Jordan's King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) Awards Contract to ATK to Modify Two CASA-235 Military Transport Aircraft

ATK announced it has received a contract from the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) of the Kingdom of Jordan to modify two of the country's CASA-235 transport aircraft into highly-capable and cost-effective special mission aircraft, according to the combined modification designs of both KADDB and ATK.

Subject to U.S. government export licensing approval, the modified aircraft are expected to be delivered by the late spring of 2013. Terms of the contract were not announced.

ATK's special mission aircraft offerings integrate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, fire control equipment, and a LW30mm link-fed gun system.

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Jordan takes delivery of unmanned helicopter for surveillance missions

The two Camcopter S-100 aircraft were delivered by Ausitrian firm Schiebel to the King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) in Amman.

The UAS will form a key part of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) reconnaissance Squadron, as KADDB is an independent Governmental military-civilian agency existing within the JAF tasked with operating to best commercial practices with predetermined performance targets.

The Camcopter S-100 was chosen following a comprehensive evaluation process by KADDB on behalf of the Jordan Armed Forces and the Royal Jordanian Air Force to ensure it could meet all of their demanding mission requirements.

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Missile repair plants wait for approval

Raytheon, the world's biggest missile maker, is awaiting approval to build two missile maintenance facilities in joint partnerships with companies in the UAE.

The US missile company has submitted the proposals as part of the UAE Government's offset programme, which was launched last year.

Offsets require defence companies to contribute to the UAE economy in exchange for arms contracts.

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Cuts could cost RAF its fleet of Tornados

The RAF's entire fleet of Tornado ground attack aircraft could be rushed out of service because of a fresh spending crisis at the Ministry of Defence, the Guardian has learned.

With the department trying to find an extra £1bn savings before the end of the spending round next month, ministers and senior military officials have been presented with a range of unpalatable options.

One involves the immediate withdrawal of the RAF's eight Tornado fighters in Afghanistan, followed by an accelerated withdrawal of the rest of the fleet from service, possibly within three years.

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Fincantieri delivers tailor-made vessels to UAE Navy

The UAE is the first country in the Middle East to invest in two tailor-made naval vessels each worth over €90 million (Dh450 million) — through a recent partnership with a renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

Fincantieri is present in the UAE through a partnership with Al Fattan Ship Industry.

Apart from their 200 years of shipbuilding experience that involves in manufacturing about 7,000 vessels and cruise ships — Fincantieri has already delivered the two vessels to the UAE Navy.

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Australian navy falling short on submarine workforce target

The navy is still one submarine crew short of the Australian Defence Force's manpower target for the submersible fleet, a Defence spokesman says.

While the situation has improved markedly since the period from June to October 2009, when only one submarine could put to sea, the navy currently only has crews for three of the six Collins Class boats.

''Navy's submarine target is four submarines crewed and in various stages of their routine operating, maintenance and training cycles,'' a Defence spokesman said.

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Russia plans to adopt Bulava missile by end 2011

Russia is going to adopt new Bulava-M submarine-based ballistic missiles for service with the Navy by the end of 2011 after a series of tests, First Deputy Minister of Defence Vladimir Popovkin said addressing the international IDEX arms show in Abu Dhabi.

The Bulava is designed to be installed on nuclear-powered submarines.

In all, 14 test launches were made. Last year only two launches instead of planned four took place, but both were successful.

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Official: Iran ships yet to enter Suez Canal

Egyptian official denies report from Iran saying to of its naval ships have already passed waterway en route to Syria. Netanyahu: Attempt to expand regional influence.

Two Iranian naval ships are due to sail through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean on Monday, Suez Canal officials said, denying a report from Iran that said the ships had already gone through the waterway.

The vessels, the first Iranian naval ships to sail through the canal since 1979, are due to arrive at the southern entrance to the canal in the Gulf of Suez later on Sunday, the officials said.

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Brazil to delay huge fighter jets deal

Brazil is postponing a long-awaited decision on a multi-billion-dollar purchase of 36 fighter jets until next year as a result of massive budget cuts, a Brazilian newspaper reported Saturday.

Major daily O Estado de Sao Paulo cited four unnamed government ministers as saying new President Dilma Rousseff saw no "climate" for the acquisition in 2011, and that such a move in the midst of a $30-billion slash in the year's budget would be an "inconsistency."

France, Sweden and the United States are vying for the contract, which has an initial value estimated at $4 billion to $7 billion, with the possibility of many more aircraft in the future as the Brazilian Air Force seeks to revamp its fleet of fighters.

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Northrop Grumman to provide BAMS UAV with autonomous capability to sense and avoid other aircraft

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designers at the Northrop Grumman Corp. Aerospace Systems sector in Bethpage, N.Y., will enable the U.S. Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAV to autonomously sense and avoid other nearby aircraft to maintain safe separation and avoid mid-air collisions under terms of a $25.6 million contract announced Friday.

UAV experts at the Northrop Grumman Aerospace sector's Battle Management & Engagement Systems Division will design and develop the UAV sense and avoid capability for BAMS in support of the Navy and U.S. Air Force.

BAMS will work together with the future Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft to fulfill the Navy's next-generation long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission.

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US Navy's new record setting laser can down cruise missiles in seconds

The US Navy has set a new world record, by coming up with a new type of laser that can shoot cruise missiles from the sky in seconds, with greater accuracy.

In co- ordination with the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the scientists injected a sustained 500 kilovolts (kV) of juice into a prototype accelerator where the existing limit had been 320 kV, thereby setting a new world record, Fox News reports.

Carlos Hernandez Garcia, Director of the injector of the electron and gun systems for the Free Electron Laser (FEL), said: "This is brand new. It has not been done before, in the world," adding that this breakthrough was the culmination of six years of development.

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How Australia Is Networking Its Forces

Australia is integrating three new operational elements into its advanced, network-centric military—a squadron of Wedge­tail aircraft, the first two squadrons of F/A-18F Super Hornets and the Vigi­lare theater surveillance integration system.

All are designed as the backbone of a small, highly responsive force.

The country is refashioning its armed services as the core of an international force—integrating a variety of foreign participants—that will be capable of responding to military emergencies or natural disasters.

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Russian Frigate Built For India To Be Ready For Sea Trials In Feb-March

The first of the three frigate that are being built in Russia's Kaliningrad for the Indian navy will be ready for sea trials in February-March, 2010, Sivathanu Pillai, the executive director of the Russian-Indian venture BrahMos Aerospace, told journalists.

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported Pillai as saying that one of the three ships is completely ready, while the second one will be ready in February-March.

Test launches of BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles might be performed both in the Baltic and in India when the first ship is delivered from Russia, he said, pointing out that the issue will be decided by the Russian navy command.

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Trident replacement orders under way

Parts for the replacement nuclear deterrent submarines have already been ordered and the government plans to order steel for the first boat's hull before the decision to continue with the programme is put to MPs, defence ministers have confirmed.

Several items will be ordered before the 2016 Main Gate decision is made and the US government has already ordered some parts from American suppliers on behalf of the UK, it was revealed.

In a series of questions in the Commons, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) vice-chair Jeremy Corbyn MP asked whether the government would be purchasing any components of the replacement submarine before the Main Gate decision.

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India to go for open bidding for Navy deal, rejects US offer

India has turned down an American offer to supply 16 multirole helicopters (MRH) through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route for its Navy and decided to go for open competitive bidding for the multi-billion dollar deal.

The US Navy had offered the MH-60 'Romeo' to meet Navy's requirement for 16 MRH through an inter-governmental agreement but the proposal was rejected, Defence Ministry sources told PTI on Thursday.

Under the FMS route, the procurement is done through inter-governmental agreements where the product is offered directly by the US government without any global tender being issued.

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Modernized destroyer back at Northern Fleet base

The fully modernized destroyer “Vitse-admiral Kulakov” is ready for its first campaign in 20 years.

“Vitse-admiral Kulakov” returned to its homebase in Severomorsk in December last year, after 20 years of repairs, GTRK Murman reports.

The vessel was commissioned in 1982 and was on combat duty in the Northern Fleet until March 1991.

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Cheers! Toast as Manchester’s engines shut down for last time

After an emotional last day at sea, HMS Manchester’s captain and head engineer raised a toast to the ship before shutting her engines down for the last time.

The Type 42 destroyer ended 30 years of service with a fun family day of action in the Solent.

After roaring up her 25,000 horsepower engines for a last 30-knot blow out, Manchester made her final entry into Portsmouth Harbour, where hundreds of well-wishers turned out to wave farewell.

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AgustaWestland Debuts the AW139M Helicopter

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce the debut of the AW139M, the customized military version of the multi-role, AW139 helicopter, integrated with proven U.S. military technology for the U.S. Air Force’s Common Vertical Lift Support Program.

The AW139M is being featured at the AFA Air Warfare Symposium, (Orlando, FL, Feb. 17-18, 2011) and is offered for the U.S. military market.

“AgustaWestland meets every U.S. Air Force CVLSP mission requirement while offering substantial acquisition and operational savings,” said R. Scott Rettig, chief executive officer, AgustaWestland North America.

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Russia to start building new S-500 air defense missiles by 2014

Russia will start serial production of its next-generation S-500 missile system in 2014, an aerospace defense chief said on Thursday.

The S-500 air defense system will be able to track and destroy ballistic missiles with ranges of up to 3,500 kilometers.

"[The S-500] is currently in development. By 2014, it should enter into serial production," aerospace defense strategic commander Lt. Gen. Valery Ivanov said.

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Boeing EA-18G Growlers Deployed by US Navy

Boeing today announced that EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have been deployed for the first time by the U.S. Navy.

"The men and women of Boeing are honored to see this new capability directly benefit the nation’s brave servicemembers around the world," said Kory Mathews, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs for Boeing.

"The airborne electronic attack capability that the EA-18G brings to the fight is in high demand, so we are committed to continuing to deliver these aircraft to the Navy on budget and on schedule, just as we have with every F/A-18E/F."

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Lockheed Martin Receives $726.6 Million Contract Modification For F-22 Raptor Sustainment

Lockheed Martin Corp. has received a $726.6 million contract modification from the U.S. Air Force for sustainment of the F-22 Raptor fleet.

This modification is for the 2011 Follow-On Agile Sustainment for the Raptor (FASTeR) sustainment contract, which was awarded initially in 2008, with an option for 2009 that was exercised. A follow-on modification was issued for 2010.

FASTeR is a Performance-Based Logistics contract providing weapon systems sustainment of the F-22 fleet at all operational bases for the 2011 calendar year, including training systems, customer support, integrated support planning, supply chain management, aircraft modifications and heavy maintenance, sustained engineering, support products and systems engineering.

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Iron Dome missile defense system to become operational within weeks

The Iron Dome missile intercept system will be declared operational within a number of weeks, after the Israel Air Force – who will be responsible for operating the system – conducted successful test-runs for the first time on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The interception of target missiles in the test-runs proved successful, and this marked the final stage of tests of the new Israel Air Force unit.

The operation was conducted at a test site in southern Israel, practicing five different scenarios in which the system launched rockets at various ranges. The missiles launched by the Iron Dome successfully intercepted and destroyed the rockets in every scenario.

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Maintenance of Taiwan's AIM-120 missiles at risk

The sustainability of a U.S.-made missile that is part of Taiwan's defense arsenal could be at risk because the component makers have withdrawn from the manufacturing program, according to a military report.

The maintenance and life-cycle of the hundreds of AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) that Taiwan currently has in service could be affected by the move, said a Taiwan Air Force report on the 2010 AMRAAM International Users' Conference that was held in Florida in May 2010.

At the meeting, the U.S. had raised the issue of Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) , recommending that countries revise their procurement contracts to include maintenance and warranty clauses, the report said.

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Raytheon reveals first glimpse of next-generation missile

Raytheon has offered the first peek into the company's approach to designing a next generation missile to replace both the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-88 HARM.

For the first time, the company has displayed a full-scale mock-up of one of several candidates being considered for the emerging US Air Force requirement for a dual role air dominance missile (DRADM).

The design shown at the Air Warfare Sympsoium on 16-17 February features an AMRAAM-like missile body integrated with what appears to be a variable flow ducted rocket (VFDR), or ramjet.

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Russia successfully test fires S-400 missiles

The Russian military successfully test fired the new air defense S-400 Triumph missiles at Kapustin Yar range, Aerospace Defense Commander Valery Ivanov told reporters on Thursday adding the first stage of the tests attacked a hypersonic target flying at a speed of 550 meters per second.

“The fire by two squadrons destroyed the high-speed target and even its fragments,” he said adding “it was a simple target for us, but it was important to see that all automatic control cycles properly operate and we can fire at more difficult targets imitating a cruise missile.”

Head of the air defense missile troops Sergei Popov said “live fire results will be assessed by objective control means after which a decision will made about fire at another target.”

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