Defence`s Feeds

Americas

• Raytheon has received a $10.4 million contract modification for Navy Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) SeaRAM upgrades. The company received a $159 million production contract in October for CIWS systems, with the contract also covering support equipment for the Rolling Airframe Missile-based SeaRAM system. The SeaRAM improves the CIWS’s Phalanx Block 1B radar system with an eleven-missile RAM launcher to expand the system’s defensive capabilities.

• Argentina is slated to sign a contract for 14 Israel Aerospace Industries Kfir Block 60 fighters in November. The aircraft will also come equipped with EL/M-2032 Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems, provided by Elta Systems. The Argentine Air Force retired its aging fleet of Mirage fighters in August, with reports in July indicating that the service was in talks with IAI over a possible acquisition of secondhand Kfir Block 60s. Argentina previously attempted to procure Gripen E fighters, with this subsequently blocked by the United Kingdom, leading the Argentinean government to look everywhere for new fighters after other attempts to buy JF-17s proved to be too expensive.

Middle East North Africa

• Boeing is reportedly eyeing an Egyptian order for additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters next year, with other potential deals also covering support services to the country’s existing Apache fleet. Egypt received ten AH-64D Apaches in December 2014, following the lifting of a delivery freeze imposed by the US after the country’s military seized power in July 2013. In May 2009 the Egyptian government requested twelve of the helicopters.

• Egyptian plans to acquire Ka-52K naval attack helicopters – reported in October – will not go ahead until the Russians have finished dismantling the sensitive equipment on board the Mistral LHDs they will equip. Russian specialists began removing sensitive communications systems, combat information systems and other equipment in September [Russian], after the Egyptians announced the acquisition of the two Mistrals, signing a contract in October. Completion of the removals is expected in November, with Egypt yet to submit a formal request for the helicopters.

• Following on the heels of other aircraft acquisitions, the United Arab Emirates has inked a Memorandum of Understanding for three AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotor aircraft, beating off competition from the Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey. The aircraft will operate in a search and rescue capacity, operating with the country’s Joint Aviation Command. Deliveries are expected from 2019, with the MoU coming just days after a fatal crash involving a prototype AW609 during high-speed flight testing in Italy.

Europe

• Sweden has ordered more IRIS-T SLS missiles from Diehl Defence through an option on a previous acquisition deal. The InfraRed Imaging System – Tail vector controlled surface-to-air missile was first ordered in March 2013, with the SLS version of the weapon a SAM version of the original air-to-air missile.

• An Italian firm is collaboratively developing a new jamming capability for the Italian Air Force’s Tornado and Eurofighter aircraft, reportedly capable of fitting into an under-belly pod on the aircraft. The new pod is designed to retrofit existing in-service aircraft, meaning that the capability is not being developed for Italy’s inbound F-35 JSFs.

Asia Pacific

• Boeing and Indian firm Tata Advanced Systems have announced a joint venture, with the latter set to manufacture AH-64 Apache fuselages locally in India as part of a deal announced in September for 22 Apache and 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters. Boeing announced in October that it planned to assemble one of the two types locally, with the company subject to a 30% offset clause as part of the $3.1 billion deal.

• China has reportedly tested an exoatmospheric missile thought capable of knocking out satellites in orbit. This latest test of the Dong Neng-3 missile is the eighth, with Beijing referring to the test as a missile defense system. A similar test took place in May 2013, with that involving the less advanced Dong Neng-2 missile. This recent testing took place at the Korla Missile Test Complex in the country’s western Xinjiang province.

• Japanese forces have successfully test fired the Chu-SAM Kai surface-to-air missile system at White Sand Missile Range, firing the system ten times, including an interception of a supersonic target. The medium range system received a perfect score in downing cruise missile targets, with the tests also validating the US Navy’s GQM-163A Coyote supersonic cruise missile target. The Chu-SAM Kai is an improved version of the Japanese-designed Chu-SAM, incorporating improved sensors and networking to improve the system’s range and engage more advanced targets.

Today’s Video

• The two Italian F-35 pilots who recently completed training at Luke Air Force Base:

EVENT Senegal has arrested several individuals suspected of ties with Islamist militants, three of whom were imams charged on 6 November with alleged relations to Nigeria-based group Boko Haram, financing of terrorism, and money laundering. A senior justice ministry official said the arrests took

The Indian government has declared that foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals in defence, which outline bids to secure an equity stake of up to 49% of a company or joint venture, no longer need to be approved by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The change, announced by the

EVENT Portugal's left-wing opposition alliance led by the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista: PS) headed by António Costa yesterday (10 November) rejected the minority government of Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho. President Aníbal Cavaco Silva can now either nominate Costa to lead

Elbit Systems generated revenue of USD2.2 billion in the first nine months of 2015, third quarter 2015 results published on 11 November reported. Quarterly revenue was up 5.8% year on year to USD764 million, while profits in the three months to 30 September rose 12% to USD234 million. Bezhalel

After heavy consultations across an 'unprecedented' diversity of stakeholders, the German Ministry of Defence (MoD) is now drafting the country's next white paper on defence, due out in mid-2016. The paper will project the ministry's planning until 2026 based on mitigating factors such as climate

South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and the state-owned Korea Development Bank (KDB) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide the ailing shipyard with KRW4.2 trillion (USD3.7 billion) in funding. Under the terms of the MoU, which was signed on 10

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to the United Kingdom from 12 November will focus on defence co-operation with BAE Systems Hawk 132 advanced jet trainers (AJTs) and M777 155 mm/39 calibre lightweight howitzers (LWHs) likely the subject of talks. "Defence manufacturing

EVENT Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), sent a letter on 10 November to Tibisay Lucena Ramírez, head of Venezuela's electoral authority, the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral: CNE), that warned that "transparency and

Elbit Systems has been awarded a PLN12.8 million (USD3.23 million) contract to deliver a laser combat training system (LST) for Poland's Jednostka Wojskowa Agat special forces unit based in Gliwice. The Elbit LST beat three rival offers for the requirement and was developed in co-operation with

Publicly-listed German military technology company Rheinmetall AG issued 3,959,850 new shares on 11 November, raising its share capital by EUR10 million. The company expects to gain around EUR230 million from the issue, which will be used to increase investment in both its defence and automotive

Key Points The second of six new Russian Kilo-class submarines appears to have made an unscheduled port call in the Baltic Sea while en route to its new home base in the Black Sea Delivery of the six Kilos to the Black Sea Fleet remains a high strategic priority for the Russian Navy In late

China tested a new 'direct ascent' missile interceptor called the Dong Neng-3 (DN-3) on 30 October from its Korla Missile Text Complex in Xinjiang, according to US government sources. China issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) on 30 October for events from late 31 October to 1 November for the region

Vietnamese ambassador to Brazil, Nguyen Van Kien, met with Brazilian defence minister Aldo Rebelo on 10 November, with the goal of pursuing both countries' desire to implement a defence co-operation agreement. Brazil currently provides peacekeeping and language training to Vietnamese armed forces,

Science Applications International (SAIC) has secured a contract from the US Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) to provide technical services for its shipboard, submarine, shore and airborne platforms.

Alion Science and Technology has received an indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contract from the Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) in Norfolk, Virginia, US.

Iranian Qadr Medium Range Ballistic Missile

The public hearing will present an overview of the current CSDP partnerships with third countries and organisations, the possibilities of evolution and general tendencies.
Location : Altiero Spinelli 1G-2
Programme
Programme
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Key Points The USAF is considering a delay of its planned retirement for the A-10C Thunderbolt II Congress has for several years provided funding to continue maintenance and use of the ground attack aircraft, despite USAF efforts to retire it The US Air Force (USAF) could delay its planned

The United States faces challenges in replenishing the munitions of its Middle Eastern allies whose stocks are being rapidly being depleted by concurrent operations in the region, senior government and military officials said on 10 November. Speaking at the Dubai Airshow, Secretary of the Air Force