AUS: Testing Completed For New Army Combat Vehicles (LAND 400)

BAE Systems (Patria) AMV35 (Wiki Info)

Testing to support the selection process for the Army’s new Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) has finished on schedule.

Head Land Systems Division, Major General David Coghlan, congratulated the two shortlisted contenders, Rheinmetall and BAE Systems Australia, who have been involved in the year-long Risk Mitigation Activity (RMA) to help Defence choose the supplier of the new Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability.

“The RMA incorporated a test and evaluation program, a series of schedule and contract management workshops to reduce the risk to the LAND 400 contract, and working with defence industry to increase opportunities for Australian industry involvement in the program,” Major General Coghlan said.

“The test and evaluation program assessed the candidate vehicles and their support systems across a wide range of criteria, with a particular focus on protection, lethality and mobility.

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (18-Jul-2017)

Jack Viola, Eliza Chapman, Jacqueline Westermann and Harley Comrie

Sea state

The US Navy released a request for information (RFI) last week seeking proposals for a new guided missile frigate. Its previous plans for a new frigate were based on modifying the current littoral combat ships. But the RFI for the new replacement program, designated FFG(X), calls for a bigger crew and more guns, which the current hulls may not be able to deliver. That could mean a whole new design and a new ship in the seas.

The Chinese Navy has conducted a live-fire drill in the Mediterranean Sea. The Chinese flotilla was on its way to join in exercises with the Russian Navy in the Baltic. According to the China Daily, the flotilla ‘fired several rounds’ during a drill that ‘was aimed at honing crew members’ skills in attacking small targets’. The second phase of the exercises, planned for September in the Sea of Japan, will include ‘an amphibious assault component’.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you try to kill a submarine with a nuclear depth charge, War is Boring and Operation Wigwam have some answers.

Industry: Rheinmetall selects Queensland for Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence

Rheinmetall Defence Australia today announced it had selected Queensland as its location for its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) and the Australian Headquarters that will be established if the company is successful in securing Australia’s Land 400 combat reconnaissance vehicle program.

Currently the largest supplier of military vehicles to the Australian Defence Force, Rheinmetall will establish the MILVEHCOE as a sovereign industrial capability for the continuous design, manufacture, export and support for military vehicles, turrets and tactical systems. The MILVEHCOE will also draw on a supply network across Australia to deliver products and services from local industry into Rheinmetall’s Global Supply Chain.

Rheinmetall is delivering more than 2500 logistics trucks to the Australian Army under the LAND 121 Phase 3B program and is currently bidding for the supply of the armoured combat reconnaissance vehicle under the Commonwealth of Australia’s Land 400 Phase 2 program.

As a centre of excellence, the MILVEHCOE will be the focal point for the LAND 400 combat vehicles, LAND 121 logistics vehicles, and other complex defence projects. Advanced manufacturing jobs will be created in a wide range of technologies including military vehicle design, medium calibre weapons and ammunition, protection systems, fire control and surveillance systems, and systems engineering and integration.

News Story: Australia tests combat recon vehicles

Rheinmetall Boxer CRV for LAND 400 Phase 2

by Richard Tomkins

Rival armored vehicles in competition for Australia's LAND 400 Phase 2 program are undergoing test and evaluation assessment, Australian officials said in a press release.

The Australian program for a next-generation combat reconnaissance vehicle will eventually see 225 vehicles procured by the Australian military for a total purchase price of more than $3 billion.

BAE Systems-Patria AMV35 for LAND 400 Phase 2

"The Rheinmetall Boxer CRV and the BAE Systems Australia Patria AMV35 are armored fighting vehicles with vastly improved firepower, protection and mobility than our current fleet," said Australian Minister for Defense Industry Christopher Pyne, who recently witnessed live-fire testing.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

Industry: Improved performance for Military Trucks through the application of unique Australian technology

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH (RMMV) has today announced a partnership with Adelaide based suspension and technology company Supashock for the development and manufacture of a revolutionary military suspension and integrated intelligent load handling system for its range of military trucks.

RMMV has funded Supashock to develop the system for the Australian and global markets. The system integrates Supashock’s novel active suspension technology with an intelligent load handling system and will substantially increase the capability and safety of RMMV’s military trucks in demanding on and off-road environments.

Through comparative testing Supashock’s suspension technology has been shown to substantially improve the mobility of RMMV’s trucks, while at the same time enhancing on-road safety and reducing the shock and vibration experienced by the load the truck is carrying. Rheinmetall sees broad application of the integrated intelligent load handling system and Supashock’s suspension technology on both Australian and international programs as it will deliver a real capability edge for our customers.

Rheinmetall’s investment in Supashock is on the back of an Australian Federal government entrepreneurs grant that was recently announced by the Australian Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne.

Industry: NIOA joins Rheinmetall Defence Land 400 Team

Rheinmetall Defence Australia today announced Brisbane-based NIOA as the company’s key supplier of ammunition and armament services for its Land 400 Phase 2 offer to the Commonwealth of Australia.

The partnership between the two companies is underpinned by a commercial relationship spanning 20 years and a shared commitment towards placing Australian Industry Capability at the centre of Rheinmetall’s offer to deliver the BOXER CRV to the Australian Defence Force.

Rheinmetall has a longstanding supplier relationship with NIOA through its weapon and munitions arm, Rheinmetall Weapons and Munitions (RWM), built on the delivery of world class ammunition and pyrotechnics to the Australian Defence Force and state and federal police forces.

News Report: India Opens $3 Billion Ammo Tender for Private Sector to Curb Import Dependency

The Indian defense ministry has floated a tender for private ammunition makers in India to supply ammunition worth $3 billion to the armed forces over the next decade. Currently, 11 government-owned ordnance factories have a monopoly over the production of ammunitions.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – Last year, the Indian government approved the private sector to produce ammunition as part of the Make in India program.

The defense ministry floated a tender from a domestic private manufacturer for the supply of a range of ammunition. The list includes 125mm armor-piercing types for T-90 & T-72, 40mm multiple grenade launcher/underbarrel grenade launcher ammo, 30mm ammunition used by armored infantry carrying vehicle, 122mm grad rockets for Pinaka series and bi-modular charge system.

Twenty-five Indian companies responded to the request issued by the ministry last November. Kalyani Group, Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd and Godrej & Boyce are among the companies that responded to the bid.

Industry: Rheinmetall to supply Royal Thai Navy with state-of-the-art training facility

The Royal Thai Navy has awarded Rheinmetall another important order in the field of maritime training simulation. Under the contract, Rheinmetall’s Simulation and Training unit will supply Thailand with a turnkey system known as the Naval Warfare Training Simulator (NWTS). Worth several million euros, the order includes construction of a new building, including infrastructure. The facility is scheduled to go into operation in the third quarter of 2019.

Based on Rheinmetall’s Action Speed Tactical Trainer (ASTT), the Royal Thai Navy’s NWTS will be used to prepare personnel for a variety of combat scenarios, e.g. engaging mines as well as surface, aerial and underwater targets. In executing the order, Rheinmetall can draw on its comprehensive expertise in the domain of maritime simulation, in which naval forces around the world already place their trust. Here too, Rheinmetall’s tried-and-tested Advanced Naval Synthetic Environment (ANSE) software will come into play, enabling rapid generation of synthetic scenarios.

In addition, the new training facility can be connected to the Royal Thai Navy’s existing Submarine Command Team Trainer (SCTT) and Anti-Submarine Warfare Simulator (ASWS) systems, both of which were also supplied by Rheinmetall. This networking capability offers great potential for generating new, even more sophisticated and realistic scenarios in all three of the training systems.

The new order underscores once again Rheinmetall’s leading role in in the field of training and simulation.

Rheinmetall

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (20-Dec-2016)

RAAF C-27J Spartan Cargo Aircraft

Christopher Cowan, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond

Sea State

The US Navy released its much-anticipated 2016 Force Structure Assessment (FSA) last week and the results are sure to please proponents of a large USN The FSA advocates a 355 ship navy, which is a significant increase from the 308 ships advocated by the 2014 FSA. The 47-hull boost comes most prominently from one more aircraft carrier, 18 more nuclear attack submarines and 16 more large surface combatants (cruisers and destroyers). But achieving the 355-ship goal won’t be easy, as analysts are predicting it will take decades (and billions of dollars) to come to fruition. ASPI’s Andrew Davies says that history tells us it probably won’t happen—especially if the emphasis is on big ships.

China’s new (and only) aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, conducted its first ever live-fire exercise last week. According to the People’s Liberation Army Navy, the goal of the exercise was to enhance the Liaoning’s ability to operate as a part of a carrier battle group, as well as verify the capabilities of its sailors and airmen. This video, courtesy of CCTV, shows the Liaoning’s carrier-borne J-15 aircraft participating in the exercise.

After months of speculation, the US Navy’s new class of ballistic missile submarines officially has its new name. Secretary of the Navy Roy Mabus announced last week that the submarines would be called the Columbia-class—named after the District of Columbia.

News Story: India Allows Private Sector to Manufacture Ammo

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India has decided to reduce ammunition imports and instead procure all ammunition requirements from domestic sources. 

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) under its Make In India initiative is now encouraging the private sector to manufacture ammunition. Previously, only state-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) was permitted to produce ammunition and India’s private sector was only allowed to manufacture parts of ammunition such as the shell or fuse. 

A senior Indian Army official said of the new opportunity for the private sector: “It clearly shows that the Army’s requirements are not being totally met by the OFB and import is not an option anymore.” 

Under the new policy, the MoD is willing to provide long-term commitments and firm orders of multiple types of ammunition to private players, but only at competitive prices. 

“The Indian industry was denied participation in the manufacture of ammunition, as no industrial license was issued for filling process. Thus the monopoly stayed with OFB, whose lack of capacity restricted the demand of the services, gradually leading to deficiencies over the years. It was not that the industry does not have the capability to manufacture with transfer of technology, but they have not taken any concrete action to acquire technology in this regard till now,” a senior MoD official said. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: No Timeline Put Aside to Lift Ban on Blacklisted Defense Companies

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — Even after the public release of its new blacklisting policy, India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not set a timeline for lifting the ban on those defense companies already blacklisted, with a top MoD official saying that in "some cases" the blacklisted status may continue. 

The MoD on Monday released its new policy, "Guidelines of the Ministry of Defence for Penalties in Business Dealings with Entities," meant to ensure that scrutiny and transparency exist in future defense deals. 

Under the new guidelines, current blacklisted companies that are under investigation, as well as former blacklisted businesses, will be examined and a new grading system of penalties will be determined, the MoD official noted. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: India's DAC Approves Blacklisting Policy, Other Procurement Projects

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India's Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) on Monday approved a new policy regarding the blacklisting of defense companies charged with corruption. The agency also approved $12.61 billion worth of new homemade defense projects. 

The formal blacklisting policy guideline will be published on the website of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in the next few days. DAC falls under the purview of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. 

Companies alleged to have been involved in corrupt practices or illegally influenced defense contracts will be severely punished, and the blacklisting of a company will comprise several levels of punishment and embargos, said a senior MoD official. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Marder Medium Tank RI is cost-effective solution

Image: IHS Jane's 360

CHRISTOPHER F FOSS

Rheinmetall Landsysteme of Germany has brought its latest Marder Medium Tank RI (Republic of Indonesia) to Indo Defence 2016.

The Marder 1 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) was in production for the German Army between 1971 and 1975 and the latest 1A5 IFV will remain in service for some years. The company has already sold surplus upgraded Marder 1A3 IFVs to Chile and Indonesia. The Medium Tank RI is essentially an upgraded Marder 1A3 platform fitted with an Italian Oto Melara (today Leonardo) HITFACT three person turret. The most significant improvement to the platform is the raised roof line to provide more internal volume, upgraded MTU diesel engine, which now develops 690hp, upgraded suspension for improved mobility, and a modular armour package.

Read the full story at IHS Jane's 360

News Story: India Changing Policy on Blacklisting of Foreign Defense Companies

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India will not implement blanket blacklisting of foreign defense companies charged with corruption under a newly finalized policy that likely will be made public this month, said an Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) official. 

Since 2005, India has blacklisted six overseas companies from operating here in response to allegations of corruption while doing business in the country. Instead of blocking a business from defense deals, India will impose an economic penalty on the company. 

The MoD official would not say if those companies already blacklisted will be allowed to participate in future defense projects after the new policy is enacted. However, the official did say the MoD is in favor of allowing those companies to participate in defense projects so long as they agree to deferred prosecution. The official would not expand on this approach. 

The ruling government believes the blanket blacklisting policy, which was used by the previous United Progressive Alliance government, led to shortages of ammunition and artillery guns and hampered the acquisition process, according to the official.

Read the full story at  DefenseNews

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (1-Nov-2016)

Christopher Cowan, Thulasi Wigneswaran, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond

Sea State

The search is officially underway for Canada’s new major surface combatant. Last week, the Canadian government requested off-the-shelf design and combat systems integration proposals from 12 pre-qualified bidders for its Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project. The CSC project is set to replace Canada’s fleet of Halifax-class frigates and (now mostly retired) Iroquois-class destroyers with up to 15 new ships. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Ottawa is demanding a high level of detail from the bidders, including the number of nuts and bolts that will be used during construction. While the exact cost of the ships won’t be known until a design is selected next year, observers are pegging the project at around C$40 billion.

One of Russia’s most intriguing submarines, the Podmoskovye, began sea trials last week. The Podmoskovye is a Delta IV stretch nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that has been converted to serve as a mothership for unmanned underwater vehicles and Russia’s mysterious Project 1851-class (‘Paltus’), Project 10831-class (‘Losharik’) and Project 1910 (‘Kashalot’) submarines. Little’s known about those vessels (save for the photo of one was accidentally published on the cover of a car magazine) but many analysts believe that their focus is on deep water intelligence gathering and ocean surveillance missions.

AUS: Defence Signs New Global Supply Chain Agreement with Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall Defence Australia has signed its first Global Supply Chain Agreement today, which will provide Australian companies greater access to international supply chains.

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said he was pleased to announce Rheinmetall Defence Australia was joining the Global Supply Chain Program.

“Australia has many innovative and world leading capabilities,” Minister Pyne said.

“The Agreement will provide new commercial and defence opportunities in Rheinmetall’s international supply chain, as well as helping to break down barriers that may otherwise deter local firms from doing business in overseas markets.”

AUS: Roadmap released to boost local industry opportunities in Land 400

Australian companies now have an innovative way to get involved in the multi-billion dollar LAND 400 Phase 2 armoured vehicle program.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, announced a new Australian Industry Opportunity Roadmap which helps Australian companies cash in on the work available.

“Australian industry involvement is at the centre of the Government’s plans for the project,” Minister Pyne said.

“Projects like LAND 400 give us the opportunity to modernise our defence capability while keeping jobs in Australia and boosting domestic manufacturing.

“We want to encourage Australian industry participation – particularly in assembly, systems design, integration, testing and evaluation, and support of the capability.”

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (13-Sep-2016)

BAE Systems CV90 (Recon variant)

Christopher Cowan, Thulasi Wigneswaran, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond

Sea State

The US Navy’s newest destroyer, the USS Zumwalt, began the long voyage to its home port of San Diego last week. Its first stop was Newport, Rhode Island, where visitors were given a tour of the futuristic destroyer’s bridge, mission centre and armament. The destroyer will visit several other ports along the way—including a stop in Baltimore on 15 October—where it’ll be formally commissioned into the USN during Fleet Week. USS Zumwalt is the USN’s largest destroyer to date and has been plagued by cost and technical issues. The vessel, which boasts a stealthy design that makes it look like a cross between the USS Monitor and the Starship Enterprise (yes, that one), is helmed by Captain James Kirk. How fitting.

In other news from across the Pacific, NATO warships have gathered in Halifax, Canada this week for a 13-day anti-submarine warfare exercise dubbed Cutlass Fury. Canada’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise in 20 years also includes vessels from the US, France, Germany, Spain and the UK. It comes at a time when concern about Russia’s resurgent submarine operations has been ratcheted up.

News Story: Land Forces 2016 - Boxer dukes it out with AMV35

BAE Systems/Patria AMV35

by Gordon Arthur

The Australian Army’s Land 400 Phase 2 programme for combat reconnaissance vehicles attracted top attention at Land Forces 2016 in Adelaide, with the field now narrowed to the Rheinmetall Boxer and BAE Systems/Patria AMV35. 

Both contenders had their 8x8 vehicles on display in a three-colour AusCam paint scheme. The competition is now in its risk mitigation activity phase.

The Boxer was fitted with a two-man Lance turret featuring a 35mm cannon and dual Spike anti-tank guided missiles. The 35mm cannon was offered as an option instead of the more typical Mauser 30mm Mk 30-2 gun. The hull-Lance turret combination was first exhibited in 2010, at which time it was being proposed to the Canadians.

The Spanish use this turret on their Piranha III vehicles. The turret is protected to the same degree as the hull, with Rheinmetall able to manufacture the turret, optics, gun barrel and ammunition itself.

Rheinmetall Boxer

A Rheinmetall spokesman said the Boxer, powered by a 720hp MTU engine, was designed to operate with Leopard 2 tanks and so possesses extremely high mobility. Interestingly, the driver is seated on the right side of the hull.

It employs a modular design, with the drive module 100% in common with German Army vehicles. The spokesman highlighted its ballistic protection, possessing mine-blast protection and multi-layered protection.

Read the full story at Shephard

News Story: Land Forces 2016 - Australia’s GBAD jigsaw puzzle

SAAB RBS-70NG mounted on a Thales Hawkei

by Gordon Arthur

The topic of ground-based air defence (GBAD) and integrated air defence attracted much attention at Land Forces 2016 in Adelaide, although potential vendors are awaiting an RfT to learn more about how Australia will approach this jigsaw.

The 2016 Defence White Paper called for a deployable short-range GBAD system to replace the Saab RBS 70 MANPADS by the early 2020s. Furthermore, new medium-range GBAD missiles will be acquired in the mid-to-late 2020s. These contribute to project Land 19 Phase 7B.

Another consideration is project Air 6500 that will have two phases to replace the Vigilare air defence C2 system and to shape long-range air defence.

The sentiment of industry is that an RfP for Land 19 Phase 7B will appear in late 2016/early 2017. The previously issued RfI sought a sensor suite, effector suite (i.e. missiles) and C4I system that can absorb the existing functionality of Phase 7A.

There is considerable interest from vendors. For example, a spokesman confirmed to Shephard that MBDA is proposing EMADS for the short-to-medium range, and Mistral MANPADS for the lower level.

The former, which stands for Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions, has options for both the CAMM and CAMM-ER, which give a layered defensive range of 25km for the former and 45km for the latter. The UK is introducing the CAMM, which uses a soft vertical launch, as its Rapier replacement.

Importantly, Australia already has a foundation upon which to build a capable air defence network, which is what Saab is counting on for further involvement. Australia has the RBS 70, recently updated with IFF Mode 5, and Giraffe AMB radars.

Australian Giraffe Radar with MAN Truck in Afghanistan

Australia purchased the Giraffes plus SRCTec Light Counter-Mortar Radars as part of Land 19 Phase 7A as an urgent requirement for counter-rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) purposes to protect troops in Afghanistan. However, these give only a sense and warn capacity, with no ability to kill incoming rounds.

These could form the basis of a more expansive system, a Saab Australia spokesman informed Shephard. ‘A little extra work can expand capability considerably,’ he said, plus a layered system could be phased in step by step. For example, the 9LV combat management system used on the navy’s upcoming Air Warfare Destroyers could be integrated.

Read the full story at Shephard