25 novembre 2020 | International, Terrestre

Boeing Stirs Pentagon’s Ire With More Dings, Damage to Aircraft

by Jon Grevatt

Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) has formed a partnership with a Brisbane-based firm to support its proposal to supply the Australian Army with its Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).

RDA said on 24 November that Queensland Gaskets, which manufactures gaskets and sealing devices, will join its “growing team of Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)” supporting its bid for the Land 400 Phase 3 contract.

If RDA's bid is successful, Queensland Gaskets will supply a range of locally produced precision-cut components for the Lynx vehicle.

RDA also proposes to assemble the vehicle in Queensland at its new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank, southwest of Brisbane.

Earlier in November, Rheinmetall unveiled the first of three Lynx IFVs that will compete in test and evaluation trials for the Land 400 Phase 3 contract.

Rheinmetall is delivering the vehicles as part of a Risk Mitigation Activity (RMA) set to be conducted in Australia over a 12-month period starting this month. These trials will incorporate tests including lethality, mobility, and protection.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/rheinmetall-expands-industry-team-for-australian-ifv-bid_13832

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  • UK shoots for new laser weapons against drones, missiles

    10 juillet 2019 | International, Aérospatial

    UK shoots for new laser weapons against drones, missiles

    By: Andrew Chuter LONDON – Britain is planning to invest up to $162 million developing three directed-energy weapon demonstrators, including one aimed at killing drones, the Ministry of Defence has announced. The MoD said it had notified industry this week, in what is called a Prior Information Notice, of its intention to procure two laser-based demonstrators and a radio-frequency weapon to “explore the potential of the technology and accelerate its introduction onto the battlefield.” The British look to start the procurement process later this year and hope to have the new systems ready for trials in 2023. A spokesman for the MoD said it's too early to talk about any other timelines or exactly how the weapons development work will be procured. In a statement the MoD said it was forming a new joint program office and is now recruiting personnel to manage the program. The demonstrators are part of the MoD's ‘Novel Weapons Programme,' which is responsible for the trial and implementation of innovative weapon systems. The new arms are expected to reach the frontline within 10 years. The British already have a laser-based technology development effort underway. A £30 million ($37 million) technology demonstrator program known as Dragonfire was awarded to an industry consortium in 2017. Missile maker MBDA, Qinetiq, BAE Systems, Leonardo and others are involved in the industrial effort. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is leading the effort from the MoD side. Initial trials on Dragonfire are scheduled to take place this year. The spokesman said that while Dragonfire is about “assessing the viability of the technology, the new work will be looking at issues like size, functionality and exactly how they integrate on existing platforms.” The new program will include two high-energy laser demonstrators. One onboard a ship for air and surface defense applications and a similar laser mounted on a land vehicle for short-range air defense and counter-surveillance applications. The third program is aimed demonstrating a high-power radio frequency weapon mounted on a land vehicle against aerial drones and to counter enemy movements. The weapon is designed to disrupt and disable an adversary's computers and electronics. The MoD statement said Britain already has over 30 years' experience in radio-frequency and directed- energy weapons “during which time the UK has become a world leader in developing new power generation technologies and a global hub for the performance testing and evaluation of these systems.” “The new systems are expected to be trialed in 2023 on Royal Navy ships and Army vehicles but, once developed, both technologies could be operated by all three services. The armed forces will use these exercises to get a better understanding of DEW, test the systems to their limits, and assess how they could be integrated with existing platforms," said the MoD. The MoD released images of the laser weapons mounted on a Type 26 frigate and a Wildcat naval helicopter. The new program still leaves the British playing catch-up in the deployment of laser weapons. The U.S. Navy trialed a laser weapon on an operational warship several years ago and is now planning to install a high-energy laser and integrated optical dazzler with surveillance system on the destroyer Preble in 2021. On the land side, German defense contractor Rheinmetall has been developing a laser weapon for several years and recently undertook comprehensive trials with a weapon station suitable for mounting on a platform like a Boxer armored vehicle. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/07/09/uk-shoots-for-new-laser-weapons-against-drones-missiles/

  • F-35, F-22, F-16 and E3 Sentry Planes Linked in Multiplayer Combat Simulator

    6 juillet 2020 | International, Aérospatial

    F-35, F-22, F-16 and E3 Sentry Planes Linked in Multiplayer Combat Simulator

    Lockheed Martin, the Joint Program Office and the U.S. Air Force successfully connected the F-35, F-22, F-16 and E3 Sentry in a “highly contested simulated environment” during a Distributed Mission Training (DMT) final acceptance test at Nellis AFB, Nevada. This simulated training event was the first time these platforms were connected virtually. Additional platforms such as the F-15 can also connect into this shared virtual environment. The F-35 DMT capability creates interoperability across military platforms for continuation training and large force exercises. The initial delivery at Nellis AFB is a major step forward as it establishes the framework for F-35 simulators around the world to interconnect, Lockheed said in a release Wednesday. Previously, F-35 simulators allowed up to four pilots at a facility to fly together in simulated combat. DMT links pilots at Nellis AFB to pilots at other bases through an existing distributed network enabling simulated training events with existing 4th generation and 5th generation platforms. This is the first of many fielded DMT solutions for the F-35 training enterprise. “This base capability lays the foundation for pilots to truly train like they fight by enabling advanced tactics training through multi-domain operations in a simulated environment,” said Chauncey McIntosh, Lockheed Martin, vice president of F-35 Training and Logistics. As a next step, the DMT capability is expected to be rolled out to other USAF bases worldwide. The Navy is expected to receive the DMT capability through an accelerated delivery at NAS Lemoore by the end of the year. https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27334#.XwNVpyhKg2w

  • BAE Systems wins $148.3M Army contract to upgrade M88A1 vehicles

    10 octobre 2019 | International, Terrestre

    BAE Systems wins $148.3M Army contract to upgrade M88A1 vehicles

    ByEd Adamczyk Oct. 9 (UPI) -- BAE Systems announced a $148.3 million contract with the U.S. Army on Wednesday to upgrade M88A1 heavy-lift vehicles. A total of 43 vehicles will be rebuilt with increased power, maneuverability and survivability features to increase their configuration to M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift System, or HERCULES, status. The Army intends to acquire 933 such vehicles -- with the upgraded M88A1s, it will have 914. "The HERCULES is an invaluable vehicle for the Army's recovery missions," said Dennis Hancock of BAE Systems. "We are proud to support the Army's recovery needs and we will continue to work alongside the Army to provide upgraded solutions as their missions and requirements change." Twenty-eight feet long and carrying a crew of three, the M88A2's specialty is the recovery of tanks mired to different depths, its capability in removing and installing tank turrets and power packs, and its ability to upright overturned heavy combat vehicles. The main winch on the M88A2 can move 70 tons, compared to the M88A1's 56 tons, allowing it to recover a 70-ton M1A2 Abrams tank. The upgraded vehicle can also be anchored for earth-moving purposes to prepare a recovery area and can refuel Abrams tanks from its own fuel tanks. Work on the program will be conducted at four BAE facilities in the United States, with deliveries scheduled to start in February 2021. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/10/09/BAE-Systems-wins-1483M-Army-contract-to-upgrade-M88A1-vehicles/5411570639391

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