photo David Monniaux

September 9, 2011 W. Alibrandi, Forecast International - defpro.com

NEWTOWN, Conn. | Microturbo's TRI 40 and TRI 60 engines power several missiles and one target drone.

MBDA's SCALP EG and SCALP Navale are in production, and exports are playing a large role in the company's future. Saudi Arabia has purchased the Storm Shadow for its Tornado fighters, and the sales of Rafale fighters and FREMM frigates should boost demand for this missile.

MBDA is planning to upgrade the SCALP EG with an enhanced version to meet France's and the U.K.'s requirements for long-range and strike missiles. The new missile's range could exceed 1,000 kilometers.

France's Exocet anti-ship missile is one of MBDA's most popular products. The Block 3 Exocet has greater range than the solid-fuel-propelled Block 2 and can also engage land-based targets. Sales to Middle East countries have been a large source of business for MBDA.

Saab Bofors' RBS15 is an anti-ship missile that has been purchased by Sweden, Germany, Poland and Thailand. Several other navies are considering the missile, which may provide a near-constant stream of contracts from 2011-2020.

Composite Engineering's BQM-167 Skeeter drone is powered by the TRI 60, and has been purchased by the U.S. Air Force and Navy. The USAF is replacing its legacy BQM-34 and MQM-107 drones with the Skeeter.

photo by Bthebest

To Provide Rugged Digital Signal Processor Modules for New Gripen NG Aircraft's Fire Control System

September 7, 2011 Curtiss-Wright Corporation  - defpro.com

PARSIPPANY, N.J. | Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced Sept. 6 that it has been selected by SELEX Galileo to supply rugged embedded digital signal processor modules for use on Saab's new Gripen Next Generation (NG) fighter aircraft. The contract, which runs from 2010 to 2014, is valued at $15 million, and has an estimated potential additional value of $10 million over the lifetime of the program.

"Curtiss-Wright is proud to have been selected to provide our digital signal processor technology for use on the next generation Gripen aircraft," said Martin R. Benante, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. "This award further demonstrates the value of our advanced technologies on a global basis."

Curtiss-Wright's digital signal processor modules will provide the radar processing for the Gripen's fire control radar system. The company's Motion Control segment will develop the digital signal processor modules at its Ashburn, VA facility.

September 2nd, 2011 By US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, DEFENCE TALK

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway for the installation of various aircraft support systems for four P-3C aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support worth an estimated $95 million.

The Government of Norway has requested a possible sale for the procurement and installation of four AN/USQ-78B Acoustic Processor Technology Refresh (APTR), 4 AN/ASQ-227 Aircraft Mission Computers, and 2 Tactical Mobile Acoustic Support Systems on four Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3C aircraft, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support.

The estimated cost is $95 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally that has been, and continues to be, an important force for economic and political stability.

The proposed sale will update hardware and ensure the sustainment of data provided to the United States as part of various data sharing agreements already in place with the Government of Norway in the area of anti-submarine warfare. Norway will have no difficulty absorbing the additional equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corporation in Owego, New York. Offset agreements associated with this proposed sale are expected, but at this time the specific offset agreements are undetermined and will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and contractors.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require U.S. Government and contractor representatives to travel to Norway to participate in periodic program technical reviews, training and support visits, and maintenance and support visits semi-annually for a period of four years.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

P-3C 3296 of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

photo Lockheed Martin - source aeroflight.co.uk

Sep 1, 2011 ASDNews Source : Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)

Washington - The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway for the installation of various aircraft support systems for four P-3C aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support worth an estimated $95 million.

The Government of Norway has requested a possible sale for the procurement and installation of four AN/USQ-78B Acoustic Processor Technology Refresh (APTR), 4 AN/ASQ-227 Aircraft Mission Computers, and 2 Tactical Mobile Acoustic Support Systems on four Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3C aircraft, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $95 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally that has been, and continues to be, an important force for economic and political stability.

The proposed sale will update hardware and ensure the sustainment of data provided to the United States as part of various data sharing agreements already in place with the Government of Norway in the area of anti-submarine warfare. Norway will have no difficulty absorbing the additional equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

source armedforces-int.com

August 26, 2011 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: ATK; issued August 25, 2011)

MINNEAPOLIS --- ATK announced that it will participate as an exhibitor at the 2011 Defense & Security Equipment International (DSEi) in London. ATK will highlight a variety of capabilities and programs at the show, which will be held at ExCeL international exhibition and convention centre in London from September 13-16, 2011. ATK is located in stand S7-305.

DSEi provides ATK an opportunity to highlight its growing capabilities in several business areas, including its affordable precision approach that combines GPS guidance and fuzing into one package, transforming conventional 155mm artillery projectiles and 120mm mortar cartridges into precision munitions. ATK will also feature its recently-upgraded AAR-47 missile warning system which now provides enhanced protection through the detection of smaller-caliber weapon fire and rocket propelled grenades.

ATK's stand will include its Eagle Industries and BLACKHAWK! brand tactical gear and apparel for security, law enforcement and military personnel. In addition, ATK's Federal Premium and Speer lines of ammunition will be featured, including long range precision rifle; barrier defeating; non-toxic; short barrel carbine; and law enforcement high performance handgun service ammunition.

DSEi will allow visitors to learn about ATK's Advanced Anti Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), fast becoming the air-to-surface weapon of choice for Destruction of Enemy Air Defense and strike missions. Also on display will be ATK's Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket (GATR) for fixed, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft platforms. GATR is a laser-guided 70mm precision system delivering extreme accuracy against both stationary and moving targets.

Visitors will see ATK's family of legacy and next-generation medium caliber Bushmaster® and automatic chain guns, ammunition, and integrated weapon systems. In addition, ATK will highlight its role as the leading supplier of U.S. and NATO small caliber ammunition, as well as Non-NATO munitions to U.S. and international security forces.

ATK will also feature fuzing solutions for air-dropped bombs and artillery projectiles in use around the world, tactical propulsion that includes technology to offer insensitive munitions (IM) capabilities to currently fielded systems, and lightweight composites for soldier systems.

Potential customers will have the opportunity to obtain information on ATK's light gunship platform, which integrates intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, fire control equipment, air-to-ground missiles and rockets, as well as the ATK M230LF, a link-fed LW30mm gun system.

The light gunship capability package is the latest addition to ATK's Special Mission Aircraft product portfolio, which provides affordable, responsive and advanced capabilities to customer-preferred platforms. ATK's expertise includes outfitting various aircraft -- including Cessna Caravans, Lockheed Martin C-130s, Bombardier Dash-8s, Hawker Beechcraft King Airs and others -- with integrated ISR capabilities, fire control equipment and air-to-ground capability for conducting responsive defense, counterinsurgency, and border surveillance and security missions.

August 25, 2011 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Lexington Institute; issued August 24, 2011)

Washington as a whole and defense experts, in particular, are bracing for massive reductions in defense spending coming out of the deliberations of the Congressional super committee. If automatic budget cuts are triggered, defense could see budgets decline by around $1 trillion over the next decade.

Even if the super committee can reach a consensus, many observers anticipate hundreds of billions of additional reductions in defense spending above the $350 billion that has already been imposed. No less a figure than Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has warned that taking more from future defense budgets could be devastating to this nation’s security.

It may be easy to dismiss Panetta’s warning and similar statements from senior military officers and defense industry leaders as the obvious and expected pleadings of those with special interests involved in the size of the defense budget. But we have data with which to test the plausibility of their warnings.

Following the end of the Cold War NATO allies, like the United States, took a so-called peace dividend from their defense budgets. It is important to note that even during the Cold War most of these countries did not provide defense budgets at the minimum levels proposed by the alliance. In addition, while the U.S. increased defense spending after September 11, 2001, the majority of NATO allies continued to cut. Following the global financial meltdown, those same countries accelerated those reductions.

What has been the impact of major defense spending reductions on Europe’s ability to project military power? Just look at the Libyan campaign. On its own, Europe could not have projected effective airpower against one of the weakest military powers in the Middle East. The U.S. had to provide the majority of cruise missiles employed at the start of the conflict to suppress Libyan air defenses. NATO lacked for airborne refueling, unmanned aerial systems to conduct both ISR and strike missions, electronic warfare aircraft, combat search and rescue capabilities, command and control facilities and secure communications. According to NATO sources, the alliance did not even have enough trained specialists to fully man the air operations center that directed the Libyan mission.

Today’s Wall Street Journal quotes NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen admitting that absent U.S. contributions to the Libyan campaign, Europe could not have pulled it off. “The fact is that Europe could not have done this on its own.” Rasmussen goes on to warn that future defense spending cuts could prevent NATO from projecting power even to nearby regions. “The lack of defense investments in Europe will make it increasingly difficult for Europe to take on responsibility for international crisis management beyond Europe’s borders.”

Some of Europe’s problem is undoubtedly due to the misallocation of available resources. But at some point in the budget cutting process even the wisest investment strategy must fail simply due to an inadequate base on which to build a usable military.

NATO defense spending (excluding the U.S.) stands at about 2 percent of GDP. U.S. spending is currently a shade over 4 percent but trending downward to around 3 percent based on the cuts already agreed to. Major additional spending cuts could take the U.S. down to the European level. At 2 percent of GDP, NATO was unable to handle on its own a single limited contingency close to its own borders. U.S. defense requirements are based on a strategy that requires meeting the challenges of multiple contingencies far from our shores. Four percent of GDP is the minimum level of spending the U.S. needs to meet its current national security requirements.

The United States can always make the choice to take its toys and go home, leaving the security of its vital overseas interests and the safety of its friends and allies to others or, more likely, to chance. Such a decision would permit large force structure cuts and support further deep reductions in projected defense spending levels.

But the super committee has neither the charter nor the capability to force a radical departure in this country’s national security strategy or defense policy by imposing serious spending reductions in the absence of a national consensus on security issues.

Aug 25, 2011 ASDNews Source : European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.

Arlington, Virginia - EADS North America has achieved another milestone on the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program as the company has delivered more than half of the planned 345 Lakotas to the U.S. Army.

The UH-72A Lakota, built by the company's American Eurocopter business unit, is one of the U.S. Army's most successful acquisition programs and is repeatedly noted by DoD officials for its on-time and on-budget deliveries.

"Reaching the midway point in deliveries to the Army with an unblemished record of on-time deliveries is an excellent example of our strong performance on the Lakota program," said EADS North American CEO Sean O'Keefe. "This program clearly demonstrates the company's ability to successfully execute large programs, in-source manufacturing to the U.S. and create high-value American jobs, while simultaneously delivering on our on-time and on-cost commitment to our Army and Navy customers."

The UH-72A is based on the best-selling EC145 multi-role helicopter and was developed by EADS' Eurocopter division. As part of EADS North America's commitment to the U.S. Army, the company's American Eurocopter business unit created a dedicated assembly line for UH-72As in Mississippi, and successfully completed the on-time in-sourcing of its full production activity from Germany in 2010 - with sustained output reaching 53 rotary-wing aircraft annually at the state-of-the-art facility.

Overall there have been 180 aircraft delivered to the DoD. The steady production and delivery represents the rapid success in establishing a world-class production facility, recruiting and training the technical professionals who build the aircraft and the suppliers in the U.S. and overseas.

UH-72A Lakota helicopters are operating from 31 basing locations in the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, Germany and the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll following the establishment of 10 new fielding sites in 2010. The U.S. Army has ordered 219 UH-72As to date, with the total acquisition of 345 helicopters sustaining production through 2015. Five LUH aircraft are used by the Navy Test Pilot School for their rotary wing test pilot training.

The U.S. Army is using its Lakotas in multiple configurations for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions, search and rescue operations, border patrols along the U.S./Mexico border, VIP transport, general aviation support and in combat flight training at the service's Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany, the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Ft. Polk, La., and soon at the National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, Calif. EADS North America and American Eurocopter engineers continue to integrate additional mission equipment packages (MEPs) on the UH-72A, achieving FAA certification for the Combat Training Center (CTC) MEP in 2010. Efforts continue on additional MEP integration, for a comprehensive package for the Army National Guard's Security and Support (S&S) Battalion missions.

The training and logistics for the LUH program is also on track. Pilots and maintenance professionals of U.S. Army have completed more than 575 pilot and 375 maintenance personnel completing their classes at American Eurocopter's headquarters facility in Grand Prairie, Texas. The LUH fleet has accumulated more than 67,500 hours to date.

EADS North America provides the Lakota aircraft as part of the overall program to the DoD. The entire scope of the program includes the flight and maintainer training, full and hybrid contractor logistics support to the Army and Army National Guard, modifications and retrofit of mission equipment packages onto existing aircraft. The helicopter, associated modifications, training, and logistics support comply with FAA requirements and guidelines.

The UH-72A is a Defense Acquisition Category (ACAT) I major defense acquisition program for the U.S. Defense Department. Deliveries of the aircraft to National Guard units allow aging OH-58 and UH-1 rotary-wing aircraft to be retired, while UH-72As assigned to the active component of the U.S. Army free up UH-60 Black Hawks for assignment to combat missions.

Photo Craig Hoyle/Flightglobal

22/08/11 By Craig Hoyle SOURCE:Flight International

The UK has signed a £1 billion ($1.65 billion) contract to acquire an additional 14 Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters, with the move to expand the Royal Air Force's fleet of the type to 60 aircraft by late 2015.

Boeing is due to deliver its first Chinook HC6s to the RAF in 2013 for trials, with the remainder to be handed over by late 2015, the Ministry of Defence said.

Available for deployment from early 2015, the new batch will be fully operational by early 2017, it added.

"These additional helicopters will significantly enhance our existing heavy lift helicopter capability," said defence secretary Dr Liam Fox, who announced the contract signature during a visit to RAF Odiham in Hampshire on 22 August.

Also included is an initial five-year package of support activities, the MoD said.

In operational use for almost 30 years, the RAF's Chinooks are expected to remain in service until at least 2040.

The UK's current Chinook inventory includes 38 HC2/2As and eight extended-range HC3 aircraft, all of which are to be upgraded to an enhanced HC4 configuration.

Its 14 new-build examples, which include replacements for two aircraft lost during non-fatal accidents in Afghanistan, will feature a high level of commonality.

One significant enhancement to be included with the Chinook HC6 will be the addition of a digital automatic flight control system, which will enhance operational safety in reduced-visibility, such as during "brown-out" while landing in dusty conditions.

Source saabgroup.com

August 18, 2011 Andrew White, SHEPARD GROUP

Washington, DC - Saab exhibited its Skeldar V-200 UAV for the first time in the US at the Unmanned Systems North America exposition just weeks after entering a bid for a US Navy ISR requirement.

Speaking to Shephard, company executives confirmed that Saab North America had submitted its offer on 14 July as part of the CSC bid. The maritime component of the navy requirement calls for seven Arleigh Burke class destroyers to be equipped with five or six air frames each in order to provide between 300 and 600 hours of full motion video a month.

According to the official Request for Proposals (RfP), a decision is expected in February. However, Saab business development director Johan Hansson said an announcement could be made as early as September or October this year.

It is understood that the US Navy is in a position to award up to four separate contracts for the requirement which also includes two land-based elements. It is also considering both VTOL and fixed-wing solutions.

'We supplied a technological package to the navy but there have been no demonstrations,' Hansson added while describing how Saab was getting ready to produce the air vehicle by the end of the year. He said the company would be in a position to manufacture around 100 air frames a year or more if required.

According to Brian Lawrence, VP for marketing, the US Special Operations Command is also interested in this 'class' of UAV and suggested that Skeldar could be put forward for the navy's Ship-launched Persistent Integrated Countermeasure Electronic Warfare (SPICE) requirement. A RfP is expected next year to be followed by research and development. Lawrence said a VTOL UAV would be a 'viable' solution for such a programme.

Finally, referring to potential for US Army VTOL capabilities, Lawrence said that the service had been 'sceptical' about it but attitudes had changed over the past six to 12 months: ''A160T and K-Max we hope will get confidence with VTOL and will open up an aperture for smaller versions such as Skeldar V-200,' he told Shephard.

Aug 18, 2011 ASDNews Source : Cobham Plc (LSE: COB.L)

Arlington, Virginia - Cobham has been awarded a contract by the Spanish armed forces to provide three more units of the telerob Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robot tEODor. This award finalizes a ten year purchasing program of advanced bomb disposal technology within the Spanish military. The Spanish Army now operates the world's fourth largest fleet of tEODor type robots, featuring 27 systems in total.

Almost ten years ago, the tEODor (telerob Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Observation robot) was selected to replace the entire fleet of older generation equipment designed to remotely render unexploded ordnance safe. Thanks to its superior technical capabilities and high reliability, the system was selected over other available systems including those provided by in-county manufacturers.

"We're pleased to continue support of the Spanish EOD/IEDD team as a critical suppler of the main EOD robot that will provide support to the Spanish Armed Forces as well as Allied Nation Coalition Force bomb disposal capability," said Iain Gibson, senior vice president of Cobham Mission Equipment.

09 août 2011 par Barbara Leblanc – L’USINE NOUVELLE

120 millions d’euros. C’est le montant des contrats décrochés par le groupe italien d’aéronautique et de défense.

Finmeccanica annonce le 9 août avoir remporté plusieurs contrats à travers ses filiales pour 120 millions d’euros aux Etats-Unis et en Russie.

Dans le détail, l’un d’eux porte sur la fourniture d'un support opérationnel lié à des systèmes intégrés de sécurité électronique pour le compte de l’américain SSC Atlantic. Au total, cet accord atteint une valeur maximale de 100 millions de dollars.

A cela s’ajoute un contrat d’environ 4,5 millions de dollars pour la fourniture de services de transmission satellitaire à DISA, l'agence américaine des systèmes d'information de défense.

Le groupe italien devra aussi s’occuper de a réalisation du nouveau centre de tri postal de la ville de Rostov en Russie à travers un contrat avec les postes russes pour 50 millions d’euros.

Jul 29, 2011 ASDNews Source : General Dynamics Corporation

London, United Kingdom - Little over a year since signing the Specialist Vehicle (SV) contract between the UK Ministry of Defence and General Dynamics UK, the first test version of the reconnaissance variant, Scout, has begun to take shape with the successful joining of the Experimental Demonstration Unit (EDU) turret to a "mule" base platform at the first attempt. The first successful combining of turret and base unit last week further proves the vehicle design, the systems integration between the two sections and the team work between prime contractor General Dynamics UK and turret design authority Lockheed Martin UK. It also highlights the excellent progress achieved by the Scout SV Industry team at an early stage.

"Mating the turret and base unit at such an early stage of the demonstration phase once again demonstrates our dedication to working towards delivering the Scout SV capability to the British Army as soon as is possible," commented Dr. Sandy Wilson, president and managing director of General Dynamics UK on witnessing the event. "The fact that it happened at the first attempt only goes to show that the MoD chose the right team to deliver Scout SV."

The key advantages that the Scout SV will deliver to the British Army will include:

-- A modern high-performance drivetrain, which is good for the 30-year life of the vehicle and thereby obviates the need for a mid-life upgrade;

-- Load-carrying potential of up to 42 tonnes, which provides the ability to meet future threats likely to appear over its entire 30-year life;

-- A Common Base Platform that will support all variants such as an Armoured Personnel Carrier, Protected Mobility vehicle, a Repair vehicle and a Recovery vehicle;

-- A proprietary open electronic architecture, available across all variants, which will make the SV fleet easier to maintain, ease the training burden, and play a key role in lowering costs throughout the life of the vehicles; and

-- The advanced turret design which, because of its internal space and leading ergonomics, delivers improved survivability and fightability for its crew.

The innovation of a 1.7 meter turret ring means that the Scout turret is designed to optimise fightability by maximising space for the soldiers inside. This gives soldiers considerable room for modern display screens, comfort for long periods inside the turret and ease of movement, even while wearing full body armour. With the need for military electronics ever-expanding on operations, the open electronic architecture allows significant growth for upgrades.

The mule base unit, known as PT3, is based on a mature ASCOD vehicle already in service with the Austrian Army. The 1.7 metre race ring, specifically designed by General Dynamics UK for Scout, was integrated onto the vehicle by General Dynamics European Land Systems at its Simmering facility in Austria. The vehicle was then transported to General Dynamics UK's Pershore facility in Worcestershire, UK, to undergo a series of tests and prepare it to accept the EDU turret. It was then transferred to Lockheed Martin UK's facility in Ampthill, Bedfordshire last week for the integration of the turret.

In parallel, the first EDU turret was being built at Rheinmetall Landsysteme in Gersthofen, Germany. Rheinmetall Landsysteme designs, develops and manufactures the Scout SV Turret Structure for turret design authority Lockheed Martin UK. Following a successful first build of the turret, the mandated CT40 Cased Telescoped Cannon System was integrated into it and fired for the first time in May, five months ahead of schedule. It was also subsequently transported to Ampthill where it has been undergoing extensive testing and preparation for integration with the PT3 mule base unit.

British troops using the Scout SV will have the best protection available in this vehicle class, both as it is delivered and as it grows to meet future threats. The vehicle will be immediately capable of delivering load-carrying growth potential of up to 42 tonnes thanks to a modern, proven drivetrain. This means that SV is capable of being equipped to meet future threats likely to appear over its entire 30 year life, without the need to upgrade its engine or transmission during that time.