24 septembre, 2013 Elena Kisseliova, Kirill Melnikov, Kommersant

Le groupe public russe Rostech pourrait prochainement se lancer dans la robotique. D'après le journal Kommersant, la société UK Prominvest, assurant la gestion des actifs non-essentiels de Rostech, est en pourparlers avec le français ECA Robotics sur la coproduction d'appareils de déminage téléguidés. L'initiative du projet appartient au commandement de la Marine russe, mais ce sont plutôt des clients civils qui sont visés, notamment les géants Rosneft et Gazprom, possédant de nombreuses plate-formes pétrolières au large de la côte nord de la Russie.

Une source proche du groupe public russe Rostech a indiqué au journal Kommersant que la Russie pourrait prochainement lancer une entreprise d'assemblage de robots jetables destinés à éliminer des engins explosifs pour la Marine. Selon l'intéressé, UK Prominvest (société assurant la gestion des actifs non-essentiels de Rostech) a entamé à ces fins des pourparlers avec ECA Robotics (filiale du groupe français ECA). Les parties envisagent de signer en hiver prochain l'accord sur la coopération industrielle comprenant l'assemblage des appareils en Russie et la production d'ogives à charge creuse pour eux. Une autre source de Kommersant informée sur les pourparlers a précisé que c'était le commandement de la Marine russe qui a commandé les appareils.

Cependant, d'après un responsable proche des négociations russo-françaises, les appareils ne sont pas vraiment des robots. « Il s'agit plutôt de la production des dispositifs téléguidés pour l'élimination des munitions explosives », dit l'intéressé. Les appareils démontés seront fournis en Russie par ECA, puis assemblés, équipés d'instruments de production russe, reliés à un système de contrôle (également une nouveauté russe) et finalement installés sur des navires-chercheurs.

D'après un porte-parole de Rostech, l'assemblage sera effectué par la société « Loutch » de Novossibirsk (Sibérie occidentale), contrôlé par UK Prominvest. Cependant, « la forme de coopération n'a pas encore été définie et il reste plusieurs questions à aborder », ajoute l'intéressé.

Le groupe ECA, fondé en 1936, se spécialise dans la conception, la production et la maintenance de systèmes robotisés et d'appareils téléguidés capables d'opérer dans des environnements hostiles, y compris des robots démineurs. Ses principaux actionnaires sont le Groupe Gorgé (53,48%) et le hollandais Delta Lloyd (9,62%), encore 33,58% des titres sont en circulation sur le marché. Sa capitalisation se chiffre à 72 millions d'euros, les recettes pour 2012 atteignant 98,8 M EUR, le bénéfice net étant de 5,1 M EUR.

Bien que le projet soit effectivement commandé par la Marine russe, les appareils ne seront pas produits exclusivement pour les militaires, indique l'interlocuteur de Kommersant. « Ces dispositifs présentent un intérêt pour les compagnies pétrolières russes qui possèdent des plate-formes au large de la côte de la Russie, car ils ont besoin de déminer les anciennes zones de guerre, c'est-à-dire, dans la quasi-totalité des mers du nord », dit l’intéressé, en ajoutant que parmi les clients potentiels figurent les géants russes Rosneft et Gazprom.

« Gazprom ne va pas probablement commander des appareils démineurs », dit le chef d'une entreprise engagée dans la production de systèmes de ce type. « Il n'a pas tout simplement besoin d'acheter le matériel de ce genre car il engage habituellement une entreprise étrangère qui organise une étude détaillée de la topographie du fond et effectue le déminage ». Les sources proches de Rosneft disent que le groupe examine plusieurs projets conjoints avec Rostech. « Dans le domaine du déminage, l'on pourrait également lancer une coopération, car Rosneft est un acteur majeur dans l'exploitation pétrolière offshore », dit l'un des interlocuteurs de Kommersant.

« La Russie éprouve certaines difficultés dans le domaine de la production du matériel de déminage, car après la dislocation de l'URSS une partie des entreprises du secteur est restée en dehors de la Russie, notamment au Kazakhstan », dit le rédacteur-en-chef du magazine Exportations des armes Andreï Frolov. Moscou a signé au cours du dernier Salon international de la défense maritime de Saint-Pétersbourg un accord prévoyant la fourniture de deux dragueurs de mines russes équipés de systèmes de sonar de production d'ECA Robotics, au Kazakhstan, note l'expert. Cependant, selon M.Frolov, le projet russo-français pourrait se révéler être une simple entreprise d'assemblage en kit, comme c'était le cas avec les imageurs thermiques de Thales. « Il est peu probable que dans ce cas la situation soit différente », estime l'expert.

25.09.2013 Oshkosh - army-guide.com

OSHKOSH, Wis. -- The U.S. Marine Corps is reshaping its light vehicle fleet to equip Marines with the right mix of protected mobility for future missions. Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, has developed vehicle and upgrade offerings to meet those requirements, including a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) solution that will be showcased at Modern Day Marine in Quantico, Va., Sept. 25-27.

“The last decade of conflict combined with an aging light vehicle fleet has shaped the Marine Corps’ priorities for its future vehicle fleets,” said John Bryant, senior vice president of Defense Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “Chief among those priorities is the JLTV, a transportable vehicle that will allow Marines to operate in rugged, off-road environments, while keeping them safe in high-intensity combat situations.”

The Oshkosh JLTV solution, the Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV), delivers unprecedented levels of off-road mobility for a light vehicle. Using the Oshkosh TAK-4i™ intelligent independent suspension system, the vehicle delivers a 25 percent improvement in independent wheel travel over most mobile vehicles currently fielded, giving Marines greater off-road performance across rough terrain. Marines already rely on Oshkosh’s combat-proven vehicles with today’s gold standard in off-road capability, such as the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) and MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV).

Oshkosh Defense was down selected for the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase of the JLTV program in August 2012 and delivered its 22 JLTV prototypes for government evaluations last month ahead of schedule. Oshkosh will provide vehicle training and support for the prototypes as they undergo 14 months of robust military testing.

HMMWV Upgrade Solutions

In addition to the procuring JLTV, the Marine Corps is seeking to upgrade a portion of its aged High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) fleet. Up-armoring HMMWVs in recent conflicts has diminished key vehicle capabilities, including off-road performance, ride quality and reliability.

Oshkosh Defense has developed modular and scalable HMMWV upgrade solutions that provide varying levels of capabilities at a range of price points. The upgrades can be provided individually or as more complete solutions for upgrading all critical vehicle systems. Oshkosh’s comprehensive, cost-effective approach addresses requirements for engine and powertrain, suspension, driveline, hubs and brakes, frame and hull, electrical, cooling, and auxiliary automotive improvements to meet the Marine Corps needs.

For example, Oshkosh has tailored its industry-leading TAK-4® independent suspension system to deliver higher levels of mobility, including a 70 percent off-road profile capability, improved ride quality and a 40 percent increase in the vehicle’s maximum speed. The TAK-4 system also gives the HMMWV greater whole-vehicle durability, a restored 2,500-pound payload capacity and a restored ground clearance of 17 inches. Oshkosh also can deliver a modern engine option that’s more powerful than the HMMWV’s stock engine and provides increased fuel efficiency.

Oshkosh Defense leadership will be available to discuss the company’s vehicles, technologies and IPS services at Modern Day Marine at booth #2404.

September 24, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Forbes.com; published Sept. 23, 2013)

Five Reasons Defense Companies Need to Start Getting Out of Defense (excerpt)

It’s hard to change when staying the same seems to be working. After listening to warnings of impending doom for the better part of a decade, defense contractors find their share prices at record levels, their margins largely intact, and their dominance of the global arms market growing. So they aren’t showing much urgency about diversifying. Instead, they are buying back stock and raising dividends — the typical behavior of companies that think they are headed for a rough patch ahead, but nothing fundamental in the way of change.

That’s an understandable response, given the performance-driven incentive structure within which industry executives operate. Wall Street wants to hear about the fourth quarter, not the lay of the land four years from now. But such short-term thinking explains why only one of the original Dow Jones 30 industrials (General Electric) is still in the index. It also explains why my hometown of Plymouth, Massachusetts — once home to the world’s biggest rope factory, shipbuilders and textile mills — no longer makes much of anything.

Nothing lasts forever, and that includes the geopolitical forces that forged the modern defense industry in the Cold War. America got along just fine without a big, dedicated military-industrial complex for most of its history, and there are reasons to suspect we are gradually headed back to that state.

Each of the five major factors driving demand for military technology are now pointed downward, a situation that has never existed before in the industry’s history. If defense companies don’t get more aggressive about hedging their bets, they could be headed for a bleak future. (end of excerpt)


Click here for the full story, on the Forbes website.

Sep 24, 2013 ASDNews Source : Rockwell Collins

    Patrol Persistent Surveillance System combines sound, vibration and imaging sensors for enhanced situational awareness

The constant monitoring of threats against military bases, forward observation posts and other secure facilities can be time-intensive and dangerous. To solve this problem for the Australian Defence Forces, Rockwell Collins developed and recently delivered the Patrol Persistent Surveillance System (PPSS).

Read more

24.09.2013 Uralvagonzavod - army-guide.com

On September 19 a firing range in Peru saw demonstration of the T-90C tank of the Uralvagonzavod produce for Gen. Ricardo Moncada Novoa, Commander-in-Chief Land Forces and 300 officers.

The command authorities of the South American republic were shown the T-90C tank combat and running capabilities by day and at night as well as accuracy of fire with all types of weapons at different ranges from a halt and on the move under conditions of limited visibility and mountainous terrain.

The combat vehicle crew completed all missions successfully having demonstrated high potential of the Russian tank manufactured by Uralvagonzavod.

After the major demonstration one of the Peruvian drivers of the T-55s being in service with the Peruvian Army was offered to “take a drive” of the T-90C tank. After a 5-min briefing, he made a run showing a good skill level and brought the tank to a halt by the Commander-in-Chief. The experiment is a proof that the advanced T-90C tank is as resoponsive and simple as its predecessor T-55 produced by Uralvagonzavod 40 years ago.

Senior officers of the Peruvian Army appreciated the T-90C tank capabilities and the skill of the tank crew members.

24.09.2013 Oshkosh - army-guide.com

OSHKOSH, Wis. -- U.S. Marines are responsible for responding to fire and emergency situations on military bases and airfields around the world as part of their mission. Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is meeting a critical equipment requirement with the new Oshkosh P-19 Replacement Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle, which will be showcased for the first time at Modern Day Marine in Quantico, Va., Sept. 25-27.

The U.S. Marine Corps awarded the P-19R contract to Oshkosh Defense in May. Oshkosh is completing internal testing and is on schedule to deliver three prototypes to the Marine Corps in the coming months for rigorous testing, which will take place next year.

“Firefighting and emergency missions on military bases and airfields are critical to the overall success of Marine Corps operations,” said John Bryant, senior vice president of Defense Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “We designed our P-19R ARFF vehicle to protect Marines in these dangerous situations, and we’re proud to showcase the P-19R’s capabilities for the first time at Modern Day Marine.”

The next-generation Oshkosh P-19R is based on the proven Oshkosh Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) platform including the Oshkosh TAK-4® independent suspension system to deliver more advanced on-road and off-road firefighting capabilities to the Marine Corps. The vehicle’s Command Zone™ integrated diagnostics and automation system helps the crew carry out firefighting missions with increased situational awareness. Oshkosh Defense leveraged the expertise of the Oshkosh Airport Products Group, the industry-leading ARFF vehicle producer, to equip the Oshkosh P-19R with the advanced Striker® firefighting systems.

Oshkosh Defense has supported the Marines’ P-19 ARFF fleet for more than 30 years, and the P-19R will replace their current fleet of P-19 vehicles as the vehicles reach the end of their service lives.

Oshkosh Defense leadership will be available to discuss the P-19R, L-ATV, HMMWV Modernization, advanced technologies and full life cycle sustainment services at Modern Day Marine at booth #2404.

24/09/2013 Michel Cabirol – LaTribune.fr

La filiale hélicoptériste d'EADS a décidé d'augmenter la capacité de son usine implantée à Colombus dans le Mississippi (Etats-Unis) en y installant début 2014 une chaine d'assemblage d'AS350. Les syndicats sont inquiets.

Petit à petit, l'Ecureuil se fait la malle aux Etats-Unis... Eurocopter a décidé d'augmenter la capacité de son usine implantée à Colombus dans le Mississippi (Etats-Unis) en y installant début 2014 une chaine d'assemblage d'AS350, le fameux Ecureuil qui l'un des best-sellers de la filiale hélicoptériste d'EADS (249 appareils vendus en 2012, 238 en 2011). Une décision justifiée par Eurocopter pour "compenser l'impact de la réduction de la production locale d'UH-72A Lakota (LUH, ndlr)", un programme d'hélicoptères légers fournis par constructeur européen et brutalement interrompu au printemps dernier par le Pentagone en raison de coupes budgétaires. Eurocopter a déjà livré plus de 280 appareils à l'armée de terre américaine.

Une délocalisation en zone dollar

C'est une délocalisation en zone dollar qui ne dit pas son nom même si aujourd'hui l'impact social est très limité. Une décision qui s'inscrit parfaitement dans la stratégie du patron d'EADS, Tom EADS, qui avait fait le choix l'année dernière d'installer une chaine A320 aux Etats-Unis dans l'Alabama. Le site de Marignane, près de Marseille, perdrait "l'équivalent de 14 emplois en charge d'atelier (personnel non inscrit)", estime Force Ouvrière. Le projet concernerait "50 hélicoptères en moins pour la chaine d'assemblage Ecureuil de Marignane", assure de son côté la CFDT.

Les deux syndicats sont vent debout contre cette décision. "Nous ne pouvons donc pas se satisfaire d'une politique de transfert de charge", tonne FO. Chez Eurocopter, on rappelle que le site de Colombus recevait déjà des Ecureuil en kit fabriqués en Europe. Au total, la filiale américaine, American Eurocopter, a livré 42 Ecureuil en 2012. Selon Eurocopter, l'AS350 "est le premier choix aux Etats-Unis des agences gouvernementales et des services médicaux d'urgence".

Colombus produira 60 appareils supplémentaires en 2016

Eurocopter prévoit un démarrage de la nouvelle chaîne d'assemblage à partir du "quatrième trimestre 2014" et une montée en puissance en 2015. "L'usine produira jusqu'à 60 hélicoptères supplémentaires annuellement avant 2016", explique Eurocopter dans un communiqué. Soit un total de 94 appareils fabriqués par le site de Colombus. Cette usine "ne doit sa future survie qu'au transfert de 94 appareils Ecureuil d'Eurocopter Marignane vers les USA", souligne FO.

Et tout comme la CFDT, FO rappelle que le constructeur n'a fourni "aucune garantie concernant l'arrêt du transfert de charge" après 2016. Colombus, qui continuera à fabriquer et à moderniser les UH-72A Lakota de l'armée de terre américaine et des autres agences fédérales, deviendra également un site d'essai pour les parties fabriquées par Eurocopter et ses sous-traitants.

De nombreuses questions sur la stratégie d'Eurocopter

Pour la CFDT, ce projet pose de nombreuses questions sur la stratégie d'Eurocopter vis-à-vis d'un certain nombre de contrats. "Le contrat EC145/LUH se termine un an plus tôt que prévu. Toutefois, cette fin était prévisible, explique le coordinateur CFDT chez EADS, Didier Hacquart. Avait-elle été anticipée lors de la décision de la création de la chaine EC145/LUH au Mississippi ? Quelle était l'objectif de l'implantation de cette chaine, sachant qu'il existait déjà des installations d'Eurocopter aux USA ?"

Et le responsable CFDT estime qu'il y a "une évolution de la stratégie d'Eurocopter" même s'il rappelle qu'il est "admis que pour l'obtention de contrats militaires à l'export il est nécessaire de faire des compensations industrielles, voire de s'implanter dans le pays". A la fin d'un contrat export contenant des compensations industrielles, Eurocopter ne s'engageait pas jusqu'ici à maintenir une activité sur place une fois le programme exécuté. Et le responsable syndical de s'interroger : "que se passera-t-il à l'issue des contrats AS332 (Super Puma, ndlr) au Brésil et au Mexique ? Devrons-nous à nouveau transférer de l'activité de Marignane pour maintenir l'activité dans ces filiales ?".

Eurocopter vise de nouveaux contrats aux Etats-Unis

Outre la volonté de compenser l'impact de l'arrêt du programme LUH, Eurocopter souhaite grâce au maintien d'une production locale augmenter ses ventes sur le marché américain, particulièrement avec le gouvernement et les agences gouvernementales (police, sécurité civile...). "L'Amérique du Nord est le plus grand marché d'hélicoptères légers dans le monde pour Eurocopter et cette nouvelle chaîne d'assemblage soutient notre stratégie industrielle en fabriquant le best-seller AS350 "Made in USA" près à nos clients", a jugé le vice-président exécutif de la supply chain mondiale d'Eurocopter, Joseph Saporito.

Quels contrats vise Eurocopter aux Etats-Unis ? Le Pentagone pourrait lancer dans le courant du second semestre 2013 un appel d'offre en vue de renouveler la flotte d'hélicoptères de reconnaissance OH-58 Kiowa du constructeur américain Bell dans le cadre du programme AAS (Aerial armed scout). Le contrat pourrait porter sur 500 machines, soit un contrat évalué entre 6 et 8 milliards de dollars. Le constructeur présentera l'EC645. En revanche, Eurocopter ne participera pas à la compétition Joint Multi-Role (JMR) en vue de remplacer les célèbres Black Hawk. "L'objectif est aussi de gagner des futurs contrat s en s'engageant sur 10 ventes gouvernementales d'appareils en plus par an avec un produit "Made In USA", explique par ailleurs FO.

Londres, le 24 septembre Turbomeca (Safran)

Turbomeca (Safran) a signé un contrat d’une valeur de 25 millions d’euros avec les Forces aériennes royales néerlandaises, portant sur la réparation, la révision et l’inspection de leurs moteurs Makila.

Ce contrat couvre les moteurs Makila 1A2, équipant actuellement les 17 hélicoptères AS532 Cougar des Forces aériennes royales néerlandaises. Ces hélicoptères ont notamment démontré toute leur capacité lors de missions en Afghanistan, de missions anti-pirates au large de la Corne africaine et de missions de luttes anti-incendie.

Comparé au Makila 1A1, le Makila 1A2 offre de meilleures performances et un taux de puissance continu grâce au calculateur électronique de régulation, l’EECU (Electronic Engine Control Unit).

* * * * *

Turbomeca (Safran) est le motoriste leader pour hélicoptères, avec la plus large gamme de moteurs au monde et 70 000 turbines de sa conception produites depuis l’origine de la société. Pour 2 500 clients répartis dans 155 pays, Turbomeca assure un service de proximité grâce à 16 établissements, 30 centres de maintenance certifiés et 18 centres de réparation & révision, et 90 représentants commerciaux et techniques. Le siège social est basé à Bordes (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). Microturbo, la filiale de Turbomeca, est leader européen des turboréacteurs pour missiles, engins-cibles et groupes auxiliaires de puissance.

Plus d’informations sur www.turbomeca.fr et www.safran-group.com

September 24th, 2013 By Kongsberg - defencetalk.com

Kongsberg Defence Systems has signed a contract for supply of the MineSniper Mk III One Shot Mine Disposal Weapon System to the Royal Norwegian Navy. The contract is won in international competition and made between the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation and Kongsberg, represented by the Naval Systems & Surveillance division.

The MineSniper Mk III System will support the needs of the Armed Forces by introducing new and flexible capabilities for inspection and disarmament of Sea-Mines in the Royal Norwegian Navy. The System consists of a number of MineSniper Mk III combat vehicles, inspection/training vehicles, logistics and services for integration into the Command and Control System on-board the Navy’s six Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs).

“The MineSniper Mk III System will enable MCM operations to be performed in a safer, more rapid and more efficient way. This contract is the result of a long term effort to strengthen our position as supplier of MCM systems, and in this context this is a very important reference contract for Kongsberg”, says Executive Vice President Leiv Inge Steig in Kongsberg Defence Systems.

Kongsberg is an international knowledge-based group that supplies high-technology systems and solutions to customers engaged in the oil and gas industry, the merchant marine industry, and the defence and aerospace industries. In 2012, the Group had operating revenues of NOK 15.7 billion, and it currently has some 7 400 co-workers in more than 25 countries.

Tanks designed by the Uralvagonzavod corporation

MOSCOW, September 23 (RIA Novosti)

Russia’s new-generation main battle tank will feature an unmanned, remotely controlled turret that will be digitally controlled by a crew located in a separate compartment, a defense industry official said Monday.

An Armata prototype will be demonstrated at “a restricted showing” this month during the 9th Russia Arms Expo 2013 international arms exhibition due to the “secret nature of the project,” said Igor Sevastyanov, deputy general director of Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-run arms export monopoly.

Another feature of the new tank, tentatively scheduled to enter military service in the Russian army in 2015, is an automated combat command and control system, he added.

Armata is a modular universal combat platform that will be used as a basis for a new tank, fire support vehicle, mine clearing vehicle, heavy flame throwing vehicle, bridge laying vehicle and other heavy equipment, Sevastyanov said.

A prototype Armata tank is ready for testing, and that process is due to begin in November, Lt. Gen. Alexander Shevchenko, commander of the Russian Tank Forces, said earlier this month in an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio.

The biannual Russian Arms Expo will run in the Urals city of Nizhny Tagil between September 25 and 28.

BAE, makers of the US Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle, suppliers and labor unions say the Army is misreading what the industrial base will go through when the Bradley stops production in 2015 without a replacement program. (US Army)

Sep. 23, 2013 By PAUL McLEARY – Defense News

WASHINGTON — BAE Systems CEO Linda Hudson, the heads of 40 suppliers that help sustain the company’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle program and several labor unions penned a highly critical letter to Army Secretary John McHugh on Sept. 19.

The letter calls the Army to task for misreading the issues that the industrial base will face if the service goes through with stopping production of the Bradley in 2015 with no follow-on program to replace it until 2019.

The letter says that the company and the unions have “concerns with the Army’s recent report” and “we question the report’s initial observations and its implications on the Army’s short- and long-term plans for the Bradley industrial base.”

The industry partners did offer an olive branch of sorts, writing “we are hopeful that a dialog now will result in a more substantive and realistic plan which will allow us to retain the critical capabilities and jobs” in a supply chain that is responsible for 7,000 jobs across the country.

The July report, commissioned by the Army and carried out by consulting firm AT Kearney, was titled “M1 Abrams Tank Upgrade and Bradley Fighting Vehicle Industrial Base Study Preliminary Findings”

The report paints a rather grim picture of the manufacturing needs over the next several years, conceding that while “the demand profile for programs within the Army’s ground combat systems indicate a significant decrease in demand between 2015 and 2019” the government’s early findings indicate that the downturn should be sustainable since “the industrial base’s current manufacturing network has a significant amount of overcapacity.”

The industry group says that the initial 18-page report — a copy of which was obtained by Defense News —“lead us to question the potential final recommendations” which are due to be delivered to Congress on Dec. 15.

The most critical flaw in the report, BAE and its associates charge, is that it states since there is a shortage of skilled workers in the industrial base, shedding some workers over the next several years while keeping a small core of the most skilled is a “manageable risk” for the Army and for industry.

While AT Kearney and the Army said they did a deep dive into the supplier base for the report, the letter to McHugh charges that “few” of BAE’s Bradley suppliers were contacted for the study.

The government report also states that when it comes to heavy manufacturing capacity, the US defense sector actually “exceeds known demand for current programs and for planned future programs,” and that given the current defense downturn “most suppliers have mitigated the overall revenue impact with other work.”

BAE and its partners say that, in fact, just the opposite is true: Even those companies that found other work have done so outside of the defense industry and that “allowing these companies to exit the defense sector will impose resource, capability and cost implications on our nation’s armed forces now and in the future.”

Beginning in 2014, many ground vehicle programs will begin to transition from production to sustainment, and if some key new programs like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV), Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) and the new Marine Corps amphibious vehicles manage to live past the coming budget ax, vehicle production is scheduled to ramp up sharply in 2019.

But until that happens, ground vehicle manufacturers like BAE, and General Dynamics, Navistar, and Oshkosh will struggle to hold on to as much of its critical supplier base as it can, with fewer orders to fill.

Artful, the latest Royal Navy Astute Class submarine, is unveiled in Barrow-in-Furness (Picture Andrew Linnett, UK MoD)

20 September 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support

The Royal Navy's third Astute Class attack submarine has been formally named.

The new submarine was named Artful in a traditional ceremony at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

Marking this milestone in the vessel’s construction, Lady Amanda Zambellas, the wife of First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas, named the submarine in the classic tradition of breaking a bottle on her bow; in this instance a bottle of beer from a local Cumbrian brewery.

The naming ceremony comes just 2 months after MOD announced that the first 2 of the 7 Astute Class submarines, HMS Astute and HMS Ambush, were nearing completion of their extensive sea trials and have been handed over to the Royal Navy to begin to prepare for operations.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne said:

HMS Artful is the third in our fleet of Astute Class submarines, the largest and most advanced attack submarines ordered by the Ministry of Defence; providing unprecedented levels of stealth and attack capability for the Royal Navy.

Mr Dunne added that the Astute submarine building programme represents a significant investment by the government and is set to sustain more than 5,000 jobs in the UK.

Admiral Zambellas said:

Today’s naming ceremony in Barrow for Artful adds another capable nuclear submarine to the gathering momentum in the Astute Class. Ahead of her, HMS Astute and HMS Ambush are already being pressed hard towards operational use, contributing to the wider renaissance in the UK’s naval equipment programme and adding to the Royal Navy’s operational authority.

The Astute class submarines will replace the older Trafalgar Class boats, and possess greater firepower, the latest communications equipment and advanced stealth technology, making them quieter than their predecessors and harder to detect.

Artful is expected to be rolled out of the shipyard construction hall early next year and is due to start sea trials in early 2015. She is the second Royal Navy submarine to hold the name. The first HMS Artful was constructed by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering in Greenock in 1947.

The Sikorsky S-97 Raider fuselage prior to departure from Aurora Flight Sciences in West Virginia last week. (Sikorsky)

Sep. 23, 2013 - By AARON MEHTA – Defense News

WASHINGTON — Sikorsky will begin final assembly of its S-97 Raider helicopter prototype this week, according to company officials.

That puts the helicopter manufacturer — which is competing for the US Army’s Armed Aerial Scout program — on track for a first flight at the end of 2014.

“It’s just a really exciting foundational milestone for us, and it’s great to be leaving the design phase of Raider and getting into the build phase,” Chris Van Buiten, Sikorsky Innovations vice president, said.

The Raider is based on the X-2 technology developed by Sikorsky in the late 2000s, but grows the size and weight significantly. Where the X-2 demonstrator was a one-person, 5,000-pound platform, the Raider will be roughly 11,000 pounds with room for six troops in its combat assault mode. In reconnaissance mode, that space could be used for extra equipment or ammunition.

Despite that growth, Sikorsky executives are confident the design will bring a mix of speed and maneuverability that helicopters have not yet achieved.

“This thing has to fly faster than 220 knots” at cruising speed, Van Buiten said when asked about key performance targets. “It has got to do more than a 3G turn at speed. It has to demonstrate hover at 10,000 feet and 95 degrees. Those are the non-negotiables.”

The fuselage, assembled by Aurora Flight Sciences in a West Virginia facility, arrived at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach, Fla., facility Sept. 20. A composite airframe, the fuselage has been tested to tolerate bird strikes at 230 knots and has shown very low drag, according to the company.

The Armed Aerial Scout program aims to replace the Army’s fleet of OH-58 Kiowa Warriors, in use since the late 1960s. The winner of the program is expected to last well past 2050, meaning the competition would be a long-term windfall for the winner.

Army officials visited with competitors AgustaWestland, Boeing, EADS and Bell Helicopter during the summer of 2012, but the top acquisition adviser to the secretary of the Army told a congressional hearing in May that “we didn’t find a single aircraft that was out there that could meet the Army’s requirements.”

Sikorsky is confident is can fill that role — assuming the replacement program can get funding.

As with all programs in the Pentagon, the Armed Aerial Scout is facing budget challenges. Speaking Sept. 19 on the Hill, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno indicated the program is at risk if sequestration continues.

“In the event sequestration-level discretionary caps continue into FY14, we will assume significant risk in our combat vehicle development,” Odierno said. “In our aviation program, we cannot afford to procure a new Armed Aerial Scout program and we will be forced to reduce the production and modernization of 25 helicopters.”

Despite such warnings, Sikorsky remains confident the Army will find the money to fund the program, according to Steve Engebretson, the company’s Advanced Military Programs director.

“It’s a tough financial environment, but the fact Odierno highlighted this program reflects the level of importance the Army has in that mission,” he said. “To me, it’s at least a sign that if there is a way the Army can get that program going, they will find a way to do that.”

“We understand the climate we’re operating in,” added Van Buiten. “We’re committed to demonstrating this technology, but we understand the customer has a lot of priorities to balance. Our job is to open up the aperture of what’s possible with them.”

Both men can be sanguine, in part, because the development of the Raider has been entirely funded by Sikorsky and its industry partners. While the S-97 is being designed with Armed Aerial Scout in mind, it will also serve as a test bed for further X-2 technologies, which could then go onto future Sikorsky products. Additionally, the company sees the Raider as a demonstrator for a larger machine that would fit the Army’s Joint Multi-Role helicopter replacement program for the service’s Blackhawk fleet.

In other words, the company sees ways to recoup its investment in the prototype even if the program never comes through. That company investment is a point of pride for Van Buiten, whose team was responsible for the design and creation of the Raider.

“We’ve created this innovations group, and one of our charters is to demonstrate differentiating technology that creates competitive advantages for us or all new capability for our customers,” he said. “We don’t have the luxury of using traditional timelines and budgets to do it.”

If the project continues on target, the Raider prototype’s first flight will take place roughly 48 months after its clean-sheet design, a much faster pace than the defense industry normally sees. While costs are not set, the company has estimated it could produce the platform in production quantities for as little as $15 million a copy, including mission system packages.

There is also a potential international market for the technology through the Foreign Military Sales program. The company has been in contact with “several very close allies of the US” about the technology, Engebretson said.

While declining to name which countries might be interested, he said the “international interest roughly equals the quantities the US government is thinking about, in the hundreds.”