Nouvelles

JORDAN WILLIAMS Elon Musk's SpaceX is one of two companies to be awarded a $149 million contract from the Space Development Agency to develop missile-tracking satellites for the U.S. SpaceX and defense contractor L3 Harris were chosen to build the satellites as part of the National Defense Space Architecture's Trache 0, which will include 20 transport layer satellites and 8 tracking satellites. L3 Harris received $193 million from the agency to build its satellites. The companies will build four overhead persistent infrared imaging (OPIR) satellites of their own design that must be able to track missiles and communicate directly with transport layer satellites. Those satellites are currently being developed by Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems under separate contracts. SpaceX will be developing its satellites around an infrared sensor with a wide field of view, Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear told SpaceNews. The company plans to build the satellite based on its Starlink satellite, but will have the OIPR sensor come from another supplier. The satellites should be ready by the end of fiscal 2022. SpaceX on Tuesday launched 60 new Starlink satellites at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. https://thehill.com/policy/defense/519964-spacex-awarded-contract-to-build-us-military-tracking-satellites

BOQUET Justine L'Allemagne a finalement décidé de repousser l'acquisition d'hélicoptères de transport lourds. Remplacement des CH-53G. Suite à l'impact économique de la crise du Coronavirus, Berlin a finalement fait le choix d'annuler son appel d'offres visant au remplacement de sa flotte de CH-53G, pour lequel concouraient d'une part Rheinmetall et Sikorsky avec le CH-53K et de l'autre Boeing avec son Chinook. « L'annulation a eu lieu peu de temps avant la date prévue pour l'attribution du contrat, indiquant que de nouveaux facteurs tels que la COVID-19 ont dû être pris en considération », met en avant Harry Boneham, analyste associé pour GlobalData. Cependant l'Allemagne n'a pas pour autant renoncé à l'idée de remplacer sa flotte de CH-53G, mais souhaite cependant revoir sa copie et ses priorités dans le cadre de ce projet. Un contrat pourrait ainsi malgré tout être attribué, mais comportant beaucoup moins d'options, afin de faire baisser le coût global. Coup dur pour Boeing et Lockheed Martin. Alors que l'on savait le secteur de l'aviation civile durement touché par la crise, cette décision montre que les budgets de défense pourraient également être touchés dans certains pays, venant dès lors impacter les entreprises duales à l'instar de Boeing. « Les entreprises telles que Boeing présentes sur les deux marchés s'appuient fortement sur la branche défense pour compenser l'impact sur l'activité commerciale. Ce contrat aurait fourni une précieuse source de revenus fiable sur le moyen et long terme » complète l'analyse. Cas isolé ? Si pour le moment les conclusions sont difficiles à tirer, la tendance générale reste malgré tout à la hausse des budgets de défense. Que cela soit en France, en Finlande, en Colombie, en Estonie, au Pakistan, en Suède ou encore en Argentine, le secteur de la défense est vu comme une des clés de la relance. Il permet ainsi d'offrir des débouchés via de la commande publique aux entreprises du secteur. Ces contrats, s'ils ne sont attribués à l'industrie nationale, comportent bien souvent une part non négligeable de compensations industrielles permettant la création d'emplois ou l'installation de chaîne de production. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/lallemagne-renonce-son-projet-dhlicoptre-lourd-23696

Nathan Strout WASHINGTON — SpaceX and and L3 Harris will contribute satellites to track hypersonic weapons to the Space Development Agency's planned mega-constellation, with the nascent agency announcing Oct. 5 it has selected the two companies to build its first wide field of view satellites. Under the contracts, each company will design and develop four satellites equipped with wide field of view (WFOV) overhead persistent infrared (OPIR) sensors. Operating in low Earth orbit, the sensors will make up the inaugural tranche of the SDA's tracking layer — the Pentagon's new effort to track hypersonic weapons from space. “This SDA tracking layer is going to consist of a proliferated, heterogeneous constellation of WFOV space vehicles that provide persistent global coverage and custody capability. That's going to combine with activities in the Missile Defense Agency as they build toward their Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) medium field of view (MFOV) space vehicles,” Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Research and Engineering Mark Lewis told C4ISRNET. Per the announcement, SpaceX will receive $149 million, while L3 Harris will receive $193 million. According to SDA Director Derek Tournear, the awards were the result of a full and open competition, with the selection based purely on technical merit. SpaceX has made waves with its Starlink constellation — a series of satellites built to provide commercial broadband from low Earth orbit — and the Department of Defense has tested using Starlink to connect various weapon systems. However, the company does not have a history building OPIR sensors. According to Tournear, the company will work with partners to develop the sensor, which it will then place on a bus it is providing. SpaceX already has a production line in place to build a bus based on its Starlink technologies, added Tournear. “SpaceX had a very credible story along that line — a very compelling proposal. It was outstanding,” he said. “They are one of the ones that have been at the forefront of this commercialization and commodification route.” L3 Harris will develop an OPIR solution based on decades of experience with small satellites, small telescopes and OPIR technologies. “They had an extremely capable solution. They have a lot of experience flying affordable, rapid, small satellite buses for the department,” noted Tournear. “They had the plant and the line in place in order to produce these to hit our schedule.” Tracking hypersonic weapons The contracts are the latest development as the SDA fleshes out its National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA), a new constellation to be comprised of hundreds of satellites primarily operating in low Earth orbit. These satellites are expected to make up tranche 0 of the SDA's tracking layer, which will provide global coverage for tracking hypersonic threats. The glue that holds the NDSA together will be the transport layer, a space-based mesh network made up of satellites connected by optical intersatellite links. Like most planned SDA satellites, WFOV satellites will plug directly into that network. “The idea is it connects to the National Defense Space Architecture — the NDSA transport layer — via optical intersatellite links,” said Lewis. “And that will enable low latency dissemination for missile warning indications. It will provide track directly to the joint war fighters.” SDA issued two contracts in August for its first 20 transport layer satellites. York Space Systems was awarded $94 million to build its 10 satellites, while Lockheed Martin was awarded $188 million for its 10 systems. That transport layer capability is essential to the tracking layer's mission. Because they are so much closer to the Earth's surface than the U.S. Space Force's missile tracking satellites in geosynchronous orbit, the WFOV sensors will naturally have a much more limited field of vision. In order to track globe traversing hypersonic missiles, the WFOV satellites will have to work together. Once the first satellite picks up a threat, it will begin tracking it until it disappears over the horizon. During that time, it is expected to transmit its tracking data to other WFOV satellites over the transport layer. So as the first satellite loses sight of the threat over the horizon, the next WFOV is ready to pick it up, and so on and so forth. From there, the WFOV satellites will pass the tracking data — either directly or via the transport layer — on to the medium field of view satellites being developed by the Missile Defense Agency as their HBTSS. “SDA is developing the low cost proliferated WFOV space vehicles that provide the missile warning and the tracking information for national defense authorities, as well as tracking and cueing data for missile defense elements,” explained Lewis. “Meanwhile, the Missile Defense Agency is developing the high resolution HBTSS MFOV space vehicles — those can receive cues from other sources including the WFOV system — and they'll provide low latency fire control quality tracking data.” “The MFOV HBTSS satellites will then be able to hone in and actually be able to calculate the fire control solution for that missile, send those data to the transport satellites with a laser [communication] system ... and then the transport system will disseminate that to the weapons platform as well as back to" the continental United States, where MDA can broadcast that information, added Tournear. MDA issued $20 million contracts to Northrop Grumman, Leidos, Harris Corporation and Raytheon to develop HBTSS prototypes in Oct. 2019. Tournear noted that proposals for HBTSS “are being written as we speak.” Together, HBTSS and the SDA's tracking layer are meant to provide the data needed to take out hypersonic threats — which Congress is increasingly concerned by. “It's part of an integrated DoD OPIR strategy. So the wide field of view sensors and the medium field of view sensors are really integral to this whole NDSA system and legacy strategic missile warning capability,” said Lewis, praising MDA and SDA for working together to build a heterogeneous solution. Spiral development Of course, this initial tranche won't provide global coverage up front. As part of its spiral development approach, SDA plans to continuously add satellites to its mega-constellation in two-year tranches, with each tranche including more advanced technology. The tracking layer is not expected to reach global coverage until 2026, said Tournear. But as the constellation is built out, the more limited initial capabilities will be used to help integrate the space-based assets with war fighters. “We call tranche 0 our war fighter immersion tranche,” said Tournear. “What that means is, its goal is to provide the data in a format that the war fighters are used to seeing on tactical timelines that they can be expected to see once we actually become operational. The whole purpose of tranche 0 is to allow the war fighters to start to train and develop tactics, techniques and procedures so that they can create operational plans for a battle where they would actually incorporate these data.” With tranche 1 in 2024, the tracking and transport layers will essentially reach initial operating capability, said Tournear. That will include persistent regional coverage. According to Tournear, the tranche 0 satellites are set to launch in September 2022. Tournear told C4ISRNET his agency is planning to issue a separate solicitation for launch services later this week. That solicitation will cover all of the tranche 0 satellites, including the 20 transport layer satellites the agency ordered in August, the eight WFOV satellites and the HBTSS satellites. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2020/10/05/space-development-agency-orders-8-hypersonic-weapon-tracking-satellites/

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Maersk Line Ltd., Norfolk, Virginia, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W026 in the amount of $173,052,625. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $170,116,349, to $343,168,974. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. American President Lines LLC, Washington, D.C., has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W014 in the amount of $142,730,774. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $140,308,983, to $283,039,757. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier LLC, Parsippany, New Jersey, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W015 in the amount of $85,444,626. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $83,994,841, to $169,439,467. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Matson Navigation Co. Inc., Oakland, California, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W027 in the amount of $72,447,073. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $71,217,825, to $143,664,898. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Liberty Global Logistics LLC, Lake Success, New York, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W025 in the amount of $69,533,730. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $68,353,914, to $137,887,644. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Farrell Lines Inc., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W021 in the amount of $63,026,301. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $61,956,899, to $124,983,200. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Hapag-Lloyd USA LLC, Piscataway, New Jersey, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W023 in the amount of $56,870,780. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $55,905,822, to $112,776,602. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Waterman Transport Inc., New York, New York, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W016 in the amount of $34,585,142. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $33,998,316, to $68,583,458. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. TOTE Maritime Alaska LLC, Federal Way, Washington, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W036 in the amount of $19,787,662. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $19,451,914, to $39,239,576. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico LLC, Jacksonville, Florida, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W037 in the amount of $14,243,656. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $14,001,975, to $28,245,631. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Schuyler Line Navigation Co. LLC, Annapolis, Maryland, has been awarded a contract modification on contract HTC711-19-D-W031 in the amount of $12,386,038. This modification provides continued international ocean and intermodal distribution services. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order. The option period of performance is from Dec. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. This modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract from $12,175,877, to $24,561,915. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. NAVY Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded a $78,530,376 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-2300 to exercise options for the accomplishment of class design services for the Littoral Combat Ship program. Work will be performed in Hampton, Virginia (31%); Moorestown, New Jersey (27%); Washington, D.C. (22%); and Marinette, Wisconsin (20%), and is expected to be completed by October 2021. Fiscal 2015 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $13,148,817 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, D.C., is the contracting activity. Perspecta Labs Inc., Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is awarded a $17,790,079 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for engineering and telecommunication standards support to enhance national security and emergency preparedness services by enabling Next Generation Network Priority Services over the Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem and Long Term Evolution networks. This five-year contract includes two one-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to an estimated $24,658,266. All work will be performed at the contractor's facility in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. The period of performance of the base award is from Oct. 6, 2020, through Oct. 5, 2025. If both option periods are exercised, the period of performance would extend through Oct. 5, 2027. Fiscal 2020 Department of Homeland Security procurement, construction, and improvement funds in the amount of $258,000 will be obligated at the time of award under the initial task order. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is awarded using other than full and open competition in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations Subpart 6.302-1 and 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1); only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-21-D-0011). FlightSafety Services Corp., Denver, Colorado, is awarded a $13,906,642 modification (P00022) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N61340-18-C-0019. This modification exercises an option to provide aircrew training services in support of the TH-57B/C community, including instruction, operation, and curriculum support. Work will be performed in Whiting Field, Florida, and is expected to be completed in October 2021. No funds are being obligated at time of award. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. RLF and Sherlock Smith and Adams JV, Orlando, Florida, is awarded a $7,412,091 firm-fixed-price task order (N62473-21-F-4010) under previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N62470-19-D-5015 for architectural design and engineering services for an addition and alteration to the current ambulatory care center at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar. The work to be performed provides for design and engineering services for a 65,164-gross-square-feet (GSF) addition and a 41,819 GSF alteration to the current ambulatory care center, for a total building of 106,983 GSF, to incorporate the Marine-centered medical home concept for active duty personnel at MCAS Miramar. Supporting facilities include utilities, site improvements, facility special foundations, parking, signage, antiterrorism/force protection measures, demolition and environmental protection measures. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (85%); and Birmingham, Alabama (15%), and is expected to be completed by May 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction planning and design (Defense Health Agency) funding in the amount of $7,412,091 will be obligated at time of 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. AIR FORCE L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Greenville, Texas, has been awarded a $44,651,345 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order for engineering, procurement and fabrication that will result in modification, installation and test of the aircraft mission system. Work will be performed in Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be completed April 30, 2023. This contract involves 100% Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. FMS funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-21-F-4866). Airfield Contracting, Columbus, Ohio, has been awarded a $9,242,034 firm-fixed-price contract for the repair of transient parking ramp projects. Work will be performed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, and is expected to be completed Jan. 18, 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The 94th Contracting Flight, Dobbins ARB, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA6703-20-C-0006). (Awarded Sept. 28, 2020) Tapestry Solutions Inc., San Diego, has been awarded an $8,522,321 firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to contract FA4452-20-C-0006 for Global Decision Support System application support services. This modification is for the exercise of Option Year One, which was already agreed upon at contract award. Work will be performed in Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $40,142,421. The 763rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. InfoReliance LLC, Fairfax, Virginia, has been awarded an $8,183,001 modification (P0015) to contract FA4452-18-F-0003 for Global Air Transportation Execution System application and system support. The contract modification is to fund Option Year Three, which was agreed upon at contract award. Work will be performed in Fairfax, Virginia, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $51,118,522. The 763rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Oct. 2, 2020) Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $7,107,820 modification (P00018) to contract FA8523-16-F-0049 for miniaturized airborne Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver 2K-M development. This contract modification implements a period of performance extension due to a program delay with the Military GPS User Equipment program. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California; and Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected by to completed Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,500,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the delivery order is $76,711,451. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 25, 2020) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY UPDATE: Celina Tent,* Celina, Ohio (SPE1C1-21-D-1402), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for commercial shelters, issued against solicitation SPE1C1-18-R-0003. (Awarded May 10, 2019) * Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2373904/source/GovDelivery/

Yannick Genty-Boudry L'Indian Air Force étudie la possibilité d'acquérir deux escadrons de Dassault Rafale supplémentaires. Inde: 36 Rafale de plus ? Lors de sa conférence de presse annuelle du lundi 4 octobre, l'Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria a déclaré que l'Indian Air Force étudiait la possibilité de commander 2 escadrons supplémentaires d'avions de combat Dassault Rafale. Même si pour le moment la priorité serait consacrée à l'acquisition des 83 LCA MK1A nationaux, Bhadauria a indiqué que dans un second temps l'Indian Air Force devra se prononcer soit vers la poursuite du programme MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft) qui oppose plusieurs compétiteurs pour la livraison de 114 avions de combat, soit vers l'acquisition en gré à gré de 36 Rafale supplémentaires. Choix politique Mais même dans l'hypothèse de la poursuite de MRFA, le Rafale resterait le grand favori. Non seulement pour des raisons opérationnelles, puisqu'en en 2023 les 36 Rafale acquis par Delhi en 2016 seront totalement déployés au sein de l'IAF, mais surtout financières. Les prochains appareils proposés seront en effet moins coûteux que lors de la première acquisition dans la mesure où en 2016 l'IAF avait exigé des modifications lourdes de l'appareil, nécessitant une enveloppe de 1,7 Geur pour mener à bien les travaux de R&D, d'intégration, et de certification associés. Aussi, il est fortement probable que les aviateurs indiens cherchent à capitaliser sur cet investissement. Menace nucléaire En outre, en cas d'urgence opérationnelle le gouvernement indien recourt fréquemment aux acquisitions en gré à gré, et surtout lorsqu'il s'agit d'appareils déjà déployés dans les forces et construits localement. Un scénario qui s'est encore reproduit l'été dernier avec l'acquisition auprès des russes de 12 SU-30 MKI et de 21 Mig-29 d'occasion. Or une nouvelle menace inquiète particulièrement le gouvernement indien depuis quelques semaines. En raison des tensions dans l'Himalaya, Pékin a récemment déployé sur la base de Kachgar située à 625 km de Leh, la capitale du Ladakh indien, 6 bombardiers lourds H-6 de nouvelle génération capables de délivrer à distance de sécurité des missiles de croisière KD-20, mais aussi prochainement des missiles balistiques à charge nucléaire. Cette capacité qui menace déjà une grande partie des centres stratégiques indiens, n'en est pourtant qu'à ses prémisses puisque la Chine est en train de reconstituer, précisément au travers de ces bombardiers, une triade nucléaire. Une triade sans commune mesure avec ce dont elle disposait lors de la guerre froide. Or de tous les avions en compétition sur le marché indien, seul le Rafale a depuis son origine été spécifié pour répondre à un tel défi. Nous reviendrons longuement sur les nouvelles capacités nucléaires de l'armée de l'air chinoise dans le numéro d'Air&Cosmos qui sera publié le 15 octobre prochain. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/rafale-vers-un-nouveau-contrat-en-inde-23701

THOMAS ROMANACCE Le drone autonome Wing Loong-2 a réussi de nouveaux essais de communication d'urgence en zone montagneuse, démontrant les progrès de Pékin dans le développement technologique des appareils de combat. Une fois n'est pas coutume, la Chine a diffusé via ses chaînes de télévision officielles des nouvelles images de son premier drone militaire autonome : le Wing Loong-2. Habituellement très secrète sur son appareil dernier cri, la République populaire a fait une exception pour fêter l'accomplissement d'une nouvelle étape décisive de son développement. Le drone vient en effet de passer une série de tests, qui prouvent sa capacité à envoyer des images même lorsque les réseaux de communication classiques sont coupés. Afin de s'assurer que le Wing Loong-2 ne pouvait capter aucun signal lors des essais, les militaires l'ont déployé au dessus de la commune de Muli. Il s'agit d'une zone très montagneuse, située au coeur de l'administration autonome tibétaine du Sichuan, dans le Sud-Ouest de la Chine. Sur place, le drone a effectué un vol ininterrompu d'une vingtaine d'heures, pendant lesquelles il a été capable de se diriger sans aide extérieure à travers les récifs et tout en relayant informations sur son environnement aux soldats restés au sol. L'engin a notamment pu répérer la localisation de sites de catastrophes simulées ou encore des routes endommagées. Même si cet exercice visait surtout à évaluer l'intérêt du Wing Loong-2 pour des missions d'aide humanitaire, le drone n'en reste pas un moins un appareil militaire avant tout. Dotés de similitudes évidentes avec son cousin américain, le MQ-9, il a déjà été utilisé dans les zones de conflits. Les Émirats arabes unis ont notamment acheté plusieurs exemplaires de ces drones à la République populaire. Actuellement, ces appareils sont toujours déployés en Libye, où leur efficacité a été démontrée lorsqu'ils ont abattu plusieurs drones adverses. Les appareils chinois prouvent donc encore leurs capacités sur le terrain et montrent l'avancée technologique de la République populaire dans ce domaine. https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/la-chine-perfectionne-son-premier-drone-militaire-autonome-1382445

Andrew Eversden WASHINGTON — The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency awarded nearly $800 million in contacts to two major defense contractors to improve data storage and network modernization. The DIA, a military intelligence agency, chose Northrop Grumman to deliver its Transforming All-Source Analysis with Location-Based Object Services (TALOS) program, which focuses on building new big data systems. The contract is worth $690 million. A spokesperson for Northrop Grumman declined to provide the performance period. The platform will include the DIA's Machine-Assisted Rapid-Repository System (MARS), according to a Sept. 30 press release from the defense giant. MARS is a massive new DIA database that manages foreign military infrastructure data that is critical for operations planning and targeting. “Transforming current databases housing foundational military intelligence into multi-dimensional, flexible and rigorous data environments, MARS will create a military intelligence environment that will be accessed for up-to-date information by the Intelligence Community and warfighters,” a press release from Northrop Grumman said Sept. 30. Northrop Grumman will serve as the enterprise modular integrator for MARS under the contract and will use artificial intelligence and machine learning “to develop a big data processing system capable of ingesting and managing large volumes of data to inform warfighting decisions," the release said. The contract was awarded Aug. 14 using the General Service Administration's Alliant 2 Government-wide Acquisition Contract. The DIA also awarded a $100 million contract to General Dynamics Information Technology for IT system modernization. Under the contract, GDIT will “provide worldwide engineering support to DIA's core IT infrastructure to include system design, architecture, testing plans, and security accreditation,” according to an Oct. 6 press release. GDIT was awarded an Infrastructure Services Enterprise Engineering task order as part of the DIA's Enhanced Solutions for the Information Technology Enterprise contract. The task order has a base period of one year with four option years with an additional six-month option. “GDIT is excited to continue our 35-year relationship supporting DIA and their complex national security mission. The ISEE award is a true testament to GDIT's ability to develop and deliver enterprise IT Infrastructure solutions at scale,” said Deb Davis, vice president and general manager of mission solutions and service sector for GDIT's Intelligence & Homeland Security Division. “As a mission support leader and trusted partner for DIA's IT backbone, we look forward to supporting the ongoing modernization of the DoDIIS Enterprise.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2020/10/06/dia-awards-nearly-800-million-in-work-to-major-defense-primes/

Robin Hughes AeroVironment Inc. has disclosed development of a new category of medium-sized, man-portable loitering missile system designed to deliver tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) and enhanced precision multi-purpose/anti-armour effects at extended ranges. Developed in close co-operation with “a number of US Department of Defense [DoD] customers”, the Switchblade 600 builds on, and combines with, the in-service, combat-proven Switchblade 300 loitering weapon system and the Blackwing loitering reconnaissance system to form the core of an emerging family of scalable multi-mission loitering missile systems. “Switchblade 600 is a result of working closely with our DoD customers. They wanted the same features of the 300 but with greater effects, greater stand-off range, and extended endurance,” said Todd Hanning, Product Line Manager, Tactical Missile Systems at AeroVironment. Based on the same self-contained, tube-launched, collapsible wing, electric propulsion architecture as the backpackable Switchblade 300, the larger Switchblade 600 weighs 54.5kg (including the all-up round in the tube, and the fire control system – FCS), and is furnished with a 2-axis, 4-sensor gimballed (dual electro-optic and infrared) integrated sensor suite, and a multipurpose/anti-armour warhead, derived from the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missile, equipped with a height of burst sensor. A modular payload bay provides for the future integration of an array of different lethality options, including, potentially, an anti-radiation Switchblade 600 variant. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/aerovironment-unveils-switchblade-600-loitering-missile-system

Gabriel Dominguez The Beijing North Vehicle Group Corporation, a subsidiary of the China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco), has released video footage showing a new lightweight tracked armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) reminiscent of the German Army's Wiesel air-transportable vehicle. In a promotional video released on its WeChat page on 1 October, the company showed the small AFV – the designation of which was not disclosed – being test-driven in September by employees in a plateau area at an undisclosed location. Several other larger AFVs of multiple types were also shown in the video undergoing tests at different locations. The video, which was released to mark the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, shows that the small tracked AFV features four roadwheels per side, a drive sprocket at the front of the hull, a large idler at the rear, and two return rollers supporting the track. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/beijing-north-vehicle-group-corporation-unveils-lightweight-tracked-afv