Nouvelles

The U.S. Army is taking the next year to craft a transformation strategy that builds off a modernization plan the service issued in 2016, according to the service's acquisition executive. The 2016... https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/us-army-starts-work-transformation-strategy

Honeywell Aerospace Phoenix, October 12, 2020 -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) has won a five-year IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity) contract for the repair and overhaul of its T55-GA-714A engines that operate on the U.S. Army's CH-47 Chinook helicopters. This contract award will ensure that the U.S. Army's Chinook fleet has spare engines to sustain its future missions and overall readiness. The engines will be serviced at Honeywell's new maintenance facility at the company's Aerospace global headquarters in Phoenix. “Honeywell remains committed to supporting the T55 engine and the CH-47F Chinook program with improved maintenance practices, expanded repair capacities and engine modernization improvements that will meet the helicopter's needs for years to come,” said Dave Marinick, president, Engines & Power Systems. “Honeywell's unparalleled T55 repair and overhaul facility was designed to provide the highest level of support for the U.S. Army's needs today and in future missions. Every aspect of the layout and design of this new facility was carefully planned to ensure operational efficiency with U.S. Army mission readiness in mind.” Completion of the new facility means repair and overhaul work on the T55-GA-714A engine will now be in the same location as new engine production. This move allows the workforce to share resources between both engine lines, for a potential surge output of 20 engines per month that can be delivered to the U.S. Army, foreign military and commercial customers. “We've made substantial improvements to the shop layout and process flow of the T55-GA-714A maintenance lines,” said Lesley King, senior director, ISC Operations, Honeywell Aerospace. “So we can double our capacity in the shop and take advantage of our engineering resources on-site to ensure we are meeting our delivery commitments to the Army.” As a world leader in heavy lift, the CH-47F Chinook helicopter is used by the U.S. Army to support domestic and foreign operations by hauling troops and cargo all over the world. Since 1961, Honeywell has improved the horsepower of the T55 engine by 133%. Each improvement has decreased the engine's fuel consumption and lowered the maintenance burden to increase aircraft readiness. Honeywell is executing one such engine improvement program for the T55, which will increase shaft horsepower from today's 4,777 to 6,000. This engine enhancement will allow the CH-47F to increase its useful load at higher density altitudes and will further reduce maintenance hours with the introduction of a newly designed compressor and accessory drive gearbox. About Honeywell Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero. Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. https://www.epicos.com/article/635462/honeywell-secures-repair-and-overhaul-contract-us-army-chinook-fleet

Oshkosh Defense Oshkosh, Wis. October 13, 2020 — Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, announced today that the Belgium Ministry of Defence has awarded Oshkosh Defense a contract for 322 Oshkosh Defense Command and Liaison Vehicles (CLV) for the Belgium Defence Forces. The Belgian CLV is the proven Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) platform from Oshkosh equipped with Belgian communication systems. The JLTV is currently used by the U.S. military. “Oshkosh Defense is honored that Belgium has chosen to equip its armed forces with the Oshkosh CLV,” said John Bryant, Executive Vice President, Oshkosh Corporation, and President, Oshkosh Defense. “The Oshkosh CLV offers Belgian soldiers the world's most advanced light military vehicle, delivering next-generation levels of protection, off-road mobility, speed, transportability, and seamless operational and logistical interoperability with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies,” Bryant continued. “The Belgian Defence opted for a worldwide competition in which “money for value” was the only criterion,” said Director Land Systems Colonel Filip De Varé. “The CLV will be integrated in the CaMo program, an international partnership between the French and Belgian land forces.” Traditionally procured via foreign military sales, the Belgian procurement marks Oshkosh Defense's first large direct commercial sale of a JLTV-based vehicle. Belgium joins the United States, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Montenegro in choosing this vehicle. As a globally recognized leader in the design and production of military vehicle systems, Oshkosh Defense has the capacity to support both domestic and international customer demand. About Oshkosh Defense Oshkosh Defense is a global leader in the design, production and sustainment of best-in-class military vehicles and mobility systems. As a pioneer of combat-ready vehicle solutions, Oshkosh develops and applies emerging technologies that advance troop safety and mission success. Setting the industry standard for sustaining fleet readiness, Oshkosh ensures every vehicle is supported worldwide throughout its entire life cycle. Oshkosh Defense, LLC is an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE: OSK]. Learn more about Oshkosh Defense at www.oshkoshdefense.com About Oshkosh Corporation At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, mission-critical equipment to help everyday heroes' advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs more than 15,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common cause: to make a difference in people's lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG®, Pierce®, Oshkosh® Defense, McNeilus®, IMT®, Frontline™, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh® Airport Products, CON-E-CO® and London™. For more information, visit www.oshkoshcorp.com ®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies. https://www.epicos.com/article/636164/belgium-contracts-322-joint-light-tactical-vehicles-jltv-oshkosh-defense

Patria Group October 13, 2020 - The Finnish Defence Forces will improve its night fighting capability by procuring new image intensifiers for soldiers and hand-held multipurpose observation and surveillance systems for mortar units. Antti Kaikkonen, the Minister of Defence of Finland, has authorized the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command to sign a contract with Senop Oy for the procurement of night vision devices. The procurement is based on a Letter of Intent signed on 22 May 2019 and Senop will deliver the systems by the end of 2021. The contract, with a total value of more than 13 million euros, includes a 209 million euro option for the next five years. The option includes image intensifiers, observation and surveillance systems and laser aiming devices. Senop´s new NVG is a small and lightweight night vision device (FDF: Night vision device M20), designed as a soldier's personal night vision device to be used in demanding military environments. NVG utilizes latest aspheric and composite technologies, which enable high performance and low over all system weight. Senop´s laser aiming devices (FDF: Tactical laser aiming device M20 and Soldier´s laser aiming device) are developed to be used as a soldier´s weapon sight and as a target designator for troop leaders. Laser aiming devices are designed for seamless integration with FDF´s existing weapons and are also usable in other weapons / systems. Senop LILLY target acquisition device (FDF: Target acquisition device MPL21) is an extremely light weight device with versatile functions for target acquisition, observation and different types of measuring applications. LILLY is based on high performance thermal imaging, combined with direct view optical channel. This combination enables high performance at all times of day. New image intensifier, laser aiming devices and Senop LILLY sensor have been developed in close cooperation with the Finnish army. “The development work has also required intensive field tests and environmental tests to ensure that the devices are easy to use and stand the strain of hard military operations. I can proudly say that Image intensifier, laser aiming devices and LILLY-sensor have been developed for infantry soldiers with the guidance of real end users”, says Aki Korhonen, Managing Director of Senop. Effective night fighting capability requires overarching capabilities. Senop is developing holistic solutions for networked military environments. Senop has for example delivered Senop VV3X night sights, VVLite night vision devices, and LISA target acquisition systems (FDF: MPL15) for the Finnish Army. All these devices support the capability to fight during the night and in difficult weather conditions. In addition, these systems are networked to modern C2I -systems to support situational awareness. “Our mission is to help customers to build new capabilities by tailoring solutions according to their specific needs and requirements. Our priority customers are armies and soldiers. Our development work with the Finnish Army has shown the agility of our company to support the customers”, Aki Korhonen points out. The development of the Image Intensifier and laser aiming devices was finalised from concept to qualified product within one year. Senop´s Defence&Security portfolio consists of high-performance image intensifiers, night sights, intelligent thermal weapon sights, handheld target acquisition and observation systems, vehicle camera systems, hyperspectral cameras, and multipurpose container-based system platform solutions. https://www.epicos.com/article/635461/senop-supply-night-vision-devices-finnish-defence-forces

- 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

ARMY Longbow Ltd., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $32,154,552 modification (P00001) to contract W58RGZ-20-F-0464 for generic spare parts kits for AH-64E Apache helicopters. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2024. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales (India, Morocco, Netherlands, and United Arab Emirates) funds in the amount of $32,154,552 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Spence Brothers, Saginaw, Michigan, was awarded a $19,304,000 firm-fixed-price contract to modify the Union Street Dam and a bi-directional fish passage. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Traverse City, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 2, 2024. Fiscal 2021 Great Lakes Fishery Commission funds in the amount of $19,304,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911XK-21-C-0001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Altamira Ltd., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a maximum $11,875,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency electronic catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 130 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Pennsylvania, with an Oct. 12, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-21-D-0051). https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2380512/source/GovDelivery/

Burak Ege Bekdil ANKARA, Turkey — The Canadian government's decision to suspend export of key drone parts to Turkey has once again thrown a spotlight on Turkey's ongoing efforts to develop a self-sufficient defense industry. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan often boasts at party rallies that his governance since 2002 has reduced Turkey's dependency on foreign weapons systems from 80 percent to 30 percent. There is truth in that, although the actual percentages remain a mystery, mainly due to the difficulty of defining what is truly a local or national system. Most Turkish “national” systems depend on various degrees of foreign input, often including critical parts only available abroad. The T129, an “indigenous” attack helicopter, is a Turkish variant of the Italian-British AgustaWestland A129 Mangusta chopper. Turkey's local industry has no engine technology. The “national” new generation tank Altay is facing major delays, due to the lack of a foreign engine and transmission system. Turkey's first “indigenous” landing platform dock, the TCG Anadolu, will enter into service next year, but the $1 billion or more ship is being built under license from Spain's Navantia. Even Turkey's biggest success in the past few years, a locally-built drone known as the Bayraktar TB-2, features critical foreign parts — an issue now in the spotlight following Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne's Oct. 5 announcement to suspend export permits of drone technology to Turkey, which is backing Azerbaijan in the recent Azeri-Armenian military conflict. Champagne issued the pause in exports alongside an order for his ministry to investigate claims that Canadian drone technology is being used in the fighting. The decision followed an announcement by disarmament group Project Ploughshares, which warned the multimillion-dollar exports of high-tech sensors and targeting technology produced by L3Harris WESCAM in Burlington, Ont., are in direct contravention of Canada's domestic laws and its international obligations under the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, to which the Trudeau government acceded almost exactly a year ago. L3Harris WESCAM, the Canadian subsidiary of U.S. defense giant L3Harris, is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) imaging and targeting sensor systems — both of which are featured on the Bayraktar drones. “These sensors are integral for their ability to conduct drone warfare, which they've done increasingly... in the past few years across several conflict zones,” Kelsey Gallagher, a Project Ploughshares researcher, told Radio Canada International. “If the exports of these sensors were completely halted, then Turkey would not have the sensors necessary to conduct modern airstrikes.” “This [the suspension of Canadian supplies] may cause disruption in the production line,” said one local aerospace analyst, “unless substituted immediately.” “There may be some other foreign suppliers to be used as a stop-gap solution," the analyst added. "But this is mostly a Western (including Israeli) technology and may not reach Turkish manufacturers due to political reasons.” Turkey's top procurement official, however, has a solution. Ismail Demir, president of the defense procurement agency SSB, twitted Oct. 6, the day after the Canadian decision, that Turkey would soon start to mass produce the CATS electro-optical system, to replace the WESCAM technology used in the TB-2 drone. CATS will be produced by military electronics specialist Aselsan, Turkey's biggest defense company. Demir said that Aselsan has also begun to work on developing a future version of the CATS system. Demir also talked up another new indigenous ambition: Project Özgür, or “free” in Turkish. Özgür is part of a broader upgrade effort designed to extend the life of the Turkish F-16 fleet. “This program aims to completely nationalize electronic systems on our F-16s,” Demir told the HaberTurk newspaper Oct. 6. The full upgrade work will also involve structural and avionic modernization. Turkey views the F-16 upgrades as a stop-gap solution before it builds its own indigenous fighter, the TF-X. But the TF-X effort has moved at a crawl, with no notable progress in the past few years, due mainly to the lack of an engine to power the planned fighter. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/10/13/canadian-block-on-drone-parts-shows-turkeys-defense-industry-still-not-independent/

David B. Larter WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is looking to build a new generation of destroyers from a clean-sheet design, following the model of one of its most successful ship classes, the Arleigh Burke-class DDG, the service's top officer said Tuesday. The idea, colloquially referred to in-house as DDG Next, is to build a new hull smaller than the nearly 16,000-ton Zumwalt-class destroyer but still big enough to accommodate a larger missile magazine, Adm. Michael Gilday told a virtual audience at Defense One's State of the Navy event. “I don't want to build a monstrosity. But I need deeper magazines on ships than I have right now,” the chief of naval operations said. “I'm limited with respect to DDG Flight IIIs in terms of what additional stuff we could put on those ships. ... So the idea is to come up with the next destroyer, and that would be a new hull. The idea would be to put existing technologies on that hull and update and modernize those capabilities over time.” The Navy is supposed to start buying the new ship in 2025, according to the service's 2020 30-year shipbuilding plan, though it's unclear how its forthcoming force structure assessment will affect those plans. In his recent speech on the Defense Department's plan for a 500-plus ship Navy, Defense Secretary Mark Esper made no mention of the future large surface combatant. To avoid another costly failure, such as the canceled next-generation cruiser or severely truncated DDG-1000 program, the service is harkening back to its successful Arleigh Burke program, the mainstay of the Navy's surface combatant program for the past 30 years, Gilday said. Much like on the forthcoming Constellation-class frigates, the service plans to install fielded systems on the new ship and upgrade them over time. “So think DDG-51 (that's exactly what we did): We had a new hull but we put Aegis on it,” Gilday said. “We put known systems that were reliable and were already fielded out in the fleet. That's kind of the idea. I call it DDG Next to kind of right-size it. Smaller than a Zumwalt but packing some heat nonetheless.” The Navy estimates it would need $22 billion annually in constant year 2019 dollars to execute its old shipbuilding plan, though the Congressional Budget Office put the estimate more than 30 percent higher. A major driver in the difference between the CBO and Navy estimate was the cost of a future large surface combatant, according the Congressional Research Service. The emergence of hypersonic missiles has been a driving factor in the Navy's desire to field a new large surface combatant since such weapons wont fit in the current vertical launch system cells on Burke-class destroyers and existing cruisers. They will, however, fit in the Virginia Payload Module being built into the Block V Virginia submarines awarded last year. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/10/13/the-us-navy-is-eyeing-a-next-generation-destroyer-from-a-new-design/

Jen Judson WASHINGTON — General Dynamics Land Systems debuted its new medium-class robotic combat vehicle — Tracked Robot 10-Ton, or TRX — at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual conference, which came together using AI-enhanced design and lightweight materials. TRX is an independent research project that GDLS has been working for over year that builds on the technologies from its successful Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) robotic vehicle program, a GDLS spokesperson told Defense News in an interview ahead of AUSA. GDLS won the SMET competition this year after a recompete followed by a protest. GDLS also won the original contract. The 10-ton vehicle has a light chassis that can carry a lot by using some advanced design technologies that the company has developed with partners as well as some unique manufacturing technologies and advanced materials, according to GDLS. The platform is designed to meet a variety of critical missions such as direct and indirect fires, autonomous resupply, complex obstacle breaching, counter-unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare and reconnaissance. The robot can conduct semi-autonomous operations and is fast enough to keep up with high-speed maneuver formations like the Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the Armored BCT, GDLS said. In GD's virtual exhibit booth at AUSA, the TRX represents an indirect fires configuration that showcases its partnership with drone-maker Aerovironment. The vehicle sports a large payload consisting of a variety of Switchblade loitering munitions. In 2018, GDLS and Aerovironment announced its partnership at AUSA, revealing an armored reconnaissance vehicle for the Marine Corps competition with Switchblade and Shrike 2 unmanned aerial systems incorporated. The goal was to do something similar for the Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV). GD is also providing footage of its combat robot paired with a manned vehicle at the platoon- or company-level at its virtual booth. While the Army did not select GDLS to build medium-class RCV prototypes to be used to determine the feasibility of integrating unmanned vehicles into ground combat operations, the company is prepared for when the Army moves forward with a competition to acquire those types of robots once it has defined requirements through experimentation over the next several years, according to company officials. The Army is planning to make a decision on how to proceed with robots on the battlefield in 2023. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2020/10/13/general-dynamics-rolls-out-new-trx-ground-robot-at-ausa/