March 19th, 2015 By Air Force News Agency - defencetalk.com

When one door closes at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex regarding aviation modernization, that same door swings open for another opportunity.

In the 562nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers have completed a complex avionics and weather radar modernization package, referred to as BLOCK 16, with the final C-17 Globemaster set to fly home this month.

This steady program at Robins speaks to the highly-skilled maintainers who have worked on this particular upgrade package since 2007.

When the aircraft is returned to its crew at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, they will basically be getting a brand new transport aircraft, complete with state-of-the-art communications capabilities, navigation upgrades, and weather radar with new color palettes and improved display.

During the last several months, more than 3,000 wires were removed during the upgrade, with more than 7,000 new wires installed — a complex undertaking involving scores of video cables, data transmission cables, power lines, and the like.

“It will be sad to see them go because we’ve gotten so good at working on them,” said Eric Bickett, 562nd AMXS first-line supervisor. “Our maintainers have proven themselves, taking an aircraft that Boeing and the Air Force have sent us, and completely changing what it’s capable of. It truly looks factory (made) when we’re done with it.”

Working on the communications portion was perhaps the most time consuming, according to maintainers, as this involved removing old analog wiring and installing new digital control boxes, headset receptacles, etc.

Satellite communications capabilities through the addition of ports will also allow any of the military services who board the aircraft to set up their own equipment.

“The overall goal is to get all these C-17s to be one specific aircraft so any aircrew can jump from one to the other and everything will be exactly the same,” said Frank Kipa, 562 AMXS aircraft electrician.

“While these particular upgrades are now completed, we still have much work to do with maintenance. With the quality of work we do here, we look forward to any future mods coming our way,” he said.

As this was the last completed BLOCK 16 modification for WR-ALC in a fleet of more than 220 aircraft (several aircraft will be modified at a later date by Boeing’s San Antonio facility), work is ongoing to hit another milestone on BLOCK 17 upgrades, which installs combat lighting inside and outside the aircraft.

“Combat lighting gives the aircrew flexibility in how they illuminate the aircraft whether it’s inside or outside,” said Bickett. “For example, when troops are being medically treated inside, we’re able to provide capabilities that can block light from escaping to the outside. We can also illuminate the exterior using different covert lighting.”

“You can illuminate the flight deck, the cargo bay and outside completely different after this combat lighting upgrade. There’s a lot of flexibility, giving an aircrew plenty of options,” he said.

The final aircraft to receive this upgrade is scheduled to arrive in December, and will return to its customer a year from now in 2016.

The C-17, despite its size, is able to take off and land on short runways, and is constantly carrying out missions all over the world.

The Air Force received its final C-17 from production at Boeing in the fall of 2013, a move that had been expected for some time.

Robins not only maintains the C-17, which first flew in 1991, but is also responsible for sustainment of the aircraft through the C-17 System Program Office, which also plays a crucial role in the modification, maintenance and overall service of the entire fleet.

Bickett said he likes to ask what happens to aircraft once they leave Robins. He recalled looking online last August and recognized a photo of a C-17 that had passed through the complex.

The aircraft had conducted a humanitarian assistance operation to aid Iraqi citizens. At that time, thousands of Yazidis were attempting to escape the advance of Islamic State fighters and had become trapped on Mount Sinjar. An Air Force C-17 had been tasked to provide food and supplies.

“That’s what we do,” he said. “As much as these aircraft are flown with the different missions they do, the wear and tear, the hard landings — they hit the ground like it’s moving. We help keep these flying and in their current state.”

March 19, 2015 by Rostec

The new developments include communication, data transmission, and navigation equipment

United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC), which is part of Rostec Corporation, will deliver a new modification of the universal portable kits for soldiers (UPKS) to the ground troops of the Russian Army this year. The kits include communication, data transmission, and navigation systems that enable each individual soldier to operate in a united and automatically managed combat system.

The universal kit for soldiers will help automatize the management of motorized infantry units at the platoon, company, and division levels while also integrating soldiers into a united and automatically managed combat control system. The kit’s components allow soldiers to communicate clearly in navigating terrain, as well as to generate, transmit, and receive data on tactical situations.

The UPKS includes an improved portable radio, subscriber communications device, and tactical terminal. The radio can receive and transmit both audio and data over a distance of up to 5 km through two radio networks (unit and commander). The tactical terminal and subscriber communications device facilitate automatized control, communications, and situational awareness.

The equipment enables soldiers to work in local management and data exchange networks, integrates with GLONASS/GPS navigation systems, provides access to the radio interface of fighting vehicles, and facilitates connectivity to various observation and intelligence resources, including reconnaissance drones. All communications channels in the updated modifications are protected by encryption.

“Today, high-tech components are mandatory elements of combat equipment, including radio communication, navigation devices, handheld computers, software that allows connectivity to databases, electronic cards, and the ability to solve applied problems on a tactical level. UPKS meet all of these requirements,” said Tatiana Ositskaya, chief designer of the kit.

According to her, using the kit will greatly simplify the decision-making process during combat conditions. For example, targeting takes only 30 seconds, the time it required between detecting a target and transferring its coordinates to the necessary weapon for firing.

The kit components are secured on a standard military vest. Downloading additional software modules can expand and supplement the functionality of the kid without changing its components.

BERN, Switzerland, March 19 By Richard Tomkins (UPI

-- RUAG Defense of Switzerland has introduced a modular 120mm mortar system that comes equipped with a semi-automatic loader system.

The Cobra features electronic drives and shoot–and-scoot capabilities, multi-round capabilities and ballistic computing. It can be integrated into any lightweight vehicle, RUAG said.

"The RUAG Cobra mortar system incorporates RUAG's ballistic computing, allowing automatic gun laying and multi-round single impact capabilities," the company said. "The system is designed to fire any standard 120mm ammunition, including latest generation smart ammunition."

The Cobra system has a range of about 5.6 miles.

RUAG said the system was first unveiled last month at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Additional details on the system's specifications were not immediately available.

GREENVILLE, S.C., Mar. 18, 2015— Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin delivered [Mar. 18, 2015] a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) P-3 Orion aircraft 37 days ahead of schedule.

This is the 12th of 14 aircraft in the program to receive Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) modifications and phased depot maintenance. The MLU replaces the outer wings, center wing, horizontal stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer leading edges. All necessary fatigue life-limiting structures are replaced, leading to significantly reduced maintenance and sustainment costs. 

The completion of the aircraft significantly ahead of schedule allows for a quicker return of the aircraft to the CBP P-3 fleet supporting homeland security and drug interdiction missions. The MLU will enable the P-3 Orion to support operators for 20-25 more years.

About Lockheed Martin:

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 112,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2014 were $45.6 billion.

EVRY, France, March 19 By Richard Tomkins (UPI)

Arianespace reports it will launch two Earth Observation Satellites of the military of the United Arab Emirates in the coming years. The low-orbit Falcon Eye satellite being built by Airbus Defense and Space and Thales Alenia Space will be sent aloft on Vega, or Soyuz, launchers from the Guiana Space Center in 2018 and 2019 under a contract received from Airbus DS, the company said. No information as to the value of the contract received was disclosed.

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March 19, 2015 By: Beth Stevenson – FG

London - An arms transfer study from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) claims that only the UK and Nigeria have been the recipients of armed unmanned air vehicles, despite “widespread interest” in their acquisition.

The numbers of importers and exporters of both armed and unarmed UAVs has “grown significantly” over the past 15 years, SIPRI says, and between the period of 2010 to 2014, 35 countries and the UN acquired 429 UAVs that weigh more than 25kg.

The USA and Israel are the main suppliers, although Austria, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, South Africa and Sweden all exported UAVS, says SIPRI in its “Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2014” paper, released on 16 March.

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LONDON, March 19 By Richard Tomkins (UPI)

Additional pylons for BAE Systems' Hawk advanced jet aircraft trainer are to be manufactured in Malaysia by SME Aerospace.

BAE Systems, which did not disclose the value of the award, said the award is for 16 inboard and 16 outboard pylons for a key export customer.

"This is a further example of the excellent work being carried out in Malaysia's aerospace industry," said John Brosnan, managing director, South East Asia, BAE Systems. "SME Aerospace has an excellent track record in manufacturing pylons for Hawk aircraft and we are pleased with the continued manufacture and export of this key component by Malaysian industry.

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March 19, 2015 by JOSEPH TREVITHICK – War is boring

Eventually, the U.S. Air Force wants to replace the low and slow-flying A-10 Warthog with the fast-moving F-35 stealth fighter. But it’ll take years before the troubled jet fighters are ready for duty. In the meantime, the Air Force still needs a plane for dedicated close air support missions — something the A-10 excels at. So what does the flying branch propose? Not keeping the Warthog. Instead, the Air Force wants to replace the Warthog with a modified F-16 fighter jet — an old concept that failed to live up to expectations decades ago. The F-16s would fill in temporarily until the F-35s can take over. We have a hard time believing it — but yes, this is a serious proposal.

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Berlin - 19 March, 2015 European Defence Agency

Moscou, 19 mars 2015 Marine & Océans (AFP)

Les exportations d'équipements militaires de la Russie, deuxième vendeur d'armes de la planète, ont généré 15,5 milliards de dollars en 2014 malgré les sanctions occidentales visant le secteur de la Défense en raison de la crise ukrainienne, a annoncé jeudi un haut responsable russe.

"Nous avons légèrement dépassé nos prévisions, avec des ventes d'armes pour un montant total de 15,5 milliards de dollars", a déclaré Alexandre Fomine, directeur du Service fédéral de coopération militaro-technique, cité par l'agence de presse Ria Novosti.

En 2013, les exportations d'armes russes avaient atteint 15,7 milliards de dollars.

Les sanctions imposées par l'Occident "ont un impact indéniablement négatif sur notre travail mais le résultat de notre travail sera satisfaisant cette année", a ajouté M. Fomine.

La Chine et l'Inde sont les deux plus importants clients de la Russie, qui a également exporté pour environ un milliard de dollars d'armes au Venezuela et au Vietnam en 2014, selon Ria Novosti.

En janvier, le président russe Vladimir Poutine s'était félicité du maintien des exportations d'armes, vantant la réputation russe de "partenaire fiable et prévisible", une critique indirecte de la France qui a lié sa décision de livrer à la Russie des navires de guerre Mistral à un apaisement du conflit dans l'est de l'Ukraine.

Les sanctions imposées par Washington à la Russie pour son rôle présumé dans la crise ukrainienne portent notamment sur le secteur de la Défense. L'UE prohibe l'importation et l'exportation d'armes de et vers la Russie.

Les autorités russes ont mis des moyens importants ces dernières années dans la modernisation des forces armées et l'industrie de la Défense, une volonté renforcée avec la crise actuelle. Le secteur représente un poids croissant dans le budget de l'Etat.

Selon les statistiques publiées lundi par l'Institut international de recherche sur la paix de Stockholm (Sipri), qui portent sur une période de cinq ans (2010-2014), la Russie est le deuxième vendeur d'armes au monde derrière les Etats-Unis et représente 27% des exportations.

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2015 – By Nick Simeone DoD News

Pentagon officials are preparing to unveil the latest version of Better Buying Power, a multibillion-dollar equipment and service-buying program aimed at improving the acquisition process while maintaining the nation’s significant technological edge on the battlefield, the department’s chief acquisition officer said here yesterday.

Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, told a defense conference that Better Buying Power 3.0 will be largely about innovation, excellence and maintaining technological superiority -- “the things we can do that will make a substantial difference and give us a significant edge for a decade or more on future battlefields.”

More Capability, More Value

The Defense Department introduced Better Buying Power in 2010 to extract more capability for the warfighter and more value for the taxpayer. “This is largely about efficiency and productivity,” Kendall said.

The new version, which will roll out in the weeks ahead, will bring the intelligence community further into the acquisition process, Kendall said. It also will be more responsive and agile to threats while taking full advantage of quickly advancing technologies, including countering what he said is a growing threat of anti-satellite technology posed by Russia and China.

 “We are starting to do something about this, but we really haven’t made a great deal of progress yet,” he said. “We rely on a small number of very capable and very expensive satellites that are increasingly at risk, and that trend is going to continue to get worse.”

Lisbon - 19 March, 2015 European Defence Agency

Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency and José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, Minister of Defence of Portugal met today to discuss preparations of the European Council on defence issues in June 2015 as well as the implementation of the EU Maritime Security Strategy Action Plan.

The Portuguese Minister of Defence stressed the importance of the European Defence Agency, especially in the context of EU’s financial constraints. José Pedro Aguiar-Branco underlined the importance of R&T programmes as a way of developing defence and dual-use technologies. He also mentioned the importance of supporting the role of small and medium enterprises, since they are the backbone of the European Technological and Industrial Base. Finally, he underlined the need to work towards the full implementation of the December 2013 European Council conclusions in accordance with the agreed roadmap.

“The European Defence Agency witnessed Portugal’s hospitality and commitment to European defence corporation during the last three editions of Hot Blade which is part of our successful Helicopter Exercise Programme. To date, 174 helicopters, 329 crews and over 12.000 personnel have participated in seven live exercises organised as part of this programme. Portugal will also host the European Air Transport Training in June this year. By training together, our armed forces can be best prepared for their deployment in multinational operations”, Jorge Domecq said at the meeting in Lisbon.

During the visit, Jorge Domecq also met with the National Armaments Director, the Chief of Defence and other senior officials of the Portuguese Ministry of Defence. Additionally, he held discussions at the European Maritime Security Agency (EMSA) and the Portuguese defence industry organisation.

The main topics addressed during the meetings were the preparation of the Heads of State and Government discussion on defence in June 2015, the implementation of the EU Maritime Security Strategy Action Plan as well as support to defence industry with particular emphasis on small and medium sized enterprises.

Jorge Domecq’s meetings in Lisbon are part of a tour to all EDA Member States following his appointment as EDA Chief Executive and ahead of the European Council in June.

March 19, 2015: Strategy Page

U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) is testing a SilentHawk hybrid-electric motorcycle for troops to use in places where lightweight transportation is needed, especially in areas (like Afghanistan and Iraq) where roads may be risky because of roadside bombs and mines.

Some countries have already used conventional motorcycles with some success, but found that the noise a conventional motor generates was sometimes a problem. The SilentHawk has a max range of 370 kilometers (170 miles) but can run silent (on just batteries) for up to 80 kilometers. Weighing 149 kg (350 pounds) SilentHawk can also carry 34 kg (75 pounds) of cargo. While based on a commercial bile (RedShift), SOCOM is testing to see if the militarized version is rugged and reliable for battlefield use. SOCOM has tested all-electric bikes before but those did not have the range required for combat use. Despite that SilentHawk is designed so the gasoline motor can be easily removed providing a shorter (and a bit lighter) range all-electric bike.

Despite the noise factor British special operations troops used a militarized versions of the Yamaha Grizzly 450 in Afghanistan. Basically the Grizzly is a four wheel, 285 kg (628 pound) cross country motorcycle. This ATV (all-terrain vehicles) is 2.73 meters (six feet) long and 1.1 meters (3.5 feet) wide. In addition to the driver, there are racks on the bike that can carry another 80 kg (175 pounds). Grizzly can tow a trailer carrying another 159 kg (350 pounds) of cargo. Top speed, on a flat surface, without a trailer, is about 75 kilometers an hour. Cross country, it's usually about half that and a bit less if a trailer is being hauled. The British Army bought 250 Grizzly 450s in 2005, and these were very popular with the troops in Afghanistan. There they are used for patrolling and hauling supplies to troops in isolated positions. The British paid $41,000 for each bike, although that includes a trailer, spare parts, and technical services. The civilian version goes for about $8,000 each.

ATVs have proved particularly useful, and popular, in Afghanistan, especially for special operations forces. There are many models in use, all of them militarized civilian vehicles. These vehicles are innovative both in original concept and how they are constantly modified and upgraded. One useful innovation was the use of non-pneumatic tires. This first showed up as optional equipment for the MV850 ATV. This is an 800 kg (1,800 pound) 4x4 vehicle with the largest cargo carrying capacity (385 kg/850 pounds) of any vehicle in its class. It is a compact vehicle at 242.3x120.1x152.4cm (94.5x47.3x60 inches). It can also haul a trailer carrying 680 kg (1,500 pounds). Top speed is 83 kilometers an hour.  The non-pneumatic tires are not solid like traditional tires but built with a web of plastic honeycomb and surrounded by a thick band of rubber that is very similar to the tread found on pneumatic tires. These tires can survive a hit by a 12.7mm (.50 caliber) bullet and keep going. They feel about the same as pneumatic tires, although some users report they are not as effective in mud or watery surfaces.

The U.S. Department of Defense has been buying ATVs (as well as motorcycles) for American troops in Afghanistan since 2004. One of the more popular models was the Ranger, which is a militarized ATV that is 2.9 meters (nine feet) long, 1.6 meters (five feet) wide, weighs 760 kg, and can carry nearly as much. There are two seats and a rear deck that can hold up to half a ton of cargo. The top speed of 67 kilometers an hour and the ability to ford 76 cm (30 inches) of water contributes to excellent cross country performance. A 49 liter (13 gallon) fuel tank gives the Ranger a range of 500 kilometers or more, depending on how much time is spent off-roads. The Ranger engine burns military JP8 fuel and generates 40 horsepower. The Ranger began arriving in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2006, initially for use by light infantry and commandos. Troop reaction was positive. SOCOM has long been a user of various ATVs. Eventually, regular army units got the ATVs, mostly for hauling gear around remote outposts. ATVs could be flown in slung under a helicopter. The ATVs were often used to collect air dropped supplies that, because of the often unpredictable winds, fell far from the base.

The ATVs have been so popular that many troops have bought them when they get back home and use them for cross-country trips (for camping, hunting, or just sightseeing). The army has bought some of these ATVs for use by troops just returned from Iraq or Afghanistan. It's the kind of high-excitement recreation that has been found to help the troops decompress after returning from a combat tour.