Shipboard Protection System Enters Low-Rate Production

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Aug 1, 2009

August 26, 2009: The U.S. Navy has approved the Shipboard Protection System (SPS) for low-rate initial production (milestone C). The SPS was initiated as an Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) initiative in 2005, integrating ad-hoc protection measures deployed, after Navy vessels experienced repeated attempted attacks in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden,following the devastating attack by suicide fast boats on the USS Cole (DDG 67) at the port of Aden in October 2000. SPS was tailored for multiple classes of U.S. Navy ships, enhancing self-protection against asymmetric threats by coordinating multiple sensors, weapons, equipment, personnel and procedures with no increase in manning.

The system was developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, over a short, three-year span. “Starting with guided missile destroyers, SPS will provide warfighters additional capability to help protect Sailors from attacks similar to the small-boat attack on the USS Cole (DDG 67)” Said Capt. John Day, program manger for Anti-Terrorism Afloat Program Office at Dahlgren.

Deployment Schedule Announced:

Energetic efforts increasing vessel- protection followed the devastating attack by suicide fast-boats on the USS Cole (DDG 67) at the port of Aden in October 2000. SPS was tailored for multiple classes of U.S. Navy ships, enhancing self-protection against asymmetric threats, by coordinating multiple sensors, weapons, equipment, personnel and procedures with minimal manpower increase.

The system was developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) at Dahlgren, over a short, three-year span. “Starting with guided missile destroyers, SPS will provide warfighters’ additional capability helping protect Sailors against attacks, similar to the small-boat attack on the USS Cole(DDG 67)” Said Capt. John Day, Program Manager for the Anti-Terrorism Afloat Program Office at Dahlgren.

As part of the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase, up to 12 systems will be delivered and installed on DDG-51 class destroyers. The system will be mounted through the installation of equipment and software sub-sets, or “block” upgrades to ensure early delivery of systems to combat ships. Future enhanced capabilities will continue to be incorporated, as research-and development efforts mature and available resources permit. The first four ships to receive the developmental systems were USS Benfold (DDG 65), USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), USS Laboon (DDG 58), and USS Oscar Austin(DDG 79). Installation and testing of SPS on Aegis class cruisers, “L” class amphibious assault ships and aircraft carriers is anticipated in fiscal year 2012.

USS Benfold (DDG 65) was the first ship to be outfitted with an early version of the system – SPS Block 1. This configuration integrated the radar with two stabilized electro-optic (EO) payloads capable of identifying and engaging high-speed seaborne craft. The system provides a flexible-layered defense in all directions, enhancing situational awareness and providing early warning of small-boats approaching with suspect hostile intentions. By increasing operational efficiency and flexibility, deterrence is also improved, as specific procedures can be implemented along preset engagement-zones, providing ship commanders more time for the detection, identification, decision, engagement, and assessment sequence.

“Once fully integrated into the ship’s combat doctrine, SPS gives us much better situational awareness,” said Lt. Steingrube, Benfold‘s weapons officer. “It will take much of the guess-work out of a contact’s distance, and will help us to better assess potential threat’s intentions.”

SPS Components

The system provides protection while the ship is in port, at anchor or at sea. The crew can visually identify and track watercraft threats from the ships console, using electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) sensors, integrated with the ship’s AN/SPS 73 Surface-Search Radar – a short-range, two-dimensional radar system, providing contact range and bearing information. By tracking and visually identifying each potential threat’s distance, attitude and behavior, the crew can tell if an incoming, still unidentified craft, is just a fishing vessel that might have gotten lost, or a potential threat to their vessel.

The system is controlled by two consoles – one located in the ship’s combat information center (CIC) and another on the bridge, both are displaying surveillance, environmental, and tactical information required by the commander, onboard watch officer, or other AT/FP decision-makers.

Follow-on enhancements introduced with the system’s Block 3 versions have integrated pan-and-tilt acoustic hailers, which will provide a loud warning of pre-recorded messages to incoming craft, on approaching a Naval exclusion zone. The system will also have high intensity spotlights and could also use remotely controlled laser dazzlers, as a ‘non lethal effector’, deterring potential aggressors. Heavy machine guns provide a last line of defense – typically, such systems employ a .50 caliber weapons mounted on remotely controlled pedestal.

KAI, Eurocopter Unveil the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH) Surion

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Jul 31, 2009

kuh_1 — Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Eurocopter celebrated the Rollout of the first Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH) prototype. Photo: Eurocopter

Three years after the launch of the Korean Helicopter Program in 2006, Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Eurocopter celebrated the Rollout of the first Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH) prototype last week. The helicopter is scheduled to perform its first flight by early 2010, with initial deliveries commencing in 2012. The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) is planning to buy 245 KUH helicopters.

The Republic of Korea Armed forces are currently flying about 700 helicopters, with utility missions performed by the the UH-1H Iroquise helicopters. The new eight ton military transport helicopter is destined to replace existing utility helicopters in the South Korean Army fleet.

KAI is the system Integrator of the helicopter with, Eurocopter acting as the premier international partner assisting in technical design and providing the gear boxes, rotor mast and autopilot. In 2007 the two companies established a joint venture company to commercialize the KUH in export market, which is estimated to reach an order of 300 helicopters worldwide.

€9 billion Awards Launch Typhoon Tranche 3 Procurement

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Jul 31, 2009

typhhons_over_nevada_0608 — June 2008 - A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon from XI Sqn during a deployment to Nevada, United States, as part of Exercise Green Flag. The aircraft is carrying Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bombs. Photo: via Eurofighter GmbH

NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NATMA) has awarded production contracts worth over €9 billion for Tranche 3 Typhoon fighter aircraft, to be produced by the principal Typhoon manufacturers – Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH and EUROJET Turbo GmbH. The two contracts are funding production of 112 Typhoon aircraft and 241 engines, for the four partner Nations: Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

With the future production of the Typhoon being confirmed well into the next decade, the program is on track to continue and develop the current technological capability in Europe, enhancing future export opportunities. Having already secured two export contracts with Austria in 2003 and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2007, Eurofighter is pursuing more export opportunities in Switzerland, India, Japan, Romania, Greece and Turkey. Opportunities are also looming in South Korea, Bulgaria and Croatia. With 559 units under production contract, NATO’s Eurofighter Typhoon has positioned itself as the best selling 4th generation fighter aircraft on the market. The Eurofighter program represents the largest European industrial program, supporting 100,000 jobs in 400 companies across the continent.

German Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA 7) recently completed Paveway IV bomb handling, qualities familiarising flight testing at EADS site in Manching. The flight which took two hours and seven minutes saw the aircraft flying with six Paveway IV bombs, four MRAMMs and two SRAAMs missiles on board. It was designed to prove that the Typhoons Flight Control System (FCS) handles the aircraft effectively with full weaponry loaded. Photo: Eurofighter GmbH.

The UK submitted one of the largest orders for the Tranche 3 Typhoons, allocating £3bn for the procurement of 40 aircraft for the RAF. These fighters are to replenish RAF inventories of 24 Typhoons, the first shipment of the 72 ordered by Saudi Arabia. As a result, the RAF will receive 24 newer models, in addition to the 16 Tranche 3 fighters originally scheduled for this buy. The first of the new aircraft is expected to enter service with the Royal Air Force in 2013.

The 40 Tranche 3 aircraft will be equipped with electrical, cooling and computing power to accomodate future systems, including a new radar, weapons, and electronic warfare systems. The airframe will also accommodate future installation of additional fuel tanks carried under the fuselage, greatly increasing range and endurance. Each of the new Typhoons can carry up to eight air-to-air missiles and up to six air-to-surface weapons.

A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon from XI Sqn during a deployment to Nevada, United States, as part of Exercise Green Flag, June 2008. The aircraft is carrying six Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bombs, the Litening III laser designator pod and a real-time range pod.. The aircraft is carrying six Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bombs, the Litening III laser designator pod and a real-time range pod. Photo: Eurofighter GmbH

Oshkosh Receives Second M-ATV Production Contract

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Jul 31, 2009

Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) has received an additional $1.06 billion delivery order from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) for the delivery of 1,700 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) to the U.S. Armed Forces by February 2010. The new delivery order follows an initial $1.05 billion delivery order Oshkosh Defense received last month, for 2,244 M-ATVs. The new contract also includes spares and support for the fielded vehicles, commencing April 2010.

Oshkosh began advance production of the M-ATV weeks before the first delivery order was awarded, and the company was ready to deliver 46 M-ATVs in July 2009, one vehicle above its obligated quota of 45 vehicles. “We are confident in our ability to ramp up production to 1,000 per month in December and this additional order will allow us to sustain that rate of production through February 2010.” Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer said.

Patroller UAV Completes Flight Testing Campaign

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Jul 31, 2009

Sagem and Stemme have successfully carried out the first series of test flights of the Patroller long-endurance UAV system. The first flight took place on June 30, 2009 at Kemijarvi in Finland. This facility provides the test site of Robonic Ltd, a Finland-based subsidiary of Sagem, specializing in manufacturing pneumatic driven catapult launchers for unmanned aerial vehicles.

It was followed by seven additional test flights, including several demonstrating long endurance flights exceeding 10 hour missions. The test campaign verified the platform’s range and performance envelope, automatic take-off, landing and automatic and remote handling of flight-control, as well as payload control functions.

Patroller was developed by the German glider producer Stemme and the French defense group Sagem Defense & Security, from the Safran Group. The Patroller, developed as a collaborative program, will be able to operate autonomously at altitudes of 25,000 ft, and at a maximum cruising speed of 300 km/h. The Pataroller is designed as a modular system, carrying different payloads, including the Euroflir 410 gyro-stabilized optronic sensor package developed by Sagem and a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) developed by the German company OHB. Other payloads destined for the Patroller include communications relays and maritime surveillance radars.

Patroller is operated from regular airstrips serving general aviation and gliders. It will be interoperable with Sagem’s Système de Drones Tactiques Intérimaire (SDTI) and Sperwer tactical unmanned systems, sharing common ground stations and much of the avionic systems on board. As it is based on civil aviation certified platforms, Patroller could be certified for operations, once unmanned platforms are allowed to operate in civil airspace, supporting territorial protection, search and rescue, border and coastal surveillance missions.

The French UAV maker Sagem has teamed with German glider producer Stemme AG to introduce the Patroller, a long endurance UAV based on a powered glider. The Stemme S 15 was first presented at the Berlin Air-Show last in 2008. In its current configuration, the Patroller is designed to perform long endurance missions, to be used in a wide spectrum of roles, from military surveillance to homeland security and maritime patrol. The unmanned Patroller will be capable of flying a 20-hour mission carrying a 440-pound payload. The aircraft carries the Euroflir electro-optical sensor payload provided by Sagem of France, and a pod mounted SAR radar provided by the German company OHB, carried underwing. Stemme is also offering an optionally piloted configuration of the drone. These aircraft are controlled through the German project LAPAZ flight control system and employ the Aerial Real Time Intelligence and Surveillance (ARTIS), both developed by Stemme.

An Unmanned DA-42 Performs First Flight

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Jul 29, 2009

dominator2_1 — Dominator takes off for its maiden flight. Photo: Aeronautics Defense Systems

Last week, Israel-based Aeronautics Defense Systems successfully completed the first flight of the ‘Dominator 2’ Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (Israeli code name “Oz”). The Dominator II is based on the Austrian Diamond DA-42 manned aircraft. The system’s flight testing evaluated the performance of a variety of sub-assemblies integrated into the system to convert it into an unmanned platform.

Utilizing civilian certified, operationally proven manned aircraft for the unmanned mission, Dominator 2 conforms well to military and civilian applications. The twin-engine UAV has an operational ceiling of 30,000ft and mission endurance of 28 hours at speed ranging from 75 to 190 knots. The aircraft has a 13.5 m wing span, 8.5 m length and 2.5 meter height. The maximum gross take-off weight of about two tons, is able to carry multiple payloads weighing up to 400kg. It has advanced safety systems, including all-weather flight safety and anti-icing systems.
The UAV is expected to continue its series of advanced flights to integrate additional systems and sensors that will enable it to perform complex intelligence missions.

“Interest and demand for the Dominator 2 have far exceeded our expectations, and we believe that in the coming years Aeronautics will sell dozens of systems around the world. There is tremendous potential for civilian use of UAVs” says Avi Leumi, CEO of Aeronautics, adding, “Just as UAVs are gradually replacing manned aircraft in carrying out numerous and diverse operations, we expect to see UAVs engaged in a variety of applications on the civilian market in the future. Beginning with areas which seem naturally close to defense, such as policing and security, and through fields such as agriculture, infrastructures, transportation and even environmental protection.” According to Leumi, the new Dominator II renders Aeronautics a foothold in global markets with strong demand for the product, primarily in Western countries, including NATO members. “Given the ability to integrate a great deal of equipment and intelligence systems in the Dominator II, which cannot be carried in smaller UAVs.

Lockheed Martin Rolls Out the F-35C

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Jul 28, 2009

The U.S. Navy’s first stealth fighter, F-35C rolled-out in a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Ft. Worth TX facility July 28, 2009. Following the ceremonial roll-out the first F-35C, designated CF-1, will undergo a series of ground tests before its first flight, scheduled for late 2009. The aircraft is the ninth F-35 test aircraft to join the F-35 test fleet. Other variants of the Lightning II have logged more than 100 flights. The remaining ten aircraft of the test fleet are currently in various phases of production.

“The JSF will show the world that our Sailors will never be in a fair fight because this airplane will top anything that comes its way,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S. Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations. “It will give our Sailors and pilots the tactical and technical advantage in the skies, and it will relieve our aircraft as they age out.” Tom Burbage, a former Navy test pilot and the executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration for Lockheed Martin, said the Navy has already began to “actively working to define joint and coalition tactics that will exploit this platform in ways we’ve never envisioned. We at Lockheed Martin are both proud and humbled by the trust the U.S. Navy has placed with us to lead the development and introduction of the Navy’s newest stealthy, supersonic strike fighter.”

The F-35C will be operating from the U.S Navy’s aircraft carrier decks via catapult launch and arrested recovery. Its distinctive features include larger, folding wings and control surfaces and the addition of wingtip ailerons, allow the F-35C pilot to control the airplane with precision during carrier approaches. The aircraft incorporates larger landing gear and a stronger internal structure to withstand the forces of carrier launches and recoveries.

The naval variant of the F-35 has an internal fuel capacity of nearly 10 tons, providing an unrefueled range of over 1,200 miles without external tanks. The standard internal weapons load is two AIM-120C air-to-air missiles and two 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs. Optional internal loads include eight GBU-38 small-diameter bombs, as a variety of air-to-ground missiles, dispensers and guided weapons. The internal weapons bay can be configured for all air-to-ground ordnance, all air-to-air ordnance or a blend of both. A missionized version of the 25 mm GAU-22A cannon is installed or removed as needed. When stealth is not required to execute a mission, the F-35C can mount external stores and weapons on underwing pylons, giving the aircraft a weapons payload of more than 18,000 pounds.

As the aircraft becomes operational, around the year 2015 it will introduce the U.S. Navy carrier task forces with 5th generation fighter capabilities at sea, gaining improved operational freedom gained by its stealth, super-cruise and agility and air dominance, based on its sensor package network-centric operability. Another important aspect is the new fighter’s availability and support – the Lightning II’s operational and support costs are expected to be lower than those of current carrier-based fighters.

The use of materials and techniques reducing radar and thermal signature have different implications for aircraft operatoring in a maritime enviornment. The use of ruggedized exterior materials mean, more ressistant to salt and spray corrosion mean lower maintenance requirements for preserving the aircraft’s Very Low Observable radar signature, even in harsh shipboard conditions.

Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S. Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations, addresses the crowd at the rollout ceremony of the first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant Photo: Lockheed Martin

In Spite of Medvedev’s Optimism Russian Military Is Facing Severe Crisis

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David Eshel

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Jul 24, 2009

Above: Russian airborne unit in an exercise in Siberia, 2007. Photo: Russian MOD

In a desperate effort to pacify the highly suspicious and perturbed Russian officer corps, President Dmitry Medvedev told high-ranking officers, last week, that the planned parameters of the state military orders will not be changed but remain on its present budget level. But analysts consider Russian President Medvedev likened to a ‘general without an army’, as most top posts are still dominated by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s people, who de-facto carry out his policy.

There are some reports, coming from sources close to the President, that Medvedev seems to be gaining some political strength lately. This is probably based on a poll by the independent Levada Center in Moscow, which found that 19 percent of Russians believe that Medvedev actually pursues an independent policy. However this report remained short-lived, as another poll clearly indicated that the president acts entirely under the control of Vladmir Putin and his key entourage. Medvedev has no resources and no team manning key posts to pursue an independent military strategy for the Russian Federation in 2009. Senior military analysts, quoting officials at the Kremlin, claim that Medvedev might chair sessions of the Security Council, but Putin actually controls the siloviki,” meaning the military and security services. And according to latest insider reports – these are still under a deep, if not catastrophic, crisis.

Paratroppers jump from an IL-76 transport jet in an exercise. Below: One of the recent acquisitions of the marine corps is the 2S25 Sprut amphibious tank destroyer, mounting the 125mm tank gun on a light chassis. Photo: Russian MOD.

On paper the Kremlin has allocated plans of military orders totaling 1,300 RUB (billion Russian Rubbles), of which 332 billion RUB will be acquisitions of new military hardware. However, analysts estimate that these figures were set before the world economic crisis eradicated such planning all over the world and Russia would not be excluded from this trend. Aging weapons, poor maintenance and ‘rank-and-file officers who don’t want to do anything’ mean the Russian military was on the verge of a ‘catastrophic crisis’ and if forced into action would most probably have to rely on the use of strategic nuclear weapons, which seem to be the only ones still fully operational. Such a somber assessment came recently not from a junior coop-seeking reporter, but from the top itself, none other that Russian Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister Army-General Nikolai Makarov. (left photo) The General warned, among others, that the Russian air force is not procuring sufficient numbers of new modern aircraft and has fewer servicable aircraft, manned by insufficiently combat-trained pilots, which are incapable of conducting modern era combat operations.

In charge of training and the wide-scale military reform plan, initially conceived by then President Vladimir Putin personally, General Makarov, now under full strain of the present crisis, has sought to discharge hundreds of thousands of, what he believes to be, redundant senior officers. However, the effort immediately met with strong political opposition, particularly from a special Duma, or parliamentary, working group committee. Indeed, Putin’s ambitious agenda for military reform, announced officially in October 2008 by then Defense Minister Serduykov is already facing countless revisions and delays due to the growing global financial crisis, which is hitting Russian economy hard.

The original fiscal planning envisaged spending one trillion rubles (about $30 billion) in 2009 rising to four trillion rubles ($121 billion) by 2011. This budget was necessary to restart military equipment production to modernize the Russian armed forces. Under the new financial constraints such figures must remain within the realm of ‘wishful thinking’.

Intelligence unit training in winter conditions

Hardest hit already, are large sectors within Russia’s defense industry. The sense of growing crisis is noticeably deepening, as reports increase about the number of companies struggling to survive under the current economic climate. Especially hard hit are the companies that already struggle for export sales in a highly competitive international marketplace.

Within the regular army the crisis is becoming even more noticeable. The ground forces command planned to disband 23 all-arms divisions and 12 all-arms brigades, to be reformed into 39 combat-ready ‘all-arms brigades’, resulting in a considerable manpower cut and leaner, more efficient organization. However, without a wide-scale modernization and comprehensive training, such reforms will have little operational effect.

An example of this dilemma could illustrate the present state of Russia’s tank crisis.

Russia’s is the only army in the world using two types of main battle tank: the T-80 (T-80U) powered by a gas turbine and the diesel-powered T-90 (T-90S). Both have the same weight, size and identical combat characteristics. In addition, the Russian military units still use long obsolete vehicles, such as T-72, T-64, T-62 and even the T-55, some have not been modernized for decades.

Russian tank commanders are longing for the new T-95, an entirely new battle tank, with new running gear, power plant, armaments, fire control, reconnaissance and target identification facilities, promised to undergo final field tests and enter service during 2009, but rumors of the new tank have been circulating for over 15 years. The Kremlin has promised two units, the elite units, Kantemirovskaya and Tamanskaya tank divisions to be equipped by 2010 with the new tanks, but analysts have grave doubts on its implementation.

The present crisis seems far from over and no distinctive change is really in sight. Based on reliable insider assessments, new modern standard weaponry currently accounts for no more than 10 percent of the total inventory, with the first target being to raise this to one third, and only by 2020 should be expected to attain the magical figure of 70 percent! Even optimistic President Medvedev told the Defense Ministry, that large-scale rearmament cannot be expected to commence before 2011.

In order to redress the prevailing gloomy situation, efforts have been made to highlight recent achievements in some of the domains, which can be paraded openly to the skeptic Russian public and the world. Among those placed at the top were the introduction in 2008 of three divisions of mobile missile systems and two silo-based Topol-M launchers which were placed on combat duty, sea trials in Severodvinsk began of the new Yuriy Dolgorukiy nuclear submarine, Russia’s orbital grouping for its armed forces has increased by 14 percent and a modern radar station at Armavir has been developed, using the Voronezh-DM Missile Attack Warning System, Air Defense forces have already been strengthened by another S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile system. Development of the sea-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Bulava, has run into serious problems, but Moscow seems determined to continue the program, with the first Borey submarine scheduled to be deployed in either 2010 or 2011.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inspects the new nuclear powered missile submarine Yuriy Dolgorukiy early July 2009. The submarine began sea trials June 18, 2009.

Russian Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles Tested

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Jul 24, 2009

Sea trials of the new Borey class nuclear submarine, “Yuriy Dolgorukiy” began last month (June 18, 2009). The new Borei class submarine is designed to carry the new generation Bulava intercontinental, submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Development of the Bulava has run into serious problems, but Moscow seems determined to continue the program, with the first Project 955 submarine scheduled to be deployed in either 2010 or 2011.

president_medvedev_inspects_new_sub — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inspects the new nuclear powered missile submarine Yuriy Dolgorukiy early July 2009. The submarine began sea trials June 18, 2009.

However further development of Russia’s failure-prone Bulava ballistic missile could be assigned to another design bureau if the project remains in the works, a Russian military expert said last week. “For 15 years the money [for the project] has been thrown down the drain. I think [work on] the missile will be ultimately given to another firm,” said Anatoly Tsyganok, head of the Moscow-based Military Forecast Center. The missile, which is being developed by the Moscow-based Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT), has had six failures in 11 tests, and the general director of the institute resigned last week over what is believed to be a serious setback in the development of Russia’s top nuclear deterrent.

To show off its “flag” in other areas, hiding its calamity at home, Russia carried out test launches of two RSM-54 Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles (NATO Codename SSN-23 Skiff ) from two Delta IV class nuclear-powered submarines, located near the North Pole, on July 13-14. What seems strange is that according to reports, US intelligence monitors were unable to detect the presence of Russian strategic submarines in the Arctic before they actually test-launched two ballistic missiles!

The Russian missile submarine Yuriy Dolgorukiy began sea trials June 18, 2009.

The first missile, flying a ballistic path, hit its designated target at the Kura testing grounds on the Kamchatka Peninsula, while the second, fired with a flat trajectory, destroyed a target at the Chizha testing site on the White Sea. The RSM-54 Sineva (NATO designation SS-N-23 Skiff) is a third-generation liquid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile that entered service with the Russian Navy in July 2007. It can carry four or 10 nuclear warheads, depending on the modification. Russia plans to equip its Delta IV class submarines with at least 100 Sineva missiles.

Israel Navy Successfully Tests an Upgraded Barak Anti-Missile System

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Jul 24, 2009

The Israel Navy conducted a successful test firing of the Barak anti-missile system, featuring an improved version of the missile that includes upgrades to its missile interception capabilities. The improvement of the Barak point-defense missile system is part of a modernization process the Israel Navy is going through. The vessel taking part in the test was INS Lahav, a Sa’ar 5 type corvette which successfully engaged a target simulating an anti-ship missile employing the new Barak. The Barak missiles are currently used by the Israel Navy and a number of international customers, including the Indian Navy, and other navies in Asia and Latin America. The system was jointly developed by IAI and Rafael in the 1980s. The two companies are currently working on the development of a new model of the Barak, designated Barak 8, capable of intercepting targets at ranges of 60-70 km.

Empire Challenge: Turning ISR Into Actionable Intelligence

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Jul 23, 2009

Empire Challenge (EC 09) sets the stage for an annual demonstration of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) interoperability, executed by US Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) under the sponsorship of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD/I).

The exercise, hosted by the U.S. Navy Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, began July 6, 2009 and runs until the end of the month, at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California. While the real activity is taking place at China Lake, other locations throughout the world are taking part in the process of collecting, processing and distributing the data, turning it into situational analysis and comprehending. Locations taking part in the exercise include the Joint Intelligence Lab in Suffolk, Va., the Combined Air Operations Center-Experimental at Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, Va., service Distributed Common Ground/Surface System (DCGS) labs, coalition sites in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency in the Netherlands.

The exercise will provide an opportunity to evaluate and study how current and future ISR solutions could co-operate and to what level they meet the warfighter requirements, as identified by combatant commanders, services and coalition partners, to better support to command and control, enhance coalition data sharing and interoperability. The exercise will also examine and improve the interoperability between national/strategic ISR and tactical ISR. Among the technical goals set for the exercise are the evaluation of new data sharing techniques, demonstration of ‘multi-intelligence battlespace awareness’ and assessment of the DCGS Initial Capabilities Document and Concept of Operations version 2.

“EC09 focuses on improving interoperability with the distributed common ground systems (DCGS) and also looking at what new tools, capabilities and techniques we can bring into the fight to improve the situational awareness of our operational forces,” said Christopher Jackson, Integration Division chief at USJFCOM’s Joint Transformation Command for Intelligence and a principal investigator for EC09. DCGS is currently employed in different locations around the world by the US Air Force and the US Army. It uses a common set of services and data standards. The system utilized an Integrated Backbone (DIB), which allows data to be discovered and retrieved regardless of data location. The Distributed Development & Test Enterprise, an experimentation network built exclusively for DCGS, tests service DCGS interoperability.

In a terrain that vaguely resembles the Afghan mountainous desert, “Blue” forces are running convoy operations while “red” forces are setting up ambushes against them, using roadside and vehicle bombs, firing mortars against bases and logistics operations. The Blue forces are using airborne intelligence-gathering platforms are flying overhead including U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles and ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems.

USJFCOM’s Joint Intelligence Laboratory (JIL) and the Combined Air Operations Center-Experiment at Langley Air Force Base, Va. conduct the modeling and simulation capabilities and analysis. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif. hosts the demonstration’s more visual aspects. “China Lake is the tactical edge for this event,” said Air Force Col. Skip Krakie, EC09’s director for intelligence operations. “They offer us a fantastic range where we can conduct operations in realistic environment. It’s hot, dry and dusty. It’s everything Afghanistan is.”

By putting a demonstration through a laboratory alone, the results may not be the same if it is put into an environment that is operationally representative of what warfighters are facing today. “Things might not work as well or as crisply as they do within a compliant environment,” Jackson said. “EC09 is a proof of ISR capabilities before we take them into real world situations.”

This year’s demonstration includes a virtual brigade combat team in addition to the live ISR assets. Both the live and the virtual assets are working together to form a combined task force that collects, analyzes and shares information. These ‘virtual entities’, created as computer generated forces representing much larger and complex scenarios. The exercise include specific scenarios to address joint capability threads. These include irregular warfare, joint ISR management, multi-domain awareness and ISR-strike integration. The scenarios were created in response to requirements from the field, as warfighters require improving ISR support addressing irregular warfare and counter-IED operations; strike operations; and persistent surveillance across multiple domains. The issue is not acquiring the sensor that can see the insurgent or IED, but finding superior ways to manage the available assets, in a way they are more likely to cover the right place at the right time, retrieve relevant information rapidly and better associate between pieces of information that create the entire picture.

Empire Challenge is working through some of those challenges in a highly realistic environment. Intelligence collected at China Lake or generated through computer modeling and simulation is fed to analysts at participating sites, who turn it around as quickly as possible. Evaluating different ways to delivering mission-critical ISR data to the warfighter, Empire Challenge is testing the interoperability, data sharing and distribution among the four US armed services and special operations command, coalition partners and allies. Once processed, ISR data is streamed to the command-and-control elements, representing the ‘user’ of such tactical information. By utilizing sophisticated networking, security and interoperability systems, this complex and, traditionally slow process could be accelerated and become more efficient, bringing valuable, time-critical intelligence to support the warfighter.

Arrow-II Aborts Long-Range Intercept Test

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Jul 23, 2009

A long range missile intercept test utilizing the Improved Arrow-2 was aborted yesterday (July 22, 2009) after one of the communications channels failed to link with the interceptor. The test, the first long range intercept test was conducted at a test range in the California, at the west coast of the United States. Despite the failure, the test provided a valuable opportunity to exercise the Arrow Weapon System interoperability with other elements of the U. S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), including the Terminal High Altitude Area (THAAD) Program, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program and the Patriot (PAC-3) Program.

The first phase of the test went smoothly. Simulating a future, long-range ballistic missile threat, a target missile was dropped from a C-17 aircraft. The early warning and fire control radar detected the target and transferred its tracks to the battle management control center. The Arrow Weapon System and the BMDS elements exchanged data in real-time on the target. However, just before firing the Arrow, a communications failure developed, causing launch abort. The test continued under a simulative mode, with by the Aegis destroyer, USS Benfold (DDG 65) which also participated in the test.

Networked Precision Attack Missile Demonstrates Moving Target Kill

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Jul 22, 2009

The U.S. Army’s new Precision Attack Missile has recently demonstrated a direct hit on a moving T-72 target. The missile was able to discriminate the tank from other moving vehicles, as it located the target after flying at a distance of 9 kilometers from the launch site.

According to Scott Speet, executive vice president of Prime Contractor NetFires LLC and Raytheon’s NLOS-LS program director, previous guided test flights have succeeded in direct hits against stationary targets. “The ability of the PAM missile to defeat a moving target is a first for the U.S. Army,” said Col. Doug Dever, the U.S. Army’s NLOS-LS project manager. “Once fielded, NLOS-LS is going to give soldiers in the Brigade Combat Teams and sailors on littoral combat ships the ability to precisely engage moving targets – a capability they’ve never had before.”

During the test, the PAM missile joined the network with its onboard radio, operated as a node on the net throughout the flight and sent back a terminal target image to the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System. Anne Johnson, president of NetFires LLC and Lockheed Martin’s NLOS-LS program director added that “this network capability [of the PAM] will provide the Brigade Combat Teams with unparalleled beyond line-of-sight target lethality.”

With the new missile becoming part of the brigade fires network, NLOS-LS takes targeting information from the command and control center and sends it to the NLOS-LS Command Launch Unit’s computer and communications system for initial missile targeting. After being launched, the missile receives targeting information for in-flight updates.

B-2 Massive Ordnance Penetrator Weapon Integration Underway

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Jul 22, 2009

The U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber has began hardware fit check at Whiteman Air Force Base, Montana in preparation of the integration of the 30,000 pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) weapon. Integration of the MOP on the B-2 is part of an ongoing modernization of the stealth bomber.

The MOP is a GPS-guided weapon containing more than 5,300 pounds of conventional explosives inside a 20.5-foot long bomb body of hardened steel. It is designed to penetrate dirt, rock and reinforced concrete to reach enemy bunker or tunnel installations. The B-2 will be capable of carrying two MOPs, one in each weapons bay. The B-2 currently carries up to 40,000 pounds of conventional ordnance. For example, it can deliver 80 independently targeted 500-lb class bombs from its smart bomb rack assembly; or up to 16 2,000-lb class weapons from its rotary launcher.
A team from the B-2 manufacturer, Northrop Grumman, MOP produced Boeing has verified that the equipment required to integrate the new Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) on the B-2 will fit together properly inside the aircraft. These include the hardware that holds the MOP inside the weapons bay, the weapon itself, and the hardware used by the aircrew to command and release the weapon. Instead of grounding an operational plane for the test, the team used the B-2 Weapons Load Trainer – a device that simulates the interior size and shape of the aircraft’s weapons bays — and a high fidelity mock-up of the MOP.

Defense-UpdateMilitary Technology & Defense News

Defense-UpdateMilitary Technology & Defense News

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