September 9, 2014: Strategy Page

In August 2014 the U.S. Air Force grounded 82 F-16D jets after cracks were discovered in longerons (metal support beams inside the forward fuselage, which hold the cockpit in place). The D version of the F-16 is the two seater used for training. Some 16 percent of the 969 F-16s in the U.S. Air Force are the D model and these are all at least 24 years old with more than 5,500 hours in the air. The longeron design for the D model is different than that for the single seat models because the D model has a longer cockpit canopy. The air force is making repairs and replacements to put the grounded F-16Ds back in service.

There was a similar problem in 2013 with some older F-15s. In this case the longerons in question were eventually discovered to be defective, not suffering from old age. The inspections of the older F-15s found substandard parts in 182 aircraft. Boeing (the manufacturer) eventually admitted that it had built over a hundred F-15s using longerons that were not 2.5mm thick, as specified, but in some cases only one millimeter thick. That apparently worked when the F-15s were new but age was not kind to the thinner metal and it eventually broke. Thicker stuff apparently would not have failed because of age.

The U.S. F-16 fleet is rapidly aging. The average age of existing F-16s is over 25 years, and the average aircraft has over 6,000 flight hours on it. Back in 2009 the first Block 40 F-16 passed 7,000 flight hours. In 2008 the first of the earliest models (a Block 25) F-16 passed 7,000 hours in the air. The F-16C was originally designed for a service life of 4,000 hours. But advances in engineering, materials and maintenance techniques have extended that to over 8,000 hours. Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, F-16s sent to these areas will fly over a thousand hours a year more than what they would fly in peacetime.

The U.S. F-16 is one of the most modified jet fighters in service. The most numerous F-16 is the C model. The first version of this, the F-16C Block 25, entered service in 1984. The original F-16, as the F-16A Block 1, entered service in 1978. While most F-16s still in service are the F-16C, there are actually six major mods, identified by block number (32, 40, 42, 50, 52, 60), plus the Israeli F-16I, which is a major modification of the Block 52. Another special version (the Block 60), for the UAE (United Arab Emirates) is called the F-16E. The various block mods included a large variety of new components (five engines, four sets of avionics, five generations of electronic warfare gear, five radars and many other mechanical, software, cockpit and electrical mods.)

The F-16 is the most numerous post-Cold War jet fighter, with over 4,200 built, and still in production. During The Cold War, Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s, and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s, but since then warplane has plummeted about 90 percent. One exception, since the end of the Cold War, has been the F-16, which has been popular enough to keep the production lines going.

The F-16 can also function as a bomber and ground attack aircraft, although not as effectively as the air force folks would have you believe. It can carry four tons of bombs, and has been very effective using smart bomb. In air-to-air combat, F-16s have shot down 69 aircraft so far, without losing anything to enemy warplanes. Not bad for an aircraft that was originally designed as a cheaper alternative to the heavier F-15.

Les Américains tiennent un comptabilité précise de leurs bombardements. Ici une marque de victoire sur un bulldozer (!) inscrite sur un F-16 de l’US Air Force.

3 septembre, 2014 Frédéric Lert (FOB)

Etre le 8 et le 29 août dernier, après trois semaines de bombardement en Irak et une centaine de missions conduites contre les forces de l’Etat Islamique, les Américains ont détruit un total de 85 véhicules. Si l’on en croit la compilation faite des annonces du Pentagone, on trouverait dans ce total 19 Humvee, 43 « véhicules armés » (sans doute des pick up), un canon d’artillerie, un MRAP, un char etc.

Le tout pour un coût moyen de 7,5 millions de dollars par jour selon un porte parole du Pentagone. Ce chiffre est toutefois une moyenne prenant en compte les opérations d’assistance militaire qui durent depuis le mois de juin. Cette moyenne reflète donc mal l’engagement aérien existant depuis le 8 août, au lendemain de l’autorisation donnée par le président Obama de bombarder des objectifs en territoire irakien. Pour les deux tiers, ces bombardements ont eu lieu dans la région de Mossoul et de son barrage, dont le contrôle est essentiel à l’irrigation et à la fourniture d’électricité dans le pays.

Les chiffres donnés par le Pentagone font une fois de plus apparaître le coût direct disproportionné entre la mise en œuvre d’un porte-avions, d’avions de combat et de munitions sophistiquées, pour in fine compter des victoires remportées sur des pick-up coûtant dix fois moins que la bombe utilisée pour les détruire. La question n’est pas vraiment nouvelle : elle correspond bien aux contraintes nées des guerres dites « asymétriques » et aux limites de l’exercice consistant à combattre des mouvements révolutionnaires ou terroristes avec des bombes. Dans un conflit conventionnel, l’idée de détruire un char ou un avion de combat avec un missile est séduisante d’un point de vue économique : la munition coûte cent fois moins cher que sa cible. La proportion s’inverse dans les conflits que l’on connaît depuis la fin de la Guerre Froide, ce qui implique que le déroulement des opérations se juge également et plus que jamais d’un point de vue comptable. La seule façon de faire passer la pilule auprès des contribuables serait de présenter des résultats opérationnels à la hauteur des dépenses engagées, ce qui n’est jamais certain…

7 sept. 2014 45eNord.ca

02 septembre 2014 Murray Brewster - La Presse Canadienne

Un porte-parole du premier ministre Stephen Harper a affirmé que la déclaration finale au sommet de l'Alliance atlantique plus tard cette semaine décrira comme une «cible ambitieuse» l'objectif de longue date que les membres dépensent au moins deux pour cent de leur produit intérieur brut dans la défense.

Un compromis pourrait être sur la table pour les alliés, dont le Canada, qui sont réfractaires à l'idée d'accélérer les dépenses en défense pour respecter les normes de l'OTAN.

Un porte-parole du premier ministre Stephen Harper a affirmé que la déclaration finale au sommet de l'Alliance atlantique plus tard cette semaine décrira comme une «cible ambitieuse» l'objectif de longue date que les membres dépensent au moins deux pour cent de leur produit intérieur brut dans la défense.

Cela semble suffisant pour satisfaire le gouvernement Harper, qui a résisté aux appels pressants des États-Unis et du Royaume-Uni d'augmenter significativement son budget militaire coupé en fonction de l'objectif d'un budget équilibré l'an prochain et d'élections anticipées.

Suite de l’article

La NSA a secrètement créé un moteur de recherche, basé sur les métadonnées des communications recueillies par l’agence et conservées dans sa base de données. C’est l’information révélée ce lundi par le média The Intercept, s’appuyant sur des documents classifiés leur ayant été fournis par Edward Snowden.

Il était déjà d’intérêt public que la NSA partageait ses informations avec d’autres agences américaines, mais le cadre et la portée de ces échanges restaient jusqu’à présent des secrets bien gardés. Comparable à Google, ICREACH est utilisé pour partager les informations récoltées par la NSA avec les autres agences gouvernementales, notamment le FBI, la CIA, la DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) et la DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency).

850 milliards de métadonnées de communications privées - échanges téléphoniques, emails, conversations de chats et géolocalisations - sont partagées avec 1 000 analystes de 23 agences américaines, ainsi qu’avec les « 5 eyes shareable » : partenaires anglais (GCHQ), canadiens (CSE), australiens (DSD) et néo-zélandais (GCSB). Ces informations permettraient ainsi de suivre les mouvements d’une cible, de cartographier ses relations, de prédire ses futures actions ainsi que de révéler des éventuelles affiliations politiques ou religieuses.

Selon les documents de la NSA,  la création d'ICREACH représente un moment clé dans l’histoire de la surveillance américaine, le moteur de recherche est en effet le pionnier du partage à grande échelle d’informations classifiées entre agences.

Les informations minées par ICREACH concernent en majorité des citoyens étrangers, ainsi que des citoyens américains ayant un passé judiciaire, et peuvent donc être utilisées par les agences à des fins d’intelligence étrangère (un terme qui, comme le rappelle The Intercept, est bien plus large que le contre-terrorisme). Le moteur de recherche ne semble donc pas être lié à la fameuse base de données 215 de la NSA, collectant des informations sur des milliers de citoyens américains ordinaires selon la section 215 du Patriot Act.

Pour aller plus loin, consultez l'article de The Intercept. 

14 August 2014 naval-technology.com

Remotec, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary, has been awarded a contract by the US Navy to repair and upgrade 103 Mk3 series remote ordnance neutralisation systems (RONS), which will boost the potential and availability of explosive ordnance disposal robots.

Awarded by the Naval Surface Warfare Centre, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, the value of the IDIQ contract could reach $12m if all options are exercised.

The RONS IDIQ contract includes the provision of depot-level repair support, modernisation of the Mk3 Mod 0 and Mod 1 version systems, as well as the implementation of government-approved configuration management conversions and engineering improvements.

The contract also offers the US Navy an option to buy a new RONS robot under a separate agreement if upgrades or overhauls are not cost-effective.

Northrop Grumman Remotec director James Heverin said: "Remotec is pleased to build upon the relationship we have had with the navy since 1988 and [is] proud to continue providing unmanned ground vehicle capabilities that keep our military bomb techs safe.

"The RCT and RONS story is an excellent example of how the partnership between government and industry can leverage the government investment in systems while providing new capabilities to users."

The RONS robotic system offers army and Marine Corps explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams with safe and secure site access. It also executes missions, including reconnaissance, diagnosis, render-safe procedures and the disposal of ordnance and improvised explosive devices.

Capable of being controlled through a fibre-optic cable or radio, the system integrates a chassis with articulators and wheels for improved mobility, a powerful manipulator, five cameras and an operator control unit.

Heverin added: "As we plan for the next-generation of military EOD robots, we can continue to provide RONS with new capabilities to meet evolving threats well into the future.

"Without a doubt, everyone's aim is ensuring our bomb techs have the best equipment possible to keep danger at a distance."

The navy's Indian Head facility is responsible for the development and procurement of EOD equipment to meet joint service needs.

August 14, 2014 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued August 13, 2014)

-- BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $7,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for technical, cost, and risk assessments against select requirements for technology integration refinement that leverage the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) technology development phase assets for potential incorporation for a Future Fighting Vehicle (FFV) system.
Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 12, 2015.
One bid was solicited with one received. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,871,000 are being obligated at the time of the award.
Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-14-C-0128).

-- General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $7,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for technical, cost, and risk assessments against select requirements for technology integration refinement that leverage the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) technology development phase assets for potential incorporation for a Future Fighting Vehicle (FFV) system.
Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 12, 2015.
One bid was solicited with one received. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,871,000 are being obligated at the time of the award.
Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-14-C-0135).

Aug 12, 2014 ASDNews Source : Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey for AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $320 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 11, 2014.

The Government of Turkey has requested a possible sale of 145 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), 10 missile guidance sections, and 40 LAU-129 launchers, containers, support equipment, spare and repair parts, integration activities, publications and technical documentation, test equipment, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor logistics, engineering and technical support, and other related elements or logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $320 million.

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Aug 12, 2014 ASDNews Source : Naval Air Systems Command

The Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard in Newport News, Virginia is all abuzz as below deck-testing of the Navy’s newest aircraft launch system begins aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

Following months of large-scale hardware deliveries containing critical components of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and shipboard installation by HII, teams from the government and industry partner General Atomics completed installation of the software — the brains of the new system. Below deck-testing began Aug. 11 with the Launch Control Subsystem, the first of many subsystem assessments on the path toward EMALS shipboard certification.    

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12 Aug 2014 By: Dominic Perry - FG

Canada has shelved plans to acquire up to four manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms “due to reasons of security and technical feasibility”.

Ottawa launched the procurement process in August last year with the publication of a letter of interest (LoI) seeking an “enduring, operational level, multisensor, manned [ISR] capability”. It would look to buy three to four aircraft, it said.

An industry day was subsequently held on 20 September 2013 to further discuss the requirement.

However, just short of one year later Canada has pulled the plug on the process. In a notice posted on its public procurement website on 4 August, Ottawa says that “upon completion of an options analysis” it will no longer seek a “complete manned airborne [ISR] platform solution, due to reasons of security and technical feasibility”.

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Read more: Defense.org

August 13, 2014 David Pugliese

Nine airmen became the first U.S. Air Force recruits to graduate initial skills technical training as F-35 Lightning II crew chiefs after completing Mission-Ready Airmen training at Elgin Air Force Base on August 7, the U.S. Air Force reports.

More from George Woodward, 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs:

“The opportunity to be the first of something so important means a lot. I know many people are looking at us to be the best – it’s a big honor,” said Airman 1st Class, Saovada Pum.

“To be among the first to earn my 3-Level as an F-35 Crew Chief is a feeling of responsibility and also a significant measure of pride,” said Airman 1st Class Gideon R. Burris. “It’s special because the F-35 is the most technologically advanced aircraft in the air.”

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13 août 2014 US Navy