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Americas

• Lockheed Martin saw a $920.4 million advanced acquisition contract on Thursday for the F-35 program. This award covers the production of 94 low rate initial production Joint Strike Fighters, with these spread across the three F-35 variants.. 78 F-35A models will be manufactured and delivered, with 44 of these destined for the Air Force and the remainder earmarked for international partners. The other 16 aircraft are split between the -B and -C models, with fourteen of the former going to the Marine Corps, as well as Italy and the UK, while two -C models will go to the Navy and Marines.

• The Navy has accepted a third Lockheed Martin-manufactured MUOS communications satellite, with the satellite successfully completing testing in orbit following its launch in January. The Navy has ordered five Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellites, which are intended to provide UHF SATCOM capabilities using an Internet Protocol-based system. The first two MUOS satellites were launched in 2012 and 2013, with the fourth scheduled for later this year.

• The Army has begun testing Black Hornet micro UAVs, with the tiny helicopters previously seeing service with the British Army in Afghanistan, as well as with the Norwegian Armed Forces. The Black Hornet has also seen more limited use by US Special Forces.

• Logos Technologies Inc. was awarded a $32.8 million Navy contract on Thursday to research compact sensor packages for unmanned aerial systems, such as the RQ-21 Blackjack and RQ-8 Firescout, specifically looking at wide area airborne surveillance, hyperspectral imaging, high resolution imaging and light detection and ranging capabilities.

Europe

• The UK and France are exploring the possibility of collaborating for Reaper UAV training, logistics and support services. The British operate ten of the aircraft, with these all deployed on operations over Iraq, with France taking delivery of a third Reaper at the end of May, with twelve set to be delivered by 2019.

• A Russian MIG-29 crashed in Southern Russia on Thursday, with both pilots managing to safely eject. Russia bought 16 MIG-29SMTs in 2013, with these set for delivery by 2016.

• The Lithuanian Air Force has taken delivery of the first of three Airbus AS365 N5+ Dauphin search and rescue helicopters, following a contract in October 2013.

Middle East

• Lebanon has requested 1,000 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles from the US, with this potential deal estimated to value $146 million. The missile is in service with many countries worldwide, with a href=”http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/iraq-wants-hellfires-lots-and-lots-of-them-026078/”>Iraq ordering 5,000 of the missiles in August last year.

• Egypt is also looking to buy a border security system from the US, in order to better equip its border with Libya, in a potential sale valued at $100 million. The proposed sale would include a commercially available system produced by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and DRS Technologies.

Asia

• Following yesterday’s news that the US and India have signed a set of technology development agreements, the head of the US Navy’s carrier program office Rear Adm. Tom Moore will meet with officials from the Indian Navy later this month to discuss the future of India’s second carrier. The two nations formed a joint working group in January, with development work for the country’s second indigenous aircraft carrier – the INS Vishal – already underway.

• Indian firm Larsen & Toubro has been awarded a $73.1 million contract to design and construction of a floating dock for the Indian Navy. The floating dock will be self-sufficient and capable of operating day and night to service and resupply surface vessels and submarines. The company saw fourth-quarter profits fall by 27% at the end of May.

• Following the latest Indian Air Force Sukhoi SU-30MKI crash in May, Russia & India Report has published an insightful piece assessing the likely causes of the high accident rate amongst the IAF’s SU-30MKI fleet.

Today’s Video

• A RQ-21A launch and recovery at sea…

June 4, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The director of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta al-Moula met on Thursday with leader of the Darfurian Mahameed clan Musa Hilal at his residence in Khartoum before he was due to leave back to his hometown of Misteriyah in North Darfur.

Director of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta al-Moula (R) meeting with leader of the Darfurian Mahameed clan Musa Hilal in Khartoum June 4, 2015 (SMC)

The Sudanese Media Center (SMC) with close links to the NISS disclosed that Hilal returned to Khartoum over the weekend on a chartered plane provided by the security apparatus.

It was Hilal's first time in Khartoum since two years ago and for the purpose of attending president Omer Hassan al-Bashir swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

SMC said the meeting between Hilal and al-Moula tackled public issues.

Hilal had announced on Wednesday that he intends to discuss with government officials what he called "four pivotal issues" including the registration of his militia as political party, security arrangements, social reconciliation and political reforms.

He denied that he is part of the opposition, stressing that he would not rebel against the government.

But his recent history says otherwise.

He left Khartoum in mid-2013 and turned his militiamen against the governor of North Darfur state, Osman Kibir accusing him of feeding tribal conflicts in the state.

The notorious Janjaweed leader then started making statements critical of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), of which he is a member, and calling for deep reforms.

Also, Hilal's troops seized control of western localities in North Darfur state including Saraf Omra, Kutum, Kabkabiya, Al-Siraif, and El-Waha.

The tribal chief went further to announce the establishment of administrations in these localities, naming his forces the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC).

Last February, he threatened to prevent poll workers from entering his areas for the general elections held in April.

Hilal, became notorious as Janjaweed leader, after eruption of simmering conflicts in Darfur. He stands accused by many human rights groups of leading a terror campaign against the African tribes in Darfur.

But he has denied any wrongdoing and told Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a videotaped interview in 2005, that he only recruited militias on behalf of Sudan's central government.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when an ethnic minority rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

In April 2006 the UN Security Council imposed financial and travel ban against Hilal for obstructing peace in Darfur. The then US president George Bush issued an executive order enforcing similar sanctions on them.

In January 2008, Bashir appointed Hilal as a special advisor for the Ministry of Federal Affairs in Sudan. He was also an MP in the previous parliament.

(ST)

June 5, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Sudan postponed the announcement of the new government after its leadership bureau failed to reach consensus on the proposed names.

President Omer Hassan al-Bashir speaks at the fourth convention of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Khartoum on 23 October 2014 (Photo: Ashorooq TV)

The NCP's five-hours meeting, which was chaired by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir, was wrapped up in the early hours of Friday morning.

The deputy chairman of the NCP Ibrahim Ghandour emerged from the meeting to tell reporters that the cabinet reshuffle and the names of governors will be announced within the next 48 hours.

"If all goes as planned, the oath [ceremony for ministers and governors] could take place on Sunday," Ghandour said.

The NCP official said that the leadership bureau discussed the proposed new cabinet and “made observations” about the ministerial formation finalized by Bashir.

"We discussed all the names given and approved a large number of them, and there are two parties that did not submit their candidates' names for the [government] portfolios," he said.

The NCP leadership bureau consists of 45 figures, 30 of whom are elected and the remaining are appointed by Bashir.

Ghandour said they will convene again later today to continue discussions and noted that 30-35% of government posts will be allocated to non-NCP parties.

The Sudanese leader said earlier this year that only parties which contested in April's general elections will be offered posts in the government.

Bashir issued a decree on Tuesday night dissolving the government and relieving his aides. Earlier that day he was sworn to a new term.

The Federal Truth party (FTP) has been excluded from the new cabinet while the United Umma Party (UUP) rejected the NCP offer for ministerial posts on the grounds that it is not compatible with their political stature.

Last week, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) led by Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani announced that it will not join the government for the same reasons spelled out by the UUP.

But the NCP swiftly denied the DUP declaration stressing that consultations between the two sides are ongoing.

(ST)

Key Points Antonov is seeking to establish links with Polish industry to improve its aircraft equipment and marketability. The negotiations come as Ukraine seeks to increase collaboration with Western companies to improve its technical capability and product quality. Ukrainian aircraft producer

L’Africa Progress Panel, le think tank de Kofi Annan, exhorte la communauté internationale à investir massivement et les dirigeants africains à miser sur les énergies renouvelables.

USN MH-60S test
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Hellfire I/II missiles are the USA’s preferred aerial anti-armor missile, and are widely deployed with America’s allies. They equip America’s helicopter fleets (AH-64, AH-1, OH-58D, MH-60S/R), AH-64 and S-70 helicopters flown by its allies, and even Australia and France’s Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters. Range is officially listed as 9 km/ 5.6 miles.

While Hellfires lack the fast-jet launch capabilities – and correspondingly extended maximum range – of the UK’s MBDA Brimstone missiles, Lockheed Martin’s missile has made big inroads as the world’s high-end helicopter-launched missile. It has also carved out unique niches as tripod-launched coastal defense assets, as the guided missile integrated into American UAVs like the MQ-1 Predator family, and even as a missile option for transport aircraft like the AC-208B Combat Caravan and C-130J/W Hercules.

Lockheed Martin’s Hellfires AGM-114K-A warhead
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Hellfire II missiles comes in several variants. The AGM-114K is the basic Hellfire II missile, with the standard semi-active laser guidance that allows for flexible designation of targets, and flexible missile attack profiles. It uses a shaped-charge HEAT(High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead that can destroy armored vehicles, or punch into buildings.

The recently-introduced AGM-114K-A variant adds a blast fragmentation sleeve to the HEAT warhead’s anti-tank capability, giving it added versatility against unarmored targets in the open.

The AM-114M version was originally developed for the Navy; its warhead is solely blast fragmentation, which is effective against boats, lightly armored vehicles, etc.

The AGM-114N variant uses a thermobaric (“metal augmented charge”) warhead that can suck the air out of a cave, collapse a building, or produce an astoundingly large blast radius out in the open.

A new AGM-114R “multi-purpose” Hellfire II is headed into production/ conversion. It adds some guidance and navigation improvements, and goes one step further than the K-A variant: it’s intended to work well against all 3 target types: armored vehicles, fortified positions, or soft/open targets. The “Romeo” will become the mainstay of the future Hellfire fleet, used from helicopters and UAVs, until and unless Hellfire itself is supplanted by the JAGM program. Hellfire systems product manager US Army Lt. Col. Mike Brown:

“One of the most noticeable operational enhancements in the AGM-114R missile is that the pilot can now select the [blast type] while on the move and without having to have a pre-set mission load prior to departure… This is a big deal in insurgency warfare, as witnessed in Afghanistan where the Taliban are fighting in the open and simultaneously planning their next attacks in amongst the local populace using fixed structure facilities to screen their presence.”

The AGM-114R2 goes a step farther, and adds a height of burst sensor to make the 3-way warhead even more useful.

AGM-114P onto MQ-9
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Four more Hellfire variants feature key changes that aren’t related to their warhead types.

The AGM-114L “Longbow Hellfire” adds a millimeter-wave radar seeker, which makes it a “fire-and-forget” missile. It’s integrated with the mast-mounted Longbow radar on AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, and AH-1 Cobra family attack helicopters have been tested with different add-ons that would give them similar capabilities. It can also be guided by ship radars, and its fire-and-forget capabilities make it a very useful defense against small boat suicide swarms. The US Navy is taking on Army stocks to use in its Littoral Combat Ship.

The AGM-114P variant is modified for use from UAVs flying at altitude. That requires greater environmental tolerances, as the difference between temperature at launch altitude and near the target can be well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The AGM-114P’s 3-axis inertial measuring unit (IMU) also gives it a 360-degree targeting capability, making it easier to fire from UAVs that lack a helicopter’s swivel-and-point maneuverability. Its unique features will also be present in the new AGM-114R, which will succeed it.

The AGM-114Q model is a training round, with an inert mass that’s the same weight as the warhead. It’s used for live-fire training, where it creates less mess.

The TGM M36E7 corresponds to what the USAF would call a “CATM” – a training missile with the seeker head, but no rocket or warhead.

Contracts and Key Events Naval concept
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Unless otherwise noted, orders are issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL, to Hellfire Systems, LLC in Orlando, FL – a Lockheed Martin/ Boeing joint venture.

June 5/15: Lebanon has requested 1,000 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles from the US, with this potential deal estimated to value $146 million. The missile is in service with many countries worldwide, with a href=”http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/iraq-wants-hellfires-lots-and-lots-of-them-026078/”>Iraq ordering 5,000 of the missiles in August last year.

Aug 14/14: The Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee have deferred action on a Pentagon request to shift $7.1 million from other accounts into the Hellfire missile program, as part of a larger reprogramming request. Note that deferral is not denial, it just means that other things need to happen first.

The FY 2014 budget had expected to buy 550 missiles for $58.5 million, but use in the field leaves the Pentagon $7.1 million short in order to keep stocks stable. Sources: Defense News, “Defense Panels Hold Up $7M Funding Shift for Hellfire Missiles – for Now”.

April 9/14: Hellfire for LCS. The US Navy confirms that they have picked the AGM-114L Hellfire Longbow radar-guided missile as the SUW Package’s initial missile. Hellfire Longbow won’t have any more range than Raytheon’s Griffin (~3.5 nmi), but the radar seeker allows the ship’s radar to perform targeting for salvos of multiple fire-and-forget missiles against incoming boat swarms. In contrast, the Griffin’s laser designation must target one boat at a time, from a position that’s almost certain to have a more restricted field of view.

Lockheed Martin says that the missile has had 3 successful test firings (q.v. Jan 14/14), and there are plans to test-fire the missile from LCS itself in 2014, using a new vertical launcher. Unfortunately for Lockheed Martin, there’s no immediate prospect of orders from the Navy, as its AGM-114L missiles would be drawn from existing US Army stocks. Those have shelf life limitations anyway, which is one reason the Army intends to begin buying JAGM laser/radar guided Hellfire derivatives around FY 2017. On the the other hand, US Navy deployment opens a market niche around the world, so future orders are possible. Sources: DoD Buzz, “Navy Adds Hellfire Missiles to LCS” | USNI News, “Navy Axes Griffin Missile In Favor of Longbow Hellfire for LCS”.

Feb 10/14: FY 2014. Hellfire Systems, LLC in Orlando, FL receives a $157.4 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, exercising an option for FY 2014 Hellfire II missile production requirements that include foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Indonesia.

All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2012 – 2014 budgets. Work will be performed in Orlando, FL, with an estimated completion date of Nov 30/16. US Army Contracting Command ? Redstone Arsenal (Missile) at Redstone, AL manages the contract, and acts an an FMS agent for other countries (W31P4Q-11-C-2042, PO 0068).

FY 2014 order: USA, Jordan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia

Jan 14/14: Naval test. The US Army and Navy conduct multiple naval test firings of Hellfire Longbow millimeter-wave radar guided missiles, targeting high-speed boat targets at ranges of up to 6 km. The tests were conducted from a launcher aboard a 65-foot surface craft, using progressively more complex scenarios.

The swarming boat threat is subject to much discussion in an era where the boats themselves can be explosive-packed weapons on suicide missions, with the ability to do serious damage to high-end ships. Ship-based solutions are beginning to proliferate, even if purchases and installation remain slow. Lockheed Martin has experience with Hellfire as a helicopter-mounted solution to the problem, so the extension is natural, and the Longbow variant’s fire-and-forget operations is especially well suited to swarm defense. Lockheed Martin also leads the Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship team.

On the other hand, Longbow Hellfire doesn’t have the range that LCS ships really need. They’re also a bit late to the maritime game. Raytheon’s shorter-range and cheaper AGM-176 Griffin is already in naval use, and the Javelin/Centurion missile & launcher combination for small boats can tie into Raytheon’s land force customer base. Lockheed Martin would also be feeling a bit of pressure from MBDA, who are running demonstrations that tout their dual-mode laser/radar guided Brimstone missile. Sources: Lockheed Martin, “Longbow Missiles Demonstrate Littoral Attack Capability”.

Sept 26/13: A $248.7 million firm-fixed price contract modification for 3,318 Hellfire II missiles in containers (various models) for the US Army, Navy and Air Force; as well as exports to Saudi Arabia, Korea, Kuwait, the Netherlands and Australia.

Work will be performed in Orlando, FL, and purchases will include funding will be from US FY 2011 through 2013 budgets. This was a non-competitive acquisition with one bid solicited and one received (W31P4Q-11-C-0242, PO 0049).

Aug 20/13: UAE. An $8.2 million firm-fixed-price, no-option contract modification with a cumulative maximum value of $886.2 million for Hellfire II foreign military sales (FMS) offset requirement to the United Arab Emirates. It’s part of the USA’s contract, because it’s also the umbrella for other buyers who want to take advantage of the USA’s volume discount. The benefits flow both ways, ans an order of this size will help keep prices down for the US military.

Work will be performed in Orlando, FL. Only 1 bid was solicited, as is common in these situations (W31P4Q-11-C-0242, PO 0043).

Dec 20/12: A $114.1 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to buy various models of Hellfire II tactical missiles in containers. Work will be performed in Orlando, FL with an estimated completion date of Feb 28/14. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W31P4Q-11-C-0242). The overall contract has now reached $730.5 million.

Oct 4/12: Finalized. A $403.5 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to buy various models of Hellfire II missiles. Work will be performed in Orlando, FL with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/14. One bid was solicited, with one bid received (W31P4Q-11-C-0242).

Looks like they’ve finalized the underlying contract.

Contract finalized

Jan 5/12: A $53.9 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to buy more Hellfire II missiles, type and numbers unspecified. Inquiries reveal that the underlying contract, announced on Aug 1/11, still hasn’t been finalized.

Work will be performed in Orlando, FL, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/14. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-11-C-0242).

USMC AH-1Z: Launch!
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Aug 1/11: A $159 million firm-fixed-price, unfinalized contract begins procurement of 3,097 AGM-114N/P/Q/R Hellfire II missiles in containers; 16 Hellfire II guidance test articles to verify production lot performance; and engineering, equipment, and production services. The new multi-year contract’s final terms and number of missiles remain under negotiation, but this contract allows production to continue while those details are hammered out. FBO.gov sets the contract’s limits as:

“HELLFIRE II FY11-14 production contract requirements for a maximum total quantity of 24,000 HELLFIRE II missiles in containaers, conversion of a maximum total quantity of 1,800 HELLFIRE II missiles from one model to another HELLFIRE II model, and production of a maximum total quantity of 5,832 HELLFIRE II spare parts, consisting of 40 different national stock numbers (varying quantities).”

Work will be performed in Orlando, FL, with an estimated completion date of Sept 30/14. Since the missiles have only 1 owning manufacturer, 1 sole-source bid was solicited, with 1 bid received (W31P4Q-11-C-0242).

New multi-year contract

Additional Readings

• Lockheed Martin – Hellfire II Missile

• Boeing – History: Rockwell International AGM-114 Hellfire

• Global Security – AGM-114 Hellfire Modular Missile System (HMMS)

• Designation Systems – Boeing/Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire

• DID – JAGM: Joint Common Missile Program. JAGM will replace AGM-114 Hellfire, *GM-71 TOW, and AGM-65 Maverick missile variants on Army and Navy helicopters, UAVs, and fighter aircraft… if the program is not cancelled first.

En visitant le Niger et le Tchad à peine investi, le président nigérian Muhammadu Buhari montre sa volonté concrète de reprendre la main sur la lutte contre Boko Haram.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari met with Brazilian Minister of Defence Jaques Wagner in Brasilia on 2 June, mainly to seek Brazilian military support for Iraq in its fight against the Islamic State by exploring potential defence cooperation and procurement programmes. No further details of

Democrats and Republicans are heading towards a budget battle in the coming weeks, as the latter try to increase defence funding and the former try to initiate negotiations for increasing funding more broadly. ANALYSIS The Senate is in the process of considering amendments to the annual defence

THREE soldiers, six vigilantes, and dozens of Boko Haram militants were killed during armed clashes that broke out after militants attacked a military base on the outskirts of the city of Maiduguri in Nigeria's Borno state on 14 May, AFP reported. The attack was reported to have been commenced by

EVENT A Mai Mai militia group led by Kambale Malonga on 2 June attacked the airport in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing four members of the country's elite Republican Guard, which shares guard duty at the airport. A DRC government spokesperson

An expert advisory panel to oversee the competitive evaluation process that will assess the merits of the French, German, and Japanese contenders for Australia's Future Submarine programme was announced on 5 June by Defence Minister Kevin Andrews. Andrews said in a statement that the panel would

Officials from the Indian Navy have arrived in Perth, Australia, to hold discussions in preparation for the countries' first bilateral maritime exercise, the Australian Department of Defence has confirmed. The Indian Navy delegation includes the service's eastern naval commander, Vice Admiral

Bangladesh announced a fiscal year 2015-16 defence budget of BTD183.8 billion (USD2.3 billion) on 4 June. The figure represents a 3.5% rise over the revised military expenditure in 2014-15. The increase represents the slowest rate of growth since 2008-09 and will see military spending contract by

Chinese vehicle equipment manufacturer Qingdao Sunsong announced on 5 June that it had acquired US-based vehicle component manufacturer Harco Manufacturing. Details of the deal were not disclosed. Harco Manufacturing produces a range of components, such as fittings and brake hose assemblies, for

EVENT On 3 June, Al-Jazeera aired the second part of an interview with the leader of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra, Al-Fateh Abu Muhammad al-Golani, (the first part was broadcast on 27 May). In the interview, al-Golani confirmed once again his group's affiliation to Al-Qaeda,

Egypt is planning to acquire new mobile surveillance systems to monitor its border with Libya under a US Foreign Military Sales programme worth an estimated USD100 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) revealed on 4 June. The DSCA said the proposed sale would include mobile

Key Points Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held an All Parties Conference on 1 June to form a consensus on security related issues in Balochistan province. Security in Balochistan has become of paramount importance since the announcement of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs

EVENT At least 20 soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded in an ambush involving small-arms, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting a military convoy travelling from Motul towards Imphal in Chandel district in India's Manipur state on 4 June. The

Reliance Defence Systems (RDS), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, has appointed HS Malhi - a retired Indian Navy vice admiral and former chairman of state-owned naval shipbuilder Mazagon Dock - president and CEO, it was announced on 4 June. RDS is currently in the process of acquiring naval