Defense Update is leaving on vacation. We shall renew the
regular newscast service by April 2nd.
Analysis:
Chlorine
Gas Attacks: Paradigm in Unconventional Terror
Last Friday's triple chlorine-gas suicide attacks that hit
Fallujah, Ramadi and Amiria, almost simultaneously, sent shockwaves
all over Iraq, raising the specter of further widespread use
of chemical weapons by terrorist groups in Iraq and the entire
region. The brutal attack by suspected al Qaeda suicide bombers
also sent a chilling message to Sunni tribal leaders who have
rebuffed the Islamic terrorists.
US
missile Shield Expanding to Euroasia
Each time Moscow sees itself threatened by outside aggression,
as in the case of the U.S. proposed missile shield, it has
always, in the past, taken effective countermeasures to ensure
its territorial integrity and security is maintained.
USAF Awards
$287 Million for Production of Five Global Hawks
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation
(NYSE:NOC) a $287 million contract for the production of five
Global Hawk RQ-4 unmanned
air vehicles, under production lot 5. The contract also funds
the delivery of a single mission control element, one launch
and recovery element, and four enhanced integrated sensor suites
(EISS), and associated support. Four of the aircraft will be
configured as EISS equipped Block 30, and will also be configured
to operate airborne signals intelligence payloads while the
last one will be in Block 40 configuration, designed to carry
the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program payload.
IWI is modifying the Tavor assault rifles to address reliability
issues encountered during the initial operations with the Givati
brigade. Some of the rifles failed when exposed to the fine
dust of the Israeli Negev. These issues were immediately addressed
by the manufacturer, which has introduced about some 20 changes
to the fielded weapons. The first batch of modified rifles is
being returned to service, offering improved reliability under
tough field conditions.
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends limiting
the annual production quantities of JSF to no more than 24 aircraft
per year until each variant’s basic flying qualities have
been demonstrated in flight testing now scheduled in the 2010
time frame. DOD non-concurred, believing its current strategy
provides a balance of technical risk, financial constraints.
The first MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft arrived at Creech
Air Force Base, NV this week after completing flight tests in
California. This is the first of 18 aircraft to be operated
by the 42 attack squadron from this base. The squadron will
soon transition under the 432nd Wing, the first wing totally
dedicated to Predator and Reaper operations. General Atomics
is currently producing five MQ-9s and, this week, received additional
$43 million for the delivery of two more MQ-9 Reapers, two ground
control stations plus mission equipment and support. These aircraft
are scheduled for delivery by December 2008.
Boeing selected The Pratt & Whitney PW4000- 94" engine
to power the KC-767 Advanced Tanker that will compete in the
U.S. Air Force's KC-X Tanker competition. If selected by the
USAF, it will be first military application for the PW4000 engine
family. According to Tom Farmer, president, military engine
programs "The PW4000 engine has an exceptional track record
with commercial customers operating globally and we are confident
it will exceed Boeing and the United States Air Force's performance
expectations." The PW4000 family of engines includes models
with thrust ratings ranging from 52,000 pounds to 98,000 pounds,
operating commercially on Boeing 747, 767 and MD-11 and the
Airbus A300/310 series. To date more than 2,100 PW4000-94"
engines have been delivered, logging more than 78 million flight
hours. The PW4062A for the Boeing 767 delivers 62,000 pounds
of thrust per engine. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies
Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.
India and Russia have signed a us$800 million program to improve
the air-combat capability of its MiG-29s. 78 of the aircraft
currently deployed with the IAF will receive a new phased array
radar and long range (beyond visual range) missiles. The IAF
is also in the final stages of negotiating a 1.5-billion euro
deal with French company Thales for upgrading 52 of its Mirage
2000H fighters to extend their service life by 25 years.
RAF Deploys Litening III Pods with
Iraq based Tornado GR4
The RAF has fielded the newly acquired Litening III targeting
pods in January 2007 with its Tornado GR4 strike aircraft operated
in support of operations in Iraq (Operation Telic). Initial
in-theatre feedback indicates that the results are of the highest
quality. QinetiQ, in partnership with the RAF Joint Test &
Evaluation Group, is the system integrator for the integration
of the Litening III into the GR4. The company carried out an
extensive five months series of rig, ground and eventual UK
based flight trials at MOD Boscombe Down. The LITENING III is
the latest generation of targeting and navigation pod that delivers
laser spot detection and tracking, and long-range data and video
downlink.
Earlier this month Raytheon and the PM Maneuver Ammunition
Systems at the US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering
Center, Picatinny Arsenal, conducted the first beyond-line-of-sight
firing test of the shaped charge Mid-Range Munition (MRM-CE).
The test demonstrated the unique capabilities of the dual- mode
imaging infrared / digital semi-active laser seeker to home-in
on a target using offset desigtantion procedure. During the
test the MRM-CE hit a T-72 target at a range of 3.5 miles (5.2
km).
Milan
ER Tested with Advanced Technology Firing Post
Last month MBDA carried out six test firings of the MILAN ER
(Extended Response) missile. The tests were conducted at firing
ranges between 2,000 to 3,000 meters against stationary and
moving targets under realistic land combat conditions. Firings
were performed using the ADT (ADvanced Technologies) firing
post, recently qualified by the DGA. During the test firings,
the missile's flying properties and performance of the guidance
and control characteristics were also verified. The tests were
conducted at the French Defense Armament Agency's test center
(DGA) test center in Bourges in central France (ETBS).
Britain
Orders More Cougars
Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT)
announced today a receipt of a contract modification to fund
the delivery of additional 22 Cougar Mastiff Protected Patrol
Vehicles (Mastiff PPV) to the British Forces in Iraq. The order
will bring the total number of vehicles produced for the British
government to 108 at an approximate value of $70.1 million.
Force Protection expects to deliver the vehicles by the end
of June 2007. First deliveries of the Mastiff PPV ordered under
the original contract occurred in November 2006.
