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Steve Trimble June 02, 2020 An "Arsenal Plane" has rapidly emerged as a short-term priority for the U.S. Air Force, but an internal debate continues over the type of aircraft to use, potentially affecting the service's existing command structure and the Northrop Grumman B-21 program. A proposal to modify Lockheed C-130s and Boeing C-17s to air-drop existing and new long-range munitions is now favored as a short-term solution by the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability (AFWIC) office, which is charged with developing new operational concepts by the Air Staff. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), which has responsibility for the bomber fleet and inventory of intercontinental ballistic missiles, prefers developing a new aircraft optimized for the mission, rather than seeking to borrow strike capacity from an already overburdened air mobility fleet. Neither proposal is endorsed by the Mitchell Institute, the think tank arm of the Air Force Association (AFA). In a prepublication report obtained by Aviation Week, Col. (ret.) Mark Gunzinger, the institute's director of Future Aerospace Concepts and Capability Assessments, argues that the most cost-effective solution is to buy more B-21 bombers rather than invest in more long-range munitions to support the Arsenal Plane concept. All the parties involved agree that the airborne component of the Air Force's long-range strike capability is inadequate, even after Northrop Grumman delivers at least 100 B-21s, which are expected to replace a fleet of 20 Northrop B-2s and 62 Rockwell B-1Bs and operate alongside about 75 Boeing B-52s. “What we see is that no matter how big our bomber force is, the capacity that the Joint Force needs is always more and more,” says Maj. Gen. Clinton Hinote, deputy director of the AFWIC, which develops new operational concepts on the Air Staff. The Air Force's latest estimate of the requirement calls for a fleet of at least 220 bombers, Gen. Timothy Ray, the head of AFGSC, told reporters in early April. According to a fleet forecast in the Mitchell Institute report, the Air Force inventory could decline to about 120 bombers by 2032 as the B-2 and B-1B fleets are retired. Gunzinger, a former bomber pilot, forecasts the Air Force will order about 120 B-21s by 2040. Combined with 75 B-52s, however, the fleet would still be about 30 aircraft short of the minimum deemed required by the Air Force today. Closing that gap—either by loading long-range munitions on existing airlifters, developing a new aircraft for that purpose or buying more B-21s—is driving the internal debate. At its core, the debate is over cost-effectiveness and capacity. A stealthy bomber, such as the B-21A, is more expensive than an Arsenal Plane but needs less expensive, unpowered munitions because they can be released closer to the target. On the other hand, the B-21A remains early in the development phase, so Northrop may need more than a decade to deliver a significant number of aircraft. Various forms of the Arsenal Plane concept have been discussed since the 1970s. As former President Jimmy Carter's administration considered options to the Rockwell B-1A, the Defense Department briefly proposed the Cruise Missile Carrier Aircraft—a Boeing 747 modified to launch cruise missiles. The idea reemerged nearly 30 years later as the program that led to the B-21A began taking shape. In 2006, the Congressional Budget Office considered an Arsenal Aircraft based on a Boeing C-17 loaded with a supersonic cruise missile and concluded that it would be less effective than a penetrating bomber and require an extra $3.5 billion to order more C-17s. As the Pentagon locked in requirements for the B-21A program four years later, an Air Force-funded study by Rand compared the costs of a penetrating bomber versus an Arsenal Plane concept. If the U.S. military engages in at least 20 days of airstrikes over a 30-year period, the 2010 study concluded a penetrating bomber would be more affordable than the required investment in the Arsenal Plane. Even though the Air Force awarded Northrop a contract to develop the B-21A in October 2015, however, the debate has continued. Will Roper, then director of the Strategic Capabilities Office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, unveiled an Arsenal Plane concept in February 2016, showing a Lockheed C-130-like aircraft dispensing palletized munitions. A year later, Roper became assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, and the Arsenal Plane moved to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). In January, the AFRL completed the first test of a new palletized munition dropped by an MC-130J. A picture of the new weapon—the Cargo Launch Expendable Air Vehicles with Extended Range (Cleaver)—showed six munitions on each pallet. A follow-up test involving an airdrop from C-17s was scheduled in April. The Cleaver testing satisfied AFRL that C-130s and C-17s could adapt one of the core capabilities for both aircraft: airdrop. The C-17 also has demonstrated the capability of releasing air-launched rockets from the cargo bay. In 2006, a C-17 was used to air-drop a launcher for a hypersonic boost-glide missile. The aircraft also is used by the Missile Defense Agency to test interceptors by dropping surrogates of medium-range ballistic missiles. The AFRL completed the tests weeks before the Defense Department completed plans for the fiscal 2022 budget proposal. “We are in discussions right now about how we proceed to prototyping and fielding,” Hinote says. For AFWIC, arming C-130s and C-17s with long-range weapons is attractive because it can increase munition capacity significantly in the near term. “It's all about capacity and that you've got to create enough capacity so that long-range punch is really a punch,” Hinote says. “This is why we think that there's a real possibility here for using cargo platforms to be able to increase the capacity of fires.” Not everyone agrees with that approach. As the commander of the Air Force's bomber fleet, Ray told reporters in early April that he does not want a commander to have to choose between using a C-17 for either weapons or airlift capacity. “When you think about using a cargo plane, you're in competition for other airlift requirements,” Ray said. “I think the Arsenal Plane concept is probably better defined as more of a clean-sheet approach to a platform that can affordably and rapidly fill the gap.” While Hinote and Ray debate whether an existing or clean-sheet design is better for an Arsenal Plane, some airpower experts still reject the idea that anything less than a stealthy bomber is adequate. Instead of lobbing long-range missiles, the B-21 is designed to get close enough to a target to use short-range, direct-attack weapons. Such munitions do not need to carry fuel and propulsion systems and so they can be smaller in proportion to the size of their warhead. “Size matters, since the number of weapons that can be delivered per aircraft sortie decreases as weapon size increases,” Gunzinger wrItes in the Mitchell Institute report. In addition to capacity, Gunzinger also questions the cost of an Arsenal Plane's required inventory of long-range munitions versus a bomber's more affordable, precision-guided bombs. A conflict with China or Russia could generate a massive list of targets. “Using tens of thousands of very long-range standoff weapons that cost a million dollars or more each is simply not affordable,” Gunzinger writes. https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/us-air-force-arsenal-plane-revival-sparks-intense-debate

Public Safety Canada has selected Kongsberg Geospatial, Larus Technologies and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association of Canada (CASARA) to integrate geospatial software, artificial intelligence, and machine vision software to help develop new methods for the use of drones in search and rescue operations in remote communities in Canada. The project will be funded by the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SARNIF) and has been dubbed OVERSEE – an acronym for “Optical Vision Enhancement and Refinement of Sensor Exploitation Effectiveness”. The OVERSEE project is intended to help address the unique challenges of conducting search and rescue operations in remote areas (such as indigenous communities in the Arctic and their immediate surrounding area) with UAS platforms. OVERSEE will initially employ available search and rescue statistics from the Department of National Defence, CASARA, Transport Canada and other agencies and execute simulations driven by Artificial Intelligence. The AI will use Deep Learning techniques to investigate how BVLOS regulation effects SAR efforts that make use of drones, and how drones have been integrated most effectively in search and rescue operations, particularly for isolated indigenous communities in Canada's North that don't have quick access to Aeronautical search and rescue assets. Ultimately the goal of this research is to help CASARA members and GSAR (Ground Search and Rescue) workers use BVLOS drones more effectively in search and rescue operations. Kongsberg Geospatial will be leading the project, contributing their expertise in precision mapping, Air Traffic Management, and the development of multi-vehicle UAS control stations for BVLOS missions to help develop tools and procedures for the safe, effective use of drones for search and rescue missions in remote areas. They will also be contributing tools and training for machine vision techniques. Larus Technologies specializes in Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems for defence applications, and will be contributing their Total::Perception™ simulation engine and Total::Vision™ computer vision technology to the project. CASARA will be helping to gather drone video from training exercises throughout Canada in cooperation with its volunteers, as well as search and rescue event statistics from community organizations. Upon completion of the project, CASARA membership will help to circulate the SOPs derived from the project to their membership of Civil Air Search and Rescue workers and volunteers across Canada to ensure that everyone has access to the improved UAS SAR guidance. While the project is primarily funded through Public Safety Canada's SARNIF fund, all three partners will be making in-kind contributions in software licenses, technology, and professional services. The OVERSEE project is expected to be completed sometime in 2021. https://www.unmannedairspace.info/latest-news-and-information/canada-launches-ai-drone-project-to-find-ways-to-effectively-manage-bvlos-search-and-rescue-operations/

As a former Special Operations Forces Combat Controller, I've been a part of, and have seen, the revolution of Battlefield Air Operations. The use of tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), for example, has evolved dramatically since their first deployment on the battlefield nearly 20 years ago – from single mission tools to highly sophisticated, multi-mission capable aircraft that now provide actionable intelligence and the persistent situational awareness needed in today's dynamic operating environments. Rapidly deployable via hand or bungee launch, with flexible payload options and rated for all-environment operation, Group 1 UAS, such as AeroVironment's Puma all environment system, provide land or maritime operators with actionable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in day, night, and low light conditions in even the harshest of environments. When combined with man-portable tactical missile systems, such as AeroVironment's Switchblade, these aerial assets provide platoons with advanced sensor-to-shooter capabilities, increasing force projection and soldier lethality for engaging beyond-line-of-sight enemy targets. Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Mission Success Today, forces operating without organic tactical UAS assets can become pinned-down by enemy fire for a lengthy period. They must radio for manned attack aircraft or Group 3 or 4 UAS to provide Close Air Support or risk sending additional troops directly into the line of fire. In many cases, these larger aerial assets may not be available in time to make a difference for the forces under fire due to distance, scarcity, or enemy air defense systems. However, with small tactical UAS and tactical missile systems packed in their rucksacks, troops can immediately secure persistent eyes-in-the-sky intel that can directly impact mission success and mean the difference between life and death. Using my first-hand experience, let's take a look at two potential operation scenarios that might occur in an Area of Responsibility (AOR) such as Africa: one focused on a mission with only a tactical UAS, and another that combines the technology of a tactical UAS and a tactical missile system, providing the platoon with the immediate precision munitions advantage it needs, straight from a rucksack. Mission With Only Tactical UAS In the first scenario, a combined force of US Marines comprising elements from the 2nd Marine Division, 6th Marine Regiment, and USSOCOM MARSOC are conducting offensive and stability operations from Camp Simba, near Manda Bay, Kenya, due to the increased threat posed by al-Shabaab. This robust tenant force has secured the local area and coordinates jointly with Kenyan military partners to ensure clear lines of communication, guaranteeing a secure environment for US and allied forces to conduct cross border reconnaissance and expeditionary operations into neighboring countries. Fifty miles to the northeast of Camp Simba, a platoon of Marines has established a forward Mission Support Site (MSS) to conduct border surveillance operations. Postured just outside Ras Kamboni, a small town on Somalia's coast, the platoon is equipped with two AeroVironment Puma 3 AE and one Puma LE (long endurance) UAS, along with their common ground control stations (GCS), air vehicle batteries and chargers, Mantis i45 EO/IR gimbaled sensors, and a spare parts kit. The Puma LE, which flies for 5.5 hours before needing a quick battery swap-out and has a range of 60 km when used with AeroVironment's Long-Range Tracking Antenna, was received by the unit only days before deployment. Because of the qualified Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) component interoperability, standard training, and parts commonality with Puma 3 AE (2.5 hours endurance), the regiment was confident there would be no issue integrating the Puma LE into their operations, and operate both Puma systems concurrently. Bringing both systems into the field provides the field commander with the option to take multiple Puma systems downrange, select the appropriate aircraft based on the type of flight operation to be performed, and then simply swap-in needed LRU components to execute the mission successfully. Launching from the Marine's MSS, its UAS flight operators conduct 24-hour surveillance using Puma LE across miles of the border and several Named Areas of Interest (NAI) that include border crossing points, known enemy staging areas, and likely routes of ingress. In addition to the Mantis i45 EO/IR sensor suite, the platoon was provided with a developmental signals intelligence (SIGINT) sensor designed to fit into the secondary payload bay of the Puma LE, and connected via its built-in power supply and Ethernet interface. As the UAS operator collects high resolution, full-motion aerial intel of the border, mission operators monitor the aircraft location in real-time via its AES-256 encrypted digital link, utilizing advanced mapping software and conducting signals analysis in the direction of Somalia. Due to its proximity onboard the Puma LE, the SIGINT package intercepts short-range, low power handset communications, which can then be translated with a combination of speech recognition algorithms and interpreters. With the ability to control the aircraft's sensor payloads independently, the Puma LE operator is immediately able to slew the i45 sensor to the discovered coordinates to verify the radio emitter locations and establish intent. Late in the evening, while conducting Puma LE ISR & SIGINT flight operations, mission operators intercept a flurry of handset activity and identify massing of military age males well within the Somali border. Marines at the MSS base are raised to full alert status while a ground assault quick reaction force (QRF) departs Camp Simba in the event of a cross border attack on the MSS. As the Puma LE UAS team continues visual and SIGINT surveillance, they observe several multi-vehicle convoys departing staging areas and heading toward the Kenyan border. Due to the continuous coverage provided by Puma LE, US forces ascertain an attack is imminent, establishing the enemy's intent. With the QRF linked-up to secure the MSS, the Puma LE operator continues to monitor convoy progress, which had stopped short of the border due to the arrival of additional US forces. On link-up, the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) attached to the QRF utilizes coordinates derived from the Puma LE to nominate the convoys as enemy targets. As a result, US commanders scramble nearby fighter aircraft and approve them to strike validated enemy targets with no harm done to the civilian populace. Mission Combining Tactical UAS Technology and Tactical Missile System In the second scenario, the following day, two squads of MARSOC operators are patrolling the border in the vicinity of Kolbio, a small town 100 miles north of Camp Simba, in non-standard commercial vehicles to reduce their signature. Tasked with conducting area familiarization and sensor emplacement, the team has man-portable crew-served weapons, but limited mounted heavy weapons. Equipped with a single Puma LE and GCS, plus four AeroVironment Switchblade tactical missile systems, the team leader elects to keep the Puma LE airborne while in transit, providing real-time route surveillance and overwatch. As they travel parallel to the border, the Puma LE operator observes numerous all-terrain troop transport vehicles on a course to intercept the US convoy. The team leader advises the operations center that a troops-in-contact situation is imminent, and selects a defensible fighting position as one of the enemy convoys attempts to flank the American vehicles. With the Puma LE orbiting above the US position, the team leader has complete situational awareness as enemy fighters dismount and move to make contact. Enemy fighters attack from two quadrants, trading small arms and RPG fire, and although the enemy has superior numbers, the Marines hold the line. With no Close Air Support available and heliborne QRF at least 30 minutes away, the team begins to receive accurate mortar fire that disables two of the four American vehicles and injures several personnel. The team leader directs the Puma LE operator to locate the mortar, and orders the Switchblade operator to prep its ground tube-launch system. By using the Puma LE Mantis i45 electro-optical (EO) sensor center field of view coordinates, the operator identifies and locates the mortar approximately 1,500 meters northeast of their position. The Switchblade operator then launches the tactical missile system and instantly transfers target coordinates via machine-to-machine, sensor-to-shooter communication, eliminating the potential for data entry error. After its launch, the Switchblade autonomously navigates to the designated mortar position. As the Switchblade tactical missile closes on the target, the team leader visually compares full-motion video from both assets to ensure 100 percent positive identification of the target and then views Puma LE video to perform the resulting battle damage assessment. With the mortar and crew successfully eliminated, remaining enemy personnel retreat, allowing US forces to treat wounded personnel, and fortify defensive positions against potential future incursions. As described, these scenarios showcase the actionable intelligence, force protection, and increased soldier lethality that advanced UAS and teamed UAS/tactical missile systems can provide across today's complex battlefronts. Man-portable, rapidly deployable, interoperable, and with multi-mission capabilities, these battle-proven UAS provide ground commanders with the option of selecting the appropriate aircraft based on the type of mission when time is of the essence and in the most rugged environments. This increased capability provides immediate ISR and overmatches force protection responsiveness to front line tactical units and security personnel. https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/06/04/what-tactical-unmanned-aerial-assets-need-in-todays-battlefields/

DEFENSE «Le Fonds européen de la défense est essentiel» : entretien avec Hélène Conway-Mouret, vice-présidente du Sénat, membre de la commission des Affaires étrangères, de la Défense et des Forces armées Dans un entretien accordé à L'Usine Nouvelle, Hélène Conway-Mouret, vice-présidente du Sénat, membre de la commission des Affaires étrangères, de la Défense et des Forces armées, souligne l'importance du secteur de la défense pour le plan de relance : «Il ne faut absolument pas que l'industrie de défense française soit abandonnée. C'est l'une des plus performantes en Europe», déclare-t-elle, soulignant : «la relance économique passe par un soutien à l'industrie de défense. Le caractère stratégique de cette industrie, qui représente 200 000 emplois directs, peu exposés aux délocalisations, est au cœur de notre souveraineté. Qui plus est, tous les efforts en matière d'innovation et de recherche militaires ont un effet dual et profitent au secteur civil». Quant au Fonds européen de la défense, «c'est le premier outil de l'Union destiné à soutenir fortement l'innovation et la recherche militaire. Il n'est pas simplement utile, mais absolument essentiel», insiste Mme Conway-Mouret. L'Usine Nouvelle du 4 juin

Lisi Aerospace vient de signer avec Lockheed Martin un contrat longue durée de fourniture de fixations pour le programme d'avion de combat F-35, rapporte Air & Cosmos. Le contrat couvre les années 2020-22, avec trois options d'un an jusqu'en 2025, pour une valeur totale estimée à 60 millions de dollars sur six ans. L'ensemble du contrat sera servi depuis la plateforme nord-américaine de Lisi Aerospace. Ce contrat permet de renforcer la position de Lisi Aerospace en tant que fournisseur majeur de fixations pour l'aéronautique et pour l'aviation militaire. Air & Cosmos du 3 juin

The Canadian Export Challenge is going digital Are you interested in fast‑tracking your global business growth? This September, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), along with Export Development Canada (EDC), UPS, Mastercard and Scotiabank, are collaborating with Startup Canada to present the third annual, and first fully‑digital edition of the Canadian Export Challenge (CXC) for Canadian startups and scale‑ups powered by Google. This year, the CXC will aim to be a safe space for Canadian exporters and industry partners to come together, provide support to each other, and navigate the uncertain export environment in light of COVID‑19. Participants can: • Attend livestream presentations and breakout sessions • Experience interactive learning with industry experts • Apply to compete in the digital pitch competition The events will be held digitally during the week of September 14th, 2020 in the following five regions across Canada (final dates to be confirmed): • British Columbia and Northern Region • Prairies Region • Ontario Region • Atlantic Region • Quebec Region The call for applications to register for CXC participation opened on June 1, 2020. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply and submit their video pitches until September 9, 2020. Accelerate your international expansion. Learn more and apply now! Subscribe to receive future email notifications through CanadExport. THE CANADIAN TRADE COMMISSIONER SERVICE ISSN 1493-7395 Unsubscribe | Important Notices Contact Us Deputy Director: Gregory Radych Managing Editor: Yen Le CanadExport Global Affairs Canada 111 Sussex Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1J1

By: Usman Ansari ISLAMABAD — With more than 90 percent of its trade seaborne, Pakistan's geostrategic location at the head of the Arabian Sea adjoining the Arabian Gulf trade routes — coupled with its ambitions to become a trade conduit to China and Central Asia via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — demand it play an increasingly significant role in ensuring regional maritime security. The Pakistan Navy is a longtime contributor to international security operations as a participant in the American-led Combined Maritime Forces, particularly the group's Combined Task Force 150 and anti-piracy Combined Task Force 151. Pakistan has also created its own Regional Maritime Security Patrol. The service, led by Adm. Zafar Mahmood Abbasi since October 2017, is expanding its patrol capabilities to safeguard the country's exclusive economic zone and interests at sea. It's also undergoing significant recapitalization to maintain deterrent credibility in the face of arch-rival India's naval modernization. New acquisitions and a domestic construction program will see an almost total transformation of Pakistan's Navy within the decade, for which it is generally reliant on China and increasingly on Turkey for assistance. The naval officer answered a few of Defense News' questions about the Navy's role and future plans, but declined to comment on efforts to increase the involvement of domestic businesses in defense programs; whether the state-owned shipyard Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited will have enough work to stay open; and whether Pakistan's submarine-launched cruise missiles are effective weapons. What have been your most pressing regional and domestic challenges as naval chief? In my assessment, the evolving international environment can be characterized as volatile, complex and ambiguous, having deep impact on the maritime domain and security in the region. On our western seaboard, the U.S.-Iran standoff has persisted, looking ominous at the start of the year and threatening shipping plying along the international energy [sea lines of communication]. Any disruption to the smooth flow of trade and energy could trigger shock waves, impacting global economic health. Moreover, the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria are also impinging upon security on the high seas. One of the dominant threats to regional and Pakistan's national security, however, emanates from India's stridently nationalist mindset and belligerent policies that are manifesting under their current government. Its aggressive and destabilizing actions in Kashmir in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements are a case in point. These unilateral actions and subsequent policies and abuses could spark conflict between two nuclear-armed states, threatening peace and security in the region and beyond. In the nontraditional domain, maritime terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking and human smuggling remain major challenges. The Pakistan Navy is also committed to internal security obligations and aid to civil power duties. One of the impediments in the exploitation of Pakistan's maritime potential has been a suboptimal realization of our true maritime potential and development of a “maritime culture” in the country. The Pakistan Navy is undertaking a number of initiatives to create maritime awareness at the national level by engaging various segments of civil society, including intelligentsia, chambers of commerce, maritime industry, universities and the media, to bring to fore the importance of the maritime sector and its immense potential into the national discourse. Another challenge, although common to many navies, is that new technologies and equipment in the maritime domain is cost-intensive, and with limited budgets available, acquisition of contemporary technologies becomes a defining restraint. In short, there are multiple challenges to our maritime security that emanate from internal and external factors, but with a clear, long-term and systematic approach, these are being tackled in concert with national stakeholders and international partners. Pakistan has actively contributed to the multilateral Combined Maritime Forces, or CMF, for many years. Why did Pakistan need to establish the Regional Maritime Security Patrol, or RMSP? The Pakistan Navy, being a firm believer in the freedom of seas, has been contributing significantly in preserving maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. In this regard, the Pakistan Navy was the first regional navy to join Combined Task Force 150 in 2004. Similarly, to counter the increasing acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa, we joined Combined Task Force 151 in 2009. So far, the Pakistan Navy has been the largest contributor to CMF operations, second only to the United States Navy. Pakistan Navy officers have also had the privilege of commanding both these task forces on numerous occasions. While we continue to be part of CMF, the Pakistan Navy is also a proponent of a region-centric maritime security construct. Alive to the changing geostrategic realities in the region, the Pakistan Navy in 2018 instituted the RMSP to protect our national maritime security interests and fulfill international obligations in the Indian Ocean region. Pakistan Navy ships, with embarked helicopters, are undertaking these patrols along three axes: the Horn of Africa, the North Arabian Sea and the central Indian Ocean. The objectives of the RMSP include contribution toward maintaining good order at sea in our own area of interest and engagement with the regional navies to enhance mutual collaboration and interoperability. Frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels and submarines are on the Pakistan Navy's acquisition list. What are the latest developments here? How effectively are you meeting the budget and skilled manpower requirements for this expansion? Progressive “capability development” is an important pillar of my vision for the Pakistan Navy. As warships are the mainstay of any navy, induction of surface platforms is essential to boost the Pakistan Navy's operational deployability. In this regard, we have contracted for the construction of Type 054AP frigates from China and Milgem-class corvettes from Turkey along with transfer of technology. We are also inducting Dutch-designed offshore patrol vessels constructed in a Romanian shipyard. In addition, we have contracted for the acquisition of Hangor-class submarines from China, and in the second phase their construction is planned in-country, for which necessary upgrades of Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited is in progress. We are also focusing on the induction of modern aviation assets, including jet-powered, long-range maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. In addition, we are modernizing our existing fleet of warships and aircraft with upgrades to their weapons and electronic suites. These inductions have led to expansion in our human resource capital. However, keeping a high “teeth-to-tail” ratio remains a priority. As our Navy expands in line with the recent restructuring, the induction rates have almost doubled. With regard to the budgetary allocations, our Navy, like many other navies, operates in a resource-constrained environment. However, with a clear and long-term plan for its modernization and capacity building, emerging challenges are being addressed through indigenization and cost-effective solutions. Unmanned surface vehicles are increasingly exploited by navies. How are you looking to leverage this technology and other unmanned systems? The Pakistan Navy always looks forward to adopting new technologies, especially those which serve as force multipliers. Unmanned surface vehicles have a variety of utilities, such as for harbor defense, mine detection and countermeasure roles. We are presently evaluating this technology and will acquire it as per their suitability and feasibility to our requirements. CMF ships regularly make narcotics seizures that largely originate from landlocked Afghanistan. What steps is the Pakistan Navy taking to combat drug trafficking in its area of responsibility? As I mentioned earlier, the Pakistan Navy has been contributing to CTF-150 and CTF-151 for quite some time. So far, over 103 Pakistan Navy ships with organic helicopters in rotation (two- to three-month cycles) have participated, and the Navy's long-range maritime patrol aircraft have undertaken over 130 sorties in CMF operations. Nearly, 7,000 kilograms of hashish and 2 tons of cannabis resin have been confiscated by Pakistan Navy ships as part of CMF security operations. More recently, the frigate PNS Saif seized over 2,000 kilograms of hashish on the high seas on Jan. 29, 2020. And on April 3 we seized 100 kilograms of crystal meth. In the past, Pakistan monitored its coastline, with a particular focus on Karachi, Ormara and a few other places, and as a result, nefarious elements looked to exploit the voids for drug trafficking. However, with the establishment of the Coastal Security and Harbour Defence Force, the setting up of coastal security stations spread along the coast, and the stationing of response elements at suitable locations, Pakistan has effectively plugged those exploitable gaps. In addition, taking cognizance of these nontraditional threats, the Pakistan Navy remains vigilant and ready to collaborate with international partners to curb this menace. Pakistan's Marines branch is primarily tasked with coastal defense. What role can it play in regional maritime security, and will this involve adding more assets to improve its capabilities? The marines have an important role to play in the air defense of Pakistan, coastal defense as well as force protection. The Marines branch and special operations forces detachments form a special component onboard Pakistan Navy task groups during overseas deployments. In order to enhance vigilance and to respond to any emerging threat — besides raising the Coastal Security and Harbour Defence Force — the Pakistan Navy has also instituted Task Force-88 for the security of maritime projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as well as Gwadar Port and its seaward approaches. This task force comprises ships, fast-attack craft, air units, UAVs and special maritime warfare teams to provide around-the-clock security. With the realization of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and an increase in the overall maritime security dictates, capability development of the Marines is progressing well, in line with “PN Marines Vision 2030,” which involves modified and expanded force structure, versatile assets and modern training facilities for a well-equipped and well-trained Marines force. Apart from CMF operations and RMSP, how is the Pakistan Navy helping enhance maritime security in the region? We understand that maintenance of a conducive maritime environment and security is key to our regional maritime growth. In this regard, the Pakistan Navy in 2012 established the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre, or JMICC, with the aim to maintain a maritime security picture in our area of interest by harnessing resources and efforts of relevant national agencies and international stakeholders. The JMICC is growing and developing its linkages, and has to date developed links with 48 national and six international organizations, sharing information related to maritime safety and security. To promote a collaborative maritime security approach, the Pakistan Navy has also been organizing the AMAN series of multinational maritime exercises, biennially since 2007. The sixth exercise of this series was held in February 2019, during which 46 countries from across the globe participated. The AMAN exercise is a clear manifestation of Pakistan's commitment toward regional peace and stability embodied in its motto, “Together for Peace.” Additionally, the Pakistan Navy is participating in all the regional and international efforts and initiatives taken for maintaining good order and cooperation on the high seas. In the same spirit, we have been participating in various international fora, such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, multinational exercises, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, and noncombatant evacuation of stranded foreign nationals and Pakistanis from conflict zones. https://www.defensenews.com/interviews/2020/06/03/pakistans-naval-chief-talks-regional-security-and-tech-wish-list/

By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — The Defense Department's portfolio of 121 key defense acquisition programs now has a price tag of $1.86 trillion, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office. The number comes from the GAO's annual assessment of Pentagon acquisition, delivered to the public on Wednesday. The figure involves a 4 percent increase over the previous year but also factors in, for the first time, 15 major IT investments ($15.1 billion) and 13 middle-tier acquisition programs ($19.5 billion). The vast majority comes from 93 major defense acquisition programs, or MDAP, worth $1.82 trillion. Of those, 85 MDAPs worth a total of $1.8 trillion are already underway, with the rest expected to enter production in the near future. The $1.8 trillion figure marks the largest level of investment in MDAPs since 2011, and an increase of $44 billion over the department's 2018 MDAP portfolio. The current MDAP portfolio has accumulated more than $628 billion in cost growth over the life of its programs — or 54 percent more than the projected cost when programs began — with schedule growth overshooting targets by 29 percent at an average capability delivery delay of more than two years. Over the last year, 42 MDAPs reported a combined total acquisition cost increase of more than $80 billion. Nine programs that saw cost estimates increase by over 25 percent made up more than half of that total. While some of that is driven by increased procurement numbers, such as with the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile for the Air Force, those changed procurement plans are not the major driver of the cost increase. However, it's not all bad fiscal news: The remaining 43 MDAPs saw a cost decrease of more than $16 billion. And 19 programs that increased procurement managed to drive costs down through those updated plans. One worrisome trend the GAO highlighted is the lack of factoring in cybersecurity to early development of key performance parameters on MDAPs. The watchdog dug into a sample of 42 MDAPs as a test case, it and found that 25 of those programs had zero cybersecurity factored into the key performance parameters. Another 10 programs had one KPP related to cybersecurity, which is unlikely to be enough in the modern, wired world. For the middle-tier programs, which are designed for rapid prototyping and fielding, the GAO warned there is “inconsistent cost reporting and wide variation in schedule metrics” across the programs, adding that this poses “oversight challenges for Office of the Secretary of Defense and military department leaders trying to assess performance.” However, the watchdog agency also said the Department of Defense is in the process of addressing those issues. One notable program challenge identified in the report: The Navy's presidential helicopter replacement program, known as the VH-92A, has yet to “demonstrate that it can meet the requirement to land on the White House South Lawn without causing damage.” Parts of the helicopter are too hot, which will damage the lawn under “certain conditions.” As a result, the program is studying everything from lawn surface treatments to changes in aircraft design. “Due to concurrency in the program, which entered production while simultaneously addressing problems identified during the operational assessment, a design change to address this or other deficiencies discovered in the future may require modifications to units already in production,” the GAO found. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2020/06/03/heres-the-newest-price-tag-for-dods-arsenal-of-equipment/

By: Christina Mackenzie PARIS – France remained in the world's top five defense exporters in 2019 with €8.3 billion ($9.3 billion) worth of contracts signed, notably with European partners Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary and Spain, according to a defense ministry report published this week. Half of these contracts were in the naval sector, a very sharp rise from the average 10 percent this sector represented in the past. The contract to replace the mine-hunters for the navies of Belgium and the Netherlands, a program piloted by Belgium on behalf of the two nations, accounted for more than 40 percent of naval sector sales. These sales also partially explain the very sharp rise in 2019 of exports to EU member states: 42 percent of the total, a figure that rises to almost 45 percent if one includes European non-EU members, compared to 25 percent in 2018 and an average 10-15 percent in previous years. The next major export client was the United Arab Emirates (with the Gowind corvette contract) but the 30 percent share of exports in the Africa/Middle East zone was 20 points down compared to 2018 but also compared to the average of the past decade. The report notes that France's exports are, above all, aimed at preserving its own security by establishing bilateral cooperations with European countries and strengthening transatlantic ties. The bilateral cooperations are high-level, long-term, intergovernmental agreements and exports to help the partner nations strengthen and adapt their military capacity. The sale of 16 H225M helicopters and 20 H145M helicopters to Hungary, of two telecommunication satellites to Spain and of the mine-hunters to Belgium and the Netherlands illustrate this philosophy. These exports are on par with those of the past decade “and were obtained in a particularly competitive context with the confirmation of U.S. supremacy and the emergence of new major exporters (notably China).” The parliamentary report also notes that Russia “occupies a very strong position on markets with limited financial resources [...] notably to conquer clients outside its traditional sphere of influence. Over the past few years, Russia has strengthened its position on the Asian markets, in the Middle-East and in north Africa.” There were 4,634 export licenses delivered in 2019, either for transfer of equipment (within the European Union) or for export (to all non-EU countries). But each license does not necessarily mean that an export took place, they merely give the framework for the authorization and establish the conditions for the export. Twenty-five license requests were turned down and some 110 were withdrawn by the applicant. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/06/03/naval-sales-buoy-french-arms-exports-in-new-tally/