News Story: Computer system for Hawkei vehicles tested

by Richard Tomkins

A C4I integral Computing System for the Australian Army's Hawkei vehicle has been tested by the government's Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, the Australian Ministry of Defense announced on Monday.

The CASG Land 121 Phase 4 project team conducted the tests at the Monegeetta Proving Ground and signed a project charter for the system with nine companies involved in the system.

CASG identified the companies as Thales Australia, Cablex, Elbit Land Systems Australia, Esterline, Harris Australia, Kongsberg, Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, and Thomas Global Systems.

"Using generic vehicle architecture and a central computing concept to host various C4I systems and communications, the ICS will optimize and centralize the flow of information to the user, enabling rapid decision making and multi-tasking at levels not previously achievable on land based platforms," said Land 121 Phase 4 Project Director Col. John McLean said in a press release.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

AUS: $2 billion Ground Based Air Defence System Big Opportunity for Australian Defence Industry

National Advanced Surface to Air Missile
System (NASAMS)

The Turnbull Government has provided approval for the development of a Short Range Ground Based Air Defence system to improve protection for deployed personnel.

Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne said the project is the first step in the development of the Australian Army’s contribution to the Australian Defence Force’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence Program announced in the 2016 Defence White Paper.

The Government will invest up to $2 billion in the system which will provide the inner most layer of Australia’s enhanced integrated air and missile [Defence] capability. The capability will be operated by the Army’s 16th Air Land Regiment.

“A modern and integrated ground-based air defence system is needed to protect our deployed forces from increasingly sophisticated air threats, both globally and within our region,” said Minister Payne.

“Australia’s current short-range capability is 30 years old and due to be retired early next decade. The replacement system will provide improved protection for our deployed servicemen and women.”

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (15-Nov-2016)

Christopher Cowan, Thulasi Wigneswaran, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond

Sea State

South Korea launched its newest submarine—the Lee Beom-seok—at a ceremony last week. Named after a famous Korean resistance fighter, the Lee Beom-seok is the eighth of a planned nine Son-Won-II-class diesel electric submarines. Based on the German Type-214 submarine, the Son-Won-II-class displaces 1,800 tonnes and is equipped with air independent propulsion systems. The launch of the Lee Beom-seok­ comes as South Korea races to increase the size of its submarine fleet in response to North Korea’s fleet of 70 submarines. North Korea’s submarines have been quite active recently; one launched a ballistic missile earlier this year while another is thought to be responsible for sinking a South Korean corvette in 2010.

Secretary of the US Navy, Ray Mabus, announced the name of his service’s next amphibious assault ship and it’s sure to please World War II aficionados. Named for the famous campaign in which American, Australian and New Zealand troops took back the island of Bougainville from the Japanese; the third ship of the America-class will be named the USS Bougainville. The new ship will have a well deck for amphibious operations. The two other America-class vessels—the USS America and the USS Tripoli—don’t have that feature, and are rather optimised for airborne operations using helicopters and F-35B fighters.

AUS: Minister for Defence Industry Welcomes New Hawkei

Thales Hawkei (File Photo)

A major milestone has been reached in the military’s next generation Hawkei protected vehicle project as Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today witnessed the handover to Defence of two new Hawkeis.

They are the last in an initial run of ten vehicles to roll off the Thales production line in Bendigo, the same facility that produces the life-saving Bushmaster.

Mr Pyne said the new Hawkei represented a triumph both of defence capability and also the country’s burgeoning defence industry.

“The Hawkei, built right here in Australia, is another triumph of the capability of our defence industry, which is able to compete with the world’s best,” Mr Pyne said.

AUS: Minister for Defence Industry Visits Thales to Announce Global Opportunities for Australian Companies

Access to export markets and global value chains has been given a boost by the extension of Global Supply Agreements with major defence companies.

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, announced the extensions during a visit to Thales’ Bendigo facility to understand the company’s manufacturing capabilities for the Bushmaster and Hawkei protected mobility vehicles.

The Minister said that the Department of Defence has signed contracts with Thales and Raytheon to maximise export opportunities for capable Australian companies.

The Agreements are under the Global Supply Chain Program which is a key initiative to provide small to medium sized companies with defence and commercial bid opportunities across the Primes’ business units.

AUS: Budget 2016-17 – Defence Budget overview

The 2016 Defence Budget delivers on the Turnbull Government’s commitment to ensuring Australia’s long-term security and economic prosperity. It provides the funding needed to deliver the capability plans set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper, including plans for the Australian naval shipbuilding industry, and to support our ongoing commitments to Defence Operations.

This Budget builds on the Coalition’s promise to provide Defence with a stable and sustainable funding growth path. It supports the 2016 Defence White Paper capability plans by growing the Defence budget to two per cent of GDP by 2020-21, three years earlier than the Government’s 2013 election commitment. This will result in additional funding of $29.9 billion over the next decade in contrast to the Labor Party’s record of cuts that stripped more than $18 billion from the Defence budget.

The Government will provide Defence with $32.3 billion in 2016-17 and $142.9 billion over the Forward Estimates.

The Government’s naval shipbuilding strategy will invest around $90 billion in our naval capability and shipbuilding industry, creating more than 3,600 direct jobs and thousands more through the supply chain.

The 2016 Defence White Paper, Integrated Investment Program, and Defence Industry Policy Statement set out comprehensive and responsible long-term plans to ensure Australia’s national security and provide certainty for Australian defence industry.

AUS: New facilities approved for Defence’s LAND 121 Vehicles

Parliament has approved a $276 million Defence facilities project to support the introduction of the new LAND 121 vehicle fleet, Assistant Minister for Defence Michael McCormack announced today.

The facilities will assist in maintaining, supporting and sustaining the incoming LAND 121 vehicle fleet across the nation.

Facilities works include new maintenance workshops and associated repair parts stores, weighbridges, loading and inspection ramps, wash points, fuel points, vehicle shelters and associated hardstand.

This capital investment in facilities will bring economic stimulus, with expected opportunities for local sub-contractors over the next 3 years.

This is in addition to the already strong Australian industry involvement in the manufacture and delivery of the LAND 121 vehicles themselves.

Construction of facilities is expected to begin by mid 2016 and be completed by late 2019.

AUS DoD

NOTE: The “LAND 121” Link in the above was added by PacificSentinel for clarity & context.

Think Tank: (Australian) DWP 2016 - the future Army

Lachlan Wilson

The new Defence White Paper outlines spending of up to $80 billion on land combat and amphibious warfare out to 2025–26. In terms of equipment modernisation, the plans have focused on greater protected mobility, situational awareness, aviation, firepower, and force sustainability. Those improvements are intended to enhance and broaden the armed forces combat and non-combat capacity.

These are the key proposals that the Army will procure and advance over the next decade:

• An agile procurement system for infantry soldiers that will allow for the continuous upgrade of key infantry weapons systems, personal equipment, and force protection
• New combat reconnaissance, infantry fighting, and protected mobility vehicles
• Upgrades to extend the operational lifespan of the M1 Abrams to 2035
• New armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance unmanned aircraft
• The acquisition of a long-range rocket system by mid-2020 that will provide long-range fire support up to 300km to supplement the ADF’s current artillery capability
• Logistic enablers to aid the amphibious operations involving the newly acquired Canberra Class ships
• The re-establishment of Riverine Patrol capabilities, with a fleet of lightly armed boats for river and estuarine operations marked for delivery near 2022
• Special operations forces will receive a boost in wide range of capabilities which include high-end close combat capabilities, force protection, enhanced command and situational awareness networks, the acquisition and improvement of specialist transportation systems, and an armada of light reconnaissance and attack helicopters

Think Tank: Army and the 2016 Defence White Paper - Yes…but….

Michael Clifford

Read quickly, one could walk away satisfied with how the Government has dealt with Army’s role and force structure in the recently released Defence White Paper. There are some new and frankly exciting additions to the force structure: Armed ISR unmanned aircraft, riverine patrol craft, replacement for the ARH, a new light deployable helicopter for Special Forces, a medium range air defence system and a long range rocket system. Notably, upgrade programs are included in the investment decisions to properly sustain the current force.

The retention of Phase 3 of LAND 400, the infantry fighting vehicle project, the upgrade of the tanks and the continuation of the protected vehicle programs, battlefield communications, the soldier systems and Phase 2 of LAND 400 will significantly improve Army.

But the overall Integrated Investment Plan is predicated on each element of the plan rolling out on schedule and within budget. A slippage in either will place the Army component of the plan at particular risk.

Industry: QinetiQ Australia starts fatigue testing on Thales’s Hawkei vehicle

QinetiQ Australia has commenced the second phase of full scale fatigue testing on the Hawkei vehicle at Thales Australia’s manufacturing facility in Bendigo, Victoria.

The eight week test program involves attaching a Hawkei production-level chassis to a 5 x 8m test rig for a series of tests to validate the predicted life of the structure and to demonstrate several improvements made since QinetiQ did the first phase of fatigue tests on the prototype in 2010.

George McGuire, General Manager Land and Maritime of QinetiQ Australia, said: “During the tests, we push the Hawkei to its absolute limits. We artificially recreate the various stresses the Hawkei might be under in the field by placing a combination of loads on the chassis, which are activated by computer-operated hydraulics powered by 100 litres of oil per minute. It is a very significant undertaking that requires a depth of technical expertise and practical implementation experience.”

Peter Goodwin, Director Operations at Thales Australia, said: “Both phases of this project have involved a high degree of teamwork and commitment between Thales and QinetiQ using a mix of personnel, equipment and facilities. QinetiQ is one of many suppliers that have played a significant role in shaping the Hawkei and contributing to its success. These full scale fatigue tests will ensure the Hawkei performs for the Australian Army over a long period of time during different stages of operation throughout its service life.”

The Commonwealth Government of Australia signed a $1.3 billion contract with Thales in October 2015 for delivery of 1,100 vehicles and over 1,000 trailers to the Australian Army. The three and a half year production phase is scheduled to begin from mid-2017, with first deliveries expected towards the end of that year.

For more than 15 years, QinetiQ has provided fatigue and damage tolerance assessment services to various commercial and Government customers in Australia, building on existing test and evaluation expertise found in the wider QinetiQ Group. In addition to Thales’s Hawkei, QinetiQ Australia has conducted military aircraft full scale fatigue tests and full scale component tests for civil aircraft such as the flaps on the 787 Dreamliner.

QinetiQ

AUS: Hawkei contract supports Australian defence industry

Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicles – Light   (PMV-L)

Minister for Defence Materiel and Science, the Hon Mal Brough MP, today visited the Thales Australia vehicle manufacturing facility in Bendigo, the production hub for Defence’s $1.3 billion Hawkei protected vehicles.

Defence signed a contract with Thales Australia on 5 October 2015 for the manufacture and support of 1,100 Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicles – Light   (PMV-L) and associated trailers.

Minister Brough said Thales will draw on its experience producing the Australian designed and made Bushmaster, which they have been producing since 2004 and widely recognised as one of the best protected mobility vehicles in the world.

Think Tank: Sea, air and land updates (10-Nov-2015)

Alice Slevison, Mercedes Page and James Mugg

Sea State

Last week the destroyer USS Donald Cook visited Turkey’s Aksaz naval base on Turkey’s southwest coast for joint Turkey–US exercises. Elements of the Turkish naval force present included submarines, surface and air defence units.

Meanwhile in Paris, the French presidency announced that it will deploy its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to boost French operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The Charles de Gaulle is the largest warship in Western Europe, and the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside of the US fleet. It can support as many as 40 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. According to French President Francois Hollande the aircraft carrier will ‘bolster Paris’ firepower in the region amid international efforts to launch Syrian peace talks’.

A week after the USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of China’s artificial islands, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter visited US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the South China Sea, The aircraft carrier sailed ‘about 150 to 200 nautical miles from the southern tip of the Spratlys’. While attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers Plus meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Carter took the opportunity to visit the vessel alongside Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. Carter told reporters that accompanied him on the vessel that ‘there’s a lot of concern about Chinese behaviour out here.’

News Story: DCNS Prepares Final Offer for Australian Sub Tender

CGI of the DCNS Shortfin Barracuda

By Pierre Tran

PARIS — DCNS filed a draft proposal at the end of September and aims to submit a final offer at the end of November in Australia’s tender for a new class of attack submarines, reported to be worth Aus $50 billion (US $36.3 billion), a spokesperson for the French naval shipbuilder said.

Technology transfer will be part of the French offer of the concept vessel Shortfin Barracuda, a diesel-electric version of the Barracuda nuclear-powered attack submarine being built for the French Navy.

“The transfer of technology will be complete, to allow Australia to meet its objective of sovereignty and independence,” the DCNS spokesperson said.

Australia’s Sea 1000 project to replace the Collins submarines has attracted competing bids from DCNS, a Japanese offer from Mitsubishi Heavy Industry and Kawasaki Shipbuilding, and German specialist ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The tender is for six to 12 units.

A selection is expected by the middle of 2016, the spokesperson said.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Think Tank: Sea, air and land updates (13-Oct-2015)

Australian Army Hawkei

Alice Slevison, Mercedes Page and Zoe Hawkins

Sea State

The US Navy has reportedly declared its intentions to send a surface ship inside the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit China claims for its man-made islands in the South China Sea. According to the Financial Times, the manoeuvres are expected to begin in the next two weeks. Reports of the impending manoeuvres suggest that Chinese and US officials failed to come to any type of resolution regarding the standoff in the South China Sea during Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington in September.

Russia is reported to be creating an ‘arc of steel’ designed to challenge and confront NATO. Russia has invested US$2.4 billion in the expansion of its Black Sea fleet, set to be completed by 2020, while Russian submarine patrols have risen by 50% in the past year—returning to levels not seen for a decade. According to ADM Marke Ferguson, who heads NATO’s joint force command in Naples, ‘we are observing the manifestation of a more aggressive, more capable Russian Navy.’

On October 7, Pakistan finalised lengthy negotiations with China over a submarine deal, with four boats to be built in Pakistan and four in China. The significant announcement confirms that China will transfer technology to Pakistan during the construction of the S20 subs, which will help Pakistan maintain a credible conventional deterrent against India. Pakistan’s state-owned shipyard, Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, will build the subs based on their experience with submarine overhaul and construction.

AUS: Army’s Hawkei to be built in Australia

The Australian Government will purchase 1100 locally built Hawkei protected vehicles and over 1000 trailers to strengthen our defence force.

Under a $1.3 billion agreement, the vehicles will be manufactured at Thales Australia’s production line in Bendigo, creating 170 jobs there and another 60 jobs in Victoria.

The Hawkei will improve protection for soldiers and enable them to operate in high-risk areas. It is the only protected mobility vehicle in the ADF that can be transported by ADF helicopters.

The vehicles will also pioneer a next generation communications management system to be developed in Australia by Thales.

Industry: Australia chooses Hawkei

The Hawkei is set to become the latest addition to the Australian Defence Force fleet following the signing of a $1.3 billion contract with the Commonwealth.

Soldiers on operations will benefit from increased protection and mobility in a powerful 4x4 vehicle, which can be adapted for different missions.

Hawkei follows the life-saving success of the larger Bushmaster vehicle, which has protected Australian and other troops in some of the most challenging combat environments on earth.

The Hawkei contract also reflects the unique Australian expertise at Thales’s protected vehicles manufacturing facility in Bendigo, as well as its support centres in Brisbane and Townsville.

Industry: THALES AND QUICKSTEP TEAM UP ON HAWKEI

Thales Australia’s innovative engineering might be the first thing people notice about its Hawkei vehicle, but the company’s pioneering approach to the supply chain is also attracting attention, with Quickstep the latest Australian company to team with Thales.

“Like Thales, Quickstep is recognised for innovation and cutting-edge research,” said Kevin Wall, Thales Australia’s Vice President Protected Vehicles.

“Quickstep’s record on projects such as the Joint Strike Fighter and Lamborghini performance cars is testament to their unique skills. It’s great to see Australian companies teaming up to deliver the next generation of protected light vehicles to the Australian Defence Force.”

Industry: Export Hawkei on show at Eurosatory

An export version of Thales’s innovative Hawkei light protected vehicle will be on display at Eurosatory, the largest international land and air-land defence and security exhibition in Paris this week.

KEY POINTS

• During Eurosatory, Hawkei export version will make its international debut on track at the live demonstration zone, twice daily, from 16-19 June at 10.30am and 3.00pm.
• Press briefings on Thales’s stand (A690) will be organised on Monday 16th from 10:00am to 10:30am and on Tuesday 18th from 2.00pm to 2.30pm.

The brand new left-hand drive version will be appearing in the live demonstration zone, offering potential international customers a first opportunity to see the vehicle in action.

News Story: Thales Sees Potential UK Market for Hawkei

By ANDREW CHUTER

PARIS — British Army requirements for a multirole protected vehicle is a potential target for Thales as the company brings its Hawkei machine to Eurosatory as part of an international sales drive.

The Australian arm of Thales had left-hand and right-hand drive variants of the vehicle on display at the defense show, which opened here Monday.

“We expect to be a bidder” for the multirole vehicle protected program, said Alex Cresswell, Thales executive vice president for land and air systems.

The right-hand drive vehicle is being shipped to the UK immediately after Eurosatory closes its doors on Friday to take part in the Ministry of Defence’s DVD exhibition at Millbrook, Cresswell told reporters.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: Thales awards vehicle component subcontract to Geelong manufacturer

Thales Hawkei (File Photo)

Thales Australia has pre-awarded a $5 million contract to RPC Technologies, an Australian specialist engineering company, to manufacture dashboard assemblies for the company’s new Hawkei vehicle.

The work is conditional on Thales securing a long-term contract with the Department of Defence for Hawkei. It would be carried out at RPC’s manufacturing facilities in Geelong, Victoria, and help sustain jobs over the four-year period of the contract.

Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said: “RPC has the expertise required for the production of military vehicles. Their commitment to excellence in manufacturing and value for money will benefit the Hawkei project, while also securing supply chain skills in Victoria.”

Tony Caristo, Managing Director of RPC Technologies, said: “RPC is thrilled about the opportunity to work with Thales on the Hawkei project supplying the dashboard assemblies. RPC has a history of supporting Thales, having been involved with the Bushmaster program and also Thales Underwater Systems. This contract will help to secure the workforce of the Geelong plant and build RPC’s presence in Defence.”