Jan 8, 2014 ASDNews Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation

Under a recent contract order for the production of Aegis weapons systems, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the U.S. Navy championed an affordability approach that will drive cost savings into all phases of the program, including production, integration and test.

The $574 million contract includes the production of seven destroyers (DDGs 117-123) and an option for one Aegis Ashore assembly, which together will contribute to the United States Navy and Missile Defense Agency's layered defense system. The systems will operate the next generation integrated air and missile defense capability, Aegis Baseline 9, at their core.

"Four decades ago, the Aegis program was born at our facility in Moorestown - and today it has evolved into a national asset, both at sea and on shore," said Dale P. Bennett, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Training business. "This contract represents the partnership and innovation of our joint government/industry team who are bringing the future of Aegis to the warfighter in an affordable and sustainable way."

The central component of the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis weapons system is the SPY-1 radar, the most widely fielded naval phased array radar in the world. The team recently completed the 400th SPY-1 antenna at its Moorestown facility. The Aegis weapon system and SPY-1 radar are deployed on more than 100 ships worldwide.

The additional Aegis Ashore assembly will be built as part of the administration's European Phased Adaptive approach and deployed to Poland, the second Host Nation participating in the missile defense strategy. Aegis Ashore is an evolution of proven sea-based Aegis BMD capabilities and utilizes innovative adaptations for a land-based environment. The Aegis Ashore system to be deployed to Romania, the first Host Nation, recently entered its operational readiness stage in Moorestown, N.J., while the Aegis Ashore system at the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii is preparing for its first live test next year.

Jan 8, 2014 ASDNews Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) received an $84.5 million contract on Dec. 23 from the U.S. Navy to produce paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds (ELGTR).

Under the four-year indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, Lockheed Martin will deliver ELGTRs, shipping containers, logistics and product support to the U.S. Navy.

"Lockheed Martin remains committed to providing U.S. Navy aircrews with the most innovative, advanced and cost-effective training solutions," said Joe Serra, precision guided systems manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We are nearing completion of multi-carriage ELGTR development, which will further increase training efficiency, proficiency and flexibility."

This contract extends delivery of ELGTRs to the U.S. Navy through 2018. Lockheed Martin has produced advanced training solutions for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and international customers since Laser Guided Training Round production began in 1992, and has delivered more than 130,000 training rounds to date.

ELGTR emulates cockpit indications, release and terminal characteristics of the paveway II laser guided weapon systems to provide affordable, high-performance aircrew training without depleting paveway II laser guided bomb (LGB) tactical inventory. Recognized worldwide as the only live-fire training solution for warfighters, the ELGTR is compatible with F/A-18, AV-8B, F-16 and various international aircraft.

In addition to paveway II ELGTR, Lockheed Martin's 350,000-square-foot production facility in Archbald, Pa., designs and manufactures combat-proven paveway II Plus LGB kits. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 70,000 LGB kits and 7,000 Dual Mode LGB kits to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and international customers.

Jan 8, 2014 ASDNews Source : A7 Helmet Systems

A7 Helmet Systems, LLC, (“A7HS”), announced today that an independent laboratory has validated the extraordinary blunt-impact performance of the company’s ASH-22 BioRmr™ padding system for combat helmets.  A7HS contracted an accredited third party, Chesapeake Testing, to test the system in Advanced Combat Helmets (ACH) and tested it in accordance with AR/PD 10-02 Rev. A, Change 3, at all specified climate conditions (14oF, 70oF, and 130oF) at impact speeds of 10 ft/sec. and 14.1 ft/sec.  The results showed that the average head acceleration for multiple impacts across all temperatures was 80.5G at an impact speed of 10 ft/sec., and 135G at an impact speed of 14.1 ft/sec.  For context, the blunt-impact standard for padding systems currently used in the ACH is a maximum peak acceleration of 150G at 10 ft/sec., and the impact speed of 14.1 ft./sec. represents roughly a doubling of the impact energy.  Accordingly, the ASH-22 BioRmr™ system meets the urgent needs of defense and law-enforcement agencies around the world for a practical and cost-effective way to improve the blunt-impact performance of ACHs and thereby help prevent or reduce the severity of blunt-impact induced brain injuries suffered by warfighters.  The breakthrough was achieved as the result of an agreement between A7HS and U.K.-based D3O to share proprietary technologies related to impact-attenuation, including the exclusive use of D3O’s lightweight D3O® Aero material in A7HS’s one-piece, adjustable ASH-22 design.

“A7 Helmet Systems has always thrived on the challenge of developing the best possible suspension and padding systems for combat helmets and we are proud to be the first and only company to have developed a system that meets and exceeds the 10 and 14.1 ft/sec. design goals,” stated Kerry S. Harris, a former U.S. Marine who is a founder of the company and designs all of the company’s systems.  “Warfighters need and deserve the highest level of protection against blunt impact related concussions and other types of brain injuries and the validation of the ASH-22 BioRmr means we are on track to field the system in the first quarter of 2014.”

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Tokyo s’inquiète d’une utilisation militaire du matériel livré par Paris

Chine : un embargo décidé après Tian’anmen

L’embargo sur les livraisons d’armes à destination de la Chine visait à sanctionner le régime chinois après le drame de Tian’anmen, le 4 juin 1989. Il a été adopté suite à une déclaration du Conseil européen le 27 juin de la même année.
Depuis pékin tente de le faire lever. Si les pays européens ne sont toujours pas d’accord pour le faire par contre certains, dont la france, le Royaume-Uni, l’Allemagne, l’Italie ou encore l’Espagne, ne seraient pas contre une révision de celui-ci.

​VAN NUYS, Calif., Dec. 20, 2013 - Exelis

Exelis has received a contract valued at more than $8 million to provide transportable, precision ground control approach capabilities to the Estonian armed forces. The GCA-2020 radar system will enable Estonia Ämari Air base, one of NATO’s most modern bases, to support NATO exercises, contingencies and humanitarian efforts.

With this contract, Exelis continues to extend its leadership in the growing field of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and analytics to serve the needs of customers in global markets. Most recently, Exelis received an award for a similar solution from the Swedish armed forces.

“This award expands our footprint of radars supporting critical transportation networks across Europe and strengthens our position as the premier supplier of ‘ready-now’ air traffic control solutions,” said Dave Prater, Exelis vice president and general manager of the radar, reconnaissance and undersea systems business. “Exelis is committed to providing our allies with this key component as they continue to modernize their air traffic management infrastructure and capabilities.”

The Exelis GCA-2020 provides the high-performance air navigation services required to meet demanding NATO flight safety standards. The solution provides Estonia with a transportable, solid-state, electronically scanning radar providing three functions — primary surveillance, secondary surveillance and precision approach— in a single integrated unit. The GCA-2020 also provides Estonia with global compatibility and standardization with NATO systems operating at 11 other sites across Europe.

More than 70 years ago, Exelis pioneered the development of air traffic control and 3-D air defense radars for tactical and naval applications and remains the world leader in supplying air traffic control radar systems designed for military use. The GCA-2020 operates daily in environments ranging from the Arctic Circle and the deserts of Northern Africa to the rainforests of Asia and South America.

About Exelis
Exelis is a diversified, top-tier global aerospace, defense, information and services company that leverages a 50-year legacy of deep customer knowledge and technical expertise to deliver affordable, mission-critical solutions for global customers.  We are a leader in timing and navigation, sensors, air traffic solutions, image processing and distribution, communications and information systems, logistics and technical services; and we are focused on strategic growth in the areas of critical networks, ISR and analytics, electronic warfare and composite aerostructures. Headquartered in McLean, Va., Exelis employs about 19,000 people and generated 2012 sales of $5.5 billion. For more information, visit our website at www.exelisinc.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

January 8, 2014 by Tamir Eshel - defense-update.com

Israel Military Industries (IMI) has announced the release of a new 5.56mm cartridge dubbed ‘Razor Core’, optimized for higher performance. According Israel to Shmilovitz, IMI Vice President and Managing Director of IMI’s Yitzhak small-caliber ammunition division, the new cartridge is designed to achieve higher accuracy, effective stopping power at extended range of up to 600 meters.

Shmilovitz said this performance level makes the Razor Core attractive for special operations. “The Razor Core provides outstanding performance, while remaining at a very competitive price” Shmilovitz commented the new cartridge is already in production, and has been combat proven with an undisclosed customer. According to IMI the Razor Core cartridge is designed for military and law enforcement applications but, its accuracy and affordability make it suitable for commercial and sport shooting as well.

IMI’s small caliber ammunition division is recognized by the Israel Ministry of Defense as the prime supplier of small-caliber ammunition to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The division manufactures a complete range of ammunition, from 5.56mm to 0.5″ (12.7mm), including a wide range of armor-piercing, sniping and training ammunition. IMI’s 5.56mm BALL NATO and 9mm BALL NATO cartridges are both NATO qualified.

VAN NUYS, Calif., Jan. 7 (UPI)

U.S. electronics company Excelis says it is supplying Poland's armed forces with mobile ground control approach radar under a contract worth $76 million.

The GCA-2020 system is a solid state, electronically scanning radar system in a single unit that provides primary surveillance, secondary surveillance and precision approach air navigation services. Exelis said it meets International Civil Aviation Organization and NATO flight safety standards.

"The Exelis GCA combines advanced features with mobility to offer our Polish customers an agile, rapidly deployable air traffic management capability," said Dave Prater, Exelis vice president and general manager of the radar, reconnaissance and undersea systems business. "The integration of cutting-edge technology, compatibility and value that we offer our customers has reinforced our leadership and expanded our footprint in the critical network of global air transportation."

Sweden and Estonia recently ordered GCA-2020 systems. Systems for those countries and Poland -- 11 in all -- will be delivered this year.

Jan. 7, 2014 - By BURAK EGE BEKDIL – Defense News

ANKARA — Turkey’s procurement officials are hoping to penetrate into the emerging Libyan arms market, especially with aerial platforms Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is developing.

“We are hopeful about a powerful entry,” one senior procurement official said. “The Libyans are keen to explore possibilities of cooperation.”

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan visited TAI production facilities on Jan. 3, the company announced. It said that he was briefed on the possible sale of the T-129 ATAK attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter and the Hurkus basic trainer aircraft.

A TAI official said the company hoped to launch talks on potential sales of both platforms to Libya.

“Libya could be a promising market soon,” he said. “Especially in view of the fact that political relations are excellent.”

TAI has been developing the T-129 in partnership with the Italian-British AgustaWestland. Earlier, TAI launched talks on potential sales to Pakistan, Jordan and Azerbaijan.

The initial T-129A is being used for flight testing while the full specification T-129B is still under development. For any sales deal, however, Turkey must obtain US permission to export the LHTEC CTS800-4N engine powering the T-129.

The TAI official also said that Libya, which is still trying to improve its Air Force after a revolution toppled former leader Moammar Gadhafi, could be a potential buyer for the Hurkus trainer.

The Turkish government Dec. 26 signed a contract for the serial production of two versions of the Hurkus, an indigenous trainer aircraft developed by TAI. TAI has said the Hurkus-A, an analog cockpit-base model, made its maiden flight Aug. 23. It has flown a total of 800 hours in 15 sorties since then.

The contract involves the production of 15 Hurkus-Bs, an advanced version with improved avionics. Turkey’s military electronics specialist, Aselsan, will be tasked to produce military avionics for the aircraft.

TAI also said the contract involves conceptual design work for the Hurkus-C, an armed aircraft with aerial support, reconnaissance and surveillance roles.

The two-seat Hurkus will have a maximum lifespan of 10,500 flight hours, or about 35 years. The turboprop has a single 1,600-horsepower engine and can fly at a height of 10,577 meters at a maximum speed of 574 kilometers per hour.

The Hurkus will be equipped for day and night flying, as well as for basic pilot training, instrument flying, navigation training, and weapons and formation training. It will have good visibility from both cockpits, with a 50-degree down-view angle from the rear cockpit, ejection seats, an on-board oxygen generation system, an environmental control system, an anti-G system, and shock-absorbing landing gear for training missions.

23 December 2013 BAE Systems

A flexible and affordable approach to F-16 Upgrades.

The Republic of Korea has finalized an agreement with the U.S. government for BAE Systems to perform upgrades and systems integration for its fleet of more than 130 F-16 aircraft. The company will now begin the first phase of the work under contract through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Foreign Military Sales program.

“This agreement marks a significant expansion of our F-16 modernization business, and we’re eager to get to work,” said Erin Moseley, president of BAE Systems’ Support Solutions sector. “When we were chosen by the Republic of Korea last year, it showed that we are a viable and experienced provider of fighter jet upgrades and systems integration. As demonstrated by today’s important milestone, we offer cost-effective modernization solutions, customized to meet any country’s requirements.”

Under terms negotiated by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, BAE Systems will upgrade 130-plus KF-16C/D Block 52 aircraft, to include associated equipment, parts, training, and logistical support. Phase One of the work will begin immediately and will involve the initial design and development of the upgrade solution. Phase Two of the work, as proposed, would begin next year and would complete the production and installation of the upgrade kits in all of the aircraft over the next several years.

BAE Systems’ experience with the F-16 dates back to the original 1970s-era aircraft, and has included flight control computers, cockpit displays, electronic warfare systems, and support equipment. Today, the company is a major provider of mission electronics and flight systems for F-16 fleets around the world. The U.S. Air Force, for example, has approximately 270 F-16s in service that have been upgraded with the BAE Systems’ fire control system and advanced Ethernet interface.

The work to upgrade the KF-16 fleet will be performed primarily at BAE Systems’ facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Other company sites in Florida, New York, California, and Virginia will also be involved. BAE Systems expects to hire approximately 300 employees to help support the program.

Le MRAP est conçu pour protéger ses occupants des explosions de mines, ce qui en fait un véhicule très lourd...

6 janvier, 2014 Frédéric Lert (FOB)

En 2004, le Pentagone lançait le développement et la fabrication d’une large famille de camions blindés résistant aux mines : les MRAP. En moins de dix ans, 27.000 ont été fabriqués, pour la modeste somme de cinquante MILLIARDS de dollars… Ces véhicules ont depuis été crédités de plusieurs dizaines de milliers de vies sauvées en Afghanistan et en Irak.

Maintenant que le retrait d’Irak est consommé et celui d’Afghanistan bien engagé, que faire de cette montagne d’acier (plus de 400.000 tonnes de ferraille si l’on compte une moyenne de 16 tonnes par MRAP…) ?

Le Pentagone a tranché : sans réelle utilité en dehors du champ de bataille pour lequel ils ont été conçus, la moitié des MRAP fabriqués, environ 13000 véhicules, sera tout bonnement ferraillée, après seulement cinq ou six ans de service. Les véhicules coûteraient trop chers à ramener aux Etats-Unis puis à réparer et à entretenir. C’est une exercice de comptabilité assez simple : le coût du démantèlement d’un MRAP en Afghanistan est estimé à 12.000 $. Il en faudrait vingt fois plus pour rapatrier ce même camion et le remettre à neuf pour lui faire commencer une deuxième vie.

Déjà plus de 2000 véhicules sévèrement endommagés ou usés ont connu la torche des ferrailleurs afghans.

Le plus délicieux dans cette affaire est que les MRAP encore en bon état ne peuvent pas être donnés aux Afghans car ils sont jugés trop complexes à entretenir, avec trop d’électronique à bord. Les Afghans s’en moquent un peu d’ailleurs, puisqu’ils vont mettre la main sur des montagnes de climatiseurs, de Hummer, de pick-up et autres scoubidous kakis… La vente ou la cession de MRAP à des pays amis un peu plus évolués n’a pas non plus attiré les foules, avec moins de 400 véhicules cédés à ce jour. Car le problème reste bien de faire sortir les camions d’Afghanistan, avec les aléas de la route pakistanaise ou le coût prohibitif du transport par air.

SAN DIEGO – Jan. 6, 2014 – Northrop Grumman Corporation

Testing Validates Aircraft Performance Before Surveillance Sensors are Installed

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Navy have completed nine initial flight tests of the Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS), marking the half-way point in a process called envelope expansion. 

During envelope expansion, the test team validates the aircraft's ability to operate at a range of altitudes, speeds and weights. The flights are taking place at the company's manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif.

"Completion of envelope expansion will allow the test team to prepare for installation and further testing of Triton's surveillance sensors," said Mike Mackey, Northrop Grumman's Triton program director.

The Triton test team accomplished endurance flights up to 9.4-hours at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. The aircraft also performed doublets, a maneuver that tests the aircraft's ability to recover from small perturbations in its flight path caused by turbulence.

Triton carries a variety of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensor payloads that allow military commanders to gather high-resolution imagery, use radar to detect targets, and provide airborne communications and information-sharing capabilities to military units across long distances.

The Navy plans to field 68 Triton UAS and will be used with the manned P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to conduct surveillance missions.

Triton completed its first flight May 22.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

OTTAWA, Jan. 7 (UPI)

Canada's recent decision to scrap its close combat vehicle procurement program has been strongly criticized by contract bidder Nexter Systems Canada.

The company, a subsidiary of France's Nexter Group, said it was astonished by the move and that it expected the government to reimburse competing companies for monies expended in the bidding process.

"Nexter has invested a great amount of time, energy and resources in the CCV program over the past four years," said Patrick Lier, senior vice president of Nexter System. "Millions of dollars have been spent because we believed the competition would be fair, open and provide a rigorous assessment of the candidate vehicles with a view to acquiring the best possible medium weight infantry fighting vehicle for Canada.

"Under the circumstances, we would certainly expect that the Canadian government will open discussions with the bidders to provide information on which vehicle won the competition. It is important that other allied militaries interested in providing the best vehicle for their soldiers have the benefit of information generated by the rigorous testing process conducted by the Canadian Armed Forces ...

"In addition, it would be our expectation that the government would compensate industry bidders for the cost of their bids."

The vehicle program, worth more than $2 billion, was for the procurement of 108 new close combat vehicles. Two request for proposals were issued.

As well as Nexter, BAE Systems Inc. and General Dynamics Land Systems were involved in the competition.

The Canadian government, just before Christmas, announced it was dropping the project and said it was doing so as a result of a recommendation from its military, which now believes upgrades to its LAV [light armored vehicle] III fleet will be sufficient for the country's military needs.

"These capability improvements combined with an assessment of the most likely employment scenarios for the Canadian Armed Forces in the future were the most important factors in our analysis," Gen. Tom Lawson, the chief of defense staff, was quoted in news reports. "Based on this assessment and the fundamental principle that the Canadian Armed Forces do not procure capabilities unless they're absolutely necessary to the attainment of our mandate, we've recommended to the government of Canada not to proceed with the procurement process for the close combat vehicle."

Nexter said General Dynamics Land Systems was awarded the LAV upgrade contract in 2011, yet the government decided to go ahead with a second request for proposals for the CCV program.

"It knew the capabilities of both vehicles at that time yet decided to proceed with another RFP and engaged industry in another costly competition," it said.

The decision by Canada comes amid budget constraints, which have seen baseline funding cut by 22 percent, and concerns by the military over the costs for maintaining and operating the new vehicles.

06 Janvier 2014 Guillaume Champeau - numerama.com

Orange a acquis la société de sécurité Atheos, pour renforcer son offre de gestion de la confidentialité des informations, sous une bannière "Orange CyberDefense"

Les révélations d'Edward Snowden sur les programmes de surveillance de la NSA auront au moins eu le mérite de remettre la sécurité des informations confidentielles au premier rang des préoccupations, et d'en faire un objet de luttes commerciales bien plus important qu'auparavant. Ainsi quelques jours après avoir annoncé sa volonté de se constituer partie civile contre la NSA pour le piratage du câble sous-marin SE-ME-WE-4, Orange annonce ce lundi l'acquisition de la société française Atheos, qui se définit lui-même comme "partenaire naturel des stratégies de cybersécurité" et "premier cabinet de conseil et d’intégration à dédier ses compétences à la gestion des risques et la sécurité des systèmes d’information des plus grands comptes français".

Selon son site internet, Atheos dispose de trois domaines d'expertise principaux : la gestion des identités et des autorisations d'accès aux documents ; la "protection du patrimoine informationnel" (classification des informations, stratégies juridiques de protection des données, contre-mesures physiques ou logicielles,...) ; et la "cybersurveillance et sécurité de l'information".

Sur ce dernier point, Atheos dit ne procéder qu'à des stratégies "défensives", en offrant des solutions de détection des invasions et de prévention des risques, ainsi que d'archivage à valeur probante pour pouvoir attaquer en justice en cas d'attaque.

"Par cette acquisition, Orange Business Services renforce significativement son offre, notamment autour de deux enjeux clés pour les entreprises aujourd’hui ; le contrôle d’accès et la lutte contre les fuites d’information ; et la cyberdéfense active (identification avancée des failles et des vulnérabilités, détection et interprétation des signaux faibles d‘attaque, gestion des crises et intervention sur site)", indique Orange. Les deux sociétés verront leurs solutions réunies sous une bannière Orange CyberDefense.

Fondée en 2002, Atheos réalise plus de 23,2 millions d'euros de chiffre d'affaires, et emploi 140 consultants.