Insider knowledge for the discerning defence

and security professional

Issue #6 July 2015

ITALIAN NAVY PROGRAMME RFI DETAILS FOR SWEDENS NEW AIRBUS CYBER
UPDATES: PPA, LHD, LSS JET TRAINER SOLUTION: KEELBACK NET

INTERVIEW

PARAMOUNT CHAIRMAN
BLASTS DEFENCE INDUSTRY

FREMM
ANOTHER LANDMARK DELIVERY FOR FRENCH FRIGATE

TURKISH FIGHTER NEW ARMOURED VEHICLES GERMAN NH90

FOREIGN PARTNER UPDATES FROM ITALY,

1 FOR F-X Industry Bulletin
:: Defence BRAZIL, SPAIN,
1 MEXICO WILL IT BLEND?
 Welcome 1 Cyber 27
The Broader Picture 2 Africa 29
Land 5 The Briefing Room 41
Sea 11 More Information 44
Air 22

The contract between DCNS and the Egyptian authorities was signed on 16 February 2015 in Cairo, Egypt (DCNS)

F rances export machine has

gone into overdrive in 2015 with
enormous deals with Egypt and
Saudi Arabia recently announced.
On 23 June the first FREMM frigate
was delivered to Egypt and Defence
Industry Bulletin (DIB) had Victor
M.S. Barreira on the scene to report
on the historic deal.
In other maritime news we have
details on the upgrade of the A-4
Skyhawk for the Brazilian Navy and
insight on Italys new Naval Law
passed to finance three new vessel
types for its Navy.
In the land domain, DIB
interview General Dynamics
European Land Systems on its
future strategy and have exclusive
updates on armoured vehicle
programmes from Italy, Spain,
Brazil and Mexico.
Elsewhere, Sweden has released
Defence Industry Bulletin and if
you have any comments you would
like to share, please dont hesitate
its jet trainer RFI, and we look at to get in touch at
the options as Turkey considers its haveyoursay@defenceiq.com.
impending foreign partner for its
indigenous F-X fighter.
Also, in The Briefing Room
Paramount Group Chairman Ivor
Ichikowitz blasts the antiquated
defence industry and extols the
potential of the African market. He
also discusses recent Paramount
developments and plans for the
future. Moreover, we also host Andrew Elwell and Richard de Silva
a panel discussion with noted
journalists, academics, and analysts
on predictions for the outlook in
Africa and its land systems market.
We hope you enjoy this issue of

Front cover image: DCNS

1 :: Defence Industry Bulletin

 The Broader Picture
UK defence industry survey frowns on EU Exit Oliver Austin
A study commissioned by
aerospace trade body ADS
Group on a possible British
withdrawal from the EU has
shown overwhelming support for
the country to remain a member.
Analysis undertaken by auditors
at KPMG concluded that the
EU provides key benefits to the
countrys aerospace, defence,
security and space sectors.
According to the findings, the
impact that membership has on the
levels of European market access,
skilled labour, supply chains and
collaborative funding all place the
UK in an advantageous position
within the international scene.
The evidence was supported by
a GfK NOP survey of ADSs 900
members that showed 86 percent
of respondents holding a belief that
membership retention was better
for their business, where only two
UTC announces departure from helicopter market Joseph Carpenter
U nited Technologies Corporation
(UTC) announced in recent
weeks that it will divest of its
Sikorsky Aircraft business, subject
to final Board approval, in what will
mark an end to its involvement in
the military helicopter business.
The announcement follows a
review of strategic alternatives
for Sikorsky announced earlier
this year. A decision on whether
Sikorsky will be spun off or directly
sold is expected by the end of the
third quarter, but analysts expect
a sale unlikely due to the hefty
bill UTC would receive on gains
tax. The more likely outcome is
a spinoff with another company
buying Sikorsky after a two-year
period to avoid tripping over tax
regulations.
Gregory Hayes, UTC President
and Chief Executive Officer, said:
Our strategic review has confirmed
that exiting the helicopter business
is the best path forward for
percent indicated that leaving the
EU would be preferred. Among
companies ranging from electronics
giants to SMEs, the offering of
free trade and the simplification
of regulations stood out as the
most fundamental of membership
benefits.
Paul Everitt, CEO of ADS Group,
said, This ADS/KPMG economic
assessment demonstrates
the significant benefits the
aerospace, defence, space and
security industries get from UK
membership of the European
Union. Our industries are clear that
the UKs continued membership
of the EU is good for companies,
their employees and the future
prosperity of the country.
Our sectors value the UK
Governments ability to influence
the rules of the EU single market,
its role in helping to shape
United Technologies. Sikorsky is
the worlds premier helicopter
company and through a series of
strategic wins is well positioned
for long-term growth. However,
separation of Sikorsky from the
portfolio will allow both United
Technologies and Sikorsky to better
focus on their core businesses.
Given that Sikorsky owns a
significant share of the military
rotorcraft customer base, the
move has caused ripples across
the helicopter market. However,
Sikorsky is expected to remain
afloat for the foreseeable future,
albeit with a reduced overhead,
beginning with the loss of 1,400
jobs, the consolidation of its
Connecticut operations and the
closure of its Bridgeport facility.
According to a press release,
UTC now expects 2015 earnings per
share of $6.35 to $6.55 on sales of
approximately $58 to $59 billion,
excluding Sikorsky. The company
important international regulation
and market access, as well as the
investment in European science,
technology and innovation.
Everitt did however point to
findings that all relevant sectors
desired change within EU processes
to adjust its focus on promoting
growth, investment in skills,
innovation and competitiveness.
The UK, he said, can then maximise
its involvement to ensure further
benefits.
The ADS study may have been
issued as a result of this years
Scottish referendum debate, which
many in the industry felt did not
afford the aerospace and defence
industry with enough of a voice
ahead of the vote. Prime Minister
David Cameron has pledged to hold
an EU referendum near the end of
2017.
continues to expect organic
sales growth of 3 to 5 percent
and cash flow from operations
less capital expenditures in the
range of 90 to 100 percent of net
income attributable to common
shareowners.
At time of publication, Boeing,
Lockheed Martin, Textron (Bell) and
Airbus are all believed to still be in
the bidding process.
The Sikorsky Blackhawk will soon be flying under
a different name
Image: SSGT Suzanne M. Jenkins, USAF
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 2
 The Broader Picture
UK invests in additive manufacturing R&D to bolster aerospace sector
Andrew Elwell
T he UK is investing in
additive manufacturing
research and development to
maintain its place at the forefront
of innovation in the global
aerospace market.
Business Minister Anna Soubry
officially opened the Aerospace
Research Centre and National
Centre for Net Shape and Additive
Manufacturing in Coventry on 22
June. The research facilities are
housed within the Manufacturing
Technology Centre and form part of
the governments wider investment
strategy for the aerospace sector,
which is a 2.1 billion commitment
overseen by the Aerospace
Technology Institute (ATI).
Government and industry
are working together to keep
Britain at the forefront of the
global aerospace market, said
the minister during the opening
ceremony. We are currently second
only to the United States, but there
is more to do and it is important
that we continue to invest in R&D
and develop ground-breaking
technologies.
Demand for new aircraft is at
UK invests in additive manufacturing technology for aerospace applications
3 :: Defence Industry Bulletin
record levels - around 45,000 new
aircraft and 40,000 helicopters
are needed between now and
2032, worth over $5 trillion. This
will provide billions of pounds of
work to the UK economy given our
leading capability in wings, engines,
helicopters, advanced systems and
services.
Getting this right will deliver
economic benefit through our large,
mid-sized and small companies
across the breadth of the country.
As part of the investment in
the UKs aerospace sector, four
funded projects were announced
at the ceremony in Coventry: 7.2
million for Airbus to research ways
to remove imperfections on wing
surfaces; 5 million to research
how pioneering technologies,
such as the Internet of Things,
can be applied to aircraft factory
production; 6.4 million to research
advanced automated assembly
technologies to improve the cost
competitiveness of the UK supply
chain; and 4.4 million for UTC
Aerospace Systems to set up
production lines to manufacture
high volume, low cost advanced
composite products.
Additive manufacturing, or 3D
printing as it is more commonly
known, has the potential to
transform military supply chains
and profoundly change the
dynamics of the aerospace and
defence industry. In an exclusive
Defence IQ survey, over half (54%)
of respondents strongly agreed that
the use of additive manufacturing
would be widespread in the A&D
sector. In total, 83% gave a positive
response to the statement about
the universal uptake of 3D printing
in the future, indicating we may be
approaching a new manufacturing
revolution.
Investment from government
and industry will be critical for
first movers in the market to
lead innovation and push the
boundaries of engineering.
Soubry is right when stating that
this could help deliver economic
benefit in the long-term. Thats true
not just for aerospace and defence
companies but the wider economy
too. There is hardly a company in
the sector that is not looking to
diversify its products and services
into other adjacent verticals. The
impact of the economic collapse
in 2008 has weighed heavy on
defence companies need to
de-risk their product lines and
look to other markets for growth.
Additive manufacturing can be a
route into new markets as it helps
firms diversify what they can
manufacture.
 The Broader Picture
Colt Defense files for bankruptcy Oliver Austin

I conic U.S. gun maker Colt

Defense announced voluntary
Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June,
a process that will allow for an
accelerated sale of Colts business
operations in the U.S. and Canada.
The Connecticut-based company
boasts a legacy dating back to the
19th Century when it developed
the pistol it claims won the West.
Since then, it has been the supplier
of M4 rifles to the U.S. military until
that contract was ended in 2013.
Colts current sponsor, Sciens
Capital Management, has agreed
to act as a stalking horse bidder
and has proposed to purchase
almost all of Colts assets, assume
secured liabilities and all liabilities
related to existing agreements with
employees, customers, vendors,
and trade creditors. Colt intends
for the sale to ensure a smooth
and swift transition of the business Colt has
with all of its iconic brands,
products, and operations supported struggled in
by a stronger balance sheet.
The company intends to recent years
continue its normal business
operations throughout the process with supply
amid a development that was
expected among market analysts
after Colt has struggled in recent
chain, limited
years with supply chain, limited
working capital, and accounting
working capital,
missteps that required a revision of
reported financial results. It hopes
and accounting
to reduce most of its $355 million
debt burden by auctioning off its
missteps
business and generating proceeds
to repay lenders.

The Colt M4 has been iconic to American battlefields for years

Image: US DOD

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 4

 Land
Continued delivery of the H225M for the Brazilian armed forces despite
announcement of 2 year delay Iigo Guevara
T he Brazilian armed forces
have taken delivery of the 16th
Helibras H225M (formerly known as
the EC725) out from an outstanding
order for 50 under the Ministry
of Defence-run Project H-XBR.
The helicopter was produced
at the Itajub assembly line of
the Airbus Helicopters Brazilian
subsidiary. VIP versions that will be used for
Local industry participation
has been growing and so far
several companies are providing
sections or components for the
H225M. These include Aernnova,
which produces the metallic
structure fir the tail boom, Inbra
does the composite structure for
the intermediate section and tail
boom, Toymatic produces the main
rotor sleeves, Turbomeca do Brasil
assembles the Makila 2A1 engines,
and Elbits Brazilian subsidiary
Aeroeletronica (AEL) provides the
avionics.
The sixteenth example is a
Mexican Army develops a remote controlled weapons station and
rifle-mounted grenade launcher Iigo Guevara
T he Mexican Army-run
Military Industries General
Directorate (DGIM) has developed
and manufactures six prototypes
of a remote controlled weapons
station. Development of the
Sistema de Accionamiento Remoto
de Armas de Fuego SARAF-BALAM1
(Remote Controlled Firearms
System) began in 2013 and trials
took place in six infantry battalions
during 2014.
The SARAF-BALAM is required
to allow personnel to fire from
protected location either fixed or
mobile, has now entered into its
next development phase. Although
not specified, the SARAF-BALAM
RCWS is likely to be used on the
5 :: Defence Industry Bulletin
tactical transport and search
and rescue (SAR) version for the
Brazilian Navy, making this the fifth
H225M delivered to that service.
Other operators include the
Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and Army
Aviation Command. Each service
will receive 16 helicopters for a
variety of operational roles plus two
the Presidential Transport Flight.
The seventeenth helicopter is
scheduled for delivery in 2015 and
is a specialized combat search
and rescue (CSAR) variant. That
helicopter was presented at the
2015 Paris Air Show and is locally
designated as the H-36 Caracal by
the FAB.
The FAB will take delivery of the
airborne refueling prove-equipped
H-36 Caracal for which its pilots
have been undertaking flight
refueling training on F-5FM and
A-1B fighters. The CSAR Caracal will
be able to refuel from the current
DN-XI light armoured tactical patrol
vehicle, which is being built also
by DGIM for a requirement of 1,000
vehciles by 2018.
DGIM is also undertaking the
development of a low-velocity
40 x 46 mm grenade launcher.
The indigenous grenade launcher
will be installed in the 5.56mm
FX05 Xicoatl assault rifle being
produced by the DGIM and the
7.62 mm H&K G3 currently in
service. Minimum range is 30 m
and maximum is 400 m. The first
phase comprised the development
of four competing prototypes with
different characteristics which were
merged into a single prototype for
the second phase.
two KC-130H in service, as well as
from the 28 future KC-390s.
The FAB will receive eight CSAR
versions in total, which will also
be equipped with an integrated
self-defence suite including laser
warning systems (LWS) and radar
warning receivers (RWR). Specific
CSAR training will begin on June 29
through July 3 at the Campo Grande
Air Base and will include H-34
Super Puma, H-36 Caracal, H-60
Black Hawk, AH-2 Sabre (Mi-35M)
and H-1H (UH-1H) aircrews using
night vision goggles.
Deliveries were originally to
have ended by 2017 although they
will now stretch to 2019 given the
current state of Brazils financial
difficulties. Following the CSAR
on the delivery schedule will be
the anti-surface warfare (ASuW)
version for the Navy, which is still
under development at Helibras.
Eight will be delivered to that
standard.
The main obstacle encountered
was local development of the canon
through traditional means, which
gave way to the development of
a titanium-based component.
The third phase led to successful
trials and development of a
series production version. There
is no indication of the number
of grenade launchers to be built,
but they will form part of the
FX05 family for several decades to
come. DGIM has so far built 56,000
FX05 assault rifles and intends to
produce 121,000 by 2018.
 Land
Spain reignites 8x8 AIFV tender Richard de Silva
T he Spanish Ministry of
Defence has released a list of
essential capabilities that must be
prioritised, including the need for a
new 8x8 armoured infantry fighting
vehicle to replace the existing 6x6
BMR fleet.
The release of
the MoDs plan
was welcomed
by the TEDAE
Following several years of severe
budget restraints brought on by
the economic recession, the MoDs
We Bring You Fire
The rise of Rockwell Collins mobile targeting system Richard de Silva
T he FireStorm Integrated
Targeting System, the
Rockwell Collins system that has
been benefiting JTACs and FACs for
several years, is now being offered
as a wearable technology as the
defence market continues to adapt
to demands for soldier mobility.
The development will keep the
company ahead of the curve in the
artillery and mortar market.
We took our biggest step into
the joint fires space back in 2007
when we satisfied a critical UOR
for the British Army in Afghanistan
to provide a system for accurate
targeting for close air support,
said Graham Davenport, Marketing
Director for EuMEA Surface
Solutions at Rockwell Collins. We
provided a package of equipment
based on two key elements: our
release of the vehicle RFI provides
a glimpse of optimism for local
manufacturing and long-delayed
military modernisation. The
original call for information on an
8x8 platform occurred six years ago
under a project aimed at upgrading
the IFV fleet.
The 8x8 project has been
budgeted at $45 million and
companies involved in the
competition are likely to include
General Dynamics-Santa Brbara
Sistemas (GDELS-SBS), Nexter,
Patria, Lockheed Martin, ARTEC
(Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and
Rheinmetall), Iveco, Fiat and Oto
Melara. While the projected number
of vehicles to be produced has not
been confirmed, the original RFI
intended to see at least 300 vehicles
delivered. The new contract is likely
to be for a significantly smaller
Rosetta software, which provides
the communication interfaces
and ability to absorb positional
data and plot it on a map; and
an augmentation unit for laser
rangefinders which overcomes the
shortfalls in the digital magnetic
compass and provides a level of
precision needed in this space
not just CAS, but also for artillery
applications.
The company claimed that UOR,
rolled out the equipment, and saw
it become successfully rotated
throughout Afghanistan from 2007
to 2014 when British combat forces
finally withdrew from the conflict.
The requirement changes over
time, Davenport said. The ability
to have a more mobile system has
become a major driver now and
thats partly due to the operational
changes were seeing in other
volume but catering to a range of
modular capabilities.
The release of the MoDs
plan on May 29 was welcomed
by the Spanish Association of
Defence, Aeronautics and Space
Technologies (TEDAE), Spains
primary defence industry
association, which stated that
the national industry will finally
have a tool similar to those of
its competitors and possess
a key resource for defending
the technological and national
industrial base.
In June, Iveco Defence Vehicles
signed a long-delayed contract
to supply more than 700 military
trucks to Spain, including tankers
and recovery vehicles.
words, the need to operate out of
FOBs has changed to a more mobile
deployment. We have therefore
continued to develop along this
track with our mobile body-worn
system, which can still be used in a
static position, I should add, if you
need a longer range. Alternatively,
you can be mobile with a shorter
range but still with the level of
accuracy offered by an effective
laser rangefinder.
After the UK adopted the system,
Germany penned contracts for
almost exactly the same product,
along with new Link-16 VMF
Gateway solutions that enabled an
interface with the German Adler
II solution. This software is at the
heart of both the ESG MOBIFAST
and multi-link system, and while
Germany and the UK represent
Firestorms two big European
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 6
 Land
successes, the companys software
and equipment is also integrated
in systems from Scandinavia
to Eastern Europe. Beyond the
continent, the company has
recently completed its work
to entirely reconfigure the
infrastructure for UAE joint fires
and is now providing the provisions
for training. In 2012, Rockwell
Collins was also selected as the
prime contractor for the Australian
Defence Force Land 17 Digital
Terminal Control Systems (DTCS)
programme, delivering a total of 152
systems valued at $68 million to
Special Forces and artillery forward
observers. This represented the first
formal iteration of using FireStorm
in an artillery-led environment.
With that capability proven, the
same offer has therefore also
opened up for mortar operators.
Aside to this, the U.S. Air Force
signed Rockwell Collins to the
Tactical Air Control Party Close
Air Support System (TACP CASS)
programme. The company is
now under contract for the latest
version of that software (TACP
1.4.5), continuing its run as the
baseline for the U.S. Air Force JTAC
system.
Across all of these nations,
interoperability is fundamental,
The Firestorm system is now easier to carry. Image: Rockwell Collins
7 :: Defence Industry Bulletin
and allied interoperability, in
particular, is of course a critical
requirement, said Davenport.
We have to continue to meet VMF
standards, the capability of which is
seen on many of these CAS aircraft
today the U.S. F-18s and A-10s,
the UK Tornados, for example and
Interoperability
is fundamental,
and allied
interoperability,
in particular,
is of course
a critical
requirement
in fact this year weve proven our
capability with an F-35, given the
intentions to have that aircraft take
on the CAS role.
April trials at Edwards Air Force
Base, California, saw a current
and qualified FAC from the UK
undertaking the flight test using a
complete air strike mission thread
in both a ground test and live flight.
Users of the F-35 will certainly
therefore be on our prospective
customer list for the near-term, but
other aircraft are still likely to be
pulling much of the weight in this
area while the F-35 is undertaking
other missions.
Whether they are older aircraft
or newly dedicated CAS aircraft, all
of that will require us to continually
update our software. VMF is
unfortunately not a standard fixed
in stone, varying across platforms
and over time, so we have our
work cut out if we intend to keep
up. The standard that is becoming
ubiquitous is Link-16, hence our
priority that the software can
translate data from Link-16 into
VMF and display the air picture on
the screen of any computer in use.
Davenport also clarified that
with Rockwell Collins having
identified the need to move to
smaller, simpler and mobile
solutions, the new FireStorm
package will be launching in
the UK this September. Its still
FireStorm, but its capability will be
revamped.
 Land
New VBM+ programme begins, Iveco OTO Melara 8x8 IFV family grows
with new RECCE and recovery variants Eugenio Po
T he Italian Parliament
approved the second phase of
the VBM (Veicolo Blindato Medio)
8x8 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
(IFV) programme for equipping a
second Brigade, after PINEROLO
Medium Brigade, with the new CIO
medium wheeled vehicle. CIO is a
consortium between Iveco Defence
Vehicles and OTO Melara.
The Italian Army has a long
term plan to transform three
of its Medium Brigades. One of
them, the PINEROLO Brigade, has
already completed most of the
transformation process while the
other two units will follow in future.
With this second big programme
announcement, it will be possible
to start the transformation of a
second unit.
This second phase programme
has an overall value of 2.65bn
($2.96bn) and is due to be
completed in 2024. However,
funding for the project is only
guaranteed until 2017, but the
The VBM combat, the standard 8x8 IFV vehicle
Update on the Brazilian Armys 4G/LTE 700 Mhz communications system
Iigo Guevara
T he Brazilian Army
undertook the first operational
test of its LTE/4G technology on the
700 MHz band on May 29. The test
is part of the Army-run Sistema
Nacional de Comunicaoes Crticas
(SISNACC Critical Communications
National System) programme,
which aims to separate voice
MoD is confident of finalising its
financing soon.
The new programme is for
281 vehicles; 163 are the combat
variant (i.e. the standard one),
36 will be anti-tank versions, 14
mortar carriers, 8 command post
variants, 40 recovery versions and
120 will be a recce variant. These
last 120 vehicles will be designed
in two different configurations,
called E1 and E2 by the Army.
These two vehicles are designed
to operate together. The E1 VBM
recce, called Far by industry
because it is designed to undertake
reconnaissance missions at longer
distances, is equipped with a
radar/FLIR system (the new Selex
ES VIRESS system) and with the
micro-UAV HORUS made by OTO
Melara. The E2 VBM recce, called
Close because it is designed for
recognition at shorter distances,
is equipped with Rafael SPIKE anti
tank missiles and with the TRP-2
RISTA UGV (Unmanned Ground
communication through the
Brazilian armys trunking radio
system and data through the
700 MHz band. That part of the
spectrum has been reserved for
national security and public safety
communications.
The communications technology
has been developed by Brazilian
Vehicle) made by OTO Melara.
The VBM recovery variant is
entirely new: the Army finally
decided to equip its Medium units
with a VBM able to recovery and
partly repair similar vehicles.
Regarding the main armament
of the VBM combat, the VBM anti-
tank and the VBM recce (in both
variants) there are still discussions
ongoing inside the Army Command
about the opportunity to switch
from 25 mm cannon to 30 mm. The
Army decided to keep the 25 mm
cannon partly because over 800
of these entirely new weapons are
depots waiting to be installed but
the newer vehicles are equipped
with modified HITFIST turrets,
which can accommodate the 30
mm cannon with no modifications.
Its likely that in a relatively short
time period the final production
VBMs will be armed with 30 mm
ATK automatic cannons.
firm CPqD, an independent firm
that specializes in information and
communications technologies. The
equipment is manufactured by
Trpico S.A. a joint venture between
CPqD and Organizaao Promon,
which develops and produces
communications equipment.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 8
 Land
OTO Melara proposes the HITFACT turret to Brazil Victor M.S. Barreira
HITFACT turret has been proposed to Brazilian
VBR-MR program. Image: ARES Aeroespacial &
Defesa
(Maneuver Combat Vehicle) 8x8
armoured vehicles.
One prototype of the turret
and a pilot-batch of 13 turrets
will be purchased potentially in
2015 by the armys Manufacturing
Directorate (or Diretoria de
Fabricao).
Requirements include the
105 mm high-pressure gun as
the main armament, 7.62x51
mm machine guns, 76 mm
Multitarefa-Leve de Rodas) 4x4
multi-purpose light tactical
protected vehicle is part of the
Brazilian Armys Strategic Project
Guarani or Projecto Estratgico do
Exrcito-Guarani (PEE Guarani).
The Brazilian Army has so far
inducted several of the VBTP-MR
6x6 armoured vehicles developed
by Iveco Veculos de Defesa in
cooperation with the Brazilian
Army.

T he Italian firm OTO

Melara via its Brazilian
operation OTO Melara do Brasil
is teaming with the Brazilian
companies ARES Aeroespacial
& Defesa (of Elbit Systems of
Israel) and state-owned Indstria
de Material Blico (IMBEL) to
supply the companys HITFACT
105 protected modular turret
for the Brazilian Armys future
VBR-MR (Viatura Blindada de
Reconhecimento-Mdia de Rodas)
8x8 armoured reconnaissance
vehicle. The vehicle to be developed
by Brazilian firm Iveco Veculos de
Defesa (of CNH Industrial) also will
be available in a recovery variant.
The turret proposed to Brazil
includes a 105mm/52 low-recoil
gun, coaxial 7.62mm machine gun,
digital fire control system by Elbit
Systems Land & C4I consisting
of commanders panoramic sight
and gunners stabilized sight, laser
warning system, pintle mounted
machine gun, smoke grenade
dischargers, wire cutter and
periscopes as well as provisions
for communications and other
electronics and other associated
equipment. The HITFACT turret can
also be armed with 120mm/45 gun
barrel.
HITFACT 105 is currently fielded
by the armies of Italy (400) and
Spain (84) on Iveco-OTO Melara
Societ Consortile (CIO) VBM
Centauro 8x8 armoured vehicles,
with 9 HITFACT 120 mounted
on VBM Centauro vehicles of
the Sultanate of Oman. The gun
has been retained to arm the
turret mounted on Japanese MCV
grenade launchers, electro-optical
and fire control systems, and
provisions for communication and
Avibras Indstria Aeroespacial/
Renault Trucks Defense with its
Tupi vehicle, which is based on
command-and-control systems. the Sherpa Light Scout vehicle,
Optionally, the turret could be Iveco Veculos de Defesa with the
capable of switching to a 120 mm LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle), the
gun, fire anti-tank missiles, and team of AM General and Plasan
accommodate additional armour with the MLTV-BR vehicle and BAE
and ARES Aeroespacial & Defesa Systems Land Systems South Africa
REMAX (REparo de Metralhadora (acquired by South Africas state-
Automatizada X) remote weapon owned defence conglomerate Denel
station armed with 12.7mm or SOC Ltd) with the RG32M LTV are
7.62mm machine gun or 40mm competing to supply the Brazilian
automatic grenade launcher. Army with an initial batch of 32
CMI Defence has proposed 4x4 armoured vehicles. Another
the Cockeril 3105 turret system. 154 vehicles will be acquired in two
Denel Land Systems teaming with separate tranches of 77 each.
Mectron Engenharia, Indstria e
Comrcio (part of Odebrecht Defesa
e Tecnologia), and China North
Industries Corporation (NORINCO)
also delivered proposals on 9 March
2015.
ARES Aeroespacial & Defesa
also proposed other remote
systems for armoured vehicles,
such as the UT-30BR system armed
with 30mm Orbital ATK Mk44
Bushmaster automatic cannon, as
well as the TORC 30 (Torre Operada An improved configuration of the VBTP-MR
Remotamente e estabilizada para Guarani vehicle during trials performed at the
Canho 30mm) system being army Evaluations Center in Rio de Janeiro.
Image: Victor M.S. Barreira
developed in cooperation with the
Brazilian Armys Technological
Center (CTEx) and armed with
Rheinmetall Defence Mk 30-2/ABM
automatic cannon.
The VBR-MR programme
together with VBTP-MR Guarani
6x6 (Viatura Blindada Transporte
de Pessoal-Mdia de Rodas)
amphibious armoured vehicle
purchased by the Brazilian Army,
and VBMT-LR (Viatura Blindada

9 :: Defence Industry Bulletin

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Defence Industry Bulletin :: 10
 Sea
Egypt receives advanced combat frigate from DCNS Victor M.S. Barreira

T he Egyptian Navy took

delivery of the FREMM (Frgate
Europenne Multi-Missions) multi-
equipment including the DCNS
SETIS (Ship Enhanced Tactical
Information System) combat
Melara Super Rapid 76/62mm
gun system; Sagem NGDS (New
Generation Dagaie System) soft-kill
mission combat frigate ENS Tahya management system; Thales Air decoy launchers; DCNS Contralto-V
Misr (FFG 1001) it ordered from Systems Herakles phased array anti-torpedo decoys launchers;
French shipbuilder DCNS. The multifunction 3D rotating S-band Nexter Systems NARWHAL 20B
event took place at the companys radar with integrated identification (Naval Remote Weapon Highly
shipyard in Lorient, France in the friend or foe (IFF) capability; Thales Accurate Lightweight) remote
presence of General Sedki Sobhy, Optronique ARTEMIS (Advanced weapon stations armed with
the Minister of Defence and Military Reliable Third generation Electro- 20M693 automatic cannon firing
Production of the Arab Republic optical Multiplexing Infrared 20x139mm ammunitions; MBDA
of Egypt; Jean-Yves Le Drian, Search and track) 360 infrared Aster 15 surface-to-air missiles
the French Minister of Defence; search and track system; Vigy MM fired from SYLVER A43 vertical
Admiral Osama Rabie, Commander electro-optical fire control system; launcher; MBDA Exocet MM40
in Chief of the Egyptian Navy; Thales Air Systems Altesse-X Block 3 surface-to-surface missiles
Admiral Bernard Rogel, the French communication electronic launched by two ITL 70A-B3 quad
Chief of Navy; and Herv Guillou, support measures system; launchers; and launchers for
Chairman and CEO of DCNS. DCNS BEST (Boosted Electrical EuroTorp MU90 lightweight torpedo.
Prior to being delivered to Egypt, System Technology) combined ENS Tahya Misr offers a
DCNS conducted outfitting work diesel electric or gas (CODLOG) displacement of 6000t, overall
that included the translation of propulsion suite; DCNS Shipmaster length of 142, width of 20m, max
interfaces to English language integrated navigation suite; speed of 27kts, and cruising range
and removal of DCNS SYLVER A70 Terma Scanter 2001 navigation of 6000nm, and is manned by a
(SYstme de Lancement VERtical) and surveillance radar systems; crew of 108. Space is available
vertical launching system for MBDA Thales Underwater Systems UMS to accommodate rigid-hulled
France MdCN (Missile de Croisire 4110 CL and CAPTAS 4 (Combined inflatable boats and 10t-class multi-
Naval) land attack long-range Active and Passive Towed Array role helicopter.
cruise missile Elettronica Nettuno Sonar) hull-mounted and towed
4100 electronic jammers and sonar systems respectively; OTO
Thales Communications & Security
Surfsat-L satellite communications
(SATCOM) antennas.
From March 2015, DCNS has
been training the Egyptian crew
with assistance of DCI (Dfense
Conseil International) NAVFCO
including via the use of simulators.
DCNS is also responsible for
providing on-job training for
Egyptian maintainers and a five-
year through-life support (TLS)
package to be carried out in Egypt
that includes supply of spares and
technical assistance.
The ship will set sail to Egypt
by late July to take part in the
inauguration of the new Suez Canal
on 6 August.
The frigate was designed to
conduct tasks such as escorting
high-value units, anti-submarine
warfare, anti-air warfare and act as
the command ship of a naval force.
It retains several of its original main ENS Tahya Misr frigate was transferred to Egypt on 23 June 2015
(Victor M.S. Barreira)

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 11

 Sea
The ship formerly known as FS
Normandie (D651) was due to be
delivered to the French armament
procurement agency DGA
(Direction Gnrale de lArmement)
to integrate in the French Navys
Aquitaine-class. However the
ship was acquired by Egypt on 16
February 2015. The country also
purchased 24 Dassault Aviation
Rafale EM/DM fighters, precision
guided kits, air-to-air and surface-
to-air missiles and other associated
equipment on the same day.
Egypt is the second foreign
nation to receive a FREMM
frigate from DCNS after the Royal
Moroccan Navy commissioned
Mohammed VI (701) on 30 January
2014. The design is being actively
marketed in several countries
including Brazil, Saudi Arabia and
Canada.
DCNS has so far delivered anti-
submarine warfare (ASW) frigates
FS Aquitaine (D650) in November
2012 and FS Provence (D652) in
June 2015. Another four units will
be inducted by 2019 according to
the Military Programming Law
2014-2019. FS Provence ship
The handover of ENS Tahya Misr frigate was held in Lorient, France with the presence of high-ranking officials from France and Egypt
(Victor M.S. Barreira)
feature modifications to remote
weapon stations installations and
to electronic jammers antennas.
A total of 11 ships (contracted
in November 2005 and September
2009) were originally ordered by the
DGA via the OCCAR (Organisation
Conjointe de Coopration en
matire dARmement). This number
has been recently cut to eight
units with two being of the anti-air
warfare (AAW) variant or Frgate de
Dfense Arienne (FREDA).
DCNS is currently building for
France the FS Languedoc, FS
Auvergne and FS Bretagne boats,
as well as modules for a fourth
ship.
DCNS offers four variants of the
FREMM design featuring CODLOG
or combined diesel-electric and gas
(CODLAG) propulsion comprising
multi-mission base ship; multi-
mission ship with increased AAW
capability equipped with SYLVER
A50 vertical launchers for Aster
15 and 30 surface-to-air missiles;
multi-mission ship with increased
ASW capability; and ship with
increased land attack capability
featuring a 127mm main gun and
SYLVER A70 vertical launcher for
MdCN missiles.
From 2023, French FREMMs will
be reinforced by five 4000t frigates
currently locally known as FTI
(Frgate de Taille Intermdiaire)
that will replace the ships of La
Fayette-class. The DGA awarded
DCNS, Thales and MBDA France a
10-month feasibility study contract
on 29 May 2015 for the ship.
DCNS is currently building the
first of four Gowind 2500 combat
corvettes purchased by Egypt in
July 2014 and to be delivered from
2017. The remaining three units will
be built in Alexandria, Egypt. They
will feature DCNS PSIM (Panoramic
sensors and Intelligence Module)
mast system; SETIS system; Thales
Nederland SMART-S Mk 2 S-band
3D multi-beam radar; Thales Air
Systems Vigile 200 electronic
warfare system; Super Rapid
gun system with multi-feeding;
MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air
missiles vertically launched by CLA
(Conteneur Lanceur Autonome)
autonomous launch containers;
and MU 90 torpedoes.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 12
 Sea
French Navy receives second FREMM frigate Oliver Austin

F REMM is not only proving

to be an export success. This
June, DCNS delivered the second
frigate, named Provence, to the
French Navy.
The vessel follows the delivery of
the FREMM Aquitaine in November
2012, the first in line of the new
class that has now successfully
completed naval cruise missile
firing tests. The series was ordered
by the Organisation for Joint
Armament (OCCAR) on behalf of
French armament procurement
agency, DGA.
Aquitaine
launched its
first MM40 at
the DGA testing
reduction on previous generation
surface combatants. The vessels
capabilities include anti-submarine
warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare
ASuW and anti-air warfare (AAW).
Provence will have its systems
fitted by DCNS specialists and
subcontractors over the coming
months, including significant
installation of masts, radars and
antennas.
FREMM is heavily armed and
equipped with state-of-the-art
equipment, including a Herakles
multifunction radar, and either
Aster and Exocet MM40 surface-to-
surface missiles or MU90 torpedoes,
designed to meet the expectations
of numerous navies. Aquitaine
launched its first MM40 at the DGA
testing centre off Levant Island,
near Toulon.
Anne Bianchi, FREMM
programmes director at DCNS, said
that the latest progress underlines
Canada has also been pursued
by DCNS as a customer as the Royal
Canadian Navy (RCN) is in need of
replacing many of its ageing ships
that do not meet international
environmental standards and are
therefore prevented from entering
some ports overseas. Under
Canadas National Shipbuilding
Procurement Strategy (NSPS)
outlined in 2010, $25 billion has
been budgeted to modernise the
fleet over the next 30 years. Now,
with Russia again pushing its
military presence in the Arctic, the
urgency to re-outfit the RCN may
become a more urgent priority.
In April, Italy ordered two
more FREMM frigates, completing
its planned order of ten vessels.
Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, a joint
venture between Italian shipyard
Fincantieri and Finmeccanica,
are building the ships and are
scheduled to complete delivery by

centre our ability to produce first of rank

The French industrial group has
five of the frigates in various stages
of construction, with twelve set
to be completed and eleven to be
provided to the French Navy. Each
vessel requires a crew complement
of 108, marking a significant
combat ships that meet our client
navies needs, such as those of
Morocco and Egypt, referring to the
landmark export orders of one and
two FREMM vessels, respectively.
Negotiations with the Hellenic Navy
to purchase or lease a number of
FREMM look increasingly unlikely
to come to fruition given the
economic turmoil in Greece.
2020.
Under the latest French defence
plan (2014/2019) the French Navy
will receive six ASW variants to
replace the Georges Leygues-class
frigates by 2019, followed by two
anti-air variants to replace the
Cassard-class frigates. A decision
will be taken next year on the
variants of the remaining three.

Profile: Latest progress:

Total length: 142 metres The FREMM Aquitaine, first in series, delivered in
Width: 20 metres 2012.
Displacement: 6,000 tonnes The FREMM Mohammed VI, for the Royal Moroccan
Maximum speed: 27 knots Navy, delivered in 2014.
Operation: 108 persons (including helicopter The FREMM Provence, delivered 12 June 2015.
detachment) The FREMM intended for the Egyptian Navy,
Accommodation capacity: 145 men and women formerly the FREMM Normandie, will be delivered in
Range: 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots summer 2015.
The FREMM Languedoc will make its first sea outing
in autumn 2015.
The FREMM Auvergne is currently in the final stages
of construction and will be launched in September
2015.
The FREMM Bretagne is currently being assembled.

13 :: Defence Industry Bulletin

 Sea
Concept image of the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79). Image: US Navy
U.S. Navy awards $4.3bn carrier shipbuilding contract Joseph Carpenter
T he U.S. Navy has awarded
two major contracts to
Newport News Shipyard subsidiary
Huntington Ingalls Industries for
work on the upcoming construction
of its new nuclear-powered aircraft
carrier. $3.35bn has been offered
for design and construction on the
second Gerald R. Ford class (CVN-
79) carrier, to be christened the
USS John F. Kennedy (replacing the
CV-67; decommissioned in 2007),
while $941.2m has been provided as
a follow-on to a previously agreed
modification contract on the vessel.
The cap on total construction costs
for the CVN-79 has been scored at
$11.5bn.
Mike Shawcross, vice president
for Newport News Shipbuildings
CVN-79 carrier construction,
released a statement saying: These
awards are important, not only
for the shipbuilders at Newport
News Shipbuilding, but for the
thousands of suppliers nationwide
who provide the steel, pipe, cable,
paint and equipment that goes into
this cutting-edge defence platform
and for the sailors who will sail
her. We look forward to continuing
to implement lessons learned from The vessels
the first-of-the-class ship, Gerald
R. Ford, in the construction of feature higher
Kennedy and delivering the next
great carrier to the Navy. electrical power-
The new Ford-class carriers have
faced some criticism over their generation
high costs and production delays,
but both the Navy and the Defense
Department are intent on speeding
capacity and
up delivery. Ford-class carriers offer
enhanced design including flight
the flexibility to
deck changes, weapons handling
systems and a redesigned island,
incorporate a
in the aim of increasing the rates
of aircraft sortie-generation.
range of future
The vessels also feature higher
electrical power-generation
technologies
capacity and the flexibility to
incorporate a range of future 2010. More than 450 of the ships
technologies, which are helping to 1,100 structural units have since
improve efficiency and operating been built under a construction
costs in spite of a reduction to the preparation contract ahead of
crew size. establishing the ships hull .The
The first steel for Kennedy, keel-laying ceremony scheduled for
which may replace the USS Nimitz August 22.
(CVN-68), was cut in December of
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 14
 Sea
Naval Law passed to finance 3 new vessel types for Italian Navy
Eugenio Po

I taly has ratified a new Naval

Law, which is an extraordinary
ruling for the Italian Navy that
sanctions funding to build 3 types
of new vessels for Italian Navy.
The first contracts for the design,
development and construction of
the next generation Italian Navy
ships were signed as a result.
The backbone of these new units
is the PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente
dAltura or Multifunctional Offshore
Patrol Ship), which is a large multi-
role frigate. The second is a logistic
ship, LSS (Logistic Support Ship), A computer generated image of the PPA in the so called Light configuration
which is not only a fleet tanker but
a logistic ship able to support the prior to building both units. The penetrating 3-inch weapon and will
fleet for longer missions; and the following phases will start in the put its new 127/64 mm VULCANO
third is an amphibious ship, LHD coming months. cannon on all PPAs. MBDAs Italian
(Landing Helicopter Dock). The delivery of the LSS is division will provide all the missiles
With an overall budget in excess scheduled for 2019 while the first for the PPA: anti-ship TESEO and
of 5.4bn ($6.13bn), the general PPA will be ready in 2021, followed anti-air ASTER). WASS (also part of
plan of the Naval Law is to build 6 by one ship a year in 2022, 2023 and Finmeccanica) will be responsible
PPA with the option for another 4 2025. The programme plans for the for the anti-submarine and anti-
and one each of the LSS and LHD. delivery of two ships in 2024. torpedo systems of the PPA and the
If the cost for each unit is lower Within the programme, LHD while Elettronica will design
than scheduled it will be possible Fincantieri will provide a life-cycle all the Electronic Warfare systems.
to build one or more PPA on option, support of 10 years for the fleet,
and it seems already that a seventh with logistics activities, in service
PPA will be built thanks to some support, and will provide shafts,
savings.
OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe
stabilisation fins, automation
solutions and a platform control
The delivery
de Coopration en matire
dArmement) will manage the LSS
system through its company
Seastema.
of the LSS is
and PPA programmes, while the
LHD programme is running as a
Finmeccanica with its Selex
ES company will act as a prime
scheduled for
standard Italian MoD programme.
For PPA and LSS the value of
contractor for all the Combat
System (CS) and Combat
2019 while the
the contracts signed by OCCAR
with Fincantieri shipyard and
Management Systems (CMS). Selex
ES will have direct responsibility first PPA will be
Selex ES/Finmeccanica, is worth
3.5bn ($3.97bn). Of the contract
a Raggruppamento Temporaneo
for the CMS and for the new set of
AESA (Active Electronically Scanned ready in 2021,
Array) radar, one of which will be
dImpresa, which is like a
temporary joint venture, limited
a dual band AESA planar array followed by one
radar operating in I/J and C bands).
only to this particular programme
2.3bn will go to Fincantieri and
OTO Melara, which is part of ship a year in
Finmeccanica as well, is developing
1.2bn to Finmeccanica.
The contracts are divided is
a new version of its 76/62 mm 2022, 2023 and
cannon, called Sovraponte
different phases. Phase 1 is already
running and has a value of 372m
(translates to over the bridge),
which is a new lightweight non
2025
and covers all the design work

15 :: Defence Industry Bulletin

 Sea
U.S. Navy UCLASS programme rubs industry wrong way Oliver Austin
T he U.S. Navy is unable to
issue a formal solicitation for
its Unmanned Carrier Launched
Airborne Surveillance and Strike
System (UCLASS) contract until the
Defense Department has completed
its future military aircraft review,
according to those working on the
project.
Taking the next
step had been
delayed over the
DoDs aviation
study
Rear Admiral Mike Manazir, director
of air warfare at the USN, admitted
in a speech at a Washington think
tank that the UCLASS development
Naval Helicopter Integration: Germany Richard de Silva
I n March 2015, Germany
confirmed its long-awaited
deal to purchase 18 new NH90
NFH helicopters for its Navy from
NHI Industries. The deal for the
naval multirole platform, to be
inaugurated into service as Sea
Lion, is valued at $1.55 billion
and marks another customer for
a helicopter that has already been
adopted by five other NATO nations.
Meanwhile, the German helicopter
requirements had been finalised
over a year ago but that taking
the next step had been delayed
over the DoDs aviation study. The
disgruntlement is not new to the
project, which has been subject
to a series of controversies and
indecision. NAVAIR had planned
to release the draft RFP by the end
of March 2014 but has now pushed
the deadline back by a year. While
the Navy is optimising the platform
for ISR and limited strike (rather
than long-range strike), along with
a potential tanker role, calls for the
aircraft to have long endurance,
penetrating strike, aerial refueling
and broadband stealth capabilities
are putting pressure on schedules,
programme managers and
manufacturers.
Boeing, General Atomics,
Lockheed Martin and Northrop
Grumman were already awarded
$15 million each in 2013 to
participate in the programme.
In response to the most recent
industry will be able to continue
its work in the build, maintenance
and modernisation of maritime
helicopters. Deliveries of the Sea
Lion model are due to begin in 2018
in line with the Navys scheduled
retirement of its Westland Sea King
41s.
In spite of this decision, the
German Army is slashing its order
of 122 NH90s to 80, with two further
airframes for training and 22 more
covered by options. An order for
delay, Boeing Defense, Space &
Security President and CEO Chris
Chadwick released an open letter
expressing disappointment over
the decision to re-examine mission
requirements, stating: If the
industry is to continue investing in
these opportunities, the Defense
Department has to solidify its
requirements. It does nobody any
good to do R&D for the sake of
R&D.
Chadwick cited the U.S. Air
Forces current T-X jet trainer
programme, under which Boeing
has teamed with Saab to pitch
a new aircraft, as an example
of a steady, smart partnership
between industry and military
end-user. Likewise, both Saab
and Boeing have been active this
year in company-funding other
innovations, such as in converting
the precision-guided GBU-39
Small Diameter Bomb to a ground-
launched variant (GLSDB).
the Airbus Tiger attack helicopter
will also be decreased to 68 and
a future frontline fleet limited to
just 40. These are trying times for
European forces when it comes
to cost-effectiveness and making
the most of any new procurement
comes down to issues of flexibility
and interoperability, including the
capacity for use within a coalition
environment.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 16
 Sea

Defence Industry Bulletin

spoke with Captain (KZS)
Thorsten Bobzin of German
Naval Aviation Command
(Marinefliegerkommando) to
understand the operational
thinking behind the purchase
and how the aircraft will be
absorbed into service.

Captain Thorsten Bobzin (left), German Naval Aviation

Defence Industry Bulletin: Captain,
what has been the primary driving
force behind the German Navys
procurement of the NH90? To what
extent will the multi-mission
offering provide an advantage
when addressing the demands of
modern operations?
Captain Thorsten Bobzin: Until
2010, the German Navys goal
was to introduce a single model
of helicopter to replace the aging
fleets of both the 21 Sea King and, a
little later, the 22 Sea Lynx currently
in service. Inter-exchangeability in
the various roles and tasks would
have allowed the navy to reduce
the total number of required
helicopters to 30. The selection
process between the two main
competing models the NH90
Naval Frigate Helicopter (NFH) and
Sikorskys S92 (based on the CH148)
was finally decided politically.
In 2013, following a decision
to reduce the number of German
Army helicopters to be procured, a
new option arose for the German
Navy to procure 18 NH90 NTH
(Naval Transport Helicopter), solely
to replace the Sea King. In 2015
German parliament approved these
plans. I can confirm that delivery
is now scheduled from 2019 with
the last helicopters due by the
end of 2022. With this, the idea
of a full multi-mission helicopter
was abandoned, since the NH90
NTH Sea Lion is only going to be
equipped for SAR, logistic support
of the Navys supply ships and
above water surveillance taskings.
According to existing contracts the
helicopters will not be equipped
with dipping sonars, torpedoes or
missiles. These capabilities will
be limited to the Sea Lynx and its
future successor. As the defining
process for a Sea Lynx successor
has only now started, there is still
a possibility that another version
of the NH90 will be chosen, which
could bring our Navy back to
operating a one-model-helicopter
fleet. However, this decision will be
taken outside the Navy.
With our aging helicopter fleet
and the already protracted process
in mind, our main focus has
shifted more and more towards
bringing helicopters smoothly
into service helicopters that
are reliable and cover all basic
operational necessities. Even for
a LYNX successor we are looking
for readily available options rather
than tailored high-tech systems.
Fancy technical developments just
dont fit in todays military budgets
and they take too long languishing
in development before they become
operational.
DIB: What have been the priority
considerations when it comes
to integrating the NH90 into the
service alongside existing or
impending assets?
TB: So as mentioned, we primarily
aim for a reliable and available
fleet. Since the NH90 NTH is
going to fully replace the Sea King
fleet there is an opportunity to
implement changes within the
logistic support chain and towards
modern European regulations
(EASA conformity). For example,
we intend to bring in industrial
maintenance support to a larger
degree, allowing us to concentrate
our military maintenance on
basic flight line maintenance
ashore and on board our type 702
fleet supply ships. Additionally,
we are going to introduce
DEMAR (DEU European Military
Airworthiness Requirements)
specified maintenance training
based on EASA regulations. Aside
from a much higher degree of
compatibility with other NH90
operating nations, this will also
give our technical personnel a
better chance to use their military
knowledge for a consecutive
civilian career.

17 :: Defence Industry Bulletin

 Sea
DIB: On the subject of integration,
how does the Navy ensure working
cooperation and interoperability
with other nation given the
coalition nature of todays
operations? What does this mean
for the wider integration and use of
naval helicopters, specifically?
TB: Regarding the question of
how we are planning to integrate
the NH90 in our own fleet, we are
planning to make good use of
experiences made elsewhere. To
that end we are in contact with
several other European navies
which have already introduced
the NH90 into service. The work
the Royal Netherlands Navy has
already done on developing SHOL
(Ship Helicopter Operating Limits)
for the NH90 on board their ships,
for example, might be of excellent
use to all NH90 operating navies
including our own.
Where integration into
multinational coalitions is
concerned, we are not yet pressed
for time. Our SAR duty is to a
large degree organised nationally.
The main field for multinational
operations is a requirement for
interoperability within embarked/
deployed operations. For the Sea
Lions duties as a fleet transport
helicopter, common ground will
mostly be provided by the HOSTAC
(Helicopter Operations from Ships
other Than Aircraft Carriers)
organisation. It is only within the
Sea Lions tasks as a surveillance
asset that tactical cooperation
across nations is required. This
will be based on todays Sea King
experience and is one reason why
we will try our utmost despite
all logistical problems with this
aging helicopter to maintain our
expertise in embarked operations.
A more complex task will be
achieving interoperability for the
Sea Lynx successor as a multi-
mission tactical frigate asset.
DIB: Under the current sphere of
operations for which the German
Navy is responsible, what are
seen as the priority mission types
to be addressed or improved, or
indeed the most pressing emerging
threats?
TB: The German Navy puts the
main focus on classical warfare
areas, e.g. Anti-Surface Warfare
and Anti-Submarine Warfare.
While other tasks (such as MIO, ISR,
optical coast line reconnaissance
during EUNAVFOR Somalia
Operation Atalanta, and so on)
will still be required in future
operations, it is the classical
warfare areas where complex
tactical knowledge and procedures
as well as military specific
equipment is needed. Some of
these current tasks are not far from
police operations. Others, like drug
interdiction, even go beyond what
the German legal system allows for
military forces.
Therefore, our helicopters must
have the sensors and the weaponry
to complement the classical
warfare capabilities of our frigates.
Indeed, advances in submarine
technology raise the need for
modern anti-submarine sensors
and anti-submarine torpedoes.
The MU90 torpedo, for example,
is already being integrated into
the Sea Lynx fleet. The successor
to the Sea Lynx should have a
Europes NH90 is being absorbed into the German Navy. Image: Julian Herzog
modern dipping sonar, capable
of supporting bi- and multi-static
ASW operations. But again, our
focus is not on procuring high-
tech equipment, but rather reliable
workhorses that cover that broad
spectrum of tasks in a high
operational tempo.
DIB: Is there any question at the
forefront of your mind on which
this community could help to shed
more light?
TB: The German Navy puts the TB:
One interesting question is how
far we can and would like to go
with a common European force,
or if it is sufficient to focus on
more common equipment. With
regard to the latter, although the
European defence industry already
offers a large variety of products
procured by several nations, the
widespread national differences
on technical specifications and
operational demands still make it
next to impossible to actually gain
positive effects from one product
fits all. The industry is forced to
incorporate too many different
criteria in a single product, which
increases costs and development
time while reducing the platforms
availability when in service. We
need equipment that actually
works and does the job. Thats what
we should aim for.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 18
 Sea
Turkey signs with local shipbuilder for amphibious ship Victor M.S. Barreira
T he Turkish armament
procurement arm(Savunma
Sanayii Mstearl or SSM)
awarded the local shipbuilder
SEDEF Gemi naat (of Turkish
TURKON conglomerate) a contract
on 7 May to design and build one
landing helicopter dock (LPD) for
the Turkish Naval Forces Command
(TNFC). The ship based on the BPE
(Buque de Proyeccin Estratgica)
strategic projection ship design of
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia (of
Spanish state-owned SEPI group) is
scheduled to be delivered in 2021.
The ship will be the bigger
surface unit with the TNFC and will
be used to conduct naval operations
over the Aegean, the Black, and
the Mediterranean seas, as well as
on operations on the Atlantic and
Indian oceans. Four of Navantias
LCM-1E landing crafts also will be
built in Turkey.
Following a decision taken
by the Turkish Defense Industry
Executive Committee (SSIK or
Savunma Sanayii cra Komitesi)
on 26 December 2013, the BPE
design was selected according to
a decision released by the SSM
on 27 December 2013 to meet the
requirements of the countrys
Havuzlu karma Gemisi (or
Landing Platform Dock) project.
SEDEF Gemi naat was selected
over proposals by other local
shipbuilders RMK Marine Gemi
Yapm Sanayii ve Deniz Tamacl system, video surveillance system,
letmesi and DESAN Deniz naat the message handling system
Sanayi.
The ship will be outfitted out
with a wide range of equipment
from the local state-owned
companies Aselsan Elektronik
Sanayi Ve Ticaret (Aselsan) and
Havelsan Hava Elektronik Sanayi
ve Ticaret (Havelsan). Both signed
a business partnership agreement
for the ships combat system
in response to the request for
proposals file issued by the SSM.
Aselsan is responsible for the
development and integration of the
whole combat system that includes
weapon systems, electronic warfare
systems, self-protection equipment
(electronic warfare, acoustic and
infrared), radar systems, electro-
optical systems, integrated
communications systems and
navigation systems.
Alongside
providing
Turkey with an
impressive troop
projection asset,
the ship will
generate lots
of work for the
Turkish defence
industry
Havelsan, as the combat system
solution partner, is responsible for
command and control information
system, navigation information
distribution system, information
11MW Siemens eSIPOD integrated
electric drive pod systems; two
and integration services related
with these systems. The ships
combat management system will
be based on Havelsans GENESS
(Gemi Entegre Sava dare Sistemi)
solution.
Alongside providing Turkey with
an impressive troop projection
asset, the ship will generate lots of
work for Turkish defence industry.
The Spanish shipbuilder will
be responsible for delivering the
design and transfer of technology
services; technical assistance;
equipment including diesel
engines, and the companys SICP
(Sistema Integrado de Control de
la Plataforma) integrated platform
management system in a potential
cooperation with the Turkish firm
Aydin Yazilim ve Elektronik Sanayii
(AYESA).
The ship will feature a light
cargo garage of 1880 m2; heavy
cargo garage of 1410 m2 for TEU
containers, armoured vehicles
such as main battle tanks, wheeled
and tracked personnel carriers
and amphibious assault vehicles
and other equipment; a hangar of
900 m2 for S-70B Seahawk anti-
submarine helicopters, CH-47
Chinook transport helicopters and
AW149 multi-mission helicopters;
a dock with capacity of 1165 m2
for four landing craft mechanised
boats (LCMs) or two landing craft
air cushion vehicles (LCACs); and a
flight deck of 5440 m2 with 6 spots
and sky-jump ramps at the front
with vertical and/or short take-off
and landing (VSTOL) capacity. It
will offer a displacement of about
27.436t, length of 231m, maximum
beam of 32m, height of 58m, top
speed of 21kts, and maximum
range of 9000nm.
Main fittings will include a fully
electric propulsion suite consisting
of five 8000 Kw MAN Diesel & Turbo
SE 16V32/40 diesel engines, two
1500 Kw azimuth bow thrusters
and diesel gensets; integrated
platform management system;
SMART-S Mk2 air and surface
surveillance S-band radar laser
warning system; electronic support
measures system; infra-red search
and track system; anti-torpedo
system; HF/VHF/UHF and satellite
communication systems; decoy
launchers; radar-electronic counter
measures system; two electro-
optical fire directors; identification,
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 19
 Sea
friend or foe technology; one
precision approach radar; two
navigation radars; two low
probability of intercept radar
systems; one air traffic and control
radar, tactical datalink systems;
damage control system; and
ammunition handling and stowage
systems.
As for self-protection armament,
the amphibious assault vessel will
carry four STOP remote weapon
stations armed with 25mm
automatic cannon; three STAMP
remote weapon stations armed
with 12.7mm heavy machine gun;
and two Mk 15 Phalanx close-in
SPS Juan Carlos I amphibious assault ship of Spanish Navy paid a visit to Istanbul in May 2011
Image: Cem Devrim Yaylali
weapon systems. by Navantia and BAE Systems
The Turkish ship was designed Australia for the Royal Australian
for amphibious operations, Navy (RAN). The first vessel the
force projection troops and HMAS Canberra (LHD-01) was
personnel, command and control, delivered in October 2014, and the
replenishment at sea, joint second unit HMAS Adelaide (LHD-
operations and military operations 02) scheduled to be delivered by
other than war (MOOTW) missions late 2015.
such as humanitarian assistance,
medical support featuring large
medical facilities and disaster
relief.
One BPE ship is in service
with the Spanish Navy as SPS
Juan Carlos I (L61), and two
Canberra-class landing helicopter
docks (LHDs) were jointly built
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 20
 RE
13th Annual

TH AI T O
MARITIME

CO
E G SS F
N N VE N

LO AN THE
BA CE Y
E

L M C O EAR
RECONNAISSANCE

AR M M
ITI U
M NIT
E
& SURVEILLANCE

Y
Ensuring maximum domain awareness
Main Conference: 29th 30th September 2015 Pre-Conference Workshop: 28th September 2015
Location: Park Plaza Victoria, London, UK

An excellent opportunity
to share experiences and
keep abreast of the latest
developments in maritime
surveillance.
Major Jose Muoz Crave,
Surveillance Escuadron 3
Commander, Spanish Air Force

Our esteemed 2015 speaker panel includes:

Vice Admiral Vice Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Rear Admiral Dato Brigadier Captain
Stanislaw Zarychta, Roberto Sachica, Kazuki Yamashita, Thomas Ernst, Azhari bin Abdul David Evans, Michael Napolitano,
Commander Maritime Head of Naval President, Commander, NATO Rashid, Head of Information Chief of Staff,
Operations Centre, Operations, Japan Maritime Maritime Air Forces, Commander Naval, Services, Commander Patrol and
Polish Navy Colombian Navy Self Defense Force NATO Region 1, Royal Navy Reconnaissance Group,
Staff College Royal Malaysian Navy US Navy

Sponsors:

www.maritimerecon.comDefence Industry Bulletin :: 21

 Air
New Russian Fighters for 2017 Oliver Austin
T he Russian Air Force is to
receive its first batch of PAK FA
T-50 fifth-generation fighter jets by
late 2016 or early 2017, according to
the head of Russias United Aircraft
Corporation (UAC).
Yuri Slyusar, told press at the
Paris Air Show that Sukhoi has
now delivered four prototypes and
two test beds, with three more
prototypes expected for delivery
by the end of 2015. The additional
prototypes are intended to allow
for the testing programme to be
expanded and accelerated.
The multirole aircraft will be a
single seat, twin engine platform
that combines the functions of
a strike aircraft with a fighter.
According to state corporation
Rostec, the jet will be built with
composite materials, and come
with advanced electronic systems
Update on the IA-58 upgrade for Argentina Iigo Guevara
T he Argentine Air Force
(FAA) is upgrading an
unknown number of FMA IA-58A
Puacar twin-turbooprop attack-
fighters with new avionics and
engines. Prime contractor is the
government-run Fbrica de Aviones
(FAdeA) Brigadier San Martin, which
has subcontracted the redesign of
the Puacaras 48-foot span wings to
accommodate the new engines.
FAdeA will re-engine the
aircraft with the more efficient
950-shp Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-62
turboprops that will replace the two
988-hp ageing Turbomca Astazou
XVIG used in the original aircraft.
The Turbomca engines are now
out of production and are becoming
increasingly difficult to maintain.
The modified wings were
delivered by IAI to the FAA in late
May for refit into Pucar A-561,
which is the new-engine prototype.
A separate new avionics prototype
and engines to ensure the plane
can stay mostly undetected by
radars or other optical and infrared
technologies.
Slyusar also announced
intentions to sign an R&D
collaboration contract with India
for joint work on the derivative
variant of the aircraft known as
the Perspective Multi-role Fighter
which will be heavily customised
for the requirements of the Indian
Air Force, including the potential
of outfitting it as a two-seater.
However, as previously reported by
Defence Industry Bulletin [issue
3; Oct], a number of factors
including cost overruns, a lack of
reliable high-performance engines
and alloys, a reluctance for Russia
to share design knowledge with
India, and reports of dissatisfaction
among Indian departments over
is Pucar A-568.
Nevertheless, given the large
stock of parts from the 108-plus
IA-58A Pucar fleet procured by the
FAA in the 1970s and early 1980s,
FAdeA was able to completely
remanufacture a IA-58D Puacar
(serial A-580) and redeliver it to the
New Puacar being upgraded by Argentine Air Force. Image: FAA
current prototype performance
may all result in further delays to
the PMF.
In March, Russia scaled back
its commitment to the number of
T-50s it will purchase, reducing the
figure from 52 by 2020 to just 12 (a
single squadron) and deciding later
on whether it needs or can afford
further orders. Some analysts are
pondering whether the continued
health of the Russian economy,
in the wake of western sanctions,
will further impact production and
sales.
India meanwhile has
downgraded its initial purchasing
size from 200 to 144 planes at an
estimated total cost of $30 billion.
In total, Russia expects to sell 1,000
units worldwide as it hopes to rival
worldwide procurement of the F-35.
FAAs III Air Brigade at Reconquista
in January 2015.
The number of aircraft to be
upgraded is thought by several
sources to be 12 although so far
only three sets of wings have been
funded.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 22
 Air
First NATO ISR UAV revealed Joseph Carpenter
N ATO has unveiled its first
Intelligence Surveillance
Reconnaissance UAV in the form of
the first of five Northrop Grumman
RQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft set
to fulfil the Alliance Ground
Surveillance (AGS) programme
requirement.
The complete
AGS system
will involve an
expansive range
of intelligence-
gathering
equipment
The multinational effort has been
in development since 1995, with
Swedish call for new jet trainers Joseph Carpenter
S weden has released an RFI
to find a replacement platform
for its ageing Saab 105 (SK 60) twin-
engine jet trainer fleet. The Swedish
Defence Materiel Administration
(FMV) is aiming to integrate the
new platform into its forthcoming
Military Flight Training System
(MFTS) to meet IOC as early as 2018
and full operational capability by
2020. It should remain in service for
up to 30 years as the launch pad for
the next-generation of fighter pilots
preparing to fly the Saab JAS-39E
Gripen.
The MFTS is intended to
provide up to 8,000 live flying
hours per year, along with an
additional 3,000 simulator flying
hours, but the FMV is also asking
respondents to consider potential
future increases of between 10
15 nations participating, including
the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway,
Poland, Slovenia, the Baltic States
and the U.S. The aircraft is derived
from the U.S. Air Force Block
40 Global Hawk and will offer
wide-area long-endurance for
use in a variety of ISR missions,
including troop support, border
security and crisis management.
The complete AGS system will
involve an expansive range of
intelligence-gathering equipment
on the ground with fixed, mobile
and transportable control stations,
along with an advanced PED
data processing, exploitation and
dissemination element.
Erling Wang, chairman of
the NATO AGS Management
Organization (NAGSMO), declared
the unveiling as a significant
step forward in achieving NATOs
goal of acquiring NATO-owned
and operated AGS Core Capability.
What you see here today is the
result of one of the commitments
made at the 2012 NATO Summit;
and 30 percent as part of their
calculations. Sweden may adopt
a one- or two-aircraft solution,
with the latter path involving
both a basic and advanced trainer.
Instructors would use the advanced
trainer to download training from
the Operational Conversion Unit
(OCU), which includes training for
reconnaissance, night flying, air-
to-surface attack, lead-in fighter
training and air-to-air refueling.
The advanced flying training and
fighter lead-in training phases
require Mach 0.65 at an operational
ceiling of over 25,000ft and a speed
of 300kt at 1,000ft. Meanwhile,
the basic trainer must feature the
ability to operate above 20,000ft
and to maintain 230kt (425km/h) in
level flight at 15,000ft.
The Saab 105 has been in service
to bring this advanced and critical
persistent ISR capability to the
alliance to help ensure we can
continue to address the range of
challenges our member and other
allied nations face.
The $1.7 billion contract
includes involvement from Airbus
Defence & Space, Selex ES and
Kongsberg, underscoring the level
of multinational collaboration. The
Global Hawk has a flight endurance
of up to 30 hours and features the
U.S. Air Force Multi-Platform Radar
Technology Insertion Program
(MP-RTIP) sensor and a Raytheon
developed AN/ALR-89 self-
protection suite consisting of the
AN/AVR-3 laser warning receiver,
AN/APR-49 radar warning receiver
and a jamming system. Programme
managers are anticipating a
challenging integration and
certification process as the
equipment is largely unique and
differs from that of the U.S. Air
Force Global Hawks.
since the 1960s and is far from
advanced enough to instill the
skills currently required for present
day operations and capabilities,
a fact that has resulted in the air
arm having to use the front-line
aircraft as the platform for practice
in combat techniques and onboard
information management. An
operational fleet of around 50 of the
aircraft currently log approximately
5,500 hours per year.
The RFI requires prospective
tenders to submit material
including aircraft numbers and
lifecycle cost estimates by July
1 and anticipates contracts to be
agreed and signed in late 2016 or
early 2017.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 23
 Air
Opinion: NATO AGS hurdles higher than they appear Angus Batey

T he NATO AGS programme

remains of critical importance
to the alliance and to the future The problems
project back on track. At Palmdale,
Northrop officials spoke of the Euro
Hawk restart as if all integration
and certification problems had
shape of unmanned aviation in
Europe. But the problems facing facing both the been solved: if this is the case,
both the platform and the general the company has been unusually
sector arent quite as close to being platform and reluctant to trumpet the fact (the
solved as appearance suggests most recent news story listed on
judging by reports from the rollout the general the Northrop websites Euro Hawk
page relates to a test flight carried
event for the first AGS airframe.
There are a number of key
challenges facing beyond-line-
sector arent out in September 2013).
Where this leaves AGS is
of-sight unmanned aircraft
operations. Perhaps the most
quite as close unclear. At the time of Euro Hawks
cancellation, German politicians
significant are those involving
airframe certification and the need
to being solved behind the decision to cut the
system were also urging Germany
for the aircraft to demonstrate an
equivalent capability to a manned
as appearance to withdraw from AGS. Italy has
become a leader in flying larger
platform to see an inbound aircraft
on a potential collision course and
suggests UAS in Europe and is the only
nation on track to generate a
to take evasive action. No solution domestic training capability for
for either problem has yet been concerns about certification. its fleet of Reaper UAS (expressing
approved. In January, some work on the an intention to offer training to
There have been several instances Euro Hawk was restarted, but European allies once its system
where certification has been sources close to the programme is running; France and the UK
achieved, and some flights of have suggested that transitioning also operate the aircraft, with the
larger UAS have taken place in the payload to a Triton the Global Netherlands in the process of
unsegregated airspace - including Hawk derivative Northrop is buying it, but none of those nations
a series of flights made by a Block building for the U.S. Navy, which can fly it domestically). But AGS
40 Global Hawk between Sigonella, contains additional technologies will be of only limited use if it
the future operating location for necessary to achieve a sense-and- cannot traverse the airspace of all
AGS, and Norway, including transits avoid capability represented a European nations.
of the UK. Northrop staff were more viable means of getting the
correct to draw this to the attention
of journalists at the rollout, and
it does show that the operational
concept works. But there are a
number of important caveats
Firstly, the 2014 Global Hawk
flights took extensive amounts of
planning. Separation from other
air traffic was achieved by flying it
above everything else. Its transits
of the UK seem to have been very
deliberately plotted to minimise the
time it spent over land.
It also seems significant that
the flight plan did not take the
aircraft anywhere near Germany.
The Luftwaffe has its own Global
Hawk-based programme, but the
Euro Hawk has seen problems.
The project appeared dead in 2013
after German legislators expressed

The NATO AGS is expanding shared intelligence options but challenges persist
Image: NATO

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 24

 Air
Lockheed Martin wins RAF Chinook training contract Joseph Carpenter
L ockheed Martin has been development, and assist in the
awarded a $78 million contract programme management.
from the UK MoD to deliver the
design and build for a new training
facility to for the Royal Air Forces
Mk6 Chinook operators.
The contract will cover 12
years of the establishment and
running of synthetic training for
crews based at the RAF Odiham
training facility in Hampshire, UK,
where up to 16 employees from
the Lockheed UK site will deliver
a medium to long-term support
package. The facility will include
a suite a digital training solutions,
two flight deck device simulators
and a rear crew training device. 30
employees at Lockheeds Orlando
facility will support the design and
Turkey F-X set to welcome foreign partner Oliver Austin
One of several concept designs for Turkeys future fighter
T he Turkish Government
has announced plans to
select a foreign partner for its
indigenous fighter jet programme
by 2016.
Dubbed F-X, the experimental
twin-engine fifth generation
aircraft was pushed into
development in 2010. It will be
manufactured by Turkish Aerospace
Lockheed Martin UK Chief
Executive Stephen Ball said, This
new, purpose-built facility will
use the very latest technology and
simulators to replicate real-life
operational scenarios and ensure
RAF Chinook pilots and crew are
trained to the highest standard.
Alongside Babcock International,
the company currently provides
training support to the UK Ascent
organisation in its provision of the
Military Flight Training System
(MFTS).
The RAF received the first of its
14 Mk6 aircraft in June 2014, as part
of a $1.5bn injection to significantly
improve its helicopter fleet. The
new variants incorporate a new
Industries (TAI) to replace the
existing F-16 fleet and work in
tandem with the incoming F-35s.
According to sources, the foreign
partner will be awarded around
$1bn to support the design phase of
property as primary base
the programme for four years.
Turkeys procurement agency,
the Undersecretariat for Defense
Industries (SSM), released the RFI
Digital Automatic Flight Control
System (DAFCS) and the updated
cockpit of the Mk4 and 5. They
are equipped for a variety of roles
and can be armed with two M134
six-barrelled Miniguns, one in each
front side window, and an M60D
machine gun on the ramp.
When delivery is complete
by the end of 2015, the total RAF
Chinook force will stand at 60 and
is expected to be fully operational
by 2017.
Meanwhile, the MoD has also
awarded a $45m contract to
AgustaWestland to deliver Merlin
Mk 4/4a aircrew synthetic training
devices which will see pilots will
be trained on new simulators in
Somerset.
for the F-X programme in March
of this year, resulting in a flurry of
interest from some of the worlds
biggest players, including Saab,
BAE Systems, Airbus, Alenia,
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC),
and Chinas Shenyang Aircraft
Corporation. Further tender interest
is anticipated to emerge when the
programme reaches the RFP stage.
The F-X is expected to be
introduced into service from 2023.
In January 2015, Turkeys Defense
Industry Executive Committee,
chaired by then-Prime Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu, decided to ramp
up development of the programme,
along with other defence
programmes including production
of the indigenous MPT-76 service
rifle, and agreement to commit to
four more F-35s and five additional
CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
In May, Turkey selected SNC
to provide Dornier intellectual
models for its future regional jet
programme, which will eventually
accompany the indigenous fighter
jet in operation by 2023.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 25
 Air
Alenia Aermacchi presents new training system for M-345 HET Eugenio Po

A lenia Aermacchi, part of

Finmeccanicas group, has
unveiled the Ground based training
Demonstrator Device (GDD), a
ground system demonstrator for
the new basic/advanced jet M-345.
The system is an advanced flight
simulator that is able to replicate
the flying characteristics of Alenia
Aermacchis M-345 HET (Highly
Efficient Trainer) and has a replica
of the cockpit and its main flight
instruments.
The entire ground based training
system constitutes an e-learning
system with its Computer Based
Training (CBT), a Procedural
Training Device (PTD) and an
Operational Fight Trainer (OFT). The
PTD and the OFT share the same
software and part of the hardware,
but the OFT additional features.
These include a wide screen with
180 degrees of field of view and a
cockpit simulating the real one.
The final simulator will
introduce students to tactics that
will be completed during fights
thanks to the ETTS (Embedded
Tactical Training System), a system
able to create targets on Multi
Function Displays of the jet.
The M-345 HET is an evolution
of the previous M-311 with a new
Williams International FJ-44-
4M turbofan engine and with an
advanced, larger cockpit.
The trainer, which can act as
a basic trainer or as an advanced
trainer, is under development by
Alenia Aermacchi with funding
coming from Italian MoD.

A Computer generated image of the new Ground based training Demonstrator Device

The demonstrator of the M-345 HET in flight with the Italian Air Force Actobatic Team camouflage

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 26

 Cyber
U.S. to help Japan defend government data Oliver Austin
I n May, officials from the
U.S.-Japan Cyber Defense Policy
Working Group issued a joint
statement declaring an agreement
for the U.S. to extend its cyber
defence capabilities for government
data protection to its Asian ally.
Most important to the decree
will be an increase to the level of
security afforded to critical national
infrastructure (CNI) and military
installations.
The Policy Group was established
in 2013 amid the enacting of
the U.S. pivot strategy, a rise in
Chinese territorial claims, and clear
signs of Japan veering further from
its long-standing and restrictive
defence policy. Other efforts for
support and integration between
Japan and the U.S. includes a
pact on ballistic missile defence,
off-shore radar installations and
providing Tokyo with a more
influential role in regional security.
Both nations have identified an
increasing level of sophistication
in the nature of malicious attacks
from both state-led/sponsored
and non-state sources. Meanwhile,
recent incidents and research
point to a rise in malicious activity
from China and North Korea,
allegedly including the 2014 attack
on Sony Pictures Entertainment
Japans cyber defence team is miniscule compared to the current Pentagon workforce
Less than
a hundred
personnel work
for the nations
cyber defence
unit, compared
to over 6,000
employed at the
Pentagon
that caused significant financial
and diplomatic fallout. The White
House has been taking a number
of legal steps towards enforcing a
more secure global infrastructure,
including economic sanction on
nations that are believed to be
behind cyberattacks on American
systems and prosecution of private
companies involved in CNI that fail
to meet security regulations.
Despite Japans reputation as
a leader in technology, reports
suggest that less than a hundred
personnel work for the nations
cyber defence unit, compared
to over 6,000 employed at the
Pentagon. Japan is also under
pressure to raise its cyber resilience
before Tokyo hosts the 2020
Olympic Games.
On the same day the cyber
pact was announced, Japan
suffered a breach of its national
pension system and a leaking
of personal data for 1.25 million
people, underscoring the level of
vulnerability in effect.
In June, the White House
directed all federal agencies to
take a series of rapid measures to
lock down government systems in
the wake of a March attack on the
Office of Personnel Management.
Some analysts believe the breach to
have been orchestrated by Chinese
sources.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 27
 Cyber
Airbus D&S introduces new APT cyber solution Angus Batey
A key challenge for
companies operating in
the cyber-defence market is in
providing solutions that leverage
both technological capability and
human expertise. Buyers may
be unwilling to pay solely for a
managed service if they already
have invested in an information-
security team of their own -
and few enterprises active in
the defence industry will have
progressed beyond sole-trader
startup status without having
done so. Airbus Defence & Spaces
Keelback Net product, therefore,
may represent a new model.
At the heart of the Keelback Net
solution is a physical product -
a sensor, which is deployed on
customer networks at strategic
locations to intercept and
interrogate data flowing into and
out of the system. When the sensor
detects network traffic which
appears anomalous when checked
against databases of known threats
or an understanding of what
constitutes normal behaviour of
users and nodes on the system,
it triggers an alert to Airbus staff
located at one of three European
Cyber Defence Centres, and
Keelback Net was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in June
Image: Airbus D&S
analysis and a cogent, holistic
response can be set in motion.
Combining a product with a
service, Keelback Net can augment
a clients in-house cyber-defence
capabilities rather than supplanting
them. As well as allowing clients to
benefit from Airbuss awareness of
the threat environment, the system
brings a forensic investigation
capability to bear on the problem -
providing enhanced understanding
without tying up in-house staff.
Over the past few years weve
been increasingly operating in
this cyber-security space and
supporting our customers with
security operations - thats
protective monitoring and analysis,
but also the investigations side,
explains Matt Bennett, cyber-
security incident-response team
lead at Airbus D&Ss Newport
centre. Over that period weve
developed a number of tools
and technologies to support our
analysts and consultants. And a
decision was taken to turn it into
a more formalised solution set, of
which Keelback is one component.
Keelback Net permits storage and
analysis of metadata, meaning that
investigators can track incidents
to their source. This is particularly
important given that most so-
called APTs (advanced persistent
threats) go undetected for months:
a company doesnt just need to
know its been breached, it has to
know when, what information has
been exfiltrated from the network
since the attack began, and where
the data were sent. Cyber-defence
philosophy has moved on from
the idea of firewalls and defending
the perimeter to an acceptance
that infiltration is inevitable:
understanding and limiting damage
from an attack is now the primary
goal. Investigation therefore
becomes vital.
Its very difficult and
very expensive to invest in
technologies, Bennett says. And
its very difficult to find the right
expertise, recruit people and retain
them. So were taking that burden
off their hands, and basically giving
a range of customers, from very
small to very large, access to this
level of protection and service. It
enables us to put our customers in
the best position possible to detect
these types of advanced attacks;
but also be in a position to respond
in a timely and effective manner.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 28
 Africa
Why is an African life worth less than a French, Belgian or German one?
Paramount Group bosses take aim at industry

Defence Industry Bulletins Georg

Chairman Ivor Ichikowitz made
headlines with his Give war a
chance! comment.
Image Georg Mader
Mader talks to Ivor Ichikowitz,
Chairman, and John Craig, CEO of
South Africas Paramount Group
on the companys benefit to the
continent, the emergence of its
jigless manufactured aircraft, and
why the global defence industry
needs to change its approach to
Africa.
EO John Craig sees Paramount as
leading a philosophical change to the
African defence industry.
Image Georg Mader

Defence Industry Bulletin: You
and Paramount are one of, if not
the, biggest player in African
defence. Would you please give us
an overview on how you see Africa
today its defence capabilities and
its markets?
Ivor Ichikowitz: In the 21 years
since we founded Paramount, we
have seen Africa evolve. One thing
that has not changed is the reality
that if you are going to expect
countries to introduce democratic
systems, if you are going to keep
countries stable for investment, you
have to give these governments the
ability to protect their democracies.
This has been our theory, this is
why I am in this business, and why
I started Paramount. Back then,
100 percent of our business was
in Africa and we considered and
still consider the technology that
Paramount has as an asset of the
African continent. It is a mindset.
21 years ago, there were
300 armed conflicts taking
place in Africa. Dictators,
coups, insurgencies, liberation-
movements and crime was rife.
As governments start to invest in
police and military capabilities,
and as companies like Paramount
help them to create such capacities,
we saw these conflicts reduce
exponentially. I think were down
to around twelve today. Thats still
too many, but now the continent
has become a viable investment
destination. People talk about the
rise of Africa but actually nothing
has changed except one thing:
African governments today are
improving their ability to protect
their people, their assets, and keep
them safe. We are not completely
there yet, but we have made a huge
amount of progress in that time.
DIB: While weve of course known
Paramount for quite some time and
followed your recent agreements
with Ukraine and Jordan at IDEX,
some of our readers wont know
the full background story
John Craig: As the CEO of the
industrial-holdings organisation,
Im happy to fill them in. As
our chairman said, we turn 21
this year. He and his family
founded Paramount in 1994 and
he still is very active in business
development and promotion. 1994
was an important date as this also
was the year of a new democratic
beginning in South Africa.
Paramount focuses on providing a
broad spectrum of fully-integrated
turnkey solutions to global defence,
peacekeeping and internal security
forces. The Group has established
itself as a global innovator with
the development of one of the
worlds most modern and advanced
families of armoured combat
vehicles and also of a revolutionary
aircraft, the first aerial platform
of its kind. Integrated with the
latest technologies in electronic
systems, these world-class
platforms enable Paramount to
deliver a total defence system
to its customers. But while our
business in Africa itself is only
small, we never lost our African
approach in understanding
clients requirements or in using
our extensive local knowledge to
design cost-effective, future-proof
solutions. Thus we enjoy growth,
thanks to an excellent track record
of delivering successful projects.

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 29

 Africa
DIB: And Paramount really is the
largest African security or defence
enterprise in existence?
JC: The Group at this point is
Africas largest private defence
contractor and one of the fastest
growing defence companies in
the world. Most of our technology
centres and facilities are in South
Africa, but we are operating globally
through partnerships. The Group is
a leading innovator in the design
and development of state-of-the-
art products that it manufactures
in locations throughout the world.
It is partnered with some of the
worlds largest and most reputable
organisations in the global defence
community. We have an office in
Cyprus, one in London, a company
in Hong Kong...Meanwhile, our
armoured vehicles are being
produced in a joint-venture in
Baku, Azerbaijan and we will also
do so in Kazakhstan and Jordan
II: ...and we do that without any
governmental aid or financial
support, Id like to add! Also
important for me is that what we
do and what we achieve is done not
for the Group alone or for South
Africa, but for the support of Africa
as a whole. I strongly believe in the
future prosperity of this continent
and its people, but of course it
needs a lot of gradual support.
Thats the case in any sector
Economics, Health, Infrastructure,
Education, Environment and
Defence too. Many countries in
Africa have so far invested in less
than 10 percent of their actual
requirements. There is a huge
pressure, from the World Bank for
instance, to invest into all these
branches of society and not into
military spending. However, if you
dont have a secure environment,
then all the money you invest in
schools and hospitals could be
meaninglesscould even be lost!
Thats just a fact. So we believe
the African market is expanding
exponentially and that there is a
mindset-change. We try to support
this and our success so far lies in
our confidence and faith in Africas
technical ability. Our investment
drives R&D in high-tech fields.
If you dont
have a secure
environment,
then all the
money you
invest in schools
and hospitals
could be
meaningless
DIB: When you mention this
industrial-holdings organisation,
youre talking about the different
branches of Paramount. What are
these?
JC: Well, our industrial investments
developed in response to the
market opportunities we noticed.
In 2006, we decided to begin
producing our own range of
armoured vehicles. Today we
have a combat systems division,
producing a range of armoured
vehicle systems for land forces. The
vehicles are fully designed from
scratch no adaptions of existing
designs, no Land Cruisers taken
and up-armoured. Thats not a
market for us. Instead, it offers fully
own-designed and manufactured
(with protected bodies) for military
or security forces. We have mine-
and blast-resistant infantry
vehicles, internal security force
vehicles, and so on. We entered
that market very successfully and
we now have more than a 1,000
vehicles in service around the
world. Were producing them in
several hubs. For example, we have
recently announced the launch of
vehicle production in Kazakhstan,
with Kazakhstan Engineering a
government entity previously
not engaged in armoured vehicle
production. So we marry our skills
and intellectual property with local
manufacturing capabilities. The
factory there is already built.
DIB: Are you able to name some of
your vehicle customers?
JC: I can talk about some of them.
We have vehicles in service in
Azerbaijan, in Gabon, in the Congo,
in Jordan...
DIB: Like the 6x6 Mbombe, your
largest vehicle, which is now also
going to Jordan...
II: No, its not going to Jordan, it
will in fact come from Jordan. In
line with the partnership principles
we cultivate, reinforcing the rise
of indigenous manufacturing in
the Middle East was behind a deal
signed between Paramount Group
and KADDB [King Abdullah II
Design and Development Bureau],
allowing the latter to manufacture
an initial tranche of 50 Mbombe 6x6
protected patrol vehicles for the
Jordanian Armed Forces.
JC: The 50 vehicles are actually
a part of a multi-million (US$)
deal between the company and
KADDB. We signed this at IDEX on
23 February 2015 and the contract
followed months of testing in
Middle Eastern deserts with
temperatures reaching around
50C as well as winter trials in
Kazakhstan where temperatures
plummeted to -50C. Providing
protection against 14.5 mm
ammunition and 155 mm artillery
shells, Mbombe also boasts
STANAG Level IV protection against
10kg mines detonated under its
flat-hull or wheels. The vehicle can
withstand a 50kg TNT blast. By the
way, all our vehicles are not based
on a donor chassis per se, our won-
designed fully-welded armoured
structure hulls are strong enough
to carry COTS suspension and
driveline components without the
need for a chassis.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 30
 Africa
Marauder vehicles on parade in Azerbaijan
DIB: And, is Paramount going
8x8...?
JC: Yes, we will. From knowledge
gained by our previous designs,
weve now arrived in the upper-
echelon of 8x8 full fighting vehicles.
Paramount will thus have a
comprehensive range of wheeled
vehicles for military and homeland
security applications, including
the Mbombe, the Maverick 4x4
ISV, Marauder 4x4 Wheeled Troop
Carrier and Matador 4x4 MRPV.
DIB: Lets have a deeper look at the
air branch. Helicopter upgrades,
fast jet modernisation and support,
and even its own aircraftIs
this all carried out by your own
engineers and workforce?
JC: We are a defence & aerospace
company, with strategic
investments. Look at Aerosud, a
well established company that once
started as the lead designers of the
Rooivalk attack-helicopter. Today
they are a very important partner
to the likes of Boeing and Airbus,
supplying them with over 1.5
million parts per year. Its perhaps
not well known, but Aerosud
had a military aviation division
with competence in upgrading,
weaponising and sustaining
even supersonic combat aircraft.
Paramount has worked closely
with this division in providing
and sustaining the former SAAF
Mirage F1s to Gabon and Congo-
Brazzaville. Thats been a very
They even did the Super-Hind*
programme [see information box,
p.35]...
DIB: ...Those are the 28 for Algeria,
right? And for Azerbaijan? These
central-Asian nations seem fairly
critical to the company...
JC: Exactly youre well researched!
Weve added several sets of
competencies in the aerospace
segment, including the ability
to design, modify and sustain
fixed-wing and rotary-aircraft,
but also through the Advanced
successful programme. Meanwhile,
Technologies division the ability
Paramount has acquired this
to take those platforms and develop
division and rebranded it as
fully-integrated systems, be it
Paramount Aerospace, including it
recce, airborne-surveillance or full
within our aerospace cluster. It has
weaponisation. Our chairman
the ability to upgrade and modify
said one day: We should not limit
almost any platform.
ourselves to upgrade existing
aircraft or helicopters. We have
DIB: So with this division,
the capability here, so we should
Paramount still has to care for the
undertake our own design.
old Mirages in those countries? Are
they really being flown or are they
II: You mentioned Azerbaijan. In
dusty hangar queens?
2014, we signed a joint venture with
AirTech Services Corporation of
II: Hangar queens? No! We have
Azerbaijan. This move will see the
a life-long marriage with these
establishment of manufacturing
customers. And old? These were
capabilities for the modernisation,
low-mileage F1s only flown on
upgrade and enhancement of
Sundays! Theyre still, fantastic,
rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.
useable aircraft. They fly and they
The joining of our two companies
have a long life ahead of them, so
positions us a leader in the region,
we need to support them as we
providing the advantage of various
always do, in contrast to many
capabilities across a range of
OEMs who only look for profit and
platforms, including Mi-17 and Mi-
often do not come to Africa with
24 helicopters, and Su-25 or MiG-29
decent lifecycle support.
aircraft. Our partnership began with
land systems and this relationship
DIB: Got it. What about that new
strengthened as the country
indigenous aircraft, the AHRLAC?
developed into the fast-growing,
regional economic powerhouse that
JC: AHRLAC has been developed by
it is today. Im very excited that
our dedicated AHRLAC division, but
we can build on this foundation
within that Paramount Aerospace
to establish advanced aerospace
cluster, there is a division called
capabilities in this country. But
Paramount Advanced Technologies
were expanding beyond Central
[PAT]. This division was born
Asia, into the Middle East, Asia in
30 years ago as the company
general, and South America. These
ATE Advanced Technologies
are our key markets.
& Engineering. For many years,
among many things, they were very
successful in upgrading helicopters
like the Russian Mi-24 Hind.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 31
 Africa
JC: As weve learned from vehicles,
if you own a platform, you can
bring in partners to do the mission
kit, but its still your intellectual
property. Were following the same
concept in aerospace now. The
deal we signed with Ukrainian
engine manufacturer Motor Sich
JSC, for example, allows us to really
get into the OEM league on large
helicopters. You may have heard
our composite rotor blade sets for
Russian helicopters never need
to be replaced again within the
platforms lifetime. But thats a
developing story for another time...
DIB: OK, just back to the AHRLAC
theres this one prototype flying...
JC: Yes. Youll have seen it
flying since August 2014 as a
manifestation of our chairmans
vision, four years after the concept
was put on the table. So far, its
seen 65 hours, problem free, all
engineering validated. This has
also been a spin-off opportunity
for young engineers. Theres now a
full career path available you can
live your dreams in the aerospace
environment, in South Africa!
When I entered the market as a
young graduate engineer, I wanted
to do just that, but I didnt have
the opportunity. South Africa was
under sanctions. You could work
in upgrading aircraft or you could
work in civil aviation, working
out flight-paths for minimum
fuel-burn. Today, we have that
opportunity in place for aerospace
aficionados and were getting the
worlds attention. Weve already
cut metal for the second and
third AHRLAC. We call them the
Advanced Demonstrators and on
them we will validate all mission
systems. One airframe isnt enough
to test all sensors and weapons.
DIB: So this means that AHRLAC
was not designed for South Africa.
Is it a COIN platform, or a concept
like Textrons similar new Scorpion
jet?
II: No. This is a sort of product
that has global application and
relevance. Never before has an
advanced design like AHRLAC
been finalised up to flight-tests
in such a short time. Contrary to
the SCORPION [who benefits from
many parts from across CESSNAs
portfolio], every single component
in this aircraft except the engine,
the propeller and the cockpit
displays, have been 100 percent
designed and manufactured
from scratch. It is already fully
industrialised, while the Scorpion
people now need to do that. Our
factory is infinitely scaleable, but
we will build AHRLAC in several
locations around the world with
indigenous aerospace industries.
We plan to be in serial production
by early 2016. And yes, COIN is one
of its roles. It is however built to
perform multirole missions such
as patrol and reconnaissance,
intelligence gathering or CAS. It
can be configured for light attack
capabilities. It can be used for
disaster management. Not to
mention internal-security, border-
control, maritime patrol and
environmental-protection, or levels
of flight training.
JC: I cant resist mentioning that
every single part of the aircraft
was pre-designed on a computer
which allowed it to have a jigless
construction. This method saved
vast amounts in cost and time
and was made possible by parts
being pre-drilled and machine
made, allowing for accuracy,
reducing the need for hand skills
and therefore taking less time to
build. Weve made all the tools
for production for sheet metal
pressings and composite parts
so it enables us to hit production
much quicker than other aircraft.
The first aircraft was already
built from production tooling and
methodology. To implement this
process, Paramount invested in one
of only two computer-measuring
machine (CMM) facilities in the
world [the other is located in the
U.S.]. So in many ways, AHRLAC is
a unique type of aircraft, a manned
aircraft operated by two a pilot
and a systems operator sitting
in a tandem configuration as they
would in an attack helicopter. To
our knowledge there is currently no
other aircraft in this solution space.
AHRLAC offers a number of
unique aspects. This includes its
unrestricted canopy, purpose-
designed to give you all-round
visibility. Because it has a turboprop
pusher-propeller configuration,
with 800kg of weapons, you can
loiter until you see a situation
on the ground that requires
you to intervene. So we have no
conventional engine front/propeller
front aircraft that has been pressed
into an armed reconnaissance
role for which it was not originally
conceived. Currently there is a 1,000
hp engine, but theres an upgrade
path with more power and more
payload. Its actually just at the
beginning of its cycle, with 30 or 40
years of potential. So I think we are
hitting the sweet spot in price-to-
performance with this platform.
With the price we have in mind,
theres nothing else competing in
this arena. Jets, even low-end ones
like Scorpion, are and will remain
comparably expensive.
DIB: What about your activities on
the unmanned aircraft side? Are
high-tech UAVs entering Africa?
JC: Of course, we do UAVs. Our
Mwari [Pelican] is in fact based
on the design of AHRLAC, but
in a quarter scale. This platform
is commoditised and the real
specialty is that we have long
learned to master launch, recovery
and autonomous flight, such
as for artillery spotting. These
are technology building blocks
we can apply across the range.
Weve developed our own sensor
capabilities as well. In South Africa,
we have sensor pack solutions
that not only include observation
but aircraft-applications up to the
guidance-systems for missiles. We
had to develop those capabilities in
the past, meaning its now free of
ITAR-restrictions and controls.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 32
 Africa
Paramounts AHRLAC is intended to compete with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the marketplace
Image: Georg Mader
II: I have to add here that
sanctions-busting is a thing of
the past. South Africa respects
all international regulations and
resolutions and supplies nothing
to illegitimate regimes. We hear
this at trade shows, even from
the European industry, that ITAR,
UN- or OSCE-rules are for sure
hampering business. Regarding
Africa, it is my impression that for
example the U.S.-administration is
not really blocking African nations
in desperate need, but it is also
not unblocking the obstacles that
its state apparatus is creating,
such as for Nigeria in their life-
and-death struggle with Boko
Haram. At the recent U.S.-Africa
Summit in Washington, I made it
very clear that the world needs to
come to terms with the fact that if
they want Africa to be stable and
secure, they have to allow African
governments to create world class
defence capabilities.
DIB: This was that controversial
headline you made recently Give
war a chance!?
II: Well, how can the U.S. or the
EU, as a responsible partner to
these African frontline-nations
in the war on terror, not allow
them to be properly equipped to
engage in this fight, let alone win?
Further to that, as you asked about
high-tech assets entering Africa,
33 :: Defence Industry Bulletin
look at the realities of African was and today is a supporter of
peacekeeping deployments around the ANC, the ruling party. But he
the world. French or German didnt want to build an industry on
troops are in air-conditioned, political privileges. So he and we
beautiful accommodations and are built a company with a business
provided with the latest vehicles today that operates over 95 percent
and other fancy gear - and here outside of South Africa and 70
come the Africans, sleeping under percent outside of Africa. Only quite
they sky and going into combat in recently, through acquisition of
unprotected vehicles and no UAVs companies like ATE, who had been
securing ahead of them! Why is an delivering to the SANDF, do we now
African live worth one dollar less have a customer relationship with
than a French, Belgian or German the South African Defence Force. So
one? This is a huge issue for me. of course we are now throwing our
A big part of what Paramount has hat into the ring also for open and
done over the years is to make transparent business within South
the latest and highest level of Africa.
protection available to African
troops in an affordable way. We
achieved that. Weve got hundreds
of our products in service around
For Africa to
peacekeeping missions in Africa
and beyond. But we have to be
be stable and
realistic as well because Africa will
never be a defence market like the
secure, they have
Middle East or the U.S. That said,
there is an understanding in Africa
to allow African
that we cant look further to the
West for our solutions, we should
governments
look for them from within. to create world
DIB: That is a really striking point.
A question then: is a part of your
class defence
business delivering to the South
African Defence Forces?
capabilities
JC: A part of it today is, yes. Even in
the days of fight against oppression
in South Africa, our chairman
 Africa
DIB: And in Brazil, I assume since
there is now a lot of work taking
place between them and South
African defence companies?
JC: Thats right. The Brazilian
market is very interesting as
theyve done a very good job in
growing aerospace business. In the
vehicle arena, we are already very
proud that they have selected our
Maverick internal-security vehicle.
We delivered a fleet of those
just before the World Cup in Rio.
Generally we can learn a lot from
them as I think we have similar
visions. And lets not forget, we are
the S closing the BRICS-countries that the oil companies are funding
Those sad
images of long
inoperable
platforms
mouldering
under an
African sun is
the fault of the
initial OEM
and they are leading with their
B, so thats an environment quite after some three to five years.
appropriate for us. We will of course
share programmes multilaterally in
India or China as well. It is a dream
at present and there is a need to
find the programmes of turning
that into reality. In general, Brazil
and the whole of Latin America is
an absolute focus area, exhibiting
a lot of parallels to where we come
from.
DIB: And then there are the naval
platforms, also new territory for
Paramount
JC: Yes. In our pursuit to become
a fully fledged organization that
can speak to all armed services, we
acquired a controlling interest in a
company called Nautic Africa. They
were just about five years old, but
they built a very nice business in
their field within this short time,
mainly in commercial type vessels
for the oil and gas sector. This was
crossing over with our interest in
supporting the offshore-industrys
installations. Often it is the case
the training and the establishment
acquisitions like OPVs, which the
navies then operate. The mission
for Paramount in this sector is to
take that competence and apply
it in a more focused manner,
adapted for naval applications.
That is what we are doing around
fast craft and OPVs in Cape Town
with the Paramount Naval-Systems
brand, while Nautic continues to
undertake its civilian business.
We are now even constructing our
own shipbuilding-capacity down
there, as it looks like we have more
business than we can handle!
DIB: West African naval
commanders told me last year in
Morocco [AFSEC Summit], that one
persistent problem they face is
that newly-acquired equipment,
like OPVs or helicopters, end up
crippled, broken or out-of-service
initial OEM. Those people look at
The Nigerian SEPECAT Jaguars,
for example, have flown just 100
hours and then gathered dust on
flat tyres for two decades. What is
the factor making this happen? Is
it simply that fresh money has to
first be allocated schools, railways,
doctors, and so on?
II: I can tell you exactly why and I
see it differently. This is the fault of
the OEMs, the fault of the shipyard
that supplied the ship in the first
place. And I tell you why: their
business model is that the platform
is supplied against the budget
and they then look to ongoing
support to make their super
profit. So it becomes increasingly
unaffordable for these countries
to operate this equipment. What
Paramount does is quite different.
When we sell a piece of equipment
to a government, part of the initial
purchase price is at least five years
of support. In addition to that is
of capacity within the country to
support that equipment. Thats
non-negotiable. If they say we dont
need that, we will not do the deal.
You know, African governments
have lived hand-to-mouth thats
how they survived. That is neither
a good or bad thing, thats reality.
As a manufacturer, you have to be
responsible in your engagement
and you have to build the
safeguards in from the beginning.
In Paramounts eyes and in my
eyes, your name and reputation is
your most important asset. When
you sell a system to a government,
you are getting into a 25 year
relationship, so you have to make
sure its going to work. I say this
again with absolute conviction:
those sad images of long inoperable
platforms mouldering under an
African sun is the fault of the
Africa with only one mission and
that is to make as much profit as
they possibly can. We are sick and
tired of this colonial mentality of
plundering a continent. We dont
want that in Africa anymore.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 34
 Africa

Advanced Technologies & Engineering (ATE) developed and sold the SuperHind upgrade of the Russian Mil Mi-24 helicopter.
Image: Georg Mader

* The Super-HINDs
Modernisation of this warrior popular throughout Africa was launched in South Africa in 1996, directed
at export customers as SANDF does not operate the Mi-24. It was conducted by (former) Advanced
Technology & Engineering (ATE). To make the venerated combat helicopter more modern and accessible
to western pilots, it included upgraded navigation with INS/GPS, plus a digital map display, glass
cockpit with day/night head-up-displays (HUD) and a new fire-control system. The last was mounted
in a lengthened nose in the form of the KentronN Argos-550 EO-turret, carrying a dual-mode FLIR
and a long-range TV camera. The crews received the Archer helmet-mounted display and cueing
system. Apart for the dual-feed Vector 20x139 mm cannon, the original (Russian) weapon-system was
either retained or replaced by indigenous South African munitions such as the Denel-Dynamics ZT35
Ingwe or ZT6 Mokopa ATGMs. Self-protection is provided in Avitronics Helicopter Self-Protection
System (HSPS), which integrates a RWR, missile- and laser-warners and chaff/flare dispensers. In 2000,
Algeria decided to modernise between 28 and 40 Mi-24Vs as the newest part of its large Mi-24 fleet
to a level called Super-Hind Mk. III, with a contract awarded to ATE two years later. The subsequent
Super-Hind Mk. IV has been upgraded with Pall-vortex engine-air particle-separator systems over the
engine intakes and later with an EO-turret. Weight of the helicopter was reduced by around two tons
to increase manoeuvring capacities and combat readiness. Azerbaijans Mi-24G (G stands for Gec or
Night) is effectively a Super-Hind Mk. IV but with a slightly less sophisticated cockpit, with Thales-
displays and standard intake filters. It was arranged by ATE and Ukraines Aviakon company at the
latters aircraft repair plant in Konotop. 10-15 Azeri Mi-24s were brought into full compliance with
NATO standards (under the SOVA-designation for a Bulgarian programme in 2005) with their most
notable feature being the introduction of laser-beam riding Baryer V ATGM by Ukraines Luch DB. All
of these capabilities combined by (fmr.) ATE has made a much more agile (and a lot less jittery) Hind.
Meanwhile ATEs Super Hind is both considered and marketed as a platform fit for any first-rate world
military. With Paramount Aerospace there are currently three prototypes/demonstrators, a Mi-24D, a V
and a Mi-25.

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 35

 Africa
African Defence: The Outlook Richard de Silva
A frica has been on
something of a spending
spree in the past few years,
upping their stake in the global
defence market while addressing
urgent security challenges at
home. For most states, reinforcing
the reputation of a secure and
civilised environment is the
first step in encouraging foreign
investment and commerce. Ahead
of the Armoured Vehicles Africa
conference (August, Botswana),
Defence IQ spoke to some of the
leading journalists and analysts
active in African defence to get
a rounded perspective on the
progress, challenges, plans and
predictions seen across the
continent.
Significant developments
H elmoed Heitman, a South
Africa-based defence journalist,
author and historian, notes:
For South Africa, the loss of the
MRAP and MDV market has been
significant. There have however
been positives, including the
success of the South African land
systems business in other areas
particularly in the stabilisation of
state-owned defence conglomerate
Denel.
In 2012, Malaysia signed a $416
million contract for Denel turrets
and weapons to be integrated into
its own FNSS/Deftech AV-8 8x8
armoured vehicles, manufactured
by Deftech of Malaysia. The
contract included 69 two-man
turrets fitted with a South African
GI30 30mm main gun and 54 anti-
tank turrets equipped with the GI30
30mm gun and the Denel Dynamics
Ingwe anti-tank missile system,
along with 216 laser-guided Ingwe
missiles and 54 remote-control
weapons systems. Riaz Saloojee,
the CEO of Denel Group, described
the contract as having made the
company a global player and
generating international interest in
state-of-the-art artillery produced
locally.
Two years later, Denel acquired
Land Systems South Africa (LSSA)
from BAE Systems for $79.85
million, affording the opportunity
to grow the division to produce
more vehicle capacity and further
target the international market,
particularly in Africa and the
Middle East.
I believe consolidation like this
is good for the local industry, says
Guy Martin, editor of defenceWeb,
the online African defence and
security news publication. Before,
there were too many players in
the South Africa market following
the withdrawal of coalition forces
from Iraq and Afghanistan and the
subsequent reduction in demand
for MRAP-type vehicles.
Beyond South Africa, there
has also been a new focus for
vehicle production in Nigeria and,
to a lesser extent, in other African
countries, Heitman adds. Uganda,
for instance, has been moving
from simple acquisition to local
assembly and beyond.
Heitman also highlights the
dumping of Chinese equipment
in Africa. Indeed China is now the
third biggest global arms exporter
and within Africa, Sudan is one of
its main clients. Tanzania, Morocco
and Algeria have also become
customers in the past five years
as has Namibia and Cameroon in
smaller number all purchasing
relatively low-end technology. The
Sudanese business in particular has
been met with some controversy,
given Chinas dual role as arms
supplier and peace broker.
Sudan has also been complicit in
transferring equipment to Darfur
in breach of a UN embargo, further
highlighting the complexities of
foreign arms sales in the continent.
Other countries are of course
also providing military equipment
and at varying levels of restrictions
and volume depending on political
sensitivities. Russia has long been
an important supplier to a range
of African states and Ukraine has
found business in providing second
hand equipment.
China is now
the third biggest
global arms
exporter and
within Africa,
Sudan is one of
its main clients
Budget and conflict
forecasting
A
frican defence budgets have
been on the rise in North, East
and West Africa owing largely to
the deteriorating security situation
brought about by civil and political
insecurity and terrorism. This
includes the rise of Islamic State,
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
(AQUIM) and other terrorist
organisations in North Africa, al
Shabaab in Somalia and Kenya,
and Boko Haram in Nigeria, Niger,
Cameroon and Chad.
It deserves close attention,
says Martin, as IS and other
radical terrorist organisations
are expanding their grip on the
region, from Yemen to Libya.
Destabilisation in North Africa is
affecting surrounding countries
in terms of migrants, the flow of
weapons, training camps, and a
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 36
 Africa
number of other issues. In addition, defence institutions and the response to the rising insecurity
piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is a military and security sector reforms there, adds Heitman. Thats
defence budget driver, and the needed to establish rule of law and the entire Sahel region, with a
aftermath of the Arab Spring enhance citizen security in Nigeria particular eye on the southward
continues to see poor security can occur through political will spread of conflict into central Africa
situations across North Africa. and strategic leadership and is not such as in the CAR where there
All that said, with the recent fall dependent upon increased defence is growing cooperation among
in oil prices, many defence budgets resources. guerrilla, terrorist and criminal
have dropped, notably from oil The situation in the Lake Chad groups; sharing of local knowledge
and gas producers like Algeria Basin, in light of these political and contacts, experience and
and Angola the latter cut tens changes, remains at risk of renewed expertise. All of that is not just
of billions off its national budget violence unless President Buhari being caused by rebel and terrorist
while Algeria has eased its defence and the northern governors are able groups, but also by the growing
spending. to address many of the underlying presence of the international drug
Colonel (Rtd) Daniel L. Hampton, challenges that have so far fostered cartels.
associate dean of the Africa Center conditions for Boko Haram to Indeed the transatlantic drug
at Washington D.C.s National gain and maintain support in trade has been flourishing in
Defense University, also believes the country. Nevertheless, core recent years, with contraband
the oil issue will have major ideologues may then simply being smuggled from Latin
consequences. It would not be move to more fertile ground. That America to West Africa thanks
surprising to see defence spending scenario could place a neighbouring to its reputation as an easier
in places like Angola and Chad country like Cameroon under gateway into the European, Asian
taper off due to these decreasing oil further pressure, where conditions and Middle Eastern drug markets.
revenues. Sudan and South Sudan for an emerging threat an ageing The trade has become so prevalent
would also seem likely candidates leader and the chance of political that it has, in some states, been
to see defence spending impacted instability could prove ripe for threatening government control
by decreasing oil prices, but the extremism. Such an occurrence over cities and utilities. Naturally,
current instability and tenuous would of course demand a as with maritime piracy and animal
border security environment regional or international response poaching, the drug trade has its
may well counter this causal depending on the severity of the roots in organised crime, which in
relationship. violence. turn is now a key source of funding
Nigeria has in many ways been It is reasonable then to expect for militant groups.
at the forefront of the African budgets in the Sahel to rise in
defence market, both in terms
of having domestic military
requirements and of launching its
own manufacturing plants (such
as Proforce Ltd). Hampton believes
Nigeria may also see a defence
spending decrease on the basis of
oil prices, as well as from a possible
shift in spending priorities for the
new Buhari government.
There will be high expectations
for the new government to show
immediate improvement in
service delivery and infrastructure
improvement, he says. It will
be difficult to increase defence
spending in this type environment.
Additionally, it is not a lack
of defence spending that has
contributed to the violence and
insecurity associated with Boko
Haram. The strengthening of
Nyala APC based on the Mamba. Image: SFC David D Isakson

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 37

 Africa

Ratel IFVs of the Cape Town Highlanders Regiment during a mechanized training exercise
Image: wikimedia

What it means for Hampton agrees with this shift to a ground vehicle acquisition
prediction, and while the strategy focused on the mobility of
armoured vehicles acquisition of heavy armoured troops and supplies. The defence
vehicles and self-propelled artillery economics of peacekeeping almost
W ith few exceptions namely,
the Ethiopian-Eritrean border
and the Sudan-South Sudan border
is rare for African states, he expects
requirements for them will be even
demands that Troop Contributing
Countries attain and maintain
further diminished. APCs and trucks as the priority
the continued involvement of
Instead, more armoured ground vehicle systems in their
these insurgent groups, non-state
vehicles with large calibre guns inventory if they are to maximize
actors and criminal elements
and area fire weapons will be the potential financial return of
will not only influence the threat
reconfigured with machine guns participation in UN missions.
profile but also the market for land
and precision weaponry, he says, Hampton projects a resulting
systems. The adversary operates
explaining that this will be driven defence industry trend for the
chiefly amongst the populace and
in part by the strategic importance continued growth and emergence
within built-up, urban areas. As
of reducing collateral damage and of small manufacturers that refit
such, the African armoured vehicles
civilian casualties. and refurbish the more common
market is under particularly close
The result is a trend towards ground vehicles systems currently
watch.
armoured vehicles and IED extant and prolific on the continent.
Heitman believes that
resistant personnel carriers Martin also anticipates
acquisition decisions, in many
that can provide mobility and continued demand for armoured
cases, are erratic but that generally
protection for security forces. The personnel carriers and MRAPs, due
speaking, I would expect to see
ground vehicle will be a platform to the fact that they have already
an increase in protected patrol
for quick reaction, targeted- been proven within the region
vehicles that will survive an
engagement, ISR, over-watch and as being extremely useful for
ambush, in light armoured vehicles
medical evacuation more so than peacekeeping, counterinsurgency,
that can overmatch the typical
ensuring overwhelming combat civil security and riot control
technical and in mine-protected,
power. Additionally, the continued situations. Nigeria is notably
MRAP and mine-detection vehicles
growth in African contributions increasing its armoured vehicle
in response to the expansion of the
to multinational peace operations numbers, as is Egypt and Algeria, so
IED threat.
and crisis response will drive this their utility is clearly valued.

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 38

 Africa
Predicted priorities for and partnerships, especially as air-transportable vehicles will
many countries wish to build continue to be in demand while
Africa up their own defence industries. African states will inevitably look at
Denel has partnered with the UAE smarter ways of doing business.
A ccording to our experts, African
states will continue to come
to the realisation that they need
(Tawazun Dynamics) and Brazil
(on the A-Darter), for instance.
Denel and Paramount and other
South African companies will seek
DCD Protected Mobility is building to expand their market in Africa,
increased strategic capability. At the
armoured vehicles in Nigeria. So predicts Heitman. Other African
same time, there is a heightened
I anticipate bilateral partners and countries will begin to insist on
belief among African governments
joint ventures to become more offsets in technical and defence
that they can take a more proactive
common as nations look to share fields, and on growing levels of local
and sustainable approach to their
development costs, deliver new assembly and even moving into
involvement in the defence market.
projects and gain access to new manufacture. Meanwhile, African
Now that global industry is looking
markets. I expect the most critical armies are building operational
to Africa as a major source of
armoured vehicle capability for experience, and Africas people
income, regional states are rightly
African forces in the next few are increasingly impatient with
looking at leveraging their own
years will be mobility. Militaries incompetence, corruption and
benefits from the demand.
are buying fewer heavy armoured nepotism in government. Together
More and more customers are
vehicles and are increasingly going those trends will see acquisitions
insisting on local manufacturing,
for lighter, more manoeuvrable being more professionally handled,
offsets and long-term support
vehicles which are easier to operate with less room for poor quality
for defence equipment, Martin
and sometimes cheaper than their equipment, for contracts that
explains. Manufacturers are
larger stablemates. do not include support, and for
responding by becoming more
Meanwhile, Hampton notes that irregular contracting.
involved with their customers.
conflict and violence in Africa are
This also extends to joint ventures
becoming increasingly difficult to
define and categorise.

The blurring of State-on-state conflicts are rare,

civil wars that pit two or more
organised armed factions against
lines between each other or against government
security forces, he says. They are
armed rebellion a twentieth century legacy. Despite
frequent references to insurgencies
and criminal and insurgent forces, the blurring
of lines between armed rebellion
enterprise calls and criminal enterprise calls into
question the relevancy and efficacy
into question of traditional counter-insurgency
(COIN) doctrine. In other words,
the relevancy effective COIN strategies in Africa
must cross-cut the entire security
and efficacy of sector, identifying, balancing and
prioritising the roles of the police,
traditional COIN judicial, military and intelligence
services.

doctrine Heitman reasserts the belief

that protected patrol vehicles,
armoured cars and possibly some

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 39

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Defence Industry Bulletin :: 40
 The Briefing Room
Local production or assembly is now part of almost all customers re-
quirements...
General Dynamics European Land
Systems-Steyr, based in Vienna, is
the companys eastern-most plant on
the continent. With more than 2,000
highly skilled technical employees,
GDELS designs, manufactures
and delivers land combat systems
worldwide. Of course, times are
tough in Europe when it comes
to this business and the localised
market is even less predictable.
Georg Mader speaks with Steyr CEOs
Martin Reischer and Thomas Strasser
Martin Reischer and Thomas Strasser of GDELS-Steyr. to find out whether there is a future
Image: Georg Mader
in Austria

DIB: Gentlemen, in Austria, there
has been a great deal of public
displeasure expressed over the
apparent end of tank production
in Vienna, under which the plans
are to sell off the knowledge and
skills to the Czechs and Portuguese
and for Austria to possibly cancel
its plans to acquire its own 8x8
Pandurs. So what actually is the
state of the GDELS Vienna plant
and the Steyr-Spezialfahrzeuge
(SSF) subsidiary?
GDELS-STEYR: Firstly, the Pandur
was declined due to the general
lack of orders in recent years, not
only with us, but across the wider
defense industry. In the wake of the
changed security situation, budgets
are beginning to open up again
but, as we all know, thats still not
the case in Austria. The Vienna site
was actually cut back before the
downturn. It is now running as
we call it overhaul programmes,
such as payload upgrades, engine
and transmission exchanges,
and stronger air-conditioning,
on vehicles like the Pandur I for
Belgian forces and U.S. Special
Forces.
DIB: Just no more manufacturing of
new parts at this time...
GDELS-STEYR: Well, whats
important for us and we believe
for the capacity for Pandur to
continue development in the future
is in partnering with Excalibur
Army (EA) in the Czech Republic.
This comes with some history
as weve already seen the Czech
Pandur manufactured in the Czech
Republic. The first 17 vehicles were
made in Vienna but the remaining
90 were made at what is now EAs
facility at Sternberk. All of them
have been delivered and are in
service. And they like them. We still
undertake business on them in the
aftermarket. But as you know, local
production or assembly meanwhile
is now part of almost all customers
requirements. An example of
expected further involvement for
us is in the overdue replacement
of the Czech BMPs, due for around
2017/18. That is why we brought
the ASCOD here to IDET. For this
project, domestic EA has a good
footprint thanks to the success of
the Czech Pandur II.
DIB: Just no more manufacturing of
new parts at this time...
GDELS-STEYR: Yes, a Czech
company but having acquired
the Slovakian subsidiary MSM in
Martn. EA has modernized the
old BMP/BVP into the new Jakal-
model and has a contract for a
prototype and three vehicles in
Slovakia but their replacement
remains undecided. This then
brings up the question of whether
also a BMP base revaluation ought
to be made in the Czech Republic
or whether a total replacement
(with a new vehicle) is required.
The final decision has yet been
made but modernization has now
been almost completely excluded.
In this environment, weve been
looking for synergies in the market
and have simply been drawn to
EA. There have been intensive
negotiations under which we have
both explored our future prospects
as well as found avenues for the
Pandur market.

Defence Industry Bulletin :: 41

 The Briefing Room
DIB: So those contracted
partnership involves the transfer
of knowledge and work from
Simmering (in Viennas 11th
district) to the Czech Republic?
GDELS-STEYR: Its in the by the
way, time-limited partnership to
essentially transfer the so-called
production data packets; the data
for selected Czech and Portuguese
versions of the Pandur II for specific
markets that we think EA has
better access to than we have in
Vienna.
DIB: Because it is a manufacturer
based in a NATO country?
GDELS-STEYR: Not quite. Its
because the Czech products have
already been introduced to many
countries, so they have a long and
well-established brand. We have
thus gained a strategic partner
for selected areas and weve take
advantage of this partnership
to further sales opportunities.
Close cooperation with the Czech
industry and the greatest possible
promotion of local content are
needed for our work in the Czech
Republic, and we see this one of our
strengths. The Pandur programme
demonstrates this well.
DIB: So its a myth that Vienna is
dead and nothing happens there?
GDELS-STEYR: Its not true.
Cooperation with EA relates to
certain markets and does not
mean that we would necessarily
succeed elsewhere with the Pandur.
The effort will also depend on the
overall strategic aspects of GD.
Weve had the complete production
based in Vienna up until May
2014 and there are still regions
or customers who insist on us
manufacturing material in Austria.
DIB: That is to say, there are
countries where the Austrian
brand has status?
GDELS-STEYR: Absolutely. For
instance, in Arab countries, such as
Kuwait. Not only do these places
see it a benefit to have Austria
as the country of origin, but the
quality products from German-
speaking countries holds much
weight.That has to do with word
of mouth and is one of the reasons
many of these countries are willing
to pay a higher price.
DIB: One problem is that there is
no foreseeable domestic market at
this time
GDELS-STEYR: Yes, thats a major
drawback for us compared to other
sites, no question. But we always
try to maintain and revitalise our
relationship with the armed forces Czech Republic Defence Minister Martin
in little ways, such as in installing Stropnicky
Image: Georg Mader
the current air conditioning
systems for the domestic Pandur.
GDELS-STEYR: Absolutely. For
We are just waiting on whether
example there are yet no 8x8
there will be any call for new
vehicles in Austria. If there is to
procurement.
be such a contract, what better
place to run the production than
DIB: Is the GDELS site a relatively
in Austria in Vienna? Then the
free-roaming subsidiary or is it
country could preserve the long
kept on a rather short rope?
term core technology and retain
jobs in Simmering.
GDELS-STEYR: More on a short
rope, but thats not just specific
DIB: How do the current locations
to Vienna its the same for
in Vienna work, because it was
all locations. Again, the main
rumored the workforce would quit
difference falls on the domestic
and some saying (exaggeratedly)
market. We have locations in
that only the heater and the
Austria, Switzerland, Germany and
security guard would be left...
Spain. For example, Switzerland
even with its neutral status has an
GDELS-STEYR: (laughs): No, it
immense market, but domestically
is not so bad. There was a lot of
it exists in a completely different
misinformation back then.Once
dimension.The German plant at
there were indeed more than
Kaiserslautern does a lot of mobile
300 positions, but politicians
bridges, but also has the 4x4 Eagle
everywhere even in Arab
a Swiss MOWAG design, by the
countries consider a procurement
way in local production for the
decision to come hand-in-hand
Bundeswehr. And while Spain has
with the ability to let them point
certainly suffered a dent because of
to jobs being established at home.
the financial crisis, our site there is
In that sense Portugal was nothing
secure because the indicators show
revolutionary. We delivered
that spending and prospects will
production data packages only for
pick up again to a different level
this specific contract. No right to re-
than in Austria
market. That only includes Czech
EA, since it has historic access
DIB: An Austrian commission
to markets we dont have and it
would then give a guarantee for
therefore increases our market
Vienna...
presence and our chances
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 42
 The Briefing Room
of selling abroad. Due to all of these
developments, 150 employees are
now in Vienna on the production
side, primarily engaged with
overhauls, smaller modernisations
and spare-parts. On the engineering
side in other words, about 40
percent of the staff they are now
very much integrated into the
ASCOD programme developed
for the British Army. GD UK is the
actual contractor, but the core
competence comes from our hub
where we worked on the basic
development, in close cooperation
with Spain. Subsequently our
efforts are therefore not to avoid a
claimed further deterioration of
the situation in Vienna than to view
the situation as an opportunity for
maximisation for this site...
DIB: Like the (later reduced) Czech
Pandur that was actually a
success story?
GDELS-STEYR: It was, and it had
a great deal of involvement from
local firms and suppliers. If you
look across the market, youll
find many companies that have
worked with us on that project.
We have underlined the fact that
we can integrate the local industry
very well.We want the ASCOD to
be demonstrated also in Slovakia
Users of the Pandur meet in Austria to discuss improvements and share development options.
Image: Georg Mader
where the Czech army has a role
and reception of Pandur has been
very good. However, they see a
constant change to the General
Staff and to the government.
DIB: So what are you aiming for in
Slovakia?
GDELS-STEYR: Well, the Slovaks
have largely outdated material.
Looking at where the Czechs were
10 years ago, they were almost
completely subsistent on Soviet
T-72s and BMPs. Apart from that
there was until Pandur just
a few Land Rovers and a couple
of IVECO vehicles. Since then,
almost nothing has changed.
Meanwhile there were suggestions
that Czech equipment should be
lent or leased to Slovakia, but in
the light of the Czech order being
reduced from 199 to 107 vehicles,
this came to nothing. But of course,
some logistical pooling would be
clever, even if Slovakia would have
smaller numbers. They would
then not need to be advertised
with a logistics package but could
undertake the 200km drive to the
Czech Republic. It would be very
interesting for us to integrate
Slovakia into the portfolio, because
we could then really speak of being
a neighborhood of operations
DIB: So you could have an
exchange between existing users.
Pandur can then be considered a
universal vehicle?
GDELS-STEYR: Thats the plan.
One that organises itself and is not
controlled by us. Every year, one of
the relevant countries will host the
forum in a kind of guest role. It is
divided between the 6x6 and 8x8
users, albeit without the Americans
(Special Forces) or the the Kuwaitis,
who now operate 150 vehicles. So,
in principle, its a European user
group involving Slovenia, the Czech
Republic (with its 8x8), Belgium and
Portugal, the latter being the largest
operator with 188 units. In Austria,
every few years, these Pandur
users exchange experiences, as
well as concerns and desired
improvements, all of which is not
insignificant. We then sit down with
each client and as a result of these
discussions we approach options
for upgrades or overhauls, as are
currently ongoing in Simmering.
Expanding the customer-base is not
easy, so the idea is that we provide
the existing user with excellent
support in order that they become
effectively an inter-military PR
agent.
Defence Industry Bulletin :: 43
 More Information

Editors: Richard de Silva

Andrew Elwell
Editorial contact: haveyoursay@defenceiq.com
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Victor M. S. Barreira
Angus Batey
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Georg Mader
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Defence Industry Bulletin :: 44