Defence`s Feeds

Americas

• The joint Boeing/Lockheed Martin protest filed against the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) contract awarded to Northrop Grumman has been rejected by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO). The complaint, claiming that the competition was “fundamentally flawed“, was filed last November and resulted in a three month delay in engineering and development work by Northrop. The GAO found no basis to sustain or uphold the protest, which analysts estimate to be worth over $80 billion over the course of the contract. With 100 hundred bombers to be manufactured for the USAF, Boeing can still bring the challenge to federal court as they look to make up for lost production contracts and potential job losses ahead.

• The US Navy has completed the first of two operational tests on Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C. While data on the tests is still being analyzed, a favorable review could see a low rate procurement contract awarded in the second quarter of this year, a year ahead of the next operational test event. Initial plans for the UAV involve providing broad area surveillance over 5 orbits encircling the globe, then cueing the manned P-8A Poseidon to inspect closer or deploy weapons. Initial predictions of fleet loss of four per 100,000 hours led the Navy to order 70 to maintain an operational fleet of 20. This has, however, has come under scrutiny from the Department of Defense and could lead to the Navy reviewing and altering their attrition requirement.

Middle East NorthAfrica

• Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) has introduced a new series of loitering munitions at the Singapore Air Show. One of these is the Rotem L, a small grenade-carrying quadrotor which explodes on contact and is designed for use in urban operations. Alternatively, it can be fitted with a surveillance payload. The Harpy NG (New Generation) is designed to counter the newer types of air defense radar threats that have evolved since the introduction into service of its earlier incarnations. Improvements include a new Anti-Radiation (AR) Seeker fitted into the chassis of the Harop UAV, increasing its range and endurance. The final addition is the all-electric, cannister launched Green Dragon for operation by land forces. Designed to be a cheaper, more easily operated munition, it contains a 3kg warhead, a communications range of up to 21nm (40km) and a built-in “abort and go around” capability to prevent unnecessary collateral damage or mistaken targeting.

Europe

• The French procurement agency DGA is to recruit 160 staffers this year in an effort to improve organization and service surrounding foreign arms sales. By 2020 this number will increase to 500. With $18 billion in arms exports last year, the DGA hopes to continue this trend and to forge a “real partnership” in projects and programs according to their spokesperson. The need for this comes as customers are increasingly looking for deeper understanding in the specifications of the technology, such as India wanting to make Dassault’s Rafale fighters domestically, and Australia’s latest tender for an attack submarine which has French firm DCNS competing for the contract.

• Improvements in human rights have seen five years of EU imposed trade sanctions lifted on Belarus, however, its arms embargo will be maintained for at least another year. The move comes following peaceful presidential elections in the country, and the release of political prisoners in the country often dubbed Europe’s last dictatorship. As the EU looks to improve relations with countries neighboring an increasingly aggressive Russia, Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko may be seeking to improve his image abroad, as well as rely less on Russia for trade and ultimately, arms and defense.

• Following a custom $1.27 billion two-aircraft deal to provide an early warning and control (AEW&C) system to the UAE, Saab has officially launched the new early warning aircraft to the wider market. The GlobalEye combines the Erieye ER active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with Bombardier’s Global 6000 business jet. The Erieye had been previously offered on the Embraer 145, Saab 2000 and Saab 340, but its incorporation on the Global 6000 will allow it much greater altitude and endurance capabilities, flying at 11,000 ft for 11 hours. The business jet will likely be armed with Saab’s RBS-15 anti-ship missile and a lightweight torpedo; possibly a EuroTorp weapon. Saab’s announcement comes as they look to provide maritime, land, and air surveillance capabilities to countries increasingly involved in anti-terrorism, anti-piracy, or territorial monitoring operations.

Asia Pacific

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has started final assembly of their first domestically produced F-35A. Assembly has entered its final stages at the Komaki Minami plant, and it is expected they will have begun work on two of the fighters by the end of fiscal 2017. By 2020, this production will have increased to 16, and a total number to be manufactured in Japan is 38 out a fleet of 42. MHI will also be responsible for testing the jets stealth against radar. The experience gained by Mitsubishi in the development and manufacturing of the F-35 will help toward the development of Japan’s own next-generation stealth fighter, currently under development as part of the X-2 program.

• Despite last year’s rather public hullabaloo over Indonesia’s $120 million procurement of three Agusta Westland AW101 helicopters, Daniele Romiti, chief executive of Finmeccania Helicopters, maintains Jakarta is still interested. After a presidential order axed the acquisition of the VVIP helicopters, talks have apparently been ongoing over a renewed deal. This includes plans for a search and rescue variant, with a similar configuration to the Italian air force’s new HH-101 Caesar model. The news comes as quite a surprise, and if the deal goes through, would mark quite the turnaround from November. But with cost the main reason for the initial protests, a fresh round of media and political anger could be just around the corner.

Today’s Video

• Footage from the 2016 Singapore Air Show including South Korea’s Black Eagles:

The UK Royal Navy's Duke-class Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans has concluded a joint maritime security operation with the Royal Saudi Navy to ensure freedom of navigation in the Gulf.

The Mexican Navy (Secretaria de Marina) ordered a total of ten Ténochtitlan-class patrol vessels, as of January 2016. The vessels are based on Damen Shipyards Group’s Stan Patrol 4207 design.

The Spanish Navy’s Mistral (S-73) submarine and Santa María (F-81) frigate have set sail towards Sicily, Italy, to join Nato’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise, Dynamic Manta 16, in the Ionian Sea.

While the use of sea mines has declined steeply since the two world wars, it would be wrong to consign them to the history books just yet. With murmurs of significant arsenals held by China and Russia, as well as rumours of ‘nuclear-armed’ mines in d…

Associated Aircraft Manufacturing and Sales (AAMSI) has been selected by Lockheed Martin to serve as the authorised P-3 Orion support provider.

Shipbuilder VT Halter has delivered the Pathfinder class oceanographic survey ship, USNS Maury (T-AGS 66), to the US Navy.

The French Navy has contracted Honeywell Aerospace to provide support services to its fleet of Dassault Falcon Guardian surveillance aircraft based in Tahiti.

Airbus A310 MRTT Aerial Refueling and Transport Aircraft

Close encounters in the skies over Syria between Russian and German fighters. As reported by several media outlets on Feb. 16, Russian Air Force (RuAF) fighter jets often shadow German Air Force (GAF) Tornados performing reconnaissance missions in Syrian airspace. Although shadowing a foreign combat plane in Syria’s skies filled with jets and UAVs may […]

              
 

Exercise Cold Blade 2016 is planned to be held in Ivalo in Northern Finland from 7 till 18 March 2016 under the framework of the EDA Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), hosted by the Finnish Defence Forces. Its location clearly suggests the main focus: environmental training in cold and snowy conditions.

The remote location enables the helicopter crews to test and learn flight procedures in free airspace, uninhabited areas and in a snowy and cold environment. White-out landings and approaches, navigation and NVG flights are some examples of the tactics, techniques and procedures that will be conducted during Cold Blade 2016. In addition to flight training, this versatile exercise gives the helicopter crews an opportunity to train in winter survival in the arctic conditions.

Eight helicopters and approximately 180 persons will take part in Cold Blade 2016. Together with the Host Nation helicopter unit, Germany will deploy their CH-53GA helicopters to the remote area.

The distinguished visitor’s day will be held on 15 March 2016.

Another HEP exercise, Black Blade 2016, is planned in Belgium between 14 November and 2 December 2016, focusing on Special Operations Forces (SOF) missions.

More information

• COLD BLADE 2016 factsheet 
• Helicopter Initiatives project page

Four Raptors have deployed to South Korea. On Feb. 17, four U.S. Air Force F-22 “Raptor” fighter aircraft from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, deployed to Osan Air Base, in South Korea. The multi-role stealth fighters were joined by four Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-15 Slam Eagles and U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting […]

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Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The ongoing migration crisis asks some interesting questions of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, especially in light of the proposal for a 'European Border and Coast Guard'. Is the Policy set to become a 'glorified border force' or will it play a role in EU 'state-building'? Daniel Fiott takes a look at some of the issues.

The post Europe’s Richelieu moment? EU border security and the CSDP appeared first on European Geostrategy.

The US Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) is developing a virtual cyber test bed, USS Secure, in collaboration with three navy system commands, cyber defence leaders, and experts from coast-to-coast.

The US Navy is reportedly considering options to install an electromagnetic railgun on its third Zumwalt-class ship, Lyndon B Johnson (DDG-1002) currently being constructed at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW).

The US Navy's Seventh Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) is set to undergo sea trials following completion of the selective restricted availability (SRA).

The navies of the US and Ghana have completed the Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) operations in West Africa.

The US Navy's Northrop Grumman-built MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has completed its operational assessment (OA), at the NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, US, paving way for a crucial Milestone C decision.