India Withdraws Request for 126 Rafale Fighters From France

Parrikar said in late May that New Delhi required only 36 Rafale fighter aircraft instead of the previously planned 126. A month earlier, the French and Indian leaders announced a scaling down of the 2012 contract on the supply of 126 jets.

"The Request For Proposal (RFP) issued earlier for procurement of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) has been withdrawn," Parrikar said in a written reply to the Indian upper house of parliament.

He added that the Indian government intends to acquire 36 jets "in fly-away condition as quickly as possible."

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Airbus seeks to rebuild trust as A400M systems fall short

Airbus Group has told buyer nations of the A400M transporter aircraft that it cannot deliver all of its high-tech defenses according to plan, casting a shadow over some of its military uses as Europe battles growing instability on its borders.

The troop and cargo lifter was developed at a cost of 20 billion euros ($22 billion) for seven European NATO nations and is already in service with French forces in Mali. Other core buyers include Belgium, Britain, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey. Malaysia is so far the only export customer.

Some of the state-of-the-art systems designed to warn of threats such as missiles or hostile radar are more difficult than expected to develop, handing buyers a choice between taking planes or waiting for upgrades, European defense sources said.

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Second Artillery Corps can be used against enemy aircraft carrier: Yin Zhuo

Admiral Yin Zhuo of the People's Liberation Army Navy said that the exercise launched in the disputed South China Sea on July 28 was to test the capability of the Second Artillery Corps, China's strategic missile force, to sink enemy warships, according to the state-run People's Daily.

During the exercise, the abilities of China's Type 052C, Type 052D guided-missile destroyers and Type 054A guided missile frigates to defeat enemy aircraft, missile and electronic reconnaissance were tested under the coordination of the navy's air force and the Second Artillery Corps.

Yin Zhou said that the Chinese warships successfully disabled the radar systems of the enemy early warning aircraft with the assistance of the electronic warfare units in Guangzhou Military Region.

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Russia to re-start launches of ‘Satan’ ICBM

Russia plans to re-start trial launches of the RS-20 Voyevoda Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, after converting the Dnepr missile, also known by NATO as “Satan.”

Russia now possesses 60 such missiles which, over the next five years, will be withdrawn from service.

The plan is to use the Voyevoda missiles for civilian purposes, for commercial launches, to avoid having to destroy the expensive missiles.

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Malaysia signed deal for UK made SAMs

Malaysia has signed the deal for the procurement of the Thales Starstreak V-Shorads, ahead of the official visit of the UK Prime Minister on Thursday.

Industry sources told Malaysian Defence that the deal

involved Global Komited Sdn Bhd which will supply the GM-K1 vehicles and Thales UK, the producer of the Starstreak V-Shorads. The deal will also include light weight multiple launchers, radars and command and control system.

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Indigenous surface-to-air guided missiles to be deployed this year

Korea will deploy indigenous surface-to-air guided missiles by the end of this year as testing has been successfully completed, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Thursday.

"The Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) successfully conducted the quality certification firing of the Cheongung in late July," said the DAPA in a press release. "Mass production will begin in earnest this year following the completion of the quality-certification process."

A DAPA official noted that the product receives a pass mark if it hits its target twice out of three test-fires.

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NATO Split: Germany Wants to Withdraw Patriot Missiles From Turkey

Military expert of the German CSU party Florian Hahn called for the withdrawal of German Patriot missiles from Turkey due to attacks carried out by the government forces against the Kurds, DWN reported.

The expert believes that Germany and Turkey have less and less in common due to attacks of the Turkish forces against the Kurds in northern Iraq.

This signifies the first split inside NATO, which earlier decided to lend military support for its member, Turkey, the German newspaper wrote.

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Harris Corporation Awarded $29 Million Avionics Production Contract

The U.S. Navy has awarded Harris Corporation a two-year, $29 million full-rate production contract to provide key avionics components that will enhance flight crews' targeting capabilities on the U.S. Navy's and Australia's F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft and EA-18G Growler electronic attack platform.

The avionics are a critical part of the Distributed Targeting System which will significantly improve the aircraft's networking capabilities, enhance targeting precision and shorten the time from target sensing to shooting.

"The F/A-18 brings critical Navy fighter and electronic warfare capabilities for the U.S. and key allies such as Australia," said Ed Zoiss, president, Electronic Systems, Harris Corporation.

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Serbia to Buy Military Helicopters From Russia, Germany

Serbia will buy four military helicopters from Russia and Germany in the near future, the country’s Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said Thursday.

"We are approaching the final stage of the purchase of two Russian and two German military helicopters. The first delivery [of the helicopters] is expected soon," Gasic said in an interview with Tanjug news agency.

According to the minister, the helicopters that are due to be delivered have excellent performance capabilities and are perfectly equipped for carrying out search and rescue operations, even at night.

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Egypt to receive F-16 jet fighters: US Embassy

Egypt will receive eight F-16 fighter jets by Friday as part of a $1.3bn US annual military aid package. This comes in light of support for Egypt’s intense efforts to confront terrorism, a press release by the US Embassy in Cairo said Thursday.

“Extremists threaten regional security and these weapons systems provide a new tool to help Egypt fight terrorism,” commented US Embassy Senior Defense Official in Cairo, Major General Charles Hooper

The F-16 Block 52 aircraft is an advanced fighter jet built in the US state of Texas, and joins the Egyptian military’s existing fleet of US-made F-16 aircraft.

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Brazil's Embraer delays cargo jet, loses revenue on defense cuts

Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA said on Thursday it will delay development of a military cargo jet and forgo $300 million of revenue this year due to Brazil's weaker currency and defense spending cuts, triggering the biggest drop in its shares in nearly four years.

Embraer now plans to deliver its first KC-390 cargo aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force in the first half of 2018 rather than the end of 2016, the company said in its quarterly earnings report. The plane is the biggest Embraer has made.

Second-quarter profit fell 10 percent from a year earlier due in part to its flagging defense unit, whose contracts have been cut back and stretched out due to a government austerity push aimed at shoring up Brazil's investment-grade rating.

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LCS Anti-Sub Warfare Package Too Heavy; 3 Contracts Issued For Weight Reduction Study

The Littoral Combat Ship’s anti-submarine warfare mission package needs to shed some weight before it can deploy on a ship, and the Navy awarded three contracts to help find weight-reduction ideas.

The mission package includes two mature and fielded sonar systems, plus the hardware needed to integrate the systems with the ship.

LCS Mission Module Program Manager Capt. Casey Moton said Thursday at a Mine Warfare Association lunch that each of his three mission modules is given 105 metric tons of weight on the LCS, but the ASW as it stands today surpasses that limit.

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Report: US strategic bomber spending totals $58B through 2024

The US government expects to spend $33.1B building its next-generation strategic bomber over the coming decade and a further $24.4B upgrading the Northrop Grumman B-2 and Boeing B-52, according to a 30 July Government Accountability Office report.

The figures come as the US Air Force prepares to award a development contract for the Long-Range Strike Bomber to either Northrop Grumman or a Boeing-Lockheed Martin team. An announcement is expected in late August or early September and could be worth upwards of $80B to the winner for 80 to 100 new bombers.

The 10-year spending projections are accurate as of May 2014, but represent the most comprehensive bomber figures made public so far.

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L-3 Receives Award for U.S. Navy Universal Modular Mast Program

L-3 KEO announced in a July 30 release that it has been awarded a multimillion dollar contract from Naval Sea Systems Command to supply Universal Modular Masts (UMMs) for use on Virginia-class submarines.

Under the terms of the contract, L-3 KEO will supply two shipsets of UMM systems comprising eight individual UMMs, with options to produce up to 10 additional shipsets (80 UMMs) over a subsequent four-year period, as well as engineering services and spares.

L-3 KEO’s UMM serves as the lifting mechanism for five different sensors, including the Photonics Mast, High Data Rate Mast, Multi-Functional Mast, Multi-Functional Modular Mast and the Integrated Electronics Support Measures Mast.

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US Navy’s LCS 23 to be named as USS Cooperstown

The US Navy's latest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS 23) will be named as USS Cooperstown, navy secretary Ray Mabus has announced.

The new vessel will be named in honour of the veterans who are members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame located in Cooperstown, New York.

Currently, the US Navy is building two variants of the LCS, such as Freedom-class and Independence-class.

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Russia to Produce Cruise Missile Armed Ground Effect Vehicles After 2020

A GEV, or ekranoplan, is a vehicle that is capable of being elevated above ground or water, but should not be confused with a hovercraft or aircraft, though it floats like both above surfaces.

“The topic of ekranoplans is to be renewed with strike capabilities…and carry cruise missiles. Construction should begin after 2020 in the city of Nizhny Novgorod,” the Naval officer said.

According to the officer, the Defense Ministry has issued tactical and technical requirements and development work is underway.

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Russia Successfully Test-Fires Iskander-M Tactical Missile Systems

Russia’s Central Military District has successfully test-fired Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems, an official in the Russian armed forces announced Wednesday.

The Kremlin has deployed several Iskander missiles to its territories over the past few months amid growing tensions with the West over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Iskander-M, a version of the Iskander tactical missile system, can hit targets located deep inside the enemy lines. Officially adopted by the Russian Army in 2006, the Iskander-M missile system has a firing range of up to 310 miles, and is equipped with two guided missiles.

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New generation gunship arrives at Hurlburt

The first Air Force Special Operations Command AC-130J gunship made a historical entrance aboard Hurlburt Field on Wednesday — complete with a flyover and taxi underneath a fire truck water arch.

The gunship, a heavily-armed, ground-attack aircraft, is one of the Air Force’s most advanced weapons. It’s known for its ability to shoot a large amount of cannon fire at night, as it’s equipped with smart bombs.

“Air Force gunships have a 50-year history of calling Northwest Florida home starting with the AC-47 Spooky gunship from Vietnam,” said Lt. Col. Brett DeAngelis, commander of the First Special Operations Group Detachment 2.

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Cockpit checklist blamed for Nato training air disaster in Spain which killed 11

A carelessly positioned pilot’s checklist in the cabin of a fighter jet has been identified as the probable cause of the crash of a Greek F-16 in January during a Nato training exercise in southern Spain.

The two Greek pilots and nine French personnel on the ground were killed as the plane veered sharply right and slammed into a parking area for planes shortly after taking off in Albacete on January 26.

According to the investigation report, made public by the French defence ministry, the crash was due to incorrect settings of both the roll and yaw trims. Yaw trim, which controls the left-to-right movement of an aircraft was set to full right deflection, making it impossible for the pilot to compensate manually in such a short space of time.

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Turkey Seeks To Prevent Kurdish Autonomy, Not Fight IS, Analysts Suggest

Plans by Turkey and the United States to create an "Islamic State-free zone" in northern Syria along the Turkish border will serve Ankara's aims of stopping Kurdish militias from advancing in the area, analysts and Kurdish political leaders say.

The plan follows significant gains by the Kurdish People's Protection Units militia (YPG) against the IS militant group in northern Syria.

Last month, the YPG seized Tal Abyad, a key IS-held town, with the assistance of U.S. air strikes and Syrian Arab fighters. In doing so, the YPG cut off a major IS supply route but prompted thousands of Syrians to flee across the border to Turkey. On July 27, the YPG captured another town from IS, Sarrin near the Euphrates River, which IS fighters were using to launch attacks on Kobani close to the Turkish border.

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New interrogation system installed on AWACS, more in pipeline

Out with the old, in with the new, at least that's the case for the existing interrogation system found on E-3 Sentry AWACS.

The AWACS Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe (NGIFF) program office from Hanscom Air Force Base recently completed the first installation of the new AN/UPX-40 system, which also brings new enhancements onto an operational AWACS at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.

"This operational installation marks a huge milestone for the AWACS program," said Nick Grudziecki, the NGIFF deputy program manager. "And it's only the first of many."

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Airbus and Lockheed team for German Orion mid-life upgrade

Airbus Defence & Space is teaming with Lockheed Martin to provide a mid-life upgrade for the German navy’s eight-strong fleet of P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

The eight-year Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) contract will include re-winging the aircraft. This will be performed using mid-life upgrade kits that consist of an outer wing, centre fuselage and horizontal stabiliser.

The kits will be provided by Lockheed’s overseas services corporation division in Marietta, Georgia, with integration to be carried out by Airbus in Manching, Germany.

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The RAAF takes delivery of the most advanced warfare jet ever made, the Boeing Growler

Australia's regional air power dominance is assured with the delivery of the first of 12 RAAF EA-18G “Growler” electronic warfare jets.

The first of the Boeing-built aircraft was unveiled during a lavish ceremony at the company’s St Louis production plant.

As a brass band belted out patriotic tunes hundreds of guests including recently retired RAAF chief Air Marshal Geoff Brown, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Boeing staff and a large contingent of RAAF officers including Air Combat commander Air Commodore Steve Roberton admired the most expensive Australian fighter jet to ever carry the kangaroo markings.

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US Navy Builds Largest-Ever Amphibious Assault Ship for F-35 Fighters

Over at military.com, Kris Osborne reports that the assembly of the second America-class amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli, is going according to plan, with a third of initial construction already complete.

The ship “is approximately 30% complete. Fabrication has started on 211 units, 97% of all units, and 84 grand blocks are erected — 47% of the total,” according to a U.S. Navy spokesperson who provided Osborne with a written statement.

Scheduled for launch in in July 2017 and with a tentative induction date set for December 18, the ship is specifically designed to accommodate Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, along a host of other aircraft such as MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, CH-53 Super Stallions, and UH-1Y Huey helicopters.

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Huge Royal Navy aircraft carrier hull moved

The largest section of the HMS Prince of Wales, the second Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier, has been moved out of its dock hall, at BAE Systems yard on the River Clyde, for the first time.

Lower block 04, the hull of the ship, weighs over 11,000 tonnes and is larger than a complete Type 45 destroyer.

A single operator controlled nearly 2,000 wheels, moving at 1mph and taking over an hour to complete the move.

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Japan to Equip Two Warships With Laser Weapons

The Japanese Defense Ministry has allocated money in the defense budget for two new 27DD project destroyers. The warships will be equipped with a modified AEGIS complex weapon system.

The ships are planned to be equipped with not only an electromagnetic artillery installation (‘Railgun’), but also with a laser weapon complex designed to protect the ship.

The laser weapons are currently being developed by the Technical Research and Design Institute of the Japanese Defense Ministry.

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Two of China's warships converted to coast guard vessels

China is converting two of its four obsolete Type 053H2G-class frigates into coast guard vessels to carry out maritime patrol operations in the disputed East China and South China seas, writes British naval expert Andrew Tate in a piece for the UK-based IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.

Photos posted on the internet indicate that the modification of the two vessels is taking place at a shipyard in Pudong, Shanghai.

One of the vessels has had most of its armaments removed, including its YJ-83 anti-ship missile launcher, HQ-61 surface-to-air missile launcher, the twin 100mm gun turret and two aft twin 37mm gun mountings.

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Nearly complete Hainan naval base can dock two carriers

Hainan naval base
The basic construction of China's second People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier base on Hainan was completed in November 2014, according to an article in the August issue of Kanwa Defense Review, cited by the Chinese-language website of China's Global Times.

The base incorporates a pier which can dock large ships on both sides, suggesting that both carriers can dock at the PLA Navy's carrier bases at the same time, according to the magazine.

The magazine stated that the new base is 700 meters long, giving it the longest carrier berths in the world. The US Navy carrier base in Yokosuka in Japan's Kanagawa prefecture is only 400 m long, however, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, which is just 430 m in length, can also take carriers in two directions.

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Refurbished submarine rescue system passes tests

Crew members from Undersea Rescue Command (URC) and contractors from Phoenix Holdings International (Phoenix) completed an operational readiness evaluation (ORE) July 19, re-certifying the Navy’s deep sea submarine rescue capability.

The submarine rescue system had undergone an extensive refurbishment period.

The ORE, a component of crew certification, was the final step in a multistage process that enabled the URC-Phoenix team to become rescue-ready for worldwide submarine rescue.

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Sweden Spots a Russian Submarine, 99 Years Late

The mystery vessel was found off the Swedish coast last week lying on the sea floor, its hatches closed. Cyrillic letters on the hull suggested it was Russian.

In Sweden, where memories of the Cold War run deep, speculation swirled about whether the unidentified craft was a Russian submarine that had sunk while on a secret mission. Its age was not immediately obvious, and the Swedish authorities were unsure how long it had lain there, submerged and undetected.

This week, the Swedish authorities said they had solved the mystery: The vessel was an imperial submarine — nicknamed a Catfish — that had probably sunk after colliding with a Swedish vessel in 1916, during World War I.

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Brazilian police probe nuclear submarine program -Folha

Brazilian federal police are investigating potential irregularities in a military program that aims to build a nuclear-powered submarine in partnership with France by 2023, newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported on Wednesday.

Folha said police searched for documents that could prove their suspicions of fraud in the program. The search was part of a wider probe that led to the arrests on Tuesday of two executives involved in building a nuclear power plant for state-run utility Eletrobras.

Federal police did not respond to a request for comment and the newspaper did not say how it had obtained the information.

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Moroccans to receive refurbished aircraft

Three refurbished CH-47D Chinook helicopters are on their way to the Royal Moroccan Air Force as part of a foreign military sales case facilitated by the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command.

The helicopters, which will arrive in August, were requested for humanitarian services but can be used as transport vehicles, if needed. The fleet delivery will provide modernized vehicles to replace existing equipment which has become outdated.

In addition to the aircraft, the FMS case included training, tools, publications and spare parts, for a total case value of $78.9 million.

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Algeria’s Hardened S-300 Site Almost Complete

While rumors of Algeria receiving a S-400 battery from Russia continue to permeate the blogosphere, construction of the S-300 site over at Mers El Kébir is well underway.

Situated in Oran Province near the coast, Mers El Kébir is an important deployment location. It’s home to the Air Force’s frontline MIG-29 multi-role fighters, the Navy’s Kilo diesel electric submarines and OMCN/CNE shipbuilding, among others.

Once completed, it’ll be the country’s third S-300 site supporting the only known S-300 unit located on the northwest coast. The two other sites thought to host the system sit near Algiers, the nation’s capital and most densely populated city.

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Russia To Deploy S-400 Missile Defense System To Far East Region Of Kamchatka

Russia has deployed its advanced S-400 missile defense system to the region of Kamchatka in the Far East of Russia, said Pacific Fleet spokesman Roman Martov to pro-Russian news agency Tass on Tuesday.

While the sparsely populated area is far from the increasingly hostile warzone of east Ukraine, it does host Russia’s Pacific Fleet of warships and is not far from the U.S. state of Alaska.

"This event was preceded by the crews’ exercises at the Gatchina training aviation and air defense center to assimilate the new weaponry,” said Martov.

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Lockheed F-35’s Reliability Found Wanting in Shipboard Testing

The Marine Corps’ version of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter demonstrated poor reliability in a 12-day exercise at sea, according to the U.S. military’s top testing officer.

Six F-35Bs, the most complex version of the Pentagon’s costliest weapons system, were available for flights only half of the time needed, Michael Gilmore, the Defense Department’s director of operational testing, said in a memo obtained by Bloomberg News. A Marine Corps spokesman said the readiness rate was more than 65 percent.

While the exercise on the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp resulted in useful training for Marines and Navy personnel, Gilmore wrote in the assessment dated July 22, it also documented that “shipboard reliability” and maintenance “were likely to present significant near-term challenges.”

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Argentina chooses Israel over China for fighter jet purchase

Argentina has decided not to purchase the FC-1 Xiaolong, a multirole fighter jointly developed by China and Pakistan also known as the JF-17 Thunder, reports the Shanghai-based Guancha Syndicate.

Argentina has gone opted for Israel Aircraft Industries' Kfir Block 60 as its next-generation multirole fighter.

Though the Xiaolong's lower price had been attractive, China refused to provide anti-ship missiles under diplomatic pressure from the UK, according to the Moscow-based Military Parade.

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F-35 Lightning II - last of the manned fighters?

With the US Marine Corps set to declare initial operating capability for its Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) before the end of July, many are again asking if there will ever be another manned fighter, or if the JSF truly is the last of its kind.

The history of military aviation is littered with false predictions pertaining to the demise of the traditional notion of the fighter aircraft. In the United States the Vought F-8 Crusader developed in the mid-1950s was nicknamed 'the last gunslinger' in the mistaken belief that all fighters to follow would carry missiles only.

The United Kingdom went one step further in 1957 when its Defence White Paper boldly stated that manned fighters would be replaced completely in the coming years by surface-to-air missiles; an erroneous projection that ultimately proved disastrous for the UK's defence aerospace sector.

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European Commission approves Malta's national programme for internal security fund

The Parliamentary Secretariat for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds is in a position to announce that the European Commission has approved Malta’s Internal Security Fund (ISF) for the 2014-2020 financial period. Following the necessary negotiations, this document has been now finalised and adopted by the European Commission allowing Malta to invest around €75 million (EU funds only).

The Internal Security Fund (ISF) 2014-2020 will further provide for the installation of Phase II of the Integrated Communications System (ICS), the construction of a new Joint Operations Centre (OPSCEN), the improvement of the reaction capability of OPV P61 and the third fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft, as well as two new hangars and ancillary facilities at Air Wing.

Moreover this particular fund will oversee the procurement of a Helicopter Capable Patrol Vessel and the procurement of a third Twin-engine Helicopter.

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Rolls–Royce completes delivery of power and propulsion systems package for future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) Multi Mission Destroyer

Rolls-Royce is proud to announce delivery of the twin fixed pitch propellers to Bath Iron Works for installation on the US Navy’s most modern surface combatant, the future USS Zumwalt, the first ship of the DDG 1000 multi-mission destroyer class.

The provision of the twin fixed pitch propellers marks the completion of the power and propulsion system delivery from Rolls-Royce, following the MT30 main turbine generator sets and the RR4500 auxiliary turbine generator sets, which have already been installed and tested.

The five-bladed nickel aluminium bronze propellers measure over 18 feet in diameter and weigh nearly 60,000 pounds apiece.

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Submarine killers: India's $61 billion warning to China

In a dock opening onto the Hooghly River near central Kolkata, one of India’s most lethal new weapons is going through a final outfit.

The Kadmatt is a submarine killer, bristling with technology to sniff out and destroy underwater predators. It’s the second of four warships in India’s first dedicated anti-submarine force -- a key part of plans to spend at least $61 billion on expanding the navy’s size by about half in 12 years.

The build-up is mostly aimed at deterring China from establishing a foothold in the Indian Ocean. It also serves another goal: Transforming India’s warship-building industry into an exporting force that can supply the region, including U.S. partners in Asia wary of China’s increased assertiveness.

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More of Russia’s Lepse-style nuclear service ships headed for radioactive bone yards

Dismantlement works on floating nuclear hazards in Russia’s Far East have begun as promised by a new plan announced in June by Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, RosRAO reported today.

Kiriyenko said that the 16 remaining decommissioned nuclear service ships in the Northern and Pacific fleets would be brought into dry dock and dismantled by 2020, in an apparent nod to the successful progress in dismantling the Lepse, one of Northwest Russia’s most hazardous waterborne nuclear installations.

RosRAO, which manages spent fuel, non-nuclear radioactive waste, and decommissioning services, especially of submarines and associated vessels, said it will begin dismantling the Pacific Fleet’s TNT-4 nuclear service vessel.

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Navy to commission submarine John Warner

The Navy on Saturday will commission the Virginia-class submarine John Warner in a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

The boat is named for the longtime Virginia senator and former Navy secretary who today resides in Northern Virginia.

The Warner will be the 12th Virginia-class submarine to join the fleet and the first of its class to be home-ported in Norfolk.

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GD To Modernise Weapons Control System of US, Australian Submarines

General Dynamics has won a $20 million contract from the US Navy to continue modernising the AN/BYG-1 Weapons Control System (WCS) Technology Insertion and Advanced Processing Build software for US as well as Australian submarines.

The AN/BYG-1 software analyses and tracks submarine and surface-ship contact information, providing tactical, situational awareness for submarine crews including the capability to target and employ torpedoes and missiles.

"The AN/BYG-1 software program is a cost-effective way for the Navy to quickly update and add capabilities to submarine weapon systems," said Carlo Zaffanella, vice president and general manager of Maritime and Strategic Systems for General Dynamics Mission Systems.

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Navy readies new PR effort for submarines

The navy plans to step up lobbying efforts to convince the public that submarines are necessary and worthy of investment.

Adm Narongpol Na Bangchang, the assistant navy commander, said Tuesday the renewed public-relations effort comes at the suggestion of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who said the navy needs to better explain the proposal to a sceptical public.

Until the submarine plan gains more public support, Gen Prawit told the navy to hold off on sending an purchase plan to the cabinet for approval, said Adm Narongpol, who heads the sub acquisition committee.

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Cutting-Edge Russian Space Surveillance System now Four Times More Capable

A Russian-operated space surveillance system located in Tajikistan, Okno-M, has reached its full capacity, making it four times more powerful, the Russian Ministry of Defense reports.

Upgrades to Okno-M, an optoelectronic system for detecting space objects, have been completed and the system is operating at full capacity, a fresh announcement on the Russian Ministry of Defense site reveals.

The Okno-M station, based in Tajikistan in Central Asia, is an integral part of the space surveillance network of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces’ Space Command. The surveillance station successfully underwent state tests late in 2014.

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Navy Restricts Use of ‘A Number’ of SM-2 Missiles Following USS The Sullivans Launch Failure

The Navy has restricted the use of an unspecified number of SM-2 guided missiles following a launch failure on July 18 that damaged destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), Naval Sea Systems Command officials told USNI News.

The older missiles have been restricted to “Wartime Use Only” status while an ongoing Navy failure review board determines the cause of the failure of the SM-2 Block IIIA that exploded shortly after launching from The Sullivans, NAVSEA officials said in a July 24 statement.

Once the findings are complete, “the Navy will reassess its position regarding these particular missiles,” NAVSEA said.

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RAAF’s F-35A aircraft with vertical tails completes first flight

The Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) F-35A aircraft installed with domestically manufactured vertical tails has completed its first flight.

The Lockheed Martin-built F-35A Lightning II, known as AF-73, was installed with two vertical tails earlier this year at the company's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, US.

Victorian-based engineering company Marand is responsible for delivering a total of 722 vertical tails sets for F-35 joint strike fighter (JSF) Lightning II under a subcontract with BAE Systems for installation onboard the F-35 fighters.

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Harrier jet crash caused by oil leak

Mechanical failure downed the AV-8B Harrier jet that crashed and set several homes on fire last year in Imperial, about 90 miles east of San Diego, continuing a long history of design and maintenance problems in the quirky jet scheduled for retirement from the Marine Corps.

The June 4, 2014, accident occurred because of a crack in an oil drain tank and a rapid oil leak that sparked a fire in the aircraft, engine failure and total loss of flight control, Marine investigators concluded.

The Harrier, from Yuma-based Marine Attack Squadron 214, was destroyed. Three homes were heavily damaged and the pilot suffered minor injuries after ejecting from the jet. No civilians were hurt.

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Navy, Marines order up more Blackjack UAS

The Navy has awarded a contract modification of $78 million—actually, officially 78 million and one dollar—to drone maker Insitu for a half-dozen more RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft systems, small aircraft the Navy and Marines use for tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition at sea and on land.

The modification, which covers the vehicles themselves, ground control stations, launch and recovery equipment, spares, and system engineering and program management, is to a contract awarded in December 2014 for three RQ-21A. Both the Navy and the Marine Corps will contribute funding.

The rail-launched RQ-21A Blackjack is a twin-tailed UAS 8.2 feet in length with a wingspan of 16 feet. First selected in 2010 to be a larger follow-on to the Scan Eagle, it can fly for up to 16 hours at speeds reaching 80 knots, and has a minimum range of 50 nautical miles.

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China Commissions Second 'Carrier Killer Destroyer'

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its second Type 052D Luyang III-class destroyer, the Yangsha, IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly reports.

According to IHS Jane’s, the vessel was inducted into the PLAN’s South Sea Fleet in mid-July and will in all likelihood operate out of Yalong Bay naval base on Hainan Island.

The first Type 052D Luyang III-class destroyer, Kunming, was launched in March 2014 and the Yangsha launched in July 2014. However, the vessel was commissioned a full 16 months after the Kunming, “suggesting an extensive program of trials,” according to the article.

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