News

Bruno Even, président d'Airbus Helicopters, Pierre-Eric Pommellet, PDG de Naval Group, Eric Béranger, PDG de MBDA, et Hervé Grandjean, Conseiller pour les affaires industrielles auprès de la ministre des Armées, ont livré, au cours d'un débat organisé par La Tribune lors du Paris Air Forum, leurs retours d'expérience sur l'industrie de défense française face à la crise. «L'industrie de défense a été résiliente», affirme Hervé Grandjean : «La lutte contre le terrorisme et les opérations extérieures ne s'arrêtent pas et on ne peut pas mener ces opérations sans les industries de défense qui, embarquées avec nous dans la défense du pays, assument d'une certaine manière une mission régalienne». Bruno Even indique que les hélicoptères ont continué de voler pendant cette période, avec «très peu d'annulations». Bruno Even et Eric Béranger précisent toutefois qu'un impact de la crise sur l'activité «d'ici deux ou trois ans» n'est pas à exclure. «L'export est l'un de nos enjeux majeurs de la période», souligne Bruno Even. La Tribune du 24 novembre

Raytheon Canada will be hosting a Canadian Industry Day for companies interested in opportunities to become a supplier/subcontractor to Raytheon Technologies. In consideration of current and upcoming Industrial and Technological Benefit (ITB) obligations in Canada, Raytheon Technologies is looking for potential second-source suppliers for current and upcoming US and International programs. This virtual Industry Day will be hosted via Zoom, on Wednesday November 25, 2020 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm EST (9 am MST). If you are not familiar with Canada's ITB program, here is a link to the Government of Canada website: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/086.nsf/eng/home Companies with capabilities within the following general categories are invited to register for and attend this Webinar: Metal parts – manufacturing and machining of steel and aluminum Mechanical Assemblies – similar to oilfield equipment in level of complexity Electronic components, wires, harnesses Power supply and electronic cabinets Missile components Motor assemblies (rockets/missiles) Electronic assemblies Circuit Card Assemblies Injection Molding Hydraulic parts and components Thin Film Alumina Portable/Small Battery technology (including alternative power/solar) Mechanical Engineering/Support/Testing Environmental Testing (Ruggedization of design for extreme temperatures) Shelters – including heating and cooling, power supply Generators Hydraulic truck mounted cranes Simulation and Training The Industry Day will include presentations from Raytheon Canada and Raytheon Technologies. An overview of Raytheon Technologies, details on potential opportunities, and the process by which interested companies will be reviewed and selected to bid on any future opportunities will be provided. If your company has any of the capabilities listed above and you wish to participate in the Industry Day, please register at the following link: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_ewlCKRpATjCF5TNe8WVbGQ Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defence company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises four industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Four additional companies -- Alaska Airlines, Seattle, Washington (HTC711-21-D-CC01); Hawaiian Airlines Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii (HTC711-21-D-CC02); Jet Blue Airways, Long Island City, New York (HTC711-21-D-CC03); and Swift Air LLC, Greensboro, North Carolina (HTC711-21-D-CC04) -- have been awarded firm-fixed-price contracts under the Domestic Airlift Charter Services, Federal Aviation Administration Part 121, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, fixed-price contract, at estimated program value of $697,000,000. These funds were obligated on individual task orders issued among 16 contracts. The program initially began in October 2018. The contracts provide domestic air cargo and passenger charter services. Services shall be provided for the Department of Defense and other federal government agencies. Work will be performed within the continental U.S., all U.S. territories, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. Period of performance is from Nov. 20, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2023. Ordering is decentralized and will be determined at the task order level. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sysco-Central Alabama, Calera, Alabama, has been awarded a maximum $136,226,979 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for full-line food distribution. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a four-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Alabama, with a Nov. 23, 2024, ordering period end date. Using customers are Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-21-D-3311). SupplyCore Inc., Rockford, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $92,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for supply, storage and distribution of water purification systems. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a four-year base contract with one one-year option period. Location of performance is Illinois, with a Nov. 19, 2024, performance completion date. Using services are Army and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7MX-21-D-0016). Creighton AB Inc., Reidsville, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $7,788,263 modification (P00002) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-20-D-1213) with four one-year option periods for men's broadfall trousers. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are New York and North Carolina, with a Nov. 24, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AIR FORCE PAE Applied Technologies LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a ceiling $98,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for U.S. Air forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) electronic warfare operations training and infrastructure maintenance services. This contract provides electronic warfare aircrew tactics evaluation, electronic warfare combat training, operation and maintenance of equipment and electronic warfare range infrastructure maintenance for USAFE-AFAFRICA. Work will be performed at various locations in Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy. The basic contract has a five-year ordering period ending Nov. 19, 2025. This award is result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,091,999 will be obligated via the first task order, which will be awarded immediately after the basic contract, and is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2026. The 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is the contracting activity (FA5641-21-D-0001). ViaSat Inc., Carlsbad, California, has been awarded a $50,800,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for development on prototype space systems. The contractor will provide studies, design, manufacturing, integration, performance qualification, network space segment elements, launch, flight and demonstration of prototype space systems. This also includes the development, integration and demonstration with ground terminals in conjunction with the government Ground Segment to reduce risk and assess performance and functionality for future protected service. It includes the associated program management, system engineering, certification, integration, test and evaluation and configuration management. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, California, and is expected to be completed Feb. 20, 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with one offer received. Fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $737,646 are being obligated to the first task order at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (FA9453-21-D-0029; task order: FA9453-21-F-0001). NAVY Kellogg Brown and Root Services Inc., Houston, Texas, was awarded a $64,827,880 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification for the exercise of Option Three for base operating support services at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti; Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti; and Camp Simba, Kenya. The work to be performed provides for all management and administration, security, fire and emergency, air operations, ordnance, material management and supply, facilities management and investment, pest control, integrated solid waste, pavement clearance, utilities, base support vehicles and equipment, morale, welfare and recreation support, galley, unaccompanied housing, custodial, grounds maintenance and landscaping and environmental services to provide base operations support services. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $263,190,457. Work will be performed in Djibouti City, Djibouti (89%); Manda Bay, Kenya (8%); and Chabelley, Djibouti (3%). This option period is from November 2020 to November 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (O&M) (Navy); fiscal 2021 O&M (Air Force); and fiscal 2021 O&M (National Security Agency) contract funds in the amount of $61,043,871 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Europe Africa Central, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity (N62470-17-D-4012). (Awarded Nov. 19, 2020) BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., doing business as BAE Systems, Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $16,506,245 firm-fixed-price contract modification (P00012) under previously awarded contract N00604-19-C-4001 to exercise Option Year Two for the operation and maintenance of Navy communication, electronic and computer systems. The contract included a 12-month base period and four one-year option periods. The exercise of this option will bring the estimated value of the contract to $46,060,784 and if all options are exercised, it will bring the total value to $80,115,425. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii (94%); and Geraldton, Australia (6%). Work will begin December 2020 and is expected to be completed by November 2021; if all options are exercised, work will be completed by November 2023. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,048,611 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a full and open, unrestricted basis with two offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Center, Pearl Harbor Regional Contracting Department, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. EMR Inc.,* Niceville, Florida, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order N69450-21-F-1409 at $13,968,592 under a multiple award construction contract for the munition storage area utilities project at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The work to be performed includes civil and electrical disciplines. The civil work includes the replacement of the water distribution mains within the munitions storage area. The electrical work includes the replacement of all existing underground primary conductors with the exception of the existing underground emergency circuit. Work will be performed in Bossier City, Louisiana, and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Air Force) contract funds in the amount of $13,986,592 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-18-D-1318). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, New York, is awarded a $10,713,544 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-6311 to procure two additional Surface-to-Surface Missile Modules (SSMM) for integration into the Littoral Combat Ship framework. The SSMM fires a Longbow Hellfire missile that will be added to the surface warfare mission module aboard the Littoral Combat Ship. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama (80%); Bethpage, New York (18%); and Hollywood, Maryland (2%), and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) (82%); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) (18%) funding in the amount of $10,713,544 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Iridium Satellite LLC, Tempe, Arizona, is awarded a $9,667,301 cost-plus-fixed-fee option to support commercial satellite-based network services for the Department of Defense in the areas of satellite, ground node, user equipment/terminal software and hardware development, integration and testing. Work will be performed in in McLean, Virginia (50%); and Tempe, Arizona (50%), and is expected to be complete in November 2021. This contract includes a base year and options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $45,807,778. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $100,000 will be obligated at time of the option exercise and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a sole-source basis via a synopsis posted in Federal Business Opportunities website in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1); only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-17-C-0001). Vigor Marine Shipyard LLC, Portland, Oregon, is awarded an $8,562,943 firm-fixed-price contract (N32205-21-C-4117) for a 50-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability on the USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9). The contract includes options, which if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $8,821,718. Work will be performed in Portland, Oregon, and is expected to be completed by March 8, 2021. Contract funds in the amount of $8,562,943 are obligated in fiscal 2021 using working capital funds (Navy). This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the beta.sam.gov website and two offers were received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. ARMY Amentum Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, was awarded a $7,819,920 modification (000280) to contract W52P1J-12-G-0028 for logistics support services for Army prepositioned stocks. Work will be performed in Mannheim, Germany, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 21, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $7,819,920 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2423533/source/GovDelivery/

From: National Defence Collaboration and dialogue with the international community is critical for Canada in addressing emerging security threats and ensuring the safety of all Canadians. Canada is committed to upholding the rules-based international order, both diplomatically and through our military deployments around the world, to foster a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous place. Collaboration and dialogue with the international community is critical for Canada in addressing emerging security threats and ensuring the safety of all Canadians. Canada is committed to upholding the rules-based international order, both diplomatically and through our military deployments around the world, to foster a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous place. The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, virtually co-hosted the 12th annual edition of the Halifax International Security Forum (HISF) with the President of HISF Inc., Mr. Peter Van Praagh, from November 20-22. The forum was an opportunity for defence ministers, senior officials from international organizations, representatives from academia and industry, and defence and security experts from over 51 countries to discuss current and emerging issues of global security and prosperity. During the forum, Minister Sajjan underlined the importance of Canada being strong at home, secure in North America, and engaged in the world. Minister Sajjan reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism, as allies and partners balance international commitments with critical needs at home. Discussions covered a broad range of topics including democracy, human rights, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of international cooperation in facing today's challenges. Quotes “The global pandemic is having an impact on virtually everything we do, from running errands to running a country. This makes the conversations we had with our Allies and Partners at HISF this year as, if not more, important than ever before. I am confident that we will continue striking the necessary balance between critical health needs at home, supporting each other with medical supplies and expertise, and defending our sovereignty from adversaries who would do us harm. For me, this really brings home the importance of multilateralism.” The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence Quick facts The Halifax International Security Forum connected more than 250 defence leaders from across the world, including senior government and military officials, policymakers, opinion leaders, academics, and members of the business community from like-minded nations. The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are committed to demonstrating leadership in reflecting Canadian ideals of diversity, respect and inclusion, including striving for gender equality, and building a workforce that leverages the diversity and multicultural fabric of Canadian society. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2020/11/minister-sajjan-wraps-up-12th-annual-halifax-international-security-forum.html

DEFENSE Le maintien de la BITD, enjeu stratégique pour la souveraineté française La question de la résilience et de l'autonomie stratégique de la filière défense française a été examinée dans le cadre du Paris Air Forum 2020, lors d'un débat réunissant Christian Cambon, président de la Commission des Affaires étrangères, de la Défense et des Forces armées au Sénat, le général Philippe Lavigne, chef d'état-major de l'Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Patrice Caine, PDG de Thales, et Elie Girard, directeur général d'Atos. Patrice Caine a souligné la bonne résistance de l'industrie de défense : «nous avons été capables de maintenir la continuité des opérations critiques, pour la défense notamment», a-t-il constaté. Thales est «assis sur un socle technologique transverse et puissant, qui s'appuie sur 30 000 ingénieurs et nous permet de servir différents marchés», a affirmé le dirigeant, soulignant que le défi pour la filière est de préserver la base industrielle et technologique de défense (BITD) et ses entreprises de la supply-chain. «Protéger la BITD au sortir d'une telle crise présente des difficultés spécifiques, au sens où les industries de défense de manière générale sont un secteur particulier. On peut imaginer qu'en l'absence d'un volet plan de relance bénéficiant aux industries de défense, les marchés en cours ne vont pas apparaître tout de suite pour soutenir les activités de nos entreprises», analyse pour sa part Christian Cambon, président de la Commission des affaires étrangères, de la défense et des forces armées au Sénat. «Nous attendons une action ferme» a indiqué le sénateur : «nous comptons sur la mobilisation de l'État pour que même s'il n'y a pas de volet industrie de défense dans le plan de relance, on tente de maintenir la LPM». La Tribune du 23 novembre

La Direction générale de l'armement, l'Agence de l'innovation de défense, Thales et le constructeur de blindés Arquus appuient le lancement de La Place Stratégique, dernier-né des incubateurs dédiés aux pépites à la technologie souveraine. Par Anne Drif Publié le 19 nov. 2020 à 13:20Mis à jour le 19 nov. 2020 à 15:38 Ce n'est pas encore l'accélérateur de la puissante unité militaire israélienne 8200, mais le nom de ses parrains industriels laisse peu de place au doute sur ses ambitions : la Direction générale de l'armement, l'Agence de l'innovation de défense (AID), Thales et le constructeur de blindés Arquus. Ce nouvel incubateur français, baptisé « La Place Stratégique » (LPS), veut doper la croissance des start-up tricolores qui intéressent la souveraineté française. Elles sont très activement courtisées par les fonds étrangers ... mais ne trouvent pas encore d'appui complet sur le territoire. « Notre objectif, c'est d'ouvrir nos réseaux, ceux des industriels et des pouvoirs publics, de faciliter l'accès aux appels d'offres, les mises en oeuvre opérationnelles, de leur ouvrir les bonnes portes et de cibler les fonds dans les meilleures conditions financières et juridiques », expliquent ses deux présidents, l'ancien délégué général pour l'Armement Laurent Collet-Billon et Frédéric Duponchel, cofondateur du cabinet d'audit Accuracy. Les avocats du cabinet Jeantet sont aussi venus épauler les neuf start-up d'ores et déjà sélectionnées sur les 150 candidates. https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/un-nouvel-accelerateur-pour-les-start-up-francaises-sensibles-1266424

JARED KELLER The Army is searching for defense contractors to furnish the service with an off-the-shelf squad reconnaissance vehicle to complement its growing fleet of next-generation ground combat vehicles. The service on Wednesday published a market survey in search of a fully electric or hybrid-electric tactical vehicle to "inform" the acquisition strategy of its electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (eLRV) program. The eLRV will provide "enhanced mobility, lethality, protection, mission load capacity, and onboard power" for six soldiers to conduct both mounted and dismounted reconnaissance and surveillance missions for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, according to the market survey. The ideal vehicle will be transportable via CH-47 or C-130, have a range of more than 300 miles, and come with a medium-caliber weapon system to provide "precision 'stand-off' lethality" against both small arms and other light armored vehicles, according to a 2019 Congressional Research Service report. As Breaking Defense notes, the movement in the long-delayed eLRV program also comes amid a service-wide push to convert gas-powered ground vehicles to electric platforms for both tactical and logistical reasons. Electric vehicles "accelerate quicker, run cooler, and move quieter than internal combustion ones – advantages that are all especially valuable for stealthy scouts like LRV," as Breaking Defense put it in October. In addition, electric power "could reduce dependence on long supply lines and vulnerable convoys of tanker trucks, which are prime targets for adversaries ranging from Taliban irregulars to Russian missiles." The eLRV will also "operate in conjunction" with the service's next-generation Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) light tank and Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) to "enhance the lethality, mobility, reconnaissance, and security" of IBCTS, according to the market survey. Those new formations are still a ways off: the Army only accepted its first batch of ISVs in October and won't conduct its assessment of its two MPF prototypes until January 2021. And that's depending on if the Army formally sets aside any funding for the new scout vehicle in the first place. As the 2019 CRS report noted, the service did not actually request any money to fund the eLRV effort in both fiscal years 2020 and 2021 In the meantime, Army officials "were planning to use the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) to serve as the LRV on an interim basis," according to the CRS report. "From a programmatic perspective, the Army referred to its interim LRV solution as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle-Reconnaissance Vehicle (JLTV-RV)." If the Army gets its funding together, the service aims to potentially choose an off-the-shelf tactical vehicle for full production as soon as fiscal year 2025. https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/army-electric-light-reconnaissance-vehicle-markey-survey

By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — GM Defense President David Albritton is headed to Amazon so the company is conducting a nationwide search for a new president, according to a GM spokesperson. Albritton is joining Amazon Web Services as the vice president of global communications in the company's public sector and vertical industries. GM Defense's website already reflects the change. Tim Herrick, the company's vice president of global product programs, is serving as the interim president and will be dual-hatted until a permanent replacement is found. Herrick “has been a champion of GM's defense business since its inception and serves on GM Defense's Board of Managers,” a GM Defense spokesperson told Defense News in an emailed statement Nov. 19. GM Defense is conducting a “national search to find a candidate who is qualified to lead GM Defense and will make an announcement when the right person is identified,” according to the spokesperson. The company is coming off a big win with the U.S. Army after being selected to build its new Infantry Squad Vehicle. The first of the vehicles was delivered to the service in a ceremony last month at GM Defense's proving grounds and production facility in Milford, Michigan, just 120 days after being chosen to build the new troop carrier. The Army awarded the company a $214.3 million contract to produce 649 vehicles by the end of fiscal 2024. The service is planning to procure a total of 2,065 ISVs. With the success of the ISV program, GM Defense is setting its sights on other opportunities with the Army and other military services such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program. The service is planning to re-compete for the JLTV and for new Humvees to round out the tactical vehicle fleet. And while the company can offer fully integrated vehicles, it is also looking to partner with others for such programs like the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle for the U.S. Marine Corps or the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, the Army's Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle replacement effort. Such technologies like power and propulsion, lighter weight materials and cybersecurity are all areas in which GM Defense is looking to contribute. GM spent several recent years helping the Army evaluate a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle using a ZH2 Chevy Colorado and the Army is now taking some renewed steps at getting after an electric vehicles in its fleet to include the pursuit of an electric light reconnaissance vehicle. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/11/19/gm-defense-conducting-nationwide-search-for-new-president

By: Burak Ege Bekdil ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish procurement and military officials as well as teams from a private manufacturer have been negotiating with a South Korean company to recover a program riddled with delays for the production of the country's first indigenous new-generation main battle tank. “This program has faced major delays due to failed access to significant components like the engine, transmission and armor,” a procurement official told Defense News. “I am not in a position to give a date for the start of serial production. All I know is we are trying hard to get it moved ahead.” In 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office included the Altay tank as part of the military's 2020 inventory in a government document. In an October 2019 speech, Ethem Sancak — a senior shareholder in BMC, which makes the Altay — said the tank would be fielded within 24 months. It now appears that prediction was too optimistic. The presidential office's 2021 investment program, released earlier this month, does not even mention the Altay, let alone the tank entering service. According to a source with knowledge of the Altay program, BMC has been in talks with Hyundai Rotem to solve problems surrounding missing foreign technology for the Altay, which Turkish officials often portray as a fully national, indigenous Turkish tank. The South Korean company previously built public transportation and Bosporus crossing systems in Istanbul, Ankara and Adana as well as light rail systems in Istanbul and Izmir. “We are hoping our talks will eventually sort out the problems regarding the power pack — [the engine and transmission — that] we will use in the serial production cycle,” the source told Defense News. “We are probably talking about another couple of months of talks before we know which way we are headed.” He added that BMC is in indirect talks, through Hyundai Rotem, with two South Korean defense technology concerns: engine-maker Doosan and S&T Dynamics, which produces automatic transmissions. “Ideally a Doosan-S&T power pack will power the Altay if we can iron out differences and licensing issues,” he said. South Korea has experienced similar problems with its program for the mass production of the K2 Black Panther tank. Its deployment by the Army faced delays due to problems concerning the engine and transmission. The first 100 units were built with a Doosan 1,500-horsepower engine and an S&T Dynamics automatic transmission. Under a second contract, tanks began to be delivered in late 2016. But after S&T Dynamics' transmission failed durability tests, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced the second batch would have a “hybrid” power pack consisting of the locally developed engine and the German RENK transmission system. “How the Turks can make use of a proven engine and a failed transmission remains to be seen,” said a London-based Turkey expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Turkey had hoped to power the Altay with the German MTU engine and RENK transmission, but talks with German manufacturers over the past couple of years failed due to a federal arms embargo on Turkey. Germany is one of a number of European governments that have limited exports to Turkey over its involvement in the Syrian civil war. A similar problem concerns the Altay's planned armor. Turkey was hoping a French armor solution would be continue to be available following an initial batch of 40 units. But recent political tension between the two countries over hydrocarbon explorations off Cyprus has put this in jeopardy. The source with knowledge of the Altay program said the armor will now be locally produced under a public-private partnership. The Altay program dates back to the mid-1990s, but it wasn't until November 2018 that the Turkish government awarded the tank's multibillion-dollar contract to BMC. In a competition, the firm defeated Otokar, which had already produced four Altay prototypes under a government contract. The contract involves the production of an initial batch of 250 units, life-cycle logistical support, and the establishment by the contractor of a tank systems technology center and its operation. As part of the contract, BMC will design, develop and produce a tank with an unmanned fire control unit. The contract said the first Altay tank is to roll off the assembly line within 18 months. Opposition parties in parliament have slammed the government over delays, but procurement officials claim the 18-month clause will apply after the first unit's production begins. The Altay program is broken into two phases: T1 and T2. T1 covers the first 250 units, and T2 involves the advanced version of the tank. Turkey also plans to eventually produce 1,000 Altays, to be followed by an unmanned version. The deal has proved politically controversy, particularly after the Erdogan administration leased for free a military-owned tank and turret factory by the Marmara Sea to BMC for a period of 25 years. The move prompted cries of nepotism, as BMC shareholder Sancak was a senior member of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party at the time. Ozgur Eksi, an independent defense analyst, questioned the choice of assigning a factory by the sea for tank production. “In the event of war, the Altay factory could be an easy target for the enemy fire,” he said. “This program could have been much better planned from a strategic point of view.” Nevertheless, Eksi added, “there is a political determination to get the Altays into the Army's inventory. Sooner or later, production will start.” https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/11/19/turkey-in-talks-with-south-korea-to-salvage-altay-tank-program/