LONDON — European states need to quickly press ahead with a set of projects to preserve their defense aeronautics industrial base, an industry consortium urges. The Future Air Systems for Europe (or FAS4Europe) report calls for European Defense Agency (EDA) members to prepare an action plan this year and begin the first phase of their road map to preserve industrial skills in 2013. Moreover, the report, prepared by a Saab-led consortium, calls for the creation of an aeronautics working group to coordinate future activities, according to an executive summary.
Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) is recommending a revamp of the National Nuclear Security Administration, the agency in charge of maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Turner, the top Republican on the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, also is blasting the Obama administration for failing to request enough money for missile defense.
Northrop Grumman and Quest Aircraft Co. of Sands Point, Idaho, are teaming to explore civil, military and government applications of the Quest Kodiak aircraft integrated with a modular, reconfigurable C4ISR [command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] system.
Even though the U.S. and Russia are supposed to discuss an agreement on missile defense during the upcoming NATO summit in May, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) predicts that such an accord “is not going to happen.” The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee pointed to a March 19 statement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that the Russian military should develop plans to attack U.S. and NATO missile defense systems in Europe.
NEW DELHI — The Indian air force (IAF) has lost 33 combat jets in the last four years, 27 of them MiGs of various variants, mainly due to human error and technical defects, Defense Minister A.K. Antony reports.
PARIS — Even as it looks to boost order intake this year, European missile maker MBDA is focused on securing key programs in the coming months that should help shore up its long-term financial prospects. In particular, MBDA CEO Antoine Bouvier hopes European governments will start focusing on ballistic missile defense, Germany and Italy will consider joining the U.K. and France in pursuing a common path on deep strike, and France will move forward with the development of the MMP program aimed at fielding a replacement for the Milan missile.
LONDON — Russian Helicopters is looking to further strengthen its grip on the country’s rotorcraft industry by taking full control of the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP) production business.
MISSILE DECISIONS: The French military is still exploring whether to acquire the MBDA Dual-Mode Brimstone (DMB) used heavily by the Royal Air Force during last year’s Libya air war. DMB is only one of several options being considered. The interest is driven mainly by the low-collateral-damage nature of the weapon, says MBDA CEO Antoine Bouvier. A French program would be developed for the air force, with the service undertaking a study examining other options. The French navy so far has not shown interest. If France goes ahead with the program, the U.K.
House Republicans unveiled a budget proposal for fiscal 2013 that would reduce the federal deficit by $5 trillion, while sparing the Pentagon’s budget from steep cuts. It would provide $554 billion in defense spending and $88 billion for the war effort in fiscal 2013 along with $6.2 trillion for defense over the decade.
AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Linthicum Heights, Md. is being awarded an $87.8 million dollar firm fixed price contract a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program which will provide an AN/APG- 68 (V) 9 radar systems for the Royal Thai Air Force (6), the Republic of Iraq (22) and the Royal Air Force of Oman (15) for a total of 43 radar systems. The location of the performance is Linthicum Heights. The work is expected to be completed by March 31, 2015. ASC/WWMK, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8615-12-C-6047).
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new plan for acquiring border surveillance technology looks strikingly like the U.S. Army’s new acquisition plan: define capability gaps and then put the word out to industry to see what mature technologies exist that might fit the bill.
LONDON — The Australian government expects its plans to field a sixth Boeing C-17 will double the number of operational airlifters available for overseas duty to four from two.
While the U.S. Marine Corps and Special Operations Forces (SOF) are touting the operational performance thus far of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, recent upgrades are making the aircraft even better, according to a recent report from the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E). Marine and SOF brass told Congress the Ospreys were performing at least as well as advertised in recent budget testimony meant to persuade lawmakers to keep or augment modernization and procurement funding as multiyear contracting draws to a close.
ARMY Lockheed Martin, Mission System and Sensors, Liverpool, N.Y., was awarded a $166,044,028 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of enhanced AN/TPQ-36 radars, including spares, testing, and training materials. The work will be performed in Liverpool, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2017. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-12-C-C015).
The Obama administration is re-emphasizing the U.S. focus on Asia in general and China’s growing military power in particular, in part through the new Air-Sea Battle concept. The refocused U.S. interest includes expanding alliances and the development of India as a strategic partner. Now Air-Sea Battle has become a priority for Chinese intelligence, some U.S. analysts say.
NEW DELHI — India plans to establish nine defense projects, including a surface-to-air missile (SAM) facility, with an investment of 70 billion rupees ($1.4 billion) in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The SAM project is being built by state-run defense unit Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) at Ibrahimpatnam in Ranga Reddy district, near the state capital of Hyderabad. The site is likely to become operational in the next three years.
NEW DELHI — India is likely to induct the first squadron of 18 Medium-Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) into its air force by 2016, Defense Minister A.K. Antony told the lower house of Parliament on March 19.
Even in this dismal fiscal environment, some businesses can thrive, says an executive at Modus Operandi, a software and information integration technology company. To stay alive at a time when the Pentagon stands to lose up to $1 trillion over the next decade, small businesses like Modus Operandi need to have a plan, says George Eanes, vice president of technology transition, who adds that the company aims to grow by 30% this year and even more the following year.
SUB LIFE: The government of Norway is debating whether to extend the life of its current fleet of submarines or pursue a new program. The goal is to lock in a strategy to preserve Norway’s submarine capability after 2020. The country currently operates six Ula-class submarines, with the first one commissioned in 1989. As part of its analysis, the Norwegian Defense Logistics Organization is reaching out to industry to conduct a market survey. That process is aimed at establishing what options may exist for a new submarine procurement.
