13.10.2015 by Sergyi Way - army-guide.com
 

OSHKOSH, Wis. -- Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation company, is unveiling the Oshkosh® MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) 6×6 Technology Demonstrator, at AUSA in Washington, D.C. October 12-14, 2015. The M-ATV 6×6 Technology Demonstrator builds upon the protection and off-road mobility performance of the battle-proven M-ATVs, while providing more interior volume for up to 15 soldiers, as well as greater payload capacity and all-wheel steer for exceptional maneuverability.

“It’s never been more important for troops to have vehicles that effectively balance protection, payload, modularity and mobility to carry out missions in any environment or threat level,” said U.S. Army Major General (Retired) John M. Urias, executive vice president of Oshkosh Corporation and president of Oshkosh Defense. “The M-ATV 6×6 Technology Demonstrator was developed to transport a full squad with their required mission equipment and provide more power on the battlefield – all while maintaining MRAP level protection and off-road mobility.”

The Oshkosh M-ATV 6×6 Technology Demonstrator is multi-mission ready, allowing crews – whose roles may rapidly change – to have the right vehicle to perform that mission. The combined benefits from the TAK-4® independent suspension and the M-ATV 6×6’s all wheel steer enables maneuverability across any type of terrain on the modern battlefield.

At AUSA, Oshkosh is also introducing the Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) kits for any vehicle platform to help troops operate their vehicles safely in harsh conditions and difficult terrain. The Oshkosh ADAS kits use intelligent technologies to help increase driver control and response – during both peacetime and combat operations. The Oshkosh ADAS has three levels of performance:

• ADAS Tier 1: A camera-based technology that allows the vehicle to see where drivers cannot. Active alerts enhance driver awareness to mitigate collisions.
• ADAS Tier 2: Electronic Stability Control kit and radar-based technologies assist drivers with an additional layer of active safety. Tier 2 includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) to maintain a following gap with a lead vehicle and Collision Mitigation Braking (CMB) to help slow the vehicle if a crash is imminent.
• ADAS Tier 3: Equips drivers with comprehensive technologies for accident avoidance. Tier 3 combines all of the technologies from Tier 1 & Tier 2, making it Oshkosh’s most comprehensive safety solution.

The winning JLTV solution from Oshkosh, M-ATV 6×6 Technology Demonstrator and Global Integrated Product Support (GIPS) kiosk will be showcased on the second floor at AUSA in the Oshkosh Defense booth #6643. Oshkosh Defense leadership will be available to discuss the company’s vehicles, technologies and services.

13.10.2015 par Gil Roy – Aerobuzz.fr

Les 14 et 15 octobre 2015, Bordeaux accueille UGS 2015 - Unmanned Global Systems - un symposium européen de tous les drones et robots. En parallèle des tables rondes, ateliers, et rendez-vous d’affaires, l’opérateur français Air Marine effectuera des démonstrations grandeur nature...

Depuis plus de 20 ans, Air Marine s’est fait une spécialité dans l’acquisition et exploitation de données par voie aérienne. Il y a quatre ans, elle a pris le virage des drones civils. Elle est devenue l’un des principaux opérateurs du marché. Au symposium UGS 2015, les 14 et 15 octobre 2015, à Bordeaux, elle va réaliser deux démonstrations avec le drone AscTec Falcon 8. [1] Air Marine aborde le drone avec l’état d’esprit de l’aéronautique, c’est-à-dire avec la même rigueur dans la préparation des missions et surtout la même exigence en ce qui concerne le matériel, en particulier au niveau de la redondance des systèmes dans un souci de sécurité des vols.

Suite de l'article

October 10, 2015: Strategy Page

The Netherlands has ordered another 14 American CH-47F transport helicopters (at $67 million each). These will replace the eleven older CH-47Ds, which the Dutch are retiring rather than rebuilding as CH-47Fs. The 22 ton CH-47F can carry ten tons of cargo, or up to 55 troops, and has a maximum range of 426 kilometers. Its max speed is 315 kilometers an hour. Typical missions last no more than three hours. It is the best helicopter for use in placed like Afghanistan, having proved able to deal with the dust and high altitude operations better than other transport choppers. The Dutch already have six CH-47Fs, which they ordered in 2010 when Dutch troops were part of the NATO force in Afghanistan.

Back in 2010 the Dutch found out how useful the CH-47 was when they sent three of their CH-47Ds to replace five Cougars. The Eurocopter Cougar EC725 is an 11 ton aircraft with a useful load of 5.5 tons, a top speed of 324 kilometers an hour, a range of about 850 kilometers and can stay in the air for about five hours per sortie. The Cougars had been in Afghanistan since late 2009 and the Dutch found, as other countries had, that the CH-47 was more effective in places like Afghanistan than the EC725 (or the similar UH-60). The CH-47D is a 22 ton aircraft with a max load of ten tons. The first CH-47s entered service in 1962, able to carry only five tons. Some 750 saw service in Vietnam where 200 were lost in action. Between 1982 and 1994 500 CH-47s were rebuilt to the CH-47D standard. Now many CH-47Ds are being upgraded to the CH-47F standard. As a result of all this, the CH-47 will end up serving at least 75 years even without another major upgrade.

The Netherlands uses their military helicopters a lot for peacekeeping missions, where Dutch helicopters have become a welcome addition because of the skill of the Dutch crews and the reliability of their well-maintained helicopters. The Dutch don’t have a large army or a lot of special operations troops. But they maintain a modern and effective fleet of military helicopters and these are in big demand by peacekeepers.

DUSSELDORF, Germany, Oct. 13 By Richard Tomkins   (UPI)

A new aiming solution for 40mm grenade launchers and shoulder-fired rockets has been introduced by Rheinmetall Defense of Germany. The Vingmate MR 500, which improves first-shot capability at all ranges and minimizes engagement time, is ambidextrous in design and features an easy-to-use interface. It is a manually adjusted clip-on sighting system and employs an infrared target marker and illuminator and weighs only 11 ounces.

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October 10, 2015: Strategy Page

A Russian firm recently offered for export a new armored bulldozer design. This is the 21 ton B10 commercial bulldozer with armor added and a few other changes. This results in a 25 ton vehicle that is similar to the Cold War era BAT-2, a larger, 40 ton armored bulldozer. The militarized B10 is apparently more cost-effective than the BAT-2, which was an improved version of the World War II era BAT-M.

Most nations turn older tanks into “combat engineer vehicles” by removing the turret, adding an armored box for the operator plus a bulldozer blade and other items. But if you just want to shove stuff around while under fire you are better served by armoring a large commercial bulldozer. That is what Israel has been doing since the 1960s.

By 2009 Israel realized armor wasn’t enough and began converting all its D9 armored combat bulldozers to operate by remote control. Israel has been using the armored D9 bulldozer since the 1960s. For the United States the 62 ton D9 armored (via an Israeli armor kit) bulldozer has been an important tool for urban warfare after 2001.

Although the Israelis pioneered the use of special explosives to blast entry holes through walls, so troops can quickly get to their objectives, the D9 proved an even more effective solution. The D-9 lets you bash through walls, and buildings, much faster. The D9 can even shake the enemy out of some buildings. Thus the D9 proved very effective in urban combat. The Israelis often mounted a machine-gun on the D9s, to provide protection from the increasing number of attacks on these vehicles. The D9s are pretty sturdy, often surviving large roadside bombs and several RPG hits. But the D9s are not invulnerable and have increasingly become a target for enemy attack. Despite the armor kit and machine-gun, D9 drivers sometimes get killed or wounded, and the vehicles put out of action. Thus the need for a remote control option.

The remote control version of the D9, called "Black Thunder", was developed in 2006 as a secret program that was only revealed because so many troops were now aware of it. Even the Palestinians were talking about it, having been confronted with "Black Thunder" D9s during the 2009 war in Gaza.

"Black Thunder" D9s retain the armor kit, but instead of an operator, the cab contains the electronics and radio gear needed to run the dozer remotely. Several cameras and other sensors are mounted on the outside. An operator, sitting in a nearby armored vehicle or truck, views several flat screen displays, and operates the controls. Any soldiers with lots of video game experience can quickly master the remote operation of a D9.

In early 2003, the U.S. bought nine 62 ton D9 armored Caterpillar bulldozers into Kuwait for the Iraq campaign. The D9s, and their Israeli made armor kit, were purchased because of the Israeli success with the dozer in urban warfare against Palestinian terrorists. America had used the D9 during the 1960s in Vietnam, but after that only used the smaller (35 ton, with armor kit) D7. The D9 was not needed for urban fighting in Iraq during 2003, but was found very useful (much more so than the smaller D7) for combat engineering tasks. The D9 quickly cleared highways of debris and built temporary roads for combat vehicles. D9s was eventually used in Iraq for combat operations in places like Fallujah. The U.S. has also developed remote control systems for several types of armored vehicles.

Russia apparently will offer their B10 at a cheaper price than competing Western models as well as many additional options.

En juin, l'Arabie saoudite s'était engagée à acheter six frégates FREMM, mais depuis rien n'a été signé - photo DCNS

14-10-2015 Par RFI

Le gouvernement français a annoncé mardi avoir engrangé 10 milliards d'euros de contrats avec l'Arabie saoudite à l'occasion de la visite du Premier ministre Manuel Valls. Mais plusieurs restent à finaliser, et des interrogations subsistent autour de plusieurs affaires en suspens entre Paris et Riyad en matière de défense. Confrontée à une baisse des cours du pétrole, l'Arabie saoudite est par ailleurs engagée dans une guerre à l'issue incertaine au Yémen.

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SOUTH BEND, Ind., Oct. 13 By Richard Tomkins   (UPI)

New contracts and contract modifications have been given to AM General for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, or Humvees.

Vehicle-maker AM General has received contracts for production of additional High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles for eight countries. The contracts, worth a combined total of about $42.1 million, include modifications for vehicles and vehicle parts under earlier contracts. Covered under the awards are new production vehicles, international ambulance chassis vehicles, automotive kits, spare parts and training for the United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Israel, Turkey, Kenya and Lebanon. The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle is popularly known as the Humvee.

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13.10.2015 Navistar - army-guide.com

Navistar Defense, LLC is displaying, for the first time, its latest MaxxPro® MRAP. A Reset vehicle coming straight from the Reset line in West Point, Miss., this vehicle has an enhanced level of blast protection and features the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The company also has on display the General Troop Transport (GTT) variant of its 7000 MV Medium Tactical Vehicle line which is similar to what will be delivered to Afghanistan under a recent $369 million order.

“The MaxxPro on display incorporates two very significant steps forward in improving safety and mission performance for our country’s warfighters,” said Kevin Thomas, president, Navistar Defense. “First, it is a Reset vehicle which brings a MaxxPro that previously deployed in support of combat operations and has now returned for an extensive refurbishment effort to restore it to like new condition while also being upgraded to the latest configuration. The second is that we have added electronic stability control which further improves safety and performance. As a result of this Reset effort, all MaxxPro vehicles in the U.S. Army inventory will be at the same level of configuration.”

These newly Reset and upgraded MaxxPro vehicles are re-entering service in Afghanistan. A total of 785 MaxxPro vehicles, in two variants, are being Reset under a $75 million contract.

“Our Medium Tactical Vehicle on display is an example of state-of-the-art technology for taking our commercial Series 7000 WorkStar® truck platform and making it tactically viable and flexible,” according to Thomas. "The baseline MTV platform has been configured in 17 different variants ranging from the GTT to water and fuel tankers and recovery vehicles. This provides tremendous flexibility, commonality and supportability for the Afghan and Iraqi forces operating them.”

In late August 2015, the U.S. Army Contracting Command awarded Navistar Defense a $369 million contract to provide 2,293 Medium Tactical Vehicles (MTVs) to build upon the already existing Afghanistan National Security Force's (ANSF) MTV Fleet. Production will commence immediately, with deliveries starting in January 2016 and concluding in 2019.

A total of 17,000 MTVs are in service in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

LONDON, Oct. 12 By Richard Tomkins   (UPI)

BAE Systems starts renovation of naval shipyard for future Royal Navy nuclear submarines.

Groundwork has started on the renovation of a central shipyard complex that be used for outfitting future Royal Navy Successor submarines. British Forces News said BAE Systems had announced last year a $459 million modernization of the entire shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, in anticipation of government approval of the nuclear deterrent submarines, which will replace Vanguard-class vessels. British Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed earlier this week that Britain will order four new Successor submarines. BAE Systems was given an additional Ministry of Defense contract for the final phase of design work on the ships, which will carry nuclear ballistic missiles. Renovation of the central yard complex is expected to be completed the end of 2017, the British military's news service said.

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13 October 2015 by defenceWeb

Local surveillance company Desert Wolf has shipped the first five of its Red Roman WiFi communication trailers to Ethiopia. A total of 25 systems will be deployed on behalf of an international organisation.

Hennie Kieser, Managing Director of Desert Wolf, told defenceWeb that the first five trailers were ordered on 3 July. Total project cost is around R7 million. They are being delivered in batches of five as five can be fitted into a single 40 foot shipping container.

Desert Wolf is equipping the Red Roman trailers with masts, batteries etc. while the communications equipment will be installed by the customer with a team of Desert Wolf going to Addis Ababa to support the customer.

Kieser said the first five trailers will arrive in Addis Ababa in two weeks’ time.

The Red Roman trailer accommodates electronic equipment in a vibration damped 19 inch rack mount, with cooling by either forced air flow with DC fans or an air conditioner. It comes with a solar power system and a 2 kW petrol generator with a battery backup. The surveillance mast tilts for easy sensor attachment. Desert Wolf said the system is ideal for small to medium surveillance systems and can accommodate a 1.8 metre satellite dish.

Desert Wolf stainless steel trailers are in use with the South African Police service and have been bought by oil companies, municipalities, airports, research institutions, the South African National Defence Force, British Defence Force and United Nations amongst many others. In addition to trailers, Desert Wolf offers trailer manufacturing and sales licenses.

ABERDEEN, Washington, October 12, 2015 /PRNewswire

Hesco Armor, Inc. wins a share of a $49.5M indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) body armor contract to supply the next generation of Small Arms Protective Inserts (SAPI) to the US Army

The competitively awarded contract has been shared between three armor manufactures to satisfy U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's (USASAC) Foreign Military Sales requirements, and USASAC's Special Defense Acquisition Fund's Foreign Military Sales inventory requirements.

The IDIQ contract called for a technically proficient plate, not before seen in previously available SAPI plates. Hesco Armor plates were chosen for their next generation composite material that creates an ultra-lightweight ballistic resistant insert.

Awarded days after the launch of the new Hesco Group brand identity, the contract is an additional testament of The Group's commitment towards innovation and their mission to protect people and assets, whenever and wherever needed.

Hesco Armor CEO Stephanie Victory commented : "We are extremely pleased to have been awarded this contract. This award further demonstrates that Hesco is a leader in innovation and personnel protection. Our body armor designs and performance are a leap forward in protection for National Security and Military Personnel."

Hesco Armor's parent company, Hesco Bastion, is a long-established provider of defensives barriers for perimeter and infrastructure protection for the US Department of Defense, and synonymous with saving countless lives and now Hesco Armor, relatively new to the personal protection market, has already developed a strong following among homeland security and local law enforcement and will continue the Hesco legacy of keeping the country safe.

About Hesco Bastion, Inc

Hesco Bastion, Inc. part of the Hesco Group is a leader in the design and manufacture of rapidly deployable, ground-mounted, earth-filled barrier systems for the purposes of military protection, homeland security and flood protection.

About Armor, Inc

Hesco Armor, Inc located in Aberdeen, Washington, was founded in 2012. The company is focused on research and development and manufacturing of body armor and vehicle armor that will bring enhanced safety and advanced technology to the men and women of the US Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

WASHINGTON, October 12, 2015 – Lockheed Martin

At this year’s Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) unveiled a new capability that will allow users to detect and counter emerging threats from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The solution, ICARUS™, was designed to operate defensively in various threat environments.

“The U.S. government is seeing an increase in the use of commercially available UAS platforms for surveillance and weaponization,” said Deon Viergutz, vice president of Cyber Solutions for Lockheed Martin. “What Lockheed Martin has developed in ICARUS is a system that can detect, recognize and counteract these systems with pinpoint accuracy.”

Lockheed Martin’s Counter-UAS system has been field tested and demonstrated to several domestic and international customers over the past year. Those tests demonstrated the ability of ICARUS™ to identify and intercept commercially available unmanned aerial systems. 

The development of the ICARUS™ software system draws on Lockheed Martin’s rich history of innovations in electronic warfare, cybersecurity and countermeasures associated with sophisticated threats. It was developed through Lockheed Martin internal investment and combines advanced cyber and cyber electromagnetic activity experience with sensor technology and non-kinetic techniques.

Lockheed Martin is a leading provider of ad