EDR Magazine issue #37

N° 37 • January/ February 2018

MAGAZINE European Defence Review

Asia-Pacific Air Arms Set to Expand Defending operation bases an integrated business Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul ILDSs: keeping the pace with threats

TACTICAL & RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLES SPECIAL FORCES VEHICLES SUPPORT & LIAISON VEHICLES

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Whatever the mission, wherever, whenever

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European Defence Review

MAGAZINE I S S U E N° 37 2018

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Happy New Year

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Asia-Pacific Air Arms Set to Expand

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Defending operation bases an integrated business

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Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

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ILDSs: keeping the pace with threats

CONTENTS

By Joseph Roukoz

By David Oliver

By Paolo Valpolini

By David Oliver

By Luca Perruzi

Publisher: Joseph Roukoz Editor-in-chief: David Olivier European Defence Review (EDR) is published by European Defence Publishing SAS www.edrmagazine.eu

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EDITORIAL

Happy New Year

By Joseph Roukoz I wish you all a very happy New Year. May 2018 be blessed for all of our readers.

My deepest wishes and thoughts go to our politicians and deciders. I ask “the Creator”, whatever name, attribute or nature you want to give him - to fill their hearts with enough intelligence to manage our Nation and stop ruining what we have built for centuries on “our” Earth. And may their minds be filled with enough love and compassion to stop replacing our human brains and souls with artificial intelligence without limits. The great physician Stephen Hawking himself warned of the destruction of the human race if we get things out of control.

I would also like to send my best wishes to all of our fallen soldiers around the world, who sacrificed their lives to defend our Nation, our safety, and carry our motto “Liberty, Equality & Fraternity”. These brave Men are only remembered once a year by those who sent them to die, sometimes to carry their failed projects ruled by small politics and personal ambitions.

My thoughts go for our society and citizens.

May this year brings them wisdom and enough awareness to know that success doesn’t only measure with income, but also with the competencies they learn, the knowledge they develop and the way they value the human factor in their various endeavors.

I wish more creativity to our philosophers, writers, painters, artists and creators who have so often replaced the word “art” with the word “farce”.

And finally my deepest emotion and compassion for all the families who have lost a dear one in any terrorist attack in 2017.

May the coward hands of terrorism be cut or brought to justice and may our leaders understand that collaborating with their funders and promoters around the world for financial interests will bring no good on the longer term. Effort should rather be made on educating the unprivileged youth, integrating minorities or families of foreign origins in our society and fighting exclusion, which has thrown so many young people in the hands of radicalism.

Some of you might find it strange for me to evoke “the Creator” in a military magazine and send my wishes based on unrelated topics in appearance. However, mathematical precision, reliability of physics and science, medicine, technological evolution, symmetry of cosmos all stem from our creativity and dedication animated by a creative force operating our lives and the march of the universe. This is what makes us human, and as a believer, this is what makes me human.

Therefore I wish our Creative God to fill us with enough intelligence, hope, love, forgiveness and courage to start a constructive year.

Best wishes to all.

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The Royal Australian Air Force is taking delivery of 49 Pilatus PC-21 advanced trainers for contracted training by Lockheed Martin. ©Commonwealth of Australia.

Asia-Pacific Air Arms Set to Expand

By David Oliver As another year begins the Asia-Pacific region faces continued tension with disputed islands in the China Seas, threat of nuclear conflict with North Korea while many Southeast Asian countries have to contend with long-running internal insurgencies.

This has prompted an increase in many defence budgets and increased spending on their aviation assets.

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hen it comes to define such a large and extended region it is common to speak about Asia itself including Australasia, and most of the countries bordering the Pacific Ocean on its Western edge…

Australia - a firm on-going modernisation Although having no internal threats, Australian armed forces are deployed to

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Afghanistan, Egypt, Sudan and until recently, Iraq. The Royal Australian Air force (RAAF) is undergoing a comprehensive re-equipment programme under Plan Jericho which provides the foundation for the RAAF’s transformation into a fifth-generation air force.

In addition to its current programme to purchase 72 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft, the RAAF is currently taking delivery of 49 Pilatus P-21 advanced trainers, 10 C-27 transports, two additional A330

KC-30A tanker aircraft, and 15 P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). It has an option on three additional P-8 and two Gulfstream G550 ELINT/SIGINT aircraft are on order. In 2016 the Australian Government confirmed in its Defence White Paper that the RAAF was to acquire seven MQ-4C Triton maritime high-altitude, long endurance HALE unmanned aerial systems.

The Royal Australian Navy is taking delivery of 24 Sikorsky SH-60R Seahawk helicopters and 15 EC135s as part of the Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) that will be operational by mid-2020.

Bangladesh - a fair equipment renewal The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has recently taken delivery of 15 Yak-130 advanced jet trainers but two were lost in a mid-air collision in December 2017. The BAF has launched a tender for the procurement of eight multi-role fighters plus four options to

replace its fleet of 20 Chengdu F-7MB/BGs, and eight MiG-29s which are being upgraded to SMT standard. A single Airbus C-295W transport is on order along with five Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters.

The Bangladesh Navy has ordered two RUAG Do-228NG Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) in addition to two in service and the Directorate General of Defence Purchases (DGDP) recently issued an open tender for two anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters for the Bangladesh Navy.

India - more delays and procratination India is still embroiled in multi aircraft requirements, cancelled contracts, late deliveries and disagreements between politicians and service chiefs.

The contracts for 36 Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), and the co-development and production of

The Bangladesh Air Force has ordered an additional five Russian Mil Mi-171Sh night-capable multirole medium-lift helicopters. ŠRussian Helicopters.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) ordered 36 Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. ©Dassault.

the Sukhoi/Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF) based on the Sukhoi Su-57, are still not finalised. In the meantime the IAF has ordered additional 53 Sukhoi Su-30MKI. The Brahmos mediumrange supersonic cruise missile has been integrated on 40 Su-30MK1 following its successful in November 2017.

F-16V and Saab Gripen E are contenders?

The IAF has also issued an invitation to tender to HAL for 83 additional upgraded single-engine Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas MK1A. It is not clear if the Tejas is in the frame for the IAF requirement for 120 single-engine fighter aircraft to replace its MiG-21 fleet for which the Lockheed Martin

Five different types of helicopters have been ordered by the IAF including 11 AH64E Apaches, 15 CH-47F Chinooks, 48 more Mil Mi-17-V-5s, 36 HAL Dhruv ALHs and 65 HAL Light Combat Helicopters (LCH). The most contentious deal is for up to 200 Russian Kamov Ka-226T light utility helicopters

Other contracts have been placed for Beriev A-50EI and A330-based AEW&C aircraft, 14 HAL-built Do-228 transports, and an order for 56 Airbus C-295s is pending while another for six Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports has been in the end… cancelled

The indigenous HAL Light Utility Helicopter designed for the Indian Army’s Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) requirement. ©HAL.

More than 200 Russian Ka-226T light utility helicopters are planned to be built in India to replace the Indian Army’s Cheetah and Chetaks. ©Russian Helicopters.

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to be built under licence in India. Sixty-four Ka-226Ts will be delivered to the IAF to replace its Cheetah and Chetak fleets, while the rest will replace the same types in the Indian Army Aviation inventory.

A total of 124 Dhruv ALHs and 15 HAL LCHs are also on order for Indian Army Aviation, and it has a decade-long requirement for Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) which was won by Airbus Helicopters AS 550C3 but cancelled twice, and is now reportedly being filled by the indigenous HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) that first flew in September 2017.

The Indian Navy has issued a Request for Information (RfI) for the procurement of a requirement for 57 shipboard fighters to replace the underperforming Naval version of the HAL Tejas that has been cancelled.

Another cancelled contract was for 16 plus S-70B Seahawk helicopters to replace the IN Sea King fleet.

Deliveries of 12 MiG-29K carrier-borne fighters, the last of 12 Boeing P-8I Poseidon MPAs and 12 Hal-built Dornier 228 MPAs have continued. In June 2017 the US approved Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 22 nonweaponised General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Sea Guardian maritime unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Indian Navy.

Indonesia - small steps only Indonesia is facing a reduction in its defence budgets but several significant deliveries of new aircraft are taking place. Additional Su-30MK multi-role fighters have been delivered to the Indonesian Air Force which has a requirement to replace its F-5E fleet.

Contracts for five Airbus A400M tactical transports, and four Beriev Be-200 firefighting aircraft have been signed and 10

additional Airbus Helicopters are being delivered. The acquisition of more Grob G120TP basic trainers is also planned.

Looking to the future, Indonesia has taken a 20 percent stake in the South Korean KF-X programme for a fifth plus-generation fighter being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

The Indonesian Army has received the first of the eight Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters ordered in 2012 and discussions are also ongoing for the possible sale of CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters.

Two additional Airtech/Airbus CN235 MPAs are on order for the Indonesian Navy as are 11 Airbus AS565MBe Panther ASW helicopters to replace Westland Wasp HAS.1s.

Japan - an historical defence boost The Japanese government has approved a record defence budget of 5.19 trillion yen (USD46 billion) for 2018 to end a decade of defence cuts after what the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, described the threat posed by North Korean ballistic missiles as a “national crisis�.

Much of the budget will be for bringing the F-35A in to the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) following its selection to replace its F-4J fleet. Under the FMS contract, four aircraft are being produced in the United States and another 38 built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The 2018 budget also includes Long-distance Joint Strike Missile (JSM), an anti-ship missile developed by Raytheon Company and Kongsberg for the F-35A. During a meeting in London between the UK and Japanese ministers of defence in December 2017, it was also agreed that the two countries would continue a feasibility study

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The first of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force’s requirement for 42 F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter has flown in the United States. ©Lockheed Martin.

on a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) which involves Mitsubishi and MBDA. With the acquisition of the F-35A, Japan’s plan to procure up to 100 new “home-made” fifth-generation air superiority F-3 fighters by the 2030s may be delayed.

The JASDF is also acquiring four Boeing KC-46A tanker aircraft, five E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW&C systems, 11 Kawasaki C-2 tactical transports and eight Mitsubishi-built UH-60J SAR helicopters.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) is taking delivery of a first batch of 11 Kawasaki P-1 MPAs to replace 70

Kawasaki-built P-3C Orions, while production of up to 50 SH-60K Seahawk helicopters

by Mitsubishi has been approved.

There has also been a proposal for the JASDF to fly the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B from the decks of JMSDF Izumi-class amphibious assault ships.

An extensive programme of new rotary-wing assets for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) is underway with the Bell/Fuji UH-1X being selected to replace 130 UH-1J utility helicopters, and the purchase of up to 17 Bell/Boeing MV-22 Ospreys with deliveries beginning in 2018.

The Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) is to replace the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force P-3 Orion fleet. ©David Oliver.

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A total of 20 Grob G120TP basic turboprop trainers are being delivered to the Myanmar Air Force. ©Grob.

Myanmar - heavy reliance on China and Russia The Myanmar Air Force is undergoing a programme of rapid expansion that includes the acquisition of 16 CAC/PAF JF-17 light multi-role fighter aircraft, 12 Yak-130 advanced jet trainers, 20 Grob G120TP basic trainers and a number of additional K-8 light attack aircraft.

Malaysia - a limited balanced stance New Zealand - always thinking small Malaysia in one of the few Asia Pacific countries that is not increasing its defence budget due to a downturn in its economy.

Nevertheless, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has shortlisted four aircraft types for its maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) requirement to replace its three King Air 200Ts, which will be funded with the 2018 budget. They may include the Airbus C-295M, the Leonardo ATR 72MP, the Airtech CN-235 and the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, although earlier last year the RMAF considered just acquiring surplus JMSDF P-3C Orions.

Australia’s oceanic neighbour’s small air force is also upgrading its capabilities with plans to acquire new aircraft. The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is currently taking delivery of 11 new T-6C Texan II trainers and it has requirements to replace its fleet of six P-3K Orion MPAs and it transport fleet of five C-130H Hercules and two Boeing 757s.

The new MPA is like to be the P-8 while both the Embraer KC-390 and Kawasaki C-2 have been demonstrated to the RNZAF. Pakistan - a two-fold modernisation

The RMAF has also had a long-term requirement to replace its fleet of 10 MiG29s and 13 BAe Hawk 208 light attack aircraft but its current priority is the MPA solution.

It is, however, increasing its training capability with the last of 21 Pilatus PC-7 Mk.IIs being delivered and it has a requirement to replace it small number of Alouette training helicopters under a Private Financing Initiative.

The Malaysian Army Air Corps is also taking delivery of six MD530G scout/light attack helicopters.

A new updated batch of 28 PAF-built JF-17 fighters is being delivered to the Pakistan Air Designed by Chengdu and manufactured by PAC, upgraded JF-17 light attack fighters have been ordered by the Pakistan and Myanmar Air Forces. ©AVIC.

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Force (PAF) that has a requirement for 150 aircraft. Three additional Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft are on order and 34 surplus Turkish Air Force T-7 trainers have been donated.

Pakistan Army Aviation is purchasing 15 AH-1Z Viper, four Mi-35, 17 Z-10s and an undisclosed number of AW139 helicopters.

It is also evaluating the TAI ATAC helicopter.

Philippines - a modest revival at last A decade ago the Philippine Air Force (PAF) was virtually grounded but it is now in the midst of major revival. It is in the process of taking delivery of 12 KAI FA-50 light attack aircraft and six Embraer Super Tucano light attack aircraft will replace the PAF’s OV-10 Bronco. Two NC212i transports and four H125M helicopters are on order. The

Four Airbus A330 MRTTs are to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), plus six to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). ŠAirbus.

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Philippine Navy (PN) will receive the first of two AW159 helicopters with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities in 2018.

Singapore - more modern equipment coming The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has ordered six A330 MRTTs to the replace its KC-135R tankers, 16 Airbus H225M medium-lift and 10 CH-47F Chinook heavylift helicopters.

South Korea - a strong uplift ahead Responding to the threatening posture of North Korea, South Korea plan to increase its 2018 defence budget to a high of USD40 billion. The US Government has approved the procurement of 40 F-35A fighter aircraft while the South Korean Defense Acquisition

Program Administration (DAPA) has initiated a process to purchase an additional 20 F-35As. At the same time the KAI KF-X programme for a next–generation fighter to replace 150 Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-5Es by 2023 continues.

Other aircraft on order for the ROKAF include 20 KAI FA-50 light attack aircraft, four A330 MRTTs, two Falcon 2000 ELINT aircraft and two Boeing 737 AEW&C aircraft.

Taiwan - a regular force strengthening The Republic of China Air Force has a requirement for a Lead-in Fighter Aircraft (LIFT) to replace its F-5Fs and AT-3s while 15 T-6C Texan II basic trainers to replace 35 T-34s are on order. Deliveries of 69 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to replace the Army’s large fleet of UH-1H Hueys are commencing this year.

Thailand - changing times ahead

Thirty-six AH-64E attack helicopters and 70 KAI Surion KUH-1 light utility helicopters are being delivered to the Army plus another 30 to the newly created Korean Marine Corps. A major development is the Airbus H155-based Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) helicopter that will replace some 150 MD500s and 50 AH-1S Cobras in the next decade. The ROK Navy has taken delivery of eight AW159s and it has a requirement for an additional 20 ASW helicopters.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has selected 12 KAI T-50 advanced trainer to replace its L-39s plus four T-50TH light attack aircraft and has ordered two additional H225M SAR helicopters. Two AW139 and 15 UH72A Lakota light utility helicopters are being delivered to the Royal Thai Army and a contract was signed in September 2017 for the delivery of two Mi-17V-5 helicopters.

Based on the Airbus Helicopters H155, the KAI Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) is being developed to replace the Republic of Korea Army’s UH-1H Hueys. ©KAI. EDR | January/February 2018

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Defending operating bases: an integrated business

By Paolo Valpolini

When a contingent deploys to a foreign country for operation a Main Operating Base (MOB) is created, which requires some form of protection, as a military operation takes place in a scenario which encompasses at least some risks, if not real threats.

A top view of an operating base in Afghanistan; protecting these facilities is often not easy task and requires the integration of sensors and effectors. ©P. Valpolini.

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f the mission requires to control a considerable amount of territory, patrolling from the MOB is not sufficient: the force must have its “boots on the ground” in key areas, thus Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) are set up, smaller than the MOB but still capable to host some forces, usually at least a reinforced company. The smallest organised bases are

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known as Combat Outposts (COPs), usually platoon-level bases set up in critical areas, where a constant presence is required.

When boots on the ground are needed It is clear that in non-permissive scenarios, all these bases need to be defended; however the raison d’être of those infrastructures is their

External fence, internal wall made of earth filled gabions, and metallic guard tower; this base represents today standard perimeter passive protection. ŠP. Valpolini.

cover for a potential opponent, allowing him to get within small arms range from the base.

In many cases in recent operations units were obliged to set up their FOBs in an urban context, one of the most risky situations from a defensive standpoint.

Staging a real FOB

While COPs are usually too small to allow for a structured defence that truly exploit technology, MOBs and FOBs can leverage on different categories of systems to improve protection while reducing the manpower required to ensure the appropriate defensive capability, minimising risks for the units while increasing their operational effectiveness.

Bases erected in open spaces tend to have wide fields of view, providing warning time against direct attacks, even from the least technological sensor, eyeball Mk1, while ensuring more sophisticated sensors to exploit their maximum ranges. Nonetheless the risk provided by RAM (Rocket – Artillery – Mortar) remains. Relationship with local nationals are another risky element: most nation-building missions require to operate with host-nation military and police forces, the former being often called to cooperate in base protection. Moreover the need to reduce military manpower employed in routine logistic tasks as well as that of boosting the local economy often brings to employ local labour. Both military and civilian locals add to the risks, this time the potential threat being inside the camp. As we can see even when not on patrol, risks remain, and to minimise them a thorough risk assessment, adequate training and procedures, good intelligence and, to top up all this, all those systems that allow to increase situational awareness and protection, possibly integrated, in order to allow BDOC (Base Defence Operations Centre) to neutralise as quickly as possible any threat that may arise.

The choice of the location where the MOB or FOB will be erected depends of multiple factors: usually the defensive aspect is among top priorities, however sometimes other considerations, often linked to relationship with the local communities, might bring to choices where the surrounding areas provide

When setting up a base perimeter protection is priority one; once the location has been chosen, it is usually the responsibility of engineer units to deploy the protection fence all around the base. A simple fence usually does not represent a sufficient protection, thus tougher systems are needed,

capability to deploy patrols, which dynamically control the surrounding areas.

On the other hand if the threat increases, more an more personnel will be required to defend the base itself, leaving the place to a more static stance, which in the end makes the soldiers presence nearly useless, as the base becomes a self-defending entity which does not project any capacity on the territory.

Balancing static defence and the capacity to project dynamic operations on the ground is the task of commanders, however sensors and weapon systems can be of great use in order to optimise protection capacities, leaving as much manpower as possible to carry on dynamic operations, which in turn usually allows to decrease direct threats to the base itself.

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A mortar shelter made in reinforced concrete and further protected with Hesco Bastions; these are available in different sizes, those on top of the roof being much smaller than those on the sides. ŠP. Valpolini.

capable to stop small arms threat as well as some types of rocket propelled grenades.

One system that has become a standard is the use of earth-filled containing elements of different types and sizes allowing to quickly create protective barriers using engineer earth moving equipment; this is a much quicker solution compared to sand bag protections, and playing with the filling materiel it is possible to modify the protection capacity.

Looking into the matter Different companies and solutions are available. Hesco Bastion is one of the key players in this field, providing three different types of systems, all based on a wire mesh made of mild steel wire with vertical helical-coin joints, lined with non-woven polypropylene geotextile. The first produced were the so-called MIL Units, which come in different sizes, the bigger one being the MIL7, which is 2.21 meters high, with a 2.13x2.13 cell, and a total length of 27.74 meters for the single module.

The next step was the production of the MIL Recoverable, which maintain the same characteristics but feature a single removable pin allowing to open each cell,

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DefenCell proposes an earth filled system based only on textile, lighter than gabions and that does not generate ricochet. ŠP. Valpolini.

the fill material thus being released from the unit. The units can then be recovered fully intact and flat packed for transportation, the average volume being the double compared to that of the same new palletised unit (a standard MIL unit would occupy 12 times the volume of the delivery package). This allows reducing logistical and environmental impact, as well as cost as systems can be re-used. RAID, standing for Rapid In-theatre Deployment, is based on the previously described standard or recoverable MIL units fitted into a specially designed and engineered ISO container allowing the rapid deployment of pre-joined modules up to 333 meters.

According to Hesco the use of RAID allows reducing 50% of road traffic involved in delivering defensive barriers. A similar system is the DefenCell MAC, that exploits the know how of Maccaferri in building gabions and that of Defencell in the textile domain; modules are made of galvanised welded mesh panels and corner coils combined with a heavy duty UV resistant geotextile lining material. The MAC7 has similar dimensions of the MIL7, 180 m3 of inert materiel being required to fill it. DefenCell also provides non-metallic systems that reduce the risk of secondary fragmentation and ricochet,

depending on the filling material; according to the company the system showed to be able to withstand 25 mm ammunition.

This all-textile solution allows considerable weight saving in the deployment phase, on average metallic-mesh systems weigh five times more, some being even 10 times heavier. All those systems can also be used for other protective roles inside the camp; front-line FOBs usually need overhead protection, earth-filled modules being often added over the top of containerised living modules, up to the ability of the latter to withstand weight. In bigger camps where threat is lesser they can be used to provide some lateral protection against shrapnels around living areas, and to build mortar shelters, as it would be impossible to protect all living quarters. They can also be used to protect sensible areas and equipment, such as command centres, ammo dumps, POL areas, etc.

The capability to stack two or more layers of gabions allows not only to increase the height of perimeter protection but also to create watchtowers, used by personnel on guard duty to observe at distance and eventually react to threats. Gabions can also be used to protect bases’ entry points, by avoiding vehicles to approach the entrance at high speed. To further implement protection at entry points numerous companies produce moving barriers that can be quickly activated should a threat materialise at very short notice.

Discovering in advance any possible threat allows to considerably increase the protection level, as it allows to take action, reacting with adequate effectors while giving time to personnel not involved in the active defence to take cover. If some sectors might allow opponents to approach the base undetected,

A hangar erected on containers, protected by earth filled gabions on the sides, defends one of the entrances at Kabul airport. ŠP. Valpolini.

unattended sensors can be deployed along that approach path to provide warning.

Improving static defences In Europe one key player is Exensor of Sweden, which in summer 2017 was acquired

by French Bertin; its Flexnet includes a set of optical, infrared, acoustic, magnetic and seismic unattended ground sensors, all networked among them and designed to ensure minimal power consumption. Each sensor contributes to form a silent and selfhealing power optimised mesh network,

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An infrared passive sensor part of the Flexnet unattended sensor system developed by Exensor, a Swedish company now part of Bertin. ©P. Valpolini.

operation time being up to 12 months, all data being provided to a command and control platform. Leonardo proposes a similar suite, the UGS System, based on a set of unattended ground sensors capable of detecting movement and activity. The system dynamically creates and maintains a wireless mesh network able to transfer information and data to remote operation centres.

When early warning is sufficient systems base only on seismic systems can be used, the US military currently deploying the E-UGS (Expendable Unattended Ground Sensor). The size of a coffee cup these seismic sensors can be deployed in seconds and work for up to six months, their algorithm detecting only human footsteps and moving vehicles. Information is received on a laptop that shows the map with sensor locations and activated sensors. The E-UGS was developed

by Applied Research Associates, and over 40,000 sensors have been delivered and used downrange. Numerous other companies developed similar systems, which are dual use as they can also be employed in border surveillance, infrastructure protection, etc.

As said, in base protection these are used as

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A seismic and acoustic sensor part of the Flexnet suite; these systems allow to cover sectors where long range observation is impossible, providing early warning in case somebody approaches the base from that side. ©P. Valpolini.

“triggers” to warn about movements in some sectors.

However main sensors are usually radars and electro-optic (E/O) devices. Radars may have different tasks; one is definitely surveillance around the base, as battlefield surveillance radars have the capacity to pick up human and vehicle targets at distance, either static or on the move. To confirm radar targets and get a positive identification, which is required before taking any kinetic action, E/O systems are used, usually these having two channels, one for day and one for night, the latter being based either on image intensification or thermal imaging, some systems featuring both. However radars have another task, that of detecting incoming indirect fire, such as mortar rounds or rockets, artillery having not yet appeared among insurgent inventories in recent theatres of operation as part of the socalled RAM threat. Depending on the base dimensions and geometry, radar and E/O sensors can be mounted on high buildings, towers, or even on blimps, or multiple sensors must be installed when a single one does not provide full 360° coverage, if needed.

Among battlefield surveillance radars the Thales Squire obtained considerable success.

A low probability of intercept frequency modulated continuous-wave radar with a 1Watt maximum transmit power, it works in the I/J band and can detect a pedestrian at 9 m range, a small vehicle at 19 km and a tank at 23 km.

At 3 km range accuracy is less than 5 meters while in azimuth it is less than 5 mils (0.28 degrees). A man-portable system, the Squire radar unit An old round surveillance radar installed Leonardo of Italy developed the on the top of a building at an Italian Lyra, a family of radars used for weighs 18 kg while the operaMOB in Iraq, in the early 2000; this type ground and coastal surveillance tor unit weighs 4 kg, allowing of system is part of the basic sensor purposes. Here the Lyra 10, suite in most operating bases. the one typically employed for to use it also in small FOBs as ©P. Valpolini. ground use. ©Leonardo. well as in COPs. The Squire is also able of detecting slow moving aircraft and UAVs, up Hensoldt, the German-based sensor house, to 300 km/h, flying at low-level. An upgraded features in its portfolio the Spexer 2000 version has recently being developed, prosecurity radar, an X-band pulse-doppler viding ranges of 11, 22 and 33 km for the radar based on AESA technology, with 120 aforementioned target types, and with added degrees electronic scanning and optional infrared imaging capacity. It also features a mechanical rotation on 360 degrees, 28°/s scan speed, that adds to the 7°/s and providing detection ranges of 18 km against 14°/S available in the older model. Morepedestrian, 22 km against light vehicles, over only two batteries rather than three are and 9 km against mini-UAVs. Rada of Israel required for 24 hours operations, although proposes its three-dimensional perimeter this does not usually impact on static use in surveillance radars, capable of detecting, FOBs and MOBs. classifying and tracking of pedestrians and vehicles, as well as slow and small manned or Thales portfolio also contains the Ground unmanned aircraft. Pulse doppler, softwareObserver 80 and 20, with persons detection defined, multi-mission radar platforms ranges respectively of over 24 km and over working in the S-band, equipped with an 8 km. Remaining in the small and mobile AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars, Leonardo proposes its Lyra family, the antenna, the pMHR, eMHR and ieMHR junior member being the Lyra 10, the number provide increasing detection ranges against indicating the range against pedestrians, pedestrian and vehicles, respectively 10 and small vehicle being picked up at 15 km and 20 km, 16 and 32 km, and 20 and 40 km, large vehicles at 24 km. An X-band coherent each antenna covering a 90° sector. pulse doppler radar, it can detect helicopters and UAVs at 20 km range.

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Hensoldt of Germany developed the Spexer family of radars, here the Spexer 2000 used for ground surveillance, the systems being also used for coastal defence. ©Hensoldt.

Another Israeli company, IAI Elta, has in its portfolio the ELM-2112 family of persistent surveillance radars, six out of seven also for ground use. Working in X or C band they cover detection ranges from 300 up to 15,000 meters for a moving person and ranges of up to 30 km for a moving vehicle.

Each stationary planar array covers 90°, multi-beam technology allowing to obtain up to 360° instantaneous coverage.

sector, auxiliary units covering another 90° sector each. In the US SRC Inc. proposes its SR Hawk, a pulse-doppler Ku-band radar providing continuous 360° coverage, the (V)2E enhanced version ensuring detection ranges of 12 km for a single person, 21 km for small vehicles and 32 km for large vehicles. Those are only some of the many surveillance radars that can be used to increase protection of a MOB or a FOB.

Developed by Blighter in the UK, the B402 is an E-scan radar frequency modulated continuous wave working in the Ku band that can detect a walking person at 11 km, a moving vehicle at 20 km and a large moving at 25 km; the main radar unit covers a 90°

From radars to IR and acoustic detectors

Rada of Israel proposes its Multi-mission Hemispheric Radars for base protection; each antenna covers a 90° sector, thus for all round coverage four systems are needed. © Rada.

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Although better known for its optronic systems, FLIR developed a family of surveillance radars known as Ranger, going from the short-range R1 up to the long range R10, numbers approximately indicating human detection ranges.

Bigger and longer range radars can obviously be employed, however cost considerations have to be made, while specialised artillery radars are usually needed for detecting incoming projectiles, while air defence radars linked to dedicated actuators provide C-RAM defence, but a full description of those systems goes beyond the scope of this article.

While radars provide potential intruders detection, other sensors are useful when the base is attacked, the previously mentioned artillery and mortar radars being part of them.

However for detecting direct fire sources a series of sensors were developed. In France Acoem Metravib developed the Pilar, which exploits sound waves generated by the shot to localise in real time and with good accuracy the source of shots fired by small and medium calibre weapons. In the base protection version it can includes from two to 20 acoustic arrays linked between them, azimuth, elevation and range, as well as GPS grids, of the shooting source being provided on a computer. The system can cover areas of up to 1.5 km².

A single B402 radar by Blighter; here the radar is integrated with an optronic system and features the M20W antenna that provides a 20° wide elevation beam, ideal for mobile deployment in hilly and mountainous areas. ©Blighter.

A suite of four Blighter B402 radars fitted with M10S long-range antennas providing a 10° elevation beam. ©Blighter.

A similar system known as ASLS (Acoustic Shooter Locating System) has been developed by Rheinmetall of Germany. While those systems are based on microphones, Microflown Avisa of the Netherlands developed its system around the AVS (Acoustic Vector Sensor) technology. The AMMS (Acoustic Multi-Mission Sensor) has a diameter of 265 mm and a height of 100 mm, and weighs 1.75 kg; it can pick up a shot fired at a range of 1,500 meters, depending

A Metravib Pilar sensor installed over the top of an infrastructure; the system can be deployed with multiple sensors to cover a wide area around the base. ©P. Valpolini.

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of fire. In the USA Raytheon BBN developed the Boomerang, currently at its third iteration, which is another microphone based shooter locating system, which saw extensive use in Afghanistan, as most of the aforementioned systems, which were used in most of the recent operations carried out by Western European troops.

Enter the optronics

on the calibre, with a miss distance of 200 meters, providing an ac curacy of less than 1.5° in direction and 5-10% in range. The AMMS is at the base of the Compound Protection System, which is based on five sensors and can detect Small Arms Fire up to a typical 1 km range and indirect fire up to 6km range 360° all around, but depending on the terrain and the sensor layout the ranges can be larger.

Coming to electro-optical sensors, here too the choice is immense. E/O sensors can be essentially of two types, surveillance sensors, usually providing a 360° coverage with pixel changing capabilities in order to provide warnings, and longer range systems with limited field of view, mostly used to acquire positive identification of targets picked-up by other sensors, radar, acoustic, seismic or E/O. Looking at 360°, HGH Systèmes Infrarouges of France proposes the Spynel family, a series of systems available all based on thermal imagers, with different sensors ranging from uncooled, Spynel-U and-M, and cooled, Spynel-X, -S and -C. The -S and -X models work in the Medium Wave IR band, all other working in the Long Wave IR band, sensor sizes and scan rate varying from one model to the other, as well as human detection ranges that increases from 700 meters up to 8 km. To its sensor the French company adds Cyclope, an automatic intrusion detection and tracking software capable of analysing the 360° high resolution images captured by the Spynel sensors.

IDS of Italy uses a radar to detect hostile fire, from 5.56 mm rounds up to RPGs; the HFLCS (Hostile Fire Locator - Counter Sniper) is an X-band radar with 120° coverage, thus three radars must be deployed to cover 360°, and measures radial speed, azimuth, elevation and range, tracing back the source

In September 2017 HGH added an optional laser rangefinder to the Spynel-S and –X series, thus providing not only the direction of the threat but also its precise distance, allowing for targeting. Looking at longer

Raytheon BBN sold numerous Boomerang systems to the US military; here the Boomerang III, the latest version of this microphone-based shooter locating system. ©Raytheon BBN.

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range E/O devices, these are usually installed over a pan-tilt platform and often slaved to 360° sensors. Thales Margot 8000 is an example, featuring a 2-axis gyrostabilised pan-tilt unit, a Medium Wave IR imager, a day TV camera, both with continuous zoom, and a laser rangefinder with a 20 km range, with person detection range of 15 km.

Hensoldt IP-based Z:Sparrowhawk is based on an uncooled thermal sensor with fixed or zoom optics, a daylight camera with a x30 optical zoom, and a pan and tilt platform, human detection range with TI being of 4 to 5 km while vehicles are detected at a 7 km range. Leonardo proposes its Horizon Medium Wave IR thermal camera employing the latest focal plane array technology to meet long-range surveillance requirements, its sensor and 80-960 mm continuous optical zoom ensuring human detection at over 30 km and vehicle detection at nearly 50 km.

A Spynel-S 360° IR surveillance system, here in the latest version fitted with a laser rangefinder; this system is developed

by HGH Systèmes Infrarouges of France. ©HGH.

Elbit System of Israel developed a series of products for critical infrastructure safety, that can be used also in MOB and FOB protection, such as the LOROS (Long Range Reconnaissance and Observation System),

ESC BAZ of Israel provides long-range day/night observation systems that can be slaved to other sensors to ensure positive identification; here the Aviv system is fitted with a white light illuminator. ©ESC BAZ.

which is composed of a colour day camera, a B/W day camera, a thermal camera, a laser range finder and a laser marker, a C2 operation and control unit. Another Israeli company, ESC BAZ, proposes a series of systems such as its Aviv short to mid-range surveillance system, fitted with an uncooled thermal imager, and the Tamar an ultrasensitive observation system with colour wide field of view channel, visible narrow FoV channel and long range SWIR channel, all equipped with x250 optical continuous zoom.

In the US FLIR, which also produce radars, offers integrated solutions, such as the CommandSpace Cerberus, a trailer-mounted system with a 5.8 meters high mast, that can be fitted with various radar and E/O options, or the shelter-mounted Kraken suite, designed for FOB and COP protection, which also includes some remote weapon stations.

As for E/O systems it proposes its full range of Ranger devices fitted with powerful zoom lenses and cooled or uncooled thermal imagers in different bands or low light level CCD cameras.

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A 40 mm AGL installed in a defensive position on top of a Hesco Bastion wall; these weapons as well as 12.7 mm machine guns are the typical defensive systems used for base protection. ŠP. Valpolini

Back to the shooting trade Usually base defence is provided by soldiers with their individual and unit weapon systems, up to the 12.7 mm machine gun, 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, light rocket launchers and eventually antitank missiles, fired from sangars, small, medium To counter attacks, mortars are used to provide indirect fire capacity; these weapons are also often used at night with illuminating rounds. ŠP. Valpolini.

and large calibre mortars being used as indirect fire weapons. Some companies, such as Kongsberg, proposed remotely controlled weapon stations integrated in containers or mounted on sangars, in order to reduce manpower and avoid soldiers to be exposed to enemy fire, however for the time being these solutions did not became popular.

For large bases, i.e. those hosting an airfield, the idea of patrolling the larger perimeter with unmanned ground vehicles, eventually armed, has been taken into consideration.

CounterUAS systems might also be added to the defensive suite, as these are being used as flying IEDs by some organisations.

However the key issue for all the aforementioned

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systems is integration. The aim is to have all sensors and effectors linked to the Base Defence Operations Centre, where personnel responsible for base protection can evaluate in near real time the situation, taking action accordingly. Other sensors, such as miniUAS can also be integrated in the system, while information and images coming from other sources can be used to complete the operational picture. Many key defence industry players have already developed such solutions, some of them having been deployed downrange. Interoperability among nations is another key issue: in 2009 the European Defence Agency launched a three year project on the Future Interoperability of Camp Protection Systems (FICAPS); France and Germany agreed on common interoperability guidelines for existing and future CPS (Camp Protection Systems), the work done being the base for a possible European standard.

Some years ago Kongsberg of Norway proposed a containerised version of its remotely controlled weapon station. ŠKongsberg.

Integrating all data provided by sensors into a single Base Defence Operations Centre also fitted with command and control elements to ensure proper reaction is definitely the optimal solution for base protection.

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RUAG maintains the Swiss Air Force Patrouille Suisse aerobatic team’s veteran F-5E Tiger IIs. ŠDavid Oliver.

Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

By David Oliver The global military aviation MRO market is expected to be worth US $18.5 Billion in 2017 and is expected to increase to US $23.4 Billion by 2027. The expenditure in the sector is expected to be driven by ageing military equipment globally, technological innovations in the industry, internal and external security threats, territorial disputes and modernisation initiatives undertaken by armed forces.

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ustomers around the globe are faced with challenges every day, including increased demands on fleet availability and capability despite budgetary constraints. There is no room for compromise. Military aircraft and helicopter fleets must be available at all times and to make this possible, a reliable and experienced maintenance partner is absolutely crucial. This can be a commercial MRO company or, as in many cases, a government-owned organisation that is often a specialist unit within the armed forces.

Looking for extended proficiency In Europe, the Swiss Air Force entrusts its entire aircraft and helicopter fleet to the government-owned aerospace company RUAG Aviation, for MRO, engineering and logistics, for both routine and incidental servicing. RUAG is authorized to provide support services for the F-5 and F/A18 fleets, EC-635, Cougar/Super Puma helicopters as well as Pilatus PC-6/7/9 training aircraft. As part of its comprehensive quality assurance procedures, all aircraft

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are test-flown by its own company test pilots before being handed over back to the customer. RUAG Aviation carries out a wide range of services for the F-5 and F/A-18 combat aircraft. Its responsibilities include aircraft structure, engines, avionics and components in combination with support, test and training equipment, as well as system integrations. Customers worldwide benefit from the vast know-how of RUAG Aviation in logistics, engineering, as well as in upgrades, maintenance and repair work and factory flight-testing.

The first upgraded Swiss Air Force Cougar was delivered during 2016, with the helicopter receiving digital displays an enhanced package of self-protection systems, including additional chaff and flare dispensers and a full replacement of its wiring.

With its long history of maintaining the Swiss Air Force fleet of F-5 Tiger IIs, RUAG Aviation has had a MRO contract with the Mexican Air Force to refurbish its ageing F-5E/F aircraft while RUAG has offered surplus Swiss Air Force F-5s to Uruguay although these may not be available before a replacement is selected in 2020.

The Romanian aerospace company Aerostar, based at Bacau, is a subsidiary of the Romanian Ministry of Armed Forces and has provided repair and maintenance services for all aircraft types used by the Romanian military.

A refurbished Lancer taxis past the Aerostar MRO facility at Bachau. ©Aerostar.

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A Romanian Air Force MiG-21 Lancer being rebuilt at Aerostar’s facility. ©Aerostar

It largest contract is the overhaul programme for the Romanian Air Force MiG-21 Lancers.

There are no L-39s in the Romanian inventory so any work on those is for overseas air forces. The other aircraft that is overhauled regularly is the Yak-52M piston aerobatic trainer. Aerostar was the sole source producer of the Yak-52 for the Warsaw Pact, and produced some 1,900 aircraft.

Where East-European experience remains strong In the past, Aerostar has overhauled Indian MiG-21s and Bangladeshi L-39 trainers.

More recently, six single-seat Mozambique Air Force MiG-21s and two two-seat MiG21UBs have been overhauled and upgraded.

The project included equipping them with GPS navigation equipment and a digital flight recorder. Each year, Aerostar carries out deep maintenance every 600 flight hours

Deep maintenance carried out on a Colombian Air Force C295’s Pratt & Whitney PW127G turboprop engine by CIAC at Bogota. ©David Oliver.

of five to six Lancers, which takes on average 90 days. The fleet of 36 Lancer Cs, survivors of 114 MiG-21s that were upgraded by Aerostar and Elbit between 1993 and 2002 with modern avionics, HOTAS and NATO compatible weapon systems, are due to be replaced by F-16s As for its military MRO future, Aerostar’s President and Director General, Grigore Filip, said that the company is determined to get involved in the maintenance of the F-16, but there is no certainty and no final agreement to date. Much will depend on the cost and when the newly acquired Romanian Air Force F-16 fleet will grow, there are three different business plan being evaluated, for 12, 24 and 36 aircraft.

The South American way: call Colombia…

One of the largest MRO facilities in South America is the Colombian governmentowned Corporación de la Industria Aeronáutica Colombiana SA (CIAC) that

offers comprehensive range of aerospace solutions including aircraft and UAV design and production, and simulation training in addition to MRO. CIAC is certified by Airbus Defence & Space as a MRO Service Center for the Colombian Air Force and Navy C-295 and CN-235 transport aircraft at its facility at Bogota’s International Airport.

The Level 3 maintenance includes removal of all access panels for inspection, restoration of floors, the loading system, changing wheels and brakes and propellers, testing all the systems and painting the exterior and interior of the aircraft, a total of 2,400 manhours over four months.

Colombian Air Force AT-27B Super Tucano are also overhauled at the facility along with civil aircraft belonging to various government agencies. CIAC is also certified by Textron to maintain the Cessna C-208 Caravans operated by the Colombian Air Force and Army as well as commercial operators. It also repairs composite helicopter blades and

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A Colombian Air Force T-27 Tucano is prepared for a test flight after being rebuilt by CIAC at Madrid Air Base. ©David Oliver..

aircraft flaps, and produces aircraft ballistic armour in-house. Due to reduced military budgets, CIAC is looking to increase its commercial customers which includes the National Police aviation wing.

At the Air Force Comando Aéreo de Mantenimiento (CAMAN) at Madrid Air Base, CIAC is responsible to carrying out a seven-month programmed maintenance of the air force’s fleet of C-130B/H transport aircraft, and upgrading T-27 Tucano advanced trainers and Bell UH-1H utility helicopters. The air force’s fleet of 14 T-27 Tucano advanced/weapons trainers is being updated with new Cobham avionics, Collins nav/comms systems, a new wing and landing gear supplied by Embraer. The wings are wired for weapons carriage enabling the aircraft to be used for weapons training and a limited light attack role.

Eleven aircraft have been completed to date. Fourteen air force Bell UH1H helicopters are being modernized to “Huey II” standard that includes a new Honeywell T53 turboshaft engine, uprated transmission, and new avionics.

They are also fitted with additional armour and armed with pintle-mounted machine guns. The conversion takes some 20,000 man-hours over four months.

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But don’t forget Brazil and its subsidiaries The Brazilian aerospace company Embraer was established as a government-owned corporation, which was privatized in 1994.

In addition to aircraft design and production, Embraer maintains and upgrades air force and navy aircraft.

In 2001, Embraer and Elbit Systems started work on a $230 million Brazilian F-5 modernisation programme, performed over an eight-year period, upgrading 46 F-5E/F aircraft, re-designated as F-5EM and F-5FM. They were fitted with DASH IV helmet display, Litening targeting pod, and the Leonardo Grifo F radar.

Embraer has upgraded 43 Brazilian Air Force Tiger IIs to F-5EM standard. ©Tomaz Silva/Agência Brasil.

The Brazilian air force also signed a $400 million deal with Embraer to provide a midlife update for 53 A-1As and A-1Bs — the Brazilian designation for single- and twoseat AMX light-attack/trainers. The six-year project, long deferred because of budgetary constraints, is led by the Israeli avionics manufacturer Elbit and includes extensive modification of the aircraft’s systems and airframe. However, the total number of aircraft to be upgraded is likely to be reduced due to funding issues.

The first of 12 Skyhawks has been re-delivered to the Brazilian Navy after being upgraded to A-4KU Skyhawk II standard by Embraer. The upgrade brings the Skyhawks to a standard

covered facilities at Alverca on the outskirt of Lisbon, including 10 maintenance hangars, aerostructure manufacturing facilities, a large engine overhaul shop and a new paint hangar that was opened in February 2017. A new era in the company’s history started in 2003 when the Portuguese government took a decision to privatise the company while retaining 35 % of the shares and private ownership, with Embraer owning the remaining 65 % of the company share capital. Today MRO services for military, commercial, engines, components and engineering account for 71 % of OGMA’s total business.

OGMA is also an established authorised maintenance centre for a number Original

The extensive C-130 maintenance hangars at Alverca with Niger and French Air Force Hercules in the foreground. ©OGMA.

similar to that of the air force’s F-5 Tigers and involves the installation of Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) cockpit controls, a Head Up Display (HUD), two MDF displays in the cockpit, plus a new Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) system.

In June 2017, the Portuguese aerospace company OGMA (part of Embraer today) celebrated 99 years of existence and it aims to continue to play an active role in the evolution of aviation and aeronautics in Portugal.

Today OGMA has 140,000 square metres of

Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), including Lockheed Martin, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce. In the defence sector, OGMA is responsible for maintenance of the Portuguese Air Force fleet of F-16 aircraft and their Mid-Life Update (MLU) programme. The upgrade of 16 singleseat A-models and four two-seat B-models included new avionics and a cockpit upgrade.

In 2013 nine Portuguese Air Force F-16 MLU aircraft were sold to Romania plus three former USAF aircraft that were upgraded to F-16 MLU standard by OGMA prior transfer to Romania.

Since 1982 OGMA has been providing a

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wide range of maintenance services and upgrades to P-3 Orion operators including the Portuguese Air Force. Specific services include major structural repairs, life extension programmes and structural life extension.

OGMA has more than 35 years of continuous experience with the C-130/L-100 Hercules aircraft and has been a fully authorised Lockheed Martin Service Centre for the type since 1982. The Alverca facility has up to twelve maintenance bays available and has carried out more than six hundred C-130A/B/H Hercules aircraft inspections to date. OGMA has an Inhouse capability for overhauling the T56/501D turboprop engine and the C-130J’s RollsRoyce AE 2100D3. OGMA’s defence customer portfolio comprises 24 air forces worldwide, many of them C-130 operators, one of its largest being the French Air Force’s C-130H fleet. The company has C-130 MRO contracts with no less than seven African air forces.

Maintenance services are also provided for the Eurocopter SA330 Puma including main rotor head and main rotor and tail rotor repairs and dynamic balancing, as well as providing full in service support (FISS) in partnership with AgustaWestland for the AW101 helicopter, both of which are operated by the Portuguese Air Force. Embraer selected OGMA to provide in-house or on-site support to its Tucano/Super-Tucano family of training/light attack aircraft, with solutions ranging from the lighter maintenance checks to avionics upgrades and full fleet support.

A new dedicated African player Paramount Aerospace Systems, a subsidiary of the South African Paramount Group has been supporting a number of air forces around the world in the maintenance and technical operation of advanced fighter aircraft for many years.

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OGMA engineers working on the Mid-Life-Update programme for a Portuguese Air Force F-16A. ©OGMA.

The Company has extensive capability on former South African Air Force the Mirage F1AZ aircraft with full airframe and engine overhaul capability, as well as the ability to upgrade, modernise avionics and mission systems. Refurbished aircraft have been sold to the air forces of Gabon and Congo.

Paramount Group has recently acquired four former French Air Force two-seat Mirage F1Bs. Ivor Ichikowitz, Group Chairman of Paramount Group said: “The global economic slowdown has reduced the defence budgets of most countries in the world resulting in cuts across many defence sectors including aircraft, naval vessels and military vehicles. Such budgetary constraints are driving the decrease in procurement of new military aircraft, helicopter and UAV’s and place huge emphasis on more affordable solutions such as maintenance, repair and modernisation of existing equipment and the associated training requirements.”

ILDSs: keeping the pace with threats

By Luca Peruzi In the recent years the naval fleets have found themselves involved in the countering of new forms of airborne and surface threats. The latter have and will influence the development of the multi-layer defence of naval forces worldwide. The new supersonic and highly manoeuvring threats represented by the anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) together with a range of new asymmetric threats are reducing the reaction time of innerlayer defence systems, pushing the defenders to network and extend their range, while upgrading the in-service systems and looking to new ones, such as laser-based weapons not covered by this overview.

The most diffused ILDS is the Raythoen Mk 15 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS which is being kept update through a radar and Tech Refresh program to eliminate obsolescense, maintain/improve reliability and increase capabilities. @US Navy.

Guns

T

he most widely diffuse ILDS is the Raytheon Mk 15 Phalanx 20 mm Close-In Weapon system (CIWS), which is described as an

all-weather, day-and-night, fully automatic, self-contained weapon equipped with its own radar and electro-optic to perform search, detection, threat evaluation, tracking and engagement using the 20 mm M61A1 six-barrel Gatling gun capable of firing

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armour-piercing rounds at a rate up to 4,500 rounds/min with a 1,550 rounds magazine. With over 850 systems now produced for 24 nations plus US, and production contracts in place to carry further development well in the 21st century, the Phalanx today provides both terminal defence against anti-ship missiles as well as asymmetric threats such as small, high speed, manoeuvring surface craft and low, slow aircraft and helicopters. Entered into service in 1980, in the recent years Raytheon introduced the Block 1B surface mode configuration which incorporates a stabilized thermal imager and an automatic video tracker that The Royal Netherlands navy and Thales Nederland are involved in the Goalkeeper Upkeep program to maintain the provides the asymmetric threats second most diffused CIWS in service at least until 2025, engagement as well as improves while reducing maintenance and improving capabilities. @UK Crowncopyright images. the capabilities against ASCMs. The Block 1B also incorporates an electronics enclosure modernization (ELX) Optimized Gun Barrel (OGB) enhancement and Local Control Station and Remote provided by General Dynamics for tighter Control Station (LCS/RCS) redesign with ordnance dispersion. The Phalanx is also simplified user operation and total system being subjected to a radar upgrades weight reduction in addition to overall (Block 1B Baseline 2) which introduced a reduced total ownership cost to maintain new state-of-the-art digital system that the system. provides improved performances against advanced ASCMs and increased reliability, Keeping with the countering of latest threats to be completed within 2019. To maintain and obsolescence issues is at the heart of the the systems in service until at least 2040, upgrading program of the other most diffused Raytheon has been working and the US Navy CIWS in service worldwide. Delivered to the is to start in FY2018 a Technology Refresh Netherlands and other seven foreign navies program to avoid obsolescence, maintain/ from the mid-80s, including South Korea, improve reliability, increase capabilities Belgium, Chile, Portugal, Qatar and UK (today and provide affordable spare parts. To be retired), the Goalkeeper is an autonomous incorporate during overhauls, the Tech CIWS developed by Signal (today Thales Fresh program includes the introduction of Nederland) in which the entire engagement a new electric gun drive system (EGDS) to sequence from search to destruction is replace the current pneumatic one, allowing carried out automatically thanks to the variable firing rates (today not available) separate searching and tracking radars, TV with reduced ammunition expenditures,

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Camera, and the 4,200 rounds/min GAU8/A 30 mm seven-barrel gatling gun with missile-piercing discarding-sabot (MPDS) ammunition and a 1,190 rounds magazine, all mounted on a single turret. Capable to engage both air and surface targets with a pin-point tracking capability offered by the dual I/K-band tracking radar and continuous search with track-while-scan ensuring rapid engagement of the next priority target in multi-target scenarios, the Netherlands Navy’s CIWS is the subjected of a mid-life upgrade program managed by Dutch MoD and called Goalkeeper Upkeep. Under contract since 2012, Thales Nederland has developed an upgrade package, which can be offered to export customers through the Goalkeeper Service Life Extension Program, including a new colour TV and IR electrooptical set, latest generation control station, operational software and processing power.

These improvements offer reduced reaction time, added accuracy and enhanced multitarget engagement scenarios against latest ASCM and asymmetric threats in addition to reduced maintenance and extended-life time to 2025. The first update Goalkeeper was tested at sea in mid-2016 with upgrading activities to develop according to funding availability.

Based on the today Rheinmetall Air Defence’s 35 mm 35/1000 revolver gun system capable to fire the AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition, which form the core of the Oerlikon Skyshield landbased all-weather short range air defence and C-RAM-capable system, the Rheinmetall group has developed the Oerlikon Millenium naval gun system. Matching the 1000 rounds per minute high fire rate of the 35-mm revolver gun and the AHEAD ammunition,

The combination of the Rheinmetall Air Defence’s Oerlikon Skyshield 35 mm 35/1000 revolver gun with the AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition is at the base of the Millenium naval solution. @NATO MARCOM.

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each round containing 152 tungsten subprojectiles forming a lethal cone-shaped cloud ahead of the incoming target, the combination of firepower and precision allow the gun system to cope with a wide range of threats. The latter include ASCMs at ranges three or four times greater than conventional CIWS, claims Rheinmetall, small surface combatants and asymmetric threats in addition to naval fire support.

The Millenium GDM-008 gun-mount doesn’t require through deck installation and can accommodate up to 252 ready-tofire rounds. Capable to be controlled with advanced sensors of all types and operate as an independent or combat systemintegrated weapon system, the Millenium naval gun system is in service with Danish and Venezuelan navies and has been selected by Indonesian navy for its latest naval platforms, attracting the interest of other worldwide naval forces.

Developed by the Chinese’s No 713 Research Institute and resembling the design of Western CIWS with possibly technologies acquisition, the Type 730A is based on a self-contained weapon system with a sevenbarreled 30 mm gatling gun on a mount including one rounds magazine as well as the TR47C tracking radar and the OFC-3 electro-optical sensor system. The follow-on Type 730B version has been re-engineered to use off-mount target-tracking sensors rather than the on-mounted configuration adopted in its original form. With technical data provided by both Norinco and China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC), the Type 730B integrates two 30 mm mountings through a dedicated system network, to off-mount fire-control and surveillance sensors comprising an SR-type search radar, a TR fire-control radar and an OFC electro-optical sensor system. With Chinese designation H/PJ12, both versions are in

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service with PLA Navy and foreign naval forces including Pakistan, Indonesia and Algeria. More recently, a more powerful Type 1130 version based on an eleven-barrel 30 mm gun system with a higher fire rate, two rounds magazines, tracking radar and electro-optical (military designated as H/ PJ14) appeared as part of the self-defence armament of PLA Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier and planned for larger surface combatant platforms. During the 2017 IDEX exhibition, the CSTC (China Shipbuilding Trading Company) unveiled the Type 730C equipped with both gun and short-range surface-to-air missiles, and separate radar EO/IR fire control packages. It combines the existing Type 730 seven­barrelled 30 mm gatling gun system with 6 AJK-10 or HQ-10 (Chinese navy designation) missiles already used by the FL­3000N (Flying Leopard 3000 Naval) inner-layer defence system which will be discussed later.

Guns and missiles

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he ILDS based on both guns and missiles was pioneered in the past by national industry for Russian navy. However, during last year-edition of International Maritime Defence Show (IMDS), the KBP Instrument Design Bureau subsidiary of Rostec State Corporation unveiled the export version of newest Pantsir-M missile and gun-based ILDS, designated as Pantsir-ME. Having completed the development and already under serial production, a prototype of the Pantsir family’s naval version has been installed on board a Project 1241 (Molniya) missile boat to undergo system’s test and qualification trails in the Baltic Sea. The domestic Pantsir-M version has already been ordered by Russian MoD and the new Project 22800 Karakurt-class corvettes are expected

The Pantsir-ME export version of the combining guns and missiles Pantsir ILDS for the Russian Federation navy was presented by Rostec’s KBP Instrument Design Bureau subsidiary during the latest International Maritime Defence Show (IMDS) edition. @Rostec.

The Pantsir-ME ILDS is equipped with both 57E6-E radio-command-guided surface-to-air missiles and six-barrel Gsh-6-30K/ AO-18KD 30 mm gatling guns to provide a defence up to 20 km range. @Rostec.

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The Leonardo’s Strales ILDS combines the worldwide known and used /6/62 Super Rapido medium caliber gun with DART guided ammunitions to cope with present and future missile threats. @Leonardo.

to be the first ships to receive the system.

Based on the Kashtan and Kashtan-M ILDS developments, which combine guns and missiles in a single weapon system in service with Russian Navy and other naval forces including Indian and China, the Pantsir M/ME features enhanced engagement capabilities with longer protection arm.

Incorporating in a single weapon system turret, two quadruple launchers of Pantsir’s 57E6-E radio-command-guided surface-toair missiles naval version and two six-barrel Gsh-6-30K/AO-18KD 30 mm gatling guns in addition to a modified version of Pantsir’s 1RS2-1E phased array radar system and an electro-optical/infrared fire control system, the naval version can engage targets with guns and missile respectively up to 4 and 20 km-ranges and up to 3 and 15 km in altitude.

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The firing unit features a twin automatic below-deck storage/loading system for up to 32 missiles. Capable to be installed on ships with a 300 tonnes displacement, the system can simultaneously engage up to 4 targets according to KBP, and the control module can manage up to four weapon mounts.

Medium caliber with guided ammunitions

D

eveloped under Italian Navy requirements for an ILDS to be used against high-speed and maneuverable airborne and surface threats including supersonic ASCMs executing high-g terminal maneuvers, and

Leonardo is working on a Strales turn-key solution including a dual-band NA30S fire control system with target illumination capability to drive DART ammunition (avoiding the radar beam antenna installation on the gun mount), a multifunction operator console and the 76/62 mm Super Rapido gun mount. @Luca Peruzzi.

currently in service with Colombian and Italian navies, Leonardo is offering the gun/ ammunition package dubbed Strales for export market and based on the worldwide in-service 76/62 mm Super Rapido gun mount with DART (Driven Ammunition with Reduced Time of Flight) guided ammunition. Thanks to the continuous developments to cope with evolving threats and multirole weapon system requirements, Leonardo defence systems division offers

a Super Rapido gun mount equipped with a new local digital console and a multifeeding magazine with two branches capable to accommodate different types of ammunitions including both conventional and guided rounds based on the required missions to be accomplished. The Strales gun mount is characterized by the lowradar cross section shield featuring a sliding cover to protect the Ka-band guidance radar antenna required to generate the guidance

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beam for the DART guided ammunitions.

The later as well as the conventional rounds are equipped with latest 4AP smart fuze offering increased kill probability against both air and littoral warfare targets with four programmable (proximity, altimetry, impact/ delayed impact, time) and one automatic operating modes. The sub-caliber DART projectiles demonstrated an effective range up to 8 km (in comparison with a 4.5 km requirement) and a 1200 m/s initial velocity allowing to cover 5 km in 5 seconds. These performances together with a claimed DART round elevated maneuverability allowed the system to demonstrate effectiveness against present and future ASCM targets, at a cost fraction of a missile weapon. Conceived as an add-on kit to be integrated into inservice 76/62 gun mounts, Leonardo is also

The RAM also equips the SeaRAM CIWS based on Phalanx mounting and targeting package with a 11-cells launcher for the missile, which has so-far found applications on board US Littoral Combat Ships and Arleigh Burke destroyers and newest Japanese platforms. @US Navy.

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The new Block 2 version of the Raytheon RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) missile system features longer range and maneuverability in addition to an enhanced passive RF seeker and digital autopilot. A further capabilities development program is planned to introduce a new seeker and Missile-to-Missile Link (MML). @US Navy.

working on a turn-key solution for Strales, including a dual-band NA30S fire control system with target illumination capability to drive DART ammunition (avoiding the radar beam antenna installation on the gun mount), a multifunction operator console and gun mount with local digital console to offer enhanced system flexibility. According to Leonardo, the system is today attracting the interest of potential Middle-East and Asian customers while the Italian Navy is completing the installation on modern frontline ships and will equip future combatant platforms.

Missiles

D

uring the IDEX 2017 exhibition, Raytheon unveiled it will supply the latest Block 2 version of the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) quick-reaction, ship self-defence weapon system to the UAE. The contract marked the first direct commercial sale worldwide of the RAM’s latest version, while Qatar have signed, previously to IDEX, a letter of offer and acceptance for the same new RAM version. Developed under US and German co-operation by Raytheon and German RAMSys consortium (MBDA Deutschland and Diehl group’s companies), the RAM is an all-weather missile-based ILDS with an integral dual-mode (passive RF/IR) guidance, which switches to passive RF seeker after launch for acquisition lock and midcourse guidance, and passing to IR seeker head for terminal phase. In addition to US and Germany, the RAM missile is operational with Egypt, Greek, Japan, South Korea, Turkish and UAE naval forces while the Block 2 has been requested by new countries including Saudi Arabia and Mexico. Effective against a wide spectrum of existing threats, RAM Block 1 IR upgrade incorporates a new

image-scanning mid-waveband seeker to provide “all-the-way-homing” to improve performance against evolving passive and active ASCMs. To defeat more manoeuvrable faster and low probability of intercept threats, German and US governments developed the Block 2 version, achieving initial operational capability in May 2015, and a full-rate production decision planned for FY 2018. The Block 2 adopts a larger and more powerful motor and independent four-canard control actuators to increase effective range by about 50 percent and deliver a three-fold improvement in manoeuvrability. Moreover, it incorporates enhanced passive RF seeker and digital autopilot. A RAM Block 2 capability enhancement commenced development in FY 2016 to improve system performance against a stream raid threat scenario. This include software enhancements for the Fire Control Loop Improvement Project (FCLIP) and the RAM Block 2B Raid engineering change proposal (ECP) with a planned seeker and Missile-to-Missile Link (MML) capability to be developed, test and produced in the FY 2019-2021 timeframe. The RAM also equips the SeaRAM CIWS based on Phalanx mounting and targeting package with a 11-cells launcher for the missile, which has found applications on board US Littoral Combat Ships and Arleigh Burke destroyers and newest Japanese platforms.

European missile house MBDA Missile Systems is campaigning for new customers of its VL MICA shipborne point defence missile system. The latter uses the existing Mica air-to-air missile, available with either active radar or imaging infrared seekers, and fired in a lock-on-after-launch mode to provide protection out to a range of circa 20km. The use of vertical launch, and the absence of dedicated target trackers, provides for a 360-degree engagement

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European missile house MBDA Missile Systems is campaigning for new customers of its VL MICA shipborne point defence missile system, while in service or being delivered to six users and under order by an additional one. #@MBDA

capability against multiple simultaneous targets. Eliminating the VLS need, the full tactical VL Mica ammunition integrates a single missile all-up-round with a singleuse autonomous firing and storage canister with an integrated efflux duct, in order to vent motor efflux upwards on launch. Aside from the ammunition canisters themselves, the only other below-decks equipment is the sequencer cabinet, which links the VL Mica missiles with the ship combat management system (CMS), receives inputs from the ship inertial system, and provides the link to the Ship Missile Data Link (SMDL). The SMDL comprises a below-decks transmitter with four small uplink antennas fitted around the masthead. The VL Mica naval air defence system is already in service or under delivery to six customers including the Omani, Moroccan, UAE, Republic of Singapore, Egypt and Malaysian navies, while has been ordered by Qatar naval forces.

Developed by MBDA group as the main air defence for fast patrol boat, auxiliary and amphibious ships as well as the complementary air defence system for firstline combatant platforms, the SIMBAD-RC

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is a lightweight, automated, close-in defence system against a range of conventional and asymmetric threats, from aircraft through to sea-skimming and manoeuvring anti-ship missiles or small-sized threats such as UAVs, as well as small surface threats according to MBDA, up to a range of 6.5 km. Derived from the SIMBAD twin launcher in service with French Navy and more than 10 export customers, the SIMBAD-RC is based on up two lightweight, gyro-stabilised launchers equipped with two ‘lock-on before launch’ Mistral infrared-homing missiles and a Sagem MATIS SP mid-waveband thermal camera with an optional large field-of-view day camera, all managed by a dedicated compact terminal known as SMU-RC and interfaced with the ship’s combat system or surveillance sensors. In addition to new users, today already including the reported but not officially confirmed Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia customers with several dozen units under delivery or order, the remotelycontrolled system is also promoted to current SIMBAD customers as the launcher deck footprint and the mechanical interfaces are common between the two systems. The Mistral missile forms also part of the new

The new SIHAM 3 weapon system unveiled in 2017 by UAE company SAKT (Siham Al Khaleej Technology) together with Leonardo and MBDA, is based on Leonardo’s Marlin WS 30 mm gun system with two MBDA missiles and Medusa Mk4/B EO/IR fire control system. @Luca Peruzzi.

The SIMBAD-RC is a lightweight, automated, Mistral missile-based close-in defence system against a range of conventional and asymmetric threats, from aircraft through to sea-skimming and manoeuvring anti-ship missiles or small-sized threats up to a range of 6.5 km. @Luca Peruzzi.

SIHAM 3 weapon system unveiled in 2017

by UAE company SAKT (Siham Al Khaleej Technology) together with Leonardo and MBDA, which is based on Leonardo’s Marlin WS 30 mm gun system with two MBDA missiles and Medusa Mk4/B EO/IR fire control system.

On late-last November, the Israeli’s Defence Forces (IDF) declared the Naval Iron Dome system operational after a more 18-months test campaign on board an Israeli navy’s Sa’ar 5 corvette. Based on the combat-proven land-based Iron Dome interceptor that’s has already achieved more than 1,500 successful intercepts, the naval version was developed

by IDF and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems to meet the emerging requirement to protect strategic national assets at sea such as oil/natural gas, as well as also naval platforms. According to its developer Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, the C-Dome (as it has designated the Iron Dome naval version) provides a vessel with a hard kill area-defence weapon system against saturation attacks from modern missiles, precise guided munitions, UAVs and ballistic threats. It provides full hemispherical defense

against multi-directional saturation attacks.

The C-Dome system consists of a number of multi-round launchers assembly loaded with vertically launched canisterised Tamir interceptors for 360-degree coverage and utilizes the ship’s own surveillance radar, without requiring a dedicated fire control radar, while the weapon command and control unit is seamlessly integrated with ship’s combat management system. Rafael says the interceptors are maintenance-free, and can be installed on smaller ships such as OPVs and corvettes thanks to its overall system reduced footprint. The C-Dome has been integrated for on-board testing trials with IAI/ELTA ELM-2248 MF-Star or Adir radar, the same system to be used by future Israeli navy’s Sa’ar 6-class corvettes. The Israeli Defence Forces have in the meantime decided to increase the number of Tamir interceptors on board future Sa’ar 6-class corvettes.

The Umkhonto (Spear) vertical launch missile weapon system was developed by Denel Dynamics (then Kentron) for the South African Navy (SAN) to be installed on Meko A200 Valour class frigates. Designed

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to provide an all-round defence against simultaneous attacks from missiles, aircraft, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles, but also stationery surface targets, the 3.32m length and 130kg heavy Umkhonto VL version features a 360-degrees defence capability, operating in a on Lock-On-AfterLaunch (LOAL) mode, thanks to which upon launch, the missile flies to a lock-on point, following on-board inertial navigation.

Based on previous South African air-toair missile programs developments, the missile then activates its two-colour IRseeker (variant of U-Darter AAM’s seeker) and locks on it with a 23-kg warhead for high-kill probability. Target updates are received via data link, enabling the missile to counter evasive maneuvers by the target.

The Umkhonto missile was acquired in 2002

by Finnish MoD for naval applications onboard Hamina-class FACs and Hämeenmaaclass mine layers. A Block 2 version was subsequently developed for Finnish Navy, with an evolved guidance software and increased range to cope with the Baltic archipelago littoral waters environment in which the Northern European naval force operates. After subsequent developments, the Umkhonto missile is today marketed by Denel Dynamics with a 20-km range but the South African defence group has presented longer range and more capable versions with IR as well as RF guidance systems.

The Umkhonto has also been ordered in 2012 by Algeria to be installed on the new Meko A200 frigates. The Finnish Navy has shown interest for further developments of its Umkhonto weapon inventory.

First unveiled in 2008 during the Zhuhai Airshow with the export weapon system FL-3000N (Flying Leopard 3000 Naval) designation, the Chinese missile-based point defence system comes in different launcher versions which uses the same HQ-10 short-range missile. Developed 44

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On late-last November, the Israeli’s Defence Forces (IDF) declared the Rafael’s Naval Iron Dome system operational after a more 18-months test campaign on board an Israeli navy’s Sa’ar 5 corvette. @Israeli Defence Forces.

according to different sources from TY-90 air-to-air missile, the HQ-10 has a larger diameter and features a dual guidance system with a passive radar and IIR terminal homing systems, resembling US RAM. According to CASIC developer company, the FL-3000N’s missile has 9-km range against subsonic targets while a 6-km range is indicated against supersonic targets.

Capable to operate in fully-automatic mode and based on a ‘fire-and-forget’ missile system, at least four FL-3000N versions have been unveiled, packed with 8-, 15-, 18- or 24 missiles. The system fire control system can simultaneously control two launchers, and can be integrated into other FCS on board ships or directly controlled via other FCS. In addition to be widespread on board new PLA Navy ships, the FL-3000N export version was sold to Bangladesh.

More recently, in 2015 the Taiwanese’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCIST) premier defence research and development agency, unveiled the development and showed the Sea Oryx

Unveiled in 2008, the export FL-3000N (Flying Leopard 3000 Naval) version of the Chinese missile-based point defence system comes in different launcher versions which uses the HQ-10 short-range missile. @Luca Peruzzi.

The Taiwanese’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCIST) premier defence research and development agency unveiled in 2015 the Sea Oryx short-range missile system for naval application, here depicted. @Luca Peruzzi.

short-range missile system for naval application. Developed to replace the in-service gun-based close-in weapon system with Taiwanese navy and provide defence against a variety of threats mainly anti-ship missiles, the Sea Oryx missile is essentially a navalised and upgraded variant of the short-range Tien Chien 1 (Sky Sword 1) air defence missile that is being employed in the air force’s Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) aircraft and the army’s ground-based mobile Antelope air defence system. Launched from a pivotal multi-axis launcher of Phalanx CIWS design, the Sea Oryx performances specifications haven’t been disclosed but reported in the 9-km range, with enhancements to the guidance and propulsion system including a new datalink, an imaging IR (IIR) seeker and inertial navigation system (INS), and an improved rocket motor in addition to folded stabilizing and control fins. The Sea Oryx is operated in the lock-on-after-launch mode to reduce engagement reaction time. More recently, the Sea Oryx development program has been reported to have included a new generation imagining seeker detector as well as other enhancements.

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