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

News Story: How 'Make in India' could impede India’s global hunt for anti-ship missiles

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India has launched first-ever global hunt for anti-ship missiles with a budget of $1 billion. But a requirement for those missiles, to be built by domestic companies, could be difficult to meet.

The medium-range anti-ship missiles must be capable of engaging fast-maneuvering targets within India’s exclusive economic zone in all weather conditions, and have land-attack capability.

A formal tender will be issued by mid-2018, and India hopes to negotiate a quick delivery of the product.

India’s Ministry of Defence wants the production license rights after it receives a transfer of technology for the medium-range anti-ship missiles.

Although no domestic company in India has ever manufactured an anti-ship missile, the MoD will award the contract to a local business as part of the Make in India policy; a foreign vendor will then have to tie up with the domestic company and bid for the tender, an MoD official explained.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Pentagon Completes Largest-Ever Patriot Missile Defense Upgrade in S Korea

A Patriot missile battery

The US 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in South Korea and engineers from defense contractor Raytheon have completed the largest Patriot missile defense modernization project ever conducted outside a US facility amid the escalation on the Korean peninsula, the Department of Defense said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The eight-month effort included networking the Patriot missile batteries from geographically dispersed locations around the Korean peninsula and mock air battles. Each battery crew was required to complete a series of competency tests to demonstrate proficiency.

"The purpose of the battalion netted exercise was two-fold," 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Patriot modernization project officer Tara Gibbs stated. "First, it was to validate the systems to ensure everything worked. … The second was to qualify the soldiers and crews on the new equipment."

News Story: India looks for intelligence-gathering aircraft

A Gulfstream G550 ISTAR (Click Image to Enlarge)

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

Electronic intel capabilities would help Air Force ’get her act together’

NEW DELHI — Aimed at countering a perceived threat from China, India is seeking to acquire seven aircraft with signals intelligence and communication-jamming capabilities with a budget of about $570 million.

“The requirement is for aircraft to carry out a unique list of missions centered around a two-front threat from China and Pakistan,” said Daljit Sigh, a defense analyst and retired Indian Air Force air marshal.

India’s global hunt is for twin-engine jets, and preference will be given to overseas companies able to provide custom, Indian-built electronic warfare equipment, a senior Indian Air Force official said.

”We need more airborne electronic intelligence (ELINT) assets, particularly to meet the Chinese threat as they are likely to extensively use electronic warfare and spoofing during any hostilities, and the IAF needs to get her act together,” said Vijainder K. Thakur, a defense analyst and retired Air force squadron leader.

The seven sigint aircraft will be operated by the Indian Air Force.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Australian Air Force Partners With US Navy for New Electronic Warfare Capability

RAAF E/A-18G Growler Electronic Warfare/Attack Aircraft

Australia is moving forward with US defense giant Raytheon for the next-generation jammer program, to ensure the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and its friends in the US Navy can engage all types of electronic warfare attacks in the South Pacific Theater and beyond.

The next-generation jammers will be attached to a fleet of a dozen Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft the RAAF plans to operate from midway through 2018, according to IHS Jane’s. RAAF is partnering with the US Navy on interoperability, installation and likely training, according to the outlet.

Growlers are one of two types of planes operated by the Pentagon capable of operating in hostile or anti-access environments, a US Navy pilot who has flown EA-18Gs told Foxtrot Alpha in 2015.

Electronic warfare is crucial to how the US Navy operates, the airman said. 

News Story: US Navy ballistic missile intercept test fails

An SM-3 Test Launch (File Photo)

By: David B. Larter

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy conducted a failed ballistic missile intercept Wednesday with its SM-3 Block IIA off the coast of Hawaii. 

The destroyer John Paul Jones, running the Navy’s top-of-the-line Aegis Baseline 9.C2 combat system, failed to intercept a medium-range ballistic missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii. 

The destroyer detected and tracked the target on the AN/SPY-1 phased array radar but was unable to intercept it. It was the second test of this latest iteration of the SM-3. The John Paul Jones successfully shot down a target in February with it. That test was the first intercept using Baseline 9.2C.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: First Air Warfare Destroyer Hobart accepted by Defence

16 June 2017 – Osborne Naval Shipyard. Today, the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance celebrated the Government’s provisional acceptance of the first destroyer, Hobart, at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.

Hobart is the first of three destroyers being built and integrated by the AWD Alliance which comprises the Department of Defence, Raytheon Australia and ASC with support from Navantia. In the coming months, Hobart will transit from Adelaide to Sydney where she will be commissioned into service by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) later this year.

AWD Alliance General Manager Paul Evans said today’s provisional acceptance is a testament to more than 5,000 Australian shipbuilders and systems integrators who have worked on the AWD program over the past decade.

Industry: Raytheon Australia and Air Affairs Australia partner on advanced electronic warfare training

New teaming agreement supports Defence forces training in complex, high-threat electromagnetic environments

NOWRA – 18 May 2017: Raytheon Australia and Air Affairs Australia have signed a teaming agreement today that outlines a significant expansion of Australia’s Electronic Warfare Training Services capability. This new partnership will allow Defence forces to train in complex, high-threat electromagnetic environments. 

Raytheon Australia currently delivers real-world simulation, testing and training services for the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Defence Force utilising two Raytheon-owned Learjets. The teaming agreement expands the current fleet of special mission aircraft available for delivery of EWTS. 

EWTS missions are complex and involve sophisticated EW system training, test, experimentation and evaluation trials, radar jamming and deception, communications denial and deception and radar threat simulation. 

USA: Possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for Anti-Radiation Missiles

WASHINGTON, Apr. 28, 2017 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for Anti-Radiation Missiles. The estimated cost is $137.6 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 27, 2017.

Australia has requested a possible sale of up to seventy (70) AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) Tactical Missiles; up to forty (40) AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) Tactical Missiles; up to sixteen (16) CATM-88B HARM Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); up to sixteen (16) CATM-88E AARGM CATM; up to twenty-five (25) AGM-88B Control Sections; up to twenty-five (25) AGM-88B Guidance Sections; up to twenty (20) AGM-88E Control Sections; up to twenty (20) AGM-88E Guidance Sections; up to forty eight (48) Telemetry/Flight Termination Systems; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other associated support equipment and services. The total estimated cost is $137.6 million.

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.”

Industry: Government identifies Raytheon system for Australian Ground Based Air and Missile Defence Program

CANBERRA – 10 April 2016: The Australian Government has announced First Pass approval for the LAND 19 Phase 7B project as the first piece of the land-based Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) Program. This approval includes the release of a Single Supplier Limited Tender to Raytheon Australia - identified as the Prime System Integrator (PSI) for Army’s future Ground Based Air and Missile Defence capability.

Raytheon’s proposal for second pass consideration by Government will be based upon the proven Raytheon / KONGSBERG National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) capability that is fielded in seven nations, including the United States.  Importantly, this system can utilise different launchers, radar technologies and missile types for a range of different ground based air and missile defence missions.

In collaboration with Defence and CEA Technologies, Raytheon Australia will also investigate the option of the MEDUSA system; an incorporation of Australian AESA sensor technology into the proven baseline of NASAMS.

Industry: NASAMS Solution for Australian Army Ground Based Air Defence

The Australian Government has announced that a National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) solution will be developed for the Land 19 Phase 7B project – the Ground Based Air and Missile Defence capability for the Australian Army through a Single Supplier Limited Tender process to Raytheon Australia.

Raytheon Australia has been identified as the Prime System Integrator and KONGSBERG will be a major sub-contractor in the program. NASAMS is a proven and fielded mobile air defence system in service with seven nations today, including Norway and the United States.

“We are pleased to see that NASAMS is recognized as the preferred ground based air defence capability solution for the Australian Army and we are looking forward to the process leading to a contract”, says Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence Systems.

The inherent flexibility and modularity of NASAMS makes it a world leading solution with unique capabilities to combat modern airborne threats, as well as having the ability to integrate with networks and a variety of different sensors and weapons.

“NASAMS is one of the most successful KONGSBERG products internationally and we are proud to be part of the Raytheon Australia team for delivery of this capability to the Australian Army”, Lie said.

Kongsberg

News Story: Australia selects Raytheon for $1.5B ground-based air defense system

By: Jamie Freed

SYDNEY — The Australian government on Monday selected U.S.-based defense contractor Raytheon as the sole bidder for a ground-based air defense system contract worth up to AUD $2 billion (U.S. $1.5 billion).

The surface-to-air missile system will replace the country's 30-year-old short-range capability, which is due to be retired by early next decade, Defence Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.

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

Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, last year committed to increase defense spending by nearly AUD $30 billion over the next 10 years at a time when China's economic and military power is growing throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: Commonwealth formally accepts Hobart Class Command Team Trainer

Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD)

Today marks an Alliance first, with the Commonwealth’s acceptance of the Hobart Class Command Team Trainer at HMAS Watson in Sydney, signifying the first delivery of an entire system for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program. This shore-based support system has been in development for nearly a decade, and it will enable the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to train their future crew members on the combat system prior to operational deployment on the destroyers.

This significant milestone provides the opportunity to recognise that the AWD program has moved into a new phase focused on delivering advanced technology and capability to the RAN. 

AWD Alliance General Manager Paul Evans commented on this achievement. “We have transitioned from the theoretical architect and design phase to the actual application of this technology, further establishing industry’s role as a fundamental input into capability for Defence,” he said.

Industry: Raytheon Australia’s Electronic Warfare Training Service team completes 2,500th mission

NOWRA – 17 March 2017: Raytheon Australia today announced a major milestone – the 2,500th mission completed by its airborne Electronic Warfare Training Service team. EWTS delivers real-world simulations, testing and training services for the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Defence Force on two Raytheon-owned Lear 35A jets.

“Electronic Warfare will play an increasingly critical role in the battlespace of the future,” said Michael Ward, managing director of Raytheon Australia. “For the past sixteen years we have refined electronic warfare training and simulation services for one reason: to keep members of the military and our nation safe”.

EWTS missions are complex and involve sophisticated EW system training, test, experimentation and evaluation trials, radar jamming and deception, communications denial and deception and radar threat simulation. 

Industry: Air Warfare Destroyer Hobart Concludes Sea Acceptance Trails

Hobart class Air Warfare Destroyer

ADELAIDE – 17 March 2017: Raytheon Australia, the Combat System Integrator for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program, welcomed the conclusion of AWD Hobart’s Sea Acceptance Trials in which Hobart’s full suite of platform and combat systems were tested together as a complete mission system for the first time.

“Raytheon Australia have applied our highly skilled AWD workforce of 350 people including architects, systems engineers and project managers to the project over the last decade,” said Michael Ward, managing director of Raytheon Australia. “The successful testing of the AWD combat system highlights the strength of Raytheon Australia’s capabilities in combat systems integration and the company’s ability to deliver to budget and schedule.”

Raytheon Australia integrates ten major AWD subsystems and the delivery of more than 3,500 major combat system components for the program. Lockheed Martin is the USN’s Combat System Engineering Agent for the Aegis weapon system.

“This is complex and sophisticated work and we have undertaken it all here in Australia. Across all programs we have built a 500 strong combat systems workforce, the largest in Australia and a genuine national asset”, Ward said.

Raytheon Australia’s will next focus on delivery of the AWD Through Life Support Facility and the Hobart Class Command Team Trainer that will support the AWDs and their crew.

Raytheon

Industry: Lockheed Martin and the Royal Australian Navy’s First Aegis-equipped Hobart Class Destroyer Completes Sea Trials

This milestone represents a significant step towards Australia’s Hobart Class Destroyers joining the Aegis International fleet.

ADELAIDE, Australia, March 13, 2017 – A team of Lockheed Martin engineers and technicians, working with the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance team comprised of the Department of Defence, Raytheon Australia, Navantia and ASC Shipbuilding, recently completed five weeks of Sea Acceptance Trials aboard the future HMAS Hobart, first-of-class of Australia’s three new Aegis-equipped Air Warfare Destroyers.

The primary focus of these trials was to test and verify the ship platform and its ability to support the combat system, including demonstration and test of the Aegis combat system operations across multiple warfare areas in an at-sea environment.

The Aegis combat system at-sea testing was successfully conducted by the Hobart Integrated Test Team (ITT), which includes Lockheed Martin engineers and technicians from Australia and the U.S. supporting the Commonwealth and the AWD Alliance team. The team is responsible for testing the Aegis combat system to ensure the equipment is properly installed and functional.

News Story: Indian Navy seeks to replace Israeli Barak-1 air defense system

Barak-1 SAM (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India's Navy has launched a new program to buy short-range surface-to-air missile systems from overseas to replace its aging Israeli Barak-1 air defense systems. 

India has made a global request for information to purchase 10 SRSAM systems and 600 missiles at a cost of about $1.5 billion.

Once responses are received in the next two months, the Navy will issue a tender under the Make in India policy's global purchasing category after six months to acquire the SRSAM systems. Under the program, overseas defense companies would need to forge partnerships with domestic companies to carry out 30 percent offsets obligations and include indigenous technology in the SRSAM systems.

An Indian Navy official said the proposed SRSAM system should be capable of vertically launching Mach 3-class active seeker missiles that can provide 360-degree defense coverage to meet all naval air defense applications including the need to carry out multiple simultaneous engagements.

Each SRSAM system will have a command and control system, a fire control system, a command link radar and one launcher to carry between eight and 16 missiles depending upon the size of the warship. The system's is expected to be inducted within the next five years.

According to an Indian Navy official, the foreign companies expected to make a bid are European-wide MBDA; Thales of France; Saab of Sweden; KBP Tula of Russia; Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel; Raytheon of the United States; and Doosan Group and Samsung of South Korea. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: GA-ASI Goes Head-to-head with IAI for Australian UAS Contract

A US MQ-9B Reaper

by Mike Yeo

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has described its proposal for Australia’s armed medium‑altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) requirement. The company displayed a Reaper UAV and a complete ground control station at the Avalon Airshow last week and introduced its several Australian partners. Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)—the main rival for the Australian contract—also displayed its candidate UAV at the show, the Heron TP.

Project AIR 7003 is the name of the program to acquire the new MALE UAS. Australia’s 2016 Defense White Paper and accompanying Integrated Investment Plan (IIP) called for the procurement to “enhance battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.” It is not known how many aircraft or systems Australia is seeking, although the IIP allocated A$1-2 billion ($0.75–1.5 billion) for the project starting from 2018, with the selected UAS expected to enter Australian service in the early 2020s.

A Heron 1 in Australian service in Afghanistan

Team Reaper Australia comprises GA-ASI, Cobham, CAE Australia, Raytheon Australia and Flight Data Systems. AIN understands that the offer will be centered on General Atomics Certifiable Predator B variant of the Reaper. Cobham will offer through-life support and training while CAE, which provided a Reaper simulator for Italian Air Force, is expected to do the same for Australia. Raytheon will supply the electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera payload, and Flight Data Systems will supply the flight data recorder required by Australia. 

Read the full story at AINonline

Industry: Hobart successfully completes Sea Acceptance Trials

Today (6 March), the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance celebrated the successful completion of Sea Acceptance Trials by the first destroyer Hobart following 21 days at sea off the coast of South Australia.

AWD Alliance General Manager Paul Evans remarked that sea trials were a significant achievement for the Air Warfare Destroyer project in proving the advanced platform and combat systems on-board the ship. 

“Over the past five weeks, the AWD Alliance has conducted some 20 platform system tests and 45 combat system tests, to successfully validate Hobart’s complete Mission System. Combined, these systems will deliver a world leading capability for the Royal Australian Navy,” said Evans.

“Completing Acceptance Sea Trials on a first of class ship is a momentous occasion for the Alliance as we move closer to delivering Hobart to Defence. It has been achieved through the extraordinary efforts of the on-board crew and support team, whose dedication and commitment has been instrumental in ensuring the success of Hobart’s sea trials.”