US Armed Forces

[Khafee]

AM General plans to unveil its latest self-propelled howitzer during AUSA 2019
October 9, 2019

Famed U.S. military vehicle maker AM General is to demonstrate its latest 155-mmm self-propelled howitzer, called the Brutus, at the AUSA 2019, one of the largest land warfare expositions and professional development forums in the world.

At the show, AM General will introduce the experimental Brutus 155mm self-propelled gun that was developed by a collaboration with The Mandus Group.

The Brutus is a 155mm truck-mounted howitzer for increased mobility and enhanced firing capabilities. Brutus mounts the same cannon as the M777 to a hydro-pneumatic, soft Recoil system for mounting on FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles truck).

Howitzer is capable of using a wide range of ammunition for deployment against protected and unprotected targets, to create counter-mobility obstacles to block the maneuvers of enemy armoured forces and to obscure or illuminate an area.

It is expected that new mobile truck-mounted 155mm howitzer could replace the M119 and M777 towed howitzers currently at service of the U.S. Army and Marines.

 

[Khafee]

Leonardo DRS to debut new short-range air defense system next week
October 9, 2019

The modern battlefield has become a complex theater of threats, from powerful anti-armor and anti-aircraft missiles to small but lethal unmanned aircraft that can quietly locate troops or swarm targets, to a variety of low-flying and heavily armed aircraft. Leonardo DRS offers modern short-range air defense solution for the U.S. Army and developed the new air defense system.

U.S. defense contractor Leonardo DRS will take the opportunity at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA’s) annual conference to unveil the first prototype of the Initial-Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense vehicle (IM-SHORAD). Leonardo DRS will display air and missile defense Stryker variant with the IM-SHORAD mission equipment package.

IM-SHORAD is designed to provide 360-degree air defense protection of the Stryker and Armor Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) throughout the range of military operations. Air and missile defense is one of Army modernization priorities. The new mobile air defense systems need to provide a capability to fill the lack of air defense in current maneuver formations against air threats encountered to include: rotary wing, fixed-wing, and Unmanned Aerial Systems.

IM-SHORAD, mounted on a Stryker, applies an open mission command architecture approach integrating the Sentinel Radar, Forward Area Air Defense – Command and Control, a Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher, M299 Launcher, and Line of Sight radios on a vehicle platform. The system can interoperate with the fielded Air Defense Interrogator and Blue Force Tracker systems.

The recently signed requirements document for Maneuver SHORAD calls for a vehicle such as a Stryker A-1 variant with a 50-caliber automatic weapon or 30mm cannon on top, along with a pod of missiles, and eventually a 50kw laser.

The company’s website said that with Leonardo DRS’ mission equipment package, as part of the IM-SHORAD capability, Warfighters possess the ability to maneuver at the tactical level with a complete detect, identify, track and defeat capability which defeats UAS, rotary-wing and fixed-wing threats. By employing precision ground-to-ground and ground-to-air lethality, the Warfighter truly owns the edge.

In a recent notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website, the service asked industry proposals in regards to an ability to deliver 144 IM-SHORAD systems with deliveries beginning in the fiscal year 2020 and final deliveries in 2024.

 

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BAE Systems awarded $148M for M88A2 HERCULES armored recovery vehicles
October 10, 2019

BAE Systems, Britain’s biggest defense company, said on Wednesday that it received $148.3 million U.S. Army’s contract to upgrade 43 M88A1 heavy-lift vehicles for an added capability to evacuate damaged or stranded combat vehicles from the battlefield.

This continues the upgrade of the M88A1 to the M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift System (HERCULES) configuration to increase power, maneuverability and survivability to reach the Army’s acquisition objective of 933 M88A2 vehicles.

“The HERCULES is an invaluable vehicle for the Army’s recovery missions,” said Dennis Hancock, director of Recovery Programs at BAE Systems. “We are proud to support the Army’s recovery needs and we will continue to work alongside the Army to provide upgraded solutions as their missions and requirements change.”

The more capable M88A2 tows, hoists, and winches 70-ton tracked vehicles used by the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). The M88A2 increases horsepower and upgraded armor protection including armored track skirts and applique armor panels. The M88A2 can maneuver more quickly and get a 70 ton stranded vehicle – and its crew – to safety. The execution of this contract will increase the total procured quantity of the M88A2 capability to 914.

Work on the program will be performed at the BAE Systems’ facilities in York, Pennsylvania; Aiken, South Carolina; Anniston, Alabama and Sterling Heights, Michigan. Deliveries are to begin in February of 2021.

 

[Khafee]

U.S. Marine Corps selects Northrop Grumman to develop next gen handheld targeting system prototype
October 10, 2019

The U.S. Marine Corps selected Northrop Grumman on to develop a prototype of Next Generation Handheld Targeting Systems (NGHTS).
The Next Generation Handheld Targeting System, or NGHTS, is a single, lightweight, man-portable system that enables Marines to quickly acquire targets; perform guidance of against targets; and generate target location data during combat operations.
These handheld systems will enable forward observers to quickly and efficiently acquire and designate targets with a high level of precision.

“Our latest solution, based on our decades of experience in delivering handheld targeting systems, will provide the mobility and precision that forward observers need,” said Bob Gough, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman. “Combined with network connectivity, these capabilities will enable more informed and rapid targeting decisions.”

The systems developed under the second phase of the NGHTS program are designed to replace three legacy systems, incorporating their separate target location, laser spot imaging and laser target designation capabilities into a single, lightweight system.

Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 20,000 man-portable target location and designation systems to the Department of Defense.
Currently, the Marine Corps uses four legacy systems: the Portable Lightweight Designator Rangefinder, Joint Terminal Attack Controller, Laser Target Designator and Thermal Laser Spot Imager. The intent is for NGHTS to replace all four systems.

 

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General Dynamics to unveil next-generation Stryker fighting vehicle at AUSA 2019
October 11, 2019

Photo courtesy of General Dynamics


U.S. aerospace and defense company General Dynamics is expected to unveil an advanced variant of Stryker fighting vehicle at the upcoming Association of the United States Army (AUSA) convention in Washington.

General Dynamics will unveil Stryker A1 Medium Caliber Weapon System, the next-generation of the Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle Dragoon (ICVD), which is currently in the theater with the Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Europe.

Featuring a lethal 30mm cannon mounted on a combat-proven Double-V Hull chassis, the Stryker A1 Medium Caliber Weapons Systems was successfully live fired in August 2019. It provides a solution for the Army’s operational need for greater lethality in the Stryker fleet. This low-risk, proven solution is ready to meet the Army’s program timelines.

An advanced variant of Stryker has a remotely-operated weapon system, unmanned turret, a new, fully-integrated commander’s station; and upgraded driveline component and hull modifications, according to information from Program Executive Office-Ground Combat Systems. It was created to fill a capability gap in the European theater that puts Soldiers at unacceptable risk.

This variant increases lethality and provides 2CR the additional assets needed to defend the NATO Alliance against any adversaries if called to do so.

The Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled[ armored fighting vehicles produced by General Dynamics Land Systems for the United States Army.
The vehicle is named for two unrelated U.S. soldiers who posthumously received the Medal of Honor: Private First Class Stuart S. Stryker, who died in World War II, and Specialist Four Robert F. Stryker, who died in the Vietnam War.

 

[Khafee]

BAE Systems to release new details about U.S. Army’s AMPV medical vehicles
October 11, 2019

Photo courtesy of BAE Systems

BAE Systems will reveal new details about its newest two medical variants of the recently developed Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) during the 2019 Association of the United States Army annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Oct. 13-16.

The AMPV would replace 5 variants of the iconic M113 Armored Personnel Carrier family of vehicles: a general-purpose vehicle, mission command vehicle, mortar carrier, and medical evacuation and treatment vehicles. The new vehicles have nearly 80% more interior volume than their predecessor, and significantly more power and survivability.

For the medical variants, these new improvements mean they will arrive in the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) highly capable from a design and technological standpoint to help save Soldiers’ lives.

“The ability of the AMPV to get to the front lines with other combat vehicles means the medical variants will give commanders more options on the battlefield to rescue soldiers who are hurt while remaining engaged in the fight,” said Bill Sheehy, BAE Systems’ AMPV program manager and a 29-year Army veteran who served in the First Gulf War. “From a soldier’s perspective, the Army’s investment in the medical vehicles underscores our country’s commitment to ensure soldiers are protected and have the resources to quickly treat and evacuate those injured in battle.”

BAE Systems has developed the Medical Evacuation variant (MEV) and Medical Treatment variant (MTV) for the U.S. Army.

The Medical Evacuation variant (MEV) provides immediate treatment or evacuation at the point of injury to either ambulatory or litter casualties. Ambulatory patients are able to walk into the vehicle on their own and sit upright while getting treatment, and carry on the fight if necessary. The more serious litter patients need to lie down inside the vehicle to get treatment. The MEV vehicle can accommodate up to six ambulatory patients or four litter cases, or 3 ambulatory and 2 litter and can be reconfigured on the spot. It employs equipment common to civilian ambulances.

The Medical Treatment variant (MTV) works in tandem with the MEV to receive and evacuate casualties while providing life-sustaining care to soldiers suffering from life-threatening injuries. It carries equipment to sustain life for days while awaiting further evacuation from forward operations. Equipment such as the erectable treatment shelter, medication, vital signs monitor, defibrillator, and refrigerator for storing blood, convert the MTV into a medical station on the front lines, known as a Forward Aid Station.

Both variants have full climate control to help quickly stabilize patient body temperature in varying warfare environments – hot or cold.

The AMPVs are being built with stronger armor and greater mobility than the vehicles they’re replacing. The higher levels of survivability accomplish two key objectives.

First, the improved survivability means they can go as needed to the front lines with the rest of the ABCT, whereas legacy medical vehicles could not. By being closer to the battle, they can more rapidly respond to treating the injured and evacuate them from the battlefield and into the hospital.

Second, their increased strength and maneuverability makes them less reliant on other fighting vehicles for protection, allowing them to more independently carry out their mission. This unique capability of evacuating casualties under armor eliminates the need to pull another armored combat vehicle from the front lines.

“The AMPV medical vehicles are the first that can get right up on the front lines to evacuate soldiers, treat them and get them to safety,” said Ruben Burgos, BAE Systems’ program manager for the AMPV. “They have the mobility and the armor to do that.”

The AMPV’s interior is much larger than its predecessor, offering more space and payload capacity. Medics will have more room to maneuver inside the vehicles while treating their patients, and can carry more equipment operated on electrical power.

BAE Systems, the Army’s Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), and battle-experienced Army medics conducted field exercises to support the internal design. BAE Systems and TACOM employees were used to simulate soldiers wounded in battle being loaded into the vehicles for treatment. The information provided by medics who have been deployed in the fight has been critical to maximize the effectiveness of the medical variants.

“They have been out in the battle and are coming to us with invaluable experience and knowledge to help us understand what is important in the positioning of the equipment inside the medical variants,” Burgos said. “All of this is going to contribute to saving lives.”

 

[Khafee]

U.S. Air Force’s stealthy unmanned combat aircraft damaged during test flight
October 11, 2019

The XQ-58A Valkyrie completed the third flight of the Low Cost Attritable Strike Demonstration program Oct. 9 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hoskins.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that the newest XQ-58A Valkyrie stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle has successfully completed a third test flight but later the U.S. Air Force reported that XQ-58A Valkyrie has been damaged during its landing.

“The XQ-58A Valkyrie completed the third flight of the Low Cost Attritable Strike Demonstration program Oct. 9 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Unfortunately, high surface winds and a malfunction of the vehicle’s provisional flight test recovery system resulted in a mishap after landing which damaged the aircraft,” according to a recent service news release.

During the 90 minute flight, the XQ-58A executed a perfect launch and met 56 of 56 baseline test points, plus two additional test points with excess fuel remaining after completion of the mission. After successful completion of the flight, the recovery parachute system worked flawlessly, and the aircraft descended nominally under the canopy system.

In final descent, the prototype cushion system, which was employed for the initial test series but is not intended for ultimate operational use, suffered an anomaly resulting in the aircraft sustaining damage upon touchdown.

“We continue to learn about this aircraft and the potential the technology can offer to the warfighter. This third flight successfully completed its objectives and expanded the envelope from the first two flights. We have gathered a great deal of valuable data from the flight and will even learn from this mishap. Ultimately, that is the objective of any experiment and we’re pleased with the progress of the Low Cost Attritable Strike Demonstration program,” said Maj. Gen. William Cooley, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

The XQ-58A Valkyrie, like all Kratos’ heritage drones and Kratos’ high-performance jet target drones, are designed to be quickly repaired and reused if the damage is sustained after performing operational missions. The Valkyrie has been recovered, and the damage has been initially evaluated and determined to be fully repairable.

The scheduled fourth flight of the Valkyrie will be delayed until the conclusion of a safety investigation. There was no other damage to property or personnel.

 

[Khafee]

U.S. Air Force showcases its new Combat Rescue Helicopter
October 12, 2019

Photo courtesy of Sikorsky

The U.S. Air Force publicly unveiled its next-generation HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) during a ceremony at its Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The new helicopter is manufactured by Sikorsky, a unit of Lockheed Martin, and is designed to replace Air Force’s aging fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawks.

During the event, United States Air Force General James M. Holmes, Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia (91) described the HH-60W helicopter as critical took for the warfighter.

“I want to say thanks to everyone from Sikorsky for your dedication to your craft, for consistently living up to your mission statement of pioneering flight solutions that bring people home everywhere every time. And that partnership is incredibly valuable to us and the guys on the ground,” Gen. Holmes said. “We’re proud to work with you to deliver the most intuitive, precise, technologically advanced systems to our airmen.”

Other dignitaries attending the event included Dr. Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) from Florida’s 18th District.

The U.S. Air Force program of record calls for 113 helicopters to replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services.

“The Combat Rescue Helicopter is the new era in Air Force aviation and a pivotal milestone that ties to our company’s legacy of bringing people home,” said Sikorsky President Dan Schultz. “Sikorsky employees and our nationwide supply chain are ready to begin producing, delivering and supporting this all-new aircraft for the warfighter.”

The HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter is significantly more capable and reliable than its predecessor, the HH-60G.The aircraft hosts a new fuel system that nearly doubles the capacity of the internal tank on a UH-60M BLACK HAWK®, giving the Air Force crew extended range and more capability to rescue those injured in the battle space. The HH-60W specification drives more capable defensive systems, vulnerability reduction, hover performance, electrical capacity, avionics, cooling, weapons, cyber-security, environmental and net-centric requirements than currently held by the HH-60G.

“We send in brave men and women who are going to find a way to get the job done,” Dr. Roper said. “But they’ll tell you about flying in and not being certain that they could land safely or putting the broad side of their vehicle between a downed pilot and gunfire. When you hear those stories, you realize that we put heroes on these vehicles. We pick up heroes in these vehicles and they deserve every technology advantage we can give them.”

 

[Khafee]

General Dynamics to showcase light active protection system at AUSA 2019
October 12, 2019

Photo courtesy of General Dynamics

General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company will showcase the Iron Fist Light active protection system (APS) at the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Oct. 14-16, 2019.

The Iron Fist Light is an active protection system that uses independent optical sensors, tracking radar, launchers and countermeasure munitions to defeat threats at a safe distance from the defended combat vehicles. APS technology enhances force protection and survivability, especially when combined with a passive armor protection system.

The low size and weight, ease of integration, and versatile high-performance positions Iron Fist Light as an ideal candidate for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Iron Fist Light uses independent optical sensors, tracking radar, launchers and countermeasure munitions to defeat threats at a safe distance from the defended combat vehicles. The system provides 360-degree protection coverage for close-range scenarios in both open terrain and urban environments.

Designed to protect soldiers and vehicles from anti-armor threats, the Iron Fist rapidly and reliably detects, tracks and neutralizes anti-tank rockets (i.e. RPG), anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), kinetic energy and high explosive anti-tank(HEAT) rounds with two layers of active protection.

For optimal reliability, the system utilizes two independent sensing techniques: radio frequency (RF) and passive infra-red (IR). Upon a threat warning, a long-range soft kill electrooptical jammer engages the threat’s tracking and sensing behavior. If needed, a close-range hard kill interceptor physically destroys or deflects the threat a safe distance from the defended platform. The blast interceptor effectively destroys or deflects an incoming threat with minimal fragmentation, minimizing collateral damage or injury to nearby personnel.

 

[Khafee]

General Dynamics to unveil extended range projectile that uses rocket technology
October 12, 2019

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, will unveil extended range projectile that uses rocket technology at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) convention in Washington.

AUSA is one of the largest land warfare forums in the world with over 37,000 attendees from government and industry. Three General Dynamics Business Units will be at the AUSA 2019 Annual Meeting & Exposition to showcase innovation that enables Multi-Domain Operations for the U.S. Army, including the newest XM1113 Insensitive Munition High Explosive Rocket Assisted Projectile, or XM1113 RAP.

The XM1113 RAP is an extended range projectile that uses rocket technology to deliver greater thrust to a round, enabling current U.S. field artillery 155mm systems the ability to fire to a range of 40km, a 30% increase from M549A1 projectiles. This capability enhances performance and increases safety for the artillery warfighter. This round is one of the most critical components of the U.S. Army’s Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) strategy and Extended Range Cannon Artillery program.

The traditional high explosive, TNT, inside typical artillery rounds has also been replaced by Insensitive Munition Explosive, which is less volatile and reactive to outside stimuli, such as rocket propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices and extreme high temperatures. For instance, if a rocket grenade hits a convoy transporting the rounds, the rounds are less likely to detonate and explode.

As a replacement for the M549A1 rocket-assisted projectile round in inventory today, the new projectile can be fuzed with a Precision Guidance Kit for improved accuracy. The XM1113 will provide a range increase in this class of projectiles with legacy artillery systems and offer an even greater capability with the M777ER armament.

 

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Lockheed Martin begins construction of new Littoral Combat Ship for U.S. Navy

A welder authenticates the keel of LCS 27, the future USS Nantucket, by welding the initials of ship sponsor Polly Spencer.

Pentagon’s No.1 weapons supplier Lockheed Martin Corp has announced that it and Fincantieri Marinette Marine marked the beginning of construction on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 27, the future USS Nantucket, with a ceremony in Marinette.

As part of a ship-building tradition dating back centuries, a shipyard worker welded the initials ofPolly Spencer, USS Nantucket ship sponsor and wife of U.S. Secretary of the NavyRichard Spencer, into the ship’s keel plate. This plate will be affixed to the ship and travel with Nantucket throughout its commissioned life.
“The USS Nantucket will confront many complex challenges,” said Richard V. Spencer, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. “It will confront humanitarian relief all the way to great power competition, drawing on the strength of every weld, every rivet applied by the great people here.”

“LCS’ built-in flexibility makes it unlike any other Navy ship in the water today,” said Joe DePietro, vice president and general manager of Small Combatants and Ship Systems. “LCS can serve a multitude of missions to include surface, anti-submarine and mine countermeasure missions by quickly integrating mission equipment and deploying manned and unmanned aerial, surface or sub-surface vehicles.”

LCS 27 is the first Navy ship to be named after Nantucket, Massachusetts in more than 150 years. Nantucket has a deep connection to sailing and maritime traditions, serving as a whaling hub in the 1800s and as the home of generations of American sailors since the town’s beginning. The previous USS Nantucket, the first to be named after the island, was commissioned in 1862 to serve during the American Civil War.
“I have been given a very special honor in being the sponsor of the future USS Nantucket. I am happy she is being built here in Marinette, Wisconsin, which has an impressive history of shipbuilding,” said Polly Spencer, LCS 27 sponsor. “Thank you to all the talented people who are bringing this ship to life… it is going to be an amazing journey that I am thrilled to be on.”

LCS 27 will be the 14thFreedom-variant LCS and will join a class of more than 30 ships. It is one of six ships in various stages of construction and test at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard.

“We are very excited to begin construction of the future USS Nantucket,” saidJan Allman, CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine. “Our men and women are proud to put their efforts into giving the Navy versatile ships to keep our country and its interests safe.”

 

[Khafee]

Sikorsky Introduces RAIDER X™, a NextGen Light-Attack Reconnaissance Helicopter Based on its Proven X2 Technology

Sikorsky and its team of suppliers are prepared to manufacture RAIDER X as the U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2019- Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), today introduced RAIDER X™, its concept for an agile, lethal and survivable compound coaxial helicopter, specifically designed for securing vertical lift dominance against evolving peer and near-peer threats on the future battlefield.

Through the U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, RAIDER X is the out-front platform in the Service's revolutionary approach for rapid development and delivery of game changing technology and warfighter capabilities, equipped for the most demanding and contested environments. RAIDER X enables the reach, protection and lethality required to remain victorious in future conflicts.

"RAIDER X converges everything we've learned in years of developing, testing and refining X2 Technology and delivers warfighters a dominant, survivable and intelligent system that will excel in tomorrow's battlespace where aviation overmatch is critical," said Frank St. John, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems. "The X2 Technology family of aircraft is a low-risk solution and is scalable based on our customers' requirements."

RAIDER X draws on Lockheed Martin's broad expertise in developing innovative systems using the latest digital design and manufacturing techniques. Sikorsky's RAIDER X prototype offers:

• Exceptional Performance: The X2 rigid rotor provides increased performance including; highly responsive maneuverability, enhanced low-speed hover, off-axis hover, and level acceleration and braking. These attributes make us unbeatable at the X.
• Agile, Digital Design: State-of-the-art digital design and manufacturing is already in use on other Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky production programs such as CH-53K, CH-148 and F-35, and will enable the Army to not only lower the acquisition cost, but enable rapid, affordable upgrades to stay ahead of the evolving threat.
• Adaptability: Modern open systems architecture (MOSA)-based avionics and mission systems, offering "plug-and-play" options for computing, sensors, survivability and weapons, benefiting lethality and survivability, operational mission tailoring and competitive acquisitions.
• Sustainable/Maintenance: Designed to decrease aircraft operating costs by utilizing new technologies to shift from routine maintenance and inspections to self-monitoring and condition-based maintenance, which will increase aircraft availability, reduce sustainment footprint forward and enable flexible maintenance operating periods.
• Growth/Mission Flexibility: Focused on the future and ever evolving threat capabilities, X2 compound coaxial technology provides unmatched potential and growth margin for increased speed, combat radius and payload. This potential and growth margin further enables operational mission flexibility which includes a broader range of aircraft configurations and loadouts to accommodate specific mission requirements.

The nationwide supply team that Sikorsky has comprised to build RAIDER X will join company leaders today to introduce RAIDER X during the annual conference of the Association of the United States Army in Washington, D.C.

"RAIDER X is the culmination of decades of development, and a testament to our innovation and passion for solving our customers' needs," said Sikorsky President Dan Schultz. "By leveraging the strength of the entire Lockheed Martin Corporation, we will deliver the only solution that gives the U.S. Army the superiority needed to meet its mission requirements."

Proven X2 Technology: Scalable, Sustainable, Affordable

With RAIDER X, Sikorsky introduces the latest design in its X2 family of aircraft. To date, X2 aircraft have achieved/demonstrated:

• Speeds in excess of 250 knots
• High altitude operations in excess of 9,000 feet
• Low-speed and high-speed maneuver envelopes out to 60+ degrees angle of bank
• ADS-33B (Aeronautical Design Standard) Level 1 handling qualities with multiple pilots
• Flight controls optimization and vibration mitigation

"The power of X2 is game changing. It combines the best elements of low-speed helicopter performance with the cruise performance of an airplane," said Sikorsky experimental test pilot Bill Fell, a retired Army pilot who has flown nearly every RAIDER test flight. "Every flight we take in our S-97 RAIDER today reduces risk and optimizes our FARA prototype, RAIDER X."

The development of X2 Technology and the RAIDER program has been funded entirely by significant investments by Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin and industry partners.

 

[Khafee]

Electric Boat's $434.3M sub services deal comes amid congressional questions
Oct. 14, 2019
By Ed Adamczyk

The Virginia-class submarine USS John Warner arrives at Electric Boat shipyards in Groton, Conn., on April 15, 2019. Photo by MCS1 Steven Hoskins/U.S. Navy

Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Electric Boat Corp. has been awarded a $434.3 million contract by the U.S. Navy for work on Virginia-class submarines, including lead yard support, about a month after a report to Congress raised questions about the program.

The contract, announced Friday by the Department of Defense, calls for lead yard support for Virginia-class submarines to maintain, update and support the design and data of including added technology insertion, throughout the construction and post-shakedown of new submarines.

Electric Boat and its partner, Newport News Shipbuilding, have been constructing the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines for the Navy since 2000. Seventeen have been completed, each shipyard is scheduled to build two per year in 2020, 2021 and 2022, on top of three each in 2023.

More than 94 percent of work on the contract is expected to be performed at Electric Boat's Groton, Conn., facilities, with some also expected in Newport News, Va., and Quonset, R.I. Work under the deal is expected to be completed by September 2020.

Virginia-class vessels are the Navy's newest submarine warfare platform, designed to provide stealth, intelligence gathering and next-generation weapons. Overall, the branch intends to acquire 66 of the vessels.

In May, Electric Boat received a $497 million contract modification to further develop the Navy's fleet of Columbia-class of ballistic missile submarines. In July, it also secured a $173.8 million contract, potentially worth over $1 billion if options are activated, for attack submarine design and engineering.

But a Congressional Research Service report in September highlighted concerns with Electric Boat's capability to build both Columbia-class and Virginia-class vessels at its Connecticut shipyard, largely because of a Navy modification to the Virginia-class design.

The Navy seeks to improve the attack power of the submarines, with each new vessel 85 feet longer than standard -- up from 377 feet -- and equipped with dozens of additional missile firing tubes. The cost of the submarines will increase, from $2.8 billion each to $3.2 billion.

Earlier in 2019, both Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding had issues with delivery times as the program moved from one submarine per year to two.

"The program has experienced months-long delays in efforts to build boats relative to their targeted delivery dates," the report said in part. "Program officials said vendor quality issues with welding on VPM [Virginia Payload Module] have caused a 3.5-month delay in the schedule for the payload tubes for the first two submarines with VPM."

The report added that several at-sea Virginia-class boats were seen in 2016 to have been built with certain defective parts, and noted the "operational and cost implications" of the program."

Peeling surfaces, made of a rubber-like sound insulation material, on the hulls of the newest ships, were noted in the CRS report. The report is the subject of a demand in the 2020 defense budget, calling for reports from Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding on the progress of the Virginia-class constructions program.

 

[Khafee]

U.S. Space Command general briefs NATO to affirm deterrence mission
14 Oct 2019
By Ed Adamczyk

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Scott Kindsvater (C) addressed the NATO Military Committee in Brussels on Monday, calling for vigilance in space. Photo courtesy of NATO

Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The NATO Military Committee's meeting in Brussels on Monday called for a commitment to defense and deterrence in space.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Scott Kindsvater, deputy chairman of the committee, on Monday at a NATO Military Committee meeting cited the NATO's overarching space policy, approved by ministers in June, as vital to the alliance accomplishing its mission.

"Defense ministers agreed NATO's first-ever space policy," Kindsvater said. "They recognized that space is part of our daily lives, and while it can be used for peaceful purposes, it can also be used for aggression. Satellites can be hacked, jammed, or weaponized. Anti-satellite weapons could cripple communications. It is therefore important that we are vigilant and resilient, also in space."

While several NATO countries are organizing internal efforts to build independent military missions in space, NATO's policy calls on the bloc to "play an important role as a forum to share information, increase interoperability, and ensure that our missions and operations can call on the support they need," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in June.

On Monday, Gen. John Raymond of the newly re-established U.S. Space Command told the Brussels delegates that "Space has become a vital domain that is critical to the nation's security and economy and is no longer a benign environment."

"Though this command we will get better space intelligence by working more closely with foreign allies, with the US intelligence community and with commercial companies," Raymond said. "Our goal is to deter conflict but we need to be ready if deterrence fails."

NATO's hands-off policy on space largely is influenced largely by a report of the Joint Air Power Competence Center, a military advisory group comprised of 16 member nations acting as providers of solutions on air and space challenges.

The group has noted that NATO does not own satellites and has no policies "for air, land and sea -- excepting the recent Alliance Maritime Strategy -- yet continues to demonstrate competence in these domains. No adversary has challenged NATO's use of space for operations." Consequently, it says, there is little need to currently codify NATO's relationship to space except for members to support each other's space missions.

 

[Khafee]

U.S. Navy destroyer USS Porter in Black Sea, stops for port call in Ukraine
Oct. 14, 2019

The U.S. Navy's guided missile destroyer USS Porter transited the Bosporus Strait on Sunday before its arrival at the Black Sea port of Odessa, Ukraine. Photo by MCS3 T. Logan Keown/U.S. Navy

Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy's guided missile destroyer USS Porter arrived in Odessa, Ukraine as a part of the 6th Fleet's Black Sea operations.

Its docking on Saturday was a scheduled port visit "as part of our continued Black sea presence and support to our region partners," a statement on Sunday by the 6th Fleet said.

It is one of four destroyer-class vessels in the fleet, and the seventh ship to enter the Black Sea, which adjoins seven European countries this year, notably Russia, this year. By treaty, U.S. and NATO-allied ships routinely pass into the sea through Turkish-held straits. A typical stay for U.S. vessels is about 125 days.

In July, the USS Carney participated in the Sea Breeze 2019 exercise, training with ships of other NATO countries. The USS Ross, USS Donald Cook and USS Fort McHenry each visited Black Sea ports and engaged in exercises with navies of countries adjoin the sea.

Earlier this month, Adm. James Foggo, chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, told USNI News he has observed numerous Russian warships in waters along Russia's western edge, including in the Black Sea.

He added that the 6th Fleet's destroyers, two fast transport ships and a command ship, available on a routine basis, are inadequate for keeping track of Russian maneuvers. He added that threats are present and growing.

"We clearly have enough forces in theater to maintain a pretty good balance of training and engagement with allies and partners in time of peace," Foggo said. "In time of crisis, we'll need more. So we train for times of crisis, and most of our exercises are crisis-response exercises, so I could use more presence in the Baltic, in the Mediterranean, in the North Atlantic, Arctic and the Black Sea."