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L3 Harris, Northrop score $1.3B in SDA hypersonic missile tracking contracts​

WASHINGTON: The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced L3Harris and Northrop Grumman as the winners in its $1.3 billion contest for development of a new constellation of missile tracking satellites capable of keeping tabs on Chinese and Russian hypersonic missiles.

“Historically, we have not flown satellites that were designed to go after and detect the hypersonic maneuvering vehicles,” SDA Director Derek Tournear told reporters following the contract announcement. “Our adversaries, so primarily Russia and China, have been developing in and testing hypersonic glide vehicles, these advanced missiles that are extremely maneuverable, and so these satellites are specifically designed to go after that next-generation version of threats out there.”

The Tracking Layer satellites, he told reporters today, would be able to track fast-moving hypersonic missiles “throughout the entire flight” and predict their “impact point” by spotting changes in heat during launch and subsequent maneuvers. (Legacy missile warning systems are capable of detecting launch but not the dimmer infrared plumes of maneuvering hypersonic vehicles.)

L3Harris and Northrop Grumman beat out five other contractors for development of the so-called Tranche 1 , to comprise a total of 28 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Each contractor will build 14 satellites under an Other Transaction Authorities (OTA) contract: L3 Harris’s award with a potential value of approximately $700 million; and Northrop Grumman’s potentially worth about $617 million, according to SDA’s press release. SDA plans to begin launching the satellites in 2025.

SDA’s planned constellation, which ultimately could , is part of the Space Force’s resilient missile warning/missile tracking architecture that eventually will include satellites in as well.

The awards are a first step in the Space Force’s plan, which will move the Defense Department away from today’s reliance on a a handful of large expensive satellites in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and highly elliptical polar orbits, SDA Director Derek Tournear said.

“Since it’s a critical no-fail mission, there will be an overlap for some time [with the legacy systems] while we build up this LEO and MEO constellation, but eventually it will go to all LEO and all MEO to be able to do the missile warning/missile tracking.”

Those legacy systems are: the constellation, first developed in the 1990s and only in August finally slated to be completed; and its planned replacement, the constellation. The Space Force has budgeted some $14.4 billion through 2025 for Next-Gen OPIR, planning to have all five of the birds on orbit by 2029.

Tournear explained that SDA’s LEO-based missile tracking satellites will be able to pass “three dimensional” coordinates on the whereabouts of both ballistic missiles and highly maneuverable missiles via its of data relay satellites to US missile defense systems on the ground and at sea.

“The Transport and Tracking layers work in tandem,” he said.

SDA awarded York Space Systems, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin a total of $1.8 billion for its first set of mission-capable Transport Layer satellites.

USAF Doubles F-15EX Request in Fiscal 2023, Reduces F-35 Buy​

To accelerate the replacement of F-15C/Ds nearing the end of their service lives, the U.S. Air Force fiscal 2023 budget requests nearly $2.7 billion for 24 Boeing [BA] F-15EXs–double the number sought last year, while the service curtails its planned buy of Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35As from more than $5 billion sought for 48 planes in fiscal 2022 to about $4.5 billion for 33 F-35As in fiscal 2023.

Air Force officials said in a pre-budget release briefing at the Pentagon on March 25 that the service still plans to buy 1,763 F-35As–a number that the service is unlikely to come close to reaching in the next decade. While the Air Force has said that the F-35 program’s air-to-air testing performance has been stellar, the program has struggled with technology delays and high operations and maintenance costs–a feature that Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has pledged to reduce department-wide in order, in part by retiring old iron, to field cutting edge technologies quickly.

Begun in 2018, Continuous Capability Development and Delivery (C2D) for the F-35 envisions software updates for the fighter every six months and has included the development of Block 4, Technology Refresh-3 to permit the Block 4 advancements and making F-35s capable of carrying conventional and nuclear ordnance. Cost estimates for C2D2, which the F-35 program is to pursue through fiscal 2025, have varied from $7 billion to more than $10 billion.

The F-35 program continues to negotiate with Lockheed Martin on an award for the Lot 15-17 buy. The program has said that the advanced technologies of F-35 Block 4 are to be fitted onto the F-35s beginning with Lot 15 in the summer of 2023,

In the fiscal 2023 budget, the Air Force prioritized moving Block 4 modernization of the F-35 forward over procurement quantities, Air Force Undersecretary Gina Ortiz Jones told reporters at the Pentagon on March 28.

While the Air Force reduces its F-35A buy in the service’s fiscal 2023 procurement request, the latter includes a $1.7 billion add for low-rate initial production of the Northrop Grumman [NOC] B-21 Raider stealth bomber. Air Force officials have said that have been in production in Palmdale, Calif., and that the service is evaluating one of the aircraft to determine whether the production planes meet design and manufacturing predictions (Defense Daily, March 4).

In fiscal 2023, the Air Force also requests $870 million for 10 Lockheed Martin HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue helicopters to replace the Lockheed Martin Pave Hawk. Fiscal 2023 is to close out the buy of HH-60Ws, and the Air Force will, as a result, field 75 HH-60Ws, 30 less than planned earlier.

The fiscal 2023 Air Force budget asks Congress to allow the service to retire 150 aircraft, including 33 Block 20 Lockheed Martin F-22s, eight Northrop Grumman Joint STARS, 21 A-10s, 15 Boeing E-3 AWACS, 13 Boeing KC-135 tankers, 10 Lockheed Martin C-130Hs, and 50 Raytheon T-1 trainers.

The 33 Block 20 F-22s are “too expensive to upgrade to usable wartime capability,” the Air Force said. “Money saved will be applied directly to NGAD [Next Generation Air Dominance] family of systems.”

At the same time as the Air Force requests the divestment of the 33 Block 20 F-22s, the service also asks for $344 million in procurement to provide advanced sensors for the remaining F-22s.

In fiscal 2023, the Air Force also asks for $167 million in procurement for five Boeing MH-139 helicopters for missile field security.

Last year, the helicopter delayed the issuance of two required Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type certificates for the aircraft, and that delay led the Air Force to nix its fiscal 2022 buy of MH-139s (Defense Daily, June 23, 2021).

In fiscal 2023, the Air Force zeroes procurement of the Lockheed Martin AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). That move is consistent with Kendall’s stated desire to scrutinize hypersonic programs and with the , which eliminated the Air Force requested buy of the first 12 ARRWs and redirected $80 million of that funding to the Air Force research and development account to remedy an ARRW “testing shortfall” (Defense Daily, March 10).

Under U.S. Space Force procurement in fiscal 2023, the Department of the Air Force requests $1.1 billion for three National Security Space (NSSL) launches. The department has awarded contracts to United Launch Alliance (ULA) and SpaceX for NSSL, the successor to the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. ULA is a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

US Army orders more M109A7 self-propelled howitzers​

Photo by Brian K. Ragin Jr.

U.S. defense contractor BAE Systems said on Wednesday it had got a $299 million order for delivering additional M109A7 self-propelled howitzers and ammunition carriers to the U.S. Army.

According to a press release from the company, BAE Systems has received a $299 million contract from the U.S. Army for the production of 40 sets of M109A7s and M992A3 ammunition carriers.

The M109A7 is the latest howitzer in the BAE Systems M109 family of vehicles and is the primary indirect fire support system for the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT). The M109A7 program provides increased commonality across the ABCT and has significant built-in growth potential for electrical power and weight capacity.


“Providing the most robust, survivable, and responsive indirect fire support capabilities for the ABCT is a primary focus for our artillery program,” said Scott Davis, vice president of ground vehicles for BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems business. “We are committed to delivering a vehicle that will provide the modernized capabilities the ABCT needs to execute missions with confidence.”

The M109A7 program is a significant upgrade over the vehicle’s predecessor, the M109A6 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer. The M109A7 vehicle design includes a new chassis, engine, transmission, suspension, steering system, a new high voltage architecture, and improved survivability.

BAE Systems received the initial contract for M109A7 production in 2017. This most recent order brings the total number of vehicle sets — M109A7 howitzers and M992A3 Carrier, Ammunition, Tracked (CAT) vehicle sets to 310 and the total contract value to $1.9 billion.

M109A7 and M992A3 production and support takes place at the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama and BAE Systems facilities in York, Pa.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Sterling Heights, Mich.; Endicott, N.Y.; Elgin, Okla., and Aiken, S.C..

U.S. weapons exports decreased 21% to $138.2 billion in fiscal 2021​

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Sales of U.S. military equipment to foreign governments fell 21% to $138 billion in the latest fiscal year, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday, as the Biden administration shifts away from some of the more aggressive arms sales practices under former President Donald Trump.

The U.S. State Department disclosed military sales figures for the 2021 fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30. Sales included $3.5 billion worth of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Australia and $3.4 billion worth of CH-53K helicopters to Israel.

Sales of U.S. military equipment in the prior fiscal year had totaled $175 billion.

President Joe Biden's administration shifted away from selling offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, due to civilian casualties in Yemen and intends to announce a new weapons export policy that emphasizes human rights when evaluating an arms sale.

The 2021 dip comes after high one-time sales of fighter jets and guided missiles in the final year of the Trump administration. Major fiscal 2020 deals included Japan's purchase of 63 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) accounting for as much as $23 billion of that year's total.

There are two major ways foreign governments purchase arms from U.S. companies: direct commercial sales negotiated between a government and a company; and foreign military sales in which a foreign government typically contacts a Defense Department official at the U.S. embassy in its capital. Both require U.S. government approval.

The direct military sales by U.S. companies fell 17% to $103 billion in fiscal 2021 from $124 billion in fiscal 2020, while sales arranged through the U.S. government fell 31% to $34.8 billion in 2021 from $50.8 billion the prior year, the State Department said.

In 2018 the Trump administration rolled out a "Buy American" program that relaxed restrictions on military sales while encouraging U.S. officials to take a bigger role in increasing business overseas for the U.S. weapons industry.

aahyan said:

U.S. weapons exports decreased 21% to $138.2 billion in fiscal 2021​

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Sales of U.S. military equipment to foreign governments fell 21% to $138 billion in the latest fiscal year, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday, as the Biden administration shifts away from some of the more aggressive arms sales practices under former President Donald Trump.

The U.S. State Department disclosed military sales figures for the 2021 fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30. Sales included $3.5 billion worth of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Australia and $3.4 billion worth of CH-53K helicopters to Israel.

Sales of U.S. military equipment in the prior fiscal year had totaled $175 billion.

President Joe Biden's administration shifted away from selling offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, due to civilian casualties in Yemen and intends to announce a new weapons export policy that emphasizes human rights when evaluating an arms sale.

The 2021 dip comes after high one-time sales of fighter jets and guided missiles in the final year of the Trump administration. Major fiscal 2020 deals included Japan's purchase of 63 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) accounting for as much as $23 billion of that year's total.

There are two major ways foreign governments purchase arms from U.S. companies: direct commercial sales negotiated between a government and a company; and foreign military sales in which a foreign government typically contacts a Defense Department official at the U.S. embassy in its capital. Both require U.S. government approval.

The direct military sales by U.S. companies fell 17% to $103 billion in fiscal 2021 from $124 billion in fiscal 2020, while sales arranged through the U.S. government fell 31% to $34.8 billion in 2021 from $50.8 billion the prior year, the State Department said.

In 2018 the Trump administration rolled out a "Buy American" program that relaxed restrictions on military sales while encouraging U.S. officials to take a bigger role in increasing business overseas for the U.S. weapons industry.

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Ouch. Looks like thousands of military industrial complex workers are losing their jobs in the US.

General Dynamics to supply Trophy APS Active Protection System kits for M1A2 SEPv2 and M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams MBTs​

The U.S. Department of Defense on July 7 announced that General Dynamics Land System was awarded a $280,112,700 firm-fixed-price contract to procure trophy kits for the and Abrams Family of Vehicles.


M1A2 SEP V2 Abrams fitted with a Rafael Trophy APS Active Protection System displayed at MSPO 2021 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 7, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

The Trophy APS is a situational awareness and Active Protection Hard Kill (HK) System that is available in three main configurations: HV (Heavy armored Vehicle), MV (Medium and Light Armored Vehicle) and LV (Light Armored Vehicle). Both configurations dramatically boost the force’s survivability and provide a vital add-on capability for the maneuvering combat teams.

Trophy-HV protects heavy (>30 ton) and medium weight (>15 ton) armored vehicles from a wide variety of threats ranging from rockets, ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) and platform-fired High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds. Trophy-HV offers 360° protection in azimuth, as well as extensive elevation coverage, while maintaining a pre-defined safety zone for friendly troops on the ground. The neutralization process is initiated only if the threat is about to hit the vehicle.

The first battlefield success of the Trophy occurred on March 1, 2011, when the system knocked out a rocket-propelled grenade fired at close distance to an IDF (Israeli Defense Force) Merkava Mark-IV tank close to the Gaza border. The Trophy system was also effective during other operations, including Operation Protective Edge in 2014, when no Israeli tanks were lost in Gaza.

On September 8, 2021, Army Recognition published that General Dynamics was presenting for the first time to the public the fitted with a Trophy APS (Active Protection System) designed and manufactured by the Israeli company Rafael, at MSPO 2021, an international defense industry exhibition that was taking place in Kielce, Poland.


Rafael Trophy APS active protection system fitted on an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank (Picture source: Rafael)

SlothmanAllen said:

Impressive display of combined naval power!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1553081129602785286

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Not to be facetious, and I know this is RIMPAC, but as sentiments go, 30-odd ships from half dozen nations that the USN themselves couldn't muster up alone to put on display isn't that terribly impressive as it once was, esp. if that's supposed to be what they have to intimidate China with.

The PLAN South Sea Fleet alone has that many flat tops, destroyers, frigates and corvettes to bunch together for a photo op if they wanted... which the PLAN should actually do, if they ever want to hold another naval parade, or something.

Helius said:

Not to be facetious, and I know this is RIMPAC, but as sentiments go, 30-odd ships from half dozen nations that the USN themselves couldn't muster up alone to put on display isn't that terribly impressive as it once was, esp. if that's supposed to be what they have to intimidate China with.

The PLAN South Sea Fleet alone has that many flat tops, destroyers, frigates and corvettes to bunch together for a photo op if they wanted... which the PLAN should actually do, if they ever want to hold another naval parade, or something.

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This is such a strange opinion. The US forces in the pacific could muster up a task force of 3 LHDs and 2 supercarriers (maybe even get the Japanese to participate) if they wanted to do photo ops. RIMPAC is not a PR stunt, it's a military exercise.

Iridiscent said:

This is such a strange opinion. The US forces in the pacific could muster up a task force of 3 LHDs and 2 supercarriers (maybe even get the Japanese to participate) if they wanted to do photo ops. RIMPAC is not a PR stunt, it's a military exercise.

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RIMPAC itself is not a "PR stunt", which I didn't say it was.

and I know this is RIMPAC

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The PHOTOEX is definitely PR.

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits the San Bernardino Strait -