Indian defense company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Terma electronics company of Denmark, promoting various fields of defense technologies. The agreement sets the frame for current and future cooperation between the two companies. Under the MoA, BEL and Terma will cooperate on naval radar technology and aircraft self-protection.
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Terma sees potential market in India, for its advanced coastal and maritime surveillance radars. Terma could also benefit from a future selection of the F-16IN for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender, where Terma is cooperating with Lockheed Martin for the supply the self-protection system for the F-16IN.
This Article is part of the 2011 Flashpoint – Asia Series | India is not twiddling its thumbs and sitting idly waiting by as China’s military buildup reaches climax over the past decade. The former Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes, while speaking in the aftermath of the May 1998 Indian nuclear tests, clearly identified China as the number one threat for India. In 1999, the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee approved a 30-year US$2.9 billion submarine building plan under which 30 submarines were to be constructed. Apparently, construction work on at least four nuclear submarines is in full swing, while the indigenously made Arihant nuclear powered submarine has already been launched. But Indian plans are moving by Indian time, so far its submarine fleet is facing depletion and, instead of increasing, the number of Indian submarines is expected to reduce to 16 by 2012, as a pair of obsolete Foxtrot submarines will be decommissioned.
In March 2009, the Manmohan Singh government cleared Project 15B under which next generation warships are under various stages of construction. Besides, at least three Kolkata class destroyers are under construction under Project 15A scheduled to join the navy in the next two years. Two aircraft carriers – INS Vikramaditya (the ex Russian Kiev class “Admiral Gorshkov”) and INS Vikrant – are currently under construction, but their launching date is yet unclear. To strike a harmonious balance, the Indian Navy is in the process of beefing up its fleet of stealth frigates and has initiated several new projects in this regard. Shivalik – a domestically built Project 17 A frigate commissioned in 2010 is India’s first stealth frigate of this class. The Sahyadri and Satpura will follow in 2011. All this is as per the government’s plans to maintain a force level of more than 140 warships. Whether this ambitious plan will be met is still debated under naval circles.
2011 Flashpoints: Asia features include the following topics:
While the traditional world remains focused on the military instability of the Middle Eastern scene, another area will most probably shift into world attention by 2011- the Far East, or more specifically – China and the Indian subcontinent. Whatever the case may be, the image of Barack Hussein Obama’s global strategy is already waning dangerously among the regional bystanders, watching every move made by Washington with growing concern or malicious glee, depending on which party they see themselves adhering to.
So far the pell-mell troop exodus from Iraq was a lucky strike- by-passing the Basrah bottleneck undisturbed- itself a logistical masterpiece, reminds one of the 1940 Dunkirk miracle. But the prospect of a massive withdrawal, from the vulnerable Afghanistan battle zone, might prove far from easy. With nearly all US bases in Central Asia now gone and Pakistan supply routes becoming totally unreliable, it will need more than a logistical marvel to get the troops out of harm’s way and fully intact to fight another contingency challenge. These days, Afghanistan already presents alogistical nightmare for the Americans, its landlocked country with 80 percent of American supplies having to go in overland in trucks. And the need for urgent supplies is tremendous, with over 100,000 troops consuming a vast amount of fuel and ammunition and other military supplies each single day.
South Asia is still a morass in 2010 and 2011 does not look any better. Though the U.S. troop surge seems to have given Obama some breathing time in Afghanistan, it will be short-lived respite. Afghanistan will produce bigger and bigger domestic headlines, but not much will actually change until the United States is forced to reach a decision point. According to President Obama’s plan, that’s 2011 at the earliest, but all his options seem bleak.
2011 Flashpoints: Asia features include the following topics:
Chinese Navy Missile Destroyers Shijiazhuang (116 - Type 051C - Luzhou Class) and Haikou (171 - Type 052C Luyang-II Class) moored at the Chinese naval base at Yelong Bay at the Hainan Island.
2nd Article in the 2011 Flashpoint – Asia Series | A major player in the Asian scene is the Peoples Republic of China. This rising giant is already in the midst an immeasurable and unprecedented economic growth period, but creating perpetual insatiately need for a stable and secure oil supply. Beijing’s main supply route is from the Persian Gulf, via the Indian Ocean, the Malacca Strait to China’s main ports. The nation’s primary strategic aim is obviously to secure its vital lifeline, uncompromisingly – with “money being no object”. China’s regional strategy will inevitably create considerable conflict with US global interests, challenging its superpower hegemony in this critical domain.
Chinese Navy Missile Destroyers Shijiazhuang (116 - Type 051C - Luzhou Class) and Haikou (171 - Type 052C Luyang-II Class) moored at the Chinese naval base at Yelong Bay at the Hainan Island.
To understand the complexity of the enfolding strategic situation, one must contemplate China’s tremendous economic growth over the last twenty years. In just over a single decade, China’s foreign trade grew from $289 billion dollars to a staggering $2,560 billion in 2005, epitomizing with an unprecedented surge in its export volume. But there is one vital commodity that Beijing lacks: oil.
Although China was an oil exporter in its past, beginning in 1993, the explosive industrial growth and dwindling production in its own oil fields reversed that flow. Today, China is already the second largest global oil consumer behind the United States, having already surpassed Japan.
To maintain its aggressive economical growth, Beijing’s desperate quest for reliable oil supplies, and secure unfettered supply route, are its main strategic aims for the next decade. To secure these supply lines, China is pursuing the “String of Pearls” strategy, by securing forward presence and military bases along the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) from China to the Persian Gulf in the Middle East.
A “pearl” normally comes with facilities like airstrips and protected naval bases. The first pearl is the Hainan Island in South China. The Chinese have already upgraded the naval base and military facilities at this location. This facility accommodates massive underground submarine and a base for large surface ships, strategically located at the South China Sea. The entrance to the submarine base are through large, 60 ft high tunnels, allowing conventional and nuclear submarines to enter or leave the base submerged, without Western spy satellites detecting their movements. The tunnels are leading to caverns that can hide up to 20 nuclear attack submarines. Two 950m piers built at the site can support two carrier battle groups.
The second pearl is the port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka. Despite fierce objection from India, Sri Lanka and China continued the development of the base, with China underwriting US$1.2 billion for the facility.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operates two Type 094 'Jin Class' nuclear powered missile submarines (SSBN). The two vessels are normally on patrol or hidden underground in nearby tunnels (visible in the satellite photo above). This photo was taken during the celebration of the Chinese navy day. when the subs were exposed on ceremony.
The third pearl is the Chittagong port in Bangladesh and another is located on the disputed Woody Island, located 300 miles east of Paracel archipelago. An airstrip has been upgraded at the site to support the naval facility. Similar infrastructure has been prepared at the Port of Sittwe in Myanmar, Marao in the Maldives and Port of Gwadar in Pakistan. Gwadar was chosen because of its strategic value, located only 240 km distance from the Straits of Hormuz. New Delhi fears that the Gwadar port project which is also linked to the Karakoram highway expansion project linking Western China with the Arabian sea could economically strengthen Pakistan.
The Karakoram Highway is connecting China’s Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s north. The highway, called the ‘ninth wonder of the world’ by some, because of its altitude, was completed in 1986 after 20 years of construction. The road opened up China-Pakistan trade and gave both of India’s rivals a fast route through the mountains, not far from the controversial “Line of Control” in disputed Kashmir.
Varyag, a surplus Kuznetsov class carrier from Russia is currently undergoing refurbishment and construction at the Dalian shipyards. as seen in this Google earth satellite photo taken October 29, 2009. China's new built carriers are likely to be built at the newly expanded Jiangnan Shipyard, at the Changxing Dao island off Shanghai. Photo: Google Earth
According to a US Congressional Research, the ex-Soviet carrier is expected to become operational in two years as a training carrier supporting the first Chinese carrier air wing. Two additional carriers to be built in China will be available to China by 2017 and will patrol the South China Sea, Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. By 2015 the Chinese submarine force will be nearly double the size of the U.S, and the entire Chinese naval fleet is expected to surpass the size of the U.S fleet – the report claims. (Recently a Hong Kong newspaper confirmed the existence of the Chinese carrier program, citing official Chinese sources)In 2009 Beijing concluded its plans to build a large “Blue Water Fleet”. From the north to south of China Chinese shipyards are working round-the-clock building military surface vessels. US Naval Intelligence is saying that ‘China currently is building nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. One aircraft carrier – Varyag, bought as a surplus Kuznetsov class carrier from Russia – is already under construction in Dalian shipyards. The new carriers could be built at the newly expanded Jiangnan Shipyard, at the Changxing Dao island off Shanghai.
By December 2010 Varyag was moved to an open position along the pier, adjacent to the dry dock shown above. The construction of the island has been completed and all major upgrades seem to be completed, as the ship is prepared for its relaunching. Photo: Eros B satellite by Imagesat International BV
2011 Flashpoints: Asia features include the following topics:
The Karakoram Highway is connecting China’s Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s north. The highway, called the 'ninth wonder of the world' by some, because of its altitude, was completed in 1986 after 20 years of construction. The road opened up China-Pakistan trade and gave both of India’s rivals a fast route through the mountains, not far from the controversial "Line of Control" in disputed Kashmir.
3rd Article in the 2011 Flashpoint – Asia Series | Beijing’s aggressive “String of Pearls” strategy of securing the sea lanes from the Persian Gulf to China is alarming the powers currently dominating the region, and is already severely jittering India’s complacency. And here precisely lays the root of the next conflict flashpoint in South East Asia. The soaring “Indian Tiger” facing the rising “Chinese Dragon” will eventually grow into two regional giants, both competing with rapidly dwindling strategic assets, vital for their survival, transforming the geopolitical landscape in the Asia-Pacific region – and challenging American hegemony as a global superpower.
The Karakoram Highway is connecting China’s Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s north. The highway, called the 'ninth wonder of the world' by some, because of its altitude, was completed in 1986 after 20 years of construction. The road opened up China-Pakistan trade and gave both of India’s rivals a fast route through the mountains, not far from the controversial "Line of Control" in disputed Kashmir.
China’s resurgence in recent years has jolted the leading powers of the world out of their stupor – and India’s case is no different. Today, forward-looking Indian mandarins are no longer obsessed only with Pakistan. New Delhi has started developing strategic plans for dealing with China by 2020 or 2030. Many Indian think tanks are already working on this mission objective.
What transpired last August was an eye opener for China-watchers in the Indian government. On 5 August 2010, The People’s Daily reported that two days previously “important combat readiness materials” (read missiles) of the Chinese Air Force were transported safely to Tibet via the Qinghai-Tibet Railway – the first time since such materials were transported to Tibet by railway. It was a clear demonstration by China, of its capability to mobilize in Tibet, in the event of a new Sino-Indian conflict. China already has four fully operational airports in Tibet, the last one started operations in July 2010.
Meanwhile, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’s recent seafaring activities and maneuvers have revealed Beijing’s intention to increase its control of the maritime sea lanes in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The latter is an obvious cause of concern for India. China’s new-found aggressive posturing and maritime territorial claims in the South China Sea – which Beijing has begun to describe as an area of its “core interest”, a term that the Chinese have been using for Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang – is of no less concern in New Delhi.
China knows very well that it is not dealing with the India of 1962, when the two countries fought a one-sided war. Then India had deliberately not used its air force against the Chinese to minimize loss of territory and restrict Chinese military gains to the far-flung border areas. India is rapidly expanding and modernizing its military air, land, naval and missile forces, investing in establishing a nuclear deterrence, through a ‘Triad’ of land and surface launched missiles as well as submarine launched missiles, expansion of its air bases along the northern border, positioning of early warning radars on mountain along the North-Eastern border with Tibet and more.
Though China retains a decisive lead, New Delhi is determined to stay on Beijing’s heals. In the economic race, India could already outpace China in 2011, to become the fastest growing economies, according to the latest World Bank forecast.
But Beijing has one dominant ace along its sleeve. Being a strict authoritarian regime, it is pushing rapidly forward with aggressive modernization of its industrial and military machine, while India’s administration inherent bureaucracy is much slower in getting things done.
But the highest point of tension in the Asian Subcontinent still remains the decade-lasting animosity and suspicion existing between India and Pakistan. Here remains the most potential trigger for a regional conflict. Historically, China has been Pakistan’s strategic and military ally for nearly five decades. It was Beijing who gave Pakistan the designs for a nuclear bomb in 1984 and then helped them build it. China’s has two purposes behind its strategy assisting Pakistan. First, it takes Pakistan as a secure friend and ally in the Indian Ocean and second, they share a common interest to contain India, which, by its huge economic potential, demographic size and geopolitical position, is challenging Beijing’s ambition for regional hegemony.
Within this strategy, China has stepped up its military presence in Tibet, primarily to contain India. Their aim is to capture as much Indian territory as possible, including the town of Tawang – the birthplace of the Dalai Lama – in case of renewed hostilities. A secondary purpose for this buildup is to help Pakistan in any future military conflict with India. Indeed the Sino-Indian border region remains one hotly disputed area since the 1962 India-China war.
The core of territorial disputes between India and China converge at Kashmir, which also ranks as the worlds’ largest militarized zone of contention. The Chinese army, perched on its geographical vantage position, atop the towering peaks and glaciers of the strategic trans-Karakoram tract and Aksai Chin, dominates the Indian positions below. Moreover, the geopolitical ramifications of China’s forceful annexation of Tibet, which had for centuries, posed a natural barrier for India, gave Bejing a tremendous strategic starting point for any military operation against India. The 2006 opening of the China-Tibet rail-link further strengthened China’s potentially offensive capability.
On the other hand India’s quest to enhance its military potential, with active aid from Washington, could reignite a new Indo-China Himalayan border war – with acute danger from its escalating into a terrifying regional nuclear-weapons conflict.
From a strategic perspective, China is hemming India from all four sides- Tibet, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma) – all within Beijing’s zone of interest. As the deteriorating geopolitical dynamics between Beijing and New Delhi increase, as both are struggling for global superpower status, the role of the United States in this region faces sharp competition.
Although from military perspective, the US will continue to remain a key player; its influence in the region will wane considerably as the troop withdrawals from Afghanistan conclude. With Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean on the rise and its “string of pearl” strategy advancing towards key positions in the Persian Gulf, the strategic importance of India will become crucial for Washington, to prevent a most dangerous development in this part of the world.
2011 Flashpoints: Asia features include the following topics:
Oshkosh has recently won new orders for FMTV medium trucks for the U.S. Army and Army National Guard worth over $1.2 billion. Photo: Oshkosh
In November 2010 Oshkosh Defense (NYSE:OSK) received another contract worth $780 million for the production of 4,773 family of medium tactical vehicles (FMTV). In December the company was awarded a separate contract worth $513 million to supply 2,050 FMTV medium trucks (plus 1,650 trailers) to the U.S. Army National Guard through 2013.
Oshkosh has recently won new orders for FMTV medium trucks for the U.S. Army and Army National Guard worth over $1.2 billion. Photo: Oshkosh
Since being selected as the supplier for the five-year firm-fixed-price contract, Oshkosh received orders for over 50% of the program’s projected volume of 23,000 trucks, with orders accumulated to more than 16,000 FMTV trucks, trailers and enhanced armor protection ‘B Kits’ at a total value of more than $2 billion. The FMTV is a series of 17 models ranging from 2.5-ton to 10-ton payloads. Vehicles feature a parts commonality of more than 80 percent, resulting in streamlined maintenance, training, sustainment and overall cost efficiency for the U.S. Army.
The Palletized Load System (PLS) A1 vehicle variant features a Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS)-compliant cab that is common with the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A4 for improved fleet commonality. Photo: Oshkosh
Under two additional contracts worth about $60 million Oshkosh will also deliver 78 Palletized Load System (PLS) trucks and trailers. The PLS is the backbone of the Army’s distribution and resupply system. Since its introduction in the 1990s, Oshkosh has produced more than 6,000 PLS trucks and more than 14,000 trailers. The most recent variant, Palletized Load System (PLS) A1 vehicle rolled out of Oshkosh assembly line on December 6, 2010. The PLS A1 features a Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS)-compliant cab that is common with the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A4 for improved fleet commonality. Other PLS A1 upgrades include a 600-horsepower engine, electrical upgrades and incorporation of an Oshkosh TAK-4 independent front suspension for improved off-road mobility.
The new configuration of Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) A1 offers increased horsepower, higher-capacity front suspension, a larger vehicle cab, electrical upgrades and air conditioning. Photo: Oshkosh
Another vehicle modernized underway at Oshkosh in support of Army transportation is the Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) A1. This configuration includes increased horsepower, higher-capacity front suspension, a larger vehicle cab, electrical upgrades and air conditioning. Since receiving its first contract for the vehicle in 1976, Oshkosh has produced more than 3,000 HETs for the Army.
As part of the field supporting for these vehicles, Oshkosh is already refurbishing heavy transporters under the Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) ‘Theater-Provided Equipment Refurbishment’ (TPER) process. This program, performed by the manufacturer, is returning battle-damaged vehicles to full mission-capablility at the company’s Kuwait facility. Oshkosh has recently been awarded a $11 contract to process additional 140 vehicles through TPER. According to Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager of Army Programs for Oshkosh Defense, refurbishment of vehicles in Kuwait reduces the maintenance cycle time by weeks. To date nearly 1,500 heavy vehicles and trailers were refurbished at the Kuwait facility.
Under the new contract the facility will refurbish the Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) including the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT), Heavy Equipment Transporters (HET A1) and Palletized Load System (PLS). Oshkosh also will refurbish M1000 HET Trailers, which were not originally produced by the company.
The vehicles and trailers being refurbished were operating in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The order extends Oshkosh’s TPER work until May 2011 and is valued at more than $11 million.
Navistar, Oshkosh and General Dynamics Canada have recently received new orders worth almost one billion dollar, for the delivery of additional MRAP variants, in support of U.S. forces operations in Afghanistan. GDLS Canada received orders to supply 691 modernization kits to support RG-31Mk5E vehicles, Oshkosh will deliver 250 new ambulances based on the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle, while was awarded two contracts to supply 425 MaxxPro type MRAP vehicles, including 175 MaxxPro Dash equipped with independent suspension – for All-Terrain Mobility, and 250 Maxxpro based MRAP-Recovery Vehicles.
The U.S. military has recently ordered 250 MRAP based Recovery vehicles. Photo: Navistar
The orders for the MaxxPro vehicles total $377 million. The order for the 175 International MaxxPro Dash vehicles equipped with DXM independent suspension (as seen in the photo above), is worth $125 million and is scheduled for delivery by summer 2011. The company has recently been awarded another order worth $252 million, for 250 MRAP based Recovery vehicles. Since 2007, the company has been contracted to produce more than 8,000 MaxxPro MRAP units.
Navistar has continued to grow its product offerings by leveraging its current commercial capabilities and assets, which includes the proven commercial International WorkStar platform. This business strategy aims to enable rapid response to new opportunities and simplify the integration of vehicle enhancements and the development of new truck variants. According to Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense, the current orders are within the company’s strategy building around a revenue base of $1.5 to $2.0 billion.
The Oshkosh Corp. has been awarded $283 million for the delivery of 46 M-ATVs configured for Special Operations Command requirements and 250 armored all-terrain capable ambulances, based on the company’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). The all-terrain armored ambulance order is worth $255 million, which covers the completion of four test vehicles and production of 246 additional vehicles. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in spring 2011 and continue through 2012. The tactical ambulance joins the M-ATV base and Special Forces Vehicle (SFV) family of vehicles used by the military. The Oshkosh M-ATV was designed to provide superior off-road mobility for harsh mountainous terrain and unimproved road networks in places like Afghanistan. Oshkosh has received awards to date for nearly 8,400 vehicles. Oshkosh is continuing to explore new potential mission solutions for the M-ATV. New variants currently being proposed include an M-ATV utility vehicle, designed to support resupply operations and the M-ATV Multi-Mission Vehicle (MMV) proposed as a reconnaissance platform, missile-carrier and command vehicle.
The MATV Ambulance configuration was designed to provide superior off-road mobility for harsh mountainous terrain and unimproved road networks in places like Afghanistan. Photo: Oshkosh.
The RG-31Mk5E upgrades focus on survivability enhancements and mobility improvements, bringing existing vehicles to the latest production configuration. Upgrades include the addition of spall liners, an independent suspension axle system and an improved power pack. Delivery of the kits is expected to be completed by November 2011. In total, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada has delivered over 1,600 RG-31 vehicles under the MRAP program. An additional 566 RG-31s have been delivered to the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) under separate contracts.
A CV-22 like the one seen in the photo above, operating with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) crashed in Afghanistan in April 2010 killing three crew members and a passenger. A U.S. Air Force investigation ruled enemy fire as a possible cause of the crash. Photo: U.S. Air Force.
The CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft that crashed in Qalat, Afghanistan on April 8, 2010 was not hit by enemy fire, an Air Force Investigation has ruled out hostile action or brownout as possible causes of the crash. However, the investigation could not find a definitive cause for the fatal crash, in absence of data from the flight incident recorder (the ‘black box’) that was destroyed in the crash.
A CV-22 like the one seen in the photo above, operating with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) crashed in Afghanistan in April 2010 killing three crew members and a passenger. A U.S. Air Force investigation ruled enemy fire as a possible cause of the crash. Photo: U.S. Air Force.
The investigation cited several factors that could have contributed to the crash, but none are conclusive to be the only cause. The investigation rejected enemy fire or brownout as a possible causes but mentioned that insufficient in-flight and pre-flight procedures could have added to the cause, as well as poorly executed low-visibility approach with a tailwind, an unanticipated high rate of descent and engine power loss as possible causes. Inadequate weather planning and overall crew’s push to accomplish their first combat mission could also be contributing factors.
Killed in the crash were pilot Maj. Randy Voas, 43, flight engineer Senior Master Sgt. James Lackey, 45, both assigned to Hurlburt Field, Fla., Army Cpl. Michael D. Jankiewicz, 23, of Fort Benning, Ga., and a contractor who has not been identified.
The Department of Defense (DOD) budget is facing mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle as lawmakers struggle to rein in trillion-dollar deficits.
“The Pentagon has lowered its expectations and is adopting a planning construct that assumes minimal budget growth,” says Shaun McDougall, Forecast International’s North America Military Markets Analyst and author of the latest Forecast analysis of the U.S. defense market. The DoD also considers maintaining and modernizing its force structure a top priority. Although there is often little in terms of low hanging fruit when it comes to rising personnel costs, the DoD has shown that it at least intends to make sacrifices in order to prevent cuts to its acquisition budget, and indeed to provide substantial growth to support its wide-ranging weapons programs.
It is clear is that DoD spending will be constrained in the years ahead, especially when compared to the expansive budget growth over the past decade. The White House projected about 1.8 percent real growth in FY11; growth is then expected to fall to 1.1 percent in FY12 and to below 1 percent after that. Furthermore, war funding will taper off as the U.S. completes its mission in Iraq, though volatile conditions in Afghanistan leave some budgetary questions unanswered.
Diminishing budget growth and supplemental war funding will be unable to support current DoD requirements. In addition, there is a growing concern that the services could lose some or all of their savings as the government attempts to pay down the deficit.
A number of major weapons programs are in the offing, including the SSBN(X) ballistic missile submarine, the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV), long-range strike platforms, a presidential helicopter, and more. “Designing to affordability, and not just desire or appetite, is critical,” says Secretary Gates. “What remains to be seen is whether the Pentagon can live by this philosophy, and whether it will be willing to walk away from programs that fail to meet these standards” McDougall comments.
This official MDA photo shows the interceptor missile being launched from its silo. While the launch was successful, the test failed as the target was not intercepted. Photo: MDA
The U.S. missile defense system failed an intercept test earlier today, as a Ground Based Interceptor failed to destroy an intermediate-range ballistic missile target launched from the Kwajalein Atoll, over 7,500 km (4,600 miles) across the pacific Ocean. The test was delayed from Dec. 14 due to weather conditions.
According to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency that conducted the test, all the elements seem to be functioning well – the target was launched as planned, the Sea Based X-Band radar (SBX) and all sensors also performed as planned and the long-range ‘Ground Based interceptor’ missile also launched as planned, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and successfully deployed the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV). Yet, with all performers in place, the system did not score an intercept.
Earlier this year the two-stage GBI is performed successfully on a flight test, as part of a future development toward enhanced, future missile defense applications. This test did not include a target intercept but the new missile did deliver an EKV to a designated point in space. After separating from the second-stage booster, the kill vehicle executed a variety of maneuvers to collect data to further prove the performance of the kill vehicle in space.
This official MDA photo shows the interceptor missile being launched from its silo. While the launch was successful, the test failed as the target was not intercepted. Photo: MDA
Fire-X, a vertical unmanned air system developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation and Bell Helicopter, a Textron company completed its first fully autonomous flight Dec. 10 at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., less than one year after development began. (Photo: Northrop Grumman by Chad Slattery).
Fire-X, a vertical unmanned air system (VUAS) developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Bell Helicopter, a Textron company (NYSE:TXT), completed its first fully autonomous flight Dec. 10, 2010 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. The experimental aircraft was developed as a low-risk, fast-track solution demonstrating that unmanned helicopters can be safely flown using the proven Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8B Fire Scout’s unmanned systems autonomous flight architecture.
The first flight involved a short-duration hover to validate safe and reliable autonomous flight. Additional flight tests and reliability data gathering will be conducted in the coming weeks. Integration of ISR sensor payloads and cargo carrying capability test flights is set to occur early next year. The Fire-X demonstration aircraft will retain the ability to be optionally piloted – a capability which may appeal to military users because of its added operational flexibility.
Fire-X, a vertical unmanned air system developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation and Bell Helicopter, a Textron company completed its first fully autonomous flight Dec. 10 at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., less than one year after development began. (Photo: Northrop Grumman by Chad Slattery).
According to Paul Meyer, sector vice president and general manager of the Advanced Programs and Technology Division at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, the Fire-X was developed to meet growing needs for cargo and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, anticipating evolving requirements from U.S. military services and Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
The rapid development (first flight was accomplished only 11 months after development began) was achieved by integrating Fire Scout’s proven autonomous systems developed for the U.S. Navy with the proven, FAA-certified Bell 407 helicopter platform. On its new unmanned role The 407 system can carry ISR sensors and a useful load of more than 3,200 pounds. Fire-X will also be able to conduct ISR missions up to 16 hours in endurance and various cargo missions in support of U.S. Army and Marine Corps requirements.
The Department of Defense (DOD) budget is facing mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle as lawmakers struggle to rein in trillion-dollar deficits – a market analysis from Forecast International’s latest analysis determines.
“The extent of the damage remains to be seen, however, as there is a fundamental disagreement over whether the Pentagon’s coffers should be subject to the same scrutiny and cuts as non-security budgets,” says Shaun McDougall, Forecast International’s North America Military Markets Analyst and author of the report.
What is clear is that DoD spending will be constrained in the years ahead, especially when compared to the expansive budget growth over the past decade. The White House projected about 1.8 percent real growth in FY11; growth is then expected to fall to 1.1 percent in FY12 and to below 1 percent after that. Furthermore, war funding will taper off as the U.S. completes its mission in Iraq, though volatile conditions in Afghanistan leave some budgetary questions unanswered.
This top-line growth will be unable to support current DoD requirements, as Defense Secretary Robert Gates has claimed the Pentagon will require around 2 to 3 percent budget growth above inflation to sustain the military force structure. He has laid the groundwork for a budget savings initiative under which the DoD would make significant cuts to operations & maintenance, contract services, and overhead in order to transfer over $100 billion to force structure and modernization efforts. The plan is not absent shortcomings, such as the fact that the majority of savings have been pushed to the outyears. In addition, there is a growing concern that the services could lose some or all of their savings as the government attempts to pay down the deficit.
“What is clear for now is that the Pentagon has lowered its expectations and is adopting a planning construct that assumes minimal budget growth,” says McDougall. The DoD also considers maintaining and modernizing its force structure a top priority. Although there is often little in terms of low hanging fruit when it comes to rising personnel costs, the DoD has shown that it at least intends to make sacrifices in order to prevent cuts to its acquisition budget, and indeed to provide substantial growth to support its wide-ranging weapons programs.
These fiscal uncertainties are especially troubling for a defense acquisition system that has been plagued with severe cost growth. Secretary Gates has said that affordability must be considered a key parameter throughout the acquisition cycle, which will inherently limit the DoD’s ability to modify program requirements or take risks with technologies or schedules.
A number of major weapons programs are in the offing, including the SSBN(X) ballistic missile submarine, the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV), long-range strike platforms, a presidential helicopter, and more. SSBN(X) will strain the Navy’s shipbuilding accounts, the former presidential helicopter program was canceled because of high costs, and lawmakers have already expressed concerns about the affordability of the GCV. With each of these efforts, “Designing to affordability, and not just desire or appetite, is critical,” says Secretary Gates. What remains to be seen is whether the Pentagon can live by this philosophy, and whether it will be willing to walk away from programs that fail to meet these standards.
In December 2010 India and France finalized the upgrading of 50 Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 aircraft, under a Rs 9,640 crore (US$2.15 billion) program, expected to bring the two IAF squadrons equipped with Mirage 2000s up to date, with the introduction of new digital cockpit, enhanced weapons-carrying capability as part of the aircraft mid-life update.
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The Mirage 2000 upgrade will be managed by Dassault, Thales and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). The first phase of the program will span over 40 month development phase, taking place in France, to be continued by serial conversions of 48 IAF aircraft at HAL facilities in Bangalore.
Another development conducted under Indo-French cooperation is the Kaveri engine, destined for India’s Tejas indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) built by HAL.
India is keen on granting access to specific technology (assumed to be the seeker and guidance systems) concerning the SRSAM program, which has sofar hindered progress of localization of the French system.
The French company MBDA submitted the MICA VL for the SRSAM, but India eventually selected the Israeli competitor, Rafael offering the Spyder SR. MBDA did not give op on the chance to change the decision, and continues to promote its system, through India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s ‘Maitri’ program. The companies are hopeful that with adequate technology transfer, DRDO could bring the program to a maturity level that could reverse the SRSAM selection and offer the system to all three services as well as for export
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® and XTEND have achieved a major milestone in JADC2 by integrating the XOS operating system with the MDCX™ autonomy platform. This technical breakthrough enables a single operator to simultaneously command multiple drone classes, eliminating the friction of mission handoffs. From "marsupial" drone deployments to operating in GPS-denied environments, explore how this collaboration is abbreviating the data-to-decision timeline and redefining autonomous mission execution.
As traditional defense primes face mounting competition from agile “neoprimes” such as Anduril, Palantir and Helsing, the balance of innovation is shifting toward software-defined warfare and scalable, dual-use technologies, while global industry consolidation—marked by Boeing’s integration of Spirit AeroSystems and other strategic mergers—signals an intensified race to secure control over the defense technology value chain. Our Defense-Tech weekly report highlights these trends.
In early October 2025, a coordinated wave of unmanned aerial system (UAS) incursions—widely attributed to Russia—targeted critical infrastructure across at least ten European nations. The unprecedented campaign exposed the fragility of Europe’s air defenses...
Executive Summary
The past week (September 18-25, 2025) represents an inflection point where strategic defense concepts have transitioned from doctrine to tangible reality. An analysis of global events reveals four primary, interconnected trends shaping an...
At the 2025 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, U.S. Air Force and Space Force leaders unveiled major updates on next-generation fighters, bombers, unmanned systems, and space initiatives, highlighting both rapid innovation and critical readiness challenges as the services race to outpace global competitors. A short version is available here, with a more detailed version for subscribers.
The Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025 crystallized around four dominant strategic themes that collectively illustrate Taiwan's comprehensive approach to defense modernization amid escalating regional tensions. Based on a detailed report by Pleronix (available upon request). Includes a Podcast discussion on TADTE 2025's highlighting Taiwan's four strategic themes beyond the post's coverage.
Israel’s Iron Beam 450 high-power laser system has completed final testing, marking a major leap in air defense. Developed by Rafael, it offers precise, cost-effective interception of rockets, UAVs, and mortars, and is set for IDF deployment by 2025.
Indian defense company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Terma electronics company of Denmark, promoting various fields of defense technologies. The agreement sets the frame for current and future cooperation between the two companies. Under the MoA, BEL and Terma will cooperate on naval radar technology and aircraft self-protection.
