Northrop, Raytheon team on next-gen interceptor bid

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  June 14, 2019 | International, Other Defence

  Invisible Interdiction: Air Force Awards Contract for Rail-Mounted Anti-Drone System

  By: Harry McNabb While drone detection systems are proliferating recently, what to do when you've identified a rogue drone is still a problem. Solutions range from catcher drones equipped with nets to shoulder mounted “ray guns” and even drone hunting birds. In a recent press release (below), Invisible Interdiction announced the award of a U.S. Air Force contract to design and test a small lightweight rail-mounted drone jamming module: a device that can be attached to other weapons carried by military personnel. We reached out to Invisible Interdiction president, Clay Wild to learn more about the development of their technology: DRONELIFE: Congratulations on your award. Do you have a image that you could share with our readers? Clay Wild: “The system itself is still a rendering, but I've attached a couple of photos that might be useful. It will be an interesting capability.” DroneLife: Who is the Audience for your system? Whom is it designed for? Clay Wild: “The initial users will be US Air Force Security Forces personnel. The guys who guard Air Force bases. DRONELIFE: What is important about this award to Invisible Interdiction? Clay Wild: “This is our first major contract award. We are going to provide Security Forces Airmen the ability to stop drones interfering with their operations without the need to carry extra equipment. Attaching the countermeasure to the weapon provides them instant access to this device”. DRONELIFE: Tell us a little bit about Invisible Interdiction and how you got started. Clay Wild: “Invisible Interdiction was started only a year ago in March 2018 but we've been in the counter-drone business for almost four years now with other organizations. We are currently marketing to defense agencies in the U.S. but have a very active international representative network around the world introducing our capabilities to those military and police agencies that are allowed to deploy jamming capabilities. As you are aware, the RF jamming is a very sensitive technology around the world because of the potential for collateral effects. With most drones using the WIFI bands for control, jamming this part of the spectrum can impact everyday things like WIFI routers, Bluetooth devices, etc. We happen to design very directional and low-power jamming systems, but they can be temporarily impactful nonetheless. The use of this, and other types of countermeasures, is an interesting debate that is just starting.” DRONELIFE: How did you come up with the name of the company? Clay Wild: “The company name Invisible Interdiction refers to the use of ‘invisible' RF energy for interdiction of errant drones. This appeared to be an interesting play on what we do. Once folks think about it for a minute, the light goes on and..”oh yeah, I get it.” The following is an Invisible Interdiction press release. Invisible Interdiction Awarded Air Force Contract for Rail-mounted UAS Denial System. Melbourne, FL, May 30, 2019: Melbourne, Florida based Invisible Interdiction has been awarded a contract to design, test and qualify a very small, lightweight rail- mounted C-UAS jamming module. This Phase 3 contract is the result of a Special Topic SBIR award originally envisioned by the Air Force's Las Vegas-based innovation hub called AFWERX. Several barriers to working with the Air Force were removed including a shorter application process, an accelerated contract award and a shorter period of performance. This effort started in the fall of 2018 in response to the Air Force's pursuit of innovative counter-drone technologies. Invisible Interdiction submitted a concept that was selected and proven feasible late last year. This UAS denial system will be similar in size and weight to existing rail-mounted aiming lasers that are mounted on the Picatinny rail of issued shotguns or M4 rifles. Noted Invisible Interdiction CEO Bryan Sydnor, “We already have considerable experience designing small and lightweight hand-held and modular jamming systems. This weapon attachable jamming module will test our ability to design an effective capability that easily attaches to the service rifle or shotgun.” Prototype testing and qualification is scheduled for later this summer with production units available by the end of 2019. https://dronelife.com/2019/06/12/invisible-interdiction-air-force-awards-contract-for-rail-mounted-anti-drone-system/

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  June 18, 2019 | International, Naval

  FINCANTIERI ET NAVAL GROUP SIGNENT UN ACCORD DE JOINT-VENTURE. LE PROJET « POSEIDON » PREND FORME

  Dans le prolongement de l'annonce faite le 23 octobre 2018, Fincantieri et Naval Group signent aujourd'hui à Rome l'Alliance Cooperation Agreement qui fixe les termes opérationnels de l'incorporation d'une joint-venture détenue à parts égales. L'accord, approuvé par les Conseils d'Administration des deux entreprises, incarne l'avancement du projet « Poseidon » et est une étape dans le renforcement de la coopération dans le naval de défense en vue de constituer une industrie européenne de construction navale plus efficiente et compétitive. L'accord a été signé par les PDG des deux entreprises, Giuseppe Bono et Hervé Guillou, à bord de la frégate Frederico Martinengo, amarrée à La Spezia sur la base navale de la marine italienne. Ce navire fait partie du programme franco-italien de frégates multi-missions (FREMM) et souligne la cohérence de vingt ans de collaboration entre les deux pays, leurs industries et leurs marines. La mise en place de la JV, prévue dans les prochains mois et en tout état de cause avant la fin de l'année, sera soumise aux conditions habituelles pour ce type de transaction et à l'obtention des autorisations nécessaires par les autorités compétentes. Gr'ce à la joint-venture, Fincantieri et Naval Group : Partageront leurs bonnes pratiques ; Mèneront ensemble des projets de recherche et développement sélectionnés ; Optimiseront les processus d'achat ; Prépareront conjointement des offres pour des programmes binationaux et les marchés à l'export. Sur la base de cet accord, l'entreprise aura son siège social à Gênes (Italie) avec une filiale à Ollioules (France). Comme cela a été établi dans l'accord d'actionnaires, la JV sera structurée autour d'un conseil d'administration composé de six membres avec trois membres nommés par chaque entreprise. Pour ce premier mandat de trois ans, Fincantieri nommera le Président et le Directeur des Opérations tandis que Naval Group nommera le Directeur Général Executif et le Directeur Financier. En raison de l'importance stratégique accordée par Fincantieri et Naval Group à cette opération, les membres du Conseil d'administration incluront Giuseppe Bono, nommé Président de la JV et Hervé Guillou. Cette JV doit permettre aux deux groupes et à leurs écosystèmes d'améliorer leurs capacités à servir les marines française et italiennes, de remporter de nouveaux contrats à l'export, de développer de nouvelles solutions technologiques et enfin, d'améliorer leur compétitivité de la filière navale des deux pays. A l'occasion de cette signature, Giuseppe Bono et Hervé Guillou ont déclaré : « Nous sommes très satisfaits des résultats obtenus et, surtout, nous souhaitons remercier nos gouvernements qui ont travaillé main dans la main avec nous au cours de ces derniers mois et continuent à le faire aujourd'hui, afin de parvenir à un accord qui puisse assurer la protection des actifs souverains tout en promouvant la coopération entre nos deux équipes. Cet engagement nous permettra de mieux servir nos marines, de fournir le support adéquat aux opérations à l'export et établira de manière effective les fondations d'une industrie de défense Européenne renforcée. » Fincantieri Fincantieri est l'un des plus grands groupes de construction navale au monde et le premier constructeur de navires du monde occidental en termes de chiffre d'affaires, de diversification et d'innovation. Il occupe une place de chef de file dans la conception et la construction de navires de croisière et se positionne comme un acteur de référence sur tous les segments haute technologie de l'industrie de la construction navale, depuis le naval aux navires off-shore, des navires spécialisés hautement complexes et ferries aux méga-yachts, en passant par la réparation navale et la conversion de navires, la production de systèmes et composants jusqu'aux services après-vente. Basé à Trieste (Italie), le groupe a plus de 19.000 employés, dont plus de 8.400 en Italie, 20 chantiers navals répartis sur 4 continents, et a construit plus de 7 000 navires en plus de 230 ans d'histoire maritime. www.fincantieri.com Naval Group Naval Group est le leader européen du naval de défense. Entreprise de haute technologie d'envergure internationale, Naval Group répond aux besoins de ses clients gr'ce à ses savoir-faire exceptionnels, ses moyens industriels uniques et sa capacité à monter des partenariats stratégiques innovants. Le groupe conçoit, réalise et maintient en service des sous-marins et des navires de surface. Il fournit également des services pour les chantiers et bases navals. Enfin, le groupe propose un panel de solutions dans les énergies marines renouvelables. Attentif aux enjeux de responsabilité sociale d'entreprise, Naval Group est adhérent au Pacte mondial des Nations unies. Le groupe réalise un chiffre d'affaires de 3,6 milliards d'euros et compte 14 860 collaborateurs (données 2018). https://www.naval-group.com/fr/news/fincantieri-et-naval-group-signent-un-accord-de-joint-venture-le-projet-poseidon-prend-forme/

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  September 4, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  Poland, Romania tee up helicopter tenders, target 2 percent defense spending

  By: Jaroslaw Adamowski WARSAW, Poland — A number of Eastern European allies aim to maintain their defense expenditures at 2 percent of their respective gross domestic products despite the current economic downturn. Poland and Romania are at the forefront of the region's military modernization efforts, and both plan to spend billions of dollars on helicopters in the near future. However, local observers say the countries' defense acquisitions are facing delays due to organizational limitations. In a sign of commitment to modernizing its military with Western-made gear despite budget cuts, Poland decided to host the MSPO defense industry show in Kielce this year. The pandemic has forced the event's organizers to cut the show to three days, Sept. 8-10, as travel restrictions forced the majority of foreign defense companies to skip the event. Over the past years, Warsaw has increasingly focused its efforts on large procurements by foreign manufacturers, such as the $4.75 billion deal to to buy Raytheon's Patriot air-and-missile defense system and the $4.6 billion contract to acquire 32 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. Due to this, some observers claim Poland's defense industry is in urgent need of orders, or partnerships with foreign producers, to stay financially afloat. “A situation in which Poland only buys ready weapons off the rack is a bad one,” retired Gen. Mirosław Różański, president of the Stratpoints Foundation and former General Commander of the Polish Armed Forces, told Defense News. “Developing the defense capabilities of any country cannot solely consist of acquiring the most modern types of weapons, but also enabling its local industry to service and repair, and preferably to produce, or at least jointly produce them with foreign partners.” “As long as Polish officials will claim that we can build submarines or tanks on our own, this won't lead us anywhere. We must build partnerships, just like the rest of the world does. The flagship F-35 project is driven by an elite group of nine countries,” Różański said, adding that past plans to integrate Poland's leading, state-run defense group PGZ within a large international defense group represented a missed opportunity. Slawomir Kulakowski, the head of the Polish Chamber of National Defense Manufacturers, told Defense News most of Poland's defense companies supply their products to the country's military as export sales have lagged. Their increased cooperation with foreign players could pave the way for the introduction of various new weapons, according to Kulakowski. “In some foreign defense contracts, the Polish government includes the requirement for foreign companies to cooperate with the Polish industry. Other deals include offset requirements, but these are often criticized for boosting the weapons' prices without generating comparable benefits,” Kulakowski said. “Better contracts foresee transfers of technology to Polish plants, allowing them ... to modernize their offer, expand to new markets.” Some of the country's much-awaited defense tenders include the planned acquisitions of new helicopters for the Polish Air Force. These include the 32 multirole copters under the Perkoz program, with the first squadron to be delivered by 2026, bolstering the military's transport, combat support, command, and reconnaissance capacities. They are to replace the Air Force's outdated Mil Mi-2 and W-3 Sokol copters. The ministry also aims to buy 32 combat helos under the Kruk program, with the first squadron to be supplied until 2026, and a second one after 2026. The aircraft are to replace Poland's Soviet-designed Mil Mi-24 helos. With the two programs facing delays, though, the ministry has turned to smaller acquisitions. In January 2019, Warsaw signed a contract to buy four S-70i Black Hawk copters from Lockheed Martin's subsidiary Sikorsky for some 683.4 million zloty (U.S. $186 million). Three months later, Poland signed a deal with Leonardo to acquire four AW101 helicopters for some €380 million (U.S. $454 million). Kulakowski said the much-awaited transformation of the Armament Inspectorate, the ministry's unit that handles acquisitions of military gear, into an Armaments Agency, fitted with broader competencies and increased workforce, could accelerate procurements. According to Różański, to reform Poland's defense acquisition system, the potential Armaments Agency should be established as a government entity, and not a unit subordinated to the ministry. “Two conditions must be met for such an endeavor to be successful. Defense acquisitions must be taken out of party politics, and they must be delegated to a team of competent, politically neutral experts that will be responsible for long-term planning and execution of our modernization programs,” Różański said. Contenders in Romania In Romania, the country's defense establishment has been mulling plans to purchase new copters since 2015, but a decision to launch a tender has yet to be made. George Visan, the coordinator of the Black Sea Security Program at the Bucharest-based think tank Romania Energy Center, told Defense News the Defense Ministry “would like to acquire two types of military helicopter: an attack helicopter and medium-size transport type helicopter. Before the pandemic, a helicopter procurement program was to start this year or in 2021.” With these purchases in mind, Romania has filed a request for information with the U.S. government for a potential acquisition of 24 attack helicopters and 21 medium-size transport helicopters. There are three U.S. and European helo producers that are expected to compete for the order. This said, Bucharest will most likely select an offer that brings manufacturing jobs to Romania through partnerships with local businesses. Eyeing the contract, Airbus Helicopters has shifted its assembly line for the H215M copter to Romania, and established a partnership to make medium-size helicopters with local aircraft plant IAR Brasov, according to Visan. “Airbus wants to sell its H215M and build it here in Brasov, the company is also offering the H145M which is presented as an attack helicopter. The second contender is Bell with the AH-1Z Viper and the UH-1Y Venom,” Visan said. “Finally, the third contender is Lockheed Martin with the Sikorsky UH-60M.” https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/09/03/poland-romania-tee-up-helicopter-tenders-target-2-percent-defense-spending/