Is Hawker Beechcraft down to its last strike? Ever since a brutal downturn took hold in the business aviation sector three years ago, deliveries of T-6 trainers and intelligence-and-reconnaissance versions of King Air models to the Pentagon and other militaries have been a lifeline for the Wichita-based company. Sales have been so brisk that the company's owners have fielded queries about the profitable military business from unsolicited buyers.
Bill Sweetman (Washington), David Fulghum (Washington)
The small unmanned aircraft was carrying sensor balls mounted in an internal compartment with specially treated transparent panels—developed for the F-22.
Building Business AgustaWestland continues to invest more than 10% of revenue in R&D, to maintain helicopter development, upgrade existing models and extend its catalog. The company, owned by Finmeccanica, is entering the unmanned rotorcraft market and will have its first demonstrators this year. Also planned are the maiden flight of the 8-ton AW189 helicopter (see photo), unveiling of a new 4-5-ton helicopter, and initial operational capability of the T129, the Turkish variant of the AW129 Mongoose combat helicopter.
Russia is adapting its military to new threats, most of which come from neighbors. This large-scale reform started in 2008, after the war with Georgia over the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and is aimed at enabling the military to quickly respond to local challenges. In a presentation on the new shape of the armed forces, Army Gen. Nikolay Makarov, chief of the general staff, confirmed that Russia could be involved in conflict around most of its borders.
Ballistic missile defense (BMD) needs saved the U.S. Navy's DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class production line from mothballs a couple of years ago. Now the service is treading water, trying to keep the destroyers shipshape and their missile-defeating Aegis combat systems up and running.
Growth Dynamics Aselsan, Turkey's biggest defense contractor, started in 1975 as a small company doing licensed production of electronic systems. Aselsan today is a high-tech company with four divisions representing almost every facet of defense electronics. It continues to grow, giving Turkey independence in a key segment of defense technology.
A satirical comic strip called Doctrine Man has racked up followers on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for its smart, sarcastic commentary on military life. So who is Doctrine Man? He asks the same question: “Caped man of mystery, mild-mannered Army officer gone cynical, or just another ham with mediocre PowerPoint skills?
Trailblazer In a field that has traditionally been dominated by defense contractors and large auto manufacturers, Granite Tactical Vehicles of Mount Pilot, N.C., is a rare creature. Started by former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Berman, the company is competing for lucrative Defense Department contracts to refurbish thousands of Humvees to make them more survivable.
Bill Sweetman (Washington), Paul McLeary (Washington)
“We have run out of money, so now we must think,” remarked U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove during a presentation on the emerging Air/Sea Battle concept in July. It's becoming a common saying. The military is not in its current predicament by accident. Poor performance—programs years or decades behind schedule, costing too much to acquire and costing far too much to operate—has helped drive almost every military in the world to make pious sounds about “doing more with less” while doing exactly the opposite.
Most European nations are cutting defense spending as they struggle with national debt and the growing impact of the euro crisis. The long-standing NATO recommendation that members spend 2% of GDP on defense will be achieved by fewer countries. Even governments that meet this target will spend less in real terms as economic problems force declines in GDP.
Early December—as this is written—is not the best time to talk about the future of the Eurofighter Typhoon program. India's defense ministry may have announced the winner of its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contest by the time this issue appears.
As two Asian giants jostle for regional power and influence, India, traditionally the silent one, is now working to diffuse tensions with its largest trading partner, China.
Recent events in the West Bank raise suspicions that ultra-religious Jewish settlers are operating a terror organization, which has committed several dozen “price-tag” attacks against Palestinians over the past year. A price-tag attack is one in which radical settlers exact a price from local Palestinians for actions taken against their settlements.
Germany's defense budget will rise in 2012 by €200 million ($264 million) to €31.7 billion, but the trend over the next five years is down, to a planned €30.4 billion in 2015. The armed forces will be reduced to 185,000 troops, with the aim of sustaining international deployments totaling 10,000 troops. Some 170,000 troops will be professionals or long-term volunteers, while 15,000 will serve for up to 23 months. Conscription ended last July, and bases are being reduced to 264 from 328.
The defining event in China in 2012 will be the change of leadership. Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders will retire and the so-called fifth generation will take the helm for the next decade. They are unlikely to introduce radical change because the CPC's legitimacy has come to rest on its ability to deliver growth and prosperity, and the greatest risk to the regime lies in a sluggish economy and massive unemployment. Market-oriented reform will thus continue.
The nickname “Beast of Kandahar” that I bestowed on the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) when initial photos appeared in December 2009 is now being used by Iran's Press TV international news channel. That aside, the circumstances of the Sentinel's unplanned TV debut teach some important lessons.
Of three major fighter competitions—in the United Arab Emirates, India and Switzerland—that were to have been decided by the end of 2011, it looks as though two will be decided this year.
Recent cabinet discussions called for cuts equivalent to $800 million in Israel's military budget. Defense Minister Ehud Barak objected, but they were approved. The military cautioned that when finalized the cuts could be more—$2.4 billion—and set back production of missile-defense systems, strategic stockpiles and other priorities.
The Indian army conducted one of its largest war games ever in December, “Sudarshan Shakti,” in the western Thar Desert. The exercise involved 300 tanks, 250 artillery guns and 50,000 soldiers.
