15.09.2015 Pacific Sentinel

China has begun to develop a fourth-generation attack helicopter which will have stealth capabilities and expects to deliver it to the People's Liberation Army by around 2020, according to a report by the English-language China Daily.

Aviation Industry Corp of China, an aircraft manufacturer and supplier to the PLA, has been given the responsibility of researching and developing the helicopter, Cankaoxiaoxi.com website reported Sunday, citing Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster.

The company disclosed the information in a media brochure distributed to domestic journalists taking part in the Third China Helicopter Expo, which opened on Wednesday in Tianjin, according to the China Daily report published Friday.

The company gave no further details but according to the report, it was the first time that China has confirmed it is developing a new-generation combat helicopter.

Read the full story at Want China Times

Sept 12, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: DCNS; issued Sept 11, 2015)

CONCARNEAU and PARIS --- PIRIOU, DCNS and KERSHIP have been awarded the contract to provide the French Navy with four Offshore Support and Assistance Vessels (BSAH), along with the associated maintenance.

The French Navy intends to use the BSAHs for the deployment of forces for State operations at sea.

The contract was awarded by The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to KERSHIP, a joint company created by PIRIOU and DCNS to ensure the management of the programme. The contract includes a firm order for two vessels and an option for two further vessels.

PIRIOU will ensure the design and construction of the vessels, which are characterised by a high degree of versatility and autonomy of 30 days. DCNS, in its capacity as a co-contractor for military design studies, will supply the on-board communications systems and will be responsible for the Through-Life Support (TLS) over a period of up to five years.

Pascal Piriou, CEO of the PIRIOU Group, said: “This contract represents a significant share of our workload in France for the next three years. It is the winning combination of a bid that was convincing both in terms of technical content and pricing and with regard to the industrial solution, based on 100% production in France. KERSHIP has clearly become the fulcrum of our collaboration with DCNS in which we are focusing the specific expertise necessary to win future export orders thanks to the visibility created by the B2M and BSAH contracts.”

Pierre Legros, Director of Programmes at DCNS, said: “DCNS has consolidated its position as a major partner of the French Navy by offering its client, in partnership with Piriou, vessels that meet the exact needs of the operational units. Through its joint company KERSHIP, DCNS is able to offer a complete catalogue of compact and mid-range vessels, backed by French specialists, from offshore patrol vessels to specialist support vessels (the B2M and BSAH multi-mission vessels).

KERSHIP is also able to capitalise on the original experience of the OPV L’Adroit, developed by DCNS with its own funding and placed at the disposal of the French Navy for the last four years.”

This contract covers the design and construction of 70-metre vessels with a fully-laden displacement of about 2,600 tons. The first two units are due for delivery in 2018, with the other two units due in 2019.

The diversity of missions required by the French Navy led to the proposal of a Supply Vessel-type ship with a towing capacity of 80 tons, a speed of 14 knots and significant autonomy of about 30 days of operation without refuelling. The vessels will be equipped with an 8-metre working boat and semi-rigid boats as well as a crane allowing the embarkation and disembarkation of containers, and can also accommodate divers, transport weapons and ammunition, provide support to a submarine during stopover, and deploy an anti-pollution barrier.

Involved in shipbuilding, repair, naval engineering and services since 1965, PIRIOU specializes in producing medium sized vessels up to 120 m in length with high added value. With more than 400 ships built and delivered worldwide, PIRIOU provides, on a global scale, bespoke solutions as well as a complete range of standardized or customized vessels that satisfy the requirements of international ship-owners, whether they be private or public, civilian or military.

DCNS is a world leader in naval defence and an innovator in energy. As an international high-tech company, DCNS uses its extraordinary know-how, unique industrial resources and capacity to arrange innovative strategic partnerships to meet its clients' requirements. The Group designs, builds and maintains submarines and surface vessels. The Group also proposes services for naval shipyards and bases. The Group reports revenues of €3.1 billion and has a workforce of 13,130 employees (2014 data).

14 septembre 2015. Portail des Sous-Marins

Moscou a fait savoir que les équipements russes installés à bord des 2 BPC Mistral qui devaient lui être livrés, pourraient rester à bord si l’Égypte, un acheteur éventuel, achetait les 2 navires, indique un responsable français.

« La Russie pourrait accepter que l’Inde et l’Égypte reçoivent ces équipements, » Le Caire étant le candidat susceptible d’acheter les navires, a explique ce responsable le 7 septembre. Les autorités russes l’ont « fait savoir » durant les négociations sur l’annulation du contrat de 2011.

La livraison du matériel aiderait la Russie à conserver des liens étroits avec l’Égypte, explique le responsable français.

De plus, Riyad financerait l’achat des BPC Mistral par l’Égypte, puisque l’Arabie Saoudite n’a pas de culture maritime. La marine égyptienne serait alors une force navale « par procuration » pour les Saoudiens. L’Arabie Saoudite s’inquiète d’une menace perçue au Yémen et en provenance d’Iran, ce qui conduit Riyad à financer le renforcement des capacités militaires égyptiennes.

Un remboursement rapide, voire expéditif

La France a immédiatement remboursé la Russie, avant même que l’accord n’ait été approuvé par le Parlement. Certains en effet s’inquiétaient que des anciens actionnaires — en particulier américains — de la compagnie pétrolière russe Yukos puissent tenter de faire saisir les navires, dans le cadre d’une réclamation de 50 milliards $ contre la Russie.

Il est loin d’être établi qu’une telle procédure ait pu être lancée en France, puisque les Mistral auraient été considérés comme des “navires d’état”, un statut légal qui rend les navires militaires insaisissables, explique un avocat. Une autre possibilité aurait pu être une réclamation sur les fonds payés à la Russie.

En 2000, dans une autre affaire, une compagnie suisse avait tenté de faire saisir le Sédov, le plus grand voilier navire-école du monde, ainsi que les comptes bancaires en France de l’ambassade de Russie.

Référence : Defense News (Etats-Unis)

Sept 14, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Alert5 blog; posted Sept 13, 2015)

The Shenyang J-11BS fighter made its first public flying demonstration during the Air Force public day in Changchun, Jiling province on Sept. 11. The J-11BS is the two-seat indigenous copy of the Su-27. The aircraft is powered by the WS-10 engine.

14 September, 2015 BY: Arie Egozi - FG

Tel Aviv - Israel's UVision will use the DSEi exhibition in London to detail the maritime capabilities of its Hero loitering munition system, which was unveiled at the Paris air show in June. UVision will exhibit a new naval platform launcher for the Hero range of weapons during the 15-18 September event, in addition to a system which enables their deployment from land vehicles.

Read more

September 15, 2015 source Thales

The Lightweight Multiple Launcher New Generation (LML NG) system can be used on a tripod or vehicle mount, and supports swift deployment of STARStreak and/or the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) systems. The system provides two ready to fire missiles, allowing it to handle saturation air attacks or provide a complimentary surface to surface capability. The man-portable system is designed to suit a wide range of missions from lightweight rapid reaction roles to air droppable operations.

When using the STARStreak missile - with it’s extremely fast time of flight - a variety of threats can be defeated from head on or fast crossing aerial targets, to targets such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters. When used with the LMM, a capability is provided to enable the defeat of surface targets such as Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs), trucks and fixed installations and aerial targets such as UAVs. Both systems utilise Thales unique laser beam riding guidance system.

The LML NG provides a 24 hour surveillance asset consisting of TV and Thermal Imaging cameras. System architecture supports linkages to a Command and Control network, to radar or passive sensors for early target detection and auto target tracking. Display of the command and control information can be provided to both the Commander and the Operator.

LML NG is being exhibited at DSEI on the Thales Stand (S6-110).

About Thales

Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 61,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €13 billion in 2014. With over 20,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its unique international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.

September 14, 2015: Strategy Page

In early 2015 a Swedish firm (Saab) agreed to design and produce warheads for the new French MMP (Missile Moyenne Portée) medium-range anti-tank missile (ATGM). Warhead deliveries are scheduled for 2017. This is a big deal for Saab, a Swedish company that is often a competitor when it comes to anti-tank weapons. Saab is often competing with the French manufacturer (MBDA) of MMP for ATGM business. The French military did the math and concluded that it was cheaper (and more effective) to buy certain key MMP components from the ATGM manufacturer with the best reputation. This was obviously cheaper and faster that having MBDA conducting their own research in that area.

MMP is a new generation of ATGM similar to the American Javelin or Israeli Spike but developed by a local firm because the French like to manufacture key weapons in France. The MMP will replace the older MILAN family of anti-tank missiles, which were also developed in France. The replacement effort goes back to 2009 when France rejected yet another Milan modernization proposal and in 2010 ordered 260 FGM-148 Javelin missiles from the United States. This purchase was quite a shock for French industry but also an incentive to develop an attractive locally made alternative to Javelin. This led to MMP and the Swedish warhead was seen as an asset, not a liability.

The MMP missile itself weights about 15 kg (33 pound), is 1.3 meters (51 inches) long 140mm in diameter. The weight of the firing unit, including tripod and battery, is another 11 kg (24 pounds). The missile can be fired from portable firing posts, vehicles and army aviation platforms (in the future). MMP features a dual-mode seeker incorporating an uncooled thermal and daylight television channel together with inertial reference unit. An uncooled IR seeker is especially useful, because it can be used very quickly, as opposed to cooled seekers like Javelin’s that require some time to become ready. The warhead is a 140mm caliber tandem shaped charge which according to producer is capable to penetrating any modern tank or two meters of concrete. The missile can engage targets 4,000 meters away. MMP also has a two-way datalink which provide fire-and-forget, man-in-the-loop and non-line-of-sight firing modes with either direct or top-attack (flying over a target and sending penetrator through the thin top armor). MMP can also soft-launch (be safely fired from confined spaces like buildings).

A heavier 8,000 meter version (called MLP) is in the works for helicopters and vehicles. MLP will replace the current HOT missiles.

MMP successfully conducted extensive test firings in early 2015. These included live-firing under various conditions. Some additional tests will take place before the end of 2015. The French Army had no doubt that the MMP effort would succeed and in late 2013 ordered 175 firing posts and 450 missiles, which deliveries beginning in 2017. The entire procurement contract for the French Army is for 2,850 missiles and 400 firing posts. MBDA expects MMP and MLP to be competitive export items.

Meanwhile the older (1970s) technology Milan has remained in production, mainly because it can still get the job done if used against lightly armored vehicles and older tanks. India is a major user (building Milan under license) because their likely opponents, until recently, only had tanks that Milan could handle. But now they have an aggressive China massing forces on the border and building much better protected tanks. The basic Milan is a 1.2 meter long, 125mm diameter, 7.1 kg (16 pound) missile. It has a minimum range of 400 meters and maximum range of 2,000 meters. At max range the missile takes about 13 seconds to reach its target. The missile is guided to the target by the operator via a thin wire. The launcher weighs 21 kg (46 pounds). The missile can penetrate about a meter (39 inches) of armor, making it effective against all but the most modern tanks (M-1, Challenger, Leopard 2). Since the 1970s, over 350,000 Milan missiles and 30,000 launchers have been built worldwide. More modern ATGM are wireless and require much less effort on the part of the operator but they are more expensive. Milans are now being phased out in favor of more modern designs although some will remain in service into the 2020s.

2015/09/15 AIRheads/EH

In the Czech Republic, the Aero Vodochody L-39NG performed its first flight on Monday 14 September. The flight was successful, the company said. The aircraft will serve to validate the installation of the new Williams International FJ44-4M engine and avionics in the L-39NG project.

Read full article

15 September 2015 by defenceWeb

Algeria has ordered 14 Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets from Russia’s Irkut, which will augment the 44 Su-30MKs the country has in service.

RIA Novosti on Friday quoted Sergei Chemezov, the head of Russian defence technology holding company Rostic, as saying the contract was signed near the beginning of this year. Speaking at the 2015 Russian Arms Expo in Nizhny Tagil, he said the Algerian aircraft will be delivered in 2016 and 2017. Last week the Russian military ordered eight Su-30SM fighters.

Algeria received 28 Su-30s as part of a 2006 contract and another 16 under a 2010 contract. It appears the 16 aircraft in the second batch were delivered to replace 15 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29SMT fighters Algeria returned to Russia after declaring them “defective.”

The Su-30MKA operated by Algeria is a specialised variant of the Su-30MK fitted with a mix of French and Russian avionics. The former includes a head-up and multifunction displays manufactured by the Thales Group and Sagem of France.

The Su-30 is a twin-engine, multi-role military aircraft developed by from the Sukhoi Su-27UB. It is a two-seat, dual-role fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions introduced into operational service in 1996.

The primary combat aircraft in Algeria’s Air Force are a dozen MiG-25s, 23 MiG-29C/UBs and around 34 Su-24M/MKs.

Algeria is expanding its Air Force and in June took delivery of the first of six Mi-26T2 helicopters from Russia and has ordered another eight of the type. The North African country has also ordered 42 Mi-28NE attack helicopters, the first of which flew at the manufacturer’s Rostov plant in early December 2014.

Algeria’s Su-30s are being manufactured by Irkut, owned by the United Aircraft Corporation holding company.

15.09.2015 par Philippe Chapleau - Lignes de Défense

Sur le dossier BPC, à noter l'audition de Laurent Fabius ce mardi à 18h30. Cette réunion sera retransmise en direct sur le portail vidéo de l'Assemblée.

Elle précèdera la séance publique de jeudi à l'assemblée où sera discuté "le projet de loi autorisant l'approbation de l'accord sous forme d'échange de lettres entre le Gouvernement de la République française et le Gouvernement de la Fédération de Russie sur le règlement des obligations complémentaires liées à la cessation de l'accord du 25 janvier 2011 relatif à la coopération dans le domaine de la construction de bâtiments de projection et de commandement".

En attendant, le texte de l'audition, devant la commission des Affaires étrangères et de la Défense du Sénat, de Louis Gautier (Secrétaire général de la Défense et de la Sécurité nationale qui a mené les discussions "parfois abruptes" avec les Russes), est à lire ici. Pour sa part, la commission des affaires étrangères a auditionné Louis Gautier le 8 septembre mais le texte de l'audition n'est pas encore disponible.

Les grandes lignes de l'audition au Sénat de Louis Gautier:
- "Nous avons conclu un accord pour un montant de 949,7 millions d’euros. Il s’agit principalement de la restitution aux Russes du montant qu’ils avaient versé à mesure de la réalisation des tranches du contrat, 893 millions. Les 56,7 millions restants correspondent aux dédommagements des frais auxquels les Russes avaient été exposés",
- "le paiement se traduit par le décaissement de 949,7 millions sur le programme 146 (ndla: équipement des forces) presque aussitôt remboursé pour sa majeure partie. Trois jours plus tard en effet, DCNS a reversé à ce programme les 893 millions, reçus dans le cadre du contrat, au programme 146 qui devrait être encore abondé en fin d’année des 56,7 millions supplémentaires",
- "Le contrat était de l’ordre de 1,2 milliard" mais seuls 895 millions ont été assurés par la Coface: "les 895 millions assurés par la Coface se composent des 865 millions, auxquels il convient d’ajouter les frais de gardiennage (2 millions par mois pour les deux BPC) et une partie des frais généraux. Cela pourrait atteindre un total de 1 milliard".
- "Lorsque DCNS, qui est propriétaire, et Coface, usufruitière, revendront les BPC, il conviendra de soustraire à ce montant le prix de la revente. Y aura-t-il une décote ? Quel sera le coût des adaptations en fonction du pays acheteur ? Ce n’est qu’au jour de la vente que nous saurons si la Coface a dû supporter et pour quel montant un sinistre industriel. Il ne s’agit pas d’un débours mais d’une moindre recette sur le compte où la Coface reverse une part de ses excédents au budget de l’État".

A noter que la Coface va abandonner sa fonction Garantie publique à l'Export au profit de bpifrance qui en sera chargé dès le premier semestre 2016. 350 employés de la Coface sont concernés par cette bascule. Lire ici.

15 Sept. 2015 LeParisienf.fr

L'avionneur européen Airbus espère s'appuyer sur son implantation aux Etats-Unis pour gagner de futurs contrats militaires dans le pays mais il lui faudra s'armer de patience pour arriver à ses fins, estiment des experts. Le groupe semble avoir tiré les leçons de son échec essuyé en 2011 face à Boeing sur une commande colossale de 35 milliards de dollars portant sur des avions ravitailleurs pour l'armée américaine.

"L'une des difficultés que nous avons rencontrées lors de la bataille des ravitailleurs était que nous disions +Oui nous allons produire aux Etats-Unis. Oui, nous allons assembler des avions aux Etats-Unis+. Comment pouvait-on nous croire alors que nous n'avions jamais produit sur le territoire américain. Nous étions peu crédibles comparé à des entreprises qui étaient installées sur le sol américain depuis des dizaines d'années", explique à l'AFP Tom Enders, le patron d'Airbus Group. L'inauguration lundi de la première unité d'assemblage du groupe aux Etats-Unis, à Mobile (Alabama, sud), ne fait donc "pas de mal", ajoute le dirigeant même si celle-ci est dédiée pour l'instant uniquement aux avions civils. Pour Hans Weber, qui a conseillé EADS, l'ancêtre d'Airbus Group, "il y a eu des appels d'offres auxquels le groupe n'avait même pas pris part après s'être rendu compte qu'il n'avait pas assez de soutien politique" local. Si le constructeur européen a réussi à combler une partie de son retard face à Boeing dans le civil - 60% de parts de marché contre 40%, selon ses chiffres -, il est encore à la traîne sur le plan militaire. Or les Etats-Unis représentent plus de 35% des dépenses militaires dans le monde, selon Hal Chrisman, expert au cabinet ICF International.

Suite de l’article

08 September, 2015 BY: Arie Egozi - FG

The Swiss parliament on 7 September voted in favour of an armed forces plan to buy six Elbit Systems Hermes 900 unmanned air vehicles, in a deal valued at $256 million.

Last year, the Hermes 900 was selected by the Swiss armed forces, but the signing of a contract was delayed until the receipt of political approval. A deal should now be signed within the next few weeks. The Hermes 900 UAVs to be supplied to Switzerland will be in an upgraded version that will improve performance in some parameters. One of the enhancements is the provision of a heavy fuel engine, which will enable the aircraft to achieve a higher rate of climb after take-off – a key requirement because of the country's mountainous terrain.

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