Saturday, 2 January 2021

The State Department approved a possible FMS sale to Saudi Arabia of GBU-39 SDB I Munitions and related equipment for $290 million

NickJ 1972


Saudi Arabia - GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) Munition: 

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) Munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $290 million.  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy three thousand (3,000) GBU-39 SDB I munitions.  Also included are containers; weapon support and support equipment; spare and repair parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.  The total estimated program cost will be $290 million.

This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic growth in the Middle East.

  The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its stocks of long-range, precision air-to-ground munitions.  The size and accuracy of the SDB I allows for an effective munition with less collateral damage.  The potential sale will further strengthen the interoperability between the United States and Saudi Arabia.  Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be Boeing, St. Louis, MO.  There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale; however the purchaser typically requests offsets.  Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law.  The description and dollar value is for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements.  Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)


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Su 57 carrier-based aircraft is about to appear, the platform versatility surpasses Su-27, its own aircraft carrier may be delayed

Przemysław Burdziński



2020-12-20 

Recently, according to Russian media reports, relevant sources from the Russian Ministry of Defense revealed that the carrier-based version of the Su 57 fighter jet is being developed as planned, and its prototype will make its first flight soon. As Russia’s only aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" encountered various accidents during the major revision and construction, which caused the entire progress to be delayed, the Su 57 carrier version is likely to appear before the completion of the aircraft carrier.


According to Russian experts, the platform versatility of the Su 57 fighter jet will surpass that of the Su 27. There will be many derivative models in the future, which will eventually become serialized and familyized. It is guessed that there will be fighter bombers, electronic warfare aircraft, aerobatic aircraft and even non-existent aircraft. A variety of models such as human-machine and sixth-generation aircraft verification aircraft, and carrier-based aircraft must also be covered. Nowadays, the Su 33 carrier-based aircraft has been suspended for many years, and the number was originally small. With the losses caused by various accidents, there is not much left, and it has lost the value of upgrading; another carrier-based aircraft MiG 29K, combat The efficiency is limited. Even if the MiG-35 is on the ship in the future, as a medium-sized aircraft, it will not be able to complete the air command well. Therefore, if Russia wants to use an aircraft carrier, it is necessary to develop a new carrier-based aircraft. Improving on the platform should be the most time-saving choice at the moment. Earlier, Russia publicly displayed the 100,000-ton "Storm"-class aircraft carrier model, and the carrier-based aircraft on it was Su 57, which also proved that the Su 57 carrier-based aircraft was within the plan.


However, even if the development of the Su-57 carrier aircraft goes smoothly, it has to face a problem: the Russian Navy may not be able to carry out carrier takeoff and landing tests. Russia’s only aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is still under construction. It has previously encountered accidents such as the collapse of a crane, a short circuit and a fire, which had a major impact on its transformation and upgrading. The Russian side assessed that The "Znetsov" aircraft carrier will not be able to complete all the transformation and testing work until at least 2022, and the Su 57 carrier version is likely to appear before then, so that the prototype can only complete the land-based simulation of aircraft carrier takeoff and landing. Had to wait for the return of the aircraft carrier.


However, some analysts believe that if the "Admiral Kuznetsov" really fails to catch up by then, Russia may put the test of the Su 57 carrier version on the Indian "Vikramatia" aircraft carrier. The above is completed, considering that Russia and India have been relatively close in military cooperation, and the "Vikramatia" is also of Soviet Russian origin, this possibility also exists, and it can also play a role in propaganda during the test. , "Advertising" the Su 57 carrier-based aircraft to win orders from the Indian Navy.


Sukhoi Su-57: Details
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Lockheed Martin misses F-35 jet delivery target due to COVID-19

Frank Crebas 2018 Bluelifeaviation.com


Lockheed Martin misses F-35 jet delivery target due to COVID-19 | Reuters

By Reuters Staff

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Richard Rusnok flies a Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike fighter jet during Exercise Valiant Shield 18 at Iwo To, Japan, September 18, 2018. Seth Rosenberg/U.S. Marine Corps/Handout via REUTERS

(Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp said on Monday it had missed its target to deliver 141 F-35 fighter jets to the United States and its allies in 2020, as it built 8% fewer jets after the coronavirus pandemic hampered its supply chain and factories.

The defense contractor delivered 123 aircraft in 2020, underperforming its target established in late 2019.

The company in May revised down the target to 117-123 aircraft due to parts shortage.

Reporting by Shreyasee Raj; Editing by Maju Samuel



F-35 Lightning II: Details
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Ukraine signs memorandum for Antonov An-178 transport aircraft

NTG842 @flickr


Ukraine signs memorandum for Antonov An-178 transport aircraft

30 December 2020 (Last Updated December 30th, 2020 06:46)

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has signed a memorandum with Antonov State Enterprise to procure An-178 medium transport aircraft to meet the requirements of the armed forces.

Antonov An-178. Credit: Vasiliy Koba.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has signed a memorandum with Antonov State Enterprise to procure An-178 medium transport aircraft to meet the requirements of the armed forces.

The initial order comprises three aircraft, which will be delivered to the army. The order also represents Ukraine’s first such procurement since the country gained independence in 1991.

The An-178 medium transport aircraft will be used to transport personnel, weapons and light military equipment.

Additionally, the aircraft can be used for delivering material assets as well as in emergency situations such as evacuating civilians from disaster areas and airdropping of paratroop rescue teams.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “These new aircraft will be built by Ukrainian citizens, from Ukrainian components, for Ukrainian interests.”

He further added: “It strengthens Ukraine’s defence capabilities and helps attract Ukrainian and foreign investments.”

According to Antonov website, the An-178 medium transport aircraft has a range of around 3,680km with 10 tonnes of cargo. The maximum payload of the aircraft is 18 tonnes.

Equipped with D-436-148FM jet engines, the AN-178 was designed based on earlier versions and its airframe and on-board equipment are 50-60% unified with the AN-148 and AN-158 aircraft.

It features a cargo door and a ramp in the tail section used for on-boarding and de-boarding personnel, weaponry and light military vehicles.

The AN-178 airplane can operate on unpaved runways and those with artificial pavement.

Earlier this year, Ukraine hosted the Exercise Rapid Trident 20, a multinational training exercise.

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Wednesday, 30 December 2020

Russia's Sukhoi Su-57 Stealth Fighter: A Threat by 2028?

Anatoly Burtsev


Russia's Sukhoi Su-57 Stealth Fighter: A Threat by 2028? - 19FortyFive

By Peter Suciu

Russia's Su-57 Stealth Fighter. Image: Creative Commons.

The Russian Aerospace Force will be getting some fresh aircraft in the coming years. A total of seventy-six Su-57 fighters will be supplied by 2028, with twenty-two of the aircraft arriving by late 2024. The Russian Armed Forces will also receive ninety-four aircraft and helicopters before 2025 and ahead of schedule.

“With regard to aircraft, the early deliveries of 94 planes and helicopters are envisaged by the end of 2024, including 22 Su-57 fighters, whose number will grow to 76 by 2028,” said Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the ministry’s enlarged board meeting on Monday, according to a report from Tass.

Shoigu’s statement follows the head of the state tech corporation Rostec Sergei Chemezov announcement earlier this month that the first serial-produced Su-57 fighter with the first-stage engine would be delivered to Russia’s Aerospace Force by late 2020. Additionally, Chemezov added that the first Su-57s with the advanced second-stage engine would be assembled in 2022.

“In the near future, literally before the end of the year, we should deliver a serial-produced aircraft with the first-stage engine,” Chemezov told reporters on Dec. 7. “It complies with all of the characteristics required of the fifth-generation aircraft.”

The Rostec chief executive also stated that ten aircraft from the trial batch had functioned successfully, and as a result, the delivery of the seventy-six Su-57 stealth fighter aircraft was well underway.

Su-57 in 2011

Russia’s Fifth Generation Fighter

The Sukhoi Su-57 is Russia’s fifth-generation multirole fighter, and it was developed for air superiority and attack operations and can take on all types of air, ground, and naval targets. The single-seat, twin-engine fighter jet is also the first Russian aircraft to feature stealth technology, including the broad use of composite materials and aerodynamic configuration, which ensures a low level of radar and infrared signature. The Su-57 is also capable of developing supersonic cruising speed.

The fighter is furnished with the most advanced on board radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer, which has been described as an “electronic second pilot,” the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.

The Su-57 stealth fighter took to the skies for the first time on January 29, 2010.

The fifth-generation aircraft has two large internal weapons bays arranged in tandem, which run nearly the entire useable length of the aircraft. Each of the bays can carry up to four K-77M beyond visual range radar-guided missiles. Compared to earlier versions of the K-77 (NATO nickname: AA-12 Archer) the K-77M missile has a larger body and active electronically-scanned array radar seeker, allowing it to engage highly agile targets at ranges of up to 100 miles. The aircraft also stores a pair of K-74M2 short-range infrared-guided missiles in underwing fairings.

While Russia has reportedly tested the aircraft in combat conditions in Syria, it remains unclear exactly how the Su-57 was employed.

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He regularly writes about military small arms, and is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.

Original post 19FortyFive



Sukhoi Su-57: Details
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Meet Egypt’s FREMM Bergamini

Tomasello Letterio


Meet Egypt’s FREMM Bergamini – Defense Arabia

MOHAMED AL-KENANY
December 1, 2020 


FREMM is originally a joint French-Italian project between Naval Group and Fincantieri to build a heavy multi-mission frigate, which is why it was called “FREMM”, short for “European multi-mission frigate” in French “Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission” and in Italian “Fregata Europea Multi-Missione”. This is a glimpse into the FREMM Bergamini Egypt has ordered recently.

The French class of this frigate is called Aquitaine, it has two variants; the FR‑ASW anti-submarine variant and the FR-AAW air defence variant. Egypt owns 1 FR‑ASW anti-submarine, and Morocco has 1 of the same variant.

The French class has a displacement of 6000 tons, a length of 142 meters, a draught of 7.6 meters, a maximum speed of 50 km / h, and a maximum range of 11,000 km, and can accommodate up to 145 individuals.

The Italian class is called Bergamini and has two variants; an IT-ASW anti-submarine variant, and an IT-GP general-purpose variant with enhanced capacity in air defence and surface warfare.

The Italian class has a displacement of 6,700 tons, a length of 144.6 meters, a draught of 8.7 meters, a top speed of 56 km / h, a maximum range of 12.6 thousand km, and a capacity of up to 200 people.

Egypt will obtain 2 of the general-purpose variant and plans to obtain 4 others later, the specifications of which have not been revealed yet.

The US Navy chose the Italian design for its future FFG(X) programme to build twenty FFG(X) guided-missile frigates.

The most significant features of the general-purpose variant that the Egyptian Navy will obtain:
  • The “KRONOS Grand Naval” radar, a multifunctional radar based on advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, used as main radar for the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS). KRONOS Grand Naval applications include extended self-defence, air, and surface surveillance and simultaneous multiple targets tracking, volumetric search, and multiple missiles guidance. It enjoys a range of 300 km and the ability to track 300 targets simultaneously with the ability to direct long-range air defence missiles Aster-30. It can do multiple trackings in favor of 16 Aster missiles against heavy missile attacks. It is the most powerful radar that the FREMM has, more powerful than the radar of the French class.
  • This radar provides tremendous early warning capability and situational awareness to lead and direct various air and sea operations and provides enhanced cover and support for naval and aviation crossings in the absence of early warning and airborne control aircraft.
  • The highly developed Athena Combat Management System, which integrates all tasks required for survey and monitoring, tactical battle image management, navigation support, risk assessment and weapons missions, weapons systems management, mission planning, multiple tactical data links, and training. This is done through its control over all radars, electro-optical / thermal sensors, sonar, armament, and combat systems, to manage operations, command and control work, and coordinate with the rest of the navy and all friendly combat platforms.
  • A superior air defence capability granted by 16 Vertical Launch System VLS cells that are equipped with the following missiles:
  1. Aster-15 medium-range missiles with a range of 30 km to counter all air threats, including air missiles and cruise missiles, or those with supersonic velocities (the Egyptian frame is equipped with them).
  2. Aster-30 long-range missiles with a range of +120 km, which can counter all air threats and intercept ballistic missiles fired from a distance of 1500 km.
  • The frigate also has a 76 mm rear gun, which is part of the STRALES / DART system, which consists of a cannon and a monitoring and tracking system in addition to DART radio wave guided missiles that address air threats such as anti-ship missiles as well as marine threats such as fast floats, and the range of these missiles is +8 km and has an initial speed at the launch of 3960 km / h.
  • Enhanced ability to fight against surface ships is granted by the 127 mm OTO 127/64 front main gun with a rate of 32 shells/minute. Its range of fire reaches +30 km. The range can be increased by using “Vulcano” ammunition with their unguided versions that have a range of up to 60 km and direction with a range of 80 km and +100 km.
The main surface-to-surface missions are armed with 8 Otomat MK2 Block IV mobile anti-ship surface-to-surface missiles with the ability to hit land targets near the coast, with a range of 200 km, and possesses an inertial navigation system, a satellite, and an active radar. There’s also the data link to adjust and control the trajectory. The Otomat is best known for combining the advantages of the great range of accuracy and the sea-skimming flight (estimated at 1-2 meters above sea level) for the French Exocet missile and the heavy warhead as in the American Harpoon 210 kJ versus 221 kJ for the Harpoon and 165 kJ for Exocet) in addition to that it has the highest subsonic speed among all anti-ship cruise missiles of the same class (1100 km / h). The frigate also has two 25mm remote-controlled cannons to counter fast approaching threats.
  • The two frigates that the Egyptian Navy will acquire, which were assigned to the Italian Navy (numbers 9, and 10 in the Italian Frim frigates fleet; the Italian Navy currently has 8 frigates) are distinguished by having an improved system for launching deceptive decoys that deceive anti-ship missiles. The launcher, which has 20 decoys instead of 15, is used not only against missiles but also against torpedoes fired from submarines to provide integrated protection against all threats from the air, the surface, and the depths.
  • These two frigates also have a new Damage Control System and a new radar with a technology that reduces the chances of exposure to detection. Model SPS-732 instead of the previous radar RAN30X / I RASS, which is effective in air and maritime monitoring tasks, especially small-sized targets, which gives it the ability to monitor Missiles flying in a path almost close to the sea surface Finally, a new array of IFF Sensors is more effective than its predecessor.
  • Although the general-purpose variant is not specialised in fighting submarines, as it does not have a Towed Variable Depth Sonar VDS, it does have a front low-frequency sonar under the front, a Thales UMS 4110 CL that provides long-range detection ability of the surrounding field, as well as dealing with submarines, and directing 324 mm MU90 torpedoes fired from two triple launchers on both sides of the frigate. There is also a sonar dedicated to monitoring marine mines.
FREMM Bergamini

It is considered to be the best and most capable of providing the main air defense and protection missions for the Mistral carriers, together with future MEKO frigates and Gowind corvettes.

FREMM Bergamini is a command and control center, with early warning and naval control capable of directing all operations and linking with various air, sea, and land platforms. It provides enhanced capability in combat missions against surface ships.

The FREMM Bergamini with enhanced air defense capabilities and the French Frem Aquitaine (ENS Tahya Misr) and the Gowind corvettes with enhanced anti-submarine capabilities and future MEKO frigates, all represent a striking surface force that only NATO navies have, and if combined with Air Force aviation, especially the Rafale and Falcon (and in the future Typhoon if a contract is signed), then we are talking about an unparalleled air-to-sea attack and deterrence force in the eastern Mediterranean, which is also available only to NATO armies.

Translated from Arabic to English by the «New Defence Order. Strategy» journal 

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Tuesday, 29 December 2020

Australia announces F-35A Lightning II Initial Operational Capability

Richard E


Australia announces F-35A Lightning II Initial Operational Capability

28 December 2020 (Last Updated December 28th, 2020 11:19)

The Government of Australia has announced that the F-35A Lightning II fleet has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC).

A US Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. Credit: USAF / Master Sgt Donald R Allen.


The Government of Australia has announced that the F-35A Lightning II fleet has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC).

The IOC will enable the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to deploy the fifth-generation aircraft fleet for various operations.

The F-35A Lightning II aircraft is an advanced multi-role, supersonic and stealth fighter, the induction of which will help Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in meeting its requirements to combat current and emerging threats.

Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said: “The fifth-generation F-35A, along with the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, is key to our air combat capability and critical to achieving the objectives set out in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update to Shape, Deter and Respond.

“For the last two years, Defence has rigorously tested the F-35A fleet to assess aircraft and system performance, and declare this important milestone.

“I would like to thank everyone that has worked so hard to get us to this point; to have accomplished all the required testing and materiel delivery is remarkable.

“The Australian Defence Force now has an F-35A squadron ready to conduct technologically advanced strike and air combat roles, and another squadron dedicated to providing world-class training here in Australia.”

Australia will have three F-35A aircraft squadrons with 72 units at the RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal. It will also have a training squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said: “Australia will continue to work with the United States F-35 Joint Program Office and our industry partners as more aircraft are delivered through to 2023, and a mature capability is achieved.”


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