14 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre

Le ministère des Armées lance le développement de la version « forces spéciales » de l’hélicoptère NH 90

- La Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) a commandé la transformation de dix hélicoptères NH90 en version « forces spéciales » (NH 90 FS) le 29 septembre 2020 à NHI Industries, avec pour équipementiers majeurs Thales et Safran.
- La version « forces spéciales » du NH90 vise à doter les forces spéciales françaises de nouvelles capacités d'intervention adaptées à leurs missions sur tous les types de thé'tres. Cette évolution technologique est une illustration concrète de la modernisation des équipements prévue par la Loi de programmation militaire (LPM) 2019-2025.
- La LPM 2019-2025 prévoit la livraison de dix NH 90 FS, dont cinq dès 2025. Les cinq suivants devraient être livrés en 2026

Développé dans le cadre d'un programme en coopération européenne rassemblant l'Allemagne, la Belgique, la France, l'Italie et les Pays-Bas, l'hélicoptère NH90 se décline en deux versions : le TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) pour les missions d'appui aux forces terrestres, et le NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) pour les missions de secours maritime et de lutte antinavire et anti sous-marine. Il a depuis été choisi par neuf autres pays (Australie, Espagne, Finlande, Grèce, Norvège, Nouvelle-Zélande, Oman, Qatar et Suède). Au total 566 hélicoptères NH90 ont été commandés.

Dix-huit mois après le lancement des études préparatoires, menées en partie en coopération avec la Belgique et l'Australie, la NAHEMA (NATO HElicopter Management Agency) vient de notifier, par délégation de la DGA, le contrat de développement de la version « forces spéciales » du NH90. Un avenant au contrat de production des 74 TTH commandés au profit de l'armée de Terre a également été notifié pour couvrir la modification des dix derniers appareils au standard « forces spéciales ».

Hélicoptère biturbine de la classe 11 tonnes, le NH90 est le premier hélicoptère militaire à commandes de vol électriques. Cette évolution contribue à placer l'hélicoptère au meilleur niveau mondial. Destinés au 4ème Régiment d'hélicoptères des forces spéciales (4e RHFS), les NH90 FS offriront, à terme, des capacités de pénétration et d'opération en conditions de visibilité très dégradées, en particulier sur des thé'tres d'opération réputés difficiles comme la bande sahélo-saharienne.

Les principales améliorations apportées au NH90 FS concernent :

  • l'ajout d'un nouveau système optronique d'observation (l'Euroflir™410 de nouvelle génération de la société Safran Electronics & Défense) pour permettre une détection améliorée des obstacles et des menaces, en vol tactique et par toutes conditions de nuit ;
  • la possibilité d'utiliser l'issue arrière du TTH pour les opérations d'aérocordage avec autoprotection par les portes latérales ;
  • diverses améliorations de la soute du NH90 pour permettre entre autres d'utiliser l'issue arrière en vol ou d'afficher la vidéo du système optronique d'observation au profit des personnels en soute.

En outre, des provisions électriques et mécaniques ont été prises pour intégrer ultérieurement :

  • la mise à hauteur du casque TopOwl de Thales, c'est-à-dire le passage de l'affichage analogique au numérique pour offrir de nouvelles capacités comme l'affichage de vidéo haute résolution des senseurs de pilotage et de mission (Eurofl'eye™ & Euroflir™), l'élaboration et l'affichage de la réalité augmentée (terrain synthétique et obstacles) et l'affichage de symboles 3D « tactiques ». Cet équipement sera commun avec le prochain standard 3 de l'hélicoptère d'attaque Tigre ;
  • un « système optronique large champ » Eurofl'Eye™ développé par Safran Electronics & Defense pour améliorer les conditions de pilotage en environnement dégradé (comme les posés de nuit ou en environnement sableux) en offrant des champs de vision indépendants au pilote et au co-pilote.

Les évolutions du NH90 FS, qui suscitent de l'intérêt d'autres pays déjà équipés de cet hélicoptère, ne sont pas destinées à l'usage exclusif des forces spéciales. En effet, la plupart de ces nouvelles capacités seront également utiles à l'Aviation légère de l'armée de Terre (ALAT) pour augmenter la couverture opérationnelle du TTH.

Le programme NH90

Le programme est réalisé sous l'égide de l'organisation OTAN NAHEMO (NATO HElicopter Management Organization) qui s'appuie sur une agence, la NAHEMA, dont la mission est de coordonner et exécuter les demandes des maîtrises d'ouvrage nationales. Pour la France, le programme est conduit par la DGA.

La maîtrise d'œuvre est assurée par le consortium NH Industries, composé du groupe Airbus Helicopters et des industriels Leonardo Helicopters et Fokker Aerostructures.
Les NH90 destinés aux forces françaises seront fabriqués sur le site de Marignane (Bouches du Rhône) d'Airbus Helicopters France.

Entre 2000 et 2015, la France a commandé un total de 74 NH 90-TTH et 27 NH90-NFH. A ce jour, 24 NFH ont été livrés pour la Marine nationale, et 45 TTH pour l'armée de Terre.

  • le NFH remplace progressivement les Lynx et les Super Frelon (déjà retirés du service actif) de la Marine nationale. Ses principales missions sont la protection de la force navale le contre-terrorisme maritime, le transport à partir de la terre ou de b'timents, le service public, la sauvegarde et le sauvetage ;
  • le TTH remplace progressivement les hélicoptères Puma de l'armée de Terre. Ses missions principales sont le transport tactique de troupes (jusqu'à 20 commandos) et de matériel (jusqu'à 2,5 tonnes). Les missions secondaires sont l'appui feu, le parachutage ou l'évacuation de blessés.

En 2025, les NH90-TTH constitueront la principale flotte d'hélicoptères de l'armée de Terre.

https://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga/actualite/le-ministere-des-armees-lance-le-developpement-de-la-version-forces-speciales-de-l-helicoptere

Sur le même sujet

  • What’s changing in the cyber domain? We ask industry experts

    3 septembre 2019 | International, Sécurité

    What’s changing in the cyber domain? We ask industry experts

    By: Andrew Eversden “What are you talking about now in cybersecurity that you weren't talking about six months ago?” Fifth Domain posed this question to cybersecurity experts at Black Hat, a cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, that ran from Aug. 3-8. With the cyber domain rapidly evolving, we wanted to know how conversations within the cyber community are changing. Some pointed to a new focus on utility systems and web-connected devices that sit on critical infrastructure. “It's only a matter of time until there's another major disruption in an electric utility somewhere in the world, probably not in the U.S., but elsewhere,” Sergio Caltagirone, threat intelligence director at Dragos, said at the conference Aug. 5. “But oil and gas has the higher likelihood of a major destructive and loss-of-life event. And I think most people did not realize how close to that we actually were.” Caltagirone was referring to the TRISIS event, malware that struck industrial control systems at a Saudi Arabian petrochemical plant and could've caused physical harm. He said that in the aftermath of that attack, threat researchers diving into the details realized just how bad it could've been. “We started finding a lot of stuff which hadn't been found before,” Caltagirone said. “Which made us realize very quickly how close that space is to a major event.” Dave Weinstein, chief security officer at Claroty, pointed to an “explosion” of devices connected to the internet of things.. “It's really a product of this general consensus among industrial organizations that the benefits exceed the costs in terms of embracing this type of digital transformation," Weinstein said Aug. 8, adding that organizations must be “mindful” of these devices and have a plan to mitigate their potential vulnerabilities. Brian Costello, a senior vice president at Flashpoint, told Fifth Domain on Aug. 8 that he is more often than before focusing on targeted cyberattacks from bad actors. That's a shift away from “campaign-based” attacks that tracked. There's “more planning out, more scoping out of targets and taking long-term planning to go after [a] particular target with a specific asset in mind,” Costello said. Along that same vein, Julian Zottl, a senior cyber architect at Raytheon, said he's noticing more inclusion of all-source intelligence in threat analysis. “We're looking at ... all the sources and trying to figure out indicators,” Zottl said Aug. 7. “[We're] even trying to do predictive analytics now, where it's like, ‘Oh, we see this threat might be coming.' I think that's something that we're starting to talk about more and more.” Several cybersecurity professionals interviewed by Fifth Domain said the U.S. government is moving away from the classic cyber kill chain and over to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, which dives deeper into potential threats to information security. “They used to think the hackers would just come in to steal secrets, conduct espionage and then leave,” said Tom Kellermann, chief cybersecurity officer at Carbon Black and a former commissioner on the Commission on Cyber Security for then-President Barack Obama. “In fact, they're maintaining persistence in these systems. They're manipulating the integrity of data and then they're using federal government agencies themselves and personnel's devices themselves to target anyone who implicitly trusts that person, that agency, that department.” he told Fifth Domain on Aug. 6. Chris Kennedy, chief information security officer at AttackIQ and a former official with the Treasury Department and the Marine Corps, said these new frameworks in use along with federal continuous monitoring programs allow for more attacker emulation, essentially simulating the attack agencies could face. “Agencies are starting to realize the value of attacker emulation as a way to measure and benchmark the effectiveness of their security controls,” Kennedy said on Aug. 7. And with government agencies in different stages of cloud migration, agencies will need to learn how that fits into their cybersecurity posture. Marten Mickos, CEO of white hat hacking company HackerOne, said this a new discussion. He also said the conversation surrounding the use of ethical hackers in government environments has evolved: The word “hacker” is becoming more accepted. “I do think it signals a shift in mindset," Michos said. There's a realization that "those people who portray themselves as hackers are actually those who will rescue us, not those who will destroy us.” Despite all the changing technology and evolving threats, one aspect of cybersecurity remains set in stone, said M. K. Palmore, a field chief security officer for the Americas at Palo Alto Networks and a recently retired FBI cyber agent. “It's about adhering to cybersecurity fundamentals,” Palmore said. “That message hasn't changed regardless of my position or where I'm located.” https://www.fifthdomain.com/show-reporters/black-hat/2019/08/30/whats-changing-in-the-cyber-domain-we-ask-industry-experts

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 14, 2020

    15 février 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 14, 2020

    ARMY Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $407,335,834 modification (P00291) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 to procure Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and associated kits. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2018 and 2020 other procurement, Army; procurement, U. S. Marine Corps; and Foreign Military Sales (Lithuania and Slovenia) funds in the amount of $407,335,834 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Maloney Odin JV,* Novato, California, was awarded a $48,064,247 firm-fixed-price contract to degrade and reconstruct two miles of levee to support Sacramento River East Levee construction of both deep mix method and slurry trench cutoff walls. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Sacramento, California, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 15, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $48,064,247 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento, California, is the contracting activity (W91238-20-C-0004). General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Taunton, Massachusetts, was awarded a $26,869,595 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to procure Year 11 system engineering and program management services for product manager tactical network, systems, and equipment. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Taunton, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 22, 2021. Fiscal 2020 other procurement, Army, funds in the amount of $26,869,595 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W15P7T-20-F-0005). Cray Inc., Seattle, Washington, was awarded a $25,480,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Department Of Defense high-performance computing modernization programs. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 13, 2025. Fiscal 2020 other procurement, Army, funds in the amount of $25,480,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W912DY-20-F-0147). Cybernet Systems Corp.,* Ann Arbor, Michigan, was awarded a $22,367,890 firm-fixed-price contract for ongoing development, manufacture, delivery, set-up and integration of up to 25 new and existing automated tactical ammunition classification systems and spent brass sorter units. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 13, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-20-D-0012). DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., San Jose, California (HC1084-20-D-0003), was awarded a competitive, single award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, firm-fixed-price contract with a ceiling of $61,825,294 for integrated processor capacity services – X-86 (IPCS-X) for Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Operations Center. The place of performance will be at DISA data centers or future DISA or DISA-approved locations where DISA assumes an operational responsibility for support of Missions Partner service requirements. The solicitation, HC1082-18-R-0022, was posted on Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov), now known as beta.SAM.gov website (www.beta.sam.gov). The solicitation was issued as a competitive action and four proposals were received. The period of performance (PoP) consists of a five-year base period and five one-year option periods for a total contract life cycle of ten years. The base period of performance is Feb. 14, 2020, through Feb. 13, 2025, and the option years follow consecutively through Feb. 13, 2030. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity (HC1084-20-D-0003). NAVY BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair LLC, Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $24,569,851 cost-plus-award-fee contract for the accomplishment of post-shakedown-availability (PSA) for one Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), with options for the accomplishment of PSAs for up to seven additional Freedom-variant LCSs. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $203,886,801. The PSA is accomplished within a period of approximately 16 weeks between the time of ship custody transfer to the Navy and the shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) obligation work limiting date. The PSA encompasses all of the manpower, support services, material, non-standard equipment and associated technical data and documentation required to prepare for and accomplish the PSA. The work to be performed will include correction of government-responsible trial card deficiencies, new work identified between custody transfer and the time of PSA, and incorporation of approved engineering changes that were not incorporated during the construction period which are not otherwise the building yard's responsibility under the ship construction contract. Work will be performed in Mayport, Florida, and is expected to be completed by March 2021. If all options are exercised, work will continue through November 2025. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding for $7,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-20-C-2320). The Syncon LLC,* Chesapeake, Virginia, is awarded a $23,242,171 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of Commander Undersea Surveillance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations expansion located at Naval Air Station Oceana. This contract also included three planned modifications. The work to be performed provides for the construction of a new addition attached to the current facility. The new addition will be constructed of a structural steel frame, concrete slab, and a modified bitumen roof system. The existing building will be reconfigured to compliment the expanded spaces to meet mission requirements. Site improvements include but are not limited to demolition of the existing warehouse. The site will be reconfigured to accommodate 330 parking spaces, a new access road, a new loading dock, landscaping, flagpoles, site furnishings, dumpster relocation, exterior signage, free mitigation and storm water management. Work will be performed at Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2018 military construction, Navy contract funds for $23,242,171 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-C-8503). Jacobs Ewingcole JV, Pasadena, California, is awarded a task order N62473-20-F-4323 at $15,865,000 under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for design-build construction packages at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS), China Lake. The work to be performed provides design and engineering services for design-build request for proposals for various fiscal 2021 military construction (MILCON) projects impacted by last year's earthquakes onboard NAWS China Lake. Work will be performed in Ridgecrest, California, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2020 MILCON, (Navy) contract funds for $7,932,500 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-18-D-5801). Lockheed Martin Space, Titusville, Florida, is awarded a $13,860,565 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00004) to exercise options under a previously awarded and announced contract (N00030-19-C-0100) for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed systems support. Work will be performed in Cape Canaveral, Florida (62.3%); Sunnyvale, California (35.9%); and other various locations (less than 1% each; 1.8% total). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2024. Fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds for $13,860,565 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded to the contractor on a sole-source basis under 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. PrimeTech International Inc.,* North Kansas City, Missouri, is awarded a $12,746,631 firm-fixed-price, time-and-materials six-month bridge contract for logistics services to manage, support and operate the Marine Corps Consolidated Storage Program warehouse network. Work will be performed in Barstow, California (23%); Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (18%); Camp Pendleton, California (13%); Okinawa, Japan (10%); Miramar, California (9%); Camp Geiger, North Carolina (7%); Twenty-nine Palms, California (4%); Cherry Point, North Carolina (4%); Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (3%); Yuma, Arizona (2%); Beaufort, South Carolina (2%); Iwakuni, Japan (2%); New River, North Carolina (2%); and Bridgeport, California (1%). Work is expected to be completed September 2020. Fiscal 2020 overseas contingency operations funds for $12,583,974; and operations and maintenance funds (Marine Corps) for $161,658 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured 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 Marine Corps Logistics Command, Albany, Georgia, is the contracting activity (M67004-20-P-2001). EPS Corp., Tinton Falls, New Jersey, is awarded an $8,531,520 modification to exercise an option to a previously awarded hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00174-17-D-0026) for technical expertise in the development and testing of underwater weapons and underwater weapons systems components. This requirement is to develop an underwater weapons system acquisition/procurement program that provides underwater weapons systems (including authentic foreign mines) for research, development test and evaluation of underwater weapons systems and mine countermeasures systems. Work will be performed in Tinton Falls, New Jersey (95%); Montenegro (2%); Bulgaria (2%); and Italy (1%), and is expected to be completed by February 2021. No funding is being obligated at time of award. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sysco Seattle, Inc., Kent, Washington, has been awarded a maximum $7,150,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for full-line food distribution for Department of Defense support of Navy customers in the Seattle, Washington/Puget Sound Region. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a 63-day bridge contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Washington, with an April 18, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is the Navy.Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-20-D-3263). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2085466/source/GovDelivery/

  • Hanwha, Kongsberg team up to bolster Australia’s K9 howitzers

    17 novembre 2020 | International, Terrestre

    Hanwha, Kongsberg team up to bolster Australia’s K9 howitzers

    Brian Kim SEOUL — Hanwha Defense Australia has announced a partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia to integrate command, control, communication and computing technology into the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle. The announcement came two months after the Australian branch of Hanwha Defense, a defense company in South Korea, was selected as the preferred supplier for Australia's self-propelled howitzer acquisition project, code-named Land 8116 Phase 1 Under the project, the Australian Army is to acquire 30 155mm, 52-caliber K9 “Huntsman” howitzers and 15 K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles, both of which are built by Hanwha. “The selection of KONGSBERG as a central part of our Land 8116 Phase 1 industry team will make a very important contribution to Hanwha's capacity to deliver effective capability for the [Australian Defence Force] while fulfilling our extensive Australian Industry Capability commitments,” Richard Cho, managing director of Hanwha's branch Down Under, said in a statement. The partnership has already proven to be successful, he added, citing their recent involvement in Norway's Vidar program for K9 and K10 procurement, and pointing to their delivery of K9s to Finland and Estonia. Under the partnership, Kongsberg is responsible for the integration of tactical communication systems and battle management systems. “Together with Hanwha Defence Australia, KONGSBERG is committed to the establishment of a sovereign industry capability to support the Australian Protected Mobile Fires capability throughout its service life,” said Joh Fry, general manager of Kongsberg Defence Australia. “We'll continue to source as much C4 hardware as possible through Australian and New Zealand-based suppliers.” Developed by South Korea's Agency for Defense Development and Samsung Techwin in 1998, the K9 Thunder is touted as one of the world's most advanced self-propelled howitzers. It's designed to provide effective and deep fire support across theaters. The howitzer is now manufactured by Hanwha Defense, a defense contractor of Hanwha Group that acquired Samsung Techwin in 2017. The main weapon is the 155mm, 52-caliber gun with a burst rate of fire of three rounds per 15 seconds, and a maximum rate of fire of six rounds a minute for three minutes. It has a firing range of 40 kilometers and is capable of “multiple rounds simultaneous impact” firing. On Nov. 13, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that the completion of deliveries of K9s to the South Korean military. The announcement came about two decades after the first K9 fleet was deployed on the western border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong An upgraded variant, the K9A1, is in production with improvements in fire control and power systems. DAPA and Hanwha Defense plan to continue to improve the K9′s capabilities to add automatic loading and unmanned maneuvering functions. The K9 has been exported to several countries, including Turkey, Poland, India, Norway and Estonia. About 1,700 units are in service around the world, according to Hanwha. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2020/11/13/hanwha-kongsberg-team-up-to-bolster-australias-k9-howitzers

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