EDR N°50 - March / April 2020

N° 50 • March/April 2020

MAGAZINE European Defence Review Are Light Attack/ISR aircraft gaining momentum?

Virtual Naval Training

Day and night targeting systems for infantry Nordic thunder Restructuring Jordan’s Air Force

I S S U E N° 50 2020

Publisher: Joseph Roukoz Editor-in-chief: Paolo Valpolini Aviation & Space Editor: David Oliver Naval Editor: Luca Peruzzi European Defence Review (EDR) is published by European Defence Publishing SAS www.edrmagazine.eu

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Are Light Attack/ISR aircraft gaining momentum?

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Virtual Naval Training

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Day and night targeting systems for infantry

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Nordic thunder

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Restructuring Jordan’s Air Force

Already in service with 12 customers worldwide, and to be delivered to the Philippines and Nigerian air forces, the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano was also selected by the USAF with a contract to be awarded to Sierra Nevada Corporation as prime. (US DoD/Air Force)

By Luca Peruzzi

By David Oliver

By Paolo Valpolini

By Ian Kemp

By David Oliver

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Are Light Attack/ISR aircraft gaining momentum?

By Luca Peruzzi

A long-waited programme for an armed overwatch platform was unveiled last February by the US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM) with an industry day invitation for a prototype and up to 75 aircraft. Š Iomax

The use in recent years of latest generation aircraft in permissive counter-insurgency environments imposed a heavy burden on the western and allied air forces. Since the beginning of the last decade, the US services, namely the US Air Force (USAF), have been looking for, testing and evaluating light attack/ armed reconnaissance platforms under different programmes, the main one being the Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) also known as OA-X, and the more recent Light Attack Experiment (LAE). The USAF has experimented with light attack aircraft based on customized turboprop advanced trainers, crop-dusters and turbofan-equipped platforms to discover alternate, cost-effective options to deliver airpower and build partner capacity around the globe. After a long and protracted programme ending with a reduced scope, the USAF decided in October 2019 to buy two to three Textron Aviation AT-6 Wolverine to be used respectively by the Air Combat Command for continued testing and development of operational tactics and standard for exportable tactical networks that 4

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improve interoperability with international partners and the same number of Sierra Nevada Corporation/Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for the Air Force Special Operations Command to develop an instructor pilot programme and meet increased partner nation requests for light attack assistance.

Last February however, also due to Congress pressure, a long-waited requirement for an armed overwatch platform capable to provide the Special Operations Forces (SOF) with a deployable and sustainable manned aircraft system to fulfil Close Air Support (CAS), Precision Strike, and SOF Intelligence/ Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) in austere and permissive environments was unveiled by the US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM). In a preliminary stage, the programme to demonstrate an armed overwatch prototype could lead to the procurement of 75 aircraft, opening the way to the participation of multiple manufacturers and system providers, depending on the stillto-be unveiled requirements when this article was written.

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lready in service with a dozen customers worldwide for both training and/or operational missions, including homeland and counterinsurgency (COIN), and extensively evaluated by the USAF under the LAAR and LAE programmes, the A-29 Super Tucano was developed by Embraer and currently marketed by both the Brazilian aerospace/defence group and the US Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) company.

Aircraft assembly-lines are located in Brazil and the US, in the latter case with customization by SCN. As an EMB-312 Tucano tandem-seats basic trainer aircraft development, the combatproven A-29 turboprop light attack aircraft has a maximum take-off/landing weight of 5,200 kg with an internal fuel storage capacity of 544 kg and a total (including four external tanks) of 1,139 kg. With a 19.4 m2 wing area, the A-29 is powered by a 1,600 shp P&W Canada PT6A68C Turboprop engine driving a Hartzell fiveblade propeller offering a maximum and cruise speeds of respectively 590 and 520 km/h. With a night-vision goggles (NVG) compatible all-glass cockpit centred on an Elbit Systems avionics suite including a head-up display (HUD), hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) control, three multifunction colour displays (MFCDs), central mission computers, navigation and integrated weapon delivery system, the tandem cockpit is equipped

The Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, of which is shown the front cockpit, is in service with 12 air forces, and is to be delivered to the Philippines and Nigerian air forces in addition to USAF selection. Š Embraer

with zero-zero ejection seats and onboard oxygen generation system (OBOGS). The avionics suite is integrated with an underbelly forward-mounted EO/IR turret such as those developed by FLIR Systems and L3 Harris Wescam with daylight high-definition and long-range cameras, thermal imager, laser designator, illuminator, tracker and rangefinder for surveillance and targeting operations. The armament package includes two wing-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns and four underwing plus one underbelly hardpoints for air-to-surface weapons including Mk 81/82 conventional ordnance, GBU-12/58 Paveway

The A-29 Super Tucano is conducting operational and combat missions on a daily basis in theatres around the world, such as in Afghanistan by the local air force, which has 26 aircraft. Š USAF

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The Textron Aviation Beechcraft Defense AT-6 Wolverine is to be acquired by the USAF, becoming the first customer of the platform to support experimentation of air-to-ground communications links. © Textron Aviation

The AT-6 Wolverine, of which is here shown the front cockpit, is equipped with a mission suite including a surveillance and targeting EO/IR turret for light attack/armed reconnaissance operations. © Textron Aviation

laser-guided bombs, BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laserguided 70 mm rockets, 7/19-70 mm unguided rocket launchers and AIM-9 Sidewinder-type short-range air-to-air type weapons. In addition to an armoured cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks, defensive aids could include missile warning system (MWS) and counter-measures dispensing system (CMDS). Moreover, the A-29’s robust landing gear and clearance enable take-off and landing in austere field conditions.

Conducting combat missions on a daily basis in theatres around the world and having logged more than 46,000 combat hours and more than 360,000 total flight hours, the US Military Type Certificate A-29 is currently under acquisition in 12 aircraft by the Nigerian Air Force through US foreign military sales (FMS), with Sierra Nevada Corporation as prime contractor, while Embraer is under contract for the delivery of six aircraft to the Philippines Air Force in 2020.

internal/external (up to four external fuel tanks) fuel load capacity of 1,319 kg, the AT-6 has a 16.60 m2 wing area and is powered by a 1,600 shp P&W Canada PT6A-68D turboprop engine driving a Hartzell four-blade propeller offering a maximum speed of 585 km/h. With an NVG compatible all-glass cockpit centred on a FAAcertified CMC Esterline Cockpit 4000 avionics suite and Lockheed Martin combat mission system (as used in the A-10C) with a similar F-16 pilot/aircraft interface, including HUD, HOTAS, three CMFDs, navigation and integrated weapon delivery system, the tandem cockpit is equipped with zero-zero ejection seats and onboard oxygen generation system (OBOGS). The avionics suite includes a communications package tailored and compatible with all fielded US Joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) digital voice/data/video capabilities and with their NATO equivalents, and is integrated with an underbelly forwardmounted L3 Harris Wescam MX-15Di EO/IR turret for surveillance and targeting in support of a wide range of precision-guided weapons thanks to seven (six underwing) hardpoints, four of which are MIL-STD 1760 smart weaponcompatible. With a max mission load of 1,864 kg, the armament package includes 12.7 mm gun pods, 70 mm rocket pods, Mk 81/82 conventional and GBU-12/58 Paveway LGBs, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, BAE Systems APKWS, Raytheon/EAI Talon and Northrop Grumman/Elbit Systems GATR laser-guided 70-mm rockets. Survivability

Based on the Textron Aviation Beechcraft Defense T-6 series turboprop tandem-seat training aircraft in service with 10 international customers among which the US, UK and Canada, the AT-6 Wolverine has been developed to address the light-attack requirements of worldwide customers, performing a wide range of missions including COIN, ISR, air interdiction as well as homeland missions. With a maximum take-off/landing weight of 4,536 kg, an internal fuel capacity of 544 kg and a total 6

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The IOMAX USA company has a proven track record of delivering an off-the-shelf turbo-prop-equipped light attack/ISR aircraft solution on the international market.

is enhanced by defensive aids including MWS and CMDS as shown during LAE programmes, in addition to an armoured cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks, while evaluation has highlighted easy of operation during austere, unimproved runway assessments. Intensively tested, evaluated and operated by US armed forces, including the USAF, US Air National Guard and US Navy in a wide range of missions, from air-to-ground operations including communications interoperability developments to terminal attack controller trainer, the AT-6 has been finally selected by the USAF waiting for a small-quantity contract in 2020.

The IOMAX USA Archangel platform is based on the Ayres Thrush S2RT-660 crop-duster airframe with a max payload capability of 2,200 kg on seven stations in addition to an EO/IR surveillance/ targeting turret. Š IOMAX USA

A tale of two crop-dusters with attack capabilities Two US-companies’ industrial teams developed and sold a low-cost light-attack/armed reconnaissance version of two widely-used agricultural aircraft, which provides a significant lower procurement and operating solution for austere and permissive environments compared with frontline aircraft such as the F-16 but at a lesser extent also with turboprop attack platforms. With a $1,000 dollar per hour operating costs, these rugged platforms are however not equipped with ejection seats and retractable undercarriage but can be easily maintained on the field.

The IOMAX USA company has a proven track record of delivering an off-the-shelf turbo-propequipped light attack/ISR aircraft solution on the international market. The company modified, tested and delivered 48 aircraft to the UAE of which 24 based on the Air Tractor AT-802 airframe (Border Patrol Aircraft-configured) and 24 on the Archangel platform solution, developed and currently proposed by IOMAX, which utilizes the Ayres Thrush S2RT-660 airframe. Over the past nine years, the UAE, Jordan and Egypt, the two customers to which the UAE has respectively transferred 6 and 12 BPA-configured aircraft, EDR | March/April 2020

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A collaboration between L3 Harris Technologies and Air Tractor, the AT-802L Longsword solution is based on the low-cost, rugged AT-802U agricultural platform with L3 light strike system suite. © L3 Harris Technologies

employed the IOMAX light attack aircraft in operational and combat missions. IOMAX also supplied a training/support package, including flight simulator, and assisted in the aircraft transfer to Jordanian and Egyptian air forces.

With a maximum take-off weight of 6,713 kg and a rugged and versatile airframe allowing to operate from unimproved runways with limited maintenance, the tandem-seat Archangel platform has a maximum external payload capability of 2,200 kg on six wing weapon pylons and a centreline underbelly station for targeting/ ISR pod. Equipped with a P&W Canada PT6-67F 1,700 shp engine with a low audible signature MTV-27 propeller and a 2,500 liters usable fuel load, the platform has a 314 km/h cruise speed with external stores, a service ceiling of 7,600 meters (with oxygen) and a maximum endurance of respectively 8.7 and 4.6 hours in ISR and light attack (with 1,561 kg weapon payload) configurations. The Archangel’s qualified weapons include the Roketsan Cirit 70 mm laser guided rocket (max 48), GBU-58/12 Paveway LGBs (6 or 12) and AGM-114 Hellfire (12) missiles, in addition to the centreline customized targeting/ISR/data link pod providing maximum field of regard. Equipped with an EO/IR turret such as the L3Harris Wescam MX15 (MX25 as option), the latter and the weapon payload are managed by the full NVG compatible glass cockpit with MFCDs and rear-seat with targeting/ ISR main display. The avionics includes the 8

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The AT-802 Longsword’s sensor suite includes the Horizon Technologies XPOD featuring the L3 Wescam MX-15 EO/IR turret and the FlyingFish airborne satellite monitoring system, BAE Systems COBRA multi-function SIGINT/EW sensor pod and the Thales I-Master air-to-ground radar. © L3 Harris Technologies

Esterline CMC Electronics Cockpit 4000 package, communications and the IOMAX armament management system, while both pilots have oxygen for eight hours, cockpit roll cage and ballistic protection. Survivability is also provided by self-sealing fuel tanks and an automated Terma dual pod configuration with MWS, CMDS and EW management system capable to track up to eight simultaneous targets. With wings configured for removal for air deployment (two aircraft on board a single C-17) and the optional capability to embark a Leonardo Osprey 30 AESA radar for ISR missions, the Archangel is attracting strong interest in the Middle-East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions, in addition to current customers for additional aircraft and upgrading.

A collaboration between L3 Harris Technologies and Air Tractor, the AT-802L Longsword solution is based on the low-cost, rugged and successful 802-series of Air Tractor agricultural platform with FAA and Military Type certificates modified for ISR and light-attack missions thanks to the L3 light strike system suite. The Longsword platform has been extensively tested and evaluated by USAF and USMC personnel during the LAE programme in 2017, evolving it in an enriched configuration with additional ISR equipment shown at Farnborough 2018 and more recently at SFIC 2019 special operation exhibition. The Longsword is equipped with a certified, tandem state-of-theart glass cockpit with dual controls featuring a

Garmin G600 system with two primary MFDs, 3-D autopilot and a large situational/targeting display in the rear-cockpit, Thales Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display, communications suite with datalink and Full Movie Video and the L3 ForceX Widow mission management for multiple sensors. These encompass the Horizon Technologies XPOD embodying different sensors including the L3 Wescam MX-15 EO/IR turret and the FlyingFish airborne satellite monitoring system, BAE Systems COBRA multi-function SIGINT/EW sensor pod and the Thales I-Master radar featuring moving target indicator and coherent change detection capabilities. While the latter is installed in an underbelly retractable station, both pods are transported on the eight underwings carriages. With a maximum gross take-off/landing weight of 7,257 kg and over 2.5+ million flight hours logged primarily in rugged, austere environments in addition to military operations, the Longsword platform has a useful load with ballistic armour of 4,000 kg including fuel and external payload. Equipped with a P&W PT6A-67F 1,600 shp engine with a Hartzell propeller and a 2,801 liters usable fuel payload, the Longsword has a 394 km/h maximum (333 km/h patrolling) speed and five hours onstation endurance at 400 nautical miles from departing base in an ISR configuration. Carried on eight underwings (with the innermost wing station optimized for guns) and two centrelines pylons, the external payload includes Hellfire

On November 2019, the UAE aerospace company Calidus was awarded a $618 million contract by the national defence ministry for supplying 20 Bader-250 (B-250) light attack and advanced trainer aircraft to the UAE Air Force. Š Paolo Valpolini

missiles and laser guided rockets (Hydra 70/ Talon, Cirit), guided GBU-58/12 and conventional Mk 82 bombs, GAU-19A, M-134, FN-HMP/RMP gun pods. In addition to an armoured cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks, survivability is ensured by defensive aids including AAR-47 MWR and ALE47 CMDS.

New kids on the block On November 2019, the United Arab Emirates company Calidus was awarded a $618 million contract by the national defence ministry for the supply of 20 Bader-250 (B-250) light attack and advanced trainer aircraft for the UAE Air Force. Launching the Gulf country into the ranks of the world’s manufacturers of manned military aircraft, the B-250 design originated in Brazil by the startup Novaer, which built the first two prototype aircraft in 2017 for Calidus. A UAE Defence Technology Development and Manufacturing company, the latter has established a new plant in Al Ain to build B-250s, where the production tooling have been transferred from Brazil. Resembling in the exterior dimensions the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, the 4,500 kg B-250 differs for an all-carbon fibre airframe which reduces weight and enhances performances while extending service life. Equipped with a retractable tricycle landing reinforced gear for unprepared runway operations, the B-250 is powered by a P&W Canada 1,600 shp PT6A-68 turboprop with a Hartzell four-blade propeller offering a maximum speed of 648 km/h while maximum endurance with external fuel tanks reaches 12 hours.

The prototype aircraft is equipped with a Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion cockpit avionics suite including HUD, HOTAS and large MFCD as well as weapon and sensor management in addition to advanced communications. The tandem cockpit is fitted with zero-zero ejection seats as well as OBOGS and can be fitted with add-on ballistic protection.

The B-250 is capable to carry a maximum payload of 1,796 kg which can find accommodation on six underwing and one underbelly hardpoints in addition to a centreline forward installed EO/IR turret for both surveillance and targeting of a wide range of guided weapons including UAE-produced systems.

The timeline for military certification of the production version which could present a different avionics suite has not however been released.

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system as well as weapon systems including the Roketsan long-range UMTAS anti-tank guided missiles, which will side Roketsan Cirit laser guided rockets, Tubitak HGK-3 GPS/INS-guided and KGK-82 long-range guided weapons, in addition to laser-guided bombs. The Hürkuş-C is currently planned to be built in 12 aircraft (with 12 options) for the Turkish MoD. The Calidus B-250 procurement contract launched the UAE country into the ranks of the world’s manufacturers of manned military aircraft. © Calidus

In South Africa, the development of the Advanced High-Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft (AHRLAC) was given a new lease of life in October Under development within the framework of the 2019, when the Paramount Group announced the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ Hürkuş domestic baapproval of a business rescue plan for the securing sic and primary training aircraft, which first deliverof the programme and its manufacturing facility at ies of Hürkuş-B version to the Turkish Air Force beWonderboom National Airport near Pretoria, ensurgan in late December 2018, the Hürkuş-C is a light ing the resumption of sales, marketing and manarmed reconnaissance version capable to underufacturing operations. Developed as a two-seater take light attack and armed reconnaissance misreconnaissance and surveillance aircraft with an sions as well as carrying out pilot training requirearmed variant called Mwari, the new rugged platments thanks to a night vision compatible/glass form features a pusher propeller configuration cockpit and advanced avionics systems, ballistic with high-mounted wings, high-raising tandem and self-protection in addition to weapon systems, cockpit, twin tail booms and retractable undercarall provided by Turkish industries. With a capabiliriage for operations from unprepared strips with ty to carry up to 1,500 kg of external loads on six limited support. With a maximum take-off weight underwing hardpoints in addition to an under-fuof 4,440 kg and a 1,700 shp P&W Canada PT6-67F selage EO/IR turret for surveillance and targeting with Hartzell propeller, the AHRLAC can reach a duties, the Hürkuş-C will be equipped with digital maximum speed of over 500 km/h and a max ensecure communications, video and data link for durance of 6.5 hours (10.5 hours for deployments). information exchange with land forces. Launched The aircraft is characterized by an underbelly payin November 2016 with a prototype rolled out in load compartment capable to accommodate a pod February 2017, the Hürkuş-C has already comwith up to 800 kg of various equipment including pleted flight firing testing with the self-protection sensors. The fully NVG compatible tandem cockpit is equipped with HOTAS, MFCDs and a mission optimized Launched in November 2016 with a prototype rolled out in February rear-station with a 21’ display.

2017, the TAI Hürkuş-C light armed reconnaissance version of the The platform can be equipped Hürku basic/primary aircraft is currently planned to be built in 12 aircraft (with 12 options) for the Turkish MoD. © TAI with six underwing hardpoints for weapon systems, in addition to the pod. The AHRLAC has been flying with a Leonardo AESA Osprey 30 radar in a two side-antennas configuration.

Two aircraft including a prototype and a production-representative platform are already flying but no information have been released on programme completion.

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The CAE fully reconfigurable trainer consoles installed in the Swedish Naval Warfare Training Department configured in C4 layouts. Š David Oliver

Virtual Naval Training

By David Oliver As in many other operational areas, the application of simulation and training technology is becoming more important. The latest generation of warships have crew of less than 100 personnel which puts a high premium on simulation training in order to ensure that fighting efficiency is maintained.

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weden is one of many nations that is fully committed to take advantage of the latest capabilities of virtual naval training technologies. During the Cold War between 1945 and 1991 the Royal Swedish Navy operated a total of 129 ships. Its current strength of 36 ships means that the service has to do more with less and to this end one of the ways that it is doing this is by making a significant investment in virtual training.

The Swedish Naval Warfare Centre (NWC) is a joint naval school of the Swedish Armed Forces

that was established in Karlskrona Garrison in Southern Sweden in 2005. The historic naval base monitors the territorial waters of Sweden and provides the basic training for about 1,200 service personnel every year as well as specialist divers of the Swedish Armed Forces.

The NWC is responsible for the majority of all naval training in the Swedish Armed Forces. It trains officers and specialist officers, sailors, and soldiers of all ranks, assembles crews and leads the development of strategies and tactics for EDR | March/April 2020

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naval operations and supports the development of naval equipment. The NWC also includes the Swedish Armed Forces’ diving and naval medical units.

With a staff of 272 made up of 195 officers and NCOs, 21 sailors and 56 civilians, the NWC is responsible for all basic and specific naval training, planning, conducting and evaluating all naval, joint and combined exercises and the testing and evaluation of new naval equipment in support of the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV).

The Naval Warfare Training Department’s courses include communications and electronic warfare (EW), above water warfare, underwater warfare, amphibious warfare, and maintenance and support. Courses range from nine-month basic training for conscripts that includes military training, seamanship, damage control, combat training and professional training, to a three-year officers course, most of which is synthetic training.

The Naval Warfare Training System (NWTS), originally developed by CAE for the Swedish Navy and put into service at the NWC in 2016, is used by the service for training in a range of disciplines, including sensor operations and command, control, communications, and computers (C4).

A total of 52 student stations along with 13 instructor operator stations allow the Swedish Navy to train and rehearse for their operations.

The system is reconfigurable and scalable to

Student workstations of the CAE Naval Warfare Training System (NWTS) showing different displays for sonar, comms and C4 plus a large instructor’s display. © CAE

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allow multiple users to operate together in a common scenario at any location. The system can be configured as a classroom with instructor and student workstations, or can be spread across multiple sites and networked for distributed training. The instructor can control multiple student stations simultaneously, providing each student a set scenario to run in isolation, or multiple platforms can be rendered to allow for multi-ship or task group operations.

In 2019 CAE was awarded a contract from the FMV to upgrade and expand the capabilities of the NWTS with upgrades that include enhancements supporting active sonar training, additional electronic warfare (EW) training capabilities, and improved training scenarios. In addition, CAE has added a range of computer-generated forces (CGF) entities to simulate both friendly and enemy forces to deliver a more realistic virtual training environment. “We are continually looking for ways to improve training and make the delivery of training at the NWC more efficient and effective,” said Captain Magnus Jonsson, Commander, Swedish Naval Warfare Centre. “The upgrades to the NWTS will help us enhance the training delivered to sailors and officers in naval tactics, procedures and doctrine.”

The student stations that are part of the NWTS include a range of core CAE simulation technologies, such as simulation systems for sonar, radar, and communications. The synthetic maritime environment has been built to the

The Transas, now Wärtsilä Voyage, full-mission navigational bridge simulation system installed in the Swedish Naval Warfare Centre. © David Oliver

Transas has provided upgraded FMBSs for BAE Systems Maritime Composite Training System (MCTS) at HMS Collingwood for Royal Navy training. © Royal Navy

Open Geospatial Consortium Common Database (OGC CDB) standard, which is an open and international standard for the creation of synthetic environment databases.

These Phase A upgrades and other planned upgrades will continue to add functionality and capability to a training system that has become an integral part of Swedish Navy training. The Swedish Navy has a requirement for a total of 10 more Phase B upgrades that include brown water operations, upgraded corvette C2 simulator, an NH90 helicopter rear crew cabin trainer, fleet synthetic training and enhanced realism with live environmental data.

The NWC also houses a full-mission navigational bridge simulation system delivered by Transas, now Wärtsilä Voyage. The centre already has a fully functional replica of the Visby-class operations room that features the Saab 9LV Combat Management System (CMS) multifunction consoles that can be used for planning and rehearsing real operations using a Saab Sea Giraffe AMB radar mounted on the NWC’s roof.

The facility can also be used for continuation training and to trial upgrades to the ship’s equipment and systems.

Used for training sonar operators and officers, the NWC’s Gotland simulator also replicates the submarine’s Saab 9LV Fire Control System (FCS).

The two Gotland-class submarines have been undergoing a mid-life update (MLU) and the simulators have been upgraded to synchronise with the submarines’s upgrade.

The NWC is also well ahead in its preparation for the new A26 next generation submarines that will replace the Södermanland-class boats.

Two Blekinge-class submarines are being built at Saab Kockums shipyard at Karlskrona, the first of which is scheduled to enter Royal Swedish Navy service in 2024. Crews are already training at the recently established A26 command centre’s simulator that includes the Saab 9LV CMS and Atlas Elektroniks sonar consoles, and the Safran Electronics & Defense dual-axis stabilised Series 30 Search Mast System (SMS) which is a nonhull-penetrating optronic search mast.

According to Commander Per Nilsson, Head of the Naval Warfare Training Department, it still needs to improve the pedagogical use of simulators, live virtual constructive fleet synthetic training, enhanced realism with live environmental data, and more naval procurement projects to involve simulators.

In 2016, CAE had been awarded a contract by the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces to design and develop a comprehensive Naval Training Centre (NTC) for the UAE Navy. Serving as the prime contractor and training systems integrator, CAE is developing the NTC to support the training of individual, team, whole ship, and joint/collective mission training for the UAE Armed Forces. The purpose-built NTC facility will feature a range of integrated ship simulation-based training suites as well as maritime aircraft sensor stations that

VSTEP NAUTIS FMBSs have been selected for CAE’s Naval Training Centre for the UAE Navy, the Bulgarian Naval academy and the Greek Navy training facility. © VSTEP

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Rheinmetall FMBSs are installed in the ANNS training facility at the German Navy Officers Training Academy. © Rheinmetall

navies and coastguards. Transas was taken over in May 2018 by the Finland-based company Wärtsilä, that provides propulsion and powering solutions for naval and coast guard vessels.

will be used to deliver training for individuals, command teams, and whole ship crews. In addition, the overall naval training system for the UAE Navy is being designed for networking and interoperability to enable distributed multiplatform and joint mission training.

The Rotterdam, Netherlands-based VSTEP was selected to provide the Full Mission Bridge Simulators (FMBS). The visual quality, the hydrodynamic fidelity and extendibility of VSTEP’s new NAUTIS 3 simulation platform were important criteria. Some of the FMBSs will be reconfigurable for the different vessels of the UAE Navy to allow for vessel-specific training capabilities.

All the simulators can be used individually, or in combination for joint mission exercises.

The FMBS will leverage the Open Geospatial Consortium’s Common Database (OGC CDB) for high-fidelity synthetic environments, as well as data interfaces to industry-standard networking protocols such as the High-Level Architecture (HLA) for integration with other training devices, including CAE’s Naval Combat System Simulators and Engine Room Simulators. The NTC is due to be on stream later this year.

Bridge Watch Several European defence companies have a long history of producing ship’s FMBSs with replica bridges, multi-channel visual systems and motion platforms.

The UK company Transas has delivered more than 5,500 maritime simulators in more than 90 countries to date. The main customers include government owned training centres as well as 14

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Transas recently provided upgraded FMBSs for the BAE Systems Maritime Composite Training System (MCTS) at HMS Collingwood that is a versatile training platform designed, developed and operated by BAE Systems used by the Royal Navy (RN) to provide state of the art classroom and simulation training facilities delivering maritime training in controlled environments.

Its highly complex and sophisticated systems replicate the control rooms on up to 30 virtual and real ships anywhere in the world, so operators can get a realistic experience and develop their skills in a wide variety of scenarios with no risk to themselves or their colleagues.

The upgraded FMBS at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) features photo-realistic recreations of key harbours such as Portsmouth and Plymouth, immersing trainee naval officers, budding navigators and experienced ship’s teams in an almost-real world as they hone their ship piloting skills safely on dry land.

There are four FMBSs to train RN navigators and bridge teams, two at HMS Collingwood and one each at Dartmouth and Faslane. The FMBSs consist of the reconstructed front section of a generic warship’s bridge. Behind the windscreens are a bank of giant digital displays covering 180-degree Field-of-View (FoV). The images are based on high-resolution photographs taken of key harbours by a graphics specialist from Transas which built the simulators. These images were taken by both day and night for complete realism.

The Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy (NVNA) in Varna, Bulgaria opened a new simulation centre in October 2016 and VSTEP was selected to deliver and install a Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator with instructor station, a NAUTIS DNV Class A

Kongsberg’s K-SIM FMBS realistically replicates the speed and handling of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Skjoldclass missile corvette. © Kongsberg

characteristics. In addition, numerous German and NATO maritime training areas are replicated, as are current and potential areas of operation.

FMBS with 240-degree FoV and a NI Accredited NAUTIS DP Class A FMBS with 180-degree FoV including instructor stations at the NVNA simulation centre. Two NAUTIS DNV Class C Desktop Simulators and two NAUTIS Class C DP Simulators were also purchased for training of its Naval and Merchant Marine students.

VSTEP has also won a contract to provide three NAUTIS Console bridge simulators for the Greek Navy training facility in Piraeus, Athens. They will have three screens with a 120-degree FoV, and 15 types of vessels will be modelled.

In 2019 Wärtsilä was contracted to supply two mini-bridge simulators to the NVNA including the hardware and software for two NTPro bridge simulators. The contract also includes extending the functionality of an existing engine room simulator in order to upgrade it to meet the latest standards.

The German Navy Officers Training Academy at Mürwik accepted delivery of a new nautical training facility from Rheinmetall in December 2018. Known as the Ausbildungsausstattung Nautische Schiffsführung (AANS) it is used for training all German Navy cadets, all future watch officers, and preparing bridge personnel for nautical operations. The AANS includes two FMBSs and four small console simulators, six trainer stations, and an auditorium for postoperation briefings. Every surface ship now in the German Navy inventory, from minesweepers to supply ships, is modelled in the AANS. This applies not only to the physical depiction of various ships and boats, but to their exact performance

Kongsberg has a long relationship with the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy and the Royal Norwegian Navy establishment. One of the FMBSs delivered was a specially designed full size simulator replica of the tactical bridge system on board the Skjold-class Corvette. As one of the fastest warships in the world, with a capability of speeds above 60 knots, the stealth missile corvettes are subject to very strict requirements for safe navigation. Built on Kongsberg K-Sim technology, the FMBS features advanced software that realistically replicates the speed and handling of the Skjold.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) awarded Kongsberg Digital a contract in May 2019 for the delivery of two new K-Sim FMBSs at the HMAS Watson Bridge Simulator Facility in Watsons Bay, Sydney. The simulators will be used for the training of RAN officers and sailors undertaking all levels of ship-handling, navigation, warfare, and bridge management courses.

The Royal Australian Navy is taking delivery of two new Kongsberg K-Sim Polaris FMBSs at the HMAS Watson Bridge Simulator Facility in Sydney. © Commonwealth of Australia

EDR | March/April 2020

15

Day and night

targeting systems for infantry

By Paolo Valpolini

Safran Electronics & Defence has a wide portfolio of targeting bi-oculars, the JIM UC being one of those based on an uncooled thermal sensor. Š Safran

Asymmetric confrontation together with urban terrain, and associated rules of engagements, have increased the need for accuracy, both for direct and indirect fire. Accuracy involves the whole killing chain, the first link of which is definitely target identification and acquisition.

I

nitially portable target acquisition systems able to acquire a target and send its grids to the effector, were assets available only to special forces or specialised target acquisition units. This is not anymore true, handheld target acquisition systems having been distributed to conventional troops, the most advanced armies deploying those devices down to platoon level. Typically such a system contains a day and a night channel, a GPS, a Digital

16

EDR | March/April 2020

Magnetic Compass (DMC), and an eye-safe Laser Range Finder (LRF). Add on capabilities such as video recording, still photo capturing, Laser target marker, wireless connection, etc can also be added, as well as celestial compass to cope with GPS-denied scenarios.

As in all infantry equipment, weight is definitely an issue, some elements being key to reduce it.

Starting from the thermal channel, two options

smallest obtainable, however on MWIR sensors further reductions might be expected, down to 5-6 µm, the same being obviously true also for Short Wave IR sensors operating in the 0.7-2.5 μm band, which are however not yet used in the product category considered in this article.

Two different microbolometers produced by Lynred and used in thermal imaging systems ; on the a 640x480 VGA microbolometer with a 12 µm pitch, which dimensions are 16.5x16.5 mm, and on the right one with 17 µm pitch, with 24x24 mm dimensions. The lens coverage circle diameter is reduced from 34 to 24 mm, with considerable weight saving on lenses. © Lynred

are available, cooled or uncooled focal plane arrays (FPAs), working respectively in the MidWave IR (3-5 µm) and in the Long Wave IR (8-14 µm). Range performances are definitely higher for cooled sensors, which however need a heavy and power hungry cooling machine, with a coolingdown time of a few minutes, while uncooled FPAs avoid that problem needing only a few seconds to activate.

In Europe one of the key players in that field is Lynred, created in mid 2019 by merging Sofradir with its subsidiary ULIS. The company is at the forefront of FPAs size reduction in both cooled and uncooled worlds: “the current generation sees FPAs with a 15 µm pitch in the cooled domain and 17 µm in the uncooled one, the shift towards a smaller pitch, respectively 10 and 12 µm being ongoing now,” a Lynred source told EDR Magazine. This allows reducing the FPA size at same resolution, which has an impact on one of the heavyweight elements in a handheld target acquisition system, the lens: optical glass lenses used for the objective, as well as the frame in which they are inserted, are relatively heavy, the lens diameter being imposed by the focal length as well as by the sensor dimension, the bigger the latter the bigger the image circle that the lens must produce, the bigger the lens dimensions. Pitch reduction will inevitably have a limit, which is imposed by physics and is related to the wavelength. According to Lynred the 12 µm reached for LWIR sensors might prove to be the

Beside FPA dimensions, in the cooled sensors world another evolution is ongoing: increasing sensors operational temperature allows reducing power consumption as well as cooling-down time, with positive effects on operational availability.

HOT (High Operating Temperature) FPAs are being produced with new technologies that require higher temperatures compared to the 80-90° Kelvin of standard sensors. Lynred is proposing a low power Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) sensor, working at 110°K, allowing over 10% reduction in power, while FLIR adopted the Type 2 Superlattice (T2SL) solution working some 10°K higher. However true HOT sensors will have to work between 130 and 160°K, the technologies allowing to reach those limits being under development now.

Reducing power consumption might allow to reduce the battery size, the power source being the other “heavy” element in a hand-held optronic system. Dedicated rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries feature higher energy density, thus reducing weight and dimensions compared to standard commercial batteries. However some customers prefer the latter solution, usually based on AA batteries, available everywhere in the world.

In the last two years Li-Ion cells energy density was increased by 25%, from 200 to 255 Wh/kg,

Safran-Vectronix AG of Switzerland developed a very light system adding a thermal uncooled sensor to its Moskito, originally based on an image intensification tube, giving birth to the Moskito TI. © Vectronix

EDR | March/April 2020

17

The Sohie-XF/VGA is one of the top quality systems in the Thales optronic portfolio, featuring a cooled thermal sensor, image stabilisation and fall of shot correction. © Thales

however according to major battery producers this technology is closing to the limit of its capabilities. New solutions are being developed, such as Lithium-sulfur modules providing around 400 Wh/kg. However to allow full exploitation of this new technology a number of hurdles have to be overcome, such as its bad behaviour at low temperatures, low number of recharging cycles (in the two digit area) as well as the industrialisation issue.

versus resolution, adding other functionalities such as long range laser pointers, seem to be current issues, the market being constantly evolving depending on customers requirements.

That said, the need for targeting systems is increasing throughout the world, Asia being considered the most promising market for the next 3-5 years, as investments are being made to modernise soldier’s equipment.

This aim of this article is not to become a full catalogue, but to depict the latest products in this category, main technical data having been synthesised into a table for easier comparison.

All this has however to be considered towards another key element, cost; while for a soldier, weight saving might be priority one, fighting with performances for the first place, when systems must be provided in numbers the acquisition chain might not think the same way. Weight

Safran Electronics & Defence, and its Swiss Safran-Vectronix AG subsidiary, propose a range of systems with cooled and uncooled sensors.

Safran developed the JIM brand which top product is the cooled JIM HR while in the uncooled world we find the JIM UC. Light and small, easy

TARGET ACQUISITION SYSTEMS WITH COOLED THERMAL SENSOR

18

Company

Thales

Safran

Safran

Transvaro

Elbit Systems

FLIR

Model

Sophie Ultima

JIM HR

JIM Compact

Engerek 8

Coral-CR

Recon V

Night channel

640x512

640x480

640x480

640x512

640x512

640x480

Day channel

Colour TV

Colour TV

Colour TV

Colour TV

Colour CCD

no

Batteries

Rechargeable COTS

Rechargeable COTS

Rechargeable COTS

Rechargeable COTS

Rechargeable COTS

AA

Operating Time

> 4 hours

≥ 5 hours

> 4 hours

≥ 4 hours

Weight

< 2.5 kg

< 2.8 kg

2 kg

≤ 3.5 kg

EDR | March/April 2020

6 hours < 3.7 kg

< 1.9 kg

A high-resolution uncooled multi-function bi-ocular the Sophie-MF ensures vehicles detection at over 10 km range. © Thales

to use, easily integrated into digital architectures, modular, these are the key features that drove Sagem designers to the JIM Compact, launched in 2016, a long-range system with cooled thermal sensor and detection ranges of over 7 km and 10 km respectively, with a 3 minutes cooling time and a 12 km laser rangefinder. The thermal and TV colour day channels have the same wide and narrow FoVs, respectively 13.5° and 4.5°, a third channel based on a low light level camera having a 6.2° wide FoV, the NFoV being again 4.5°. The JIM Compact is fitted with image stabilisation, multi-mode image fusion and continuous e-Zoom 1x-4x, as well as see spot capability. Compared to previous systems its weight and volume were reduced by at least 40%, a result obtained also by halving the batteries weight while maintaining the same autonomy. Recently a further mode was added as optional, the so-called TELD (Tireur d’Elite Longue Distance, for long range sniper).

Developed in cooperation with the French Joint Special Operations Command, the TELD measures the distance to the target, and according to a firing table based on the weapon and on the type of round it computes the corrections, showing them in the display, the spotter thus being able to pass over the information to the shooter. According to Safran the TELD increases the probability of a sniper hitting a moving target with the first shot from 20 to 90% (results for 10 shots fired by novice sniper trainees using a target at 400 meters moving at 8 km/h). Existing JIM Compact can easily be fitted with the TELD, this being a software based upgrade. Beside the capability of capturing and storing stills and videos, the JIM Compact has analog and digital video output, and

as optional can be equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.

The Safran-Vectronix AG Moskito is probably the smallest and lightest day/night observation and location unit. Originally developed with an Image Intensification night channel, it featured a 5x optical day channel and a 3x night channel based on a Photonis XR-5 tube, its laser rangefinder having a 10 km range measurement capability. To provide a higher level product, Vectronix replaced the II channel with an uncooled thermal channel, giving birth to the Moskito TI. This features a 6x optical day channel and a Low Light channel based on a CMOS sensor, both with a 6.25° FoV, the thermal channel having a 12° FoV. The GPS receiver as well as a Class 1 eye-safe Laser pointer are provided as optional.

The JIM Compact is in service in over 12 NATO forces, one of the latest orders being that of the Danish Armed Forces dated October 2019. Two months later the Swiss Army filed a contract that includes over 1,000 multifunction systems of the JIM Compact and Moskito TI models.

A still life of Thales Sophie Ultima; on the left side add-on modules can be installed in order to adapt the configuration to the mission. © Thales

EDR | March/April 2020

19

Thales has developed a full range of hand-held targeting systems known as Sophie, ranging from the cooled Sophie-XF/VGA to the uncooled Sophie MF. The latest addition to the family, the Sophie Ultima, was unveiled at Eurosatory 2018.

The aim was to decrease weight, increase range, be ready for collaborative combat, and ensure modularity and scalability. A four-in-one system based on an MWIR cooled sensor, its weight is close to that of uncooled systems while ensuring detection ranges of 12 and 18 km for human and vehicle targets respectively, with recognition and identification ranges of 4.5 and 8.5 km, and 2.3 and 4.5 km. The cool-down time has been reduced to only 3 minutes, nearly half that of previous systems. The thermal channel is fitted with an optical zoom providing continuous field of view variation between 20° and 2°. Beside the typical TV colour day channel, one of the two key new elements is the adoption of an optic channel fitted with a 7x35 lens that provides a 26° FoV, giving the best possible image in terms of true colours and lighting, a fusion mode with the TI image being also available. As for the TV colour channel, this allows video recording, images provided by the thermal channel being also recordable on the removable micro-SD card. The eye-safe laser rangefinder has a maximum range of 8 km, the Sophie Ultima being fitted with a C/A (Coarse Acquisition) GPS and with an NMEA connection to be linked up

to other systems. USB2, Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet and RS232 interfaces are also available. The Sophie Ultima is fitted with image stabilisation, autofocus and super-resolution modes. Looking at modularity, it can accept as plug & play a series of add-on elements: on the left side, modules can be installed such as a SWIR camera, a laser designation module, a celestial north finding for increased accuracy, a TV channel with zoom, an LTE (Long-Term Evolution) communication module, allowing to adapt the system to mission.

No announcements on this new product were made since its unveiling, but according to information obtained at Eurosatory 2018 Thales should have delivered or is being close to deliver the first systems to the French Direction Générale de l’Armement. The group started developing its new range of Sophie systems from the top, another hand-held target acquisition system being planned that will be named Sophie Optima; it will feature an uncooled 1280x1024 microbolometer operating in the 8-12 µm band, with a dual FoV of 10° or 20°.

Dropping the continuous zoom and the cooling machine will allow to further decrease the weight while of course D/R/I ranges will be reduced.

Based in Cambridge, UK, Thermoteknix state of the art target acquisition and location biocular is the TiCAM 1000C. Based on the same

TARGET ACQUISITION SYSTEMS WITH UNCOOLED THERMAL SENSOR Company

Thermoteknix

Safran

Safran/ Vectronix

Senop

Senop

Jenoptik

Elbit Systems

FLIR

Model

TiCAM 1000C

JIM UC

Moskito TI

Lisa

Lilly

Nyxus Bird MR

Mini Coral

Recon V Ultra Lite

Night channel

640x480 17 µm LW

640x480

640x480

640x480

640x480

640x480 17 µm LW

640x480

640x512 12 µm

CCD colour 1280x960

Colour

Optical 5x

Optical 7x

CCD Colour

Colour CMOS

Day channel

Rechargeable 4 x CR123A COTS

Batteries

8 x AA

Operating Time

8 hours

≥ 6 hours

Weight

< 2 kg

< 2.3 kg

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Optical 6x Optical 4.6x LL CMOS CCD Colour 1280x1024 720x576

Rechargeable Rechargeable COTS COTS

8 xAA

6 x CR123A

4 x AA

6 hours

10 hours

> 5 hours

> 8 hours

8 hours

4 hours

< 1.3 kg

3 kg

< 1.5 kg

1.6 kg

< 1.8 kg

< 1.5 kg

case design, the company also supplies the TiCAM 1000B, without the daytime CCD colour channel. All systems comply with MIL-STD and are classified as military use systems for UK export purposes. The company employs some 25 engineers in its R&D team who are responsible for all electronics, software and mechanical design. A variety of uncooled long wave infrared sensors are incorporated in their products which include their proprietary patented shutterless technology. The production of the TiCAM 1000 C model started in 2018, and since then Thermoteknix obtained considerable commercial successes in South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, no details on end user customers being available at this time. Both TiCAM 1000B and C models are fitted with visible or “invisible” Laser target marker, still image and video recorder, and are provided as standard with a 75 mm thermal lens providing a field of view of 8.3° x 6.2°, with a man detection range of 2,900 meters at night. An alternative option of a 60 mm lens can be provided, with a 10.4° x 7.8° FoV and a man detection range of 2,350 meters, allowing a weight reduction of around 0.1 kg. A 100 mm lens is also available, man detection range becoming 3,900 meters, the FoV being reduced to 6.2° x 4.7°. The TiCAM 1000C can be fitted optionally with triangulation modes and fall of shot capabilities for forward fire control and artillery support as well as pre-mission planning.

In addition to its direct interface support of third party Battle Management Software, Thermoteknix have developed a proprietary Android application, ConnectIR, that links its live thermal, visible and

target location data from its TiCAM camera models to connected devices by Wi-Fi, cellular or Bluetooth networks. This product enables users to share data at point of capture or later, without the cost, need or complexity for a fully developed BMS or communications infrastructure. According to available information, the British company will be demonstrating this as well as launching other additions to their successful TiCAM range at Eurosatory 2020 in June.

Senop of Finland, part of the Patria Group, has two uncooled systems for targeting, named respectively Lisa and Lilly, both monocular. The former has two day channels, one based on a CCD camera colour with a 2.9°x2.3° FoV, while the second is a direct view with a 4.6x magnification, providing optimal daylight image; the thermal channel FoV is 6.2°x3.8° and is fitted with a digital zoom. The Class 1 LRF has a range of over 6 km, compatible with the maximum detection range against vehicles, that on human targets being of 3 km. The Lisa is fitted with a USB port, a video output, an RS232 port and Bluetooth connection. Smaller and lighter, the Lilly features the optical day channel with a 5x magnification with an 8.0°x5.9° FoV, the same of the thermal channel; the optical image is partly split thanks to a semi-transparent prism, so that it is visible for user`s eye and the high resolution day camera used for image and video capturing. Using the direct view channel alone does not require any power. Image fusion is available with both day channels, direct one and TV one. The LRF range is the same of the Lisa, however a 15 km LRF is

Thermoteknix, a specialist in thermal imaging, developed the TICAM 1000 family, the TICAM 1000C being the top product. © Thermoteknix

EDR | March/April 2020

21

Senop of Finland, part of the Patria Group, has developed two uncooled systems, the Lisa and the Lilly, the latter having an optic day channel which images can be recorder thanks to a semi-transparent prism. © Senop

proposed as option. Detection ranges are slightly reduced, 5 and 2 km respectively. The Lilly is fitted with an eye-safe laser pointer, connectivity being similar to that of the Lisa with added Ethernet and WLAN capabilities.

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One of the latest addition to the hand-held targeting category comes from Turkey; Transvaro developed the Engerek 8, which employs an MWIR 640x512 FPA cooled sensor of the latest technology provided by FLIR, based on the T2SL technology, with a 15 µm pitch. A 15x optical zoom allows a continuous adaptation of the FoV from 2.04°x1.63° to 20.16°x16.9°, an 8x electronic zoom being also available. As for the day channel, this is based on a 1920x1080 colour camera with a 30x zoom, the FoV ranging from 2.84°x2.27° to 27.86°x22.44°. Transvaro claims a detection range of over 8.5 km against human targets and 21 km against the typical 2.3x2.3 meters NATO target, respective identification ranges being 1.4 and 3.5 km. The LRF has a range of over 10 km against the NATO target. The Engerek 8 has an internal memory allowing recording up to four hours video in MP4/AVI format, as well as jpg images.

In Germany Jenoptik developed the Nixus Bird multifunctional thermal imager, which beside the uncooled thermal channel features a direct view optic channel with a 7x magnification and an optical aperture of 40 mm. The original system had a thermal channel with an 11°x8° FoV, which allowed a detection range of 5 km for vehicle-size targets, the LRF range being thus 5 km. In the mid2010s the company decided to produce a Long Range version, the Nyxus Bird being thus now available in the MR and LR models. The latter has a lens with an increased focal length and a narrower FoV, 7°x5°, and can detect a vehicle at over 7 km.

Elbit Systems of Israel proposes one cooled and one uncooled systems. The former, known as Coral-CR, has a thermal channel fitted with a continuous zoom, its FoV ranging from 2.5°x2° to 12.5°x10°, the day channel providing a wide FoV of 10° and a narrow FOV of 2.5°. The detection range against human targets is of 5 km and against vehicles of 11 km. Much lighter, the Mini Coral features a fixed lens with a 6°x4.5° FoV for both night and day channels and a LRF with a 2.5 km range, detection ranges being of 4.8 km for a vehicle and 3 km for a human target. Both systems are fitted with a fusion mode allowing to merge day and night images.

The Engerek 8, produced by Transvaro of Turkey, employs a HOT cooled sensor developed by FLIR that reduces power consumption and cooling time. © P. Valpolini

In Israel Elbit Systems developed the Coral family; here the Coral-CR cooled system, a MiniCoral being the uncooled member of the family. © Elbit Systems

EDR | March/April 2020

In the US FLIR has developed the Recon V, a cooled system working in the MWIR band. © FLIR

The uncooled offer by FLIR is the Recon V Ultra Light, UL in short, which thermal channel is based on the latest 12 µm pitch 640x480 focal plane array developed by the company. © FLIR

W

hile US Armed Forces are close to get the new JETS (Joint Effects Targeting System) developed by Leonardo DRS, and dedicated to specialised elements, numerous companies are producing hand held targeting systems.

Recently the US Marine Corps assigned two contracts, respectively to Northrop Grumman and Elbit Systems of America for the development of prototypes of the Next Generation Handheld Targeting System. BAE Systems developed the HAMMER (Handheld Azimuth Measuring, Marking, Electro-optic imaging & Ranging) that includes also a Celestial compass for accurate location even in GPS-denied areas.

FLIR latest developments are the Recon V and Recon V Ultra Lite, respectively cooled and uncooled. The thermal channel is fitted with a 10x zoom allowing a FoV ranging from 20°x15° to 2°x1.5°, an e-stabilisation system being

fitted to the Recon V. No performance data are provided, however the LRF range being of 10 km it is safe to say that this is at least the range for a vehicle-size object. The Recon V has a hot-swap mode allowing to change batteries without shutting down the system. An internal memory allows storing up to 1,000 images. The Recon V Ultra Lite exploits the latest 12 µm pitch 640x480 FPA from the company, hence the system compactness and low weight, while the day channel has a 5 MP resolution. A 12.2°x6.9° Super Wide FoV, a 6°x3.3° Wide FoV and a 4.5°x1.6° Narrow FoV are available on the thermal channel, a 6°x3.3° and a 3°x1.7° FoVs being those of the day channel. The LRF range is in excess of 10 km, a laser pointer working on 850 nm being also part of the system. A digital video output as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC connectivity are also embedded in the Recon V Ultra Lite.

EDR | March/April 2020

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A high degree of automation enables the BAE Systems Bofors 155 mm/52 cal SPH to operate with a crew of only three who remain within the protection of the armoured cab. Š Swedish Army

Nordic thunder

By Ian Kemp The four armies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish - represented in the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) organisation operate the same CV90 infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2 main battles tanks, albeit acquired in separate acquisition programmes, but despite Swedish efforts to encourage a collaborative effort the four nations chose different solutions to meet their needs for 155 mm/52 cal self-propelled artillery systems.

T

he origins of the Swedish Archer 155 mm/52 cal wheeled self-propelled howitzer date back to the mid-1990s when Bofors Defence (now BAE Systems Bofors) was contracted by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to conduct a technology demonstration programme for the Swedish Army.

The demonstrator mounted the 155 mm/45 calibre ordnance of the Bofors FH-77B towed howitzer on a modified Volvo VME A25C 6x6 all-terrain chassis fitted with a fully armoured cab to protect both the crew and engine compartment. After conducting

24

EDR | March/April 2020

extensive trials in 1996 the Swedish Army stipulated that the crew should be able halt, conduct a fire mission and move off again without having to leave the protection of the cab. The rebuilt demonstrator, equipped with a 24 rounds magazine, was returned to the Artillery School for a new round of testing in 1999. In parallel with this development effort the army also conducted extensive trials of two tracked 155 mm weapons - the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann PzH 2000 and the BAE Systems AS90 Braveheart - before deciding that a wheeled solution was a more cost-effective option.

BAE Systems Bofors has built 48 Archer 155 mm/52 cal SPHs for the Swedish Ministry of Defence although the final 12 are being offered for sale. © Swedish Army

In late 2003, Bofors received a contract from FMV to build two prototype Archer Artillery System 08 155 mm/52 calibre weapons, the first of which began trials in June 2005. Denmark was an early partner in the Archer project, with both countries expected to order 36 weapons, but subsequently withdrew. A new partner was found in Norway which signed a cooperation agreement with Sweden in November 2008 for development of the Archer, and in March 2010 BAE Systems Bofors received a contract to build 24 weapons for each country. The Swedish Army received its first four pre-serial production in September 2013.

However, in December 2013, Norway cancelled its Archer buy citing delays in the development schedule and concerns about the Archer’s mobility in extreme terrain. In September 2016, the Swedish government announced that it would buy the 24 Archers originally planned for Norway, for an overall cost of SEK 900 million, and retain 12 for the Swedish Army and offer the final batch of 12 to export customers.

operated by a driver and one other crew member. The automated 20 rounds magazine can handle all 155 mm projectiles which do not exceed 1,000 mm in length and 50 kg in weight. A further 20 rounds of ammunition are carried on the vehicle to replenish the magazine manually. The Archer can fire 20 rounds in 2.5 minutes achieving a rate of fire of 9 rounds per minute.

The Archer can fire extended range full bore – base bleed (ERFB-BB) projectiles to a range of about 40 km and the BAE Systems Bofors M892 Excalibur rocket-assisted precision guided munition to approximately 60 km. For close protection the Swedish Army’s Archers are equipped with the Lemur remote weapon station, armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, which was also designed and produced by BAE Systems Bofors in Karlskoga. The Volvo Construction Equipment A30E articulated chassis can obtain a top speed of 70 km/h on roads and a road range of about 500 To boost export sales the BAE Systems Bofors International Archer 155 mm/52 cal SPH is being offered on a range of 8x8 trucks such as the RMMV HX2. © BAE Systems

The crew consists of a driver and three operators carried in a fully armoured cab which provides protection equivalent to ‘at least STANAG 4569 Level 3’ and protects against a 6 kg mine detonation under one of the wheel stations. The computer workstations for the three operators are identical while the driver has a more basic computer station optimised for driving; in extremis the Archer can be EDR | March/April 2020

25

BAE Systems Bofors is proposing the International Archer 155 mm/52 cal SPH on the RMMV HX2 8x8 truck for the British Army’s Mobile Fire Platform project. © BAE Systems

km. With a weight of about 30 tonnes the Archer can be carried by an Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft. Each Archer is accompanied by an Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV) which consists of a modified standard container fitted with a hoist mounted on an armoured Rheinmetall Man Military Vehicles (RMMV) 8x8 truck.

Ammunition resupply takes about 10 minutes and this is the only time a member of the crew has to leave the system.

The original 24 weapons ordered by Sweden were delivered to the Swedish Army’s only remaining artillery unit, Artilleriregementet 9 (Artillery Regiment 9) at Boden, in 2016-17. The regiment trains personnel for the 91st and 92nd Artillery Battalions which are each equipped with 12 Archers organised into three batteries.

The deployment of the additional 12 Archers, six of which had been delivered by the end of 2019, will be announced in the 2021-25 defence plan, scheduled for publication by the end of 2020.

“With regard to the upcoming defence decision that will be valid from 2021 onwards, it is extremely gratifying that we see a growth for the Swedish Armed Forces. A growth that we have not seen before in modern times. The Defence Committee proposes, among other things, that the artillery should go from today’s two artillery battalions to a total of six artillery battalions and two 26

EDR | March/April 2020

artillery combat groups,” Colonel Magnus Ståhl, commander of A9, told the regiment in December.

International Archer In January 2020, BAE Systems Bofors began firing trials with the complete Archer elevating mass mounted on an RMMV HX2 8×8 cross country truck. The modular Archer combination, first shown at DSEI in September 2019, is intended to boost the appeal of the Archer to potential exports customers including the British Army which plans to acquire up to 135 wheeled 155 mm/52 calibre Mobile Fire Platforms (MFP) to replace its 155 mm/39 calibre AS90 tracked SP artillery systems which have been in service since 1993. Basing the first international Archer on the HX was an obvious choice as the British Army was the launch customer for the HX range and operates a fleet of more than 7,000 RMMV HX and SX series vehicles.

The International Archer retains the weapon performance characteristics of the Swedish Archer. Mounted on the HX2 the Archer can achieve a road speed of up to 90 km/h with a road range of up to 650 km with on-board fuel.

The cabin provides the three strong crew with full protection against artillery fragmentation,

Finland has ordered 48 Hanwha Defense K9 Thunder 155 mm/52 cal tracked SPHs from Republic of Korea Army stocks. © Finnish Defence Forces

mine attacks and blast overpressure, and NBC threats. “This new international version of the Archer can be easily integrated onto a variety of different chassis, allowing the customer to specify the vehicle best suited to their needs,” said Ulf Einefors, director of marketing and sales at BAE Systems Weapon Systems business in Sweden.

Under the British Army 2020 Refine force structure, announced in 2016, four close support artillery regiments will be reequipped with MFPs to support the Army’s two armoured infantry and two new Strike brigades. The Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) procurement agency released the key user requirements for the MFP project on 27 January 2020. The Strike brigade concept depends upon a high level of strategic and tactical mobility so the MFP system must be capable of going straight into action after travelling 520 km in 24 hours. The weapon must be capable of responding within 60 seconds of receiving a call for fire and exceed the AS90’s burst rate of fire of three rounds in 10 seconds, intense rate of 6 rounds per minute for three minutes, and sustained rate of 2 rounds per minute for one hour. Firing unassisted ammunition the MFP must achieve a minute range of 30 km with an objective range of 40 km. Precision fire and extended range will be achieved through

the Tactical Guided Munition (Indirect) and High Explosive Base Bleed munition projects within the Close Support Fires Programme.

An initial gate decision for the MFP project is scheduled for 2021 with a main gate decision in 2024 leading to an initial operational capability in 2026. Other companies interested in the MFP project include Nexter (offering CAESAR), Elbit UK (ATMOS), Hanwha Defence (K9) and KrausMaffei Wegmann (RCH155 module mounted on Boxer 8×8 armoured vehicle).

The Finnish Army will achieve initial operational capability with the Hanwha Defense K9Fin Moukari 155 mm/52 cal tracked SPH in 2020. © Finnish Defence Forces

EDR | March/April 2020

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With the arrival of the K9 the Norwegian Army will phase out its remaining 155 mm M109A3GNMs after 50 years of service. © Norwegian Army

Double win for K9 Sweden’s immediate neighbours to both the east and west - Finland and Norway - are now fielding the Hanwha Defense K9 Thunder 155 mm/52 cal tracked self-propelled howitzer originally developed in the 1990s to meet the Republic of Korea Army’s requirement for system that would provide greater firing range, faster firing rate and better mobility than the locally-produced variant of the US M109 155 mm system. Operated by a crew of five - commander, driver, gunner, and two loaders – the K9 is armed with a locally produced Hyundai WIA 155 mm/52 cal ordnance. The bustle rack carries 48 rounds of four different types. A high degree of automation enables the K9 to fire a three-round burst within 15 seconds and fire six to eight rounds for three minutes. The standard K9 is equipped with an MTU MT 881 Ka-500 with a 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) engine and a hydropneumatic suspension unit, enabling the K9 to achieve a maximum road speed of 67 km/h and a road range of 360 km. The K9 is supported by the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle built on the K9 chassis to enable it to keep pace with the Thunder in the field. The K9 carries 104 rounds which are automatically transferred through a munition bridge to the K9’s bustle rack at a rate of 12 rounds per minute. By 2019 the RoKA had received 1,136 K9s and 179 K10s. The service plans to upgrade its K9 fleet to the K9A1 standard by 2030.

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In response to a Finnish Army requirement for a 155 mm self-propelled artillery system South Korea offered to supply used K9s from the RoKA’s inventory. Following an extensive in country evaluation of the K9 in November 2016, Finland signed a €46 million agreement in February 2017 for 48 K9s. The contract also includes training, spare parts and maintenance systems, and the option to buy additional K9s.

Finland received its first K9Fin Moukari (Sledgehammer), as the weapon is designated by the Finnish Army, in 2018 and in September 2019 the Jaeger Artillery Regiment of the Armoured In December 2019, Norway received the first of 24 Hanwha Defense K9 Vidar (for Versatile Indirect Artillery) systems now on order. © Norwegian Army

The Hanwha Defense 155 mm/52 cal K9 Vidar will equip the Norwegian Army’s Brigade North by late 2021. © Norwegian Army

The Hanwha Defense K10 ammunition resupply vehicle is able to replenish the K9’s bustle rack with 48 rounds in less than five minutes with the crews having to leave the protection of either vehicle. © Norwegian Army

Brigade, one of the Army’s three high readiness brigades, began training the initial intake of conscripts selected to operate the K9 who will serve for 347 days. “The control features and reliability of the K9 Thunder are well suited for the purposes of conscript training and operations. Due to its engine power, automatic transmission and steering, the operation of an armoured howitzer is easily covered as part of driver training. This means that we are capable of focusing on safe training yet effective firing position activity,” said Lieutenant Colonel Aku Antikainen, commander of the Jaeger Artillery Regiment. In 2020 the Karelia Artillery Regiment, which supports the Karelia Brigade, another of the Army’s high readiness brigades, will begin training personnel to operate the K9Fin. In December 2019, the Norwegian Army received its first K9s, which are known locally as the K9 Vidar for Versatile Indirect Artillery System.

Norway signed a NOK3.2 billion contract with Hanwha on 20 December 2017, for 24 new K9s and six K10 resupply vehicles, with an option

for a 24 additional K9s. The decision followed a three-week evaluation of four 155 mm systems in demanding Norwegian winter conditions in January 2016: the Hanwha K9 Thunder, the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann PzH2000, the Nexter CAESAR, and the RUAG M109 KAWEST upgrade.

The first K9s were delivered to the Norwegian Army Weapons School at Rena where training for gun commanders will begin in May and be then followed by training for conscript crew members in the third quarter of 2021. Before the arrival of Norway’s K9s, Norwegian instructors received valuable training in Finland. The artillery battalion with Brigade North, the Army’s only artillery unit, now equipped with 18 M109A3GNMs, is scheduled to become operational with the K9 before the end of 2021. “The most important thing is that we can achieve longer range. This means that we can influence the enemy before they meet Brigade North. The K9 also has far better mobility than the old gun,” said Aleksander Jonassen, the chief artillery instructor at the Army Weapons School, at the delivery ceremony for the K9. “The EDR | March/April 2020

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Danish personnel conduct proof firing of the Nexter Systems CAESAR 8x8 155 mm/52 cal SPH in November 2019. © Danish DALO

guns have fully autonomous firing which makes the work far easier for the soldiers. When the guns change position, the system calculates the new course and firing range. This allows the guns and units to move much faster than today’s M109 system.” Both the Norwegian and Finnish K9s are fitted with an auxiliary power unit.

CAESAR takes Denmark On 22 January 2020, the first two Nexter Systems CAESAR 8x8 (CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) 155 mm/52 cal SPHs were delivered to Oksbøl Camp, the home of the Danish Artillery Regiment (DAR). The two weapons were used for proof firing at Sweden’s Karlskoga ranges in 2019 and will undergo additional tests over the next several months as well as being used for training instructors. The first CAESARs will formally be transferred to the DAR in mid-2020.

Following Denmark’s withdrawal from the Archer project, the Danish Army’s search for a 30

EDR | March/April 2020

155 mm/52 cal replacement for its remaining M109A3 SPHs was a tortuous saga. In 2013, Denmark after evaluating responses from nine companies, invited Elbit Systems (offering its Soltam Autonomous Truck MOunted howitzer System, ATMOS), Hanwha (K9 Thunder) and Nexter (CAESAR 6x6) to submit bids to supply for between nine and 21 weapons with an expectation that a contract would be awarded before the end of 2014. Elbit was selected to meet the requirement but the project was cancelled on 30 April 2015, before contract award, in order to free funds for a more urgent project.

The cancellation saved the government some embarrassment as the Danish Social Liberal Party, a signatory to the multi-party defence agreement, was opposed to awarding a contract to an Israeli company because of concerns over the Israeli government’s Palestinian policy.

A new competition was launched in December 2015 when seven companies were asked to submit proposals for 15 weapons with an option for a further six. The Soltam ATMOS and the

The Danish Army is the launch customer for the Nexter Systems CAESAR 8x8 155 mm/52 cal SPH which builds on the success of the CAESAR 6x6. Š Nexter Systems

CAESAR were again the finalists in the second competition although Nexter was able to offer the new CAESAR 8x8 which features several improvements compared to the 6x6 model which was evaluated for the previous competition. In March 2017, the Danish government announced its intention to become the launch customer for the CAESAR 8x8 and in May 2017 it awarded Nexter a contract to supply 15 weapons, with an option for another six, with deliveries to begin by mid-2020.

In October 2019, Denmark exercised the option to buy another four weapons bringing the total to 19.

The first 15 weapons will be delivered in mid-2020 and the additional four in 2023.

Nexter unveiled the CAESAR 8x8 at Eurosatory 2016 building on the success of the CAESAR 6x6 which has been sold to the French Army and four export customers. Denmark chose the Tatra platform displayed at Eurosatory, but the system can be integrated on suitable 8x8 chassis from other manufacturers including Iveco, Renault, RMMV and Sisu. The CAESAR 8x8 weighs between 28 and 32 tonnes depending on configuration. Denmark selected an armoured

four-door cab which offers up to Level 3 ballistic and Level 2 mine protections and is equipped with air conditioning and an NBC defence system. The CAESAR 8x8 can achieve a road speed of 90 km/h and a road range of 600 km.

The CAESAR 8x8 is equipped with a computerised fire control system, muzzle velocity radar and inertial navigation system which enables the crew to dismount and bring the weapon into action in less than one minute. This shoot and scoot capability reduces the crewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exposure to counter battery fire. In the Danish configuration the CAESAR 8x8 carries 36 complete rounds, compared to the 18 rounds carried by the 6x6 variant. The Danish weapons are equipped with a semi-automatic ammunition handling system which enables a rate of fire of six rounds per minute; Nexter also offers a fully automated system, although this reduces the number of rounds carried to 30. The CAESAR can fire all NATO standard 39/52 cal ammunition.

In a separate project Denmark plans to acquire extended range and precision guided munitions to fully exploit the capabilities of its new CAESAR 8x8s.

EDR | March/April 2020

31

Restructuring Jordan’s Air Force

By David Oliver

Jordan is restructuring its Air Force to maintain its fleet of the F-16A/B fighter aircraft. © USAF

The Hasemite Kingdom of Jordan has been in the front line of Middle East conflicts for decades.

More recently it has played a pivotal role in coalition operations against ISIL militants in neighbouring Syria and Iraq. With no oil and limited resources, Jordan has had to face the challenge of maintaining its defence spending. Although it has been bolstered by the United States and the hosting of coalition fighter aircraft, in 2019 Jordan had to reappraise the size and strength of its air force. In order to balance the defence budget and sustain its large fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft, in June 2019 Jordan’s armed forces posted its intent to sell 23 fixed-wing aircraft that include two Airbus C295 medium transport aircraft and one Lockheed C-130B operated by 3 Squadron at Amman-Marka, two CASA AC235 gunships modified by ATK in conjunction with the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) and operated by 32 Squadron, and 12 former UAE Air Force BAe Hawk Mk.63s.

J

ordan has also sold two Ilyushin Il-76MF heavy transports operated by Jordan International Air Cargo, which was founded in 2004 and owned and operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Force. Earlier this year the Russian arms trade agency Rosoboronexport confirmed that it had approved the resale of two Ilyushin Il-76MF military transports from Jordan to Egypt. The Egyptian Air Force will become the only

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EDR | March/April 2020

operator of the Il-76MF, a stretched version of the Soviet-era Il-76MD transport. In addition, six RJAF CH-4B Rainbow armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been offered for sale only three years after they were delivered, which are in service with No 9 Squadron of the Prince Al-Hussein Bin Abdullah II ISR Wing alongside Schiebel S-100 Camcopter VTOL UAVs which will be retained.

Designed by the China Aerospace Science and

The RJAF’s is offering for sale its two Airbus C295 transport aircraft that were converted to gunships. © USSOCOM

Technology Corporation (CASC), the mediumaltitude long-range (MALE) UAV is in service with the armed force of neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

Eight UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters operated

by RJAF’s 30 Squadron of the Prince Hashim Bin Abdullah II Royal Aviation Brigade at the King Abdullah II Air Base to support Special Forces which entered service in at the end of 2007 are also up for sale. They are being replaced by 12 new UH-60Ms that have been delivered for service with 8 Squadron. Three UH-60Ms are operated by the Jordanian Royal Flight in the VIP transport role.

Through the security assistance provided by the US embassy’s military training office in Jordan, the RJAF sends pilots to train on the UH-60M at the

US Army helicopter training school. In 2018 the United States committed US$425 million to the Jordan Armed Forces for training and equipment to enable Jordan to achieve its security objectives.

At the end of 2018 the Jordan Armed Forces established a Unified Helicopter Command designed to streamline logistics and maintenance sustainment across the various rotary platforms including Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Quick Reaction Force (QRF) missions and to better integrate the air and ground forces for mission planning synchronisation.

The UH-60L Black Hawks were operated by the Joint Special Operation Command (JSOC) on SOF duties alongside six armed MD 530F Little Bird helicopters originally purchased via the US

The RJAF is disposing of its Chinese armed CH-4B Rainbow medium-altitude long-range (MALE) UAVs. © David Oliver

EDR | March/April 2020

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Squadron at the Air Training College at King Hussein Air Base at Mafraq which are supplemented by the Golden Eagle Aviation Academy (GEAA) which is the first Jordanian helicopter training school that was established at Amman-Marka in 2015 to provide training for military rotary-wing students in partnership with the RJAF with a fleet of Robinson R44 Raven IIs.

Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks are replacing the RJAF’s fleet of UH-60L helicopters. © David Oliver

civilian sector in 2006 that are also for sale. In 2010 Jordan’s Government signed a letter of intent with Boeing to acquire AH-6i light attack helicopters to replace the MD 530Fs, but to date this has not been converted to a firm contract.

Seven Eurocopter EC135 light utility helicopters have been withdrawn from service and replaced by surplus US Army UH-60A Black Hawks, and invitation for bids for 13 out of the RJAF’s fleet of 36 Bell UH-1H transport helicopters operated by 8 Squadron at King Abdullah II Air Base was issued in July 2018. Eurocopter AS350B3 Ecureuils have been withdrawn from use for helicopter training with 5 Squadron and sold to the US civilian market by 2018.

Eight RJAF Robinson R44s equipped with Garmin and Aspen avionics are now in service with 5

In 2018 Jordan offered 17 of its fleet of 48 AH1F Cobra attack helicopters for sale, along with spare parts. Eight had been sold to Pakistan in 2011 and the extant fleet includes 16 former Israel Defence Forces/Air Force AH-1 Tzefas that were donated by Israel to Jordan in 2015 to help fight Islamic State militants in Syria. A sign of the RJAF’s wide ranging modernisation programme is the comprehensive upgrade of 12 of its extant Cobra fleet carried out by Science & Engineering Services (SES) at its Huntsville facility in Alabama. On behalf of the US Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC), SES was awarded a US$77.9 million Direct Commercial Sales contract that includes Foreign Military Financing and national funds, and a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) component.

The upgrade includes a new glass cockpit based on the Northrop Grumman Integrated Avionics System, an L3 Wescam MD-15D multi-sensor multispectral targeting system replacing the laser range finder and tracker and a passive self defence suite comprising the Orbital ATK AAR-47 mis-

One of 12 RJAF ‘s AH-1S/F Cobra attack helicopters being upgraded by Science & Engineering Services (SES) in the United States. © USASAC

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RJAF AS 332M1 Super Pumas remain in service with 7 Squadron although they may also be offered for sale this year. © David Oliver

helicopters from the RJAF. The Philippines and Jordan have had a long diplomatic relationship and after President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Jordan in 2018 both sides placing attention on the shared threat of terrorism, a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation was signed between the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) and the Jordan Armed Forces. Two ex-RJAF AH-1Fs will be delivered to the Philippine Air Force.

sile approach warning (MAW) system and active countermeasures including the Extant Aerospace ALE-47 chaff/flare dispensers. Automatic Stabilisation Equipment (ASE) and Rockwell Collins ARC programmable digital communication system will also be installed. The SES upgrade includes Lockheed Martin M310 AGM 114R Hellfire launchers in addition to 70 mm unguided rocket launchers.

The RJAF plans to install software for the use of the BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) when the last of the upgraded Cobras are delivered to 10 Squadron at King Abdullah II Air Base at the end of the year. The contract includes training for four instructor pilots and up to 40 maintenance personnel in Jordan.

Nine AS 332M1 Super Pumas remain in service with 7 Squadron based at King Abdullah 1 Air Base at Amman-Marka although there are reports that they will also be offered for sale this year. The only new rotary-wing type being introduced into RJAF service apart from the UH-60Ms, is the Mil Mi-26T2 ‘Halo’ heavy lift helicopter. The T2 variant features the BREO-26 night and day all-weather avionics suite, a new digital autopilot and Navstar/ GLONASS satellite navigation system, and a glass cockpit with five multi-functional LCDs. The threeman RJAF Mi-26 aircrews, who included former Cobra and Super Puma pilots, have undertaken a six-month training course at the Rostvertol plant in Rostov-on-Don where more than 330 Mi-26s have been produced since 1980.

A state visit to Kenya by Jordan’s King Abdullah culminated in the signing of a military training and cooperation pact between the two countries and the acquisition of at least two AH-1F Cobra attack

Four ‘Halos’, which can carry 82 fully equipped troops or 20 tonne of cargo, have been delivered to a new RJAF unit, 26 (Falcon) Squadron at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base at Zarqa near the Syrian

Four Mil Mi-26T2 heavylift helicopters have been delivered to the RJAF with an options for two more although their role is unclear. © David Oliver

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Two RJAF PZL Mielec M28-05 Skytrucks have been converted for the ISR role in the United States by Sierra Nevada Corporation. © David Oliver

border. It has been reported that Jordan has option for two additional Mi-26T2s but this has not been confirmed and the type’s role has yet to be defined.

The RJAF’s fixed-wing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability has been expanded. Students from the RJAF’s recently formed ISR Wing received training centered on UAS and ISR missions and processes in the UK. The British supplier of defence training, Inzpire was able to use their expertise to deliver tailored ISR training courses to a cohort of RJAF personnel at its Training Academy in Lincoln.

The RJAF’s ISR fleets have also been expanded recently with the introduction into service of eight Iomax/Air Tractor AT-802i two-seat turboprop light attack/surveillance aircraft which were developed from the Air Tractor crop sprayer. Six aircraft were donated to Jordan by the UAE in 2015. In RJAF service with 25 Squadron at Amman-Marka, the aircraft are being upgraded to increase weapon options. Iomax in Mooresville, North Carolina modified the first aircraft to Block 1B standard in 2018 when the aircraft received a new armament control system and the weapons pylons were strengthened to allow the carriage of the 227 kg (500 lb) GBU-12 Paveway II while the Roketsan Cirit laser-guided rocket becomes a weapons option.

The AT-208is are supplemented by six Cessna AC208B aircraft operated by 15 Squadron. Derived from the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, the counter insurgency (COIN) variant was developed under 36

EDR | March/April 2020

the US Combat Caravan programme for the Iraqi Air Force. The AC-208B provides a strike capability using two Hellfire missiles on underwing pods and is complimented with a suite of sensors including an L3 Wescam electro-optical (EO) targeting system with an integrated laser designator, air-toground data link and communications equipment for ISR missions and integrated self-protection equipment.

No 3 Squadron at Amman-Marka operates two PZL Mielec M28-05 Skytruck twin-turboprop short-take-off and landing (STOL) transport aircraft that were delivered in 2014 and that have subsequently been converted for the ISR role in the United States. This comprised the installation of a defensive aids/communications upgrade by Sierra Nevada Corporation to bring them up to a standard similar to the US Special Operations Command’s C-145A Skytruck.

Two new European training aircraft have replaced three types of RJAF trainers at the King Hussein Air Training College at Mafraq. Sixteen Grob 120TP basic turboprop trainers have replaced a legacy fleet of 16 Slingsby T-67 primary trainers and two Socata TB-20 basic trainers serving with 4 Squadron at the Air Training College at Mafraq, one of which was lost in December 2017. Two of the Grobs were donated by Germany as part of a military assistance package.

In 2015 the RJAF planned to order the Pilatus PC9M turboprop trainer but changed the order in 2016 to 10 Pilatus PC-21 plus an option for two

Ten Grob 120TP basic trainers are part of the RJAFs new fleet of state-of-the-art turboprop training aircraft. © David Oliver

additional aircraft, to serve with 11 Squadron at Mafraq replacing CASA C101CC Aviojets, which have been sold to Chile, and former UAE Air Force Hawk Mk.63 in the advanced and tactical training roles. These two state-of-the-art turboprop trainers will provide an ideal cost effective introduction to operational air combat training on RJAF F-16 combat aircraft in the future which is carried out on two-seat F-16BMs at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base at Zarqa under a Lockheed Martin contract.

Jordan had acquired dozens of second-hand F-16s from America’s NATO allies in Europe including Belgium and the Netherlands, between 2008 and 2017 under the Peace Falcon III to Peace Falcon VI initiatives. The RJAF’s three F-16 squadrons are located at Shaheed Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base.

The RJAF has been in the process of disposing of some of its older F-16s in recent years, including selling 12 Block 15 F-16As to Pakistan in 2014. In 2019, the US company Jet Lease based in Florida revealed that it had acquired three F-16s, two F-16AM and an F-16BM Block 20 Mid-Life-Update (MLU) aircraft that were imported from Jordan.

In October 2019 the US House of representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs granted the transfer of 15 surplus F-16s for parts reclamation to the government of Jordan as a spares source for the RJAF’s F-16AM/BM fleet. It also approved the sale of three surplus USAF C-130H Hercules transports to Jordan to supplement the three operated by 3 Squadron at King Abdullah I Air Base.

The US has approved the sale of three surplus USAF C-130H transport aircraft to supplement three operated by the RJAF’s 3 Squadron © David Oliver

EDR | March/April 2020

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