15 octobre 2020 | International, Naval

Outgoing Pakistan Navy chief reveals details of modernization programs

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's Navy is racing to plug operational and technological gaps as part of an unprecedented modernization effort, according to the outgoing naval chief, but analysts are divided on whether the move will deter adversaries.

Adm. Zafar Mahmood Abbasi was speaking during the an Oct. 6 change-of-command ceremony when he detailed measures he enacted, prioritizing “combat readiness and offensive capability” for the historically undersized force amid tension with India.

In addition to reorganizing the Navy's force structure, he outlined acquisition and development programs, some of which were mentioned for the first time or had new details confirmed. These included:

Expanding the Navy to more than 50 warships (more than doubling major surface combatants to 20, with plans for six additional large offshore patrol vessels).
The apparent free transfer of a Chinese Yuan-class submarine to train Pakistani crews for its eight Hangor subs.
Developing the hypersonic P282 ship-launched anti-ship/land-attack ballistic missile.
Establishing the Naval Research and Development Institute to nurture indigenous design talent (it is presently engaged in programs such as the Jinnah-class frigate, Hangor-class subs, UAV jammers, directed-energy weapons, underwater sonar surveillance coastal defense systems, unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned combat aerial vehicles).
Replacing of the P-3C Orion patrol aircraft with 10 converted commercial jets, the first of which has been ordered.
Acquiring medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicles as well as 20 indigenous gunboats, which are to be commissioned by 2025.

The Navy would not provide more details when asked, though the gunboats were previously confirmed as undergoing design.

Rivals

However, analysts are divided on whether these programs will prove a sufficient deterrent against Pakistan's archrival India.

Author, analyst and former Australian defense attache to Islamabad, Brian Cloughley, claimed it is “quite impossible for Pakistan to achieve a naval structure that even approaches that of the Indian Navy.”

“It cannot afford it. At best, its deterrence value would be entirely local," he said.

Though he described India's aircraft carriers as “decidedly inferior in effectiveness in international terms, and present no threat to China,” they are a “major threat” to Pakistan's Navy when they are out of range of shore-based air power.

In the event of a conflict involving India's Navy, Pakistan “would deploy all its assets to destroy it, and although the [Indian Navy] would suffer major losses, the attrition factor would be the decider,” he added.

In contrast, expansion of the Pakistan Navy would “effectively neutralize India's growing naval capability,” according to Mansoor Ahmed, a senior research fellow at the Center for International Strategic Studies in Islamabad. He noted that India has “long enjoyed the most decisive numerical advantage; that is potentially destabilizing, as it could encourage belligerency and aggression, and fuel crisis instability.”

However, Pakistan's modernization efforts would “help keep the nuclear threshold high,” “enhance Pakistan's second-strike capability by increasing survivability of its surface and submarine fleet,” and provide considerably increased capacity for attrition, Ahmed added.

Similarly, Tom Waldwyn, a naval expert at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said there is merit in the expansion program.

“Certainly the ship- and submarine-building plans, once realized, will be a significant boost to Pakistan's conventional maritime capability. By the end of this decade, the frigate fleet will grow by half and the submarine fleet will probably double in size. The planned gunboats could free up the new frigates to perform tasks the Pakistan Navy is currently not able to do as often,” he said.

The Hangor program is probably the most noteworthy because of China's involvement, Waldwyn added. “Although local build of Hangor submarines is planned to be complete before the end of the decade, regenerating that industrial capability will be a big effort, and I expect that Chinese assistance in doing so will be crucial.”

But one factor depends on whether Germany provides export clearance of diesel engines for the submarine. Pakistan's Ministry of Defence Production, the Navy's public relations department, the German embassy in Islamabad, and Germany's Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control all declined to respond to Defense News' inquiries about the engines.

It is unknown whether the program is now proceeding with Chinese substitutes.

Weapons and platforms

Announcement of a contract for unmanned combat aerial vehicles, however, appears to be official confirmation the Chinese Wing Loong II deal first reported in October 2018. Though photographed undergoing testing in Pakistan, there was never official confirmation of a contract.

Air power expert at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, Justin Bronk, said it “is probably one of the most effective options for armed UAV acquisition available to Pakistan.”

“It has proven fairly satisfactory in service with the [United Arab Emirates] and others, and can carry a wide variety of cheap and effective Chinese munitions. Its sensor capabilities are not up to U.S. standards, especially in terms of stabilization. But given that sales of MQ-9 and other comparable U.S. systems are restricted, and Israeli UAVs are seldom exported with acknowledged weapons capabilities, Wing Loong II is probably the best option available,” Bronk explained.

In regard to what aircraft Pakistan will choose to replace its P-3C Orion fleet, Defense News asked the Navy and the Ministry of Defence Production, but neither provided details by press time.

A small number of business or regional jets from Brazil, Russia or Ukraine with non-Western systems (to avoid sanctions) could readily be converted to suit Pakistan's requirements. However, there is no official, publicly available notice or hint of sale to Pakistan from these countries' manufacturers, and there was no response to related queries.

Such a conversion could be locally done, as wider naval modernization is underpinned by Pakistan's in-house research and development program. Still, the IISS analyst added, it's not essential the work be performed domestically.

On the modernization effort as a whole, Waldwyn noted that “developing the local capability to design and build this equipment is not a prerequisite to providing conventional deterrence in the short term, and importing equipment from abroad can sometimes be less expensive.”

“However, there is value to developing the defense industrial base and sovereign technological capabilities, as it can protect you against geopolitical changes going forward,” the IISS analyst added.

For Ahmed, domestic work would demonstrate Pakistan “is determined to maintain the required level of modernization” — particularly with directed-energy weapons.

Meanwhile, he said he's uncertain what new purpose the P282 missile will serve. He is unconvinced the P282 is a hypersonic cruise missile intended to replace the current ship- and submarine-launched Harbah cruise missile. However, if the P282 is a ballistic missile as claimed, “it would make sense only if deployed on a submarine” where it could serve as part of Pakistan's nuclear deterrent.

Nevertheless, he added, the modernization program will still “greatly enhance the overall credibility of Pakistan's deterrent posture vis-a-vis India.”

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/10/14/outgoing-pakistan-navy-chief-reveals-details-of-modernization-programs/

Sur le même sujet

2 juillet 2019 | International, Terrestre

Rheinmetall, BAE consummate armored-vehicles joint venture
By: Andrew Chuter and Sebastian Sprenger LONDON and COLOGNE, Germany – Germany's Rheinmetall and Britain's BAE Systems on Monday launched their U.K.-based military vehicles joint venture, after British authorities approved the deal in mid-June, the companies announced. The new outfit is named RBSL, short for Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land, and it's based in Telford, West Midlands. Peter Hardisty, formerly of Rheinmetall UK, is the company's managing director. The joint venture sets out to “play a major role” in manufacturing the Boxer multirole fighting vehicle for the British Mechanised Infantry Vehicle program, according to a Rheinmetall statement. Official also have an eye on “other strategic combat vehicle programs” in addition to maintenance contracts for the British Army's bridging- and armored-vehicle fleets, according to the company. “This announcement is a clear vote of confidence in the UK's defence industry as a world-leader in designing, supplying and supporting military vehicles,” Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt was quoted as saying in the statement. “This exciting venture clearly demonstrates how Defence sits at the heart of the prosperity agenda. Its benefits will be felt in the West Midlands and across the UK defence supply chain, creating jobs, boosting exports and guaranteeing our technical skills base into the future.” Some might think it was anything but. That's because the news also means Britain has lost its only big-name, armored-vehicle company in a joint venture where BAE is the junior partner. As a result, the country no longer has a domestically controlled mainstream vehicle supplier — although some would argue BAE forfeited that role a while ago. The British company retains significant armored-vehicle design and build activities in the United States and Sweden. General Dynamics UK, Lockheed Martin UK and Rheinmetall now have significant investments in Britain's armored-vehicle sector, with British involvement primarily led by specialist designers and builders like Supacat and Jankel and a still-vibrant sector supply chain. It's a far cry from 2004 when BAE acquired key domestic manufacturer Alvis, trumping an acquisition bid from General Dynamics with a last-minute offer of £355 million (U.S. $451 million) that was largely seen as a strategic move. At the time, most of the British Army's armored vehicle fleet was designed and supplied by Alvis. But that's dramatically changed. General Dynamics has recently started supplying its Ajax family of tracked reconnaissance vehicles to the Army in what is the biggest deal in the sector in three decades. Final assembly and testing takes place at company facilities in South Wales. Lockheed Martin is leading the program to update the Warrior infantry fighting vehicle as well as supply turrets for the Ajax program from a factory in southern England. Rheinmetall is a partner in the Artec consortium selected without competition to supply Britain with the eight-wheel drive Boxer vehicle. The vehicle was nominated as the preferred option last year but a final production deal between RBSL and the Ministry of Defence has yet to be announced. Rheinmetall and BAE have also been vying to supply a major upgrade of the Challenger 2 main battle tank for the British Army. Mordaunt recently labeled the Challenger as “obsolete” due to the ministry's failure to keep pace with technological advances in the sector. In a speech to the Royal United Services Institute think tank last month, she said Britain had fallen behind it's allies and rivals due to underinvestment in the armored vehicle sector. A decision on the Challenger update program is expected shortly. However, recent signals from the MoD suggest the Army may have got its wish to fall into line with other NATO members and go for the German company's solution of a new turret and 120mm smoothbore gun to replace the rifled weapon currently fitted to the Challenger 2. BAE's weapons and ammunition activities in the U.K. are excluded from the deal, as is the CTAI joint venture with Nexter to build a new 40mm cannon. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/07/01/rheinmetall-bae-consummate-armored-vehicles-joint-venture/
30 avril 2019 | International, Aérospatial

Erdogan says F-35 project would collapse without Turkey
ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that an F-35 fighter jet project without Turkish participation was bound to collapse and would be an injustice to exclude Ankara over its plans to buy Russian air defense systems. Turkey's plans to buy the Russian S-400 missile defenses has strained its ties with Washington, which has said they would compromise the security of Lockheed Martin F-35 jets and warned of potential U.S. sanctions. Turkey is both a partner in production of the F-35s and a prospective buyer. It has proposed a working group with the United States to assess the impact of the S-400s, but says it had not received a response from U.S. officials. Speaking at a defense industry fair, Erdogan said those trying to exclude Turkey from the F-35 project had not thought through the process and that Ankara's allies had disregarded its defense needs. “We were surely not going to remain silent against our right to self-defense being disregarded and attempts to hit us where it hurts,” Erdogan said. “This is the kind of process that is behind the S-400 agreement we reached with Russia,” he added. “Nowadays, we are being subject to a similar injustice - or rather an imposition - on the F-35s... Let me be open: An F-35 project from which Turkey is excluded is bound to collapse completely,” Erdogan said, adding that Turkey was also rapidly working to develop its own air defense systems. Erdogan's comments, his strongest challenge yet to warnings that Turkey could be removed from the F-35 project, came a day after he discussed the purchase of the S-400s and the working group proposal with U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call. Turkey said two weeks ago it expected Trump to use a waiver to protect it against penalties over its purchase of the S-400s, after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Ankara could face retribution for the deal under a sanctions law known as Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CATSAA). Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Dominic Evans https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-usa-defence/erdogan-says-f-35-project-would-collapse-without-turkey-idUSKCN1S60RR?il=0
7 décembre 2018 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 4, 2018
NAVY Astro Mechanical Contractors Inc.,* El Cajon, California (N62473-19-D-2416); Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California (N62473-19-D-2417); Public Works Contractor Inc., doing business as PWC Inc.,* Spring Valley, California (N62473-19-D-2418); Souza Construction Inc.,* Farmersville, California (N62473-19-D-2419); Ja'nus Ventilation and Mechanical Inc.,* Lakeside, California (N62473-19-D-2420); and Able Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.,* Chula Vista, California (N62473-19-D-2421), are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract for new construction, renovation, and repair by design-bid, of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system projects at various government installations located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The maximum dollar value including a two-year base period and one three-year option period for all six contracts combined is $200,000,000. The work to be performed provides for new construction, renovation, and repair within the North American Industry Classification System code 238220, by design-build, of HVAC system projects. Types of projects may include, but are not limited to: boiler/chiller plants; digital direct controls or energy management control system; HVAC equipment energy optimization; commissioning and retro commissioning; distribution systems including, supply and return air systems, ventilation and exhaust systems, steam, glycol, medical gas, refrigerant, heating hot water and chilled water distribution, associated terminal devices, heat recovery equipment, heat exchangers, sound attenuation, insulation, and associated appurtenances; energy supply including oil, gas, steam, heating hot and chilled water distribution systems and equipment including special cooling and humidity control, dust and fume collectors, air purifiers, paint booth ventilation systems; and system testing and balancing. Astro Mechanical Contractors Inc., is being awarded the initial project task order at $1,618,230 to repair HVAC system in H60 Simulator Facility, Naval Base Coronado (NBC) Building 352 at NBC, San Diego. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by Dec. 19, 2019. All work on these contracts will be performed at various government installations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility including, but not limited to, California (90 percent); Arizona (6 percent); Nevada (1 percent); Utah (1 percent); Colorado (1 percent), and New Mexico (1 percent). The terms of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of November 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $1,618,230 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps); and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside procurement via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 19 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. The NAVFAC Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $46,167,531 cost-plus-fixed- fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-4321) for non-nuclear repair services required to support submarine maintenance. The services under this contract are for non-nuclear repair services required to support submarine overhauls, maintenance, repair and modernization upgrades; ship alterations, temporary modifications and field changes; supplies and/or ancillary services and corrective and preventative maintenance. Work will be performed in New London, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by December 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $10,100,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity. Rockwell Collins Government Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $10,815,536 for modification P00002 to a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N0042118F0891) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00421-17-G-0003). This delivery order provides fiscal 2019 funding for the Modern Transmission Security and Tactical Secure Voice Suite B, Cryptographic Equipment Application integration for the ARC-210 RT-1939A(C), RT-1990A(C) and RT-2036(C) radios in support of multiple aircraft platforms. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,815,536 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $10,782,772 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-12-C-4323 for long lead time material procurement and management services for CG-65 and CG-69. Huntington Ingalls provides necessary engineering, technical, planning, ship configuration, data, and logistics efforts for lifetime support of both maintenance and modernization. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is expected to be complete by August 2019. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $10,782,772 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair, Gulf Coast, Pascagoula, Mississippi, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Liverpool, New York, is awarded a $7,078,327 firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-14-C-6227 to exercise options for the production of low-cost conformal arrays. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (90 percent); Marion, Massachusetts (8 percent); and Owego, New York (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2020. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $6,778,327; and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $300,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ARMY AAI Corp., doing business as Textron, Hunt Valley, Maryland, was awarded a $152,707,618 modification (P00080) to contract W911QY-17-C-0013 for logistics services. Work will be performed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of May 29, 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $27,935,533 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $26,718,824 option (002620) to a previously awarded contract (FA8620-15-G-4040) for MQ-9 contractor logistics support phase three. The contractor will provide an additional period of contractor logistics support for the French Air Force. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2019. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to France. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contract activity. General Electric (GE) Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded an $11,116,525 firm-fixed-price contract for engineering and technical services in support of the following engines: F-16 F110-GE-100, A-10 TF-34, KC-135 F-108, B-1 F118, E-6B F108, T700-401C, J85-21B, F110, F16 C/D, F/A-18 and F110-GE-129. This contract provides for on-site proficiency training and advice to elevate the technical skill and abilities of personnel responsible for the operation and maintenance of the GE Aviation equipment/systems to the level of self-sufficiency. Work will be performed at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado; Baltimore, Maryland; Springfield, Illinois; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Naval Air Station North Island, California; Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California; Isa Air Base, Bahrain; Cairo West AB, Egypt; Engine Depot, Israel; Ahmed al Jaber AB; Kuwait and Daegu AB, South Korea, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2020. This contract is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This contract involves 41.6 percent foreign military sales (FMS) to Israel; Egypt; Bahrain; South Korea, and Kuwait. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,000,000; and fiscal 2019 FMS funds in the amount of $1,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8604-19-D-8004). L-3 Technologies Inc., Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $7,795,473 firm-fixed price requirements contract for E-3 sustainment. This contract provides for repair and overhaul of E-3 electron tubes. Work will be performed in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by June 5, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated upon issuance of delivery orders. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8117-19-D-0008). DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY Yellowfin Transportation, Shawnee, Kansas (HE1254-19-D-2001), is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for daily commute and special needs student transportation services in the amount of $8,570,866. The location of performance is Fort Benning, Georgia. The award is for a four-year and seven-month base period ending July 31, 2023; and a five-year option period ending July 31, 2028. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be used to fund the initial task order. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal HE1254-18-R-2016, with two offers received. The contracting activity is the Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Virginia. (Awarded Dec. 3, 2018) CG Logistics, Ridgeland, Mississippi (HE1254-19-D-2002); is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for daily commute and special needs student transportation services in the amounts of $8,848,772. The location of performance is Fort Benning, Georgia. The award is for a four-year and seven month base period ending July 31, 2023; and a five-year option period ending July 31, 2028. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be used to fund the initial task order. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal HE1254-18-R-2016, with two offers received. The contracting activity is the Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Virginia. (Awarded Dec. 3, 2018) WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES NetCentrics Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded an $8,156,810 time and material, labor-hours, and firm-fixed-price contract modification. The contract was to obtain Joint Service Provider information technology service delivery support services for Washington Headquarters Services (WHS); the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Pentagon Force Protection Agency; and the WHS-supported organizations. Work performance will take place in the National Capital Region, including the Pentagon, Mark Center and Crystal City, Virginia. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,156,810 are being obligated on this award. The expected completion date is May 30, 2019. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-19-C-0008). (Awarded Nov. 29, 2018) *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1705364/

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