Defence`s Feeds

Event An Afghan defence ministry official on 15 June 2018 confirmed that a US unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack in Afghanistan along the border with Pakistan on 13 June had killed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader, Mullah Fazlullah. Fazlullah became leader of the TTP – an umbrella

Rockwell Collins announced that its TruNet AN/PRC-162(V)1 manpack radio is the first tactical ground radio to meet the security requirements set by the US Navy (USN) for the final version of its Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). The PRC-162(V)1 a software defined, two-channel networked

Helicopter training exercise HOT BLADE 2018, organised in May under the European Defence Agency’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP) and hosted by the Portuguese Air Force at Beja airbase, was officially closed on 23 May by the Director of the Portuguese Air Operations, Brigadier General Rui de Freitas and José Pablo Romera, EDA Project Officer Rotary Wing.

With 29 air assets flying a total of more than 550 hours and around 1,200 military participants, the exercise (the 12th held under the HEP umbrella) demonstrated once again the immense added value of collaborative multinational training for participating States’ aircrews, maintenance staff, troops and support personnel under very demanding (hot, dusty, mountainous) conditions.

Six Member States (Belgium, Germany, Hungary, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Portugal) deployed assets, including 21 helicopters of 7 different types (A-109, AS-532, EH-101, CH-47, MI-17, NH-90, SA-316). The first week included a complete day of briefings covering flight safety, expected battle rhythm, host nation support, and a helicopter academics session to refresh COMAO Mission Planning procedures. This theoretical element was followed by operational briefings designed to familiarise aircrews with Beja airbase, rehearse emergency procedures with firefighters and Special Operations Forces (SOF), get familiar with the different helicopter types and ensure high safety levels.  The first week was completed with individual trainings, helicopter operations flown by day and by night, fighter evasion missions carried out with Portuguese F-16 fighter jets and helicopter firing drills. All participating Member States were able to reach their national training objectives. 

During the second week, flying crews performed complex missions in a demanding but realistic environment, making full use of the dusty and mountainous surroundings and shooting ranges. As the exercise advanced, the multinational crews conducted ever more complex coalition level trainings culminating in the planning and execution of several Composite Air Operation (COMAO) missions. These covered a spectrum of advanced helicopter manoeuvre tactics including a large formation of helicopters with embarked troops, integration of Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) teams and paratroopers jumping from a Mi-17 helicopter and a C-295 aircraft, all set against complex threats such as SA-8 SAM, missiles and F-16 fighter jets.

Six instructors from Austria, Germany, Sweden and the UK, previously trained in EDA’s Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC), formed the HOT BLADE 2018 Mentor Team. It supported the multinational crews in the preparation and execution of the COMAO missions and identified valuable Lessons Learned to be applied in future exercises. Other lessons will be drawn from a more in-depth analysis of the exercise results which is currently underway.

The experience of planning, preparing and flying together in combined and joint missions is a critical requirement for maintaining operational readiness at a realistic level. With most nations facing budgetary constraints, such level of advanced training is almost impossible to achieve on a national basis.  In addition to the cost benefits, the exercise also considerably improves interoperability which has become the trademark of the Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP) and which was also underlined by the Exercise Director in his closing remarks: “Together we are stronger”. 
HOT BLADE 2018 proved to be another important milestone on the way to meeting the HEP’s objective, namely to continuously improve Europe’s operational helicopter capability.  The next ‘Blade’ exercise is scheduled to take place in the Czech Republic in May 2019.
 

More information: 

• Hot Blade 2018 kicks off with focus on interoperability
• EDA Helicopter Initiatives Project Page
• Factsheet Exercice HOT BLADE 2018

 

Chinese HJ-12 Anti-Tank Guided Missile

Aselsan has successfully tested the Lazer Savunma Sistemi'nin (LSS) laser defence system mounted on a BMC Amazon armoured vehicle, the Turkish company reported on 10 June. “The LSS is being developed to detect and destroy suspicious objects, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), canvas and

Key Points Arquus launched its Scarabée light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory The vehicle prospectively targets the French Army’s Panhard VBL replacement requirement At Eurosatory 2018 Arquus (formerly Renault Trucks Defense) unveiled to a selected audience the Scarabée: the

Michegan-based powertrain specialist AxleTech unveiled its next-generation 5000 Series Electric Independent Suspension Axle System (eISAS) concept at this month’s Eurosatory exhibition. Featuring custom-designed electric motors as part of the axle, the 5000 Series eISAS concept acts as a

Poland’s Concept Ltd unveiled the LTMPAV Dino 519 armoured vehicle at Eurosatory 2018. The 4×4 vehicle can seat four passengers and a driver in a four-doored double cab, has a gross vehicle weight of 4.6 tonnes, and a load capacity from 700–1000 kg. It is powered by a

The Australia-based company DroneShield announced on 14 June that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of a Middle Eastern country had placed a USD3.2 million for 70 units of its DroneGun tactical jammer. “This is the largest known order for tactical drone mitigation equipment of this kind globally

Key Points The agreement increases the likelihood of FYR Macedonia receiving an invitation to join NATO, strengthening government stability in the country. A final settlement of the name dispute, and hence the start of the NATO (and EU) accession process, will depend on several political factors

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) unveiled a new truck-mounted nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) decontamination set on 27 May at Camp Omiya in Saitama Prefecture, where the service’s Central NBC Weapon Defense Unit is based. Mounted on a 6×6 truck the new set, which is

Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak told Polish TVP1 on 11 June that the Okra submarine programme is again one of Poland’s modernisation priorities. After the signing of the Patriot deal, Poland’s Ministry of National Defence is moving forward with other

Half of the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Type 45 air-defence destroyer force was confined to port for most of 2017, according to data released under the country’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act on 12 June. The BAE Systems designed-and-built Daring-class destroyers have been plagued

Event One person was killed and at least six injured in the town of Kéniéba in Mali’s southern Kayes region on 11 June after youths staged a violent protest in response to grievances against Randgold Resources, which operates the Loulo-Gounkoto gold mining complex. Police used live

The complete range of Serbian company Yugoimport’s truck-mounted self-propelled (SP) artillery systems was displayed for the first time outside the country at Eurosatory 2018. Firing trials for company’s latest 155 mm/52 calibre SP artillery system, the Aleksandar, began

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has said its new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company will be officially established in July and start operations by the end of 2018. KAI said in a filing to the Korean stock exchange on 14 June that the new firm – to be named Korea Aviation

Taiwan’s government outlined plans on 14 June to support the development of key national industries – including defence – by encouraging expansion through government loans and corporate listings on national stock exchanges. Premier Lai Ching-te said in comments reported by the

Pratt & Whitney is eying the two-year mark of parent United Technology Corp’s (UTC’s) New York digital accelerator for determining whether the USD300 million investment is paying off, according to a key executive. Robert Leduc, Pratt & Whitney president, told Jane’s on 12

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed on 11 June that it has acquired both Belarussian Polonez and Israeli LORA precision surface-to-surface missile systems. The MoD released photographs showing three Polonez launchers and at least two LORA launchers to publicise a visit by

Americas

• Q.E.D Systems is being awarded a contract in support of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class. Valued at $15 million the cost-plus-incentive fee, cost-plus-fixed fee, cost-only contract allows for the procurement of long lead time material in support of the LCS class ships’ maintenance and sustainment availabilities. The $35 billion LCS program is the Navy’s idea for the low-end backbone of its future surface combatant fleet. At 115 – 127 meters in length and 2,800 – 3,100 tons of displacement the US LCS is almost the size of Britain’s Type 23 frigates. LCSs can be reconfigured with a variety of mission modules. In addition, the vessels are armed with a 57mm naval gun, .50 caliber machine guns, plus defensive systems including automated chaff/flare dispensers and a launcher for Raytheon’s RIM-116 RAM, which allows the ship to intercept anti-ship missiles, aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, and even small boats. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $237 million. Work will be performed in San Diego, California and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by June 2019.

• Lockheed Martin has changed suppliers for the Distribute Aperture System (DAS) integrated into the F-35 Lightning II. Lockheed is contracting Raytheon in place of the incumbent Northrop Grumman. The Lightning II shares a “sensor fusion” design advance with the F-22, based on sensors of various types embedded all around the airframe. These sensors are connected to a lot of computing power, in order to create single-picture view that lets the pilot see everything on one big 20? LCD screen and just fly the plane. As part of that sensor fusion, the F-35 is the first plane in several decades to fly without a heads-up display. Instead the pilots use a special helmet designed by Visions Systems International. The F-35’s DAS uses six infrared cameras mounted around the aircraft to project augmented reality images into the helmet. By projecting the DAS video stream onto the helmet’s display, the F-35 pilot can see through the aircraft structure to view the surrounding environment. The system also automatically identifies and tracks threats, such as incoming missiles, in the headset display. According to Lockheed Martin, the decision to switch DAS supplier will result in more than $3 billion in life-cycle cost savings. The Raytheon-built DAS will be integrated into the F-35 starting with Lot 15 aircraft, expected to be delivered in 2023.

Middle East & Africa

• Jane’s reports that Denel Dynamics is making good progress in the development of its Mongoose 3 counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missile. The Mongoose 3 is part of the close area protection system (CAPS) project funded jointly by Armscor and the South African Department of Defense (DoD). The CAPS project seeks to develop a system to provide close area protection against rocket, artillery and mortar threats. It uses the Mongoose 3 to intercept these and detonate them at a maximum range of about a kilometer. The Mongoose 3 was initially designed to shoot down heavy anti-tank missiles as far as 300 meters from the vehicle and deflect a high-velocity kinetic energy “long-rod penetrator” fired by a tank, causing it to fall short or hit at an oblique angle at which it will not penetrate a tank’s armor. The 28 lb., 3.9 ft. Mongoose 3 is a highly agile, vertical-launch missile that uses side-thrust motors to tip it over after launch. It then uses synchronized dorsal and tail fins to steer it towards its target, guided by its active radar seeker. The transonic Mongoose 3will complement the also newly developed supersonic Cheetah missile. In addition to its primary C-RAM role, the Mongoose 3 will also be able to engage unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including small types that present difficult targets for other systems and helicopters that come within range. It is also intended as a self-protection weapon for helicopters.

Europe

• Germany’s parliament has now approved a deal to lease Heron TP UAV’s from Israel. The approval puts an end to a long-running series of debates and protests. Last year a German court rejected a protest against the Heron-TP selection by rival bidder General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Additionally, many politicians opposed the idea of acquiring a UAV that could potentially be armed. The Heron TP is reportedly capable of flying for over 35 hours at a time at altitudes around 45.000 feet. It has a maximum range of about 3,000 km and can carry a maximum payload weighing 2204 lbs. As a large MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) UAV, it’s built to carry multiple payloads at a time for a variety of missions. Choices include electro-optical and thermal surveillance equipment, SAR radars for ground surveillance, maritime patrol radars and sensors, signals and other intelligence collection antennas and equipment, laser designators, and even radio relays. The deal is valued at $1.17 billion and allows the German army to carry out long endurance intelligence-gathering missions.

• The British Army’s new Ajax armored fighting vehicle (AFV) is currently undergoing field trials, before the first variants are delivered to operational units early in 2019. The Ajax is part of the multi-billion pound “Future Rapid Effects System” (FRES) program. FRES aims to recapitalize the core of Britain’s armored vehicle fleet over the next decade or more. Ajax vehicles are developed upon a highly-adaptable and capable Common Base Platform, maximizing commonality in mobility, electronic architecture and survivability. Each Ajax platform variant has extensive capabilities, including acoustic detectors, a laser warning system, a local situational awareness system, an electronic countermeasure system, a route marking system, an advanced electronic architecture and a high-performance power pack. Ajax will be the medium weight core of the British Army’s deployable Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability. It enables the soldier to be at the point of collection of accurate all-weather commander information within a network-enabled digitized platform. The current trials are the final phase of a series of evaluations to approve the vehicle for land warfare operations before it enters full service with the British Army.

• French defense contractor MBDA is teaming up with the Estonian unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) specialist Milrem Robotics to develop a vehicle designed to conduct anti-tank missions. The proposed system would integrate MBDA’s Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) medium-range anti-tank missile onto Milrem’s THeMIS UGV. The MMP is designed to be France’s next portable anti-armor missile for troops and vehicles. Its attack modes include fire and forget, man in the loop mode, re-assignment in flight, and even seeker lock-on after launch. As a medium missile, it is able to destroy targets up to main battle tanks. The Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System, or THeMIS for short, is the first hybrid fully modular unmanned ground vehicle in the world. Unlike other UGVs that are commonly able to perform mostly one task, the THeMIS is designed so it can be equipped with a vast variety of payloads to perform a number of different tasks. These include functioning as a remote weapon station outfitted with large or small caliber weapons, detecting IED’s, operating as a drone platform or a remote surveillance station.

Asia-Pacific

• The Royal Thai Army plans to buy six more attack helicopters to replace three of its Cobra helicopters which are marked for retirement after having served for more than 30 years. The Thai government is currently examining different offers made by US, French, Russian, and Turkish manufacturers. It is yet unclear which platform will be chosen, however considering the high cost of US-made Apaches, it seems likely that the Army will closely look into cheaper options like the Z-10 from China, the Russian KA-52 or French Tiger. The Royal Thai Army’s attack helicopter requirement is long-standing but has previously been hindered by a lack of funds. The country’s 2019 defense budget, which was announced in early June, outlines military spending of $7.1 billion.

Today’s Video

• Mi-8s and Mi-24s from Russia’s Baltic Sea Fleet participate in firing drills.