October 21, 2023 | International, Naval
Australia makes decision on Chinese firm’s lease of critical port
The U.S. is concerned that foreign control could be used to spy on its military forces.
November 6, 2019 | International, Aerospace
Finland warns fighter contenders to keep their budget-busting offers real
By: Gerard O'Dwyer
HELSINKI — Finland has issued a formal notification to industry candidates in its multibillion-dollar fighter program, urging them to keep their proposals within the prescribed budget constraints.
“We do not envisage that we will see withdrawals because of the revised request for quotations. We expect no change there,” said Lauri Puranen, who directs the Finnish Air Forces' HX-fighter program. He said the move was meant simply to stress the need for all of the five international contenders to respect the program's €10 billion, or $11.1 billion, limit.
Defense officials here have conceded that all five bidders, including Saab (Gripen), Dassault Rafale, the pan-European Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing (F/A-18 Super Hornet), Lockheed Martin (F-35) have struggled with the project's rigid budgetary ceiling.
"The budget set for the HX project has been an issue for all bidders and candidate aircraft,“ said Maj. Gen. Kari Renko, the deputy chief of the Finnish Defense Force's Logistics Command.
Finland's recently-elected, conservative-left coalition government has shown no willingness or flexibility to deviate from the billion budget cap. The defense ministry has been instructed to look for a fighter replacement solution within the budgetary range of €7 billion to €10 billion, or $7.7 billion to $11.1 billion.
Whatever flexibility exists in the HX project will impact the number of fighter aircraft purchased and weapons selected as part of the total acquisition program to replace the air force's Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets. The last of the service's Hornets are expected to be retired by 2030.
The defense ministry is seeking responses to the reviews request for quotations to be submitted by the end of January 2020. This will be followed by a request for final offers during the second half of 2020, a process that will commence after stage-two negotiations.
The Finnish government plans to reach a decision on the HX fighter platform in 2021. The decision will cover the acquisition of a new aircraft, weapons, sensors, training, and spare parts.
Bidders are expected to use their responses to the revised solicitation to clarify the industrial-cooperation elements of their respective offers. Finland is looking for a solution that will benefit the country's defense industry, and where parts and systems connected to the eventual contract will be produced under collaborative partnership contracts and joint venture agreements in Finland.
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July 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace
Northrop Grumman Receives $104 Million Contract for UH-1Y, AH-1Z and UH-60V Aircraft Mission Computers
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – July 1, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has received a $104 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) award for the technical refresh of UH-1Y, AH-1Z and UH-60V mission computers. The IDIQ contract covers delivery of production units, retrofit units and spare units for the Marine Corps, Defense Logistics Agency and the government of Bahrain under the Foreign Military Sales Act. This contract brings together multiple mission computer customers, driving greater value, cost efficiency and a reduced logistics footprint. Under the IDIQ, the Navy may issue task or delivery order awards up to the ceiling amount specified in the contract. Work under the contract is set to conclude in 2023. “Northrop Grumman's mission computer delivers mission critical capability to the warfighter,” said James Conroy, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman. “The system provides improved situational understanding in the rapidly changing threat environment.” The mission computer integrates advanced mission, weapons and video processing capabilities into a high-performance airborne computer capable of driving independent, multi-function displays. Its trusted, open architecture provides centralized display and control of all integrated avionics system functions. The mission computer brings improved capability, commonality, reliability and maintainability to the warfighter. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-receives-104-million-contract-for-uh-1y-ah-1z-and-uh-60v-aircraft-mission-computers
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June 17, 2022 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Paris Air Forum : la France est-elle prête à faire face à une guerre hybride ?
Le colonel Thierry Bauer, chef du pôle opérations du COMCYBER, le colonel Guillaume Bourdeloux, commandant des opérations spatiales de l'armée de l'Air et de l'Espace, et le général Pascal Ianni, conseiller communication et porte-parole du chef d'Etat-major des armées, ont évoqué les nouveaux champs de conflictualité lors du Paris Air Forum, organisé par La Tribune mardi 7 juin. « Aujourd'hui, la guerre informationnelle est une donnée importante, sinon majeure, de tous les engagements opérationnels des armées françaises », explique le général Pascal Ianni. « L'hybridité est la combinaison de plusieurs modes d'actions dans le temps et dans l'espace. La particularité de la guerre hybride est qu'elle va mêler des modes d'action purement militaires à des modes d'actions politiques, diplomatiques, économiques, sociaux, culturels. Toute la difficulté dans l'hybridité est de parvenir à synchroniser et coordonner les effets produits dans le temps et dans l'espace pour atteindre l'objectif politique qui est fixé par l'autorité politique », indique-t-il. Le colonel Thierry Bauer appelle à « poursuivre l'effort » dans le domaine de la lutte informatique défensive comme offensive : « Nous travaillons à être en position de nous-même effectuer des attaques informatiques sur les systèmes adverses ». Le colonel Guillaume Bourdeloux souligne quant à lui « qu'on est dans une nouvelle ère spatiale ». « Il faut qu'on comprenne que maintenant la guerre dans l'Espace n'est pas un mythe et qu'elle a lieu quasiment au quotidien. Il faut vraiment qu'on opérationnalise ce milieu », estime-t-il. Ce qui rend ce milieu hybride, c'est son caractère dual, il est donc « difficile de distinguer une action civile qui pourrait être à portée militaire ». La Tribune du 16 juin