need Statement (JUONS). The
Navy selected Honeywell's ducted fan vehicle as it was the
only vehicle meeting the JUONS specs - 25 pound (maximum)
rotary-wing air vehicle carrying a 3 pound operational payload.
All systems will be delivered between June and November
2008. About 20 MAVs were deployed to Iraq in 2007 for an
assessment sponsored by the navy-led Joint Explosive Ordnance
Disposal Task Force. Their performance shaped the Navy's
requirement for hovering capable, back-packable UAV system,
equipped with a zoom-daylight TV and an IR sensors, capable
of 40 minute (minimum) mission, hovering or flying at an
airspeed of 40 knot, at a service ceiling of 5,000 feet
above ground level. |
|
|
Finland Equips Upgraded F/A-18 with Litening AT Targeting Pods Finland selected to equip its F/A-18s with Litening AT
targeting pods, as part of a Mid-life Update 2 Program planned
by the Finnish Air Force (FiAF). 10 pods will be supplied
by 2009 by Northrop Grumman, under a $30 million U.S. Government
Foreign Military Sales contract. Litening AT pod is a self-contained,
multi-sensor weapon-aiming system that enables fighter pilots
to detect, acquire, auto-track and identify targets for
highly accurate delivery of both conventional and precision-guided
weapons. |
|
  
|
Portuguese Armor Modernized with Leopard 2A6, Pandur II Portugal is acquiring a battalion Leopard 2A6 main battle
tanks from the Netherlands. These tanks will replace older
M-60 tanks now in service with the Portuguese Army. Portugal
will receive the first company of 9 tanks this year, 29
additional tanks will be delivered in 2009, equipping a
full battalion. Under a parallel modernization plan the
Portuguese Army received the first shipment of nine Pandur
II 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles (VBR). Portugal plans to
field 300 VBRs with the in several variants with the Army’s
Intervention Brigade, and the Navy’s marine infantry
battalion. |
|
 
|
Four Countries Sign M-Frigate AgreementThe Netherlands, Portugal, Chile and Belgium signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) in Lisbon addressing future cooperation
in the development of the M-class multipurpose frigate.
Belgium is also expected to join the team. The navies of
these countries are expected to field the M-Class frigate,
and have agreed to extend their cooperation to training,
maintenance, logistics and modernization associated with
the new vessel. Five M-Class frigates are currently operational
with the Dutch, Chilean and Belgian Navies. Belgium will
receive its second frigate this year with Portugal receiving
its two frigates in 2008 and 2009. Chile, Portugal and Belgium
have each bought two M-frigates from the Netherlands. |
|
|
ODF Introduces a new Sensor for Sub-Surface Reconnaissance The company has also introduced a new 'tunnel kit', responding
to customer's requests for improved underground surveillance
capability. The Tunnel Kit enables Eyeball
r1 operators to insert the sensor into areas which hindered
the use of conventional communications links. The Tunnel
Kit replaces the wireless link with a wire communications,
supporting distances or depths over 20 meters. Initial tests
with the new kit demonstrated the system's utilization in
such challenging conditions. |
|
 |
French Army Receives 100th Upgraded AMX10RC The French Army has received the 100th upgraded AMX10RC
armored vehicle produced by Nexter Systems. The company
announced the delivery of the 100th vehicle on 29th January
2008, as part of 256 vehicle upgrading program awarded by
the French Procurement Authority (DGA) in December 2000.
Following flawless operational evaluation testing in 2006
the vehicles were inducted into service and, in 2006, a
squadron of upgraded AMX10RC from the Foreign Legion 1 Cavalry
Regiment was sent to the Ivory Coast to take part in the
Operation Licorne. The vehicle modernization consists of
reliability improvements for the chassis. The new Chassis
are produced by the French Army Material Command (DCMAT)
acting as an MOD partner, using kits provided by Nexter.
The upgraded turrets are also produced by Nexter which also
provides the vehicle's final integration. The upgraded AMX10RCs
are fitted with the SIT V1 Battle Management System which
was recently qualified by the DGA on board the AMX10RC. |
|
|
Point Blank Introduces Electro-Shock Protected Body ArmorPoint Blank Solutions, Inc. has entered a marketing agreement
with G2 Consulting to market a line of electroshock weapon
protection systems. According to Point Blank, until G2's
patented ThorShield technology, there has been no protection
for officers if their weapon is turned against them. ThorShield
works by providing a highly conductive specialized layer
of fabric that ensures the electric current discharged from
the weapon flows through the lining rather than the body.
The protective material can be applied to officers' garments
and equipment such as body armor, shirts, jackets, training
suits, gloves, and hats. Point Blank plans to integrate
the ThorShield into its body armor products. Other body-armor
innovations were introduced by Point Blank's Blue Steel
vest, which includes an integrated temperature and moisture
control system keeping the vest lightweight and breathable,
allowing for maximum comfort. |
|
|
U.S. Navy, Boeing Launch Harpoon Block III Upgrade Boeing began the development of a new version of the Harpoon
anti-ship missile called Harpoon Block III, under a recently
awarded U.S. Navy $73.7 million system design and development
(SDD) contract. Block III will be provided as a kit upgrade
for existing Harpoon systems, to be installed on some 800
air and surface launched weapons and 50 ship launched systems.
The surface-launch version of the upgraded missile is expected
to achieve initial operational capability (IOC) in early
2011 followed by the air-launch version achieving IOC later
that year. The new missile will be equipped with a new data-link
system, adding in-flight target updates and positive terminal
control, offering more control after the weapon is released,
resulting in improved accuracy for littoral and open-ocean
warfare. The upgrade will also address future enhancements,
such as integration with future network architecture, extended
range and vertical launch capabilities. will be the Systems
Requirements and Preliminary Design Reviews, both scheduled
for 2008. |
|
 
|
Typhoon Operators to Receive Improved SimulatorsTyphoon operators are scheduled to receive 15 improved
simulators as part of the Typhoon Integrated Logistics Support
(ILS) framework. Known as 'Supplement 5 Simulators"
these systems will incorporate an advanced visual system,
improving performance, resolution and visual effects while
lowering maintenance costs. These upgrades are expected
to be fielded within three months after availability on
the aircraft at the main operating bases. Future enhancements,
such as Wide Area Networking (WAN) and the integration of
the Laser Designator Pod and Helmet Mounted Display, are
also considered. |
|
Stumble It! Check Defense Update
NEWSCASTs for:
Recent Features:
US Air Force Selects
KC-45A as KC-135 Replacement
Facing Russian
Carrier Delays, Rising Cost, India Considers the U.S. Alternative
Is the Turkish Army
facing a "Tora Bora" War in Kurdistan?
India's Arms Procurement
Programs Discussed at the Defexpo 2008
WIN-T Passes Major Milestone, Ready for
Fielding in 2008 - 2009
Better Simulators
for the Typhoon
Tetherless Rifle Improves Training
Realism
U.S. Navy Tests World's Most Powerful Railgun
Defense
Market Update
Get Defense Update News
on
your Phone!
Subscribe to RSS headline updates from:
Powered by FeedBurner
